Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce: 2017

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Christmas Message: Messiah Ministry Awareness by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Dear friends, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2018!

Today, we rejoice in the Lord, “for unto us a child is born, a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom. Establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.”(Isa.9:6-7).

When Ahaz feared and doubted God to ask for a sign, the Prophet Isaiah strengthened him and answered Ahaz, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isa.7:13). This sign was fulfilled and narrated in the book of Luke 2: 28-35 and the book of Matthew 1:18-23. And the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows,

When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her, desired to put her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying. “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.” Now all this took place that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated mean, “God with us.”

In the book of Luke narrated as follows,

The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you…Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David…the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, so the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. (Luke1:28-35).

The time of Isaiah prophesied and narrated around 740-680 B.C. in the Old Testament. And the gospel of Matthew has been dated sometimes in the 80s to 90s, but some scholars think it was written in 60s[1] in the New Testament. And Luke’s gospel was probably written about A.D.60.[2] Apostle Paul had seen Jesus and had heard the voice of Jesus in person after Jesus rose from death. He affirmed Jesus is Christ Messiah and emphasis on the Lord is the Spirit. In Jesus’ time, Apostle Paul faced many critical Jews who didn’t believe Jesus is Son of God. When Apostle Paul faced environmental disagreement, conflicts and challenged his apostolic authority. His followers needed encouragement, so do the disciples in this generation. Apostle Paul defended his ministry and apostolic authority in the book of 2 Corinthians, he reminded the believers of their commitment to the offering for the Christians in Judea. He urged them few factors to restore their hope, and faith in Jesus Christ. Apostle Paul defended of his ministry as follows,

1).The ministry wasn’t written with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts. (2Cor.3:3).

2). He did not peddle the word of God for profit, he speak sincerity as man sent from God. (2Cor.2:17).

3).The competence of his ministry comes from God alone as minister of a new covenant not of the letter, but the spirit. (2Cor.3:6).

4).The ministry triumphal precession in Christ through spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ. (2Cor.14-15)

To encourage his followers in Macedonia, Apostle Paul urged them as follows,

1). Be aware of Satan’s schemes and do their best to forgive anyone so that Satan might not outwit them. (2Cor.2:11).

2). To God, they are the aroma of Christ among those who are saved. (3:15).

3). Do not lose heart, for they have treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God.

4). They need to gaze the light of God, let light shine out of darkness, and made his light shine in their hearts to give them the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (4:6).

5). They need to fix their eyes on what is unseen, what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.(4:18).

6). They need to set their mind in Spirit, for the Lord is the Spirit and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (3:17)

My friends, in this season, to defend Son of God, Jesus, is our new born King, you are not alone to be challenged. But, we take comfort by the historical truth, which was affirmed by prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, twelve disciples of Jesus and Apostle Paul (the Hebrew of Hebrews) even defended Jesus is Son of God that the virgin Mary was conceived by the Holy Spirit, the Lord is Spirit and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (3:17).

Video Website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ5zZVXU-AI&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ5zZVXU-AI&feature=youtu.be

listen to the message at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ5zZVXU-AI

Bibliography,

Bauer, Walter. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3^rd Chicago: The University of Chicago press, 2000.

Brown, Robert, Philip W. Comfort and J.D. Douglas, ed. The New Greek English Interlinear New Testament. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.1990.

Friberg, Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.1^st ed. Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005.

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Lucado, Max. God is with you every day. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2015

Myers, Roth. 31 days of praise. Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah Books, 1994.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.

Strong, James. Strong’s: the expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2010.

[1] Charles C. Ryrie, the Ryrie study Bible (NIV). (Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986),1313.

[2] Ibid., 1399.

Friday, November 3, 2017

Thanksgiving message:Sing to the Lord a jubilant song by Rev. Katherin...

Weekly message: Sing to the Lord a jubilant song

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts &Gospel Music

My friends, thanksgiving season is approaching, do you have a new song in your heart to praise Lord for he had done the marvelous things in your life? Facing nature disaster do you use your lips give thanks for the life prolonging and protection by the grace of God? In O.T. there were many Psalmists made new songs with music, harp, and trumpet to praise Lord and gave Him thanks for his wonderful deeds and marvelous things the Lord has done. In Psalm 75:1 says,“We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near, men tell of your wonderful deeds.”(Ps.75:1)

In Psalm98:1-2, 4-6 says,“Sing to the Lord a new song for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lore has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nation. Shout for joy to the Lord all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music. Make music to the Lord with the harp and with trumpets. Shout for joy before the Lord, the King. (Ps.98:1-2,4-6). In Pslam96:1-3 says,“Sing the Lord a new song, sing to the Lord all the earth sing to the Lord, praise his name, and proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among the people.” (Ps.96:1-3).In Pslam97:1, 12 says, “The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad let the distant shores rejoice. Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous and praise his holy name.” (Ps.97:1,12). In Psalm 99: 1-3 says, "The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble, he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake, great is the Lord in Zion, he is exalted over all the nations. Let them praise your great and awesome name- He is holy.” In Ps.100:1-5 says “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he, who made us, and we are his, we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise, give thanks to him and praise his name, for the Lord is good and his love endures forever, his faithfulness continues through all generation. (Ps.100:1-5)

The Psalmist commanded us to praise the Lord seven times a day. My friends, do you use your lips to praise Lord and give thanks to him? In O.T. the Prophet Isaiah is a man with unclean lips; he described himself as follow,

“I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” Then, one of seraphs flew to him with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched Isaiah’s mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips, your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”(Isaiah6:5-7). The Lord touched and cleaned Isaiah’s lips, and his sins were atoned; God unveiled His vision to Isaiah, and questioned “Whom shall I send? Who will go for me? Isaiah answered God’s calling to be sent out as prophet. During the fulfillment of delivering prophetical message of Israel future blessing, Isaiah composed a hymn of praise to the Lord in anticipation of the Millennium in Isaiah 12: 1-6, He sang out, “I will praise you, O Lord, although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song, he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say: give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted, sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things, let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.” (Isaiah12:1-6).

Isaiah’s unclean lips was not only atoned by the Lord, The Lord also revealed the highest vision to him and used him as prophet to deliver the prophetical message concerning the Israel’s future coming Messiah Christ. This prophetical message especially in Isa.7:14 said, “therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” had fulfilled and narrated in the N.T. Luke 1:28-38. “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”(Philippians 2:9). The Lord delights our lips to praise Him, honor Him, glorify Him, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. For He is the Lamb of God, He was slain and with his blood he purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. (Rev.5:9). Apostle John received the vision in the book of Revelation, which has affirmed the prophet Isaiah’s vision, and foretold the Messiah Christ Jesus’ second coming. The angels, thousands upon thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand, and living creatures, angelical elders, every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them singing, “ Worthy is the Lamb , who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise! To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever!” (Rev.5:12-13).

The entire Bible from the O.T. to N.T. Book of Revelation, unveiled the historical battle between God and Satan. The victory was gained when His servants and His people kept praising Him, made music to worship Him, and gave Him thanks for His awesome deeds. In the Book of Revelation unveils Lamb of God who was slain is final victory, the angels, thousands upon thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand, and living creatures, angelical elders, every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them singing and praise Him. This victory praising song has been singing in heaven since the world began, and it will not be diminished.

My friends, today you and I, are His servants, and we must keep praising the Lord, make music, hymn to worship the Lord and give Him thanks for His marvelous deeds. You may be a man (or woman) of unclean lips like Isaiah and live among a people with unclean lips, full of critical thinking, complaining, judging, backbiting, gossiping, slandering, and libeling. My friends! let Lamb of God, Jesus’ cleaning blood clean your lips, confess your sins, and believe in Jesus who is Lamb of God, has taken away the sins of the world. Instead of complaining, judging, gossiping, slandering, backbiting, let God uses your lips as psalmist praise Lord seven times a day. If God could forgave and used Isaiah to be prophet in 740-680 B.C. He can use you and send you out as prophet in this era. Generation to generation, we are singing the same praising hymn to worship the Lord, “Holy, holy, holy, God almighty, who was, and is and is to come… Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise! To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever!” (Rev.5:12-13).

Bibliography,

Bauer, Walter. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3^rd Chicago: The University of Chicago press, 2000.

Brown, Robert, Philip W. Comfort and J.D. Douglas, ed. The New Greek English Interlinear New Testament. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.1990.

Friberg, Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.1^st ed. Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005.

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.

Strong, James. Strong’s: the expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2010.

Saturday, September 23, 2017

Message:The power of Jesus over the storm (Matt.8:23-27) by Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Weekly Message: Jesus’ power over the storm (Matt.8:23-27). 9/10/2017

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical Precepts & Gospel Music

Facing the storm, does your house built on the rock and stand still? When the rain came down, the stream rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house, yet, it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. (Matt.7:25). Jesus said, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Matt.7:26-27). Rock here portrays not Christ but His “word”, the word that reveals the will of heavenly Father. The “rain” here “is of God”; the “rivers”, which from the earth, “are of man”. And the “winds”, which blow from the air, “are of Satan”. “Sand” refers to human concepts and natural ways. If we live and work according to our human concepts and natural ways, our living and work will be founded on sinking sand. The living and work of the kingdom people must be founded on the word of the new King for the accomplishing of the will of the heavenly Father. [1]

A furious storm described in Matt.8:23-27, illustrated “the fallen angels in the air and the demons in the water collaborated to frustrate the King from going to the other side of the sea because they knew He would cast out the demons there. (vv.28-32).” When Jesus saw the crowd around him he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. (v.18). Jesus got into the boat and his disciples followed him, without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, and “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” then Jesus got up and rebuked the winds and the waves. It was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him! (Matt.8:23-27).

Jesus the King rebuked the winds and the sea because in the winds were the fallen angels of Satan (Eph.6:12) and in the sea were the demons (v.32). “It was not the wings and the sea that obeyed the King’s authority but the fallen angels above the winds and the demons under the sea.” [2] the Lord gave them a word, telling them to depart to the other side. If they had believed that WORD, they would not have needed to pray as they did in v.25 “Lord save us! We are going to drown!” The fallen angels in the air and the demons in the water collaborated to frustrate the King from going to the other side of the sea because they knew He would cast out the demons there. The narrative described in v.32 “He said to them, go! And they came out and were into the hogs. And behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep slope into the sea, and they died in the waters.” (vv.28-32).

What is the theological principles and life application?

1) We are not fight with flesh, but darkness of evil. Be aware of when we answered calling and obeyed His words, the fallen angels of Satan and demons will do many ways collaborate to frustrate, hinder and block us to fulfill God’s will. Jesus’ orders to His disciples “to cross to the other side of the lake”, on the boat, disciples were frighten by a furious storm came up on the lake and the waves swept over the boat.

2) Praying, resting, and wait the Holy Spirit transforming process. As disciples woke Jesus to save them. In this generation, it’s important that we pray and call upon the name of the Lord to subside the storm. Prayers and trust our savior Jesus is King of kings, and Lord of lords, the fallen angels of Satan in the winds and the demons under the sea must subject to the King.

3) We shall know the truth; the truth shall set us free. When we know the savior Jesus Christ has such great power, we will rest in Him and calm our souls without anxiety attack. He is great I AM, who said, “Before Abraham was born, I AM”. He ensured us, “in me you may have peace, in this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world.”(John16:33).

4) Taking the sword of spirit which is word of God. Boldly declare Ps.91:1, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. If you make the Most High your dwelling even the Lord, who is my refuge… then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.”(Ps.91:1, 9).

5) The powerful of the resurrection of Christ is with us; our blessed assurance is in Christ. As David said about Christ, “I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices, my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave. Nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.” (Acts2:25-28)

6) Do our best to find tranquility in our soul, and rest in the Word of God. As Matt.6:31-34 says, “So do not worry, saying what we shall eat? Or what shall we drink or what shall we wear? For the pagans run after all these things and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things well be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worries about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matt.6:31-34)

My friends are you facing a furious storm, boldly rebuke storm like Jesus, and claim the word of God by praise Lord, and worship God. “Praise thwarts Satan; praise is a powerful weapon against Satan. Satan hates praise, for it reminds him about God is still supreme in spite of all his evil efforts throughout all the ages.” [3]

How to praise in order to defeat Satan?

1) Declare and magnify the victory of Christ with His word in the powerful name of Jesus.

2) Praise for the blood of Christ on the cross, and the triumph of the resurrection.

3) Extol His risen and His exalted position.

4) Lift up His name in triumphant faith.

Christ Jesus has given authority to disciples who followed Him in Jesus’ time; the powerful authority is same in this era. In Moses time, God led Israel crossed over the Jordan River. In this generation, in Christ; we can “cross over the mod of sin and death to the dry ground of life eternal.”[4] When your house had its foundation on the rock which is Word of God and praise Lord for His victory in your life every day, your house would not fall. (Matt.7:26-27).