29/09/13

Overcome this world

Luke 12:33,34 - Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.


Being a Christian is the most difficult and almost impossible thing for any human. If Churches really start preaching the uncut Word of God most of the Churches will be empty and that is a guaranty.

If following Christ was as easy as what preachers put then Jesus who is an ultimate icon as Preacher / Teacher / Healer / Prophet / Apostle / Shepherd should have had a very large amount of followers. There is none who preached like Him. There is none who taught like Him. There is none who healed like Him. There is none who spoke the Word like Him. There is none who abided in the Word like Him and there is none who led the sheep of God like Him. Bible shows even though tens of thousands followed Him, heard Him and were benefited from Him (fed, healed and bought to life) yet only 120 stood with Him at the end. If preachers give the truth as it is in the churches we would hardly have a few attendees; everyone else leaving the church like the people then who left Jesus.

In Acts we see people later had the courage to truly follow Christ and this happened only because they had received the Holy Spirit and were baptized in the Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit who gave them the boldness to face every situation even unto death.

People think the greatest, courageous thing to do is dying for witnessing Christ, they are wrong. It is no doubt difficult to die for witnessing Christ but it is more difficult to live a Christian life everyday fighting one's desires and the things of the world. It is like dying every day to one's flesh and being resurrected every day to one's spirit.

Jesus Christ did not say 'but be of good cheer; for I will die for you', but said 'but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world'.

Today's message is one such Christian factor which Jesus told those who had dedicated their life for the Kingdom of God. These people did nothing what Jesus instructed them during His time, but after they received the Holy Spirit and were baptized in the Holy Spirit, we read of them abiding by the Word.

Today the Lord is telling us unless we do not abide by the Spirit we cannot live a true Christian life. It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit we can do what the Lord calls of us.

We see many preachers who claim to have dedicated their life for the Kingdom of God, doing the opposite of what today's message tells us. Their lifestyle is more luxurious than middle class citizens forget living a sober life. Some dress like rock stars when they preach.

No doubt as shepherds they can rightfully claim a fee for the work they are doing but they do not realize they lose the greater things of Heaven. These people have encashed their cheque for smoke instead of the precious gems of the Kingdom of God.

People think because we are a blessed people we rightly should be rich. Yes we as people of God should be rich - rich in spirit, blessed abundantly in spirit and in earthly things we should be sober, having things that are needed for we like Jesus are not citizens of this world, Heavenly Citizens like today's message Jesus said desiring and collecting the precious things of the Kingdom of God, things that we carry unto our permanent Home - Heaven, and not collecting things that we leave behind here on earth, things that could hinder our going home.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, we pray your people realize they are just passing through this world. They realize they are here in this world because You have a mission for them and by this mission they be blessed with eternal things in the permanent House that is Heaven. Lord help us loss and overcome our desire for things of this world and fill us with a thirst and hunger for things of your Kingdom...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference ]
John 16:33 - These things I have spoken to you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Matthew 13:22 - He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

John 8:23 - And he said to them, You are from beneath; I am from above: you are of this world; I am not of this world.

John 12:25 - He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.

Luke 18:25 - For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Matthew 19:23 - Then said Jesus to his disciples, Truly I say to you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

James 1:11 - For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it wither the grass, and the flower thereof falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)