The whole point that the King of kings leads the whole history of mankind is to give a new birth to the power of humility and devotion to God. Humility and devotion can be recognized, but it cannot be emulated. The Spirit of humility and devotion can be found in Jesus setting exemplary examples on earth, progressing gradually towards the cross in submission, and reigning but yet co-working with His disciples even till now. It can also be found in Mary anointing Jesus with the most expensive perfume and wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair <John 12>. It was just 6 days before Jesus was to be lifted up and Satan, the ruler of the world, will be cast out. We are moving towards Good Friday, which comes in 6 days too.
If a true believer desires and really makes it a point to enter into serving, he grabs on to the promise that the privilege of serving will reward him with heavenly inheritance and blessings to his life. The promise of Jesus’ power is given to him. Yet, once he steps into serving, he will find as if that power is taken from him. Servitude requires faithfulness and continuance. It can continue because there is humility and devotion in Christ. In the whole nature of serving, the whole point is becoming like Jesus in humility and devotion. This has always been the traditional gospel from Abraham, till David, till Jesus, till the ministers with the Spirit of God. The white hairs, loss of hair, wrinkles that are lines of compassion and understanding are evidences from old pastors who serve in humility and devotion to Christ.
Humility and devotion are not just a matter of willingness. Why can a person continue to be faithful? Endurance cannot last, but finding the hand of God always helping lasts.
– Trying (religion) does not work, because it seeks for what it already knows, which is to say that there is already ignorance. The whole spiritual atmosphere has to be changed (gospel).
– Keeping on thinking whether one is worthy enough for God opens a loophole for where Satan can come in and accuse and take away your strength. The whole belief and lifestyle have to enter into God’s ultimate gospelization purpose for progressing the times and world.
– Waiting upon the time when sufferings are gone definitely does not work because the end of the deceived mind is just to get into a self-thought ideal world of no more spiritual battles. At your difficult period, God’s plan is to stretch your vessel.
– Following the need to keep to a schedule (immediately follow the flesh) after submitting just one time does not work too. You may be too impetuous, anxious and dependent on a feelings-based belief. Listening in to the instructions of the Holy Spirit will pave the way for step-by-step submission to His humility and devotion.
– Trying your best (or half-heartedness) to remember many promises in the head do not work too. You have forgotten about miracles testifying to God’s help happen when your serving is God-driven.
This was what happened to me when the serving gets tough. At first, I felt really hard to breathe. Then I learnt to give thanks for the privilege to serving. As I accept the challenge to serve more by stretching myself, I became aggressive and even saw quarrels as I reasoned out with God’s righteousness in me. But it just wasn’t the right spirit. God told me to be more gracious. Therefore I struggled and prayed. I remembered Jesus responding with healing an invalid even though he complained. The invalid was already lame for 38 years. It was not just a complaint. He really could see no hope at all. That is why Jesus healed him even though there is not a hint of faith in that invalid <John 5>, because the heart of the invalid had been made ready for 38 years. In the end, I knew God’s word for me; He wanted me to continue in serving faithfully. He says, “It is only at your busyness, yet knowing that it is the plan of God for you (four gospelizations), that you can learn to rely on the Holy Spirit, and learn the how-to in relying on Him.” That is really grace. When it came, the greater Spirit of humility and devotion came into me.
How can God come and help us? The following 3 stages or levels of understanding – which in fact is the Trinity – the Word of God, knowing Christ Himself, and reliance on the Holy Spirit are given so that we will go towards desiring, apprehending and embodying the source of all blessings, i.e. God Jehovah, so that humility and devotion are borne into and out from us.
1) Truth -> Promises
When the truth is out, we are set free from all forms of misunderstandings, deceptions and unneeded accusations.
John 8:32 “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Freedom is not doing whatever you want unbridled towards chaos, but being able to manage everything in the most orderly and controlled way.
God is alive. He loves you. Jesus died for you, and the Father has now bound Himself to give you only good things. There is another set of truths. You will die. You will live forever in the new heavens and new earth if you have a born again belief. For now, you are an exile on the earth. Nothing on earth is truly worth putting your hope in.
When the above becomes God’s personal promise to you, everything will start getting meaningful when you align in all your ways to God’s ultimate purpose in building His kingdom, exalting Christ and gathering all His children on earth. With that, you are promised with all forms of creativeness in serving Him as He has given you every kind of conditions without coincidence but with the purpose of blessing yourself, your family, the region, and all nations.
The truths of God have now become alive. However, they may be conditional to your state of spiritual life. E.g. If you have accusations in your heart, the promises may in fact become points that make you think you are far away from God because you just cannot experience or believe in the promises.
2) Christ -> Truly believe
Galatians 2:20 says “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Realizing that righteousness is not from myself, but it is Christ’s righteousness that is now found in me because through His blood for me, I can now come to the throne of God any time. I do not come because I am better off, but I come because my life is no longer mine. This rids off of all accusations, inferiority and any feelings of sorrows you might have struggled to come stand before the Lord. “God has His plan for me even through my weaknesses” <Ro 8:28>. There can be sins that must have consequences, but Christ’s love cannot be abolished because of any imperfect behaviors.
God sees you as perfect. That is because of Jesus’ perfection, not yours. You deserve hell. Therefore, it makes you all the way understanding God’s immense and amazing grace on you. Your life, your expressions and your everything – you have no right to be unhappy.
Apprehending Christ makes one understand what identity he has.
<John 1:12, 13> “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Taking Christ upon yourself, you are now starting to taste what is meant by the authority of God’s children. But it cannot just stay here. Christ went through death and resurrection in order to give transforming life to followers. He promised that with the gift of the Holy Spirit.
3) Holy Spirit -> Life and Lifestyle That Lives out and Testifies to the Spirit of Christ
<2Co 3:17> “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
The theologians from the 16th Century till now had suffered much in order to bring about the purity and completeness of God’s Word.
<Acts 2:17> “And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams”.
Those who believe Jesus in being crucified in the flesh and arisen already have the Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit comes at the same time you find out that the Holy Spirit is working in you all these while. All your conditions, all your timetable, from past till present, even into the future, are all the very conditions God has glorified and will be glorifying for His use. The Holy Spirit is co-working with you right now. No one can truly submit to the Lord. True submission comes from Holy Spirit working through us.
When your heart is turned to the Lord, the Spirit will reveal Himself to us. When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will rely on the Holy Spirit’s comfort, instructions, and anointing, you yourself being His vessels or witnesses of His great work. Such knowledge and reliance on the Holy Spirit is unlimited.
How do I know if I am living on the edge of the Holy Spirit?
(1) You enjoy the Spirit of Son-ship
Many believers are un-assured of their lives. Their prayers are only asking the Lord for help without any confidence that their lives are blameless, accomplished by the blood of Christ. However, there are remnants that are like Noah even when the whole world has turned upon them. They are blameless because God looks at them as blameless.
<Ps 15:1-2>
O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart;
<Ps 24:9-10>
Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory!”
(2) You receive and see promises: Emmanuel, protection, guidance, providence, and accomplishment
Some believers only receive fulfillments through prayers. However, those with the Spirit confirm promises through prayer fulfillments.
<Ps 18:32-37>
the God who equipped me with strength
and made my way blameless.
He made my feet like the feet of a deer
and set me secure on the heights.
He trains my hands for war,
so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You have given me the shield of your salvation,
and your right hand supported me,
and your gentleness made me great.
You gave a wide place for my steps under me,
and my feet did not slip.
I pursued my enemies and overtook them,
and did not turn back till they were consumed.
(3) According to the promises received, the Spirit of promises burns and tells you to throw away your own motives, purpose, contents, and methods
<Ps 22:1>
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
<Ps 17:13-14>
Arise, O Lord! Confront him, subdue him!
Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,
from men by your hand, O Lord, from men of the world whose portion is in this life.
You fill their womb with treasure; they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants.
(4) Through the Holy Spirit, you can confirm that the Holy Spirit is pleased, is joyful and is praising you by seeing that He loves your thoughts, judgments and the words you speak to others
Believers nowadays do not really enjoy walking with God because they cannot see the support of the Lord with them. But in the midst of troubles and even in the imminent threat of death, David can see God treating David like an honored guest even amidst fiery attacks from enemies.
<Ps 23:5>
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.”
(5) Prayer continues rhythmically and unceasingly in intimacy and depths of communion in the Spirit
May our prayers open up the spiritual ears to hear the word of God in all things, all places, and at all times.
<Ps 19:1-2, 6, 14>
He heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge
…
and there is nothing hidden from Its heat…
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
Gospelization 