Dear Friends,
The idea of church is very important in the Christian faith. The bible uses other words like body, family, kingdom and nation to describe the church. These words explain God's relationship with His people: He is the Head of the body; the Father of the family; the King of His kingdom and the Ruler of the nation. In addition, there ideas also define our relationships with one another: we are members of one body, brothers and sisters of one family, and fellow citizens of one kingdom. The church is therefore not just a place we go to every Sunday (or, for that matter, a group that we choose to join or leave, as and when we like). It is a community that we are born into and belong to once we receive Jesus as our Lord. We are now "no longer foreigners and aliens" (Eph 2:19). It is within the church (and then in our lives in the world) that we learn and live out the biblical principles of faith, love and hope. In this way, the church becomes and serves as a witness to unbelievers of what true communities are about.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Temporary or Last Forever
Many people are struggling with eating less and exercising more in an attempt to keep a New Year's resolution. With the guilt arising from Christmas meals and year-end company dinners, some are committing to indulging the stomach less.
I am not discounting the value of exercise and a healthy diet. But when it comes to our physical bodies, all that sacrifice and discipline brings is, at best, only a temporary gain.
The irony is painful. People are willing to spend large amounts of time working to strengthen that which cannot last, and yet hardly give a moment's attention to that which last forever.
Many Christians have fallen into that same unfortunate mindset. The result is that while believers are perhaps healthier than ever physically, they are bothering on death and dying in their spiritual condition. They do not know the Word of God and have not attempted to study and obey it.
I am not discounting the value of exercise and a healthy diet. But when it comes to our physical bodies, all that sacrifice and discipline brings is, at best, only a temporary gain.
The irony is painful. People are willing to spend large amounts of time working to strengthen that which cannot last, and yet hardly give a moment's attention to that which last forever.
Many Christians have fallen into that same unfortunate mindset. The result is that while believers are perhaps healthier than ever physically, they are bothering on death and dying in their spiritual condition. They do not know the Word of God and have not attempted to study and obey it.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
A New Life In Christ Jesus
A testimony i found online.
It encouraged me and reminded me of my new life in Christ Jesus.
Pray that the Lord able to renew a right spirit within me.
To walk in His righteous path closely with God and in purity.
証しのページ
K.さんの証し
Part I :Why I am a Christian.
Recently, while doing my research I came across a drug that is use for abortion. The success rate for such drug is 98% to induce an abortion. Despite of the fact, that I was planned to be aborted, my family was poor at that time and I would be a girl instead of a boy, God preserved my life in that 2% category and I was born on 16 November 1976.
I was born to a family, which is involved in Christian cults. My dad was from Seven-day Adventist (but left it when he was young adult) and my mum was from Jehovah Witness. I know there is a God and someone called Jesus. But my ideas were confusing and I don’t really bother to find out who they are since the Jehovah Witness mainly focus on adults and not on children. But Jehovah Witness became illegal in Singapore because they discourage people from serving the Singapore army, based on the commandment “You shall not kill”. In Singapore, every male who reaches 18 years old have to join the army for 2 years as a national duty. My dad discouraged my mum from getting baptized and from joining the Jehovah Witness since it was illegal in Singapore.
After many years, my mum decided to attend a nearby church near my house. I was 9 years old and attend church was just like religious knowledge lesson for me every week. I stopped attending church when I was 13 years old. Instead I decided to attend computer lessons. As the lessons move from beginners to advance class, each time I was very happy to receive the achievement certificate. But the happiness lasted for a few hours to a day or two. After my advance computer lessons, I asked myself if I will spent my life trying to achieve but never being satisfied? If at 13, I am not satisfied with my achievements. At 30, will I find myself chasing an empty dream? What will really satisfy me? Then I remember my Sunday School teachers (children church’s teachers) talked about Jesus. That day, 21 October 1990, I told Jesus if you are real please come into my life and make it meaningful.
When I was 12-13 years old, before I became a Christian, every weekend I would go out shopping and buy something. It doesn’t matter if I have need of it or not. I just wanted the feeling of excitement that I am able to own something. I think it is the need to be in control. Every time the thing I purchased will get thrown aside after a while. I got tired of it and I would need to buy something new to have the excitement again. When I became a Christian, Jesus made everyday a new adventure in my life. I didn’t need to buy new things to make my life feel exciting anymore. Through the good and difficult situations, Jesus is with me, He is my joy, my shelter and my source of help. My first favourite verses is Psalm 121.
Though I didn’t always stay close to God. I drifted away from God when I was 16. I wanted to make my own decisions because I felt I have always listen to people’s direction. I chose to have a non-Christian boyfriend despite of my family and Christian friends advise. I became a weekend Christian and a weekday non-Christian. From 16-19 years old I made a mess out of my life in my rebellion. When I broke off with my boyfriend, I came out of the relationship broken, grieved my family and my spiritual family. I knew I had sin against my God and made him grieved the most. In God mercy and love, He forgave me of my sins and took me back in. The story of the Prodigal son since than have always reminded me of our God’s great love (Luke 15:11-32) I realize man’s love is so fragile and it disappoints so easily but our God’s love is everlasting and ever faithful, even when I was unfaithful.
At 24, I graduated from university. I got my first job working for my professor as a laboratory assistant which earns about 50,000 yen a month, I worked for 6 months hoping to join the Masters program but things didn’t worked out. Subsequently, I got my second job as a research assistant at National Cancer Centre. My parents were very unhappy that my 1st job gave such low pay. With my degree I was expected to earn money and repay my parents for all the money they have invested in me. My second job, initially earned about 130,000 yen per month, everyday my dad would ask me “where is the money” when I came back from work. I became very depressed, I wondered if money is all my parents cared about? I felt unloved. I wondered if my future was just to have a good job, earn lots of money, get married, have children and died in the end. I found life to have so many disappointments and hurts that I don’t know why I should endure it anymore, why not end it then and go to heaven to be with my God whom I love. As these thoughts rage in my mind for a week, the night that I decided to end it all by jumping out of my window of my home which is 12 floors above ground level. Then Jesus spoke to me as if I was at heaven’s gate. “Karen, what are you doing here? I haven’t call you home yet” The disappointed look on Jesus face was too much for me to endure. How can I say I love Jesus most when I again disappointment him most? I just can’t live in heaven with the disappointed look of Jesus imprinted in my mind. Jesus spoke again “Karen, I know the world has been a disappointment to you and the more you try to control your life the worst it becomes. Entrust me your life, I will carry you through, I will never disappoint you.” That night I did not commit suicide but I died. I died to myself and was made alive in Jesus. Now all I have is Jesus in me and His purpose reign in my life. He is my sole purpose for living. I finally understand Paul when he wrote : Gal 2:19-20 I have been crucified with Christ I myself no longer live but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.Gal 6:14 Because of that cross, my interest in this world died long ago, and the world’s interest in me is also long dead.
He will do that for you too, if only you will let Him. 皆さん、頑張ってね！
It encouraged me and reminded me of my new life in Christ Jesus.
Pray that the Lord able to renew a right spirit within me.
To walk in His righteous path closely with God and in purity.
証しのページ
K.さんの証し
Part I :Why I am a Christian.
Recently, while doing my research I came across a drug that is use for abortion. The success rate for such drug is 98% to induce an abortion. Despite of the fact, that I was planned to be aborted, my family was poor at that time and I would be a girl instead of a boy, God preserved my life in that 2% category and I was born on 16 November 1976.
I was born to a family, which is involved in Christian cults. My dad was from Seven-day Adventist (but left it when he was young adult) and my mum was from Jehovah Witness. I know there is a God and someone called Jesus. But my ideas were confusing and I don’t really bother to find out who they are since the Jehovah Witness mainly focus on adults and not on children. But Jehovah Witness became illegal in Singapore because they discourage people from serving the Singapore army, based on the commandment “You shall not kill”. In Singapore, every male who reaches 18 years old have to join the army for 2 years as a national duty. My dad discouraged my mum from getting baptized and from joining the Jehovah Witness since it was illegal in Singapore.
After many years, my mum decided to attend a nearby church near my house. I was 9 years old and attend church was just like religious knowledge lesson for me every week. I stopped attending church when I was 13 years old. Instead I decided to attend computer lessons. As the lessons move from beginners to advance class, each time I was very happy to receive the achievement certificate. But the happiness lasted for a few hours to a day or two. After my advance computer lessons, I asked myself if I will spent my life trying to achieve but never being satisfied? If at 13, I am not satisfied with my achievements. At 30, will I find myself chasing an empty dream? What will really satisfy me? Then I remember my Sunday School teachers (children church’s teachers) talked about Jesus. That day, 21 October 1990, I told Jesus if you are real please come into my life and make it meaningful.
When I was 12-13 years old, before I became a Christian, every weekend I would go out shopping and buy something. It doesn’t matter if I have need of it or not. I just wanted the feeling of excitement that I am able to own something. I think it is the need to be in control. Every time the thing I purchased will get thrown aside after a while. I got tired of it and I would need to buy something new to have the excitement again. When I became a Christian, Jesus made everyday a new adventure in my life. I didn’t need to buy new things to make my life feel exciting anymore. Through the good and difficult situations, Jesus is with me, He is my joy, my shelter and my source of help. My first favourite verses is Psalm 121.
Though I didn’t always stay close to God. I drifted away from God when I was 16. I wanted to make my own decisions because I felt I have always listen to people’s direction. I chose to have a non-Christian boyfriend despite of my family and Christian friends advise. I became a weekend Christian and a weekday non-Christian. From 16-19 years old I made a mess out of my life in my rebellion. When I broke off with my boyfriend, I came out of the relationship broken, grieved my family and my spiritual family. I knew I had sin against my God and made him grieved the most. In God mercy and love, He forgave me of my sins and took me back in. The story of the Prodigal son since than have always reminded me of our God’s great love (Luke 15:11-32) I realize man’s love is so fragile and it disappoints so easily but our God’s love is everlasting and ever faithful, even when I was unfaithful.
At 24, I graduated from university. I got my first job working for my professor as a laboratory assistant which earns about 50,000 yen a month, I worked for 6 months hoping to join the Masters program but things didn’t worked out. Subsequently, I got my second job as a research assistant at National Cancer Centre. My parents were very unhappy that my 1st job gave such low pay. With my degree I was expected to earn money and repay my parents for all the money they have invested in me. My second job, initially earned about 130,000 yen per month, everyday my dad would ask me “where is the money” when I came back from work. I became very depressed, I wondered if money is all my parents cared about? I felt unloved. I wondered if my future was just to have a good job, earn lots of money, get married, have children and died in the end. I found life to have so many disappointments and hurts that I don’t know why I should endure it anymore, why not end it then and go to heaven to be with my God whom I love. As these thoughts rage in my mind for a week, the night that I decided to end it all by jumping out of my window of my home which is 12 floors above ground level. Then Jesus spoke to me as if I was at heaven’s gate. “Karen, what are you doing here? I haven’t call you home yet” The disappointed look on Jesus face was too much for me to endure. How can I say I love Jesus most when I again disappointment him most? I just can’t live in heaven with the disappointed look of Jesus imprinted in my mind. Jesus spoke again “Karen, I know the world has been a disappointment to you and the more you try to control your life the worst it becomes. Entrust me your life, I will carry you through, I will never disappoint you.” That night I did not commit suicide but I died. I died to myself and was made alive in Jesus. Now all I have is Jesus in me and His purpose reign in my life. He is my sole purpose for living. I finally understand Paul when he wrote : Gal 2:19-20 I have been crucified with Christ I myself no longer live but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.Gal 6:14 Because of that cross, my interest in this world died long ago, and the world’s interest in me is also long dead.
He will do that for you too, if only you will let Him. 皆さん、頑張ってね！
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
The Love of God
Taken from the book Knowing God, chapter 12.
The Love of God
When we say God is love, the statement means that His love finds expression in everything that He says and Does.
I think to us personally is the supreme comfort for Christians, as believers, in the cross of Christ assurance that we, as individuals, are beloved of God. Whereby the Son of man loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
God so love us that he gave his only son Jesus Christ to be our Savior, and bring us to know and to enjoy Him in a covenant relation.
Knowing this, we are able to apply the promise that all things work together for good to us who love God and are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
Note, not just some thing, but all things!
Every single thing that happens to us expressed God’s love to us, at every moment and in every events of every day’s life.
Even thou we cannot see why and how of God’s dealings, one thing we know for sure that there is love in and behind it.
God’s love towards sinners
We are undeserved, but God still show grace and mercy towards us sinners where by we sin and corrupt in God’s sight.
God loves people because He has chosen to love them.
Duet 7:8- But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
No reason for His love to be given to save his own sovereign good pleasure.
Even when a sinners repents, there will be exceeding joy
- Luke 15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
There is no doubt according to the scripture that such is the love of God.
God’s love formed before creation, in
Eph1:4 - For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love…
God choice and selection to those whom He would bless and, appointed the benefits to be obtain and enjoyed.
So we ought to give thanks to God
2 Thessalonians 2:13- But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
God’s love to sinners was expressed by the gift of His one and only son Jesus Christ to be our saviour.
1 John 4:9- This is how God show his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
The love measure love of God is the gift of His only son Jesus Christ, to become human, to die for our sins, and so to become the one mediator who can reconcile to bring us to God.
God, who did not spare his own Son, but gave His son for us all.
Most Popular verse John 3:16-
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
This is love: not that we loved God, but he loved us and sent His only son as an atoning sacrifice once and for all for our sins.
Romans 5:8- God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
So lets give thanks to God for what He has done for us. Through the love and grace of Jesus Christ by dying on the cross and His precious blood, we are redeemed and saved.
Questions to ask you and me included…
Do I ever allow myself to grow cold and half-hearted in the service of the Lord who loves me so?
-Last verse from 1 john 4:11-
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Meditate upon these things and to examine us.
The Love of God
When we say God is love, the statement means that His love finds expression in everything that He says and Does.
I think to us personally is the supreme comfort for Christians, as believers, in the cross of Christ assurance that we, as individuals, are beloved of God. Whereby the Son of man loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
God so love us that he gave his only son Jesus Christ to be our Savior, and bring us to know and to enjoy Him in a covenant relation.
Knowing this, we are able to apply the promise that all things work together for good to us who love God and are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
Note, not just some thing, but all things!
Every single thing that happens to us expressed God’s love to us, at every moment and in every events of every day’s life.
Even thou we cannot see why and how of God’s dealings, one thing we know for sure that there is love in and behind it.
God’s love towards sinners
We are undeserved, but God still show grace and mercy towards us sinners where by we sin and corrupt in God’s sight.
God loves people because He has chosen to love them.
Duet 7:8- But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
No reason for His love to be given to save his own sovereign good pleasure.
Even when a sinners repents, there will be exceeding joy
- Luke 15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
There is no doubt according to the scripture that such is the love of God.
God’s love formed before creation, in
Eph1:4 - For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love…
God choice and selection to those whom He would bless and, appointed the benefits to be obtain and enjoyed.
So we ought to give thanks to God
2 Thessalonians 2:13- But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
God’s love to sinners was expressed by the gift of His one and only son Jesus Christ to be our saviour.
1 John 4:9- This is how God show his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
The love measure love of God is the gift of His only son Jesus Christ, to become human, to die for our sins, and so to become the one mediator who can reconcile to bring us to God.
God, who did not spare his own Son, but gave His son for us all.
Most Popular verse John 3:16-
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
This is love: not that we loved God, but he loved us and sent His only son as an atoning sacrifice once and for all for our sins.
Romans 5:8- God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
So lets give thanks to God for what He has done for us. Through the love and grace of Jesus Christ by dying on the cross and His precious blood, we are redeemed and saved.
Questions to ask you and me included…
Do I ever allow myself to grow cold and half-hearted in the service of the Lord who loves me so?
-Last verse from 1 john 4:11-
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Meditate upon these things and to examine us.
God Unchanging
Taken from a book Knowing God Chapter 7. My Book Review :)
Two Different World
As we read the bible, we get to read God dealing with people like Abraham, Moses, David and the rest of them thousand years ago.
We also get to read about Jesus Christ doing miracles, arguing with Jews, dying for sinners, rising from death and ascending to heaven.
It all seems very far away.
We even may think it all belongs to the world, not to this world.
It is true that in terms of space, time and culture, and the historical epoch to which they belonged, are very far away from us.
So how can the past links up to the world now?
The link is God himself.
The exact same God whom they had to so in the past thousand years and the same God with whom we have to do now.
God does not change in the least particular and is the truth of God's immutability. (unchangeable, changeless)
1. God's life does not change.
In Jeremiah 10:10, the verse says - But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God, the eternal King.
Psalm 102:26-27 - They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded.
But you remain the same, and your years will never end.
God did not need to be made, for He is always there. He exists forever, and He always the same.
He created things have a beginning and an ending, but not so for the Creator.
-God is already perfect.
-He does not grow old
-He does not gain new powers nor lose those that He once had.
-He does not get stronger, or weaker, or wiser, at time goes by.
The difference between God the Creator and creatures(us) is that we, creatures are mutable and nature admits of change where by we will grow old, will go weaker etc... at times goes by.
Whereas God is immutable and can never cease to be what He is.
2.God's character does not change.
In course of a human life, we change radically, in terms of our taste, outlook and temper. A kind person may turns bitter.
A person's good-will may grow cynical (Distrustful) and maybe callous (Emotionally hardened; unfeeling)
But nothing of this sort happens to God
* He never become LESS trustful, or merciful, or faithful and gracious than used to be.
The Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, forgiving wickedness, rebellion in sin.
Yet God discipline and punishes the children, he does not leave the guilty unpunished.
The character of God is today, and always be exactly what it was in the Bible.
3.God's truth does not change
We people sometimes say things differently to express to the same topic or a thing, simply because our view changes. We find that we can no longer stand to the words we have said in the past.
We sometimes even recall our words, because we ceased to express what we think.
The words of human being are unstable.
But not so for the words of God.
The word of God stand forever.
No circumstances no change of His own thinking will prompt him or to amend (to change for the better, improvement) to rectify (to remove or correct faults) in his words.
Psalm 119:89- Your word, O Lord, is eternal, it stands FIRM in the heavens
The word 'firm' in the verse carries out the idea of stability in God's word.
Every word God's says in the bible throughout generations, so long as this world last, it last forever.
John 10:35- The word of God came and the scripture cannot be broken.
4. God's way and purpose do not change
God still continue to bless those whom He love and people who humble themselves.
Hates the sins of his people, discipline and punish us from compromise and disobedience.
Teachers us believers to value God's promised, pray persistently so on before God bestow them.
God's aims, principle of action still remain consistent, God's dealing with his people in the scripture record is still how God deals with us still.
Psalm 33:11- But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations
God's plan are made on the basis of a complete knowledge and control extend to the past, present and future.
Bible, the living word of God.
The first Bible will be the last. God has already planned in the beginning when the world has formed till revelation whereby the believers of God will be lifted to heaven and to be reconcile with Him in his heavenly throne.
God's son does not change
Hebrew 13:8- Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
-He never change, it still remain true that those people who come to Him will be save completely. And he lives to intercede for us.
Hebrew 7:25- Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
Conclusion- So where is the sense of distance and difference between Bible times and believers now?
Remember, God does not change. So let us continue to fellowship with Him, trust His word, live by faith and to stand on the promises of God forever.
Two Different World
As we read the bible, we get to read God dealing with people like Abraham, Moses, David and the rest of them thousand years ago.
We also get to read about Jesus Christ doing miracles, arguing with Jews, dying for sinners, rising from death and ascending to heaven.
It all seems very far away.
We even may think it all belongs to the world, not to this world.
It is true that in terms of space, time and culture, and the historical epoch to which they belonged, are very far away from us.
So how can the past links up to the world now?
The link is God himself.
The exact same God whom they had to so in the past thousand years and the same God with whom we have to do now.
God does not change in the least particular and is the truth of God's immutability. (unchangeable, changeless)
1. God's life does not change.
In Jeremiah 10:10, the verse says - But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God, the eternal King.
Psalm 102:26-27 - They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded.
But you remain the same, and your years will never end.
God did not need to be made, for He is always there. He exists forever, and He always the same.
He created things have a beginning and an ending, but not so for the Creator.
-God is already perfect.
-He does not grow old
-He does not gain new powers nor lose those that He once had.
-He does not get stronger, or weaker, or wiser, at time goes by.
The difference between God the Creator and creatures(us) is that we, creatures are mutable and nature admits of change where by we will grow old, will go weaker etc... at times goes by.
Whereas God is immutable and can never cease to be what He is.
2.God's character does not change.
In course of a human life, we change radically, in terms of our taste, outlook and temper. A kind person may turns bitter.
A person's good-will may grow cynical (Distrustful) and maybe callous (Emotionally hardened; unfeeling)
But nothing of this sort happens to God
* He never become LESS trustful, or merciful, or faithful and gracious than used to be.
The Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, forgiving wickedness, rebellion in sin.
Yet God discipline and punishes the children, he does not leave the guilty unpunished.
The character of God is today, and always be exactly what it was in the Bible.
3.God's truth does not change
We people sometimes say things differently to express to the same topic or a thing, simply because our view changes. We find that we can no longer stand to the words we have said in the past.
We sometimes even recall our words, because we ceased to express what we think.
The words of human being are unstable.
But not so for the words of God.
The word of God stand forever.
No circumstances no change of His own thinking will prompt him or to amend (to change for the better, improvement) to rectify (to remove or correct faults) in his words.
Psalm 119:89- Your word, O Lord, is eternal, it stands FIRM in the heavens
The word 'firm' in the verse carries out the idea of stability in God's word.
Every word God's says in the bible throughout generations, so long as this world last, it last forever.
John 10:35- The word of God came and the scripture cannot be broken.
4. God's way and purpose do not change
God still continue to bless those whom He love and people who humble themselves.
Hates the sins of his people, discipline and punish us from compromise and disobedience.
Teachers us believers to value God's promised, pray persistently so on before God bestow them.
God's aims, principle of action still remain consistent, God's dealing with his people in the scripture record is still how God deals with us still.
Psalm 33:11- But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations
God's plan are made on the basis of a complete knowledge and control extend to the past, present and future.
Bible, the living word of God.
The first Bible will be the last. God has already planned in the beginning when the world has formed till revelation whereby the believers of God will be lifted to heaven and to be reconcile with Him in his heavenly throne.
God's son does not change
Hebrew 13:8- Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
-He never change, it still remain true that those people who come to Him will be save completely. And he lives to intercede for us.
Hebrew 7:25- Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
Conclusion- So where is the sense of distance and difference between Bible times and believers now?
Remember, God does not change. So let us continue to fellowship with Him, trust His word, live by faith and to stand on the promises of God forever.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
God's kindness leads you to repentance.
Romans 2:4
King James Version
Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
a. Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering: Paul points out that the moralist himself is presuming upon the goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering of God, which all should have brought the moralist into a humble repentance instead of an attitude of superiority.
i. Goodness may be considered God’s kindness to us in regard to our past sin. He has been good to us because He has not judged us yet though we deserve it.
ii. Forbearance may be considered God’s kindness to us in regard to our present sin. This very day - indeed, this very hour - we have fallen short of His glory, yet He holds back His judgment against us.
iii. Longsuffering may be considered God’s kindness to us in regard to our future sin. He knows that we will sin tomorrow and the next day, yet He holds back His judgment against us.
iv. Considering all this, it is no surprise that Paul describes these three aspects of God’s kindness to us as riches. The riches of God’s mercy is measured by four considerations:
His greatness - to wrong a great man is a great wrong and God is greatest of all - yet He shows mercy
His omniscience - if someone knew all our sin, would they show mercy? Yet God shows mercy
His power - sometimes wrongs are not settled because they are out of our power, yet God is able to settle every wrong against Him - yet He is rich in mercy
The object of His mercy, mere man - would we show mercy to an ant? Yet God is rich in mercy
v. Knowing how great God’s kindness is, it is a great sin to presume upon the graciousness of God, and we easily come to believe that we deserve it.
b. Men often see the forbearance and longsuffering of God as a weakness in God; they say things like “If there is a God in heaven, let Him strike me dead!” When it doesn’t happen, they will say, “See, I told you there was no God.” Men misinterpret God’s forbearance and longsuffering as His approval, and they refuse to repent.
i. “It seems to me that every morning when a man wakes up still impenitent, and finds himself out of hell, the sunlight seems to say, ‘I shine on thee yet another day, as that in this day thou mayest repent.’ When your bed receives you at night I think it seems to say, ‘I will give you another night' s rest, that you may live to turn from your sins and trust in Jesus.’ Every mouthful of bread that comes to the table says, ‘I have to support your body that still you may have space for repentance.’ Every time you open the Bible the pages say, ‘We speak with you that you may repent.’ Every time you hear a sermon, if it be such a sermon as God would have us preach, it pleads with you to turn unto the Lord and live.” (Spurgeon)
i. Men should see the goodness of God and understand:
- God has been better to them than they deserve
- God has shown them kindness when they have ignored Him
- God has shown them kindness when they have mocked Him
- God is not a cruel master and they may safely surrender to Him
- God is perfectly willing to forgive them
- God should be served out of simple gratitude
King James Version
Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
a. Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering: Paul points out that the moralist himself is presuming upon the goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering of God, which all should have brought the moralist into a humble repentance instead of an attitude of superiority.
i. Goodness may be considered God’s kindness to us in regard to our past sin. He has been good to us because He has not judged us yet though we deserve it.
ii. Forbearance may be considered God’s kindness to us in regard to our present sin. This very day - indeed, this very hour - we have fallen short of His glory, yet He holds back His judgment against us.
iii. Longsuffering may be considered God’s kindness to us in regard to our future sin. He knows that we will sin tomorrow and the next day, yet He holds back His judgment against us.
iv. Considering all this, it is no surprise that Paul describes these three aspects of God’s kindness to us as riches. The riches of God’s mercy is measured by four considerations:
His greatness - to wrong a great man is a great wrong and God is greatest of all - yet He shows mercy
His omniscience - if someone knew all our sin, would they show mercy? Yet God shows mercy
His power - sometimes wrongs are not settled because they are out of our power, yet God is able to settle every wrong against Him - yet He is rich in mercy
The object of His mercy, mere man - would we show mercy to an ant? Yet God is rich in mercy
v. Knowing how great God’s kindness is, it is a great sin to presume upon the graciousness of God, and we easily come to believe that we deserve it.
b. Men often see the forbearance and longsuffering of God as a weakness in God; they say things like “If there is a God in heaven, let Him strike me dead!” When it doesn’t happen, they will say, “See, I told you there was no God.” Men misinterpret God’s forbearance and longsuffering as His approval, and they refuse to repent.
i. “It seems to me that every morning when a man wakes up still impenitent, and finds himself out of hell, the sunlight seems to say, ‘I shine on thee yet another day, as that in this day thou mayest repent.’ When your bed receives you at night I think it seems to say, ‘I will give you another night' s rest, that you may live to turn from your sins and trust in Jesus.’ Every mouthful of bread that comes to the table says, ‘I have to support your body that still you may have space for repentance.’ Every time you open the Bible the pages say, ‘We speak with you that you may repent.’ Every time you hear a sermon, if it be such a sermon as God would have us preach, it pleads with you to turn unto the Lord and live.” (Spurgeon)
i. Men should see the goodness of God and understand:
- God has been better to them than they deserve
- God has shown them kindness when they have ignored Him
- God has shown them kindness when they have mocked Him
- God is not a cruel master and they may safely surrender to Him
- God is perfectly willing to forgive them
- God should be served out of simple gratitude
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Precious are WE.
A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20.00 bill.
In the room of 200, he asked. "Who will like this $20 bill?"
Hands started going up.
He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this."
He proceeded to crumple up up the $20 dollar bill.
He then asked, "Who still wants it?"
Still the hands were up in the air.
Well he replied, "what if I do this?"
And he dropped it on the ground
and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.
He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?"
Still the hands were into the air.
My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson.
No matter what i did to the money,
you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value.
It still worth $20.
Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground
into a dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that comes our way.
What feels as though we are worthless.
But no matter what has happened and what will happen,
you will never lose your value.
Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased,
you are still priceless to your Creator and those who love you.
The worth of our lives comes not in What we do or what we know,
but by WHO WE ARE
and WHOSE WE ARE.
Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow,
nor reap nor gather into barns,
and yet, you heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not worth much more than they?
-- Matthew 6:26 --
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