Year: 2018

It is important for believers to know that negative emotions are not wrong per se.  We do read in Scripture of the strong painful emotion our Lord faced in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Paul revealed his depressing emotion in 2 Cor 1:8 that the affliction he suffered caused him to despair of life. Paul actually felt it was a death sentence but he was quick to realize the affliction was to make him rely on God instead of himself.  And God did deliver him giving him further assurance that God would deliver again. 2 Cor 1:9-10.

There is difference between circumstantial and clinical depression. One is triggered by circumstances like low self-esteem, abuse, loss of loved ones, divorce, or loss of job, etc, while the other is caused by physical disorder.

Clinical depression is just like any illness which need medical attention. As God is sovereign and all healing is divine healing, it is ok to seek medical treatment.

As for circumstantial depression, we read of how Paul and his missionary companions came out of it. They stayed rooted in God’s promises overriding their emotions with faith in our Lord – that trials are part and parcel of life, knowing nothing can separate the love of our Lord from them, and looking forward to the coming glory.

If one’s hope is on his achievement, career, loved ones or marriage and when these things turn negative, he will see failed hope and negative emotions will surface reacting to this failed hope.  But if this hope is placed on the coming glory, then no suffering is worth comparing to the coming glory as Paul reasoned.  Rom 8:18.

Feelings of depression can abate when one moves the focus from himself to Christ our Lord and others. Joining a support group and helping others more unfortunate can help him to shift focus away from himself.

Both the church and civil government are institutions ordained and accountable separately to God.

The responsibility of the church is to preach the gospel, teach and nurture the souls of the disciples.  The responsibility of the civil government is to govern society and enterprise, raise and spend taxes accordingly, protect the life and property of her citizens, and also protect against foreign aggression.  The state is given the power of the sword by God so we can say the government is also a minister of God, while the church is given the power of the gospel to transform lives.  Rom 13:1-7.

Problem starts when the state behaves as God and tamper with God’s universal laws.  And the church behaves as the state in deciding how the state should spend the taxes responsibly or irresponsibly, or how the state should administer this program or that.  Both are accountable to God for their given roles so let God hold them accountable separately.  The church will be making a wrong turn to act on behalf of God to hold the state accountable for her given roles.

Christians honor their Lord by obeying His commandments to submit and obey the civil authorities and pray for them so that all can live tranquil and quiet lives. 1 Tim 2:2.  The only exception is when we are made to obey laws denigrating God’s honor and glory.  Daniel and his 3 friends served well in the government and were commended and they only disobeyed when they were forced to dishonor or disobey God.

Will God’s laws be changed and we end up prosecuted for non compliance; and our religious freedom to share the gospel be curtailed ?  These are concerns we weigh on in praying and voting for the civil government, as they affect our quiet lives to discharge our Christian duty.

Rom 2:5-10 NLT
“… For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will judge everyone according to what they have done. HE WILL GIVE ETERNAL LIFE TO THOSE WHO KEEP DOING GOOD, …BUT HE WILL POUR HIS ANGER AND WRATH ON THOSE WHO LIVE FOR THEMSELVES, WHO REFUSE TO OBEY THE TRUTH and instead live lives of wickedness…”

If we preach only expiation, which is just the covering or putting away of sin that obstruct the fellowship of man with God, that is only half the story. For propitiation, which is the appeasement of God’s wrath against all unrighteousness of men, is at the heart of the gospel.

The wrath of God is still operative till the final judgment of all sin. If we do not preach the true gospel including the understanding of God’s wrath and propitiation, the repentance of sinners to accept the Lord Jesus as both Savior and Lord will be found short. That is, unless the sinner understands he has sinned against God and God alone which David Pawson called it the “God dimension” of repentance,  repentance will be found short.

Till we understand and fear God’s wrath, we will not appreciate how just He is and His amazing grace towards us. We will fail to understand His eternal will for us (a PURIFIED people for Jesus zealous for good works) and we are likely to trivialize obedience and doing good works in our training journey on earth. Eph 2:10.

(Jesus) who gave himself for us to REDEEM us from all lawlessness and to PURIFY for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for GOOD WORKS. – Titus 2:14

The hyper grace false gospel twists the gospel at its heart by saying repentance is just a change of mind and not the heart (Rom 10:9-10),  So it is not surprising that this false gospel trivializes obedience and doing good works.

Rom 5:3-5 NLT

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. ⁴ And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident HOPE of salvation.⁵ And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Titus 2:11-13 NLT

¹¹ For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. ¹² 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, ¹³ while we look forward with HOPE to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. ¹⁴ He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

The Christian Hope is not wishful thinking but confident expectation that God’s promises will definitely come true. As some incredible prophecies have been fulfilled beyond our imagination, we can trust future prophecies will be fulfilled just the same.  It is rooted in faith in the salvation of Jesus Christ and culminates in His Second Coming.  Because of this Hope, the Christian is zealous for good works for the love of his Lord.  And it also brings peace and joy to him or her through the power of the Holy Spirit.  The Christian looks forward to this heavenly city built by God and lives as an exile because nothing on this world can satisfy his deepest desire and he is sensible enough to give up all worldly pursuits in exchange for this greatest treasure of the Kingdom of Heaven.   Heb 11:13-16.

The non believers can laugh at the “silly” belief of ours imagining heaven as a place where angels play harp or just whiling the time away flying around.  We should ignore such detractors and not to take such imageries of Heaven literally.  Otherwise when our Lord tells us to be like doves, we have to lay eggs (in CS Lewis’s words).

Heaven will realize our greatest aspirations and we can handle all such aspirations then as sin is no more.  Science, art, culture and technology will be limitless because the new “kairos” earth is a resurrected glorified earth.

Matthew 23:8-12

8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and YOU ARE ALL BROTHERS. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Going by our Lord’s instruction that we are all brothers and royal priesthood, a hierarchy of priesthood should not exist in the Body of Christ.  If we are to obey our Lord’s instruction that the greatest among us shall be the servant to all,  having honorific titles to be addressed will go against His instruction.  It is effectively elevating one’s worth over another in His church.  Though we are to give double the honor to deserving and humble ministers,  the humble ministers will know better how unworthy they are to deserve such flattering titles and will surely repudiate.

I see a difference between being addressed as office or ministry bearer, such as pastor or evangelist, and the above-mentioned honorific titles.  One is to make known one’s ministry by way of quick introduction; while the other is meant entirely as an honorific title.  But as in all matter of conscience in which we resolve in all love and humility,  we should all be addressed as brother or sister for our Lord had made it clear we are all brothers.

(Sadly on another note, the offices of apostle and prophet, which I believe the primary sense of bringing God’s special revelation through them have ceased, are usurped as honorific titles by the New Apostolic Reformation movement solely for the purpose of creating a hierarchy with authority concentrated in the hands of these false apostles and prophets as they push the agenda of Christian dominionism.)

Comments by the ministers John Newton, Charles Spurgeon and Arthur Pink are self explanatory.

(John Newton)
Dear Sir,
I have been grieved by several letters directed to Doctor Newton. I beg you to inform my friends in Scotland, that if any letters come to me addressed to Doctor Newton–I shall be obliged to send them back unopened. I know no such person–I never shall, and I never will, by the grace of God. Do not think I am displeased with you, or any of any kind friends, who mean kindness and honor by such an address. I only beg for my peace sake, that it may not be repeated. I have been informed that a college in America, I think in New Jersey, has given me the honorary degree of Doctor. As to the title itself, I renounce it heartily–nor would I willingly be known by it, if all the universities in Europe conferred it upon me! My youthful years were spent in slavery in Africa, and I ought to take my degrees (if I take any) from thence. Shall such a compound of misery and mischief as I then was–be called Doctor? Surely not!

(Charles Spurgeon)
I very much object to the designation, “To the Reverend C.H. Spurgeon”–for no ‘reverence’ is due to me! Assuredly, ‘Reverend’ and ‘sinner’ make a curious combination.  And as I know I am the second–I repudiate the first.  To me, it is surprising that such a flattering title should have been invented–and more amazing still, that men should be found who are angry if this title is not duly given to them.

(Arthur Pink)
In ourselves we are poor, sinful erring creatures–and daily do we have occasion to blush and hang our heads in shame. Therefore we respectfully request that none will address us as ‘Reverend’. No worm of the dust is due such a title.

“It is the Lord your God you must follow–and Him you must REVERE.” Deuteronomy 13:4

“When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his HEART…” – Matthew 13:19

“As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good HEART, and bear fruit with patience.”  – Luke 8:15

It is clear from our Lord’s explanation in the above verses that the seed sown is the word or good news of the kingdom of God (Luke 8:10,12) and the different types of soil condition referred to the different receptivity of different hearts towards the gospel.

The Lord always cautioned how we should hear His message referring to how our hearts are going to receive His word. “He who has ears, let him hear.”  (Matthew 13:9).

That is the crux of this parable – the right response of the heart to the gospel – and bearing fruit is the evidence of hearing and responding with our heart correctly.

And it is not about bearing fruit by changing the quality of seed as in introducing watered down and feel good gospel message such as the false hyper grace gospel, or improving the technique of sowing the seed as in sharing the gospel in great amphitheaters or concert-like worship service.

To say that repentance is just mere change of mind about the Lord Jesus and not include the right response of the heart as taught by false hyper grace teachers is a false gospel.  (Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  Romans 10:9.)

First Type Of Soil Condition

“When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.” – Matthew 13:19

Jesus was telling the parable not to atheists but to Jews who believed in God. The first type of soil were hearts that were totally hardened. To them, our Lord said, “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires…”. John 8:44.

Today, these are the hardcore cheap grace or hyper grace believers. Because their hearts are so hard to really listen to the words of Jesus, the devil will be so quick to snatch the truth away. They simply love worldliness and so they will only hear feel good messages and not hard truths from our Lord.

Take this simple example. Jesus said life does not consist in the abundance of possessions. Luke 12:15. Yet these believers choose to believe a lie from the devil that abundant life is an abundance of every good thing in life.

Or take another example. The word of God said in 1 Pet 4:12 that we should not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon us to test us, as though something strange were happening to us. Yet these believers simply allow the devil to snatch this truth away and replace by this lie – that only good things happen to those who believe God loves them.

Second Type Of Soil Condition

“And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.” – Luke 8:13

This type of soil has only a few inches of soil but underneath all the way is a bed of rocks, ie, mostly hardened ground. These are believers who believed initially with joy but it is sad that they will have no root for their hearts are mostly rock-hard actually and they will only believe for a while.

It is not a question whether their faith will fail but when their faith will fail. Because of lack of root, they will wither eventually.

These are believers who come to Jesus for a certain selfish motive that He will fix all their problems or make their lives easier. Today, these are the majority of the cheap grace or hyper grace believers, unlike the hardcore ones. They feel so relieved of the guilt of their continual sin and overjoyed when they hear the false teacher teaches that they need not worry anymore about sinning for their past, present and future sins are forgiven. And that the Holy Spirit will not convict them of their continual sins while still living in those sins. I believe they have never really repented at all in the first place because their hearts are mostly hardened towards the word of God. As expected, they will either trivialize or demonize the Law.

Third Type Of Soil Condition

“And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.” – Luke 8:14

The third type of soil is the weedy soil with much weeds and thorns infested that choke the plant not to be fruitful. They represent believers who actually try to walk the way of faith as they “hear and go on their way. “ But the cares of the world (as in fame, worldly ambitions, achievements and prestige), riches and pleasures of life so infested their hearts and choke their walk and cause them to be unfruitful.

Riches and pleasure are not inherently wrong and may be God’s blessings but what is wrong is the inordinate priority of such things that actually reign in their hearts.

Today, these are the believers in the denominational churches whom I call the “respectable Christendom”. In James 4:4, Apostle James called such believers, who love the world, adulterers because adulterers not only have one lawful spouse but several unlawful ones and they love the unlawful ones more than the lawful one. Apostle John in 1 John 2:5-7 even said there can be no love for God in this kind of hearts which are at enmity with God instead. The love of money and the world cover more ground in these hearts than the love of God. They think they can have both masters.

Their main preoccupation is cares of this world, riches and pleasures of life. They make sure everyone notice their lofty position in society, their wealth and their achievements, building multi-million dollar homes and living in dissipation rather than be fruitful in doing good works, generous and ready to share their wealth. 1 Tim 6:17-19.

Truly, those who cannot give up the stranglehold of family, worldly ambitions and possessions in their impure hearts cannot be Christ’s disciples. Luke 14:26,27,33.

Fourth Type Of Soil Condition

“As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit…” – Matthew 13:23

“As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.”  – Luke 8:15

The fourth type of soil is well cultivated good soil. Such a heart hears the gospel, understands it and accepts it (Mk 4:20). And hold it fast HONESTLY and will not let go. This is the heart that will endure to the end. It will bear fruit and bear it abundantly with patience or endurance.

Such hearts will bear the following fruit :
1. Fruit of the Spirit. Gal 5:22
2. Fruit of the lips in genuine worship in spirit and in truth. Heb 13:15
3. Fruit in every good work. Col 1:10. Eph 2:10. (Doing good and sharing what they have is their worship sacrifice. Heb 13:16.)
4. Gathering fruit (souls) for eternal life. John 4:35-38.

Left to ourselves, we are unable to bear any such fruit as our hearts will get even harder and much entangled with the world. God needs to cultivate the heart to receive the gospel. Thus we can only be saved by His grace. He will pour love into our hearts. He will cleanse us and gives us a new heart and a new spirit. And even gives His Spirit to indwell us to help us to obey His commandments. Ezekiel 36:25-27. When we ABIDE in Christ, and His words abide in us, then we can eventually bear fruit with patience. John 15:7-8. Apart from Christ, we can bear NO fruit. John 15:5.