Just as sin causes desolation and destruction to Israel and other civilizations throughout history (and let me quickly say that I love the Jewish people, even though we do not condone or justify any of their wrongdoings), there is also a parallel when it comes to the spiritual condition of the Body of Christ throughout the church age over the last 2,000 years or so, since the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
When we look at church history, we can also see the rise and fall of churches, denominations and ministries. There have been mighty Christian movements that once made great impact on cities, countries and continents that today, are nothing more than monuments.
I say this with grief and sadness. Carnality and worldliness have invaded the church. It is getting to a place where ungodliness is not just creeping, but blatantly sweeping into the church. Regrettably, many ministers and believers are spiritually blind and do not even realize it. Yet, Jesus loves His church and is making an appeal for us to hear His voice and repent.
Often, we can recognize outward sins, such as when a person commits sexual immorality, financial fraudulence or other desires and passions of the flesh. Yet, there are inward sins of the heart and spirit that are accepted and even celebrated by the church. The root problem of spiritual adultery, idolatry and elitism is more subtle and as such, many of us do not know when we have fallen into these spiritual conditions.
Mixing law and grace, adding to or subtracting from the finished work of Christ, is committing spiritual adultery. Spiritually-speaking, many Christians have two husbands – one who is called law, the other grace. While the law was given by God, it is to reveal His standard of righteousness and our utter sinfulness. The law is perfect but due to the fall, we are powerless to keep it fully, no matter how hard we try. Only Jesus Christ fulfilled all the demands of the law. His death on the cross paid the price and penalty of sin, when we place our faith in Him and His atoning sacrifice. Yet, while many believers know that salvation is by grace, we have a tendency to live for God by law and practise sanctification by works. We seek to be holy and keep the commandments by performing some seemingly spiritual acts in order to earn the favour of God or others or even ourselves. For example, spiritual disciplines such as studying the Word, prayer and fasting are important. However, to live a victorious and holy life, it is not by our own might or ability or willpower. It is by surrendering and yielding to the Holy Spirit, on the foundation of Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross. This is the source of spiritual power and grace. The story of Cain and Abel is a lesson for us. Is our offering based on works or faith? What looks good to man is repulsive to God. Man’s way is pride, performance and self-righteousness. God’s way is repentance and faith. Oh, let us repent from spiritual adultery and unfaithfulness. If we are married to Christ, our husband, the epitome of grace, then we must quit flirting with anyone else.
Mixing the ways of the Spirit, the world (system) and the flesh, constitutes spiritual idolatry. The cry of any true spiritual leader and pastor is to develop Christlikeness among the flock of God – for babes in Christ to grow up! Yet, in the context of the Corinthian church, spiritual carnality and childishness was a problem. There were discord and division among them. Instead of looking to Christ, they see themselves as belonging to Paul or Apollos. Now, there is nothing wrong with emulating, honouring and respecting our spiritual leaders. However, if we idolize them, we act not only like heathens, we break the heart of God. Another form of idolatry, which is subtle, is when we place the mechanics of worship over the heart of worship. These days, we have skilled musicians, advanced musical instruments, audio and visual systems. If we are not careful, we become entertained, rather than being dependent on the Holy Spirit in worshipping the true and living God! The blessings of God is primarily for us to advance His Kingdom, to spread the gospel – the good news of Jesus Christ! We need to ask God regarding the church and ministry to support financially and prayerfully. Are souls being saved, healed, delivered and baptized in the Holy Spirit?
Spiritual elitism is another problem in the church. It is the spirit of pride, superiority and exclusivity – when we boast in our church, denomination or ministry, more than giving glory to Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross. If we often use words such as “us and them”, or believe that we have received revelations of the so-called “deep things of God”, we have fallen into the trap of spiritual elitism.
Let us all beware of spiritual adultery, idolatry and elitism! Let us ask the Lord to search our hearts and that we repent from these inward sins of the heart and spirit.
Beware Of Spiritual Adultery, Idolatry And Elitism
June 14, 2019
Experience Pentecost Now
June 17, 2023
The first Pentecost took place some 2,000 years ago. Throughout the church age, there has been moves and waves of the Holy Spirit. In 1906, there was an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Azusa Street, Los Angeles, USA. This is the birthplace of the Pentecostal movement that has spread all over the world. Since then, hundreds of millions of believers have been baptized in the Holy Spirit. In the midst of this move of God, there was a prophetic utterance that declared in the last days, there will be an overemphasis on: · Praise to a God we no longer pray to, · Power rather than righteousness, and · Spiritual gifts rather than the lordship of Christ. We are to avoid these dangers and pitfalls. There are parts of the church that have become seeker-friendly, instead of Spirit-filled. Yes, we are to be sensitive to people, but we must first and foremost, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter, but He is also a consuming fire. As we develop various means and methods of outreach in the church, let us not neglect the Person and Ministry of the Holy Spirit who still convicts sin, call for repentance and conform God’s righteousness in our lives. We need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and not grieve or quench Him in the process of drawing large crowds to our churches. In the Gospels, when Jesus said, “Follow Me”, it meant forsaking oneself and taking up one’s cross. In the early church, the Apostle Peter preached a message that pricked the hearts of the hearers and saw 3,000 people saved. Peter’s sermon, under the work of the Holy Spirit, was convicting and hardly comfortable, yet it results in a harvest of conversion. Why? And how? The key is the anointing of the Holy Spirit. When we are sensitive and yield to the Holy Spirit in ministry, He will discern the hearts of the ones being ministered to better than any of us could expect, or at least in the way that He intends. Thank God for the Person and Ministry of the Holy Spirit! We need to allow the Holy Spirit to move in the House of God. A Spirit-filled church is a church that has a heartbeat for anointed worship. True worship is a lifestyle, not just an activity. It is more than simply turning up for church services, but is a reflection of loving “the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength... ” (Mark 12:30). We are called to experience not only the visitation of the Holy Spirit, but to be His habitation too, “In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22). The House of God needs to be ignited with the Holy Spirit. We need a blast of wind, a blaze of fire. We need a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit today. Thank God for the first Pentecost in the early church, as recorded in the book of Acts. Thank God for the move of God throughout different periods of the church, especially the Azusa Street revival that birthed the worldwide Pentecostal movement at the turn of the 20th century. As we move ahead in this 21st century, we need a new Pentecost now. We cry again for a sound from heaven, a rushing mighty wind. We want to see people being baptized in the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking with other tongues, to be equipped for service in the Kingdom of God. We are called as a holy people and a royal priesthood. Next, we are to be united with one accord in our hearts. In a world of racial and class divide, believers need to be united in love. We are the Body of Christ, one in communion and purpose with the Headship and Lordship of Jesus. At the same time, unity must be based on foundational and fundamental truth. The truth that Jesus saves, heals, baptizes in the Holy Spirit and is coming again. The truth that all blessings comes through the cross of Christ! Unity does not mean conformity. We are one and united in Spirit, but with have different types of gifts and ministries. A New Testament church is ignited with the fire of the Holy Spirit, is united in love, communion and purpose. It is also to sow and reap an expedited harvest of souls. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit for employment, not enjoyment. We are employed as laborers in His harvest field. We ask the Lord for open doors. Due to the pandemic, the last few years have been difficult with all the shut downs. It’s time to step up again to usher in the final hour harvest of souls. The power of the Holy Spirit will accelerate and expedite the fulfilling of the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.
Arise And Build
May 27, 2023
Nehemiah was a trusted cupbearer to the King of Persia (Nehemiah 1:11). He received report that Jerusalem was in ruins. The city walls had been torn down, the gates were burned, leaving the residents vulnerable to the enemy’s attack and invasion. There was no peace and no security. Nehemiah was heartbroken and desperate to see the hand of God move and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Today, we see devastation of false doctrines in the body of Christ. Spiritually-speaking, there are gaps in the walls of our churches. We need to proclaim that Jesus saves, heals, delivers, baptizes in the Holy Spirit and is coming again. That we are justified and sanctified by grace through faith, on the basis of the finished work of Jesus Christ at Calvary’s cross. It’s time for us to rise up and build the walls of sound Biblical doctrines. In our life, our ministry and in serving the house of God, there are precious truths we can learn from the life of Nehemiah. For example, there are lessons about defeating distraction, discouragement and distress. Through prayer, Nehemiah responded to God’s call to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Although God is sovereign and omnipotent, He is looking for men and women with hearts who are broken and burdened to fulfil and finish His work. Today, there is so little anguish and agony in the house of God. Do we experience the sorrow and pain of God’s heart over the sins, the backsliding and compromise in the church? Are we also grieving for lost souls and do all we can to reach them with the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ? To accomplish the task that God has set before us, we need to know that He is the Master Builder. We are to keep in step with the Spirit, know the right timing and opportunity to move in faith and boldness. When Nehemiah stood before the king with sadness on his face to seek permission to build the walls of Jerusalem, it was in essence, a ‘live or die’ moment. Thank God for the king’s compassion and favour to grant Nehemiah’s heart desire to go to Jerusalem. Yet, there are people who opposed Nehemiah. Just because we are doing God’s work does not mean that it will always be smooth-sailing. We will be distracted, discouraged and distressed at times. We can face accusation, attack, intimidation and lies against us from people. We need to stand strong, secure and steadfast in finishing the task, and not allow opponents to shut us down. We need the Word of God and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to help us not react in the flesh in such times. Nehemiah was a role model on handling criticism and misunderstanding. He did not let discouragement stop Him from obeying God and carrying out his responsibility. He kept building the wall. Today, we may face all kinds of distractions. Worldly pleasures and wrong relationships may divert our attention from fulfilling our calling. We are to stay the course and refused to be disturbed and disrupted. When God called Nehemiah to rebuild the walls, there was a lack of resources and people thought that the task was going to take a long time. In spite of hindrances, Nehemiah fixed his eyes on the Lord with undivided commitment and complete this massive task in just 52 days. Nehemiah’s motives and motivations are to give God all the glory and praise. It is all about God’s plans and purposes, not our ambitions. Once the walls were rebuilt and gates restored, Nehemiah planned to revive the authority of God’s Word in the land. Gatekeepers and musicians were appointed. Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s days is a picture of the church today. Like the Israelites, many Christians are spiritually apathetic and defeated. False doctrines, idolatry, worldliness, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life have become widespread throughout the body of Christ. The church is a called-out body, separated from worldly culture. Separated but not isolated. We need to repent of our backsliding and disobedience. Ask the Lord to revive us, restore us, and set us apart for Him, to be light that shines in our dark and evil world.
Let’s Be M.A.D. (Mission Anointed Disciples) For Jesus
March 20, 2023
We are called to be disciples for Jesus Christ, committed to follow Him as Lord and Master. We are entrusted with the mission to spread the gospel and reach the lost. We are to be filled and anointed with the Holy Spirit. Discipleship is a committed way of life, dedicated to the Person of Jesus Christ and His purpose. It is not paying lip service. Some follow Jesus out of convenience, but true disciples will experience opposition and persecution from others. Discipleship is denying oneself. This does not mean asceticism, which is the practice of strict self-denial of legitimate things in life, such as having food and sleep. Of course, it is Biblical to fast from food and sleep or some other activities, in order to spend more time in prayer and studying God’s Word. However, we must not carry out these spiritual disciplines with a holier-than-thou attitude, or to believe that we can earn God’s favour. Rather, self-denial is to surrender and give up all self-effort. To take up our cross is to put our faith in Christ and His victory on the cross. We are to commit ourselves to Christ above all persons and possessions. Our love for Christ is to be so much more than our family, friends, jobs, money, hobbies and the like. As human beings with affections, it is so easy to put relationships and riches ahead of the Lord. Yet, any excessive devotion to people and things becomes idolatry. The cares and concerns of everyday life will keep people from following the Lord wholeheartedly. We must, in essence, count the cost and ask, are we willing to pay the price? The Christian life is a journey – to fight the good fight, run and finish the race, and keep the faith. In 2 Timothy 4:7, the Apostle Paul said, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:" (2 Timothy 4:7). This should be our prayer and our cry too. We have a mission – to fulfil our calling and role to win the lost and equip the saints. The Great Commission of Jesus Christ involves evangelism and discipleship. We are called-out and set apart to be salt and light to the world. In the church, there is tendency to measure success in terms of the size of attendance, buildings and money. Another condition is that far too often, many Christians are spectators, when we lay the responsibility for God’s work largely on the shoulders of the five-fold ministers – the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Jesus did not call us just to be churchgoers and pew-warmers, but disciples. To carry out the work of the ministry, we need the anointing of the Holy Spirit. We need to be alive and ignited with the flaming fire of God. The book of Acts is the blueprint of what the church should be and must be. The church was born in power, with a community and worldwide vision. Jesus told the disciples that they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit to be witnesses unto Him, " …both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Throughout the church age, we have men and women of God who have caught the heavenly vision and were consumed with the passion and compassion to declare the good news of the gospel. As labourers, we must point people to look to God as the source. We are not celebrities, but servants with Christ-like humility. Our pride and vanity must be pulled down and removed. It’s all about Jesus, and not about us. In this age of self-esteem and promotion, we need to lose ourselves and let Christ be our everything. We need the anointing and demonstration of the Holy Spirit and of power, to fulfil our mission to win souls. Not entertainment and amusement, but the preaching of the gospel. The gospel message is not always popular with the wise and wealthy in this world. It is not easily accepted by the great and mighty in society. Even the religious are confounded and stumbled by the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross. Many look at the Christian faith as foolish and weak. Yet, it is the preaching of Christ crucified that is the power of God unto salvation. In Acts chapter 17, verses 1 to 6, we read, "Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;" (Acts 17:1-6). Here, we see Paul and Silas who preached Christ boldly, and have turned the world upside down. God’s messengers have often been accused of creating mess but the truth is, for those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, their lives will be turned right side up. It was sin and the fall that have brought disorder in our world. The presentation of the glorious gospel brings light and shines into the darkness of hearts. People can either receive or reject this light. As disciples of Jesus Christ, our mission is to preach the gospel and fulfil the Great Commission, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Let us follow the examples of the apostle Paul and many other men and women of God through the centuries. Let’s be M.A.D. (Mission Anointed Disciples) for Jesus!