Why Does the Church Exist?

We asked a poignant question yesterday in cell. Why does the church exists?

And there were indeed many answers given...

• A community of believers to support, pray for, help, encourage and edify one another
• A place where we can attend Christian Education courses to grow in God
• A place where there's worship services so we can come together and hear God's leaders preach the word
• A place where there are intercession for everyone
• A place where there are programmes such as cell groups, missions, evangelism, discipleship etc
• A place where we, as believers, can exercise our giftings to bless each other

All these are good but as I sat down to prepare for cell and pondered, God brought to me a deeper revelation of what the Church is and why it exists.

God: "Are You Missing the Point?"
The past week had been an emotional roller coaster for me, as I struggled with God and told Him that I wanted to be a mediocre Christian. But from Sunday all the way till Friday, God has been sending me a series of "lessons".

I used to learn a lot from God when I did my QT using Navigator's Discipleship Journal which brought me through the bible each day rather extensively, through passages in both the Old and New Testament. And I remember how it always excites me because, even though the passages are all from 4 different places in the bible, sometimes a consistent message or lesson just pop out at me. But I have stopped using the Discipleship Journal plan ever since completed it some time back, and instead switched to a shorter plan. But, as I went through the "roller coaster" week, there was a desire to want to hear from God clearly again. And as I picked it up on Monday, God brought me to Acts 1:4-8 (NKJV):

⁴ And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; ⁵ for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” ⁶ Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷ And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. ⁸ But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Here, Jesus was asking the disciples to wait for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, which would help them to go about His mission for them. But the disciples missed the point and instead asked Jesus if He was speaking about the restoration of the Kingdom to Israel. Jesus quickly brought the disciples back and reminded them that they will be empowered to be His witness, both locally and globally; to the ends of the earth. 


What Perspective?
There was a prompting to share this passage with cell yesterday but I did not know how to go about it. But it became clear to me during worship yesterday that I, just like the disciples, have missed the point when I struggled with God. I was holding on to a worldly perspective rather than a Kingdom perspective. God has helped me to realise that we too can sometimes miss the point e.g. about the purposes and role of the Church.

Yes, intercession, prayer meetings, cell groups, CE courses, missions, Sunday service, Sunday school, all these are good. But have we missed the whole point of why God caused the Church to exist? And it is also true that many of us receive from the Church many good things: teachings, growth, reminders, encouragement, counselling, friendship, peace, new perspectives but yet, why the Church?

God Loves EVERYONE
For this, God again brought me revelation as I read Acts 2: 38-39 (NKJV) for yesterday's QT.

³⁸ Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ The promise is for you and your children and for ALL who are far off—for ALL whom the Lord our God will call.” (Emphasis mine)

These 2 simple verses made me realise that God loves EVERYONE; you and me, He loves us so much that He does not want us to perish.

2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) -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. (Emphasis mine)

God's Restoration Work

And it became very clear to me, once again, that God is going about His restoration work, all the way from the very beginning of time.

Acts 3:21, 25-26 (NIV)

²¹ Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets... ²⁵ And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ ²⁶ When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.” (Emphasis mine)

Somehow, this was apparent to me after I completed the KAIROS course years ago, but I have since forgotten.  On a sidenote, I would recommend everyone of you to go for KAIROS course, as it is a course which helps you make sense of the bible, as we examine it biblically, historically, strategically and culturally; everything in the past and in the current world will piece together and make sense as you see God's hands in it. 


But I am reminded that, yes, God started His restoration work from the very beginning when Adam and Eve fell.

Genesis 3:15 (NIV)

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

God was talking to Satan who have caused man to fall away from God and we now know that, from the very beginning, God was setting in motion His Kingdom salvation plan and will ultimately bring a Messiah, Jesus; offspring of the woman. Satan will strike His heel but Christ will crush his head.

And who is this Salvation plan for? The Jews? Us? No, it's for all peoples of the earth! Was not all of us in God's mind when He made the Abrahamic Covenant with Abraham when He said: "... and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

So it's now clear that God is not just concerned, from the very beginning for just a select group of people, but for ALL peoples of the earth. 2 Cor 5: 14a (NIV) reminds us that "one died for all".

The Ministry of Reconciliation
Jesus came to reconcile us to God but left with us the mission to continue this ministry of reconciliation, which Daniel Goh so aptly pointed out in 2 Cor 5:18-20 (NIV):

¹⁸ All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

So, from the very beginning, God has you and ALL peoples in mind, to restore us back to Him, away from the work of the Satan, who seeks to "steal, kill and destroy".

So coming back, where does the Church stand in all these? The Church is meant to be the "called out" ones; the ones who have been called by God to restoration with Him and then, to in turn call out others back to Him. This is why the Church exists. And all the cell groups, seminars, Sunday schools, missions, intercession, prayer meetings are the means to the end (not the end) of helping us, on a daily basis, to be restored to God and in turn to help us restore others to God. 


God's Holy Spirit & Empowerment
And God did not leave us alone because He knows we need empowerment. Thus, He gave the Holy Spirit to each of us, just as Jesus had the Holy Spirit which empowers Him:

Luke 4:18-19 (NIV)

"“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Yes, there are people who are unlovable, who are resistant, who we might feel do not deserve Christ. But think about it, you and I are also unlovable to some other people and definitely unlovable in God's standards. But someone cared enough to bring us to be restored with God. All the peoples, both locally and globally, are children of God and God cares for them. What are you doing about it? 


Do you now know why the Church exists?

In a nutshell:

• God loves EVERYONE
• God loves EVERYONE enough to begin His Salvation plan from the moment man fell
• Jesus came to bring reconciliation between God and His people
• Jesus gave the ministry of reconciliation to His followers
• The Church exists, not as a building or institution or club, but as a gathering and community of His followers to be about this ministry of reconciliation.
• Missions, cell groups, prayer meetings, services, CE courses all are means to help us be restored to God, on a daily basis, and to help us to restore others to God
• God does not leave us alone but gives us the Holy Spirit to help us
• And ultimately, the Kingdom of God will be established on earth, as it is in heaven
• Amen

Do you now have the Kingdom perspective of the Church?

I have also included the videos which I showed in cell yesterday and hope it helps to further drive the points across.

Building Your Life

Last Thursday, I was to share in chapel at work; the first chapel for the year. Though I had been nervous about sharing, I thank God for bringing me to the topic and for even blessing me myself with the sharing... God was placing something in my heart towards the end of 2009 and was affirming it through my sharing. I hope to also share this with you and hope it will bless your heart.

New Year, New Hopes
I love new years, partly because it is a time I can draw the old year to a close, keep the sweet memories and let go of the pains. On the other hand, new years will usually bring hope; hope that things could perhaps be better.

New years have traditionally been a time for me to reflect upon the past year and how things have been. At the end of 2009, I participated in my first watch night service. Not knowing what to expect, I went to the service all excited and left it being all awed by what God has done in my life, not only in 2009 but also in the years preceding it from the time I came back to Him. It became very clear to me how God has placed me in a rehabilitation programme and helping me to rebuild my life.

So as 2010 starts, God continues to drive home this point as I saw how real He is in my life. Sure, it has not been smooth sailing all the way, but only thing I realised is that God has never left me and has helped me to weather through it all.

As I was preparing for the chapel sharing, I prayed and asked God to guide me to what He wanted me to share. Following my reflection at the watch night service, quiet time and also at the first department devotion for the year, He brought me to Luke 6:46-49 and spoke about building our lives.

Luke 6:46-49 (NIV)
The Wise and Foolish Builders
46"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? 47I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

2010 has started and while many of us try to set things right for the new year and make resolutions, let me ask:

How would you like to build your life this year?
All of us are building our lives all the time, so how would you like to build it this year?

From the parable of the wise and foolish builder, we can see similarities between building a house and building our lives.

Lesson 1: The Master Plan

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Just as a house require a master plan, so do our lives. What's your master plan? Do you believe that God has His plans for you.

In Genesis 15, we see how God made a covenant with Abraham for offspring as many as the stars and to give his offspring the promised land. God has His plans for Abraham to be made into a "great nation" and that He will bless him and make his name great and he will be a blessing to many (Gen 12:2-3). That came to pass as his descendants grew and how Christ also came from his lineage. God has His plans for Abraham, as He did with Moses, Jacob, Joshua, David, Paul and so on and He has His plans for you.

Are You Happy?
I recall 5 years back my life was in a low period; everything from work, friendship, family was falling apart. But interestingly, God began to draw me back to Him during this period and ministered to me time and again in various circumstances from Jer 29:11. The verse appeared again and again and even appeared on my current workstation when I reported to work.

Over the span of 5 years, God brought me back to church, brought me to my current workplace, put me into ministry as well as restored relationships and granted me with new relationships. Just last week, a day before chapel, an insurance agent came to me on the streets and asked me "are you happy with your life?" and I found myself responding to myself in my heart "yes"... I have come to realise how I am not only happy but joyful how life has changed from the time I came back to walk with the Lord, and to see how every step of the way He had blessed me and blessed others through me.

Believe it or not, I have come to realised how God has brought me...

• ... spiritual and emotional restoration through Riverlife, as I began to learn about His word and was ministered to by His word as I listened and applied it to my life;
  
• ... emotional restoration and restoration to my confidence through my current workplace as He gave me good genuine colleagues, used my skills and blessed me in my work ministry;
  
• ... spiritual and character growth through the cell ministry which He has called me to, as I learned to rely on Him and do His will. Not only have I grew spiritually the most during these years of ministry, I have also come to encounter God as real, and
  
• ... emotional and character growth through the restoration of relationships, granting and blessings of relationships in my life.
  

God had His plans for me and while at many times I could not understand why certain things had to happen, on hindsight, it made perfect sense. There were just too many "coincidences" that happened in my life that I know God is watching over me and guiding me.

And the latest "coincidence" is when different ones of you shared with me how the Lord spoke to you through the verses cards I have given out at the beginning of the year; different verses for different ones of you. And I thank God for that.

So will you let the master builder, who knows the plan, build your life or will you want to build your life according to your fancy? The Lord has His plans for your life.

Lesson 2: Strength to Build the House

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Genesis 15:1 (NV)
"Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward. "

Hebrews 13:5-6 (NIV)
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

Life is full of trials and whoever did say that a Christian's life is smooth sailing? The truth of it is, trials will still come and the only difference is that we have a God who IS with us through the storms; we have "Immanuel" ("God with us"), one who we can rely on for strength.

At the watch night service, I have come to realised how God has brought me through the various trials of my life; trials which I had thought I would not survive; trials which made me break down and questioned God how long He would allow me to go through it.

At the end of 2009, I have come to see how God has given me to strength every step of the way... to forgive others (something which had gripped and tormented me for years in 2005), pull through in ministry and in facing challenges in relationships in my life. Particularly in ministry, at the moment when I was the lowest, God sent me Isa 41:10 and assured me through various other scriptures that He will send help. It's funny how sometimes verses jumps out at you when you least expected it and it is the same with the verses which spoke to me. For weeks and months, friends have been encouraging me with verses but it was not until a colleague opened his diary to write something that the verse Isa 41:10 just popped out to me at that point in time and ministered to my heart. As I continued to hanged on, God continued to assure me through various other verses in my quiet time which spoke to my heart and gave me strength.

As I stood on the stage with the cell at the end of Kent and Elly's wedding last week, I have come to see how the cell has grown and I can only thank God for giving me the strength to pull through it all and to be able to see what I see today.

Are you building your life with your own strength? God reminds us that He is God Almighty and that He will not leave us. Why build your life yourself when the master builder can give you strength; strength to overcome challenges?

Lesson 3: The foundation that has the power to hold it all together

Acts 4:11 (NKJV)
This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone'

The cornerstone (or foundation stone) concept is derived from the first stone set in construction, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.

In the same way, the Holy Spirit in you not only will help you to overcome challenges but also will help you to achieve with power from God.

In Acts 3-4:22, we saw how both Peter and John were empowered by God and what the power from God can do. The power from God brings...

• ... salvation - "But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand...Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:4, 12)
  
  
• ... healing - "It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed" (Acts 4:10)
  
  
• ... courage and wisdom - "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13)

God has blessed me with much throughout the last few years, in work, relationship or ministry and its amazing to see how when we work with God, things get achieved. At work, I always get amazed whenever I submit my monthly reports and to see how much has been achieved. I know deep in my heart that it is by the grace of God that my work ministry is taking off so well, something beyond my imagination. In the same way, at the watch night, I have come to realise what God has done through this cell and the various life transformations that have taken place. Again I realised that it is really by the grace of God that these transformations are possible because I would not have been able to effect these transformation without God's power. In the same way, I see God's power at work in my family as He continue to draw my family, one-by-one back to Him. Even my mum, whom I have been praying for her to come back to God has, unexpectedly, agreed to go back to church last year.

Lesson 4: The importance of upkeeping the house and having the right occupants

Matthew 12: 43-45 (NIV)
43"When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."

How would you like to build your life this year? Would you like this to be a year when you draw even closer to the Almighty God, trusting and entrusting your life to the Master builder? Will you be a wise builder and build your life on Him, His word and His will for you?

For different ones of us, we are at different stages. For some of you, you might be needing to come back to the Lord and trusting that He has His plans for you, plans to prosper you and not the harm you, plans to give you hope and a future... for some of you, you might need to learn to rely on God's strength, especially when everything else is not working in your strength... for some of you it might be to hold on to God for His spirit to empower you and yet for some, it is to learn to upkeep our lives and have the right occupant, the Holy Spirit, on our lives. Whatever the stage, I invite you to just say a prayer for yourself and entrust yourself into God's hands...

What are you building your life on?

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow
I don't know about tomorrow
I just live from day to day
I don't borrow from its sunshine
For its skies may turn to gray

I don't worry o'er the future
For I know what Jesus said
And today I'll walk beside Him
For He knows what is ahead

Chorus
Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand

I don't know about tomorrow
It may bring me poverty
But the one who feeds the sparrow
Is the one who stands by me

And the path that be my portion
May be through the flame or flood
But His presence goes before me
And I'm covered with His blood

It Is...

Hi morning!

I was ministered by today's Our Daily Bread. It reminds me that as we are sometimes overwhelmed by life with fear, worry, depression, disappointment, despair, Jesus can comfort us as He comforted His disciples in Matt 14:22-33.

Three particular “It is” statements can lead us through… “It is written” (Matt 4:4,7,10) can help us overcome temptations. “It is I” (Matt 14: 27) brings comfort in times of need. “It is finished” (John 19:30) speaks of His love and work to save and redeem us. Will you let Jesus speak into Your heart today? I did and I was comforted to know that it is Him.

He Is Enough

READ: Matthew 14:22-33

Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” —Matthew 14:27

Sometimes we are overwhelmed by life. The crushing waves of disappointment, endless debt, debilitating illness, or trouble with people can cause hopelessness, depression, or despair. It happened to Jesus’ disciples. And it has happened to me.

Three statements by the Lord beginning with the words “It is . . .” offer us comfort, reassurance, and hope that Jesus is enough. The first is in Matthew 4 and is repeated three times: “It is written” (vv.4,7,10). In responding to the three temptations of Satan, Jesus gave us proof enough that the Word of God is true and overcomes the most powerful forms of temptation and pressure.

The second statement, “It is I” (Matt. 14:27), was spoken when Jesus told His terrified disciples that He Himself was presence enough to stop the howling storm and calm the raging seas.

Jesus spoke the third “It is” from the cross: “It is finished!” (John 19:30). He assured us that His death was provision enough to pay the debt for our sins and set us free.

Whatever our circumstances, Jesus is present with His love, compassion, and grace. He is proof, presence, and provision enough to carry us safely through. — David C. Egner

When trials overwhelm our souls
And tempt us to despair,
We need to reach out to the Lord
And trust His tender care. —Sper

God’s love does not keep us from trials; it helps us get through them.

1 John 4:13 (NIV)

We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

He has given us His Spirit ti guide us, remind us, empower us to walk with God.

A Spirit-Filled Life

Last week's cell discussion was great and I really thank each and everyone of you for sharing the work of the Holy Spirit in your lives.

Personally, I have enjoyed preparing for the discussion as I sat down myself and reflected upon what the Holy Spirit has done in my life and that evening, hearing how the Holy Spirit is so real in your lives has further encouraged me and even helped me to know the Holy Spirit better.

The "Mystical" Topic of the Holy Spirit
For a long time, I have heard about the Holy Spirit and know about it but then because it is somewhat "intangible" and to me it was a rather abstract idea. However, last week's cell discussion has helped me to know the Holy Spirit better and also to see it at work in my life. As much as I had been blessed by the session, I hope you too. And I thank God for this blessing.

Wisdom & the Holy Spirit
In fact, it was a prayer answered. Even though I approached the cell discussion having thought through the topic and reflected on my spiritual walk with the Lord, I was still rather lost (as usual) as to how I should approach cell facilitation. I prayed to God and had asked for guidance. That evening, I had prepared a few questions but in the morning, I suddenly received a sms from a colleague friend on 1 Corinthians 2 about how the Spirit reveals to us wisdom from God. I do not know why but then that set me thinking about the work of the Holy Spirit in my own life and prompted me to change one of the discussion questions. And looking back, I was glad I heard the prompting and how the question eventually surfaced a rich discussion on the Holy Spirit in your lives, which ultimately also blessed me.

What is the Basic of Church?
Reading from Acts 2:36-47, we read of Peter's address to the crowd after Jesus died and the instructions given to the early church. For many of us, this might be a "back-to-basics" reminder about what the church is supposed to be:

1. Repentence and baptism for the forgiveness of our sin (v38)
2. Receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit (v38)
3. Devotion to apostle's teaching (v42)
4. Devotion to fellowship with one another (v42)
5. Devotion to breaking of bread (v42)
6. Devotion to prayer (v42)
7. Works - selling their possessions and goods and gave to anyone as he had need (v45)
8. Unity (v44, 46)
   

While these is how the early church is and it might be tempting to note it as a "to-do" for the church, Elder Freddy kept reminding that there is a critical part of the church and that is the Holy Spirit... without the Holy Spirit, a church is not a church! So in v38, we see how the early followers received the Holy Spirit and as a result of their faith and all they have done with the presence of the Holy Spirit, there were:

1. Salvation - Three thousand were added to their numbers that day (v41)
2. People were filled with awe (v43)
3. Many wonders and miraculous signs (v43)
4. Praises as people praised God and enjoyed the favour of all the people (v47)
5. More salvation - The Lord added to their numbers daily those who were being saved (v47)

The Promise of the Holy Spirit for Us
For me, I was reminded that God gave us His Holy Spirit to help us in our lives. In John 14:15-27, Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit ...

"and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knowns him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you... you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me and I am in you... But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom I the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."

Jesus went on to talk about the vine and the branches and how we can bear fruit as long as we remain in Him and Him in us; bearing fruits (v2, 4, 5), glorifying God (v8) and being filled with joy (v11). It is like a reminder on the consequences of having God in our lives; with the Holy Spirit in our lives. We received the Holy Spirit into our lives when we accept Christ as Lord and Saviour and invite Him into our lives.

A Spirit Filled Life that We Can Strive Towards
And, for the first time, it started to make sense to me what the fruit of the Spirit means. Maybe I am slow but then God spoke into my heart how it is His will that we be filled with the Spirit and bear the fruit of the Spirit as we live Spirit-filled lives. That as we continue to strive towards a Spirit-filled life, it is God's will that we have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

The Work of the Holy Spirit
So, it really led me to think about what the Holy Spirit has done in my own life. I mean, as I reflected on myself, I have come to realise how my life has tremendously changed in the last 4 years after having come back to the Lord. Yes, it hasn't been easy and I had cried out to the Lord on several times but then I see how I am indeed filled with more peace and joy and God has also brought restoration in relationships in my life, including doing the seemingly impossible and reconciling me to people who I hated and who caused me to go into downtime 4 years back. I am a much confident person now and can see God at work everyday of my life, even to the extent of prompting me in ministry to others with words to share. Even my mum, whom I had thought will never come back to the Lord, is now back walking and coming to church every week. To many things changed and to me, it is definitely more than coincidence.

And, just as we had shared with one another through our various experiences, we have learnt and saw how the Holy Spirit have, in different one of our lives:

1. Granted us peace and hope even in the midst of trials and everything seemed bleak
2. Restores broken relationships
   
3. Instructs us in life on walking righteously with the Lord, prompting us in spirit when we are not
4. Protects us from attempts of the enemy to take us away from walking with the Lord
5. Prompts us in ministry to each other including the sharing of His word that speaks Rhema word into others' lives
6. Moulds us and our person
7. Speaks into our lives in different seasons of our lives
8. Helps us

Well, I believe that if we had more time, we would have gone on and on and the fact is that the Holy Spirit plays an important role in the lives of Christ followers as it helps, guides, equips, protects etc. I have shared at the closing of cell last week how I am quite a klutz and can be very blur. But it is amazing how God has led me through, including even blessing me in my work ministry and even moulding my personality to be more confident. For me, I would say it is the life transforming work of the Holy Spirit in my life.

Sons and Heirs
As I was doing my quiet time today, I was reminded from Galatians 4 that we were once children and even though we were heirs, we were likened to slaves, being subjected to trustees and guardians until a time set by the father; slaves of the principles of the world. But with the work of Christ, we have become children and God "sent the spirit of his son into our hearts, so we no longer are slaves but sons and heirs.

Do You Desire the Holy Spirit?
God have His Holy Spirit to help us and the church. And I can say that God, the Father, wants the best for us, a life that is spirit-filled and filled with the fruit of the spirit. How much do you desire the Holy Spirit in your life? Continue to ask for the Holy Spirit to fill your life and work in your life... Are you tired of living life and steering yourself when God is also all along around?

As we approach the time for prayer meeting tomorrow to pray for revival for Riverlife Church, let's pray for revival in our lives and also for the Church.