Category: Encouragement

Unity of Faith

From dictionary.com: 

unity (noun) 
  • the state of being one; oneness.
  • a whole or totality as combining all its parts into one.
  • the state or fact of being united or combined into one, as of the parts of a whole; unification.
  • absence of diversity; unvaried or uniform character.
  • oneness of mind, feeling, etc., as among a number of persons; concord, harmony, or agreement.
Synonyms: accord, agreement, harmony, integrity, peace.

Unity of faith brings maturity, peace and perfect love.

Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. Ephesians 4:14-15

What will bring this maturity about?

This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Ephesians 4:13

When will we have this unity of faith; what has to happen?

He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:16

Unity of faith brings maturity. Then we will live as we were created to live, by complementing each other in the body. We will live in peace and grow in perfect love – God’s love.

In Jesus Christ’s own words:

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.”  John 17:20-23

(Emphasis by underlining is added.)

Circumcision of the Heart

One of the definitions of circumcision in the dictionary is a spiritual purification. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is akin to circumcision of the heart! In the Greek, the word originates from peritome and means to be set apart from the sinful masses and Truly devoted to God.

But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. (NKJV) No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people. Romans 2:29 (NLT)

Then what’s the advantage of being a Jew? Is there any value in the ceremony of circumcision? Yes, there are great benefits! First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God. Romans 3:1&2

 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. 1 Corinthians 2:12

By allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts, we are grafted into the Jewish birthright through the Holy Spirit and receive the revelations of God. To be truly devoted to God, we must follow him with our whole heart and not keep back certain parts.  To be able to discern the scriptures and gain understanding requires forgiveness. Not only must we forgive others, we must forgive ourselves. God has already forgiven us by sending his son. When our hearts are not pliable, we don’t allow the Holy Spirit in to work through us. We lead others away from the gospel instead of to the open heart and arms of our wonderful and loving Heavenly Father.

But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile Christians, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. As a result, other Jewish Christians followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. Galatians 2:11-13

Peter’s problem was not in eating with the Gentiles but later refusing to socialize with them. He was trying to make them follow the law and not rely on their faith in Jesus Christ. It is only by faith and believing in Jesus Christ that we Are made right with God. When we shun people based on their stature in life, the way they look, their lack in any area, we become a stumbling block to others. No wonder so many run from the gospel! Why would they want to associate with hypocrites (people who pretend)?

Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you. I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses. Galatians 5:2&3

We cannot rely on a ceremonial act to make us ‘right’ with God. We cannot live a just life by our own practice, we must allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in everything we do. What area of our lives are we not allowing God to work in? What ‘law’ or act is our stumbling block to others? What religious rite are we performing to gain holiness? Unless the Holy Spirit is working in our lives, we are just make-believe Christians.

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Galatians 5:16 & 25

Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. Ephesians 2:11

Are we uncircumcised heathens who cannot get into the kingdom? Are we the non-believing Jews who only put on an outward show of following God and didn’t have a heart for Him?

When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. Colossians 2:11

But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. 1 John 2:27

God sent us the Holy Spirit to allow us to love others and to discern truth. It is through our pliable heart that we hear his voice and see with his eyes.

And he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us. 2 Corinthians 1:22

Prayer: Father help me to keep my heart submissive to the Holy Spirit working in me to hear your voice and see with your eyes. Help me to share your love which has no classifications or categories to do Your perfect will. Help me be able to pour out Your love and peace on others. In the name of Jesus Christ my Lord, Amen.

Credits: mbaum heart with mouth

God’s Confirming Word

As I read Psalm 147, I was reminded of how God confirms his Word through his Word and many other verses came to mind. I looked up these confirming verses and have linked them to this passage. You may see the verses by clicking on their links, then transfer back to this passage with the back button on your browser. (My words are in parentheses.)
Psalm 147

Praise the Lord!

How good to sing praises to our God!

How delightful and how fitting!

(True Worship! John 4:23-24)

2 The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem

and bringing the exiles back to Jerusalem.

(Into communion and relationship with Him. Revelations 21:3)

3 He heals the brokenhearted

(the disillusioned, the disappointed, those who hurt)

and bandages their wounds.

(Every trouble that befalls us. Romans 5:3-5)

4 He counts the stars

(And knows His people! John10:14)

and calls them (me) all by name.

5 How great is our Lord! His power is absolute!

His understanding is beyond comprehension!

(Ephesians 3:19)

6 The Lord supports the humble,

(Those with childlike trust and a sense of awe. Matthew 18:4)

but he brings the wicked down into the dust.

(Those who are rebellious. 1 John 3:9-11) 

7 Sing out your thanks to the Lord;

sing praises to our God with a harp.

(Colossians 3:15-17)

8 He covers the heavens with clouds,

provides rain for the earth,

and makes the grass grow in mountain pastures.

(He provides literal rain. James 5:16-18)

9 He gives food to the wild animals

and feeds the young ravens when they cry.

(So, don’t worry! Matthew 6:31-33)

10 He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse

or in human might.

(Doing things on our own does not impress God. Philippians 2:13-15)

11 No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him,

those who put their hope in his unfailing love.

(Those who allow God to lead them. 1 John 4:18)

12 Glorify the Lord, O Jerusalem!

Praise your God, O Zion!

13 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates

(He protects us. Psalm 91)

and blessed your children within your walls.

(He Loves us. Romans 8:38-39)

14 He sends peace across your nation

(His peace which we can’t explain. Philippians 4:7)

and satisfies your hunger with the finest wheat.

(There are Rewards for following God. Ephesians 3:6)

15 He sends his orders to the world—

how swiftly his word flies!

(If God is for us, who can stand against us? Romans 8:31)

16 He sends the snow like white wool;

he scatters frost upon the ground like ashes.

17 He hurls the hail like stones.

Who can stand against his freezing cold?

(God controls the weather.)

18 Then, at his command, it all melts.

He sends his winds, and the ice thaws.

(When Jesus woke up… the storm stopped and all was calm. Luke 8:24)

19 He has revealed his words to Jacob,

his decrees and regulations to Israel.

(He reveals His word to us by His Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:10-12)

20 He has not done this for any other nation;

they do not know his regulations.

(We understand when we follow Him. John 14:21)

Praise the Lord!