WHOM SHOULD I BLAME?

Pr. Asap Singh, M.A, M.Th.

The tragedy of flood in Kerala from the beginning till the middle of this month (August 2018) was a big disaster nationwide. People groups, NGO’s and state governments came forward to support the state to do the rehabilitation works after the stoppage of the rain. More than 300 lives were lost and millions were moved from their homes and put them in relief camps. On the one hand people united to support Kerala by doing relief works individually and collectively, on the other hand they blame one another as the reason for flood. Following are some of the blames/accusations from different levels made as the reason for the flood.

• A Hindu priest in Kerala said that the court ordered to send women into one of the leading temples led that god anger on people and send flood all over the land.
• A Christian pastor preached that due to the increase of sin among the people (like the sins of people in the days of Noah) God provoked anger to send flood in the state.
• Kerala Government made a statement in Supreme Court of India stating that Tamilnadu government opened a dam (amidst 40 dams that were opened in the peak of rain) which brought disaster to the state.
• Tamilnadu government defended by saying Kerala opened 40+ dams without proper management of water that became the reason for flood

There is several more accusation claimed to justify their statements. By all above examples one thing is clear that people try to accuse (find fault / judge / blame) others by covering their own mistakes. Accusation in biblical understanding as “the result of sinfulness” Adam and Eve after the FALL accused others to claim that they were right (Gen 3:12-13) and someone is wrong who led them to sin. Sinfulness of people always leads to blame others – not admitting their fault (This is different from defending one’s right stand).

The word Devil or Satan means “Accuser or Adversary” there are verses in the bible interchangeably translated the word Devil or Satan to Accuser (1 Chr. 21:1; Ps. 109:6). Satan as a person in biblical writings said to be the “one who finds fault” several portions both OT and NT proves that as true (Job 2:1-6; Zech 3:1-2; Jude 9; Rev. 12:10)

Now the question: Is it right to accuse God / Satan / Government / People as the reason for disasters like flood / earthquake / Storms / Tsunami. Just like the recent flood happened in Kerala? My answer is NO!

Luke 13:1-5 Jesus quoted two incidents where people faced death miserably – and were people accusing them by saying that “They were sinners” Jesus opposed it – it was not the sins of people that led them towards that ending. In fact he was against all forms of accusations. Judging others (Matt 7:1-5) is none of human business, because the one who judges is also under the divine/eternal judgment of God. God is the judge for both living and dead. Jesus and John the Baptist were accused of their lifestyles (Luke 7:33-34).

Besides over 300+ death, there were millions who were rescued by the fellow people (Fishermen / Soldiers / Common people). Just like this physical rescue, there needs a spiritual rescue for people who are under the bondage of sin and darkness. Unless someone who is saved helps others out, they cannot be saved by themselves. As per the words of Jesus Judgment is waiting which is eternal. The sign of the covenant that is made with Noah is a rainbow (Gen 9:13-16) so also the new rescue done through Jesus Christ has the seal of indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30). Repentance is the key to every individual regardless of those who are rescued physically from flood or who live normal life anywhere in the world. If you are still an accuser, Jesus calls you as a hypocrite (Matt. 7:5)

 

Tell me now! Whom are you going to blame? Is God? Is Satan? Is Government? Is People? If you still blame one of them – it is the sign that you are in your sins and in need of repentance (Luke 13:5). Jesus is the only savior who can rescue you from your sins and lead you to eternal life. 

May God bless you!

Credit:  The above is written based on the concept shared by Rev. Andrews @ AGM of YMCA (Salem) on August 25, 2018.

Pr. Asap Singh

Scripture Portion: I John 4:1-6

1. Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
3. But every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
4. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
5. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.
6. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

The Epistle I John was written as a timely advice for the persecuted church under Roman Empire. John the key apostle was the last living witness for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Purpose of Writing:

• John meant to say Believers as the overcomers of the worlds through their faith and testimony in the Lord.
• He also councils the believers to stand against the false teachings and heresies, which is the key part in the 4^th chapter of I John.

Place of Writing: Ephesus

• Apostle John lived here in the last days of his life
• It was the intellectual center of Asia (Near Greece)
• Paul warned the future decay of the church through the false teachers (Act. 20:28-31), where false teachers are referred as the wolves.
• In I Jn 4:1-6; it was explicitly the warning against the prominent philosophical trend “Gnostism” 

• Knowledge is Supreme to be saved (gnosis)
• Matter is evil – Spirit is good (Materialism)
• Jesus was a spirit being – did not die on the cross

In this passage John deals with the Spirit of the Lord and the false spirits or prophets. Various terms used in connection with the Spirit here.

Spirit of God (v.1), Spirit of Antichrist (v.3), Spirit of Truth (v.6), Spirit of Falsehood (v.6). The advice given by the apostle in twofold to stand firm in the Lord.

(I) TEST THE SPIRITS (V.1)

Test is the key term in science to believe something. The test will prove whether something gives positive or negative impact. Scientific proof will make a theory, and sometimes the old theory will be revised and become false. John Dalton’s atomic theory was falsified by Rutherford’s theory.

Test (πειρασμός) – KJV says “try” which means examine or scrutinize the spirit working in men, especially the men of God. Bible commands us to test the Spirits working in men. Some preachers and teachers looking like genuine teachers but different Spirit working in them! (Om Santhi women acting like Pentecostal Christian women). Sometimes we are deceived because of the miracles and signs, or the impact of their message or the usage of the Name Jesus. But we should always have in our mind, the following two things,

• Demons confess and Preach Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of the World (Jam 2:19)
• God can use demon to fulfill his purposes (Job 1:7-12)

The Standard or scale of testing them is through the Word of God, Bible is the measuring rod for finding the genuineness of the preachers.

(II) RECOGNIZE THE SPIRIT (V.2, 6)

Recognizing whether something is true or false is a type of examination question pattern. Recognize means Analyze or Experience or check something with their fruits. The false teachers/ prophets/ Spirits will be identified through these measurements as per the writing of John. They are,

• False Spirits/Teachers will not acknowledge the humanity of Jesus (v.2-3)

As we saw the heresy “Gnostism” which denied the humanity of Jesus Christ. In that context John writes this epistle, Gnostics hold this view because flesh belongs to sinfulness. If it is so Jesus can not be God, “God can not sin.” John emphasizes again and again the humanity of Jesus in his writings (John 1:14, I John 5:6).

At the same time Jesus was completely God. Christian theology holds some of the critical doctrines, which are mysteries awaiting for reveling. Some of them are.

• Hypostatic union of Jesus (Jesus God and man at the same time)
• Trinity (God the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit but we have ONE God)
• Sinlessness of Christ (Impeccability of Christ)
• Virgin Birth (Jesus born of Mary)

If John would have written today he would have mention the other side of Jesus’ nature, “The divinity of Christ” which is being denied by Islam, Jehovah Witness, New age movements …etc. False teachers and preachers deny either the humanity or divinity of Christ. But the Bible affirms Jesus as both human and divine.

• False Spirits/Teachers speaking in the viewpoint of men (v.5)

Today many of the liberal theologians speaking of the possibility or probability of Biblical messages. If something is impossible to believe today, it becomes never happened issue in their understanding or myth.

Some of the incidents of the bible looked in the view point of men today and announced as myth are, The crossing of Red sea, Genesis 1-11, and Joshua and Sun Stand Still. A genuine preacher will speak everything in the view point of God, with the eye of faith. It will be beyond the boundary of human understanding and complete faith on God and His Words.

God the Holy Spirit makes us to enlarge our sight, and making us to see in the view point of God. (John 16:13) An Elephant when it is bound with a chain in her master, it roams only in the boundary of the chains. But one day when it gets mad it breaks the chain and goes beyond the chains, the Holy Spirit makes us to believe beyond our thinking and looking in the view point of God.

• False Spirits/Teachers do not know God personally (v.6)

They may have some esthetic feelings and experiences but they never knew God personally. They never experienced salvation, but operated by the devil to corrupt the plans of God.

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa testified that he experienced God every now and then. Prophesied, Healed, done Wonders but never knew the Lord as a false teacher. Not by the miracles or Prophesies a genuine teacher will be identified (Mat. 7:21-23). God enables His people to distinguish the truth from falsehood. God gives the discerning Spirit to know something from God or Demon. Therefore we should recognize the Spirits whether they are from God by these measures. 

May God bless you abundantly.

GREAT VIRTUE OF A CHRISTIAN

Pr. Asap Singh

SCRIPTURE PORTION: I Corinthians 13: 1-13

¹ If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

 ¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

INTRODUCTION:

I have written a sermon some weeks ago named “Great Commandments of Christ” identifying Love that distinguishes the followers of Jesus from others. The sermon concluded as “The Greatest Commandment Jesus gave to us is LOVE God and neighbors.”

Love is called to be the highest virtue of all. It is because twice in the book of 1 John (4:8 & 16) mentioned God is Love. God is neither faith nor hope but said to be Love. God is possessed with different attributes (Characteristics) like Omnipresence, Omnipotence, Omniscience, Immortal, Immutable …etc all these represent the characteristics of God but LOVE is the nature of God. God acts or reacts everything out of His love.

John 13:34-35, “Love one another as I have loved you … by this all will know you are my disciples.” The parameter for love is already set by our Lord. We are loved by God so that we must love others. We are loved by God not by our attractions (as it is of human love) but by the nature of the lover.

Three Greek words used for Love generally, two words used in the New Testament – one among that was hardly used outside the New Testament,

1. Eros (ἔρως) – Sexual Passion (Erotic) : Not used in the New Testament
2. Philia (φιλία) – Natural / Friendship love : Used in NT widely.
3. Agape (ἀγάπη) – Divine/Supernatural love : Hardly used outside the New Testament

Philia – is the word used for natural love – it says “I like you – You like me” I do everything for you because you do the same to me (reciprocal love – expecting the same from the loving person). Mostly emotion based love.

Agape – describes of divine love – it says “I like you whether you like me or not” I will love you, do things for you whether you redo it for me or not. This is not emotional love (act of the will) – not expecting the reciprocal love and care from whom it is shown. This is the love God shows on human beings – God expects his people to reflect this love upon the fellow human beings.

Luke 6:32-35, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

We see about Jesus illustrating this strange love to the disciples. Sinners love those who love them – sinners lend money expecting to be paid back. Philia – natural love and lending but Jesus spoke of Agape which do not expect anything just give, give and give. I Cor. 13:13 says, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

• Faith is looking unto God
• Hope is looking into the future
• Love looking towards others

We see in I Cor. 13, three major elements which is classical expression about Love,

1.      Loving Activities (vv. 1-3)

2.      Loving Attitudes (vv. 4-7)

3.      Loving Aspirations (vv. 8-13)

1.      LOVING ACTIVITIES (VV 1-3) 

¹ If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Jesus as he spoke about fulfilling the law in Matt. 5:17, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” the new commandment Jesus gave included love to the old commandments (John 13:34-35). In this session of scriptures (13:1-3) Paul added love to the spiritual gifts, when there is no love included with spiritual gifts, the gifts are nothing and gained nothing with those gifts.

Chapter 12 speaks about the “Spiritual gifts” that edify the church and brings unity in the church by energizing the believers. 12:29-30 identifies different spiritual gifts are given to different people to serve the church in Unity (not all are Apostles, Prophets, Miracle Workers, Teachers, Healers, Tongue Speakers, Interpreters). When it comes to Love, it is for all – Most excellent way (v.31)

Chapter 13 starts with the function of spiritual gifts (tongues, prophecy, knowledge, faith, giving) with the absence of Love is useless to anyone. All these gifts are Holy Spirit enabled, good for edification but when it is practiced without love – it is a resounding gong / clanging cymbal: I am nothing / I gain nothing. It is harsh statement, now the question may arise, can these things happen without love? Why do people give everything – go through physical hardship without love? There are other motives we see in the scripture for people who show generosity without love. In Indian context people feed poor to increase their Karma, wanted to do good works to gain eternity (selfish motive), some to gain famous through advertising their charity acts (stone plaques of donor’s names), some do it to gain ego/selfish motives…etc.

Matthew 6:1-2, Jesus said, ““Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.”

Hypocrites blow trumpets as they give it to the poor and needy – they get their reward in full (no more reward in heaven). Their motive is to be honored by people. Joseph and Barnabas (Act 4:36-37) sold their properties and gave it for the ministry. They were appreciated by the apostles for their generosity. When Ananias and Sapphira saw that they were honored by the apostles they sold their properties and gave a part in it and lied to Peter. Acts 5:1-11 we see how God’s judgment came upon this couple and died instantly. Their motive in giving to the Lord was wrong as well.

If Holy Spirit convicts us today in this way, I don’t know how many of us would go home! Without love there can be a ministry but it will be another job, talents/spiritual gifts/interesting ideas/enthusiasm but all meant nothing in its reality (resounding gong / clanging cymbal). Anything done with love will being great impact in the kingdom of God.

Pastor Van Calous from Buenos Aires had a good church growth of 300 to 1000 believers in short time through his preaching. One fine Sunday he prepared a sermon in the topic of “Love one another.” But the spirit of God prevented him to preach on that day, after the worship he stood on the stage and said, “Today my topic is Love one another” nothing came further from his mouth. He repeated the same for quiet few times. The church started enquiring to the people who sat next to them “is there any way I can love you?” at the end of the day 28 unemployed youth got job through the wealthy people in the church, the need of single parents were met, several people who were absolutely poor got financial help. There was a great reformation in the church. There were 3 continuous weeks the same thing went on in the church – 300 people who were very biblical / doctrine loving left the church for not getting preaching in the church. At the end of this session, several people in the town rang up the church and asked “Is this the church that helps the people?” the church had great impact in that society. There could be a sermon in that topic that would impress the people with various theological words but the people would have left as the way they came in. As the people showed their love towards their neighbors there was great impact in the society.

Are our activities come out of love? Without love anything you do will be a waste of time. Spiritual gifts are good for building up the church –if it is done without love – it is nothing but just a sound.

2.      LOVING ATTITUDES (VV 4-7)

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

 

The above are the best statement on love – great descriptions about true love. Love in itself is so beautiful. Corinthian church followed different leaders with several divisions in the church we read them throughout the first letter. It is apt to identify what a true love can do in the midst of diversities. Paul says love is patient, kind, humble, honor others, others centered, meek, forgiving, rejoice in truth, trust, hope and persevere. 

Paul noted in the last verse of ch.12, “I will show you more excellent way.” This is that excellent way in its attitude. You can replace the word love with Jesus – which suitably fits for Him,

Jesus is patient, Jesus is kind. He does not envy, He does not boast, He is not proud. ⁵ He does not dishonor others, He is not self-seeking, He is not easily angered, He keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Jesus does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ⁸ Jesus never fails…

You can also replace it with your name in there, if you are daring to confess it. Does it make sense of me? Am I worthy to utter those words addressing myself? I wouldn’t dare to read it in my name but these are the most excellent way Paul addresses it. Loving attitudes attract people to taste and experience Christ in their lives.

3.      LOVING ASPIRATIONS (VV 8-12)

⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Love NEVER fails / dies – Never is something impossible. Agape love never dies or ends. Conditional love ends when the condition changes. God’s love is not based on conditions so he cannot hate you in spite of your change in character, misbehavior and sins. If He chose to love you, He will love you forever – that is why He loves the sinners.

vv. 8-10 we see about the spiritual gifts that can pass away (Prophecy, tongues, knowledge) so keep them in their perspectives. Love never fails so that must be kept in its perspective. Quit pretending because the one who loves us fully know us (v.11).

Ms. Kate Booth, William Booth’s daughter spelled love in a strange way that is SACRIFICE. It was happened in one of the leaders meeting held in Manila in the year 1951. Most of the times we don’t spell in this way in our homes, working place, marriage, friendship, church ..etc. when Jesus said “As I have loved you” He spelled it in that way (SACRIFICE) by demonstrating his broken body for the sinners. When love doesn’t spell as Sacrifice – it will just be a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

v.13, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” Let us show the greatest virtue of Love which is in the form of Sacrifice – Let us glorify the Father who is in Heaven, because the greatest of all these three is LOVE.

May God bless you all!

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This Sermon is written from Rev. Charles Price’s sermon “All We Need is Love” in Living Truth, Canada. There are slight modifications and my thoughts included . For further references please listen in the YouTube location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yM_pmdVd7YI&t=632s