1 Corinthians (Program #20) – The Building Work with Transformed Materials (1)

The goal of the Christian life is not merely to live a proper and upright life, died and then go to heaven. The goal as presented in 1 Corinthians has to do with being built up into a spiritual building that ultimately becomes God’s dwelling place on earth with His people. In short this building is the church becoming the real temple of God on earth.

What a high calling, our real work in the Christian life is a building work.  And to this end Paul instructed the Corinthians believers and us in chapter three of 1 Corinthians :

“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s cultivated land, God’s building. According to the grace of God given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid a foundation, and another builds upon it. But let each man take heed how he builds upon it. For another foundation no one is able to lay besides that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. But if anyone builds upon the foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, grass, stubble, the work of each will become manifest; for the day will declare it, because it is revealed by fire. ”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

1 Corinthians (Program #19) – Growth in Life Needed (2)

In first Corinthians the apostle Paul confronts the difficult situation in the church there in a very wise way. He first identifies that their problems would due primarily to a shortage of the growth in the divine life. Although they had received the initial gifts of the divine life and the Holy Spirit they were still infants or babes in Christ.

He then unveils to them the marvelous progression of God’s economy. First they need to realize that they are all plants growing on God’s farms. Then the goal is to be built up together into a building and finally that this building is destined to become God’s dwelling place, His temple.

How about you and me? Have we received such a vision, such a revelation or are we like the Corinthians satisfied to remain in our spiritual infancy and hang on to personal preferences in our own traditions?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

Exodus (Program #81) – The Vision of the Tabernacle and Its Furniture and Concerning the Materials and the Pattern (1)

Chapter 25 of Exodus brings in a major turn of Old Testament Economy.  After giving Moses the 10 commandments and the addition ordinances on Mt. Sinai, God reveals the plan for the building of the tabernacle, God’s dwelling place among men. This building occupies the central focus in the history of God’s people in the Old Testament. But it also has tremendous significance and importance for us, God’s New Testament people today.

Our main topic for the next several months is going to be the tabernacle.

We made quite a journey from chapter 1 to chapter 24, we saw how the children of Israel were in slavery in Egypt under Pharaoh. God prepared and called Mosses to be the sent ones to deliver them, there was the passover, the Exodus, the crossing of the Red Sea then there was the experience with the bitter water at Marah, the water becoming sweet through the application of the crucified Christ in resurrection. Then we have Elim with the 12 springs and the 70 palm trees.  We had the change diet with eating the Manna, the war with Amalek, the establishment of the kingdom and eventually God’s people was brought to the mountain of God. Where we saw the day and night aspects of the giving of the law. more…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

Exodus (Program #17) – God’s Demand and Pharaoh’s Resistance (3)

The book of Exodus reveals God’s desire to rescue His people from everything other than Himself.  After the Exodus from Egypt, God’s people saw a heavenly vision by which they came to know God Himself and to know the kind of living that’s in accordance with God.  This way they can be built up as God’s dwelling place on earth. This is the basic concept of the book of Exodus and it is also the basic concept of our Christian life.

We are going to continue to look at God’s demand and Pharaoh’s resistance on our broadcast today.  This conflict going on between God and Pharaoh that lasted 10 chapters in Exodus…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS