Devotion on Patience

Hi everyone,

We recently covered the topic of patience at our department devotion, so thought of sharing it here for comments and discussion :)

God is often more patient with us than we are with ourselves. We assume that if we fall, we aren't born again. If we stumble, then we aren't truly converted. If we have the old desires, then we must not be a new creation.

If you are anxious about this, please remember, "God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again". (Phil. 1:6)

"We also have joy with our troubles, because we know that these troubles produce patience. And patience produces character, and character produces hope. And this hope will never disappoint us, because God has poured out his love to fill our hearts." Romans 5:3-5

"We have around us many people whose lives tell us what faith means. So let us run the race that is before us and never give up. We should remove from our lives anything that would get in the way and the sin that so easily holds us back. Let us look only to Jesus, the One who began our faith and who makes it perfect." Hebrews 12:1-2a

"My brothers and sisters, when you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience. Let your patience show itself perfectly in what you do. Then you will be perfect and complete and will have everything you need." James 1:2-4nds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience. Let your patience show itself perfectly in what you do. Then you will be perfect and complete and will have everything you need." James 1:2-4

Why does scripture says that we should have joy and be full of joy when we face trials?

• It is not saying that we should deny our negative feelings about trials and feel joyful that we have trials
  
• Difference lies in that we can have the assurance of Christ in us and in our lives, that He has His plans for us and will see us through

Why are there trials?

• I guess that is a question no one can answer but we can be certain that trials are part and parcel of life because we will (i) face trials when we go through the different stages in life and (ii) the devil do taunts you as well along the way, and/or (iii) sometimes we can be stubborn and refuse to "let go and let God", among many other reasons.
• But one thing about the scriptures is that it says "trials produced patience and patience produced character and character produces hope" (Romans 5:3-5)
• To me, the last 2 years of spiritual growth (ever since I have returned to the Lord from backsliding) had been most intense. Sometimes, I go through trials e.g. my trials in leading cell, and cry out to the Lord, not understanding why I am made to go through these trials. But upon reflecting, through the trials, I have learnt:
  • How God uses me and my experience to minister to others - Just like how He recently used my experience facing career crisis to minister to a sister-in-christ, who was going through a similar situation. Both of us placed our self-worth on our jobs rather on God. By the end of the session and sharing, we both come to recognise that we can choose to place our self-worth in people and jobs (which may fail us at times) or on God (who never fails)
  • How to rely on God - At times, maybe due to stubbornness, we refuse to "Let go and Let God" and it is through the various trials I faced these 2 years which have helped me to learn the hard way to rely on Christ and indeed, He never fails, just like how He is blessing my cell leadership now and I thank God for that
  • How God uses trials to build character, both for ourselves and for our ministry
  • How God is in control and has His plans for us: Jeremiah 29:11

How do we respond in times of trials?

• Trials are for certain here to stay but then the important thing is how do we respond to God when we face trials? Sometimes, we trust God and hold on, sometimes we start to doubt God, sometimes we lament to God, sometimes we lift up our fists to God etc
  
• But we have seen how God has sustained people and used people's trials for good e.g. Nick Vujicic and Joni Eareckson. I cannot imagine myself living their lives. In the words of Nick, "it is not as if one morning he woke up and have this confidence but it is a journey, it is character building". He had the willingness to let God use him to share the gospel
• So how do we we respond? Is it: Trials-Triumph (in Christ)-Testimony (of God's grace, faithfulness and work in your life)
• Do we beat ourselves up, despite having been saved, that we still stumble and sin? But we are reminded that we are work-in-progress and Phil 1:6 reminds us of that. But do we suffer from the, as Sy Rogers call it, "Dirty Diaper Syndrome"; when children mess up, some run away from parents (because maybe they fear being scolded) but all the parent want to do is clean you up (and maybe nag or scold a little).
  
  So when we mess up, do we run from or to God? Do we become so disappointed that we run away from God? If God can send Christ to die on the cross and forgive all who have yet to even ask for forgiveness, what more the power of coming before the cross, confessing our sins and repenting?
  
  Romans 5:5 reminds "And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." He has and will continue to do so.

Psalm 37:23
23. If the LORD delights in a man's way,
he makes his steps firm;

24. though he stumble, he will not fall,
for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

Nick Vujicic Outreach Service

Imagine having no hands
Imagine having no feet
Imagine how it would be like to live life?

Just as we are talking about having radical trust in God and hearing the brief sharing by Nick over the video, it's amazing how trust in God has helped him live life and be who he is today. I really cannot imagine being in his shoes and definitely, I believe that I will need a lot of faith and trust to continue with life. But in Nick's own words that "there are many times in our lives when we are looking for answers and we don't get it"... that "it is not as if one morning he woke up and have this confidence but it is a journey, it is character building". He had the willingness to let God use him.

I have uploaded the video to youtube (so if you have blogs, you can put it on your blogs and invite people to the event). Start praying for your friends and loved ones and invite them to the event. Pray for God to pave the way to ask and pray for salvation. I have included the e-Invite and the youtube video here. You can also visit the e-Invite on the church's website at http://elife.riverlife.org.sg/weblink/eInvites.aspx



Here are the e-Invites:


A glimpse into Nick's life

My NLE Testimony

Within a month from my personal spiritual retreat with my colleague in Batam, I am back in Batam yet again, in the same resort, but this time, I am back with a group of guys from church, for the "New Life Encounter".

Why Did I Subject Myself to This?
We had to be at Harbourfront Ferry Terminal very very early and as usual la, always have trouble waking up. Anyway, managed to get myself to the terminal eventually, late by a few minutes, got my boarding pass and waited for the ferry. As I stood around waiting with the other 60 guys, I became beating myself up emotionally again; I remember asking myself "why did I subject myself to this, coming alone for this retreat? And now I am in the midst of these 60 guys who I do not know and the introverted side of me is making me so uncomfortable. How can I survive the next 2 days?" I began to utter a short prayer and pray for God to watch over these 2 days and help me keep focus that I am here to address some past hurts I have, to be healed. I urgently need a breakthrough because I am rather sick and tired of the me who is always yearning to connect with others and have and enjoy meaningful relationship with people, but yet, on the other hand, I withdraw when people try to get near to me for fear of disappointment and hurt.

The Time for Healing is Now
Months ago, God laid into my heart that I needed to deal with my issues of past hurts and unforgiveness, so for the first time, I decided to sign up for something alone (usually, I will not sign up for something without a companion). But now, as I stand amidst these guys, I began to wonder why did I agree to this in the first place. As men stood around me, laughed and talked, as families came and hugged, it made me feel more lonely than ever. As our bus drive pass the Indonesian houses, I see happy faces of people walking about in groups and in their families, greeting one another "selamat hari raya". At this point in time, I am really wondering if I will ever deal with my issues of unforgiveness and be able to connect and enjoy meaningful relationships with people. It is not that I am currently not enjoying meaningful relationships, because God has put in my life people who cares for me e.g. colleagues, family and friends, and who I am currently enjoying wonderful fellowship with. However, other than these people, I just find it so difficult to have an enjoyable fellowship with many others and how I yearn for the day that I do not withdraw again from relationships with people.

Friends Abroad
Haha, the interesting thing that happened is that as I disembarked from the shuttle bus, I realised the concierge guy staring at me and said "you again". Hahaha, he happen to be the same concierge guy who helped me and my colleague with getting a cab the last time we came about a month ago and it's amazing he recognised me still! We must have been very "memorable" guests ah for him to remember us. Messaged my colleague and he remarked that maybe the concierge guy remembered us because we did not tip him hehehe. Anyway, it was kind of a nice feeling being remembered and the concierge guy did come over to talk to me a little on the last day as we were waiting to embark on our shuttle to the ferry terminal. On the first night, I also saw two of my friends together at the lobby of the resort. We all remarked it is amazing how we don't bump into each another in Singapore but in Batam. What are the chances hahaha...

God's Work of Healing Begins
Although the retreat is only 2 days 1 night, it did seem like forever but I did kind of enjoy the retreat. As we began the retreat, we had a ice-breaker which required us to share in groups what we hope to get from the retreat. In my group, some shared that they wish to grow more with God, some to learn from God but I was the only one which shared that I needed God's touch in an area of hurt in my life. The fact that I seem the only one who seemed to need healing did make me wonder a bit whether I am one of the only few who needed healing. Maybe it is because this is a man's retreat and man generally have this egoistic front which takes some time to put down. Indeed, the dynamics in the first few sessions are so different from the later few when you can see man breaking down from their past hurts. It was deep healing taking place for some; many years of hurt, disappointment, unforgiveness, anger and bitterness.

Laying Unforgiveness Down at the Feet of our God
For me, I came prepared to deal with the issue of unforgiveness of my previous organisation, a friend who had betrayed me and a few others who have hurt me along the way, including loved ones. I thought I have forgiven them but to the contrary, the session has shown me that the hurt is still pretty raw and painful and forgiveness has not really been dispensed. The session began to also surface other areas of unforgiveness of myself for my sins and the hurtful things I have done to God. Some of these has been repressed for so long I almost clean forgotten about them. Eventually, we were led to pen down our own unforgiveness list (unforgiveness of others, of self and of God) and "dispose" of them into this "No fishing" box.

Throughout the retreat, I have come to learn about forgiveness:

• Forgiveness is being aware of what the person has done but yet still choosing to forgive just as God forgave us
• Forgiveness is choosing to keep no records of wrongs
  
• Forgiveness is choosing mercy and not judgment (Story of Unmerciful Servant in Matthew 18:21-35)
• Forgiveness is giving to God our "right of revenge" (Romans 12:19)
• Forgiveness is not approving, excusing, justifying, denying what they did, nor pretending we are not hurt

I am also reminded that:

• We are commanded to forgive (Matthew 6:14-15, Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13)
• Christ Himself has set an example on the cross and in forgiving Peter for denying Him (John 21:15-19)
  I am reminded again of God's love for us to send Christ to die on the cross for our sins. Everytime I sing the song, More than Life, I can't help but be ministered to by the song (especially the bridge) and be reminded of His wonderful mercy, grace and love:
  
  
  
  
  
  More Than Life
  

  Stand by everything You said
  Stand by the promises we made
  Let go of everything I’ve done
  I'll run into Your open arms
  And all I know
  
  Chorus:
  I love You more than life
  I love You more than life
  
  Fall back on everything You've done
  Fall back on everlasting arms
  When all the world is swept away
  You are all the things I need
  You're the air I breathe
  
  How can it be
  You were the one on the cross that died for me?
  Lifted for all our shame?
  How can it be
  The scars in Your hands are for me?
  You are the king of all
  
  
  
• We are WIP (Work in Progress) in Christ; in so much so as that trials and problems does not go away immediately when we become Christ-followers and that we will grow as we allow Him to work in our lives
• God will never forsake us; He loves us and is set on not only reconciliation with us but also wants to restore us just as He restored Manasseh from false religion/occult sin (2 Chronicles 33:1-17), David from sexual sin and murder (2 Samuel 11-12, Psalms 51) and Peter from lying and betrayal (Matthew 26:69-75, Matthew 31-35, John 21:15-19). But God says "go and sin now more" (John 8:11)
  
• How the enemy will always use tactics to prevent reconciliation and restoration e.g. negative thoughts about ourselves and our relationship with God including any negative thoughts I have in my mind about myself and my self-esteem, which undeniably has affected even my ministry
  
• Why should I then allow unforgiveness to affect my life and make it miserable?
• How do I live my life? Body-Soul-Spirit or Spirit-Soul-Body? Which do I place first?
  

By the end of the first day, although I still could not fully forgive some of the people who hurt me, but then I do agree that I did feel a little less burdened by emotional baggage and unforgiveness which has piled up all these while. I have asked to also be prayed for the Holy Spirit to grant me gifts which would help me to lead my cell in glorifying God's name and to keep focused on Him, as well as for God to work in me to deal with my low self-esteem. And for the first time for a long while, I started to have dreams (or at least I can remember them) :) But then the funny thing is I can't recall what I dreamt about.

God Blessed our Fellowship
At the end of the first night, it was such a tiring day, I retired back in my room. But as I made my way back to the room, I was worried how I am going to spend the night with my room-mate. "Looks like it is going to be another quiet night since I am such an introvert" I thought as I walked. However, I thank God for dwelling amidst my fellowship with my room-mate. I thank God that we had the opportunity to share about our unforgiveness, our testimonies about how we got back to God as well as talked about "hearing" from God. I did not know how did the conversation started but it eventually took place and I felt that God has used our testimonies to edify one another. I always believe that testimonies need to be shared because it not only reminds us of God's grace, love and mercy in our lives, strengthens our faith but also serves to edify others as well as share about His love, grace and mercy with others.

God Speaks
Anyway, it was wonderful discussion with him about "hearing" from God because all these while I have wondered about it but have yet to opportunity to speak to anyone about it. I have always wondered "What do people mean when they 'hear' from God? Do they hear an audible voice or what? Do God speaks in a thunderous voice or what?" It has always puzzled me. I shared with my roommate how God had recently spoke to me in a rather audible voice, "Why do you doubt me?", during sermon, just when I was about to make the decision to step down from cell leadership. My roommate also shared with me how one day God spoke to him, in an audible voice, telling him to tell the friend who betrayed him that "He will bless him". You could imagine the disbelief my roommate had but nonetheless, he did tell his friend, who happens to also be a lukewarm Christian. Maybe God used my roommate to remind that friend about God, I don't know.

So it seems that God do speak, in an audible way, when He speaks. But the experience with Him so far is that, often, He speaks through people, the pulpit, His word and through circumstances. Anyway, we talked till about 1am and I believe that this wasn't so much a coincidental talk but God had blessed the sharing to edify one another.

Led to Blog
Anyway, it took me a real long time to get this testimony together because of my hectic work schedule this week. But I told myself that I needed to get this together because it is a landmark event in my spiritual walk with God and I just needed to have it blogged to remind me how God worked to heal some of the hurts in my life. I also felt led by God to blog about this as a reminder to my friends and loved ones out there. Are there areas of unforgiveness and bitterness in your life today? Are there any areas you find it difficult to let go? God is willing to work with you to heal you if you let Him do His work in your life...

Radical Trust

Isaiah 43:1-13 (NIV):
1 But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.

3 For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush [a] and Seba in your stead.

4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,
I will give men in exchange for you,
and people in exchange for your life.

5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the east
and gather you from the west.

6 I will say to the north, 'Give them up!'
and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.'
Bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the ends of the earth-

7 everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made."

8 Lead out those who have eyes but are blind,
who have ears but are deaf.

9 All the nations gather together
and the peoples assemble.
Which of them foretold this
and proclaimed to us the former things?
Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right,
so that others may hear and say, "It is true."

10 "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD,
"and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor will there be one after me.

11 I, even I, am the LORD,
and apart from me there is no savior.

12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
I, and not some foreign god among you.
You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "that I am God.

13 Yes, and from ancient days I am he.
No one can deliver out of my hand.
When I act, who can reverse it?"

How many times have we found ourselves facing someone in crisis and saying "Don't worry, God is in control". But the question is really, why do we need to have trust, or rather radical trust in God?

In this week's OTC reading, we read about Hezekiah and how he was faced with a threat of attack by Sennacherib, King of Assyria, and despite being chastised by him (2 Chronicles 32:10-19), Hezekiah nonetheless responded in trust in the Lord and "cried out in prayer to heaven about this";

Isaiah 37: 14-20 (NIV)
14. Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD.
15. And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD :
16. "O LORD Almighty, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.
17. Give ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; listen to all the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God.
18. "It is true, O LORD, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste all these peoples and their lands.
19. They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands.
20. Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God. "

And we read that in the end:

2 Chronicles 32:21 (NIV)
21. And the LORD sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the leaders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons cut him down with the sword.

Perhaps radical trust would mean to have having trust in something which under normal circumstances, others would not have. I check with the dictionary revealed that the word "radical" has quite a few meanings, one meaning "extreme" while another referring to that forming a basis or foundation. But I do agree with yesterday's discussion that the focus should not be on the definition because "radical trust" would be different for everyone at different points in time. For someone, radical trust might be trusting in God for matters ranging from exams to going away to serve full-time as a missionary. As Arun points out, someone may find "going to cell on Friday night while others may spend it resting or chilling out" radical. I believe God meets each of us at our varying levels of our faith.

But back to the fundamental question on why is "radical trust" in God necessary? Some have shared how having radical trust in God, though nerve-wrecking because sometimes it does not make human sense, helps us live out our lives according to God's purposes and plans. I have shared how Jeremiah 29:11 have brought me back to Christ after having backslided away from Christ for 15 years. Just at the point in time I was facing crisis in some relationships in my life and in my work, I remember telling myself I will not work in a Christian organisation (because I had backslided) but God had His plans to, within a few days bring me back to Christ and subsequently to a Christian organisation to work. But how do we build trust?

1. Testimonies - hearing testimonies help us know how real God is in others' lives as well as our lives. Hearing from others help us build our faith while sharing our testimonies help edify another while remind us of how God has worked in our lives. Do we remember God's faithfulness or are we like the Israelites in the bible who constantly forgets God's faithfulness and/or take it for granted?
   
2. Reading the Word of God - I believe that God sometimes seek to encourage and assure through His Word and by reading His Word, we will come to open up communication channels with God
3. Prayer - Some have also shared how prayer with God also helps build faith as we commit our lives and circumstances into His hands and keep communication channels open
4. Believing in and Obeying God - Some shared that it is not enough just to only read the Word of God if we do not know and fear God. Trusting in God also means obeying Him under every circumstances. Once you know God for who He is, we will come to know His character as our Father and how real He is. He comforts, assures, encourage but also disciplines. Obeying Him may sometimes mean doing His will even if it does not make human sense. Some have also shared how obeying Him in every little small decisions and big decisions and making it into a lifestyle has also helped to build trust.
   
5. Learning from Other's Faith - Some even shared how they learnt from others' faith, even faith of children and loved ones who show us what it is to simply have faith in God.
   

But another question which crossed my mind is that whether does radical trust have a negative flipside to it? Can trust be misplaced? Well, the answer is fundamentally yes. We can simply ask ourselves, where do we have our trust in? Sennacherib asked in 2 Chronicles:10 "On what are you basing your confidence, that you remain in Jerusalem under siege?" In Isaiah 7:3-9, the Lord spoke to Isaiah and asked him to speak to Ahaz about an impending invasion:

Isaiah 7:7-9 (NIV):
7. Yet this is what the Sovereign LORD says:
" 'It will not take place,
it will not happen,
8. for the head of Aram is Damascus,
and the head of Damascus is only Rezin.
Within sixty-five years
Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people.
9. The head of Ephraim is Samaria,
and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah's son.
If you do not stand firm in your faith,
you will not stand at all.'

Where is your trust in? Who is your head? Is it the Lord or man?

Psalm 118:8 (NIV):
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man

I watched a recent movie called "Rendition" and it was indeed sad to see how a terrorist group was made to believe that they have to sacrifice their bodies, blowing themselves into pieces, for the sake of God; to be answerable to God how they have used the "weapon" God has given them for His sake. Deep within me, I was rather uncomfortable how God can be used and/or misinterpreted by man to cause pain and terror.

So what is your level and trust and where is your trust in?

He Never Sleeps


Great is Thy Faithfulness


Still