Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do
not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” “I will be a Father
to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.”
(2 Corinthians 6:17, 18 NKJV)
David has been described as a
person after God's heart. And the verse above sheds light why this is
so. Even though David has sinned, but his heart continues to seek to
depart from what is unholy and unrighteous.
"I will set nothing
wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall
not cling to me. A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not know
wickedness." (Psalm 101:3, 4 NKJV).
Sin is sin. Unholiness is
unholiness, regardless the reason. In 1 Sam 15, God gave victory to King
Saul but mentioned that he is to destroy all. Not because God is
sadistic but because He loves His children and know that they will be
corrupted if corruption is allowed to remain. But Saul greatly
displeased God and did not destroy all. Even though he gave the reason
that the best is left for sacrifice to God and tried to put the blame on
his people, God sees the heart and was greatly displeased, to the
extent of rejecting Saul. God cannot be mocked and no reason, even if it
is to be used as worship and sacrifice to the Lord, is acceptable for
sin. Sin is sin and God is holy. Reasoning and blaming won't help.
Perhaps
that is what sets David from Saul; not that David never sinned but his
heart was tender towards God and sought to depart from unholiness so
that God can be pleased to call him His child. This is how much God
loves you to want you to stray from Him.
Paul says "We then, as
workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace
of God in vain". (2 Corinthians 6:1 NKJV).
"For the Lord does
not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the
Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7b NKJV)
What aspects of your life do you need change so God will be pleased with you? Reasoning won't help.
Life Checkpoint: Do you have in your life some unresolved issues where
someone has wronged you and you feel great distress whenever you think
of him/her? Do you think "how dare him/her after all I have done? I
don't deserve this!" if so, I sensed from my quiet time to share this
with you.
Recently in my healing and wholeness, I have also come
to realise I have unresolved hurts that held on to and literally
controlled my life. But that has been dealt with. Yesterday, was just
chatting with someone on what it means to forgive and forget. And as I
read from 1 Sam 24 & 25, I sense God teaching me on it. In 1 Sam 24,
we see how David (who was pursued by King Saul for his life, though for
no wrongdoing of David's) had an opportunity to kill Saul but yet he
did not. But yet in the next chapter, he encountered Nabal who was
insolent to him when he asked for food for his people and he refused,
mocking him saying that he (Nabal) does not know who David is. This
after all the kindness that David has shown to Nabal's shepherds. Unlike
in the previous chapter, David got angry and arose with his men to want
to kill him, only to be stopped by Nabal's wife who stopped him midway
and reasoned with him. To which David, finally realising it, said that
her advice is good and stop him from needless bloodshed and taking
vengeance in his own hands (1 Sam 25:33).
And we read on that
Nabal was struck dead by the Lord ten days later and King Saul was dead
some time after. God has indicated 3 times in the bible, both old and
new testament that vengeance is His.
Beloved, do not avenge
yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written,
“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. (Rom 12:19 NKJV)
Why
does the Lord requires that we leave vengeance to Him? I could only
think its because God does not want us to even entertain evil in our
lives and have our lives wrecked by it.
In the words of King
David, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ (1 Sam 24:13a NKJV). When
we hold on to unresolved bitterness, we allow wickedness and evil into
our lives.
In the word of Nabal's wife, "don’t let this be a
blemish on your record. Then your conscience won’t have to bear the
staggering burden of needless bloodshed and vengeance" (1 Sam 25:31a)
God
sees the heart and is more concerned of your heart, not wanting it to
unnecessarily be filled with malice, hatred, bitterness, which is not of
Him and which wrecks your life. If you do have these unresolved issues,
think about how it's eating you and your life up. When we let go and
let God, we are trusting in His good time things will work for good for
you who follow His way. God will deal with it. Not letting go to God is
not trusting God and wanting to run your own life. His purposes for you
are always good.
And we know that all things work together for
good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His
purpose. (Romans 8:28 NKJV)
God is not asking you to let go of your bitterness but to let go to Him and let God take over so you can be pure. He judges.
A good reminder as we approach Good Friday that God died not just for you and me but for all...
At the cross as man crucified Him, Jesus said "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.".
JUDGE YE NOT
I was shocked, confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven's door,
Not by the beauty of it all,
Nor the lights or its decor.
But it was the folks in Heaven
Who made me sputter and gasp--
The thieves, the liars, the sinners,
The alcoholics and the trash.
There stood the kid from seventh grade
Who swiped my lunch money twice.
Next to him was my old neighbor
Who never said anything nice.
Herb, who I always thought
Was rotting away in hell,
Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,
Looking incredibly well.
I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal?
I would love to hear Your take.
How'd all these sinners get up here?
God must've made a mistake.
'And why is everyone so quiet,
So somber - give me a clue.'
'Hush, child,' He said, 'they're all in shock.
No one thought they'd be seeing you.'
JUDGE NOT!!
Remember...Just going to church doesn't make you a
Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car.
Every saint has a PAST...
Every sinner has a FUTURE!
As I was doing my QT this morning, I am reminded of Paul's heart for God's people. And we cannot doubt that it is people like him who has caught the heart of God and how ministered to the Gentiles, as well as many people who caught the heart of God, that we can be here as a child of God.
Romans 15: 20-21 (NIV)
It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation. Rather, as it is written: "Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand."
Today is the Mission Drive weekend. I thought it is good to share about how I came to sponsor one of the Dalit Child some weeks ago on 13th March. Before the CE course on that day, I saw the Dalit Child booths and the pictures of the Dalit children. There is a prompting within my heart to go to the other side of the booths and to look at one of the pictures in the middle row. I saw a little boy, he looks quite different from other boys, seems pretty mature for boy of his age? There is something outstanding about him. Then I look at the description, he had a elder sister who had paralysis and most of their family's income is spent for her treatment, they do not have enough to eat and pay for. When I read this, somehow it gripped my heart. I felt a prompting that I could be God's vessel to bless this family and this little boy by sponsoring him so that through education support, the family would be able to break out of current situation of poverty trap, also recognizing how tough it is for the family taking care of a young girl who is immobile. However I see a bright future ahead of this little boy as God will provide and bless even though I believe the situation maybe tougher than I could ever imagine. Therefore I really hope this little contribution will bring a little light into this little boy's life and his family, and he will be empowered to rise up to the calling God had put into his heart. Also I pray that the little boy and his family will witness God's love through the most simple way of giving and acts of love, may they see God's miracles in their life, especially his sister that God will cause her to walk one day! That many will testify the goodness of God and power of God at work! I thank God that I obey God when I felt prompting to be part of the Dalit Child Sponsorship program, it is always a blessing to give. It is also my first time involving in this program, felt privileged to give even though I had other concerns too. But I am glad I choose to put God's will above all in my heart. I hope I can pray constantly for the Dalit Child I am sponsoring, looking forward to exchanging letters and writing to encourage and show love, even though I am not quite sure what to really write. Also look forward to visit the Dalit Child maybe next year 2011, by God's grace and his good timing. As I ponder and share about the process of sponsoring the Dalit Child, is there anything God is prompting and challenging you in the area of mission? Dear fellow brothers and sisters, I urge you to respond to the call God had put in your heart. A little step of obedience will not only bless the lives of the individuals you are touching but will also bring you one step closer to the heart of God. It is all about God.
Sorry for the misleading title in the earlier post "Being, Not Doing"... just to clarify that we need to also remember our being in God and not just doing or even doing for the sake of looking righteous. It is a fine balance to reach and I am still learning as well.
Jesus said in Matt 28:19 "therefore, go and make disciples of all nations..." and James 2:26 (NIV) also said that "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." So there is also doing part in the Christian walk.
The Christian faith is not one which focuses on just what we do but also who we are; children of God and who we are refined and transformed to be; Christ-like.
A personal lesson for me is that the starting point for me is in the "being" and loving God, and the actions will naturally follow. I remember a sermon on the 2 greatest commandments (Matt 22:34-40) and the pastor mentioned that when we love God, we will naturally fulfill the first 4 commandments and when we love our neighbours, we will naturally fulfill the other 6 commandments. It was refreshing because I have come to realise it was not an easier "standard" but it is something which starts from the inside... that as we love God and our neighbours, we will fulfill His commandements.
For me, I can tend to be focused on "doing" sometimes to help with my self-esteem. But at the end of the day, God reminds me that I am His child and that I can depend on Him and need not strive for human praise. But what matters most is how I am walking with Him, growing in Him and receiving others into His Kingdom. Well, it's a fine balance and I am learning. I have to always keep myself in check to see if I am indeed focusing on doing, for the wrong reasons.
So, yes, the title should read "Being, not Just Doing" and I have amended it. Forgive me for the mistake and may God continue to watch over you and help you walk stronger and stronger in faith.
Being, Not Just Doing
I have been reflecting...
The Christian faith is not so much about doing but it's also about being: being redeemed by God from the enemy, being restored by God, spiritually, emotionally, physically, as He wills, being a child of God, being holy and righteous in our walk, being one who seeks and loves the Lord, being still and know that he is God, being a loving neighbour who is there to bless others as God blessed you, being a vessel through which God's light to the world can shine.
John 1:12-13 (NIV) 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
The Christian faith is not so much about doing but it's also about being: being redeemed by God from the enemy, being restored by God, spiritually, emotionally, physically, as He wills, being a child of God, being holy and righteous in our walk, being one who seeks and loves the Lord, being still and know that he is God, being a loving neighbour who is there to bless others as God blessed you, being a vessel through which God's light to the world can shine.
John 1:12-13 (NIV) 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
For many of us, myself included, this is a very familiar prayer. The Lord's Prayer is the model of prayer which the Lord Jesus taught His disciples on how to pray.
More Than Mere Words I remember days in the past when I used to recite this daily in school, not fully appreciating the prayer and what it means. At that time, I just know it as something which I needed to say every morning, mouthing literally empty words and not knowing what it means to pray the Lord's prayer.
In fact, the Lord Jesus warned about the heart condition when praying; that it should not be "for display" of one's holiness or one which has lots of babbling of words. In Matthew 6:8 it tells us that our Father knows what we need before we even ask Him. So, Jesus teaches us the Lord's Prayer and as we discussed about it yesterday, I have come to realise how amazing it is that a short prayer like this can cover quite a bit. In 52 words, it covers our desire to praise God, to pray for God's kingdom, for God's will, for our daily needs, a reminder for us to forgive as we have been forgiven by God, to pray for God to guide us in our walk with Him and to help us in our daily struggles with sin and the enemy.
The Lord's Prayer sets the background for Dr Joseph D' Souza's sharing last week and I would say it was a refreshing perspective for me. For a long time, even after having appreciated the Lord's Prayer, I have thought of it mainly as a prayer for myself but the sermon has challenged me and helped me see how it is also for God's children too:
"Hallowed be your name" (v 9) -
Application for Self - Do we desire to hallow God's name, glorifying it? Is God just a genie who brings you out of the pits and who continues to grant your wishes or is there something more to it? How are we hallowing His name? Do we sometimes even profane His name through the things we do, just like how some shared about believers being a bad testimony? How do we deal with that when we see it?
Application for our relationship with others - Hallow His name as we help others with their difficulties, help them to know God, draw near to Him and even praise Him. But how will others praise God when they do not even know Him? Dr Joseph D' Souza mentioned that many, like the Dalits (the untouchables), do not know that they are made in the image of God and that He loves them. As someone have put it nicely, you might be the only way in which people can see Jesus. What are you doing about this? Are you helping others to know God, to have His power work in their lives and praise Him?
Matthew 5: 14-16 (NIV) "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
"your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven" (v10) -
Application for our relationship with others - in this part of the prayer, there is not only a desire to see God's kingdom be established and His will be done, it also provides us an opportunity to respond to His work. Dr. D'Souza aptly highlighted about how even in the most advanced and greatest kingdom on earth, there will still be hurting, lonely people. Perhaps, as KK has shared, we will never get to fully fathom the full extent of the greatness of God's kingdom now but we may each have a part of the kingdom to show others. What is your picture of God's kingdom that you can show others? Are you showing it? Do you trust that God can work through you in having His will be done here? Do you have faith that you can play an instrumental role in having God's will be done here on earth as in heaven?
Application for self - For many of us, this might be what constitutes as a major part of our prayer and yet for others, it might be a struggle as they continue to wonder if they can trust in the Lord to provide for their needs. Just as we are reminded in a later part of Matthew 6 (after the Lord's prayer), in Matthew 6: 25-34, we are assured that God knows what we need and He provides. Nerve-wrecking as it may be for some but the fact is that God provides even though it may not be in the way we expect it. But on the other extreme, I am also reminder that our God is not a genie or like one of pagan gods where our only prayers are just about blessings.
Application for our relationship with others - But importantly, as Joshua has shared, upon reflecting why we have been given so much while others lack, what does it tell you? As Gary Haugen said it aptly in Global Leadership Summit 2008 (something which made me think and which is stuck with me as I walk with the Lord): Why have we been given so much amidst suffering of others? So we can be a channel of blessing from God to others.
"Forgive us our debts, as we also forgiven our debtors" (v 12)
Application for self & relationship with others - I was doing quiet time this week and I have come to realise how we are called to love one another. Ideally, this is good, because we have been reminded in scriptures by Jesus, to love God and our neighbours; the greatest commandment of all (Matthew 22: 36-40). But, I do know sometimes we have people who fail us and it becomes difficult to dispense forgiveness. But yet we are reminded by Christ not to let the sun go down while we are still angry. In my life experiences so far, I have learnt that the person who lose out is usually myself; in my anger and unforgiveness, I live a life of defeat and of bitterness. At the end of the day, it robs us of joy and it also divides us.
"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one" (v13) -
Application for self - We are reminded how we are not to play around with sin and to ask for God to be around us to help us resist the enemy and his schemes in our lives, whose aim is to derail us from God's love... We need God's power in helping us to deal with this daily.
Application for relationship with others - Dr. Joseph D'Souza points to the need for social justice and how it is not enough to just treat the wounded but also to stop the perpetrator in continuing to do harm, but through righteous ways. We saw how Jesus had been held back in His dealings with the Pharisees and religious leaders whose hearts were hardened and who misguided His people from following God. He rebuked them on several occasions. In the same way that we may be the only way in which others can see Jesus, how can we help others who are oppressed by evil and do so in righteous ways?
The Christian Faith After having gone through the Lord's Prayer, I continue to do my quiet time through the week. God made me reflect on what the Christian faith is really all about. Though I am not trained theologically, the arbitrary conclusion I got as I read His word is that the faith is about reconciliation with God, both for ourselves and for other people.
It is, as Jesus has put it, about loving God and our neighbours as ourselves.
God has saved us from the pits but then it does not stop there. God loves His children as well and He does not want "anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentence" (2 Peter 3:9). You are valuable to Him but so are His other children.
The apostle John wrote in 1 John 4: 9-12, which spoke to me this week:
"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. "
The command is clear: love God and your neighbour, God's fellow children.
We can learn from Jesus as He came to show us the way to proclaim our faith, not merely through words but also through action just as He went around and made a difference by healing, speaking the truth, forgiving people of their sins and giving them hope and peace.
I read this from a devotion this week and thought it was a clear picture about faith and actions:
Imagine for a moment that you embark on a mountain-climbing expedition somewhere in the Colorado Rockies with your good friend. At some point along the way, you lose your footing and find yourself in the precarious position of dangling off the edge of an icy two-hundred-foot cliff by one finger (let's make this dramatic). You are screaming for your friend, crying out for help.
But he doesn't reach down to help you. Instead your hiking buddy begins to eloquently intellectualize and verbalize his love toward you. He even begins to experience all kinds of wonderful, blissful feelings about how much he loves you and how much he will miss you when you fall to your death on the rocks below. He tilts his head ever so slightly, bites his lip, and says, "I love you so much. I'm just overwhelmed with loving feelings toward you right now."
Would you call that love? Of course not! You would most certainly call that something other than love--maybe cruelty, apathy, or hatred. Yet so often we define love as some nebulous emotion or sentimental words when in reality, love is so much more than feelings. Love is primarily manifested through action. Love is something you do.
I think the picture is clear (and drama) enough. God demonstrated love in action by sending His son, to be crucified and to die for our sins so we might be reconciled to Him.
James mentioned in James 2:14-26 about how faith without deed is dead.
If you profess to love God, His commands, His people, then don't stop at just proclaiming it, demonstrate it as God has done, with love and not as actions without love.
Be it uttering a prayer for someone who is in need, helping someone, going on missions, big or small, show your love for God and His people through your actions, actions filled with love.
How is everyone enjoying the study of the book of Ephesians so far? I do not know about you but then the current sermon series on the book of Ephesians is making me fall in love with the book. It's one of the books which says so much succinctly and yet contains so much depth and insights into how we should live lives as a child of God.
Who We Are in God? (Ephesians 1) Starting with Ephesians 1, Paul first tells us how we are valued in God's eyes (v4-5) and what he did for us (6-10): 4. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5. he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6. to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10. to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
There Must Be More Than This (Ephesians 1) But then, it does not stop there, Paul tells us that "there must be more than this"; that there is more to just salvation but he prays that the eyes of our hearts be open that we will have the wisdom and be able to experience God more (v17-21). :
17. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19. and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20. which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21. far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
Being God Aware (Ephesians 1) To experience (i) hope, (ii) blessings and (iii) His power. We need to be, like Lydia nicely puts it, "God-aware" because God is in our lives and all we have to do is jut be more aware about it. Which is why I am encouraging for a time of thanksgiving everytime we meet for cell because it helps us to see how real God is in our lives and help to also encourage others. For me, I can see how there is marked difference between the time I backslided and now. Yes, there are still of course challenges (who says life is going to be easy for Christians?) but then the difference I realise is that I have God in my life and in many areas of my life, including work, ministry and personal life, I have seen God work in marvelous ways. I am more positive now and trust in His power. With each thanksgiving, I am reminded more of this. Where is God in your life? Is He your saviour, redeemer, friend, counsellor? How can we make Him the Lord of our lives?
Saved by Grace, not Works (Ephesians 2) Ephesians 2 then starts off by reminding us again what God did for us, that we are saved by grace (v1-9); for God showed mercy to us even when we did not deserve it because of our sin and unrighteousness. Then Paul makes his case, instructing the church about how we are to live as a body of Christ because "His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility." (v15b-16). There are no strangers to God's kingdom and God's family because all deserve God's grace.
Praise for God and Prayer for Ephesian Church (Ephesians 3) Then, Paul breaks into praise and prayer in Ephesians 3, recounting how he himself was unworthy (v8-9) but yet God shown him grace. Paul, formely Saul, persecuted and allowed the killing of Christians but had an encounter with God in Damascus (see Acts 9). He then prayed for the Ephesian church.
Live a Worthy Life (Ephesians 4) Ephesians 4 begins instruction on how we are to live in the church, the body of Christ. The "Church" is not merely a physical building as most of us would understand it but the community of believers who have come to accept salvation and Christ as Lord. Paul starts off by asking us to live a life worthy of the calling we received (v1). The question is: what is a worthy life? Maybe we can gain some insights from Colossians 1:10-12 which says:
10. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11. being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12. giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
A "worthy" life now that God has saved you from darkness with what Christ done on the cross and a "worthy" life in response to that, administering God's gifts to fulfill God's purpose and will for you. Have you thought about what the purpose of your life is? For some of you, you have shared that you have come to realise while for some, you are still discerning. Keep praying for God to show you His purpose for your life.
Some would say a "worthy" life is to grow to be more Christ-like. To me, being Christ-like is not only about how we behave but about one's heart too. Do we behave in a Christ-like manner but ALSO develop a heart for God just as Christ did? We can see this heart for God through Matthew 22:37-40 which speaks of the two greatest commandment that summarizes the 10 commandments; love God and love our neighbours (Christ has He himself explained in Matthew 5:17 that He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it). But it seems that Paul is taking this a little further by telling us ways in which we can fulfil the 2 greatest commandment; because if we love God and our neighbours, all that is mentioned in Colossians 1:10-12 will come to be.
Ultimately, it is about our heart for God and what we are doing in our walk with Him in response to what Christ has done for us on the cross.
The Purpose & Power of Community (Ephesians 4) Then Paul speaks of the purpose and power of community; reminding us that although we are all diversely different with different gifts, we are all one in Christ. Unity in diversity! The purpose of God's community is really to help build up each others' lives (v12) that we become more mature and Christ-like (v13-14). In this way, we will not be swayed by lies especially from the enemy, whose aim is to distance us from God, ever since the beginning of time.
12. to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13. until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
Colossians 2:2-4 2. My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3. in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.
And part of the building up and also maturing is how the community can help people to receive restoration and healing from God for past hurts. A Christ-centered community can allow God to administer healing and restoration through it but in a similar way, a non Christ-centered community can also has the power to destroy much. Love in a Christ-centered community can bring about much building up. For me, the community played an important role in helping me rebuild my life when I first came back to God (even though I did not foresee myself staying in cell at that time). In the same way, part of the building up also comes from how we help restore others from sin, helping to keep each other accountable. This would be what we may sometimes called "tough love".
Galatians 6:1-2: 1. Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
So, the purpose and power of God's community is really to help us, upon being saved, to continue our walk with the Lord as WIP (Work in Progress); to help build up and mature, to edify each other.
Different Yet United; Gifts and Instructions (Ephesians 4) Now how are we to be able to tap into and release the power of God's community? God gave gifts to everyone to allow for one another to build one another up. Everyone will have gifts given by God that he/she can administer to help build each other up (v7-8, 11-13):
7. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8. This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."...
Romans 12:4-8: 4. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5. so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8. if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
God's Gift & Accepting the Significance of His Gift to Us The analogy of the body is constantly used because everyone has a part to play and God has a purpose for different ones of us with different giftings. It is important that we learn to accept the gifts God gave us and how uniquely God made us to be.
1 Corinthians 12:27-30: 27. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30. Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
I shared about how initially when I was called to leadership, I struggled and struggled and struggled. I was feeling all lousy about how I was such an introvert and how I could not compare to other leaders. Whenever, I see other leaders leading their cell, I remember always asking myself and asking God "God, why can't I be more extroverted?", "God why can't I be more charismatic?" etc But soon, God helped me realised how He had made me different and gave me giftings for the purpose He has for me. Now, as I look at our cell, it becomes clear what His purpose is for me and how much He had blessed my cell ministry. Not only that, I have also come to realise how everything came together to help me in my work ministry. I have been put into IT training and I picked up IT and training skills. I have worked in a hospital as a medical social worker but could not survive more than 6 months but I picked up important case management skills. I have been put into a professional association working at policy development level and I picked up project management and programme development skills. Now, God not only called me back from backsliding but also into my current job where everything fits together nicely. All the skills has come in handy and, by God's grace, my work ministry was taking off, despite not having done volunteer programme management before. God never wastes our past experiences and God has His purpose for us. Do we accept the unqiue self God has made us to be?
Talking about giftings, I am reminded of an illustration used by a fellow friend to demonstrate how we are all different but important, just as parts of a body are.
One day, various parts of a certain body entered into a heated debate about who is the most important of all. Every prominent and well-known part claimed to be superior to the others.
The Brain started the ball rolling by saying, "I am the most important of all. Without my ability to think, what can the body and all the parts do? You will all be helpless like a newborn baby!" Not to be outdone, The Eyes exclaimed, "Do you really think so? Without our ability to see where the whole body is going and what is happening, what can anyone of you do? And what can you, Mr Brain, do if you have no idea what is happening?". "That's what you think, Mr Eyes, " said The Hands. "Just look around you: how many things are made only possible by us and the 10 digits that we have? Can you even put on the clothes without us? You will be as naked as the lamppost. Hahaha", The Hands continued.
The ears, mouth, legs, heart, lungs, kidneys, liver and various others took their turns to pitch their importance above the rest, all except for the lowly ass****. He did not know what to say. He thought again and again. What can he boast about? Nothing much, actually.
By now, everyone who has said their piece, turned to the quiet ass****. Suddenly, they all broke out in a guffaw.
"Of course (heehee) he has nothing to say, " offered Mr Brain, trying to control his laughter. "He just takes out the trash. Buahahahaha!" So, while the rest continued to poke fun at him and called him all kinds of unflattering names, the ass**** did not say a single word. He was too hurt to even mutter anything. He just shut up and sobbed quietly.
One day passed. Another day came and went. By the third day, the various parts of the body were groaning and moaning. The colon, intestines, stomach, liver and various members of the digestive system began feeling like wool and clogged drains at the same time. The throat and mouth became sore, while the eyes turned blurry and teary. Even the brain began hallucinating, while the limbs and various external parts of the body became numb and weak. The heart was at a loss as to what to do when the blood it pumps kept bouncing back almost immediately.
"Wwhhh...at's hhh..appening? Are we ddddyyyy...ing?" The Brain asked. The Eyes kept quiet. They couldn't tell what was wrong. Likewise, the ears, the mouth, and everybody else. After a long pause, a weak voice from far down was heard. "Maybe..." said the colon, "...it's got something to do with our friend, Mr Ass****, sir." "Everything we processed for disposal isn't moving at all. I think we are gonna die...The toxins have hit us..."
Finally, Mr Ass**** spoke.
"Sorry, folks. I have remained shut for the past few days to reflect on what happened. It's true. There's nothing noteworthy for me to say. I cannot claim to be as important as any one of you because I am just a lowly garbage man. Nevertheless, I hope you will accept me as a fellow member of this body. Nobody asks to be an ass****, and I am just trying to do this unglamourous task assigned to me everyday, and to do it well."
You can read a similar illustration in 1 Corinthians 12:20-26.
God's Instructions: Unity & Love So, enough about gifts. What about instructions? Paul instructed that the church needs to remember that even though we are all diverse and different, we are one and are told to make effort to keep the unity:
Ephesians 4:2-5 2. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5. one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
But how do we keep the unity? Paul recognise that we need to make effort and this can come from one thing: love. Paul later mentioned in Colossians 3 about the list of things we need to do but gives an indication how we can achieve it:
12. Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
And this interestingly points us back to Christ's greatest commandment again: love your neighbour. Paul mentioned that love will bind them together in perfect unity.
In fact, Christ himself mentioned about loving one another in John 13:34-35:
34. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Others can be found in Romans 13:8, 1 Peter 1:22, 1 John 3:11, 1 John 3:23, 1 John 4:7, 1 John 4:11-12, 2 John 1:5.
But like what was mentioned earlier, love and tough love can both edify and help build up. But we need to always remember that whatever it is, the commonality is still love.
Hello everyone, sharing some notes I compiled from a staff devotion which we had recently :D hope it blesses you.
The start of unforgiveness is usually anger and while anger is a feeling we will struggle with at times, we are reminded how we should deal with anger: love. I admit that it is not easy (because I struggle with it too). Here's a little summary of what we discussed and what I sensed from the Lord as we were discussing earlier:
(a) Recognise that you are loved by God Christ has loved the world before we loved Him and has died on the cross for our sin, extending His love to us even before we have asked for it, so we may have life:
1 John 4:19 - 19. We love because he first loved us.
(b) Acknowledge your anger and not sin:
Genesis 4:6-7 - 6. Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7. If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
Ephesians 4: 26-27 - 26. "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27. and do not give the devil a foothold.
The word of God says that when we are angry, sin is crouching at the door. So it is not so much whether we have anger but what we do about it: not sinning when we are angry and not letting the sun go down while we are still angry because it gives the devil a foothold to destroy relationships in the body of Christ.
(c) Extend love (because we are commanded to do so):
1 John 4:20-21 -
20. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
John 21: 15-17 -
15. When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
16. Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
17. The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.
Matthew 22:37-40 -
37.Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38. This is the first and greatest commandment. 39. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
I was recently preparing for cell and reading John 21 on Jesus forgiving Peter (after Peter denied Christ 3 times) and how he has asked Peter 3 times if he love Jesus. But Jesus' answer interesting turns the focus onto His flock; His lambs and sheeps. It seems to be saying that If you love God, you will love His people. Just as Matthew 22:37-40 reminds us that the 10 commandments can be summarised into 2 greatest commandments (Commands 1-4 on loving God and Commands 5-10 on loving His people). Recognise that God wants us to love one another, despite how sometimes it can be so so difficult.
(d) Forgive Yourself I have come to learn that sometimes we have feelings about feelings i.e. sometimes we feel anger over other people and yet feel horrible about our anger for that person. And sometimes, we can end up feeling horrible about ourselves. For me, there was a period of time I felt so disappointed with myself for constantly grieving God time after time I could not forgive myself. As a result, I felt unworthy of God and distant myself from Him. But recognise that God loves you and forgives you because He died for your sin. A heart of repentance is what He seeks and He forgives, so forgive yourself. Sy Rogers has once put it somewhat in this manner... God did not love you and die on the cross for you only to have you distancing yourself away from Him, He wants to draw you to Him and wash away your sins by bearing it for you.
A good example is that of Peter and Judas. In Matthew 26:69 - 27:5, we read about how Peter disowned Jesus 3 times and how Judas hung himself. Jesus subsequently forgives Peter in John 21 and Peter becomes the rock on which Christ built His church (Matt 16:18) but for Judas, he hung himself.
Hi everyone, I was preparing for devotion for office and would just like to share with you the devotion and my reflections:
Divine Exchange
My heart is captivated Lord, by You alone Captured by the awesomeness of You alone melted by the grace and mercy You have shown I stand in wonder
I reach to you the one who make the blind can see who break the chains of sickness with authority restoring of what was broken so we may fly again
I live to worship you I breathe to worship to you all of my days, your face I'll seek
For as I worship you You lead me to that place To that place of divine exchange
Our Daily Bread February 11, 2008 The Wounds Of A Friend READ: 2 Samuel 12:1-13
Faithful are the wounds of a friend. —Proverbs 27:6
Not everyone appreciates correction, but David did. He felt indebted to those who corrected him and realized how much he owed them. “Let the righteous strike me; it shall be a kindness. Let him rebuke me; it shall be as excellent oil; let my head not refuse it” (Ps. 141:5).
Correction is a kindness, David insists, a word that suggests an act of loyalty. Loyal friends will correct one another, even when it’s painful and disruptive to relationships to do so. It’s one of the ways we show love and help one another to grow stronger. As Proverbs 27:6 states: “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.”
It takes grace to give godly correction; it takes greater grace to receive it. Unlike David, who accepted Nathan’s correction (2 Sam. 12:13), we’re inclined to refuse it. We resent the interference; we do not want to be found out. But if we accept the reproof, we will find that it does indeed become “excellent oil” on our heads, an anointing that makes our lives a sweet aroma wherever we go.
Growth in grace sometimes comes through the kind but unpleasant correction of a loyal friend. Do not refuse it, for “he who receives correction is prudent” (Prov. 15:5) and “wise” (9:8-9). —David H. Roper
When others give us compliments, They are so easy to believe; And though it’s wise to take rebukes, We find them harder to receive. —Sper
Correction from a loyal friend can help us change for the better.
Some questions to ponder over?
What points can you pick out and learn from the article?
What is Christianity to you?
What is Christian living?
How is God speaking to you through this article?
Nathan Rebukes David The story of Nathan rebuking King David (2 Samuel 12-1-13) after he sinned against the Lord by killing Uriah the Hittite and took his wife to be his own. Up till that point, David had been doing well but has fallen when he made the choice to sin against God. But nonetheless, God sent Nathan to teach him an object lesson of how a rich man took from a poor all he had to entertain his traveller guest. This got David angry and he reacted with disgust to how the rich man had done what he did. Then, the tables were turned and Nathan brought illumination to how David was likened to the man, not only taking the life of a loyal servant but also taking his wife. David, instead of defending himself, knew in his heart that he has sinned against the Lord and confessed and repented.
How Do You Respond to the call? We are sometimes like David and we can also have our spiritual blind spots, sinning and turning away from God. And sometimes, it takes God to send another to show us where we have gone wrong, so we can be directed back to the path of righteouness and of life. But yet, at other times, God gives us the ministry of Nathan, to help bring someone back to the path of righteousness and of life. So how do you respond to both calls; call to walk back and call to bring someone back?
What is Christianity?
God Wants a Relationship with You I have always pondered about what Christianity is all about? What is Christianity per se? How is Christianity different from other religions? Just this week, the sermon has set me thinking about it again. Looking back and reflecting upon my walk, I have come to recognise, with more conviction, that Christianity is NOT a religion NOR a ritual BUT a relationship with God. It is about the recovery, reconciliation, redemption and restoration of man and their relationship with God. It goes beyond following rituals or just following the Commandments but God, who created us, knows us intimately, or every thoughts, struggles, feelings etc. In 1Samuel 16:7b, it reminds us that "The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.'
Here is something I have come to realise and chart out these few days:
Click to see a larger version
God has plans for man and also a wonderful relationship. But Satan always attempts to ruin and prevent relationship with God. Ultimately, God sent His son to die on the cross for our sins so we can once again not be slaves to sin but children of God: Galatians 4:3-7 - '3. So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. 4. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5. to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. 6. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." 7. So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.'
God Wants a Relationship with Everyone But the story does not end there because God reminds us of the Great Commandments to help us continue to walk in righteousness. In Matthew 5:17, Jesus reminds all that '"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. ' but presents the principles behind the commandments:
Matthew 22:37-40 - 37. Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38. This is the first and greatest commandment. 39. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
And yet the story does not end there. We are reminded of God's love for all: 2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
He wants all to be saved and on the path of righteousness and therefore, we are also charged with the Great Commission: Matthew 28:18-20 - 18. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20. and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Christian Living: Making disciples does not mean coverting because there is no use converting someone without repentance. We should continue to, in our ways and as God leads, bring people into Christian living; knowing God, knowing our position in Christ, living in repentance, living out the Great Commandment and Great Commission. All other times, we are just reminding one another of this:
Galatians 6:1-2 - 1. Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Hebrews 10:24 - And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
Hebrews 3:12-14 - 12. See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. 14. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.
How is God speaking to you about your walk? Is God using you to edify another in their walk or to bring someone back to Him?
Riverlife's Theme for 2008 Over the beginning couple of weekends of Jan, Rev. shared how He sensed that the theme for Riverlife for 2008 is about trusting God for unprecedented growth and as such, the church will need to strengthen its core. He shared from Isaiah 54:2:
"Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes."
Indeed, it seems to me that the purpose of Riverlife Church is becoming clearer as God continues to work through the church in reaching out to people and helping them to restore their relationship with God. Riverlife is becoming an outreaching church mainly because of the effort of many to live out the Great Commission as Matthew 28:19-20 reminds us:
19. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20. and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Focusing on God It is about life transformation, repentance of hearts and restoration of relationship with God, not numbers. And we should thank God that last year saw close to 1000 spiritual decisions being made. I believe that God has His purpose for Riverlife and even for our cell and as long as we keep our focus on God correct, living out the Great Commandments (as Leviticus 26:3-6 and Deuteronomy 28:2-6 reminds us) and Great Commission, He will be with us always.
Mark 12:28-31: 28. One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"29. "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31. The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
Christ was teaching us the principle behind the Law and had not come to abolish the Law. God is consistent and continue to remind us to walk right with Him so as to be able to enjoy communion with Him. Jesus has come to be a model and to also fulfill the Law so we can no longer carry our burden of sin and approach the throne of God, because Jesus has borne it all.
Matthew 5: 17-20: 17. "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus Be the Center
Jesus, be the centre Be my source, be my light Jesus
Jesus, be the centre Be my hope, be my song Jesus
(Chorus) Be the fire in my heart Be the wind in these sails Be the reason that I live Jesus, Jesus
Jesus, be my vision Be my path, be my guide Jesus
God's Purpose for the Cell Over the past few months, I have been praying for God to show me the purpose for our cell and it is just amazing how one thing happens after another, affirming the purpose of God for this cell; to be reaching out to the spiritually needy, particularly the backslided, broken and misled. And it is amazing how God continues to affirm the calling and bless the cell despite of my many inadequacies. He continues to affirm me throughout last year despite many times I was on the verge of letting go. But He never forsake and He continues to minister through my quiet time, the pulpit, songs, circumstances (and even spoke when a colleague opened his diary and there was Isaiah 41:9-10 which ministered to me deeply) and people (including people He has sent to minister to). Then, when I became all tired and was becoming rather willful, He spoke in a voice which was unmistakably His and in that encounter He asked "why do you not trust me?". He continued to minister and even through sending a brother-in-christ to confront me about some of my spiritual decisions I was about to make, making me realise that preparation is underway.
Blessings and Trials As I read Isaiah 54 this week, it became clear to me that we NEED to strengthen our core, both at the cell level and at the church and as a body of Christ. Because we are fighting spiritual warfare and we need to be equipped for the warfare; because we are snatching souls from the devil and he will do all he can to thwart the plan God has to further His kingdom.
Isaiah 54: The Future Glory of Zion
1 "Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband," says the LORD.
2 "Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.
3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.
4 "Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.
5 For your Maker is your husband— the LORD Almighty is his name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.
6 The LORD will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit— a wife who married young, only to be rejected," says your God.
7 "For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back.
8 In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you," says the LORD your Redeemer.
9 "To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again.
10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
11 "O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will build you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with sapphires.
12 I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones.
13 All your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be your children's peace.
14 In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you.
15 If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing; whoever attacks you will surrender to you.
16 "See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc;
17 no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD.
Isaiah 54 tells us of the future glory of Zion. Indeed, if we look through Isaiah 54, we see:
God promises forgiveness (v 4-10) despite our faithlessness sometimes
God promises blessings (v 11-14)
God promises deliverance from trials (v15, 17)
But amidst all these promises, in Isaiah 54:2, He tell us to enlarge the place of our tents and stretch our tent curtains wide, not to hold back, strengthen the stakes and lengthen the cords. We need to be outreaching as commanded in the Great Commission. We need to bring many into God's kingdom. But before that, we need to prepare ourselves as God prepares us too, as He had created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work.
We need to be mindful of spiritual attacks and trials. Frankly, no one likes trials but then as we were sharing last week, trials, for many people, also took on different meanings. For me, though I do not enjoy trials, upon reflection:
Trials brings people closer of back to God - It was a crisis I was facing which brought me back from the wilderness after having backslided for 15 years. It was getting to a stage I could no longer deal with the challenges I had on hand and God came to rescue me.
Trials prepares one for ministry -Indeed, God is the one who created the blacksmith who "fans the coals into flames" so that a weapon can be made, one which is fit for its work. And it became clear to me how indeed the many challenges faced last year, some which brokened me, may have helped build me perhaps for my ministry. Over the months, I have also seen how God has His plans for using me and my previous bad experiences (which was eventually addressed two years later) to understand and minister to others in the same position.
Trials indicate that the devil is trying to put a stop to you responding to God's calling - This became especially clear to me that it could have been spiritual attack which had caused me to be downcasted late last year. Almost all at once, I had to deal with work stress, my dad's uncertain medical condition, my leg pain and also ministry challenges. But thank God everything is starting to brighten up, including my leg, which has been aching for months and my dad's health is getting better and in fact, he is being discharged from quite a bit of his medical follow-ups (he used to be like a full-time patient, going for medical follow-ups many times a month, for his heart, eye, diabetes, high blood pressure, ENT, kidney etc). Work and ministry is also picking up.
Trials may also point out that something may not be spiritually right - thus making us susceptible to attacks by the devil.
Strengthening the Core - Putting on the Armour of God
Hence, we are told to put on the armour of God to protect us from attacks from the devil.
Ephesians 6:10-18: 10. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15. and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
We need to cover one another spiritually (including our leaders in the church) and grow in the Lord. We need to know the Word of God, know the truth, be righteous, be always ready to allow God to work through us as we minister to others, have faith, put on our salvation (purchased with the blood of Christ) as our crown and pray.
Let's just continue to grow spiritually, put on the armour of God and also cover one another spiritually.
