Sunday, November 22, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Faith Defines the Christian Walk
Life in general is properly described as a journey and not a destination. In this perspective the sum total of what we are engaged in is a walk on this journey. Along this life’s journey many have distracted themselves into side shows. Some are counting the miles they have covered so far and are settling on the wayside. To a good proportion of people the activities of fellow pilgrims have become their preoccupation, and so they turn themselves into walk-watchers.
To the believer in Christ there are rules as to how we walk on this journey. These rules are kept in proper perspective if we are focused on the essence of our walk, and that essence is our faith. It defines our walk.
For example, Hebrews eleven reminds us all of effectiveness, courage and loyalty to God in their walk. Their deeds were not based on wisdom, power, or enthusiasm. Collectively they tell us not to marvel at the great deeds of their lives. We are told, “God made bare His holy arm and has done this by us in His name through faith” (Acts 3:12-16). It is God who has done all these wonderful works.
We make a profound mistake in attributing to these men extraordinary qualities of courage, or strength of body or soul. To do so is to miss the whole point of the reiterated teaching of Scripture. They were not different from ordinary men and women except in their faith.
One characteristic common to all the heroes of faith of the Hebrew story is their faith in God. This lifted them above ordinary men and women and secured for them a niche in the temple of Scripture . This indeed is the capacity of the human heart for God, a marvelous faculty of faith. Four times over this is cited as the secret of all that Moses did for his people.
Our Lord Jesus repeatedly taught and emphasized the need for faith in a believer’s walk. In His judgment having wisdom, being strong and enthusiastic are as the small dust of the balance and must not be taken into serious consideration compared to having faith.
His incessant demand is for faith to b e present in persons. He would say “If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you might say unto this sycamore tree, ‘Be thou plucked up by the root, and be planted by the sea; and it should obey you’” (Luke 17::6). To a father he once said, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” (Luke 9:23, 24).
The believer, therefore, is the God-filled, the God-moved, the God-possessed human person, and the work which he or she effects in the world is not his or hers, but God through him or her. It is certain that as the present age draws to a close, God has great schemes on hand which must shortly be realized. According to His invariable method, He will have to perform them through the instrumentality and faith of human persons.
Walking by faith implies never to evaluate circumstances or things in the light of our strength, education, abilities or resources. Keep in mind that Jehovah, our Jehoshua, our resource, is all we need to face anything in life.
To the believer in Christ there are rules as to how we walk on this journey. These rules are kept in proper perspective if we are focused on the essence of our walk, and that essence is our faith. It defines our walk.
For example, Hebrews eleven reminds us all of effectiveness, courage and loyalty to God in their walk. Their deeds were not based on wisdom, power, or enthusiasm. Collectively they tell us not to marvel at the great deeds of their lives. We are told, “God made bare His holy arm and has done this by us in His name through faith” (Acts 3:12-16). It is God who has done all these wonderful works.
We make a profound mistake in attributing to these men extraordinary qualities of courage, or strength of body or soul. To do so is to miss the whole point of the reiterated teaching of Scripture. They were not different from ordinary men and women except in their faith.
One characteristic common to all the heroes of faith of the Hebrew story is their faith in God. This lifted them above ordinary men and women and secured for them a niche in the temple of Scripture . This indeed is the capacity of the human heart for God, a marvelous faculty of faith. Four times over this is cited as the secret of all that Moses did for his people.
Our Lord Jesus repeatedly taught and emphasized the need for faith in a believer’s walk. In His judgment having wisdom, being strong and enthusiastic are as the small dust of the balance and must not be taken into serious consideration compared to having faith.
His incessant demand is for faith to b e present in persons. He would say “If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you might say unto this sycamore tree, ‘Be thou plucked up by the root, and be planted by the sea; and it should obey you’” (Luke 17::6). To a father he once said, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” (Luke 9:23, 24).
The believer, therefore, is the God-filled, the God-moved, the God-possessed human person, and the work which he or she effects in the world is not his or hers, but God through him or her. It is certain that as the present age draws to a close, God has great schemes on hand which must shortly be realized. According to His invariable method, He will have to perform them through the instrumentality and faith of human persons.
Walking by faith implies never to evaluate circumstances or things in the light of our strength, education, abilities or resources. Keep in mind that Jehovah, our Jehoshua, our resource, is all we need to face anything in life.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
God is Working in You
Life today is like a warehouse, assembled from pre-fab sections, ready to receive goods. It is fast, compressed, condensed—slam-bang, it’s done.
It is not so in God’s wilderness schooling. When it comes to walking with God, there is no such thing as instant maturity. God does not mass produce saints; He hand-tools each one, and it always takes longer than we expected.
God takes this careful measure because for anyone to lead effectively such a person must accept being questioned, attacked, accused, hated and betrayed. It is painful, but it enables the person to stand alone. How is it possible to endure such, one may ask. God accomplishes it through the furnace of affliction (Isa. 48:10; John 12:24-25; Heb. 1:9-10; Heb. 5:8). If you learn your lessons well, you will no longer need anyone to pat you on the back. You will go straight on doing what God had called you to do even in the face of both opposition and intimidation.
No matter what role one is called upon to fill, such a role is not unimportant when it come to standing alone for truth. This is because standing for the truth is standing before God. It makes one a unique spokesperson in one’s day and age at this moment and time.
As God works in us, every shred of self-sufficient arrogance, every hint of independent spirit, and all thought of rebellion is scraped away. Any indifference toward authority is replaced by a firm commitment to do only as told regardless. Survival is learned in the crucible of intense, extreme training that characterizes Divine dealings with a chosen vessel.
Mark it down. Things do not “just happen.” Ours is not a random, whistle-in-the-dark universe. There is a God-arranged plan for this world of ours which includes a specific plan for you. Through every ordinary day and every extraordinary moment there is a God who constantly seeks you. The God who loves us and redeemed us uses these moments to advance His purposes. He is there, and He is not silent. He doesn’t speak vocally from heaven, shouting down His word at you. He uses His Book, the Bible, His people, and He uses events in your life. So be patient with yourself, for God has not finished with you yet.
It is not so in God’s wilderness schooling. When it comes to walking with God, there is no such thing as instant maturity. God does not mass produce saints; He hand-tools each one, and it always takes longer than we expected.
God takes this careful measure because for anyone to lead effectively such a person must accept being questioned, attacked, accused, hated and betrayed. It is painful, but it enables the person to stand alone. How is it possible to endure such, one may ask. God accomplishes it through the furnace of affliction (Isa. 48:10; John 12:24-25; Heb. 1:9-10; Heb. 5:8). If you learn your lessons well, you will no longer need anyone to pat you on the back. You will go straight on doing what God had called you to do even in the face of both opposition and intimidation.
No matter what role one is called upon to fill, such a role is not unimportant when it come to standing alone for truth. This is because standing for the truth is standing before God. It makes one a unique spokesperson in one’s day and age at this moment and time.
As God works in us, every shred of self-sufficient arrogance, every hint of independent spirit, and all thought of rebellion is scraped away. Any indifference toward authority is replaced by a firm commitment to do only as told regardless. Survival is learned in the crucible of intense, extreme training that characterizes Divine dealings with a chosen vessel.
Mark it down. Things do not “just happen.” Ours is not a random, whistle-in-the-dark universe. There is a God-arranged plan for this world of ours which includes a specific plan for you. Through every ordinary day and every extraordinary moment there is a God who constantly seeks you. The God who loves us and redeemed us uses these moments to advance His purposes. He is there, and He is not silent. He doesn’t speak vocally from heaven, shouting down His word at you. He uses His Book, the Bible, His people, and He uses events in your life. So be patient with yourself, for God has not finished with you yet.
Monday, August 17, 2009
PrayerLetter-Aug 2009
Dear Friends and family,
The Scripture has it that the Lord lovingly commanded us to “go into the world and make disciples of the nations …”(Matthew 28:19-20). It is a fact that committed missionaries have responded sacrificially taking the gospel into the world, and some of them have willingly laid down their lives. Millions of people have been reached by those who have crossed cultural, linguistic, and geographical barriers. They have successfully preached the gospel by words and deeds and multiplied responsible and reproductive Assemblies. The challenge still remains that we should go and tell in obedience to His command.
Today the reached have caught the vision and are reaching the unreached. They are crossing borders and embracing the terms of the Lord’s Great Commission. The gospel is a spreading flame that is engulfing the world, but the job is not done. We cannot rest, and we cannot give up. Our hearts still need to be ignited with God’s love for lost people. Prevailing human needs should engender in our hearts the compassion to make a difference wherever it is found. We still need to go and tell in obedience to His command.
Currently, reports on the religious scene in Nigeria call for concern and point to the destructive activities of Muslim extremists in the Country. Recently, even conflict among Muslim groups has spilled over to the burning of Christian churches. Many believers were killed and some pastors beheaded for refusing to accept Islam and recant Christ. The Boko Haram Islamic movement in Kano, Bauchi, Taraba, and Borno states in Northern Nigeria is a challenge for Christians to present Christ as the answer.
In spite of these challenges, we are amazed at what happens when we allow God to consume us with a gospel passion. No barrier, no cost, and no excuse will put the fire out. By the grace of God Cyprian will be in Nigeria and visit the work in the next few months.
Please pray for us:
1. that the door of utterance would be set before us by the sovereign Lord,
2. that the hand of the Lord would be heavy upon us for good,
3. that we will experience a daily walk and a passionate devotion to the Lord Himself,
4. and that the Lord will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ.
All because He lives,
Joy and Cyprian
The Scripture has it that the Lord lovingly commanded us to “go into the world and make disciples of the nations …”(Matthew 28:19-20). It is a fact that committed missionaries have responded sacrificially taking the gospel into the world, and some of them have willingly laid down their lives. Millions of people have been reached by those who have crossed cultural, linguistic, and geographical barriers. They have successfully preached the gospel by words and deeds and multiplied responsible and reproductive Assemblies. The challenge still remains that we should go and tell in obedience to His command.
Today the reached have caught the vision and are reaching the unreached. They are crossing borders and embracing the terms of the Lord’s Great Commission. The gospel is a spreading flame that is engulfing the world, but the job is not done. We cannot rest, and we cannot give up. Our hearts still need to be ignited with God’s love for lost people. Prevailing human needs should engender in our hearts the compassion to make a difference wherever it is found. We still need to go and tell in obedience to His command.
Currently, reports on the religious scene in Nigeria call for concern and point to the destructive activities of Muslim extremists in the Country. Recently, even conflict among Muslim groups has spilled over to the burning of Christian churches. Many believers were killed and some pastors beheaded for refusing to accept Islam and recant Christ. The Boko Haram Islamic movement in Kano, Bauchi, Taraba, and Borno states in Northern Nigeria is a challenge for Christians to present Christ as the answer.
In spite of these challenges, we are amazed at what happens when we allow God to consume us with a gospel passion. No barrier, no cost, and no excuse will put the fire out. By the grace of God Cyprian will be in Nigeria and visit the work in the next few months.
Please pray for us:
1. that the door of utterance would be set before us by the sovereign Lord,
2. that the hand of the Lord would be heavy upon us for good,
3. that we will experience a daily walk and a passionate devotion to the Lord Himself,
4. and that the Lord will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ.
All because He lives,
Joy and Cyprian
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