Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Jesus Wanted What The Father Wanted!



‘Jesus Wanted What The Father Wanted.’
Mark 1:35-39.
a)      Mark 1:35. Jesus got up in the very early morning.
b)      Mark 1:35. Jesus went out to a lonely place and Prayed.
c)       Mark 1:36. Jesus Disciples followed after Him.
d)      Mark 1:37. When the Disciples found Jesus they told Him that all the people were seeking for Him. (These Disciples had their priorities wrong)
e)      Mark 1:38. Jesus told His Disciples that:-
1-      They all needed to go on into the next towns.
2-     Jesus was to Preach in these towns too. (Go forward and do not go back)
3-     He had come for that purpose.
f)        Mark 1:39. Jesus Preached in the synagogues throughout all Galilee and cast out devils.
(This QT shows me that Jesus Wanted What The Father Wanted)
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‘A Good Response To The Lord.’
Psalm 28:7.
a)      The Lord is my Strength and Shield.
b)      My heart trusts in Him and I am helped.
c)       My heart greatly rejoices.
d)      With my son I will Praise Him.
(Through this Second one I am encouraged to have A Good Response To The Lord)
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Chris.
When the Disciples found Jesus they told Him about the people. I really like that phrase ‘the Disciples found Jesus’! Sometimes we get so caught up in the busyness of Church and Church Business that we lose sight of Jesus. We continue with our programmes and rosters very efficiently and it all works very well but we have ignored (or ‘lost’) Jesus. It is time for us to be like the Disciples and find Jesus.


The New Covenant!



‘The New Covenant.’
Hebrews 9:15-17.
a)      Hebrews 9:15. Christ is the Mediator of the New Covenant.
b)      Hebrews 9:15. Christ’s death Redeems us from the sin that was mentioned in the Old Covenant.
c)       Hebrews 9:15. Now we are called to receive the Promise of the Eternal Inheritance.
d)      Hebrews 9:16. Where a Testament is there must be the death of the Testator. (Jesus Christ)
e)      Hebrews 9:17. A Testament or Covenant is enforced after people are dead.
f)        Hebrews 9:17. Whilst the Testator is alive the Testament has no strength.
(This QT reminds me of the Power of The New Covenant)
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‘When We Are Afraid.’
Psalm 56:3-4.
a)      When we are afraid we can Trust and Confide in the Lord.
b)      We need to Exalt and Praise the Word of God.
c)       We should Trust God and not fear what flesh can do to us.
(This Second one teaches me how to respond When I Am Afraid)
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Chris.
Jesus Christ is the Lord and Saviour. I can write with confidence today that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Saviour. The Power of His Blood, shed on the Cross, has washed my sins away. I have confidence in God now and an Eternal Inheritance. I also thank God that Jesus Christ rose again to give me New Life. I thank God that Jesus Christ ascended back to the Father’s Right Hand in Heaven, and has sent the Holy Spirit to me and for me. I finally thank God this day because Jesus Christ, at the Father’s Right Hand is interceding for me.

When God Is With Us!



‘When God Is With Us.’
Isaiah 8:9-10.
a)      Even though the foreign Nations go ahead and prepare for war against us.
b)      They will be broken in pieces.
c)       They will be crushed.
d)      They will make plans together.
e)      Their plans will come to nought and fail.
f)        All this will happen when and because God is with us.
(This QT reminds me that good things can happen When God Is With Me)
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‘God Is Our Salvation.’
Isaiah 12:2.
a)      God is our Salvation.
b)      We should Trust Him and not be afraid.
c)       The Lord Jehovah is our Strength and Power.
d)      The Lord Jehovah is our song.
e)      The Lord Jehovah has become our Salvation.
(This Second one causes me to Rejoice: God Is My Salvation)
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Chris.
Good things can happen when God is with us. There are several things for us to think about here. (To ponder) Firstly, good things can happen, not will happen all the time. Secondly, the things that happen are ordained by God and not by us. Thirdly, we need to have confidence of God being with us. 

Monday, April 29, 2013

Our Obedience Can Be A Testimony!



‘Our Obedience Can Be A Testimony.’
Luke 5:14.
a)      When the man was healed of leprosy.
b)      Jesus told him to directly go to the priest.
c)       He was to make an offering for his cleansing.
d)      According to the command of Moses.
e)      This would be a testimony to the priest and those around him.
(This QT shows me that Our Obedience Can Be A Testimony)
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‘Really Trusting The Lord.’
Psalm 143:8.
a)      Then in the morning we receive His Loving Kindness.
b)      Asking Him to let us knoe the Way we should walk.
c)       We lift up our soul to Him.
d)      We entrust ourselves to Him.
(Through this Second one I want to be Really Trusting The Lord)
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Chris.
Our testimony is very much clearer when it flows from a life of simple obedience to God. Following the Lord is not complicated. Sometimes we are complicated, and then we compromise with our testimony. Let us aim for a life of simple obedience to God. 

How Much More?



‘How Much More?’
Hebrews 9:13-14.
a)      In the days of the Old Testament.
b)      The sprinkling of spiritually contaminated and unclean people with the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of cows made them spiritually clean.
c)       How much more?
d)      Shall the Blood of Christ.
e)      Who through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God.
f)       Purge and wash our consciences clean from dead works.
g)      In order that we may serve the living God.
(Through this QT I rejoice in the answer to the question: How Much More?)
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‘Scripture.’
a)      Mark 12:10; Acts 8:32. Should be read.
b)      Daniel 10:21. Is the Scripture of Truth.
c)       Mark 15:28; Luke 4:21; John 7:38. Which is prophetic will be fulfilled.
d)      Luke 20:17; John 20:29. We should discover the meaning of it.
e)      John 2:22. Should be Believed.
f)       John 10:35. Cannot be broken.
g)      Acts 8:35; Romans 10:11. Makes the way for the preaching of the Gospel.
(This Second one reminds me of the importance of Scripture)
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Chris.
There is Power in the Blood of Jesus! This is, of course theologically very True – it is Truth. It is also the theme of one of Christendom’s favourite hymns. (I have heard it sung in several languages) The important point is do we know the meaning of it by experience, that our sins are washed away by Jesus’ Blood? 

God Was Still With Them!



‘God Was Still With Them.’
Isaiah 8:5-8.
a)      Isaiah 8:5. This was the Word of the Lord.
b)      Isaiah 8:6. The waters of Shiloah were refused and rejected by God’s People.
c)       Isaiah 8:6; John 9:7. These were actually waters of healing.
d)      Isaiah 8:7-8. The Lord decided to bring the aggressive waters of Assyria as a flood.
e)      Isaiah 8:8. Immanuel was still with God’s People even though the times were very difficult for them.
(This QT shows me that God Was Still With Them)
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‘It Is Not Difficult To Follow Jesus.’
Matthew 11:30.
a)      Jesus’ yoke.
b)      Is easy to bear.
c)       Jesus’ burden is light.
(This Second one reminds me that It Is Not Difficult To Follow Jesus)
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Chris.
Floods in the Bible usually speak of difficult times. The aggressive waters of Assyria, like a flood. We read of the enemy coming in ‘like a flood’ and similar Scriptures. God destroyed the first Creation with a flood. A flood will destroy everything in its path. Thank God for His Presence during the flood. The Lord raises a standard against it. Immanuel is still with His People. 

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Learning And Sharing!



‘Learning And Sharing.’
Isaiah 50:4-5.
a)      The Lord God has given to Jesus Christ the tongue of the learned.
b)      That Jesus should know how to speak a Word in season to the person who is weary.
c)       Morning by morning Jesus is awakened.
d)      His ear is awakened to hear as One Who is learned.
e)      When the ear of Jesus was opened He was not rebellious nor did He turn away backward.
(This QT teaches me about Jesus and His Learning And Sharing and shows me how to learn and share)
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‘The Increase And Maturing Of The Boy Jesus.’
Luke 2:52.
a)      Jesus increased in Wisdom.
b)      Jesus increased in broad and full understanding.
c)       Jesus increased in Stature.
d)      Jesus increased in favour with God.
e)      Jesus increased in favour with man.
(Through this Second one I see The Increase And Maturing Of The Boy Jesus)
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Chris.
Jesus Christ’s ear was awakened to hear as One Who is learned. We will not learn if we do not listen. One of the arts that has been suppressed in these days of ‘free thinking’ and ‘freedom of expression’ is the art of listening. We learn when we listen.

The High Priest Of Good Things!



‘The High Priest Of Good Things.’
Hebrews 9:11-12.
a)      Jesus Christ is the High Priest of the good things that have come and that are to come.
b)      Jesus Christ made the way open for a greater and more perfect Tabernacle.
c)       Hebrews 8:2; Mark 14:58. This Tabernacle is not made with human hands.
d)      Hebrews 7:27. Without the blood of bulls and goats He entered once for all time and people into the Holy Place.
e)      Hebrews 9:24. By doing this He obtained Eternal Redemption for us.
(This QT introduces again to me Jesus Christ, The High Priest Of Good Things)
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‘Such A Caring God.’
Proverbs 2:8.
a)      The Lord keeps the paths of Judgment.
b)      The Lord guards the paths of Justice.
c)       The Lord preserves the Way of His People.
d)      The Lord watches over the Way of His People.
(Through this Second one I am so grateful for Such A Caring God)
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Chris.
The Heavenly Tabernacle is not made with human hands. When we think about the temporary nature of our life on this Earth as it is now, we need to prioritise on people rather than buildings. Of course, where legally possible, it is good to have Church buildings, large or small, that meet the needs of the Church and local community. Our priority should be, though, reaching people with the Truth and Love of the Gospel of Christ. 

The Lord Knows All Things!



‘The Lord Knows All Things.’
Isaiah 8:1-4.
a)      Isaiah 8:1. The Lord told Isaiah to take a large scroll and write on it with a large pen.
b)      Isaiah 8:1. He was to write on the scroll in an ordinary way which all people could understand. The word to write was Mahershalalhashbaz. The meaning of this name was that there would soon be looting and stealing.
c)       Isaiah 8:2. Isaiah took two true and faithful witnesses with him, Uriah the Priest and Zechariah.
d)      Isaiah 8:3. Isaiah went back home to his wife, she conceived and bore a son, he was named Mahershalalhashbaz.
e)      Isaiah 8:4. Before this baby was able to talk the riches of Damascus and Samaria were taken away and given to the King of Assyria.
(This QT reminds me that The Lord Knows All Things, even before they happen)
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‘The Lord Is Faithful.’
Psalm 37:28.
a)      The Lord loves Justice.
b)      He will not forsake His People.
c)       His People are preserved for ever.
d)      The children of the wicked people shall be cut off.
(This Second one causes me to Proclaim: The Lord Is Faithful)
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Chris.
Men and Women of God should be people who can be Trusted as true witnesses. The most trustworthy people in any locality should be the Men and Women of God. This is one of the fruit of the Fear of the Lord. People who live with the Fear of the Lord will be trustworthy and they will not gossip.

Unusual Miracles!

  'Unusual Miracles' Acts 19:11-12. a)  And God was doing  b)  Extraordinary miracles c)  By the hands of Paul, d)  So that even han...