Nothing to say, yet
Transcription
This is an interview with Guy Lamuana, a presenter on the YouTube channel Christian's Courier. They discuss the topic of how Christians can be channels of blessings. They differentiate between divine blessings centered around Jesus and worldly blessings. They also talk about the importance of faith and surrendering one's life to Jesus. They mention examples from the Old and New Testaments, such as Jonah and the apostle Paul, who were imperfect but still used as channels of blessing. The interview concludes by encouraging listeners to draw near to God to become channels of blessings themselves. Thank you for joining us in this interview. My name is Eric. This is an educational program in which we receive people from various backgrounds on various issues. We have with us today Guy Lamuana. He is a presenter of our weekly exhortation on his YouTube channel called Christian's Courier. Good morning, Guy. How are you today? I am good. Thank you. How are you doing? I'm good. Thank you. What should we say exactly? Pastor or what? Servant of God. Perfect. Today we are going to talk with Guy on the following question. How can the Christian be a channel of blessing? What are we to understand by faith and blessings? There are two kinds of blessings, divine blessings and worldly blessings. We must not confuse them. Divine blessings centers around the finished work of Jesus and it's all about Jesus himself. While worldly blessings appeal to our carnal nature, this blessing is empty. With those blessings, men are always thirsty. Divine blessings, however, are eternal. Regarding faith, faith is to surrender our life to Jesus. At this point, Christ lives in us and our whole life is focused on him. The author in Hebrew uses the term, looking unto Jesus. Looking unto Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, Hebrew chapter 12, verse 2. However, I should point out that believing in some Christian doctrines, such as Jesus have died 2,000 years ago or Jesus was born in flesh and he's the Lord, the savior of humanity, the way, the life and the truth. All those Christian doctrines are necessary but will not bring you to salvation if you don't respond to Jesus' call and go to him for the remission of your sins. You have to take action regarding the truth you believe in. Thank you for the reminder. Now again, how can the Christian be a channel of blessings? First, we should know that being a channel of blessing is the will of God for all those who come to him through faith in Jesus. The Christian is a channel of blessings when he is willing to obey and live for God alone. He that obeys, the love of God dwells in him. He who loves God will necessarily love his neighbor. Any person who has such a spiritual disposition can be nothing except a channel of blessing and this blessing is in him like a fountain of running water for the world to drink from. If I may, Eric, I will give two examples, one from the Old Testament and the other from the New Testament. Please continue. Thank you. First of all, we are all familiar with the story of Jonah. Jonah is that Old Testament prophet who God sent to preach to the people of Nineveh. Although he disobeyed at first, he eventually went to Nineveh. The city of Nineveh repented listening to his preaching. Isn't that a blessing? Yes. Yes, it is. Moreover, in Acts chapter 9 verse 15, it is written, But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way, for he is a chosen vessel, meaning here an instrument, chosen vessel unto me to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel. These verses are that God chooses Paul to make him a channel through which people would be blessed, and though people are Gentiles, kings, children of Israel, no one is excluded. The apostle Paul and the other apostles of Christ preach repentance and the remission of sin in the name of Christ. Remission of sin means forgiveness of sin, right? That's right. Listen, this is exactly what Jesus would have us do in order to advance his kingdom, in order to do this, he gives his disciples authority so that they may proclaim forgiveness of sin. During his ministry, the apostle Paul preached the thing concerning the kingdom of God, and this happened in Ephesus. Following this, many that believed came and confessed, disclosing their former sinful practices. You will read this in Acts chapter 19, verse 18. As a result, many were saved from the tithe of sin. Didn't God use Paul to bless sinners? Yes. Are you trying to say that the believer should confess his sin to God before a man of God? Absolutely. I am not just trying to say it, but I affirm it because it is written so. You know, Eric, this truth has been purposely hidden from us for a long time. We have been lied to, but God is opening the eye of those who seek him. Jesus said to his disciples, he that believeth on me, as the scriptures have said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water, John chapter 7, verse 38. You know, this image compares us to a water pipeline. It is our duty to give that water to those who are thirsty for salvation. God gives his people authority so that they may extend the grace that they receive. What is your opinion on this matter? Well, my opinion is that of the Bible. That's what I'm trying to explain. It is written in Matthew chapter 3, verse 5 to 6 that Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region running about Jordan went out with John the Baptist and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Furthermore, in John chapter 21, verse 23, the Lord Jesus says, whosoever sin ye remit, they are remitted unto them, and whosoever sin ye retain, they are retained. What does Jesus mean by this word? Well, by giving them his power, Jesus wanted his disciples to understand this. I will not always be with you to meet the needs of the crowd. I am going to the cross in order to open the gates of heaven from which the water of eternal life will flow. You who believe have this life-giving water. You will give it to those who thirst for salvation. That's what Jesus seemed to say to his disciples when he was telling them that whosoever sin ye remit, they are remitted. Again, this image compares us to pipelines. Note that the path taken by the water, in this verse, it draws its origin from God, spread in the bosom of the believer, who in turn will communicate it to those who confess it in him. Likewise, the power to forgive the earth is origin from God. God's servants only have to extend it to others. So the purpose of Jesus, by giving his disciples the possibility to extend his forgiveness, is so that all righteousness be accomplished, like it is written in Matthew chapter 3 verse 15. Isn't what the Lord Jesus told John the Baptist when he came to him to be baptized by him in Jordan? John the Baptist knew that he doesn't deserve to baptize the Lord because he is a human being with so many imperfections of sin in him. But in order that all righteousness be accomplished, Jesus allowed John the Baptist to baptize him. That is how we should understand John chapter 20, 23. Please keep your word. I'll come back to you in a moment. At this time, remind those who are listening to us that the subject matter we are debating is how can the Christian be a channel of blessings? Please continue. Thank you. So I would like to continue and say that it is not for our personal satisfaction that God has made us a channel of blessings, but rather for the fulfillment of all righteousness. We need to go deep into this matter next time. What are your last words to conclude this interview, please? To conclude, I will say this. The apostle Paul states in Colossians chapter 1 verse 24 that the afflictions that Jesus experienced during his earthly ministry are incomplete. And Paul declares that he wants to supply in his flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions. You know, the proclamation of the gospel is made possible by the participation of men and women who are willing to serve Christ. If the apostle Paul has not suffered, how would the gospel have reached the ear of those in his mission field? This is to say that it is through his preaching and that of all his successors that you and I have salvation. What a blessing! Yes, men are imperfect even after receiving God's grace. For we must grow in maturity. And yet, it is men who God has chosen to work with for the advancement of His kingdom. Eric, I would like to point out that even after his miraculous experiments in the belly of the fish, Jonah did not become a perfect man. Far from there, some flaws still follow him. For example, his reaction to minivate repentance. Instead of rejoicing, this repentance got him upset. We can find this in Jonah chapter 4 verse 1. In Jonah's mind, there was no question of showing compassion to pagan congregations in Nineveh. This is to say that the regeneration of the believer still comes with flaws. Friend, you can be a channel of blessing without being a perfect man. It is the same for the believer to whom God has communicated a new nature. Jonah, the apostle Paul, and many others were imperfect, yet they were a channel of blessing. Today, it is you and I. Thank you so much. We have to come to the end of this interview. Thank you to everyone who followed us. Let us draw near to God so He may make us channels of blessings. We will all be there. See you soon.
