My beloved in Christ, did you know that the Holy Bible describes how we should act when we are believers? If we believe in God, we become His ambassadors, and we are expected to act according to His word, for His word will never die. You might ask, “How are we expected to have specific characteristics? We have no such example of these things.” I would say to you, “Yes you do, look at Jesus Christ! He is the very foundation of our faith.” If you read any of the letters written by the Apostle Paul, (and Timothy) you may recall their passages regarding characteristics for Christians.
Paul wrote a letter to the churches in Galatia (modern day central Turkey). Here is what he says in Galatians 5:22, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (KJV). Paul also wrote a similar letter to a church in the ancient city of Colossae in Asia Minor (modern day eastern Turkey). Look at what he says in Colossians 3:12-13:
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you; also do ye. (KJV)
In both letters, Paul repeats two words: meekness, and longsuffering. James sets forth a question and an answer. Look at what he says in his letter, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in meekness of wisdom” (James 3:13 NKJV). Wisdom is described to us by fearing the Lord (Job 28:28, and 38:38, and Proverbs 9:10). Since the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, meekness in the Holy Bible means the submission to God and His ways.
In fact, Deuteronomy 13:4 says this, “Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey His voice, and ye shall serve Him and cleave unto Him.” (KJV). In addition, Peter tells us to, “sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense [your testimony, in defense of Jesus Christ] to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” (1 Peter 3:15). You cannot be meek, without having wisdom. King David said that the “meek shall inherit the earth” (Psalm 37:11). This would be a message that Jesus Christ would repeat Himself, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).
In the book of Numbers, we learn that God is “longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression” (Numbers 14:18). The book of Psalm certainly repeats this message, “But You, O Lord are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth” (Psalm 86:15). Paul tells us that the goodness of God leads us to repentance, “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4). Now if God is longsuffering, and we are His children, and His ambassadors, should we also be longsuffering?
You read earlier that Jesus Christ said that the meek are blessed as they will inherit the earth, and He died on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins. Before Jesus Christ, a priest would have to make a sacrifice for your sins and do so in accordance with the laws of Moses. After Jesus Christ, the path for forgiveness was much simpler: believe and confess that Jesus Christ is your savior, confess your sins and repent from your sins. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
Warnings About Idolatry and False Prophets!
As Christians, we are warned not to conform to this world, but to walk in the Spirit, and follow God’s ways. Paul explained that “If we live in the Spirt, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” (Galatians 5:25-26 NKJV). Paul also explained not to “be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2).
When you become Christian and are baptized with the Holy Spirit, you become born again. Jesus Christ said that “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5 NKJV). Paul also said that "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Simply put, you become a new person, but not of flesh, but of the Holy Spirit! Hallelujah! Paul gives direction on what this new person should be like, and our savior, Jesus Christ is the model that we look to.
We do not look to celebrities, leaders, images, or statues, as these have become modern-day idols. Look at some images from natural disasters, and you will come across images of people holding statues and carvings close to their bodies. There are many times in the Holy Bible that the Israelites were punished for worshipping idols, and God tells us not to worship idols, “Do not turn to idols, nor make for yourselves molded gods: I am the Lod your God” (Leviticus 19:4). I particularly think of the seize of the kingdom of Judah by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon for 70 years. This occurred when the Israelites turned from God and did not obey Him.
We are also told not to make images of heaven (Deuteronomy 5). It is the first commandment that God gives to Israel from their departure out of Egypt, and into the wilderness of Sinai (Exodus 19:1). Here is what that first commandment says, “I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. Thou shalt have none other gods before me. Thou shalt not make thee any graven image or likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth.” In the aftermath of some natural disasters, you may come across people holding statues of religious icons. Brothers and sisters in Christ, I tell you plainly that this is idolatry! Turn away from it as fast as you can!
On this note, we also do not listen to false prophets, for this is the spirit of the antichrist! How do we know someone claiming to be a prophet is a false prophet? In Deuteronomy 18:22, God tells us how to identify a false prophet, "when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him." In addition, the Holy Bible says that they will not "confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God." (1 John 4:3 NKJV). The Holy Bible tells us not to believe every spirit, and to test the spirits in 1 John 4:1.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, if you read this article, God is speaking to you. Some of you may be worshipping idols. If so, pray to God and ask Him for His help about your sins. Pray for forgiveness as well. Others may be listening to false prophets, but they may not know who is righteous versus who is a false prophet. If someone comes to you claiming to be a prophet, remember what I said above and test their spirit according to the Holy Bible, my beloved! Maybe a few of you do both; you listen to false prophets and worship idols. If the latter applies to you, repent from your old and evil ways, and love God with your whole heart, mind and soul (Matthew 12:30, and Luke 10:27).