Every Christian knew he might have to testify to his faith at the cost of his life

Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. Heb 13:3

"The Blood Of The Martyrs Is Seed."

The history of the expansion of Christianity has proved that "the blood of the martyrs is seed" -- the seed of new life in Christ spreading through the world. For almost three hundred years Christianity grew in soil that was wet with the blood of the martyrs. In his History of Christian Missions Stephen Neil mentions the sufferings of the early Christians as one of the six main reasons the church grew so rapidly.

Because of their dangerous situation vis-à-vis the law, Christians were almost bound to meet in secret . . . Every Christian knew that sooner or later he might have to testify to his faith at the cost of his life . . . When persecution did break out, martyrdom could be attended by the utmost possible publicity. The Roman public was hard and cruel, but it was not altogether without compassion; and there is no doubt that the attitude of the martyrs, and particularly of the young women who suffered along with the men, made a deep impression . . . In the earlier records what we find is calm, dignified, decorous behaviour; cool courage in the face of torment, courtesy towards enemies, and a joyful acceptance of suffering as the way appointed by the Lord to lead to his heavenly kingdom. There are a number of well-authenticated cases of conversion of pagans in the very moment of witnessing the condemnation and death of Christians; there must have been far more who received impressions that in the course of time would be turned into a living faith." John Piper, "Desiring God"- Chapter 10 Suffering - The Sacrifice of Christian Hedonism A short video showing the re-enactment of the persecution of Christians in the early church in Rome.

Not I but Christ Lives In Me - Richard Wurmbrand

"Sitting At The Feet Of A Suffering Saint - I have never been the same since sitting at the feet of Richard Wurmbrand. It was literally at his feet. He took off his shoes and sat in a chair on the slightly raised platform at Grace Baptist Church in south Minneapolis. (I learned later it had to do with damage to his feet during the torture that he had received in a Romanian prison.) Before him -- and below him -- sat about a dozen pastors. He spoke of suffering. Again and again he said that Jesus "chose" suffering. He "chose" it. It did not merely happen to him. He "chose" it. "No one takes my life from me. I lay it down of my own will" (John 10:18). He asked us if we would choose suffering for the sake of Christ.

Wurmbrand's devotional book, Reaching toward the Heights introduces him like this: Richard Wurmbrand is an evangelical Lutheran pastor of Jewish origin who was born in 1909 in Romania. When the Communists seized his native land in 1945, he became a leader in the underground church. In 1948 he and his wife, Sabina, were arrested, and he served fourteen years in Red Prisons, including three years in solitary confinement in a subterranean cell, never seeing the sun, the stars, or flowers. He saw no one except his guards and torturers. Christian friends in Norway purchased his freedom for $10,000 in 1964." John Piper Chapter 10 Suffering- The Sacrifice of Christian Hedonism

A short video on Richard Wurmbrand

Lord's Prayer: Confession should be a daily activity for the Christian - by R. C. Sproul

"Confession

After expressing adoration, we must come with hearts of confession. Remember that we have no right to come before God at all, apart from the finished work of Christ. We can make no claim, in and of ourselves, to the ear of God. We have no intrinsic right to his presence. The Scriptures tell us that God is too holy to even look at sin. God delights in the prayers of the righteous, but we are not very righteous in our daily lives. Nevertheless, the God we serve invites us into his presence in spite of our sin.

In our study of the Lord's Prayer, we have already considered some of the important elements of confession. As the model prayer indicates, confession is to be a normal part of our conversation with God. Confession is not a frivolous matter to be engaged in only at appointed times and dates throughout the year. Confession should be a daily activity for the Christian, whose entire pilgrimage is characterized by the spirit of repentance. The principal reason why confession must be on a daily basis is because our sins are committed on a daily basis against divine law. We do things we ought not to do and leave undone those things God commands us to do. We run up a daily indebtedness before God. Consequently, our daily prayers must include genuine acts of confession."

"Confession is like a declaration of bankruptcy. God requires perfection. The slightest sin blemishes a perfect record. All the "good deeds" in the world cannot erase the blemish and move us from imperfection to perfection. Once the sin has been committed, we are morally bankrupt. Our only hope is to have that sin forgiven and covered through the atonement of the one who is altogether perfect.

When we sin, our only option is repentance. Without repentance there is no forgiveness. We must come before God in contrition. David put it this way:

You do not delight in sacrifice. . . . The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (Psalm 51:16-17, NIV)

Here David's profound thoughts reveal his understanding of what many Old Testament persons failed to grasp--that the offering of sacrifices in the temple did not gain merit for the sinner. Sacrifices pointed beyond themselves to the perfect Sacrifice. The perfect atonement was offered by the perfect Lamb without blemish. The blood of bulls and goats does not take away sin. The blood of Jesus does. To avail ourselves of the atonement of Christ, to gain that covering, requires that we come before God in brokenness and contrition. The true sacrifices of God are a broken spirit and a contrite heart.

There was an important element of surprise in David's experience of forgiveness. He had begged God to wash away his sin and to make him clean. In a certain sense, forgiveness must never be a surprise. We should never be surprised when God keeps his word. In 1 John 1:9, God tells us that if we confess our sins, he will be faithful to forgive those sins. God keeps his promises; man does not. God is the covenant Maker; we are covenant breakers.

Looking at the issue from another perspective, however, we ought to be surprised every time we experience forgiveness. We ought never to take God's mercy and forgiveness for granted, even though we live in a culture that does. It is terrifying to consider the ease with which we take God's grace for granted. I occasionally ask collegians, seminarians, seminary professors, and ministers the questions, "Is God obligated to be loving? Is he bound to forgiveness and grace?" Again and again their answers are in the affirmative: "Yes, of course, it's God's nature to be loving. He's essentially a God of love. If he didn't show love, he wouldn't be God. If God is God, then he must be merciful!"

He must be merciful? If God must be merciful, then his mercy is no longer free or voluntary. It has become obligatory; if so, then it is no longer mercy, but justice. God is never required to be merciful. As soon as we think God is obligated to be merciful, a red light should flash in our brains, indicating that we are no longer thinking about mercy, but about justice. We need to do more than sing "Amazing Grace"--we need to be repeatedly amazed by grace.

Adapted from R.C. Sproul's small book Does Prayer Change Things?.

Please visit and read the full post here: The Practice of Prayer (pt. 3)

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)