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A lot of people are talking about God's Will and God's direction in my life. Upon reflection of the past year of 2007, it is a testing year where Job is scarce for me and when I find one, it is so mismanaged that it is difficult to fathom how in the world they survive. And when I decided to leave, I was smacked with a fine that is so ridiculous.
I wonder if God uses Job with full pun-intended in my case since I am without a proper job for so long. As Job has suffered because of God's faith in human's ability to love Him without conditions, I am constantly being bombarded with the same feeling of hopelessness and helplessness throughout this year even though my sufferings is no where near what Job has to go through.
So I picked up a book called "Decision Making and the Will of God" and thought it through the decision process of getting a job and quitting a job. The book did say quite a lot of things that makes a lot of sense and so it does seems so.
But just 2 weeks ago, we (as with wife) chanced upon this book call 'Ghosts: A Christian Encounter' and in it Psalms 37:23 just etched on my mind. It says
"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord ... "(Psalm 37:23)"
So the way I see it is this: It is nice to know what the future holds and thus when we do not see anything solid, we question God's will for us. But if we question, what level of faith are we at? Would the absence of a future robs one of faith? I guess so. Consider Job as he has lost everything and he is wishy-washy about God's treatment of him and his standing before God, he has more reasons not to trust God anymore.
Then there is a higher truth that I learnt and I hope with positive expectation of good, that this lesson will not pass away: No matter what we decide to do in life, still it is led by God and so questioning His will is not fruitful at all.
Of course we should make wise decision itself because wisdom is for us to take. Consider Solomon: he did ask God for wisdom, so we can ask God for wisdom too albeit from a better position of a redeemed one, a son of royal priesthood of the line of Melchizedek through Christ Jesus.
If we are to look upon our decision making process as the 'make or break' point of our lives, I now sincerely believe that God who is able to look after us, do direct our lives so much so that even the decision that we make, is somehow being directed by God too. If that's the case, if we make the proper decision based on the wisdom that God gave and have lean on HIS understanding instead, then we can rest in the fact that whatever decision we made is already led by Him.
The only remaining question is where is God leading us?
The answer comes in the form of Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)
Although I am without a job, without a sense of achievement still I have no choice but to let God do the leading and I want to follow. I can worry about the 'following' but even that God knows how to make me 'follow'. Ultimately, the end result would be a future that have a future and a good expectation of good.
What is faith if one can see the end?
How can I have the faith? The answer lies in Psalm 37:23
Jesus did ask why called Him good? Good in God's eyes have to be perfect or in the same sense, being 'righteous'. It is by undeserved favour of God (that is Grace) that we are viewed as 'righteous' despite our current state of spirituality because we have Christ in us.
And so we are now eligible to be the 'man' of Psalm 37:23...a man that God directs. A man that I am now is and was and is to come...I can say that because Jesus was, is and is to come.
So 2008 will be another year of God's leading....a life full of abundance and joy. Why? Because Jesus comes not to give us just life but life more abundantly!
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
The Gay Debate in Singapore
SINGAPORE (AP) -- Hundreds of Singaporeans are calling for the government to decriminalize homosexual sex, ahead of a parliamentary debate on the most extensive revision of the city-state's penal code in 23 years.
Under the proposed changes to be debated Oct. 22, oral and anal sex between consenting heterosexual adults will no longer be considered an offense. But Section 377A, which deals with the same acts between men, will remain in force with a maximum penalty of two years in jail.
Gay rights advocates say the clause is "Victorian legislation" that discriminates against a minority group and violates an individual's right to privacy. They launched a protest Friday, including an online petition to Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, which by Tuesday had garnered more than 2,200 signatories.
"There is a small window of opportunity here to try to get our leaders to consider repealing Section 377A," petition organizer Alan Seah said in a statement. By keeping the clause, "we are in fact moving backwards, which defeats the government's goals of updating our criminal laws to keep in step with Singapore's image as a modern and forward thinking country," he said.
Earlier this year, Singapore's founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew acknowledged that some people were "genetically born a homosexual" and "can't help it. So why should we criminalize it?" raising hopes that Section 377A would be abolished.
But the government, while welcoming gays into the civil service and permitting gay bars and spas in the city's center, maintains that Singapore remains a conservative society.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told a local university forum last month that while Singapore recognizes and respects homosexuals, changing the law would be "a very divisive argument. We will not reach consensus however much we discuss it."
"The tone of the society, the public, and society as a whole, should be really set by the heterosexuals and that's the way many Singaporeans feel," he said. "Our view, as a government, is we will go with society ... What people do in private is their own business; in public, certain norms apply."
The government has assured the local gay community that it would not actively prosecute them but gay rights advocates say that it is not enough.
"It is the responsibility of any democratically elected government to protect minorities from the 'tyranny of the majority,'" argues the online petition. "Far more conservative countries have done away with laws like these and are none the worse for it."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another one small step by the liberals to press their homosexual views on the silent majority. One can see from the way they make their demands known. The government has already said it will not persecute them and yet they say it is not enough. For the silent majority, we do not condone the act not because we are old fashioned but some of us do follow the moral standards that is within our hearts. I can never disobey the obvious 'yuck factor' when I see homosexual acts.
This is another evidence that the Bible is so accurate in portraying the environment that the world will be in before the coming of the end.
2Ti 3:1-9 You can be certain that in the last days there will be some very hard times. (2) People will love only themselves and money. They will be proud, stuck-up, rude, and disobedient to their parents. They will also be ungrateful, godless, (3) heartless, and hateful. Their words will be cruel, and they will have no self-control or pity. These people will hate everything that is good. (4) They will be sneaky, reckless, and puffed up with pride. Instead of loving God, they will love pleasure. (5) Even though they will make a show of being religious, their religion won't be real. Don't have anything to do with such people. (6) Some men fool whole families, just to get power over those women who are slaves of sin and are controlled by all sorts of desires. (7) These women always want to learn something new, but they never can discover the truth. (8) Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, these people are enemies of the truth. Their minds are sick, and their faith isn't real. (9) But they won't get very far with their foolishness. Soon everyone will know the truth about them, just as Jannes and Jambres were found out.
Goes to show, in the name of being tolerant, they have accused those against them as intolerant so much so accusing the government of not protecting the minority. By accusing us of being intolerant, isn't that an act of intolerance as well?
I have just finished the book "The Case for the Real Jesus" by Lee Strobel. In Challenge 6 (or chapter 6) during an interview with Paul Copen, this is a great illustration that he used.
"Something is true - or corresponds to reality - even if people don't believe it. I often use the example of the earth being round even when people thought it was flat. Some people have said to me, "Well wasn't the earth flat for them at that time?' I say, 'No, the earth was STILL round. It wasn't as though people could fall over the edge of the earth adn be swallowed by dragons back then. The earth was round even if people didn't believe it..'"
So the issue between gays and general conservatives is this: what is the reality of truth? What is the yard stick on which to measure one's morality?
What I can only say for Christianity is this:
a) The New Testament was and still is and will be still proved to be a reliable source of information about antiquity even though there are gnostic literature that is forcing themselves to paint an alternative reality, the Gnostic sources will not stand up to scrutiny.
b) Since the New Testament has time and again prove historians and archeologists that its contents are reliable, then the New Testaments claims about the truth in the Old Testament should be held in high regard.
c) If Old Testament has also proved the historians and archeologists about its reliable contents, then its non-provable contents such as the moral law, judgement against Sodom and Gomorrah has to be true to and thus the moral law against homosexuality must also be held in high regard
As already shown in 2 Timothy, the world has indeed decayed to a degree that doing wrong has become a right. It is now not 'OK' to do wrong behind closed doors, but to do wrong in plain view of everyone. Isn't that itself is a perversion?
In life there's always a choice...a 'natural' affection does not mean it is right because 'nature' in this world is 'infected' and so in some sense, things that seems 'natural' sometimes cannot be trusted to be 'natural'. The only way to know if anything is right is the moral code and for us Christians and for most people who lives by this moral code it is enshrined in the Bible.
For me, this argument can see no end because to some, morality is subjective and is relative to everyone. But how can one be sure that morality can be absolutely relative? Isn't that a contradiction.
We all need to live by a guideline. If the morality stand is not accepted, then this world CANNOT work at all. Murder can be accepted...maid abuse can be condoned...cars can go against the flow of traffic...not..it cannot be, if GAYS relies on rules to make their case known, then they must accept the existence of morality...the existence of human guidelines; and these guidelines are in us that cannot be explained away by evolution. No germ or molecule can know what is right or wrong...they are designed/created...
Think about it properly, a great lie is perpetrated in Singapore now.
Now...this episode gives me 'hope'...the positive expectation of GOOD coming in the form of Christ Jesus...for event rapture, very very very soon.
Under the proposed changes to be debated Oct. 22, oral and anal sex between consenting heterosexual adults will no longer be considered an offense. But Section 377A, which deals with the same acts between men, will remain in force with a maximum penalty of two years in jail.
Gay rights advocates say the clause is "Victorian legislation" that discriminates against a minority group and violates an individual's right to privacy. They launched a protest Friday, including an online petition to Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, which by Tuesday had garnered more than 2,200 signatories.
"There is a small window of opportunity here to try to get our leaders to consider repealing Section 377A," petition organizer Alan Seah said in a statement. By keeping the clause, "we are in fact moving backwards, which defeats the government's goals of updating our criminal laws to keep in step with Singapore's image as a modern and forward thinking country," he said.
Earlier this year, Singapore's founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew acknowledged that some people were "genetically born a homosexual" and "can't help it. So why should we criminalize it?" raising hopes that Section 377A would be abolished.
But the government, while welcoming gays into the civil service and permitting gay bars and spas in the city's center, maintains that Singapore remains a conservative society.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told a local university forum last month that while Singapore recognizes and respects homosexuals, changing the law would be "a very divisive argument. We will not reach consensus however much we discuss it."
"The tone of the society, the public, and society as a whole, should be really set by the heterosexuals and that's the way many Singaporeans feel," he said. "Our view, as a government, is we will go with society ... What people do in private is their own business; in public, certain norms apply."
The government has assured the local gay community that it would not actively prosecute them but gay rights advocates say that it is not enough.
"It is the responsibility of any democratically elected government to protect minorities from the 'tyranny of the majority,'" argues the online petition. "Far more conservative countries have done away with laws like these and are none the worse for it."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another one small step by the liberals to press their homosexual views on the silent majority. One can see from the way they make their demands known. The government has already said it will not persecute them and yet they say it is not enough. For the silent majority, we do not condone the act not because we are old fashioned but some of us do follow the moral standards that is within our hearts. I can never disobey the obvious 'yuck factor' when I see homosexual acts.
This is another evidence that the Bible is so accurate in portraying the environment that the world will be in before the coming of the end.
2Ti 3:1-9 You can be certain that in the last days there will be some very hard times. (2) People will love only themselves and money. They will be proud, stuck-up, rude, and disobedient to their parents. They will also be ungrateful, godless, (3) heartless, and hateful. Their words will be cruel, and they will have no self-control or pity. These people will hate everything that is good. (4) They will be sneaky, reckless, and puffed up with pride. Instead of loving God, they will love pleasure. (5) Even though they will make a show of being religious, their religion won't be real. Don't have anything to do with such people. (6) Some men fool whole families, just to get power over those women who are slaves of sin and are controlled by all sorts of desires. (7) These women always want to learn something new, but they never can discover the truth. (8) Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, these people are enemies of the truth. Their minds are sick, and their faith isn't real. (9) But they won't get very far with their foolishness. Soon everyone will know the truth about them, just as Jannes and Jambres were found out.
Goes to show, in the name of being tolerant, they have accused those against them as intolerant so much so accusing the government of not protecting the minority. By accusing us of being intolerant, isn't that an act of intolerance as well?
I have just finished the book "The Case for the Real Jesus" by Lee Strobel. In Challenge 6 (or chapter 6) during an interview with Paul Copen, this is a great illustration that he used.
"Something is true - or corresponds to reality - even if people don't believe it. I often use the example of the earth being round even when people thought it was flat. Some people have said to me, "Well wasn't the earth flat for them at that time?' I say, 'No, the earth was STILL round. It wasn't as though people could fall over the edge of the earth adn be swallowed by dragons back then. The earth was round even if people didn't believe it..'"
So the issue between gays and general conservatives is this: what is the reality of truth? What is the yard stick on which to measure one's morality?
What I can only say for Christianity is this:
a) The New Testament was and still is and will be still proved to be a reliable source of information about antiquity even though there are gnostic literature that is forcing themselves to paint an alternative reality, the Gnostic sources will not stand up to scrutiny.
b) Since the New Testament has time and again prove historians and archeologists that its contents are reliable, then the New Testaments claims about the truth in the Old Testament should be held in high regard.
c) If Old Testament has also proved the historians and archeologists about its reliable contents, then its non-provable contents such as the moral law, judgement against Sodom and Gomorrah has to be true to and thus the moral law against homosexuality must also be held in high regard
As already shown in 2 Timothy, the world has indeed decayed to a degree that doing wrong has become a right. It is now not 'OK' to do wrong behind closed doors, but to do wrong in plain view of everyone. Isn't that itself is a perversion?
In life there's always a choice...a 'natural' affection does not mean it is right because 'nature' in this world is 'infected' and so in some sense, things that seems 'natural' sometimes cannot be trusted to be 'natural'. The only way to know if anything is right is the moral code and for us Christians and for most people who lives by this moral code it is enshrined in the Bible.
For me, this argument can see no end because to some, morality is subjective and is relative to everyone. But how can one be sure that morality can be absolutely relative? Isn't that a contradiction.
We all need to live by a guideline. If the morality stand is not accepted, then this world CANNOT work at all. Murder can be accepted...maid abuse can be condoned...cars can go against the flow of traffic...not..it cannot be, if GAYS relies on rules to make their case known, then they must accept the existence of morality...the existence of human guidelines; and these guidelines are in us that cannot be explained away by evolution. No germ or molecule can know what is right or wrong...they are designed/created...
Think about it properly, a great lie is perpetrated in Singapore now.
Now...this episode gives me 'hope'...the positive expectation of GOOD coming in the form of Christ Jesus...for event rapture, very very very soon.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Another Bullet Into Evolution Theory, But Why A Title Like That?
Just saw this
" Fossils paint new picture of human evolution
CHICAGO - AN ancient skull and upper jawbone from two early branches of the human family tree - Homo erectus and Homo habilis - suggest the early human ancestors may have lived close together for half a million years, researchers said on Wednesday.
How wrong was that impression, as represented by the picture of an ape slowly evolving into modern man! As of now, these scientists from National Geographic (no doubt a proponent of evolution) has to back track in some assumptions following this revelation.
Time to really consider the claims of evolution!
The article clearly shows that
" Fossils paint new picture of human evolution
CHICAGO - AN ancient skull and upper jawbone from two early branches of the human family tree - Homo erectus and Homo habilis - suggest the early human ancestors may have lived close together for half a million years, researchers said on Wednesday.
The fossils, discovered in eastern Africa, challenge the understanding that humans evolved one after another like a line of dominoes, from ancient Homo habilis to Homo erectus and eventually to Homo sapiens, or modern people.
'There has been a view that has suggested habilis very slowly evolved into erectus,' said Susan Anton, a professor of anthropology at New York University. 'Now we have the two cohabitating, so that can no longer be the case.' The research, published in the journal Nature, was conducted by nine scientists including Prof Anton, paleontologist Meave Leakey and her daughter Louise Leakey, both explorers in residence at the National Geographic Society, and Fred Spoor of University College London.!
Both fossils were found in 2000 east of Lake Turkana in Kenya as part of the Koobi Fora Research Project, which is affiliated with the National Museums of Kenya."
What I am not really about is that the media at large STILL could not accept the fact that evolution is still a farce as far as I am concerned. One look at the title the first impression one immediate get is that there's another theory that has substantiate the theory of evolution.How wrong was that impression, as represented by the picture of an ape slowly evolving into modern man! As of now, these scientists from National Geographic (no doubt a proponent of evolution) has to back track in some assumptions following this revelation.
Time to really consider the claims of evolution!
The article clearly shows that
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Potter & Magic Points to Christ
Harry Potter I must say reminds me of my time that I was really into Dungeons and Dragons, Dragon Lance and some fantasy story books during the late 90s. Looks like the magic never did disappear when the countless young people are clamouring for the last book of the series which funnily enough ends at the seventh book.
As the author rest the story at the seventh instalment, God also rest after the seventh day of creation. I am not saying that the author is mimicking how God works but it seems that a lot of things do have meaning in life.
Why don't we look at magic instead? From the time Lord of the Rings and the Narnia, to the darker Dungeon & Dragons/Dragonlance and perhaps even the Star Wars series we have seen the people's thirsts for things supernatural be it good or bad.
I can only conclude that our fascination with magic and the supernatural is also had a tinge of fear because it is beyond our understanding and yet somehow it is supposed to be a part of us.
If we are made in God's image, surely the Glory of God is also part of that reflection. If not how would Adam & Eve need to cover themselves? Looks like they have the Glory of God covering them and that itself is supernatural, a kind of light that gives more than warmth to the wearer and actually gives it 'magic'.
It also just confirmed that we really are made for something more glorious but somehow our present state do not conform to our suspicions.
That said, magic is just an extension of the knowledge of that lost glory that we had and now being restored by Christ through the cross but why we did not have it now? Actually in my heart I do know that we do now have the glory of God because of the witness by the Holy Spirit that is within the heart of the believer.
My personal experience, and for my wife as well, is that we look younger than our age says something about the 'magic' that is the Christos Power of regeneration! Plus my well being is being looked after for the past 7 months without hard slogging in workaholic paradise that is Singapore.
Of course the outpouring of the power of the Holy Spirit can be seen in healings, in good circumstances that a mere 'coincidence' could not have explained it away and definitely from countless number of testimonies coming from fellow brothers and sisters in Christ during incidences such as 9/11, Desert Storm II, and many more...
I can only say that 'magic' has happened and it is Holy 'magic' and that 'magic' is of the same class that is displayed by Christ during the stormy weather when Christ walked on water, when He healed the sick, gives hope to the hopeless, give recognition to the despised. His 'magic' touch He gives to people around Him only confirms that the Supernatural is real that Holy 'magic' is for the believer to grasp and enjoyed through Jesus!
Of course in the epistle to the Galatians Paul did say
Gal 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (20) idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, (21) envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Well Paul now did acknowledge that the supernatural is so real to his world. But this 'supernatural' influence through sorcery is not of the Lord but from the enemy. And sorcery is the 'works of the flesh' and it is manifested.
Do we see the difference? One is from the Holy Spirit and the other is from the flesh.
So 'magic' is definitely from the realm of the supernatural and it is real enough that it has the influence that we see this weekend. The only thing we as mature Christians should do is to embrace the fact that 'magic' is really part of life and reading about a story book using magic as background will not destroy us.
That the very fact that we are breathing, that we are functioning as human beings with thoughts that is as unique as the snow flake just shows that we are living 'magic spells' only can be ordained by God. Our only job is to ensure that we do not do 'magic' through the power of the flesh, that is to seek supernatural directions and power through means that is clearly not Biblical.
Let us read Harry Potter with sense of adventure and imagination and to know that magic is real and 'good magic' is in the hands of The Lord that will do good for the sons and daughters of the almighty Abba accepted through Jesus' blood!
ps....ever wondered why so many 'magic' themed stuff comes unto this world nowadays? Guess that the Lord is really coming back!
As the author rest the story at the seventh instalment, God also rest after the seventh day of creation. I am not saying that the author is mimicking how God works but it seems that a lot of things do have meaning in life.
Why don't we look at magic instead? From the time Lord of the Rings and the Narnia, to the darker Dungeon & Dragons/Dragonlance and perhaps even the Star Wars series we have seen the people's thirsts for things supernatural be it good or bad.
I can only conclude that our fascination with magic and the supernatural is also had a tinge of fear because it is beyond our understanding and yet somehow it is supposed to be a part of us.
If we are made in God's image, surely the Glory of God is also part of that reflection. If not how would Adam & Eve need to cover themselves? Looks like they have the Glory of God covering them and that itself is supernatural, a kind of light that gives more than warmth to the wearer and actually gives it 'magic'.
It also just confirmed that we really are made for something more glorious but somehow our present state do not conform to our suspicions.
That said, magic is just an extension of the knowledge of that lost glory that we had and now being restored by Christ through the cross but why we did not have it now? Actually in my heart I do know that we do now have the glory of God because of the witness by the Holy Spirit that is within the heart of the believer.
My personal experience, and for my wife as well, is that we look younger than our age says something about the 'magic' that is the Christos Power of regeneration! Plus my well being is being looked after for the past 7 months without hard slogging in workaholic paradise that is Singapore.
Of course the outpouring of the power of the Holy Spirit can be seen in healings, in good circumstances that a mere 'coincidence' could not have explained it away and definitely from countless number of testimonies coming from fellow brothers and sisters in Christ during incidences such as 9/11, Desert Storm II, and many more...
I can only say that 'magic' has happened and it is Holy 'magic' and that 'magic' is of the same class that is displayed by Christ during the stormy weather when Christ walked on water, when He healed the sick, gives hope to the hopeless, give recognition to the despised. His 'magic' touch He gives to people around Him only confirms that the Supernatural is real that Holy 'magic' is for the believer to grasp and enjoyed through Jesus!
Of course in the epistle to the Galatians Paul did say
Gal 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (20) idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, (21) envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Well Paul now did acknowledge that the supernatural is so real to his world. But this 'supernatural' influence through sorcery is not of the Lord but from the enemy. And sorcery is the 'works of the flesh' and it is manifested.
Do we see the difference? One is from the Holy Spirit and the other is from the flesh.
So 'magic' is definitely from the realm of the supernatural and it is real enough that it has the influence that we see this weekend. The only thing we as mature Christians should do is to embrace the fact that 'magic' is really part of life and reading about a story book using magic as background will not destroy us.
That the very fact that we are breathing, that we are functioning as human beings with thoughts that is as unique as the snow flake just shows that we are living 'magic spells' only can be ordained by God. Our only job is to ensure that we do not do 'magic' through the power of the flesh, that is to seek supernatural directions and power through means that is clearly not Biblical.
Let us read Harry Potter with sense of adventure and imagination and to know that magic is real and 'good magic' is in the hands of The Lord that will do good for the sons and daughters of the almighty Abba accepted through Jesus' blood!
ps....ever wondered why so many 'magic' themed stuff comes unto this world nowadays? Guess that the Lord is really coming back!
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
To Be Happy or To Have Joy?
From today's Company Email sharing:
As Smith Wigglesworth has said so eloquently through the Holy Spirit, happiness is a 'mixture' that despite the feel good effect of the moment, there is something underneath the happiness that 'downgrade' the feeling of euphoria. So despite the fact that we can try to appreciate the things of life NOW, behind that happiness of the current, there is still a linger sense of inadequacy. So how do we really escape the curse of eternal hunger?
It is to have Godly joy!
Smith Wigglesworth put it as such: that the sense of joy is not dependent on anything to derive a sense of well-being. That the sense of euphoria is not messed up by the things of this world.
Here comes something that is truly remarkable: the arrival of Joy that comes in the form of Jesus Christ, through His Shalom Peace that cannot be understood and cannot be given by this World. Only through His Being, can we have Joy, can we have everlasting water that we shall not thirst.
John 4:13-14
Jesus answered and said unto her, Every one that drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up unto eternal life.
Time to drink from Him
Most of us suffer from this seemingly insatiable hunger that is an ongoing source of stress and vexation. So how can we escape from this hungry life? Can we live a life where we're constantly fulfilled?Sounds really noble to be able to focus what we are doing now and appreciate the things in front of us. It sound so easy doesn't it? But we all know that no matter how much we tried, we will always go back to worrying, looking at 'what if' and 'if only' in life. The problem is always the same. We are sinners looking for some sort of fulfillment in life that gives us joy but we have at the most is happiness, the dependence of circumstances to make us feel good.
The answer is Yes. The only way to stop hungering for something else the moment our hunger for one thing is satisfied is to be constantly nourished by everything that comes to us at any given time. Instead of pining and waiting for that next big meal or next big prize, we can find meaning and pleasure in what we're doing and feeling right now.
The most important thing you have to do is change your focus. Stop fixating on that date this weekend, that bonus next week, that vacation next month, that loving remark you wish your spouse would give you, that praise for your great idea at the meeting today.
Instead, channel your emphasis towards the present. What are you doing and feeling now that can be cherished and savoured?
If we become more mindful of what we're paying attention to every day, we'll discover that we give our energy to a lot of things that really don't fulfill us on a deeper level. These distractions turn us into hungry ghosts gorging continuously at the buffet table yet can never feel full. Spirit cannot be fulfilled by the material.
To escape the curse of eternal hunger, we need to pay attention to and appreciate the truly wonderful and miraculous things and people in our lives right now.
As Smith Wigglesworth has said so eloquently through the Holy Spirit, happiness is a 'mixture' that despite the feel good effect of the moment, there is something underneath the happiness that 'downgrade' the feeling of euphoria. So despite the fact that we can try to appreciate the things of life NOW, behind that happiness of the current, there is still a linger sense of inadequacy. So how do we really escape the curse of eternal hunger?
It is to have Godly joy!
Smith Wigglesworth put it as such: that the sense of joy is not dependent on anything to derive a sense of well-being. That the sense of euphoria is not messed up by the things of this world.
Here comes something that is truly remarkable: the arrival of Joy that comes in the form of Jesus Christ, through His Shalom Peace that cannot be understood and cannot be given by this World. Only through His Being, can we have Joy, can we have everlasting water that we shall not thirst.
John 4:13-14
Jesus answered and said unto her, Every one that drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up unto eternal life.
Time to drink from Him
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Upon Reflection: God's Providence
Today just got another of those daily Sermons by Pastor Prince and he quoted this verse
Matthew 6:26 26Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
It is very easy to see that the birds just fly here and there and eat when they are hungry. They just gather at a field next to my place and munch whatever comes out of the field.
The other example that is so closed to resembling the birds is the wandering of Israel in the desert for 40 years.
Exo 16:35 And the sons of Israel ate the manna forty years, until their coming into an inhabited land. They ate the manna until their coming to the border of the land of Canaan.
Is this the life that God wants for us? This is the question I was struggling to answer when I was contemplating of quitting my last job and was keen to use the wisdom that God gave (Pastor Prince was preaching very strongly on wisdom during August-October 2006). Come to think of it...that was about seven months ago...another reminder of the last time I shared at Essie's place...exactly 7 months to the day i came back from Australia.
This time round, it is not exactly 7 months, it is actually like 8 months but still it reminds me of the time I got my last job. Considering the jobs that I have been doing during these 8 months, it is not really as bad as the first time around where I was really not doing anything.
The last few months was really a series of part time jobs as lecturer, photographer, designer, activity organiser, gadget reviewer. article contributor and lastly, forum contributor to Straits Times (not exactly a job). Although I did not earn as much as I was fully employed, I am still living at the same level and perhaps more (got new gadgets and cameras) as I did before I quit.
Now, back to God's economy... I have went through it and find it really liberating (in terms of sleep, sanity, depression levels and undue pressures) and would continue to do so if given the opportunity. But God , in His wisdom , know that He has a place for me to do His work and a permanent job He did give me....I just gingerly send out resumes as and when I am interested and after 4/5 interviews in the last month, I got a new job as a corporate trainer. Something I would like to do more without sales target...as Vincent has pointed out "seems like you are going to the education sector"...couldn't agree more.
The good part of all this is that, I left my old job believing in a God that Provides and He did so with remarkable ease...and I enjoy it with remarkable ease with no worries...though I concede there was 2 occasions I did start to worry, the credit card bills and the HDB mortgage. I push this up to God to settle and my pay came at the right moment to settle all these. I prayed to God, "Please....no such heart attacks again!" but on the other hand, it did strengthen the faith in Him.
At the end of this month, would be the start of a new job. But that last half a year I actually gained more in terms of network, contacts, extra part time jobs that I would love to do and yet do not feel burdened in terms of time and effort...In short God has confirmed for me this particular view I hold and confirmed through Pastor Prince's email sermon
I leave you guys with this verse, the confirmation of what I was saying...
Pro 10:22 The blessing of Jehovah, it makes rich, and he adds no pain with it.
and also my favourite verse Jer 29:11...the very verse I brought back from Australia.
Jer 29:11 For I know the purposes which I am planning for you, says Jehovah; purposes of peace, and not for evil; to give you posterity and a hope.
Therefore part of the blessing is work without undue nonsense from the world...we gain yet we are not slave to the gain...thus the benefit of REAL tithing.
So now...look forward to the new job that God has blessed! For the work He wants His children to do, He will train them up to do it well!
Matthew 6:26 26Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
It is very easy to see that the birds just fly here and there and eat when they are hungry. They just gather at a field next to my place and munch whatever comes out of the field.
The other example that is so closed to resembling the birds is the wandering of Israel in the desert for 40 years.
Exo 16:35 And the sons of Israel ate the manna forty years, until their coming into an inhabited land. They ate the manna until their coming to the border of the land of Canaan.
Is this the life that God wants for us? This is the question I was struggling to answer when I was contemplating of quitting my last job and was keen to use the wisdom that God gave (Pastor Prince was preaching very strongly on wisdom during August-October 2006). Come to think of it...that was about seven months ago...another reminder of the last time I shared at Essie's place...exactly 7 months to the day i came back from Australia.
This time round, it is not exactly 7 months, it is actually like 8 months but still it reminds me of the time I got my last job. Considering the jobs that I have been doing during these 8 months, it is not really as bad as the first time around where I was really not doing anything.
The last few months was really a series of part time jobs as lecturer, photographer, designer, activity organiser, gadget reviewer. article contributor and lastly, forum contributor to Straits Times (not exactly a job). Although I did not earn as much as I was fully employed, I am still living at the same level and perhaps more (got new gadgets and cameras) as I did before I quit.
Now, back to God's economy... I have went through it and find it really liberating (in terms of sleep, sanity, depression levels and undue pressures) and would continue to do so if given the opportunity. But God , in His wisdom , know that He has a place for me to do His work and a permanent job He did give me....I just gingerly send out resumes as and when I am interested and after 4/5 interviews in the last month, I got a new job as a corporate trainer. Something I would like to do more without sales target...as Vincent has pointed out "seems like you are going to the education sector"...couldn't agree more.
The good part of all this is that, I left my old job believing in a God that Provides and He did so with remarkable ease...and I enjoy it with remarkable ease with no worries...though I concede there was 2 occasions I did start to worry, the credit card bills and the HDB mortgage. I push this up to God to settle and my pay came at the right moment to settle all these. I prayed to God, "Please....no such heart attacks again!" but on the other hand, it did strengthen the faith in Him.
At the end of this month, would be the start of a new job. But that last half a year I actually gained more in terms of network, contacts, extra part time jobs that I would love to do and yet do not feel burdened in terms of time and effort...In short God has confirmed for me this particular view I hold and confirmed through Pastor Prince's email sermon
I leave you guys with this verse, the confirmation of what I was saying...
Pro 10:22 The blessing of Jehovah, it makes rich, and he adds no pain with it.
and also my favourite verse Jer 29:11...the very verse I brought back from Australia.
Jer 29:11 For I know the purposes which I am planning for you, says Jehovah; purposes of peace, and not for evil; to give you posterity and a hope.
Therefore part of the blessing is work without undue nonsense from the world...we gain yet we are not slave to the gain...thus the benefit of REAL tithing.
So now...look forward to the new job that God has blessed! For the work He wants His children to do, He will train them up to do it well!
Friday, April 27, 2007
Wear Little Clothing is Sinful?
Got this Email 'Sermon' today about how women should dress. And the email quoted 1 Tim Chapter 2 to substantiate that women should always dress decently.
My initial reaction is this: What is the accepted 'level' of decency? What do we mean by being decent?
Here is my reply:
Looking at 1 Tim 2 as a whole, I must add that a particular verse should be included
1Ti 2:8-9 Therefore, I desire the men to pray in every place, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting. (9) So also the women to adorn themselves in proper clothing, with modesty and sensibleness, not with plaiting, or gold, or pearls, or expensive garments,
Why apostle Paul tells women to dress decently is because Paul wants every man to lift up holy hands without doubting. In some translations 'doubting' is said to be in argument and be contentious. And my educated guess is that some men saw other men seeing their wives inappropriately dressed while prayer and thus responds in wrath. So Apostle Paul urges the women to wear something that do not cause discord while together in prayer.
I will base my comments further by using the following bible verse and I always use Literal version of the bible.
2Co 6:1-10 But working together, we also call on you not to receive the grace of God in vain. (2) For He says, "In an acceptable time I heard you, and in a day of salvation I helped you." Behold, now is the acceptable time! Behold, now is the day of salvation! Isa. 49:8 (3) We are not giving a cause of stumbling, in nothing, that the ministry may not be blamed, (4) but in everything commending ourselves as God's servants, in much patience, in afflictions, in emergencies, in difficulties, (5) in stripes, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings, (6) in pureness, in knowledge, in long-suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love, (7) in the Word of truth, in the power of God, through the weapons of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, (8) through glory and dishonor, through evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; (9) as unknown, and yet well known, as dying, and yet, look, we live; as flogged, and yet not put to death; (10) as grieved, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet enriching many; as having nothing, yet possessing all things.
I would say in commenting about a certain Pastor's wife, we should also start reflecting on the attitude we hold while doing the commenting. Can anyone be thoroughly right or thoroughly wrong? Who can say for sure? Who are we to judge?
Joh 8:7 But as they continued questioning Him, bending back up, He said to them, The one among you without sin, let him cast the first stone at her.
Only Jesus can Judge righteously, in fairness and in truth.
But on the issues of clothing, I would say it is really a matter of taste, of culture. During Medieval times, the Anglo-saxon ladies of the time wear in such a way that their bosoms are exposed for all to see which is really much what we have now. Is that acceptable? Is that sinful?
Even right now, some quarters of the Muslim faith would rather cover the ladies in full that only allow a small window for the women to see. Is that acceptable? Is that sinful?
What I am saying here is that in all extremes there are things acceptable and unacceptable and it really depends on the circumstances and the culture one is really in. The verse that may really speaks of this incidence is as such
1Co 10:25-32 Eat everything being sold in a meat market, examining nothing because of conscience, (26) for "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness of it." Psa. 24:1 (27) And if any of the unbelievers invite you, and you desire to go, eat everything set before you, examining nothing because of conscience. (28) But if anyone tells you, This is slain in sacrifice to idols, do not eat, because of that one pointing it out, and the conscience; for "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness of it." Psa. 24:1 (29) But I say conscience, not that of himself, but that of the other. For why is my freedom judged by another's conscience? (30) But if I partake by grace, why am I evil spoken of because of that for which I give thanks? (31) Then whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things to the glory of God. (32) Be without offense both to Jews and Greeks, and to the assembly of God.
What Paul is saying is that we can do all things, 'examining nothing because of conscience'. In other words, if people invite us to eat, to a party, don't worry so much and just eat but we should act upon the conscience of others which is an act of love. This is so that we should not stumble brothers and sisters.
In this respect, there is of course reasons to cast stones. But I must say that we should do all things to the glory of God. And to do the things of God, above all things is to love, and love is to forgive, to forgive is to be compassionate.
What's done is done. What's left is our attitude towards judgment and condemnation: and we should refrain from it because we neither have the wisdom, nor the capacity to learn everything to render our judgment to be just. What's more, what is unacceptable to us, is acceptable to many in other cultures.
In this respect, what the pastor's wife did is in the context of the event that she is in so she may have thought that going for such an event in the western context, wearing something slightly revealing and glamorous is acceptable behaviour. But what is considered to be too revealing? Do we expect people to go to a ball wearing t-shirt and jeans?
But if I am a Christian that says "It is not what the outside that matters most to God but it is the inside." We are accepted by God through Christ not on what we wear but what we believe in. Then for such a Christian, to condemn the act is not really worth the effort.
What i feel about the issue of clothing is as such: It is not what the woman wear (or did not wear) but what's important is how we see certain things. Does wearing or not wearing certain things speaks about the level of one's faith? Does wearing skimpy clothes cause men to be sexual predators? Who are we to say a naked person do not have any faith in Jesus? Does dressing oneself conservatively means that the woman in question does not sin?
Mat 5:28 But I say to you, Everyone looking at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
The onus that the Lord has put on is the 'looker', the one who sees the woman. Everyone and anyone can look at women, it is 'undressing' her in the mind that causes adultery in his heart. The Lord has thus implied that men have the faculty to undress the woman in his mind and heart, whether or not the woman is dressed or not is not the issue!
So the issue is really not how a woman dress, but how we should search our own hearts on why we are so judgmental over how women dresses.
If we blame women for our lust because of how they dress, then it implies that we have no control over our own desires. If we judge people on their faith because of the amount of cloth they have on their body, then it is really a case of self-righteousness. If Jesus is so disappointed about how Pharisees 'measure' their level of righteousness, we ought to be careful not to follow their footsteps.
As you can see from the arguments that the Lord through Paul and Himself is trying to address is that men, with lust, is the reason why Paul asked women to help the congregation by dressing appropriately. The problem is not with the women, the problem lies with the men.
If Jesus have judged us righteousness because we accepted Him as our Lord and Saviour, who are we to say who is saved or unsaved?
I implore that we should do all things through Christ and for His glory. Although we are in the world, we are not of this world. But to engage the world so that we can administer the Lord's love to this fallen world, is to do all things in and through His love. To judge people only serves to push them away from the Lord.
If the Lord do not judge the adulterous woman, but actually forgives her and empower her by giving her the trust she did not deserve by saying 'go and sin no more'. I think we who are in Christ should do likewise.
Shalom
Wilson
My initial reaction is this: What is the accepted 'level' of decency? What do we mean by being decent?
Here is my reply:
Looking at 1 Tim 2 as a whole, I must add that a particular verse should be included
1Ti 2:8-9 Therefore, I desire the men to pray in every place, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting. (9) So also the women to adorn themselves in proper clothing, with modesty and sensibleness, not with plaiting, or gold, or pearls, or expensive garments,
Why apostle Paul tells women to dress decently is because Paul wants every man to lift up holy hands without doubting. In some translations 'doubting' is said to be in argument and be contentious. And my educated guess is that some men saw other men seeing their wives inappropriately dressed while prayer and thus responds in wrath. So Apostle Paul urges the women to wear something that do not cause discord while together in prayer.
I will base my comments further by using the following bible verse and I always use Literal version of the bible.
2Co 6:1-10 But working together, we also call on you not to receive the grace of God in vain. (2) For He says, "In an acceptable time I heard you, and in a day of salvation I helped you." Behold, now is the acceptable time! Behold, now is the day of salvation! Isa. 49:8 (3) We are not giving a cause of stumbling, in nothing, that the ministry may not be blamed, (4) but in everything commending ourselves as God's servants, in much patience, in afflictions, in emergencies, in difficulties, (5) in stripes, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings, (6) in pureness, in knowledge, in long-suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love, (7) in the Word of truth, in the power of God, through the weapons of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, (8) through glory and dishonor, through evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; (9) as unknown, and yet well known, as dying, and yet, look, we live; as flogged, and yet not put to death; (10) as grieved, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet enriching many; as having nothing, yet possessing all things.
I would say in commenting about a certain Pastor's wife, we should also start reflecting on the attitude we hold while doing the commenting. Can anyone be thoroughly right or thoroughly wrong? Who can say for sure? Who are we to judge?
Joh 8:7 But as they continued questioning Him, bending back up, He said to them, The one among you without sin, let him cast the first stone at her.
Only Jesus can Judge righteously, in fairness and in truth.
But on the issues of clothing, I would say it is really a matter of taste, of culture. During Medieval times, the Anglo-saxon ladies of the time wear in such a way that their bosoms are exposed for all to see which is really much what we have now. Is that acceptable? Is that sinful?
Even right now, some quarters of the Muslim faith would rather cover the ladies in full that only allow a small window for the women to see. Is that acceptable? Is that sinful?
What I am saying here is that in all extremes there are things acceptable and unacceptable and it really depends on the circumstances and the culture one is really in. The verse that may really speaks of this incidence is as such
1Co 10:25-32 Eat everything being sold in a meat market, examining nothing because of conscience, (26) for "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness of it." Psa. 24:1 (27) And if any of the unbelievers invite you, and you desire to go, eat everything set before you, examining nothing because of conscience. (28) But if anyone tells you, This is slain in sacrifice to idols, do not eat, because of that one pointing it out, and the conscience; for "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness of it." Psa. 24:1 (29) But I say conscience, not that of himself, but that of the other. For why is my freedom judged by another's conscience? (30) But if I partake by grace, why am I evil spoken of because of that for which I give thanks? (31) Then whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things to the glory of God. (32) Be without offense both to Jews and Greeks, and to the assembly of God.
What Paul is saying is that we can do all things, 'examining nothing because of conscience'. In other words, if people invite us to eat, to a party, don't worry so much and just eat but we should act upon the conscience of others which is an act of love. This is so that we should not stumble brothers and sisters.
In this respect, there is of course reasons to cast stones. But I must say that we should do all things to the glory of God. And to do the things of God, above all things is to love, and love is to forgive, to forgive is to be compassionate.
What's done is done. What's left is our attitude towards judgment and condemnation: and we should refrain from it because we neither have the wisdom, nor the capacity to learn everything to render our judgment to be just. What's more, what is unacceptable to us, is acceptable to many in other cultures.
In this respect, what the pastor's wife did is in the context of the event that she is in so she may have thought that going for such an event in the western context, wearing something slightly revealing and glamorous is acceptable behaviour. But what is considered to be too revealing? Do we expect people to go to a ball wearing t-shirt and jeans?
But if I am a Christian that says "It is not what the outside that matters most to God but it is the inside." We are accepted by God through Christ not on what we wear but what we believe in. Then for such a Christian, to condemn the act is not really worth the effort.
What i feel about the issue of clothing is as such: It is not what the woman wear (or did not wear) but what's important is how we see certain things. Does wearing or not wearing certain things speaks about the level of one's faith? Does wearing skimpy clothes cause men to be sexual predators? Who are we to say a naked person do not have any faith in Jesus? Does dressing oneself conservatively means that the woman in question does not sin?
Mat 5:28 But I say to you, Everyone looking at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
The onus that the Lord has put on is the 'looker', the one who sees the woman. Everyone and anyone can look at women, it is 'undressing' her in the mind that causes adultery in his heart. The Lord has thus implied that men have the faculty to undress the woman in his mind and heart, whether or not the woman is dressed or not is not the issue!
So the issue is really not how a woman dress, but how we should search our own hearts on why we are so judgmental over how women dresses.
If we blame women for our lust because of how they dress, then it implies that we have no control over our own desires. If we judge people on their faith because of the amount of cloth they have on their body, then it is really a case of self-righteousness. If Jesus is so disappointed about how Pharisees 'measure' their level of righteousness, we ought to be careful not to follow their footsteps.
As you can see from the arguments that the Lord through Paul and Himself is trying to address is that men, with lust, is the reason why Paul asked women to help the congregation by dressing appropriately. The problem is not with the women, the problem lies with the men.
If Jesus have judged us righteousness because we accepted Him as our Lord and Saviour, who are we to say who is saved or unsaved?
I implore that we should do all things through Christ and for His glory. Although we are in the world, we are not of this world. But to engage the world so that we can administer the Lord's love to this fallen world, is to do all things in and through His love. To judge people only serves to push them away from the Lord.
If the Lord do not judge the adulterous woman, but actually forgives her and empower her by giving her the trust she did not deserve by saying 'go and sin no more'. I think we who are in Christ should do likewise.
Shalom
Wilson
Thursday, April 26, 2007
The Bearean Has Does It Again: Eternal Salvation Not Possible?
One reason I subscribe to The Bearean is to see, how much wrong can a Christian website be when it comes to interpreting scriptures. This website is not a cult but sometimes it is their teachings that put fears into the believers and doubt their salvation!
The Highlight of Today: http://theberean.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Home.showBerean/BereanID/1255/Hebrews-10-26-31
And the key passage is this:
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins,
On first read one would readily think that he or she understood this passage as to say that Christians have the ability to lose their sacrifice for sins (thereby salvation) if we sin wilfully.
Now I want to really ask, does the Christian sin? Of course we do! Sometimes we sin without knowing and sometimes we sin wilfully because of our human flesh. And that's why we are so called 'Fallen from Grace'. But is Grace is sufficient for only those who upheld God's law of love or is it for everyone? We have to think about this really carefully because the wrong answer will lead to a wrong picture of God and His Son and about Their intention of salvation.
I can point to one verse that debunked what Brother Richard T. Ritenbaugh is trying to preach here and it comes from none other than Apostle Paul!
Rom 7:14-25 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, having been sold under sin. (15) For what I work out, I do not know. For what I do not will, this I do. But what I hate, this I do. (16) But if I do what I do not will, I agree with the Law, that it is good. (17) But now I no longer work it out, but the sin dwelling in me. (18) For I know that in me, that is in my flesh, dwells no good. For to will is present to me, but to work out the good I do not find. (19) For what good I desire, I do not do. But the evil I do not desire, this I do. (20) But if I do what I do not desire, it is no longer I working it out, but the sin dwelling in me. (21) I find then the law, when I desire to do the right, that evil is present with me. (22) For I delight in the Law of God according to the inward man; (23) but I see another law in my members having warred against the law of my mind, and taking me captive by the law of sin being in my members. (24) O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (25) I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then I myself with the mind truly serve the Law of God, and with the flesh the law of sin.
What Apostle Paul wanted to say is simply this: We still reside in a body, a flesh of sin. We have a mind to do what God really wants to do and yet while we are still in this body, we still sin! Apostle says so much here, we still wilfully sin in this body even though we REALLY do not want to do it. So do we have any hope? Apostle Paul said it in His most wonder cry of frustration " O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
You know what? JESUS delivered Apostle Paul from the body of this death! JESUS has delivered ME, His Beloved from the body of this death! WE who are in CHRIST are NOW delivered from DEATH! We have salvation!
Now when we go back to the question of Grace, do you think we could ever fall beyond the reach of Grace?
Rom 5:6-8 for we yet being without strength, in due time Christ died for ungodly ones. (7) For with difficulty one will die for a just one, (for perhaps one even dares to die for the sake of the good one), (8) but God commends His love to us in this, that we being yet sinners, Christ died for us.
While we are sinners, Christ died for us so that we can receive salvation! Grace is over and abundantly sufficient for us so much so that Grace can actually reached us while we are sinners! If that is so, how in the world can we fall from grace?!?!
So when we go back to Hebrew, the question of whether we as believers wilfully sin or not is not an issue anymore because of the quality and the perfectness of Jesus' blood's ability to cleanse us!
So what is this particular verse is trying to teach?
I used the CEV to better illustrate this particular verse
Heb 10:26 No sacrifices can be made for people who decide to sin after they find out about the truth.
Question:
a) What is THE truth (not a truth or one of the truths, but the ONE and ONLY important truth in the Christian life) that this verse is talking about?
b) What kind of sacrifice that people cannot make once they sin after knowing the truth?
Answer
a) THE truth is this, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone believing into Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (17) For God did not send His Son into the world that He might judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him (John" 3:16-17 )"
b) If we do not believe in THE Sacrifice, how can we use Jesus as the Sacrifice for OUR sins? If we cannot use this particular sacrifice, how in the world are we able to gain remission for our sins? That's why the sacrifice remain no more for us to use!
God is in the business of saving the world NOW, before He came back for good! If His blood is so 'weak' so much so that The Blood cannot cover the sins of the world or it can cover only for a period of time until we sin wilfully, then Jesus died in vain because His blood in this case would be not much better than sheep and goats!
However His blood cleanses us while we are sinners...that's how powerful it is! If it is that powerful do we dare to think otherwise that His Salvation is not eternal?
Brother Ritenbaugh, you have lots of explaining to do to the Lord because you do not believe in the saving power of Jesus and thus you are in danger of losing your salvation as based on your arguments. If you do, you would not have to convince people that there's no such thing as 'Eternal Security'. I beg to differ! Our Lord's cleansing blood is effectively throughout eternity from history till the end of eternity!
The Highlight of Today: http://theberean.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Home.showBerean/BereanID/1255/Hebrews-10-26-31
And the key passage is this:
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins,
On first read one would readily think that he or she understood this passage as to say that Christians have the ability to lose their sacrifice for sins (thereby salvation) if we sin wilfully.
Now I want to really ask, does the Christian sin? Of course we do! Sometimes we sin without knowing and sometimes we sin wilfully because of our human flesh. And that's why we are so called 'Fallen from Grace'. But is Grace is sufficient for only those who upheld God's law of love or is it for everyone? We have to think about this really carefully because the wrong answer will lead to a wrong picture of God and His Son and about Their intention of salvation.
I can point to one verse that debunked what Brother Richard T. Ritenbaugh is trying to preach here and it comes from none other than Apostle Paul!
Rom 7:14-25 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, having been sold under sin. (15) For what I work out, I do not know. For what I do not will, this I do. But what I hate, this I do. (16) But if I do what I do not will, I agree with the Law, that it is good. (17) But now I no longer work it out, but the sin dwelling in me. (18) For I know that in me, that is in my flesh, dwells no good. For to will is present to me, but to work out the good I do not find. (19) For what good I desire, I do not do. But the evil I do not desire, this I do. (20) But if I do what I do not desire, it is no longer I working it out, but the sin dwelling in me. (21) I find then the law, when I desire to do the right, that evil is present with me. (22) For I delight in the Law of God according to the inward man; (23) but I see another law in my members having warred against the law of my mind, and taking me captive by the law of sin being in my members. (24) O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (25) I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then I myself with the mind truly serve the Law of God, and with the flesh the law of sin.
What Apostle Paul wanted to say is simply this: We still reside in a body, a flesh of sin. We have a mind to do what God really wants to do and yet while we are still in this body, we still sin! Apostle says so much here, we still wilfully sin in this body even though we REALLY do not want to do it. So do we have any hope? Apostle Paul said it in His most wonder cry of frustration " O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
You know what? JESUS delivered Apostle Paul from the body of this death! JESUS has delivered ME, His Beloved from the body of this death! WE who are in CHRIST are NOW delivered from DEATH! We have salvation!
Now when we go back to the question of Grace, do you think we could ever fall beyond the reach of Grace?
Rom 5:6-8 for we yet being without strength, in due time Christ died for ungodly ones. (7) For with difficulty one will die for a just one, (for perhaps one even dares to die for the sake of the good one), (8) but God commends His love to us in this, that we being yet sinners, Christ died for us.
While we are sinners, Christ died for us so that we can receive salvation! Grace is over and abundantly sufficient for us so much so that Grace can actually reached us while we are sinners! If that is so, how in the world can we fall from grace?!?!
So when we go back to Hebrew, the question of whether we as believers wilfully sin or not is not an issue anymore because of the quality and the perfectness of Jesus' blood's ability to cleanse us!
So what is this particular verse is trying to teach?
I used the CEV to better illustrate this particular verse
Heb 10:26 No sacrifices can be made for people who decide to sin after they find out about the truth.
Question:
a) What is THE truth (not a truth or one of the truths, but the ONE and ONLY important truth in the Christian life) that this verse is talking about?
b) What kind of sacrifice that people cannot make once they sin after knowing the truth?
Answer
a) THE truth is this, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone believing into Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (17) For God did not send His Son into the world that He might judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him (John" 3:16-17 )"
b) If we do not believe in THE Sacrifice, how can we use Jesus as the Sacrifice for OUR sins? If we cannot use this particular sacrifice, how in the world are we able to gain remission for our sins? That's why the sacrifice remain no more for us to use!
God is in the business of saving the world NOW, before He came back for good! If His blood is so 'weak' so much so that The Blood cannot cover the sins of the world or it can cover only for a period of time until we sin wilfully, then Jesus died in vain because His blood in this case would be not much better than sheep and goats!
However His blood cleanses us while we are sinners...that's how powerful it is! If it is that powerful do we dare to think otherwise that His Salvation is not eternal?
Brother Ritenbaugh, you have lots of explaining to do to the Lord because you do not believe in the saving power of Jesus and thus you are in danger of losing your salvation as based on your arguments. If you do, you would not have to convince people that there's no such thing as 'Eternal Security'. I beg to differ! Our Lord's cleansing blood is effectively throughout eternity from history till the end of eternity!
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
The Sign of the Jews
Received an email on a comic strip about the Holocaust that speaks of the remembrance of evil not for the vengeance but for the education of the young.
It really speaks through to me in view of Jeremiah 29:11 whereby God promised that who trusts in Him will have plans made by God that will not bring destruction but only good.
For I know the purposes which I am planning for you, says Jehovah; purposes of peace, and not for evil; to give you posterity and a hope.
(Jer 29:11)
The holocaust is not just evil, it is plain insanity. It has no peace and it gives people no hope. So how can God promise the people of Israel such hope and yet do not keep it?
The matter is settled by Jesus comments on the scribes and pharisees of His day
Mat 23:37-39 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one killing the prophets and stoning those sent to her. How often I desired to gather your children in the way a bird gathers her chicks under her wings! And you did not desire it. (38) Behold, "your house is left to you desolate." Jer. 22:5 (39) For I say to you, In no way shall you see Me from now on, until you say, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord." Psa. 118:26
The promise of God in Jer 29:11 cannot come through UNLESS we put ourselves under the wings of God through the blood of Jesus. Only with Jesus, can we get shalom peace as promised. As a hen protects its chicks under its wings, so will the Lord protects those who are with Him.
Imagine Jerusalem receives Christ as the saviour, what kind of world would we live now? But that is the past, as with the Holocaust. But as with the Holocaust, we must not forget and those who choose to forget, are choosing to go against the God of Israel.
It is my opinion that I see that the threat to Israel now is very very real. From the talks of the the validity of the Holocaust to the manufacturing of radioactive plutonium, this is just the sword rattling in the sheath. But as Jesus has predicted in Matt 24, the time that He has described, is eerily similar to the circumstances that we are in now. Not to mention the Prophecy of Daniel.
As the prophecy of the Bible has prove itself to be accurate to the point that disputing it as mere coincidences is as good as deluding oneself. Why is that so? Well, we do not need to prove the authenticity of the book of Daniel through carbon dating, we just need to see this verse and then it is very clear to us
Dan 12:4 But you, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, to the end time. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
Just look at these portion of the verse "Many shall run to and fro" & "Knowledge shall be increased". If we look at the time of Daniel, how long would an army of Nebuchadnezzar need to cross from the middle east to Europe? Comparing to how fast the United States army shifting its army to the middle east, do you think that Daniel can even comprehend this?
It is only in the last century that we see air travel so widely used and even more so with the budget airlines.
Need I go on talking about the increased in knowledge? In the time of Daniel, they are still relying on soothsayers. The very fact that I am writing this blog now instead of writing this in my journal is a testament to the increase in knowledge that brings about dramatic changes in the sharing and learning of knowledge.
If I go by the belief that the Old and New Testaments are the infallible Word of God, I can only conclude this: Israel will be attacked and the Holocaust would repeat itself, not because the world forgets but because this world wants to remember how it messed up by not following the 'final solution' to its end.
I am no anti-semitic and I do have Jewish acquaintances and have no issues chatting and being friends with them. However this world has an almost inhumane and insatiable thirst of seeing Israel bleed to its death and it is really beyond human understanding why this is so. It can be easily concluded that evil supernatural influences are behind such actions. So how come not it is not 'good' supernatural influences?
Remember that a person is not to murder another one because humans are the image of God, then 'destroying' anyone, not just Jews, is going against the notion of being 'good'. So if it is not 'good' then it has to be 'bad' or 'evil'.
The world that we live in thrives on finding anything just to prove that we are superior. If we can find ourselves being more powerful, wealthier and put down others than we are better and we 'feel' better. Considering that the Jews has being blessed with the smartest people (they won the most Nobel prizes) and with the most money, they must be brought down so that we can better them.
In the end, we are like ants in the middle of a frying pan who tried to out do each other but never realise the pan is heating up (and the Earth has more earthquakes now...Just as Jesus predicted).
Time to wake up, raise our eyes and look for Jesus' return. Israel better heed Jesus' calls to allow Him to put His wings over Jerusalem sooner rather than later....but we all know, Israel has to suffer a huge catastrophe one more time. Huge as in losing the land of Israel....
Pray that while the church is with her Husband in heaven during a period of huge chaos, humanity can turn to the one whose wings are big enough for the whole universe.
It really speaks through to me in view of Jeremiah 29:11 whereby God promised that who trusts in Him will have plans made by God that will not bring destruction but only good.
For I know the purposes which I am planning for you, says Jehovah; purposes of peace, and not for evil; to give you posterity and a hope.
(Jer 29:11)
The holocaust is not just evil, it is plain insanity. It has no peace and it gives people no hope. So how can God promise the people of Israel such hope and yet do not keep it?
The matter is settled by Jesus comments on the scribes and pharisees of His day
Mat 23:37-39 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one killing the prophets and stoning those sent to her. How often I desired to gather your children in the way a bird gathers her chicks under her wings! And you did not desire it. (38) Behold, "your house is left to you desolate." Jer. 22:5 (39) For I say to you, In no way shall you see Me from now on, until you say, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord." Psa. 118:26
The promise of God in Jer 29:11 cannot come through UNLESS we put ourselves under the wings of God through the blood of Jesus. Only with Jesus, can we get shalom peace as promised. As a hen protects its chicks under its wings, so will the Lord protects those who are with Him.
Imagine Jerusalem receives Christ as the saviour, what kind of world would we live now? But that is the past, as with the Holocaust. But as with the Holocaust, we must not forget and those who choose to forget, are choosing to go against the God of Israel.
It is my opinion that I see that the threat to Israel now is very very real. From the talks of the the validity of the Holocaust to the manufacturing of radioactive plutonium, this is just the sword rattling in the sheath. But as Jesus has predicted in Matt 24, the time that He has described, is eerily similar to the circumstances that we are in now. Not to mention the Prophecy of Daniel.
As the prophecy of the Bible has prove itself to be accurate to the point that disputing it as mere coincidences is as good as deluding oneself. Why is that so? Well, we do not need to prove the authenticity of the book of Daniel through carbon dating, we just need to see this verse and then it is very clear to us
Dan 12:4 But you, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, to the end time. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
Just look at these portion of the verse "Many shall run to and fro" & "Knowledge shall be increased". If we look at the time of Daniel, how long would an army of Nebuchadnezzar need to cross from the middle east to Europe? Comparing to how fast the United States army shifting its army to the middle east, do you think that Daniel can even comprehend this?
It is only in the last century that we see air travel so widely used and even more so with the budget airlines.
Need I go on talking about the increased in knowledge? In the time of Daniel, they are still relying on soothsayers. The very fact that I am writing this blog now instead of writing this in my journal is a testament to the increase in knowledge that brings about dramatic changes in the sharing and learning of knowledge.
If I go by the belief that the Old and New Testaments are the infallible Word of God, I can only conclude this: Israel will be attacked and the Holocaust would repeat itself, not because the world forgets but because this world wants to remember how it messed up by not following the 'final solution' to its end.
I am no anti-semitic and I do have Jewish acquaintances and have no issues chatting and being friends with them. However this world has an almost inhumane and insatiable thirst of seeing Israel bleed to its death and it is really beyond human understanding why this is so. It can be easily concluded that evil supernatural influences are behind such actions. So how come not it is not 'good' supernatural influences?
Remember that a person is not to murder another one because humans are the image of God, then 'destroying' anyone, not just Jews, is going against the notion of being 'good'. So if it is not 'good' then it has to be 'bad' or 'evil'.
The world that we live in thrives on finding anything just to prove that we are superior. If we can find ourselves being more powerful, wealthier and put down others than we are better and we 'feel' better. Considering that the Jews has being blessed with the smartest people (they won the most Nobel prizes) and with the most money, they must be brought down so that we can better them.
In the end, we are like ants in the middle of a frying pan who tried to out do each other but never realise the pan is heating up (and the Earth has more earthquakes now...Just as Jesus predicted).
Time to wake up, raise our eyes and look for Jesus' return. Israel better heed Jesus' calls to allow Him to put His wings over Jerusalem sooner rather than later....but we all know, Israel has to suffer a huge catastrophe one more time. Huge as in losing the land of Israel....
Pray that while the church is with her Husband in heaven during a period of huge chaos, humanity can turn to the one whose wings are big enough for the whole universe.
Friday, March 30, 2007
To Quit Or Not To Quit, That is the Question!
Since I am the admin of the care group, I was 'forced' to remember what was said on Tuesday night.
That hypothetical question of getting blessed but then have obstacles at work got me really thinking. This is just sharing but do put in what you think if the Lord leads.
This is what I think and also through the sharing, after going through 9 years of working life.
* Bite the bullet but through God's strength (Uncle Chris)
"having been proved through fire, may be found to praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ;" (1 Peter 1:7)
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Php 4:13)
* Ask for favour (Sista Win-Win-Beloved)
For You, O Jehovah, will bless the righteous; You will surround him with favor, as with a shield.
(Psa 5:12)
* Quit (Me!)
Upon reflection of what I did (quit) let me share to you how I go about the last job. Yes I was really happy that I got this job because of a good boss (he sponsored me to go for a Christian business seminar on the first week of work) and I got a raise within the first year.
Then things started to get really bad because
- I do not have a mentor, basically I am by myself 75% of the time through self learning, asking questions despite being a nuisance and to help others so that I can learn through OJT
- There's no sales manager, so there's no sales planning and thus no sales
- Immediate boss was good with the technical things but when it comes to selling, he really has no idea at all.
- He knows what he is selling, but there's no concerted effort to grow the business in the new direction.
- colleagues wise, all are ok except one that spews nonsense that even the cobra would lose to her.
With the above, I go through it with the Lord's strength as much as I could and also ask for favour which the Lord do give graciously through customer contacts. Somehow or rather, the results ain't that great so sales target did not hit.
In short, no direction but pressure to sell sell sell. I still remember Vincent asking me at that time, who is the one that gave me the job and why am I so fearful? (that's what happened on that small piece of paper) so that's the start of 'pushing' the Lord for His Provision and also for me to metanoia on God's ability to sustain me and my family
Right after one year anniversary at this job, things took a bad turn. My boss just out of a crunch time after setting up the new passport system for the government suddenly find that he has no business so the screw turns much harder. Plus he was getting stubborn and basically trying to do somethings that is going no where
Slowly, I am unable to sleep well, appetite grows because of stress and pretty depressed because of the stupid sales target hanging overhead.
Cut the long story short, Abba starts sending people along my way to say something to me. Thanks to brother Albert and a brother Sam (who sells cameras) and also some remarks from other people during the course of my decision making process, I realised I am capable of doing things but definitely not in sales. Plus the fact that a book has showed me that the place I am at has no wisdom in doing business, that cement the decision to quit.
What I am saying here is quitting do not really show that one has no faith in God. Sometimes, quitting is also a direction from God through the people He sent. God will put people in some place to do certain things or to learn certain lessons, but when the lesson is learnt, the mission is accomplished, guess what, time to move on...If this is not true, then I guess the Jews would still be wandering in the desert.
I always have this belief about God's blessings. Fact is I am trying to find this verse because I remembered the Chinese version of this verse at Ruth's old place at Bishan but somehow I cannot find it for a long time. But TODAY, it just popped up.
The blessing of Jehovah, it makes rich, and he adds no pain with it.
(Pro 10:22)
I guess, this was my measuring stick in the things that I am blessed with. If the 'blessings' I got causes too much pain, then I know I am doing a lot of things wrong and also means that this particular 'blessing' is really not from God! That's maybe the reason why I am so ready to quit the old job because it was just too painful to the point of worshiping mammon through the sales target.
Ultimately we must always defend this truth that it is God's will for us to dwell in the land of milk and honey. To be blessed so that we can be a blessing for others.
But I have said to you, You shall surely possess their land; and, I, I am giving it to you to possess it, a land flowing with milk and honey; I am Jehovah your God, who has set you apart from the nations.
(Lev 20:24)
Hear, then, O Israel, and take heed to do it, that it may be well with you, that you may increase greatly, as Jehovah the God of your fathers has promised you, in the land flowing with milk and honey.
(Deu 6:3)
And He has brought us to this place, and has given to us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.
(Deu 26:9)
in order to establish the oath which I swore to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. Then I answered and said, Amen, O Jehovah.
(Jer 11:5)
And so I am of the opinion now, I am NOW in the land of milk AND honey and I am rich according to the riches of Heaven through Christ since Jesus has already establish the oath which God swore to our spiritual fathers through the cross.
Prayer Request: May the blessings of God through Shalom be upon us and our family NOW because of the completed work on the cross
Shalom Shalom
Wilson
"Life is too short to live it without JOY"
That hypothetical question of getting blessed but then have obstacles at work got me really thinking. This is just sharing but do put in what you think if the Lord leads.
This is what I think and also through the sharing, after going through 9 years of working life.
* Bite the bullet but through God's strength (Uncle Chris)
"having been proved through fire, may be found to praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ;" (1 Peter 1:7)
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Php 4:13)
* Ask for favour (Sista Win-Win-Beloved)
For You, O Jehovah, will bless the righteous; You will surround him with favor, as with a shield.
(Psa 5:12)
* Quit (Me!)
Upon reflection of what I did (quit) let me share to you how I go about the last job. Yes I was really happy that I got this job because of a good boss (he sponsored me to go for a Christian business seminar on the first week of work) and I got a raise within the first year.
Then things started to get really bad because
- I do not have a mentor, basically I am by myself 75% of the time through self learning, asking questions despite being a nuisance and to help others so that I can learn through OJT
- There's no sales manager, so there's no sales planning and thus no sales
- Immediate boss was good with the technical things but when it comes to selling, he really has no idea at all.
- He knows what he is selling, but there's no concerted effort to grow the business in the new direction.
- colleagues wise, all are ok except one that spews nonsense that even the cobra would lose to her.
With the above, I go through it with the Lord's strength as much as I could and also ask for favour which the Lord do give graciously through customer contacts. Somehow or rather, the results ain't that great so sales target did not hit.
In short, no direction but pressure to sell sell sell. I still remember Vincent asking me at that time, who is the one that gave me the job and why am I so fearful? (that's what happened on that small piece of paper) so that's the start of 'pushing' the Lord for His Provision and also for me to metanoia on God's ability to sustain me and my family
Right after one year anniversary at this job, things took a bad turn. My boss just out of a crunch time after setting up the new passport system for the government suddenly find that he has no business so the screw turns much harder. Plus he was getting stubborn and basically trying to do somethings that is going no where
Slowly, I am unable to sleep well, appetite grows because of stress and pretty depressed because of the stupid sales target hanging overhead.
Cut the long story short, Abba starts sending people along my way to say something to me. Thanks to brother Albert and a brother Sam (who sells cameras) and also some remarks from other people during the course of my decision making process, I realised I am capable of doing things but definitely not in sales. Plus the fact that a book has showed me that the place I am at has no wisdom in doing business, that cement the decision to quit.
What I am saying here is quitting do not really show that one has no faith in God. Sometimes, quitting is also a direction from God through the people He sent. God will put people in some place to do certain things or to learn certain lessons, but when the lesson is learnt, the mission is accomplished, guess what, time to move on...If this is not true, then I guess the Jews would still be wandering in the desert.
I always have this belief about God's blessings. Fact is I am trying to find this verse because I remembered the Chinese version of this verse at Ruth's old place at Bishan but somehow I cannot find it for a long time. But TODAY, it just popped up.
The blessing of Jehovah, it makes rich, and he adds no pain with it.
(Pro 10:22)
I guess, this was my measuring stick in the things that I am blessed with. If the 'blessings' I got causes too much pain, then I know I am doing a lot of things wrong and also means that this particular 'blessing' is really not from God! That's maybe the reason why I am so ready to quit the old job because it was just too painful to the point of worshiping mammon through the sales target.
Ultimately we must always defend this truth that it is God's will for us to dwell in the land of milk and honey. To be blessed so that we can be a blessing for others.
But I have said to you, You shall surely possess their land; and, I, I am giving it to you to possess it, a land flowing with milk and honey; I am Jehovah your God, who has set you apart from the nations.
(Lev 20:24)
Hear, then, O Israel, and take heed to do it, that it may be well with you, that you may increase greatly, as Jehovah the God of your fathers has promised you, in the land flowing with milk and honey.
(Deu 6:3)
And He has brought us to this place, and has given to us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.
(Deu 26:9)
in order to establish the oath which I swore to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. Then I answered and said, Amen, O Jehovah.
(Jer 11:5)
And so I am of the opinion now, I am NOW in the land of milk AND honey and I am rich according to the riches of Heaven through Christ since Jesus has already establish the oath which God swore to our spiritual fathers through the cross.
Prayer Request: May the blessings of God through Shalom be upon us and our family NOW because of the completed work on the cross
Shalom Shalom
Wilson
"Life is too short to live it without JOY"
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Good Words of Wisdom.
This is from John Piper's father...although a lot is said, still in the light of Lord's revelation in my life, have to take these words with care.
Wilson
Wilson
Things I have Learned
by Bill Piper
with comments by John Piper
1. The right road always leads to the right place; therefore, get on the right road and go as far as you can on it.
2. There is only one thing to do about anything; that is the right thing. Do right.My father was totally persuaded that wrong means do not lead to right ends. Or, more positively, he was persuaded that living in the right way—that is, doing the right things—are means that inevitably lead to where God wants us to be. This is why he told me, when I asked about God’s leading in my life, “Son, keep the room clean where you are, and in God’s time, the door to the next room will open.”
3. Happiness is not found by looking for it. You stumble over happiness on the road to duty.This is what one might say to a person perplexed by a difficult situation whose outcome is unknown. The person might say, “I just don’t know what to do about this.” It is not useless to be told: Do the right thing. That may not tell you exactly which good thing to do, but it does clear the air and rule out a few dozen bad ideas.
4. The door to success swings on the hinges of opposition.My, my, my. How was John Piper born from this? I would never say this. The main reason is that the Bible commands us to pursue our joy repeatedly. “Rejoice in the Lord, and again I say rejoice.” “Delight yourself in the Lord.” I think what he meant was: 1) Joy is always in something. Joy itself is not the something. So we seek joy in Christ. Not just joy in general. 2) When duty is hard and we do not feel joy in doing it, we should still do it, and pray that in the doing it the joy would be given. But what we need to make plain is that duty cannot be contrasted with joy, because joy is a biblical duty.
5. God in the right place in my life fixes every other relationship of life (Matthew 6:33).Remarkably, this saying implies that opposition is not just a natural accompaniment or antecedent of success, but that it is a means by which the door opens. One can think of many biblical examples. The opposition of Joseph’s brothers opened the door to his leadership in Egypt. The taxing of the empire opened the door to getting the Messiah born in Bethlehem, not Nazareth, and thus fulfilling prophecy. The betrayal of Judas opened the door to the salvation of the world.
6. It is never right to get the right thing in the wrong way—like good grades, wealth, power, position. Don’t sacrifice your principles.I wonder if this was tucked away in my mind so that unknown to me it controlled my analogy of the solar system to our many-faceted lives. If God is the blazing center of the solar system of our lives, then all the planets will be held in their proper orbit. But if not, everything goes awry.
7. It is a sin to do less than your best. It is wrong to do [merely] well.Again, he hammers away at don’t use bad means for good ends. Be a principled, not a pragmatic, person. O how we need to hear this today. Churches need to be principled, not endlessly adapting to culture. Persons need to make a promise and keep it no matter how much it hurts.
8. It is wrong to be yoked to one who refuses the yoke of Christ.“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10 ). But be careful. Sometimes the “best” is a B+ sermon and spending time with your child. In other words, “best” always involves more decisions than the one you are making at the moment. That one means many other things are being left undone. So “best” is always the whole thing, not just the detail of the moment.
9. The part of your character that is deficient is the part that needs attention.Don’t marry an unbeliever (1 Corinthians 7:39). Not all relationships with unbelievers are ruled out. Otherwise we could not obey Jesus’ command to love them and bless them. But “yoke” implies a connectedness that either governs where we go or constrains where they go. And you cannot constrain faith in Jesus. It is free.
10. Don’t quit. Finish the job. God can’t use a quitter.This is the counterpoint to the advice: Go with your strengths. There is truth in both. Yes, be encouraged by every evidence of God’s grace in your life, and use your gifts and graces for his glory. But you will become smug and vain if you do not keep your deficiencies before you and work on them.
11. Anything you do that hinders your progress for God is wrong.Warning: “He who endures to the end will be saved” (Mark 13:13). Promise: “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).
12. Beware of any society in which you feel compelled to put a bushel over your testimony.O how thankful I am that this was the dominant way my father pressed me to pursue my sanctification. He did not mainly impose lists of don’ts on me, though we had them. And they were clear. Mainly he said: Maximize your progress in knowing and serving God. That ruled out a hundred foolish behaviors, some bad and some uselessly innocent.
13. It isn’t enough to be good. Be good for something. The essence of Christianity is not a passionless purity.This implies that you can go into a group of people who are evil if you are willing to open your mouth and take a stand for Jesus and righteousness. Nevertheless, 1 Corinthians 15:33 stands: “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’”
14. Positive living produces negative effect[s].This is what I have meant in talking about a merely avoidance ethic. Don’t just think of righteousness or holiness in terms of what you avoid, but what you do. As my father said in another place: Don’t be a don’ter; be a doer.
15. Learn to be sweetly firm.This is wise counsel that affirmation of the good always implies negation of the bad. If you think you can live your life without negating anything, you have lost touch with reality. “Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good” (Romans 12:9). You cannot love without hating what hurts the beloved.
This was what he said to my mother over the phone when she was exasperated with her one disobedient son: Be sweet and firm. I think she succeeded.
With abiding and deep thankfulness for my father’s wisdom,
Pastor John
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Another Berean Posting that Irks Me
Here's another "The Berean" Email Posting that got me..well..heated up.
The main gist of brother Earl Henn thoughts lies with this paragraph
"In this verse (Romans 7:1) , Paul explains how the law has "power" over a human being only while he lives. He means the law has power to condemn us as a sinner and, consequently, condemn us to death only as long as we are alive. Once we have died, the penalty for sin has been paid, and the law has no more power to condemn us."
Oh WOW! So that means Jesus Christ's death on the cross has no power over us while we are still alive? And that Jesus Christ's redemptive work will only happen when we are dead to our body?!
What twisted theology is that?!!?
Using Amplified version of Romans 7:1
Do you know that, brethern - for I am speaking to men who are acquainted with the law - that legal claims have power over a person only for as long as he is alive?
I will categorically state here: the power of sin through the law has NO power over us NOW! The death of Jesus Christ has rid the power of the law and subsequently its effects, which is condemnation and death, when we accepted Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour.
It is through the Lord's death, that His will to allow us to obtain the sonship of God is able to be exercised.
I am of the opinion that brother Earl is thoroughly wrong in his interpretation of this verse and the way the Letter to the Romans is trying to convey.
The verse that confirms my view on this lies in the preceding verse Chapter 6 verse 22-23 and Chapter 7:6
But now having been set free from sin, and having been enslaved to God, you have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end everlasting life.
(Rom 6:22)
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is everlasting life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Rom 6:23)
But now we have been set free from the Law, having died to that in which we were held, so as for us to serve in newness of spirit, and not in oldness of letter.
(Rom 7:6) (Emphasis mine)
Dear brothers and sisters reading my blog, I have highlighted the word NOW in red to show that our salvation is NOW. Our escape from the effects of sin, and the demands of the Law can happen NOW. We need not wait till we die to receive the eternal life. We NOW serve through the Holy Spirit, and NOT through the demands of the Law.
Brother Earl says "Some have interpreted this to mean that, now that we have died with Christ, the law is no longer binding on Christians."
The true meaning of this is that the effects of the Law and thus condemnation through Law has no effects on us now. That does not mean we are not following the Law. We follow the law through the Holy Spirit, in that we love God, we love our neighbour as ourselves....even when we failed to follow the Law, the demands for breaking the Law is taken over by our Saviour and Abba God's forgiveness is ready for us to take when we fail.
In effect, when we receive Christ, we have already fulfilled the law and we become better persons because we already been forgiven for our trespasses in the past, the present and the future.
If we receive eternal life NOW, so how can we die in Spirit so that we take it up again when our body is sleeping (Paul did not say Christian will die, we are all but asleep because of the eternal life that is given to us).
If we follow brother Earl's explanation, then the sacrifice on the cross has no effects on our lives now and for the future. So what is so good about the news if the benefits of following Christ is of no use until we die?
Although brother Earl has gone to the Lord, but his erroneous teaching still permeates the mind of Christians and thus rob the JOY in having the Lord in our Lives. In brother Earl's quest to debunk Christians that law is not important anymore, he has in effect marred my Lord's work on the cross.
We must remember, without the law, we shall never know that we fall short of the glory of God. Without the law, we shall never know the standards of God. Without the law, we shall never know how to treat others with love and respect. Without the law we shall never know how much Jesus loves us.
Rejoice that the punishment demanded by the law is now being met through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. So that we can live life to the fullest without feeling guilty. We need not wait till we 'sleep'.
The main gist of brother Earl Henn thoughts lies with this paragraph
"In this verse (Romans 7:1) , Paul explains how the law has "power" over a human being only while he lives. He means the law has power to condemn us as a sinner and, consequently, condemn us to death only as long as we are alive. Once we have died, the penalty for sin has been paid, and the law has no more power to condemn us."
Oh WOW! So that means Jesus Christ's death on the cross has no power over us while we are still alive? And that Jesus Christ's redemptive work will only happen when we are dead to our body?!
What twisted theology is that?!!?
Using Amplified version of Romans 7:1
Do you know that, brethern - for I am speaking to men who are acquainted with the law - that legal claims have power over a person only for as long as he is alive?
I will categorically state here: the power of sin through the law has NO power over us NOW! The death of Jesus Christ has rid the power of the law and subsequently its effects, which is condemnation and death, when we accepted Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour.
It is through the Lord's death, that His will to allow us to obtain the sonship of God is able to be exercised.
I am of the opinion that brother Earl is thoroughly wrong in his interpretation of this verse and the way the Letter to the Romans is trying to convey.
The verse that confirms my view on this lies in the preceding verse Chapter 6 verse 22-23 and Chapter 7:6
But now having been set free from sin, and having been enslaved to God, you have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end everlasting life.
(Rom 6:22)
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is everlasting life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Rom 6:23)
But now we have been set free from the Law, having died to that in which we were held, so as for us to serve in newness of spirit, and not in oldness of letter.
(Rom 7:6) (Emphasis mine)
Dear brothers and sisters reading my blog, I have highlighted the word NOW in red to show that our salvation is NOW. Our escape from the effects of sin, and the demands of the Law can happen NOW. We need not wait till we die to receive the eternal life. We NOW serve through the Holy Spirit, and NOT through the demands of the Law.
Brother Earl says "Some have interpreted this to mean that, now that we have died with Christ, the law is no longer binding on Christians."
The true meaning of this is that the effects of the Law and thus condemnation through Law has no effects on us now. That does not mean we are not following the Law. We follow the law through the Holy Spirit, in that we love God, we love our neighbour as ourselves....even when we failed to follow the Law, the demands for breaking the Law is taken over by our Saviour and Abba God's forgiveness is ready for us to take when we fail.
In effect, when we receive Christ, we have already fulfilled the law and we become better persons because we already been forgiven for our trespasses in the past, the present and the future.
If we receive eternal life NOW, so how can we die in Spirit so that we take it up again when our body is sleeping (Paul did not say Christian will die, we are all but asleep because of the eternal life that is given to us).
If we follow brother Earl's explanation, then the sacrifice on the cross has no effects on our lives now and for the future. So what is so good about the news if the benefits of following Christ is of no use until we die?
Although brother Earl has gone to the Lord, but his erroneous teaching still permeates the mind of Christians and thus rob the JOY in having the Lord in our Lives. In brother Earl's quest to debunk Christians that law is not important anymore, he has in effect marred my Lord's work on the cross.
We must remember, without the law, we shall never know that we fall short of the glory of God. Without the law, we shall never know the standards of God. Without the law, we shall never know how to treat others with love and respect. Without the law we shall never know how much Jesus loves us.
Rejoice that the punishment demanded by the law is now being met through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. So that we can live life to the fullest without feeling guilty. We need not wait till we 'sleep'.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Contraceptives At the Top of Students' Mind?
Goodness gracious...I read this article from AP
Call me old-timer, call me conservative but if we use of minds at least for practical uses not just for remembering facts, I guess this is getting ludicrous.
Let me tell you a cheaper option, make that a FREE option: Just have a good sexual relations with your MARRIED partner.
Save your hard earned, two jobs for tuition pay on what is needed the most: Get your brain educated and hopefully, be wiser for the betterment of your life.
Being wise is not about knowing everything, being wise is about knowing what is necessary to get the most of your life. Getting birth control so you can have 'fun' isn't wise.
"Birth Control Prices Soar on Campuses
Are students going to school to study or to have sex?!? This is ridiculous to the point bordering on nonsensical!
Instead of worrying about grades, these people are actually worrying about getting pregnant? Oh goodness, is this what sexual education is all about? To have sex 'safely' without the license (read: marriage) to do so? So much so education priority is devalued?Call me old-timer, call me conservative but if we use of minds at least for practical uses not just for remembering facts, I guess this is getting ludicrous.
Let me tell you a cheaper option, make that a FREE option: Just have a good sexual relations with your MARRIED partner.
Save your hard earned, two jobs for tuition pay on what is needed the most: Get your brain educated and hopefully, be wiser for the betterment of your life.
Being wise is not about knowing everything, being wise is about knowing what is necessary to get the most of your life. Getting birth control so you can have 'fun' isn't wise.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Dreadfulness Healed by 1 Peter
Today...all of a sudden, depression sets in. It was some feeling of dread. I could not shake it, I could not exorcise it nor can I actually pin-point what is the shitty bloody wrong with me. I feel restless, I feel wasted and I certainly feel not really up to it in a lot of things. Things just doesn't feel right. Business moved but somehow, things ain't going what I thought would be ok.
Goodness. I got a lot to be thankful for because this is the month where I got to finish recording in pictures, 2 beautiful weddings, got a good pay cheque for writing reviews for the press and lastly, my E-commerce class has just ended. So what more do I want? Sometimes I feel that Abba can be really frustrated for having kids like me. I mean, He gave good things in accordance to His riches in Heaven but we who are on Earth, the Royal Priesthood, would feel dejected, down, frustrated and depressed...exactly what I am feeling now.
Guess what the Lord has spoken, "Go to E-sword and type in devour and lion" and He lead me to this verse
Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour,
(1Pe 5:8)
whom withstand stedfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world.
(1Pe 5:9)
Hmmm....be stedfast in faith as my brothers are suffering the same things as well? So does that mean that the depression is of the devil?
Now I read the verse before these verses and this is what the Bible says
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time;
(1Pe 5:6)
casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you.
(1Pe 5:7)
Oh.....humble before God's hand and He may exalt me in due time. So cast all worries upon Him because He loves me enough to care for me! Let God work His hands for me so that He is able to elevate me!
Wow! Revelation! And you know what? That depression was lifted, a joy surpasses all understanding welled in my heart. And then another confirmation..
Now the God of all grace, the One calling you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, you having suffered a little, Himself will perfect, confirm, strengthen, establish you.
(1Pe 5:10)
And then all of a sudden, a power swept through my very being, a current, a flow...it clears my heart, tinge my head and suddenly eyes clouded a bit...
It is not so bad after all! Abba Father does look after me, as He has looked after countless others who put his trust in HIM!
To Him be the glory and the might forever and ever. Amen.
(1Pe 5:11)
Goodness. I got a lot to be thankful for because this is the month where I got to finish recording in pictures, 2 beautiful weddings, got a good pay cheque for writing reviews for the press and lastly, my E-commerce class has just ended. So what more do I want? Sometimes I feel that Abba can be really frustrated for having kids like me. I mean, He gave good things in accordance to His riches in Heaven but we who are on Earth, the Royal Priesthood, would feel dejected, down, frustrated and depressed...exactly what I am feeling now.
Guess what the Lord has spoken, "Go to E-sword and type in devour and lion" and He lead me to this verse
Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour,
(1Pe 5:8)
whom withstand stedfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world.
(1Pe 5:9)
Hmmm....be stedfast in faith as my brothers are suffering the same things as well? So does that mean that the depression is of the devil?
Now I read the verse before these verses and this is what the Bible says
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time;
(1Pe 5:6)
casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you.
(1Pe 5:7)
Oh.....humble before God's hand and He may exalt me in due time. So cast all worries upon Him because He loves me enough to care for me! Let God work His hands for me so that He is able to elevate me!
Wow! Revelation! And you know what? That depression was lifted, a joy surpasses all understanding welled in my heart. And then another confirmation..
Now the God of all grace, the One calling you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, you having suffered a little, Himself will perfect, confirm, strengthen, establish you.
(1Pe 5:10)
And then all of a sudden, a power swept through my very being, a current, a flow...it clears my heart, tinge my head and suddenly eyes clouded a bit...
It is not so bad after all! Abba Father does look after me, as He has looked after countless others who put his trust in HIM!
To Him be the glory and the might forever and ever. Amen.
(1Pe 5:11)
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
C S Lewis & John Piper Views on God & Prosperity...so which is Correct?
The past 2 weeks God has some way or the other, lead me to read these passages about Him, Wealth and Punishment.
John Piper says:
When you pause to consider that God is infinitely strong and can do all that he pleases, and that he is infinitely righteous so that he only does what is right, and that he is infinitely good so that everything he does is perfectly good, and that he is infinitely wise so that he always knows perfectly what is right and good, and that he is infinitely loving so that in all his strength and righteousness and goodness and wisdom he raises the eternal joy of his loved ones as high as it can be raised—when you pause to consider this, then the lavish invitations of this God to ask him for good things, with the promise that he will give them, is unimaginably wonderful.
Taken from Desiring God Email Sermons by John Piper
C. S. Lewis says:
Christ said it was difficult for "the rich" to enter "riches" in the ordinary sense. But I think it really covers riches in every sense - good fortune, health, popularity and just as money tends - to make you fell independent of God, because if you have them you are happy already and contented in this life. You don't want to turn away to anything more, and so you try to rest in shadowy happiness as it if could last for ever.
But God wants to give you a real and eternal happiness. Consequently He may have to take all these "riches" away from you: if He doesn't, you will go on relying on them. It sounds cruel doesn't it? But I am beginning to find out that what people call the cruel doctrines are really the kindest ones in the long run. I used to think it was a "cruel" doctrine to say that troubles and sorrows were "punishments." But I find in practice that when you are in trouble, the moment you regard it as a "punishment," it becomes easier to bear. If you think of this world as a place intended simply for our happiness, you will find it quite intolerable: think of it as a place of training and correction and it's not so bad.
Imagine a set of people all living in the same building. Half of them think it is a hotel, the other half think it is a prison. Those who think it a hotel might regard it quite intolerable, and those who thought it was a prison might decide that it was really surprisingly comfortable. So that what seems the ugly doctrine is one that comforts and strengthens you in the end. The people who try to hold an optimistic view of this world would become pessimists: the people who hold a pretty stern view of it become optimistic.
Taken from "Answers to Questions on Christianity" in Timeless at Heart
----------------------------
CS Lewis has a good point. That people who puts material and money at the forefront of their motivation for life, will tend to forget about God. And to rely less on money is to prevent evil since the love of money is the root of all evil, then God has to "punish" believers by taking away their wealth in order for them to come back to Him. But how to consolidate the views of John Piper's with CS Lewis's?
I believe that God's heart is to bless everyone who believes in Him. This is His character and it is His will as shown through Christ during His time on earth and since Christ said whoever sees Him sees the Father. My only 'problem' is to reconcile the source of the punishment.
So how do we reconcile the differences?
I find this verse to be particularly useful:
Deu 8:18
(ASV) But thou shalt remember Jehovah thy God, for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth; that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as at this day.
(BBE) But keep in mind the Lord your God: for it is he who gives you the power to get wealth, so that he may give effect to the agreement which he made by his oath with your fathers, as at this day.
(CUV-S) 你要记念耶和华你的神，因为得货财的力量是他给你的，为要坚定他向你列祖起誓所立的约，像今日一样。
(GNB) Remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to become rich. He does this because he is still faithful today to the covenant that he made with your ancestors.
(KJV+) But thou shalt remember2142 (853) the LORD3068 thy God:430 for3588 it is he1931 that giveth5414 thee power3581 to get6213 wealth,2428 that4616 he may establish6965 (853) his covenant1285 which834 he swore7650 unto thy fathers,1 as it is this2088 day.3117
(YLT) `And thou hast remembered Jehovah thy God, for He it is who is giving to thee power to make wealth, in order to establish His covenant which He hath sworn to thy fathers as at this day.
This verse appeals to the views of both John Piper and CS Lewis. Let me explain.
John Piper says that God is a very good father in heaven so much so He will give us good things if we ask of Him. Wealth & health is part of those good things we asked of God. And as I have shared about Shalom Peace that Jesus promised us on earth, it includes wealth and health too.
So if God is good, so why does He punish us?
Then I was lead to these verses:
Deu 8:5 Remember that the LORD your God corrects and punishes you just as parents discipline their children.
Deu 8:19 Never forget the LORD your God or turn to other gods to worship and serve them. If you do, then I warn you today that you will certainly be destroyed.
The key word here is the word "punish" in hebrew Yasar means, to chastise & discipline or to accept correction, be warned, be disciplined, to strengthen.
It is interesting to note that on one hand, God will discipline as parents discipline their children and yet in verse 19, God warned that we will certainly be destroyed. Now the question still remains, who is the destroyer?
(1 Peter 5:8) Be sober, vigilant, because your opponent the devil, as a roaring lion, doth walk about, seeking whom he may swallow up,
(Hebrews 2:14) Seeing, then, the children have partaken of flesh and blood, he himself also in like manner did take part of the same, that through death he might destroy him having the power of death--that is, the devil--
Both God and the devil can destroy, but who receives the punishment through destruction that is of importance to us, the children of God. Remember the Passover night where both the Egyptians and the Jews have to endure but only those who are of the Lord, ones who sacrificed the lamb and put the blood of the lamb on the door post, has averted destruction. So in the same manner we who are children of God has partaken of flesh and blood (of Christ) that through His death, Christ might destroy the devil who has the power of death.
Since we are children of God, then God will discipline us as His children but not unto destruction. Would you, as loving parents, cane your children to death? Only those who forget God and do not know who he or she is in Christ or who outrightly refuses Christ, will face the devil's destruction.
Wealth by itself is not the problem. If it is then God would not have given us the power to gain wealth in the first place. The problem lies with our forgetfulness of God as our Jehovah Jireh, God who Sees and Provides. Like the Prodigal Father, when the wayward son returns and repents, the Father would ravish us with wealth and honor again.
So the conclusion is that our Father in heaven is not the one who took away wealth and health who is generousity personified. It is actually because of our sins and forgetfulness that causes our lack in the first place by the devil himself.
Enjoy health and wealth through Christ's Shalom peace in rememberence of God's generousity through His grace. Repentence will bring back God's goodness in all areas of our lives (in wealth and health) just as the father in Jesus parable of the Lost Son has done.
John Piper says:
When you pause to consider that God is infinitely strong and can do all that he pleases, and that he is infinitely righteous so that he only does what is right, and that he is infinitely good so that everything he does is perfectly good, and that he is infinitely wise so that he always knows perfectly what is right and good, and that he is infinitely loving so that in all his strength and righteousness and goodness and wisdom he raises the eternal joy of his loved ones as high as it can be raised—when you pause to consider this, then the lavish invitations of this God to ask him for good things, with the promise that he will give them, is unimaginably wonderful.
Taken from Desiring God Email Sermons by John Piper
C. S. Lewis says:
Christ said it was difficult for "the rich" to enter "riches" in the ordinary sense. But I think it really covers riches in every sense - good fortune, health, popularity and just as money tends - to make you fell independent of God, because if you have them you are happy already and contented in this life. You don't want to turn away to anything more, and so you try to rest in shadowy happiness as it if could last for ever.
But God wants to give you a real and eternal happiness. Consequently He may have to take all these "riches" away from you: if He doesn't, you will go on relying on them. It sounds cruel doesn't it? But I am beginning to find out that what people call the cruel doctrines are really the kindest ones in the long run. I used to think it was a "cruel" doctrine to say that troubles and sorrows were "punishments." But I find in practice that when you are in trouble, the moment you regard it as a "punishment," it becomes easier to bear. If you think of this world as a place intended simply for our happiness, you will find it quite intolerable: think of it as a place of training and correction and it's not so bad.
Imagine a set of people all living in the same building. Half of them think it is a hotel, the other half think it is a prison. Those who think it a hotel might regard it quite intolerable, and those who thought it was a prison might decide that it was really surprisingly comfortable. So that what seems the ugly doctrine is one that comforts and strengthens you in the end. The people who try to hold an optimistic view of this world would become pessimists: the people who hold a pretty stern view of it become optimistic.
Taken from "Answers to Questions on Christianity" in Timeless at Heart
----------------------------
CS Lewis has a good point. That people who puts material and money at the forefront of their motivation for life, will tend to forget about God. And to rely less on money is to prevent evil since the love of money is the root of all evil, then God has to "punish" believers by taking away their wealth in order for them to come back to Him. But how to consolidate the views of John Piper's with CS Lewis's?
I believe that God's heart is to bless everyone who believes in Him. This is His character and it is His will as shown through Christ during His time on earth and since Christ said whoever sees Him sees the Father. My only 'problem' is to reconcile the source of the punishment.
So how do we reconcile the differences?
I find this verse to be particularly useful:
Deu 8:18
(ASV) But thou shalt remember Jehovah thy God, for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth; that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as at this day.
(BBE) But keep in mind the Lord your God: for it is he who gives you the power to get wealth, so that he may give effect to the agreement which he made by his oath with your fathers, as at this day.
(CUV-S) 你要记念耶和华你的神，因为得货财的力量是他给你的，为要坚定他向你列祖起誓所立的约，像今日一样。
(GNB) Remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to become rich. He does this because he is still faithful today to the covenant that he made with your ancestors.
(KJV+) But thou shalt remember2142 (853) the LORD3068 thy God:430 for3588 it is he1931 that giveth5414 thee power3581 to get6213 wealth,2428 that4616 he may establish6965 (853) his covenant1285 which834 he swore7650 unto thy fathers,1 as it is this2088 day.3117
(YLT) `And thou hast remembered Jehovah thy God, for He it is who is giving to thee power to make wealth, in order to establish His covenant which He hath sworn to thy fathers as at this day.
This verse appeals to the views of both John Piper and CS Lewis. Let me explain.
John Piper says that God is a very good father in heaven so much so He will give us good things if we ask of Him. Wealth & health is part of those good things we asked of God. And as I have shared about Shalom Peace that Jesus promised us on earth, it includes wealth and health too.
So if God is good, so why does He punish us?
Then I was lead to these verses:
Deu 8:5 Remember that the LORD your God corrects and punishes you just as parents discipline their children.
Deu 8:19 Never forget the LORD your God or turn to other gods to worship and serve them. If you do, then I warn you today that you will certainly be destroyed.
The key word here is the word "punish" in hebrew Yasar means, to chastise & discipline or to accept correction, be warned, be disciplined, to strengthen.
It is interesting to note that on one hand, God will discipline as parents discipline their children and yet in verse 19, God warned that we will certainly be destroyed. Now the question still remains, who is the destroyer?
(1 Peter 5:8) Be sober, vigilant, because your opponent the devil, as a roaring lion, doth walk about, seeking whom he may swallow up,
(Hebrews 2:14) Seeing, then, the children have partaken of flesh and blood, he himself also in like manner did take part of the same, that through death he might destroy him having the power of death--that is, the devil--
Both God and the devil can destroy, but who receives the punishment through destruction that is of importance to us, the children of God. Remember the Passover night where both the Egyptians and the Jews have to endure but only those who are of the Lord, ones who sacrificed the lamb and put the blood of the lamb on the door post, has averted destruction. So in the same manner we who are children of God has partaken of flesh and blood (of Christ) that through His death, Christ might destroy the devil who has the power of death.
Since we are children of God, then God will discipline us as His children but not unto destruction. Would you, as loving parents, cane your children to death? Only those who forget God and do not know who he or she is in Christ or who outrightly refuses Christ, will face the devil's destruction.
Wealth by itself is not the problem. If it is then God would not have given us the power to gain wealth in the first place. The problem lies with our forgetfulness of God as our Jehovah Jireh, God who Sees and Provides. Like the Prodigal Father, when the wayward son returns and repents, the Father would ravish us with wealth and honor again.
So the conclusion is that our Father in heaven is not the one who took away wealth and health who is generousity personified. It is actually because of our sins and forgetfulness that causes our lack in the first place by the devil himself.
Enjoy health and wealth through Christ's Shalom peace in rememberence of God's generousity through His grace. Repentence will bring back God's goodness in all areas of our lives (in wealth and health) just as the father in Jesus parable of the Lost Son has done.
God's Blessings for the New Year
To Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I hope this message will be useful to you as I feel that as a Christian we ought to be mindful of who God is in our lives. When I mean by who, I meant it as the type of person God is.
Although God is just, He is also love personified. That's the reason why God sent His son to die for us. That's the reason for the season.
I do not know how you would have thought of God when you see me lie on the hospital bed (don't remember that I was that sickly, by God's grace). Some Christian friends would say, "Well having kidney stones is not a good thing but it is God's way to test His children, to strengthen them in some ways."
That was what I would say 7 years ago, but I have changed dramatically mainly because of my changed perception of God as a Heavenly Father. A father, through Christ whom we called Abba, Father, better than the best father a world could produce.
Now fathers would agree, you would not see harm to your children. When they are sick, you would go to them and try to alleviate their problems. When they are in need, you would see the need and try to provide. If not why sacrifice so much? Why bring them away for holidays? Why look after them when they are sick?
Now if the earthly responsible father can be so good to his own kids, what more the heavenly Father to those who trust in Him?
Now the word 'trust' denote the presence and promise of goodness in a person before you put that trust in that person. Would you trust a person who would do you harm?
So I trust God's promises. When we receive Jesus as a saviour, we trust in His faith to forgive us and give us righteousness. (1 John 1:9)
And so what would righteousness give us? What has Jesus Christ gives us when He redeemed us from the effects of sin?
A way to see the physical rewards for trusting the Lord through HIS obedience is to see Deut chapter 28.
Now some would say, "Deuteronomy 28 is for those who followed the law and thereby will get their just rewards." If that is the truth, then I will be blessed because I followed the law. So I get health only if I followed the Law.
Now this is what Apostle Paul said in his letter to the Romans
For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law, but through the righteousness produced by faith.
(Romans 4:13)
Is it true that we are made righteous because we follow the law or that we trust Christ? So if we are righteous in the eyes of the Lord, is it the same as following /obeying the Lord's law? Now we are made righteous first, then the blessings in Deut 28 will also follow because that's what the Lord promised since He said so himself
Obey the LORD your God and ALL these blessings (in the following verses) will be yours:
(Deuteronomy 28:2)
Based on this and also on the fact that the Angels proclaimed:
`Glory in the highest to God, and upon earth peace, among men--good will.'
(Luke 2:14)
The word 'peace' or 'eirene' (Greek) or 'Shalom' (Hebrew) is not just the word 'peace' as in opposed to 'war' but it has a deeper meaning:
Strong's Concordance 7965 - Hebrew Shalom ..... A word study in the New King James version for SHALOM says: Completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord. (http://www.therefinersfire.org/meaning_of_shalom.htm)
If you see it clearly, part meaning of the word for shalom is 'health' and 'wholeness'.
So as I lay on that bed in extreme pain, is it fair to say that it is God who gave me the pain when the angels proclaim that peace has come? If there is pain, then if God says what He says He will give to those who trust Him, then who is the one who gives pain? There could only be one: the Devil.
The devil is basically doing what he has been doing to Job as well. Job suffered so much that he complained that there is no one to judge/mediate between God and Job.
If there were between us an umpire, He doth place his hand on us both.
(Job 9:33)
The key difference now is this: That Jesus has become our mediator where Job has no such 'luxury' before.
for one is God, one also is mediator of God and of men, the man Christ Jesus,
(1 Timothy 2:5)
Conclusion:
God cannot be the one who gives us pain and suffering. And now Christ is at the right hand side of God, He is our mediator, He is our giver of blessings including health through His shalom peace.
the word that he sent to the sons of Israel, proclaiming good news--peace (eirene/shalom) through Jesus Christ (this one is Lord of all,)
(Acts 10:36)
So for the new year, receive the Shalom Peace through Christ given by the Father in Heaven. That health, wholeness, prosperity and blessings of every kind may be upon you and your family. As Jesus is in heaven, so are we on earth in Christ Jesus.
In His Name,
Wilson
I hope this message will be useful to you as I feel that as a Christian we ought to be mindful of who God is in our lives. When I mean by who, I meant it as the type of person God is.
Although God is just, He is also love personified. That's the reason why God sent His son to die for us. That's the reason for the season.
I do not know how you would have thought of God when you see me lie on the hospital bed (don't remember that I was that sickly, by God's grace). Some Christian friends would say, "Well having kidney stones is not a good thing but it is God's way to test His children, to strengthen them in some ways."
That was what I would say 7 years ago, but I have changed dramatically mainly because of my changed perception of God as a Heavenly Father. A father, through Christ whom we called Abba, Father, better than the best father a world could produce.
Now fathers would agree, you would not see harm to your children. When they are sick, you would go to them and try to alleviate their problems. When they are in need, you would see the need and try to provide. If not why sacrifice so much? Why bring them away for holidays? Why look after them when they are sick?
Now if the earthly responsible father can be so good to his own kids, what more the heavenly Father to those who trust in Him?
Now the word 'trust' denote the presence and promise of goodness in a person before you put that trust in that person. Would you trust a person who would do you harm?
So I trust God's promises. When we receive Jesus as a saviour, we trust in His faith to forgive us and give us righteousness. (1 John 1:9)
And so what would righteousness give us? What has Jesus Christ gives us when He redeemed us from the effects of sin?
A way to see the physical rewards for trusting the Lord through HIS obedience is to see Deut chapter 28.
Now some would say, "Deuteronomy 28 is for those who followed the law and thereby will get their just rewards." If that is the truth, then I will be blessed because I followed the law. So I get health only if I followed the Law.
Now this is what Apostle Paul said in his letter to the Romans
For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law, but through the righteousness produced by faith.
(Romans 4:13)
Is it true that we are made righteous because we follow the law or that we trust Christ? So if we are righteous in the eyes of the Lord, is it the same as following /obeying the Lord's law? Now we are made righteous first, then the blessings in Deut 28 will also follow because that's what the Lord promised since He said so himself
Obey the LORD your God and ALL these blessings (in the following verses) will be yours:
(Deuteronomy 28:2)
Based on this and also on the fact that the Angels proclaimed:
`Glory in the highest to God, and upon earth peace, among men--good will.'
(Luke 2:14)
The word 'peace' or 'eirene' (Greek) or 'Shalom' (Hebrew) is not just the word 'peace' as in opposed to 'war' but it has a deeper meaning:
Strong's Concordance 7965 - Hebrew Shalom ..... A word study in the New King James version for SHALOM says: Completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord. (http://www.therefinersfire.org/meaning_of_shalom.htm)
If you see it clearly, part meaning of the word for shalom is 'health' and 'wholeness'.
So as I lay on that bed in extreme pain, is it fair to say that it is God who gave me the pain when the angels proclaim that peace has come? If there is pain, then if God says what He says He will give to those who trust Him, then who is the one who gives pain? There could only be one: the Devil.
The devil is basically doing what he has been doing to Job as well. Job suffered so much that he complained that there is no one to judge/mediate between God and Job.
If there were between us an umpire, He doth place his hand on us both.
(Job 9:33)
The key difference now is this: That Jesus has become our mediator where Job has no such 'luxury' before.
for one is God, one also is mediator of God and of men, the man Christ Jesus,
(1 Timothy 2:5)
Conclusion:
God cannot be the one who gives us pain and suffering. And now Christ is at the right hand side of God, He is our mediator, He is our giver of blessings including health through His shalom peace.
the word that he sent to the sons of Israel, proclaiming good news--peace (eirene/shalom) through Jesus Christ (this one is Lord of all,)
(Acts 10:36)
So for the new year, receive the Shalom Peace through Christ given by the Father in Heaven. That health, wholeness, prosperity and blessings of every kind may be upon you and your family. As Jesus is in heaven, so are we on earth in Christ Jesus.
In His Name,
Wilson
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