The Lord Bless you and keep you.
Mercy of God
Victory of the Cross
The Concept of Perfection
Before reading this article, pause and think of the following: What is your opinion of the word “perfect”? Do you consider yourself perfect or are you perfect? Perfection in this article is different from the concept of “holiness” or “sanctification”.
When Jesus said, “Be ye perfect as your heavenly father is perfect [Matt. 5:48], what did He mean? If Jesus said we should be perfect before we can see God, what are the modalities for achieving this perfection? When God told Abraham to walk before Him and be perfect [Gen. 17:1] is it the same perfection Christ meant in His sermon on the mount? In other words, how do we compare the New Testament concept of perfection with that of the Old Testament, where for example, some kings such as David, Hezekiah and Jehoshaphat were said to have walked with God with a perfect heart. Or even those prophets who many consider “holy” and walked closely with God in their days such as Enoch, Elijah, Elisha and John the Baptist, who by comparison should also have the term “perfect” prefixed to their names, does it mean that these men were sinless? No! Because we read, for example, that Elijah was afraid of Jezebel and Ahab and went into hiding [1 King 19:1-4].
The concept of “perfection” has to mean more than “sinlessness” becasue neither New Testament nor Old Testament saints qualify to be termed “perfect” on this merit. New Testament saints merit their perfection by the “grace of Jesus Christ” not because we are physiologically different from those of the Old Testament. Before Christ came, Old Testament saints had to earn their “perfection” by their obedience to God’s word through the Law and the prophets. God pointed His searchlight into their hearts and saw how much their hearts yearned towards Him [Psalm 42:1-2]. He does the same for New Testament saints but now looks through the prism of the blood of Jesus at man’s heart [1 Cor. 6:11]. So those who were termed “perfect” in the Old Testament really exemplified themselves above the mortals of their time. They walked closely with God (although missing some few steps here and there), lived holy lives and obeyed His word. For example, David claimed his ways was “perfect before God”, and that stands in Scripture. However, we know he was an adulterer and murderer, a weakling at his son’s rebellion, a failure at disciplining his sons, etc, etc. Therefore “perfection” has to mean something other than sinlessness.
How then is perfection better defined and how is our perfection as New Testament saints superior to theirs? Old Testament had enough marks to pass on God’s scale of perfection but their perfection still was short of New Testament standards which is Christ. Our “perfection” is better than theirs because our perfection is Christ’s perfection IMPUTED to us. How do we receive this perfection? First by accepting Christ. It is through the blood of Christ that God now looks at our hearts giving us advantage over persons of the Old. Our perfection becomes reality when we are touched by His Spirit and desire His spotless nature so we can dwell continually in His presence in a clean state. Remember nothing unclean can dwell or be allowed into heaven.
How did the Old Testament saints earn their perfection? By their closeness to God. In Isaiah 6:1-8, where Isaiah entered into heaven bodily in an open vision, a coal of fire was used to touch the prophet’s unclean tongue which transformed him. This allowed him to stay in God’s presence and affirmed his call into the ministry as a prophet. We have the advantage of having Christ’s righteousness imputed to us but we still have to continue to yearn to be close to God so we do not fall out of grace. The type of touch Isaiah expereienced is what believers should yearn for so that we can experience the glories of heaven here on earth while we are still mortal.
Enoch and Elijah did not allow the flesh to rule them, neither should we as New Testament believers. They were men full of the Spirit and power of God throughout their stay here on earth. In our effort at pleasing God, if we fall short in our perfection momentarily, through falling into sin for example, God sees the perfection of Christ and restores us to fellowship with Him again as we repent of our sins. However, please note that frequent wilful fall into sin and untoward repentance to God by a believer is toying witht the grace of Christ and we cannot continue in sin while at the same time calling on the grace of God to abound [Rom. 6:1]. Rather such believers should heed to the command of Christ, “go and sin no more” [John 5:14; 8:11]. The following Scriptures points out the big advantage we have in this dispensation of grace.
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world [1 John 2:1-2].
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world [1 John 4:17].
In summary, having understood what perfection in the New Testament means with the proviso that we should stay clear of wilful sins, we see that it is the grace of Christ that distiguishes our perfection from the Old Testament saints since they too had to contend with the power of sin. However, from 1 John 2:2, it appears they too were covered in retrospect by the death of Christ for their sins. Hence the bible reckoning them as “perfect” is because Christ died for the sins of all mankind. Enjoy the grace that is in Jesus Christ and God will accept you as perfect before Him.
Prayer Points
1. Lord, purify my heart with your word.
2. Lord, saturate me with your spirit and your power in Jesus’ name.
God’s Promises
GOD’S PROMISES AND PROMISES AND PROMISES AND…, AND BLESSINGS
FAITH CONFESSION:
“And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed” [Joel 2:25-26].
“I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together: That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it” [Isaiah. 41:18-20]
Have you made a promise and failed in the past to keep your promise to someone? Some people make promises and try to keep their word. It is a good virtue and you should improve on keeping your promises. However, if you have promised someone in the past and failed the person, maybe a loved one, do not give up trying to be noted as one who is good at fulfilling promises to others. When someone consistently faults in keeping promises, people call him a liar. Human frailty makes us to fault in keeping promises but if you are a person of your words people will consistently believe you [Psalm 15]. So keep trying to keep your promises. [Read more…] about God’s Promises
Sweet Sleep
Sweet Sleep: By Esther Agbi
I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me. Psalm 3:5 [New living Translation]
There are many things we usually take for granted. One of them is the ability to sleep and wake up. The Psalmist has made us to understand that it is not by any effort of ours that we go to bed and we are up the next morning. It is by the mercies of the Almighty God. Having a place to rest our heads is one thing, then, falling asleep is another. There are some people who do not have homes or houses they go to at the end of the day. It is a pitiable condition to be in. That shall not be our portion in Jesus’ name. [Read more…] about Sweet Sleep
Wisdom Fountain 04/11/2010
Knowing God Profits: By Esther Agbi
Because he has set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he has known my name. Psalm 91:14 [KJV]
The more time you spend with someone, the better assessment one has about that person. First impression is not always the right one. Most people try hard to give a good and lasting impression the first time because human beings are not usually very patient to study one before they criticize. You could imagine someone going for a job interview, getting well dressed and just a few feet away from the venue, he is splashed with muddy water. Time is of essence. If he decides to go home and change his clothing, he might be late. On the other hand, if he decides to appear before the panel, looking untidy as a result of the incident, he will not give a good impression. He may not be an untidy person, but an unfortunate situation has made him to present himself in that manner. [Read more…] about Wisdom Fountain 04/11/2010
Living Bread Nuggets & Repentance Prayer
DENY YOURSELF WITH A RENDED HEART WITH FASTING
LIVING BREAD NUGGETS 0110/2010 [Joel 2 v12-14, KJV]
12Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
13And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
14Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?
Do you want God to listen to you? Or are you afraid of an impending judgment from God? Deny yourself of the pleasures and luxuries of life for a season. If you are a beginner, give up a meal or two and ask God to remold you spiritually. Come before him with an attitude of repentance. The bible says a broken and contrite heart God will not despise [Psalm 34:18; Psalm 51:17]. This was the confidence of David that God would hear his prayers when he was repenting of the sin of Uriah the Hittite. And Job when he experienced the power and was bathed in the glory of God said, “I abhor myself and repent in sackcloth and ashes” [Job 42:5-6]. As you pray for yourself, you can also intercede for others to experience the mercy of God – you family and loved ones, the people of God, the land and your nation.
PRAYER OF FAITH & REPENTANCE
Lord, I rend my heart and turn to you with a heart of repentance asking for mercy. Lord accept the fasting of your people as a righteous oblation as the multitude in the land turns to you in repentance in Jesus Name. Lord, let your servants who minister to the people be filled with zeal to lead the people to seek the Lord in Jesus Name. Sin shall not rule over the Land and cause your people to be second class citizens in Jesus Name. The heathen shall know you through the revival you will sweep across the land in Jesus Name. Amen.