The fragility of life
Life is so fragile.
A baby born to this world, cannot do without the care of her parents to feed her.
A teenager so often gets himself into car accidents or violent fatal fights.
A young adult not thinking about the sexual diseases he might get infected with sleeps around.
Cancers, terminal diseases pounce on anyone at any age surprisingly.
Natural calamities claim thousands of lives in a moment.
Life is so fragile.
We are only kept living for the next second by the grace and mercy of God.
We are only protected from the results of our sinful actions by the loving patience of our God.
Life is fragile. You do not know what are the days God has ordained for you.
Trust in Him now. Do not reject Him.
Turn life's fragility into one like a firm fortress. That though the waves of turmoil sweeps around you, you are firm, because you are standing on a solid foundation of rock.
Submit your lives to God, that it no longer hinges on the fragility and hopelessness of men, but stands upon this eternal rock, of value, of purpose, of a living hope, of eternal life.
Our rock is the Christ, Son of the living God.
Sunday, June 05, 2011
Friday, June 03, 2011
Delivery of Luke
Baby Luke, our second child is finally born into the world. I really have to give thanks for God's mercy in this pregnancy and delivery.
Cat actually has fibroids which would diminish her chances of pregnancy. But by God's grace, I am already a father of two. Our gynae has also warned us of complications during delivery, but my God's grace, both deliveries went well.
During the second delivery, there was a knot found in the umblical cord. This meant that there was a danger that baby would not receive adequate oxygen while in the womb. Also, as Luke was almost 4kg, it was a miracle that he could come out smoothly without suction or caesarean.
What's left is just cat's recovery from her wounds. May God heal her bleeding due to the fibroids.
Cat actually has fibroids which would diminish her chances of pregnancy. But by God's grace, I am already a father of two. Our gynae has also warned us of complications during delivery, but my God's grace, both deliveries went well.
During the second delivery, there was a knot found in the umblical cord. This meant that there was a danger that baby would not receive adequate oxygen while in the womb. Also, as Luke was almost 4kg, it was a miracle that he could come out smoothly without suction or caesarean.
What's left is just cat's recovery from her wounds. May God heal her bleeding due to the fibroids.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Denying Youself
What does it mean to live a life of self‑denial, dying to self? What does that really mean? Have you ever thought about that? Think of it this way. When you are neglected, unforgiven, or when you are purposely set at naught and you sting and you hurt with the insult of that oversight, but your heart is happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ, that is dying to self. When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed and your advice is disregarded and your opinions are ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart or even defend yourself, you take it all patiently in loving silence, you're dying to self.
And when you lovingly and patiently bear any disgrace, any regularity, any annoyance, when you can stand face to face with folly and extravagance and spiritual insensitivity, and endure it as Jesus did, that is dying to self. When you are content with any food, any money, any clothing, any climate, any society, any solitude, any interruption by the will of God, that is dying to self. And when you never care to refer to yourself in conversation or record your own good works, or itch after commendation from others, and when you truly love to be unknown, that is dying to self. When you see your brother prosper and have his needs wondrously met, and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy and never question God, though your needs are greater and still unmet, that is dying to self. And when you can receive correction, and reproof from one of less stature than yourself and humbly admit inwardly as well as outwardly that he's right and find no resentment and no rebellion in your heart, that is dying to self.
John Macarthur - Sermon "Winning by Losing: The Paradox of Discipleship"
And when you lovingly and patiently bear any disgrace, any regularity, any annoyance, when you can stand face to face with folly and extravagance and spiritual insensitivity, and endure it as Jesus did, that is dying to self. When you are content with any food, any money, any clothing, any climate, any society, any solitude, any interruption by the will of God, that is dying to self. And when you never care to refer to yourself in conversation or record your own good works, or itch after commendation from others, and when you truly love to be unknown, that is dying to self. When you see your brother prosper and have his needs wondrously met, and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy and never question God, though your needs are greater and still unmet, that is dying to self. And when you can receive correction, and reproof from one of less stature than yourself and humbly admit inwardly as well as outwardly that he's right and find no resentment and no rebellion in your heart, that is dying to self.
John Macarthur - Sermon "Winning by Losing: The Paradox of Discipleship"
Saturday, April 09, 2011
The Most Important Thing.
Mike Hanzas was a different sort of guy. He lived alone. Two years before he died, he began making preparations for his death. He bought a lot in the cemetery. He made weekly visits to the cemetery, planted grass over his plot, mowed it regularly, even put flowers there. He wanted to see the flowers there before he was gone. He bought a casket and visited the funeral home to see the casket. He’d stand beside the casket and say, “That’s where I’m going to live someday!”
One day Mike invited his family to come and see him. After a good meal, he gave out some canned goods he figured he wouldn’t need, and some personal items, and his will. As he did this, he suffered from a heart attack and passed away.
A lot of preparation I’d say. . . .
But you know what the sad thing is?
As far as we know, Mike Hanzas had made every provision for his body but none for his soul.
Do you recall the words of Matthew 16:25, 26
“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake
will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own
soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”
If you stand before God, with a lost soul, an unsaved soul, a soul that never got around to
accepting the Lord Jesus Christ, you will face tremendous loss.
You will have nothing to look forward to but hell. . . .and eternal separation from God. At that moment when you stand before God, what will you use to bargain with God for your soul?
Nothing...
When you stand before God, it will be too late to make any changes. . . you won’t be able to
exchange anything for your soul.
You’ll be lost forever.
If you’re waiting for your deathbed to do business with God about your eternal destiny, Satan’s
got you so fooled. He’s got you right where he wants you. And if you keep putting that decision off, and putting it off, thinking that you can sluff your way into eternity, God will somehow open the doors of heaven to you. . . you’re fooling yourself.
By the time you finally wake up and see the truth, it will be too late. Vast amounts of people in good churches across this nation are pursuing their financial future, their comfort and their possessions to the detriment of their soul.
Don’t let that be you!!! Because in the end, God will say, “you fool, this very night your life will be required of you!” And you will be able to do nothing about it.
I can guarantee that within less than a second after you die, that money you spent a life time
amassing will be the furthest thing from your mind. The only question on your mind will be. . . “am I ready to face eternity?” And by then, it’s too late to prepare.
No one escapes death. . . no one!
The question is. . . are you ready?
The only way for you to be ready is if your soul has been bought, paid for and purchased.
What buys, pays for, and purchases a soul?
Only the blood of Jesus.
When He died, He hung on that cross in agony, to pay for your soul.
When He rose again, He did it for you. . . to insure that if you trust Him, He will raise
you up from the dead.
The only thing that remains for your soul to be ready for death is to come to Christ to be
saved from sin.
Jesus said:
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no
wise cast out.”
Have you come to Jesus?
If you haven’t. . . you’re selling your soul to something that doesn’t care about you.
But Jesus is the rightful Owner of your soul. . . .
Have you received Him personally?
Why not now?
One day Mike invited his family to come and see him. After a good meal, he gave out some canned goods he figured he wouldn’t need, and some personal items, and his will. As he did this, he suffered from a heart attack and passed away.
A lot of preparation I’d say. . . .
But you know what the sad thing is?
As far as we know, Mike Hanzas had made every provision for his body but none for his soul.
Do you recall the words of Matthew 16:25, 26
“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake
will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own
soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”
If you stand before God, with a lost soul, an unsaved soul, a soul that never got around to
accepting the Lord Jesus Christ, you will face tremendous loss.
You will have nothing to look forward to but hell. . . .and eternal separation from God. At that moment when you stand before God, what will you use to bargain with God for your soul?
Nothing...
When you stand before God, it will be too late to make any changes. . . you won’t be able to
exchange anything for your soul.
You’ll be lost forever.
If you’re waiting for your deathbed to do business with God about your eternal destiny, Satan’s
got you so fooled. He’s got you right where he wants you. And if you keep putting that decision off, and putting it off, thinking that you can sluff your way into eternity, God will somehow open the doors of heaven to you. . . you’re fooling yourself.
By the time you finally wake up and see the truth, it will be too late. Vast amounts of people in good churches across this nation are pursuing their financial future, their comfort and their possessions to the detriment of their soul.
Don’t let that be you!!! Because in the end, God will say, “you fool, this very night your life will be required of you!” And you will be able to do nothing about it.
I can guarantee that within less than a second after you die, that money you spent a life time
amassing will be the furthest thing from your mind. The only question on your mind will be. . . “am I ready to face eternity?” And by then, it’s too late to prepare.
No one escapes death. . . no one!
The question is. . . are you ready?
The only way for you to be ready is if your soul has been bought, paid for and purchased.
What buys, pays for, and purchases a soul?
Only the blood of Jesus.
When He died, He hung on that cross in agony, to pay for your soul.
When He rose again, He did it for you. . . to insure that if you trust Him, He will raise
you up from the dead.
The only thing that remains for your soul to be ready for death is to come to Christ to be
saved from sin.
Jesus said:
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no
wise cast out.”
Have you come to Jesus?
If you haven’t. . . you’re selling your soul to something that doesn’t care about you.
But Jesus is the rightful Owner of your soul. . . .
Have you received Him personally?
Why not now?
A Dream of Denial
There was once a Christian who had a dream.
I saw in a dream that I was in the Celestial City. I was one of a great multitude from all countries and people and times and ages. I found out that the saint who stood next to me had been in Heaven more than 1,860 years.
"Who are you?" I said to him? We both spoke the same language of Heaven, so we could understand each other.
Said he "I was a Christian who lived in the days of the apostle Paul. I was one of those who died in Nero's persecutions. I was covered with pitch and fastened to a stake and set on fire to light up Nero's gardens."
"How awful!" I exclaimed.
"No," he said. "I was glad to do something for Jesus. He died on the cross for me."
Another man beside me then spoke. "I have been in Heaven only a few hundred years. I came from an island in the South Seas. John Williams a misionary, came and told me about Jesus, and I too learned to love Him. My fellow countrymen killed the missionary and they caught and bound me. I was beaten till i fainted and they thought I was dead, but I revived. Then next day, they knocked me on the head, cooked and ate me."
"How terrible!" I said.
"No," he answered, "I was glad to die as a Christian. You see the missionaries had told me that Jesus was scourged and crowned with thorns for me."
Then they both turned to me and said, "What did you suffer for Him? Or did you sell what you had for the money which sent men like John Williams to tell man kind about Jesus?"
And I was speechless. And while they both were looking at me with sorrowful eyes, I awoke, and it was a dream! But I lay on my soft bed awake for hours, thinking of the money I had wasted on my own pleasures; or my extra clothing, and costly car, and many luxuries; and I realized that I did not know what the words of Jesus meant: "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."
I saw in a dream that I was in the Celestial City. I was one of a great multitude from all countries and people and times and ages. I found out that the saint who stood next to me had been in Heaven more than 1,860 years.
"Who are you?" I said to him? We both spoke the same language of Heaven, so we could understand each other.
Said he "I was a Christian who lived in the days of the apostle Paul. I was one of those who died in Nero's persecutions. I was covered with pitch and fastened to a stake and set on fire to light up Nero's gardens."
"How awful!" I exclaimed.
"No," he said. "I was glad to do something for Jesus. He died on the cross for me."
Another man beside me then spoke. "I have been in Heaven only a few hundred years. I came from an island in the South Seas. John Williams a misionary, came and told me about Jesus, and I too learned to love Him. My fellow countrymen killed the missionary and they caught and bound me. I was beaten till i fainted and they thought I was dead, but I revived. Then next day, they knocked me on the head, cooked and ate me."
"How terrible!" I said.
"No," he answered, "I was glad to die as a Christian. You see the missionaries had told me that Jesus was scourged and crowned with thorns for me."
Then they both turned to me and said, "What did you suffer for Him? Or did you sell what you had for the money which sent men like John Williams to tell man kind about Jesus?"
And I was speechless. And while they both were looking at me with sorrowful eyes, I awoke, and it was a dream! But I lay on my soft bed awake for hours, thinking of the money I had wasted on my own pleasures; or my extra clothing, and costly car, and many luxuries; and I realized that I did not know what the words of Jesus meant: "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."
Friday, April 01, 2011
Love one another - C.S. Lewis
"Be kind to those who have chosen different doors and to those who are still undecided. If they are wrong, they need your prayers all the more; and if they are your enemies, then you are under orders to pray for them."
C.S. Lewis
C.S. Lewis
Thursday, March 31, 2011
In Pictures - Luke 21
In Pictures - Luke 21
9 When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”
10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish
and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.
26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.
27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
32 “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life,
and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap.
35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth.
36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
A Lesson on Submission
1Peter 5: 5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
James 4:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
James 4
1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Blind Leaders of Blind
On one occasion, Col. Robert G Ingersoll, the agnostic lecturer of the last century, was announced to give an address on Hell. He declared he would prove conclusively that hell was a wild dream of some scheming theologians who invented it to terrify people.
As he was launching into his subject, a half-drunken man arose in the audience and exclaimed: "Make it strong, Bob. There's a lot of us poor fellows depending on you. If you are wrong, we are all lost. So be sure you prove it clear and plain."
If hell is not real, does it matter what sins i commit, for there are no consequences?
But what if hell is real? (Luke 16:19-30)
If all roads lead to heaven, does it matter what my belief is? For couldn't I just believe in my dog?
But what if there is only one road, one way, one path? (John 14:6)
If doing good can lead me to heaven, does it matter how much good I do, for it is sufficient?
But what if I am not doing enough good? Not enough to guarantee me a ticket to heaven? (Romans 3:23)
If the bible teaches of a loving God who loves me dearly, wants me to be reconciled to Him in His eternal joyous Kingdom, wants to take care of me, wants to wipe off every tear that I have ever shed, is willing to accept me into His Kingdom regardless of the evil deeds I have done, is willing to die the most tragic death ever, to save me despite my sin, why am I hardening my heart to reject Him? (Man)
As he was launching into his subject, a half-drunken man arose in the audience and exclaimed: "Make it strong, Bob. There's a lot of us poor fellows depending on you. If you are wrong, we are all lost. So be sure you prove it clear and plain."
Matt 15:14 "If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."
If hell is not real, does it matter what sins i commit, for there are no consequences?
But what if hell is real? (Luke 16:19-30)
If all roads lead to heaven, does it matter what my belief is? For couldn't I just believe in my dog?
But what if there is only one road, one way, one path? (John 14:6)
If doing good can lead me to heaven, does it matter how much good I do, for it is sufficient?
But what if I am not doing enough good? Not enough to guarantee me a ticket to heaven? (Romans 3:23)
If the bible teaches of a loving God who loves me dearly, wants me to be reconciled to Him in His eternal joyous Kingdom, wants to take care of me, wants to wipe off every tear that I have ever shed, is willing to accept me into His Kingdom regardless of the evil deeds I have done, is willing to die the most tragic death ever, to save me despite my sin, why am I hardening my heart to reject Him? (Man)
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Sanctus, "I am a Christian"
"I am a Christian."
The young man said nothing else as he stood before the Roman governor, his life hanging in the balance. His accusers pressed him again, hoping to trip him up or force him to recant. But once more, he answered with the same short phrase, "I am a Christian."
It was the middle of the second century, where Christianity was illegal and believers throughout the Roman empire faced the threat of imprisonment, torture or death. Sanctus, a deacon from Vienna, had been arrested and brought to trial. The young man was repeatedly told to renounce his faith. But his resolve was undeterred. "I am a Christian."
When at least it became obvious that he would say nothing else, he was condemned to severe torture and a public death in the amphitheater. On the day of his execution, he was forced to run the gauntlet, subjected to wild beasts, and fastened to a chair of burning iron. Throughout all of it, his accusers kept trying to break him, convinced that his resistance would crack under the pain of torment.
But as Eusebius recounted, "He did not utter a word except the confession he had uttered from the beginning."
His dying words tell of an undying commitment. His rallying cry remained constant throughout his entire trial. "I am a Christian."
Matt 24:13 "But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved."
The young man said nothing else as he stood before the Roman governor, his life hanging in the balance. His accusers pressed him again, hoping to trip him up or force him to recant. But once more, he answered with the same short phrase, "I am a Christian."
It was the middle of the second century, where Christianity was illegal and believers throughout the Roman empire faced the threat of imprisonment, torture or death. Sanctus, a deacon from Vienna, had been arrested and brought to trial. The young man was repeatedly told to renounce his faith. But his resolve was undeterred. "I am a Christian."
When at least it became obvious that he would say nothing else, he was condemned to severe torture and a public death in the amphitheater. On the day of his execution, he was forced to run the gauntlet, subjected to wild beasts, and fastened to a chair of burning iron. Throughout all of it, his accusers kept trying to break him, convinced that his resistance would crack under the pain of torment.
But as Eusebius recounted, "He did not utter a word except the confession he had uttered from the beginning."
His dying words tell of an undying commitment. His rallying cry remained constant throughout his entire trial. "I am a Christian."
Matt 24:13 "But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved."
The Parable of the Sower - Retold for a new generation (Matt 13)
Jesus once told his disciples a parable of the sower.
A sower who sowed the seeds of the gospel sowed it across a field.
Guarding against Procrastination (Matt 13:19)
Some of the seeds fell beside the road where birds came and ate them up. The seeds are those who hears the gospel yet do not understand it. The devil comes and snatches away what is in the their hearts.
Are you this seed? Are you still procrastinating in believing the Word of God? Without faith first, can you understand? Has the devil snatched away what's is in your heart?
Being Prepared for Persecution (Matt 13:20-21)
Some of the other seeds fell on rocky places, where the soil is thin. They immediately sprang up because of the thin soil. Yet when the scorching sun shined upon them, they withered away for they had no roots. These seeds are those who hear the gospel with joy immediately. They might make emotional yet superficial commitments to Christ but the commitments are not real. They remain interested till persecution comes and there's a price to pay.
Are you this seed? Will you forsake what you received immediately with joy when persecution, inconvenience, costs, come into the picture?
Godliness in handling Prosperity (Matt 13:22)
There were some other seeds which were sowed among thorns. The seeds grew but were choked out by the thorns. These seeds are those who hears the Word, yet the world's worry and the deceitfulness of wealth choke their understanding of the Word and they become unfruitful. The make superficial commitments without true repentance. Yet, can't break from the love of money and love of the world.
Are you this seed? Are you a friend of the world, yet enemy of God? (James 4:4) Are you the rich ruler who cannot give up his possessions to follow Christ? (Matt 19:16-27)
Wouldn't a prosperity gospel introduce more 'weeds' to choke budding seeds? Why would we introduce more weeds when there are already many as there already is?
Guarding against Barrenness (Matt 13:23)
Finally, there were seeds which fell onto good soil. They are those who hears, and understands. Such bear fruits of repentance and fruits of the Spirit. They bear fruits of thirty fold, sixty fold and a hundred fold.
Are we bearing fruits or are we barren? The good tree bear good fruits. Any other tree is thrown into the fire. As such, only the seeds that grow into fruit bearing plants enter the Kingdom of God.
Which seed are we?
Do we guard against procrastination in believing God's Word or do we thirst for it?
Are we prepared against persecution or fall away when we have to bear the cost?
Do we sow seeds of the gospel or sow weeds of wealth's deceitfulness?
Are we barren plants or good trees that bear good fruits?
For the Master,
Jason
A sower who sowed the seeds of the gospel sowed it across a field.
Guarding against Procrastination (Matt 13:19)
Some of the seeds fell beside the road where birds came and ate them up. The seeds are those who hears the gospel yet do not understand it. The devil comes and snatches away what is in the their hearts.
Are you this seed? Are you still procrastinating in believing the Word of God? Without faith first, can you understand? Has the devil snatched away what's is in your heart?
Being Prepared for Persecution (Matt 13:20-21)
Some of the other seeds fell on rocky places, where the soil is thin. They immediately sprang up because of the thin soil. Yet when the scorching sun shined upon them, they withered away for they had no roots. These seeds are those who hear the gospel with joy immediately. They might make emotional yet superficial commitments to Christ but the commitments are not real. They remain interested till persecution comes and there's a price to pay.
Are you this seed? Will you forsake what you received immediately with joy when persecution, inconvenience, costs, come into the picture?
Godliness in handling Prosperity (Matt 13:22)
There were some other seeds which were sowed among thorns. The seeds grew but were choked out by the thorns. These seeds are those who hears the Word, yet the world's worry and the deceitfulness of wealth choke their understanding of the Word and they become unfruitful. The make superficial commitments without true repentance. Yet, can't break from the love of money and love of the world.
Are you this seed? Are you a friend of the world, yet enemy of God? (James 4:4) Are you the rich ruler who cannot give up his possessions to follow Christ? (Matt 19:16-27)
Wouldn't a prosperity gospel introduce more 'weeds' to choke budding seeds? Why would we introduce more weeds when there are already many as there already is?
Guarding against Barrenness (Matt 13:23)
Finally, there were seeds which fell onto good soil. They are those who hears, and understands. Such bear fruits of repentance and fruits of the Spirit. They bear fruits of thirty fold, sixty fold and a hundred fold.
Are we bearing fruits or are we barren? The good tree bear good fruits. Any other tree is thrown into the fire. As such, only the seeds that grow into fruit bearing plants enter the Kingdom of God.
Which seed are we?
Do we guard against procrastination in believing God's Word or do we thirst for it?
Are we prepared against persecution or fall away when we have to bear the cost?
Do we sow seeds of the gospel or sow weeds of wealth's deceitfulness?
Are we barren plants or good trees that bear good fruits?
For the Master,
Jason
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Are you seed thrown onto rocky soil?
From John MacArthur, Matt 13.
"If your confession of Christ, however you define it, if your confession of Christ, I'm talking about you personally, does not come from a deep inner conviction of your sin, does not come from a deep sense of lostness, does not include a tremendous desire for the Lord to cleanse and purify and lead you, if your confession of Christ does not involve a great hunger for self-denial and self-sacrifice and a willingness to suffer for His sake, then you have no root and it's only a matter of time.
And something will come along and you'll burn up and die, because you're not willing, as Jesus said, to take up the cross and follow Him. And if you're not, you're not worthy to be His ... what? ... His disciple.
Only God can break up that stony heart and if you've got that kind of heart, you need to pray and ask the Lord to do for you what He promised to do for Israel in Ezekiel 36:26 when He said, "I'll take away your stony heart and give you a heart of flesh."
And so, He says there are ... there are these who hear but they never clean out the soil. The world is still there. And money is still there. And that's exactly why Jesus said - You cannot serve God and money ... you either hate the one and love the other or despise the one and cling to the other. That's why John said - If any man love the world, the love of the Father is ... what?... not in him.
You can't be that double-minded man. The soil that is going to produce the fruit must be cleansed of that stuff and that is why I'm so convinced in my heart that true salvation only occurs where there is true repentance...where there's a willingness to deal with sin in the life and that is a marvelous and gracious work of God.
"If your confession of Christ, however you define it, if your confession of Christ, I'm talking about you personally, does not come from a deep inner conviction of your sin, does not come from a deep sense of lostness, does not include a tremendous desire for the Lord to cleanse and purify and lead you, if your confession of Christ does not involve a great hunger for self-denial and self-sacrifice and a willingness to suffer for His sake, then you have no root and it's only a matter of time.
And something will come along and you'll burn up and die, because you're not willing, as Jesus said, to take up the cross and follow Him. And if you're not, you're not worthy to be His ... what? ... His disciple.
Only God can break up that stony heart and if you've got that kind of heart, you need to pray and ask the Lord to do for you what He promised to do for Israel in Ezekiel 36:26 when He said, "I'll take away your stony heart and give you a heart of flesh."
And so, He says there are ... there are these who hear but they never clean out the soil. The world is still there. And money is still there. And that's exactly why Jesus said - You cannot serve God and money ... you either hate the one and love the other or despise the one and cling to the other. That's why John said - If any man love the world, the love of the Father is ... what?... not in him.
You can't be that double-minded man. The soil that is going to produce the fruit must be cleansed of that stuff and that is why I'm so convinced in my heart that true salvation only occurs where there is true repentance...where there's a willingness to deal with sin in the life and that is a marvelous and gracious work of God.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Forgiveness
During the Korean war, a South Korean Christian was arrested by a young communist leader and was ordered to be shot. However, when the communist leader knew of this Christian who was in charge of an orphanage caring for small children, he decided to spare him and took the man's son instead to be executed.
So, in the presence of his father, the 19 year old son was shot.
Later, when the fortunes of war changed, the young communist leader was captured by the United Nations forces. He was tried and condemned to death.
But before the sentence could be carried out, the Christian whose boy had been killed, pleaded for the killer.
He declared that the communist leader was still young and did not know what he was doing.
"Give him to me." Said the father. "And I will train him."
He was granted the request and the father took the murderer of his son into his home and cared for him for many years.
Today, the young communist is a Christian pastor.
Matt 5:22 "But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgement... will be in danger of the fire of hell."
5:38-41 "You have heard "An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles."
5:43-44 "You have heard "Love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
6:12 "Forgive us our sins, as we also forgive those who have sinned against us."
Luke 23:34. Jesus when nailed on the cross, during his last moments. "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
So, in the presence of his father, the 19 year old son was shot.
Later, when the fortunes of war changed, the young communist leader was captured by the United Nations forces. He was tried and condemned to death.
But before the sentence could be carried out, the Christian whose boy had been killed, pleaded for the killer.
He declared that the communist leader was still young and did not know what he was doing.
"Give him to me." Said the father. "And I will train him."
He was granted the request and the father took the murderer of his son into his home and cared for him for many years.
Today, the young communist is a Christian pastor.
Matt 5:22 "But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgement... will be in danger of the fire of hell."
5:38-41 "You have heard "An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles."
5:43-44 "You have heard "Love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
6:12 "Forgive us our sins, as we also forgive those who have sinned against us."
Luke 23:34. Jesus when nailed on the cross, during his last moments. "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
Monday, January 24, 2011
Charismatism - from Got Questions
Question: "What is the Charismatic movement?"
Answer: The Charismatic movement is an interdenominational Christian renewal movement and is one of the most popular and fastest-growing forces within the Christian world today. The movement traces its roots to 1906, at the Azusa Street mission in Los Angeles, California, a Methodist-sponsored revival. It was there that people claimed to have been “baptized by the Holy Spirit” in the manner recorded in Acts chapter 2 during the celebration of Pentecost. People speaking in tongues and miracles of healing roused people to a spiritual frenzy. The people who attended those meetings spread their enthusiasm throughout the United States, and the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement began.
By the early 1970s the movement had spread to Europe, and during the 1980s, the movement expanded with a number of new denominations evolving from it. As such, it is no longer unusual to see its practice in many other denominations such as Baptists, Episcopalians, and Lutherans, as well as non-denominational churches.
The movement takes its name from the Greek words charis, which is the English transliteration of the Greek word for “grace,” and mata, which is the Greek word meaning “gifts.” Charismata, then, means “grace gifts.” It emphasizes the manifestations of the gifts of the Holy Spirit as a sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit. These gifts are also known as the biblical “charisms” or a set of spiritual gifts which supposedly gives an individual influence or authority over large numbers of people. The prominent gifts among these “charisms” are speaking in tongues and prophesying. Charismatics hold that those manifestations of the Holy Spirit given to those in the first-century church may still be experienced and practiced today.
The Charismatic movement is most known for its acceptance of speaking in tongues (also known as glossolalia), divine healing, and prophecies as part of the grace of the power of the Holy Spirit. Most meetings are for prayer and spirited singing, dancing, shouting “in the spirit,” and raising hands and arms in prayer. Also, anointing the sick with oil is often part of the worship service. These are the primary reasons for the movement’s growth and popularity. While growth and popularity are certainly desirable, they cannot be used as a test for truth.
There is controversy over whether elements of the Charismatic movement are based on genuine expressions of worship or impassioned outbursts of emotion. Oftentimes, Charismatic preachers are labeled as charlatans or outright frauds, and worshippers displaying Charismatic expressions are dismissed as ignorant or unbalanced.
The question remains: is the Charismatic movement scriptural? We can best answer that question this way: we know that since the creation of mankind Satan’s insidious master plan has been simply to put a veil between God’s children and God’s inerrant Word. It began in the Garden of Eden when the serpent asked Eve, “Did God really say . . .?” (Genesis 3:1), thereby raising doubt as to the authority and authenticity of what God has said. Ever since that day, he continues to attack the inerrancy and sufficiency of Scripture. Without question, we know that Satan has stepped up the pace of this strategy (1 Peter 5:8).
Today, we are witnessing a growing menace of demonic activity in the realm of the miraculous. Where Satan does not succeed in taking the Bible from us, he works hard at taking us from the Bible. He does this simply by getting Christians to focus their attention on the claims of men and women to some supernatural experience. As a result, those who seek after the experiences of others have neither time nor interest in searching the Scriptures for God’s truth.
There is no denying that God performs miracles. Some of what occurs in the Charismatic movement very well may be a true work of the Holy Spirit. However, the core truth is this: the Body of Christ does not need new apostles, nor new faith-healers, nor self-styled miracle workers. What the Church needs is to return to the Word of God and proclaim the whole counsel of God in the power and love of the Holy Spirit.
Answer: The Charismatic movement is an interdenominational Christian renewal movement and is one of the most popular and fastest-growing forces within the Christian world today. The movement traces its roots to 1906, at the Azusa Street mission in Los Angeles, California, a Methodist-sponsored revival. It was there that people claimed to have been “baptized by the Holy Spirit” in the manner recorded in Acts chapter 2 during the celebration of Pentecost. People speaking in tongues and miracles of healing roused people to a spiritual frenzy. The people who attended those meetings spread their enthusiasm throughout the United States, and the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement began.
By the early 1970s the movement had spread to Europe, and during the 1980s, the movement expanded with a number of new denominations evolving from it. As such, it is no longer unusual to see its practice in many other denominations such as Baptists, Episcopalians, and Lutherans, as well as non-denominational churches.
The movement takes its name from the Greek words charis, which is the English transliteration of the Greek word for “grace,” and mata, which is the Greek word meaning “gifts.” Charismata, then, means “grace gifts.” It emphasizes the manifestations of the gifts of the Holy Spirit as a sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit. These gifts are also known as the biblical “charisms” or a set of spiritual gifts which supposedly gives an individual influence or authority over large numbers of people. The prominent gifts among these “charisms” are speaking in tongues and prophesying. Charismatics hold that those manifestations of the Holy Spirit given to those in the first-century church may still be experienced and practiced today.
The Charismatic movement is most known for its acceptance of speaking in tongues (also known as glossolalia), divine healing, and prophecies as part of the grace of the power of the Holy Spirit. Most meetings are for prayer and spirited singing, dancing, shouting “in the spirit,” and raising hands and arms in prayer. Also, anointing the sick with oil is often part of the worship service. These are the primary reasons for the movement’s growth and popularity. While growth and popularity are certainly desirable, they cannot be used as a test for truth.
There is controversy over whether elements of the Charismatic movement are based on genuine expressions of worship or impassioned outbursts of emotion. Oftentimes, Charismatic preachers are labeled as charlatans or outright frauds, and worshippers displaying Charismatic expressions are dismissed as ignorant or unbalanced.
The question remains: is the Charismatic movement scriptural? We can best answer that question this way: we know that since the creation of mankind Satan’s insidious master plan has been simply to put a veil between God’s children and God’s inerrant Word. It began in the Garden of Eden when the serpent asked Eve, “Did God really say . . .?” (Genesis 3:1), thereby raising doubt as to the authority and authenticity of what God has said. Ever since that day, he continues to attack the inerrancy and sufficiency of Scripture. Without question, we know that Satan has stepped up the pace of this strategy (1 Peter 5:8).
Today, we are witnessing a growing menace of demonic activity in the realm of the miraculous. Where Satan does not succeed in taking the Bible from us, he works hard at taking us from the Bible. He does this simply by getting Christians to focus their attention on the claims of men and women to some supernatural experience. As a result, those who seek after the experiences of others have neither time nor interest in searching the Scriptures for God’s truth.
There is no denying that God performs miracles. Some of what occurs in the Charismatic movement very well may be a true work of the Holy Spirit. However, the core truth is this: the Body of Christ does not need new apostles, nor new faith-healers, nor self-styled miracle workers. What the Church needs is to return to the Word of God and proclaim the whole counsel of God in the power and love of the Holy Spirit.
Prosperity Preaching: Deceitful and Deadly by John Piper
When I read about prosperity-preaching churches, my response is: “If I were not on the inside of Christianity, I wouldn’t want in.” In other words, if this is the message of Jesus, no thank you.
Luring people to Christ to get rich is both deceitful and deadly. It’s deceitful because when Jesus himself called us, he said things like: “Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33). And it’s deadly because the desire to be rich plunges “people into ruin and destruction” (1 Timothy 6:9). So here is my plea to preachers of the gospel.
1. Don’t develop a philosophy of ministry that makes it harder for people to get into heaven.
Jesus said, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” His disciples were astonished, as many in the “prosperity” movement should be. So Jesus went on to raise their astonishment even higher by saying, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” They respond in disbelief: “Then who can be saved?” Jesus says, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:23-27).
My question for prosperity preachers is: Why would you want to develop a ministry focus that makes it harder for people to enter heaven?
2. Do not develop a philosophy of ministry that kindles suicidal desires in people.
Paul said, “There is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” But then he warned against the desire to be rich. And by implication, he warned against preachers who stir up the desire to be rich instead of helping people get rid of it. He warned, “Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Timothy 6:6-10).
So my question for prosperity preachers is: Why would you want to develop a ministry that encourages people to pierce themselves with many pangs and plunge themselves into ruin and destruction?
3. Do not develop a philosophy of ministry that encourages vulnerability to moth and rust.
Jesus warns against the effort to lay up treasures on earth. That is, he tells us to be givers, not keepers. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19).
Yes, we all keep something. But given the built-in tendency toward greed in all of us, why would we take the focus off Jesus and turn it upside down?
4. Don’t develop a philosophy of ministry that makes hard work a means of amassing wealth.
Paul said we should not steal. The alternative was hard work with our own hands. But the main purpose was not merely to hoard or even to have. The purpose was “to have to give.” “Let him labor, working with his hands, that he may have to give to him who is in need” (Ephesians 4:28). This is not a justification for being rich in order to give more. It is a call to make more and keep less so you can give more. There is no reason why a person who makes $200,000 should live any differently from the way a person who makes $80,000 lives. Find a wartime lifestyle; cap your expenditures; then give the rest away.
Why would you want to encourage people to think that they should possess wealth in order to be a lavish giver? Why not encourage them to keep their lives more simple and be an even more lavish giver? Would that not add to their generosity a strong testimony that Christ, and not possessions, is their treasure?
5. Don’t develop a philosophy of ministry that promotes less faith in the promises of God to be for us what money can’t be.
The reason the writer to the Hebrews tells us to be content with what we have is that the opposite implies less faith in the promises of God. He says, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5-6).
If the Bible tells us that being content with what we have honors the promise of God never to forsake us, why would we want to teach people to want to be rich?
6. Don’t develop a philosophy of ministry that contributes to your people being choked to death.
Jesus warns that the word of God, which is meant to give us life, can be choked off from any effectiveness by riches. He says it is like a seed that grows up among thorns that choke it to death: “They are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the . . . riches . . . of life, and their fruit does not mature” (Luke 8:14).
Why would we want to encourage people to pursue the very thing that Jesus warns will choke us to death?
7. Don’t develop a philosophy of ministry that takes the seasoning out of the salt and puts the light under a basket.
What is it about Christians that makes them the salt of the earth and the light of the world? It is not wealth. The desire for wealth and the pursuit of wealth tastes and looks just like the world. It does not offer the world anything different from what it already believes in. The great tragedy of prosperity-preaching is that a person does not have to be spiritually awakened in order to embrace it; one needs only to be greedy. Getting rich in the name of Jesus is not the salt of the earth or the light of the world. In this, the world simply sees a reflection of itself. And if it works, they will buy it.
The context of Jesus’ saying shows us what the salt and light are. They are the joyful willingness to suffering for Christ. Here is what Jesus said, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth. . . . You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:11-14).
What will make the world taste (the salt) and see (the light) of Christ in us is not that we love wealth the same way they do. Rather, it will be the willingness and the ability of Christians to love others through suffering, all the while rejoicing because their reward is in heaven with Jesus. This is inexplicable on human terms. This is supernatural. But to attract people with promises of prosperity is simply natural. It is not the message of Jesus. It is not what he died to achieve.
Luring people to Christ to get rich is both deceitful and deadly. It’s deceitful because when Jesus himself called us, he said things like: “Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33). And it’s deadly because the desire to be rich plunges “people into ruin and destruction” (1 Timothy 6:9). So here is my plea to preachers of the gospel.
1. Don’t develop a philosophy of ministry that makes it harder for people to get into heaven.
Jesus said, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” His disciples were astonished, as many in the “prosperity” movement should be. So Jesus went on to raise their astonishment even higher by saying, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” They respond in disbelief: “Then who can be saved?” Jesus says, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:23-27).
My question for prosperity preachers is: Why would you want to develop a ministry focus that makes it harder for people to enter heaven?
2. Do not develop a philosophy of ministry that kindles suicidal desires in people.
Paul said, “There is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” But then he warned against the desire to be rich. And by implication, he warned against preachers who stir up the desire to be rich instead of helping people get rid of it. He warned, “Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Timothy 6:6-10).
So my question for prosperity preachers is: Why would you want to develop a ministry that encourages people to pierce themselves with many pangs and plunge themselves into ruin and destruction?
3. Do not develop a philosophy of ministry that encourages vulnerability to moth and rust.
Jesus warns against the effort to lay up treasures on earth. That is, he tells us to be givers, not keepers. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19).
Yes, we all keep something. But given the built-in tendency toward greed in all of us, why would we take the focus off Jesus and turn it upside down?
4. Don’t develop a philosophy of ministry that makes hard work a means of amassing wealth.
Paul said we should not steal. The alternative was hard work with our own hands. But the main purpose was not merely to hoard or even to have. The purpose was “to have to give.” “Let him labor, working with his hands, that he may have to give to him who is in need” (Ephesians 4:28). This is not a justification for being rich in order to give more. It is a call to make more and keep less so you can give more. There is no reason why a person who makes $200,000 should live any differently from the way a person who makes $80,000 lives. Find a wartime lifestyle; cap your expenditures; then give the rest away.
Why would you want to encourage people to think that they should possess wealth in order to be a lavish giver? Why not encourage them to keep their lives more simple and be an even more lavish giver? Would that not add to their generosity a strong testimony that Christ, and not possessions, is their treasure?
5. Don’t develop a philosophy of ministry that promotes less faith in the promises of God to be for us what money can’t be.
The reason the writer to the Hebrews tells us to be content with what we have is that the opposite implies less faith in the promises of God. He says, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5-6).
If the Bible tells us that being content with what we have honors the promise of God never to forsake us, why would we want to teach people to want to be rich?
6. Don’t develop a philosophy of ministry that contributes to your people being choked to death.
Jesus warns that the word of God, which is meant to give us life, can be choked off from any effectiveness by riches. He says it is like a seed that grows up among thorns that choke it to death: “They are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the . . . riches . . . of life, and their fruit does not mature” (Luke 8:14).
Why would we want to encourage people to pursue the very thing that Jesus warns will choke us to death?
7. Don’t develop a philosophy of ministry that takes the seasoning out of the salt and puts the light under a basket.
What is it about Christians that makes them the salt of the earth and the light of the world? It is not wealth. The desire for wealth and the pursuit of wealth tastes and looks just like the world. It does not offer the world anything different from what it already believes in. The great tragedy of prosperity-preaching is that a person does not have to be spiritually awakened in order to embrace it; one needs only to be greedy. Getting rich in the name of Jesus is not the salt of the earth or the light of the world. In this, the world simply sees a reflection of itself. And if it works, they will buy it.
The context of Jesus’ saying shows us what the salt and light are. They are the joyful willingness to suffering for Christ. Here is what Jesus said, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth. . . . You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:11-14).
What will make the world taste (the salt) and see (the light) of Christ in us is not that we love wealth the same way they do. Rather, it will be the willingness and the ability of Christians to love others through suffering, all the while rejoicing because their reward is in heaven with Jesus. This is inexplicable on human terms. This is supernatural. But to attract people with promises of prosperity is simply natural. It is not the message of Jesus. It is not what he died to achieve.
Monday, January 03, 2011
Cain's Offering
3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
We know the story of Cain and Abel well. How so often we identify ourselves with being Abel. That oh, we have learnt from this lesson well, and ought to offer our one tenth, attend sunday services regularly...and that will be enough! Aren't we examples of Abel? Offering offerings that God favours? We are certainly not Cain right? We can't be. We offer pleasing sacrifices to God!
But the Word of God in describes Cain in this way. "He brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord."
Cain offered to God. He offered what he worked hard for. What he labored for. In our terms, Cain would have fulfilled his one-tenth, or marked his attendance in church. But God did not favor Cain's offering.
Does God looks at our offering in a way similar to Cain's offering? Yes, we may have done the deed. But if its not the best, not the most treasured which we offer unto God, it may not be favoured by Him. For He commands us to love Him with all our hearts, all our minds, all our souls and all our strength.
May God have mercy on us often distracted, often hypocritical, often weak, often forgetful people.
We know the story of Cain and Abel well. How so often we identify ourselves with being Abel. That oh, we have learnt from this lesson well, and ought to offer our one tenth, attend sunday services regularly...and that will be enough! Aren't we examples of Abel? Offering offerings that God favours? We are certainly not Cain right? We can't be. We offer pleasing sacrifices to God!
But the Word of God in describes Cain in this way. "He brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord."
Cain offered to God. He offered what he worked hard for. What he labored for. In our terms, Cain would have fulfilled his one-tenth, or marked his attendance in church. But God did not favor Cain's offering.
Does God looks at our offering in a way similar to Cain's offering? Yes, we may have done the deed. But if its not the best, not the most treasured which we offer unto God, it may not be favoured by Him. For He commands us to love Him with all our hearts, all our minds, all our souls and all our strength.
May God have mercy on us often distracted, often hypocritical, often weak, often forgetful people.
Monday, December 27, 2010
A letter to my Sunday School Class of 2010 (2 Tim 3:16 - 4:8)
Dear Sunday School class,
I have enjoyed teaching you all tremendously for these past two years. Teaching you brought me great joy as i see many of you growing both steadily in stature, and more importantly, in truth. I am also thankful for my fellow teachers, bro Jimmy and Moses helping to share God's wonderful truth to you all. I am most confident that the class will reach greater spiritual heights in 2011.
I wish to just use the scripture used for sun sch sun memorization as an exhortation to us all. Its Paul's last words to his fellow worker in Christ, Timothy to whom he has treated very much like a son, and always been a mentor to him.
Being Paul's last words and knowing that he was soon to be executed for the cause of Christ, you can be sure that it will be his heartfelt words that he wants communicated to him.
Be Equipped for Good Work
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The reason for scripture towards is to equip us to do the good work that God wants us to do. Scripture is not to be just academically understood, intellectually analyzed and left there. Its purpose is to prepare us that we are to live it out by doing good works that glorify God and edifies men.
It prepares us by teaching it to us. But we so often disobey or ignores its teaching. Hence, God through His servants rebukes and corrects us to obedience. We in humility should both accept such rebuke, and have the courage to rebuke others in wrong, that they too are trained to do righteous acts, to be equipped for the good work of God.
Be Prepared to Preach, Correct, Rebuke, Encourage that Man will come to Christ
1 ...I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
Part of the good work that Paul wants us to do is to preach the word. We are to prepare ourselves to preach at anytime. Do we know how to share the simple gospel facts to a friend? Have we ever done it? Most often, we do not know and we dare not do it. Because we are not prepared. Before an exam, before an interview, we prepare ourselves well. Why not before sharing the most important truth to a friend? Be prepared, and naturally, God will lead us to be able to share powerfully and courageously to someone in need of the truth.
Being prepared enables us to preach powerfully. Preaching involves telling. However, we cannot just stop there. Reflect on our own spiritual lives. Yes, we may understand the gospel facts after being told. But many times, we have fallen and disobeyed God's teachings. That is when we may need to correct and even rebuke someone who is still struggling to acknowledge Christ as Lord. The process of preaching includes telling, correcting, rebuking.
And the last component, encouraging. We tell, we correct, we rebuke and we encourage someone to come to Christ. Continue to follow up with someone by encouraging him to pray, to read the bible, to attend worship service, to come back to biblical truth. This is the entire spectrum of preaching God's truth.
The Problem Today – God's truth compromised for itching ears
3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
We are to preach, by telling, rebuking and encouraging. This is importantly so today, where we see that indeed where many are not putting up with God's truth but instead wants to hear a message that they think its from God and yet fitting for their own lustful desires.
Today, people wish to hear messages of undeserved favour, victorious living, living our best life now. These are mainly achieved through freedom from illnesses, being asset rich and having a successful career. They twist the truth for example, saying that when Jesus was born, because gold was offered to Him, He was rich from young. They turn aside, misinterpret and deny the verses that call us to deny ourselves and be willing even to the point of dying for the sake of Christ, DAILY.
God's truth is compromised, twisted, denied into a message of worldly hope, possession and freedom for itching ears.
Our Response to the Problem Today
5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
Yes we have the problems of God’s truth being compromised today. But we are not to just sit back and despair at the situation. Paul exhorts us to respond, to endure, to discharge our duties, with an alert mind.
Regardless of what debates and defense against falsehood, we are called to have an alert mind. To keep our minds, convictions and actions rooted and steadfast in God’s Word, that we stand on an absolute standard instead of being swayed by waves of men’s words.
When we do this, there may appear hardships. We mind be rejected, criticised, ostracised by family, friends, society. But we are called to endure this. Not for a moment, a day, a week, but even till the end of our lives. And upon endurance, we are called to action. To continue to discharge our duties in the midst of falsehood and attacks.
It maybe certainly difficult to follow this. But we have an example in Paul. And Paul has an example in Christ. Paul continues to exhort us with the example of a living sacrifice.
Being Poured Out like an Offering
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Paul here re-iterates that we should all be offered as living sacrifices. To be poured out like offerings unto God. To the point of death. Such is the weight of these words. To render all our thoughts, will, bodies, everything we owe unto God. Paul rendered all his thoughts unto God. His will all unto God. His previous riches forsaken for the sake of Christ. His body unto God that he knew he was going to be executed soon for the sake of Christ.
And because he has done these, he can truly say that he has fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. Such words should not be haphazardly used on anyone’s grave unless he has truly earned it. And more importantly, he has earned the crown of righteousness bestowed upon by God Himself.
The Reward in Store for Paul
8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
When such has lived a life like Paul, there is a reward in Heaven. The reward is a crown of righteousness, given to a good, faithful servant of God. We might give up temporal earthly rewards, but let us fix our hopes upon the ultimate reward awarded by God. This reward is not exclusive only to Paul but all who longed for God’s appearing.
Yes, by God’s grace we are freely saved. But let us not be saved like a man escaping from a house in flames. But let us be saved, with full confidence, with God’s rejoicing in us entering His kingdom, rejoicing in awarding His crown unto us. Because we have served Him well in our current lives.
May this passage of scripture stay with us, to remind us, to mould us, to rebuke us, to encourage us, for the service of God, for the reaching out to unsaved men.
Jason
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Tell, Warn, Exhort, Invite
The Word of God always demands a response. Any effective teacher of it must do more than just dispense facts; he must warn, exhort, and extend an invitation. He may have impressive knowledge of the truth, but if he doesn't have a passionate concern for how people react to it, he is not a worthy representative of Jesus Christ.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Redevoting ourselves
There was a powerful and touching testimony about how a pastor's kid came to really know of the Lord.
We would normally think that a pastor's kid would be saved definitely, having heard stories of Jesus from young. However, thus testimony will change your perceptions, that everyone needs to know of how Jesus died for you on the cross, for your sins, no matter who you are. Perhaps you are already a long time christian. But have we really experienced the love of Christ of the cross for us, till we are in tears?
There was a pastor's son who had average in primary and secondary school. He was the typical pastor's kid who was obedient, not to smart, yet not to stupid, but went regularly to church, served in fellowships.
However, when he went to college, things took a turn. In college, kids typically went to colleges outside of their own state. And that meant that the student had to stay on his own in a hostel for the first time in his life, away from his parents.
This kid moved out and went to college for his first year. He did ok for his first semester. However, for his second semester, his grades took a severe beating. He actually failed several of his subjects.
When visiting back home to this parents and asked about his poor grades, he avoided the question and did not answer his parents no matter how hard they tried. He just kept it a secret as to what caused his poor grades.
Semesters passed after semesters. He still suffered from poor grades. He still kept the matter from his parents. His parents were both angry and sad. Why was he suffering from such poor grades?
He finally graduated. However, it was a border line graduation of the worst degree. He scrapped through. His parents then asked him what he wanted to do in life. He answered that he had no idea. He even answered that he was content on just being a road sweeper. This infuriated and saddened his parents even more. His pastor dad asked him, don't you know that our purpose in life is to do something for Jesus? He remained silent. He didn't know what was his purpose in life. Neither was he interested in doing something for Jesus.
Two years had passed. This kid actually got a proper job and it was evident in his life that he was a renewed person. What had happened?
One day, with teary eyes, he went back to his parents house and told them all that had happened. The reason his grades dipped in college wss because he was addicted to japanese anime, online games and online chatting.
He indulged in them non stop. Even when he was sleeping, his computer wss still on downloading games and anime. He was addicted. He could not stop. All he could think of was about the computer. He devoted no time to his studies. That resulted in his failing grades.
However, just recently, he attended a church revival meeting. In that meeting, his heart truly was opened and he understood how jesus love for him was so great to the point of dying on the cross, he wept, he wept. He prayed for repentance and a renewed belief in Jesus.
That night, he threw away all his CDs containing downloaded material and any other things that caused his distraction. HE was a renewed person in Christ. He truly understood the love of Christ, and how he was to recipocrate this love by repenting.
Are we long term Christians whom have not truly grasped the love of Christ, the suffering of Christ? Let us redevote ourselves to him this very day. Grasp hold his love for us, on the cross. The lion of Judah. The slained lamb worthy of all our praise.
We would normally think that a pastor's kid would be saved definitely, having heard stories of Jesus from young. However, thus testimony will change your perceptions, that everyone needs to know of how Jesus died for you on the cross, for your sins, no matter who you are. Perhaps you are already a long time christian. But have we really experienced the love of Christ of the cross for us, till we are in tears?
There was a pastor's son who had average in primary and secondary school. He was the typical pastor's kid who was obedient, not to smart, yet not to stupid, but went regularly to church, served in fellowships.
However, when he went to college, things took a turn. In college, kids typically went to colleges outside of their own state. And that meant that the student had to stay on his own in a hostel for the first time in his life, away from his parents.
This kid moved out and went to college for his first year. He did ok for his first semester. However, for his second semester, his grades took a severe beating. He actually failed several of his subjects.
When visiting back home to this parents and asked about his poor grades, he avoided the question and did not answer his parents no matter how hard they tried. He just kept it a secret as to what caused his poor grades.
Semesters passed after semesters. He still suffered from poor grades. He still kept the matter from his parents. His parents were both angry and sad. Why was he suffering from such poor grades?
He finally graduated. However, it was a border line graduation of the worst degree. He scrapped through. His parents then asked him what he wanted to do in life. He answered that he had no idea. He even answered that he was content on just being a road sweeper. This infuriated and saddened his parents even more. His pastor dad asked him, don't you know that our purpose in life is to do something for Jesus? He remained silent. He didn't know what was his purpose in life. Neither was he interested in doing something for Jesus.
Two years had passed. This kid actually got a proper job and it was evident in his life that he was a renewed person. What had happened?
One day, with teary eyes, he went back to his parents house and told them all that had happened. The reason his grades dipped in college wss because he was addicted to japanese anime, online games and online chatting.
He indulged in them non stop. Even when he was sleeping, his computer wss still on downloading games and anime. He was addicted. He could not stop. All he could think of was about the computer. He devoted no time to his studies. That resulted in his failing grades.
However, just recently, he attended a church revival meeting. In that meeting, his heart truly was opened and he understood how jesus love for him was so great to the point of dying on the cross, he wept, he wept. He prayed for repentance and a renewed belief in Jesus.
That night, he threw away all his CDs containing downloaded material and any other things that caused his distraction. HE was a renewed person in Christ. He truly understood the love of Christ, and how he was to recipocrate this love by repenting.
Are we long term Christians whom have not truly grasped the love of Christ, the suffering of Christ? Let us redevote ourselves to him this very day. Grasp hold his love for us, on the cross. The lion of Judah. The slained lamb worthy of all our praise.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
The importance of knowing a book in the bible's background
As we read books of the bible, it's useful to get the background of the book when it was written. Why did the author write the book? In what circumstances was the author in when it was written?
In doing so, we really can appreciate more strongly the author's point as well as get the intended meaning correct.
For example, when we read 2 Timothy, if we know that this was Paul's last letter before he was to be martyred, that it was written when he was imprisoned in a cold roman jail with chains, we would read it in a different light.
A man in his last moments would definitely say the most important points to his most intended recipient. So you can appreciate from thus that 2 Timothy was paul's most dire words to his young co laborer in Christ.
But though Paul was in such a hopeless situation as most would see it, we see that he had actually the ultimate hope in him. That he would be with God soon and be given the crown of righteousness, for he had fought the good fight, ran the good race and kept the good faith.
If you had been to Cambodia and visited the tuol sleng prison, where thousands of people were prisoned with the end in mind being execution, and seeing their tiny and dirty cells, you can never imagine that you will still have hope if you are imprisoned there.
Yet Paul had. When people of this world thinks that he gave his life for nothing, he actually gave it for everything, that while in chains, then Word might be preached even more fervently because of his example.
So with all this background, when we read 2 Timothy now, it would be in a different light and we can almost feel it coming to life.
The word of God is not just boring texts. Get a bible handbook or study bible that introduces a book's background, and the text will come alive, that we can understand it better, proclaim it better, defend it better, obey it better.
In doing so, we really can appreciate more strongly the author's point as well as get the intended meaning correct.
For example, when we read 2 Timothy, if we know that this was Paul's last letter before he was to be martyred, that it was written when he was imprisoned in a cold roman jail with chains, we would read it in a different light.
A man in his last moments would definitely say the most important points to his most intended recipient. So you can appreciate from thus that 2 Timothy was paul's most dire words to his young co laborer in Christ.
But though Paul was in such a hopeless situation as most would see it, we see that he had actually the ultimate hope in him. That he would be with God soon and be given the crown of righteousness, for he had fought the good fight, ran the good race and kept the good faith.
If you had been to Cambodia and visited the tuol sleng prison, where thousands of people were prisoned with the end in mind being execution, and seeing their tiny and dirty cells, you can never imagine that you will still have hope if you are imprisoned there.
Yet Paul had. When people of this world thinks that he gave his life for nothing, he actually gave it for everything, that while in chains, then Word might be preached even more fervently because of his example.
So with all this background, when we read 2 Timothy now, it would be in a different light and we can almost feel it coming to life.
The word of God is not just boring texts. Get a bible handbook or study bible that introduces a book's background, and the text will come alive, that we can understand it better, proclaim it better, defend it better, obey it better.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
On a Lord's day
Went church in the morning for Sunday school with wife and Caleb. Though it's a nice Sunday morning for sleeping and indeed a chore to wash up Caleb, we still have to make it for sun sch as it's the least we can do for reverence towards God.
Too many people miss church because they think it's too early, or inconvenient, or just lazy. Often we are hypocrites when we say we want to serve God with our best when we do not even take the effort to at least be punctual for church. I am not saying this to pinpoint anyone but just a reminder to myself and all. That God is not to be mocked but revered in all specific aspects.
Glad that pris and Sion could join us today. It's a joy seeing them growing in love and truth towards God. Make God be with them continuing them to grow in faith, word and deeds.
Came back home and started preparing for school the following day. Excel vba. Also continued working on some flash cards iPhone app. Indeed I have to remind and avoid copyright issues for I should not indulge in dishonest gains.
Eat with mama in the evening and watched some shows with wife, mama and Caleb running around.
May God continue to comfort mama's heart and strengthen upon her the hope that she will meet gong gong again in heaven. Worshiping our great God together for eternity.
Too many people miss church because they think it's too early, or inconvenient, or just lazy. Often we are hypocrites when we say we want to serve God with our best when we do not even take the effort to at least be punctual for church. I am not saying this to pinpoint anyone but just a reminder to myself and all. That God is not to be mocked but revered in all specific aspects.
Glad that pris and Sion could join us today. It's a joy seeing them growing in love and truth towards God. Make God be with them continuing them to grow in faith, word and deeds.
Came back home and started preparing for school the following day. Excel vba. Also continued working on some flash cards iPhone app. Indeed I have to remind and avoid copyright issues for I should not indulge in dishonest gains.
Eat with mama in the evening and watched some shows with wife, mama and Caleb running around.
May God continue to comfort mama's heart and strengthen upon her the hope that she will meet gong gong again in heaven. Worshiping our great God together for eternity.
Wednesday, October 06, 2010
My Beloved Gong Gong
My beloved gong gong was called home to the Lord on the 26th of sept 2010. I loved him.
I still miss him very much now as I type this entry out ten days later. There is much emotions to talk about but I will not post it here as it is reserved for my innermost heart.
Though he has left, I know he has departed to a far better place, where there is no tears, sorrow, pain any longer. One day we will meet again just as David said that he will go to his son one day.
Gong gong is in paradise, together with the Lord. Thank you Lord.
I still miss him very much now as I type this entry out ten days later. There is much emotions to talk about but I will not post it here as it is reserved for my innermost heart.
Though he has left, I know he has departed to a far better place, where there is no tears, sorrow, pain any longer. One day we will meet again just as David said that he will go to his son one day.
Gong gong is in paradise, together with the Lord. Thank you Lord.
The Saddest Verse in the Bible
I think one of the saddest passages of the bible is found below.
13 But see, there is joy and revelry,
slaughtering of cattle and killing of sheep,
eating of meat and drinking of wine!
"Let us eat and drink," you say,
"for tomorrow we die!"
14 The LORD Almighty has revealed this in my hearing: "Till your dying day this sin will not be atoned for," says the Lord, the LORD Almighty.
The Lord was describing Jerusalem in this instance. That though they were in idolatry, sexual immorality, and paganism, they did not feel that they had offended God. They were not conscious of the presence of God and His commandments which if disobeyed, brings upon wrath.
They indulged in their sin, feasted, drank to their hearts content, committed immoral acts, just to 'enjoy life to the fullest' for tomorrow, we die. Life is short.
Sounds familiar? Isn't this what the world is doing right now? Enjoy now, for I have only one life. Isn't this what the world says?
What does the Lord say about this? He says. That till the day of your deathbed, your sins will not be cleansed. With sin, we depart into the hell, sheol, awaiting the judgement of the heat white throne, and then thrown into the eternal lake of fire.
Don't believe this article? it's not from me, it's from the Word of God, weigh your options. Continue to live in your life of sin and indulgence and risk eternal torment. Or, turn toward the savior Lord, and commit your lives to Him. Let me know if you choose to do the latter. With my fullest of energies, I will help you.
This verse doesn't have to be the saddest verse. It can be the happiest verse leading you to Christ.
13 But see, there is joy and revelry,
slaughtering of cattle and killing of sheep,
eating of meat and drinking of wine!
"Let us eat and drink," you say,
"for tomorrow we die!"
14 The LORD Almighty has revealed this in my hearing: "Till your dying day this sin will not be atoned for," says the Lord, the LORD Almighty.
The Lord was describing Jerusalem in this instance. That though they were in idolatry, sexual immorality, and paganism, they did not feel that they had offended God. They were not conscious of the presence of God and His commandments which if disobeyed, brings upon wrath.
They indulged in their sin, feasted, drank to their hearts content, committed immoral acts, just to 'enjoy life to the fullest' for tomorrow, we die. Life is short.
Sounds familiar? Isn't this what the world is doing right now? Enjoy now, for I have only one life. Isn't this what the world says?
What does the Lord say about this? He says. That till the day of your deathbed, your sins will not be cleansed. With sin, we depart into the hell, sheol, awaiting the judgement of the heat white throne, and then thrown into the eternal lake of fire.
Don't believe this article? it's not from me, it's from the Word of God, weigh your options. Continue to live in your life of sin and indulgence and risk eternal torment. Or, turn toward the savior Lord, and commit your lives to Him. Let me know if you choose to do the latter. With my fullest of energies, I will help you.
This verse doesn't have to be the saddest verse. It can be the happiest verse leading you to Christ.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)