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Showing posts from December, 2011

Jesus: The Believer’s Inheritance

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  It is fascinating to observe when people talk about inheritance, ones mind would immediately cater properties, wills, houses, jewelries, and other material things. All of which are centered on material temporal things.   In 1 Peter 1:4 , although The Apostle Peter used the term “inheritance” once in his letter, Apostle Paul on the other hand, mentioned this term in his letters several times. ( Eph_1:14 , Eph_1:18 , Eph_5:5 , Col_3:24 ,) But what is so significant about this particular emphasis of Peter? After all, he made a brief description of the inheritance (verse 4-5) a believer will obtain now that he is part of God’s family.   The term “inheritance” is not something new among Jewish ears. Going back to the OT, when God divided the promised land among the 12 tribes of Israel, every tribe received a portion of the land as their inheritance, except for the tribe of Levi…”the priestly tribe”. They were the only tribe that didn’t get one. God’s reason for doing so is interesting. Th
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From Theocracy to Monarchy, a study of 1 Samuel

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Today’s Message in a Nutshell–“From Theocracy to Monarchy”, a study of 1 Samuel The book of 1 Samuel takes us from the birth of Samuel, the last and greatest judge of Israel, to the anointing of Israel’s most beloved king, David. We find in this book a transition from “theocracy to monarchy” as God’s people chose to be “like all the nations” by demanding that a human king rule over them (1 Samuel 8:5), an outright rejection of the King of kings who had led them from Egypt to the Promised Land. Sadly, a number of believers today follow the error of God’s people in Samuel’s time. We reject God’s rule over us.  Rather than following God’s way, we instead embrace the ways of the world. The Scriptures, therefore, remind us to not love this world (1 John 2:15-17) or be conformed to it (Romans 12:1-2).  Rather, we should “set our affections on things above” (See Colossians 3). We also find in 1 Samuel repeated portraits of individuals who had a good beginning but a sad ending.  Eli judged ove
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A "Ruth" in the making?

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Sunday Worship Message in a Nutshell: “Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence” (Ruth 3:11, NASB). This outstanding commendation was given to Ruth the Moabite. This attention given to her character, her “inner beauty,” stands in stark contrast to the world’s focus on physical beauty, evidenced by Hollywood celebrities and today’s multi-billion dollar cosmetic business. Though it is not wrong to be physically handsome or beautiful, as Scriptures speak of such beauties as Sarah and Queen Esther, the problem begins when outward appearance becomes our pursuit. May we not be swayed by the world’s perspective; instead, may our pursuit be Christ—to be more like him (Romans 8:29). Through her character, Ruth demonstrates to us the importance of inner beauty—that which comes from a heart transformed by and in submission to God. Praises: What a blessing to celebrate the 15th birthday of one of the yo
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Learning from the book of Judges

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“…. and there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel” (Judges 2:10). The book of Judges paints a sad picture of what happened to Israel after Joshua died. The generation that followed him and the elders who witnessed God’s great act of redemption did not know the Lord.  “[E]very man did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6; Judges 21:25). Israel’s moral decline and sin of spiritual adultery proves more than just a repeating cycle; it was a cycle that spiraled downward. In fact, even the majority of the judges (“deliverers”) lived questionable lives ( An Introduction to the Old Testament, Dillard and Longman, 125). Still, we see God’s gracious act of deliverance in response to the people’s cry for mercy. Note: It only took one generation for Israel to forget the true God.  Let us learn from the book of Judges.  Let us not forsake the study of the Word of God and the fellowship with believers. Let us be intent
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