"But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
| John 4:23-24 |
This scripture has been hitting me over and over in ways that I've never seen before. I've heard this verse quoted so often and so pointlessly that it seems that we've lost the impact of it. The Greek word translated as 'worship' in this verse is 'proskuneo'. And it means to prostrate, or to revere, or to adore. This brings to mind the scene of Mary at the feet of Jesus, anointing them with perfume. This is adoration, this is worship.
Who are those who worship him?
I am.
The simplicity of the verse hit me during prayer school today. God is spirit and I MUST worship Him. Not an obligation... but a yearning. Not because its a requirement, but because I love to. I just have to worship Him simply because God is. Israel Houghton put is best when he said, "Birds fly... fishes swim... I worship..."
Its a given that true worshippers must worship and spirit and in truth. So the way I see the verse is "God is... (amazing, awesome, fantastic) And I just have to worship..."
Another verse that hit me, also on the area of worship is Romans 4:20.
"No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God"
'Glory' is translated 'doxa'
A Greek lexicon defines it as dignity, glory(-ious), honour, praise, worship.
This was referring to Abraham and the promise that he would be "Father of Many Nations". Worship is what helped him. As we glorify God, it helps us magnify Him. Our worship strengthens our faith. It strengthens our belief in the promises of God and causes us to be stable.
This term has been a hectic one. And it has made me realise the possibility of letting the depth of the teaching at bible school just pass me by. I've been seriously contemplating quitting my job at Kumon so as to free up more time to study the Word and to serve in church. But then, all sorts of questions pop up in my mind. How am I going to support myself? How can I afford to stop work?
And the most important question of all or rather the only question that really matters...
Is this what God wants me to do?
If it is, then the other questions don't matter any more.
Another first for me this school term attending two funerals. It gave me a lot of things to contemplate. But I praise God for opportunities to be there for friends and family.
School has been fun. I'm really enjoying my time there especially during prayer school. I've been heavily involved in worship for this semester, but it seems i'm scheduled to play percussions on most days. I would really love to lead worship more often but at the end of the day, its the needs of the school which outweigh my desires. Its through times in worship that I sense an anointing and a grace to serve in this area. This is an area which I really wanna learn and improve in.
~~~ You Are ~~~
You are my light and salvation,whom shall i fear?
You are the strength of all my days, of whom shall i be afraid?
Though war may rise against me, of this i will be sure.
CHORUS
That i shall bless the lord for ever,
I'll bless your holy name
Yes I will bless the lord for ever ,
I'll bless your holy name.
Hillsong - Hope
These two weeks of school have just whizzed by like a bullet. Classes have been beneficial but I still feel that there's something deeper that I'm not getting or understanding. I'm not talking about the lessons... I'm talking about an underlying thought or purpose which I know I have but just doesn't seem to emerge. But then again, the reason why its not clear could be due to the my busyness or simply my lack of discipline to "just sit at the feet of Jesus".
There have been certain issues weighing on my mind recently.
Been praying for Uncle Jimmy and his family.
I thank God, who always leads us to triumph.
The 40DOP campaign in church and the cell group is now in full swing.
I thank God for deeper relationships forged with God through Christ Jesus.
My driving test is in 2 weeks time.
I thank God for the ability given to me to drive well. I thank God for the grace and favour shown to me from instructors, the tester, and motorists.
I'm leading the praise & worship session in church service for the first time in 2 weeks time.
Praise God for helping me and granting me the opportunity to realise a dream even without my asking for it. Once again, I praise God for the ability and the anointing to lead His people.
I praise God for providing ALL that I need to achieve His purpose in my life. I have the grace to go through bible school receiving the FULLEST possible impartation. I have the ability to serve with my entire being in places where I have been called. I thank God for the wisdom to understand truth from the Word of God and for the ability to recognise Him at work.
Its probably because I fell sick the night before school restarted, but it feels as if I barely made it through the school break. Did I fully utilise my time away from bible school? Did I serve Him with the best of my ability? What good have I actually done? And my oft-repeated reminders to myself, What have I learnt?
I'm quickly recovering from all symptoms of the sickness. I intend to be fully well tomorrow morning. Its time to stop wasting time. One thing I want to get from God this semester is a specific direction for 2008. Its time for doors to be opened.
~~~ To Worship You I Live ~~~
Away away from the noise
alone with you
away away to hear your voice
and meet with you
nothing else matters my one desire is
To worship you I live
I live to worship you
| Israel and New Breed - Live in South Africa |
I was in pretty high spirits when I went to visit my Uncle Jimmy today. I thought it would be a simple time of praying and encouraging. But when I looked into the room where he was in, I thought it was another person. The person I saw looked nothing like my uncle whom I had visited a couple of weeks before. His frame was thin and dishevelled, his cheeks sunken, his eyes showing disorientation. And I was stunned. Honestly, I was frightened... and fear kept trying to creep into my thoughts. Thoughts of my parents, my life, my beliefs shot through my mind.
It was a few minutes before I managed to pull myself together and my family and I began to pray in the spirit for him. I couldn't have prayed any other way. Words fail you in situations like these. Thank God for the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Thank God for my family who each began to speak Scripture to Uncle Jimmy. Lynette was praying God's promises for him and claiming victory for the whole situation and we were agreeing together as a family.
It was at this point when I felt God speaking to me to lay hands on Uncle Jimmy. God brought to my remembrance Luke 4:18-19
The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind
To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD
To set free those who are oppressed. Those who are suffering and those in need of healing. Thats when I saw in my mind, Uncle Jimmy's head being held in hands. I saw his brain being filled out and restored. I felt my hands grow warm and I knew that I had to go over and touch him. And when I did, I felt God's healing compassion and love simply rush through me and into Uncle Jimmy. Tears began to roll down and I knew again that his time was not up, his work was not done. I saw every fibre of his being restored. And after we finished praying, there was a sense of peace in the room. There was even a change in the countenance of Uncle Jimmy as he fell asleep soundly once we starting praying. I could recognise him again.
"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
This victory is not only reserved for heaven but here on earth as well. Uncle Jimmy, I look forward to seeing you preach again.
Let me start off with a quote from a book I'm currently reading. "The HEART of the ARTIST" by Rory Noland.
... this is one of the biggest differences between performing and ministry. I've seen many professional entertainers try to approach ministry the same way they've always approached performing.It is not easy to keep checking your heart to see what our attitude or intentions are but that is exactly what we have to do. And this doesn't just involve our attitude towards worship but towards everything that we do in life. Worship, as we so often hear, is more than just singing or getting everyone stirred up. Its not about putting a tear in congregation's eye. Its a form of expressing a lifestyle.
Performance is entertainment. You have to own the stage. You have to appear self-confident and enthusiastic. It doesn't matter if you're going through a deep personal crisis. The show must go on. You have to put it all behind you and step onstage and wow everybody one more time.
Ministry, on the other hand, is not entertainment. Instead of pretence, there is authenticity -- we need to be real onstage. Instead of working hard to whip up confidence, we need to be humble. Ministry demands that we allow the Holy Spirit to own the stage.
It is what happens when you really realise how BIG God is, how much He LOVES you and how much He has given.
Every attempt to worship has to begin from this understanding. There needs to be a capacity to recognise God's Love before we can receive God's Love. That is why John says in 1 John 4:7-12:
We -- we love him, because He -- He first loved us;
This is taken from Young's Literal Translation. You can almost imagine the way John would verbalise this. He pauses as if his breath is taken away by remembering the Love of Jesus. As if He had to compose himself before saying it. He had that understanding of Love. He realised that he was the disciple whom Jesus loved. This is the basis for all worship.
To our God and Father be glory forever and ever.
Amen.
:: Philippians 4:19-20 ::
And He does it again. Thank you God.
Hello dear blog... Hello old friend. What have I learnt in my absence from the world of journalling? If anything, I've learnt the importance of journalling and its significance in my life. Life is far too complicated, too detailed, too romantic to simply experience in one shot. Its too brilliant, too rich in content, too intense to handle and process at any one time. That is why we have different forms of capturing media. The digital camera, the mp3 recorder, or even in the more primitive forms. The pencil and paper.
Why has mankind come up with all these devices? My opinion is that mankind has been looking for a way to extend life ever since man got separated from God. We've been searching for the "fountain of youth". And media provides a way to capture the instances in life which take our breath away. The moments which we enjoy. We try to prolong these moments by talking about them, by reminiscing or critiquing them. Why do we do it? Because these are the moments which make time stop for us. Praise God for these moments... It is as if He places these things just for us to enjoy and just to give life and strength to our souls. I just need to take time to think about His love and it just amazes me. It takes my breath away. That is is why I worship Him. Because He gives me so much to experience, so much to learn.
Recently, we've been learning a lot about the book of Jonah during cell group and one key characteristic I've learnt about God is His grace. Whenever you turn back to Him, He's still willing to use you. Even when you feel that you are not deserving of His blessings, He continues to bless.
One of the things I hear Him saying to me whenever I feel unworthy.
"Get over yourself!!! Get up from that pit of self-pity and get to work on what I've intended for you. Self-abasement is just a waste of time. It gives Me no glory for you to remain in that state. Encourage yourself in Me."
Indeed, God has been opening doors for me. Choices laid before me that excite me. Naturally, I would shy away from things which I don't have a clue on how to achieve. But things that God shows me, He puts in me the desire to learn and do. God amazes me.
These past few weeks have been an immense learning experience for me. Learning from God and about God. It wouldn't be humanly possible to learn so much in so many areas in such a short time, but with God, all things are possible. Its true! He just made the "impossibles" happen in mine! Just being in obedience unlocks new learning material! The blessings just come when I act out what I have learnt. Whether it is regarding believing God for finances, walking in divine health or simply practising righteousness, it just amazes me how good God is.
Recently I've been troubled with a stiff back and it didn't go away with after praying what I would call regular prayer. So while I was on the MRT to city hall, I decided to meditate on Isaiah 53:4-5 (ESV) and get it into my spirit.
yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.
In my bible, I had written beside the words griefs and sorrow, the words pains and sickness, respectively. These words are closer to the original Hebrew meanings. I also began reading 1 Peter 2:24 (ESV)
When I was reading this verse, I began to take notice of the phrase "that we might die to sin and live to righteousness". It brought to mind the theme for our church's youth camp.
"Dead to Sin. Alive in Christ".
Jesus died that we might die to sin. Why do translators use the word "might"? It brought across the impression that Jesus death is not final. It seems as if there is an uncertainty in that phrase.
But looking at other scripture like Romans 6:6-11 says that our old selves have died with Christ and that sin has been brought to nothing. We're dead to sin, once and for all.
2 Corinthians 5:21 says that God made Jesus to be sin so that we might become the righteousness of God.
Its all very clear and distinct. No confusion there. So back to 1 Peter 2:24. Why the use of the word "might"?
The answer that came to me was "choice". Jesus died so that we might die to sin. Jesus came that we may have life and have it abundantly. Jesus came to give us the option. Does that mean that all in church have taken hold of the abundant life? Or that all those in church have all died to sin? But we have it! If we would only take hold of what we have.
Romans 3:22 says that the righteousness of God is obtained through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. Choose!
1 Timothy says that all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. We are righteous! But there needs to be a training of righteousness by using the the Word of God.
I started off with Isaiah 53 and got carried away into the study of righteousness. I was so blessed by this reminder and praise God, by the time I reached city hall, my back was healed. Just another example of the 'multi-purpose' power of the Word.
As I was walking to Bukit Merah interchange, feeling good that I had gotten the evening off from work to go home to complete my readings, I met one of the Kumon students on the his way to class. He was just the tiniest boy, maybe about 4 years old. He was walking with his mother and carrying the Kumon 'fish' folder in his hand. It was at that moment that he recognised me and loudly exclaimed, "Mummy, ni(2) kan(4) Kumon lao(3) shi(1)!" which means "Mummy, Look at the Kumon teacher!"
And that put a big smile on my face. He said it with such enthusiasm and happiness that joy just filled my soul. I don't care who you are, recognition like that is always welcome. It feels good to be an influencing factor in the lives of these children.
But on to spiritual things. I praise God for the finished work of the cross! Praise God for my righteousness in Jesus Christ. But I know there is something deeper than this. Lord, open my eyes. Give me greater understanding!
~~~ Open My Eyes ~~~
Saviour of my soul
I worship You as God alone
Greater love has made a way to You
I could not forget
The moment I in faith confessed
For my sin You died and rose again
I believe every word You say
Father God with all my heart I sing
Open my eyes
I want to see Your glory, Your glory Lord
I open my ears
I want to be closer, closer to You
Here I am again
I find my strength in drawing near
You have heard the desperate cry in me
And as I wait on You my God
I’ll know the voice of truth
In quietness I am in awe
And as I worship You my Lord
I understand the cross
The sacrifice of God
| Hillsong - Mighty To Save |
If I really think hard about it, I can remember the whole atmosphere that the church was in. Back in those days, I remember how the entire environment was changed because of the presence of God. You couldn't say that I had any understanding whatsoever of spiritual things. I had no knowledge or ability to express how I felt. But as a little boy, I vividly remember experiencing His presence. I recall the feel of the cheap, rough carpet under my body. I remember the way it felt as I lay there in some hotel conference room. The rest of the adults oblivious to what I was going through.
As I traced the patterns of the carpet with my fingers, little did I realise what God was doing for me. He was tracing His plan and fusing His character with mine. Formed even before there was any trace or thought of my existence. Oh yes! Even without my understanding, He was filling me with His Spirit. Waiting for the time where my understanding would catch up with my spirit. Waiting for me to take hold of what I had.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10
I like the phrasing in the English Standard Version of Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
The Amplified version says God being a partner in their labor all things work together and are fitting into a plan for good to and for those who love God and are called according to His design and purpose.
I think many of us love God. The question that remains is, how do we know if we're called? How do we know whether God has a purpose for me?
The bible says in 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.
In Ephesians 4, Paul speaks about each person in the body of Christ having a role to play.
I was reading Exodus 35:31-35 last week. And the Words of God through Moses really hit me hard. I will retell it as it spoke to me.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
God has filled me with the Spirit of God. The power of the Holy Spirit! He has anointed me with skill, intelligence, with knowledge. With all that is necessary for the job thats laid before me. Not just the minimum requirements but the ability to do an excellent job. To make beautiful work, music or words with high quality.
For the work that He has called me into, He has inspired me to learn and teach. HE has filled me with skill, artistic talent, imagination, words, ideas, plans, details to fulfill my calling. He has given me the ability to inspire others to find and carry out their plans as well.
As easily as I have received the Holy Spirit through salvation. As easily as I have been filled to the overflowing, with power of the Holy Spirit, I am just as easily anointed to do His will. With boldness and conviction, confidence and strength.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Retreat (noun)I am so refreshed from the wonderful 3 days at Desaru. We stayed at Pulai Springs Beach Resort, a beautiful hotel with its own beach. It was 3 fulfilling days spent in the presence of God. I don't just mean when we entered the conference room for the sessions. But I think all of us had an awareness of how the presence of God simply infiltrated the entire hotel. Samuel, one of my year 2 schoolmates, captured the feeling best when we were praying together as a group beside the beach. He said that it was a privilege to be praying beside the sea with the sound of its crashing waves. And so we sat there praying for an hour in the spirit. Beautiful.
A place affording peace, quiet, privacy, or security.
A period of seclusion, retirement, or solitude.
A period of group withdrawal for prayer, meditation, or study: a religious retreat.
Psalms 29:3-4
The voice of the LORD is over the waters; The God of glory thunders; The LORD is over many waters.
The voice of the LORD is powerful; The voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
I think the next best part was being able to play and worship God. In my mind, I was thinking, what an honour to be serving in this ministry and worshiping with all these "spiritual heavyweights". Of course, God quickly got my attention off them and back on Him. Its such a joy to worship Him.
All throughout the first 2 days, I was telling God that I wanted a Word from Him through the Coopers. (They were a couple, the guest speakers for the retreat) God was telling me that I didn't need a Word, that I already have the battle plan. But I told Him that I wanted an confirmation, or rather an encouragement that I was on the right track. So when it was my turn to be prayed for, it didn't surprise me that all that was mentioned were the same things that I've gotten from God before. There were 2 things however, that were new to me. These were regarding anointing and restoration. Such words of comfort. I had been hearing people saying that I was anointed before but I never really accepted it. Having heard it from God makes it so much more believable.
And so the key topic for this retreat is praying in the spirit. For a greater anointing and greater power. Oh the number of things that can be achieved when we let God use us even when we pray.
A prayer from the Heart
Father I want to bring Daryl before you. I ask that You grant him Your spirit of wisdom and revelation every day, every time he reads Your Word, I pray that he will learn something new and You will give him a a fresh revelation.
Lord, I thank You that he has a teachable heart, and I know that You are gonna use that and teach him many things because his heart is so open to you, and I know that you will also use him to impart all the wonderful things he has learnt to others who need to hear it. I know and I declare that he will do great things for you, and I pray that you continue to grant him enough light for every single step that he takes with you, as he follows your leading and as you take him to higher levels, one at a time.
Father I also pray that you will increase his boldness. You know that he has a desire to reach out to the lost, to share the gospel and bring people to You. I ask that you will really help him to step out of his personality! That he will be filled with boldness and declare your gospel aloud!
We know that Your Word is powerful and speaks for itself, it's not the words we use or how well we speak but Your word is living and it transforms people and so we thank you that we dont have to rely on ourselves to reach out to other people and be afraid of saying the wrong things or looking stupid, but we can rely on you as your Holy Spirit gives us the words to say.
I pray that Daryl will be so in tune with the Holy Spirit, every single second of his life, in all the decisions he makes, the situations he faces. He will do as you guide him. I also pray that you keep Daryl from temptation and protect him from any accidents or harm that the devil might want to put in his way as he goes to Desaru until Wednesday. I ask that it will be a time of refreshing for him. During this time he will learn so much from you and have such intimate times with you. I pray that he will come back different! Changed and convicted by the Holy Spirit in new areas of his life no longer the same but changed forever for you!
We thank you in advance for all our prayers , that although we cant see them by our eyes, we believe by faith that you have heard and have answered! We rejoice in advance for all the wonderful things you are doing and are going to do in Daryl's life and we pray all these in Jesus' mighty name. Amen.
I seem to have had a revelation today while I was walking home from the MRT and it makes me happy! I think I'm going to shock some people in the near future. I've had some setbacks regarding the last post where I mentioned my desire to become bolder and more radical for the Lord. Isn't it just like the devil to come and try to discourage and disappoint you when you're making a decision to glorify God? Isn't it just like the devil to come and try to condemn you for not being able to carry out that decision?
So often we're being deceived into thinking that our actions are bad because they don't fit into the culture that we're in. I think I'm tired of having people dictate what I am and what I'm permitted to do. And very often, condemnation comes because we fail to live up to people's expectations. In 1 Corinthians 10:29, Paul asks For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience?" I'm not saying that we lower the standards. I'm saying that we raise them to please the only One whose opinion matters. When you follow after Christ, you're bound to step on some people's toes. Again I'm not saying that you go out of your way to offend others. But I just realised tonight that I've been trapped in people's opinions and judgements. Fear of condemnation. No more of that for me.
Luke 4:18-19
The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind.
To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.
Jesus purchased my freedom on the cross. Romans 8:1 says "...no more condemnation to those who are IN CHRIST JESUS!"
2 Corinthians 3:17 says "...where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty!"
In Proverbs 19:12 and 20:2, it says "The wrath of a King is like a roaring lion."
We all know that God is the "Lion of Judah" and the "King of Kings". And many of us think that God rebukes or disciplines us by condemning us. But that is not the case!
1 Peter 5:8 says "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."
The devil prowls around like a roaring lion. The father of lies tries to imitate the only true and living God. He tries to mislead people into thinking that God's anger is on them. In short, the devil tries to bring condemnation where there should be none. If the devil cannot stop us from getting saved, he's going to try to get us to become ineffective. What better way for him to do that than making the Christian feel sinful and unworthy?
The truth is, God does not condemn us anymore. There are no consequences of sin to bear from God. The wrath of God has already been exhausted on the glorious Jesus Christ. The consequences of sin have been paid for in full. Thats the beauty of the gospel.
John 3:17-18
"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned..."
There's an awkwardness when I come to blog now. I'm in the process of changing and trying to incorporate something into my lifestyle. Its something that I have been trying to do for years but so far it hasn't been successful. I'm talking about evangelism.
I've never been the type who would go up to strangers and start talking openly about Christ. There are people who can do it and I marvel at them. My mind cannot comprehend how they are able to speak with such authority and boldness. I seem to come up with more reasons why they shouldn't accept Christ instead. Thats my problem, see? Again, I try to reason out Salvation logically. There's no way to reason it out!
I think the problem I'm experiencing is that subconsciously, I'm making it my responsibility to convert the people I'm speaking to. Same with when I lay hands on people to be healed. Its like I'm trying to heal them or change them. Many of us are familiar with the verse in Romans 1:16.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
We often heard it said that we should not be ashamed of the Gospel but don't you think that it is weird that there is anything to be ashamed of at all? Why are we ashamed? When we look at the verse in Paul's context, we can see that he had reason to be ashamed! Persecution, ridicule from fellow Jews. Christianity was viewed as second rate. But in this day and age, in our multi-racial society of Singapore. What is there to be ashamed of? The Gospel or Good News is the Power of God to salvation. We should be proud of it!
Lets look at how Paul utilised this power in his ministry in the previous verse.
Romans 1:15
So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.
We simply preach or to put it in a less threatening word, we speak of the Gospel. We don't have to spice it up or dilute it to "suit" the audience.
Romans 1:17
For in it (the gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed...
The Gospel. I so often have a hunger to see people coming to God. I long for the honor of being part of the miracle of 'Spiritual Rebirth'. But sometimes there are hindrances. Sometimes I feel as if I don't have the ability or the right to speak the gospel. But that right is given to every believer. So what other excuse can we give for not doing more?
God's righteousness is revealed when we speak. The pressure should not be on us to make our words powerful. The Gospel IS the Power of God! If we are truly convinced of what salvation means to us, then that alone is enough to speak of it to others. What is this fear that stops us from sharing? Is it personality? Our environment or society? Our upbringing? Culture?
This challenges me in my spirit. Do I really really REALLY know Christ? Isn't Jesus greater than all we lack? Do we need to script out the wonder of God's grace and mercy? I've all but started praying for God to bring me souls. I know what a heavy responsibility it is. I know if I simply ask for the opportunity to evangelise, God will be faithful and create them. But asking for opportunities means being able to step out of your personality and obeying Him. It may mean looking foolish for Him. Am I radical enough?
I want to be able to come to a point in life where I can look back and say, "I think I made a difference, I think I made an impact in people's lives."
Where people would exclaim that it MUST have been God working in my life. It is not possible that you did it on your own. Of course, one must ALWAYS be wary not to fall into the trap where you're striving for the honor and recognition of being used by God rather than simply being the instrument.
Patience and Perserverance, Daryl
Its good to be made to think. But its not good to be made to worry. There are things which I have to pray about. Not worry about. Because worrying will only cause white hairs. There are some issues that are valid. I have to take them into my prayer room. Different people have different callings. People specialise in different areas and prosper in different areas as God blesses their abilities. There are abilities which I should learn and develop. But just because someone isn't blessed in certain areas doesn't make them any less special or less 'called'.
I will not let myself be looked down upon just because I'm not as highly educated, highly qualified, well-mannered, intelligent or well-spoken. Thank God that He is my qualification.
Daryl, Servant of the Most High God.
I shudder to even think myself worthy of such a title. But the Word says I am made righteous! Its by His grace alone that I even have a chance in life. Not just a chance, but a opportunity to reign! (Romans 5:17-21)
To reign! I rule over the things in life because God has given me authority, through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit. I obey, I study the Word, I do not falter and He makes me the head and not the tail. It means I am on top of things! Above and not beneath.
Lord... I earnestly desire!!!
- to burn with zeal
- to desire one earnestly, to strive after, busy one's self about him
- to exert one's self for one (that he may not be torn from me)
- to be the object of the zeal of others, to be zealously sought after
Jeremiah 1:17-19
But YOU, daryl, dress yourself for work. My work! Gird up your loins, prepare yourself, build yourself up! Arise and say to them everything that I tell you. Speak when "I tell you to speak. Obey when I tell you. Your obedient response sparks off the power.
Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them!
Will you be affected by Me, influenced by Me, reliant on Me? Then forget them? My Word will prove itself. And I will make you strong, give you the ability to withstand and defend. Where ordinary people would normally be struck down, you will stand firm, unshakable. And you will be a pillar for others to lean on, to hide behind. Against ALL who come against you, against all who will fight you and try to prove you wrong. They will try to tear you down. But I am with you, to carry you out of harms way and to prove my Word to be true.
Jeremiah 5:14
Because you have spoken this Word, I am making my Words in your mouth a fire, a consuming fire
I'm so grateful for the sheer number of chances that God has given me to be encouraged and to minister to others. I just pray that I'll be able to speak the words of God and not my own opinions. Its seems so easy to speak from experience and distort what God says.
Here's what happened on the second day of the house visitation in Myanmar.
DAY 2
The amount of walking that we had done the previous day left me surprisingly tired out at the end of the day. I recognised it as signs of dehydration. It is equally as hot in Myanmar as it is here, but the difference is how dry the climate is. Thankfully, there wasn't as much walking in sun.
We made our way by taxi and trishaw to a house church located in the dried up fields. The sun was shining brightly but the air still maintained its morning coolness. We reached the house about an hour before they were scheduled to start. The family, made up of a couple and their 3 children, were all busy preparing in one form or another. The man, squatting beside a clay stove, was putting the finishing touches to the meal he had prepared for us visitors. His wife, having laid out the mat in the middle of the hut, had gone out to inform the neighbours that we had arrived. There was a child with a physical handicap in her legs and a speech impediment. But she was so cheerful and scooting around the hut giving us "massages" on our arms. There was another small girl who had just taken her shower and was changing in front of us. The 3rd child was an infant lying on the floor making cute sounds.
And so the 6 of us (3 from the Rhema team & 3 from the AoG church) sat down for lunch at the makeshift dining table, the rest of the family looked quizzically at us. The custom in Myanmar is for the guests to eat their fill before the hosts even start eating. Also because the table could not sit all of us at the same time. The food was quite good but I was having a slight tummy problem so I was eating as little as my conscience would permit and as much as my digestive system would allow.
We finally got started with the service almost 2 hours after arriving. We only found out at that moment that they desired us to speak to them. So we got the most senior of us to do the job, the only Rhema Alumni in the team, to do the job for us. Thank God for her because I wouldn't have any clue as to what to speak about. At the end of that session, there were 4 people who wanted to receive Christ.
Just at we thought that we could breathe a word of thanksgiving for the 4 souls added to the Kingdom of God, we were informed that the sunday school teacher was on the way to the house church and there was still a sunday school session. But the thing was, it wasn't sunday and the sunday school teacher would not be teaching. She was coming to hear us. So we had to frantically come up with another evangelistic topic to speak on. I got assigned to speak on the importance of the blood of Jesus.
Before we knew it, 3 more youths were added to the Kingdom and I was left speechless at how desperate God must have been to reach these people that He worked in spite of my limitations and unpreparedness. 7 souls added to the Kingdom that day. We were also asked to pray for the healing of several of them. I believe that they were blessed just by our being there. He really showed Himself to be faithful to His Word. All Glory to God!
Welcome to 2007. I'm really behind time in my journaling. I haven't even blogged about Youth Camp. I should catch up by this week. Should have my newsletter up soon too.
People have been asking me about resolutions, plans, paths and ideas. I answer these in typical fashion. I don't know. I don't have the specifics yet. All I know is that there is so much more to learn. So much to prepare for. I know that I need to continue in my focus on Him.
I need to read and study more. My current reading project is the "Autobiography of George Mueller". I'm also studying Jeremiah and Ezekiel in the bible. I pray that I'll be able to continue with this when the added load of school readings come in. Something good is happening though. Something exciting will happen this year. I know it!
During the trip, we had opportunities to go visit the villagers in their homes and attend the house churches. As usual, not knowing what to expect, I just went along believing that God would do his thing.
Mark 16:20 says “And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.”
He confirms the message, He confirms His Word. I don’t have to try to make it happen.
DAY 1
And so we went out on the first of two trips to the villages. I fell asleep on the drive to the villages and when I awoke, I was surrounded by land as far as the eye could see. I was awed by how vast it was. It made me feel small, dazed and intimidated. The simplicity of the living conditions was astounding. A family would be staying in a hut, half the size of most people’s bedrooms. My attention was pulled to the sight of 4 little children, 2 guys and 2 girls standing in the little plot of land outside their hut. They were naked.
As we made our way into the village, I quickly realised that the house at the entrance of the village was the biggest one, probably belonging to the village head. The huts in the village were much smaller and stood side by side along the road. The entrance was about 1.4 metres high. There were a lot of children around as well. These were the ones who were still too young to go to school. They were running around and playing amidst the pigs that weren’t tied to posts beside the entrances. Our guide and translator, Hau, had mentioned earlier that there were many children in the village and she wasn’t kidding. It occurred to me that they had no knowledge of birth control or contraceptives.
Later on when we walked quite a distance to another part of the village, about 15 minutes away, we arrived at an orphanage. Here I discovered that there were about 24 children being taken care of by a Christian lady. Here I learnt that if families got too large for the man to support, children had to be given away. The lady shared about how her husband, who recently passed away, had started the orphanage. When they first started, they only had 3 cups of rice for themselves and a child. But as they trusted in God and more and more children came into the orphanage, she testified that they had never gone hungry.
As I glanced around the room, I noticed scripture verses pasted all over the walls. They were written side by side in Burmese and English. These were the promises of God that they were claiming. At that moment, she gestured towards the space between the staircase and the prayer corner. There lay 4 large sacks of rice. Her faith produced more than a 1000% increase in rice.
John 6:35 says “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”
Isaiah 49:10 says “They shall neither hunger nor thirst, neither heat nor sun shall strike them; For He who has mercy on them will lead them, Even by the springs of water He will guide them.”
Life in December is so packed. After coming back from a wonderful trip from Myanmar, I had to immediately prepare myself for youth camp. The more I think about it, the more I realise how much I still have to learn about the ministry. Sometimes it seems as if I'll never be able to reach the standard or the proficiency that we see many well-known evangelists or preachers. But thats not the point right? I really thank God for the things He's showing me and revealing to me.
Training takes time and I praise God that He has giving me the ability to learn by observation. I realise that even with learning music, I'm the kind of person that needs to watch and listen. Then I need to try it out to get the hang of it. Principles and theories do very little to convince me. Thats why I feel that having the opportunity to teach and minister in Myanmar did a lot to educate me. I keep getting comments from people that I am a "teacher". Maybe its the way I present the topics or explain things but I don't feel as if I am special in that area. My session with the students from the Church Planting Institute went pretty well. I was slightly nervous before I started but praise God that I was able to keep my focus. I did waver somewhere in the middle when I couldn't find my place in the notes. But I felt that I was able to come back. The time that the translator took also helped me to think before every sentence.
I was really encouraged by what Pastor 'V' said to the students after my session. I had mentioned during my introduction that I was halfway through my first year in bible school. He told them that they should be able to preach like I did because they have already been in training for almost 3 years. It really puzzled me. It must have been God working through me because I felt like I was nowhere near being a benchmark for the students.
While preparing for the teaching, God showed me Jeremiah 1:7-9
“Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth!”(NLT)
It made me realise that God was more concerned about the people than my shortcomings. In Jeremiah 1:12.
Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it."(ESV)
Muted amazement.
I don't want to sound like a newbie and squeal about every little thing that I saw in 'The Golden Land' but at the same time, the things that I saw God doing is worth shouting about!! Its plain to see that God has great plans for that nation. I was constantly amazed at how willing He was to use us to achieve His purpose. Its almost as if He was using any excuse there was to bless them! It seemed as if He used us despite our shortcomings.
As I prepared for this trip, I didn't know what to expect. I had no clue what the land looked like. I had no idea what the people did or how they spoke. Even when the team landed in Yangon, I couldn't form an impression of them. It was clear that many were living in poverty. There were great physical and fiscal needs. But I felt that there was something that God wanted to tell me about them. I just couldn't grasp it at the time.
It wasn't until the next morning that I realised what God was trying to tell me. We made our way by bus to the church where the team would do its first seminar. The journey through the residential area made me pray and wonder why I didn't feel anything for them. But as we approached the church, I felt as if something in the atmosphere was changing. One way to put it was that I could feel that I was approaching the church before I actually saw the church. Coming down from the bus, I quickly realised that there was a live worship going on. So I rushed to the entrance of the church and looked for the live band. All I could see at the front of the room were 2 girls and a guy singing. There was a keyboardist and a guitarist at the side too. It was bizarre because what I heard and what I saw didn't make sense to me. The congregation, made up of a large majority of people over 40 were shouting and jumping and praising God.
Thats when it hit me. Thats when the Love of God came sweeping over me. The realisation hit me like a wave. God loved this country. It wasn't a comparison to the love that He had for any other nation. He was beginning to show me His heart for Myanmar. They were something special.
Types of Redemption in the Old Testament
The Brazen Serpent
Numbers 21 - Background
- We see again the complaints of Israel against God and against Moses. By doing so, they stepped out from under the hand of protection of God. They were no longer heeding the conditions that were stated in Exodus 15:26.
Fiery serpents came and bit the people and many died. - We see in verse 7 that the people were quick to repent and they begged Moses to intercede for them.
God instructs Moses to make a fiery / bronze serpent and to set it on a pole. So that everyone who sees it shall live. - The serpent on the pole is a type of Christ on the cross. Everyone who looked at the cross would live.
- Numbers 21:8 Then the Lord told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” 9 So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed! (NLT)
- God strongly desires that His people would be living in fullness of health. That is why He made a way for the people of Israel. That is why He sent Jesus for us. The people were healed when they fixed their eyes on the serpent. What about us today? Today we have the real thing. The true and real Jesus. If we fix our eyes on Him, He heals us.
- Numbers 21:9 And Moses made a serpent of bronze and put it on a pole, and if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the serpent of bronze [attentively, expectantly, with a steady and absorbing gaze], he lived. (AMP)
Types of Redemption in the Old Testament
Bitter Water Made Sweet
Exodus 15 - Background
- Moses had just led the people of Israel out of Egypt and they had all seen the miracle of God parting the Red Sea.
- Exodus 14:31 Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord and they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses.
- So after praising God, they continued on their journey to the promised land. They travelled for 3 days and at the first sign of trouble, they started complaining again. They arrived at Marah (bitterness) where they finally found water but they couldn’t drink it because it was bitter.
- Exodus 14:24 And the people grumbled against Moses…
- And Moses, being the super-spiritual giant of faith prayed with authority and commanded the water to become drinkable. NO!
Moses was reacted in the same way any human under stress. He CRIED out to God. - God showed him a log / a tree, and Moses threw it into the water and the water became sweet.
- The Log / Tree is a picture of the cross
- The Waters of Marah / bitterness is a picture of pain, disease, sickness.
- John 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.
- Isaiah 53:4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! 5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. (NLT)
- There are conditions that have to be met. Rules to enjoy the sweet waters.
- Exodus 15:26
- diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God
- do what is right in His sight,
- give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes
Types of Redemption in the Old Testament
Korah’s Rebellion & The Plague
Numbers 16 - Background
- The pride and rebellion of Korah against Moses and Aaron was sin. If we look back at Leviticus 6 - 9, we see that God was raising up Aaron by teaching him the priestly responsibilities. God had chosen Moses and Aaron as priests The people had seen God approve of Aaron. (Leviticus 9:22-24) and here was this troublemaker Korah bringing 250 others like him to question their authority.
- Sin leads to death. God gave a chance to the people to separate themselves from the judgement of Dathan and Abiram. The earth opened up and swallowed them all. The 250 chiefs were also burnt up by fire from the Lord.
- James1:14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
- There is a compassion for the people. When they heard God’s judgement, immediately they fell facedown and interceded.
- Number 16:22 Then they fell on their faces, and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and You be angry with all the congregation?”
- Romans 8:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned. 17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)
- Numbers 16:44 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 45 “Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” And they fell on their faces.
- Romans 8:34 It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
- Numbers16:47 Then Aaron took it as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and already the plague had begun among the people. So he put in the incense and made atonement for the people. 48 And he stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped.
- This is a picture of what Christ did for us. Like Jesus, Aaron entered into the midst of disease and sickness.
- Jesus was the atonement, He paid the price, He stood between the living and the dead. There is an infection of sin in the world, which only the cross and intercession of Jesus Christ can stay and remove.
- Eziekiel 22:30-31 So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. 31 Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord GOD.
How is it possible to describe the goodness of God in 200 words? Ever since coming into Rhema Bible Training Centre, God has been doing so much for me. Initially, I couldn’t tell the difference in myself. I had people coming up to me and telling me how I’ve changed and how different I’ve become. Glory to God!
Waking up in the morning can be a painful experience. When the mind is dull with sleep and every fibre in your body screams out for more sleep. Ever since my kindergarten days, I always dreaded waking up early. My parents would exclaim that it was as if the frame of my body had been fused to the mattress. Any attempt to get me out of bed before I was ready (5 minutes more!) would leave me grumpy and in a foul mood. This habit followed me down through the years.
A change came when I was reading a book and the author quoted Smith Wigglesworth.
- Smith Wigglesworth -
The revelation felt like a punch to the head. It occurred to me that I could choose to do that too! I decided to try it. And it was a disaster! I would mumble “Thank You God” under my breath when I woke up the next morning. But I was feeling as horrible as always. But I kept trying and kept praising God. I even turned on some praise and worship songs like “Rejoice in the Lord Always” in the morning which would change my focus and put a smile on my face.
| I woke up today feeling pretty lousy. My body was aching from the drumming during AWE worship. My head was aching from all the thoughts rushing through my head. I went to the computer to try to install the new hard disk that I'd gotten but I couldn't get it to work. At that moment, I really felt very useless. I seriously didn't feel like going to church. As I was walking back to my room, I told myself, "This isn't the way I should be behaving!!" |
Many times in life, I would question God, “How come You don’t do the great things that I see in other people’s life for me?”
I would get upset when I heard good reports and testimonies from others. Not upset at them or that good things were happening to them. But upset that I was not experiencing those blessings. I wanted those blessings so much! I would pray fervently for God to bless me and use me to achieve His purposes.
God in His graciousness told me over a series of events that it wasn’t that He was withholding His blessings. It was that I wasn’t taking time to recognise it. I wasn’t giving Him the glory and praise that was due to Him. My understanding of His blessings was too shallow, selfish and warped. When I would pray for a situation, I would come to Him with preconceived ideas on how I wanted Him to work. Ways which I could figure out with my mind.
He began to show me His hand guiding and protecting me in my life. He reminded me of things that He’d done for me when I was in Polytechnic, in the army, in church and even now in Rhema Bible Training Center. He told me in such a loving way that it offended Him that I wasn’t thanking Him. You see, I was demanding that things be done in my way and even though He fulfilled His plans in a more glorious and splendid way, I didn’t recognise it.
If I want to see more power, I’d have to learn to recognise and thank Him for what He’s already done for me.
- Luke 16:10 -
I believe that because I’m praising Him, He’s showing me more and more adjustments that I have to make in my life. At the same time, He’s revealing more truths to me. Praise God forever!
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
Forever.
[Psalm 23:5-6]
A table? A table of what? A banqueting table. A feast. He indulges me in front of my enemy. God seeks to benefit me so that I can glorify Him. The devil doesn't like it that I'm enjoying a luxurious meal with my Father. Every bite I take of that wonderful buffet makes the devil mad. My Father and I find that very humourous indeed.
He then proceeds to anoint my head with oil. He blesses me greatly with this anointing. The oil is a type of Holy Spirit. And because of this, I am greatly filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. My cup overflows. I cannot contain the blessings and riches that He pours out on me. (John 7:37-39)
I become like a magnet for blessings of His goodness and mercy. The New Living Translation says "Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life".
All this because of His Grace and Love. Because He is my shepherd. I shall not want / I will not be in want / I have all I need / I shall not lack. Not only for my sake. But for His honor and glory.
I think I was more encouraged than them when I saw that they were encouraged at what I was initially encouraged about.
This is what I learnt today. Today made me realise how much God is directing and blessing my life. I've been constantly encouraged since I got in to the car to go to school this morning. Listening to Reinhard Bonnke's sermons really inspire and encourage you. Shared about God's goodness in my life during 'Praise Life' which Lynette was teaching.
During Prayer School, I received the words, "Right place at the right time." An then, God showed me to head down to Plaza Singapura. So thats where I had the first meeting with Mark today. The first of many more to come I hope. After that I took a bus to Suntec City to submit the timesheet for Life Bookshop. I met Natalie Francois on the bus and it brought to mind her brother. I prayed for him on the bus.
After submitting the timesheet, I started to walk back to city hall MRT through the city link mall. I remember feeling a little tired at the thought of having to take so long to get home. So I whispered a prayer to God. Thats when I bumped into Patricia who was making her way to meet Loong and Gloria at Marina Square. She invited me to join them and I did. It was such a good time of fellowship. I felt that God was showing me a glimpse of what He wanted me to do in the future through that meeting.
Could it be coincidence?
No.
Providence...
Blessing With Our Overflow
I've been having this in my heart for quite a few weeks now. A strong sense that God wants to empower our church. Not in the general way he wants to empower every Christian. But in a specific way that will help us achieve His purpose. God doesn't want to send the wounded and unarmed into battle. It would serve no purpose in sending us unequipped! It would do far greater harm than good if He allowed that.
But these few weeks have been nothing but amazing. Our times of worship have been going up spiritually. We are meeting God more often in church! I'm praying that it'll become the standard. Praise God that He is constantly revealing more of Himself. He wants to re-lay our foundations so that we are REALLY strong and secure in Him.
In Luke 24:49, Jesus told the disciples to wait for the power before they went out to minister to others. You see, God didn't intend for us to just have the Spirit when we were born again. He wants us to be filled till we overflow! It is His desire to see us prosper and succeed in life! And because of this abundance, we will have something to tell people about. Don't you find that whenever you truly encounter God, you really have something to talk about? Isn't it better to have something about your God that you love, that you can boast about? Things that would spark people's interest in to finding out why God is so good to us? We have to be UTTERLY CONVINCED how great our God is before we even attempt to reach out to others.
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. [3 John 2]
Obedience to God
Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites.
No one went out and no one came in. Then the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in." [Joshua 6:1-5]
Instructions from God sometimes seem to make no sense. But as you see how the story goes, obedience to God's will releases a power that no circumstance can withstand. The story continues with Joshua making sure that all the instructions were followed. And when they did and gave a shout of victory at the end, the walls came down.
But imagine that you were one of the soldier's in the army of Joshua, marching around the walls everyday. What good would marching do? Logically, these instructions made no sense. But God often made no earthly sense in the past. But that didn't stop God from bringing victory right?
When I'm in God's will, difficulties, doubts and trials will definitely come my way. The devil will make sure of that. But these are merely acts of desperation on his part.
Imagine a soccer player tearing down the length of the field towards the opponent's/enemy's goal. The defender is desperately chasing you down and from the corner of your eye, you see him launch into a sliding tackle to try to cut you down from behind.
This is the moment in many people's spiritual life. This is the moment where you have to make the decision to either keep running or stop and be taken down. But in this moment, you have to remember that we're leading in the match 10 goals to nil. The defender cannot stop you from winning the match. The choice is whether you want to score that goal. It really takes the pressure off, doesn't it?
I want to score that goal. I want to fulfill God's will in my life.
What good is a shelter that doesn't protect?
What good is a shield that cannot be used?
What good is salvation if it is NOT for the blessings?
What good is Jesus Christ if He did not mean for us to live in victory?
"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." [John 10:10b]
What is the point of rituals and tradition if there wasn't a reason and purpose?
Aren't these things put in place to bring to our remembrance the power and authority given to us?
What good is it if there is nothing we can gain from it?
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. [2 Tim 1:7]
And if there is nothing we can gain from our relationship with God and from His promises, doesn't that mean that we are no different from mere religion?
What do we have to share about to the world then?
What do we have to rejoice about then?
"Would we still love God if there weren't any blessings?"
There's no need to think about that because the fact is, there ARE blessings.
"Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant." [Psalm 35:27-28]
The question is, "will you believe and receive the blessings?" There very reason I rejoice when I go through difficulties and trials is because He blesses me with the ability to get through them. I can tell you right now that my God is not small. My God is rich and abundant! When my Father is rich and abundant, I am rich and abundant as well! I crave for God and His Word because I know He is good.
The end of another exam today. Time really passes quickly when you're having fun learning. September has been quite a draining month for me though. The Amy Sand Concert really took out a lot of time and energy. But I praise God for the chance to see 600++ people worshipping God in Church of Singapore. I think I was ministered to more than the people who came to see Amy Sand. During the worship, the praise leader shouted "Hallelujah!" and the people in the chapel, 2/3 of them were workers from China, shouted "AMEN!" in unison. I hope I'm getting this across when I write it. When I say unison, I really mean unison. I mean it sounded like a really loud united sound. I didn't understand the chinese lyrics of the worship songs or what the praise leader was saying, but I did recognise the love and adoration toward God. And I definitely recognised God's presence in that chapel.
Its funny, I think back on the times when I was in army, specifically SISPEC, and how much emphasis is placed on the marching and keeping in step. My section leader would always holler at us, reminding us, "One sound, one sound. You all won't stop until I hear one sound."
And we would go on and on marching till we got it. But thats in the natural. In the spiritual, it is so much easier. There's no need to spend hours in practice. Spirit-led worship is always united worship!
~~~ When I Speak Your Name ~~~
Jesus, the most beautiful name of all names
Jesus, the only name that brings healing and strength
When I speak your name
mountains move, chains are loosed
When I speak your name
darkness flees, it has no hold on me
Jesus, the most beautiful name that I know
You're the exalted one
Jesus, you have the power alone
You lift the lowly ones, Jesus
Jesus, the most the wonderful name of all names
Jesus, the only name that brings freedom and hope
[Be exalted (x3), higher and higher] x8
No other name (x4)
| Christ for the Nations Institute - Overtaken |
What a day. Spent the afternoon at parkway parade. First to Burger King for lunch and some reading. Then I made my way to the post office to find out more about the air mail rates for Eileen's really belated birthday present. (sorry =P)
Then I went to NTUC to buy ingredients for the spaghetti bolognese I was supposed to cook for the Rhema class gathering later that night. Thank God that I made the spaghetti. It was the only staple food available. Besides the delicious pie made by Phyllis. So after eating, we finally got down to sharing about our lives and passions. The whole thing was headed by Martin, the year 2 monitor. He's hilarious I tell you, but we were laughing more at the way he said things than what he said. We made our way through the testimonies of different people. I was really encouraged by how God worked through the lives of the different people around me. How He made things work out so that they could come to Rhema. There are no accidents when you walk in God's will. Its all well-planned.
Anyway, it came to my turn to share about how God brought me to Rhema. I felt God speaking through me. I remember seeing all of them listening intently to what I was saying. It really surprised me that I could keep talking while sharing my testimony. Clarence said to me while fetching back home that during the testimony, he heard God saying, "Here is someone I can use."
Oh, those six simple words that built me up in my spirit. It is such an honour and a priviledge. Immediately, my mind raced back to the words of prophecy and words of encouragement given by Reverend Patsy and Sani, a missionary I met 2 years ago on a mission trip. Here is a summary of the words of God on my life. The following is a quote from my blog on the 10 June 2004.
"To date, I know that I have a passion for worship/music, a desire to be used by God (a dangerous man for Him), I've been called special in God's eyes (everyone is!), been envisioned with wings (to protect others) and been described as having a heart like David. I also see myself giving God glory on a stage. These are like many sides of a shape that God has planned for me to be."
For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."
| 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 |
2 weeks without blogging. I'm alive and well, praise God for that. I've just been really busy these weeks. Almost everyday now is packed with activities, be it work, practices, church or cell group. It almost feels weird to be sitting here at the computer on a saturday evening.
I really thank God for sustaining me through this two weeks. Sometimes you don't realise how blessed you are till you really sit down and think back. Being out of the house from 7 in the morning to 10 or 11 at night isn't something I think I'd be able to do in my own strength. I felt symptoms of the flu coming on before the last weekend. But praise God, through claiming His Word and drawing strength from Him, I was able to recover in 3 days. For those who are raising eyebrows and questioning what the significance is, the fact is that I'd usually take a week or more to recover.
Thinking about it, I have come to realise that our lifestyle has a lot to do with our general health. I've been brought up in a society where, in order to take a rest or to avoid something we don't like doing, I have to declare myself sick (aka. see the doctor to obtain an MC). Be it in primary, secondary or tertiary level, army or work, I had never once looked forward to it the way I look forward to school(Rhema) now. NEVER. In fact, I often dreaded going to school as a child. Thank God for positive changes!
Thank God for battles won! Thank You that the only battle we fight are those with ourselves. And even with those battles, we are the favourites to win. The odds are for us because He is for us. I'm positioning myself in the victor's podium.
And he said, "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.
Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel.
You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you."
| 2 Chronicles 20:15-20 |
~~~ Found ~~~
Amazing love,
now what else shall I need
Your name brings life,
it's more than the air I breathe
My world was changed,
when Your love You gave for me
My purpose found
and all that You want for me
And I've found myself in You, Jesus
And I've found myself in You, Lord
So take me to a place
where I can see You face to face
and all I wanna do, all I wanna do
is worship You
So take me to a place
where I can see You face to face
and all I wanna do, all I wanna do
is worship You
| Hillsong - Mighty to Save |
There are songs which have so much power in the lyrics. So much anointing that comes from the voice of the vocalist. They grip the attention of your spirit and all pretense and semblance of Christian pride crumbles to pieces. You realise that it is because He loved us first. He redeemed us before we even had any idea that anything was wrong. You realise how wonderful He is when you think you're falling and He catches you. And you see that all along He's been watching you and looking out for you.
And from that, confidence in Him grows. You become sure of your steps knowing that He gives you balance, He gives your strength to walk and He leads you in the right direction. You start to run because you know even if you do trip and fall, He'll be right there to catch you or pick you up.
I love you, Father...
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back.. ..to that place (home again).
| Jeremiah 29:12-14 (NKJV & NLT) |
Is it right for me to be discontented? Is it wrong for Christians to be happy? Is it wrong to have hope in what the bible says we have? To be reminded and encouraged that although we were sinners, we have been cleansed by the blood. And we rejoice that Jesus took away / removed / obliterated / annihilated / destroyed / eradicated / wiped out / dissipated / blotted out / omitted / forgotten our sins. That is the cause for celebration. That is the cause for rejoicing and praise!
We do not neglect the wonder of salvation. No! It is the platform and the basis of the power that is in store for us. The writer of Hebrews urges the church to move on to solid food. (Hebrews 5:12-14)
Hebrews 6:1,2
...let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Look what is included in the "milk for babes".
- repentance
- faith toward God
- baptisms
- laying of hands
- resurrection of dead
- eternal judgment
The question is... Have we been getting the "full cream milk"? Hebrews 5:13 (AMP) says "For everyone who continues to feed on milk is obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action), for he is a mere infant [not able to talk yet]!"
1 Peter 2:1-2 includes the "laying aside" of "all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking"
What is the doctrine of righteousness?
We are made righteous through faith (Romans 3:21-26)
Our Righteousness through Christ overcomes sin (Romans 5:12-21)
As simple as confessing the Lord Jesus and believing in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. By believing in the heart, we are made righteousness. (Romans 10:9,10)
Who needs solid food then? Hebrews 5:14 (AMP) says that they are for "full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law."
Another translation for full grown men is mature or perfect. It seems like quite a high requirement doesn't it? Who can claim to be perfect?
Thank God that even the apostle Paul didn't think he was perfect. In Philippians 3:12-16, Paul said, "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Paul didn't claim to have attained perfection! He said he had not apprehended (obtained, understood, comprehended). But still he strove on. Paul continues to say, "Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind."
The Hebrew word mature or full grown is the same as the one used in hebrews 5:14. Being mature is about knowing what we have already and then digging deeper to find out more about God. Philippians 4:16 gives me the impression that maturity is not something that we can attain. But its a state that we must be in. The state of always seeking to learn more and hungering for more of the things of God.
Who's hungry?
If some Christians who have been complaining of their ministers had said and acted less before men and had applied themselves with all their might to cry to God for their ministers -- had, as it were, risen and stormed heaven with their humble, fervant, and incessant prayers for them -- they would have been much more in the way of success.
| Jonathan Edwards |
So be it.
Prayer meeting was good. I love how willing the Holy Spirit is. I love that He would come simply when we ask. I love it that He stays and people can just enter into His presence. I love it when I see people recognising the difference when He's around. Power for ministry comes by the Holy Spirit. Maybe thats whats lacking? Maybe? Prayer works. But it can be limited by man. I need to learn more about the Holy Spirit so that I can teach in the future. Its such an integral part of the Christian walk that it isn't funny how little the church delves into Him. We need Him and more of Him.
Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.
| Luke 24:49 |
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.... And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
| Acts 2:1,4 |
Would there be a need to tarry or wait for this power if it wasn't important? Was it a coincidence that it was only AFTER this infilling of the Holy Spirit that they were anointed to preach and teach with signs and miracles? Would I dare be so bold as to say the church can only grow if the Holy Spirit is present? Would I be so audacious to say that a church WITHOUT the Holy Spirit CANNOT grow? Or that its growth would be stunted?
Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."
And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
| Acts 2:38-47 |
Note that it was because of the baptism of the Holy Spirit that came first and foremost. Verses 42-45 about doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayer came as a result of being baptised and filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they were praising God and having favor with the people. People want to meet and fellowship because the Holy Spirit is there too. It all stems from the beginning. Being baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for salvation AND receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Now ask me why the Lord isn't adding to our church daily those who were being saved.
The idea is to be so familiar with scripture that you're able to quote it off the top of your head. I think I'm getting there. For now, I only remember several lines of scripture. What I do remember though is key areas or chapters in the bible. Romans 8,12 for Living by the spirit, John 14-16 about Jesus and the promise of the Holy Spirit, Acts 1, 10, 19 is about the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. Hebrews 11 is about faith, Ephesians 1 and 3 is about praying for Christians to develop in their spiritual growth. But there's so much more to be uncovered and revealed! The crawling stage of school, the 1st term is over, its time to take baby steps. I want more.
How come there are restrictions? How come there's a ceiling? How come they don't see the Word? How come?
Its time to dig in deep. Deep.
My take on Psalm 42
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
I long for you my dear God. I yearn for more of You.
To be able to stand in your presence
in the midst of like-minded people
To be able to rejoice with reckless abandon
How long more must I wait?
I am accompanied by disappointment
They don't see You, You don't matter to them
What happened to those joyous days
Where we would dance and sing
and simply linger in your presence?
Such a let-down, have we fallen so far?
My happiness was in You
To have a taste of heaven
and they took You away
But my memories drive me closer towards You.
I am almost overrun by difficulty
I can hardly have a glimpse of victory
But I know, His love surrounds me by day
and a sweet song by night
which I sing back to Him
Have You forgotten me?
My heart is bruised and hurt
because they don't see You, You don't matter
Why do I despair?
Don't I have every reason to?
Although I am cast aside
My joy is complete in You
and I give You praise where it is due
You put a smile on my face
And a glow of hope in my heart
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
I woke up today feeling pretty lousy. My body was aching from the drumming during AWE worship. (I'll get to that in a moment) My head was aching from all the thoughts rushing through my head the night before. I seriously didn't feel like going to church. I went to the computer to try to install the new hard disk that I'd gotten but I couldn't get it to work. At that moment, I really felt very useless. I was telling myself that I had to get ready for church or I would be late. It was 10:45am and I was still contemplating. I finally convinced myself that I should go for service. As I was walking back to my room to prepare, I told myself, "this isn't the way I should be behaving!!"
Thats when I started to pray in tongues and began to thank God and praise God for how good He is. Luckily there was no one at home because they would have be scared by my shouting, "Hallelujah" and "Praise God". And thats when I started to feel better! Praise God that when I stepped out of the elevator to the lobby, there was a cab waiting for me.
"I don't ask my body how it's feeling; I tell it how to feel"
| Smith Wigglesworth |
Oh the audacity of Mr Wigglesworth! Well... its according to the bible so you've got to credit his boldness. You can't blame Mr Wigglesworth for being like that! You've got to blame the author of the bible. I wouldn't want to mess with God. =)
So anyway.. we had the All Worship Event (AWE) yesterday at Toa Payoh Methodist Church. The whole thing was fantastic. This is my first time playing for so many (500) people. It started off pretty unpolished. But after the testimony, things really began to flow. I loved the way my snare rang out when I worshipped. I've never played so happily before. And to see the youths on their knees in awe of my God, it made me want to worship even louder! I really enjoyed myself and I pray that this will be the start of something great within the methodist church.
The Visits
The Man & His Gear
The Facebook Badge
The Encouragement
Albums To Get
Books I'm Reading
- The Practice Of The Presence Of God by Brother Lawrence
- Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll
- A Million Miles In A Thousand Years by Donald Miller
- A Royal Waste Of Time by Marva J. Dawn
Travelling Mercies by Anne LamottThrough Painted Deserts by Donald MillerThriving As An Artist In The Church by Rory NolandThe Adventure Of Worship by Gerrit GustafsonChrist The Lord: The Road To Cana by Anne RiceChrist The Lord: Out of Egypt by Anne RiceSearching For God Knows What by Donald MillerSex God by Rob BellJesus Wants To Save Christians by Rob BellBlue Like Jazz by Donald MillerVelvet Elvis by Rob BellThe Wigglesworth Standard by Peter J. Madden