We have been delivered from Satan's dominion.  We are now under a whole new authority - that of the Lord Jesus.

As a believer begins growing in his new life in the Lord, he soon discovers that the only way we enjoy living in God's Kingdom is in right Relationship with Jesus (Eph 1:17; Phil 3:10).

At the beginning of our new life with God, this relationship takes two distinct forms - knowing Jesus as our Savior and knowing Jesus as our Lord.

When we enter the Kingdom lf Light, we can enjoy what we were created for - a loving relationship with the Lord.  Because of this, when Jesus becomes Lord of our life, we find that His dominion in our lives bring us out of the chaos of sin into divine order and peace.




Rev Dr. Ronnie Ng

Understanding Stewardship

We are not owners, but stewards.  A steward manages and takes care of that which belongs to someone else.  In this regard, God owns everything, and as stewards we manage and take care for Him.  We have an obligation to be faithful in this stewardship

The Lord holds us accountable for the special responsibility of managing and taking care of the things He has given us.  This owner-steward relationship is thus very unique and it covers the following:

• our life (Acts 17:25, 1 Cor 6:19);
• our time (Ps 90:12, Col 4:5);
• our talents and abilities (1 Pet 4:10, 1 Cor 12:4-7,11);
• our possessions (Matt 6:19-21, Col 3:1-2);
• our finances (1 Tim 6:6-10, 17-19)

It is only when we give ourselves that we learn what it means to give some of the possessions God has given us.





Rev Dr. Ronnie Ng

Generosity

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.  Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge" (Ps 19:12).  From this psalm, we learn that God's creation did the following:

• declare the glory of God,
• proclaim the work of His hands,
• pour forth speech, and
• display knowledge.

We can learn from God's creation if we examine it carefully.  Just as there are physical laws which bring order out of the chaos in the universe, God has also put into motion spiritual laws which govern life.  One of these is the Law of Generosity.  This teaches us that 'whoever sows generously will also reap generously' (2 Cor 9:6)





Rev Dr. Ronnie Ng

Conditions Of Fellowship

Walking in the light - Our felowship embraces the need to be open, honest and truthful with one another.  " If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowshi with one  another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son purifies us from every sin " (1 Jn 1:6,7)

The results of fellowship in the early church were:

1. a fear of God (Acts 2:43);
2. joy (Acts 2:46);
3. favour with all people (Acts 2:47);
4. addition of new believers (Acts 2:47);
5. all needs supplied (Phil 4:19);
6. emergence of leadership (1 Cor 16:15,16)

Rev Dr. Ronnie Ng

Conditions of Fellowship (Part 1)

A basic commitment to one another - "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves (Rom 12:10)

Without a basic trust, there can be no fellowship. The depth of fellowship will depend on the depth of commitment.

Our commitment must be based on 'Agape' - Agape is a one-way love which is not affected by the other person's inconsistent behaviour.  "A new commandment I give you: love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34)

True Fellowship is Christ-Centered - Our fellowship with one another is founded in our common commitment to Christ.  "...And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ" (1 Jn 1:3)






Rev Dr. Ronnie Ng

Fellowship

The fellowship of Christians is very important for it is in our unity together that:

1. The believer is encouraged and grows in Christ " I long to see you that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong - that is that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith" (Rom 1:11,12)
2. The world comes to know that Jesus was sent of God.  "I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me.  May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me" (John 17:22,23)

Rev Dr. Ronnie Ng

Temptation

Satan attacks the individual Christian mostly through temptation.  And he focusses this assault in two spheres:

The Desires of the World

He will seek to tempt a believer to become absorbed into the world's system:

• to make the material blessings that the world offers
• to make the honour and recognition of this world an important goal; and
• to make the comfort of being one with those of this world our basis for security

The Desires of the flesh

Through Christ's work on the Cross, the true Christian is delivered from the results of sin, and from the power of sin (Rom 6:6-14).  But he still lives in a physical body that is subject to natural appetites and desires.  Satan will use these to try and get a Christian to place greater importance upon them than upon the prompting of the Holy Spirit within him (Rom 8:5-9)





Rev Dr. Ronnie Ng

Water Baptism

Jesus commanded all those who believed in Him to be baptized in water. "Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matt 28:18,19).

Understanding what water baptism is all about is the key to a victorious and liberated christian life.  The act of going under the water and rising up from it again is a picture demonstrating what has happened to the Christian believer.

There are four stages of Christ's work pictured:

1. He died...I died in Him  "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin  - for anyone who died has been free from sin" (Rom 6:6,7)
2. He was buried....I buried with Him "Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Wer were therefore buried with him through baptism into death (Rom 6:3,4)
3. He was raised ..I have a new life in Him.  "In order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.  If we have been united with him in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his Resurrection" (Rom 6:4,5)
4. He ascended...I ascended in Him.  "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus" (Eph 2:6)

Rev Dr. Ronnie Ng

Grace Released In Our Lives

In our relationship with God - as we walk with Him each day - we constantly meet situations that would try to overwhelm us.  Our response to God is to trust His Word.  We express our trust through obedience.

This proves we believe what God's Word says despite what the circumstances might indicate.  God's response to our faith is His Grace - His enabling power which causes us to triump in every situation.

Two important promises are:

1. "We have bold access to the throne of Grace " Let us then approach the Throne Of Grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Heb 4:16).
2. God is able - "And God is able to make All Grace Abound in you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work" (2Cor 9:8).

Rev Dr. Ronnie Ng

Grace Of God

The most common understanding of the word "grace" is "God's unmerited favour" - in other words, even though we were sinners, deserving judgment, God looked upon us in love and forgave us.   However, grace alos means "God enabling power"

"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word" (2 Ths 2:16:17)

Not only does His grace makes us accepted into the family of God, it also provides the power we need to live the Christian life.

Rev Dr. Ronnie Ng

How Faith Works

The principle of faith (Rom 3:27) is to operate in our lives continually and consistently no matter what the circumstances.

Sometimes it seems that everything happens around us appears to be contrary to what God has said, and there seems to be no natural evidence for our believing.  At this poing, our faith must completely rest on God's word.

"  In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

"These have come so that yur faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ revelaed.

In our times of doubt and struggle, God remains faithful and does not abandon us."...for everything born of God has overcome the world.  This is the victory that has overcome the world even our faith" (1 Jn 5:4)





Rev Dr. Ronnie Ng

Faith

Faith has always been the mark of a disciple of Jesus.  The early disciples were known as believers.  Jesus said: "....everything is possible for him who believes" (Mark 9:23)

Faith means total dependence on God.  Faith advances you beyond the five senses of seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling and touching.  Faith releases you from your limited capacities. By Faith, you move from in-ability to His-ability.

Faith is obedient action in response to what God has said.  "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Heb 11:1)

The basis of having faith in God is in the Nature of God.."When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself" (Heb 6:13)

The nature of God can be summed up as follows:

• He cannot change "I the Lord do not change.." (Mal 2:6)
• He cannot fail - "I know that you can do all things, no plan of yours can be thwarted" (Job 42:2)
• He cannot lie - "God iis not a man that he should lie nor a son of man that he should change his mind.  Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfil?" (Num 23:19)

Rev Dr. Ronnie Ng

Staying Happily Married

Staying married is easy. Staying happily married is another ball game altogether. And one that takes some effort. When you are newly-weds, married life is like an adventure with the thrill of discovering your partner every day. But as time passes, with children and added responsibilities, the romance faded away.

If you are bored of living the same monotonous routine,  it is time to infuse some freshness into the relationship:

• Go on a Date – Set aside an evening for each other.  Talk about anything except for your family, kids, bills.  Remember how the initial days of courtship were and aim to recreate that magic…
• Express your love in a tangible way by gestures, kisses and more importantly, words of affirmation! Say “I love you” and look into each other’s eyes when you do so.
• Keep in touch…literally. Touch your partner more often when out in public. Holding hands, impromptu hugs, touching face, hair, shoulder…anything. These non-sexual but comforting actions tell your partner how much you like being connected to them. Don’t shy away – let your children see and feel how much you love, care and respect each other.
• Keep surprising your partner – Stop taking your partner for granted. Surprise your partner, like writing a love note, sending flowers or a weekend getaway to some exotic location. 
• Take up a common hobby – it is never too late to learn something together as a couple so as to connect with each other in a passionate way.

Small things make all the difference to keep that spark alive. Get out of your comfort zone. Stop making excuses of lack of time and energy. Find a solution to those excuses. Your partner and your marriage are worth that effort!

Principle of Reintroduction

We change as individuals based on our experiences that day.  In order to build a growing relationship as a couple, then, we must make time to "daily reintroduce"ourselves to each other.  We share the mundane and the profound.  We disclose what's going on in our own lives and genuinely inquire about each other's life.

That was easy when we were first married with few distractions. We had lots of time for meaningful dialogues, cups of coffee and sharing activities together.  But as children came along, and with added adult responsibilites, and tight schedules, this habit had slowly gone away unnoticed.

Where is the intimacy? where is the strong relationship? What happens? We need therefore to bare our lives with each other on a regular basis and feel convinced that we are "naked and unashemed" with each other.

Daily reintroduction habit will usually take the form of a long walk, an extended cup of coffee or a long phone call.

Keep this habit and live life to the fullest.

Repentance

Feeling guilty about our sin comes before repentance, but is not repentance itself.  No one repents unless they first feel guilty about their sin, but not all who feel guilty actually repent.

Some people are very sorry because of the consequences of their sin, or because they have been caught.  Many people are sorry, not for what they had done wrong, but for the penalty they receive in being caught.

"Godly sorrows leads to repentance that brings salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death" (2 Cor 7:10)

Hope For The Furture

The resurrection of Jesus gives us great hope for the future.  He is called 'the firstborn from the dead" (Col 1:18).  In His resurrection, he was opening the way for all those who would believe in Him to follow after Him - to also be raised from the dead!

One wonderful day in the future, Jesus Christ will return to the earth again--not as a baby this time, but revealing to the whole world Who He really is - the glorious God and Ruler of all Creation.  At that time, all those who have died, believing in Him will be raised to life again.

"If Christ has not been raised, your faith in futile, you are still in your sins.  Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.  If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
"But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead the first fruites of thos who have fallen asleep.
"For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man
"For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.  ...(1Cor 15:17-23)

His Resurrection Delivers Us From Our Past

Deliverance From The Past

Your old sinful was put to death on the cross with Jesus, and buried with Him in the grave.  Then when Jesus was raised to life again, you were raised with Him as a new creation – leaving behind your old life in Jesus’ grave.

“ We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life...the death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.  In the same way, count yourself dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Rom 6: 4-11)

Resurrection

After His death on the cross, Jesus lay in the grave for three days (Matt 12:40), Then God raised His Son from the dead! (Matthew 28)

“...and who through the Spirit of Holiness was declared with power to the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ Our Lord” (Rom 1:4)

Jesus’ death was for you, so was His resurrection!

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air..

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:1-6; Col 3:1-3)

The Blood Of Jesus (cont'd)

The Blood Cleanses From Guilt

“How much more, then will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our conscience from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God” (Heb 9:14)

The Blood Sanctifies Us

“And so Jesus suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood” (Heb 13:12)

The Blood Brings Us Close To God

“...and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.  Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour.

“But now he has reconciled you...”(Col 1:20-22)

Atonement

The shedding of Jesus Christ’s blood on the Cross was a factor in order for us to receive forgiveness for our sins and acceptance into the presence of God...”without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Heb 9:22)

“For the life of a creature is in the blood and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves...it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life” (Lev 17:11).

When we sin, we earn death.  “The wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23).  Jesus paid the penalty for us by shedding His blood (dying for us – in our place).

Atonement means to be made AT ONE with God.  Jesus gave His life on the Cross for our AT ONE MENT (atonement).  This made it possible for us to be AT-ONE with God.  We are no longer His enemy but His friends, His sons and daughters.  By faith we accept what He did for us.

Freedom Through The Cross

Freedom From Past Sins

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36)

Freedom From Present Sins

“For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace” (Rom 6:14)

Freedom From Sickness

“This was to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases” (Matt 8:17)

Freedom Through The Cross

Jesus’ death on the Cross was a great victory for us.  Because God dealt with our sin on the Cross, it means also that all the misery and suffering which is a result of sin was also dealt with.

The Cross has won great freedom for us!

“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them triumphing over them by the Cross” (Col 2:15)

Racial Barriers Are Broken Through The Cross

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.  For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations.

“His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility (Eph 2:13-16)

We Receive Forgiveness Through The Cross

“For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son he loves in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col 1:13.14).

Delivered us from the power of darkness - Darkness is here personified, and is represented as having power, authority, and sway; all Jews and Gentiles, which had not embraced the Gospel, being under this authority and power. And the apostle intimates here that nothing less than the power of God can redeem a man from this darkness, or prince of darkness, who, by means of sin and unbelief, keeps men in ignorance, vice, and misery.

Translated us into the kingdom, etc - He has thoroughly changed our state, brought us out of the dark region of vice and impiety, and placed us in the kingdom under the government of his dear Son, the Son of his love; the person whom, in his infinite love, he has given to make an atonement for the sin of the world.

New Relationship With God Through The Cross

Because God is so holy and righteous, sin separates us from Him.  No one with sin in their hearts is able to be in His presence.

So not only by dying on the Cross did Jesus suffer for our sins in our place, but also He made it possible for us to know God personally and to experience the love, peace and joy which fellowship with Him brings.

We become acceptable to God through the Cross...”God made him who had no sin to be sin for us; so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor 5:21)

God Removed Our Sorrows On The Cross

“Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him and afflicted” (Isa 53:4-9)

In these verses is an account of the sufferings of Christ; also of the design of his sufferings. It was for our sins, and in our stead, that our Lord Jesus suffered. We have all sinned, and have come short of the glory of God. Sinners have their beloved sin, their own evil way, of which they are fond. Our sins deserve all griefs and sorrows, even the most severe. We are saved from the ruin, to which by sin we become liable, by laying our sins on Christ. This atonement was to be made for our sins. And this is the only way of salvation. Our sins were the thorns in Christ's head, the nails in his hands and feet, the spear in his side. He was delivered to death for our offences. By his sufferings he purchased for us the Spirit and grace of God, to mortify our corruptions, which are the distempers of our souls. We may well endure our lighter sufferings, if He has taught us to esteem all things but loss for him, and to love him who has first loved us.

Love On The Cross

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8)

But God commendeth ... - God has exhibited or showed his love in this unusual and remarkable manner.

His love - His kind feeling; his beneficence; his willingness to submit to sacrifice to do good to others.

While we were yet sinners - And of course his enemies. In this, his love surpasses all that has ever been manifested among people.

Christ died for us - In our stead; to save us from death. He took our place; and by dying himself on the cross, saved us from dying eternally in hell.

Power Of The Cross

“For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor 1:18)

For the preaching of the cross - The doctrine of the cross; or the doctrine that is of or concerning the cross; that is, the doctrine that proclaims salvation to a lost world through the crucifixion of Christ.

Is to them that perish foolishness - There are, properly speaking, but two classes of men known where the Gospel is preached: the unbelievers and gainsayers, who are perishing; and the obedient believers, who are in a state of salvation. To those who will continue in the first state, the preaching of salvation through the merit of a crucified Savior is folly. To those who believe this doctrine of Christ crucified is the power of God to their salvation; it is divinely efficacious to deliver them from all the power, guilt, and pollution of sin.

The Cross

“When Jesus Christ was put to death by being nailed to a wooden cross, wicked men thought they were just executing a man who was disturbing their way of life.  They did not realise that the Cross was planned by God from the beginning of the world.

Through His Son’s death on the cross, the great Creator God was dealing with every person’s sin, suffering and sorrow.  Jesus was dying in the place of every individual in the world.  Receiving personally what He has done on the Cross brings the answer to all our needs.

Wickedness

“Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind,  to do what ought not to be done.  They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil greed and depravity.  They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice.

“They are gossips, slanders, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless,  ruthless.

“Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these things, they approve of those who practise them” (Rom 1:28-32)

Immorality

“Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.

“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator – who is forever praised. Amen.

“Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts.  Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.  In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.

“Men committed indecent acts with other men and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion” )Rom 1:24-27)

Idolatry

Through the one act of sin, man lost the glory and image of God and the dominion over the Creation.  Satan then took the throne vacated by Adam and Eve and exercised his dominion over the earth and death filled the world. (Heb 2:14,15)

“....sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death come to all men, because [in Adam] all sinned...” (Rom 5:12).

All the generations following Adam and Eve have inherited their fallen nature.  All have come under the power and dominion of Satan.

“As for you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

“All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts.  Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath” (Eph 2:1-3)

 

Temptation

God gave Adam and Eve authority over all the earth and told them to keep it under His dominion.  To keep them safe from Satan and his evil spirits, God planted two special trees in the garden where Adam and Eve lived.  God called them ‘The Tree of Life’ and ‘The Tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil’ (Gen 2:9,17).

The Tree of Life represented the Life and Authority of God Himself – so in eating its fruit, Adam and Eve would be filled more and more with God’s strength, love and glory.

The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil represented Satan’s life and authority and as long as Adam and Eve did not eat its fruit they were safe from the evil spirits which filled the earth.  The dominion of the whole Creation would always be theirs if they obeyed their loving Creator God.

However, Satan deceived Eve.  He told her the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil wasn’t really bad – rather it would make them like gods.  She believed the lie and ate the fruit of the Tree, Adam although knew that it was a lie, also ate of the tree (1 Tim 2:14).

“When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.  She also gave some to her husband who was with her and he ate it” (Gen 3:6)

Lucifer

God created many wonderful things before He created heavens and the earth.  Among them were the angels – spirit beings whose purpose is to fulfil God’s will.  Angels worship God and serve Him continually (Rev 5:11-14).

However, when Lucifer one of the great leading angels, understood about God’s plan to create man, be rebelled against God.  He wanted to be above God’s Throne.  He wanted the position and authority God had planned for mankind.  He wanted to rule all creation from above God’s Throne in Heaven.

When Lucifer rebelled, God cast him out of Heaven.  At the same time, one-third of the angels joined in his rebellion and were cast out with Lucifer (Rev 12:4).

“How you have fallen from heaven,O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth,you who once laid low the nations! 13 You said in your heart,“I will ascend to heaven;I will raise my throneabove the stars of God;I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.^c 14I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;I will make myself like the Most High.” (Isa 14:12-14)

Lucifer was cast to the earth, where he is now known as “Satan” or “The Devil”.  Separated from the glory of the Creator God, he has lost the beauty and light he had once had and became evil an full of darkness.

The angels who fell with him also lost their glory and became evil spirits in God’s newly created world.  But Satan’s evil ambition did not change and so he set about with another plan to try and usurp God’s Throne...he went after the man God created.

 

We Are In His Image

God has a reason for creating us.  He had a wonderful plan and purpose for mankind.  Because God is love, He desires to have beings of like-mind, and like-heart with whom He could share His life....all that He is and all that He is involved with...who would rule the heavens and the earth with Him like sons.  So He created man – in His own image.

“Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them

Man was made last of all the creatures: this was both an honour and a favour to him. Yet man was made the same day that the beasts were; his body was made of the same earth with theirs; and while he is in the body, he inhabits the same earth with them. God forbid that by indulging the body, and the desires of it, we should make ourselves like the beasts that perish! Man was to be a creature different from all that had been hitherto made. Flesh and spirit, heaven and earth, must be put together in him. God said, Let us make man. Man, when he was made, was to glorify the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Into that great name we are baptized, for to that great name we owe our being. It is the soul of man that especially bears God's image. Man was made upright, Ec 7:29. His understanding saw Divine things clearly and truly; there were no errors or mistakes in his knowledge; his will consented at once, and in all things, to the will of God. His affections were all regular, and he had no bad appetites or passions. His thoughts were easily brought and fixed to the best subjects. Thus holy, thus happy, were our first parents in having the image of God upon them. But how is this image of God upon man defaced! May the Lord renew it upon our souls by his grace!

We Are Called To Worship God

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being” (Rev 4:11)

Thou art worthy, O Lord - In thy character, perfections, and government, there is what makes it proper that universal praise should be rendered. The feeling of all true worshippers is, that (God is worthy of the praise that is ascribed to him. No man worships him aright who does not feel that there is that in his nature and his doings which makes it proper that he should receive universal adoration.

To receive glory - To have praise or glory ascribed to thee.

And honour - To be honored; that is, to be approached and adored as worthy of honor.

And power - To have power ascribed to thee, or to be regarded as having infinite power. Man can confer no power on God, but he may acknowledge what he has, and adore him for its exertion in his behalf and in the government of the world.

For thou hast created all things - Thus, laying the foundation for praise. No one can contemplate this vast and wonderful universe without seeing that He who has made it is worthy to "receive glory, and honor, and power." Compare the notes on Job 38:7.

 

 

We Are Owned By God

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you; whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your body.” (1 Cor 6:19-20)

Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost - What an astonishing saying is this! As truly as the living God dwelt in the Mosaic tabernacle, and in the temple of Solomon, so truly does the Holy Ghost dwell in the souls of genuine Christians; and as the temple and all its utensils were holy, separated from all common and profane uses, and dedicated alone to the service of God, so the bodies of genuine Christians are holy, and all their members should be employed in the service of God alone.

And ye are not your own? - Ye have no right over yourselves, to dispose either of your body, or any of its members, as you may think proper or lawful; you are bound to God, and to him you are accountable.

.

We Are Created By God

 “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.

“When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.  All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Ps 139:14-16)

I am fearfully and wonderfully made - The texture of the human body is the most complicated and curious that can be conceived. It is, indeed, wonderfully made; and it is withal so exquisitely nice and delicate, that the slightest accident may impair or destroy in a moment some of those parts essentially necessary to the continuance of life; therefore, we are fearfully made. And God has done so to show us our frailty, that we should walk with death, keeping life in view; and feel the necessity of depending on the all-wise and continual superintending care and providence of God.

We cannot see God, but he can see us. The psalmist did not desire to go from the Lord. Whither can I go? In the most distant corners of the world, in heaven, or in hell, I cannot go out of thy reach. No veil can hide us from God; not the thickest darkness. No disguise can save any person or action from being seen in the true light by him. Secret haunts of sin are as open before God as the most open villanies. On the other hand, the believer cannot be removed from the supporting, comforting presence of his Almighty Friend. Should the persecutor take his life, his soul will the sooner ascend to heaven. The grave cannot separate his body from the love of his Saviour, who will raise it a glorious body. No outward circumstances can separate him from his Lord. While in the path of duty, he may be happy in any situation, by the exercise of faith, hope, and prayer.

 

 

God Is Holy

“There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.” (1Sam 2:2)
None holy - Holiness is peculiar to the God of Israel; no false god ever pretended to holiness; it was no attribute of heathenism, nor of any religion ever professed in the world before or since the true revelation of the true God.

There is none beside thee - There can be but one unoriginated, infinite, and eternal Being; that Being is Jehovah.

Any rock like our God - Rabbi Maimon has observed that the word צור tsur, which we translate rock, signifies, when applied to Jehovah, fountain, source, spring. There is no source whence continual help and salvation can arise but our God.

2:1-10 Hannah's heart rejoiced, not in Samuel, but in the Lord. She looks beyond the gift, and praises the Giver. She rejoiced in the salvation of the Lord, and in expectation of His coming, who is the whole salvation of his people. The strong are soon weakened, and the weak are soon strengthened, when God pleases. Are we poor? God made us poor, which is a good reason why we should be content, and make up our minds to our condition. Are we rich? God made us rich, which is a good reason why we should be thankful, and serve him cheerfully, and do good with the abundance he gives us. He respects not man's wisdom or fancied excellences, but chooses those whom the world accounts foolish, teaching them to feel their guilt, and to value his free and precious salvation. This prophecy looks to the kingdom of Christ, that kingdom of grace, of which Hannah speaks, after having spoken largely of the kingdom of providence. And here is the first time that we meet with the name MESSIAH, or his Anointed. The subjects of Christ's kingdom will be safe, and the enemies of it will be ruined; for the Anointed, the Lord Christ, is able to save, and to destroy.

 

God Is All Knowing

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.  Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Heb 4:13)

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight - There is no being who is not wholly known to God. All his thoughts, feelings, plans, are distinctly understood. Of the truth of this there can be no doubt. The "design" of the remark here is, to guard those to whom the apostle was writing from self-deception - since they could conceal nothing from God.

All things are naked - Exposed; uncovered. There is nothing that can be concealed from God; Psalm 139:11-12.

"The veil of night is no disguise,

No screen from thy all-searching eyes;

Thy hands can seize thy foes as soon.

Thro' midnight shades as blazing noon."

And opened -. The word used here properly means:

(1) to lay bare the neck, or to bend it back, so as to expose the throat to being cut;

(2) to expose; to lay open in any way.

Why the word is used here has been a matter of inquiry. Some have supposed that the phrase is derived from offering sacrifice, and from the fact that the priest carefully examined the victim to see whether it was sound, before it was offered. But this is manifestly a forced exposition. Others have supposed that it is derived from the custom of bending back the head of a criminal so as to look full in his face, and recognize him so as not to be mistaken; but this is equally forced and unnatural. This opinion was first proposed by Erasmus, and has been adopted by Clarke and others. Bloomfield, following, as he says, the interpretation of Chrysostom, Grotius (though this is not the sentiment of Grotius), Beza, Atling, Hammond, and others, supposes the allusion to be to the custom of cutting the animal down the back bone through the spinal marrow, and thus of laying it open entirely.

This sense would well suit the connection. Grotius supposes that it means to strip off the skin by dividing it at the neck. and then removing it. This view is also adopted substantially by Doddridge. These explanations are forced, and imply a departure more or less from the proper meaning of the Greek word. The most simple and obvious meaning is usually the best in explaining the Bible. The word which the apostle employs relates to "the neck" - τράχηλος trachēlos - and not to the spinal marrow, or the skin. The proper meaning of the verb is "to bend the neck back" so as to expose it in front when an animal is slain - Passow. Then it means to make bare; to remove everything like covering; to expose a thing entirely - as the naked neck is for the knife. The allusion here is undoubtedly to the "sword" which Paul had referred to in the previous verse, as dividing the soul and spirit, and the joints and marrow; and the meaning is, that in the hand of God, who held that sword, everything was exposed.

We are in relation to that, like an animal whose neck is bent back, and laid bare, and ready for the slaughter. Nothing "hinders" God from striking; there is nothing that can prevent that sword from penetrating the heart - any more than when the neck of the animal is bent back and laid bare, there is anything that can hinder the sacrificing priest from thrusting the knife into the throat of the victim. If this be the true interpretation, then what an affecting view does it give of the power of God, and of the exposedness of man to destruction! All is bare, naked, open. There is no concealment; no hindrance; no power of resistance. In a moment God can strike, and his dreadful sentence shall fall on the sinner like the knife on the exposed throat of the victim. What emotions should the sinner have who feels that he is exposed each moment to the sentence of eternal justice - to the sword of God - as the animal with bent-back neck is exposed to the knife! And what solemn feelings should all have who remember that all is naked and open before God! Were we "transparent" so that the world could see all we are, who would dare go abroad?

Who would wish the world to read all his thoughts and feelings for a single day? Who would wish his best friends to look in upon his naked soul as we can look into a room through a window? O what blushes and confusion; what a hanging down of the head, and what an effort to escape from the gaze of people would there be, if every one knew that all his secret feelings were seen by every person whom he met! Social enjoyment would end; and the now frivolous and blithe multitudes in the streets would become processions of downcast and blushing convicts. And yet all these are known to God. He reads every thought; sees every feeling; looks through the whole soul. How careful should we be to keep our hearts pure; how anxious that there should be nothing in the soul that we are not willing to have known!

With whom we have to do - Literally, "with whom is our account." Our account; our reckoning is to be with him before whom all is naked and open. We cannot, therefore, impose on him. We cannot pass off hypocrisy for sincerity. He will judge us according to truth, not according to appearances; and his sentence, therefore, will be just. A man who is to be tried by one "who knows all about him," should be a pure and holy man.

“....God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything.” (1Jn 3:20)

 

God Is All Powerful

“Yours, O Lord is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.  Yours, O Lord is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all” (1 Chr 29:11)

Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty,.... That is, either God is possessed of all greatness and immensity, of dignity of nature, and of all perfections; of almighty power, of excellent glory, of superiority to all beings and of honour, and majesty, and all that grandeur, might, and honour in men, and victory over others; the majestic appearance they make, and exaltation above others they have, are all of God.  For all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; they are both made by him, and all that is in them, and therefore he has the sole right unto them.  Thine is the kingdom, O Lord; of nature and Providence; he has the sole dominion over all creatures, and the sovereign disposal of all things,and thou art exalted as head above all; men on earth, and angels in heaven.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his power that is at work within us.” (Eph 3:20)

Exceeding abundantly - The compound word used here occurs only in this place, and in 1 Thessalonians 3:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:13. It means, to an extent which we cannot express.

Above all that we ask or think - More than all that we can desire in our prayers; more than all that we can conceive; see the notes on 1 Corinthians 2:9.

According to the power that worketh in us - The exertion of that same power can accomplish for us more than we can now conceive.

 

God Is The Creator Of Everything

“You alone are the Lord.  You made the Heavens, even the highest heavens and all the starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them.  You give life to everything and the multitude of heaven worship you.” (Neh 9:6)

The summary of their prayers we have here upon record. Much more, no doubt, was said. Whatever ability we have to do anything in the way of duty, we are to serve and glorify God according to the utmost of it. When confessing our sins, it is good to notice the mercies of God, that we may be the more humbled and ashamed. The dealings of the Lord showed his goodness and long-suffering, and the hardness of their hearts. The testimony of the prophets was the testimony of the Spirit in the prophets, and it was the Spirit of Christ in them. They spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, and what they said is to be received accordingly. The result was, wonder at the Lord's mercies, and the feeling that sin had brought them to their present state, from which nothing but unmerited love could rescue them. And is not their conduct a specimen of human nature? Let us study the history of our land, and our own history. Let us recollect our advantages from childhood, and ask what were our first returns? Let us frequently do so, that we may be kept humble, thankful, and watchful. Let all remember that pride and obstinacy are sins which ruin the soul. But it is often as hard to persuade the broken-hearted to hope, as formerly it was to bring them to fear. Is this thy case? Behold this sweet promise, A God ready to pardon! Instead of keeping away from God under a sense of unworthiness, let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. He is a God ready to pardon

“For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother’s womb (Ps 139:13)

The Word of God Is Strong In Us

“Therefore anyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain came down, the stream rose and the wind blew and beat against the house; yet it did not fall because it had its foundation on the rock.” (Matt 7:24-27).

Jesus closes the sermon on the mount by a beautiful comparison, illustrating the benefit of attending to his words. It was not sufficient to "hear" them; they must be "obeyed." He compares the man who should hear and obey him to a man who built his house on a rock. Palestine was to a considerable extent a land of hills and mountains. Like other countries of that description, it was subject to sudden and violent rains. The Jordan, the principal stream, was annually swollen to a great extent, and became rapid and furious in its course. The streams which ran among the hills, whose channels might have been dry during some months of the year, became suddenly swollen with the rain, and would pour down impetuously into the plains below. Everything in the way of these torrents would be swept off. Even houses, erected within the reach of these sudden inundations, and especially if founded on sand or on any “unsolid” basis, would not stand before them. The rising, bursting stream would shake it to its foundation; the rapid torrent would gradually wash away its base; it would totter and fall. Rocks in that country were common, and it was easy to secure for their houses a solid foundation. No comparison could, to a Jew, have been more striking. So tempests, and storms of affliction and persecution, beat around the soul. Suddenly, when we think we are in safety, the heavens may be overcast, the storm may lower, and calamity may beat upon us. In a moment, health, friends, comforts may be gone. How desirable, then, to be possessed of something that the tempest cannot reach! Such is an interest in Christ, reliance on his promises, confidence in his protection, and a hope of heaven through his blood. Earthly calamities do not reach these; and, possessed of religion, all the storms and tempests of life may beat harmlessly around us.

There is another point in this comparison. The house built upon the sand is beat upon by the floods and rains; its foundation gradually is worn away; it falls, and is borne down the stream and is destroyed. So falls the sinner. The floods are wearing away his sandy foundation; and soon one tremendous storm shall beat upon him, and he and his hopes shall fall, forever fall. Out of Christ; perhaps having "heard" his words from very childhood; perhaps having taught them to others in the Sunday school; perhaps having been the means of laying the foundation on which others shall build for heaven, he has laid for himself no foundation, and soon an eternal tempest shall beat around his naked soul. How great will be that fall! What will be his emotions when sinking forever in the flood, and when he realizes that he is destined forever to live and writhe in the peltings of that ceaseless storm that shall beat when "God shall rain snares, fire, and a horrible tempest" upon the wicked!

 

The Word of God Helps Us To Pray

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you.” (John 15:7)

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you,.... Abiding in Christ is here explained by his words or doctrines abiding in his disciples; by which are meant his Gospel, and the truths of it. This abides when it comes in power, and becomes the engrafted word; and may be said to do so, when such, in whose hearts it has a place, and has taken deep root, continue to have a relish and savour of it, a true and hearty affection for it, esteeming it above their necessary food; when they hold fast the profession of it, stand fast in it, steadfastly abide by it, and constantly attend on it; all which is a considerable evidence that they do, yea, there is a promise that they "shall continue in the Son and in the Father", 1 John 2:24; The blessing and privilege that such shall enjoy is,

ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you; or, as some copies read it, "it shall be given you": but this must be understood not of temporal things, as riches, honours, profits, pleasures, or whatever even the carnal mind of a believer himself may sometimes desire; but of things spiritual, and with such limitations and restrictions as these; whatever is according to the will of God, for the Spirit of God himself asks for no other for the saints; whatever is for the glory of God, and for their own spiritual profit and edification; and whatever is agreeably to the words and doctrines of Christ, which abide in them. Everything of this kind they ask in faith, and with a submission to the divine will, they may expect to receive.

 

 

The Word of God Is Seed

In Luke 8:14,15 Jesus told his disciples the parable of the sower.  In verse 11, He said:  “The seed is the word of God”.....God’s will for our lives is fruitfulness (Psalm 1:3)  - He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

And he shall be like a tree - A description of the happiness or prosperity of the man who thus avoids the way of sinners, and who delights in the law of God, now follows. This is presented in the form of a very beautiful image - a tree planted where its roots would have abundance of water.

Planted by the rivers of water - It is not a tree that springs up spontaneously, but one that is set out in a favorable place, and that is cultivated with care. Like a tree planted - Not like one growing wild, however strong or luxuriant it may appear; but one that has been carefully cultivated, and for the proper growth of which all the advantages of soil and situation have been chosen. If a child be brought up in the discipline and admonition of the Lord, we have both reason and revelation to encourage us to expect a godly and useful life. Where religious education is neglected, alas! what fruits of righteousness can be expected? An uncultivated soul is like an uncultivated field, all overgrown with briers, thorns, and thistles.

His fruit in his season - In such a case expectation is never disappointed. Fruit is expected, fruit is borne; and it comes also in the time in which it should come. A godly education, under the influences of the Divine Spirit, which can never be withheld where they are earnestly sought, is sure to produce the fruits of righteousness; and he who reads, prays, and meditates, will ever see the work which God has given him to do; the power by which he is to perform it; and the times, places and opportunities for doing those things by which God can obtain most glory, his own soul most good, and his neighbor most edification.

His leaf also shall not wither - His profession of true religion shall always be regular and unsullied; and his faith be ever shown by his works. As the leaves and the fruit are the evidences of the vegetative perfection of the tree; so a zealous religious profession, accompanied with good works, are the evidences of the soundness of faith in the Christian man
Whatsoever he doeth shall prosper - It is always healthy; it is extending its roots, increasing its woody fibres, circulating its nutritive juices, putting forth fruitbuds, blossoms, leaves, or fruit; and all these operations go on in a healthy tree, in their proper seasons. So the godly man; he is ever taking deeper root growing stronger in the grace he has already received, increasing in heavenly desires, and under the continual influence of the Divine Spirit, forming those purposes from which much fruit to the glory and praise of God shall be produced.

“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seeds and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness” (2 Cor 9:10)

The Word of God Is Spiritual Food

“Jesus answered, It is written....Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4)

The Lord uses the sword of the Spirit in his reply. The word quoted, found in Deu 8:3, should be used in its connection, in order to comprehend its force. He - suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee - God never permits any tribulation to befall his followers, which he does not design to turn to their advantage. When he permits us to hunger, it is that his mercy may be the more observable in providing us with the necessaries of life. Privations, in the way of providence, are the forerunners of mercy and goodness abundant.

But by every word, etc. The meaning is: If it pleases God to sustain by other means than bread, it will be done. His word can be trusted. God fed Israel with manna, sent by his word, and we can trust his promises.

It Causes Spiritual Growth

“Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly – mere infants in Christ.  I gave you milk not solid food, for you were not ready for it...” (1 Cor 3:1,2).

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk so that by it you may grow up in your salvation (1 Pet 2:2).

 
God’s aim for each of us is expressed in Ephesians 4:12-15: “....that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness

His Word Is The Light Of Our Lives.

“And we have the word of the prophets made more certain and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” (2 Peter 1:19)

As unto a light that shineth in a dark place - That is, the prophecies resemble a candle, lamp, or torch, in a dark room, or in an obscure road at night. They make objects distinct which were before unseen; they enable us to behold many things which would be otherwise invisible. The object of the apostle in this representation seems to have been, to state that the prophecies do not give a perfect light, or that they do not remove all obscurity, but that they shed some light on objects which would otherwise be entirely dark, and that the light which they furnished was so valuable that we ought by all means to endeavor to avail ourselves of it. Until the day shall dawn, and we shall see objects by the clear light of the sun, they are to be our guide. A lamp is of great value in a dark night, though it may not disclose objects so clearly as the light of the sun. But it may be a safe and sure guide; and a man who has to travel in dark and dangerous places, does well to "take heed" to his lamp.

Until the day dawn - Until you have the clearer light which shall result from the dawning of the day. The reference here is to the morning light as compared with a lamp; and the meaning is, that we should attend to the light furnished by the prophecies until the truth shall be rendered more distinct by the events as they shall actually be disclosed - until the brighter light which shall be shed on all things by the glory of the second advent of the Saviour, and the clearing up of what is now obscure in the splendors of the heavenly world. The point of comparison is between the necessary obscurity of prophecy, and the clearness of events when they actually occur - a difference like that which is observable in the objects around us when seen by the shining of the lamp and by the light of the sun. The apostle directs the mind onward to a period when all shall be clear - to that glorious time when the Saviour shall return to receive his people to himself in that heaven where all shall be light. Compare Revelation 21:23-25; Revelation 22:5. Meantime we should avail ourselves of all the light which we have, and should apply ourselves diligently to the study of the prophecies of the Old Testament which are still unfulfilled, and of those in the New Testament which direct the mind onward to brighter and more glorious scenes than this world has yet witnessed. In our darkness they are a cheering lamp to guide our feet, till that illustrious day shall dawn. Compare the notes at 1 Corinthians 13:9-10.

And the day-star - The morning star - the bright star that at certain periods of the year leads on the day, and which is a pledge that the morning is about to dawn. Compare Revelation 2:28; Revelation 22:16.

Arise in your hearts - on your hearts; that is, sheds its beams on your hearts. Until you see the indications of that approaching day in which all is light. The period referred to here by the approaching day that is to diffuse this light, is when the Saviour shall return in the full revelation of his glory - the splendor of his kingdom. Then all will be clear. Until that time, we should search the prophetic records, and strengthen our faith, and comfort our hearts, by the predictions of the future glory of his reign. Whether this refers, as some suppose, to his reign on earth, either personally or by the principles of his religion universally prevailing, or, as others suppose, to the brighter revelations of heaven when he shall come to receive his people to himself, it is equally clear that a brighter time than any that has yet occurred is to dawn on our race, and equally true that we should regard the prophecies, as we do the morning star, as the cheering harbinger of day.

“....The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.” (Psalm 19:8).

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path....The entrance of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:105,130)

The Word of God is like Water

It Cleanses.

 We start life in the Kingdom of God totally “washed clean” by the Word of god.   “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” (John 15:3)

Now ye are clean - Καθαροι εστε, Ye are pruned. As our Lord has not changed the metaphor, it would be wrong to change the expression.

Through the word - Δια τον λογον, Through that word - that doctrine of holiness which I have incessantly preached unto you, and which ye have received. Perhaps our Lord more immediately refers here to the words which he had spoken concerning Judas, John 13:21-30, in consequence of which Judas went out and finished his bargain with the chief priests; he being gone off, the body of the apostles was purified; and thus he might say, Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

It Keeps Clean.

The Word of God, planted in our hearts, keeps us from sin.  “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word......I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you (Psalm 119:9.11)

Thy word have I hid in mine heart,.... Not only heard and read it, but received it into his affections; mixed it with faith, laid it up in his mind and memory for future use; preserved it in his heart as a choice treasure, where it might dwell richly, and be of service to him on many occasions; and particularly be of the following use:

that I might not sin against thee; the word of God is a most powerful antidote against sin, when it has a place in the heart; not only the precepts of it forbid sin, but the promises of it influence and engage to purity of heart and life, and to the perfecting of holiness in the fear of the Lord; and all the doctrines of grace in it effectually teach the saints to deny all sin and worldly lusts, and to live a holy life and conversation; see 2 Corinthians 7:1.