My Beloved

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"My Beloved is mine, and I am His" Song 2:16

My Beloved - Precious Possession (1 Pet 2:7, Ps 73:25)
is - Present Possession (Ps 16:5, Heb 13:6)
mine - Personal Possession (Luke 1:47, John 20:28)
I - Prized Possession (Isa 43:4, Eph 5:25)
am  - Permanent Possession (John 6:39, 10:28)
His - Purchased Possession (1 Cor 6:20, Titus 2:14)

David Ward

Thunderings, Voices and Lightnings

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"And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God." Rev 4:5

William R. Newell described "thunderings, voices and lightnings" as powers of nature made intelligent to man in judgment.  He further expounded that "the seven lamps of fire ... which are the seven Spirits of God" as the complete active discernment of all matters and affairs in judgment.  Hence, the Holy Spirit then is taking the role in governmental administration and not as the Comforter of saints and as the Revealer of Christ to sinners as of now.

The throne then is no longer the throne of grace as of now, but of judgment
Thunderings - Awakening to Judgment
Voices - Attention on Judgment
Lightnings - Apprehension of Judgment

Seven Seals judgment - thunderings (Rev 6:1)
Seven Trumpets judgment - voices (Rev 8:5, 11:15)
Seven Vials judgment - lightnings (Rev 11:19)

Hell and its Sadness

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The Condition and Condemnation of Hell
1. unbearable reality - in hell he lift up his eyes, being in tormented (Luke 16:23)
2. unquenchable fire -  I am tormented in this flame (Luke 16:24)
3. unsettled memory - remember ... in thy lifetime (Luke 16:25)
4. unremitting pain - and thou are tormented (Luke 16:25)
5. unbridgeable separation - a great gulf (Luke 16:26)
6. unanswered prayer - I pray thee (Luke 16:27)
7. utter hopelessness - lest they come into this place of torment  (Luke 16:27)

We Preached Christ Crucified

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"We preached Christ crucified" 1 Cor 1:23

We - the messengers
Preached - the method
Christ - the Messiah
Crucified - the message

We preached - inform lives
We preached Christ - conform lives
We preached Christ Crucified - transform lives

The Cross in Colossians

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Peace in the Cross (Col 1:20)
Pardon by the Cross (Col 2:14)
Preservation through the Cross (Col 3:3-4)
Preaching of the Cross (Col 4:3)

The Hour of Finality

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The ninth hour of Darkness (Matt 27:46, Mark 15:34)
The ninth hour of Deliverance (Acts 3:1-2)
The ninth hour of Devotion (Acts 10:2-3)

A Message Never Delivered, Yet Recorded

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1. The Person who sent it - a rich man (Luke 16:22)
2. The Place from which it was sent - hell (Luke 16:23)
3. The Punishment that prompted it - I am tormented  (Luke 16:24)
4. The Prospect that necessitated it - a great gulf fixed (Luke 16:26)
5. The Petition contained in it - send to my father's house (Luke 16:27)
6. The People for whom it was intended - five brothers (Luke 16:28)
7. The Purpose in recording it - that men may repent (Acts 17:30-31)

The Message was
1. one of Concern - testify unto them
2. one of Caution - lest they also come into this place
3. one of Confession - if one went from the dead, they would repent

Archibald Naismith

The Branch

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The Perfect Branch
"In that day shall the Branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel." Isaiah 4:2

The Prophetic Branch
"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots." Isaiah 11:1

The Prosperous Branch
"Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth." Jeremiah 23:5

The Princely Branch
"In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land." Jeremiah 33:15

The Prominent Branch
"Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth My Servant the Branch." Zechariah 3:8

The Priestly Branch
"And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the Man whose name is the Branch; and He shall grow up out of His place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD." Zechariah 6:12

Four None's in Romans 3

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"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." Romans 3:10-12

1. Righteousness of God - there is none righteous
2. Revelation of God - there is none that understandeth
3. Repentance to God - there is none that seeketh after God
4. Responsibility to God - there is none that doeth good

Faith, Hope and Love Part 7

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Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6.

Three Post-Exilic Prophets
Haggai - Prophet of Faith
Zechariah - Prophet of Hope
Malachi - Prophet of Love

Brief Outline of Zechariah

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Zech 1-6 (Apocalyptical) - Visions of Israel's Foes
Zech 7-8 (Historical) - Voices of Israel's Fasts
Zech 9-14 (Prophetical) - Verities of Israel's Future

The Lord's Prayer Part 4

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Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

Person of God
Our Father which art in heaven,

Petitions God-ward
1. God's Prominence - Hallowed be Thy name
2. God's Power - Thy kingdom come
3. God's Purpose - Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven

Petitions Us-ward
1. Present Diet - Give us this day our daily bread
2. Past Debts - And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors
3. Future Direction - And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil

Praise of God
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Principle of Non-Retaliation

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"Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, that ye resist not evil" Matthew 5:38-29

Regarding
1. Social rights - insult: whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also
2. Legal rights - injustice: if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also
3. Political rights - inconvenience: whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain
4. Financial rights - indigence: give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away

David Gilliland

The Restoration by the Father

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"But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry." Luke 15:22-23

The Father's
1. Announcement - but the father said to his servants
2. Apparel - bring forth the best robe, and put it on him
3. Authority - and put a ring on his hand
4. Advancement - and shoes on his feet
5. Atonement - and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it
6. Appreciation - and let us eat, and be merry
7. Applause - For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found

Paramount Conference 2004 @ Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

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Evening Sessions
1. Introduction - The Message of God's Startling Profile. Ex 25:1-9 (TB)
2. The Lampstand - The Manifestation of God's Shining Presence. Ex 25:31-40 (JG)
3. The Veil & The Screen - The Magnificence of God's Screening Preference. Ex 26:31-37 (DG)
4. The High Priest - The Majesty of God's Serving Priest. Ex 28-29 (WB)
5. The Cloud - The Magnanimity of God's Sanctioning Pleasure. Ex 35-40 (DG)

Morning Bible Readings
1. The Ark - The Meaning of God's Starting Point. Ex 25:10-22 (DG)
2. The Table - The Method of God's Sustaining Provision. Ex 25:23-30 (TB)
3. The Curtains & Coverings - The Might of God's Sheltering Protection. Ex 26:1-14 (WB)
4. The Boards - The Marvel of God's Standing Plan. Ex 26:1-14 (JG)
5. The Brazen Altar - The Mercy of God's Saving Purpose. Ex 27:1-8 (TB)
6. The Court - The Ministry of God's Separating Principles. Ex 27:9-21 (JG)
7. The Golden Altar - The Merit of God's Surpassing Plea. Ex 30:1-10 (DG)
8. The Laver - The Means of God's Sanctifying Power. Ex 30:17-21 (WB)

Afternoon Sessions
1. The Senseless Man & His Ignorance. (DG)
2. The Slothful Man & His Indolence. (TB)
3. The Simple Man & His Innocence. (JG)
4. The Scornful Man & His Impudence. (WB)

Recordings can be downloaded from here.

Speakers :
TB - Mr Thomas Bentley
WB - Mr Walter Boyd
DG - Mr David Gilliland
JG - Mr John Grant

The Reception by the Father

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"And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him." Luke 15:20

The Father's Reception
1. Attention - his father saw him
2. Attitude - and had compassion
3. Action - and ran
4. Acceptance - and fell on his neck
5. Affection - and kissed him

The Prodigal Son Part 2

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1. Reflection - and when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare
2. Realization - and I perish with hunger
3. Resolution - I will arise and go to my father
4. Repentance - and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee
5. Recourse - and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants
6. Return - and he arose, and came to his father
7. Reception - but when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him
8. Remorse - and the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son
9. Restoration - but the father said to his servants, bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet
10. Rejoicing - and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry

The Prodigal Son

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1. Demand - give me the portion of goods that falleth to me
2. Division - and not many days after the younger son gathered all together
3. Departure - and took his journey into a far country
4. Debauchery - and there wasted his substance with riotous living
5. Depletion - and when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land
6. Destitution - and he began to be in want
7. Desertion - and he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country
8. Degradation - and he sent him into his fields to feed swine
9. Depravity - and he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat
10. Devastation - and no man gave unto him

The Very Heart of Luke's Gospel

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Luke 15

God is pictured in three ways
1. The Son - the Lord Jesus as the shepherd seeking the lost sinner
2. The Holy Spirit - the figure of the woman searching for souls
3. The Father - welcoming them home

The Son suffering; the Spirit seeking; the Father singing
The Saviour; the Seeker; the Satisfier

The sinner is picture in three ways also as
1. A silly sheep
2. A soiled piece of silver
3. A self-willed son

As a sheep in the distance; silver in the dust; son in disgrace
Lost to safety; lost to service; lost to sonship

August Van Ryn

Hates His Brother

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He who hates his brother has
1. No divine Light (1 John 2:9,11), abides in Darkness
2. No divine Life (1 John 3:15), abides in Death
3. No divine Love (1 John 4:20), abides in Delusion

Faith, Hope and Love Part 6

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Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5.

Hebrews 11 : Indispensability of Faith
Hebrews 12 : Importance of Hope
Hebrews 13 : Imperative of Love

Paramount Conference 2002 @ Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

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The Features and Forecasts of the Feasts of the Lord (Morning Bible Readings)
The Feast of Passover (JG)
The Historical Passovers (DG)
The Feast of Unleavened Bread (TB)
The Feast of Firstfruits (WB)
The Feast of Weeks (DG)
The Feast of Trumpets (WB)
The Day of Atonement (JG)
The Feast of Tabernacles (TB)

Afternoon Ministries
The Evangelist's Responses to the Call
The Evangelist's Reports to the Church
The Evangelist's Resources in the Word
The Evangelist's Responsibilities in the Work

Evening Ministries
The Seasons in Sequence (DG)
The Feasts in Focus (TB)
The Convocations in Confusion
The Festivals in Fulfilment (JG)
The Titles in Turmoil (DG)

Speakers :
TB - Mr Thomas Bentley
WB - Mr Walter Boyd
DG - Mr David Gilliland
JG - Mr John Grant

Selected recordings can be downloaded from here.

Kingdom of God in Matthew's Gospel

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"Matthew is the only one of the four Gospel narrators who uses 'kingdom of heaven', there are five places where he switches to 'kingdom of God'; and all five show that he uses the two terms convertibly, as practical equivalents." J. Sidlow Baxter

1. Requirement for Entrance
'Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." Matthew 19:23-24

2. Righteousness of its Subjects
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33
"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:10
"For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:20

3. Resistance by its Foes
"But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you." Matthew 12:24,28
"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil." Matthew 11:12,18

4. Responses to its Invitations
"Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him" Matthew 21:31,32
"John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" Matthew 3:1,2

5. Rejection to its Offer
"Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof" Matthew 21:43
"The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come" Matthew 22:1,2

Some Aspects of the Kingdom

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The following list of references is set out for easy comparison. Every aspect of the kingdom suggested previously, is tabulated, first, with the expression, "Kingdom of the heavens" as found in Matthew; secondly, with the term "Kingdom of God" as given in the other Synoptic Gospels. This comparison will enable the reader to see that the terms are largely interchangeable.


1. Kingdom in Power (Partially)
"Repent for the kingdom of the heavens in at hand" Matt 4:17
"The kingdom of God is at hand: repent" Mark 1:15

2. Kingdom in Patience (The mystic rule)
"It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens" Matt 13:11
"Unto you it is given to the mystery of the kingdom of God" Mark 4:11

3. Kingdom in Present Possession (Spiritual)
"A rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of the heavens" Matt 19:23
"How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God" Luke 18:24

4. Kingdom in Profession (a sphere of responsibility)
"The kingdom of the heavens is like unto leaven" Matt 13:33
"Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God. It is like leaven" Luke 13:20,21

5. Kingdom in Prospect (The material in manifest power)
"With Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of the heavens" Matt 8:11
"With Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God" Luke 13:28

Taken from the book The Kingdom in the Gospel of Matthew by Fred Cundick

Eighteen Sins of the Perilous Times

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"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God" 2 Timothy 3:1-4

1. Lovers of their own selves
2. Covetous
3. Boasters
4. Proud
5. Blasphemers
6. Disobedient to parents
7. Unthankful
8. Unholy
9. Without natural affection
10. Trucebreakers
11. False accusers
12. Incontinent
13. Fierce
14. Despisers of those that are good
15. Traitors
16. Heady
17. Highminded
18. Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God

Four Phases of the Kingdom of God

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1. Past : Kingdom in Person (Mark 1:14-15) - Christ on earth
2. Present : Kingdom in Patience (Acts 14:22, Rev 1:9) - Christ on high
3. Millennium : Kingdom in Power (Rev 20:6) - Christ reigning
4. Perpetuity : Kingdom in Perfection (1 Cor 15:24-28) - God all in all

Recurring Themes in Judges

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1. Rebellion
"forsook the Lord" Judges 2:12,13, 10:6
"the children of Israel did evil" Judges 2:11, 3:7, 3:12, 4:1, 6:1, 10:6, 13:1

2. Retribution
"He sold them" Judges 2:14, 3:8, 4:2, 10:7
"against Israel" Judges 2:14,20, 3:8,12, 6:2, 10:7, 11:4,5

3. Repentance
"the children of Israel cried unto the Lord" Judges 3:9,15, 4:3, 6:6,7, 10:10

4. Restoration
"the Lord raised up" Judges 2:16,18, 3:9,15
"the land had rest" Judges 3:11,30, 5:31

Beloved's in 1 John

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1 John 3:2 – Coming of the Lord
1 John 3:21 – Confidence towards God
1 John 4:1 – Caution against false prophets
1 John 4:7 – Commencement of Love
1 John 4:11 – Conclusion of Love