Faith Joy & Coffee

The Word Says:
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Verse Thoughts:
As believers we have been called to personal consecration, where our lives are a reflection of Christ and our bodies a living sacrifice to the Lord. It is our spiritual worship and our reasonable service to yield our-lives, our-selves, and our-bodies to the Lord – to consecrate ourselves to Him each day.

The fallen world and sinful man is all too ready to squeeze us into its own mould and to cultivate in us a worldly mindset, where God is far removed. Our own sin nature rebels against the Spirit Who dwells within, and the Spirit lusts against our fallen fleshly desires, but Paul warns us not to be conformed to this world, but rather to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

The daily transformation process, where we are being changed from glory to glory, into the image and likeness of Christ, as we abide in Him and He in us, is a lifelong process that requires vigilance at all times. The enemy of our soul desires to shipwreck our faith and render our testimony impotent – either by stroking our ego or by causing us to become fearful. He is a deceiver and murderer and has been from the beginning, and we need to put on the armour of God, day by day, if we are to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil.

The sin nature is programmed to be conformed to the world, but the transforming work of the indwelling Holy Spirit requires the continuous and ongoing renewing of our mind, so that our thoughts are influenced by the mind of Christ, as the desire of His heart becomes our own desire and delight, and His perfect will is translated into our will.

Day by day rededication of ourselves to His service is a lifelong programme, which we need to choose consciously. Transformation does not take place overnight, but is dependent on the hidden values of the heart being translated into the active practice of our thoughts and motives. It is a freewill choice to eschew that which is evil and to honour the Lord in beautiful thoughts, beautiful words, and beautiful deeds, by choosing to do what is right and holy.

The Holy Spirit alone is that One that implements our inner transformation. He is the One that causes us to be, “transformed by the renewing of your mind.” He carries out this refining work in the inner recesses of our hearts, “so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

How important therefore to keep our focus on Jesus and to train the eyes of our hearts on heavenly things that are true and honest, just and pure, lovely and wholesome, godly and of good report. How necessary to capture every thought that casts a shadow on our mind and reject every motive that dishonours our Saviour – and allow them to be filtered through the lens of His purifying process and refining fire.

How true it is that you become like the person with whom you spend time, and whatever has captivated your heart inevitably reflects attitudes and behaviours in life, (whether good or evil), and too often it is not a pretty sight. We are warned not to habitually be immersed in the world but to set our minds on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make Him the central focus of our thoughts.

If we would just turn our spirit and soul towards the Lord Jesus, we would automatically have to turn away from the things of this world. And if each one of us set our heart, mind, will, and affection to concentrate upon Him, of necessity, we would not be conformed to the lustful leanings of the world, but our new, born-again nature would start to be supernaturally transformed into the character of Christ.

The evidence of this lovely transfiguring process is not only an outward disassociation from an ungodly world and the works of the world, the flesh, and the devil, but a life that is good, acceptable, perfect and pleasing to the Father – but note, that transformation is perfected through trials, difficulties, suffering, and sorrow.

May we turn from the things of this world in willing submission to God’s child-training programme, so that like the Lord Jesus Christ, we may live in spirit and truth, walk in the light as He is in the light and love others as He loves us – until in all things we can say, “Father, Thy Will Be Done in me.”

The Word Says:
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

Verse Thoughts:
Fear, guilt, and shame cannot coexist alongside faith, hope, and love. Fear and love are a contradiction in terms, “for there is no fear in love; because perfect love casts out fear,” A confident loving-trust in God cannot cohabit alongside destructive fear. Fear is the antithesis of love and the person who is fearful has not reached the mature love God desires in His children.

The immeasurable strength from the power-house of God’s perfect love overwhelms every negative influence of fear. In the life of a believer, fear is rendered powerless by love, “for there is no fear in love.” Love describes the character of God, for God is love, and when the love of God permeates a soul, no anxious thoughts can overwhelm the love of God within, “for the one who fears is not perfected in love” – their ability to love others has not reached the fulness of love.

The Bible tells us that if we love one another, then God remains in us, and the love of God is made complete in us. Those whose love is perfected in and through God’s love have no fear of His punishment. Christ took the punishment we deserve when He died on the cross in our stead, so that we no longer need to fear God’s wrath, because He declared us righteous at the point of our salvation. 

Love is the fruit of God’s Spirit, and the fruit of love is not fear. It is a complete and confident assurance in our Father and His Word of truth. There is no fear in love, for the perfect love of God drives out all fear. Every aspect of Christ’s redeeming work was designed to deliver us from all semblance of fear and all that might cause us to dread.

The emotional fear that brings with it anxious thought, the threat of pain, and the dread of punishment is very different from the biblical fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom. In Proverbs, we read that the woman who fears the Lord is to be praised, while in Acts we read that the Church was multiplying because they were walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost.

The fear of the Lord in this context refers to reverencing the Lord and standing in awe of His holy presence. Throughout the word of God, we are exhorted to glorify the Lord and offer Him great respect, for He is worthy of our reverential praise and high admiration. We are to give unto the Lord the glory and worship His holy name demands. We are to come to Him and bow down before Him. We are to worship Him in the beauty of holiness.

When the Lord is given His rightful place in our lives, we have Christ’s unshakable promise to be with us through all circumstances of life, so we should not fear. We are not to fear the things in life, nor any threat of death, nor are to fear what happens after death, for our confidence is in the Lord. He is our Defence and our Defender.

He is the Lover of our soul, and He loves us with an everlasting love. The Word of God exhorts us not to fear, and reminds us that, “there is no fear in love, for the perfect love of God casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.” 

There are many places in God’s Word where we are exhorted not to fear:  Fear not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God; Fear not, for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine. Fear Not, I am the Lord Who provides. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? Fear Not, I will never leave you nor forsake you!

The one who has had his sins pardoned should have no fear of life or death. Nor should they fear what lies beyond the grave, for our hope is in Him. Guilt and shame is a fuel that feeds the force of fear, but the heart that overflows with the love of God need not fear His wrath. The one who has confidence in God’s Word, will not shrink from His chastening rod. They will not fret about punishments nor dread Him as their Judge.

May we never forget that perfect love is not a selfish, immature, childish love that tries to take advantage of a situation. Perfect love is a mature, adult, responsible love. It is patient and kind. It does not take into account a wrong suffered, nor does it rejoice in unrighteousness. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Perfect love is a responsible love, a giving love, a gracious love that disperses fear, perfects the saint, and is the greatest gift of all.

The Word Says:
“But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”

Verse Thoughts:
This verse is the opposite argument to what “is seen is not hope.” The two elements of hope (future hope and certainty) correspond to two dimensions of our attitude.

Hope is something that we do not now see. If hope is already realized, it is no longer hope but a reality that is reached already.

Since our hope involves certainty, we eagerly expect what God is going to do for us in the future. By this we wait during the delay. Believers endure this interim struggle because we are sure of what lies ahead of us. The realization of the glorification of the believer is still future, albeit certain. What makes it certain is its content. We obtain our hope from God’s promise in His Word. He promises the return of Christ, the resurrection of the body, and our gathering to Him in glorification. Since God cannot lie, we can count on His Word.

Hope expects something better than present circumstances. It is something that is anticipated with delight; it is no passive endurance.

There is a difference between faith and hope. Faith brings promise into the present; hope accepts a future promise. Faith precedes hope and is the basis for our hope. Faith has promise as its present object, whereas hope regards the promise as future. Christians hope for eternal life because God made a promise to give it to us. Believing the promise produces expectation of result. Hope carries the idea of certainty of God fulfilling the promise; faith looks to the promise as a present possession. Believers “rejoice in the glory of God.” We have “the full assurance of hope.”

The Word Says:
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:”

Verse Thoughts:
We are called to walk worthy of our Lord and to be fruitful in our Christian life, but this can only be achieved as we abide in Him, rest in Him, trust our lives into His safe-keeping, and walk in spirit and truth. It is only as we willingly choose to be submitted to the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit in our lives that we can truly walk worthy of our Lord, in spirit and in truth. It is only as we receive from Him that we can walk in Him.

As believers, we have trusted in Christ for salvation. We have been given the new life in Christ. We have received ALL that we need to walk worthy of the Lord, and so we are earnestly exhorted to walk in Him, for just as we received Christ Jesus as Lord, we are to continue to live our lives in Him.

Paul’s earnest exhortation to us is a choice. Truly born-again believers can choose to take the spiritual path, follow in the footsteps of the Master, and so walk in Him, or we can choose a carnal walk, in which case we follow our own will, and walk in our own ways.

If we trusted Christ for our redemption by faith and received the life of Christ as a free gift of grace, should not we also choose to live our life in spirit and truth? Should not we who have received ALL from Christ Jesus, so walk in Him?

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

The Word Says:
17. “But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;”
18. “To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.”

Verse Thoughts:
God’s unfailing love outlasts the span of human life. According to this verse it extends from everlasting to everlasting. It is eternal because it is an essential part of God’s nature. First John 4:8 says, “God is love.” Ephesians 1:4–5 tells us God predestined us in love. This startling truth indicates that from eternity past God loved those who would put their trust in His Son as their Savior.

David assures us that God’s love is steadfast. He never stops loving His people. Even when we fail Him, His love for us does not fail. This is illustrated in the story of the prodigal son, who wandered far from his father. When that son returned home, he received full assurance that his father still loved him (Luke 15:11–32). When his father saw him returning, he felt compassion. Upon receiving his son, the father threw his arms around him and prepared a joyful celebration to welcome him home.

David adds to the description of God’s attributes by noting that the Lord’s righteousness extends to the posterity of those who reverence Him. He always does what is right and best for those in every generation who obey Him.

The Word Says:
“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.”

Verse Thoughts:
It was by divine design that this Psalm so beautifully describes the Lord God as our great and caring Shepherd, for although it is often used as a great comfort at a time of death or bereavement, it is equally a Psalm that points to the Lord Jesus Christ as our sustenance and support in every season of our lives.

For the Lord is our Provider and Peace. The Lord is our Strength and Stay. The Lord is our Righteousness and our Reward. The Lord is our Sanctuary and our Shepherd.

It was by divine design that David personalised this Psalm to read: “The Lord is MY Shepherd.” He is indeed your Shepherd, He is our Shepherd, and He is the Shepherd of all that love and trust Jesus as Saviour, for we are the sheep of His pasture and none can pluck us out of His hands. But we can rightly say the Lord is MY Shepherd, for He is with each of us every step of the way, to lead and to comfort, to guard and to guide. He is with us in the good times and throughout those difficult days, and He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us but to be our constant Companion and our ever-present Comforter.

It was by divine design that the Lord Jesus is so beautifully represented as a tender shepherd – the Good Shepherd Who gave His life for His sheep – the Great Shepherd Who loves His own with a deep compassion – the Chief Shepherd that rescues His scattered straying sheep and gives them life, eternal life, abundant life. Truly we can say in confidence:

“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength and guides me along right paths, which brings honour to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I need never be afraid, for Jesus is close beside me. His rod and staff protect and comfort me. He prepares a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. He honours me by anointing my head with oil and my cup overflows with multiplied blessings. Surely His grace and goodness and unfailing love and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of my LORD forever.”

The Word Says:
“Pray without ceasing.”

Verse Thoughts:
Knowing that the day of the Lord is fast approaching, and also knowing that our citizenship is reserved for us in heaven by grace through faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ on the Cross, Paul outlines what sort of life a believer should live.

Close to the top of his list of godly instructions on how to live a fruitful Christian life is: “Pray without ceasing; pray continuously, pray and keep on praying.” Prayer is fellowship with the Father and was a vital part of Paul’s own Christian walk.

Paul is exhorting all believers who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus to pray constantly, and this call to pray follows his instruction to rejoice always, for the heart that rejoices in the Lord is the one that will keep their eyes fixed on Jesus, and their thoughts trained upon their Saviour.

The man or woman who turns often to prayer and maintains a worshipful attitude of prayer towards the Lord, is one who comes boldly to the throne of grace to offer up prayer and praise, supplication and intercessions, petitions and thanksgiving. Prayer demonstrates a humble dependence upon God, for prayer is the breath of the dependent soul that touches the heart of the Father.

The praying man is the one who does not rely on his own strength, but trusts in the Lord with all his heart for all his needs. The man or woman of prayer is one who desires to maintain close and intimate fellowship with the Lord Jesus. Let us live in an attitude of prayer, no matter what activity we are engaged in.

The Word Says:
“The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.”

Verse Thoughts:
When life goes in directions we didn’t expect, and when those directions include suffering and frustration, we can easily become discouraged. We wonder if God has forgotten us. We worry that our lives will sputter out like a car that has run out of gas. We fear we’ll end…

In Psalm 138, David begins by thanking the Lord for his “unfailing love and faithfulness.” God answered his prayers, even on the very day David offered them. Even though God is inestimably great, “he cares for the humble.”

But, as David first composed Psalm 138, he was surrounded by troubles and endangered by the anger of his enemies. In faith, David said, “The LORD will work out his plans for my life, “for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever.” David had confidence in God’s ultimate purpose for him, which God would fulfill. That means that David did not have to be afraid or discouraged. God would take care of him!

Yet Psalm 138 does not end with a firm confession of trust in God’s care. Rather, it concludes with a focused request: “Don’t abandon me, for you made me.”  It’s as if David’s trust in God wavered for a moment. “Lord,” he prayed, “you will fulfill your purpose for me. Yes, indeed. Oh, but don’t forget me! Don’t abandon me!”

So, Psalm 138 exemplifies the reality of our life in God. It is true that God will work out his plans for us. As Paul writes to the Philippians, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”  In this truth, we stake our lives. Yet there are times when we aren’t so sure. We wonder. We worry. We doubt. Psalm 138 encourages us to not hold back in those times, but to lay before the Lord both our confidence in him and our hesitations. He will take all of these and work them together for his purposes.