Bible Examples

Sharing Christ

2014-07-17T14:12:00.001+08:00

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.  (1 Corinthians 15:3-5)

The Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

 In His trial before Pilate, Jesus said, “For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” (John 18:37)

It is not by our merits but God in His great mercy and love has called us out of darkness that we may know the hope of His calling, the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and the exceeding greatness of His power!

It is by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that we are saved.

As we obey God, we do not walk in sin and find ourselves mired in the quicksand of death and destruction.

We are set free to live an abundant life and thus able to thankfully, joyfully and victoriously proclaim “Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.” (Psalm 95:1)

The cross of Calvary is meant for all that none should perish but have eternal life.

Our Risen Savior commands us to go and make disciples of all nations.

Let your life be an epistle of Christ by sharing "Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col 1:27).

We have a Master to serve. 

The Pouring of the Holy Spirit

2014-07-10T19:29:00.001+08:00

But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

—Titus 3:4-7

God’s Holy Spirit gives us access to abundant spiritual life in Christ.

When we accept Christ as Lord, God washes our sins away and renews us by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior.  

Once we know Christ, the Holy Spirit helps us experience God’s love, understand God’s Word, pray, and abound in hope.

Today, as you think about your relationship with God, remember that the Spirit is your guide to life in Christ (Rom. 8:14).

The Holy Spirit guides us into knowledge and spiritual growth.

In the Light of the Lamb

2014-07-10T19:28:00.001+08:00

The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. —Revelation 21:23

The sun and moon are to light the day and the night.

Whether illuminating our path or providing the life-giving radiance for fruitful crops and the nutrients our bodies need, the sun and moon are part of God’s marvellous provision of light.

Someday God will provide a different kind of illumination.

The eternal heavenly city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.

The Lord Jesus Christ in His glorified state will be the spiritual lamp that lights up that joyous new world.

In eternity, the Lord Jesus Christ will be the Lamp that lights our way.

What a thrill it will be one day to live in the light of the Lamb!

In eternity, the redeemed will live in the presence of God Himself.

Use your Talents

2014-06-29T19:43:00.001+08:00

His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ —Matthew 25:23

The parable of the talents in Matthew 25 reminds us to use the talents God has given us wisely.

All of us have God-given skills and abilities at various levels.

And we must not bury, unused, what God has given us.

It is not only in our years of strength that God will use us, but also in our youth and age, as well as in our sickness and weakness.

Let us continue to serve God.

Let us honor our Savior by using our skills.

May our lives be a living sacrifice of love and action for God's honor.

God can use us at any age if we are willing.

Put on the New Man

2014-06-23T20:03:00.001+08:00

Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. —Colossians 3:9-11

Here, In Paul’s letter to the Christians at Colosse, he described a restoration of God’s people.

There are two influences in our lives.

One is the old man, that is, the person we were before trusting Christ.

The other is the new man who is becoming more like Christ.

We are to put off the behavior patterns of our old ways and put on the new character qualities of Christ.

The apostle described a spiritual renewal from the living God who created us and gave us new life in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Our lives are in the skilled hands of our Lord who knows who and what He designed us to be.

No matter how sin-damaged and dirty we may be, there is hope for renewal and restoration.

The Master Artist is alive and at work within us.

Salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ

2014-06-12T08:35:00.000+08:00

Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. (Romans 5:18)

Some struggle to accept that salvation is a gift.

They want to do something to earn it.

The problem is, no one can afford it.

The price of salvation is perfection (Matt. 19:21), and the Lord Jesus Christ is the only person who could pay the price.

To anyone who thirsts, the Lord Jesus Christ promises to "give of the fountain of the water of life freely" (Rev. 21:6).

Some people try to purchase the living water of salvation with good deeds and charitable donations.

Although these are forms of spiritual service valued by God, they are not what God requires for the forgiveness of our sin.

The Lord Jesus Christ already paid the price by dying in our place, and He offers to quench our spiritual thirst when we drink freely from God's fountain that will never run dry.

God's Protection and Care

2014-06-06T11:33:00.000+08:00

"Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

God promises believers protection and care through life's threats and troubles.

Christ became a Curse

2014-04-14T16:33:00.001+08:00

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." (Galatians 3:10)

The law brings a curse.

Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.

But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident.

All have failed to keep the law of the Lord.

The just shall live by faith.

The law is not of faith.

Those who does the works of the law shall live by them.

The Lord Jesus Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law.

He has become a curse for us.

The Lord Jesus Christ has died for us.

He has bore the curse by His death on a tree.

It is all of grace.

Finally the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus.

Finally we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

All of grace, and through faith alone!

Glory be to God for Paul

2014-04-07T14:08:00.001+08:00

But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God in me. (Galatians 1:23-24)

The apostle Paul did not confer with flesh and blood after he had received the revelation of Christ and his mission to preach among the Gentiles. Also, he did not go up to Jerusalam to meet with the 12 apostles. Instead, he went to Arabia. After some time there, he returned again to Damascus.

It was 3 years later that he went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and James, the Lord's brother.

After that, he went into the region of Syria and Cilicia.

The apostle Paul insisted that he was telling the truth; he did not lie when he made all these statements.

The apostle Paul was unknown by face to the Christians in Judea. But they had heard of him: “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God in him.

The apostle Paul needed no introduction. He was in full view. His life was in the open.

We have here Paul's full submission to the lordship of Christ.

We have here Paul's total dependence on the sufficiency of God.

We have here Paul's continued faithfulness to God's mission that was revealed to him.

Paul was fully committed to the Gospel.

Even the Jewish Christians in Judea heard about him, though they had never seen him face to face.

They knew him once as an enemy of Christ, bent on destroying Christians.

Then, they heard about him again. This time as a fervent preacher of the faith, preaching Christ and planting churches everywhere he went.

God has done a great work in the life of Paul.

He had chosen him before the beginning of time.

He had called him and revealed His Son to him.

He had saved him from His wrath and eternal death.

He had called him to be an apostle to the Gentiles.

He had called him to preach to kings and rulers.

He had put a heavy burden on him for the salvation of his fellow Jews.

The apostle Paul was committed and faithful to God.

He preached and labored more for Christ everywhere he went.

People everywhere were talking about him.

He needed no introduction. He needed no publicity.

Once they looked down on him because he persecuted the Christian.

Then they looked up to him as hero of faith.

Glory be to God for Paul!

May God use us also for His Glory! Amen and Amen!

Spiritual Warfare

2014-04-01T09:05:00.001+08:00

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. (2 Corinthians 10:3)

As Christians, we have our spiritual walk with God on earth. We still have to walk through life and face its many happenings. We have both our earthly affairs and spiritual affairs.

But, because of our remaining sins, the lust of the world, and the evil forces around us, our pilgrimage on earth is made more difficult. We have to fight against sins and guilt. We have to bear trials and temptation, and there is the terrible fear of death. All these are very real, so are the spiritual forces behind them.

Christian warfare is never about against flesh and blood. Christian warfare is spiritual in essense. It is fighting against Satan's strongholds.

Since the Fall, Satan has a strong grip of the world. He had captivated the world and brought it into darkness, sufferings, and death. He is determined to bring the world down together with him!

The Lord Jesus Christ had come to give us the LIght. He had come to die and took the punishment for all our sins. He had turned the wrath of God away from us. He had brought us to His Father's Kingdom. And He had promised us eternal life, and rest from our labors.

But we still have our pilgrimage on earth.

We are to war against Satan and his strongholds.

We still have to fight with our indwelling sins.

We still have to fight against the temptation of the world around us.

We still have to deal with the attacks of Satan and his evil forces.

Christian life is never at ease. It is always a spiritual warfare with spiritual weapons against spiritual forces.

We need the Word of God.

We need the Presence of the Holy Spirit.

As Christians, we are God's vessels against Satan's strongholds.

The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to work in us and will us against Satan's strongholds.

Every high thought and argument will be brought down.

Every idol and demonic idea will be thrown down and burnt.

Every rebellion will be crashed.

Every disobedience will be punished before the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Christ will have the supremacy, and God our Father will rule all.

Hope in the Spirit

2014-03-26T11:13:00.000+08:00

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have receive mercy, we do not lose heart. (2 Corinthians 4:1)

Paul had the ministry of preaching to the Gentiles.

Paul was not sufficient of himself to attain the knowledge of the gospel truths which he preached. His sufficiency came from God. It was the Spirit of God Who enabled him to preach the Word powerfully. (2 Corinthians 3:5-6)

Paul used great boldness of speech. He knew the Spirit of God was working in him and through him to free sinners. It is the Spirit of God who takes the veil away. It is the Spirit of God who gives liberty from the bondage of the sin Adam gave us. By the Spirit of God we hope and behold the glory of the Lord.

The whole Christian life is from faith to faith. All Christians need the mercy and grace of God from time to time.

Christians are fallible. But as Christians, we do not lose heart. We have a living hope in the Spirit of God.

Silent Prayer

2014-03-11T16:13:00.001+08:00

Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.

—1 Samuel 1:13

Prayer can be silent.

Hannah, who longed for a child of her own, visited the temple and spoke in her heart as she prayed.

Her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard.

Eli the priest saw, and misunderstood what was happening.

Hannah explained to him that she was pouring out her heart before the LORD (1 Samuel 1:15).

God heard Hannah's silent prayer request, and gave her a son (1 Samuel 1:20).

God searches our hearts and minds (Jeremiah 17:10).

He sees and hears our every prayer.

We can pray with full confidence that He will hear and answer us.

We can continually praise Him, ask Him for help, and thank Him for blessings.

Remember: Our God hears us, answers us, and fills our hearts with peace, when we pour out our hearts to Him.

Confess our Sins

2014-03-08T11:01:00.001+08:00

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. —Psalm 32:1

Hiding our sins is a terrible thing to do.

King David was an example of this.

The surface of his life looked fine.
But his interior life was really bad.
After his sins of adultery and murder, David thought he had successfully hidden his treacherous acts (2 Sam. 11–12).
But God’s intense conviction after Nathan’s confrontation caused him to realize that denying the presence of sin in his life weakened the foundation of his spiritual life.
To prevent his spiritual state from worsening, David acknowledged his sin to God in repentance (Psalm 32:5).
As a result, God covered David’s sin and gave him the joy of forgiveness.

We too will experience God’s grace when we confess our sins to Him.
God will completely forgive and cover our sin.
Let us confess our habitual sins, our secret addictions, and our hidden vulnerabilities before God.
It is when we uncover our sins in repentance that God will cover them.

Forgive me O God! And cover all my sins.

The Virtue of Waiting

2014-02-26T17:45:00.000+08:00

Waiting is hard.

We wait in traffic,

We wait in the queue,

We wait in the line...

We wait in the grocery store,

We wait in the gas station,

We wait in the clinic...

We wait in the cold and dark,

We wait in the heat and rain...

We twiddle our thumbs,

We stifle our yawns,

We fret inwardly in frustration...

In Psalm 40:1-3, David says,

“I waited patiently for the Lord;

And He inclined to me,

And heard my cry.

He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,

Out of the miry clay,

And set my feet upon a rock,

And established my steps.

He has put a new song in my mouth—

Praise to our God;

Many will see it and fear,

And will trust in the Lord.”

David waited and waited and waited for God to answer his prayer.

Yet as he looks back at this time of delay, he praises God.

Waiting is good,

Here we develop the virtues of submission, humility, patience, joyful endurance, persistence in well-doing...

Virtues that take years to learn.

Have Thine own way, Lord!

Have Thine own way!

Thou art the Potter,

I am the clay;

Mold me and make me after Thy will,

While I am waiting, yielded and still.

Waiting for God is never a waste of time.

Shine, Jesus Shine

2014-02-15T11:55:00.000+08:00

The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned. —Matthew 4:16

The Gospel is the single Light so bright that it illuminates the whole world with truth, justice, and love.

Jesus is everything that the world is longing and looking for.

And He has told His followers to display His light so that others will see and glorify God.

As Christians we must work hard to display the light of God’s love.

Perhaps then the people living in darkness would make an effort to see this great Light.

Baptism into Christ Jesus

2013-12-31T09:33:00.000+08:00

Romans 6:3-4 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Baptism means a 360 degrees U-Turn.

Through Baptism, we were buried with Christ Jesus into death. This calls for a clean break from our sins.

Through Baptism, we were raised from the dead by the glory of the Father. This calls for a resolution to walk in newness of life.

(1) Are you ready to be baptized? (2) Baptized believer, have these truths transformed your life?

How about making this your New Year 2014's Resolution?

Jesus' Forgiving Grace

2013-12-01T08:07:00.001+08:00

The scribes and Pharisees brought to Jesus a woman caught in adultery (John 8:3).

The crowd called for her condemnation.

Jesus said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”

Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. No one condemned the guilty woman!

Jesus said to the guilty woman, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more".

Then in 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.”

When we stumble and fall, and have our most embarassing moments, let us be reminded of 3 things:

(1) the forgiving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ

(2) The call to sin no more

(3) The call to have the light of life, the call to enjoy His forgiving grace.

Be Still, and Know that I am God

2013-11-24T06:19:00.001+08:00

Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!

—Psalm 46:10

In our darkest moments,

We can still rest,

For our Lord has conquered death on our behalf.

Let us be still,

And allow God to calm our greatest fears.

Let us bear patiently under trials,

And leave everything to God to direct and provide.

God will always be faithful.

Be still, and know that I am God.

A Barrier to God's Love

2013-11-18T07:18:00.001+08:00

Christ experienced a barrier to His love when His people rejected Him.

He cried in Matthew 23: 37, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!"

Our sin is a barrier to God's love.

Isaiah 59:2 wrote, "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear."

Jesus took care of the barrier by His sacrificial death on the cross and His resurrection.

Romans 8:11 said, "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."

There is now no barrier between God and those who would believe in Him.

Now is the time to experience God's love and His goodness.

Thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5).

Living Stone活石

2013-11-04T07:44:00.000+08:00

The apostle Peter described Jesus as a living stone.

He wrote, “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:4-5).

Precious in the eyes of the Father is the sacrifice of the Rock of our salvation.

Christ is the enduring stone upon which the Father has built our salvation and the only foundation for meaningful life.

It is only as our lives are built upon His strength that we will be able to endure the harshness of life in a fallen world.

。。。

使徒彼得将耶稣形容成活石。

他说：「主乃活石，固然是被人所弃的，却是被上帝所拣选、所宝贵的。你们来到主面前，也就像活石，被建造成为灵宫, 作圣洁的祭司，藉着耶稣基督奉献神所悦纳的灵祭。」（彼得前书2章4-5节）。

这救赎磐石的牺牲，是天父眼中的珍宝。

基督就是那永久的磐石，而天父将我们的救恩，建立在这唯一根基上，让我们藉此得着新生命。

唯有将生命建立在祂的大能之上，我们才能在这堕落的世界中，熬过生命中严苛的考验。

The Battle is God's

2013-10-24T18:57:00.000+08:00

A large group of warriors had gathered to fight the Israelites (2 Chronicles 20:2).

King Jehoshaphat asked God for help. He then appointed a choir to march out into battle in front of the Israelite army.

The worshipers sang: “Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever”. When they began to sing, the Lord caused the enemy forces to attack and destroy one other.

Praising God in the midst of a challenge means overriding our natural instincts toward self-protection, strategizing, and worry. Worshiping God guards our hearts against troubling thoughts and self-reliance. They remind us that the battle is not ours, but God’s (2 Chronicles 20:15).

Every battle in this life is God’s. The outcome belongs to Him because He is sovereign. Whatever happens in our life, let us remember to praise God and worship Him.

The Joy of The Lord Is My Strength.

God is Greater than our Problem

2013-10-17T20:32:00.000+08:00

God our Father is almighty. No one can match His strength and power.

The Psalmist said: “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.“ (Psalm 91:1)

Regardless of what today may bring, or the trouble you are now going through, don’t forget that your God is stronger than anything in your life.

So, be confident! The shadow of His all-prevailing presence guarantees that His power can turn even the worst situation into something good.

Our God is Powerful

2013-10-04T08:48:00.000+08:00

God’s glory is seen in His almighty power!

And God has chosen to “show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” (2 Chron. 16:9).

From the dividing of the Red Sea, to the marvel of manna in the wilderness, to the miraculous virgin birth, and ultimately to the power of the resurrection, our Almighty God has chosen to demonstrate His strength to bless, preserve, and protect His people.

And God delights in showing Himself strong in the challenges of our life. God proves His power on our behalf.

Let us remember to give Him the glory!

All of God’s promises are always backed by His wisdom, love, and power.

God's Grace through Christ Jesus

2013-09-12T16:27:00.000+08:00

I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1: 4-8)

Paul always thanked God for His work in the Corinthian believers' live.
- He did it continually and deliberately.
- He thanked God for His grace through Christ Jesus.
The Corinthian believers were enriched in everything by Christ Jesus.
- They were enriched with a great capacity to know the things of God.
- They were enriched with a great ability to share the things of God.
The gospel of Christ was confirmed and established among them.
They were blessed with spiritual gifts.
They would eagerly persevere to the end.
They would be assured of their safety in Christ.
They would be blameless to the end.

We must take time and effort to affirm and encourage fellow Christian believers.

We must also thank God for what He is doing through them.

The Light of Life

2013-09-01T18:34:00.000+08:00

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." (John 8:12)

Light is God's first gift to His creation. The earth depends on light for its survival. Plants, animals, humans all need light and sunshine. Light gives us life, warmth, and a whole spectrum of colors to appreciate.

The light of life was taken away when Adam sinned. When man fell into sin, darkness of eternal death loomed over us. We were banished From God's Presence and separated from all that is good.

Jesus is the light that entered the world. The Gospel light has penetrated and dispelled the darkness of sin and evil. The night of unbelief has vanished before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. Life has triumph over death. The heart of Jesus lives in the hearts of all!

Jesus’ followers have the light of life. They trust God in the brightness of the light, and they overcome darkness of sin and evil through God's grace. Jesus Christ is the Light that will lead His people to eternal life!