As I was preparing for cell last week, I was somehow prompted in the morning and thought of The Salvation Army. For a long time, I have thought that the two "S" donned by Salvation Army officers on their uniforms used to mean "Saved to Serve". But as I read about the meaning of it, I felt the Lord teaching me that our main business should not be "Saved to Serve" more than we should be "Saved to Save". And just, as I was leaving for cell, I visited the Our Daily Bread website and, lo and behold, the article for the day is "Seek and Save". It was clear that God was making a point here and I would just like to share the article which I shared with cell last Friday here. You are saved to save.
D L Moody: “One day I
saw a steel engraving that I liked very much. I thought it was the finest thing
I ever had seen, at the time, and I bought it. It was a picture of a woman
coming out of the water, and clinging with both arms to the cross. There she
came out of the drowning waves with both arms around the cross perfectly safe.
Afterwards, I saw another picture that spoiled this one for me entirely, it was
so much more lovely. It was a picture of a person coming out of the dark
waters, with one arm clinging to the cross and with the other she was lifting
some one else out of the waves. That is what I like. Keep a firm hold upon the
cross, but always try to rescue another from the drowning.”
“… Saving' is a very close
and a personal related word for one's life. (The human). A Person takes a good
education, search for a good job, work hard & earn a big salary or income
to have a better life living standard but at the same time a person tries to
save something for his future. Some parents start to save money or open a
saving account in the bank for their children from the time of their birth.
Saving is an important and hard process but essential for the human's life.
The Bible also tells about saving but not about the worldly saving. God himself
sent his only son to save the sinners from their sins. God is counting us as
His treasure of Heaven. He does not want any single soul to be destroyed or to
be perished but he wishes that every single soul should be with him forever,
safe in Heaven.
The Salvation Army is in process of saving souls since 145 years around the
world. The Founders William & Catherine Booth had taken this responsibility
to cooperate with God in saving souls.
The SS (as shown above) on Salvation Army uniforms used to mean” Saved to
save.” It was a statement of early Salvationists' faith that they were saved so
that they could lead others to Salvation. People also refer it as “Saved to
Serve” but When William Booth started The Salvation Army it was a Christian
mission. In fact, that is what he called it. The aim of the mission was to” go
for souls and go for worst.” There was nothing greater than saving souls. The
Salvation Army saved the drunkards from their drink, the criminals from the
prisons and girls from the streets by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
If I show my love & compassion by giving him food to
eat, clothes to wear, and a place to rest in but if I don't put a thought of
God's word in his heart, my mission remains incomplete.
... Dear readers, Let us go forward day by day, with Love & Compassion for
dying men to save.”
Lachlan Macquarie, governor of New South Wales from 1810–1821, had a way of
making everyone feel included in the new colony. When the “exclusives” (free
settlers, civil servants, and military officers) shunned the society of the
“emancipists” (transported convicts given conditional or absolute pardon),
Governor Macquarie insisted that they be treated as social equals.
Jesus showed interest in Zacchaeus, a shunned tax collector
in Jericho, and
included him in the recipients of His salvation plan (Luke 19:1-10). A
marginalized and hated man because of his profession, Zacchaeus was desperate
to see Jesus and climbed a tree to get a glimpse of Him. When Jesus passed by,
He saw Zacchaeus’ desire and told him to come down because he had a divine
appointment at his house. Some complained that Jesus was spending time with a
sinner. His loving attention changed Zacchaeus’ life. He repented and offered
restitution for those he had defrauded. Salvation had come to his house.
Jesus’ mission was simple: Diligently search for
lost people, whatever their social standing, and offer them God’s salvation
plan. As followers of Christ, we too have that as our mission.
Lord, help us show compassion To a world that’s lost in sin, So when we share the gospel, Hungry souls for Christ we’ll win. —Sper
Christ’s mission is our mission.
Source: http://odb.org/2012/08/10/seek-and-save/
We have two hands, one to hold on to God and another to save another. What are you doing with your hands today?
Have you ever seen a horse poking its head through a narrow opening in a fence and stretching its neck just to eat from a patch of grass growing on the other side? I find it rather comical when that same horse is already standing in a field of lush green grass yet seems to think the grass beyond the fence is some kind of rare delicacy. That horse is going through an awful lot of effort to obtain its prize when a perfectly wonderful meal is right under its feet the whole time!
You and I are a lot more like that horse than we care to admit. There’s an old saying that goes “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.” What this means is that we tend to look at our neighbors and envy them, thinking they are happier than we are because they don’t experience the same kinds of problems we’re dealing with. Of course, this perception is almost always false because every family has its own set of problems. But when we let ourselves get caught up in thinking about our own difficult circumstances—our struggles, our shortcomings, our failures—it’s easy to look at other people and think, If only I had their money (or his looks or her patience), I wouldn’t be in this mess.
If anyone ever had reason to complain to God about his circumstances, it was the apostle Paul. He was a second-generation Pharisee and a respected and highly educated man, yet he found himself languishing in a dungeon in Rome because of his faith in Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, he was perfectly at peace. He wrote to his friends:
I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:11–13)
Contentment is a deep, abiding peace and satisfaction that comes from knowing and loving God more every day. Are you content in your life? If not, what do you think will make you happy? A bigger family car? A nicer wardrobe? The latest iPhone? A Hawaiian vacation?
Now, most homeschooling families subsist on a single income. And we all know that having money cannot guarantee happiness. Yet for some reason many of us seem to think that our lives would be better if only we had more money, as if we are the exceptions to the rule. And so we muddle along, saying the right things but secretly believing as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. When told that money is the world’s curse, he replies, “May the Lord smite me with it—and may I never recover!”
The apostle Paul had once owned many nice things when his name was still Saul. He had been raised the son of a Pharisee and well-to-do tentmaker. Educated in Jerusalem by the finest teachers, Saul also enjoyed the privileges of Roman citizenship. Yet for his all riches and education and status, he could not find peace. And so, against the advice and urging of his mentor (Acts 5:34–39), Saul zealously hunted down and persecuted the followers of Christ (Acts 8:1–3). But then Jesus Christ met Saul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1–19), changed his name, and set him on a new path.
Once he had lost everything, Paul no longer looked for things to make him happy:
I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ. (Philippians 3:8)
Paul had learned that the constant pursuit of possessions and accomplishments could lead only to disillusionment and despair. Joyously, he had instead discovered the threefold secret to lasting contentment.
Trust in Jesus Christ
Paul found contentment in the same place we find salvation: in Christ. Jesus is the only answer to sin, and He is the only answer to our need for peace (John 14:27). Paul’s relationship with God did not depend on what he did or did not have. His peace was based not on his circumstances but on knowing and trusting Jesus:
My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20, NLT)
[The Lord] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9–10)
Keep in mind that contentment doesn’t happen overnight. As you build your relationship with God through prayer, Bible study, and worship, you will learn to trust God more and rely on yourself less. When you trust in Christ, He will give you the strength to be content in any situation you encounter. Remember and pray the words of the psalmist: “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:25–26).
Be Thankful in All Circumstances
The book of Philippians is a letter from Paul thanking the church at Philippi for a “care package” they sent him in prison. In it, Paul instructs us:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6–7)
When you think of what God the Son has done for us—stepping down from His throne to live among us and teach us, then allowing Himself to be killed in the most humiliating way possible to pay the penalty for our sins—how can our heartfelt response be anything but gratitude? We must be thankful to God each day for who He is, for everything He created, and for His infinite goodness toward us (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Love and Comfort to Others
When we go through life discontented—grumbling, whining, doubting God, and thinking only about ourselves—we tend to hold tightly to the very things God wants us to give to others, including our time, our talents, and our treasure. But in the economy of God’s kingdom, we must give away that which we hope to gain:
Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:24–25, NLT)
For example, God gives us comfort so that we can pass it on to others who need it:
[God] comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (2 Corinthians 1:3–4)
Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Indeed, giving defined the ultimate expression of love: “For God so loved the world that he gave . . .” (John 3:16). When you look beyond your own problems to focus on meeting the needs of those around you, you will go a long way toward taming the sin of envy, the beast “crouching at your door” (Genesis 4:7). A true servant is just happy to serve, and envy has no place in his or her life.
... bless yourself and your family with this thought: The grass is not, in fact, always greener on the other side of the fence; grass is greenest where it is watered. When you cross over fences to serve your neighbors with love and humility and share with them living water (John 7:38), you make the grass greener wherever you go. David Webb is the coauthor of the What We Believe series, the award-winning biblical worldview curriculum published by Apologia in partnership with Summit Ministries. The third and newest volume in this series is Who Is My Neighbor? (And Why Does He Need Me?): A Biblical Worldview of Servanthood. David and his wife, Peggy, have homeschooled their six children since 1990.
Extracted from http://blog.apologia.com/blog/2012/08/13/the-threefold-secret-to-contentment/
Jesus asks "What do you want Me to do for you?" (Mark 10:36,51). In two
separate occasions, people approached Jesus to ask of Him in Mark
10:35-52.
"... how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (Matthew 7:11b NKJV).
Daddy
God longs to give good things to you; provisions, spiritual and
emotional wholeness, health. All we need do is ask of Him what will
please His heart to give, simply because He grants good gifts for us to
grow in His glory; according to how we ought to be in Him.
In
Mark 10, James and John asked to sit at the left and right of Jesus but
to which He replied that it is not for Him to grant but by the Father.
But in verse 46-52, a blind man comes to Jesus and was healed. Not only
by God but also by his own faith.
Ask the Father for what would
please His heart to give and exercise faith. It pleases Him to give you
good gifts. Keep asking because, God loves you.
"...
God is faithful... For the Son of God, Jesus Christ... was not "Yes"
and "No," but in him it has always been "Yes." For no matter how many
promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the
"Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 1:18-20 NIV).
Has the Lord given you a promise? As I read this morning, I
sensed from the Lord His reminder that nothing that the Lord spoken will
not come to pass i.e. what He says He will do He will do. So trust in
Him. If in Samuel, what the Lord spoke of Eli's house, who displeasured
Him, came to pass, let alone His good promises that He gives you. He
will bring it to pass. Hold on to His promises. The loving Father God
has good plans and promises for you and me.
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.
Reading God's word is just like installing an antivirus on your computer.
New computers may come with no antivirus or with limited antivirus. In the same way, when we come into the world, we might not have the knowledge of the Word of God (the Word of God is always with and around us) or we might have it (though in a limited way) while we were growing up in a Christian family.
However, there are always people who wants to wreck havoc in our lives and create viruses. And new viruses are added each day. In the spiritual realm, satan does that. While some links, softwares and pirated warez looks tempting and nice, it has an army of viruses waiting behind to do the damage it has been programmed for.
It is thus crucial that we find the right antivirus and that's not the end; we need ensure it is updated so when a new virus tries to enter our system, we can nip it in its bud and/or clean it. God gives this antivirus and it's His word and it's free. No need for annual subscription to renew license, it's free.
Do you have the right antivirus software and are you updating it to deal with new challenges? If not, it's little wonder that damage is sometimes done and systems can halt and jam and even die.
And even though you do not have antivirus, are on a much limited antivirus, have not updated it and/or have been infected, there's nothing that God's antivirus cannot rectify and it's never too late to install the right one and update it to God's antivirus.
Satan longs to disarm us of God's antivirus or to have us stop updating it as he throws old tricks (new packaging) at us.
God's Word is a gateway which prevents unnecessary infection, and even though infection has taken place, He can rectify it because the Programmer created you and gave the antivirus; His word.
No wonder it's called B.I.B.L.E: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16, 17 NKJV)
The thief does not come except to steal, and
to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that
they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10 NKJV)
"John 10:10
also reminds us of how much God treasures His creation, in that Christ
came so that man might experience abundant life."
THE TRIALS
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds (James 1:2 NIV)
PLAYGROUND OR BATTLEFIELD?
The
verse says "whenever" not "if" we face trials. There is a certainty
there is trials. As Christ followers, we need realize that this abundant
life is lived in a real world filled with pain, rejection, and failure.
Therefore, experiencing the abundant life God intends for us does not
mean that our lives will be problem-free. On the contrary... the
abundant life is the experience of God's love, forgiveness, peace and
power in the midst of those problems. So it's not surprising, as to
some, that it's a battlefield everyone of us, pre-believers included,
need go through. The only difference is which kingdom are you in and who
is your general leading you? It's a battlefield, not a playground.
WHERE TO BEGIN: THE SOURCE
And
for those struggling with self esteem, like me, the reminder is that
the biblical concept of it is not that one feel worthy or good but that
of an accurate perception of ourselves based on God's truth. There's no
need to prove ourselves. "We must understand this hunger for self worth
is God-given and can only be satisfied by Him. Our self worth is not
dependent on our ability to earn the fickle acceptance of people but
rather it's true source is the love and acceptance of God. He created
us. He alone knows how to fulfill all of our needs".
Go to the source.
Article inspired by "The Search for Significance" by Robert S. McGee
Hi everyone, if you ever wonder if there is a God and what He thinks about you, well, it has never been a secret, just that we have not come to read His thoughts for us... Here's His love letter to you, yes, unmistakably you...
It blessed me and hope it blesses you too.
Felt ministered to as I read from Romans so sharing it here:
Romans 5
Like in "The Matrix", there are 2 parallel world we live in:
1.
World of darkness where sin reigns through disobedience of God which
ultimately brings us God's wrath and Death (worldly & eternal life
without God), and
2. World of light where
righteousness reigns through obedience of God which ultimately pleases
God and brings life (meaningful, purposeful and full worldly life &
eternal life with God).
But then God loves us
so much that He first gave us the Law; like glasses it helps us to see
clearly what is right and what is not. Because it is only when law is
given that it becomes clear what is lawful and what is not. One thing
leads to another; God's law clarifies where we are and starts to stirs
in us to seek the parallel world and points us to the solution: Jesus
Christ. He, who is sinless, came and stood in the gap between the 2
worlds that we might cross the border.
As Romans 5:20 states
that as law causes sin to abound, so does it in turn causes grace to
abound. Without the law we won't know we are sinful and if we do not
know we are sinful we do not know we need grace from God because, there
is nothing we can do to run away from judgment and condemnation from the
Judge.
So through believing in Jesus Christ,
we receive the "visa" to enter and also "citizenship" to be and enjoy
the privileges of God's world; the Kingdom of light where God and all
His good things are.
But Romans 6 later also
remind us that since we are now citizens of the Kingdom of light, we
cannot hold two citizenships or obtain visa to go back down.
Where
are you now? Are you in the world of darkness going around lost and
lamenting? If so, a new citizenship is offered to you.
Are
you in the Kingdom of light but take trips to the other kingdom once in
a while? If so, you are reminded that you hold but one citizenship and
should not mock it.
Throughout the last few months, I have grown weary with all that happened in my life, which turned my life topsy turvy; having to manage quite a great deal including illness, loss of direction, death, disappointment, grief etc.
And despite God speaking very clearly in the past few weeks through sermon, chapel, department devotions, "Roadmap to Maturity" course and quiet time, asking me to take up my cross, I wrestled with God and wanted to run away, just as Jonah did. "I am just too tired Lord and it's just not worth it".
But this this Good Friday, God has helped me to come to realize the full extent of His love for us, which demanded from me a response. I have come to realize that in the last hours of Jesus' life, it came to be an intense demonstration of the full extent of His love (John 13:1b, NIV84).
In the verse following John 13:1, we see the disciple John providing the only account, among the gospels, of the Lord Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. More than just a simple act, it was an act with profound significance. As one commentary puts it: "it was an act of Jesus' love that would stoop to even the most menial service. It was a spiritual cleansing. And it was an example of how Christians should treat each other. In these ways, the washing of the disciples' feet prefigured the Crucifixion" (Asbury Bible Commentary).
Starting with feet washing, Jesus here showed the full extent of His love for us every step of the way, from the last supper, struggling at the Garden of Gethsemane where He had to face the reality that He would have to go through the pain of crucifixion soon, all the way to the cross. All these because Jesus wants to cleanse us.
Do you now understand the full extent of His love for you? And what would your response be to His love for you?
Came across this beautiful song "I Then Shall Live" which I hope will minister to you, in the way we should live our lives as a response to the Lord Jesus Christ's work on the cross for us.
Once again, we are reminded that we have been cleansed by Jesus. Now, live your life as cleansed...
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 Journalwhich 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 offspringand hers; he will crushyour 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 meto proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisonersand 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.
Was in chapel today and heard about the Parable of the Pencil.
I adapted it and hope the below will bless you as it has blessed me:
The Parable of the Pencil
The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting it into the box.
"There are 7 things you need to know..." he told the pencil, "...before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be."
"One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone's hand."
"Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil."
"Three: The most important part of you will always be what's inside."
"Four: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make."
"Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write."
"Six: Use your ability to erase appropriately, help others to correct mistakes and not to run them down and negate their mark."
"And finally Seven: You need to work alongside other pencils to see beautiful things achieved. There are times when a darker shade of pencil needs to be used and there are times when a lighter shade is essential."
The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart. Now, replace the pencil with YOU. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.
One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God's hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.
John 15:4 (NIV, 1984) "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."
Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various challenges in life, but you'll need it to become a stronger person.
James 1:2,3,4 (NIV, 1984) "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
Three: The most important part of you will always be what's inside. For some of us, we operate out of broken lead inside and no matter how much we sharpen, the tip will always come out broken and break. If you inside is broken, it's time for you to receive God's lead.
1 Samuel 16:7b (NIV, 1984) "The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
Luke 6: 45 (NIV, 1984) "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."
Ezekiel 26:36 (NIV, 1984) "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."
Four: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.
The bible is full of imperfect people who makes mistakes. The difference is that they did not let them stop them from growing: David, Peter, Moses, Abraham and the list goes on.
Five: On every surface you walk, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to serve God in everything.
Romans 12:11 (NIV, 1984) "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord."
Six: Use your ability to erase appropriately, help others to correct mistakes and not to run them down and negate their mark.
2 Peter 3:9 (NIV, 1984) "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."
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV, 1984) "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
2 Timothy 2: 25-26 (NIV, 1984) "Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will."
And finally Seven: You need to work alongside other pencils to see beautiful things achieved. There are times when a darker shade of pencil needs to be used and there are times when a lighter shade is essential.
Romans 12:4-8 (NIV, 1984) "Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 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. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 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."
By understanding and remembering, let us proceed with our life on this earth having a meaningful purpose in our heart and a relationship with God daily.
Allow this parable on the pencil to encourage you to know that you are a special person and only you can fulfill the purpose to which you were born to accomplish. You can have a life with a meaningful purpose and a wonderful relationship with God everyday.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV,1984) "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."
Jeremiah 1:4-5a (NIV, 1984) "The word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;"
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV, 1984) "For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil, it has no point.
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. -Isaiah 55:1-3 (NIV).
It's interesting when I read this this morning and realized the word "buy". Went to search dictionary.com and to buy would also mean to acquire by way of exchange. Webster states to buy is "to obtain in exchange for something often at a sacrifice"
"What are we exchanging our lives, effort, time, resources for?" I feel God reminding us to buy from him, and that He gives not as the world gives (conditional and with money) but He gives so we can acquire life (see v1). He is a faithful God of covenant. "...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." -John 10:10b (NIV). And yes, the buying do involve sacrifice, or shall I say--setting priorities. David said that he will not sacrifice a burnt offering that costs him nothing. - 1 Chronicles 21:24 (NIV).
What are you "buying"? Are you seeking and acquiring security, joy and peace from things, obsession/addictions, people, jobs or other things other than God? We need to buy from the right source.
I remember struggling with prayer in the past when God brought me back to Him years ago. I always remember freezing whenever I was asked to pray because I am not sure about being able to spew out nice sounding "holy" words that could last me beyond just a few seconds. But then God reminded me about prayer in Matthew 6 where He highlighted some things that He does NOT look for in a prayer:
Pray to be seen by others so that one will be seen as righteous (v5)
Praying long meaningless prayers so others can hear them and be seen as righteous (v7)
It was a matter of the heart when it comes to prayer. And the bible warns "do not be like them". From then on, it corrected my perspective of prayer. Just as we sing to an audience of One when we have praise and worship, so do we pray to the audience of One, when we pray.
As I did my quiet time this morning, I am reminded about prayer again.
The Necessary Prayer that Speaks Volume
Matt 6 teaches us about prayer. Twice in Matt 6, the word of God reminds us that God knows what we need (v8, 32). But even though so, the bible goes on to teach us about prayer; a prayer that, when spoken from the right heart, speaks volume. Jesus says "This, then, is how you should pray":
"Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name" (v9) speaks and reminds us of respect and honor for a great and Almighty God in our lives.
"Your kingdom come,your will be done,on earth as it is in heaven" (v10) speaks of submission and surrender of our lives to God, that His will be done.
"Give us today our daily bread" (v11) speaks of supplication to the Lord because He knows what we need and provides.
"And forgive us our debts,as we also have forgiven our debtors" (v12) speaks not only of asking God for forgiveness for the times we grieved Him but also the commitment to forgive others as the Lord forgives us.
"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one" (v13) speaks of the need to be guided by the Lord in our lives.
The Litmus Test
Where are you in your prayer life today?
Do you come to the Almighty God with your prayers?
Do you trust God enough to come back to Him to commit it and lift it up to Him to handle; a God "who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" (Eph 3:20a)
Do you come with the right heart?
"if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land".(2 Chronicles 7:14)
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matt 6:33).
Hi everyone, in my recent QT, God has been showing me much about devotion and worship. As I pondered on it and after our cell discussion last week, found this video quite nicely helped me to understand about it. So simple but yet, sometimes I can miss it:
Hi everyone, as we talked about miracles the last week, one important character that we see in Jesus is that of obedience and faith, even as He broke the bread to serve the five thousand (Mark 6: 30-44).
"A blessed life is one where you can see the wonders of God working in and through your life, no matter the circumstances; good or bad, and where you are assured that He is with you always."
The time has come again when we are reminded of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and what He did for us.
And as I ponder on the reason for the season, I would never fail to remember a meaningful story I once read, I am the Cross, about the pain that Jesus bore for me.
This year, at staff chapel earlier, I am again reminded of the pain that Jesus bear, but this time, not only on the cross but when the pain starts being unbearable at the Garden of Gethsemane.
Matthew 26
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
Someone was sharing in chapel from an article written by Max Lucado, The Passion, the Pain and the Promise, and I have come to realise how how Jesus loved us and how the battle for our lives between God and Satan was won, not on Calvary, but at the Garden itself, when Jesus painstakingly make the decision to die on the cross even, this even though when He could have walked away.
... History records it as the battle of the Jews against Jesus. It wasn’t. It was a battle of God against Satan...
... And Jesus knew it. Jesus knew that before the war was over, he would be taken captive. He knew that before victory would come defeat. He knew that before the throne would come the cup. He knew that before the light of Sunday would come the blackness of Friday. And he is afraid...
... It will be the last time he sees them (His disciples) before they abandon him. He knows what they will do when the soldiers come. He knows their betrayal is only minutes away. But he doesn’t accuse. He doesn’t lecture. Instead, he prays. His last moments with his disciples are in prayer..
... It’s worth noting that Jesus chose prayer. He chose to pray for us...
... You need to note that in this final prayer, Jesus prayed for you....
... “I am also praying for all people who believe in me because of the teaching.” (John 17)...
... As Jesus stepped into the garden, you were in his prayer...
... His humanity begged to be delivered from what his divinity could see...
... we do know he asked to get out. We do know he begged for an exit. We do know there was a time when if he could have, he would have turned his head back on the whole mess and gone away. But he couldn’t.
He couldn’t because he saw you. Right there in the middle of a world which isn’t fair. He saw you cast into a river of life which you didn’t request. He saw you betrayed by those you love. He saw with a body which gets sick and a heart that grows weak. He saw you in your own garden of gnarled trees and sleeping friends. He saw you staring into the pit of your own failures and the mouth of your own grave. He saw you in your Garden of Gethsemane—and he didn’t want you to be alone. He wanted you to know that he has been there, too. He knows what it’s like to be plotted against. He knows what it’s like to be confused. He knows what it’s like to be torn between two desires. He knows what it’s like to smell the stench of Satan. And, perhaps most of all, he knows what it’s like to beg God to change his mind and to hear God say so gently, but firmly, “No.” For that is what God said to Jesus. And Jesus accepts the answer....
... The battle is won. You may have thought it was won on Golgotha. It wasn’t. The final battle was won in Gethsemane...
... For it was in the garden that he made his decision. He would rather go to hell for you than go to heaven without you.
This is the love of Christ, the love of God, for you and for me...
I like one of the songs which expresses this in its wonderful simplicity; that He is above all but He chose death and thought of us above all...
ABOVE ALL
Above all powers
Above all kings
Above all nature
And all created things
Above all wisdom
And all the ways of man
You were here
Before the world began
Above all kingdoms
Above all thrones
Above all wonders
The world has ever known
Above all wealth
And treasures of the earth
There's no way to measure
What You're worth
Chorus:
Crucified
Laid behind the stone
You lived to die
Rejected and alone
Like a rose
Trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all
One of the songs sang during cell last week captivated me and may we never lose the wonder of the cross; remembering the meaning of the cross not only on Good Friday and Easter but every day of our lives:
It’s nearly midnight when they leave the upper room and descend through the streets of the city. They pass the Lower Pool and exit the Fountain Gate and walk out of Jerusalem. The roads are lined with the fires and tents of Passover pilgrims. Most are asleep, heavied with the evening meal. Those still awake think little of the band of men walking the chalky road.
They pass through the valley and ascend the path which will take them to Gethsemane. The road is steep so they stop to rest. Somewhere within the city walls the twelfth apostle darts down a street. His feet have been washed by the man he will betray. His heart has been claimed by the Evil One he has heard. He runs to find Caiaphas.
The final encounter of the battle has begun.
As Jesus looks at the city of Jerusalem, he sees what the disciples can’t. It is here, on the outskirts of Jerusalem, that the battle will end. He sees the staging of Satan. He sees the dashing of the demons. He sees the Evil One preparing for the final encounter. The enemy looks as a spectre over the hour. Satan, the host of hatred, has seized the heart of Judas and whispered in the ear of Caiaphas. Satan, the master of death, has opened the caverns and prepared to receive the source of light.
Hell is breaking loose.
History records it as the battle of the Jews against Jesus. It wasn’t. It was a battle of God against Satan.
And Jesus knew it. Jesus knew that before the war was over, he would be taken captive. He knew that before victory would come defeat. He knew that before the throne would come the cup. He knew that before the light of Sunday would come the blackness of Friday.
And he is afraid.
He turns and begins the final ascent into the garden. When he reaches the entry he stops and turns his eyes toward his circle of friends. It will be the last time he sees them before they abandon him. He knows what they will do when the soldiers come. He knows their betrayal is only minutes away.
But he doesn’t accuse. He doesn’t lecture. Instead, he prays. His last moments with his disciples are in prayer. And the words he speaks are as eternal as the stars which hear them.
Imagine, for a moment, yourself in this situation. Your final hour with a son about to be sent overseas. Your last moments with your dying spouse. One last visit with your parent. What do you say? What do you do? What words do you choose?
It’s worth noting that Jesus chose prayer. He chose to pray for us. “I pray for these men. But I am also praying for all people who will believe in me because of the teaching of these men. Father, I pray that all people who believe in me can be one . . . I pray that these people can also be one in us, so that the world will believe that you sent me.”
You need to note that in this final prayer, Jesus prayed for you. You need to underline in red and highlight in yellow his love: “I am also praying for all people who believe in me because of the teaching.” That is you. As Jesus stepped into the garden, you were in his prayer.
As Jesus looked into heaven, you were in his vision. As Jesus dreamed of the day when we will be where he is, he saw you there. His final prayer was about you. His final pain was for you. His final passion was you. He then turns, steps into the garden, and invites Peter, James, and John to come. He tells them his soul is “overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” and begins to pray. Never has he felt so alone. What must be done, only can he do. An angel can’t do it. No angel has the power to break open hell’s gates. A man can’t do it. No man has the purity to destroy sin’s claim. No force on earth can face the force of evil and win—except God. “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak,” Jesus confesses. His humanity begged to be delivered from what his divinity could see. Jesus, the carpenter, implores. Jesus, the man, peers into the dark pit and begs, “Can’t there be another way?”
Did he know the answer before he asked the question? Did his human heart hope his heavenly father had found another way? We don’t know. But we do know he asked to get out. We do know he begged for an exit. We do know there was a time when if he could have, he would have turned his head back on the whole mess and gone away. But he couldn’t.
He couldn’t because he saw you. Right there in the middle of a world which isn’t fair. He saw you cast into a river of life which you didn’t request. He saw you betrayed by those you love. He saw with a body which gets sick and a heart that grows weak. He saw you in your own garden of gnarled trees and sleeping friends. He saw you staring into the pit of your own failures and the mouth of your own grave. He saw you in your Garden of Gethsemane—and he didn’t want you to be alone. He wanted you to know that he has been there, too. He knows what it’s like to be plotted against. He knows what it’s like to be confused. He knows what it’s like to be torn between two desires. He knows what it’s like to smell the stench of Satan. And, perhaps most of all, he knows what it’s like to beg God to change his mind and to hear God say so gently, but firmly, “No.” For that is what God said to Jesus. And Jesus accepts the answer.
At some moment during that midnight hour an angel of mercy comes over the weary body of the man in the garden. As he stands, the anguish is gone from his eyes. His fist will clench no more. His heart will fight no more. The battle is won. You may have thought it was won on Golgotha. It wasn’t. The final battle was won in Gethsemane. And the sign of conquest is Jesus at peace in the olive trees. For it was in the garden that he made his decision. He would rather go to hell for you than go to heaven without you.
“… Saving' is a very close
and a personal related word for one's life. (The human). A Person takes a good
education, search for a good job, work hard & earn a big salary or income
to have a better life living standard but at the same time a person tries to
save something for his future. Some parents start to save money or open a
saving account in the bank for their children from the time of their birth.
Saving is an important and hard process but essential for the human's life.
