The relevance of Apostle/Saint Paul's teaching for human life today of 'True Religion' is not only a matter of rules and regulations. God does not deal with human beings like an accountant, but He accepts them freely when they respond to His love. In fact, God implants the Spirit of Christ Jesus in their hearts so they may extend God's love to others.
In the Lord Jesus Christ, men and women have come of age. God does not keep His people on puppet strings but in fact, liberates them to live as His responsible sons and daughters. That is, people matter more than things, principles, and causes. The highest of principles and the best of causes exist only for the sake of people. Personal liberty itself is abused if it is exercised against the personal well-being of others.
Avoid getting into debt, except the debt of mutual love. If you love your fellow men and women, you have carried out your obligations. All the commandments: You shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not covet, and so on, are summed up in this single command: You must love your neighbour as yourself. Love is one thing that cannot hurt your neighbour; that is why it is the answer to every one of the commandments. - Rom. 13:8-10 -
My brothers and sisters, you were called, as you know, to liberty; but be careful, or this liberty will provide an opening for self-indulgence. Serve one another, rather, in works of love, since the whole of the Law is summarised in a single command: Love your neighbor as yourself. - Gal. 5:13-14 -
Let me put it like this: if you are guided by the Spirit of Christ you will be in no danger of yielding to self-indulgence, since self-indulgence is the opposite of the Spirit, the Spirit is totally against such a thing, and it is precisely because the two are so opposed that you do not always carry out your good intentions. If you are led by the Spirit, no law can touch you.
When self-indulgence is at work the results are obvious: fornication, gross indecency and sexual irresponsibility; idolatry and sorcery; feuds and wrangling, jealousy, bad temper and quarrels; disagreements, factions, envy; drunkenness, orgies and similar things. I warn you now, as I warned you before: those who behave like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
What the Spirit brings is very different: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control. There can be no law against things like that, of course. You cannot belong to Christ Jesus unless you crucify all self-indulgent passions and desires.
Since the Spirit is our life, let us be directed by the Spirit. We must stop being conceited, provocative and envious. - Gal. 5:16-26 -
Saint Paul's was a controversial figure in his lifetime, even within the Christian movement. Apostle Paul's had many opponents who disagreed with his interpretation of the messages of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the closing years of his life, when imprisonment prevented him from moving about freely, apostle Paul's opponents were able to make headway with their rival interpretations. Even though Asia had been apostle Paul's most fruitful mission field, at the end of his life he wrote: All those in Asia have turned away from me.
However, in the following generation, there was a resurgence of feeling in apostle Paul's favor. His opponents were largely discredited and disabled by the dispersal of the Church of that city shortly before the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Throughout most of the Church apostle Paul's became a venerated figure. His letters, epistles, together with the gospels, became the foundation of the Christian movement.
Apostle Paul's liberating message and the Lord Jesus Christ doctrine has prove its vitality throughout the centuries. Repeatedly, when the Christian faith, hope and love has been in danger of being shackled by legalism or tradition, apostle Paul's message and the Lord Jesus Christ doctrine has allowed the gospel to set a man/woman free.
From Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus in His design to promise life in Christ Jesus; to Timothy, dear child of mine, wishing you grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord.
Night and day I thank God, keeping my conscience clear and remembering my duty to Him as my ancestor did, and always I remember you in my prayers; I remember your tears and long to see you again to complete my happiness.
That is why I am reminding you now to fan into a flame the gift that God gave you when I laid my hands on you. God's gift was not a spirit of timidity, but the Spirit of power, and love, and self-control. So you are never ashamed of me for being His prisoner; but with me, bear the hardships for the sake of the Good News, relying on the power of God who has saved us and called us to be holy - not because of anything we ourselves have done but for His own purpose and by His own grace.
This grace had already been granted to us, in Christ Jesus, before the beginning of time, but it has only been revealed by the Appearing of our saviour Christ Jesus. He abolished death, and He has proclaimed life and immortality through Good News; and I have been named its herald, its apostle and its teacher.
It is only on account of this that I am experiencing fresh hardships here now; but I have not lost confidence, because I know who it is that I have put my trust in, and I have no doubt at all that He is able to take care of all that I have entrusted to Him until that Day.
Keep as your pattern the sound teaching you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. You have been trusted to look after something precious; guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. - 2 Tim. 1:1-14 -
As we know..........
Page 29
Faith . Hope . Love - Welcome donation. Thank You. God bless.
By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!
I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.
HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
The promise of the Holy Spirit can be traced back to John the Baptist, who prophesied that the One who was to come after him, mightier than himself, would "Baptize you with the Holy Spirit." Jesus' presence with God, the Father, as His people's representative provides the assurance that their prayers and requests for spiritual help are heard and granted.
Christ Jesus was in a unique sense, the Son of God. In fact, everyone moved by the Holy Spirit is a son/daughter of God because the Holy Spirit Himself and our spirit bear united witness that we are children of God. And if we are children we are heirs as well: heirs of God and coheirs with the Lord Jesus Christ, sharing His sufferings so as to share His glory.
Another token of the indwelling Spirit was giving Jesus the designation "LORD." This designation is given by Apostle Paul or Saint Paul to Jesus Christ in the highest sense possible. It was bestowed on Jesus by God Himself when He rose to supremacy over the universe after His humiliation and death on the Cross.
Now my brothers and sisters, I want to clear up a wrong impression about spiritual gifts. You remember that, when you were pagans, whenever you felt irresistibly drawn, it was towards dumb idols? It is for that reason that I want you to understand that on the one hand no one can be speaking under the influence of the Holy Spirit say, 'Curse Jesus' and on the other hand, no one can say, 'Jesus is Lord' unless he/she is under the influence of the Holy Spirit. - 1 Cor. 12;1-3 -
Meanwhile, Saul/Paul was still breathing threats to slaughter the Lord Jesus Christ disciples..... Suddenly, while he was travelling to Damascus and just before he reached the city, there came a light from heaven all round him. He fell to the ground, and then he heard a voice saying, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'
'Who are you, Lord?' he asked, and the voice answered, 'I am Jesus, and you are persecuting me. Get up now and go into the city, and you will be told what you have to do.'
The .................. 'Brother Saul/Paul, I have been sent by the Lord Jesus Christ who appeared to you on your way here so that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.' Immediately it was as though scales fell away from Saul's eyes and he could see again. So he was baptized there and then, and after taking some food he regained his strength. - Acts 9:1-19 -
There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God who is working in all of them. The particular way in which the Spirit is given to each person is for a good purpose. - 1 Cor. 12:4-7 -
The Lord Jesus Christ is presented by Apostle Paul or Saint Paul as the One "through Whom are all things, and through Whom we live" and in Whom, through Whom, and for Whom "all things were created." - 1 Cor. 8:6; Col. 1:15-18 -
Jesus Christ is the image of the unseen God
and the first-born of all creation,
for in Him were created
all things in heaven and on earth:
everything visible and everything invisible,
Thrones, Dominations, Sovereignties, Powers-
all things were created through Him and for Him.
Before anything was created, Jesus Christ existed,
and He holds all things in unity.
Now the Church is His body,
The Lord Jesus Christ is its head. - Col. 1:15-18 -
After Paul/Saul became the apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, that is, "Chosen by Christ Jesus" Paul declared: "To me, to live is Christ." - Phil. 1:20-23 - Before Paul/Saul become the apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, he might well have said: "To me, to live is 'Law' because in his mind he had judged Christ Jesus according to the Jewish Law, and finding Jesus condemned by it. Since the Law pronounced a curse on one who was hanged on a tree. (The Cross) Paul took the side of the Law and agreed that both Christ and His people were accursed. - Duet. 21:22-23 -
On the other hand, those who rely on the keeping of the Law are under a curse, since Sacred Scripture says: Cursed be everyone who does not persevere in observing everything prescribed in the book of the Law. The Law will not justify anyone in the sight of God, because we are told: the righteous person finds life through faith. The Law is not even based on faith, since we are told:
The person who practices this precepts finds life through practising them. The Lord Jesus Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by being cursed for our sake, since Sacred Scripture says: Cursed be everyone who is hanged on a tree. This was done so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might include the pagans, and so that through faith we might receive the promised Spirit. - Gal. 3:10-14 -
The Lord Jesus Christ, then, is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone but those who believes and love God with all his/her soul, heart, mind and strength, fulfill: 'God's greatest Commandment.' The word 'end' is ambiguous: it may mean "goal" or "completion." As the Law revealed the character and will of God, it pointed to the Lord Jesus Christ as the goal. The Lord Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of all the divine revelation that had preceded Him.
All the promises of God in Christ Jesus are "Yes." But when the Law came to be regarded as the way of salvation or the rule of life, the Lord Jesus Christ put an end to it. The Law pronounced a curse on those who failed to keep it; The Lord Jesus Christ redeemed His people from that curse by undergoing it Himself. Jesus Christ exhausted the curse in His own person through His 'Passion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension.'
Brothers and sisters, I have the very warmest love for the Jews, and I pray to God for them to be saved. I can swear to their fervour for God, but their zest is misguided. Failing to recognise the righteousness that comes from God, they try to promote their own idea of it, instead of submitting to the righteousness of God. But now the Law has come to an end with the Lord Jesus Christ, and everyone who has faith may be justified. - Rom. 10:1-4 -
Do you really think that when I am making my plans, my motives are ordinary human ones, and that I say Yes, yes, and No, no, at the same time? I swear by God's truth, there is no Yes and No about what we say to you. The Son of God, the Christ Jesus that we proclaimed among you - I mean Silvanus and Timothy and I (Apostles) - was never Yes and No: with Him it was always Yes, and however many the promises God made, the Yes to them all is in Him.
That is why it is 'through Him' that we answer "Amen" to the praise of God. Remember it is God Himself Who assures us all, and you, of our standing in the Lord Jesus Christ, and has anointed us, marking us with His seal and giving us the pledge, the Holy Spirit, that we carry in our hearts. - 2 Cor. 1:17-22 -
The relevance.......
Page 28
Faith . Hope . Love - Welcome donation. Thank You. God bless.
By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!
I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.
HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -
Christ Jesus was in a unique sense, the Son of God. In fact, everyone moved by the Holy Spirit is a son/daughter of God because the Holy Spirit Himself and our spirit bear united witness that we are children of God. And if we are children we are heirs as well: heirs of God and coheirs with the Lord Jesus Christ, sharing His sufferings so as to share His glory.
Another token of the indwelling Spirit was giving Jesus the designation "LORD." This designation is given by Apostle Paul or Saint Paul to Jesus Christ in the highest sense possible. It was bestowed on Jesus by God Himself when He rose to supremacy over the universe after His humiliation and death on the Cross.
Now my brothers and sisters, I want to clear up a wrong impression about spiritual gifts. You remember that, when you were pagans, whenever you felt irresistibly drawn, it was towards dumb idols? It is for that reason that I want you to understand that on the one hand no one can be speaking under the influence of the Holy Spirit say, 'Curse Jesus' and on the other hand, no one can say, 'Jesus is Lord' unless he/she is under the influence of the Holy Spirit. - 1 Cor. 12;1-3 -
Meanwhile, Saul/Paul was still breathing threats to slaughter the Lord Jesus Christ disciples..... Suddenly, while he was travelling to Damascus and just before he reached the city, there came a light from heaven all round him. He fell to the ground, and then he heard a voice saying, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'
'Who are you, Lord?' he asked, and the voice answered, 'I am Jesus, and you are persecuting me. Get up now and go into the city, and you will be told what you have to do.'
The .................. 'Brother Saul/Paul, I have been sent by the Lord Jesus Christ who appeared to you on your way here so that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.' Immediately it was as though scales fell away from Saul's eyes and he could see again. So he was baptized there and then, and after taking some food he regained his strength. - Acts 9:1-19 -
There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God who is working in all of them. The particular way in which the Spirit is given to each person is for a good purpose. - 1 Cor. 12:4-7 -
The Lord Jesus Christ is presented by Apostle Paul or Saint Paul as the One "through Whom are all things, and through Whom we live" and in Whom, through Whom, and for Whom "all things were created." - 1 Cor. 8:6; Col. 1:15-18 -
Jesus Christ is the image of the unseen God
and the first-born of all creation,
for in Him were created
all things in heaven and on earth:
everything visible and everything invisible,
Thrones, Dominations, Sovereignties, Powers-
all things were created through Him and for Him.
Before anything was created, Jesus Christ existed,
and He holds all things in unity.
Now the Church is His body,
The Lord Jesus Christ is its head. - Col. 1:15-18 -
After Paul/Saul became the apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, that is, "Chosen by Christ Jesus" Paul declared: "To me, to live is Christ." - Phil. 1:20-23 - Before Paul/Saul become the apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, he might well have said: "To me, to live is 'Law' because in his mind he had judged Christ Jesus according to the Jewish Law, and finding Jesus condemned by it. Since the Law pronounced a curse on one who was hanged on a tree. (The Cross) Paul took the side of the Law and agreed that both Christ and His people were accursed. - Duet. 21:22-23 -
On the other hand, those who rely on the keeping of the Law are under a curse, since Sacred Scripture says: Cursed be everyone who does not persevere in observing everything prescribed in the book of the Law. The Law will not justify anyone in the sight of God, because we are told: the righteous person finds life through faith. The Law is not even based on faith, since we are told:
The person who practices this precepts finds life through practising them. The Lord Jesus Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by being cursed for our sake, since Sacred Scripture says: Cursed be everyone who is hanged on a tree. This was done so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might include the pagans, and so that through faith we might receive the promised Spirit. - Gal. 3:10-14 -
The Lord Jesus Christ, then, is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone but those who believes and love God with all his/her soul, heart, mind and strength, fulfill: 'God's greatest Commandment.' The word 'end' is ambiguous: it may mean "goal" or "completion." As the Law revealed the character and will of God, it pointed to the Lord Jesus Christ as the goal. The Lord Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of all the divine revelation that had preceded Him.
All the promises of God in Christ Jesus are "Yes." But when the Law came to be regarded as the way of salvation or the rule of life, the Lord Jesus Christ put an end to it. The Law pronounced a curse on those who failed to keep it; The Lord Jesus Christ redeemed His people from that curse by undergoing it Himself. Jesus Christ exhausted the curse in His own person through His 'Passion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension.'
Brothers and sisters, I have the very warmest love for the Jews, and I pray to God for them to be saved. I can swear to their fervour for God, but their zest is misguided. Failing to recognise the righteousness that comes from God, they try to promote their own idea of it, instead of submitting to the righteousness of God. But now the Law has come to an end with the Lord Jesus Christ, and everyone who has faith may be justified. - Rom. 10:1-4 -
Do you really think that when I am making my plans, my motives are ordinary human ones, and that I say Yes, yes, and No, no, at the same time? I swear by God's truth, there is no Yes and No about what we say to you. The Son of God, the Christ Jesus that we proclaimed among you - I mean Silvanus and Timothy and I (Apostles) - was never Yes and No: with Him it was always Yes, and however many the promises God made, the Yes to them all is in Him.
That is why it is 'through Him' that we answer "Amen" to the praise of God. Remember it is God Himself Who assures us all, and you, of our standing in the Lord Jesus Christ, and has anointed us, marking us with His seal and giving us the pledge, the Holy Spirit, that we carry in our hearts. - 2 Cor. 1:17-22 -
The relevance.......
Page 28
Faith . Hope . Love - Welcome donation. Thank You. God bless.
By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!
I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.
HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
The Lord Jesus Christ declared: "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life." No one can come to the Father except through Me. - John 14:6 -
After the "Resurrection of Jesus" The Lord Jesus Christ came and stood among His apostles and disciples, and said to them, "Peace be with you" and showed them His hands and His side. The apostles and disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord Jesus Christ, and He said to them again, "Peace be with you."
'As the Father sent me,
so am I sending you.'
After saying this the Lord Jesus Christ breathed on them and said:
'Receive the Holy Spirit.
For those whose sins you forgive,
they are forgiven;
for those whose sins you retain,
they are retained.' - John 20:20-23 -
Apostle Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, after becoming the disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, then met his brother and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" - which means "the Christ" - and took Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked hard at him and said, 'You are Simon son of John; you are to be called Cephas' - meaning Rock. - John 1:41-42 -
When Jesus put this question to His disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of Man is?' And they said, 'Some say Jesus is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' 'But you (Simon)' Jesus said 'who do you say I am?' Then Simon Peter spoke up, "You are the Christ' he said 'the Son of the living God.'
Jesus replied, 'Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. - Matt. 16:13-18 -
In the New Testament, the "Gospel" or "The Good News" advanced on the wings of preaching and evangelizing. The zeal of evangelizing and preaching are generated by "Pentecost" coupled with growing persecution of the Church, led the apostles, prophets, and disciples to evangelize and preach everywhere in the known world.
Those who had escaped during the persecution that happened because of apostle Stephen ("First Christian Martyr") travelled as far as Phoenica and Cyprus and Antioch, but they usually proclaimed the message only to Jews. Some of them, however, who came from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch where they started preaching to the Greeks, proclaiming the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ to them as well. The Lord Jesus helped them, and a great number believed and were converted to the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Church in Jerusalem heard about this and they sent apostle Barnabas to Antioch. There he could see for himself that God had given grace, and this pleased him, and apostle Barnabas urged them all to remain faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ with heartfelt devotion; for Barnabas was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith. And a large number of people were won over to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Apostle Barnabas then left for Tarsus to look for apostle Saul/Paul and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. As things turned out they were to live together in that Church a whole year, instructing a large number of people. It was at Antioch that the apostles, disciples were first called "Christians." While they were some prophets came down to Antioch from Jerusalem. - Acts 11:19-27 -
Now you together are Christ's body; but each of you is a different part of it. In the Church, God has given the first place to apostles, the second to prophets, the third to teachers; after them, miracles, and after them the gift of healing; helpers, good leaders, those with many languages. - 1 Cor. 12:27-28 -
And to some, His gifts was that they should be apostles; to some, prophets; to some, evangelists; to some, pastors and teachers; so that the saints together make a unity in the work of service, building up the body of Christ. In this way we are all to come to unity in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God, until we become the perfect Man, fully mature with the fullness of the Lord Jesus Christ himself. - Eph. 4:11-13 - Rom. 12:3-13 -
Literally, 'Evangelist' means, "one who proclaims 'Good News' or 'Good Tidings' and the 'Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.'" The evangelist was a gift of God to the early Church. They travelled over a wide geographical area, preaching to those to whom the Holy Spirit led them. All Christians today may continue the witness of the evangelists, so may Christians bring God's message to others.
Jesus was sent by the Father to proclaim the Good News of the kingdom of God to all peoples, and Jesus connected His ministry with that of the prophets and identified His mission as one of proclaiming deliverance. In fact, the New Testament mentions many prominent preachers. For example, both Jesus and apostle Paul regarded themselves as preachers-teachers and were so regarded by others.
"For everyone who ask for His help and calls on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved." - Rom. 10:13 -
But they will not ask for His help unless they believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and they will not believe in Him unless they have heard of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they will not hear of Him unless they get a preacher, and they will never have a preacher unless one is sent, but as Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible says:
The footsteps of those who bring good news is a welcome sound. Not everyone' of course, listens to the Good News. As Isaiah says: Lord, how many believed what we proclaimed? So faith comes from what is preached, and what is preached comes from the word of the Lord Jesus Christ. - Rom. 10:14-17 -
Before God and before Christ Jesus who is to be judge of the living and the dead, I put this duty to you, in the name of His Appearing and of His kingdom: proclaim the message and, welcome or unwelcome, insist on it.
Refute falsehood, correct error, call to obedience - but do all with patience and with intention of teaching. The time is sure to come when, far from being content with sound teaching, people will be avid for the latest novelty and collect themselves a whole series of teachers according to their own tastes; and then, instead of listening to the truth, they turn to myths.
Be careful always to choose the right course; be brave under trails; make the preaching of the Good News your life's work, in thoroughgoing service. - 2 Tim. 4:1-5 -
You call me (Jesus) Master and Lord, and rightly; so I am. Remember the words I said to you:
No servant is greater than his/her Master,
No messenger is greater than the Lord Jesus Christ who sent him/her.
The Lord Jesus Christ declared to His apostles, disciples, prophets, followers, and believers: "Take care that no one deceives you; because many will come using My name and saying, "I am the Christ" [Messiah or Anointed One] they will deceive many.
Brother/Sister will betray brother/sister to death, and the father/mother his/her child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all peoples on account of My name; but the person who stands firm to the end will be saved. Your endurance will win you your lives.
Or if anyone says to you then, "Look, here is the Christ" [Messiah or Anointed One] or "He is there" Do not believe it; for false Christs or false Messiah or false Anointed One, and false Prophets will arise and produce great signs and portents, enough to deceive even the 'Chosen.'
'If, then, they say to you, "Look, He is in the desert" do not go there; "Look, He is in some hiding place" do not believe it; because the coming of the Son of God will be like lightning striking in the east and flashing far into the west.
The promise of the Holy Spirit.......
Page 27
Faith . Hope . Love - Welcome donation. Thank You. God bless.
By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!
I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.
HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -
After the "Resurrection of Jesus" The Lord Jesus Christ came and stood among His apostles and disciples, and said to them, "Peace be with you" and showed them His hands and His side. The apostles and disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord Jesus Christ, and He said to them again, "Peace be with you."
'As the Father sent me,
so am I sending you.'
After saying this the Lord Jesus Christ breathed on them and said:
'Receive the Holy Spirit.
For those whose sins you forgive,
they are forgiven;
for those whose sins you retain,
they are retained.' - John 20:20-23 -
Apostle Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, after becoming the disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, then met his brother and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" - which means "the Christ" - and took Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked hard at him and said, 'You are Simon son of John; you are to be called Cephas' - meaning Rock. - John 1:41-42 -
When Jesus put this question to His disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of Man is?' And they said, 'Some say Jesus is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' 'But you (Simon)' Jesus said 'who do you say I am?' Then Simon Peter spoke up, "You are the Christ' he said 'the Son of the living God.'
Jesus replied, 'Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. - Matt. 16:13-18 -
In the New Testament, the "Gospel" or "The Good News" advanced on the wings of preaching and evangelizing. The zeal of evangelizing and preaching are generated by "Pentecost" coupled with growing persecution of the Church, led the apostles, prophets, and disciples to evangelize and preach everywhere in the known world.
Those who had escaped during the persecution that happened because of apostle Stephen ("First Christian Martyr") travelled as far as Phoenica and Cyprus and Antioch, but they usually proclaimed the message only to Jews. Some of them, however, who came from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch where they started preaching to the Greeks, proclaiming the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ to them as well. The Lord Jesus helped them, and a great number believed and were converted to the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Church in Jerusalem heard about this and they sent apostle Barnabas to Antioch. There he could see for himself that God had given grace, and this pleased him, and apostle Barnabas urged them all to remain faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ with heartfelt devotion; for Barnabas was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith. And a large number of people were won over to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Apostle Barnabas then left for Tarsus to look for apostle Saul/Paul and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. As things turned out they were to live together in that Church a whole year, instructing a large number of people. It was at Antioch that the apostles, disciples were first called "Christians." While they were some prophets came down to Antioch from Jerusalem. - Acts 11:19-27 -
Now you together are Christ's body; but each of you is a different part of it. In the Church, God has given the first place to apostles, the second to prophets, the third to teachers; after them, miracles, and after them the gift of healing; helpers, good leaders, those with many languages. - 1 Cor. 12:27-28 -
And to some, His gifts was that they should be apostles; to some, prophets; to some, evangelists; to some, pastors and teachers; so that the saints together make a unity in the work of service, building up the body of Christ. In this way we are all to come to unity in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God, until we become the perfect Man, fully mature with the fullness of the Lord Jesus Christ himself. - Eph. 4:11-13 - Rom. 12:3-13 -
Literally, 'Evangelist' means, "one who proclaims 'Good News' or 'Good Tidings' and the 'Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.'" The evangelist was a gift of God to the early Church. They travelled over a wide geographical area, preaching to those to whom the Holy Spirit led them. All Christians today may continue the witness of the evangelists, so may Christians bring God's message to others.
Jesus was sent by the Father to proclaim the Good News of the kingdom of God to all peoples, and Jesus connected His ministry with that of the prophets and identified His mission as one of proclaiming deliverance. In fact, the New Testament mentions many prominent preachers. For example, both Jesus and apostle Paul regarded themselves as preachers-teachers and were so regarded by others.
"For everyone who ask for His help and calls on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved." - Rom. 10:13 -
But they will not ask for His help unless they believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and they will not believe in Him unless they have heard of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they will not hear of Him unless they get a preacher, and they will never have a preacher unless one is sent, but as Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible says:
The footsteps of those who bring good news is a welcome sound. Not everyone' of course, listens to the Good News. As Isaiah says: Lord, how many believed what we proclaimed? So faith comes from what is preached, and what is preached comes from the word of the Lord Jesus Christ. - Rom. 10:14-17 -
Before God and before Christ Jesus who is to be judge of the living and the dead, I put this duty to you, in the name of His Appearing and of His kingdom: proclaim the message and, welcome or unwelcome, insist on it.
Refute falsehood, correct error, call to obedience - but do all with patience and with intention of teaching. The time is sure to come when, far from being content with sound teaching, people will be avid for the latest novelty and collect themselves a whole series of teachers according to their own tastes; and then, instead of listening to the truth, they turn to myths.
Be careful always to choose the right course; be brave under trails; make the preaching of the Good News your life's work, in thoroughgoing service. - 2 Tim. 4:1-5 -
You call me (Jesus) Master and Lord, and rightly; so I am. Remember the words I said to you:
No servant is greater than his/her Master,
No messenger is greater than the Lord Jesus Christ who sent him/her.
The Lord Jesus Christ declared to His apostles, disciples, prophets, followers, and believers: "Take care that no one deceives you; because many will come using My name and saying, "I am the Christ" [Messiah or Anointed One] they will deceive many.
Brother/Sister will betray brother/sister to death, and the father/mother his/her child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all peoples on account of My name; but the person who stands firm to the end will be saved. Your endurance will win you your lives.
Or if anyone says to you then, "Look, here is the Christ" [Messiah or Anointed One] or "He is there" Do not believe it; for false Christs or false Messiah or false Anointed One, and false Prophets will arise and produce great signs and portents, enough to deceive even the 'Chosen.'
'If, then, they say to you, "Look, He is in the desert" do not go there; "Look, He is in some hiding place" do not believe it; because the coming of the Son of God will be like lightning striking in the east and flashing far into the west.
The promise of the Holy Spirit.......
Page 27
Faith . Hope . Love - Welcome donation. Thank You. God bless.
By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!
I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.
HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -
Thursday, June 1, 2017
Holy Spirit refers to third person of the Holy Trinity, Who exercises the power of God, the Father and the Son in creation and redemption. This is why the relationship of the Father and the Son is more prominent in the Good News because it is through the eyes of the Holy Spirit that the Father and the Son relationship is viewed.
The Holy Spirit is the Advocate, the Paraclete or the Helper, whom Jesus promised to the apostles, prophets, disciples, followers, and believers after His Ascension. The triune family of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are unified in ministering to believers. The unified ministry of the Holy Trinity is also seen as the Spirit brings the world under conviction of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit guides believers into all truth with what He hears from the Father and the Son.
I shall ask the Father,
and He will give you another Advocate
to be with you for ever,
that Spirit of truth - John 14:16 -
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you everything
and remind you of all I have said to you. - John 14:26 -
When the Advocate comes,
whom I shall send to you from the Father,
the Spirit of truth who issues from the Father,
He will be My witness,
And you too will be witnesses,
because you have been with Me from the outset. - John 15:26-27 -
Therefore, the Father and the Son honor the Holy Spirit by commissioning Him to speak in their name. It is a remarkable fact that each of the persons of the Trinitarian family serves the others as all defer to one another. The Son says what He hears from the Father; the Father witnesses to and glorifies the Son. The Holy Spirit honors the Father and the Son by helping the community of believers.
The Holy Spirit also inspired holiness in the Old Testament believer. "Since You are my God; may Your good Spirit guide me on to level ground." - Ps. 143:10 - In the long span of Old Testament prophecy the Holy Spirit plays a prominent role.
King David declared: The Spirit of Yahweh speaks through me, His word is on my tongue. - 2 Sam. 23:2 -
Prophet Ezekiel declared: It said, 'Son of man, stand up; I am going to speak to you.' As He said these words the Spirit came into me and made me stand up, and I heard Him speaking to me. - Ez. 2:1-2 -
The prophecy of Isaiah is a 'Trinitarian' preview of the working of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who is the branch of Jesse. Thus, we come full cycle to the New Testament where the Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled all these prophecy in Himself.
A shoot springs from the stock of Jesse,
a scion thrusts from his roots:
on him the Spirit of Yahweh rests,
a Spirit of wisdom and insight,
a Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Yahweh. - Is. 11:1-2; 42:1 -
The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh has been given to me,
for Yahweh has anointed me.
He has sent me to bring good news to the poor,
to bind up hearts that are broken;
to proclaim liberty to captives,
freedom to those in prison.
to proclaim a year of favour from Yahweh,
a day of vengeance for our God. - Is. 61:1 - Luke 4:18-19 -
In my earlier work, Theophilus, I dealt with everything Jesus had done and taught from the beginning until the day He gave His instructions to the apostles He had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven. He had shown Himself alive to them after His Passion by many demonstrations: for forty days He had continued to appear to them and tell them about the kingdom of God.
When Jesus had been at the table with them, He had told them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for what the Father had promised. 'It is' He had said 'what you heard Me speak about: John baptised with water but you, not many days from now, will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.' - Acts 1:1-5 -
In the Old Testament; Scriptural/Biblical references to the 'Feast of Weeks' include Exodus 23:16; 34:22; Leviticus 23:15-21; Numbers 28:26-31; Deuteronomy 16:9-12; and 2 Chronicles 8:13. This feast was observed early in the third month of the 50th day after the offering of the barley sheaf at the 'Feast of Unleavened Bread.' It included a 'Holy Convocation' with the usual restriction on manual labour.
The Book of Numbers chapter 28:26-31 describes the number and the nature of offerings and the Book of Deuteronomy chapter 16:9-12 describes those who were to be invited to this feast. (Feast of Weeks) They include servants, sons, daughters, Levites, the fatherless, the widow, and the stranger, and Israelites/Hebrews/Jews were to be reminded of their bondage in Egypt on that day.
Therefore, this 'Feast of Weeks' was also known as the 'Feast of Harvest' as well as "PENTECOST." The early Christian believers, who gathered in Jerusalem for observance of this feast (Feast of Weeks or Feast of Harvest or Pentecost) encountered and experienced the outpouring of God's Holy Spirit in a miraculous way.
When Pentecost day came round, they had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech.
Now they were devout men living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, and at this sound they all assembled, each one bewildered to hear these men speaking his own language. They were amazed and astonished. 'Surely' they said 'all these men speaking are Galileans? How does it happen that each of us hears them in his own language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; people from Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya round Cyrene; as well as visitors from Rome - Jews and proselytes alike - Cretans and Arabs; we hear them preaching in our own language about the marvel of God.'
Everyone was amazed and unable to explain it; they asked one another what it all meant. Some, however, laughed it off. 'They have been drinking too much new wine' they said.
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven and addressed them in a loud voice: 'Men of Judaea, and all you who live in Jerusalem, make no mistake about this, but listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you imagine; why, it is only the third hour of the day. On the contrary, this is what the prophet spoke of:
In the days to come - it is the Lord who speaks -
I will pour out my Spirit on all mankind.
Their sons and daughters shall prophecy,
your young men shall see visions,
your old men shall dream dreams.
Even on my slaves, men and women,
in those days, I will pour out my Spirit.
I will display portents in heaven above
and signs on earth below.
The sun will be turned into darkness
and the moon into blood
before the great Day of the Lord dawns.
All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. - Acts 2:1-21 -
Men of Israel, listen to what I am going to say: Jesus the Nazarene was a man commended to you by God by the miracles and portents and signs that God worked through him when he was among you, as you all know. This man, who was put into your power by the deliberate intention and foreknowledge of God, you took and had crucified by men outside the Law. You killed Jesus, but God raised him to life, freeing him from the pangs of Hades; for it was impossible for him to be held in its power since, as David says of him:
I saw the Lord before me always,
for with him at my right hand nothing can shake me.
So my heart was glad
and my tongue cried out with joy;
my body, too, will rest in the hope
that you will not abandon my soul to Hades
nor allow your holy one to experience corruption.
You have made known the way of life to me, you will fill me with gladness through your presence.
Brothers, no one can deny that the patriarch David himself is dead and buried: his tomb is still with us. But since he was a prophet, and knew that God had sworn him an oath to make one of his descendants succeed him on the throne, what he foresaw and spoke about was the resurrection of the Christ: he is the one who was not abandoned to Hades, and whose body did not experience corruption.
God raised this man Jesus to life, and all of us are witnesses to that. Now raised to the heights by God's right hand, he has received from the Father the Holy Spirit, who was promised, and what you see and hear is the outpouring of that Spirit. For David himself never went up to heaven; and yet these words are his:
The Lord said to my Lord:
Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for you.
'For this reason the whole House of Israel can be certain that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.' - Acts 2:22-36 -
That very day (Pentecost) about three thousand (3,000) were added to their number. - Acts 2:41 -
The Lord Jesus Christ.......
Page 26
Faith . Hope . Love - Welcome donation. Thank You. God bless.
By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!
I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.
HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -
The Holy Spirit is the Advocate, the Paraclete or the Helper, whom Jesus promised to the apostles, prophets, disciples, followers, and believers after His Ascension. The triune family of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are unified in ministering to believers. The unified ministry of the Holy Trinity is also seen as the Spirit brings the world under conviction of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit guides believers into all truth with what He hears from the Father and the Son.
I shall ask the Father,
and He will give you another Advocate
to be with you for ever,
that Spirit of truth - John 14:16 -
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you everything
and remind you of all I have said to you. - John 14:26 -
When the Advocate comes,
whom I shall send to you from the Father,
the Spirit of truth who issues from the Father,
He will be My witness,
And you too will be witnesses,
because you have been with Me from the outset. - John 15:26-27 -
Therefore, the Father and the Son honor the Holy Spirit by commissioning Him to speak in their name. It is a remarkable fact that each of the persons of the Trinitarian family serves the others as all defer to one another. The Son says what He hears from the Father; the Father witnesses to and glorifies the Son. The Holy Spirit honors the Father and the Son by helping the community of believers.
The Holy Spirit also inspired holiness in the Old Testament believer. "Since You are my God; may Your good Spirit guide me on to level ground." - Ps. 143:10 - In the long span of Old Testament prophecy the Holy Spirit plays a prominent role.
King David declared: The Spirit of Yahweh speaks through me, His word is on my tongue. - 2 Sam. 23:2 -
Prophet Ezekiel declared: It said, 'Son of man, stand up; I am going to speak to you.' As He said these words the Spirit came into me and made me stand up, and I heard Him speaking to me. - Ez. 2:1-2 -
The prophecy of Isaiah is a 'Trinitarian' preview of the working of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who is the branch of Jesse. Thus, we come full cycle to the New Testament where the Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled all these prophecy in Himself.
A shoot springs from the stock of Jesse,
a scion thrusts from his roots:
on him the Spirit of Yahweh rests,
a Spirit of wisdom and insight,
a Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Yahweh. - Is. 11:1-2; 42:1 -
The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh has been given to me,
for Yahweh has anointed me.
He has sent me to bring good news to the poor,
to bind up hearts that are broken;
to proclaim liberty to captives,
freedom to those in prison.
to proclaim a year of favour from Yahweh,
a day of vengeance for our God. - Is. 61:1 - Luke 4:18-19 -
In my earlier work, Theophilus, I dealt with everything Jesus had done and taught from the beginning until the day He gave His instructions to the apostles He had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven. He had shown Himself alive to them after His Passion by many demonstrations: for forty days He had continued to appear to them and tell them about the kingdom of God.
When Jesus had been at the table with them, He had told them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for what the Father had promised. 'It is' He had said 'what you heard Me speak about: John baptised with water but you, not many days from now, will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.' - Acts 1:1-5 -
In the Old Testament; Scriptural/Biblical references to the 'Feast of Weeks' include Exodus 23:16; 34:22; Leviticus 23:15-21; Numbers 28:26-31; Deuteronomy 16:9-12; and 2 Chronicles 8:13. This feast was observed early in the third month of the 50th day after the offering of the barley sheaf at the 'Feast of Unleavened Bread.' It included a 'Holy Convocation' with the usual restriction on manual labour.
The Book of Numbers chapter 28:26-31 describes the number and the nature of offerings and the Book of Deuteronomy chapter 16:9-12 describes those who were to be invited to this feast. (Feast of Weeks) They include servants, sons, daughters, Levites, the fatherless, the widow, and the stranger, and Israelites/Hebrews/Jews were to be reminded of their bondage in Egypt on that day.
Therefore, this 'Feast of Weeks' was also known as the 'Feast of Harvest' as well as "PENTECOST." The early Christian believers, who gathered in Jerusalem for observance of this feast (Feast of Weeks or Feast of Harvest or Pentecost) encountered and experienced the outpouring of God's Holy Spirit in a miraculous way.
When Pentecost day came round, they had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech.
Now they were devout men living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, and at this sound they all assembled, each one bewildered to hear these men speaking his own language. They were amazed and astonished. 'Surely' they said 'all these men speaking are Galileans? How does it happen that each of us hears them in his own language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; people from Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya round Cyrene; as well as visitors from Rome - Jews and proselytes alike - Cretans and Arabs; we hear them preaching in our own language about the marvel of God.'
Everyone was amazed and unable to explain it; they asked one another what it all meant. Some, however, laughed it off. 'They have been drinking too much new wine' they said.
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven and addressed them in a loud voice: 'Men of Judaea, and all you who live in Jerusalem, make no mistake about this, but listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you imagine; why, it is only the third hour of the day. On the contrary, this is what the prophet spoke of:
In the days to come - it is the Lord who speaks -
I will pour out my Spirit on all mankind.
Their sons and daughters shall prophecy,
your young men shall see visions,
your old men shall dream dreams.
Even on my slaves, men and women,
in those days, I will pour out my Spirit.
I will display portents in heaven above
and signs on earth below.
The sun will be turned into darkness
and the moon into blood
before the great Day of the Lord dawns.
All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. - Acts 2:1-21 -
Men of Israel, listen to what I am going to say: Jesus the Nazarene was a man commended to you by God by the miracles and portents and signs that God worked through him when he was among you, as you all know. This man, who was put into your power by the deliberate intention and foreknowledge of God, you took and had crucified by men outside the Law. You killed Jesus, but God raised him to life, freeing him from the pangs of Hades; for it was impossible for him to be held in its power since, as David says of him:
I saw the Lord before me always,
for with him at my right hand nothing can shake me.
So my heart was glad
and my tongue cried out with joy;
my body, too, will rest in the hope
that you will not abandon my soul to Hades
nor allow your holy one to experience corruption.
You have made known the way of life to me, you will fill me with gladness through your presence.
Brothers, no one can deny that the patriarch David himself is dead and buried: his tomb is still with us. But since he was a prophet, and knew that God had sworn him an oath to make one of his descendants succeed him on the throne, what he foresaw and spoke about was the resurrection of the Christ: he is the one who was not abandoned to Hades, and whose body did not experience corruption.
God raised this man Jesus to life, and all of us are witnesses to that. Now raised to the heights by God's right hand, he has received from the Father the Holy Spirit, who was promised, and what you see and hear is the outpouring of that Spirit. For David himself never went up to heaven; and yet these words are his:
The Lord said to my Lord:
Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for you.
'For this reason the whole House of Israel can be certain that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.' - Acts 2:22-36 -
That very day (Pentecost) about three thousand (3,000) were added to their number. - Acts 2:41 -
The Lord Jesus Christ.......
Page 26
Faith . Hope . Love - Welcome donation. Thank You. God bless.
By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!
I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.
HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -
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