God's SOP

The ONLY SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) that God issued to the Jews was the Ten Commandments. 

He said in Exodus 15:26:-

“If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”

In the New Testament, when tested by a Pharisee, who was an expert in the law, on which was the greatest commandment in the Law, Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:35-37).

John the Baptist came to prepare the way for the Lord. Matthew 3:1-2

"In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Jesus after passing the tests in the wilderness began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" (Matthew 4:17).

Paul taught in Philippians 2:12, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,”

Paul further said in Philippians 2:14-16, “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.”

If we take heed and follow the apostle Paul's teaching to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, we will not have the time to judge and point fingers at others. Then, God will shine through us as we are His ambassadors on earth and we represent Jesus to the world.

In 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, Paul said, “Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?”

We are just mere infants in Christ, lukewarm or worldly Christians if our hearts grip tightly to the worldly things.  Then God is not our treasure. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21 

When we are saved, God puts His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit (2 Corinthians 1:22).  However, for the lukewarm Christians, God’s Spirit will remain a deposit since He will not rest His manifest presence on them.

Certain conditions must be met like obeying His Command, to love God, put Him first above everything and to obey Him.

John 14:21

"Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show (manifest) myself to him.”

John 14:23

Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."

Like it or not, the SOP of God is to put Him first above everything ...  as in Matthew 6:33: "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Francis Chan Challenges Christians: Stop Idolizing Family, Put Christ's First: Clink link below:-

http://www.christianpost.com/news/francis-chan-christian-idol-family-jesus-christ-mission-159793/#SX3PuRkmiwQJVHYc.99

Ps Paul K. P. Ang

CKRM International

www.ckrmleadership.com