Sunday, August 12, 2007
Hey guys! :D And so the week is over and i'm sure that all of us are blessed with the sermon that Rev. A. R. Benard has shared with us on Saturday. If you didn't catch Sunday's service, go watch it at the video sermons at CHC website. It's really amazing. (:
Continuing from Rev. A. R. Benard and SC:
On Saturday we learnt that, having been re-born, we have the ability to do the intended purpose that God has given to Man: to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28). Also, we have the LIFE inside of us: the Spirit of God and the Moral Law, to help keep us in check that we do not fall to be like the world.
However, having the ability and the Life inside of us, does not mean that we will not be tempted by the devil. When we go into the world, we will definitely be tempted to adapt to the world's value system. For example, if you were a business man, and see other business man in success because they cheat their customers, you'll be thinking, "Eh, they cheat and they get the money. Why not i cheat a little?
Just a little mah.. God will be happy that i prosper right?"
That's how Christians get sucked into the world, by setting down their defense. By allowing the value systems of the world into their lives.
And so the ONLY way you fight the temptations is
Spiritual Discipline.
Spiritual Discipline consists of 7 points:
1. Consistant praying (in tongues and understanding)
2. Consistant reading of the Bible
3. Bible Study
4. Fasting
5. Thanksgiving
- The reason why Christians in the world fall is because they grow discontented. Lust and greed does not take a grateful and thanksgiving heart because you are truly thankful of what God has given to you.
6. Solitude with the Lord (Quiet time)
- It is important to have solitude with God, just as how Jesus would go into the Garden of Gethsemane, to have solitude with God. (Matt 26:36-44) Quiet time is where you draw closer to God.
7. Repentance and Forgiveness (
confession)
- In Proverbs 28:13 it says "He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy." When you confess your sins, you're taking ownership of it, and only then can God come and cleanse and heal you.
There can be success without God, but they will only be natural success, not supernatural success. When the people in the world go on in their lives feeling empty and dis-satisfied, we know and we know and
we know the only key that can unlock the door to their empty hearts is none other than Jesus. So why are you looking at the people in the world with envy? You've got someone who promises you He'll always be right beside you, cheering you on. You've got someone who promises you supernatural success.
All you need to do is to go to your room, close your door and begin to walk beside Him.
In James 4:8 it says "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."
What are you waiting for?
Yinghua
Labels: Kristos Kai Kosmos
let the music play; 9:37 AM
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Hi guys,
You guys have the access to this blog lah, haiyo. Not only me. So, all of you can jot down what you want to share, your revelations, your thoughts and of course, what you've to offer. :)
This week Dr. AR Bernard shared with us a message that is like a continuation from where he ended the last time he came, and I thought it was an awesome service. His purpose of sharing this with us to to put it across that, even if we want to engage culture, we shouldnt compromise our convictions.
The "Zoe Life" in us is something that is so precious, well for me, its something that enables me to propel even when I'm at my lowest. Everyone of us have our weakest times, and there's nothing wrong about that, because we're all imperfect people. But being imperfect doesn't give us an excuse to give up our highest calling. Nobody can understand "Zoe Life" until they have experience it. It's a Life that keeps me positive, moving on, in peace and in His joy. It's a Life that gives me strength. It is a Life that Adam lose at the beginning of mankind, it is a Life that God came to restore and renew.
What is "Zoe Life" to you?
Our conviction can be so good, that we can do something bigger than ourselves and outgrow ourselves. But don't forget, our conviction can too be so GREAT, that we can do something not just bigger than ourselves but in the same measure as God's capacity. It's a choice, how convicted you can be. At the same time, you'd want to engage culture. In many ways, being a top student, being a young entrepreneur, being a top Art student, being a President in your CCA and all sorts. Praise God for that! We should bring the moral standards of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit into these places. But one thing that people tend to forget, is that they become so indulged in being in culture and compromise their convictions. Don't forget, it is moral laws WITH presence of God, it is CHRIST in culture, not YOU in culture.
Dr. AR Bernard left with this verse that impacted me, I looked up the NLT version,
2 Cor 4:8-9
We are
pressed on every side by troubles, but we are
not crushed. We are
perplexed, but
not driven to despair. We are
hunted down, but
never abandoned by God. We get
knocked down, but we are
not destroyed.
See that in EVERY single valley, the next line, there is always a 'But God will save'. You need to believe, you need to trust and you need to cry out.
Because, that's all that matters to God.
Yours Truly,
SC
Labels: Kristos Kai Kosmos
let the music play; 12:16 PM