Tuesday 18 October 2016

One bad apple doesn't spoil the bunch

The saying goes: "One Rotten apple spoils the whole bunch".
Well, not really.  If we leave the rotten apple for to long then other apples get corrupted.

But if there's just one rotten apple, then it needs to be taken out early before it spoils the rest. Right?

Interesting how people think they need to show grace to rotten apples. That's true but if that doesn't mean they can allow rottn apples inside the church.

It should be made clear where their rightful place belongs and that's outside the good basket of apples.

Giving rotten apples time is the worst thing to do because "time" is their friend & the enemy of good apples.

Time gives the rotten apple "time" to find an accomplice and corrupt it therefore increasing the number of rotten apples. However,  if the master rotten apple is taken out the accomplice may be saved especially if just a small spot of brown corruption is found. It can be purged with the sword, but if the accomplice apple is corrupted through and through then he must  be taken out and if in leadership - dethroned and removed before the accomplice finds another accomplice.

1 Corinthin 5: 7 says: " 7 You must remove the old yeast of sin so that you will be entirely pure. Then you will be like a new batch of dough without any yeast, as indeed I know you actually are."

Ecc 9 also says: "13This wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed great to me:
13Here is another bit of wisdom that has impressed me as I have watched the way our world works.
14There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snaresfn around it.
14There was a small town with only a few people, and a great king came with his army and besieged it.
15Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man.
15A poor, wise man knew how to save the town, and so it was rescued. But afterward no one thought to thank him.
16Then I said:

“Wisdom is better than strength.
Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised,
And his words are not heard.
16So even though wisdom is better than strength, those who are wise will be despised if they are poor. What they say will not be appreciated for long.
17Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard
Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools.

17Better to hear the quiet words of a wise person
than the shouts of a foolish king.

18Wisdom is better than weapons of war;
But one sinner destroys much good.”

Point is to remove evil or the bad apple before it's too late.

May GOD of the most high bless you.

Friday 14 October 2016

Significance of resting in Jesus

The hidden message of Jesus washing his disciples feet.

Jesus washing feet  - Shoes of peace (armour).

Why wash the feet? Jesus prepares us by first washing all the dirt of the world of what we're use to (learnt unpeaceful ways/behaviour). It's a process that requires a time of "sitting", as he rids of the yucky dirt (anything not peaceful like violence, war, discord).

Bible verse: John 13: 1-17 Why did Jesus unclothed his outer garments? A symbol of humility. In order for us to become servants of God we must uncloth pride. Go on our knees in prayer as well.

Why a towel around his waist?A symbol of truth affiliated with the spiritual armour, belt of truth...if we know what's true (Jesus is the way the truth and the life no one comes to the father except through him) and this truth is connected to peace - Ephesians 6:15 NIV " For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.

Jesus has shown us how to connect the two (belt of truth and shoes of peace. Which is only possible via humility.)
(JESUS drying his disciples feet.)

Why bathed people only need to wash feet? We who are washed by Jesus blood consistently need to wash our feet because it's exposed to the things of the world and collects world dust...washing our feet or consistently preparing by reading, meditating and feeding our spirit with God's word ensures we stay free, clean and light of these dust. Another way Jesus is telling us to sit or rest and spend time with him. "He had to wash feet or they wouldn't be truly his".

Bible Verse: John 13:1-17 (KJV) 1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; 3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. 12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.