Joshua - The Mentee

Bible character study

Joshua

The mentee

Some nowadays scoff at mentorship wondering what impact it has. Joshua is first example of spiritual mentorship in scriptures and his sobriquet is Moses' assistant.

He did not have the burning bush experience nor did he kill Goliath yet his impact was..so monumental that Jesus was named after him (yes, Jesus is Joshua in Hebrew).

Beloved, submit to your mentor, it shortens your journey. 

The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction." Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God.[Exo 24:12-13]

Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting.[Exo 33:11]

But your assistant, Joshua son of Nun, will enter it. Encourage him, because he will lead Israel to inherit it. [Deut 1:38]

God's choice

It can almost be argued that Joshua made himself God's choice. He kept doing the next best thing until it was apparent that he was the best man.

Several times, young believers sit around idly for years waiting for the divine call. Of course, for some, calls do come like that but for the majority of us, it is found in the place of service. Purpose revealed in the process of assisting others wholeheartedly. Beloved, what can you do now?

The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands." So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered.[Exo 17:8-10]

Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. He said to the elders, "Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them."[Exo 24:13-14]

*The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. [Exo 33:11]*

So the LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. Give him some of your authority..[Number 27:18-20]

Believing God

As a member of the 12 spies sent to spy on the promised land, he alongside Caleb came back with a good report. Their report was simply a confession of faith in God's ability.

While it was true that the inhabitants were huge and strong, they chose to focus on the God who delivered them from Egypt with a strong hand.

Beloved, that challenge might be really huge, don't focus on it rather let your attention be on God who has brought you thus far, his word to you and his abilities.

Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them." [Numbers 14:6-9]

Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.[Numbers 14:30]

Courage to enter the promised land

A central theme of the old testament is the promise land, promised to Abraham, started by Moses, reminisced by David and the prophets. Yet the actual conquering of Jericho was devoid of human strength.Joshua parted the Jordan and then walked round the city for seven days and the people shouted.

It takes a lot of courage and obedience to be the leader to make that happen. People wanted action but Joshua offered obedience and he prevailed.

So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days. On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times.When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city. [Joshua 6:15-16]

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." [Joshua 1:9]

Taking responsibility

Joshua owned both his successes and especially his mistakes. When Gibeon lied and Joshua believed the evidence before him instead of asking God, he made amends by acknowledging his errors yet honouring his words. 

You will not be right all the time, don't excuse yourself rather learn from it. Take responsibility for your actions (errors) and make amends.

So the Israelite leaders examined their bread, but they did not consult the LORD.* *Then Joshua went ahead and signed a peace treaty with them, the leaders of Israel ratified their agreement with a binding oath*. *3 days later, the facts came out* *–these people of Gibeon lived nearby. But the leaders replied, "We have sworn an oath in the presence of the LORD, the God of Israel*. *We cannot touch them. We must let them live, for God would be angry with us if we broke our oath. Let them live*...  *So the Israelites kept their promise to the Gibeonites.* *Joshua did not allow the people of Israel to kill them. But that day he made the Gibeonites the woodchoppers and water carriers for the people of Israel and for the altar of the LORD – wherever the LORD would choose to build it. That arrangement continues to this day.[Joshua 9:14-27]

Integrity

Do you know the deadliest war ever fought? It was fought by Joshua; the Israelites dominated, God sent hailstones from heaven and the sun stood still at the request of Joshua for total destruction. Yet it was not fought to defend Israel.

After the pretentious pact gotten by Gibeon, the other nations gathered to destroy Gibeon and Israel came to defend them as stipulated by the agreement. Now, Joshua could have easily called it Karma and turned the other way, but not the man. He stood by his words regardless of  how it was gotten *[Joshua 9:14-27]*.The same with his treatment of Rehab the harlot whose family was the only one saved from Jericho because the spies promised on behalf of Joshua. *[Joshua 6:25]

Beloved, your words matter. Be like your heavenly father who only says what he means and means what he says.

The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: "Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us." So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army [Joshua 10:6-7]

As they fled before Israel  the LORD hurled large hailstones down on them, and more of them died from the hail than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.[10:11]

Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel: "Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon." So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies... There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a human being. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel! [Joshua 10:12-14]

Meanwhile, Joshua said to the two spies, " Keep your promise. Go to the prostitute's house and bring her out, along with all her family." [Joshua 6:22]

A life of grace

Of all the major leaders in scriptures, Joshua is one of a select few without any scandal to his name. He was trained for the role and anointed to it. Competence and anointing

His leadership was exemplary, God helped him and he also did not become big in his eyes, he had a listening ear without feeling threatened (by Caleb) and above all, his family was not left behind. *Beloved, get the anointing and develop yourself*. 

I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then. So give me the hill country that the Lord promised me. You will remember that as scouts we found the descendants of Anak living there in great, walled towns. But if the Lord is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the Lord said." So Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave Hebron to him as his portion of land.. [Joshua 14:11-12]

But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord." [Joshua 24:15]

The people said to Joshua, "We will serve the Lord our God. We will obey him aloneness." So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day at Shechem, committing them to follow the decrees and regulations of the Lord.[Joshua 24:24]

 

Moses - Prince Turned Refugee

*Biblical Character Study*

2. *Moses*

*Prince turned refugee*

A prison to palace story is inspiring and desirous, who ever desires to leave the comfort of royalty for exile? Yet, that was the trajectory of this man of God.

He perceived in his heart the call of a deliverer and went about it in his own strength, the result? He was ran out of town. Timing and divine commissioning / empowering is important for fulfilling your vision sir/ma.

*When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh's daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, "I drew him out of the water."[Exodus 2:10]*

*And sure enough, Pharaoh heard what had happened, and he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in the land of Midian. When Moses arrived in Midian, he sat down beside a well.[Exo 2:15]*. 

*It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God's people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin .He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great [Heb 11:24-26]*

 *Never too late to start over*

Moses' life can broadly be divided into three, 40 years in the palace, 40 years in the wilderness and 40 years as we know it, fulfilling purpose. To realize that he started over at 80 years of age is surely an encouragement to us.

'No matter how much time you have lost, it is never too late to start over following the will of God for your life. You might not even feel capable, God will empower you. You just submit to him'. 

*Moses said to the LORD, "Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue." The LORD said to him, "Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute?Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." .[Exo 4:10-12]*

*Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.[Exo 7:7]*

*Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever. [Deut 34:7]*

*Delegate, delegate*

With so much power and influence as a leader, it is possible to think that you are the only person that has the solution, and Moses almost fell to that trap. He will seat in judgement from morning to evening 6 days a week. It took his father-in-law and God to save him from himself. *[Exo 18]*

Beloved, you cannot do it all, delegate as much as possible, it will preserve your life. But what if they cannot do it as good as you will? They can't; but they can only get better by doing, so delegate.

*This is not good!" his father-in-law exclaimed*

*"You're going to wear yourself out – and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. Now let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people's representative before God, bringing him their questions to be decided. You should tell them God's decisions, teach them God's laws and instructions, and show them how to conduct their lives. But find some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as judges over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. These men can serve the people, resolving all the ordinary cases. Anything that is too important or too complicated can be brought to you. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. If you follow this advice, and if God directs you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace." Moses listened to his father-in-law's advice.[Exo 18:17-23]*

*Meekness*

He was declared to be the meekest man on earth and that is no mean fit. His experience of trying to do things by himself and failing and then seeing what God can do had completely humbled him. He no longer had any reason to fight for himself or prove himself.

Even when his authority was challenged twice, he left it to God to answer and even pleaded when the answer was severe. Beloved, there is so much grace in humility, quit the fightings and trust in God's righteousness.

*When the cloud lifted from above the Tent, there stood Miriam--leprous, like snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had leprosy; and he said to Moses, "Please, my lord, do not hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed. Do not let her be like a infant coming from its mother's womb with its flesh half eaten away." So Moses cried out to the LORD, "O God, please heal her!" [Numbers 12:10-13]*

*Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.[Numbers 12:3]*

*The man Moses*

It is easy to focus on all the great things Moses did and forget that he was a man after all. He almost lost his life because he did not circumcise his son. He missed stepping in the promise land because he got angry for God.

What I find most worrying though is the absence of his children in the scheme of things, I am sure you will struggle to remember the names of his children.

 *On the way to Egypt, at a place where Moses and his family had stopped for the night, the Lord confronted him and was about to kill him. But Moses' wife, Zipporah, took a flint knife and circumcised her son. She touched his feet with the foreskin[Exo 4:25]*,

*Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about everything God had done for Moses and his people, the Israelites. He heard especially about how the Lord had rescued them from Egypt. Earlier, Moses had sent his wife, Zipporah, and his two sons back to Jethro [Exo 18:1-6]*

*But the Lord was angry with me because of you. He vowed that I would not cross the Jordan River into the good land the Lord your God is giving you as your special possession. You will cross the Jordan to occupy the land, but I will not.[Deut 4:21]*

*Beloved of God*

God specially loved Moses and it showed. He had access to God and a relationship with him that we in the new and better testament need to be conscious of. God is not a far away task master as some paint him. He is loving and relational.

To cap off the story and life of Moses, God did what has not been repeated again, HE BURIED HIM.

*And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name." Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory." And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name [Exo 33:17-19]*

*...the LORD, in your presence... But you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live." Then the LORD said, There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by [Exo 33:20-21]*

*And the Lord said to them, "Now listen to what I say: "If there were prophets among you, I, the Lord, would reveal myself in visions. I would speak to them in dreams. But not with my servant Moses. Of all my house, he is the one I trust. I speak to him face to face, clearly and not in riddles! He sees the Lord as he is [Numbers 12:6-8]* 

*So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab, just as the Lord had said. The Lord buried him in a valley near Beth-peor in Moab, but to this day no one knows the exact place.[Deut 34:6]*

*Knowing God's ways*

Moses did not only see the acts and wonders of God, he knew God's ways. He understood God and could make his case before God with a confidence that God will listen.

While it is good for us to desire the miraculous in our lives, it is better to desire to know God. Our daily cry should be more of God and his ways. When you know God, you will see his glory in your life.

*I feared the anger and wrath of the LORD, for he was angry enough with you to destroy you. But again the LORD listened to me[Deut 9:19]*

*And the LORD was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him, but at that time I prayed for Aaron too.[Deut 9:20]*

*And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name."*

*Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory."*

*And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name the LORD, in your presence*. *I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have [Exo 33:18-1]*

*He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel.[Psalms 103:7]*

 

Abraham - Friend of God

*Biblical Character Study*

1. Abraham 

*Abraham - Friend of God*

He is known as the father of faith and friend of God. But how does one earn the sobriquet of 'friend of God'?

The story started with a most unusual request, leave your family, friends and country and go to a place I will show you. [Gen 12:1] And Abraham obeyed

*GOD told Abram: "Leave your country, your family, and your father's home for a land that I will show you. I'll make you a great nation and bless you. I'll make you famous... So Abram left just as GOD said, and Lot left with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran [Gen 12:1-4]*

*Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, You who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, And to the hole of the pit from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah who bore you; For I called him alone, blessed him and increased him [Isa 51:1-2]*

*And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith." He was even called the friend of God. [Romans 4:3]*

*Abraham - Simplicity of heart*

A study of Abraham will constantly reveal a man that was one with his word and at peace with himself. He expressed his feelings and emotions to God without fear. Whether it was his fear that his servant will inherit him or his plea for Sodom.

He had no issues with allowing his younger cousin pick a land first or running errands to serve strangers despite the fact that he had over 300 hundred men in his household. God indeed looks at the heart of men. How is your heart?

*Abram said to Lot, "Let's not have fighting between us, between your shepherds and my shepherds. After all, we're family. Look around. Isn't there plenty of land out there? Let's separate. If you go left, I'll go right; if you go right, I'll go left." [Gen 13:8-9]*

*What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. [Gen 18: 25-26]*

*Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant." "Very well," they answered, "do as you say." So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah."Quick," he said, "get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread." Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.[Gen 18:6-7]*

*Abraham - Absolute dependence on God*

For a strong man who had 318 trained men of War in his house, Abraham's dislike for quarrels and show of force is exemplary. He would rather have God fight for him than push his case.

On two different occasions, he trusted God to preserve his wife than to go into quarrels over her. You are tempted to take him for a weakling yet he fought 5 nations and prevailed. 'Do you know who I am' geng, Why must you always show yourself?

*But the LORD inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram's wife Sarai. So Pharaoh summoned Abram. "What have you done to me?" he said. "Why didn't you tell me she was your wife? [Gen 12:17-19]*

*When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people. [Gen 14:14-16]*

*Abraham - Right discernment*

Abraham's ability to rightly discern men and things were divine. He knew who to give tithe to and who to serve, which gifts to collect and which to reject.

We learn from Abraham that not all favours should be received.. [Gen 23:6]

..he insisted on paying for the burial ground for his wife [Gen 23:11] and refuse to take the spoils from the victory of the 5 kings so his wealth will only be attributable to God. Discernment is key.

*No, my lord, he said. "Listen to me; I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. I give it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead." Again Abraham bowed down before the people of the land and he said to Ephron in their hearing ."Listen to me, if you will. I will pay the price of the field. Accept it from me so I can bury my dead there." [Gen 23:11-13]*

*But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, 'I made Abram rich.' I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me..."[Gen 14:22-24]*

*Abraham - Right parenting*

The most important parenting commendation a person can have was that given by God to Abraham. Abraham did not only fear God but also taught his children and family to fear and obey God.

When Isaac was old enough to marry, he also ensured that he married right. Beloved, your work and love for God is not complete if your offspring are not taught to know God. And it cannot be done by proxy.

*And the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him." [Gen 18:17-19]*

*Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac. But while he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east [Gen 25:5-6]*

*Abraham - Not perfect*

It is often the case that we ascribe perfection to men of old and get discouraged by our seeming imperfections. But a study of Abraham clearly shows that he had shortcomings.

He doubted God, gave misleading statements twice and committed adultery yet God never left him.

Beloved, don't run away from God because you have not gotten it, he is here to help you and strengthen you for the journey.

*As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, "I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his wife.' Then they will kill me but will let you live..

Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you." [Gen 12:11-13]*

*But Abram replied, "O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don't even have a son? Since you've given me no children..

Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth. You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir." [Gen 15:2-3]*

*The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave wife and one from his freeborn wife. The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God's promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God's own fulfillment of his promise [Gal 4:22-23]*

*Abraham - Faith towards God*

In conclusion, Abraham is the father of faith not because of his perfection but rather his absolute confidence in God. Even when God told him to release what he got by faith, his trust in God did not waiver,[Romans 4:20] counting God faithful to raise Isaac..

..from the dead.[Hebrews 11:19]

Beloved, believe God more than your situation, and when what you are in faith for comes, do not let it replace God in your heart. Our faith will also be counted as righteousness.

*By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned."..Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death. [Hebrews 11:17-19]*

*Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham's faith, God counted him as Righteous. [Romans 4:20-22]*

*And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.[Gen 15:6]*

 

Loving Man - Be Kind

 

In our dealings with people, kindness must always be visible. It is not sufficient to be right, we must also show kindness.

The final test before Isaac came was Abraham showing kindness to 3 strangers.[Genesis 18:1-5]

David helped a dying Egyptian and got his family and properties back [1Sam 30:11] *(you really have no excuse to be wicked)*. You will often find that kindness opens more doors than your skills ever could.

*They found an Egyptian in a field and brought him to David. They gave him water to drink and food to eat— part of a cake of pressed figs and two cakes of raisins. He ate and was revived, for he had not eaten any food or drunk any water for three days and three nights. [1Sam 30:11-12]*

*One day Abraham was sitting at the entrance to his tent during the hottest part of the day. He looked up and noticed three men standing nearby.* *When he saw them, he ran to meet them and welcomed them, bowing low to the ground.* *"My lord," he said,if it pleases you, stop here for a whileRest in the shade of this tree while my servants get some water to wash your feet. Let me prepare some food to refresh you. Please stay awhile before continuing on your journey. "All right," they said. "Do as you have said." [Gen 18:1-5]*

 *Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.[Ephesians 4:32]*

2 *Loving Man - make allowance for faults*

Can we quickly agree now that persons you trust most will offend you and do things that you least expect ( Peter denying Christ), yes they will and that is what makes us humans.

What you can do then is to make allowance for people's faults in advance, to make excuses for them in your heart, with the understanding that we are all being perfected.

Love, as scriptures says, covers a multitude of sins [1Peter 4:8]. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything.

*Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love.[Ephesians 4:2]*

*Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. [Colossians 3:13]*

3 *Loving Man - Be patient in love*

It is patient love that keeps the gold smith going, because the end product is nothing compared with the raw material. Majority of the believers around you are not yet finished products and you need to recognize that and be the smith on their way

to maturity.

Several of the things you are angry with about people now will not be there in a few years, yet your attitude to them will linger. So deal with people with patience knowing their gold cometh.

*'Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up...[1Corinthians 13:4-7]'*

*There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can't bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.[John 16:12-13]*

 *But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience , kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! [Galatians 5:22]*

4 *Loving Man - correct in love*

Correction is a necessary part of love, never shy away from correcting a fellow Christian having previously instructed him/her. You are showing love by preventing a worse incident when you correct. Of course, it must be done in love.

The where and how of correction matters. Avoid public corrections except when the incident is capable of influencing others who heard or saw it. The goal is always a change of attitude not humiliation. Once you have made the correction, let it end there. And if you are on the receiving end of a correction, receive it as a sign of love. Don't be so hung up on the way the correction came, see the lesson inherent. You can not always determine how and when you will be corrected, but you can choose to grow from the rebuke.

And never see corrections as judgment or condemnation. It is an opportunity for you to grow. People that truly love you will correct you, it should be your criteria for friendship in fact.

*I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways.[2Cor 7:8-9]*

 *But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong.[Gal 2:11]*

*An open rebuke is better than hidden love! Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy. [Prov 27:5-6]*

5 *Loving Man - Giving*

Just as God's love was shown by giving even so will your love be shown by giving. Give to the people around you because you love them.

Give your money and resources, give your time and skills, give opportunities for growth.

Give a smile and words of encouragement. The greatest gift you can give to your world is the gospel, preach Christ to your world, their eternity depends on it.

 

*If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God's love be in that person? Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. [1John 3:17-18]*

*One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. [Proverbs 11:24-15]*

*The fruit of the righteous [is a] tree of life, And he who wins souls [is] wise. [Proverbs 11:30]*

*And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' [Acts 20:35]*

6 *Loving Man - Forgiveness*

We cannot talk about loving man without talking about forgiveness. Having done your best to walk in love with people, you will still be hurt by them one way or the other and you must forgive.

We forgive primarily because we are also recipients of God's forgiveness and he commands us to forgive others. It is worth noting also that you will have need to forgive those closest to you the more. Forgive and let it go. 

*But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too. [Mark 11:25]*

*So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them [Luke 17:3]*

*Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.[Colossians 3:13]*

7 *Loving Man - Love yourself*

In rounding up our discussion on love, it is important to remind you that you need to love yourself. *'You' are important.*

Care for *'you', be kind to 'you' , pray for 'you', make allowance for 'you' to grow, 'you' deserve the best.*

While your life cannot and should not be all about you, never forget *that you matter and you can only love others to the degree that you love yourself*, And perhaps the most important way to love you is to forgive yourself. We have all made mistakes to different degrees but allowing those mistakes to dictate your future is a disservice to God.

God has forgiven you, so let the burden go and see the opportunities God is bringing your way. Don't believe the lie of the devil that keeps you in depression.

Let go of the past sir/ma; see, it's a new beginning and God is on your side.

 *I thank you, God, for making me so mysteriously complex!* 

*Everything you do is marvelously breathtaking.* 

*It simply amazes me to think about it!* 

*How thoroughly you know me, Lord!*

*You even formed every bone in my body when you created me in the secret place, carefully, skillfully* *[Psalms 139:14-15]* 

 *For the commandments, “Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not covet,” and every other commandment can be summed up in these words: “Love and value others the same way you love and value yourself.”[Romans 13:9* ]

*For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom.[Galatians 5:14]*

LOVING MAN

The second and final commandment under the new covenant is to love our neighbour [Gal 5:14]

Now, when Jesus was asked to define who ones neighbour is, he gave a very interesting analogy, the good Samaritan.[Luke 10:23-37]

It was not lost on his audience that the man he picked as their neighbour was from a despised foreign country. So yes, you are to love everybody regardless of creed, ethnic or class.

A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."

"What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?" "The one who treated him kindly," the religion scholar responded. Jesus said, "Go and do the same." [Luke 10:36-37]

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. [John 15:12]

Loving Man -Family

There are four types of Love in scriptures and one of them is family love (Storge). it is the affectionate bond that develops naturally between parents and children, brothers and sisters. Examples include Mary and Martha's love for Lazarus etc. [John 11:5]

Thus as a christian, you have to love your family members regardless of their disposition to you. You are instructed to love and obey your parents. And not ignore your family

When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her,"Woman, he is your son."

And he said to this disciple, "She is your mother." And from then on this disciple took her into his home. [John 19:26-27]

I want you to share your food with the hungry and to welcome poor wanderers into your homes. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. [Isa 58:7]

Loving Man - Eros

This is romantic love designed by God for couples in marriage (union of a man and a woman). it involves both physical attraction and sexual desires. It is not wrong in itself but when expressed outside marriage, it contravenes God's will.

Thus an unmarried Christian should stay away from erotic love, and if of marriageable age, should go and get married rather than burn with lust. The single should treat members of the opposite sex as siblings with all purity.

Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as though he were your own father. Talk to the younger men as you would to your own brothers. Treat the older women as you would your mother, and treat the younger women with all purity as your own sisters. [1Timothy 5:1-2]

Oh, let me warn you, sisters in Jerusalem, by the gazelles, yes, by all the wild deer: Don't excite love, don't stir it up, until the time is ripe--and you're ready. [Solomon 2:7]

 I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust upon a young woman.[Job 31:1]

Loving Man - Erotic love 4

Christian marriages are built on Agape and strengthened by Eros. Be satisfied always with the love of your spouse.

Do you know that scriptures says denying your spouse his/her marital rights is fraud before God?(1 Cor 7:4 Amp). Love your spouse.

Drink water from your own well— share your love only with your wife. Why spill the water of your springs in the streets, having sex with just anyone? You should reserve it for yourselves. Never share it with strangers. Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you [Proverbs 5:15] 

 

..Rejoice in the wife of your youth... May you always be captivated by her love. [Proverbs 5:18]

The husband should fulfill his wife's sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband's needs. The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife. Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. [1Corinthians 7:3-5]

For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church..He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God's word... In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself.[Ephesians 5:25-28]

Loving Man - Loving the poor

When we think about loving the poor, our first (and perhaps only) thoughts are to give to them. While it is good to give, the most important part of loving the poor is standing up for them. Ensuring that they have justice.

God wants you to 'speak up' for the voiceless and help the helpless. The privileges you enjoy are yours for the purpose of helping others.

What sorrow awaits the unjust judges and those who issue unfair laws. They deprive the poor of justice and deny the rights of the needy among my people. They prey on widows and take advantage of orphans.[Isa 10:1-2]

This is what the LORD Almighty said: Administer true justice; show mercy, and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.'[Zechariah 7:9-10]

No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you...[Isa 58:6]

Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. [Isa 58:7]

For I assisted the poor in their need and the orphans who required help. I helped those without hope, and they blessed me. And I caused the widows' hearts to sing for joy. Everything I did was honest. Righteousness covered me like a robe, and I wore justice like a turban. I served as eyes for the blind and feet for the lame. [Job 29:12-15]

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. [Proverbs 31:8-9]

Loving Man - praying for others

One of the greatest ways of expressing love to others is by praying for them. When we commit others to God's hands, we not only give them our best, we also engage the divine in their affairs.

We should pray for our friends as well as our enemies, those above us and those below us, in short, we are required to pray for all men.

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, [1Timothy 2:1-3]

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. [Matthew 5:44-45]

We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.[Col 1:3]

Loving Man - love the brethren

This perhaps seems the simplest feature of love yet is so hard to find. We set the standard for the brethren so high (and rightly so) that very few ever meet it and you sort of hate those that fall short.

There is also the inherent dislike we seem to have for those of other denominations.

Beloved, every believer in Christ Jesus is your brother and worthy of your love. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.[1John 3:10]

If someone says, "I love God," but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don't love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters [1John 4:20-21]

Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. [Romans 12:9-10]

To be continued...

Loving God

There are basically two commandments for the man in Christ and the first of them is to love God with all your heart and soul.[Matthew 22:37]. 

Having received God's abundant love, our response is to love him back. Our love for God should be more than words, it should be in action.

And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength [Mark 12:30]

Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment' [Matt 22:37]

One man of you shall chase a thousand, for the LORD your God [is] He who fights for you, as He promised you. Therefore take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the LORD your God [Joshua 23:10-11]

2  Loving God - serving God

To love God is to serve God. Your claim of love for God must be seen in your service to God.

What are you doing that is solely for the Lord?

What abilities and gifts of yours are you using to please him? Serve God in your church and with your substance. 

And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul [Deuteronomy 10:12]

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money  [Matthew 6:24]

Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. [Romans 12:11]

3 Loving God - Devotion to God

To love God is to be devoted to him. To place a premium on God above all others, to be committed to him.

Not having any gods is not only about golden images, it is about not having anything competing with the space God should occupy in your heart. 

And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul [Deutoronomy 10:12]

No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.[Matthew 6:24]

Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment'. [Matthew 22:37]

4 Loving God - Communing with him

Every love relationship is based on communication, severe the communicating line and the relationship ceases. Prayer is your communicating line with God.

Praying is proof of your love for God, it shows your dependence on him and love for him. 

Have you communicated with him today? he is waiting to hear from you. 

'While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God'. [Hebrews 5:7]

Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. [Isaiah 1:18]

I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!' [Psalm 116:1-2]

5 Loving God - pleasing God

When you love someone you seek to please him/her. It is no more all about yourself. Loving God is seeking to please him at all times, it is all about Him.

To please him, you do those things that he loves and are acceptable to him.

First by presenting your body as a pleasing sacrifice and offering spiritual sacrifices of praise continually. 

And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him. [1John 3:22]

So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him.[2 Corinthians 5:29]

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of [our] lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.[Hebrews 13:15-16]

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, [which is] your reasonable service. [Romans 12:1]

6 Loving God - Obey his words

To love God is to keep his commandments. To obey his words and his leading.

You must cherish his words in your heart and be careful to do them.

Jesus replied, "All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn't love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me." [John 14:23-24]

Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them." [John 14:21]

If you love me, obey my commandments.[John 14:15]

We know we love God's children if we love God and obey his commandments. Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome[1John 5:2-3]

7 Loving God - Loving Man

To love God is easy, the challenge is often with loving your neighbour. The hurts, gossips, envy and outright betrayal, it can be difficult to love man. Yet the ultimate proof that you love God is when you love people.

While we will next consider how to walk in love towards people, it is important we know that we are not just doing it for ourselves or because we feel better after showing love, it is actually an expression of love to God.

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another...[1John 4:10-12]

...God lives in us and his love is made complete in us [1john 4:12]

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. [1John 3:14]

*And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. [Mark 12:31]*

*If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. [1John 4:20-21]*

 

AGAPE

 God is love (Agape) and by this we mean God's love is unconditional. But then what is Love? It is to be essentially and unconditionally good.

But it is not sufficient to know that God is good, rather the more important truth is that God is good to you. GOD LOVES YOU.

 *Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, LORD, preserve both people and animals. How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! [Psalms 36:5-7]* 

 *For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. [John 3:16-17]* 

 *The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.[Jeremiah 31:3]*

2 *God's Love gives choices*

The most voiced question to God loving us is why are there still bad occurrences in the world?

The answer is love give choices. While God wants the best for us, he still allows man to make a choice to follow him or not. Our world is thus the cumulation of the choices that people have made.

Even today, God is still beckoning on the world to accept his love but he will not force himself or his way on us. We have to choose to obey him.

 *Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.[Deuteronomy 30:15-16]* 

 *We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.[2Corinthians 5:20]* 

 *But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served... But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."[Joshua 24:15]* 

On love giving choices, every parent knows that furniture, electricity, cooking utensils are all potentially harmful things to your child but when your child reaches a certain age, you stop protecting your child from them but rather teach the child to manage them.

While you hope that your child never jumps from the chair (they do behind you anyway), your love will move you to tend to their sprains if they get injured. Locking your child in a room permanently and removing all potentially harmful things will not be called love but slavery.

Yet some expect that from God. He should take away all potential pains (even though they are designed for our good) and God has given us a manual and His Spirit to teach and guide us.

*Choice is a necessary feature of love* 

3 *God's love is just*

Love is often times not associated with justice, it (love) is seen as being sentimental, but not so with God's love. It is established in righteousness and justice.

People sometimes measure God's justice in time (months and years). If God truly is just,

he should have done this or that for you by now, they say. How then do we describe Joseph who was sold to slavery at 17 and for 13 years he seemed to be under the wrath of God (slavery to prison) .Yet the love and justice of God was revealed when he was 30 years old and he lived till 110 years.

Beloved, never doubt God's love base on your temporary circumstances, his love is just.

 *For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them. [Isaiah 61:8]*

*I will sing of your love and justice, Lord. I will praise you with songs. [Psalms 101:1]* 

 *The King is mighty, he loves justice— you have established equity; in Jacob you have done what is just and right. [Psalms 99:4]* 

 *The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love[Psalms 33:5]*

4 *God is thoughtful of you*

You are not just one of seven billion people on earth, you are special to God and He is mindful of you.

Men might tell you that you are alone and not in God's agenda or thoughts but it is not true.

God is invested and interested in you and yours continually, He made you wonderfully and has you always in his mind.

 *I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well... [Psalms 139:14]* 

 *all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!...[Psalms 139:16-17]*

 

 *When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? [Psalms 8:3-4* ]

 *For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. [Jeremiah 29:11-12]* 

 *Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. [Luke 12:6]*

5 *God's love for you is patient and unmovable*

God understands your frame and he is patient towards you. He is not looking for your faults to punish you. Perhaps the best description of God's Love is seen in Luke 15, the story of the prodigal son. Despite the boy's misdeeds, the father (God) ran towards him while he was yet afar off to welcome him back.

Your mistakes can't scare God's love away, He loves you unrepentantly.

 *For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For  he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.[Psalms 103:11-14]* 

 *The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. [2Peter 3:9]* 

 *And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love.[Romans 8:38]* 

 *So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him."[Luke 15:20]*

6 *God's love instructs and corrects*

We are all being perfected and thus in need of instruction and correction. The love of God corrects us and that is not judgment. Never get too big for God's correction.

God also does not correct with sickness or disaster, No he does not! 

He corrects with his word because he loves you. Sicknesses/ accidents are consequences of refusing God's corrections.

For instance, a parent tells a child to stop jumping from a chair but the child persists and sprains an ankle.

Can we then say the injury was the parent's means of correction? Of course not.

God is sending his word of correction to you through your meditations in scriptures, the Holy Spirit, your pastors and even your friends; Beloved, listen to them and repent

 *My child, don't reject the Lord's discipline, and don't be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.[Proverbs 3:11-12]*

 *I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference. [Revelation 3:19]* 

 *To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction. [Proverbs 12:1]* 

7 *God's love gives*

It is popularly said that the proof of love is giving. You give to whom you love and God showed his love by giving the greatest gift, his son to die for man and save you.

He has also given you his Spirit as proof of his love for you. God loves you unconditionally and will not withhold any good thing from you. He loves you in particular.

 *What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't he also give us everything else? [Romans 8:31-32]* 

 *For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. [Psalms 84:11]* 

 *Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. [James 1:17]*

RIGHTEOUSNESS

 1- Righteousness

Righteousness is right standing with God, coming before God without any sense of guilt or insufficiency. Now, our self-righteousness is not sufficient, why? God demands 100%.

People often wonder why such absoluteness?

At least you are trying your best and you are better than some. So what percentage do you think will be good enough?

Perhaps you will say 70% (a good mark really). So what then happens to the abandoned/rejected lady who struggles to 65% or what should God do with the 30% unrighteousness in you.

It is clear that for the justice of God to be right, righteousness has to be binary, you are either righteous or not. And by our human efforts, WE ARE Not. 

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.[ Isaiah 64:6]

For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God's laws.[James 2:10].

2-Righteousness of God

Knowing that we could never attain to righteousness by our own efforts or strength, God made righteousness available to us by faith in Christ.

Thus we become righteous by believing in what Christ has done.

Is it just? Yes, for Christ was punished without sin and we become righteous by believing in him. And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which [is] from the law, but that which [is] through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

But people are counted as righteous, [Phillipians 3:9]

But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.[Romans 4:5]

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. [2Corinthians 5:21]

3 The Righteousness of God is also called the righteousness of faith and it has four parts as enumerated in Psalms 32:1-2.

Forgiveness of sins is the first. In Christ Jesus, our sins have been forgiven. Your past is past, God is not trying to make you pay for it.

Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people--free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds[Ephesians 1:7]

And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free Oh, what joy for those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight![Psalms 32:1-2]

God has purchased our freedom with his blood and has forgiven all our sins.[Colossians 1:14]

4 Remission of sin

Not only were you forgiven your sins, God completely blotted them out. You can come to God with a clear conscience as though you had never sinned.[Isaiah 43:25] There is no condemnation for you nor remembrance of your previous sins. The slate is wiped clean. 

Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."  And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary. [Hebrews 10:17-18]

For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.[Matthew 26:28]

5  No reckoning or inputting of sin to your account*

We have been justified in Christ Jesus, there is no record or reckoning of our former sins.

Inputted in our record is righteousness and God will relate with us on the basis of the record. As a Christian you should leave in perpetual joy because your account with God is balanced.

Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.[Romans 4:23-24]

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus[Romans 8:1].

And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.[Romans 8:2]

6 Spirit without guile

With the righteousness of God that we have received comes a new spirit devoid of guile and sin. Our spirit has the capacity to do right and please God always. We are not struggling to be righteous. we are righteous and we do what is right. 

Those who have been born into God's family do not make a practice of sinning, because God's life is in them. So they can't keep on sinning, because they are children of God. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil.[1John 3:9-10] 

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do [Ezekiel 36:26-27].

Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.[Psalms 31:1-2]

7 Fruits of righteousness

'You shall know them by their fruits' is a statement by Jesus and it is no less important now. That we have been made righteous is shown by the fruits we bare.

Works of righteousness (benevolence, peace) must be done by a righteous person.

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion,and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.[2Corinthians 9:10-11]

They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted high in honor. [Psalms 112:9]. 

The LORD's justice will dwell in the desert, his righteousness live in the fertile field. The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.[Isaiah 32:16]

Grace

Grace is one of the most foundational concepts in Christianity, and is at the center of our faith. Grace is unmerited favour of God towards us through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace is getting what we do not deserve on the bill of what Jesus has done. Christ did the work, we received his gift of grace.

'For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift. For while the Law was given through Moses,grace (unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ.' [John 1:16-18]

But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man Jesus Christ, abounded to many [Romans 5:15]

For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. [Romans 5:17]

We are saved by grace

The difference between Christianity and most world religions is the very notion of GRACE. Religion dictates what a man must do to be accepted by God, there are rules of dos and donts for you to please God.

But Christianity states the exact opposite, God has done all the work, yours is to believe and you are in.

It often sounds too simple to the learned and educated of this world. Human nature wants to feel entitled, it wants to by some measure earn salvation. But we can't.

It is the free gift of God gotten by grace. Jesus paid the full price for us. And indeed, it is the only way we could ever have gotten acceptance with God. Our best efforts will still be far short of the standard.

Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.[Romans4:5]

He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, [2Timothy 1:9]

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it [Ephesians 2:9]

Grace is not a license to sin

The fact that we are saved by grace does not in any way give us the freedom to keep living in sin. It is quite baffling why anyone who has been given free access to God will now deliberately go on sinning.

We live holy lives not to gain God's attention but because we have his attention and love. Grace teaches and empowers us to live right, pleasing the Lord.

Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? [Romans 6:1- 3]

Well then, since God's grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! Don't you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to Obey? [Romans 6:15-16]

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God[Titus 2:11-14]

Grace is not an enabler of laziness

'If it be of grace then it is not of works' [Romans 11:6]  The works talked about here is works of the law in order to please God. But in terms of works of career or business, grace is given that you might do more and get exponential results.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ brings you to favour before God and man and it also makes you diligent at what you do.

Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help,coming just when we need it].[Hebrews 4:16]

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.[1Corinthians 15:10]

Humility multiplies grace

You want to see the grace of God manifest abundantly in your life, then humble yourself. Humility is a sure recipe for the flow of grace.

It is worth noting that we are not asked to pray for humility, for it is within our powers to humble ourselves. It must be your decision to stay humble in all circumstances.

But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, "God opposes the proud but favors the humble." So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.[James 4:6-7].

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time [1Peter 5:5-6]

The Lord mocks the mockers but is gracious to the humble [Proverbs 3:34]

There are graces in people

There is the general grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that is given to all believers as has been stated earlier. But there are also specific graces released to individuals in Christ.

Such individuals do certain things effortlessly (Macedonian church) or have unusual insights into some matters (Paul). Recognize and develop it in yourself, and be humble enough to see it in others.

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.[2Corinthians 8:1-2]

But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.[2Corinthians 8:7-8]

Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. [Ephesians 3:3]

But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.[Ephesians 4:7]

 Grow in grace

We can grow in specific graces. As there are graces on people, each of us can also grow in grace.

We grow in grace through the knowledge of God, the more you learn from God about an area, the more grace is released in that area. Grace is also increased through humility as stated earlier.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him [be] the glory both now and forever. Amen. [2 Peter 3:18] 

 May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. [2 Peter 1:2]

 

New Creation Realities

1 For every new birth, there are realities pertaining to that order (family). A puppy has the realities of a dog, an eaglet that of the eagle etc. So when you are born again, there are realities that pertains to you.

The first is you are NEW. BRAND NEW. You are not a refurbished being. You are a new creation in Christ Jesus. God gave you a new spirit. And you have been born into the family of God and your realities are those of your family. Stop expecting the limitations of your previous life to limit you. They are passed away.

You are in Christ now and your life is hid in Christ[Colossians3:3]. That is your reality. You have access to all the blessings reserved for the righteous in scripture because you have been made righteous. So stand on the finished works of Christ for You. 

Therefore, if anyone [is] in Christ, [he is] a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. [2Corinthians 5:17].

For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. [2Corinthians 1:20]

2. Leading through the Spirit of God

As a new creation, God gave us his Spirit to dwell in us and lead us through life. A proof of your sonship is the ability to be led by the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:14). Don't go through life rudderless, enquire from the Holy Spirit within you what to do and when. For a Christian, new testament prophets are secondary /confirmatory sources not the primary.

But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won't follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don't know his voice."[John 10:3-5].

"There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can't bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth... He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. [John 16:12-14]

However, as it is written: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived"— the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.[1Corinthians 2:9]

3. Peace with and Access to with God

As Christians, we have peace with God. We are not trying to earn his love or acceptance. He is at peace with us. Even when we make mistakes, he calls us to repentance but his wrath is not on us.

Consequently, we have unfettered access to the Father. [Ephesians 2:18] His ears are ever open to our prayers. We can always lift up our holy hands in worship of our king. Glory

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, "Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased."[Luke 2:13-14]

Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.[Hebrews 4:16] Because of Christ and   our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God's presence.

He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.[Ephesians 2:17]

4. Deliverance from curses, fear and power of darkness

In Christ Jesus, you are seated in heavenly places far above principalities and powers. You have been translated into the kingdom of God.[Ephesians 1:21] You are no more under curses or fears.

The life you have now is the life of God (Zoe) and it is your duty to renew your mind to it through the word of God.

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 1:19-21]

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus[Ephesians 2:6]

Because God's children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have

lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.[Hebrews 2:14] He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed [us] into the kingdom of the Son of His love,[Colossians 1:1

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus...[Galatians 3:14]

5. Health and prosperity

The realities of the new man includes prosperity of the soul and body. Being blessed with all spiritual blessings (Eph 1:3) and yet resigning to perpetual lack and sickness is contradictory.

Having abundance is part of the realities in Christ Jesus. Divine health and supernatural healing is part of the package. Christ has paid the price, let your soul know it well & keep saying it until you see it.

We're the best of friends, and I pray for good fortune in everything you do, and for your good health--that your everyday affairs prosper, as well as your soul! [3 John 1:2]

And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.[Philippians 4:19]

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.[1Peter2:24]

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.[Ephesians 3:20]

You know how full of love and kindness our Lord Jesus Christ was. Though he was very rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.[2Corinthians 8:9]

And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.[2Corinthians 9:8]

6. Love walk

We are born by love and to love. Love is part of our DNA since God is love. There are no excuses to justify not walking in love. Christ died for us while we were yet sinners and even on the cross, he prayed for his killers.[Romans 5:8]

 You are a love being and you have the capacity to love and forgive those that offend you. Paul was a product of the love walk of Stephen at the point of death.

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.[Romans 5:5]

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other...[John 13:34]

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death... This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.[1 John 3:14]

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Love will last forever.. [1Corinthians 13:4-7]

7. Renew your mind to your realities

The above and many more are the realities of the new birth, but how do we walk in it you ask? It is by renewing your mind to it.

Your spirit is new but your mind is not and it needs to be constantly renewed by God's word. [Romans 12:2] Reset your mindset and thinking with the word.

Meditate on your realities and intentionally confess it to yourself repeatedly.

Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. [Ephesians 4:22-25]

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ[2Corinthians 10:3-5]

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. [Romans 12:2]