All my life I have believed in the Authority, Truth and Accuracy of the Bible. As a boy I learnt from my father, who was the General Superintendent of the Elim Churches, that 'All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works,' (2 Timothy 3.16-17, KJV).
Serve the Lord willingly
1 Peter 5 Bible Study: 'And now, a word to you elders of the church. I, too, am an elder; with my own eyes I saw Christ dying on the cross; and I, too, will share his glory and his honour when he returns. Fellow elders, this is my plea to you: Feed the flock of God; care for it willingly, not grudgingly; not for what you will get out of it but because you are eager to serve the Lord. Don’t be tyrants, but lead them by your good example, and when the Head Shepherd comes, your reward will be a never-ending share in his glory and honour.’
Have the same attitude as Christ
A chosen people
1 Peter 2 Bible Study: You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2.9-10)
1 Peter 2 emphasises that believers should live holy lives, growing in faith like newborn babies craving spiritual milk. They are compared to living stones, built into a spiritual house with Jesus as the cornerstone. Those who trust in Him will not be put to shame, while those who reject Him will stumble.
A living hope
1 Peter 1 Bible Study: Our faith is not faith at all until it is put to the test! Without testing, without proving it, it’s just something in the mind. Peter wrote, ‘...so that the TESTING OF YOUR FAITH, being more precious than gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ!’ (1 Peter 1:6-7).
The Kingdom of God in Power
'For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power... For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes,' (1 Corinthians 4.20; Romans 1.16, NIV). I have seen the power of God in an incredible way. From childhood, I wanted every day and every part of my life to be under the direction and control of the Holy Spirit. Now when I look back over 75 years of ministry I know with absolute certainty that there has been both purpose and direction in my life. God has been in control of all my days and all my experiences. Everything that has happened in my life was foreknown in His plan.
What happened at Pentecost?
I want you to understand the power of the Holy Spirit to change and empower lives. After the death and resurrection of Jesus, Peter, according to John 21, went back to his old life of fishing. He is disillusioned and disappointed. Yet, when the Holy Spirit came upon him on the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached with such power and conviction that 3000 repented!
Get to know Jesus! His Power and Glory
I want to challenge everyone from the youngest to the oldest, get to know Jesus. So many people have heard about Him, but few really know who He is. Believer, do you REALLY know Him? I have been in full-time ministry for 75 years. But I don't look at the past, rather 'this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,' (Philippians 3.13). Our spiritual life is like running a race; if you want to win, don't look back, strive for the prize, which is Jesus Himself. I want to win Jesus, and know His Power.
Blessed through obedience
1 Kings 17&18 Bible Study: If we obey the Word of God, what we have will not run dry until God fulfills every promise. There is a great responsibility on us to obey God; our obedience will affect unbelievers. If we as individuals, and collectively as the Church, are disobedient as King Ahab was in 1 Kings 16.33, then God's anger is roused. We are called to be 'salt and light'. Salt is a purifer and preserver; if the salt loses it's saltiness, it is of no use anymore. There is a danger today that the Church is abandoning the commands of the Lord to adjust to society; I cannot overemphasise this need to obey God's Word.
God so loved us
1 John 4 Bible Study: 'Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.' (1 John 4)