Day-by-DayWord

Vol. 7

Mthobisi Dladla

Write it Down. Habbakuk 2:3 (NKJV) Then the Lord answered me and said: WRITE THE VISION and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

I believe every child of God should develop the habit of writing down things from God because there is so much blessing in that. We can learn from the scribes of old who wrote down the Laws of God and actually got to understand and love Gods Law through their careful writings; Ezra was one of those scribes. Knowing that copying Gods Law required the greatest accuracy it was a great burden upon them to see to it that everything was done perfectly. Also knowing that one mistake in their writing could affect the life of the people who held on to it, it meant having to ask God for His assistance. Whenever God speaks to us (there are so many ways He achieves that) we should be moved to write it down in a special book like the opening scripture speaks to Habakkuk. He was asked to make the written

vision clear on a tablet, a readable note and if the voice of God is so important to us, then we need to take it seriously. God speaks to us in many ways, sometimes in dreams and visions like Elihu says For God may speak IN ONE WAY, OR IN ANOTHER, yet man does not perceive it. IN A DREAM, IN A VISION OF THE NIGHT, when deep sleep falls upon men, while slumbering on their beds,(Job 33:14-15) and knowing the limitations and forgetfulness of our minds we need to write these things down as God ministers to us. God says to Jeremiah WRITE IN A BOOK FOR YOURSELF ALL THE WORDS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU (Jeremiah 30:2). Daniel in his book has a writing concerning a dream he had which states In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, DANIEL HAD A DREAM AND VISIONS OF HIS HEAD WHILE ON HIS BED. THEN HE WROTE DOWN THE DREAM, telling the main facts. (Daniel 7:1). Imagine that even the great Daniel had to write down the main story about his dream, cant we therefore do the same. The bible says For whatsoever things were written aforetime were WRITTEN FOR OUR LEARNING (Romans 15:4) We are told about what Daniel did so that we can learn from him. We are people who easily forget things; I could simply say that even things that God says to us we easily forget. Have you ever had a dream that was so blessed and when you

woke up you could remember it but didnt write it down and by the time it reached noon you had forgotten various parts of it? It has happened to me a lot and that is why when I read the book of Daniel and Habbakuk I decided to get a small book to jot down everything that God is telling me. Sometimes its not a vision, its just an impression in my heart, I have to quickly write it down or I could forget it. Many times when we study the bible and are meditating, we have the word of God revealed so much to us and we need to write those revealed meditations down, bible notes if you may, so that we dont forget them. There is one particular story that the bible tells about writing things down that is just too wonderful. It is the story of God, Moses and Joshua, when Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And they defeat the people by the lifting up of Moses rod and Joshua defeats the Amalekites and his people with the edge of the sword. (Exodus 17:8-13). Thereafter God says to Moses, WRITE THIS FOR A MEMORIAL IN THE BOOK and RECOUNT IT IN THE HEARING OF JOSHUA that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. (Exodus 17:14). Now Moses wrote the words of God and had to keep recounting and reciting them in the hearing of Joshua as God commanded and this Joshua would later be the leader of Israel after Moses decease. Reciting

and recounting words in the hearing of Joshua would strengthen his faith as the bible also says SO THEN FAITH COMETH BY HEARING, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17). When Moses is deceased no therefore he needed the words himself and that is why God commanded Moses to write them down. There are things that God might tell you concerning the future of your church, company or any other thing and you need to recount those words to yourself to keep yourself focused on them and have faith in His word and you need to write the words down and read them to yourself every time reminding yourself of what God said He will do. It is not just the things that God is going to do for us that we need to write down but also the wonderful things He has done already. It keeps us in Him and allows us not to forget his goodness. David says THIS WILL BE WRITTEN FOR THE GENERATION TO COME, that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord. (Psalm 102:18) How wonderful is that? That is why men and women of God whom God has favored write about their experience of Gods goodness and through these books (which will be in existence for a long time) will impart hope and joy in the souls of new believers in coming generations. Let us learn to write many things that God tells us and I believe by this we, well grow in God.

God Bless You

The Right Time Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV) To everything there is a season, A TIME FOR EVERY PURPOSE under heaven: We often hear words like it was not the right time or the timing was bad and they are always connected to a misfortune of some sort; sometimes small and sometimes very tragic. When people speak that way there is always a presence of failure. It could be starting a business, a relationship or even bringing a child to the world; as long as it is not done in the right time it will always turn out badly. I look and observe the youngsters of this generation, how they enter into relationships with big dreams of marriage but since they are neither wise nor patient enough to wait for the right time to do things that are fitting, they end up being involved in sexual diseases and bringing into the world children they cant support since they are not financially sound yet its quite a misfortune. Nonetheless we are just speaking on a general scale above therefore let us get specific. Every child of God with a destiny has to pursue understanding Gods schedule for his/her life. Many of us want to be preachers, prophets or evangelists too

early without being properly grown in the things of God. Many young believers read through the bible once or twice and then feel like they are ready lead a portion of the church or even worse start their own churches. Paul spoke about young believers to Timothy telling him that he should not allow them to be bishops or elders saying So an elder must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach AN ELDER MUST NOT BE A NEW BELIEVER, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall. (1 Timothy 3:2,6). There is nothing wrong with desiring to lead maybe a home cell meeting of your church; however one must wait until he is appointed by God, most of the time through the elders of the church. When Jesus had risen from the dead on the third day He said to his disciples And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: BUT TARRY YE in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high (Luke 24:49). One can imagine how excited the disciples were about going out and telling the world about Jesus being the Christ spoken of by Moses and the Prophets; they had seen Him and witnessed His resurrection, yet Jesus said they must TARRY and wait for the Promise of the

Father, the Blessed Holy Spirit. We need to be able to be patient enough with the work of God until we come to a certain maturity in the Lord and God will never send anyone in the mission field without having prepared that person sufficiently. Paul says And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, FOR THE EQUIPPING OF THE SAINTS FOR THE WORK OF MINISTRY, for the edifying of the body of Christ, (Ephesians 4:11-12), meaning that God gave these different ministry gifts for the equipping or preparation or training of the saint for the reason of the work of the ministry. That is why part of the great commission is to make disciples out of nations (Matthew 29:18) and one of the ways God has established to accomplish that goal is through the equipping of the saints. There was a certain tribe of the children of Israel, the sons of Issachar and they had the gift and wiisdom of understanding the times (1 Chronicles 12:32) we need the same wisdom. Jesus also had an understanding of the times and we see that in many places in the bible and one particular time is when He is invited to a weeding in Cana of Galilee and when they had run out of wine His mother Mary came to Him to implore Him to do something about the situation and He said Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? MY

HOUR HAS NOT YET COME. (John 2:4). There are so many ways to interpret this verse; one could be that He meant His time for the weeding with His wife, the church, had not yet come as He was in a weeding or secondly, it could be that He was talking about taking away the shame of sin from the world through the death of the cross as He was going to take away the shame of the insufficiency of wine in the weeding and well there are many other interpretations. Thus we must by all means learn to be patient with God; if God hasnt assigned us missions yet, we should not go out trying to find our own because we will fail. God has assignments for us already, in fact He prepared them before time began, and Paul confirms this by saying For we are His workmanship, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS FOR GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD PREPARED BEFOREHAND THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM. (Ephesians 2:10). One thing I believe we need to PUT in our heads and let it sink is that GOD DOESNT NEED OUR HELP. I dont think that we truly understand what the bible means when it says God rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2) because if we understood that, we would also understand that whatever God needed done in any later time after having created the world, He would have it done before His rest. There is nothing that God is planning to do now, which He didnt plan ages ago. If

God planned everything for us, He also planned the right time for the manifestation of these things; when God appeared to Abraham and Sarah and declared that Sarah will have a child in her barrenness and old age, He said IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD? AT THE APPOINTED TIME I WILL RETURN TO YOU, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. (Genesis 18:14). ABILITY IS NEVER IN QUESTION AS FAR AS GOD IS CONCERNED BUT THERE IS ALWAYS AN APPOINTED TIME WITH HIM IT IS NEVER A MATTER OF ABILITY, IT IS ALWAYS A MATTER OF TIME. Jesus first and second comings are according to Gods appointed time of His second coming Jesus speaks to His disciples in this manner It is not for you to KNOW TIMES OR SEASONS WHICH THE FATHER HAS PUT IN HIS OWN AUTHORITY (Acts 1:7). There is a set time for everything from God, even the Psalmist speaks of this concerning Zion when he says You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for the time to favor her, Yes, THE SET TIME, has come. (Psalm 102:13). There is an appointed time for everything in a believers life and its vital that every believer understands the will of God for his/her own life. Sometimes we do the work of God too early, sometimes we do it too late. We should not be like the women who came at the tomb of Jesus to anoint Him and found that

He was gone (Mark 16:1), we should be like the socalled sinful woman who came to Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper and broke an Alabaster flask of perfume and anointed Jesus and the Master Himself did confirm that this woman was anointing His body for His burial when He said IN POURING THIS OINTMENT ON MY BODY, SHE HAS DONE IT TO PREPARE ME FOR BURIAL. (Matthew 26:12). We must do the things of God at the right time and even Jesus says I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; THE NIGHT IS COMING WHEN NO ONE CAN WORK. (John 9:4). For instance many believers want to get married very early, its a great thing, but it MIGHT take a toll on their time. They have a wife or a husband to take care of now and a little later even children, so Solomon gives wisdom saying Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, I have no pleasure in them (Ecclesiastes 12:1). Gods timing is the best timing for your life, His schedule is the best schedule, thats why the bible says HE HAS MADE EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IN ITS TIME (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Most people who dont walk according to Gods timing find doing the work of God frustrating, they have to juggle between their academics or their vocation or their families to try and do Gods work and they pray to

God for balance which is really unnecessary. What you have to do first, God will reveal to you; do the first things first. Nonetheless Paul says THERFORE, AS WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY, LET US DO GOOD TO ALL, especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:9) So just because time hasnt come doesnt mean that opportunity hasnt come. If you need to do something in church and you feel like you can help out, do it. If you can take some time out and encourage someone in the faith, do it and if you can give, give as you find opportunity. God said to Noah While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease. (Genesis 8:22) God Bless You

The Priestly Ministry of the Lord Psalm 110:4 (NKJV) The Lord has sworn and will not relent, YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER according to the order of Melchizedek.

Who could this be that is given such an honor to be called a priest and not just a priest but also a priest according to the order of Melchizedek? It was indeed an honor to be called a priest since it was God who called the priests and honored them since no man takes THIS HONOR TO HIMSELF, BUT HE WHO IS CALLED BY GOD, just as Aaron was (Hebrews 5:4). The priesthood of the Old Covenant was limited to a select group of men from one of the tribes of Israel; the tribe of Levi (Numbers 8:5-26). The priests main ministries were to offer prayers of supplication and sacrifices for sins (Hebrews 5:1) for the whole nation of Israel. However some of their ministries included teaching the people the Law of God and this is confirmed when God says For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, AND THEY SHOULD SEEK THE LAW AT HIS MOUTH: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 2:7) and also to Aaron the priest Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when

you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean, and THAT YOU MAY TEACH THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL ALL THE STATUTES WHICH THE LORD HAS SPOKEN TO THEM BY THE HAND OF MOSES. (Leviticus 10:8-11). Our main focus however at this moment is this Priest who was called a Priest according to the order of Melchizedek and this priest was not a priest according to the order of Levi. This Priest without a doubt is our Lord Jesus and the writer of Hebrews introduces His priesthood this way Therefore, in all things He (Jesus) had to be made like His brethren, THAT HE MIGHT BE A MERCIFUL AND FAITHFUL HIGH PRIEST in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:17) and also Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and HIGH PRIEST OF OUR CONFESSION, CHRIST JESUS (Hebrews 3:1). The Law had requirements for qualifying one to be a priest or even a high priest and some of these requirements, as we mentioned before, included ones descent to be of the Levite tribe however Jesus was born in the line of Judah since David was of the tribe of Judah and Paul confesses Jesus to be the seed of David

when he says Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, CONCERNING HIS SON JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, WHO WAS BORN OF THE SEED OF DAVID ACCORDING TO THE FLESH (Romans 1:1-3). Nonetheless there is one requirement that is always overlooked in the Old Testament but is revealed in the New by the Hebrew writer. Concerning this requirement he says For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. HE CAN HAVE COMPASSION ON THOSE WHO ARE IGNORANT AND GOING ASTRAY, SINCE HE HIMSELF IS ALSO SUBJECT TO WEAKNESS. (Hebrews 5:1-2). The requirement that was needed from a high priest was for him to be A MAN made of flesh and blood WITH THE FALLEN NATURE OF ADAM and not of an angel or any celestial being for the reason of compassion since he himself will be subject to weaknesses. The bible says Jesus had to be made like His brethren (Hebrews 2:17) so that He can be a merciful High Priest; for Him to feel the burdens of the people and the faultiness of their nature and thus fulfilling one of the greatest requirements of being a high priest.

Jesus didnt come to earth as a super being neither did He come as God, BEING IN THE FORM OF GOD, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and COMING IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN. (Philippians 2:6-7) Jesus came in the likeness of men and Paul speaks so explicitly concerning the nature of His humanity when he says For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending HIS OWN SON IN THE LIKENESS OF SINFUL FLESH, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh. (Romans 8:3). Jesus didnt just come in the likeness of flesh but in the likeness of sinful flesh; John says AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH (John 1:14) the Word took on not just any flesh but the sinful flesh of fallen men. Nonetheless, glory to God because the Word made flesh was sinless, yes, He was in all points tempted as we are, YET WITHOUT SIN. (Hebrews 4:15). Additionally since James says GOD CANNOT BE TEMPTED BY EVIL, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. (James 1:13) then how could Jesus be tempted if He was in the form of God on earth? GREAT IS THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS. In the Old Testament the mercy of God was revealed to many but not to all and it is only those whom He chose that experienced that mercy since He Himself says to

Moses I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and WILL SHEW MERCY ON WHOM I WILL SHEW MERCY (Exodus 33:19). It is without a doubt that the mercy of God which reaches to the heavens (Psalm 36:5) has never changed from then till now, however I believe in the coming of Jesus and upon His experiences on earth and His Man-walk, mercy was extended not just to many but to all. Paul says For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that HE MAY HAVE MERCY ON THEM ALL. (Romans 11:35) and also For the grace of God that brings salvation HAS APPEARED TO ALL MEN (Titus 2:11). Jesus felt the pains of temptation, He felt the pains of weaknesses, He wept and was tired and was wearied He felt what it is to be a human and He overcame those weaknesses and praise be to God for we are able to overcome through Him. Paul also says For to be sure, HE WAS CRUCIFIED IN WEAKNESS, yet He lives by God's power... (2 Corinthians 13:4). Hebrews says something about Him being a High Priest which makes me want to cry when it says For we do not have a High Priest WHO CANNOT SYMPATHIZE WITH OUR WEAKNESSES, but was in all points tempted as we are, YET WITHOUT SIN. (Hebrews 4:15). In temptations I can boldly say Jesus knows what Im going through, He sympathizes with my weaknesses He is not just somebody who is

looking from heaven and wonders why we are always tempted and why we are always in weaknesses, I can boldly say to someone BROTHER, SISTER, JESUS KNOWS WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH AND HE UNDERSTANDS YOUR WEAKNESSES. Thereafter the writer beautifully adds, LET US THEREFORE COME BOLDLY TO THE THRONE OF GRACE, THAT WE MAY OBTAIN MERCY AND FIND GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEED. (Hebrews 4:16) This is too wonderful for me. For the mere fact that we know that Jesus understands our weaknesses, we should not hide them from Him, we should be bold in coming to Him for grace and mercy and never think that He will be displeased with us in coming to Him or even chase away from His Presence NO, we should come boldly because we have this understanding. The bible says Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He (Jesus), because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. THEREFORE HE IS ALSO ABLE TO SAVE TO THE UTTERMOST THOSE WHO COME TO GOD THROUGH HIM, SINCE HE ALWAYS LIVES TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR THEM. (Hebrews 7:23-25). Jesus is in Heaven making intercessions for us through His blood which He offered for sin once and for all and by this we have confidence that we shall be saved in the

midst of our constant weaknesses. His blood is without measure and His blood is without limit; there is absolutely nothing that the blood of Jesus cant cleanse, Hebrews says For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, HOW MUCH MORE WILL THE BLOOD OF CHRIST, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, CLEANSE YOUR CONSCIENCE FROM DEAD WORKS TO SERVE THE LIVING GOD? (Hebrews 9:13-14) HOW MUCH MORE THE BLOOD OF JESUS. We are able to stand before God with clear consciences not because we did anything but because of the blood of Jesus, he adds on and says Therefore, brethren, having BOLDNESS TO ENTER THE HOLIEST BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, (Hebrews 10:19) THE BLOOD IS OUR BOLDNESS AND CONFIDENCE. The bible also speaks about His intercession ministry in Heaven saying For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now TO APPEAR IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD FOR US; (Hebrews 9:24) He is there interceding on our behalf, pleading for our salvation through His blood and Paul says Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, WHO ALSO MAKES INTERCESSION FOR

US. (Romans 8:34) IF JESUS IS MAKING INTERCESSION FOR US, THEN WHO IS HE WHO CONDEMNS? He alone is the Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5) and He alone is the Advocate (1 John 2:1-2), He is the man that God speaks to Jeremiah about saying Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem; see now and know; AND SEEK IN HER OPEN PLACES IF YOU CAN FIND A MAN, IF THERE IS ANYONE WHO EXECUTES JUDGMENT, WHO SEEKS THE TRUTH, AND I WILL PARDON HER. (Jeremiah 5:1). He lives to make intercession for us who have come to Him as He did when He offered Himself up for our transgressions and the transgressions of the world and Isaiah seals it up saying He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and HE BORE THE SIN OF MANY, AND MADE INTERCESSION FOR THE TRANSGRESSORS (Isaiah 53:12). What more can we say? Come to Him and have your sins washed and your conscience renewed its only the blood that can away sins for God says in Jeremiah For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before Me, says the Lord God. (Jeremiah 2:22), there just isnt any bath or shower that can wash away guilt, only the blood of Jesus.

God Bless You.

Modest Dressing 1 Timothy 2:8-10 (NKJV) I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.

Christian dressing is something that has been in question for a long time among the members of the Christian faith, the saints, and the unbelievers also. It is something that cannot be ignored by the church, irrespective of modern culture or a changing age, which has largely introduced the fashion age. The world is filled with so much filthiness and the church truly cannot be found mingling with that filth. The bible tells us that Jesus gave Himself up for the church and washed her with Gods word and is coming back for a church without spot or blame or any such thing (Ephesians 5:26-27). As much as we dont want to, however situations force that we be blunt; the ways of the world are disdained by Christianity and rightly so

since THE WHOLE WORLD IS UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE EVIL ONE. (1 John 5:19). We cannot entertain Satan in the church, we have no fellowship with him and Paul says what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? OR WHAT FELLOWSHIP CAN LIGHT HAVE WITH DARKNESS? (2 Corinthians 6:14). Paul calls the world THE LEAST ESTEEMED by the church when he says Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law BEFORE THE UNRIGHTEOUS, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are LEAST ESTEEMED BY THE CHURCH to judge? (1 Corinthians 6:1-4) Unfortunately, due to the rise of the liberal church within the Pentecostal circles, dressing from a biblical point of view is something that a lot of us have neglected. There is only one biblical point of view as far as Christian dressing is concerned and that is MODESTY - The opening scripture speaks that to women (1 Timothy 2:9-10). However, is it only women who ought to be MODEST in their dressing? Certainly not, men are commanded to be modest as well. In the

Genesis after Adam and Eve had sinned they realized that they were naked and covered themselves with leaves and these leaves were not enough to completely cover their nakedness. Therefore God made for BOTH OF THEM tunics made of skin and covered them completely; it was not just the woman alone but BOTH (Genesis 3:21). This was symbolic of the fact that God wanted both men and women to be covered after the fall of mankind and that it should be done in modesty. Nonetheless today you do not find that in the world; todays world is filled with people who are covered with leaves and the most astounding part is that unlike Adam and Eve, the world doesnt feel any shame or find anything wrong with putting on leaves. There is a rise in sexual immorality, teenage pregnancy, indecency and rape what do you think is the cause? People in the world and even in the church now feel no shame with revealing their bodies. Nevertheless who are we to judge the world? Even Paul says THOSE WHO ARE OUTSIDE GOD JUDGES. Therefore PUT AWAY FROM YOURSELVES THE EVIL PERSON. (1 Corinthians 5:13) Therefore it is among ourselves, the church, that we need to judge. If we as the church believe in the infallible word of God and understand what Paul calls modesty then we have no need to talk about each clothing item and label it as

good or bad. Anything that causes sexual enticement is not fitting for a believer and anything that could be looked at and labeled by the world as sexy is not to be seen among the believers SEXINESS is not MODESTY. In todays Christianity there is a going doctrine of THE HEART, which says that it is no longer about the outward appearance of a Christian which matters but the heart the biggest question is that, where is that in the bible? If it cant be found in the bible then where does it come from? What you decide to wear at any time has to do with what is your motive for wearing that thing. The inside is reflected on the outside and Jesus says to the Pharisees Blind Pharisee, FIRST CLEANSE THE INSIDE OF THE CUP AND DISH, THAT THE OUTSIDE OF THEM MAY BE CLEAN ALSO. (Matthew 23:26) You cant be clean on the inside and reflect dirt on the outside. Solomon also says As water reflects the face, SO ONE'S LIFE REFLECTS THE HEART. (Proverbs 27:19) Your life reflects what is in your heart; your choice of clothing and your lifestyle are decisions of your heart, also Jesus adds about the heart saying FOR OUT OF THE HEART PROCEED evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: (Matthew 15:19). Solomon says Then out came a woman to meet him, DRESSED LIKE A PROSTITUTE AND WITH CRAFTY INTENT. (Proverbs

7:10) You cant have the heart of a saint and dress like a prostitute, Solomon even tells us that the prostitute has a crafty heart and intent; what intent could you possibly have that is godly or holy by dressing like a harlot in public and even worse in church.? Let each search his/her heart. Weve been focusing on women; let us now shift our focus to men. In the book of Ezekiel the bible reveals to us that there is a kind of way men can be or dress which is inappropriate or immodest and could entice women to be lustful. It says figuratively about Jerusalem (Oholibah) and Samaria (Oholah) as women, first to Samaria saying THEN OHOLAH LUSTED after other lovers instead of me, and she gave her love to the Assyrian officers. They were all attractive young men, captains and commanders DRESSED IN HANDSOME BLUE, CHARIOTEERS DRIVING THEIR HORSES. (Ezekiel 23:5-6), secondly to Jerusalem saying SHE LUSTED for the neighboring Assyrians, captains and rulers, CLOTHED MOST GORGEOUSLY, horsemen riding on horses, all of them desirable young men. (Ezekiel 23:12) These men of Assyria (figuratively) were dressed expensively and gorgeously and the two women LUSTED after them. Sometimes men want to dress very expensively with the aim to attract women and all such things are evil. There is so much sexual

immorality in the church today and this issue of dressing is one of the main causes. The whole point of dressing modestly is for the sole reason of sexual immorality because Jesus said I say to you that WHOEVER LOOKS AT A WOMAN TO LUST FOR HER HAS ALREADY COMMITTED ADULTERY WITH HER IN HIS HEART. (Matthew 5:28) He doesnt just say this to man but to women as well. Therefore in order for us to avoid this kind of sin among ourselves as the church; we need to dress appropriately because anything that we wear which causes sexual thoughts towards each other causes sin. Let none be selfish but think about each other; we could be wearing things that cause the weak in faith to sin in their conscience and Christ is displeased with it. Paul says But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, YOU SIN AGAINST CHRIST. (1 Corinthians 8:12) When you harm someones thoughts and cause them to sin against Jesus by imparting sexual thoughts in their hearts by the way you dress, you sin against the Master Himself and God will judge you. Therefore the conclusion is that you should make up your mind not TO PUT ANY STUMBLING BLOCK OR OBSTACLE in the way of a brother or sister. (Romans 14:13). Peter admonishes us and especially the women saying Do NOT LET YOUR ADORNMENT BE MERELY OUTWARD

arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel RATHER LET IT BE THE HIDDEN PERSON OF THE HEART, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. (1 Peter 3:3). Yes, God doesnt look at the outward appearance but at the heart (1 Samuel 16:6-7, Job 10:4) but man does and that is the reason He requires us to be dressed modestly for each others sake and for loves sake, For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. (Galatians 5:14) Therefore if we cant keep this commandment we definitely cant keep the rest, since it sums all of them up.

God Bless You.

Sins Against Brothers. 1 Corinthians 8:12 (ESV) Thus, SINNING AGAINST YOUR BROTHERS and wounding their conscience when it is weak, YOU SIN AGAINST CHRIST. Paul is not talking about our physical brothers in the opening verse, not that we should sin against them, but he is mainly referring to our brothers and even sisters in the Lord. Actually the opening scripture is taken from the English Standard Version of the bible, and if we look at the KJV the word brothers is actually replaced by the word brethren which includes both male and female. The bible says FOR YOU ARE ALL THE CHILDREN OF GOD, BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS. (Galatians 3:26), meaning that based on our common faith in Christ we are all a big family of God, the socalled household of faith (Galatians 6:10). Therefore whether African, American, Australian or Asian or any other ethnic group, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. There is NEITHER JEW NOR GENTILE, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28) and also Paul says Therefore, from now on, WE REGARD NO ONE ACCORDING TO THE FLESH. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know

Him thus no longer. (2 Corinthians 5:16). Sometimes we are so concerned about ethnicity and race that we forget who we truly are in the Lord. These barriers even among Christians which exist due to ethnic backgrounds have to come to an end. We need to stop sinning against each other as brothers and sisters in the Lord. Jesus gave one commandment saying A new commandment I give to you, THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. (John 13:34). These days it seems more and more difficult for brethren to love each other. There is so much selfishness among believers; even in the desires of things that we want to please the Lord with. There is so much competition and selfish ambitions against each other in the church. Pastors are fighting against each other for positions and leaders against one another, is that walking in brotherly love as the Lord desires? Believers compete with each other in faith, in the knowledge of the bible and even in making prayers this is not LOVE. Because our faith is acted out without love with end up harming and sinning against each other. Paul says For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, BUT FAITH WORKING THROUGH LOVE. (Galatians 5:6) are we walking in faith working through love? Paul talks about this kind of destructive faith filled with selfishness

speaking about things offered to idols, saying For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idols temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? BUT WHEN YOU THUS SIN AGAINST THE BRETHREN, AND WOUND THEIR WEAK CONSCIENCE, YOU SIN AGAINST CHRIST. THEREFORE, IF FOOD MAKES MY BROTHER STUMBLE, I WILL NEVER AGAIN EAT MEAT, LEST I MAKE MY BROTHER STUMBLE. (1 Corinthians 8:10). There are things that are not necessarily sin, but when we do them not being mindful of the fact that they could be wounding a brother or sister who, because of their weak conscience, considers it as sin then we sin against them and even worse against Christ Himself. Paul adds saying Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, YOU ARE NO LONGER WALKING IN LOVE. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. THEREFORE DO NOT LET YOUR GOOD BE SPOKEN OF AS EVIL; (Romans 14:15-16). We need leave behind the things that cause our family in God to stumble, as we also said in one of our topics (Modest Dressing). If drinking a glass of wine is shunned by your brother as sinning, dont drink it . If your movies are labeled by your brother as sin, never

watch them Let us put no stumbling block in each others way, decide that It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine NOR DO ANYTHING BY WHICH YOUR BROTHER STUMBLES OR IS OFFENDED OR IS MADE WEAK (Romans 14:21) Paul also says Everything is permissible," but not everything is helpful. "Everything is permissible," but not everything builds up. NO ONE SHOULD SEEK HIS OWN GOOD, BUT THE GOOD OF THE OTHER PERSON. (1 Corinthians 10:23-24). Some of us are very liberal in our walk with Christ because of our faith, therefore we feel like all things are permissible for us nevertheless we should put no stumbling block in the others way to grieve them and cause them to sin, DO YOU HAVE FAITH? HAVE IT TO YOURSELF BEFORE GOD. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves (Romans 14:22). We sometimes live and spend so much of our fellowship time judging and condemning one another, the socalled super-Christians who have by some means started walking properly in the faith are judging the others who are struggling to walk, forgetting that they too were in a similar position and it should not be so brethren. BUT WHY DO YOU JUDGE YOUR BROTHER? OR WHY DO YOU SHOW CONTEMPT FOR YOUR BROTHER? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 12:10). James also exhorts us as

brethren not to slander each other, or judge and talk badly about each other saying DO NOT SPEAK EVIL OF ONE ANOTHER, BRETHREN. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. (James 4:11). Paul shows how hypocritical judgment against each other is when he says THEREFORE YOU ARE INEXCUSABLE, O MAN, WHOEVER YOU ARE WHO JUDGE, FOR IN WHATEVER YOU JUDGE ANOTHER YOU CONDEMN YOURSELF; for you who judge practice the same things. (Romans 2:1) we judge others today, and then tomorrow we practice the same things. Nonetheless he is not saying that we should not reveal sin when its lurking among us and reprove it but that we put no sentence rashly upon anyone and in so doing condemn them. We are of the same Father in love and we should not harm one another and sin against each other. Malachi the prophet prophesies to his brethren in Israel saying HAVE WE NOT ALL ONE FATHER? HAS NOT ONE GOD CREATED US? why do we deal treacherously with one another by profaning the covenant of the fathers? (Malachi 2:10) if the same God is our Father, why are we hurting and defaming each other, when we should love each other as a family? Stephen speaks of Moses

also wondering the same thing about two men of the children of Israel in Egypt when they were fighting, Stephen says Moses saw them and said MEN, YOU ARE BRETHREN; WHY DO YOU WRONG ONE ANOTHER? (Acts 7:26) Moses is seeing the same thing happening today among us and the same question still springs up in his mind. BROTHER GOES TO LAW AGAINST BROTHER and that before unbelievers! (1 Corinthians 6:6). When we consider one another as brethren, we are able to stir up love within us (Hebrews 10:24) and not harm each other. There is so much envy and jealousy among us and the church is behaving like natural man and mere children; Paul says For ye are yet carnal: FOR WHEREAS THERE IS AMONG YOU ENVYING, AND STRIFE, AND DIVISIONS, ARE YE NOT CARNAL, AND WALK AS MEN? (1 Corinthians 3:3). Jealousy is tearing churches apart, where pastors are jealous and envious of other pastors and brethren among brethren. Why did Cain murder Abel? Was it not because of jealousy for his sacrifice? (Genesis 4). Why did the brothers of Joseph try to kill him and ended up selling him to the Ishmaelites? Was it not because of envy because his father favored him more? And the bible says NOW ISRAEL LOVED JOSEPH MORE THAN ALL HIS CHILDREN, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many

colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, THEY HATED HIM AND COULD NOT SPEAK PEACEABLY TO HIM. (Genesis 37:3-4). When brethren in the church are blessed and gifted of God, why do we not rejoice with them? God knows our hearts. Why are we angry with our brothers and that without a cause? Jesus says But I say to you that WHOEVER IS ANGRY WITH HIS BROTHER WITHOUT A CAUSE SHALL BE IN DANGER OF THE JUDGMENT. And whoever says to his brother, Raca! shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, You fool! shall be in danger of hell fire (Matthew 5:22). Brethren covet each others wives and husbands and defraud each other in matters concerning marriage, Paul warns saying Gods will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. NEVER HARM OR CHEAT A CHRISTIAN BROTHER IN THIS MATTER BY VIOLATING HIS WIFE, FOR THE LORD AVENGES ALL SUCH SINS, AS WE HAVE SOLEMNLY WARNED YOU BEFORE. (1 Thessalonians 4:3-6). Solomon talks about the anger and state of a man who has been cheated this ways saying For jealousy is a husbands fury; therefore he

will not spare in the day of vengeance. He will accept no recompense, nor will he be appeased though you give many gifts. (Proverbs 6:34-35). How will you win your brother over when he is offended in such a way? Solomon also says A BROTHER OFFENDED IS HARDER TO WIN THAN A STRONG CITY (Proverbs 18:19). If there is any way we have offended our brothers, we need to be reconciled with them in the Spirit of Love. We should never be proud, if we have done anything wrong to our brethren let us confess our faults and ask for forgiveness. If we feel our brothers have wronged us and maybe they might have done it unintentionally we need to let them know between us and them about how we feel and even the Lord Himself admonishes us saying MOREOVER IF YOUR BROTHER SINS AGAINST YOU, GO AND TELL HIM HIS FAULT BETWEEN YOU AND HIM ALONE. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. (Matthew 18:15). Lets confess our faults against each other to each other and give no place to Satan since we are not ignorant of his devices. Lets forgive one another just as Christ forgave us (Colossians 3:13). Brethren ABOVE ALL THESE THINGS PUT ON LOVE, WHICH IS THE BOND OF PERFECTION (Colossians 3:14).

LET BROTHERLY LOVE CONTINUE (Hebrews 13:1). We have to love each other as brethren or else all hope is lost and we are in utter darkness. Walking in the light is held upon this very principle and John says HE WHO SAYS HE IS IN THE LIGHT, AND HATES HIS BROTHER, IS IN DARKNESS UNTIL NOW. HE WHO LOVES HIS BROTHER ABIDES IN THE LIGHT, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. (1 John 2:9-10). Let us love one another brethren, let us not sin against each other, and let us move out of the realm where death exists for it is said We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. HE WHO DOES NOT LOVE HIS BROTHER ABIDES IN DEATH (1 John 3:14). BE KINDLY AFFECTIONATE TO ONE ANOTHER WITH BROTHERLY LOVE, in honor giving preference to one another; (Romans 12:10). The whole point of this salvation and this liberty is to serve each other. We ought to be servants to each but not in duty but in LOVE; Paul says For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, BUT THROUGH LOVE SERVE ONE ANOTHER. (Galatians 5:13). There is no more time for wasting, let us put off the old man with his lust and jealousies and wickedness and let us rather be patient with another, walking with love and care towards each other whilst giving no place to Satan to work his will in our lives

through strife and discord. Instead of defaming and defrauding each other as saints let us wash each others feet and carry each others burdens and bear with each other through this pilgrimage and the God of love will be with us. Last of all, Honor all people. LOVE THE BROTHERHOOD. Fear God. Honor the king. (1 Peter 2:17).

God Bless You.