Ezra (Program #1) – The Need of a Return from Captivity

The history of the children of Israel in the Old Testament gives us a picture of the church today in the New Testament.  And today what we want to look at is the picture of the children of Israel going into captivity and the recovery out of that captivity.  Today when God’s people are defeated in their spiritual life they remain in captivity until they repent and have a turn back to Him.  This repentance brings us back to the enjoyment of Christ.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

1 & 2 Chronicles (Program #1) – An Introductory Word

The 12 books of history in the Old Testament occupy an unique portion in the Holy Scriptures.  They give us the story of God’s chosen race Israel in some of their glorious times as well as show us the degradation and fall of God’s people to their lowest condition overtaken by idolatry and the hardness of their hearts.  Ten of these books deal almost exclusively with Israel, God’s chosen people in the Old Testament.  But the two books of Chronicles show us not only God’s move within the history of Israel but also His move within the history of the entire human race.

To fully understand the burden and get into the heart of these books, we need what the Apostle Paul prayed for in Ephesians and that is a spirit of wisdom and revelation and that the eyes of our heart would be enlightened that we could see how these are not just books of history but how these books are books of types and pictures that can more clearly reveal to us the very center of God’s heart desire, His eternal economy which is fully centered and focused on the excellent Christ.

‘

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

1 & 2 Chronicles (Program #9) – A Concluding Word to the Supplement to the History of the Kings of Judah

The kings of Judah were faithful to Jehovah, at least in part they held on to Jerusalem, the ground that God had given them for their worship.  They also kept allegiance at least outwardly to the word of God, which was His law.  The law of Mose, in two sections was God’s way in the Old Testament of both exposing man as well as revealing the divine plan for man to express God, bear His image and be His testimony.  In the end, God’s people, Israel were unable to keep either the moral law of God, the ten commandments or the ceremonials of God.  And the result was that they eventually lost the good land entirely and lost their enjoyment of God’s portion.  This is a strong warning to us but also as we look into these two aspects of the law, there is a great hope and we hope to bring that out in today’s program.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

1 & 2 Kings (Program #14) – The Reign of Jehoahaz, Jehoash, and Jeroboam over Israel

In reading the Old Testament it’s easy to become lost at times in page after page of history because much of the Old Testament is devoted to telling this history, the history of God’s people Israel in both their triumphs and in their many failures.  To study it in this way does have some values, but if that is the extend of our realization of the Old Testament, we will miss a lot.  In fact, we will miss the Lord’s burden for us in that portion of Scriptures.  For both the Lord Jesus Himself in His direct speaking concerning the Old Testament and the apostle Paul in example after example of how he applied the Old Testament made it clear that in reality the Old Testament is a book of types and symbols that if properly understood reveal Christ to us in marvelously clear pictures that can often convey more of the spiritual reality than even the direct and condensed passage of the New Testament.  One of the great types of Christ in the books of history surely is the prophet Elisha, who typified Christ in his living, his ministry and as we will see today even in his death.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

Ephesians (Program #63) – Seven Aspects of the Church

Through out history if you look carefully, you will see that God’s enemy has focused his attack on the Church. He has work relentless to divide the Church and damage it with religion, organization and teachings that turn it away from the oneness Christ died on the cross to accomplish.

Surely if the Church is Satan’s focus, it must indicate that the Church is what he fears the most. This is not only reveal by looking at history, it is the central revelation of God’s word. “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against her”.  The Lord Jesus Himself proclaimed in Matthew 16 and one of the great prophecies in scripture. But to see how He will do this building work, we need the book of Ephesians.  Today we will consider 7 crucial aspects of the Church.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

Ephesians (Program #62) – Three Items That Damage the Church

The real value of history is, as a teacher, where as the saying goes “those who don’t learn from history are destined to repeat it.”  So, what does history teach us about the Church?  Well, we seen very vividly that the Church as it presented in the book of Ephesians is the very focus of God’s eternal plan. It is the Church, the corporate expression of Christ that Paul refers to as a great mystery hidden from the ages but now revealed through the holy apostles and prophets in spirit. In other words the Church is God’s central goal. And as such, it is also been the focus of God’s enemy, Satan. So, what does history show us concerning Satan’s attack against God’s eternal goal?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

1 & 2 Samuel (Program #23) – The History Concerning David (10)

In 2 Samuel, David becomes secure and well established as the one king over all the tribes of Israel. As king, he’s prosperous, respected, loved, and secure from his enemies, even admired by the surrounding nations. In this situation, David’s true heart is clearly manifest. What he desires to do is to do something for God, even to build God a dwelling place in Israel. But having such a one on this earth whose heart was fully one on its own, Jehovah responds to David’s expression of wanting to do something for Him in a most surprising way.

Listen to this passage from 2 Samuel 7:

“Thus says Jehovah, Is it you who will build Me a house for Me to dwell in? For I have not dwelt in a house, since the day I brought the children of Israel up out of Egypt to this day; but I went about in a tent and in a tabernacle. more…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

1 & 2 Samuel (Program #20) – Lessons of the Five Major Figures

The books of Samuel in the Old Testament are among the top concerning the history of God’s move with his people. Many stories in these two books that we learned as children, perhaps, and have treasured our whole lives, but these are more than stories, their invaluable to us as illustrations of the main items of God’s economy. Five main persons are spoken of in first Samuel. And their lives reveal to us item after item of how to maintain a proper relationship with God, God’s economy, and to enjoy Christ. If we remember these five persons and the lessons that their lives reveal, we will have our own enjoyment of Christ enriched and our participation in God’s economy strengthened.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

1 & 2 Samuel (Program #13) – The History Concerning David (1)

When the children of Israel asked God for a king, He responded by giving them Saul, a tall, handsome, capable man who also was victorious over the Israel’s enemies. God’s intention was that Saul would use the kingship to build up God’s kingdom, but it soon became clear that Saul’s intent was different. Yes, He desired to build a kingdom, but not God’s kingdom. What Saul sought was to build a kingdom for himself under the guise of God’s kingdom. Of course the Lord knew Saul’s heart, and he moved secretly and quietly behind the scenes to prepare a king for Israel that was of His choice, and who would build up God’s kingdom, and even pave the way for Christ, the King, to eventually be brought forth. Who was this one chosen by God? Well, let’s turn to the book of Ruth chapter 4, “And Salmon begot Boaz, and Boaz begot Obed, and Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David.”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

1 & 2 Samuel (Program #7) – The History Concerning Samuel (4)

Through Moses and his brother Aaron, God established the priesthood in Israel.  These priests all in the linage of Aaron continued for nearly 500 years.  The final priest of the Aaronic priesthood was Eli. But by his time the priesthood had become stale and had waned.  God desire to  move in a new and fresh way among His people. But to accomplished His move He needed to turn the age and initiated a new priesthood and raised up prophets in Israel and even established the kingship which would paved the way for Christ to be brought forth. The one that God chose at that time for this major turn in His move was the young boy Samuel.  Samuel become the first among a new priesthood and he also become the first prophet of Israel and he ushered in the kingship by establishing David both to be the king and to be the ancestor of the coming Christ.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS