Hello everyone, sharing some notes I compiled from a staff devotion which we had recently :D hope it blesses you.
August 18, 2008
Another Chance
READ: Philemon 1:8-19 [You] have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him. —Colossians 3:10
For almost 100 years, a huge piece of flawed Carrara marble lay in the courtyard of a cathedral in Florence, Italy. Then, in 1501, a young sculptor was asked to do something with it. He measured the block and noted its imperfections. In his mind, he envisioned a young shepherd boy.
For 3 years, he chiseled and shaped the marble skillfully. Finally, when the 18-foot towering figure of David was unveiled, his student exclaimed to Michelangelo, “Master, it lacks only one thing—speech!”
Onesimus was like that flawed marble. He was an unfaithful servant when he fled from his master Philemon. But while on the run he came to know the Master Sculptor. As a changed man, he served God faithfully and was invaluable to Paul’s ministry. When Paul sent him back to Philemon, he commended him as one “who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me” (1:11). He asked Philemon to receive Onesimus back as a brother (v.16).
Paul knew what it meant to be given another chance after past wrongs (Acts 9:26-28). He knew personally the transformation God can accomplish. Now he saw it in the life of Onesimus. The Lord can chisel His image on our flawed lives and make us beautiful and useful too. — Albert Lee
Christ takes each sin, each pain, each loss, And by the power of His cross Transforms our brokenness and shame So that our lives exalt His name. —D. De Haan
Our rough edges must be chipped away to bring out the image of Christ.
A Timely Message For me, the passage seem like a timely reminder because the last weekend, my church celebrated its 17th anniversary but more significantly, it is also the 3rd anniversary of my coming back to Christ after 15 years of walking away from Him. 3 years ago, God has shown grace to me despite having backslided for a long time. But God has, in His time, paved the way and brought me people to bring me back walking with Him. So now, everytime the church celebrates its anniversary, I am reminded of His mercy and grace.
"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found..."
A Changed Person The past 3 years had its many ups and downs. But then as I stood there at my church's celebration and as the song "Amazing Grace" was sang, I reflected and am reminded how so much has changed; about how He has helped me to deal with past hurts, called me to ministry, bless my hands and guided me in ministry, help me feel secure in Him (even during trials) and how He has also helped me slowly understand who He is and realises the power of His word as He continue to speak to me through it:
"...Was blind, but now I see.
T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear. And Grace, my fears relieved...
...Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come; 'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far and Grace will lead me home. "
Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[a] who[b] have been called according to his purpose." says Romans 8:28 (NIV).
I strongly believe that sometimes certain things happen for a reason, just as how God has used my experience and past trials in helping me understand people and minister to them. I am not sure about it but then reading from Philemon, it seems that it was for a purpose that the slave left Philemon; that he become saved? Because in verse 15-16 it mentioned "Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good— no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord." So, Philemon's slave might become saved and became a "dear brother" and "a brother in the Lord".
Just like how God has Saul became king (1 Sam 9) and how subsequently David became king (1 Sam 16), I have come to realise how many many things have happened in my life for a reason. God has His purpose for things (though sometimes it seems so tough to endure):
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV) "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV) There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven
Bearing the Wages of Wrong As we discussed devotion today, I am reminded how I am likened to the rebellious slave in the book of Philemon, who ran away from his master. But he met Paul who later wrote a letter back to his friend Philemon to ask for him to accept his slave back and that
"if he [the slave] has done you [Philemon] any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me [Paul]" Philemon 1:18 (NIV)
To me, it was as Christ had did, taking on our sins onto the cross for our forgiveness. Romans 6:23 (NIV) reminds us that "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord". Just as Paul as asked for forgiveness for Philemon's slave, so is Christ interceding for us:
"Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." Hebrews 7:25 (NIV)
Blessed to Bless And upon reflecting on my walk, God not only saves, forgives but also blesses us and work through us so as to bless many others...
For me, it was first a call back and then the call to minister to others.
Jer 29:11 (NIV) "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."
Genesis 12:3 (NIV) speaks of the Abrahamic Covenant and about our call in also bringing people back to Him after the fall. "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
God has a purpose for everyone to ultimately play a part in reconciling more and bringing more into His kingdom. Be it through directly serving in ministry in church or through the marketplace, God has given each and everyone of us SHAPE(Spiritual Gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, Experiences). 1 Cor 12 speaks of how we are all different and each have its gift and that these gifts are given by God for the common good of building the body of Christ...
Romans 12:6 (NIV) "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us." 1 Cor 12:7 (NIV) "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good."
So we do have SHAPE and a purpose in the kingdom of God. A purpose that does not stop at only God's people but for us as well, just as the sculptor, in today's devotional reading, envisioned a sculpture of a young shepherd boy, despite it being a huge piece of flawed marble. It became the renowed Michelangelo's sculpture of King David. (Picture: source)
What's the Response? Interestingly, nothing much was mentioned about what happened in the end; what's the response of the master and importantly of the slave too. It really makes me wonder... did the slave change? Did he, in the end, become "useful" (Philemon 1:11)? What about the master? Did he exercise grace and accepted the slave back? What about us? Are we like the slave? Do we recognise that we can go back to God and that Jesus is interceding for us? God is calling, are you listening? Do we believe that we can be greater in God with His purpose and vision of us? Do we change to become better after the return? What about exercising grace? Is there anyone who we need to exercise grace, just as Paul has received grace from God (having been a Pharisee and persecuted Christians) and showing grace to the slave? What would you do if you are the master?
To me, this is a short, yet meaningful book on second chances, forgiveness and grace. It's a small book (just 1 page in the New Testament) that I would have missed but just as the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15, this is as Phyllis has put it, a more impactful book about returning to forgiveness.
Hello everyone, sharing some notes I compiled from a staff devotion which we had recently :D hope it blesses you.
The start of unforgiveness is usually anger and while anger is a feeling we will struggle with at times, we are reminded how we should deal with anger: love. I admit that it is not easy (because I struggle with it too). Here's a little summary of what we discussed and what I sensed from the Lord as we were discussing earlier:
(a) Recognise that you are loved by God Christ has loved the world before we loved Him and has died on the cross for our sin, extending His love to us even before we have asked for it, so we may have life:
1 John 4:19 - 19. We love because he first loved us.
(b) Acknowledge your anger and not sin:
Genesis 4:6-7 - 6. Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7. If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
Ephesians 4: 26-27 - 26. "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27. and do not give the devil a foothold.
The word of God says that when we are angry, sin is crouching at the door. So it is not so much whether we have anger but what we do about it: not sinning when we are angry and not letting the sun go down while we are still angry because it gives the devil a foothold to destroy relationships in the body of Christ.
(c) Extend love (because we are commanded to do so):
1 John 4:20-21 -
20. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
John 21: 15-17 -
15. When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
16. Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
17. The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.
Matthew 22:37-40 -
37.Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38. This is the first and greatest commandment. 39. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
I was recently preparing for cell and reading John 21 on Jesus forgiving Peter (after Peter denied Christ 3 times) and how he has asked Peter 3 times if he love Jesus. But Jesus' answer interesting turns the focus onto His flock; His lambs and sheeps. It seems to be saying that If you love God, you will love His people. Just as Matthew 22:37-40 reminds us that the 10 commandments can be summarised into 2 greatest commandments (Commands 1-4 on loving God and Commands 5-10 on loving His people). Recognise that God wants us to love one another, despite how sometimes it can be so so difficult.
(d) Forgive Yourself I have come to learn that sometimes we have feelings about feelings i.e. sometimes we feel anger over other people and yet feel horrible about our anger for that person. And sometimes, we can end up feeling horrible about ourselves. For me, there was a period of time I felt so disappointed with myself for constantly grieving God time after time I could not forgive myself. As a result, I felt unworthy of God and distant myself from Him. But recognise that God loves you and forgives you because He died for your sin. A heart of repentance is what He seeks and He forgives, so forgive yourself. Sy Rogers has once put it somewhat in this manner... God did not love you and die on the cross for you only to have you distancing yourself away from Him, He wants to draw you to Him and wash away your sins by bearing it for you.
A good example is that of Peter and Judas. In Matthew 26:69 - 27:5, we read about how Peter disowned Jesus 3 times and how Judas hung himself. Jesus subsequently forgives Peter in John 21 and Peter becomes the rock on which Christ built His church (Matt 16:18) but for Judas, he hung himself.
In the first 40 years of his life, Moses thought he was a somebody. In the next 40 years, he was convinced he was a nobody. In the final 40 years of his life, he discovered that God could use a nobody to accomplish a monumental task!
In this series of seven studies from the Book of Exodus we will discover how God used Moses despite his frailty and hang ups. Learn how God can prepare you as He prepared Moses through the crises and choice of his life to lead others to faith and freedom.
Speaker: Michael Tan Dates: April 5, 12, 26; May 3, 10, 17, 24 (seven sessions) Time: 4.30 - 7.00 pm Venue: Golden Landmark Hotel 300 Victoria Street Galaxy Room, Level 5
For registration or inquiries, please contact: Mimi at 6419 5012 or e-mail: ER@eagles.org.sg Register online at www.eagles.com.sg/rendezvous.html
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.
Heard this simple but yet meaningful song by Lenny LeBlanc. Reflect upon how God has been good to you:
You Have Been So Good
You have been so good You have been so good to me In my faithless hour You've been my strenth You are my tower From the enemy You have been so good So good to me
Your hand is always faithful Your mercy never ends And when I feel unable Your grace is there again
You chose me with my weakness And all my sins forgave I've nothing to repay You So all that I can say
Love unfailing Overtaking my heart You take me in Finding peace again Fear is lost in all you are
And I would give the world to tell you're story 'Cause I know that you've called me I know that you've called me I've lost myself for good within your promise And I won't hide it I won't hide it
Jesus, I believe in You And I would go, to the ends of the earth To the ends of the earth For you alone are the son of God And all the world will see That You are God You are God
Amazing Love
I’m forgiven because You were forsaken, I’m accepted, You were condemned. I am alive and well, Your spirit is within me, Because You died and rose again.
(Chorus) Amazing love, How can it be That You, my King, would die for me? Amazing love, I know it’s true. It’s my joy to honor You, In all I do, I honor You.
Making a Difference
Won't you Lord take a look at our hands Everything we have, use it for Your plan Won't you Lord, take a look at our hearts Mould it, refine it, as You set us apart
(Chorus) We want to run to the altar and catch the fire To stand in the gap Between the living and the dead Give us a heart of compassion For a world without vision We will make a difference Bringing hope to our land
You Laid Aside Your Majesty
You laid aside Your majesty, gave up everything for me. Suffered at the hands of those you had created.
You took away my guilt and shame, When You died and rose again. Now today you reign, and heaven and earth exalt you.
I really want to worship you my Lord, You have won my heart and I am yours. Forever and ever, I will love you. You are the only one who died for me, Gave Your life to set me free. So I lift my voice to you in ador - a - tion.
Beautiful Saviour
Jesus, Beautiful Saviour, God of all Majesty, Risen king, Lamb of God, Holy and righteous, Blessed redeemer, Bright morning star
All the heavens shout your praise, All creation bow to worship You
How wonderful, how beautiful, Name above every name, exalted high How wonderful, how beautiful, Jesus your name, name above every name, Jesus
I will sing forever, Jesus I love you, Jesus I love you
Hi everyone!
Thanks for being a part of cell yesterday and for participating. I do not know how it was for you but personally for me, it was a wonderful time of worship, sharing, learning the heart of God and most importantly seeing how God works.
Prior to the start of cell, I kept praying because I am always nervous about facilitating cell and I also confess that I am no expert in the area of evangelism; I was worried that the discussion will not take off. But, in no time, I have come to realise how everything came together so nicely, including the choice of worship songs, the preparation, the verses to be shared, the people brought together to share and edify, icebreaker, fellowship and discussion. Everyone played a part in making a difference yesterday and I thank God for everything, including our sister Min Qin, who has not forgotten about us and prayed alongside with us as well (Hello there Min Qin!!!)
Anyway, would like to share my thoughts on our discussion on evangelism yesterday. Feel free to share your comments too as we edify one another on.
The Struggle with Evangelism Have you ever thought about what evangelism is about? Why evangelism? What emotions does it trigger when we talk about evangelism? What is the big deal about it?
For some, when one talks about evangelism, thoughts such as:
"others can do it"
"i'll try my best"
"sian ah, again? It's that time of the year again?!"
"huh? I do not know what to say?"
"people may think I am pushy, better don't share"
It becomes very clear that evangelism seems to be something which people struggle with; not only Christians but also pre-believers, some have their "memorable" experiences with who they described as "pushy" Christians.
What's the Big Deal about Evangelism? Why Evangelism? But, I am not here to judge whether being pushy is right or wrong. Let's take a step back and the question that keeps coming to mind is: What's the big deal about evangelism? Why evangelism? We all know the Great Commission in Matthew 28:
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."
But then, what's the big deal? Why do we need to evangelize?
Did not the bible say in Ephesians 4:11-13:
11. It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12. to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13. until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Me? An evangelist? No no, I think you are mistaken... I struggle with even talking to people, let alone evangelism. I have checked the dictionary and according to dictionary.com, some of the definitions I get about evangelism is that it is about "zealous preaching and dissemination of the gospel" (note the word "zealous"). But yet, aren't the disciples of Jesus also told to be witnesses?
Acts 1:8 - "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
In fact, in the end, not only the disciples but even the many people who encountered Jesus after his resurrection became his witness:
Acts: 13:27-31 - 27. The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. 28. Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29. When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 30. But God raised him from the dead, 31and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people.
Acts 10:41-43 - 41. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
"You May be the Only Bible Someone Ever Opens" So there may lie the starting point of it all, witnessing. Consider your life after knowing Christ, what is different? For me, it becomes very clear how much life is different and purposeful and how God is so real, after coming back from backsliding for close to 15 years. It was a great contrast. For many of us, we have life stories of transformation by Christ and that maybe where you can start; your life story, your testimony. Because, ultimately, that is something that people cannot dispute and you yourself know it very clearly.
Think about it, what is the bible all about? It is more than a storybook but bears the stories of many "spiritual mentors" (as Pastor Benny Ho might call them) who shows the way and share their testimonies with you. It is a book of spiritual journals of many, the testimony of the power, love and faithfulness of God, trying to bring people back to Him and a chronicle of God's instructions and commandments to His people who He cares and love for (maybe that's why some call the bible "Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth). You yourself can be one such testimony and a walking bible, as you reach out to many others to share your story, of the power, love and faithfulness of God and of His principles for you. I love it the way someone puts it: you may well be the only bible that someone ever opens.
How did you come to know Christ? Chances are that someone has taken the step, directly or indirectly. Hence, you can be that someone who makes the difference too.
Keep Walking Frankly, I have found that recounting your testimony is not only beneficial to the one your are reaching out to, but also serves to remind us of how real and faithful God is. We can be like the Israelites who quickly forgets how God had delivered them from Egypt or we take account of our testimonies of our walk with the Lord, just as how Moses had instructed the Israelites to:
Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the desert when I brought you out of Egypt." (Exodus 16:32)
and Joshua had instructed for 12 stones to be collected from the middle of the Jordan as a reminder to future generations of how God had brought them across the Jordan river (Joshua 4). Once reconciled with God, we will need to constantly be reminded in our spiritual journey, how God has been so real in our lives. So use your testimonies to edify and encourage yourself and others, including pre-believers and believers. This is also why I am encouraging you all to keep accounts of your thanksgivings and testimonies because through that, you would edify yourselves.
The Heart of Evangelism But yet, that only explains part of the question and being a walking bible to edify yourselves and others would be a good "by-product", if I may use the word, of witnessing. The question is still why witness?
2 Corinthians 5:11-21 The Ministry of Reconciliation
11. Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13. If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14. For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
16. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 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 men'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. 21. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
If you have followed the discussion on what the Christian faith is about, you would have realise that the Christian faith is not about a religion or a ritual but it is a relationship with God who created you. And God's heart is to reconcile you to Him as He would also like to reconcile many others to Him.
So now that we know God's heart for you and everyone else; that it does not stop at your reconciliation with God, but with continues with growing in righteousness through Christ-like living and also with the ministry of reconciliation with God. Another way of looking at it is this: Psalm 34:8a tells us to "taste and see that the LORD is good". Once you have tasted to see that the Lord is good; once you life is being transformed, do you not want to share the good news with others? It is just like they say: "if you have found the cure for AIDS, will you not share with others?"
What will you do now since you know the heart of God for you and the lost? 2 Peter 3:9 also reminds us how God loves everyone and does not want everyone to perish but to come to repentence. I will always remember the turning point in my ministry when I started to realise how God has placed in my heart the burden for people's spiritual growth and how I have come to realisation during one service when I prayed for a teenager who so desired to draw back to God and I teared with him as we prayed. And this burden just came from the Lord because I remembered how I started my ministry and felt it so much as a burden more than anything else but things changed and the burden was placed in me.
So a summary at this point in time.
Why witness? I see it as:
because this is God's heart and we have been called into the ministry of reconciliation;
because the process of witnessing helps us to continue to be God-aware in our lives
because we may well be the only bible others may open
What Helps in Evangelism? So what helps? For me, relfecting upon the times when God brought someone to reach out to, I have found that the following has helped me in responding to that prompting:
Knowing the heart of God for you and the lost (as discussed earlier)
Be God-aware and thankful; being convinced of God's "realness" and goodness (1 Thessalonians 5:18 and as discussed slightly under "Keep Walking")
Being ready to share (2 Timothy 4:2) and to engage in spiritual warfare, especially with prayer (Ephesians 6:18-20). Spiritual warfare is real as I would testify of the things which happened to me the moment I took up cell leadership and as many missionaries will testify.
Being obedient - God may send someone to you but you need to be aware of the prompting and willing to act
Believing that God is in control - One of the things which has helped me feel less uptight about evangelism is how I have come to realise that evangelism is (i) taking the initiative to share Christ with another, (ii) in the power of the Holy Spirit and (iii) leaving the rest to God. Realise that you are not alone in this and that God is with you. If His heart is for reconciliation, what more will He help you to reach out to others at the right time? I have come to realisation about how God is in control during the times:
I see how He has provided me opportunities after opportunities to share about Him and sometimes it was even initiated by others who I would less expect to ask about Him and some from other faiths
at a missions trip in 2007 when I realised how everything is in His hands and things just clicked together so well,
how several times His words ministered to me including one time when someone suddenly felt prompted to send me an sms which just said "1 Cor 15:58" (this person seldom sms me) and it was timely reminder, seconds after i ended an upsetting sms with another person, how He spoke to me from Isaiah 41:10 when I was on the verge of giving up on my ministry and several other times when God just prompted me to send verses to people,
His word speak to me week after week and how He continue to uphold the cell during a time it was undergoing crisis
How He used my past circumstances and experience to minister to others
How he comforted and guided me through an outreach to a friend from a cult
How he put words into my mouth to encourage people when necessary
and that's just touching the iceberg. Recognise you are not in this alone and it is partnership with God. Again, I thank God for the 2 timely verses given to me through my sister from Our Daily Bread; one about the ministry of reconciliation (discussed above) and one from yesterday's devotion on following Jesus first and then becoming Fishers of Men; the emphasis here is not about the skills (this you can get from practice, books and Christian Education courses like "Becoming Fishers of Men") more than who you follow.
And yet, another good devotion which ministered to me was from the "Our Daily Bread" devotion on 30 July 1997 on how likened to baking a cake, we can simply mix the ingredients but the oven is the one which bakes the cake, not us.
So trust that God is in control and can use you, your experiences, circumstances and a variety of people to reach out to His people. And with regards to different styles of evangelism, I believe in Romans 8:28 and believe that God will send different people, different circumstances to help draw people back to Him, and sometimes a person may be ready and might need a little push. So everyone has a part to play, just that we need to pray about it and discern how we should work in partnership with God.
What Evangelism is NOT? I think it might be good to also remember what evangelism is not. In my opinion, evangelism is:
NOT Conversion of people but rather bringing people back in reconciliation with God, through repentence of sin which later brings about restoration of relationship with God. As we have shared yesterday, a relationship with God develops when a person goes into church and the church goes into the person.
NOT about numbers, quotas, membership
NOT merely about events and programmes
NOT rushing headlong, spewing out bible verses indiscriminately
NOT about how "I am more holy than you"
If it is anything, it should be done out of love and concern for another. Pray for God to put in your heart people who you can reach out to and reveal to you how you can do so. Someone has once said, people do not care how much you know until they know how much you care. And if you are looking for a guideline to help you, why not start with something which Riverlife uses: Pray, Care, Share and Invite. You can always start with your testimony and genuinely care for the person and when the Spirit prompts and provides the opportunity, share and invite them.
A Vision for the Cell I have previously shared how God had placed a vision in my heart how this cell is to reach out to the people who are struggling, backslided and been misled and let's start praying that God will continue to do His work in this cell and let us continue to want to play a part in His work to bring people back to Him. With Easter coming, pray for people who God has set in your heart to be able to receive Him, pray for opportunities to share and invite people, pray for the people preparing for the event, pray for spiritual covering and for hearts to be ready to receive God.
Awesome God Our God is an awesome God, He reigns from heaven above, With wisdom power and love, Our God is an awesome God!
Our God is an Awesome God Just finished devotion this morning and want to share a little testimony. Through this morning's devotion, I have come to see how God is in control and how He is real, speaks, affirms and ministers. The last time I experienced this so strongly was at a missions trip in China and it was real exhilarating and exciting to see how God works; how nothing is impossible for Him as He brings together people and circumstances to work according to His will and to also minister to people; it's just awesome, amazing and exciting to see God work!
Do We Set Aside or Do We Find Time for God? Our Tuesday devotions at work has not been very regular recently and sessions have been canceled simply because people were "too busy". Frankly, I get really affected and disappointed each time the devotion is canceled because it is just painful to see us forgoing time with God simply because we are too busy. But then reflecting back, this spiritual warfare is real and even I myself also struggle with trying to "squeeze out" time to be with the Lord.
God Uses Ministers through all Sharing Anyway, today, there was to be devotion and looking at how everyone is busy, I was really not confident devotion will go on. But then, I decided to assume it will go on as usual and I contemplated whether I should lead since the last session (which was supposed to be led by me) was canceled and the next person who is to lead today might not even know she is leading today. I decided to lead but then somehow later at work, I just felt led to ask the person whether she is ready to lead devotion today, considering that I have no voice left. To my surprise, she agreed and within 5 minutes, she put together something to share. By the end of the devotion, it became very clear how God had worked through today's devotion; it's amazing how:
... devotion was not canceled and my colleague agreed to lead devotion despite the short notice
... everyone joined in for devotion today
... God ministered through her sharing of her testimony about how God had guided her in a recent decision about her flat. In short, she made a decision about her flat but did not feel at peace with the decision. She sought the Lord's will through prayer and through many incidents, affirmation by others, she felt led to change her decision. Eventually, she decided to change her decision but then a contract had been signed with HDB. But God opened a way for her to retract her decision with HDB and now she is at peace with the decision. From this, she shared about how sometimes we think we know best and insists on our plans when God knows His plans for us and will provide for us; how stubborn we can sometimes be and end up not wanting to choose the path God has for us.
... God used the sharing to also minister to another colleague who later shared that he was facing some issues with regards to his flat too and how the sharing affirmed him
... I initially felt bad about asking my colleague to lead the devotion at the last minute because I was not feeling very well but later was so glad that God has used the session to teach and minister
... how God had led me to read from Matthew 6:25-34 in the morning on my way to work, which seems to be a timely reminder about how God knows what we need and will provide.I was thinking of reading from another devotional but then realised that I have left the devotional material in office and so, read this devotion instead, not knowing that it was a timely reminder that was shared at the closing of the devotion.
After devotion, I was reflecting on how I can align myself to God's will for my lives and came to the following conclusion. We need to
believe that God has His plans for us and
we need to stay connected to God e.g. through quiet time, prayers, reading His word and supplementing it with devotional materials and
be open and willing to listen to Him when He does lead.
believe that God can work through you and use you to spiritually impact others
Matthew 6:26- Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Matthew 6:30- If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Matthew 6:31-33- 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Think...
On a scale of 1-10, where do you rate your belief that God, as Jeremiah 29:11 states, has His plans for you; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future?
In this world of connectivity through handphones, internet, email, instant messengers, how is your connectivity to God? How can you connect better with God?
How open and willing are you in hearing from God? What is your definition of hearing from God? How have God spoken to you in the past? How can you be more God-aware?
Do you believe that God can work through you and use you to spiritually impact others and to draw them close to Him?
Yesterday, we had the ONELife Zonal Meeting where we met together as a zone and hear form our Zone Overseer, Chye Aik, share the vision for ONElife for 2008.
Here are some notes I have taken:
Objectives & Who We Are:
ONELife is a group of young adults who are just starting off on their careers, singles or going into relationship
ONELife believes that we have just ONE life; one life to live and give
This is also the time when we are in our prime and able to give of our time and energy to the work of extending God's kingdom
A time of building our lives on God's blueprint; growing in righteousness and living a God-honouring lifestyle
A time of reaching people, retaining, raising and releasing them to further the work of extending God's kingdom
Vision 2008
Aligned with church's vision for 2008: Strengthening the core
Strengthening at cell-level; meeting the needs of members e.g. through special cell nites
Strengthening at leadership level e.g. L-cell and mentoring
What about YOU?
Chye Aik shared with us MAPS on how we can be strengthened and grow spiritually too:
Mutuality: Connecting, sharing and edifying one another; e.g. not just receiving encouragement but also giving encouragement
Accountability: Helping one another to live God-honouring lifestyles
Priority: Understanding that spiritual growth and relationship with God takes commitment, amidst busy schedules and spiritual attacks
Service: Serving to build the body of Christ in various ways, with our God-given gift(s)
Our Cell Discussion:
What would you feel is the core in our cell? Some felt it is:
Accountability to God; our lifestyle
Relationships within the cell; edifying and encouraging one another
Direction our cell is heading; are we heading the same direction?
Commitment; priority given to God and spiritual growth
Personal responsibility for spiritual growth. I have shared that we all need to take up responsibility for spiritual growth and not only rely on others to nourish us. We need to grow to see how God is at work in our lives, how real He is. Only then will we live God-honouring lifestyles, share edifying and encouraging relationships, head in the same direction as God leads and of course commit and give priority to growth with God
Which aspect(s) of MAPS would be critical in helping you to grow spiritually? Priortise them.
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?
And upon reflecting on my walk, God not only saves, forgives but also blesses us and work through us so as to bless many others...
