Victor Chen Ministries

Is that person a “serious “or “committed” Christian.  In reality we judge a Christian by the fruit of the Spirit. What is the point of having astounding biblical knowledge but continuing to live in iniquity and led by the flesh and its carnal desires. Is it not?

In truth the majority of Christians are just Christians by name.  They were likely to have been born into a Christian family.  They know God in their mind, or emotions, but not in their spirit. They know Bible verses but they do not know the rhema Word. They are not drinking the living water. They do not have a relationship with the Lord.

The signs of Christian character is whether the person has the fruit of the Spirit. 

Above  boxed verses are nine, but the Catholic tradition lists 12 fruits  of the Holy Spirit based on the Latin Vulgate – a 4^th century translation of the Bible. 

1.   Love

2.   Joy

3.   Peace

4.   Longsuffering/patience

5.   Kindness

6.   Goodness

7.   Generosity

8.   Gentleness

9.   Faithfulness

10.Modesty

11.  Self-control 

12. Chastity

 

No one is perfect but as we develop the beauty of Christian character these fruits of the Spirit will encompass the secrets of our internal joy. 

And notwithstanding, non-believers will also possess these characteristics because God created all men to do good deeds (Ephesians 2:10) and all men were born with a conscience of what is good and evil.  But all of us have fallen and fall short of the glory of God.  Actions and good deeds alone are not enough to reconcile us to God. Some religions even teach that to go to heaven the balance of good deeds you do must outweigh the bad deeds you do in order to go to heaven or nirvana. 

We cannot please God unless we confess our sins and reconcile with Him through our Saviour the Lord Jesus. 

# posted by Eleventh Hour @ 12:22 PM 0 comments

“It is not good for man to be alone.” (Genesis 2:18). 

Yes its true, that “he who finds a wife finds a good thing and receives favour from the Lord (Proverbs 18:22)”, but neither is singleness a curse. It is also a blessing as we can achieve much more when we are single.  When I am single I could get by with what little I had as we all go through difficult times. Single-hood has its specific purpose. So use it in self preparation for the vision/purpose, and even marriage that God has prepared ahead for us.

As you are single there is a purpose attached to it, and if you don’t learn the things you are meant to in singlehood, you will have problems when you get married  (or even if you don’t as other aspects of life too are and should be progressive). God is  a God of process. He has a great plan for our lives. But we must go through the processes. 

Getting married and then getting a divorce to be "single again" is very complicated. I have friends who divorced after many years of marriage (even with kids) coz they "need to discover themselves". Isn't it a bit odd that you have to discover yourself now in the 40s/50s and that your wife/husband stopped you from discovering yourself the last 15-20 years?   

Our destiny is attached to God, not another person. We won’t lose our destiny because we can’t have this person. Any person that comes into your life is to complement you and NOT complete you!

Of course there will be some who are consecrated and anointed to be single for life like Jesus and apostle Paul. Paul even wished "wish everyone were single like me - a simpler life in many ways! But celibacy is not for everyone any more than marriage is. God gives the gift of the single life to some, the gift of the married life to others" (1 Corinthians 7:7 - The Message).

Use your time profitably when you are single; prepare mentally, financially, physically and grow your spiritual life.  I find being single gives me more clarity in hearing God, more clarity in discovering my purpose, and also am more innovative than when attached (especially if the other half brings you on an emotional roller-coaster). 

Don’t misuse the blessing of singlehood.  Work on your emotional strength and things that will grow you, not destroy you; till God sends someone with the same vision, same goals, purpose, and the same Spirit. A relationship/marriage is going to test you. 

# posted by Eleventh Hour @ 7:28 PM 0 comments