#Covid_19 Epidemic: It is the Finger of God

Can anyone give a better account of the Coronavirus? If he can, let him speak out like a man, and tell us who caused it and why it has come now. To say that it originated in China; or it is lab-generated; or that it is not a new but a strain of an old virus known us corona; or to go into a diatribe of its damage and to give accurate daily death tolls globally or to venture into scientific projections of infections or deaths; — all this is evading the question. I repeat the question, who caused it? What possible causes can be assigned for it that have not existed for hundreds of years? I believe these question cannot be answered by an atheist. For atheists deny the existence of the one who designed them, how can they possibly think that there is one who sovereignly rules his universe? It is beyond their mental capacity. 
Who has afflicted the world like this? Is it A. Man B. Satan C. God? 
If you say man you assign man a hat too big for him. If you say Satan, you expose the underbelly of your theology. For Satan to do anything, he has to be permitted or allowed by God. Satan is God's unwilling servant. He could not touch Job unless after God let him. The answer is C - it is God who has afflicted us. God in his sovereignty, is the only with the power to afflict the globe like this. Just as the Lord sent a global flood in the days of Noah, so only God can send global epidemic like Covid_19 in 2020.

 

WHY? I ask to be told why it has come upon us now? How and in what way can the outbreak be accounted for at this particular period? The reason is in Genesis 3 – it is one of the effects of the curse upon Adam & Eve and their posterity. Adam’s sin brought God’s curse to us. It brought pests and diseases; thorns and thistles; enmity and hatred; battles and wars; and it brought physical and spiritual death. Human sin is the reason for Covid_19 outbreak.

I believe that the only cause that we must come to as last is, the finger of God! It is God's just retribution for the sins of men. But... you say, God is loving and merciful. Yes indeed - God is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. God keeps steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. That is one side of the coin of God's attributes. The other side is also true. God is also holy, just and righteous and he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children, and the children’s children to the third and fourth generation (Ex. 34:6-7) of those who hate him. God hates idolatry of our day. God detests sexual perversion – homosexuality and gender fluidity of our day. God has nothing to do with the LGBTQ agenda. God abhors murderers – millions of babies are killed by their mothers in collusion with wicked doctors every day in the name of choice. God’s prerogative to punish the evil doer is justified and while I cannot say with absolute certainty that Coronavirus has been sent by God because of all these unrighteousness of men, yet I am sure that the wages of sin is death. Since God will send to hell those who remain in sin and unbelief, it is only fair to say that God has given up the earth to be mauled by a tiny virus. And Covid_19 is nothing compared to hell for unbelievers and hypocrites.

You may argue that I am overemphasizing the holiness and justice of God. Well, I am not.  But let me emphasize the love of God. How has God displayed his love and his mercy and grace to the world? John 3:16. He loved the world and sent his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  He came to save his people from their sins (Matt. 1:21). He lived a perfectly sinless life and obtained righteousness. Christ took the place of sinners and died the sinners' death on the cross to pay the penalty due for our sins. Christ is the only remedy for sins of men. So... yes, God is merciful and he has provided the way of escape from the present corruption and debauchery in the world. He has sent his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. 
How do you appropriate this blessing of Christ? Believe in Jesus Christ and you will be saved (Acts 16:31). Repent of your sins and call for his mercy (Luke 18:13). And having believed in Him for your eternal salvation, even if you were to contract the virus today, it is not death to die, for Christ killed death for all who are in Him. I do not believe that being in Christ insures us from contracting the virus or any other disease for that matter. Those who teach that Christ came into the world that we may be healthy and wealthy are greatly mistaken. Some faithful God’s children have already contracted and others will contract the virus. But we know that for those who love God, all things (joy & sorrow; good health & sickness; poverty & riches, etc.) work together for their good (Rom. 8:28).

Though Corona virus may not kill you but sin will most certainly kill your body and cast your soul to hell apart from Christ. Corona can only kill the body - not the soul. Oh, that the world would fear sin more than the virus and love Christ more than any vaccine or medicine! Oh that the Great Physician, the Lord Jesus Christ, may be all the more loved by the world of sinful men out of this epidemic! I desire that praises may ring all over the world from this present distress.

Let God’s children call for help from on high. The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials. He will not punish the righteous with the wicked (Gen. 18:25-26) and so, soon Coronavirus will be averted and the Finger of God will be withdrawn from the world, but soon a greater calamity will be revealed will Christ will judge the world with equity, justice and righteousness... and where will you be? The storm will soon be over, but the world will have been shaken by the Almighty God. 

May his name be praised for ever!

A Godly Response to Coronavirus Pandemic - Part 3

What should we be thinking about at this time of global pandemic? Should you spend all the time checking the new figures or the high rate of infection? How do you invest your mind? What do you think and meditate on? GOD! 

We should think, and meditate on God – his sovereignty, his goodness and his grace, his love and mercy, his holiness and justice …all his attributes, communicable and incommunicable. Let us seek the Lord today. Let us know that God reigns and superintends over all the affairs of his creatures.

Anyone who thought that God after creation took leave of his creation is mistaken. He is at work and, believe it or not, God has brought the Covid_19 upon the world! Listen to what God says through his prophet, Isaiah:

I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things. (Isa 45:5-7)

Here is the last consideration on a godly response to this global pandemic:

REMEMBER THAT GOD IS OUR PORTION FOREVER

The Psalmist in Psalm 73:26 simply states, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

The verse that we have been meditating on, is both grim (for it actually envisages death, when Asaph says, “My flesh and my heart may fail…”) and also full of life and hope. The conviction arrived at is that even in that last and bitterest extremity ‘God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.’ Therefore God remains and should remain the best and the greatest treasure that death cannot rob us of, and even in the very experience of dying, God supports his own and is more than ever their best possession. A fullness of faith and conviction speaks in these utterances that scarcely ever mounts to higher levels in the whole of the Old Testament.[1]

So what does it mean that God is my portion? Using the Principle of interpretation of Scripture called Analogy of Scripture (or simply put, scripture interprets scripture), we look at other passages of Scripture that use this language:

David in Psalm 16:5 – The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.

Psalm 119: 57 – The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep your words.

Psalm 142:5 – I cry to you, O LORD; I say, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living."

Jeremiah, engulfed by trouble in Lamentation simply says in 3:24, "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him."

Portion could also be rendered inheritance – that which lawfully falls to one’s share at is used in Psalm 16:5 and Psalm 17:14. And so W.S. Plumer – whose commentary is regarded as the loftiest in Christendom, says of this verse, “A child of God though he suffer long and severely, fares well; for he has God for his portion. It is far otherwise with the wicked.”[2]

 In this term, Asaph is saying that whatever the Lord has sent his way is His will, but he is comforted by the fact that the Lord will always be his. God will not forsake him, and therefore in all circumstances, especially of trouble, he looks to God and He waits upon God both to deliver him and to take him where He is. Hengstenberg commenting on this verse says, “It is clear as day that this passage contains the germ of the doctrine of the resurrection.”[3]

Spurgeon on the other hand commenting on it says,

“His God would not fail him, either as a protection or a joy. His heart would be kept up by divine love, and filled eternally with divine joy. After having been driven far out to sea, Asaph casts anchor in the old port. We shall do well to follow his example. There is nothing desirable save God: let us, then, desire only him. All other things must pass away; let our hearts abide in him, who alone abideth for ever.”[4]

1)      Pursue Godliness by making good use of the times and the means

God is our portion forever. His presence is our portion even in the valley of the shadow of death is enough. For God is not only my shield to defend and protect me from those enemies of my body and soul but He is also my portion to supply all my needs. His love, his grace, his mercy and his peace shall always be enough and sufficient and more than sufficient.

Because God is our portion, his word is our portion as well. This is what we sing in the song Amazing grace – The Lord has promised good to me, His Word my hope secures, He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures. Therefore, let us read, and study the Scriptures, daily and regularly. Let us meditate on his Word day and night. Let us resolve, that since we are either locked in, or under compulsory quarantine, we shall spend much of our time in the Word of God, personally and with our families. If you need materials to use in instructing your children in the things of God, then contact us. We have many resources that can enrich your soul. Just call us on +728431067 or email Murungi@trinity.or.ke

His people, the church is our portion as well. The Lord God, in his sovereignty and wisdom, has used it to straighten our ecclessiology: The lockdown effectively demonstrates that church is not about buildings - it is about being united with Christ and his body (the church), not just when we assemble, but always, wherever we are! Therefore, let us deliberately seek to build close ties with our spiritual family – the church, after all we are members, one of another. We should call them and chat with them more regularly. Pastors need to be deliberate in providing spiritual nourishment to the church members so that even though for a while we part, this thought will soothe our hearts, that we shall soon be joined together either here on earth or in heaven, with the Lord. Make use of the WhatsApp (and other social media) to connect with the brethren. Yet we must not be so sucked into the social media as to neglect other vital disciplines.

The time he has given us to live is our portion. The present distress is a divinely instituted decree – it is our portion. We shall not take one and reject the other – we shall not receive good from the Lord and not evil. Now we are to learn to make good use of the providence he has given us. Now that you have to be at home, then be at home and use the time for the profit of your soul.
I know some men are complaining about the curfew, hindering them from going to the pub and catching up with friends. But I ask you, when did catching up with your drinking buddies become more important than your wife and children? Spend the time with children. Be the headmaster or the principal of your children's education.

You had thought or said that you do not pray so much because you lack time. Pray using the weekly Prayer List and the monthly Prayer Diary. Pray for your relatives who are unbelievers and neighbours as well. You had claimed that you lagged behind because of the lack of time read the Bible – now you have the time – read it.

Again you have your relatives – they are your portion. Call your parents and your sisters and brothers and give them God’s portion and calm them for most people are in panic. Seek to intentionally build closer ties with people that you were hindered by your busy schedule from being of ministry to them.

IN CONCLUSION

In every storm you would seek a tree to shelter; in every danger, you would seek a city of refuge to secure you; and in every difficulty you would be wise to look for a solution; in every darkness you would want to have a light to guide you; and in every peril, you need a shield to defend you; and in every distress, a cordial to strengthen you; and in every trouble, a staff to support you; in every sickness, you would seek a doctor to treat you – why would you not seek the Lord Jesus Christ while He may be found? Is he not the Great Physician to the sick, the Good Shepherd for the flock, the Bread of life to the hungry, the resurrection and the life to the dying? Why would you delay and postpone coming to the only hope for your soul? Turn to Christ and live!

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[1] H.C. Leupold, D.D. The Exposition of the Psalms, Columbus, OH, Baker Book House, P.531

[2] W.S. Plumer, Psalms, Banner of Truth, Edinburgh, p.715

[3] The Works of Hengstenberg, Vol 6 The Psalms, p. 414

[4] C.H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, vol.2. Hendricksen p.

A Godly Response to Covid_19 Pandemic - Part 1

This is the first of three messages on how to respond in a godly way to the global outbreak of Coronavirus.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psa 73:26)

How do we respond to a global pandemic as believers?

1.     REMEMBER THAT OUR FLESH AND OUR HEART MAY FAIL

Since the fall of man into sin in Genesis 3, we are susceptible to all the effects of curse because of sin – thorns and thistles, pests and diseases, sicknesses and ailments; Immuno-deficiency and cancer; SARS or whatever causes Covid_19. All these may not only infect me and you, these diseases including the current pandemic may kill, yes could kill me and you. Therefore, we need to know this – our flesh and our heart may fail. The flesh may collapse and die. The heart may stop pumping blood. But this phrase, flesh and heart encompasses the whole being – the body and soul. Human frailty is being demonstrated by the tiny virus. Brevity of life is constantly shown whenever we hear of deaths of one kind or another. By 25^th March Italy had lost almost 7,000 persons to Coronaviruses complications and there was about 500,000 people infected globally.

1)      Do not Panic or Fear the Pandemic

Let us first appreciate that it is normal to fear… even to fear death because death is our enemy. But it is wrong to fear what is not to be feared. God constantly warns his people not to live in fear of anything or anyone other than himself. It is God himself who is to be feared – not death. And yes… I have no fear of contradiction in saying that God has sent Coronavirus pandemic so that he may be feared. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 9:10). At almost every place where God says do not fear, he also promises to be with us. I will take one such example. The Lord told Isaiah,

"Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honour as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.  (Isa 8:12-13)

How do we fear the Lord? We are to fear the Lord by calling upon him when he is near. The way to stop fear is to believe God. The Lord Jesus Christ taught – “Do not fear only believe” (Mark 5:36; Luke 8:50). Faith in God is the antidote to fear, and only those who are in Christ are immune to this servile fear.

Secondly, let us not panic... it is one thing to fear, it is another to be gripped by fear to the extent that you panic. Right now the world is hysterical because people are afraid of contracting the disease, lest they die. It is seems to me that the media is basically sending the whole world into panic mode. The mainstream media and social media are contributing to the panic mode that we are dealing with right now. To panic is to allow the pandemic to paralyze you so that you are unable to do what you ought to be doing. There is no need to panic because you may not contract it... and even if you do you are unlikely to die. And if you were to die, you would never die again - there is only one death per person. In any case you will not die a day early or a day later than when God has appointed for you! Therefore do not panic - God is on the throne.

2)      Death is bound to come at one time or another

The Psalmist says as a matter of fact – my flesh and my heart may fail – “I am frail.” He is not fretting, he is not afraid of his physical circumstances. He simply acknowledges the fact that these eventualities may befall him. What if you contracted this sickness? What if you died? Let us remember that it is appointed for man to die – just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned (Rom. 5:12). And again, just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment (Heb. 9:27)

Therefore, death of one cause or another will come, it is not a matter of if but of when. Sometime in the near future or sometime in the far future, death will come upon us. We may be fearful or be afraid – but that will not stop death from coming. The sure way to be prepared for death is to be found in Christ who conquered death. It is Christ to whom we should go who alone is the way the truth and the life. It is to Christ alone we should go, in whom alone immortality dwells. It is to Christ alone we should turn for this life and for the one to come.

This problem affects everyone and this is pandemic is not the only one that has ever struck the globe. Let us realize that whether we like it or not, we are in a pandemic-stricken earth. This is a fact. People are infected and those infected are infecting others usually unawares and sometimes out of negligence. Thousands upon thousands are sick and others are dying. Not long from now many more will be infected and it is possible that it will be in the Millions very soon.  It is written,

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond what your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it (1 Cor. 10:13)

It is possible that some of us will be infected and die. The Lord says do not fear for I am with you. God says that we are not to be dismayed because the Lord will give us aid. He will strengthen us and cause us to stand, upheld by his righteous omnipotent hand.

It is not possible for non-believers not to fear or panic. They are on their own. They are not saved by Christ, nor are they indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God. They do not have the promises of God. They are bound to not only fear but to panic. You who is not saved from your sins; you who have not believed in the Lord Jesus Christ – you need to fear, now than ever before. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth (Rom. 1:18). The Lord will deal with the world of ungodliness as he dealt with those who lived in the days of Noah. Therefore, fear the Lord and believe in his Son and live. This is the sure way to be delivered from fear. It is the only way in which you will receive a new heart, a heart that cannot fail at any cost.

If your flesh and heart fails today. If all your support gave way today. If you contracted a terminal illness today. If Coronavirus was to come upon you today – where would you turn? Would you turn to self-pity and die? Would you weep your eyes sore in self-pity… and what could that accomplish for you? – Nothing! If you called all the people you know, and used all the money you have – would that help you? Unless you turned to the Giver of life, the healer of souls and heart, the Lord Jesus Christ, there would be no eternal hope for you. If you died in unbelief and rebellion, God will certainly send you to hell. If you die without Christ, there will be hell for you.

TURN TO Christ and live!

This was initially a message preached at Trinity Baptist Church on the 22nd March 2020.
Here is the link

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[1] 1689 LBCF, Chapter 22.1,

Trials to Maturity

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

What would hinder you from serving the Lord as considered in the verse 1? Trials! As soon as tough times come our way, the automatic response is, 'WHY?' Why do you face trials? 

Undoubtedly we all are enduring some trials – you may be feeling very frustrated with your husband or perhaps you are very annoyed with your children. Or it could be that you are going through a season of serious financial challenges with unending demand for more. Or you are emotionally drained, lonely and depressed – you would like to be married but no one is coming your way. It could be that your friend has betrayed you.  It may be that you’ve been jobless for long; or it might be you just lost your job or that your contract is about to come to an end. It may be you are battling a chronic illness, or you can’t have more children. It could be that you are dealing with what may look like unsolvable problem. This passage calls all these, trials of various kinds.

These and many other trials is what James is talking about when he writes of trials of various kinds. ‘Various kinds of trials’ means that they are ‘many-coloured, variegated… diversified, complex, intricate’, to describe. That is, ‘any and every kind’[1]. Trials are sent by God in order to make a person stand. However the word used here carries both that positive meaning but it can also be translated ‘temptations’ – those trials that are sent by Satan to make a person fall. For this sermon we will use the positive sense but James employs the same Word in verses 12, 13 which is translated temptation. Faced with all sort of trials, the question that seem to fill your mind is, “WHY GOD?” In these three verses, the Lord God, our loving heavenly Father provides us with the answer.

 How are we to respond to trials?

Before James answers the WHY question, he addresses the HOW to face to trials question. It is noteworthy that this is where he begins with, for our problem is not that we lack the answers to the WHY question. Our great need is not lack of knowledge, our need is right response.

Our greatest need is HOW we are respond. It is of primary importance that we respond Biblically and not simply emotionally. We more often than not simply respond as per the dictates of emotion – yet the two, emotion and Biblical objectivity are not mutually exclusive. Because the Biblical response here is both emotional and objective!

a)      Respond with joy

When trials of any and every kind come, and they shall come, you should count it all joy. ‘Count’ refers to the importance which we give something - it is a well worked calculation. It is to consider and render a careful rational judgment. The significance and rational judgment of all kinds of trials by biblical standards is joy. A few examples here of how the Apostles of the Lord uses this word ‘count’ in comparing the significance of one thing to another – Peter encourages us to count the seeming delay of Christ’s return as the Lord’s patience that leads to salvation (2 Peter 3:15). Paul counts everything as loss in comparison to the excellence of knowing Christ (Phil. 3:7-8). In the same breath, you should appraise any and every loss, any and every pain, any and every frustration, any and every calamity, any and every pressure, any and every distress as pure joy! In other words, do not waste any trial, any cancer, any sleepless night, any frustration. This is what our Master did – who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross (Heb. 12:2).

All is joy is pure joy. James is emphasizing that Christians must consider their trials as wholly, completely, entirely and utterly joyful… it should not have even a drop of sadness mixed in their libation of joy.[2] It is not to say that you just smile or employ worldly, temporal happiness, or administer the so called ‘holy laughter’ or other religiously coated worldly methods. On the other hand James is not calling us to seek and pray for trials as a means for our joy. Neither is James encouraging us to celebrate in our trials – something like what Kent Hughes describes:

James was not commending that we exult upon hearing that our career position has been given to our secretary, or that the neighbour’s children have leukemia, or that one’s spouse has become adulterous.[3]

Instead, James is calling us to a spiritual, enduring and complete joy in the Lord who is sovereign over all things. It is to trust His Word that He is working out all things for good (Rom. 8:28) including all types of trials. This means you look at the trials in light of their eternal value for your life and that of someone else. We are to consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the eternal weight of glory that will be revealed in us (Rom. 8:18). We can only have joy in the midst of pain and loss when we know that God has not only ordained it but is in it! Yes, Mr. Selvaggio is right when says,

The tears of our trials are part of the divine ink God uses to write the glorious redemptive story of our lives. Our trials are evidence that He is working on us in His heavenly workshop.[4]

Is this the way we respond when different types of trials come? I think, because we expect pleasant experiences only in life, we fail to appraise the experiences with the correct dose of joy. But we must never forget the wise counsel of John Calvin,

We certainly dread diseases, and want, and exile, and prison, and reproach, and death, because we regard them as evils; but when we understand that they are turned through God’s kindness unto helps and aids to our salvation, it is ingratitude to murmur, and not willingly to submit to be thus paternally dealt with.[5]

Clearly, our gracious and loving heavenly Father is using our temporal earthly trials to make us meet for our heavenly home and so we rejoice with joy inexpressible! Yes, we rejoice and are glad even in the midst of severe persecution because we have an assurance from our Lord and Saviour that "great is our reward in heaven!" (Matt. 5:11-12). This is what the disciples did in Acts 5:21: Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. May the Lord help us so that like Paul we may say, ”In all our affliction, we may be overflowing with joy”. (2Co 7:4)

b)     Respond with patience

This will be considered later under chapter 5:7-11 but it is the second way in which we are to respond to trials. For now, I pray that trials will teach you more patience, and more patience as you wait a few more years for this passage to be considered!

Why do you face trials?

a)      To test your faith

The first reason why God sends us a package of trials constantly is to test our faith! Remember that as far as our spiritual lives are concerned, there is nothing more important than our FAITH. God has to keep on keeping it on check through trials.  And so James in this letter is very concerned that we may have a real, genuine, living faith. As much as testing is necessary to establish the quality of gold that perishes, so is the testing of our faith which is far more precious than gold so that this faith may be found to result in praise and glory of honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Pet. 1:7). Simply put, James is saying here that God will neither reduce nor remove the testing of your faith because He is interested in a glorious, praiseworthy and honourable faith – our faith must be proved genuine!

You have seen Christians who have gone through terrible times in their lives. Some have as a result of these trials ended up rejecting God and so shipwrecking their faith. Others have successfully waded through trials, and have endured to emerge even stronger Christians. The trials of Daniel left him a better servant of God and of men in three different governments. The trials of his three friends made the seeming power of idolatry nothing. The trials of Nehemiah left Jerusalem a better city. What legacy will your trials leave behind? 

Trials are a very effective means of testing our faith. When under trial our faith is somewhat shaped – so that our experiences confirm what God has said about Himself and His creation including ourselves in His Word. This is what Alec Motyer says,

“When circumstances seem to mock our creed, when the cruelty of life denies His Fatherliness, His silence calls in question His almightiness and the sheer, haphazard, meaningless jumble of events challenges the possibility of a Creator’s ordering hard. It is in this way that life’s trials test our faith for genuineness.”

b)      To cultivate your steadfastness

… the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. Steadfastness is the same as endurance, fortitude or perseverance. The picture here is of a person successfully carrying a heavy load for a long time.[6] This is the intended fruit of trials. It is the very quality expected by God when He sends adversity our way.

 As one drinks from the cup of trials and eats the bread of adversity, growth is to be seen through the continued persistence and continuance in the faith. The progress in faith in the midst of calamity is a mark of tested faith and an improving faith. Faith that gives up on the way is no faith at all. The marathon of a believer running through His Christian life is the indication that there lives a faith, a genuine faith. So we are to run with perseverance the race that is marked out for us.

Imagine a pastor whose wife goes crazy. Surely, this is a terrible burden to bear for them both. The faithfulness of the pastor to care for his wife and to keep on doing it for as long as they are both alive is the mark of steadfastness. If the man gets tired on the last month of her life, and marries another woman to be his wife, he has fallen into sin and this disqualify him from the ministry!

Trials have a way of revealing what we are really made of. Are we vessels of honour or of dishonour? Trials will shortly reveal. They show us how weak or strong we are as we carry on. Trials show if our zeal is sloth after all. Trials reveal if our wisdom was only a wrapping over folly. How true that, “Innocence is best tried by iniquity” (Tertullian). You have to melt the rocks if you want the metal…the hard experiences actually stimulate a deeper commitment and a growing personal holiness. Perseverance is that willingness to keep running the race that is generated in the course of the race at precisely the moment when the muscles are hurting and the lungs are bursting.[7]

But as we carry on under the burden of trials in faithfulness, the richness of the grace of God in keeping and guarding the elect through faith is displayed. There is no doubt that the more weight of trials we have, the more we are trained to pray and to keep our focus on the Lord. This is how trials force us to depend on the Lord for grace, strength and wisdom in the midst of trials which is for our eternal good.

c)      To ripen our spiritual maturity

And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (v.4). Perseverance is not the final goal of our trials but it is the bucket of milking more benefits from the trials. Clearly the benefits of trials can only come to the believers who respond appropriately to them. Steadfastness has to have its full effect, that is, it has to do all its intended work first. In other words, steadfastness has to perfect its work so that you become perfected or matured which is the ultimate goal of the trials. This is how Moo puts it,

“When endurance is allowed to run its course and attain its goal, believers will be mature and complete, not lacking anything… the word “complete” suggests the idea of wholeness of Christian character that lacks nothing in the panoply of virtues that define Godly character. This concern for spiritual integrity and wholeness lies at the heart of James’s concern, and he will come back to the matter again and again.”[8]

A mature, ripe Christian is one who, having gone through the diverse trials of life is proved to be meet for glory. Blanchard is right when he asserts that,

God’s desire for the Christian is not that he should stagger through life in a series of spiritual fits and starts, flashing out with the odd bright spot here and there and then sinking back into dullness and defeat. God’s desire for the Christian is nothing less than that expressed by Jesus: ‘Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect’ (Matt. 5:48)[9].

 This means that our love for God is growing steadily as our faculties are constantly being tuned to conform to His holy will so that we love Him with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength and we love the neighbours He brings our way as ourselves. But even more important, is that we be conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29)

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[1] A. Motyer, BST The Message of James, (Leicester England, IVP, 1985), pp.29-30

[2] A. Selvaggio, The 24/7 Christian,  (Darlington, Eng: EP, 2008), p.41

[3] R.K. Hughes, James:Faith that Works (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 1991), p.18

[4] A. Selvaggio, The 24/7 Christian,  (Darlington, Eng: EP, 2008), p.42

[5] J. Calvin, Calvin’s Commentaries, vol. 22 (Grand Rapids, MI:Baker Books, 1989). Pp.279-280

[6] D. Moo, The Letter of James, (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2000), p.55

[7] G. Keddie, The Practical Christian, (Darlington, Eng: EP, 1989), pp.28-29

[8] D. Moo, The Letter of James, (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2000), p.56

[9] J. Blanchard, Truth For Life, (Darlington, Eng: EP, 1986), pp.24

Who is the Holy Spirit?

The subject of the Holy Spirit is a very emotional and divisive one in today’s church.  This is because it concerns the experience that people have.  However, our claims must always be tested by the teaching of the Bible (1 Thessalonians 5:21, 1 John 4:1).  This does not quench the Spirit because it is what the Spirit has commanded in the Word!  We have been warned to expect there will always be false prophets (Matthew 7:15, 24:24, 2 Peter 2:1, 1 John 4:1) who do not teach according to what is written in the Bible. Do not believe everything you hear. I want to point out three different important things concerning the Holy Spirit and us.

1. THE HOLY SPIRIT IN CONVERSION

(1) Without the powerful work of the Holy Spirit no one would become a Christian.  The Holy Spirit does the following:

·        Convicting the world (John 16:8);

·        Preaching comes with conviction of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:4, 1 Thessalonians 1:5);

·        Gives new birth – that is: washing and regeneration of the sinner (Titus 3:5, remember John 3:1-8); and

·        Makes believers holy (= being set apart, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Peter 1:2). Remember He is ‘Holy Spirit’ to make believers holy!

(2) The Holy Spirit comes to permanently indwell every Christian (John 14:17, Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 6:19, 2 Timothy 1:14).  Christ came to save us from our sins so that we might receive the Spirit as the central gift of the new covenant (read Ezekiel 36:26-27, John 7:39, Acts 2:33, 2 Corinthians 3:8, Galatians 3:14). God graciously gives the Holy Spirit – no preach can pray for you to receive the Holy Spirit. Therefore do not go forward to be prayed for so that you may receive the Holy Spirit. If you have not received the Holy Spirit then you are not a Christian. 

How can you know if the Spirit lives in you?  Speaking in tongues is not the evidence, as tongues was not a gift given to all (see 1 Corinthians 12:30).  In Romans 8:12-17 three evidences are given:

·         Every Christian kill the deeds of the body by the Spirit (vv.12-13);

·         Every Christian is led by the Spirit in this way of fighting against sin (vv.14-15); and

·         Every Christian experiences the Spirit witnesses with his spirit that he is a child of God (vv.16-17).

(3) This personal indwelling of the Spirit in every Christian is so important as it is the assurance God gives us of final glory in heaven.  So the Spirit’s indwelling is described as seal (2 Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 1:13, 4:30), guarantee (2 Corinthians 1:22, 5:5, Ephesians 1:14), and first-fruits (Romans 8:23).  Each of these three words emphasize the spiritual security of the one who has received the Spirit.

(4) Many wrongly think that to be “baptized” with the Spirit is an experience after conversion.  Rather, to be baptized with the Spirit is a way of describing part of our conversion.  Baptism means to be dipped into something, so it is to say that the Spirit powerfully indwells the believer.  This was the experience of all the Corinthians and it united them (1 Corinthians 12:13).  When Cornelius was baptized with the Spirit it was the evidence of repentance unto life (Acts 11:18).

2. THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

(1) We are also dependent upon the powerful work of the Holy Spirit in our Christian lives.  We are to be filled by the Spirit as the One who gives us power to live our lives (Galatians 5:16,25).  Paul prays that Christians might be walk/live through the Spirit (Ephesians 3:16).  The Spirit is the Spirit of truth (John 14:17, 15:26), who teaches us spiritual things (1 Corinthians 2:13-16, Ephesians 1:17).  It is the Spirit who enables us to pray (Ephesians 2:18, 6:18, Jude 20); who gives us strength to put our sins to death (Romans 8:13); and who enables us to wait for our hope to be realized (Galatians 5:5).  But above all the Spirit is the One who enables us to produce the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). 

(2)   The Bible does not teach that we can become holy by a special experience of the Spirit, or by a special act of surrender on our part.  Rather, producing fruit is our responsibility because the Holy Spirit of God indwells us (see Philippians 2:12-13).  This sanctification, or becoming holy like Christ, is a life-long struggle against sin, which will only be complete when the Spirit gives life to our mortal bodies in the resurrection from the dead (Romans 8:11).

(3)   Some people claim they are ‘Spirit-filled’ because they have had some experience.  But to be “filled” with the Spirit is to be controlled by Him and the sort of life that is lived by such a person is described in Ephesians 5:18-33.  It has nothing to do with having certain spiritual gifts.  For example, what does verse 20 say a ‘Spirit-filled’ person will do? Give thanks always to God  What does verse 25 say a

‘Spirit-filled’ husband will do? Love his wife.

3. THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE CHURCH

(1)   All true Christians have a common experience of the Spirit indwelling. This is the basis of our unity in the church (1 Corinthians 12:13, see Ephesians 4:3).  Therefore our unity as Christians is a spiritual unity, and is expressed in the local church.

(2)   For the benefit of each member of the local church the Spirit gives gifts.  The purpose of spiritual gifts is not for the individual but for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7).  Over and over again, in the discussion of the use of the gifts prophecy and tongues, the principle of ­­­­­­­­­­­­­ building is the basis (1 Corinthians 14:3-5,12,17,26).  Who gives each Christian the gift/gifts as he wishes? The Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:11).

(3)   Lists of spiritual gifts are given in Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, and Ephesians 4:11.  We should not suppose that every gift must be present today.  For example, there are no more apostles because they are the foundation of the church (Ephesians 2:20).  No one today has the qualifications for an apostle as laid out in Acts 1:21-22, especially that of being an eye-witness of Christ’s resurrection.  And other gifts that were so closely identified with the apostles have also ceased, such as prophecy and tongues (both being revelation from God), and ability to work miracles.

(4)   If you are a Christian, you have at least one spiritual gift.  The Holy Spirit has given this to you to use in the edification of your brethren (1 Corinthians 12:5).  In what ways are you serving in the local church?  There are two types of gift, speaking and serving gifts (1 Peter 4:10-11).  Peter’s exhortation is that you do not keep it to yourself, but use it for one service.  Examine yourself to see if you are using any of the gifts you have been given.