Month: March 2021

Posted in Ages 11 & above, The Trinity

The “Holy Spirit”

Posted on by christianliving4young

Personality is defined as the characteristic patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that make a person unique. Each of us have a very distinctive and unique personality. We might resemble our siblings, parents or even grandparents in few behavioral traits, however our personality will be very different from them. As we know, we are all created in the image and likeness of God. So does God have a personality? Of course, YES. Our God is a triune God and each of the Godhead has a distinctive personality, however is in perfect harmony with each other. We normally get to study about the persona of the Father and the Son, but nothing much about the Holy Spirit.

Let us open the treasure book and find the Holy Spirit.

OPENING THE TREASURE BOOK undefined

The Persona of the Holy Spirit


Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
Your Spirit is good.
Lead me in the land of uprightness.

Psalms 143:10


But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.

John 15:26

But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

1 Corinthians 12: 11


And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Ephesians 4:30

The Holy Spirit is good and is the Spirit of truth. He has a will of His own which is in perfect alignment with the will of the other Godheads. However, unlike the other personalities of the trinity, Holy Spirit is very gentle and sensitive. We already learned about the Father God (The anger of God) that in all unrighteousness and ungodliness, His wrath is revealed. However, with Holy Spirit the emotion is different. In Isaiah 63:10 we read “But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit;”. Ungodliness and unrighteousness grieves Him. He is very sensitive. And probably, this is the reason why Jesus taught us not to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit and that such a sin is considered unpardonable.

“Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

Matthew 12: 31 – 32

Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”— because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

Mark 3: 28- 30

Blasphemy is the offence of speaking in a manner showing lack of respect especially against God or sacred things. It is basically profane talk. Being disrespectful to Holy spirit and blasphemy against the Spirit will not be tolerated anytime. There is no forgiveness to such a sin – it is Unpardonable. In fact, such a person is subject to eternal condemnation. The Holy Spirit is treated with utmost respect by every persona of the trinity and expects us to do the same.

Here, Matthew 12 and Mark 3 reports the same event. When Jesus continued healing and freeing people from bondage of evil spirits, the Pharisees said Jesus is doing all this with the help of an unclean spirit. This is a blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. So be careful about what we speak about the work of Holy Spirit done through His people all around the world. Let it not be a blasphemy resulting in eternal condemnation.

So in conclusion, Holy Spirit is good, always truthful, very gentle & sensitive having a will of His own. More of His persona will be revealed to you in your personal walk with Him.

The role of Holy Spirit in our lives

Ephesians 1:13 states, when we accept Jesus as our savior, we are sealed with His Spirit. This spirit of God dwells with us and in us. The worldly man who is controlled by the desires of his flesh (Galatians 5:19-21), will not know him and cannot receive him.

If you are not saved, invite Jesus to your heart today and confess Him with your mouth to accept Him as your savior and the Spirit of God will come and abide with you and in you!!!

This concept is similar to that seen in the business world. If a big firm acquires a smaller company, a representative or a group of representatives are sent to the newly acquired organization to overlook their affairs, help them and guide them in following the company polices, rules and regulation.

Similarly, once we accept Jesus, the Holy Spirit lives with us and in us as a representative of the triune God overlooking our affairs and offering us guidance and counsel.

Let us look into the major roles of the Holy spirit in our lives as a representative of the triune Godhead.

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.

John 14:16

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

John 14:26


The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

2 Corinthians 13:14

The major role of Holy Spirit in our lives is that He is our Helper who abides with us and in us. He is also our teacher who teaches us all things about God, being Godly and righteous. He is also in communion with us. Communion is a close relationship with someone in which feelings and thoughts are exchanged. So he is in a relationship with us, one that is similar to a friend / Soul mate.

Treasures uncovered

The Holy Spirit is good, always truthful, very gentle & sensitive having a will of His own. More of His persona will be revealed in our personal walk with Him.

Blasphemy against the Holy spirit and being disrespectful to Him will not be tolerated anytime. It is an unpardonable sin and will never be forgiven. Such a person is under eternal condemnation.

Holy Spirit is our Helper, our Teacher and most of all our Friend and Soul Mate.

Once He comes to live in us, there are also many provisions made available to us – freedom, hope, life, secrets of God, strength, counsel, guidance and so on. He will do His part no matter what, however in order to properly make use of this helper in our life, we too should invest time in the relationship and be sensitive to His voice in our lives.

Prayer:

Father, we thank you for this valuable lesson on the Holy Spirit. We thank you for sending Him to live in us and with us. Holy Spirit, we thank you for being our helper, our teacher and our friend. Thank you for all the counsel and guidance you provide us. Help us to be sensitive to your voice. Help us not to grieve you nor sin against you. Please reveal more of you in our lives. In Jesus’ name Amen.

Posted in Ages 11 & above, The Negatives

Rebellion

Posted on by christianliving4young

Have you ever rebelled in your life? Rebellion is nothing but defiance of authority or control – it refers to the resistance against the order of any established higher authority. It could be your parents, your teachers, your educational institution, your government, etc. Sometimes it is just that we do not like a person or a group and hence will be rebellious to everything they say or do. Or sometimes it is to fight for our rights or a certain cause. Rebellion is promoted in the times that we live. Does that mean it is the right thing to do?

We will look into the treasure book to find clues.

OPENING THE TREASURE BOOK undefined

Clue 1: Rebellion against GOD

Rebellion against God means defying His supreme authority and control over our lives. It also means disobeying His commands and statutes.

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,
And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

1 Samuel 15:23

Rebellion against God is SIN. More than our actions, God is interested in our hearts (What does God notice in me?). So upon weighing our hearts, if found to be rebellious and stubborn, then it is sin and evil in the eyes of God!

But they rebelled against Me and would not obey Me. They did not all cast away the abominations which were before their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said, ‘I will pour out My fury on them and fulfill My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.’ 

Ezekiel 20:8

As we learned in “The anger of God”, disobedience is evil in the eyes of God and continuous evildoing without repentance arouses His anger. Ezekiel 20:8, also says that disobedience and rebellion brings about the anger of God!

However, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you, as it was against your fathers.

1 Samuel 12:15

But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; So He turned Himself against them as an enemy, And He fought against them.

Isaiah 63:10

Our triune God is the ultimate power in the entire universe. He is the beginning and the end. There is no one else who is like Him. As the word of God says in Romans 8:31, when this powerful God is on our side, what can bother us – If God is for us, who can be against us? He becomes our strength and our fortress. However, if we choose to disobey God and be rebellious, then it is not going to be easy! Rebellion grieves God and turns Him into our enemy!!! His hand will be turned against us. How could we stand against the all powerful God? Do we stand a chance against HIM? If God becomes our enemy, whom do we turn to? That will be unbearable and a state that none of us would want to be in.

Rebellion against God is a SIN. It grieves God and brings about His anger. It causes His hand to be against us and to fight us like an enemy.

Clue 2: Rebellion against parents

If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and who, when they have chastened him, will not heed them, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city, to the gate of his city. And they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones; so you shall put away the evil from among you, and all Israel shall hear and fear.

Deuteronomy 21:18-21

For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’

Matthew 15:4

The punishment for being rebellious to parents was very harsh under the law given to Israelites. Rebellious children were supposed to be stoned to death if they did not repent and heed to parents because rebellion is evil in the eyes of God. For God, death is the deserving punishment for rebellion to parents. It is that serious before God. God wants us to honor our parents and give them the respect that is due to them. It pleases Him.

Rebellion against parents is serious before God and deserves the punishment of death.

Clue 3: Rebellion against authorities

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

Romans 13:1-2

Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

Romans 13:7

God is the highest authority in the entire universe. So all governing authorities on the earth are appointed by Him. There is no authority that exists without God appointing them. So He wants us to be subject to these authorities, pay the right taxes and give honor to those who are deserving. Resisting them is to resist God. This brings about judgement.

The rulers are all appointed to bring about good and resist evil. However, what if the ruler itself turns evil. In that case, are we allowed to rebel? Let us look into an example from the book of Daniel chapter 3.

Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon built a huge image of himself in gold and set it up in his province to be worshipped by all people. When music is played with different kinds of musical instruments, all the people should fall down and worship the golden image. Those who disobey will be cast immediately into a burning fiery furnace. Now, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were young Jews who were put in charge of affairs of the province of Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar was told that these men were not obedient and did not worship the golden image. He was furious and brought these young men to be questioned. When asked, they said they will not worship other Gods or the golden image of king, but only the living God. Since they disobeyed the king, he was furious and ordered the furnace to be made seven times hotter and threw these men into the furnace. The furnace was sooo hot that the men who took these young Jews were killed in the flame. The three young men fell into the middle of the furnace and when the king looked he saw four men instead of the three men who were thrown in. Seeing they did not die, the king called out to them to come out. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came out of the furnace and those who gathered saw that the fire had no power over them. Neither their hair nor their garments were affected. There was not even any smell of fire on them. The King was astonished and praised the God of the young Jews and promoted them.

In this example we see that King Nebuchadnezzar ordered an evil decree – to bow down and worship a golden image of himself. This violated the commandment given by God – “You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image and not bow down to them nor serve them”. So the young Jews here refused to obey the command given by king because it violated God’s commandment. They did not rebel against the authority of the king but disobeyed the decree as it was against God’s command. Their heart’s intent was not to rebel against the king but to obey God’s command.

We see a similar case with Daniel. Daniel was asked to pray to King, and did not. So he was thrown into a den of lions but came out without being eaten by them. His intent was to obey God and keep his commands. God delivered Daniel from the lions.

If the decrees issued by our authorities is in direct violation of God’s commands, we should make every effort to obey the commands of God who is the highest authority, no matter what the consequences are going to be. But our heart should not rebel against the authorities. God will definitely deliver us out of the consequences, like how he did supernaturally for the young Jews and Daniel.

Rebellion against authorities ordained by God is to resist God Himself and brings about judgement. If decrees and laws put up by authorities are against God’s command, rebellion is not the option but choose to obey God’s commands as He is supreme authority.

Treasures uncovered

Rebellion against God is a SIN. It grieves God and brings about His anger. It causes His hand to be against us and to fight us like an enemy.

Rebellion against parents is serious before God and deserves the punishment of death.

Rebellion against authorities ordained by God is to resist God Himself and brings about judgement. If decrees and laws put up by authorities are against God’s command, rebellion is not the option but choose to obey God’s commands as He is supreme authority.

God hates rebellion and considers it Sin. Because our God hates a rebellious heart, rebellion is never an option for us except when it comes to devil. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Prayer:

Father, we thank you for teaching us that rebellion is never an option for us because you hate a rebellious heart. Father, help us to not follow the world and what it considers right but be obedient to you and always keep your commands. In Jesus name, Amen.

Posted in Ages 11 & above, God & Me

The anger of God

Posted on by christianliving4young

Have you ever been a subject of someone’s anger? Specially those who have authority over you like your parents, teachers, bosses, etc.? Well, it is not an easy thing to handle!!! No one can predict how people act when they get angry. The aftermath of anger can be pretty serious. It makes us miserable, helpless and sad – it can even hurt us physically and mentally. It might take several days or even months to get back to normal. This is the case when we are subject to human anger.

Does God ever get angry? What would it be like?

Let us open the treasure book to find clues.

OPENING THE TREASURE BOOK undefined

Clue 1: Does God get Angry?

The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. 

Psalm 103:8-9

For His anger is but for a moment, his favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. 

Psalm 30:5

God is LOVE. He is merciful and gracious. These are His major traits that are evidently seen. However, He does get angry but is very slow to get there. Nevertheless, His anger does not last for long. His favor towards His children is life-long because His mercy and kindness overpower the anger factor. Anger is not the major behavioral trait of God.

So, God does get Angry, but this is not His major characteristic. He is slow to anger and His anger is momentary – does not last for long.

Clue 2: What provokes / kindles His anger?

There are many instances in the bible that addresses God’s anger. We will look into a couple of them.

Example 1: Individual behavior – 1 Kings 11

We know that King Solomon is the wisest of wise in the history of human kind. Solomon loved God and walked in His ways when he was young. God also appeared to him twice during his life time. However, there was a major flaw in his life. He married from nations that the Lord said not to marry from and had warned, “Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.” He loved many foreign women including the daughter of Pharaoh and clung to them. Eventually, it happened as God had warned. When Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart after other gods. His heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, but went after other Gods. He built places of worship for all the Gods his foreign wives worshiped. Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not fully follow the Lord. So the Lord became ANGRY with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the Lord God, who had appeared to him twice and had commanded him not to go after other gods. Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant. Nevertheless, I will not do it in your days, for the sake of your father David. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. But, I will not tear away the whole kingdom, I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen.”

Here we see an individual who provoked God to anger. God strictly warned the Israelites not to marry from other nations knowing very well that this could turn them away to other Gods. Solomon, even being the wisest of the wise and having a personal relationship with God, missed out on this command. As we learned in “What is your relationship status?”, anything that takes up space in our heart more than God is our idol. For Solomon, His love for other women took up more priority in his heart than God. He clung on to them more than God. Hence his heart was turned away from God. This is an after effect of straying away from God’s commands. He started worshipping idols. This is evil in the eyes of God.

Solomon disobeyed God and did evil in the eyes of God. This made GOD ANGRY. Again, as we learned in “Obedience“, there is punishment associated with disobedience . But even in the punishment God gave Solomon, we see the love, faithfulness and graciousness of God. He remembered His servant David (Solomon’s father) and made the punishment lighter for the sake of David.

Example 2: Corporate behavior

Numbers 11: 1-2

Now when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the Lord burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp. Then the people cried out to Moses, and when Moses prayed to the Lord, the fire was quenched. 

Judges 2: 11 – 15

Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals; and they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the Lord to anger. They forsook the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel.  So He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. Wherever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for calamity, as the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn to them. And they were greatly distressed.

Here we see God is angered because of corporate behavior. God’s chosen people Israelites, complained after God brought them out of slavery in Egypt. The Lord heard them complaining and being ungrateful. This aroused His anger. There were consequences associated with it. In the second instance, the Israelites, did evil in the eyes of God – disobedience by worshipping idols. They were punished and were in great distress.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.

Romans 1:18

In fact, in all unrighteousness and ungodliness, the wrath of God is revealed. Disobedience, idol worship, complaining, being ungrateful, etc., are evil before God and fruits of unrighteousness / ungodliness. Individually and corporately, evildoing kindles the anger of God and there are consequences associated with this.

Treasures uncovered

God gets Angry, but this is not His major characteristic. He is slow to anger and His anger does not last for long.

Individually and corporately, evildoing kindles the anger of God and there are consequences associated with this.

As soon as you realize the mistake on your part, repent and plead mercy. God is gracious to forgive and He abounds in mercy. Moreover, our advocate Jesus pleads on our behalf. Put away all wickedness from your heart that leads you to unrighteousness. Repent and cling on to Jesus.

Prayer:

Father, we thank you for teaching us this aspect of your character. Thank you for being merciful and gracious. Help us to realize the unrighteousness in our life and put it away. Help our hearts to cling on to you and nothing else. Thank you Jesus for taking our punishments. In Jesus name, Amen.

Posted in Ages 11 & above, The Negatives

Our language matters !!!

Posted on by christianliving4young

In this time that we live, following trends and being trendy is very common especially among youngsters. It is considered COOL to be following the latest trends. Using foul or vulgar language is considered very trendy and cool. The social media and even the visual media promotes this to a great extent. Most of the web series and movies that we like to watch is filled with abusive / bad language. It is glorified and promoted such that people think it is normal to use those words. Is it okay to follow trends like these blindly? Well, everyone does it and considers it cool does not mean it is always the right thing to do.

Let us open the treasure book to find out more about this.

OPENING THE TREASURE BOOK undefined

Clue 1: Is it okay to use bad words?

With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?

James 3:9-12

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

Ephesians 4:29

But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

Colossians 3:8

The word of God is our ultimate manual on how to life. It clearly instructs us not to use filthy language. Because we use our mouth to praise God and worship Him. With the same mouth we should not speak cursing words or abusive language to people who are created in the likeness of God. As how a source of fresh water only gives fresh water and not bitter water, we should not speak abusive or bad words that are bitter before God. Unwholesome or corrupt words should not be spoken but only those words that builds or edifies others. So be watchful of the words that you speak. Following trends and going behind them should not cost us our relationship with God and eventually, eternity.

It is not okay to speak abusive / corruptive words, because we use the same mouth to bless our father, our God.

Clue 2: Consequences of filthy language

He also loved cursing, and it came [back] to him; He did not delight in blessing, so it was far from him.

Psalms 109:17, Amplified

The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, But the perverse tongue will be cut out.

Proverbs 10:31

But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Matthew 12:36- 37

As we learned in “Speaking right“, the words that we speak are powerful. Life and death are in the power of tongue and those who love it will eat it’s fruit. Perverse tongue is a sign of unrighteousness. If we use filthy language, we are not in right standing with God. Those who love to use cursing words must beware, for the word of God confirms that the curses that they speak will definitely come back to them. Moreover, for every careless word that we speak, even if it is spoken just for fun, we are accountable before God. Depending on the words that we speak, we will be either justified or condemned.

Clue 3: Desirable language

“He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.

1 Peter 3:10

Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

1 Peter 3:10

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Colossians 4:6

We should refrain ourselves from speaking evil, if we wish to have a good life and if we wish to be in right standing with God. We should keep ourselves from speaking filthiness, foolish talks and vulgar talks even if it is spoken only for fun or for amusing others. Our speech should always be with grace, like a seasoning that is used for food which gives it the flavor and taste. Our graceful speech will complement our character – the icing on top, fitting rightly for a child of God.

Treasures uncovered

Abusive / filthy / foul language should not be used even for the purpose of amusing others / fun or for following trends.

Bad language is a sign of unrighteousness and it has consequences. We are accountable before God for every idle word that we speak.

As how seasoning adds flavor and taste to food, our graceful speech adds flavor to our character.

Always speak right. Do not use foul language to follow trends or to show-off in front of others. It costs us our relationship with God. Consciously refrain yourselves from them. And speak wholesome and fruitful words with grace, giving thanks to God, praising Him and encouraging / building others as is fitting for a child of God.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for teaching us that the use of bad language is not right even for joking. Holy Spirit, awaken our consciousness and help us to refrain from evil talking. Help us to always speak graciously as is fitting for a child of God. In Jesus name, Amen.