From the streets of Bangkok… (Travel Blog Oct 8-12,2019)
God loves you!
God loves you!
John 3:16-17 (NKJV)For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us
Romans 10:9 (NIV)If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the [remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 16:31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.
Prayer to receive Jesus in your heart:
Dear God, thank You for your love for me and for sending Jesus. Thank you, Lord Jesus for dying on the cross for my sin. I believe that God raised you up from the dead. Please forgive my sins. I open my heart, may you come in and be the Lord of my life. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.
If you pray the prayer above, you are now a child of God and forgiven because of Jesus Christ! What to do next?
- Read the Bible every day.
- Look for a good Bible believing Christian church.
- Pray to Jesus always.
God loves you!
God loves you!
John 3:16-17 (NKJV)For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us
Romans 10:9 (NIV)If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the [remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 16:31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.
Prayer to receive Jesus in your heart:
Dear God, thank You for your love for me and for sending Jesus. Thank you, Lord Jesus for dying on the cross for my sin. I believe that God raised you up from the dead. Please forgive my sins. I open my heart, may you come in and be the Lord of my life. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.
If you pray the prayer above, you are now a child of God and forgiven because of Jesus Christ! What to do next?
- Read the Bible every day.
- Look for a good Bible believing Christian church.
- Pray to Jesus always.
Bible gateway.com
Study guide -Letter to the Philippians.
The past few weeks, David started a Bible study on the Epistle of Philippians (New Testament) in our church on Wednesday evenings.
Here is the note for the introduction for the lesson: (Please see attachments for the study guides for each chapter in PDF).
Philippians
- Author: The Apostle Paul
- Setting: Written from a prison in Rome, around 60-62 A.D.
- Occasion: Paul was in prison in Rome… about ten years after he had founded the Church in Philippi, and about 3-4 years after he had last visited there. Apparently (4: 10), he had begun to wonder if they had forgotten him. Then Epaphroditus arrived from far away Philippi with an offering of money. Paul was deeply touched. Epaphroditus had nearly lost his life in the journey. Paul sent him to Philippi with this beautiful letter to express his thanks for their gift.
- Key Text: Philippians 3:10 “My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.”
- Key Term: “Joy.” Forms of the word “joy” and the verb “rejoice” occur 16 times in this short letter. Philippians is the biblical book that most extensively defines and describes joy.
- One-Sentence Summary: Knowing Jesus Christ is much more joyful and important than anything else because God has exalted Jesus, the crucified Servant, with the name above every name.
- History:
- Named for Philip Il of Macedon (father of Alexander the Great).
- In Paul’s day, it was a Roman colony located at the southeast corner of Europe in “Macedonia” in Biblical days; now in the northeastern part of modern-day Greece.
- It was a strategic city on the Great Northern Highway between the East and the West, noted for its gold mines.
- This was Paul’s first European Church, founded around 51 A.D. in the early part of Paul’s second missionary journey. Lydia and the Jailer were among the first converts. Luke, the beloved Physician, was its pastor the first 6 years. It may have been Luke’s home, where he practiced medicine. Luke must have had a hand in the development of the unspotted character of the Church. As far as we know, the Philippian Church was one of the purest of New Testament Churches. For more on the background of the founding of the Church at Philippi, see Acts 16:6-40.
- Read Acts 16:6-40 and look at its location on the map.
- Look at the ancient Philippi archaeological book.
Sources:
- The Jeremiah Study Bible” by Dr. David Jeremiah
- “Halley’s Bible Handbook” by H.H. Halley
- “Ultimate Bible Guide: A Complete Walk-Through of All 66 Books of the Bible” from Holman Reference
Attached study guides for Philippians 1, 2, 3 & 4
Jesus does not judge you!
Jesus does not judge you!
Reading: John 3:17-21
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” V.17 (NKJV)
// Romans 8:1, Luke 9:56, John 5:24; John 6:47
The people of Israel for many generations and for thousands of years were powerless to live godly lives in their own strength. God gave them the law through Moses so they could live a blessed life. But time and time again, the people of Israel failed to obey the commandments and the Word of God. God knew that His people were finite beings. Only an almighty and powerful God could save His people. So, Jesus was sent to the world, not to give His people the punishment they deserved, but to offer them mercy and forgiveness.
God the Father sent Jesus Christ to the world not to judge or condemn us, but to save us. God loves the world. God loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ – not to punish us for our sins, but to save us and to redeem us from the bondage of sin. Jesus was willing to obey His heavenly Father because He and the Father loved us, the people of the world. They knew there is no way for us to save ourselves from sin.
Reflection:
When Jesus came to save the people of Israel from sin and eternal condemnation, He did it not only for them, but for every one of us in this world. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved (v.17). The world includes all the people of the world – every person in every nation. That includes you and me. Jesus came not to judge us, but to save us, because God loves us.
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I praise You and thank You for Your love. I thank You that You don’t judge me for my sin, but You have saved me. And because of Your tender mercy, I receive Your eternal life.
MVC/DC 09.13.2019, AL.
Jesus has overcome!
Title : Jesus has overcome!
Reading: John 16:25-33 // Romans 8:37
v.33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Jesus was encouraging His disciples on the night of their last meal together before His death on the cross. Jesus loved them and wanted to prepare them for what was ahead when He no longer would be physically with them.
“Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his [e]own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me” v.32
Jesus knew that even though His disciples loved Him and were committed to follow Him, yet there would be times of weakness when they might turn away. However, the love of Jesus still held them. Jesus foreknew His disciples would abandon Him in a moment of weakness, but Jesus still loved them and did not condemn them. He spoke words of encouragement to them.
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you [f]will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” V.33
Jesus already knew that times of hardship, persecution, and tribulations were coming. But He told them, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”. It is a comfort to know that Jesus has already won the battle. As Jesus encouraged His disciples then, He gives the same encouragement to His followers now. As we see distress, persecution, trials and difficulties in this world because of the enemy and the evil one, it is a comfort to know the words of Jesus, that He has already overcome. Jesus has already won the battle. His plan of salvation and victory for the souls of men was already accomplished and finished at the cross.
Through His death on the cross, we His followers receive the gift of eternal life. In His resurrection, we have overcome the evil one. As the Apostle Paul wrote,
“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37)
The love of Christ has prevailed and won the battle against the evil one.
Reflection:
Jesus already knew that His followers would suffer trials, challenges, and tribulation. However, as His follower, it is a comfort and encouragement to know that Jesus has already overcome the world. His death and resurrection have already won the battle. Whatever difficulties we face now, Jesus has already overcome!
Prayer:
Thank You Lord Jesus for your Word. Whatever challenges I go through, and whatever distress I see in the world, You have already overcome!
The Power of Jesus’s words! ( Your Son lives!)
The Power of Jesus’s words! ( Your Son lives!)
Reading: John 4:46-54
Key verse: v.53 Jesus said to him,” Your son lives!”
Photo by Nicole Honeywill on Unsplash
Jesus was back in Cana of Galilee. It was the same place where Jesus turned water into wine during a wedding feast (John 2:1). A certain royal official in Capernaum had heard about Jesus. The son of the official was very ill. When the man heard that Jesus could heal sick people, he came to Cana to ask Jesus for his son’s healing. He wanted to invite Jesus to come to his house and heal his son. “Sir, come down before my child dies”.
Jesus replied to the official, “Go your way, your son lives!” (v. 49) So, the man believed what Jesus told him and went his way. On his way back home, his servant met him and told him that his son was already healed. (v.52). The official found out that his son was healed at the very hour Jesus told him. So, the man knew that it was the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”, and he himself believed, and his whole household.
Jesus spoke and told the royal official of Capernaum, “Go your way, your son lives”. The man believed what Jesus said and declared. The man had the faith to trust Jesus and His words. The man had heard of Jesus – His teachings, miracles and kind deeds. In his hour of need, he wanted to know for himself who Jesus truly was. So, he took the initiative and steps of faith to come to Jesus. The royal official laid aside his royalty pride, as he was desperate to see his son healed and live. So, he made his way to come to Jesus, and boldly asked Jesus to come to his place to heal his son. However, Jesus did not waste time to travel to the man’s house, instead Jesus spoke and declared healing to the man’s son. Jesus could have gone with the man to his house, but it would have taken several hours to travel from Galilee to Capernaum. Jesus knew the boy was very ill, at the point of death. And the child was healed at the very hour Jesus said so. Because Jesus had the power to heal, and His words are powerful too! What He said came to pass. As the words in Psalm 33:9 say, “For He spoke, and it was done”. Jesus and His words are powerful. As the royal official believed what Jesus told him, Jesus fulfilled His words.
Reflection:
Jesus and His spoken words have power to accomplish what He said He will do. As I trust and believe Him and His words, He will do what He said He would do.
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank You and praise You, for Your words are true! Please help me trust You and Your words. I believe what You said You will do. Lord You are faithful and powerful to do what You say You will do. Amen!
Travel Blog- Asia part2
Travel Blog- Asia part 2.
“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.” John 10:14-16
It’s been a week since we got back from our recent trip to Asia. Why we do what we do? Our travels are not just leisure travel. It is travel with a cause. As we serve with FEBC, our mission is to bring “Christ to the World by Media”. Our desire is for many to hear the Good News of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, and for many to know that there is a God in heaven who loves people of all races and nationalities. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd…I lay down my lie for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear my voice…” It is the desire of the Lord Jesus to bring many into His kingdom and to know the love of God. So, our ministry is to serve and provide technical support to our fields so that they can broadcast the Gospel in their heart language. It’s our prayer that many more will come to know the love of God in Jesus. We thank and praise the Lord for His grace and for those who pray and support us. Here are highlights from our recent trip to Asia.
David in Jakarta, with FEBC Indonesia (June 21- July 1st, 2019)
Vicki in FEBC Thailand (June 15-July 1st, 2019)
Together back in Singapore -July 2nd, 2019
The Creels' Catch 