Ok... I admit, the last post was pretty hard to read. But the idea is that you read the verses in the links provided. But even then its pretty hard to read without any commentary. Basically I was trying to prove that the inheritance that the apostle Peter was referring to was something that we have access to now.

So anyway... Today I learnt from Mark 4:13-32
From this passage, we see that the seed is the Word of God and the soil refers to the hearts of man. There are a few things we need to know about seeds.

1. Seeds don't look like their potential
2. Seeds are powerless until planted.
3. Seeds take time to grow.

There is tremendous potential in a seed. You can't number the potential fruits a seed will bear. The same goes for the Word of God. It holds infinite possibilities and incredible power. The things we do (prayer, bible study, serving in church) are just tools that we use to facilitate ideal conditions for the seed to grow.

How do we plant the seed?
If we look at the scripture in Mark 4, we see that the Word is sown by hearing. The difference is that in verse 20, the good ground, the ready hearts accepted it. The key is to hear and accept it UNTIL IT REGISTERS IN MY SPIRIT.
There is a seed for every need. The bible covers every need. But the Word of God is powerless until it is planted in our hearts. Faith to believe comes when the Word is planted in our hearts.

When you speak and pray the truth, the Holy Spirit agrees with you and power flows. The idea is to plant the seed, and return to it, watering it. When we understand that the seed planted in good soil is guarantee of results, we become assured. Voila, faith is produced. Faith produces faith.

Our inheritence

1 peter 1:3-5
this is 1 peter 1:3-5 in 5 different bible versions.

VERSE 4: the NIV and NASB use the phrase "kept in heaven for you". The
other 3 use the word "reserved". What I learnt is that it is reserved for us but
we have access to the inheritence NOW. I will elaborate more later.

VERSE 5: "who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation
ready to be revealed in the last time" (NKJV)
the verse starts of with who are kept. this shows that the verse is referring to
people, us, kept by the power of God through faith for salvation.

What is ready to be revealed in the last time?
the salvation of our souls / minds!

1 peter 1:6-9

VERSE 6: The presence of various trials tests our faith, gives glory to
God

VERSE 9: Receiving the end (goal, result, outcome, reward) of our faith.
Refers to the salvation of our souls

James 1:21-27

James 1:21 ==>; Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

James 1:22 ==>; The word is able to save our souls. Not JUST by hearing but by doing. In our ministry, our service, our works.

Ephesians 1:11 ==>; They use past tense.
"obtained". Through Christ we have this inheritence already. Jesus died so that
we receive the inheritence.

Faith receives the inheritence. And with this inheritence, we have what we
need to go through the various trials that test our faith.

I've been playing for the worship sessions in Rhema almost from the get go. I'm not complaining. I'm more than grateful for the opportunities to serve. The question is how do I take this service to the next level? This can't be it.
I thank God for the opportunity to play for the CAC All Worship Event. Gerald was supposed to play for it but he broke his finger. Poor guy. I'll also be playing for an upcoming rally with some chinese artiste. Steven Goh approached me a couple of weeks ago to help him out. Hopefully I don't embarrass myself.

I just got thrown into the deep end of the pool yesterday. I accompanied my sister to go register for driving lessons. My intention was just to book a date for the basic theory test but it seems the whole system has been changed and now they allow you to take driving lessons even BEFORE you've taken the basic theory test. So to make a painful story short, I transferred $1000.00+ into the account they created for me. Mummy described me as being in shock after that. She did offer to pay for the whole thing, bless her heart, but I declined. I guess this puts me on the fast lane to exercise my faith. I will never be in lack. I mean, God covered the cost of this time of training even when I wasn't asking for it! How great is God?!?

You'll let me know when I'm ready

On 6 August 2006, we were having prayer in the choir room before service.
"..For the mentality change in the leaders. And a change within all of us. So that we may be sent forth. So that the church can move in the right direction..."

I read this a couple of weeks later...
"One of the greatest needs of the church today is that God's people renew their minds with the Word of God. Just because a person is a Christian, and even filled with the Holy Spirit, doesn't mean that he has a renewed mind. The mind becomes renewed with the Word of God."
| Kenneth Hagin - Man On Three Dimensions |

I never had a scripture which spoke out to me so strongly before. Well, maybe Romans 12:1-2 about sacrifice and true worship. Like how a membership card always comes with a booklet stating the benefits? Imagine that booklet summed up in one simple scripture. Imagine the weight of the words declaring the truth to unlock and unleash the power, anointing, and promises of God. This would be it. This verse includes us into God's chosen people! This verse is the stamp of confidence that we have!

So you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have been made like him. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all Christians--you are one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and now all the promises God gave to him belong to you.
| Galatians 3:26-29 (New Living Translation) |

My first day of school. Expectations change today. Both people's impression of me and my expectations of myself. I'm no good at crowds and being in unfamiliar situations. I find it hard to strike up conversation. Maybe because I'm afraid of sounding stupid. But thats just pride isn't it? Burn that!

Reverend Joseph and Reverend Stanley took some time to warm up today. But boy did they speak with power & boldness once they got there. The anointing was on them but I dare say that it isn't turned up all the way yet. My classmates & some of the seniors couldn't sit still after lessons because of their excitement. Why am I not jumping up and down in excitement? Why am I having such muted feelings in school? Could it be that I'm too serious about this place? I am having fun, don't get me wrong. I just feel that there's so much more!!! Maybe because I'm familiar with these topics. But dear God, don't ever let me become complacent. I want more of You!!

I smile to myself when I think of how simple it was to fall into my 'zone' of serving in worship. I volunteered to play the cajons for the worship session. Reverend Cynthia was so eager to try it out. I initially brought the church's cajon home to practice and experiment. Now I get to practice in a real worship setting. I tend to worry that I'm not as good as others. But if God calls you, whats there to worry about?

I'm reminded of sunday service yesterday. It was the last service in the sanctuary before the renovation. I'm not trying to imply anything or undermine anyone but was I the only one who sensed a difference? Coincidence? Most unlikely. Progress and growth comes from the Word. Knowing it and applying it. There were no stunts, no tricks, no fanfare. Just the distinct presence of God in that sanctuary. Flow comes from focusing on God, not by focusing on the flow. Revival comes from focusing on God, not by focusing on revival. The idea is to create a platform for the Holy Spirit to do His thing. Not to try to manipulate people or emotions. You can experience God through feelings and emotions but don't rely on them. God is always with us, the Holy Spirit always in us and Jesus always for us.

Some things I learnt from Joyce Meyer's "Battlefield of the Mind" and Watchman Nee's "Release of the Spirit".

Ms. Meyer starts of her book with a verse from Proverbs which I find really moving, both spiritually and philosophically.
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. (Proverbs 23:7)

Another verse from Romans puts it in more detail.
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. (Romans 8:5)

If anyone struggles with their thoughts like I do, you'll understand how much this verse stood out for me. So often in our Christian walk, we are led by what we think is right. Or what we think is God's plan for us. Suffice to say, its our thoughts guiding our actions. But Romans 8:5 says those who live according to the Spirit will have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

So our actions affect our mentality?
Yes! Our mind has been "trained" by our actions since we were born. When we received salvation, our spirit was awakened, reborn, stirred up, re-kindled etc. (You get the point) But our physical and mental facilities remained the same. Therein lies the problem of ALL Christians.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)
I think many are familiar with this verse. I once believed that when paul said "do not conform" he meant that we were to rebel against the world. But I learnt that I was wrong. The opposite of conformity is not rebellion. When we rebel, we are still doing things in the flesh and by doing things in the flesh, we might be successful for awhile, but it will drain us. We're still doing battle on the world's playing field. I missed out the key point of the verse. You can almost hear Paul's plea. Be transformed! Be transformed by the power of the Spirit of God as He gives revelation. Be transformed by being in fellowship with God. Be transformed by being empowered and taking authority back from the devil. So that we claim back our dominion over things that are rightfully ours.

Our battlefield may take place in the mind but this is spiritual warfare. I remember in when was going through SISPEC in army, everytime we were getting ready to charge at the imaginary enemy, I would hold my rifle tight and mutter to myself, "Locked and Loaded!!" And it occured to me that its the same in the spiritual realm. We have to be locked in the Word of God and loaded with prayer and praise. Prayer is one of the best weapons.

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

Bringing every thought into obedience. The weapons lay at your feet. The question is, would you take up arms and fight?

Its been a week of mixed emotions. It would have been great if I had not marred it with some stupid actions on Monday. Thats the story of my life so far hasn't it? But no more!!! I trust God that He will make something good out of my foolishness. He always does.

Rhema has been fantastic! I've been waiting for this opportunity for years. And I only remembered the excitement of being there after Lynette led worship. Woof... Imagine the fact that the year one's haven't even gotten into the flow of things. I was talking to Gloria on MSN a couple of days ago, telling her that I wanted to be the best student. I want to live up to that expectation that God has of me. These ARE exciting times!

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Such stillness tonight
The breeze skipping across treetops
The shadows cast:
bold, intense
Influenced and swayed by the moonlight
Waving over the ripples in the surface
The sound of seeking the least resistance
Searching for the easy escape
These are sounds I recognise
They're familiar like a friend,
a lover I knew
Swayed by constant thought
Yet fearing the cold cruel cares of confrontation

Flee, coward, flee
As if you could outrun the midnight moon
Oh, as if...
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Blogging is a strange thing. Its either there's nothing to write about or so many things that you don't know what to write about. I think part of the reason is because I'm learning so many things from different books that all I have a fragments from each. But its so exciting to piece together the lessons you take from each book and see that they're all interconnected. Proof that we all serve the same God.

So anyway, today was rather productive. Met up with Lynette at Bras Basah where I went to apply for a job at Tecman. Its interesting how they told me to fill up an application form, which I did. After I submitted the form, they told me to wait. And I waited for 15 minutes before the lady who was supposed to interview me simply came up to say that they would call me if I was shortlisted. I wanted to apply at Swee Lee Music Company as well but they told me that I had to send a resume through email.

Had dinner with Oon and Lynette, and Auntie Ruth at Swensen's. I decided to give her a treat because she was sponsering my school fees at Rhema. She's such a sweet lady! Dinner was filled with passionate discussions about church and other spiritual things. Auntie Ruth encouraged me with her wise and kind words. Its amazing how much belief she has in me. Its time for me to believe that I can do the things God has planned for me as well.