God''s Standard of Measurement for Answers ? Seven Spirits (1)
Reading Scripture: Revelation 5:6
Verse to Memorize: John 4:24
Reference: James 4:2-3 Goal: to help believers gain clear understanding on the features the seven Spirits assess and receive answers and blessing in accordance with justice 'The seven Spirits' refer to the heart of God (Ref: John 4:24). In order to receive answers, we need to understand the heart of God and ask in His will. The seven Spirits represent the heart of God and is a 'yardstick' for receiving answers. Here, 'seven' does not indicate that God has seven Spirits in number.
The number '7' spiritually symbolizes 'perfectness', so the seven Spirits signify that they are spiritually perfect and complete. God sent out into all the earth the seven Spirits that are the heart of God to search for all mankind (Revelation 5:6). The seven Spirits investigate all men's hearts and deeds and according to the result God gives answers and blessings to people who have met the standard. As we pay money per pound of meat at the butcher's, the seven Spirits are like the scale God uses to give us answers. What do the seven Spirits of God measure?
- First, the seven Spirits measure one's faith.
The Bible tells us, "It shall be done to you according to your faith" (Matthew 9:29). If you haven't received answers, though you say you believe, it means that your faith is not a spiritual one but a fleshly one that has been stored as only knowledge. It is not that you can be given faith just because you have the knowledge on faith and profess your faith with your lips. The kind of faith God acknowledges is spiritual faith with which you can unquestionably believe even things that are invisible in reality or things that do not agree with your thoughts or learning.
With the faith, you can believe that something can be created out of nothing. Such spiritual faith is not the kind of thing that is given to you just because or when you want. God gives us spiritual faith from above to the extent that we cast away sin and evil and become sanctified. What do we need to do to possess spiritual faith? We must keep God's commands in action. We must do what God tells us to do and not do things God tells us not to do. Also, we need to throw away things God commands us to throw away and keep things that God tells us to keep. When we practice the truth that way, we can have confidence before God because our heart does not condemn us. Then, God gives us answers to whatever we pray for and He gives us blessings.
As written above, spiritual faith is always accompanied by deeds. Unless we act in accordance with the Word of God we cannot have spiritual faith. In addition, spiritual faith does not come upon those who have committed sins no matter how many times they say with their mouths they believe. Only when they repent of their sins and walk in the Light can spiritual faith be given to them. So then, why do the seven Spirits measure one's faith as the first of all the criteria? This is because the criteria of the other measurements are different according to each one's measure of faith. The God of justice sets different standards for receiving answers according to each person's measure of faith.
So, it measures faith first and then applies different standards in the rest six features in accord with each one's measure of faith. So, if you want to receive an answer to a rather big problem you need to show the deeds of faith that are beyond your own measure of faith. Then, your faith can grow up more quickly.
- Second, the seven Spirits measure one's joy.
Joy is one of the typical evidences that are borne by the saved children of God. Because God's children are moved from the eternal death of Hell to eternal life in Heaven, we cannot but rejoice always. Before you accepted the Lord you may have lived a painful life in tears, sorrow and anxiety due to varied problems. But you have become God's child and received His love and grace and heavenly hope, and now joy is overflowing in you. Some people might say, "I was living in joy even before I came to believe God." But they were joyful only when they had some reasons to give thanks for. When they fall into a predicament they quickly become sad and joy immediately disappears.
Their joy is something that is conditional and changeable and that springs up only when things going around appear beneficial to them. Meanwhile, a Christian with spiritual joy can rejoice without regard to situations and conditions. This is because they have gained eternal life that is more precious than anything else in the world and Heaven fills their hearts. Of course, they sometimes lament for the kingdom of God or grieve over souls who are going the way to death, but joy never vanishes from deep in their hearts. Such spiritual joy is a privilege that only God's saved children can enjoy. Through this, we can distinguish Christians from the worldly people.
If Christians are joyful, it proves that they have faith. If you trust God completely and believe He will give you answer, you can rejoice even if the reality may seem to be tough. Such people try to live by the Word of God and think about and practice what is pleasing to God. So, they can keep peace with God, all men around them, and even with themselves. By doing so, they can have joy that springs up from their hearts.
- Third, the seven Spirits measure one's prayer.
The seven Spirits measure things related to prayer such as whether or not one prays without ceasing and if he prays in the will of God. Our prayer meets the standard only when we pray according to the heart of God. Though we pray for just a short while like this, it pleases God, and it is not just because we pray a lot. The kind of proper prayer in the sight of God is a prayer of habit offered up every day just as God tells us to pray without ceasing. If you pray without ceasing, you can spiritually remain sober and you will never fall into trials and tests.
Even if you are faced with trials, you can pass through them quickly. Also, you have to pray on bended knees. Jesus as well as the prophets in the Bible prayed on bended knees. It is very natural for us to pray on bended knees when we ask God the Almighty for things impossible to be achieved by human power. Next, we must pray according to the will of God, not according to our own will. Jesus also prayed in the will of God just as He said in Luke 22:42, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done." In other words, we should pray not in our own will but in God's will. James 4:2-3 reads, "You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures." If you ask with wrong motives, it is against the will of God, so you cannot receive an answer.
Just as Matthew 6:33 tells us to seek first God's kingdom and righteousness, we must seek God's kingdom first before we ask for something that is beneficial to us. Then, we have to pray very fervently crying out in prayer. Luke 22:44 describes how Jesus prayed: "And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground." Even if we do not shed blood, we should pray fervently enough at least to sweat. This is the spiritual law to receive answers. Genesis 3:19 reads, "By the sweat of your face you will eat bread? As we can eat bread by the sweat of our face, we can receive answers by the sweat of our face. That is why God let it written in many verses of the Bible that we should cry out in prayer (Ref: Jeremiah 29:12, 33:3). Jesus fully understood this will of God, so He cried out in prayer. For instance, when He called Lazarus who had been dead four days, He cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth." Even when He was on the cross He prayed with a loud voice. Luke 23:46 says, "And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, 'Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.' Having said this, He breathed His last." Jesus always cried out loud in prayer according to the will of God the Father.
Additionally, we have to pray with our hearts. God does not look at the outer appearance but at the heart. To pray with our hearts is to ask God what we earnestly desire and say it with our lips. We must pray to God in the truthfulness of heart because no matter how eloquently we pray with holy words God looks at our hearts. Lastly, we must pray with faith and love. James 1:6-7 reads, "But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts are like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord." You cannot receive an answer if you doubt thinking, 'Can it really be answered? What if it does not happen?' Only when you believe the living God will answer you and pray with love for Him will He accept your prayer joyfully.
If you pray without faith and love, it cannot be offered up as the aroma that is fragrant enough for God to accept. Therefore, even though you pray for a short while, you have to pray with faith and love and with all your heart. By doing so, I hope you will receive answers quickly.
Kipimo cha Mungu cha Majibu: Roho Saba (1)
Usomaji wa Maandiko: Ufunuo 5:6
Mstari wa Kukariri: Yohana 4:24
Rejea: Yakobo 4:2–3. Lengo: kuwasaidia waumini kuelewa wazi sifa zinazopimwa na Roho saba na kupokea majibu na baraka kulingana na haki. “Roho saba” humaanisha moyo wa Mungu (tazama Yohana 4:24). Ili kupokea majibu, tunahitaji kuuelewa moyo wa Mungu na kuomba kulingana na mapenzi Yake. Roho saba huwakilisha moyo wa Mungu na ni “kipimo” cha kupokea majibu. Hapa, “saba” haimaanishi kwamba Mungu ana Roho saba kwa idadi.
Namba saba huashiria ukamilifu wa kiroho, kwa hiyo Roho saba huonyesha ukamilifu na utimilifu wa kiroho. Mungu alizituma Roho saba, ambazo ni moyo Wake, duniani kote kuwachunguza wanadamu wote (Ufunuo 5:6). Roho saba huchunguza mioyo na matendo ya watu, kisha Mungu huwapa majibu na baraka wale wanaotimiza kipimo. Kama tunavyolipia nyama kwa uzito wake, Roho saba ni kama mizani ambayo Mungu hutumia kutupatia majibu. Roho saba za Mungu hupima nini?
- Kwanza, Roho saba hupima imani ya mtu.
Biblia yasema, “Kwa kadiri ya imani yenu mpate” (Mathayo 9:29). Ikiwa hujapokea majibu ingawa unasema unaamini, maana yake imani yako si ya kiroho bali ni ya mwili, iliyohifadhiwa kama maarifa tu. Huwezi kupewa imani kwa kujua tu kuhusu imani na kuitamka kwa midomo. Imani ambayo Mungu huitambua ni imani ya kiroho, inayokuwezesha kuamini bila shaka hata mambo yasiyoonekana kwa macho au yasiyokubaliana na mawazo na maarifa yako.
Kwa imani hiyo unaweza kuamini kwamba kitu kinaweza kuumbwa pasipo kitu. Imani ya kiroho haitolewi tu kwa sababu unaomba au unaitaka. Mungu hutupa imani hiyo kutoka juu kadiri tunavyoondoa dhambi na uovu na kutakaswa. Tufanye nini ili tuwe na imani ya kiroho? Tuzishike amri za Mungu kwa matendo. Tufanye anachotuambia tufanye, na tusifanye anachotuambia tusifanye. Pia tuondoe mambo anayotuelekeza kuyaondoa na tushike mambo anayotuelekeza kuyashika. Tunapoitenda kweli hivyo, tunaweza kuwa na ujasiri mbele za Mungu kwa sababu mioyo yetu haituhukumu. Kisha Mungu hutujibu maombi yoyote na kutubariki.
Kama ilivyoelezwa, imani ya kiroho daima huambatana na matendo. Tusipotenda kulingana na Neno la Mungu hatuwezi kuwa na imani ya kiroho. Pia, imani ya kiroho haiji kwa watu waliotenda dhambi hata wakisema kwa midomo yao mara nyingi kwamba wanaamini. Ni baada tu ya kutubu dhambi zao na kutembea katika nuru ndipo wanaweza kupewa imani ya kiroho. Basi kwa nini Roho saba hupima imani kwanza kabla ya vigezo vingine? Ni kwa sababu kipimo cha sifa nyingine hutofautiana kulingana na kiwango cha imani cha kila mtu. Mungu wa haki huweka viwango tofauti vya kupokea majibu kulingana na kipimo cha imani cha mtu.
Kwa hiyo, kwanza imani hupimwa, kisha viwango vya sifa sita zilizobaki huwekwa kulingana na kipimo cha imani cha kila mmoja. Ukitaka jibu la tatizo kubwa kiasi, unahitaji kuonyesha matendo ya imani yanayozidi kipimo chako cha sasa. Hapo imani yako inaweza kukua kwa haraka zaidi.
- Pili, Roho saba hupima furaha ya mtu.
Furaha ni mojawapo ya dalili za kawaida zinazoonekana kwa watoto wa Mungu waliookolewa. Kwa kuwa watoto wa Mungu wamehamishwa kutoka katika mauti ya milele ya Motoni na kupewa uzima wa milele Mbinguni, tunapaswa kufurahi daima. Kabla hujamkubali Bwana huenda uliishi maisha ya maumivu, machozi, huzuni na wasiwasi kutokana na matatizo mbalimbali. Lakini sasa umekuwa mtoto wa Mungu, umepokea upendo na neema Yake pamoja na tumaini la mbinguni, na furaha inafurika ndani yako. Wengine huenda wakasema, “Nilikuwa na furaha hata kabla sijamwamini Mungu.” Lakini walifurahi tu walipokuwa na sababu ya kushukuru. Walipokumbwa na shida, walihuzunika mara moja na furaha ikatoweka.
Furaha yao hutegemea hali na hubadilika; huja tu wanapoona mambo yanayowazunguka yana manufaa kwao. Lakini Mkristo aliye na furaha ya kiroho anaweza kufurahi bila kujali hali au mazingira. Hii ni kwa sababu amepokea uzima wa milele, ulio wa thamani kuliko kitu chochote duniani, na Mbinguni huujaza moyo wake. Bila shaka, nyakati nyingine anaweza kuhuzunika kwa ajili ya ufalme wa Mungu au kuomboleza kwa ajili ya roho zinazokwenda kuangamia, lakini furaha haipotei kamwe kutoka ndani ya moyo wake. Furaha hiyo ya kiroho ni haki ambayo watoto wa Mungu waliookolewa pekee wanaweza kufurahia. Kwa njia hiyo tunaweza kuwatofautisha Wakristo na watu wa dunia.
Wakristo wanapokuwa na furaha, hiyo ni ushahidi wa imani yao. Ukimtegemea Mungu kabisa na kuamini kwamba atakujibu, unaweza kufurahi hata hali ya sasa ionekane ngumu. Watu wa namna hiyo hujitahidi kuishi kwa Neno la Mungu na kufikiria na kutenda yanayompendeza. Hivyo wanaweza kuwa na amani na Mungu, na watu walio karibu nao, na hata ndani yao wenyewe. Kwa kufanya hivyo, furaha huchipuka mioyoni mwao.
- Tatu, Roho saba hupima maombi ya mtu.
Roho saba hupima mambo yanayohusiana na maombi, kama mtu anaomba bila kukoma na kama anaomba kulingana na mapenzi ya Mungu. Maombi yetu hutimiza kipimo hiki tunapoomba kulingana na moyo wa Mungu. Maombi mafupi ya namna hii humpendeza Mungu; si urefu au wingi wa maneno unaompendeza. Maombi yanayofaa mbele za Mungu ni sala ya kila siku tuliyoizoea, kama anavyotuambia tuombe bila kukoma. Ukiomba bila kukoma, utabaki macho kiroho na hutaanguka katika majaribu na mitihani.
Hata ukikabiliwa na majaribu, utayapitia upesi. Pia unapaswa kupiga magoti unapoomba. Yesu pamoja na manabii wa Biblia waliomba kwa magoti. Ni jambo la kawaida kupiga magoti tunapomwomba Mungu Mwenyezi mambo ambayo nguvu za wanadamu haziwezi kuyatimiza. Kisha tuombe kulingana na mapenzi ya Mungu, si mapenzi yetu wenyewe. Yesu pia aliomba kwa mapenzi ya Mungu, kama alivyosema katika Luka 22:42: “Baba, ikiwa ni mapenzi Yako, uniondolee kikombe hiki; lakini si mapenzi Yangu, bali Yako yatendeke.” Yaani, tusitafute mapenzi yetu katika maombi, bali ya Mungu. Yakobo 4:2–3 yasema, “Mwaomba, wala hampati kwa sababu mwaomba vibaya, ili mvitumie kwa tamaa zenu.” Tukiomba kwa nia mbaya, tunakwenda kinyume na mapenzi ya Mungu na hatuwezi kupokea jibu.
Kama Mathayo 6:33 inavyotuambia tutafute kwanza ufalme wa Mungu na haki Yake, tunapaswa kuutafuta kwanza ufalme Wake kabla ya kuomba mambo yatakayotunufaisha sisi wenyewe. Kisha tumlilie Mungu kwa bidii katika maombi. Luka 22:44 inaeleza jinsi Yesu alivyoomba: “Naye kwa vile alivyokuwa katika dhiki, akazidi sana kuomba; jasho Lake likawa kama matone ya damu yakidondoka mpaka nchi.” Hata tusitoe damu, tunapaswa kuomba kwa bidii hadi tutokwe na jasho. Hii ndiyo sheria ya kiroho ya kupokea majibu. Mwanzo 3:19 yasema, “Kwa jasho la uso wako utakula chakula.” Kama tunavyopata chakula kwa jasho la uso wetu, tunaweza kupokea majibu kwa bidii katika maombi. Ndiyo maana Biblia inasema mara nyingi kwamba tunapaswa kumlilia Mungu (tazama Yeremia 29:12; 33:3). Yesu alielewa mapenzi hayo ya Mungu, kwa hiyo alimlilia katika maombi. Alipomwita Lazaro, aliyekuwa amekufa kwa siku nne, alipaza sauti akasema, “Lazaro, njoo huku nje.” Hata alipokuwa msalabani aliomba kwa sauti kubwa. Luka 23:46 yasema, “Yesu akalia kwa sauti kuu, akasema, Ee Baba, mikononi Mwako naiweka roho yangu. Akiisha kusema hayo alikata roho.” Daima Yesu alimlilia Mungu kwa sauti kubwa kulingana na mapenzi ya Mungu Baba.
Zaidi ya hayo, tunapaswa kuomba kwa mioyo yetu. Mungu haangalii sura ya nje, bali moyo. Kuomba kwa moyo ni kumwomba Mungu kile tunachotamani kwa dhati na kukitaja kwa midomo yetu. Tunapaswa kuomba kwa moyo mnyoofu, kwa sababu hata tuombe kwa ufasaha kiasi gani na kwa maneno matakatifu, Mungu huutazama moyo wetu. Mwisho, tuombe kwa imani na upendo. Yakobo 1:6–7 yasema, “Lakini na aombe kwa imani, pasipo shaka yo yote; maana mwenye shaka ni kama wimbi la bahari lililochukuliwa na upepo, na kupeperushwa huku na huku. Maana mtu kama huyo asidhani ya kuwa atapokea kitu kwa Bwana.” Huwezi kupokea jibu ukiwa na shaka na kuwaza, “Je, kweli nitajibiwa? Vipi nisipopata nilichoomba?” Mungu atapokea maombi yetu kwa furaha tunapomwamini aliye hai kwamba atatujibu na tunapoomba kwa upendo Kwake.
Tukiomba bila imani na upendo, hatutoi harufu ya maombi yenye manukato ya kutosha ili Mungu aipokee. Kwa hiyo, hata ukiomba kwa muda mfupi, omba kwa imani, upendo na moyo wako wote. Kwa kufanya hivyo, natumaini utapokea majibu upesi.