Uni-verse 185/10,000 For better through verse Job 37 v 16
Job 37:16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
Yesterday, I discussed what I call " Probability Physics" with my senior who is well-versed in Physics. I asked him what would happen if the force of gravity on the earth was more than it is. He said that the water vapour would not be able to escape to form clouds that give us rain. I asked him, what would happen if the earth was tilted at its axis more than it is. He said, " If the earth's axis was tilted even 5 degrees more than it is, life on earth could not exist." I asked what would happen if the seas were full of fresh water instead of salt, he said, "Salt is needed to form carbonates in the sea and if the carbon dioxide was not absorbed, the temperature on the earth would increase so much that life would not be possible." He said that even if the carbon dioxide level in the earth's atmosphere doubles, it cannot sustain life. Indeed, all the works of God are too wonderful for us to comprehend fully and His knowledge is perfect or complete. One thing we do discern is that all of nature points to God the Father and all of human history points to Jesus.
The universe, the Earth and all species on the earth are full of fragile balances that have been carefully created. Can we afford to live carelessly or recklessly or indifferently? Should our minds not be filled with awe and wonder and our mouths full of praise for the Lord and Redeemer of the universe. When was the last or first time we remained still to know, understand and appreciate our Creator for His scientific knowledge, wisdom and expertise, for His knowledge of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Philosophy, Psychology, Economics and Management? Even the winds and the waves obey Him. All of nature the birds, the squirrels and other creatures wake up each morning making a joyful noise unto the Creator for nearly three hours before they turn silent. Most of mankind start the first three hours of the morning more or less silent and spend the rest of the day chatting, shouting, complaining or gossiping without acknowledging God in our ways. Instead, most of humanity entertain the doubt whether they live in a bastard universe that came into being on its own without purpose or legitimacy. They feel they can teach God some Maths and Science.
A child who sees her father's achievements is always awe-struck. We too, however old we get or however knowledgeable and wise, we think we become, need to be full of admiration and adoration of our Father God who lovingly and wisely put everything together. We must follow a 3 M formula and bring in alignment our minds and our mouths with our Master's knowledge, wisdom and understanding. Like water evaporates from the earth’s many water bodies, praise and wonder should emanate from our minds, hearts and mouths. Nothing we say and do should affect the fragile but wonderful balances that He has so carefully wrought.
Prateep V Philip
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
The principle of cleaving
Uni-verse 179/10,000 Deuteronomy 4 v 4 For better through verse
Deu 4:4 But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day.
In the context of marriage, a wife is instructed to leave her family and to cleave to her husband. Similarly, we must leave the world of our anxieties, fears, doubts, hopes, dreams and ambitions and cleave to the Lord. "To cleave" means to be devoted to, to cling to, to be attached to, to depend upon. The best image of cleaving perhaps is that of a baby monkey clinging to the underside of the mother. Everything in that baby's monkey is upside down but it trusts the mother enough to cling to her for dear life even as she negotiates dangerous leaps and jumps or climbs to great heights. Similarly, we must cling to the Lord even though everything today might seem upside down, not the way we would like it to be. We must be grateful that our Lord allows us to cling to Him in this manner. What if He disowned us and distanced Himself from us? Would we have the privilege to cling to Him? The baby monkey knew instinctively that its mother was competent enough and loving enough to see it safely through life. It is certain that it would land safely on the other side. We, too must believe that our God is competent enough and loving enough to see us through the ups and downs of life as we cling to Him. Those of the ancient Israelites who clung to God remained alive through the long walk in the wilderness to the Promised Land.
Cleaving to the Lord our God means that we must cleave to His Word and cleave to the Holy Spirit. We must cleave to His Name and His promises. We must cleave to a lifestyle marked by prayer, fellowship, worship and witness. Cleaving to His Word means we hold on to scripture. We must never forget what He has spoken to us in times past and what He has spoken to us now. These are the words of eternal life, a guarantee of salvation in all matters spiritual, physical, emotional, financial, relational, professional and temporal. Cleaving to the Holy Spirit means we must constantly rejoice in His presence, listen to His still voice and stirrings of our spirit. Cleaving to His Name and His promises means claiming our inheritance in Christ Jesus. Cleaving to our walk with God means enjoying our quiet times with God, setting aside regular and multiple times of meeting with God as one would seek out a lover. It means relishing times spent with other believers in fellowship and worship. It means loosing no opportunity to share the love of God with others who do not believe that they too can cleave to Him.
When we cleave to God in this manner, we will not only be alive but we will be fully alive. We will live out the God- intended full length of our days and our years. We will live life to the hilt of the Sword of God- the Word and experience of the bliss of communion with God. We will find God's purpose for our lives and receive power to fulfill that purpose. While we are cleaving to God, we will also have fun even as the baby monkey feels the thrill and excitement of the upswings and downswings of the mother's torso. Just as the baby monkey hears the heartbeat of its mother, we must cling to God so close we hear His heart beat as it were.
Prateep V Philip
Deu 4:4 But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day.
In the context of marriage, a wife is instructed to leave her family and to cleave to her husband. Similarly, we must leave the world of our anxieties, fears, doubts, hopes, dreams and ambitions and cleave to the Lord. "To cleave" means to be devoted to, to cling to, to be attached to, to depend upon. The best image of cleaving perhaps is that of a baby monkey clinging to the underside of the mother. Everything in that baby's monkey is upside down but it trusts the mother enough to cling to her for dear life even as she negotiates dangerous leaps and jumps or climbs to great heights. Similarly, we must cling to the Lord even though everything today might seem upside down, not the way we would like it to be. We must be grateful that our Lord allows us to cling to Him in this manner. What if He disowned us and distanced Himself from us? Would we have the privilege to cling to Him? The baby monkey knew instinctively that its mother was competent enough and loving enough to see it safely through life. It is certain that it would land safely on the other side. We, too must believe that our God is competent enough and loving enough to see us through the ups and downs of life as we cling to Him. Those of the ancient Israelites who clung to God remained alive through the long walk in the wilderness to the Promised Land.
Cleaving to the Lord our God means that we must cleave to His Word and cleave to the Holy Spirit. We must cleave to His Name and His promises. We must cleave to a lifestyle marked by prayer, fellowship, worship and witness. Cleaving to His Word means we hold on to scripture. We must never forget what He has spoken to us in times past and what He has spoken to us now. These are the words of eternal life, a guarantee of salvation in all matters spiritual, physical, emotional, financial, relational, professional and temporal. Cleaving to the Holy Spirit means we must constantly rejoice in His presence, listen to His still voice and stirrings of our spirit. Cleaving to His Name and His promises means claiming our inheritance in Christ Jesus. Cleaving to our walk with God means enjoying our quiet times with God, setting aside regular and multiple times of meeting with God as one would seek out a lover. It means relishing times spent with other believers in fellowship and worship. It means loosing no opportunity to share the love of God with others who do not believe that they too can cleave to Him.
When we cleave to God in this manner, we will not only be alive but we will be fully alive. We will live out the God- intended full length of our days and our years. We will live life to the hilt of the Sword of God- the Word and experience of the bliss of communion with God. We will find God's purpose for our lives and receive power to fulfill that purpose. While we are cleaving to God, we will also have fun even as the baby monkey feels the thrill and excitement of the upswings and downswings of the mother's torso. Just as the baby monkey hears the heartbeat of its mother, we must cling to God so close we hear His heart beat as it were.
Prateep V Philip
Friday, August 19, 2011
U 176-Interface between visibility and invisible forces
Uni-verse 176/10,000 For better thorugh verse Colossians 1 v 16
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Democracy is famously called, " Government of the people, by the people and for the people." It is today universally considered the best form of government but it is fraught with flaws, risks and deficiencies. It is deemed to be the best form of government evolved by man for want of any alternative. But, the Kingdom of God is government of God, by God and for God. This government knows no boundaries in time and space. All things in heaven and in earth were created by God, of God and for God. All rulers, powers and authorities were brought into existence according to the purpose and plan of God. Once, we understand the depth of this truth and submit to it, then we realize that it is not success or fulfillment of our goals that we must seek, whether in earth or in heaven, but to find and fulfill the purpose of God in and through our lives. Those who do not accept and instead fight against this truth belong to the darkness. Those who neither fight against nor accept it belong to the shadows. Those who acknowledge and relish this truth belong to the light. Self realization or self fulfillment is a vain pursuit -it is God-realization and God-fulfillment that we must seek. The Maslowian hierarchy of needs that culminates in self realization is turned on its head by this God-revealed truth. In fact, our security or physical needs, our self esteem need and our self realization is fulfilled on a higher and more enduring plane when we seek God-realization and fulfillment of God's goals for our lives. Today, there is a world-wide outcry for good governance with too little of it in evidence but we should realize that there is no substitute for God-governance.
Just as there are physical thrones, dominions, principalities and powers that are visible, there are invisible thrones, dominions, principalities and powers. Just as there are physical thrones, dominions, principalities and powers that do not acknowledge God or His eternal Kingdom on earth, there are spiritual thrones, dominions, principalities and powers that are aligned against the Kingdom of God. Our purposeful prayers, praise and worship can establish the Kingdom of God and dethrone the visible and invisible ones. This constitutes the essence of spiritual warfare that we engage in by virtue of the authority and power that we have in Christ Jesus. Man's primary mode of communication is the visible and the audible but God's primary mode of communication is the invisible and the discernable. Faith or the ability to see, hear and feel the invisible establishes a two-way communication between God and man. Faith is the ability to see that which cannot be seen with such clarity that the things that can be seen either pales into insignificance or acquires a new significance or meaning.
Even today the invisible is playing a far greater role in human life than the visible- electricity, internet, radio waves and so on. The results or effects are often physical while the process is invisible. For instance, we do not see the vapour that forms the clouds but we see the clouds. Similarly, people do not see our faith but they see the results or effects of faith in our lives. The invisibles in human nature like motivation, fear, hope, emotions play a greater role than the visible factors like height, weight, complexion, facial features. The visible universe around us declares the glory of the invisible. As children of God, we can pray for the manifestation of greater creativity in our lives, our relationships, our professions, our children and the world at large.
Prateep V Philip
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Democracy is famously called, " Government of the people, by the people and for the people." It is today universally considered the best form of government but it is fraught with flaws, risks and deficiencies. It is deemed to be the best form of government evolved by man for want of any alternative. But, the Kingdom of God is government of God, by God and for God. This government knows no boundaries in time and space. All things in heaven and in earth were created by God, of God and for God. All rulers, powers and authorities were brought into existence according to the purpose and plan of God. Once, we understand the depth of this truth and submit to it, then we realize that it is not success or fulfillment of our goals that we must seek, whether in earth or in heaven, but to find and fulfill the purpose of God in and through our lives. Those who do not accept and instead fight against this truth belong to the darkness. Those who neither fight against nor accept it belong to the shadows. Those who acknowledge and relish this truth belong to the light. Self realization or self fulfillment is a vain pursuit -it is God-realization and God-fulfillment that we must seek. The Maslowian hierarchy of needs that culminates in self realization is turned on its head by this God-revealed truth. In fact, our security or physical needs, our self esteem need and our self realization is fulfilled on a higher and more enduring plane when we seek God-realization and fulfillment of God's goals for our lives. Today, there is a world-wide outcry for good governance with too little of it in evidence but we should realize that there is no substitute for God-governance.
Just as there are physical thrones, dominions, principalities and powers that are visible, there are invisible thrones, dominions, principalities and powers. Just as there are physical thrones, dominions, principalities and powers that do not acknowledge God or His eternal Kingdom on earth, there are spiritual thrones, dominions, principalities and powers that are aligned against the Kingdom of God. Our purposeful prayers, praise and worship can establish the Kingdom of God and dethrone the visible and invisible ones. This constitutes the essence of spiritual warfare that we engage in by virtue of the authority and power that we have in Christ Jesus. Man's primary mode of communication is the visible and the audible but God's primary mode of communication is the invisible and the discernable. Faith or the ability to see, hear and feel the invisible establishes a two-way communication between God and man. Faith is the ability to see that which cannot be seen with such clarity that the things that can be seen either pales into insignificance or acquires a new significance or meaning.
Even today the invisible is playing a far greater role in human life than the visible- electricity, internet, radio waves and so on. The results or effects are often physical while the process is invisible. For instance, we do not see the vapour that forms the clouds but we see the clouds. Similarly, people do not see our faith but they see the results or effects of faith in our lives. The invisibles in human nature like motivation, fear, hope, emotions play a greater role than the visible factors like height, weight, complexion, facial features. The visible universe around us declares the glory of the invisible. As children of God, we can pray for the manifestation of greater creativity in our lives, our relationships, our professions, our children and the world at large.
Prateep V Philip
U 176-Interface between visibility and invisible forces
Uni-verse 176/10,000 For better thorugh verse Colossians 1 v 16
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Democracy is famously called, " Government of the people, by the people and for the people." It is today universally considered the best form of government but it is fraught with flaws, risks and deficiencies. It is deemed to be the best form of government evolved by man for want of any alternative. But, the Kingdom of God is government of God, by God and for God. This government knows no boundaries in time and space. All things in heaven and in earth were created by God, of God and for God. All rulers, powers and authorities were brought into existence according to the purpose and plan of God. Once, we understand the depth of this truth and submit to it, then we realize that it is not success or fulfillment of our goals that we must seek, whether in earth or in heaven, but to find and fulfill the purpose of God in and through our lives. Those who do not accept and instead fight against this truth belong to the darkness. Those who neither fight against nor accept it belong to the shadows. Those who acknowledge and relish this truth belong to the light. Self realization or self fulfillment is a vain pursuit -it is God-realization and God-fulfillment that we must seek. The Maslowian hierarchy of needs that culminates in self realization is turned on its head by this God-revealed truth. In fact, our security or physical needs, our self esteem need and our self realization is fulfilled on a higher and more enduring plane when we seek God-realization and fulfillment of God's goals for our lives. Today, there is a world-wide outcry for good governance with too little of it in evidence but we should realize that there is no substitute for God-governance.
Just as there are physical thrones, dominions, principalities and powers that are visible, there are invisible thrones, dominions, principalities and powers. Just as there are physical thrones, dominions, principalities and powers that do not acknowledge God or His eternal Kingdom on earth, there are spiritual thrones, dominions, principalities and powers that are aligned against the Kingdom of God. Our purposeful prayers, praise and worship can establish the Kingdom of God and dethrone the visible and invisible ones. This constitutes the essence of spiritual warfare that we engage in by virtue of the authority and power that we have in Christ Jesus. Man's primary mode of communication is the visible and the audible but God's primary mode of communication is the invisible and the discernable. Faith or the ability to see, hear and feel the invisible establishes a two-way communication between God and man. Faith is the ability to see that which cannot be seen with such clarity that the things that can be seen either pales into insignificance or acquires a new significance or meaning.
Even today the invisible is playing a far greater role in human life than the visible- electricity, internet, radio waves and so on. The results or effects are often physical while the process is invisible. For instance, we do not see the vapour that forms the clouds but we see the clouds. Similarly, people do not see our faith but they see the results or effects of faith in our lives. The invisibles in human nature like motivation, fear, hope, emotions play a greater role than the visible factors like height, weight, complexion, facial features. The visible universe around us declares the glory of the invisible. As children of God, we can pray for the manifestation of greater creativity in our lives, our relationships, our professions, our children and the world at large.
Prateep V Philip
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Democracy is famously called, " Government of the people, by the people and for the people." It is today universally considered the best form of government but it is fraught with flaws, risks and deficiencies. It is deemed to be the best form of government evolved by man for want of any alternative. But, the Kingdom of God is government of God, by God and for God. This government knows no boundaries in time and space. All things in heaven and in earth were created by God, of God and for God. All rulers, powers and authorities were brought into existence according to the purpose and plan of God. Once, we understand the depth of this truth and submit to it, then we realize that it is not success or fulfillment of our goals that we must seek, whether in earth or in heaven, but to find and fulfill the purpose of God in and through our lives. Those who do not accept and instead fight against this truth belong to the darkness. Those who neither fight against nor accept it belong to the shadows. Those who acknowledge and relish this truth belong to the light. Self realization or self fulfillment is a vain pursuit -it is God-realization and God-fulfillment that we must seek. The Maslowian hierarchy of needs that culminates in self realization is turned on its head by this God-revealed truth. In fact, our security or physical needs, our self esteem need and our self realization is fulfilled on a higher and more enduring plane when we seek God-realization and fulfillment of God's goals for our lives. Today, there is a world-wide outcry for good governance with too little of it in evidence but we should realize that there is no substitute for God-governance.
Just as there are physical thrones, dominions, principalities and powers that are visible, there are invisible thrones, dominions, principalities and powers. Just as there are physical thrones, dominions, principalities and powers that do not acknowledge God or His eternal Kingdom on earth, there are spiritual thrones, dominions, principalities and powers that are aligned against the Kingdom of God. Our purposeful prayers, praise and worship can establish the Kingdom of God and dethrone the visible and invisible ones. This constitutes the essence of spiritual warfare that we engage in by virtue of the authority and power that we have in Christ Jesus. Man's primary mode of communication is the visible and the audible but God's primary mode of communication is the invisible and the discernable. Faith or the ability to see, hear and feel the invisible establishes a two-way communication between God and man. Faith is the ability to see that which cannot be seen with such clarity that the things that can be seen either pales into insignificance or acquires a new significance or meaning.
Even today the invisible is playing a far greater role in human life than the visible- electricity, internet, radio waves and so on. The results or effects are often physical while the process is invisible. For instance, we do not see the vapour that forms the clouds but we see the clouds. Similarly, people do not see our faith but they see the results or effects of faith in our lives. The invisibles in human nature like motivation, fear, hope, emotions play a greater role than the visible factors like height, weight, complexion, facial features. The visible universe around us declares the glory of the invisible. As children of God, we can pray for the manifestation of greater creativity in our lives, our relationships, our professions, our children and the world at large.
Prateep V Philip
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Integrity involves our whole being, honesty involves only our purse
Uni-verse 173/10,000 For better through verse Isaiah 33 v 15
Isa 33:15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;
The marks of a righteous person is that he or she speaks uprightly, hates extortion for gain as well as gaining wealth by stealth or bribery, shrinks from doing or even hearing of violence and does not contemplate evil. The mouth, the mind, the eyes, the ears, the limbs and the heart of the person are all involved in walking in righteousness. The blessings are that such a person will dwell in safety and the security of the Most High God for He will send His angels to encamp around his house. The needs of such a person will be met as the Lord covenants to provide for it. He will not be overtaken by bad news or misfortune.
It is the fear of God that keeps a person from thinking, speaking or doing evil. It is the love of God that urges a person to think good, speak good and do good. The love of God prompts us to give to the poor and needy, to defend the weak, the widows and orphans against injustice. The fear of God keeps us from sexual immorality. The love of God causes us to delight in His Word. The love of God keeps us from being self righteous and makes us compassionate people who do not judge others. The love of God and the fear of God need to go hand in hand as we walk on the straight and narrow path. The love of God is like the right leg of righteusness while the fear of God is the left leg. We need both legs to walk uprightly.
An undivided heart of love and loyalty to God is at the root of a life of integrity. If we harbour sin,pride, doubt, bitterness, unforgiveness and covetousness in our hearts, we forfeit the ability to live a righteous life as well as the blessings of righteousness. Our deep sense of insecurity keeps us from being contented with what God has given us. But, our faith that we are not walking alone, that He who made and owns the whole universe is with us and in us will restore us to a level of inner security that nothing can shake and nobody can take away.
Prateep V Philip
Isa 33:15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;
The marks of a righteous person is that he or she speaks uprightly, hates extortion for gain as well as gaining wealth by stealth or bribery, shrinks from doing or even hearing of violence and does not contemplate evil. The mouth, the mind, the eyes, the ears, the limbs and the heart of the person are all involved in walking in righteousness. The blessings are that such a person will dwell in safety and the security of the Most High God for He will send His angels to encamp around his house. The needs of such a person will be met as the Lord covenants to provide for it. He will not be overtaken by bad news or misfortune.
It is the fear of God that keeps a person from thinking, speaking or doing evil. It is the love of God that urges a person to think good, speak good and do good. The love of God prompts us to give to the poor and needy, to defend the weak, the widows and orphans against injustice. The fear of God keeps us from sexual immorality. The love of God causes us to delight in His Word. The love of God keeps us from being self righteous and makes us compassionate people who do not judge others. The love of God and the fear of God need to go hand in hand as we walk on the straight and narrow path. The love of God is like the right leg of righteusness while the fear of God is the left leg. We need both legs to walk uprightly.
An undivided heart of love and loyalty to God is at the root of a life of integrity. If we harbour sin,pride, doubt, bitterness, unforgiveness and covetousness in our hearts, we forfeit the ability to live a righteous life as well as the blessings of righteousness. Our deep sense of insecurity keeps us from being contented with what God has given us. But, our faith that we are not walking alone, that He who made and owns the whole universe is with us and in us will restore us to a level of inner security that nothing can shake and nobody can take away.
Prateep V Philip
Monday, August 15, 2011
Set free
Uni-verse 172/10,000 For better through verse John 8 v 32
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Knowing Jesus as Lord and Saviour sets us free from the bondage of sin and the captivity of death. The saying of the French philosopher Rousseau that," Man is born free but is everywhere is in chains" is not true as everywhere and in all ages, man was not born free but in the chains of sin and death. With Jesus came grace and truth to set free all who believe that He is the way of truth and life. All the freedom fighters are the ones who are most respected in history like M.K. Gandhi or Nelson Mandela or Martin Luther King. But, Jesus was the greatest freedom fighter. He lived, died and was resurrected to set free all mankind of the yoke of sin and death.
The Word of God is the law of liberty and not a set of rules to restrict our freedom. The Word also says that where the Holy Spirit is, there is freedom. When we receive by faith the Lord Jesus into our lives, we are anointed with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit interprets the Word of God to us so that we remain free and become fruitful in our lives and our faith.
It is said, " Knowledge is power while wisdom is liberty." Knowledge makes us think about our lifetime while wisdom makes us think about eternity. Knowledge gets us earthly rewards while wisdom gets us eternal rewards. Freedom does not mean that we have the license to do whatever pleases us. With freedom comes the responsibility to grow and bear fruits of righteousness. We are servants of righteousness. But, we are servants not in the sense we have no freedom or liberty as we are Friends of God. We are set free that we become dependent on our dependable God. We are set free from the fear of death, fear of failure, fear of disapproval, fear of want, fear of curses and fear of the unknown.
Prateep V Philip
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Knowing Jesus as Lord and Saviour sets us free from the bondage of sin and the captivity of death. The saying of the French philosopher Rousseau that," Man is born free but is everywhere is in chains" is not true as everywhere and in all ages, man was not born free but in the chains of sin and death. With Jesus came grace and truth to set free all who believe that He is the way of truth and life. All the freedom fighters are the ones who are most respected in history like M.K. Gandhi or Nelson Mandela or Martin Luther King. But, Jesus was the greatest freedom fighter. He lived, died and was resurrected to set free all mankind of the yoke of sin and death.
The Word of God is the law of liberty and not a set of rules to restrict our freedom. The Word also says that where the Holy Spirit is, there is freedom. When we receive by faith the Lord Jesus into our lives, we are anointed with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit interprets the Word of God to us so that we remain free and become fruitful in our lives and our faith.
It is said, " Knowledge is power while wisdom is liberty." Knowledge makes us think about our lifetime while wisdom makes us think about eternity. Knowledge gets us earthly rewards while wisdom gets us eternal rewards. Freedom does not mean that we have the license to do whatever pleases us. With freedom comes the responsibility to grow and bear fruits of righteousness. We are servants of righteousness. But, we are servants not in the sense we have no freedom or liberty as we are Friends of God. We are set free that we become dependent on our dependable God. We are set free from the fear of death, fear of failure, fear of disapproval, fear of want, fear of curses and fear of the unknown.
Prateep V Philip
Friday, August 12, 2011
Uni-verse 171/10,000 For better through verse I Corinthians 3 v 16
1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
We are the living temple of the living God. Paul drives in this truth by asking it as a question as very often we forget who we are in Christ. We forget who we are in God as we are too aware or conscious of who we are in ourselves, our sensate life. As the temple of God, we are the Tabernacle of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit resides in us. But, we must let Him preside over our lives. Everything we say and do must be an act of worship of God. We are not just a multi-purpose building but a temple with one purpose, to know God and to worship Him.
Just as a temple has a place to wash our feet, we must always be conscious of the need to be clean and pure before God. Just as a temple has a sanctum sanctorum, the holiest place, our most sacred place is our heart or the core of our existence. Just as a temple has a gateway and approach, we too must approach the Lord with praise and thanksgiving. The walls of this temple are salvation, implying that the knowledge that we are saved is what shapes and surrounds our faith and worship. Each verse of scripture that we memorise, meditate and obey constitute the bricks or stones of this temple. Each promise we appropriate in faith is the precious stones and metals that are used to adorn the temple. The foundation and the capstone is Jesus.
The persons we interact with and share our lives with are the visitors to the living temple. Our testimony is the fragrance or aroma in the temple. The indwelling Holy Spirit is the priest who prays for us with groans that words cannot express. When we do not dwell in God, our thoughts, motives, words and actions are tainted but when the Holy Spirit dwells in us, our thougts, words and actions are divinely anointed. The angels of God guard this temple day and night.
Prateep V Philip
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