1 Corinthians (Program #49) – Dealing with the Gifts (5)

As the apostle Paul was writing chapter 12, 13 and 14 of 1 Corinthians, he had much more in his heart then just dealing with the problem of the improper use or abuse of the gifts of the Spirit. There was an overwhelming burden on his heart and in his spirit concerning several crucial matters related to the building up of the Body of Christ, the church.

In chapter twelve and thirteen, he emphasizes five things: Speaking, the Spirit, the Body, God’ administration and love.  Then in chapter 14, he comes to another main item, the superiority of one particular gift for the building up of the church. Among the main spiritual gifts describe in this portion of the word, one stands out as superior for building up the church. What is this unique superior gift?

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1 Corinthians (Program #35) – Dealing with Marriage Life (3)

When the Lord Jesus was on the earth, it was very hard for those around Him to discern that what He was speaking was actually God’s word. Because unlike the prophets of the Old Testament He spoke as a normal man with normal language and never one time does the Bible record Him using the phrase “doth saith the Lord”. Yet He was the Lord and every one of His word was the word of God. What set Him apart from those of the Old Testament dispensation was incarnation. He wasn’t just speaking for God in the way of prophesy, He was God.  God incarnated to be a man. This principle of incarnation is the unique characteristic of the whole New Testament. Not just man under the influence or inspiration of the Spirit speaking for God but man so one with God in their life, in their living and even in their speaking that their words were God’s words.

1 Corinthians 7 is the chapter that illustrate this principle of incarnation. Not only is it applied to the Lord Jesus but even as it applied to the apostles and the apostle Paul specifically.

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Acts (Program #49) – The Propagation in Asia Minor and Europe through the Ministry of Paul’s Company (15)

Much of the book of Acts is devoted to the account of Paul the Apostle, as he journeyed to the uttermost parts of the earth, speaking and testifying of the resurrected Christ. This word was a blessing to many, but a dagger in the heart of some. In Paul, we see a man of God in spirit, intent, and resolute in this one thing: to preach among the people the unsearchable riches of Christ. Stay with us today as we once again look at the New Testament example of a New Testament minister of Christ on the life study of the Bible.

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John (Program #27) – The Need of the Blind in Religion – Life’s Shepherding

Our good Shepherd laid down His human life for us in order that the divine life could now be imparted to us.

John 10 is the direct continuation of the events in chapter 9. And together, they form a case of the need of the blind in religion. In chapter 9, there was a man blind from birth. And, the Lord gave him sight by the Lord’s being the light of life to him and by the anointing through His speaking. This took place on the Sabbath day. And, healing on the Sabbath was something prohibited, not by God, but by the religionists.

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Job (Program #11) – The Third of the Three Rounds (4) – Job’s Final Speaking (2)

Job chapter 29 brings us to a scene that most of us can relate very well to. At this point in the book, Job is once again pouring out to his friends concerning the terrible sufferings that God had visited upon him. And in this discourse, he was reliving many of the fond recollections of the glories of his past experience. How often do we dwell in the past when we are languishing in the depths of our present despair?  But Job was also drawing upon his past successes in order to build a defense so that he could plead his case before God. A case that was totally built upon his own righteousness.

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1 Peter (Program #1) – An Introductory Word

Of all the disciples called by the Lord Jesus in the gospels, probably the one we can most readily identify with is Peter. Simon Barjona as he was known before the Lord changed his name to Peter. In John chapter 1 was as impetuous as he was fervent and often found himself as the target of the Lord Jesus’ reprove.

Recall for example in Matthew chapter 16, Peter’s sympathetic suggestion to the Lord that He should keep Himself from the suffering of death that He knew awaited Him. “get behind Me, Satan” was the Lord’s reply. “You are a stumbling block to Me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men.” How could Peter possibly recovered from such a stinging rebuke?

And of course it was also Peter, who denied the Lord three times during the hour of trial preceding the actual crucifixion. Yet only days later it was this same Peter who stood on the day of Pentecost and usher thousands into the kingdom with his powerful and dynamic speaking.

And not only so, in his two epistles, Peter uses language and phrases so rich and full of high and profound meaning that we can’t help but marvel at the power of God’s full salvation. That this unlearned fisherman could write such thing. Listen to his word in 1 Peter,

1:18 “Knowing that it was not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, that you were redeemed from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers,”

19 “But with precious blood, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot, the blood of Christ;”

Welcome to our first life-study of the book of 1 Peter.

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Ephesians (Program #70) – Overflowing to Speak

If you ever visited a country where idol worship is practiced, one of the striking aspects of such worship is that it’s always done in silent.  The worshipers are silent or dumb because the idols they are worshiping are dumb. But our God is not an idol and He certainly is not dumb.

For Hebrews 12 tells us,  “you have come forward to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.”  And it’s interesting here implying that not only do the worshipers speak but listen to Hebrew 12:24 “And to Jesus, the Mediator of a new covenant; and to the blood of sprinkling, which speaks something better than that of Abel.”  Here not only do the worshipers speak even the blood is speaking.  A marvelous portion today based on really Ephesians where we are to be filled in spirit speaking.

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Ephesians (Program #8) – The Mystery of God’s Will

Ephesians opens with some of the highest speaking in the entire Bible. Our selection, our predestination and our redemption are all mentioned but not as isolated items rather as indispensable steps in the accomplishment of God’s plan which is the great mystery of the universe through the ages. So, we have been chosen, predestinated, and redeemed for what? Ephesians 1:9 says, “Making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself.” What is God’s will, His purpose, His plan?

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