Fear God (4)

The brothers in Galatia had believed the gospel, but they quickly turn to a different gospel due to some people as it is written; Gal 1:6 (NIV) I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel.

After reading and meditating Galatians chapter 4 verse 19; My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, the following scriptures came to me; Acts 2:47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. The scriptures is telling us when new believer start to repent and follow Jesus, they are considered as “being saved“. That repentance is much more than a sinner’s prayer, it will show evidence of “Christ is formed in you“. By the help of the Spirit he imitate Jesus, then gradually being transformed into Christ like.

But whoever does not die to the self, Christ can’t be formed in him. Jesus made it very clear in Luke 9:23-25 Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? People have no idea what it means, so they keep asking Jesus to come into their hearts without denying the self, and many ended up being deceived badly, unable to do the will of God.

The evidence of “Christ is formed in you” is stated in 1John 2:5-6 But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. Jesus also said in John 14:12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

To have real faith in Jesus is not easy. For example, the brothers in Corinth were worldly, mere infants in Christ as it is written; 1Cor 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1Cor 3:1 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly — mere infants in Christ. So in this case, Paul gave them this instruction; 1Cor 4:16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. This is what we have to practice “until Christ is formed in you“.

But this command of imitate me are not well received, many peddle the word of God for profit. 2Cor 2:15-17 For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.

We see two type of people here “those who are being saved and those who are perishing“, being saved are the ones who imitate Paul and Christ. Those who are perishing do not imitate, instead they followed so many who “peddle the word of God for profit”. The same thing is happening today, many have been attending local churches decade after decade, and yet still do not know God, and Christ is still not formed in them. Because they have been fed with modified versions of gospel, false teachers are trying very hard to take control of many visible churches. as it is written; 2Pet 2:2-3 Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. These stories seems nice on the surface, but the real purpose is misleading the sheep into not seeking God so that many will follow their shameful ways.

Savage wolves will come in

Paul spent 3 years warning the flock to be on their guard against false teaching in Acts 20:29-31, I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

God has sent many warnings to us through his servants. For example, the “Studies on Saving Faith” written by Arthur W. Pink, 1932. In Part one. Signs of the Times, he wrote; “The “evangelism” of the day is not only superficial to the last degree, but it is radically defective. It is utterly lacking a foundation on which to base an appeal for sinners to come to Christ. There is not only a lamentable lack of proportion (the mercy of God being made far more prominent than His holiness, His love than His wrath), but there is a fatal omission of that which God has given for the purpose of imparting a knowledge of sin.

“The WAY of salvation is falsely defined. In most instances the modern “evangelist” assures his congregation that all any sinner has to do in order to escape Hell and make sure of Heaven is to “receive Christ as his personal Savior.” But such teaching is utterly misleading. No one can receive Christ as his Savior — while he rejects Him as Lord. It is true the preacher adds that, the one who accepts Christ should also surrender to Him as Lord, but he at once spoils it by asserting that though the convert fails to do so, nevertheless Heaven is sure to him. That is one of the Devil’s lies.

“Alas, alas, God’s “way of salvation” is almost entirely unknown today, the nature of Christ’s salvation is almost universally misunderstood, and the terms of His salvation misrepresented on every hand. The “Gospel” which is now being proclaimed is, in nine cases out of every ten, but a perversion of the Truth, and tens of thousands, assured they are bound for Heaven, are now hastening to Hell, as fast as time can take them!

I don’t know if it’s better today, according to a Barna’s 2024 report, half of the churchgoers say they are “comfortable with how much pornography” they use. So many are deceived and taken captive by the evil ones, they have no problem to live in sin and persuade others to do the same. The real tragedy is; the sheep don’t have to listen to any wolf or liar or blind guide, they can learn to inquire of the Lord. For the promise is there; Matt 7:7-11 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! But not many are asking.

Therefore, strive to seek God for gifts like the Spirit of truth, knowledge, faith, love and prophecy, for the wicked do not want to see this. I remember it clearly, ever since I learned to get truth and knowledge from the Holy Spirit, all men’s sermons or commentaries became so useless as they include too much unnecessary ideas, opinions and errors.

Although false brothers seems to have successfully draw away many disciples after them, the young generation is already waking up. In Feb 2023, after the evening service 19 students started Asbury revival by lingering in a prayer that wouldn’t stop. So many people encountered God or touched by Jesus, as no one was preaching. In 14 days the Hughes Auditorium received around 50 to 70 thousands of visitors, many lined up in the cold for long hours waiting for a space in the Auditorium. It shows more sheep are hungry and thirst for experiencing the living God and His presence, people are tired of those “paddle the word of God for profit” for a very long time already.

God’s people can always use the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God to free themselves from trap and bondage set up by the devil. Especially by praying the Psalms we can fight and win the spiritual war which is invisible to our eyes. We have to understand, it is written; The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. We have to keep praying like psalm 86:11 Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.

Doing good or mocking God

We are deceived by our flesh all the time, for example, I know Gal 6:7-8 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Although not very sure how to avoid mocking God, nevertheless I did not care about this too much. Recently when I read this verse again, I realized I have too little fear of the Lord, so I asked Jesus to teach me. And the next verse came to me immediately, Gal 6:9-10 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. It suddenly become clear to me, it is doing good, and whoever ignore this word of God is deceived and he mocks God.

Then, these scriptures came to me the next day; Rom 2:6-7 God “will give to each person according to what he has done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. And we can see who are those “doing good seek glory” in Heb 9:14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

Those who truly believe Jesus died for their sin will get their consciences cleansed, so they will not live for themselves any more, but “by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality”. As it is written; 1John 3:7-9 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.

“He who does what is right” is not what we normally think it is, as Jesus said; Matt 5:43-48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Due to the lack of this perfect love, our own hearts can deceive us into distorting the scripture as it is written; 1Tim 1:5-6 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. We could have wandered away from these at some point in our live without knowing it. I doubt whether I had this good conscience, that could be the reason why I have little faith. Let’s pray 41 to 43 (NKJV) ;

BLESSED is he who considers the poor; The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
The LORD will preserve him and keep him alive, And he will be blessed on the earth; You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies.
The LORD will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed.
I said, “LORD, be merciful to me; Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.”
My enemies speak evil of me: “When will he die, and his name perish?”
And if he comes to see me, he speaks lies; His heart gathers iniquity to itself; When he goes out, he tells it.
All who hate me whisper together against me; Against me they devise my hurt.
“An evil disease,” they say, “clings to him. And now that he lies down, he will rise up no more.”
Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.
But You, O LORD, be merciful to me, and raise me up, That I may repay them.
By this I know that You are well pleased with me, Because my enemy does not triumph over me.
As for me, You uphold me in my integrity, And set me before Your face forever.
Blessed be the LORD God of Israel From everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen.

AS the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say to me, “Where is your God?”
When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.
Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance.
O my God, my soul is cast down within me; Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, And from the heights of Hermon, From the Hill Mizar.
Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me.
The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me– A prayer to the God of my life.
I will say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
As with a breaking of my bones, My enemies reproach me, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.

VINDICATE me, O God, And plead my cause against an ungodly nation; Oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man!
For You are the God of my strength; Why do You cast me off? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your tabernacle.
Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; And on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God.
Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.