Sunday, December 14, 2014
Who is Jesus Christ?
Topic: Gospel
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (John 1:1-5 KJV)
It is very obvious that many of us may believe that Jesus was born on the first Christmas. However, if we read all four gospel accounts in the New Testament, there is no single mentioned that Jesus was born during the winter season, but during the springtime (see Luke 2:1-15). “…the early church did not celebrate Christ's birth, but such celebration only came into the church with the ‘Christianization’ of pagan rites as Catholicism was made the state religion by Constantine in the fourth century A.D.” (Should a Christian Celebrate Christmas?.) There are other reasons about why few Christian churches do not celebrate this modern day Christian holiday. For more exploration on this subject, please visit MGJC Web Ministries at www.mgjcweb.org and click Holidays.
Apostle Paul proclaimed that Jesus was the beginning of everything in heaven and in earth (Colossians 1:15-17). This confirms what John said about the Word (Logo). Jesus came to the world, so He can lead us to the light from the darkness of our sins. He said in John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” I have heard one of the televangelists said that Jesus only taught about the kingdom of heaven, not about Himself. This is non-sense. Throughout the Gospel of John, we read that Jesus is the way, life, resurrection, shepherd, and more. We can put our values as the first priority, but there is no hope for us to receive eternal security than through Jesus Christ. I love what Paul said in Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” There is no other substitution to receive that kind of love.
I don’t mind how Christians suppose to celebrate Christmas, but it is our responsibility to turn on our lights on other persons to show the way to have personal relationship with God.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EST
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Now Playing: The Road to the Gift of Salvation
Topic: Gospel
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12 KJV)
It is significant that the most people want to go to Heaven, but they don’t like to see the death bed. Instead, they believe that there are many ways to Heaven. Operah Winfrey, President Barak Obama, Faith Building Pastor Joe Osteen and some today’s evangelical preachers said that there are other ways to God. Why?
Even though many evangelical preachers may believe that they preach the truth of the Words of God, they may use a very small percentage of the biblical references in their sermon. It is sad that the most televangelists teach on Christian living and how to become rich beings. When I listen to Joe Osteen’s messages, I hardly hear messages on salvation, spiritual discernment, sins, God’s wrath, and His discipline methods toward us. Listen to what Joe Osteen told in his interview with Larry King on June 20, 2005:
KING: But you're not fire and brimstone, right? You're not pound the decks and hell and dam nation?
OSTEEN: No. That's not me. It's never been me. I've always been an encourager at heart. And when I took over from my father he came from the Southern Baptist background and back 40, 50 years ago there was a lot more of that. But, you know, I just -- I don't believe in that. I don't believe -- maybe it was for a time. But I don't have it in my heart to condemn people. I'm there to encourage them. I see myself more as a coach, as a motivator to help them experience the life God has for us.
Motivator speaker? Even though we need to hear some encouragement words from the pastor, we also need to hear the message on the negative side, so we could be aware of our actions toward God and people. Throughout the books of Gospel, we read that the most teachings of Jesus are about the hell and sin. About nine years later of Osteen’s interview with Larry King, his preaching method didn’t change much. Without the biblical discernment message, the church maybe in a high risk of losing their gift of salvation and spend eternity with God. Building a multibillionaire mega church doesn’t mean that the preacher proclaims the truth. Paul said in II Timothy 4:3-4, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” We need both encouraging and discernment messages in order to retain our gifts of salvation and do our parts.
Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Praying a Rose Mary Prayer or Lord’s Prayer doesn’t guarantee that God is listening to our prayer. The gift of salvation means that we have totally accessed to Him. We do not need to have appointment with priests or pastors to confess our sins. That was from the Old Testament era. The priest or pastor does not have the power to forgive our sins, but he can show us how to pray to God. Jesus said in John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” Not Virgin Mother Mary, Buddha, Hindu, or any gods that were created by men can save us from the darkness of sins. Only Jesus. He is the only Savior who can forgive our sins and lead us to the light. Even though Virgin Mary gave Jesus a birth, it doesn’t mean that she is the mother of Church. There is no biblical reference that God gave Mary this divine power. We need to give respect to Virgin Mary, but it doesn’t mean that we need to worship and pray to her. Otherwise, we would be breaking the one of the Ten Commandments if we’d idolize Mary as co-equal with God.
Let me ask you a question. Do you have your relationship with the Heavenly Father? If not, I like to encourage you to develop your personal relationship with Jesus Christ today. First, confess your sins and invite Jesus Christ to your life. Paul said in Romans 10:9-11, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” There is no sinner prayer formula. Instead, you just talk to God at where you are now. Secondly, I’d like to encourage you to find a good solid biblical teaching church and Christian friends. They can help you to build strong relationship with God. If you’d need further assistance, you can email me at or visit my ministries website at www.mgjcweb.org for further resources.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 4:11 PM EST
Monday, November 10, 2014
Sanctification of the Cross
Topic: Gospel
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God… (Hebrews 10:10-12 KJV)
Why Jesus died on the cross? The Bible said that He faced the most painful death penalty ever. Isaiah 53:3-5 says, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” He didn’t deserve the painful capitol punishment for our sins, but He did. Paul said in Romans 5:8, “…God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Hebrews 10:10 said that “we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” His death set free us from sins. His death drew us near to God. Jesus didn’t just hang on the cross and died. I have hardly to see the cross with Jesus on the church wall. This shows some humiliation. The Bible said that after Jesus died on the cross, He resurrected back to life with His new body. Even though His scars were still in His hands and feet, He received His new physical body. We cannot comprehend on this until we, too, would receive our new bodies. I encourage you to read I Corinthians 15 to see some glimpses of what our new bodies look like.
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ helps us to reunite with God. We need to separate ourselves from the darkness of sins. We can’t do this ourselves until the Holy Spirit would intervene with us. Romans 8:26 says, “…for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” We can have experienced eternal life with God now, not just waiting for God would take us to Heaven.
Do you have your relationship with the Heavenly Father? If not, I like to encourage you to develop your personal relationship with Jesus Christ today. First, confess your sins and invite Jesus Christ to your life. Paul said in Romans 10:9-11, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” There is no sinner prayer formula. Instead, you just talk to God at where you are now. Secondly, I’d like to encourage you to find a good solid biblical teaching church and Christian friends. They can help you to build strong relationship with God. If you’d need further assistance, you can email me at mgjcwebminstries@mgjcweb.org or visit my ministries website at www.mgjcweb.org for further resources.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EST
Thursday, September 18, 2014
The Day of Pentecost
Topic: Gospel
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. (Acts 2:1-5 KJV)
What was the day of Pentecost for the twelve apostles and what it means to us today? The word Pentecost means fiftieth day. It is the second of the three great Jewish feasts, celebrated at Jerusalem yearly, the seventh week after the Passover, in grateful recognition of the completed harvest. As we read in Acts 2, we see that there was something great event about to take a place. Even though we are not biblical theologians, we need to understand how the Church began and made widespread to the whole world.
The books of Gospel didn’t end with the great commission that Jesus gave to the apostles, or the Book of Acts didn’t end with Paul’s journeyed to Rome, Italy. In fact, the Book of Acts doesn’t have ending until Jesus would return to the earth to take His Church. We are the bodies of His Church. In I Corinthians 6:19, Paul declared that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost. In the beginning of the universe, we were in the temple of God. As we read in Genesis 2-3, Adam and Eve talked with God easily as we can talk with each other today. Adam and Eve were in the temple of God. But, now, we are the temple of God. We need to invite Him into our lives to have relationship with Him. God just cannot come into our lives to take over. No, He didn’t do that at the Garden of Eden and He doesn’t do with us today. We need to understand that God is a loving Father, but He is also our Judge and Advocate.
The Day of Pentecost didn’t start with hundreds of people as in Azusa Street in 1906, but few (between 12 to 20). Apostles and few women were in one small house. They didn’t come out until the Holy Spirit began to move on them. We just read that in Acts 2:4, “…they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” We do not know what other languages they spoke than Hebrew and Greek. But it was the day of harvest was completed. Throughout the four books of the Gospel, we read that Jesus called the first twelve disciples to be the fisher of men. The number twelve means the government. Jesus called His disciples to lead the world with the Gospel and message of the hope that they can reunite with God. Jesus stayed on the earth, after His resurrection for fifty days, to train His disciples to lead others to the light of the gospel.
What is your completion of harvest? Are you sowing the seed by sharing your testimony of faith with your family and friends? We all have received seed from God to make multiplication; and it is up to us what to do about it. We can sow our seeds wisely to make double, three, or more seeds; or hide it and use it unwisely.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 10:10 PM EDT
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Basic Understanding of the Cross
Topic: Gospel
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. (Luke 9:23-24 KJV)
Almost two thousand years ago, God brought His Son, Jesus, to us to die for our sins on the cross. Between Him, there were two thieves that represented us—rebellion and rejection. Let’s explore what these two thieves have to do with us.
Rebellion: Throughout the Bible, especially in the Old Testament, people were stubborn and not willing to listen to God. In the Book of Exodus, the people of Israel had always complained to Moses to get something, even though God provided them food and shelter while they journeyed to the Promise Land. Even though we did not have forty years on the desert, we still rebel against God. During the last couple decades, we continue see that our nation has turned against God. Since the Oklahoma bombing in mid-90s, we continually see that our school systems are not safe for the students to learn to prepare for their future. Our Christian kids are not safe to express their beliefs publicly; instead, they fight for their rights with the help of ACLJ in the courtroom.
Rejection: Since the Obama and his administration took over White House, we see that our nation has rejected God and made itself as the pagan nation. Even before they took the office, our nation slowly went further away from God. I’m not taking any political side, because either republican, democratic, or independent have not really wake themselves up to repair the damages that this nation made. Why? We are arguing about which the political party is fault rather than showing them some possible solutions. Nowadays, America has turned against the traditional marriage and family; instead, people can have any type of relationship, such as same-sex, with animal, and multi-marriage relationship within the family. We also can’t tell which churches that represent the true Word of God, because some churches have adopted the ungodly laws that the Congress and President have approved them.
If we watch any Christian TV and radio programs, we don’t hear teaching on the cross, salvation, sanctification, hell, heaven, and justification. Instead, their teachings are on Christian living, prosperity, and improving self-esteem. Today’s messages are not like 50 or hundreds years ago. Some of us may have forgotten how to seek God. One of myths that the most people believe is that if the person is American, he or she is considered as Christian. That’s 100% fault. Paul said in Romans 10:9-10, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” We need to have relationship with God through Jesus Christ. You cannot have boy/girlfriend without establishing relationship with someone first. This is same with God. He has feeling for us. He wants to have an intimacy relationship with each of us. But we need to let our idols go and take His cross to follow Him.
This is why His cross is represented as Redemption. Jesus set us free from the darkness of sins. I don’t know what problems you are facing today, but Jesus is willing to take care of your problems if you’d let Him. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Being a Christian is not about joining a religious group or cult, but having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Are you willing to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? If you do, I love to hear from you. You can email me at mgjcwebminstries@mgjcweb.org or visit MGJC Web Ministries at www.mgjcweb.org/contact-ministry.html.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Monday, May 19, 2014
What is Being a Christian?
Topic: Gospel
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. (John 15:13-15 KJV)
What is your definition of being a Christian or follower of Jesus Christ? The secular definition of Christian means that if you live a good life and helping other people, you are a follower of Jesus Christ. Really? This would mean that all Catholics are going to Heaven automatically. Unfortunately, this is not truly meaning of being a Christian. Anybody can be a good Samaritan. Even if you are a Roman Catholicism, Mormonism, or Jehovah Witness, you can do good works for the people in the community.
Unfortunately, there is one element that separates Christianity from Catholicism, Mormonism, Jehovah Witness, and other religions. That is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Apostle Paul said in Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” There is no other gods who died for their love ones than Jesus Christ. On the third day, He resurrected and ascent to Heaven after fifty days (Pentecost).
Jesus has called us friends, because He wants relationship with us. Throughout the Bible, God showed His love and mercy toward His people. Even though He disciplined His people, He showed them His love and care for them.
God planned to send His Son, Jesus Christ, to us to pay our sins, so we can have free access to God and develop personal relationship with Him. Would you like to have personal relationship with God? If you’d like to know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, I’d like to encourage you to do two simple things. First, confess your sins and invite Jesus Christ to your life. Paul said in Romans 10:9-11, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” There is no sinner prayer formula. Instead, you just talk to God at where you are now. Secondly, I’d like to encourage you to find a good solid biblical teaching church and Christian friends. They can help you to build strong relationship with God. If you’d need further assistance, you can email me at mgjcwebminstries@mgjcweb.org or visit my ministries website at www.mgjcweb.org for further resources.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Sunday, January 5, 2014
How to Become Family of God?
Topic: Gospel
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12 KJV)
I’d like to discuss with you on becoming family of God. I believe that the churches have lost the basic teaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Instead, many preachers may teach more on how to become a wealthy Christian or how to get stuffs from God. That is what we called robber or thief. Malachi 3:8-9 says, “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.”
I know that the Roman Catholic Church has some religious rituals or several steps to become a member of the church. Some of you may know that I use Romans 10:9-10 as invitation to join the family of God. It says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” You don’t need to go through priest to confess your sin to God or pray to the Virgin Mother Mary. These are useless. I Timothy 2:5-6 says, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” Jesus did not come to the earth and just die for our sins, but to establish His relationship with each of us. There is different to join the church and to join the family of God. To join the church means that you stay for the service to receive for the week. But to join the family of God means that you are establishing relationship with other believers in the church and outside the church throughout the week.
We have created so many denominational churches that bring divisions within the house of God. Paul said in I Corinthians 14:33, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” Some of you may disagree with me and that’s okay, but you may need to double check with the Scriptures. God’s words cannot be voided or changeable.
Some of you may against me, because you may don’t hear this kind of message in today’s churches. America churches have changed so much that we don’t know who’s telling the truth of God. After the death of John Osteen at Lakewood Church, I stopped watching his son’s program, because of smooth or itchy words that the most people would like to hear rather than the truth of God. Even though we’d need inspiration words like Joel Osteen, we also need the message on conviction of sins like Rev. John Osteen, so we may not be sinned against God.
Our nation needs repentance from the sins against God before it would become too late to enter the kingdom of God. We are the church of God and each of us is accountable of what we have done on Earth with the free gift of salvation. I don’t care if you have disability or not, young or old, but what are you doing with the gift of salvation? You could waste your gift or spread around to the people and community.
If you are not sure about becoming family of God, I’d like you to evaluate yourself about the good things you have done and what God could do for you? Hebrews 11:40 says, “God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”
God planned to send His Son, Jesus Christ, to us to pay our sins, so we can have free access to God and develop personal relationship with Him. Would you like to have personal relationship with God? If you’d like to know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, I’d like to encourage you to do two simple things. First, confess your sins and invite Jesus Christ to your life. Paul said in Romans 10:9-11, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” There is no sinner prayer formula. Instead, you just talk to God at where you are now. Secondly, I’d like to encourage you to find a good solid biblical teaching church and Christian friends. They can help you to build strong relationship with God. If you’d need further assistance, you can email me at mgjcwebminstries@mgjcweb.org or visit my ministries website at www.mgjcweb.org for further resources.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 11:47 PM EST
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Why He Died for Us?
Topic: Gospel
Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53 KJV)
As we celebrate Resurrection Sunday, have you wondered why Jesus died on Wednesday evening and resurrected on Saturday evening? Most Christians believe that He died on Good Friday and resurrected at the sunrise on Sunday. According to the Scripture, this concept of Jesus’ time of death and resurrection is incorrect. According to Matthew 11:40, Jesus gave the time of Jonah as when He would be in the tomb and His resurrection. That’s 72 hours (3 days x 24 hours), not 36 hours (12 hours x 3 days or 1 day and 2 nights). Also, Jesus’ resurrection must meet the requirement of High Sabbath.
The word Easter doesn’t relate to Jesus’ resurrection. However, the word Easter in Acts 12:4 (KJV) refers to Passover. No wonder why there has been mixed up between Easter and Resurrection Sunday.
Romans 5:8 tells us why Jesus died for us: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” God knew that people cannot pay for their sins because of their stubbornness. 2000 years ago, God brought His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins and resurrect on the third day, so He could be with us. He is our Emmanuel. There are no other religions to explain this great love. Not from Roman Catholicism, Mormonism, Islam, Jehovah Witness, and other secular religions.
Isaiah didn’t just dream this horrific event of his future Messiah. God gave him this prediction, so he could tell about this Messiah to his people and to the upcoming generation.
If you’d like to know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, I’d like to encourage you to do two simple things. First, confess your sins and invite Jesus Christ to your life. Paul said in Romans 10:9-11, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” There is no sinner prayer formula. Instead, you just talk to God at where you are now. Secondly, I’d like to encourage you to find a good solid biblical teaching church and Christian friends. They can help you to build strong relationship with God.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Saturday, March 17, 2012
The Lord is My Shepherd
Topic: Gospel
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. (Psalm 23:1-6 KJV)
Psalm 23 is a psalm of confessing joyful in the Lord as the good Shepherd-King. God is our Shepherd because He cares and loves us. In the same time, He is our King. We sometimes take God as King out, because we want Him to be our Friend. Even though He is our Friend, it doesn’t mean He can’t be our Judge. In this psalm, there are two kingship metaphors describe the blessing and security that the Lord provides for His people.
First ones is the Shepherd-King (Psalm 23:1-4). God is our Shepherd. He is watching over us and guiding us. People often said angels are watching over us. This may be true, but angels cannot just watch over us until God directs them to do so. Some of us may so focus on angels, we would leave God out in the equation. Hebrew 1:7-8 says, “And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.”
Even though we need angels, we must ask God to send angels to watch over our little children, family, friends, neighbors, and community. There are two kinds of angels: God’s angels and Satan’s. In Job 1, we see that Satan can enter into God’s council meeting. Throughout the four books of Gospel, we see that demons can control over the people, which are Satan’s angels. If we’d seek angels for guidance without God’s acknowledge, we don’t know which angels we are asking for assistance.
Second points in Psalm 23 is the Host of the banquet (vv. 5, 6). We can celebrate with God over all of our troubles. I like what David wrote in verse 4: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” God said in Isaiah 43:2, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
Do you trust God to walk with you through the valley of the shadow of death? If not, why not stop what you are doing right now and just begin to seek His face. God loves you, but He wants to bring you into His home to celebrate your life and spend eternity with you. He doesn’t want to leave you as orphan, but He wants you as part of His family. Would you like to become His family?
If you’d like to know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, I’d like to encourage you to do two simple things. First, confess your sins and invite Jesus Christ to your life. Paul said in Romans 10:9-11, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” There is no sinner prayer formula. Instead, you just talk to God at where you are now. Secondly, I’d like to encourage you to find a good solid biblical teaching church and Christian friends. They can help you to build strong relationship with God.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Sunday, March 11, 2012
House of Prayer
Topic: Gospel
And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. (Matthew 21:12-13 KJV)
It is almost time for us to celebrate the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Even though we celebrate Resurrection Sunday during the month of Nisan (March/April), it is obvious that some American churches have lost the foundation of Christianity. We do not see any great revival within churches. Most today’s churches are about me, myself, and mine rather than blessing God through our act of worship.
Just as Pharisees tried to make marketplaces in the Temple of Jerusalem, we see many churches try to sell their merchandises by using the media outlets. Many Christians may not need to drive to their churches, because they can watch live streams on the church websites or TVs. Or some churches may have daily activities to bring more people into their places. Just as Joel Osteen in Lakewood Community Church in TX, preachers can have 1 million of congregations, yet, they don’t have personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
The church is not about building, but people come together as unity to worship and give honor to our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus died on the cross and resurrect on the third day to demonstrate His love for us. He did not need to pay for our sins on the cross, but He did. We created so many Christian denominations that we often forget what He did for us. We don’t have to be in certain groups to know who Jesus Christ is. We only need to read the Bible and spend the time with Him to build relationship.
John 3:16-18 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Again in Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
If you’d like to know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, I’d like to encourage you to do two simple things. First, confess your sins and invite Jesus Christ to your life. Paul said in Romans 10:9-11, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” There is no sinner prayer formula. Instead, you just talk to God at where you are now. Secondly, I’d like to encourage you to find a good solid biblical teaching church and Christian friends. They can help you to build strong relationship with God.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
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Saturday, April 23, 2011
He is Risen
Topic: Gospel
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:9-11 KJV)
Even though this is the Holy Week, I’m not going to bring why we celebrate Easter Sunday. As I mention in previous messages, the word Easter in KJV does not associate with Resurrection Sunday, but it’s related to Passover Feast. Also, Jesus didn’t die on Good Friday, but Wednesday, and resurrected on Saturday evening. Every action that Jesus takes must foretell by prophets in Old Testament. For example, Isaiah 53 predicts the death of Messiah in Gospels, which is the death of Jesus Christ.
Why Jesus died for us and resurrected on the third day? Read with me in Isaiah 53: “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.“
Jesus did not die for us to give us the demonstration His deity, but for our transgression of sins. Paul said in Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus did not need to die on the cross for our sins, but He did for us with His blood. But He didn’t just die for our sins.
He resurrected on the third day to identify Himself that He can be with us always. We don’t need to have another god to protect us. There are many religions that claim to have the road to Heaven, but only our relationship with Jesus Christ can make to be with our Heavenly Father eternally.
Are you ready to meet with Jesus Christ? He is not in His tomb, because He resurrected from the grave. Jesus said in John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” Would you take a moment to evaluate yourself and reunite with God? You may have deeply sorrow experience in your life, but God can restore your life. You may decide to take drug pills or shoot yourself with gun. I’d like to encourage you to stop what you are doing at this moment, and just talk to God as you are talking to your friend. If you’d like to stay in touch with me for further assistance, please don’t hesitate to email me. Please let this day would be the best day of your life.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
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Saturday, April 16, 2011
Resurrection of the Dead (Part III)
Topic: Gospel
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (Luke 16:19-23 KJV)
I would like to conclude this series with two kinds of resurrection. Most of us may know the story of Lazarus and Rich Man in Luke 16. As we understand the story, the filthy rich man had a wealthy earthly life while Lazarus tried to survive his earthly life. One day, these men died and went to two separate directions to eternality. Lazarus went to his bosom and the rich man ended up to hell. Of course, the rich man tried to escape from the hell by calling Father Abraham, but it was too late for him to repent his sins.
Why do I mention this? Many today’s people don’t have idea where they’d spend eternality. About 80 percent of Americans believe that they’d go to Heaven, but only few percentage of Americans have fully devoted to Jesus Christ. It is devastating to see that some Christians destroy their bodies by tattooing symbols on their bodies and try to live for Christ. This is one of things God doesn’t like to see us to do (see Leviticus). Paul said that we are the temple of God (I Corinthians 3:16). We just cannot put tattoos on our bodies.
The rich man, in Luke 16, didn’t care for God’s children or have any relationship with Him. Even though God doesn’t like to see anyone to go to Hell, He doesn’t have choice to throw this rich man to the dumpster.
Let me ask you this important question. What if you’d die today, where would you spend eternality? If you’d continue to follow this world system, then your resurrection would be in Hell. However, if you’d choose to live for Jesus Christ, then you resurrection would be great. You’d have eternal life with God.
Some today’s preachers do not teach the importance of resurrection, because it’s all about what we want from God. God cannot just send you to Hell unless you’d decide to refuse Him to be your personal Savior and Lord of lords.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
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Saturday, April 2, 2011
Resurrection of the Dead (Part II)
Topic: Gospel
Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. (Matthew 27:50-53 KJV)
Before Jesus died on the cross, there was a preview of the rapture of the church. We see that many people began to rise from their graves at the voice of Jesus. Their bodies began to transform into new bodies. We do not know how they transform, but Paul said that “we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump (1 Corinthians 15:51b-52a).”
Some of us may die before the rapture and some may still live to see the event. Even though some biblical scholars may have different views of rapture, we all will face the death and pain as the earth would face the seven-year tribulation. There is no guarantee that we would not experience the pain before Jesus would take us to home. But the Bible guarantees that we will have no more pain when we would enter into Heaven.
Acts 1 gives us a glimpse of the new resurrection of new body. This new body will be spirit. We would able to go through the wall and go to outer space. We cannot be sure how this can be done until we’d receive our spiritual bodies. Also, there will be no people with disabilities after the transformation.
Some preachers still believe that being a person with disability is a punishment from God. This is totally myth. God can bring healing upon a person with disability, because He cares and loves His creation. Even though I have physically disability, my body will be changed dramatically on the day of the last trumpet sound.
Are you ready to meet Jesus on the day of rapture of His church? If not, I would like to encourage you to surrender your life to Him. He wants you to be with Him for eternality.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Resurrection of the Dead (Part I)
Topic: Gospel
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. (I Corinthians 15:3-8 KJV)
Today, I would like to look at the resurrection of the dead. Most today’s preachers do not bring this subject any more. It is important for us that there is another life after we would be gone from this planet. You may hear that Jesus will come back to the earth to take us. But, we may be dead or live to experience the transformation of our bodies.
We would like to begin this topic with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Most of us have learned that Jesus died on Good Friday and resurrected on Easter Sunday. This teaching arrived from the Catholicism and not from the biblical aspect. In Matthew 12:39-41, Jesus gave His disciples a sign of Jonas as a key to His death and resurrection. He didn’t die on Friday evening, but Wednesday evening, and resurrected on Saturday evening to signify the Passover the lamb on the Sabbath (Saturday).
When Jesus resurrected, He first went to see Cephas and then twelve apostles. Greek word for Cephas is stone, which Jesus gave another name for Peter (Matthew 16:18). This does not mean Jesus put him over the church, which the Catholic Church takes this verse literally. We must understand we, those who believe in Jesus Christ, all are bodies of the church. The church is universal. In Old Testament, people had to go to the temple to worship God. But, after Jesus resurrected from the dead on the third day, we can worship God at anywhere and anytime. His resurrection signified our freedom from sins. He paid our debt of sins on the cross to demonstrate His love. We need to understand His death is not totally free, even though He freed us from sins. We have to follow Him daily and live for Him.
We cannot experience resurrection until we’d full understand what God has done for us.
Would you like to know Jesus Christ today? I’d like to recommend you to stop things what you are doing for moment and ask Him for forgiveness of your sins and invite Him to your life. If you are Christian and would like to re-vow your commitment to Him, it’s not too late for you to reunite with Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. God wants you to be in His kingdom and live with Him forever, but He cannot force you to be there. You have to choose to go either Heaven or Hell for eternality and there is no other way to spend eternality. Jesus paid your price for you to go Heaven by dying on the cross. Paul said in Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Now, you have choice which life you’d like to live from now to eternality. Hopefully, you have made right choice for your life.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The World Doesnt Know Jesus
Topic: Gospel
He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (John 1:10-11 KJV)
How did the people miss Jesus’ coming? Did the people expect His coming would like the presidential inauguration parade? By the way, President Obama used the coming of the Messianic theme for his inauguration parade, which it could lead to the stage of developing the New World Order. Many people in the Old Testament expected the coming of Messiah as the King of the world, but not as the baby in a manger. Even though Jesus will come as the King for this world in near future, He first arrived to this world as a Baby, so He can be related to us.
Throughout the first four books of the New Testament, we see that Jesus walked with His feet to do God’s work. There was no parade event on His birth and resurrected from dead. There was no Christmas celebration at the barn. We have misused Christmas and Easter so much and have forgotten the real historical facts of these holidays. These two holidays have nothing to do with Jesus and Christianity, but have to do with Pagan holidays. In Jeremiah 10, for example, we see that the Israelites used the tree and decoration to worship the one of pagan gods. That was where the Catholic churches adopted the ritual practice and brought it to Christian churches in the fourth-century AD.
Sadly, we don’t hear the basic gospel message of Jesus Christ in churches as often. We may hear about small portion of the gospel message at the church services, but the rest of the message maybe on the Christian living, prosperity, our civil rights, and etc. We have noticed that our current President has decided to change all President Bush’s laws, starting with the Civil Rights. Now, President Obama legalized that the people can have the right to have abortion and let the homosexual citizens can free express their rights publicly. We need to pray for our leaders to turn their hearts to Jesus Christ and abandon their ungodly decisions.
Jesus came to this world as a baby without receiving any worldly recognition award from the world. But when it would be the time for Him to return to the world, everybody in all four corners of the earth will recognize Him as the King of kings and Lord of lords. He will judge our nation, even if President Obama would still lead this nation and continue to legalize ungodly laws. This is why our economy system is so corrupted. We are following our own direction. We let ungodly leaders without repentant their sins to lead our nation, such as leaders from Bone and Skull Society (Satanism), Witchcraft, and Freemason.
Are you saved? Is your loved ones saved? If you aren’t sure where you’d spend eternality, I’d like to encourage you to make your decision today. God loves you and cares about you. He doesn’t like to see any of us to go to Hell. But He cannot make your decision for you. Paul said in Romans 10:9-10, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
In KJV Life Application says regarding John 1:10-11, “Although Christ created the world, the people he created didn’t recognize him… Even the people chosen by God to prepare the rest of the Messiah rejected him…, although the entire Old Testament pointed to his coming.”
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
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Saturday, August 20, 2005
The Life and Teachings of Jesus--Gospel Account
Topic: Gospel
In the first four books of the New Testament (NT) of the Bible is on the life of the Jesus. The books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are four different eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ life. Although they each tell about the same person, in the same location, during the same time in the history, they each told their stories from their unique perspective.
Some biblical scholars think the four books of the Gospel are for four main geographical regions of the world. As Matthew published his book on Jesus, his book was for the Jewish audience, this links the OT (Old Testament) and NT (New Testament). His view on Jesus as the Messiah ("Anointed One" or "Christ") and King promised in the OT. Matthew emphasizes Jesus’ authority and power.
The Gospel of [John] Mark would probably be written for those were pragmatic Roman readers. His Gospel stressed action and gave a straightforward, blow-by-blow account of Jesus’ work on earth.
John has a different, more reflective style than the other Gospel. Its author selected seven signs that pointed to Jesus as the Son of God and wove together everything else to underscore to that point. His Gospel would probably be written those were non-Jews or Christians. Many church leaders pointed that this book is good starting point to walk with God in the daily basis for the young Christians.
Lastly in between the two books of Mark and John, Gospel of Luke. Luke was also a fine writer of the NT period. He was a doctor or some kind of research specialist. He stressed the births of John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth. In Luke 1:1-4, he said, "Many have undertaken to draw an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty things you have been taught."
The next several weeks, we will study and deal with the first two chapters of the Gospel of Luke. There are several theories of behind of this Christmas story. Some researchers might think that it is all about the symbolism of planets, religions, mythical goddess, and/or tight into the end of the world. But, here, I would like to share the story of Christmas with you in christianology, direct information from the Word of God, not from the human point view.
All the four books of the Gospel are about the Good News of Jesus Christ. They tell us that God brought His Son, Jesus, to save us from our sins in once for all. Although Dr. Luke wrote the second volume of the Gospel, Book of Acts, he emphasized the importance of the Church (Greek word for katholikos or in English word for catholic or the universal church) world after Jesus went to the Heaven.
In the books of the Gospel tells us about how Jesus came to the world as baby in a manger, but in the Book of Revelation gives the description of how Jesus Christ will come again as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev. 19:16). In the books of the Gospel, Jesus faced many sufferings and trials while He was on the earth, but as we read in the final chapter of the Bible, He will come back to defeat Satan and his armies. In the books of the Gospel, He went back to the Heaven and be with His Father, but in the Book of Revelation, He will come back to take us His kingdom as He promised in John 14:1-4. Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:16-17)
But, sadly, in our modern day of the Church, many of us have really focused on the things in this world and have little thought about the kingdom of God. We might usually hear the word of our preachers about Christian family, marriage, financial issues, and our cultural issues, but we might do not hear about His kingdom and/or hell as often.
Yes, many church leaders might have the fear of teaching of the true identity of the Gospel, such as in Matthew 10:34-36. If your family or mine do not gain the truth of God and still follow their tradition ways of the Christian life, and you or I have received the truth from God everyday, then we have to choose to determine to follow our people or God to live in Christian life. We cannot live in two ways of life for God while we are still living with our family members. We can try to witness them by our actions. Jesus didn't say that He came to the world for not bringing peace to the world, but a sword (Matthew 10:34). In Hebrews 4:12-13 says, "For the word of God is living and active. Shaper than any double-edge sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."
As we conclude this portion of the study series, let us think in which ways that we can live for God. So many of us would think that we are living in a right way and preaching the Good News of Jesus and His kingdom in a right way, but at the bottom line is that we do in wrong ways to pass God's Word to the other. Since the tragedy of 9/11, I wanted to know what this tragedy had to do with the End Time. As I spent with one of my Christian friends and searched the Scriptures and other resources from the Internet during my last 8 months at Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center, God gave me more understanding of the Holy Scripture on the world event since the 9/11. Once I have the absolute truth of God, I cannot stop growing from my spiritual life. Yes, there is a time when Satan tempts me, but I cannot stop searching for the Scripture, because of God. And I cannot stop to share God's Word with you, family of Jesus Christ. His Word is the true way to live in the physical world.
Are you ready to meet the Lord Jesus Christ when He would return to rapture members of His Church? Are your family and your friends ready to meet the Savior of their lives? If you are lukewarm with your relationship with Christ and want to have that relationship back, please consider confessing all your sins to Him and He will forgive your sins at once for all and will give you the rest.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
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