What Circumcision is
We've seen what circumcision is not; let’s talk about what
circumcision is.
In the old, it is refer to as “removal of foreskin” which most
often applies to male child. Then you would probably be asking, "are we still under the old law? Why
should I be circumcised?" Before arriving at a conclusion by saying we’re under the
new covenant and there is no need for circumcision.
Paul made a clear reference when he was talking about
circumcision in his letter to Philippians’
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit,
and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. (Phil 3:3)
From the passage
above circumcision is in contrast to the flesh, which means: worshiping God in
the flesh shows that one is not circumcised. One’s confidence in the flesh is a
clear indication that one is not circumcised. Should one also failed in
rejoicing in Christ Jesus (in his spirit/heart) daily then, the problem is
un-circumcision.
In whom (Christ) also ye are circumcised with the
circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the
flesh by the circumcision of Christ: (Col 2:11)
But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is
that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of
men, but of God.( Rom 2:29)
As I have made it clear previously that circumcision is not
salvation, I will like to add that circumcision is not also the removal of the
“foreskin” from a male child according to the Law of Moses. It has nothing to
do with that under the new covenant.
What circumcision is really is the putting off of body of
sins (which is also the body of death). It’s the removal of flesh in the heart
of man. It involves cuttings, pains, shedding of blood and the circumstances
that surround circumcision are not palatable.
Circumcision itself is not a joyous thing; none really want
to go through it. God has always been the initiator of it. To Abraham, He
commanded it. To Moses, his wife understood what it was and did it for her
husband lest God smote him, to the children of Israel; God gave the order to
Joshua to circumcise them.
And in bro Paul’s letter, he said “we are circumcised in
Christ”. This means that God has ordained this circumcision for everyone that
would ever come into Christ.
We can conclude then that circumcision is an inward thing
according to the book of Romans 2:29 not of outward things. One can display
various characters and even pretend to be what he/she is not. We can be
religious, fervent so to say, we can also be diligent and full of activities
but the revealer of our uncircumcised heart is our “tongues”.
What Is the Problem?
The problem with the children of Israel wasn't that they
were lying when they told God through Moses that “We’ll do all that the Lord
commands us” but their hearts. Yes, they meant what they said (just like Peter)
but willingness and ability to do that which they said wasn't in the saying but
in allowing the circumstances that surrounded them to work it out in their
lives. (See Deut. 8:1-20)
I have found out that prayers or confessions could be as
deadly as venomous of a serpent if we failed to accept what those prayers bring our
ways in disguise manners. We could pray and ask the Lord to deliver us from lies;
yes the Lord will give ears to what we've prayed. But, never should we think
that God will just put on us the spirit of truth and sincerity. There is
working aspect of it and that working involves our circumstances majorly the
unpalatable ones.
Many of us think that by praying, circumcision would be
wrought in us. We've forgotten that prayers is just to enable us to face the
situations that the Lord will put us into to be able to wrought that which we
had prayed for.
This is often our problem; we pray and stick with the prayers
we’ve prayed. We failed to have understanding of how the Lord wants to work
this circumcision in us. This was the same thing brother James was dealing with
in the book of James 1.
My brethren, count it all joy when ye
fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your
faith works patience.
But let patience have her perfect
work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask
of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraided not; and it shall be
given him. (James 1:2-5)
When should we count it all joy? When we have money in
pockets? Is it when we bought brand new cars, houses or when?
Our glory shouldn’t be in materials things rather on the
things which are eternal. Count it all joy when you fall into divers
temptations because, they are all working out for your salvation. The word
“Temptation” here is the same thing as “Trial”. In essence, when you face
trying time, difficult situations, oppositions that seems to be demand for your
head, it is not the time to get angry, to complain and grumble rather it should
be a moment of rejoicing before the Lord because, He is working out
circumcision in your heart. You should rejoice that those prayers you had been
praying to Him, He’s answering. Should you lack wisdom as to what God is doing
in you in that moment? “Ask for Wisdom” Brother James said “and it shall be
given to you”.
We need to address this particular system or make-believe
that we've been fed with that, all I need to do is to pray and that’s the end.
Of late the Lord has been opening my eyes to this truth,
Prayer is good and it’s the integral part of our “work” in Christ but we shouldn't stop there. There are places of obeying instructions. We are never
asked to “pray all appearance of evil” rather “flee every appearance of evil”.
Should we then stick to our guns by praying and refused to obey that simple
instruction, then, we can’t be help.
In the same vein, we are also admonished to “flee youthful
lust”, “Flee fornication”… these are instructions that we need to pay
attentions to.
We spent countless hours praying when we ought to be fleeing and
fleeing when we ought to be praying.
James chapter 4 is more accurate on this subject but, I’m
just going to take some portion from this chapter (We’ll discuss this in the
“Exposition on the book of James”).
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee
from you.
This is something we often overlook in the verses above. The
first thing the Lord asks us to do is not to resist the devil. Our first job is
to submit ourselves. It is a simple instruction to follow but how many time do we
actually pay attention to that simple instruction? Are we not quick to resist
the devil when we have not fully submitted ourselves to God?
My friend, we can resist the devil from here till eternity
but he will not flee from us because we are not submissive. And in reality, God
also is resisting us because we are also proud.
This is not about prayer is about taking instructions.
Evidence of not
been Circumcised
Since we've seen that circumcision is of the heart and not
of the outward manifestation, it becomes important to look at the signs or
manifestation or evidence of not been circumcised.
First, let’s deal with few fruits then we’ll move on to the
root of those things.
MURMURING &
These acts were very common with the children of Israel,
when the Lord was dealing with them they were murmuring. There was nothing the
Lord did that they did not murmur about. The Lord couldn't "bear it" again that
He has to call them “Evil congregation”.
How long shall I bear with this evil
congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the
children of Israel, which they murmur against me. (Num. 14:27)
When a person put up a murmuring spirit, it’s not going
to affect him alone rather it will infect the whole group or people he/she is
moving with. Murmuring is like leprosy that needs to be properly dealt with
just as the Lord showed the children Israel how to deal with leprosy.
I may not know by looking at you that you’re full of
murmuring spirit until circumstances bring it out. You may hide for a while but
you can’t definitely hide it forever. One day it will make manifest. And once you like to murmur, your life will be full of complains
SLANDERING
A person that murmurs will definitely slander. These two
works together, once you a liar there is no way you will not steal. Devil is a
liar, and he uses his lies to steal and kill. A murmuring person is a
slanderous person. When you manifest the spirit of slander, lies wouldn't be
far fetch from you. All these things work hands in hands. They are like
tentacles of an octopus, once you are involves in one, the others automatically
cleave to you.
And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, which returned, and
made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,
Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the
Lord (Num. 14:36-37)
The people that went to search the land were part of the
people that has been living their lives murmuring about everything the Lord has
been doing to them. For them to bring a slanderous word and evil report was not
a big deal, it was just norm thing to do.
The book of Proverbs also attests to this;
He that hides hatred with lying lips,
and he that utters a slander, is a
fool. (Prov. 10:18)
But the danger here is this, once a believer continue in
this spirit, invariably such fellow is inviting death- I mean untimely death
both spiritually and physically.
These (murmuring or complaining and slandering) are the
parent to Gossip, Evil communications, Jesting, Exaggeration, spiritual
double-talks and many others.
LOOSE TONGUE
Have you ever sat(or sit now) with a brother or sister and all you
wished was for him/her to stop talking or have you found yourself in the place
where all manners of “carnal things” were the order of the day? The children of
Israel had their shares in this. They were very loose in their tongues and
there was nothing they didn't talk about. They talked about the cucumbers,
watermelons, garlic and all kinds of stuffs they enjoyed in Egypt. Their tongues
were very loose to repulse the goodness and loving-kindness of God. They were
very quick to talk, very quick to answer a matter when they needed to be
patience.
Like David says “"I will guard my ways, that I may not
sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle." (Psalm 39:1).
That generation couldn't do the same because they were uncircumcised.
“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt."
Colossians 4:6
Not with pepper, not with gossip, complains,
murmuring and slanders! But wait, who was Paul speaking to here, the
unbelievers or believers? This shows that a believer’s speech may not always
be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt.
Proverbs 10:19 says, "When there are many words,
transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise"?
This
restrain can only come to us through circumcision, having a laid down rules and
regulations or self-will will not do
this for us.
"Humans" in general like to talk and voice their opinions. We
can try to keep our mouths shot a thousand times in a day but if our hearts are
uncircumcised, full of selling and buying, such efforts are just waste of time.
Psalm 12:3
says, "May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that
speaks great things." That’s a big warning to all of us.
What is the root of all these problems? All the entire
problems of man are tied to just one thing. “The Heart of man is desperately
wicked, who can know it?”
Uncircumcised heart
Is your heart circumcised, has arrows or swords pierce
through it like Mary’s heart? This has nothing to do with the post or title you’re
holding. It has nothing to do with "I am born-again". Your born-again experience is good don't get me wrong on that but, what is the benefit of buying a plane's ticket without a plane?
This is what God seeks to do for all us, just to get hold
of our heart. Every situation and circumstance is an avenue for God to get
us-our hearts.
But the problem here is there are many things demanding
our attentions. The world, the so called preachers of the gospel, what to eat
and drink and many other things are demanding for our hearts. It is impossible
to give your heart to all these and still give it to God. God rather have all
of you or none. There is nothing like half or tenth.
Thank God for the gospel of grace in Christ Jesus, thank
God we aren't saved by our works or by the work of the Law but by Grace. Since
the Lord made provisions for our Salvation, He has also made available all the
instruments necessary to bring us into perfection He designed for us.
The provision for our sins is the blood of Jesus Christ,
the forgiveness of our sins is through the same blood that was shed for you and
me.
What about our circumcisions? Well, it’s not another
thing; it is the Cross of Jesus Christ. Everything that has to do with our
Salvation, Justification, Sanctification, Wisdom, and Perfection are embedded
in Christ. Anything outside Him is none of his.
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