The speaking Gospel

It is so easy to call oneself as born-again Christian, but is challenging to live a life reflecting Christ's image. Outward expression of faith is easy such as praying, reading the Bible, going to Church, baptism, preaching, ministering, witnessing and helping others. But reflecting the character and nature of Christ is pretty unnatural. The World does not need the gospel to be preached through the words of mouth, but it really need to see true man and woman of God reflecting the nature of Christ. Only then the world will be convinced of the gospel believing that the gospel brings transformation from a sinner to a saint.

Many of the virtues that the Word of God exhorts believers to have is rarely seen in born-again Christians. The reasons for such lapse is the non-renewing of the mind as per God and His Word. The Word of God says in

Rom 12:2 (NIV)

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Only when the mind of the believers are transformed as per God's Word will the character and nature of Christ be built in us. And only when the world sees Christ- likeness in us will the people of the world be convinced of the transformational power of the gospel. That is why St. Augustine said, "Preach the gospel and if necessary use words".

The Lord's Order

Numbers 9:23 (New International Version)

At the LORD's command they encamped, and at the LORD's command they set out. They obeyed the LORD's order, in accordance with his command through Moses.

Following the Lord's command is the first order (of obedience) in our covenant relationship with the Lord. Whenever the cloud of the Lord hovered over the tent of the Israelites, the people of Israel people remained within the tent, no matter the length of days. Only when the cloud was lifted up did they set out of the camp. That was the order of obedience they followed. As long as the people of Israel obeyed the Lord, it went well with them and the promise of Canaan applied to them. But those who disobeyed failed to see the promised land of milk and honey, many perishing in the dessert.

This applies for us too in the same way. For us to see the promises of God come true in our life, we need to come under the divine order. Only then we will have divine guidance from the Lord and will come to experience promises of God fulfilled.

Giving the Lord His place

Matthew 6:21 (New International Version)

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Usually when we read the above scripture, we may say in our hearts that our heart is surely set on Christ. But if we look deeply and honestly in our hearts we will realize it is not so. If we our heart is truly set on Christ, then we will not get upset when things do not turn the way we think or expect. For a heart which is set on Christ believes in God's dealing with our life issues.

Sometimes without our realization our heart may be set on something else. It may be a job, relationship, success, marriage, career, money, material possession, etc. It is no wrong to desire these things but these come after the Lord. When they take the place of God, then they become the object of our affection and focus. We may start loving them more than Christ and when things don't happen the way we expect, we become frustrated, disappointed or even angry with God.

When we give the Lord His right place in our lives, then we will learn to handle the issues of life with serenity and calmness and trust Him to deal with our lives. Then we will come to see all the essential things and needs of our life fall in place.

Deuteronomy 6:5 (New International Version)

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

God's call and time

Many children of God assume that promises of God are received immediately without the waiting period. The Lord allows the waiting period purposefully to shape certain characters in us. This goes the same for doing God's work too. Moses had to wait 40 years and do the work of the shepherd (Exodus 3:1) before becoming the channel of deliverance for Egypt. Apostle Paul had to wait 3 yrs in Damascus before he went to get acquainted with the other apostles.

Likewise men and women of God who are in full ministry today testify that they had to wait, years before they really started doing God's work. And those who wait for God's will and time are never disappointed. Once the Lord builds the qualities He desires to see in His children, He reveals His plans and purposes to them.

The Word of God says,

Amos 3:7 (New Living Translation)

Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything

until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets.

Let us no grow weary waiting on the Lord. Let us be sure of this, that He is working in us to prepare for His great work through us...

Receiving the actual promise

Hebrews 6:15 (New International Version)

And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.

Waiting is not easy. There are lot of temptations to work our own way to make the promise of God come true in our life. God had promised Abraham that he will have son through whom Abraham's descendants will be like the stars in the sky (Genesis 15:4, 5). Sarah waited; but after some years when she did not conceive, she thought that she should help God by doing her part. Sarah suggested that Abraham should have a son through her servant Hagar. Abraham heeded to her advice and Ishmael was born. But Ishmael was not God's promise of the covenant, but Isaac (Gen 17: 17-22). Abraham knew that God is capable of doing what He had promised. Instead of standing by faith, he gave in to his wife's direction and the result was Ishmael and his descendants. Yet God was so kind that he forgave Abraham and gave him Isaac as per His promise.

Genesis 21:2 (New International Version)

Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him.

Sometimes instead of we waiting to receive from God what He had promised, we work our own ways and bring Ishmael into the picture. We need to take decisions not based on our perceptions and understanding (that it is God's will) during the time of waiting, but based on God's leading. We need to ask God whether what appears to be from Him, is truly His will and plan for our life. We should ask the Lord to lead us and open doors only if it is His will. Depending on the Lord for every step and decision in our life is crucial. Only then we will receive from God what He actually planned for us as per His promise...

Promises and Sanctification

Hearing a sermon about claiming God's promises, I felt the preacher stressed a lot about ways on receiving God's promises rather than the ways we should be and live to receive God's promises.

There are lot of aspects that goes into claiming the promises of God. Unwavering faith, persevering prayer, confessing faith and promises and like. But there are also other aspects like living a life good before God with a clear conscience, not walking in sin for the grace to flow without disruption, living in reverential fear of God, directing our ways and decisions based on God's Word, etc. Though it is true that we receive God's promises by grace (and not because of our goodness) , grace is not so cheap that it would continuously be there for us even if we choose paths displeasing God.

Grace is free but is not cheap...

The Word of God exhorts us very clearly about this truth...

2 Corinthians 7:1 (New Living Translation)

Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.

Only when we can live clean lives before God where sanctification is a continuous process, will we see the promises of God be fulfilled in our lives.

Praying like Elijah

James 5:17 (New International Version)

Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.

When we read the above scripture, it gives us so much comfort to see that Elijah was a man just like us. We all know that Elijah was a great prophet who brought down fire. We may assume that since he was a prophet ( a special person because of his identity) amazing things happened when he prayed. But the Word of God says that Elijah was a man just like us, meaning to refer that he had the same weakness, fear, disappointments and even despair similar to us. When we read the whole passage in 1 kings 18:41-44 we get a picture of how Elijah prayed.

Elijah prays for rain on top of Mount Carmel, while he asks his servant to go and see for signs of rain. But the servant comes back six times saying that there is no sign of rain. But Elijah doesn't quit praying. He continues to pray until he sees his prayer answered. Only the seventh time the servant comes with the news that a small cloud is seen... a sign of rain.

Even we are to pray like Elijah until we see our prayers answered. We should not grow weary to pray, just because we don't see signs or results. We are to pray like Elijah till the answer comes...