The precious coin
FIRST LOVE RECOVERY MINISTRIES
The precious coin
Rom.1:15(KJV)
"For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."
Jude 1:3(KJV)
"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."
2 Peter 1:1(KJV)
"Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:"
In the kingdom of God on earth,the common unit of currency that is spent to fulfill God's purposes in and through mankind is 'the precious coin'.
'The precious coin' is faith in God and his word.
'The precious coin' is available to every member of God's kingdom from the least to the greatest:
Rom.12:5(KJV)
"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."
The importance of real faith and the prominence of the heroes of faith have been discussed in 'Rhema Island'.
Real faith is 'the precious coin' which has two sides.
The side known as 'the head' is 'the sunny side' of real Christianity described below:-
Heb.11:33-35a(KJV)
"Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Women received their dead raised to life again:..."
The side known as 'the tail' is 'the cloudy side' of real Christianity described below:-
Heb.11:35b-38(KJV)
"...and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth."
This second side of 'the precious coin' certainly excludes any wrong kind of suffering for Christians as clearly commanded below:-
1 Peter 4:15(KJV)
"But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters."
While the first side appears to be attractive,the second seems to be repulsive!
In the history of the church,many saints have camped on 'the sunny side';while others have lodged on 'the cloudy side'.
Each 'camp' has despised the other due to one or more theological reasons.
Yet in the sacred records of the bible,one will clearly see that both Jesus Christ,and the early church embraced both sides of true Christianity!
The Lord Jesus Christ both had the company of great multitudes(Matt.4:25),and suffered desertion of his closest associates(Matt.26:56b).
All believers in Christ are called 'to walk in his steps' on both sides of 'the precious coin'(1 Peter 2:21).
The early church experienced both 'gathering'(Acts 2:41) and 'scattering'(Acts 8:1) in fulfilling God's purposes for her(Acts 1:8).
What is the assessment of the Lord for believers on both sides of the precious coin?
Heb.11:39(KJV)
"And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:"
The crystal-clear answer is 'a good report'!
Saints on both sides of 'the precious coin' form God's winning team as portrayed in 'The ultimate game'
In this dispensation of grace,the chief motivating force for these 'winners' is God's love in the regenerate human heart:-
Gal. 5:6(Amplified Bible)
"For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love."
This brand of love is poured into the regenerate human heart by the Holy Spirit:-
Rom.5:5(KJV)
"And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."
Without love, anyone(on the sunny side) who has faith that moves mountains is nothing(1 Cor.13:2).
And if anyone(on the cloudy side) gives his/her body to be burnt without love,the martyrdom is unprofitable(1 Cor.13:3).
Every member of God's kingdom has a regenerate heart.
A regenerate heart is only possible through the new birth(John 3:3-8).
Before the new birth,every human heart is unregenerate:-
Jer.17:9-10(KJV)
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings."
The new birth takes place when any person has a personal encounter with Jesus Christ ;and humbly and sincerely receives him as Lord and Saviour(Rom.10:9-13).
When this happens(either dramatically or quietly),the person becomes a member of God's kingdom(Col.1:13).
The testimonies(Heb.11) of these heroes of faith inspire,encourage,and comfort everyone currently in 'the good fight of faith'(1 Tim.6:12)to singly focus on the author and finisher of 'the precious coin' so as to fulfill God's purposes:-
Heb.12:1-2(KJV)
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
About the Author
British-born Nigerian Christian writer living and working in London,UK with website:www.firstloveministries.org.uk