Sin No More

Hear the words of Jesus to the infirmed man at the Temple, “Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” (John 5:14)

These words provide a grim reality of the devastation of sin since the Fall of man at the Garden of Eden. The curse of sin upon mankind is the cause of physical diseases and eventually death. What a sad state of helplessness and hopelessness if the curse of sin cannot be lifted. The curse of sin was lifted for this impotent man lying by the pool in Bethesda when he met Jesus that day. He has been plagued with thirty-eight long years of weariness and pain, an unbearable state of constant suffering. [JC Ryle]

That freedom from the bondage of sin must cause him to be grateful and choose wisely not to meddle with sin. Jesus says to him, “… sin no more, lest a worse thing come to thee.” Jesus speaks here of God’s future judgment that comes in this man’s life if he chooses to go the way of sinners again. It is a stark warning to cherish his freedom and yield not to temptation. In other words, may the fear of God cause him to depart from evil all the rest of his days on earth.

Living Water – John 4

Jesus passed through the city of Sychar in Samaria for an appointment with a woman at Jacob’s well. It was midday when Jesus, being wearied from his journey, asked the woman drawing water at the well, “Give me to drink”. The woman was surprised knowing that Jesus was a Jew, for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans (John 6:9). Jesus identified Himself as One that can offer her living water for whosoever drinks of the water that He will give him shall never thirst. Living water is fresh spring water as opposed to stagnant water. Jesus explained this “living water” that He would give her shall be in her a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

The woman, of course, requested Jesus for this living water – John 4:15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

Jesus initiated a process that will open the fountain of living water for her consumption. How did Jesus do that?

He first sought to treat the spiritual ailment in her life. She was seeking for true love and until she met Jesus, has not found it.

John 4:16Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.

The woman’s reply was that she has no husband. This was not true. For Jesus pointed out to her that she has had five husbands.

John 4:17-18 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: 18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

She realized that Jesus was no ordinary man. Jesus could understand her heart’s cry. She sought to find the love and peace of home life through marriage but has been fumbling in this area. By it, it exposed her inadequacy of to run her life and she felt miserable. Jesus is offering her the divine wisdom needed to stabilize her life, a life with God. Inadvertently, she reckoned that it has to do with being connected with the worship of God the Father in heaven.

Bread of Life

Jesus says in John 6:48, 51, “48 I am the Bread of life… 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world…

Jesus tells us that He is the Bread of life. Like the manna that miraculously fed the Israelites during the Exodus, He, likewise, came from heaven. However, He provides that perpetual feeding whereas the manna provided only a temporal feeding to their forefathers whilst they were in the wilderness. The feeding that Jesus Himself supplies does not cease. Jesus imparts eternal life. Jesus uses an example in the physical realm to explain the spiritual realm. Jesus illustrated that power when He fed the 5000 besides women and children with five loaves and two fishes.

(1) CONTINUAL RELATIONSHIP

6Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.(Phil. 4:6-7 KJV)

The call to cast our burdens upon the Lord requires continual reminder, prompting and perseverance on the part of the believer. To build a holy habit of complete dependence upon God is His desire for all His children. It is apt to remind ourselves to move from anxious fear to actual faith through prayer that Jesus may carry our burdens.

(1) Gospel Rally 2018

Gospel Rally 2018_Come Unto Me

On the Lord’s Day 2 September 2018 at 3 pm, God willing, we shall have our Gospel Rally.

The theme of the Gospel Rally “Come Unto Me” are the words of our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Pray that the Lord will be gracious to help us invite friends and loved ones to hear the message of the gospel.

Pray that the Lord be gracious to save souls for His honour and glory.

Know the Truth of Man’s Origin

Genesis 1:1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Gen. 1:1 KJV)

26And God said,Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Gen. 1:26-27 KJV)

When God made the universe, the earth was the focus! When God made the earth, man was the focus! Man was made to have dominion on all of God’s creation on earth. Man only, out of all of God’s creation, is specially made in the image of God. When we look at the human body and the world around us, we see the work of a Grand Designer, there are beauty and order in creation.

The earth and the planets in the solar system move in their designated orbit. The orderliness of the vast universe gives testimony to a great God as the Creator and Grand Designer!

(1) Now Thank We All Our God

– Revival Hymns and Chorus No. 27

This hymn of gratitude, often known as the Te Deum of Germany and England, was not written as a choral hymn, but as a grace to be sung before meals in the author’s home. In every stanza is the thought of Psalm 103:1-2, 4: “ Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name… and forget not all his benefits: Who redeemeth thy life from destruction…”

Devotion and Updates

We have begun studying the book of Proverbs both in our daily devotional guide and Lord’s Day sermon since the beginning of the year. Crossing the mid-point of the year, we are into July and racing towards the end of the year, I encourage you to take time for a spiritual stock-take. How are you faring in your spiritual walk? I pray that you are appropriating God’s Word for daily spiritual sustenance, guidance and strength. Unless we take time to read and meditate upon the Bible and pray daily, our spiritual growth will be stunted. I encourage you to press on, seeking to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (Matt. 5:6 KJV)

The Solid Rock

– Revival Hymns and Chorus No. 317

Hymnologist suggests 1 Corinthians 3:11 as the basis for this hymn: 11For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.(1 Cor. 3:11 KJV)

Bishop Bickersteth an outstanding hymnist, called it “a grand hymn of faith.” “The Solid Rock” as this hymn was called, was written in 1834 and first published anonymously in leaflet form and in various papers. In 1836 it appeared in Mr. Mote’s Hymns of Praise and was entitled “The Immutable Basis of a Sinner’s Hope.” When arguments began to arise about the authorship, Mr. Mote decided to acknowledge the words as his own.

The chorus and stanza 1 of the hymn came to Mr. Mote as he was on his way to work. He says, “I began to meditate on “the gracious experience of a Christian.” Soon the chorus, and then the first stanza, came into my mind. On the following Sunday, as I came out of Lisle Street meeting, Brother King invited me to his home to try to encourage his critically ill wife. I had early tea that day; then I went to the King’s home.

Mr King said, “Before I go to a meeting I always sing a hymn, read Scripture, and pray. Will you join me?” He searched in vain for a hymnbook. I said, “I have some verses in my pocket, Brother King. If you like, we can sing them.” Mrs King’s heart responded to the words, and Mr. King asked me to leave a copy with her. Back at home, I sat by the fireside, musing upon Mrs King’s reaction to the hymn; and soon the entire hymn was clear in my mind. I committed the words to paper, making a fresh copy for Mrs. King. Later the thought came to me that as these verses had met this dying woman’s needs, perhaps they would help someone else. So I had a thousand leaflets printed for distribution.”