Life Blog

Gal 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. It is of no value whether you are of the circumcision or of the uncircumcision. It does not matter whether you are a Jew or a Gentile. It does not matter whether you have the Law or have not the Law. It does not matter whether you have a codified rule book that you follow or whether you live by your conscience. What matters is the new creature. This is what matters to God, that men be born again. This however does not say that it doesn’t matter whether you live in righteousness or you live in sin. This should be clear. But whether you are of the circumscision or of the uncircumcision, whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, your own righteousness counts for nothing. What counts is the new creature. In Tit 3:5 it says, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.” So then, if our righteousness counts for nothing how much less will o...

Col 2:12  Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. The word operation was translated from the Greek:   G1753 ἐνέργεια energeia en-erg'-i-ah From G1756; efficiency (“energy”): - operation, strong, (effectual) working. This gives us an idea of what goes on in the spirit realm when a person comes to Christ. The Scripture says, we are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God... the energy... the effectual working of God.  Here is what happens in the spirit realm, believers are risen from the dead by this energy - the effectual working of God. And it is made to pass through the faith of this energy. Now, this clearly tells us that this is not Man's faith, it is God's faith.  Notice the first part of this Scripture. It says, Buried with Him in baptism. This is where Man's faith is in operation. Baptism is the answer of a good conscience toward God. The a...

By looking at Creation from a bird's eye view, perhaps we can have a hint and understand better the work which God has created. In the beginning God said, Let us make man according to our image. (Gen 1:27) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And throughout the Bible, looking from a macro level, we can see that the purpose of God for man was not changed. God has it in His heart to make us like Him. And the things that has happened in the past and those that are happening now and will still happen in the future all add up to that end. But we cannot really say that God has authored everything that takes place because even right now, we know we are free to do whatever we want, and we know that we do it by ourselves only and not by some controlling force from the outside. We can be persuaded and moved by some external forces, but still the decision to act is solely attributed to the individual. God has foreknowle...

(Isa 1:2)  Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. (Isa 6:10)  Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. (Rom 11:11)  I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. (Rom 11:22)  Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. (Rom 11:25)  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. (Rom 11:26...

You know why there are certain schools that are superior than others? It's because the curriculum there are superior and the teachers there are superior also. And concerning spiritual truth, the Lord said that the student cannot be greater than the teacher. And so it is always wise to find the best one in town and stay with him. : ) Anyway, this is actually a reply to a friend on the topic, the fallen state of man. Not that I have a Phd in this discipline but that I rely upon the Holy Ghost for revelation. So what do we mean by the fallen state of man? We say that he is spiritually dead. That I agree. But that man cannot perform any spiritual act because he is dead spiritually, because one must have spiritual life first before he can perform any spiritual act, on the logical basis that life precedes action, this I see is erroneous. So I state, it is not true that the natural, carnal, un-born again man cannot perform any spiritual act. But rather I believe that everything abou...

There are some familiar phrases that we use where the word spirit is used to refer to the essence or purpose of a thing or an activity or program, like when we say; in the spirit of sportsmanship. It is really not referring to the sports itself but it refers to the purpose or objective of the sports activity, which is generally accepted as, to build friendship and good relations between the participants. When a person says, in the spirit of peace or, in the spirit of love, we normally take it as referring to the intentions of that person. So when we use the word spirit in this manner, we basically are talking about our heart, our desire and intentions. When a person says, in the spirit of love, what he is saying basically is that his desire and intentions are for the purposes of love. So he is basically talking about his heart, his desires, and his intentions. When we read the word of God, it is the very thing that we should seek for. We should seek for the spirit of His words. What ...

Matthew 13: 1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: 8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it ...

This is a transcript of our lesson during our group chat Bible study in Facebook last Friday 2011.01.14. If you wish to join the Bible study, catch us on the following times. Just search for the Life BS Group. Bible study schedule: Fridays, 5:30pm (GMT +03:00) Sundays, 7:30pm (GMT +03:00)  Here now was the lesson: Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. It says, death and life are in the power of the tongue. A common belief is that words are just words.. and people have grown into that belief that is why most people are never careful with what they say. We know that we can use words to hurt others because we have been hurt by others also just with words. So, words are not just words. And the Bible tells us that life and death are in the power of the tongue. Quite surprising huh? And more over, the person himself will eat the fruits thereof. Basically, the Bible's teaching is this: when we speak blessing...

Here are the key verses we studied during today’s Bible study Col 3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. -> As new creations in Christ, we are to seek the things that are above, the things of Christ, the things of God. In contrast, unbelievers are much too concerned about the things of this world, about their needs, troubles and problems. But the more they are concerned about them, the more that they get buried into them. Joh 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. -> We are no longer of this world. God has chosen us OUT of the world. Joh 8:23 He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. “ -> We were from below but God has translated us into the kingdom of His Son. We were raised with Christ. We ar...

(Gen 2:17)  but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." This goes to show that God never intended man to die. Man was meant for eternity with God. It was when Adam ate of that fruit that death entered in and reigned. (Rom 5:20)  Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, Where to find grace? It is in the very area of your shortcoming. Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more! Paul rejoices in his weaknesses for God says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness (2Co 12:9). "   Paul declares, "For when I am weak, then I am strong!" Receive the grace of God where you have fallen, for it is there that grace abounds all the more! (Joh 15:3)  Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. The word of God is powerful. Let it dwell in you richly. It is through th...

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (Joh 15:7) God works by principles. He built the universe by principles. Everything that exists work by principles. And some of those principles we have already discovered; like the law of gravity and many other physical constants and principles that govern this physical world and the entire universe.  I believe God has set up the spiritual realm in the same manner that He set up the physical world. God has set up spiritual principles so that by them the spirit realm is governed. Well not only the spirit realm but the physical realm as well because the physical realm is subject to the spiritual realm. The Lord has demonstrated that to us when He was here. He multiplied the bread and the fish, He walked on water, He walked through closed doors, and many other wonders He performed. This generation has also seen many miracles through a number of Ministers and Pastors. And a local...

The Kingdom of God is already come, and Jesus Christ is the door to the Kingdom. And faith is the action that we take to enter that door. Faith is an action word. "By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Faith gets us access into the grace of God. The moment we believe, we step into and access the Kingdom of God. Now we often speak about Christ in us. Letting Him come into our hearts and be Lord of our lives. But that's just half of the story. We must also be in Christ. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.." And it is faith also that gets us in Christ. Now Christ is the Word of God. So entering Christ basically means that we enter His word, the Bible! The Lord said, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." It's like stepping into a raft by the river and the raft is taken by the current to wherever ...

"Exploring I Corinthians 2 Part 3" Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.  (1Co 2:12-16) If nobody told me about the Lord Jesus and what he's done for me, I would not know I had an inheritance in heaven. But even if somebody told me about it, I would not understand if I didn't have the Holy Ghost in me. And so a very important ministry that the Holy Spirit is ...

1Co 2:6-8   Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:  (7)   But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:  (8)   Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Wisdom as Man knows it is acquired through knowledge and experience. But there is a higher kind of wisdom which is the hidden wisdom of God. And this wisdom is ordained unto us so that by it we may glory! As Pastor Chris taught us, wisdom is not a faculty of the human brain. It is not a product of rational thinking. Wisdom is an attribute of the Spirit: why you buy the things that you buy, why you eat the food that you eat, why you go to places you go to… These are all materialization of man’s wisdom. In other parts of the Scripture it says: The entrance of...

1Co 2:1-2   And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.  (2)   For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. It’s a bit ironic here how Paul says he did not come with excellency of speech. Judging from his letters, he is an eloquent speaker. He has an excellent way with words. And we can expect that because he is a learned man. What Paul is saying here is that, he did not deliver the testimony of God with flowery, convincing words. He spoke the message as a faithful messenger of the Gospel, adding nothing, excluding nothing. And he delivered it as simple as Jesus Christ crucified. And if there was any convincing required of the listeners, it was done not with words but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power.   1Co 2:3-4   And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.  (4)   And my speech and my p...

"Guard your heart with all diligence (Proverbs 43:23). Be careful what you listen to. When you stop listening to the voice of God, you start making the wrong decisions (Romans 8:14). Don’t expose yourself to just any kind of information. The information you allow in, will determine the state of your heart. Remember, your life will only reveal the information you have on the inside. Let your spirit always remain under the influence of the Word of God". "The Word of God is the answer to all of man’s challenges and life’s crises. It encompasses all the things that you will ever need in your life. It is the only prerequisite for a successful and victorious life. Pay attention to God’s Word, to do what it says and to enjoy all the benefits that have been made available to you in it". "Choose your words carefully; speak faith and not fear. Don’t say a thing just because that is how the situation seems or what everyone else is saying. Stand firm on God’s Word until ...

Who are the unbelievers? Anyone who has not established a relationship with Jesus Christ falls in that category. Jesus said, If you are not with me, you are against me. But what is it that makes you a non-believer? It is basically a lack of faith. And the Apostle Paul says, how can they believe if they have not heard? And how can they hear if nobody preaches to them? Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Not just one time, but faith comes after hearing it a second time. And faith also is a gift of God. Jesus asked His disciples, Who do you say I am? Peter answered, You are the Christ, Son of the living God. Jesus said to Peter, Blessed are you Peter, flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Father who is in heaven. God himself has declared, If you seek me you will find me, if you seek me with all your heart. Some people will not come to God until they are convinced and their critical minds are satisfied. That is why they never come to God because it is n...

The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity; he enters into peace; they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness. But you, draw near, sons of the sorceress, offspring of the adulterer and the loose woman. Whom are you mocking? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of deceit, you who burn with lust among the oaks, under every green tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks? Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion; they, they, are your lot; to them you have poured out a drink offering, you have brought a grain offering. Shall I relent for these things? On a high and lofty mountain you have set your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifice. Behind the door and the doorpost you have set up your memorial; for, deserting me, y...

Often we hear during election time of Politicians platform of government and promised infrastructure projects should they be elected in office. But all those talk and speeches just go back to the filing cabinets once elections are through and kept hid until the next elections. So between God and the Politician is a great chasm, a great divide between truth and lies because Man's words are often empty, but the Word of God is never empty. Not because Man wants to lie but because he is not capable of keeping his every word. God on the other hand is able. God said: But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings, and you shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts (Mal 4:2-3). Those words are not empty. Surely they come to pass to them which receives them. And God has declared it that ...