"And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." (Jn. 1:5)"The light shines" is in simple present tense; the darkness did not comprehend it is in past tense (in Greek, aorist). This is a testimony about Jesus Christ. 1. It points to the eternality of Christ, the light, who always shines, has always shone, and will always shine. There is no shadow of turning in Him. Yesterday and tomorrow are as today for Him. Therefore, His voice through the Spirit is always in the today. 2. It points to the defeat point of darkness...
Glory of the Son in Us
Christ is the brightness of God's glory (Heb. 1:3). God's glory is incomparable with anything in creation. "...the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory." (1Cor. 15:39)Christ's glory far exceeds anything in creation. That Infinitely glorious one emptied Himself of holding on to that glorious form alone and took the form of man 2000 years ago. "Though he was God, he...
Imprisonment and the Law of Moses
The Romans were the first who used imprisonment as a form of punishment, rather than mere detention. The Law of Moses didn't prescribe jailing as a form of punishment. The Cities of Refuge were places of protection for those who accidentally killed someone. OT Law was based on the "tooth for tooth" principle of justice (not the "stone for brick" one). The closest form of imprisonment (when fines or debt became unpayable) was slavery. But, it had the limit of 6 years; the slave had be set free in the 7th year and also given means of survival. The...
Spirit-filled Preaching
The No.1 qualification of being a Spirit-filled Preacher is not to have a degree from a "great" University or have the recognition of a "great" movement; but, it is to be Spirit-filled and totally in tune with the work of the Holy Spirit in the world today.SPIRIT-FILLED PREACHING1. Convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment"And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." (Joh 16:8 NKJ)Spirit-filled preaching will not speak about grace without first convicting the world...
Praying for Good Things
"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (Matt. 7:11)Good Things.. 1. Are not things of lust/covetousnessJames 4:3 - evil desire. Therefore, they ask but don't receive . Israel lusted after evil things 2Cor. 10:62. Are not things of compromise Num. 22:12,19- Balaam wanted to go, though God forbade. He began double checking to see if God would change mind. Jude 1:113. Are not things of despair, anger, and frustration 1Kgs.19:4-5...
Examples of Biblical Propositions or Implications That Challenge Science
1. God created the world out of nothing. This contradicts the scientific assumptions that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, and that something cannot come out of nothing. The Bible is unique in its proclamation of creatio ex nihilo. Even quantum physics based theories of the universe presuppose something preexisting, at least the quantum laws. The biblical doctrine sets apart God as transcendent, infinite, immutable, and one. 2. The material world is not the only reality. While certain psychical societies have been investigating...
Dr. Kurien Thomas: God's Trailblazer in India and Around the World
DR. KURIEN THOMAS (1922-2000) was a pioneer of the Pentecostal movement in central India. He came to Itarsi, the heart of India, in 1945 and laid the foundation of the Pentecostal Church there. In 1962, he began the Bharosa Bible School which grew on to be known today as Central India Theological Seminary. In 1967, he became the first Chairman of the Fellowship of the Pentecostal Churches in India. Dr. Thomas was a prolific writer in Hindi, English,...
The Pauline Method of Doing Missions - Oswald J Smith
Oswald J. Smith, The Challenge of Missions, pp.63,64In Acts 19:8-10, 18-20, we have a marvelous example of the Pauline method. In two short years, we are told, all those in Asia heard the Gospel. Asia covered a territory of approximately 50,000 square miles. There was a mighty revival. Books belonging to various false cults were burned publicly. The upheaval was so great that books costing thousands of dollars were burned.How did it happen? Paul...
When Silence Seals
When silence seals the lips of friends, You let me know You are here; When cold confusion darkness tends, You shine Your light over here. When dull seems destiny, far unseen, You still keep walking, closely by.When friends fear failure will strike my knees, You stand to hold and lift me high....
Mission, Missions, and Missional
Whenever a new word enters the market, there are many who wish to grab it and use it to express or verbalize concepts that occur to them. However, it is important to avoid sporadic use of expressions without understanding them in their original usage. It can lead to confusion of language. Two terms that are becoming more popularly used, in addition to "mission", are "missions" and "missional", and they require proper definition. Let's look at some popular definitions of these terms:Christopher J.H. Wright, The Mission of God's People--Mission is...
Respect for All Religions
For peace and harmony to exist in any pluralistic society, it is important to have respect for all religions. Those who wish to be respected must also show the same respect for others. In the past, religion has acted as a great dividing line and has spurred and continues to provoke among some incidents of violence and hatred. We must learn to respect other religions, but what does this respect involve? 1. It means to respect fellow humans as humans, first of all, as our neighbors. It means to show ourselves as good neighbors to them. 2. It means...
God's Faithfulness Gives Me Confidence - Dr. Matthew K. Thomas
Remember God is faithful. In the midst of difficulty, acknowledge God is faithful. The faithfulness of God gives us courage, comfort, confidence. 1. Faithfulness is an Attribute of God. God is absolutely reliable, absolutely trustworthy, absolutely steadfast, absolutely constant. Faithfulness of God speaks of the stability of God in a changing world. What was once considered sin is now considered a weakness. Values are changing. But, we have a changeless Christ who is faithful. 1Cor. 1:9 - God is faithful.Psa. 36:5 - Your faithfulness reaches unto...
The Immutability of Divine Faithfulness - Dr. Matthew K. Thomas
God's faithfulness must be seen in perspective of 5 attributes of God:1. Omniscience - He knows everything2. Omnipotence- He can do everything3. Omnipresence - He is within our reach4. Truthfulness- He cannot lie5. Immutability - He cannot change. An understanding of these attributes gives us Courage, Confidence, and Comfort in times of trial.Divine Immutability1. God's Character never changes (James 1:17; Mal.3:6)2. God's Truth never changes (Isa.40:8; Matt.24:35)3. God's Purposes never change (Psa.33:11)4. God's Love never changes (Psa.100:5)5....
The Paradox of Divine Faithfulness - Part 3 - Divine Immutability in Justice, Mercy, and Grace
"And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent (nacham). For He is not a man, that He should relent (nacham)." (1Sam.15:29)…the LORD regretted (nacham) that He had made Saul king over Israel. (1Sam.15:35)There seems to be an apparent contradiction between the above two passages: the first tells us that God never regrets; the second, that He did. This again seems to conflict with the idea of immutability or the unchangeableness of God.…the...
The Paradox of Divine Faithfulness - Part 2 - In The Hour of Trial
Paradox: a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement which, when investigated or explained, may prove to be well-founded or true.For instance: Scientists say that Light is a wave, and then also say that Light is a particle. Now, something cannot be both a particle and a wave at the same time. Thus, when you look for light as looking for a wave, light appears to behave like wave, and when you look for it as a particle, it appears to behave...
The Paradox of Divine Faithfulness - Part 1: Infinity At A Cost
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1Jo 1:9 NKJ)The universe is not a free lunch. Nothing is free under the sun though some may think it is or wish it is. And if we see or receive something that is free, it is because somebody had paid for it.Somebody has got to pay anyway.-In any act of charity, the giver incurs the expense-In any forgiving of debts, the creditor has...
What Did Jesus Mean When He Said His Time Had Not Yet Come?
In John 2:4, when the mother of Jesus shares with Him her concern that the hosts at Cana had run out of the wedding wine, Jesus replies to her that His time had not yet come. But, then He goes ahead and turns water into wine. So, why did He say that His time had not yet come? What did He mean by it?Again in John 7:6, when His unbelieving brothers suggest to Him to go to Jerusalem and show His works there so that people could see and believe, He answers...
Does Perfectionism Help?
Nothing better answers this question than the ancient adage:[Imagine a rider fall off a horse that stumbles because it loses its shoe]For want of a nail the shoe was lost.For want of a shoe the horse was lost.For want of a horse the rider was lost.For want of a rider the message was lost.For want of a message the battle was lost.For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.The moral is evident: Never undermine...
Two Faces of Anger
In the greatness of your majesty you threw down those who opposed you. You unleashed your burning anger; it consumed them like stubble. (Exod 15:7)The Bible differentiates between two kinds of anger: one that has a diabolical, evil, and ugly face; and the other that has a holy, righteous, and majestic face.Ugly anger is based on selfishness, lust, and pride.Majestic anger is based on love, purity, and truth.Ugly anger works evil.Righteous anger works good.Ugly anger is impatient and destructive.Holy anger is patient and constructive.Ugly anger...
Say the Words...
Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs." (Jn.21:15)Even Jesus asked Peter to verbalize his love for Him. Certainly, if Peter had at sometime denied Jesus saying "I do not know Him", it was more important to confess now his deep love for the Master. Does God need to hear an "I love you" from us? I strongly believe, yes. Not because He is in need of love as such, but because at the essence of relationship lies communication,...
The Power of Godly Fear (Hebrews)
1. Christ was Heard Because of His Godly Fear (Heb.5:7)Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear (Heb.5:7)2. Noah was Moved by His Godly Fear (Heb.11:7)By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. (Heb.11:7)3....
10 Truths About Godliness in 1 Timothy
GODLINESS means devotion to God, reverential fear of God, a life that prioritizes God and His preferential will above all things, commitment to the plan and purpose of God, a life that is in tune with heaven.1. Godliness is the lifestyle God desires us to live on earth (1Tim.2:2)I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.2. Godliness is coupled with Honesty...
When God Asks for A Favor
A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." (Joh 4:7)~This is not the first time when God asks someone for a favor, but actually intends to do great things for that person. We know the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. Elijah asked this widow, who was hoping to only die, to bring him some water in a vessel, and then called out to also bring him something to eat (1Kgs.17:9-11). The widow felt this to be too demanding, but only later realized that she had been chosen by God to be saved in the serving of...
Three H's of Marriage from Hebrews 13:4
"Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge." (Heb 13:4)1. Marriage is Honourable. Not something to be ashamed of, not a sin, but considered honorable by God.2. Marriage is Holy. Bed must be undefiled. Marriage is a sacred and holy relationship between a woman and a man. It must not be violated in any way.3. Marriage is Heavenly. Whom God joins, let no man put asunder. God is the Judge who is Lord over the marital covenant. He will judge adulterers and whoremongers; those who are...
Problems With the Doctrine of Unconditional "Eternal Security"
The Doctrine of “Eternal Security” teaches that a person who has come to a salvific knowledge of Jesus Christ will never turn away from Christ and “lose” his salvation. The doctrine violates several scriptural assumptions and assumes, among many things, that God is ultimately responsible for evil in the world. Contrary to that position, we maintain that a person who has come to know Christ can depart away from faith in Him and lose the privilege of salvation. While the controversy is a large one (with roots dating back to the Augustinian-Pelagian...
