将你最好的献给主

神在利未记多次的强调，当我们奉献给神的时候，不应该随便。所奉献的，应该是我们所拥有的最好的。就如献上没有残疾的公羊，奉献初熟的果子，我们有没有奉献我们最好的给神吗？

愿我们在一切事情上，把最好的献给神。

Do you question if God is worth giving up your all?

Do you question if God is worth giving up your all?

Jesus told us that the most important command, is to love your God, with all your mind, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Paul tells us to offer ourselves as living sacrifices.

Do you ever struggle with this command? The bible tells us plainly that its a command. Non negotiable. Like an officer to a soldier, its an order. We struggle. We worry. We question if its worth it. But when we obey as such, we will be remembered by God and He will honor us. Perhaps, a story can help us. The story is told in Matt 26, Mark 14 and John 12.

It is only two days away from Jesus crucifixion. Jesus was in the home of Simon. Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus, came with a jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard, broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

It is worth mentioning that the perfume was contained in a alabaster vial, made out of a special marble which is the best container for preserving expensive perfume and oils. The pure nard is oil derived from the nard plant native to India. That is was pure meant that it was genuine and unadulterated which made it so costly. The perfume was worth more than a year's wages, 300 denarii. In today's terms, i think it should be at least 30,000 USD.

Once you break the vial, it cannot be kept for reuse. It is meant only for a one time usage for a woman's most important occasion in her life, her wedding.

Mary then anointed Jesus feet with the perfume and wiped them with her hair. A woman's hair is her most prized possession. Washing a man's feet was the most looked down upon work.

This was an act of pure worship. A sacrificial act, yet done with a cheerful heart by Mary to our Lord.

Mary's symbol brings to live loving her Lord with all her heart, her soul, her mind, her strength.

In return, Jesus says, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.

This is an example for us to follow. Are we willing to give to our Lord our own alabaster vial of perfume, made of pure nard? Its worth it. For our Lord. Those who honors Him, He honors them.

This is very sad

Leviticus 10:1-3

1 Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.

2 Samuel 6:5-7

5 David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the LORD, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals.

6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. 7 The LORD's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God.

John 4:23-24

23Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

1 Peter 1:16
"Be Holy for I am Holy"

Biblical worship – God will be honored

Biblical worship – God will be honored

Worship has to be favored by God. Worship has to honor God. Nadab and Abihu offered the wrong fire contrary to God’s command and were struck dead by God.

Leviticus 10:1-3

1 Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. 3 Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke of when he said:

" 'Among those who approach me
I will show myself holy;
in the sight of all the people
I will be honored.' "
Aaron remained silent.

God-revealed means of worship and holiness of worship has to be observed, lest we end up doing irreverent actions like Uzzah who tried to support the ark from falling but was struck dead by God where just moments ago, David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might.

2 Samuel 6:5-7

5 David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the LORD, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals.

6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. 7 The LORD's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God.

Offering with a truthful heart has to be observed lest we end up like Sapphiras and Ananias, who offered with deceit.

Acts 5:3-5

3Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."

5When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.

We see from these events that worship to God has to be favored by Him. Not by man. Worship to God has to be according to His ways, not our liking. With the joy of having God favor our worship, we are also reminded of the severe wrath of judgment upon worship that is not according to His will.

So what is the worship that God favors?

It is not the worship of the Old Testament as revealed on the pattern of the mount. It is not the dancing and clanging of cymbals done when certain victorious events have occurred. It is not the worship that happened in the temple, holiest place, or holiest of holiest. The book of Hebrews records that when the new covenant of Christ comes, it has replaced the obsolete worship ways of the Old Testament.

Worship is not the pattern shown during the apostolic period captured mainly through the book of Acts where much of the worship did not have an orderly structure. But God in His divine will flourished the early church. And in AD 95, God revealed to the last surviving apostle John, the pattern of worship in heaven.

In Revelations 4 and 5, the circle of elders worship the slained lamb through the singing of hymns, and all glory was given unto the lamb. With harps and hymns serving praise and conviction to the Lord who was slained for us.

The worship was carried out in a holy manner. For our God is holy, and as the angels proclaimed, holy, holy, holy is the God Almighty.

Some questions to think about worship.

Is our worship holy? Or is it influenced by the attractions of this world?

Is our worship for the sole glory of God? Or it is to bring name and knowing to individuals?

Are we worshiping in truth or are we worshiping to our liking?

Are we worshipping in spirit or are we worshipping in unrepentance, continual living in sin and coming to worship with a hypocritical heart?

Are we sincerely pursing a worship that God favours and not a worship that man favours?

Is our worship for the edification of man that they are led to worship God and understands His Word of Life? Or are men being stumbled by distractions in our worship?

Worship is for the glory, holiness and favor of God, and the edification of man that they can in spirit and truth, worship God.

May God favor our worship.

Filled with the Spirit

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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人 种 的 是 甚 麽 ， 收 的 也 是 甚 麽 。

最近阅读大布道家Moody先生的文字刊物。

太造就人了。现在才知道为什么他当时会成为那么多宣教室，牧师，传道的榜样。被他的道激励，忠心，勇敢的侍奉上帝。

刊物的主题是来自加拉太書 6:7-8 的经文
”人 种 的 是 甚 麽 ， 收 的 也 是 甚 麽 。顺 着 情 欲 撒 种 的 ， 必 从 情 欲 收 败 坏 ； 顺 着 圣 灵 撒 种 的 ， 必 从 圣 灵 收 永 生 。”

简单来说，我们要种属灵的种子，必收的庄家就是来生的永生，今生接圣灵的果子。

但如果我们所种是情欲的种子，可能有段站罪中的快乐，但必收的是懊悔，痛苦，死亡。

什么是种情欲的种子？不旦旦只是，贪婪，淫乱，撒谎，高傲，所谓严重的罪，当你所种的对象(object)，不是上帝的时候，那就是种情欲的种子了。

愿我们“顺 着 圣 灵 撒 种 的 ， 必 从 圣 灵 收 永 生”。撒种属灵的种子，必收的是上帝的同在，恩典，怜悯，今生接圣灵的果子。影响人归主。

Can one just be a believer and not a disciple of Christ?

I am just a believer, not a disciple of Christ.

Can one just be a believer and not a disciple of Christ? In other words, can I just be a level 1 Christian who has once acknowledged Jesus as my saviour but do not really commit my life to Him? I live the way I want, I go to church once in a while, or perhaps on some occasions, even manage to attend multiple services in a week especially during times like Christmas and Good Friday where you know that you just have to get into the 'mood'.

I carry on living the way I want, unfortunately committing the sins that I have always done, but hey I can always just recall back to the moment, where I acknowledged Christ as Saviour. Well don't they always say that once saved always saved?

Who are the disciples of Christ? The disciples or 'level 2' christians are the ones who really heed God's commands to bear the cost of being a disciple, bearing the cross, giving up everything for Him. But really these are the preachers, pastors, missionaries and others whom have devoted their whole lives to God and His call to carrying their own cross. I am just a level 1 christian. I am not called to serve full time needless to say serve more than just one sunday service per week! The bible calls two levels of christians, the believers and the disciples. And I am just contented at being a believer. It allows me space to be the hypocrite that I am, living the way I want, commiting the sins i have always done, but yet, just at a convenient time, I confess my sins to Jesus and immediately, my sins are forgiven and I have the blessed assurance of heaven, though my glory might be less than others (which I am fine with). Or so is it?

Does the above describe you? Can one just be a believer and not a disciple of Christ? Can the believer bring out all the theologies, justification by faith, pre-election, once saved always saved and re-assure himself that non-committal living to Christ can still gain him access to one of the heavenly rooms that Jesus has prepared for him?

Why do we reject being a disciple of Christ? Why do we in the first place have this fallen reasoning that there can be two levels of Christians, the believer and the disciple? For one, being a disciple demands on us. But can one really just be a believer? Is being a believer different from being a disciple? Let's look into the bible and see what Jesus says.

We are familiar with the passages stating the cost of discipleship. Jesus states that if anyone wishes to come after him, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow him (Lk 9:23). He states that disciples should be willing to lose their lives for Jesus (Lk 9:24), not to lose their lives while chasing after things of the world (Lk 9:25), not to be ashamed of him and his words (Lk 9:26). Now who exactly is Jesus talking to here? Just a concentrated group of deeply convicted fervent disciples? No. In Mark 8:34-38, the gospel book records a similar passage of the cost of discipleship. Verse 34 records clearly, "Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

Jesus was preaching to the crowd. The masses. The multitudes. Everyone. Jesus is preaching the cost of discipleship to everyone. Not a selected group of 'more fervent' christians.

Another passage reiterates this. Luke 14:25-35 records the teaching of discipleship to large crowds.

²⁵Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: ²⁶"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. ²⁷And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Jesus wanted to make true disciples. He never softened his message to majority preferences who are contended just to be believers. Instead, he plainly declared the high cost of discipleship. He made several bold demands that would discourage the half hearted.

Even IF there are indeed distinctions between a level 1 and level 2 christian, didn't Luke 10:27 tells us to love our Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our strength and with all our mind? With this, how can we not be hypocrites and still say that yes we abide by this but yet we still want to be level 1 christians?

The great commission at the end of the gospel of Matthew tells us to make DISCIPLES of all nations. And what to teach the disciples? That they obey all of Jesus commands (denying oneself, taking up his cross daily etc.). The great commandment for evangelism is to make disciples, not just believers.  

Are we not all Christians? Do you call yourself a Christian? Who are Christians? Take a look at Acts 11:26. "So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch."

Who are Christians? Disciples. 

There is no difference between a believer and disciple. No distinguishing between a level 1 or level 2 christian. Simply said, Believers = Disciples = Christians. Do not let our fallen reasoning control us, but let the bible speak for itself to us, and may the Holy Spirit guides our hearts to accept this truth, to obey as what Jesus commanded. To live as disciples.

Going to Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibition

We will first go to Bank Negara of Indonesia to remit money for the maid, then we will go for lunch at Beppu?? (mummy is hitting me)

And then we will go to the Arts Museum to see the Dead Sea scrolls where the rest of the church members will join us.

Then after that, we will go to Mummy’s friend’s baby who is celebrating his one year old b-day.

Ok, what a boring post this is, well to test Windows Live Writer 2009. Get your free copy now. It comes with many other useful applications like a photo gallery. Well of coz, google still rules.

http://windowslivewriter.spaces.live.com/

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Documentary on Benny Hinn

 

I got the below youtube link to a documentary on Benny HInn. It assesses if his claim to miracle healings are true or not. Thanks to my Stemi Sg facebook friend.

Do add him/her to ur fb, veri uplifting and truth indwelling videos it shares not to mention any services tat are up and coming.

In the video, you will realize how awfully similar the worship services conducted are to some other Mega Charismatic churches in Singapore...

May God Himself guide us into His truth and give us the wisdom to discern, as well as the heart to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth instead of just aiming for a uplift of our individual self.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhvFScYQR_c&feature=related