Job (Program #2) – The Trials of Job (1)

The Old Testament book of Job tells the story of a man whom God allowed to be touched and even damaged by Satan himself. The natural or even religious thought would say that this must have been because of God’s judgment upon Job due to some some sin or failure at his part. But let’s consider for a moment what the Bible has to say about this man, Job. In chapter 1:6-8, “Then one day, when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, Satan also came among them…And Jehovah said to Satan, Have you considered My servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a perfect and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil.” It’s remarkable isn’t it? For not only does the Bible reveal that Job was not a sinful man, quite the opposite it says that he was perfect and upright; and one in whom God even boasts of his goodness. So the age old question persists – Why then did God allow Satan to strip this righteous man of his possessions, his family, his health and even his most prized attainment, his integrity? That’s the subject not just of our program today but really this entire life study of the book of Job.

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Philippians (Program #17) – The Three Positive Aspects of the Believers vs the Three Negative Aspects of the Religious Judaizers

“Bewares of the dogs.” No, we are not talking about the warning sign on your neighbour’s gate.  We are talking about the apostle Paul’s warning at the beginning of Philippians chapter 3. Paul was warning the Philippians of the Judaizers, the Jewish leaders who were troubling the believers in Christ.  We are in for an enlightening message today.

We are at the beginning of chapter 3 in our life study in Philippians.  There is a background to this chapter, the Epistle to the Philippians was written when Paul received material supply from the believers in Philippi. Through Epaphroditus they had sent the supply to take care of Paul’s need during his imprisonment.  After receiving their gift, Paul wrote them this Epistle.

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Galatians (Program #30) – Crucified to the Religious World

Galatians 6 reveals 2 kinds of people who apparently are seeking after God. One kind boasts in their zealousness towards their religion, and their dutiful observance and practice of law keeping. The Apostle Paul represents the other class of God’s seekers; those who only boast in the cross of Christ.  To which class do you belong?  Stay with us as we look at what it really means to be a New Creation in Christ.

The phrase “a new creation” appears in Galatians 6:15. But, many people may be familiar with the translations that render this phrase as “In Christ we have become a new creature.” Which is it, creature or creation? It is definitely creation…

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2 Corinthians (Program #22) – Transformed into the Image of the Lord by Beholding and Reflecting (1)

The teachings of Confucius, the great Chinese philosopher were quite outstanding in their moral and ethical standard. In fact many early missionaries in China commented that the teachings of Confucius were just like the teachings of the Bible. But to compare the Bible to the writings of Confucius or any other philosophical or religious writings is like comparing gold to brass or copper.

All the philosophy or religious teachings can do is to improve our human behavior. But the intrinsic focus of the Bible is not about modifying our behavior is about transforming us gradually into the image of Christ.  2 Corinthians chapter 3:18 says it,

“But we all with unveiled face, beholding and reflecting like a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord Spirit.”

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Acts (Program #57) – The Propagation in Asia Minor and Europe through the Ministry of Paul’s Company (23)

A deeply burdened Apostle Paul returns to the religious center of Jerusalem, only to be met with the most difficult situation of his entire life. To view and consider this momentous event in the life of the one who opened the depths of the New Testament revelation is a powerful confirmation of God’s sovereignty and His absolute commitment to His purpose. Stay with us today for this major event on the life study of the Bible.

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Luke (Program #43) – The Man-Savior’s Presentation of Himself to Death for Redemption (2 & 3)

The ministry of the Lord Jesus during His human life took place primarily in Galilee, a region far to the North of  Jerusalem and away from the center of religious activity. But as the lamb of God, He has to be offered to God at the prescribed place, Mount Moriah, where Abraham offered Issac. It was there that He had to be delivered according to the counsel of the Trinity. In order to establish His absolute qualification to be the unique offering to God for the sins of mankind, He first had to submit Himself to the examination and question of religious and political leaders of the day.

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Luke (Program #41) –  The Ministry of the Man-Savior in His Human Virtues with His Divine Attributes from Galilee to Jerusalem (21)

We’ve all heard of the city of Jericho.  Actually it was a city of curse in the time of Lord Jesus.  One of its inhabitants was a man of curse.  His was Zaccheus, a tax collector actually the chief tax collector and in reality, an extortioner who had gotten rich by taking advantage of the inhabitants of the area.  One day as Jesus was passing through, Zaccheus who climbed in a tree, hoping to get a look at the Savior.  As He came to the place, Jesus looking up, He said to him, “Zaccheus hurry and come down for today I must stay in your house.  And he hurried and came down, and received Him, rejoicing.”  It was a marvelous day as salvation came to the house of Zaccheus.  But the Pharisees, the religious ones who watched it and knew Zaccheus and his past did not share his rejoicing.  We will discover more about this marvelous story of salvation in the gospel of Luke in chapter 19.

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Luke (Program #30) – The Ministry of the Man-Savior in His Human Virtues with His Divine Attributes from Galilee to Jerusalem (9)

At the time the Lord Jesus was on the earth, the Biblical religion of the day Judaism had many strict ordinances prohibiting all manner of activities on their Holy Sabbath day including healing the sick. And yet, the Lord Jesus purposely broke many of the ordinances. As He not only healed the sick, against the traditions and regulations of the Sabbath, but He would do so in the presence of the religious leaders, many times offending them. We will look at an interesting case today of the violation of the religious regulations with a purpose as the Lord Jesus was continuing to usher in the real New Testament Jubilee.

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Mark (Program #30) – The Preparation of the Slave-Savior for His Redemptive Service (3) & (4)

The Lord Jesus enter into Jerusalem exactly six days prior to His crucifixion. During the first two of these days He was welcomed by the crowd who honored Him and exalted Him really for the first time in His earthly ministry.

The next four days were time of testing and examination by both the religious and the political leaders. These two groups who were natural enemies became united in their desire to defeat the Slave-Savior who had now won the hearts of the people. Various factions of these two groups plotted using the out most of their human cunning and reasoning to trap Him. But each attempt merely afforded the Lord another opportunity to display His marvelous wisdom confounding them on the one hand and inciting them on the other hand to do what they needed to so that He could do what He must do; and that is to be offer up a sacrifice at the hand of these very same leaders, a worldly religion and politics.

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Mark (Program #29) – The Preparation of the Slave-Savior for His Redemptive Service (3)

During the period of His gospel service, the Lord Jesus was traveling from Galilee first north toward Caesarea Philippi and Mount Hermon.  Then returning south all the way to Jerusalem. With Him on this long journey which took roughly three years were a small number of faithful disciples particularly Peter, James and John were with the Lord step by step.  And thorough out this period they witness first hand all the items, including the miracles, the teachings, the healing and His dealing with the religious opposers.

As those who desire to know Him and to know His word richly today, we need to realize that this long journey and all these events were not random. From the beginning the Lord’s intention was to arrive at Jerusalem, the religious, cultural and governmental capital.  For it must be in Jerusalem during the specific month and even on the appointed day that He would be offered up as the Lamb of God to accomplish His all redeeming and all-inclusive death.  But we also need to realize that all the preceding event were part of the Lord’s preparation and in addition for the real preparation of His disciples not just to be witnesses but to be those who would pass through His death and enter into the reality of His resurrection.

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