Caution: God at work.

 Today's meditation John chapter 9:35-41

1. Jesus heard that the man had been cast out and when he found him again he asked him if he believes in the son of God. ( v35)
2. For which the man asked who he is that he must believe in him. (V36)
3. Jesus said that it is he who was talking with him and that he has seen him. (V37)
4. The man said he believes and worshipped Christ. (V38)
5. Jesus said that he has come to judge the world that who is blind can see and the one who see mìght be made blind. (V39)
6. The Pharisees reasoned among themselves and asked Christ if they are blind also. (V40)
7. For which Christ said they do not have any sin if they are blind, but now they say they see and so their sin remains. (V41)

 LIFE APPLICATION:
Today we are going to allow the word of God to search us and wash us. Let us look for some,

Characters in us that can stop Christ from opening our eyes:

1. CRITICAL ATTITUDE:

Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
Luke:7:39

 If we hold a judgemental or critical attitude towards others God cannot work in us.

2. Self Righteousness:

Self righteousness does not take us anywhere close to God.

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Luke:18:11

3. An attitude of hypocrisy:

Let us come transparent before  God. Nothing hidden, nothing closed. Then God can easily work in us.

Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Matthew:6:16

You can get to know more on this in Matt 23.

4. Keeping up traditions but rejecting the commandments of God.

And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
Mark:7:9

5. A proud and a haughty spirit:

A proud and a haughty spirit cannot a acknowledge God and will not be able to see his own shortcomings either.

For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
Malachi:4:1

Characters that CHRIST looks forward to see in us that he can work in us.

1. A broken and contrite spirit:

The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Psalm:34:18

2. A soul that puts its trust in God.

The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.
Psalm:34:22

3. God can never forget the cry of the humble.

When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
Psalm:9:12

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Isaiah:57:15

And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Matthew:23:12

 4. When we acknowledge our transgressions before God.

For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Psalm:51:3

5. It is not by good works but by faith we move the heart of God.

Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
Romans:9:32

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians:2:8

Dear Child of God,

Whatever situation you are in now, even in the middle of a gutter, it is you who Jesus wants...to work on and not the self-righteous, self-sufficient, perfectly perfect people on Earth.

You may be dirty in your body, in your spirit and in your soul, but Jesus loves you.... you may not be rich or affluent, but Christ still loves you. You may not be perfectly perfect. 

You may not look pretty or self-sufficient as your friends. You might have been despised by all as good for nothing. But, it is you whom the almighty king of kings want to befriend with.

Today is the day when God wants to work on you and bring you out of your mess. You might be deep in your sins and ADDICTIONS. But still we have a loving father to embrace us the way you are. 

You may be blind. But if you run to him he will open your eyes to see...
So dear child of God, the father's arms are open wide to receive sinners and broken people like us.

Only if we can run to Him in faith and receive him as a gift with no conditions attached.... how much more the Grace can do a beautiful work in us. ...? 

To GOD BE THE GLORY.... he who has called us to be kings and priests is a faithful God.... he will carry us through. Amen.

You are predestined

 Meditation John 6:41-47

1. The Jews started murmuring of what CHRIST said that he is that bread that came down from heaven. (V41)
2. They told that they knew his parents as Mary and Joseph and then how he is telling he is coming down from heaven. ( V42)
3. JESUS told them not to murmur among themselves. (V43)
4. JESUS said to them nobody can come to the him unless the father draws them to him. He will raise them up on the last day. ( V44)
5. It is written that they will be taught of God. Every man that has heard and  learnt from the father comes to Christ. ( V45)
6. No man has seen the father except Christ.  (V46)
7. Surely, if we believe in Christ we will have everlasting life. (V47)

LIFE APPLICATION:
Nobody can come to the father except through CHRIST and unless the Father God draws a person to hear and learn from him, he can never accept Christ. (V45)

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Romans:8:29

Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Romans:8:30

So it is God who had foreknown us. He predestined us to be his sons and daughters, heirs and co-heirs to Christ Jesus.

He called us and when we respond to his call, he  not only justifies us but also glorifies us.

You are chosen:
The WORD of GOD says we are chosen to be of God even before the world began.

Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.
Isaiah:41:9

Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
Isaiah:43:10

But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
2 Thessalonians:2:13

Dear Child of God,
Today I would like to comfort you with these words.
A. It is not we who chose God, but it is he who chose us.

B. We are a chosen generation and a royal priesthood.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
1 Peter:2:9

C. We are God's choice for his son Jesus CHRIST, to be heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Romans:8:17

D. We are justified by the Grace of God.

That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus:3:7

E. In short, Read, Read and let us re-read this,  till faith increases in us, as faith comes by hearing the word of God.

1. I am chosen of God. (2 thess 2:13)

2. I am predestined to be glorified ( Romans 8:30)

3. God chose me to be his servant even from the ends of the earth. ( Isaiah 43:10)

4. My generation is chosen and we are peculiar people and a royal priesthood.  ( 1 Peter 2:9)

5. We are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. ( Romans 8:17)

6. We are justified and made righteous by Grace. ( Titus 3:7)

7. We are seated in the heavenly places with Christ Jesus. ( Ephesians 2:6)

  (And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Ephesians:2:6

8. Through Christ Jesus we have all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Ephesians:1:3

9. Because we believe in  Christ we have a life eternal.
( John 6:47)

Let us continue to ponder on these words... I am sure these scriptures can bring a radical breakthrough in our lives. Amen.

Opinions.

 Meditation John 5:10-18

1. The Jews asked the man who was healed, why he was taking his bed and walking on a Sabbath day as it was not lawful. ( V10)
2. He said the person who made him whole told him to take his bed and walk. (V11)
3. Then the Jews asked him who healed him , but he knew not as JESUS conveyed himself away. ( V12,13)
4. Then later Jesus meets him in the temple and deals with his sin. (V14)
5. The man and testified to the Jews that it was Jesus that made him whole.  ( V15)
6. They started persecuting Jesus because he healed on a Sabbath day. ( V16)
7. Jesus said he should work where his father works. (V17)
8. They hated him evermore as he not only broke the Sabbath, but also made him equal to God the father. (v18)

LIFE APPLICATION:

Dealing with Opinions of People:

Jesus was every time aware of the intentions of people. It is very easy for any man to judge others and the law facilitates it. (V10)

And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Genesis:6:5

It is from the hearts  of man that evil things arises.

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
Matthew:15:18

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Matthew:15:19

God never wants us to hold a judgemental spirit as there will be a day when we stand before the judgement seat of God.

But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Romans:14:10

This is what CHRIST says,

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
Luke:6:37

Here I would like to take you all into a deeper understanding of law and Grace.

A. Law makes us guilty of our sins:

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Romans:3:19

Christ fulfilled law in the flesh: (grace)
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Romans:8:3

B. Law makes sin come alive.

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
1 Corinthians:15:56

But we have victory over the strength of sin and death that comes through the law through JESUS CHRIST.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians:15:57

C. Law breeds self-righteousness but Grace bears the righteousness of CHRIST.

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Philippians:3:9

Jesus was more concerned of the welfare of people than their traditions. I would request you to kindly meditate Mark 7 to know more.

Jesus came to fulfil the law.. through Grace.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Matthew:5:17

Christ has summed up the fulfilment of the Law as Love.

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Matthew:22:37

This is the first and great commandment.
Matthew:22:38

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Matthew:22:39


On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Matthew:22:40

Christ emphasises more on love than law. Dear Child of God, we are made free from the condemnation of the law, by the righteousness of CHRIST.  Law puts us under bondage. But Grace liberates us to walk in freedom.

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
John:1:17

Hence, we do not need to fear nor are we condemned if we walk according to the spirit.

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Romans:8:15

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans:8:1

LIFE APPLICATION 2:

REVELATION OF CHRIST:

I have shared beforehand, that a man who had an encounter with God can never be the same.

A. The first encounter:
The first time the man met Christ his body was healed. (V9)
B. the second encounter:
The second time this man met CHRIST, his sins were dealt with, and he was made whole inwardly.
Here I would like to go a little deeper about sin and it's consequences.

A. What is sin?

Sin is the transgression of the Law.

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
1 John:3:4

All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
1 John:5:17

If we know what is right and don't do it.
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
James:4:17

B. How do we know when we sin?
1. Our conscience convicts us.

And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
John:8:9

The WORD of GOD says that we are sinners who need forgiveness.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John:1:8

C. What happens when we sin?
1. Our spirit man becomes dead and death begins to reign in us.

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Genesis:2:17

2. The sin lies at our doorsteps when to devour us.

If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Genesis:4:7

3. When sin is fulfilled in our mortal bodies, it breeds death.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans:6:23

This is the sequence. Lust conceives sin and sin brings curse and death.

Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
James:1:15

So the consequences of sin is terrible.  If you are knowingly playing with sin, it is time to come back to God.

Christ has borne all our sins and curses at the cross.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Isaiah:53:5

The WORD of GOD says,

There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.
Isaiah:57:21

So let us come back to Christ and he will give us his peace.

When his soul man was healed, he went about testifying what CHRIST has done to everyone. (V15)

So will God do the same with us when we have an encounter with God.

May the Spirit of God minister unto your souls.

The fullness of CHRIST: A Meditation John 1: 15-18

 1. John acknowledged that CHRIST is the one to be preferred. (V15)
2. Though CHRIST comes after him, he witnessed that CHRIST was there before him. (V15)
3. We have received more Grace because of  the fullness of CHRIST. (V16)
4. Moses has given law. But we get GRACE and truth through CHRIST. (V17). Law condemns. But Grace forgives. Law puts us in prison. But GRACE liberates us. (Romans 8:2)
5. CHRIST is the one that has come down from the bosom of the father. Hence nobody can reveal us the father more than CHRIST.  (V18)

Life application:
1. Are we acknowledging that CHRIST is the one to be preferred or are we trying to steal his glory.?(v15)
2. Are we willing to lift CHRIST higher or are we trying to lift ourselves?(v15)
3. Do we walk in the fullness of Grace in Christ or still condemning ourselves not trusting God's Grace? V16
4. Are we still under the law of Moses or Are we walking in the liberty of CHRIST? (V17)
5. Do we have a thirst to know more about the father through CHRIST JESUS. ? (V18)