Tuesday, March 31, 2009
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We've been taught to just simply believe the Bible for whatever it says, to take it at face value and to just accept it. I mean its such a simple thing to do, to just believe what it says.. but it just isn't as simple for some reason!
2 Cor 5:21
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
such an amazing verse which anyone would want to cling on to and believe because of the promises that it states.. but yet at the same time, so hard to see and believe. or maybe just me. If you just read it and accept it, i would say fair enough..but somehow that message just can't seem to sink down. This is the extend of God's love, that my mind can't even comprehend or contain it..it's just too hard to imagine.
learnt a lesson today, knowing our identity in Christ is one thing.. keeping it and not losing it to the devil is another.. For myself, so many times the moment i drop my guard, i get hit by the devil, and i look back and regret why i ever dropped my guard in the first place. I would call myself a rather forgetful person, i can forget things really easily, and things just slip my mind in a second. And it's because i keep on forgetting where i stand, and who i am, that i fall prey.. many times to myself!
God was just showing me, that when you really love someone, you would naturally want to spend all your time with that person, and you would feel jealous when that person you love is not spending time with you, but instead with another person! And God was just telling me that He loves us soo much, that He wants us all to Himself! And it hurts Him when He sees us spending time with other things and people other than Himself. How much have we been hurting Him so far?? how much have i hurt Him..
I mean the cross just comes into mind again, God the Father sending His only son, Jesus Christ, to come to this earth, to bear all our sin, take on all our pains, and everything bad upon Himself, just so that we could be reconciled with Him. Jesus lived a life that i don't think any one else on this earth would be able to handle or bear.. the humiliation, suffering, betrayals, hurt, and everything He ever faced would far exceed anything that we could possibly face in this lifetime. So if Jesus could do it as a human, i don't see why i can't.
God's love is just too mindblowing.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
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May Your glory, be my top priority..
So for my morning dfevotions i read 2 Cor 4 :16-18, and i got really excited when i reached v17 where it talked about our light affliction which was for a moment, compared to the far more exeeding and eternal weight of glory.. made me really look forward to that great reward.
After reading this, i saw the words 'light affliction' and thought oh yea.. there does seems to be something along those lines.. but then i thought of other Christians around the world who suffer persecutions because of them believing in the faith, many of them end up feeling rejection, oppression, and to be constantly on the guard not knowing when they might end up losing their life! And God calls this 'light affliction'!! Man if these are called light, then i wonder how much more awesome this 'far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory' will be like! I mean, it really just made me look forward and birth this sense of expectancy in me, that can't wait for the future to see what it will be like!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
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2 Cor 4:13
13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,”we also believe and therefore speak,
So our faith is shown through our actions, and now our belief is shown through our speech! That hit me pretty hard.. to speak because we believe.. is that why sometimes we find it so hard to speak to others about the gospel/good news? because of unbelief? 99% belief and 1% unbelief is still not good enough.
God reminded me again of the challenge where we should try to not say anything negetive for 1 week, then 2 weeks, and gradually increase the time frame.. and by doing that we will see changes in our lives and the lives of those around us.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
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2 Cor 4
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.
learnt in v10, how the body and dying of Jesus is something that we're meant to carry/take up. It isn't just a decision that will stick with us for the rest of lives, but more of an action that we have to do daily. e.g when we go to school/uni, we have to make an effort to remember to bring our bag along, it doesn't just appear in uni. Likewise when we wake up each morning, we have to make a conscious effort to carry along with us the body and death of Jesus. Why? it is so that He may be manifested in our body! Unless of course you don't want Jesus to manifest in you..
Then in v11 we see that we are delivered to death.. it's a pretty scary thought to be delivered to death, but we know the reason behind it is so that Christ can then manifest Himself through us again. I'm sure everyone has heard this many times, but what dies is our body(fleshly ways).. we don't physically die, but instead die to our personal desires and motives, and Jesus take over by inputing His thoughts and ways in us. He is our life. That is why in v12 it says that death is working in us(because we are in this world), but life(Jesus) is in us! And we all know that Jesus has overcame death!! Just something i found really encouraging to read at the start of the day :)
Church today was great.. jammed packed with activities that i didn't really get any break from the morning practice all the way till the end of the bilingual service. But it's all good, because there's no better place to spend all your time at except at church!
2 Cor 4:2
2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
Amen to that! Still feeling high(not sure if it's the right word) from the spiritual encounter in singapore, because it was just so refreshing and renewed my whole mindset on the cross, and just the power that is in the blood of Jesus! Those two must never be underestimated because of the power that is in them is almost unlimited! Nothing that the devil has thrown or will throw at us can ever overcome them!! Stick close to them, daily bring ourselves to the cross and remember of the blood that was poured out for us.. i guarantee then we will be able to live victorious lives!
Jesus' love + the cross+ His blood = pure power.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
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was reading ministering to the Lord today, and i got reminded again of something from 1 Samuel 15:22
22 So Samuel said:
“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
As in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams. Obedience is better than sacrifice. God says it in His word. For me personally, sometimes i can get so caught up with 'sacrificing' to God my time and energy through serving Him, and oversee His command to love, and to just do what He's told me to do. Serving God by sacrificing your time and finances are good, but being obedient to what He has called us to do is even more important! Hope we don't get too caught up in the motions and forget what it really is all about.
2 Cor 2:14-17
14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.
simple reading today, but it's always great to know that God uses US, His people to do His work. Alone by ourselves, we are nothing, compared to how much we can actually do with God in us and working through us. We are the fragrance of Christ!! a sweet smelling aroma which is pleasing to the Lord.. how wonderful is that?! God loves us, and finds us pleasing to Him :)
Thursday, March 19, 2009
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Luke 9:45
45 But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.
this is refering to the disciples when Jesus told them of the betrayel that He will be facing. What i found interesting was the middle part where it says
"and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it"
I'm glad that i'm not the only one who doesn't totally understand everything that God says, even His own diciples had the same problem! But that's what makes us human, and God, God. After reading this verse i realised that i still don't understand so many things in the Bible, God's Word. And the reason being was that the meaning or the understanding behind it is hidden from me, that's why we need revelation from God to reveal the secrets of the Bible to us. So i prayed that God will fill me with such wisdom, discernment, and intimacy with Him so that i may fully understand and comprehend everything that God wants to tell me through His Word, that things will not be hidden from me, and that i will be able to perceive everything that God has to tell. Either that or that I may be so obediant to the voice of God that i won't even need to understand what i'm doing in order to do it.
Another thing i learnt was that we shouldn't be afraid to ask God about anything. The diciples despite not knowing what Jesus was saying, didn't ask Him what He meant because they were afraid, and that didn't really do them any good. I don't really see what's so afraid of to ask Jesus things that we aren't sure of..He even said so in luke 11:9 that if we ask, it will be given to us! God is dying to talk to us, and to hear from us. Many times we are the ones who are too afraid and don't ask.
Back from the G12 conference in singapore, and it definitely feels weird being back. I would wish to stay there for a much longer period of time if possible because i had an absolutely great time over there in singapore!! The conference itself was an experience for me, though i didn't really learn much more about the G12 vision..but i can say that Ps Ceasar is truly an anointed man of God and you can just see it through his lifestyle, and success in his ministry. The spiritual encounter was an eye-opener for me, having attended 3 previous spiritaul encounters from our church myself, i found this one to be pretty different just in the way they brought the message across and the impact that some of the sessions had on me were just so much more deeper. Every session almost had a different pastor, and each one of them having their own personal testimony to share, or even sometimes just the mistakes that they did in the past made the whole ecounter feel much more personal and relevant. The most enjoyable and fun thing about this trip was definitely by far the awesome fellowship that we brothers and sisters had. I praise God for everyone of them, and for the great time we all had with one another! We were definitely building stronger relationships with one as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ!
The one big revelation that i got again would be that Jesus loves me! I have always known this as a fact.. but this love this time was just sooo much deeper and soo personal.. till the point that it felt so suffocating because i was just so wrapped up and consumed in the love that Jesus Christ has for me. It's so unbelievable and profound, yet at the same time so basic and easy to understand. The cross..is just too amazing.
In one of the alter calls, a pastor just laid hands on me and started saying "Jesus loves you..Jesus loves you..Jesus loves you.."saying that despite knowing of all my sin, and all the wrongs i did in the past, all the things that i'm going to do in the future, and all that i ever will be.. At the end of the day, Jesus still loves me. It's as simple as that. He loves us no matter what. It's just that amazing. Love so great that He went through the pain, suffering, hurt, shame, humiliation, and ultimately death on the cross.. All for us. Just so that we may have life, and live with Him.
I know all of this, but this just caught me off guard, and went down all the way into my spirit.
read a familiar passage for devotion today, where David decides to bring back the ark of God back to Israel in 1 Chronicles 13. God pointed out to me 3 things that David did when he wanted to bring back the ark of God, which symbolizes His presence.
1. the first thing David did was to consult the leaders and the captains of the thousands(v1). Why would David, who was the King of Israel and who had all power and authority to do whatever he wanted, have to consult this with the leaders and captains? My guess would be that because David knew that he couldn't bring the ark back alone, even if he wanted it. There had to be some sort of agreement among the Israelites if the ark of God ever was to be brought back to Israel.
2. David also gathered all priests and the Levites from all over the lands back together just so thay they could usher the ark of the Lord back to themselves. David saw the need for them to be united first in order to properly bring in the ark of God. (v2,5) In the same manner, i don't think that God's presence would be found in a place where there is no unity.
3. Lastly, they played music with all their might with singing and all types of instruments unto the Lord as they welcomed His presence back(v8). The most common form of welcoming God's presence nowadays as well would be singing praise and worship unto the Lord, that is why we always have a time of worship at church, and also why we always have it at the start. Because it helps us to usher in God's presence.
woah 1 more sleep! then im off to G12 conf in singapore! I'm pretty excited about it because its not everyday that we get to sit in aeroplanes and fly through the sky! haha.. anyway i really pray that the team that is going for the conference this year will really catch the vision and the fire, and be able to impart it to the rest of the church when we get back in one week's time! also pray for journey mercies and that everything will go smoothly with no hiccups or problems!
will be taking a one week break from blogging till i get back! hopefully my notebook will be filled with revelations when i get back from singapore, and that i'll be able to post it up here for future refrences!
sometimes it's good to go through some challenging or tough times, because it is from there that we can actually see for ourselves how much we have actually grown ourselves. Imagine if life were to be all easy and relaxing with nothing to keep us on our toes..when the enemy strikes, we would all be caught unaware! It's good to know that whenever things get thrown at you, you may get hit the first few times, but after a while through a little bit of struggling we are able to overcome the certain problem or barrier. It not only makes us feel good, but also shows us that we actually are growing, and have grown!I reckon that perserverance and patience is a virtue that can only be obtained through hardships or tough times, where we just have to press in and struggle for a bit. These 'tests' makes us stronger and tougher, and thus prepares us for the work that is yet to come ahead of us. God won't move us to point B, until we have succesfully grown pass point A. He won't give us more than what we can't handle, but He does know our limit and how far we can be stretched, and will not be afraid to push us! We may fall once or twice along the way, but God is good and He is faithful, He will pick us up until we reach our goal.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
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Jeremiah 3:6-11
6 The LORD said also to me in the days of Josiah the king: “Have you seen what backsliding Israel has done? She has gone up on every high mountain and under every green tree, and there played the harlot. 7 And I said, after she had done all these things, ‘Return to Me.’ But she did not return. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. 8 Then I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also. 9 So it came to pass, through her casual harlotry, that she defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees. 10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah has not turned to Me with her whole heart, but in pretense,” says the LORD.
11 Then the LORD said to me, “Backsliding Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.
hmm wow.. gonna try breaking this passage down and understanding it using my interpretation of it... which may not neccesarily be right.
v6 - So Israel has backslided and not only that, they backslided really far.. thus the 'every high mountain and under every green tree' which represents a great distance. And they played the harlot, which means a prostitute. So the Israelites sold themselves to other gods/idols, im guessing not just to 1, but to many many different ones.
v7 - pretty straightforward.. God called them back to Himself, but they did not return. Furthermore, they're sister(Judah) saw it..which means that they knew about it.
v8 - the cause of Israel's backsliding was because of they commited adultry, which meant that they weren't commited to God, and worshipped other idols. God gave them a certificate of divorce, which happens when a married couple wants to split up and go their seperate ways..so God left them. Even after seeing that, Judah did not fear, and did not learn, but also went on to do what Israel did, play harlot.
v9 - (i'm assuming the verse refers to Judah) 'casual harlotry'-> the way i see it is like sinning casually.. where you play around with sin.. doing it every now and then thinking that it's alright. Because of the casual harlotry, they eventually commit adultry by getting too caught up in it, or too invovled in it(which means they sinned like Israel did). 'stones and trees' im guessing refers to the idols, because that would have been what they would be made from.
v10 - even after all that Judah still did not return with their whole heart, but were fake about it.. they gave lip service? saying one thing and meaning/doing another.
v11 - because of that God said that the Israelites who backslided were more righteous than Judah who after seeing all that and knowing the consequenses still fooled around and took it lightly.
I guess may we never do the same never be like Israel, and espcially to never be like Judah in this case.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
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so we all know that God is good, and loves us all soo very much.. and receiving Him is also the best thing that can ever happen to us in our life.. then the question is this: If God is so great/amazing/awesome, why is it then that there are still Christians who after knowing Him still backslide or even completely leave the faith? just doesn't make any sense..
Was reading Jeremiah 2:5
5 Thus says the LORD:
“ What injustice have your fathers found in Me,
That they have gone far from Me,
Have followed idols,
And have become idolaters?
got me thinking that God never did anything bad to us, or hurt us in anyway.. He is God and is perfect and is love! Why then even knowing all that and even experiencing it would we still want to leave for other things(idols). It's like finding the keys to this huge mansion, but instead of taking we choose to lower ouselves and live in some dingy flat. It's pretty hard to understand since God is THE best, why would anyone else want to settle with anything else that is second best?? What's more is that the God that we serve is a real and living God, who actually does have all power and authority!! unlike those fake gods or idols who are just made up of wood and stone.. Why then would anyone want to leave such treasure?
At the end of the day, are we just foolish blind humans? Where have our eyes gone? What are we looking or focusing on? or are we just blinded by the facade of the things and the simple pleasures of this world.. it's time to stop playing with fire!
brrr cold weather is making me so restless...
Jeremiah 1
4 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
5 “ Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
6 Then said I:
“ Ah, Lord GOD!
Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”
7 But the LORD said to me:
“ Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’
For you shall go to all to whom I send you,
And whatever I command you, you shall speak.
8 Do not be afraid of their faces,
For I am with you to deliver you,” says the LORD.
9 Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me:
“ Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms,
To root out and to pull down,
To destroy and to throw down,
To build and to plant.”
this is one pretty amazing call over Jeremiah's life.. so grand and so powerful that it almost seems so scary to take on because of the magnitude of how big the calling is, and the amount of responsibility that is placed on one's life. But then again we all have callings over our life, and they are all ones that lead us to greatness.. I really need to step out in faith and out of my comfort zone.
in need of a revelation..
As a new year of uni begins, may we not too caught up with our studies so much so that our priorities get mixed up. I read the parable of the vinedressers, and was just reminded of how God has so graciously given us His Son, this earth, and all that we need to live this victoriously, but in return God will be looking for fruit. May we not take for granted the things that God has given us, and treat it as though it is our right. The more we are given, more in return is expected of us. The life we have on this earth is just a lease, which will run out and expire as time goes by.. and in this short frame of time we are required to bear fruit, not just for ourselves, but for the one who has so graciously given us the talents and the blessings. May we not take it lightly or treat it with contempt, and for us may God always remain as the first and foremost priority in our life, with everything else secondary.
it's never easy saying farewell at the airport :( but we know that they will be back! Being at the airport reminded me of just how important people are in our lives, and i realized once more how fortunate i am to have such people in my lives. I truly have been blessed to have the chance to meet and be friends with such amazing people who have such greatness within them, and i thank God for that! An extra special thanks to God for introducing two exceptionally amazing friends in my life, two that have just changed and impacted my life so much!They are great people who i trust and love sososoo much, and i am really grateful to them for just accepting me for who i am. words cannot even express the gratitude i have towards them, and i just want the best for them! Thanks guys, you mean the world to me :)
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