Articles published in 2005

Below is a summary of articles written by Elder Neil Phelan for the Malvern newspaper. They are numbered according to publication order. To see the complete article simply click the title. You can also jump to other newspaper article collections using the menu on the left or search for words in the Google search engine. Soon we will complete a topics page, to help you find articles by subject.

“ANGELS AROUND US”

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” –Luke 2:13-14

Today, we have before us Luke’s account of the angels’ herald, the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Much is said about angels in the Bible, so during this holiday season, we share some thoughts with you upon our spiritual friends, the angels around us.

Angelology is a fascinating subject that has entertained the thoughts of God’s people for centuries. We must be careful though,…

“THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT”

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”- Ephesians 6:17

A most valuable piece of the Christian armor we have before us today: the sword of the spirit. Paul does not leave us to guess what this metaphor stands for in our Christian battle. It is the word of God, the Holy Scriptures.

Can you imagine a soldier going out to battle without their sword? I have heard of deer hunters going off to hunt without their gun and arriving at the woods only to become spectators to the sport. To be without a sword in the midst of a…

“THE HELMET OF SALVATION”

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”-Ephesians 6:17

The knowledge of salvation, how we are saved, that we are included in the redemptive work of Christ upon the cross and the hope that one day we will be with Jesus is one of the greatest pieces of armor the Christian can wear! To have the blessed hope and assurance of the scriptures that one day we will dwell in a better place, where sorrow, cares and sin can not reach us and that we will never have to say good bye to a loved one gives strength in the hottest…

THE SHIELD OF FAITH

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”-Ephesians 6:16

Among the equipment that God has provided for His people to wage their spiritual war against Satan is found “the shield of faith”. Faith is a marvelous weapon and it must be held before all the other pieces to protect the warrior. Faith is a simple, childlike trust in God. It is believing that the Lord will do what He has promised in His word. It is persevering, even when it seems that the world is against us, knowing that He is able to change…

FEET SHOD WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE

“And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;”- Ephesians 6:15

The third piece of armor the apostle encourages the Christian to wear has to do with our feet or how we are walking. An old song in a hymnbook has a verse predicated upon this scripture that illustrates the full meaning of Paul’s thought. It says, “Let us walk in the light of the gospel divine.” It is one thing to know doctrine, to know truth, yet, quite another thing to walk accordingly.

The shoe might seem to be a seemingly unimportant piece of armor,…

“A word for the reverend”

“He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.”- Psalm 111:9

The peculiar word, reverend, is used only one time in scripture. The common man does not need to understand Greek or Hebrew to recognize that this title belongs not to man, but to God Himself: He alone is Holy. How is it that professors of religion have usurped this divine title and the people love to have it so? Could it be because they have taken upon themselves the title, “saviour”, which belongs to Jesus only? There is only one name given…

THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness”- Ephesians 6:14

Listed among the Christian armament we find another indispensable piece which every Christian should earnestly covet: the breastplate of righteousness. How does the Christian obtain this breastplate of righteousness, or, how does a person become righteous in the first place? There is only one way: by God’s grace. We can not become righteous by reciting scriptures, by ordinances of the church, by praying holy prayers or by kneeling on…

“THE GOD TO WHOM WE PRAY”

“THE GOD TO WHOM WE PRAY”

As Christians, we have many reasons to rejoice. One of the greatest is the God to whom we pray. Unlike Allah, our God is not capricious, changing his mind from moment to moment. His children are well known, chosen from the foundation of the world, predestinated to be conformed to the image of His dear Son and He boldly declares, “I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” As the Christian prays, they approach a throne of grace, not a throne of works or merit. Who could get good enough to merit the favors of a perfect and Holy God? …

“TOUCHED”

“TOUCHED”

“For we have not an 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.”- Hebrews 4:15

The Christian has great reason to rejoice, even in the midst of fiery trials. Whatever their difficulty may be, they have a kinsman redeemer who has been touched by their suffering. He knows only too well the stroke of this world and can understand the pain because He walked the same path and was tempted in every point that any Christian may suffer. Though there are many religions in the world, only the Lord of…

“WALKING CIRCUMSPECTLY”

“WALKING CIRCUMSPECTLY”

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil”- Ephesians 5:15-16

There is a song which has recently gained popularity by Josh Groban and Angie Stone titled Prayer. It begins with these words:
”I pray you’ll be our eyes,

And watch us where we go

And help us to be wise

In times when we don’t know

Let this be our prayer

When we lose our way

Lead us to our place

Guide us with your grace

Give us faith so we’ll be safe.”

These words express a common theme which runs through the New Testament concerning the Christian…

“SIGNS OF HIS RETURN”

“SIGNS OF HIS RETURN”

The world has just witnessed what has been described as the most horrible natural disaster in history. What a comfort it is for us to know that Jesus Christ is still ruling in the armies of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. Surely, as we view the terrible scenes of those who are suffering it should cause us to be very thankful for the blessings around us. This disaster is very indicative of our Lord’s words in Luke, 21:25, when He described what may very well be the sign of His return: “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the…

THE GIRDLE OF TRUTH

“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness”-Ephesians 6:14

Last week we considered the Christian battle and the fact that every Christian will be engaged by the enemy. Thus, the Lord has provided His people with Holy armour sufficient for the evil day. This Ephesian letter is one of Paul’s prison epistles. As he looked upon his keeper, the Roman soldier, Paul considered the Christian soldier and attributed a spiritual connotation to each piece of the soldier’s armour.

The first piece of armour the apostle…

THE CHRISTIAN BATTLE or STANDING IN THE EVIL DAY

THE CHRISTIAN BATTLE or STANDING IN THE EVIL DAY

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

If you are a Christian, you will be put to the test. You will face the evil day. Satan knows you have enlisted in the King’s army and he will march his garrison of imps right up to the town of mansoul and seek to enter and destroy you at your weakest point. Thus, the…

“PHOS”

“PHOS”

”Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”- Matthew 5:14-16

There is the story of a young man who lived long ago in Greece who loved to play in the rain. One day, as he was enjoying a midsummer shower, a lightning bolt suddenly split the dark sky striking the boy to the earth. The noise was so loud it…

JACOB’S DISCOVERY

JACOB’S DISCOVERY

“And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not”- Genesis 28:16

Here we find Jacob, fleeing from his brother, Esau, in a waste howling wilderness. He has left the comforts of his home, a loving mother and a wise father as he makes his bed under the starry skies with only a rock for a pillow. As he sleeps, he sees in a vision, a ladder reaching up to the stars with angels ascending and descending upon it. He realizes that this is no ordinary dream as he wakes and proclaims his startling discovery, “Surely the Lord is in…

“THE HEM OF HIS GARMENT”

“And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched”-Luke 8:43-44

Every miracle that our Lord performed has a special spiritual lesson for His people. This one is no different. If we are familiar with the story, we will find ourselves just as this Syro-Phoenician woman before she found Jesus. Her disease is a figure of our sin that will not go away. It continues to haunt us day by day…

“THE JOY OF RESTORATION”

“And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.”-Joel 2:25

There is no greater discouragement that to be without hope in this world: to feel that there are no more happy days before us; that our life is ruined and sin has finally destroyed us. To look back and see years of harvest, wasted by the pestilence of sin. Surely, this is the clever device of the Christian’s arch enemy, to whisper in our ear at our lowest moment, “The is no hope for you, you have…

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Articles Published in 2007