Olivet Assembly Oceania

15/05/2025

Devotional: God's Evangelistic Work in the Desert: The Surprise and Joy of Salvation at the Impossibles

Acts 8:25-40

"Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus." (v35)

As we reflect on the account of Philip and the Ethiopian eu**ch, we are reminded of how personally and mercifully God leads His people. When Jesus overcame temptation, Satan left Him, and angels came to serve Him. In the same way, as disciples of Christ, when we devote ourselves to God's work, He sends His help-even angelic guidance-to lead and strengthen us.

There are many "impossibles" in today's passage: an impossible land, an impossible person-but miracles happen precisely where things seem most unlikely. God's amazing grace reaches isolated souls in the most unexpected places.

The "Impossible" Mission Fields
Philip, though no longer in Jerusalem where he had faithfully served as a deacon, kept his heart fixed on God even amid persecution. Because of this, the Holy Spirit led him-not to a bustling city, but into a barren desert. This kind of guidance goes beyond human logic. The desert is a place of hardship and danger, yet it was there that God had prepared a soul to receive salvation. Similarly, Peter had inner resistance toward Gentiles, but the Spirit led him to Cornelius. Paul was afraid in the sinful city of Corinth, but the Lord assured him that He had many people there. God's plans reach far beyond our expectations. May we learn to lay down our own judgments and follow His leading with simple trust.

The "Impossible" Person
We are deeply moved by the Ethiopian eu**ch's faith. He journeyed a long distance to Jerusalem in search of God. How painful it must have been to discover that, as a eu**ch, he was not permitted to enter the assembly of God. Yet he did not turn away in bitterness. Instead, he continued to seek God, reading the prophet Isaiah from his chariot. In times of our own weariness, confusion, or disappointment, how often do we give up or misunderstand God's heart? But when we continue to seek Him, He will surely answer and comfort us. He is always faithful.

The Gospel Makes All Things Possible
At the heart of the Gospel is this: Jesus' suffering is the proof of His love and the means of our salvation. No philosophy or religion in this world can fully explain suffering. But Jesus gave suffering a new and life-giving meaning-He bore it out of love for us. His curse removed our curse. His death brought us life. When this truth enters an open heart, it ignites a holy fire. That day, the eu**ch heard the Gospel, and salvation entered him. He immediately desired to follow Jesus and be baptized. How powerful is the Gospel when it meets a heart that is ready! With just one message, the Kingdom of God came upon him.

We pray with all our hearts that the same miracle of salvation will take place throughout our mission field in Oceania. May many hearts be set ablaze by the mercy and love of Jesus Christ.

19/03/2024

We are providing training for Bible teachers in Fiji. Please contact us if you are interested, or if you know someone who may be interested. (Locations must be in Fiji)

19/03/2024

Our associated church branch in Samoa (independent) is looking for translators for teaching materials. If you are interested, or you know someone who may be interested, don't hesitate to contact us. (Location in Samoa only)

29/12/2023

Social anxiety explosion whenever there is a big group session? Struggling to squeeze the things to share? Come to our individual or small group Bible studies, onsite or online.

28/12/2023

Praise the Lord! Our theological seminary - Olivet Theological Seminary has been awarded by Sydney College of Divinity to offer programs of Diploma of Christian Studies, Bachelor of Theology, and Master of Divinity.
Please check out our website: olivet.org.au

An evangelical Bible-centred college, awarded by Sydney College of Divinity to offer accreditated course of Diploma of Christian Studies, B.Th, and M.Div.

16/02/2023

We are recruiting Bible teachers for youths. Contact us if you are interested. Introduce your friends to us if you know they are seminary students/graduates and seeking for the future ministry directions.

16/02/2023

We have sent out church planters and missionaries since August last year, and so far we have church presence in ten countries: Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga, and Micronesia. Please pray that the seed of the Gospel we sowed can bear fruit for the glory of the Lord.

05/05/2022

The ascension of Jesus.

Christ’s transition from earth to heaven after his life, ministry, death, and resurrection. As Bible refers Jesus was "taken up" into heaven. Through the ascension of Jesus, God the Father exalted the Lord to his right hand in heaven. Even more important, at his ascension, Jesus promised his followers that he would soon pour out the Holy Spirit on them and in them.
In God's plan of salvation, Jesus Christ was crucified for the sins of mankind, died, and rose from the dead. Following his resurrection, he appeared many times to his disciples.

Forty days after his resurrection, Jesus called his 11 apostles together on the Mount of Olives, outside Jerusalem. Still not completely understanding that Christ's messianic mission had been spiritual and not political, the disciples asked Jesus if he was going to restore the kingdom to Israel. They were frustrated with Roman oppression and may have envisioned an overthrow of Rome.

Jesus answered them:
It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:7-8)

Then Jesus was taken up, and a cloud hid him from their sight. As the disciples were watching him ascend, two angels dressed in white robes stood beside them and asked why they were looking into the sky.

The angels said:
This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:11)

The disciples walked back to Jerusalem to the upstairs room where they had been staying and held a prayer meeting.
The command of Jesus to his followers was to be his witnesses. Christians have a responsibility to spread the good news about Jesus to all who have not heard.

Through the ascension, Jesus returned to heaven, His mission on earth had been accomplished. Jesus is now and forever exalted above all creation, worthy of our worship and obedience. The ascension was Jesus' final step in defeating death, making eternal life possible.

The angels warned that someday Jesus will return in his glorified body, the same way he left. But instead of idly watching for the Second Coming, we should be busy with the work Christ assigned us.

Please visit https://biblestudies.org.au for free bible study.

02/05/2022

The Book of Romans tells us about God, who He is and what He has done. It tells us of Jesus Christ, what His death accomplished. It tells us about ourselves, what we were like without Christ and who we are after trusting in Christ. Paul points out that God did not demand men have their lives straightened out before coming to Christ. While we were still sinners Christ died on a cross for our sins.

At Olivet Australia of Oceania we want to be help you to get to know God deeper through our Bible Study program, please get in touch with us to commence the journey.

https://biblestudies.org.au/free-bible-courses-in-oceania/?fbclid=IwAR2C-Vu9QT8JHkdxtXOhyQC0BUHRiLjePp9-w2Of-uK0xjHVYxgzUMFt6S4

26/04/2022

The Road to Emmaus

In the fourth resurrection appearance on Easter Sunday, the story of the Road to Emmaus, two disciples of Jesus are leaving Jerusalem to go home after having travelled there for Passover. Along the way, they are discussing the passion and death of Jesus. one of the disciples, Cleopas, Jesus’ uncle was married to Mary, who was present at the foot of the cross. So perhaps this was a married couple who were discussing.

Why do they leave? As the disciples themselves explain, they had hoped Jesus was the Messiah. In talking about Jesus as they walk along, they no longer call him son of God or messiah, but prophet. The son of God wouldn’t have died. In the face of crucifixion, they have given up hope, like the apostles who didn’t believe Mary and the other women to whom Jesus had appeared earlier that day.
Jesus coming unrecognized into their midst shows the mercy of God seeking the lost. Christ, the Good Shepherd goes after these two lost sheep. He wants to bring them back to the church in Jerusalem, where they will indeed go later that night. This image is one of great joy over one who is lost and then found. What great joy when they return even the heavens rejoice over this return.

Bible study on the road

But why do the disciples on the road to Emmaus not recognize Christ, especially if Cleopas is Jesus’ uncle? we need the “eyes to see and ears to hear.” This phrase is speaking of the necessity of faith in order to recognize the truth. Also, Christ’s resurrected, glorified body, while still his earthly body, is very different. The resurrected body is clothed with power, glory and immortality.
So what does Jesus do when he joins these disciples on the road and remains unrecognized? He could have just said, “It’s me, Jesus. Let’s go back to Jerusalem.” But he doesn’t. Instead, Jesus holds a Bible study and explains Scripture as they walk the seven miles to Emmaus
In opening the Scriptures to them, Jesus is essentially telling his two disciples, “If you knew Scripture, you would recognize me. The Scriptures told the necessity of my passion and death. I told you this was going to happen!”

Wouldn’t you have loved to have been at this Bible study?

To join our Bible Study programs please follow the link below:

https://biblestudies.org.au/free-bible-courses-in-oceania/?fbclid=IwAR3MHUH5fN-A2gX-EGbP52UH025RlmWzYyT2lJW9aytnNbGXUG_YONEEtEk

10/04/2022

Matthew 21:5 "Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a c**t, the foal of a donkey. '"