HONOR THE HOLY SPIRIT

I compiled my quiet time notes during my stay in Osaka. I was blessed by the study on God the Holy Spirit. Let me share this with you:

HONOR THE HOLY SPIRIT

Q. Who is the Holy Spirit?
A. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity (Matthew 28:19). He is not a mere force but is a divine person. He spoke to individuals (Acts 8:29) and has the power to make men speak in languages they have no knowledge of (Acts 2:4). He decides on His own and chooses men for His purpose (Acts 13:1-4). The Holy Spirit is also Divine and equal with God (Acts 5:3-9).

Q. How should we relate to the Holy Spirit?
A. The Holy Spirit is worthy of honor, worship, glory, obedience, and sacrifices which are due to God. We ought to respect, obey, and adore Him.

Q. What is the work of the Holy Spirit?
A. Just as the Holy Spirit caused Jesus the Son of God to be born in the flesh (Matthew 1:18), He also caused the church of the Lord Jesus to be born (Acts 2:1-47). The Holy Spirit also convicts "the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment" (John 16:7,8) and causes men to be born into the kingdom of God (John 3:5).

Q. How is His work related to man's salvation?
A. The Holy Spirit convicts men to repent of their sins and to live righteous lives upon hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ (John 16:8-14; Romans 10:16,17). So those who repeatedly reject the Holy Spirit's call to repentance are in effect guilty of committing blasphemy against the Holy Spirit because they deemed His work as foolishness (Luke 12:10). But those who turn away from their evil ways and believe the gospel will be saved. The Holy Spirit then regenerates them and makes them God's children (Titus 3:4-6; Romans 8:14-17).

When a man believes in Christ, the Holy Spirit baptizes him into the body of Christ (I Cor. 12:13) right at that moment, dwells within the believer (Romans 8:9-11), and seals the believer for the day of redemption (Eph. 1:13,14). The Holy Spirit himself is the guarantee of the believer's redemption and eternal salvation.

Q. How does the Holy Spirit work in the lives of the believers?
A. He guides and leads believers into all the truth. When we study God's Word and we seek the Lord's will for our lives, the Holy Spirit will teach us and point us to Jesus (John 16:14), who must be the center of our desires. When we commit sin or disobey God's Word, the Holy Spirit convicts us and leads us to repentance where God's forgiveness awaits us (I John 1:9). The Holy Spirit also helps us to pray according to the will of God (Romans 8:26,27).

Above all, He comforts us (John 14:16-18; 15:26; 16:7). In times of troubles, the Holy Spirit will not leave us without comfort. He is always there to comfort and to encourage us to continue walking in the truth. He cannot abandon us for He dwells within and is the guarantee that one glorious day God will bring us with Him so that where He is, there we shall also dwell (John 14:3). This is an event which is certain to happen because of the work of the Holy Spirit.

The Name I Love

There is a Name I love so much;
There is no name as great as such.
That Name is Great, and Wonderful;
There is no name as beautiful.

The Name I love is powerful:
It heals the sick and makes him whole;
It overcomes the pow'r of sin,
And frees the soul and makes it clean.

That Name I know is full of love:
His love for me is from above;
He loves me not for what I've done;
He showed His love by what He's done.

That dearest name is Jesus Christ;
He is the LORD, the First and Last.
I love His Name for He is True;
I'll serve Him well, yes through and through.

-pids
April 17, 1992. Good Friday
Room 101, Fina White House Hotel
Kaduna, NIGERIA

JESUS CHRIST THE HIGH PRIEST

Jesus Christ is the Name I love. I wrote the following while in Osaka.

JESUS CHRIST THE HIGH PRIEST

Q. Where is Jesus Christ right now?
A. He has ascended to heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God.

Q. What do we mean when we say that Jesus is exalted at the right hand of God?
A. This means that Jesus Christ is given absolute power and glory. Jesus said, "ALL POWER is given unto Me in heaven and in earth" (Matthew 28:18). He has "power over all flesh" to give eternal life to as many as the Father has given Him (John 17:3). He is also given glory-- divine, eternal, and holy glory. The Lord Jesus prayed in John 17:5, "And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was." This means that Jesus Christ deserves worship and honor. "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:9- 11).

Q. How is His ascension to heaven related to our salvation?
A.He is now in heaven in the presence of God for our sake (Heb. 9:24). He acts as our High Priest and Advocate to the Holy God.

Q. What is the meaning of Christ's Priesthood?
A. In the Old Testament times, God separated the Levites for the priesthood ministry. They are called priests so that they may intercede for God's people. Among the priests, there is one High Priest who annually comes into the most holy place of the temple to offer the blood of sacrifices of all the people (Heb. 9:25). "For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices, which they offer year by year continually, make the comers thereunto perfect. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins." (Heb. 10:1,3,4). But when Jesus finished the work of redemption at Calvary, He took away the Old Testament practice and established the New Testament (Heb. 10:9). In the New Testament, believers are called priests unto God (I Pet. 2:9) and Jesus Christ is called the Great High Priest. "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus Christ the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." (Heb. 4:14,15). "But this man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Heb. 7:24,25). This means that we have an intercessor before God day and night. Christ, being our high priest, presents before God His finished work and holy sacrifice on the cross of Calvary.

Q. How does this truth (i.e., the truth that Christ is our High Priest) affect our daily lives?
A. In the Old Testament, the people are represented before God only once a year. But now we can "come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb. 4:16). We can ask God for pardon anytime and be assured of receiving His forgiveness because of the work of Jesus Christ. We can cast unto Him our worries and find peace (Phil 4:6,7) through Jesus Christ. We can come to Him asking for strength and be given grace (2 Cor. 12:9) through Jesus Christ. Because Jesus took the nature of man, He became "a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor [help] them that are tempted." (Heb. 2:16-18). When we therefore pray, we are assured that Christ knows our needs and feelings for He tasted what it is to become a man. Therefore He can perfectly explain our petitions to the Father. "And having a high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised." (Heb. 10:21-23)

Q. What do we mean when we say that "Christ is our Advocate"?
A. Christians have been pardoned. But it does not mean that believers in Christ will not anymore commit sin. But "if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (I John 2:1). "Advocacy is that work of Jesus Christ for sinning believers which He carries on with the Father whereby, because of the eternal efficacy of Christ's sacrifice, He restores them to fellowship" (p.1343, Scoffield Reference Bible). "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9). Jesus Christ is our lawyer before God. If we commit sin, Jesus represents us before God the Father, not to justify our sins, but to present His finished work at Calvary. When Jesus died, He paid for the past, present, and future sins of those who trusted and will trust in Him. In this way the Father is satisfied and our sins are forgiven. But He is also just in that we suffer the earthly consequences of our deeds though we have been cleansed of our sins.

Q. How should this truth affect our lives?
A. The Apostle John's purpose for informing us that we have an Advocate with the Father is to persuade us to avoid sinning (I John 2:1). With this truth in mind, those who profess they know God will be more careful to keep His commandments (I John 2:3-6) and live in holiness. John's other purpose is to warn the believers of worldliness, which is destroying the Christian churches. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever." (I John 2:15-17).

Poem for God: I Am A Wooden Barrel

I Am A Wooden Barrel

I am a wooden barrel
In the Master’s palace;
Though rough and needing chisel,
He bought me for a price.

What could a wooden vessel
Be doing in this place?
Oh how I could serve Him well
Who chose me by His grace?

He plans the best for me,
And that I know full well;
He’ll use me for His glory,
As God’s wooden barrel.

-pids
May 17, 1992.
Room 101, Fina White House Hotel
Kaduna, NIGERIA

WHY DID JESUS DIE ON THE CROSS?

This is one of my favorite topics.

WHY DID JESUS DIE ON THE CROSS?

Q. What happens when a sinner believes in Jesus Christ?

A. He receives God's free gift of everlasting life. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

Q. How can believing in Jesus Christ give everlasting life to a sinner?

A. A sinner cannot come to God on account of his own righteousness for "we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind has taken us away." (Isaiah 64:6). But Jesus Christ provided redemption for men by dying on the cross and offering Himself as the payment for our sins (Matthew 20:28; Hebrews 9:26-28; Hebrews 10:9-12). So when we believe in Christ, Jesus' divine righteousness shall be "imputed [on us], if we believe in Him that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered for our offenses, and was raised up again for our justification" (Romans 4:24-25). Therefore, having this divine righteousness, we can now come to God and "receive eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

Q. What is the meaning of Jesus' death on the cross?

A. Jesus' death on the cross is an offering to God. God is holy (I Peter 1:16) and He hates sin (Habakkuk 1:12,13; Hebrews 1:9). Because we sinned, God's wrath abides in us. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezek. 18:4,20) "...for the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). God demands that sinners must die. But even the death of a sinner cannot please God (Ezek. 18:32). However, Jesus' sacrifice is acceptable to God as the payment for sins because He is sinless and righteous (Heb. 4:15; I John 2:1,2).

And because Jesus is God, His death is applicable to every man who believes. "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. He gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:13,14). "But we see Jesus who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor: that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man" (Hebrews 2:9). "This Man [Jesus], because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:24,25).

Because of Jesus' sacrifice, God's wrath is appeased. God is no longer angry with those who trusted in Christ. The Lord’s death served as the peace offering and covering for man's sins: "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God" (Romans 3:24,25). "And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world" (I John 2:2).

Jesus died in the sinner’s place. "For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21). "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 everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:5,6). His death is vicarious and substitutionary sacrifice.

Q. What is the guarantee that the sinner who believed in Jesus Christ will be with God in heaven?

A. Jesus' resurrection from the dead is the guarantee that all who placed their trust in Him shall be with Him in heaven. "But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified" (Hebrews 10:12-14). "But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you" (Romans 8:11; See also I Cor. 15:13-23). Jesus is indeed risen from the dead. His resurrection is physical resurrection. He said to His disciples "Why are you bothered? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when He had thus spoken, He showed them His hands and His feet." (Luke 24:38-40; John 20:25-28). It is not mere apparition nor hallucination of a few disheartened disciples. More than 500 believers have seen His glorified body and heard Him (I Cor. 15:6). He ate with them and talked with with them (John 15:5-22; Luke 24:41-48).

Q. What must I do knowing that He suffered and died for me?

A. Believe that He died in your place, bearing your sins on the cross, and receive Him as the Lord and God of your life. And you will be saved: "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God has 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." (Romans 10:9,10)

Q. How should I live knowing that He died for me?

A. Live to please Him. "And that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again" (2 Cor. 5:15). "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2:20). Knowing that Jesus gave His life for us, we should not allow sin to take control of our lives. But rather yield ourselves to God as instruments of righteousness unto God (Romans 6:8-13).

The sum of first n positive integers

The sum of first n positive integers

Σi represents the sum of first n positive integers, 1 + 2 + 3 + . . . + n,

Show that Σ i = n(n+1)/2

Step 1. By definition, Σi² = 1² + 2² + 3² + 4² + . . . + n² --> eq. (1)

Step 2. Also, Σ (i + 1)² = 2² + 3² + 4² + . . . + n² + (n+1)² --> eq. (2)

Step 3. If we take the difference: (2) – (1), Σ (i + 1)² - Σ i² we get,

= [2²+3²+4²+. . .+n²+(n+1)²] - [1²+2²+3²+4²+. . .+n²]

Step 4. Simplifying, we get Σ (i + 1)² - Σ i² = (n+1)² – 1²

Step 5. Expanding (i + 1)² and (n+1)² we get,

Σ(i²+2i+1) - Σi² = n²+2n+1–1

Step 6. Using Summation properties, we get
Σ i² + Σ 2i + Σ 1 - Σ i² = n² + 2n

Step 7. Simplifying both sides of the equation, we get,
2Σ i + n = n² + 2n

Step 8. Solving for Σ i , we get Σ i = n(n+1)/2

God is good... ALL the time.