As I read the last portions of Galatians, I am reminded again what it truly means to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Please find scripture below.
Galatians 5. 16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Summary:
Being filled with the Spirit is:
1. Not gratifying our sinful desires. We will oppose what we sinfully yearn to do. V16-17
2. You will not engage in acts of sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies,
3. Instead, you have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
4. Not becoming conceited, provoking and envying each other.
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Thursday, April 29, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
When you feel alone
In the depths of your loneliness, where you feel that that no one else can help you, no one understands you, no one cares about you, that you are left to fend all by yourselves in this world, that you carry the weight of your sins on you, you have no one else but to turn to Him.
He is our helper, our comforter, our protector, our redeemer.
He is our helper, our comforter, our protector, our redeemer.
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Reflections on fukuoka
I had the privilege of bringing 25 students to Fukuoka japan for a study trip recently. What was more fortunate was that Peixuan could join me half way and soaked in the nice innovation of japan.
The students enjoyed themselves as evident from their facebook statuses. I forged a closer tie with some of them and also made many friends in them during the trip.
The people of japan are diligent, pays attention to details, very intelligent, innovative, courteous, likes asthetics, and simply just makes top quality products.
I managed to meet up with missionary couple friend there. We met a couple of nights and they brought us around and also to their house and church.
Thank God for their ministry there. Though the numbers are few, Pr xiao Jian reminded us that it is God who works and brings salvation grace to people. Hence, he is not discouraged but continues to serve in the hard gospel soil of japan.
Indeed the gospel soil of japan is hard just as described in the parable of Jesus. Hard to take root and soon eaten by birds.
The people of japan need the gospel. They are in the best in many things, in culture, in technology, in science, in people. But yet, the many attacks of Satan manifest in their country. Publicly available are pornographic tv channels in the most private of places, in hotel rooms and homes. Lusts so easily take root in particularly a man's mind because of these.
The weapons of lust continue to manifest in pornographic magazines and newspapers sold all over.
Dear brethens, is this the reason that there are high rate of broken marriages or marriage that continue but both spouses have extra marital affairs?
I have certainly no say in judging them for I am a sinner myself. But it is the Word of God which condemns man of sin. And it is a real world out there. Real people who seemingly have good careers and lives but yet in the most depths of their hearts they are trapped by sin.
The Wors of God warns of adultery. She attracts us like a bed or roses with fragance do. But it leads one unto the path of death. Not only to himself, but his wife, family and to everyone dear to him. It happened to Jack neo. It happened to tiger woods.
Not only the people of japan, but all man, need the gospel to set us free from sin which leads to eternal death after a life on earth filled with sorrow, regret and pain.
Embrace the gospel. Repent. Believe in the saviour who died. Who redeemed your sin by the blood that he bled. Who gave us eternal life through his death.
What other hope do you have to reject Him? What other hope?
It is with this hope that we find hope in our lives, that we are assured of a better place, that God cares for us now and everything works for the good of us.
I love japan. I love the people of japan more. I pray for Pr xiao Jian and wife that God through them brings about salvation grace to the people of japan.
The students enjoyed themselves as evident from their facebook statuses. I forged a closer tie with some of them and also made many friends in them during the trip.
The people of japan are diligent, pays attention to details, very intelligent, innovative, courteous, likes asthetics, and simply just makes top quality products.
I managed to meet up with missionary couple friend there. We met a couple of nights and they brought us around and also to their house and church.
Thank God for their ministry there. Though the numbers are few, Pr xiao Jian reminded us that it is God who works and brings salvation grace to people. Hence, he is not discouraged but continues to serve in the hard gospel soil of japan.
Indeed the gospel soil of japan is hard just as described in the parable of Jesus. Hard to take root and soon eaten by birds.
The people of japan need the gospel. They are in the best in many things, in culture, in technology, in science, in people. But yet, the many attacks of Satan manifest in their country. Publicly available are pornographic tv channels in the most private of places, in hotel rooms and homes. Lusts so easily take root in particularly a man's mind because of these.
The weapons of lust continue to manifest in pornographic magazines and newspapers sold all over.
Dear brethens, is this the reason that there are high rate of broken marriages or marriage that continue but both spouses have extra marital affairs?
I have certainly no say in judging them for I am a sinner myself. But it is the Word of God which condemns man of sin. And it is a real world out there. Real people who seemingly have good careers and lives but yet in the most depths of their hearts they are trapped by sin.
The Wors of God warns of adultery. She attracts us like a bed or roses with fragance do. But it leads one unto the path of death. Not only to himself, but his wife, family and to everyone dear to him. It happened to Jack neo. It happened to tiger woods.
Not only the people of japan, but all man, need the gospel to set us free from sin which leads to eternal death after a life on earth filled with sorrow, regret and pain.
Embrace the gospel. Repent. Believe in the saviour who died. Who redeemed your sin by the blood that he bled. Who gave us eternal life through his death.
What other hope do you have to reject Him? What other hope?
It is with this hope that we find hope in our lives, that we are assured of a better place, that God cares for us now and everything works for the good of us.
I love japan. I love the people of japan more. I pray for Pr xiao Jian and wife that God through them brings about salvation grace to the people of japan.
Saturday, April 03, 2010
The 5 Ws of Good Friday
Who: Jesus
When: About 2000 years ago
What: Crucified to the cross. The most gruesome form of capital execution of the roman government then.
Where: Israel, Jerusalem, Golgotha
Why: To die in place for us. To redeem the sins of those who believe in Him
When: About 2000 years ago
What: Crucified to the cross. The most gruesome form of capital execution of the roman government then.
Where: Israel, Jerusalem, Golgotha
Why: To die in place for us. To redeem the sins of those who believe in Him
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