Category Archives: Uncategorized

Uncategorized

3 days

Here is a list that mentions three days throughout the entire scriptures. It is a significant period. You can hover over the scriptures to read the text:

Gen 40:18 And Joseph answered and said, “This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days.
Matt 12:40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Gen 40:19 In three days, Pharaoh will lift up your head—from you!—and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat the flesh from you.”
Acts 9:9 And for three days, he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Gen 30:36 And he set a distance of three days’ journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob pastured the rest of Laban’s flock.
Neh 2:11 So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days.
2 Sam 20:4 Then the king said to Amasa, “Call the men of Judah together to me within three days and be here yourself.”
Luke 2:46 After three days, they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and asking them questions.
Matt 26:61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’ ”
Mark 15:29 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,
Ezra 10:8 and that if anyone did not come within three days, by order of the officials and the elders, all his property should be forfeited, and he himself banned from the congregation of the exiles.
Acts 28:12 Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days.
Matt 12:39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
Mark 9:31 f or he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.”
Gen 42:17 And he put them all together in custody for three days.
Jonah 1:17 And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Ezra 8:32 We came to Jerusalem, and there we remained three days.
Josh 3:2At the end of three days the officers went through the camp
Acts 25:1 Now, three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
John 2:19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
1 Kings 12:5 He said to them, “Go away for three days, then come again to me.” So the people went away.
Num 10:33 So they set out from the mount of the Lord three days’ journey. And the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them three days’ journey, to seek out a resting place for them.
Mark 8:2: “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat.
Gen 40:12 Then Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days.
1 Chron 12:39 And they were there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their brothers had made preparation for them.
2 Sam 24:13 So Gad came to David and told him, and said to him, “Shall three years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days’ pestilence in your land? Now consider, and decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me.”
Exod 10:22: So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days.
2 Chron 10:5 He said to them, “Come to me again in three days.” So the people went away.
Mark 14:58: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’ ”
1 Chron 21:12 either three years of famine, or three months of devastation by your foes while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the Lord, pestilence on the land, with the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.’ Now decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me.”
Josh 9:16 At the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors and that they lived among them.
Matt 27:63and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’
John 2:20The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?”
Judg 19:4And his father-in-law, the girl’s father, made him stay, and he remained with him three days. So they ate and drank and spent the night there.
Exod 10:23They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived.
Jonah 2:1Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish,
Jonah 2:10And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.
Jonah 2:2saying, “I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.
Jonah 2:3For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me.
Jonah 2:4Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight; yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.’
Jonah 2:5The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head
Jonah 2:6at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God.
Jonah 2:7When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.
Jonah 2:9But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!”
Jonah 3:3So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth.
Exod 8:27We must go three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God as he tells us.”
2 Kings 2:17But when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, “Send.” They sent therefore fifty men. And for three days they sought him but did not find him.
Matt 27:40and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”
Exod 15:22Then Moses made Israel set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water.
Acts 28:7Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days.
Num 33:8And they set out from before Hahiroth and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and they went a three days’ journey in the wilderness of Etham and camped at Marah.
Ezra 8:15I gathered them to the river that runs to Ahava, and there we camped three days. As I reviewed the people and the priests, I found there none of the sons of Levi.
Josh 2:22They departed and went into the hills and remained there three days until the pursuers returned, and the pursuers searched all along the way and found nothing.
Judg 14:14And he said to them, “Out of the eater came something to eat. Out of the strong came something sweet.” And in three days they could not solve the riddle.
Gen 40:13In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his cupbearer.
Josh 2:16And she said to them, “Go into the hills, or the pursuers will encounter you, and hide there three days until the pursuers have returned. Then afterward you may go your way.”
Mark 10:34And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”
1 Sam 30:12and they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. And when he had eaten, his spirit revived, for he had not eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights.
Lev 12:4Then she shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her purifying. She shall not touch anything holy, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed.
Amos 4:4“Come to Bethel, and transgress; to Gilgal, and multiply transgression; bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days;
Matt 15:32Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”
Acts 28:17After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
1 Sam 9:20As for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father’s house?”
Mark 8:31And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.
2 Chron 20:25When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found among them, in great numbers, goods, clothing, and precious things, which they took for themselves until they could carry no more. They were three days in taking the spoil, it was so much.
2 Chron 10:12So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king said, “Come to me again the third day.”
Gen 31:22When it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled,
1 Sam 30:13And David said to him, “To whom do you belong? And where are you from?” He said, “I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite, and my master left me behind because I fell sick three days ago.
Ezra 10:9Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month. And all the people sat in the open square before the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain.
1 Kings 12:12So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king said, “Come to me again the third day.”
Esther 4:16“Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”
Josh 1:11“Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.’ ”
Exod 5:3Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.”
2 Kings 14:25He restored the border of Israel from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath-hepher.
Jonah 1:1Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
Jonah 1:10Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, “What is this that you have done!” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them.
Jonah 1:11Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?” For the sea grew more and more tempestuous.
Jonah 1:12He said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.”
Jonah 1:14Therefore they called out to the Lord, “O Lord, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you.”
Jonah 1:15So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging.
Jonah 1:2“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.”
Jonah 1:3But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.
Jonah 1:5Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep.
Jonah 1:6So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”
Jonah 1:7And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.
Uncategorized

The Church is to Live By God’s Promises

He has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 2 Peter 1:4

For years I have been compiling the Bible Promises categorically. I first began in my 20s after my conversion to Christ. A year later when I was made a church elder, then to a church leadership position, I leaned on the promises for strength and guidance. This was particularly important as I preached to the body of Christ, plus taught Bible School. Here is a screen-shot of a portion of my latest compilation of promises which I have placed in Trello, a digital platform made for lists.

As much as the promises of God properly and rightly belong to Christ, they also properly and rightly belong to each convert to Christ, the church, which is His spiritual body under His headship (Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, 27).

Uncategorized

GOOD ONLY BY THE IMPUTATION of CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS

Socrates wanted definitions of the good, the true, and the beautiful which for him, was his existential question that even extended to a theological notion. He was being tried for corrupting the youth of Athens, with potential death the penalty. His life hereafter depended on it. Socrates wanted a definition of holiness, regardless of what men or the Greek gods say about it – yet he died without his desired definition.

Definition of Self-Righteousness: For him, a good-natured man is ethically good; thus, the “gods” ought to admire such humans as righteous in and of humankind’s inherent being. 

Paul, the apostle, was also in search of definitions. He too desired definitions of the true, the good, and the beautiful. As with Socrates definitions were a matter of life and death. When Paul met Christ, the end of his search had arrived – the quest culminating as he found that Christ was God. Now in scripture alone, he could define himself, his life and all Hebrew history in God. 

Henceforth his mind was entirely subject to the mind of Christ. Paul had found or rather had been found, of God. For him, the true, the good, and the beautiful are what they are by his Creator’s and his Redeemer’s defined Sovereign ordinance. The holy is holy because God says it is holy.1

His chief concern, was now to learn, unpack and share the mystery of the Gospel. He would see how wonderfully great was the grace of Christ to him. He would realize how great was the love of God. So great that He sent his Son into the world to save — not only him — but many others with him, to be members of the body of Christ. Here was corporate salvation extended to the world.

Here “the gift of grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, has abounded unto many” and here “they who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life by one, Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:15, 17). “For he has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Sinners are constituted righteous by the righteousness of one, even Jesus Christ.

Definition of Christ’s Righteousness: As we have just studied, here was imputed righteousness. On this basis, Paul knew, he had found the only true ability to serve his Saviour – the gift of imputed righteousness. As Christ said, without me, you can do nothing. (John 15:5) Herein is the New Covenant entirely unique from all self-righteousness of humankind. Moreover, Christ’s Righteousness is entirely dependent on the indwelling Holy Spirit, ministered by Christ our High Priest.

1 Cornelius Van Til (1895–1987),  Common Grace and the Gospel (1977).  Also: A Survey of Christian Epistemology (1969), The Defense of the Faith (1955).

Second Coming of Jesus in Glory, Uncategorized

Get ready for Christ’s second visit to earth!

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13 NIV)

We will look at the promise of Christ’s second coming to earth, and its importance to all Christians and to those who have not yet accepted Christ as Lord of their lives. As a teacher of the Bible my goal is like the apostle Paul’s, “to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him” (Colossians 1:22 ESV)

It is noteworthy that Jesus referred to Himself as the embodied character of absolute truth and honesty as noted in these verses: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”. He would often say in the gospel of John regarding the truthfulness of His words: “But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.” (John 8:45 ESV); and “If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?” (John 8:46 ESV); and “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth…” (John 16:7 ESV) He would say “if it were not so, I would have told you” (John 14:6; 14:2 ESV). Before He ascended to the Father, He told His disciples that “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13 ESV). All truth is not half-truths. Half-truths are lies. The apostle Paul wrote: “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” (Rom 8:14 ESV)

With our Lord being bound to truth, and that fact that He is the son of God, he has long referred to Himself as the great “I am” who had years ago spoken to Moses in the burning bush (cf. Exodus 3:6; John 8:58) and whom theologians have biblically proven to be one with God: “All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men”. (John 1:3-4 ESV)

It stands to reason that He above all others would foretell only the truth. The following text describes the preeminence of Christ over all creation as the Creator God. When we understand that Jesus is God and that He created us, we can fathom why He is our redeemer who designed a plan with His Father in heaven to save us from our predicament of death: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent”. (Colossians 1: 15-18 ESV)

Jesus made a definite promise that He is coming to receive His followers when He comes back to earth the second time – a promise my mother loved: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:1-3 KJV). The Book of Revelation, chapter 1, begins with a clear note that John received the prophecies in Revelation directly from the resurrected Jesus by an angel sent from heaven. It also states that it is the pure and direct testimony of Jesus Christ. Moreover, Jesus points out that the person who hears and abides by, cherishing this message that he sent for mankind via John, will be blessed!

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. (Revelation 1:1-3 ESV)

Greeting to the Seven Churches

Regarding the time of His second advent to the earth, Jesus  told his disciples that He would be visually seen by everyone: “And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” (Luke 21:27 ESV) Jesus also indicated that the world will not comprehend the importance of this event nor be prepared to meet Him: “Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:30 ESV). His appearing will be no secret event – every eye will see Him.

Here Jesus the author of Revelation, through the messenger,  apostle John “the Revelator” agrees in his final prophecy regarding the end time: Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him (Revelation 1:7 ESV)

The disciples were told by an angel at His ascension, that Jesus would return just as He left, on clouds: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11 ESV)

Evidently, we should be aware that many will not be prepared for this event! “But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 24:48-51 ESV)

Recent changes in Facebook have shown us how people can be distracted by being so engaged with applications on their smartphone in order to stay popular in our culture, sending each other philosophic or whimsical one-liners, or songs or movie clips. Don’t get me wrong Facebook is a cool place to connect with your family (though I contend it could be done more intimately by email). Who has time for studying let alone reading the Bible in our digitized information age? Jesus knew that self-aggrandizement would overtake mankind. So what will the world be doing when Christ comes?

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:37-39 ESV).

Jesus also said in Luke’s account of the Gospel: “Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all—so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.” (Luke 17:28-30 ESV)

I don’t think that it is wrong in itself to eat, drink, marry, buy, sell, plant, or build, but that men’s minds will be so taken up with a zillion common distractions that they will give little or no thought to the future life, and make no plans or preparation to meet Jesus when He comes. Satan has most of mankind hoodwinked. Yes, “in their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Cor. 4:4 ESV)

The teaching of the return of the Lord to this earth is taught in the New Testament just as clearly as any other truth. Yet few sermons are preached on it. The church makes a great deal of baptism; but in all of Paul’s epistles, baptism, as important as it is, is spoken of only thirteen times. The bible speaks about the return of our Lord fifty times. Yet the church has had very little to say about it. The devil does not want the church to see this truth because this truth would wake up the church. Once I understood that Jesus Christ is coming back again to receive His followers to Himself, the world and all its philosophic concepts of Utopia, lost its hold on me.

The doctrine of Christ’s coming is ancient scriptural teaching going back in time: “It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones.” (Jude 14,15 ESV) Job a man of antiquity, also expressed similar confidence in Christ’s coming to receive him as a follower of God: “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last, he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh, I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.” (Job 19:25-27 ESV)

How did the prophet King David speak of Christ’s judicial focus: “Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest.” (Psalms 50:3 ESV). And “For he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.” (Psalms 96:13 ESV). Notice that David knew that on the day of His return we will come face to face with “His truth”.

How did the apostle Paul give expression to this hope? “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it, we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3:20 ESV); and in Titus 2:13 he wrote: “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ”.

What is Peter’s testimony regarding the interventions of the Lord with the populace of the earth? “We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:16 ESV)

Here is the most thorough presentations of the Second Advent of Jesus Christ to this earth.

Please contact the author with your comments 

 

 

Uncategorized

I am the the True Vine – Jesus

“I am the True Vine.”—John 15:1.

Andrew Murray was one of the most skilled writers who have led Christians to a closer walk and knowledge of the Lord. They are a constant reference to which I go as the Lord leads. Andrew was a Presbyterian minister of the Calvinist camp. What amazes me, he takes the Word of God far beyond what often-cold theological knowledge can achieve. Why is this? Andrew was a man born again of the Spirit. Thereby, Spirit-led he guides your heart into the realm of the heavenly places where Jesus abides. Moreover, in body, mind and soul, here on earth one feels the presence of the Lord in a calming way. Enjoy Andrew Murray. Meditating on the True Vine will help us persevere in the faith during troubling times. This excerpt is from: The Mystery of the True Vine: Meditations for a Month, Public Domain 1

All earthly things are the shadows of heavenly realities,—the expression, in created, visible forms, of the invisible glory of God. The Life and the Truth are in heaven; on earth, we have figures and shadows of the heavenly truths. When Jesus says: I am the True Vine, He tells us that all the vines of earth are pictures and emblems of Himself. He is the Divine reality, of which they are the created expression. They all point to Him, and preach Him, and reveal Him. If you would know Jesus, study the vine.

How many eyes have gazed on and admired the great vine at Hampton Court, with its beautiful fruit. Come and gaze on the Heavenly Vine till your eye turns from all else to admire Him. How many, in a sunny clime, sit and rest under the shadow of their vine. Come and be still under the shadow of the True Vine, and rest under it from the heat of the day. What countless numbers rejoice in the fruit of the vine. Come, and take, and eat of the heavenly fruit of the True Vine, and let your soul say: I sat under His shadow with great delight, and His fruit was sweet to my taste.

I am the True Vine. This is a heavenly mystery. The earthly vine can teach you much about this Vine of Heaven. Many interesting and beautiful points of comparison suggest themselves, and help us to get conceptions of what Christ meant. But such thoughts do not teach us to know what the Heavenly Vine really is, in its cooling shade, and its lifegiving fruit. The experience of this is part of the hidden mystery, which none but Jesus Himself, by His Holy Spirit, can unfold and impart.

I am the True Vine. The vine is the Living Lord, who Himself speaks, and gives, and works all that He has for us. If you would know the meaning and power of that word, do not think to find it by thought or study; these may help to show you what you must get from Him, to awaken desire and hope and prayer, but they cannot show you the Vine. Jesus alone can reveal Himself. He gives His Holy Spirit to open the eyes to gaze upon Himself, to open the heart to receive Himself. He must Himself speak the word to you and me.

I am the True Vine. And what am I to do, if I want the mystery, in all its heavenly beauty and blessing, opened up to me? With what you already know of the parable, bow down and be still, worship and wait, until the Divine Word enters your heart, and you feel His Holy Presence with you, and in you. The overshadowing of His Holy Love will give you the perfect calm and rest of knowing that the Vine will do all.

I am the True Vine. He who speaks is God, in His infinite power able to enter into us. He is man, one with us. He is the Crucified One, who won a perfect righteousness and a Divine life for us through His death. He is the glorified One, who from the throne gives His Spirit to make His Presence real and true. He speaks—oh! listen, not to His words only, but to Himself, as He whispers secretly day by day: I am the True Vine. All that the Vine can ever be to its branch, I will be to you.

Holy Lord Jesus! the Heavenly Vine of God’s own planting, I beseech Thee, reveal Thyself to my soul. Let the Holy Spirit, not in thought, but in experience, give me to know all that Thou, the Son of God, art to me as the True Vine.

1 Murray, A. (1898). The Mystery of the True Vine: Meditations for a Month (pp. 15–19). London: J. Nisbet & Co.

Uncategorized

Why millennials are leaving the church

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss, they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. – Hebrews 6:4-6 NIV

It’s no secret that millennials are leaving the church. Churches of all denominations are grappling with the phenomenon of young adults born between approximately 1976 and 1994 who are failing to engage in traditional, institutional Christianity.

In fact, research indicates that among those who describe themselves as atheists, agnostics, or “nothing in particular”—“the nones”—a significant number of them are millennials.

This reality is addressed by Alex McFarland and Jason Jimenez in their book Abandoned Faith.1 The authors, specialists in Christian apologetics and family ministries, offer their observations and suggestions for addressing this situation.

The book is divided into four sections: What Went Wrong; Forces Shaping Our Sons and Daughters; Steps to Mend to Move Forward; and Winning Back Your Millennial Child. Each chapter in its respective section is carefully crafted to blend sociological research (fully documented), contemporary and biblical case studies, and scriptural counsel.

The reason millennials are leaving the church is summed up in this sentence: “Too many Christians have forgotten that the goal of the church is to help people follow Christ [rather] than [just] show up for an hour on Sunday.” And it isn’t just the church that is blamed for millennials’ disinterest in organized religion. Other causes include the changing influence of the home and changes in culture.

The thing that takes the greatest hit in terms of blame is inauthenticity on the part of such authority figures as parents, church members, and religious institutions. The authors point out that millennials don’t want to be preached to; they want to engage in conversations. They don’t want to be numbers on somebody’s tally or report card; they want to belong to a cause that’s greater than themselves. They don’t want to be a cog in a piece of machinery; they want to be part of the body of Christ.

A recurring theme in the book is the guilt felt by parents who come to realize (too late) that their children’s interest in Christianity is waning or absent altogether. The authors’ suggestions for remedying the situation are helpful, but certainly not guaranteed to produce positive results in every case. Let’s face it: young adults in university, or in their first jobs, are less likely to conform to parental influence than when they were younger.

The ideal audience for Abandoned Faith is not those whose children have already abandoned their faith; it’s for parents, family members, church members—indeed, all Christians—who are determined to live their faith, not just talk about it.

1 Abandoned Faith, A Shared Review of the Book

Uncategorized

The value of prayer during trials and tribulations

E.M. Bounds excelled in the gift of prayer, and the teaching of its purpose in the Christian life. He knew all about the need to pray. Originally an attorney, he was called to the ministry by Jesus Christ. As an Evangelist of the South, he was imprisoned by the Union during the civil war. He also served as a military chaplain. He was injured, struck on the forehead by a sabre. In his lifetime he wrote nine books on prayer. I want to look at his viewpoint on prayer when troubles come our way, such as the COVID-19 pandemic of 2019-2020. I believe we can learn from him. He rose at 4 am every morning and prayed until 7 am.

E.M. Bounds points out that the New Testament uses three words to embrace trouble of distinct kinds: tribulation, affliction and suffering. 

Tribulation Jesus forewarned his disciples to expect tribulation – it belongs to this world: In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33) As Jesus had overcome the world and its tribulations, so might they do the same.

Paul taught the same lesson throughout his ministry when in advising the souls of the early church to continue in the faith: through many tribulations, we must enter the kingdom of God. (Acts 14:22).

Further, Paul, urges patience in tribulation, guiding us to focus on prayer. To Paul, prayer alone would place us where we could be patient when tribulation comes: Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Romans 12:12) 

Affliction Paul wrote of the afflictions which come to the people of God in this world and regards them as light as compared with the weight of glory awaiting all who are submissive, patient and faithful in all their troubles: For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Afflictions can work for us only as we cooperate with God in prayer. As God works through prayer, it is only through this means He can accomplish His highest ends for us. Our Lord works with the greatest effect with His praying ones, especially those encountering trouble or pray for those struggling therein. These know the uses of trouble and its gracious designs.  

Suffering There is a direct correlation between hardship and prayer. Prayer brings us into that state of grace where suffering is not only endured — it is with a spirit of rejoicing. In showing the gracious benefits of inevitable problems we face in life: Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance. (Romans 5:3)

Peter in his First Epistle to Christians to whom he wrote, revealed suffering and the highest state of grace are connected. It is through suffering we are to be brought to seek the Lord in prayer, entering those higher regions of Christian experience: In his kindness, God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. (1 Peter 5:10 NLT)

It is in the fires of suffering that God purifies His saints and brings them to the highest things. It is in the furnace their faith is tested, their patience is tried, and they are developed in all those rich virtues which make up Christian character. It is while they are passing through deep waters that He shows how close He can come to His praying, believing saints. It takes the faith of a high order and a Christian experience far above the average religion of this day, to count it joy when we are called to pass through tribulation. God’s highest aim in dealing with His people is in developing Christian character.1

The discipline of variable troubles We’ve seen that tribulation, affliction and suffering, is used by God to lead us closer in relationship to Him. God is after begetting in us those rich virtues which belong to our Lord Jesus Christ. Further, the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews gives us a perfect directory of trouble, comprehensive, clear and worthwhile to be studied. Here is noted “chastisement,” another word for trouble, coming from a Father’s hand, showing God is in all the sad and afflictive events of life. Though he may or may not cause it, he often rearranges it to further his causes in our personal awareness of our need for Him. He desires that prayer will move us into a journey of sanctification unto holiness, as we are conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ, our righteous example.

We will face one or more variants of trouble in life. Yet concomitantly, we face these in life in the context of God’s gracious design. It is not punishment in the accurate meaning of that word, but the means God employs to correct and discipline His children in dealing with them on earth. Then we have the fact of the evidence of being His people, namely, the presence of chastisement.

The ultimate end is that we “may be partakers of his holiness,” which is but another way of saying that all this disciplinary process is to the end that God may make us like Himself. What an encouragement, too, that, chastisement is no evidence of anger or displeasure on God’s part, but is the strong proof of His love. 2

Take a look at Hebrews 12:5-11 ESV: And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Prayer is to be engaged in its wide range of purposes. Applicably, the infinite variations of trouble arrest our attention, to stop us in the busy rush of life, to awaken the partaker to a sense of their helplessness and their need and sinfulness. In humility, they are called to seek the Lord. There are many lessons in the Word of God that prove this. It was not until King Manasseh was bound and carried away into a foreign land and got into deep trouble, that he was awakened and brought back to God. It was then he humbled himself and began to call upon God. (2 Chronicles 33:11)

The Prodigal Son was independent and self-sufficient when in prosperity, but when money and friends departed and want for money and food caused a dilemma, he “came to himself,” and decided to return to his father’s house, with prayer and confession on his lips. (Luke 15:11-32)

Many a man who has forgotten God has been arrested, caused to consider his ways, and brought to remember God and pray by trouble. Blessed is trouble when it accomplishes this in men. 3

It is for this among other reasons that Job says: Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he binds up; he shatters, but his hands heal. He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no evil shall touch you. (Job 5:17-19 ESV)

As you have faced this pandemic or faced a serious illness or family trials among loved ones, have you gone to the Lord in prayer or are you trying to manage on your own? Hear what John teaches, as he talks about life’s tribulations and those who are suffering in their own time of trouble: These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from? … he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst…For the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. (Revelation 7:13-17)

If you have suffered or been sorely tried, God is in all your troubles, and He will see that all shall “work together for good,” if you will but be patient, submissive and prayerful.

1 Bounds, E. M. (2004). The Essentials of Prayer. (pp. 28–31). Grand Rapids, MI: Christian Classics Ethereal Library.

2 Ibid

3 Ibid

Uncategorized

Sanctification unto Holiness

For I am the LORD your God, so you must consecrate yourselves and be holy because I am holy. (Leviticus 11:44)

Sanctification begins after you have received Jesus Christ as your Saviour. It refers to the lifelong process or result of being made holy. It also refers to being separated unto consecration for divine service — with regard to your life, places such as churches, and things such as bibles, tables and pulpits. It applies to individuals who choose to minister as elders, pastors, or deacons. This includes all such service as well as teachers of the Bible, song leaders, those that pray for others, and show hospitality. Moreover, all focused service set apart to holiness is with a focus to engage the entire church body of Christ in united participation “until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God”, in a progressive maturity with the aim “to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”. (Ephesians 4:11-13)

The church in the new covenant defined by Christ and his apostles has the same pursuit of holiness in a continuum from the old covenant noted above in Leviticus 11:44, now with the calling going out to the entire world empowered by the clear teaching of sanctification. Indwelt with the power of the Holy Spirit of Christ, we can indeed “pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it, no one will see the Lord”. (Hebrews 12:14)

God’s holiness includes an ethical change of character, of a lifestyle of growth in moral perfection. Thus, holiness is a prerogative of God, whereby the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit renews the minds of persons who are obeying scripture, with an attentive listening with the intent to be conformed into the likeness of Christ — of becoming more Godlike or Christlike in character traits such as virtue and affections. (Romans 8:29)

Where someone is not becoming more Christlike, this may indicate either that full surrender to following Christ or a true belief in the Gospel, has not yet occurred. For others, it can mean that they have simply backslidden like the prodigal son and need to rededicate their life. Jesus made it clear that he was on earth to call sinners to himself (Luke 5:32; 15:11-32; ) Not inviting the Holy Spirit to work. in one’s life, more often implies that the great doctrine of sanctification has not been well taught.

In the letters of the apostles, the designations for all believers are sanctified ones, saints or holy ones. (Romans 1:7; Philippians 1:1). Sainthood is not hierarchical, applied to more pious-looking or acting believers. Sanctification (spiritual growth) is the complement to being born again (referred to as regeneration). God gifts each new believer with a new mindset desiring to lovingly know Christ.

This gift to all includes a desire to obey his Word, to meet with other Christians for praise, prayer and worship. Sanctification is reliant on the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit in the life of people enacting the potentiation of the entire person “both to will and to act for His good purpose” (Philippians 2:13). 

The noun sanctification (or holiness from the Greek hagiosmos), occurs 10 times in the New Testament (Romans 6:19,22; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 1 Thessalonians 4:3,4,7; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:2) 

Sincere believers from the “holiness” traditions, originating from Wesleyan thinking developed by John Wesley’s Methodism often hold a theology furthered promulgated by some Pentecostal and Charismatic groups. They often emphasize a second work of the Holy Spirit after being born again by baptism by the Spirit, or the outpouring on the Holy Spirit empowering believers both to be holy and to achieve more effective ministry. Among others, the Evangelist Charles Finney, and writer Andrew Murray believed in the second blessing experience of total sanctification. Often the impetus of the desire to obey is prophetically energized by the preaching of eschatological prophecy, indicating that Christ is soon to return in judgement. One thing is certain we will always need the covering Grace imputed to us by the Atonement of Christ and His High Priestly advocacy on our behalf if we do happen to sin. (1 John 2:1)

However, a careful reading of Charles Wesley confirmed by Martin Lloyd Jones in his great compendium The Great Doctrines of the Bible note that John Wesley, made it clear that the view of an entire perfection of holiness only goes as far as: obedience to not engaging in revealed and clearly known sin. John Wesley did not believe that entire sanctification unto absolute holiness would occur ahead of death. This fits with Paul’s premise of both the need for our co-operative responsible obedience while working out your own salvation, submitting in obedience to the Holy Spirit’s scriptural guidance. (Romans 8:14, 29; Philippians 2:12, 3:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:23)

This major transformation of an individual devoted to Jesus Christ can only happen in a unified relationship while abiding in His Spirit. He taught a parable of the branch and the vine to teach this relational truth. (John 15:5) Christ also spoke of the unification of such Christians abiding in the Spirit as similar to His own relationship with His heavenly Father (referred to Oneness of mind in John 17:21)

The English Puritans described Christian growth as a gradual maturing that begins when we a Justified by Faith in Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord – – of saying no to temptations; with a determination to hear and acknowledge the Holy Spirit’s life-giving application of scripture, and by active obedience, thereby receiving the power of the Lord to work the growth in holiness in one’s life.

The struggle against the flesh which is at enmity with the Spirit begins when we are born again (John 3:3) and continues as Paul outlined in Romans 7:14-25. Spiritual warfare is an ongoing spiritual reality.

Sanctification will never be entirely possible in this lifetime. We will continuously depend on the imputed righteousness of Christ (our Justification when we believed). Ongoingly His imparted righteousness is given to us as we progress in life, refining our character unto nearing perfection, until “this mortal shall put on immortality”. (1 Corinthians 15:54)

Nevertheless, Paul’s confidence was sure: “I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). 

One thing is sure. Without the Holy Spirit of God, and His sanctifying presence and power in a relationship with Jesus Christ, it is impossible to ever grow in sanctification unto godliness, unto Christlikeness. 

Uncategorized

Discerning the will of God

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. (Romans 12:1 NLT, 1 Peter 4:2, 2 Timothy 2:21). 

Why would the Apostle Paul begin this chapter with the leading admonition to use our bodily vigour only for godly service, as a holy sacrifice? All unconverted people are Satan’s subjects. He seeks to attract and hold people through the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life (1 John. 2:16). The world has its own politics, art, music, religion, amusements, thought-patterns, and lifestyles, and it seeks to get everyone to conform to its culture and customs. It hates nonconformists—like Christ and His followers. Thus Paul urges us not to fall for the allurements of Satan’s world order:

Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2 NLT). 

The above scriptures give three keys for knowing God’s will. The first is a yielded body, the second a separated life, and the third a transformed mind.

As Christians, we all want to know God’s will. In Romans, chapter 12, the Apostle Paul teaches how we can more easily discern the Holy Spirit’s leading day by day. Apostle Paul urges us not to be conformed to this world, or as Phillips paraphrases it: “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold.”

When we come to the kingdom of God, we should abandon the thought-patterns and lifestyles of the world. 1 (Ephesians 2:2) The world (literally, the age we live in) as used here means the society or system that man has built in order to make himself happy without God. It is a kingdom that is antagonistic to God. The god and prince of this world is Satan (2 Corinthians 4:4; John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11).

Christ died to deliver us from this world. The world is crucified to us, and we are crucified to the world. 1 It would be absolute disloyalty to the Lord for believers to love the world. Anyone who loves the world is an enemy of God.

Believers are not of the world any more than Christ is of the world. However, they are sent into the world to testify that its works are evil and that salvation is available to all who put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We should not only be separated from the world; we should be transformed by the renewing of our mind, which means that we should think the way God thinks, as revealed in the Bible. Then we can experience the direct guidance of God in our lives. And we will find that, instead of being distasteful and hard, His will is good and acceptable and perfect. 2

Again the three keys for knowing God’s will. The first is a yielded body, the second a separated life, and the third a transformed mind. I like the way this version puts it, as we combine verses 1 and 2:

Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That’s the most sensible way to serve God. Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him. (Romans 12:1-2 CEV) 3

When we keep our body under the discipline of the Holy Spirit’s leadership, engaging the mind and will to cooperate with an obedient spirit in covenant agreement with the Lord, we move to persevere in readiness to meet the Lord when he returns on earth to separate those living for Satan in the world, from His own. (1 Thessalonians 5:23, Matthew 24.27, Luke 17:24)

1 Romans 6:5-7

2 MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1728). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

3The Holy Bible: The Contemporary English Version. (1995). (Ro 12:1–2). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Uncategorized

How do you feel tested by COVID-19?

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

If we feel overwhelmed by this period of uncertainty, I’d like to look at the tests that Jesus went through. Luke 4:1-3 is called “the temptation narrative”. But temptation only covers Satan’s part, and that is not even the main point of the story. In reality, Satan is a tool of God, and he accomplishes God’s purposes here. It is the Spirit who leads Jesus into the wilderness, and God is testing his Son before he embarks on his mission. 

Throughout Luke, God and the Spirit are the prime movers — the Spirit descended on, and God testified about Jesus, God’s Son. The viewpoint and the events are of the Trinitarian doctrine which most Protestants agree upon. Jesus the Christ is announced by his Father, empowered by his Spirit, and is victorious over Satan at the very start of his mission. Note the progress of the Synoptics—”sent” by the Spirit in Mark 1:12; “led” by the Spirit in Matthew 4:1; and, a twofold connection, both “led” and “full of” the Spirit.

If one accepts that there is both a God and a demonic realm of evil, there is no reason to deny Jesus telling his followers of just such an attack by Satan. The cosmic war with Satan informs the entire New Testament and permeates every level of it. It is essential that we not only accept the reality of this occurrence. We must order our lives accordingly and conduct ourselves in light of our spiritual warfare against the demonic powers of darkness. 1

Jesus is presented as the “Son of God” during His baptism, His genealogy, and these testing narratives, a unique feature of Luke’s contribution to the Jesus story. Jesus undergoes the very testing that Israel experienced in the wilderness and throughout the Old Testament. God tested Abraham in the “binding of Isaac” story (see Genesis 22), Moses in the wilderness of Midian (see Exodus 2–3), and Job throughout his story. Now God is testing Jesus in the desert to prove his faithfulness and obedience, and he succeeds where Israel failed. 

Jesus is the second Adam where he succeeds where Adam failed and provides the strength to overcome (1 Corinthians 15:45-47; Romans 5:12–21). Second, he is the new Moses, with “the high place” (Luke 3:5; Matthew 4:8, “very high mountain”) recalling Moses on Mount Nebo, (Deuteronomy 34:1–4), and Satan showing Jesus the world’s kingdoms reflecting that passage where God showed Moses the surrounding lands. Jesus’ forty-day fast in Luke 4:2 recalls Moses in Exodus 34:28. Third, he is true Israel, the central theme here. Jesus’ three responses to Satan are all drawn from Deuteronomy 6–8, where Israel failed the same three tests (see below). Jesus, the Son of God, is the antitype of Israel, God’s Son (Exod 4:22; Jer 31:9; Hos 11:1). Jesus suffers the same hunger and misfortunes as Israel and endures the same testing as God’s Son. As God’s Messiah as well as Son, he overcomes and shows the way to victory when following God. 

And old Israel was tested many times by plagues, and attacks and plundering by other nations, which came as a curse for disobeying the old covenant of the Lord. How does this compare today? We are facing an unprecedented pandemic outbreak (the plague). There is evidence about China’s internet hacking to steal the West’s copyright secrets and the imprisonment of two  Canadians calling them spies for revenge regarding the Huawei situation (secretive warfare, and plundering). They use tactical lying via every media outlet and we cry racism towards our resident Chinese citizens. However, our Chinese citizens are not to be hassled by anyone who understands civil liberty. In both Canada and the USA, we live in a free county, whereas the noted evils are perpetrated by an unethical communist hardline government which dishonours our doing business with them.

I submit to you that we globally have disobeyed our Lord in Heaven, and it’s about time we begin to preach repentance in the churches for our many harms to the planet and others, and our disregard for the New Covenant, given to us by Jesus Christ who overcame the greatest test, death on the cross for you and I. It is quite clear to me that the consequences for disobedience are today similar to the old covenant curses.

1 Osborne, G. R. (2018). Luke. (J. Reimer, E. Ritzema, & D. Thevenaz, Awa Sarah, Eds.) (pp. 104–105). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.