Christian Living

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The old man surveyed his audience. It had been forty years since he and their parents fled for their lives from Egypt’s Pharaoh and his army; the escape from slavery punctuated by the LORD’s might, power and miraculous interventions. The man who was himself once the Prince of Egypt was saying goodbye to the first generation of Israelis to have never experienced Egyptian slavery.
The people were impatient; their excitement palpable as they prepared to cross the Jordan River and enter the Promised Land to establish their new nation. It was Moses’ responsibility to ensure the probably 2 million Israelis gathered before him knew their history; but more importantly, for each one to know their Deliverer. Moses asked the question with which, since the beginning of time, each person has been confronted. “What does the LORD your God require of you?”

After years of instruction, writing an untold number of scrolls detailing religious, civil, and criminal statutes and ordinances, along with the nation’s covenants and history, Moses’ answer to his own question was surprisingly terse and succinct. “To revere him, to obey all his commandments, to love him, to serve him with all your mind and being,” Moses declared, “and to keep the LORD’s commandments and statutes that I am giving you today for your own good… He is the one you should praise. He is your God.”
Perhaps three centuries later a famous prolific writer and researcher renowned for wisdom published his findings. When he was a young man - before he became an accomplished wealthy building contractor and developer - his father counseled him; “Obey the God of your father and serve him with a submissive attitude and a willing spirit, for the LORD examines all minds and understands every motive of one’s thoughts. If you seek him, he will let you find him, but if you abandon him, he will reject you permanently. Realize now that the LORD has chosen you… Be strong…”

Later in life, after all his noteworthy accomplishments, Solomon, son of David and King of Israel chose to experience every pleasure and indulgence money and privilege could buy, only to discover each pursuit to be futile – utterly futile. “Having heard everything,” Solomon wrote, “I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.”

Fast forward another two centuries. God spoke to a man from an obscure rural farming community - not of royal birth, urbane, famous or wealthy. He was a person dedicated to the LORD God of the nation, someone God could use to communicate His message. Micah proclaimed “He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the LORD really wants from you: He wants you to promote justice, to be faithful, and to live obediently before your God.”

When the LORD divinely revealed coming destruction because of the people’s rebellion, injustice to others, unfaithfulness and disobedience, Micah still had hope and declared “There is no other God like you! You forgive sin and pardon the rebellion… You do not remain angry forever, but delight in showing loyal love. You will once again have mercy on us; you will conquer our evil deeds; you will hurl our sins into the depths of the sea.”

These three men from diametrically opposite backgrounds who lived centuries apart speak the same essential message – obedience, love, and the fear of the LORD God is the answer to all life’s questions.

What is the fear of the LORD God? Fear or reverence of the LORD God begins with profound respect, awe, dread and wonder inspired by the genius and authority of the One who, by His might and power, created, the entire universe; the One who rules and reigns over the world and is intimately involved in every aspect of life; the beauty of the One who embodies pure, righteous, unconditional, everlasting and loyal love administered with justice and mercy.

The result of the fear of LORD God is unshakable confidence in Him; one’s mind and emotions are fully persuaded that He asks a person to do nothing which is not in one’s best interest; He will not allow into anyone’s life any problem, difficulty, or tragedy for which He does not already have a solution, and further, He takes responsibility for and resolves any and every care, worry, or concern committed to Him. He is in charge! He rules and reigns over all! He is the only one who deserves worship, thanksgiving and praise! Because of this divine fear, one chooses to be His loyal follower – one who loves Him and obeys all His commands because of one’s faith and hope in Him.

The evidence of one’s love is obedience to His word: whole heartily promoting justice, faithfulness, and equity, in every sphere of one’ influence, i.e. love. Each person is born to be a world class lover. The one who chooses to fear the LORD God doesn’t live in fear of any other person or circumstance.

Jeremiah Challenges each person to have faith – unshakable confidence - in the LORD: “The LORD says, ‘I will put a curse on people who trust in mere human beings, who depend on mere flesh and blood for their strength, and whose hearts have turned away from the LORD. They will be like a shrub in the desert. They will not experience good things even when they happen. It will be as though they were growing in the desert, in a salt land where no one can live.

“‘My blessing is on those people who trust in me, who put their confidence in me. They will be like a tree planted near a stream whose roots spread out toward the water. It has nothing to fear when the heat comes. Its leaves are always green. It has no need to be concerned in a year of drought. It does not stop bearing fruit.’”

What are the LORD’s Commandments? During His public ministry, political and religious leaders continually endeavored to entrap and accuse Jesus of breaking God’s commandments. Once, an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus replied, “What is written in the law? How do you understand it?”
“Love the Lord your God” the expert responded, “with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus assured, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

On another occasion the Sadducees endeavored to entrap Jesus. An expert in religious law overhead the discussion and asked, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” “The most important,” Jesus responded, “is ‘Listen, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
The expert in religious law agreed. “That is true, Teacher; you are right to say that he is one, and there is no one else besides him. And to love him with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your strength and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Jesus then said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
Later Jesus gave further instruction to His disciples: “I give you a new commandment – to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. Everyone will know by this that you are my disciples – if you have love for one another.”

Paul picks up this theme when teaching new Believers: “You yourselves are taught by God to love one another.” “The one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.”

“Dear friends,” the Apostle John wrote, “I am writing a new commandment to you… because the darkness is passing away and the True Light is already shining. The one who says he is in the light but still hates his fellow Christian is still in the darkness. The one who loves his fellow Christian resides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But the one who hates his fellow Christian is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” The problem with which I am confronted is how can this be accomplished? Is there anything more difficult than loving and forgiving the unlovable?

What is the LORD’s Example? Jesus prayed “that they will all be one.”

Paul echoes His word and admonishes Believers to “Be of the same mind, by having the same love, being united in spirit, and having one purpose. Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.

“You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross!”

How could the Father allow His Son – His closest companion – to leave heaven? Why did Jesus, of His own volition, empty Himself of divine nature to take on human nature? That He did this because He loved me is beyond my comprehension. Even more so is the death He died, to ensure salvation for such an ungrateful, selfish, sinful person. To have the same attitude toward others that Christ Jesus had and love other equally ungrateful, selfish, and sinful people, like Jesus loved me is beyond my capability.

There is no greater love than one who lays down his life for his friends. Jesus left heaven and died for me before I was His friend. I want to be obedient but don’t know how.

If Jesus emptied Himself of divine nature, what was the source of His power and authority – and love? Isaiah gives the answer. The LORD's Spirit rested on Him — a Spirit that gave Him extraordinary wisdom, a Spirit that provided the ability to execute plans, a Spirit that produced absolute loyalty to the LORD. Jesus took delight in obeying the LORD.

The LORD’s Spirit produces specific behaviors, such as not judging by mere appearances or making decisions on the basis of hearsay. “I can do nothing on my own initiative,” Jesus told the religious leaders. “Just as I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of the One who sent me.” “Don't be impressed by… appearance… God does not view things the way men do. People look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Fair and equitable treatment of those in need along with just decisions for anyone who is downtrodden is another aspect of Spirit filled behavior. The LORD hears the prayers of the oppressed and makes them feel secure. The LORD defends the fatherless and oppressed, so that mere mortals may no longer terrorize them. God neither shows partiality to princes nor takes note of the rich more than the poor - all are the work of his hands.

Isaiah prophetically revealed what Paul affirmed: When Jesus returns He will “strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and order the wicked to be executed.” Jesus will deal the man of lawlessness - the son of destruction who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship… displaying himself as God… The Lord will “destroy him by the breath of his mouth and wipe out by the manifestation of his arrival…. Those who found no place in their hearts for the truth so as to be saved – all of them who have not believed the truth but have delighted in evil – will be condemned.”

“I, the LORD, probe into people’s minds. I examine people’s hearts. I deal with each person according to how he has behaved. I give them what they deserve based on what they have done.”
“As surely as I live,” declares the Sovereign LORD, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but prefer that the wicked change his behavior and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil deeds!”

Jesus takes these actions because justice is like a belt around his waist, integrity [faithfulness] is like a belt around his hips. “I, the LORD, act out of faithfulness, fairness, and justice in the earth and I desire people to do these things…” These texts reveal the Holy Spirit’s power: The One on whom He rests will destroy wickedness; know each persons most intimate thoughts and intents; and administer justice throughout the entire world.

Anyone who has been treated unjustly, unfairly, or unfaithfully will be vindicated by God. “Do not avenge yourselves… give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

“Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap unfailing love... it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers deliverance on you.”

What does the LORD’s Promise? “I will pour out my Spirit on all kinds of people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your elderly will have revelatory dreams; your young men will see prophetic visions. Even on male and female servants I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” The LORD’s Spirit which rested on Jesus is the same Spirit Jesus promised for His followers – for you and me!

“If you love me, you will obey my commandments” Jesus stated. “The Father… will give you another Advocate to be with you forever – the Spirit of Truth… He resides with you and will be in you. The Spirit of Truth… will guide you into all truth.

“Wait there for what my Father promised… You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now… You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…”
After Jesus ascends to Heaven, His followers are obedient and return to an upstairs room in Jerusalem, where, in unanimous agreement, they continue together in prayer. Just after dawn on the day of the Feast of Harvest when the tithes, Summer First Fruits, and Thank Offerings are presented to the LORD, along with loaves of leavened bread symbolizing the LORD’s abundance, the power of the LORD’s Spirit is released in abundance, the church is born, and the world forever changed.

On that very day three-thousand Jews become Believers. The Believers continue in harmonious agreement, caring for and sharing with each other. The Apostles perform miracles - even more Believers are added. A man crippled from birth is publically healed, everyone is amazed. Peter preaches, another 5,000 Jews become Believers, but Peter and John are thrown in prison. After they are released and pray for boldness, sick people are carried into the streets and put on cots and pallets, so when Peter passes by at least his shadow will fall on some of them. During the next five or six years the Apostles are again arrested and released. More people become Believers but the religious leaders are filled with jealousy. Stephen, a young deacon in the Jerusalem church, is convicted of blasphemy. Based on perjured testimony, he is stoned to death. Saul, a young Jewish zealot leads in persecution; Believers are thrown in prison and their material possession confiscated. They flee from Jerusalem. The Good News of Christ Jesus begins to spread throughout the Roman Empire.

Jesus Himself confronts Saul and he becomes zealous for Jesus. Believers in Jerusalem live in peace for several years as the Gospel continues to spread and Gentiles receive the Holy Spirit. A significant body of Believers comprised of Jews and Greeks springs up in Antioch, Turkey. Barnabas is sent from Jerusalem to minister to them. He finds Saul and they establish a joint ministry. Then James the Apostle is martyred; Peter is again imprisoned, but miraculously delivered by an angel. Believers in Jerusalem again experience persecution. James the brother of Jesus and head of the church in Jerusalem writes a letter of encouragement to Jewish Believers living outside Jerusalem. Saul, and Barnabas, begin an itinerate ministry, traveling throughout Cypress and Turkey.

About 20 years after the Day of Pentecost, the first hint of heresy enters the church. A group from Jerusalem begins to teach that Believers must be circumcised in order to be saved. Paul (formerly known as Saul) writes his first Epistle, a letter to the Galatians, in which he assures the Believers they are saved by grace not works (in this case circumcision), emphasizes the need to love each other and identifies the Fruit of the Spirit as love: joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Two or three years after the heresy is nipped in the bud we have the first record of Paul’s major teaching about the Holy Spirit. After he learns the pagan Corinthian society is influencing, corrupting, and causing division among the Believers in the church he helped establish in Corinth, he writes to them, expressing concerns about church divisions, sexual immorality, and other issues, then addresses spiritual gifts, different ministries, love, prophesy and tongues, as well as church order.

The Corinthian church includes former pagans (Greeks) influenced by the characteristics (and demonic spirits) of which ever idol had been worshipped, along with Jews who formerly kept Mosaic Law. Paul addresses the jealousies and rivalries which have erupted from the conflict between cultures and former religions. “Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks ask for wisdom, but we preach about a crucified Christ, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”

Paul emphasizes that any one empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak, acknowledges Jesus is Lord. There is one Holy Spirit of God who manifests Himself with a variety of gifts, ministries, and results. The Holy Spirit’s gifts and ministries are intended to benefit everyone. “One person” Paul writes, “is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, and another the message of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another performance of miracles, another prophecy, and to another discernment of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. It is one and the same Spirit, distributing as he decides to each person, who produces all these things.”
“God has placed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, gifts of healing, helps, gifts of leadership, different kinds of tongues. Not all are apostles, are they? Not all are prophets, are they? Not all are teachers, are they? Not all perform miracles, do they? Not all have gifts of healing, do they? Not all speak in tongues, do they? Not all interpret, do they? Paul points out the church is the body of Christ Jesus. Each person performs an essential function whether that function appears to be of greater or lesser importance or honor. But there are three gifts of the Holy Spirit which honors everyone. “You should be eager for the greater gifts” Paul declares, “a way that is beyond comparison.

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but I do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away everything I own, and if I give over my body in order to boast, but do not have love, I receive no benefit.
Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up. It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful. It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.

But if there are prophecies, they will be set aside; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be set aside… And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. Pursue love…

At what point did the power and manifestations of the Holy Spirit slip from individual Christians and the church? Was it when religious rules and ritual replaced living in love? Was it when self-fulfillment replaced God’s fulfillment? Was it when self-righteousness replaced God’s righteousness - when love and forgiveness became an option? Was it when self-sufficiency replaced God’s sufficiency and self-confidence replaced unshakable confidence in God? Was it because we stopped fearing God?

But there is hope! “If my people, who belong to me, humble themselves, pray, seek to please me, and repudiate their sinful practices, then I will respond from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” God calls for His people – not nonbelievers - to humble themselves, pray, seek to please Him, and repudiate their sinful practices. It is the Holy Spirit’s responsibility to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. Religious leaders, who said it was the sin of the nation which caused the 9/11 attack, Katrina’s devastation, etc., spoke truth, but targeted the wrong group. Just like Daniel we begin with ourselves - the individual and the church!
Response from heaven to heal the family, community, church, region, and nation begins with Believers – humbling ourselves, loving God and loving each other as the LORD said to do. Is there any sin or wrong which does not begin a violation of God command to love Him, and love others as He loves us?

“Just as the Father has loved me, I have also loved you,” Jesus told His disciples, “remain in my love. If you obey my commandments, you will remain in my love... I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that remains, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. This I command you – to love one another.”

Jesus calls me and anyone else who is listening to partner with Him and take immediate action, and (1) Love your enemies, (2) Do good to those who hate you, (3) Bless those who curse you, (4) Pray for those who mistreat you. If my first responsibility is to love. I need a clear picture of the love I am to pursue:
Love is a covenant – compassionate, faithful, forgiving, just, kind, loyal, merciful, unconditional and unending;
Love is obedience – conscious deliberate decisions leading to actions, reactions, or inactions of love;
Love is not an emotion, an impulse from feelings, or a spontaneous occurrence;
Love does not arise out of the beauty, distinction, merit, perfection, or virtue of the one loved;
Love encourages and benefits the person in need; and inspires others to do good works and love;
Love is patient, kind, fervent, without hypocrisy, unselfish, gracious, and covers a multitude of sins;
Love is never envious, proud, rude, self serving, easily angered, resentful, glad about injustice, or a braggart;
Love always rejoices in the truth; bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things;
Love’s evidence is joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control;
Love is to be my controlling behavior – I choose to live in love. Without love I am nothing.

This love is the gift, power, and manifestation of God’s Holy Spirit – the same Spirit which produces delight in obeying and absolute loyalty to the Lord.
This love is the miraculous transformation of my spirit by the Spirit who is from God, so that I may know the things that are freely given to me by God.
I am to be a World Class Lover, not (1) pass judgment on, or (2) be a stumbling block to anyone for whom Christ died. After all, the God who lives in me is love.
My next responsibility is to behave in love - to do good - honor and respect anyone for whom Christ died, unrelated to how I am treated by that person. After the Holy Spirit transforms my spirit to love, doing good for the object of my prayers is pleasure.

Then I am speak in love – bless - speak well of with love and seek God’s blessing on that person. If Satan tries to defeat me by implanting disapproval, criticism, complaint or painful memories in my mind, I counter with praise and thanksgiving – which defeats him!
Jesus draws people to Himself through His unconditional loyal love – not judgment, rejection, complaining, demeaning, belittling, nagging, criticism or manipulation. As an instrument of His love and following His example, I do not think or speak judgment, nor do I demean, criticize, complain or gossip about, ridicule, or even point out mistakes of someone I love and anyone God sees as valued and precious in His sight.

Finally, I pray in love so whatever I ask the Father in Jesus’ name He will give me. Ask, and it will be given to you; Seek, and you will find; Knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door is opened by the One who opens doors no one can close, and closes doors no one can open.

My Loving Father invites me to continually approach Him with my needs. I ask – He sends His word. I seek – He enlightens my understanding as I worship. I knock – He hears. With the door open wide, He welcomes me and accepts my supplications. As a partner, He accepts responsibility for the outcome of each person, concern, and need surrendered (released) to Him. My responsibility is to love, do good, bless, and pray – then get out of the way. God performs the miracle. The fulfillment of His word reveals His glory.

And how does God respond to such prayer? He “blesses” – intervenes and turns each one from iniquities. He provides times of refreshing from His presence, delivered from the power of darkness and transferred to the Kingdom of the Son He loves in whom we have redemption - the forgiveness of sin. He transforms those committed to Him so they are holy and unblemished in His sight in love, wrapped in the love of God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.

Why are you upset? Wait for God! Do not be anxious about anything.
Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God.
And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

I will again give thanks to my God for His saving intervention.
The account of His intervention will be recorded for future generations;
people yet to be born will praise the LORD.

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