Peter Chen
Psalm 127:1, Without the LORD, Frustration!

This familiar psalm reminds us that the ultimate worker and provider in all our endeavors is the LORD. While the natural principle of cause and effect is indeed taught in Scripture, this psalm shows us that that principle must always be accompanied by the understanding that the LORD is the crucial provider in all our affairs. Whether it's our homes or the house of God, our greatest need is the LORD’s provision. In this unique psalm of Solomon, the Holy Spirit teaches us that human strength and ingenuity alone do not guarantee success. It is the LORD and His provision that ensure true success. May we learn to pray, depend on the LORD, and carry out His work with hearts that wait on Him.

Peter Chen
Revelation 7:1-14 The Protection of God's People

Revelation 7 shows that the wrath of the Lamb will be poured out on those who dwell on the earth, not upon Jesus’ own beloved people. John is shown two groups that will stand despite the intense judgments to come and contrary to the unbelievers’ outcry (6:17): the 144K Israelites and the raptured Gentile church of God. This sermon is part one of two sermons on Revelation 7 on the important topic of the rapture and its implications.

Peter Chen
Micah 5:2-4 The Messianic Message of Micah

Micah prophesied of the Messiah that He is the LORD God and that He is the shepherd over His people. This is the true message of Christmas that woos us to worship Christ, to love, honor, and serve Him. May we ponder deeply the wonder of Christmas, that the LORD, the eternal God, came from heaven in human flesh, born in Bethlehem, born of a woman, in the person of Jesus, to seek and save that which was lost and to shepherd all His elect who repent and trust in Him, to guide them away from sin and in the pathway of sanctification all the way home to glory.

Peter Chen
Psalm 37 - God: Your only refuge!

Psalm 37 is a Psalm written by Israel’s greatest king, king David. It reveals only two possibilities for the end of a person’s life. The wicked will be cut off by God’s judgment. Although they prosper abundantly in the present, their end is certain. They are not satisfied with prosperity, so they seek to destroy the righteous. Yet, the righteous seek refuge in the LORD. A repeated refrain in the Psalm is, “do not fret.” The path for settling your soul is through seeking refuge in God. The Christian’s heart is encouraged through this revelation of God, who sustains the righteous. Moreover, the Psalm directs Christians to trust, with great hope, in the LORD. The result is that they can progress through life’s difficulties and into eternity because of the salvation of God. He truly delivers those who seek refuge in Him from evildoers.

Dan Lee
Revelation 4-6, The Reign of God

The revelation of the future is given from the perspective of heaven. God reigns as the supreme ruler and deity who is enthroned and worshipped in heaven. What is true in heaven becomes the reality on earth as the revelation of the future unfolds. This revelation commences with Jesus breaking open the seals and shows the backdrop against which the judgments of God will come: ordinary and natural suffering in the fallen world and the persecution of Christians and their holy prayer for justice. In response to their prayer, divine wrath is poured out upon the world (with the seventh seal [8:1] and the trumpet and bowl judgments that ensue). All of this affirms the resounding biblical call to be ready for Christ. He is indeed coming quickly. May we be dressed in readiness and keep our lamps lit.

John 12:9-19, Why We Pursue After Christ (Part 3): Jesus Fulfilled Scripture

Jesus consciously fulfilled Scripture. With full knowledge of messianic prophecies regarding Himself, Jesus takes the initiative to fulfill Scripture, not only in this passage but in many other passages in the gospels. The gospel writers unabashedly record these types of prophecy fulfillments because they viewed prophecy biblically, as the divine revelation of the plan of God to be carried out by divine initiative by God. Hence, Jesus, the Son of God, took the initiative to accomplish the plan of God revealed in Scripture, because this is what God ordinarily does.

John 12:9-19, Why We Pursue After Christ (Part 2): Jesus Fulfilled Scripture

Jesus fulfilled Scripture. Biblical prophecy is no mere foreknowledge. God does not portray Himself as the cosmic fortune teller who has mere super-human powers to predict accurately the future. Sovereign God reveals His plan before He brings it to pass to reveal His glory. In this sense, Jesus is the fulfillment of the plan and the purpose of God as revealed beforehand in Scripture. Jesus comes to His people Israel with humility and peace, endowed with salvation. This is why we pursue after Christ. He is the humble and peace-seeking Savior, who came to bring the nations peace with God and peace among men.

John 12:9-19, Why We Pursue After Christ: Jesus' Power over Death

John provides a more precise reason for the great enthusiasm that was on display at Jesus’ triumphal entry than the other gospel writers. John connects the great excitement of the large crowd on Palm Sunday to Jesus’ power over death as demonstrated in Lazarus’ resurrection. In this first installment of the series of studies in why we pursue Christ, we look at Jesus’ power over death as the basis for which we ourselves also energetically pursue after Christ.

Psalm 100, Thankful, Thoughtful, Cheerful Worship (Part 3)

Cheerful worship is what our glorious God is worthy of. And this is what He calls for. He seeks worshippers who know to shout joyfully and serve gladly and come before Him with joyful singing. May the Lord grant us the wisdom to nurture our hearts to always be ready to engage with Him in worship with hearts cleansed of sin, minds saturated with His truth and with hearts overflowing with gratitude.

Psalm 100, Thankful, Thoughtful, Cheerful Worship

God is worthy of the most excellent kind of worship. In Psalm 100 we find a universal summons for all the earth to bring to God this most elevated and acceptable worship to Yahweh, our Maker, Sustainer and Redeemer. In this first study in Psalm 100, we look at the grounds for gratitude in worship, namely, creation, care and the cross. May the Lord purge any tinge of unbelief from our hearts and by His Holy Spirit enable us to be true worshippers who evermore come to Him with thankful hearts.

John 12:1-8, What is Christ Worth to You? (Part 3)

We were saved primarily to be worshippers, not benefactors. In this study, we examine the final verses of this passage and consider the great value and importance of worshipping Christ over the admirable yet lesser priority of charity and the abominable ambition of selfish gain. The chief end of man is indeed to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. May we worship and serve the Lord as He so rightly deserves.