Articles published in 2006

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.

Secret Sins

SECRET SINS

“for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”- Romans 3:20

Behold how ignorant the apostle shows humanity to be when it comes to sin.  Mankind is ignorant of it unless God gives him a law to reveal sin.  Just as highways are marked with speed limit signs to warn travelers of their bounds of safety, so God has done with His laws.  There are not given from an unloving Father to keep His children from fun.  They are protection from those things that the tempter uses to destroy.  We hear much from the world today as to what sin really is. “As long you love Jesus you are a Christian and…

Jan 15, 2007 6:54 PM

FORGETTING!

FORGETTING!

As the New Year approaches we are reminded of the Apostle Paul’s words to the Philippians: “forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

These words stand as great reminders to all Christians to live for the day, not for the past.  Paul was not lingering in the past.  His vision was upon the future.  Paul was not saying, nor are we, that we should forget good memories and fond times with our family and loved ones.  Certainly these are treasures we…

Jan 15, 2007 6:54 PM

RESTORATION

RESTORATION

[25] 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

Our message today centers around one of the great and wonderful promises of God to His people: “I will restore”.  Who, but God, could make such a promise?  Who, but God, can restore people’s lives back that have been torn apart by sin, neglect and bad choices?  Though His people had bowed before the false gods of that day and spent their money and time for the pleasures the world had to offer, their God was…

Jan 15, 2007 6:54 PM

“THE SECURITY OF THE SAINTS”

“THE SECURITY OF THE SAINTS”

While reading about the persecution of Christians in a bygone era, we came across a gruesome account of one of the most atrocious and hateful crimes committed against them.  According to the writer, the enemies of the Christian Church would torture their victims with such painful methods that they would, with their tongues, deny their faith and the Lord who bought them. This was their enemy’s method of, supposedly, sending them, forever, to hell.  The Apostle Paul was familiar with some of these methods.  Prior to his regeneration and conversion he committed…

Jan 15, 2007 6:54 PM

FALSE PROPHETS

FALSE PROPHETS ! Pt: 3

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”-2 Peter 2:1-3

Our third mark of the false prophet is perhaps the most…

Jan 15, 2007 6:54 PM

FALSE PROPHETS

FALSE PROPHETS ! Pt: 2

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”-2 Peter 2:1-3

Last week we observed some of the marks of the false…

Jan 15, 2007 6:54 PM

FALSE PROPHETS

FALSE PROPHETS !

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”-2 Peter 2:1-3

We’ve all heard the proverbial adage: “You wouldn’t know it if…

THE SHEPHERDS VOICE

THE SHEPHERDS VOICE

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me”-John 10:27

In the eastern hill country there was no sound more comforting to sheep than the shepherd’s voice.  If we were to observe the flock as they fed upon the verdant meadows, we would see a head rise here and there to catch a glimpse of the shepherd.  Every few moments, we would hear a bleat echo through the canyons as one of the fold communicated to the others: “All is well.  The shepherd is near, his rod and staff I see in the distance.” Just knowing that the shepherd’s eye was upon them, brought comfort…

A FAITHFUL SAYING

A FAITHFUL SAYING

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief”- 1 Timothy 1:15

Though we have heard of those who have claimed perfection, who have lived above sin all of their lives, we prefer Paul’s faithful saying: Jesus came into the world to save sinners.  Of all the things that Paul has written, the Christian can identify with these words for every genuine Christian has been made to feel this way.  By these words, Paul claimed to be the worst of Christians.  His life was marred by the grossest of…

WHICH WAS THE GREATEST MIRACLE?

WHICH WAS THE GREATEST MIRACLE?

“Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”

On this notable occasion we have two worshippers, apostles of Jesus Christ, entering the temple to pray.  Peter and John, friends in the faith, were doing what they had always done at the ninth hour of the day, three p.m. our time: they were going to worship.  There was no television cameras planted. There was no music director to move the emotions of people. There was no program to follow.  There were not even any seats for…

THE PRUNED VINE

THE PRUNED VINE

Hebrews 12:11  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Let the Christian never forget that suffering is a part of their salvation.  It is as much a part of it as our quickening and conversion, for it produces the same fruits.  Let us never forget that the pruned vine is greatly loved by the Husbandman.  He has given more attention to it than all the other plants in His garden.  His eye is most upon it for He expects the most from it and…

SUNDAY WORSHIP

SUNDAY WORSHIP

“Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.”- Mark 16:9

There is a notable reason why Christians have worshipped on the first day of the week since its very beginning: it is the day that Jesus rose from the grave.  What better way to celebrate the atonement for sin, the abrogation of the law service, the promise of eternal life and the ascension of Jesus Christ back to the Father, than to meet and worship with other believers on the very same day that Jesus declared His victory?

This fact,…

“Naomi’s God”

“Naomi’s God”

In his work entitled, “All the women of the Bible”, Dr. Herbert Lockyer wrote: “Christianity, as we are to see, brought full emancipation to womanhood, and wherever Christ is recognized as Saviour and His truth is obeyed, woman is esteemed as man’s loved companion, confidant and, in many ways, his better half.  Through the centuries the social and legal status of woman has fluctuated.  In times of fierce persecution they suffered much.  Where heathenism still reigns, the life and lot of women are far from the freedom and joy the experience where Christianity is recognized.  From…

“THE LOVE OF CHRIST”

“THE LOVE OF CHRIST”

“to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”

There is the story of a young girl who began a lengthy novel only to put it back on her shelf because it seemed boring. One night, she went on a blind date and met the most fascinating man she had ever known. She fell in love with him immediately.  The night just flew by and when she returned to her home all she could think about was him!  His name seemed familiar though, and…

“AMAZING GRACE”

“AMAZING GRACE”

“For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth” Romans 9:11

What a great blessing we have before us today.  God displays His everlasting love to save His people from their sins, not by works, but by His sovereign grace. The example the apostle uses to display God’s distinguishing grace are meted out in Old Testament types and shadows by two brothers, Jacob and Esau. According to Paul, before these two children were born, God chose Jacob. I have heard…

A GLORIOUS DECLARATION

A GLORIOUS DECLARATION

“Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification”- Romans 4:25

Spring is a beautiful time of the year. As we drive through our neighborhoods we see the Dogwood, the Azaleas, the Tulips and the beautiful colors of God’s creation.  In the spring it seems that even the birds sing special anthems to our glorious creator.  When we observe the budding flower and the rising stalk on which the colored bud is perched a declaration is made: something beneath the earth that was dead and dormant rose declaring its life.  In one sense, this is what…

“And such were some of you”

“And such were some of you”

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”- 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

I stand in awe of God’s unchanging love for His people.  Not only do I stand in awe of His…

“But God meant it unto good”

“But God meant it unto good”

“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” Genesis 50:20

When all was said and done, Joseph was not ignorant concerning God’s sovereignty and His providential dealings in his life.  Though, to us, God’s dealings with Joseph seem quite severe we see that God had a purpose in Joseph’s afflictions.  As the story goes, he was thrown in to a pit by his own brothers; sold by them to the Ishmalite traders; sold by the trades for profit as a slave for Potipher; falsely accused…

“THE PREACHING OF THE CROSS”

“THE PREACHING OF THE CROSS”

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God”-1 Corinthians 1:18

We have heard some say that they detest Christianity because it is a bloody, messy religion with its cross and suffering. Their abhorrence of Christ’s blood and His suffering is a witness that separates all of humanity: those who view the cross as foolishness and those who view the cross as the power of God.  This was Paul’s line in the sand, his measuring rod, his litmus test as to those who were truly saved.  Thus he wrote to…

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