Start Obeying Everything Christ Had Commanded Now

Matthew 28:17-20
When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Start obeying everything Christ had commanded now before it's too late for you.  It's in our obedience to all that Christ had commanded that the greatest commission will be fulfilled in all of our lives. Why is the most powerful statement in the whole Bible found in this passage? "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me". It was never given by the heavenly Father to anyone else. Even today, all authority in heaven and on earth belongs to Jesus Christ our Lord. How do we know this? By the answers we receive from the Father through prayer and intercession for the nations. He never fails. We must teach everyone to obey Christ to whom all authority in heaven and on earth is given. You may say, I thought someone else I know is claiming the same statement. No.. no..no... No one else can stand before Him. No one else can oppose Him and remain on earth. The heaven and the earth and everything in it is His.

Hypocrisy-An Incurable, Untreatable, Spiritual Disease

Luke 12:1-5
Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs. "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

Just like some incurable physical diseases that we know, hypocrisy is it's equivalent spiritual disease. There is no known cure for hypocrisy. It's deeply rooted and can never be removed from the system like HIV positive. The only way to the cessation of this disease is through natural death. It will be there until it is self-destructive. It will also be lethal to others once passed on.

How does this spiritual disease come about in the first place? It's like 'yeast'. It enters into the system and does not leave the spirit of sinful man. It permeates dangerously into every part of the spirit, soul and body of evil man. If the spirit is willing, the soul which is also the mind will not allow it to be freed from this spiritual grip. If the mind is willing, the body will not respond positively. Hypocrisy corrupts the whole system of man. This spiritual disease comes from the hardening of the conscience until it is dead. It's a stubborn practice over a period of time that will cause the person not to be freed from it. Sometimes, it's incurably hereditary like diabetes. You have been raised with it in your spirit from birth and you are doomed with it. Time will show this horrid disease in you. You may treat it with all the remedy you may know but to no avail. You will fail. It's deeply rooted in the system. No way of turning back. No repeated banging of your head on the wall will set you free from it.

The Lord Jesus Christ used the 'yeast' to explain this incurable disease. It's as dangerous as HIV. It slowly kills you and prepares you for good riddance into hell. Have you tried treating a hypocrite, trying to change his ways. He will not respond. It's like a doctor trying to treat somone with HIV in his system. It will strike back. Just wait for his death, they murmur, after many attempts! Why God allows this to happen? So that those who do not have this disease will fear God and change their ways. Don't expect the one with hypocrisy in his system to change. It will not happen.

Matthew 23: 1-12
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.  "Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to have people call them 'Rabbi.' "But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

You see, from childhood they have been raised up to be proud, arrogant, boastive, show-offs, greedy, covetous, partial, abusive, lying, deceiving, corrupt, overly-demanding, overly-imposing, cruel, violent, unsympahthetic, power and recognition crazy, selfish, evil, lustful and the list goes on and on. But, the strange thing is they look very well-dressed on the outside but the hypocrisy is deeply embeded in them without any known remedy. Even their smiles will be charming. The words they speak, no need to say! The way they carry themselves in public, Oh! Always the best in all their approaches. This is what the Lord Jesus Christ has to say about this incurable disease that resembles the sudden termination of life in  the most tragic way. Like a tombstone, it looks all painted white on the outside but inside it's all rotting like a corpse. There is just no cure. Just wait and pray for the permanent cessation of hypocrisy of the highest kind.

Matthew 23: 27-28
 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness

 

The Head of Every Man is Christ

1 Corinthians 11:3
But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

Until you follow this line of leadership and submit fully to it, you are going to face all kinds of problems that you will never be able to solve. You must follow this eternal line of leadership to escape the problems of this world. Submission to God's leadership in Christ leads to full Christformation in you. You  can prove to me that you are submissive to this and that in this world but are you really submissive to Christ, in the first place? You can lie to man but you can never lie to God and get away with it. You are not submissive to Christ but you claim that you are submisssive to this authority and that. Who are you trying to fool? The head of every man is Christ. Can you submit to that? If you can't, then there is nothing common between me and you! Strictly follow God's line of leadership at all cost. There is no argument or pretension accepted about this. Just follow that first. Don't keep giving excuses for your insubmission to Christ. It shows that you do not fear God. The head of Christ is God the Father. The head of woman is man and the head of every man is Christ. Note the word "every" man. As long as you do not submit to Christ, you are going to be the problem in this world because you have not submitted to God's line of leadership. Wake up! Don't try to be too smart and give all kinds of excuses. You are the liar not God. God does not lie. Who are you trying to lie to? Sit down in one corner and think for a moment. Admit it that you are insubmissive to Christ and you have always been that way. That is why you do not obey Him. You are trying to give excuses so that you do not have to obey Him. Sorry, we have to teach you how to  submit to Him by being obedient to all that He had commanded or else there is nothing common to talk to you about. We are different! Accept that.

Colossians 1: 15-23
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.  For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,  and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.  Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation-- if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Test of Strength

Psalms 91:7-10
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.  You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you say, "The LORD is my refuge," and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.

So far, these thirty years from 1982 to 2012 we have seen the demonstration of God's power in and through our lives. When we were younger, we weren't that alert of the Devil's schemes and wiles. Often, we found ourselves entrapped temporarily to his evil tricks but we overcame them victoriously. Even then when we had serious struggles, we saw God demonstrating His power in and through our lives, what more now when we are fully alert. We are going to see more of the demonstration of His power on Earth. This time around,  it's going to be a world-wide demonstration of His glorious power and authority. We are going to see those who cheat in their businesses using the name of Christ face God's wrath all over the world. We are made as "testers of metal" and we remain to see God's power demonstrated on Earth. Every word of His will be fulfilled on Earth. What cannot be moved will be moved. What cannot be removed will suddenly be removed. What cannot be shaken will be shaken. What will not fall, will come crushing down. What is lofty, will be flattened to the ground. What sticks up it's head will be crushed. Let's wait for God's next move. It will be God's greatest power and authority in display. It's coming and it's very near. Be afraid! The punishment of the wicked is here. If you dare to kick against the pricks, you are going to hurt yourself very badly this time. Don't blame God when you are hit. You asked for it.

Both Will Fall into a Pit

Matthew 15:13-14
He replied, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit."

Both the false teacher and the hearer will fall into the pit. Should you not now wake up from your sleep because your eyes is closed and you are sleep-walking and you grope around like a blind man?The one who is leading is blind and he is heading for the pit prepared for him.Should you not let God open your eyes now so that you do not  blindly follow him and fall into that same pit of judgment and punishment. Unless you say, you do not want your eyes to be opened. You prefer living in darkness. It's like, if you dig a pit for someone you will fall into it yourself someday. It's just a matter of time you deserve this for obeying the sinful nature of the Devil in you.

What did the Lord Jesus Christ mean by "every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted". Who planted it then? Yes, it's the Devil. He planted this. What is being "pulled up by the roots". Their roots are in the sinful nature of the Devil even though they claim they belong to God. If they belong to Christ, they will not keep obeying the sinful nature of the Devil in them. They will obey everything Christ had commanded. the time has finally arrived for the uprooting.

Power to Shake the Whole World

Psalms 99:1-9
The LORD reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake. Great is the LORD in Zion; he is exalted over all the nations. Let them praise your great and awesome name-- he is holy. The King is mighty, he loves justice-- you have established equity; in Jacob you have done what is just and right. Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy. Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel was among those who called on his name; they called on the LORD and he answered them. He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud; they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them.  LORD our God, you answered them; you were to Israel a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds.  Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy.

Irrespective of who you think you are, in your own eyes or the eyes of mere men and women like you,  know this; "The LORD reigns........He is exalted over all the nations" When God says all, then it is all and not some! More shaking is coming along the way. The more stubborn and rebellious you are, the more will be the shaking. It's time to turn to the LORD and admit your sin before it's too late!

Stand up and Say to Them Whatever I Command You

Jeremiah 1:17-19
"Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land--against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.

The only type of leadership that is recorded in the Bible to be oppressive using God's name in the Old Testament was during Saul's evil kingship. He was bold in using God's name to oppress everyone including young David. Saul as a king threatened others and was revengeful. He was visibly greedy for power and accepted no rivalry. He was jealous and threw his weight around instilling fear in others. He accepted no challenge to his throne, even if it was God who was doing it. Finally, he dared to challenge God openly. Samuel warned him of the consequences of challenging God but he refused to listen. He was stubborn and rebellious towards God. He was disobedient to God's commandment. He wanted his way instead. These are the kind of leadership that will lead to God's punishment coming on God's people eventually. In fact, after what Saul had shown with his oppressive behaviour, many other kings too followed and did the same. Saul was a bad example of leadership. The one sinful nature that stood out from him was greed for more. He wasn't easily satisfied. It is this type of kings and rulers that Jeremiah the prophet of God was sent to rebuke. There were other prophets of God who did the same too. Jeremiah had to  be made ready for this task first. He was. He rebuked. He showed forth God's power to them whenever they needed it. So were the other prophets. They were faithful in speaking up even when they were opposed, threatened and attacked. They weren't afraid. They were more afraid if they failed to speak up God's timely message to those intended. They stood strong as a pillar,wall and a fortified city. They were ready even if they were attacked. God was with these prophets just like Jeremiah here. Saul used all his officials including the priests to carry out his evil plans. He was warned repeatedly by God through His prophets especially Samuel but he took no heed. He showed no fear of God. One fine day, he paid the price for his arrogance and stubbornness. It came like an arrow from God and he was struck down.

1 Samuel 15:17-24
Samuel said, "Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel. And he sent you on a mission, saying, 'Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.' Why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD?" "But I did obey the LORD," Saul said. "I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king.  The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal."  But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.  For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king."  Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned. I violated the LORD's command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them.

Imagine what a sickening king he was. He was more afraid of offending his men than offending God. I think he deserved what he got from the LORD for that. We have many foolish men like this today. They are more afraid of offending men around them who pay their salaries than they are towards the God of heaven and earth who had chosen them for the job. They forget who chose them for the job and start doing things their own way. They get into trouble with God later. It's the arrogance in them that brings about their downfall in the end. They think that no one need to rebuke them including God because they know everything now. They don't, for only God knows everything! You and I do not even know what will happen tomorrow but He does. So, stop being stubborn, arrogant and rebellious. Your leadership has been rejected by God. You have failed Him. You only cared about yourself and your family. You did not care about doing God's will on Earth. You are selfish and you have never learnt your lesson.

1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If you love the world, love for the Father is not in you. For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful people, the lust of their eyes and their boasting about what they have and do--comes not from the Father but from the world.  The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.