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UNCONTROLLABLE INDISCIPLINE OF HUMAN

SELF CONTROL – A FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: There is a wise saying by an old man that says, “If a Christian marries a child of the devil, he is going to have a lot of trouble with his father-in-law.” Seems like humor but that’s the truth. It is a proven fact over the years, but several times in this age, young people have overlooked and doubted the saying. The problem is no patience and lack of self control.

SAMSON LIKE – ATTITUDE – INDISCIPLINE IS WEAKLING: Hence many years later many contemplate over their actions and realize that “the pain of discipline weighs ounces, while the pain of regret weighs loads of tons” regrettably. Such indiscipline often leads to inaction and bad choices in life in the areas of education, career, and relationships. Other times it may affect the health of individuals. The emphasis here is the lack of patience and uncontrollable indiscipline. Proverbs 13:18: “Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame”.

SO WHAT ARE THE TAKEAWAYS: As a Christian sometimes painful regret can also serve as a powerful inspiration? Nonetheless, there is nothing too late if you realize your mistakes and return to the Lord with regrets and with deep repentance. He is always ready to receive you in your suffering. Concede your past indiscipline and the resulting regret can inspire you to make disciplined choices in the present circumstances to avoid future suffering and work towards a better life. The Christian has an assurance. You are strong and have strength in the Lord to overcome your weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9, states, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

SHOW ME YOUR FRIEND: Remember the saying —“show me your friend and I will show you your character.” You become like those with whom you associate. We have read, heard, or seen that strong and powerful people in positions have fallen through bad association and indiscipline. “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33, ESV). Note in Proverbs: Companion of fools shall perish together.

WISDOM TRUTH: Hence from whatever angle you look at it, such acts, and association with lack of self-control are like these old sayings that obviously prove a point: “He who lies down with the dogs will rise up with fleas.” And “as the flour miller leaves some tiny sediment of flour, and on all those whom he brushes against on his way home, so do all our associates leave a deposit of their personalities upon our lives.” Proverbs 25:28: “Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control”.

Let us be self-restraint in all our relations. No rush, but be patient, and exercise self-control in choosing. Wait and listen to the voice of the Lord.
The Lord is always ready with his arms open and stretched to welcome you as long as you are back to seek him. Be encouraged, and exercise your FAITH for there is HOPE

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LIFE OF FAITH AND WALK OF FAITH

LIFE OF FAITH AND WALK OF FAITH

The two most important things in our Christian theology are:

1. the life of faith  

2. the walk of faith.

These two pillars are significant points in the life of a Christian and if you understand these two points correctly your spiritual growth will be stronger. We have to be conscious of the fact that faith and godliness are not separate but are two sides of the same coin. 

Romans 1:17 states: “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.” [life of faith].

Hebrews 11:6 states: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him”. [the walk of faith].

Hence as we all strive for holiness; true godliness must have its root in a living faith in Christ Jesus. Christians must be careful to seek one without the other on the same parallel. You cannot nurture faith and forget holiness. Faith without godliness would be like having a strong foundation for a house, but no walls or roof. It is incomplete because it offers no true shelter for this divine purpose in life. We must have faith, for this is the foundation: We must have holiness of life, and we must have godliness for this is the framework for our faith and hope. We need the superstructure of spiritual life if we need to live and walk in faith.

Here is a question:  What would it mean to you if you build a house and inhabit in it without a roof? What purpose would it serve when the storm comes?  Even so we need the superstructure of spiritual life if we would have comfort in the day of doubt.

Seek a holy life with faith, so that the Lord can build his house in your life otherwise no matter what you do, you may be able to build the house but the house cannot stand in the Spirit. 

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” We have a new life and guidance by the Holy Spirit hence, if we should live our lives in consistent alignment with the Spirit but not by our own desires, but by following Christ in our thoughts, words, and actions we will divinely fulfill the godliness and our faith in Christ. This will require an active, daily commitment to yielding in to the Spirit’s control, to allow Him to guide us toward righteousness, obedience, and love for others. 

Walking by the Spirit is the practical application of a life lived by the Spirit, requiring daily surrender and obedience to the Spirit’s will and guidance. 

In essence, Galatians 5:25 is a call to a dynamic and ongoing relationship with the Holy Spirit, where Christians should actively seek guidance and direction in a constant, self-control manner.  

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit, let us be led in the Spirit, live in Obedience and bear Fruits.”

There’s always hope rooted deep in our faith for us as Christians. And this is the Gospel truth.

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THE CHARACTER OF PEACE

THE CHARACTER OF PEACE IN THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

As long as peace negotiators have assuaged or have little perception of peace, they will in no way be looked differently in a different way at the peace table and would not comprehend the issue at the table rightly so if in fact Christ is not placed at the center of the negotiation as well. Peacemakers at the opposite end of the table can’t talk peace if there’s a gun at each other party’s  head. The world does not understand this. It takes the Lord to break the impasse.

The fact remains that: “The continuous refusal from each other to settle any impasse at Peace treaties has rendered and   reduced peace negotiations to a mere name brand,” because we lack the understanding of the presence   of God — the character of peace in the Fruit of the Spirit. At the end of the day, God is the only PEACE MAKER, not man. It is better to approach peace with God in mind as the negotiator.

To be concise, the character of Peace in the Fruit of the Spirit highlights also in this case that authentic peace is rooted in a foundation of mutual understanding, respect, and the absence of fear or external pressure. People at the table should be quick to listen, be careful in their point of views and how they are presented at the table without anger but with wisdom.

When these conditions are not met with God in mind and  in prayer, attempts at the negotiation table are fruitless, as the core essence of peace cannot be achieved under the shadow of conflict in this case but significantly leaving the Lord God outside of the discussion. 

What the Scripture says:  James 1:19-20 states: “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.  

Hebrews 12:14: “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord”. 

Romans 12:18: encourages us to make a sincere effort to be peaceful and accommodating to others as far as it depends on you.

Fundamentally, Romans 12:18 confront all peace negotiators in this case to embody a peace-making attitude, even in difficult circumstances, by doing everything within our power to promote harmony as the Scripture says and with faith and hope. 

To all Christians don’t talk Faith without Hope, and don’t walk into negotiation room or table without Faith and Hope in the Lord. This aligns with the principles of the Bible in time of peace negotiation. This is the Gospel truth.

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WISDOM QUOTES WITH BIBLICAL REFERENCE


1. THE PAST CANT’ BE CHANGED
Isaiah 43:18-19: “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
** Hope for the future – positive change and new beginning in the Lord is the assurance.
** Forgetting the old – remember not the former things”.
Phil 3:13-14
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

** Focus on the new – focus on the new things God is going to do for you now and in future.
2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

2. OPINION DOES NOT DEFINE YOUR REALITY
Isaiah 43:18-19
18.. “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Let’s get it straight here. The fact and truth of the Gospel is that God doesn’t retreat nor go back to rewrite history. Once you sin or you encounter problems in your life and you ask for correction, direction and forgiveness from God with repentance, consider it done through his grace and mercy as long as you don’t go back to your vomit.

It will be needless for you to continue to beat your head over the past sin. “Forget the former things” and move from the past to “now” and trust the Lord with faith and hope for the future.

The Lord God is always living in our present and future of our life. Don’t expect God to undo the past. In his rightful place, we trust him to forgive us of our sins and take all of the sufferings that we have experienced, and by his grace and his glory and his love to work everything for good for us.

A lot of people give up hope after they fall. Listen, just because you’ve fallen doesn’t signify that you are a castaway or you have to stay down. To move forward, find a way to stand up. And that WAY is Jesus Christ. Jesus is the way because he is both God and man. Jesus is also the truth. Jesus is also life, which includes both physical and spiritual existence. Jesus is Lord

Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. John 14:6
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HOPE FOR SALVATION

HOPE FOR SALVATION
Romans 8:24-25- “For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”
What is Apostle Paul saying? To me, Paul, the Apostle of Jesus emphasizes that, based on our faith in Jesus Christ there’s salvation for “anyone.”
Romans 10:13 – “For whosoever (anyone) shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” There is nothing too complex about this verse but it’s not easy to see the simplicity of it too. Simply put, it is about salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. The word “anyone” in the verse also refers to people, whoever you are, wherever you live, regardless of your status, or a particular characteristic. In short, this is the universality of the gospel message.
“Believing in Him” means trusting and depending on Christ for salvation. This is an open invitation to all who call on the Lord in repentance with faith and believing with hope. Luke 5:32 confirms that Jesus came to call people who know they are sinners and need to repent, not those who think they are righteous. Salvation is for anyone who’s ready, regardless of what you are and who you are. You have to repent, believe, and activate your faith to receive your salvation.
Here is the deal if you are a non-Christian. You must be conscious of the fact that this hope of salvation is rooted in the belief that Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross offers forgiveness and reconciliation with God. IT IS FOR ALL HUMANITY. The deal is cemented and never to be walked back. It is the pathway to an unshakeable hope for salvation. All you have to do is come boldly repent for your evil past or sins and declare that you have ACCEPTED him as your Lord and personal Savior and indeed as the son of God.
The Lord’s promise of salvation provides comfort, strength, and hope in times of difficulties and encourages us as Christians to live an honorable and virtuous life.
If you are not a professed Christian and you are reading this piece, I must say you are not here by chance. The Holy Spirit has brought you this far. Do not turn your back on the Lord.
If on the other hand, you are devoted or a baby Christian, it is a reminder for you to increase your relationship with the Lord, eradicate your unbelief, and stop being focused on your “selfish self.”
I would emphasize that this hope in Christ in the subject under discussion is much bigger than the idea of an everlasting life where believers in Christ will experience timeless life with God in Heaven beholding our Lord God forever.
I will also stress that Christians who are struggling with hopelessness should remember their covenant with Christ. Your faith, trust, confidence, and motivation will increase your hope and break the chain of hopelessness to allow you to glorify the Lord here and eternally.
Your future is brighter than you think. Don’t you ever quit, open your heart to the Lord. Hope with perseverance will yield results for God’s glory. Without hope, we don’t have Christ and without Christ, we don’t have salvation.

DECISION
1. You have the choice to renew your Salvation, and the time is now.
2. You have the choice to accept the Lord as your Lord Jesus your Salvation. The time is now.
Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.”
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WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT BUILDING WALLS?

“In this day and age, walls can be viewed with negative nuances but the truth with the matter is building walls is for many reasons, spiritually and physically. In the Christian belief, walls symbolizes divine protection spiritually for a faithful life and physically as boundaries for a peaceful environment on Earth for God’s people.  

Physical boundaries are not a new norm in the world when we go back into history and it is always aligned with Biblical beliefs of the faithful ones and secularists alike.

“Overall, walls in the Bible carry rich and varied meanings, from literal structures of defense to powerful symbols of spiritual truths. They reflect the human need for security, the reality of division, and the hope of divine protection and unity.”

In Revelation 21:12,” the New Jerusalem is described as having a great and high wall with twelve gates, symbolizing the perfect and eternal security of God’s redeemed people.”  [Bible Hub]

One of the most popular walls physically and divinely rebuilt from Biblical history was the wall of Jerusalem by Nehemiah. It is recorded that, after the Babylonian exile, Nehemiah was moved by God to return to Jerusalem and oversee the rebuilding of the city’s walls, which had been destroyed. The book of Nehemiah 2:17 says: “Then I said to them, ‘You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we will no longer be a disgrace,” and the walls were built for security and peace of the people.

Nonetheless, to some, walls can be seen as a source of imprisonment and division. They are often called things we need to break down and overcome.

However, when we look at walls in the Bible, they are also seen as structures that protect, provide security, and represent a place of peace, and shelter forming a sense of belonging. In the Old Testament, physical walls were built to serve as a deterrent vital for a city’s survival against intruders or enemies.

In the Christian life, walls are not only physical deterrent but also spiritual defense against attacks from the devil. So as spiritual walls of salvation and security are built through Christ our physical life must be protected by aligning it what the Bible say.

Critics on the other hand misinterpret Ezekiel 13:10 by using it as an excuse to support and justify their argument of tearing down of physical structure of walls whereas this is a spiritual statement warning false teachers and prophets – wall as a metaphor to say.

Exekiel 13:10-12 states: “Precisely because they have misled my people, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear it with whitewash,say to those who smear it with whitewash that it shall fall! There will be a deluge of rain, and you, O great hailstones, will fall, and stormy winds break out. And when the wall falls, will it not be said to you, ‘Where is the coating with which you smeared it?”

“In Acts 23, Paul stands before the Sanhedrin and is struck on the order of the high priest Ananias. In response, Paul exclaims, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck” (Acts 23:3). Here, Paul uses the term to denounce the hypocrisy of the religious leaders who outwardly uphold the law but inwardly act unjustly.”

“Paul’s rebuke highlights the theme of God’s wrath against those who maintain an outward appearance of righteousness while engaging in unrighteous actions. The whitewashed wall serves as a metaphor for the superficial piety that God condemns, emphasizing the importance of genuine faith and integrity.”

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HAVING HOPE

HAVING HOPE

“Having hope links your past and present to the future. You have a vision for what you hope will happen. Having hope is important to the very act of being a human being.” As Dr. Judith Rich writes, “Hope is a match in a dark tunnel, a moment of light, just enough to reveal the path ahead and ultimately the way out.”

Having hope in God will never lead us into misery or depression, because God has a plan for everyone who believes and trust him. God is the only one that we as believers can count on for a future that is filled of hope.

In a straightforward term, Biblical hope is built on faith and hope. You cannot alienate one from the other.

The biblical definition of hope is “the sure and confident anticipation of getting what God has promised believers in Christ for the future.” In the simplest term Biblical hope is built on faith. The believer’s hope is not a faint or obscure wish but a firm foundation in Christ. “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil” [Hebrews 6:19].           

The Word of God lays a clear emphasis on Hope as a virtuous quality because it contains no doubt, always trusting in God’s faithfulness and presence no matter what and how the circumstances, whether it is good or it is bad. “For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth.” [Psalm 71:5].

FURTHER REFERENCES:

“Jesus Christ is our hope..” [1 Timothy 1:1].

“Hope of Israel in time of distress..” [Jeremiah 14:8]

“That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people..” [1 Timothy 4:10]

“For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?” Romans 8:24

Paul the Apostle’s writings by far explains extensively hope in God and faith in God more than the Christian or non -Christian can imagine and understand.

As Christians if we have worldly hope in people and things of this life we will be in realism living in a state of hopelessness. We can’t count on people, else we will be disappointed, but if we have our confidence in Christ we will never be disappointed as long as we trust in him with Faith and Hope.

Without hope and without God in our life the world will be hopeless. [Read: Ephesians 2:12] In contrast, the believer’s hope cannot be frustrated or hindered by anything in this life. We know what we have safely “stored up for [us] in heaven” [Colossians 1:5]

Paul’s hope was so secured in his eternal future that he was willing to suffer and die for it: “I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead” [Acts 23:6].

Consequently we recognize at this point that hope is unseen. So, the question is: Can we now trust this assurance from the Scripture and from the Lord? That said, we trust things in our natural surroundings that we don’t see its finality more than what the Scripture says.

When it starts raining, you don’t know when it will end, but you trust that it will, you have that envisioned. Why that? I will tell you why, for the reason that, it is God’s natural law through the physical. Even though you don’t know when the rain will stop but you have the faith and hope that it will stop. Isn’t it interesting?

So, why is it difficult for you to relate or trust the Lord about your request to him the same way you envision this law? Why then do you doubt if your request is going to be answered positively by God?

We are confident in them because these are natural laws. In the same way, although we can’t see the end or when but we can be full of hope of the rain ending. Hope assures us that we can be confident in it because it’s the law of God.

So then, let us consider the following and apply them to our faith and hope in God.

 “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?” Romans 8:24

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” [Hebrews 11:1]

 “There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.” Proverbs 23:18. Trust in the Lord always.

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