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READ:

Revelation 12:11b

^11b And they loved not their lives unto the death.

EXHORTATION:

This is a description of the attitude of the saints towards their own lives during the Great Tribulation period. It has already been stated in the first part of this verse that they will wholeheartedly trust in the blood of Christ to overcome the ferocious fury and hostility of Satan against their souls. They are also determined and devoted to bear witness for Christ. They fearlessly confess Jesus Christ and testify concerning Him in the midst of atrocity and violence committed against them. They are fearless and undeterred by the fierce persecution. Violence, blood, suffering and death will not stop them from living out their lives for the testimony of Christ.

The saints of Christ do not go into hiding to avoid the wrath of Satan and his hosts. They will maintain their evangelistic efforts even if it means death to them. Thus, John goes on to pinpoint the attitude behind their bold testimony, i.e. they do not love their lives to the point of death. They refuse to live for themselves. They are least concerned about their own safety when it comes to testifying for Christ.

They truly epitomise Jesus’ teaching on discipleship: “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26). The true follower places Christ above everything else, even above his own life. Furthermore, Jesus said, “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34). Denying oneself and bearing the cross are essential components of a life that is faithful and fervent for Christ. In other words, the faithful believers maintain their witness even if it means martyrdom.

In Revelation 2:10, the believers in Smyrna were told: “Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Many Christians will be persecuted, though not all will be put to death. So Christians must be willing to suffer and die for Christ, if necessary. They should not love a life that does not bear testimony for Christ. If the world and Satan should crush their efforts to live for Christ by inflicting death, they would happily accept it. Like Paul, their testimony would be: “Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death” (Philippians 1:20).

READ:

Revelation 12:11a

^11a And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony.

EXHORTATION:

Satan and his hosts of demons have, according to previous verses of this chapter, been trying to destroy Israel and Christ and all the believers on earth. Satanic destruction has been unleashed against believers all through the ages and will reach its climax against the saints of the Great Tribulation. He will try to destroy and slaughter all of the believing people.

However, Satan will be defeated. Notice what our text says: “they overcame him”. Believers will overcome all satanic opposition and persecution. How would they overcome Satan and his demonic hosts? According to our text, their overcoming of Satan and his demons was not by rebuke, incantations, bindings of demons or exorcism.

They overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 7:14 describes the Tribulation saints as “they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb”. Because of Christ’s blood shed for their redemption, no accusation would stand. No accusation against the suffering saints of the Great Tribulation would stand before the throne of God. In fact, no accusation against any believer in any age would stand. It is not that they possess some personal power of their own, but rather that “God hath set forth (Christ) to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God” (Romans 3:25). As Paul said, “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:6-7; cf. Colossians 1:14). All of the accusations against us fall on deaf ears because we have been saved by the blood of the Lamb, even our Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:12, 14).

What’s more, the believers also overcame Satan “by the word of their testimony”. In a world filled with demonic treachery and opposition, their testimony never wavered. They remained faithful regardless of all the threatening situations brought against them by the fury of Satan. They were unflinching and unwavering in the face of hostility. Their witness was clear and steadfast. Truly, Christians do not surrender; as “overcomers”, they go forth bearing Christ’s testimony, even in times of satanic hostility.

Are you surprised by the title of this article? Corrupt communication is one of the maladies that wreck the peace and progress of many biblical churches in recent days. However, it is not a new phenomenon. It is an age-old problem. The apostle Paul was subjected to awful defamation by several unprincipled groups in the early churches (cf. 2 Cor. 10:10). Even our Lord Jesus Christ was not spared by the evilness of vile men who presented themselves as pious.

These days, our church has been the target of vile, flagrant accusations. These accusers, who generally magnify themselves as pious men with special knowledge of “GBPC’s sin”, have been whispering here and there! They are looking for partners for their gossip mill within our church, so they can cause division within us. May God protect us from their venomous words! 

Let us heed the divine counsel and refuse to be corrupt communicators. “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another… Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:25, 29).

No Corrupt Communication!

Ephesians 4:29a – “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth”.

This is a prohibition against bad speech. The Greek word for “corrupt” denotes that which is putrid, rotten, and hence corrupting, defiling and injurious. Jesus said in Matthew 15:18, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.”

Corrupt communication includes many kinds of bad speech, such as bad language, vulgar and profane exclamations, foolish talking, filthy conversation, unprofitable remarks, profane oaths, lies, false witnessing, angry utterances, provocative words, demeaning statements, hurtful words, curses, threatening, abusive language, ridicule, gossips, slandering, false accusations, proud and arrogant expressions, boasting, flattery, misleading advice, false teaching, unwholesome and filthy songs, etc.

Corrupt communication can easily occur; it is a common malady, even in churches and among Christians. Not only do new Christians fall prey to it, even believers who are well advanced in sanctification have been overtaken by the sin of evil communication. We must always be watchful against falling into this unsavoury conduct. Since our bad speech is an expression of our defiled thoughts and feelings, we must strive to cleanse our hearts and minds constantly, and to keep them from being defiled again.

It is also important that we avoid the company of men and women who engage in evil communication. Those who spend time communing with people who are unguarded in their speech will soon be like them. Those who read unwholesome material or entertain themselves with profane shows will easily learn their bad language and mannerisms. 1 Corinthians 15:33 warns us, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”

Godly men will be cautious of what they say. They will pray to God to help them guard their speech. If we learn to control our tongue, we can avoid many embarrassing situations. We can also avoid many quarrels, as well as the poisoning and even severing of friendships. Let us make David’s prayer in Psalm 19:14 ours as well: “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”

Only That Which is Good for Edification!

Ephesians 4:29b - “but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”

Immediately after prohibiting corrupt communication, Paul encourages good speech. He advises Christians to see that their words are well-chosen, to the extent that they edify others. The conversation of Christians should be honourable and beneficial, so that it edifies, rather than harms or destroys others.

Speech is a special gift from God. We must use it as His Word directs us. Here, we are exhorted to use it for edifying one another. The Greek word that Paul used for “edifying” (oikodómēsis) denotes the act of building a house. In Paul’s epistles, it is used to indicate spiritual nurture or advancement.

We must, through our speech, seek to build one another up. We must speak so as to do good to others. By relating our testimony of salvation and sharing the Gospel of Christ with the unsaved, we can point some souls to Christ our Saviour. Through friendly discussions, we can impart God’s truths to the young or less mature in faith, that they may grow in the knowledge of God’s Word. We can comfort those who are weary and sad with God’s promises. We can prevent some from going astray by providing timely and wise advice. We can correct and restore those who have erred in their ways by admonishing them in love.

There is a great need for us to engage in godly conversation that will bring edification to one another. Merely refraining from corrupt speech is not good enough. Great spiritual disaster will come upon our church, friends and family members, if we choose not to speak when there is a need to do so. Where there is a lack of godly conversation, the unhindered growth of spiritual maladies will take root and fester.

We must speak with wisdom and grace to impart spiritual blessings and protection to others. May our words provide spiritual benefits. As Paul said, we must strive to “minister grace unto the hearers”. Proverbs 25:11 tells us, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Appropriate words spoken at the right time in the best manner are beautiful and precious, indeed. Let us remember that our words have power, either for good or evil. Let us, therefore, speak in such a way that will build up our hearers, and not tear them down.

Sermon Text: Psalm 54
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 10th September 2023

READ:

1 John 5:18b

^18b But he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

EXHORTATION:

It is the second time that the apostle John refers to a Christian as being “born of God” in 1 John 5:18. The Greek word for “begotten” was earlier translated in the verse as “born”. “He that is begotten of God” simply means that he is born of God.

John also categorically states that he who is born of God “keepeth himself”. The desire and effort of a person who is truly born of God will be to keep himself from sin. In this epistle, John repeatedly asserted the duty of God’s children to keep themselves from the defilement of sin. In 1 John 3:3, John said, “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” He also said in 1 John 5:4, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world”. At the end of this epistle, John commanded, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21).

Every child of God will voluntarily and solemnly endeavour to avoid sin. He guards his mind and body through prayer and godly disciplines to overcome the lust of the flesh and the temptations of the world and Satan. Every child of God must emulate the apostle Paul, who said, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Corinthians 9:27). God’s children must keep their affections and faculties pure, passionately and fervently pursuing an obedient life unto holiness. In Romans 6:18-19, Paul exhorts Christians, “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.”

As John mentioned earlier in 1 John 3:9, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” Because of the gracious divine influence through the Word of God and the Holy Spirit in the hearts of believers, Christians are constantly urged to flee from every temptation of sin. They shall be so kept that the wicked one, Satan, shall not mortally “touch” them. God’s children will be faithful to keep themselves from Satan’s temptation by taking heed of divine counsels of God’s Word.

READ:

1 John 5:18a

^18a We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not.

EXHORTATION:

When the apostle John says “We know”, he is actually alluding to the assurance and confidence that Christians have about spiritual realities. In this epistle, John used the word “know” at least 22 times. From the opening words to the end, there is a ring of absolute assurance in this epistle. It would be very appropriate to call this epistle ‘the Epistle of Certainties’.

Several times in this epistle, John wrote how we could be absolutely sure that we are born of God and are His children. For instance, he said in 1 John 5:1, “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God”. At least 8 times in this epistle, John referred to believers as “born of God”.

In his Gospel, John wrote, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13). Our spiritual assurance that we are God’s children has nothing to do with our physical birth; it is not inherited from parents. Hence, it is written concerning our spiritual new birth that it is “not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man”.

Our spiritual regeneration is the working of God’s grace in us that is marked by genuine faith and obedience unto a righteous life. So John says, “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not”. Everyone who is born of God is called to live a sanctified life.

The Greek verb for “sinneth” is in the present tense, thus indicating that those who are genuinely born of God will not continually or habitually sin. The fact that the children of God will not give themselves to a sinful life is repeatedly asserted by John. The triumphant certainty of the power of God’s children to overcome sin has been repeatedly claimed by John. In 1 John 2:29, he said, “If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him”. Likewise, John says, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (1 John 3:9).

A child of God may fall into temptation and sin. However, his normal condition is one of resistance to sin. The triumphant reality is that all those who believe on Christ do have the power to overcome sin!

READ:

1 John 4:16b

^16b God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

EXHORTATION:

Never was more meaning encapsulated in so few words than in this short sentence – “God is love”. It is a statement of eternal magnitude. The apostle John stated this truth twice in his first epistle (cf. 1 John 4:8, 16). In fact, the message of this short verse is splashed all over the Bible.

When John wrote that “God is love”, he was not saying that “love” is the complete revelation of God. In fact, he has earlier also written in the same epistle that “God is light” (1 John 1:5), which refers to God’s holy nature (cf. John 3:18-21; 1 John 1:5-10). So, love is not the only attribute that adequately describes God. God cannot be fully explained by one of His attributes alone. The emphasis of the saying, “God is love”, is that in God alone we can fully view what true love is; it is only by His enablement that we can express true love.

The declaration that “God is love” not only reveals God as a loving God, but also portrays love as natural and essential to His divine glory. All of God’s will and all of His works are draped in His glorious love. In nature and essence, He is “God of love” (2 Corinthians 13:11).

God is perfect and His love is perfect too. God is unfathomable; hence His love is beyond our full grasp. But the knowledge that God is full of perfect and infinite love enables us to draw near to Him with full assurance of faith for pardon and redemption. There is no act of love in this world that can ever be compared to God’s love which receives us as His children, though we were once His enemies. He loved us when we had no love for Him. He lovingly came to us even when we had wandered away from Him. He loved us wretched sinful mortals so that we might live in heaven, live with God, and live in eternal glory and blessedness with Him and through Him. Oh, what love has reached us here on earth!

The apostle John also declared the unmistakable proof of our loving relationship with God – “and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” Everyone who loves all that God loves is certainly the one who dwells in God, and God in him. This is the practical proof of our relationship with God. So let us love Christ and His people, just as God loves them. Let us love the church, the work of the Gospel and His servants, just as He loves them. Let us love even our enemies, for God loved us while we were yet His enemies. Where God abides, love abides.

READ:

1 John 4:16a

^16a And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us.

EXHORTATION:

The apostle John here speaks of his experiential knowledge of God’s love, which is not only his most cherished spiritual blessing, but also that of all other believers. All true Christians have tasted God’s love and can speak of its wondrous blessing in their lives in the most enthralling and confident manner. They do not speak of God’s love as a mere philosophical concept or ideology or possibility, but as their most intimate of experiences.

Knowing the love of God is the dearest and sweetest experience of Christians. They perceive the love of God in their minds, as the apostle John said in 1 John 3:16, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us.” This is not a mere intellectual opinion or proposition about God’s love, but a deep conviction and full assurance resulting from the working of the Holy Spirit through the Gospel of Christ. As Paul said in Romans 5:5, “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us”. The Holy Ghost imparts an intense appreciation and sense of God’s love declared by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So like the apostle John, all genuine Christians are able to say most sincerely, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1)!

Once we are loved and adopted as God’s children, we will be led by His good and gracious providence to more and more blessings of the love that God has towards us. God’s promise is that His children would discover more and more blessings of His love with each new day. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things” (Romans 8:32)? Thus, it behoves us to pray like Paul for greater perception of His unending, infinite love towards us – “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Ephesians 3:17-19).

Christians are the authentic witnesses of God’s amazing love. Hence, every Christian ought to be one who testifies to God’s love, both from the heart and with the lips. Let us sing of His love. Let us proclaim His love with our voices and actions. Oh, the love of God that will not let us go!

READ:

Jude 1:21

²¹ Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

EXHORTATION:

The apostle Jude commands believers to keep themselves in the love of God. Believers must remain in the realm of God’s love. They should not wander away from the goodness and blessings that God has lovingly provided for them.

God’s love for His people is profoundly taught in the Scriptures. It is so great and wondrous. Psalm 36:7 says, “How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.” In Ephesians 2:4, the apostle Paul describes it as “his great love wherewith he loved us”. 1 John 3:1 exclaimed, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God”. It is in the provision of God’s great love that we are commanded to remain always.

In John 15:9-10, Jesus explained what it means to remain in God’s love. He said, “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” So according to Jesus, to keep ourselves in God’s love is to be obedient to His commandments. And when we remain obedient, we will have greater opportunities to relish in His love. When we remain obedient to God’s Word, we stay in the sphere of His loving provision and protection. It is, therefore, very important that we be watchful not to drift away from the realm of God’s love through disobedience. Rebellion and disobedience would push us into the realm of His severe dealings of displeasure and wrath. So, let us be wise to keep ourselves in God’s love.

As children of God, we must live with a constant awareness of His love. We must delight in the knowledge of His love and all that it has granted us in Christ Jesus. We must seek to be nourished in all the blessings that His love has promised. We must, like Paul, pray that “the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God” (2 Thessalonians 3:5).

The ultimate expression of His love is that He will soon come for His people. So we must live in the constant anticipation and prayer for His return. Referring to His coming, Jude exhorts us that we should be “looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

READ:

1 John 2:1b

^1b And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

EXHORTATION:

We live in a world of many temptations of sin and with a body marred with sinful lusts. Though Christians are not permitted to sin, it is highly likely that we will find ourselves being overtaken by sin from time to time. John’s exhortation here should never be taken as a licence to sin. Nonetheless, if a Christian commits a sin, he should admit his sin and turn to Christ who is our Advocate with the Father in heaven.

The present advocacy of Christ in heaven is due to the fact that we still have sins. In heaven’s court, the charge against our sins will be read out. To make things worse, our adversary, Satan, will press the charge further against us. Satan is a hate-filled prosecutor who accuses us relentlessly (Revelation 12:10; Zechariah 3:1-2). He attempts to turn God against us, as he did in the case of the Old Testament saint, Job (Job 1:6-11).

Undeniably, our sin causes us to be guilty. In view of our absolute inability to have the charge against us disallowed, God’s love has ordained a perfect, able and suitable Advocate for our acquittal. He is Jesus Christ. There are two reasons why a repenting Christian, though he had committed a sin, can be comforted because of Christ, the Advocate.

Firstly, our Advocate, Jesus Christ, is “with the Father”. As our Advocate, Christ will not attempt to hide or deny our guilt. He will admit the guilt of His people for whom He has become the Advocate. He will not forsake them in their hour of need. He will have pity on His people and plead their case with the Father. He will speak to the Father in their defence. Jesus Christ remains with God to plead for every one of His people.

Secondly, our Advocate, Jesus Christ, is “the righteous” One. He is our perfect Advocate. His perfect righteousness is the basis of His plea for us. He will say, “Father, yes, they are sinners. Yes, they are unrighteous. But Thou has accepted Me as their Substitute. Now, please see my righteousness that I have given to them. I also have shed my blood as a propitiation for their sins. They wear my righteousness by faith.” In this way, Christ will appease God’s anger against our sins.

What more can a sinner ask for than this? Let us confess our sin, and embrace our great Advocate, Jesus Christ, by faith. He will not reject us.