In the first place, we can encourage each other by our good example. A good example is an encouragement to others, while a bad example is a discouragement! We see in Acts 4 that many were selling what they had to distribute to needy saints and notice what is said of Barnabas, “And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet” (Acts 4:36-37). The “Son of encouragement” did not tell of a good work and encourage others to do it alone, but by example he went and showed where his heart was. Christians, we must make certain that we are in the battle fighting and not on the sidelines shouting orders! We encourage others by our good example.       

   In the second place, we can encourage each other by our graceful words. Words can either build or destroy. Words can encourage a person to continue or cause a person to stop. Graceful words are so needed in the Lord’s church today! Paul and Barnabas used graceful words to encourage other disciples in the faith (Acts 14:22). The story is told of a group of frogs that were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. All the other frogs gathered around the pit. When they saw how deep the pit was, they told the unfortunate frogs they would never get out. The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and simply gave up. He fell down and died. The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and suffering and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs asked him, “Why did you continue jumping? Didn’t you hear us?” The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time! Truly, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” (Proverbs 18:21). We encourage others by our graceful words.        

  Let’s take time each day to encourage others as they walk with the Savior. How can we carry out the command to encourage? We encourage others by living a good example and by using graceful words. “But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13)! [In my humble opinion, brother Rodney Nulph is one of the finest young writers and preachers I know today. I am always encouraged when around him or the blessed recipient of something flowing from his pen. ~ Louis Rushmore, Editor] 

Formerly I was a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, … the worst of [sinners] (1 Timothy 1:13, 16). I persecuted [Christians] to death, binding and delivering to jail both men and women (Acts 22:3-4).

Educated “at the feet of Gamaliel, having been instructed according to the strictness of [his] fathers’ law” (Acts 22:3), and “breathing threatening and murder against the Lord’s disciples” (Acts 9:1), he was on the way to being a famous rabbi.

However, after he saw Jesus in the sky, and having experienced “the bath of the new birth” (Titus 3:5), he had become a “new man” (Colossians 3:10, and he wrote about his new outlook:

But the things which were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ’s sake. More than that, I count all things to be a loss because of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. I have lost all things for him, and count them as dung, that I might gain Christ, and be found in him (Philippians 3:7-9).

 Not only did Paul forfeit earthly advantages and respect from his fellow Jews, he also lost the love his kinfolks had for him.

The grief at the loss of family affection stayed with Paul, after his conversion to Christ, the rest of his life. Baptized at the age of 33 (cf. W.M. Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and Roman Citizen, xvi), 24 years later his deep sadness at his relatives dying out of Christ is seen in his words:

I have intense sorrow, and ceaseless pain in my heart. Indeed I could wish that I myself were condemned and banished from Christ, for the sake of my brothers, my fellow-countrymen according to the flesh (Romans 9:2-3).

Startling! A man so much in love with his kinfolks he was willing to go to hell if his going would save his loved ones in heaven! But God will not allow one person to be a substitute, a proxy, for someone else: “Whosever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book” (Exodus 32:33);

“Each one of us will give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12).But Paul’s newly found love for Christ meant more to him than his love for his relatives. Jesus was his “all,” his “everything” (panta), the rest of his life.

At age 68, as a prisoner in Mamertine Prison, he was taken from death row (a three-quarter cellar with a tiny window opening toward a cemetery, two miles south of the Ostian Gate in Rome.

His eyes were bound, and his head was laid on a block where it was severed with an axe (David Smith, Life and Letters of St. Paul, 641).Traditionally, Paul’s head bounced three times, and at each spot a healing fountain burst forth.

Traditionally, a Christian lady, Lucina, retrieved his headless body from the criminals’ “charnel” (”a place for dead bodies,” Webster), and buried it in her own garden.

With this long background, the significance of Paul’s saying that “Christ is all” (Colossians 3:11, KJV, ASV) is made vivid by J.B. Phillips’ version, “Christ is all that matters,” and by David H. Stern in the Jewish New Testament, “the Messiah is everything.

“We are thankful that others besides Paul have developed the same attachment to Jesus as he exemplified. Jesus in 96 A.D. had sent a letter to the Christians in Smyrna, saying,Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer. Behold! The devil is going to imprison some of you, that you may be tested, and you will have distress for ten days.

Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life (Revelation 2:10).Especially in the second century, Christians were in a crisis. Because Christianity is an exclusive religion, proselyting converts from all religions, aspiring to universality, the Roman Government pronounced it a religio illicita (Newman), an illegal religion.

Death was the penalty for being a Christian.In Smyrna, an elder of the congregation, Polycarp, was put on trial before the Roman consul. It was Saturday, February 23, 155 A.D. (Barclay). The consul gave Polycarp a choice: “Swear, and I will release you: reproach Christ.” He could have saved his life by renouncing the name of Jesus.

The Jews joined with the non-Jews in Smyrna demanding Polycarp’s death by throwing into a den of lions (Fausett). When the consul ordered the execution to be by a fiery stake, the Jews brought logs for the fire. Polycarp, given a final chance to deny Jesus, even as the flames leaped around him, was heard to exclaim: “Eighty and six years I have served Him, and He has never done me wrong. How can I deny him now?”

My grandparents, A.J. and Mary Jane Royse, resided three miles west of Covington on the old Covington and  Danville road. They had a large family.  Grandmother was a Christian, but grandfather wished to have nothing to do with the church.
Each Sunday morning she would get the horses ready, put on the harness, hitch them to the wagon and drive into Covington for worship.

On a bitter cold day grandpap said to her, “Maw, you’re not going to take these children out in this cold weather, are you?” She replied, “Pap, we are going.” She got the horses harnessed and hitched up and then went into the house to get the children ready. When she went out to go he had unharnessed the horses and turned them back out again into the pasture. She sent the children to the house and went back out and got the horses and hitched them up and drove to worship. Grandpap never pulled that trick again.

Another real cold day he asked her again not to go. He got the same answer. He told her that he was going to drive them in, not because he wanted to, but he was ashamed for the neighbors to see her arriving to town in the cold and know that he was home, comfortable by the fire.

He drove them to Covington but said that he would stay in the wagon. Before the service was over he almost froze and had to come in to get warm.After that he drove them quite often, and then all of the time he would sit alone on the back seat.

One day he came walking down the aisle and was baptized. Grandmother died in 1922 and he died in 1933. For the eleven years he lived alone he was faithful to the end, thanks to a wife who took over the spiritual leadership of the family while he served Satan. 

Dr. Nyal Royse, a professor emeritus of Harding University, was born in the log cabin where his grandparents lived. Thanks to Mary Jane Royse, five generations of Christians have blessed the world.In another example, someone put into the heart of a young Irish lad that the most important fact he could ever know, that “Christ is everything.”

On a cold and wet night in October of 1968, in a tent in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where the late and beloved Fred Walker was preaching, a young boy (perhaps nine or ten) spoke words that have touched the hearts of thousands.Sitting next to the lad was Bill Tyner, who put his arms around the boy, and asked, “What does Jesus mean to you?” Surprised, he looked up at Bill with piercing eyes, and said, “Why, he’s my everything–what does he mean to you?”

The words of the boy touched Bill’s heart, and inspired him to write an unforgettable song,

 ”He is My Everything”:

Some folks may ask me, some folks may say,
Who is this Jesus, you talk about ev’ry day?
He is my Savior. He set me free.
Now listen while I tell you what he means to me.
He is my ev’rything. He is my all.
He is my everything, both great and small.
He gave his life for me, made ev’ry thing new.
He is my ev’ry thing. Now how about you?
He’s there each morning, to lead my way.
He is my comfort, each and ev’ry day.
In all I trust Him as I journey along,
And that’s the reason I sing this song.
Is He your Saviour, this very day?
Is He the person, you talk about day by day?
Yes, He will save you, He’ll set you free,
So obey His commandment, sing along with me.
Jesus invites you, to come along.
Lift up your heart with Him, and sing this song.

To all of those who are visiting with us today, especially our honoured guests, we wish to extend a warm welcome to you.

SERMON

Our speaker for this morning is brother Kenneth Sinclair, his sermon title is “Because He Gave His Everything” with reference to the scripture from the book of Matthew chapter 25 verses 31—46.  

W.M. CoC NEWS

BIBLE CLASSES

Brother Steven Shee is the teacher for the adults’ class. He will be teaching on the topic of “Chapter 3 of the book of James”. Youth’s Class will be combined with the adult’s class for this morning. Visitors and Beginners Class will be taught by brother Philip Loh on the book titled “A Solid Foundation”. Children Class will be taught by sister Lai Hing.

AGM

Members are requested to stay back after the Worship Hour to attend the AGM. 

 MEMBER INVOLVEMENT SURVEY

Kindly fill the Member Involvement Survey form and hand over to the church office before you leave today. Thank you.

CHURCH’S PRAYER

Kindly stay back after the AGM as the church is going to pray together for brother Arthur Ng for his colon cancer.

MEMBERS’ DIRECTORY

Please final check your personal details on the notice board prior to the printing of 2010 Members’ Directory.

STUDENTS CELL GROUP (SCG)

SCG on every Wednesday at 7:30pm at brother C.B. Gan’s residence, all are welcome, dinner will be served by sister Christie Gan.

YOUTH ACTIVITY

This coming Saturday (6th March) will be Youth Activity of Biblical Movie plays at 7pm at church building, light refreshment and snacks will be served. Please invite your friends and classmates/schoolmates to participate.

 In Your Prayers and Thoughts

Frank & Mary Downes (parents of sister Sharon) — Please continue to pray for Mary’s chemotherapy and Frank’s heart condition. Those of you who know them, please drop them an email to encourage them and letting them know you are keeping them in prayers. Mary — mloudownes@yahoo.com and Frank — fdownes@att.net. 

Brother Athur Ng — for his colon cancer to have proper medical treatment. 

Brother Loh Kong Onn — for his health to continue to improve that he may join us to Worship together.    

To all of those who are visiting with us today, especially our honoured guests, we wish to extend a warm welcome to you. 

SERMON

 Our speaker for this morning is brother Steven Shee, his sermon title is “An Acceptable Worship” with reference to the scripture from the book of John chapter 4 verses 23-24.But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”   

W.M. CoC NEWS

BIBLE CLASSES

Brother Philip Loh is the teacher for the adults’ class. He will be teaching on the topic of “Organizing for the Service in the Body”. The youths will be joining the adult’s class from now on until the commencing of new syllabus. Visitors and Beginners Class will also be joining the adult’s class this morning. Children Class will be taught by sister Jun Ai.

BAPTISMS

We rejoice with the angels in heaven for the baptism of brother Melvin Loh and sister Teo Hui Fun on last Sunday (24th of January 2010) at Diamond’s Residence. May God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ bless this new souls and may the Holy Spirit guide them in the growing of their Christian lives.

LEADERSHIP MEETING

The leaders of the congregation will have the regular monthly meeting next week after the agape feast to discuss the Lord’s work in Wangsa Maju.  

 AGAPE FEAST

After worship service next week, we are looking forward that all will stay back to partake the monthly agape feast which prepared by the members. It  will be a good time to fellowship and bonding with one another. 

LADIES MEETING

The ladies will gather together for discussion and to have a lesson by sister Sharon Lee while the leaders having their meeting. 

THANK YOU

The congregation would like to extend our thanks to sister Pamela Khaw for her generosity of contribution of RM500 for the Campus Ministry

In Your Prayers and Thoughts****************************************

Brother Sundra — for proper medical attention for his shoulder and spinal slipped discs problem, and also his spiritual faithfulness toward God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Frank & Mary Downes (parents of sister Sharon) — Please continue to pray for Mary’s chemotherapy and Frank’s heart condition. Those of you who know them, please drop them an email to encourage them and letting them know you are keeping them in prayers. Mary — mloudownes@yahoo.com and Frank — fdownes@att.net.

Brother Athur Ng — for his colon cancer to have proper medical treatment.

To all of those who are visiting with us today, especially our honoured guests, we wish to extend a warm welcome to you. 

 SERMON

Our speaker for this morning is brother Philip Loh, his sermon title is “Encouragement To New Christians” with reference to the scripture from the book of Luke chapter 8 verses 13-14. It is always an encouragement to the old Christians to see a young soul to be converted and became a Christian. However, as a young new Christian, he or she may face all the temptations and disappointments along their Christian’s life, as an old Christian like you that have gone through the ups and downs in your own Christian’s life, what are the things that you can help to encourage the new Christians to overcome those same obstacles.  

W.M. CoC NEWS

BIBLE CLASSES

Brother Chris Chin is the teacher for the adults’ class. He will be teaching on the topic of “Areas of Service in the Body”. Brother Steven Shee continue to teach the youths from The Distinctive Pattern Of The New Testament Church. Visitors and Beginners Class will be taught by brother Philip Loh on the book of Titus and Philemon. Children Class will be taught by sister Jun Ai.

LST RECRUITMENT AT UTAR

This and the following weeks brother Philip will be visiting UTAR for the recruitment for LST, shall any of the brethren are interested to participate in the recruitment drive, please arrange with brother Philip. Your prayers are also very much appreciated.

WALKATHON

There will be a Walkathon event organized by brother Ganga of KL CoC on the 30th of January (Saturday) at 9am at Titiwangsa Park, all members are encouraged to participate this event and to have a good fellowship with one another.  

In Your Prayers and Thoughts 

Brother Sundra — for proper medical attention for his shoulder and spinal slipped discs problem, and also his spiritual faithfulness toward God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. 

 KTAR Students — pray for their last week of final exams for this semester. 

Frank & Mary Downes (parents of sister Sharon) — Mary’s chemo is helping to control her cancers, but the pain is very difficult for her. Frank’s heart medicine seems to be helping him. Those of you who know them, please drop them an email to encourage them and letting them know you are keeping them in prayers. Mary — mloudownes@yahoo.com and Frank — fdownes@att.net. 

Brother Athur Ng — for his colon cancer to have proper medical treatment. 

To all of those who are visiting with us today, especially our honoured guests, we wish to extend a warm welcome to you.

SERMON

Our speaker for this morning is brother Chris Chin, his sermon title is “Practice What You Preached” with reference to the scripture from the book of Matthew Chapter 15 verses 8-9 and Chapter 7 verses 1-15.The world said I see then I believe. But the believer said I believe then I see.  

W.M. CoC NEWS

BIBLE CLASSES

Brother Steven Shee is the teacher for the adults’ class. He will be touching on the topic of “Diversity of Function in the Body”. The youths will join the adults’ class this morning. Visitors and Beginners Class will be taught by brother Philip Loh on the book of Second Timothy. Children Class will be taught by sister Jun Ai.

CONDOLENCE

Mr. James Khaw Seng Hong, brother of sister Pam passed away on Wednesday 13-01-2010 at 4:44pm at HKL. To our beloved sister Pam, our deepest sympathies during your time of loss. Please know that we are here for you.

WALKATHON

There will be a Walkathon event organized by brother Ganga of KL CoC on the 30th of January (Saturday) at 9am at Titiwangsa Park, all members are encouraged to participate this event and to have a good fellowship with one another.

In Your Prayers and Thoughts

Brother Sundra - for  proper  medical attention for his shoulder and spinal slipped discs problem, and also his spiritual faithfulness toward God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

KTAR Students - please for their final exams for the coming 2 weeks for this semester.

Mary Downes (mother of sister Sharon) — for her strength and speedy recovery after the chemotherapy.

Brother Athur Ng  - for his colon cancer to have proper medical care, he will be having a major surgery on Monday at Hospital University Putra Malaysia Serdang (HUPM) to remove the cancerous  colon part.   

To all of those who are visiting with us today, especially our honoured guests, we wish to extend a warm welcome to you.

 SERMON

Our speaker for this morning is brother C.B. Gan, his sermon is “After Complaining Came Craving And Opposition” with reference to the scripture from the book of Numbers Chapter 11 and 12.

1)   How have your complaining affect the people in your family, school, workplace or even in the Church?

2)   What is wrong with craving for fine food or fruits, sports, fashions or status? It will be when our pre occupation on these turn from mere desire to lusting.

3)   How do you respond when someone at home or Church criticizes you? Do you criticize others?

 And if you did, was envy the main reason? We may have the perfect answers to all the above, but lets discover what new information God.   

W.M. CoC NEWS

BIBLE CLASSES

Brother C.B. Gan is the teacher for the adults’ class. He will be touching on the topic of “The Practical Necessity”. Brother Steven Shee continue to teach the youths from The Distinctive Pattern Of The New Testament Church. Visitors and Beginners Class will be taught by brother Philip Loh on the book of First Timothy. Children Class will be taught by sister Jun Ai.

THANK YOU

1.   Freddie for helping to drill and put up the white board at the larger class room.

2.   Sister Esther, Hui Fun and Tsu Yee for helping in vacuuming and cleaning the church premise.

In Your Prayers and Thoughts

Brother Sundra — for proper medical attention for his shoulder and spinal slipped discs problem, and also his spiritual faithfulness toward God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Philip’s dad — please continue to pray for his health and strength and also his acceptance of the gospel.

Sister Sharon — for her legs and joints that God will provide the proper medical attention for her that she may be recover soon with strength to walk normally.

Mary Downes (mother of sister Sharon) — for her strength and speedy recovery after the chemotherapy.

Sister Chrissy Lau — speedy recovery of her dengue fever.

Khaw Seng Hong (brother of sister Pam) — for him to regain his conscious and to be out of coma soon and a stable condition and speedy recovery after his surgery.

Brother Arthur Ng – for his 4^th stage of colon cancer to be able to have proper treatment and therapy. 

The view that God’s grace will cover all sins no matter what, and so one is free to live however one wants, may be prevalent and popular, but that doesn’t make it correct. Make no mistake about it, without God’s grace no one would be saved. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). There are not enough good deeds we could perform on our own that would deserve or earn God’s salvation. Only by the blood of Christ can we be forgiven (1 Peter 1:18-19). However, we also understand there is a response God desires from us to receive the cleansing Christ’s blood provides. In faith (Hebrews 11:6), one must repent (Luke 13:3, 5), confess [Jesus as the Son of God] (Matthew 10:32-33) and be immersed (1 Peter 3:21). While Christ’s blood has the potential to forgive everyone’s sins, it only does in actuality for those who submit to the will of God. “And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation” (Hebrews 5:9). In this, using the language of the bumper sticker, God is picky.

Likewise, the blood of Christ continues to cleanse us of our sins past the point of immersion. The sacrifice of Jesus, however, will not continue to cleanse one who continues in willful sin. The Hebrew writer warns us, “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins” (Hebrews 10:26). Paul warned the Galatians, by pursuing the course they had chosen, they had fallen from grace (Galatians 5:4). John reminds us, for the blood of Christ to continue to cleanse us of our sins, we must continue to “walk in the light” (1 John 1:7). Only by living in the light of God’s Word, seeking to live by God’s will, does the blood of Christ continue to cleanse us. Of course, as John points out, we can repent and return whenever we are overtaken by sin (1 John 1:9; 2:1-2), but to live for Christ means we do not make a habit, or practice, of sinning (1 John 3:6). Again, in this God is picky.

Certainly no one can be saved apart from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Having said that does not negate what he expects of us, in what one must do to be saved, and how one should live from that moment on. God is not a “good ol’ boy” or the “forgetful grandfather” who lets sin slide. There are consequences to our choices and actions. Christ has paid the price for us in his death on the cross, but we must be in Christ to receive its benefits. Without Christ there is no hope. God is very picky about this, as it makes a mockery of his Son’s death otherwise. Let us trust in the grace of God, but let us never put God to the test. As the song says, “Live for Jesus, O my brother, His disciple ever be; Render not to any other, What alone the Lord’s should be.” 

To all of those who are visiting with us today, especially our honoured guests, we wish to extend a warm welcome to you. 

SERMON

Our speaker for this morning is brother Victor Chong, his sermon title is “Christ’s Gift To You” with reference to the scripture from the book of Ephesians chapter 4 verses 7-11.When God calls us to enjoy the blessings of His redemptive plan , the Lord wants us to walk worthily of that call. As we render obedience in baptism we become part His body , His church. Christ gives gifts to each one of us for the building up of His body. Each one of us are given gift/s – the Lord gives gifts to His church. Every one of us are unique and  can play a role no matter how small in His kingdom. Christians must now live up to this new identity and calling in that we are now bless to serve one another with His gift. Be equip and be ready to SERVE the Lord in His glorious church He purchased with His own blood – Christ gives gifts to you. 

 W.M. CoC NEWS       

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BIBLE CLASSES

Brother Victor Chong is the teacher for the adults’ class. He will be teaching on the topic of “Introduction to the book of James”. Youth’s Class will be combined with the adult’s class for this morning. Visitors and Beginners Class will be taught by brother Philip Loh on the “Survey of the New Testament” of the books of Titus and Philemon. Children Class will be taught by sister Lai Hing.

BAPTISM

We rejoice with the angels in heaven for the baptism of sister Teo Hui Fun on 24th of January 2010 at Diamond’s Residence. May God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ bless this new soul and may the Holy Spirit guide her in the growing of her Christian life.

LEADERSHIP MEETING

The leaders of the congregation will meet at the larger room to have the regular monthly meeting right after the agape feast today to discuss the Lord’s work in Wangsa Maju.

AGAPE FEAST

After worship service today, we are looking forward that all will stay back to partake the monthly agape feast which prepared by the members. It  will be a good time to fellowship and bonding with one another.

LADIES MEETING

The ladies will gather together at the auditorium for discussion and to have a lesson by sister Sharon Lee while the leaders having their meeting today. 

In Your Prayers and Thoughts

Brother Sundra — for proper medical attention for his shoulder and spinal slipped discs problem, and also his spiritual faithfulness toward God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Frank & Mary Downes (parents of sister Sharon) — Please continue to pray for Mary’s chemotherapy and Frank’s heart condition. Those of you who know them, please drop them an email to encourage them and letting them know you are keeping them in prayers. Mary — mloudownes@yahoo.com and Frank — fdownes@att.net.

Brother Athur Ng — for his colon cancer to have proper medical treatment.  

 Have you ever had the unfortunate experience of someone trying to talk you out of your faith and purpose? This can be so discouraging and exasperating! Our Lord knew all about it because it happened to him constantly during his earthly ministry; it began with Peter.  Jesus had asked his disciples who the people were saying he was. Peter makes that most noble confession that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. Matthew 16:21 says, “From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.”  Matthew 16:22 says, “Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying ‘Far be it from You, Lord, this shall not happen to You!’” The divine response to this carnal mind is rich beyond our ability to appropriately comprehend and appreciate! “But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men’” (Matthew 16:23).           

Can we grasp the intensity of our Lord’s conviction of faith and purpose when he called Peter “Satan”? Peter could not bring himself to envision such an ordeal being in Jesus’ future; from his vantage point, this was unthinkable! Jesus proceeded to tell Peter that was exactly the problem with his thinking—it was carnal and not spiritual.           

 Jesus had been aware of his purpose for coming to this earth from the foundation of the world! He had told the disciples on one occasion, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work” (John 4:34). Christ knew all too well what his suffering, death and resurrection would signify. John the Baptist had declared, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29b).            The death of the Lord was the central event of the Gospel. Had Jesus Christ not died on the cross, there would have been no burial, no resurrection, no return and no redemption of mankind. Jesus refused to allow Peter or anyone else to talk him out of his faith and purpose!          

 The children of Israel allowed 10 of the 12 spies to talk them out of their faith and purpose. “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them’” (Numbers 13:1-2). God had told them to go and see what the land was like; whether the people were strong or weak, few or many. They were to see if the land was good or bad; if the cities were like camps or strongholds; whether the land was rich or poor; and whether there were forests or not (Numbers 13:3-20).           

 Notice God had already told Moses that He was giving them the land before the spies ever took one step into Canaan. However, upon their return 40 days later, there was a divided report. Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “‘Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.’ But the men who had gone up with him said, ‘We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we’” (Numbers 13:31).           
 These ten spies continued in their faithlessness; “And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land…saying, ‘The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw the giants…and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight” (Numbers 13:32-33).           

 “So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night” (Numbers 14:1). They had completely forgotten and no longer believed a word God had told them! “Those very men who brought the evil report about the land, died by the plague before the Lord. But Joshua and Caleb remained alive of the men who went to spy out the land” (Numbers 14:37-38). The unbelief of the 10 spies not only cost them their lives but also everyone else 20 years old and above wandered and died in the wilderness (Numbers 14:20-34)! They let the opinion of the majority talk them out of their faith and purpose!           

 Job lost all of his earthly possessions and all ten of his children in one day, when God allowed Satan to attack him (Job 1:13-19). When he was told of these calamities, Job 1:20 says, “Then Job arose and tore Job’s wife tried to talk him out of his faith and purpose when she said to him, “Do you still hold to your integrity? Curse God and die” (Job 2:9)! For Job to have listened to her would have betrayed his relationship with God as well as being spiritually obscene! This blameless and upright man who feared God and shunned evil replied to her; “’You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?’ In all this Job did not sin with his lips” (Job 2:10). Later he said to his friends—if they could be called friends, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him” (Job 13:15). He had resolutely decided he would not allow his wife or his friends to talk him out of his faith and purpose!          

 The Babylonians had taken the Jews captive for 70 years, and Jerusalem had been destroyed. Some of the Jews had escaped; some had survived and were left in the province. They were in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem was broken down and its gates were burned with fire, and without walls