"To learn strong faith is to endure great trials.
I have learned my faith by standing firm amid severe testings." ~George Mueller
Does this ring a bell to you my friend? Perhaps you might have an idea now as to why you're going through such an 'unpleasant' season. But don't worry. Say this loudly every morning - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" - Phil 4:13
Believe it. It works. 加油！
Friday, March 20, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Speaking for Who?
"He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him" ~ John 7:18
How do we know if a man speaks on his own or that his message comes from God? The verse above will be a good check. Is the person gaining honor for himself? Or is he zealous for the honor of God? Think about it.
How do we know if a man speaks on his own or that his message comes from God? The verse above will be a good check. Is the person gaining honor for himself? Or is he zealous for the honor of God? Think about it.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Rejoice in the Lord always!!!
I remembered clearly what I told my friends in September 2006 when we were onboard the Doulos.
"My favourite verse? Hmmm. I don't have any. But I would say that the verse which I will use to describe my situation now is Philippians 4:4" What is Phil 4:4? It says, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
There was such a freedom even in those times of uncertainty. There was joy. Joy from the Lord and of the Lord residing in my heart. As I look back, I realised that freedom came about because of His given joy. That joy diminished all uncertainties. His joy was so much greater than all my worries and trouble. It did wonders to my soul. I was happy - even when I had "nothing". No career-path written out, no big sums of money, no next-step to take, no one to guide me in my particular work, no place to truly call my home. But I was happy. I was full of His joy. I exhort my friends - "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
Oh, but how I sank into my lows some time later in the years ahead. But thanks be to God who have never left me nor forsaken me. His joy is but a breath away. If we would go near to Him, He will come near to us; for He has always been beside us. Everything we ever need has been promised and guaranteed in His Word - and joy is one of them. You can have it!
Oh Lord! Let me bask in your presence and be filled with your joy always. Then everything else will surely fade into the background and your joy will surely cure every disease, heal every hurt, restore every brokenness, strengthen every weakness, refresh every tiredness and lift every gloom. May the joy of the Lord be with you!
George Mueller: "It has pleased the Lord to teach me a truth, the benefit of which I have not lost, for more than fourteen years. The point is this: I saw more clearly than ever that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was to have my soul happy in the Lord. The first thing to be concerned about was not how much I might serve the Lord, or how I might glorify the Lord; but how I might get my soul into a happy state, and how my inner man might be nourished.
For though I might seek to witness to the lost, or to benefit other believers, or to relieve the distressed, or in other ways seek to behave myself as it becomes a child of God in this world; nevertheless, if I myself am not happy in the Lord, and have not been nourished and strengthened in my inner man day by day, all of these other things might not be done in the right spirit."
"My favourite verse? Hmmm. I don't have any. But I would say that the verse which I will use to describe my situation now is Philippians 4:4" What is Phil 4:4? It says, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
There was such a freedom even in those times of uncertainty. There was joy. Joy from the Lord and of the Lord residing in my heart. As I look back, I realised that freedom came about because of His given joy. That joy diminished all uncertainties. His joy was so much greater than all my worries and trouble. It did wonders to my soul. I was happy - even when I had "nothing". No career-path written out, no big sums of money, no next-step to take, no one to guide me in my particular work, no place to truly call my home. But I was happy. I was full of His joy. I exhort my friends - "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
Oh, but how I sank into my lows some time later in the years ahead. But thanks be to God who have never left me nor forsaken me. His joy is but a breath away. If we would go near to Him, He will come near to us; for He has always been beside us. Everything we ever need has been promised and guaranteed in His Word - and joy is one of them. You can have it!
Oh Lord! Let me bask in your presence and be filled with your joy always. Then everything else will surely fade into the background and your joy will surely cure every disease, heal every hurt, restore every brokenness, strengthen every weakness, refresh every tiredness and lift every gloom. May the joy of the Lord be with you!
George Mueller: "It has pleased the Lord to teach me a truth, the benefit of which I have not lost, for more than fourteen years. The point is this: I saw more clearly than ever that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was to have my soul happy in the Lord. The first thing to be concerned about was not how much I might serve the Lord, or how I might glorify the Lord; but how I might get my soul into a happy state, and how my inner man might be nourished.
For though I might seek to witness to the lost, or to benefit other believers, or to relieve the distressed, or in other ways seek to behave myself as it becomes a child of God in this world; nevertheless, if I myself am not happy in the Lord, and have not been nourished and strengthened in my inner man day by day, all of these other things might not be done in the right spirit."
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
To Live is Christ
To Live is Christ. Lord we repent. Your church is so far off. Help us this day to follow you. A world is dying yet we are barely doing anything to help. Consume us with your passion this day.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
The Reality of the Human Condition and the Church
If you a Christian and you think church is without problems, you are badly mistaken. It's like telling someone, "Believe in Jesus and life will be a bed of roses". It will not be. Life will still have its ups and downs, but Jesus will carry you safely through it all.
It is the same for the body of believers - the church. It will have its ups and downs. Why? Because ever since the fall of man, man has become the source of their own problems. Pride, anger, jealousy and everything wicked under the sun has blazed its way across the face of the earth; even the church. The devil has not stop prowling for victims to devour (1 Peter 5:8) and many have been eaten up. A church that is unable to recognize the devil's stroke behind every fights, quarrels and splits will stay that way forever - a defeated church. One that fights the flesh only and see not the wicked powers behind it (Eph 6:12)
My friends, factions are not something new in the 21st century. There was much division in the Corinthian church as described by Paul in his letter to them. It has happened then, and has been happening ever since. Have you not heard of factions and church splits? Humans are the cause of the problem. Or should I more accurately say, "UNGUARDED Christians" and "IMMATURE Christians" are the cause of such problems. We will be wise to first acknowledge the problem of fights and quarrels as a reality in a community of human beings - believers or not. And any Christian, whether mature or not, can fall victim into the ploy of the devil if he is unguarded. That is to say, he did not go before God with regards to what he is feeling, hearing, thinking and deciding when a matter gets really fiery. It is dangerous. An immature Christian can be worse off - he is easy meat for the devil's scheme because he is unable to distinguish the good from evil. (Heb 5:12-14)
Do not be mistaken. I am not saying those who are involved in a fight or quarrel are always doing wrong. There may be valid "fights", "quarrels" or "contention" (Gal 2:11, Acts 15) But many a times, church fights are unnecessary. What is worse, and the thing that saddens me most, are those who dragged themselves into the fray. By their own choice, they enter into the fight not knowing every detail, yet getting upset, angry and building hatred over a matter 'out-of-their-own-reach'. If hatred, bitterness and mistrust are the fruit you get in your involvement in a church fight, it is time to get out of it before you destroy yourself. You can be sure you have been sucked into it by your own self-righteousness and the devil. Do not give the devil a foothold(Eph 4:26-27)
Always guard your heart(Prov 4:23) and make every effort to live in peace with everyone (Rom 12:17-18, Heb 12:14). During a fight, show proper support to a brother by encouraging and spurring him to love and to do good works(Heb 10:24-25), and NOT "encourage" him by putting down other people and getting angry together with him - that doesn't help.
So then, let us not be foolish or ignorant of the devil's schemes(2 Cor 2:10-11). And do right in whatever situation, whether it be a church fight or a family quarrel(Phil 1:27). The Lord bless you.
It is the same for the body of believers - the church. It will have its ups and downs. Why? Because ever since the fall of man, man has become the source of their own problems. Pride, anger, jealousy and everything wicked under the sun has blazed its way across the face of the earth; even the church. The devil has not stop prowling for victims to devour (1 Peter 5:8) and many have been eaten up. A church that is unable to recognize the devil's stroke behind every fights, quarrels and splits will stay that way forever - a defeated church. One that fights the flesh only and see not the wicked powers behind it (Eph 6:12)
My friends, factions are not something new in the 21st century. There was much division in the Corinthian church as described by Paul in his letter to them. It has happened then, and has been happening ever since. Have you not heard of factions and church splits? Humans are the cause of the problem. Or should I more accurately say, "UNGUARDED Christians" and "IMMATURE Christians" are the cause of such problems. We will be wise to first acknowledge the problem of fights and quarrels as a reality in a community of human beings - believers or not. And any Christian, whether mature or not, can fall victim into the ploy of the devil if he is unguarded. That is to say, he did not go before God with regards to what he is feeling, hearing, thinking and deciding when a matter gets really fiery. It is dangerous. An immature Christian can be worse off - he is easy meat for the devil's scheme because he is unable to distinguish the good from evil. (Heb 5:12-14)
Do not be mistaken. I am not saying those who are involved in a fight or quarrel are always doing wrong. There may be valid "fights", "quarrels" or "contention" (Gal 2:11, Acts 15) But many a times, church fights are unnecessary. What is worse, and the thing that saddens me most, are those who dragged themselves into the fray. By their own choice, they enter into the fight not knowing every detail, yet getting upset, angry and building hatred over a matter 'out-of-their-own-reach'. If hatred, bitterness and mistrust are the fruit you get in your involvement in a church fight, it is time to get out of it before you destroy yourself. You can be sure you have been sucked into it by your own self-righteousness and the devil. Do not give the devil a foothold(Eph 4:26-27)
Always guard your heart(Prov 4:23) and make every effort to live in peace with everyone (Rom 12:17-18, Heb 12:14). During a fight, show proper support to a brother by encouraging and spurring him to love and to do good works(Heb 10:24-25), and NOT "encourage" him by putting down other people and getting angry together with him - that doesn't help.
So then, let us not be foolish or ignorant of the devil's schemes(2 Cor 2:10-11). And do right in whatever situation, whether it be a church fight or a family quarrel(Phil 1:27). The Lord bless you.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
When You Do Not Know
Have you ever felt helpless and frustrated at things that you cannot understand? Seasons of uncertainty is always annoying (It is really an understatement to use the word "annoying") The futility of our thoughts are beyond comprehension. Who is so clever and wise that he knows all things? No one. And therefore, when one gets stuck in a matter, the inability to decipher and understand it sets our emotions on a roller coaster. Frustration, confusion, self-doubts, distractions and what-have-you all pile in.
Therefore, it is expedient that one chuck the thought of having (an immediate) answer to his question aside. For what benefit will it reap if the time is not right for him to have the answer? Will he not be chasing after the wind? And will he not bring frustration upon himself over 'nothing'? Alas, not many are able to exercise great patience in such matters. We want an answer, and we want it now but we don't get it. How foolish it is to dig for one when the answer is in the air.
So it is easy to understand and it is easy for one to agree with the truth. But it is very difficult to be patient and live day by day without knowing. Accept your present circumstances and commit the matter to the Lord. He will know when to tell you the answer. Get your focus right.
Therefore, it is expedient that one chuck the thought of having (an immediate) answer to his question aside. For what benefit will it reap if the time is not right for him to have the answer? Will he not be chasing after the wind? And will he not bring frustration upon himself over 'nothing'? Alas, not many are able to exercise great patience in such matters. We want an answer, and we want it now but we don't get it. How foolish it is to dig for one when the answer is in the air.
So it is easy to understand and it is easy for one to agree with the truth. But it is very difficult to be patient and live day by day without knowing. Accept your present circumstances and commit the matter to the Lord. He will know when to tell you the answer. Get your focus right.
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