Post Covid 19

Post Covid 19

Everyone has been affected in someway or the other by covid 19.

  How has the world changed? How has the Church changed? How have I changed?

GOD'S Purposes Are Being Fulfilled:

With a renewed mind, we are able to look at things with a spiritual and eternal perspective.

The world mourns the death of many people during the pandemic and we do mourn with those who lost family and friends. 

All of us will die one day in some way! While we have our breath, it is necessary for us to make the decision to accept the salvation of the LORD JESUS so that we can be with Him in Heaven eternally. It is GOD'S will that none perish in hell. I believe that the LORD revealed Himself to most of those who faced death alone during the covid pandemic. There were no weeping family members nor spiritual leaders performing religious rituals around the bed. In their isolation, on the death bed, the LORD ministered to them without disturbance and distraction from others. Most of them were glad to receive the comforting love of JESUS. They called on the name of the LORD JESUS and were saved! I believe the LORD used Christian medical personnel as His agents wherever they were needed. Such an angel stood by the deathbed of the patient to shine the love of JESUS and whisper that name that has saving power eternally!

The LORD moved on behalf of these precious souls through the host of intercessors He raised up during this time. They stood in the gap pleading for the LORD'S grace to be extended to the dying and that His cleansing blood would avail for them.

All those who called on the LORD, entered their eternal rest into glory! JESUS said that the last shall be first and the first shall be last. Many who were saved at the end of their lives, entered Heaven first! We should be comforted that our friend or loved one who died, is safely lodged in his or her eternal home!

Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! 

For He has done marvelous things; 

His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. 

The Lord has made known His salvation; 

His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. 

He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; 

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; 

Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. 

Sing to the Lord with the harp, With the harp and the sound of a Psalm, 

With trumpets and the sound of a horn; 

Shout joyfully before the Lord, the King. 

Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, 

The world and those who dwell in it; 

Let the rivers clap their hands; 

Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord, 

For He is coming to judge the earth. 

With righteousness He shall judge the world, 

And the peoples with equity. 

Psalm 98:1-9 

 That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting 

That there is none besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; 

I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; 

I, the Lord, do all these things.' 

"Rain down, you heavens, from above, 

And let the skies pour down righteousness; 

Let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation, 

And let righteousness spring up together. 

I, the Lord, have created it. 

"Woe to him who strives with his Maker! 

Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth! 

Shall the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?' 

Or shall your handiwork say, 'He has no hands'? 

Isaiah 45:6-9 

The Glory of GOD Revealed in All The Earth:

They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, 

For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord 

As the waters cover the sea. 

Isaiah 11:9 

 For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, 

As the waters cover the sea. 

Habakkuk 2:14 

It is the picture of Gideon's army shattering their pitchers and the torches that were hidden inside, thus revealing the light. As Churches stopped meeting within walls, the Gospel that is not chained, reached people far and wide through the media. Sunday services and messages preached by servants of GOD, hastened to people right where they were, in their homes, institutions, hostels, hotels and so on. Sermons that would be heard by a congregation seated in the pews of a Church building, are now being heard by multitudes across the nations. The good news of JESUS is speedily being conveyed to every soul. The LORD Himself is orchestrating the distribution of the loaves and fishes. The appropriate messages are being divinely sent to those who desperately need to hear. A harvest of souls is being reached before the end of all things! The WorldWide Web has become an effective fishing net for souls to be caught into the Kingdom of GOD!

The Body of CHRIST United:

 Arise, shine; For your light has come! 

And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. 

For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, 

And deep darkness the people; 

But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. 

The Gentiles shall come to your light, 

And kings to the brightness of your rising.

Isaiah 60:1-3 

The LORD is divinely connecting His people worldwide in a global network of ministry. Through the various networking programs like Skype, Whatsapp videos, Google meet, Zoom and so on, GOD'S people are connecting together to speak the word and hear the word, to pray together and fellowship virtually. Through edifying conversations and encouragements, the Body of CHRIST is being built up together as a dwelling place of GOD in the Spirit, worldwide!

Renewed Mind:

Novel Corona means new crown. Spiritually it indicates a new mindset.

Our thinking, values, way of life have been unsettled and affected. 

As these things settle down, let us make sure they are settling in line with GOD'S ways.

This is the time to diligently seek the heart and mind of GOD. We need to know which laws that were instituted need to be followed through in our lives. Which rules and regulations have to be dropped. Which suggestions we need to turn away from. Many rules were imposed during the season with a reason. If they become our way of life, they can be detrimental to our spiritual well being. Certain suggestions we practised during the pandemic, would be meaningless habits post pandemic. These habits would waste our time and energy and divert our focus and dilute our passion.

 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, 

that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, 

holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 

And do not 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 12:1-2 

 Submission and worship

We have to know the difference between submission and worship. Submission is willingness to obey. worship is unquestioning obedience. Worship belongs only to GOD. There are times we have to disobey world authorities so that we may obey GOD!

 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, 

whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, 

as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers 

and for the praise of those who do good. 

For this is the will of God, that by doing good 

you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men-

- as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 

Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. 

Fear God. Honor the king. 

Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, 

not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.

For this is commendable, 

if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 

For what credit is it if, 

when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? 

But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, 

this is commendable before God. 

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, 

leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 

"Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth"; 

who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; 

when He suffered, He did not threaten, 

but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 

1 Peter 2:13-23 

 But so that it spreads no further among the people, 

let us severely threaten them, 

that from now on they speak to no man in this name." 

And they called them and commanded them 

not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 

But Peter and John answered and said to them, 

"Whether it is right in the sight of God 

to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 

For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." 

Acts 4:17-20 

It is therefore necessary for us to sort out the habits we have formed during covid 19 into two lots: Those that need to be kept and developed and those that need to be discarded.

 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, 

abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 

having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, 

that when they speak against you as evildoers, 

they may, by your good works which they observe, 

glorify God in the day of visitation. 

1 Peter 2:11-12 

 Do not love the world or the things in the world. 

If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, 

and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. 

And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; 

but he who does the will of God abides forever. 

1 John 2:15-17 

 Again, a new commandment I write to you, 

which thing is true in Him and in you, 

because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. 

He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, 

is in darkness until now. 

He who loves his brother abides in the light, 

and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 

But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, 

and does not know where he is going, 

because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 

1 John 2:8-11 

Babylon  - Lust

 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, The beauty of the Chaldeans' pride, Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It will never be inhabited, Nor will it be settled from generation to generation; Nor will the Arabian pitch tents there, Nor will the shepherds make their sheepfolds there.
Isaiah 13:19-20

Let us pull down thoughts that stand against GOD.

 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 
2 Corinthians 10:5 

This should not be done using our carnal mind but with our spiritual mind. We should seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit and obey His promptings. Much thought and planning is going on among leaders of states and nations in the world in relaxing the restrictions imposed during the pandemic. Questions are being asked as to what restrictions are to be removed and when they should be removed. Every leader seems to think differently and of course it relates to the manner in which the nations was affected. We also need to be diligent in this process as Churches and individuals. Let us make sure we are lifting our gaze and our feet are standing on higher ground post covid 19.

Let us allow the LORD to touch our mouths afresh so that we may speak and write words that root out the kingdom of darkness and plant the Kingdom of GOD.

 Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant." 
Jeremiah 1:9-10 

Let us move out of the spiritual Babylon of carnality and worldliness. 

Let us move into the spiritual Jerusalem, the city of peace.

Jerusalem - Love

 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, And joy in My people; The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, Nor the voice of crying. 

Isaiah 65:17-19

 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
2 Corinthians 4:16-17 

But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
1 Peter 5:10

 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven." Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.
Hebrews 12:25-29 

Washing and Sanitising

  "Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: 'Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. 

Exodus 31:13 

 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:7-9

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 

Hebrews 10:19-22

 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it." And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children."
Matthew 27:24-25

The only way of cleansing our soul of sin and sanitising, is through the blood of JESUS. It is the LORD Who sanctifies us.

Self Isolation and Quarantine 

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:23-25 

Self isolation and social distancing were rules that were put in place for a purpose. Let us beware this does not become a way of life for those of us who are a part of the Body of CHRIST. The Christian life is based on relationships. Times of quarantine and self isolation were exploited by most believers to seek GOD and make their connection with Him stronger. 

My husband and I were shut in a hotel room for 14 days. As there was minimal distraction, whenever I made that connection with the LORD, the line was so very clear! His voice was sweet and His guidance unmistakable! That was the only experience I did not want to leave behind when I walked out of that hotel room. The tall westfield tower seen from the hotel window is a snap shot in my mind reminding me of the importance of getting connected and staying connected!

Seeing and hearing are important channels through which we make connections with the outside world and especially with people. Through the period of covid 19 shut down, individuals desperately looked for ways of seeing and hearing their loved ones who were separated from them. The advanced technology made this possible and very effectively too!

Fellowship is a very important part of the life of the Church and so most assemblies were able to meet and conduct their sunday services online.

 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

Matthew 18:20 

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. 
Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27 

Even as physical gatherings have ceased for a period, let us ask the LORD for wisdom to improve our relationships from carnal and soulish to spiritual, edifying bondings. When we begin our meetings again, let there be such reverence because of the fear of GOD. Let there be order, yet a greater sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. Let the beauty of holiness be evident in our midst. Let the light of GOD shine brighter as relationships are corrected and strengthened. Let the selfless pure love of CHRIST be the hallmark of the Christian gatherings.

 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
John 13:35 

 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:13-16

The salt will then create a thirst that will draw in people from the neighbourhood seeking for the Living Water! Just as insects are instinctively attracted to lights and lamps, individuals will hasten to come out of darkness to the marvellous light!

As we lived through the reality of many mortals facing eternity within a short period of time, let us become passionate for souls and evangelise lovingly, boldly and wisely.

Social Distancing

 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 

Matthew 8:2-3

A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; 

A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; 

Ecclesiastes 3:5

There was a purpose to refrain from embracing for a season. Let us beware that distancing ourselves from each other does not become our way of life when the virus is not prevalent anymore. If a kiss is the expression of love that someone needs, let us not withhold it from them if it is in our ability to do it!

Let brotherly love continue.

Hebrews 13:1

We were asked not to touch one another, but to maintain a social distance of 1.5 meters except from those we lived with. Having been deprived of this expression of love for a season, let us now value others in our lives and touch, shake hands, hug and embrace one another more warmly and more meaningfully.

 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.
1 Thessalonians 5:26

 All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
1 Corinthians 16:20

 Greet one another with a holy kiss.
2 Corinthians 13:12

 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
1 Peter 5:14

It does not mean that we stopped loving others just because we couldn't express it with a touch. In fact not touching an individual who was fearful of contracting the virus was the way to express love to that particular individual, even if you had no fear of transmitting the virus either way. We need to bear with one another with understanding. 

The love of GOD flows from the heart, bringing compassion towards another, signalling the mind to reach out with kindness and acts of love. We have control of our mind to decide on what to do and what not to do, depending on the situation. The flow of love is accentuated by the expression of the acts of love. If acts of love are constantly withheld, the flow of love is hindered. Of course, you can show love without touching someone, but touch is an important aspect of the expression of love! in fact it is an expression of our faith!

 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
James 2:26

The purpose with which GOD shakes the nations is to bring about a spiritual revival. A spiritual revival begins with the rekindling of our love for the LORD reflecting in our love for one another, flowing to those in the world. There is an exciting sense of a great 'pandemic' or worldwide revival following the covid pandemic. Let us be aware of the great wrath and opposition of the enemy, holding onto his last straw against the great work of GOD through His people. He will do his best to quench our love for the LORD and our love for each other in various subtle ways and also bring division within the Body of CHRIST. Let us be keenly conscious of this and be diligent to know the will of the LORD in every situation and heed the promptings of the gentle Holy Spirit.

Have I emerged from covid 19 the same as pre covid 19?

Am I angry and bitter?

Am I better, with a closer relationship with the LORD and a greater revelation of Him?

Do I value the individuals in my life?

Even if we go back to our old routines, let us do them with a different focus, different attitude and with passion for GOD and love for others. Then, we will be not be going backwards but progressing forwards in our spiritual life. Let post covid be a a great leap in our spiritual walk!

 "Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert. 
Isaiah 43:18-19 

 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. 
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
1 John 2:28

Father GOD and Mother Nature During Covid 19

The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, 

The world and those who dwell therein. 

Psalm 24:1 

The Almighty GOD is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. He is GOD from everlasting to everlasting! He has always been and will be in overall control of all of creation.

To those who humble themselves to acknowledge Him, and come into relationship with Him through His Son, JESUS, He is Father GOD.

 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful. 

Praise the Lord with the harp; 

Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings. 

Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy. 

For the word of the Lord is right, And all His work is done in truth. 

He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. 

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, 

And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. 

He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; 

He lays up the deep in storehouses. 

Let all the earth fear the Lord; 

Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. 

For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. 

The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; 

He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. 

The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations. 

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, 

The people He has chosen as His own inheritance. 

The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. 

From the place of His dwelling He looks On all the inhabitants of the earth; 

He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works. 

No king is saved by the multitude of an army; 

A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. 

A horse is a vain hope for safety; Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength. 

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, 

On those who hope in His mercy, 

To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine. 

Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. 

For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name. 

Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, Just as we hope in You. 

Psalm 33:1-22 

 When the world seemed to have come to a stand still during covid 19, mother nature was not adversely affected. In fact, that was the period nature flourished! Man had transgressed and arrogantly crossed the boundary GOD had set in creation. Man was prideful in his thinking, his planning and in his researching. He did not consider GOD the Creator. He thought he could re-create the earth and life as he wanted! He set laws according to his fallen nature. What GOD had forbidden, man permitted. He was found guilty of flouting GOD'S copyright law. Man imagined he could give life and take away life as he pleased. He encroached and meddled into GOD'S creation of gender and brought confusion. 

 So God created man in His own image; 

in the image of God He created him;

male and female He created them. 

Genesis 1:27 

GOD intervened in the progress of the proud tower of Babel and Babylon once again and brought confusion to man. 

 Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. 

And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, 

that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. 

Then they said to one another, 

"Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly." 

They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. 

And they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, 

and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, 

lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth." 

But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower 

which the sons of men had built. 

And the Lord said, "Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, 

and this is what they begin to do; 

now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. 

Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, 

that they may not understand one another's speech." 

So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, 

and they ceased building the city. 

Therefore its name is called Babel,

because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; 

and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth. 

Genesis 11:1-9 

 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, 

having great authority, 

and the earth was illuminated with his glory. 

And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, 

"Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, 

and has become a dwelling place of demons, 

a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! 

For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, 

the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, 

and the merchants of the earth have become rich 

through the abundance of her luxury." 

And I heard another voice from heaven saying, 

"Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, 

and lest you receive of her plagues. 

For her sins have reached to heaven, 

and God has remembered her iniquities. 

Render to her just as she rendered to you, 

and repay her double according to her works; 

in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. 

In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously,

 in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; 

for she says in her heart, 'I sit as queen, and am no widow, 

and will not see sorrow.' 

Therefore her plagues will come in one day-

-death and mourning and famine. 

And she will be utterly burned with fire, 

for strong is the Lord God who judges her. 

Revelation 18:1-8 

South Australia Police have captured the moment a kangaroo hopped through the heart of downtown Adelaide during coronavirus lockdown.

https://www.facebook.com/scmp/videos/flamingos-flock-to-indian-city-amid-coronavirus-lockdown/706960740046155/

Man's work and business was put 'on hold' or held back and nature smiled with relief! The big cities seemed dead. The streets were empty and the tall buildings unusually quiet. Birds filled the skies with their chirpy songs of praise to their Creator without the disturbance of aircrafts! When I returned home with my husband after overseas travel and a period of quarantine, the lawn was green and the trees lush. The cherished curry leaf tree was flourishing! 

 After these things I looked, and behold, 

a door standing open in heaven. 

And the first voice which I heard 

was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, 

"Come up here, and I will show you 

things which must take place after this." 

Immediately I was in the Spirit; 

and behold, a throne set in heaven, 

and One sat on the throne. 

And He who sat there was like a jasper 

and a sardius stone in appearance; 

and there was a rainbow around the throne, 

in appearance like an emerald. 

Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, 

and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, 

clothed in white robes; 

and they had crowns of gold on their heads. 

And from the throne proceeded lightnings, 

thunderings, and voices. 

Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, 

which are the seven Spirits of God. 

Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. 

And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, 

were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 

The first living creature was like a lion, 

the second living creature like a calf, 

the third living creature had a face like a man, 

and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 

The four living creatures, each having six wings, 

were full of eyes around and within. 

And they do not rest day or night, saying: 

"Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, 

Who was and is and is to come!" 

Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor 

and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, 

who lives forever and ever, 

the twenty-four elders fall down before Him 

who sits on the throne and worship Him 

who lives forever and ever, 

and cast their crowns before the throne, 

saying: "You are worthy, O Lord, 

To receive glory and honor and power;

For You created all things, 

And by Your will they exist and were created." 

Revelation 4:1-11 

The Old Man and the New Man

 The Old Man and the New Man

The Outward Man and the Inward Man

The outward man is the physical body and appearance of a person.
The inward man is the heart that depicts the nature or character and of that person.

The character reflects in the attitude one carries towards GOD and towards others.

Even prophet Samuel, based his choice of a king by the outward appearance and stature of Eliab.
The LORD is not interested in the physical appearance, but looks into the attitude of the heart of a person, that is hidden from man.

 But the Lord said to Samuel, 
"Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, 
because I have refused him. 
For the Lord does not see as man sees; 
for man looks at the outward appearance, 
but the Lord looks at the heart." 
1 Samuel 16:7 

Although we do work on keeping our outward appearance presentable so as not to cause offence to others, we should spend more time and effort on beautifying our character which matters to the LORD.

 Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, 
wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-
- rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, 
with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, 
which is very precious in the sight of God. 
1 Peter 3:3-4 

With age, the physical body becomes weak and loses the beauty of youthfulness.
Yet, with time and experience, the character is renewed and has to become stronger and more beautiful.

 Therefore we do not lose heart. 
Even though our outward man is perishing, 
yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 
2 Corinthians 4:16 

Flattery puffs up the self but encouragement builds up the spirit.

The Old Man and the New Man, a Perfect Man

The 'old man' speaks about a life that is controlled by the old carnal mind that operates in us.
The 'new man' speaks about the life that is led by a mind that is renewed according to GOD.
As we all grow in that life in CHRIST with each other,
we progress towards the fullness of CHRIST, to a perfect man.

The new man therefore refers to one who is a believer,
whose spirit has been revived by the Holy Spirit
and whose mind is in the process of being renewed
according to the word of GOD.

 Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men."
(Now this, "He ascended"--what does it mean but that He also first descended
into the lower parts of the earth? 
He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens,
that He might fill all things.) 
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists,
and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ, 
till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 
that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro
and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men,
in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love,
may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-
- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies,
according to the effective working by which every part does its share,
causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. 
This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, 
that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk,
in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened,
being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them,
because of the blindness of their heart; 
who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness,
to work all uncleanness with greediness. 
But you have not so learned Christ, 
if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him,
as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct,
the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 
and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 
and that you put on the new man which was created according to God,
in true righteousness and holiness. 
Ephesians 4:8-24

As long as we live in this dirty world, we should expect our minds to get corrupted.
So we need to constantly cleanse our mind by putting off the 'old man'
and putting on the 'new man',
just like putting off our clothing that get dirty, and putting on fresh clean clothing!

Don't we shower each morning and then brush, comb and set our hair so it is neat and tidy?
It is even more important for us then, each morning and as often as possible
 to seek eternal things and set our mind firmly on them.

It is also like preparing to take a photograph of an object.
First of all we want to find the object that is worth being photographed!
Then we need to focus the camera on the object and zoom into it.
When it is clearly and fully in focus, we click to capture the image.
So it is available for us to look at as often as we want.

Seek, see and set!

The mind directs our life and activities, depending on our purpose in life.
Our values will determine how we spend our time, energy and money.

 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above,
where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 
For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 
When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth:
fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 
Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 
in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice,
blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 
Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 
and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge
according to the image of Him who created him, 
where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised,
barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. 
Colossians 3:1-11 

To them God willed to make known 
what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles:
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 
Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom,
that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 
Colossians 1:27-28 

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists,
and some pastors and teachers, 
for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ,
till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 
Ephesians 4:11-13 

Imagine a 3-D puzzle, the image being the LORD JESUS.
He has given all of us something of Himself.
Each one of us needs to be perfected as a piece of the puzzle.
We are being fitted together, playing our individual roles in the Body of CHRIST.
As we are being perfected and being fitted in the puzzle, the image of CHRIST is being perfected.

Strong Man, Stronger Man 

The natural man is the one who guards and rules over his life until he is overcome by another force.

The following scene gives us a picture of a natural man overpowered by an evil demonic spirit.

The man was possessed by the demon and reflected its characteristics, muteness being one of them.

And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. 

So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; 

and the multitudes marveled. 

But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons." 

Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven. 

But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: 

"Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, 

and a house divided against a house falls. 

If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? 

Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. 

And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? 

Therefore they will be your judges. 

But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, 

surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. 

When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. 

But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, 

he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. 

He who is not with Me is against Me, 

and he who does not gather with Me scatters. 
Luke 11:14-23 

The Spirit of GOD is the Stronger Man referred to in the above portion of Scripture

Who was able to overpower the demonic spirit and set the man free.

When a shop, store, restaurant or company is bought over by another one, you see changes in the structure, colour of the building, the arrangements, the staff , their uniforms, the way they function, their products and so on. Then you understand that it has come under new management!

Similarly, when a natural man is possessed by an evil spirit, the changes are evident.

Then when he is set free by the more powerful Holy Spirit, GOD'S glory is revealed!

The nature and characteristics of the spirit he is controlled by, are reflected in his behaviour.

'Come upon' means the mind being affected and overpowered by a force from outside.

Another Man

 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; 

and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,
and to the end of the earth."
Acts 1:8 

 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; 

and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. 

Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; 

neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, 

but they had all things in common. 

And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. 

And great grace was upon them all.
Acts 4:31-33 

The disciples of  our LORD who were afraid and cowardly, became bold and courageous when the Holy Spirit came upon them! They behaved so differently. They seemed as different people because they had come under a new management!

When the Holy Spirit comes upon a person,

He brings about changes in his thinking

resulting in changes in his behaviour.

He is so changed and different, he becomes another man!

 Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head, 

and kissed him and said: "Is it not because the Lord has anointed you 

commander over His inheritance? 

Then you shall go on forward from there and come to the terebinth tree of Tabor. There three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine. And they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall receive from their hands. After that you shall come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is. And it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them; and they will be prophesying. Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. 
1 Samuel 10:1, 3-6 

Natural man, spiritual and carnal

 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, 

that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 

These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches 

but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, 

for they are foolishness to him; 

nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 

But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 

For "who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?" 

But we have the mind of Christ. 

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 

I fed you with milk and not with solid food; 

for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 

for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, 

are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 
For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal? 

1 Corinthians 2:12-3:4 

By default, our natural mind progresses towards carnality.

Each of us has been given the responsibility to steer our minds.

Our mind is influenced by the information we put in and the things we think on.

It is easy to be influenced by the spirit that is of the world

and be carnal, which leads to death.

If we study and meditate on the word of GOD, the Holy Spirit gives us understanding

and we become spiritual people.

Such a mind leads one to eternal life and peace.

As we teach and train our mind to think in line with the word of GOD,

we progress to becoming spiritual men and women of GOD.

 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, 

but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; 

for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 

So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. 

Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 

And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, 

but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, 

He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies 

through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Romans 8:5-11