IF YOU DO THESE THINGS

 

These statement is found in Psalm 15:5, saying; HE THAT SOES THESE THINGS SHALL NEVER BE SHAKEN and 2Pet 1:10 saying, IF YOU DO THESE THINGS YOU WILL NEVER FALL

Since in our Christian journey we will meet things that will try to shake us and things that will try to make us fall from the faith ; we need to what we need to what to do so that we will always be able to overcome all the things or situations in our lives that will try to make us fall or shake us.

In the context of Psalm 15:1-5, we note these things mentioned

We must walk uprightly and blamelessly, that is to live in clear conscience before God and man.

We must work righteousness and speak truth in our hearts; we have to be deliberate in doing what is right and exercise our tongues not to speak lies but always speak the truth.

We must not slander; that is to speak evil of others behind their back, nor do evil to anyone or disgrace or shame his friends.

In whose eyes the vile person is despised, but honors those who fear the Lord. That is you will never justify the wicked or condemn the righteous,; seeks to honour those whom the Lord honors.

He swears to his own hurt and does not change; that is, he keeps His promise even if it hurts him

He does not take advantage of the poor and the weak. 

He does not take bribes against the innocent.

He that does ALL THE THINGS MENTIONED ABOVE SHALL NEVER BE SHAKEN

In the context of 2Pet1:3-10, we are told that God has given us all things that we need for life and all the things we need to live a godly life. More to these, God has given us many promises in His word which aim at making us partake the divine nature. For this purpose, there are thing we need to add diligently to our faith; these are:

Moral excellence.

Knowledge

Self-control

Perseverance

Godliness

Brotherly kindness

Love 

We are told that if we do these things we will never fall. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;

 And since we know what to do that we do not shake or fall in the times of trials and temptation, we are blessed if learn our lesson and put it into practice in our lives.

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DANGER OF INCOSISTENCY IN SEEKING GODS WILL

 

It is true that it is very easy to begin well but it is difficult to finish well. This has been one of the greatest

tragedy in all generations in Christian history. In the early Christian life, it is very easy to seek Gods will in almost everything, whether great or small, but to continue in the same passion is hard since it reaches a point where most believers think they already know the will of God and thus failing to seek or acknowledge God has been the downfall of many. We can look at some examples in Gods word and learn some lessons from them.

KING DAVID

David is the most well known kings in Israel, and every time he faced battles he enquired from God and God always gave him victory. 1Sam 30:8, 2San 2:1, 2Sam 5:19, 2Sam 21:1. In all these instances, he sought God. He failed to seek God whether to go battle or not but himself decided  not to go and that’s the time he committed adultery with Bathsheba and killed Uriah. 2Sam 11:1-17

Another time David decided to number the people but never sought God about the matter; Joab warned him and he hardened his head and this lead to the judgement of God and seventy thousand men died. 2Sam 24:1-4

KING ASA

King Asa was one of the best kings of Judah. He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord and commanded Judah to seek God. When the Ethiopians came against him, he sought the Lord and God and God gave him victory. 2Chron 14:2-12

He took idols out of Judah, 2chron 15:8, and went ahead removing his own mother from being queen because she was an idolater and destroyed the idols, chapter 15:16

When the king of Israel came against Asa, he hired the Syrians instead of relying on God, chapter 16:7. God reminded him how he had helped defeat other enemies, vs 8.

He later became sick yet in his disease, he never sought the Lord… vs 12

We see the king who begun seeking the Lord, ended up not seeking the Lord, let us not repeat the same mistake

HEZEKIAH

He was another king of Judah, who when the Assyrians came against him and sent him a letter blaspheming the God of Israel, he sought God and spread it before God and God gave him victory over His enemies. 2Kings 18:28-37, 19:14-35. Later he received another letter but unlike the first, he never spread it before God and he was judged and the treasures in the house of God were given to their enemies. 2King 20:12-17. 

Let us learn whether in times of war or of peace to seek Gods will and never be wise in our own eyes.

THE ISRAELITES

The children of Israel sought the Lord always, Jos 7:6, but there are some people who came pretending to be from a far country and instead of the children of Israel  seeking God about the matter, they got deceived and made a covenant with them which they later regretted. Joshua 9:11-16

Many children fall into deception because of taking matters lightly and being wise in their own eyes instead of acknowledging God and seeking him in every matter. Let us learn our lesson here.

One common thing from the above, it is very easy to seek God in the times of war but in the times of peace, prosperity and comfort there is a great tendency to not seek God and take things lightly assuming that all will be well. That is the times we need most to be very much watchful lest we fall like others.

No matter how many times you’ve sought God and He has fought your battles, never reach a point where you thing you already know what to do. ALWAYS SEEK GOD, IN EVERYTHING AND NEVER BE WISE IN YOUR OWN EYES.

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THE PURPOSE OF THE WORD OF GOD

The word of God has been to us for a purpose. Many children of God have idea as to why we are given the word; but purpose of this study is to open our eyes as to its purpose; and that we may value Gods word more than ever before.

ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED BY GODAND IS PROFITABLE FOR TEACHING, REPROOF, FOR CORRECTION AND FOR TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUS. 2Tim 3:16;

It is the scriptures that teach us about Gods ways, His will, instructing our ignorance and giving us light in the dark areas of our lives. We get rebukes as well when we violate our consciences, correct us when do wrong things in our ignorance and train and discipline us to walk righteously.

AS NEWBORN BABES, DESIRE THE PURE MILK OF THE WORD OF GOD THAT YOU MAY GROW. 1Pet 2:2

Here we see spiritual maturity comes only we feed on God’s word. That is why many of Gods children are immature; they get easily offended, live selfishly, take no responsibility in Gods house and many other marks of immaturity.

EVERYTHING WRITTEN IN SCRIPTURE IS FOR OUR LEARNING, THAT PERSEVERANCE AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE SCRIPTURES WE MIGHT HAVE HOPE. Rom 15:4

One common that comes to all believers is the temptation to be discouraged. The antidote for discouragement is the scriptures; if you feel discouraged or hopeless and see as if everything is against you, read the scriptures.

THAT WE MAY LEARN FROM THE MISTAKES OF OTHERS, AND A WARNING FOR US AND A WORD OF ADVISE. 1Cor 10:6-11

It is said the experience is the best teacher, and the best way to learn is learning from the experience of others. We can avoid many pitfalls by seeing that things that others did and God was not pleased that we may avoid the same traps simply by reading the scriptures.

MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BTEAD ALONE BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD. Mat 4:4

If we are to avoid spiritual death marked by backsliding, losing our love for the Lord, not getting sidetracked by minor issues, always passionate and zealous for the Lord and His work; we must always hear that word the proceeds every moment from the mouth of God.

 

YOUR WORD IS A LAMP FOR MY FEET AND A LIGHT ON MY PATH. Ps 119:105

The world is full of darkness; Is 60:1, and we can only walk in darkness if we have a light that we’ll to know our paths. When path is lighted, we’ll be able the next the same step, in the same way, we have to obey God in the areas God has given us light if we are to get more light; if we are to walk continuously, we are to obey God where we already know His will.

WORD OF GOD IS LIKE A FIRE AND A HAMMER THAT BREAKS THE ROCK IN PEACES. The Jer 23:29

The purpose of the fire is to purify the dross in gold. It is God’s word that purifies us by consuming everything in us that is unlike Christ. See John 15:3, Ps 109:9,11 and Eph 5:26. Hammer then broke rock to make a way; in the same way, its Gods word that breaks the difficulties on our path and we are able to continue in our journey.

There are many more verses on the same, and you can continue with the study

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MADE TO BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS

 

When God made us, He had a purpose for each one of us that we become a blessing to others in our own unique way. We all have different talents and gifts and abilities, opportunities. We come from different backgrounds, have different intellectual levels, different interests, different education levels and in so many other areas where we all are different. It is God who made us different and thus have what is generally called beauty in diversity.

God had a purpose even in our differences that each of us should be a blessing to all the others in our own unique way. 1Cor 12:12 says that we are all members of the body of Christ but we are different; one is a hand, the other is the foot, eye, tongue, kidneys, liver and so on. All these parts have different functions and all are different from each; in fact even the right and left hands are different but they work together, the thumb of one hand is on the right and on the other hand is on the left.

If the hand tries to be the foot; it will be hindrance to the whole body; but if it does the work of a hand it will be a blessing to the whole body; In the same way, if you as a believer tries to do the work the work of another; you will be a curse to the whole body, but if you do what God has called you to do you will be a blessing. 

In the same church, different people, have different burdens. One has a burden on the children ministry, another on youth, another on development and so on. All these individuals will bless the church if they do the work God has given them to do.

Our differences should be a reason for our not working together; but the secret of the parts working together is that they are all connected to each other through the head and they both receive instructions from the head and have blood flowing in them. In the same way, if we are to work in fellowship, we first of all must receive instructions from the head and the blood of Christ must flow is us continually cleansing and giving us power to do the tasks we receive from our Head Christ Jesus.

Depending on the purpose God wants you to fulfill, He will give different gifts, abilities and burdens from others because your purpose is different from others. It is the Holy Spirit who choses which gifts to give to every person. 1Cor 12:11. There is no one person who has all the gifts and there is no single gift which all believers have; 1Cor 12:27-30

God is calling us to seek Him with all our hearts so that He can enable us fulfill the good plans He has for us  which are all recorded in the book written all the things we are to do in all the days of our earthly lives which were planned from the foundation of the world. Jer 29:11-13, Psalm 139:16, Eph 2:10

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THE GAUGE OF OUR SPIRITUAL MATURITY

 

When one gets born again, just as little child needs to grow, we also need to grow in spiritual maturity. We are told in 1Pet 2:2 that we need the word of God as the food through we which we grow to complete salvation. It’s unfortunate that many who call themselves children of God have no hunger for the word of God; that’s one reason the church in such a pathetic state.

It is very easy to start with a hunger for the word, but to be consistent with the same hunger unto the end; one must require strict discipline. Paul call the Corinthian Christians babes because they were trying to show they were better than others, there jealous of those who had abilities they didn’t have, they were arguing… 1Cor 3:1-5, these are all marks of spiritual children. It is again written in Hebrews as babes who need milk because they had not matured in skillfully using the word of righteousness. Maturity comes by using our reason and exercise them to discern both good and evil. Heb 5:12-14

James 3:2 says that if one does not stumble in what he says, he is a mature man and a perfect man and he is also able to control his whole body. James 1:26 It also says that if anyone claims to be spiritual but does not control his tongue his Christianity is worthless, shallow and empty.

 Thus we see clearly here that the way we use our tongue everyday of the week is a good litmus paper to show our true spiritual condition.

As children of God, how should we use or not use our tongue? Note that every idle word we speak; we shall give an account of it in the day of judgment. Mat 12:36

We should not use polluting language, or use evil words or worthless talks or coarse jokes. Eph 4:29, 5;4, instead we should use good and helpful for building up, words that will bring encouragement to those who hear you.

Everytime we speak, our speech should be gracious and seasoned with salt so that know how to respond to everyone. Col 4:6

Children of God should not use their tongues to slander; that is to speak word that damage the reputation of another. Prov 11:9 says that a hypocrite destroys his neighbour with his tongue. N/B The word diabolos is a Greek work translated as devil in John 6:70. Surprising the same greek word is used in 1Tim 3:11 and 2Tim 3:3 and here it is translated as malicious gossipers and slanderers. Thus to engage in slander and gossips is to hold hands with the devil; beware

The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life. Prov 10:11

Where there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent; Prov 10:19

The lips of the righteous feed many; Prov 10:21

He who guards his mouth preserves his life; but he who opens his mouth wide come to ruin Prov 13:3

The heart of the wise instructs his mouth and adds learning and persuasiveness to his lips; Prov 16:23

Fools mouth get him in constant quarrels and his mouths invites a beating; Prov 18:6

He who guards his mouth and His tongue keeps himself out of trouble; Prov 21:23

Among the seven things that are abomination to God, three have to do with the use of the tongue; a lying tongue, a false witness who speaks lies and one who sows discord among brothers.

The first sin committed and the last sin mentioned in the bible is a lie, spoken by the serpent to eve and those who will go to the lake of fire; gen 3:3-4, Rev 22:15

The bible has to speak about the tongue, you can study more.

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PATIENCE

 

Patience refers to the ability to wait, or continue doing something despite difficulties or to suffer without complaining or becoming annoyed (Cambridge dictionary). The bible has a great deal to say about patience.

The purpose of the trials that come into our lives is to produce patience in us. The purpose of patience, if we allow it to a thorough job in us, is to perfect us, and make us complete and lacking in nothing. James 1:3-4. Because of lack of knowledge, most believers have wasted sufferings which would make them more mature but instead of being patient they complained and murmured. Let us learn our lesson here

 

David says that He waited for the Lord patiently and God inclined unto him and heard his cry and brought him out of the pit of destruction and put feet on the rock. Ps 40:1-2. God has not changed, He is still the same, if we wait on him patiently, He’ll hear us. We can look at some other verses on the subject; 

Jesus gave a parable of the sower of 4 different kind of grounds; the characteristics of the good ground which bear fruit 100fold, 60fold and 30fold are those who are honest and with a good heart…bring forth fruit with PATIENCE; Lk 8:15. Thus we can see can here how important for the children of God to be patient if we are to continue to the end.

Rom 2:7 says that God will give eternal life those who by patient persistent continue doing good seek for glory, and honor and immortality that God offers. We see here we have to be consistent until the end if we are to receive all that God has for us.

One reason God allows His children to suffer, is that we learn patience when suffer, this develops the strength of our character which in turns produces hope. This kind of hope does not disappoint because God pours His love in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us; Rom 5:3-5

Rom 12:12 says that we should be patient in tribulation. Thus when troubles arise in our lives as we know, it does not end after one day in most cases.

The purpose of the old testament is to teach us patience and encourage us giving us hope. Rom 15:4

1Thes 5:14 exhorts us to be patient towards all men. Patience is also a requirement in the leaders in the church; 1Tim 3:3, 2Tim 2:24, Tit 2:2.

We are exhorted not to be lazy but follow those who through faith and patience inherit what was promised. Heb 6:12. It continues to say that we need patience after we have the will of God so that we can receive what was promised. Heb 10:36

We are to run the Christian race with patience looking unto Jesus who endured the cross despising its shame. Heb 12:1-2

James 5:7-10 says we should patiently wait for the coming of the Lord and also learn patience from the old testament prophets.

THROUGH FAITH

 

It is impossible to please God without faith. Heb 11:6, seeing that we cannot please God, it therefore important to know what faith is and how we can acquire it.

 Faith is the confidence of what we hope for and the assurance of what we do not see. Heb 11:1. It come through hearing and hearing by the words of Christ. Rom 10:17

Another definition of faith is complete trust assurance that God is able to do what He has promised. Rom 4:20-21.

We can conclude from the above verses that the reason why the faith of many does not yield results is because they are trusting God to do what He has not promised; for example having faith for an enemy to die. Since faith comes through the words of Christ, if we want our faith to grow we must dig deeper into the words of Christ.

We see Jesus rebuking his disciples for unbelief; and Mat 17:17, Mark 16:14. There also many things that Christ wanted to do for some people but didn’t due to their unbelief. Mat 13:58. Unbelief ties the hands of God. Could there be many things that God has wanted to do for you but could not because of your unbelief??? He said numerous times, ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH BE IT DONE UNTO YOU, and YOUR FAITH HAS MADE YOU WELL. Mat 9:29; 15:28, Mark 10:52.

God promised the children of Israel the land of Canaan and when they reached the border of the land and God said unto them to go in and possess the land, they didn’t because of their unbelief and God was angry with them and swore that they would never enter that land except Joshua and Caleb. Numbers 32:10-12, Deut 1:21,26,29-36 Heb 3:12,19; 4:6,11

God has given us the same warning that we should not follow in the same example of unbelief

There are many things in God which can only access through faith; let look some of them.

Our preservation until then end by the power of God is through faith. 1Pet 1:5

We can only inherit the promises of God through faith and patience. Heb 6:12

Our salvation though by grace is through faith; Eph 2:8

We receive the promise of the Holy Spirit through faith; Gal 3:14

Our forgiveness of sin through the blood of Christ, who God has set as the mercy seat, is through faith. Rom 3:25

The righteousness that pleases God is not that which comes through law but that which come through faith in Christ, the righteousness of God that depends on faith. Phil 3:9

Christ dwells in our hearts through faith. Eph 3:17

We thus see how faith is important in our Christian walk and thus we must walk and live by faith always.

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