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.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

When you feel alone

In the depths of your loneliness, where you feel that that no one else can help you, no one understands you, no one cares about you, that you are left to fend all by yourselves in this world, that you carry the weight of your sins on you, you have no one else but to turn to Him.

He is our helper, our comforter, our protector, our redeemer.

Reflections on fukuoka

I had the privilege of bringing 25 students to Fukuoka japan for a study trip recently. What was more fortunate was that Peixuan could join me half way and soaked in the nice innovation of japan.

The students enjoyed themselves as evident from their facebook statuses. I forged a closer tie with some of them and also made many friends in them during the trip.

The people of japan are diligent, pays attention to details, very intelligent, innovative, courteous, likes asthetics, and simply just makes top quality products.

I managed to meet up with missionary couple friend there. We met a couple of nights and they brought us around and also to their house and church.

Thank God for their ministry there. Though the numbers are few, Pr xiao Jian reminded us that it is God who works and brings salvation grace to people. Hence, he is not discouraged but continues to serve in the hard gospel soil of japan.

Indeed the gospel soil of japan is hard just as described in the parable of Jesus. Hard to take root and soon eaten by birds.

The people of japan need the gospel. They are in the best in many things, in culture, in technology, in science, in people. But yet, the many attacks of Satan manifest in their country. Publicly available are pornographic tv channels in the most private of places, in hotel rooms and homes. Lusts so easily take root in particularly a man's mind because of these.
The weapons of lust continue to manifest in pornographic magazines and newspapers sold all over.

Dear brethens, is this the reason that there are high rate of broken marriages or marriage that continue but both spouses have extra marital affairs?

I have certainly no say in judging them for I am a sinner myself. But it is the Word of God which condemns man of sin. And it is a real world out there. Real people who seemingly have good careers and lives but yet in the most depths of their hearts they are trapped by sin.

The Wors of God warns of adultery. She attracts us like a bed or roses with fragance do. But it leads one unto the path of death. Not only to himself, but his wife, family and to everyone dear to him. It happened to Jack neo. It happened to tiger woods.

Not only the people of japan, but all man, need the gospel to set us free from sin which leads to eternal death after a life on earth filled with sorrow, regret and pain.

Embrace the gospel. Repent. Believe in the saviour who died. Who redeemed your sin by the blood that he bled. Who gave us eternal life through his death.

What other hope do you have to reject Him? What other hope?

It is with this hope that we find hope in our lives, that we are assured of a better place, that God cares for us now and everything works for the good of us.

I love japan. I love the people of japan more. I pray for Pr xiao Jian and wife that God through them brings about salvation grace to the people of japan.

The 5 Ws of Good Friday

Who: Jesus

When: About 2000 years ago

What: Crucified to the cross. The most gruesome form of capital execution of the roman government then.

Where: Israel, Jerusalem, Golgotha

Why: To die in place for us. To redeem the sins of those who believe in Him

Sufficient grace

Caleb boy has finally learned to walk. It's such a joy seeing him walk on his own and having that smile on his face while walking.

This past one year has been stormy at times, doubtful at times, despair at times, dark at times. It seems like the ship has run aground. But God's grace is sufficient. The stormy, the dark, the despair, have worked for the good for us.

When I reflect back, the storms have cleared, the light of Christ have emerged victorious over the dark, hope has transcended over doubt.

My learning points. Count our blessings. Know others are suffering the same as you, if not, even worse. Unceasing prayer. Serving without reserves. Faith. Love. Obey.

Love is not proud

Why are proud in the first place? There is no reason to be. When we stand before God as mentioned before, how can we ever be sure that deep down in our hearts where God searches all things, that we are better than the person next to us?

We have no reason to be proud. But rather, when we might have more God given grace than others in some areas, seek to edify, impart, teach the other if possible.

Love does not boast

How often we only want to engage those weaker than us, that we feel we are better, have accomplished more, will be accomplishing more than them. In the pursue of being puffed up, we like to engage in conversations, activities with them and get the constant reminder that we are better than them. But are we?

Let’s not think too highly of ourselves lest it opens a door for the devil. The bible reminds us to think of others better than ourselves, reminds us not to think too highly of ourselves but think of ourselves in accordance to the faith that God has given. Even in matters of faith, we can be so convicted, so loving, so serving to God is because He has given us such a faith.

So let us not think of anyone worse than us. Because if the two of us were to stand before God now, who do you think God will favour more? God sees the heart. What is the state of our heart as compared to the person you think you are better than? Are we truly better than the other person before God?

Let’s not boast because, it we have truly nothing intrinsic to boast about. If we boast about things of vanity, in itself its vanity. Idle words, idle time. Let our speech be not of boast, but of edification. Edify your brother. Edify him every day, every way. God help us to do so. Remind us to do so.

The plunder from besor

In 1 Samuel 30, there is a magnificent story reminding us the riches that we have of this world are from God. Nothing we have is due to our works but solely through God's grace.

The ziklags plundered david's possesions as well as captured their children an wifes. But through God's providence, David mentioned to capture it back with 400 other men. Not only so, they retreived the ziklag's plunder as well. Before the battle, 200 men were so exhausted that they could not join in the battle.

Hence when the 400 returned with David, they said that the plunder was not to be shared with the 200 that stayed behind. But david's response was other wise. That all the plunder was given and not due to any works from any man. Hence, all 600 received an equal share. Many lessons to learn from this.

Firstly, to know that all riches are given from God and all brothers and sisters have a share for it. Because you know it's from God, you want to share it with others because you know it's not from your own. We offer because we know all good things are from God and the offerings are used for the edification of all.

Secondly, David stood firm on his godly principles and did not listen to the evil ones amongst his men. He was unlike Aaron, who gave in an made a golden calf, but remained true to godly principles.

Thirdly, there might be evil ones in your midst but that is for God to discern. We continue to render what they should receive, treat them, love them as we should to a non evil one.

Living a joyful, positive life in God

Joshua 15 teaches us a valuable lesson in the character of Caleb. Caleb though at 85 years old, proclaimed that he had the strength equivalent when he was 40 years old. He still had land to claim, enemies to defeat, not of his own accord but because God had promised him that it was the land that God had given him.

He was full of joy, and positive though he was 85 years old. How would we behave, think, feel at 85 years old? Would be depressed in our old age, thinking that we are useless, weak in health? Caleb at 85 was still full of vigour and joy because he followed the Lord wholeheartedly all the way since when he was the spy of a different spirit, reporting back that the land that God had promised could be conquered. Remember that wasn't an easy task to do. He faced opposition from his own people who even went to the extend of wanting to stone him. And these were the people who spied with him!

Let's be like Caleb, who even at old age, remembered God's promises. He followed wholeheartedly God and his promises. He had joy in serving him and giving thanks for the many graces.

Love does not Envy

Ah, one for the most powerful tools used by the devil to break a Christian. To break him down from within, the surest way to tempt him into evil, to forget the graces of God. To mock the graces of God.

Envy. In the 10 commandments, it says, do not covet. Envy springs forth coveting. Envy, looking at what you don’t have or the seeming lack of it, that you think is not comparable to others, and a sense of bitterness starts to spring off from inside.

A friend just got a new condo, or design to build flat, nicely renovated with great views. Or had just purchased a nice car, speedy, comfy. Or a great high paying job. Or a chance to be promoted. Or great results. Or a seeming great family life. Or great people skills. Or just received praises.

And we start to envy. It grows slowly into jealously. We start to self doubt ourselves, our graces, our abilities, our current situation. We become unsatisfied. We think, wouldn’t life be better if I hadn’t done this and this, and had done this and this? This is opening the door for the devil to step in.

Cain opened this door when he was jealous of Abel’s offering being favoured. Saul opened this door when he heard of praise given unto others other than him. Joseph’s brothers opened this door when they saw the nice color coat given to him. The Pharisees opened this door when they saw the number of disciples that Jesus attracted. The disciples opened this door when they argued who was the greatest. They opened the door and allowed bitterness to set in, and later on, some of the world’s most hideous crimes were conducted because of these.

Who did not open this door? Jonathan did not. Because he loved David as himself. Esau in my opinion opened but finally closed the door back when he received his brother in love. Barnabas closed this door when he received Paul with love and recognised that someone with a superior ability to minister was called. Abraham closed this door when he let his nephew chose the better looking land. And in the end, they were greatly blessed and remembered as heroes of faith.

We do not have to envy. We only have to give thanks. He is better, has better, is because God has planned it in such a way that His name, His will, His plans will be glorified and accomplished. He has given these good things to them. He was the source. If we disagree by envying, by being jealous, we are treating God in contempt. We should rejoice for our brother! Because we love him. Purging envy, we start to grow humility. Seeing nothing of ourselves. Making nothing of ourselves. But all together, tools for the service of God.

Love is kind.

Love is kind. It is always thinking how to better edifying the person, to do an action that will best help the person to grow to be a better person in Christ.

It is not just convenient kindness, where we avoid confrontation of sin, but willing to discipline where areas of sin is concerned that he may be freed from the bondage of the evil one.

Always thinking, how to better edify the person. In truth, in deeds.

Love is patient

1 Cor 13:4 - 8 is just so important for all of us. We often memorize it, sing it, read it, but yet fail to act it. Through this series of post, I hope that 1 Cor 13:4 - 8 is really imprinted unto my heart, affecting my everyday thoughts, actions and speech.

Love it patient. Love is patient when you expect something and it falls short of your expectations. You expect a nice gesture towards you, you expect something ought to be done for you. You expect that such a reply ought to have been given by this person. But the gesture, the reply, the action, falls short of your expectation.

Your spouse did not react the way he/she should, your child did not respond the way he/she should, your colleague did not give you the thanks he should, or the gave you something else that totally turned your expectation around, your parents did not understand you.

in all this, you remain patient. Patient is when you are fine, ok with the counterparty not meeting your expectation. And God has told us to be patient, as our expectations are always indulged in subjective selfishness. Often, people have been patient with us but we are not patient with them.

May we be patient to\day, and love.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

1 Samuel 17

When David bought supplies from Jesse to pass to his brothers at the front lines of the battle against Goliath, his brothers wronged him that he was just wanting to watch and gloat over people being killed.

Oh how discouraged and wronged David would have felt. For he had no such intentions. Yet he knew that his conscience was clear an focused not on being wronged, not being bitter, but focused on the enemy, focused on God. His focus was so strong that he actually went all the way to meet the king, had the conviction that he could defeat the enemy. All this, because he focused on the strength, the glory of God. Not on the wronging brought by man, or the scare of the enemies.

Focus on God, not on man, especially in times of difficulties.

Lessons from 1 samuel 15

Saul was commanded by God through Samuel to destroy everything in the amalekites city for this is God's wrath against them for attacking the israelites in the past.

Saul was to destroy everything. Absolutely everything. But he didn't cause he valued worldly treasures more than obedience to God.

Sin leads to sin. Sin grows. His sin of greed soon led to the sin of lying to God.

Let us value obedience to God more than the fleeting treasures of this world. Let us not let sin have a foot hold lest it grows like yeast does to bread in our lives, leading us in a downward spiral.

Luke 3

Luke 3. chin lien night class. date: 24 feb

The background of the temple ruled by the high priest in john the baptist's time is very corrupt. There were many means of making profits in the temple then, for eg. Selling sacrifices or priestly taxes.

Hence John was raised in the desert to avoid being corrupted by the depraved situation in Jerusalem. A principle is that whenever God's word is, there will be people. Today there are many trying to attract people into the church using worldly attractiveness. Healing, prosperity, attractions. But the true church attracts with truth.

When a church preaches God's word, even a church in far lands will attract people. Like John preaching God's word in the desert. Today when we evangelize, or preach in pulpit, we should be using only God's word and no other.

John preached a baptism of repentAnce. People hated Jesus not only because he was the son of God, but becUse often Jesus spoiled the means of them making money through the temple meAns.

A church without God's word for a year will have sin growing in members, superstition and empty fillings of the heart. It resulted in john's time when people have a religion without faith. A religion without faith is that one only follows the ritualistic methods, but not observe God's word in the dAily specifics of life. One still enters the casino, gambles, cheats in business.

The second is those who offer sacrifice but not repentance. Their repentAnce is shallow, is false. In our midst, we may have the holy communion, confess sins but still go on sinning.

Third is observing sacraments but the self is not sanctified. Hence, the people needed the messAge of repentance most which is what John preached. They knew only the rituAlistic means but have never heard of the messaGe of repentance.

Man's greatest need is repentance. John rebuked them using brood of vipers. Today many use psychology to gain the favour of man, but not John. John not only preached but also baptized. The Jews knew bAptism as only needed by Gentiles. John's baptism of the Jews signified that the Jews were so depraved like the pagans. John's baptism is different from our baptism. John's baptism is one of repentance. Ours is a baptism into christ's blood. Do we truly know true repentance? It's not just regret. But the knowledge from God that you are a sinner, being sorrowful, needing salvation. 2 cor 7.

The passage from Isaiah tells of someone paving a way for the messiah. Every valley being filled, mountain made low. This refers to the heart man. Needing to be straightened from our evils, malices, deceit. The secret hidden evil things of man.

True repentance is from God. True repentance knows the wrath of God. The seriousness. We have to know that the punishment is serous, eternal suffering. Hence we know that in evangelism, we are not afraid to preach the judgement of hell.

People were coming to John for baptism. But John rebuked them as brood of vipers. John wanted to remind them it's from a true repentant heart that they want to be baptized. Not the same ritualistic heart that just wants baptism.

A hundred baptisms us useless if you did not repent. A serpent escapes the fastest when there us a fire. This is used to described to the false believers then. Let us not treat that baptism is just a means of salvation. But bear the fruits of repentance.

Let us be baptized because of us knowing that we are sinners needing salvation. Many disappear after baptised. Let us not go after ritualistic means of salvation like other religions.

Growing up in a family of Christians does not mean that you are a Christian. We need repentance ourselves. Eg. Eli's family.

Genesis 16

Prayer meeting sermon. pastor tang. 26 feb 2010

Offer the best to God.

May God bless the ministry in yck. Pray For the Workers and the work and the souls.

Pray for a group of youths who were involved in a car accident. These youths attended last year's arise camp.

This reminds us that time and chances are not in our hands. Offer, serve, read the bible, when we have the chance.

Reminds us also to obey our parents.

Pray for the youth who has brain cancer. Serve and love God while we have the chance.

Journey of faith.
Not an easy road. Full of up and downs.

Genesis 16. God credited abram with rigtheousness due to his faith.
Justified by faith.

Between genesis chap 15 and 16, time gap of 10 years. Abram waited for the promise of having an offspring for 10 years.
When will the Lord answer?

Man started to take things into their own hands.

God works in his time. In his time, he raises a person, family, Nation. Jesus mentioned that his time is not up yet while in the wedding at Cana. Jesus walked in God's timing.

When the Lord's time come, are we standing out to answer? The hymn tells us to offer our all.

Hagar bore Ishmael. But this son bought much trouble later on, till today. Things that might seem as grace actually bring trouble.

Hagar means escape. Shameful acts were revealed in gen 16. Shameful acts even happened in the family of the promise. This reminds us not to worship heroes of faith but learn from their rights and wrongs.

I love pear!

Eating pear!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Hello, Caleb here again

Hello all. My name is Caleb and my papa did this photoshopped picture for me. It was his first attempt but I think that it's quite good already. So kudos to him.


I love my papa! But for now I love my mummy more. So I roll around her more when I wake up and beat and squeeZe my papa more.

I forgot to mention, I know how to walk a bit now and identify some sounds. So I am more fun to play with.

Till next time!

为什么我们要爱

想分享今天在主日学查考约翰一书第四章里的功课, 为什么我们要爱. 一边提醒自己爱人的功课，爱人正确的动机，另一方面勉励朋友们，当我们不想爱的时候，心里充满苦毒的时候，忍要爱。

为什么我们要爱 - 五个理由

1. 因为神是爱。约翰一书4：7-8. 神的本质就是爱。祂一切所做的，审判，怜悯，都是出于爱。因为神是爱，所以我们要爱。

2. 效法神对我们的爱。约翰一书4：9-11。就是祂差祂儿子，为我们死的爱。

3. 彰显神的爱。约翰一书4：12。没有人见过神，但我们爱的时候，人就从我们的身上看见神的爱的彰显。

4. 神会与我们同在。约翰一书4：13-16。我们爱的时候，神会与我们同在。

5。叫我们在审判的日子坦然无惧。约翰一书4：17-20。

约翰一书4：19。 “我们爱，因为神先爱我们。”