There is no spectacle in all the Bible so sublime as the silent Saviour answering not a word to the men who were maligning Him, and whom He could have laid prostrate at His feet by one look of divine power, or one word of fiery rebuke. But He let them say and do their worst, and He stood in the 'power of stillness' - God's holy silent Lamb.
There is a stillness that lets God work for us, and holds our peace; the stillness that ceases from its contriving and its self-vindication, and its expedients of wisdom and forethought, and lets God provide and answer the cruel blow, in His own unfailing, faithful love.
How often we lose God's interposition by taking up our own cause, and striking for our defence. God give to us this silent power, this conquered spirit! And after the heat and strife of earth are over, men will remember us as we remember the morning dew, the gentle light and sunshine, the evening breeze, the Lamb of Calvary, and the gentle, holy, heavenly Dove.
A.B. Simpson
Sunday, January 30, 2005
Saturday, January 29, 2005
Rest in the Lord
Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.
He is the God of the open door.
He is the God of the gentle breeze
that blows you into a haven of rest.
He is the God who holds you with His righteous right hand.
He will never fail you or forsake you.
He will lead you by the still waters.
He will feed you in green pastures.
He is the Shepherd who cares for His sheep.
He will fight your battles for you.
He will fulfil the desires of your heart.
Keep trusting in Him.
Delight in Him.
Worship Him,
Our El-Shaddai God.
He is the God of the open door.
He is the God of the gentle breeze
that blows you into a haven of rest.
He is the God who holds you with His righteous right hand.
He will never fail you or forsake you.
He will lead you by the still waters.
He will feed you in green pastures.
He is the Shepherd who cares for His sheep.
He will fight your battles for you.
He will fulfil the desires of your heart.
Keep trusting in Him.
Delight in Him.
Worship Him,
Our El-Shaddai God.
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Mark 2 - The Paralytic Man
What does this story teach us?
2.1 Jesus was in the house. Whose house? Was it Peter's house? Jesus was residing in Capernaum.
2.2 We notice that He preached the word to them. Our Lord always gave priority to the word of God.
2.2 It was a good crowd. They gathered to hear the word. [Today you would find huge crowds gathered not to hear the word, but to see miracles. And signs and wonders.]
2.3 The paralytic was carried by four men; in toto they were five. Five, in the Bible, speaks of grace.
2.4 They uncovered the roof. They must have done it very carefully, because Jesus was standing right down below them in that room. It must have taken much time, because they had to make a hole large enough to let down the bed [pallet] in which the paralytic lay. [The owner of the house allowed them to make a hole in the roof and did not protest, considering the plight of the paralytic man.]
2.5 Jesus saw their faith. Not just the faith of the four men, but the faith of all five. It was a group effort.
2.5 Jesus gave priority to the spiritual condition of man. 'Son, your sins are forgiven you.' Perhaps, He knew what was going on in the man's heart. The man longed for spiritual healing, while his friends might have sought a physical cure. Our Lord met the primary need of the heart. He went to the root of the matter. There is nothing greater than the forgiveness of sins. That is the first and foremost aspect of redemption, Eph 1.7
2.6,7 The scribes were sitting there. They were reasoning in their hearts. They had Bible knowledge; they knew the Scriptures. No one can forgive sins, but God alone. How can this man utter such words? He is blaspheming God. This is what they reasoned in their minds.
2.8 Jesus perceived in his spirit. Jesus lived by the Spirit. He was led by the Spirit. He asked, 'Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?
2.9 'You might be thinking that it is easy to say, Your sins are forgiven. You might think it is impossible to heal this man physically. You want a sign? I will give you a sign. I am the Redeemer, not only of the spirit, but also of the body.' God of our spirits is God of our bodies also.
2.10 Those are words of authority. He said, Arise. Take up your bed. Go to your house.
2.11 The man arose, took up his bed, and went out. He didn't stay; he left for home. So that his own people could witness the dramatic change that had taken place in him. With what joy he went out! He went out praising God!
Three times we notice the word 'immediately'. The Lord is seen as a Man of action, the One who responds immediately to our needs. He forgives our sins; He heals our bodies also. He is the God of spirit, soul and body. The God of our salvation.
[This has to be further updated. As we keep meditating on God's Word and preaching it, God reveals further light on the subject. September 2005.]
2.1 Jesus was in the house. Whose house? Was it Peter's house? Jesus was residing in Capernaum.
2.2 We notice that He preached the word to them. Our Lord always gave priority to the word of God.
2.2 It was a good crowd. They gathered to hear the word. [Today you would find huge crowds gathered not to hear the word, but to see miracles. And signs and wonders.]
2.3 The paralytic was carried by four men; in toto they were five. Five, in the Bible, speaks of grace.
2.4 They uncovered the roof. They must have done it very carefully, because Jesus was standing right down below them in that room. It must have taken much time, because they had to make a hole large enough to let down the bed [pallet] in which the paralytic lay. [The owner of the house allowed them to make a hole in the roof and did not protest, considering the plight of the paralytic man.]
2.5 Jesus saw their faith. Not just the faith of the four men, but the faith of all five. It was a group effort.
2.5 Jesus gave priority to the spiritual condition of man. 'Son, your sins are forgiven you.' Perhaps, He knew what was going on in the man's heart. The man longed for spiritual healing, while his friends might have sought a physical cure. Our Lord met the primary need of the heart. He went to the root of the matter. There is nothing greater than the forgiveness of sins. That is the first and foremost aspect of redemption, Eph 1.7
2.6,7 The scribes were sitting there. They were reasoning in their hearts. They had Bible knowledge; they knew the Scriptures. No one can forgive sins, but God alone. How can this man utter such words? He is blaspheming God. This is what they reasoned in their minds.
2.8 Jesus perceived in his spirit. Jesus lived by the Spirit. He was led by the Spirit. He asked, 'Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?
2.9 'You might be thinking that it is easy to say, Your sins are forgiven. You might think it is impossible to heal this man physically. You want a sign? I will give you a sign. I am the Redeemer, not only of the spirit, but also of the body.' God of our spirits is God of our bodies also.
2.10 Those are words of authority. He said, Arise. Take up your bed. Go to your house.
2.11 The man arose, took up his bed, and went out. He didn't stay; he left for home. So that his own people could witness the dramatic change that had taken place in him. With what joy he went out! He went out praising God!
Three times we notice the word 'immediately'. The Lord is seen as a Man of action, the One who responds immediately to our needs. He forgives our sins; He heals our bodies also. He is the God of spirit, soul and body. The God of our salvation.
[This has to be further updated. As we keep meditating on God's Word and preaching it, God reveals further light on the subject. September 2005.]
Four Beatitudes
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, not the proud.
Blessed are those who are truly humble,
Who have no inflated opinion of themselves,
Who realise that they are nothing but empty vessels
To be filled by the Spirit of God.
Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are those who mourn
Over the wickedness of this world,
A world without God;
Where sin ripens into rottenness,
And the spirit yearns for God.
Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
Yes, blessed are those who are broken
In the hands of the Lord,
Chastened by the Father,
Disciplined by an inward cross.
Only such will enter the kingdom of God.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
How we long for the return of the Lord!
Evil is rampant, lies abound.
Oh, that we might be purified by the fire of God!
Lord, give us a hunger for truth,
And fill us with heavenly love.
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, not the proud.
Blessed are those who are truly humble,
Who have no inflated opinion of themselves,
Who realise that they are nothing but empty vessels
To be filled by the Spirit of God.
Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are those who mourn
Over the wickedness of this world,
A world without God;
Where sin ripens into rottenness,
And the spirit yearns for God.
Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
Yes, blessed are those who are broken
In the hands of the Lord,
Chastened by the Father,
Disciplined by an inward cross.
Only such will enter the kingdom of God.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
How we long for the return of the Lord!
Evil is rampant, lies abound.
Oh, that we might be purified by the fire of God!
Lord, give us a hunger for truth,
And fill us with heavenly love.
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