We read in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
What is worse than those who have blind eyes?
Those whose minds are blinded. They are unable to “see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” What they see is the glory of their own selves – that they could choose to come to God on their own. They may even believe that they are not so bad after all. They thought they could please God by whatever righteousness they could perform, or desire!
At least, those who are blind physically are aware of their blindness. The blind man in John 9 said, “…One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" (verse 25.) But those who are blind spiritually do not know they “are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked” ( Rev. 3:17)!
If God will not heal us of our spiritual blindness, we will not see and appreciate the Worth of His Gift. But those whose eyes are opened and able to understand, they could not afford to refuse (1 Cor. 2:12-14) "the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ."
(For a related topic, please read my message God "UNWRAPPED " The Good Gift at http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=90153)
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Even NOW We Can Enjoy God's Presence!
"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" (1 Cor. 3:16).
Before, that verse didn't mean so much to me. I had the erroneous belief that the Holy Spirit was not Divine Being, but only a force, or influence of God.
When the leadership in our denomination changed the teachings and adopted the traditional Christian view of the Holy Spirit, and God also started to open my mind to His Truth, I began to see the wonder of I Corinthians 3:16 and also of similar verses, like:
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?" (I Cor. 6:19).
"...For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people'" (2 Cor. 6:16).
True believers are now enjoying the foretaste of Revelation 21:3!
Through the Holy Spirit, who is very God, dwelling in us, God Himself is NOW living in us! What joy! What comfort! What satisfaction we ought to be reflecting to the world, which is troubled with discontentment, sorrow and pain!
Before, that verse didn't mean so much to me. I had the erroneous belief that the Holy Spirit was not Divine Being, but only a force, or influence of God.
When the leadership in our denomination changed the teachings and adopted the traditional Christian view of the Holy Spirit, and God also started to open my mind to His Truth, I began to see the wonder of I Corinthians 3:16 and also of similar verses, like:
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?" (I Cor. 6:19).
"...For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people'" (2 Cor. 6:16).
True believers are now enjoying the foretaste of Revelation 21:3!
Through the Holy Spirit, who is very God, dwelling in us, God Himself is NOW living in us! What joy! What comfort! What satisfaction we ought to be reflecting to the world, which is troubled with discontentment, sorrow and pain!
Sunday, June 3, 2007
My GREATEST Desire
“Whom have I in heaven but you? And being with you, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever” (Psalm 73:25-26).
When I first encountered that passage, especially the words, “…And being with you, I desire nothing on earth,” I asked the question: What did the writer of the Psalm see or know about God that he was able to say that?
And I told myself, I hope I could also say that to God. I hope I could also see His Great Worth that if I would be with Him, I would no longer desire anything on earth.
Many times I returned to that passage. When I would be tempted to desire so much for something, those words would also help me to re-direct my heart to God. Nothing in this world could even come near the Excellence of God.
Now, as God continuous to unveil His Goodness and Greatness, I am also learning to desire Him more and more. Yes, even more than anything desirable or pleasurable on this earth.
(For more on this topic, you may read my message at http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=88467.)
When I first encountered that passage, especially the words, “…And being with you, I desire nothing on earth,” I asked the question: What did the writer of the Psalm see or know about God that he was able to say that?
And I told myself, I hope I could also say that to God. I hope I could also see His Great Worth that if I would be with Him, I would no longer desire anything on earth.
Many times I returned to that passage. When I would be tempted to desire so much for something, those words would also help me to re-direct my heart to God. Nothing in this world could even come near the Excellence of God.
Now, as God continuous to unveil His Goodness and Greatness, I am also learning to desire Him more and more. Yes, even more than anything desirable or pleasurable on this earth.
(For more on this topic, you may read my message at http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=88467.)
Friday, June 1, 2007
Have YOU Been Raised From The "Dead"?
"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, MADE US ALIVE with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions..." (Ephesians 2:4-5.)
The common teaching and belief is that even before his conversion, men has a choice to accept the offer of God. But how could a "dead" (spiritually) man have that choice?
"The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Cor. 2:14).
"...the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so" (Rom. 8:7).
If we do not have the Spirit -- spiritually dead -- we cannot choose our way to God. We are incapable of making ourselves alive -- physically, or SPIRITUALLY -- and choose what He offers!
But God who makes the choice "made us alive with Christ"!
Jesus Christ who said, "You did not choose me, but I chose you..." (John 15:16) also said:"I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has NOW come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live" (John 5:25).
Are you one of those who have heard His Voice?
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above... Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your LIFE IS NOW hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory" (Col. 3: 1-4).
(If you have some questions on this topic, you may find your answer at http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=95996 or http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=94997.)
The common teaching and belief is that even before his conversion, men has a choice to accept the offer of God. But how could a "dead" (spiritually) man have that choice?
"The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Cor. 2:14).
"...the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so" (Rom. 8:7).
If we do not have the Spirit -- spiritually dead -- we cannot choose our way to God. We are incapable of making ourselves alive -- physically, or SPIRITUALLY -- and choose what He offers!
But God who makes the choice "made us alive with Christ"!
Jesus Christ who said, "You did not choose me, but I chose you..." (John 15:16) also said:"I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has NOW come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live" (John 5:25).
Are you one of those who have heard His Voice?
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above... Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your LIFE IS NOW hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory" (Col. 3: 1-4).
(If you have some questions on this topic, you may find your answer at http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=95996 or http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=94997.)
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