Luke chapter 1 – Prophesies and Songs
1. The prophesy about the birth of John
2. The prophesy about the birth of Jesus
3. Mary visits Elizabeth
4. Mary’s song
5. Birth of John the Baptist
6. Zechariah’s song
Luke chapter 2 – Birth and boyhood of Jesus
1. Nazareth to Bethlehem for the census.
2. The birth of Jesus in the manger
3. The angels appear to the shepherds who visit the babe
4. Jesus is presented at the temple; witnessed by Simeon and Anna
5. The Boy Jesus at the temple
Luke chapter 3 – Preparing the Way
1. The ministry of John the Baptist
2. The Baptism of Jesus
3. The genealogy of Jesus
Luke chapter 4 – The Beginning of Jesus ministry
1. The fasting and temptation of Jesus in the wilderness
2. Jesus rejected at Nazareth
3. Jesus received in Capernaum
4. Ministry in and around Peter’s house
Luke chapter 5 – The first disciples
1. Jesus preaches by the Sea of Galilee
2. Fishers of men
3. Jesus heals a leper
4. The paralytic down the roof healed
5. The choosing of Levi
6. Meal with the tax collectors
Luke chapter 6 – Sermon on the Mount
1. The Lord of the Sabbath
2. Jesus prays all night and chooses the 12 apostles
3. Sermon on the mount
a. Beatitudes and woes
b. Love for the enemies
c. Do not Judge
d. The tree and its fruit
e. The home built on the rock
Luke chapter 7 – The highs and lows of ministry
1. Jesus heals the centurion’s servant
2. Jesus raises the widow’s son at Nain
3. Jesus and John the Baptist
4. Jesus is anointed by the sinful woman at the Pharisee’s house
Luke chapter 8 – The stormy chapter
1. The supporters of Jesus
2. The parable of the Sower
3. riddles and revelations
4. The real family of Jesus
5. The storm is calmed
6. The legion is expelled into the pigs
7. The woman with an issue for 12 years
8. Jairus’ daughter raised
Luke chapter 9 – The great divide
1. Jesus sends out the twelve with power
2. The return and isolation at Bethsaida
3. Feeding the five thousand
4. Who do you say that I am?
5. There is a cost
6. The transfiguration
7. The healing of the epileptic
8. Who is the greatest?
9. The Samaritan opposition
10. Foxes have holes
Luke chapter 10 – Missions
1. Jesus sent out the 72
2. The Good Samaritan
3. Martha and Mary
Luke chapter 11 – Prayer, deliverance, signs and hypocrites
1. Jesus teaches on prayer
2. Jesus and Beelzebub
3. The eye with the light of insight
4. The sign of Jonah
5. Woe to the hypocrites
Luke chapter 12 – Security
1. Physical security
2. The rich fool and financial security
3. Be watchful
4. Interpreting the times
5. Reconcile before its too late
Luke chapter 13 – Fix your eyes
1. Look at yourself rather than others – repent
2. Look up O lady bent over from 18 years
3. Look below the surface – yeast and mustard seed
4. Look straight ahead – narrow door and the broadways
5. Jesus looks straight ahead at Jerusalem
Luke chapter 14 – banquet
1. Jesus invited for lunch at a Pharisees house
2. Jesus teaches on humbly oneself to be exalted
3. Jesus teaches on whom to invite to a feast
4. The Great Banquet
5. What does it take to be invited
6. The cost of being a disciple
Luke chapter 15 – The lost chapter
1. The lost sheep
2. The lost coin
3. The lost son
Luke chapter 16 – The Rich chapter
1. The rich man and the shrewd manager
2. Exchange money for eternal riches
3. The unchangeable law
4. Teaching on divorce
5. The rich man and Lazarus the beggar
Luke chapter 17 – Sin, Faith, Duty and the coming of the kingdom
1. Sin, Faith and Duty
2. The healing of the 10 lepers, only 1 returns
3. The coming of God’s kingdom – remember Lot’s wife
Luke chapter 18 – The outsiders
1. The persistent widow
2. The Pharisee and the Tax collector
3. The little children
4. The rich young ruler
5. Jesus himself rejected
Luke chapter 19 – The entry
1. Entry into Jericho, and into Zachaeus’ life
2. The parable of the minas
3. The triumphal entry into Jerusalem
4. The clearing of the temple
Luke chapter 20 – Questions
1. Who’s given you the authority
2. The Son sent to the vine dressers
3. The rejected stone that became the chief capstone
4. Render to Caesar what belongs to him
5. There are no marriages in heaven
6. How can David’s Lord be his son?
Luke chapter 21 – The signs of the end of the age
1. The widows mite
2. Every stone shall be displaced
3. The signs of the end of the age
Luke chapter 22 – the betrayal and arrest of Jesus
1. Jesus’ last Passover
2. The last supper and the new covenant
3. Teacher becomes servant
4. Judas betrays Jesus
5. The prayer at the garden of Gethsemane
6. Jesus is arrested
Luke chapter 23 – the trial and crucifixion of Jesus
1. Pilate finds him not-guilty
2. Jesus sent to Herod
3. Herod mocks and sends Jesus back to Pilate
4. Pilate hands Jesus over to the will of the mob
5. Jesus is beaten, bruised, insulted and crucified
6. Jesus eventually dies at the cross
7. Joseph of Arimathea buries Jesus
Luke chapter 24 – the resurrection, great commission and ascension of Jesus
1. The angels tell the women that Jesus is resurrected
2. Peter sees the empty tomb
3. Jesus appears to the disciples
4. Jesus appears at Emmaus
5. Jesus explains the events that had transpired
6. Jesus gives the disciples a commission
7. Jesus ascends to heaven
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
God's love is
- True/Real (1 John 3:16) He laid down his life for us.
- Perfect/Complete (1 John 4:18) perfect love drives out fear
- Pure/Sincere (1 Tim 1:5)
- Undeserving (Rom 5:8) even when we were sinners
- Unconditional (1 John 4:10) he loved us first
- Eternal/Unchanging (Jer 31:3 )
- Infinite (Eph 3:18) immeasurable its dimensions
- Indescribable (2 Cor 9:15 )
- Incomparable (Eph 2:7)
- All conquering (Song 8:6) strong as death
Friday, April 25, 2008
The Divine plumb line
The Divine plumb line
We are the temple of the Holy Spirit, both corporately as a church and also as individuals. If we were to consider the whole church, each person is a stone or brick in the temple of God. If we consider an individual then each day in a person’s life or each new decision in a person’s life is like a brick that goes towards building the temple of God.
Hopefully, none of us came into the church empty handed. We should have carried our Bibles’ with us. God who is here hasn’t come empty handed either. What has he brought along?
Amos 7:7, 8
That’s right. God has brought along a plumb line to see if the walls that signify the church or the walls that signify our lives are built right and straight.
How do you use a plumb line? The newest stone that is placed is referred for correctness against an underlying stone or layer of stones. If the stone that is used as reference isn’t proper (either jutting out or pushed in) then the newest stone would also be placed wrong and eventually, the whole wall would be tilted in the wrong direction.
Something similar is happening in the church and in many of our lives today. The reference point that we are using is wrong and hence our life and the church is slanted in the wrong direction.
We ought to build our lives based on God’s plumb and with Jesus as the reference point.
Worth
How much are we worth? What determines a person’s worth?
How does the world determine a person’s worth?
• Appearance, family background, talents
• Education, career, possessions
• Potential to achieve things in the world
Now the way the world evaluates a person’s worth is subjective and relative. Water is worth almost nothing in normal conditions, but to a person dying of thirst, it’s worth everything. South Indian actor Kamal Hassan is usually seen as light skinned in India. When he traveled to the United States, a black American told him, “Oh dark skinned people like you and I are discriminated by the whites here in this country.”
Can we go about building our lives based on the wrong reference that this world supplies us with? Not if you want your life to be a blessed and joyful.
So then, what are we really worth?
James 3:9
It makes no sense to praise God at one time and then curse man who is made in God’s image at another time with the same tongue. So do you see? Every human’s worth comes from the fact that he/she is made in the image of God.
Mark 8:36,37
What would you pay a kidnapper as ransom to get back your child?
I would pay whatever it takes. I was once kidnapped by the enemy and put in the prison of sin. Satan wouldn’t release me until the ransom was paid. So my Father gave away everything, by giving away Jesus to die on the cross. Jesus shed every last drop of his blood to pay the ransom to get me out into freedom.
That’s how much I’m worth. I’m priceless in the eyes of my Father.
Acceptance
Why do people get into the wrong company? People hang around with the company which values them highly. It could be for the wrong reasons. But, what matters most to an individual is acceptance and acknowledgement of his/her worth.
People would do anything for acceptance. They would do anything to please somebody or anything to prove something to somebody as long as that earns them acceptance.
Instead, if a person were to be told how they could be accepted by God, then they could spend their whole lives in the company of Jesus, who values them most highly and to who they are worth everything.
Well then, the question is, what should a person do to be accepted by God?
The answer is: NOTHING. They just need to believe that they are already unconditionally accepted by God. They can do nothing to earn his acceptance.
Even obedience to God is a consequence of knowing that we are accepted, not a prerequisite. In other words, we don’t obey God to get his acceptance; instead we obey Him because He has already, freely accepted us. Romans 5:8
Doing nothing but simply believing is called Faith in Christian circles and God’s unconditional acceptance is called Grace.
A person who knows the Truth of what he/she is really worth and how they have come to be accepted, spend all their lives, pleasing God and living in His company.
What about others?
Well the Truth that we have just seen is true for every person. In other words, the person sitting next to you or even the beggar on the street or even Osama bin Laden is worth everything to the Father who has created them in His own image, who has paid the ultimate ransom to get them back for himself and has freely forgiven and accepted them.
So we ought to value, accept and forgive others unconditionally. Matt 6:15,16
Action
When all these things that constitute God’s plumb line are in place, we come to the point of action. Our faith is not faith if it doesn’t translate into action.
What stops people from fulfilling the purposes that God has for them? Why does their vision and not become reality. Why do they desire to do great things, but do nothing?
They look at what they are capable of doing, the history of what somebody else like them has been able to achieve, or at the great people who don’t think it can be done and they get discouraged. They conclude: this is impossible.
But what does God think. Luke 1:37. Now you may say, well I know nothing is impossible with God. After all He made everything from virtually nothing.
Well God’s truth is even clearer in Phil 4:13. We can do all things through God who gives us strength.
Like the adidas slogan: “Impossible is nothing”
May we construct our lives with Jesus as reference according to God’s plumb line
May we live by His grace, through His power and for His glory. Amen
We are the temple of the Holy Spirit, both corporately as a church and also as individuals. If we were to consider the whole church, each person is a stone or brick in the temple of God. If we consider an individual then each day in a person’s life or each new decision in a person’s life is like a brick that goes towards building the temple of God.
Hopefully, none of us came into the church empty handed. We should have carried our Bibles’ with us. God who is here hasn’t come empty handed either. What has he brought along?
Amos 7:7, 8
That’s right. God has brought along a plumb line to see if the walls that signify the church or the walls that signify our lives are built right and straight.
How do you use a plumb line? The newest stone that is placed is referred for correctness against an underlying stone or layer of stones. If the stone that is used as reference isn’t proper (either jutting out or pushed in) then the newest stone would also be placed wrong and eventually, the whole wall would be tilted in the wrong direction.
Something similar is happening in the church and in many of our lives today. The reference point that we are using is wrong and hence our life and the church is slanted in the wrong direction.
We ought to build our lives based on God’s plumb and with Jesus as the reference point.
Worth
How much are we worth? What determines a person’s worth?
How does the world determine a person’s worth?
• Appearance, family background, talents
• Education, career, possessions
• Potential to achieve things in the world
Now the way the world evaluates a person’s worth is subjective and relative. Water is worth almost nothing in normal conditions, but to a person dying of thirst, it’s worth everything. South Indian actor Kamal Hassan is usually seen as light skinned in India. When he traveled to the United States, a black American told him, “Oh dark skinned people like you and I are discriminated by the whites here in this country.”
Can we go about building our lives based on the wrong reference that this world supplies us with? Not if you want your life to be a blessed and joyful.
So then, what are we really worth?
James 3:9
It makes no sense to praise God at one time and then curse man who is made in God’s image at another time with the same tongue. So do you see? Every human’s worth comes from the fact that he/she is made in the image of God.
Mark 8:36,37
What would you pay a kidnapper as ransom to get back your child?
I would pay whatever it takes. I was once kidnapped by the enemy and put in the prison of sin. Satan wouldn’t release me until the ransom was paid. So my Father gave away everything, by giving away Jesus to die on the cross. Jesus shed every last drop of his blood to pay the ransom to get me out into freedom.
That’s how much I’m worth. I’m priceless in the eyes of my Father.
Acceptance
Why do people get into the wrong company? People hang around with the company which values them highly. It could be for the wrong reasons. But, what matters most to an individual is acceptance and acknowledgement of his/her worth.
People would do anything for acceptance. They would do anything to please somebody or anything to prove something to somebody as long as that earns them acceptance.
Instead, if a person were to be told how they could be accepted by God, then they could spend their whole lives in the company of Jesus, who values them most highly and to who they are worth everything.
Well then, the question is, what should a person do to be accepted by God?
The answer is: NOTHING. They just need to believe that they are already unconditionally accepted by God. They can do nothing to earn his acceptance.
Even obedience to God is a consequence of knowing that we are accepted, not a prerequisite. In other words, we don’t obey God to get his acceptance; instead we obey Him because He has already, freely accepted us. Romans 5:8
Doing nothing but simply believing is called Faith in Christian circles and God’s unconditional acceptance is called Grace.
A person who knows the Truth of what he/she is really worth and how they have come to be accepted, spend all their lives, pleasing God and living in His company.
What about others?
Well the Truth that we have just seen is true for every person. In other words, the person sitting next to you or even the beggar on the street or even Osama bin Laden is worth everything to the Father who has created them in His own image, who has paid the ultimate ransom to get them back for himself and has freely forgiven and accepted them.
So we ought to value, accept and forgive others unconditionally. Matt 6:15,16
Action
When all these things that constitute God’s plumb line are in place, we come to the point of action. Our faith is not faith if it doesn’t translate into action.
What stops people from fulfilling the purposes that God has for them? Why does their vision and not become reality. Why do they desire to do great things, but do nothing?
They look at what they are capable of doing, the history of what somebody else like them has been able to achieve, or at the great people who don’t think it can be done and they get discouraged. They conclude: this is impossible.
But what does God think. Luke 1:37. Now you may say, well I know nothing is impossible with God. After all He made everything from virtually nothing.
Well God’s truth is even clearer in Phil 4:13. We can do all things through God who gives us strength.
Like the adidas slogan: “Impossible is nothing”
May we construct our lives with Jesus as reference according to God’s plumb line
May we live by His grace, through His power and for His glory. Amen
ABC of the Bible
ABCs of the Bible
The Bible is divided as the Old and New Testaments and is a compilation of several separate books. Tell me, how many books does the Bible have? Yes, 66. Now the Book of Isaiah consists of 66 chapters and there is a distinct mood shift from chapter 40 onwards. A sense of a new hope and salvation dominates the second portion of the book of Isaiah, pretty much like the New grace covenant between God and man through the cross of Jesus Christ replaced the old law covenant that was given to Moses.
The book of Isaiah is the first of the four Major Prophets and is more quoted in the New Testament than all the other prophets put together. So it is by narrowing down our perspective to the book of Isaiah that I hope to present the ABCs of the Bible to you.
-----------------------
Isaiah 1:1-9 Can you hear the agony of God’s heart in the verses that we just read?
If you’ve watched the animation movie “The Prince of Egypt” I wonder if you remember the part where the firstborn of every house in Egypt where slain by the LORD, a cry was heard in all of Egypt like never before. After this judgment had befallen the Egyptians, Moses comes away from the presence of the Pharaoh who finally allows the Hebrews to leave. He doesn’t come out pumping his fist for the victory. Instead he is pictured as groaning because of the judgment that the people had to face because of the stubbornness of their heart. When I heard Moses crying I could hear the voice of Val Kilmer who lent his voice to the character of Moses but could I hear the anguish in the heart of God that resonated through that voice.
Oh, how familiar Isaiah was to the agony of the Father’ heart! When God’s heart raced, Isaiah’s heart raced as well. When God groaned, Isaiah groaned. Isaiah’s heart no doubt bled with God’s very own agony.
- Here was Isaiah trying to establish his career as the spiritual adviser to the King of Judah, almost having cemented his place as the undisputed conscience of a nation. But somehow thoughts of his own success had failed to cloud his thoughts from sensing God’s heart. I thought of how the busyness of my business plans often numbed my sensitivity. His career wouldn’t serve as an anesthetic for Isaiah.
- I remember one night when I watched the “Just for laughs gags” program on the POGO channel for a whole hour just to distract myself from something that was disturbing me. I wonder what would have been the equivalent of that in Isaiah’s times. Hey, did you know that TV hadn’t caught up yet in Isaiah’s time? It wasn’t so popular yet. He’d probably go the King’s court and watch the court jester or the clown. Imagine Isaiah watching the exciting donkey race for sport fun, instead of the Indian Premier League or the Barclay’s Premier league.
Nothing could numb Isaiah, and nothing ought to numb us either.
A- Agony of an angered Father
Isaiah 3:18-24
Doesn’t the whole passage swell with abundance? What great blessing!! But beneath the veneer of affluence lies the extreme poverty of the soul.
Oh what good times God’s people are experiencing but what’s Isaiah’s weather forecast? He could see beyond the present prosperity to a time of slavery under the Babylonians. But thankfully he didn’t stop with that but he spoke of a more distant future, one of hope and restoration.
I know of another person who looks beyond.
“The Power Office accident, incident”
He was so interested in his own promising tomorrow to afford time to consider the death that will befall him one day.
B – Beneath and Beyond
----------
Isaiah 6:1-4
That however was the turning point of Isaiah’s life. He saw the Lord. He saw the Christ who became Jesus 750 years later in Bethlehem. He saw the image of the invisible God. He saw the one has made the Father known. The Son reflects God's own glory, and everything about him represents God exactly.
How many of have seen the sun, the sun that rises in the east and sets in the west? Well that’s because you’ve got light in your eyes, to see the light that emanates from the surface of the sun. So if you’ve the light of the sun, then you have seen the sun. Jesus said he who has seen me has seen the Father; I am the light of the world. So when Isaiah saw Christ, he had seen God.
What that did to him, we read in Isaiah 6:5. He fell down before this God aware of his inadequacy, his insufficiency.
Onto verses 6 and 7, we see that his sin is atoned for, his guilt removed. God is sufficient to make up for our insufficiency.
And verse 8, Isaiah say’s Lord I’ll go, send me, because he realized whose merit and power he was to thrive on, not his own but that of Christ.
C- Christ, the Cross and the Commission
The Bible is divided as the Old and New Testaments and is a compilation of several separate books. Tell me, how many books does the Bible have? Yes, 66. Now the Book of Isaiah consists of 66 chapters and there is a distinct mood shift from chapter 40 onwards. A sense of a new hope and salvation dominates the second portion of the book of Isaiah, pretty much like the New grace covenant between God and man through the cross of Jesus Christ replaced the old law covenant that was given to Moses.
The book of Isaiah is the first of the four Major Prophets and is more quoted in the New Testament than all the other prophets put together. So it is by narrowing down our perspective to the book of Isaiah that I hope to present the ABCs of the Bible to you.
-----------------------
Isaiah 1:1-9 Can you hear the agony of God’s heart in the verses that we just read?
If you’ve watched the animation movie “The Prince of Egypt” I wonder if you remember the part where the firstborn of every house in Egypt where slain by the LORD, a cry was heard in all of Egypt like never before. After this judgment had befallen the Egyptians, Moses comes away from the presence of the Pharaoh who finally allows the Hebrews to leave. He doesn’t come out pumping his fist for the victory. Instead he is pictured as groaning because of the judgment that the people had to face because of the stubbornness of their heart. When I heard Moses crying I could hear the voice of Val Kilmer who lent his voice to the character of Moses but could I hear the anguish in the heart of God that resonated through that voice.
Oh, how familiar Isaiah was to the agony of the Father’ heart! When God’s heart raced, Isaiah’s heart raced as well. When God groaned, Isaiah groaned. Isaiah’s heart no doubt bled with God’s very own agony.
- Here was Isaiah trying to establish his career as the spiritual adviser to the King of Judah, almost having cemented his place as the undisputed conscience of a nation. But somehow thoughts of his own success had failed to cloud his thoughts from sensing God’s heart. I thought of how the busyness of my business plans often numbed my sensitivity. His career wouldn’t serve as an anesthetic for Isaiah.
- I remember one night when I watched the “Just for laughs gags” program on the POGO channel for a whole hour just to distract myself from something that was disturbing me. I wonder what would have been the equivalent of that in Isaiah’s times. Hey, did you know that TV hadn’t caught up yet in Isaiah’s time? It wasn’t so popular yet. He’d probably go the King’s court and watch the court jester or the clown. Imagine Isaiah watching the exciting donkey race for sport fun, instead of the Indian Premier League or the Barclay’s Premier league.
Nothing could numb Isaiah, and nothing ought to numb us either.
A- Agony of an angered Father
Isaiah 3:18-24
Doesn’t the whole passage swell with abundance? What great blessing!! But beneath the veneer of affluence lies the extreme poverty of the soul.
Oh what good times God’s people are experiencing but what’s Isaiah’s weather forecast? He could see beyond the present prosperity to a time of slavery under the Babylonians. But thankfully he didn’t stop with that but he spoke of a more distant future, one of hope and restoration.
I know of another person who looks beyond.
“The Power Office accident, incident”
He was so interested in his own promising tomorrow to afford time to consider the death that will befall him one day.
B – Beneath and Beyond
----------
Isaiah 6:1-4
That however was the turning point of Isaiah’s life. He saw the Lord. He saw the Christ who became Jesus 750 years later in Bethlehem. He saw the image of the invisible God. He saw the one has made the Father known. The Son reflects God's own glory, and everything about him represents God exactly.
How many of have seen the sun, the sun that rises in the east and sets in the west? Well that’s because you’ve got light in your eyes, to see the light that emanates from the surface of the sun. So if you’ve the light of the sun, then you have seen the sun. Jesus said he who has seen me has seen the Father; I am the light of the world. So when Isaiah saw Christ, he had seen God.
What that did to him, we read in Isaiah 6:5. He fell down before this God aware of his inadequacy, his insufficiency.
Onto verses 6 and 7, we see that his sin is atoned for, his guilt removed. God is sufficient to make up for our insufficiency.
And verse 8, Isaiah say’s Lord I’ll go, send me, because he realized whose merit and power he was to thrive on, not his own but that of Christ.
C- Christ, the Cross and the Commission
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Father God
Freedom for all
Why did God create man? What is man’s destiny? (Freedom from works, striving)
Children
God’s original plan for our lives: Ephesians 1; Romans 8:14ff; Gen 1:26, 27; Col 1:15 God’s original plan for our lives is to be his children.
Love is the plan for children
1 John 3:1ff; John 1:12; John 3:16; Rom 5:8
God’s love thus shines through in Him wanting us to be His children.
We were created out of love, we became His children when we received His love and He continues to love us infinitely, eternally and unconditionally.
The lifestyle of a child
Gen 1:26; Gal 4:7 reign
Isaiah 43:6, 7; glory
Isaiah 43:21; praise
Eph 2:10; good works
Matt 5:16 glory and praise by good works unto a good Father
Matt 22:37, 39; greatest commandment is to love God; not before we know His love
1 John 4:9-11
Christianity is not about what we can do for God. It is about realizing what God has done for us.
There is nothing that I can do to make God love me more;
There is nothing that I can do to make God love me less.
That’s grace. The Father wants the sinner to come back to Him.
Colton’s prodigal episode is an example.
Luke 15 is the story of the Father’s love for the lost son.
Love can never be earned. Love that is earned is not love, it I lust.
There is nobody in the world that God loves more than you.
Activity
Lies of the devil through family, friends, teacher, pastor, radio, TV, cinema etc
- You have to be like somebody else to be beautiful, successful
- God is so angry with you that He will never forgive you
- You have to do X, Y, Z for God to love and accept you; perfect Christian
- Your job, your appearance, your car, house, nationality etc defines your identity.
Prayerfully write all the lies and leave on the cross where it has already been nailed.
Does everything in life follow an inevitable course as predetermined by God?
(Freedom from fatalism)
Predestination answers the question “What?” not “Who”
“What shall become of those who receive His love in Christ?” Christ is God’s Son, revealed so that we who are made in His image would know God as Father.
“Who are the privileged people who have been nominated to go to heaven?” is not the question that predestination addresses because that would make God unjust.
On the contrary the Bible clearly teaches 1 Tim 2:4; 1 Tim 4:10, 1 John 2:2
Acts 13:48 should be understood as, all those who realized that they were appointed unto eternal life were captivated by God’s grace and love, believed in Jesus.
Romans 9, 11
Election is another thing altogether. God elects people for different purposes that the nations would know of his glory. Remember God chose Israel to represent him, nevertheless when they failed the purpose of their election, they were lost.
God’s Sovereign wisdom need not be doubted. He only uses what is beyond restoration to restore those who still have a chance.
Created to be punished!!! Is that the real Jesus?
Proverbs 16:4; 1 Peter 2:8; Romans 9:10-24
God’s plans
Jeremiah 29: 10-14 for a future and a hope
Matt 6: 9, 10
Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done
God’s plans are established on the earth only through the willful obedience of His children. God’s method is a man.
Crossroads
Y
History has not unfolded the way God had desired it to. If God’s people had obeyed God, History would be completely different. We can’t change the past, but we can change the future. Will you be a history maker for Jesus?
Why would a loving God want to test His children? (Freedom from sadism)
Gen 22 God tested Abraham
Deut 8:2, 16 God tested the Israelites
Mark 7:25-30
To prepare us, to bring out what is in our hearts, to refine us etc
What about Paul? Thorn in the flesh
2 Cor 12:7
What about the blind man?
John 9
What about Job? Half-truths
Job 1:21 John 10:10
Job 2:10 James 1:13
Job 3:25 1 John 4:18
What about Adam and Eve?
Gen 3
Assassination of God’s character (His goodness)
Satan’s strategy is to create doubt, and to speak lies to corrupt our knowledge of Who God is?
God didn’t want them to enter judgment and so he told them not to eat the fruit of knowledge.
But they believed Satan’s lies and thus doubted God’s love and goodness. One of the
Pain and suffering serve the purpose of telling us that there is something seriously wrong with the world we are living in.
Don’t try to link to direct cause in somebody else’s case and judge them or condemn them. Instead believe that God intends to change all things for the better. It has started now and will culminate in the creation of the new world.
When we doubt the character or goodness of God, focus on the cross of Christ.
Evil, Devil and Judgment
Free will was abused and led to evil.
Satan has a claim where there is sin, in man and his world.
God’s mercy delays Judgment.
Rev 20
In Christ
Christ has always been God’s Son not only when He became Jesus and lived in this world; but even before time began (creation) He was the Son of God and will always be the Son of God.
Nobody can ever know God unless He chooses to reveal Himself. In eternity (before creation) God revealed Himself completely in Christ, the Son of God. Christ in turn reveals God as Father, to man, who is a created being. Man is destined to become God’s son through faith in Christ, God’s only begotten Son.
The Bible teaches that all things were within Christ even before they were created. During creation God brought forth all things into existence through Christ, the Word of God, the Word of Life, the Promise of Life, and the Promise of Eternal Life.
Remember our original design was in Christ before we came to be in human form in Adam. Our original design in Christ was flawless and uncorrupted before sin corrupted us in Adam. Our original design was holy and blameless in Christ before we became unholy and guilty in Adam because of his sin.
So when Christ came into the world as Jesus, the original uncorrupted design of every human being took upon a flesh and blood version for the second time inside the body of Jesus Christ.
So just like the first ‘you’ came into existence on Day 6 of creation indirectly inside Adam, the second ‘you’ came into existence indirectly inside baby Jesus.
Just like the first “you” was found unrighteous and unholy in Genesis 3 indirectly in Adam when he had sinned, the second “you” was found righteous and holy in Matt 1 indirectly in Jesus Christ.
The moment you hear about Jesus you are actually at a crossroads. You have to decide who the real “you” is. Are you the “you” who is the great great great grandchild of Adam or the “you” who exists in Christ who rose again and lives forever?
Faith in Jesus means that you disregard your identity in Adam in exchange for your identity in Christ. That’s not a difficult decision to make because the “you” in Adam will never see life. But the “you” in Christ will never see death.
Choosing Christ is choosing life.
Think about it, when Jesus Christ was cruelly beaten and crucified it wasn’t because of anything wrong that he had done. He was beaten for the sake of the “you” and “I” in Him.
Hence the Bible teaches that we were crucified when Christ was crucified. We have to believe that we died with Him. If we do, then we have also risen with Him, because Jesus Christ rose again bodily on the third day, never to die again.
Let’s not forget that the second “you” never belonged to anybody else but Christ, existing inside Him.
Hence the Bible teaches that we are holy, righteous, redeemed, in Christ, literally In Christ, never outside Christ. Neither is there salvation in any other…..
So don’t strive to make the first “you” holy and righteous. Just believe that the real “you” is holy and righteous in Christ, the Holy and Righteous One. You were freely justified in Christ. That’s grace excluding works; there can be no boasting except in “The Finished” work of the Cross of Christ.
Now “you” who are in Christ are a new creation, old things have passed away, behold all things are new. The Spirit of Life who has resurrected Jesus from the grave works inside you to give life to your mortal body. It will produce in you love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control; a desire and ability to do God’s will.
To live by faith is to live in Christ, by the power of the His Spirit, the Holy Spirit.
Event - ____________ - emotion - reaction
My belief that I am in Christ will change the way I live.
Ministry
Matt 28:19, 20 they will do it. God’s trust in us
Eph 4 everybody is called to serve
1 Cor 12 complementary gifts in the body
A.W.Tozer: it’s not what you do that makes work ministry, it is why we do it that matters.
Motivated by love, just like Jesus. Sustained by God’s grace.
Why did God create man? What is man’s destiny? (Freedom from works, striving)
Children
God’s original plan for our lives: Ephesians 1; Romans 8:14ff; Gen 1:26, 27; Col 1:15 God’s original plan for our lives is to be his children.
Love is the plan for children
1 John 3:1ff; John 1:12; John 3:16; Rom 5:8
God’s love thus shines through in Him wanting us to be His children.
We were created out of love, we became His children when we received His love and He continues to love us infinitely, eternally and unconditionally.
The lifestyle of a child
Gen 1:26; Gal 4:7 reign
Isaiah 43:6, 7; glory
Isaiah 43:21; praise
Eph 2:10; good works
Matt 5:16 glory and praise by good works unto a good Father
Matt 22:37, 39; greatest commandment is to love God; not before we know His love
1 John 4:9-11
Christianity is not about what we can do for God. It is about realizing what God has done for us.
There is nothing that I can do to make God love me more;
There is nothing that I can do to make God love me less.
That’s grace. The Father wants the sinner to come back to Him.
Colton’s prodigal episode is an example.
Luke 15 is the story of the Father’s love for the lost son.
Love can never be earned. Love that is earned is not love, it I lust.
There is nobody in the world that God loves more than you.
Activity
Lies of the devil through family, friends, teacher, pastor, radio, TV, cinema etc
- You have to be like somebody else to be beautiful, successful
- God is so angry with you that He will never forgive you
- You have to do X, Y, Z for God to love and accept you; perfect Christian
- Your job, your appearance, your car, house, nationality etc defines your identity.
Prayerfully write all the lies and leave on the cross where it has already been nailed.
Does everything in life follow an inevitable course as predetermined by God?
(Freedom from fatalism)
Predestination answers the question “What?” not “Who”
“What shall become of those who receive His love in Christ?” Christ is God’s Son, revealed so that we who are made in His image would know God as Father.
“Who are the privileged people who have been nominated to go to heaven?” is not the question that predestination addresses because that would make God unjust.
On the contrary the Bible clearly teaches 1 Tim 2:4; 1 Tim 4:10, 1 John 2:2
Acts 13:48 should be understood as, all those who realized that they were appointed unto eternal life were captivated by God’s grace and love, believed in Jesus.
Romans 9, 11
Election is another thing altogether. God elects people for different purposes that the nations would know of his glory. Remember God chose Israel to represent him, nevertheless when they failed the purpose of their election, they were lost.
God’s Sovereign wisdom need not be doubted. He only uses what is beyond restoration to restore those who still have a chance.
Created to be punished!!! Is that the real Jesus?
Proverbs 16:4; 1 Peter 2:8; Romans 9:10-24
God’s plans
Jeremiah 29: 10-14 for a future and a hope
Matt 6: 9, 10
Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done
God’s plans are established on the earth only through the willful obedience of His children. God’s method is a man.
Crossroads
Y
History has not unfolded the way God had desired it to. If God’s people had obeyed God, History would be completely different. We can’t change the past, but we can change the future. Will you be a history maker for Jesus?
Why would a loving God want to test His children? (Freedom from sadism)
Gen 22 God tested Abraham
Deut 8:2, 16 God tested the Israelites
Mark 7:25-30
To prepare us, to bring out what is in our hearts, to refine us etc
What about Paul? Thorn in the flesh
2 Cor 12:7
What about the blind man?
John 9
What about Job? Half-truths
Job 1:21 John 10:10
Job 2:10 James 1:13
Job 3:25 1 John 4:18
What about Adam and Eve?
Gen 3
Assassination of God’s character (His goodness)
Satan’s strategy is to create doubt, and to speak lies to corrupt our knowledge of Who God is?
God didn’t want them to enter judgment and so he told them not to eat the fruit of knowledge.
But they believed Satan’s lies and thus doubted God’s love and goodness. One of the
Pain and suffering serve the purpose of telling us that there is something seriously wrong with the world we are living in.
Don’t try to link to direct cause in somebody else’s case and judge them or condemn them. Instead believe that God intends to change all things for the better. It has started now and will culminate in the creation of the new world.
When we doubt the character or goodness of God, focus on the cross of Christ.
Evil, Devil and Judgment
Free will was abused and led to evil.
Satan has a claim where there is sin, in man and his world.
God’s mercy delays Judgment.
Rev 20
In Christ
Christ has always been God’s Son not only when He became Jesus and lived in this world; but even before time began (creation) He was the Son of God and will always be the Son of God.
Nobody can ever know God unless He chooses to reveal Himself. In eternity (before creation) God revealed Himself completely in Christ, the Son of God. Christ in turn reveals God as Father, to man, who is a created being. Man is destined to become God’s son through faith in Christ, God’s only begotten Son.
The Bible teaches that all things were within Christ even before they were created. During creation God brought forth all things into existence through Christ, the Word of God, the Word of Life, the Promise of Life, and the Promise of Eternal Life.
Remember our original design was in Christ before we came to be in human form in Adam. Our original design in Christ was flawless and uncorrupted before sin corrupted us in Adam. Our original design was holy and blameless in Christ before we became unholy and guilty in Adam because of his sin.
So when Christ came into the world as Jesus, the original uncorrupted design of every human being took upon a flesh and blood version for the second time inside the body of Jesus Christ.
So just like the first ‘you’ came into existence on Day 6 of creation indirectly inside Adam, the second ‘you’ came into existence indirectly inside baby Jesus.
Just like the first “you” was found unrighteous and unholy in Genesis 3 indirectly in Adam when he had sinned, the second “you” was found righteous and holy in Matt 1 indirectly in Jesus Christ.
The moment you hear about Jesus you are actually at a crossroads. You have to decide who the real “you” is. Are you the “you” who is the great great great grandchild of Adam or the “you” who exists in Christ who rose again and lives forever?
Faith in Jesus means that you disregard your identity in Adam in exchange for your identity in Christ. That’s not a difficult decision to make because the “you” in Adam will never see life. But the “you” in Christ will never see death.
Choosing Christ is choosing life.
Think about it, when Jesus Christ was cruelly beaten and crucified it wasn’t because of anything wrong that he had done. He was beaten for the sake of the “you” and “I” in Him.
Hence the Bible teaches that we were crucified when Christ was crucified. We have to believe that we died with Him. If we do, then we have also risen with Him, because Jesus Christ rose again bodily on the third day, never to die again.
Let’s not forget that the second “you” never belonged to anybody else but Christ, existing inside Him.
Hence the Bible teaches that we are holy, righteous, redeemed, in Christ, literally In Christ, never outside Christ. Neither is there salvation in any other…..
So don’t strive to make the first “you” holy and righteous. Just believe that the real “you” is holy and righteous in Christ, the Holy and Righteous One. You were freely justified in Christ. That’s grace excluding works; there can be no boasting except in “The Finished” work of the Cross of Christ.
Now “you” who are in Christ are a new creation, old things have passed away, behold all things are new. The Spirit of Life who has resurrected Jesus from the grave works inside you to give life to your mortal body. It will produce in you love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control; a desire and ability to do God’s will.
To live by faith is to live in Christ, by the power of the His Spirit, the Holy Spirit.
Event - ____________ - emotion - reaction
My belief that I am in Christ will change the way I live.
Ministry
Matt 28:19, 20 they will do it. God’s trust in us
Eph 4 everybody is called to serve
1 Cor 12 complementary gifts in the body
A.W.Tozer: it’s not what you do that makes work ministry, it is why we do it that matters.
Motivated by love, just like Jesus. Sustained by God’s grace.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Pattri Yeriya Virumbugiren (in Tamil)
I want to burn
Naan Pattri yeriya virrumbugiren
What does it mean to burn?
Pattri yerivaddu yendral yenna?
I was reminded of the song: I live for Jesus day after day
Patrri yeriya virumbugiren endral yenna? Athai yosikumpozuthu oru paattu yenakku ninaivikku vandadu “Yesuvukaaga jeevipen naan”
Luke 9:23-25
Kartharin nimithmaaga yen jeevanai izhapathu
Jesus calls us to a life of discipleship. John 15:18-21
Ullagam yennai pagaikkum,ullagam yennai thunbapaduthum
The challenge that all the godly have to face 2 Tim 3:12
Nichayam Thunba paduvoom
What causes the fire?
Naan Pattri yeriya virumbugiran. Pattri yerikkum agni yedanal undayittru?
1 John 5:19
Ullagam muzhuvadum pollanganukkul kidakirathu
2 Cor 10: 3, 4
Pisasin arangalai nirmoolam aakum padi por saigiravargal naam
Inda porin nimitham aaga than agni undayittru
Nam vetriyo:
Balathinaalum ala, parakramathinaalum alla, devanudaya aaviyinaalaye aagum
What motivates me to burn?
Naan pattri yeriyum padi yennai yavuvathu yenna?
The one who burned completely for the Father was Jesus. Why did he burn? What was his motivation?
Nam andavar thamaye pattri yeriyum paddiyaga yen oppukoduthar? Nammel avar vaithirrukum anbin nimitham aaga than avar apppidi chaithar.
He burned because of his love for us. May we be motivated by the same love. Even if you lay your own life to die as a martyr may it be for love’s sake.
John 15:13 Snegidanukkaaga jeeevanai kodokkum oppatra anbu
Indraikku anegar pattri yeriya virumbugurargal…aanal
1 Cor 13:3 Jeevanai thyagam seithum anbu yennakku iravittal, yennaku proyojanam ondrum illai
Remember we can never earn heaven or anything in heaven because heaven and the great and exceeding reward (Gen 15:1) that is Jesus is a free gift.
Paralogumum, athin maga pariya palanum aana Yesu kristu, devannudaya illavasam eevu aiyirruke, naam yedayaum sambathikka mudayathu
And so let us say as Paul
2 Cor 5:14
Kristhuvin anbu yengalai narruuki yevugirathu
How should I burn?
Naam yeppadi yeriya vendum?
Rom 10:2 If the zeal is of the flesh it will reveal
Mamsa vairagiyathin nimitham aaga patri yeriyugiravargal velipatuthuvathu yenna?
Anger Kovam Sep 11
Judgment Nyayamtheerpathu Sep 11
Pride Parumai (sacrifice)
Competition Pooti (doctrine and our church, fasting, minister etc)
Division Pirivinai
If in love
Deva anbin nimithamaaga patri yeriyugiravargal velipatuthuvathu yenna?
Grace Kirubai
Forgiveness Mannippu (Gladys Steines)
Humility Thazhmai (Benny Hinn)
Cooperation Othuzhaippu
Unity Aikiyam
Anbin nimitham aaga, Kirubai vilangum padi, Kristuvin padayil yuda veerargal aaga nam yenna vandal angidamal pattri yerivom aaga.
Karthar namam magimai paduvathaaga, avar rajayam varuvadaaga, avar sitham niraivaruvathaaga. Amen
Naan Pattri yeriya virrumbugiren
What does it mean to burn?
Pattri yerivaddu yendral yenna?
I was reminded of the song: I live for Jesus day after day
Patrri yeriya virumbugiren endral yenna? Athai yosikumpozuthu oru paattu yenakku ninaivikku vandadu “Yesuvukaaga jeevipen naan”
Luke 9:23-25
Kartharin nimithmaaga yen jeevanai izhapathu
Jesus calls us to a life of discipleship. John 15:18-21
Ullagam yennai pagaikkum,ullagam yennai thunbapaduthum
The challenge that all the godly have to face 2 Tim 3:12
Nichayam Thunba paduvoom
What causes the fire?
Naan Pattri yeriya virumbugiran. Pattri yerikkum agni yedanal undayittru?
1 John 5:19
Ullagam muzhuvadum pollanganukkul kidakirathu
2 Cor 10: 3, 4
Pisasin arangalai nirmoolam aakum padi por saigiravargal naam
Inda porin nimitham aaga than agni undayittru
Nam vetriyo:
Balathinaalum ala, parakramathinaalum alla, devanudaya aaviyinaalaye aagum
What motivates me to burn?
Naan pattri yeriyum padi yennai yavuvathu yenna?
The one who burned completely for the Father was Jesus. Why did he burn? What was his motivation?
Nam andavar thamaye pattri yeriyum paddiyaga yen oppukoduthar? Nammel avar vaithirrukum anbin nimitham aaga than avar apppidi chaithar.
He burned because of his love for us. May we be motivated by the same love. Even if you lay your own life to die as a martyr may it be for love’s sake.
John 15:13 Snegidanukkaaga jeeevanai kodokkum oppatra anbu
Indraikku anegar pattri yeriya virumbugurargal…aanal
1 Cor 13:3 Jeevanai thyagam seithum anbu yennakku iravittal, yennaku proyojanam ondrum illai
Remember we can never earn heaven or anything in heaven because heaven and the great and exceeding reward (Gen 15:1) that is Jesus is a free gift.
Paralogumum, athin maga pariya palanum aana Yesu kristu, devannudaya illavasam eevu aiyirruke, naam yedayaum sambathikka mudayathu
And so let us say as Paul
2 Cor 5:14
Kristhuvin anbu yengalai narruuki yevugirathu
How should I burn?
Naam yeppadi yeriya vendum?
Rom 10:2 If the zeal is of the flesh it will reveal
Mamsa vairagiyathin nimitham aaga patri yeriyugiravargal velipatuthuvathu yenna?
Anger Kovam Sep 11
Judgment Nyayamtheerpathu Sep 11
Pride Parumai (sacrifice)
Competition Pooti (doctrine and our church, fasting, minister etc)
Division Pirivinai
If in love
Deva anbin nimithamaaga patri yeriyugiravargal velipatuthuvathu yenna?
Grace Kirubai
Forgiveness Mannippu (Gladys Steines)
Humility Thazhmai (Benny Hinn)
Cooperation Othuzhaippu
Unity Aikiyam
Anbin nimitham aaga, Kirubai vilangum padi, Kristuvin padayil yuda veerargal aaga nam yenna vandal angidamal pattri yerivom aaga.
Karthar namam magimai paduvathaaga, avar rajayam varuvadaaga, avar sitham niraivaruvathaaga. Amen
Monday, December 17, 2007
The Truth will set you free
Lie 1:
The universe was an accident. There is no meaning or purpose to life.
Truth:
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
There is a purpose for everything that God created.
Lie 2:
God created man to do something for God; to fulfill God’s need.
Truth:
We were created out of love, destined to be his children (like Christ, through Christ)
Lie 3:
The most important thing in life is to know what is good and what is evil so that we can live a perfect and sinless life.
Truth:
Partake of the tree of Life
Lie 4:
The greatest expression of our love for God is sacrifice.
Truth:
Obedience is the greatest expression of our love for God.
Lie 5:
God is not really good. He is to blame for….
Truth:
God’s character is perfect.
Lie 6:
God is not really big.
Truth:
God’s nature is incomparable and flawless.
Lie 7:
Somebody else is to blame for my sin.
Truth:
I have to accept responsibility for my own actions.
Lie 8:
God allows bad things to happen to make us better or for some other mysterious reason.
Truth:
No He does not.
Lie 9:
God’s will is his blue print for the whole creation and His will always prevails eventually.
Truth:
God’s will is his heartbeat, his desire and good plans for our well being but it’s not fate and so, more often then not, His will is not realized because it requires the willful obedience of man.
Lie 10:
To God mercy is more important than justice.
To God justice is more important than mercy.
Truth:
Mercy and Justice are both expressions of the love of God. They must come out of love.
Lie 11:
God has no plan or solution for the fallen world.
Truth:
Jesus Christ and us Christians are God’s plan and solution for the fallen world.
Petty lies:
Some people are predestined to go to heaven and others are predestined to go to hell.
God created men superior to women.
Men and women are equal and so their roles in family are interchangeable or the same.
The devil is destroying the land and produce; it is not because of our sin.
Man was made to take care of creation.
Some people are created as superior to others.
God wants to unite the whole world into one tongue, preferably English or Hindi, or maybe Chinese to make it easy to spread the gospel.
Some work is more important than the other. And the most important work is Christian ministry work. ( Truth: It is not what we do, but why we do that determines whether our work is sacred or secular)
The universe was an accident. There is no meaning or purpose to life.
Truth:
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
There is a purpose for everything that God created.
Lie 2:
God created man to do something for God; to fulfill God’s need.
Truth:
We were created out of love, destined to be his children (like Christ, through Christ)
Lie 3:
The most important thing in life is to know what is good and what is evil so that we can live a perfect and sinless life.
Truth:
Partake of the tree of Life
Lie 4:
The greatest expression of our love for God is sacrifice.
Truth:
Obedience is the greatest expression of our love for God.
Lie 5:
God is not really good. He is to blame for….
Truth:
God’s character is perfect.
Lie 6:
God is not really big.
Truth:
God’s nature is incomparable and flawless.
Lie 7:
Somebody else is to blame for my sin.
Truth:
I have to accept responsibility for my own actions.
Lie 8:
God allows bad things to happen to make us better or for some other mysterious reason.
Truth:
No He does not.
Lie 9:
God’s will is his blue print for the whole creation and His will always prevails eventually.
Truth:
God’s will is his heartbeat, his desire and good plans for our well being but it’s not fate and so, more often then not, His will is not realized because it requires the willful obedience of man.
Lie 10:
To God mercy is more important than justice.
To God justice is more important than mercy.
Truth:
Mercy and Justice are both expressions of the love of God. They must come out of love.
Lie 11:
God has no plan or solution for the fallen world.
Truth:
Jesus Christ and us Christians are God’s plan and solution for the fallen world.
Petty lies:
Some people are predestined to go to heaven and others are predestined to go to hell.
God created men superior to women.
Men and women are equal and so their roles in family are interchangeable or the same.
The devil is destroying the land and produce; it is not because of our sin.
Man was made to take care of creation.
Some people are created as superior to others.
God wants to unite the whole world into one tongue, preferably English or Hindi, or maybe Chinese to make it easy to spread the gospel.
Some work is more important than the other. And the most important work is Christian ministry work. ( Truth: It is not what we do, but why we do that determines whether our work is sacred or secular)
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