Oxford Bible Church - Living in the Last Days (audio): Recent Episodes
The Oxford Bible Church
In-depth Bible Teaching from Derek & Hilary Walker, Pastors of Oxford Bible Church, Oxford, England.
s love and provision. Learn practical ways to humble yourself before God, cast your burdens on Him, and embrace the peace that surpasses all understanding. This inspirational talk is filled with biblical insights and encouragement for living a worry-free life. We can overcome worry in our life by believing in God’s love for us, and casting all our burdens on the Lord (1Peter 5:7), trusting Him to provide for us, protect us, and lead us through the situation.
Learn how to protect your heart from bitterness, when opportunities to be offended come to you, and how to identify a root of bitterness (Hebrews 12:15), and how to cast it out of your heart (Luke 17:6). Forgiveness is a major key to spiritual freedom and happiness. Pastor Derek provides guidance on how to guard against bitterness and maintain a pure heart. Learn how faith and grace can help uproot bitterness from your life, ensuring peace and harmony in your relationships.
Pastor Derek explores the true nature of humanity, tracing the lineage of mankind from Adam, and our transformed identity when we are united to Christ. Discover how this understanding is central to the Christian Gospel and challenges modern views of evolution. With references to Genesis and the teachings of Jesus, this video is a powerful message on spiritual identity and salvation. All people are descended from Adam (Acts 17:26), so when he sinned, sin and death came upon us all. But all who receive Christ (the 2nd Adam) as their Head receive His righteousness and life (Romans 5:12-21).
s Word and His Holy Spirit in our lives. Discover how these truths will lead to your spiritual growth and a deeper relationship with God.
s Presence) to fill and empower our souls. Learn the importance of true repentance, which is the basis for receiving the comfort of His Spirit (Matthew 5:4).
s power in your daily life. Through the Beatitudes we discover the key heart attitudes to live in the fullness of the Spirit.
s eternal judgment, the distinction between the righteous and the godless, and the eternal rewards awaiting believers. Learn about how our earthly lives influence our eternal destiny, and be inspired to live a life dedicated to serving God. Pastor Derek also answers objections to the doctrine of eternal rewards.
works are assessed for eternal rewards. Learn about the 5 types of crowns - the incorruptible crown, the crown of rejoicing, the crown of righteousness, the crown of life, and the crown of glory. Pastor Derek emphasises the importance of living a life of faith, obedience, and faithful service, ensuring believers are prepared to receive their heavenly rewards.1. The INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN (1Corinthians 9:24-27, 1Timothy 2:5) for walking in the Spirit and not following after the flesh, for exercising self-control and denying yourself in this life, in order to live a Spirit-filled life, for living in victory over the sin nature. This crown goes to the man who puts God first, rather than the corruptible things of this life. 2. The CROWN of REJOICING (1Thessalonians 2:19, Philippians 4:1) consists of all the people we have shared the Gospel with, won to the Lord, and discipled (John 4:36). One of the greatest rewards and eternal sources of joy will be all the PEOPLE in HEAVEN, who we will have reached with our witness, discipling, giving and praying. We will see theeternal fruit of our labours in transformed people. This Crown will be given to all who fulfil the Great Commission. That’s why it is also called the SOULWINNER’S CROWN.3. The CROWN of RIGHTEOUSNESS (2Timothy 4:7-8, Philippians 3:9-14).4. The CROWN of LIFE (James 1:12, Revelation 2:10) for overcoming tests and trials.*5. The CROWN of GLORY (1Peter 5:1-4) for exercising faithful leadership.
s will, or are we just following traditions and rituals we happen to like? What a motivation to live for Him now, doing GOOD WORKS of GOLD, SILVER and PRECIOUS STONES, that will endure into eternity, rather than wasting our life turning out WOOD, HAY and STRAW!
Join Pastor Derek in an insightful exploration of the doctrine of Eternal Judgment. This video delves into the foundational Christian teachings concerning the judgment of believers and non-believers, the phases of existence, and the significance of faith and works. Learn about how all believers will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive their eternal rewards. A must-watch for those seeking a deeper understanding of Christian eschatology.
s promises through Jesus Christ. This enlightening talk offers a deep understanding of the parallels between the ancient covenant made between David and Jonathan and the eternal covenant between God and humanity through Jesus. The story of Mephibosheth is a picture of our salvation in Christ. David (God) made a covenant with Jonathan (Jesus), and those in Jonathan who accept the covenant (Mephibosheth) receive his blessing.
eternal destinies through Christ. Discover significant insights into the resurrection, eternal life, and the ultimate victory over Death and Hades.
s ultimate purpose and desire for loving fellowship with His people. The Song of Songs, the greatest of all love poems, reveals the drama of the Divine Romance between Christ and His Bride, from His 1st Coming as our Shepherd-Lover to His Coming for us in the Rapture.
s heavenly Kingdom. As a result our spirits in Christ now go to Heaven, when our body dies, whereas the Old Testament saints went down to Paradise in Hades, to await the coming of the Messiah. When Christ rose from the dead He preached the Gospel to the Old Testament saints in Paradise (1Peter 4:6), so they could be born again, making their spirits perfect, and then He took them up to Heaven in His first Ascension (Ephesians 4:8), so these spirits of just men made perfect are now in Heaven (Hebrews 12:23). Jesus has won the victory for us over the power of Hades, so that the Gates of Hades will not prevail over us, when we die (Matthew 16:18).
Should all women be silent in Church as 1Corinthians 14:34-35 seems to teach? Does this mean they can’t teach or preach, or even pray, testify or prophesy? The results of this study may surprise you! Join Derek Walker as he delves into this controversial passage. Discover a fresh perspective on the ministry of women in the Church through this engaging and informative presentation.
made perfect by our union with the resurrected Christ (1Pet 1:3), so at death our spirits no longer go down to Hades, but up to Heaven.
Gomorrah and Lot’s deliverance (Matt 10:15, 11:23-24, Mark 6:11, Luke 10:12, 17:28-32), as did the apostles (Rom 9:29, 2Pet 2:6-8, Jude 1:7, Rev 11:8).
entered the Ark. Likewise, those who trust in Christ are put into Him and are saved from judgment, for in His Atoning Death, the judgment we deserved fell on Him, instead of us, so we could be saved under His Covering.
judgment. 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12: “They will PERISH, because they did not receive the LOVE of THE TRUTH, that they might be SAVED. And for this reason, God will send them strong DELUSION, that they should believe THE LIE, that they all may be CONDEMNED, who did not believe THE TRUTH, but had PLEASURE in unrighteousness.” When men reject the TRUTH, because they want to be free to enjoy a sinful lifestyle, they open their heart to embrace the LIE (the only alternative), the deception that there is no God, so they can be their own god, free to live as they please. This then becomes the basis for their final CONDEMNATION by God. So, an essential first step for people to be SAVED is that they must believe in the TRUTH of the CREATOR God.
d already received the foundational biblical truths of God, Creation, Adam, the Fall (sin), and the Messianic Hope, the apostles focused on proving that Jesus is the promised Messiah, because He fulfilled all the Messianic Prophecies (Acts 2,3 and13). For those who do not have this foundation of Truth, as is the case for many people today, because of secular humanism, we have to build this foundation first before they can understand the Gospel. This is what Paul did in Acts 14 and 17. Derek demonstrates this by expounding Acts 14:8-17 and 17:16-21. As we share the TRUTH of God and the GOSPEL of Christ, we are SHINING His LIGHT on them, and if they desire to know God, they will SEEK Him, and the eyes of their heart will gradually open more and more to the light, and they will FIND Him, because He is not far from each one of us (Acts 17:27).
Join this detailed examination of biblical prophecies focusing on the imminent Invasion of Israel as outlined in Ezekiel 38 and 39. This talk delves into the historical and current geopolitical alignments that are fulfilling these ancient prophecies. Discover the implications for believers and the potential for a worldwide revival triggered by divine intervention. A must-watch for those interested in eschatology and the role of nations in the end times.
Join Derek Walker as he delves deep into the spiritual significance of the Water Ceremony at the climax of the Feast of Tabernacles, and how it is fulfilled in us as Temples of the Holy Spirit, as we allow the Holy Spirit (the River of Life) flow through us.
s challenges to Him. Discover the importance of decisiveness in prayer and the transformative effect it can have on your spiritual journey. The Prayer of Commitment is when we cast all our cares on the Lord, and submit to His leadership in the situation (1Peter 5:6-7). Then we should trust Him to lead us and offer the Sacrifice of Praise.
s right hand. The 4 Purposes for His 1st Ascension:1. To fulfil the Feast of First Fruits on the day of His resurrection (1Corinthians 15:20-23).2. To present His BLOOD in the heavenly holy of holies, to establish the New Covenant (Hebrews 9:12).3. To receive ALL AUTHORITY (Matthew 28:18, Daniel 7:13-14, Philippians 2:9-11):4. To receive the SPIRIT on our behalf, to give to His people (Acts 2:33). That is why He could impart the Spirit to His apostles later on the same day He rose again (John 20:22).
s promises like salvation, healing, and wisdom. This insightful session will empower you to receive our spiritual blessings in Christ through faith. Learn to pray the Prayer of Faith, believing you receive spiritual blessing when you pray (Mark 11:24), confident (1) it’s God’s will and (2) He gives it to us immediately on request (1John 5:14-15).
Join Pastor Derek Walker of the Oxford Bible Church in this enlightening sermon as he explores the profound significance of receiving Jesus as the King of Glory. Delve into scriptures such as Psalm 24 and Zechariah 9:9 to understand the importance of opening the gates of our hearts to welcome the Divine Presence. We must open the gates of our heart to welcome the King of Glory. Discover how the humble triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem symbolises our choice to accept Him as Lord and Saviour, resulting in the transformation of our lives with His glory and salvation. The Triumphal Entry shows how Jesus comes to us, offering Himself as our Lord and Saviour, and how we should respond. Embrace the message of salvation and divine rule through praise, worship, and submission. Derek also explains the prophetic meaning of Jesus riding on both a Donkey and a Colt.
s sacrifice provides salvation and freedom from sin.#FinishedWorkofChrist #Salvation #Propitiation #Reconciliation #Redemption #GreatExchange #InChrist #CrossofChrist
s sermon at Pentecost serves as a foundational message for the Church Age, emphasizing the empowerment of all believers by the Holy Spirit, to share the Gospel so that all who call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved..Peter declared the fulfilment of Joel 2:28-32, which prophesied the outpouring of the Spirit UPON all (believing) flesh (Acts 2:12-18), in conjunction with signs: “I will (1) show WONDERS in HEAVEN above, and (2) SIGNS in the EARTH beneath: blood, fire and vapour of smoke. (1) The SUN shall be turned to DARKNESS, and the MOON to BLOOD, BEFORE the Coming of the Great and Awesome Day of the Lord (the central event)” (Acts 2:19-20). Joel 2:28: “It shall come to pass AFTERWARD (after the central event, v31), that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh.” Finally, he quoted the last line of Joel’s Prophecy in Acts 2:21: “whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved.” Joel’s Prophecy predicted a sequence of events: (1) SIGNS in HEAVEN and EARTH, just BEFORE (2) the Great and Awesome Day of the Lord, AFTER which (3) the Spirit will poured out UPON all flesh. The purpose of the outpouring of the Spirit UPON all believers is to empower them to prophesy (speak under the inspiration of the Spirit), which we do when we witness to Jesus, for as we speak, we trust the Spirit upon us to anoint our words, speak through us and glorify Him (Rev 19:10). The aim of our Spirit-filled witness is that people will call on His Name and be saved (Acts 2:21). Peter claimed what happened was the fulfilment of the whole of Joel’s Prophecy (Acts 2:16), which he quoted in full (2:28-32), not just the bit about the outpouring of His Spirit. He declared the 3-fold sequence of events prophesied by Joel was now fulfilled: (1) The SIGNS on EARTH and in HEAVEN happened on the Day of the Cross, 2 days BEFORE (2) Christ’s RESURRECTION (the Great and Awesome or Manifest Day of the Lord), the main focus of Peter’s sermon. Then 50 days AFTERWARD (3) the Spirit was POURED OUT on all flesh. Thus, the promised Spirit was now made freely available to all, so if we put our faith in Christ, we too can receive the Gift of His Spirit (Acts 2:32-33, 38-39). Both SIGNS in the HEAVENS were fulfilled on the Day of the Cross: (1) the DARK SUN at noon, proclaiming Jesus as our sin offering (Luke 23:44-45), for the radiant SUN of righteousness (Mal 4:2), bore the darkness of sin on Himself, pictured by the midday sun made black, as predicted in Amos 8:9. Ancient historians recorded this strange supernatural darkness, dating it to AD 33. (2) The BLOOD MOON (Acts 2:20) = a lunar eclipse. On Passover of AD 33 (Friday, April 1st), in Jerusalem as the full moon rose above the horizon, it was a Blood Moon. So, Joel 2:30-31 was fulfilled on the Day of the Cross. Whereas the SUN = CHRIST, the SOURCE of LIGHT, the MOON = His PEOPLE, who, like the moon, shine by reflecting the SUN’s light. God proclaimed in the heavens that His People were now covered by the BLOOD! Acts 2:20 also speaks of SIGNS on EARTH: (1) ‘BLOOD’ = the BLOOD of CHRIST, corresponding to the BLOOD MOON. (2) ‘FIRE and VAPOUR of SMOKE’, because of the great earthquake and resulting FIRES from all the oil lamps in the dark.
s Sacrifice. Discover the significance of Jubilee as a year of grace, forgiveness, and restoration, and its implications for believers today.
s gifts, overcome obstacles, and maintain humility amidst spiritual empowerment. The 9 supernatural gifts of the Spirit oare described in1Cor 12:7-11, consisting of 3 revelation gifts, 3 power gifts and 3 utterance gifts. We see that these gifts have not passed away and are for us today. They operate as the Spirit wills, but we must make ourselves available to Him for Him to use us.
s secret, so He could come for us at any time. Thus, as His Bride we should live in constant expectancy of His imminent Coming for us to take us to Heaven.
Join Susan Partridge at Live Free Foundation as she hosts Derek, a pastor and teacher on eschatology, for an insightful discussion on the significance of Israel in biblical prophecy. They delve into the events surrounding Israel and how they align with Scripture, including an analysis of Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38. Discover the spiritual and historical context of recent conflicts and the future of Israel through the lens of biblical prophecy.
s unwavering belief in Jesus led to her miraculous healing, and serves as a timeless example of faith in action.
Join us as we explore the biblical and prophetic significance of the year 2026. Delve into Typology, Bible Chronology, and the historical context of the End Times, to understand the time in which we are living, and why we are close to the End or Consummation of the Age, with a special look at the typology of the Parable of the Good Samaritan. This in-depth discussion offers insights into the urgency of the times and the importance of living faithfully for Christ.
The story of the healing of a man lame from birth at the temple gates (Acts 3:1-10) reveals 6 keys of wisdom showing us how to receive blessing and healing from God, which He freely gives to us through the Name of Jesus. This video offers insights and key principles on how to receive from God, emphasising the importance of faith, expectancy, and the power of action. Through this biblical example, learn how to focus on God, expect His blessings, and activate His power in your life.
This in-depth sermon explores the concept of spiritual warfare between the forces of darkness and light as outlined in the Bible. Using Genesis 3:15 as the foundational verse, the speaker delves into the roles of spiritual entities, the significance of Israel, and the prophecy of the Messiah defeating Satan. This enlightening discourse connects the dots between the Old Testament and the Book of Revelation, offering a comprehensive understanding of spiritual conflict throughout biblical history.
s right hand. The 4 Purposes for His 1st Ascension:1. To fulfil the Feast of First Fruits on the day of His resurrection (1Corinthians 15:20-23).2. To present His BLOOD in the heavenly holy of holies, to establish the New Covenant (Hebrews 9:12).3. To receive ALL AUTHORITY (Matthew 28:18, Daniel 7:13-14, Philippians 2:9-11):4. To receive the SPIRIT on our behalf, to give to His people (Acts 2:33). That is why He could impart the Spirit to His apostles later on the same day He rose again (John 20:22).
s Kingdom on earth. In the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ the prophesied Kingdom of God was OFFERED to Israel, but she REJECTED her appointed King and His Messianic Kingdom, so it was POSTPONED until Israel is ready to receive Jesus as her Messiah-King. Meanwhile God revealed the Mystery of the Church Age.
s salvation is necessary to the establishment of the Messianic Kingdom, and how the Transfiguration is a Prophetic Preview of the coming Kingdom of God on earth.
s Salvation and Kingdom programs. These 2 Streams (the Sufferings and the Glory) correspond to the 2 Comings of Christ, based on the Salvation and Kingdom Programs of God. First Jesus had to come as the Suffering Saviour before He can return as the Conquering King. First, the Suffering and then the Glory (Luke 24:26,27).
Join Pastor Derek Walker of the Oxford Bible Church as he explores the miraculous healing at the Pool of Bethesda from John 5. He shows how the sign miracle of the healing of this cripple is a picture of our salvation. Jesus comes to us in our hopelessness, and if we’re willing, raises us up by His power to live a new life. This insightful sermon delves into the significance of this miracle, its symbolism in the Gospel of John, and its message of salvation and redemption. Uncover how this ancient event reflects our own need for spiritual healing and the transformative power of faith in Jesus Christ.
(1) Turn from Sin (Isaiah 59:2, John 8:34)(2) Turn from Self (Proverbs 3:5-6) and trust in God (Psalm 118:8-9, 16:11).(3) Turn from Stresses (1 Peter 5:6-7, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 43:19)(4) Turn from Stoniness (Revelation 2:2-5)
miracles were more than just acts of healing—they were messages intended to inspire faith in His teachings.
Mark 13:33: “Take heed, watch and pray.” Mark 13:37: “And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”
John 14:9: Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?” It is possible to be with Jesus, even for a great length of time, and not know Him as we should. This enlightening sermon encourages believers to deepen their relationship with Christ, explore the depths of their faith, and fully embrace the acceptance, satisfaction, empowerment, accountability, and eternal union that Jesus offers. Perfect for those seeking to rekindle their Christian walk and understand the profound truths of spiritual growth.
s birth. Gain insights into the spiritual warfare between good and evil, the significance of the virgin birth, and the role of Israel in biblical prophecy. The team celebrate Christmas by discussing the first prophecy of Christ, the Seed of the Woman (Genesis 3:15), who came to defeat the devil and save mankind. It also reveals the ongoing spiritual warfare.
18 are the bread. These 3 verses are a triptych of simple exhortations: “(1) REJOICE always, (2) PRAY without ceasing, (3) in everything GIVE THANKS” (1Thess 5:16-18). God doesn’t want us in the DRUDGERY of prayer! He wants us to discover the DELIGHT of prayer. So, let us join Heaven’s Live Stream of Prayer that God has made available to us.
Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.
. This sermon provides comfort and hope, emphasising the Christian belief in a glorified body and the ultimate union with the Lord. Perfect for those seeking deeper understanding of faith, salvation and our everlasting future.(1) HEAVEN: We will be there (Revelation 7:9-10, Philippians 1:23, 2Corinthians 5:8), for as children of God (John 1:12), we have eternal life (1John 5:12-13). Our citizenship is in Heaven, and God will give us new bodies, so we can live there forever (Philippians 3:20-21, 2Corinthians 5:1-5).(2) HEAVEN: We will be there with Jesus and the Father (John 14:1-3, 1Peter 1:8, Job 19:26-27, Revelation 22:3-4.3) HEAVEN: We will be there together with all the saints (Matthew 8:11).4) HEAVEN: We will be there forever in glory (1Corinthians 13:12, 1John 3:1-2).
s promises to transform a weary soul.The CAUSES of a Weary Soul: (1) WICKEDNESS (Psalm 38:4-6), (2) the WORLD, and (3) WORK. The CURE for a weary soul is the strength of the Lord (Isaiah 40:29-31, John 16:33). The immediate CURE for a weary soul is PRAISE (Psalm 34:1-6, 100:4, Matthew 6:9, Isaiah 61:3, Philippians 3:1, 4:4). We can PRAISE because: (1) GOD IS WITH US (Isaiah 41:10, 43:2), and (2) GOD IS WORKING (John 5:17), and (3) GOD WILL WIN.
s mighty power is in us, through the Holy Spirit, and it is available to us, but we need to have a revelation of this power, so that we can draw upon it by faith, as well as the wisdom to walk in that power, for it is released through our obedience. Ephesians 1 gives us a revelation of this mighty power, by describing what it has already accomplished when it was released in Christ, when He was (1) made alive from the dead, (2) raised far above all powers, and (3) enthroned on high. Then Ephesians 2 describes what this resurrection power accomplished in our spirits when we were born again in Christ: (1) Our spirit was made alive with Christ, changing us from spiritual death to being spiritually alive to God. (2) Our spirit was raised far above all opposing powers (sin, satan and the world), for His victory was imparted to our spirit. (3) Our spirit was seated with Christ far above, having been empowered to reign with Christ. This same power is available to us in our life today! (Ephesians 3:20).
s Word with our heart, and then (2) speaking it forth with our lips. Faith in Jesus Christ connects us with God and His grace. We see how we express and release our faith through words and actions. This message emphasises the importance of our submission to God and of boldly speaking our faith.
Pastor Derek shares the dramatic story of Christ raising Lazarus from the dead after 4 days in John 11, a great prophetic Sign of His victory over both spiritual and physical death. By this Messianic Miracle, Jesus validated His claim to be (1) the Resurrection and (2) the Life, the One who will raise us from both (1) physical and (2) spiritual death, if we believe (trust) in Him.
s message, offering salvation to all and emphasising the New Covenant of worship in spirit and truth.
teaching in John 3, and how they relate to His first miracle of turning water into wine. Derek shares how God accomplished the rebirth of our spirit in the New Birth, and describes the nature of our New Man (our regenerated spirit). Learn about the role of the Holy Spirit in the new birth and the importance of accepting Jesus as your Saviour. This enlightening sermon is a deep dive into the Christian doctrine of being born again and how it shapes the life of believers.
s Redemption Chronology. Using charts, Pastor Derek gives an overview of this whole time-period showing how all the reigns of the kings fit into the longer time-periods of 390 years and 40 years of Ezekiel 4 (1018 - 628 BC and 628- 588 BC), the 70 years of Desolation (588 - 518 BC) and the 560 years (1018 - 458 BC), showing how all the Biblical data can be perfectly harmonised. Everything fits perfectly into place, demonstrating the sovereignty, grace and glory of God. We can see that God, as the Lord of Time, has sovereignly planned and determined the overall course of Time. As the God of Grace, we see that He governs it according to His Redemption Calendar, which incorporates the Jubilee Principle and measures years of forgiveness, so that Time is structured in Great Jubilee Cycles. By giving us detailed chronological information in His Word about the course of history, we can reconstruct it with exactness, and demonstrate its accuracy, inner harmony, consistency and perfection, showing that all the time-periods fit into a greater Divine Plan and Design for Time, thus revealing the sovereignty and glory of God.
s 70 Weeks, Daniel 9:24-27), from 458 BC to 33 AD, the Decree to rebuild and restore Jerusalem in 458 BC (Daniel 9:25) in the 7th Year of Artaxerxes, recorded in Ezra 7, which marks the start of the final Great Jubilee Cycle of Israel.
In this episode we continue to study the historical events during the Babylonian Captivity and the Siege and Fall of Jerusalem (in 586 BC), including the four 70-year judgments on Israel at that time.
Join Pastor Derek Walker of the Oxford Bible Church as he explores the biblical significance of the four blood moons occurring in 2014-2015. Delve into prophecies from Joel and Acts, and historical events linked to blood moon tetrads. Discover the potential divine messages these celestial events may hold for Israel and the world.
Join Pastor Derek Walker from the Oxford Bible Church as he delves into the signs of the times, focusing on celestial events like the four blood moons. Discover their biblical significance and what they could mean for the future. This video explores prophetic interpretations and the connection of these signs to historical and future events, urging viewers to be watchful and prepared for the times ahead.
Join Derek Walker, Pastor of Oxford Bible Church, as he explores the concept of being 'in Christ' and its foundational importance in the Christian faith. Discover the blessings and promises that come with this spiritual position, as well as how to build a strong Christian life based on the unchanging truth of God's Word. Learn about the transformation from being in Adam to being in Christ and how to live out this reality through grace.
Explore the profound concept of being 'In Christ' through biblical teachings. This video delves into the spiritual blessings, identity transformation, and foundational truths of Christianity. Discover the significance of transitioning from being in Adam to being in Christ and how it impacts your faith journey.
Join the Q&A Show with Pastor Derek Walker as they explore a Christian perspective on elections. Discussions include the role of prayer, moral values in politics, and the potential for revival. The show also touches on theological topics such as the end times, Israel's significance, and the role of prophets today. Viewers are encouraged to send in their questions and engage in this insightful discussion on faith and politics.
Bible Q&A Show with Pastor Derek Walker of Oxford Bible Church, with a special discussion on the life and impact of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-serving British monarch. The show delves into her faith, leadership, and the unity she fostered across nations. Viewers are invited to share their thoughts and questions in this heartfelt tribute.
A Debate on Revelation TV hosted by Tim Vince between Derek Walker arguing for the Pre-Tribulation Rapture and John Campbell arguing for the Post-Tribulation Rapture.
Psalm 83 is a Prophetic Prayer describing by name a confederacy of nations, which surround her, who all want to destroy Israel in the end-times. Derek and Tim explain how this Prophecy has been fulfilled in detail in the wars that Israel has faced since her rebirth in 1948, including the present Israel war with Hamas. The Psalm is an inspired prayer that God would give Israel military victory, as in her ancient victories by Gideon and Deborah, with the help of God. God has answered this prayer again and again by giving Israel victory against her enemies, even when it was against all odds. This prayer also gives a blueprint for how we should pray in the present situation. The stated purpose of this victory is to glorify the Name of the true God, the God of the Bible, the God of Israel, so that Israel's enemies, who worship and trust in a false god, may repent and trust in the true God instead, and so be saved.
Pastor Derek explains how a number of theological paradoxes can be resolved, in particular, the difference between relationship (positional truth) and fellowship (temporal truth) scriptures. Understanding these 2 distinct realms allows us to receive both scriptures fully, and apply them correctly, especially in the area of forgiveness.
Pastor Derek reveals the origins of the Gospel in the Year of Jubilee, which took place on the Day of Atonement, when the Jubilee trumpeters proclaimed forgiveness, release and restoration for all, throughout all the land, on the basis of the great sacrifice made on that day (Leviticus 25). Jesus initiated the preaching of the Gospel, and commanded us to continue preaching this same Gospel. In Luke 4, Jesus claimed that His preaching of the Gospel was the fulfilment of Isaiah 61, a prophecy of the Messiah fulfilling the Type of Jubilee for all men by preaching Good News to the poor, proclaiming the Acceptable Year of the Lord, on the basis of God's acceptance of His great final Sacrifice (Isaiah 53).
A key to knowing God’s Times and Seasons is 1 DAY = 1000 years. Examples of this are the Passover Lamb, Hosea 6:2, the Resurrection of Lazarus, the Transfiguration and the Good Samaritan. It’s almost 2 DAYS from the Cross!
God's Structure of Time is based on the Blueprint of Creation Week, where 1 DAY = 1000 years of human history (Psalm 90:4, 2 Peter 3:8), with the 7th DAY being the Millennium (Revelation 20:1-6).
Derek shares 2 Keys to Victory: (1) Come to God in humility to receive His grace. (2) Once you know His will, do it with all your heart. Persist and refuse to quit, as illustrated in 2 Kings 13:14-25.
Joel’s Prophecy was fulfilled by (1) the Signs in the Heavens (Dark Sun & Blood Moon) at the Cross, (2) Christ’s glorious Resurrection, and (3) the Outpouring of His Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:16-21).
Pastor Derek puts together clues from the Bible, ancient history and modern science to prove Tarshish is Britain. This matters, because 3 end-time prophecies about Tarshish give us hope for this nation.
Our eternal destiny (Heaven or Hell) depends on whether we love the Truth of God (we are created by God, accountable to Him), or the Lie of Satan, that we are our own gods, the product of evolution.
There are 2 apparently contradictory sets of Scriptures, one of which says we are already fully righteous (justified) and fully forgiven in Christ by His grace (Rom 5:1, 2Cor 5:21, Eph 1:7, 4:32, Col 1:14, ), but the other says that we are lacking in righteousness and so need to seek God for more of His righteousness (Matthew 5:6, 6:33), and that we need to ask for forgiveness, when we sin to be cleansed of all unrighteousness (1John 1:9, Matthew 6:12-15, Mark 11:25-26). How can both sides be true? Many take a simplistic approach of embracing the verses they like, and ignoring or explaining away the rest, for example by saying the teaching of Jesus no longer applies (in contradiction to Matthew 5:19, 7:24-27, 28:18-20). Derek shares that the full truth is found by embracing all the Scriptures as fully true, but there are 2 related realms of truth – relationship truth and fellowship truth. Relationship truth describes what God has done for us in Christ when we received Him as Lord and Saviour. This was all done by God’s grace at the moment of salvation and is unconditional, absolute, and unchanging. All our sins are forgiven and we have been justified (declared righteous) before God. Before salvation, we had no relationship with God, we were in the realm of the Courtroom, guilty before the Judge, but when we trusted in Christ, who paid the penalty for us, we were not only forgiven and placed into right-standing with God, but also adopted into His family as His son. So, we now have a new relationship with God by His grace, which move us out of the realm of the Courtroom into the realm of God’s Family, where the truths of family fellowship and forgiveness apply. As far as the Courtroom (and our salvation) is concerned there is no condemnation for us in Christ, but as far as our family life with God is concerned, when we sin, we need to confess our sins to God to receive His forgiveness (1John 1:9), in order to keep our heart right with God, and restore our fellowship with Him (see James 4:7-10). Whereas relationship is binary (you either have a relationship with God or you don’t), your fellowship with God (the level of the Light of His Presence in your heart) is variable, depending on how close your heart is to God. Moreover, fellowship by its very nature is reciprocal, depending on the will of both people, and therefore variable if one of them is human. Thus, Fellowship Scriptures are conditional, unlike Relationship Scriptures. Relationship truth is foundational, as our fellowship with God is only possible on the grounds of our relationship with Him in Christ. But fellowship truths are also important, for God’s purpose in establishing a relationship with us is so that He might have fellowship with us (Isaiah 43:25). Finally, Derek explains why the Relationship-Fellowship distinction is a fundamental part of reality because it originates in the nature of the Triune God, who has a 2-fold unity: (1) of relationship, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit being of one substance, and (2) of fellowship, since they fully give themselves to each other and interpenetrate each other in love (perichoresis).
We look at a number of apparent theological paradoxes that are resolved in the same way, according to the principle that: “the entirety of Your WORD is TRUTH” (Ps 119:160). In each case, there are a set of Scriptures that emphasise one truth and another set of Scriptures that emphasise a different truth, but it can seem hard to see how to hold both truths together as they don’t seem to fit. Some examples are: (1) the Prophecies of the Sufferings and Glory of Christ (Luke 24:25), (2) the Goodness and Severity of God, (3) God’s Sovereignty and man’s free-will, (4) the fact that Christ is both God and man (the hypostatic union), (5) the Tri-unity of God, and (6) how we can be forgiven in Christ (as far as our relationship is concerned), and yet still need forgiveness (as far as our fellowship with God is concerned). In each of these cases, people can easily go into a ditch on either side of the road of truth by choosing the set of Scriptures they like, and then ignoring or explaining away the Scriptures on the other side. The answer is found in realising that both sets of Scriptures are fully true, because there are 2 distinct (but related) realms of truth (if you can try to reconcile the 2 truths by mixing them together, you end up compromising and destroying them both - for example, by saying Christ is a semi-god and a semi-man, whereas the truth is that He is fully God and fully man). On the basis that all Scripture is true, we should embrace both revelations of truth, then seek God for a deeper understanding of how both sides can be fully true. When we do this, we will be rewarded with a fuller revelation of God’s truth.
When we are feeling empty or spiritually depressed, or when circumstances make us aware of our weakness, that is a great opportunity to grow in God by turning to Him and asking Him to fill our void. We must be thirsty for God before we drink of His living water (Isa 55:1, John 7:37, Rev 21:6, 22:17). When our soul is full of worldly things we have no room for God, but “blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (God’s Word and Spirit) Presence, for they shall be filled (with God’s Presence)” (Matt 5:6). In Psalm 42 the psalmist is depressed and thirsty for the living God (v1-2), so He turns to God to fill him. Inspired by the local scenery, where the river Jordan flows out from Mount Hermon at Banias and tumbles down in waterfalls, he focuses on God, seeing these waters as a picture of God’s river of life (v6), and then cries out from the depth of his heart (need) to the depths of God to fill him: “Deep calls unto deep at the noise (sound) of Your waterfalls (of grace)” (v7a). Through His Word, we hear the sound of His river of life flowing to us, and respond by calling out to Him to fill us. As a result: “all Your waves and billows (of love, peace and joy) have gone over me. The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime” (v7b-8). The Oil Miracle (2Kings 1-7), when God filled all the empty vessels that were presented to Him with His Oil (representing the Holy Spirit) reveals that He is willing to fill all the empty parts of our soul with His Spirit, if we turn to Him, present them to Him, and ask Him to fill us. The Oil only stopped flowing when there were no longer any empty vessels to fill. So our empty voids (our awareness of our weakness and need) are a great opportunity to turn to god and be filled.
Ps 27 continues with David concluding his confident declaration of faith (v1-6), saying: “And now my head shall be lifted up (in honour) above my enemies all around me” (v6a). God will exalt him to be king (v5). If we exalt Him in worship, He’ll exalt us. Time in worship gives us confidence in God's protection & hope for the future. He sees beyond the present to God’s victory, when he’ll praise God with His people, thanking Him for manifested victory: “Therefore, I will offer sacrifices of joy in His Tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord” (v6b). God gave him victory over the immediate threat (v1-6), but he had to endure a hardness for 8 years, in constant danger & need for His help, so now he moves to humble entreaty for ongoing favour & deliverance (v7-12). Knowing himself as weak & sinful, dependent on God, he doesn’t presume on His blessing, but urgently asks for continuing mercy & grace. v7: “Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also on me, and answer me” (v7). Due to the wait time between promise & fulfilment, he battles negative thoughts of fear & condemnation. But as a worshipper (v4-6), rather than giving into fears, he gives them to God in prayer (v7-12) & comes into assurance (v13).“When You said: “SEEK My FACE (Presence)!” My HEART said to You: “Your FACE (Presence), Lord, I WILL SEEK” (v8). He reminds God, He initiated this relationship by inviting him to seek Him. This is God’s command to all, for the first ‘seek’ is plural. He graciously invites all to seek & find Him, to know Him personally. True prayer is our response to His gracious initiative. He reminds God he did respond by setting his will (heart) to seek & know Him. So, he was sure he’d find Him, for God reveals Himself & blesses all who seek Him (Deut 4:29, Jer 29:13, Matt 7:7). Those who don’t find God have not set their heart to seek to know Him. Saying: “I WILL seek” shows intentionality. He was a man (who sought) after God’s heart (v4, 1Sam 13:14, Acts 13:22). We need to pay attention to God, if we want Him to pay attention to us (hear our prayers). He realises he’s not perfect & deserves condemnation, so has to deal with negative accusing thoughts, which he does in prayer: “Do not hide Your FACE from me, do not turn Your servant away in anger” (v9a). When His face shines on us, He’s gracious toward us, but if He hides His face, He’s displeased, and we need to confess our sin & turn back to Him. “You have been my help (in the past, so); do not leave (abandon) me (now) nor forsake me (in my time of need), O God of my salvation” (v9b). In his weakness, he abandons himself to God, expressing total dependence on Him. This is how to handle inner fears - bring them to God. When you sin don’t run from God, but to God. He’s the God of your salvation. Despite our failings, if we seek Him (v8), He’ll not hide His face from us (v9). He knew God as His Saviour (v9) & perfect Parent: “When (even if) my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me (receive, gather me up as a father lifts up his son & provides for him)” (v10). Even if our strongest relationships fail, God will not forsake us. He has that assurance, for God is what every parent should be (merciful, faithful, loving & forgiving). Having spent face to face time with God, he now prays for guidance, to walk in His will: “(1) TEACH me Your WAY, O Lord, and (2) LEAD me in a smooth (straight, level) path, because of my enemies (lit: watchful foes, looking for him to go wrong & take advantage)” (v11). (1) We need to know the WAY and (2) be LED step by step in it. “Do not deliver me to the will (desire) of my adversaries (v3, including demons); for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out (threats & acts of) violence.” Having faced his inner fears, he prayed through into the light of assurance: “I would have lost heart, UNLESS I had (firmly) BELIEVED that I would SEE (look steadfastly on, as in v4) the (manifest) goodness (promised provision) of the Lord in the land of the living (in this life)” (v13). Thus, it finishes as it starts with confidence God’s plan will come to pass (he’ll be king). If we look on the Lord in worship (v4) & wait on Him in faith (v14), His glory will change us and bring God’s will to pass in our life. v14: “WAIT (in FAITH) on (set your HOPE on) the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. WAIT, I say, on the Lord!” WAIT is repeated for emphasis. He speaks to himself, then us. YLT: “LOOK to Jehovah, be STRONG, and He will STRENGTHEN your HEART, yea, LOOK to Jehovah!” When God promises, its time of fulfilment is in His hands. Sometimes there’s a delay, as with David. The danger is to lose heart. So, in this time, we must stand strong in faith, believing He’ll bring it to pass. Wait patiently & expectantly in faith for Him, looking to Him for directions. Then His Spirit strengthens, encourages, enlightens our heart & empowers us to obey (v14).
In the Olivet Discourse Jesus referred to the Parable of the Fig Tree, and said the appearance of the Fig Tree bearing leaves (but not fruit) was the major sign of the end-times, with the 2nd Coming to establish His Kingdom taking place within a man’s lifetime of this event (Matthew 24:32-35, Luke 21:29-32). By studying the origin of the Parable of the Fig-Tree in Luke 13:6-9, Derek shows the Fig Tree is the nation of Israel planted in her land, but because she bore no fruit of faith (leaves only) and rejected Christ when He came to her, she was cut off spiritually in AD 33, 6 months after the Cross (Acts 7), and cut down and removed from her land (AD 70). Later, Jesus acted this out prophetically when He cursed a Fig Tree for not bearing fruit (Mark 11:12-21). The very same day that the disciples witnessed that the Tree had withered up from its roots, and at the very same location (the Mount of Olives), Jesus gave the Olivet Discourse in which He declared that the Fig Tree would rise again in the end-times as the major sign that the 2nd Coming was near (Matthew 24:32-35, Luke 21:29-32), for Israel must be re-established as a Nation in her Land in order for the end-time prophecies to be fulfilled – the stage must be set for the final scene to take place. Moreover, the Parable of the Fig Tree predicts Israel will initially be regathered in unbelief (leaves only), which was fulfilled in 1948, and affirms that this is the necessary prelude to her bearing fruit (faith), for all Israel will be saved (Romans 11:26).
We are commanded to put on the whole Armour of God in order to stand our ground in the victory of Christ (Ephesians 6:13). Then Paul describes 6 pieces of Armour in v14-17: (1) the Belt of Truth, (2) the Breastplate of Righteousness, (3) the Gospel Shoes, (4) the Shield of the Faith, (5) the Helmet of Salvation, and (6) the Sword of the Spirit. Then v18 describes a 7th item of our Armour – the Lances of Prayer: “praying always with all kinds of prayer and supplication in the Spirit.” Standing firm in our defensive Armour means that we are ready to launch our offensive long-range weapons – the Lances of Prayer. First, we study the Lance of Praise, which binds and silences the enemy (Psalm 8:1-2, Matthew 21:16, Psalm 149:6-9). Secondly, we study the Lance of the Sacrifice of Thanksgiving - thanking God in advance for the fulfilment of His promises and the manifested victory, based on His revealed character (faithfulness). This should be our lifestyle (Hebrews 12:15), and it prepares the way for God to show (manifest) His salvation (Psalm 50:23). Derek then illustrates the place and power of this Sacrifice in (1) the Feeding of the 5000 (John 6:11,23), (2) Jonah's deliverance from the great fish (Jonah 2:9-10), (3) Paul and Silas in prison (Acts 16:23-34), and (4) God fighting for Israel in the time of Jehoshaphat (2Chronicles 20). Finally, we study the Lance of the Prayer of Binding and Loosing in the Name of Jesus, where we use the Keys of the Kingdom to enforce Christ’s finished work and completed victory on earth (Matthew 16:18-19, 18:18). We can bind and loose on earth, whatever Christ has already bound or loosed in Heaven through the New Covenant.
An essential piece of our spiritual Armour is the Helmet of Salvation (Ephesians 6;17, Isaiah 59:17) or more fully: “the Helmet of the HOPE of SALVATION” (1Thessalonians 5:8). The Helmet protects our mind in the battle, from negative, discouraging thoughts, which try to cause us to cause depression and give up hope, so we give up. HOPE is the vision of future manifested salvation, the final outcome of all God’s promises fulfilled in our life. Hope comes from our faith in the promises of God (Romans 15:4). Derek explains how to put our Helmet of Hope on, by speaking the Scriptures to ourselves (to our own souls), as in Psalm 103, and Psalm 42:5: “Why are you cast down, O my soul? and why are you disquieted within me? HOPE in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His Presence.” In the context: “the Helmet of the HOPE of SALVATION” (1Thessalonians 5:8) is referring to our blessed Hope (Titus 2:13), our future salvation at the Rapture (1Thessalonians 4:13 - 5:10).
The Armour of God is described in Ephesians 6:14-17. The GOSPEL SHOES: "having shod your feet with the (shoes of) preparation (readiness) of the Gospel of Peace (another aspect of God's Word)” (v15). To be ready for battle, you need the right shoes to give you a firm footing, so you can stand your ground on God's Word and the completed victory of Christ. These are the shoes of the Gospel, which declares His finished work over sin and every enemy, thereby bringing us into peace with God (peace comes after victory). We put on the Shoes by knowing and embracing the Good News that He has won the victory and we stand firm in that truth, ready for action. We standing in His victory, rather than trying to get the victory. Then v16 says: “above (covering) all, taking (up) the SHIELD of (the) FAITH, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts (arrows) of the wicked one (God’s Word is powerful).” The Shield that protects us is not our faith, but God's Word (the Faith), we need to trust in God’s Word rather than our faith, but it is by faith that we take up the Shield and put it in front of us. The Word must not just wrapped around our heart, but lifted up in front of us, where it can cover every area of our life, by confessing His Word and thanking God for His promises and who He is to us (Heb 13:5-6). The roman shield was like a door covering the whole body, made of 6 layers of animal hide, anointed with oil (the Spirit) and drenched with water (Eph 5:26), able to protect even against fiery arrows filled with combustible liquid designed to explode on impact. Likewise, the anointed Word of God is empowered to protect us, even against the worst weapons of the enemy. These fiery arrows are words (thoughts) set on fire by hell (Jam 3:6), with spiritual power to penetrate our soul and set it on fire (with bitterness, anger, fear, discouragement etc) if our Shield is not up. But if we activate our Shield, by declaring: "The Lord is my Strength, Stronghold, Light, Peace, Provider Shield, Victory..." then the fiery darts will not be able to penetrate our heart and mind and emotions. Derek concludes by giving a classic example of how to put up the Shield of Faith as demonstrated by Paul in Romans 8:28-39, where he says we must not be passive in the face of the things (attacks) of life, but we must declare God's truths (Christ's love for us and His finished work) in response to these things. he asks: "what shall we say to these things?" (v31), and then tells us what we should say (v31-39). In this way, we activate our Shield of God's Word, which quench the evil thoughts (words), sent from the enemy to hurt and destroy us.
In Ephesians 6:14-18, Paul describes the 7 pieces of God's Armour of God, which He provides to us through His Word for our spiritual warfare. The Breastplate of Righteousness (Isa 59:16) is necessary for guarding the heart. To enter into spiritual warfare, it is vital our heart is under the protection of God’s Righteousness (it is the Armour of God). It does not consist of our own righteousness, but the righteousness of Christ. In spiritual warfare, pride is fatal. Instead, we must submit to God and His righteousness, which He gives us by grace (Job 41:34, Luke 10:17-20, Jam 4:6-7), through the Great Exchange (2Cor 5:21). To put on His Breastplate of Righteousness so that it covers and protects our heart, we must submit to His righteousness (Rom 10:3, Phil 3:9). It is attached to the Belt, for it is God's Word which imparts the faith we need to trust in His gift of righteousness. It had 2 parts, a breast and back plate, which correspond to (1) the imputed righteousness of Christ, through which we were justified by faith (Rom 3:28,4:1-8, 5:1, 8:1, Gal 2:16), and (2) the imparted righteousness of Christ (His life and nature) through the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5, 14:17, Gal 5:22-23, 1Cor 1:30). (1) Through FAITH in Christ and His finished work we are justified, declared forgiven and righteous in Christ. This protects the heart from satan’s main weapon – condemnation (Rev 12:10-11, Isa 54:17). (2) The LOVE of Christ filling our souls with His love (Rom 8:4) protects our hearts from evil thoughts. We see these 2 parts of the Breastplate in 1Thess 5:8: “putting on the breastplate of (1) FAITH and (2) LOVE.” We see these 2 kinds of righteousness in: Romans 1:17: “For in the Gospel the righteousness of God is revealed from (1) justifying faith to (2) living faith; as it is written: “The just (by faith) shall live by faith.”
In Ephesians 6:11,13, Paul commands us to put on the whole Armour of God (which God provides to us through His Word). Then in v14-18 he describes the 7 pieces of the Armour of God. Derek shares about the Belt of Truth and how to put it on (v14), and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the spoken word (rhema) of God (v17), and how they work together. The Belt of Truth consists of God's Word (John 17:17), which we are to put on tight by wrapping our heart around with His commands and promises, bringing our thoughts into alignment (1Pet 1:13). Our Belt consists of the Word of God that we know and have embraced until it is part of us. It is the foundational piece of Armour, which is why it is mentioned first (the sword, shield and breastplate were attached to it). If loose, the whole armour falls apart. The Sword of the Spirit fits in the Belt. In a fight, a soldier pulls his sword from his belt. Likewise, in a spiritual fight, we pull a Scripture-Sword from our Belt of Scriptures as quickened by the Spirit, and put in our mouth and speak it. It will then go forth in the power of the Spirit against the enemy. God's Word is like a sharp sword (Hebrews 4:12). Jesus used His Sword 3 times to defeat Satan, saying: "it is written" (Matthew 4:3-10). For the Sword to work we must first have our Belt on tight (know the Word well). We also see the Sword in action in Revelation 12:11, Isaiah 54:17, and Psalm 149:6-9.
We are called to fight the good (victorious) Fight of the Faith (the Word of God) according to 1Timothy 6:12 and 2Tim 4:6. Derek describes the nature of this fight and the keys to successful spiritual warfare. The fight is to stand on and stay true to God’s Word, in faith and practice, against all opposition, deception and wiles of the enemy. It is the fight to stay in the faith, to continue to trust God and His Word. The strategy of the enemy is to try to get you off God's Word. Then you lose. We fight it with God’s Word, by standing, speaking and doing His Word. (1) Our posture in the fight is to stand on His Word (Eph 6:11-14), which means standing on the finished work of Christ, who has already won the victory over every enemy (Col 2:15, Matt 28:18, Eph 1:19-21, Phil 2:9-11, 1Pet 3:22), and has shared the victory with us in His Name (Eph 2:4-6). So, in Christ we are overcomers (1John 2:13-14, 4:4, 5:4-5), more than conquerors (Rom 8:37) in the Name of Jesus (on the basis of His victory, power and authority). As we stand in faith we are automatically in the victory. (2) We must reject pride, and submit to God and resist the enemy (Jam 4:6-7, 1Pet 5:5-9, Job 41:34), by exercising our will in making a quality decision to trust in and stand firm on His Word and not be moved, no matter what happens, enforcing this by confessing the good (victorious) confession of His Word, just as a wrestler does everything in his power to stay on his feet (Eph 6:12, 1Tim 6:12, Isa 54:17, Rev 12:11), (3) As we do this, we must depend on and lay hold of the power of the Holy Spirit (God's eternal life that He gives us by grace - John 3:16, 1John 5:11-12), which is continually available to us by grace (Eph 1:19, 3:20, 5:18, 6:10, 1Tim 6:12). This is necessary, if we are to stand, because we wrestle against principalities and powers (Eph 6:12). Therefore our role in the battle is to submit to God and stand on His Word and resist the devil, standing in the victory of Christ, trusting in His Name, and depending on the power of His Spirit to strengthen our heart (will).
Why is Christianity based on the Death and Resurrection of Christ? Man cannot save himself. Everything of the Old Creation is only worthy of being consigned to judgment and death (Isaiah 53:6). Only then can God bring forth a new creation, a rebirth by resurrection (1Peter 1:3). In His death as the last Adam He took all the sin and curse of the original creation and brought it to judgment thru His death. Then as the 2nd Adam in His resurrection, He became the head of a new creation, the firstborn and first-fruits from the dead, the first of a new breed of redeemed humanity, recreated through their union with Christ (John 14:19, Romans 6:1-11, Colossians 2:12-13, 3:1,10-15, 2Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2:1-10, 4:24).
Derek shares the keys for us to enter and possess our Promised Land (God's perfect will and provision for our life). First, our heart need to be strong in faith, through His Word and Spirit within us, so that we are willing to obey Him. Second, we need the Promise of His Presence with us as we walk with Him, so that we have the courage to obey Him, even when we face opposition without and fears within. He gave this promise to Moses: “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you Rest (the Promised Land)”, and repeated it in Deuteronomy 31:6-8 and Joshua 1:5-9.
Every believer should be looking forward to Jesus' imminent return in the Rapture. All the heathen should recognise when it happens, because it will be one of the last great signs to get right with God by making Jesus Lord of your life – while there is still time to do so. At the invitation of Pastor Nicholas Roberts - Full Grown Ministry, Pastor Derek ministers an in-depth, comprehensive Bible teaching on the Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church.
God’s purpose is for us to be Temples of God, revealed through His earthly Temples, patterned after His heavenly Temple (Dwelling Place), all pictures of His ultimate eternal Temple (redeemed man in Christ). All Temples (earthly & heavenly) reveal different aspects of His ultimate Temple, revealing how we are to function to His glory. Jesus was the 1st functioning human Temple, indwelt by the Holy Spirit (John 1:14, 2:19-21, 4:21-24). Although man was made to be God’s Temple, sin resulted in his spiritual death, so God couldn’t indwell him. But Christ made it possible for our spirit to be born again & His Spirit to indwell us, making us His temples. God’s earthly Temples are built according to a heavenly blueprint (Heb 8:5), so God’s Heavenly Temple, the Father’s House, the New Jerusalem gives the clearest revelation about the shape of His ultimate Temple. When God shows John where He’ll dwell with His People (Bride) for all eternity (His heavenly Temple), He showed him the New Jerusalem, shaped like a great Mountain, Mt Zion, shining with His glory (Rev 21:2-3,9-11). The peak is the holiest place, the holy of holies, His Throne Room, the centre of all authority, down from which flows the river of life alongside its golden streets (Rev 22:1,2). Its 4-square design means the river divides & flows in 4 main directions to water the city (holy place), and then flows out the gates to the land beyond (outer court). Height represents holiness, so holy places are built on high ground to signify their closeness to God. Thus, God’s Throne is at the peak of his holy Mount (Rev 22:1-2). Mountain signifies Kingdom. The river flows downhill from the throne, so the throne must be at the peak (Rev 22:1). This describes us as temples of God. Our highest place is our spirit (Eph 2:6), like a mountain peak. It’s where God’s authority, glory & presence dwells in the Holy Spirit (the holy of holies), the throne room where Christ is enthroned in us, if we’ve received Him as Lord. God, the Fountain of living waters, lives in our spirit (Jer 2:13, John 4:14), and desires His river of life to flow out of our spirit (John 7:38), down into our soul, imparting life, authority, power, wisdom, love, health to it, so it can express His life & nature to God’s glory. The fact the New Jerusalem, the heavenly City & Temple of God is shaped like a pyramid Mountain is confirmed by Heb 12:22-24. As the daughter of the heavenly Zion (Zech 9:9, Gal 4:26), earthly Zion is made after the image of its mother, so earthly Mt Zion is named after the heavenly Mt Zion (Temple Mount), so if the image of the heavenly Mt Zion is a mountain, so too the heavenly Temple. God’s original template for His Dwelling Place (Temple) design is a pyramid mountain City. The whole heavenly Temple (the 3rd Heaven) is also described as ‘Eden, the Garden of God’ = Paradise (Ezek 28:12-13, 2Cor 12:4), so earthly Eden was its image. Both have a garden, tree of life (Gen 2:9, Rev 2:7, 22:2,14), river of life (Gen 2:10-14, Rev 22:1-2) & cherubim, who often appear in temples as guardians of the throne (Gen 3:24, Rev 4:6-8, Ezek 28:14). Thus, Eden was God’s 1st earthly Temple. Lucifer was originally a cherub in Eden, on the holy heavenly Mountain of God, before he was cast down to earth (Ezek 28:12-14,16-17, Isa 14:12-15, Rev 12:4, Luke 10:18). So, the centre of Eden (God’s heavenly Temple) is the holy Mountain, Mt Zion, the New Jerusalem, a Garden City, shaped like a Pyramid. As a cherub, Lucifer lived in this Mount and ministered in the throne room, but in pride tried to ascend within Heaven and establish his own throne above all the angels in God’s Throne Room (Holy of Holies), to sit enthroned on the Mount alongside the Most High, but was cast down to the earth (Isa 14:13-15). This confirms God’s Throne is at the highest point of this Mount, for he tried to ascend & exalt his throne to the highest place in Heaven, when God was enthroned, to be like (equal in authority to) the Most High. As Eden is a name for the whole Heavenly Temple, centred on a Mountain, so it’s the name for the whole original earthly Temple, centred on a Mountain, with (1) its Peak on the west side of Eden (holy of holies), where an underground spring was the source of a great river flowing down into (2) the Garden (holy place) on a plateau on the mountain’s east side, with the tree of life, where man lived & walked with God, where it divided into 4 rivers, which watered the whole earth (Gen 2:8-14). So, Eden was on higher ground than the rest of the earth (water flows downhill), signifying its holiness as God’s temple. After the fall, man was cast out of the Garden, and (3) went further east (3:24-25), onto lower ground at the base of the Mount, but still within Eden (the outer court), a place of God’s Presence (4:16), with an ordained place of sacrifice (4:4), for Cain was cast out of Eden into another land, east of Eden, away from God’s special Temple Presence (4:16).
God’s ultimate purpose for man is that we should be TEMPLES of the LIVING GOD, with God living in us and shining His glory through us. God introduced the concept of Temples (places where God chooses to dwell among men) to the human race from the beginning, which is why temples are in every ancient culture & religion. All EARTHLY TEMPLES of God were patterned according to a heavenly blueprint, the HEAVENLY TEMPLE (Heb 8:5). The Bible describes a sequence of earthly Temples, and all these earthly & heavenly Temples are pictures, encoding revelation of God’s ultimate eternal Temple – redeemed Man in Christ. We need to put together all the clues provided by all the different temples, to see how they all harmonise together, to give a complete picture of who we're called to be as His ultimate Temple. All Temples of God have a tripartite structure: (1) HOLY of HOLIES, (2) HOLY PLACE & (3) OUTER COURT. Likewise, we (1) ARE a SPIRIT, (2) HAVE a SOUL, and (3) LIVE in a BODY. Gen 2:7: “The Lord formed man (1) of the dust of the ground (man’s BODY), and (2) BREATHED into his nostrils the BREATH of LIFE (man’s SPIRIT); and (3) man became a living SOUL.” The fusion of man’s SPIRIT (created by God’s breath) & BODY (made from the earth) formed his SOUL.We're not just individually Temples of God, but are designed to be part of one great corporate TEMPLE of God consisting of all believers. We're LIVING STONES that fit together into a far greater Temple of God. Each has a unique place in that greater Temple of the Holy Spirit. We are all (1) living stones in the TEMPLE of God the Spirit, (2) members of the FAMILY of God the Father, and (3) members of the BODY of Christ the Son. So, we need to think corporately as well as individually. In Matthew 16, Peter is used as an example of a believer, who comes into and becomes part of God’s Temple by faith in Christ (v15-17). Jesus said in v18: “you are Peter (petros, small stone), and ON this ROCK (petra, massive foundation stone) I will build My CHURCH.” The FOUNDATION STONE or ROCK for the Church is CHRIST Himself (1Cor 3:11, 10:4). Peter, an example & picture of all believers, is a small LIVING STONE, that becomes part of the Church, the Temple of God, built on the FOUNDATION ROCK - CHRIST. As living stones built on Christ, we partake of His life & nature (made of the same stuff). He then predicted His death & resurrection (v21). By laying His life down and then rising from the dead, he established Himself as the FOUNDATION STONE for the CHURCH, the TEMPLE of God. The CHURCH only came into existence as the new TEMPLE of God after He laid Himself down as its FOUNDATION STONE in His death & resurrection. In v18, Jesus declared He will BUILD His CHURCH on HIMSELF as the ROCK FOUNDATION. But first, He had to lay Himself down as the Foundation Stone (v21). He's saying in v18-21: “I am the foundation ROCK & foundation SACRIFICE of my new Temple, the Church.” So, thru His death & resurrection, His Temple has a firm FOUNDATION, consecrated to God - the risen CHRIST, who upholds the whole Building before God. Having declared Himself the ROCK-FOUNDATION of His CHURCH, He said: “I first have to die as the foundation Blood Sacrifice, to make this a reality” (v21). He died and was buried as the Foundation Sacrifice, dedicating Himself to God as the FOUNDATION for God's Temple. On the basis of His shed Blood, He was resurrected & established & consecrated to God as the Foundation Stone for God’s eternal Temple (Heb 13:20). To be in the Kingdom (Temple) of God, we must enter in through Christ, our Threshold Stone, through faith in His sacrificial death & resurrection for us. To reject His Blood Sacrifice, counting it as something of no value, is to trample on Him & His precious Blood, resulting in eternal punishment (Heb 10:29). CHRIST Himself is the FOUNDATION STONE or ROCK (1Cor 3:11). He completed the laying down of this FOUNDATION of HIMSELF in His death, burial & resurrection. So, He's now our living FOUNDATION. 1Peter 2:4: “COMING to HIM (the risen CHRIST) as to a LIVING STONE (the FOUNDATION STONE), rejected indeed by men (His death), but chosen by God & precious (His resurrection & exaltation).” 1Peter 2:5: “You also, as LIVING STONES, are being BUILT UP (together) as a spiritual HOUSE (upon Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit), a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Thru our union with CHRIST, the LIVING FOUNDATION STONE, we are blessed with His life & nature, and so become LIVING STONES, built together into the Temple of God upon Christ, our Foundation. So, Christ told Peter he was a LIVING STONE, BLESSED with eternal life, part of God’s Temple, built on the ROCK of CHRIST, the LIVING FOUNDATION STONE in Matthew 16, and Peter applies this to all believers in 1Peter 2:5. This House is the HOLY TEMPLE of God, the DWELLING PLACE of God (1Cor 3:16-17, Eph 2:21-22).
God introduced the concept of TEMPLES to the human race from the very beginning, which is why you see temples in every ancient culture and religion. Even if the religion is corrupted, man has an understanding of the fundamental concept of a temple as it is part of God’s original general revelation to mankind. A TEMPLE is designed to be a DWELLING PLACE of GOD, and God introduced TEMPLES to reveal His ULTIMATE PURPOSE for mankind. God created man to be His TEMPLE, and now His plan is to redeem us, so that we might be the DWELLING PLACE of God, that God would dwell with us and IN US! In salvation, the forgiveness of sin is just the beginning, the necessary preparation in order to make possible the fulfilment of His ultimate purpose - that we might become the holy Temples of the Living God. Each Temple of God was a visual aid, a teaching tool, designed to reveal what it means to be a Temple of God (the nature, design and operation of a temple). Ultimately, these temples are all revelations of redeemed MAN in Christ – God’s ultimate and eternal Dwelling Place, which we see fulfilled in Rev 21-22. All the earthly temples of God are pictures of God’s ultimate eternal TEMPLE – redeemed MANKIND in Christ. We are designed to be Temples of the Living God, so that God might dwell in us and be glorified through us. The EARTHLY Temples were made according to a HEAVENLY blueprint – the HEAVENLY Temple (Heb 8:5). So, earthly Temples are images of the heavenly Temple (Mount Zion, the New Jerusalem), both of which are pictures of God’s ultimate eternal Temple – redeemed MAN in Christ. The Bible describes a sequence of earthly Temples, which are patterned after the heavenly Temple, and all these earthly and heavenly Temples are pictures (revelations) of God’s ultimate eternal Temple – redeemed MAN. The ultimate fulfilment in Christ is not just that we individually are Temples of God, but that God joins all redeemed humanity in Christ together into a union, so that together, we all form one great corporate Temple of God, Christ & His Body - the Dwelling Place of God forever. This is God’s vision for mankind. All the different temples have different characteristics, each providing different pieces of the complete picture. They all harmonise together, but each one carries only part of the whole revelation of God’s ultimate Temple. To get the full picture of what we are called to be, we must put together what each temple reveals. The main earthly temples are: (1) The Garden of Eden, (2) Mount Sinai, (3) The Tabernacle of Moses, (4) the 1st Temple of Solomon, (5) the 2nd Temple (Herod's Temple), (6) the 3rd (Tribulation) Temple, (4) the 4th (Millennial) Temple. Individually, we are Temples of God, and God is also fitting us together as living stones to form one great ultimate Temple of God (1Peter 2:5). We understand spiritual things by their physical analogy, so by understanding all the analogies (the earthly and heavenly temples) we can learn much about God’s ultimate Temple (the Church), and we will understand how we are designed to be God’s Temple, and how everything works and connects together. Basically, a Temple has 2 PARTS: (1) the Temple BUILDING, and (2) the GOD who dwells within the Temple, for a Temple is the Dwelling Place of God: “(2) the LORD GOD Almighty and (1) the LAMB (Christ and those who are in Christ) are its TEMPLE” (Rev 21:22). A Temple is a Holy Place, for God’s PRESENCE dwells within the Temple, and His GLORY shines out from the Temple, sometimes represented as RIVERS of LIVING WATER flowing out from the Temple (Gen 2:10, Ezek 47, Joel 3:18, Rev 22:1-2, John 7:37-39). Through the New Covenant, established by Jesus Christ, His believers become Temples of the Living God, indwelt by the Spirit of God. This is God’s plan & purpose for man coming to pass – that God would dwell in man, that man would become a Temple of God. Jesus came & died & rose again to make this possible (1Cor 3:16-17: 6:17-20, 2Cor 6:16, Rev 21:3). Man is the ultimate Temple of God, so all the other temples are teaching tools to reveal God’s purpose for man, and how man is designed to connect with God and function under the grace and power of God. Jesus came as a sinless man, the PROTOTYPE TEMPLE of God, a man indwelt by and filled with the Spirit of God - showing us what man is meant to be like. He declared He was a TEMPLE of God (John 8:12). By His death & resurrection, Jesus multiplied and reproduced Himself in us (John 12:23-24). Through the New Birth the Holy Spirit indwells every believer, making us all into Temples of God. The Spirit is the Fountain of living waters within us (Jer 2:13, 17:13), a continual Source of outpoured grace (rivers of life) flowing into our heart, causing us to worship God & empowering us to serve Him. (John 4:13-14). So now there are many Temples, and God is building us all together into one great Temple (Christ) – His ultimate Purpose.
Ps 27 continues with David concluding his confident declaration of faith (v1-6), saying: “And now my head shall be lifted up (in honour) above my enemies all around me” (v6a). God will exalt him to be king (v5). If we exalt Him in worship, He’ll exalt us. Time in worship gives us confidence in God's protection & hope for the future. He sees beyond the present to God’s victory, when he’ll praise God with His people, thanking Him for manifested victory: “Therefore, I will offer sacrifices of joy in His Tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord” (v6b). God gave him victory over the immediate threat (v1-6), but he had to endure a hardness for 8 years, in constant danger & need for His help, so now he moves to humble entreaty for ongoing favour & deliverance (v7-12). Knowing himself as weak & sinful, dependent on God, he doesn’t presume on His blessing, but urgently asks for continuing mercy & grace. v7: “Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also on me, and answer me” (v7). Due to the wait time between promise & fulfilment, he battles negative thoughts of fear & condemnation. But as a worshipper (v4-6), rather than giving into fears, he gives them to God in prayer (v7-12) & comes into assurance (v13).“When You said: “SEEK My FACE (Presence)!” My HEART said to You: “Your FACE (Presence), Lord, I WILL SEEK” (v8). He reminds God, He initiated this relationship by inviting him to seek Him. This is God’s command to all, for the first ‘seek’ is plural. He graciously invites all to seek & find Him, to know Him personally. True prayer is our response to His gracious initiative. He reminds God he did respond by setting his will (heart) to seek & know Him. So, he was sure he’d find Him, for God reveals Himself & blesses all who seek Him (Deut 4:29, Jer 29:13, Matt 7:7). Those who don’t find God have not set their heart to seek to know Him. Saying: “I WILL seek” shows intentionality. He was a man (who sought) after God’s heart (v4, 1Sam 13:14, Acts 13:22). We need to pay attention to God, if we want Him to pay attention to us (hear our prayers). He realises he’s not perfect & deserves condemnation, so has to deal with negative accusing thoughts, which he does in prayer: “Do not hide Your FACE from me, do not turn Your servant away in anger” (v9a). When His face shines on us, He’s gracious toward us, but if He hides His face, He’s displeased, and we need to confess our sin & turn back to Him. “You have been my help (in the past, so); do not leave (abandon) me (now) nor forsake me (in my time of need), O God of my salvation” (v9b). In his weakness, he abandons himself to God, expressing total dependence on Him. This is how to handle inner fears - bring them to God. When you sin don’t run from God, but to God. He’s the God of your salvation. Despite our failings, if we seek Him (v8), He’ll not hide His face from us (v9). He knew God as His Saviour (v9) & perfect Parent: “When (even if) my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me (receive, gather me up as a father lifts up his son & provides for him)” (v10). Even if our strongest relationships fail, God will not forsake us. He has that assurance, for God is what every parent should be (merciful, faithful, loving & forgiving). Having spent face to face time with God, he now prays for guidance, to walk in His will: “(1) TEACH me Your WAY, O Lord, and (2) LEAD me in a smooth (straight, level) path, because of my enemies (lit: watchful foes, looking for him to go wrong & take advantage)” (v11). (1) We need to know the WAY and (2) be LED step by step in it. “Do not deliver me to the will (desire) of my adversaries (v3, including demons); for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out (threats & acts of) violence.” Having faced his inner fears, he prayed through into the light of assurance: “I would have lost heart, UNLESS I had (firmly) BELIEVED that I would SEE (look steadfastly on, as in v4) the (manifest) goodness (promised provision) of the Lord in the land of the living (in this life)” (v13). Thus, it finishes as it starts with confidence God’s plan will come to pass (he’ll be king). If we look on the Lord in worship (v4) & wait on Him in faith (v14), His glory will change us and bring God’s will to pass in our life. v14: “WAIT (in FAITH) on (set your HOPE on) the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. WAIT, I say, on the Lord!” WAIT is repeated for emphasis. He speaks to himself, then us. YLT: “LOOK to Jehovah, be STRONG, and He will STRENGTHEN your HEART, yea, LOOK to Jehovah!” When God promises, its time of fulfilment is in His hands. Sometimes there’s a delay, as with David. The danger is to lose heart. So, in this time, we must stand strong in faith, believing He’ll bring it to pass. Wait patiently & expectantly in faith for Him, looking to Him for directions. Then His Spirit strengthens, encourages, enlightens our heart & empowers us to obey (v14).
“A Psalm of David before he was anointed” (Septuagint). The setting is before he became king, on the run from Saul (v2,3,6,12). It starts with a confident confession of faith in the face of enemies (v1-3): “The Lord is my LIGHT and my SALVATION (rescue from danger & victory) - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the STRENGTH (stronghold) of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?” (v1). When under attack, the 1st victory is overcoming fear by knowing God's Presence with us. “Fear not for I am with you” (Isa 41:10, 43:5, Heb 13:5-6). We must believe the promise of His saving Presence & declare it as in v1: “The LORD is my LIGHT and my SALVATION.” Only here in the Old Testament is LIGHT a title (metaphor) for GOD, although He’s associated with light. The New Testament develops this idea & uses it for Jesus. God’s Light is His Presence bringing understanding, goodness, purity & overcoming darkness (evil). Thus, he declares His light will protect him from the surrounding darkness (behind Saul's attacks was a spiritual war over his & Israel’s future). He spoke from his personal covenant relationship with God: “MY light & MY salvation” - his ground for confidence (freedom of expression, opposite of constricting fear). Ps 27 gives the key to overcome paralysing fear. He overcame the spirit of fear by being a worshipper, dwelling in God's Presence (v4-6); then declaring his faith. He did not close his eyes to his dangers, but saw them thru God’s eyes: “When the wicked came against me, to eat up (devour) my flesh (like wild animals), my enemies and foes, (1) they (have) stumbled and (2) fell (lit: ‘will fall’ in defeat)” (v2). When the wicked (like Goliath) came against him they fell. It can be translated: “when the wicked come against me”, which they did as he spoke. Then he uses 2 tenses to describe a process leading to a result. (1) When a man opposes God, he’s already stumbling (on his way down), and (2) will fall in defeat. But we’re in a process leading to victory. ‘They’ is emphatic, the ones seeking his fall are the ones who fall. “Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. Though war (warriors) may rise against me, in this (present situation) I will be confident (lit: ‘I am trusting’)” (v3). Thus, he composed Ps 27 as Saul's army came against him. In the face of that, he declares his faith, as we should (Romans 8:31).The ground for his confidence in v1-3 was knowing God as his light (presence), salvation (victory) & stronghold (protection), but how did He know God this way? v4-6 explain his confidence came from a lifestyle of WORSHIP, when he learnt to abide in God's Presence: “ONE THING I have desired (asked) of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may DWELL in the HOUSE (Presence) of the LORD all the days of my life to BEHOLD the BEAUTY of the Lord and to INQUIRE in His TEMPLE” (v4). The all-important thing for him is dwelling in God's Presence, represented by the Temple - his top priority, the foundation of his life. Don’t fit God into your plans, but your plans around the priority of worship. He describes worship & personal intimate communion with God: BEHOLD = to gaze on with admiration, affection & adoration, steadfast penetrating contemplation. The BEAUTY of the Lord - the delightfulness, loveliness, graciousness of His Person, His holiness = perfection of all His moral attributes. Beholding His beauty is preoccupation with His Person, seeking to know God for Himself, savouring His sweetness. Worship is our response to seeing His beauty of holiness. To INQUIRE in His TEMPLE is preoccupation with finding His will, seeking answers & guidance in His Presence. Take time to fellowship with God & receive His directions. The most important part of our life is what only God sees. Longing for Temple also applies to public worship in Church, that should be our priority. Worship was his priority both privately & corporately. Dwelling in His Presence is needed for His promises to be fulfilled. Intimacy with God in His Secret Place brings security from external dangers (Ps 91). “For in the time of trouble, He shall hide me in His Pavilion (Shelter). In the Secret Place of His Tabernacle (Tent), He shall hide me (from enemies)” (v5a). Dwelling in God's Tent as His invited guest is a place of safety, for guests have a claim of protection, so the tent is a fortress. There’s fellowship, provision & protection in His Presence. “He shall set me high upon a (‘in the’) ROCK (a title only used of God)” (v5b). As we seek Him in worship, He lifts us on high in Christ, our Rock Fortress, high above all our foes & fears. By a life of abiding in God, he knew he’d be delivered & have the victory. So, he declares: “And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me. Therefore, I will offer sacrifices of joy in His Tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord” (v6). The basis for his confidence & freedom from fear was God's Presence, cultivated by a lifestyle of worship.
(1) In Christ we find Refuge. Safety is found in Jesus Christ (Isaiah 32:2, Proverbs 18:10). But Divine judgment is coming on the ungodly, who are outside Christ (Psalm 1:4, 11:6, Jeremiah 23:19, 30:23, 2Thessalonians 2:8).(2) In Christ we find Refreshment. Having made us completely safe, Christ then makes us fully satisfied (Isaiah 32:2, Psalm 42:1, 143:6, John 4:10,14, 7:37-38, Revelation 21:6, 22:17).(3) In Christ we find Rest. Jesus provides in Himself a place of shade and peaceful rest from the world (Isaiah 32:2, Hebrews 4:9-10, Matthew 11:28-30).
Psalm 26 portrays a man devoted to God, seeking His glory, not his own (v12), wholehearted in leading a blameless life (v1), trusting God without wavering (v1b), keeping himself pure, walking in the light, his heart open to examination (v2), walking in God's love & truth (v3), avoiding close company with evil doers (v4-5). God's House (the setting) is central to his life (v6-8,12). Only Christ perfectly fulfils this description, but we are righteous in Christ, and as we walk with Him, He changes us into His image. David does not boast in a self-righteous way, claiming he is sinless, for he knows his need for redemption & mercy (v11), and trusts in divine grace as His foundation (v3,12). It inspires us to embrace the ideal of faith covenant keeping, but achieving it is not a pre-condition for entering into worship. It’s given for us to affirm & strengthen our love for God. Declaring we love righteousness & hate evil, even if we’re not perfect, helps us identify with the good & reject the evil. Saying: “I love You, Lord” is not a claim of perfection, but strengthens our commitment to Him. He describes his inner life & outward deeds (integrity). He declared his innocence of accusations against him, affirming he walks with God & seeks to keep His laws: “VINDICATE (judge) me, O Lord” (v1a). His enemies (v4-5, 9-10) slandered him (especially at Absalom’s rebellion). In response, he brought his case to God, asking Him to judge in his favor, according to 1Ki 8:31-32. He declared his innocence: “O Lord, for I have (1) WALKED in my integrity (devoted heart, loyal to God). I have also (2) TRUSTED in the Lord; I shall not slip (unwavering trust)” (1Ki 9:4-5). Note the parallelism: (1) his outward WALK from (2) his inner TRUST in God’s grace, the root & sap of moral integrity. His holiness empowers our morality, overcoming our sin-nature. He is willing to be examined & corrected by God: “Examine (test) me, O Lord, and prove me; try (refine, as in metals) my mind ('kidneys', seat of emotions) and my heart (will, moral centre)” (v2). A mark of believers is coming to the light, inviting God to search our heart and show us what is right & wrong (John 3:19-21). If we don’t want to be told we're wrong, we don’t come to the light, but then we live in a lie and will pay the price. “For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes and I have walked in Your truth (faithfulness)” (v3). Again, we see faith & works in balance. By trusting in God’s faithfulness, He walks in faithfulness to God, in the truth of His Word in doctrine & deed.He then describes another vital aspect of holy living, separation from evil people & their corrupting ways. We must choose our close friends carefully. “(1) I have not SAT (had close fellowship with) with idolatrous (worthless, those given to the pursuit of vanity) mortals, nor (2) will I go in with hypocrites (play-actors)” (v4). “(1) I have HATED (rejected) the assembly of evildoers, and (2) will not SIT (fellowship) with the wicked” (v5). He rejects their ways, works & company. He hated sin & loved God as seen in his WORSHIP: “I will wash my hands in innocence” (v6a). The priests washed their hands at the Laver before ministering at the Altar, so he prepares his heart to minister to God (Eph 5:26). “So, I will go about Your Altar O Lord” (v6b). True worship centres on Christ’s Sacrifice, the basis of God's grace. “That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Your wondrous works” (v7). We give thanks for His works of salvation. “Lord, I have LOVED the habitation of Your House (where God dwells & His people assemble), and the Place where Your Glory (manifest Presence) dwells (‘the Place of the Tabernacle of Your Glory’)” (v8). As we draw near to God, His Glory will be revealed to us. Contrast his loves with his hates (v5). We should also love His Church. Knowing God is the Judge, he prays: “Do not gather (‘take away’) my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men” (v9). "Do not sweep me away with sinners into Your rubbish dump (Hell)." He describes these sinners: “in whose hands is a sinister scheme (plotting for gain at the expense of others), and whose right hand is full of bribes (corruption)” (v10). God will separate the righteous & wicked. Next, he declares his full commitment to God by His help: “But as for me, I will walk in my integrity” (v11a). This is loyalty to God, not self-righteousness, for he knows his need for mercy: “(1) REDEEM me and (2) be MERCIFUL (gracious) to me” (v11b). As he walks round the Altar, he knows he needs redemption by Christ’s blood, and so asks God to redeem, forgive & empower him to please Him. Finally, he is assured his prayer has been granted: “My foot stands in an even place” (v12a). By trusting in Christ, he stands on level solid ground, so will not go to Hell. So, what is left, but to declare His praise: “in the great congregation I will bless the Lord” (v12b). Praising God in Church is a mark of a true believer.
God wants us to enter into deeper communion with Him, through the Holy Spirit, who will lead us into knowing more of the truth of His Word, and who will guide and empower us in our lives. The Holy Spirit opens our heart to believe and receive the extravagant, amazing and eternal love of God, which heals and restores our heart.
After his initial prayer (v1-7), he moves into a meditation on God’s attributes & acts, to fuel his prayers (v8-10): “Good and upright is the Lord; therefore, He teaches sinners in the WAY (of holiness)” (v8). In His goodness, He works to save us all from destruction, but only the humble receive His instruction, for they know their need of guidance and are willing to submit to God’s will. The proud go their own way, thinking they don’t need God. “The HUMBLE He guides in justice (righteousness), and the humble He teaches His WAY” (v9). The key to guidance is humility, asking God to show us His way. “All the PATHS of the Lord are MERCY and TRUTH (faithfulness), to such as keep (are loyal to) His covenant and His testimonies” (v10). We’re in a covenant grace relationship with God, but to enjoy His presence & blessing, we must be loyal to God and keep His Covenant, walking in love & truth. If we don’t, we can’t have His Presence. Based on this meditation, he makes this PRAYER: “For Your NAME’s sake, O Lord, pardon my iniquity, for it is great” (v11). God's Name is His revealed character (v8-10). He asks God to pardon his great iniquity according to His Name (His faithfulness to forgive those who repent). Also, He pardons us for His Name's sake, for His glory, as He is glorified by our salvation. As Absalom’s rebellion brought his past sins back to mind, he had to deal with condemning thoughts, so makes sure he has fully repented and received full forgiveness.Then he meditates on the BENEFITS of the FEAR of the Lord (v12-14): “Who is the man that FEARS the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses” (v12). The fear of God is the beginning of knowledge & wisdom (Prov 1:7, 9:10). “He himself shall dwell in prosperity (lit: goodness), and his descendants shall inherit the earth (possess the land)” (v13). “The SECRET (or friendship) of the Lord is with those who FEAR Him, and He will SHOW (reveal & manifest to) them His covenant.” Fearing God brings us into His intimate circle, to whom He shares His secrets, as with Abraham (2Chr 20:7, Isa 41:8, Jas 2:23). The closer we come to Him, the more He reveals & manifests Himself to us. We can’t comprehend spiritual things apart from the Spirit; we need His Presence in our soul to perceive & receive spiritual things (1Cor 2:12-15). Without Him we’re like a blind & deaf man. To explain His secrets to those without the Spirit is like describing colours to a blind man. It’s by submission to (fear of) God we receive the Spirit into our soul (Is 11:2,3). Thus, it is the beginning of wisdom & knowledge. This meditation (v12-14) built his faith, resulting in a DECLARATION of FAITH: “My eyes are ever toward the Lord (looking to God in expectation), for He shall pluck (lit: bring out) my feet out of the net” (v15). As David speaks, his enemies have already set a net for him, for Absalom's armies were closing in on him, but he trusts God for victory.His final PRAYER (v16-22): “TURN Yourself to me, and have MERCY on me” (v16a). He says: "I am looking to You (v15), please look at me and smile on me, and release Your radiant Presence on me, flood me with your grace." “for I am desolate (lonely) and afflicted” (v16b). He reminds God how much he needs Him for most Israel had turned against him. “The troubles of my heart have enlarged; bring me out of my distresses! Look on my affliction and my pain, and forgive all my sins” (v17-18). Again, he admits his sins are behind many of his problems, so asks for mercy to overcome the effects and forgiveness for any unknown sins. “Consider my enemies, for they are many; and they hate me with cruel (violent) hatred. Keep my soul, and deliver me; let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You” (v19-20, cf. v2). “Let integrity and uprightness preserve me (this is his own integrity) for I wait for You” (v21, cf. v1). He knew his need to walk before God with integrity (a whole heart), to stay in His Presence to be protected & delivered. He knows it’s God’s Presence that preserves Him, but we need to walk with God to abide under His Presence. He’s not trusting in his own integrity (“for I wait for You”), but in God. The acrostic ends at v21, then in v22 his prayer expands to Israel as a whole. It was not just the future of David on the line, but all God’s people: “REDEEM (ransom) Israel, O God, out of all their troubles!” (v22). He understood all blessings for which he’d prayed, are only available on the basis of the payment of a price. This is a prayer for the coming of the Redeemer, who would redeem Israel & all God's people by His Blood. Christ alone can bring the full forgiveness & restoration desired in this prayer by His (1) Blood (1st Coming) and (2) Power (2nd Coming). He prayed Ps 25 in his time of trouble and God answered him, but v22 expands it to all of Israel’s troubles, including her final & full restoration, so we can also pray it with confidence.
Ps 25 describes a man devoted to God & trusting in Him, but also aware of his faults & past sins, so his prayer is based on God’s mercy, not his own performance. It’s an Acrostic - each verse starts with the next letter of the alphabet, a literary device to add form & aid memorisation. Many elements fit with the time of Absalom’s rebellion. His reference to the sins of his youth (v7) shows it's set later in his life. David is in distress, on the run from his enemies, but also aware his sins opened the door to this rebellion, as Nathan predicted in 2Sam 12:11. So, seeking divine deliverance from enemies is a major theme (v2,3,15,16,17,18,19). He acknowledges the root of his troubles was his own sins (when we sin, we turn our back to God & open the door to the curse). So, asking for God’s mercy & forgiveness is also a major theme (v6,7,11.18). Thus, it's called a Penitential Psalm. So, he declares his faith that: “You are the God of my salvation” (v5) from both sin & enemies. Likewise, God saves us from our sins (the root problem) & rescues us from our enemies (the resulting curse).Part 1 is a PRAYER (v1-7). “Unto You, O LORD, I LIFT UP my SOUL” (v1). Like a windsurfer trying to catch the wind, we need to lift up our earthbound soul to God (Isa 40:31), seeking fellowship with Him. We need to put aside everything else and direct our soul toward God in faith, looking & waiting on Him, in submission, ready to receive His life. Then he prays for DELIVERANCE from his enemies (v2-3). Thus, he starts with his outer life. Even if we are at peace we should pray into our future: “Deliver us from evil” (Matt 6:13). “O my God, I TRUST (take refuge) in You; let me not be ASHAMED; let not my enemies triumph over me.” He bases his prayer on his covenant with God. By faith he draws near to God and lays hold of His protection. 'Ashamed' means to be disappointed, to trust in something that proves unworthy (Rom 5:5, 10:11, Isa 49:23). This is a prayer for public vindication thru victory, which will also result in God’s glory. “Indeed, let no one who WAITS on You be ASHAMED” (v3a), or better: “no one who WAITS on You (in faith) will be ASHAMED” (v3a). He is confident of this fact. To WAIT is to actively look to God & wait for His instructions, ready to obey, like a waiter. It’s an attitude of submission to God’s timing, leadership & wisdom, rather than rushing ahead in the flesh. This is how he responded to Absalom's rebellion. “Let those be ASHAMED, who deal treacherously without cause” (v3b). This describes his enemies who followed Absalom in his lies & treachery. Then he moves from praying for his outward life to his inner life by first praying for GUIDANCE (v4-5), for he understood outward victory & good circumstances require walking with God, as he did at the time of Absalom’s rebellion (prayer is superficial if all we pray for is our outer life): “Show me Your WAYS, O Lord; teach me Your PATHS” (v4). God's WAYS are love, righteousness, service, integrity, faith, and His PATHS include their practical application in our lives. Receiving His guidance is not enough, for he also knows he needs God to lead him step by step along His path: “LEAD me in Your truth and TEACH me, for You are the God of my salvation (from my sin & enemies). On You I WAIT all the day (patience in waiting, his settled attitude)” (v5). Guidance is part of our personal walk with God. It’s of the heart, not mechanical obeying of rules, a lifestyle of waiting & obeying.Then he prays for MERCY: “REMEMBER, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses (chesed), for they are from of old (eternity)” (v6). To remember is to bring certain thoughts to the forefront of one's mind as a basis for our attitude & actions. It is used as a covenant word, as in remembering our covenant with God (1Cor 11:24-25), and God remembering us in His covenant love (Lk 23:42). He grounds His prayer on divine mercy, not justice (Ex 34:6). “Do NOT REMEMBER the sins of my youth (Bathsheba), nor my transgressions; according to Your MERCY REMEMBER me, for Your GOODNESS’ sake, O Lord” (v7). "Don’t let your attitude & actions toward me be based on my sins, but on your covenant love for me. Don’t just forgive my sins, forget them." He knows he’s forgiven (2Sam 12:13, Ps 32, 51), but his troubles reminded him of his past sins, that led to this situation, causing him to turn to God in humility and reaffirm before God his full repentance, and in faith plead for & claim God’s covenant promises of forgiveness (MERCY) & grace (GOODNESS) to overcome the effect of those sins. This was also needed as the situation would have triggered accusing thoughts of condemnation, encouraged by satan (this whole attack on David's Throne was part of a bigger spiritual warfare, where satan tried to stop God's purposes thru him), that would have paralysed his faith had he allowed them. So, it was necessary for him to bring these thoughts to God in prayer, claiming His covenant mercy & grace.
Pastor Derek looks at what the Bible Prophecy has to say about Israel in the End-Times.
Messiah's anointed Ministry is prophesied in Isaiah 61:1-3: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them BEAUTY for ASHES, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” The Messiah came to set us free from the power of the enemy (Genesis 3:15).(1) The POWER of the Messiah’s Ministry. Isaiah 61:1: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me"(2) The PROVISION of the Messiah’s Ministry (Isaiah 61:2-3). He provides beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning (Psalm 45:6-7, Romans 14:17, 15:13, Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 126:1-3) and a garment of praise (Psalm 30:11-12).*(3) The PURPOSE of the Messiah’s Ministry. Isaiah 61:3: "that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be GLORIFIED.” Isaiah 60:21: "Your people shall all be righteous; they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, that I may be GLORIFIED." Also Psalm 92:12-15.
The dramatic words of v7-10 were spoken at the Gates of Jerusalem, when David brought the Ark of the Covenant to God's earthly holy Hill in a procession (2Sam 6, 1Chr 15). This was the ascension of the Lord Himself, enthroned on the Ark (Ps 132:5-8) to His chosen resting place in the city of the great King (Ps 48:2, Matt 5:35). Thus, it’s a type of Christ’s Ascension to His throne in the New Jerusalem, God's heavenly holy Hill, as well as His ascension to sit on David’s throne at His 2nd Coming. It’s a Messianic Psalm ultimately fulfilled in His Ascension. v3-6 poses & starts to answer a big question: “Who may ASCEND into the Hill of the LORD or STAND in His Holy Place?” (v3). God’s requirement to ascend & stand in His Presence is perfection (v4), so it’s impossible for us, but God provides salvation by grace (v5-6). In v7-10, He answers the big question, revealing the unique perfect Man, Christ, who ascended to Heaven, the King of Glory, mighty in battle who defeated all foes & accomplished our salvation. It reveals that with Him many will ascend, showing how God provides us salvation by grace (v5). We can’t climb to God, but He came down to us, so we could rise with Him (Heb 2:10). He fulfilled the conditions of v4; then ascended to Heaven (v7-10), to make a way for us to rise with Him. Before this no man ascended to Heaven (John 3:13). He alone fulfils God's standards. The scene describes this glorified Man ascending to Heaven & coming to its Gates to request access. v7-10: “Lift up your heads, O you Gates! and be lifted up, you everlasting Doors! and the KING of GLORY shall come in. Who is this KING of GLORY? (God does not seek entrance to Heaven, so this refers to Christ, His anointed human King). The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle (He’s the Lord God, who became a man, fought the battle & won the victory for us). Lift up your heads, O you Gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this KING of GLORY? The LORD of HOSTS (armies), He is the KING of GLORY. Selah.” v3 asked: 'Who can ascend?' Here is the answer. He lived a perfect life, defeated all foes & ascended, but not on His own. He’s the Lord of armies. When He enters thru the Gates, His army of saints enter with Him, united to Him by faith. He gained access to Heaven for all under His command. Thus Ps 24 deals with the issue of salvation, asking & answering: “Who may ascend?” (v3). To enter requires moral perfection (v4). When we receive Him, we receive His righteousness, so in Him we ascend into God's Presence & receive His blessing (v5). He’s the Head and we, His Body, rise with Him. He rose as our representative, so we ascend in Him. Thus Christ, the Righteous One, is the Way to God (John 14:6,12). Moses’ Tabernacle teaches our access to the Holy Place (v3) is only by His Blood.Ps 24:7-10 also reveals His future earthly ascension to David’s throne. He humbly offered Himself to Israel as her King with salvation, but the leaders didn’t receive Him. He said He’d only return when they repent & receive Him as King (Matt 23:37-39). They’ll do this at Armageddon & then He’ll return as King of Glory to Zion, save them from their enemies & establish His Kingdom (Zech 14:3-4). When Israel receives Him as King, He’ll manifest His glory to, thru & for her. Notice, He didn’t force Himself into Heaven, or force His reign on Israel, and He doesn’t force Himself on us. We must receive Him as our King, and then He’ll manifest His glory in & thru us. He reveals & offers Himself to us to be our Lord & Saviour. When we open the gates of our heart to Him, He comes in with His glory, 1st into our spirit, then into different parts of our soul. So v7-10 can be applied personally. He fulfilled it by ascending into the Heavenly Temple, but we’re also God's Temple & He has the right to enter our holy of holies & be enthroned there. The Gospel declares v7 (Rev 3:20). By these words, He seeks access to our Temple, and we must open our gates & let Him in. When we do, He enters our spirit & imparts His glory (manifested nature) to us, as a free gift, making our spirit righteous, holy, full of His life & light, enabling us to ascend into God’s Presence in Him. Since He’s already ascended, as soon as He enters into us, we automatically ascend in our spirit to the Father thru our union to Him, by His power & righteousness in us. He comes in as the Lord, delivering us from the power of darkness & translating us into His Kingdom. Then His glory (love) works in our souls from within, changing us from glory to glory, so we increasingly fulfil His righteous requirements (v4). As we increase in holiness, the more we can ascend into His Presence to commune with Him (v3). He continues to ask for more access to every part of our soul, with the words of v7, so as we open our doors, inviting Him in to reign, He manifests Himself in us as the King of Glory, the Lord strong & mighty in battle, releasing His power & victory in us.
The background to Ps 24 is the ascension of the Ark of the Covenant (God’s earthly throne) to its rightful place in Jerusalem in a great procession, with much rejoicing (2Sam 6, 1Chron 13,15). It signified God arising to be enthroned in Jerusalem, His chosen dwelling place (Ps 132). The event’s importance is reflected in the pomp & pageantry of Ps 24. This is a type of Christ’s Ascension to sit on God's throne in the New Jerusalem & future ascension to sit on His earthly throne in Jerusalem. What gave significance to this event is the holiness of the Hill of the Lord (His dwelling place) and the King of Glory enthroned on the Ark. The question & answers in Ps 24 were part of the dramatic ceremony, enacted before the city gates. The answers affirm only the King of Glory is worthy to enter thru the Gates and ascend to His place on the holy Hill. Likewise, Christ alone (the King of Glory) is worthy to ascend into Heaven, but He did it for us, so that in Christ, we also can ascend into God's holy Presence in Heaven. Ps 24 is in 3 parts: (1) The Sovereign Creator, who owns all things (v1-2). (2) The Heavenly Temple – the requirements for Ascension (v3-6), how can a man know such a high God, stand before Him & receive His blessing? Perfection is required, which is a problem for us. (3) The true Redeemer – the King of Glory (v7-10). God became a man, and made a way to bring men to God. PART 1. The Truth about God (v1-2): "The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness (expanded in next line), the world and those who dwell therein (its produce and people)" (v1). This is quoted x2 in 1Cor 10:25-28 (see Ps 50:10-11). WHY does it all belong to Him? He is its Maker & Manager: "For He has (1) founded it on the seas (Maker, Gen 1:2,9,10, 2Pet 3:5), and (2) established it on the waters (rivers, symbolic of His Providence)" (v2). ‘Established’ (imperfect tense) speaks of His ongoing management of the earth. He’s the rightful Owner of all things. We are just tenant possessors of the earth & stewards of God’s resources, for which we’ll give account. Our life is not for us to do with as we please. God’s authority is absolute over all, He has the right to do whatever He wants with us & the world. When we see this, it humbles us. The big question we must ask is: "How can I be right with God?" This seems impossible due to the infinite gap between us as sinful creatures & the holy God. Holiness is represented by height, so God is high above us (Is 57:15, 55:8). For man to be right with God & commune with Him requires us to ascend, but how is this possible? This is what David asks in PART 2: God’s requirements for Ascension (v3-6): "Who may ASCEND the Hill of the Lord? (Heavenly Jerusalem) or STAND in His Holy Place?" (v3). The answer, the moral requirements for ascension, is given in v4: "(1) He who has clean hands & (2) a pure heart" (v4a). Here Hebrew parallelism works like stereo vision to give a full 3D picture, emphasising both his (1) outward actions & (2) inward attitudes & motives must be pure & perfect. This is followed by another parallelism emphasising (1) perfect holiness & (2) perfect righteousness: "(1) who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor (2) sworn deceitfully" (v4b). These represent the (1) God-ward requirement of true worship, free from idolatry, and (2) man-ward requirement of integrity, being a person of our word (no lies, deception or bearing false witness). 'Idol' also means vanity (that which is hollow). Rather than finding meaning, comfort & identity in the Creator, man seeks it in the creation, superficial things, even things with no reality, that don’t ring true & against nature (like gender ideology). Thus, God requires perfection (Matt 5:48), but all sin (only Jesus fulfils these requirements), so what hope have we? But v5 says God provides a way for men to be saved and be made righteous by grace: "He shall receive blessing from the Lord (as a free-gift), and righteousness from the God of his salvation (enabling him to ascend)" (v5). These ones who ascend to God, not by their own righteousness, but by His grace, are described as God-seekers: "This is Jacob, the generation (the group of people) of those who SEEK Him, who SEEK Your face. Selah" (v6). They want to know Him & be right with Him. He promises they will find Him (Deut 4:29, Jer 29:13, Matt 7:7-8). David uses Jacob to represent those who are imperfect, but seek God (Gen 32:9-12), whom He brings to Himself by a process of coming to saving faith, when they come to an end of themselves & their own strength, knowing they can’t stand before God on their own, and so cling to Him for blessing (Gen 32:24-29). So, to ascend to God requires a perfect righteousness, which God graciously gives to those who seek Him. How He made salvation possible, solving our sin-problem is revealed in PART 3: The King of Glory (v7-10), which describes the Ascension of Christ, the righteous Man, the King of glory - the subject of the next study.
Knowing the faithfulness of God is foundational to your faith in God. Peter builds your faith by revealing what God's word reveals about His absolute faithfulness to keep all His promises to us.
Pastor Derek and Howard Condor discuss the identity of Tarshish in the Bible, and conclude that the evidence points clearly to Great Britain. They also look at 3 end-time Prophecies about Tarshish, and what they mean for this nation.
We study Ps 23 thru the eyes of our personal covenant relationship with the LORD = YEHOVAH, God's covenant Name. 8 compound Covenant Names cover all blessings of the New Covenant. The 1st is: “The LORD is my SHEPHERD” (v1), Yehovah Rohi. Jesus said: “I AM the good SHEPHERD” of Ps 23 (Jn 10:11,14), speaking of His loving care for us. I AM = YEHOVAH, so His I AM claims correspond to the YEHOVAH Names. As our risen Shepherd, as Ps 23 says, He leads us into our full inheritance, described by these Names. True shepherding means a devoted personal relationship between shepherd & sheep. He lives in personal relationship with his sheep & knows them all by name; they know his voice & follow him. This is seen in the word MY: ‘The Lord is MY Shepherd.' He cares for me, watches over, leads, feeds & preserves me. His constant presence protects them from danger. David, an experienced shepherd, knew of what he talked, a man (who sought) after God’s own heart to know Him (1Sam 13:14, Acts 13:22) and God revealed His heart of love to Him, the heart of a shepherd, that just as he cared for his sheep, protecting, providing, leading & rescuing them, so that’s how God is toward His people. As he was devoted to his sheep, so God is fully committed to us, laying down His life for us. He found comfort & security in the covenant-keeping God caring for him, as a devoted shepherd for his sheep. v1b: “I shall not want” = Yehovah Yireh, the LORD my PROVIDER (seeing ahead & providing for us by His Sacrifice, Gen 22;14). He said: “I AM the BREAD of LIFE” (Jn 6:35). By the provision of Himself, in His death & resurrection He meets all our needs (Ro 8:32, 5000). “I’ll not want” confesses covenant confidence in Him. v2: “He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters” = Yehovah Shalom, the Lord my Peace (Jud 6:24). He said: “I AM the VINE” (Jn 15:1, Eph 2:14). v3: “He restores my soul” = Yehovah Rophe, the Lord my Healer (Ex 15:26). He said: “I AM the Resurrection & Life” (Jn 11:26). v3b: “He leads me in the paths of RIGHTEOUSNESS for His Name’s sake” = Yehovah Tsidkenu, the Lord my Righteousness (Jer 23:6, 33:16). He said: “I AM the DOOR” into God's Presence & Kingdom (Jn 10:7,9). v4: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for YOU are WITH ME Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” = Yehovah Shammah, the LORD is PRESENT (Ezek 48:35). He said: “I AM the LIGHT” (Jn 8:12, 9:5). As sheep on their own are helpless, lost & defenceless, so without our Shepherd we’d be destroyed. Ps 23 is most beloved for believers, for it tells us we’re never alone, without help or hope. Now the scene changes. The Shepherd is now a King giving a bountiful Banquet. v5: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” = Yehovah Nissi, the Lord my Banner of Victory (Ex 17:15). The risen Christ claims this (Rev 1:18). A good host gave protection & provision for his guests. To prepare (set in order) suggests foresight & care, 'before me' means personal provision. He knows all our needs & prepared His perfect provision for us of every blessing, in this life (with our enemies present) & eternity. To dine together signified abiding friendship. In context, to sit at table with the Lord & partake of the meal He’s prepared is the manifestation of our covenant relationship & close fellowship (Rev 3:20). He shows His love, by preparing an everlasting feast for us in His Presence, under His Banner of Protection, for He won the Victory for us (Song 2:4). A fulfilment of this is Holy Communion. He invites us to come & partake of Himself. Every blessing revealed by Ps 23 & 8 Covenant Names is ours in Christ. He wants us to draw near & receive of His abundance. v5b: “You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over” = Yehovah M’kaddesh, the LORD my Sanctifier (Lev 20:8). He said: “I AM the WAY, TRUTH & LIFE” (Jn 14:6). A host anoints his guest with oil (Lk 7:44-46), representing sanctification & empowerment with His Spirit. ‘My cup runs over’ speaks of a generous host, ever filling our cup to overflowing (Eph 5:18), giving us life & joy in His Spirit (Jn 10:10). His abundant provision shows His great love for us, but the main blessing of the Banquet is to be with Him. Ps 23 concludes with a summary of the results of the Shepherd’s Ministry to us in this life & eternity, v6: “Surely goodness (grace) & mercy (chesed) shall follow (pursue) me (with vigor) all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the House of the Lord (Heaven) forever.” He’s sure of enjoying His Presence all his life, & that He’ll lead him thru the valley of death to Heaven, where he’ll dwell with Him forever - a key verse to comfort those facing death. Don’t follow (covet) blessings, but follow our Shepherd & the blessings will follow. His Ministry as our personal Shepherd continues forever (Rev 7:15-17). Grace & mercy covers all. In grace He gives what we don’t deserve & in mercy He doesn’t give what we deserve.
Psalm 23:1: “The Lord is my Shepherd” - a confession of personal faith & submission. He’s my Shepherd, Owner, Lord, Leader (sheep belong to their shepherd; they submit, follow & trust him). Only believers humble themselves to be His sheep and admit they need, belong to & follow their Shepherd, trusting Him to provide. Since the Lord is my Shepherd: “I shall not want” (v1b), a summary of His provision of every blessing, unfolded in detail in the rest of Ps 23: "I’ll not want for peace, protection, guidance, blessing etc. Also, a statement of contentment: “He’s all I want.” “He makes me to lie down (settles me down) in green pastures” (v2a) - satisfied peace & rest. Shepherds rested their flocks at noon (Song 1:7). Sheep only lie down having had plenty to eat & drink, not threatened by wild animals or troubled by parasites or flies and if there’s no friction among the sheep. Rest comes, for the shepherd has dealt with fear, friction, flies & famine. Christ brings us into soul-rest: “He leads (not drives) me beside the still (gentle) waters” (v2b). He plans my life, knows the best way & leads me in it – oriental shepherds go ahead & lead their sheep. They know his voice & follow him. Jesus the Prince of Peace can’t give us peace apart from Himself, as He is Peace. So, if you go away from Him, you lose peace. Sheep can’t drink from swift waters. He supplies us with grass to chew (His WORD) and gentle waters to drink (His SPIRIT). “He restores (lit: 'brings back') my soul” (v3a). Translations emphasise the reviving of the soul. The literal meaning includes something more important, the restoration of a soul by repentance (Gal 6:1). He brings my soul back to God, resulting in the restoring of life & peace. Thus, it speaks of the rescue of a lost sheep, who has gone astray, a vital part of a shepherd's work (Ezek 34:4-6,11-12), a picture of salvation (Isa 53:6). Lost souls are sheep without a shepherd, and Jesus came in compassion to gather His flock (Matt 9:36). This aspect of the Good Shepherd’s ministry is emphasised in the NT (1Pet 2:25). The Parable of the Good Shepherd (Matt 18:11-13) reveals Christ, the Son of Man, is the Good Shepherd, with sacrificial love for each of His sheep. He claimed to be the Good Shepherd of Ps 23, who came from Heaven to seek & save His lost sheep, by bringing us back to Himself. Luke 15:4-7 adds detail: “When he has found it (the lost sheep), he lays it on his shoulders (salvation by grace) rejoicing" (v5). "Likewise, there will be more joy in Heaven over one SINNER who REPENTS” (v7). This proves it’s a picture of salvation by Christ thru repentant faith. When a sheep knows it is lost, it’s paralysed by fear & lies down, or gets caught in a bush or ditch. It’s helpless to save itself. But the Shepherd loves him & seeks Him, calling out to him. When he hears His voice, he bleats (we call on His Name to save us), He lifts him up & carries him home. We repent from going our own way, call on the Shepherd and trust Him to save us, rather than running away. His rejoicing over 1 saved sheep reveals God’s personal love for us. To save the sheep He had to go to where he was. So, to save us, God had to come to earth as a man. So, Ps 23 can only be fulfilled by God becoming a man in the person of Jesus to save us. Having restored me to Himself: “He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake (for His glory & reputation, displaying the glory of His grace)” (v3b). The Good Shepherd is our Leader & Guide. He plans the best route for the day. The sheep didn’t need to know where to go; just to know where the Shepherd was and follow Him. The Lord leads us into abundance of life & provision. He leads us on the right path for our life. Trust Him, for He’ll lead you well, in accordance with His good Name."Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for YOU are with me" (v4a). At times it was necessary to go thru deep gorges in the shadows, vulnerable to robbers & predators, representing times of danger, when death casts a shadow over us, but if we’re with Jesus, our Shepherd, we need not even fear death, for He defeated death for us. He’ll be with us even thru death. v4 speaks of His Protection through His Presence with us both now & forever, for He’ll never leave us. Note the change from HE to YOU. The sheep draws closer to Him in danger. He’s now alongside us, rather than ahead. His Presence protects us from evil, removing our fear. Sheep don’t last long on their own, our safety is in staying close to the Shepherd. “Your ROD and Your STAFF, they comfort me” (v4b). The Shepherd manifests His Presence and so comforts the sheep (1) by His ROD (a club with iron nails in its head, like a mace, used to strike His enemies, 1Sam 17:34-35), corresponding to His WORD. The STAFF was used on the sheep if it started to go the wrong way, to pull it to safety if it needed rescuing, and to count the sheep (Mic 7:14) – a symbol of His SPIRIT.
We introduce Psalm 23, the most popular of Psalms, which despite being short, speaks in poetic beauty to all our needs in life, as well as in facing death, imparting comfort & faith to our souls. It is a declaration of trust in God’s goodness, with no complaints or requests – a confident confession of faith. A great thing to do is to declare it boldly over your life. It has a close relationship with Ps 22, which describes the Good Shepherd, who dies for the sheep & rises again, and provides abundant life for His people (John 10). Then Ps 23 develops this theme in detail, describing this risen Shepherd, leading His sheep, who hear His voice and follow Him, into abundant & eternal life, purchased through His death. Through knowing & following Him, our Shepherd leads us into every blessing of the new covenant (Heb 13:20). We can only claim Ps 23 if we have come to Christ through faith in His death & resurrection (Ps 22). We must meet Christ in Ps 22, before we experience Him in Ps 23.It starts with an outstanding claim that "the Lord is my Shepherd" (v1). This describes His personal care for us, His commitment to us, to provide for us, protect us and lead us as our Shepherd. This is the translation of Jehovah Rohi - one of the 8 Covenant Names of God. God as the Shepherd of His people (sheep) is major theme of Scripture. We look at how Ps 23 fits into the wider biblical revelation of God as our Shepherd, and note the special place it has within this revelation. God is the Shepherd of Israel (Gen 49:24, Ps 77:20, 78:52, 79:13, 80:1, 95:7, 100:3). Ps 23 is special because it emphases God is our personal Shepherd, as well as being the Shepherd of His people as a whole. The human leaders of Israel, including David, are also described as shepherds - His under-shepherds (Ps 78:70-71, Isa 63:11). These 2 concepts of divine & human shepherds come together in the God-man Messiah, who would be the good Shepherd of His people. The sinful leaders of Israel had failed to shepherd & feed His people as they should, and so the sheep were scattered (Jer 23:1-3, Ezek 34:1-10). In response, God declared He Himself would be their Shepherd, by personally coming to the earth a Man (the Messiah) to shepherd His people, saving, restoring, protecting and feeding them, leading them into peace, good pasture & abundant life (Jer 23:4-6, Ezek 34:11-16, 23-31). Other prophecies of the God-man Messianic Shepherd are Micah 5:2,4, Isa 40:3,9-11, Zech 13:7. This was fulfilled by Jesus (Matt 2:6, 26:31, Luke 19:10, John 10). Jesus said He was the fulfilment of these prophecies in John 10, where He claimed He was the true Shepherd, who alone entered through the door of the virgin birth (v1-3). He comes to call His people to Himself: "and when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice" (v4). He comes to save us and bring us into abundant and eternal life (v7-10). By claiming He is 'THE Door' into God's Kingdom (v7) and 'THE Good Shepherd' of Ps 23 (v11), He was claiming to be the true Shepherd prophesied in the Old Testament, the Messiah-King, even God manifested in flesh. This was a Divine claim: 'I AM the Good Shepherd' = Jehovah Rohi (Ps 23:1). Good (kalos) does not just mean moral excellence, but that He is excellent in His shepherding, in fulfilment of Ps 23. He repeats this claim in v14 adding: "I know My sheep, and am known by My own", the very feature unique to Ps 23. He demonstrated His selfless love for the sheep by giving His life for them (v11,15, 17-18), adding that He will also take up His life again in resurrection, another claim to Deity (v17,18). Thus, He will save His sheep through His death & resurrection. Now we can see why Ps 23 could only find its full fulfilment in Christ. For example: "Yea, though I walk through the VALLEY of the shadow of DEATH, I will fear no evil; for You are WITH ME” (v4). This only became fully true, when God became one of us, to identify with us (Immanuel: “God with us”) and personally lead us through the valley of death into Heaven's glory, so that we: "will dwell in the House of the Lord forever" (v6). This would not have been possible if God had not become a man to shepherd us to glory. Through taking on Himself a human nature, He went through death & resurrection for us, so that if we trust in Him, through our union with His humanity, we enter through the Door (Himself) into eternal life. Only true believers in Christ are His sheep, who receive the blessings of Ps 23 (v26). He calls them to Himself through the Gospel, and they enter into a personal relationship with Him, and they show their faith by following Him (submitting to His leadership) - v27, and He gives them eternal life & security in His & His Father's hands, in fulfilment of Ps 23:6 (v28-30). He gathers all these sheep into one Flock (the true Church), of both Jews and Gentiles (v16).
Psalm 37:4-5: “Seek your HAPPINESS in the LORD, and He will give you your heart's desire. Give yourself to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will help you.” The love that God has for YOU is unconditional, He will never stop loving YOU. You are of infinite worth and value to Him, because He loves you. Just think about it - the greatest, the most powerful, the most important Person ADORES YOU. He prizes YOU as His most valuable treasure. You hold such value in His sight that He sent His most precious Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to the earth to die in your place, to pay for your sins, all for the purpose of bringing you back to Him, so He could manifest His love to you, as He longs to do. Our wonderful Heavenly Father desires a very CLOSE relationship with all His children. He is calling and leading each one of us into a closer love relationship with Him, and He wants us to seek our happiness in Him, rather than in things. Psalm 27:8: “When You said: “SEEK My FACE (Presence)”: My heart said to You: “Your FACE (Presence) Lord, I will SEEK.” “My heart has heard You say: “Come and talk with Me.” And my heart responds: “Lord, I am coming” (NLT). To SEEK is to crave and search earnestly, until the object of your desire has been found. None of us is perfect, or ever will be in this life. But even though you may be struggling with some things in your flesh, or soulish realm, do not cut your self off from worshiping God. Do not deprive God of the very thing Jesus suffered & died to give Him - your love, worship and your intimate fellowship with Him (John 4:21,23-24). God is prodigal in His love for us. Prodigal means excessive, plenty too much, over the top. The Parable of the Prodigal Son, is not so much about the son, who was prodigal in his sinning, but it is mostly about the father, who was prodigal in his great love for his sinning son. This is a picture of God’s love for us. Luke 15:20: “He arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.” God longs to fellowship with us. When David cried out to the Lord (Ps 27:7), the Lord replied by saying: “SEEK My FACE” (v8). Ps 27:8: “When You (Lord) said: “Seek My Face (in prayer, require My Presence as your greatest need],” my heart said to You: “Your Face (Presence), O Lord, I will seek.” God is the all-sufficient One, so He can never be lonely. From eternity, there has been perfect love, unity & fellowship between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit – the Triune Godhead. God has NO NEEDS, but He has VERY STRONG DESIRES, such as His desire for our love. He loved us so much, that He sent His only begotten Son to die for us, and redeem us from our sins, and purchase us for Himself, so we might belong to God forever as His children (John 3:16). Ephesians 2:4-7: “God, who is rich in mercy, for His GREAT LOVE wherewith He LOVED US, even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ (by grace are you saved), and has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. So that, in the Ages to come (for all eternity) He might show (demonstrate) the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” God is a Giver, not a Withholder! Seeing how much He loves us should make us want to worship Him. Isn’t it breath-taking that we have the ability to bless such a loving Creator, the All-Sufficient One. How amazing that our love and worship can minister to God and give Him great pleasure! God has given us free will, so LOVING God is our CHOICE. He will never force us to love Him. WORSHIPING GOD is a CHOICE. God has placed within each one of us the ability to love, bless & minister to Him in return. But He will never force you to love Him. By giving us free-will, He has made Himself vulnerable to us. We can choose to love Him in return, or turn our back on Him, and break His heart. Hosea 11:3,8: “It was I who taught Israel how to walk, leading him along by the hand. But he does not know or even care that it was I who took care of him... Oh, how can I give you up Israel? How can I let you go? My heart is torn within Me, and my compassion overflows.” Will you break His heart by withholding your love from Him? Our loving worship BLESSES God immensely. It brings Him tremendous pleasure. He DELIGHTS in our worship. It brings Him JOY. If you knew what God really wanted from you, would you do it? Will you give Him your love? God LONGS for intimacy with us, more than we will ever understand in this life. He DESIRES sweet communion with us, more than we desire intimacy with Him. It is so amazing that Almighty God makes Himself available to us every moment of every day! We must EXPECT that He is giving us His undivided attention, when we come to worship Him. Hebrews 13:5: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Pastor Derek puts together clues from the Bible, ancient history and modern science to prove Tarshish is Great Britain. This matters, because 3 end-time Prophecies about Tarshish give us hope for this nation.
With the victorious cry: "You have answered Me!" (v21), Ps 22 transitions from lament to thanksgiving, travail to triumph, from prayer of suffering, alone & forsaken in the dark, to praise for salvation in the light of God's Presence, declaring the universal & eternal consequences of His sacrificial death on our behalf, from a prophecy of the Cross to His resurrection, ushering in a new age of grace (v22-31), including the forming of a worshipping community, expanding from Israel (v23) to the world (v25-29), as the Gospel is proclaimed (v30-31). It predicts the universal & eternal significance of His death & resurrection. 1st He announces the formation of His new spiritual family, the Church, reborn by His resurrection as the firstborn of many brethren (v22, Rom 8:29). His desire is for God to be glorified by His people, especially as they gather together, for praise is the repeating theme of all these verses. God’s glory is the ultimate fruit of His work. v23-24: “You who fear the Lord, praise Him!” (true believers fear God; true praise is from submitted hearts). “All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, and fear Him, all you offspring of Israel! For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction (v1-21) of the afflicted (Messiah); nor has He hidden His face from Him; but when He cried to Him, He heard (by raising Him from death).” This predicts the Gospel will go 1st to Israel, that God has fully accepted the value of His sacrificial death (v1-21) as the sufficient basis (payment) for our salvation and has declared this by His resurrection. The risen Christ calls all Israel to respond & glorify God by believing in Him & His finished work, submitting to & praising Him, for what He’s accomplished. Then v25 predicts the formation of a great Assembly of believers, united to Christ, praising God together, growing & expanding across the world (also v27): “My praise shall be of You in the great Assembly” (v25a). A reason why they praise is they share in His great sacrificial feast: "I will pay My vows before those who fear Him. The poor shall eat and be satisfied" (v25b-26a). A man in trouble prays for God’s help (v1-21) & makes vows to fulfil after his deliverance, including a peace offering for thanksgiving in the Temple, then sharing the benefits of the sacrifice with family, friends & poor in a communal meal before God, joyfully partaking of the sacrifice (Lev 7:15-16, Deut 12;17-19). Likewise, Christ purchased every blessing for us. He vowed to God to offer His sacrificial Blood in the heavenly Temple on our behalf & share His purchased blessings with us in an everlasting sacrificial Feast. He fulfils His vow, inviting us to come to God to partake. As the Sacrifice, He shares Himself with us. Only believers (poor in spirit) respond, eat & are satisfied. His provision is abundant & sufficient for all our needs. "Those who seek Him will (find Him and) praise the Lord" (v26b). Seekers become singers. The blessings are for this life & eternal life & glory with God: "Let your heart live forever!" (v26c). Next, we see the conversion of the Gentiles in the Church Age & Millennium as a result of His Sacrifice: "All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You." A picture of true conversion (prodigal son): (1) REMEMBER - come to a right mind about God, (2) REPENT - turn from sin to God. (3) REVERENCE - the fruit of this repentance is a lifestyle of worship. This Gentile salvation is only accomplished by Christ (Isa 42,49,53, Gen 12:1-3). Thus, the success of the Gospel proves Jesus is the Christ. It's clear these verses are not about David. This victory is the basis for God’s Kingdom on earth: "For the Kingdom is the Lord’s, and He rules over the nations" (v28). Christ will be made Lord of all people in every realm (v29) - fulfilled (Phil 2:9-11, Ro 14:10-11). The last verses predict the propagation of salvation by the Gospel from one generation to the next: "A posterity (seed - future generations, or 'His seed', born again spiritual offspring, Isa 53:10) shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation" (v30). One way they serve Him is by the Gospel. "They will come (to God, to Christ, & come forth to new life), and declare His righteousness (all He did in His perfect life & death, and in giving His perfect righteousness to us) to a people, who will be born (again) that He has DONE this.” This is the message, that "He has FINISHED it" (in 2Chr 4:11 this word describes the finishing of the Temple. Likewise, Jesus finished the work to make us His Temple). Thus, the burden of the Gospel is His finished work. Jesus quoted this verse on the Cross, just before He died in John 19:30: “Jesus said: “It is finished!” May we see our salvation fully accomplished by Him. He paid in full for our forgiveness & abundant & eternal life. Jesus quoted the 1st & last verse on the Cross, showing all Ps 22 is messianic.
The 1st Part of Psalm 22 (v1-21) is a Prophecy of Christ’s suffering & prayers on the Cross. Its 3rd Lamentation (v12-18), describes His physical sufferings inflicted by the Romans, described as DOGS (v16), and oppression by demonic powers (BULLS, v12) & Satan (LION, v13, 1Pet 5:8). Then He turns to God asking Him to draw near to Him, release His mighty power on His behalf (‘O My strength’), deliver, help & save Him (v19-21a). In this prayer He asks for deliverance from the same 3 animals, causing His suffering: DOG (v20), LION (v21), WILD OXEN (Reem, an extinct massive wild BULL, v21). We note the Chiastic Structure of these animal verses (His prayer names them in reverse order to His lament), so we have in His lament: (1) BULLS (v12), (2) LION (v13), (3) DOGS (v16), and in His prayer: (3) DOG (v20), (2) LION (v21) and (1) BULLS (v21). This means we have 3 sets of parallel verses to be compared. In particular, v16, where DOGS PIERCE His hand & feet (the key act in crucifixion), and v20, where the DOG’s power is in the SWORD (of capital punishment) are parallel, confirming ‘they pierced my hands & feet’ is the correct translation, rather than ‘like a lion’ which destroys the symmetry.His prayer concludes with a triumphant declaration: “You have answered Me” (v21b). This dramatic change of tone marks the transition to Part 2 (v22-31), a Prophecy of His resurrection, declared in faith on the Cross, knowing God will answer His Prayer for deliverance from death & enemies (v1-21), by raising Him from death, resulting in God’s salvation going to the whole world (v22-31). At this point, it dramatically transitions from a lament-prayer of suffering in the DARK to thanksgiving for salvation in the LIGHT. Dawn is when light overcomes darkness, and this is His announcement of the dawning of a new day, not just for Himself, but for all His people, the dawning of a new day of history, brought about by His resurrection at dawn on Sunday, April 3rd AD 33. The Light (Christ) has overcome the darkness by His death & resurrection! At this point, Psalm 22 moves from travail to triumph, from suffering to the glory that would follow. It’s significant that the title is the ‘Hind of the Morning’ or ‘Deer of the Dawn.’ Christ is the deer, hunted by the lion, dogs & wild bulls, springing up in new life to victory in resurrection power, bringing in the dawning of a new day. This is a Prophecy that this sinless man, who is executed, will be resurrected. It reveals His dramatic reversal of fortunes, from depths of despair to exuberant praise. for God has heard His prayer.v22: “I will declare Your Name to MY BRETHREN; in the midst of the Assembly (Church) I will praise You.” Before He was alone and surrounded by enemies. He’s no longer alone, but in the midst of a great congregation of His friends. The 1st thing He wants to do is to praise God in the Assembly. This shows the importance of public praise, and that Jesus is in the midst when we gather together in His Name (Matt 18:20), revealing God to us, and glorifying God through us, empowering our praises & preaching (John 17:26). This verse also announces the 1st accomplishment of His death & resurrection - the creation and formation of a new spiritual family in Christ, the Birth of His Church. This is signified by Him calling us His BRETHREN. Thru His resurrection, as the Head of the New Creation of humanity, He’s now the firstborn among many brethren (Rom 8:29, Col 1:18, Heb 12:23). Believers sharing in His resurrection life are now BORN AGAIN, sons of God, by His resurrection (1Pet 1:3), and so are members of God’s family. His life is our life, and our lives belong to Him. The New Birth is a New Covenant reality, not available before. ‘Brethren’ also speaks of His ongoing humanity, and reveals His purpose in becoming a man was to bring men to God, so we would be born again into His forever family, and might all know and praise Him. Immediately after He rose, He said to Mary: “Go to MY BRETHREN and say to them: ‘I am ascending to My Father & your Father, and to My God & your God” (John 20:17). He was declaring to her that Ps 22:22 was now being fulfilled, that we are now in the 2nd Part of Ps 22, just as He’d declared v1 on the Cross to tell us He was fulfilling Part 1. He was telling them that to understand the new reality, study the 2nd half of Ps 22. (He’d not used this description ‘MY BRETHREN’ before, as it reflects the new reality, which Ps 22 predicted with the same term). He reinforced this by saying that His Father was also now their Father, so they were in the same covenant relationship with God as He was. This vital verse is quoted in Hebrews 2:11-12. This is another proof that the whole Psalm is Messianic, fulfilled by Jesus. It confirms that the fruit of His work is that we would be reborn from the same womb as Christ, through His death & resurrection, so that in His humanity, He is now our brother, the firstborn among many brethren (Rom 8:29).
Christ’s 1st Lamentation from the Cross was His spiritual suffering (v1-5), the 2nd was His mental suffering (v6-11). Now, we study His 3rd Lamentation, His physical suffering. 1st, He describes demonic forces around Him, eager to consume, after leaving His body to go down to Hades: “Many BULLS have surrounded Me; strong BULLS of Bashan have encircled Me. They gape at Me with their mouths, like a raging and roaring LION” (v12-13). If God would not deliver Him, He’d be at their mercy forever. The roaring lion is applied to satan in 1Pet 5:8. Bashan is near Mt Hermon, where the fallen angels of Gen 6:1-4 came to interbreed with women (Enoch), making the Flood necessary. Their offspring (Nephilim) became disembodied demons at death. Later was a 2nd angelic intrusion (Gen 6:4) to create Nephilim (giants) to stop Israel enter their Land. Bashan was a key location of the giants (Deut 3:11-13). The physical description describes a man executed by crucifixion, invented 800 years later, v14: “I am poured out like water.” This describes his total weakness, utterly spent, as water poured on the earth, the result of crucifixion, death by slow suffocation. Every breath was a painful effort; he can only breathe by pushing down on the nails, creating total exhaustion. “and all My bones are out of joint” (as if stretched on a torture rack, dislocated, but not broken). After being nailed to the Cross, His body was raised upright as the Cross was raised and put into a cross hole, dislocating his bones. “My heart is like wax; it has melted within Me.” He died with a ruptured, broken heart (Ps 69:20, John 19:33-34. v15: “My strength is dried up like a potsherd (broken piece of pottery), and My tongue clings to My jaws” - severe dehydration, the result of crucifixion (John 19:28-29). “You have brought Me to the dust of death” (an execution - on the point of death). v16: “For DOGS have surrounded Me; the congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet.” Dogs was a pejorative for unclean Gentiles. This refers to the Roman soldiers, who pierced His hands & feet, a procedure unique to crucifixion (see v20, where the dog applies the sword of capital punishment). The Masoretic version: “like a lion, my hands & my feet’ does not make sense. The difference is due to a copy error. The earliest versions & oldest Hebrew manuscripts confirm the original was: “They pierced My hands & My feet.” In the Middle Ages, the Rabbis embraced a scribal error, that became the dominant version, as Christians used the original to point to Jesus, as with Zech 12:10 (John 19:37). v17: “I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me.” He was naked & exposed, so onlookers stared at him, another aspect of crucifixion - a public humiliation & deterrent. He took our shame, so we might be clothed in His honour & glory. His bones were not broken - prophesied of Christ in Ps 34:20, and required for Passover Lambs (Ex 12:46, Num 9:12), fulfilled by Jesus (John 19:32-37). v18: “They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” This confirms He was stripped naked for execution not needing his clothes anymore. John 19:23-24, Matt 27:35, Mk 15:24, Lk 23:34 record how both parts of this prophecy were fulfilled by Jesus. He gave His blood to cleanse us & His garments to clothe us. So, v12-18 describes an execution of a man nailed to a torture rack, where his heart, bones, hands, tongue, feet were all affected, physically deteriorating over time unto death.As before, after the Lamentation He turns to God to declare His faith & make His request: “But You, O Lord, do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help Me!” Deliver Me from the Sword (Capital Punishment, Rom 13:4 - an execution), My precious life (‘my only one’) from the power of the dog (Romans, see v16)” (v19-20). Although He had to die, its effects will not last long, for God heard His prayer, reversed the verdict & delivered Him by raising Him from death. He also prayed to be delivered from the tormenting demonic powers He’d face in Hades: “Save Me from the lion’s mouth and from the horns of the wild oxen!” (cf. v12-13). Even after paying the price in full for our sin on the Cross, in His identification with us, He had to experience the full curse of death for us, including what happens after death, when man’s soul went to Hades (not Heaven), as the ancient creed says: ‘He descended into Hell (Hades).’ He did this, so we’d not have to go there. So, He went into the heart of the earth (Matt 12:40, Ro 10:7, Eph 4:9-10). Thus, as He was about to die & go into the lion’s mouth in Hades, He cried out for God to deliver Him from the power of Hades, which God did by regenerating His whole humanity & raising Him up the 3rd day (Acts 2:24,27, 31-32). In His resurrection He dynamically defeated the hordes of hell, disarming & triumphing over them (Col 2:15), being raised far above all powers (Eph 1:20-22), and has the keys of Hades & Death (Rev 1:18).
Last time, we studied the 1st Lamentation of Christ from the Cross describing His spiritual suffering (v1-5). This week, we study the 2nd Lamentation of Christfrom the Cross describing His mental suffering (v6-11), from His enemies who mocked and humiliated Him as He suffered. “But I am a WORM, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people” (v6, see Isaiah 53:3). This is made worse by the fact that ‘the people’ are His own people – Israel). Being a WORM is a figure of speech describing how helpless, despised, weak He felt, as those who hated Him treated Him as a worm, only worthy of being trampled under foot (see Isaiah 41:14, where Israel was compared to a worm under the foot of her enemies, yet God promised to deliver her). But there is also a deeper meaning to this picture. The word for ‘worm’ is ‘tolaith’ - the same word as for ‘scarlet’, for these worms were crushed to create a costly, brilliant, beautiful and enduring red dye from their blood. Crimson-dyed clothes were costly (Lam. 4:5). It was used for dyeing the curtains of the Tabernacle (Ex. 26:1), the garments of the high priests; in the purification rites of a leper (Lev 14:4–6), and of a house affected by leprosy; and it was added to the ashes of the red heifer (Num 19:6). Likewise, Christ was crushed for us and His Blood was used to cleanse, purify and clothe us as Temples of God. Moreover, thus worm would reproduce by attaching itself to the limb of a tree and would die in the process of giving birth! We were weak and helpless as a worm, worthy to be rejected and crushed because of our sin, but God valued us and redeemed us, by becoming a worm in our place, made weak, helpless and vulnerable to the attacks of people, and He was treated like a worm to be crushed by our sin and curse to make us whole.v7-8: All those who see Me ridicule Me; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head (show contempt with their mouth)” (for the fulfilment see Matthew 27:39, Mark 15:29), saying: “He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!” (for the fulfilment see Matthew 27:41-44). It is important to recognise the evil voice of the serpent behind this attack. It is more than the mockery of hatred. This was a mental torture, designed to attack and undermine His faith, His very connection with God, when He was at His most vulnerable, when it seemed as if God was abandoning Him and not hearing His prayers. The serpent, speaking through these men, tried to play with His mind and deceive and persuade Him by suggestion that God had finished with Him, that He did not actually love Him or delight in Him, and so He should let go of God. This was a more dangerous attack than the attack on His body, for it was satan’s voice trying to penetrate His inner heart, sowing seeds of doubt saying: “If God really loved you, you would not suffer like this, or He would have delivered you, so give up your faith in God.” But God did delight in Him and would deliver Him in the resurrection. Likewise, when we suffer, whether it is because we have sinned or not, satan comes as the accuser to whisper his lies to us that God does not love us any more, and that we should abandon our loyalty to God. At that time, it is important that we should not be passive, but answer these evil thoughts by declaring our faith, that God does love us, that He has redeemed us by His Blood, and that we will always love and trust God (Rev 12:10-11)This is exactly what Christ does, when He moves from His Lament to focusing back on God and declaring His faith in God in v9-10: “BUT YOU are He who took Me out of the womb; You made (caused) Me (to) trust while on My mother’s breasts. I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother’s womb You have been My God.” This predicts the Messiah will be sinless and in perfect fellowship with God from birth, not having a sin-nature because of the virgin birth (Gen 3:15, Isa 7:14, confirming that He is not suffering because of his sins. This is only true of Christ, not David (Psalm 51:5). So, He had never experienced any separation from God before. Whereas He previously established His faith on God’s proven faithfulness to Israel, as recorded in the Bible (v3-5), here He establishes his faith on God’s faithfulness in His own life. Based on God’s constant faithful Presence with Him as His God, throughout His life, He knows that God will not suddenly abandon Him now. From that place of faith, and prays that God would draw close to Him again to help Him, and deliver Him from trouble, as He has always done before: “Be not far from Me, for trouble is near; for there is none to help” (v11). God answered this prayer at His resurrection.
Psalm 22 is a detailed accurate prophecy describing a righteous man executed by crucifixion, written 800 years before it existed. Nothing in Ps 22 was fulfilled by David, either in the details of his suffering or the world-wide consequences of his death. Rather David spoke by the Spirit of Prophecy (Acts 2:30), enabling him to describe Messiah’s suffering on the Cross. Whereas the Gospels record outward events, Messianic Psalms (like 22) also reveal His inner experience. It’s wholly messianic, a prophecy of His death & resurrection, followed by the Gospel going to the world (confirmed by New Testament quotes from Ps 22, claiming Jesus is the fulfilment). It's written in 2 Parts corresponding to (1) Christ’s SUFFERINGS (v1-21), and (2) the GLORIES to follow (v22-31), 1Pet 1:10-11. The 1st Part is a Lament, in which an isolated man, surrounded by enemies, suffers & prays on the altar of sacrifice (v1-21a). He describes his sufferings, but also turns to God & declares his faith, requesting God to draw near to save Him. Then it moves from travail to triumph in v21b, when he declares: “You have answered me.” The 2nd Part is Thanksgiving, where He rejoices in his victory, thanking God for accepting his sacrifice and delivering him from death, and for all the blessings released as a result. He’s no longer alone, but praises God in the midst of his brethren. He declares the Gospel of His finished work will be declared around the world & down the ages, resulting in the salvation of all nations, and God’s Kingdom established over all.Part 1 consists of 3 Laments: (1) His spiritual suffering & desolation (v1-2), followed by a declaration of faith in God (v3-5). (2) His mental suffering & humiliation as a social outcast (v6-8), followed by a faith-declaration & request to God (v9-11). (3) His physical suffering - the torture of crucifixion (v12-18), followed by a faith-declaration & request (v19-21). Each time, He 1st expresses His feelings and describes His suffering (‘I’ & ‘ME’), then turns his focus to God: “BUT YOU.” So, it’s fine to express feelings to God, but don’t stop there. Go on to declare the truth of God, who has the final word. Lament 1 describes his spiritual suffering, as he felt totally forsaken by God: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me (v11,19) and from the words of My groaning (roaring)? O My God, I cry in the DAYTIME, but You do not hear; and in the NIGHT season, and am not silent” (v1-2). He knew and walked with God all His life (v9-10,31), yet now fellowship was broken, experiencing total separation from His Presence. Ps 22 starts with him asking ‘Why?’ The answer (v31) unlocks the meaning of Ps 22 - He was bearing the sin of mankind, and so experienced Hell for us. Thus, the result of this one man’s suffering is salvation for the world (v22-31). He suffered separation from God, so we might be restored to His Presence. During the supernatural darkness on the Cross, Jesus quoted v1 in Matt 27:45 & Mark 15:33-34. By quoting the start of Ps 22, He pointed to the whole Psalm, saying He was fulfilling it all: ‘if you want to know what I am experiencing and the outcome - read Ps 22’. He prayed it all, ending with the proclamation: “He has done (finished) it” (v21). So, just before He died, He quoted the last verse saying: “It is finished!” (John 20:30). As v2 predicted, Jesus suffered on the Cross during the day (9am – noon), as the burnt offering, and during at night, as the sin offering (in the darkness, noon to 3pm, Amos 8:9, Joel 2:31, Acts 2:20). During this whole time, He called on God in faith to help Him. The physical pains did not cause Him to roar v1 in agony, for He only did this in the dark, when He experienced God’s wrath on our sin & the spiritual darkness of total separation from His Presence, as predicted by v1-2, fulfilled in Matt 27:45. We discuss the secular evidence for the darkness & prove it was indeed a night (v2, Gen1:5,14-18), and how this solves the paradox of the 3 days & 3 nights between His death & resurrection, and how it confirms He died in AD 33.In v3-5 Christ moves from His 1st Lament to a faith-declaration: “BUT You are HOLY”, showing He knew the answer to his question in v1. When he became sin, God’s holiness required Him to pour His wrath on him, and separate Himself from him. Thus, he praised God & vindicated His righteousness. Then he fortified his faith by remembering past experiences of God’s faithfulness to His people. Whenever they praised Him, He was enthroned in their praises and took the leadership in their situations (v3). Whenever they trusted Him & cried to Him, He delivered & exalted them (v4-5). Thus, he expressed His confidence in his unchanging God, that He’d respond to his praises & cries to help, for he trusted Him. Likewise, after lamenting to God, we should praise Him, remember His proven faithfulness and declare our faith that He'll hear our cry & help us.
Psalm 95:6-7: “Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will HEAR His VOICE” (quoted in Heb 3:7,15, 4:7). God is speaking today! I. God is BROADCASTING (Ps 95:7b). Clearly God is speaking. He spoke from the beginning (Gen 1:3) and He is speaking now. He has a voice and He speaks with a purpose, for He wants to be heard. Yet, not everybody is hearing what He is saying to them: “IF you will HEAR His VOICE.” Let's have confidence God is talking today. The question is: “Will we hear Him?” His voice comes to us in many different ways. That’s how much He wants to be heard! He talks to us through His Creation (Rom 1:20, Ps 19:1). He also speaks directly with us through dreams, visions and angels. And He speaks through the still, small voice. He speaks with us very personally. He desires to communicate with us. Built into us is a desire to communicate with Him. God is broadcasting constantly, but are we in a position to receive what He is saying? II. We have a RECEIVER (Ps 95:7a). God is broadcasting, and we have a built-in RECEIVER to hear from God! He made us in His image for fellowship with Himself. He made us to hear His voice. When we are born again, with our spirits made new - we are in a position to receive what God is broadcasting. Even if you are not a Christian, He is reaching out to reveal Himself to you all the time. Those signals are emanating from Him continually, reaching out to our hearts. Why do we know we can hear His voice? Ps 95:7: “He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand” – this speaks of a personal relationship! (also Ps 23:1-2: “The Lord is my Shepherd...He leads me beside the still waters.” Notice how personal this is! He is not hiding Himself from us; He hides Himself FOR us (Matt 7:7). It does not say: “Today, IF God is speaking to me.” No! it says: “Today, IF I will hear His voice.” God IS speaking to us today! The problem is not with Heaven’s radio station, but with my receiver! Perhaps we are waiting for God to speak to us in some extravagant, external way, but instead He has a better way to communicate with us – quietly, within our hearts. How often do we mistake what God is saying to us for our own thoughts? Sometimes we miss God's speech, as it comes to us so simply & gently. So often, God speaks to us, but we miss what He is saying, as we are not TUNED IN to His wavelength. The enemy lies to us that God is silent, distant, unconcerned with the details of our lives. But the truth is that He is intimately concerned with every detail of our lives, which is why He is so willing to speak to us at all times and circumstances. He is speaking to us, but are we receiving His voice? Are we hearing God, or are we so tense, nervous and agitated, that we can’t hear from God? There’s too much static! In John 10, Jesus uses this image of the sheep and the true Shepherd, who cares for His sheep. We are His sheep (Ps 95:7), and “His sheep hear His voice” (John 10:3a). Don’t doubt that. We DO hear Him. "and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. And when He brings out His own sheep, He goes before them; and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice” (v3b-4). It’s so personal. He is leading us by His voice. Are we tuned in to His voice? We have a receiver in us, for the Holy Spirit lives inside us. He is built in to the centre of our being! v5: “they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” The devil likes to imitate God’s voice, but the more we are in God’s Word, we can be sure we know His voice, as we are familiar with it. His voice is in His Word! As we familiarize ourselves with His Word, we can build that confidence that we hear His voice. John 10:27: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."*III. Let’s turn the DIAL (Ps 95:6). God is BROADCASTING, and I have a RECEIVER. I am His sheep and I hear His voice. So why am I not hearing it? It may just be a question of TUNING! Fine tune the dial. Find the right wavelength and exclude the wrong wavelength. After all the activity of Ps 95:1-2, we come to v6: “Oh come, let us worship and BOW DOWN; let us KNEEL before the Lord our Maker.” In this moment, our bodies and flesh are IMMOBILISED. This agrees with Rom 12:1. As we do that, we are ruling out all that static that gets in the way and interferes with us hearing from God. We can just be still and know that He is God (Ps 46:10). So, God is BROADCASTING, and we can RECEIVE and hear His voice. Let’s TUNE OUT all the other voices & noises, and let’s hear from Him. Let’s trust Him! How do we do that? Let’s just bow before Him, and be quiet before Him. He is speaking. We can hear Him. Let’s not doubt that!
Psalm 21 is the celebration of the accomplished victory prayed for in Ps 20. The kind of language used means it's a Messianic Psalm, for only Christ can fully fulfil these words, although it was fulfilled in measure by David. The ancient Rabbis interpreted it as speaking of King Messiah (v1), but the later Rabbis dropped this view, to try & prevent Christians from showing how Jesus perfectly fulfils it. v1: “The KING (Messiah) shall have joy in Your strength (invisible power), O LORD; and in Your salvation (manifested victory) how greatly shall he rejoice!” This describes God's mighty power that raised Christ from the dead, bringing Him into manifested victory & glory. Likewise, we should thank God for the invisible power of His Spirit (the blessing), as well as the manifested blessings brought forth by His grace. This verse is the answer to the prayers in Ps 20:2,5,8. v2: “You have given him his heart’s desire, and have not withheld the request (desire) of his lips. Selah.” This corresponds to Ps 20:4. His desire is our salvation, through His victory over enemy powers (Heb 12:2). Note the poetic parallelism – He did not just desire our salvation & victory, but prays for us (Jas 4:2, Heb 7:25). You were on His mind when He went to the Cross and ever since! Also notice God works through our desires, but only when our heart is submitted to God (Ps 37:4, Phil 2:12-13). v3: “For You meet (welcome) him with the blessings of goodness (abundant rich blessings); You set a crown of pure gold on his head.” Here the image changes from celebrating a Conquest to a Coronation - both were fulfilled by Christ in His Ascension. Having won His great victory, He ascended to Heaven and was crowned as Lord of all. Also as our representative He received every blessing of the New Covenant on our behalf, so that every blessing is now ours in Christ (Eph 1:3), for we are joints heirs with Him (Rom 8:17). This blessing includes abundant & eternal life, salvation, glory, authority (v4-5). The fact He shares this blessing with us is stated in v6a: “For You have made him most blessed forever (literally, ‘you have made Him blessings forever’).” This means He was made to the source of blessing to us forever (blessed to be a blessing). This blessing includes joy, which only comes from God's Presence: “You have made him exceedingly glad (‘joyful with gladness’) with Your Presence” (see Ps 16:11). God’s Presence is the key to happiness. Thus, holiness comes before happiness (Heb 1:9, Ps 45:7). The basis for Christ (and us) to receive God’s blessing is faith in the Lord and His covenant love: “For the KING trusts in the Lord, and through the mercy (covenant love and faithfulness) of the Most High, he shall not be moved (shaken)” (v7). He shall be established forever in God’s grace.Whereas Part 1 looks back Christ’s decisive victory at His 1st Coming (v1-7), Part 2 looks forward to His future victory at His 2nd Coming, when He'll judge all His enemies and establish His Kingdom on earth (v8-13). Thus, after Christ's initial victory, this predicts His enemies will still be in the field, which is the case. But at His 2nd Coming He will search out and then seize all His enemies with His mighty right hand (v8, Ex 15:6). He'll then throw them into His fiery furnace: “You (the KING) shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of Your anger (lit: ‘face, presence’), the LORD shall swallow them up in His wrath, and the fire shall devour them” (v9). This will happen when they meet Him face to face for judgment. The parallelism shows the close relationship between KING (Messiah) and the LORD. Christ is the Lord’s representative & channel of both the Lord’s salvation for His people (v6) and His wrath on His enemies (v9). This judgment is in 2 stages: (1) At the 2nd Coming (or death) the souls of the wicked are thrown into the fire of Hades, and then at the end of time, they'll be resurrected and stand before the Great White Throne, and then be thrown body & soul into the Lake of Fire. All they've produced (the fruit of their lives) will be destroyed, as well as their spiritual sons, who partook of their nature and followed in their ways (v10). They'll get their just desserts for they planned evil against God, but were always bound to fail (v11), for God resists the proud (Jas 4:6), and you can't defeat God. This reveals the futility of the godless life (any success is temporary). At a time of His choosing, He'll confront all rebels and cause them to want to flee, but there'll be no escape. God is seen as the Divine Warrior, who has already prepared His arrows of judgment, placed them on His bow, pulled back the strings, and pointed His arrows toward their faces - a picture of imminent judgment (v12). Ps 21 concludes with God’s people praising Him for manifesting His power, not only in accomplishing salvation for them, but also for judging His enemies (v13). This judgment is a necessary part of establishing His Kingdom (Rev 11:15-18, 19:1-6).
Heaven's Coronation, is inspired by the recent coronation of King Charles III. In this country we have a long history of crowning kings and queens, in splendid ceremonies. Yet none compare to the vision seen by Daniel, when King Jesus ascended into Heaven to receive an everlasting Kingdom from His Father, the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:13-14, see also Philippians 2:9-11). Peter's message looks at this glorious event and the bright hope it brings for all God's people.
Ps 20 describes Israel’s spiritual preparation before an impending battle, a day of trouble (v1). It is a model for how to prepare ourselves in prayer, to walk in victory in our spiritual battles & days of trouble. It twins with Ps 21, describing the celebration after the victory (c.f 20:2,5 & 21:1; 20:4 & 21:2). The central character is the anointed king (v6), leading his people into battle. It finds its ultimate fulfilment in Christ, who leads His people to victory (battles of the Lord are pictures of His ultimate battle, when Christ personally overcomes all His enemies). Thus Ps 20 is messianic like Ps 21). The setting shows God’s people gathering before Him before battle, dedicating their lives to God, and calling on the covenant-keeping God to go with them to battle & give them victory. Their trust in & submission to God was expressed thru the sacrifice the king offered up on behalf of the nation (v3, 1Sam 7:7-12). The efficacy of their prayers was based on the merits of the sacrifice, representing the Sacrifice of Christ. Likewise, we come to God on the basis of Christ's righteousness, given us thru His Sacrifice, and dedicate ourselves to God to do His will (Rom 12:1), acknowledging the battle belongs to Him & we fight in His Name, under His authority, for His glory & will to be done. Thru this dedication, His Presence comes on us transforming us into mighty warriors (Ro 12:2), for He gives grace to the humble. At this point the priests encouraged the army to fear not, even if the enemy seems superior, for God goes with them into the battle to fight for them (Deut 20:1-4). So, in our battles, we don’t fight in our own strength, but daily come to God with a sacrifice of praise, dedicating ourselves for His will to be done thru us, and drawing on His grace.In v1-5, the people (‘we’ in v5) pray for the anointed king (David), who speaks in v6. They are one with their king, so his victory is theirs. “May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble; may the Name (revealed nature) of the God of Jacob defend you (set you on high)” (v1). They call on God to manifest His Name on behalf of His people. “May He send you help from the Sanctuary (the Place of God’s Presence) and strengthen you out of Zion” (v2). The key to victory is His Presence, so to receive help from God, we must draw near to Him, so His Presence fills us. The 1st key in spiritual warfare is to look to & submit to God, calling on Him to fill us with His Presence. “May He remember all your offerings and accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah” (v3). They offered their prayers on the foundation of the sacrifice. Likewise, when we pray, we trust in Christ's Sacrifice for God to accept our dedication & for our prayer to be answered. “May He grant you according to your heart’s desire (the saving of his people, victory over God’s enemies & God's glory) and fulfil all your purpose” (v4). Their prayer ends with assurance of victory, and readiness to go into battle under His Banner, as He goes with them to give them victory (Ex 17:15): “We will rejoice in your salvation (victory), and in the Name of our God, we will set up our banners! May the Lord fulfil all your petitions” (v5). Thus, true dedication to God brings assurance of God’s Presence, which we confess with our lips, that God is with us. In response, the king declares his faith, that God’s mighty right hand will give him the victory: “Now I know that the Lord saves (gives victory) to His anointed; He will answer him from His holy Heaven with the saving strength of His right hand” (v6). Then the people also declare their faith is in God, not in the strength of their forces. They focus on & make mention of (confess) His Name, His faithfulness to the covenant (v7), and, by faith they confess the final outcome of victory, before battle begins (v8). Again, we see it's important to confess our faith (Rom 10:8-10, 2Cor 4:13), as part of our spiritual preparation for battle. The concluding prayer in v8 is best translated: “O Lord, save (give victory to) the king, answer us in the day of our calling” (the origin of 'God save the king'). This is another link to Ps 21 (v1), v2 of which records the answer to this prayer.We show how Ps 20 was fulfilled by Christ, on His day of trouble, after which He was lifted up on high (v1), by God in Heaven (v2), who accepted His perfect Sacrifice (v3). God granted Jesus His heart’s desire (our salvation, the defeat of all His enemies & the fulfilment of His purpose to establish His Kingdom over all, v4). God gave victory to His Anointed by raising Him from death by His mighty power (v6). His people call on the exalted King, who is also Lord, for salvation (v9, Rom 10:13). They now rejoice in His salvation, for He won the victory for us, and now ever-lives to make intercession for us (v5). They now trust in His Name, rather than their own resources (v7), and are assured of the final downfall of the wicked and their own future resurrection to life (v8).
There are many kinds of PRAYER. One kind is INTERCESSION or TRAVAILING in prayer: “My little children, for whom I LABOUR in birth again until Christ is formed in you” (Galatians 4:19). We need to YIELD to the HOLY SPIRIT, for Him to pray through us as He wants. We want to yield our hearts & bodies to Him, to pray God's will into people’s lives: “It is not by (human) might, and not by (human) power, but by My SPIRIT, says the Lord” (Zechariah 4:6). We need to let God fill us with His love, so that we pray from a heart of love. Everywhere Jesus went, He was MOVED with COMPASSION to meet the needs of people, and God’s POWER was manifested through Him (Matthew 9:36, 14:14, 15:32, 20:34, Mark 1:41, 6:34, 8:2, 9:22, Luke 7:13). Romans 5:5: “The LOVE of God has been SHED ABROAD in OUR HEARTS by the HOLY SPIRIT, who was GIVEN to us.” Thus, the same compassion (love) that moved Jesus is in us. But we have to learn to yield to it. When we are moved with COMPASSION, we not only recognise their need and feel for the one who is suffering, but God also EMPOWERS us to MEET their NEED. One way to do this is to PRAY in the SPIRIT for them (Romans 8:26-27).We also need to pray in faith. Faith does not depend on fickle feelings. It is a matter of believing God and His Word, and then we need to exercise our faith by obeying His Word, acting as if it is true. We become STRONG in FAITH by (1) MEDITATING in God’s WORD, and (2) EXERCISING our FAITH, by corresponding actions. We build up our FAITH MUSCLES, when we EXERCISE our FAITH (put it into action). All prayer, when prayed in faith to God the Father in the Name of Jesus, is powerful. One area where you can BUILD up your FAITH by EXERCISE is in the area of PRAYER, especially PRAYING in TONGUES. If you never exercise your faith by praying in tongues, trusting the Holy Spirit to give you the utterance (Acts 2:4), then your faith in that area will never grow! When you receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, you automatically receive the ability to pray in tongues. But you must exercise this gift to activate it, so it is fruitful in your life. It's the same way with God’s LOVE. He has already given us His LOVE (Romans 5:5). We must believe this truth and put His love into action in our lives, by walking in love. God wants us to agree with His Word, that He has already given us His love – and start exercising it! He says to you: “I have shed My love abroad in your heart by the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:5). You are a love child of a love God. We still have the flesh, but God’s love in our heart is more powerful than our flesh. God has given us free-will, so we can choose to love or not to love. If you are born again, you are His child, and so you have His nature in your spirit, you have His LOVE in you, but by not exercising His love, you are allowing your flesh to take control of your life. But if you do EXERCISE the LOVE of God in you by faith (not feelings), for example by PRAYING for someone when you do not feel like it, then His love will fill you, and flow through you, and you will grow in love and become a lover of mankind, full of mercy and compassion. You become a person MOVED with COMPASSION to DO something, for example, YIELDING to the SPIRIT, asking Him to take control of your lips, to PRAY through you God’s perfect will for that person.Matthew 9:36-38: “When He saw the multitudes, He was MOVED with COMPASSION for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep with no shepherd. Then He SAID to His disciples: “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore, PRAY the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest.” Jesus was moved with COMPASSION, and His next thought is to PRAY. Therefore, there is a linking together of LOVE and PRAYER. When you have COMPASSION for someone, you want to reach God on their behalf. Today, God is calling His people to lay down our lives and PRAY. In the days to come, IF we will lay down our lives and PRAY, we will be entering into God's call for our life, and we will begin to become unselfish. The nature of GOD is to GIVE (John 3:16). The greatest joy in the world is for us to love others, for example, to help someone in trouble. Jesus wants us to be known for our LOVE (John 13:34-35). Standing in the gap for someone else is an act of love. INTERCESSORY PRAYER is an ACT of LOVE. As you sow to the Spirit by doing good, such as interceding for others, you will REAP everlasting LIFE (Galatians 6:7-9). YIELD your tongue to the HOLY SPIRIT, and pray in unknown tongues, trusting in the Spirit to give you the words (Acts 2:4): “for he who speaks in an unknown tongue does not SPEAK to men but TO GOD, for no one understands him; however, IN the SPIRIT he speaks MYSTERIES” (1Corinthians 14:2).
Ps 19 transitions from God's general revelation in Creation (v1-6), to His special revelation in His written Word, which is more comprehensive, detailed, clearer & personal. Men can misunderstand God’s nature, when they see evil in the world, as nature is corrupted by the curse, so sends mixed signals. So, we need a clearer revelation of God - His perfect Word, without error & extolled in v7-11. v7-9 lists 6 descriptions of His Word (its nature), followed by 6 things it does if we receive it (its power). (1) “The LAW of the LORD is PERFECT (inerrant, complete & sufficient revelation of God & His will for us, 2Pet 1:3-4, 2Tim 3:16-17), converting (restoring, reviving) the soul.” (2) “The TESTIMONY (His witness to Himself) of the LORD is SURE (dependable, Ps 119:89), making wise the simple (imparting wisdom for life to the humble).” (3) “The STATUTES (instructions) of the LORD are RIGHT (morally right, not crooked), rejoicing (giving satisfaction to) the heart.” (4) “The COMMANDMENT (not suggestion) of the LORD is PURE (lit: 'radiant') enlightening the eyes (illumination for life).” (5) “The FEAR of the LORD (it reveals His majesty, authority & holiness, producing in us the fear of God - Deut 4:10), is CLEAN (free from impurity, making us clean, by imparting the fear of God to us), enduring forever (enabling us to endure forever - 1Pet 1:23-25, 1Jn 2:17).” (6) The JUDGMENTS (verdicts) of the LORD are true and righteous altogether (guiding us to think & act right). In view of its origin, nature & transforming power, we should value & embrace it above all earthly things, for it’s both (1) desirable & (2) enjoyable: “(1) More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold (Prov 3:13-18), (2) sweeter also than honey & the honeycomb” (v10). It imparts (1) spiritual riches & (2) the sweet grace of God. How much we value matters, for where our treasure is, so is our heart (Luke 12:34), and the measure of attention we give His Word determines the blessing we receive (Mark 4:24). It can accomplish all things in v7-10, as it’s the Word 'of the Lord' (repeated x6), revealing the Lord of the Word. Thru His Word we find, meet & know God personally. We come into union with Him by faith, and so receive His life, wisdom, blessing, light, strength & cleansing (Jn 5:39-40). The Lord Himself imparts Himself to us thru His Word, and works wonder in our lives. So, if you desire God, desire His Word, not just for its +ve impartation of blessing (v10), but also as it reveals & warns us of our sin, bringing repentance & cleansing, for sin separates us from God & His life: “Moreover, by them (God's words) Your servant is warned (of folly, sin & dangers), and in keeping them there is great reward” (v11)God's purpose in revealing Himself thru His Word, is for us to know Him as our Redeemer & Rock (Strength). Thus, the 3rd Part describes our right response to His revelation (v12-14). His Word reveals His perfection & by contrast our sin. He also reveals Himself as our Redeemer from sin & Strength empowering us to walk in righteousness (v14). Sin impedes our fellowship with God, so we must turn from it, asking for cleansing (v12,13), & surrender to God, for Him to fill us with His Spirit & strengthen us to do His will (v14). There are 2 kinds of sin (1) of ignorance & (2) deliberate sin. 1st, he prays about 2 kinds of sins of which he’s unaware: “(1) Who can understand his errors? (2) Cleanse me from secret faults” (v12). Though hidden to us, they darken our soul. He asks God to (1) reveal his errors of thinking & (2) cleanse sins done in ignorance. He opens his heart to God's light, inviting His cleansing (1Jn 1:7). Then he prays about his wilful sins (1Jn 1:9): “Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous (wilful) sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then (1) I shall be blameless, & (2) be innocent of great transgression” (v13). When we yield to our sin-nature, we become enslaved to that sin, so it becomes habitual, increasingly ruling us & forming our character, resulting in much sin. Only God can (1) cleanse us of hidden faults (v12) & (2) empower us to overcome deliberate sinning (v13). It ends with a prayer of surrender & trust: “Let the words of my mouth and meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord my STRENGTH (ROCK) and my REDEEMER” (v14). A plea for purity, knowing only God can make us holy, using the language ('acceptable') of an offering to God (Ro 12:1). Real godliness is not just about our actions, but originates in the thoughts of our heart, expressed in words (Matt 12:33-37), so we should meditate on His works & words. He offers his heart-meditations & words to God, inviting His consuming fire to purify him. He ends by confessing God as his (1) Redeemer & (2) Rock of Strength, firm Foundation, upholding him with His righteousness, imparting His power for living right. As we pray v12-14, God purifies our hearts.
Psalm 19 is Messianic. It’s in 3 Parts: (1) God’s General Revelation in Creation (v1-6), (2) God’s Special Revelation in His written Word (v7-11), & (3) God's Purpose in revealing Himself & our right response (v12-14). In Part 1 the Divine Name is EL, and in Part 2, YAHWEH (x7), His personal Covenant Name. v1-6 describe His message thru the heavens: “The heavens declare the glory (splendour) of God, and the firmament (expanse) shows His handiwork” (v1). Creation is designed to be a revelation of God (Rom 1:20). His general revelation is continuous & abundant: “Day unto day utters (pours forth) speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge” (v2), like a spring pouring forth waters of revelation, both day & night. By day, the sun shines, so we can see His handiwork on earth. At night, the stars reveal His immensity & proclaim the Gospel. This revelation is universal: “There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line (sound - LXX) has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world” (v3-4a). The Bible teaches God used the stars & constellations to preach the Gospel to ancient man, before His written Word was available. In Rom 10:16-18, Paul quoted from Ps 19, describing His revelation in the heavens, & applied it to the Gospel. So, the Gospel is in the Stars, as confirmed in Gen 15:5-6: “Look now toward heaven, and count (tell, declare) the stars if you are able to number (tell, declare) them.” He said to him: “So shall your descendants (SEED) be.” And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” The word 'count' means to tell, to give an account. So, God asked him to tell the story in the stars. It’s the same word translated ‘declare’ in Ps 19:1. Thus, he was to declare the message the stars were declaring - the Gospel of Messiah. When he did this, God preached the Gospel to him (Gal 3:8), saying: “so shall your SEED (Christ) be” - Christ will come as Abraham’s Seed. So, he was justified by faith by believing the Gospel, not that would give him children (absurd!) God revealed the Gospel of Christ to Adam & Eve (Gen 3:15,21), and taught them the need for sacrifice, which they passeon to their seed. He also designed the stars as signs pointing to His truth (Gen 1:14), named them & revealed their names to man (Isa 40:26, Ps 147:4). He named the constellations to reveal His truth (Job 26:13, 9:8-9, 38:31-33, Amos 5:6-8). The signs of the zodiac (the sun's path thru the constellations) have an ancient origin as a divine revelation, which explains why, when men fell into idolatry, they worshipped the stars & practiced astrology (Deut 4:19, Isa 47:13-14). Over time, God's story in the stars was corrupted into pagan myths, but we can reconstruct much of the original Gospel story in the heavens from the constellation & star names. When God gave an His written Word (v7-11), His star-message became less important.We look at this star story, which starts with VIRGO (the Virgin), giving birth to the promised Seed, and finishes with LEO, the Lion of Judah, pouncing on the head of HYDRA, the fleeing Serpent (2nd Coming). We see how SCORPIO & its associated constellations perfectly tell the story of Gen 3:15. There are many pictures of Christ, as a mighty Man & Bridegroom, in conflict with the Devil (represented by a serpent, scorpion, dragon & other monsters), as well as pictures of the redeemed. Thus, the heavens declare the GLORY (manifestation) of GOD = JESUS (2Cor 4:6, Heb 1:3, Col 1:15). v4b-6 give more detail of this revelation: “In them (the heavens) He has set a tabernacle (a dwelling place) for the SUN (a picture of the glorious Christ, Mal 4:2, for all life depends on the sun), which is like a BRIDEGROOM coming out of his Chamber, and rejoices like a STRONG MAN (Champion) to run its (His) race (to win His Bride). Its rising is from one end of heaven, and its circuit to the other end; and there is nothing hidden from its heat.” This gives a spiritual interpretation of the sun & its motion. It typifies the Bridegroom going forth for His Bride, a Mighty Man, coming forth from His chamber to run His course & fulfil His mission, a picture of Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness, our mighty Champion who left His place in Heaven to run His course, conquer Satan & redeem His Bride. He completes the circuit & fulfils His mission, bringing His Bride back to His Chamber to be with Him forever. This is represented by its annual circuit through the heavens, the 12 signs of the Zodiac (way by steps), the tabernacle for the sun (v4). These are 12 stages of its journey & 12 mansions it dwells in. The sun represents His majestic PERSON. The constellations picture the different aspects & stages of His WORK. So, as the sun passes through the different signs, it pictures Him accomplishing, step-by-step, the things revealed by these pictures. So, as each year the sun completes a circuit, it proclaims Christ, the Light of the world, fulfilling His mission.
Jesus said in John 14:1,27: “Do not let your HEART be TROUBLED; believe in God, believe also in Me ... Peace I leave with you, My Peace I give to you... Do not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”(I) The TROUBLED HEART: “Do not let your HEART be TROUBLED” (John 14:1a). The Greek verb used here for ‘troubled’ is tarassō: to stir up, agitate or roil, as of the sea (Matthew 2:3). It is used x3 of Jesus in John 11:33, 12:27, 13:21, before He said in John 14:1: “Let not your HEART be TROUBLED; believe (trust) in God, believe (trust) also in Me.” Jesus tells us to not allow the core of our being to be moved from its centre in God. Proverbs 4:23: “GUARD your HEART with all diligence, for out of it (your heart) spring (flow) the issues of life.” (II) The TRUSTING HEART: John 14:1: “Let not your heart be troubled; BELIEVE (trust) in God, BELIEVE (trust) also in Me.” Having commanded us not to have a troubled heart, He then tells us what to do instead: BELIEVE! Instead of being TROUBLED, let us TRUST in Him. This is not talking about a vague belief in God, but Jesus commands us to TRUST in Him, to have a trusting heart. We can TRUST Him in times of TROUBLE, because He has given us certain PROMISES in John 14. These promises are like anchors for us, when we are tempted to have a troubled heart. PROMISE (1): “In My Father’s House (Heaven) are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to PREPARE a PLACE for YOU (in Heaven). And if I go and PREPARE a PLACE for YOU, I will COME again and RECEIVE you to MYSELF; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go (Heaven) you know, and the way you know” (John 14:2-4).PROMISE (2): “Whatever you ASK in My NAME, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ASK anything in My NAME, I will do it” (John 14:13-14).PROMISE (3): “I will not leave you orphans; I will COME to YOU (through the Holy Spirit)” (John 14:18). “I will pray the Father, and He will give you another HELPER, that He may abide with you forever, the SPIRIT of TRUTH, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He DWELLS with you and will be IN YOU” (John 14:16-17). See also 1John 4:4.Jesus says: “BELIEVE in ME, when I say I am going away to prepare a place for you and will come again to receive you to Myself” (John 14:1-3). Jesus says: “BELIEVE in ME, when I say I am leaving you My NAME, and you can ask whatever you need, and I will do it” (John 14:1,13-14). Jesus says: “BELIEVE in ME, when I say I will not leave you on your own, but I will give you the Presence of the HOLY SPIRIT, to live inside you and be available to help, strengthen and lead you” (John 14:1,16-18). Proverbs 3:5: “TRUST in the Lord with all your HEART, and lean not on your own understanding.” This trust in Jesus, centred and fixed on Him, brings us to a place of peace in the middle of trouble. Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep him in PERFECT PEACE, whose mind is stayed (fixed, leaning, resting) on You, because he TRUSTS in You.” (III) The TOWERING HEART: After He promised to us the PRESENCE and HELP of the HOLY SPIRIT, Jesus also promised to give us His PEACE: “the HELPER, the HOLY SPIRIT, whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. PEACE, I leave with you, MY PEACE I give to you” (John 14:26-27). Jesus has left the HOLY SPIRIT with us, who is the GOD of PEACE (Philippians 4:9). In Judges 6:24, God reveals Himself to Gideon as Jehovah SHALOM - the Lord is our PEACE. PEACE is not just the ABSENCE of conflict, but God’s PRESENCE in our heart in the midst of turmoil. John 14:27: ”PEACE, I leave with you, MY PEACE I give to you (in your heart), not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not LET your HEART be TROUBLED (John 14:1), neither let it be afraid (don’t be cowardly)." Philippians 4:7: “The PEACE of God, which passes all understanding, will GUARD (protect) your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” His PEACE is like the WALLS of a castle, towering around our hearts. Romans 5:1: “We have PEACE with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”, because: “Jesus is our PEACE” (Ephesians 2:14). He has given us His PEACE. That PEACE is already ours, because of His Sacrifice on the Cross. For this reason, instead of having a TROUBLED HEART, we can have a TRUSTING HEART. Moreover, we can have a TOWERING HEART, that towers over and above the trouble, by abiding in His PEACE. Proverbs 18:10: “The NAME of the LORD (Jehovah Shalom) is a STRONG TOWER; the righteous run into it and they are SAFE.” We can TRUST in JESUS and stand in the STRONG TOWER of His PEACE, no matter what’s going on in the world around us. He is our JEHOVAH SHALOM - the LORD our PEACE (Judges 6:24).
Psalm 18 is a triumphant declaration at a time of great victory. David (and Christ) explode with love for the Lord (v1), who'd manifested His covenant love to them in many ways. They declare 9 Names of God, describing ways they knew God from personal experience thru many trials (v1-2). Many times they'd called on Him and He delivered them from their enemies. In particular, in the face of death they cried to God and He heard them (v3-6). In its fullest sense it applies to Christ who actually suffered, died & went to Sheol (v4-5), but called to God during this whole time (v6), and He answered. In v7-19, it reveals what happened in the Spirit as God manifested His glory & moved in majestic power at His death & resurrection, bringing darkness & shaking the earth (v7-9,11), personally coming down from Heaven (v10) releasing His arrows against His enemies (v12-14), then invading Hades (v15), and reaching down there by His mighty Arm, He pulled Christ out of the Prison of Hades (v16), rescuing Him from the devil & all His enemies, and raised Him from death & exalted Him to a high spacious place (v17-19). The basis for this divine deliverance was His perfect righteousness as a Man (v19-24): "He delivered me because He delighted in me" (v19b). Likewise, in Christ, God delights in us & delivers us.After His Ascension, God reigns over man thru Christ as His executive at His right hand (Ps 110:1-4). He is merciful, gracious & righteous in His rule, saving the humble & humbling the proud (v25-27). At His resurrection, God regenerated & glorified His human nature, lighting up His lamp, His human spirit (v28, Prov 20:27), anointing Him for victory over all His enemies (v29-36), and sharing His anointing & weapons with His people, who trust in Him, and engage in spiritual warfare in His Name (v30-31). Finally, in God's perfect timing He'll release Him to fully manifest His authority, power & glory to pursue & destroy all His enemies, at His 2nd Coming (v37-42). Then having put down all rebellion, He'll establish His Kingdom on earth and reign as Head of all nations (v43). At this time saved Gentiles, who hear of Him & submit to Him (v43-45) will be included in His covenant community (v49): "Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among (in fellowship with) the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your Name" - quoted in Rom 15:9 and applied to Christ, proving it's a messianic psalm. Rom 15:7-12 quotes 4 prophecies to prove when Christ comes, He'll bring salvation to the Gentiles, so they'll be included with the Jews in God's People. Though these prophecies originally spoke of the Messianic Kingdom, for the Church Age was a Mystery, not yet revealed, they revealed God's purpose to save Gentiles thru His Coming, so Gentile salvation in the Church Age thru the New Covenant is consistent with the revelation of the prophets, and is an initial fulfilment. So Jews & Gentiles in the Church should receive each other as equals (v7). The prophets saw His Coming to die, rise again & establish the new covenant, and had Israel received Him, He'd have established His Kingdom, with Jews & Gentiles equally saved, in fulfilment of the prophecies. But, when Israel rejected Him, instead of establishing the Kingdom, God brought in the Church Age, in which Jews & Gentiles are equally saved, as in the Kingdom. Thus, though He could not fulfil all the Kingdom prophecies, He did fulfil the prophecies of salvation in the new covenant for all who call on His Name, both Jew & Gentile. Similarly, in Acts 15:13-19, James quoted Amos 9:11-12 to show Gentile salvation in the Church Age is consistent with the prophets, as an initial fulfilment, and so Jewish believers should receive Gentiles into the Church as equals.Psalm 18 concludes with a Doxology of Praise, summarising all the great things God did to manifest His covenant love (v46-50), giving Him glory for being His strength & giving Him victory over all His enemies, especially the violent man (antichrist), and for executing justice and establishing His Kingdom on earth over all nations, with Christ exalted as Head. He also gives thanks for the salvation of Gentiles, now in union with Him (v49). He concludes with a summary statement: "Great deliverance He gives to His KING, and shows covenant love to His ANOINTED, to DAVID and his SEED (CHRIST) forevermore" (v50). This confirms Ps 18 was originally fulfilled (in type) to David, but the ultimate fulfilment is to David's SEED, Christ. Just as we are Abraham's Seed, as we're in Christ, the SEED of Abraham, and so inherit his blessing (Gal 3:14,26-29), so we are David's Seed, as we're in Christ, the SEED of David, and so are joint heirs of the covenant blessings (mercies) of David, described in Ps 18. Thus we share in Christ's victory, anointing & reign, thru our union with Him. Thus Ps 18 doesn't just describe God's covenant blessings to David & his Seed (Christ), but also to those in Christ, which we can apply to & appropriate for ourselves.
Psalm 18 is a Thanksgiving Psalm of intense emotion giving God the glory for all the victories God gave David and His Son (Christ) in fulfilling His covenant promises to them (v50). It continues the story * typology from Psalm 17. The title is: "A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD, who spoke to the LORD the words of this song on the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all of his enemies and from the hand of Saul." This is clearly an important Psalm, as it is in 2Samuel 22. It's a Messianic Psalm - although it was spoken by David and corresponds to his own circumstances & prayer, it was written in a Spirit of Prophecy, and can only be perfectly fulfilled by the Messiah. This is clear by the magnitude of the language, the claims of perfect righteousness, and the fact Paul quotes v49 in Romans 15:9 and applies it to Christ (see also v2 and Heb 2:13). Moreover, v50 gives a summary: "Great deliverance He gives to His KING, and shows mercy to His ANOINTED, to David and his descendants (SEED = Messiah) forevermore." So this indicates it is about God's manifestation of His covenant love to both His anointed ones - David and Messiah, His Seed. The promises & blessings of this Psalm also apply to believers who are in Christ, the Seed of David.As the title indicates, it was sung after David conquered all his enemies, both internal & external. It gives thanks and glory to God for all the deliverances and victories over the years. David, the warrior king, is a type of Christ, and so the stages of his life foreshadow that of Christ: (1) His anointing, mighty feats, suffering & persecution from the governing authority (Saul) before he became king foreshadow Christ's earthly ministry before He was enthroned as King. (2) David's enthronement as King at Hebron corresponds to Christ's enthronement at His resurrection. At this point, most of Israel did not follow Him (only Judah, a remnant), and although there was a 7-year war between him and the house of Saul, he did not try to force His rule on the rest. He was depending on God to establish His throne. David waited for 7 years before all Israel came to him and submitted to him as King. This corresponds to the 7 years on Israel's Clock yet to run as the Tribulation (Dan 9:24-27) during which Israel will come to Christ (2Sam 3:1) - the typology jumps over the Church Age, which was a mystery. At the end of the 7 years all Israel will be saved and welcome Christ to be her King (2Sam 5:1-5, Matt 24:37-39). (3) At this point, with Israel now submitted to him, David immediately operated in his kingly anointing to conquer all the surrounding enemy nations, starting with Jerusalem (2Sam 5:6-12), where he established His throne, followed by the rapid defeat and conquest of the Philistines (2Sam 5:17-24, 8:1), Moab, Zobar, Syria, Ammon & Amalek (2Sam 8:2-14). Likewise, when Israel receives Him, Christ will return at Armageddon as King of kings and conquer all the enemy armies from every nation gathered against Israel, and sit on His throne in Jerusalem. (4) Then David reigned over Israel and was also the head of the surrounding nations (2Sam 8:15). Likewise, Christ will reign over Israel and all the nations, as King over all the world in the Millennium. At this point David wrote Psalm 18 to give thanks for the manifestation of God's covenant love and power (v1,50). Likewise, it's also the Psalm Christ will sing when He has defeated all His enemies and established His Kingdom, giving thanks for what God has done.We see the stages of the parallel exaltation of David & Christ reflected in the Psalm. In v1-3, Christ (as typified by David) gives thanks for His strength and protection during His earthly life. Then in v4-24 He thanks God for delivering Him from death and conquering all His enemies in His mighty resurrection. Then in v25-36, He describes His regeneration and anointing by God at His resurrection & ascension (coronation) to reign as Lord administering God's grace and justice in His dealings with mankind, and His empowerment to vanquish His enemies, at the appointed time. In the meantime, God anointed Him and His people to operate with strength and wisdom in the ongoing (spiritual) warfare. Then in v37-42, we see Him in His 2nd Coming destroying all the enemy armies at Armageddon (Rev 19) and judging the whole world, destroying all those who hate (reject) Him, grinding all the kingdoms of the world to fine dust (Daniel 2:35). Then, in v43-49, with Israel and the Gentiles in submission to Him, Christ establishes His Millennial Kingdom, becoming 'the Head of the nations' (King of kings) - 43. In this Kingdom, the Gentiles as well as the Jews will be saved and in covenant fellowship with Him (v43-45,49). At this time He will exalt the living God over all (v46), for God had delivered him from all His enemies and subdued them under His feet (v47-48).
(1) The WONDER of the Choice. We have SINNED against a holy God (Romans 3:23), so we deserve judgment for our sins (Romans 6:23, John 3:19, Hebrews 9:27). It is a WONDER that God sent a Redeemer to save us (John 3:17, Titus 3:4, Luke 9:56). It is a WONDER because God FORGIVES our sins (Psalm 103:12, Isaiah 53:6, Colossians 2:13-14). It is a WONDER because God ADOPTS us as children (Ephesians 1:5, Romans 8:14,16). It is a WONDER because God gives us a NEW NATURE (John 1:12-13, 2 Corinthians 5:17). It is a WONDER because God makes us a HOME with Him forever (John 14:2). The GREATEST WONDER is that God CHOSE US for Himself (Ephesians 1:4, Romans 5:8).(2) The WISDOM of the Choice. It is WISE, because those who belong to Christ have GRACE to help in time of need (Romans 5:1-2, Hebrews 4:16). It is WISE because those who choose Christ have POWER over sin (Romans 6:11-12, Galatians 5:16). It is WISE because in Christ we have AUTHORITY over satan (Colossians 1:13, Luke 10:19, James 4:7). It is WISE because by choosing Jesus we can have VICTORY over the world (1 John 5:4-5).(3) The WEIGHT of the ChoiceWe must SUBMIT to Christ (our lives are not our own). We must FOLLOW Christ (denying ourselves). We must OBEY Christ (serving in His Kingdom) - 1 John 5:3, Matthew 11:30, Psalm 23:4,6, Isaiah 43:2. If you HAVEN’T chosen Jesus, why not make TODAY the day that you do?
Psalm 17 is a Psalm of David when he was being pursued by Saul's armies, who have tracked him down and surrounded him (v9-12, see 1Samuel 23, especially v19-29). His prayer is in 3 parts, each part starts by him invoking a name of God. He prays (1) for VINDICATION, for he was being falsely accused (v1-5), (2) for PROTECTION, because his enemies were out to kill him (v6-12), and (3) for VICTORY - for God to intervene and completely overthrow his enemies (v13-14), and finally he expresses confidence (4) in his ultimate eternal SALVATION in God's Presence at his resurrection (v15). It is a Messianic Psalm (the prayer of Christ as He is falsely accused and pursued to death by His enemies). This is because He declares His perfect righteousness (v1-4). Whereas this was true in a limited way for David, in that as far as the specific cause he was praying about, he was innocent, he was being falsely accused. However these verses are only true in an absolute sense of Christ Himself. Thus Psalm 17 is similar to Psalm 16 in emphasising the perfect righteousness of the Messiah and His confident expectation of being resurrected to glory in God's Presence (v15, see 16:8-11). Psalm 17 also prepares the way for Psalm 18, another Messianic Psalm, which begins where Psalm 17 ends, with the Messiah resurrected and exalted as King, giving thanks to God for His deliverance and victory (we will see that Psalm 20 and 21 work together in a similar way). Since Jesus is the greater Son of David, the life of David is a type of the life of Christ. Like Jesus in His 1st Coming, he was anointed and did many great works, but was rejected and persecuted by the Jewish authorities, who wanted to kill him. But eventually David was exalted by God to become king, just as God exalted Jesus at His resurrection, establishing Him as Lord and King. So, this is a prayer of David praying for God's vindication, protection and victory over his enemies (v1-14), which was accomplished at his enthronement, as well as expressing his faith that God would also ultimately give him the victory over sin and death at his resurrection (v15). Likewise, this is also Christ's prayer for vindication, protection and victory during His earthly ministry (v1-14), ending with His confident declaration that God would ultimately answer His prayer by raising Him from the dead (v15), at which time He was also enthroned as King. David's hope of resurrection (v15), as for all believers, is based on the resurrection of the perfectly righteous Man, Jesus Christ (v15), for only through union with Him can we have a glorious resurrection.Their confidence in prayer was based on (1) their innocence and purposeful righteousness in thought, word and deed (v1-4), (2) the nature of God: "Manifest Your wonderful (miraculous) loving-kindness (chesed, steadfast covenant love) by Your right hand" (v7), and (3) their just cause (they were called anointed as God's King to fulfil His purposes, so they were praying according to God’s will. This prayer contains 2 beautiful pictures of God’s protective care for his people in v8: "Keep me as the apple (pupil) of Your eye; hide me under the shadow of Your wings" (see Deuteronomy 32:10-11, Proverbs 7:2, Zechariah 2:8, Ruth 2:12, Psalm 36:7, 57:1, 61:4, 63:7, 91:4, Matthew 23:37). v14 describes the godless as men of the world (1John 2:15), who (only) have their portion in this life, who are fully SATISFIED with the things of this life, but have no room for God in their life, who graciously provides these things to them. But, in rejecting God and taking His blessings for granted, they are also building up their measure of God's hidden treasure of wrath (Romans 2:4). By way of contrast, the godly will be SATISFIED with God's Presence (v15). The Psalm finishes with a beautiful picture of our glorious resurrection, just as in Psalm 16: "As for me (in contrast to the men of the world, who have no hope beyond this life), I will SEE Your FACE in RIGHTEOUSNESS; I shall be SATISFIED (with God), when I AWAKE (from the dead - see Isaiah 26:19, Daniel 12:2) in Your LIKENESS (1John 3:2)” (v15). This is our blessed hope, for when we are resurrected in His likeness, in a state of perfect righteousness, without sin, then we can enjoy perfect face to face fellowship and union with Him, and be fully satisfied.
FORGIVENESS is the Christian’s WEAPON to destroy the plans and works of satan in our life. Walking in FORGIVENESS is a major key to overcome the evil in this world, rather than coming under its power. God forgives and forgets our sins, when we repent, for He does not remember our sins any more (Isaiah 43:25, Jer 31:34, Heb 8:12,10:17), for He casts them into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19), where they can't be retrieved. So, we need to do the same by forgiving others and forgetting their sins, when they repent. We need to dump, delete and destroy our unforgiveness (our remembrance of their sins), just as God totally blots out our sins, when we confess them to Him (Psalm 51:1,9, Isaiah 43:25, 44:22, Acts 3:19). We must FORGIVE one another from our HEART (our will). That is, we must make a DECISION to FORGIVE (Matthew 18:35), and we should affirm it by SPEAKING it out loud (Matthew 12:34). Even if they are unrepentant, we should still FORGIVE them and give them to God (for our own sake). However, their lack of repentance means we cannot FORGET their sin. It may mean that we modify our view of them, and our behaviour toward them, because we cannot trust them as much now, as we did before. When we forgive them and pray that they receive God’s forgiveness and blessing (Luke 23:34), we free them to receive the love of the Lord. FORGIVENESS is NOT a FEELING, but a QUALITY DECISION - an act of our WILL, with the help of the Holy Spirit, who lives inside of us. Forgiveness is NOT pretending that what they did was acceptable. Forgiveness says: “God has forgiven me so much more than this sin that I need to forgive. So, I will obey His command to forgive others.” Jesus said: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Ephesians 4:30-32: “Do not GRIEVE the HOLY SPIRIT of God... let all bitterness, wrath, anger, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice... FORGIVING one another, even as God in Christ FORGAVE you.”Unforgiveness is like taking poison, hoping it will kill the other person! Having bitterness in your heart will make you physically & mentally sick. Walking in unforgiveness will separate you from intimate communion with your loving Heavenly Father: “if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:15, 18:35, Mark 11:26). When we refuse to forgive, we are not hurting the other person, but ourselves, for we are hardening our heart toward God, which cuts us off from His grace and leads to many negative consequences. We must remember that God's PRIMARY concern is our HEART ATTITUDE. If we have a wise and willing heart, enthusiastic for God's will and we refuse to take offence, and persist in forgiving, then the devil's plans for our destruction (John 10:10) will be destroyed, as nothing now can stop us from being filled by God and used by God. Stephen is a classic example of forgiveness, even though his enemies were stoning him to death (Acts 7:54-60). He FORGAVE them all, including the future apostle Paul, and asked God to FORGIVE them. God used Stephen’s PRAYER for their FORGIVENESS to help bring about Paul's conversion. This is the POWER of FORGIVENESS. Although Saul was involved in his murder, Stephen FORGA VE Saul and PRAYED God’s blessing upon him, releasing him to become the man God intended him to be. In answer to his prayer, Paul received FORGIVENESS from God, and on that basis, he was also able to FORGIVE HIMSELF. Knowing that God is satisfied with the Blood of Jesus as the full payment for our sins, we should trust in God’s promise of forgiveness, and on that basis, we can also forgive ourselves. Our forgiveness can open the door of their heart to the Lord, allowing Him to change and bless them. Let us remember the price our Lord Jesus paid for our FORGIVENESS. He prayed for all those, whose sin took Him to the Cross (including us): “Father, FORGIVE them.” His prayer for our forgiveness was effectual. Likewise, Stephen's prayer for his persecutors was effectual, as proved by Paul’s conversion. Hilary gives another example of the POWER of FORGIVENESS working through a woman, who forgave the man who killed her son. Her love and forgiveness were effectual in transforming that man.
Hilary teaches on the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, which Jesus gave His disciples, when they asked Him how many times should they forgive someone (Matthew 18:21-35). God, our Master and King, has forgiven us a massive un-payable sin-debt, so we ought to forgive one another. We should always be aware of just how much God has forgiven each one of us through the shed Blood of His Beloved Son, Jesus our Messiah. We should always be aware of just how much it cost God to forgive us. The servant who had been forgiven so much, refused to forgive his fellow servant (v29-30), and as a result his master was angry with him, and delivered him over to the torturers (v32-34).We will be separated from intimate fellowship with our Heavenly Father, if we refuse to forgive others. Jesus suffered and died to pay the price for their forgiveness, as well as for our forgiveness. He paid the price for their sins, as well as for our sins. He was punished in our place, and He released FORGIVENESS from the Cross, including for those who crucified Him, saying: “Father, FORGIVE them” (Luke 23:34). If our Lord forgave even those who tortured Him to death, then as His disciples, we must also forgive those who sin against us. When you forgive them, you are putting them into the Hands of God. You release the judgment to God, because you are refusing to be their judge, and they will now have to answer to God. He is the only Just Judge. If we do persist in judging (condemning) them, then our sin of unforgiveness is now worse than their sin against us, because we are now in pride and rebellion against God’s Word, which tells us to: “forgive one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). Harbouring unforgiveness puts a barrier between us and our Heavenly Father, hindering our fellowship, and it can result in physical sickness, mental sickness, depression and self-hatred (Matthew 18:35).
Psalm 16 is a Messianic Psalm which predicted the Resurrection of Christ. In v1-6 we see His single-minded loyalty to God, trusting in God for security (v1), welfare and righteousness (v2). He is singleminded in His mission to save His people, His saints in whom is all His delight (v3, Hebrews 12:2). He is singleminded in His worship of God (v4), His desire for God's Presence (v5), and His trust in God to bring Him into His full inheritance of life and blessing (v5-6). He does not follow other gods in idolatry or other things in covetousness (v4-6). As a result, God gives Him counsel (guidance) by His Spirit instructing Him in His heart (v7), and He can look forward to glorious resurrection unto eternal life and blessings (v8-11). He always sets the Lord before Him, looking to Him for leadership and keeping His focus on Him. He exalts the Lord to the highest place in his life, the place of honour, at His right hand. As a result, the strength of God is always with him, and so whatever happens He will not be moved or shaken (v8). This is true even in the face of death. As He looks ahead to His death He can rejoice, knowing that God will raise Him from the death: "Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices, My flesh also will rest (dwell securely) in hope (of resurrection)" (v9). When this verse is quoted in Acts 2:26, the word 'glory' is translated as 'tongue' (following the Septuagint). This agrees with other verses that emphasise the close connection between the heart and the mouth (Matthew 12:34-35), the mouth receiving and expressing what is in the heart, which is the very meaning of 'glory' or 'to glorify' (John 16:13-15). The moon is the glory of the sun, because it receives the light of the sun and then shines it. Likewise, we glorify God by receiving and expressing His Spirit. Likewise, the tongue is our glory, because it takes what is in our heart and expresses it. In v10, he gives more explanation about His upcoming death and resurrection: "For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see (undergo) corruption." In His identification with mankind, after death, in His human soul Christ went down to Sheol (Hades), while His body was in the tomb. He calls His body 'Your holy one' for it had no sin-nature (because of the virgin birth), and He continually offered it to God as a living sacrifice to do God's perfect will (Romans 12:1). He declares that God would not allow His holy body to see corruption, as that would be inappropriate. This is a prophecy that the sinless Messiah must be raised within 3 days, as corruption begins on the 4th day, according to the laws of chemistry (John 11:39). He concludes in v11: "You will show me the path of life. In Your Presence (Face) is fullness of joy; at (in) Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” As He walks with God, God shows Him the path that leads to abundant and eternal life, even through death and resurrection (also to walk in this path is to live). Most of all He looks forward to the full restoration to God's Presence (see v5), after His earthly life and suffering the darkness of the Cross. Moreover, He looks forward to fullness of joy (literally 'joys') and eternal pleasures provided by God the Father, at His right hand in Heaven. 'Fullness' means 'wholly satisfying and endlessly varied.' The resurrection (v11) is the ultimate answer to His prayer in v1-2. Notice that because He exalted God to His right hand (v8), God exalted Him to His right hand - the place of highest honour (v11, see also Psalm 110:1, Eph 1:20, Col 3:1, Hebrews 1:3,13, 8:1, 10:12, 12:2, 1Peter 3:22, Phil 2:9-11). Thus v9-11 is a prophecy of Christ's death, resurrection and ascension.Jesus Christ fulfilled this Psalm by His perfect obedience and received His promised eternal inheritance, and He did it for us, that is He received every blessing on our behalf, so that in Christ, we will also receive the fulfilment of the promise of resurrection and eternal life enjoying God's Presence (in face to face fellowship at His right hand) and His pleasures forevermore. We conclude by seeing how the apostles Peter and Paul quoted Psalm 16 and showed how Jesus fulfilled it, proving that He is the Messiah (Acts 2:22-33, 13:33-38).
Psalm 16 is an important Messianic Psalm, quoted by Peter & Paul to prove Jesus is the promised Messiah. Peter quoted Ps16:8-11 in Acts 2:25-28 and expounded it in Acts 2:22-33, as a central part of his sermon. It speaks of a Man who dies and His soul goes to Sheol, but is resurrected before His body sees corruption (within 3 days). Also, He is then exalted to God's right hand (v9-11). He points out the Psalmist, David, died and is still in his tomb (his body saw corruption). Thus, it was not fulfilled by David, but rather he spoke by the Spirit of Prophecy about Christ, the Son of David, that He'd be resurrected before his body saw corruption (v29-31). He then said Jesus fulfilled this Prophecy by His 3rd day resurrection, proving He is the Christ (v32,36). He also pointed out Jesus was exalted to God's right hand, fulfilling Ps 16:11 & 110:1, as confirmed by the Outpouring of the Spirit (Acts 2:33-35). Likewise, Paul in Acts 13:35 quoted Ps 16:10 and expounded it in Acts 13:36-39 to prove Jesus is the Christ. Thus though we can read much of Ps 16 as David's words of trust in God for preservation & provision in this life and hope for his eternal life in God's Presence, the words only find ultimate fulfilment in Christ. So, we should read them as Christ's words, given by prophecy, as He approached death, expressing His faith in God to resurrect Him. Although God, He had to live as a man totally depending on God for everything, including His resurrection: "Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust...You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You (or 'every good thing comes from You')” (v1-2). He's our perfect example of how to live by faith. He describes the saints (those who trust in Him) as the excellent (noble) ones, in whom is all His delight (v3). This shows Christ had us on His heart & mind as He went to the Cross. We are precious in His sight, and so gave Himself for us, so we might be His forever: "for the joy (us, His Bride) set before Him, He endured the Cross" (Hebrews 12:2). As our example, He reveals a key part of living by faith - the rejection of all other gods & idolatry (v4), including covetousness (Col 3:5), for men turn from a pure devotion to the true God and hasten after (seek) other gods is to possess what they offer (prosperity). But the more they multiply their gods & idols the more their sorrows multiply (v4). A classic example is Man's Fall. God provided abundantly, and would have given them more, as they proved themselves faithful, but listening to Satan made them dissatisfied with His Presence and their allotted inheritance, so they became covetous to gain more, and so rejected His authority, claiming autonomy as their own gods, and went their own way, but soon found they gained nothing, but rather lost His Blessing, and their sorrows multiplied. The truth is if we seek 1st the Kingdom (reign) of God over our life and live by His righteous Spirit in our heart, all things will be added to us (Matt 6:33). Thus, we need to learn to be satisfied (content) with God Himself (His Presence in our heart), and with whatever inheritance of possessions & experiences He chooses to give us (as a bonus), both now, in the future and in eternity (Rev 21:7, Phil 4:11-13, 1Tim 6:6). This is exactly what David & Christ declare: "O Lord, YOU are the PORTION of my INHERITANCE and my CUP (what God appoints for me to experience); You maintain my LOT (if we trust Him, He will guard our eternal inheritance, so none can steal it). The (boundary) lines have fallen to me in pleasant places. Yes, I have a GOOD INHERITANCE" (v5-6). God is generous (good), giving us much more than we deserve, so we can submit to Him and trust Him day by day for His Presence & gracious provisions, rather than turning from Him in striving & lust to grasp what He's not giving us at this time. In this manner, He declares: "I have set the Lord (not things or experiences) always before Me... I shall not be moved" (v8). As a result, He has assurance God will guide & preserve Him by His Presence on the path of life, thru this life, then thru death & resurrection and exaltation to God's right hand in Heaven, where He'll give Him fullness of joy in His Presence & pleasures (experiences) for all eternity: "You will show me the path of life. In Your Presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore" (v11). These verses also apply to us, for we are "heirs of God & joint heirs with Christ" (Rom 8:17). He's our example to follow, that we should trust in God and be satisfied with His Presence in our hearts, and the possessions, gifts, opportunities, positions, blessings & experiences He gives us in this life, knowing He’s prepared a wonderful eternal future and inheritance for us, way beyond our present experience & imagination (1Cor 2:9, Eph 2:7), where we'll be exalted and experience fullness of joy in His Presence.
There is a cry coming from Heaven, calling us to PASSION and INTIMACY with the Lord in worship, and we must begin to respond to Him. Psalm 27:4: “The one thing I ask of the LORD, the thing I seek most, is to live in the House of the LORD (in His Presence) all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty (sweet attractiveness and delightful loveliness) of the LORD, delighting in the LORD’s perfections and meditating in His Temple.” Jesus said: “I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who ABIDES in ME, and I in him, bears much fruit... As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; ABIDE in My LOVE” (John 15:5,9). JESUS deserves our undying DEVOTION (John 3:16). One way we LOVE the LORD is spending time with Him in His Presence (Psalm 73:28). GOD is the fulfilment of the deepest longings of the human heart (Psalm 73:25). When we have GOD, we have EVERYTHING! Experiencing God’s Love and Presence makes our life so worthwhile.The time we spend with the LORD in private changes us. He shapes the kind of people we become. Our individual personal worship brings the LORD great delight. When we are enjoying regular, intimate fellowship-time with the Lord, He becomes our Source of TOTAL FULFILMENT and we have an INWARD JOY, in spite of bad news, unfavourable circumstances, and personal disappointments. Deep, satisfying communion with the Lord gives us an unshakeable confidence in Him. If we have a regular devotional time with the Lord, we will no longer be dependent on what other people think of us, and whether they like us or not, for we will find our significance, security, and self-worth in God’s love for us. Your worth comes from knowing that God LOVES YOU. He chose you. He delights in you. He passionately pursues you – after all He paid such a great price to have you for Himself. God LOVES you. He delights in you. He passionately pursues you. Our word PASSION comes from the Greek and Latin words to SUFFER. So, God’s passionate love for us means that He is willing to suffer for us. He proved His love for you by paying such a great price to have you for Himself. That’s how much He values you.As you WORSHIP Him in your special private time with Him, as you TELL Him how much you LOVE Him, you will begin to SEE your true VALUE, through His eyes. You will begin to see that your true value as an individual does not rest in your personal achievements, popularity or even your spiritual maturity. It does not depend on people, and what they think of you. It depends on the Lord’s love for you. Your sense of self-worth rests entirely upon knowing deep inside you, that God DEEPLY LOVES you, and this will cause you to return His love and to be deeply in love with Him (1John 4:19). As God pursues you, will you respond to God’s call? He is calling you to Himself, saying: “Come closer to Me.” Let us respond to the Lord by saying: “I will love You LORD, with all my HEART, with all my SOUL, with all my MIND, and with all my STRENGTH.” God passionately wants you to know Him more intimately - more than you have ever imagined possible.When we WORSHIP God, we are blessing and enjoying Him. This is the greatest privilege of every believer. DEVOTIONAL WORSHIP is being in the SECRET PLACE with the LORD. This is available to all of God’s children. It is our private time with the Lord, when no one else is around or listening. We can WORSHIP as an act of FAITH. We enter into the Secret Place by purposefully pushing past all the barriers in our thoughts and emotions, by choosing to praise and thank God, for all He is and all He does for us. We do this by FAITH, and not by our fickle feelings. God is calling you to intimate fellowship with Him, which will satisfy the DEEPEST YEARNINGS of your HEART, and it is available to anyone who DESIRES it. You can ENTER into the SECRET PLACE whenever you want to. The Secret Place is the place of exclusive, personal, whole-hearted devotion to the Lord your God. The SECRET PLACE is your very own private HOLY of HOLIES in the heart of God, where You delight in God (your Maker, Redeemer and Lover of your soul), and He delights in you, and you revel in your love for one another. A special blessing of the SECRET PLACE is that whatever happens there is SECRET, confidential, personal, private, sacred and holy. It is as individual, as the relationship between each human being and God. The Greek word for worship is proskuneo, pros = towards, kuneo = to kiss (Luke 7:37-38).
Psalm 15 starts by asking: "Who may abide in God's Presence", enjoying His hospitality, provision, protection & fellowship (v1), and then gives 10 descriptions of the character of those able to dwell with God (v2-5a), followed by a concluding promise of blessing for those who do abide in Him (v5b). It describes how to abide in FELLOWSHIP with God; not a prescription for salvation, which is not based on our righteousness, but Christ's. (Ps 24:3-10 deals with salvation). The mention of God's Tabernacle in v1 points to the picture of the Tabernacle of Moses, which reveals that our access into God's Presence is only by the Blood of Christ. In Christ, we can now enjoy fellowship with God, by abiding in His Presence and partaking of His blessings. However, fellowship is not automatic. By its very nature, it requires the co-operation and participation of both parties. Fellowship is based on reciprocation, giving & receiving. Whereas salvation is binary, fellowship differs by degrees. The more their hearts & lives harmonise and the more each is willing to give to the other, the deeper their fellowship becomes. God invites us into fellowship, but the degree to which we abide in His Presence depends on us. The more we turn to Christ and draw near to Him, the more of His Spirit, glory & light we will receive, transforming us into His image from glory to glory, and the more our heart is united to him, in harmony with Him, the closer we can be to Him, and the greater fellowship we'll enjoy with Him. He has opened His heart to us, and it's now up to us how much we enter into His Presence - we determine how close we are to God. What hinders us? To draw near to God in fellowship requires that our we harmonise our heart & life to Him, in submission to and agreement with His will, which includes obedience (Amos 3:3). Thus, we must be willing to repent, change & align our lives with His ways, which is contrary to our flesh, so we must die to self (our independent soul-life).Thus v2-5 describe 10 aspects of the righteousness & nature of Christ, of which we partake when we are saved. The more we abide in Him, the more these qualities are manifested in our lifestyle. Thus they are the characteristics of those who are in harmony with God, walking in fellowship with Him. Also, the more we embrace these aspects of righteousness into our character & lifestyle, the more we harmonise with God, so our walk with God becomes closer. Our fellowship with God depends on our heart condition, which depends on our obedience in our life. When we act contrary to God's righteousness, we harden our heart, so our fellowship decreases, but when we obey God, our heart becomes softer (more submissive) to God, bringing us into more intimate fellowship (John 15:1-14). Thus these 10 points shows us areas, where we can increase our obedience to God, so we can abide in Him more deeply. The 1st characteristic: "He who walks uprightly" (v2a) speaks of being devoted wholly to the Lord. All the other 9 speak of how we are to express this devotion in the way we treat others, made in His image (see 1Jn 2:9-11, John 15:9-14, Mark 11:25, which teach our fellowship with God is conditional on whether we walk in love towards people). The 2nd & 3rd characteristics summarise our righteous lifestyle before men, doing what is right and speaking the truth from the heart (v2b). These are then developed in more detail. The 4th, 5th & 6th are negatives, which the righteous man refuses to do: (4) back-bite, gossip and slander others, (5) he does no harm to his neighbor, and (6) his ears are not open to gossip, he does not believe the worst of people without basis or evidence, and is not quick to take up an offence against someone (v3). (7) He is discriminating and disapproves of those given over to evil. He hates sin (Prov 8:13), but honors those to love God, and (8) he is faithful to his word, keeping his promises & commitments even when it costs (v4). He's not a greedy money-lover, but is honest and generous with his finances. He handles his money with integrity. (9) He does not charge excessive interest, which is usury (v5a). Interest can be charged to foreigners and as part of normal business transactions (Deut 23:19,20; Matt 25:27), but not to a fellow brother (Israelite) who has fallen on hard times, thus adding to his hardship. It's wrong to profit from the poor and helpless. In such cases they were not to charge any interest (Lev 25:35-38, Ex 22:25, Neh 5). (10) He does not use bribery to corrupt the judicial process (v5b, Ex 23:6-8, Deut 16:18-20, 27:25). He doesn't treat people as more important than things.Psalm 15 concludes with the promised blessing of the man who practices these things and so abides in God's Presence - He'll never be moved or shaken (v5b). Through dwelling in God's Presence, he is filled with His peace and strength, giving him stability (Psalm 1).
Psalm 14 teaches the safety of godliness and peril of ungodliness. It is almost the same as Ps 53, the repetition emphasising the importance of its truths. It begins by describing the sad condition of men who reject God: "The fool has said in his heart: “There is no God” (v1a). In Hebrew, it is: "The fool has said in his heart: “NO God”or "no God for me." Thus, it's not just talking about atheists, who foolishly deny God's existence, despite all the evidence (Rom 1:19-20), but include those who reject His presence, light, voice and rule in their heart, as they want to be free to be their own god. God put the knowledge of the truth of God in their heart, but they suppress His voice saying 'No! God' (Rom 1:18,21, 25, 2:15). How foolish to reject God, their Creator, the Source of all goodness, love and light in their inner being! As a result, their foolish hearts are filled with darkness (Rom 1:21) and corruption (v1b). Having rejected their God-given moral compass (conscience), that points to God, they lose their sense of right & wrong, and worship created things instead of the Creator (Rom 1:23,25), and in time even call good things evil, and evil good (Rom 1:32, Isa 5:20), becoming moral fools, lacking sensitivity & insight of right & wrong (Rom 1:22). Thus (1) they are fools to say 'No' to God, and also (2) saying 'No' to God makes them into fools (corrupted in their inner moral being which is manifested in their lifestyle: "They have done abominable works (sins of commission). There is none who does good (sins of omission)” (v1c, Rom 1:24-31). Next there is a twist, for we think that the fool (v1) is a certail kind of man, but now God declares in v2-3, that this describes all mankind in our fallen state (depravity), for without His saving grace, we're all lost in darkness under the power of sin. In v2, God looks down to see if any understand the truth of God and seek Him (to know Him), the opposite of saying 'No, God!' In v3, He gives the results of His investigation: “(1) They have ALL turned aside" (from God, saying 'No' to God). As a result (2) "They have all together become corrupt (in their nature, the word describes rancid milk). (3) There is NONE who does good. NO, NOT ONE.” This 3 part description corresponds perfectly to the description of the fool in v1. Thus, this declares the depravity of all men in Adam. v1-3 are quoted in Rom 3:9-12 as a key part of his proof that the whole world is guilty before God and so can only be saved by grace thru Jesus. The Doctrine of Depravity is also seen in Ecc 7:20, Luke 11:13, Eph 2:1-3.God coming down to investigate mankind (v2) is reminiscent of His judgments at the Flood, Tower of Babel and Sodom & Gomorrah. Before judgment, He always provides a way of salvation (grace), and saves those who turn to Him in faith. In v4, He addresses those who've rejected God's knowledge and grace, and have not called on Him to save them. He describes them as being ripe for judgment, workers of iniquity, who in their covetousness "eat people like bread" (exploiting the poor & helpless, treating people as expendable consumables, with little regret or remorse). Instead of praying to and seeking God, they prey on the helpless. God asks: "Have they no knowledge (of God)?" (v4). That is: "Don't they realise God will hold them to account and judge them?" Then v5 describes their day of judgment when God manifests Himself to them: "THERE (sham) they are in great fear." Jehovah Shammah = the Lord is THERE (present). So this declares that one day they will stand in God's Presence and then they will be in great awe and fear (lit: 'tremble in terror'). The parallel verse in Ps 53 says: “There they are in great fear (terrified with terror), where no fear was." God will especially judge them for persecuting His people, who take refuge in the Lord (v4-6).He responds to this revelation from God with a prayer for salvation: “Oh, that the salvation (lit: Yeshua) of Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord brings back the captivity (and restore the fortunes) of His people. Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad” (v7). This has a 2-fold fulfilment in the 2 Comings of the Messiah. From the context, the main captivity from which we need salvation is our captivity to sin. So, this is a prayer for the Messiah (Yeshua) to come from the heavenly Zion to the earthly Zion to save us from our sins - fulfilled in His 1st Coming. Only when we trust in Him will our fortunes be restored. Sadly, Israel rejected her Messiah and His salvation from sin, so her fortunes were not restored at His 1st Coming. But by the end of the Tribulation, she will trust in Yeshua, and call on Him to come out of Zion to save her from physical captivity and destruction at the hands of the antichrist, and restore her fortunes. He will return in response to this prayer and Israel will be established as the most blessed nation in the Millennium, when she will rejoice and be glad in her God.
Mark 8:34-37: “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny (ownership of) himself (his soul), and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life (his independent soul-life) will lose it, but whoever loses his life (his independent soul-life) for My sake and the Gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”(A) The DIGNITY of HAVING a SOUL. (1) The soul is created by God (Genesis 2:7). (2) The soul is created in God’s image (Gen 1:27, Psalm 8:4-5). (3) The soul is created to be eternal (immortal). (4) The soul is created for fellowship with God (Jeremiah 9:23-24).(B) The DANGER of WASTING your SOUL (Luke 12:15, 2 Chronicles 1:15, 9:20,22-23, Mark 10:21-22, Ecclesiastes 9:3). (1) You can never gain the whole world anyway. (2) What we do gain, we can’t keep. (3) Even if you could gain the world and keep hold of it, it would never satisfy.(C) The DISASTER of LOSING your SOUL (Ezekiel 18:4, Mark 8:36-37)(1) When the soul is lost, its true value becomes clear.(2) Once the soul is lost, it is irreversible (Hebrews 9:27).(3) Once the soul is lost, it is lost forever (Mark 9:48).(4) What we accumulate on earth has no value towards eternity.(D) The DELIGHT of SURRENDERING your SOUL (John10:10, Romans 5:8, Isaiah 53:6,2Corinthians 5:17, Romans 10:9-10). Matthew 11:28-29: "Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
David gave us this Psalm as a model for how to respond when suffering in soul and body. He turned his sufferings into songs and left them for us to use. What do we do with our negative feelings? We are not to be controlled by them, for they do not necessarily tell us the truth. Storm clouds make it seem there is no sun, but the sun is still there, shining. However, feelings are real, so we cannot just ignore them. David shows us that we can bring our negative feelings to the Lord and express them to Him. So, he starts with a LAMENT, where he MOURNS the apparent absence of God, and seeks more of His Presence in his heart and life, 4 times crying out 'how long?' (v1,2). This is the first step of faith, which is to turn to the Lord and look to Him as our Source, our Helper and Healer. By mourning before God in a submissive way, expressing our feelings of loss (of God's Presence), and looking to Him, we open ourselves up to God, for Him to comfort us by His Presence. As we draw near to God, He will draw near to us: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:4). David had spent many days wrestling with his own thoughts, struggling in his own strength, but this did not help his depression (v2), because only God can restore us. Faith begins when we come to Him and seek Him.In this situation, David was facing a particular enemy, that was exalting itself over him (v2,4), possibly a sickness, that was threatening his life (v3), as well as people who troubled him, who would rejoice at his death. The Bible calls death an enemy (1Corinthians 15:26), and sickness is incipient death. Having come to God (v1-2), David then takes the next step of faith by making a petition to God, a prayer of faith to receive his deliverance from death and restoration of body and soul (v3-4). David's motivation and basis for his prayer is the glory of God, that he would not die too soon, before he had accomplished God's will for his life, for then his enemies (and God's enemies) would prevail. We also discuss whether the SLEEP of DEATH refers to the body or the soul (Psalm 7:5, Daniel 12:2, 1Thessalonians 4:13-14, John 11:11-13, Isaiah 14:18, 1Corinthians 11:30, 15:51). Through this petition, David put his trust in God for the healing of his body and soul (v5). Thus (1) having come to God in his deep need through a lament (v1-2), he (2) believed he received his restoration of health through a petition of faith (v3-4).His final step of faith, was to confidently declare his faith, giving thanks to God for His salvation, knowing that God was good and was dealing bountifully with him (v5-6). David's rejoicing was not based on a sudden change in his circumstances or manifestation of healing, but because he was confident that God had heard his prayer and that therefore the answer was assured. He was now trusting in God's covenant love, fully assured that what God promised He would bring to pass. Likewise, when we come to God and believe we receive His promise, we should then express our faith by giving Him thanks, that He has heard and answered our prayer, so that now He is working bountifully and powerfully in our life and restoring our soul and body according to His promise. God releases His answer in the Spirit, so that its manifestation in the natural normally takes place over a period of time. During this time, we should stand in faith, trusting in His love, faithfulness and power toward us, continually giving thanks that He is at work, bringing His promise to pass. For example, when we have put our trust in God for our healing (Exodus 15:26), we should then express our faith by thanking God that His healing power is continually working in our body, driving out all sickness and making us strong and whole.
Jesus preached that He was the fulfilment of the Year of Jubilee. He has come to set us free from all bondage and captivity: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord... And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:18-21). "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16).The Dictionary defines FREEDOM as: (1) The power to act, speak or think as one wants.(2) The absence of subjection to foreign domination or despotic government.(3) The state of not being imprisoned or enslaved.(4) The state of being unrestricted; able to move freely.John 8:31-36: "Jesus said:“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” They answered Him: “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin, and a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if theSon makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” TOTAL FREEDOM means: (1) Freedom for ANYONE (John 6:37, Romans 10:13).(2) Freedom from ANYTHING (Matthew 28:18, Philippians 2:10-11).(3) Freedom from EVERYTHING (John 7:23, 1Thessalonians 5:23).(4) Freedom FOREVER (Exodus 14:13, Galatians 5:1). Jesus asks you: “Do you want to be made well (made whole)?” (John 5:6).
David cries to the Lord for help, because he is surrounded by faithless, ungodly people, whose speech is just idle chatter, empty gossip, flattery and two-faced lying (v1-2). He asks God to judge those who speak wickedly, using their words to deceive and manipulate others to get their own way; unrestrained by the truth or by any authority, they proudly speak as if they are their own gods, with the right to define and create their own reality, believing that they will prevail (v3-4). When you bring your problems to God, He will respond, and so the Lord answers David by personally promising that He will arise to protect and preserve the poor and needy ones, especially the believers, who are being oppressed by these evil-speakers (v5). These destructive talkers spoke as they pleased, but they could not stop the LORD God from speaking as He pleased.Having received this PROMISE of God, David declares that all of God's WORDS are pure, precious and perfect: “The WORDS of the LORD are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified 7 times" (v6). The picture is taken from the process of purifying silver in a furnace or oven built of clay. The clay furnace represents the human element. The silver represents the Divine message, which is to be conveyed through the human channel. The fire, which ensures the absolute purity of the silver, its accuracy as the Word of God, represents the Holy Spirit. The ‘7 times’ indicates the absolute perfection of the Holy Spirit’s work. Each time the silver is heated more purities are removed, so that after 7 times the result is pure silver – the pure Word of God produced through a clay vessel. Thus, this passage assures us that the complete accuracy of the Divine Message in the Scriptures is due to the perfect operation of the Holy Spirit, overruling all the frailty of human clay and purging all the dross of human error from the flawless silver of God’s message to man. Thus, David teaches us that we are to value God's words far above the words of men, and hold fast to them and embrace them, rejecting all the evil words of men, which contradict God's Word, for God's words are fully tested, true and reliable. His words are more precious than all the silver and gold (Psalm 19:10-11, 119:14,72,89, 127,160,162). Moreover, God will PRESERVE His WORDS forever: “You shall keep THEM (His WORDS), O Lord, You shall preserve THEM” (v7), which is why we know the Bible we possess is the Word of God. His providential hand has protected the existence and integrity of His Word through the centuries (Matthew 24:35). Some translations say: “You shall keep US, O Lord, You shall preserve US” (v7). This is the response of God's people to His promise in v5. Both translations are true. God will keep both His WORDS and His PEOPLE. In fact, the means by which God preserves His PEOPLE is by their faith in His incorruptible WORD, which endures forever (1Peter 1:23,25), for His people are those who love and trust His Word, and are thereby united to it by faith, so that they are preserved (saved) by the power of His Word (2Peter 1:4, 1John 2:17). The Psalm ends with a reminder that although God has given us His precious words, we have to continue for a time in an evil world, that exalts foolishness and devalues His Word, which makes it all the more needful for us to hold fast to His Word, which saves our soul and sets us apart from the corrupt community surrounding us.
Jesus is the Baptiser in the Holy Spirit. John 1:33: “I did not know Him (John did not know that Jesus was the Messiah), but He who sent me to baptise with water said to me: ‘Upon whom you see the SPIRIT descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who BAPTISES with the HOLY SPIRIT.’”The Holy Spirit is vital in our fellowship with the Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 1. The HOLY SPIRIT is the Spirit of POWER. He enables us to receive and fulfil God’s Plan and Purpose for our life.2. The HOLY SPIRIT is our wonderful COMFORTER.3. The HOLY SPIRIT is the One who ENABLES us to RECEIVE God’s LOVE.4. The HOLY SPIRIT is the One who STRENGTHENS us, when we are weak and weary.5. The HOLY SPIRIT is the One who opens our heart to believe and receive God’s amazing, extravagant, eternal love, which heals our wounded hearts.6. The HOLY SPIRIT is the One who FELLOWSHIPS with us (2 Corinthians 13:14).*7. The HOLY SPIRIT is here on earth to HELP us in our weaknesses, and to HELP us PRAY God’s will into the earth. Romans 8:26-27: “The SPIRIT also HELPS (sun-anti-lambano = ‘takes hold together with us’) in our WEAKNESSES. For we do not know what we should PRAY for as we ought, but the SPIRIT Himself makes INTERCESSION for us with groanings, which cannot be uttered... He makes INTERCESSION for the saints according to the WILL of GOD.”
John 8:12: "Jesus said: “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”(1) Jesus is the Light of the World."He (Jesus) is the true Light which, coming into the world, gives light to every man" (John 1:9). "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it" (John 1:4-5). (2) Whoever follows Him will not walk in Darkness."We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one" (1John 5:19). "For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people" (Isaiah 60:2). “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going” (John 12:35). "He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake" (Psalm 23:3). "The path of the just is like the shining sun[light], that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble" (Proverbs 4:18-19). *(3) Followers of Jesus Christ shall have the Light of Life.The Person is Life and the Life is Light. "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4). "God is light and in Him is no darkness at all' (1John 1:5). "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2Corinthians 4:6)."Your sun shall no longer go down, nor shall your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light. And the days of your mourning shall be ended" (Isaiah 60:20)."The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall If ear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1). "For He Himself has said: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6).
This is closely connected to Ps 9 by David. It’s a Psalm of Lament at the prosperity of the wicked, but by the end he comes to a place of confidence, that God will judge righteously. He starts by questioning His seeming inactivity in times of trouble (9:9), in moving against the wicked. Then v2-12 give a long description of the wicked, who are proud (full of self-importance), causing them to feel free to mistreat the poor & weak, for they consider them as unimportant by comparison. So, he prays they will reap what they sow (v2). They are filled with self and what they want, boasting they can do as they please, even bragging about their own sins. They bless those who are greedy like them, and renounce (reject) the Lord (v3): "The greedy man curses (speaks evil of) and spurns the Lord." So, they not only mistreat the weak and approve other sinners, but also speak against God. In fact, the essence of his sin is his pride & independence from God. He does not seek God; he feels no need of God. God is in none of his thoughts: "all his thoughts are: 'there is no God.' Man has obligations to God as His Creator & Sovereign, and it’s a sin to neglect them. His pride is in his heart, manifested in lofty looks (v4). At the same time, he can’t not think of God (v11,13). Then David protests to God that his apparent prosperity confirms him in his pride, as he disregards God’s Word, with God's judgments being apparently far away from him, as they’ve not been manifested yet (v5). He thinks: “If only God demonstrated His judgment to this wicked man, he’d change his ways.” His rejection of God’s authority leads to him to devalue the rights & importance of others, even dehumanising them, since their dignity & value is based on them being the image of God. There are 2 main aspects of God's Law – love (1) God & (2) your fellow man. When (1) men are alienated from God, it results in them (2) committing evil in their relationships with those in God's image. So, he treats all his opponents with contempt and arrogantly boasts that things will always go his way, his wealth giving him a false sense of security (v6). But God has other plans for him. His evil is manifested thru his mouth, in cursing (swearing, speaking evil of others), deceit (lies) and oppression (scheming evil things) - v7 (quoted in Rom 3:14). Then he reveals his violence against the weak & helpless, operating in secret (v8-10). Foolishly, he even imagines God does not see him, or pay any attention to his evil deeds (v11). His disregard for God leads to him feeling free to live as though there was no God, and do as he pleases in mistreating others. No wonder David wanted God to deal with this kind of sinner! In light of these evils, he calls on God to take action to confound the wicked and rescue the humble, who call on God for help and deliverance (v12).Psalm 10 points out the great difference between the believer who desires God to remember him and draw close (v1), and the sinner who wants the opposite (v11). Then in v13, he asks 'Why do the wicked renounce God?' Then he answers: "He says in his heart: ‘You will not require an account.” God delays His judgment on the evil-doer, to give him a chance to repent (2Pet 3:9), but he misinterprets God's long-suffering as apathy, and thinks God will forget his sin and not judge him, and so hardens his heart, and as a result stores up an even greater judgment, which God will bring on him in due time (Ecc 8:11, Ro 2:3-6). At this point, after having started with perplexity from feeling God as far off (v1), he’s now come through to a place of calm confidence, knowing God does SEE the works of the wicked, and the suffering they cause, and will judge them for it. Also, He will help the helpless and defenceless who entrusts himself to Him (v14). When we pray, we move from anxiety to confidence, we rise up higher and see the divine perspective (Isa 40:31). Then He prays for God to help the weak, and bring the wicked to repentance by breaking his power and thoroughly seek out his wickedness, bringing it to the light, until he fully repents (v15). He concludes by declaring his confidence in God's eternal Kingdom: "The Lord is King forever and ever" (v16a), and looks to the future when the prayers of the righteous for justice will be completely fulfilled at the 2nd Coming, when Christ will establish His Kingdom on earth and remove all the wicked (v16b). Joshua is the type, who led Israel into the land and removed God's enemies. Likewise, Jesus, will take possession of the earth and reign as King. He will do this in response to the heartfelt prayers of the humble (v17), for at time He will fully vindicate and deliver the oppressed. God will defend his people and put a final end to the wicked, and their reign of terror, so that they will no longer oppress His people (v18). The wicked is described in v18 as the 'man of the earth' (Rev 3:10, 6:10, 8:13, 11.10, 12:12, 13:8,12,14, 14:6, 17:2,8).In describing the prayers of the hum
We are Temples of the Holy Spirit (1Cor 6:19-20). He indwells us and reveals and transmits God's grace to us: “He (the Holy Spirit) will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine (including healing) and declare (communicate, transmit) it to you. All things (such as healing) that the Father has are Mine. Therefore, I said that He will take of Mine (healing) and declare (communicate, transmit) it to you” (John 16:14-15). He is our COMFORTER (com-fort = with-strength), and HELPER. He STRENGTHENS us within to help us stand firm and do God’s will, as Jesus said: “He (the Father) shall give you another Comforter (Helper), that He may abide with you for ever, the SPIRIT of truth; you know Him, for He will be IN YOU” (John 14:16-17). He wants to fill us and empower us for ministry (Acts 1:5, 2:1-4). We must cultivate a close fellowship with the Person of the Holy Spirit.
Hilary shares about the Person of the Holy Spirit, our Comforter and Counsellor, who lives in us (John 14:16-17), who enables us to receive God’s love, and to give our love to God: “the COMMUNION (fellowship) of the HOLY SPIRIT be with you all” (2Corinthians 13:14). He inspires and empowers our fellowship with God, and enables us to receive God's grace and to fulfil God's plan and purpose for our life.
We complete our study of Psalm 9, a Thanksgiving Psalm. v11 introduces the 2nd half of the Psalm with a parallel verse to v1, singing praises to the Lord, who dwells in and with His people (Zion), calling them to declare His deeds to all people.The basis for his praise, thanksgiving and declarations is God's justice that He performs on behalf of the oppressed and the humble, who call out to Him. In particular, He is the Avenger of innocent blood, who investigates every crime and hunts down the oppressor (v12, see also Numbers 35:33-34, Genesis 4:10, 2 Kings 9:26). God will remember and avenge the blood of His persecuted people. We discuss the avenger of blood and the cities of refuge in the Old Testament. All have sinned, and the Lord is the Avenger, who will hunt every man down until they pay in full for their sin, but God has also provided a City of Refuge for us - Jesus Christ, to whom we can flee for safety (Hebrews 6:18, Proverbs 18:10). Believers are those "who have fled for refuge to Christ" (Hebrews 6:18). In Christ we are saved from Divine Judgment. We discuss the danger of sitting on the fence as illustrated by the story of Joab killing Abner in the gates of Hebron (a city of refuge) in 2 Samuel 3.Next David asks God to deliver him from those who hate him, who were seeking to kill him (v13), and it is significant that his main motivation for asking for deliverance was that it would result in God getting the glory (v14), which is a great example for us. If our prayers were motivated by the glory of God, we would surely see more answers. He then describes one way God's judgment works in this life - the law of sowing and reaping. Evildoers get ensnared in the same trap they set for others (v15,16). Haman built a gallows for Mordecai, only to be executed on it himself. God can created this universe to operate in a moral way, according to His moral and physical laws, so when people violate His moral order, it will come back to bite them. Moreover, sin carries its own curse, bringing darkness, death and destruction on the sinner. This can be seen as a judgment of God on sin, for God created and ordained things to work this way. "There is nothing that a wicked man does that is not against his own interest. He is continually doing himself harm, and takes more pains to destroy his soul than the righteous man does to get his saved unto eternal life." This is a weighty truth, so the Psalmist adds at this point: "Higgaion; Selah", which means meditate on this; mark it well.Then David goes on to describe final end of the wicked at death and beyond: "The WICKED shall be turned into HELL (Sheol), and all the nations that FORGET God." The essence of sin is forgetting God, living as if there is no God, forgetting the claims of our Creator. Even nice people who forget God are wicked in His sight. Since they forget Him and push Him out of their thoughts, God will forget them – they will be separated from His loving Presence forever. This is their eternal judgment - God gives them up to their choice to be independent from God. Why does the sinner forget God? Because the thought of God (1) makes him afraid, (2) doesn't entertain him enough, and (3) makes it hard for him to carry on in sin. By contrast "the needy (those who know their need for God and depend on Him) shall not always be forgotten (He will remember them forever - they will eternally dwell in His Presence). The expectation of the poor shall not perish forever" (v18). Even if it seems like God has forgotten them, He has not, and soon He will manifest His grace to them, which will continue forever.David finishes with a prayer for God to move into action and judge the nations for their own sake: "Arise, O Lord, do not let man prevail (prosper in their evil ways). Let the nations be judged in Your sight. Put them in fear, O Lord (Divine judgments produce the fear of the Lord in people), that the nations may know themselves to be but (weak, frail) men (who need salvation). Selah" (v19,20). David does not ask God to display His judgment upon the wicked from a spirit of hatred. His real hope was that the display of God’s judgment would teach them their proper place before God, so that they would humble themselves before God and be saved (see Psalm 9:12). It is better for them to experience the wake up call of a judgment in this life, than face an eternal judgment of condemnation in Hell.
Psalm 9 & 10 have a close relationship, so much so the Septuagint treats them as one. The acrostic structure that begins in Ps 9 continues into Ps 10, linking them together. They also have similar terminology & themes. But each stands by itself. Ps 9 is a Thanksgiving Psalm, whereas Ps 10 is more a lament. The title of both Psalms, giving the key to their fulfilment, is 'the Death of the Son' which points to the work of Messiah, the Son of God (Ps 2:7), who was prophesied to become a Man, the Seed of the Woman, to take our sin and suffer death to save us, and then crush the enemy underfoot in His resurrection (Gen 3:15). In this way, He lays the basis for the salvation of those who receive Him, and for establishing His Kingdom on earth. In this way, Ps 9 continues on from the messianic revelation of Ps 8, and this connection is confirmed by the mention of the NAME of the Lord (9:2), as in Ps 8:1,9. Thus the death of the Messiah, the Son of God is the basis for the ultimate fulfilment spoken of in these Psalms.Ps 9 is a Thanksgiving Psalm, but whereas thanksgiving is usually for the Lord's mercies, here it is mostly for His Righteous Judgments, that in a world full of wickedness and oppression, God will set things right, punish the wicked and restore the oppressed, and right all wrongs. David starts by praising God with all his heart, proclaiming all His wonderful works, rejoicing in His salvation and singing praise to His Name or revealed nature (v1,2). He then thanks God for how He'd fought for him in the past and will fight for him in his future battles, acknowledging God's Presence with him was the key to his victories, causing his enemies to retreat, fall and be defeated before him (v3). God had supported David in his cause; judging in his favour as the Judge of Righteousness, only because he had submitted to God and His cause (v4). Likewise, when we first submit to God, He gives us more of His grace (presence), so that when we resist the enemy, he will will flee from us (Jam 4:6-7). Then in v5-6 looks at the bigger picture and declares the future final judgments of the Day of the Lord, just before God’s Kingdom is established on earth. He uses the prophetic perfect tense to emphasise these prophecies are certain to come to pass. He announces the final destruction of the wicked, blotting out their name forever. Once God's Kingdom is established, the wicked and their earthly kingdoms will be forgotten, and the wicked will be blotted out of God's Book of Life. God's enemies, who'd destroyed many cities, will themselves be destroyed, so that they can no longer destroy others. Even their memory will perish. This will be fulfilled when all the kingdoms of this world will be destroyed at Christ's 2nd Coming, when He'll establish His Kingdom on the earth. By contrast with the reign of the wicked, the Lord & His Kingdom will endure forever; He'll judge the nations from His throne (v7). "He shall judge the world in righteousness" (v8) - in Acts 17:31, Paul quotes this verse, claiming it will be fulfilled by Jesus Christ: “He has appointed a Day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the MAN whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by RAISING Him from the DEAD.” This shows Paul understood the messianic nature of this Psalm, as revealed by its Title - that the Lord who will ultimately reign as King & Judge over the whole world, is Christ, the Son of God, who'll first become a man and die and rise again.Then, David offers thanksgiving for the salvation of God’s people, who trust in the Messiah, who is a refuge for the oppressed, who call upon Him in times of trouble (v9). 'Trouble' is a rare word describing being in despair, cut off from all hope. Christ is also our Refuge from the Divine Judgment that we deserve for our sins. In His death, He became our Atonement (Covering), taking God's righteous judgment upon Himself, so that those who trust (take refuge) in Him are saved (as in the picture of Noah's Ark). Then he describes how believers can enjoy a growing intimate personal relationship with the Lord: "Those who KNOW Your Name will put their TRUST in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who SEEK You" (v10). We should be those who continually SEEK Him, for those who SEEK Him will FIND Him (Matt 7:7-8), for He will reward us by revealing more and more of Himself to us (Heb 11:6), so that we will personally KNOW Him more, and KNOW His Name (His nature, love, faithfulness, salvation - Jesus is the ultimate revelation of His Name), and the more we KNOW Him, the more we'll be able to TRUST in Him and receive from Him. We determine how close we are to God and how much faith we have, because it is up to us to SEEK Him (Matt 6:33). "If we draw near to God, He will draw near to us" (Jam 4:8). You show how close you want to be to the Lord by how much you seek Him, and He will fulfil your heart's desire accordingly.
Matthew 13:45-46: “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one Pearl of Great Price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Peter looks at this Parable from 2 viewpoints (1): The Merchant represents those who are searching, and discover that Jesus Christ is the Pearl of Great Price, and are willing to surrender all they have to possess Christ. Only in Him is there PEACE in this world and HOPE in the next world. (2): The Merchant represents Jesus Christ, who loved us and came and gave His all (even His Blood) to purchase us for Himself, that we might be freed from sin and belong to Him forever.
We see how Psalm 8 is fulfilled by Messiah & His people from Hebrews 1-2, an exposition of Ps 8. Heb 1 proves Christ is exalted above the angels, not just from the standpoint of His Deity, but also from His exalted human nature, as a resurrected, glorified Man, the first begotten from the dead, seated on God's Throne above all angels. Then in Heb 2:5-11, it expounds Ps 8, declaring how God is fulfilling it through Jesus. In 2:7, it follows the Septuagint in translating Ps 8:5 as: "You have made him a little lower than the angels", rather than: "a little lower than God." Whereas the latter correctly reflects God's original plan for man, the former correctly describes the situation resulting from the Fall, when the 1st Adam submitted himself & the human race to a fallen angel, so it came under the dominion of darkness (Luke 4:6). Thus both translations are valid in their own way. To rescue us from sin & satan and restore us to our ordained exalted state, Jesus, for a little while, was made a little lower than the angels, by taking a human nature on Himself, to identify with us for the suffering of death (Heb 2:9), to bear our sins & death in our place, so we might be redeemed. Then in His resurrection & ascension, as the 2nd Adam, He was crowned with glory & honour, so now God has exalted Him to the highest place and given Him the Name above every name (Phil 2:9-11), and has put all things under His feet (Eph 1:19-22, 1Cor 15:27), in fulfilment of Ps 8:6. Thus Heb 2:9 shows how Ps 8:4-6 has now been fulfilled in the 2nd Adam. As a glorified Man He is now exalted above the angels. Heb 2 also points out He did all this as the Pioneer of our Salvation, to bring many sons to glory with Him (v10). Those who receive Christ as Lord and Saviour are put in Him, and thru this union, they become born again sons of God, His brethren, from the same womb (v11-18), so He is the firstborn among many brethren (Rom 8:29), and their spirits are raised & exalted with Him (Eph 1:19-23, 2:5-6). So in Him, our representative Head, redeemed man is already positionally above the angels (also Heb 1:14). Thus He's already accomplished the 1st stage of the fulfilment of Ps 8.But the complete fulfilment requires all things in creation, including angels, to be put under the feet of redeemed man in Christ as Heb 2:5-8 points out, which concludes by saying: "But now we do not yet see all things put under him (man). But we see Jesus..." Thus although Jesus our Pioneer & Head has received the full manifestation of glory & honour, the whole creation still eagerly awaits the full manifestation of the sons of God at the 2nd Coming (Rom 8:18-19), when all saints of every age will be crowned with glory & honour in their new bodies, and will rule & reign with Christ forever. Then Christ, having brought many sons to a state of glory, with all redeemed men crowned with glory, with all things under our feet, will have brought Ps 8 to fulfilment. No wonder it ends as it starts: "O Lord, our Lord, How excellent (majestic) is Your Name in all the earth!" (v1,9). This expresses its main theme. God began by manifesting His majestic Name (His nature & glory) in the earth thru His Creation, and then by Christ's Coming to earth to redeem us, before being exalted above the heavens in glory, and then finally by returning to manifest His Name to the whole earth. His glory will also shine thru us, His brethren, the manifested sons of God, made in His image to glorify Him by reflecting His glory. So although the 1st Adam fell, bringing the initial Theocratic Kingdom to an end (God ruling the world thru man), through Christ, the 2nd Adam, at His 2nd Coming, God will again establish His Theocratic Kingdom on earth for 1000 years, fulfilling His original plan. The earth will be regenerated to what it was like before the Fall (Matt 19:28). At this time, the Kingdom will be restored to Israel, as chief nation (Acts 1:6), and her Land made like the original Eden, with the Mount of the Lord towering above all others, from which Christ will reign over all the earth. These are the Times of Restoration of all things - restoration to what it was like before the Fall (Acts 3:21). The animal kingdom will come into peace under man's dominion (Isa 11:6, 65:25), and curse (sickness) will be removed. He will reign over a Kingdom of righteousness, peace, joy and abundance. The knowledge of His glory will cover the earth (Hab 2:14), and God will be glorified among the nations. Thus Ps 8 does not just describe God's original plan in Genesis to establish His Kingdom on earth through man (spoilt by the Fall), but it also declares God will ultimately accomplish His plan for man to reign on earth, through Messiah, the 2nd Adam, in the Millennium (Rev 20). At this time, He will reign as King of kings, and under Him, redeemed & glorified humanity will reign with Him as His kings, ruling over the people of the earth, who will still be living in their natural bodies.
In Psalm 8:3-4, David declares that even though man seems small compared to the vastness of the universe, man is important to God. In the remaining verses, he expounds this further by declaring God's purpose for man, to be the crown of His creation, as revealed in Genesis 1-2, especially Genesis 1:26-28, where man is (1) created in God's image and (2) given dominion over the whole earth and all its creatures. In v5, he even says: "For You have made him a little lower than ELOHIM." The primary translation of Elohim is God, although it sometimes can be translated 'angels' or 'heavenly beings.' The fact David is declaring the truth of Genesis 1 strongly supports the translation of 'God.' But since this is such a strong statement, the Septuagint and any translations translate it as 'angels'. Previously in the Psalm, David had established the infinite gap between God above and man below, so in v5 he was emphasising the balancing truth that God has created man to be the highest of His creatures, who, being in His image was made to be as close to God as it is possible for a creature to be to His infinite Creator. Moreover, God crowned man with glory and gave him the honour (authority) of ruling under God over all his creation (v6).Psalm 8 was written 3,000 years after the Fall of Man, when man submitted himself to God's enemy, and lost much of his glory and honour. Yet amazingly Psalm 8 speaks as if the Fall never happened! This can only mean that God still intends to fulfil His original plan and purpose for man, to crown him with glory and honour and give him dominion over all His Creation. This requires the Coming of the God-man Messiah to save man from sin and the kingdom of darkness, and restore him to his high position as ruler in His Kingdom over His Creation - crowning him with glory and honour (v4, Genesis 3:15). Thus David is declaring that God's ultimate purpose for man will be fulfilled through the Messiah. We see that the New Testament confirms this Messianic interpretation in Hebrews 2:5-11, which quotes Psalm 8, and declares that it has been initially fulfilled in the 2nd Adam, Jesus Christ, who was crowned with glory and honour in His resurrection and ascension, and who will also bring Psalm 8 into complete fulfilment by bringing many sons to glory (Hebrews 2:10) - even God's New Creation of redeemed humanity in Christ.
Psalm 8 is a majestic Praise Psalm of David declaring the Glory of God in the heavens and earth, and even above the heavens in God's Heaven (v1), as well as God's purpose for mankind (v5-9). Praise is declaring and demonstrating the excellency of His Name (His manifested nature). God created man to be His image-bearers to rule on earth under His Lordship, for His glory, which means we are called to praise Him with our life and lips. God has ordained that when we praise Him, we release the Glory and Presence of God through the Holy Spirit, who then becomes our strength within and our fortress without, protecting us from the enemy. Praise also has the power to silence our enemies (v2). To praise the Name of the Lord is a vital weapon in our spiritual warfare, which even the youngest and weakest of believers can use effectively. Indeed, "God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty" (1Corinthians 1:27). To draw upon God's grace, we must become like little children, humbly trusting in God, rather than in our own strength and wisdom (Matthew 18:3, 15:25-26), and then through our mouth we can release God's power and strength, which overcomes the enemy. Jesus quoted Psalm 8:2 in Matthew 21:15-16, to endorse the praises of the children, and in doing so He affirmed His claim to be God. The New Testament follows the Septuagint in translating 'strength' as 'praise' (v2) confirming that "the joy of the Lord is our strength" (Nehemiah 8:10).In Psalm 8:3-4, we imagine David, the shepherd, spending a summer night with the sheep staring at the moon and stars, and meditating on how great God must be that He created this universe with His fingers (v3). Compared to the vastness of Creation, man is seemingly insignificant, but David knew from the Scripture that man, created in God's image, was the crown of God's creation (Genesis 1-2), and that God was deeply interested in him and has a great plan and purpose for him, and even planned to visit him in the Person of the Coming Messiah (Genesis 3:15). Indeed, the Messiah would be descended from him. David is amazed at this truth, that God should care for us and be so involved with us.
“The (1) WILLING (heart) and (2) OBEDIENT will eat the good of the Land (have good success)” (Isa 1:19). This reveals 2 KEYS to VICTORY: (1) a willing, submitted heart to God - the key to connecting with His grace. We access His grace thru a humble heart of faith. (2) Obedience from a willing heart. When we hear His voice so we know His will, and receive His grace to do it, then we must obey with all our heart, refusing to quit, however hard or impossible it seems, until it's done. That’s the winner’s attitude.KEY 1: If something doesn't start from God, then we're not operating under His grace; it’s not His work, for His glory, but our work, for our glory. If it’s from God, His grace is with us and it will be for His glory. There's a difference between good & God, between what seems good to man, and what is from God. If you seek and connect with God, by coming to Him and submitting to His authority, then you'll hear His voice, know His will and receive His grace to do it. We can only access His grace by bowing to His authority. If we don't come to God with a willing heart (to hear & do what He wants us to do), we'll end up doing un-commanded works, that have less value in His sight (1Sam 15:22). We must SEEK God for HIMSELF, out of love. Seek to know Him and be filled with His grace and be satisfied by Him. If you SEEK God, just to get something from Him, then you're using Him as a means to an end, and what you want is more important than God - idolatry (John 6:26,27). “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (His righteous life within us thru His Spirit, causing us to live to His glory), for they shall be filled” (Matt 5:6). When we trust in His love for us, that He wants our best, we can come to Him in faith and submit to Him (letting go of our idols, committing our plans to Him and giving up our control), knowing He'll pour out His grace on us and give us all things we need. We don't need to worry about the future outcome, if we surrender to Him, as we can be sure His grace will flow into us and uphold us. Our confident faith in His love enables us to let go of all idols & agendas (natural things we trust in for our security, satisfaction & meaning) and submit to Him. When we (1) HONOUR (reverence) Him and surrender to Him (as One far above us) we ACTIVATE His GRACE, for it flows from the throne of grace (Heb 4:16), and He gives it to a submitted heart (Prov 3:34, Jas 4:6, 1Pet 5:5). Then (2) we can then lay hold of His grace by faith. So, we access grace thru a humble heart of faith. Our love activates His grace, and our faith receives it (Gal 5:6). When we surrender our HEART into His HAND, His SPIRIT manifests in our heart as Rivers of Grace: “The kings heart is in the Hand of the Lord (His Holy Spirit) - Rivers of Water. He turns it (our heart) wherever He wishes” (Prov 21:1). We must yield control for His grace to flow. Esther found favour in the king's sight and activated his grace by honouring him, so that he held out to her His GOLDEN SCEPTRE, representing His grace flowing to her from his authority. Then she went near to the king on his throne and touched the top of the Sceptre, and received his grace by faith (5:1-3). 2 KEYS to VICTORY and SUCCESS in God: (1) Connect with God & receive His grace, by coming to Him with a humble, willing, believing heart. (2) Once you know His will, do it with all your heart – refuse to quit, however hard or impossible it seems. Key 2 is illustrated in the story of Elisha & King Joash (2Kings 13:14-25). Elisha told him to take a BOW and ARROWS and put his hand on the bow, and Elisha (representing God) put his hands on the king’s hands (v15-16). God’s anointing was now on the king. Then he told him to open the window facing Syria and SHOOT; and he SHOT. Elisha said: “The ARROW of the Lord’s DELIVERANCE from Syria, for you MUST STRIKE the Syrians at Aphek (and keep striking them) UNTIL you've DESTROYED them (until the job is done)” (v17). This is the WINNER’S ATTITUDE. Then he told the king: “Take the arrows and STRIKE the ground”; so, he STRUCK 3 TIMES and STOPPED. Elisha (representing God) was ANGRY with him, saying: “You should have STRUCK 5 or 6 TIMES; then you'd have STRUCK Syria until you DESTROYED it! But now you'll STRIKE Syria only 3 TIMES” (v18-19). His attitude should have been dictated by God’s command in v17. God was angry, as he was HALF-HEARTED, stopping after only 3 STRIKES, when he should have continued until he knew the job was done. The WINNER’S ATTITUDE is to keep striking (attacking) until you've won. As a result of this partial obedience he only got a partial victory (v25). Heb 10:38. Jesus our greatest example of the WINNER’S ATTITUDE was wholehearted in fulfilling His mission to defeat all our enemies and save us. He kept doing God’s will every day, until He accomplished our full salvation. He didn't quit, but went to the Cross, and then rose victorious from the dead!
Unlike Ps 6, where the root issue behind David's problems was sin, in Ps 7 he is innocent being falsely slandered and pursued to death - a song of a slandered saint. The background is from when he was on the run from king Saul. Early in his reign Saul rebelled against God and Samuel told him God had rejected him and would replace him by another king (1Saml 13:13-14, 15:22-29). From then on he was on the look out for who this new replacement might be. David was anointed by Samuel (1Sam 16), then came into favour after slaying Goliath (1Sam 17), but when the people praised him more than Saul, he began to eye David with jealousy, believing he was going to usurp him as king (1Sam 18:5-9). He then tried to kill David on a number of occasions (1Sam 18), so that David had to go on the run from Saul (1Sam 19–31). The heading of Ps 7 says David sang it to the Lord concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite. Cush was from the same tribe as Saul, one of his close advisors, feeding his paranoia by making accusations against David that he was conspiring to overthrow him (those who spoke the truth and defended David's innocence, like Jonathan, experienced Saul's wrath). David knew about these false accusers stirring up Saul against David, and twice was able to protest his innocence to Saul (1Sam 22:6ff, 24:8ff). So David faced a double trial of (1) false accusations, which resulted in (2) being hunted to death. David gives us an example of how to respond to false accusation and persecution, by not taking revenge but by turning to the Lord for refuge, and committing our situation to Him, pleading our case, and asking Him in faith for vindication and deliverance. He starts with a plea to God for deliverance (v1-2), followed by a strong plea of innocence - equivalent to making an oath. He said: "if I am guilty of the charges being made against me then let my enemies pursue, overtake and kill me" (v3-5). He did not claim sinless perfection, but that in this case he was completely innocent of the charges being made against him. Next David, believing the Lord was angry on his behalf, urges Him to quickly move into action, due to the hostility of his enemies, and ascend to His Judge's Seat and initiate a court case to decide the issue, so He can make His judgment and command justice to be done (v6). David wants a court case, where all nations are assembled to witness the outcome and his public vindication. He says this is "for their sakes" for it is good for people to see justice done, for it causes them to trust in God (when evil-doers seem to get away with it, people cast off restraint). Also David had a special role in the plan of God, bringing salvation to all nations through Messiah, so it was "for their sakes" that God judged in David's favour and spared his life (v7). Clearly God answered his prayer, because in the Bible, God has declared His verdict of vindication of David in this situation to all mankind. Notice he turned the matter over to the Lord, rather than taking it into his own hands and taking revenge himself: "Vengeance is Mine says the Lord" (Rom 12:19). In v8-9, David declares that God will render justice to all people, and he renews his plea: "Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to my integrity within me." He is not referring to his final eternal judgment before God (in which he would not dare to stand on his own righteousness), but that God would make a judgment between him and his enemies in his earthly situation. In v9, he points out that God is qualified to judge for He is righteous and sees into everyone's heart and motives. He also expands his prayer beyond his own personal needs, where his situation is an example of many other cases of injustice, so that he prays for universal justice, where God brings the wickedness of the wicked to an end, and establishes the just forever, just as we pray: "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth" and 'Lord, come and set all things in order.'In v10, David declares his confidence God has heard his prayer and judged his case, so that justice will be done concerning him and his false accusers, and that therefore God will defend him from those who seek to destroy him. In v11, David declares God is the just Judge, who continually hates and resists all evil, and who therefore is angry with the wicked every day (John 3:36). Sinners never imagine they will stand before a God, who is perfectly just and who cannot ignore the crime of sin. Therefore, if the sinner does not turn back (repent), God will suddenly release His arrows of fiery judgment upon him (v12,13). David sees God as being ever ready to judge the sinner, like an archer with his bow bent back, ready to release his arrow at any time. The only reason that, in His love and mercy for the sinner, God delays His judgment is to give men a chance to repent. It is not because He is weak, slack or unconcerned with justice. Man should not presume upon such mercy, ass if it will last for e
An exposition of 2Corinthians 10:3-6 revealing its historical background and God's strategy and mighty weapons for pulling down strongholds.Spiritual warfare is being waged over the battlefield of men's hearts and minds. Join Derek as He shares about the war between the Romans and Pirates in 63 BC, which gives the historical background, which talks about the weapons of our warfare being mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Paul used this war, where the Romans defeated the Pirates, as a picture of how we can be victorious, by using (1) God's mighty weapons (words), and (2) His strategy for deploying them, which is to first locate and pull down the enemy strongholds (false beliefs erected against God's truth), and then take every pirate-thought captive to the obedience of Christ, just as the pirates were made to surrender to Rome.
Psalm 6 is one of the 7 Penitential Psalms of the early Church (6,32,38,51,102,130,143). It describes David in a terrible state, in a perfect storm of problems. He is weak, like a withered plant, and sick, with his body wracked in pain (v2), also in a state of emotional distress and mental torment (v3), grief and depression (v6-7), even close to death (v5). Also, he has many enemies coming against him (v8-10). He realises the root cause of all this and the greatest of his problems is that he is not right with God, as he has sinned, and so is under God's discipline. Thus, it begins with David acknowledging his sin and asking God to forgive him: "O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger" (v1). When we confess our sin to God, He forgives us and cleanses us from it (1John 1:9), but that is not enough for our full restoration. Our sin causes us to be separated from God's Presence and blessing, and puts us in a negative (unclean) state. When we confess our sin, we are forgiven and cleansed by the Blood of Jesus, which blots out the sin, and brings us into a neutral (common) state. However, there is still a lack of the God's Presence (an emptiness in our soul), which makes us vulnerable to sinning again and becoming unclean (Matt 12:43-45). The only way to be empowered to overcome sin and be restored to a positive (holy) state of blessing is to rededicate ourselves to God and invite His Holy Spirit to fill us. God can't fill what is unclean - 1st we must be cleansed by His Blood and then we can be consecrated (made holy) by the Oil of His Holy Spirit possessing us. This is why he does not stop with his confession in v1, but continues by saying: "Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am weak" (v2a). He is asking God to fill him with His grace and restore him in every area of his life. Having done this, He now looks to his Lord in confident faith to move quickly to heal him and restore his soul: "but You, O Lord - how long?" (v3). As he returns to the Lord, he asks Him to also return (turn back) to him and restore His Presence in his soul and body and deliver him from his sickness (v4a). His prayers are based on his covenant with God, who is a covenant-keeping God (he uses God's personal covenant name 'Yahweh' many times in Psalm 6), for he appeals to God's unfailing covenant love as the basis of his petition: "Oh, save me because of Your mercies (chesed = steadfast love)" (v4b). He also pleads his case for God to save his life on the basis of His greater glory, reminding God he can glorify Him much more if He keeps him alive, rather than letting him die and go down to Sheol (the underworld): "For in death there is no remembrance of You; in the grave (Sheol) who will give You thanks?" (v5). This is not saying people are unconscious in Sheol-Hades, or that believers will not praise God there. Luke 16:19-31 proves that all men in Hades are conscious, and Psalm 115:17-18 shows that although 'the dead' (unbelievers) do not praise God there, believers continue to praise God after death. Rather it means, he will not be able to glorify God in Sheol in the same way as in this life. v5 can be translated: "For in death no Memorials are made to You." This refers to public worship at the Feasts (Esther 9:28). After death, he says he will not be able to glorify God and give Him thanks, as much as in this life, especially at the Feasts. This shows the special importance of this life, and the opportunity it gives us to glorify God, especially in our public worship.In v8-10, David is now confident God has heard his prayer and now has the assurance that He will give him the victory over his enemies. He is no longer afraid of them but says to them: "Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity" (v8a). Now God has returned to him and is with him, they must flee from him, for if God is for him, who can be against him (Rom 8:31, Jam 4:7). He declares: "for the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping" (v8b), referring to his tears of contrition and grieving over his loss of God's Presence because of his sin, compounded by the personal rejection and hostility from his enemies (v6-7). Then he reaffirms his faith that: "The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord receives my prayer" (v9). As with 5:10, 6:10 is an imprecatory verse: "Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled; let them turn back and be ashamed (disgraced) suddenly." The word 'troubled' is the same word as used in v2 & 3 to describe David's troubles due to his sin. Thus he prays for his enemies that they will fail in their evil endeavours, that their sin will be exposed and that they face the troubling consequences of their sin (as David did), so that they will turn back from their evil course of action, and also turn back to God in repentance (as David did), before it is too late for them. v10 can also be translated as a prophetic declaration, as in the ESV: "All my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled. They will turn back and be ashamed suddenly."
In this teaching we look at the healing of a leper (Luke 5:12-15). This is the first of 4 Messianic Miracles, which were specific signs of the Messiah. The others are casting out a dumb spirit, healing of a man born blind, and resurrection after 3 days - the sign of Jonah. The special significance and symbolism of Leprosy in the Bible explains why it was a Messianic Miracle. God uses leprosy to teach us about sin. That’s why it was treated differently from all other sicknesses. Leprosy is a picture of sin (Isaiah 1:18), which is why the Bible only talks about the cleansing of a leper. Derek shares how leprosy is a picture of sin. The healing of a leper is a picture of Messiah saving us from sin, for we were all spiritual lepers. Since only Messiah can save us from our sin, it was appropriate that only Messiah can cleanse lepers, which is why it was a Messianic Miracle, so when Jesus healed lepers it was a special sign proving He was the Messiah. The cleansing of the leper in Mark 1:40-44 is a picture of how a sinner receives salvation from the Lord, who is full of compassion for us.2 chapters are devoted to what the priests should do with lepers. Leviticus 13 told them how to diagnose leprosy. Leviticus 14 told them what to do when a leper was healed. While the priests constantly practiced Leviticus 13, they never practiced Leviticus 14, for no leper was ever healed in Israel! They came to conclude that only Messiah will heal lepers. There was a prescribed Ceremony for leprosy that was ordained in the Leviticus 14, that the priests had to fulfil whenever a leper was healed. When Jesus sent the leper to go to the priests to verify his healing and perform the Ceremony, that was a testimony to them that the Messiah was on the scene. This Ceremony which involved 2 BIRDS. It revealed the basis upon which leper was healed (Leviticus 14:1-7). This Ceremony gives us a wonderful picture of the Atonement of Christ. God is declaring that the cleansing and healing of the leper was accomplished through the Atonement. Since leprosy represents both (1) sin and (2) sickness, this Ceremony shows both (1) that we are CLEANSED from SIN, and (2) that we are HEALED from SICKNESS through the ATONEMENT of Christ. This confirms that Healing is in the Atonement. Healing from sickness and cleansing from sin is only possible through Christ's Atonement - that is what the ceremonial Law of the Leper proclaimed.
Psalm 5 is the first example of an imprecatory Psalm, where David prays that God would deal with his enemies: "Pronounce them guilty, O God! Let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against You" (v10). The challenge we face is how we can harmonise this with Jesus' teaching that we should love, bless and show mercy to our enemies (Luke 6:27-36)? It helps to understand the difference between temporal judgments in this life and a man's final eternal judgment which happens immediately after death, when his eternal destiny is forever sealed. It is surely against the teaching of Jesus for us to desire and pray that anyone would die and go to Hell. It is probable that the imprecatory verses were the basis for the teaching of the Pharisees: "You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy" (Matthew 5:43). But Jesus rejected this interpretation saying: "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you" (v44). Thus these imprecatory verses must be interpreted in this light - as expressions of love, not hate for our enemies. In Psalm 5:4-6, God reveals to David that the wicked are under God's wrath and if they will not repent, they will be condemned and cast out of God's Presence forever. One way to read v10, allowed for by the Hebrew, is as a prophetic declaration affirming this final judgment, in agreement with His revelation in v4-6: "You will pronounce them guilty, O God! They will fall by their own counsels; you will cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against You." In this way of reading it, the Psalmist is also adding His agreement with God's holy justice in executing Him final judgment on them, at the time of His choosing. God's declaration of eternal judgment is His warning to sinners that they must repent before it is too late.However, there seems to be more going on here than a declaration and all the translations interpret v10 also as a prayer, in which case, the interpretation that best fits with the rest of Scripture is that it is a prayer for God to intervene in their life (in a temporal judgment), in such a way as to lead them to repentance, so that they do not face the horror of eternal condemnation and punishment. This is confirmed by the phrase: "Let them fall by their own counsels", which points to their evil plans in this life coming to nothing and even rebounding on them, for if they prosper in their evil-doing, they are less likely to repent. In other words, a loving prayer for the wicked is: "Lord, do whatever it takes in their life to bring them to repentance. Don't let them prosper in their evil-ways, but bring them to the end of themselves, so that they realise that they need to repent and turn to you in faith and so be blessed, rather than going to Hell." David's basis for praying v10 is: "for they have rebelled against You", which shows that he is not praying out of personal malice, but rather a concern for God's glory and a realisation that their rebellious state makes them candidates for eternal condemnation.In Psalm 5:9, David again describes the wicked nature of his enemies, including the phrase: "Their throat is an open tomb; they flatter with their tongue" which Paul quotes in Romans 3:13, in his general description of the sinfulness of all mankind (v9-20), where he establishes that all mankind is sinful and guilty before God and so heading for eternal condemnation. But God offers His saving mercies to those who will turn to Him, trust in Him and submit to Him (Psalm 5:2,7), and so David completes the Psalm by describing the blessedness of those who put their trust in God. They rejoice because they are under God's covering (atonement): "But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend (cover) them" (v11). They are protected from God's wrath and from their enemies. As well as trusting God, having received His love, they also love Him: "Let those also who love Your Name (revealed nature) be joyful in You" (v12a). They have been forgiven and made righteous by faith, and so are under God's blessing, grace and favour which covers them like a large shield: "For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favour You will surround him as with a shield" (v12b).
Psalm 5 shows us how David came to God in the morning (v3) to receive the wisdom, strength and protection he needed for the day, especially because there are many enemies conspiring against him - the word for enemies in v8 means those 'who lie in wait.' The setting might be during the time that many were conspiring against him to remove him as king and replace him by Absalom. Psalm 5 provides a model for purposeful prayer (v1-3,7-8,10-12), as well as giving a clear contrast between the righteous under God's covenant love (v1-3, 7-8, 11-12) and the wicked under God's wrath (v4-6, 9-10).David understands that prayer is the expression of the inner thoughts (meditation) of his heart, so he opens his heart to God and invites Him to look into his heart to see his genuine commitment to God and desire to see his prayer answered (v1). David is purposeful in coming to the Lord and focusing on Him: "to You I will pray." In particular, he addresses the Lord as "my King and my God" - focusing on both His awesome majesty (transcendence) and gracious presence (covenant nearness). Moreover, he presents his prayer with urgency, determined that God will hear him (v2). In v3, he emphasises twice his commitment to come to God in the morning, which confirms the importance of morning devotions, to dedicate the day to God and to receive His grace for the day (Mark 1:35, Lam 3:22-23). The he describes what we should do before and after our prayer to God. Before we make our petitions, we should 'direct it to God.' the word 'direct' literally means 'to prepare' and 'to set in order' (Psalm 23:5). It means to arrange our prayer before God, to plead our case (a lawyer prepares his arguments before presenting them to the judge). We should first know the basis of our petitions from God's revelation of Himself in Scripture and on His covenant-promises to us, and then present our case to God. Doing this will increase our faith that we are praying according to God's will and that He will hear us (1John 5:11-12). We see many examples of this in Scripture. After praying, we should 'look up' to God with expectation, to watch to see what God will say or do (Habakkuk 2:1).As he draws closer to God, he becomes more aware of God's holiness and man's sinfulness. David sees God's wrath upon all sinners and His unrelenting opposition to them, and he sees their ultimate end in final judgment if they do not repent (v4-6, Psalm 73:17-18). By contrast, in v7, David, as an example of a righteous believer in covenant with God (see also v11-12), is one who comes into God's Presence (House), (1) trusting in God's abundant covenant love (mercy - chesed), not in his own righteousness, and (2) worshipping Him in reverential fear (submitting himself to God's authority), looking up to God in His holy Temple (in Heaven - Psalm 2:4,6, 3:4), just as we are to pray: "our Father who art in Heaven." David exemplifies a saving faith of trust in God as his Saviour and submission to God as his Lord. Having first come into His Presence in praise and worship (v7), David is now in position to ask for and receive God's leadership and guidance for his life: "Lead me, O Lord, in Your (way of) righteousness" (v8a). This was especially necessary "because of my enemies" (v8b) who were plotting against him. Likewise, satan's kingdom is setting traps for us to fall into, so every morning we need to pray: "Lord, do not lead me into temptation (the traps of the enemy), but deliver me from evil." David knew only God could protect him from the traps of sin, satan and his enemies. He also asks God to give him wisdom by revealing to him the way that he should walk, and that He would remove all hinderances, so that he might make speedy progress in fulfilling God's will: "Make Your way straight before my face" (v8c).
The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). As well as teaching us what it means to be a good neighbour this Parable reveals the Gospel in code. It also gives a hint that Jesus will return after 2 DAYS (2000 years).
Psalms 3 and 4 connect together, for both took place just before the battle with Absalom's army (2Samuel 18). Whereas Psalm 4 is set in the evening before the battle, Psalm 3 is set on the morning of the battle, so when David declares in Psalm 3:4 that he has prayed and God has heard him, this refers to his prayer in 4:1. Likewise his belief he would sleep well in 4:8 was fulfilled (3:5). Compare also 3:2-3 and 4:2. David reveals the basis for his approach to God was that his righteousness was from God (not himself): "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!" (v1a). This is imputed righteousness through faith, and well as the fact that he knew he stood for a righteous cause (he was praying the will of God). Having righteousness before God gives us confidence that God will hear our prayer (1John 5:14, Proverbs 15:29, 1Peter 3:12, Psalm 34:15). He prays that God would be gracious to him and relieve him in his distress; changing his situation from being hard-pressed on all sides to an enlarged place of freedom (v1b). Based on his assurance that God has heard his prayer in v1, David speaks boldly to his enemies, declaring that their rebellion against him, which was based on following lies (that he was no longer God's anointed) and empty promises, is about to come to an end (v2). He also declares that he is still beloved and chosen by God, set apart to Him by covenant as God's anointed king, and this gives him confidence that God hears his prayers and will give him the victory (v3).We then discuss different applications of David's advice: "Be angry and do not sin" (v4a), which Paul applies in Ephesians 4:26-27. In order to overcome the flesh and not sin, we need to mediate in God's Word (v4b, Psalm 1) and bring our flesh into quietness, so that we can hear God's voice to us (v4b). Then we need to 'offer the sacrifices of righteousness', which means doing right actions in obedience to God's word to us, and doing what God tells us to do in the situation, trusting in Him that He knows best (v5, Proverbs 3:5-6), even though this may well mean denying the natural inclinations of our flesh and human reasoning.
Last time in Psalm 4, we saw how David prayed for victory over the army of Absalom (2Samuel 18), putting his faith in His covenant-keeping God (v1), bringing him full assurance, resulting in confident declarations of faith flowing out of his prayer (v2-5). Next he describes the inner peace and happiness that he possessed through his fellowship with God in prayer (v6-8). He points out that most people are primarily seeking for things (outward prosperity), such as his opponents who were believing in Absalom's promises of a better life under his rule (v6a). Seeking things first before God and His righteousness (which is covetousness) is futile, as things can never ultimately satisfy us. But David understood that God is the source of all goodness, and that the key to inner happiness and satisfaction is face to face fellowship with God, who shines the light of His love, joy and peace into our hearts: "Lord, lift up the light of Your Countenance upon us" (v6b, Numbers 6:24-26). Likewise, Jesus said if we FIRST seek the Lord and His Presence (Spirit of Righteousness) in our hearts, then all these outward things (blessings) will also be added to us (Matthew 6:33). We must choose to love and serve God above mammon (Matthew 6:24). The test is, do we put God's Presents before His presents? - this was the test faced by Moses in the wilderness. David testified that through His prayer and fellowship with God, He imparted gladness in his heart, so that even when going through hard times, he possessed a greater inner happiness from God's Presence, than all the carnal people had, even at the time of their greatest prosperity (v7). the joy of the Lord does not depend on circumstances, but comes from God's Spirit within our hearts (Romans 14:17). Through spending time in God's Presence on the eve of the great battle, David prayed through to a place of inner peace, having put his trust in the Lord for his protection, so that he knows he will have a deep, peaceful and undisturbed sleep: "I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety" (v8). In Psalm 3:5 tells us he woke up the next morning testifying: "I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me."
Who were the Wise Men (Magi), and why did they expect the birth of the King of the Jews at that time, and why were they looking for His Star? What was the Star of Bethlehem - a comet, supernova, conjunction of planets, or a manifestation of God’s Glory? If it was the Glory of God, what was its connection with the other manifestation of Glory at that time? How did the Magi know it was the Messiah's Star; what was so special about it? How did it fulfil Balaam’s Prophecy in perfect detail in Numbers 24:17? Derek looks first at the manifestation of God’s Glory to the Bethlehem Shepherds, when Jesus was born (Luke 2:8-18). They were special levitical Shepherds with a special role of looking after the Passover Lambs, destined to be sacrificed in the Temple, just 5 miles away. Likewise, Jesus was born to die for us as the sinless sacrificial Lamb of God, the ultimate Passover Lamb. By doing this, He become the Saviour of the world, for all who receive Him. So, it was appropriate for God to choose these Shepherds to witness the birth of His Passover Lamb, the One born to save us by His sacrificial death (1Cor 5:7). Then we look at Matthew 2: “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, WISE MEN (Magi) from the East came to Jerusalem, saying: “Where is HE, who has been BORN King of the Jews? For we have seen HIS STAR in the East (literally: ‘in its RISING’) and have come to worship Him” (v1-2). The Magi were kingmakers, who confirmed, anointed and endorsed any new king. So, when God's King was born, it was only right these believing Magi from the nations were chosen to honour this new-born King. Whereas the Jewish Shepherds proclaimed the coming of the SAVIOUR of the world, the Gentile Magi proclaimed He was also the true KING of the nations. So, Jesus is both Saviour and King.How did the Magi know to look for Messiah’s Star to appear over Israel? When Daniel was exiled to Babylon, he was exalted to be chief over all the Magi of Babylon (Dan 2:48). He taught them the messianic prophecies including Numbers 24:17: “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; a Star shall come out of Jacob; a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel”, and his prophecy of the 70 Weeks (Dan 9:24- 27), gives a 490-year Countdown to the Coming of the Jewish Messiah. A core of believing Magi, faithful disciples of Daniel, knew these prophecies, and so knew the timing for His Birth was drawing near, and so were on high alert, watching for the Sign of His Birth in the Heavens, a new STAR, corresponding to the description in Num 24:17. They saw His STAR arise on the same night as His Birth, heralding His arrival (Matt 2:7), and then it disappeared, until it reappeared 2-3 months later: “When they heard the king, they departed; and BEHOLD, the STAR which they had seen in its RISING (on the night of His Birth) WENT BEFORE THEM, until it came and STOOD OVER where the young CHILD was. When they saw the STAR, they rejoiced” (Matt 2:9-10). The Star of Bethlehem has no other explanation, but that it was a supernatural manifestation of God’s Glory. So, there were 2 manifestations of God’s GLORY at Christ's Birth: (1) The Jewish Shepherds saw His Glory and multitudes of angels, proclaiming His Birth as the Lamb of God, the SAVIOUR of the world, and (2) the Gentile Magi saw the rising of a new Star from Israel, proclaiming His Birth as the KING of the world. The manifestation of God’s Glory and the angelic host to the Shepherds was the very same manifestation of His Glory that the Magi saw in Babylon (the Star of Bethlehem), signifying that the same Jesus is Lord over both Jew and Gentile, and that the dual offices of Saviour and King are held by the same Person, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Both events must have happened at the same time, on the night of Christ's birth, as they both heralded His Birth. When God’s Glory appeared to the Shepherds, near Jerusalem: “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the Glory of the Lord shone around them” (Luke 2:9), this would have appeared to the Magi, watching from Babylon, like a bright Sceptre arising out from Israel, in the dark western skies, as Num 24:17 predicted. Then after delivering their message, the multitude of angels, surrounded by glory, did not just disappear, but visibly ascended higher & higher into the sky (Luke 2:15). To the watching Magi, this would have appeared like a bright new Star arising up out of Israel, just as Balaam had predicted for Messiah’s Star (Num 24:17). While all other stars move westwards in the sky, they saw His Star rising from Israel and going in the opposite direction, before disappearing. They realised this unique Star that they saw in its Rising had to be the prophesied Star announcing the Birth of the King of the Jews (Matt 2:2). Thus the 2 manifestations of God's Glory at Christ’s Birth were actually the same manifestation of His Glory, seen from 2 different viewpoints.
In part 1, we saw that David wrote this Psalm in his prayer time after he woke up (v5) on the morning of the battle against his son Absalom's large army (2Samuel 18). The previous evening he had prayed through to an assurance of victory. This prayer is recorded in Psalm 4. As a result he could sleep sweetly knowing that God would keep him safe (4:8, 3:5). Whatever battles we face in life, the main battle is in prayer, to get into God's presence, and let him fill our hearts with His peace, faith, strength, light and wisdom, which casts out all fear and darkness. As a result, he was able to declare in the morning, as he looked at Absalom's great army: "I will NOT be AFRAID of ten thousands of people who have SET themselves against ME all around" (v6). Notice what is unusual about this battle, which fits 2Samuel 18, is that all these enemy forces were not interested in fighting David's army, for they were only interested in killing one man, David, so that Absalom could establish himself on the throne. David was not exaggerating the size of Absalom's army, for 20,000 of them died in the battle (2Samuel 18:7), so that the army was about 100,000 strong. With so many focused on destroying David, he had grounds for fear, but strengthened in God, he refused to fear. Then David utters the battle cry as they go forth into battle: "Arise, O Lord; Save me, O my God!" (v7). This is an appeal to God to arise and go ahead of them to lead them in battle, protecting them and giving them the victory. This recalls the words of Moses in Numbers 10:35: "So it was, whenever the Ark set out, that Moses said: “Rise up, O Lord! Let Your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate You flee before You.” The next phrase in v7 is probably best seen as a prayer, as in the NIV: "Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked." See also Psalm 58:6: "Break the teeth in their mouths, O God; Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions!" This speaks of the total domination, defeat and humiliation of the enemy, so that this rebellion would be broken once and for all, rather than simmering on indefinitely. This is what was done to wild beasts, so that they would no longer be a danger. Their jaw and teeth represents their ability to devour and destroy, so to break them is to destroy the power of the enemy, who in their rebellion against the Lord's anointed, David, were acting like wild beasts. David was not praying for their death (he even did not want their leader Absalom to die), but for a decisive victory that would end this rebellion and reestablish David on his throne. David knew that only God could do this, for it was against all odds. If it was a declaration (as in the NKJV) rather than a prayer, then David was saying: "Lord, You've done it before, and I believe You will do it again!David then gives God all the glory for the victory: "Salvation (deliverance) belongs to the Lord" (v8a, Jonah 2:9), for the battle belongs to the Lord, and he concludes by declaring: "Your blessing is upon Your people (Israel)" (v8b). This shows that David was not just concerned for himself, but for Israel. This battle was not just over David's future, but the future of Israel. He knew that God's blessing (presence) is connected to His will, and that God had anointed David as king and made an everlasting covenant with him, that God would preserve his House and that his sons would reign after him, until finally his ultimate son, the Messiah, would reign forever on the Throne of David (2Samuel 7, 1Chronicles 17). David knew that for God's will and blessing to prevail for Israel, this rebellion must be defeated, and David reinstated as God's rightful king of Israel, and so victory in this battle was necessary for God's people to live in His blessing. (If Israel came under the wicked and godless Absalom, the nation would come under a curse). Thus, when David closed the Psalm by saying: "Your blessing is upon Your people", he was making a confident prophetic declaration that God's mercy, grace and blessing was upon Israel and would continue, which meant that God's will would prevail, through God giving David the victory, and establishing him as His chosen anointed king over Israel. This came to pass, because after the victory and Absalom's death, the survivors of the battle and the rest of the nation saw that God was with David, and so repented of their rebellion, and acknowledged David as their rightful king. Thus Israel came back under Divine order and blessing under David, their king.
The heading of this Psalm is 'A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom, his son.' We study the background to this Psalm in 2Samuel 11 - 18, starting with David's sin with Bathsheba, resulting in the killing of Uriah (2Sam 11), Nathan's rebuke of David and announcement of how David would reap what he had sowed in his own family and kingdom, even though God forgave David and spared his life, when he repented (2Sam 12). David's sin, caused him to lose his moral authority, which opened the door to his sons behaving badly, with David failing to deal with them properly because of his own weakness. First, his eldest son Amnon raped his half-sister Tamar and then refused to marry her. Then his son Absalom, Tamar's brother, murdered Amnon in revenge. The Absalom fled to Geshur for 3 years (2Sam 13). Eventually David lets Absalom return to Jerusalem, and after another 2 years David receives him back fully (1Sam 14). Then Absalom began conspiring to take over the Kingdom from David, stealing people's hearts by his promises, no doubt insinuating that Davis was no longer God's anointed, because of his terrible sin. His following grew until it manifested as outright rebellion, forcing David to flee Jerusalem and go to Mahanaim across the Jordan. Meanwhile, Absalom gathered a large army from all the tribes and went after him (2Sam 15-17). Finally, the day of the great battle arrives, and despite being greatly outnumbered, David's army is victorious and Absalom is killed (2Sam 18). Psalm 3 is set in the morning (v5) just before this decisive battle commences (see v1,2,6). It is impressive that David spent time in prayer before the battle, and so received this Psalm by inspiration.We see in both 2Samuel and Psalm 3 David's faith and humility in trusting God to deliver and exalt him. On the one hand, he knows he has a covenant promise from God concerning his kingship (2Sam 7, 1Chron 17). He also knows that God has forgiven him and has not taken His anointing from him. On the other hand, he knows that he has brought these troubles and rebellion on himself, by his sin, which has also opened the door to many people saying: "there is no help for him in God" (v2) - God has finished with him (eg Shimei in 2Sam 16:5-13). Therefore, he knew that he must humble himself before God trusting in Him to vindicate and exalt him in His time, and restore the kingdom to David, rather than taking matters into his own hands.In the Psalm, David describes his many enemies out to destroy him (v1,2,6), who start by attacking him spiritually with their words, as well as physically with their weapons. Likewise, the accuser of the brethren attacks first of all with his words, to discourage you, saying: "you have sinned, so there is no help for you in God." Then when your faith is paralysed, you are easily defeated by the physical attacks in your life. But David responds to these evil words, by confessing His faith, saying: "But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head" (v3). See also 7:10, 18:2.30, 28:7, 33:20, 59:11, 84:11, 115:9-11, 119:114, 144:2). We must answer the words of the enemy by speaking God's words. As battle is about to begin David is trusting God to protect him and lift up his head - restore him to the throne (Gen 40:13,20, 2Ki 25:27). He also declares God is his glory (the One who bestows the anointing upon him, and the One in whom David glories).The key to David being strong in faith on the morning of battle (v3) is that he spent time with God the previous evening: "I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard (answered) me from His holy hill (in Heaven)." (v4). David was able to cast all His care on God, and prayed out loud for God to give him the victory, and he received the assurance that God heard him. Having committed himself and his cause to God, he was able to sleep soundly, despite the great dangers around him: "I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me"(v5). Sustained by God's presence, rather than spending a sleepless night in fear and anxiety, he slept in peace and awoke in time to pray again before the battle (see Psalm 4:8, 31:5, 127:2 for other promises of sleep). Psalm 3 came forth in these morning devotions, where he expresses his confidence in God for the victory, despite the overwhelming opposition gathered against him.
God has already provided healing for us in the Atonement of Christ, so now it is not a matter of trying to get God to heal us, but of learning how to RECEIVE our HEALING. We need to RECEIVE our HEALING by FAITH in the Word of God. Mark 11:24: “Whatsoever THINGS you desire (such as HEALING), when you pray, BELIEVE that (1) you RECEIVE them (your HEALING), and (2) you will HAVE them (in manifestation).” In order to have the confidence to believe we receive our healing from God when we pray, we need to embrace some BELIEFS about HEALING from the Word of God. There are 4 key STEPS we need to take in order to get into position, so that we can believe that we receive our healing when we pray. These 4 STEPS are 4 BELIEFS from the Word of God that we need to embrace. STEP 1: We first need to know that it is God's WILL to HEAL us, otherwise it is impossible for us to believe we receive our healing when we pray (Mark 11:24). The Bible reveals it is God’s WILL to HEAL us. Healing was purchased for us by the great sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross. STEP 2: We must BELIEVE that God is a rich and liberal Giver of Healing. He gives us healing when we pray. He is the God of the immediate response. We must BELIEVE that He is our HEALER today: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, TODAY and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). He WANTS to HEAL us now. LOOK to the LORD for your HEALING, rather than being preoccupied with the problem. If we are overly preoccupied with the problem, we will fail to receive the solution (healing). Hebrews 11:6: “Without FAITH it is impossible to please Him, for he who COMES to God MUST BELIEVE that (1) HE IS (our Healer), and that (2) He is a REWARDER (a generous giver of healing) of those who diligently SEEK Him (in prayer).” These 2 BELIEFS are the first 2 STEPS of FAITH.STEP 3: God gives us HEALING POWER when we pray and ask Him to heal us, which then works mightily in us to drive out all sickness and to restore our health.STEP 4: God ordained the Method of the Laying on of Hands to impart Healing Power.Romans 10:10: “(1) With the HEART one BELIEVES unto righteousness (right standing in the promise), and with the MOUTH, CONFESSION is made unto SALVATION (the manifestation of the promise).” So believe you receive your healing and keep SPEAKING God's WORD: “By His STRIPES I am HEALED. Jesus Himself BORE my SICKNESSES and CARRIED away my PAINS” (Isaiah 53:4-5, literal translation, Matthew 8:17, 1Peter 2:24). Hilary completes her study by a look at the healing of Blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46--52).
Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed One (v2) for 3 offices: Prophet, Priest & King, to preach, pray & reign (in Christ, we share all 3 anointings). (1) First, He was anointed a PROPHET (to declare God's Word to men) at His Baptism, authorised by the Father speaking from Heaven (Matt 3:17). Then (2) His initial ministry of HIGH PRIEST, to offer Himself as a Sacrifice on the Cross, endorsed by Father from Heaven (John 12:27-33), followed by His appointment & anointing as our everlasting High Priest in the order of Melchizedek at God's right hand (Ps 110:1,4). Also (3) His Ascension was His coronation, enthronement and anointing as KING of kings, over the earth (Ps 110:1), endorsed by Father from Heaven at the Transfiguration, a prophetic preview of His Kingdom (Matt 17:5), which He'll establish at His 2nd Coming. Psalms 2 & 110 are twins, fitting together, revealing His Ascension (2:6, 110:1) and the continuation of His anointed ministry on earth thru the Church (in Christ). Ps 110:2 says He will extend the rod of His power (His authority & power) from Heaven, ruling in the midst of His enemies on earth. v3 says He'll do this thru His people on earth, an army of priests, who've received a new birth and present themselves to Him as free-will offerings to do His will (as the dawn gives birth to the dew, so the Lord gives birth to this holy army). They are king-priests, the royal priesthood family, under the High Priest King Jesus. Thus Christ, the Head, shares His anointing with His body (Ps 133:2). This confirms the Anointed One in Psalm 2 includes those in Christ, and the Divine Decree made to Christ, raising Him from death and enthroning Him as God's Son, was also spoken into us (v6,7). Thus we're anointed by the Spirit to function as prophets, priests & kings. (1) Just as His 1st ministry was as a PROPHET to speak God's Word to men, so when He rose, He 1st gave us the Great Commission to preach the Gospel and make disciples (Mark 16:15, Matt 28:19-20). Thus He anointed us to prophesy (Acts 2:17) - speak His Word under the Spirit's inspiration. He gives us His Spirit to empower us to witness (Acts 1:8), for "the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy" (Rev 19:10). The Church's main mission is to preach the Gospel, thus Ps 2 closes with the anointed ones in Christ preaching to the kings, judges & peoples of earth (v10-12). Their Gospel Message starts: "Now therefore" (v10), pointing to His completed work - His life, death, resurrection, ascension and coronation as Lord & King over all (v6-7). Thus it begins with a proclamation of who He is and what He's accomplished, establishing He is God's appointed & anointed Saviour and Lord of all. On this basis, it then appeals to us, saying: "therefore serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little (in a moment). Blessed are all who put their trust (take refuge) in Him" (v8-10). Thus it calls men to urgently respond in faith and trust Christ for salvation, for the Son is angry at man's sin (rebellion) and His fiery anger could suddenly break out against him at any time (Heb 12:29) - He delays His judgment to give man a chance to repent. Only in the Son is safety from God's wrath. God has provided Him as our Refuge, so if we trust in Him, we come under His covering (Atonement), for He took our place & bore God's judgment on Himself. The trembling denotes our utter weakness & dependance on Him to save us, for we can't save ourselves by our own strength or stand before God in our own righteousness. But when we trust in Christ alone for our salvation, He saves us, so we end up rejoicing. Saving faith also includes submission to God's authority (fear) - repentance from our rebellion against God. Thus submission to God naturally results in serving the Lord. The Gospel calls us to "kiss the Son" (v12) - an invitation to respond to His message (offering us forgiveness, peace & intimacy with God) by drawing near by faith, and giving Him our homage, affection, love, heart & worship (1Ki 19:18, Hos 13:2, Luke 7:38-45). When we do this, He kisses us, imparting His Spirit & eternal life into us (John 20:22), and we enter into loving union with Him. The timing of this Proclamation is between His Ascension (v6) & the Day of His wrath (v12) - the Church Age. To accomplish our mission, He also (2) anoints us as His PRIESTS to pray & offer up sacrifices of praise, sharing in His ministry of intercession (2:8), praying for God's Spirit to work in the hearts of the lost, and for us to be filled with the Spirit to boldly share God's Word with them (Acts 4:29-31, v23-28). Also (3) He anoints us as His KINGS, to exercise authority in His Name (Mark 16:17), using His rod to break the enemies' power (2:9), especially over the lost. thus in Christ, we share in His 3-fold anointing as (1) PRIESTS to pray (v8), (2) KINGS to rule (v9), and PROPHETS to preach the Gospel (v10-12).
Christ declares the Decree of the Lord in Psalm 2:7, starting by confessing His IDENTITY - His SONSHIP, as the Firstborn from the dead. Then in v8, He continued to declare what God said to Him at His Resurrection-Ascension: "Ask of Me, and I will give You (1) the nations for Your inheritance, and (2) the ends of the earth for Your possession." The spiritual warfare between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness is over (1) the souls of men (the nations), and (2) the control of the earth itself. With His Blood, Jesus redeemed (purchased) both (1) the the souls of men, and (2) the earth (Revelation 5), which is why He alone has the right to open the Scroll with 7 seals (the Title Deed of the earth). Psalm 2:8 should be translated: "Ask of Me, and I will give You (1) the nations - Your inheritance, and (2) the ends of the earth - Your possession." Thus the nations are already Christ's inheritance and the earth is already His legal possession. But there is a difference between possessing something legally and experientially - for example God gave Israel the Promised Land legally through Abraham (Joshua 1:3), and then later experientially through Joshua (Joshua 1:2). So having just granted Him the inheritance that He had purchased with His Blood, and having ordained and anointed Christ as the great heavenly High Priest (Psalm 110:4), the Father told Him to ask of Him, and He would hand over to Him the souls that belong to Him (John 6:37). Since then Christ ever lives to make intercession for us at God's right-hand (Hebrews 7:25, Romans 8:34), releasing the Holy Spirit to convict us, regenerate, save and sanctify us to Himself - we are His inheritance (Ephesians 1:18). If we are saved, it is only because Christ prayed for us, and asked the Father to give us to Him.In Christ, we are also anointed to be royal priests in the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:3-4, Revelation 1:6, 5:10, 1Peter 2:9), and so we are to share in His ministry of intercession by the power of the Spirit, especially in praying for the Holy Spirit to fill us and empower us to reach the lost, and for Him to soften their hearts and open their eyes, so they might receive Christ. In other words, v8 also applies to us - we are to ask God to save people by His Holy Spirit and cause them to grow spiritually, so that they become our inheritance (the fruit of our ministry). Christ must have taught the apostles this truth from Psalm 2 during the 40 days, because in Acts 4:23-31 we see them using Psalm 2 as the basis for their prayers to be filled with the Spirit to preach the Gospel, for the salvation of the lost, resulting in a harvest of souls (Acts 4:33, 5:12-16). In addition, the Father told Christ to ask Him to give Him actual possession of the earth. This is when He moves into action as the anointed King - he is worthy to be the Lion-King, because He was the sacrificial Lamb of God (Revelation 5). This will be start to be fulfilled in the Day of the Lord (Tribulation), when Christ no longer sits, but stands and starts to make His enemies His footstool, by moving in judgment (Psalm 110:1, Revelation 5:6). At the 2nd Coming, Christ will complete His judgments against His enemies, and take full possession of the earth and establish His Kingdom here, ruling the world with a rod of iron, in fulfilment of Psalm 2:9: "You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.” At the 2nd Coming, He will be manifested as God's ordained and anointed King of kings, ruling over His Kingdom with a rod of iron (Revelation 19:15-16, 12:5), and in Christ we will also be anointed kings, who share in His rulership (Revelation 2:26-27). Thus v8-9 also applies to us, which means that in our present spiritual warfare, in fulfilling our mission on earth, we are to use His rod of iron (the Name of Jesus) to break the power of the enemy, when it comes against us, and in setting the captives free.
In Psalm 2:6, God declares the victory that He has won through Christ, by saying: “Yet I have set My King (Jesus Christ) on My holy Hill of Zion (in Heaven).” This was accomplished by God's Decree, by which He raised Christ from the dead and caused Him to ascend to God's right hand (Psalm 110:1). Next in Psalm 2:7, Christ, the King, starts to declare this Decree: “I will declare the Decree: The Lord has said to Me: ‘You are My Son. Today I have begotten You.'" Acts 13:33 quotes Psalm 2:7 and asserts that God spoke this to Jesus, when He "raised Him up" at His resurrection. Hebrews 1:3-7 quotes Psalm 2:7, linking it with His Ascension. This confirms the Resurrection and initial Ascension to Heaven must have been on the same day. Hebrews 5:5-6 quotes Psalm 2:7, along with Psalm 110:4, saying that this was when God glorified Jesus and anointed Him to become the everlasting High Priest after the order of Melchizedek.According to Psalm 110:1, this took place at the Ascension - His Coronation as King of kings (Melchizedek was both a King and a Priest). When Christ speaks of being begotten on the day of His resurrection, He is not talking about His eternal Sonship as God, but the total regeneration and glorification of His humanity at His resurrection. He is called "the Firstborn from the dead" (Colossians 1:18), "the Firstborn among many brethren" (Romans 8:29), and we are "the Church of the Firstborn" (Hebrews 12:23). He became a man to identify with us, so that we could be identified with Him. When we trust in Christ, we are put into Christ (He is the head and we are His body), and we share in His sonship and inheritance. Thus through our union with Christ, we also partake of the power released by this Divine Decree, which is how we were born again - God has "begotten us again through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1Peter 1:3). Thus God has made us His sons through Christ's Resurrection, which is why the New Birth and indwelling Holy Spirit was not available before the New Covenant was established. So, when Psalm 2 describes the spiritual warfare, with God's enemies arrayed against the Lord and His Anointed (Christ), we are included in the Anointed One. Therefore, we are included in Psalm 2 and have a part to play in the spiritual warfare on earth, now that our Head, Jesus Christ, is seated in Heaven. Just as Jesus declared the Decree of the Lord concerning Himself, so we also must believe and confess God's Decree over us, saying: "I am born again, I am God's child, raised with Christ to new life and seated with Christ far above all principality and power. I am a new creation, more than a conqueror in Christ, the righteousness of God in Christ." In this way, we establish our new IDENTITY and POSITION in Christ, based on Psalm 2:6-7. We must be strong in who we are in Christ, if we are to fulfil God's will and play our part as God's representatives in the spiritual warfare, for satan's main attack is against our identity in Christ (Revelation 12:10-11).
Psalm 2:1-3 describes the present spiritual warfare with mankind in confusion and rebellion against the Lord and His Anointed (Christ). The Lord in Heaven laughs them to scorn (v4) and then speaks to them in His wrath (v5), declaring His answer to all their puny efforts to overthrow His authority: “Yet I have set My King (Jesus Christ) on My holy Hill of Zion” (v6). This was fulfilled by the Ascension of Christ to God's right hand (Psalm 110:1). Having completed His perfect life as a man, climaxed in His sacrificial death for us and His resurrection, Jesus ascended into Heaven.We discuss why Jesus had to initially ascend to Heaven on the morning of His resurrection (John 20:16-17), to (1) fulfil the feast of First Fruits (Leviticus 23:10-11, 1Corinthians 15:20,23, Matthew 27:52-53), which is why Mary was not allowed to cling to Him (John 20:17), unlike in Matthew 28:9, Luke 24:39, John 20:27, (2) to present His Blood in the heavenly Holy of Holies (the throne room), to establish the New Covenant (Hebrews 9:12), (3) to receive all authority in Heaven and earth (Daniel 7:13-14, Matthew 28:18, Ephesians 1:19-22, Psalm 110:1, Philippians 2:8-10, Revelation 12:5), and (4) to receive the Holy Spirit on our behalf (Acts 2:32-33), enabling Him to impart the indwelling Holy Spirit to the disciples that same evening, causing them to be born again (John 20:22, Genesis 2:7).The Ascension of Christ, represents the completion of God's decisive move in the spiritual warfare. It means that God's Anointed One has been sent into the earth as a perfect Man and has accomplished His mission of purchasing our salvation and defeating all his enemies, and is now established in the highest place as Lord over all. By His completed work, He has already won the victory, and He did it for us. When we were put into Christ, we were raised with Him and made to sit with Him at God's right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power (Ephesians 2:4-6, 1:20-21).
Psalm 2 is a Messianic Psalm of importance, much quoted in the NT, a cosmic Drama describing the present spiritual warfare in the Church Age, especially as it comes to its climax. Along with Ps 1, it's part of the Entrance Hall into the Book of Psalms. Ps 1 reveals the contrast between the righteous & wicked on an individual level, Ps 2 reveals it on a global scale, showing the spiritual conflict between those in God's Kingdom and those in satan's kingdom. Thus they are foundational. In this video, we introduce Ps 2 and see how it fits with our times. It's a Psalm of David (Acts 4:25-26) pointing Messiah's victory & rule over the earth, fulfilling the Davidic Covenant (2Sam7, 1Chr 17). It's parallel to Ps 110, for both speak of Christ as having ascended, having accomplished the work of His 1st Coming & received all authority to rule earth, and both also look forward to His 2nd Coming, when He'll enforce His authority, judge His enemies and establish His Kingdom on earth. Thus they describe the present spiritual war on earth between His 2 Comings. They are prophetic of the spiritual war in the Church Age, with relevance to us, giving a theological perspective for interpreting world events.In Scene 1 the focus is on the unsaved masses of humanity living under darkness & deception, striving with God's Spirit, lovingly yearning for their souls. Speaking thru David, He asks from a heart of love: "Why do they restlessly war against each other, and imagine (meditate) a vain (worthless, empty) thing?” (v1). Why reject God who loves them so much? Why think they can save themselves without God? These souls are the battleground, over which both sides are fighting. In the end each must chose between God & satan. Scene 2 answers the question as we see the forces trying to control them - rebellious angelic & human rulers of earth: “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD and against His ANOINTED (Messiah-King)” (v2). This describes purposeful rebellion against God. This describes the battle-lines of the 2 opposing powers. On one side, the Lord & His Anointed One (Christ & all those in Christ), God's anointed weapon in this war (we are in Ps 2), and on the other side all those fighting for the enemy, both demonic & human. This war is over (1) the inheritance of precious souls, and (2) possession of the nations & their land (v1,8). The enemy's desire & message is revealed in v3. They want to throw off God’s laws & authority but can’t escape His rule & jurisdiction. In Scene 3, the focus moves up higher to God on His Throne and His Anointed One (2:4). What's His reaction to the enemy? He laughs at all their plots & striving. He's in Heaven, far above, seeing all. He has all authority, knows the final outcome and never worries. Heaven is always full of joy. As we live on the battleground, it's vital for us to keep this vision of God before us - that we are on the victory side and He will defeat all His enemies. We can laugh with God that the enemy is defeated and rejoice in His victory. The next step in this drama is that God gets serious. Righteous anger rises up in Him against His rebellious enemies (v5), and He announces He's already made His decisive move, guaranteeing His victory and the certainty of final judgment on His enemies: “Yet have I installed My King on my holy Hill of Zion” (v6) - fulfilled in His 1st Coming. God sent forth His anointed weapon, Jesus, who destroyed the power of the enemy in His life, death & resurrection. He rose victorious, ascended far above all powers and is seated at God's right hand, signifying His completed work (Ps 110:1). So, God's answer to satan is He has already set His King on His Throne in Heaven, in the holy Hill of Mt Zion. The battle is already won and satan defeated. Jesus paid the price to redeem every soul (His inheritance), and purchased the earth (His possession), so He now possess the earth's title-deed (Rev 5), and has the right to rule all nations. He is already God's appointed King, over both sinners & saints - ruling sinners by external power and His saints internally by His grace. At His 2nd Coming, He'll manifest His authority & victory, returning in power to take possession of all the earth and rule over all nations from His earthly throne of David on the holy hill of Zion. In our spiritual war, we must follow God's example in 2:6, and point to Christ's finished work, declaring He has accomplished our salvation, defeated all evil powers, and has risen victorious and ascended on High, far above all principalities, and is Lord over all. Thus we confess Jesus has defeated the evil one, and is enthroned on high, with all enemies underfoot, so now we also have the victory, for we're in Christ and have risen with Him and sit with Him far above (Eph 2:6), so now we operate from a position of victory (Rom 8:37). We're not trying to get the victory, for He is our victory, and we're enforcing His victory on the earth.
We can’t follow Jesus in our own strength. We must depend on His Spirit to live the life of a true disciple. The key to surrender is embracing the truth we are slaves ('doulos') of Christ, translated servant (Rom 1:1, Phil 1:1, Titus 1:1, Jas 1:1 2Pet 1:1, Jude 1:1, Rev 1:1). A slave is owned by his master, owning nothing himself, but a servant still owns himself and things. We are owned by Christ, purchased with His Blood (1Cor 7:22-23), so every blessing and gift we receive does not belong to us, but God. We thank God for His blessing (acknowledge Him as our Source) and trust Him for His continual supply (for He is faithful), and surrender (release control of) it back to Him as Owner, in worship. This qualifies us to receive and possess more blessing. We belong to God, so our whole life needs to be surrendered to Him. Then we can abide in Him and continually access His grace, as we cling to Him. When we embrace the fact we belong to Christ, surrendering to His Spirit is natural, but if we hold on to our own life (self-ownership), it’s hard to surrender, so we only do it when necessary. The degree we embrace His right of ownership is the degree we can submit to His leadership, which then determines the degree we can possess His blessing. Only when we embrace His ownership can we surrender our beings fully to Him, for Him to possess us, and only then can we fully possess Him and all He wants to give us. Embracing His ownership and surrendering to His control frees us from covetousness (trying to own, control and hold on to things), which disconnects us from grace, and disqualifies us from possessing His blessing. He made us in His image with capacity to receive and express power, wisdom, dominion and glory, so we desire them, but if we covet them, it blocks His power in us. Jesus said: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself (self-ownership), and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save (hold onto) his life (soul) will lose it, but whoever loses his life (independent soul-life) for My sake will find (discover) it (real life)” (Matt 16:24-25). The key to a higher life in God is to accept we are His slaves, owned by Him. Then surrender is easier. Our ownership by God relates to the Holy Spirit and sanctification, for when we accept Christ and His Blood, we belong to God, and He puts His Spirit inside us, as the seal and sign of God's ownership (Rom 8:9). The more of our soul, body and life we surrender to God, the more we allow His Spirit to possess, fill and control us, the greater His Presence in us (our holiness), setting us free from sin. “In Christ, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, the guarantee (down payment) of our inheritance (the fullness of God - full payment), until the redemption of the purchased possession (when He gives Himself fully to us and takes full possession of us), so that we will be to the praise of His glory” (Eph 1:13-14, 2Cor 1:21-22). When He returns, His Spirit will take full possession of our soul and body, resurrecting, perfecting and glorifying us. The more we allow His Spirit to fill and take possession of us, the more we experience His grace. Only when we’re poor (owning nothing, owned by God), are we rich, possessing all things He has for us (Matt 5:3, Luke 6:20). Embracing belonging to God, yielding final control to Him, trusting His love to guide and provide for us, sets us free from carrying the burden and stress of managing our life, as if all depends on us. It lets the Spirit flow in us and lead us. He takes the burden and carries us, once we let go of trying to control it all. If we don’t trust in God, we become insecure and anxious, and so cling to things, which we value, to try and secure ourselves, but they are idols, as we value them more than God. He says: “Let go of them. They’re too important to you. Cling to Me and surrender all things, worries and burdens to Me, and My Spirit will carry you and give you all you need.” He controls and guides our life, if we surrender to Him. This is the key to walk in the Spirit, experiencing His fullness. He wants us to have all things to enjoy (1Tim 6:17), but we cut ourselves off from His life, when we act as our own owner, trying to own and control the blessing. Embrace the truth you belong to God, own nothing and will always depend on Him for His continual supply of grace. Then you’re qualified to possess the fullness of His blessing. This is in Psalm 23. In Psalm 22, He lays down His life for His sheep, purchasing them with His Blood (John 10:11). Then in Psalm 23, risen again, He leads His OWN sheep into fullness of life (10:2-4,10). Experiencing fullness (“I shall not want”) is predicated on “The Lord is my Shepherd.” So, to be blessed, we must submit to His leadership. Once a sheep knows he’s owned by (belongs to) the Shepherd, then following (obeying) Him is natural. He stays close and follows Him, so He can lead him into fullness.
Having described the nature and blessing of the righteous, being like a blessed, upright, strong tree planted by God's River of Life (1:1-3), it declares: "No so, the ungodly, not so!" (v4). He then compares the ungodly to the chaff, which the wind drives away (1:4). We describe threshing, when the chaff is separated from the wheat, and winnowing, when both wheat and chaff are thrown up into the air, and the chaff is carried away by the wind. This describes what happens at a man's judgment right after his death. The threshing, which physically separates the chaff from the wheat, corresponds to physical death, and the winnowing describes what happens after death, when the chaff is blown away by the wind to a place of judgment, to be burnt. Whereas the wheat (believer in Christ) continues to stand in God's Kingdom, the chaff (unbeliever) can't stand before God, and is blown away into His fire (Hades, then the Lake of Fire). This process of judgment will be brought to its climax and completion by Christ at the Day of Lord: “His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matt 3:12). The word for threshing sledge is tribulum, where we get the word Tribulation.The chaff (thin skin around grain of wheat) is dry, empty, weak, unstable, and worthless, once separated from the wheat. God gives all men a measure of goodness in this life (common grace), but if they reject God, then at death His grace is removed and they become what they've chosen to be, an empty shell, separated from God's presence, life, goodness and glory (substance). The substance and value of our life comes from God's Presence, so those who die ungodly will immediately discover who they are in themselves, without God - worthless chaff, only good to be thrown into God's fire, for they are useless to God, for they've refused to fulfil the purpose for which they were created - to glorify God, choosing rather to be their own gods. Thus the nature and destiny of the cursed, weak, unstable chaff is opposite to the believer, who is like a tree, strong, stable, standing forever. At this time sinners and hypocrites can join in the congregation of the just, but when judgment day comes, sinners will find they can't stand before God with the just (who have right-standing with God thru Christ's righteousness), and will be separated from the just and removed - blown away to a place of fiery judgment (1:5).The conclusion (v6) contrasts the way and destination of the righteous and the way of the ungodly: "For the Lord knows (watches over) the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish (end in destruction)." We must choose to which of these 2 groups we belong. It describes these 2 groups and their 2 corresponding ways of life, to help us identify to which we actually belong. The Way of the righteous is Christ Himself (John 14:6), so to walk in this Way, means walking with Christ, in fellowship with Him. The statement that the Lord KNOWS the way of the righteous, in a way that He does not know the way of the ungodly, speaks of His personal relationship and involvement with them - that He is walking with them, and watching over them in love, making sure they will reach their glorious destination together. (Saying: 'I am the way' means personally leading us to our destination). On the other hand, the ungodly choose to go their own way, apart from God (Isa 53:6), and Jesus will say to them "I never knew you" (Matt 7:23), and so their way will end in ruin. Jesus is the narrow Gate and Way that leads to life (Matt 7:13-14). We enter through the narrow Gate when we trust in Him and His death & resurrection, receiving Him as our Lord and Saviour. Then we enter into the narrow Way, of walking in fellowship with Him, trusting His leadership. If you are righteous in Christ, you are on the Way of righteousness, which means you are travelling on a very different road through life than the multitudes of ungodly people, on the broad road leading to destruction ( 1:1).Finally, we point out there is only 1 Person who has perfectly fulfilled Psalm 1 - JESUS. This is a portrait of Christ - the Blessed Man of Psalm 1. This is why 'the blessed man' is in the singular, and the 'ungodly' is plural. Without Christ, we would all be useless chaff destined for fire. But He has made a way for us to be put into Christ and receive His righteousness. Since Psalm 1 is fulfilled in Christ, when you are put into Christ, then Psalm 1 also becomes true for you, for you are in Christ - you become a blessed man in Him (Eph 1:3), planted (in the new birth) by the River of the Spirit, with full access to His grace, enabling you to grow spiritually, become fruitful, as you meditate on His Word and develop strong faith roots to draw upon His life.
Psalm 1:3 says the blessed man, who meditates day and night in God's Word will "be like a TREE planted by the RIVERS of WATER that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper." Our ROOT system is our FAITH in God, which connects us to God's life and grace in His Spirit. The secret of a tree’s success is its roots, which are invisible, underground, representing our heart. As we meditate in His Word, our faith-roots becomes stronger, which means that our ability to draw on the waters of the Holy Spirit increases, causing us to thrive, become strong, upright and evergreen, and bear much fruit. That fact that we are planted by the River of Life, means that in Christ, we have continual access to the grace of God in the Holy Spirit. We cannot bear fruit of ourselves - the key is drawing from the life of the River of God. Fruit that glorifies God is produced by the Divine life that flows in and through us (John 15:1-16). We allow God’s life to flow by meditating on God’s Word (to strengthen our faith) and drawing upon His Spirit by faith.We look at a number of other scriptures that use this same imagery of believers being like fruitful Trees planted by rivers of water (Jeremiah 17:5-8, Isaiah 61:3, 37:31). We see this imagery in the first earthly Temple of the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2-3), and the Millennial Temple, in Ezekiel 47:12: “Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the Sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine.” Also we see it in the everlasting heavenly Temple, the New Jerusalem (Revelation 22:1-3). All of these are pictures of us (redeemed mankind), who are God's ultimate Temples. These gardens with trees planted by the river of life are a picture of garden of our soul. Our thoughts, emotions, convictions and commitments are like trees (Proverbs 3:18). If they are formed and filled by the Word and Spirit of God, they are fresh and fruitful, connecting us to His grace. We relate this to recent discoveries that show that our thoughts are imaged by protein structures in the brain. Whereas God's Word forms healthy tree-like structures, evil thoughts of bitterness and hatred manifest as ugly, twisted protein structures. By meditating in the Word, we can renew our mind, so that it becomes a garden full of fruitful trees, all well-watered by the river of life. Since: "as a man thinks in his heart, so he is" (Proverbs 23:7), it follows that the blessed man who is like a flourishing tree (1:3), is a reflection of the state of his heart (the trees growing in his heart). Likewise, the parable of the sower can in interpreted on both levels, for the seed (which is the word of God) can (1) represent the whole spiritual life of a man, or (2) a particular word of God, which grows by meditation in (hearing) the word (watering with the Word), and brings forth fruit. Thus, the measure of a man is determined by His meditation, and all the trees that he allows to grow in his soul determine the kind of man he becomes, that is, how much he becomes like the blessed, strong and fruitful tree described in Psalm 1:3.
We start our studies in Psalms by introducing the Book of Psalms as a whole. It is God’s Hymnbook, the longest book of Bible (150 chapters), which shows the importance of praise and worship. It is poetry, the language of the heart, set to music, designed to tune our hearts to God. It is given to inspire our response to God and His revelation. Just like the Torah, it is divided into 5 books. The first book is Psalms 1-41. There are many different kinds of Psalms – Psalms of Praise, Psalms of Thanksgiving, Psalms of Lament, Psalms of Confidence, Psalm of Kingship, Psalms of Wisdom and Messianic Psalms (which were written under prophetic inspiration). King David wrote over half of them (including almost all of the first Book). Other writers were Moses, Hezekiah, the sons of Asaph, and the sons of Korah.Psalm 1 is a special Psalm, described as the Entrance Hall into the Mansion of the Book of Psalms – a Wisdom Psalm, contrasting the nature, way and destiny of the righteous and the ungodly, who ignore God and go their own way in life. In the Bible, all mankind divided into these 2 groups and Psalm 1 spells this out in the strongest way, pointing out you are either righteous or ungodly, either part of God’s people or not, and only the righteous qualify for the blessing of God. God makes this point in Psalm 1, because the rest of the Psalms are only for the righteous, so its pointless reading the other Psalms (like 23), if you are in the wrong camp, as it does not apply to you. So, Psalm 1 is saying, before you enter this Mansion, make sure first that you qualify. Placing Psalm 1 first also tells us that our WORSHIP (represented by the Psalms) is based on mediation on the WORD of God (the emphasis of Psalm 1). Psalm 1 describes the righteous as being characterised by holiness – being devoted to the Lord and His Word, and separated from evil, whereas the ungodly follow the way of the world (1:1-3). Whereas the righteous are blessed (with God's life), and are stable, strong, and fruitful, like trees (v1-3), the ungodly are cursed (cut off from God's life), unstable, weak and empty, like chaff (1:4-5). Whereas God watches over the way of the humble, and walks with them, and gives them His grace, so that they will reach their final destination (glory), the way of the ungodly will result in destruction, because God resists the proud (1:6).Psalm 1:1 describes the BLESSED man by contrast with the ungodly man, who starts by following the counsel of the ungodly world, which then leads to him hanging around sinners, and developing a sinful lifestyle and convictions. Thus, he becomes hardened in his heart, and stands for things that are ungodly. The next stage, if he continues on this path, is when he sits in the seat of the scornful, is even worse, for this is when he becomes one who is settled in his views and teaches others to reject God and His Laws, actively promoting his world-view, which mocks God and sacred things, and undermines His Word. These ones do not just live wrong, but encourage others to live wrong (Romans 1:32). These are now fully hardened in sin. The blessed man is marked by the fact that he says 'No' to this worldly viewpoint 91:1). Instead, he delights in God's Word, and meditates in it day and night, with the intention of basing his life upon it, seeing that it is the Law of the Lord (it carries the full authority of God). Thus he allows it to form his beliefs and lifestyle (1:2). We discuss what Bible meditation is and how to meditate (Joshua 1:8). The result of being a godly man who meditates on God's word, rather than following the world is that the blessing of God causes him to become like a strong, upright "TREE, planted by the rivers of WATER, that brings forth its FRUIT in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper" (1:3). When we receive Christ, we are PLANTED into Christ, by the RIVERS of WATER (the grace of the Holy Spirit, who now lives in us), and we become a TREE of righteousness (Isaiah 61:3). Then, the more we meditate in God's Word, the stronger our ROOT-system (FAITH) becomes, enabling us to draw upon more of the WATERS of the HOLY SPIRIT.
Наша хвала (1) БЛАГОСЛОВЛЯЕТ Бога, (2) ПРИНОСИТ ПОЛЬЗУ нам и (3) СВЯЗЫВАЕТ врага (Псалом 149). Жертва хвалы – это благодарность Богу прежде, чем мы увидим ответ. Мы видим три примера, которые показывают, как это подготавливает путь и открывает дверь в Духе для того, чтобы Бог мог высвободить Свою спасительную силу в нашу жизнь и ситуации.
Following Christ as Lord means we must accept the truth we belong to Him we don’t own ourselves. Once we embrace His absolute authority, then surrendering (our independence) to Him follows naturally, and obedience flows naturally from this surrender. This is liberating, as we can let go of trying to control everything ourselves. The essence of sin is not just rejecting God's authority, but also His ownership, as Adam and Eve did to be their own god, operating in independence from God. They coveted their own power to be in control and own things for themselves apart from God, which cut them off from the God, who is life. They did not experience freedom, but became slaves of sin and satan. By physical birth, this sin-nature in the flesh was transmitted to all of us (John 3:6). That’s why our flesh wants independence (self-ownership) and resists God’s authority. We were lost, but Jesus came to win us back to God. He paid the ransom price (His Blood) to purchase us for God, and set us free. He did not purchase us, for us to be independent from God, but to come under His loving ownership. So, God has a 2-fold claim of ownership on us, He (1) created us and (2) redeemed us, so if we accept that purchase, we are freed from sin to be slaves of God. God gave very Jew a piece of the Promised Land to possess, but if he got into debt (a picture of sin), (1) he could lose possession of his land, and (2) become a slave to pay his debts, until a kinsman-redeemer came, and pay the price to release him from slavery and purchase back the land, so he could enjoy it again, although the redeemer now owned it. The land is a picture of the earth and all the blessings, God gave to man to enjoy (Psalm 115:16). Although God owns the earth, (1) Adam surrendered man’s dominion over the world to satan, and we lost our possession of God’s blessing, and (2) became slaves to sin and satan. Jesus became a man to be our Kinsman Redeemer, and by His Blood, He purchased the earth and all who’ve lived on it. So He has the legal right to take possession of the earth from His enemies. He will start to enforce this right in the Tribulation judgments, that climax at the 2nd Coming, when He destroys all His enemies and establishes His Kingdom on earth. Believers in Heaven understand the glory, honour and power they receive from God belongs to Him; and they belong to Him, for He created them – the 1st basis for God’s ownership of us (Revelation 4:11). This is the basis for their total surrender to God. The 2nd basis is redemption, the theme of Revelation 5, where Jesus is revealed as the Redeemer, who purchased us with His Blood, so we belong to God (v9-10). Thus, God is our Owner and Christ our Redeemer, who possesses us through giving His Spirit to indwell us (1Corinthians 6:19,20). Knowing they belong to Christ and thus every blessing they have received also belongs to Him, in v12 they surrender it all back to God: “Worthy is the LAMB, who was slain, to receive (1) POWER (to do works, this power is to be surrendered back to God, so we stay submitted under His control and filled with His power. Our submission to God’s power flows out of acknowledging God is the Owner and Source of all our power), and (2) RICHES (wealth - we are not owners, just stewards of God’s resources, to use them for His purposes and glory), and (3) WISDOM (including knowledge and understanding - submit and release your thoughts back to God, so He has control), and (4) STRENGTH (including health, in our whole being), and (5) HONOUR (value, importance, authority, status, exaltation), and (6) GLORY (God’s manifested anointing, love, radiance, beauty shining through us), and (7) BLESSING (happiness, emotional well-being).” v13: “BLESSING, HONOUR, GLORY, and (8) DOMINION (ruling power, ability to reign) be to HIM who sits on the Throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” When you surrender what you have received from God back to God, He can give you more to enjoy and possess. We are to surrender our works to God, so we do them under His authority, trusting in His power and for His glory, to fulfil His purposes. Then they are not our works, but His works through us, and He gets the glory. God’s River must flow through us, so we have to (1) receive it by faith, then (2) give it back to God in love. If own (covet) nothing, then He can bless you with all things to possess: “Blessed are the poor, for theirs (to possess) is the Kingdom of God (all His riches, which are under His rule)” (Luke 6:20). If we try to hold onto and control His blessing, as if it were ours, we shut ourselves off from it. Our surrender is the basis for our holiness and happiness, as it allows Him to take possession of us by His Spirit, who carries the blessing, so we then possess His blessedness. Then He manifests His blessings through us in our life, as we walk with God and obey Him.
We are slaves of Christ, our Master and Owner. We belong to Him. He owns us and all we have (Rom 6:22, 1Cor 7:22). His Spirit within is the seal of His ownership (1Cor 6:19,20, 2Cor 1:22, Eph 1:13, 4:30). There’s a word for servant (diakonos), and another for slave (doulos), describing our relationship with God (Rom 1:1, Phil 1:1, Titus 1:1, Jas 1:1 2Pet 1:1, Jude 1:1, Rev 1:1). We miss the truth we are His slaves, because doulos is translated as servant, not slave, due to the stigma of human slavery. But this weakens its force. The difference is that although a servant works under his lord’s authority, he belongs to himself, but a slave is owned by His master. Human slavery is evil, but in relationship to God, it’s right, as He (1) created and (2) purchased us. If you accept His purchase of yourself, receiving Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you belong to Him. So, we must embrace the truth we are His slaves as well as sons, so every blessing He gives still belongs to Him. Then surrender and obedience becomes natural, setting us free from slavery to sin. When I say: “Jesus is my Lord (Kurios)” (Rom 10:9), it doesn’t just mean He has the right to tell me what to do (as His servant), but also, He has absolute authority over my being - He owns me! In the Hebrew Old Testament, 2 words are equivalent to Kurios (1) Yahweh, and (2) Adonai (master, owner). Both are names for God, that were translated into Greek as Kurios (Lord), so when we say: “Jesus is Lord” it means He is Yahweh and my Owner. He owns me and all my blessings, so has the right to define my identity and future. All I have is given by Him, but I own nothing, for I am owned by Him. Once we realise He purchased us for Himself, we know as His slave we own nothing, not even the blessings, He richly gives us to possess. A submissive heart to God rejoices in this truth. Sin’s essential nature is seen in man’s original sin (Gen 3), rejecting God's ownership, not just of the garden (the blessing), but also of himself (v4-6), to establish himself in independence from God, by trying to own (control) everything himself (covetousness). Before, man was spiritually alive, living by God's life, enjoying His blessing. But by claiming ownership, he cut himself off from God, who is life (Gen 2:17). When you reject slavery to God, you are not free, but are a slave of sin, under satan’s power. Instead of being a slave of a loving, gracious life-giving God, man put himself under the hand of an evil slave master, and suffers the curse (death). Jesus came to pay the price with His Blood to redeem us from slavery to sin and the hand of the enemy. When we receive Him as Lord and accept His Blood for us, He sets us free from that slavery, to become slaves of Christ - true liberty. We have a choice to be a slave of sin or God (Rom 6). To live a life of liberty, we must deny self-ownership. “If anyone desires to come (follow) after Me (Jesus), let him deny (ownership of) himself (his independent soul life), and take up His Cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save (own) his life will lose it (become a slave to sin), but whoever loses (surrenders control of) his life for My sake will find it (discover real life, under His grace). For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul (to sin)? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt 16:24-26). For God’s life to flow freely in us, we must deny self-ownership, then we’ll be free to possess all He wants to give. He wants to bless us with all things, but not so we use them to be independent, for if we act as if we own His blessing & blessings, we cut ourselves off from the Source of life. If we embrace the fact we are poor slaves who own nothing, and submit to His control of us and His blessing, and then we qualify to possess all things. Knowing my poverty makes me totally depend on God and His continual supply of life. Although poor in myself, I’m rich, for in His love, He provides all I need. We need to know God as both (1) El Shaddai and (2) Adonai to receive and abide in His river of grace. (1) El Shaddai is the mighty God, who supplies all our need, who is strong when are weak. When we realize we need Him continually, being poor (owning nothing) and weak (having nothing in ourselves), we turn to Him as our Source, calling on and trusting Him to fill us. As He faithfully continually fills us with Himself, we stay ever thankful for His abundant grace. This is the 1st key to receiving and abiding in His grace. (2) Adonai means Owner and Lord. Knowing He owns us and all He gives us, we surrender ourselves and His grace back to Him, so He has final control, and we live unto Him in obedience. This is the 2nd key to living under grace. Rather than holding on to the safety of the bank, we let go and trust His Spirit to flow through us and carry us along, releasing final control to God. Then all things will be ours and His plan for us will be fulfilled.
“Your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are NOT your OWN? For you were BOUGHT at a PRICE (His Blood); therefore, glorify God in your body and spirit, which are God’s (property)” (1Cor 6:19-20). We are OWNED by God, SLAVES of Christ, not just servants, so all we are and have belongs to Him. He has the right to define who we are and make us who He wants us to be, for He is our Creator and Redeemer. His Spirit within is God's seal, signifying we belong to Him (2Cor 1:22, Eph 1:13,4:30). As the Holy Spirit, He sets us apart to God by His indwelling Presence. The more we surrender, the greater His Presence within us. He manifests His ownership by possessing us with His Spirit, setting us apart to God and free from sin. A paradox: (1) we are OWNED by God (so own nothing), but (2) POSSESS all things in Christ, as He is a God of grace, giving us all things to enjoy (1Tim 6:17). The key is to know the difference between ownership and possession, for we can possess a thing without owning it (2Cor 6:10). So, we are (1) POOR, but also (2) RICH. If (1) we embrace the truth we own nothing, as God owns us, then (2) we qualify to receive the flow of His blessing, enabling us to possess all things (Matt 5:3, Lk 6:20). I am (1) WEAK in myself, as I don’t own my own strength, but (2) STRONG in the Lord, possessing His strength by grace (2Cor 12:10, Joel 3:10). God gave Israel her Promised Land to possess and enjoy by faith (a type of the land of blessings He has for us). Israel is a tenant possessor, not owner. Likewise, He promises us many good things, for us to possess, but keeps ownership. If we forget He is the Owner and try to own what He gives, to be independent from Him, acting as we want, that’s sin (covetousness). God warned her against pride - forgetting He was the Source of all her blessing; they only possessed it by His grace (Deut 8:17-18). She rejected His rule and was disqualified from enjoying her Land. Likewise, when we act as owners of the things of life, we cut ourselves off from His blessing. The essence of sin is claiming ownership of and for ourselves, so we can be in control. The root of the sin-nature in our flesh is self-rule (ownership) and independence from God. It does not want to submit to His control, so tries to take control, rather than trusting our Creator, embracing His will. To overcome, we must deny self, by surrender to God’s rule, and then His Spirit possesses our heart (setting it apart to God), and setting it apart (free) from sin (sanctification). To experience fullness of life, we must embrace God’s ownership of us, His blessing (grace), and blessings (gifts of grace) - the fundamental principle of being a creature (1st Beatitude). He gives us all things to enjoy, but we are not the owner, just a steward of His blessings. Our life must be governed by the truth Adonai is our Master and Owner of all things we possess. So, we must depend continually on His grace, provision and life. As slaves, we own nothing, but have a gracious Lord. He wants us to possess all blessings, but to do this, we must yield final control to Him. He will not allow us to own, for He wants us to depend on Him (live by faith). Coveting limits how much He can bless us, for when we try to own, His supply of grace diminishes. When we embrace the truth (of our poverty) we prosper, for His blessing can now be fully released in our life, enabling us to possess and enjoy all things in His Kingdom (Luke 6:20). Knowing God as Owner of all things, including us, changes our whole attitude to His grace and blessings, making us ever dependent on Him and grateful.God created Eden and gave possession of it to man, with every tree (blessing) to eat (enjoy). He asserted His ownership by commanding them not to eat from 1 tree. While they obeyed, they submitted to His authority. But by eating from that tree, they acted as if they owned themselves and the Garden, claiming the right to do as they please, rejecting His right to rule their life (rebellion). Dissatisfied with His provision, they wanted full control. Satan’s temptation was not just to reject God's ownership of things, but also to own themselves, be their own god, independent from God, having knowledge of good and evil in themselves, to decide what's right and wrong and do as they please. Thus, they disqualified themselves and cut themselves off from His life (blessing), and came under the curse. They died spiritually and were cast out of the Garden (blessing). Likewise, the key to living under grace, enjoying fullness of life, is embracing His ownership of our being and blessing, surrendering final control of all we receive back to Him, for He is worthy, having purchased both us and the blessing with His Blood (Rev 5:9-14). Clinging to something as an idol brings bondage. Surrender it back to God, looking instead to Him for our supply, security and satisfaction, trusting Him to provide for us in every way.
The essence of discipleship is a love relationship with the Lord - a true disciple loves Him and seeks to express that in his life. Discipleship begins with the Gospel - the message of God's awesome love for us (1John 4:19). We need a revelation of His love for us, to receive His love and then give our love to Him. Once our heart is converted to Christ, we become His disciple and our whole life becomes an expression of our love for Him (the motivation of a true disciple is love for Jesus). If we detach discipleship from love, it becomes a religion of laws and rules, with little value or joy. God is not calling us to legalism, but the obedience of love, a real love relationship with Him, where we do His commands, because we love Him (John 14:15). This starts by us receiving the Gospel, the Good News of His love for us. Our hearts are converted to fall in love with Jesus, when we see how much He loves us personally, and how much He suffered to save us from sin and hell to have our love forever (Hebrews 12:2). The essence of the Gospel is the revelation of God's love for us. Its purpose is to win our heart. Mary demonstrated what it is designed to achieve – the total conversion of our heart to Him, so we give Him our worship and love, fully and freely, surrendering our lives to Him (Mark 14:3-5,9). Once our heart is converted, we naturally move into discipleship - the outworking of this love-relationship with Christ in the details of our life. Thus, the Great Commission is in 2 parts: (1) preach the Gospel to convert the heart (Mark 16:15). Then, (2) discipleship (Matthew 28:19-20). The life of a disciple, following and obeying Christ, is all from love, to please and glorify Him. We want to be like Him, because we love Him. Without that love, flowing from a converted heart, it loses its meaning. The Gospel is all about God’s everlasting love in Christ, which (1) began in eternity past, when He chose us, and (2) was manifested in history through Christ, and (3) came to us personally, when He called us to Himself through the Gospel and saved us, and (4) is continually sanctifying us by His Spirit within us, and (5) will ultimately be consummated in us, when we are glorified. To fully comprehend God’s love for us, we must go back to eternity past. God, in His Omniscience, before the creation of the world, knew all possible worlds He could create, with free-will beings in His image, to be part of His forever family, who choose to trust and love Him. He knew all possible freewill beings that could exist, and their choices in all possible circumstances. Then He sovereignly chose to set His love on certain ones (from the infinite number who might possibly exist) that He wanted for Himself, and then brought forth this universe where these ones exist and are saved (this is election). If you exist and have received Jesus, you are part of His elect. He has chosen you for Himself, for He loved and chose you from eternity, and created this universe to bring you forth. That's how special you are to Him! (2Thessalonians 2:13-14, Ephesians 1:4). His election means He set His special love upon us (Deuteronomy 7:6-8), as a man chooses a woman, based on his love for her. Since He loves us, He chose us to exist and be saved and belong to Him forever. God’s ELECTION is also called FORE-KNOWLEDGE (1Peter 1:2), which means He chose to KNOW us from BEFORE creation. He chose to create and know Jeremiah before he was conceived (Jeremiah 1:5). Likewise, from eternity He chose to know us, set His love on us, and have a love-relationship with us (Jeremiah 31:3). Romans 8:28-39 is a declaration of God’s everlasting love for us. Romans 8:29-30 describe the 5 manifestations of God’s love from eternity past to eternity future: “(1) Whom God FOREKNEW (chose, set His love upon), (2) He also PREDESTINED to be conformed to the image of His Son (to be glorified).” He planned our salvation, and then carried out that plan by Christ’s life, death and resurrection): “Moreover, whom He PREDESTINED, these (3) He also (effectually) CALLED (to Himself through the Gospel), and whom He CALLED, these (4) He also JUSTIFIED (when we responded to His call and received Jesus, He demonstrated His love for us by forgiving us and declaring us righteous through His Blood, putting us into right relationship with Himself, qualifying us to receive every blessing), and whom He JUSTIFIED, these (5) He also GLORIFIED.” On the basis of our justification, His Holy Spirit came inside us to sanctify us (make us more like Jesus), transforming us from glory to glory, and that process will be completed at His Return, when we will be GLORIFIED. The fact these verses talk about God’s relentless LOVE for us, in the past, present and future (the heart of the Gospel), is confirmed by the next verses (v31-39). God chose you and will glorify you. He has wonderful plans for you for all eternity. This is the Gospel of His love!
Psalm 83 is a Prophetic Prayer describing by name a confederacy of nations, which surround her, who all want to destroy Israel in the end-times. Derek and Tim explain how this Prophecy has been fulfilled in detail in the wars that Israel has faced since her rebirth in 1948, including the present Israel war with Hamas. The Psalm is an inspired prayer that God would give Israel military victory, as in her ancient victories by Gideon and Deborah, with the help of God. God has answered this prayer again and again by giving Israel victory against her enemies, even when it was against all odds. This prayer also gives a blueprint for how we should pray in the present situation. The stated purpose of this victory is to glorify the Name of the true God, the God of the Bible, the God of Israel, so that Israel's enemies, who worship and trust in a false god, may repent and trust in the true God instead, and so be saved.
Psalm 83 is a Prophetic Prayer describing by name a confederacy of nations, which surround her, who all want to destroy Israel in the end-times. Derek and Tim explain how this Prophecy has been fulfilled in detail in the wars that Israel has faced since her rebirth in 1948, including the present Israel war with Hamas. The Psalm is an inspired prayer that God would give Israel military victory, as in her ancient victories by Gideon and Deborah, with the help of God. God has answered this prayer again and again by giving Israel victory against her enemies, even when it was against all odds. This prayer also gives a blueprint for how we should pray in the present situation. The stated purpose of this victory is to glorify the Name of the true God, the God of the Bible, the God of Israel, so that Israel's enemies, who worship and trust in a false god, may repent and trust in the true God instead, and so be saved.
The essence of discipleship is a love relationship with the Lord Jesus (Matt 22:37-38, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27). A true disciple loves the Lord and seeks to express that in his life by pleasing and glorifying Him. This is not a legalism, but the obedience of love. The keeping of commandments is an expression of love (John 14:15). Without the motivation of love our Christian life just becomes outward performance, and loses its meaning and excitement, but when we live in an overflow of love, it is all joy. The motivation of a true disciple is loving the Lord, so the heart must first be converted to Christ through the Gospel. The purpose and effect of the Gospel is to win our hearts to Christ, bringing us into a love relationship with Him, in which we receive His love, causing us to give our love (heart) to Him (Rev 2:2-5). Mary demonstrated this love, manifested in worship, when she anointed Jesus (Mark 14:3-6, John 12:3-5). He connected her act of extravagant love with the preaching of the Gospel (Mark 14:9), as it demonstrated its purpose - the total conversion of our heart, so that we give Him our heart, love, devotion, worship, surrender, and life. God’s love for us is extravagant, excessive and uninhibited, so our only appropriate response is to return that same kind of love to Him, giving Him our whole heart. That is the response the Divine Lover desires from His Bride. His love for us is prodigal (over the top, excessive, plenty too much) - Luke 15:20. The joy to which Jesus looked forward, that sustained Him through the Cross, was to have our heart, so we would be united with Him forever (Hebrews 12:2). True discipleship (obedience to Christ and His Word) follows on and flows out from a converted heart of love for the Lord, the fruit of the Gospel. Its essence is loving the Lord. It is the outworking of our love relationship with Christ, in the details of our life. Once we love Him, we want to please Him, to be like Him and do what He says. A disciple is a dedicated follower of Christ and learner of His Word, which teaches us how to live a life that glorifies Him. All true believers are His disciples, which is why Christians were originally called Disciples. It is not an optional extra. You can’t receive Christ without your life changing and starting on the life of discipleship. If you are not a disciple, your heart is unconverted, and you are unsaved. Without true conversion, there can be no true life of discipleship. The 2 STAGES of (1) the personal conversion of our heart to Christ, through the Gospel, followed by (2) a lifestyle of discipleship correspond to the 2 PARTS of the Great Commission: (1) preaching the Gospel (the Good News of His love) unto salvation (Mark 16:15-16), and (2) making disciples by teaching His Word (Matthew 28:19-20). (1) The Gospel is designed to convert hearts to the Person of Jesus, not to a religion. Conversion is sealed by water baptism, the first ordained response of a convert, by which he publicly declares his faith, love and commitment to Christ. (2) This initial act of obedience also officially marks him out as one who has entered into a new life as a disciple, who follows Christ, learning and obeying His Word. The 2 parts of the Great Commission are connected by baptism. Part 1 results in baptism, and baptism is the initial official act of part 2. The heart of the Gospel is the declaration, revealing God’s amazing unconditional LOVE for us (John 3:16), designed to convert our heart to loving God: “We LOVE Him, because He first LOVED us” (1John 4:19, Rom 5:8). The more we realise how much He has forgiven us, the more we will love Him (Luke 7:47). Trusting in His saving love, results in us giving (surrendering) our hearts to Him, receiving Him as our Lord and committing our lives to Him. We are His beloved Bride (2Cor 11:2-3). This devotion is created by Christ declaring His wonderful saving love for us in the Gospel. When we believe in His love for us, it produces love in our hearts for Him, so that we want to be with Him, be like Him, serve Him, glorify Him, and be united with Him forever. FAITH in Christ begets LOVE for Him, both of which together produce HOPE, the vision of a glorious future with Him (1Cor 13:13, 1Thess 1:9-10). This love of God in Christ for us began in eternity past, when God chose (foreknew, set His love on us, Jer 31:3, John 15:16). He loved us from eternity and will love us forever. In His love, He predestined us to glory, and then effectually called us to Himself by the Gospel, so that when we received Christ, He justified us (forgave us, put us into right-standing with Himself, and declared us righteous, based on the imputed righteousness of Christ). Justification then put us on the path of sanctification, where His Spirit changes us to become more like Jesus, through His imparted righteousness and life, as we trust in Him and obey Him, which will result in our glorification, when we are fully united with God (Romans 8:29-30).
God has a mission for us to fulfil. He sends us to preach the Gospel and make disciples (Mark 16:15-20, Matt 28:18-20). His Purpose is to save as many as possible and we must play our part. We need His POWER to be effective in His work of being His witness (Acts 1:8). That’s what the BAPTISM in the SPIRIT is about. If you are saved, you have the Spirit WITHIN, but you also need to receive the anointing of His Spirit UPON, like Jesus (Acts 10:38). There are 2 impartations of the Spirit, WITHIN and UPON. In both cases, God only gives us the Spirit when we surrender to Him. First, by faith we surrender to His saving Love and Lordship, and are saved. There is also a 2nd specific surrender to God that needs to happen, when we say: “Lord, I am willing to do whatever you want me to do, but I need your power. So, I dedicate myself to you to be empowered to fulfil my ministry.” When you do that, you are in position to receive the fullness of the Spirit UPON you to accomplish the mission He has for you. Acts 1:8: “You shall receive POWER (dunamis, potential energy) when the HOLY SPIRIT has come UPON you; and you will be My WITNESSES.” So, we have His potential Power upon us, if baptised in the Spirit, but we must ignite it by speaking His words. Once we have His POWER UPON, we must RELEASE it by PRAYING in the Spirit and SPEAKING His words. In Acts 2:3-4 the Spirit filled them (v4) and came upon them (v3), manifesting as fire (v3), as they prayed in tongues (v4). When we speak under the inspiration of the Spirit, we SHINE His LIGHT (2Cor 4:3-6, Matt 5:14,16). As we preach the Gospel, testify, and pray in the Spirit, that fire is ignited. By yielding to the Spirit and speaking His words, they activated His Power upon them, and their light shined forth. The outward evidence of receiving the Spirit UPON is SPEAKING in TONGUES (Acts 2:4, 10:44-48). This is the BAPTISM in the SPIRIT (Acts 1:5, 11:15-17). A spiritual law is you can’t make an UNCLEAN thing HOLY. It must first be CLEANSED by BLOOD, and only then can it be made HOLY, by DEDICATING it to God, for the HOLY SPIRIT to possess it. The Presence of the Holy Spirit in us makes us holy. You can only be BAPTISED in the SPIRIT, if you have first been BORN AGAIN, for you must first be CLEANSED by the BLOOD, before you can be made HOLY by the SPIRIT within and upon. When you receive Christ (1) you are cleansed by His Blood, and born again, and only then does (2) the Spirit come WITHIN you. You must first (1) be BORN AGAIN by the application of OIL of the Spirit, before (2) your spirit can receive the NEW WINE of the Spirit within and upon you (Matthew 9:17). When God poured His Spirit UPON the Gentiles in Acts 10, Peter knew God had fully accepted them, like the Jews, on the basis of their faith in Christ. Acts 15:8-9: “God, (1) who knows the heart (that they were saved), (2) acknowledged them (outwardly, before the Jews), by giving them the Holy Spirit (upon), just as He did to us (the Jews, at Pentecost), and (in this way, proved to us that) He made no distinction between us (Jews) and them (Gentiles) - that (1) He had PURIFIED (cleansed) their hearts by faith.” When you dedicate to God to do His will, He sets you apart to His work, by anointing you with His Spirit UPON. First (1) you are SET APART to God (made HOLY), to belong to Him, by the Spirit WITHIN. Then (2) you are SET APART to do His work by the Spirit UPON (the BAPTISM in the SPIRIT). God had to do 2 things in Isaiah to prepare him to be a prophet: (1) CLEANSE him by BLOOD. Then (2) ANOINT him with the SPIRIT, so his heart and lips were on FIRE with His Spirit. When he saw God’s glory, he repented of his unclean heart and lips, and dedicated himself to God (Isaiah 6:5). Then a BURNING COAL from the Altar of Sacrifice was applied to the incense altar of his heart and lips. These COALS, burning from the FIRE of the Sacrifice, had the BLOOD on them, which had paid for his cleansing. They represent the SPIRIT, who communicates the value of the Sacrifice to us, (1) CLEANSING us by the BLOOD, and (2) IMPARTING His holy FIRE, causing the incense of prayer and worship to ascend to God from our burning heart (v6-7). They also represent the ANOINTINGS of God, purchased on the Cross, where Christ shed His Blood for us. So, a burning anointing of God came on Isaiah. His heart was on fire with God’s fire, and his lips were on fire, declaring God’s truth. This fire of God on him was his anointing to be a prophet. The burning anointing of the coal set his tongue on fire, giving him power to prophesy. Having received this power, he was sent to go forth and speak for God (v8). This is how we receive the Baptism in the Spirit. If born again, you qualify, but you need to dedicate yourself to God and ask Him to FILL you with His SPIRIT, and yield your tongue to His Spirit to speak His words (Acts 2:4). The POWER of the SPIRIT (1) filled their HEART from the inside, and (2) came on their LIPS, to speak His words.
One of the great judgements of the Bible is the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah along with the whole area of the Dead Sea. This book, filled with photographs from the region, demonstrates that the remains of these Cities are still there to be seen, perfectly confirming the Bible account of this dramatic Divine Intervention. Moreover, this book aims to expound the vital spiritual lessons God gave to the whole human race through this unique judgement. In particular, it provides a major revelation of the Final Judgement.This book is available on Amazon and from www.oxfordbiblechurch.co.uk (online shop).
In Acts, we see a consistent pattern when people came to faith in Christ: (1) They were born again and received the Spirit WITHIN. (2) Then later, they received the Spirit UPON, empowering them to fulfil the Great Commission. This separate experience is the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Acts gives the PATTERN for the Church for the whole Church Age, including the 2-stage ministry of the Spirit. We see this 2-stage experience in the life of JESUS, and the APOSTLES: (1) the Spirit WITHIN (John 20:22) and (2) the BAPTISM in the SPIRIT (Acts 1:4,5,8, 2:1-4). The disciples needed special preparation before receiving this, because it requires a specific surrender to God. We must embrace His Mission (the Great Commission), and dedicate to do His will, asking His Spirit to come UPON us, to empower us to fulfil it. For our personal life with God, we need the Spirit within. But for our ministry (like Jesus), we need the anointing of the Spirit upon us, to be fully effective. The SAMARITANS had a 2-stage reception of the Spirit (Acts 8). They received the Gospel and were baptised (v5-6,12,14). At this point (1) they were SAVED with the Spirit WITHIN (Mark 16:16), but (2) they had not yet received the Spirit UPON (v14-16). So, Peter and John prayed for them to receive the Spirit, for He had not yet fallen UPON them. Then they received the Spirit (v14-17). The apostles knew the Spirit had fallen upon them, for there was outward evidence. Also, Simon SAW the SPIRIT was GIVEN through the laying on hands by the apostles (v18). This was speaking in tongues as in Acts 2:4 & 10:44-46. When Simon offered Peter money for this gift (v19), he replied: “You have neither part nor portion in this MATTER (‘logos’ = word or utterance)” (v21). PAUL was saved when Jesus appeared to him (Acts 9:5-6,15-17). Then 3 days later (9:9) Ananias came to him and laid his hands on him, to be FILLED with the SPIRIT (v17), as in Acts 2:4, which he confirmed later in 1Cor 14:18: “I thank my God SPEAKING in TONGUES more than you all.” Paul confirmed these 2 stages when he asked the EPHESIANS: “Did you RECEIVE the HOLY SPIRIT when you BELIEVED” (Acts 19:1-2). When it was clear they were not saved (v3), he preached the Gospel and baptised them (v4-5), so now they were saved, but had not yet received the Baptism in the Spirit, for it was only when he laid hands on them, that the Spirit came UPON them and they SPOKE with TONGUES” (v6).The Gentile Pentecost proves speaking in tongues is the initial evidence of receiving the Spirit UPON, just as it was at Pentecost (Acts 10:44-47, 2:4). The Baptism in the Spirit includes speaking in tongues, so you have not received the full experience until you have yielded your tongue to the Spirit - only then have you allowed Him to fully come upon you. Acts 11:15: “As I began to speak, the Holy SPIRIT fell UPON them, as UPON us at the Beginning (Pentecost).” This is called being BAPTISED in the HOLY SPIRIT (Acts 1:5, 11:16). Peter interpreted this event in Acts 15:7-9. “So, God (1) who knows the heart (that they were saved), (2) acknowledged them (outwardly, before the Jews), by giving them the Holy Spirit (upon as well as within), just as He did to us (Jews at Pentecost), and (demonstrated to us that) He made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts (salvation) by faith” (v8-9). Although in Acts 10 the Gentiles received the Spirit UPON at about the same time they were saved, Peter pointed out it was still a 2-stage experience, for (1) they first received the inner experience of being purified by faith, and then soon after (2) He gave them the Spirit upon, as an outward sign, proving that He had accepted them. There are 3 spiritual STATES: (1) UNCLEAN (negative) because of sin. (2) CLEAN (a neutral state - zero), also COMMON. *(3) HOLY (positive). Only BLOOD can cleanse the unclean. A CLEAN thing can only be made HOLY by the HOLY SPIRIT, symbolised by OIL. Thus, anointing with oil makes something holy. Only God’s Spirit in us makes us holy. The more we surrender to God, the more His Spirit possesses us, and the holier we become. You can’t make something HOLY unless it’s first been CLEANSED. (1) It has to be CLEANSED by BLOOD, and then (2) it can be anointed with the OIL of the SPIRIT, and so be made HOLY. (1) BLOOD was applied, cleansing the unclean thing and then (2) OIL sanctifies the common thing. (Ex 29:21, Lev 8:30, 14:17,28, Ezek 16:9). In Acts 15, Peter was saying the fact these Gentiles were anointed with the HOLY SPIRIT upon, was an OUTWARD PROOF that God had CLEANSED their HEARTS, when they put their faith in the BLOOD of Christ. (If they had only received the Spirit WITHIN, there would have been no outward evidence to the Jews that God had saved them). When we believe (1) we are cleansed by the Blood of Christ, and (2) set apart to God, by the Spirit within us, who is manifested outwardly, when He comes upon us. The fact they had the Spirit upon proved they were accepted by God.
God's WORDS are mighty WEAPONS with Divine Power to pull down enemy strongholds, including fear. Derek illustrates this through the Pirate Warfare of 2Corinthians 10:4-6, and the destruction of Joshua's Jericho through the WORD of FAITH, which was necessary for Israel to enter her Promised Land (likewise to enter our Promised Land we must pull down the strongholds that stand in the way). Jesus said, we can remove the mountains of enemy opposition to the will of God by declaring His WORD, and believing that what we say will come to pass, by the the power of God's Spirit released through our words (Mark 11:23, Zechariah 4:6-9).
This book is available from www.oxfordbiblechurch.co.uk, and it is also available on Amazon under the title: 'Keys to Long Life'. See also Derek's Youtube Series called 'Keys to Long Life.'Do you want to live a long and satisfying life? Did you know that God wants you to live long and strong? What does the Bible actually mean by a long life? God wants you to live a full and long life, with quality and quantity of days. Few people are aware that there are promises from God on the subject of living a long life. Although there is much teaching on divine healing, there is very little on living in divine health and youth renewal. In 'Live Long and Strong', Derek addresses this lack, providing an in-depth study of what the Bible has to say on living a long life. God's promise in Psalm 91:16 is: "With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation." Jesus said: "I have come that they may have life in abundance" (John 10:10). However, God also says: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6). If you do not hear God s Word on a subject, you will not have faith to receive His promised provision in that area. 'Live Long and Strong' introduces you to the wealth of Scripture on long life and fully persuade you of God's will for your life in this area. This book will renew your mind and build your faith, so that you can receive God's promises for a long life, resulting in receiving His health, strength, and youth renewal. It will also impart the wisdom you need to see these promises come to pass. It will inspire you to receive God's grace for youth renewal, so that you live long and strong! It will lengthen your life! Your life will be lengthened and strengthened for God's glory!
One of the great miracles of the Bible is how the walls of Jericho came tumbling down, when all of Israel shouted together in faith. This book, filled with photographs from Jericho, demonstrates how the archaeology of Jericho perfectly confirms the Bible account. Moreover, it shows how God's destruction of Jericho is a type of God's future judgement of this world-system, as well as revealing the keys we need to successfully posses our Promised Land today. This book is available from Amazon and from www.oxfordbiblechurch.co.uk
Psalm 83 is a Prophetic Prayer describing by name a confederacy of nations, which surround her, who all want to destroy Israel in the end-times. Derek and Tim explain how this Prophecy has been fulfilled in detail in the wars that Israel has faced since her rebirth in 1948, including the present Israel war with Hamas. The Psalm is an inspired prayer that God would give Israel military victory, as in her ancient victories by Gideon and Deborah, with the help of God. God has answered this prayer again and again by giving Israel victory against her enemies, even when it was against all odds. This prayer also gives a blueprint for how we should pray in the present situation. The stated purpose of this victory is to glorify the Name of the true God, the God of the Bible, the God of Israel, so that Israel's enemies, who worship and trust in a false god, may repent and trust in the true God instead, and so be saved.
Do you want to grow up spiritually and become strong in spirit, in faith and love, or just stay a spiritual babe? God wants us to be spiritual giants not wimps, and He has provided all we need for our growth in God. This book will reveal God’s will and ways to gain a dynamic spiritual life and to promote a consistent growth in grace. Discover the keys that will activate and perpetuate your growth. The Chapters are: The Stages of Growth, The Milk - Rebound Techniques, The Love Walk, Our Spiritual Food, Our Baptism into Christ, The Tongue, Moving into Ministry, Growing in Grace, through the Means of Grace. This book is available from Amazon and from www.oxfordbiblechurch.co.uk
This book is available from www.oxfordbiblechurch.co.uk It is also available from Amazon under the title: 'How to Receive your Healing'You CAN RECEIVE your HEALING! “Therefore I say unto you, whatsoever things (including healing) you desire, when you pray, BELIEVE that you RECEIVE them (healing), and you will have them (healing)” (Mark 11:24). Did Jesus mean what He said here? Can we really come to God and receive our healing? By reading this book you will discover how to do this. This Book is designed to teach you how to BELIEVE you RECEIVE. It reveals how to get into POSITION, to BELIEVE you RECEIVE your HEALING from God when you pray. It will build your faith and lead you carefully, step by step, until you reach the position of being able to believe you receive your Healing when you pray.Mark 11:24 says that we will have what we ask for, if we believe that we receive it when we pray. Therefore we must attain the position of faith, where we can believe we receive the answer when we pray. There is diligent preparation required to reach this position of faith, which involves gaining some vital knowledge of God from studying His Word. This book is designed to help you in this preparation, by giving you the key truths you need to be in position to obey Mark 11:24, and believe that you receive your Healing when you pray.Step 1: Know God’s Will: He wants to heal us.Step 2: Know God’s Nature: He is a liberal Giver of Healing.Step 3: Know God’s Gift: He gives us Healing-Power when we ask Him for Healing.Step 4: Know God’s Method: How He gives us Healing.
The central events of history are the Death and Resurrection of Christ. This book, filled with diagrams and photographs from Jerusalem, reveals exactly where these momentous events took place. The Bible will come to life as you see in detail how the Drama of Redemption was acted out on Mount Moriah in perfect fulfilment of Prophecy. This book is available from www.oxfordbiblechurch.co.uk and from Amazons. See also Derek's Youtube Videos: 'Mount Moriah and Golgotha' and 'Golgotha and the Garden Tomb'
In this Christmas special, the Bible Study team explore the full meaning of the Christmas Story in Luke 2 and Matthew 2. They discuss these questions and more:What is the significance of the sign of the swaddling clothes? (Luke 2:7,12).What was the special ministry of the Bethlehem Shepherds and why were they chosen to receive the angelic announcement?What is the connection between Christ's Birth in Bethlehem and His Death in Jerusalem, between Christmas and Easter? (1Corinthians 5:7).Who were the Wise Men (Magi), and why were they expecting the birth of the King of the Jews at that time, and why were they looking for His Star?What was the Star of Bethlehem? Was it a comet, a supernova, a conjunction of planets, or a manifestation of the Glory of God?If the Star was the Glory of God, then what was its connection with the other manifestation of God's Glory that took place at the same time?How did the Wise Men know that this Star was Messiah's Star; what was so special about it?How did the Star of Bethlehem fulfil in perfect detail the Prophecy of Balaam in Numbers 24:17?
Mary, sister of Lazarus, gives us a wonderful example of someone who loves Jesus with all her heart. She sat Jesus feet to hear His words (Luke 10:38-42), and she anointed Jesus with costly perfumed oil shortly before His death to express her pure devotion to Him (Matthew 26:6-16, Mark 14:1-10, John 12:1-7). In John’s account, Mary took a pound of ointment of spikenard and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair, and the house was filled with the perfume of the ointment. Matthew and Mark tell us that Mary also poured this very costly ointment on Jesus’ head. The costly ointment represents the great value that she put upon Jesus (it was worth 300 denarii - about 1 year's wages, Mark 14:5). His disciples thought it was a waste pouring all this expensive oil over His head and feet, for they did not value Him as highly as Mary did. She had seen Jesus raise her beloved brother Lazarus from the dead (John 11:44), and her heart was overflowing with gratitude, love and worship. The outpouring of the oil upon Jesus was symbolic of the outpouring of her spirit to Him. The disciples were looking at the outside, but Jesus was looking at her heart (1Samuel 16:7). He saw her PURE and devoted LOVE for Him. Mary demonstrated how much she valued Jesus by pouring out all this precious oil upon Him. If we put the Gospel accounts together, she anointed His head and feet, which is why He said: “she has poured this perfume upon My BODY to prepare Me for BURIAL” (Matthew 26:12). What a contrast between the murmuring disciples and Mary’s extravagant outpouring of love and deep gratitude to Jesus! It is good for us to be passionate (generous) towards our Lord Jesus. She poured the whole of the contents of the vial (not just a drop) over Jesus (Mark 14:3). Despite all the criticism and opposition, she would not allow them to stop her pouring out her heart in this wonderful, extravagant action. She refused to be intimidated by them, but was determined to pour out her whole soul before the Lord and to give Him all of her love. In His death, Jesus was about to POUR OUT His life and His blood for their sakes, and they were criticising her about the waste of this perfume POURED OUT on Him! He explained the significance of what she had done: “She has poured this ointment on My body for my BURIAL” (Matthew 26:12). It was appropriate that He received this selfless act of worship in view of the fact He was about to give up His body for death and burial, for our sake. Someone with a deep love and devotion to the Lord (like Mary) will know and perceive spiritual things that others who have less love for Him would miss. God showed her that it was needful for her to perform this act, for when He died the women wanted to anoint His body, but they could not because the Sabbath was about to start, and they had to wait until it was over. Then when they came to the tomb, Jesus had already risen from the dead, so it was important Mary anointed Him for burial in advance. We see from Jesus’ response to Mary’s act that He highly esteems and values PURE LOVE that is poured out upon Him. Her heart was so full of love and gratitude to Jesus that nothing was too much of a SACRIFICE. She wanted to show Jesus her deep, heartfelt, passionate LOVE by a GIFT and a DEED, and not just by WORDS.
Hilary shares her testimony of how God dramatically healed her and transformed her life.
There is a 2-fold experience of the Holy Spirit: (1) WITHIN and (2) UPON. (1) The Spirit WITHIN is for ourselves, our own life of holiness with God, whereas (2) the Spirit UPON is to empower us for ministry. Jesus (our example) was (1) born with the Spirit WITHIN but was not anointed with power until (2) He received the Spirit UPON Him at His Baptism, when He entered into His supernatural ministry. We see the same 2-fold pattern with the first Christians. (1) On the evening of His resurrection. Jesus breathed on them, saying “receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22), so this is when they were born again and received the Spirit WITHIN. But, they had not yet received the full experience of the Spirit, because He then started to prepare them to receive the Spirit UPON (Luke 24:47-49, Acts 1:4-5,8), which happened 50 days later on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). This 2-fold anointing of the Spirit comes from the very nature of our love relationship with the Lord (1John 4:7-8,19, Romans 5:5, Matthew 22:37-38, Deuteronomy 6:5, 1John 2:15-16). Flowing out of our love relationship with God should be a commitment to glorify His Name and help Him fulfil His mission in the earth; to be alongside Him in His work, and partner with Him as a co-labourer. Until the foundation of our love relationship with Christ is laid in our lives, our work for Him is an idol. We can substitute our ministry for loving Him, and end up serving Him in the flesh, rather than in the Spirit. When our love for the Lord is established as the first thing in our life, He can bring us into our ministry, without it becoming more important than Him. We must always keep Him as our first love, and not allow anything to become a substitute for our love-relationship with Him. Then, when we are ready, He will reveal His mission to us and cause us to dedicate ourselves to Him to do our part in fulfilling His mission on the earth, as part of our expression of our love for Him. God loves us and wants us to fulfil our full potential, and release all the gifts He has given us. So, when we dedicate ourselves to Him to fulfil His work, He anoints us with His Spirit UPON. His Hand comes UPON us to empower us to do the Great Commission and He releases spiritual gifts to flow through us. This way, we serve God in the newness and power of the Spirit, rather than from our soul (Romans 1:9, 7:6, Acts 1:8). The Samaritans also received the Blessing of the Spirit in 2 Stages. When Philip preached Christ to them, they received the Gospel and were saved and baptised (Acts 8:5-8,14,16, Mark 16:16), so they received the indwelling Spirit (Romans 8:9). They had the Spirit WITHIN, but not the Spirit UPON (Acts 8:14-16). This proves there is a 2-stage experience of receiving the Spirit WITHIN and UPON. Thus, the Baptism in the Spirit is a separate experience that follows after Salvation. When the apostles laid hands on them, they received the Spirit upon (v17). This came with outward evidence, because Simon (the magician) saw they had received the Spirit and offered money for the power to baptise people in the Spirit (v18-19), but Peter rejected his request (v20-21), saying: “you have neither part nor portion in this MATTER (‘logos’ = ‘word’ or ‘utterance’).” This confirms the outward evidence displayed by the Samaritan believers was praying in tongues. In Acts 9, the Apostle Paul also experienced a 2-stage reception of the Spirit: (1) He was SAVED when He met Jesus, and called Him Lord (v3-6a), and Ananias called him ‘brother’ (v17). For the next 3 days he was blind, while waiting for the Lord’s instructions (v6b-9). God told Ananias to go to him (v10-16), who laid his hands him to receive his sight and be FILLED with the HOLY SPIRIT (v17,18). So, (1) was saved on the road to Damascus, but (2) only filled with the Spirit 3 days later. So, Paul also had a 2-stage experience, and when he was filled with the Spirit, he spoke with tongues (1Corinthians 14:18, Acts 2:4). In Acts 19:1-6, the Ephesians also had a 2-stage experience. First, Paul asked them: “Did you RECEIVE the HOLY SPIRIT when you BELIEVED?” (v2). This question in itself proves Paul believed in the 2nd Blessing. Their answer revealed they had not even heard of the Holy Spirit, so they could not have received Christian Baptism (Matthew 28:19), which brought into question if they were even saved. In fact, they had only received John’s baptism (v3). Then Paul preached Christ to them (v4), and they believed and were saved and baptised (v5), but even then, they had still not yet received the Spirit UPON, for that only happened afterwards, when he laid hands on them. Then “the HOLY SPIRIT came UPON them, and they SPOKE with TONGUES and prophesied” (v6). The Spirit comes upon us to empower us to prophesy, to testify to Jesus, and share the Gospel under the inspiration of the Spirit (Revelation 19:10), so God's power goes forth from us as we speak.
After the 1st disciples received the Spirit WITHIN (John 20:22), Jesus prepared them to receive the Spirit UPON 50 days later (Acts 2). He gave them the Great Commission, and promised to give them power to fulfil it by the Spirit UPON (Lk 24:47-49, Acts 1:4-5,8), which was fulfilled at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), when they received the Baptism in the Spirit (Acts 11:15-16). Acts 2:3-4 is the classic blueprint for this Baptism. It gives a 2-fold description: (1) The Spirit coming UPON them as FIRE, and (2) being filled inwardly with the Spirit as they surrendered their souls to Him. Then as they yielded their bodies to Him by speaking in tongues as the Spirit gave them the words, He came upon their flesh. By the power of the Spirit UPON us, when we share the Gospel, His Spirit shines forth from us, empowering our words, revealing Christ to men’s hearts. We activate His power UPON us by speaking His words, which release (ignite) God’s Spirit, causing Him to shine forth as light (fire). In this way, we release His power by our words. They all used oil lamps, that SHINE by the power in the OIL (a symbol of the SPIRIT). Likewise, the SPIRIT is the only source of true LIGHT. The FIRE upon them meant they were like burning oil lamps with the Spirit within and upon them, shining His light, the oil having been ignited at their mouths. To ANOINT means to apply OIL, so to be ANOINTED means having the OIL of the SPIRIT upon us (Lk 4:18). So, to SHINE we must be anointed with the oil of the Spirit, and then IGNITE that OIL by our WORDS. The power is not in our flesh, but the Spirit (2Cor 4:7). We have the power of ignition, causing Him to shine by speaking His words (Acts 2:3-4). After receiving Christ, we must embrace His mission to shine His light, and surrender our soul to Him, so His Spirit can fill us, come upon us, and empower us to fulfil our ministry. Our surrender is only completed by our obedience to yield our tongue to speak the words He supplies from within (v4). Peter declared Acts 2:4 fulfilled Joel 2:28-32, which prophesied the outpouring of the Spirit UPON all (believing) flesh (Acts 2:12-18), in conjunction with signs: “I will (1) show WONDERS in HEAVEN above, and (2) SIGNS in the EARTH beneath: blood, fire and vapour of smoke. (1) The SUN shall be turned to DARKNESS, and the MOON to BLOOD, BEFORE the Coming of the Great and Awesome Day of the Lord (the central event)” (Acts 2:19-20). Joel 2:28: “It shall come to pass AFTERWARD (after the central event, v31), that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh.” Finally, he quoted the last line of Joel’s Prophecy in Acts 2:21: “whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved.” Joel’s Prophecy predicted a sequence of events: (1) SIGNS in HEAVEN and EARTH, just BEFORE (2) the Great and Awesome Day of the Lord, AFTER which (3) the Spirit will poured out UPON all flesh. The purpose of the outpouring of the Spirit UPON all believers is to empower them to prophesy (speak under the inspiration of the Spirit), which we do when we witness to Jesus, for as we speak, we trust the Spirit upon us to anoint our words, speak through us and glorify Him (Rev 19:10). The aim of our Spirit-filled witness is that people will call on His Name and be saved (Acts 2:21). Peter claimed what happened was the fulfilment of the whole of Joel’s Prophecy (Acts 2:16), which he quoted in full (2:28-32), not just the bit about the outpouring of His Spirit. He declared the 3-fold sequence of events prophesied by Joel was now fulfilled: (1) The SIGNS on EARTH and in HEAVEN happened on the Day of the Cross, 2 days BEFORE (2) Christ’s RESURRECTION (the Great and Awesome or Manifest Day of the Lord), the main focus of Peter’s sermon. Then 50 days AFTERWARD (3) the Spirit was POURED OUT on all flesh. Thus, the promised Spirit was now made freely available to all, so if we put our faith in Christ, we too can receive the Gift of His Spirit (Acts 2:32-33, 38-39). Both SIGNS in the HEAVENS were fulfilled on the Day of the Cross: (1) the DARK SUN at noon, proclaiming Jesus as our sin offering (Luke 23:44-45), for the radiant SUN of righteousness (Mal 4:2), bore the darkness of sin on Himself, pictured by the midday sun made black, as predicted in Amos 8:9. Ancient historians recorded this strange supernatural darkness, dating it to AD 33. (2) The BLOOD MOON (Acts 2:20) = a lunar eclipse. On Passover of AD 33 (Friday, April 1st), in Jerusalem as the full moon rose above the horizon, it was a Blood Moon. So, Joel 2:30-31 was fulfilled on the Day of the Cross. Whereas the SUN = CHRIST, the SOURCE of LIGHT, the MOON = His PEOPLE, who, like the moon, shine by reflecting the SUN’s light. God proclaimed in the heavens that His People were now covered by the BLOOD! Acts 2:20 also speaks of SIGNS on EARTH: (1) ‘BLOOD’ = the BLOOD of CHRIST, corresponding to the BLOOD MOON. (2) ‘FIRE and VAPOUR of SMOKE’, because of the great earthquake and resulting FIRES from all the oil lamps in the dark.
Peter shares his dramatic testimony of how he dabbled in the occult through automatic handwriting and almost lost his mind, before called on the Name of the Lord Jesus, who gloriously saved him.
Pastor Derek shares how Christ accomplished a perfect finished work on the Cross, which established the basis for our full salvation through His Blood. This perfection is studied through its 3 aspects: (1) REDEMPTION (the sin-ward aspect), (2) PROPITIATION (the God-ward aspect), and (3) RECONCILIATION (the man-ward aspect). Christ (1) redeemed us from sin, the curse and the power of the enemy, and (2) made propitiation before God, fully satisfying the justice and wrath of God on our behalf, and (3) in Himself made a reconciliation between us and God, by means of the Great Exchange, whereby He took our sin and in return gave us His perfect human righteousness. When we receive Christ as Lord and Saviour by faith, then this perfect work on the Cross is automatically and immediately applied to us, so that we are justified and regenerated.
Should Christians participate in Halloween? Is it just some harmless fun or is it sinister in nature? Peter shares about the origin, history and nature of Halloween.
The Purpose of the Baptism in the Spirit is to receive power to communicate God’s blessing (life) to others (Acts 10:38). Once we receive His Spirit upon, we carry His power, and release it by speaking His words. We must have (1) His WORD in our heart and (2) His Spirit UPON us, to empower our words. By His death, Jesus purchased the Blessing of the Spirit, and then He ascended to Heaven on the resurrection morning (John 20:17) to appear before the Father to receive the Spirit on our behalf. Later that day He started giving the Spirit to His disciples - first, the Spirit WITHIN in John 20:21-22: “As the Father has SENT Me, I also SEND you.” When He had said this, He BREATHED on them, and said to them: “receive the Holy Spirit.” This is the Great Commission in JOHN. The 1st Blessing brings us into God’s Kingdom, which must come before being empowered to be His ambassador (2nd Blessing). Thus, His teaching up to that point focused on preparing them to receive the Spirit within. But once they received this 1st Blessing, He prepared them to receive the 2nd Blessing 50 days later, the BAPTISM in the SPIRIT, when they received POWER for ministry. So, the evening they received the Spirit within (John 20:22), He then talked about their MISSION, and the POWER He would give them to fulfil it (Luke 24:46-49) - the Great Commission in LUKE. Though they received the Spirit within, they had yet to receive the Spirit UPON, to empower them to witness. In the 40 days, He gave them their mission in greater detail. This is in all 4 Gospels and Acts. Mark 16:14-20 tells us what He said a week later (John 20:26-29) - the Great Commission in MARK, which says God works with us, as we SPEAK His WORD. Matthew 28:18-20 records what He told them later in Galilee - the Great Commission in MATTHEW. "I will be WITH you always" (v20) refers to His anointing with power as we go (Acts 10:38). Then at the end of the 40 days, He again gave them instructions for their mission in Acts 1:4-8 - the Great Commission in ACTS. He said the Spirit would come upon them giving them POWER to WITNESS (the Baptism in the Spirit). This was fulfilled a few days later (Acts 2:1-4). As we WITNESS, we release His POWER. So, the apostles RECEIVED (1) the Spirit WITHIN on the evening of the Resurrection (John 20:22), and then (2) the Spirit UPON 50 days later at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).One picture of sharing the Gospel is SHINING the LIGHT of CHRIST. The whole world is in darkness (1John 5:19), and so its greatest need is for us to SHINE the LIGHT of the GOSPEL (John 8:12,12:46). Jesus calls us to SHINE our LIGHT (Matthew 5:14-15). This is a command to PREACH the GOSPEL. We SHINE the LIGHT by our WORDS. This is different from doing good WORKS. Our WITNESS is VERBAL, but our WORKS are also important, for they back up our witness, giving it credibility. In a trial, a witness necessarily gives verbal testimony. Matthew 5:16: "Let (1) your LIGHT (witness to Christ) so SHINE before men, so that (2) they may see your GOOD WORKS, and glorify your Father in Heaven.” We are to glorify God both through our (1) LIPS and (2) LIFE (works). So, God commands us to witness with our lips (shine His light), and live in a way that our lifestyle fits our words, so people will believe us. Good works SUPPLEMENT, but do NOT SUBSTITUTE for our verbal witness. ‘Let your light SHINE’ means OPEN your MOUTH! This describes what happens in the spiritual realm when we witness, for the power of the Spirit radiates out of us as we speak His Word. We WITNESS by our WORDS (Phil 2:15-16), backed up by our WORKS. Isaiah 59:20 - 60:3: “My SPIRIT UPON you, and My WORDS, which I have put in your MOUTH, shall not depart from your MOUTH... Arise, SHINE; for your LIGHT has come and the GLORY of the LORD is risen UPON you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will arise over you and His GLORY will be seen upon you. Gentiles shall come to your LIGHT...” This says we SHINE in the darkness by SPEAKING God’s WORDS in the POWER of the SPIRIT. 2Corinthians 4:4-7: “…the LIGHT of the GOSPEL of the GLORY of CHRIST, the image of God, should SHINE on them. For we do not PREACH ourselves, but CHRIST Jesus the Lord. For the same God who COMMANDED LIGHT to shine out of darkness (He released LIGHT by speaking His WORD), who has SHONE in our HEARTS (through the spoken WORD of the GOSPEL) to give the LIGHT of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. We have this TREASURE (the power of the Spirit to shine the Light of Christ through the Gospel) in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the POWER may be of God and not us.” We have the power of the Spirit upon us, and when we SPEAK the WORDS of the GOSPEL, we ACTIVATE this POWER (Acts 1:8), so goes forth with our WORDS to penetrate and illuminate their hearts (Romans 1:16). When we share the GOSPEL, His LIGHT SHINES out of us by the power of His SPIRIT, for as we SPEAK, His POWER is released with our WORDS.
Should Christians participate in Halloween? Is it just some harmless fun or is it sinister in nature? Peter shares about the origin, history and nature of Halloween.
In Matthew 24:37-39 Jesus confirmed that Noah's worldwide Flood actually happened and that it is a type of the future worldwide judgment of the Tribulation, which will be initiated by the Coming of Christ. Life before the Tribulation will be like the days before the Flood, with much of humanity living godless lives, when they will suddenly be taken by surprise by the sudden onset of the judgments of the Day of the Lord, just as in the days of Noah, when the people were taken by surprise by the sudden release of the judgment of the Great Flood. Just before Noah's Flood fell, God provided a rescue for all the believers in the Ark, lifting them above the scene of judgment (the whole earth). Likewise, just before the worldwide judgments of the Tribulation are released, God will rescue all the believers by the Coming of Christ, our Ark of Salvation, who will receive us to Himself in the Rapture, lifting us up into His Presence, well above the scene of judgment (the whole earth).
In light of the present war between Israel and Hamas Derek explains the importance of Israel, God's purposes for Israel, and what might develop from this present situation (the Ezekiel 38 war).
God prepares us for our ministry and releases our spiritual gifts through a process of TRANSFORMATION (2 Corinthians 3:16-18, Romans 12:1-8). Pastor Derek explains how this process works. As we dedicate ourselves to God to serve Him, His Spirit will anoint us to serve Him according to His good pleasure, so that the will of God is accomplished in our life.
God's BLESSING is the impartation of His SPIRIT, giving life; God’s life working within and upon us. We were made to live by His blessing, empowering us to live, thrive and be fruitful. The opposite is curse (absence of life, death). Righteousness brings blessing, but sin brings curse. In Adam, all were under sin's curse, but Christ gave us His righteousness, so we can receive His blessing. When we received Christ, His blessing came into us, recreated our spirit and His Spirit now lives in us. There is also a 2nd Blessing (the Baptism in the Spirit), the Spirit upon, empowering us to multiply ourselves and be fruitful. In Scripture, His Blessing is always 2-fold: (1) for our own life, and (2) to empower us to reproduce ourselves in others. There is a vital connection between Blessing and Seed. Blessing works through seed to produce multiplication (Genesis 1:11-12). It is spiritual power. The seed is the natural thing it acts on to produce new life. The blessing is released through sowing seed, and seed is ineffective if not empowered by the blessing. God released His blessing on all His creatures by sowing His seed (speaking His Word): “God BLESSED them, SAYING.." (v22). He blessed them (1) to thrive (v20-21), and then (2) multiply (v22). His blessing is released and goes forth through His words. His Spirit works with His Word. This is the key to release His Blessing. God is BLESSED, and releases His BLESSING by SOWING SEED. Likewise, He made each animal multiply according to its kind or seed (v24-25). When He created man, He imparted the same 2-fold Blessing: (1) WITHIN and (2) UPON. (1) First, He created man, blessing him with life (v26-27), by imparting His Spirit WITHIN (2:7). (2) Then God blessed man a 2nd time, empowering him to be fruitful and multiply - imparting life to others (v28).God’s 2-fold Blessing through Adam at Creation is parallel to His 2-fold Blessing through Christ (the 2nd Adam) in the New Creation. (1) At our New Birth, He breathed His Spirit WITHIN, through the sown seed of the Gospel. (2) At our Baptism in the Spirit, He put the Blessing of His Spirit UPON, empowering us to impart life to others, by sowing the words of the Gospel. In both cases, He released His blessing by His words (blessing is voice activated). We are God’s image, and so release His blessing the same way: (1) We must be BLESSED with the Spirit upon, and (2) have SEED to sow. Then as we sow it, we release the blessing of life. The WORD and SPIRIT work together unto fruitfulness. Abram received the Promise of this 2-fold Blessing (Genesis 12:2,3), to be transmitted through His Seed (Genesis 22:17-18). This was fulfilled by Christ, who received the full Blessing, within and upon, on our behalf, to freely give us. The New Covenant Blessing is called the BLESSING of ABRAHAM and PROMISE of the SPIRIT (Galatians 3:13-14). It is 2-fold: (1) blessing for our own life, by the Spirit WITHIN, and (2) blessed to be a blessing to others by the Spirit UPON. This 2-fold Ministry of the Spirit was prophesied in Ezekiel 36:26-27 and Joel 2:28-29. Isaiah 59:20-21 describes how this Covenant Blessing is transmitted, by (1) the Spirit UPON, (2) released by speaking God’s WORDS.Jesus received and operated in the full 2-fold Promise of the Spirit: (1) born of the Spirit, with the Spirit within, and then (2) baptised in the Spirit, when He received the Spirit upon empowering Him to bless others (Luke 3:21-22, Luke 4:18-19). He is our example, for He said: “As the Father has sent Me, so I send you” (John 20:21). He gives us the same mission to bless others through the Gospel, and so anoints us with the same Spirit upon, and like Him, we release this power by sowing His words (Acts 1:4,5,8). The purpose of the Spirit upon is to give us power to witness, released through our words (Romans 1:16), which transmit the power into men's hearts. This power upon is potential (Acts 1:8), which we activate and release, by speaking His words. It goes forth with our words, making them effectual. We need both the Word in our heart and the Spirit upon to empower our spoken words, so they enter men’s hearts with power to illuminate, convict and save. The Parable of the Sower describes how God's Kingdom works. The sower sows God's Word in men’s hearts. If received, the seed produces new life in them (1Peter 1:23,25). After Jesus was baptised in the Spirit, He became the first Sower, speaking God’s Word, releasing the Spirit's power, giving life to men (John 6:63). He then told us all to continue His mission by sowing His Word in the same power of His Spirit. The earth (man's heart) needs 2 things to bring forth fruit: (1) SEED (the Word) and (2) WATER (the Spirit). So, we need to sow the Word and release the Spirit to minister life to men (John 7:37-39). The Baptism in the Spirit empowers us to speak for Him (Acts 1:8), so His Spirit flows forth with the spoken word, causing it to be effectual in producing fruit in people’s hearts.
Pastor Derek shares on how you can prepare to serve the Lord and enter into your ministry.
Ephesians 5:18 commands us: "Be being filled with the Holy Spirit." Pastor Derek explains what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and how we can be filled with the Spirit of God, and the difference it will make in our lives.
The Promise of the Spirit in the New Covenant has 2 aspects, as exemplified by Jesus:(1) The Spirit WITHIN, at the New Birth. (2) The Spirit UPON, at the Baptism in the Spirit. The apostles received the Spirit in 2 stages. (1) In the evening of His resurrection day they received the Spirit WITHIN (John 20:22). (2) Then 50 days later they received the Baptism in the Spirit (Acts 2:1-4), when He came UPON them. Acts 2:33 says Christ only gave His Spirit (within and upon) after His Ascension. But if it was 40 days after His resurrection, how could He give them the Spirit on the resurrection evening? The solution is there were 2 Ascensions: (1) His 1st Ascension on the resurrection morning (John 20), and (2) His 2nd Ascension 40 days later (Acts 1).The 4 Purposes for His 1st Ascension: 1. To fulfil the Feast of FIRST FRUITS, He had to ascend to Heaven and present Himself to God as the First Fruits from the dead, on the day of His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20-23).2. To appear before God’s throne to receive ALL AUTHORITY (Daniel 7:13-14). During the 40 days, in Matthew 28:18-19, He claimed He had already received this authority, so He must have ascended at the start of the 40 days. This is confirmed by Ephesians 1:19-22 which connects together His resurrection, ascension and receiving all authority as the result of a single working of God's mighty power. Also Philippians 2:9-11. The authority He received included the authority to receive and pour out the Holy Spirit.3. To present His BLOOD in the heavenly Holy of Holies, as the final and full satisfaction for our sin, and for the New Covenant to come into full operation, including the Promise of the Spirit (Hebrews 9:11-15). Although He died and rose again, He had to accomplish the final consummation of His atoning work in Heaven, by taking His Blood into God's throne room and sprinkling it there, where it speaks for our forgiveness and grace (Hebrews 12:24). He had to do this before giving the New Covenant Gift of the Spirit to us. He is given not on our merits, but on the basis of His completed atonement, which was not consummated until His Blood was sprinkled in Heaven. So the giving of the Spirit testifies the Blood has availed for us, to cleanse us from sin and purchase the blessing of the Spirit (1John 5:6). So the Spirit could not be given before the Blood was presented in Heaven at His 1st Ascension (Acts 2:33). Having purchased our redemption, He ascended and presented His Blood in Heaven, for acceptance by the Father as the seal of His completed work. Only then could He receive the Spirit to pour out on all who believe.*4. To receive the Promise of the Spirit from the Father on our behalf, in order to pour Him out within and upon His people. This required Him to ascend to Heaven (Acts 2:33) and be glorified with all authority, power and glory (John 7:39), which must have happened on the resurrection morning (John 20:22). So He first ascended to Heaven, before returning to earth for 40 days. That is why He was able to impart the indwelling Spirit to His apostles that evening (John 20:22). The Purpose of this 1st Ascension was to officially inaugurate the New Covenant in Heaven, by presenting His Blood there, making it fully operational, as confirmed by His words to Mary, as He was about to ascend. He revealed He was ascending, and that the purpose of His Ascension was to complete the establishment of our New Covenant relationship with God. John 20:17: “Do not touch Me for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to MY BRETHREN and say to them: ‘I AM ASCENDING to My Father and YOUR Father, and to My God and YOUR God." The reason He did not allow Mary to touch Him was that He was ascending to offer Himself to God as the First Fruits. So it was not appropriate for her to touch Him. This holy offering included many saints who were raised with Him (Matthew 27:52-53).So, at His 1st Ascension, (1) He offered Himself to God as the First Fruits, the Head of the new creation of humanity, and (2) presented His Blood (which purchased and guaranteed every blessing of salvation and the Spirit for us) as the basis of the New Covenant, He was accepted by God on our behalf as our representative Man. (3) He then received all authority from God, including the right to pour out His Spirit upon all who believe. (4) Therefore, at this time, He also received the Spirit from the Father on our behalf, along with all the blessings in the New Covenant. Therefore, He now has the authority to pour out His Spirit on all those in Christ, who submit to His Headship. That is why, that evening, He was able to impart the Spirit into His disciples (John 20:22). Then He started to PREPARE them to receive the Spirit UPON (Luke 24:49), which they did 50 days later. We have a PURPOSE, for Christ has commissioned and sent us on a MISSION to be His WITNESSES (Luke 24:47), so we need His SPIRIT UPON, to EMPOWER us to fulfil this MINISTRY (Acts 1:4-8).
The 2 stages of receiving the Holy Spirit: (1) At salvation, we receive the Spirit within. (2) At the Baptism in the Spirit, we receive the Spirit upon. Jesus is the classic example: (1) He had the Spirit WITHIN from birth, but (2) did not have the Spirit UPON until He was 30. We see these 2 stages with the apostles, for on the day of His resurrection Jesus imparted the indwelling Spirit to them (John 20:22). Then 50 days later they received the Spirit upon (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4-8, 2:1-4). The giving of the Spirit could only happen after His Ascension (Acts 2:33). So, how could He give His Spirit to His apostles 40 days before His Ascension (John 20:22)? The solution is there were 2 Ascensions: (1) His 1st Ascension on the resurrection morning, and (2) His 2nd Ascension 40 days later. (1) First, He ascended, to appear before God and receive the Promise of the Spirit on our behalf, before returning to earth for 40 days, after which (2) He ascended again and sat down at God's right hand. That is why He could impart the Spirit to His apostles later on the same day He rose again (John 20:22). The 4 Purposes for His 1st Ascension:1. To fulfil the Feast of First Fruits on the day of His resurrection (1Corinthians 15:20-23).2. To present His BLOOD in the heavenly holy of holies (Hebrews 9:12).3. To receive ALL AUTHORITY (Matthew 28:18, Daniel 7:13-14, Philippians 2:9-11):4. To receive the SPIRIT on our behalf, to give to His people (Acts 2:33).When He appeared to Mary, He said: “Do not touch Me, for I have not yet ASCENDED to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them: ‘I AM ASCENDING to My Father” (John 20:16-17). The reason He gave her for not allowing her to touch Him was that He was ascending. But later He allowed others to touch Him (Matthew 28:9, Luke 24:39, John 20:27). It follows He must have ascended for a purpose that required Him to avoid human contact until He fulfilled it, which must have been to present Himself as the First Fruits Offering to God, mandated for that very day and hour. Also, He had to present His Blood in the Heaven. So it was not appropriate for Mary to touch Him before He had made these holy offerings. He had to fulfil the Feast of First Fruits, which required Him to ascend to the Father on that resurrection morning (always on the Sunday of Passover Week - Leviticus 23:10-11). He had to present Himself to God in the heavenly Temple in the 3rd hour, exactly when the Sheaf of First Fruits was waved before the Lord in the earthly Temple (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). The First Fruits is a sheaf of barley, that had been cut down and then lifted up and waved before the Lord in the Temple. Through God’s acceptance and blessing of the First Fruits, the whole harvest is blessed and guaranteed to come forth just like the First Fruits. This is a picture of Christ, who was killed, but now risen as our Representative Head 'accepted by God on our behalf'. So all who are in Christ are accepted by God as righteous and under His blessing, and our future resurrection is guaranteed. He described His death and burial as a grain of wheat being buried in the earth (John 12:24). Although only 1 seed is planted, the stalk that grows from it contains a whole cluster of grains. Likewise, many new creations will come forth from His death and resurrection. This multiplication is signified in the First Fruits Offering, for a whole sheaf containing many seeds (not just 1) that is waved before the Lord. This was fulfilled in His resurrection, for although He was buried alone, He did not rise alone, but many rose at the same time with Him (Matthew 27:51-53).He ascended to present Himself and the first fruits to God. At the same time, He took the spirits of the Old Testament saints (the spirits of just men made perfect) to Heaven (Hebrews 12:23). Before the Cross, at death, believers went down to Paradise in Hades, whereas the unsaved went to Torments (Luke 16:19-31, v22). The OT saints could not go to Heaven, as they were not born again. Although righteous by faith, they were spiritually dead. Their spirits had not yet been made perfect by the New Birth, so could not go to Heaven. The New Birth was only available after His Resurrection (1Peter 1:3). So, they could not enter Heaven when they died (John 3:3,5,13). But when He rose, He preached the Gospel to them in Hades, so they might be born again (1Peter 4:6). Then at His 1st Ascension, He led them to Heaven in a triumphal procession (Ephesians 4:8). Now, all born-again believers go to Paradise in Heaven when they die (2Corinthians 12:2,4). The hope of the OT saints was Heaven (Hebrews 11:10,16), but they did not receive this promise when they died, as their spirits could not be made perfect until God provided something better (the New Birth) for His people, when the New Covenant came into operation (Hebrews 11:39-40). But now these spirits of just men have been made perfect and are in Heaven (Hebrews 12:22-24).
How should we respond to all the things that happen to us in life, especially the bad things. One of the great promises of God is that: "God all things work together for good to those who are loving God, the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). So as long as we keep loving God through the trial, we can thank God that He will work all things (including evil things) together for our ultimate good, the fulfilment of His wonderful eternal plan and purpose for us, which is described in Romans 8:29-30. God does not cause evil things but He can work them all for our good, because on the Cross He paid the change any curse into blessing (Galatians 3:13-14). In view of this truth, that God is greater than all these things that we face in life, Paul asks how should we respond to these things, or more precisely: "What, then, shall we SAY to these THINGS?" (v31a). It is clear that we are not to be a passive doormat, when bad things happen. These things speak to us and try to create negative thoughts in us, which satan will amplify if we let him, saying things like: "you are a guilty failure, under condemnation, God does not love you anymore, you are separated from His love and He will not fulfil His promises to you. We are meant to actively respond by SPEAKING God's Word back to these THINGS (v31a). The famous climactic verses of Romans 8:31b-39 actually describe the things God wants us to proclaim in the face of all these things that come against us. For example, we should say: "God is for me, who can be against Me?" (v31b), "God gave Me His own Son, surely He will also freely give us all things" (v32), He will work all things together for my good" (v28), "Who shall bring a charge against me for I am God’s elect. It is God who has justified me. There is no condemnation for me in Christ, for Christ has died for me and paid the penalty for my sins, and now represents me before God" (v1,33-34), "nothing shall separate me from the love of Christ?" (v35-36,38-39), for: "in all these things I am more than a conqueror through Christ, who loved me by dying for me on the Cross, and who loves me now and forever" (v37).
"SEEK the LORD and His STRENGTH; SEEK His FACE forevermore!” (Psalm 105:1-4). Derek reveals the BENEFITS of SEEKING the Lord. When we SEEK His FACE, His Hand of STRENGTH comes upon our hearts, filling them with His life (like a hand filling a glove), righteousness, love, joy, peace, and wisdom (Proverbs 21:1, John 7:37-39, Ezra 8:22, Hosea 10:12, Philippians 4:6-7, Romans 5:5, Psalm 16:11, 40:16, Isaiah 40:29-31, Amos 5:4, Psalm 69:32). SEEK first His PRESENCE, before His PRESENTS! (Matthew 6:33).
Derek shows how Israel's journey from Egypt into their Promised Land is a picture of our spiritual journey from the kingdom of darkness into the promised land of God's perfect will for our lives. God has given us an inheritance (promised land) both for this life and throughout eternity, which is hidden in Christ in God. Christ is our life, and as we trust, follow and obey Him, He will lead us into our promised land; that is, we will come into the experience and enjoyment of our inheritance in Christ (Colossians 3:1-4, Ephesians 2:4-10).
To possess our inheritance we need to know that (1) God has ordained and defined its boundaries and has GIVEN it to us (legally) through the New Covenant in His Blood, and (2) God Himself is GIVING us (leading us into) our promised land (in our experience), as we walk in fellowship with Him and obey Him, so that as we walk in His footsteps, every place where where our feet tread, has not only been given to us legally in Christ, but also becomes ours experientially, because God is giving it to us, through His Power and Presence with us (Joshua 1:1-4). In this way, we POSSESS the land which the Lord our God is GIVING us to POSSESS (v11). Thus we cannot possess our inheritance without the Presence of God with us (v5), and therefore the key to possessing our promised land is to value the Presence of God in our lives above all things (Matthew 6:33). This vital principle is revealed through a study of Exodus 33, where Moses chooses God's Presence over the Promised Land: “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here (to go into the Land)" (v15), and as a result God gave him the great promise of both: “My PRESENCE will go with you, and I will give you REST (in the Promised Land)” (v14).
We see these principles with Israel, when Joshua (Yeshua) led them into their land. Now, the greater than Joshua, our Yeshua, is leading us into our inheritance. In Joshua 1:5-9, God gave Israel (and us) the Promise of His Presence going with them to lead them into their inheritance (v5), and then used a 4-fold poetic repetition, where He first told them what He expected of them, and then gave them the promise that they will be successful in possessing their land if they fulfil His 2 conditions (v6-9). Four times, He commanded them (1) to be STRONG in faith and through faith, in their heart, through continual meditation on His Word (v8), and (2) to be COURAGEOUS to observe to do (obey) all His commands (v7), and then (3) they will have good success in possessing their inheritance (v6), for the Lord their God will be with them wherever they go (v9). God summarised the same points, when He said through Isaiah: “If you are (1) willing (in your heart) and (2) obedient (in your life), you shall (3) eat the good of the land” (1:19).
There are 3 Morning Star scriptures. In Revelation 22:16, Jesus said: “I am the Bright Morning Star.” In Revelation 2:28, Jesus promised: "I will give him the Morning Star." 2Peter 1:19 says: "you do well to heed (God's prophetic word) as a light that shines in a dark place, until (1) the DAY DAWNS, and (2) the MORNING STAR arises in your hearts.” This speaks of 2 different future manifestations of Christ's Glory, compared to 2 natural lights, associated with the start of a new day. (1) The DAY DAWNS at SUNRISE when the SUN appears and lights up the whole world. This is a picture of the manifestation of Christ in His 2nd COMING, when He will rise upon the whole world, and all shall see Him in His Glory (Malachi 4:2, Hosea 6:3). (2) The MORNING STAR is a different manifestation of Christ, which will be for believers only, when His glory will be released within us, and will arise in our hearts - at the RAPTURE. Christ will give us the Morning Star, which is Himself - His Glory which will transform our bodies and glorify us, completing our salvation (Hebrews 9:28), so that we will shine like the Morning Star.
The MORNING STAR appears shortly BEFORE the Dawn, while it’s still dark. It is a sign heralding the coming Dawn. It only appears to those who are awake and watching (believers), not to those asleep in the kingdom of darkness (unbelievers) - Hebrews 9:28. Thus it is a manifestation to true believers before Christ appears to the whole world in the 2nd Coming. After the Morning Star appears (the Rapture), the world remains in darkness (the Tribulation) for a short time, before the Sun of Righteousness appears to bring in a new Day of history, by reigning over all the earth in His glory.
The Morning Star is the promise of Jesus, the Bridegroom to His Bride that He will give her Himself (the Morning Star) in all His Glory. This is the Wedding Day, when He will give her everything that He has promised at their covenant betrothal (Ephesians 1:13-14). Thus, Jesus will first appear in His Glory to His Bride as the Morning Star (the RAPTURE), and then after a time of darkness on earth, He will appear in His Glory to the whole world (the 2nd Coming). This confirms the truth of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture.
The Lamb's Book of Life is God's Family Album with the names of all those saved through the Blood of the Lamb. At the Great White Throne at the end of time, Christ will open this Book to verify that the names of those who had rejected God and His salvation were not included in it (Revelation 20:11-15). So they are judged according to what is written in the books of their lives. Whether or not you are written in the Book of Life defines your eternal destiny (Revelation 20:12,15, 21:27). It is the Lamb’s Book, for if anyone's name is included, it is because they have been redeemed by His Blood. Derek goes through the various Scriptures that refer to this Book (Daniel 12:1, Revelation 3:5, Luke 10:20, Philippians 4:3, Isaiah 49:16). On the one hand, the Bible talks about changes being made in this Book as time goes on, which reflects human freedom of choice. Many assume that our name is written in the Book of Life when we trust in Christ, but that is not supported by Scripture, which only talks of names of people being blotted out for rejecting God (Exodus 32:32,33, Revelation 22:19). In fact, everyone who is alive physically is written in the Book of Life at their conception, but if they die in a state of sin (having reached the age of accountability) their names are blotted out (Psalm 69:28). On the other hand, the Bible says that the final list of names in the Book has been foreknown and fixed by God from eternity, and so these names were written in His Book from before the foundation of the world (Revelation 17:8, 13:8), which reflects God's Sovereignty. Thus the Book can be seen from the 2 viewpoints of eternity and time, from God's eternal viewpoint and from man's temporal viewpoint. The eternal Book of Life is unchanging, but its manifestation in time necessarily changes, because of human free-will. At the end of time, as time moves into eternity, the temporal form of the Book will assume its eternal (fixed) form, which was written by God from the foundation of the world. Either your sins will be blotted out by the Blood of Christ (Isaiah 44:22, Acts 3:19), or your name will be blotted out of His Book (John 3:16,36).
The Baptism in the Spirit is when we receive the Spirit upon us, clothing us with His power to witness. 'Baptism means immersion, so to be Baptised in the Spirit means to be immersed in the Spirit (the Spirit upon us). There is a 2-fold ministry of the Spirit in Scripture for us to receive: (1) the Spirit WITHIN, at salvation, for our own blessing, holiness and life with God, and later (2) the Spirit UPON, at our Baptism in the Spirit. To be baptised in the Spirit, we must first be born again and receive the Spirit within (Matt 9:17), then we can receive the Spirit upon. Jesus Himself (1) had the Spirit within from conception, and then later (2) received the Spirit upon, when He received power for His ministry. At salvation, we were BAPTISED into CHRIST and received the Spirit WITHIN (1Cor 12:13). This is the ONE Baptism ALL believers have (Eph 4:4-5). In the Baptism in the Spirit, the Spirit within us also comes UPON us. The PURPOSE of the Baptism in the Spirit is POWER for ministry, for fulfilling the Great Commission. At our Baptism into Christ, we received the blessing for ourselves through the Spirit within, who connects us to God and His life. Next we need to surrender ourselves to God, to receive His power upon us, to be a blessing to others: “You shall receive POWER when the HOLY SPIRIT has come UPON you; and you shall be My WITNESSES” (Acts 1:8). The same Spirit we receive WITHIN us at salvation, wants to also come UPON us to clothe us with power.
Both these ministries of the Spirit (the Spirit WITHIN and UPON) are available for ALL believers, and were prophesied in the Old Testament, as coming to pass through the New Covenant of Messiah. Jesus called this promised 2-fold Blessing of the Spirit: ‘the Promise of the Father’, which includes the Baptism in the Spirit (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4,5). At Pentecost, Peter announced the Promise of the Father had now been received by the exalted Jesus on our behalf, and was now fully poured out and freely given to us (Acts 2:33,38-39). The Father's Promise of the Spirit in both (1) His indwelling through the New Birth and (2) the Baptism in the Spirit is for all believers. The Old Testament Prophecies point to a 2-fold Promise to all believers: (1) The Spirit WITHIN through the New Birth, enabling us to live a holy life (Ezek 36:26-27), and (2) the Spirit UPON to empower us (Isa 59:21, Joel 2:28-32).
This New Covenant Ministry of the Spirit is different from what was available before: (1) Before, no one had the New Birth or Spirit WITHIN them, but Ezekiel prophesied in the New Covenant all God’s people would have the Spirit WITHIN. (2) Before, although prophets, priests and kings were anointed with the Spirit UPON, generally God’s people did not have this, but Joel prophesied in the New Covenant the Spirit would be poured out UPON ALL flesh (the answer to Moses’ prayer in Num 11:29). So it was promised that in the New Covenant: (1) ALL God’s people would receive the Spirit WITHIN, and (2) the Spirit UPON would be available to ALL believers. This promised double Blessing of the Spirit was only made available through Christ's death and resurrection (Gal 3:13-14). This Promise is also called the Blessing of Abraham (Gal 3:14), which was 2-fold: “(1) I will BLESS you (through the SPIRIT WITHIN), and (2) you will be a BLESSING (to others – through the SPIRIT UPON)” (Gen 12:2). This is parallel to God’s 2-fold BLESSING of Adam: (1) He blessed Adam by putting His Spirit within him (Gen 2:7). (2) Then He blessed him by empowering him to impart the blessing of life to others (Gen 1:28).
Jesus is our perfect example. His life confirms the Spirit (1) WITHIN and (2) UPON are 2 distinct aspects of God’s provision for man of the Spirit: (1) He had the Spirit WITHIN from conception (Luke 1:35), and later (2) He received the BAPTISM in the SPIRIT (Luke 3:21-22, John 1:32-33). In the New Covenant, He makes the same 2-fold provision of the Spirit available to us. But just because (1) we are born again and have the indwelling Spirit, it does not mean we are (2) baptised in the Spirit and have the Spirit UPON, for it is a distinct experience, coming after the New Birth. The Baptism in the Spirit is compared to Baptism (immersion) in Water (Matt 3:11). Just as a baptised man is covered in water, so in the Baptism in the Spirit, He comes upon us and covers us. “(1) UPON whom you see the SPIRIT descending, and remaining UPON Him, (2) this is He who BAPTISES with the HOLY SPIRIT” (John 1:33). (1) Jesus first received from God the Baptism in the Spirit, which (2) enabled Him to baptise us in the Spirit, according to the same pattern. His Baptism in the Spirit is the BLUEPRINT for our Baptism in the Spirit (except He has the Spirit without measure - John 3:34). If we are born again, Jesus wants to immerse us in His Spirit, so that the Spirit comes and remains upon us, clothing us with His power, just as He came upon Jesus.
Derek explores what it means to be in Christ - who we are in Christ and what we have in Christ, by grace through the New Birth. This includes a special study of the classic passage - Romans 5:12-21.
In John 3, Jesus shared with Nicodemus that we must be born again to enter the Kingdom of God. This New Birth is accomplished by the Triune God: (1) the Father brings us to birth, through (2) the work of the Spirit (the wind of God), when we believe in (3) the Son of God, who died for our sins on the Cross, in fulfilment of the type of the Bronze Serpent lifted up on a pole.
Derek shares how God accomplished the rebirth of our spirit in the New Birth, and describes the nature of our New Man (our regenerated spirit).
Derek shares 3 keys to receive your healing from God: (1) know God's will to heal, (2) know God's gift of healing power, (3) surrender yourself to God.
The BAPTISM in the SPIRIT is to receive the Spirit UPON. In Acts, new believers normally received this Baptism soon after their salvation. The PURPOSE of the Baptism in the Spirit is to EMPOWER us to fulfil the Great Commission (Acts 1:8). As well as (1) having the Spirit WITHIN for our own blessing and walk with God (HOLINESS), we also need (2) the POWER of His Spirit, through His Spirit UPON us, to communicate His life and blessing to others. This 2-fold BLESSING of the SPIRIT corresponds to the 2-fold BLESSING of Abraham (Gen 12:2). The Baptism in the Spirit empowers us to be a blessing to others, especially by sharing the Gospel with them, so they can be saved. This 2-fold ministry of the SPIRIT in the New Covenant was prophesied in the Old Testament (Ezek 36:26-27, Joel 2:28-29). The promise of the Baptism in the Spirit (Matt 3:11) came to pass on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 1:5). The life of Jesus, our example and representative reveals this 2-fold experience of the Spirit: (1) He had the Spirit WITHIN Him from birth, and lived a perfectly holy life, even before (2) He was BAPTISED in the Spirit at 30, when He received the Spirit UPON to supernaturally EMPOWER Him for His ministry to others (Luke 3:21-22, John 1:32-33, 2:11, 4:18). When we are born again, we have the SPIRIT WITHIN, but we also need to receive the SPIRIT UPON to empower us to witness and minister to others. Jesus baptises us in the Spirit - the Spirit UPON us (John 1:33). In His teaching, He described these 2 experiences of the Spirit in terms of living water: (1) A Fountain of living water within (John 4:10-14), and (2) Rivers of living water flowing out of us (John 7:37-39).
The apostles also had this 2-fold experience (receiving) of the Spirit: (1) They were BORN AGAIN and received the SPIRIT WITHIN on the day of the resurrection (John 20:22, Gen 2:7). Then Christ prepared them to receive the Baptism in the Spirit (Luke 24:48-49, Acts 1:4-5,8). Then (2) they were baptised in the Spirit at Pentecost, when He came UPON them (Acts 2:1-4). There were 2 aspects to their experience of being baptised in the Spirit: (1) The Spirit came UPON them (v3), and (2) He filled their souls from within (v4). To be filled with the Spirit and so receive the Spirit UPON, we must surrender our soul and body to God to do His will and fulfil His mission. Moreover, God wants us to stay continually filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18). By surrendering our souls to God and yielding our bodies to Him (by speaking out the words the Spirit gives us), we allow the Spirit to fill our souls from within, and to come UPON us. The outward evidence the Spirit has filled us and has now come upon us, is that we have yielded our tongue to His control by speaking in tongues (v4). Acts 2:4 describes the first time believers received the Baptism in the Spirit, and so it is the prototype description, God’s blueprint for all New Covenant believers. In Acts 11, Peter confirms what they received at Pentecost was the Baptism in the Spirit, because he says what the Gentiles received, when the Spirit came upon them in Acts 10, was the same experience the Jews had ‘at the Beginning’ (Pentecost), which he then described as the Baptism in the Spirit (Acts 11:15-16). Acts 8 describes the 2-stage experience of the Samaritans. They heard the Gospel and were baptised in water, so they were saved (v14,16), but they had not yet received the Spirit upon them (v15-16). When the apostles laid hands on them they received the Spirit upon (v17), which was manifested outwardly in a supernatural way (v18-19), namely by them speaking in tongues (v20).
The 2-Stage experience of the Paul is in Acts 9: (1) He was SAVED when he saw the risen Christ and called him ‘Lord’ (Acts 9:5-6). (2) He was FILLED with the SPIRIT, when Ananias prayed for him 3 days later (Acts 9:9-18), and he spoke in tongues (1Cor 4:18). The Gentile Pentecost is described in Acts 10:44-48 as the Spirit coming upon them, and in 11:15-16 as the Baptism in the Spirit. Just as at Pentecost, the outward evidence of the Baptism was speaking in tongues. This was the only proof the apostles looked for and accepted. Finally, we study the 2-stage experience of the Ephesians in Acts 19. Paul's question in v2 shows that receiving the Baptism in the Spirit is not automatic, when you believe in Christ for salvation. The Ephesians (1) believed the Gospel, that Paul preached to them and were saved (v5a), then they were baptised (v5b), and then (2) "when Paul laid hands on them, the HOLY SPIRIT came UPON them, and they SPOKE with TONGUES and prophesied” (v5c). So, they were BAPTISED in the SPIRIT subsequent to their SALVATION, as a distinct experience. Consistently in Acts, it was normal for Christians to receive the Baptism in the Spirit as a separate experience soon after salvation, and the outward evidence of this Baptism in the Spirit is speaking in tongues.
There is a 2-fold RECEIVING of the SPIRIT: (1) We RECEIVE the SPIRIT WITHIN us, when we are born again, and then (2) we can also RECEIVE the SPIRIT UPON us, when we are baptised in the Spirit. ALL born-again believers have the SPIRIT WITHIN them (Romans 8:9). The BAPTISM in the HOLY SPIRIT, which is when we receive the Spirit UPON us, for the purpose of EMPOWERING us to fulfil the Great Commission. (1) The Spirit WITHIN us, through the New Birth, is for our personal connection and walk with God (HOLINESS). (2) The Spirit UPON us, through the Baptism of the Spirit, is to EMPOWER us to do God’s work. Just because you have received Salvation through the New Birth, and so have received the Spirit of God WITHIN you, it does not necessarily mean you have received the Spirit of God UPON you (to empower you for ministry), because the Baptism in the Spirit is a separate experience that comes after Salvation. The apostles had this 2-stage experience: (1) On the evening of the resurrection: “Jesus BREATHED on them, and said to them: “RECEIVE the HOLY SPIRIT” (John 20:22). They received the SPIRIT WITHIN. (2) Then 50 days later on the Day of Pentecost they received the SPIRIT of God UPON them (Acts 2:1-4), empowering them to be His witnesses: “You shall receive POWER when the HOLY SPIRIT has come UPON you” (Acts 1:8). So there are 2 receivings of the Holy Spirit, WITHIN and UPON.
Old Testament Prophecy promised that when the Messiah comes and establishes a New Covenant, there would be a new and greater blessing of the Holy Spirit for all believers. This was called the Promise of the Father. This Promise of the Spirit was two-fold: (1) The Spirit WITHIN all believers, for their blessing and holiness (Ezekiel 36:26-27), and (2) the Spirit UPON all believers, to empower them to be a blessing to others (Joel 2:28-29). John the Baptist announced the Messiah as the One who will bring this Promise to fulfilment. He is the first to use the phrase ‘Baptism in the Spirit’, so his description of it is definitive for understanding its meaning. He described it by comparing it to BAPTISM in WATER: “I indeed BAPTISED you IN water, but He will BAPTISE you IN the HOLY SPIRIT” (Mark 1:8). When someone was BAPTISED (immersed) IN WATER, that water covered (enveloped) them, so it was UPON them. Likewise, when Jesus BAPTISES us IN the HOLY SPIRIT, we are immersed in the Spirit, so that we are covered and clothed with the Spirit UPON us. We see this 2-fold EXPERIENCE of the HOLY SPIRIT in the Life of Jesus: (1) Jesus was conceived of the Spirit, and had the SPIRIT WITHIN Him from His birth, enabling Him to live a perfect life as a man in fellowship with His Father, even before (2) He was BAPTISED in the SPIRIT at the age of 30, when the SPIRIT came UPON Him to supernaturally EMPOWER Him for His ministry. He did not need the Baptism in the Spirit for Himself, because He already had the Spirit within Him. But He needed the Anointing of the Spirit upon Him to empower Him to fulfil His Ministry. That is why it was only after the Spirit came upon Him at His Baptism that He started preaching, healing and working miracles (John 2:11). Jesus, our perfect example, had 2 stages in His experience of the Holy Spirit in His life: (1) He had the Spirit WITHIN Him from birth, then (2) when He was baptised at 30, He received the Spirit of God UPON (Luke 3:21-22). The same Jesus, who was BAPTISED in the Spirit (by receiving the Spirit UPON Him), will also BAPTISE others in the HOLY SPIRIT. Thus Jesus was BAPTISED in the Spirit as our representative (receiving the Spirit on our behalf), so He could then BAPTISE us in the Spirit (John 1:32-33). Therefore, at His baptism in water, He was also BAPTISED in the SPIRIT, as confirmed by Luke 4:18, which describes the results in terms of power for ministry.
The apostles also had a 2-stage experience of the Spirit, because (1) on the evening of the day of the resurrection, He imparted the Holy Spirit into His disciples. This is when He gave them the Spirit WITHIN, which is when they were born again (John 20:22, Genesis 2:7). Then He started to prepare His disciples to also (2) receive the Spirit UPON them, to be His witnesses, 50 days later on the day of Pentecost (Luke 24:46-49). Then He gave them the same instructions at the end of the 40 days, just before He ascended in Acts 1:3-5,8. Although they had already received the Spirit WITHIN them, they had not yet received the SPIRIT UPON them (Luke 24:49), which is also described as the BAPTISM in the SPIRIT (Acts 1:5). So what they experienced at Pentecost, when the Spirit came UPON them (Acts 2:1-3), was the BAPTISM in the SPIRIT. The Spirit came UPON them (Acts 2:3) and “they were all FILLED with the HOLY SPIRIT" Acts 2:4). In the New Covenant, anyone who receives the Spirit UPON has previously received the Spirit WITHIN, so He comes upon us from within, and so must FILL us from the inside, hence: “they were all FILLED with the HOLY SPIRIT” (Acts 2:4). Whe
Central to the Christian faith is the revelation of the Deity of Christ. A saving faith in Christ includes believing that Jesus is the God-man, the Son of God, who is both our Lord and Saviour, and who is therefore worthy of our worship. Therefore the key Christian confession is: "Jesus is Lord." Derek shows this from a number of Scriptures.
The Messianic Prophecies in the Old Testament consistently speak of the Coming Messiah as being both GOD and MAN (the unique God-man). The prophecies were given so that we might recognise the true Messiah when He comes.The New Testament proclaims that all these Prophecies were fulfilled in the Person of Jesus Christ. He is the LORD JESUS CHRIST (Lord = His Deity, Jesus = His humanity, and Christ means Messiah). He is the unique God-man Messiah. So, the New Testament is perfectly consistent with the Old Testament revelation, and proclaims that all these Prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Derek studies a number of these God-man Messianic Prophecies, which prove that Jesus is the Messiah, including Genesis 3:15, 4:1, Isaiah 7:14, 9:6, Micah 5:2, 1Chronicles 17:11-14, Jeremiah 23:5-6, Proverbs 30:4, Job 9:32-33, 19:23-27, Psalm 110:1-5. These confirm that Jesus is both fully Man and fully God, and therefore He is uniquely able to save us, if we call upon His Name, and He is worthy of our love and worship.
The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). As well as teaching us what it means to be a good neighbour this Parable reveals the Gospel in code. It also gives a hint that Jesus will return after 2 DAYS (2000 years).
The word BAPTISE means IMMERSE. There are 3 foundational Christian BAPTISMS: (1) Baptism into Christ, (2) Baptism into Water, and (3) Baptism into the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). Although we received the Spirit WITHIN at salvation, we also need to receive the Spirit UPON to empower us to be a witness (the Baptism in the Spirit). The PURPOSE of this Baptism is to RECEIVE POWER to fulfil the great commission. After salvation, the next step is to embrace Christ's mission, and surrender our soul and body to God to receive His supernatural power to be His witness. This fulfils of the 2nd part of the Blessing of Abraham: “I will (1) BLESS you (salvation), and (2) you will be a (channel of) BLESSING (to others)” (Gen 12:2). This 2-fold BLESSING of the new creation follows the same pattern as man’s original creation (see Genesis 1:27, 2:7 and Genesis 1:28). Likewise, (1) God first BLESSES us with His Spirit WITHIN (at our New Birth), then (2) He wants to BLESS (empower) us to be a BLESSING by His Spirit UPON, so we can go forth and multiply ourselves by fulfilling the Great Commission (Mark 16:15-18, Matt 28:18-20). He promised to give us the POWER of the SPIRIT to do that (Luke 24:48-49, Acts 1:8). This Baptism is God’s empowerment (blessing) upon us to be a blessing, to communicate His life and blessing to others through the Gospel. God released and communicated the BLESSING by speaking WORDS of life (Genesis 1:28). Likewise, having received His power through this Baptism, we transmit the BLESSING of the SPIRIT to others through our WORDS. As in physical multiplication, we MULTIPLY ourselves spiritually by the transmission of blessing (life) through the SOWING of SEED (God's words).
God wants us to be filled with His Spirit (Eph 5:18), for we can't (1) live the Christian life, and (2) be a witness in our own strength. This Baptism is God’s POWER upon us for the PURPOSE of fulfilling God’s mission for our life, that is centred on the great commission. There is a 2-fold RECEIVING of the SPIRIT, as seen in Acts: We receive (1) the SPIRIT WITHIN at salvation, and then (2) the SPIRIT UPON at the Baptism in the Spirit. The same Spirit we receive at salvation wants to come upon us and clothe us with His power. So there is an experience subsequent to salvation of being baptised in the Spirit.
*1. Old Testament Prophets gave a 2-fold promise of the Spirit, called the Promise of the Father, that would be fulfilled in the New Covenant: (1) The New Birth and Spirit WITHIN all believers, for our personal connection with God, blessing and holiness (Ezekiel 36:26-27). (2) The Spirit UPON all believers, to empower them to be a blessing to others (Joel 2:28-29). In the Old Testament, although some prophets, priests and kings had an anointing of the Spirit UPON, no believer had the Spirit WITHIN, and so, even for those with the Spirit UPON, this was not necessarily permanent. The prophecies say in the New Covenant established by Christ, (1) all believers will have the Spirit WITHIN, and also (2) the SPIRIT UPON will be available to all.
*2. John the Baptist announced Christ as the One who will bring this Promise of the Spirit to fulfilment. He is the first to use the phrase: ‘Baptism in the Spirit’ and so these verses are definitive as to its meaning. He used the analogy of Baptism in WATER to describe the Baptism in the SPIRIT: “I indeed BAPTISED (immerse) you IN WATER, but He will BAPTISE you IN the HOLY SPIRIT” (Mark 1:8, Matt 3:11, Luke 3:16). This tells us JESUS is the Baptiser (Agent), who baptises us in the MEDIUM of the HOLY SPIRIT. So just as John immersed men in water, so the water covered them, so when Christ baptises us in the Spirit, we will be immersed (covered) in the Spirit. Thus, this Baptism is the Spirit UPON. Likewise, Jesus said in Acts 1:5: “John truly BAPTISED IN WATER, but you shall be BAPTISED (immersed) IN the HOLY SPIRIT not many days from now.”
*3. Jesus was baptised in the Spirit when He was baptised in water. He did this as our example, representative and pioneer, showing what He wants to do for us: “the HOLY SPIRIT descended in bodily form like a dove UPON Him” (Luke 3:22). His experience proves there is a 2-fold experience of the HOLY SPIRIT: (1) He already had the SPIRIT WITHIN Him from His conception, but (2) only when He was baptised did He receive the SPIRIT UPON Him, clothing Him with the supernatural power He needed to fulfil His ministry. John 1:32-33: “John bore witness, saying: “He who sent me to BAPTISE with WATER said to me: ‘UPON whom you see the SPIRIT descending, and remaining UPON Him, this is He who BAPTISES IN the HOLY SPIRIT.” The same Jesus, who received the Spirit UPON Him, baptises us in the Spirit. Thus, as the Father baptised Jesus in the Spirit, so Jesus baptises us in the Spirit. He described the result of His BAPTISM in the SPIRIT in Luke 4:18: “The SPIRIT of the Lord is UPON ME, for He has ANOINTED Me to PREACH the Gospel to the poor; He has SENT Me to HEAL...”
In Matthew 24:37-39 Jesus confirmed that the Genesis account of Noah's Flood was a true historical account, and He used it as a picture and warning of a sudden future judgment coming upon the whole world (the Day of the Lord). He also said that just as God rescued the believers in Noah's day from judgment through Noah's Ark, so God will also provide salvation from the coming judgment for those who believe His Word and trust in His Ark of Salvation - Jesus Christ. Derek shares the many ways that Noah's Ark is a picture of Jesus Christ, showing how when we trust in Christ for salvation we enter into Christ and come under His atoning blood, and pass from judgment into new life. Just as Noah's Ark bore the floods of judgment, protecting those within, so Christ has borne the judgment we deserved and paid the penalty for our sins with his Blood. The only way of salvation from God's wrath is to be in the Ark. This typology was confirmed by Peter in 1Peter 3:20-21. Just as Noah, having passed through the Flood, entered into a new covenant with God, where God promised not to pour out His waters of wrath again, so in Christ we enter into a New Covenant of peace with God, where He promises never to be angry with us again (Isaiah 54:7-10). Just as God gave Noah the Rainbow as the sign that he is now under a covenant of grace, so now God's throne to believers is a throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16), and indeed God's throne in Heaven is surrounded by a Rainbow (Revelation 4:1-3), signifying God's multifaceted grace toward us.
After saying: the just shall live by faith" (Hebrews 10:38), in Hebrews 11, Paul describes what it means to live by faith by giving illustrations from the lives of a number of the Old Testament heroes of faith, who pleased God. These men who have run their race are now the clouds of witnesses in the grandstands of Heaven, inspiring us as we run our race on earth (Hebrews 12:1-2). Their lives witness to us and give us an example of how to please God by living by faith. Derek reveals a number of key aspects to the life of faith, by looking at the first few of these heroes.
(1) The foundational thing that they all had in common was that they believed in CREATION - that this universe was created by the invisible God through his Word (Hebrews 11:3, see Genesis 1).
Then (2) ABEL teaches us that true faith in God must be based in the BLOOD of Christ (v4, see Genesis 4:2-8, Hebrews 9:22, 12:22-24). Abel trusted in the grace of God for his salvation on the basis of the blood of the Sacrifice, whereas Cain tried to earn his place with God based on his own works (a picture of man-made religion).
Then (3) ENOCH shows that walking by faith means a life lived in FELLOWSHIP with God. Through his faith Enoch pleased God, because he continually came to God, seeking to draw close to God to know Him better, believing in God's goodness, that He would reward him by fulfilling his desire (v5,6). As a result he walked with God for 300 years (Genesis 5:21-24).
Then (4) NOAH shows us that living by faith means we are called to cooperate with God in saving as many as possible in the world we live in. He built an Ark of Salvation and a WITNESSED to his world as a preacher of righteousness (v7, 1Peter 3:20, 2Peter 2:5).
Then (5) ABRAHAM shows us that living by faith means OBEDIENCE to God, when He calls us out from our old life into a new life where we have to trust God and His promise (v8).
Then (6) the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) show us that a life of faith means being focused on and motivated by a HEAVENLY HOPE, even their eternal heavenly home, the City of God (v9-10,14,16), rather than what this world has to offer (v13,15).
Then (7) SARAH shows us how we RECEIVE the PROMISES of God by faith, by judging Him faithful who had promised (v11), causing us to be fruitful for God (v12).
Finally (8) ABRAHAM proved his faith by demonstrating that he loved God more than the most precious thing in his life, by being willing to SACRIFICE his beloved son Isaac to God, trusting God to resurrect him (v17-19, James 2:21-22). Likewise, the ultimate test of our faith in God and love for God is whether we are willing to SURRENDER what is most precious to us, and trust it into God's hands, for Him to resurrect as and when He pleases.
God became a Man in the Person of Jesus Christ. He is God, the Son, and the Son of God. Jesus is the central Person in the Bible, our Saviour and the Source of Eternal Life, and we must believe in Him and come to Him to receive salvation and eternal life (John 5:39-40, 1John 5:11-12). Salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2:9), and only God can be our Saviour, so if Christ came to save us He must be God. Pastor Derek shares a number of Scriptures in the New Testament, which show that Jesus is fully God as well as fully man, and that believing in His Deity is necessary for salvation.
In John 1:1,14, He is introduced as the Eternal Word made flesh, and later Jesus says that we receive eternal life through believing in Him - the God-man (John 3:16, 6:47, 20:31). In Romans 10:9, Paul tells us that those who confess: "Jesus is Lord" from a believing heart are saved. Derek shows that this is a confession of Christ's Deity and our submission to Him. In John 20, Thomas gives us a picture of saving faith, when he worships Jesus saying: "My Lord and my God" (v28). In John 8:58-59, Jesus claimed to be the I AM, and in John 8:24, He said: "If you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.” When Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, the Jews tried to stone Him to death, because they knew He was claiming equality with God (John 5:18). His response was to affirm that He should be honoured just as the Father is honoured (v23).
In Matthew 16:15-18, Jesus declared that receiving, embracing and confessing this revelation from God that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God is the key to be blessed with forgiveness and eternal life and become part of His true Church, built upon the Rock (Christ Himself).
Romans 10:13 says "all who call on the Name of the Lord (Jesus) shall be saved." This is a quote from Joel 2:32, where 'Lord' translates 'Jehovah.' Thus this says Jesus is Jehovah God, and that we are saved through believing and calling upon Him as our Lord God. Thus saving faith must include knowing and submitting to Jesus as our Lord and our God.
"Life and death are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21). Jesus said that with our tongues we either bring forth good or evil things in our lives (Matthew 12:34-37). The course of our life and our spiritual growth is greatly determined by our use of our tongue. James 1:22-25 tells that we must not just be hearers, but also doers of the word and that we will be blessed in our doing (obedience). Then he highlighted the control of our tongue as being of first importance in doing God's word (v26), and later he devotes James 3 to explaining and illustrating the power of the tongue and the importance of us controlling it, so that we only speak the good and not the evil. Derek expounds James 3 explaining the wonderful examples given by James, including horses, ships, fires, wild beasts and springs.
We should be on a journey of ever growing faith (2Thessalonians 1:3). The Bible promises if we SEEK God we will FIND Him. (1) First, we discover Him as the almighty CREATOR of the universe and of us. We are created by a Personal God, the FATHER, who wants us to know Him. (2) Then, we discover He has revealed Himself in His Word, and ultimately in His SON, Jesus Christ, and we come to know Him as our SAVIOUR. (3) Then, His SPIRIT comes to indwell us and He works in our life as our SANCTIFIER, transforming us from glory to glory.Likewise, there are 3 LEVELS of FAITH: (1) GENERAL FAITH in God - His existence and character, His power and goodness, which is the basis for HOPE (Hebrews 11:6). (2) SPECIFIC FAITH that comes to God (on the basis of general faith) and receives His promises (TRUST), for example Hebrews 11:11, Mark 11:24, Hebrews 4:16. But (3) the highest level of faith is trusting God, even in times of testing, when all seems lost. This is the expression of faith manifested in the loyalty of LOVE. We see this kind of faith exemplified by Abraham offering up Isaac, when he passed the ultimate test of faith, when he proved his love for God (Genesis 22, Hebrews 11:17-19). This Level 3 Faith was also exemplified by Habakkuk (3:17,18), and by Job in the midst of his trials (James 5:11). These 3 LEVELS of Faith are illustrated in Daniel 3:16-18: (1) general faith in the character of God ("our God is able to deliver us"), (2) specific faith in the promise of God ("He will deliver us from your hand, O king"), and (3) trusting God and staying loyal to Him, even if it means suffering loss ("even if He does not deliver us, we will not bow down to any other god").
The origin and basis of Holy Communion is the Passover Meal, for in it we remember Christ our Passover Lamb, who was sacrificed for us. He fulfilled the prophetic picture of Passover, for by His Blood He released us from slavery to sin and from the dominion of the kingdom of darkness, and sets us free to live a new life with Him. Derek describes the original Passover in Exodus 12. The Passover Lamb provided 2 things: (1) the BLOOD, when applied, provided forgiveness for sin and protection from judgment, and (2) the FLESH, when eaten, provided physical healing for their bodies (Psalm 105:37). The type of Passover was fulfilled by Jesus who died as our Passover Lamb (1Cor 5:7). (1) He gave His BLOOD for us, to establish a New Covenant with God, providing forgiveness from sin and deliverance from Divine Judgment, and (2) He gave His FLESH to us, providing strength, health and life. In Communion, the WINE and the BREAD represents His BLOOD and His BODY (flesh) given for us. As there was healing in the Passover, so there is healing in Communion, which is the New Testament equivalent to the Passover Meal, for Jesus instituted Communion at a Passover Meal. At the Last Supper, Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper (Communion) as the Memorial Feast of the New Covenant in His Blood by saying: “DO THIS in REMEMBRANCE of Me” (Luke 22:19, 1Cor 11:23-26). He transformed the Passover Meal into its New Covenant fulfilment, showing how all its details were prophetic pictures of how He would fulfil the Passover through His death and resurrection. Pastor Derek describes and demonstrates the detailed Order of Service for the Passover Meal, and relates it to Jesus' words and actions at the Last Supper. In particular he shows how the Afikomen provides a wonderful picture of the Gospel. The AFIKOMEN (representing the Son of God) is brought forth from the MATZA TOSH (the Godhead). Only the MIDDLE PIECE of the 3 pieces of bread (the Trinity) comes into manifestation (the AFIKOMEN), which represents CHRIST, the SON, coming forth out of God and revealed in human form, while the Father and Spirit remained invisible. The AFIKOMEN is a picture of Jesus: (1) UNLEAVENED BREAD (He is the SINLESS bread of life), (2) STRIPED, and (3) PIERCED. The AFIKOMEN was (1) BROKEN, signifying Jesus broken for us on the Cross – His DEATH (Luke 22:19a), and then it was (2) WRAPPED in a cloth, and hidden from sight (signifying His BURIAL). Later, the AFIKOMEN was brought forth from its hiding (burial) place. This symbolised Jesus appearing again, having been resurrected on the third day. Luke 22:19: “Jesus took BREAD (the AFIKOMEN = the resurrected Christ), gave THANKS, BLESSED it and BROKE it, and GAVE it to the disciples and said: “TAKE, EAT; this (AFIKOMEN) is My BODY, which is GIVEN for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” The Afikomen is eaten after its death, burial and resurrection, so in Communion the bread that we eat represents the risen Christ, who was blessed with every blessing on our behalf. Thus we partake of His blessed resurrection life. The Communion Bread is the Afikomen, representing the resurrection life of Christ, given to us. Jesus interpreted the Afikomen as Himself, risen from the dead and giving Himself to us to eat. When Jesus divided up (broke) the bread and gave it to the believers, this represented the resurrected Christ dividing, distributing and giving Himself to us to eat, saying: “I am the BREAD of LIFE” (John 6:35,48). Then came the 3rd CUP of SALVATION: “He took the CUP, after supper saying: “This CUP is the New Covenant in My Blood, which is shed for you...Then He gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying: “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My Blood of the New Covenant which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Luke 22:20, Matthew 26:27,28). This is the CUP of BLESSING that we drink at Communion (1Cor 10:16,17). Christ has GIVEN HIMSELF to us through His BLOOD and His RESURRECTION LIFE, and now it's up to us to EAT of His LIFE, and DRINK DEEPLY from His CUP of SALVATION and BLESSING.
The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13, Mark 4, Luke 8) is the master Parable of Jesus, describing the operation of God's Kingdom in this Age. God works through the seed of His Word, being sown into the soil of men's hearts, producing good fruit, therefore: "He who has ears, let him hear, and keep on hearing, the Word" (Mark 4:9, 23). The harvest of fruit produced depends on the measure of priority, hearing and attention that we give to His Word: "He who has ears, let him hear, and keep on hearing the Word: "Take heed what you hear. With the same measure (of hearing and attention) you use, it (fruit) will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. For whoever has (ears to hear God's Word), to him more (fruit) will be given; but whoever does not have (ears to hear), even what he has will be taken away from him” (Mark 4:24-25).
Pastor Derek shares from the 3 classic passages on the Rapture of the Church (John 14:1-3, 1Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1Corinthians 15:50-58), showing how it will take place in 2 phases, heralded by 2 trumpet blasts. The first blast will resurrect the dead in Christ, and then cause them to rise to meet the Lord in the air. The second blast will cause those who are still alive to receive immortal bodies, and then be caught up to meet Christ also.
Derek shares the key scriptures that tell us how we can quickly rebound from (1) sin, (2) setbacks, (3) success and (4) hurts.
Spiritual warfare is being waged over the battlefield of men's hearts and minds. Join Derek as He shares about the war between the Romans and Pirates in 63 BC, which gives the background to 2Corinthians 10:3-6, which talks about the weapons of our warfare being mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Paul used this war, where the Romans defeated the Pirates, as a picture of how we can be victorious, by using (1) God's mighty weapons (words), and (2) His strategy for deploying them, which is to first locate and pull down the enemy strongholds (false beliefs erected against God's truth), and then take every pirate-thought captive to the obedience of Christ, just as the pirates were made to surrender to Rome.
When we trust in Christ as our Rock Foundation for our being, life and eternal salvation, we will be unshakable (Matthew 16:18, 1 Corinthians 3:11, Isaiah 28:16, Matthew 7:24-27). As we look to Him and trust in Him, He will uphold us by His power, so we will not fall, as Peter experienced when he walked on the water. The Christian life is based on a personal relationship with the Lord. Through knowing and trusting the Lord, we experience His abundant and eternal life (John 17:3, 10:10). The Christian life is trusting and loving the Lord, our Rock and our life, rather than living by a set of rules.God designed us to be His Temples (dwelling places of God) on 3 dimensions and 3 levels of holiness: (1) our spirit (holy of holies), (2) our soul (holy place), and (3) our body (outer court). We can understand how we should live by understanding the dynamics of God's Temples. Man was made to live by faith, trusting in God's Spirit, flowing from his spirit to the glory of God. When man sinned he died spiritually, cut off from God's Spirit. He then lived according to his Independent Soul Life (ISL), under the power of the sin-nature in his flesh. When we receive Christ as our Lord and Saviour, Christ, by His Spirit, enters our holy of holies, applies His Blood to our spirit, making it into a perfect new creation, and He sits enthroned there through His indwelling Spirit - this is the New Birth. We then become a functioning Temple of the living God. Christ now lives in us as our Rock Foundation (Colossians 1:27).
Love is the measure of who we are (1Corinthians 13:2,3,8,13, Matthew 20:26). Although feelings, decisions, thoughtfulness are manifestations of love, they are not the ESSENCE of LOVE, which is SPIRITUAL, coming from the Presence of God in us, for God is love, and all love is of God (1John 4:7,8,16), and the fruit of the Spirit is love (Galatians 5:22). God is the Source of love and He pours His love it into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). This then empowers us to think loving thoughts and making the decision to act in love. We cannot generate love from our own soul, for it comes from the Spirit of God (Matthew 5:3). In our soul, we must believe in and receive the love that He gives us, and surrender to His Love as He pours into our hearts, and yield to it in our lives (obedience). This is our soul aligning to the Love of God that comes from the Spirit. How much you know God (through your fellowship with Him) determines how much you are connected to the Source of Love, which determines how much love you can express in your life. We GROW in LOVE by (1) RECEIVING His LOVE into our heart by faith, and then (2) RELEASING His love through our words and actions.First, we must PRAY and ask God to FILL our HEART with His LOVE. The classic PRAYER to be FILLED with the LOVE of God is Ephesians 3:14-19, which Derek expounds. God wants us to comprehend, receive and experience: "(1) the WIDTH (John 3:16) and (2) LENGTH (Jeremiah 31:3) and (3) DEPTH and (4) HEIGHT of the LOVE of CHRIST, which passes knowledge (it does not come from your mind, but from the Spirit)." In this way, we "may be filled with all the fullness of God (who is love).” God is ready to fill us with Himself abundantly above all that we ask or think, through the power of the Holy Spirit who is working within us, but He is limited by our (1) THINKING and (2) ASKING, so we need to (1) meditate on His Word and pray for more revelation of the 4 dimensions of His love, and (2) come to Him in confident faith and lay hold of His love, with which He wants to fill our hearts (Ephesians 3:20). God's ultimate purpose is that He would be glorified through His Church; that is, through our union with CHRIST, the GLORY of GOD (the manifestation of His LOVE) would shine through us by the power of the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT, to the glory of GOD, the FATHER (Ephesians 3:21).
Two miracles of Jesus demonstrate how we can walk in victory over the power of sin, circumstances and satan: (1) crossing to the other side of Galilee through a storm, and (2) walking on the water. God has called us to be overcomers, who go over, not under!
The first sign-miracle of Jesus in John 2 was turning water into wine, which was a demonstration of what He will do for us if we believe in Him. This is a picture of our New Birth and our ongoing transformation by the Spirit of God. The way this miracle happened shows that we must give Jesus the right to turn our water into wine, by submitting to His Lordship.
God's mighty power is in us, through the Holy Spirit, and it is available to us, but we need to have a revelation of this power, so that we can draw upon it by faith, as well as the wisdom to walk in that power, for it is released through our obedience. Ephesians 1 gives us a revelation of this mighty power, by describing what it has already accomplished when it was released in Christ, when He was (1) made alive from the dead, (2) raised far above all powers, and (3) enthroned on high. Then Ephesians 2 describes what this resurrection power accomplished in our spirits when we were born again in Christ: (1) Our spirit was made alive with Christ, changing us from spiritual death to being spiritually alive to God. (2) Our spirit was raised far above all opposing powers (sin, satan and the world), for His victory was imparted to our spirit. (3) Our spirit was seated with Christ far above, having been empowered to reign with Christ. This same power is available to us in our life today! (Ephesians 3:20).
Derek describes the triune nature of man (spirit-soul-body), made in the image of our Triune God, and how every part of man was affected by the Fall. Since man lives on 3 dimensions, he needs a 3D salvation, which only God can accomplish. If we trust in Him, the God of peace Himself will sanctify you completely; so that your whole spirit, soul, and body will be blameless at the Coming of Christ (1Thessalonians 5:23). First, (1) our spirit was saved in the New Birth. Then (2) our soul is being saved now by God's Word and Spirit. Finally, when Christ returns He will save our bodies by resurrected them. Our salvation will then be completed by our glorification.
In these evil times, it is essential that we stand firm in the Lord and do not compromise our faith to the spirit of the world. The Lord is seeking those whose hearts are loyal to Him, so that He can show Himself strong on their behalf (2Chronicles 16:9). Derek relates the events in 2Chronicles 16 to our present life in the world, and reveals from Ephesians 6:10-17 the keys to being able to stand strong and stay loyal to God in the present spiritual warfare. First, we need to be filled with the Power of His SPIRIT (v10), and second we need to put on the whole Armour of God, which God provides to us through His WORD (v11-17). Derek describes all the pieces of God's Armour, and how to put them on, so that they become effectual in our fight of faith.
Pastor Derek shares about God's general will and His specific will for your life, and gives 5 major keys to how you can miss God's will big-time. These concern 5 areas, where God highlights what His will is for all of us, including baptism, thanksgiving, submission, sexual morality and overcoming spiritual lust (the occult).
JESUS CHRIST Himself is our FOUNDATION both for salvation, and for our daily life (1Corinthians 3:11). Jesus said: “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a SLAVE of SIN... if the Son sets you FREE (from SIN), you will be FREE indeed” (John 8:34,36). The the New Birth, He has already set our spirit free from sin, through His indwelling Spirit (1Corinthians 3:16, 2Corinthians 3:17, 5:17,21). However, we still have the sin-nature in our flesh to deal with. “The spirit indeed is willing (to do God’s will), but the FLESH is WEAK” (Matthew 26:41). “The WEAKNESS of the FLESH (to do God's will)” (Romans 6:19) is due to “SIN in the FLESH” (Romans 8:3). Pastor Derek goes verse by verse through Romans 6:2 - 8:14 to expound God's wonderful revelation of how we can walk in victory over sin. When we were baptised into Christ, we were united with Chris's death and resurrection, so that our old spirit man was crucified with Christ, and our reborn spirit (the New Man) has been resurrected with Christ, and so it consists of the resurrection life of Christ, which has overcome sin (Romans 6:3-6), so as we live out from our spirit we experience victory: “Reckon yourselves (in your spirit) to be DEAD indeed to SIN, but ALIVE to God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:11). In this way, the BODY of SIN (the sin-nature in our flesh) might be done away with (dethroned and neutralised), that we should no longer be slaves of sin" (Romans 6:6). We have a choice now, to walk in the Spirit or in the flesh: “Do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. Present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members (of your body) as instruments of righteousness to God” (Romans 6:12-13). When we live by Christ's life in us, we will "serve God in the NEWNESS of the SPIRIT, and not in the oldness of the letter”(Romans 7:6). By walking in the Spirit we overcome sin in the flesh: “for the LAW of the SPIRIT of LIFE in Christ Jesus has made me FREE from the LAW of SIN and DEATH” (Romans 8:2).
Through Adam’s sin, (1) we were put into in a state of sin and were counted to be guilty before God, just because we were in Adam (imputed sin), and (2) we inherited from Adam a sin-nature (called ‘sin’) in the flesh through physical birth. In Romans 5-8, Paul describes how to come out of bondage to the sin-nature into the liberty of the Spirit. In this message, Derek goes verse by verse through Romans 5:17 - 6:23 to expound God's revelation of how we can walk in victory over sin.
The Foundation for our being, character and life is the PERSON of CHRIST Himself (1Corinthians 3:11, Isaiah 28:16, Colossians 2:6-7). Christ is not just the Foundation for our eternal salvation, but for our very being and everyday living (Romans 1:16-17). "The RIGHTEOUSNESS of God is revealed from (saving) FAITH to (living) FAITH; as it is written: “(1) The JUST (by FAITH) shall (2) LIVE by FAITH” (v17). (1) First we are JUSTIFIED (made righteous) by FAITH. When we trusted in Christ, His perfect RIGHTEOUSNESS was IMPUTED to us (put to our account). This was a legal transaction based on the Great Exchange of our sin and His righteousness accomplished on the Cross. We no longer stand before God on the basis of our own good works, but of His perfect righteousness, which now means God accepts us perfectly, just as He accepts Jesus, because we are not standing on our own merit, but the merit of Jesus. Christ and His imputed righteousness is our forever, firm foundation for our eternal salvation, and for our life today, and it ensures our eternal life. On this legal basis God instantly gave us the New Birth of our spirit. The resurrection life and imparted righteousness of Christ was applied to our spirit. Now we are justified by faith, we are also to LIVE by FAITH in the same Foundation (Christ). Living by faith in Christ starts by looking to Him as our Source of life and leaning on Him as our basis of operation, rather than trusting in our own soul. As we trust in the Life of Christ, He sanctifies us by His Spirit, and we receive His imparted righteousness (grace) into our souls, inspiring and empowering us to do His will (Philippians 2:13). The more we submit to Him and trust in Him as our Foundation, the more He fills us with His love and empowers us with His grace. Thus He is also our Foundation, not just for our everyday life. Living by faith starts by submitting our hearts to the Lordship of Christ and opening our hearts to receive His love-gift of His Spirit and His Word to us. Then by depending on the Spirit of grace we must put His Word into practice in our life (Matthew 7:24-25).The first 2 Foundational Doctrines of Christ in Hebrews 6:1-2 are (1) REPENTANCE from dead works and (2) FAITH toward God. They describe the necessary attitude of our hearts, to live our lives on the Foundation of Christ, living out from the supply of His grace, trusting in Him as our base of operation. We must REPENT from the old way of operating from our independent soul-life, trusting in ourselves, which only produces dead works, and instead embrace the new way of trusting in Christ as our life, which produces the fruit of the Spirit (Matt 10:39, Rom 7:6, John 6:63). The new way is living ‘under grace’, by faith in the life of Christ within us. He is the only One who can save us from the penalty, power and presence of sin. The old way is living under law, where we make laws and principles our basis for living, and then try to live them out from our own soul. Sin is the opposite of holiness and righteousness. Living under righteousness brings life, but living under sin brings death. God designed us to be holy to God, filled with His Spirit of righteousness, empowering us to live a life of righteousness by trusting Him as our Source, and thereby producing good works. The essence of sin is rejecting this way of living by faith, depending on God, and instead going our own way, living out from ourselves as the centre. Our own soul-life, rather than God’s life, becomes our base of operation (Isaiah 53:6).The problem of sin is on 3 dimensions. Level 1 of SIN is the STATE of SIN (IMPUTED SIN). This is due to the original sin of Adam, the representative head of the human race, so when he sinned, we all sinned in Adam. As a result spiritual and physical death came on all men. This is called IMPUTED SIN (Adam’s sin was put to our account). All mankind are born legally in a State of Sin, simply because of being in Adam (Romans 5:12-21).Level 2 of SIN is the SIN-NATURE or IMPARTED SIN. When Adam sinned (1) his spirit died (disconnected from God’s life), (2) he received a sin-nature in his flesh (imparted sin), replacing his spirit as the controlling power over his soul, causing his soul to operate in pride, independently from God (the independent soul-life). The sin-nature is called ‘sin’ (1John 1:8, Ro 6:6,7,11,12,14), ‘sin in the flesh’ (Romans 8:3), ‘the body of sin’ (Ro 6:6). We inherited a sin-nature in our flesh from Adam through physical birth (John 3:6).We were born slaves to sin (the sin-nature), and we cannot set ourselves free.*Level 3 of SIN is our PERSONAL SINS. We commit sins when we yield to the sin-nature in our flesh (John 8:34). Through the Cross, Christ provided the answer for all 3 dimensions of SIN. Daniel 9:24 predicts Christ will:"(1) finish THE TRANSGRESSION (Adam’s original sin),(2) make an end of SINS (providing forgiveness for personal sins),(3) make reconciliation (atonement) fo
There are 7 Foundational Doctrines in Hebrews 6:2: “The FOUNDATION of (1) repentance from dead works and (2) of faith toward God, (3) of DOCTRINE, (4) of BAPTISMS, (5) of laying on of hands, (6) of resurrection of the dead, and (7) of eternal judgment.” The doctrine of DOCTRINE (the TEACHING of God's Word) refers to the Bible's teaching on the importance and centrality of the WORD of God in our lives, and therefore the necessity of receiving right teaching and having correct doctrine. God's WORD is TRUTH (John 17:17), and the mark of true disciples of Christ is that they abide in His Word by hearing and obeying it (Matthew 28:18-20). In this way we grow spiritually and experience freedom from sin (John 8:31-32, 1Tim 2:4, 1Peter 2:2). God's WORD is our SPIRITUAL FOOD, and so it is necessary for our spiritual strength and growth (Matthew 4:4): “My WORDS are SPIRIT and LIFE” (John 6:63). God’s Word contains His life, Spirit and energy: “The WORD of God is LIVING and POWERFUL” (Hebrews 4:12). “ALL SCRIPTURE is given by INSPIRATION of God (literally: ‘God-breathed’), and is profitable” (2Timothy 3:16). “The WORD of God which LIVES and ABIDES FOREVER” (1Peter 1:23). “FAITH comes by hearing, and hearing by the WORD of God” (Romans 10:17). “Blessed are those who HUNGER (for God's WORD) and THIRST (for the SPIRIT of God) for righteousness (from God), for they shall be FILLED” (Matthew 5:6). God provides: “WINE that makes glad the heart of man, OIL to make his face shine (the HOLY SPIRIT), and BREAD (the WORD), which STRENGTHENS man’s HEART” (Psalm 104:15).We must EAT the WORD of God: “Man shall not LIVE by BREAD alone, but by every WORD that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). The process of EATING the Word is MEDITATION. This involves (1) VERBALISING it, (2) PERSONALISING it, (3) VISUALISING it, and (4) MEMORISING it. This way you will digest it, and it will become part of your soul (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:1-3). Hearing God's Word is the one necessary thing for your life (Luke 10:39-42).
After receiving Christ, we are being transformed by God's SPIRIT as we HEAR and DO God's WORD (Romans 12:1-2, 2Corinthians 3:16-18, James 1:21-25). (1) A man must first receive GOOD TREASURE into his HEART, by meditating on the Word of God and receiving His transforming life into your heart from the Spirit. This way his heart has an abundance of good treasure. (2) He must then BRING FORTH those GOOD THINGS from his HEART into his LIFE, by his words and actions. The primary way we express and release what is in our heart is by our WORDS: “For out of the ABUNDANCE of the heart the MOUTH SPEAKS” (Matthew 12:34-35). Your WORDS are very important to the final outcome of our lives (Matthew 12:37). We release the good things in our heart into our life by our words, for: “with the HEART one BELIEVES unto RIGHTEOUSNESS (right standing in the promise of God), and with the MOUTH CONFESSION (of the promise) is made unto SALVATION (the manifestation of the promise in our life)” (Romans 10:10).We must be DOERS of the WORD, and not HEARERS ONLY, otherwise we are deceiving ourselves if we think we are growing spiritually (James 1:22, Matthew 7:24-27), for we are BLESSED in our DOING of God's Word (James 1:25). Then James says that DOING the WORD starts by CONTROLLING our TONGUE – that is the first thing (James 1:26). James expands his teaching on the TONGUE in James 3, which is a chapter entirely devoted to our use of the TONGUE. He says is it the CONTROL CENTRE of our BODY and LIFE. If we can control our tongue, we are mature, and able also to bring our whole body under control (v2). We control the direction of our life by controlling our tongue, just as we can control a horse by using a bit in their mouth (v3), and just like a pilot can control the direction of a large ship, by using a small rudder, representing our tongue (v4). The tongue is also capable of great destruction, like a fire. If you do not control it, it has the power to destroy the course of your whole life. Because God set the tongue as our control centre, if we allow our tongue to be controlled by the fire of evil, then that destructive fire will spread to our whole body and life (v5-6). The tongue is like a wild beast, so we need God’s help to tame our tongue (v7-8). If we do not exercise control, both blessing and cursing will proceed from our mouth, which should not happen (v9-10).In nature, a spring either sends forth fresh water or bitter water through the opening, but not both (v11). The reason why both blessing and cursing can come out of our mouths, is that there are 2 springs or fountains within us - the SPRING of the SPIRIT and the FOUNTAIN of the FLESH. We choose which spring we yield to. Your FLESH FOUNTAIN can produce nothing good, and your SPIRIT SPRING can only produce good (v12). We need to learn to discern between these 2 FOUNTAINS, between the wisdom from BELOW (words which are earthly, sensual, demonic and produce evil fruit), and the wisdom from ABOVE, which is pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, without hypocrisy. Words from above flow in a Spirit of peace and TASTE good (sweet), and produce good FRUIT (righteousness and peace) - (James 3:13-18).
Join Pastor Derek as he reveals the origins of the Gospel in the Year of Jubilee, which took place on the Day of Atonement, when the Jubilee trumpeters proclaimed forgiveness, release and restoration for all, throughout all the land, on the basis of the great sacrifice made on that day (Leviticus 25). Jesus initiated the preaching of the Gospel, and commanded us to continue preaching this same Gospel. In Luke 4, Jesus claimed that His preaching of the Gospel was the fulfilment of Isaiah 61, a prophecy of the Messiah fulfilling the Type of Jubilee for all men by preaching Good News to the poor, proclaiming the Acceptable Year of the Lord, on the basis of God's acceptance of His great final Sacrifice (Isaiah 53).
Two miracles of Jesus demonstrate how we can walk in victory over the power of sin, circumstances and satan: (1) The crossing to the other side of Galilee through a storm, and (2) Walking on the Water. God has called us to be overcomers, who go over, not under!
There are 2 ingredients to every miracle of God: (1) God's SPIRIT and WORD, which are the active agents of the miracle, and (2) a receptive VOID, which is necessary to receive a miracle. This is illustrated with a number of examples.
The Sacrifice of Praise is when we thank God before we see the answer or manifestation, based on His Promise and His Name (Hebrews 13:15). This opens up a spiritual highway through which God can move (Psalm 50:23), as seen in Jehoshaphat's victory over a massive enemy army (2Chronicles 20), and Jonah's deliverance from the belly of the great fish (Jonah 2), and what happened to Paul and Silas when they prayed and sung praises in prison at midnight (Acts 16).
The Spirit of Faith is described in 2 Corinthians 4:13: "we (1) BELIEVE and therefore (2) SPEAK." Derek shares about (1) believing God's Word with our heart, and then (2) speaking it forth with our lips.
The Beauty of the Lord is His Holiness - the sum and perfection of His moral attributes. When we trust in God and surrender to Him, He imparts His holiness to us through His Holy Spirit.
One common objection to the claim that it is God’s will to heal His people is Paul’s THORN in the FLESH. Many say that it was a sickness that God gave Paul to keep him humble, and that when Paul asked to be healed God said 'No.' In this video, Derek proves that this interpretation is wrong. The key questions are: (1) what is Paul’s Thorn?, and (2) where did it come from - from God or the devil? The answers are made clear in God's Word. We also explore the significance of God's answer to Paul: "“My GRACE is sufficient for you, for My STRENGTH is made perfect in WEAKNESS.” We also see how this principle was demonstrated in Paul's life, when he was stoned to death.
Israel's sin resulted in her capital city being sieged by the Syrians and experiencing serious famine. When the king repented, Elijah prophesied that within 24 hours, the siege would be lifted and Israel would possess abundant provisions. However, this promise could only come to pass if God's people believed His Word and acted on it. We see how God brought His Word to pass through 4 heroes of faith, namely 4 lepers, who rose up at twilight, and marched their March of Faith to the Syrian camp. When the lepers acted (marched) on the Word of God, then God’s power was released. When the 4 lepers marched, God’s army marched with them, and as a result, the enemy fled in terror and victory was assured! It was only when they acted in faith, walking on the Word of God, that Heaven marched with them, resulting in total victory and abundant provision. Likewise, for God’s promises to be fulfilled in our life, we must rise up out of passivity, and do what God tells us to do, and march our March of Faith. When we arise and march our March of Faith, walking on the Word of God, we are not marching alone, because God and His army will march with us, causing the enemy to flee in terror before us, and bringing us into the full possession of His promise. If the 4 lepers could do it, then so can we!
God wants us to live today to the fullest. God has designed us to live ONE DAY at a TIME. A great life is made up of lots of good days. We need to learn from the past and plan for the future, but we need to learn to LIVE in the NOW. He wants us to focus all our energies into TODAY. The best way you can prepare for tomorrow is by living today well.
In this teaching we look at the healing of a leper (Luke 5:12-15). This is the first of 4 Messianic Miracles, which were specific signs of the Messiah. The others are casting out a dumb spirit, healing of a man born blind, and resurrection after 3 days - the sign of Jonah. The special significance and symbolism of Leprosy in the Bible explains why it was a Messianic Miracle. God uses leprosy to teach us about sin. That’s why it was treated differently from all other sicknesses. Leprosy is a picture of sin (Isaiah 1:18), which is why the Bible only talks about the cleansing of a leper. Derek shares how leprosy is a picture of sin. The healing of a leper is a picture of Messiah saving us from sin, for we were all spiritual lepers. Since only Messiah can save us from our sin, it was appropriate that only Messiah can cleanse lepers, which is why it was a Messianic Miracle, so when Jesus healed lepers it was a special sign proving He was the Messiah. The cleansing of the leper in Mark 1:40-44 is a picture of how a sinner receives salvation from the Lord, who is full of compassion for us.2 chapters are devoted to what the priests should do with lepers. Leviticus 13 told them how to diagnose leprosy. Leviticus 14 told them what to do when a leper was healed. While the priests constantly practiced Leviticus 13, they never practiced Leviticus 14, for no leper was ever healed in Israel! They came to conclude that only Messiah will heal lepers. There was a prescribed Ceremony for leprosy that was ordained in the Leviticus 14, that the priests had to fulfil whenever a leper was healed. When Jesus sent the leper to go to the priests to verify his healing and perform the Ceremony, that was a testimony to them that the Messiah was on the scene. This Ceremony which involved 2 BIRDS. It revealed the basis upon which leper was healed (Leviticus 14:1-7). This Ceremony gives us a wonderful picture of the Atonement of Christ. God is declaring that the cleansing and healing of the leper was accomplished through the Atonement. Since leprosy represents both (1) sin and (2) sickness, this Ceremony shows both (1) that we are CLEANSED from SIN, and (2) that we are HEALED from SICKNESS through the ATONEMENT of Christ. This confirms that Healing is in the Atonement. Healing from sickness and cleansing from sin is only possible through Christ's Atonement - that is what the ceremonial Law of the Leper proclaimed.
Isaiah 12 is a prophetic song describing how New Covenant believers have a spring of everlasting life within them. Derek explains how we can draw water from these springs of salvation by praise, prayer, witnessing, singing and shouting.
After the Rapture, all believers will stand before Christ to give an account of our lives. This is not a judgement to determine our salvation or condemnation, but to receive our eternal rewards. Derek discusses the 4 classic passages on the Judgment Seat of Christ (Romans 14:10-13, 2 Corinthians 5:9-11, 1 Corinthians 4:2-5, and 1 Corinthians 3:10-15).
Galatians 6:16 is a key verse in the theological debate about Israel: "as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, AND upon the Israel of God." Replacement theologians, who teach that the Church has now replaced Israel in God's purposes, point to this verse (in fact this is the only verse to which they can point) and use it to say that the Church is now the Israel of God. This is reflected in the NIV, which substitutes the AND for EVEN, translating it as: "Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, EVEN the Israel of God." However this is an invalid interpretation because the word 'kai' means 'and' rather than 'even' 99.8% of the time. If Paul wanted to imply that the Church was the Israel of God, all he had to do is not write the 'kai' at all. We see that this interpretation also contradicts the consistent use of 'Israel' in the New Testament (with over 70 examples) as meaning the Jewish people and nation. The New Testament was written in a time when both Israel and the Church existed together, and it rightly distinguished between them. It always describes saved and unsaved Gentiles as still being Gentiles', and both saved and unsaved Jews as being part of Israel. Paul however does talk about the subset or remnant of Israel, who are also true believers, as being the true Israel (Romans 2:28, 9:6), so the natural interpretation of what Paul means by 'the Israel of God' is the Jewish believers in Christ or Messianic Jews.This is supported by a plain reading of Galatians 6:15-16: "In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a New Creation. And as many as walk according to this rule (salvation by grace through faith), peace and mercy be (1) upon them (saved Gentiles), and (2) upon the Israel of God." In 6:15, he introduces 2 groups - the Circumcision (the Jews) and the Uncircumcision (the Gentiles) - see Galatians 2:7-8, saying that as far as becoming a New Creation (salvation by grace through faith) is concerned, it makes no difference whether you are a Jew or a Gentile. Then Paul says that all those who live as New Creations in Christ have God's mercy (forgiveness) and peace upon them, whether they be (1) Gentiles or (2) Jews. The fact that he is speaking of 2 groups within the Church is confirmed by the double use of UPON, and the use of 'kai' (AND). Paul describes the saved Gentiles as 'them' because he was a Jew. Paul himself was part of the Israel of God: "the remnant (of Israel) according to the election of grace" (Romans 11:5). Understanding this removes any basis in Scripture for replacement theology. Since most of the Galatian Church was Gentile, perhaps Paul perceived the danger of the Church becoming anti-semitic and turning against Jewish believers generally, in view of Paul's strong words against the these false Jewish teachers of the law. This is probably why he affirmed 'the Israel of God' in their midst.Paul finishes as he began in Galatians 1 by affirming (1) his apostleship (6:17) and (2) his message (6:18). (1) To establish his apostleship he points to the marks of the Lord Jesus on his body, received through his persecutions, as if to say, since you are so impressed by the outward mark of circumcision, look at my marks, which prove I am a true slave and soldier of Christ, rather than a self-serving man-pleaser, so let no one trouble me any more with attacks on my apostleship (6:17). (2) "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit" (6:18) summarises the Gospel of salvation by grace. When you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord, then as a free-gift, His grace (purchased on the Cross) goes into your spirit, making you a New Creation in Christ, and now that grace continues to work from your spirit, changing you from the inside out. In the Greek, this is followed by 'brethren', reminding them that although he has had to correct them, they are family. This is a final tender appeal, assuring them of his love, holding out his arms to them to be reconciled. Then, by his final word 'Amen' ,he was saying 'let this issue be settled once and for all now.' God indeed used this letter to set the Galatians free from legalism, but this same issue has reared its head again and again in Church history, whenever man-made religion overshadows Divine Grace, and God has used Galatians to set the Church free from legalism so that it can live under grace (for example Galatians was central to the Reformation). The key revelation, the starting point for the whole Christian life, is justification by grace through faith alone (apart from works), and everything else flows out from that truth.Tim, John and Derek conclude their study of Galatians by sharing their favourite scriptures from Galatians.
Paul generally dictated his letters to a scribe, and then wrote the greeting at the end in his own handwriting, to personalise and authenticate the letter. But in Galatians 6:11-18 he wrote his whole conclusion in his own handwriting, using large letters (v11). He clearly wanted to put great emphasis on these final verses. In them, he contrasts the 2 kinds of religion (the 2 ways of salvation and living) represented by his opponents and himself. On the one hand, the legalists promoted a religion of human accomplishment, emphasising the keeping of externals, focusing on the outward form of godliness, but denying its power, making a good showing in the flesh to gain the praise of man, and to avoid persecution (6:12-13). On the other hand, Paul preached the Gospel of Divine achievement (grace), centred on the Cross of Christ, which is is the power of God unto salvation, able to make us New Creations, and change our hearts with the love and grace of God (6:14-15).These 2 ways oppose each other because legalism encourages self-righteousness, but the Cross declares that everything that a man can produce from himself in his external works and law-keeping is only worthy of judgment, and therefore he cannot save himself, because he continually breaks the law of God in his heart (v13). Therefore, preaching the Cross to the self-righteous often results in persecution, because it bursts their bubble.The true faith is based on the Cross, and true believers embrace and boast in the Cross rather than in themselves and their own achievements (6:14), because they know all their righteousness and salvation comes through the Cross of Christ. We are saved through personally receiving Jesus as our Lord and trusting in His perfect work on the Cross. When we trust in Christ for our salvation, we were put (baptised) into Christ; our old man was crucified with Christ and we are risen with Christ as a New Creation - this is a work of God's grace, independent of our works, or whether or not we are circumcised (6:15). This truth of salvation by grace through faith (6:15) is described as the fundamental rule, which characterises and governs the life of all true believers (6:16). That is, our whole christian life flows out from the foundation and well-spring of our salvation by grace through faith.When we accept the Cross and are crucified with Christ, we are born again into the Kingdom of God. This fundamentally changes our relationship with the world, as Paul says: "by whom (Christ and His Cross), (1) the world has been crucified to me, and (2) I have been crucified to the world" (6:14). The Cross created a separation between us and the world. (1) Now we see the true nature of the world through the standpoint of the Cross, as being under God's judgment - so we no longer love the world, or get our values from the world, but instead we find our meaning and value from our relationship with God. (2) Like a man hanging on a cross, we are in this world, but no longer of it (John 17:14-18). We are still alive in this world and it can still tempt us, but we know that we no longer belong here - we are outsiders, not insiders. A crucified man is no longer enmeshed in the world-system. The world can offer him nothing. He knows his time is short here, and he is just passing through, for he is on his way to a different destination. Likewise, through embracing (boasting in) the Cross, we lose our attachment to this world, knowing that our destiny is with God, and so we look for His praise, rather than the world's praise. In this way, Paul contrasts himself with the motives of the egotistical false-teachers. Whereas Paul seeks the praise and glory of God and the triumph of His grace in the lives of the Galatians, his opponents want them to be circumcised, so that they would look good to their fellow Jews (for turning the Galatian believers into Jews), and so be praised by the Jewish world. Therefore, they reject the message of Cross, which glorifies God and condemns all man-made righteousness, because identification with the Cross would mean rejection and persecution from their world.
In this Series, we study the Foundational Doctrines of Christ. By hearing and doing the teaching of Christ, we build our lives on the ROCK - Christ Himself, the only true and firm foundation (Matthew 7:24-27, 16:18, Isaiah 28:16, 1Corinthians 3:11). Hebrews 5:12- 6:3 define the 7 key Foundational Doctrines of Christ, the Elementary Principles of God, the Milk of the Word, that we need to master before going on to the solid food. This is how our lives are to be built on the Foundation Rock – the Person of Christ.The FOUNDATION of JESUS CHRIST is laid in our lives by the GOSPEL, which reveals who He is, and His love for us, demonstrated by what He did for us in His death and resurrection: “No other FOUNDATION can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is JESUS CHRIST” (1Corinthians 3:11). When we believe the Gospel and receive Christ, the foundation (Christ) is laid (established) in us. Thus, the GOSPEL is the central, entry-level foundational Message of the Bible: “the Gospel of Christ is the Power of God unto Salvation for everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).In this video, Pastor Derek shares the Gospel and explains how you can personally receive Jesus Christ and His free gift of forgiveness and eternal life. The video ends with a prayer you can pray to receive Christ as your Lord and Saviour. If you need to make sure that you are saved, and will go to Heaven when you die, then please pray this prayer with Pastor Derek, saying it from your heart to God, and you will be saved, for: “ALL who CALL on the Name of the Lord (Jesus) shall be SAVED” (Romans 10:13).
In Galatians 5:13-24, Paul revealed how the Holy Spirit empowers us to fulfil God's Law of Love, and in v25 he applies this to our life together in the Church, saying: "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk (march together) in the Spirit." This requires us to not be focused on ourselves, always comparing ourselves and competing with each other, but rather through humility of heart we can enjoy healthy, harmonious relationships (v26). In this way, we should see and support one other as members of the same team, all working together for Christ, and all playing our own special part, like soldiers in an army.In Galatians 6:1-6, Paul develops this military idea by giving a number of specific applications. (1) If a soldier is injured, the others do not gloat over him, but rush to his aid to restore him (v1). (2) If a soldier has an unbearable load, then others will help him to carry it (v2). Likewise, when people are in crisis we should be there for them. (3) If a soldier thinks himself too important to help his fellow soldiers, he is a useless solder (v3). Likewise, if we in pride and have no love, then we are nothing (1Corinthians 13:2). (4) Each soldier must focus on accomplishing the task his commander has assigned to him, and get his satisfaction from that, rather than focusing on other people's business, and gloating over their failures (v4).(5) Each soldier must carry his own load (backpack). Likewise, we must all fulfil our responsibilities, for one day we will have to give an account to the Lord (v5). (6) Each Christian soldier plays an important part in the central work of of the Church - the ministry and propagation of God's Word. Pastoring, teaching, and other evangelistic and missionary ministries require some people to dedicate their working hours to their ministry. But they can only do this successfully is all the others partner with them in the ministry through encouragement, prayer and financial giving (v6). In this way, the whole body works together to glorify Christ and spread His Word.In all these ways, we fulfil the Law of Christ (6:2), which is defined in the New Testament as (1) loving God with all our heart, (2) loving our neighbour (all people) as ourselves, and (3) loving fellow believers in a special way, as Jesus said: "love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:34).
Two keys to success in God are (1) connect with His will and grace by having a willing (submitted heart), and (2) when He speaks to you obey with all your heart and refuse to quit, until it is done. Derek illustrates this winning attitude from 2Kings 13:14-25.
Both these Psalms reveal the spiritual warfare that is taking place in the time between Christ's Resurrection and Ascension and His Second Coming, and the part that we can play in enforcing His victory, as we represent Him in the earth. We need to learn to operate from His position of victory as we deal with the forces of darkness.
This inspirational Psalm reveals the goodness of the Lord. As we submit to the lord and our Leader and Owner and listen to Him and stay close to Him, He will protect us and lead us into all His covenant provisions. Derek shows how all 8 of the Covenant Names of God are represented in the Psalm. When Jesus said: "I am the Good Shepherd" in John 10, He was claiming to be the fulfilment of Psalm 23. Having died on the Cross (Psalm 22) the risen Lord now leads us into every blessing that He has purchased with His blood (Psalm 23), as we stay close to Him and keep our eyes on Him. this is a great Psalm to declare out loud.
Having compared the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit (v16-23), and described our proper attitude to the flesh (v24), Paul concludes by describing the attitude we should adopt towards the Holy Spirit, saying: "If we (1) LIVE in (receive our life from) the Spirit, let us also (2) WALK in (line with, keep in step with) the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25). These describe the 2 keys to bearing the fruit of the Spirit: First (1) we need to realise that in Christ we are born again and the Spirit lives within us, so that He is our continual source (fountain) of life and love. Knowing this we can receive His love into our hearts by faith. Then (2) we are to walk in step with Him in love and obedience, as He leads us (see v18). In so doing, we will release His Spirit, and bear much fruit for His glory. We will know His Presence abiding within and upon us, filling our hearts and lives. Walking in step with Him describes a disciplined life of obedience to the leadership of the Spirit, as we seek to honour Him.A great example of walking in step with the Spirit is Israel marching into their Promised Land. We look at God's instructions to Israel in Joshua 1, where He says He had already given them the Land (by covenant), but that He would also give it to them in their experience as they walked step by step with Him into the Land. He promised that His Presence was with them to lead them into the Land to possess it, so that as they followed Him every place they placed their feet would become theirs. As long as they obeyed His leadership, His Presence was with them, and they enjoyed good success in possessing their Land. Again and again, He told them to be (1) strong (in faith, through meditating in the Word) that He was with them and leading them to victory, and (2) courageous (to obey His leading), and then they would see His power at work and His provision. This is a picture for us, for God has given each of us a Promised Land of blessing, and He is leading us step by step into our Land, so that as we follow Him, He will give it to us in our experience. We share some exciting archaeological discoveries from Israel that confirm the Biblical account, especially Gilgal and the Footprints of Yahweh, leading up to Joshua's altar on Mount Ebal (near Shechem), where also a highly significant discovery has recently been made of a curse tablet from the time of Joshua, written in ancient Hebrew, mentioning the name of Jehovah twice, confirming Deuteronomy 11:26-29, 27:11-26, and Joshua 8:30-35.The picture of us walking in step with the Spirit, evokes the image of a disciplined army under its commanding officer. This implies we do not just walk in step with the Lord under His command, but also in step with each other, maintaining our unity in the bond of love. Likewise, Israel possessed her Land through following the Lord all together in unity. Paul then develops this corporate aspect of walking in step with the Spirit in Galatians 5:26 - 6:5, starting with "Let us not become conceited (vainglorious), provoking one another, envying one another" (v26). When our flesh rules us, we become proud and self-centred, comparing and competing with one another, either asserting our superiority or feeling inferior. Either way this poisons our relationships and we become out of step with each other. In an army, when a soldier falls, the others help him up, likewise we should gently restore those who fall, rather than gloat over them (6:1). Likewise, when one soldier has to carry a weight too heavy for him, the others will help him lift it. Likewise, when people are overwhelmed, we should be ready to help and so fulfil the law of Christ - love (v2). We should not think of ourselves as too important to help others (v3). We should not compete with one another, but rather focus on carrying our own responsibilities (load), for in the end, God will judge each of us according to how well we have fulfilled His will for our own life (v4-5).
We continue our study of the 9-fold fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, the character of Christ that the Holy Spirit is forming within us, as we are led by the Spirit and walk in the Spirit. The first 3 (love, joy, peace) are primarily to do with our relationship with God, the next 3 (long-suffering, kindness, goodness) describe out attitude toward others, and the final 3 (faithfulness, meekness, self-control) describe who we are in relationship to ourselves. Having studied the first 3 last time, we complete our study of the fruit of the Spirit by discussing "long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness (meekness), and self-control." We describe these wonderful qualities, which together fulfil all the requirements of the Law of God, which is why Paul concludes by saying: "against such (fruit) there is no Law" (v23).We also explore the meaning of what Paul means by saying that believers have crucified the flesh (v24). God's verdict and judgment on our flesh is crucifixion, which has been accomplished in Christ. Believers accept and agree with God that our flesh cannot be improved or rehabilitated, and so is only deserving of death. Therefore, knowing that our flesh is sinful by nature and cannot contribute anything good, we have put all our trust instead in Christ for our righteousness and salvation, and in His Spirit of grace for our sanctification. Thus we have no confidence in our flesh for our salvation and life. Although we have submitted to God's revelation and nailed our flesh to the Cross with Christ (metaphorically), so that its death is inevitable; like a crucified criminal, it is still alive and wants to express itself. So, although we decisively repented from trusting in ourselves, when we trusted in Christ for our salvation, we must daily maintain this decisive attitude toward our flesh (Luke 9:23), seeing it as sinful, rightly crucified under God's judgment, and therefore refusing to pander to it, yield to it, and give it the right of expression in our lives. In conclusion, Galatians 5:16-25 says that in order to walk in the Spirit, be led by the Spirit and bear the fruit of the Spirit, we must consistently choose to say: 'Yes' to the Holy Spirit, and 'No' to the flesh.
The Fruit of the Spirit is formed in us through the working of the life of Christ within us, through the Holy Spirit flowing out from our reborn spirit. This fruit of holiness is formed by the initiative and grace of God, but our co-operation is necessary. God works in us both (1) to will and (2) to work His good pleasure. He (1) forms the attitude of Christ in our soul, and then (2) empowers us to act accordingly, so that we bear fruit in our life. We must (1) receive His love into our heart, which changes our inner motivations, and then (2) release that love in our life, by yielding to it through loving words and acts (of obedience). In this way, by our obedience, we work out His salvation (saving life) into our soul and life, which God has already worked within our spirit (Philippians 2:12-13). God continually pours out His love into our hearts by His Holy Spirit, enabling us to love God and others (Romans 5:5), and when we yield to that love by obeying His command to walk in love, the fruit of love grows and is developed in our soul (John 15:9-10). In this way, although we are not constrained by an outward law, we are constrained by the love of Christ working within us, causing us to no longer live for ourselves, but for Christ, who loved us (2Corinthians 5:14). We make a special study of "love, joy and peace", describing the wonderful nature of these realities that only the Holy Spirit can produce in our us - see also Romans 14:17: "The Kingdom of God is righteousness (love) and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Love is rightly mentioned first, as love (agape) summarises the perfect moral nature of God, and is therefore the ultimate requirement and fulfilment of the Law. All the other 8 flavours can be seen as different aspects of love (see 1Corinthians 13:4-8,13).
After describing the ugly works of the flesh, Paul describes the beauty of the fruit of the Spirit - the beauty of holiness that the Holy Spirit in union with our reborn spirit will produce in our life. In contrast to the many works of our flesh, the Spirit in us produces one fruit with many segments or flavours (Paul lists 9 manifestations of this one fruit). Fruit only grows as a result of life. Thus the fruit of the Spirit is the result of the life of Christ working within us through His Holy Spirit. Our spirits were born again by the incorruptible seed of God's Word, so that they have been recreated with the love-nature of Christ (1Peter 1:22-25), and are in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit, who now pours the love of God into our hearts (Romans 5:5) We look at other Biblical passages that describe the fruit of the Spirit and how we can co-operate with God and bear much fruit, especially Jesus' foundational teaching in John 15:1-16.
We can only bear fruit if we are in Christ (the Vine) and abide in Him (fellowship), (1) looking to Him as our Source of life and love and drawing upon the sap of His Spirit by faith, and (2) yielding to His Spirit of love within us, by obeying His commandment to love others. From the depths of our heart in prayer we can call upon the depths of God's grace to fill us with His fullness and He will (Psalm 42:6-8, Ephesians 3:14-21).
Paul lists the works of the flesh in v19-21 to reveal the true nature of the flesh, motivating us to refuse to yield to the flesh and express it in our lives, but rather be led by the Spirit. We note the 4 categories of these works: (1) sexual sins, (2) religious sins, (3) social sins, in the area of personal relationships, and (4) intemperance. We study the meanings of the Greek words used by Paul to describe the following works of the flesh: heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries. Paul indicates that this is by no means a complete list, and other manifestations of the flesh are described elsewhere in the Bible. It is helpful for us to understand the nature of the flesh, so that we recognise the voice the flesh when it speaks to us, or tries to express itself through us. When the flesh rises us we should turn to Christ and declare His Word, trusting in Him to give us the victory over the flesh. Paul adds a warning that: "those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God" (v21). We show that those who do not inherit the Kingdom are the same as those who are not in Christ, and who are not sons of God. This does not mean that believers who sin will necessarily lose their salvation. Rather it speaks of those who embrace and practise these sins as a lifestyle, expressing their true inner nature (of fallen flesh) in their life. Although born-again believers will on occasion yield to the flesh and sin, when they do so they are acting against their true inner nature of love in their reborn spirit, and are convicted by the Holy Spirit. As a result they do not embrace these sins of the flesh as their lifestyle, but rather they struggle against them. Thus a true believer cannot be happy or at peace while living in sin.
Paul encourages us to submit to the Spirit rather than the flesh, by contrasting the ugliness of the works of the flesh, with the beauty of the fruit of the Spirit. It helps us to see the true nature of the flesh, by what is evidently manifested when people yield to their flesh. When it says: "the works of the flesh are evident" (v19), it speaks of the flesh having its own nature, mind and desires. The nature of the flesh cannot be changed, and the flesh of a Christian is just like the flesh of the unsaved. The difference is that our spirit has been born again and we have the Holy Spirit within, who enables us to overcome our flesh. Even if we do not yield to the flesh in these various areas, the sins which Paul describes (v19-21) are still latent in our flesh. This motivates us to make no provision for the flesh, but rather put on Christ through the Holy Spirit (Romans 13:14). We study the meanings of the Greek words used by Paul to describe the following works of the flesh: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, and dissensions.
In raising Lazarus from the dead after 4 days in John 11, Jesus validated His claim to be (1) the Resurrection and (2) the Life, the One who will raise us from both (1) physical and (2) spiritual death, if we believe (trust) in Him.
Derek shares 3 true stories that paint vivid pictures of the wonderful salvation that God has provided for us through His Son, Jesus Christ, and His death on the Cross.
The Mount Everest of Prophecy (Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12). This majestic prophecy from 700 BC reveals the perfect saving work of the suffering Messiah in dying for our sins and rising again. We see how Jesus Christ perfectly fulfilled this prophecy in all its details.
We discuss the nature of the flesh according to the Bible, and how it is implacably opposed to God and His work in us. Our flesh cannot please God and only deserves crucifixion. Therefore to please God, we must walk in the Spirit. There is a battle between our flesh and the Spirit, and both desire to gain control over our souls. In our born again spirit, we desire to do God's will, but the covetousness of the flesh pulls us in the opposite direction, to prevent us living the life that God desires of us. However, the Spirit is stronger than the flesh, and gives us automatic victory over our flesh, when we trust in Him, for if we will walk in the Spirit, and we shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. In our soul, we must choose to trust and obey the Spirit of grace within us, and then victory over sin will be automatic, for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death (see Romans 8:1-9). Thus if we are led by the Spirit (living in submission to the leadership of the Spirit of grace), then sin will not have dominion over us. To be led by the Spirit and to live under law are 2 incompatible ways of living. therefore to enjoy the life and freedom of the Spirit, we must first be set free from the Law.
In Galatians, God's Magna Carta of Christian Liberty, Paul emphasised justification by faith first (chapters 1-4), because it is foundational, and puts us in position, where we can receive and walk in His sanctifying Spirit, who empowers us to overcome sin in the flesh (chapters 5-6). First, God sent His Son to set us free from the Law by His death on the Cross, and then on that basis, He sent His Spirit into our hearts to set us free from sin (see Romans 6:14). Christ has set us free from the Law's dominion, curse and condemnation. Having been justified by faith, we are now under grace and are at peace with God on the basis of the perfect righteousness and work of Christ.
We have been set free from the Law, in order to enjoy a life of liberty under grace (v1,13). Therefore, we must not submit to a yoke of legalism - trying to get right with God on the basis of our works (v1-12), for while we remain under legalism, struggling in the flesh to fulfil God's Law, we cut ourselves off from the liberating Spirit of grace, and as a result sin will have dominion over us. We have been called by grace into a life of liberty from (1) the Law and (2) sin (the sin-nature in our flesh). He set us free from the Law, so that by His Spirit within us, we might live a life of freedom from sin. Therefore Paul says in v13 that we must not use our freedom from the Law as an excuse or basis to indulge our flesh, because that is just another form of bondage - slavery to sin. Christ did not come to give us freedom to sin, but freedom to not sin. God graciously set us free from the tyranny of the Law, so that we might be set free from self (the flesh), to serve others in love, and so fulfil God's law of love, through His Spirit of love within us. There are 2 ditches of bondage on either side of the road of freedom: legalism and license. Both involve bondage to different aspects of our fallen flesh.
First, we take a closer look at Paul's wonderful description of the Spirit-filled Christian life in v5-6: "We through the SPIRIT eagerly WAIT for the HOPE of RIGHTEOUSNESS by FAITH. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but FAITH working through LOVE." We live by the grace of the indwelling Spirit, who enables us to believe (rest) in His promises, so that with assurance we eagerly wait in hope for Him to bring us into their fulfilment and manifestation, as we trust His leadership in our lives. The hope of righteousness speaks of our confident expectation that God's grace in us will produce a continual and increasing manifestation of His imparted righteousness (the fruit of the Spirit) in our lives (sanctification), based on His imparted righteousness (justification). Our hope of righteousness is also that this process of sanctification will ultimately result in our glorification, when we will be perfected, and become just like Jesus, with His righteousness perfectly manifested in our being for all eternity (see Romans 5:1-5). The basis, value and reality of our life with God has nothing to do with outward rituals like circumcision, but rather what matters is our FAITH, which first of all rests (sits) in Christ and His grace, and is then expressed in a life of LOVE toward God and man (our Christian walk). A genuine FAITH unites us to the GOD, who is LOVE and the Source of all LOVE (1John 4:7-8). Therefore, the natural FRUIT that flows forth from our FAITH is LOVE, through the Holy Spirit within us (Romans 5:5). Thus, the true RIGHTEOUSNESS of (from) God that is of real value in our life is the LOVE that issues forth from our FAITH, or in other words, FAITH working through LOVE, expressing itself through our works (actions) of love.
Having contrasted the life of believers under the law with the life of believers under grace (v1-6), Paul then contrasts the false legalistic teachers of God with true teachers of grace, like Paul (v7-12). The Christian life is like running a race. We run well as we obey (live step by step in accordance with) the truth of grace. But false teachers are like those who cut across us, causing us to break our stride, hindering our progress in grace (v7). Paul points out that the origin of their doctrine cannot be God, who originally called them into His grace (see 1:6), since their message of human merit contradicted this Divine call (v8). He also points out the effect of their doctrine is to hinder, trouble and contaminate the church (v8,9,10,12). Also, one has to be on guard against it, because it can spread quickly like an infection, until it affects the whole church as well as one's whole life (v9). For example, although circumcision seems a small thing, it opens the door to you having to keep all the law (v3). Paul points out that God will judge false teachers (v10, see James 3:1), although he is also confident that the Galatians will eventually come to their senses (v10).
Paul also answers false information spread by these teachers that Paul actually agrees with them and still preaches circumcision (v11), by saying that if that were the case he would not be continually persecuted by the Jews. His persecution came because of the offence of the Cross, which declares that fallen man cannot contribute anything to his salvation, which offends man's self-righteousness, so if he in fact agreed with the legalists, this offence and its associated persecution would cease (v11). Paul concludes by expressing his wish that these false teachers, who were so into cutting the flesh (circumcision), would go all the way and castrate themselves, so that they could no longer reproduce, limiting their ability to spread their harmful doctrines further (v12).
In these verses, Paul contrasts the false man-made and man-centred religion of man's achievement (salvation by good works in obedience to the Law) in v2-4, with the true God-centred religion of Divine initiative, grace and achievement (v5-6). In this context, circumcision represents embracing the Law as one's life and salvation, and Paul warns them that if they do that, Christ will profit them nothing, and that if they attempt to be justified by law, they will become estranged from Christ, and they will fall from grace. Thus if they choose the way of the law by cutting their flesh in circumcision, they will also be cutting themselves off from the grace of Christ. We discuss what this means. It certainly means that by trusting in the flesh, they will cut themselves off from the supply of God's sanctifying Spirit in their lives, leaving them to struggle on in the flesh, but is Paul also warning them that they could be cut off from Christ and lose their salvation? We discuss this controversial issue.
Paul also points out that being circumcised obliges a man to keep the whole law, thus dooming him to the curse of the law (3:10). Then Paul contrasts this by describing God's way of grace (v5-6). First, the basis for our relationship (right-standing) with God is simply that we are 'in Christ.' He also describes the true Christian life in terms of faith, hope and love, which flourish by the Holy Spirit through our fellowship with God. Therefore externals rituals like circumcision are irrelevant both for our justification and for our sanctification.
Galatians 5:1: "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage." (NKJV). Galatians 5:1: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." (NIV).
This key verse is transitional, moving the letter of Galatians into a description of Christian life of liberty through the Holy Spirit, moving the emphasis from justification to sanctification. He starts from the conclusion of the last chapter: "Christ has set us FREE", and declares that He has done this, so that we might live and enjoy a life of FREEDOM. Therefore, we should refuse to allow ourselves to return to a life of slavery by embracing legalism.
First, we discuss what the Bible means by FREEDOM. It is not freedom to do whatever we want, or to sin as we please. We are not set free to sin, but we are set free from sin. Living under the flesh results in bondage. Freedom means being free to be and live as God created and intended us to be. We were made in God's image to belong to God and to be filled with God's Spirit, and to glorify God by expressing His nature and abilities.
There are 2 main aspects to our freedom: (1) Freedom from the Law, and (2) Freedom from sin and self. (1) First, Christ set us free from the external restraint and condemnation of the Law, by bearing our sin and condemnation on the Cross, and then by giving us His imputed righteousness when we believe in Him. On this basis, He justified us and set our conscience free from the guilt of sin. There is therefor no condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1). Thus, we have been set free from the tyranny of having to keep the Law to win acceptance and favour with God, and access to God and His grace. (2) Second, Christ sets us free from the power of indwelling sin (in our flesh) and our independent self-life, by the gift of His imparted righteousness through the indwelling Holy Spirit. That is, He sets our will free from bondage to sin (the sin-nature in our flesh) - this is sanctification by the Word and by the Spirit, for where the Spirit is there is liberty (2Corinthians 3:17). He initially sanctified our spirit (set it free from sin) in the New Birth, when the Spirit came to indwell it. Now He is progressively sanctifying our soul as we walk in the Spirit, rather than in the flesh. Our justification (freedom from the Law) is the basis for our sanctification, for it gives us legal access to the grace of God in the Spirit, which sanctifies us (Romans 5:1-2, 8:1-6). Thus, in order to enjoy a life of freedom in the Spirit, our hearts must first be established in our justification by grace through faith, which is why Paul first of all emphasised this truth in Galatians 1-4, before moving on to describe our new life in the Spirit (Galatians 5-6).
The Bible alone holds the secrets to life after death. It reveals that all humanity is divided into two groups after death, and is set apart unto 2 opposite eternal destinies - Heaven and Hell. While God-rejectors, who die in their sins, go down to Hades to await their resurrection unto final sentencing and everlasting condemnation, those who die in Christ, go up to Heaven, to be with Christ, their Lord and Saviour, forever. A God Day programme.
God has prepared a wonderful eternity for all those who receive His salvation in Christ. We see what the final chapters of the Bible reveal about our everlasting life in the heavenly City. A God Day programme.
Derek shows how the 4 Faces of the Cherubim (the Ox, Eagle, Man and Lion) represent 4 ways that our soul is designed to function, under God's 4-fold anointing, symbolised by the 4 rivers flowing out of Eden. These correspond to the 4 Gospels (Mark, John, Luke and Matthew), each of which emphasise Jesus operating in one of these aspects. A God Day programme.
We look at Genesis 21, which is the basis for Paul's thoughts in this passage. In Genesis 21, Isaac ('laughter') is born, speaking of the rejoicing in Heaven whenever someone in born again. When Isaac was weaned, there was a feast in his honour (v8), which resulted in Ishmael manifesting his insecurity by mocking Isaac (v9). Ishmael, who was 14 years older, was used to being in the ascendency, but now his position was threatened, by Isaac, the child of promise. Paul says this is a picture of how the children of the flesh always persecute the children of the Spirit, and we give examples of this from history. This is also a picture of how the work of the flesh resists the promise of God and the work of the Spirit in our own lives today. Sarah realised that because of this antagonism, Hagar and Ishmael had to be cast out in order for Isaac's promised inheritance to be established, and God agreed with her (v10-12). Likewise, the flesh and the Spirit are mutually exclusive, like bondage and freedom. They are always in opposition (Galatians 5:16-17), and cannot coexist. For the work of the Spirit to be established in our lives, like Abraham, we must cast out the works of the flesh. Otherwise, they will continually resist the fulfilment of God's promise and the work and fruit of the Spirit in our lives. One application to the Galatians is that although the legalistic false teachers were physically Jewish, they were spiritually like Ishmael, bound to Hagar (the Law). Therefore, they were hindering the work of God in the assembly, and so the Galatians should cast them out.
Abraham's act of obedience in casting out Ishmael and establishing Isaac as his seed (at the age of 5) marked a significant step forward in God's plan for his life (compare Genesis 15:13 and Acts 7:5 with Exodus 12:40-41 and Galatians 3:17). We know that God revealed this to him, because soon afterwards, he called on the name of 'El Olam', 'the Everlasting God' or 'the God of the Ages' (v33) - the first time this Name of God is revealed. Likewise, when we are obedient to cast out the work of the flesh, the Lord of the Ages, will move our life forward into a new season. Paul concludes that as born again believers, we are by nature free - our spirits have been set free from sin by the indwelling Holy Spirit, and we are free from the Law and its condemnation and curse (4:31).
Paul compares the Old Covenant and its children to Hagar and Ishmael, pointing out that by its nature the Old Covenant (Hagar, the bond-slave) gives birth to children of bondage (Ishmael). He strengthens this identification by pointing out that the origin of the Old Covenant, Mount Sinai, is in Arabia, where Hagar and Ishmael settled after being cast out, from whom came the Arabs. Thus it is clear that the real Mount Sinai must be in Saudi Arabia, rather than in the Sinai Peninsula (a late tradition established during the Byzantine Empire). This agrees with earlier Jewish writings, and with other Scriptures, especially those that locate Mount Sinai in the region of Midian. We discuss the location and discovery of the real Mount Sinai and the split Rock, as well as the place of the Red Sea Crossing, pointing out that scriptures that speak of Yam Suph (translated as Red Sea) point to the Gulf of Aqaba, not the Gulf of Suez or its shallow marshy lakes, which means the parting of the waters was indeed a mighty miracle, just as the Bible describes.
Although, the New Jerusalem (like Sarah) had been desolate of children (no one was born again before the New Covenant was established), now she is giving birth to an ever-increasing number of children, as Galatians 4:26-27 points out, by quoting a prophecy from Isaiah 54:1. Thus immediately after the classic prophecy of Christ's sacrificial death and resurrection to establish the New Covenant in Isaiah 53, Isaiah 54 describes the wonderful results of His Sacrifice, including the new birth of multitudes of spiritual children in Christ. Finally, we see that, as always, those who are just born according to the flesh (like Ishmael) persecute those who are born according to the Spirit (like Isaac).
We continue our study of Paul's analogy of Ishmael and Isaac. We take a more in-depth look as how God made it possible for us to receive a supernatural birth like Isaac, through receiving the promise of God in the Gospel, causing us to become the seed of Abraham and heirs of eternal life in Christ. God accomplished this through Christ, the greater than Isaac, the ultimate Seed of Abraham, who, like Isaac, had a supernatural birth, and who, through His perfect life, death and resurrection purchased and received the full blessing of Abraham on our behalf.
We look at how God revealed this through the typology in Genesis 22, when Abraham offered up Isaac on Mount Moriah, and received him back from the dead (Hebrews 11:17-19), resulting in the promise of Abraham's blessing coming upon all peoples in Christ, the Seed of Abraham, who would ultimately fulfil the type (Genesis 22:18). When we believe and receive the promise of God through the Gospel, we are put into (union with) Christ and become the spiritual Seed of Abraham, and thereby inherit the blessing by grace (3:26-29). In this way, Isaac, the initial seed of Abraham, is firstly a type of Christ, the greater Seed of Abraham, and secondly of all of us who are in Christ, and who are heirs of the covenant blessing. So when we are born again, we are no longer like unto Ishmael, but new creations made like unto Isaac, children of grace (promise) and inheritors of eternal life.
We also discuss how Genesis 22:14 makes it clear that the location of Christ's death and resurrection must have been on Mount Moriah: "Abraham called the name of the place, 'the-Lord-will-Provide'; as it is said to this day: “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” or better: “In the Mount, the Lord shall be provided.” This is a prophecy that God will provide the ultimate Sacrifice of His Son to fulfil the type, on the same Mount (Mount Moriah - see v2) where Abraham offered up Isaac. We see how this confirms the truth of Gordon's Calvary and the Garden Tomb.
Although Jesus died and rose again in the earthly Jerusalem, the origin and centre of operation of the New Covenant, is now the heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22-24), especially since the risen Jesus took His Blood there to establish the New Covenant (Hebrews 9:11-15). Thus the New Covenant operating from the heavenly New Jerusalem is our Mother, who is free - corresponding to Sarah in Paul's allegory (see also Psalm 87). By contrast, the origin of the Old Covenant was the earthy Mount Sinai in Arabia, and its centre of operation (at the time Paul wrote Galatians) was the earthly Jerusalem, who was in bondage - corresponding to Hagar.
In these verses, Paul illustrates his message with a symbolic allegory, based Abraham's 2 sons, (1) Ishmael and (2) Isaac, born from 2 different mothers, (1) Hagar (the slave) and (2) Sarah (the free woman). The 2 sons derived their nature and status from their mothers, either (1) slavery (bondage) or (2) freedom. These 2 mothers represent (1) the Old Covenant (Law) associated with Mount Sinai, and (2) the New Covenant (Grace), associated with Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem. (1) Just as Ishmael's birth was according to the flesh, by human initiative and effort (Genesis 16), so the children of the law are the product of their own effort and works. (2) Just as Isaac's birth was supernatural, through receiving God's promise (Genesis 17), so the children of the promise (Gospel) are born of the Spirit, the product of God's grace.
We make a special study of God's supernatural work of grace by God's Spirit in bringing Isaac to birth, when Abram and Sarai believed His Word (promise), a picture of our supernatural New Birth by God's Spirit, when we believed His promise through the Gospel. Whereas (1) Ishmael, the man of the flesh, was cast out, (2) Isaac, the man born of the Spirit by grace, inherited the covenant, including the blessing of eternal life. Every person is either (1) an Ishmael, or (2) an Isaac. Who is your Mother?
What exactly is Halloween, where does it come from and should Christians have anything to do with it?
The roots of modern Halloween can be traced back to the pagan Celts of Britain, 2000 years ago. One of their main festivals was Samhain on 31st October marking the transition into the ‘dark half’ of the year. They believed that the veil between this world and the 'otherworld' was at its thinnest, allowing both demons and the spirits of the dead to pass into our world and mingle with the living, harassing those who don’t placate them. So sacrifices were offered to them, along with sweet foods (treats), to avoid their malevolent tricks. The Celts disguised themselves in strange costumes and macabre masks, hoping their ghastly appearance would fool the demons into counting them among their number and so leave them alone.
Later, Christians replaced this pagan holiday with a celebration of believers in glory. So 1st November became All Saints (Hallows) Day and the night before, All Hallows Eve or Halloween. But the pagan roots were not fully cut off and have increasingly grown into the commercial, death-focused event of today. So modern Halloween is the direct offspring of ancient Samhain, and those who enjoy the present-day festivities are eating the fruit of an ungodly tree.
Christians should have nothing to do with Halloween. In the Old Testament, all such occult practice was strictly forbidden (Deuteronomy 18:9-13, Leviticus 20:27). Likewise, Paul tells us to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11). Why? “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (v8). “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you” (2Corinthians 6:17). How can we honour the Lord while embracing a festival of death?
Christian parents must have courage to say ‘no’ to children when it comes to Halloween. If necessary, parents and Churches could offer uplifting alternatives, with games and activities, and teaching emphasising God as the Source of light and life, in contrast to the darkness and evil in the world, and the victory of Christ over all darkness. He has liberated us from evil, darkness and death in all its forms. How much better to celebrate the Lord of life than the power of darkness!
In contrast to the false teachers who were love-bombing the Galatians for their own selfish purposes, Paul's love for them was genuine, both in their presence and when they were separated from them. His motive was not to possess them for himself, but that Christ would be formed in them. He loved them as a mother loves her children. He had originally brought them to birth through his prayers and through the Gospel, and now he was labouring again for them in intercession and in the Word, earnestly desiring to be with them again, reunited in sweet fellowship. Meanwhile he is at his wits end trying to get through to them.
Having described how God had saved them from bondage to external law and ceremonial religion, and evil spirits, and given them the liberty and inheritance of sonship (v7-8), Paul points out how foolish is it for them to desire to return to being in bondage again to external ceremonial laws, such as observing days, months, seasons and years (v9-10), which he describes as weak and beggarly elements (v3,9) – that is, they are impotent to save, and have no intrinsic value. They are not reality, but only shadows of reality, whose purpose is to point to the substance (Christ). But now we are in Christ, our faith connects us directly to His realities, so these outward observances are no longer necessary. In fact, if we believe that we must focus our lives on obeying them, the danger is that it will cause us to focus on externals, rather than on the reality in Christ.
Then Paul makes a series of personal appeals to the Galatians, reminding them how much he had sacrificed and laboured among them, so they would know the truth (v11), how much he had identified with them and come alongside them, which should cause them to stop distancing themselves from him, but instead be loyal to him (v12). He then reminds them how they received him with love and honour as God’s messenger, when he came to them with the Gospel, even though he came in weakness, and with much bruising around his eyes, having just been stoned to death (v13-14, see Acts 14:19-25). He reminds them of the blessedness of their time together, when God’s love flowed freely between them, when they would have been willing to give up their own eyes for his sake (v15). Then he shames them by saying: “have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?” (v16). Finally, he points out that the false teachers are making a fuss of them for selfish reasons, so that they would be able to possess the Galatians for themselves, and so control them, and cut them off from Paul and everyone else (v17), which is exactly the way that cults operate.
These wonderful verses describe how God the Father has saved us by His grace in (1) sending forth His Son into the world to redeem us (v4-5), and (2) sending forth His Spirit into our hearts to regenerate and indwell us and lead us into our full inheritance (v6-7). We discuss what ‘the fullness of time’ means (v4), and how these verses claim that Jesus is the God-man, born of a virgin (Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 7:14), who lived a sinless life, fulfilling the Law perfectly (v4), in order to redeem us from the curse of the law, that we might be set free from bondage to external law, by being placed (adopted) as sons (‘huios’) of God. Upon this legal basis, God then also immediately sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, regenerating our spirits in the New Birth, making us actual sons of God, who cry out from our spirit: “Abba, Father!” (v6). Therefore, we are no longer slaves, but sons, and heirs of God and His full blessing of salvation through Christ (v7).
In this study, we see what God did for us, when we received Christ as Lord and Saviour. The key phrase is ‘in Christ.’ God made the promise of salvation to Abraham and His SEED, who is CHRIST (v16). Christ received the full Blessing of Abraham on our behalf, and when we trusted in Christ, we were baptised into Christ (v27, Romans 6:3-7). In Christ (through our union with Him) we became sons of God (v26), clothed with His righteousness (v27). Moreover, all believers in Christ, whatever our race, status or sex, are ONE (literally, one entity), for if we are in Christ (v26,27,28), we are Christ’s (under His headship), forming part of Abraham’s SEED (v29), who is CHRIST (He is the head and we are the body). This agrees with 1Corinthians 12:12-13: “By one Spirit we were all baptised into one body (Christ), whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” Since in Christ, we are now the Seed of Abraham, we inherit the Blessing of Abraham, which includes our full salvation, as a free-gift of His grace (v14,29).
In Galatians 4:1-7, Paul restates his previous argument from 3:23-25, proving that when we trust in Christ, we are no longer slaves (under the law), but sons, who are free. He points out that any potential heir, while still a child, is under external restraint (law), like a slave, until the time appointed by the father (4:1-2), for him to be raised into the position of mature sonship (as a ‘huios’), when he is set free from bondage to the external law, and is able to enter into and enjoy his inheritance (v5,7). Likewise, before our salvation, we were in bondage to the Law, described as the elementary principles of religion, that is, the Ceremonial Law (v3), but now through Christ we have been redeemed, set free from slavery to the Law, adopted as sons and heirs of God, and given His Holy Spirit to dwell within us (v5-7).
In these verses, Paul continues to describe how the Law serves the purpose of preparing man to receive salvation through faith in Christ. The Law of Moses consists of (1) the Moral Law, which revealed His absolute righteousness, (2) the Ceremonial Law, which revealed what Christ would do to save us, and (3) the Civic Law, which revealed that God’s justice demanded punishment when laws were broken.
The Moral Law proved all men are guilty, under sin, so that our only hope of salvation is through faith in Christ (v22). The Ceremonial Law acted like a tutor, governing the life of Israel and keeping her separate from the nations, preserving her from corruption, as well as the truth with which she had been entrusted by God (v23). For Messiah to come and perfectly fulfil the Law, He needed to be born into a nation where the Law was honoured as God’s Word. The Ceremonial Law, as a tutor, also pointed to the way of salvation through Christ, so that men would be justified by faith in the coming Messiah (v24).
But now that Christ has come, and we have put our faith in Him for salvation, we are no longer under the Law (v25), for it has now fulfilled its preparatory role in our life. Just as a child is kept under external supervision, until he becomes a mature grown-up son (‘huios’), able to choose for himself, so likewise we lived under law, until we became a son (huios’) of God, which took place when we put our trust in Christ (v26). Just as a child is set free from external supervision when he becomes a ‘huios’, so we were set free from the Law, when we became sons of God through faith in Christ, for we no longer need an external tutor to control our behaviour, because we are now constrained by the love of Christ within us (2Corinthians 5:14).
In these verses, Paul continues to describe how the Law serves the purpose of preparing man to receive salvation through faith in Christ. The Law of Moses consists of (1) the Moral Law, which revealed His absolute righteousness, (2) the Ceremonial Law, which revealed what Christ would do to save us, and (3) the Civic Law, which revealed that God’s justice demanded punishment when laws were broken.
The Moral Law proved all men are guilty, under sin, so that our only hope of salvation is through faith in Christ (v22). The Ceremonial Law acted like a tutor, governing the life of Israel and keeping her separate from the nations, preserving her from corruption, as well as the truth with which she had been entrusted by God (v23). For Messiah to come and perfectly fulfil the Law, He needed to be born into a nation where the Law was honoured as God’s Word. The Ceremonial Law, as a tutor, also pointed to the way of salvation through Christ, so that men would be justified by faith in the coming Messiah (v24).
But now that Christ has come, and we have put our faith in Him for salvation, we are no longer under the Law (v25), for it has now fulfilled its preparatory role in our life. Just as a child is kept under external supervision, until he becomes a mature grown-up son (‘huios’), able to choose for himself, so likewise we lived under law, until we became a son (huios’) of God, which took place when we put our trust in Christ (v26). Just as a child is set free from external supervision when he becomes a ‘huios’, so we were set free from the Law, when we became sons of God through faith in Christ, for we no longer need an external tutor to control our behaviour, because we are now constrained by the love of Christ within us (2Corinthians 5:14).
Previously we saw that God established His way of salvation by grace through Abraham, so that when He introduced the Law through Moses, He never intended it to be a means of salvation. So, the question naturally arises: What then is the purpose of the Law? We see that one of its main purposes is to reveal the fact that we are sinners, who cannot save ourselves, so that we will welcome the Gospel of salvation by grace. The Law lifts the lid off man’s respectability, revealing what he is like underneath, by turning our sin into transgression, making us law-breakers. Thus, it exposes our sin and reveals its nature and sinfulness, that it is rebellion against the will and authority of God. The Law also imprisons us, and restrains and modifies our behaviour, but it has no power to forgive us, change us from within or save us. But the Law does PREPARE us for salvation through Christ, (1) by revealing our need for salvation, and (2) by pointing beyond itself to Christ, through the types and shadows (especially the sacrificial system), the true source of forgiveness and salvation. So, the Law also illuminates and confirms the Gospel.
Paul also points out the inferiority of the Law to the Gospel, by pointing out that the Covenant of Moses between God and man was mediated through angels and Moses (a fallen man), creating an imperfect connection between God and man (so that there was still a separation between them), and was therefore temporary and preparatory by nature. On the other hand, the New Covenant of grace is perfect and everlasting, having been made between God the Father and God the Son, and God is One (2 perfect Persons, who are One), so that when we are put in Christ (through His human nature), we come into a perfect, unbreakable union with God on the basis of an everlasting Covenant, established in the precious Blood of the God-man Jesus Christ, our eternal Mediator. Thus, in Christ, we are one with God, all separation between us and God having been removed forever, in fulfilment of Christ’s high priestly prayer for us in John 17:20-23.
Previously we saw that God established His way of salvation by grace through Abraham, so that when He introduced the Law through Moses, He never intended it to be a means of salvation. So, the question naturally arises: What then is the purpose of the Law? We see that one of its main purposes is to reveal the fact that we are sinners, who cannot save ourselves, so that we will welcome the Gospel of salvation by grace. The Law lifts the lid off man’s respectability, revealing what he is like underneath, by turning our sin into transgression, making us law-breakers. Thus, it exposes our sin and reveals its nature and sinfulness, that it is rebellion against the will and authority of God. The Law also imprisons us, and restrains and modifies our behaviour, but it has no power to forgive us, change us from within or save us. But the Law does PREPARE us for salvation through Christ, (1) by revealing our need for salvation, and (2) by pointing beyond itself to Christ, through the types and shadows (especially the sacrificial system), the true source of forgiveness and salvation. So, the Law also illuminates and confirms the Gospel.
Paul also points out the inferiority of the Law to the Gospel, by pointing out that the Covenant of Moses between God and man was mediated through angels and Moses (a fallen man), creating an imperfect connection between God and man (so that there was still a separation between them), and was therefore temporary and preparatory by nature. On the other hand, the New Covenant of grace is perfect and everlasting, having been made between God the Father and God the Son, and God is One (2 perfect Persons, who are One), so that when we are put in Christ (through His human nature), we come into a perfect, unbreakable union with God on the basis of an everlasting Covenant, established in the precious Blood of the God-man Jesus Christ, our eternal Mediator. Thus, in Christ, we are one with God, all separation between us and God having been removed forever, in fulfilment of Christ’s high priestly prayer for us in John 17:20-23.
The legalistic false teachers based their doctrine on Moses, saying that our conformity to the Law of Moses was the way of salvation. Paul goes back 430 years earlier to Abraham, when God revealed the true way of salvation, based on promise (grace), not on law (works). He then uses the human example of a WILL, which, once established, promises and legally guarantees the inheritance to the seed, as a free-gift. He points out that once it is confirmed, it cannot be annulled, especially after the one who made the will has died. In the same way, God made an unchangeable covenant (will) with Abraham, promising that in him and his seed all the nations will be blessed (receive the inheritance of salvation), on the basis of the death of Christ, which was an established fact in the mind of God, from the foundation of the world. Therefore, this way of salvation by grace must still be in force, and that therefore the Covenant and Law of Moses did nothing to render this promise void. Thus, the Law was never meant to be a substitute way of salvation, replacing the Abrahamic promise, for if salvation was by the law, then it would no longer be through the promise (faith), and that is impossible, because God gave Abraham an unconditional, unchangeable promise of this inheritance (the blessing of Abraham), and God is always faithful to keep His word.
The legalistic false teachers based their doctrine on Moses, saying that our conformity to the Law of Moses was the way of salvation. Paul goes back 430 years earlier to Abraham, when God revealed the true way of salvation, based on promise (grace), not on law (works). He then uses the human example of a WILL, which, once established, promises and legally guarantees the inheritance to the seed, as a free-gift. He points out that once it is confirmed, it cannot be annulled, especially after the one who made the will has died. In the same way, God made an unchangeable covenant (will) with Abraham, promising that in him and his seed all the nations will be blessed (receive the inheritance of salvation), on the basis of the death of Christ, which was an established fact in the mind of God, from the foundation of the world. Therefore, this way of salvation by grace must still be in force, and that therefore the Covenant and Law of Moses did nothing to render this promise void. Thus, the Law was never meant to be a substitute way of salvation, replacing the Abrahamic promise, for if salvation was by the law, then it would no longer be through the promise (faith), and that is impossible, because God gave Abraham an unconditional, unchangeable promise of this inheritance (the blessing of Abraham), and God is always faithful to keep His word.
Galatians 3:13-14 are foundational verses, upon which we can establish our faith that (1) Christ has delivered us from every curse, and that (2) the blessing of God is ours now in Christ. Thus, these are vital verses for our spiritual warfare, enabling us to stand against curses and deal with them effectively. They are also great verses to stand upon for healing, for they affirm that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of sickness, having become a curse (sick) for us on the Cross, that we might receive the blessing of healing through faith.
We complete our study of Galatians 3:13-14, by exploring some Types of Christ in the Old Testament, which shed extra light on these vital verses, including taking a closer look at the Type of the Bronze Serpent on the pole (Numbers 21), which provides an important Old Testament background to these verses, since it reveals Christ becoming sin and a curse for us when He was lifted up on the Cross, in order that we might receive the blessing of life through faith (John 3:14-16). Also, we see how the dramatic Ceremony of Blessings and Curses at Shechem, between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerazim (Joshua 8, Deuteronomy 11 and 27), pictures Christ (1) taking our curse through His sacrificial death, and then (2) releasing His blessing to us through His resurrection.
We also discuss the 3 dimensions of blessedness: (1) the Blessor, (2) the Blessing, and (3) Blessings (the manifestations of the Blessing).
Galatians 3:13-14 are foundational verses, upon which we can establish our faith that (1) Christ has delivered us from every curse, and that (2) the blessing of God is ours now in Christ. Thus, these are vital verses for our spiritual warfare, enabling us to stand against curses and deal with them effectively. They are also great verses to stand upon for healing, for they affirm that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of sickness, having become a curse (sick) for us on the Cross, that we might receive the blessing of healing through faith.
We complete our study of Galatians 3:13-14, by exploring some Types of Christ in the Old Testament, which shed extra light on these vital verses, including taking a closer look at the Type of the Bronze Serpent on the pole (Numbers 21), which provides an important Old Testament background to these verses, since it reveals Christ becoming sin and a curse for us when He was lifted up on the Cross, in order that we might receive the blessing of life through faith (John 3:14-16). Also, we see how the dramatic Ceremony of Blessings and Curses at Shechem, between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerazim (Joshua 8, Deuteronomy 11 and 27), pictures Christ (1) taking our curse through His sacrificial death, and then (2) releasing His blessing to us through His resurrection.
We also discuss the 3 dimensions of blessedness: (1) the Blessor, (2) the Blessing, and (3) Blessings (the manifestations of the Blessing).
To be in relationship with God requires us to be justified by God (declared righteous in His sight). This provides the legal basis for us to receive the indwelling Holy Spirit, who brings us into dynamic fellowship with God, through which we experience His abundant and eternal life. All of this is included in the Blessing of Abraham.
How can we come into a right relationship with God, receive His Spirit and experience His life? There are only 2 possible ways to be righteous before God: (1) The way of WORKS, in conformity to God's law (the works of the law) - trying to establish our own righteousness by our own works, by trying to keep God's law in our own strength (man's way of pride). (2) The way of FAITH, trusting in the work and righteousness of Christ, which He gives us in His GRACE.
These two ways lead to 2 destinies. The way of works always results in us coming under the curse of condemnation and death, because the law requires total perfection all the time, which no one can achieve (except Jesus). So, the only way to be justified before God and live under His life and blessing is to submit to God's way of grace through faith. Jesus made it possible for us to be delivered from the curse and for us to come under God's blessing, by taking our place on the Cross and bearing our sin and becoming a curse for us - taking the punishment we deserved for breaking God's laws. So, if we believe in Christ and receive Him as our Lord, we are put into Christ and receive His righteousness and the blessing of life through his Spirit within us.
We discuss the relevance of the law to the unsaved and to the saved, especially pointing out that the ministry of the law is to reveal sin, not to be a means of salvation. We also ask: What is the Blessing and what is the Curse? We also look at the typology in Deuteronomy 21 that Paul referenced in Galatians 3:13, and point out how Christ fulfilled all the requirements for removing the curse from us through His death and burial, before receiving the blessing of God for us, and releasing to us in his resurrection. We also take an initial look at the Type of the Bronze Serpent on the pole (Numbers 21).
To be in relationship with God requires us to be justified by God (declared righteous in His sight). This provides the legal basis for us to receive the indwelling Holy Spirit, who brings us into dynamic fellowship with God, through which we experience His abundant and eternal life. All of this is included in the Blessing of Abraham.
How can we come into a right relationship with God, receive His Spirit and experience His life? There are only 2 possible ways to be righteous before God: (1) The way of WORKS, in conformity to God's law (the works of the law) - trying to establish our own righteousness by our own works, by trying to keep God's law in our own strength (man's way of pride). (2) The way of FAITH, trusting in the work and righteousness of Christ, which He gives us in His GRACE.
These two ways lead to 2 destinies. The way of works always results in us coming under the curse of condemnation and death, because the law requires total perfection all the time, which no one can achieve (except Jesus). So, the only way to be justified before God and live under His life and blessing is to submit to God's way of grace through faith. Jesus made it possible for us to be delivered from the curse and for us to come under God's blessing, by taking our place on the Cross and bearing our sin and becoming a curse for us - taking the punishment we deserved for breaking God's laws. So, if we believe in Christ and receive Him as our Lord, we are put into Christ and receive His righteousness and the blessing of life through his Spirit within us.
We discuss the relevance of the law to the unsaved and to the saved, especially pointing out that the ministry of the law is to reveal sin, not to be a means of salvation. We also ask: What is the Blessing and what is the Curse? We also look at the typology in Deuteronomy 21 that Paul referenced in Galatians 3:13, and point out how Christ fulfilled all the requirements for removing the curse from us through His death and burial, before receiving the blessing of God for us, and releasing to us in his resurrection. We also take an initial look at the Type of the Bronze Serpent on the pole (Numbers 21).
God sets before us life and death, blessing and curse, and urges us to choose life (Deuteronomy 30:19). Likewise, Paul contrasts the 2 possible ways to seek righteousness with God: (1) the way of the works of the law, and (2) the way of faith in God's grace. He shows from the law, that going the way of trying to attain righteousness by the law will inevitably end in failure - the curse of rejection and condemnation by God, resulting in eternal death (v10). Then he shows that the law itself points to the other way (justification by faith), which always results in our full acceptance by God, resulting in eternal life: "the righteous by faith shall live" (v11). Then he shows how Christ, through His death and resurrection, made it possible for us to be justified by faith and receive God's blessing of eternal life through the Holy Spirit. In His death on the Cross, He took our sin and judgement, becoming a curse for us, satisfying all the claims of justice against us, so that through our faith in Christ and His supreme act of Grace, we might receive the blessing promised to Abraham, released in and by the resurrection of Christ, namely, the promise of abundant and eternal life in the Holy Spirit, which is ours now in Christ (through our union with Christ).
God sets before us life and death, blessing and curse, and urges us to choose life (Deuteronomy 30:19). Likewise, Paul contrasts the 2 possible ways to seek righteousness with God: (1) the way of the works of the law, and (2) the way of faith in God's grace. He shows from the law, that going the way of trying to attain righteousness by the law will inevitably end in failure - the curse of rejection and condemnation by God, resulting in eternal death (v10). Then he shows that the law itself points to the other way (justification by faith), which always results in our full acceptance by God, resulting in eternal life: "the righteous by faith shall live" (v11). Then he shows how Christ, through His death and resurrection, made it possible for us to be justified by faith and receive God's blessing of eternal life through the Holy Spirit. In His death on the Cross, He took our sin and judgement, becoming a curse for us, satisfying all the claims of justice against us, so that through our faith in Christ and His supreme act of Grace, we might receive the blessing promised to Abraham, released in and by the resurrection of Christ, namely, the promise of abundant and eternal life in the Holy Spirit, which is ours now in Christ (through our union with Christ).
After showing that salvation by works contradicts the finished work of the Cross (v1), as well as the Galatians' own experience (v2-5), Paul then also proves from the life of father Abraham that salvation must be by faith, and not works. Paul points out that God preached the Gospel to Abraham, declaring that through the coming Messiah (Abraham's seed), all the nations (gentiles) would be justified and blessed with salvation by faith (Genesis 12:3). This promise of salvation was based on God's grace through the Messiah, not on works. Moreover, Abraham himself was justified by faith in Genesis 15: “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (v6). So those who are justified by faith are the spiritual sons of Abraham. Thus salvation by works contradicts God's revelation through Abraham. However, Genesis 15 seems to imply that Abraham was justified by faith through believing that God would give him many children, but saving faith involves faith in the Messiah. We consider the amazing possibility, that God put the Gospel (the Message of the Messiah) in the stars, so that when God showed him the stars, He was preaching the Gospel to Abraham, with the conclusion: "So shall your Seed (the Messiah) be" (v5). Thus Abraham was justified through His faith in the Messiah, just as we are. We look at other Scriptures that support this idea, and point out that astrology is the devil's counterfeit of this original Divine Revelation. Once man possessed the written Word of God, the Gospel story in the Heavens was no longer necessary, and so faded out of use.
After showing that salvation by works contradicts the finished work of the Cross (v1), as well as the Galatians' own experience (v2-5), Paul then also proves from the life of father Abraham that salvation must be by faith, and not works. Paul points out that God preached the Gospel to Abraham, declaring that through the coming Messiah (Abraham's seed), all the nations (gentiles) would be justified and blessed with salvation by faith (Genesis 12:3). This promise of salvation was based on God's grace through the Messiah, not on works. Moreover, Abraham himself was justified by faith in Genesis 15: “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (v6). So those who are justified by faith are the spiritual sons of Abraham. Thus salvation by works contradicts God's revelation through Abraham. However, Genesis 15 seems to imply that Abraham was justified by faith through believing that God would give him many children, but saving faith involves faith in the Messiah. We consider the amazing possibility, that God put the Gospel (the Message of the Messiah) in the stars, so that when God showed him the stars, He was preaching the Gospel to Abraham, with the conclusion: "So shall your Seed (the Messiah) be" (v5). Thus Abraham was justified through His faith in the Messiah, just as we are. We look at other Scriptures that support this idea, and point out that astrology is the devil's counterfeit of this original Divine Revelation. Once man possessed the written Word of God, the Gospel story in the Heavens was no longer necessary, and so faded out of use.
In these verses, Paul moves on from the issue of our justification (based on Christ's imputed righteousness) to our sanctification (based on Christ's imparted righteousness). We describe the nature of sanctification, and why we can only really be made perfect, through the nature of Christ being formed in us by the Holy Spirit, who is in us. Our justification is a work of grace accomplished for us and received by faith in Christ. Likewise, our sanctification is a work of grace accomplished in us through our faith in Christ, who continually supplies the Holy Spirit to us. Paul says that trying to perfect oneself by doing the works of law, is fleshly and bound to fail, for if the flesh was impotent to justify us, why do we think it can sanctify us? We can only experience God's life, blessing and be made perfect by grace through faith, for "the righteous by faith shall receive life and live by faith." Although we have to cooperate with God in our sanctification, it is not by doing the works of the law, but by working out the salvation that God has worked within us by His Spirit. The difference between sanctification by the flesh, doing works of law, and sanctification by the Spirit through the hearing of faith, is like the difference between rowing and sailing. We have to stop trying and start trusting, and then obey as the Spirit leads us. When we try to make ourselves perfect by the flesh, we are just imitating the Christian life, rather than living from the reality of Christ's life within us, who perfects us by His Spirit of grace, as we trust and obey.
In these verses, Paul moves on from the issue of our justification (based on Christ's imputed righteousness) to our sanctification (based on Christ's imparted righteousness). We describe the nature of sanctification, and why we can only really be made perfect, through the nature of Christ being formed in us by the Holy Spirit, who is in us. Our justification is a work of grace accomplished for us and received by faith in Christ. Likewise, our sanctification is a work of grace accomplished in us through our faith in Christ, who continually supplies the Holy Spirit to us. Paul says that trying to perfect oneself by doing the works of law, is fleshly and bound to fail, for if the flesh was impotent to justify us, why do we think it can sanctify us? We can only experience God's life, blessing and be made perfect by grace through faith, for "the righteous by faith shall receive life and live by faith." Although we have to cooperate with God in our sanctification, it is not by doing the works of the law, but by working out the salvation that God has worked within us by His Spirit. The difference between sanctification by the flesh, doing works of law, and sanctification by the Spirit through the hearing of faith, is like the difference between rowing and sailing. We have to stop trying and start trusting, and then obey as the Spirit leads us. When we try to make ourselves perfect by the flesh, we are just imitating the Christian life, rather than living from the reality of Christ's life within us, who perfects us by His Spirit of grace, as we trust and obey.
Paul realised that the reason the Galatians had fallen into legalism, was that they had lost sight of the Cross, and that the antidote to legalism is to present the finished work of Christ on the Cross. We see how the Great Exchange of our sin and His righteousness, accomplished on the Cross, is the basis for us receiving the imputed righteousness of Christ, when we believe in Him, which in turn is the basis for our justification through faith alone. Moreover, we see that at the same time we are justified by faith, Christ's righteousness is imparted to our spirit, causing the New Birth. Also, we receive the indwelling Holy Spirit. We also discuss the nature of saving faith, and the importance of knowing that we are truly born again, through receiving Jesus as our Saviour and Lord.
Paul realised that the reason the Galatians had fallen into legalism, was that they had lost sight of the Cross, and that the antidote to legalism is to present the finished work of Christ on the Cross. We see how the Great Exchange of our sin and His righteousness, accomplished on the Cross, is the basis for us receiving the imputed righteousness of Christ, when we believe in Him, which in turn is the basis for our justification through faith alone. Moreover, we see that at the same time we are justified by faith, Christ's righteousness is imparted to our spirit, causing the New Birth. Also, we receive the indwelling Holy Spirit. We also discuss the nature of saving faith, and the importance of knowing that we are truly born again, through receiving Jesus as our Saviour and Lord.
We study what Paul says to Peter to show why he was wrong to withdraw from eating with the Gentile believers. If the Gospel of Grace is true, then God has fully accepted the Gentiles, on the basis of their faith in Christ. Therefore, Jews and Gentiles are equal in Christ, and so separation on the basis of race is a sin, and a denial of the Gospel. In these key verses, Paul summarises the truths that lie at the heart of Galatians, which he will develop in later chapters. He establishes that we are justified before God by faith in Christ and not works of law, and explains why we are no longer under the jurisdiction and condemnation of the law. He also counters the objection that justification by faith alone encourages a sinful lifestyle, by revealing the transformation that takes place in us when we are put into Christ, for now Christ lives in us! Finally he points out that if we maintain that justification is by our works, then we would be guilty of devaluing, rejecting and setting aside the grace of God, and asserting that Christ died in vain, that His death on the Cross was superfluous.
We study what Paul says to Peter to show why he was wrong to withdraw from eating with the Gentile believers. If the Gospel of Grace is true, then God has fully accepted the Gentiles, on the basis of their faith in Christ. Therefore, Jews and Gentiles are equal in Christ, and so separation on the basis of race is a sin, and a denial of the Gospel. In these key verses, Paul summarises the truths that lie at the heart of Galatians, which he will develop in later chapters. He establishes that we are justified before God by faith in Christ and not works of law, and explains why we are no longer under the jurisdiction and condemnation of the law. He also counters the objection that justification by faith alone encourages a sinful lifestyle, by revealing the transformation that takes place in us when we are put into Christ, for now Christ lives in us! Finally he points out that if we maintain that justification is by our works, then we would be guilty of devaluing, rejecting and setting aside the grace of God, and asserting that Christ died in vain, that His death on the Cross was superfluous.
At the conclusion of the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15), not only did Peter, James and John confirm that Paul preached the true Gospel, but they also acknowledged him as the apostle to the Gentiles, just as Peter was the apostle to the Jews. Thus, they perceived that Paul was an apostle of the first rank, of equal status to themselves. On that basis they publicly offered him the right hand of fellowship, signifying they were partners together in the Gospel. Their only request was that he remember the poor, a reminder that the Gospel of Grace should naturally bring forth good works. However, later when Peter visited Antioch, Paul had to confront Peter publicly, because his behaviour was undermining the Gospel of Grace. By not eating with the Gentile believers, Peter was implying that there was something lacking in their justification and full acceptance by God.
We continue our study showing how Paul fought for the true Gospel at the Jerusalem Council, taking an in-depth look at the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15, and harmonising it with Galatians 2. We also review other challenges to the Gospel of Grace that took place later in Church history, such as the Pelagian heresy and modern liberalism. Finally, we note how Paul was no respecter of persons. Although he honoured the original apostles as true apostles of Christ, he insisted that as men, they were capable of being wrong, and so were not above judgment and accountability.
Paul's letter to the Galatians is the first and most fundamental of all his letters because it establishes the Gospel of Grace. He expresses himself so strongly, because there is no room for compromise on the Gospel. We must stand firm and defend the true Gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16). The first attack against the Gospel in Church history came from legalism, and it was the issue before the first Church Council in Acts 15. We show how Galatians 2:1-6 harmonises with Acts 15.
In their efforts to discredit Paul and his message, the false-teachers were claiming that he preached a man-made message designed to please the Gentiles, having distorted the true message that he had learned from the apostles in Jerusalem. Paul answers this accusation by declaring that he did not receive the Gospel that he preaches from man, but rather that it came through the direct revelation of Jesus Christ (v11-12).
In order to prove his point, (1) he describes his life in Judaism before he met Jesus and was saved (v13-14), then (2) he describes how God dramatically saved him by His grace, revealing Christ to Him and in Him, and called Him to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles (v15-16a), and then (3) he describes his life during the first few years after his conversion (v16b-24), pointing out that he did not immediately confer with any of the apostles in Jerusalem concerning the Gospel, but rather lived in Damascus and Arabia, and only made a brief 2-week visit to Jerusalem after 3 years to get acquainted with Peter, after which he went to preach in Syria and Cilicia, far away from Jerusalem and Judea (v16b-24) - we see how this account harmonises with Acts 9:19-31.
This all proves that Paul received his Gospel and apostleship directly from God, independently from the other apostles. In fact, he only went to Jerusalem to discuss his Gospel with the other apostles 14 years after his conversion, and at that time they agreed that God had called him to be the apostle to the Gentiles, and they also endorsed the Gospel that he preached, and added nothing to it (2:1-10, see also Acts 15).
Paul declares that all those who preach a false Gospel of 'faith + works' for salvation are 'anathema' (devoted to destruction), for by adding human works to the finished work of Christ, as being necessary for salvation, they distort and corrupt the true Gospel of Grace, which is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes (Romans 1:16-17). Thus, they not only deny the completed work of Christ on the Cross, but they also lead their hearers astray into trusting in themselves and their works for salvation, which will inevitably result in their eternal condemnation. We also see how Paul describes his dramatic conversion to Christ, in order to prove that the Gospel that he preached did not come from man, but directly from God through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
The apostle Paul declares that his apostleship and message (the Gospel of Grace) came directly from God the Father, through the Son (the Lord Jesus). We explore the content of this Gospel of Grace, which declares that Christ's completed work on the Cross is an all-sufficient basis for our salvation, so that we must simply put all our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ alone to be saved. We see why other so-called gospels, which add man's works (to Christ's work) as a necessary condition for our salvation, are in fact not gospels at all (they are bad news, not good news), and are worthy of our full rejection, because they dishonour Christ, for they teach that what He did for us in His death and resurrection was incomplete and insufficient for our salvation, which would mean that His dying declaration from the Cross: "It is finished - the price is paid in full" (John 19:30) was actually untrue.
We explore the background to the letter of Galatians and how it fits perfectly in with the Book of Acts. Being the first letter in the Bible that Paul wrote, it is appropriate that it deals with the fundamental truths of the Gospel of Grace. We see how Paul begins the letter by defending both his apostolic authority and his message - the Gospel of grace. The letter of Galatians has proven vital throughout Church history in delivering the Church from the false gospel of faith plus works. In fact, Galatians played an essential role in Martin Luther's life and in the Protestant Reformation.
Pastor Derek discusses with Anne Dawson the place of the UK in Bible Prophecy. Derek makes the case that the UK is Biblical Tarshish. He shows how the scriptures on Tarshish show she is the UK (not Spain). God used the Tarshish nations in the world wars, and to enable Israel's Rebirth. Also, the Tarshish prophecies require Brexit. This is a sign that God is raising the UK up again to fulfil her call and destiny. This is confirmed by the special mention of Tarshish and her young lions in Ezekiel 38:13, as opposing the invasion of Israel by Russia, Iran, Turkey and many other nations in the end times. Derek and Anne also discuss the upcoming and imminent end-time invasion of Israel, prophesied in Ezekiel 38-39
Pastor Derek discusses with Anne Dawson the issue of the 3 Days and 3 Nights between Christ's Death and Resurrection on Revelation TV's Speaker's Corner. Jesus rose 'on the 3rd day' 'and 'after 3 days & 3 nights.' How do we resolve this prophetic paradox? Derek gives proofs for the Crucifixion on Passover, Friday April 1st AD 33 (our calendar), and the Resurrection at Firstfruits, Sunday Dawn. But how can this be 3 days & 3 nights (Matthew 12:40)? See how God solved the paradox!
Pastor Derek discusses the issue of Lordship Salvation with Howard Condor on Revelation TV's Speaker's Corner. Is submission to Christ's Lordship necessary to receiving salvation.What is a true saving faith? Is it just believing in the Gospel? Can you receive and trust in Jesus as your Saviour without receiving and submitting to Him as your Lord? Since sin is rebellion against God, can we be saved without submitting to God? What is the repentance God requires for us to be saved?
"It is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1Corinthians 2:9).
One common objection to the claim that it is God’s will to heal His people is Paul’s THORN in the FLESH. Many say that it was a sickness that God gave Paul to keep him humble, and that when Paul asked to be healed God said 'No.' In this video, Derek proves that this interpretation is wrong. The key questions are: (1) what is Paul’s Thorn?, and (2) where did it come from - from God or the devil? The answers are made clear in God's Word. We also explore the significance of God's answer to Paul: "“My GRACE is sufficient for you, for My STRENGTH is made perfect in WEAKNESS.” We also see how this principle was demonstrated in Paul's life, when he was stoned to death.
There are only 2 possible eternal destinies for every person - either (1) a state and place of everlasting life and blessedness in God’s Presence, for those who have received Christ as their Saviour and Lord, or (2) a state and place of everlasting punishment, for those who have rejected Christ and His offer of Salvation. Every man's final destiny is fixed by God at the time of his death, according to the condition of his soul in relation to God (Ecclesiastes 11:3). There is a HEAVEN to gain and a HELL to shun!
Before the Death and Resurrection of Christ, at death both believers and unbelievers went down to a place called ‘Hades’ (in Greek) or ‘Sheol’ (in Hebrew), a place under the earth for departed spirits, but the believers and unbelievers went to 2 different compartments of Hades, separated by the Bottomless Pit. This is revealed by the true story of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-26). Before the New Covenant it was impossible for anyone to be born again, and so it was impossible for their spirits to go into Heaven. But now through Christ's death and resurrection, the New Birth is available, which means that when believers die now, our spirits can go straight up to Heaven, because our spirits have been changed, born again, and made perfect in Christ. When Christ rose from the dead, He made the spirits of the Old Testament saints perfect by giving them the New Birth, and then took them to Heaven with Him, so they are there now.
Jesus promised that believers in the Church Age would not go down to Hades, but up to Heaven for they are now in the Kingdom of God (Matthew 16:18, John 3:3-6). Derek gives a number of scriptures that prove that believers now go up ti Heaven when they die.
On the other hand, unbelievers still go down to Torments in Hades, a temporary place of punishment for their soul, because they died in their sins and are guilty. They rejected the grace of God, the work of Christ and the witness of the Holy Spirit. They must wait in this temporary holding-cell in Hades until they are resurrected at the end of time and made to stand before the Great White Throne for their final sentencing and dismissal into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20), which is their final and everlasting place of punishment, for both their body and their soul (Matthew 10:28).
God's eternal Judgment will determine each person's eternal destiny. God will ultimately divide all mankind into 2 groups with 2 very different eternal destinies, which is decided at death, when a permanent separation takes place between the righteous and unrighteous. This Judgment, which happens when we cross over the threshold from this life to the next, will be solely a judgment of that individual, and the decisions he has made in his life (Ezekiel 18:20). The Bible teaches that mankind generally goes through 3 Phases of Existence: (1) this life in a mortal body, (2) the INTERMEDIATE STATE, and (3) the ETERNAL STATE in an immortal body. After death the invisible part of man (his spirit- soul), will live on independently from his body. This is called the Immortality of the Soul (Matthew 10:28). Although the body is made from dust that dies, the spirit is made from God’s breath (spirit) and so cannot die. It continues to exist and live on after death (Genesis 2:7). Physical death is simply the separation of the spirit from the body, when the body is no longer able to house the spirit (James 2:26). The condition of each soul at death will determine its destiny for eternity (Ecclesiastes 11:3, Rev 22:11).
The first Stage of man's Eternal Judgment happens immediately after his death (Hebrews 9:27). Stage 1 determines a man’s guilt or innocence. You will either die 'in your sins' (John 8:24) or 'in the Lord' (Rev 14:13). The righteous go up to Paradise, and the wicked go down to Hades, where both groups wait for the 2nd Stage of their Eternal Judgment, which is at their resurrection. After death a man enters the next phase of his existence, the Intermediate State (a temporary State, the time between his death and resurrection). After leaving his body, he continues to exist as a disembodied spirit.
In Stage 2 of man’s Eternal Judgment, at his resurrection, he will appear before the Judge for sentencing. Believers will come before the Judgment Seat of Christ to be judged according to their works to determine their eternal rewards. *Unbelievers will stand before the Great White Throne for their final sentencing. They are judged according to their works to determine the degree of their eternal punishment. They are then dismissed to their final place of punishment, the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:11-15).
A major change took place through the Death and Resurrection of Christ, so Derek shows what happened in Old Testament times before the Cross (Luke 16), and the difference that Christ made possible for us by establishing the New Covenant and providing the perfecting of our spirits through the New Birth. Thus before the Resurrection, Heaven was not populated by man (John 3:13), but now in Christ, our spirits have been changed, born again, and made perfect. So now when believers die, they go straight up into Heaven.
In this short video, Derek completes his overview of the the 8 Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12 - the heart attitudes that we need to develop to enable us to receive God's grace and blessing.
In this short video, Derek explains the Beatitudes: (1) Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of God, (2) blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted, and (3) blessed are the MEEK, for they shall inherit the earth.
In this short video, Derek continues to share from the Beatitudes of Christ. The grace (blessing) of God flows through our heart into our life, so to enjoy His blessing, our heart must be soft and open to God. In other words, we must cultivate these blessed attitudes of heart. On the other hand, hardness of heart blocks the blessing of God.
In this short video, Derek shares from the Beatitudes about the heart attitudes that God wants to form in us, especially purity of heart. Jesus said that only the pure in heart will see God. The pure heart is a heart that is fully devoted to God and free from idols. As we draw near to God and worship Him, like a Consuming Fire, He will cleanse our heart from idols, and we will start seeing Him more clearly. May God give us a heart that is fully devoted to loving Him with every part of our lives without any foreign mixture.
Philippians 2:6-11 is the classic passage of Scripture describing the descending steps of the humility of Jesus, which resulted in His exaltation. Derek explains these steps of humility resulting in exaltation, and shows how Jesus acted out these same steps, when He washed His disciples' feet at the Last Supper in John 13. In fact, there is an exact correspondence between these 2 Passages of Scripture. In other words, in the Foot Washing, Jesus prophetically acted out the whole Drama of Salvation in a number of steps, and Paul, seeing this, described the very same Drama of Salvation, which Jesus accomplished, in terms of the very same steps, but by using theological language rather than actions.
Derek shares 3 major KEYS to receive HEALING from God: KEY 1: Know that HEALING is God’s WILL for you, because Healing is in the Atonement. KEY 2: God gives us His HEALING by giving us His HEALING POWER as a free gift, upon request. We must believe that He is our Healer and we must receive His Healing Power as a free gift by faith. *KEY 3: To receive Healing Power into our bodies requires the surrender of our bodies to God (our faith-submission to God), because God does not force His Power on us.
How can God's sovereignty and man's free-will be both true at the same time? If God foreknew us, chose us and predestined us to be His before the foundation of the world, what possible place can there be for our free-will in our salvation. Yet the Bible clearly speaks about our choice to believe (trust) in Christ, or reject (rebel against) Him. God holds us accountable for our choices and decisions, especially our response to Christ and His Gospel. If God is sovereign and if we are made in His image then surely our free-will (sovereignty over our life) is real, even though it is limited and not absolute like God's sovereign free will to do as He pleases. For many, the truths of Divine Sovereignty and human free-will are contradictory, but in this study Derek shows how both can be true at the same time, once God's Omniscience is fully understood. This is known as Molinism, which is a middle view between Calvinism and Arminianism, which full upholds Divine Sovereignty and at the same time fully affirms man's dignity as a moral agent, with freedom of choice (rather than a robot in disguise).
Derek, Richard and Val share their testimonies, and discuss the Chronology of the Life of Christ giving the dates for His conception (fulfilling Hanukkah), His Birth and Baptism (fulfilling Tabernacles) and His Death (fulfilling Passover). We show how the 2 Signs in the Heavens (Blood Moon and Dark Sun) were fulfilled on the day of the Cross, fixing the date as 1st April AD 33. We also see how the vision of Revelation 12:1-4, announcing the imminent Birth of Christ, was fulfilled at Trumpets 2 BC. We discuss the meaning of Hanukkah, and also how the Bible describes John the Baptist in Elizabeth's womb and Jesus in Mary's womb (proving that God sees babies in the womb as human beings not mere foetuses). Finally, we discuss the recent discoveries of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the Red Sea Crossing Site, and the real Mount Sinai in Arabia, confirming the Exodus.
In these 2 videos, Hilary testifies to the supernatural ways that God has moved in her life. You will be inspired and encouraged by these manifestations of the grace of God.
In these 2 videos, Hilary testifies to the supernatural ways that God has moved in her life. You will be inspired and encouraged by these manifestations of the grace of God.
God wants us to live today to the fullest. God has designed us to live ONE DAY at a TIME. A great life is made up of lots of good days. We need to learn from the past and plan for the future, but we need to learn to LIVE in the NOW. He wants us to focus all our energies into TODAY. The best way you can prepare for tomorrow is by living today well.
Derek shares inspiring illustrations of the Gospel, including (1) the Gospel encoded in the Genealogy of Christ, (2) My Son - the dramatic story of John Griffith, (3) the Peace Child (the story of Don Richardson), (4) the Bridge over the River Kwai, and (5) the Record Book.
At any time, (1) Jesus will come to RESCUE His Church, and then (2) He will immediately RELEASE the judgments of the Tribulation on the earth. This is DUAL IMMINENCE. In this video, we wee how both the Apostles Paul and John taught Dual Imminence - thus, building on the foundation laid by Jesus.
After describing the imminent Rapture in 1Thessalonians 4:15-18 (also 1Corinthians 15:51-52), in 5:1 he connects its timing with the sudden start of the Day of the Lord (Tribulation) as a Thief in the night (5:2-3). We know that (1) JESUS comes to the world as a THIEF, to take the Church for Himself (Matthew 24:43), and that (2) the DAY of the LORD comes as a THIEF (5:2). Combining these 2 ideas tells us that when (1) Jesus comes for His Church in the Rapture, (2) He will also initiate the Day of the Lord on the earth. Jesus coming to the world as a THIEF (Matt 24:43, Rev 3:3, 16:15) speaks of the world experiencing loss (judgment) at His Coming. Thus, He initiates the Day of the Lord by His Coming as a THIEF, which is why: “the DAY of the LORD so comes as a THIEF in the night” (5:2). Thus the imminent COMING of Jesus as a THIEF to initiate the DAY of the LORD (5:2) must be the imminent COMING of Jesus revealed in the previous verses in 4:15-18 - His Coming to Rapture the Church. Thus Christ’s Coming in the Rapture is to RESCUE us from the DAY of the LORD, which He initiates on the earth at the same time (5:2-4): “for God did not appoint us to WRATH (of the Day of the Lord), but to obtain SALVATION (in the Rapture) through our Lord Jesus Christ” (5:9).
We also see Dual Imminence in 1Thessalonians 1:10, which literally says: is: “We wait for His Son from Heaven, even Jesus, who by His coming to us is DELIVERING (rescuing) us from the COMING wrath - the wrath that is already on its way and is about to come upon the earth.” We discuss the literal meaning of 2Thessalonians 2:1-8, and show how it is consistent with Imminence. We also see Imminence in Hebrews 9:28 and Philippians 3:20-21.
Finally we show how the Apostle John describes the imminence of the Day of the Lord in Revelation 1:1,3 and 3:3,6, and the imminence of the Rapture in Revelation 22:7,12. Moreover, we see that Revelation 3:10-11 does not just teach the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, but also Dual Imminence, for (1) the HOUR of TRIAL is about to come upon the whole world (imminence), and (2) Jesus is COMING QUICKLY (imminence) to rescue (keep) us from the Tribulation, by means of the Rapture. Moreover, in Revelation 16:15, Jesus confirms DUAL IMMINENCE – His sudden imminent Coming as a THIEF to (1) bring BLESSING to those prepared for Him, and (2) initiate JUDGMENT on the world: “Behold, I am COMING like a THIEF! (1) BLESSED is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes (those clothed in Christ’s righteousness will be blessed in the Rapture), so that (2) he will not be caught naked (unrighteous) and his shameful (fallen) condition be seen (manifested to all, because he will have to go through the judgments of the Tribulation).”
Having studied the Dual Imminence of the Rapture and the Day of the Lord (Tribulation) in the teachings of Jesus, we now see how the apostles James and Peter build their prophetic teaching on Jesus’ teaching, even using the same examples Jesus used (Noah's Flood, Lot, Birth Pains, the Thief). We also see how they confirm Jesus' Teaching on Dual Imminence.
IMMINENCE means Jesus could come in the Rapture at any time. DUAL IMMINENCE is the fact that BOTH (1) the RAPTURE of the Church, and (2) the START of the DAY of the LORD (Tribulation) are described as IMMINENT events in the Bible. Since (1) the Rapture and (2) the Day of the Lord are both imminent, they must be simultaneous, because if one came before the other, then 2nd event would not be imminent. Therefore, when (1) Christ comes for His Church in the Rapture, (2) He also comes to initiate the Day of the Lord on the earth. This confirms the Pre-Tribulation Rapture.
In the last video, we saw Jesus’ teaching on Dual Imminence in Luke 12 and 17, where He taught both the imminence of (1) His COMING to BLESS His faithful servants who are watching and waiting for His Return, and (2) His COMING as a THIEF in the night to those who are not believers. Later, He reinforced His end-time teaching in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24, Luke 21, Mark 13), and at the Lat Supper (John 14:1-3). In this video, Derek shows how these passages confirm the doctrine of Dual Imminence.
Christ’s imminent Coming has 2 purposes, which are accomplished at the same time: (1) He will come suddenly to bring judgment upon the earth, and at the same time, (2) He will rescue His people from that coming judgment, before it begins. This is Dual Imminence, which means the TRIBULATION will begin on the same day as the RAPTURE. The foundation for this doctrine of Dual Imminence is the teaching of the Lord Jesus Himself. In this video, Derek starts a systematic survey of the prophetic teaching of Jesus, and shows how Dual Imminence is a major feature of His teaching.
First, we look at Jesus’ first teaching on His Coming in Luke 12:35-48, then Luke 17:22-36, compared with Matthew 24:37-39.
In this Series, we explore the New Testament teaching on Imminence. The Coming of Christ for His Church is imminent – that is, He could come at any time. It will be unexpected, without signs and without warning, and that no predicted events necessarily have to come first. The timing of His Coming is totally unpredictable, for God has chosen to keep it as His secret. Therefore, no man can know in advance, when He is coming.
When we study the Scriptures on Imminence, we actually discover that there are 2 events that are imminent: (1) the Rapture of the Church and (2) the start of the eschatological Day of the Lord, a time of judgment, otherwise known as the Tribulation and the End of the Age. As both of these events are imminent, it follows that they must be simultaneous, because if one came before the other, the 2nd event would not be imminent. Therefore, when Christ comes for His Church, He also comes to initiate the Day of the Lord on the earth. Thus, His Coming has 2 purposes which are accomplished at the same time: (1) He will come suddenly to bring judgment upon the earth, and at the same time (2) He will rescue His people from that coming judgment. This means the Tribulation will begin on the same day of the Rapture, and so the Rapture will initiate the Tribulation. This confirms the Pre-Tribulation Rapture.
The foundation for this belief is the teaching of Jesus, which is then taken up and confirmed by the apostles, Paul, Peter and John. We start this series by studying the teaching of Jesus on His Coming in Luke 12:35-41, with a special focus on the meaning of His Coming as a thief (see also Matthew 24:43-44, Revelation 3:3-6, 16:15). As well as Jesus coming as a thief, other scriptures say "the Day of the Lord comes as a thief" (2Peter 3:10, 1Thessalonians 5:3-4). Derek proves that the Day of the Lord is the same as the time of Birth Pains at the End of the Age, which is also the period of time known as the Tribulation. This is confirmed by Revelation 6-19, which describes the Tribulation. It is Christ, who initiates this time of Divine Judgment in Rev 6, by breaking the first 6 Seals in quick succession, and the result corresponds exactly to Jesus’ description of the Birth Pains of the Tribulation. This shows that the Tribulation is also the Day of the Lord, when God moves in Judgment. Therefore, this is not just a time of great evil, suffering and persecution, but a time of Divine Judgment and Wrath. It is this aspect of Divine Judgment which primarily differentiates the Tribulation from the Church Age.
Derek shows how Paul in 1Thessalonians 4-5 teaches that both the Coming of Christ to rapture the Church (chapter 4) and His Coming to initiate the Day of the Lord, a time of Divine Wrath (chapter 5) are imminent, indicating that they are simultaneous. This is confirmed in 1Thessalonians 5:9: “God did not appoint us to wrath (of the Day of the Lord), but to obtain salvation (in the Rapture) through our Lord Jesus Christ”, and 1Thessalonians 1:10: “You wait for His Son from Heaven...Jesus who rescues us from the coming wrath.” This describes the imminent rescue of the Church from an imminent judgment (wrath), accomplished by the Coming of Jesus from Heaven.
The Beatitudes (or Blessed Attitudes) are the heart attitudes that we need to develop to enable us to receive God's grace and blessing. By placing these Beatitudes at the start of His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus places a great importance on these heart attitudes. They are foundational for a life of holiness and righteousness, pleasing to God. Derek describes all of these 8 Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12.
In this short video, Derek introduces the 8 Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12 - the heart attitudes that we need to develop to enable us to receive God's grace and blessing.
Psalm 91 contains many wonderful promises of blessing and protection for those who dwell in the Secret Place of the Most High: "He who dwells in the Secret Place of the Most High shall abide under the Shadow of the Almighty" (v1). These promises include the promise of health and long life: “With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation" (v16). In this study of Psalm 91, Derek explains its promises, and answers the questions: "What is the Secret Place of the Most High?, and "How can we enter into the Secret Place and enjoy the many benefits of dwelling there?" Psalm 91 describes both the blessings of abiding in the Secret Place, and the keys to entering into the Secret Place.
In this short video, Derek introduces Psalm 91 with a meditation on verse 1, which is a summary of the whole Psalm: "He who dwells in the Secret Place of the Most High shall abide under the Shadow of the Almighty (El Shaddai)."
Part 2 of Derek's interview with Christine Darg on the Rapture of the Church. We see that we should be looking, waiting and watching for Jesus' Coming, because the Rapture is imminent (Titus 2:13, Hebrews 9:28). We look at the relationship between Israel and the Church - that the Church (the one New Man) was a mystery hidden in God but now revealed. Once the fullness of the Church is gathered in at the Rapture, God will graft Israel back into the Olive Tree and by the end of the Tribulation "all Israel will be saved" (Romans 11). We also discuss the many differences between the Rapture and the 2nd Coming. Finally, we address the issue of how the covid virus relates to the end-time scenario, and if the covid vaccine has anything to do with the mark of the beast.
Derek discusses the Pre-Tribulation Rapture with Christine Darg, explaining its purpose in terms of the Divine Romance, comparing it to the Jewish Wedding Customs. They point out why the Rapture is a different event to the 2nd Coming, revealing the differences between them. One reason the Rapture must be before the Tribulation is that we are promised Jesus will come for His Church to rescue us from the coming Wrath of the Day of the Lord (1Thessalonians 1:9-10, 5:2-3,8), and this time of God's Judgment-Wrath of God includes the whole Tribulation, starting with the breaking of the first 6 Seals in Revelation 6 and concluding with the 2nd Coming in Revelation 19.
Moreover, Derek shares 4 clear contradictions that arise from the Post-Tribulation Rapture position, which says that the Rapture happens at the same time as the 2nd Coming. (1) The Rapture is signless and imminent, but the 2nd Coming is signposted and predictable for those living in the Tribulation. (2) Before the Rapture, normal life is going on ('peace and safety') as in the days of Noah, but before the 2nd coming all hell is breaking loose in the Great Tribulation, including the 7 Bowls of Wrath and Armageddon. (3) After the Rapture Jesus will take His Church to Heaven (John 14:1-3), but if the Rapture is at the 2nd Coming, we will not go to Heaven, but instead do a U-turn and return with Jesus to the earth. (4) If all believers are raptured at the 2nd Coming, then there will be no believers (sheep) left in their natural bodies to populate the earth in the Millennium. Moreover, since all the unbelievers (goats) will be removed from the earth by death at the 2nd Coming (Matthew 25), that will leave no one alive for the Millennium. This means that the Rapture of the Church must take place a significant time before the 2nd Coming. The Bible reveals that in fact the Rapture takes place at least 7 years before the 2nd Coming.
When is the Rapture of the Church (1Thessalonians 4) in relation to the 2nd Coming of Christ to establish His Kingdom on the earth (Revelation 19). Pastor Derek makes the case for the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, which motivates us to look for Christ's imminent Return for us. This realisation will cause us to walk close to the Lord in holiness, serving Him faithfully, and being a witness to the world.
Pastor Derek answers: "What is Yom Kippur and why is it important?" He describes how Christ has already fulfilled His part of the Day of Atonement in His sacrificial death and resurrection, but that the complete fulfilment of this Feast awaits Israel's national repentance in the Tribulation, when all Israel will be saved, which will then provide the basis for the 2nd Coming of Christ, when He will fulfil the Feast of Tabernacles.
Pastor Derek answers the Questions: "How close are we to Jesus' Return?" and "How will it be that every eye will see Christ when He returns?"
Pastor Derek answers the Questions: "What do you do when you feel hopeless? What is the first thing we should do when we face mental health issues? Where should we turn?
Derek answers the Questions: "Can people be saved after the Rapture?" and "How will the Rapture be explained to those who will be left behind on earth; will they will know where we have gone?"
Derek answers the Question: "Can Christians have idols in their lives without knowing it, and what in form do these idols take?"
Pastor Derek answers the Question: "Am I doing enough to be within the Body of Christ? Is Church important? Do I need to be part of a Church?"
Derek answers the question: "Can people be saved if they have not forgiven everyone in their life?"
Derek answers 2 questions: (1) Why was the prophet in 1 Kings 13 killed by a lion? (2) Will our resurrection body be like Adam's body before the Fall?
Join Derek on his trip through Israel visiting many Biblical sites. Enjoy the scenery, inspiring music and excerpts of his teachings at the different locations, as well as talks by local guides. In this Part 2 of 2, you will see Jericho, Tel es Sultan, Mount of Temptation, Wilderness of Judea, Genesis Land, Ein Gedi, Masada, Massada, Gomorrah, Sulphur balls, Dead Sea, Wadi Kelt, Good Samaritan, Bethany, Lazarus Tomb, Jerusalem, Damascus Gate, Walls of Jerusalem, Dominus Flevit, Hezekiah's Tunnel, City of David, Pool of Siloam, Temple Mount, Dome of the Rock, Via Dolorosa, Ecce Homo, Zedekiah's Cave, Solomon's Quarries, Golgotha, Garden Tomb, Mount of Olives, Chapel of the Ascension, the Garden of Gethsemene, and the Grotto (Cave) of Gethsemene.
Join Derek on his trip through Israel visiting many Biblical sites. Enjoy the scenery, inspiring music and excerpts of his teachings at the different locations, as well as talks by local guides. In this Part 1 of 2, you will see Neot Kedumim (Nature Reserve), Caesarea on the Sea, Korazim, Mount Beatitudes, Sea of Galilee, Tabgha, Church of the Primacy, Eremos Cave, Capernaum, Dan, Jordan River, Caesarea Philippi, Banias Waterfall, Mount Carmel, Muhraqa, Megiddo, Armageddon, Mount Arbel, Harod Spring, Nazareth Village, Mount Gilboa, Moreh, Jezreel, Bethshean, Gomorrah, and Qumran.
Derek reveals the order of events at a Passover Meal, and shows how all the Gospel accounts of the Last Supper harmonise, once it is understood that it was a Passover Meal. In particular, he shares the 2 stages of the Afikomen ritual (before and after the meal), and shows how Christ fulfilled both stages: (1) in His Incarnation, Death and Burial, and (2) in His Resurrection and Distribution. He shows how Christ used the Afikomen as the basis for instituting Holy Communion, for it was when He broke the Afikomen and gave it to His disciples, that He said: "Do this in remembrance of Me." The symbolism shows that in Communion, we are invited to partake of the risen Christ, who is the Bread of Life.
End-Time Prophecy (Part 1) - The Prophetic Framework
Do you understand the times you are living in? The Bible’s prophecies have so far proved themselves to be stunningly accurate. See what they have to say about the future. What does the Bible say about the future? Are we living in the last generation before Christ’s Return? This book, the first in a series of 3, systematically reveals the foundational principles by which you can clearly understand the Bible’s teaching on the End-Times, and established the Prophetic Framework revealed in the Bible.
This book is available from www.oxfordbiblechurch.co.uk and all Amazons internationally. See also Derek's Youtube Series: Bible Prophecy and the Book of Revelation.
Howard Condor and Derek Walker discuss the significance of Israel and its historical God-given right to be in their Land, and why there is such hatred and antisemitism towards the Jewish People.
In our final study in Philippians, the apostle Paul commends the Philippians for consistently partnering with him in the Gospel, through their prayers and giving. They are held forth for us as a classic example for how we should support those who are devoting their lives to preach Gospel and spread God's Word. Paul tells them that their partnership with him involved both giving and receiving (v15), which meant they would receive a great reward for their faithful giving, both eternal fruit that would abound to their account as treasures in Heaven (v17), and the promise that God would supply all their need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus in this life (v19).
We share how God used Philippians 4:13, to rescue Oliver Cromwell from an overwhelming depression at losing his son. We continue to explore the truth that God lives inside us, and wants to strengthen us from within, by infusing and satisfying our souls with His life and peace, this being the secret that Paul discovered for living a life of contentment. This is a life of faith, so we also discuss faith in God and the faith of God and the gift of faith.
In our passage of Scripture, Paul shares how he had learned to secret of being content, independent of his circumstances. This is actually the secret of living in victory over sin, because the opposite of contentment is covetousness, where we are never satisfied. When we do not trust in God's goodness, we easily become discontent, believing the grass is always greener elsewhere. This causes us to move out of God's will, presence and peace to grasp at what we think we are missing, just like Adam and Eve in the Garden. Paul shares his secret in v13 - by allowing the life of Christ within him to satisfy and strengthen his soul, he can be content both in times of lack and in times of abundance.
Jesus said: "Peace I leave with you, My Peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27). We discuss the nature of this peace, that Jesus promised to give us, and how it is different from the peace, which the world gives. In our passage in Philippians, we discover the keys to walking in the Peace of God and enjoying the God of Peace who lives within us.
Come to a special place in the foothills of Mount Hermon called Caesarea Philippi. It is from here that the River Jordan begins its downward journey through the Land of Israel. It was here that Jesus took His disciples to reveal Himself to them as the Messiah and glorious Son of God. It was here that Jesus announced the formation of His Church, which would prevail over the Gates of Hell. It was here that He gave us the Keys of the Kingdom. It was from here that He started to set His face to go to the Cross. This book will open up in a new way the many revelations that Jesus gave us at one of the major turning points in His ministry. He chose to come to this place for a reason. In 'Revelations at Caesarea Philippi' you will find out why. In this book, Derek also reveals what the Bible tells us about the Nephilim, and their connection to Mount Hermon.
This book is available from www.oxfordbiblechurch.co.uk and all Amazons internationally. See also Derek's Youtube Series: Revelations at Caesarea Philippi.
After describing the wonderful transformation that we will receive at the resurrection of our bodies, Paul addresses a problem of strife in the Philippian Church, a personality clash between 2 strong women, giving us an example of how to deal with such conflicts, by calling each one to have the attitude of Christ toward the other, and thereby come into harmony with each other, for the sake of Christ and His Gospel. By reminding them of the supreme importance of the propagation of the Gospel and being written in the Book of Life, Paul helps them to humble themselves and put their petty squabbling aside for the sake of what is truly important - the salvation of souls.
Then Paul gives 3 keys to a vibrant spiritual life of joy and peace: (1) rejoicing in the Lord (v4), (2) praying about things with thanksgiving, instead of worrying about them (v5-7), and (3) meditating in God's Word (v8-9).
Anxiety comes from pride, when we try and handle everything in our own strength. But if we will humble ourselves before God and submit ourselves and our problems to Him in prayer, then we will be able to receive His abundant grace for the situation (1Peter 5:5-7, James 4:6), which includes the Peace of God, which will fill and relax our souls, and also protect them from anxiety and negative thoughts. As we commit all things to God in prayer and meditate on His Word, then the Peace of God and the God of Peace will be with us.
It is important that we walk in the light that we have receive from God, then we will qualify to receive more light and spiritual growth (v16). Paul warns about the dangers of backsliding, and embracing a lifestyle of sin, and becoming an enemy of the Cross, where Christ died to set us free from sin. We should take as our examples and heroes true men and women of God, not those in the unbelieving world, who are heading for destruction. Paul warns against being flesh-ruled, especially those 'whose god is their belly' (the sin of gluttony). We discuss the power and importance of prayerful fasting, God's antidote to this addiction as well as other addictions of the flesh. Our true abiding citizenship is in Heaven, so while we are passing through this world, we should live as loyal citizens of Heaven, looking for when our Saviour, King Jesus, will return and complete our salvation by transforming our lowly mortal bodies into glorious immortal bodies.
Paul compares our pursuit of Christ in this life to an athletic race where the runners give their whole concentration and effort to reaching their goal and receiving their prize. We discuss why the pursuit of Christ to know Him is also necessarily the pursuit of Christ-likeness - the more we are like Him, the more we can be one with Him.
Paul refutes the idea that sinless perfection is possible in this life, which means whatever level of spiritual maturity we have reached, we are not to settle on our laurels, and just coast along, but to keep pressing on to know Christ more and lay hold of Him and experience more of His grace, wisdom, life and power.
We discuss what it means to forget our past failures and successes, so that we can fully focus on Christ and give our all in the present moment to fulfilling His will and purpose for our lives, so that after completing our race, we may receive His reward, when we are called upward to stand before His Judgment Seat. This is the mature mindset that Paul tells us we need to have (v15).
Christ pursued us in love from Heaven to earth and accomplished our salvation through His death and resurrection (2:5-11), and now we must respond to His offer of salvation.
First, we must receive Him and His righteousness as a free-gift, which is the only firm foundation for our salvation and eternal life. Having received Christ's love and assurance, we should now return His love by pursuing Him in order to know and experience Him more. Possessing something legally is not the same as experiencing and enjoying it. Likewise, we possess every spiritual blessing of grace in Christ, but we can only appropriate His grace by drawing close to Him
In these verses, Paul describes His personal pursuit of Christ, and how he was willing to forsake all other things, in order to gain more of Christ, because of the surpassing excellence of knowing Him. In particular, Paul desired to continually experience the overcoming resurrection life of Christ empowering Him to overcome sin and walk in victory. This involves rejecting all idols - the covetous lusts of the flesh and eyes, and the self-idolatry of pride (1John 2:15) - an idol is anything we value more than Christ and His Presence in us.
Being a Christian means having a loving relationship with the Lord, rejoicing in Him and trusting in His grace, having no confidence in the flesh.
We discuss the dangers of legalism and why it is an evil counterfeit of the true Gospel. Christ alone and His righteousness is the only sure foundation for our salvation, but legalism causes people to look to themselves and trust in themselves and their own law-keeping to establish themselves before God, and in so doing they cut themselves off from the grace of God. Legalism also causes people to focus on outward performance (which we can control to an extent), at the expense of inward Christlike attitudes, which only Christ can produce in us by His grace.
Paul shares from his own experience, having come from a life of legalism, how he had a perfect pedigree and performance as a self-righteous law-keeping Pharisee. If any one had a basis to have confidence in the flesh, Paul did, and yet he came to realise that all his self-righteousness had no value before God, in fact it was a big negative.
A discussion between Howard Condor, Hugh Jackman and Derek Walker concerning the identity of the 2 witnesses. Pastor Derek makes the case that they are Moses and Elijah.
In these verses, Paul gives us 3 biographical illustrations of what it means to have the attitude of Christ, in His submission to God and thinking of others and serving them by putting them first.
(1) Paul, himself, who was willing to lay down his life in martyrdom as a drink offering, to deepen their faith by his example (v17-18).
(2) Timothy, who was most like Paul in sincerely caring for the Philippians, rather than seeking his own advancement (v19-24).
(3) Epaphroditus, who risked his own life for the work of Christ, in order to fulfil His God-given mission to bring aid to Paul in prison (v25-30).
An overview of Philippians shows that each chapter reveals who Christ is to us: (1) Christ, our Life, (2) Christ, our Mind (Attitude), (3) Christ, our Goal and (4) Christ, our Strength.
We see how the classic passage of Christ's humility (v5-11) is not just given to us as our example, but describes His loving pursuit of us, bringing about our salvation, so that we can become New Creations in Him, with Christ indwelling us, enabling us to have His mind and live like Him. Although we do not work FOR our salvation, we are to work OUT our salvation, in submission to His leadership and trusting in His grace.
We are Temples of the Holy Spirit, and God wants to work in and through us to His glory. He works in us to desire and will His good pleasure, and He empowers us to fulfil His purposes. The first earthly Temple, the Garden of Eden, gives a vivid illustration of how God's Spirit wants to flow through us. God calls us to shine as lights in a dark world, holding forth His Word, with purified hearts and blameless lives.
We take another look at this awesome passage, by comparing it to how Jesus washed the feet of His disciples in John 13. We see how in John 13, Jesus acted out the whole drama of salvation, from beginning to end, revealing His humility, and that His motivation for humbling Himself was His love for us. We see how this foot-washing passage is an exact step by step parallel to Paul's great passage in Philippians, so much so, that it is likely that Paul was thinking of the foot-washing, when he wrote Philippians 2:5-11. By comparing Philippians 2:5-11 to John 13, much extra light is shed upon this awesome description of Christ's humility.
Finally, we study Christ's exaltation to the highest place in Philippians 2:9-11, when He received the Name above all names, the prime example of the principle that humility results in exaltation. When Jesus was exalted, the Father restored to Him the full manifestation of His eternal glory (John 17:5), and also His human nature was glorified, and this is the basis of our future glorification, since we are in union with Christ, through His human nature. The day is coming when every being in Heaven, earth and under the earth will bow their knee to Christ, and confess that He is Lord (which is another proof of His Deity - see Isaiah 45:22-23, Romans 14:10-12). What does this mean for those who have rejected Him? What will it be like for them in Hell?
The new revised and expanded edition of this book by Derek Walker is available from all Amazons internationally, and also from www.oxfordbiblechurch.co.uk. See also my 5-part Youtube Series: The Imminent Invasion of Israel
Russia's recent attack on Ukraine changes the world-situation and helps set the stage for the fulfilment of Ezekiel 38-39 - an amazing End-Time Prophecy about a massive Invasion of Israel from the far north, led by Russia and supported by a number of Islamic nations, including Iran. This massive invasion will result in one of the greatest ever Divine Interventions, as God moves in Judgement. The result will be great and world-wide political, religious and spiritual changes. Learn how everything has just now come perfectly into place for these dramatic events to happen. In other words, they are now imminent (they could happen at any time)! It is essential that believers are ready, for when the God of the Bible reveals His Mighty Power to all nations in obvious fulfilment of Prophecy, we will have a wonderful opportunity to lead many to Christ.
In order to inspire the Philippians to have an attitude of humility before God, serving others and putting their needs and interests before our own, Paul gives us the supreme example of our Lord Jesus. This awesome passage, a holy of holies of Scripture, reveals how Christ, who is fully God, humbled Himself completely in order to accomplish our salvation, revealing His inward attitude and motivation, resulting in His outward obedience.
We take a detailed look at the 7 sequential steps of His self-humbling, followed by His exaltation by God, the Father.
When the glory of Christ's infinite love and humility is revealed to our heart, it will kill all our pride and empty glory. This passage reveals the Gospel of Christ's amazing love for us. Knowing that our salvation was accomplished through His love and humility, in which He put our needs before His welfare, now that we have received Christ and His salvation, we are called to live worthy of this Gospel of Christ, knowing that the Spirit of Christ is now working within us to enable us to will and to do His good pleasure (2:12-13). In particular, we are to put away selfish ambition and instead walk in love, putting the needs and interests of others before our own.
Having emphasised the need for unity in the Church, in Philippians 2:1-4 the apostle Paul urges them to use the divine resources at their disposal to strengthen their unity through humility. He contrasts the 2 ways that we can relate to each other in the Body of Christ: (1) pride, selfish ambition and vain conceit (me first) - the way of satan, which brings strife, or (2) in humility considering others before ourselves - the way of Christ - which brings peace and unity. Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Paul said: "to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain... having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better." We discuss what happens when we die? Do we stay conscious?
As Philippi was a Colony of Rome, so Paul reminded the Church at Philippi, that they were a colony of Heaven on earth, and that therefore they needed to conduct themselves as citizens of Heaven. This means that the Church must not compromise with the ways and standards of the world, and that we must stand together united in the Holy Spirit, and strive together to defend and promote the faith of the Gospel. When attacked, we are to stand firm and be confident in our proclamation of Christ. Our lack of fear in the face of persecution is a sign to unbelievers that God is with us, and that they are on the wrong side.
We also discuss the 3 kinds and levels of suffering. It is an honour to suffer for Christ, and God will always grant us the grace to stand strong in the face of persecution.
The Apostle Paul shares from his experience in Rome, of how God has used him to advance the Gospel there, even though he had been in chains for almost 2 years. In fact, God has used his chains to get the Gospel to all the 10,000 soldiers of the Praetorium Guard, as well as to many others in Caesar's Palace. Moreover, Paul's boldness to preach Christ, despite his chains, had stimulated all the Christians in Rome to witness with renewed boldness. We see how Paul handled his critics and competitors. Through it all, we see Paul's passion for the Gospel, and his willingness to die for Christ. His main concern was that, whether by life or by death, He would continue to glorify Christ, by staying true to Christ, and not being ashamed of the Gospel. For this to be fulfilled, he knew that he needed the generous supply of the Holy Spirit, which came in part through the prayers of the Philippians for him.
God wants our love to abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that we may approve the things that are excellent, that we may be sincere and without offence till the Day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. We explore the rich meaning of this inspired language, and how God wants us to be full of both grace and truth, and both pure in our heart motivations and blameless in our outward behaviour, as we seek to bring glory and praise to God.
Pastor Derek takes an in-depth look at the Messiahship of Jesus, showing how He fulfils all the prophecies of the Messiah, that speak of Him being the unique God-man, with the full anointings of Prophet, Priest and King. We discuss how His Messiahship is fully revealed in His 2 Comings - the Sufferings and the Glory. The first time He came to suffer and die for our sins and for our salvation, and He will return a second time to establish His glorious Kingdom on earth. He is the Lamb and the Lion. In connection with this Derek takes a detailed look at Matthew 16, when He announced the building of His Church on the Foundation of Himself and His death and resurrection, and Matthew 17, when He gave a prophetic preview of His Coming Kingdom through the Transfiguration.
We make a detailed verse by verse study of Paul's inspired prayer for the Philippians, discussing our fellowship in the Gospel, and how God's grace enables us to persevere in faith and grow spiritually. The God, who has begun a good work in us, will surely complete it in the Day of Jesus Christ!
After seeing how the Gospel is the fulfilment of the Year of Jubilee, we look at the dramatic story of how Paul planted the Church at Philippi during his 2nd Missionary Journey in Acts 16, when he brought the Gospel into Europe for the first time.
We discuss the history and strategic location of Philippi, as the gateway between Europe and Asia, and how it became a Roman Colony, with special status and rights. Likewise, the Church in every place is a Colony of Heaven, living by the laws and ways of Heaven, not of this world, representing the Kingdom of God to the world, showing forth an example of what life is like in the Kingdom of Heaven, and bringing the people under the influence of God.
In this letter, Paul opens his heart to the Philippians in a special way, because they had partnered with him in spreading the Gospel from the very beginning, when the Church was founded. Above all the other Churches, their heart was with Paul, and this was shown by their consistent support of him in prayer and financial gifts. In fact, the occasion for Paul to write Philippians was to thank them for the gift they had recently sent him, through Epaphroditus, to help sustain him in prison (1:5, 2:25-30, 4:10-19).
What does it mean to be a saint? What does it mean to be in Christ? What is the grace of God, and what fruit does it produce in our life? What is the Gospel? We explore these great themes, which Paul introduces at the start of His letter to the Philippians.
We study the background to Philippians in the Book of Acts, giving a potted history, leading up to Paul's imprisonment in Rome (AD 60 - 62), after appealing to Caesar. We see that Paul was in prison for preaching Jesus as the risen Messiah, and the key issue for him was the defence and confirmation of the Gospel. During these 2 years under house arrest, chained to soldiers, God used Paul's chains to bring the Gospel to the heart of the Empire, including to the whole Praetorium Guard and Caesar's Palace in Rome. Paul wrote Philippians near the end of these 2 years, on the threshold of his trial before Nero. He introduces himself as a slave of Jesus Christ. We discuss the issue of slavery, and what it means for us to be slaves of God.
According to Deuteronomy 28, the Curse of the Law includes every kind of sickness (v61), and Jesus redeemed us from the Curse by becoming the Curse for us when He hung on the Tree of Calvary (Galatians 3:13-14). Therefore, Christ has redeemed us from all sickness, having taken the curse of sickness when He hung on the Tree. This proves that Healing is in the Atonement. Healing therefore belongs to us in Christ, because it was purchased for us by the Blood of Christ.
To explain the removal of the Curse, in Galatians 3:13 Paul pointed to an Old Testament picture by quoting from Deuteronomy 21:21-23: “for it is written: "CURSED is everyone who hangs on a TREE.” Derek shows how Jesus fulfilled the picture in Deuteronomy 21 in removing the curse from us. He also gives some examples of this Deuteronomy Law in action in Joshua 7 and 8. Derek also shows how Christ's removal of sin and the curse is revealed through the Type of the SCAPEGOAT on the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16.
Finally, we study another picture of what Christ accomplished through His Death and Resurrection in taking our CURSE and releasing to us His BLESSING in the ceremony of Joshua 8:30-35, following God's commands in Deuteronomy 11 and 27. (1) All the CURSE for breaking the Law was put on Mount EBAL, the place of Sacrifice, a picture of God putting all our Curse on Christ on the Cross. (2) All the BLESSINGS were placed upon and released from Mount GERAZIM, a picture of Christ’s Resurrection, when God blessed Him with every blessing on the basis of His perfect righteousness, which He received on our behalf, and gives freely to us. So (1) EBAL represents Christ in His Death on the Cross, where Christ became a CURSE for us, and (2) GERIZIM represents Christ in His Resurrection, when He received the BLESSING and released it to us. This is exactly what Galatians 3:13-14 tells us: “Christ has (1) redeemed us from the Curse of the Law, having become a Curse for us...that (2) the BLESSING might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus.” Mount EBAL declares that Christ in His Death took all our curse (including sickness), so that we can receive the blessing from Mount GERIZIM, the blessing of abundant, eternal life flowing from Christ’s Resurrection. The BLESSING of healing can only flow to us, because Christ bore the CURSE of sickness for us.
Jesus has redeemed us from the curse of sickness, so that we might be blessed with the blessing of life and health. (1) By faith, we look to Mt. EBAL and see Christ redeeming us from the curse through His death. Then (2) we look to Mt. GERIZIM and see all the blessings of healing and life released to us in Christ through His resurrection, and we come to Him to receive our healing. The CURSES reveal what Christ has redeemed us from on the Cross. The BLESSINGS reveal what is ours now through His Resurrection. By faith in God’s Word we receive: (1) deliverance from the curse, and (2) the fullness of blessing. (1) Through faith in Christ’s Death for us, we are released from the power of the curse. (2) Through faith in His Resurrection, we receive the power of new life (blessing).
There is only one remedy for the curse – the Cross of Christ, where He redeemed us from the curse, having become a curse for us, so that we might receive the blessing of healing through faith (Galatians 3:13-14). The curse is the consequence of sin, and is described in Deuteronomy 28:15-61, and it includes every kind of sickness (v61). So every sickness is part of the curse, and Christ has redeemed us on the Cross from the curse. Therefore He has redeemed us from every sickness. So Divine Healing must be in the Atonement.
The removal of the Curse of Sickness through the Cross is revealed through 2 Types of Christ: (1) the Serpent on the Pole (Numbers 21) and (2) the man who bears the curse by being hung on a tree (Deuteronomy 21:21-23). In Galatians 3:13, Paul quotes from this passage, to explain how Christ took the curse for us on the Cross: "for it is written: “CURSED is everyone who hangs on a TREE.” A guilty man who committed a crime worthy of death was (1) executed, then (2) hung on a tree, and then (3) buried before sunset. In this way, the curse (defilement) of his sin was removed from the land. Derek shows how Jesus fulfilled the requirements of Deuteronomy 21 for the curse to be removed from us, by taking our place, bearing our sin, becoming a curse for us, and dying the death that we deserved, and being buried on the same day before sunset. Christ (1) died for us, (2) He was hung on a tree for us, and (3) He was buried on the same day, fulfilling the requirements of Deuteronomy 21 for the curse to be removed from us. So for sin and its curse to be removed from us it requires a sin-bearer to bear the curse by being nailed to a tree and becoming the curse, and suffering the penalty of death, and then he must be buried before sunset. This is exactly what Jesus did for us in His death and burial.
So God put in the Law in Deuteronomy 21 a picture of God’s remedy for the curse of sin, which Jesus fulfilled in His death and burial. Having removed the curse of sickness from us, He then poured out His blessing of healing upon us through His resurrection life.
Christ is the fulfilment of the Type of the Passover Lamb. 1Corinthians 5:7: “Christ OUR PASSOVER LAMB is sacrificed for us.” There were 2 provisions through the Passover Lamb: (1) the BLOOD of the Lamb purchased their forgiveness for sin and deliverance from judgment, (2) eating the FLESH of the Lamb gave them strength and HEALING for their journey. Psalm 105:37: “He brought them forth (in the Exodus) with silver and gold, and there was NOT ONE FEEBLE (sick) in their tribes.” The Passover Lamb contained HEALING as well as forgiveness. The BODY of the Passover Lamb provided HEALTH and STRENGTH for their journey. EATING the Lamb is a picture of us RECEIVING our HEALING and strength for the journey of life, through faith in Christ and His Atoning Sacrifice. So if HEALING is in the Type (the Picture of Christ) how much more must HEALING be in the fulfillment (Christ’s Sacrifice on the Cross as our Passover Lamb). Therefore, there is Healing in the Atonement of Jesus.
In Numbers 21 the Israelites sinned and as a result fiery (poisonous) serpents bit them, resulting in death. These SERPENTS are a picture of SIN, which contains POISON, that produces SICKNESS unto DEATH. When the people repented and asked for salvation from these serpents and their poison, God revealed His REMEDY for sin and sickness by giving a wonderful picture of the Atonement of Christ. "The Lord said to Moses: “Make a fiery SERPENT and set it on a POLE; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he LOOKS at it, shall LIVE” (Numbers 21:8). God was saying the remedy for both sin and sickness, is represented by a BRONZE SERPENT lifted up on a POLE, a picture of CHRIST on the CROSS, as Jesus pointed out in John 3:14-17. He said that what the Bronze Serpent did for Israel, He would do for the whole world through His death on the Cross. So, Jesus being lifted up on the Cross is the fulfilment of the type of the Bronze Serpent. Thus He must have taken both our sins and our sickness on the Cross, for if healing was provided in the Type (the picture of the Atonement), how much more must healing be provided in the fulfilment (the Atonement itself). When Jesus was lifted up on the Cross, He did not just take our SIN, but He also took our CURSE (sickness), so that when we look to Him in faith we can receive forgiveness, eternal life and HEALING.
When they looked upon the FIERY Serpent, they saw a representation of Jesus taking our SIN with its POISON, and its effects (the curse of sickness and death) on Himself, when He was lifted up on the Cross. Thus God's remedy for our both sin and sickness is the Atonement of Christ. When Christ was lifted up on the Cross, He become both sin and curse for us, so we could be forgiven and receive the blessing of life and health (2 Cor 5:21, Galatians 3:13-14). This Serpent was BRONZE, because this metal represents JUDGMENT. So this BRONZE SERPENT represents SIN that has been JUDGED. So the FIERY BRONZE SERPENT on the Pole is a picture of our sin and its curse (sickness) being put upon Jesus on the Cross, and JUDGED (defeated) upon Jesus. Jesus received the judgment for our sin in our place, so we could be set free from the serpent and its poison (sin) and its effects (the curse of sickness). So the serpent of sin and the effects of its poison (sickness) has been taken by Jesus and judged upon Him once and for all.
When they LOOKED upon the Bronze Serpent, they saw their sin and sickness judged (bronzed), and RECEIVED it for themselves, and so they LIVED (received forgiveness, healing and life) - they were delivered from the power of the serpent of sin. Likewise, all who LOOK on Jesus, seeing Him take all their sin and sickness on the Cross, and seeing that it was all judged on Him, will receive His forgiveness and LIFE (healing), which flows from the Cross in His grace. As a result they LIVE. The Spirit of Life flows from the Father through the Son (and His Death on the Cross), so that all those who look to God and see His Spirit flowing to them through the work of Christ on the Cross, can receive His Spirit of life into themselves, imparting eternal life to their spirits, abundant life to their souls, and healing to their bodies (John 10:10).
God wanted them all to be forgiven and healed, so He provided a salvation for them all, but they had to receive it by looking on the Bronze Serpent in faith. Likewise, God wants us all to be forgiven and healed, so He has provided Salvation for us all through the Atonement of Christ, but we have to receive it by looking in faith to Christ and His finished work on the Cross. Thus, both forgiveness from sin and healing from sickness are freely available to us all by God's grace, received by trusting in Christ and His atoning death for us on the Cross. If healing was provided from the serpent's poison in this Type of Salvation, how much more must healing be provided in its fulfilment in Christ, when He was lifted up on the Cross for us all!
The Jubilee is the type of the Gospel. The Gospel is the fulfilment of the Year of Jubilee. The whole basis of Jesus’ ministry (including His healing ministry) was the fulfilment of the Year of Jubilee, which speaks of the blessings of grace released on the basis of the Atonement. Jesus claimed He made healing available to all because He was the fulfilment of Jubilee, for in the Year of Jubilee every blessing of freedom and restoration was for all, for it was based on the Atonement.
Derek does a study of the Year of Jubilee in Leviticus 25. It was a year of GRACE, on the basis of Atonement, when they were (1) set free from their debts and slavery – a Year of Liberty, and they could (2) return to and reclaim their inheritance, lost through sin. Jubilee means 'trumpet blast' signifying the proclamation to all, that it’s now the Acceptable Year of the Lord, your debts (sins) are forgiven, you are set free from slavery and can reclaim your lost possessions. It was GOOD NEWS to the POOR (the Gospel). All who heard and believed the Jubilee Trumpet could claim their forgiveness and freedom and could return to reclaim their lost inheritance.
These Jubilee blessings were released on the Day of Atonement, signifying they were released on the basis of the Atonement. The Day of Atonement is one of the greatest pictures of the Atoning Sacrifice of Christ - the basis of all our Jubilee blessings in Christ. God uses the Jubilee to be the Type of the Gospel, which is the proclamation of Jubilee based on the Cross and we are all called blow the Jubilee Trumpet.
Derek shows how Jesus perfectly fulfilled the Day of Atonement and the Jubilee through His Death, Resurrection and Great Commission.
Isaiah 53 is the classic prophecy of the Atonement of the Messiah. Then following Isaiah 53 is Isaiah 61, a prophecy of Messiah proclaiming the Great Jubilee, releasing to all men the blessings purchased in His Atonement - a prophecy of the ultimate fulfilment of Jubilee in our salvation through the Messiah. The blessings of this Great Messianic Jubilee include HEALING for all sick and brokenhearted, the setting at liberty of all those held captive by sickness, the restoration of life, beauty and joy, for all under the heavy burdens of sorrow, sickness and pain.
In Luke 4:18-21, Jesus declared He was fulfilling Isaiah 61, claiming that He was the Messiah, who had come to fulfil this Great Jubilee. Jesus came preaching the Gospel, blowing the Jubilee Trumpet, proclaiming the Year of Jubilee. The Jubilee Gospel of Good News to the poor included HEALING (Isaiah 61, Luke 4:18ff), and it was the basis for Christ's Healing Ministry. Since all the blessings of Jubilee are based on the Atonement, it follows that HEALING must be in the ATONEMENT, purchased by the Blood of Christ and therefore available to us today by grace, for us to receive by faith. Today, it is still the Jubilee (Acceptable) Year of the Lord (2Corinthians 6:2).
The GOSPEL is nothing more or less than the PROCLAMATION of JUBILEE – that all the Jubilee blessings (including HEALING for the soul and body) are now released to us and are freely available for all to receive by faith, because they have been paid for by the ATONEMENT of CHRIST.
The Bible gives us a number of Pictures of Salvation that prove healing is the Atonement. In this teaching we look at the healing of a leper (Luke 5:12-15). This is the first of 4 Messianic Miracles, which were specific signs of the Messiah. The others are casting out a dumb spirit, healing of a man born blind, and (4) resurrection after 3 days - the sign of Jonah. The special significance and symbolism of Leprosy in the Bible explains why it was a Messianic Miracle. God uses leprosy to teach us about sin. That’s why it was treated differently from all other sicknesses. Leprosy is a picture of sin (Isaiah 1:18), which is why the Bible only talks about the cleansing of a leper. Derek shares all the ways in which leprosy is a picture of sin. The healing of a leper is a picture of Messiah saving us from sin, for we were all spiritual lepers. Since only Messiah can save us from our sin, it was appropriate that only Messiah can cleanse lepers, which is why it was a Messianic Miracle, so when Jesus healed lepers it was a special sign proving He was the Messiah. Derek shows how the healing of the leper in Mark 1:40-44 is a picture of how a sinner receives salvation from the Lord, who is full of compassion for us.
2 chapters are devoted to what the priests should do with lepers. Leviticus 13 told them how to diagnose leprosy. Leviticus 14 told them what to do when a leper was healed. While the priests constantly practiced Leviticus 13, they never practiced Leviticus 14, for no leper was ever healed in Israel! They came to conclude that only Messiah will heal lepers. There was a prescribed Ceremony for leprosy that was ordained in the Leviticus 14, that the priests had to fulfil whenever a leper was healed. When Jesus sent the leper to go to the priests to verify his healing and perform the Ceremony, that was a testimony to them that the Messiah was on the scene.
Derek describes this Ceremony which involved 2 BIRDS. It revealed the basis upon which leper was healed (Leviticus 14:1-7). This Ceremony gives us a wonderful picture of the Atonement of Christ. God is declaring that the cleansing and healing of the leper was accomplished through the Atonement. Since leprosy represents both (1) sin and (2) sickness, this Ceremony shows both (1) that we are CLEANSED from SIN, and (2) that we are HEALED from SICKNESS through the ATONEMENT of Christ. This confirms that Healing is in the Atonement. Healing from sickness and cleansing from sin is only possible through Christ's Atonement - that is what the ceremonial Law of the Leper proclaimed.
God dealt with SIN and SICKNESS in the same way, because they are connected together. Likewise, FORGIVENESS and HEALING often go together in the Bible, which is consistent in declaring that Jesus bore our sins and our sicknesses on the Cross (Psalm 103:1-3, Isaiah 53:3-5,10-12, 1Peter 2:24). Sin and sickness belong together, because sickness is part of the curse of sin, so Jesus had to deal with them together. Jesus was (1) made sin with our sinfulness, so that we might be made the righteousness of God, and also (2) He was made sick with our sicknesses, so that we might live in Divine Health. Jesus came to give us a full salvation of abundant and eternal life, so on the Cross He did not just pay for our forgiveness, He also paid for our abundant life (which includes health). He had to overcome our sin, and its curse (sickness), if He was to accomplish a perfect work of Atonement on the Cross (Galatians 3:13-14). Sin and sickness are connected together by their very nature, and so there is no remedy for either sin or sickness except for the Cross. When Jesus said on the Cross: “It is finished!” = “Paid in Full” (John 19:30), He declared that He has paid for our forgiveness and our healing. Both Forgiveness and Healing come to us on the same basis - the Atonement of Christ.
One application of this is that our ability to receive healing depends on how close we walk with the Lord, which requires us receiving His forgiveness and cleansing (James 5:14-16). To understand the dynamics of how this works, Derek explains the difference between Positional or Relationship Truth, which is unconditional, and Experiential or Fellowship Truth, which is conditional, and operates according to the principle of reciprocity. Derek shares examples in the Bible of forgiveness and healing going together (Luke 5:22-25, Mark 5:34, John 5:14). Finally, he shows that there is one sin above all others that will prevent you from receiving from God - unforgiveness (Mark 11:24-26, Matthew 6:12, 18:34-35). Forgive them from the heart (from your will), that is, make it your quality decision to forgive them (Matthew 18:35). Pull all bitterness out of your heart by its roots!
The foundation for our faith to receive our healing is the very same foundation as for receiving our forgiveness – the Atonement of Christ. Because Jesus died for all of our sins, therefore forgiveness is available to all of us. In the same way, Jesus died for all our sicknesses, so healing is available for all of us (Psalm 103:1-3, Isaiah 53:4-6, Matthew 8:16-17, 1Peter 2:24). Jesus took the CURSE of SICKNESS for us on the Cross, so that the BLESSING of HEALING might be released to us in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:13-14). Healing is a covenant benefit that belongs to us in Christ. Knowing that healing is in the Atonement settles the issue of God’s will to heal, and so provides a firm foundation of faith for you to receive your healing, as faith begins when the will of God is known.
One of the greatest proofs that Healing is in the Atonement is in Exodus 15:22-26, when God revealed His Covenant Name, His unchanging nature: Jehovah Rophe (the Lord is our Healer), at the Waters of Marah. Exodus 15 gives one of the great pictures of healing in the Atonement: (1) God reveals WHO He is – He is our Healer, (2) He also reveals HOW He heals us – through a TREE (a picture of the Cross). "Himself bore our SINS in His own body on the TREE - by whose stripes you were HEALED" (1Peter 2:24).
God demonstrated He is our Healer, by healing all of Israel from sickness through a TREE. The bitter waters of Marah represent the bitter waters of humanity because of sin. The waters of the human heart and body have been made bitter (SICK) and need healing. God’s remedy for this sickness was a divinely ordained TREE (a picture of Christ on the Cross), which was cast into the bitter waters (Christ was sent into the waters of humanity), and it made those waters sweet. The TREE soaked up all the bitterness in the waters and released sweetness. Likewise JESUS on the Cross took on Himself all the bitterness (sins and sicknesses) of humanity, and released the sweetness of healing to us. When you receive the atoning work of the Cross by faith into the bitter waters of your heart and body, then your bitterness and sickness is taken away by the Cross, and it releases to you the sweetness of healing.
SEE Jesus and RECEIVE your healing. Receive the TREE (Christ’s atoning work) into the bitter waters of your heart and body. Let Jesus soak up your sickness of soul and body and let Him release His sweet healing power into you. Receive His words, as He says to you: "I am the LORD your HEALER."
Healing (along with forgiveness) is God's will for His people (Psalm 103:3). This is made clear from the fact that healing is in the Atonement. The book of Isaiah is the Mount Everest of Bible Prophecy and Isaiah 53 is the peak - being the greatest prophetic proclamation of the Atonement of Christ, which makes it abundantly clear that physical healing is in the Atonement, as well as forgiveness of sins. Both forgiveness and healing are purchased for us through the Blood of Christ, and made freely available for us to receive by faith. We study Isaiah 53 to demonstrate this truth, as well as its confirmation in the New Testament, when it quotes from Isaiah 53 in reference to healing (Matthew 8:16-17, 1Peter 2:24).
In the same way that Jesus bore all our sins on the Cross, He also bore our sicknesses. He paid the price for us to be both fully forgiven and fully healed. Just as forgiveness has been purchased for us and is now freely offered to us by God on the basis of the Atonement (Blood) of Christ, for us to receive by faith, so likewise, healing has been purchased for us and is now freely offered to us by God through His atoning Blood, for us to receive by faith. Therefore, physical and emotional healing and health is God’s will for all His children. He wants us all to believe that, and to come to Him in faith to receive our forgiveness and healing.
In Nahum 3, God spells out the righteous reasons for His total judgement of Nineveh, including her constant cruelty, harlotry, sorcery, deception, robbery and slavery. We explain her sin of harlotry as leading nations into greater idolatry and worship of false gods, and how it relates to the harlot sitting on the beast in Revelation 17.
God describes His judgement on Assyria in terms of the Babylonian custom of the time of humiliating and disgracing a harlot by uncovering her in public, so that men would no longer be captivated and seduced by her. Likewise, God declared that He would remove His covering of protection over Assyria, so that her apparently strong defences will quickly evaporate before His invading armies, in order that her harlot religion would be exposed to all as corrupt and empty, and all her gods, goddesses, and occultism as powerless before God, so that they would turn from the Assyrian gods and idols, and instead worship and serve the living God.
Nahum's vivid description of his vision of the fall of Nineveh gives a blow by blow account of the sequence of events, including the flood of water, which breached her walls and made her destruction inevitable. We explore the execution of a just war, and why it is right for God to judge evil. We see how the proclamation of Good News that the Divine Warrior has triumphed, resulting in peace for His people (1:15), is a picture of the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Isaiah 52:7), that through His death and resurrection, He has judged and defeated our enemies (sin, satan, and death), so that we can live in peace forever.
Nahum gave detailed description of how Nineveh would be completely destroyed, including the special role of a flood of water and a consuming fire. We see how the historical records and archaeology confirm that Nahum's prophecy was fulfilled exactly. We also see that one major reason for God's judgement upon Assyria was that her kings set themselves and conspired against the Lord and His people, and that, in this and other ways, Assyria represents the rising satanic end-time world-empire, which the antichrist will ultimately control.
God reveals Himself as the Divine Warrior, the Lord of nature, moving in irresistible judgement against Nineveh, through a vivid poetic description. Although He is slow to anger, He will by no means acquit the guilty, and when His anger is aroused and released there is no escape. But He is always reaching out to save those who put their trust in Him. He knows who belongs to Him, and He will be their stronghold in the day of trouble. He will protect them and His wrath will not fall upon them.
An overview of the Book of Nahum and its relevance to our time. Nahum is the sequel to Jonah. Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, had repented when Jonah warned them that the Lord would destroy their city. As a result God had mercy on Assyria. But after a time, Assyria returned to her evil ways, and in 655 BC God's patience finally ran out. Through His prophet Nahum, the Lord declared that He would bring the Assyrian Empire to a final end, through the total destruction of its great capital city. Even though the Assyrian Empire was still at the height of her power, Nahum described the total destruction of Nineveh in great detail. About 40 years later in 612 BC, the prophecy was perfectly fulfilled when Nineveh was destroyed by the Medes and Babylonians.
We see how God used a plant as a covering to show Jonah the contrast between being covered and uncovered, so that he could develop a heart of compassion for the people of Nineveh. We consider the evidence that shows God was successful in this, and that Jonah wrote his book for Israel to learn from his experiences. We then see how the whole story of Jonah is a wonderful type of Christ, in His death, burial and resurrection, followed by the Gospel going forth to the Gentiles. Also we discuss how Jonah helps us to reconcile the chronologies of Assyria and the Biblical Scriptures.
When Nineveh repents, God decides to not destroy her. But Jonah is angry. Why was he so upset? We contrast Jonah's attitude with God's heart of compassion for the lost, revealed through His Plan of Salvation, not only for the people of Nineveh, but for all mankind, as demonstrated by the Cross. We also explore the connection of Jonah with the Day of Atonement and Feast of Tabernacles, confirmed by the fact that the Jews read the book of Jonah on the Day of Atonement.
Jonah preaches to the Ninevites. What did he say? How was it that they all repented and turned to God from the greatest to the least? If God gave wicked Nineveh a great revival, can He not do the same in our communities today? We also discuss the theological issue raised by the fact that God relented or changed His mind concerning His declaration that He would destroy Nineveh. If God is perfect and so cannot change, how could He change His mind concerning what He would do with Nineveh?
In Matthew 12:39-41, Jesus said that Jonah was a type of Himself, especially in His death and resurrection after 3 days: "The sign of the prophet Jonah - for as Jonah was 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth - a greater than Jonah is here."
We discuss, did Jonah really get swallowed by a whale? Did Jonah die and rise again after 3 days? Through Jonah's prayer in the great fish, we discover some insights into what happened during the 3 days and 3 nights. Also we discuss how Jesus fulfilled the prophetic type of 3 days and 3 nights. Was Jesus crucified on a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday?
When God hurls a storm at the ship, the sailors cast lots to find out why. The lot fell on Jonah, forcing him to declare his faith in Jehovah. As a type of Christ, he offers himself to die, so that the sailors might live. As a result the sailors are saved both physically and spiritually, because they now believe in the LORD.
Jonah flees to Tarshish. Where and what is Tarshish? Could it be the UK? If so, what are the implications for us today? We look at the many Scriptures that mention Tarshish, both in history and in end-time prophecy, including Ezekiel 38:13, Isaiah 60:9 and Psalm 72:10-11.
Introduction to the prophecy of Jonah, and its historical, geographical and spiritual background. Was Jonah a real person or is it just an allegory? Why did Jesus compare Himself to Jonah? We explore the balance between God's judgement and His mercy, and how it applies to our life and society today in the modern age.
Whether you are a believer or unbeliever makes a huge difference at your death, because the condition of each soul at death will determine its eternal destiny (Ecc 11:3). All mankind will be divided into 2 groups. There is a HEAVEN to gain and a HELL to shun! Before the Death and Resurrection of Christ, at death both believers and unbelievers went down to a place called ‘Hades’ (Greek) or ‘Sheol’ (Hebrew), a place under the earth for departed spirits, but the believers and unbelievers went to 2 different compartments of Hades (Luke 16:19-26). Jesus taught that by death you have made your final decision and your eternal destiny is then fixed forever. It will then too late to repent. At this point, the destinies of the righteous and unrighteous are sharply and permanently divided.
In Old Testament times all went down to Hades when they died, even believers, because before Jesus died and rose again, bringing in the New Covenant, it was impossible for anyone to be born again, and so it was impossible for their spirits to go into Heaven. In this teaching we reveal the awesome difference that the New Birth makes, enabling us to go to Heaven when we die, because our spirits have been made perfect in Christ (Matt 16:18). The Old Testament saints did not go to Heaven when they died, for they had to wait for the New Covenant to be established by Christ’s Death and Resurrection before they could be made perfect (born again) in spirit, and so be able to possess the promise of Heaven (Heb 11:10,16, 39-40). But now these O.T saints are in Heaven, because when Christ rose again this promise could be fulfilled and they were born again and made perfect in spirit (1Pet 4:6), and then taken up to Heaven (Eph 4:8). They are 'the spirits of just men made perfect' who are now in Heaven (Heb 12:22-24).
So when believers die, we depart our bodies (2Cor 5:8, 2Tim 4:6, 2Pet 1:13-15), and we go to Heaven (2Cor 5:8, 12:2-4, Phil 1:21-24, Rev 6:9-11, 7:9-17, 14:13).
Unbelievers die in a state of unrighteousness, and go down to Torments in Hades, the temporary place of punishment, because they died in their sins and have been found guilty, and now it is too late for them to repent (2Pet 2:9). They rejected the grace of God, the work of Christ and the witness of the Holy Spirit. They must wait in this holding-cell in Hades until they are resurrected at the end of time and made to stand before the Great White Throne for their final Sentencing (Rev 20:11-12). Their degree of their rebellion against God will determine the degree of their punishment in the Lake of Fire. Then they will be sentenced and dismissed into their final place of punishment - the Lake of Fire (Rev 20:15). At present only their soul is under punishment, but when they are resurrected and thrown into the Lake of Fire, both their body and soul will be under punishment (Matt 10:28). So, Hades is an initial temporal place of punishment for the soul, but the Lake of Fire (Gehenna) is the final and everlasting place of punishment for the soul and the body. Jesus’ Parable of the Sheep and Goats (Matthew 25:31-46) confirms the everlasting punishment of the wicked (v41,46).
God’s Court-System of Eternal Judgment takes place in 2 Stages: (1) Stage 1 happens right after his DEATH (Hebrews 9:27). This determines whether you are guilty or innocent, depending on if you are ‘in Christ’ and so have received His righteousness, or if you are still ‘in your sins.’ The righteous go up to Heaven, and the wicked go down to Hades, to wait for the 2nd Stage. (2) Stage 2 happens right after his RESURRECTION. The Judge will determine the Degree of Reward for believers (according to their faithfulness), and the Degree of Punishment for unbelievers (according to their sin).
There are only 2 possible eternal destinies for every person - either (1) a state and place of everlasting life and blessedness in God’s Presence, for those who have received Christ as their Savior and Lord, or (2) a state and place of everlasting punishment, for those who have rejected Christ and His offer of Salvation. Every man's final destiny is fixed by God at the time of his death, so it is essential that we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour and share the Gospel with the lost before it’s too late.
God's eternal Judgment will determine each person's eternal destiny. This Judgment, which happens when we cross over the threshold from this life to the next, will be solely a judgment of that individual, and the decisions he has made in his life (Ezekiel 18:20).
The Bible teaches that mankind generally goes through 3 Phases of Existence: (1) This Life. (2) The Intermediate State - after our spirit lays aside our body at death, we continue to exist, but as a disembodied spirit - this is just a temporary state between our death and resurrection. (3) The Eternal State, which starts at our physical resurrection, when our spirit puts on an immortal resurrection body.
After death the invisible part of man (his spirit-soul), lives on independently from his body (the Immortality of the Soul). Although the body is mortal (subject to death), man's spirit is immortal, because its origin is the breath of God (Gen 2:7, Matt 10:28, 2Cor 4:16, Jn 6:47, 11:26, Rom 8:38-39). Our present body is a tent, a temporary dwelling place, that we'll lay aside one day, and then later in the resurrection we'll receive a permanent everlasting house from God.
God will ultimately divide all mankind into 2 groups with 2 very different eternal destinies, decided at death, when a permanent separation takes place between the righteous and unrighteous. The condition of each soul at death will determine its destiny for eternity (Ecc 11:3, Rev 22:11). He either dies 'in their sins' (John 8:24) or 'in the Lord' (Rev 14:13).
As with our court-system, Eternal Judgment takes place in 2 Stages: (1) Stage 1 determines a man’s guilt or innocence. This happens immediately after death (Heb 9:27, Ecc 12:7). If he dies ‘in the Lord’ (in a state of righteousness), he goes UP to be with the Lord in Heaven. If he dies ‘in his sins’ (in a state of unrighteousness), then he goes DOWN into Hades, to a place of punishment. (2) Stage 2 happens at his resurrection, when he will appear before the Judge for sentencing. Believers will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to be judged according to their works to determine their eternal rewards. Unbelievers will stand before the Great White Throne for their final sentencing. They are judged according to their works to determine the degree of their eternal punishment. They are then dismissed to their final place of punishment, the Lake of Fire (Rev 20:11-15).
From the true story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-26), we see what took place at death, for those who died before Christ's Resurrection. They remained conscious and went down to Hades into one of 2 different compartments. The righteous went into Paradise and the unrighteous into Torments, and these 2 groups were forever separated from each other by a great Gulf, so that it was impossible to go from one compartment to another. Thus their eternal destiny was fixed at death. Then we reveal how Christ made the New Birth possible through His death and resurrection, so that now, in Christ, our born again spirits are perfect. So now, when believers die, they go straight up into Heaven. However, unbelievers (who reject Christ and His Salvation) still go down to Torments in Hades when they die, just as they did before Christ's Resurrection.
Christ’s future Coming is in 2 Stages. (1) He comes in the Rapture for His Church, when we meet Him in the air, and then (2) He comes with His Church and sets His feet on the earth to judge the wicked and establish His Kingdom on the earth. These 2 Stages explain why the prophecies of His Coming contain 2 very different kinds of description. Some describe Him coming in power and glory, after a sequence of signs, but others say His Coming is like a thief in the night, suddenly, without warning signs, to take the valuables (believers) from the house (earth) - a perfect description of the Rapture. The fact there are 2 Stages to His Return should not seem strange in view of the fact that what the prophets originally saw as Messiah’s Coming turned out to have 2 Stages.
The Bible describes these 2 Stages or Manifestations of His Glory as (1) the MORNING STAR which will arise in our hearts (the Rapture) and (2) the SUNRISE, when His glory will fill the earth (2Peter 1:19). After the Morning Star appears, the world remains in darkness for a time before the sun rises in its glory. Likewise, Christ, our Morning Star appears first to those who are ready (believers only), then Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, will appear to bring in a new Day, when all shall see Him in His Glory.
Some say that since the Rapture is at the Last Trump it must be the 7th Trumpet in the Book of Revelation or the Great Trumpet in Matthew 24:31, which Christ blows at the 2nd Coming. We explain in detail why the Rapture Trumpet is neither of these Trumpets. Then we explain the real reason, from the Rapture passages in 1Thessalonians 4:16-17 and 1Corinthians 15:51-52, why the Rapture Trumpet is the last Trumpet, for when Christ descends, He will sound His Trumpet twice. At the first Trumpet, the dead are raised, and then at the Last Trumpet, we who are still alive will be changed and raptured.
Other objections to the Pre-Trib Rapture are based on the false assumption that ‘the Day of the Lord’ is the same as the 2nd Coming, for example in 2Thess 2:2-3. In the Bible, the Day of the Lord speaks of a special time when God intervenes directly in judgment, or when God is directly ruling on earth. This means the whole Tribulation is part of the Day of the Lord. This is the clear teaching of 1Thess 5:2-3. Just like every normal day the DAY of the Lord consists of a period of DARKNESS followed by a period of LIGHT. First, is the 7+ years of darkness or night (the Tribulation, when Christ directly judges the world, followed by 1000 years of light (the Millennium, when Christ directly rules the world. This is confirmed by 2Peter 3:10, which says the Day of the Lord is initiated by the Thief in the night (the Rapture) and ends with the Destruction of the universe after the Millennium (Rev 20:11), which is also the time of the final Judgment of the lost at the Great White Throne (Rev 20:12-15). This is confirmed by 2Pet 3:7: “the heavens and earth ... are reserved for fire until the Day of Judgment and Perdition of ungodly men.”
A common mistake is to confuse the Day of the Lord with the Great and Awesome Day of the Lord, literally: the Great and Manifest Day of the Lord, or the Day of the Lord's Manifestation in Glory (that is the Day of the 2nd Coming). Comparing Joel 2:31 and Matt 24:29 does NOT tell us the Day of the Lord is at the end of the Tribulation, only that the Great and Awesome Day of the Lord (the 2nd Coming) is at the end of the Tribulation. In fact, the whole Tribulation is the Day of the Lord, and it comes to its climax with the Great and Awesome (Manifest) Day of the Lord, when Jesus returns in Glory. So, the Day of the Lord is NOT the same as the Great and Awesome Day of the Lord.
The Rapture of the Church is the final event of the Church Age, the ingathering of the harvest of the Church, when Christ comes for His Bride (all believers in Christ, who have been saved in the Church Age), and takes them to Heaven. In this video, we see how the Pre-Tribulation Rapture originates from the teaching of Jesus.
In John 14:1-3, Jesus established key truths about the Rapture, distinguishing it from His 2nd Coming to the earth in power and glory: (1) It is a Coming of Christ for believers only. (2) His Purpose in the Rapture is to be reunited with His Bride and take her to Heaven, whereas the Purpose of the 2nd Coming is to judge His enemies and establish His Kingdom on earth. (3) In the Rapture, Christ does not come and land on the earth and dwell and reign here, as He does in the 2nd Coming (Zech 14:4), but He comes close to the earth to receive His Bride to Himself, for: “we will meet the Lord in the air” (1Thess 4:15). (4) He then returns with His Bride to the place He has prepared for her in Heaven, where they abide together during the time of Judgment on earth, called the Day of the Lord (Tribulation), after which we will return with Him in His 2nd Coming.
In Matthew 24:3 (the Olivet Discourse), Jesus was asked 3 questions: (1) when will the Temple be destroyed, (2) what will be the Sign of Your Coming, and (3) what will be the Sign of the End (Consummation) of the Age (the Tribulation)?” Jesus answered the 1st Question in Luke 21:20-24, and the 2nd Question in Matt 24:7-35, which means He answered the 3rd Question in Matt 24:36-44, starting with: “But of that day and hour (of the Start of the Tribulation) no one knows (it is God's secret)" (v36). In contrast to the Day of Christ’s Coming in power and glory, which is clearly signposted and its timing knowable in advance, this Day, when the Tribulation starts, is unknowable, without any warning signs - it will happen suddenly. Then in v37,39,42,43,44 this key moment when the Tribulation starts is described as 'the Coming of the Son of Man' indicating that the Coming of Jesus in the Rapture is the signless initiating event of the Tribulation (the Day of the Lord), whereas His Coming in power and glory is the sign-posted event bringing the Tribulation to its end (the Great and Awesome Day of the Lord).
In v37-41, Jesus compared the events before, during and after His Coming in the Rapture to the days of Noah. In this analogy, He uses the world-wide Flood as a fitting type of the world-wide Tribulation, as it's the only example in history of a world-wide judgement. (1) In the days before the Flood, normal life was going on, with no signs of what was about to happen. Then (2) the believers entered the Ark, a place of safety above the scene of judgment, which triggered (3) the sudden outpouring of the world-wide Flood to fall from Heaven on the very same day. So, likewise (1) before the Tribulation, normal life will be going on. Then (2) just before Tribulation-Flood falls, all believers will be removed in the Rapture to safety in Christ, our Ark of Salvation, above the scene of judgment. Then (3) the Tribulation will immediately start. So, just as the disappearance of the believers into the safety of the Ark was the initiating event for the Flood, so the disappearance of believers into Christ at the Coming of the Son of Man at the Rapture, will be the initiating event for the Tribulation. v40-41 then confirms that at this Coming of Christ at the start of the Tribulation, He will call the believers to Himself, taking them from the earth to be with Him ('para-lambano'), leaving the unbelievers behind to face the world-wide judgment of the Tribulation, for 'one will be taken, the other left', just as God called Noah's family to Himself in the Ark (Genesis 7:1), leaving the rest to face the world-wide Flood. So Jesus spoke of an unknowable Day without any preceding signs, when He will come to take us to be with Him, just before the Tribulation-Flood, which is different from the signposted Day, at the end of the Tribulation when He will come to the earth in power and glory.
Then in v42-44 He emphasised that His Coming in the Rapture is imminent, which means God keeps the timing of the Rapture secret, so as far as we are concerned, Christ could come at any moment. But, His Coming at the end of the Tribulation is not imminent, for all the events of the Tribulation must happen first. So, He must be talking about 2 distinct events on 2 different Days. In v43, He compared His Coming in the Rapture to a Thief, for He will come to take His precious ones from the earth, so to the world it will seem as if a Thief had come. But He is no Thief, for He will only take His own, who belong to Him (purchased with His Blood). Believers will not experience His Coming as a Thief, but as our Bridegroom coming for His Bride. In 1Thessalonians 5:2-3, Paul summarises this teaching of Jesus.
In this 3-part Series, we take an in-depth look at the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, showing how it harmonises many prophetic Scriptures.
The End of the Age (the Tribulation) will be by far the worst period of time that will ever be, utterly unlike the Church Age, because it will be (1) a time when evil comes to its fullness (in the antichrist), and (2) a time of ever intensifying Divine Wrath (through the 7 Seals, 7 Trumpets, 7 Bowls), leading up to the 2nd Coming, and we are not appointed to wrath (1Thess 5:9). The Judgments of the Tribulation begin with the breaking of the first 6 Seals by Christ in Heaven (Rev 6), which means the whole Tribulation is a time of Divine Wrath, that's why it is also called the Day of the Lord. God’s Wrath does not start with the Bowls of Wrath, for we are told that in them His Wrath is completed (Rev 15:1). The fact that Christ is now moving into Judgment mode is seen by the fact that He is no longer SEATED, but He now is STANDING (Rev 5:6-7, c.f Psalm 110:1). Surely a loving and powerful Bridegroom, before He bombards His Bride’s dwelling place (the earth), would first extract her from it before releasing His Wrath.
The Church Age will end with the Rapture - the Coming of Christ for His Church in which He instantly catches up all living believers to meet Him in the air and translates them into immortal bodies without experiencing death. At the same time all those in Christ who have died during the Church Age will be resurrected and will also meet Christ in the air. If the Rapture is before the Tribulation, then it is imminent, which means we should be watching for Christ’s Coming for us, which motivates us to holiness and evangelism. But if the Rapture is at the end of the Tribulation, then He will not come for at least another 7 years, and since the antichrist will come first, our main focus should be on preparing ourselves for the antichrist. Scripture teaches us to look and wait for Christ, not antichrist.
Harmonising 1Thessalonians 4:15-17 and 1Corinthians 15:51-52, Derek explains why the Rapture Trumpet is called the Last Trumpet. Christ will sound His Trumpet twice. At the 1st Trumpet, the dead will be raised, and at the Last Trumpet, we who are alive will be raptured.
To understand the significance of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, we need to understand its purpose in the Divine Plan as the climactic moment in the Divine Romance, where Christ, our Bridegroom, comes to fetch His Bride, so we might be married, fully united together forever. We see how the Divine Romance was foreshadowed in the Jewish marriage customs. Christ's promise to His Bride in John 14:1-3 fits perfectly into this scenario, and confirms a Pre-Tribulation Rapture, because He promises to come back specifically for His Bride in order to take her with Him to Heaven for a period of time, before He returns to the earth in His 2nd Coming. Rev 19:7-8 confirms the Pre-Trib view, for there we see the glorious Bride already in Heaven before the 2nd Coming, only now she is His wife. She returns with Him in the 2nd Coming (v14). Therefore, the Rapture must take place sometime well before the 2nd Coming.
Derek also shows that the 24 elders, enthroned in Heaven in Rev 4-5, before the Tribulation begins, are men who represent the whole Church in Heaven, since they sing to the Lamb: "You were slain, and have redeemed US to God by Your Blood out of every tribe, tongue, people and nation" (Rev 5:9-10). So, at the start of the Tribulation, the Church is already in Heaven confirming the Pre-Tribulation Rapture.
Rev 3:10 promises the faithful Church (represented by Philadelphia) that they will be kept from the Hour of Trial, which shall come upon the whole world. Since this Hour of Trial (the Tribulation) is world-wide and will come upon all who live on the earth, the only way they can be kept from it is to be removed from the earth in the Rapture before it begins. Notice they are not kept (protected) in the trial, but they are kept from the very Time of Trial (Tribulation) coming upon the earth.
In conclusion, the Rapture is imminent. He will come suddenly for His own, and He take us to Heaven with Him, before the Tribulation begins.
Israel's sin resulted in her capital city being sieged by the Syrians and experiencing serious famine. When the king repented, Elijah prophesied that within 24 hours, the siege would be lifted and Israel would possess abundant provisions. However, this promise could only come to pass if God's people believed His Word and acted on it. We see how God brought His Word to pass through 4 heroes of faith, namely 4 lepers, who rose up at twilight, and marched their March of Faith to the Syrian camp.
When the lepers acted (marched) on the Word of God, then God’s power was released. When the 4 lepers marched, God’s army marched with them, and as a result, the enemy fled in terror and victory was assured! It was only when they acted in faith, walking on the Word of God, that Heaven marched with them, resulting in total victory and abundant provision.
Likewise, for God’s promises to be fulfilled in our life, we must rise up out of passivity, and do what God tells us to do, and march our March of Faith. When we arise and march our March of Faith, walking on the Word of God, we are not marching alone, because God and His army will march with us, causing the enemy to flee in terror before us, and bringing us into the full possession of His promise. If the 4 lepers could do it, then so can we!
Jesus came to make all things new through His death and resurrection. (1) God made all things, but (2) man has corrupted all things, including himself, but (3) God became a man in the Person of Jesus Christ to make all things new, and if we receive Him as our Lord and Saviour, He will make us a New Creation in Christ. One day, God will destroy this universe and make all things new, by creating a new heaven and earth, which will last for ever (Revelation 21:1-7).
The first 4 Divine Institutions (DIs) were established by God before man fell into sin: (1) FREE-WILL, (2) WORK, (3) MARRIAGE, and (4) FAMILY. Therefore these are the primary DIs, which God ordained to form the main structure for our social life. When the Fall happened, sin came into the world, along with the lawless spirit of satan, which attacks the DIs (e.g, crime attacks our personal freedom). Thus the Fall made it necessary to bring in the next two DIs of (5) HUMAN GOVERNMENT and (6) the NATION STATE, in order to protect the first 4 DIs, by restraining sin and limiting the spread of its evil consequences.
The division of mankind into nations is necessary to restrain the spread of the virus of sin and evil around the world, because if evil takes over one nation, at least it can be contained within its borders, whereas a one-world system is vulnerable to being completely taken over by evil. If all humanity was united under a One-World Government, an evil man would become world dictator, and be satan’s instrument to control all mankind, forcing men to reject the true God. This was and is satan’s Plan.
So, the main Purpose of the DIs of Human Government and the Nation State is not to interfere in our lives, by overriding our freedoms, but to restrain the spread of evil, which always attacks freedom, and the other primary DIs: (1) by maintaining Law and Order within the Nation, and (2) by defending the Nation against all external attacks.
In this video, we focus on the 7th and final Divine Institution - the CHURCH of Jesus Christ, which has been invested with spiritual authority by God. The Church is God’s spiritual Representative in the earth, entrusted with the Gospel of Salvation. As a DI, it exists for the sake of all people, including non-members. Its purposes are: (1) to fulfil the Great Commission by preaching the Gospel for the salvation of all people (Mark 16:15-20, Rom 1:16-17), and to teach and make disciples of all people (Matt 28:19), (2) to pray for all men, especially for those in authority, creating peaceful conditions, so that the Gospel might spread freely (1Tim 2:1-4), and (3) to restrain evil and lawlessness in the earth (2Thess 2:6-8, Matt 5:13-16). We have been given the spiritual authority (the keys of the kingdom) to get this job done (Matt 16:18-19).
The Church is called to uphold, honour and protect all the DIs, by teaching the truth, preaching the Gospel, and exercising her spiritual authority in prayer, thereby restraining the spirit of lawlessness, which seeks to destroy our freedoms and even society itself, by undermining the DIs, which provide peace, freedom and order, which are necessary for us to be free to fulfil our mission of preaching the Gospel.
We are the SALT of the earth (Matt 5:13). SALT is TRUTH, which restrains corruption. The SALT of God’s WORD includes the TRUTH of the DIs, so as we respect, value and hold forth the TRUTH of freedom, marriage, family, work, the government, the nation-state and the church, we help to restrain corruption (lawlessness) in society. We must stand for the truth of the 7 DIs. We are SALTY by speaking TRUTH and living in RIGHTEOUSNESS, honouring the DIs, and thereby we restrain the spirit of lawlessness in this world. In our prayers, we are to pray for the DIs (for all those in authority), and to stand against the satanic spirit of lawlessness. The Purpose of the Church is to bring men to Salvation through the Gospel and to know the truth through the Word of God (the Great Commission), but that requires the establishment of peace and order in society through the DIs, so it is of first importance that we pray for the authorities (the DIs).
Human authorities are imperfect, but we are still required to submit to their authority, which is from God. Authority can be abusive, when it oversteps its boundaries, especially if it tries to override our free-will without good cause. In such cases, we are not required to OBEY it, especially if it tells us to do something that is contradictory to God’s Word, which is the higher authority: “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). However, we are to maintain a respectful, submissive attitude toward that authority, even when we are justified in disobeying it, because that authority is ordained by God.
An illustration of how the spirit of lawlessness (rebellion) works (manifests itself), when the authority fails, is seen from the story in Genesis 9 of Noah’s drunkenness after the Flood. This reveals how the spirit of lawlessness works to undermine, discredit and destroy the authority, when it gets the chance. It looks for an opportunity to strike when the authority fails, using this occasion as an excuse and basis to attack and even overthrow that authority, all done under a cloak of righteousness. Thus the lawlessness (rebellion) in a person’s heart is often manifested when an authority sins or fails. This story also reveals that those who are rebellious against God-ordained authorities) come under a curse.
The first 4 Divine Institutions (Free-will, Work, Marriage, Family) were all established by God in Genesis 1-2, before the Fall of man, so they define and describe how God has structured our society, revealing the way that He intends us to live together. So it is vital we honour these institutions and authorities as being of God.
The next 2 Divine Institutions: HUMAN GOVERNMENT (Genesis 9:5-6) and the NATION STATE (Genesis 11, Deut 32:8, Acts 17:26) were brought in after the Fall, in order to restrain sin and to limit the spread of its evil consequences, and to help create a society of order and peace, so that the Gospel can go forth freely (1Timothy 2:2-4).
Through the DI of HUMAN GOVERNMENT, God gave man the responsibility and authority to restrain evil in society, and to exercise judgment upon evil. So the primary purpose of Human Government is to maintain Law and Order - restraining evil, by punishing evildoers, according to justice (Romans 13:1-7, 1Peter 2:13-17).
The DIVISION of mankind into NATIONS was instituted by God at the Tower of Babel, when He multiplied the languages. This was necessary, because satan’s plan was to use the Institution of Human Government to unite fallen mankind under a One World Government at Babel, in rebellion against God. The Tower of Babel was satan's first attempt to bring mankind under one ruler (Nimrod, a type of his final world-ruler, the antichrist). Satan’s plan is to create a totalitarian one-world government, under one evil ruler, so he can subjugate all humanity to his will, and cut them off from God, forcing them to worship his antichrist instead of worshipping God.
Although globalism with a one-world government sounds like a good idea, it will be the means for evil to take over the world. The one-world vision is based on humanism, that man is basically good, who can create utopia independently from God. But man is sinful and corrupted by power, so this project is doomed to failure. With satan’s help, an evil man will take all the power, and then evil will take over the world through him. So God restrains evil by dividing the world into different nations, which limits the power of any evil ruler. If an evil dictator takes over a nation, his control is limited to that nation. Thus, the spread of evil is restrained.
At this time, satan’s spirit of lawlessness wants to destroy all the Divine Institutions, which are God-ordained structures, which preserve freedom, and stand in the way of satan’s one-world government under antichrist. In particular, satan wants to destroy the Nation State, by removing borders and replacing nationalism by globalism. In the Tribulation, in the last 3.5 years, satan will succeed in establishing his totalitarian one-world government, with antichrist as world-dictator, forcing everyone under penalty of death to take the mark of the beast, and reject God and His Christ, and instead worship the antichrist. Thus, the modern rise of globalism is a sign of the end-times.
God will destroy this lawless one-world empire established in rebellion against God (Babylon the Great, the 2nd Tower of Babel), just as He judged man’s rebellion at the first Tower of Babel. He will do this at the 2nd Coming of Christ, when King Jesus will establish His Kingdom over the whole earth.
Thus God ordained the Nation State, giving it the right (authority) to protect and defend its borders, to be a brake on the spread of evil over the world, and to restrain satan’s efforts to set up his one-world antichrist empire.
Based on the 5th and 6th Divine Institutions, Human Government and Nation State, the 2 main purposes
A major key to the order, peace and stability of our society is that the Divine Institutions (DIs) are upheld as God intended, and a major key to our personal success in life is discerning, honouring and submitting to God’s authorities in these DIs. Our submission to God is not just about our direct relationship with Him. A major part of being submitted to God is being submitted to His Government in the earth, which is mediated through the delegated authorities of His Divine Institutions (Romans 13:1-2). Although human authorities are imperfect, we are still required to submit to their authority from God, remembering that He will hold all authorities accountable for how they use their authority, for they are functioning under His authority.
This video especially focuses on revealing the ORIGIN and NATURE of LAWLESSNESS, which is not just transgression, but rebellion against God and His authority. It seeks to undermine, overturn and destroy the authority of God, including the DIs. We need to discern the spirit of lawlessness, and be on guard against it, wherever it is working in the world, because it is toxic to our spiritual life and health - it originates from the spirit of satan. Jesus predicted in the end-times: “Lawlessness will abound" and as a result "the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). Like Christ, we must love righteousness and hate lawlessness (Hebrews 1:9).
Lawlessness rejects God, the Source of all authority, which results in atheism and secular humanism, with its ultimate manifestation in atheistic communism, where God is rejected and His Divine Institutions (especially free-will) are subjugated under the all-powerful totalitarian state, resulting in the destruction of freedom. The whole world is heading towards experiencing a global totalitarian dictatorship under the antichrist - 'the man of sin' (2Thess 2:3), literally: 'the man of lawlessness' (the embodiment of lawlessness), who will be possessed by satan. Right now the spirit of lawlessness is at work in the world, but the Holy Spirit through the Church is restraining it, delaying the revelation of the antichrist (the ultimate manifestation of lawlessness) until the time ordained by God. This restraining action will continue until the Church is taken out of the way in the Rapture, and then the lawless one (the antichrist) will be revealed in the Tribulation. But when Christ returns in power and glory at the end of the Tribulation, He will totally destroy him (2Thess 2:6-8).
God governs this world through delegated authorities, through human beings, who carry His authority. There are 7 different realms of delegated human authority called the Divine Institutions. The spirit of lawlessness in the world comes from satan. Lawlessness is not just disobedience to God, but the very rejection of God’s authority and His right to rule over us. It is rebellion against all law and authority. Jesus said in Matthew 24:12: “Because LAWLESSNESS will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” This spirit of lawlessness will come to its fullness in the antichrist, the man of lawlessness (2Thess 2:3), and it involves a rejection of all Divine Authority, including His Divine Institutions.
The 4 Divine Institutions established by God BEFORE the FALL: (1) Free-will, (2) Work, (3) Marriage, (4) Family. Free-Will is the first and fundamental Divine Institution (D.I). The other DIs are built on the foundation of free-will. When they work properly, they protect our freedom by creating a society of order and peace. This video focuses on the what God's Word tells us about the DIs of WORK, MARRIAGE (husband and wife) and FAMILY (parents and children).
The lawless view says authority is the problem, and if you remove authority then all will be well, but actually sin is the real problem. So, children need the restraint of authority, until they learn to master their flesh (sin-nature), at least in a basic way. They need authority to grow up properly, otherwise they become spoilt and selfish. If you just let children do whatever they want, their selfish sin-nature will be fully expressed and thrive, and you will spoil them, and they will end up disrespecting their parents, teachers and other authorities. When you take the restraint of authority away, lawlessness thrives, and as a result everyone loses their freedom, because it becomes a lawless environment - chaos reigns. Righteous authority creates an atmosphere of order, peace and unity. It protects freedom and good self-expression. Abusive authority should be dealt with, but not by diminishing or destroying the principle and institution of authority itself. Rather we need to teach authorities how to express their authority correctly in love.
All authorities should sanctify God as the final authority, to whom they are accountable. Your authority is delegated to you by God, in order to represent Him. It does not give you the right to do what you want. God will hold you accountable and judge you for how you have used your authority. We are to carry our authority in humility before God and man. Don’t be ashamed to claim and operate in your authority, but if you misrepresent God, and treat your children wrongly or unfairly, don’t be ashamed to apologise, for you are acknowledging that you are under a higher authority. Let them know that you are under God’s authority, and that your authority comes from God (it is not intrinsic to you), and that you are to represent God, and are accountable to Him. This is how you sanctify God. This makes you accountable, and will cause them to respect you more. If they understand that you are acting under God’s authority, then you will carry more authority in their eyes, because they will see you as representing God and acting with His authority, so that by submitting to your leadership, they are also submitting to God. Sanctifying God also makes you accountable, so when you fail, you apologise, and that will cause them to respect you more.
A major way God, the Lawgiver, governs this world and expresses His authority is through the DIVINE INSTITUTIONS, which are spheres of delegated human authority in the earth. He governs through human beings, who carry His authority, in 7 distinct realms: (1) FREE-WILL – our God-given authority over our own life, (2) WORK, (3) MARRIAGE (between a man and a woman), (4) FAMILY (this includes their children), (5) Human GOVERNMENT, (6) the NATION STATE, and (7) the CHURCH. These define the distinct realms of delegated authority that God entrusts to man. The first 4 Divine Institutions were introduced by God at the beginning before the Fall of man.
The opposite spirit to God’s Spirit is the spirit of lawlessness, which rejects God’s Law in this world, especially through the Divine Institutions. The Bible predicts that in the end-times the spirit of lawlessness will increase in the world and even infect many in the Church. Lawlessness is not just breaking God's Law of God, but it is to reject the Law of God itself. It is rebellion against God's authority and right to govern the world. The spirit of lawlessness attacks and seeks to undermine true authority, especially as embodied in and expressed through the Divine Institutions, as defined by God’s Word.
A big part of our submission to God is submitting to the human authorities in our life, for they carry the authority of God. All authority comes from God. Only God has absolute authority, but He delegates His authority to man, so man is meant to exercise authority under God, in His Name. God entrusts man with authority and holds him accountable for how he uses it. We are called to honour and submit to God’s delegated authorities, even though they are imperfect. The spirit of lawlessness seeks to overthrow God's delegated authorities, often using their failures or imagined failures as a basis and excuse. You cannot submit to God without also submitting to His delegated authorities. A major key to success in life is to understand and honour God-ordained authority (Ephesians 6:1-3).
The Divine Institutions are real structures, built into man’s social existence, designed, initiated and ordained by God, revealed through His Word, and they apply to all mankind. God designed the Divine Institutions for our good, to provide stability, peace, blessing and prosperity. Satan works through the spirit of lawlessness to attack and undermine all the Divine Institutions. It is vital to understand the Divine Institutions and respect, defend and uphold them, not violate them.
In this Series, we will study all 7 of the Divine Institutions, and in this teaching (Part 1), we study the first and fundamental Divine Institution: FREE-WILL.
Hilary shares from the story of the forgiven sinful woman, who responds by worshipping and loving Jesus extravagantly (Luke 7:36-47). She is given as an example of the truth that the one who is FORGIVEN much, LOVES much. A big reason that we don't love Jesus more and deeply appreciate His forgiveness is because we don't know how just how much we've been forgiven ourselves. We need to understand the magnitude of our un-payable sin-debt (represented by the 10,000 talents in the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant in Matthew 18:21-35), that we owed the Lord, which He has forgiven; then we will be able to forgive the much smaller sin-debt that others owe us. This Parable also reveals that if we will not forgive others, we cut ourselves off from God’s forgiveness, life, blessing and grace, and as a result, we come under the power of sin and the curse. We then feel oppressed, imprisoned and suffer torment (Matthew 6:15, 18:34-35, Mark 11:26).
Jesus Christ gave His Divine Blood to pay the price in full for all of mankind's sin, offering us His full forgiveness as a free gift. In the light of His amazing grace and mercy toward us, it is a serious sin for believers to harbour unforgiveness and bitterness toward others. It cuts us off from the grace and blessing of God and opens the door to sickness, mental torment, oppression and bondage, and we can only be set free through forgiving those who have sinned against us.
Hilary shares from the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35), the great importance of forgiveness and the serious dangers of unforgiveness.
Our sin took Jesus to the Cross. Our forgiveness didn't come cheap, it cost God everything. In taking our place, Jesus bore the punishment we deserved and paid the price for our sins. If we meditate on the Cross, seeing what He suffered for our forgiveness, it makes it easier for us to forgive others. Since we’ve received such mercy, we must show mercy, and forgive others fully and freely. Christ is saying to us: "Look how much I'm willing to forgive you, therefore what right do you have to be bitter and unforgiving with your fellow servants, when I have so fully and freely forgiven you?"
Many Messianic Prophecies in the Old Testament speak of the Coming Messiah as being both GOD and MAN (the unique God-man). The New Testament proclaims that all these Prophecies were fulfilled in the Person of Jesus Christ, and claims that He is both fully Man and fully God, and because He is God, He is able to save us, if we call upon His Name, and He is worthy of our full and absolute love, loyalty, submission, wholehearted worship and devoted service. In this video we continue our study of these God-man Prophecies from Job, Isaiah, Psalms, Zechariah and Malachi.
The Gospel proclaims that God became a man in the Person of Jesus Christ in order to save us. Jesus Christ is not just a man, but he is fully God, He is God the Son, the second Person of the Trinity, and because He is God, He is worthy of our full devotion, our absolute love and loyalty, the total submission of our heart and life, our wholehearted worship and service. The Deity of Christ is expressed by the main Christian Confession: “Jesus is LORD” (Romans 10:9). This confession expresses our personal submission to Jesus as our Lord and God (John 20:28). It is essential for our salvation to know and believe that Jesus is both fully GOD and fully MAN, because believing in the TRUE JESUS is the KEY to receiving ETERNAL LIFE. The Deity of Christ is the foundational truth that Jesus emphasised in Matthew 16, when He announced the formation of His Church, saying that this is the key revelation that was required for any man to be blessed with eternal life and to become part of His Church.
It was necessary for the Messiah to be God, for His mission was to be the SAVIOUR of mankind, saving us from the dominion of sin, death and hell, and the Bible is clear that ONLY GOD can be our SAVIOUR (Isaiah 43:11): “SALVATION is of the LORD” (Jonah 2:9). The Messianic Prophecies in the Old Testament consistently speak of the Coming Messiah as being both GOD and MAN (the unique God-man). Therefore, when Jesus claimed to be both God and man, He was claiming to be the fulfilment of these Prophecies. Therefore, the New Testament is perfectly consistent with the Old Testament revelation, and it proclaims that all these Prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
After introducing this subject, we study a number of these God-man Prophecies, and in the next video in this Series, we will go on to study even more of these most important Prophecies.
Paul's teaching on head-coverings in Church (1Corinthians 11:1-16) is one of the most complex passages in the New Testament. Derek explains how his argument is on 3 levels: (1) The THEOLOGICAL basis: HEADSHIP in Marriage. (2) The PRINCIPLE of HEAD-COVERING – a woman should cover her head as a symbol and expression of her SUBMISSION to the HEADSHIP of her man. *(3) The PRACTICE – what constitutes a COVERING? This passage also speaks to the issue of whether a man should have long hair.
Hilary shares from Isaiah 53:1-5 how Divine Healing was purchased for us on the Cross, confirmed by Matthew 8:5-17, for: “He took our sicknesses and bore our diseases." The risen Christ has poured out the Holy Spirit for us all to receive. The Spirit dwells within the spirit of every believer and wants to flow out through our hearts as rivers of life-giving water (John 7:37-39), bringing us health and healing (Rev 22:1-3, Ezekiel 47:9,12, Romans 8:11). When we pray in tongues (Acts 2:4), we are allowing this River of Life to flow more abundantly through us. This is confirmed by medical studies that show the positive effects on our bodies of extended praying in tongues. Hilary shares the results of these studies to encourage you to be more faithful in using your God-given prayer language.
When we pray in tongues, a river of life flows out of our spirit (where the Holy Spirit dwells) through our mouth: “out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). This divine river carries life, healing, supernatural power and gifts. Hilary shares the results of medical studies showing that extended praying in tongues activates areas of our brain which release hormones, resulting in increased immunity from sickness, and health for our minds and bodies.
Immediately after the Rapture all believers will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ. This is not a judgment to determine our eternal salvation (or condemnation), but a judgement of our works to determine our eternal rewards. Derek takes us through the 4 major passages on this Judgement: (1) Romans 14:10-13 (with James 2:12-13, 5:8-9), (2) 2 Corinthians 5:9-11, (3) 1 Corinthians 4:2-5, (4) 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.
We need to live our lives in the constant awareness that at any moment we might find ourselves standing before our Lord Jesus Christ, in order to give an account for how we have lived our Christian lives. He who sees everything, will bring all things to the light, and will examine all things, including the motives of our heart. So, let us be faithful to Christ, and live for His praise and reward, so that we may hear Him say to us: "Well done, you good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21,23).
Derek's full teaching on this subject is in his book: 'A Panorama of Prophecy' - available on Amazon.
Starting with the promise of Jesus in John 14:1-3 that He will return from Heaven, specifically for believers (His Bride), to take us to be with Him in Heaven, Derek shares the classic passages on the Rapture, especially 1Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1Corinthians 15:51-58, sharing how there will be 2 blasts of the Trumpet of God.
The first Trumpet will sound causing the dead in Christ to be raised and then rise to meet the Lord in the sky (the dead in Christ will rise first). Then the last Trumpet will sound, causing those in Christ, who are still alive, to be instantly changed in our bodies, so that we will receive immortal bodies. Then we will be caught up (raptured) to meet Christ in the sky, joining those who previously rose at the first Trumpet. In this way, the whole Church will be gathered together to Christ, and from then on, we will always be with the Lord.
Finally, we see the thrice repeated promise of Jesus in the last chapter of the Bible, Revelation 22:7,12,20: "I am coming quickly (suddenly, without warning)" - a clear statement of the imminence of His Coming in the Rapture.
God's faithfulness is the foundation for our faith and hope for the future. God is faithful to keep all His promises to us, despite our weaknesses and failures. Peter's message exalting our faithful God will encourage you and build your faith in the Lord. If you are facing trials and challenges, it is especially important for you to meditate on God's faithfulness, so that you can look to Him, hope in Him and trust in Him, and so be strengthened by His grace, and be filled with His peace, knowing He will bring His promise to pass.
Hilary shares her Testimony of how she became seriously sick in body and hardened in heart through her involvement in the occult, but despite that, Jesus wonderfully saved her, and delivered her from the power of satan, and completely healed her body. You too can be saved, healed and delivered by the Lord Jesus Christ, for: "ALL who call upon the Name of the Lord (Jesus) shall be saved (delivered, healed)" (Romans 10:13).
My book: 'The Imminent Invasion of Israel' (available on Amazon) discusses in detail the unfulfilled prophecy in Ezekiel 38 of an invasion of the Mountains of Israel in the latter days, by a coalition of nations led by Russia, Iran and Turkey. God Himself will intervene and judge the invaders, resulting in his Name being glorified in the nations (a world-wide revival). See also my 5-part youtube series: 'The Imminent Invasion of Israel'.
Everything is in place for this invasion to take place. All that is needed is a catalyst to cause Russia to step into the leadership of this coalition. In my book, I discuss 2 possible catalysts: (1) Israel bombing Iran's facilities used to develop a nuclear bomb, and (2) Israel increasing its settlement activities or even annexing the West Bank.
The recent conflict with Hamas in Gaza and the associated internal unrest within Israel between the Jews and Arabs made me aware that a future conflict of this nature could also be a possible catalyst for the Ezekiel 38 invasion. If such civil unrest took place again and Israel felt forced to impose itself more strongly on the Palestinian Arabs, especially in the West Bank, then Russia could see this as an opportunity to create an international coalition of mostly Islamic nations to invade and take over the West Bank in the name of protecting the Palestinians and establishing a Palestinian State there, thus enforcing the 2-state solution, in accordance with UN resolutions. However, the prophecy points out that the real motive of the invading nations is the financial reward from increasing their military footprint and power in the Middle-East, as well as this being the first step towards the ultimate destruction of Israel (which would certainly be the main motive and objective of Iran and Turkey).
It is this unlawful attempt to seize God's covenant Land, which He has given to Israel, and this existential threat against God's covenant People, which stirs the Lord to take action against the invading armies to destroy them, and thereby glorify Himself in the eyes of the nations (see Ezekiel 38:14,16 and 39:7, where God speaks of: 'My people Israel', and 'My Land', and describes Himself as: 'the Holy One in Israel'). When this prophecy is fulfilled in detail, just as the Bible predicts, many will realise that the God of Israel, the God of the Bible, is alive and well, and that therefore the rest of the Bible must be true.
The Christian life is the expression of our personal love relationship with the Lord. The spiritual disciplines are for the purpose of drawing closer to God, and deepening our relationship with Him, and thereby growing spiritually. Derek shares how to introduce a new believer to the life of a disciple of Jesus, based on God's love and grace to them. It's all about loving God based on His amazing love for us, and this includes spending time with Him in the Bible and Prayer. Our love for God will also cause us to want to please and glorify Him in the way we life our life. Derek points out the 2 opposite ditches of indiscipline and legalism. When we love God we give Him our heart, and this will be naturally expressed in a disciplined life of seeking God, and obeying His revealed will.
The essence of the Christian life is our love relationship with God rather than following a list of rules. A disciple is a follower of the Person of Jesus, who wants to be as close as possible to Him. This does involve discipline. There are important disciplines that are part of being a disciple, like Bible reading and having a devotional time with God every day, with praise, prayer and confession, being faithful in Church, and finding ways to serve God and people. But we do not do them for their own sake but as expressions of our love for the Lord, in order to be close to Jesus and glorify Him.
We are precious to the Lord. Above all, He wants our heart. He wants us to give Him our heart, which starts by opening (the ears of) our heart to Him, to receive His words of love and His grace to us, for our ears are the receivers of our heart (Isaiah 55:1-3). Then as He fills us with Himself (His life and love), He takes possession of our hearts by his Spirit (Presence), and our hearts become fully His, so that we then love Him with all our heart.
Ephesians 2:5-9 describes our salvation by grace through faith (the New Birth of our spirit), when the Holy Spirit imparted the resurrection life (grace) of Christ to our spirit giving our spirit (1) life, (2) victory and (3) dominion, for we were (1) made alive together with Christ, (2) raised together with Christ fall above all enemies, and (3) seated with Christ above all.
As we were saved by His grace, so now we are to live by His grace, for the grace (the life of Christ imparted to us by the Spirit of grace) that saved us is now also available for us to live our life. God's grace (operational power within us) is freely available to empower us (Ephesians 1:19) for our life, imparting life, victory and dominion to our souls. We are to receive His grace by faith into our souls, like a yacht receives the wind to fill its sails. The Wind of the Spirit flows out from our spirit (Galatians 6:18) and empowers us for living and doing the good works that God has prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10).
We can't control the Wind of the Spirit, for it blows where it wishes (John 3:8), so we must surrender to His Spirit of Grace and let Him carry us along, teaching and empowering us. It only works if we give up trying to run our own life and surrender control to His Spirit of Grace that is flowing out of our spirit and working within our soul. Only then are we operating under (the power and authority) of grace.
"Those who wait (with expectancy) on the Lord shall renew their strength (pass to power); they shall mount (raise) up their wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31). As we wait on Him and look to Him in faith, believing His wind of grace is blowing from our spirit and is available to fill us, we open our heart (the sail of our soul) to Him to receive and be lifted up and carried along by His grace, just as eagles raise up their wings to catch the wind, empowering them to swiftly soar high above, carried along by the wind. Likewise, by receiving His strength (wind) to fill our souls, we pass from weakness to power, and as a result of being empowered by His grace and carried along by His Spirit, we'll make swift and steady progress in our life.
Romans 1:16-17 tells us the Good News of Christ is that the POWER of God unto SALVATION is freely available for all who believe, for the righteousness of God is revealed (1) from (saving) faith to (2) (living) faith; as it is written, “(1) The righteous (by faith) shall (2) live by faith.” First (1) through saving (justifying) faith, we received the IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS of Christ, then (2) through living faith we continually receive His IMPARTED RIGHTEOUSNESS (His Spirit of life and grace).
Both saving and living faith involve (1) submission to Christ's Lordship and (2) dependence on (trust in) His saving power. To be saved by grace we must receive Christ as (1) our Lord and (2) our Saviour, realising that we cannot save ourselves. Likewise, to live by grace, we have to (1) SUBMIT to Jesus' leadership, and (2) TRUST (depend upon) His Spirit to fill us and empower us to live our life, which requires that we BELIEVE the Good News that His grace is freely available to us, flowing out from our spirit (John 7:37-39). In this way, by FAITH we SURRENDER to God's RIVER in us, allowing Him to fill us and carry us along in our life, realising that without Him we can do nothing.
The Spirit of God within and flowing out from our spirit is also like the WIND (invisible and powerful), but also personal, for He blows where He wishes (John 3:8). We cannot control where the wind of the Spirit blows (goes) and where He will take us. We must open the sail of our soul to Him, so that He can fill us with His grace, which will then carry us along through life. For God's grace to flow in and through us, we must be 'under grace' (under the authority and power of His grace), submitting to His authority and depending upon His power. In this way, we surrender control to Him, knowing that we can make no progress (achieve nothing of worth) in our own strength.
God is whole hearted and wants us to be the same - not half-hearted or double-minded. He wants us to trust in Him and be fully committed to Him. While we are on the fence, in a place of indecision, we're not safe. This is seen in Joab's revenge on Abner, when he lured him into the gates of Hebron (2Sam 3:27). The gates of a city represent the place of decision, where you are neither in or out. Hebron was a city of refuge (a picture of Christ) and Abner was safe while inside the city (trusting in Christ), but when Joab (the enemy) persuaded him to meet with him in the gates (the place of indecision), he was unsafe, and the enemy was able to destroy him. This is why David said that Abner died the death of a fool. Likewise, when we remain in two minds about whether we should respond to Christ or trust in His Word or whether to obey God or not, we are 'in the gate', which is not a safe place. We are vulnerable to the enemy. God wants us to get off the fence!
Believers are those "who have fled for refuge" to Jesus to find salvation in Him (Hebrews 6:18). God assigned 6 Cities of Refuge to Israel, to which a man could flee if he killed someone by accident, and find safety. Jesus offers Himself to us as our City of Refuge, and if we run to Him we will be saved (Proverbs 18:10).
Many are concerned about taking the Covid Vaccine, because it could be something to do with the Mark of the Beast, and therefore spiritually dangerous. Others are concerned about the natural risk of taking it. Pastor Derek discusses these issues in the light of the Bible.
To follow Jesus, for His sake (because we love Him), we must deny (ownership of) ourselves and relinquish control of our own lives, surrendering ourselves, our independence, and our every blessing to His Ownership and Lordship (Matthew 16:24). When we do this, although we are poor (owning nothing), we are able to possess and enjoy all things which God freely gives us, with thanksgiving (Matthew 5:3, Luke 6:20, Revelation 5:12). We must realise that we belong to God, as well as His grace within us, and every blessing of life. On the other hand, pride (trying to hold onto final control over our life, acting as our own owner), and covetousness (trying to claim ownership and take control of the blessings of life) cuts us off from God's blessing, for "God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). So we must release all control of self, of His life in us and of all things in our life to God, our Owner, and continually trust in Him as our Source (Saviour).
True faith consists of our surrender to Christ as our Owner and Lord (trusting ourselves to His ownership and control), and putting our trust in Him as our Saviour. The degree of our surrender determines the degree that we can trust in (receive, appropriate) His saving life.
We can only surrender to Christ as our Lord and put our trust in Him as our Saviour, to the degree that we believe in His offer to us through the Gospel to be our firm Foundation, our all-sufficient Source of life, love and salvation. Through the Gospel, God imparts the knowledge of Himself and His love that we need in order to be able to surrender our heart to Him and to put all our trust in Him, for our life now and for all eternity. Once we know and believe that He offers Himself to us to be our God, who promises to love us fully, faithfully, continually and eternally, we can trust in Him and give Him (the surrender of) our heart, but the choice is ours. The more assured we become of His love for us, the more we are able to surrender (give) our heart to Him, which is what He desires above all. The more fully persuaded we are of the power of His grace toward us to uphold us, satisfy us, protect us and provide for all our needs, the more we can trust in Him to uphold (save) us forever, and give Him our whole heart. The more we realise His infinite love for us and our total need for Him, the more we will naturally and willingly and completely give ourselves to Him in surrender and trust in Him with all our heart.
When we surrender to Him and trust in Him as the living Foundation for our being and whole life, our heart rests in Him, and as a result we enter into rest (we no longer have to try and hold ourselves up), and His love for us becomes manifested as His grace within us, being poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, and filling our souls, like rivers of living water (Proverbs 21:1), so that He becomes our life and our full salvation.
The main key to possess our Promised Land is to embrace the truth that God is our Owner and that He owns every blessing of grace that He gives us to possess (Matthew 16:24-26, 1Corinthians 6:19-20). The essence of sin is rejecting God as our Master and Owner and going our own way, independent from God, taking control of our own soul and life (pride), and trying to own the blessings of life for ourselves (covetousness), because we do not trust in God's goodness and love for us (unbelief). This is the choice Adam and Eve made in the Garden, setting the whole human race on the path of sin and destruction, but Christ came to purchase us back to God, so that by trusting in His love and surrendering to His Lordship and Ownership, our soul can be saved and possess all the blessing and blessings of God.
Peter Hockley shares his dramatic testimony of salvation and deliverance from demonic powers after being involved with the occult through automatic handwriting. Hear how Jesus set Peter free from a deep demonic deception and possession. Peter's book 'Four nights with the devil' is available on Amazon.
The central message of the Bible is the Good News of how we can receive Eternal Life in Heaven as a free gift, even though we are all sinners deserving of Hell. Derek shares how Jesus made it possible for us to be forgiven, and how we can receive salvation by faith. We only have this life to receive God's offer of life, because once we die it will be too late to turn to God.
Using many illustrations from the Bible, Peter shares what it is like to encounter Jesus, and how you can encounter Him also. Encountering Jesus is (1) PERSONAL, (2) POWERFUL, (3) PENETRATING, and (4) PERMANENT. He is the light of the world, able to change our darkness into the light of life (John 8:12).
Debate between Pastor Derek Walker and Dr. Michael Brown. Pastor Derek makes the case for the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, and Dr. Brown for the Post-Tribulation Rapture. Is the Church called to go through the future time of God's wrath? Is the Coming of Christ imminent, or will we face the antichrist first?
“If you are WILLING and OBEDIENT you shall eat the good of the Land” (Isaiah 1:19). The first key to blessing is a submitted heart, WILLING to do the will of God, whereas unwillingness always produces failure. Hilary illustrates this in the experiences of (1) Caleb and Israel, (2) Jesus' disciples, and (3) Jonah.
We have a powerful Helper and Prayer Partner, the Holy Spirit. Together with Him we form a Dynamic Duo, for as we call on His help in prayer and depend on Him, He fills us and empowers our praying. We are told to always 'pray in the Spirit' (Ephesians 6:18), so His help must always be available to us, as we trust in Him.
God's will for believers is that they grow spiritually thru His Word. Our prayers for them are important, for they release His Spirit to them, Who works with His Word to bring forth fruit. There are many examples of Bible Prayers we can pray. To pray the Word, is to pray God's will, so we know He hears and answers these Prayers.
God's will for every man is Salvation through the Gospel, but these words must be backed up by Prayer, to release God's Spirit. Pray God: (1) removes their spiritual blindness and opens their eyes to see their sin and Saviour, (2) sends them anointed labourers, (3) gives us opportunities and boldness to share the Gospel, with clarity, accuracy and power.
God wants us to PRAY for all men (1) to be saved and (2) come to the knowledge of the truth (1Timothy 2:1-4). This is the fulfilment of the 2 parts of the Great Commission: (1) Salvation thru the Gospel, and (2) Discipleship in God's Word. So the Great Commission must be backed up by Prayer, for it to be fulfilled. So when we pray: "God's will be done and His Kingdom come" for others, our prayers should be focused on the fulfilment of the Great Commission in their lives, that is, on (1) their salvation and (2) their spiritual growth.
Christ gave us authority, through the Keys of the Kingdom, to release His Power through Prayer, so His will is done on earth. His will is that all men be saved and grow in God, which is accomplished through His Word (Gospel), but Prayer is needed to release the Rain of His Spirit to work with the Seed of His Word, to bring forth fruit in men's hearts.
When is the Rapture of the Church? David Pawson says Post-Tribulation and Derek Walker says Pre-Tribulation. This may seem an incidental issue, but it has a big impact on how we understand end-time prophecy, and on our Christian life. Should we be preparing for the antichrist or looking for Christ's imminent Return?
Prayer is not getting man's will done in Heaven, but getting God's will done on earth. The more we submit ourselves to God's will, the more we can exercise our authority in the Name of Jesus. King Jesus gave us the Keys of the Kingdom, authorising us to bind the power of the enemy, and loose the power of God on earth.
To be a channel of God's Spirit bringing Heaven to earth, we must (1) COME to God and honour Him with praise, thanksgiving and worship (Matt 6:9), then (2) RECEIVE His Spirit and words into our heart by faith (John 7:37), then (3) RELEASE His Spirit from our heart into the earth by our WORDS of faith (Matthew 6:10, 12:34-35, John 7:38).
After (1) coming to God, (2) we believe we receive the promised blessing into our heart, and then (3) we release it into the earth by confessing it with our mouth unto salvation - the manifestation of the promise (Romans 10:10).
After (1) submitting to God and (2) receiving His words, (3) we can speak His words from a place of authority, causing His Kingdom to come into the earth, and forcing the enemy to flee from us (James 4:7), thus bringing His will to pass.
We are to pray God's Kingdom (righteousness, love, joy, peace, life in the Holy Spirit - Ro 14:17) to come from Heaven to earth. So we are a Channel between Heaven and earth, connected to God in our spirit and to the earth in our flesh, through which His Spirit flows to bring His Kingdom into the earth as we pray.
This illustrated message describes Jesus' Prayer at Gethsemane ('Oil Press'). This place was chosen to give a picture of what He suffered & accomplished here by submitting to God's will. Just as in this Cave in a Garden, olives were pressed 3 times to release their oil, so Jesus was pressed 3 times to release the Oil of the Spirit to us.
We primarily express our will (authority) through the words we choose to speak. As a Pilot establishes a ship's course by controlling its rudder, so we establish the direction of our lives by our tongue (James 3:4). We bring our lives into submission to Jesus our Captain by (1) saying: "Your will be done", and (2) aligning our words to His revealed will (Word).
The Prayer of Dedication: "Your will be done" is essential to receiving Guidance from God. Derek & Hilary share 8 Principles of Guidance: Realise (1) if you trust in yourself you will mess up, (2) God has a good plan (perfect will) for your life, (3) He is guiding you, (4) as a child of God, you can hear His voice. (5) Do God's revealed will diligently. (6) You must WANT God's will. (7) Pray for Guidance. (8) For big decisions take special time out to seek God.
What we dedicate to God, He will consecrate (possess with His Spirit). There are 2 kinds of Prayer of Dedication: (1) When God's will is known, we pray: "let be unto me according to your word" (Luke 1:34-38), and (2) when His will is unknown, as we pray: "Your will be done", His Spirit aligns our thoughts and desires to His will.
The Purpose of Prayer is not to establish our will, but to release God's power and blessing, so His will is done on earth as in Heaven. This starts by our submission to His authority: "Thine be (1) the Kingdom (authority), (2) the Power (in the Holy Spirit), and (3) the Glory (the manifestation of the power in answered prayer)" (Matthew 6:13).
When we come into God's Presence with praise and thanksgiving, we meet His authority, requiring us to bow (submit) our will to God, praying: “Your Kingdom come. Your will be done.” This positions us to receive His grace for ourselves, and to be a channel of His grace to others through our prayers (Romans 14:17).
Divine Protocol in Prayer means we don't start with our needs or sins, but we look to 'our Father in Heaven', and come into His Presence by 'hallowing His Name' with PRAISE (declaring His Greatness), and with THANKSGIVING (for His Goodness and Grace to us). Then we bow our hearts to Him in WORSHIP, submitting to His Government over our beings and our lives: "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done."
To fully hallow God's Name we must know His 8 Covenant Names through which He has revealed Himself: Jehovah (1) Jireh, the Lord our Provider, (2) Rophe (Healer), (3) Nissi (Victory), (4) Shalom (Peace), (5) Tsidkenu (Righteousness), (6) Mckeddish (Sanctifier), (7) Shammah (Glory), (8) Rohi (Shepherd).
As we hallow the Name of God we enter into the Secret Place of the Most High (Psalm 91:1-2), where our real prayer happens. One powerful prayer is the Sacrifice of Praise - thanking God before we see the answer, based on His Name (Hebr 13:15). This opens up a spiritual highway for God to move (Psalm 50:23), as seen in Jehoshaphat's victory (2Chronicles 20).
The Lord's Prayer provides a Pattern. So our prayer should start with us coming to God with praise & worship. Derek & Hilary share on HALLOWING His NAME, especially in connection with 3 NAMES of God: Elohim (Creator), Adonai (Lord and Master), and El Shaddai (the God who is more than enough).
Prayer starts by lifting up our eyes to Heaven, magnifying God, and looking to Him as our Source: “Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your Name." This is how Jesus prayed. He taught us to: "watch and pray." Watching means setting our eyes on the Lord, so we can see His will and receive His grace.
The Sermon on the Mount (including the Lord's Prayer) is foundational for the Christian Life (Matt 7:24-27). So this Prayer gives His pattern for New Covenant Prayer. The start of: "Our Father in Heaven" signifies our fellowship with God in prayer is to flow from our Father-son relationship (based on Grace).
This is the introduction to a Series on the Principles of Prayer, using the Lord's Prayer as the inspired PATTERN for our prayer life (Matthew 6:9-13). Jesus described prayer as the intimate communication between children and their Father, in contrast to the external religious practice of hypocrites & heathen.
In these days we need to enter God's Presence, where we can worship, receive from Him and rest in Him. In this study of Psalm 95, we discover the 3 Stages to enter into His Rest: (1) Enter His Presence with thanksgiving & praise (v1-5), (2) worship (v6-7), (3) hearing and receiving His word to us (v7b-11).
Jesus promised us: "In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Simon shares about (1) the REALITY of trouble, (2) how we should RESPOND to trouble, as demonstrated by David, Habakkuk and Jonah, and (3) the RESULT of trouble (glory).
In the New Covenant, Jesus made the way for us to be born again, when our spirit is made alive by His resurrection life, enabling the Holy Spirit to indwell our spirit, so we become His Temples. When we receive Christ the Spirit regenerates our spirit. This rebirth is pictured by the changing of water to wine.
(1) The Holy Spirit is a PERSON, not an impersonal force, and (2) He is fully GOD, for God is ONE God, who eternally exists in 3 Persons: Father, Son & Holy Spirit. (1) He has intelligence, desires, will, emotions, and acts as a Person. (2) He is called God, has God's attributes and does the works of God.
The Bible predicts modern inventions in the end times in such a way that we can identify their fulfilment -such as rapid transportation, cars, planes, worldwide travel & communications, satellite TV, computers & uses of electricity and light. This scientific accuracy and prophetic foresight proves its Divine Origin.
God revealed scientific inventions and discoveries ahead of time, His Signature on Scripture, as a witness to its truth. It predicts: (1) an exponential increase of knowledge in the end times (Dan 12:4), (2) the atomic structure of matter, (3) nuclear reactions and weapons of mass destruction (Matt 24:22).
The Prayer of Dedication of ourselves to God (1Peter 5:6), includes Prayer of Commitment or casting our cares on the Lord (v7). This is the offering up of incense before the holy of holies, which opens the veil for us to enter into face-to-face worship, where His Hand of love, peace and power comes upon us
To love God is to desire ever-increasing union with Him, causing us to seek Him to know Him for who He is in Himself. If we seek Him (by giving Him our love), then we will find Him, by receiving His glory (manifested love) in our heart. Our union with God is created by a mutual giving and receiving of love.
God loves us with passion, but for a love-relationship to work it must be two-way, so we must have a heart to seek God, to know and love Him for Who He is in Himself. He wants us to return to our first love, letting go of all idols claiming our heart, surrendering to His love and giving ourselves fully to Him.
In His love, God is a jealous consuming fire passionately pursuing us, wanting all of us, to give Himself fully to us. On the Cross, He overcame all barriers to make this union possible. He now calls us to love Him with all our heart. To love anything else more than God is idolatry - the essence and root of all sin.
The Presence of God is a central theme of the whole Bible. We are designed to live by God's Glory (Presence), just as we live by the air we breath. Man originally lived in His Presence (Gen 3:8) but lost it thru sin (Rom 3:23). Christ opened up the Way back into His Presence, but it is up to us to press in.
Genesis 1:1-3 reveals how God works in our lives. Two things are necessary for a MIRACLE: (1) God's WORD and SPIRIT which communicate His Presence (Light) into us. (2) A receptive VOID within us, which God’s Presence can fill. Derek illustrates this vital truth with a number of scriptural examples.
Seeking God results from valuing His Presence, for "where our treasure is, there our heart is too" (Matt 6:21). To increase your valuation of His Presence meditate on (1) what it would be like if He withdrew it from you, (2) the price Christ paid to give you His Spirit, (3) how much you need His grace for your life.
Through the Temple God revealed His plan for union with man. He dwells in the Secret Place (Holy of Holies). By (1) praise, (2) thanksgiving & (3) worship we set our love on the Lord, giving Him our (1) mind, (2) emotion & (3) will, opening our heart to His love, and enabling us to enter into His Presence.
Like Moses we must have a much greater passion for His PRESENCE, than His PRESENTS (Exodus 33). God wants us to love Him (the Blessing) more than His blessings, to seek the Giver more than His gifts. If we SEEK first His PRESENCE, then His PRESENTS will be added to us (Matthew 6:33).
Chronicles tells us the story of the kings from God’s viewpoint, assessing them based on their HEART. We study God’s report card on a number of kings (David, Solomon, Rehoboam, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Uzziah, Hezekiah, Josiah) seeing how He assesses their reigns according to how they SOUGHT God.
"SEEK the LORD and His STRENGTH; SEEK His FACE forevermore!” (Psalm 105:4). When we SEEK His FACE, His Hand of STRENGTH comes upon our hearts, filling them with His life, righteousness, love, joy, peace and wisdom. Seek first His PRESENCE, before His PRESENTS! (Matthew 6:33).
Hilary motivates us to pray in the Spirit by sharing from Scripture and from her and others' experiences the power released through praying in tongues, whereby we build ourselves up spiritually (1Cor 14:4), and allow the Holy Spirit to take hold of us and make intercession through us (Romans 8:26-27).
The Holy Spirit lives within us and wants to help us pray and intercede. As we submit to Him, He will fill us and empower our prayers, giving us the utterance (Acts 2:4). As we yield our tongues to Him and speak His words, we pray God's perfect will into the situation (Romans 8:26-27, 1Cor 14:2-5, 14-18).
The Gift of Faith is an impartation of a portion of Divine Faith to a man, enabling him to believe God for something that is beyond his own normal faith. He releases this 'Faith of God', as God did at Creation (Gen 1:3), by speaking forth the desired end-result, believing that it will come to pass (Mark 11:22-23).
Both the Gift of Faith and Working of Miracles are Power Gifts, releasing God’s Power to accomplish a miraculous change in the natural order, which could not happen otherwise. With the gift of faith a man RECEIVES a miracle, but with the working of miracles a man WORKS a miracle. We give examples.
A Gift of Faith is a portion of God’s faith (Mark 11:22) imparted by the Spirit to our hearts thru a special word from God, enabling him to trust God for a special need in a specific situation, which goes beyond his normal faith from the Bible. He releases this faith by speaking it forth, believing it will come to pass.
The word of wisdom is the first and highest of the 9 Gifts of the Spirit (1Cor 12:7-10). It's a supernatural revelation by the Spirit of God’s plan and purpose for a person’s life. It is directive, giving wisdom for what to do, based (usually) on a revelation of the future. We give many Bible examples of its operation.
1Corinthians 12:7-11 describes 9 Manifestations of the Spirit. The 2nd one is the Word of Knowledge - a supernatural revelation by the Spirit of certain facts in the mind of God, a small portion (word) of His knowledge of present or past facts, which otherwise we couldn't know. We give Bible examples.
After describing the Gifts of the Spirit in 1Corinthians 12, Paul describes the 2 WAYS to pursue the Gifts: (1) DESIRE the Gifts to operate through us, but (2) the most excellent WAY is to pursue LOVE (1Corinthians 13). LOVING people will activate our DESIRE for the Gifts, as a means of blessing them.
In this Series, we study the 9 supernatural gifts of the Spirit of 1Cor 12:7-11, consisting of 3 revelation gifts, 3 power gifts and 3 utterance gifts. We see that these gifts have not passed away and are for us today. They operate as the Spirit wills, but we must make ourselves available to Him for Him to use us.
In Praise, we open the gates of our heart to welcome the King of Glory, allowing Him to fill us with His Presence and Peace. The Triumphal Entry shows how Jesus comes to us, offering Himself as our Lord and Savior, and how we should respond to Him. Jesus rode on both a DONKEY and her COLT. WHY?
Praise & thanksgiving release the waters of salvation from our spirit into our hearts and lives. Isaiah 12 is a prophecy of the New Covenant, based on Christ's atonement (v1), in which God Himself lives in us as our Salvation (v2,6). v3-6 describe 5 ways we draw water from our Well of Salvation by our words.
Our Praise (1) BLESSES God, (2) BENEFITS us and (3) BINDS the enemy (Psalm 149). A Sacrifice of Praise is thanking God before we see the answer. We see 3 examples that show how this prepares the way and opens the door in the Spirit for God to release His saving power into our lives and situations.
*More Benefits of Praise: (9) It brings us into greater MENTAL HEALTH, by helping us have a healthy perspective, by seeing things from God’s viewpoint. It also helps create in us a humble relaxed state of mind, rather than being governed by pride. It brings us into a state of peace and freedom from anxiety.
*Benefit (6): Praise releases spiritual strength into our hearts for living, empowering us to do God’s will. (7) By a lifestyle of praise we pursue God and bring our hearts increasingly into submission & harmony with God. (8) Praise, thanks & worship are foundational for developing our moral virtue and character.
Praise (1) brings us into God’s Presence and His Presence into us, (2) causes us to triumph, bringing us into the spirit of victory (3) releases God's Glory in our lives (4) delivers us from a spirit of heaviness (5) beautifies us in our personality, (6) releases strength into our hearts, empowering us to do His will.
Thanksgiving brings us into God’s Presence, so that we can receive the supply of His Grace. Through thanksgiving, we acknowledge God as the Source of every blessing, and activate the flow of His Grace in us. Thus by thanksgiving we unlock and release the supernatural miracle working Power of God.
Why Praise? (1) We were created to glorify God, so we are fulfilling the purpose of our being. (2) Our Praise blesses God. (3) Praise and Thanksgiving (hallowing His Name) is the ordained way into God's Presence (the holy of holies), where we can enter into Worship (direct, intimate communion with God).
We become like the One we worship, for it is a surrender. Our highest calling is to worship God, in intimate spirit to Spirit communion. We love God by our (1) worship, and (2) works. Worship adds to us value (holiness), as God fills us with His life, activating our souls. Our true life flows out of our worship.
“Seek your HAPPINESS in the Lord, and He will give you your hearts desire" (Psalm37:4). God has no needs, but He does have a strong desire for you, for intimacy with you! Our love and worship gives Him great pleasure! Don't deprive God of your love, for Jesus died so that God might receive your love
A great picture of our Covenant with God through Christ is the story of Mephibosheth. Saul's family is a type of mankind in Adam. David (a type of God) made a covenant with Jonathan, Saul’s son (a type of Christ). As Mephiboshesh (a type of us) was in Jonathan he qualified to receive David's covenant love.
Unity is a state of harmony or peace created by love. Unity (between us and God and with others) is the key to multiplication of power and effectiveness. What we can achieve together is far greater than from working alone. The multiplication factor (up to x100) depends on the degree of unity (Mark 4:20).
The essence of love is spiritual, coming from God's Presence in us, for God is love, and love is of God, and the fruit of the Spirit is love. Love exists in 4D. We must (1) receive His love into our heart by faith, so we are filled with His love (Ephesians 3:14-19), then (2) release His love by our words and actions.
Derek shares God's vision and purpose for sex and why it is sacred. God gave us a strong sex drive, so we can form a deep intimate union with one person of the opposite sex within the covenant of marriage. But since sex is sacred, when we misuse it for selfish ends, we are defiled and feel shame.
Psalm 40 is a Messianic Prophecy describing Jesus as He was about to step through the Door from Heaven to earth (Hebr 10:4-10). When He dedicated Himself to God as His bondservant to do His will, God opened His ears to hear & anointed Him to do His will. We see how this applies to us (Ro 12:1-8).
This completes our series on Revelation, by teaching the Epilogue (22:6-21), which emphasises these things will shortly and suddenly take place when Jesus comes in the Rapture (the Morning Star), and ends by declaring God's Word is now complete, warning us strongly against adding to it or taking from it.
Revelation 21-22 is the climax of the Bible describing the Eternal State of the just, showing God will fulfil all His plans and purposes, and glorify His redeemed People (Bride), and dwell with and in us for all eternity. We will see His face, know Him, be like Him, serve Him and reign with Him forever in glory.
Revelation 20 describes the devil and all who submit to him being cast into the Lake of Fire, for their everlasting punishment. Every knee must bow to Christ, so the Fire will restrain them from all sinning. By way of contrast, Revelation 21-22 describes the Eternal State of the Bride in the New Jerusalem.
The events at the End of Time, after the Millennium: (1) Satan released, (2) the Gog-Magog Rebellion, (3) satan cast into the Lake of Fire, (4) the Destruction of the Universe, (5) the 2nd Resurrection and Great White Throne Judgment, (6) all those not written in the Book of Life cast into the Lake of Fire.
After Christ's Return (Rev 19), He'll establish His Messianic Kingdom on earth for 1000 years (20:1-7). First, there is a 40-day Interval for various preparations for this Kingdom, including Judgments of men & angels, the completion of the 1st Resurrection, and the earth's renewal (especially the land of Israel).
At His Return, Christ wages war on antichrist, killing him and throwing him into the Lake of Fire. He treads the antichrist's armies underfoot from Bozrah to Megiddo, as grapes in His Winepress. Having won a total victory, He puts His feet down on Mt.Olives in triumph, and resculptures the Land of Israel.
The 2nd Coming of Christ is the climax of history. It will be heralded by a total Blackout and the appearance of the Sign of the Son of Man, as the sky is rolled back. He comes with His Bride-Wife (the Church) and His mighty angels, to (1) save Israel, (2) judge the earth, and (3) establish His Kingdom.
In the Sequence of events of Armageddon, 2 days before Christ's Return, immediately after Israel's National Repentance, Great Babylon is destroyed by the 7th Bowl, and there is a full Blood Moon and a universal Blackout, and then the sky is rolled back as a scroll to reveal the Sign of the Son of Man.
The basis for Christ’s Return to establish His Messianic Kingdom is the National Repentance and Salvation of Israel, through faith in Jesus Christ. This will be completed just before He returns, when "all Israel will be saved" (Ro 11:26), and call on Christ to deliver her from the antichrist at Armageddon.
The Battle or War of Armageddon leads up to the 2nd Coming of Christ. It is initiated by the 6th Bowl of Wrath. The satanic trinity gather the armies of the world to Megiddo in the north of Israel. Then these armies move south to lay siege on Jerusalem and Petra in Jordan, to destroy the Remnant of Israel.
The Book of Revelation reveals the sequence of future events in chronological order: (1) Vision of risen Christ (Rev 1), (2) Church Age (Rev 2-3), (3) Tribulation / Day of the Lord (Rev 4-18), (4) 2nd Coming (Rev 19), (5) Millennium (Rev 20), (6) Great White Throne (Rev 20), (7) Eternal State (Rev 21-22).
The Judgments of the 7th Trumpet are brought to their climax by the 7 Bowls of Wrath, which bring the Day of the Lord Wrath of God to its completion. The 6th Bowl initiates the Battle of Armageddon; then the 7th Bowl results in the destruction of antichrist's capital, Babylon the Great, and his world empire.
In response to the Mark of the Beast, in Rev 14 God makes 7 Announcements predicting the victory of Christ and the failure of satan’s project. They reveal the final outcomes of different groups of people, encouraging believers to stay faithful, and calling the world to God, warning them to not take the Mark.
At Mid-Tribulation the false prophet will rise up glorifying the antichrist and doing miracles, causing the world to worship antichrist and submit to him. To enforce this total control, he creates the Image and Mark of the Beast (666). To buy or sell one must receive his Mark and this requires you to worship him.
Revelation 13 describes the operation of satanic trinity - the devil, antichrist and false-prophet, the counterfeit of the Tri-une God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They will manifest themselves in such a way as to deceive the Jewish and Islamic worlds by appearing to fulfil their messianic expectations.
Revelation 17 describes the Harlot sitting on the 7-headed Beast (the religious power united to the political power). Together they form Babylon the Great, which has opposed God from Babel. The harlot on the 7th head is destroyed at Mid-Trib to make way for the new state religion of antichrist worship.
The Dragon wages war on the saints using the 7-headed Beast of Revelation 13. The 7th head with 10 horns (the 4th beast of Daniel 7) is the final worldly Kingdom (the Revived Roman Empire or Islamic Caliphate) which antichrist will take over, when he rises up to become world-dictator at Mid-Tribulation.
After the dragon is cast down to the earth at the 7th Trumpet, he tries to destroy the fleeing woman (Israel). But God enables her to escape to a place where she is kept safe in the final 1260 days before Christ's Return, the time of antichrist's world dictatorship when he wages war on all the saints (Rev 13)
The 7th Trumpet, blown in response to the Abomination of Desolation, immediately releases Judgment on satan's kingdom. Michael & his angels cast the devil & his angels from the 1st heaven to the earth. Satan then tries to destroy the Woman (believing Israel) who starts her flight to Petra on this same day.
Straight after the 7th Trumpet, a Woman flees from the dragon into the wilderness, where she is safe for the last 1260 days (Rev 12:1-6). She is believing Israel fleeing to Petra on seeing the Abomination at Mid-Trib (Matt 24:15-21, Dan 9:27). Thus the 7th Trumpet is on the same day as the Abomination.
We see the sequence of events leading up to the 7th Trumpet at Mid-Tribulation. After the 2 witnesses ascend, the 7th Trumpet is blown releasing the desolating Judgments of the Great Tribulation on antichrist's kingdom in response to the Abomination of Desolation, which continue to the 2nd Coming.
The Tribulation starts the same day as the Rapture. As in Noah's Days a worldwide Judgment (Flood / Tribulation) falls the same day believers disappear into the Ark (Christ). The Mid-Trib Interval begins with the death of 2 witnesses (Rev11) and a Mighty Angel announcing the coming 7th Trumpet (Rev10)
The 2 witnesses minister in the Temple in the first 1260 days of the 70th Week (Rev 11), playing a vital role in calling Israel back to God, and preaching the Gospel to the nations thru TV. God confirms their words by great miracles, and they call down the 1st 6 Trumpets. We see why they are Moses & Elijah.
After the 144,000 are sealed (Rev 7), the 7th Seal is broken (Rev 8:1-2), releasing the 7 Trumpets. This coincides with the start of Daniel's 70th Week, and the start of the ministry of the 2 witnesses, who announce the first 6 Trumpets in advance from the Temple. The 7th Trumpet is at Mid-Tribulation.
After the Rapture is an unknown time-period before Daniel's 70th Week begins with Israel's covenant with antichrist, enabling her to have her 3rd Temple in the first half of the Tribulation. We see God's Purpose for this Temple, especially the key role of the 2 witnesses, who announce the 1st 6 Trumpets.
The Tribulation starts straight after the Rapture with the first 6 Seals (Rev 6). After an initial period in which the 144,000 are prepared (Rev 7), the 7th Seal is broken releasing the 7 Trumpets (Rev 8:1-2). This coincides with the start of Daniel's 70th Week, and the start of the Ministry of the 2 Witnesses.
After the first 6 Seals are broken at the start of the Tribulation, releasing the Birth Pains, there is an Interlude before the 7th Seal releases the 7 Trumpets. During this Interlude (described in Revelation 7) the 144,000 from 12 tribes of Israel are prepared & sealed to spearhead evangelism in the Tribulation.
In Revelation 6, Christ breaks the first 6 Seals in quick succession, initiating the Tribulation Judgments, by withdrawing God's restraining grace from the 6 main realms of the world-system. The Seals are not 1-off events, but are Birth-Pains that continue and intensify until the Kingdom is born at Christ's Return.
Rev 4:1 marks the start of the things that will take place after the Church Age. John is taken to Heaven and into the future to the start of the Tribulation. He sees 24 elders (representing the raptured Church), and the Lamb, about to open the Scroll with 7 Seals (Title Deed of the earth) - the key to Rev 6-19.
This is Part 1 of a series covering the whole of the Book of Revelation, which reveals the sequence of future events in chronological order. This video introduces the Book, describing its overall structure and going verse by verse through Rev 1, including the vision of the glorified Christ - the basis for Rev 2-3.
Tarshish and her young lions are mentioned in Ezekiel 38:13 as opposing this invasion. The scriptures on Tarshish show she is the UK (not Spain). God used the Tarshish nations in the world wars, and for Israel's Rebirth. The Tarshish prophecies require Brexit. God is raising her up again to fulfil her call.
Ezekiel 38:1–39:16 describes an invasion of the Mountains of Israel led by Russia, with Iran, Turkey & others. God will judge and destroy these invading armies using elements of nature, bringing a world-wide revival. Tarshish is shown to be the UK. We see God's special purpose for her & her young lions.
Ezekiel 38 describes an invasion of the Mountains of Israel. The alignment of nations in the Prophecy exactly agrees with today's situation. All that's needed is a catalyst. The Cause is God, who hooks the invaders by their evil desires, bringing them to Israel for judgment (their excuse is the 2-State Solution)
The Ezekiel 38 invasion will be a major event of history, resulting in one of the greatest ever Divine Interventions, catalysing a world-wide revival. One thing few realise is that it is an invasion of the Mountains of Israel (West Bank), not Israel proper. Understanding this explains a number of things.
One of the greatest Divine Interventions in history is about to happen, in response to the Russian led invasion of the Mountains of Israel (West Bank) predicted in Ezekiel 38, resulting in worldwide revival. Derek reveals satan's 2-stage plan to destroy Israel. Gog will fail at stage 1, whereas antichrist will not.
Derek presents his illustrated Book: 'Mount Moriah, Golgotha and the Garden Tomb.' From Genesis 22 where Abraham offers up His son, Isaac, it shows God's Son had to be sacrificed and raised on Mount Moriah, thus establishing Golgotha's true location, and proving that the Garden Tomb is Christ's Tomb.
Ephesians 1:17-19 is a prayer for revelation of God's Mighty Power available to us (3:20, 6:10). This same Power raised Christ from death, giving Him victory and dominion over all things (1:20-21). This Power, when released in our spirit, caused its rebirth by imparting life, victory and dominion to it (2:4-6)
Derek presents his book: 'Live Long and Strong', originally 'The Keys to Long Life' in which he shows that the Biblical measure of a full human lifespan is 120 years (Genesis 6:3), not 70-80. He gives the keys to receive your Youth Renewal and Long Life, as well as the things which will shorten you life.
Jesus' 1st Sign of transforming water into wine (John 2) is a picture of the 1st Miracle He does in us when we trust in Him - the New Birth, changing our spirit from death to life, making us children of God. Then in John 3, through 3 pictures, He described the work of the Father, Son & Spirit in the New Birth.
Sin made our spirit unclean, unable to have God's Spirit dwelling within. When we received Jesus, He applied (1) His BLOOD and (2) the OIL of His Spirit to our spirit to (1) cleanse us, and (2) make us holy - so we can be indwelt by God. This NEW BIRTH only became available through the New Covenant.
Derek presents his book: 'Joshua's Jericho' which shows how the archaeology of Jericho confirms the Biblical account of its destruction, and how the story of Jericho reveals the way Jesus, the Greater than Joshua, leads us into our Promised Land, and how we can pull down the strongholds in our way.
Derek's book: 'Growing up spiritually', describes the stages of growth from babyhood to maturity, and the keys to growth (the means of grace, 3 baptisms, rebounding from sin and setbacks, the love-walk), especially the need for good spiritual food, as seen in 3 pictures of growth (bodies, buildings & plants).
Derek presents his book 'Getting Healed' -a guide to help you receive your healing from God. It reveals the 4 key things you need to understand in order to obey Mark 11:24: (1) God's Will is to heal you, (2) God's Nature is that He is a liberal Giver, (3) God's Gift is His Healing Power, and (4) God's Method.
Temples have 3 parts (Holy of Holies, Holy Place, Outer Court), because they are all pictures of Man, God’s ultimate Temple, consisting of 3 parts (spirit, soul, body). Christ came as the perfect Prototype Temple, filled with the Holy Spirit. Then through His death and resurrection He multiplied Himself in us.
In this short video, Derek presents his book 'Daniel's 70 Weeks' which gives God's Countdown to the Messiah. It reveals how God fulfilled the first part of this Prophecy right on time proving that Jesus is the Messiah, and how the rest of the Prophecy is about to be fulfilled in the Tribulation.
The heavenly Temple and all earthly Temples of God, starting with Eden, are pictures of God’s ultimate Temple = Redeemed Man. God’s ultimate Purpose for us is to be His Temple, so He would dwell IN us, and we would carry His Presence and Glory, and God’s Spirit would flow through us as Rivers of Life.
God's ultimate Purpose for MAN is revealed through His TEMPLES, for we are made to be indwelt and filled by God. Earthly temples (starting from Eden) are made from the blueprint of the heavenly temple, but all these temples are just pictures of God's ultimate eternal TEMPLE - redeemed MAN in Christ.
God has put His song in our heart and He wants us to sing it (Psa 40:3). God desires to hear our voice as part of the great symphony of praise rising up from all His creation (Psa 148). God sung His song of love & forgiveness through Jesus. He gives the melody and He wants us to sing in harmony with Him.
The aim of Fasting is to help get ourself in position to hear and receive from God and be a channel for His Power. It changes us, not God, by helping to remove our unbelief. In fasting we subject our natural desires to our desire for God. 3 Purposes of Fasting are to aid Repentance, Guidance & Intercession.
Jesus fasted and taught on Fasting. It boosts and reinforces Prayer. It does not impress God, but is a means to change us, to help humble our soul before God (Psa 35:13), reducing the dominance of our flesh, so we can be more sensitive to the Spirit. Prayer & fasting removes natural unbelief (Matt 17:21)
Queen Esther is an example of a true intercessor, who shaped the course of history. She is a picture of the Church, called to reign with Christ and release His power thru intercession. Then Derek describes the qualities of intecessors, especially their persistance in prayer (Lk 11:8, Eph 6:10-18, 2Ki 13:14-18).
James 5 gives ELIJAH as our example for how to PRAY for the RAIN of the SPIRIT, necessary to bring the SEED of the WORD in men's hearts to fruition, resulting in a harvest of precious fruit (souls). His prayer posture was as one in labour (1Kings 18:42), giving birth to the revelation in his womb (v41).
Through His Blood, Jesus has brought us into a new and better Covenant with God, which is the basis for our prayer-life. It includes the gift of praying in tongues, whereby the indwelling Holy Spirit helps us to pray God’s perfect will into the earth, by giving us the utterance (Acts 2:4, Rom 8:26-27, 1Cor 14:2).
Intercession involves Spiritual Warfare, for we are bringing God’s will into the earth by the power of His Spirit, released through our prayers, against the opposition of the kingdom of darkness which rules this world-system. EPHESIANS is the key book on God’s mighty Power released through our Prayers.
We are a royal priesthood with authority to rule with Christ through prayer. The Intercessor discovers the will of God and then sets himself to pray it into the earth, even against spiritual opposition. We see how Daniel's prayers were the key that determined the outcome of the angelic conflict in the heavens.
One of the greatest ever INTERCESSORS was MOSES. Exodus 17 shows that the VICTORY is won in the place of INTERCESSION. Moses is a picture of Christ, the ultimate Intercessor, who stood in the gap for His people, so they came under God's mercy, not judgment (Exodus 32, Numbers 14,16).
Intercession starts by coming into God’s Presence, seeking His Face and dedicating ourselves to carry out His will in the earth. We receive His burden (will) into our heart (womb), and then pray it out & thru to victory. We get vital keys from Abraham, as he gives us the first example of intercession in the Bible.
Our life and ministry is the outflow of our ministry before God in worship and prayer. Intercession for authorities is essential for the spread of the Gospel. Brexit is vital in view of Biblical Prophecy of the Revived Roman Empire, and was predicted 100 years ago: "Britain will be saved by praying women."
The UK has a call & destiny as a Christian nation to preach the Gospel to the nations, but came under Divine Discipline for forsaking her promise to Israel (Gen 12:3), not only losing her Empire, but also her Sovereignty to the EU. Brexit is a sign of God's hand of blessing coming back upon us to fulfil His Plan.
We are all called to the Ministry of Intercession. Christ ever lives to make Intercession (Hebr 7:25), to release the blessings that He procured for us by His intercession for us on the Cross. As His Body we share in His present priestly ministry. He needs us to do this for He has given us authority in the earth.
“The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. He is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works” (Psalm 145:8-9). God delights in mercy (Micah 7:18). He is eager to pour out all His blessings upon us. Jesus perfectly revealed the compassionate heart of God.
Our heart is a garden which we must watch over, so that no root of bitterness springs up, troubling us, cutting us off from grace, and defiling others by our negative words (Hebr 12:15). Jesus compared a tree of bitterness in us to a Sycamore Tree, which we must command to be removed from our heart.
A big hindrance to faith is CONDEMNATION (sin consciousness, guilt, shame and inferiority). So we must bring these things to God, confess our sins, and receive His forgiveness and cleansing by faith (1John 1:9)! Then, we overcome the accuser by pleading (declaring our faith in) the Blood of Jesus.
Isaiah 53 describes what Jesus did for us on the Cross of Calvary. Verse1 says the Arm (power) of the Lord is revealed to those who believe the Report of Isaiah 53. This Report declares that the Messiah took our SICKNESSES as well as our SINS (v4), so that we might be forgiven and made whole.
The DILIGENT take responsibility for their lives, and are quick to do what they ought to do, avoiding excuses to delay. The sloth is passive and weak, unwilling to act until he 'feels' like it, so he gets stuck in a rut, and blames others for his failures. Derek shares 10 practical Steps for developing Diligence.
To be SLOTHFUL is to KNOW what to do, but be SLOW to do it (like a sloth). The opposite attitude to cultivate is DILIGENCE. A sloth waits for perfect conditions and feelings before acting, rather than just doing it. The result is failure & disorder. The Book of Proverbs helps us to overcome our slothfulness.
What is a true saving faith? Is it just believing in the Gospel? Can you receive and trust in Jesus as your Saviour without receiving and submitting to Him as your Lord? Since sin is rebellion against God, can we be saved without submitting to God? What is the repentance God requires for us to be saved?
At the heart of the Bible is the Divine Romance, pictured by the love story in the Song of Songs. We see how Jesus our Bridegroom fulfils the Jewish marriage customs, in winning and marrying His Bride. The Bride must now prepare herself for the soon Coming of her Divine Lover as the Morning Star.
The classic Temple Mount is in perfect harmony with the Biblical data, in contrast to the City of David theory (e.g.1Kings 8:2-6). Derek answers its 5 main arguments: (1) The Temple is in Zion, (2) Jesus' Prophecy (Matt 24:1-2), (3) Gihon Spring, (4) Josephus, & (5) the small cultic area in the City of David.
Although the classic Temple Mount has always been accepted as the true location of the Temple, a new theory by Ernest Martin claims it was in the City of David. However, the Biblical origins of the Temple with Abraham (Gen 22), David (1Chron 21), and Solomon (2Chron 3:1) disprove this theory.
Derek shares the history of the Temple and its importance, and how God will use it in the Tribulation to call Israel to faith in Christ, before antichrist desecrates it. Today it is at the centre of a great spiritual warfare, part of which involves a recent theory challenging its accepted location, which Derek refutes.
Derek concludes this Series by describing the sequence of events at the Lord's Return, the Judgments and Resurrections in the 40-day Interval that immediately follows, the Millennium, the Final Rebellion, the Destruction of the Universe, the Great White Throne and the Lake of Fire, and the Eternal State.
After the 7th Trumpet, Revelation 14 gives 7 visions describing the final outcomes of different groups of people in the Great Tribulation. Then, Rev 15-18 describe the 7 Bowls of Wrath poured out in the final months. Finally, the order of events of the war of Armageddon, climaxing with Christ's Return (Rev 19).
Revelation 10-13 describe a series of dramatic events that happen at Mid-Tribulation, setting the stage for the Great Tribulation, including the death and resurrection of the 2 witnesses, 7th Trumpet, the war in heaven and escape to Petra, the rise of antichrist to world-dictator, the mark and image of the beast.
God has 3 Purposes for the Tribulation: (1) to judge wickedness, (2) a world-wide Soul-Harvest, (3) the Salvation of Israel. The key to Rev 6-19 is understanding the Scroll with 7 Seals is the Title Deed of the earth. Derek explains the 7 Seals and first 6 Trumpets, and summarises the events at Mid-Tribulation.
Jesus taught much on eternal rewards (treasures in heaven), like the Parable of the Talents. Rewards include thrones of authority, garments of glory, and 5 crowns (the crowns of rejoicing, righteousness, life, glory & the incorruptible crown). Derek also answers objections to the teaching of eternal rewards.
Immediately after the Rapture all believers willstand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to give an account and be judged for their works as servants of God to receive their eternal rewards. There are 4 main passages on this momentous event (Romans 14:10-13, 2Cor 5:9-11, 1Cor 4:2-5, 1Cor 3:10-15).
The Bible predicts events at the closing of the Church Age: (1) The Latter Rains & completion of the Church Harvest (Jas 5:7). (2) Israel's Regathering to her Land & Rebirth as a nation. (3) Jerusalem's Recapture (1967), (4) Plans to rebuild the Temple, (5) an Invasion of Israel from the north (Ezekiel 38).