Sunday, July 30, 2023

Week Message: Jesus’ commands and joy by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

 Weely Message: Jesus’ commands and joy by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

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

Date: July30,2023

Scriptures reading…

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. (John15:7) This is to my Father’s glory that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (John 15:8) If you obey my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love. (John15:10) I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. (John 15:11)

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that He lay down His life for His friends. (John15:12-13) You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends. For everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit –fruit that will last. Then, the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: love each other. (John15:14-17).

 

Am I abiding in Jesus? And His word abides in me so that ask whatever I wish, it will be given me? Am I bear fruit and fruit that will last so that the Father will give me whatever I ask in Jesus name? Am I experiencing the joy that Jesus had offered by Himself to His Father? if not, what is wrong about it? In what area of my life that caused me lose the joy?

  My friends ask yourselves these questions, what is your answer? positively? or negatively? How can you find joy and confidence as Jesus related to His Father? Do you rightly related to God through Jesus Christ?  

            What was the joy that Jesus had? The joy of Jesus was the absolute self-surrender and self-sacrifice of Himself to His Father, the joy of doing that which the Father sent Him to do. “I delight to do Thy will.”Jesus prayed that our joy might go on fulfilling itself until it was the same joy as His. Have I allowed Jesus Christ to introduce His joy to me?[1]                                                                                                  

           The full flood of my life is not in bodily health, not in external happenings, not in seeing God’s work succeed, but in the communion with Him that Jesus Himself had. Jesus wants to get us to the place where we will be His witnesses and proclaim Who Jesus is.[2]

          The first thing that will hinder this joy is the captious irritation of thinking out circumstances. The cares of this world, will choke God’s word. Worry and anxiety about the life as thorns choke the Word of God, and constricts the development of faith. Lacking of trust in God and a failure to fully understand His plan and provision for us, it is clearly harmful to us, displeasing to God and become unfruitful. 

           Christians must abide in Christ Jesus so that His Word will abide in them and their prayer in Jesus’ name will be answered. Jesus pointed out two elements in order to get prayer be answered. First is “abide in Me”. Second, “bear fruit- fruit that will last” then, Father will give whatever you ask in His name. To abide in Jesus and bear fruit, you may hold to Jesus, obey, surrender, self- deny and take cross to follow Him.  

             Joy in the Lord is the strength of Christians. To enjoy Jesus’ joy, you must bear, acknowledge, concede, and yield to Jesus. “Be rightly related to God, find your joy there, and out of you will flow rivers of living water. Be a centre for Jesus Christ to pour living water through. Stop being self-conscious, stop being a sanctified prig, and live the life hid with Christ. The life that is rightly related to God is as natural as breathing wherever it goes. The lives that have been of most blessing to you are those who were unconscious of it.” [3]

 

Bibliography,

   

Barker, Kenneth L. NIV Study Bible. Grand Rapids, MI:  Zondervan, 1985.                   

Chambers, Oswald. My Utmost for His highest. N.Y. Dodd, Mead & Company, 1935.

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

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

                

 

 



[1]  Oswald Chambers. My Utmost for His highest. N.Y. Dodd, Mead & Company, 1935.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

Sunday, July 23, 2023

Weekly message: How to develop a spirit life and acquire spiritual discernment? by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

 Weekly message: How to develop a spirit life and acquire spiritual discernment?        

Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce  

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

Date: July 23, 2023

 

Apostle Paul’s triple status & position

         For which I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I speak the truth; I do not lie), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. (1Timothy 2:7) 


 A herald is a proclaimer of the gospel of Christ, an official reporter of God’s New Testament economy; an apostle is one sent by God with a divine commission to set up churches for God, an ambassador from God to the world for the carrying out of His purpose; and a teacher is a tutor who teaches, defines, and explains the contents of God’s eternal purpose and His New Testament economy. Paul had such a triple status and commission of the Gentiles.

Apostle Paul delights men to pray

I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men; On behalf of kings and all who are in high position, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all godliness and gravity. This is good and acceptable in the sigh of our Savior God, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God, and Mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to be borne in its own times.  I desire therefore that men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and reasoning.( 1 Tim.2:1-6,8)

How to develop your spiritual prayer life?

  1. Settle a time for praying.
  2. Set a place particular room for yourself.
  3. Take note for God’s answers.
  4. Read two chapters each day.

How to acquire spiritual discernment?

John5:14 say, “This is the confidence which we have before Him that if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us.” There are many historical events that God instructed His servants to fulfill His calling, and gained blessings, victory and walked into a brighter future.

 In the Old Testament, when Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all people on earth will be blessed through you.” (Gen.12:1-3). So Abram left, as the Lord had told him.  Abram was seventy –five years old when he set out from Haran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquire in Haran, and they set out the land of Canaan. (Gen.12:5). God gave a new name Abraham, and his wife Sarah. As God’s promises to them, they were fruitful, multiplied and blessed by the Lord.

God instructed and used Moses when he was eighty years old and his brother, Aaron was eight-three when they spoke to Pharaoh. (Exodus7:6) So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. God’s instruction and guidance to Moses was clear, step by step, Moses listened and obeyed the commands.  God used Moses and instructed him day by day, and helped Joshua to win the victory in the battle.  When Joshua fought the Amalekites, as long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. Aaron and Hur held his hands up one on one side, one on the other-so that his hands remained steadily till sun set. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. (Gen.17:11-14). The Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure the Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory for  Amalek from under heaven.”  (Gen.17:14) Moses built an altar and called it “The Lord is my Banner”.  Heb., Yahweh nissi.  He said, “For hands were lifted up to the throne of the Lord. The Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.” (Gen.17:15-16)    

      God’s instruction and called Samuel to anoint Jesse’s sons. Samuel’s natural thought was appearance and his height. When he saw Eliab, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” But the Lord instructed Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height for I have rejected him, The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  Jesse’s seven sons passed before Samuel, none of them were elected by the Lord, until the youngest son David had brought in. He was ruddy with a fine appearance and handsome features. The Lord instructed Samuel, “Rise and anoint him, he is the one.” So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power.(1Samuel 16:12-13).

  God’s election, God’s choices, God’s voice and instruction to Samuel was clear, affirmed, neither confusion, nor according to Samuel’s thinking. It’s important that Samuel kept conscience clear and listened to God’s instruction to anoint the right one.  

God’s instruction to Gideon was step by step. Gideon was told by God to lead his people by environmental approval when He questioned, “How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family. “The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.” Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me… if you will save Israel by my hand as your have promised-look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand as you said.” (Judges 6:15,17,36).God affirmed Gideon and approved that he was elected to save Israel. During Gideon’s lifetime, the land enjoyed peace forty year. (Judge8:28).

In New Testament, God’s instruction and prevention to Apostle Paul- the call to Apostle Paul to Europe according to Acts 16: 6-10, it says, “Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynial, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us. After Paul had seen the vision, he got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called him to preach the gospel to them. (Acts16:6-10).

  How to know God’s guidance? And listen to God’s voice? There are few elements to receive God’s guidance.

The Word of God is His clear instruction about how you should live scriptures you read, but it’s the Holy Spirit who makes it possible for you to hear the message as God speaks. In order to discern and understand God’s guidance, here are a few practical steps that will help you listen to the Holy Spirit.

1.      First, you must clean the pathway of your mind- you must rid your life of all known unconfused sin, asks the Lord to forgive you-clear your thinking and your personal desires.

2.      Second, Exercise patience. You must willingly to wait until God shows you the way as James 1:4 say, “Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt.  

  1. Third, Resist pressure – external- the pressure of other people’s opinions or imposed limitations and internal the pressure of your spirit, when you make a decision based upon perceived pressure rather than clear guidance and direction from God you risk doing the wrong thing.
  2. Fourth, Persist in prayer – Pray continually (1 Thess5:17) prayer is God’s way of preparing you for an answer. Settle a time for praying and set a place particular room for yourself. Then, take note for God’s answers.
  3. Fifth, Learn on His promises – read two chapter each day. As Isaiah 48: 17-18  say “ I am the Lord your God who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go; if only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river.”  Proverb3:5-6 say, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and he will make your path straight.”  
  4. Wait for peace – Colossians 3:15 instructs, “let the peace of Christ rule in your heart,” don’t do it until you get God’s peace

             When your heart delight in the Lord and take cross to follow Jesus Christ, by the Holy Spirit leading day by day, God’s guidance to you will be clear. You will hear and read His words, “This is the way, walk in it.You don’t need to depend on other people to tell you how to do God’s will. As Apostle Paul, Moses, Abraham, Samuel, and Gideon, God’s instructions to them were clearly and directly. You can’t always trust counsel from other people to tell you where you shall go. It’s your own call, if you commit to Jesus Christ, and He is your Savior, and your heart desires to follow Him, God will direct your path directly by the Holy Spirit and speak to your heart in His Word.

                To develop your spiritual life and to acquire spiritual discernment you can follow these steps that I mentioned above. When you ask God, “Lord what is next?” your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way, walk in it. Then you will defile your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, “Away with you.” (Isaiah30:21-22).  Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen! (1Timothy 1:17)

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. 

 

 

 

 

Sunday, July 16, 2023

God’s prediction of Messiah - Christ Jesus was fulfilled By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

God’s prediction of Messiah - Christ Jesus was fulfilled

 By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce Christian Arts Ministries 7/16/2023


            Historical prophetical scripture about Messiah Christ Jesus was filled and God’s prediction in Old Testament was approved and affirmed in New Testament.  My friends, do you believe Bible? Old Testament 39 books and New Testament 27 books, total 66 books, the central theme and subject is only one- Messiah Christ Jesus. These scriptures will help you to understand God’s predictions about Messiah Christ Jesus were fulfilled.   

Messiah – God predicted a prophet in Deuteronomy 18:15-19

      The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him. For this is what you asked of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the Lord our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.”(vv.15-16)

       The Lord said to me: “What they say is good. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his month, and he will tell them everything I command him. If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account. (vv.17-19)

  This prophetic scripture about a prophet was fulfilled in Acts 3:20 “ and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you…” Moses said, “The Lord God shall raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren; to Him you shall give heed in everything He says to you.  

God’s new covenant predicted and slaughter of children by Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Jer.31:15

·         The time is coming, declares the Lord, “When I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them, This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time” declares the Lord.  “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying , “Know the Lord,” because they will all know me from the least of them to the greatest,” Declares the Lord. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. (Jer.31: 33-34)

      Thus says the Lord, “A voice is heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.” (Jer.31:15)

 This prophetic scripture slaughter of children was fulfilled in Matt.2:16-18 “Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its environs, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the mage. Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying “

God predicted Messiah Christ Jesus as seed of a woman in Genesis 3:15

·         And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.

 “Between your offspring” The spiritual descendants of Satan cf.John8:44; Eph.2:2) and hers (those who are in the family of God) he. An individual from among the woman’s seed, namely, Christ, will deal a death blow to Satan’s head at the cross, while Satan (you) would strike Christ’s heel (cause Him to suffer) .

 This prophetic scripture was fulfilled in Galatians 4:4 “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law. “

God predicted Christ Jesus is Passive Lamb in Exodus 12:12-13

      On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn both men and animals and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. (vv.12-13)

 The event serves as a beautiful illustration of the redemption Christ accomplished at Calvary. The offering was to be without blemish. The Lamb had to be killed. The blood had to be applied.

Predicted Jesus Christ is the Bronze Snake in Numbers21:8-9 & John 3:14-15

      The Lord said to Moses “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and looked at the bronze snake he lived. (Num.21:8-9)

 This prophetic scripture was approved in John 3:14-15 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.” Only those who believed God and looked on the bronze snake lived. The N.T. uses this incident as an illustration of Christ’s vicarious death on the cross and of the necessity of personal faith for salvation (John3:14-15)

Prophetic scripture predicted Christ Jesus is from the tribe of Judah in Gen.49:10

·         The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to him shall be the obedience of the people.(Gen.49:10)

This prophetic scripture was fulfilled in Luke 3:33 “ The son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah.

Prophetic scripture predicted Christ Jesus is heir to the throne of David in Isaiah 9:7

·         “There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.”( Isa.9:7)

This scripture was fulfilled in Luke 1:32, 33, “ He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end.”

Prophetic scripture about Messiah born in Bethlehem and the time for His birth in Mic.5:2 and Dan9:25

·         “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.” (Mic.5:2)

  This scripture predicted Messiah was born in Bethlehem was fulfilled in Luke 2:4,5,7 “ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register, along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child… And she gave birth to her first born son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

·         “So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress.” (Dan.9:25)

  This scripture predicted the time of Messiah Jesus Christ’s birth in Dan 9:25 was fulfilled in Luke 2:1, 2  “ Now it came about in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.   

Predicted Christ Jesus is suffering Savior sneered and mocked in Psalm 22:7-8  

      My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? (Ps.22:1) All who see me mock me, they hurl insults, shaking their heads: He trusts in the Lord’ let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”(Ps.22: 7-8)

Psalm 22: 1 Jesus quoted this first phrase on the cross (Matt.27:46). They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing. (v.18)  King David describes his struggle with death in language that is also appropriate to the suffering Messiah. Verses 14-16 prophetically describe crucifixion, a means of execution not known until Roman times: the pain, the extreme thirst, asphyxiation, and agony to the hands and feet. Verse 18 (also see Matt.27:35) all these details of Jesus’ Crucifixion were carried out by people who had no knowledge of these predictions. The deliverance of the Messiah was accomplished by His resurrection from the dead.

Psalm22:7-8 this prophetic scripture was fulfilled in Luke 23:35 “And the people stood by, looking on, and even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He save others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.”

Predicted Christ Jesus is suffering Savior pierced through hands and feet in Zech.12:10

·         “And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him, like the bitter weeping over a first-born.” (Zech.12:10)

This scripture was fulfilled and approved in John 20:27 “Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see My hands, and reach here your hand, and put it into My side, and be not unbelieving, but believing.”  

Predicted Christ Jesus is vicarious sacrifice as suffering Savior in Isaiah 53:5-6

      Isaiah 53:5-6 “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray. Each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

 This scripture was fulfilled and approved in Rom.5:6,8  “ For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly… But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” The passion of the Servant, though men would think that God was causing the Servant to suffer for His own sins, the truth was that He suffered vicariously for theirs. Pierced (v.5) A term appropriate to crucifixion, brought us peace, His punishment that obtained peace or well-being for us.

Prophetic scripture predicted Messiah Christ Jesus was betrayed for thirty pieces of silver in Zech.11:12

·         “And I said to them, “If it is good in your sight, give me my wages; but if not, never mind!” So they weighed out thirty shekels of silver as my wages. (Zech11:12)

 This scripture was fulfilled in Matt.26:15 “and said, “When are you willing to give me to deliver Him up to you?” and they weighed out to him thirty pieces of silver.

Prophetic scripture predicted about Messiah Christ Jesus is priest after order of Melchizedek in Psalm110:4

·         “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, “Thou art a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”(Ps.110:4)

 This scripture was fulfilled and affirmed  in Heb.5:5,6 “So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest , but He who said to Him, “Thou art My son, today I have begotten Thee”; Just as He says also in another passage, “Thou art a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

Prophetic scripture predicted about Messiah Christ Jesus’ triumphal entry in Zech.9:9

·         “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, humble, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zech.9:9)

 This scripture was fulfilled in Mark 11:7, 9 “And they brought the colt to Jesus and put their garments on it; and He sat upon it…And those who went before, and those who followed after, were crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord;”…and He entered Jerusalem and came into the temple; and after looking all around, He departed for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late.”

 

Bibliography,

            Bauer, Walter. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3rd 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.1st 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. 

 The Open Bible (NASB). La Habra, CA: The lockman Foundation ,1960 .

 

 



 

Sunday, July 2, 2023

Message: In the last days what difficult times will come? By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

 Message:  In the last days what difficult times will come?   

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce                  

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music;Pastoral ministry & Counseling          Date 7/1/2023 

In the last days what difficult times will come? Today, are we facing the same scenario as Apostle described in the New Testament? Are we facing spiritual famine as Amos’ prophecy in Old Testament? This message will help you to discover the Word of God, and remind you to be aware of the last days difficult times will come such as Anti-Christ, lawlessness, unrighteousness, false prophet, false teacher and spiritual famine. The Lord calls us to be watchful and pray as five wise virgins who took oil in jars along with their lamps, patiently wait for bridegroom and were out to meet the bridegroom.(Matt.24:4). Christ will take His bride, the church, to heaven before the Tribulation period begins, and then He will return with His bride at His second coming to the marriage supper on earth. The virgins represent the professing Jewish remnant on earth at His return.  Jesus urged His disciples keep watching and pray, so that we will not fall into temptation. My friends let us discover Apostle’s letters and their warming about the last days.        

Ø                       First, Apostle Paul wrote letter to Timothy, indicates that “But know this, that in the last days difficult times will come, for men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, not lovers of good, having an outward form of godliness, though denying its power; from these also turn away. (2Timothy3:1-5)

           The prophetic picture presented in vv.2-5 portrays not the evil condition of the non-Christian society but the corrupted situation of the great house mentioned in 2Timothy 2:20, which is Christianity in decline. This is proved by the phrase having an outward form of godliness in v.5 Non-Christians do not have even the outward form of godliness. History tells us that the root of the church's decline was the loss of her first love toward the Lord (Rev.2:4) to maintain the victorious standard of the church, we must be lovers of God and lovers of the good that pertains to God's economy.

Ø                          Second, the letter, Apostle Paul wrote to Thessalonians, he stated, “The man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. (2Thessalonians 2: 3b-4). For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of His mouth and destroy by the splendor of His coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders. (2Thessalonians2:7-9)

Ø                  Third, the letter, Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Rome, he expressed the consequences of the condemnation and the reason of divine abandonment. He said,

             “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness…For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds, and animals and reptiles.(Romans1:18,21-22). Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator-who is forever praised. Amen. (Romans 1:24-25)

Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. (Romans1:26-27)

Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, He gave them over to a depraved mind; to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent ways of doing evil; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, and ruthless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans1:28-32)

The result of man’s giving up God is man’s being given up by Him. Those who give up God force God to give them up. According to Romans 1:24, God gives people up to three thing, uncleanness (v.24), passions of dishonor (v.26), and a disapproved mind (v.28). The consequence of such a giving up is fornication (v.24, 26-27), which violates a governing and controlling principle and brings in confusion. Every kind of evil issue is from this fornication. (vv. 29-32).

Ø                       Fourth, Apostle John wrote a letter to Christians all over Asia Minor (much like Ephesians). He mentioned about the spirit of the antichrist which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. “Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist. (1John4:2-3). Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but prove the sprits whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1John4:1)

 In Matt.24:24 the false prophets differ from the false Christs. But here the false prophets are the antichrist (v.3), those who teach heretically concerning the person of Christ. The spirit of a genuine prophet, which is motivated by the Holy Spirit of truth; such a spirit confesses the divine conception of Jesus, affirming that He was born as the Son of God. Every such spirit is surely of God. In this we know the Spirit of God. Jesus was conceived of the Spirit (Matt.1:18). To confess that Jesus has come in the flesh is to confess that He was divinely conceived to be born as the Son of God (Luke1:31-35). Since He was conceived of the Spirit to be born in the flesh, the Spirit would never deny that He has come in the flesh through divine conception.

 The spirit of a false prophet, which is actuated by the spirit of deception; such a spirit does not confess that Jesus came in the flesh. This is the spirit of the errors of the Docetists (or Docetes). This name was derived from the Greek word meaning to seen, to appear to be. The heretical view of the Docetists was that Jesus Christ was not a real man but simply appeared to be; to them He was merely a phantasm. Docetism was intermixed with Gnosticism, which taught that all matter was essentially evil. Hence, the Docetists taught that since Christ is holy, He could never have had the defilement of human flesh. They taught that His body was not real flesh and blood but was merely a deceptive, transient phantom, and thus that He did not suffer, die, and resurrect. Such a heresy undermines not only the Lord’s incarnation but also His redemption and resurrection. Docetism was a characteristic feature of the first antichristian errorists, whom John had in view here and in 2 John 7. The spirit of such errorists is surely not of God. This is the spirit of the antichrist.

Ø                  Fifth, Apostle Peter wrote a letter to reminder of the truth of Christianity as opposed to the heresies of false teachers. Their conduct and characteristics as follows,

They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord. But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish. They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, revealing in their pleasures while they feast with you. With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed –an accursed brood! They have left the straightway and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey a beast without speech spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness. (2Peter2:1-3; 10-16).

These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For their mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity –for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.  If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.” (2 Peter 2: 17-22).

 Spiritual famine in this present time

Are we facing Spiritual famine this day? In Old Testament Amos’ vision in Chapter 8:11-13 indicates that “ the days are coming, declares the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine through the land not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. Men will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the Word of Lord, but they will not find it.” In that day the lovely young women and strong young men will faint because of thirst. (Amos 8:11-13).

1 Samuel 3:1 also expressed the word of God not occurring very often. “And the boy Samuel ministered to Jehovah before Eli. Now the word of Jehovah was rare in those days, visions were not widespread.” (1 Samuel 3:1).

Ezekiel 7:26 said, “Disaster upon disaster will come, and there will be rumor upon rumor. Then they will seek a vision from a prophet, but instruction will perish from the priest, and counsel from the elders.”  

 Psalm74:9 said, “We do not see our signs, there is no longer a prophet, nor is there anyone among us who knows how long.”

            Today, in our society, we sense that those prophecies in the Bible come to the reality. Children of God face spiritual famine.  God’s judgment begins to take effect. “Famine of hearing the words of the Lord”, In times of great distress Israel, children of God turned to the Lord for a prophetic word of hope or guidance, but in the coming judgment the Lord will answer all such appeals with silence-the awful silence of God.

             My friends, do you sense the silence of God these days? You sought God’s guidance and instruction but the word of God was rare, visions were not widespread. For the evil, lawlessness, unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, depravity, murder, strife, deceit, malice, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant occurred, boastful people become senseless, faithless, heartless, and ruthless. Many people forsake faith, and no more open the Bible, the Word of God seems no long appear in our society, school, library, and family. Christianity is in decline, young men, and young girls are thirsty for the Words of God, but they no longer find the Bible, nor hear the Words of God. My friends look around of your community and workplace, people- young and old; do they talk or read about the Word of God (Bible), express about Jesus Christ Messiah and proclaim gospel? Do you see the Christianity is decline? What shall we do about?   

            Jesus had provided a parable for watchfulness in the Matthew 25:1-13, he said,  

 “At that time the kingdom of the heavens will be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were foolish and five were prudent. For the foolish, when they took their lamps, didn’t take oil with them; but the prudent took oil in their vessels with their lamps. And while the bridegroom delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, Behold, the bridegroom! Go forth to meet Him. And the foolish said to the prudent, give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. But the prudent answered, saying perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves. And as they were going away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with Him to the wedding feast and the door was shut. And later the rest of the virgins came also, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us! But He answered and said, “Truly I say to you, I do not know you.” Watch therefore, for you do not know the day nor the hour. (Matt.25:1-13).  

They have oil in their lamps signifies that they have the Spirit of God dwelling in their spirit (Rom.8:9,16), and that they take oil in their vessels signifies that they have the Spirit of God filling and saturating their souls. We shall ready always have oil in our vessel, always being filled with the Spirit of God in our whole being. Watching and being ready should be our daily exercise for the Lord’s coming. This is the rapture of the resurrected believers to the air (1Thes.4:17) at the time that the Lord’s coming descends to the air. This is the marriage dinner of the Lamb (Rev.19:9), which will be spread in air on the path of the Lord’s coming. It will occur before the manifestation of the kingdom and will be a reward of mutual enjoyment with the Lord, a reward to be given to the believers who are ready, who are equipped with the filling of the Holy Spirit before they die.

The foolish virgins were represent the believers who are regenerated with the Spirit of God and indwelt by the Spirit of God, but who have not been filled with Him sufficiently to have their whole being saturated with Him. A price must be paid in order to buy oil. Having the filling of Holy Spirit is at a cost, such as giving up the world, dealing with self, loving the Lord above all, and counting all things loss for Christ. If we do not pay this price today, we will have to pay it after we are resurrected. The foolish virgins had their lamps lighted, went forth to meet the Lord, died, and were resurrected and raptured, but were late in paying the price for the filling of the Holy Spirit. Because of this the Lord would not recognize them, approve them, for participation in His wedding feast. They miss this dispensational reward but do not lose their eternal salvation.     

            Therefore, my friends! Be watchful, and pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. (2Thessalonians3:2). The root of the church's decline was the loss of her first love toward the Lord (Rev.2:4) to maintain the victorious standard of the church, we must be lovers of God and lovers of the good that pertains to God's economy. The Lord is faithful and He will strengthen and protect us from the evil one. May the Lord direct our hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.(2Thessalonians 3-5). May all of saints keep watching and pray as wise virgins, take lamps with oil, wait patiently for Bridegroom Christ come again.  




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.