LIVING IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD
Johor, Sunday, August 19, 2018
Lay Pastor Harjono
Shalom,
We have just commemorated the 73rd anniversary of the Indonesia’s Independence Day. The Indonesian people were overjoyed at the freedom from the Dutch occupation. Following the freedom, the national leaders made good use of the freedom to do all the good things for the progress of the Indonesian nation and country. In the same way, joy overwhelms every child of God who has been set free from the yoke of slavery to sin. The question is now: What are we going to do with our freed lives? Remember that our freedom from sin was not of our own strength, but it was by God’s grace and mercy. That’s why no one should boast (Ephesians 2: 8-9).
God desires us to be spiritually mature and ready to be the place where Jesus Christ can lay His head (Matthew 8:20). What are the characteristics and qualities of a maturing congregation?
They are not easily tossed around by false teachings (Ephesians 4:14).
They know the living God more and more for everything is bare before Him (Hebrews 4:13). Unfortunately, due to problems in life, people do not stay faithful and turn back to their old lifestyles. Apart from that, the glory of the world with its splendour can shake one’s faithfulness to the Gospel of Christ. Consequently, they get dragged into the world, practicing immorality. They do not glorify Him as God. Instead, they become futile in their imaginations and their hearts get darkened. Hence, they dishonor their bodies with vulgar practices such as homosexuality and lesbianism (Romans 1:21-27).
They give praise and glory only to God no matter how great the preacher is.
They become born-again believers as the climax of their knowledge of the Lord. They know longer live out their lust, doing all kinds of impurity (Ephesians 4:17-19).
God has entrusted the saints with offices such as prophets, apostles, pastors, evangelists and teachers for one glorious purpose, that is, the building up of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12). For that purpose, it requires the unity of faith towards the true knowledge of God to reach full maturity and the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ along the way to perfection (v. 13).
It takes struggle to reach full spiritual maturity, that is, by firmly holding on to the sharp, strong and living Word of God (Hebrews 4:12-13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). That way, we can reject various winds of false teachings.
What about the characteristics of spiritual infants?
They are not devotedly faithful to Christ and easy to be tossed around by another Jesus, another gospel or another spirit (2 Corinthians 11:3-4). They prefer the wide gate and the broad way leading to condemnation. They are unwilling to be processed / shaped, crucifying the desires of their flesh in order to be part of the strong and sound body of Christ.
We are able to withstand all kinds of false teachings because we hold fast onto the truth of the Word in love, growing in all things into Christ as the Head. He died to redeem our sins and His resurrection proved His victory over everything under His feet, including Satan who holds the power of death (Ephesians 1: 20-22).
God trusts us, His Church, to be a body/place to lay His head. Therefore, let’s not waste His trust in us. The sharp-edged sword of the Word is mighty to transform our lives so that we can overcome evil things.
They know nothing about the truth of God and try to build up their own righteousness (Romans 10:3). They walk according to the course of this world and obey the prince of the power of the air. That is the spirit that is now working among disobedient people who live to fulfill the desires of the flesh (Ephesians 2:2-3; Galatians 5:19-21). Therefore, they have no place in the Kingdom of God for their minds have been blinded by the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4: 3-4).
The Apostle Paul emphasizes that we should not return to our old, godless lifestyles (Ephesians 4:17) after the Word of God has processed us to be part of the body of Christ.
Their minds (understanding) are darkened. They miss the glory of the Lord and their heart are hardened (v.18).
Their feelings are blunt, giving themselves over to sensuality and practice every kind of uncleanness with greediness (v.19). Just imagine they practice not only wickedness but also greediness (never satisfied) without feeling guilty!
Having been justified and sanctified as God’s people, we are processed to become righteous people before Him by hearing the Word of God (2 Peter 1: 3-11). To top it off, we have abundant love to know Him completely. Righteous people will make efforts to keep their faith growing toward love. Their labor will not be in vain for God in the Lord Jesus Christ has the authority to grant them full access to the eternal Kingdom, namely, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
Obviously, if we are willing to keep learning to know Him in the right way, we will be eventually worthy of entering His kingdom. For that reason, let’s leave all traits of spiritual infancy such as unfaithfulness, self-righteousness, darkened minds, numb feelings that drive us to choose lust for life and practice all kinds of impurities without ever achieving ultimate satisfaction.
Please note that everything is from Him, through Him and for Him. All glory and praise to Him forever. Amen.