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FIRST LOVE RECOVERY MINISTRIES
The precious coin Rom.1:15(KJV) "For therein is the
righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is
written, The just shall live by faith." Jude 1:3(KJV) "Beloved,
when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common
salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort
you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was
once delivered unto the saints." 2 Peter 1:1(KJV) "Simon Peter,
a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have
obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness
of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:"
In the kingdom of God on earth,the common unit of currency that
is spent to fulfill God's purposes in and through mankind is
'the precious coin'. 'The precious coin' is faith in God and his
word. 'The precious coin' is available to every member of God's
kingdom from the least to the greatest: Rom.12:5(KJV) "For I
say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among
you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think;
but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man
the measure of faith." The importance of real faith and the
prominence of the heroes of faith have been discussed in 'Rhema
Island'. Real faith is 'the precious coin' which has two sides.
The side known as 'the head' is 'the sunny side' of real
Christianity described below:- Heb.11:33-35a(KJV) "Who through
faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained
promises, stopped the mouths of lions. Quenched the violence of
fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made
strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of
the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again:..."
The side known as 'the tail' is 'the cloudy side' of real
Christianity described below:- Heb.11:35b-38(KJV) "...and others
were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain
a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings
and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They
were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain
with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins;
being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was
not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in
dens and caves of the earth." This second side of 'the precious
coin' certainly excludes any wrong kind of suffering for
Christians as clearly commanded below:- 1 Peter 4:15(KJV) "But
let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an
evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters."
While the first side appears to be attractive,the second seems
to be repulsive! In the history of the church,many saints have
camped on 'the sunny side';while others have lodged on 'the
cloudy side'. Each 'camp' has despised the other due to one or
more theological reasons. Yet in the sacred records of the
bible,one will clearly see that both Jesus Christ,and the early
church embraced both sides of true Christianity! The Lord Jesus
Christ both had the company of great multitudes(Matt.4:25),and
suffered desertion of his closest associates(Matt.26:56b). All
believers in Christ are called 'to walk in his steps' on both
sides of 'the precious coin'(1 Peter 2:21). The early church
experienced both 'gathering'(Acts 2:41) and 'scattering'(Acts
8:1) in fulfilling God's purposes for her(Acts 1:8).
What is the assessment of the Lord for believers on both sides
of the precious coin? Heb.11:39(KJV) "And these all, having
obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:"
The crystal-clear answer is 'a good report'! Saints on both
sides of 'the precious coin' form God's winning team as
portrayed in 'The ultimate game' In this dispensation of
grace,the chief motivating force for these 'winners' is God's
love in the regenerate human heart:- Gal. 5:6(Amplified Bible)
"For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor
uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and
energized and expressed and working through love." This brand of
love is poured into the regenerate human heart by the Holy
Spirit:- Rom.5:5(KJV) "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the
love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which
is given unto us." Without love, anyone(on the sunny side) who
has faith that moves mountains is nothing(1 Cor.13:2). And if
anyone(on the cloudy side) gives his/her body to be burnt
without love,the martyrdom is unprofitable(1 Cor.13:3). Every
member of God's kingdom has a regenerate heart. A regenerate
heart is only possible through the new birth(John 3:3-8). Before
the new birth,every human heart is unregenerate:-
Jer.17:9-10(KJV) "The heart is deceitful above all things, and
desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the
heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his
ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." The new birth
takes place when any person has a personal encounter with Jesus
Christ ;and humbly and sincerely receives him as Lord and
Saviour(Rom.10:9-13). When this happens(either dramatically or
quietly),the person becomes a member of God's kingdom(Col.1:13).
The testimonies(Heb.11) of these heroes of faith
inspire,encourage,and comfort everyone currently in 'the good
fight of faith'(1 Tim.6:12)to singly focus on the author and
finisher of 'the precious coin' so as to fulfill God's
purposes:- Heb.12:1-2(KJV) "Wherefore seeing we also are
compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay
aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,
and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for
the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
About the author:
British-born Nigerian Christian writer living and working in
London,UK with website:www.firstloveministries.org.uk
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