Psalms (Program #16) – The Mixed Expressions of the Psalmist’s Sentiment in His Enjoyment of God in God’s House (1 & 2)

One reason that the Psalms may be so beloved among Bible readers is that for the most part that the Psalms were written very simply and they are easy to understand. The Psalmists often had problems and distresses we can relate to and they came to seek the Lord out of these troubles. But if you contrast this to the way the New Testament is written, there is a big difference. Take the apostle Paul for example, he also had problems and was frequently in distress. But he didn’t speak of these troubles in the same way. His language was on a higher plan. “Great is the mystery of Godliness”, Paul writes, “Who was manifested in the flesh.” Well, surely this was referred to Christ and Paul’s focus was always, always, always on this Christ, who not only manifested God in His own flesh, but is waiting to manifest Himself in our flesh, even through the most difficult of circumstances.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

Psalms (Program #15) – The Enjoyment in the House of God

In the Old Testament, God dwelt among His people in the tabernacle and later in the temple.  The tabernacle was the place that God and man could meet.  And in this meeting place God found His delight, His enjoyment.  The New Testament began with this expression in John chapter 1 “And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us.”  Of course, we all realize now that this refers to Christ in His incarnation.  But the deeper realization is that Christ became the tabernacle, the House, the very place where God and man could meet and eventually mutually enjoy one another.   The book of Psalms unveils the same lovely portrait of the enjoyment of both God and man in the House of God as we will see in today’s program.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

Psalms (Program #5) – David’s Concepts Concerning a Godly Life in Comparison a Godly Life in Comparison with His Inspired Praise of the Excellency of Christ (1)

In Psalms chapter 1, David, the beloved King of Israel, extols the value of God’s law and exults the law to the uttermost. This is wonderful. But, recall the story of 2 Samuel when the same King David so grossly abuses his kingly authority to have an innocent man, even one of his generals murdered, so that he could steal away his beautiful wife, Bathsheba. In the span of this one sin, David breaks two of the most serious commandments, those which he exulted – murder and fornication. How could this happen, we ask? Well the answer comes from the apostle Paul in the New Testament – where the Bible reveals that although the law is good and holy and righteous, it is also powerless to help us because though it may motivate us to keep it, it cannot supply us with the life supply to meet its demands. So its demands fall upon the flesh for their strength. Both David in the Old Testament and Paul in the New Testament discovered this harsh reality the hard way. The question is, have we?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

Ephesians (Program #61) – Ordinances and Doctrines

The cross of Christ which is the very foundation of salvation for a believer. Represents the termination of so many negative things like sin and death, the flesh, the old nature or old man, even Satan and the world.

Christians love to hear messages on these things. But have you ever listen a message about the ordinances been included in what is slain on the cross? Well, here is the message for you, in Ephesians 2:14-15, “For He Himself is our peace, He who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of partition, the enmity, abolishing in His flesh the law of the commandments in ordinances, that He might create the two in Himself into one new man, so making peace.“

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

1 & 2 Samuel (Program #17) – The History Concerning David (4)

The young man David was chosen by God and anointed to be king over Israel. Yet the Lord allowed David to fall into the most difficult environment imaginable to perfect and prepare him for his coming kingship. 1 Samuel chapters 25 & 26 depict David being tested in things both big and small. How interesting it is that in the big things David is found faithful to the uttermost yet in the small things he’s exposed. We’ll see a window into the weakness of his flesh that will eventually give way to his greatest failure.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

1 & 2 Samuel (Program #14) – The History Concerning David (2)

Throughout the ages, many have opposed God and oppressed His people. On one hand, it could be said that God has many enemies; but actually God has only one unique enemy – man. Man fights against God and this man is the flesh. The teaching regarding the flesh is found in many New Testament books and passages like Galatians 5 that tells us that, “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh; for these oppose each other that you would not do the things that you desire.” But it takes the Old Testament pictures and types to illustrate how we all are subject to the evil of the flesh and how diligent we all must be to keep it where the Lord Jesus left crucified on the cross. If our eyes are open, we will see these Old Testament books such as 1 Samuel in a different, fresh and very new way that brings these things into a sharper focus.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

1 & 2 Samuel (Program #12) – The History Concerning Saul (4)

After been established as king over Israel, God enabled Saul to defeat three successive enemies that were plaguing Israel. But during the course of these campaigns, it gradually become more and more clear what Saul was seeking in his own heart was not God’s kingdom, but rather to build up a kingdom or a monarchy for himself. The third of these enemies, the Amalekites had bothered the children of Israel many years before when they were traveling in the wilderness on their way to good land after leaving Egypt. After Joshua defeated them the Lord told Moses that He would war with the Amalekites from generation to generation. Because in typology, the Amalekites signified the most difficult of all of God’s enemies that is the flesh of mankind. Though king Saul may have outward success his battle against the Amalekites, inwardly he was defeated by his own compulsion to serve God according to his own flesh.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

Galatians (Program #37) – Receiving and Enjoying the Grace of the Lord in Our Spirit

There are two references to walking by or walking in Spirit in Galatians 5. Verse 16 says, “But I say, Walk by the Spirit and you shall by no means fulfill the lust of the flesh”. Then in verse 25, Paul comes back and says, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit”. Particularly, we’re going to see something about these two references and how they actually are not talking about one kind of walk but two.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

Galatians (Program #34) – Live and Walk by the Spirit

The book of Galatians reveals 2 categories of people: those born according to flesh and those born according to Spirit. We might think this refers to Christians and non-Christians, and in a sense, thats true. But in fact as believers in Christ, our experience testifies that we can be in either category. The great conflict of flesh and Spirit is our focus on today’s life study of the Bible.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

Galatians (Program #31) – The Brands of Jesus and the Grace of Christ

The marvelous book of Galatians contains some of the most encouraging and positive utterances in the New Testament. “When it pleased God to reveal His Son in me. “And, if we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” Yet, there’s an unmistakable imprint of the cross of Christ running through Galatians as well. It’s a book of grace and faith, and the Spirit of life, all the while not to be missed is the putting to death of the flesh and bearing the brands of Christ. Does this reveal a contradiction or a secret to experiencing Christ in the Christian life? Stay with us for today’s life study of the Bible.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS