LABOUR PAINS!

Natural Birth

To the woman He said:

"I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; 

In pain you shall bring forth children;

Your desire shall be for your husband, 

And he shall rule over you."  Genesis 3:16  

By disobeying GOD, Adam and Eve were removed from the blessing of walking in the Glorious Presence of the Almighty GOD. Labour pains are the consequence of this fall of man in the Garden of Eden. Sorrow in conception and pain in delivery are the result of man's broken relationship with GOD. 

While the mother goes through labour pains the baby also undergoes discomfort and danger while in the womb and during its journey down the birth canal! 

Spiritual Birth

Jesus answered and said to him,

"Most assuredly, I say to you, 

unless one is born again, 

he cannot see the kingdom of God."

John 3:3

  Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him;

He has put Him to grief. 

When You make His soul an offering for sin,

He shall see His seed, 

He shall prolong His days,

And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. 

He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. 

By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, 

For He shall bear their iniquities.

Isaiah 53:10-11

From that time Jesus began to preach and to say,

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 4:17

For godly sorrow produces repentance

leading to salvation,

not to be regretted;

but the sorrow of the world produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:10

The LORD JESUS CHRIST needed to go through labour of His soul to birth mankind into His spiritual Kingdom. When we are convicted of our sinful nature, we must go through the sorrow of repentance to be born again into the Kingdom of GOD.

Most assuredly, I say to you

that you will weep and lament,

but the world will rejoice;

and you will be sorrowful,

but your sorrow will be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow

because her hour has come;

but as soon as she has given birth to the child,

she no longer remembers the anguish,

for joy that a human being has been born into the world. Therefore you now have sorrow;

but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice,

and your joy no one will take from you. John 16:20-22

Labour that results in Joy is worth the pain!

Progress of Pregnancy

And behold,

you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son,

and shall call His name Jesus.

Luke 1:31 

Being born again by repenting of our sin and receiving the LORD JESUS into our life is also symbolic of conception.

Mary experienced this literally in her physical body. 

When the seed of the Word of GOD is planted in our heart,

A new life begins in us.

As we are birthed into the Kingdom of GOD,

the Kingdom of GOD is also conceived in us!

The seed of the Word of GOD, when planted in the good soil of a heart, has the potential to grow and bring forth fruit  - the fruit of the Spirit which is Love.

He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30

As I bring more of my 'self' under the control of GOD'S Spirit in me, I progress in my spiritual journey towards 'Bringing Forth' CHRIST in my life!

A flower is beautiful and pleasing to our eyes.

But when it is pollinated, the fruit begins to form at the base of the flower,

while the flower diminishes in size and beauty and shrivels.

The result is a fruit that is good for food that nourishes our body!

 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, 

while we do not look at the things which are seen, 

but at the things which are not seen. 

For the things which are seen are temporary, 

but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

From the time of conception, it takes about 40 weeks for the baby to be completely formed in the womb and be ready to be delivered.

From the time the children of Israel were brought out of slavery in Egypt, it took 40 years to get the sin of Egypt out of them so that they could be prepared to enter the promised land!

 being confident of this very thing, 

that He who has begun a good work in you 

will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Philippians 1:6

Birthed into Glorious Heaven!

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. Colossians 3:2-4

From the time of our spiritual birth, 

it takes the rest of our life on earth to be prepared 

to enter the Glorious Presence of GOD! 

But He, because He continues forever,

has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost

those who come to God through Him,

since He always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:24-25

Until we are birthed into GOD'S glorious presence in Heaven, 

our Savior intercedes for us at the right hand of GOD!

This intercession if effected by the Holy Spirit through us, 

for us and for others.

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.

For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought,

but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us

with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts

knows what the mind of the Spirit is,

because He makes intercession for the saints

according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27

Intercession in the Spirit, according to the heart of GOD,

could be as intense as labour.

Who shall bring a charge against God's elect?

It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns?

It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen,

who is even at the right hand of God,

who also makes intercession for us. Romans 8:33-34

The Holy Spirit Who indwells the believer is in connection with the LORD JESUS

Who is at the right hand of the power and glory of the Almighty GOD!

Labour in the Work of CHRIST:

Intercession, Evangelism and Discipling

My little children,

for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, 

Galatians 4:19

Our intercession for the salvation of souls and their spiritual growth,

compares to labour that brings forth CHRIST in others.

 Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. 

He who continually goes forth weeping, 

Bearing seed for sowing, 

Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, 

Bringing his sheaves with him.
Psalm 126:5-6

Restoration:

Birthing of the New Heavens and the New Earth!

 For we know that the whole creation

groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, 

even we ourselves groan within ourselves, 

eagerly waiting for the adoption,

the redemption of our body.

Romans 8:22-23

It was man's fall through his decision that brought the fall of all of creation.

Therefore it is man who has to be first restored

and then play his role as GOD restores all things to Himself.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

old things have passed away;

behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God,

who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ,

and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ

reconciling the world to Himself,

not imputing their trespasses to them,

and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ,

as though God were pleading through us:

we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us,

that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

And I have put My words in your mouth;

I have covered you with the shadow of My hand,

That I may plant the heavens,

Lay the foundations of the earth,

And say to Zion, 'You are My people.' " Isaiah 51:16

Do You Have CHRIST In You,

The Hope Of Glory?

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.

Colossians 1:27

 Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, 

due to be delivered; 

and when she heard the news 

that the ark of God was captured, 

and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead,
she bowed herself and gave birth, 

for her labor pains came upon her.
 And about the time of her death 

the women who stood by her said to her,
"Do not fear, for you have borne a son."
But she did not answer, nor did she regard it.
 Then she named the child Ichabod, saying,
"The glory has departed from Israel!"
because the ark of God had been captured
and because of her father-in-law and her husband.

1 Samuel 4:19-21

Phinehas the son of Eli the priest did wickedly and did not honor GOD.

Therefore his seed that his wife conceived and bore, was

Ichabod, meaning, 'The glory has departed from Israel'!

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren,

you have no need that I should write to you.

For you yourselves know perfectly

that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.

For when they say, "Peace and safety!"

then sudden destruction comes upon them,

as labor pains upon a pregnant woman.

And they shall not escape.

But you, brethren, are not in darkness,

so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.

You are all sons of light and sons of the day.

We are not of the night nor of darkness.

Therefore let us not sleep, as others do,

but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night,

and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober,

putting on the breastplate of faith and love,

and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath,

but to obtain salvation

through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us,

that whether we wake or sleep,

we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another,

just as you also are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

 End time Overcomers

Our life on earth is like a hurdle-race. The LORD JESUS Himself said,

".. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. 

In the world you will have tribulation; 

but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

John 16:33

When you were young in your faith, GOD removed hurdles in your path because He did not expect you to do anything more than a sprint.

Now the LORD expects you to look to Him for strength to come over the hurdles for the glory of His name!

When you face evil, do not let it come over you, but you come over it with good.

You can come over the devil with GOD!

 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:21

Whether you are old, young or little, you can come over the wicked one by knowing GOD through the LORD JESUS CHRIST and by submitting to Him.

I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him 

who is from the beginning. 

I write to you, young men, 

Because you have overcome the wicked one. 

I write to you, little children, 

Because you have known the Father.
1 John 2:13

The LORD has given us the authority and the power to come over the works of darkness to sit with Him on His throne!

 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, 

as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Revelation 3:21

The equipment we have been given that enable us to overcome are, the Blood of the LORD JESUS that cleanses us from sin and frees us from guilt, the word of GOD and the cross that liberates us from the bondage of our selfish nature!

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

Revelation 12:11

Our faith reaches beyond the realm of spiritual darkness

to the very throne of the Almighty GOD.

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. 

And this is the victory that has overcome the world-

-our faith.
1 John 5:4

We must abide in CHRIST to overcome any situation.

In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us.

                                             These will make war with the Lamb, 

and the Lamb will overcome them, 

for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; 

and those who are with Him are called, 

chosen, and faithful."
Revelation 17:14

He who has an ear, 

let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 

To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, 

which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." '
Revelation 2:7

He who has an ear, 

let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 

He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death." '
Revelation 2:11

He who overcomes shall inherit all things, 

and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
Revelation 21:7

When GOD permits you to go through testing in your life, 

He knows how much and how long you can bear it 

because His eyes are constantly on you.

It is like the silversmith with His precious piece of silver 

while it is being refined in the fire.

No temptation has overtaken you 

except such as is common to man; 

but God is faithful, 

who will not allow you to be tempted 

beyond what you are able, 

but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, 

that you may be able to bear it.
1 Corinthians 10:13



We must beware that sin is contagious.

We have similar weaknesses in our body and our soul as the ones we minister to.

If that individual has become prideful, hurtful, caused offense or become offended or fallen into immorality, we must be careful to protect our selves from these attitudes so we don't catch them!

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, 

you who are spiritual 

restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, 

considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
Galatians 6:1

when we let the Holy Spirit overtake our soul and our body,

we become true overcomers!

 So David inquired of the Lord, saying, 

"Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?" 

And He answered him, 

"Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them 

and without fail recover all."
1 Samuel 30:8

Let us diligently prepare ourselves for the Day of the LORD

by constantly refocussing on JESUS alone.

Let us lay down our burdens at the cross

until we find rest in Him.

Let us ask for grace to put away our traditions,

religious rituals and our own works of justification.

Let Him alone be our first love.

Let our trust be in Him alone.

But you, brethren, are not in darkness, 

so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.
1 Thessalonians 5:4

 ARE YOU BLESSED?

Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 

 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, 

for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, 

but My Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 16:16-17

 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; 

and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. 

Do not be unbelieving, but believing." 

  And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" 

  Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. 

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
John 20:27-29

And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, 

"Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?" 

  When the men had come to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, 'Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?' " 

  And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; 

and to many blind He gave sight. 

  Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John 

the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, 

the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, 

the poor have the gospel preached to them. 

  And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."

Luke 7:19-23

 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, 

you also ought to wash one another's feet. 

For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 

Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; 

nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 

If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

John 13:14-17

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

  Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. 

  Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. 

  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. 

  Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. 

  Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. 

  Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, 

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

  "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, 

and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 

  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, 

for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:3-12

 Spiritual Progress

                                                                   spirit ---soul---body

          
 soul --- body --- spirit

         
spirit --- soul --- body

In which direction is your TRAIN heading?

What is the engine that pulls and dictates the direction of your life?

Is your body ruling and controlling your life?

Well and good if your soul, that is your mind is controlling your body. You desire to be disciplined to live a good life and do the right thing. In this instance, your soul is the engine that navigates your life. You are doing well, but there is still a better way.

GOD'S plan is for every child of His to live a life that is empowered and led by the Holy Spirit.

 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

 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Galatians 5:16-22


There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

..For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Romans 8:1-2, 6

If your life is not producing the fruit of the Spirit, TRAIN yourself to yield to the Holy Spirit. Ask GOD to fill you and anoint you with His Spirit of love, wisdom and power. Train your mind to focus on the LORD JESUS Who gained the victory for you on the cross and is now seated at the right hand of the Almighty GOD. Ask for the gift of tongues and constantly speak in tongues to yield your mind and speech to the Spirit of GOD. Learn to listen to the voice and gentle promptings of the Holy Spirit and be quick to obey. Thus you will train yourself to live a life that is victorious and joyous. Your life will bring glory to the LORD and you will be a blessing to people. You will find great fulfilment living such a life of freedom and liberty in CHRIST! 

Such is a life of faith, filled with love, without fear!

 But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
1 Timothy 4:7-8

Let us acquaint ourselves with the Holy Spirit Who is within us and allow Him to lead our lives.

The first and greatest victory is not to overcome the enemy who is outside of us, but to overcome the fleshly and worldly carnal nature within. As we allow the Holy Spirit to rule over our mind and take over every aspect of our life, the following promise will be fulfilled in our lives.

We will then live a life that is spiritually powerful and victorious!

So David inquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?" And He answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all."
1 Samuel 30:8

 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

 Building the Babel Tower or the House of GOD?

Every alliance made towards a common purpose is a building of people.

 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

The Tower of Babel.

Is our purpose in life prideful, to reach the heavens, whether to exalt ourselves or to reach GOD with our own efforts and resource?

Do we think that we can do it because we have progressed in our knowledge and technology - from stone to brick and mortar to asphalt?

Have we planned to make a name for ourselves  - through medical, technical or commercial research and invention? 

How about artificial intelligence?

 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness";
1 Corinthians 3:19

Are we fearful that our group would be disbanded and that we would be scattered?

GOD opposes such programs and interrupts those plans of men.

Have the people who were with you been scattered?

Has your building been shattered?

Is your life in shambles?

Are you in such a state of confusion that what you were building has come to a halt?

Were you building the Tower of Babel?

You may have thought that you were working for the Kingdom of GOD but GOD saw your deepest motives and attitudes - That in the name of GOD you were building the Tower of Babel!

Is there sudden confusion among the team and disruption of unity?

Are you attributing this to the devil?

Stop for a moment and check your motives. It could be GOD'S intervention!

What are you building with your life?

A Tower of Babel or A Holy Temple in the LORD?

What are you?

 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 

 Jesus answered and said to him, 

"Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, 

for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 

  And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, 

and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Matthew 16:16-18

The LORD JESUS pointed out that Peter, with the divine revelation that was given to him, was a rock in the building of His Church. Therefore those of us who have been given the revelation of the LORD JESUS, as the CHRIST, the Son of the Living GOD, are living stones, used for the building of His Church. This is what the Apostle Peter himself writes in his epistle!

What are you meant for?

 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, 

but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, 

are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, 

to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "

Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, 

And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." 

Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, 

"The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,"

1 Peter 2:4-7

Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, 

but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 

having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, 

Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, 

in whom the whole building, being joined together, 

grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 

in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:19-22

 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, 

they were all with one accord in one place. 

 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, 

and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 

 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, 

and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit 

and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance...

...Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, 

"Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 

 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?

Acts 2:1-4, 7-8

When we are being built up together a spiritual house, the Church of GOD, there is unity, understanding and love. GOD Himself blesses and prospers the work and gives increase by adding souls to His Kingdom. 

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! 

It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, 

The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. 

It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; 

For there the Lord commanded the blessing-- Life forevermore.

Psalm 133:1-3

You are a precious Living Stone meant for GOD'S House!

The Biblical commandment regarding Vaccination

The Biblical commandment regarding Vaccination

What is the commandment that is applicable in deciding on the vaccination?
The Bible does not say "Thou shalt take the vaccination."

Nor does the Bible say "Thou shalt not take the vaccination."

Therefore it is clear that the LORD has given that choice to us and left that decision with us.

We cannot justify ourselves by taking the vaccination. Nor can we justify ourselves by not taking the vaccination. We cannot pat ourselves on the back and tell ourselves, "Well done! GOD is pleased with me because I have obeyed His commandment."

We are also not in a position to tell others " You have disobeyed GOD'S law by taking the vaccination" or "You have disobeyed GOD'S law by not taking the vaccination."

What then is the commandment?

We can come to the LORD JESUS today like the lawyer and ask Him with sincerity and He will speak clearly to us.

 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, 

they gathered together. 

 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, 

testing Him, and saying, 

 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" 

 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God 

with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 

 This is the first and great commandment. 

 And the second is like it: '

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 

 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

Matthew 22:34-40

The LORD JESUS further simplified the command to His followers who had literally experienced His love while they were with Him when He lived as a human being on earth.

 This is My commandment, 

that you love one another as I have loved you.

John 15:12

We are called to check our own motives and the attitudes of our hearts.

GOD'S commandment is 'LOVE' and it begins with GOD'S love in our hearts.

 There is no fear in love; 

but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. 

But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

1 John 4:18

We must check our thoughts and heart against GOD'S commandment of love.

" Am I doing this to glorify the LORD Whose love has filled my heart?"

"Am I putting my selfish interests aside and making this decision in the interest of others?"

"Is my decision based on my faith or is it based on fear - fear of the virus or fear of the vaccination?"

In the early Church also there was a similar issue regarding circumcision. There were very strong views for and against circumcision. Interestingly, the LORD JESUS did not specifically speak about this matter, although He Himself was circumcised like any Jewish baby boy.

The apostle Paul, who Himself was a circumcised Jew, writes to the Galatian Church to whom this became an issue.

 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, 

and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 

Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, 

Christ will profit you nothing. 

And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised 

that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 

You have become estranged from Christ, 

you who attempt to be justified by law; 

you have fallen from grace. 

For we through the Spirit eagerly wait 

for the hope of righteousness by faith. 

For in Christ Jesus 

neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, 

but faith working through love. 

You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 

This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. 

A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 

I have confidence in you, in the Lord, 

that you will have no other mind; 

but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, 

whoever he is. And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, 

why do I still suffer persecution? 

Then the offense of the cross has ceased. 

I could wish that those who trouble you 

would even cut themselves off! 

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; 

only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, 

but through love serve one another. 

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: 

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 

But if you bite and devour one another, 

beware lest you be consumed by one another! 

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, 

and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, 

and the Spirit against the flesh; 

and these are contrary to one another, 

so that you do not do the things that you wish. 

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 

Now the works of the flesh are evident, 

which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 

idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, 

selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, 

drunkenness, revelries, and the like; 

of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, 

that those who practice such things 

will not inherit the kingdom of God. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, 

longsuffering, kindness, goodness, 

faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. 

Against such there is no law. 

And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh 

with its passions and desires. 

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 

Let us not become conceited, 

provoking one another, envying one another.

Galatians 5:1-26

 The Potter, the Clay, 

the mould and the tool

 "Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, 

You who seek the Lord: 

Look to the rock from which you were hewn, 

And to the hole of the pit from which you were dug.

Isaiah 51:1

Our life on earth is preparation for Heaven.

We are the clay and our Heavenly Father is the Potter.

The LORD JESUS is the mould.

The Holy Spirit is the Water that softens the clay.

The tools our Heavenly Father uses in the process of moulding, by pushing us against the model mould are, adversities, sicknesses, difficult situations and difficult people.

The clay needs to be gently pressed against the mould to take its shape.

If the clay is hard, it needs more pressure.

Yielding to the gentle water of the Holy Spirit will keep the clay moist, soft and pliable, preventing it from cracking and breaking up. 

During the moulding process, every bump and groove in the mould becomes a dent and a ridge respectively, in the soft clay.

He Who had no sin became sin so that I might become the righteousness of GOD in Him.

He took the curse so that I could be blessed.

He made Himself poor so that I might become rich in Him.

He came down so that I might go up.

If my hope is Heaven and I want to shape up, I must learn from every pressure of the tool, allowing myself to be pushed towards CHRIST.

GOD does not expect me to push and strive against and change the situations or people He uses as His tools. 

I must not become bitter and hardened by tough situations.

I must not allow unforgiveness and hurt against the difficult, irritating and unreasonable people in my life to harden my heart lest I become like the tool and not like the mould! I must press into the mould and intercede for the tools.

"You have heard that it was said, 

'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 

But I tell you not to resist an evil person. 

But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, 

turn the other to him also. 

If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, 

let him have your cloak also. 

And whoever compels you to go one mile, 

go with him two. 

Give to him who asks you, 

and from him who wants to borrow from you 

do not turn away. 

"You have heard that it was said, 

'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 

But I say to you, love your enemies, 

bless those who curse you, 

do good to those who hate you, 

and pray for those who spitefully use you 

and persecute you, 

that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; 

for He makes His sun rise 

on the evil and on the good, 

and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 

For if you love those who love you, 

what reward have you? 

Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 

And if you greet your brethren only, 

what do you do more than others? 

Do not even the tax collectors do so? 

Therefore you shall be perfect, 

just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:38-48

 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 2:23

https://youtu.be/mVzITgOOJRE