June (part 2 of 2)
JUNE 19
"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ". (1 Cor. 12:12).
The Corinthian believers were divided into many groups. They began to call themselves by different names (1 Cor. 1:12,13). When we call ourselves by different names, such as Baptist, Methodist, Anglican Brethren, Pentecostal and so on, it brings division. We all belong only to Christ. We have no right to be called by any other name.
When I applied for a license to solemnize marriages, I was asked, "What is your denomination?" I answered, "The Body of Christ. We have no name and no label; we are only Christians." Then the next question was, "How many members do you have?" I replied, "We do not have any membership, we are all equal. We are all one. All are welcome if they are born again." But this oneness must be maintained.
By laying on of hands we testify together that we are all one and equal in the sight of God. Whatever education or wealth or position we have, it is only by the grace of God. "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (1 Cor. 15:10). Paul the apostle laboured more abundantly than other apostles, only because of the grace of God. If God has given any one of us any gift of teaching or preaching it is only by His grace, we do not deserve it. We are saved by His grace. When we go to heaven we will be rewarded according to our faithfulness, and not according to our gifts.
In the early church the enemy brought division between the Jewish and the Gentile converts. We see in Gal. 2:11-14, how God had to rebuke even Peter through Paul because he began to make such distinction. In India even among believers we find differences of high caste and low caste. In the same way some Christians believe that one cannot take part in the Holy Communion unless he is confirmed. Such divisions come because of wrong teaching. Those who are born again are one and must remain as one. As believers we should refuse to take part any activity, function or ritual which brings division among God's people.
JUNE 20
"And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat". (Num. 7:89).
After God has commanded the children of Israel to build Him a sanctuary, He said very particularly to Moses, "...look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount" (Exo. 25:40). In the chapters following, chapters 25 to 40, we have full details of how the tabernacle was to be made. When the work was all completed exactly "...as the LORD commanded Moses", the glory of the Lord came down and filled the tabernacle (Exo. 40:34).
From that day onwards the Lord began to speak from between the two cherubim (Num. 7:89). If any man wanted to find God's will regarding any matter, he would come to Moses or Aaron. Then Moses or Aaron would go to God and say, "O God, so and so has asked us to find Thy will for him". God would speak from between the cherubim. Then there was a pillar of cloud or fire resting upon the tabernacle. After an interval of some days or weeks or months the cloud would be lifted up and that was the sign from the God that they were to begin their onward march straightway. These were the two great features of the sanctuary: God speaking to the people between the cherubim and the divine presence leading them by a cloud. Without the sanctuary these would not have been possible. For that reason God asked the children of Israel to build Him a sanctuary.
We are told in Hebrews 8:5 that all these "serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things". So the tabernacle made by Moses was only an example or shadow of the true House of God. Just as the sanctuary was essential in the spiritual life of the children of Israel, so the House of God is essential to us also. But where can we find God's House in these days? Alas, so often when you go into places of worship, you do not hear the voice of God there, but rather the noise of pride and greed and strife of men. How can you call such a place the House of God? Further, God does not dwell in buildings made of brick and stone. We, who have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ and are born again, can become the House of God. It makes no difference whether we meet as fellow-believers to worship in a big building or in a small hut. But we also have no right to be called God's House unless the two great features of the sanctuary are found in our midst, that is, God speaking to us and revealing His will, and God's presence in power and glory going before us. In a living Church we can hear God speaking to us and revealing His will and also His power and glory will be seen there.
JUNE 21
"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus". (Phil. 4:19).
When the children of Israel started rebuilding the walls and the burnt gates of Jerusalem, they had to face much opposition from their enemies. They had to face problems that hinder God's work and their full obedience to Him. Because of lack of love among themselves, they had to face many problems. At that time there was a famine in the land. Because of poverty they had to mortgage their vineyards, houses and lands (Neh. 5:3,4). There were some Jews who started taking usury or interest. As believers it is our duty to help those who are in need. If we fail to do this we will be hindering God's work. As God's children we cannot beg for money or food (Psalms 34:10, 37:25). Believers who cannot trust God and are in habit of begging for help and money remain beggars throughout their lives. Those who are in need must learn how to pray for their needs. Those who have more than they actually need, have a duty to pray and find out those who are in need of their help. If this is done according to God's guidance, many needs can be met and there will be no loss.
Some years ago, I happened to stay with a poor family who were good believers. At that time that man of that house had lost his job. One day there was no food at all in the house, not even a piece of bread. But all of them including the small children began to pray without the least murmur. They believed that God would supply their need and therefore they would have no need to beg. While we were still praying we heard a loud noise at the door. We thought that someone had struck with a big stone. But when the door was opened, they found a large gunny bag containing bread, vegetables and other food stuffs sufficient for the whole family. If we as believers start begging, God will not be pleased with us and we will continue to remain as beggars.
JUNE 22
"...now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself". (Hebrews 9:26).
In the tabernacle, only the high priest could go behind the veil once a year. Even he could not go without the blood of the sacrifice. He used to wear special garments which were called garments of glory and beauty (Exo. 28:2,4). There was the white robe; over that the blue robe; at the edge of the blue robe there were golden bells and pomegranates alternatively; over the blue robe came the ephod made of five materials: gold, blue, scarlet, purple and fine linen woven very skillfully. Over the ephod the breastplate was worn, with twelve stones on the upper part of it and the Urim and Thummim underneath.
All these garments speak of Divinity. Before the high priest entered into the most holy place, he had to remove these garments of glory and beauty and put on white clothes instead. This means, before he could take the blood of the sacrifice before God on behalf of the people, he had to become an ordinary man. That is why the Lord Jesus Christ never came into the world like an angel. He came as a man (Heb. 2:16). He became like one of us. Had He wished, He could have come like an angel. But as an angel He could not die on our behalf, because angels do not die. That is why angels cannot understand man's sufferings. The Lord Jesus Christ became like us in order to be our merciful and faithful High Priest. The high priest had to go into the holiest with the blood of the sacrifices on behalf of himself and also on behalf of the people. This happened only once a year on the Day of Atonement.
On the Day of Atonement, the people would gather from many far off places, but they could not go inside the tabernacle. They had to stay outside. They had to confess all their sins by putting their hands upon the head of the animal of sacrifice. That animal signifies the Lord Jesus Christ. When it was slain, the high priest took the blood of the sacrifice behind the veil and sprinkled it on the mercy seat of the ark. Divine fire came down and consumed the blood, indicating that the Holy God had accepted the sacrifice on behalf of the people and had forgiven their sins. Then the high priest came out the Holy of Holies and declared to the people that he went behind the veil on their behalf to offer the blood and had seen fire coming down from heaven. He declared that God had forgiven their sins. That was the happiest day for the whole nation. But none of these sacrifices could make man perfect, because they were only a shadow. Only the sacrifice of Lord Jesus is the perfect sacrifice. By offering Himself, He perfects all those who come to Him.
JUNE 23
"...ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7).
Even though king Cyrus made an open proclamation that all the Jews who desired to return could do so, yet many stayed back because they were not willing to believe. In the same way if we also fail to believe and claim God's promises, He cannot work in us and through us. As believers we should keep our belief in God's promises very firm, and claim them for meeting our needs. There are many who say they believe in the Bible and yet they do not obey what it says. They are more inclined to follow man made customs, rituals and practices. On the one hand they profess to trust God, but on the other hand when they are in need of money, they start begging. Some people conduct healing campaigns and they say that they trust God to do the healing on their behalf. Yet it is strange to note, that when it comes to the question of their finances, they do not apply the same faith, but at this point they look to man for financial help. The God who could heal, could He not also provide money for all their needs? They fail to follow the Word of God implicitly. Only by obeying Him and His Word implicitly can we see God working on our behalf. According to John 15:7 we should abide in the Lord Jesus Christ by keeping ourselves controlled and led by Him in every step of our life. We must obey Him in all matters, only then can we see the fulfillment of His promise, namely, "...ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7). Thus Nehemiah believed and then started to obey, and God on His part also started to work on his behalf.
JUNE 24
"...he is the head of the body, the church: ... that in all things he might have the preeminence" (Col. 1:18).
The house built by Moses was according to the pattern shown by God. That house was only a shadow of the house which is now being built by the Lord Jesus Christ. God kept Moses in the wilderness for forty years and then on the mountain for 40 days to empty him for his own wisdom. There, on the mountain, God gave him the heavenly pattern of the house to be built and also warned him to take heed and build after the pattern which was shown (Exo. 25:40). Every detail of the construction of the tabernacle was shown to Moses. Neither Moses nor anyone else could change the pattern. The words "as the LORD commanded Moses" are repeated eight times in Exodus chapter 40. In building the tabernacle, Moses followed every detail given by God. Only then God's glory could fill the tabernacle. Now the Lord Jesus Christ is building the spiritual House with our partnership. None of us can make any change in that plan. If Moses could not make any alteration in building the material house, how can we make any alteration for the spiritual House? But many God's servants make some changes, and do God's work with human wisdom. That is why we see defeat, failure, barrenness and darkness in our midst. We are warned from God's Word to take heed in building His House. In the name of a constitution, people have brought in many changes. Also darkness and wrong teaching have crept into the Church.
If we want to take any share in the building of God's House, first of all, we must keep ourselves under the Headship, Lordship and Kingship of the Lord Jesus Christ. To build a large building, the chief engineer will have a plan. Masons and other workers will be under him. Whatever he says they must do. In the same way, when our personal life, family life and church life are brought under the complete Lordship, Headship and Kingship of the Lord Jesus Christ, we can hear God's voice day by day for our guidance. But if we are defiled by any sin, we become deaf spiritually and cannot hear God's voice. That is why many people are deaf spiritually and their ears are hardened so that they cannot understand what God wants to say. Also they become blind spiritually. They do not know God's plan. Only by keeping ourselves under the Headship of the Lord Jesus Christ in our personal life, family life, and church life, we can know God's will. Then we will become partners in building God's everlasting habitation. At the same time we can enjoy God's fullness in His House. God's love is fully expressed in His House. Every one of us has a Heavenly calling to be true co-workers of the Lord Jesus Christ, to build HIS everlasting habitation under His Headship. We can take our share in the building of that glorious sanctuary, provided we are willing to come under His Headship and Lordship.
JUNE 25
"To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna"(Rev. 2:17).
When I began my Christian service, I thought that by having some extra spiritual gift God would be able to work through me in a deeper and stronger way. I longed to see miracles and signs performed. Accordingly God led me to see many such miracles happening in several places. Afterwards I myself saw that the very same people who were the means of performing miracles went back to sin and darkness. So I understood that God does not work through outward signs. He works in a very quiet way unknown to us.
Even among believers, many depend too much upon outward things. They think that by going to meetings, hearing good sermons, receiving good teaching, meeting good people, they can become spiritually strong. Yet they remain poor spiritually because they have never learned to eat the hidden manna. The hidden manna is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. You can eat Him when you wait on Him quietly and alone. It is possible that you may read the Bible for hours at a time; you may even pray for hours and you may fast regularly for one or two days or even a week, yet you may feel that you are empty and defeated. It is because you have not learned the secret of feeding on the hidden manna quietly.
When you go to the Lord do you always with petitions and requests? How much time do you spend in really praising and adoring Him? It is very easy to bring our petitions for ourselves and others and to give very little time to worshipping and adoring Him. The real meaning of eating and drinking Him, is to adore Him, worship Him, exalt Him and magnify His Name. By eating and drinking Him we receive life into us. When you have learnt the secret of hidden manna, you will be completely freed from all earthly and natural desires, and also freed from thinking that you have plenty Bible knowledge. In my early Christian life, I thought that If I could learn the Bible by heart and memorize many verses, and fill myself with Bible knowledge, I would become spiritually strong. So I began to read the Bible night and day, and still I was spiritually hungry, unsatisfied. The hidden manna is not Bible knowledge. But when the Lord became my Living Bread, and I learnt to adore Him, my hunger was satisfied.
JUNE 26
"In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you"(1 Thess. 5:18).
In England on Coronation Day there is a grand royal procession, when the king and the queen in the beautiful royal coach. The royal coach is used only on that day. Before it is used for the procession, it is sent to a special place for cleaning and polishing. There are lamp stands on both the sides of the coach. Once a young boy was appointed to polish these lamp stands. He worked very, very hard and made them look very bright. On the day of the procession, he too stood in a particular place waiting for the coach. After much waiting the royal coach drawn by eight horses arrived. As the coach came near, the boy shouted with joy, "Look how they shine, look how they shine!" The man near him asked, "What?" He replied, "The lamp stands." He was not looking at the king or the queen, he was looking at the lamp stands. Why was he so happy? Because he had made them shine; he had some share in the procession. The same is true of us because our trials, afflictions and difficulties will give all of us a share in the New Creation. This is a mystery.
All of us as believers have some share in the New Creation. Our earthly trials, however painful they may be should not discourage us because all the suffering which we go through is contribution for the coming New Creation. So for a believer, failure and success have the same joy. As we grow spiritually we can thank God for everything because we know that God uses our failures also for a purpose. Many people who were careless have been drawn closer to God through sickness, poverty and hardship. Many truths in God's word become real at the time of trials. The Psalmist says so in Psa. 119:67,71 and Psa. 66:10- 12. If we go on praising God for all kinds of trials and afflictions and hardships we are brought into a larger and wealthier place spiritually. "He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me" (Psa. 18:17 - 19).
As believers, for every situation we can pray, "Lord, what are you teaching us through this situation?" Then thank God for the ways He uses; it may be sickness or health, failure or success, poverty or wealth, friends or enemies. We can thank God for all our enemies because they keep us humble. That is God's method. The more enemies we have more humble we are. By nature we are proud and keep away from God. By remaining humble we are brought nigh unto Him. According to Isa. 57:15 God lives only in two places, in the Holy place and in the humble heart. And that humility does not come easily. We all have some pride of country, education, caste, job etc. But under all circumstances we must be kept humble. Paul testifies in 1 Cor. 15:10 saying, "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." We praise God for every situation He takes us through, to make us useful and fruitful to draw us nigh unto Himself, to give us the honour to be used by Him for the New Creation and to make us a part of His dwelling place for eternity.
JUNE 27
"... I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation" (2 Cor. 7:4).
In 2 Cor. 12:3,4 Paul says, "And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter". What a privilege it was to be caught up to the third heaven and hear unspeakable words beyond man's understanding!
There God gave him many visions and revelations. Though Paul had many visions and revelations, he could not know the meaning of grace. God could have taught him about grace in the third heaven, but God knows better. He taught him through pain. If you want to know God you have to be upon the earth and learn about His grace. The apostle was a learned man and he knew the Scriptures well as he himself testified in Phil. 3:5,6. He was quite familiar with all the Scriptures and prophecies. But neither miracles, nor knowledge of Scriptures taught him the meaning of grace. We read that the Lord allowed a thorn in his flesh. It was a very, very painful one. Many preachers and scholars try to find out what the thorn was. When God Himself is silent about it we should not go on trying to guess. It is for a purpose God has kept it a secret. It must have been a painful thorn because Paul prayed three times for its removal. He did not murmur or grumble about his physical pain. We shed tears for small things. Before any trouble comes we cry and say, "Who is going to look after us?" But Paul was not such a man; he never grumbled or complained. In 2 Cor. 7:4, he says very truthfully that he was extremely joyful in tribulation and did not murmur
In 2 Cor. 11:23-27 we see a list of all the trials Paul had to go through. But he never said, "Lord, why hast Thou brought all this upon me?" He never grumbled even once. But the thorn in his flesh was extremely painful. His own strength must have been exhausted. That was why he begged the Lord thrice. He must have prayed saying, "Lord, I beg Thee, I beseech Thee, take away my thorn". These are not ordinary words. Again he prayed, "Lord, I beg Thee to take it away". The third time also he must have said, "Please see my pain, and remove the thorn". But the Lord said, "My grace is sufficient for thee, That is the only way I can teach about grace". Paul preached boldly to everyone saying, "By grace are ye saved"; "I am what I am by the grace of God" and so on. He preached and wrote these words that people may experience God's grace. He alone had the privilege of being caught up to the third heaven, in the history of the whole Church. Now God was saying, "My beloved Paul, what I did not say to you in the third heaven or teach you by other means, I have to teach you by this painful thorn. It must remain there. That is why the thorn is given to you. Do not pray any more". From that day he stopped praying and said, "Lord, I thank Thee for this thorn". Whenever the thorn became painful, he began to sing and praise God saying, "I thank Thee Lord for the thorn. I want Thy grace, more grace, still more grace".
JUNE 28
"... the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:19).
In Rev. 21, we see the New Creation. The old things are fully passed away, and the Heavenly Jerusalem comes forth as the Bride, the Lamb's wife. It is by the Lamb and by His blood that a wife has been prepared for Him. The city is only for those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life, for those who are walking in the light of the Lamb, and those who have taken the Lamb for their foundation. The thought is that full preparation for the New Creation is only by the Lamb. The life of the Lord is in His blood, and only by that blood we have been cleansed, washed and purified. That is why we see the cherubim always looking at the blood on the mercy seat of the Ark.
In Exo. 25:18,20,21, we read about the Ark. The Ark was the type of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was made of ordinary shittim wood, and not of teak wood or rosewood, because the Lord Jesus Christ became a man like us. Shittim wood is found in every part of the world. The Lord was born in a manger and took upon Himself the form of a man for us. That is the meaning of shittim word. We read that the ark was covered with gold inside and outside. Even though the Lord had the form of a man, He was perfect God, pure gold. On the top of the box was the mercy seat of pure gold, and from the same golden piece were formed the cherubim. That tells us that the same life of the Lord Jesus Christ is given to His people. These two cherubim are a type of the Church and show how both the Jews and the Gentiles are made partakers of the same life. God said to Moses, "I will commune with thee...from between the two cherubims" (v.22). In Eph. 1:23 we see that God's fullness is the Church, of which the cherubim are a type. We all become one, because of the one life which we share.
We are told that the faces of the cherubim were to look constantly on the mercy seat, where the blood was sprinkled. We too must keep our eyes on the blood. God was saying from between the cherubim, "I will speak with thee and meet with thee,." but it was possible only because of the blood. If there has been no blood on the mercy seat, God would not have been there. Communion with God was possible only where the blood was sprinkled. Then the glory of God came down and He spoke from between the cherubim. We too can commune with God only through the blood of the Lamb.
All God's thoughts of eternity are only revealed by the Lamb. You will find that the preaching of that blood is criticized much more than anything else in the Bible. The devil knows that he is going to be defeated by the blood. If you want to enjoy abundant life then learn all that you can about Lamb of God and the value of His precious blood. It is then only that you will understand the meaning of the New Creation, and the part that God has for you in that Creation, as the Bride, the Lamb's wife. The Lamb has given to His Bride His own name the "Lamb's wife". That is the highest expression of God's love for His Church. It is a heavenly mystery, the mystery of divine love - the sharing of God's life in fullness and becoming a part of God's New Creation, beholding His face and sharing His glory as His partners.
JUNE 29
"And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God..." (2 Cor. 6:16).
One wealthy man built a mansion. The middle room had a very high and beautiful ceiling. Skilful artists were engaged to decorate it with silver, gold and precious stones. When the work was complete he invited his friends to come and see the beautiful ceiling. It was indeed very beautiful but because it was very high they could not see it clearly. They had to bend their backs and yet could not see it clearly. Then he brought a high table and upon it he put a very big mirror and said, "Don't bend your backs. Look into the mirror". It is God's will that by His grace, His glory, beauty and majesty which cannot be revealed through angels, mountains, sun, moon and stars may be reflected through us. For that purpose we are purchased by the Lord. And that is why we have to live a life worthy of such a calling.
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Phil. 3:20). But we find many believers imitating unbelievers in their dress and manners. Many young men keep long hair like women. They think they look more handsome that way. But they do not know how ugly they look. Many men and women imitate cine stars, actors and actresses. Many young girls imitate ungodly and heathen women and keep their bodies half naked. Such believers remain barren spiritually. They have no understanding of their heavenly vocation in the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thess 2:12; 2 Thess. 2:14,15). We have to be careful with our words also (Matt. 12:36-37). Our yea should be yea, and nay should be nay; but some believers tell many lies. If someone offers you food you say, "I just had my food". But if they insist, you eat a plateful. Our yea must be yea, and nay, nay. In habits, conversation, manners and in everything we have to glorify God. For the same reason the Israelites had to have a blue fringe in the border of their garments (Num. 15:37-41), to show that they were God's chosen people and that they should be different from others. Believers also must live a life of entire separation from others and only then they will have full understanding of God's Word.
When the children of Israel came near the Promised Land, they were commanded not to imitate the heathen living in the land in any way. They had to utterly destroy their idols and groves (Deut. 12:2,3). They had to be governed completely at every step by the Word of God and not to follow the nations in any way. They were not to be governed by the customs and practices of the people in Canaan. Otherwise they would be tempted to bow down before their gods. Now the same thing is happening among Christians also. They imitate the heathen at the time of their birthdays, marriages, funerals and death anniversaries. As a result they become blind spiritually. We are told clearly to live a life of utter separation and not to imitate worldly people (2 Cor 6:14-18). Do not be deceived by the practices of the heathen. If you follow their customs, you too will become blind: totally blind spiritually. We must keep ourselves wholly and solely under the Headship of the Lord Jesus Christ and obey His Word.
JUNE 30
"Have faith in God" (Mark 11:22).
Faith is a fundamental, foundational principle of the doctrine of salvation. We should have faith toward God. For everything we need to have faith. For prayer we need faith. To receive His life we need faith. Otherwise whatever we do will be a failure. That is why on many occasions the Lord said to the sick, "Thy faith hath saved thee" (Luke 7:50; 8:48; 17:19; 18:42). According to Matthew 9:2, seeing the faith of the men who carried the paralytic, the Lord healed him. It is by faith we can understand unseen things. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1). The unseen things which are real cannot be understood by the visible. However clever we may be, they are mysteries to us, but by faith we can understand the heavenly mysteries and unseen things. By faith our prayers are answered. By faith we enjoy His power, By faith we obey the Lord and follow Him.
Our spiritual life is lived by faith. By faith we bind Satan. By faith we claim the promises of God. It is by faith that we can have eternal life. That is why repentance and faith go together. Those who have no faith cannot grow spiritually. Many preachers have no faith. Even though they hold big meetings and campaigns, yet when they want money they start begging. That is where they go wrong. They have so many schemes and devices to get money. When they plan to have Gospel campaigns they start writing letters and go on giving hints for many months. That is not faith. By having a living and strong faith in our Lord we can enjoy His perfect peace and have all our needs met. Thus we see how faith is the fundamental and foundational principle of prayer life, Bible study or any other service.