Dr Paul Allen

“Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” ( 1 Thessalonians 5:5 ) It may be significant that most of the days during the year which have been considered to have some special meaning are observed as “Days”—for example, Independence Day , Veterans Day , Thanksgiving Day , etc. Those observed mainly at night—such as Halloween and New Year’s Eve , tend to emphasize frivolity or even sinfulness. Christmas Eve may be an exception, but this celebration (December 25) rarely notes the real reason for Christ ’s incarnation. It is for good reason that darkness has become a term referring not only to absence of daylight but also to absence of moral light. Many biblical references make this connection. Note just a sampling. “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light” ( Romans 13:12 ). “For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be dr...

Christians are not to judge other Christians. And Christians are to judge other Christians. That’s what the Bible teaches. In fact, the apostle Paul says both things in the same letter just a few paragraphs apart. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God . ( 1 Corinthians 4:5) Don’t judge other Christians. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? (1 Corinthians 5:12) Judge other Christians. Is Paul contradicting himself? No. Paul is simply instructing us that there are things we must not judge and things we must judge. What We Must Not Judge We must not judge “the hidden . . . purposes of the heart” of other Christians based on their decisions, actions, perspectives, words, or personality that concern us  i...

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” ( Galatians 4:4-5 ) God makes all the difference! There was a time when the whole world was in bondage to sin and death . But God! “But . . . God sent forth his Son . . . To redeem them that were under the law.” Because He did, “the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” ( Romans 8:21 ). But there was a problem, for every man was still a lost sinner, deserving to die under the righteous, well-deserved wrath of a Holy God. But God! “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” ( Romans 5:8 ). He died for us, suffering in our place, because He loved us. The issue is not yet settled, however, for how could a dead redeemer complete the work He was sent to do? But God...

“And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life .” ( Philippians 4:3 ) Although the word “yokefellow” is out of use today, the meaning is easily understood. Most of us know a yoke is a device that connects two animals together to increase the power for the work that needs to be done. Jesus said, “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” ( Matthew 11:29-30 ). From a spiritual perspective, we labor together with the Lord Jesus . Among ourselves, we labor in the gospel. It is worth noting that God sees the marriage bond as “joined together” (same term) with a yoke ( Matthew 19:6 ). Interestingly, as Paul speaks highly of the women who labored with him, he uses two very different concepts to recognize their contribution. First, he...

“And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life .” ( Philippians 4:3 ) Although the word “yokefellow” is out of use today, the meaning is easily understood. Most of us know a yoke is a device that connects two animals together to increase the power for the work that needs to be done. Jesus said, “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” ( Matthew 11:29-30 ). From a spiritual perspective, we labor together with the Lord Jesus . Among ourselves, we labor in the gospel. It is worth noting that God sees the marriage bond as “joined together” (same term) with a yoke ( Matthew 19:6 ). Interestingly, as Paul speaks highly of the women who labored with him, he uses two very different concepts to recognize their contribution. First, he...

According to James 3:14, it is not God who tempts us, it’s our own earthly desires. Temptation forces us into a position of trust and dependence on God. It drives us into a relationship with Christ , where we acknowledge our weakness and seek His strength. God longs for us to draw near to Him, and promises when we do, He’ll draw near to us. It is a beautiful cycle that leads us into a place of overcoming and changing who we are from the inside out. No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape so that you are able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 Connection Questions: 1. What are some similarities between Joseph and Jesus ? 2. How was Joseph's coat created? 3. What was the significance of Joseph's coat having long sleeves? 4. What should our reaction be when facing sexual temptation? 5. Who is responsible ...

“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” ( Galatians 3:1 ) The Greek word for “bewitched” is used only this once in the New Testament and does not necessarily refer to witchcraft as such. The connotation is “fascinated” or “deceived.” Unlike most of his other epistles, the book of Galatians includes no commendations from Paul, nor even any prayer requests. Paul evidently was very disappointed in this church and its ministry. He had clearly preached the gospel to them, setting forth “Jesus Christ, and him crucified” ( 1 Corinthians 2:2 ) among them, and they had apparently believed and started out well. They seemed to understand the great doctrines of salvation by grace and of liberty in Christ, and it was hard for Paul to understand how they had been so quickly led astray. If anything, this is even a greater problem today than in Paul’s day. Professin...

Reconciliation takes us right to the heart of the gospel. It moves us like few other themes in the Bible. Reconciliation crosses distances, overcomes hostility, opens access, melts indifference, and cultivates peace. What could be more relevant in our angry and divided world today? RESTORED TO GOD We once were God ’s enemies (Romans 5:10). Not that we consciously hated God — mostly we were oblivious to our defensive attitude. If anything, we blamed him for not seeming closer to us. But our clueless resistance did not stop God. He moved toward us with love and even with sacrifice through Christ . He took his own righteous wrath against our rage by the atoning death of his Son as our Substitute. No wonder, then, that we “rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ , through whom we have now received reconciliation” (Romans 5:11). We didn’t earn or deserve our reconciliation, and we didn’t meet God in the middle. We contributed nothing except pouting indifference. God was the one wh...

For the sake of convenience, the gifts will be considered in three groups.  First, gifts for the establishment of the church and for bringing it to a maturity where all the members can receive their own gifts and contribute to the up-building of the local body ( Ephesians 4:11–16). These are the apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers who are chosen by the Lord, taken captive by Him, and given as gifts to the Church , not just to some particular local church.  In each ministry more than an occasional manifestation of a gift of the Spirit is involved. Like the first apostles, these are mature, trained people, who were not sent out until they had gained experience under the great Teacher ( Jesus , then the Teacher Spirit, the Spirit of Truth ). Their ministry was not limited to one local church. They sooner or later moved on, because they were given to the Church as a whole. Second, gifts of the edification of the local body through individual members...

“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead ; so that they are without excuse.” ( Romans 1:20 ) " God 's invisible qualities - This powerful verse introduces Paul’s burning description of the descent of ancient human societies that once “knew God” ( Romans 1:21 ) into evolutionary paganism, idolatry, and wickedness. This deterioration was willful and inexcusable, for they had abundant evidence of God’s nature and power in the very creation which they had chosen to worship instead of the Creator ( Romans 1:25 ). Even though God Himself was invisible (being omnipresent), they could easily see the evidence of His existence and His grace in creating and sustaining all things, “for God hath shewed it unto them” ( Romans 1:19 ). “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork” ( Psalm 19:1 ). Since these things were “c...

“And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” ( Romans 16:20 ) This is an intriguing promise, suggesting that believers can somehow inflict bruises on the devil, who is perpetually seeking to “devour” them ( 1 Peter 5:8 ). This promise is a clear allusion to the primeval assurance of Genesis 3:15 , when God promised that the unique “seed” of “the woman” would eventually “bruise” (actually “crush”) the head of the old serpent, the devil. This prophecy will finally be fulfilled in Christ ’s ultimate victory, when Satan first will be bound for a thousand years in the bottomless pit and then confined forever in the lake of fire ( Revelation 20:2 , 10). In the meantime, believers, who also in a sense are the woman’s spiritual “seed” ( Revelation 12:17 ), can repeatedly achieve local and temporary victories over Satan and his wiles by resisting him “stedfast in the faith” ( 1 Peter 5:9 ). If we resist him as ...

“And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment.” ( Philippians 1:9 ) Paul’s longing for the Philippian church is eloquently expressed in his prayer for their maturation in the faith. It begins simply with a prayer for their growing love—love that will “abound yet more and more.” This phrase is only used two other times: in 1 Thessalonians 4:1 and 10. Essentially, the prayer is that their love would never stop increasing. The focus of the ever-increasing love, however, is not emotive reactions or depth of feeling. It is a nonstop, ever-growing love for “knowledge” and “judgment.” And as one might expect, the Holy Spirit ’s choice of words is important. Several Greek words could be translated “knowledge.” This specific choice in Philippians 1:9 is epignosis, a term that emphasizes understanding of facts or truth and carries an intensive meaning with a fuller, clearer, more thorough knowledge than mere awareness of data. A perso...

The God mostly pray in touch the legs in heart. The God always donate the prices in peoples. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “Reach here with your finger, and behold my hands; and reach here with your hand, and thrust it into my side....And Thomas answered and said unto Him, My LORD and my God .” ( John 20:27-28 ) Perhaps no other means of execution ever inflicted more physical pain than Roman crucifixion . Today as we ponder verse three of the precious hymn “ When I Survey the Wondrous Cross ,” we reflect on the facts that when Christ was crucified a cruel crown of thorns was mashed down upon His head and His body was held suspended in place by painful Roman spikes nailed through His hands and feet. He knew what awaited Him, for a description of the dying process had been written long beforehand ( Psalm 22 ). Yet He endured it all out of love for us. See from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down! Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns ...