Weekly message: On God’s mercy by Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Weekly message: On God’s mercy                                                                      2/26/2023

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel Music; Postural ministry &counseling

 

          Has it ever dawned on you that you are responsible for other souls spiritually before God? In Jesus’ time, after Jesus appeared to Saul, Saul was transformed into Apostle Paul and became a minister to preach the gospel among the Jews and Gentiles. Apostle Paul’s anguish over the Jews’ rejection of Christ drives him to avow his own recognition of Christ is God over all.  Apostle Paul’s ministry was not by works but by Him who calls. (Romans.9:12).

         It was God’s mercy and election appointed him to preach gospel and let Gentiles received the salvation and Holy Spirit.  His preaching emphasized on that “ He who confess with his mouth “Jesus is Lord, and believe in his heart that God raised Him from dead, he or she will be saved. For it is with his (or her) heart that he (or she) believe and are justified. And it is with his (or her) mouth that that he (or she) confess and are saved. For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Roman 10:9-13).  

           To convince Jews to believe his preaching and turned their faith into Christ Jesus, Apostle Paul quoted Moses’ speech, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."  It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.” And "I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding." (Romans 9:15-18; 10:19-20).

Isaiah boldly says, "I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me." (Romans10:20). But concerning Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people."(Romans 10:21).

            In this generation, we, as Christians, ministers, are perplexed, why God’s chosen people are rejected?  Why Apostle Paul’s preaching be dishonored, and persecuted harshly by his own people Jewish priests who knew the law? Why Jesus Christ made himself known to Gentiles who are not God’s chosen people? And why a persecutor Saul (Paul) was chosen to be a minister for preaching Gospel?  

According to human nature self -conscience, self-will and self-righteous may appear to  criticize certain group of people (or races) are not God’s people, nor God’s elected races, so debate and want to get rid of them and treat them as minority. “But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this? Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? (Romans 9: 20-21).  Apostle Peter’s first preaching in a Gentle Cornelius’ home, the Holy Spirit poured out from heaven upon Cornelius and his families and closed friends. All families were saved and baptized. What we shall say about this?  What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath--prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory (Romans 9:22-23)

           Again, Apostle Paul quoted Hosea’s speech, “I will call them 'my people' who are not my people; and I will call her 'my loved one' who is not my loved one,” and, "It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' they will be called 'sons of the living God.'" (Romans 9:15-26).

            Indeed, God doesn’t show favoritism. Jesus Christ is Light of the world, a redeemer of the sinners. He who confesses the sins with his (or her) mouth and believes in his (or her) heart shall be saved and has eternal life.  Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. This is the responsibility for Apostle Paul to proclaim the gospel. If this is God’s calling to him, he has no choices to say no to Jesus Christ. Therefore, Apostle Paul said, “The love of Christ compels me …”and how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news! (Romans10:15).  

        However, so often, Gospel cannot reach out to the Gentiles and certain group of people and races, because Pharisees and Sadducees persecute and prevent ministers to talk about “Lord Jesus Christ”, nor read the Word of God. As Romans 10:21 says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people." (Romans 10:21).

           My friends, are you quotation about God’s sovereignty and His will?  Are you seeing yourself as God’s chosen people and elected races? Are you looking yourself better races than anyone else?  Yet, without the Spirit of God, Lord Jesus Christ, you are no body in heaven.  You may be wealth, rich races, and a leader in your position on earth, but your destiny is in hell. Unless you repent of your sin, turn from sins, and confess with your mouth that “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from dead, you and your family will be saved. “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13).

             Or maybe you are a believer, have accepted Jesus is your savior, and received the Holy Spirit, but act like Pharisees and Sadducees, full of judgmental thoughts, critical lips, self-righteousness, envious personality, and bitterness rooted in your heart. Constantly comparing, competing yourself with others and struggle to get people’s approval.  Moses says, "I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding." And Isaiah boldly says, "I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me." (Romans 10:19-20). It is not you to judge your brother (or sister)? Or why do you look down on your brother (or sister)? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’”. So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. (Romans 14:10-12). Repent and turn from your sin, stop to criticize others, exam of your heart, asks Lord, Jesus Christ to clean your judgmental lips and remove the bitter root from your heart. Make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s (or sister’s) way. If Son of God has set you free, indeed, you are free.

『因為祂對摩西說，“我要向誰施憐憫，就向誰施憐憫；要對誰動憐恤，就對誰動憐恤。”『這樣看來，這不在於那定意的，也不在於那奔跑的，只在於那施憐憫的神。』『因為經上對法老說，“我特意將你興起來，為要在你身上顯示我的權能，並要使我的名傳遍全地。”』『這樣看來，神願意向誰施憐憫，就向誰施憐憫；願意叫誰剛硬，就叫誰剛硬。』『人哪，你是誰，竟向神頂嘴？被塑造者豈能對塑造他者說，你為甚麼這樣造我？』『窯匠難道沒有權柄，從同一團泥裏，拿一塊作成貴重的器皿，又拿一塊作成卑賤的器皿麼？』『若是神願意顯示祂的忿怒，彰顯祂的能力，就多用恆忍寬容那些可怒、豫備遭毀滅的器皿，』『且要在那些蒙憐憫、早豫備得榮耀的器皿上，彰顯祂榮耀的豐富；』『這器皿就是我們這蒙祂所召的，不但從猶太人中，也從外邦人中，這有甚麼不可？』『就如神在何西阿書上也說，“那本來不是我子民的，我要稱為我的子民；本來不是蒙愛的，我要稱為蒙愛的；』『從前在甚麼地方對他們說，你們不是我的子民，將來就在那裏稱他們為活神的兒子。”』『但我說，以色列人不知道麼？先有摩西說，“我要用那不是國民的，惹動你們妒忌；我要用那無知的民，觸動你們發怒。”』『又有以賽亞放膽說，“沒有尋找我的，我叫他們遇見；沒有求問我的，我向他們顯現。”』『至於以色列人，他卻說，“我整天向那悖逆頂嘴的百姓伸手招呼。”』(Roman 15:26; 10:19-21)

Bibliography,

 

       King James, The Holy Bible, Cleveland, OH: The world publishing company

       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. 

 

Weekly message: God doesn’t show favoritism (Acts 10) By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

 Weekly message: God doesn’t show favoritism (Acts 10)                                  2/19/2023

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling

 

Gentiles Cornelius’ prayer, devout and God fearing

             At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. (Acts10:1-2) One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.  (Acts 10:3-4) . Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants, he told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa. (Acts 10: 5-8).

Peter’s vision

                  About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. (vv.9-12)  Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat”; “Surely not, Lord!”  Peter replied. “ I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. (vv.13-16) While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go down stairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” (vv.17-20)

Cornelius answered

          Cornelius answered, “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me and said, “Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.” So I sent for you immediately and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us. (vv.30-33)

God doesn’t show favoritism

            Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism. But accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.” (Acts 10:35)  You know the message God sent to the people Israel telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.  You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him.

Peter’s witness, Holy Spirit poured out on Gentiles

                   We are witnesses of everything He did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses who God had already chosen –by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.(vv.39-41)

He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name. While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. (vv. 42-44).

Peter baptized Cornelius and his relatives  

             The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles for they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, “Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. (vv.45-48)

Application & Implication

            First, three elements are significant to receive God’s favor, blessing, the forgiveness of sins, and Holy Spirit.  

a.       Prayer regularly (or persistently).

b.      God fearing.

c.       Gave generously to those who are poor and in needs.

Cornelius, a Gentile, had done these elements, in God’s eyesight he was a righteous and God fearing man, who was also respected by all the Jewish people. So God sent a Holy Angel said to him, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.” (vv.3-4). God doesn’t show favoritism, but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. (Acts 10:35)  A Gentile Cornelius prayed persistently, practiced reverence before God, and gave generously to the poor.  He and his families and closed friends were saved and received salvation and the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ.  

             Second,  According to Jewish’s law, it is against law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him, but God has shown Apostle Peter that he should not call any man impure or unclean that God has made clean. Gentiles all who heard the message received Holy Spirit even they hadn’t yet baptized in the water. So Peter ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Apostle Peter changed the perspective of old customs, and followed the Holy Spirit guidance and instruction, he became a great preacher of Gentles and Jews.    

            Third, it’s important to develop prayer life regularly. The Bible does not prescribe the time or length of prayer, but it does offer guidelines. Jesus prayed before sunrise. (Mark1:35). In Psalm 88 prayer is offered in the early morning (v.13), and in Psalm 55 prayers are said evening, morning and noon (v.17). Psalm 119 advocates prayer seven times a day (v.164). Daniel knelt for devotions three times a day (Daniel 6:10). Peter prayed at the third, sixth, and ninth hours.

           Despite their aversion to prescribed formulas in the life of prayer that function as a new law, the Reformers did make general recommendations. On the basis of the Scriptural testimony Luther suggested that prayer should be “the first business of the morning and the last at night.”  He advised: “Cultivate the habit of falling asleep with the Lord’s Prayer on your lips every evening when you go to bed and again every morning when you get up.  And if occasion, place, and time permit, pray before you do anything else.”  Calvin urged that we offer prayer “when we arise in the morning, before we begin daily work, when we sit down to a meal, when by God’s blessing we have eaten, when we are getting ready to retire.”

           The Christian is not bound to ritual laws that regulate the preparation for prayer, so he is not absolutely bound to set times for prayer. Yet there are times that are more appropriate for prayer than others: the gathering together for worship, the hours before work, and bedtime, the time right before meals, when we need to remind ourselves of the goodness of God. However,  a Christian should feel free to pray anywhere, anytime, in the midst of daily work and play as well as in the solitude of his room in the early morning or late in the evening.   

               My friends are you a God fearing person and devote to pray?  Keep praying, worshipping and praising God, keep practicing reverence before God, and give generously to the poor and needs. Don’t give up because of your physical limitation, or living environment circumstance. In God’s timing, even you are Gentiles; God will reward your good deeds and your sincere hearts. You and your families will be saved and receive the salvation, the Holy Spirit and life eternal through Jesus Christ our Savior.  

 

Bibliography,

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

Job, Rueben P. A guide to prayer for Ministers and other servants. Nashville, TN: The Upper Room, 1983

 

 

 

 

Weekly message: unconscious glory abides as a mirror By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

 Weekly message: unconscious glory abides as a mirror                          Date 2/4/2023

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries; Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling

 

Have you been constantly criticized other’s ministry, their attitude and behavior? Stop and listen what Jesus said to Peter, “Get behind me; you are stumble rock to me…” and Jesus argues with the Pharisees on their own grounds as follows,

 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices-mint, dill and cumin, But you have neglected the more important matters of the law-justice, mercy and faithfulness.” (Matt.23:23).

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.” (Matt.23:25-26).

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” (Matt.23:27-28).

Have you been persecuting Jesus by a zealous determination to serve Him in your own way? If you feel you have done your duty and yet have hurt Him in doing it, you may be sure it was not your duty, because it has not fostered the meek and quiet spirit, but the spirit of self-satisfaction. Is that anything like the spirit of our Lord- “I delight to do Thy will, O My God”.

 Has the voice of God come to you directly? If it has, you cannot mistake the intimate insistence with which it has spoken to you in the language you know best, not through your ears, but through your circumstances. God has to destroy our determined confidence in our own convictions. “I know this is what I should do” and suddenly the voice of God speaks in a way that overwhelms us by revealing the depths of our ignorance. We have shown our ignorance of Him in the very way we determined to serve Him. We serve Jesus in a spirit that is not His, we hurt Him by our advocacy for Him, and we push His claims in the spirit of the devil. Our words sound all right, but our spirit is that of an enemy. “He rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.” The spirit of our Lord in an advocate of His is described in 1 Corinthians 13.

A Christian minister (or disciple) is one who perpetually looks in the face of God and then goes forth to talk to people. The Characteristic of the ministry of Christ is that of unconscious glory that abides. Allow nothing to keep you from looking God sternly in the face about yourself and about you doctrine, and every time you preach see that you look God in the face about things first, then, the glory will remain all through.

 Look at a mirror, and see yourself, are you sure that you are with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory just as from the Lord, the Spirit ?A mirror will not lie about you, it reflects of your cheerful smiling face when you are joy. A mirror reflects your anger, wrath, rude, crude, ill-mannered behavior, and your judgmental critique lip, hostile, hateful attitude, opposed toward someone, and mirror also reflects of your sadness and tears.

If you keep criticizing about other’s attitude and behavior, it most likely you are the same type of person who acted (or performed) the same behavior and attitude. What kind of people are surrounding in your environment? So often, their personality and characteristics reflect who you are. If you are a kind and friendly person, the people surround you, most likely they are kind and friendly. In contrary, if you constantly blame other’s attitude rude, crude, ill-mannered behavior you need to exam yourself, whether you act the same and need to change your attitude and behavior.

            God, so often, uses such person to mold you into His likeness, and transform you into His glory image. Let God do His part to transform the person you criticize about. And you do your part, stop to criticize others, and change yourself.  The secret of the Christians’ life is that he or she keeps in tune with God all the time. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “ and we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever increasing glory which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians.3:18). When you start to judge others, remind yourself, let your face reflects God’s glory as a mirror, and set your mind in Spirit, remains in peace. Let peace rules in your heart, and trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding… in all your ways acknowledge Him; He will direct your path. Do your best to live peace with one another, and produce the fruits of lip to build up each other instead of criticizing or putting a stumble rock to others.       

 

Bibliography,

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

            Chambers, Oswald. My Utmost for His Highest. NY: Dodd, Mead & Company, Inc, 1935.

Daily devotion and inspiration by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

 Daily devotion and inspiration                                                                                     2/1/2023 

by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Chrisitan Arts Ministries; Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling

•            God’s bounty is limited only by our own thinking, not by His resources, power, or willingness to give. Your negative mentality and “Nay” thinking pattern will limit and decrease the blessing of Lord.  Jabez was blessed simply because he refused to let any obstacle, person, or opinion loom larger than God’s nature. And God’s nature is to bless. His kindness in recording Jabez’s story in the Old Testament 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 is proof that it’s not who you are, or what your parents or relative decided for you, or what you were fated to be that counts. What counts is knowing who you want to be and asking for it. Through a simple, believing prayer, you can change your future. You can change what happens one minute from now. Changing your negative mentality and thinking pattern, refuse to be labeled negatively such as inferior, disqualified, poor, unfruitful, useless. But broadly declare that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” And say a prayer as Jabez “Oh, That You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and You would keep me from evil. (1 Chronicles 4:9-10).