Posted by: missionventureministries | April 19, 2023

GROWING IN CHRIST – 1 Corinthians 3:1-2

1 Corinthians 3 vs 1-2

“Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.” (1 Corinthians 3:1-2) 

When we trust Christ as our personal Savior, we undergo regeneration or new birth because, “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior” (Titus 3:5-6). At this moment, we are babes in Christ. There is joy when one is saved and born into the family of God, but there is sadness when a person remains a babe and doesn’t grow spiritually. 

Paul writes that when he was with them, when they were first saved, he fed them with milk. By this, he means that he taught them the most basic things about God and what it means to be a Christian. As with any newborn, they were only prepared to consume and digest something very basic. Like babies, they began with milk. By now, they should be ready for solid food. Milk is meant to inspire growth to mature and empower a believer until they are ready to receive solid food. 

These believers should now, be ready for more challenging truths of unselfishly walking in Christ and living according to the Spirit. However, they’re still not ready to chew. Why is it that the Corinthian Christians gained so little maturity? 

The Corinthian church was failing to grow in Christ, and this grieved Paul, since he longed for that joy of watching babes in Christ grow. He writes similar words to the church in Ephesus, “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:13-15). Therefore, Paul holds all of them responsible for their own lack of growth. 

Human babies and “babes in Christ” have similar characteristics. Babies are dependent and unable to feed themselves. They often get into trouble and make a mess. They need to be watched closely and demand a lot of time and attention. They have no control and no concern for others. They fuss, cry, and want their way. These are natural things that are typical and expected of babies, but when believers like the Corinthians, who were no longer new to the faith, exhibited characteristics like this, something was wrong, and it was time for them to grow up. 

Paul pointed out to the Corinthians, “I gave you milk, not solid food.” The Word of God is our spiritual food. We receive spiritual nourishment through taking in God’s Word by reading, studying, and hearing it taught. Just as much as we need physical nourishment to live and grow, we need spiritual nourishment through the regular intake of God’s Word to live and grow. 

Like newborns, babes in Christ begin with milk. The milk of the Word needs to be taught by someone credible (Hebrews 5:12). Then as newborns grow, they need more and more solid food. So it should be with babes in Christ that, as they grow, they should begin taking in the concrete food of the Word and be able to receive “the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10). 

God calls each believer to grow and mature in Christ by His Word since “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

And when it comes to our spiritual growth, we should never think that we’ve arrived because if we are hungry we will continue learning until Jesus calls us to be with Him. 

We believe that we will continue to be fed in eternity since in the eternal state, man will be sinless and have eternal life, but the creation and the human being will always and forever remain dependent upon the Creator as the source of life. The ongoing need to access the tree of life for eternity reflects the continued dependence of the creatures upon the Creator, a reality which God apparently has chosen to manifest via the tree thru its fruits and leaves. “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations” (Revelation 22:1-2). 

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness (Colossians 2:6-7). 

*******

DISCLAIMER MVM

Leave a Comment

Posted in GROWING IN CHRIST – 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 | Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: missionventureministries | April 12, 2023

DO NOT WORRY – Matthew 6:25

Matthew 6 vs 25

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothes? (Matthew 6:25) 

When Jesus said do not worry, it was not a suggestion. It is a command. People may say, “But I can’t help feeling anxious, I have always been like this!” 

Our response should be, “Oh, yes you can, if you want to.” 

As Christ instructs against worrying, He lists five specific things that we should not worry about, namely our lives, what we will eat, what we will drink, about our bodies, and what we will clothe ourselves in. He closes the verse with a rhetorical question asking whether or not there is more to life than just food and more to the body than its clothing. 

Worry is a sin and demonstrates unbelief in God to keep His promises and His power to save… and worry is one of the greatest hindrances to our spiritual growth, Christian witness and effective ministry, because worry is one step towards unbelief – and for this reason Jesus said, “do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.” 

Let us take a look at the key parts of this verse: 

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry…” Having spoken of the love of money and treasure in heaven, Jesus now says, “Do not worry.” The Christian is here commanded not to worry. This should be a source of great encouragement as Paul tells the church at Philippi “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6). 

“…about your life,” God holds your life in the palm of His hand, “so do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). Jesus teaches us that our heavenly Father cares for us, and our life is important to our Creator, so we should trust Him and not doubt. 

“What you will eat or drink;” God is the One who provides our daily bread. He created us and commanded us to be productive, but even in our own productivity, we are to look to Him for our sustenance. As the psalmists write, “the eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing” (Psalm 145:15-16). 

“Or about your body, what you will wear.” Indeed, when Adam and Eve made their own clothes to cover their shame (Genesis 3:7), God made the first animal sacrifice to make clothes for them, forecasting the future sacrifice of His only Son to cover their nakedness and shame. 

“Is not life more than food and the body more than clothes?” Jesus calls us to trust God for the basic things of life and to focus our eyes higher on more important things like His love, justice, mercy and truth. 

Worry occurs because of the way we respond to a problem or troubling situation because of our lack of faith. Our ability to choose is part of God’s gift of free will to every human being. We can choose how we feel, what we think about and how we will respond to a circumstance. 

There is a difference between a godly sense of responsibility and an ungodly, therefore we need to learn how to trust and leave the management of worry over material things with our heavenly Father. 

It is important to know God’s Word, believe His Word, and apply His Word in our lives – but too easily we allow the cares of the day to adversely impact our lives, causing anxieties, worries and fear to come back. 

May we take to heart the simple truth of this simple command from Christ and live by faith in His promises and not by flawed human reasoning which lead to worrying, anxiety and most of all unbelief because we are not trusting in the One who loves us and cares for us. 

*******

DISCLAIMER MVM

Leave a Comment

Posted in BE HOLY, DO NOT WORRY – Matthew 6:25 | Tags: , , , , ,

Posted by: missionventureministries | April 5, 2023

CELEBRATING THE RESURRECTION OF OUR SAVIOR – Luke 24:6-7

Luke 24 vs 6-7

He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’  (Luke 24:6-7) 

The death and resurrection of Christ is the core of the Christian message. The placing of Jesus’ body in the tomb after His death on the cross is as equally important as His exit from the tomb (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). It is impossible to separate the death of Christ from His resurrection. 

To believe in one without the other is to believe in a false gospel that cannot save. In order for Jesus to have truly arisen from the dead, He must have truly died. And in order for His death to have a true meaning for us, He must have a true resurrection. We cannot have one without the other. 

The reason why the early church began to meet on the first day of the week was to celebrate Jesus’ defeat of death and His resurrection; Jesus “was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 1:4). 

We need to realize that without the resurrection, there would have been no church at all since after Jesus’ arrest and death, the disciples were lost, helpless, and afraid. Peter denied Jesus, as the rest ran away. It is hard to imagine of anything other than the resurrection of Jesus that would have led them to share the message of Christ in such a way that it grew into the largest spiritual movement ever known to man. 

Without Christ’s resurrection we would have no salvation from sin and no hope for our own future resurrection. That is why when Paul spoke about the gospel; he always announced the glorious victory of the risen King. It is this gospel that is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). 

When we ask most Christians about justification, they move straight to the cross, and Jesus paying the price for our sins. However, Paul emphasizes that: “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Romans 4:25). 

What this means is that when Jesus resurrected He was declared to be righteous and the credit of Jesus’ perfection outweighed the debt of our sins. 

Without this wonderful truth, we will not fully grasp the joy of salvation. Jesus was our obedience substitute during His life, our punishment substitute in His death, and our rebirth substitute in His resurrection. 

The resurrection therefore, gives us the joy of knowing that Christ has promised that He will be with us to the end of time (Matthew 28:10), and that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Since our risen Savior is in heaven this gives us great confidence, especially since He told us before His resurrection, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be” (John 14:1-3). 

Because the tomb is empty and Jesus is on the throne, we can know for sure that we will be victorious no matter of what is happening in today’s world. The resurrection gives us hope, and because Jesus conquered the grave, we have confidence that one day we too will be lifted up, and so we will be with Jesus for all eternity, “For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died . . .For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:14, 16-17). 

The resurrection unites every Christian with the life-giving force that raised Jesus from the dead. It is through the resurrection that, “the last Adam became a life-giving spirit” (1 Corinthians 15:45). And Paul tells us that, “if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:11). 

This amazing power is available to transform, equip, and empower us as Paul tells the Ephesian church, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:18-21). 

BLANK - Copy

Because of the resurrection, we can be sure that this same Jesus will return, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). 

We are eagerly awaiting His return so that He will take us home. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). 

The empty tomb is proof of Christ’s deity and guarantees the future resurrection of believers. 

Happy Resurrection Day! 

*******

DISCLAIMER MVM

2 Comments

Posted in CELEBRATING THE RESURRECTION OF OUR SAVIOR – Luke 24:6-7 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: missionventureministries | March 30, 2023

DOES THE LORD FORGIVE AND FORGET OUR SINS? 

Hebrews 10 vs 14, 17-18

“For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.” (Hebrews 10:14-18) 

Hebrews 10 and 7:27 explains how Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for sin was a once and for all sacrifice. “Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.” As Scripture tells us, Jesus offered up Himself one time as a sacrifice and in so doing paid for all the sins of those that receive Him as their Lord and Savior. 

Unlike the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, in which sacrifices were continually made for sin, Jesus paid for sin once for all. His payment was complete and the cross is empty. 

There are several passages in the Bible that indicate that God forgives and forgets our sin. Isaiah 43:25 tells us:  “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.” 

And in Isaiah 1:18 the Lord tells us: “Come now, let us settle the matter,” …though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” 

We need to understand that God is omniscient, He knows everything, and He forgets nothing. However, He chooses not to remember our sins. In human relationships, we can choose to remember the offenses someone has committed against us, or we can choose to forget. To forgive and forget, we must often put painful memories out of our mind. We don’t actually forget the sin, and it’s not that we are unable to recall the offense, but we choose to ignore it. Forgiveness is a choice that we make, that stops us from dwelling on past hurtful events. 

Because of God’s great mercies He chooses to remove our sins from us “as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12); and Romans 8:1 tells us there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. 

Second Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made Him who had no sin [Jesus] to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” 

Knowing the complete forgiveness of God in Christ, we can join King Hezekiah in praising our Redeemer: “You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption, for You have cast all my sins behind Your back” (Isaiah 38:17). 

Even though theses verses tell us that God forgives and forgets, we need to repent and confess our sin as soon as we commit them. Otherwise, guilt will weigh heavily on us. We need to follow David’s example: “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin” (Psalm 32:5). 

Again, it is important to note that, at the moment of true salvation, all of our sins are forgiven. On the cross, Jesus paid the penalty for our sins; once and for all time (Ephesians 1:7; Romans 5:6–11; Hebrews 10:1-18). After we are sealed with the blood of Christ’s covenant, there is nothing we can do that will keep us from heaven (Matthew 26:28). All of our sins – past, present, and future – are forgiven through the blood of Jesus Christ. 

Yet, Jesus taught that believers must continue to seek God’s forgiveness daily, “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us” (Matthew 6:12). The reason for this is that after salvation, Christians still make mistakes as James tells us: “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them” (4:17). For this reason, John wrote that when we fail, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). 

When our sins are confessed to God it enables us to walk in the pure light of genuine fellowship with Jesus Christ so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19). 

*******

DISCLAIMER MVM

Leave a Comment

Posted in DOES THE LORD FORGIVE AND FORGET OUR SINS? | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: missionventureministries | March 22, 2023

WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE SHOULD CHRISTIANS BE? – 2 Peter 3:10-12

2 Peter 3 vs 10-12

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 2 Peter 3:10-12 

Being holy means being dedicated to God, that is, obeying Him with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength (Luke 10:27). When Peter tells Christians that we should live in a holy manner it means living in such a way that our entire way of life is oriented to honor and obey God and to influence other people to do the same. 

There are two exhortations that Peter gives us why we should live this way. The first incentive is simply the holiness of God Himself: “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). We have become children of God through faith in Christ, and we should therefore behave as obedient children, and not be conformed to the evil desires we had when we lived in ignorance (1 Peter 1:14). 

The second incentive given is the imminent return of Christ, following which, “the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat” (2 Peter 3:10). Here we see Peter giving us incentives, both past and future, thus urging us to live a holy life in the present. 

To live a holy life we must have the Holy Spirit indwelling us and filling us with His holiness. We can only live a holy life through the power of the Spirit; thus, the first step to living a holy life is to accept Jesus as Savior (Ephesians 1:13). 

Once we have taken that step of salvation, we are declared righteous (Romans 5:1). But how do we actually accomplish being righteous and living a holy life? In 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8, Paul emphasizes sexual purity as part of holy living. 

Another area we need to focus on is keeping God’s Word in our hearts which will keep us from sin (Psalm 119:11). When we live in obedience to God, we are being kept from evil and are offering our bodies as “living sacrifices” to God (Romans 12:1-2). 

The purpose of living a holy life is to glorify God and display His nature to those around us (Matthew 5:16). Living a holy life of obedience to God is living in true freedom from the bondage of sin (Romans 6:6). 

It’s not always easy to choose obedience to God, especially if we’re trying to do it all on our own. Satan would love nothing more than to bring us back into bondage through disobedience. But we have the promise, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). The Holy Spirit will produce Christ likeness in us, and, as we yield to Him, we can live a holy life (Galatians 5:16). 

Here is the mindset that we should have, “count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11). Any time we face temptation, we should say, “I’m dead to that! That was part of my old life! I am a new creation in Christ!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). To live a holy life, to separate ourselves from sin, we must see ourselves as God sees us – as born again children of the Most High, clothed with the righteousness of Christ. 

Having fellowship with other Christians and making ourselves accountable to them is a great source of strength in living a holy life. As Christians, we are called to encourage one another in this respect (Hebrews 10:24-25). 

Remember, we are not trying to live a holy life in order to earn salvation; living a holy life is a natural consequence of being saved by God’s grace and having the Holy Spirit living in us. It is also important to not give up when we mess up. When we fail, our response should be to confess the sin and keep moving forward in our Christian walk (1 John 1:9), remembering what Romans 8:1 says: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” 

God’s grace does not disappear when we make mistakes, but we need to repent and confess. When we do this, we amend things with our Savior, who so tenderly paid the price for us so that we can be assured that we will be with Him for all eternity. 

*******

DISCLAIMER MVM

Leave a Comment

Posted in BE HOLY | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: missionventureministries | March 15, 2023

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A CHRISTIAN? – 1 Corinthians 11:1

1 Corinthians 11 vs 1

According to Paul a Christian is one that imitates Christ: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1) 

A Christian is a person who is born again by the Spirit of God as they wholeheartedly trusts in Jesus Christ and seeks to follow Him in obedience. There is no other way to the Father, no other way to be a Christian, than through personal faith in the Son of God. Jesus said. “I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). 

The apostle Peter writes: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). Our part is to respond to the gospel message in faith when the Holy Spirit opens our heart to understand. 

The path to redemption begins with the realization that it’s impossible to make ourselves righteous, because we cannot correct our sinful nature. To find favor with the Lord, we must trust in the sacrifice our Savior made on our behalf. His crucifixion was a demonstration of God’s hatred for sin and immense love for mankind. Jesus, the sinless One, bore the penalty for sin so sinful people could be made righteous through faith in Him. 

To be a true Christian, a person must take a vital step – they must truly repent. After the apostle Peter’s powerful sermon on the day the New Testament Church began, many were “pierced to the heart” when they recognized that it was their sins for which Jesus was crucified (Acts 2:37). 

Peter’s striking sermon had made it clear just who Jesus was, the promised future King whom God had raised from the dead and by doing so had made Him both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:29-32, 36). Their sins and ours had necessitated the death of the Son of God. 

Then they “said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call'” (Acts 2:37-39). 

We see here several crucial steps to becoming a true Christian. First, a person must be called by God. Then they must repent of past sins. To repent means to change, to turn around, to stop going the way you are going. It is to be truly sorry for our personal sins, as well as to have sorrow for our inclination and desire to do the wrong things; it is truly a life-changing process. 

In biblical terms, this process of change, of surrendering and turning our life over to God is called conversion. Obviously a human being cannot change everything at once, but one can have a repentant attitude and turn in the right direction, making basic changes as they embark on a new path and a new life of overcoming, producing fruit consistent with repentance (Matthew 3:8). 

Here are a few Biblical indicators of salvation: 

  1. Genuine Christians testify to a real and personal relationship with Christ. “And this is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). True salvation is far more than mentally believing facts “about” God. It means actually “knowing” God in a life-changing personal relationship. 
  1. Saved people have experienced genuine conviction of sin and trust Christ alone for eternal life. “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). 

No one is saved by intellect. Neither can anyone be saved by just being in church or around Christian people. No one is saved by being a good person. A person must be personally convicted of sin and drawn to Christ by the Holy Spirit. There must be a time when they personally prayed and trusted Christ as their own Lord and Savior. Saved persons can readily testify to this reality in their lives. 

  1. Genuine Christian possess a supernatural assurance that they are saved and forgiven of their sins because, “the Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16). 
  1. Children of God exhibit a hunger for spiritual growth and a strong desire to turn from sin because, “everyone who has this hope set on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:3). And because, “No one who has been born of God practices sin, because His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin continually, because he has been born of God” (1 John 3:9). 

The Bible describes salvation as a life-changing experience. Put simply, if someone can consistently live in sin without deep sorrow, they are not saved. When saved people willfully sin, they are utterly miserable and repent and know that, if they confess their sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). 

  1. Genuine Christians sense God’s presence and hear His voice in their life. “My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). 

Because salvation is a personal relationship, true believers regularly perceive the voice of the Holy Spirit in their life as they seek His guidance, wisdom and discernment in everything they say, think and do.

  1. True Christians have a love for the church and the people of God. “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death” (1 John 3:14). 

Perhaps the greatest mark of a saved person is a loving compassionate spirit. If you consistently lack any desire to worship and be with God’s people, there is strong reason to question your salvation (1 John 2:19). 

  1. Most saved people can describe a ‘before and after’ in terms of their salvation. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

To be born again is the most powerful transformation in human experience. Put simply, it is very doubtful that old things could pass way and all things become new and you are unaware of them! 

A true Christian will have a very different perspective on life. He will have an overriding goal to live like Jesus Christ because, “he who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6). A true Christian’s understanding of how to live will be deeply rooted in the example of the life of the Messiah, and will look, in faith, to God, realizing his total dependence on the Creator. 

Being a Christian and obtaining salvation isn’t just the door to heaven; it’s the pathway to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Savior until we have the most satisfying of all possible relationships. 

*******

DISCLAIMER MVM

2 Comments

Posted in WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A CHRISTIAN? – 1 Corinthians 11:1 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: missionventureministries | March 8, 2023

HOW TO WALK IN THE SPIRIT – Galatians 5:25

  1. Galatians 5:25

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25) 

First, the Holy Spirit is a gift given to all believers in Jesus without exception, and no conditions are placed upon this gift except repentance and faith in Christ. Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

Second, the Holy Spirit is given at the moment of salvation (Ephesians 1:13). Galatians 3:2 emphasizes this same truth, saying that the sealing and indwelling of the Spirit took place at the time of believing.

Third, the Holy Spirit indwells believers permanently. The Holy Spirit is given to believers as a verification of their future glorification in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 4:30).

Those who walk in the Spirit follow the Spirit’s lead. They “let the word of Christ dwell in them richly” (Colossians 3:16), and the Spirit uses the Word of God “for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). Their whole way of life is lived according to the statute of the gospel, as the Spirit moves them toward obedience. When we walk in the Spirit, we find that the sinful appetites of the flesh have no more dominion over us.

A true born believer has the indwelling Spirit of Christ, the Comforter who proceeds from the Father (John 15:26). When this takes place, the Holy Spirit “intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God” (Romans 8:27). He also leads the believer into righteousness (Galatians 5:16-18) and produces His fruit in those who surrender to Him (Galatians 5:22-23). As we see, believers are to submit to the will of God and walk in the Spirit.

To walk in the Spirit means that we yield to His control, we follow His lead, and we allow Him to exert His influence over us. To walk in the Spirit is the opposite of resisting Him or grieving Him (Ephesians 4:30). 

Galatians 5 examines the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer. The context is freedom from the Law of Moses (Galatians 5:1). Those who walk in the Spirit “eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope” (verse 5) and are free from the Law “if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” (verse 18).

Those who walk in the Spirit “will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (verse 16). The flesh, our fallen nature under the power of sin, is in direct conflict with the Spirit “for the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh” (verse 17). When the flesh is in charge, the results are obvious (verses 19–21). But when the Spirit is in control, He produces godly qualities within us, apart from the strictures of the Law (verses 22–23). Therefore, “those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (verse 24), and now walk in the Spirit (verse 25).

Those who walk in the Spirit are united with Him and are the bearers of the fruit the Spirit produces. So let us take a look at how a believer should walk – those who walk in the Spirit walk:

  •  In love, they live loving God and their fellow man (Mark 12:30-31).
  •  In joy, they exhibit gladness in what God has done, is doing, and will do (Psalm 100:2).
  •  In peace, their lives are not defined by worry or anxiety (Philippians 4:6).
  •  In patience, they are known for not losing their temper (2 Timothy 2:23-26).
  •  In kindness, they show tender concern for the needs of others (Colossians 3:12).
  •  In goodness, their actions reflect virtue and holiness (1 Peter 1:16).
  •  In faithfulness, they are steadfast in their trust of God and His Word (Matthew 25:23).
  •  In gentleness, their lives are characterized by humility, grace, and thankfulness to God (Colossians 3:12).
  •  In self-control, they display moderation, constraint, and the ability to say “no” to the flesh (2 Timothy 1:7).

Those who walk in the Spirit rely on the Holy Spirit to guide them in thought, word, and deed. “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:11-14).

Therefore, “walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). Such a marvelous relationship will surely transform our lives knowing “that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God. You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

******

DISCLAIMER MVM

1 Comment

Posted in HOW TO WALK IN THE SPIRIT – Galatians 5:25 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: missionventureministries | March 1, 2023

SOMEONE CAN KNOW A LOT ABOUT CHRIST WITHOUT EVER KNOWING CHRIST – Matthew 7:21-23

Lord Lord - Matthew 7 vs 21-23

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23) 

These are very alarming words Jesus said toward the end of the Sermon on the Mount, where He addressed a large crowd of listeners to guide them in a life of discipline based on a new law of love, even to enemies, as opposed to the old law of retribution. Jesus directed them on how to live a life that is dedicated to and pleasing to God, free from hypocrisy, full of love and grace, full of wisdom and discernment. 

Today, churches are full of religious people, who hear about Christ but who do not manifest any transformation in their lives! So, do they really know Him? 

The Sermon on the Mount starts out by saying: “Now when He saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them…” (Matthew 5:1-2) 

Then, nearly at the end of His lengthy sermon Jesus gives a warning when He declares that “not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.” 

The title of “Lord” implies a master, someone to whom the speaker submits. In prior teaching, Jesus indicated that mere words and actions are not enough; they must be motivated by sincerity and truth, “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:1). In that same way, Jesus states in no uncertain terms that merely referring to Him as Lord is not enough and neither are acts of supposed righteousness as He told them, “and when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full” (Matthew 6:5). 

Entrance to the kingdom of heaven is limited to those who truly do the will of His Father in heaven. Those are His words that start with sincere faith in Christ, “Then they asked Him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent” (John 6:28–29), and extends to humility in how we live our lives, “If you love Me, keep my commands” (John 14:15). 

Faith that speak but does not act conveys unfruitful unbelief, “thus, by their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:20). Jesus is not suggesting that works merit salvation but that true faith will not fail to produce the fruit of good works. Therefore, “do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). 

As Jesus continues He states: Many will say to me on that day, which is a reference to the day where a person will be judged by God. When this day arrives, some will say: ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ These people will be claiming to have done remarkable signs and wonders. In fact, their whole self-assurance was in these works. This is further proof that these works, spectacular as they might have appeared, could not have been authentic. No one lacking in genuine faith could possibly produce true good works since a bad tree cannot bear good fruit (Matthew 7:18), therefore, performing all kinds of impressive deeds doesn’t deserve heaven. This is why Jesus plainly tells them “I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!” 

There are many who know about Jesus, that is, they know some truth about Him, but they have never trusted in Christ for salvation. They hold knowledge in their heads without allowing the truth to penetrate their hearts. Jesus explains the problem when He says: “These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules” (Matthew 15:8-9; Mark 7:6). 

It can be easy to substitute religion for a real relationship with Jesus. We often think that, if we are doing “Christian things,” that’s all that counts. Many recognize the fact that Jesus died on a cross, but until a person believes and receives Him as their Savior and make Him the Lord of their life, that fact will do them no good; because, “whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (John 3:18). 

There is a difference between intellectual knowledge and saving faith. Knowing Jesus means we have accepted His sacrifice on our behalf (2 Corinthians 5:21). We ask Him to be the Lord of our life because; “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:21). We identify with Him in His death and consider our old selves to have died with Him, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). We accept His forgiveness and cleansing from sin and seek to know Him in intimate fellowship through His Holy Spirit (1 John 2:27). 

So think about this . . . which term describes your Christian life, do you know Christ and are a Christ-follower or do you know about Christ? Someone that knows about Christ can be aware of certain things without necessarily putting them into practice. But someone that knows Christ chooses the path of action as he obeys Him. 

If you are not a Christ-follower and would like to be, here is what must take place: 

  • First, you must trust Him (John 14:1) because you will not follow someone you don’t trust. Trust develops as you abide in Him and discover the beauty of His character, His love, and His plan for you. 
  • Secondly, you must obey Him (John 14:15). A true follower of Jesus will combine trust with obedience. 
  • And lastly, you must serve Him. God doesn’t want His children to be mere bystanders but to be active participants in His work. We are called to use our spiritual gifts and do our part as the body of Christ. 

Jesus provided the perfect example – He trusted His Father completely, obeyed Him sacrificially (Philippians 2:8), and lived a life of service (Matthew 20:28). We are called to emulate our Lord and Savior. 

When we repent of our sin and surrender our lives to Him, Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 16:13; Acts 2:38). And when the Holy Spirit comes to live inside us He changes us forever and “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God” (1 John 3:9). 

To truly know Jesus is to enter into a relationship with our loving Lord and Savior, and to follow His greatest commandment, “love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength” (Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27). 

It’s hard to love someone you don’t know. Loving Him starts with surrendering to His plan for your life. Therefore, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved” (Romans 10:9–10). 

The nature of God is so vast and complex that no human being can fully know everything there is to know about Him. But life is about continually seeking Him, learning more about Him, and enjoying His fellowship as Jeremiah 29:12-13 tells us “Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” 

*******

DISCLAIMER MVM

1 Comment

Posted in SOMEONE CAN KNOW A LOT ABOUT CHRIST WITHOUT EVER KNOWING CHRIST – Matthew 7:21-23 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: missionventureministries | February 22, 2023

THE FRAILTY AND BREVITY OF LIFE – Psalm 90:12

Psalm 90 vs 12

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12) 

When Moses considered the frail nature of humanity and the righteous judgment of God, it made him ask God for the wisdom to understand the brevity of life. This is a reality check reminding us of the frailty and brevity of life, as well as the holiness of God and our need of Him. 

The request “teach us to number our days” means that we need God to reveal and make us understand the seriousness of our brevity of life on this earth. This revelation will help us to grow wise and gives us wisdom in the eternal choices we make during our brief stay on earth. Therefore, let us heed to what the Word teaches us, “Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight” (Proverbs 4:7). 

Jesus told a parable in Luke 12:19-21 where He describes a rich man who wanted only to “eat, drink, and be merry.” The rich man believed he had years yet to enjoy his wealth and pleasures, and had no time for God but God had something else in mind and took his soul that very night. If the rich man had learned to “number his days,” he would have had his mind on the eternal and not worldly pleasure and possessions. None of us know how many days we have been granted, so we must take heed from this parable and not waste our time or resources on silly, selfish pursuits that have no eternal value. 

Those who have learned to number their days spend them in pursuit of wisdom and the kingdom of God. Therefore, “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). These wise believers don’t have to fear the wrath of God when their earthly lives have come to the end. 

We need to understand that Jesus came to earth to reconciles us with the Father (2 Corinthians 5:21). But He doesn’t force His gift of eternal life on anyone (John 3:16-18). Those who never learn to number their days spend them as if this life is all there is. Psalm 90 warns them about the judgment they are destined to undergo and Hebrews 9:27 affirms that we are destined to die once and then comes the judgment. But when we learn to number our days, we see each day as a valuable gift and an opportunity to store up treasures in heaven (Luke 12:33). 

Human life is short and frail, and no one is guaranteed tomorrow. “You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning – though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered” (Psalm 90:5–6). For some, this life will last only a few years. For others, it will last many decades. But for all, there will be a day when it ends.

Even though this is a subject that many dislike thinking about, we need to be aware of death’s inevitability, and must discipline ourselves to consider just how short our lives really are. Moses said, “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10). And David laments the human condition when he prays: “For we are here for but a moment, strangers in the land as our fathers were before us; our days on earth are like a shadow, gone so soon, without a trace” (1 Chronicles 29:15).

We should not only consider how short our life is in comparison to eternity, but also how much of our time has already elapsed and reflect on what we have done with the time God had given to us, as well as the talents, gifts, and opportunities bestowed upon us.

The question is – are we going to make up for lost time using our talents, blessing others with our gifts, and making the most of every opportunity God gives us?

With such thoughts fixed firmly in our minds, we must not allow ourselves to waste a moment and start focusing on what is really important. We need to be prepared and keep your lamps burning. What will happen if Christ returns, and we are not prepared? What if death comes before we are ready?

Such considerations are meant to drive us to quick repentance and to motivate a deep longing for godliness because, “You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Luke 12:40). So, are you ready?

Please understand that this earthly life is a race against time. So until our time arrives to leave this world, our great desire should be to grow in conformity to Christ, to the greatest extent possible – in the short time available to all of us. 

When we make the Lord first in our lives and He becomes our priority, then He will order our steps, and everything else will take place in the proper order as we keep eternal values in mind. 

What impact are we making within our relationships and for the kingdom of God? What are our priorities? What are we doing with the life we’ve been given? Where will you spend eternity? These are important questions to ask, as David wrote, “You have given me only a short life. My lifetime is like nothing to You. Everyone’s life is only a breath” (Psalm 39:5). And in James 4:14 we read: “You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” 

Our main concern about life should not be how long we live, but how well we live it for the Lord, and this should cause us to have a great dependence on God. Therefore, don’t be so busy with yourself and your own desires that you neglect to live a life for Christ. 

*******

DISCLAIMER MVM

1 Comment

Posted in THE FRAILTY AND BREVITY OF LIFE – Psalm 90:12 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: missionventureministries | February 15, 2023

WALKING IN GOD’S WAYS – Psalm 128:1

Psalm 128 vs 1

“Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways.” (Psalm 128:1) 

In the original Hebrew, the word translated as “walk” in Psalm 128:1 means “to live or behave in a specific manner.” Respect for God expresses itself in actions and behaviors as Solomon wrote, “fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).  And Paul tells the Corinthian church, “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let’s cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). Those who truly worship and serve the Lord God Almighty will devote their lives to Him not only with words but also by obeying His commands. 

Jesus walked in God’s ways as a perfect example for us (Philippians 2:8). He showed us that obedience and love go hand in hand: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). 

The apostle John cites obedience as the proof of our love for God expressed through living for Him: “The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever follows His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says that he remains in Him ought, himself also, walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:4-6). 

The Bible is our book of instruction for walking in God’s ways and Scripture illuminates the path for our feet, guiding and directing our manner of walking in this world (Psalm 119:105). To walk in God’s ways describes a lifestyle of daily seeking to know God and living in obedience to His will. It means delighting oneself in the Lord, meditating on His Word, and discovering His will (Psalm 40:8). 

Those who walk in God’s ways choose behaviors that are pleasing to Him. They “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). They “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10). They desire to know the Lord’s ways and earnestly and continually pursue an ever-deepening relationship with God. 

Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). There is a cost involved in walking in God’s ways, which means giving up our own way. It involves death to self. In Jesus’ day, the cross represented death. When Jesus said, “take up your cross and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24), the disciples understood what He meant, that they had to be willing to die to follow Him. It meant relinquishing self-will and selfish ambition. Jesus said, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, this is the one who will save it” (Luke 9:24). 

Believers are able to walk in God’s ways because they “walk in the light” of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the light (1 John 1:7). God’s Spirit empowers them to “walk by the Spirit,” obey His Word, and live in a way that honors and pleases the Him (Galatians 5:16; Ezekiel 36:27). 

Those who walk with God obey Him no matter what. Even when there is an easy way out, they still stick to God’s plan and His commandments. It is not easy to live a godly life in the world, but with God, everything is possible (Philippians 4:13). 

Walking with God requires the following: 

  1. Commitment – This keeps us going even when we don’t feel like praying or reading our Bible. 
  1. Focus – It’s easy to get distracted and forget to nurture our walk with God. Having a focused mind will remind us that we need to set time aside to spend with God. When we make the choice to walk with God we don’t let other things distract us from keeping focused on Christ. 
  1. Yielding to the Holy Spirit – When we allow the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts, He helps us obey God and keep away from anything that hinders our relationship with Him. 

When we truly want to walk with the Lord we draw closer to Him, and He becomes our main focus. Our hearts longs for Him and we seek His presence while our worldly desires decrease. 

As a believer the benefits and results of walking with God each day of our earthly life is the comfort He gives us knowing that it is a relationship that will be shared throughout eternity. “And this is what He promised us—eternal life” (1 John 2:25). 

*******

DISCLAIMER MVM

Leave a Comment

Posted in WALKING IN GOD’S WAYS – Psalm 128:1 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »

Categories