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)
Our Daily Bread today reminds us of the age old strategy of Satan which is still at work today, rather successfully at times; setting himself against everything God is and says. "(The) problem is that we, like Adam and Eve, believe Satan’s lies. And when we do, our loyalty (and faith) to God is compromised. Then our enemy slithers off to his next assignment, leaving us alone to face our regrets and the realization that his lies have seduced us away from our truest and dearest Friend. Who have you been listening to lately?". What are some lies you are falling prey to recently?
Was doing my QT yesterday and it struck me how Jesus interacted with the high priest, chief priests, elders and teachers of the law when he was arrested.
Jesus was arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin, who looked for evidence against Him so they can put Him to death. But they could find none.
"Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree... Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, 'Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?' 'I am,' said Jesus." (Mark 14:33-65)
Faced with lies of the enemy, Jesus did not respond but rather He knows who He is and responded in truth.
Similarly, how are you responding to lies the Enemy places in your life?
Cell Discussion: Israel in the Wilderness: Faith Hi everyone, thanks for your sharing today. I had been blessed by your sharing of verses which has ministered to you during times of trials. I hope you will remember these verses as they have spoken to you in the past and keep them close to your hearts. Anyway, I hope to share some of my personal takeaways from my preparation for cell last night.
An Object Lesson on Faith In fact, I thank God for bringing us through the cell. Frankly, before cell, I was totally clueless how to facilitate cell last night. I had been going through a tough week dealing with negative emotions and thoughts which had been affecting my self-esteem but then soon, God helped me realise one thing; that He had brought me through an object lesson about faith this whole week.
I have also been "plagued" by self-esteem issues and always tend to feel inferior and have all kinds of negative thoughts about myself and my abilities. I doubt myself constantly. And even though I am still face these issues now, but then the main difference, as I have come to realise, is how I am responding more in faith now. In the past, I would have been very devastated whenever this happens and sometimes it can really spiral downwards. But God has brought transformation to my life through the past few months and years that I am now able to cope with these thoughts and feelings.
Oooo, I have to admit it had been a horribly draining week but then by the end of it, I have come to realise how, despite being still affected by these feelings, I am able to overcome it because I held on to God in faith. I have faith in God because I had seen how He has shown me grace and brought me back from backsliding, how He has brought me through trials, how He has guided me through ministry (both my cell and work ministry), how He has changed my life and I also remember the promises I have received from Him through His word. And I hold dearly to God, responding in my mind "God, no matter what the circumstances, I am holding on to You and Your promises to me, knowing that You will bring me through."
On Faith & Deeds Anyway, even though I realised how God had brought me through an object lesson in faith, I was still totally clueless as to how to facilitate cell. So yesterday morning, as I made my way to work, I prayed to God to show me how to facilitate cell. As I opened the bible to do my quiet time, I opened to James 2 (the reading for the day) and the heading read "Genuine Faith" (James 2:14-26). I read the chapter which spoke about faith without deeds is dead. Even though I understood that the sermon last Sunday was on faith, somehow the link was not evident. I was sensing being led to use this verse as the opening for cell discussion and I remember thinking to myself "God, this verse does not really link to what we are talking about, but I will have faith and trust in You. I will use this verse, trusting You will use it to minister and open the discussion."
The Confusion Begins: In Deed or Not In Deed? The worst thing came when I arrived at work and as I accessed the Our Daily Bread website, the devotion shown was for the day before (since it is a day before in the states), on "Whom Will You Trust?". It is no doubt on faith but then the devotion made me more confused. Just this morning, I had read from James 2:26 that faith without deeds is dead. And now, the devotion has a verse from Ephesians 2:8-9 which says "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." So what, is works necessary? I became very very confused.
Then, I thank God for giving me time to discuss the topic briefly with Min Qin over the phone during lunch and as we discussed, God brought me to 2 Peter 1:3-11 (NIV):
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
And he also brought me to Philippians 3:8-11 (NIV):
8 What is more, 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 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
2 Sides of Faith: Saving Faith And everything was beginning to click together, including a deeper understanding of what Elder Freddy mentioned on Sunday about the 2 sides of faith. It became clear to me that, on one hand, faith as in Hebrews 11:1 says that "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Just as we have accepted by faith about God and what He done on the cross for our salvation, so we accept by faith Christ as Saviour and Lord of our lives and so do we accept by faith that at the end of the journey, we are assured of where we will go. This is the saving faith. And this was mentioned in Ephesians 2, that we are saved by God's grace and not because of what we have done. In fact, I have recently read a devotional which says that the "God of Christianity never claims to be fair". Yup, you heard it right. Andy Stanley mentioned in the devotional that "A truly fair God would give you exactly what you deserve and nothing more... He decided not to give us what we deserve-that's mercy. In addition, God decided to give us exactly what we don't deserve-we call that grace". So it is no doubt that we are saved by grace and it is through faith in Christ that we are saved.
2 Sides of Faith: Faithfulness But then Elder Freddy also spoke about faithfulness. And it is more about how we "run the race". In 2 Peter 1, Peter wrote to give guidance to growing Christians and asked to "make every effort to add to your faith..." So there is faith but then there is more after that... It seems that it is a process that as we profess our faith in Christ Jesus, it is not complete. We are to continue the process of being more Christ-like so we do not become ineffective and unproductive in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:8) and becoming more like him in his death, (2 Peter 1:10) pure, holy and blameless but yet obedient to God. So it speaks of the process. So, is process more important or the destination? Well, both!
And Elder Freddy Boey has clearly given the analogy of running in the Olympics to show how we are to live as Christians and as children of God:
Just as it is by invitation to join the Olympics, so are we also invited into God's family by His grace.
Just as it runners represent not themselves in the Olympics but their countries, so are we to represent God in the race, knowing His identity and reflecting it.
Just as the runners having to keep their eyes on the prize, so are we to run the race with faith, fixing our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2), to run the good race, in a way to win the prize (1 Cor 9:24) and receive the crown of righteousness (2 Tim 4:7-8).
Elder Freddy Boey has further mentioned that faith is the way of the church. It is the way of life for Christians.
How Do We Keep the Faith? There are giants that keeps faith away from us, just as the giants has kept the Israelite from possessing the promised land from God and they had been sidelined for close to 40 years, wandering in the wilderness. In the same way, there are giants which would keep faith away from us e.g. fear, wrong teachings, persecution, losing focus and being swallowed up by the world and/or succumbing to our sinful nature etc. What are some of the "giants" in your life which is keeping you from being faithful?
In keeping the faith, different of you have shared how you have kept the faith. For me, it was the promise which I had received from God and subsequently being affirmed through His Word (1 Chronicles 12 and Zechariah 2) when I was doing cell planning. For some, it is in keeping with Godly counsel while for some, it is prayer and for some, it is the Word of the Lord which has encouraged you in your darkest moments and in trials. From Psalm 23, 1 Cor 15:58, 2 Tim 2:4-7, Matt 6:5-7, Matt 6:25-34, Matt 14:25-33 and to Psalm 46:10, all these verses spoke to different ones of you during difficult times. Remember how the Lord has brought you out of the pits. Finally for some, it is a strong conviction in your life that God is always with us and will deliver us. Just as in Matthew 14:33, the people in the boat saw what Jesus did and came to worship God when they came to realise truly He is the son of God. So we need to first know who our God is and trust that His ways are not our ways (Isa 55:8) and that He knows best and is almighty to save.
So at the end of the day, we start the race and will end the race with faith, but we are also reminded to run the race with faith. Both the process and the destination are important. Just as it is useless to just stay put at the starting line, knowing that the finishing line and the prize is on the other end. But unless we start running and run according to the rules, it will be a futile race... True, we have been saved by grace and we have faith in our salvation, but just as James 2:26 reminds "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead". The deeds of becoming more Christ-like and adding to our faith goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love are equally as important.
God has been faithful to us so how will you respond in faith?
This topic has been on my heart for sometime now. Christ had given ample warning of false prophets in the world:
1 John 4:1 1.Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2 Peter 2:1-3 1. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
Mark 13: 5-6, 22-23: 5. Jesus said to them: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 6. Many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and will deceive many. 22. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect—if that were possible. 23. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.
Matthew 7:15-16: 15. "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16. By their fruit you will recognize them.
Matthew 24:11, 24: 11. and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 24. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. 25. See, I have told you ahead of time.
And recently, I have yet again been reminded of my friend who is currently in a cult. More than 2 years ago, having came back from backsliding for 15 years and having just came to Riverlife Church, I was invited by my friend to visit his church and I did. But I thank God for His spiritual covering when I was there, helping me to recognise that something was just not right. For 2 over years now, God has placed that burden on my heart to reach out to my friend and also the many who have been misled. And I have come to realise that the spiritual battle is a real one. Having spoken to my friend, I have come to realise how a deep conviction they have in what they have been told to believe; being misled from the real and consistent message of the bible. God is continuing to put this burden in my heart and I do ask that you help pray for discernment and salvation for my friend and also for the many who have been deceived.
I was just doing some research on my friend's cult and came across even more shocking materials on false prophets and Christs. It is really scary what is happening and I really hope that you all will continue to draw near to God and ask for spiritual covering, discernment and wisdom to see what is of Him and what is not of Him as we also pray for the many others who have been misled to draw back to Him.
Remember to put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) in helping to deal with spiritual deceit and attacks.
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?
Lord, hear our cry Come heal our land Breath life into these dry and thirsty souls Lord, hear our prayer Forgive our sin And as we call on Your name Would You make this a place For Your glory to dwell
Chorus: Open the blind eyes Unlock the deaf ears Come to Your people As we draw near Hear us from heaven Touch our generation We are Your people Crying out in desperation
Bridge: Hear Us From Heaven, Hear Us From Heaven, Hear Us From Heaven (4x)
We have started a 6-weeks series on prayer and frankly, the sermons, the preparation for cell group discussion and also reading a book which my sister had bought from Riverside Resource, Too Busy Not to Pray by Bill Hybels, have helped me to start think seriously about prayer and reflecting upon my prayer life.
Why do we pray?
Why do we struggle with prayer?
How do we pray?
Beginning on the Right Footing #1: What's Your Attitude towards Prayer? I myself am coming to learn more about prayer as I reflect and I hope you can share with me your experience and comments too :) As I was preparing for cell discussion, I felt that God was telling me that we need to start our prayer life with the right footing; before we can even talk about how we should pray, we need to understand why we pray and our attitudes about prayer:
Do we believe in the power of prayer?
Do we believe that God is willing to hear our prayers?
Do we believe that God is able to do something about our prayer requests?
- Do you believe in the power of prayer?
Bill Hybels says in his book "an archbishop once observed, 'it's amazing how many coincidence occur when one begins to pray.' As I look back, I see the value of prayer in my spiritual life. I can think of 3 instances specifically where I was awed by the power of prayer.
- Instance #1: God's Protection
The first was when I come to realise how prayer has helped me survive my first time mission trip in 2007. In April 2007, I went for a mission trip for the first time to China and we were there for 18 days. The 18 days were just amazing and it was a time when I became still and saw how great a God we have; a God that provides, watches over and protects. The trip was full of amazing testimonies throughout the 18-days including:
how my life was preserved as we were making our way up to a village school, how we learnt about a stabbing case that took place where we stayed less than a week before we came,
how the county government initially was not open to our team coming over to provide training and last minutes doors opened for the missionary team to work with them,
how the virginia tech shooting (and the local stabbing case) which happened at the time we were there had provided open opportunities for people to talk about mental health issues (which was what we were doing training for there),
how God brought 2 Singaporeans, who used to work as outdoor trainers, to us to bless us throughout the trip with their expertise
how these 2 Singaporeans made a last minute decision to follow us on a visit to a missionary at a children's home and then halfway through the visit, the missionary (not knowing that these 2 worked as outdoor trainers) mentioned that he had always wanted to do teambuilding for his children and staff but did not know how to go about it. It's just amazing how God brought them to the home at the right time
how our team had later also blessed these 2 Singaporeans, providing fellowship and Christian community to one who told us that she was beginning to feel distanced from God and also open opportunities for the other, who is a pre-believer, to learn about Christ. We were told she had been resistant to hearing the gospel but then the visit to the home provided an opportunity for her to hear a testimony of a staff (who did not know she is a pre-believer) and prepared her heart to want to know Christ
how after 10 years of working with the local authorities and praying for breakthrough, the local government finally initiated working together for the long-term.
and many others
Then, when I returned, I come to realise that many things went well because we had many prayer warriors behind us, including people we did not know who were also interceding for us at the missions office. - Instance #2: God Is This Your Will? The second was when I was called by God to "confront" a friend who was involved in a Korean cult here in Singapore. For a few months, I have been running away from that calling and finally one day, God provided the opportunity for me to invite him out alone (because previous attempts, he always brought someone along to try to "convert" me). I remember being all jittery about it on the day I was to meet him and I kept asking God if this is His will; for me to "confront" this friend about this matter. By the end of the day, I met a colleague (who does not take the train but happened to be taking the train with me on that day) and we chatted. Suddenly, out of her bag, she brought out a book "Knowing God's Will" and lent the book to me, telling me that she had intended to return the book to her church library the previous Sunday but the librarian wanted her to keep and finish reading the book.
Reading that book had also prepared me for what was to happen later; I was to face rejection from my friend. I remember reading from the book about how we sometimes play a small part in God's purposes and we may be laying a brick one at a time as we help build the house, so nothing is wasted although we do not see God's purpose at the point in time we lay the brick. As expected, I felt horrible after the meeting and felt terribly rejected but then I recall what I read. As if to make sure that it sank deep within me, the 'Our Daily Bread' article the next morning was about how we need to work with the Lord when working to save others just as we can put together the ingredients for a cake but ultimately, it is the oven that bakes the cake, not us. Talking about God answering your questions. - Instance #3: God's Leading The last instance I can think of is my prayer for my ministry. As I had shared before, I faced much challenges in my initial months of ministry and had wanted to just give up. But each time I made a decision to give up, God spoke through the pulpit. I could not understand what plans God has for me and I kept lamenting and crying out, praying for Him to reveal to me His plans. Breakthrough came months later and it is becoming clear why somethings happened the way it did. God also continue to equip me and lead me as I carried on my ministry and I came to realise that God had never forsaken me even though I faced trials:
Hebrew 13:5b-6 because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." 6. So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
Isaiah 41:10 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.
And many of you also shared how God had answered prayers in your life. So do you believe in the power of prayer? - Do you believe that God is willing to bless us? In his book, Bill Hybels shared that God wants to bless you:
Luke 18:1-8 tells of the parable of the persistent widow and even of the judge who neither feared God nor cared for man can relent to help the widow, how much more our God?
Matthew 7:9-11 also reminds us:
9. "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10. Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11. If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Similarly, Leviticus 26:3-6 and Deuteronomy 28:2-6 speaks of how God wants to bless us as long as we seek to obey Him.
So do you believe that God is willing and wants to bless you? - Do you believe that God is able to do something about our prayer requests? This really is an interesting question because I believe most would say "yes". But why is it that if we believe He can do something about it and yet we are not fervent in our prayers? The ability and omnipotence of God is shown throughout the bible and also in lives of people in present day but yet why do we doubt?
Beginning on the Right Footing #2: In what state are you approaching God in prayer?
Isaiah 1:15-17 15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood;
16 wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong,
17 learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. [a] Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.
Really, God is holy and how are you approaching the throne of God when you go into a time of prayer. Do you treat God as "santa-claus" and treat prayer as just a time of putting in request for things to be right for you? I remember Elder Andrew Goh once shared about the half prayer (prayer which starts and stops with "God, make this happen, make that happen") versus the full prayer (God, may Your will be done). How do you deal with the sin as you approach the throne of God?
Luke 18: 9-14 9. To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10. "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
13. "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
14. "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
God exalts and the one who humbles himself before God and recognises his sins. He looks for the repentent heart. just as Luke 19:1-10 tells us about His encounter with Zacchaeus, the Tax Collector
Luke 19:1-10 Zacchaeus, the Tax Collector 1. Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 6. So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7. All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' "
8. But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."
9. Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
Even in Genesis 32-33, we see how Jacob seeks to be forgiven and it is a contrast between the way in which he sought forgiveness and blessing from God and from his brother Esau. For God, it did not take goats, ewes, rams, camels, cows, bull and donkeys for Him to forgive because He himself has provided the lamb, Jesus, to die for our sins.
To Live is Christ
I make a vow My life will always honour you Whether I live or die
I belong to Him He bore my sin I owe this life to my saving King
Hallelujah, I am not my own You are in control Hallelujah
For me to live is christ And to die is gain No matter what price i pay I choose to give this life away
Only by the cross I am saved
Do you come before God to confess your sins and be repentent just as Zacchaeus, Jacob and the tax-collector in Luke 18:9-14?
Why do We Pray? Why do we pray? Is it purely to submit our requests to God and then amen? For many, prayer is...:
a time of fellowship/communion with God; basking and enjoying His presence and the peace and assurance which comes with it
Draw Me Close to You
Draw me close to You Never let me go I lay it all down again To hear You say that I'm Your friend
You are my desire No one else will do 'Cause nothing else could take Your place To feel the warmth of Your embrace Help me find the way Bring me back to You
You're all I want You're all I've ever needed You're all I want Help me know You are near
a time of being humbled because we can sometimes think we are self-sufficient and refuse to take it to the Lord in prayer. Bill Hybels put it nicely to say that prayer is an assault on deep-seated values of self-sufficiency and independent living, which sometimes makes us forget we need God
a time of confession to fall down on our knees before the Lord and seeking his forgiveness for our sins
a time of thanksgiving and adoration of how wonderful a God He is
spiritual warfare as we seek to intercede for others to take them away from the hands of the devil and also sometimes to shut the devil up because he can put thoughts which will serve to bring us away from God. I myself have experienced several negative thoughts about myself and how I am a failure and unable to do what God has called me to do. We need to silence these thoughts and the only way is to be in the presence of God
a time of refuge in the Lord because sometimes we realise we can do nothing but go down on our knees
a time of being still and seeking God's will in decision and circumstances e.g. before we go into quiet time
Think of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He provides the most perfect model of what it is to pray according to God's will. Imagine being in Jesus' shoes and knowing the hour has come to die on the cross and crying out to the Lord, but yet recognising that it is God's will, not his will.
I Surrender All
All to Jesus I surrender All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In his presence daily live.
I surrender all, I surrender all; All to thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.
All to Jesus I surrender, Humbly at His feet I bow, Worldly pleasures all forsaken, Take me Jesus, take me now.
a time of placing our request at the feet of God to help us,
but my most favourite one is, as I have realised in the past few days:
Christianity is not a religion but a relationship with God and thus, how can one of the main component of relationship; communication, be left out? God wants to hear from us.
Why Do We Struggle with Prayer? If we believe in the power of prayer, that God is willing and able to help us then why do we still struggle? Some cite:
Busyness
Laziness
Our deep-seated values of self-sufficiency
Sin which makes us turn away instead of to God for forgiveness
Shame - some people feel that prayer is an admittance of weakness
"Don't know how to pray"
Bill Hybels observes that it is amazing how sometimes we can put aside time for those things we set to do and learn but then when it comes to prayer, it is a different matter all together. I once was also plagued with the worry that I do not know how to pray properly and may look stupid in front of many people. This has caused me to feel rather awkward at prayer meetings because I am afraid I will not pray properly. But then, I later was ministered to by Matthew 6:5-15:
5. "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9. "This, then, is how you should pray: " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10. your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11. Give us today our daily bread. 12. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' 14. For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
How Do We Pray? Personally, I do not think there is a standard way of praying because it is your relationship with God and your way of communicating with God. But some guidelines do exist which can help, until you develop your own. e.g. ACTS:
Adoration - Praising God for His faithfulness, grace, love, wonders etc
Confession - Repent and bringing to God your confessions of sin and ask for his forgiveness
Thanksgiving - Giving thanks to God for all the works He had done in your life
Supplication - Bring to God your requests
Something else I found:
Use your hand. Your fingers can be used to bring to mind different things to pray for.
thumb this is the strongest digit on your hand. Give thanks for all the strong things in your life, like home and family, relationships that support and sustain you.
index finger this is the pointing finger. Pray for all those people and things in your life who guide and help you. Friends, teachers, doctors, nurses, emergency services and so on.
middle finger this is the tallest finger. Pray for all the important people who have power in the world, like world leaders and their governments, members of parliament and local councillors, the Royal Family, other world leaders and their governments.
ring finger this is the weakest finger on your hand. It can not do much by itself. Remember the poor, the weak, the helpless, the hungry, the sick, the ill and the bereaved.
little finger this is the smallest and the last finger on your hand. Pray for yourself.
Bill Hybels also chooses to write down his prayers in a journal because it:
helps him concentrate and be focused
help him be specific
help him see how God answers prayers which builds faith
Whatever you do, he encourages us to experiment with different ways to see how it works for us. But still Jesus provided us with the principles in Matthew 6:9-15 about prayer: regular, private, sincere and specific. And there is no substitute to praying except to just do it! No reading of books, researching on the internet is going to help but just do it!
So what are you going to do to raise the value of prayer in your walk with the Lord? What is different now and what can be different?
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.
