July 7, 2010
My Heart is Steadfast (Ps 108:1-13)
This unique psalm combines the positive endings of Ps 57 and Ps 60 to give us a new psalm divorced from the circumstances that began those two psalms so that we have a psalm of faith for launching into any venture for the Lord. We trust in our great God in spite of our own failure and weakness and trust in Him to help us through to the end.
July 11, 2010
Do you know you died to sin? (Rm 6:3-4)
The foundation of sanctification is the doctrine of Christ acting as your representative so that we died to sin with him on the cross. Understanding the identification of ourselves with Christ in baptism helps us to understand not only that we died with Christ but also that we are raised with him so that we might experience the newness of resurrection life right now.
The Christian in the World (4)
Having defined the terms ‘godliness’, ‘worldly’, and ‘worldliness’, we now go on a survey that looks at what the Bible says about the Christian’s relationship to the world.
A Bishop kept from the Devil (1 Tim 3:6-7)
We conclude our look at the pastor’s qualifications by discussing the last two on the list. In each of these there is a special danger of being affected by the devil. The church and pastor must be on guard that these traps can be avoided and the ministry in the local church may be pursued according to God’s will.
July 14, 2010
O God do not be Silent (Ps 109:1-31)
This psalm is one of the most bracing of the imprecatory psalms. In fact, it almost offends our Christian conscience. However, if we understand its prophetic significance, we come to realize that it reveals God’s heart towards the traitor Judas who threw away his birthright, so to speak, for thirty pieces of silver. The psalm displays the proper attitude of the Lord’s Anointed against the spirit of Antichrist that motivated Judas and will fill the man of sin in the last days.
July 18, 2010
Baptism is for Believers (Rm 6:3-4)
Baptism is the illustration Paul uses to help us understand the foundation of our sanctification, our identification with Christ in his death. As such, we can learn something of the requirements for proper Christian baptism: immersion in water as an initiatory rite for people who have consciously believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as saviour from sin.
Godliness Revisited (1 Tim 6:3-11)
We look at a passage (1 Tim 6.3-11) that clarifies the meaning of godliness as emphasizing a visible external kind of way of life. Such a life can be counterfeited to a point, but the devoted disciple is committed to a pursuit of godliness, with contentment, from the heart.
Deacons Likewise (1 Tim 3:8-10)
Today we consider the basic qualities required of deacons and challenge our peolpe to be in pursuit of these qualities in their own spiritual lives.
July 21, 2010
The Oracle to My Lord (1) (Ps 110:1-3)
Psalm 110 provides the foundation for much of the doctrine of Christ in the New Testament. It is the most quoted psalm by the NT. As we look at its first three verses, we see the tremendous truths of our Lord as the exalted King, waiting at the right hand of God until the time appointed when all his people will rise as one man behind him and attend his glorious return to the earth.
July 25, 2010
The Power in the Resurrection (Rm 6:4)
We look at one phrase in Rm 6.4 in this message, ‘raised … through the glory of the Father’. We find that just as Christ was raised by the Father’s glory, so to are we raised in our new spiritual lives to the newness of life found in Christ. By God’s glory we are indeed made able to live the Christian life. It is important for us to know this in order to have the victorious Christian life we desire.
Set Your Affections Above (Col 2:20-3:17)
We are getting to the end of our study and are wanting to direct our minds away from worldliness to a true godliness from the heart. In doing so we are looking at Col 2.20-3.17. The passage first of all addresses the idea that trying to achieve godliness by rigorous external religious practices, we will fail to deal with the heart issues. That kind of religion is a kind of worldliness because it is exactly the same as the practices of pagans which has a show of wisdom, but is of no value in overcoming the flesh.
The Women must be Likewise (1 Tim 3:11)
In this message we look at a verse that is somewhat controversial in today’s society and is also somewhat ambiguous and hard to interpret. The question is whether Paul is addressing the wives of deacons or the office of deaconess. Or is something else in view? We attempt an answer and insist that there is no third office of deaconess in the church. We also point to the need for women in spiritual leadership in the church to be spiritually minded people from the qualifications given in this list.
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