sin

by

Sin

Philippians1*

Philippians 2:14 (NIV)

14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing.

It is a sin to complain about what God gives.

God responds with graciously perseverance to His people (even they are grumbling, complaining, unfaithful or rebellious).

God graciously gives second chances.

In what aria of your life God gives you a second chance?

How are you taken advantage of this new chance to do His will?

Are you giving others a chance, the chance God gives them?

Lord, please help me to do everything without grumbling or arguing!

by

Are you aware ?

1*

Are you aware that sin always leads to death – to the death of dreams, hopes, plans, relationships and health?

Apart from Christ, sin leads to separation from God forever, the ultimate spiritual death. Some Christians think a believer’s sin is somehow less serious than the sin of an unbeliever. But all sin is an outrage against God and causes harm to ourselves and to others. Are you aware that all sin deserves the wrath of God? Do you treat sin lightly?

Who can understand his errors?

Lord, please cleanse me from secret faults (the only way that one can understand his errors is by going to the Word of God; as well, the only thing that will probe deep into the heart of man, locating the ‘secret faults’ is the Word of God).

Lord, keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression (the ‘great transgression’ spoken of in this verse is that of declaring the Word of God insufficient for the problems at hand; this is what makes humanistic psychology so wrong, the embracing of such is a statement that says the Word of God is insufficient).

Lord, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, because You, o, Lord are my strength and my Redeemer (our words can only be acceptable unto Him along with the meditation of our heart, so long as they remain constant in the Word of God) (Psalm 19:12-13).

by

People Complain

1Numbers 11:1-9

People Complain

Complaining is epidemic in our society. We complain about: the weather, our husbands, our children, Politicians, Neighbors, Pastors, Churches in the United States of America – the most blest country in the world. We complain about minor inconveniences: Coffee is too cold at Starbucks, Service is too slow at our favorite restaurant, Icemaker does not work, Internet speed is too slow, my I-phone does not fit in the pocket in my designer handbag, major repair bill for luxury boat and motor home.

Here in this text, the Israelites complain and grumble. But so do we. Is it default mode to voice my dissatisfaction for every inconvenience?

Complaining is a sin and reveals a lack of trust/Faith in God.

This is not the first time the Israelites have voiced complaints. God did not reprimand them when they complained earlier. They were in a brand new relationship with God. But a year has passed since the exodus from Egypt, time to learn about God’s character and who He is. Now they should know better, so God judges them. The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!” “Rabble” refers to the foreigners who left Egypt with the Israelites. But the Israelites join in complaining quickly.

Complaining is extremely contagious.

Complaining is an infectious disease that passes from one person to the next. Like a wild fire, it starts small but becomes out of control quickly. They begin to remember their time in Egypt fondly.  The Israelites have selective memory. The reality is: They were slaves in Egypt for 400 years, Nothing was free in Egypt, Their lives were miserable, They were forced to labor in hot Egyptians sun, They had emotional losses – their newborn sons were killed because Pharaoh believed they were becoming too numerous. Their vision is over-inflated. Their memory is flawed. Their perspective on the present was distorted. They should have realized that every day they woke up to miracle of manna.

Complaining results when we idealize the past and we fail to trust in God’s present provision.

Complaining is the opposite of faith. Complaining misconstrues the past and mistrusts God’s provision. In faith, our gaze is fixed on the future and God’s promises.

Am I so focused on what I don’t have that I fail to be grateful for what I do have? The solution to complaining is faith and trust in God. Belief in God’s mercy, goodness, faithfulness, graciousness and generosity is the antidote for complaining.

Faith in God is the antidote to complaining.

God’s goal is my eternal spiritual well-being and His glory. Do my words, actions, attitude, complaining says I can do it better than God?

by

Purity of Camp

tabernacleNite

Numbers 5:1-9:14

Purity of Camp

There was sin and defilement because of our fallen world. This was part of the Israelite camp. If God was to dwell in the center of the community, the Israelites needed to know how to deal with sin:

– Unintentional sins (such as infectious diseases)

– Intentional sin which required restitution

– Unfaithfulness in families – adultery

If God is to be the center of life, we must know how to deal with sin.

God calls His people to deal with sin.

The initial step in dealing with sin is trusting in the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Moses tells the people what is required if a person wants to devote himself to God for a period of time. These people are known as Nazarites.

Moses instructs Aaron and his sons on how they are to bless the Israelites.

God blesses and gives His grace and peace to those whose lives are centered on Him.

We see the offerings that are brought to the Levites to help them with their work. We see the same offerings offered by different people on different  days.  What is the significance of the repetition?  It means  it  is important. What point is God making? Through the repetition, there is careful recording of what each tribe brought as an offering(s) to God. This is not to say that each person should give the same thing. Rather, that no gift is insignificant when given out of love and for His work.

God values each gift given for His work.

One year ago, the Israelites were slaves to the Egyptians. Passover is a vivid picture of the Gospel. Those who trust in the blood of Jesus Christ are “passed over” by God. We do not have to endure the wrath of God and punishment for our sins

God wants His people to remember His Son’s sacrifice.

We are cautioned not to let Jesus’ sacrifice become “old”. We are to remember and celebrate it.