Temptation by the Fundamentalists - Marriage (Matthew 19: 3-12) By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Temptation by the Fundamentalists - Marriage (Matthew 19: 3-12)

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce        Christian Arts Ministries 

Matthew 19:3-6

And some Pharisees came to Him, testing Him and saying, is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause? And He answered and said, "Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, " and said, " For this cause shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh. So, then they are no long tow, but one flesh therefore what God has yoked together, let man not separate. (Matthew 19:3-6)

            In Mathew chapter 19 the religionists did not let the Lord go bur came again and again to test Him. However, their testing always afforded the Lord an opportunity to unveil Himself and God’s economy. From verse 4 to verse 6 the Lord’s word not only acknowledged God’s creation of man but also confirmed God’s ordination regarding man’s marriage, that is, that one male and one female are to be joined and yoked together as one flesh and are not to be separated by man.

Verse 7 this commandment was not a part of the basic law but was a supplement to the law. It was given by Moses not according to God’s ordination from the beginning but as something temporary, because of the hardness of man’s heart.

Verse 8 the commandment given by Moses concerning divorce was a deviation from God’s original ordination concerning marriage, but for the kingdom of the heavens Christ as the heavenly King recovered marriage back to the beginning. This indicates that the kingdom of the heavens, which corresponds with God’s ordination from the beginning, does not allow divorce.

Verse 9 Fornication Lit., harlotry, whoredom. This is worse than adultery. The Lord’s word here indicates definitely that nothing but fornication breaks the marriage tie. (Of course, death breaks it spontaneously.) Hence, except for fornication there is no excuse for divorce.

Verse 10 at that point the disciples realized that according to God’s ordination, marriage is the strictest bond. Once a person is married, he is fully bound, having no way to be released except through the committing of fornication by the spouse (or through the death of the spouse). It was such a realization that caused the disciples to think that it was not profitable to marry. But it was not under their control.

Verse 11 not all men, but only those to whom God has given the fit, are able to refrain from marriage. Without God’s gift, anyone who attempts to remain unmarried will meet with temptations.   

Verse 12 Theses are the ones to whom God has given the gift to remain unmarried for the sake of the kingdom of the heavens. Paul was such a one (1 Cor.7:7-8;9:5). The religionists’ temptation here afforded the Lord an opportunity to reveal a further matter concerning the kingdom of the heavens. Chapter 18 reveals how we must deal with the brothers so that we can enter into the kingdom of the heavens, whereas chapter 19 reveals that marriage life (vv.3-12) and our attitude toward riches (vv.16-30) are related to the kingdom of the heavens. Marriage life touches the matter of lust, and our attitude toward riches touches the matter of covetousness. The kingdom of the heavens rules out every trace of our lust and covetousness.  

 

Forgiveness in the kingdom of God (Matthew 18:21-35) By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Forgiveness in the kingdom of God (Matthew 18:21-35)

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce   Christian Arts Ministries 

 Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times? Jesus answered, “I tell you not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” 

Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. “The servant fell on his knees, before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, and I will pay back everything. The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

 But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him.’ Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘ Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.

When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. Then the master called the servant in.

‘You wicked servant.’ He said, ‘ I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’  In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

                 Ten thousand talents such a large amount indicates that it was impossible for the debtor to pay off the debt. This refers to the heavy debt of our sins against the Lord accumulated after we are saved. This refers to the forgiveness of our debts incurred after we are saved and become slaves of the Lord.  In the verse 28 a hundred denarii which is less than one ten thousandth of ten thousand talents. It refers to a sin committed against us by a brother after we are saved and become slaves of the Lord. When we do not forgive the brother who sins against us will grieve the other brothers, and they may bring this matter to the Lord. Verse 34 refers to the Lord’s dealing with His believers at His coming back. If we do not forgive the brother who sins against us, we will be disciplined by the Lord until we forgive him from the heart. i.e., until we repay all that is owed. Then the Lord will forgive us. This is forgiveness in the kingdom. This implies that if we do not forgive a brother from our heart today, we will not be allowed to enter into the kingdom in the coming age. 

Jesus Christ took care of His followers - coin in the fish (Matthew 17 :24-27) by Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Jesus Christ took care of His followers - coin in the fish (Matthew 17:24-27)

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce 

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music

When they came to Capernaum, those who take up the temple tax came to Peter and said, does not your teacher pay the temple tax? He said, Yes. And when he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, what do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive custom or poll tax, from their sons or from strangers? And when he said, from strangers, Jesus said, to him, so then the sons are free. But that we do not stumble them, go to the sea and cast a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. And when you open its mouth, you will find a stater, take that and give it to them for Me and you. (Matthew 17:24-27)

 On the Mount of Transfiguration Peter heard the voice from heaven, which charged him to hear Christ (Matt.17:5). If he had still remembered that word, he would have referred the poll tax gatherers’ question to Christ to hear what He would say. But he answered instead of listening to what Christ would say. Peter had spoken presumptuously. Hence, the Lord stopped him and corrected him before he began to speak to Him. Jesus said, "what do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive custom or poll tax, from their sons or from strangers? And when he said, from strangers."

 The sons of kings are always free from paying custom or poll tax. The half-shekel was paid by God’s people for His temple. Since Christ was the Son of God, He was free from paying it. This was contrary to Peter’s answer concerning this matter. Peter had received the revelation concerning Christ’s being the Son of God (Matthew 16:16-17) and had seen the vision of the Son of God (v.6) Now, in application of what he had seen, he was put to the test by the poll tax gatherers’ question. He failed in his answer because he forgot the revelation that he had received and the vision that he had seen. He forgot that the Lord was the Son of God, who, as such, did not need to pay the poll tax for His Father’s house.

 After shutting Peter’s mouth, the Lord, as the New Testament Prophet, today’s Elijah, told him to go fishing and that in so doing he would find a stater. This prophecy was fulfilled. Peter was no doubt troubled that he had to go fishing and wait for a fish to appear with a stater.

 After convincing Peter that He did not need to pay the half-shekel, the Lord, as the New Testament Lawgiver, today’s Moses, commended Peter to pay it for Him. The Lord did this purposely to teach Peter that in God’s New Testament economy He is the unique One; neither Moses nor Elijah nor Peter nor anyone else has the position to speak or to give the command.

             While the Lord was correcting the teaching Peter, He took care of his need. This is always the Lord’s way in dealing with us.

The law and the prophets were fulfilled in and by Christ (Matthew 17: 1-13) By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

The law and the prophets were fulfilled in and by Christ (Matthew 17: 1-13) 

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce 

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical Precepts & Gospel music 

In God’s economy, after Christ came, we should hear Him; we should no longer hear the law or the prophets, since the law and the prophets were fulfilled in and by Christ. The law and the prophets were shadows and prophecies, not the reality; the reality is Christ.

Since the Lord’s transfiguration occurred six days after the revelations (given at the foot of Mount Hermon) in ch.16 concerning Christ and the church, the high mountain here must be Mount Hermon. To receive the revelation concerning Christ and the church, we must be far away from the religious environment; but to see the vision of the transfigured Christ, we need to be on a high mountain, far above the earthly level.

 Moses died and God hid his body (Deut.34:5-6); Elijah was taken by God into heaven (2Kings 2:11). God purposely did these two things that Moses and Elijah might appear with Christ on the mount of His transfiguration. They were preserved by God so that they could be the two witnesses in the great tribulation (Rev.11:3-4). Moses represented the law, and Elijah, the prophets; and the law and the prophets were the constituents of the Old Testament as a full testimony of Christ (John5:39). Now Moses and Elijah appeared and conversed with Christ concerning His death (Luke9:31), which had been spoken of in the Old Testament (Luke 24:25-27,44; 1Cor.15:3) In his absurd proposal, Peter put Moses and Elijah on the same level as Christ; he made the law and the prophets equal with Christ, this was absolutely against God’s economy. In God’s economy the law and the prophets are only a testimony of Christ; they should not be put on the same level with Him. “While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, the Beloved, in whom I have found My delight. Hear Him”” (Matthew 17:5).

This declaration of the Father, given to vindicate the Son, was first spoken after Christ’s rising from baptism, which signified His resurrection from the dead. This was the second time the Father made this declaration, this time to vindicate the Son in His transfiguration, which prefigures the coming kingdom.  In God’s economy, after Christ came, we should hear Him; we should no longer hear the law or the prophets, since the law and the prophets were fulfilled in and by Christ.  

Peter proposed to keep Moses and Elijah, i.e., the law and the prophets, with Christ, but God took Moses and Elijah away, leaving no one except Jesus Himself. The law and the prophets were shadows and prophecies, not the reality; the reality is Christ. Now that Christ, the reality, is here, the shadows and prophecies are no longer needed. No one except Jesus Himself should remain in the New Testament. Jesus is today’s Moses; as such, He imparts the law of life into His believers. Jesus is also today’s Elijah; as such. He speaks for God and speaks forth God within His believers. This is God’s New Testament economy.

The vision of the transfigured, glorified Jesus can be seen clearly only in the resurrection of Christ. Verses 10-11 this was according to Mal.4:5-6. This will be fulfilled at the time of the great tribulation, when Elijah will be one of the two witnesses (Rev.11:3-4), as prophesied in Mal.4:3-12)  

 

 

 

 

Jesus' Seven Parables by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

 Jesus' Seven parables 

by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music 

         There are seven parables that Jesus spoke, three parables, concerning the outward appearance of the kingdom, were spoken publicly in a boat to the crowds (vv.2, 34), whereas the three succeeding parables were given privately in a house to the disciples (v.36).

Four parables Jesus spoke to crows in publicly 

      Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea, he spoke many things to all the crowd stood on the shore in parables publicly.

1)     First, the farmer went out to sow his seeds, some seeds fell beside the way, and the birds came and devoured them, and others fell on the rocky places, and others fell on the thorns and others felon the good soil (Matthew 13:1-23).

2)      Second, the wheat and the tares (weeds) (13:24-30)

            Disciples came to Jesus and asked “Make the parable of the tares of the field clear to us,” (Matt.3:36) Jesus answered and said, “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; and the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; and the harvest is the consummation of the age; and the reapers are angels. Therefore, just as the tares are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the consummation of the age. The Son of Man will send His angels, and they will collect out of His kingdom all the stumbling blocks and those who practice lawlessness and will cast them into the furnace of fire. In the place there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He, who has ears to hear, let him hear. (Matt.13:37-43). This parable discloses that not long after the kingdom was established through the building of the church, the situation of the kingdom of the heavens changed. The kingdom was established with the sons of the kingdom, the wheat. But the sons of the evil one, the tares, grew up to alter the situation. Hence, a difference has arisen between the kingdom of the heavens and its outward appearance. The sons of the kingdom, the wheat constitute the kingdom, whereas the sons of the evil one, the tars, have formed the outward appearance of the kingdom, which today is called Christendom.

 3)      Third, the mustard seed, (13:31-32)

         Another parable He set before them, saying, the kingdom of the heavens is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed is his field, and which is smaller than all the seeds; but when it has grown, it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of heaven come and roost in its branches.

The fruit of the wheat in the first two parables and the fruit of the mustard seed here in the third parable are for food. This indicates that the kingdom people, the constituents of the kingdom are of the church should be like a crop that produces food for the satisfaction of God and man.  The church which is the embodiment of the kingdom should be like an herb that produces food. However, its nature and function were changed, so that it became a “tree” a lodging place for birds. This is against the law of God’s creation, that is, that every plant must be after its kind (Gen.1:11-12). This change happened in the first part of the fourth century, when Constantine the Great mixed the church with the world. He brought thousands of false believers into Christianity, making it Christendom, no longer the church. Hence, this third parable corresponds with the third of the seven churches in Rev.2 and 3, the church is Pergamos (Rev.2:12-27).

            The mustard is an annual herb, whereas the tree is a perennial plan. The church, according to its heavenly and spiritual nature, should be like the mustard, sojourning on the earth. But with its nature changed, the church became deeply rooted and settled as a tree in the earth, flourishing with it enterprises as the branches in which many evil persons and things are lodged. This resulted in the formation of the outward organization of the outward appearance of the kingdom of the heaven.  

4)      Fourth, the yeast (leaven) ( 13:33) 

            The kingdom of the heavens is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal until the whole was leavened.(Matt.13:33). In the scriptures leaven signifies evil things (1 Cor.5:6,8) and evil doctrines (16:6,11-12). The church as the practical kingdom of the heavens, which Christ, the unleavened fine flour, as its content, must be a loaf of unleavened bread (1 Cor. 5:7-8). However, the Catholic Church, which was fully and officially formed in the sixth century and which is signified by the woman here, took in many pagan practices, heretical doctrines, and evil matters and mixed them with the teachings concerning Christ, leavening the whole content of Christianity. This mixture became the corrupted content of the outward appearance of the kingdom of the heavens. This fourth parable corresponds with the fourth of the seven churches in Rev.2 and 3, the church in Thyatira (Rev.2:18-29).  

 Three parables - Jesus was given privately in a house to the disciples.

Ø  Fifth, the hidden treasure (13:44)

     This indicates that the things covered by these latter three parables are more hidden. The first parable concerns a treasure hidden in the field. The treasure hidden in the field must consist of gold or precious stones, the materials for the building of the church and the New Jerusalem (1 Cor.3:12; Rev.21: 18-20). Since the church is the practical kingdom today, and since the New Jerusalem will be the kingdom in manifestation in the coming age, the treasure hidden in the field must signify the kingdom hidden on God’s created earth.

Ø  Sixth, the pearl of great price (13:45-46)

 Matthew 13:44, the field is the earth created by God for His kingdom. The man is Christ, who found the kingdom of the heavens in 4:12-12:23, hid it in 12:24-13:43, and in His joy went to cross in 16:21;17:22-23;20:18-19 and 26:1-27:52 to sell all that He had and to buy the field, i.e., redeem the created and lost earth, for the kingdom. Matthew 13:45-46 the kingdom of the heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.  The merchant also is Christ, who was seeking the church for His kingdom. After finding it in 16:18 and 18:17, He went to the cross and sold all that He had and brought it for the kingdom.

 The pearl, produced in the death waters (the world filled with death) by the living oyster (the living Christ) that is wounded by a little rock (the sinner) and secretes its life-juice around the wounding rock (the believer Rev.21), is material for the building of the New Jerusalem. Since the pearl comes out of the sea, which signifies the world corrupted by Satan (Isa.57:20; Rev.17:15), it must refer to the church, which is constituted mainly of regenerated believers from the Gentile world, and which is of great value.

Ø  Seventh, the net (13:47-50)

          Matthew 13: 47, this parable corresponds with that in 25:32-46. The net here signifies not the gospel of grace, which is preached in the church age, but the eternal gospel, which will be preached to the Gentile world during the great tribulation (Rev.14:6-7). The sea signifies the Gentile world. Every species signifies all the nations, all the Gentiles (25:32).

 

Confess your sin so you may be healed by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Confess your sin so you may be healed   

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce    

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music

Date: October 26,2025

Messiah Jesus Christ spent at least two-thirds of His time healing the sick. It indicates that God’s nature is to heal, to set the captive free…to make people whole. Others called these miracles; Jesus called them “The works of my Father.” Jesus was sent so the healing nature of the Father would be seen working in Him. God wanted ALL His people to be in health. He said, “I am the Lord that healeth thee” (Exodus15:26). He said, “I will take sickness away from the midst of thee” (Exodus 23:25) He said, “Neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling”(Psalm 91:10). Also God described himself as the One “Who healeth all thy diseases” (Psalm 103:3). 

James says: “Is there any sick among you? Let the sick call for the leaders of the church to pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord (Jesus).” And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up.” God put both His healing streams here: medical help and prayer help both ordained of God. But He put the responsibility on the sick to think of God as the Source of their healing by calling for Christian leaders to pray. God wants you healed, raised up from your sickness, restored to health today in the same way as Jesus did while He was on earth, and as the early Christians did.  James says that “we should in our illnesses” confess our sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed. The petition of a righteous man avails much in its working.” (James 5:16).

Jesus appointed out the sin of blaspheming against the Spirit will not be forgiven. He said, “Therefore, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, neither in this age nor in the one to come.”(Matthew12:31-32). Blaspheming the Spirit differs from insulting the Spirit (Heb.10:29). To insult the Spirit is to disobey Him willfully. Many believers do this. If they confess their sin, they will be forgiven and cleansed by the Lord Jesus’ blood (1 john 1:7,9). But to blaspheme the Spirit is to slander Him, as the Pharisees did in Matthew 12:24. It was by the Spirit that the Lord cast out a demon. But the Pharisees, seeing it, said that the Lord cast out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons. This was blasphemy against the Spirit. By such blasphemy the Pharisees’ rejection of the heavenly King reached its climax. 

 In the economy of the Triune God, the Father conceived the plan of redemption (Eph.1:5,9), the Son accomplished redemption according to the Father’s plan(1Pet.2:24;Gal.1:4), and the Spirit reaches sinners to apply the redemption accomplished by the Son (1 Cor.6:11;1 Pet.1:2). If a sinner blasphemes the Son, as Saul of Tarsus did, the Spirit will still have the ground to work on him and cause him to repent and believe in the Son that he may be forgiven (1 Tim.1:13-16). But if a sinner blasphemes the Spirit, the Spirit will have no ground to work on him, and there will be no one left to cause him to repent and believe.

In God’s governmental administration His forgiveness is dispensational. For His administration He has planned different ages. The period from the first coming of Christ to eternity is divided dispensational into three ages.

First, this age, the present one, from Christ’s first coming to His second coming.

Second, the coming age, the millennium, the one thousand years for restoration and heavenly reigning from Christ’s second coming to the end of the old heaven and old hearth.

Third, eternity- the eternal age of the new heaven and new earth. God’s forgiveness in this age is for sinners’ eternal salvation. This forgiveness is given to both sinners and believers. God’s forgiveness in the coming age is related to the believers’ dispensational reward. If after being saved a believer commits a sin but will not make a clearance through confession and the cleansing of the Lord Jesus’ blood (1 John 1:7,9) before he dies or the Lord comes back, the sin will not be forgiven in this age but will remain and will be judged at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor.5:10). In such a case, the believer will not be rewarded with the kingdom, i.e., will not participate with Christ in the glory and joy in the manifestation of the kingdom of the heavens, but will be disciplined so that the sin is cleared, and will be forgiven in the coming age (Matt.18:23-25). This kind of forgiveness will maintain this believer’s eternal salvation but will not qualify him to participate in the glory and joy of the coming kingdom (the millennium, the one thousand years for restoration and heavenly reigning from Christ’s second coming to the end of the old heaven and old earth. Therefore, confess your sins if you are saved as a believer yet commit the sins; you need to make a clearance through confession and the cleansing of the Lord Jesus’ blood.

 James says that “we should in our illnesses” confess our sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed. This Monday, my husband and I went to pray for my follow friends, I anointed them with oil in the name of the Lord Jesus, and declared the word of God for healing. This is my personal seed-faith prayer; I plant a seed of faith by praying for the other sick person not only for her healing, but for God to multiply that seed back for my household healing.

My friends, do you want to be healed, first you must to confess your sins to one another, and then make your confession of faith for healing for each other. This is your own powerful seed-faith prayer; you plant a seed of faith by praying for the other sick person not only for his healing, but for God to multiply that seed back for your healing which is a two –way prayer.  God has sent me and others to pray for your healing. God wants you to be healed and to be in health. You and I have responsibilities to maintain in health, and be in health until we go home to be with God.

Most important, we shall confess our sins before we die or before the Lord comes back. The sin will be forgiven in this age, and we will participate with Christ in the glory and joy in the manifestation of the kingdom of the heavens (In the millennium kingdom). If you are saved as a believer, commit sin and did not confess and cleaned by the blood of Jesus before you die or the Lord comes back, the sin will not be forgiven in this age but will remain and you will be judged at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10). Which mean although you are saved as a believer, but you will not be rewarded with the kingdom, will not participate with Christ in the glory and joy in the manifestation of the kingdom of the heaven. You will be disciplined so that the sin is cleared and will be forgiven in the coming age. So, my friends, confess your sin before you die or before the Lord Christ comes back and be healed!   

Message: An exhortation to repent by Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

 Message: An exhortation to repent

 By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music                                      

Date: September 25, 2025

 

            According to Leviticus 23:23-44 Three Festivals occurred in the seventh month   (Tishri, Sept.- Oct.) 1) Trumpet blasts, 2) Atonements, and 3)Tabernacles. The blowing of a trumpet (The shofar or ram's horn) on the first day signaled the beginning of the civil New Year- Rosh Hashanah (Num.29:1-16). On the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month the Lord's Feast of Tabernacles begins, it lasts for seven days.   

  Day of the Lord         

             Joel’s prophecy of future desolation in Joel 2:1-11, the locust army is regarded as a foretaste of an invading army in the Day of the Lord. “Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming.  It is close at hand, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was of old nor ever will be in ages to come…”(Joel 2: 1-2) in the tribulation period. The future reference may be to the demon-locusts described in Rev.9:1-12 or to the invasion of the king of the North (Ezek.38:15; Dan.11:40). Resembling the Garden of Eden before the invasion, the land of Palestine will be reduced to a wilderness afterward (v.3). The same disturbances described in verse 10 “Before them the earth shakes, the sky trembles, the sun and moon are darkened, and the starts no longer shine” are predicted in Rev.6:12-13;8:12. The Lord thunders at the head of His army; His forces are beyond number and mighty are those who obey His command. The Day of the Lord great; it is dreadful who can endure it?” (Joel 2:11).    

 Joel’s exhortation to repent

         Joel’s exhortation to repent, he calls to personal repentance that comes from the heart, and call to national repentance in a sacred assembly from which on one, not even babies or newlyweds, would be exempt (Deut.24:5). In Joel 2: 12-14 says,

             “Even now”, declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing –grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God.” (Joel 2:12)

Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. Gather the people; consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber. Let the priests, who minister before the Lord, weep between the temple porch and the altar. Let them say, “Spare your people, O Lord. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, “where is their God?” (Joel 2:15-17)

Zephaniah’s prophecy,

Zephaniah predicted the doom of heathen nations, both immediately (as Nineveh, which fell in 612) and in the future (3:8) the book closes with a glorious description of the future Millennium (also an aspect of the Day of the Lord.) Day of the Lord (Joel 2:1-11; Isa.13:6-13) the soon –coming captivity, in which Judah would be the sacrifice and the nations guests in Babylon, was but a preview of the much worse punishment of the still future Day of the Lord (Matt.6:24).

He said, “Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near. The Lord has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited. On the day of the Lord’s sacrifice I will punish the princes and the king’s sons and all those clad in foreign clothes. On that day I will punish all who avoid stepping on the threshold, who fill the temple of their gods with violence and deceit.” (Zephaniah 1: 7-9)

        “At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who are like wine left on its dregs, who think, “The Lord will do nothing, either good or bad.” Their wealth will be plundered, their houses demolished. They will build houses but not live in them; they will plant vineyards but not drink the wine.” (Zephaniah 1:12-13) 

         The great day of the Lord is near- near and coming quickly. Listen! The cry on the day of the Lord will be bitter, the shouting of the warrior there.

             That day will be a day of wrath,

              A day of distress and anguish,

              A day of trouble and ruin,

              A day of darkness and gloom,

              A day of clouds and blackness,

              A day of trumpet and battle cry, against the fortified cities and against the corner towers.  I will bring distress on the people and they will walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like filth. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath. In the fire of His jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for He will make a sudden end of all who live on the earth.  (Zephaniah 1:14-18)

 Zephaniah’s exhortation to repent

        Zephaniah urges people to repent, and gather together,

             1)  Before the appointed time arrives and that day sweeps on like chaff,

               2) Before the fierce anger of the Lord comes upon you,

              3) Before the day of the Lord’s wrath comes upon you.

             4) Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands.

             5) Seek righteousness, seek humility, perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the    Lord’s anger.   

                   Psalm 81 This psalm, associated with the Feast of Tabernacles (Lev.23:34-43) opens with a summons to praise (vv.1-5), continues with an exhortation to remember(vv.6-10), and concludes with a call to repent (vv.11-16). Verse 3 The New Moon. The beginning of the seventh month, when the trumpet was blown (Lev.23:24). When the moon is full. On the fifteenth day, when the Feast of Tabernacles began. Verse 5 the language they did not know is Egypt was the call to liberation from Egypt of verse 6.          

Psalm 81 :1-16

Sing for joy to God our strength, shout aloud to the God of Jacob! Begin the music, strike the tambourine, play the melodious harp and lyre. Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon, and when the moon is full, on the day of our Feast; this is a decree for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob. He established it as a statute for Joseph when he went out against Egypt, where we heard a language, we did not understand. (vv.1-5).        

He says, “I removed the burden from their shoulders; their hands were set free from the basket.” In your distress you called and I rescued you, I answered you out of a thundercloud; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. (vv.6-7).

Hear, O my people, and I will warn you --- if you would but listen to me, O Israel! You shall have no foreign god among you; you shall not down to an alien god. I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it. (vv.8-10).

But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices. “ If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways, how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes! (vv.11-14).

Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever. But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” (vv.15-16).

    During three Festivals in the seventh month (Tishri, Sept.- Oct.) Trumpets blasts, Atonements, and Tabernacles, it’s important for us to repent of the sins, pride, wickedness, arrogance, violence, haughty, deceitfulness, drunkenness and idolatry. Seek the Lord, seek righteousness, seek humility, and humble before the Lord, fear the Lord, perhaps we may be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger and wrath. His compassion, forgiveness, mercy may pour out to us and bless us.  Be ready for the Day of the Lord, means to repent your sins, be holy, be pure, be clean, be whole, be true, and be faithful and pursue righteousness. The Day of the Lord is near and coming quickly.  Be ready! 

Bibliography,

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

 

Message: Our condolence to Charlie Kirk and his family by Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

 Message: Our condolence to Charlie Kirk and his family

 By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce 

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical Precepts & Gospel music              Date: September 13, 2025     

 

  Our condolence to Charlie Kirk and his family, it was a horrifying assassination on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. He was shot and killed by a valence young man Tyler Robinson during a campus event at Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem. When we watched TBN program at 7:00pm, and heard the news, we were shocked and heartbroken by this tragic loss of Charlie Kirk who was only 31 years old, a passionate young brother, who expressed and defended the Word of God and debated for the conservative ideology and notion, he also hosted a TV program in TNB. We pray for Charlie Kirk’s soul to find rest and peace in the arms of God. And the Word of God and his faith in Jesus Christ will be the firm foundation of his salvation; Jesus will face to face meet him, and give him an answer why this tragic loss happened to him?   

In John 17:14 Jesus said, “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your WORD and the WORLD has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.”(John17:13-14).  Jesus Christ does not teach withdrawal from the world but that Christians should be in the world but not of it (vv.14-16). Jesus prayed, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your WORD is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” (John17:15-18).

            Jesus encourages His disciples and followers in Matthew 10:28-29; Luke10:18-20; Revelation 21:4, it states, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.” (Matt.10:28-29).  “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy, nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:18-20).  He will wipe every tear from their eyes; there will be no more death or mourning, or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. (Rev.21:4)

Darkness never overcomes the Light of Christ. The suspect in the Charlie Kirk murder has been identified as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson. Robinson is a Utah resident. President Trump announced that an arrest had been made in the manhunt for Charlie Kirk's murder. By the helper of Tyler Robinson’s father who recognized his photo and confronted him, Tyler Robinson confessed to his father about the killing, and his father encouraged him to turn himself in, and reached out to a youth pastor who knew someone who works in the U.S. Marshals service, the suspect was arrested on Friday. 

 When Jesus said, “I have told you these things so that in ME you may have peace, in this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16:33). There are three aspects of this consequence.

First, general trials that come simply because we live in a sinful world (Rom.8:35-36). But in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us. If God is for us, who can be against us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written “For your sake we face death all day long we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

 Second, afflictions that God allows to come into our lives (2 Cor.12:7). There was given Apostle Paul a thorn in his flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment him. Three times he pleaded with the Lord to take it away from him. But the Lord said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul views physical affliction, (Migraine headaches, eye trouble (ophthalmia), malaria and epilepsy have been seriously suggested (Gal.4:12-15)) as the work of Satan, permitted by God for a good purpose (keeping him humble) it could not be relieved through prayer.(2Cor.12:8).

 Third, Chastisement that comes more directly from God (Heb.12:6) because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son. As Esau (Gen25:33) though he may not have been immoral in the physical sense, Esau was immoral in the spiritual sense, being worldly and materialist

          Today, we take heart! For we know that Jesus has overcome the world. The intercession of the son of God- Jesus had prayed for us 2000 years ago, He prayed for our protection, sanctification, glorification, and unification.

         First, He said, " Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name- the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one, while I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me."

        Second, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the EVIL ONE. They are not of the world even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your WORD is TRUTH. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified."

        Third, "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one, I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

           Christians in this generation, what is the most challenging lesson?  Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount about the characteristics of disciples in Luke 6:22-36 is the most difficult lesson, and challenges disciples to be the doers perfectly as Father is perfect in heaven. How many believers can be perfect to fulfill what Jesus commanded? You may answer “none of us”, for it is too hard to do that, especially when you get hurt. But the Holy Spirit is able to transform your inner being day by day, year after year. Your heart of attitude will be changed by His divine power; the matter is that you are willing to turn your hearts to Jesus Christ and surrender your hurts to the Lord; the Lord will heal you in His time. For by His stripes, you will be healed. 

         This is the great Sermon of Jesus,

         “Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and lead for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.” (Luke 6:22-23) 

        “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:27-31)

         If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners’ do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:32-36).