English

Children of Light

1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober.”

 

In the Bible, there are several verses referring to “the day of Lord so cometh as a thief in the night” (1Ts 5:2)(2Pe 3:10) and “I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” (Rev 3:3)(Rev 16:15) The Lord also said “But of that day and hour knoweth no [man,] no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” (Mat 24:36)(Mak 13:32)(Act 1:7).

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, according to Bible, do we know when is the day of Lord? Indeed the answer is already in the verses we read: if we are still “children of darkness”, and still live in the night (in the flesh), then to us the day of Lord will come as a thief, “For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.” (1Ts 5:7) how would the slept and drunken “children of darkness” in the night know when the Lord has arrived? To them, wouldn't that the day of Lord come as a thief in the night? Therefore, the Lord said to the “dead” church of Sardis (Rev 3:1) “If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” (Rev 3:3) “ If therefore thou shalt not watch” means: Church of Sardis, if you still sleep (not repent), and continoue to be “children of darkness” slept and drunken in the night, I (the Lord) will come and judge you, and when I come, you will not know, to you I come like a thief entering a slept drunk's house in the night!

 

On the contrary, if we are “children of light”, and live in the day (in the Spirit), and watch and sober, love one another, then when our Lord returns and knocks the door, we will open for him immediately (Luk 12:36)(Rev 3:20), our Lord will say to us: “Blessed [are] those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.” (Luk 12:37)

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, now we shall know: “the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night;” (2Pe 3:10) speaks to whom? To those who are “children of light”? Or to those who are “children of darkness”?

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, if we are still “in darkness” (1Jn 2:11), we may call upon the name of whom “ hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” Jesus Christ our saviour. He is willing and able to save us and wake us up to escape the wrath of God.

Faith

Mat 9:20-22 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed." Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment.

 

What is the faith preached in the Bible? What does it mean when Jesus said “your faith has healed you”?

 

Faith is his power: According to Col 2:12 “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”, the faith is the operation or power of God. What kind of power? In the original Greek text¹, “who hath raised him from the dead” modifies the faith, the power of God, rather than God. Therefore, the faith is the power of raising him from dead.

 

Faith is his work: In Eph 2:8-10 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” In this verse, it emphasizes that “Not of [man's] works, lest any man should boast” but “his workmanship”. It's a gift from him. It's the wage of his work paid for our debt. This is his work: “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” – Tit 2:14. That's why in Gal 2:16 it said “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” what this verse tried to reveal is this truth: knowing that a man is not justified by his own works, because all men are sinners (Rom 3:23), no matter how hard we work, the wages of our works (sin) is death (Rom 6:23). But by the work of Jesus Christ, we can be justified. Because he has no sin and His work is good: “For when we were yet without strength and ungodly, in due time Christ died for us” (Rom 5:6). This is his work.

 

Faith is himself: Isa 65:16 “That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth²; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth³; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.” In the original Hebrew text, the “God of truth” is “God of Amen”. Amen /m@a* in Hebrew means truth and faith. Therefore in Rev 3:14, Jesus called himself as the Amen, that is, the Faith. “…These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;”

 

So my beloved Brothers and Sisters, next time when you hear that Jesus said “your faith has healed you”, we now understand that he is actually saying: your Jesus has healed you, his work has healed you, he died for you and his power now has covered you and will heal you from death. My Lord, my Saviour and my Almighty God, Thank you in his Faith, Amen.

 

 

Evidence of Blessing

Exodus 3:11-12 But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain."

 

Moses was looking for sign of past or “now” as an evidence to himself as well as to Pharaoh and Israelites that God sent him. But from the verse above, God told Moses what would happen in the future as the evidence. God's thought is different from human logic.

 

People typically secure an evidence on paper or in materials. But from the verse above, we learn that God setup an evidence in the life that Israelites are going to experience. God's way is different from human approach.

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, let's try to ponder what is our evidence of our blessing? Did God already laid down his blessing in our life? Where is the evidence of his blessing in us?

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, do we know: when we saw a child wearing a beautiful cloth, we saw the evidence of his/her parents' love on him/her, because his/her parents cherish their loving child with a beautiful dress. Likewise, when we saw a brother or a sister who lived in the word of God, we saw the evidence that our Heavenly Father loved him/her already. Because our Father cherishes his beloved child with a heavenly garment made of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, when one day, if you have been slandered and falsely persecuted, and you are still able to accept them who persecuted you with smile, with forgiveness and even praying for them for their salvation. I have to tell you: this is the evidence that you have been blessed by our Heavenly Father.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us understanding that we may live. Thank you that you let us understand that when we are willing to give to the poor, that joyful willingness is the evidence of our blessing. Thank you that you let us understand that when we have forgiven other's debt, that burdenless feet and restful peace is the evidence of our blessing. Thank you that you let us understand that when we love one another as you love us such that people can see we are your disciples and give glory to you, this is the evidence of our blessing. Thank you that you let us know that when we believed in the name of our savior Jesus Christ, this is the evidence that we are blessed with life eternal, praise to the LORD, in His name we pray, Amen.

Bible Verse for the day

1Pe 4:6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.¹

 

what a wonderful new look fojc.net! :D

I just wanted to say what a wonderful new look fojc.net has changed to! :D It looks beautiful! I know with its snazzy new look, people will be eager to add to this blog and share their wonderful thoughts while reading the bible :D I am sorry I haven't blogged in a while! Hopefully after all my final exams, I will have more time to blog! But here is a good bible verse to share while I am here! Psalms 35:9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation. I will try to always be joyful no matter what! :D

Trust in the LORD

^{2Ch 16:1-3} "In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent to Ben-hadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, [There is] a league between me and thee, as [there was] between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me."

Dear Sisters and Brothers, when we encounter a tribulation in our life, what's our reaction? The verses above tell a story about the king Asa, who was trusting in the LORD that smote the Ethiopians of an host of a thousand thousand (2Ch 14:9-12), at his old age trusted in gold and men instead! At the end as the LORD said to him through the seer Hanani: "Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars." (2Ch 16:9)

What is the war in our life? Do we have trouble in marriage? in family? with colleagues? in business? in school? in illness? or even in the church? When we encounter these tribulations, what's our reaction? The LORD through king Asa tells us the Truth, that is if we would like to rely on money or human beings to resolve our wars in life, the ending will be "herefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars." that is more wars to come!

What does it mean to Trust in the LORD?

Trust in the LORD means Do not lean on our own understanding: Pro 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

Trust in the LORD means Do not rely on men: Psm 146:3-4 "Put not your trust in princes, [nor] in the son of man, in whom [there is] no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish."

Trust in the LORD means Do not take heed on all words that are spoken by men: Psm 116:11 "I said in my haste, All men [are] liars." Ecc 7:21 "Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken;"

Trust in the LORD means Do not labor to be rich: Pro 23:4-5 "Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for [riches] certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven."

Trust in the LORD means Do not rely on the power: Psm 33:16 "There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength."

Trust in the LORD means Do not rely on the plan: Psm 127:1 "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh [but] in vain."

Trust in the LORD means Do not trust in idols: Psm 115:4-8 "Their idols [are] silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; [so is] every one that trusteth in them."

How do we Trust in the LORD then?

Let's read another set of verses: Mak 6:47-51 "And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered."

Our life (ship) on earth (sea) is as a ship sails in the midst of the sea. We sin against the LORD, therefore "the wind was contrary unto" us and we trusted in ourselves thus we were often "toiling in rowing" all day and all night ("about forth watch of the night") without resting. Our Lord Jesus saw our sufferings from the Heavens ("on the land") and come unto us on earth ("walking upon the sea"). But we did not know Him and even thought "it had been a spirit, and cried out: For we all saw Him and were troubled!" Men do not know Him, when tribulation come, all were troubled and cannot Trust in Him. Our Lord Jesus has mercy upon us and forgives our foolishness and unbelief. He came and said to us "Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid." When Jesus "went up into the ship" (Jesus went up unto us into our heart), miracle happened: "the wind ceased"! ------ when we reconciled with Him, the joy and the peace from the Heavens overflow in us!  ------ Just like when Jehoshaphat, the son of king Asa, turned to the LORD again and trusted in the LORD alone, "So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about." (2Ch 20:30).

Dear Sisters and Brothers, would you like to quiet down the war in your life? would you like to cease the wind against you? Let's pray to our Lord  the only Savior Jesus Christ to "go up into our ship", let us only Trust in Him and Him alone. Praise be thy Name, Amen.

ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit

^Act 11:16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

^Jhn 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.  

For the heart was caused to believe

^Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.¹

He (thy seed) who is the only one believed is Jesus

In Genesis 15 verses 5 to 6, according to the original text (see footnote below) the LORD promised/prophesized he who the only one will believe in the LORD and become obedient unto death (his faithfulness) will become (is) thy seed. Thus in the verse Gen 15:6  "he believed in the LORD ...", the "he" is Jesus (thy seed). [Notice "thy seed" in singular not plural, thus the LORD reminds us again in Galatians 3:16 "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.")

 

^{Gen 15:5} And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed^* be.
^{Gen 15:6} And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.¹

Baptism

                Regarding "baptize" (in Greek pronounced as baptizo: baptivzw : baptize; wash), it simply means “wash”. As matter of fact, Jesus did not baptize people in water but his disciples did (John 4:2). And, in all four Gospels John the Baptist preached “I baptize you with water….But after me will come one who is more powerful than I,…. He will baptize you with Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Mathew 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, John 1:33). At last, in Acts 1:5, Jesus himself proclaimed that “For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit”. So according to the Bible, people (such as John the Baptist) baptized people in water (because he is not capable of baptizing other in Holy Spirit), but the Almighty one, our God, Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ is fully capable and willing to baptize people in Holy Spirit. The water baptism whether is dipping or immersing or submerging are all man-made ritual which has no value in front of God. Thus the Apostle Paul concluded in Galatians 5:6 “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love”. In today’s language this teaching is equivalently saying: “For in Christ Jesus neither water-baptism nor non-water-baptism has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love”.

                 Dear Brothers and Sisters, when we “love one another as He loved us” (John 15:12), then we know we are truly baptized by His Holy Spirit and people will know that we are His disciples. (John 13:35). Thus go back to Mathew 28:19-20: the question to all of us would be: what would Jesus like us to do? Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in Water or in Love?

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