The fortified bronze wall that the Lord has made

Therefore thus says the LORD: “If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them. And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, declares the LORD. I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.” (Jeremiah 15:19-21)

There are times when the Lord God calls his people to be steadfast in his decrees without having to face others. But then there are certain times in which the believer in Christ is faced with those who oppose the decrees of God. If you are one such believer who’s facing such opposition, then this write up is for you.

The Prophet Jeremiah who served the Lord of Hosts as long as he lived, dwelt in a land that was rebellious to God. For they forsook the Lord and burned incense to false gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands. Rejecting the Living God still remains a sin to this day, make no mistake about this. And the Lord God knows how to deal with those who are unwilling to repent of their sins, in case the grave sin of worshiping false gods.

Here’s what the Lord God spoke to the Prophet Jeremiah:

For behold, am calling all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north, declares the Lord, and they shall come, and every one shall set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its walls all around and against all the cities of Judah.  And I will declare my judgments against them, for all their evil in forsaking me. They have made offerings to other gods and worshiped the works of their own hands. But you, dress yourself for work; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the Lord, to deliver you.” (Jeremiah 1:15-19)

A few lessons to learn here:

• The Lord will declare his judgement against those who forsake Him.
• Worshiping false gods is a grave sin and must be rejected at all costs.
• Your heritage and descent is no excuse for sinning.
• Don’t get dismayed by sinners, lest the Lord dismay you in front of sinners.
• When the Lord God makes you a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, trust God, for he plans to deliver you from this evil generation.

Being a fortified bronze wall in the New Testament context is the the same as what told to the Prophet Jeremiah, but now is even about staying true to your calling in Jesus Christ when evil doers entice you sin. The Holy Spirit will teach you what to speak in that time!

Let’s read the following Words of Jesus our Lord:

“And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” (Luke 12:8-12)

Christ be with you!

 

Avoid Spiritual Pride

O you who love Jesus Christ, avoid spiritual pride in all its entirety for this does not please the Lord your God. And what is this spiritual pride; it when you look at all your good works and try to claim the credit for yourself and instead of giving the credit only to the Lord God who made it possible for you to great things in his Holy Name.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

O believer in Christ Jesus, remember that whatever good works you do, its only for the glory of the Living God who prepared all this beforehand. So when you do works of mercy and goodness and generosity you bear testimony to Grace of God. Do not get carried away by the praises of the people whom you help nor the praises of those who see you helping others, thinking in your heart that it was all you all along. Humble yourself greatly and say in such case that its the Lord your God who has blessed you with the ability to all this and so let all praise go to God alone.

Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day (Deuteronomy 8:17-18)

 

 

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful. (1 Corinthians 13:1-4)

Keep in mind O you who love Jesus Christ, no matter how much you advance in the gifts of the Holy Spirit or even in the way of good works, never do it out of selfish motives but do it for the love of God. Take to heart that; what started with the love of God must continue to with the love of God and anything else which deviates from the love of God is sin which is not pleasing to the Lord God. Hence, keep away from spiritual pride and dwell in the presence of the Lord!

Verses to reflect upon:

• Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling. (Proverbs 16:18)
• Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Matthew 23:12)
• Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded…Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (James 4:5-8,10)

A poor Christmas, A rich Christmas

A poor Christmas where you have faith in God is better than a rich Christmas where you put trust in people.

A poor Christmas as you read the Holy Scriptures is better than a rich Christmas listening to worldly music.

A poor Christmas with believers in Christ Jesus is better than a rich Christmas with those who do not honour Him.

A poor Christmas with Christ is better that a million rich Christmases without Christ.

A poor Christmas where you surrender yourself fully to Jesus Christ is better than a rich Christmas when you are full of yourself.

A poor Christmas where you pray humbly is better than a rich Christmas where you dance proudly.

A poor Christmas when you share bread with the poor is better than a rich Christmas when you eat with the impious.

A poor Christmas where you realize that only Jesus Christ can save you is better than a rich Christmas filled with the vanities of life.

~~~~~~~~~~
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  -Matthew 5:3

Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet

 

13 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. ² During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, ³ Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, ⁴ rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. ⁵ Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. ⁶ He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” ⁷ Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” ⁸ Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” ⁹ Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” ¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” ¹¹ For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

¹² When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? ¹³ You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. ¹⁴ If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. ¹⁶ Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. ¹⁸ I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ ¹⁹ I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. ²⁰ Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

(John 13:1-38)

Avoid being overconfident of your own wisdom

O believer in Jesus Christ, never make your own logic and understanding your refuge because its possible to fall into delusion and deceptions if you do that. Always consider yourself in need of wisdom from God above, so that you prevail against the Kingdom of Darkness each time.

How much so then that the Enemy of your soul desires that you depend so much on your own wisdom? For he knows that only the knowledge and counsel of the Lord God is something that he can never defeat nor banish. It’s very easy for the vile Serpent to misguide people who are overconfident or just don’t bother about the principles and edicts of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Think about the times when people despite having the best of jobs and the best of qualifications, have married the wrong person just because they depended on their raw impulses. Know that the bravest of people have fallen prey to scammers just because they didn’t take a second opinion against fraudulent investments. And even the most pious of men and women due to their pride in their religious knowledge rather than humility in Christ Jesus have fallen into soul damning heresies!

Therefore, be on guard O those who call yourselves as God’s friends that you don’t get deceived like Adam and Eve by the Evil One. Safeguard your heart from eating the manna of Judas and Herod, who lost it all for ungodly gains. Avoid the leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy that you be a true follower of the Lord your God all through your life.

• Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
• Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shall you dwell in the land, and verily you shall be fed. (Psalm 37:3)
• Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Selah (Psalm 62:8)

Stay away from pride

Stay away from pride,
And in God confide.
Stay away from pride,
Lest mercy from you hide.

Stay away from pride,
And in God’s word abide.
Stay away from pride,
Lest it cause you to backslide.

Stay away from pride,
And in God’s way stride.
Stay away from pride,
Lest your faith gets dried.

Stay away from pride,
And in God’s will, be justified.
Stay away from pride,
Lest your life be unqualified.

Carry your cross daily

Carry your cross daily O believer,
And do not listen to the deceiver.
Carry it for Christ’s honour,
Even if you’re in a lonely corner.

Hold on to your cross even if others fail,
Be steadfast in both spring and hail.
Consider the saints and witness of God above,
For they endured in holiness and love.

Crucify the flesh and its sinful desires,
And you’ll escape the everlasting fires.
Don’t please the haters of your soul,
For destruction is their goal.

Walk towards the Lord God with humility,
To receive peace greater than worldly tranquility.
Ask for grace if you find the cross difficult to carry,
Don’t be overconfident and unwary.

Do not stride in pride

Never ever indulge the flesh. Especially do not give place to the sin of pride. There are people who are deceived who say that pride is natural. It is not! Because when Lucifer the archangel indulged in pride about himself only then did he have designs to exalt himself to high places and even become like the Most High God. And that what happened next changed the course of this apostate angel; he was cast out of heaven along with his rebellious angels by the holy and mighty angels of the Lord God. This Lucifer is now called Satan the vile deceiver and accuser of the brethren. Remember that Satan the insolent one will receive his long due punishment at the Final Judgement by none other than Jesus Christ the humble and eternal Judge who already defeated him on the cross. So whenever you are tempted with pride remember to be humble like Jesus than rebellious like Satan.

 

Verses to reflect upon:

• Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Matthew 23:12)
• Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded…Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (James 4:5-8,10)

 

God accepts us despite the way we are

Image source: Pinterest.com

From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once regarded Christ from a human point of view, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;  that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:16-20)

Those are renewed in Christ Jesus should never say God accepted them the way they were but rather that God accepted them despite the way they were. Let none mistake God’s acceptance of the repentant as an approval of his or her sins. But rather count this as God’s forgiveness and mercy to those who reject the ways of sin and accept the only way to God which is through Jesus Christ. And those who are reconciled to God in Jesus Christ have passed from death to life. Happy are those who are ever grateful for God’s acceptance of them despite they missing the mark and yet offered mercy to live in faith through the blood of Jesus which he shed for the sins of the world.

Quick reminder: Blessings can be spiritual too

Blessings go beyond material prosperity. It’s nice to be in good health, have sufficient finances and a steady supply of clean and wholesome food and water. But that’s not all that comes under the blessings of God. In fact too much of focusing on the material aspects of blessings might be a temptation to not give heed to the spiritual things which come from heavenly blessings from God through Jesus Christ. Knowing what spiritual blessings are can make you more grateful and humble towards the Lord. You’d realize that all blessings that you have ultimately are not of your creation but come from the Lord God himself and no one can compete with the Lord in this.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. (Ephesians 1:3-10)

Related article:

“What are spiritual blessings?” (www.gotquestions.org)