Ananias and Sapphira: Two Who Underestimated God’s Standards

Ananias and Sapphira underestimated God’s Standards. Lets take care that we don't be likewise.

"They lied to men and they lied to God, underestimating both and the standards God expects Christians to keep."






Charles Ryrie commented that "they agreed to “put the Spirit to the test” (Act 5:9) and “to see how far they could go in presuming on God’s goodness”

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© Copyright Kathryn Capoccia 2001. This file may be freely copied, printed out, and distributed as long as copyright and source statements remain intact, and that it is not sold.

Ananias and Sapphira were two people of the New Testament whom God used as examples, in the same way He used Uzza (1CH 13:10), to show His holiness and the standard of holiness to which He expected believers to cleave. They were not especially remarkable in their persons but achieved a position of uniqueness because of their experiences. Ananias and Sapphira are remembered for the judgment they received when they tried to deceive the Jerusalem Church; they pretended to offer them the whole price of a field they had sold while withholding some of the money. They lied to men and they lied to God, underestimating both and the standards God expects Christians to keep. Like James and John, “the sons of thunder” (MAR 3:17), they did not know “what kind of spirit they were of (LUK 9:55). Let’s turn to ACTS chapter 5 and read about their story.

I. Who Were They? Acts 5:1-11.

A. What were their names? Ananias, a common Jewish name, means, “Jehovah is gracious” in Greek; Sapphira means, “beautiful” in Greek.

B. Where and when did they live? They lived in Israel in the 1st century A. D.

C. Who were their people? Scripture is silent on their history but they both had Greek names and they may have been part of the Hellenistic Jews of the Church (ACT 6:1).

II. What Did They Do?

A. They were members of the Jerusalem Church.

1. What was the Church in Jerusalem?

a. A body of Christians who grew in number:

1) ACT 1:14,15; the brethren were, “about 120 persons…devoting themselves to prayer”.

2) ACT 2:47; those who were daily being saved and joined the Church fellowship.

3) ACT 2:41,42; 3,000 souls (Hebrew and foreign speaking Jews) ACT 2:9-11) were added who were “devoted to the Apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer”.

4) ACT 4:4; 5,000 total believers.

5) ACT 6:1, Hellenistic Jews from the dispersion.

b. The “called out ones” (ACT 5:11; “church” means “ekklesia”, those who have been called out from the world to form an assembly).

1) Those who are united through Christ (EPH 4:3; GAL 3:28, 4:1-6).

2) Those who were “born again” (JOH 3:5-8; TIT 3:5)

3) Those who are holy:

a) positionally holy (EPH 5:27).

b) practically holy

i. devoted to God (MAR 10:3,4; ROM 12:1)

ii. imitating God, “Be holy for I am Holy” (1PE 1:16).

iii. conformed to Christ (ROM 8:29, 12:2).

iv. pleasing God (2CO 5:17).

4) Those who evangelize (MAT 28:19,20).

5) Those who fellowship (HEB 10:25).

a) worship (1CO 1:2).

b) celebrate communion (ACT 2:42-47, 20:7-12; 1CO 11:17-20).

c) discipline sinning Christians (1CO 5:2,7, 13:2; 2CO 2:5-7; 2TH 3:14; 1TI 1:20; TIT 3:10).

d) pray (ACT 2:42,46, 4:31).

e) study the Bible (ACT 6:4).

6) Those who do good works (EPH 2:10).

c. Not a particular location: the disciples met in various places;

1) an upper room in Jerusalem (ACT 1:13).

2) a “place” for Pentecost (ACT 2:1).

3) Solomon’s Portico in Herod’s temple (a colonnade running down the E. side of the outer court of the temple: ACT 5:12).

2. Who led the Church?

a. the Apostles; the 12 (the 11 Apostles plus Matthias; ACT 1:25,26) who “devoted themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word”(ACT 6:2).

b. the elders (ACT 15:6).

c. James the LORD’S brother, who died in A. D. 62 (ACT 12:17, 15:12-21, 21:18; GAL 1:19, 2:9, 12; 1CO 15:7; JAM 1:1, JUD 1).

3. How did Ananias and Sapphira become part of the Church?

Scripture is silent about their conversion but we may guess that they were perhaps part of the great mass of Greek speaking believers after Pentecost.

4. How do we know they were believers?

a. They are included in “the congregation of those who believed” (ACT 4:32).

b. They obviously had a relationship with the Holy Spirit.

c. God used them as an example to teach other believers about the folly of sin.

d. Death is the final chastisement for sinning and unrepentant believers (1CO 11:30-32; 1JO 5:16).

B. They examples to the Jerusalem Church.

1. They outwardly imitated the brethren’s example (ACT 4:32-37).

a. Members of the Jerusalem Church would sell land or houses as there was need and give the money to the Church (ACT 4:34,35).

b. Barnabus (Joseph of Cyprus), sold a tract of land and brought the full price to the Apostles to be distributed to the needy (ACT 4:36,37).

2. They inwardly lied to the Holy Spirit.

1JO 2:21 “no lie is of the truth”.

a. How?

1. They deceived the Church: they kept back money from the Church.

WAS IT A SIN TO KEEP SOME OF THE MONEY THEMSELVES? No.

a) The money was theirs to do with as they liked (ACT 5:4).

b) Personal property is no where prohibited in Scripture and participation in community goods was only voluntary (ACT 4:32, 34; 2CO 9:7).

2. They lied to the Church (ACT 5:2,4).

a) they conceived the deed in their hearts (ACT 5:4)

“After desire is conceived it gives birth to sin…” JAM 1:15).

b) they agreed to “put the Spirit to the test” (ACT 5:9). I e. “to see how far they could go in presuming on God’s goodness”, Charles Caldwell Ryrie, “The Ryrie Study Bible”, Moody Press, © 1978, pg. 1652.

c) Satan filled Ananias’ heart to lie to the Spirit ACT 5:3).

1) Does this mean that he was possessed by Satan? No, Christians cannot be possessed by an evil spirit because they are possessed by God.

i. Christians belong to God because they have been purchased with Christ’s blood (1CO 7:23) and no one can take them away from God (JOH 10:29).

ii. The body of a believer has been sealed by the Holy Spirit who resides in it: it is His Temple (1CO 6:19).

2) What can Satan do to a believer?

i. he can tempt him to sin (1CO 7:5).

ii. he can become personally involved in the life of a believer (MAT 16:21-23; EPH 6:12; 1PE 5:8,9).

iii. he can oppress a believer.

3) What can a Christian do to defend himself/herself?

i. call upon the LORD, his/her covenant partner, to fight for him/her (see 1Sa 18:3ff to understand the symbols of a covenant and what they entail).

ii. resist the Devil (JAM 4:7).

iii. pray for God to rebuke Satan (JUD1:9).

iv. immerse himself/herself in godly thoughts by studying the Bible (PHI 4:8; 2CO 10:5).

4) What did they do at Satan’s prompting?

a) they “kept back some of the price for themselves” (ACT 5:2).

b) they “laid a portion [of their sale] at the Apostles’ feet” as if it were the full price (ACT 5:2).

HOW DID LYING TO THE CHURCH MAKE THEM LIE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT?

The Church is comprised of those who have the Holy Spirit in them and is the Body of Christ; vs. 3,4 address the Spirit as God, so lying to the Church means they lied to the Spirit who is God.

b. Why?

1) They coveted praise.

“Pride goes before destruction” (PRO 16:18).

“When pride comes, then comes dishonor” (PRO 11:2).

a) their pride wanted spiritual prestige.

b) they envied those who were counted among the spiritual.

2) They coveted their money.

*It was not wrong for them to keep money that they needed or wanted because God gives us money for our daily needs, but their attitude about the money is like that of the “rich young ruler” whose money was his god (MAR 10:17-22): they could not give it all up because they did not revere God.

a) they wanted a cost-free sacrifice (see David at 2SA 24:24).

b) they wanted their money and a reputation for generosity too.

3) They loved man’s praise more than God’s (JOH 12:43).

a) they were hypocritical: there was no fear of God in their eyes.

b) they were like the Pharisees who did all of their “righteous” deeds for men and not for God (MAT 6:2).

4) They had a low view of God.

a) they thought He did not see (PSA 10:11), or:

b) they thought He would not act (2PE 3:9).

3. God struck them down.

a. God killed Ananias and Sapphira (ACT 5:5-10).

1. Ananias was slain and buried (ACT 5:5)

a) judgment for the testing of God was passed (DEU 6:6 ; see 2CO 11:2; EPH 5:27).

b) burial was swift for those who died of divine judgment (DEU 21:22,23; a normal burial was usually the same day).

2. Sapphira was slain and buried (ACT 5:10).

b. Fear fell upon the Church and all “who heard of these things” (ACT 5:11).

1. Their deaths were a deterrent to others (1TI 5:19,20).

2. God was glorified as believers realized the seriousness of sin.

WERE THEY WINNERS OR LOSERS?

CAN WE LIE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT TODAY?

III. What Can We Learn From Them?

A. God has the desire to have purity in the Church and the power and will to discipline sin within the Church (1PE 4:17).

B. We should be thankful that God gives us grace and does not immediately discipline us for all of our sins.

C. Lying is a heinous crime against God which He cannot ignore.

D. Hypocrisy is hateful to God (LUK 12:1; MAT 24:51; 1CO 8:12).

The Original may be accessed here: Winners and Losers: Part 17 - ANANIAS and SAPPHIRA

I Confess my Sin - Amazed at the Grace of God - C.J. Mahaney

C.J. Mahaney of Sovereign Grace Ministries' shared his heart and biblical view on where confession of sins should be in his and a Christian's walk with God. He said, " I confess my sin—most importantly to God to receive the forgiveness I need from him for my sin through the death of his Son for my many sins...............I hope my confession of sin is the sincere and specific confession of one genuinely convicted of his sin, sorrowful about his sin, and amazed at the grace of God provided for the forgiveness of sin." :


My Confession of Sin

Though I’m seeking to grow in godliness (by God’s grace), I know indwelling sin remains, and that means I will sin against my wife, son, or friends at some point this week. I am the worst sinner I know, not Andy Pettitte. I am more familiar with my sin than I am with his sin. And I have my own moment fast approaching when I will need to acknowledge my sin.

Obviously I am not a high-profile athlete, and my words are not being recorded and evaluated by the press. But my words are being evaluated by God (Matthew 12:36). And at times, I am sorry to say, my confession can be all too Pettitte-like.

When I have sinned against someone, a sincere confession is required. A confession that is sincere and pleasing to God will be specific and brief. I have learned to be suspicious of my confession if it’s general and lengthy. A sincere confession of sin should be specific (“I was arrogant and angry when I made that statement; will you please forgive me for sinning against you in this way?”) and brief (this shouldn’t take long). When I find myself adding an explanation to my confession, I’m not asking forgiveness but instead appealing for understanding.

If my so-called confession extends beyond a very specific (acknowledgement of sin) sentence or two, then I am most likely excusing my sin, and requesting understanding for my sin, rather than sincerely asking forgiveness because of my sin. So I have learned to be suspicious of any confession of sin that is lengthy. Genuine conviction of sin is evidenced by a sincere, specific, and brief confession of sin, without any reference to circumstances or the participation of anyone else. When I sin, I am responsible for my sin, and the cause of my sin is always within my heart and never lies outside my heart.

Often after I sin, and even after I confess my sin—most importantly to God to receive the forgiveness I need from him for my sin through the death of his Son for my many sins—I experience a conflict in my soul about the confessing, when necessary, to the appropriate individuals. And whenever there is this conflict in my soul about specifically confessing my sin, I am aware that pride is actively at work in my soul, opposing the confession and seeking to persuade me that it wouldn’t be wise or even necessary for me to confess. But I have learned to ignore this noise from my arrogant heart, and instead weaken this noise by specifically confessing my sin to the appropriate individual as quickly as possible.

When I do confess, first and foremost to God and then (where and when appropriate) to others, I want my confession to be sincere and specific. I want my confession to express genuine sorrow and gratefulness to God for the mercy I experience because of the substitutionary sacrifice of his Son for my sins on the cross.

And when I confess my sin to others and ask their forgiveness when I have sinned against them, I don’t want my confession to resemble the press conference of a high-profile athlete, characterized by evasive language and the refusal to be specific. Instead, I hope my confession of sin is the sincere and specific confession of one genuinely convicted of his sin, sorrowful about his sin, and amazed at the grace of God provided for the forgiveness of sin.

For the full post by C.J. Mahaney, please visit here : Andy Pettitte and My Confession of Sin by C.J. Mahaney, Sovereign Grace Ministries.

"For a long time, Mahaney had ties with both restorationism and Maranatha Campus Ministries. He currently co-hosts the Together for the Gospel conference with Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan and Albert Mohler and serves on the Council of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, and on the boards of The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood and the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation" Source: Wikipedia

God does not chastise you? Then you are bastards and not sons !

WHY does God, as the heavenly Father, wants to chasten His children?

"for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and He scourges every son whom He receives." If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons, for what son is he whom the father does not chasten? But if you are without chastisement, of which all are partakers, then you are bastards and not sons." Heb 12:5-9

The answer from the scriptures is simply that God wants to profit His children through pruning, trials and chastening so that our faith is tested and refined. Christ said that if we follow Him, we must deny ourselves and take up OUR cross and follow Him. In all our ways, looking unto Jesus Christ, acknowledging that He is Lord. We abide in Christ, trust and lean completely on Him. We must always remember that our Heavenly Father is the Holy, Holy, Holy God. In our walk with God, we must cast aside every weight (the love of and cares for this world) and strive against the propensity to sin which could easily side-tracked us. Practically, it is to constantly immerse in His Word and submit to the Holy Spirit indwelling. In our walk with Him, lest we be weary and faint in our minds , God allows and sends chastening and does pruning so that we may bear more fruits of the Spirit (John 15:2).

God as Heavenly Father loves and scourges every son (and daughter) whom He receives. God wants His children to grow up into "trees of righteousness" (Isa 61:3) and not remained as babes. As God's children, we must trust Him that "for whom the Lord loves He chastens". We have to obey, submit, receive and endure God's chastening as that is how God deals with His children.

God loves His children, here are the scriptural teachings on the purpose of His chastening and He has said it so clearly:

"Therefore since we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right of the throne of God." Heb 12:1-2

For consider Him who endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest you be weary and faint in your minds. You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Heb 12:3-4

And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons, "My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and He scourges every son whom He receives." If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons, for what son is he whom the father does not chasten? But if you are without chastisement, of which all are partakers, then you are bastards and not sons. Heb 12:5-9

Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh who corrected us, and we gave them reverence. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For truly they chastened us for a few days according to their own pleasure, but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness. Heb 12:9-10

Now chastening for the present does not seem to be joyous, but grievous. Nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who are exercised by it. Because of this, straighten up the hands which hang down and the enfeebled knees. And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way, but let it rather be healed. Heb 12:11-13

China: And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard?

There is a great need for resources to be sent to the plentiful harvest in China, the world's most populous nation of 1,330,000,000 souls. Many have not heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they do not have the hope of salvation in the Way, the Truth and the Life. The Lord's privileged call to all followers to join Him in the work of progressive and surely bringing of the Kingdom of God into fruition ?

Our Prayers ?
Our Service ?
Our Stewardship ?

“Then He said to them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest that He may send forth laborers into His harvest. Go! Behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.” Luk 10:2-3

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10:17)

And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 Jn 5:11-12

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news! (Rom 10:13-15)

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Mat 28:18

http://thywordistruth.multiply.com/video/item/77/77

If We Confess Our Sins

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1Jn 1:9
1Jn 1:8-10 (Matthew Henry Commentary on 1 John 1)

Here, I. The apostle, having supposed that even those of this heavenly communion have yet their sin, proceeds here to justify that supposition, and this he does by showing the dreadful consequences of denying it, and that in two particulars: - 1. If we say, We have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us, 1Jo_1:8. We must beware of deceiving ourselves in denying or excusing our sins. The more we see them the more we shall esteem and value the remedy. If we deny them, the truth is not in us, either the truth that is contrary to such denial (we lie in denying our sin), or the truth of religion, is not in us. The Christian religion is the religion of sinners, of such as have sinned, and in whom sin in some measure still dwells. The Christian life is a life of continued repentance, humiliation for and mortification of sin, of continual faith in, thankfulness for, and love to the Redeemer, and hopeful joyful expectation of a day of glorious redemption, in which the believer shall be fully and finally acquitted, and sin abolished for ever. 2. If we say, We have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us, 1Jo_1:10. The denial of our sin not only deceives ourselves, but reflects dishonour upon God. It challenges his veracity. He has abundantly testified of, and testified against, the sin of the world. And the Lord said in his heart (determined thus with himself), I will not again curse the ground (as he had then lately done) for man's sake; for (or, with the learned bishop Patrick, though) the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth, Gen_8:21. But God has given his testimony to the continued sin and sinfulness of the world, by providing a sufficient effectual sacrifice for sin, that will be needed in all ages, and to the continued sinfulness of believers themselves by requiring them continually to confess their sins, and apply themselves by faith to the blood of that sacrifice. And therefore, if we say either that we have not sinned or do not yet sin, the word of God is not in us, neither in our minds, as to the acquaintance we should have with it, nor in our hearts, as to the practical influence it should have upon us.
II. The apostle then instructs the believer in the way to the continued pardon of his sin. Here we have, 1. His duty in order thereto: If we confess our sins, 1Jo_1:9. Penitent confession and acknowledgment of sin are the believer's business, and the means of his deliverance from his guilt. And, 2. His encouragement thereto, and assurance of the happy issue. This is the veracity, righteousness, and clemency of God, to whom he makes such confession: He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, 1Jo_1:9. God is faithful to his covenant and word, wherein he has promised forgiveness to penitent believing confessors. He is just to himself and his glory who has provided such a sacrifice, by which his righteousness is declared in the justification of sinners. He is just to his Son who has not only sent him for such service, but promised to him that those who come through him shall be forgiven on his account. By his knowledge (by the believing apprehension of him) shall my righteous servant justify many, Isa_53:11. He is clement and gracious also, and so will forgive, to the contrite confessor, all his sins, cleanse him from the guilt of all unrighteousness, and in due time deliver him from the power and practice of it.

Transformed by the Gospel - A New Song in His Heart

"Tanvir started going to church just to hear the songs. When he started attending regularly, friends and neighbors mocked him and tried to entice him away from church, telling him that he could not "enjoy life" if he lived as a Christian.

But God had a strong hold on Tanvir and protected him from these temptations. Hearing the Scriptures taught at church, Tanvir was drawn to a vibrant relationship with Jesus and soon testified publicly that he had put his faith in Him"

Read his full story here

There is a new song in my heart

There is a new song in my heart
Since the Savior set me free
There is new song in my heart
Its a heavenly melody
All my sins are washed away
In the blood of Calvary
Oh what peace and joy
Nothing can destroy
There is new song in my heart

John W. Peterson

Desire to be Rich and Prosperous?

On riches, wealth and prosperity, man thinks they are greatly to be desired and sought after and praised, .............

but God says the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10) and “riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away” (Proverbs 23:5).

As for poverty, man thinks it is to be avoided at all costs, but God says it can be better than riches

Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it.
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it. Pro 15:16-17

Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.
Pro 19:1

Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? Jas 2:5

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 55:8).

The Holiness of God

There is but one only, living, and true God, who is ....most holy (Of God, and of the Holy Trinity -WCF Chapter II -I)

In the book of Isaiah, it is recorded that Prophet Isaiah saw the LORD high and lifted up.

“In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple.... “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” (Isa 6:1,5).

Why did Isaiah cried out like that? Prophet Isaiah, viewed as righteous man of virtues in Israel, was given a view of an absolutely Holy God. In his classic book “The Holiness of God”, Dr R.C. Sproul described it vividly, “In that single moment, all his self-esteem was shattered. In a brief second he was exposed, made naked beneath the gaze of the absolute standard of holiness. As long as Isaiah could compare himself to other mortals, he was able to sustain a lofty opinion of himself to other mortals, he was able to sustain a lofty opinion of his own character. The instant he measured himself by the ultimate standard, he was destroyed - morally and spiritually annihilated. He was undone. He came apart, His sense of integrity collapsed.”

Pastor John Macarthur commenting on the same Isaiah’s vision of an absolutely Holy God said, “Beloved, no one can stand in the presence of God without becoming profoundly and devastatingly aware of his own wretchedness, sinfulness. That's why I'm telling you. If we don't understand the holiness of God, we don't understand our sinfulness. And we don't understand how heinous it is and we don't understand the consequences of it. To see even the smallest glimpse of God's holiness is to be devastated...devastated. Isaiah would never be the same, never. Neither would anybody else.”

Isaiah saw the Seraphim around the throne of God and they cried out “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" Isa 6:3

Why the cry of “Holy, Holy, Holy”? What is the meaning behind this thrice repetition? God is God, He is not like us. He is the Almighty, Infinite, Eternal, Just, Unchangeable, Perfect and Sovereign God, He is absolutely Holy and we are not. It is meant to emphasize the importance of acknowledging, recognizing and fearing God’s otherness or uniqueness. Essentially it is like saying, “Otherness, Otherness, Otherness” or “ Unique, Unique, Unique”.

An absolutely holy God who is merciful and full of grace did not left Isaiah devastated because “one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for." Isa 6:6-7

Pastor John Macarthur said on Isa 6:6-7“Beloved, I think all of this looks at the cross, don't you? I think all of this looks at the cross. I think the cross is the live coal that touches our lips. The cross is the thing that purges us. You see, you and I could never stand in the presence of a holy God, we would be consumed. That's why the Pharisees had to kill Jesus. I mean, they had to kill Him, He ruined the average. He came along and He was God and His holiness was so real that their supposed holiness was exposed and they had to kill Him. And when He died He died not because they had to kill Him, but because God had to let Him die for our sin. The cross touches us and makes us pure.”

Our appropriate response must be to acknowledge that God is Holy, Holy, Holy. We must exercise great care in approaching God recognizing He is a thrice Holy God. He is the unchangeable God and still always the thrice Holy God. We get a very clear view and manifestation of God’s holiness at the Calvary cross. God’s perfect hatred of sin caused Him even to take the life of His own begotten Son, the pure and sinless Lamb of God. R.C. Sproul once said “Because until you meet a God who is holy and is sovereign, you don’t know what grace means.” By faith, we can see the Calvary cross is for us that same live coal and the cross touches our filthy and unclean lips and makes us pure, gives us Christ’s righteousness to stand boldly before God. “Therefore let us come boldly to the throne of grace,that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Heb 4:16. Heavenly Father, You are Holy, You are Lord God Almighty, We thank You for the cross, Your amazing grace and mercy through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

You Must Suffer - A Christian's Suffering by Pastor John Piper

If you follow Jesus Christ faithfully, you will face suffering. Jesus spoke about it and God allows it.

This video from Pastor John Piper is good reminder on what the Lord Jesus Christ has said: "Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also." Jn 15:10

Upon watching the video, I went back to re-read John Piper’s book “Desiring God” Chapter 10 on “Suffering”:

This is God’s universal purpose for all Christian suffering: more contentment in God and less satisfaction in self and the world.

I have never heard anyone say, “The really deep lessons of life have come through times of ease and comfort.” But I have heard strong saints say, “Every significant advance I have ever made in grasping the depths of God’s love and growing deep with him, has come through suffering.”

So suffering clearly is designed by God not only as a way to wean Christians off of self and onto grace, but also as a way to spotlight that grace and make it shine. That is precisely what faith does; it magnifies Christ’s future grace.

The deep things of life in God are discovered in suffering. So it was with Jesus himself. “Although he was a Son, Jesus learned obedience through what he suffered” (Hebrews 5:8).

The pearl of greatest price is the glory of Christ. Thus Paul stresses that in our sufferings the glory of Christ’s all-sufficient grace is magnified. If we rely on him in our calamity, and he sustains our “rejoicing in hope,” then he is shown to be the all-satisfying God of grace and strength that he is. If we hold fast to him “when all around our soul gives way,” then we show that he is more to be desired than all we have lost. Christ said to the suffering apostle, “My grace is sufficient for you, for [my] power is perfected in weakness.”

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More scriptural verses .....

"Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household. Matt 10:16-26


So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Mat 10:32-36

And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Mat 10:37-38

"I am come " - (from sermon - Living Death or Real Life) Dr Peter Masters

Within the sermon titled "Living Death or Real Life", Dr Peter Masters of London's Metropolitan Tabernacle stressed that within the Gospel of John,Jesus asserted that "I AM" on many occasions and this is essentially asserting what God said to Moses:

Exodus 3:14And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

John10:10 "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."


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List of verses in Gospel of John where Jesus asserted that he is "I am"..

John 10:7 "I am the door of the sheep."

John10:10 "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

John10:9 "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."

John 10:14 "I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. "

John 8:12 "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

John 8:23 "I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world."

John 5:43 "I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive."

John 6:35 "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."

John 6:41 "I am the bread which came down from heaven."

John 6:48 "I am that bread of life."

John 6:51 "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

John 8:58 "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am."

John 9:39 "..For judgement I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

John 11:25 "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:"

John 12:46 "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness."

John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

John 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

John 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

John 15:1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman."

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

John 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

John 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

John 18:6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

"Prodigal Son" a sermon by Dr. John MacArthur

An excellent video on a sermon from Pastor John Macarthur on "Prodigal son" which was Jesus' Parable from Luke Chapter 15 .

The parable, according to Pastor John Macarthur, is not really about the prodigal son per se but is about God. John Macarthur contrasted God's love, compassion, grace, mercy, forgiveness, faithfulness, condescension, generosity, joy versus the sinner's sinfulness, rebellion, total depravity, decadence, lostness, waywardness, un-thankfulness, ungratefulness, living for the self.

The father in the parable is a picture of God looking and seeking for the sinner like you and me. Every sinner regardless of who you are and your past history of good and bad must come in repentance recognizing that we have rebel against God's authority, went astray to serve the god of this world and is no longer worthy and come to God for His grace and mercy.

The Pharisees and scribes of Jesus' time cannot accept that a Holy God is also Sovereign God of grace. God will have compassion upon the repentant sinner whom He calls and draws to Jesus Christ, the only Way to Him. All of redemption plan to save draw and sinner is the work of God alone, to God alone be all the glory. Amazing Grace !

The foolishness of God is wiser than men

There is but one only,living, and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection, a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts,or passions; immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, most wise, most holy, (Of God, and of the Holy Trinity -WCF Chapter II -I)

And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1 Cor 1:30-31

When I look at the enormous range of God’s creative works; vast and deep oceans, lofty mountain peaks, grand canyons, thunderous falls, swift and powerful rivers, gentle and meandering streams, mirror lakes, deep jungles and lofty trees, colors and scent of floral, creatures both great and small, ….I am always truly awed at the Wisdom of God: “O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.” Psa 104:24

The wisdom of God is graciously and amazingly manifested in God’s Way of Salvation of sinners through the perfect redemptive work of Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son. This wisdom of God is clearly stated by Paul in Eph 3:8-11 , “To me, .., this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, ..” Jonathan Edwards said, “One end of revealing God’s counsels concerning the work of redemption, is making known God’s wisdom. It is called manifold wisdom because of the manifold glorious ends that are attained by it. The excellent designs, hereby accomplished, are very manifold. The wisdom of God in this is of vast extent. The contrivance is so manifold that one may spend an eternity in discovering more of the excellent ends and designs accomplished by it, and the multitude and vast variety of things that are, by divine contrivance, brought to conspire to the bringing about those ends.”

God’s wise plan and eternal purpose for perfect redemptive work through Jesus Christ is “a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.”1Cor 2:7. Yet the Gospel of Jesus Christ seems foolish to the intellectual atheist and skeptics, the scripture says in 1Co 1:18, 20 “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. …..Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

Why did God, in all wisdom, choose the way of Cross through Christ as the only Way, the only Truth and the only Life to Him ? Why ? The answer is simply this: so that no man standing before God can boast, I was saved because I…………… There will be no boasting of what I was. There will be no boasting of what I did. No boasting of meritorious works. There will no boasting of familial privileges. Here is the clear answer from scripture, “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” 1Co 1:27-29

The only appropriate responses are these “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Ps 90:12 and “And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1Co 1:30-31

God is only and most wise ! “To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.” Rom 16:27

An Almighty God

There is but one only,living, and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection, a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts,or passions; immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, most wise,(Of God, and of the Holy Trinity -WCF Chapter II -I)

When the Bible declares that God is Almighty, it simply mean that God is all powerful and unlimited in power and He has absolute power over all. He is not limited in any way. He alone has unlimited authority and influence, He is omnipotent. In all of creation, there is no power like His for He alone is The Creator. No other power, seen and unseen, able to or can withstand Him. No power, before or now or that to come, can oppose Him. He is not weary and He does not fail for nothing can thwart what He purposes to do. God is the supreme power, He is LORD and there is no other: For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. (Ps 95:3).

It is interesting to note that the word Almighty, with reference to God, occurs no less than fifty seven times in the Bible. An Almighty God revealed to Abraham and declared to him in Genesis 17:1, “the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty;..”

The Apostle John saw and heard and recorded for us : “And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”” Rev 4:8

In the book of Job, the reference to God as Almighty occurs 32 times, Job was humbled and learned anew that God is God and He is The Almighty God: Job 37:23-38:1-2,4 The Almighty–we cannot find him; he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate. Therefore men fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? ''...... "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Job 37-38

As we enter a new year of where many storms of uncertainties are still brewing in the horizon, lets always keep in view, our faith is in the God of the Bible who is ALMIGHTY and He is also Good, Faithful and Unchangeable.

What if Jesus had never been born? “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”

Someone asked: What if Jesus had never been born? Would most of the world celebrate the winter solstice?

If Jesus has never been born, my reaction would be very much be like Paul when he said hypothetically for a believer in Christ if there is no resurrection. Paul said in 1Co 15:19, 32 “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. ….If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”" Because if Jesus has never been born, there is no Gospel, there is no life with God after. A Christian has no hope for this life and the life to come. So what should I as a Christian then do, I will just eat, drink and really be merry.

As Christians, by the grace of God we know that our Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten of God the Father, has come!

Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isa 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

As Christians, by the grace of God we know Jesus Christ is now ascended and glorified and will return. And everyone, yes everyone including those who do not accept or reject Him now will have to bend our knees to worship Him : Php 2:9 -11 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Oh Come, Let us adore Him !

Baby filled with the Holy Spirit, leap for joy !

John the Baptist as a baby filled with the Holy Spirit, leap for joy !

Joy to the World !

The Lord Has Come.

Let Earth Receive Her King

Luk 1:39-45“In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, ….” Gal 5:22

Jesus Christ is Immanuel, God with us

700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ, the prophecy came to Prophet Isaiah:Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

The Annunciation

Rogier van der Weyden 1399/1400 – 1464

oil on panel (86 × 92 cm) — ca. 1440
Musée du Louvre, Paris

Rogier van der Weyden biography

Luk 1:26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
Luk 1:27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.
Luk 1:28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”
Luk 1:29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.
Luk 1:30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Luk 1:31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
Luk 1:32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
Luk 1:33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Luk 1:34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
Luk 1:35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy–the Son of God.
Luk 1:36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
Luk 1:37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Persecution: A price to pay for being a Christian ?

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, (2Ti 3:12)

John Macarthur:

"I am absolutely 100% convinced that the weakness of the church in America, the superficiality of the church, the shallowness of the church, the hypocrisy of the church is directly related to the absence of any cost or any price to be paid to be a Christian. If you don't have to pay a price, heh, just jump on the bandwagon. If persecution came to America, you see a very different kind of Christianity. A whole lot of people who are really good to talk about Jesus won't be talking about Jesus any more. Who profess to know Jesus and to be part of the church, they will stop talking very fast if the price was as high as it is for some people."

A testimony of Dr Daniel Wong, a professor at Master's College, who faced persecutions as a Christian first hand from Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution in China.

Dr. Daniel K. Wong- Professor of Biblical Studies B.S., Swatow University M.Div., Th.M., Talbot School of Theology Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

Dr. Wong has received awards for excellence in thesis writing and in eschatology. His specialties include Johannine literature, parables, and Old Testament prophecy and its use in the New Testament. He has served as pastor of a Chinese church in Los Angeles since 1984, and prior to joining TMC, he was president of Chinese for Christ Theological Seminary. In 2002, 2003-2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007, he was recognized in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. Dr. Wong has published a number of journal articles, periodical articles, and songs. He is currently writing a nineteen volume New Testament Commentary Series with Kregel Publications.

Source: http://www.masters.edu/academics/profiles.asp?depname=95

An Everlasting and Eternal God

There is but one only, living, and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection, a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions; immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, ......(Of God, and of the Holy Trinity -WCF Chapter II -I)

Psa 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Isa 57:15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity
Psa 93:2 Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.
Jer 10:10 But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King.

From everlasting to everlasting, God is God. He is always there, He is the ever existing one. Nothing causes God into existence, He alone creates all things. This concept of everlating is very hard for finite minds like ours to grasp, we are used to see the cycles of birth and death: man and beasts and plants. For these living things, some sort of parents gave out the seeds (with all the genetic code) for the next cycle of life for that creature. For inert things made by man, there is a someone, with a level of intelligence, who did some thinking and causes it to be made.We also know that inert things just don't last forever, things we make with our hands will crumble after a while whether they be made of stones or metal. It is thus very hard for us to grasp something or someone Who has no beginning and no end, such is the nature of God. Just focus our thinking about the eternal nature of God will cause our minds to go into a vortex of infinity.

God is not like us, time has no hold on Him. He is not subjected to the ravages of time or decay. He does not grow weary or weak with age, He is the "King of Ages", He is constant for all eternity and His mighty strength remains the same: Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable (Isa 40:28)

We ought to remind ourselves from Hab 1:12 "Are you not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One?". When our thoughts and meditations and focus is on Him, we can trust and rest upon His everlasting arms. The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms (Deu 33:27). When our faith in our God, it is great joy and comfort to know that He is the eternal God with the everlasting arms. We can rest, for our peace, security and assurance comes from God and not in our finite selves.

Yes, Lord ! You are the eternal and everlasting God. As finite creatures, our only appropriate responses are summed by these verses:

To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (1Ti 1:17 )

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen. (Psa 41:13)

How Big is God ?

There is but one only living and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection, a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, immutable, immense, eternal, ……..(Of God, and of the Holy Trinity -WCF Chapter II -I)

The God of the Bible is a big God. He is not contained by space, scripture is clear even “the heavens and the heaven of heavens cannot contain” Him (1Ki 8:27). God fills His entire creation, they cannot contain Him (Jer 23:23 - 24). It is important to keep in mind, God is immensely bigger than anything existing or what you can even imagine. This truth about the attributes of God offers great peace and comfort when we are seized with doubt or fear, we must remember that no one or anything is bigger than God. AMEN - God is BIG. God is near, never fear !

When God is near, who else but God do we need to fear ? If God stands on our side, do we need fear anything ? It gives great joy, peace and comfort to know that this immensely big God, Jehovah my God is near His people and hears the prayer of those who cry out to Him (1Ki 8:28-30). Scriptures says “And You shall listen to the cry of Your servant” and “and hear in Heaven Your dwelling-place, and when You hear, forgive!”.

Never Fear! He Is Near!
Never fear! He is near!
Look to no man, Care not what the world may plan;
Only trust in the Lord, All the way to Beulah Land.

不要怕只要信

不要怕，只要信，不要看人，不看环境与外面，

只要仰望耶稣，一路跟主到天家。

John Sung Choruses, trans. by Tow

1Ki 8:27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heavens and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this house which I have built?

Jer 23:23 - 24 “Am I a God near, says Jehovah, and not a God afar off? Can anyone hide himself in secret places so that I shall not see him? says Jehovah. Do I not fill the heavens and earth? says Jehovah.”

1Ki 8:28 -30 Yet, O, Jehovah my God, You have turned toward the prayer of Your servant and to his request, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You today; for Your eyes to be open toward this house night and day, toward the place of which You have said, My name shall be there; to listen to the prayer which Your servant shall pray toward this place. And You shall listen to the cry of Your servant, and of Your people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place, and hear in Heaven Your dwelling-place, and when You hear, forgive!

An Unchangeable God

There is but one only living and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection, a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, immutable,.. ……..(Of God, and of the Holy Trinity -WCF Chapter II -I)

Our God is immutable. God is not capable of or susceptible to change. He is an unchangeable God. He does not change. Mal 3:6 “For I the LORD do not change;…”.

While everything else change around us, God remains the same. Everything around us can fall apart, God is still the same. When our bodies grow weak with age and sick with pain, we look to our unchanging God who has promised sufficient grace to meet our every need. There is real peace and joy that God does not change what He has promised. What a comfort that our unchanging God is on our side.

Jas 1:17 “.. the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
“Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.”

There is but one only living and true God

There is but one only living and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection, a most pure spirit, invisible, …… (Of God, and of the Holy Trinity -WCF Chapter II -I)

Oh God, as finite creatures, it is our desire to know you and to know your attributes. We look into your Word, for your Word declare who you are: there is but one only living and true God. We worship thee, the only living and true God who is perfect and infinite.


Deu 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.

1Co 8:6 “there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.”

1 Th 1:9 ” the living and true God“

Jer 10:10 But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King.

1Ti 1:17 To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Job 11:7 -9 “Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? It is higher than heaven–what can you do? Deeper than Sheol–what can you know? Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.”

Joh 4:24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Act 14:15 “a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.”

“So Send I You” Missionary Hymn of the Twentieth Century

So Send I You

So send I you to labor unrewarded,
To serve unpaid, unloved, unsought, unknown,
To bear rebuke, to suffer scorn and scoffing-
So send I you to toil for Me alone.

So send I you to bind the bruised and broken,
O’er wand’ring souls to work, to weep, to wake,
To bear the burdens of a world aweary-
So send I you to suffer for My sake.

So send I you to loneliness and longing,
With heart ahung’ring for the loved and known,
Forsaking home and kindred, friend and dear one-
So send I you to know My love alone.

So send I you to leave your life’s ambition,
To die to dear desire, self-will resign,
To labor long, and love where men revile you-
So send I you to lose your life in Mine.

So send I you to hearts made hard by hatred,
To eyes made blind because they will not see,
To spend, tho’ it be blood, to spend and spare not-
So send I you to taste of Calvary.

History

This hymn, So Send I You, has been called the greatest missionary hymn of the twentieth century. The hymn has been labelled by many evangelical leaders as the finest missionary hymn of the twentieth century. It was first published in 1954 after having been written sixteen years earlier by a Canadian school teacher, Margaret Clarkson.

“Margaret Clarkson, who was born in 1915, was a teacher in a gold-mining camp in northern Ontario, Canada. It was a lonely life for this woman, but she also knew that this is where God wanted her to serve Him. She had a great desire to be a missionary on a foreign field but because of her health was unable to go. One day she was reading again the verse John 20:21, “Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” While meditating on this verse she wrote the words to a hymn that has become a favorite during missionary conferences, “So Send I You.”

“In 1935 teaching jobs were so scarce that I had to take my first job as a teacher in a lumber camp some 1400 miles from home, out in the Rainy River District of northwestern Ontario. From there I moved to the gold mining camp of Kirkland Lake, 450 miles north of Toronto. In all, I spent seven years in the north. I experienced loneliness of every kind; mental, cultural, but particularly spiritual, for in all of those seven yeaars I never found real Christian fellowship - churches were modern and born-again Christians almost non-existent.

I was studying the Word one night and meditating on the loneliness of my situation and came in my reading to John 20, and the words ‘So send I you’. Because of a physical disability I knew that I could never go to the mission field, but God seemed to tell me that night that this was my mission field, and this was where He had sent me. I was then twenty-hree, in my third year of teaching. I had written and published verse all of my life, so it was natural to put my thoughts into verse.”

Sources:

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/c/l/a/clarkson_m.htm

http://songsandhymns.org/people/detail/e.margaret-clarkson

http://www.wheaton.edu/learnres/ARCSC/exhibits/clarkson/

Raging Financial Storm: Does Jesus Care ?

We are now in a midst of a frightening global financial storm in a scale never seen before , billions of dollars disappear as the stock market continue to slide downward. Suddenly, no one has absolute confidence in their banks anymore. When you could not trust your bank anymore, you suddenly demand politicians you don't trust to provide guarantee to your banks . As believers, God's word is clear that we do not pursue and long after worldly things (Matt 6:18-19). We should fixing our eyes upon Jesus (Heb 12:2) and knowing that God will take care of us and we should not lose faith that He is in control of our lives, as the storm rages on and on, many personal fortunes including my own savings from years of frugal living and prudent investment evaporated into thin air, we often think within ourselves: Does Jesus Care?

In the Gospels, we have another storm raging in the Sea of Galilee. Jesus asked his disciples to get into the boat, they obeyed Him and set sail to cross the lake. Jesus, weary from the day activities, left the disciples to themselves and rested at the stern of the vessel. Just then, the weather turned adversely and quickly into a "windstorm": very strong winds and raging seas. The boat was swallowing up water and tossed from side to side and was in real danger of sinking, the disciples were hanging on to their dear lives as they fought the risk of drowning in this storm.

Mar 4:35-41
"On that day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." And leaving the crowd, they took Him with them in the boat, just as He was. And other boats were with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on the cushion."

At that point, they looked to their leader for direction and when they saw Jesus sound asleep, they woke and questioned Him: "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" Mar 4: 38. RC Sproul commented, "Their question was not really a question. It was an accusation. The suggestion was thinly veiled. They were actually saying, "You don't care if we drown", they were charging the Son of God with a lack of compassion. This outrageous attack on Jesus is consistent with mankind's customary attitude towards God. God has to listen to complaints like these from an ungrateful humanity every day. Heaven is bombarded with repeated charges of angry people. God is called "unloving" "cruel", and "aloof", as if He has not done enough to prove His compassion for us." (page 51 - The Trauma of Holiness, The Holiness of God).

Was God not aware that the storm was raging and His disciples greatly feared for their lives ? Was God the Father also "aloof" and "unloving" thus did not ensure that His elect will be cushioned from the going through storm? "And He awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" We see our Lord Jesus woke up and merely told the wind: stop ! The "wind ceased" and the sea stopped raging and "there was a great calm" However Jesus appeared to be disappointed with the level of faith that His disciples had in Him: Where is your faith?

Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6). It can be inferred that Jesus telling us through these verses : Do not look at the raging storm, have faith, turn and look at me ! I am in control. You are my sheep, I am the good Shepherd. I have already laid down my life for my sheep, I will take care of you. I am in control. Just let go and trust me fully.

Can we take comfort from Jesus' miracle of calming the storm and His rebuke and heed His disciple , Peter's exhortation: "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7. Does Jesus Care ?

Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near?

Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.

Jesus Christ the “Root of Jesse”

Who was Jesse ? King David’s father was “Jesse” or Yishai (Hebrew: יִשַׁי, Yíšay, meaning “God’s gift”). King David was sometimes simply referred to as “Son of Jesse” (Ben Yishai) - (Luke:3:31-32). Jesse was the son of Obed, and the grandson of Ruth (Luke 3). Jesse was a Bethlehemite.(1 Samuel 16:1). God specifically told Prophet Samuel to choose a king from the sons of Jesse.

David, son of Jesse, was anointed by God to be the second King of Israel. In 1 Sam 16:1: And the LORD said unto Samuel, ….fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons. God guided Samuel to David, His choice. Unlike man, looking at the outside, the “LORD looketh on the heart.” 1 Sam 16:12-13 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. ….”. With and through David, God established the Davidic Covenant whereby God established the Kingdom through David and his seed forever. (see here What is the Davidic covenant?)

More than 700 years before the birth of Christ in David’s home town in Bethlehem, the prophet Isaiah revealed the prophecy on the “Root of Jesse” ? In Luke 3, we see the genealogy of Jesus Christ traced down through Joseph (Jesus’ earthly father) and then right down to King David (Luke:3:31-32)- “David, Which was the son of Jesse”. In Isaiah 11, we see clearly the “Root of Jesse”, Jesus Christ as King, will rule and reign over the earth with righteousness, justice and power.

Isaiah 11:1-5, 10
1. There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins……..In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.

“Root of Jesse” stood as a sign for the people. All people, Jews and Gentiles will look to Jesus Christ, “of him shall the nations inquire”.

Paul re-stated Isaiah in Romans 15 and pointed to Jesus Christ as the “Root of Jesse”. In Rom 15:12 “And again Isaiah saith, “There shall be a Root of Jesse, and He that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in Him shall the Gentiles trust.” Paul reminded Christians, as non-Jews were not the original receivers of the Abraham’s Covenant, by faith trusting in the “Root of Jesse”, we are now saved from His wrath and graciously grafted by Jesus Christ to into His body: “you,although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree” Rom 11:17. All born again Christians are baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ and are the spiritual children of Abraham and by God’s sovereign grace enjoy God’s blessings promised to Abraham.

Rom 11:8 “Now I say, that Jesus Christ was a minister of the Circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy; as it is written: “For this cause I will confess to Thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto Thy name.” And again he saith, “Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with His people.” And again, “Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles, and laud Him, all ye people.”

Lets be always thankful to God for His Grace in revealing and giving us the faith in the “Root of Jesse”: our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

When the Holy Spirit Moves and Brings Revival

When the Holy Spirit moves and brings revival, people are found turning away from their selves, they are found humbling themselves before a Holy God, there will be much prayers, tears, repentance, confession and forsaking of sins and souls will be saved. Evangelist John Sung, the anointed servant of Jesus Christ, knew from his own experiences that these sovereign works of the Holy Spirit in convicting sinners are clearly evident in the 1931 Nan-Chang revival when the Holy Spirit came mightily to draw men and women to Him and revived the churches in China.

During that revival, he recounted an occasion when one of the teachers brought five students who had already heard about the Gospel to see him .While their hearts were prepared but they had yet to come before God in faith to repent and believe. He wrote, “I asked everyone to kneel and pray, and said: “Lord, you have greatly suffered for us on the Cross, and they have doubts or are still unwilling to accept this unprecedented salvation. Those who are proud or doubtful are but seeking their own demise. Who can enter the Kingdom of God but he who is like a child? As I prayed, I felt that my “self” had died, and it was the Lord who was speaking to them. At that hour, the Holy Spirit descended upon us and Li Yun Ding started to cry bitterly as she felt heavy with sin. All five of them finally turned to the Lord.”

Clearly the message that John Sung was saying to every sinner that is seeking salvation, with a child-like faith you must humble yourself and look to the Lamb of God on the cross and cry out to God for mercy and grace and be born again. Through the preaching of the Gospel, the Holy Spirit calls the sinner, convicts him of his sins and draws him to Calvary. The sinners saw their sins and they saw Jesus Christ, the pure and perfect Lamb of God, offered as their atoning sacrifice and their only hope.

Walking very closely with God, John Sung himself fully immersed with the Word of God and prayers before God. He shared with foreign missionaries and teachers, “I read 11 chapters of the Bible every day. After each chapter, I will ask the Lord to reveal to me my sins. The Bible is His Precious Blood meant to cleanse my sins. I cannot leave the salvation brought about by His Precious Blood for even one minute.” He urged foreign missionaries and teachers to attend a particular meeting to be held in the night and he revealed “as this was the day the Holy Spirit would descend upon us mightily.”

In the afternoon before the meeting, it was already evident that the Holy Spirit was already working amongst attendees, he wrote “Many were tearing amongst the audience even before the service was due to begin that afternoon.” John Sung pointed them to the Savior, the perfect Lamb of God dying on the cross for the transgressions of sinners. He wrote,”I preached from Luke 23:26-46. Before long, the entire congregation and I were in tears and everyone raised their hands. The hall was reverberating with heartfelt prayers.”

In a meeting with the teachers and preachers just prior to start of the meeting, he pleaded with

them, “If a preacher could not identify his own sins and empty himself, he would lack the power to penetrate the strong citadels in other people’s hearts. Destroy not what the Holy Spirit has wrought in your heart, lest God be grieved. God loves to work with him who has an obedient heart.” He stated “There is now a spiritual revival amongst the students, and the leaders will be guilty of a great sin if they themselves do not experience a spiritual revival.” Surely, John Sung clearly understood that a preacher of the Gospel must have spent much time before the Lord praying and preparing his heart and dealing with known sins and seeking to rely and call upon God’s power to bring forth the Gospel to illuminate sinners who are spiritual dead and blind. He mentioned, “In my prayers, I lamented the fact that I do not even have a tiny fraction of His Love, and begged for His forgiveness. May He give me His love and save all the prodigal sons who have been led astray. During the meeting that evening, John Sung recorded the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit: “At that hour, the Holy Spirit came upon us …… broke down and cried as she confessed and gave her heart to the Lord.” Sins were confessed, lives and focus priorities of leaders were aligned.

He believed that The Holy Spirit will sustain the revival already begun but it was important that weekly prayer meetings be held for people who are saved to come together to pray and ask for God’s “cleansing by the Blood of the Lamb”. Weekly prayer meeting were the focal points where people of God come together to seek His face and seek His interventions in their lives and for the work at hand. On 7 March 1931 in another meeting, he delivered a sermon warning about hypocritical attitudes will take over if people who are saved do not come often before God. He wrote, “I asked the audience to pray when I had finished. At this juncture, I heard the sound of the Holy Spirit descending in my left ear. More than 50 people continued to pray incessantly, confessing their sins in a deluge of tears, and were unable to continue with their prayers. All but three girls from the high school accepted salvation on that day.”

When hearts of God’s people are prepared and they earnestly seek His presence, He will come !