Mark 5: 35 - 36 (NIV)
35 While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," they said. "Why bother the teacher any more?"
36 Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe."
Lately I have been drawn to verse 36. It gives us an incredibly vivid picture of how Jesus responds to the challenges in our lives. Jesus ignored the naysayers, but His attention was riveted on the object of His love -- Jairus (who represents you and I).
He looked at Jairus in the midst of the reports of doubt, unbelief and defeat and said "Don't be afraid; just believe."
Are you facing a challenge in your life today that seems dark and daunting? Listen to the Voice of the Lord today.
Don't be afraid; just believe.
It's very clear to me now where the Lord wants our attention in the midst of a challenge in our lives. He want us to be drawn to Him -- to His love, His provision and His deliverance.
Mark 5: 38 - 40 (NIV)
38 When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly.
39 He went in and said to them, "Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep."
40 But they laughed at him.
When Jesus reached the home of Jairus, He saw people wailing and crying. He saw the same evidence, but His response was vastly different. That's because He knew what He could do.
Are you responding in fear today? Or in despair? Or have you become cynical?
Don't be afraid; just believe.
Once again, He put out the naysayers from His midst and took in only Peter, James and John. Pastor Prince taught us here that the three disciple's names are of significance. Peter (stone, signifying the law), James (supplant), John (Love and grace).
Grace replaces the law!
Jesus then went in and spoke to the child.
Mark 5 : 41 - 42 (NIV)
41 He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!" ).
42 Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old).
In the Malachi 4:2a it says 'But to you who fear My name, The Sun of Righteousness shall arise, With healing in His wings.'
Here is an extract from http://www.hopeofisrael.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=63&Itemid=30 that you will find immensely enlightening.
The Hem of His Garment
"But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings," Malachi 4:2
One of the best known miracles of healing that Jesus performed was the occasion when a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the hem of his garment, Matthew 9:20 The woman was, in fact, reaching for the tassels on Jesus' prayer shawl. In Hebrew, these tassels, which are attached to the corners of the prayer shawl, are called tzitzit. Why should she stoop to touch the fringe? Why not his arm, or his feet?
As the prayer shawl was placed over the head, it formed his own tent. WINGS of the garment were formed when the arms were held out. For this reason, the corners of the prayer shawl are often called "wings." During the first century there were several traditions associated with the tzitzit concerning Messiah. One was that these knotted fringes possessed healing powers. Certainly the woman with the issue of blood knew of these traditions, which would explain why she sought to touch the hem (the wings) of Jesus' prayer garment. The same word used in Numbers 15:38 for corner is used in Malachi 4:2 for wings. With this understanding in mind, an ancient Jew under the prayer shawl could be said to be dwelling in the secret place of the Most High and under His wings (Ps. 91:1-4).
Jesus spread his talit (the shawl) over the girl and pronounced literally in Aramaic, "little girl under the talit, arise". Pastor Prince taught us that the blue threads in the shawl signify Jesus perfection and His finished work on the cross. Indeed the Son of Righteousness came into that home today with healing in His wings!
Look away from your doubts and fears. Look away from your situation that seems dead and impossible. Look to one one who is able to bring life into every dead situation.
Don't be afraid; just believe.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Fallen from Grace
The grace of God is our only foundation.
Many leaders whose names graced the bookshelves and CD racks of the Christian bookshops in my young adult years seem to have come short of what they have preached. Billy Joe Daugherty passed away of lymphoma in November. He was only 57. So many questions come to mind. Why didn't he live in divine health? Why wasn't he healed?
Today the newspapers reported that Oral Roberts has passed on, at the age of 91. He was in hospital at the time--he fell and broke some bones. He later died of Pnuemonia. Why did this man, whose healing ministry was documented, have to die like this?
The articles written about Oral Roberts drew me to read about his son Richard, who resigned recently after allegations about him and his wife using the University's funds for a lavish home and golf club memberships surfaced. What happened here?
Then of course there's Ray Boltz, who has come out the closet and openly declared that he is gay. In fact he has now joined a gay Christian denomination. From the man who gave us 'Thank You' and 'Watch the Lamb'. How did this happen?
Have you heard of the phrase 'fallen from grace' to described a minister caught in sin? Well you know what? I agree with that term, but not in the way you think.
From the standpoint of heaven, all the promises of God are yes and amen in Christ Jesus. So why did these luminaries on the Christian landscape fail to receive heaven's best for their lives? Because that’s what they did, they failed to receive. The bible says that as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. Sickness is a curse. Having accidents and breaking your bones is a curse. The shame of homosexuality is a curse. The bible also says that the power of sin. . .is the law.
Like what I felt the Lord speak to my heart the other day, 'I do not heal because people are good, I heal because of the finished work or the cross.' Likewise we do not receive the power to overcome sin because of our own efforts, in fact entertaining the shame we feel because of our shortcomings without realizing that we are freely forgiven leads us to deeper depths of sin.
Let's stop playing around with the law in our lives, as if a little bit of it is good. No my friends, it is absolutely deadly.
May you and I not be counted amongst those that have fallen. . .from grace. Abandon yourself completely to him by His grace and receive all He is. As you do that, His life in you will cause any sins you are struggling with to fall off like dead leaves. But first look to Him, your Tree of Life. The only one who can disqualify you from all He purchased for you on the cross is you--don't do it.
Many leaders whose names graced the bookshelves and CD racks of the Christian bookshops in my young adult years seem to have come short of what they have preached. Billy Joe Daugherty passed away of lymphoma in November. He was only 57. So many questions come to mind. Why didn't he live in divine health? Why wasn't he healed?
Today the newspapers reported that Oral Roberts has passed on, at the age of 91. He was in hospital at the time--he fell and broke some bones. He later died of Pnuemonia. Why did this man, whose healing ministry was documented, have to die like this?
The articles written about Oral Roberts drew me to read about his son Richard, who resigned recently after allegations about him and his wife using the University's funds for a lavish home and golf club memberships surfaced. What happened here?
Then of course there's Ray Boltz, who has come out the closet and openly declared that he is gay. In fact he has now joined a gay Christian denomination. From the man who gave us 'Thank You' and 'Watch the Lamb'. How did this happen?
Have you heard of the phrase 'fallen from grace' to described a minister caught in sin? Well you know what? I agree with that term, but not in the way you think.
From the standpoint of heaven, all the promises of God are yes and amen in Christ Jesus. So why did these luminaries on the Christian landscape fail to receive heaven's best for their lives? Because that’s what they did, they failed to receive. The bible says that as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. Sickness is a curse. Having accidents and breaking your bones is a curse. The shame of homosexuality is a curse. The bible also says that the power of sin. . .is the law.
Like what I felt the Lord speak to my heart the other day, 'I do not heal because people are good, I heal because of the finished work or the cross.' Likewise we do not receive the power to overcome sin because of our own efforts, in fact entertaining the shame we feel because of our shortcomings without realizing that we are freely forgiven leads us to deeper depths of sin.
Let's stop playing around with the law in our lives, as if a little bit of it is good. No my friends, it is absolutely deadly.
May you and I not be counted amongst those that have fallen. . .from grace. Abandon yourself completely to him by His grace and receive all He is. As you do that, His life in you will cause any sins you are struggling with to fall off like dead leaves. But first look to Him, your Tree of Life. The only one who can disqualify you from all He purchased for you on the cross is you--don't do it.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Why Aren't Good Christian People Healed and Prosperous?
Yesterday I came across the interesting testimony of a secular pop artist who got saved back in the 1980s. He has had a whole string of hits with a well known band. He shared that back then in the 1980s--at the peak of his career--he realized that his drug habit had become an addiction. He couldn't walk away from his 'fix'. This stark realization drove him to check himself into a rehabilitation program in a hospital. While he was there, he said the sinners prayer. When he went back on tour with his band, he told his band mates that he wouldn't be taking anymore drugs.
A few years later, the same singer was slated to tour on his own with the Christian rock group Petra, then tragedy struck. It was discovered that he had a benign tumour in his brain. The subsequent treatment to remove the tumour damaged his pituatary gland. Today he has to take a whole bunch of medication. The side effects of his damaged gland are weight gain and loss of stamina. He actually has to take in oxygen from a tank backstage in-between songs! I am referring to Lou Gramm of Foreigner fame.
Tonight as I was waiting for my friend Kevin to meet me for dinner, I asked the Lord why so many good people (like Lou Gramm) suffer from such tragedy unfairly. 'He's a good man,' I told the Lord, 'and he loves you'. Then I felt the Lord impress on my heart,
'Do you think people get healed because they are good? Or do they get healed because they believe correctly?'
Then I began to realize where I have been missing it all these years.
Whenever we see 'good Christian people' suffering sickness and poverty, and we ask God why, what we are really saying to God is that these folks should be blessed because of their goodness.
No. God blesses us only because of Jesus finished work and nothing else. No one is good enough to deserve any of our blessings.
What we need to do is simply believe that even though we are not deserving in ourselves, His finished work on the cross qualifies us unconditionally.
The bible says that our righteousness--not our sins--are like soiled sanitary pads to God. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
When we pray, we pray in Jesus name, not in our own name. When we invoke His name in prayer, what we are saying is that we are not worthy to have our prayers answered based on our own merits!
If you're thinking now 'how can this be?', then my friend, you need to--like me--renew your mind. None of us deserves anything from Him. We need to start believing correctly that all answered prayer is based on His gift of righteouness.
When we stop seeing how utterly amazing God's grace is, we stop seeing grace for what it truly is. Unless grace is completely by grace, it fails to be truly grace!
So think back on all the seemingly 'unfair' challenges you or some other Christian brother or sister is in. Now realize that it isn't God's will for us to be sick or poor. He took care of that on the cross. Those provisions have been fully paid for. We simply have to believe that in spite of our imperfections, we have been made worthy to receive! Now if you can't believe that, that unbelief is the reason why 'good' Christian people aren't healed or properous.
Start believing!
A few years later, the same singer was slated to tour on his own with the Christian rock group Petra, then tragedy struck. It was discovered that he had a benign tumour in his brain. The subsequent treatment to remove the tumour damaged his pituatary gland. Today he has to take a whole bunch of medication. The side effects of his damaged gland are weight gain and loss of stamina. He actually has to take in oxygen from a tank backstage in-between songs! I am referring to Lou Gramm of Foreigner fame.
Tonight as I was waiting for my friend Kevin to meet me for dinner, I asked the Lord why so many good people (like Lou Gramm) suffer from such tragedy unfairly. 'He's a good man,' I told the Lord, 'and he loves you'. Then I felt the Lord impress on my heart,
'Do you think people get healed because they are good? Or do they get healed because they believe correctly?'
Then I began to realize where I have been missing it all these years.
Whenever we see 'good Christian people' suffering sickness and poverty, and we ask God why, what we are really saying to God is that these folks should be blessed because of their goodness.
No. God blesses us only because of Jesus finished work and nothing else. No one is good enough to deserve any of our blessings.
What we need to do is simply believe that even though we are not deserving in ourselves, His finished work on the cross qualifies us unconditionally.
The bible says that our righteousness--not our sins--are like soiled sanitary pads to God. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
When we pray, we pray in Jesus name, not in our own name. When we invoke His name in prayer, what we are saying is that we are not worthy to have our prayers answered based on our own merits!
If you're thinking now 'how can this be?', then my friend, you need to--like me--renew your mind. None of us deserves anything from Him. We need to start believing correctly that all answered prayer is based on His gift of righteouness.
When we stop seeing how utterly amazing God's grace is, we stop seeing grace for what it truly is. Unless grace is completely by grace, it fails to be truly grace!
So think back on all the seemingly 'unfair' challenges you or some other Christian brother or sister is in. Now realize that it isn't God's will for us to be sick or poor. He took care of that on the cross. Those provisions have been fully paid for. We simply have to believe that in spite of our imperfections, we have been made worthy to receive! Now if you can't believe that, that unbelief is the reason why 'good' Christian people aren't healed or properous.
Start believing!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Our Shepherd God
I have recently felt a drawing to study the Shepherd's heart of God.
Isn't it beautiful that the Lord has chosen to call himself our shepherd?
David had a glimpse of this. In the famous psalm, Psalm 23, David shares what he has come to know of his Shepherd.
Many years ago, I heard a preacher say that this was actually David's confession. I like that. It was David's declaration to God and the devil that he believed what His Shepherd had said to Him!
The Lord IS my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. You know, we could just stop there and we'd already be blessed! What an incredible statement. Are you in want today? Listen to the voice of the One who wants to lead you to an abundance of provision. Listen to the One who wants to restore your soul. The One who wants you to prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers! He wants to lead you to green pastures! He wants you to be at rest.
And even when you have made choices in your life that may not be the best, your Shepherd is still with you! Notice that it says 'Yea though I WALK through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil FOR YOU ARE WITH ME'. David shared that he walked into the valley. It doesn't say he was led there. God never leads us to places of spiritual death! He is neither tempted with evil nor does he tempt us with evil! In fact, Jesus taught us to pray that we be not lead into temptation, but delievered from evil! But sometimes we make decisions on our own that lead us to our valleys of spiritual death. But He is still with us! His rod and His staff comfort us! The shepherd's rod is is used both to rescue sheep and as a weapon against wolves. He will protect us and deliver us in the valley!
Are you surrounded by enemies? Is the enemy of sickness there? Or poverty and lack? Your Shepherd is still with you! Listen to His voice! Don't look at your circumstances! He prepares a table before you in the prescence of your enemies! The bread of healing is there! The table of provision is there! He anoints your head with oil! And your cup is so full it overflows!
Goodness and Mercy is a person. And He is Jesus. He will be with you all the days of your life.
Take heart and listen to your Shepherd God.
So what is Jesus' response to our confession that He is our Shepherd? Read John 10: 1 to 18. Jesus makes his own confession! He is our Good Shepherd! He knows us us all intimately, He knows us by name!
Did you notice that Jesus seems to emphasise that his sheep would know his voice. It's interesting that in this context he also talks about the 'thief that comes to steal, kill and destroy'. He was telling us to beware of whose voice we listen to.' In the context of what Jesus was talking about, it refers to spiritual input! So be careful who you listen to. Does it produce life or put you in bondage?
Then in John 10:25 to 30 Jesus says something really powerful. Our shepherd also speaks to us through miracles! He not only leads us with His voice, He impacts us with His life! Didn't he say in John 10:10 that He had come that we might have life and have it more abundantly?
We've heard many speak of our salvation as though it could be easily lost. Have you heard those voices? Well, this is what the voice of your Shepherd says.
John 10:27 to 30 (NIV)
27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.
30I and the Father are one."
Well, I don't know about you, but I don't think the teaching on Eternal Security gets any clearer that that.
Thank God for our Shepherd God.
Isn't it beautiful that the Lord has chosen to call himself our shepherd?
David had a glimpse of this. In the famous psalm, Psalm 23, David shares what he has come to know of his Shepherd.
Many years ago, I heard a preacher say that this was actually David's confession. I like that. It was David's declaration to God and the devil that he believed what His Shepherd had said to Him!
The Lord IS my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. You know, we could just stop there and we'd already be blessed! What an incredible statement. Are you in want today? Listen to the voice of the One who wants to lead you to an abundance of provision. Listen to the One who wants to restore your soul. The One who wants you to prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers! He wants to lead you to green pastures! He wants you to be at rest.
And even when you have made choices in your life that may not be the best, your Shepherd is still with you! Notice that it says 'Yea though I WALK through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil FOR YOU ARE WITH ME'. David shared that he walked into the valley. It doesn't say he was led there. God never leads us to places of spiritual death! He is neither tempted with evil nor does he tempt us with evil! In fact, Jesus taught us to pray that we be not lead into temptation, but delievered from evil! But sometimes we make decisions on our own that lead us to our valleys of spiritual death. But He is still with us! His rod and His staff comfort us! The shepherd's rod is is used both to rescue sheep and as a weapon against wolves. He will protect us and deliver us in the valley!
Are you surrounded by enemies? Is the enemy of sickness there? Or poverty and lack? Your Shepherd is still with you! Listen to His voice! Don't look at your circumstances! He prepares a table before you in the prescence of your enemies! The bread of healing is there! The table of provision is there! He anoints your head with oil! And your cup is so full it overflows!
Goodness and Mercy is a person. And He is Jesus. He will be with you all the days of your life.
Take heart and listen to your Shepherd God.
So what is Jesus' response to our confession that He is our Shepherd? Read John 10: 1 to 18. Jesus makes his own confession! He is our Good Shepherd! He knows us us all intimately, He knows us by name!
Did you notice that Jesus seems to emphasise that his sheep would know his voice. It's interesting that in this context he also talks about the 'thief that comes to steal, kill and destroy'. He was telling us to beware of whose voice we listen to.' In the context of what Jesus was talking about, it refers to spiritual input! So be careful who you listen to. Does it produce life or put you in bondage?
Then in John 10:25 to 30 Jesus says something really powerful. Our shepherd also speaks to us through miracles! He not only leads us with His voice, He impacts us with His life! Didn't he say in John 10:10 that He had come that we might have life and have it more abundantly?
We've heard many speak of our salvation as though it could be easily lost. Have you heard those voices? Well, this is what the voice of your Shepherd says.
John 10:27 to 30 (NIV)
27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.
30I and the Father are one."
Well, I don't know about you, but I don't think the teaching on Eternal Security gets any clearer that that.
Thank God for our Shepherd God.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
He Holds Our Lives Together
Col 1:17
(Amplified)
17And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together).
(NIV)
17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
(WEY)
And HE IS before all things and in and through Him the universe is a harmonious whole.
Rev 4:11
(KJV)
11Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they
are and were created.
Today I was reminded that God wants us just the way we are. When He came down from heaven to earth, He came for a lost, crying and sighing humanity. In fact, Jesus was drawn to those who realized their broken state -- those that realized that they needed Him and were honest enough to come just as they were. On the other hand, Jesus could not minister to those who had a high moral opinion of themselves. Sometimes we judge others and ourselves based on our own finite means of perception. It is however safe to postulate, that in God's eyes -- the One who sees everything as they really are -- we are all messed up in
ourselves!
Have you noticed that when you try to 'be better' or 'do better' as a person, you suddenly feel empty, hollow and discontented? That's because you stopped depending on the Lord, and tried to be someone else to try to please the Lord.
But God wants us to come to Him just as we are -- weaknesses and all. When we do, we rely on Him. That's when we find peace and harmony in our lives. Psychologists have described this as feeling 'actualised'.
When you come to God just as you are -- and depend on Him -- you find the reason for your existence. For you see, you were created for the Lord and in Him, your whole life is held together -- you stop falling apart!
It is also written in the Bible that 'Unless the Lord builds the house, they that labour, labour in vain'. When you try to do something with your life apart from the Lord, it is a hollow endeavour. This is true with any endeavour, whether it is trying to get rich, or doing charity, or pusuing human relationships -- it won't satisfy you. And sometimes these pursuits actually take a toll on you.
Is your life 'falling apart'? Then come to Jesus as you are and depend on Him as you are. Let Him change you and love you into the person He wants you to be! He will hold your life together with His person!
(Amplified)
17And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together).
(NIV)
17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
(WEY)
And HE IS before all things and in and through Him the universe is a harmonious whole.
Rev 4:11
(KJV)
11Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they
are and were created.
Today I was reminded that God wants us just the way we are. When He came down from heaven to earth, He came for a lost, crying and sighing humanity. In fact, Jesus was drawn to those who realized their broken state -- those that realized that they needed Him and were honest enough to come just as they were. On the other hand, Jesus could not minister to those who had a high moral opinion of themselves. Sometimes we judge others and ourselves based on our own finite means of perception. It is however safe to postulate, that in God's eyes -- the One who sees everything as they really are -- we are all messed up in
ourselves!
Have you noticed that when you try to 'be better' or 'do better' as a person, you suddenly feel empty, hollow and discontented? That's because you stopped depending on the Lord, and tried to be someone else to try to please the Lord.
But God wants us to come to Him just as we are -- weaknesses and all. When we do, we rely on Him. That's when we find peace and harmony in our lives. Psychologists have described this as feeling 'actualised'.
When you come to God just as you are -- and depend on Him -- you find the reason for your existence. For you see, you were created for the Lord and in Him, your whole life is held together -- you stop falling apart!
It is also written in the Bible that 'Unless the Lord builds the house, they that labour, labour in vain'. When you try to do something with your life apart from the Lord, it is a hollow endeavour. This is true with any endeavour, whether it is trying to get rich, or doing charity, or pusuing human relationships -- it won't satisfy you. And sometimes these pursuits actually take a toll on you.
Is your life 'falling apart'? Then come to Jesus as you are and depend on Him as you are. Let Him change you and love you into the person He wants you to be! He will hold your life together with His person!
His Word is at Work in Your Life
Mark 4:26 - 29
26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground.
27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.
28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.
29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”
Has God spoken to your heart concerning His promise to you? The seed is His word. The soil is your heart. When your heart embraces the now word of God (the rhema), that word germinates and takes root in your heart. When that happens, all you have to do is sit back and rest in anticipation of your harvest!
He that has made the promise to you is faithful to complete it in your life!
Verse 27 says "Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how."
Notice that once the seed is scattered, the man in the parable did nothing to cause the manifestation of the promise to unfold. That's because God's Word contains in itself the power to bring it to pass! He who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it! The next verse makes this point even clearer, 'All by itself the soil produces . . .'
Since He has spoken it till now you may not see the full manifestation of the promise yet, but be assured that all the while God's word is at work in your life.
So thank God when you see only the stalk. Because then you will see the head, then the full kernal in the head. And before you know it, you will experience the full harvest of God's promise!
We live in a supernatural Kingdom where God is at work in our lives through His spoken word in our hearts. As we emrace that word and rest, His word has the power within itself to produce a harvest of provision, healing and deliverance in our lives!
26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground.
27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.
28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.
29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”
Has God spoken to your heart concerning His promise to you? The seed is His word. The soil is your heart. When your heart embraces the now word of God (the rhema), that word germinates and takes root in your heart. When that happens, all you have to do is sit back and rest in anticipation of your harvest!
He that has made the promise to you is faithful to complete it in your life!
Verse 27 says "Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how."
Notice that once the seed is scattered, the man in the parable did nothing to cause the manifestation of the promise to unfold. That's because God's Word contains in itself the power to bring it to pass! He who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it! The next verse makes this point even clearer, 'All by itself the soil produces . . .'
Since He has spoken it till now you may not see the full manifestation of the promise yet, but be assured that all the while God's word is at work in your life.
So thank God when you see only the stalk. Because then you will see the head, then the full kernal in the head. And before you know it, you will experience the full harvest of God's promise!
We live in a supernatural Kingdom where God is at work in our lives through His spoken word in our hearts. As we emrace that word and rest, His word has the power within itself to produce a harvest of provision, healing and deliverance in our lives!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Feed On His Love
1 Cor 11:23-26 (NKJV)
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;
24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat;this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
Recently I started taking the Holy Communion privately on a regular basis. It has changed my life. This morning when I awoke the Lord impressed on my heart to 'feed on the breast of the Lamb'. Pastor Prince taught us that this meant that we were to feed on the love of Jesus for us.
On the night of the Passover, on the night before He was to be crucified, Jesus the true Passover Lamb told His disciples to 'Take' and 'Eat'. When you eat something you don't stare at your food and intellectualize it. Jesus wants us to partake of Him as receipients. As I held the bread in one hand and the juice in the other a few nights ago, I had this feeling of great intimacy with Jesus. It was as if I was in a bridal chamber with the Lord.
It was an intimate moment.
I had nothing in my hands but a piece of bread and a cup of juice, but what I had in my hands was all I would ever need. His blood was shed for me so that my sins would be forgiven, would be cleansed, would be forgotten. I would be made righteous. It was His blood shed for me. It was shed in love.
That means that my prayers will now be answered.
His body was broken for me so that I could be healed. He bore my sicknesses and my diseases, and by His stripes I am healed. His Body was broken for me. It was broken for me in love.
So when Jesus instituted the Holy Communion, He instituted a time where you could be intimate with Him and be touched by His love. A love that bore all your sins. A love that paid for all your sins by being judged in your place. A love that took all your sickness and pain. So that you can come away healed, knowing you are righteous, knowing you are loved.
Tonight I visited my friend Kevin's mum. I shared with her about Jesus being the true Passover Lamb, that as the lamb lay on the table in the midst of the disciples, Jesus was in essence telling them that He was the True Passover Lamb. I told her that just as the Angel of Death had to passover those who observed the passover on that fateful night in Egypt, death would have to passover us who have the true passover lamb in our hearts.
Then as if to confirm His word, when I reached home, I felt compelled to read Pastor Prince's book to look up the chapter on the different sacrifices. I picked up the wrong book -- the Destined to Reign Devotional instead of the Destined to Reign book -- and without thinking opened the book. It fell to the page meant for April 20th. The title of the day's entry was 'Jesus Our True Passover Lamb'.
I came accross this wonderful entry this morning in http://tycm.wordpress.com/2008/07/20/the-food-that-delights-both-god-and-man-part-2-peace-offering-1st-service-20-july-2008/
Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
In Genisis chapter 1, the Hebrew word translated us “there be” is היה hayah (Strong’s 1961) which means that Gen 1:3 can be understood in the Hebrew as Let HIM be light.יה is yah which is the short form of יהוה YHWH which is the name of our Lord.
God was saying in Gen 1:3, Let Jesus be light, and there was light.
The blogger had actually taken notes from Pastor Prince's sermon entitled 'The Food that Delights both God and Man'!
The wonderful truth here for me is that in YHWH actually shows me Jesus our sacrifical lamb!
Here's an extract from http://hubpages.com/hub/A-True-Thomas-Moment:
The Hebrew letters that make up the name Yahweh are YOD, pictured in the ancient Hebrew pictographs as an arm from the fist to the elbow, meaning my hand or works; HEY, pictured as a man standing with outstretched arms,meaning behold or God’s grace; VAV, pictured as a tent peg or nail, meaning a nail, peg or bound; and YOD, again, the arm from the fist to the elbow, meaning my hand or works.
There it is, so obvious, yet not. A man standing with outstretched arms, they seem to be held out right in front of us, showing us the HAND and the NAIL or nail hole, and saying, "'Reach here with your finger and see MY HANDS...and do not be unbelieving, but be believing,' and see My gift of GRACE."
Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews
As Jesus hung on the cross, his accusation was posted above his head for all to see. In Hebrew, this accusation would have read, "Yeshua (Jesus) HaNazarei (the Nazarene/of Nazareth) Vemelek (the King) HaYehudim (of the Jews)."
The acronym formed by the first letters of each word in this accusation in Hebrew (Yod Hey Vav Hey) is YHWY, or Yahweh. If you will, take a moment and capture this image in your head: Jesus, arms wide, nailed to a cross, beaten and bloody,mocked by the accusation “Yeshua, HaNazrei Vemelek HaYehudim”.
So when you realize how much Jesus has actually done for you through His sacrifice, you see the light or the truth. You see your life, with all your problems, struggles and failures in the light of His love for you. That's the truth! But when you only see your problems, struggles and failures and feel you're not loved, you're not seeing the truth anymore.
Feed on His Love and continue to let Jesus be your light!
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;
24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat;this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
Recently I started taking the Holy Communion privately on a regular basis. It has changed my life. This morning when I awoke the Lord impressed on my heart to 'feed on the breast of the Lamb'. Pastor Prince taught us that this meant that we were to feed on the love of Jesus for us.
On the night of the Passover, on the night before He was to be crucified, Jesus the true Passover Lamb told His disciples to 'Take' and 'Eat'. When you eat something you don't stare at your food and intellectualize it. Jesus wants us to partake of Him as receipients. As I held the bread in one hand and the juice in the other a few nights ago, I had this feeling of great intimacy with Jesus. It was as if I was in a bridal chamber with the Lord.
It was an intimate moment.
I had nothing in my hands but a piece of bread and a cup of juice, but what I had in my hands was all I would ever need. His blood was shed for me so that my sins would be forgiven, would be cleansed, would be forgotten. I would be made righteous. It was His blood shed for me. It was shed in love.
That means that my prayers will now be answered.
His body was broken for me so that I could be healed. He bore my sicknesses and my diseases, and by His stripes I am healed. His Body was broken for me. It was broken for me in love.
So when Jesus instituted the Holy Communion, He instituted a time where you could be intimate with Him and be touched by His love. A love that bore all your sins. A love that paid for all your sins by being judged in your place. A love that took all your sickness and pain. So that you can come away healed, knowing you are righteous, knowing you are loved.
Tonight I visited my friend Kevin's mum. I shared with her about Jesus being the true Passover Lamb, that as the lamb lay on the table in the midst of the disciples, Jesus was in essence telling them that He was the True Passover Lamb. I told her that just as the Angel of Death had to passover those who observed the passover on that fateful night in Egypt, death would have to passover us who have the true passover lamb in our hearts.
Then as if to confirm His word, when I reached home, I felt compelled to read Pastor Prince's book to look up the chapter on the different sacrifices. I picked up the wrong book -- the Destined to Reign Devotional instead of the Destined to Reign book -- and without thinking opened the book. It fell to the page meant for April 20th. The title of the day's entry was 'Jesus Our True Passover Lamb'.
I came accross this wonderful entry this morning in http://tycm.wordpress.com/2008/07/20/the-food-that-delights-both-god-and-man-part-2-peace-offering-1st-service-20-july-2008/
Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
In Genisis chapter 1, the Hebrew word translated us “there be” is היה hayah (Strong’s 1961) which means that Gen 1:3 can be understood in the Hebrew as Let HIM be light.יה is yah which is the short form of יהוה YHWH which is the name of our Lord.
God was saying in Gen 1:3, Let Jesus be light, and there was light.
The blogger had actually taken notes from Pastor Prince's sermon entitled 'The Food that Delights both God and Man'!
The wonderful truth here for me is that in YHWH actually shows me Jesus our sacrifical lamb!
Here's an extract from http://hubpages.com/hub/A-True-Thomas-Moment:
The Hebrew letters that make up the name Yahweh are YOD, pictured in the ancient Hebrew pictographs as an arm from the fist to the elbow, meaning my hand or works; HEY, pictured as a man standing with outstretched arms,meaning behold or God’s grace; VAV, pictured as a tent peg or nail, meaning a nail, peg or bound; and YOD, again, the arm from the fist to the elbow, meaning my hand or works.
There it is, so obvious, yet not. A man standing with outstretched arms, they seem to be held out right in front of us, showing us the HAND and the NAIL or nail hole, and saying, "'Reach here with your finger and see MY HANDS...and do not be unbelieving, but be believing,' and see My gift of GRACE."
Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews
As Jesus hung on the cross, his accusation was posted above his head for all to see. In Hebrew, this accusation would have read, "Yeshua (Jesus) HaNazarei (the Nazarene/of Nazareth) Vemelek (the King) HaYehudim (of the Jews)."
The acronym formed by the first letters of each word in this accusation in Hebrew (Yod Hey Vav Hey) is YHWY, or Yahweh. If you will, take a moment and capture this image in your head: Jesus, arms wide, nailed to a cross, beaten and bloody,mocked by the accusation “Yeshua, HaNazrei Vemelek HaYehudim”.
So when you realize how much Jesus has actually done for you through His sacrifice, you see the light or the truth. You see your life, with all your problems, struggles and failures in the light of His love for you. That's the truth! But when you only see your problems, struggles and failures and feel you're not loved, you're not seeing the truth anymore.
Feed on His Love and continue to let Jesus be your light!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
What Have We Become?
If the recent Ris Low saga is anything to go by, then it reveals that
Singaporeans have a long way to go in being a gracious country.
Netizens have by and large -- almost in knee jerk fashion --
turned into an ugly mob.
Mean spiritedness, small heartedness and judgementalism is the order of
the day. Even a minister of parliament has been quick to weigh-in on the
saga, calling everyone's attention to the fact that Ris Low's crimes
are serious and that she should not represent Singapore internationally.
It looks like the Ministry of Home Affairs campaign at giving ex-offenders
a second chance did not make an impression on the minister in question.
'Using another person's credit card is a very
serious offence. Honesty and integrity are very important.'
Yes, that's true.
So is this:
Through the Yellow Ribbon Project, we hope to promote a more accepting society,one that is willing to give ex-offenders a second chance at making good. It is important that we help unlock the second prison for our inmates, even as we let them out of the physical one.
Something even more disturbing than the mob mentality that seems to
have taken ahold, is a deeper question. What are are our values? Have
we placed appearances above kindness? Is this really about integrity
or is it more about 'saving face'?
I suppose it may well be that the strongest proponents of stripping
the title away from Ris based on her poor spoken English are those
who see good spoken English as more of a status symbol than as a
means of communication. I see many Netizens even correcting each
others grammar on forum sites! I think that there is a deeper need shown
here within the psyche of many. It does appear that we're compensating for our national inferiority by taking it out on someone who seems to display traits we are all ashamed of.
Then what about her criminal record? Bear in mind that the
crime took place 2 years ago. And we are talking about a very young person here who suffers from bipolar disorder. I wonder if those who have judged her measure themselves by the same yardstick? It would appear not. Even if integrity is a principle that we swear by, not tempering it with kindness turns one into an onerous oaf!
So at the end of the day, what is beauty? Is it more than skin deep?
It has been synoymous with graciousness, poise, kindess. If there
was a beauty contest for countries, how do you think Singapore would fare
on the world stage?
We seem to have the aesthetic qualifications. But with a very ugly
personality. It's ironic, because these are the very same things
we're accusing Ris of. It's time we took a look at ourselves.
What have we become?
Singaporeans have a long way to go in being a gracious country.
Netizens have by and large -- almost in knee jerk fashion --
turned into an ugly mob.
Mean spiritedness, small heartedness and judgementalism is the order of
the day. Even a minister of parliament has been quick to weigh-in on the
saga, calling everyone's attention to the fact that Ris Low's crimes
are serious and that she should not represent Singapore internationally.
It looks like the Ministry of Home Affairs campaign at giving ex-offenders
a second chance did not make an impression on the minister in question.
'Using another person's credit card is a very
serious offence. Honesty and integrity are very important.'
Yes, that's true.
So is this:
Through the Yellow Ribbon Project, we hope to promote a more accepting society,one that is willing to give ex-offenders a second chance at making good. It is important that we help unlock the second prison for our inmates, even as we let them out of the physical one.
Something even more disturbing than the mob mentality that seems to
have taken ahold, is a deeper question. What are are our values? Have
we placed appearances above kindness? Is this really about integrity
or is it more about 'saving face'?
I suppose it may well be that the strongest proponents of stripping
the title away from Ris based on her poor spoken English are those
who see good spoken English as more of a status symbol than as a
means of communication. I see many Netizens even correcting each
others grammar on forum sites! I think that there is a deeper need shown
here within the psyche of many. It does appear that we're compensating for our national inferiority by taking it out on someone who seems to display traits we are all ashamed of.
Then what about her criminal record? Bear in mind that the
crime took place 2 years ago. And we are talking about a very young person here who suffers from bipolar disorder. I wonder if those who have judged her measure themselves by the same yardstick? It would appear not. Even if integrity is a principle that we swear by, not tempering it with kindness turns one into an onerous oaf!
So at the end of the day, what is beauty? Is it more than skin deep?
It has been synoymous with graciousness, poise, kindess. If there
was a beauty contest for countries, how do you think Singapore would fare
on the world stage?
We seem to have the aesthetic qualifications. But with a very ugly
personality. It's ironic, because these are the very same things
we're accusing Ris of. It's time we took a look at ourselves.
What have we become?
Friday, September 25, 2009
Don't Limit God
He was betrayed by his brothers. They had actually intended to kill him. But instead he was thrown into a pit.
Wouldn't you agree with me that he was at rock bottom? No not quite yet.
He was then sold away as a slave to a foreign land.
A slave has nothing. No money. No freedom. No nothing. Everything he is belongs to someone else.
Wouldn't you agree with me that he was now at rock bottom? No not quite yet.
He was eventually bought by a tough military man. Then he was framed for a crime he did not commit and sent away to prison as a sexual predator.
Betrayed, then destitute, then enslaved, then framed, now incaserated.
Surely he was now at rock bottom? No not quite yet.
He found favour in the eyes of the warden of the prison, who committed the other prisoners to his charge. Soon afterward two men of position in government, having offended the ruler of the land, were thrown into the prison. One morning both officers told him their dreams of the previous night, which they were unable to interpret, and he told them that one would be reinstated within three days but that the other would be hanged. He requested the one who would be freed to mention him to the ruler and secure his release from prison, but that man, reinstalled in office, forgot him.
Betrayed, then destitute, then enslaved, then framed, then incaserated . . .now forgotten.
If you were him, you wouldn't be blamed for feeling jaded and bitter. Any hopes for a good life were finished. It appeared that experience had shown that he was cursed—any good in his life seemed to be destroyed by subsequent disaster. He was trapped in a cycle of failure. Doomed
to a life of dissapointment and suffering.
No not quite!
Yes, I have been describing the life of Joseph in the Bible. We know how his life turned out after that.
Two years later the same man who had been freed and reinstated to the court of Pharoh remembered Joseph's gift at a time when Pharoh had a dream he could not interpret, neither could he find an interpretation from the diviners in the land. Joseph eventually interpreted Pharoh's dream and was made into the Prime Minister of all Egypt -- the second most powerful man in the land!
Gen 41: 38 - 46 (NIV)
38 So Pharaoh asked them, Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, Since God has made all this known to you, there is no-one so discerning and wise as you.
40 You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.
41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.
42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph's finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.
43 He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and men shouted before him, Make way! Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.
44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, I am Pharaoh, but without your word no-one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.
45 Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.
46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh's presence and travelled throughout Egypt.
In the natural, if we were with Joseph up to the point he was made Prime Minister, we would have had no points of reference to predict the incredible final outcome of his life.
It's the same for our lives today. The point of reference for God's promises in our lives should be the person of Jesus himself and His ability.
Not our experiences.
Hebrews 11:11 (NIV)
11 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.
12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
It may look like your darkest hour. But that is irrelevant to whether God is able to deliver you.
He who has spoken is faithful and able to perform His word in your life!
Look beyond the natural.
Look beyond past experiences.
Look beyond your own goodness.
Look beyond how bad the situation is.
Look at Him who is faithful who had made the promise and don't limit God.
Wouldn't you agree with me that he was at rock bottom? No not quite yet.
He was then sold away as a slave to a foreign land.
A slave has nothing. No money. No freedom. No nothing. Everything he is belongs to someone else.
Wouldn't you agree with me that he was now at rock bottom? No not quite yet.
He was eventually bought by a tough military man. Then he was framed for a crime he did not commit and sent away to prison as a sexual predator.
Betrayed, then destitute, then enslaved, then framed, now incaserated.
Surely he was now at rock bottom? No not quite yet.
He found favour in the eyes of the warden of the prison, who committed the other prisoners to his charge. Soon afterward two men of position in government, having offended the ruler of the land, were thrown into the prison. One morning both officers told him their dreams of the previous night, which they were unable to interpret, and he told them that one would be reinstated within three days but that the other would be hanged. He requested the one who would be freed to mention him to the ruler and secure his release from prison, but that man, reinstalled in office, forgot him.
Betrayed, then destitute, then enslaved, then framed, then incaserated . . .now forgotten.
If you were him, you wouldn't be blamed for feeling jaded and bitter. Any hopes for a good life were finished. It appeared that experience had shown that he was cursed—any good in his life seemed to be destroyed by subsequent disaster. He was trapped in a cycle of failure. Doomed
to a life of dissapointment and suffering.
No not quite!
Yes, I have been describing the life of Joseph in the Bible. We know how his life turned out after that.
Two years later the same man who had been freed and reinstated to the court of Pharoh remembered Joseph's gift at a time when Pharoh had a dream he could not interpret, neither could he find an interpretation from the diviners in the land. Joseph eventually interpreted Pharoh's dream and was made into the Prime Minister of all Egypt -- the second most powerful man in the land!
Gen 41: 38 - 46 (NIV)
38 So Pharaoh asked them, Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, Since God has made all this known to you, there is no-one so discerning and wise as you.
40 You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.
41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.
42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph's finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.
43 He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and men shouted before him, Make way! Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.
44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, I am Pharaoh, but without your word no-one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.
45 Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.
46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh's presence and travelled throughout Egypt.
In the natural, if we were with Joseph up to the point he was made Prime Minister, we would have had no points of reference to predict the incredible final outcome of his life.
It's the same for our lives today. The point of reference for God's promises in our lives should be the person of Jesus himself and His ability.
Not our experiences.
Hebrews 11:11 (NIV)
11 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.
12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
It may look like your darkest hour. But that is irrelevant to whether God is able to deliver you.
He who has spoken is faithful and able to perform His word in your life!
Look beyond the natural.
Look beyond past experiences.
Look beyond your own goodness.
Look beyond how bad the situation is.
Look at Him who is faithful who had made the promise and don't limit God.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
He Rejoices Over Us with Joy
For the last week or so I had tried in my own strength to read my Bible. And I got absolutely nothing out of it! In fact, like I mentioned in my last posting, all I got was confused and condemned. It was an arduous journey that involved reading commentary after commentary on a certain topic. I discovered that the topic was actually listed under what one author described as 'The Hard Sayings of the Bible'.
I read guidelines on Hermeneutics, I read up on the historical background of the book in the Bible, I even read up on the Apostle Paul's life! What I found out from all that research is that there is a body of scholarly work out there that is based on absolute. . . uncertainty. That's because the approach these scholars have taken in their studies is study based on sense knowledge and rationalization. So much so that there is nothing definitive in their interpretations, just educated guesses. For example, to this day, it is debated whether 1st and 2nd Corinthians is actually a series of letters or just two letters. It is also debated what Paul meant when he referred to the 'destruction of the flesh' in 1 Cor 5:5, as well as what the phrase 'handed over to Satan' exactly means. I also came across many scholarly debates on whether the believer is actually still a sinner or is he justified. In the whole morass of confusion, someone actually postulated that we are still sinners now but we'll only be justified in the future on judgement day. Some also postulated when commenting on 1 Cor 5:5 that God in His infinite wisdom hands people over to Satan to try them! Saying that He handed Jesus, Job and Paul over to Satan! I even came across an article entitled 'Satan, God's Servant'! Some wondered how a person could be saved after his flesh got destroyed. . .you get the picture.
In hindsight I can see why so many in the Body of Christ are confused, sick and in dispair. That's because we have attempted to understand God with our intellect. But God is a spirit. In fact, if you are born again, the Holy Spirit lives in your spirit. He dosen't live in your mind -- although what he shows you in your spirit will eventually show up in your mind.
So there I was, dazed and confused (maybe that's how Led Zepplin got the title to their song). And to top it all off, the tenants renting my common room began to mess up my house over the weekend -- they actually started making dumplings in my house! I was really in dispair!
But like it always is in our lives, when we are completely helpless, our Helper the Holy Spirit comes on the scene!
This morning as I awoke, I heard that old song I used to sing years ago sung in my heart, "Oh Lord, your tenderness, melting all my bitterness, O Lord I recieve your love, Oh Lord I recieve your love".
Then I began to worship the Lord. "I will rejoice, I will rejoice, I will rejoice for I made my choice to rejoice in the Lord. . .It dosen't depend on my circumctance, the strength of my arm or my voice, it dosen't depend on the way I feel, I made up my mind that I'm gonna rejoice!" "You have made me glad, you have made me glad, I will rejoice for you have made me glad".
Then I had an inner vision. I actually saw the Lord rejoicing over me as a bridegroom rejoiced over his bride!
But the great surprise only came later when I checked up in the Bible what I saw in my spirit. I googled 'He rejoices over us with joy' and got directed to Zephaniah 3:17:
NKJV
the Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet (you) with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.
NASB
the Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.
I realized that he had quieted me with His love. . .remember the song He sang in my heart -- Oh Lord your tenderness. . .I recieve Your love? Then I saw him rejoicing over me with joy! And what a promise! He not only rejoices over us, He is actually rejoicing in His power to deliver us from our troubles!
What a difference when we are hooked up to the God of the Word who lives in our hearts, as opposed to trying to understand the Word of God with our brains.
One brings Life. The other brings Death. Thank God for the Tree of Life. Thank God for Jesus in our hearts.
I read guidelines on Hermeneutics, I read up on the historical background of the book in the Bible, I even read up on the Apostle Paul's life! What I found out from all that research is that there is a body of scholarly work out there that is based on absolute. . . uncertainty. That's because the approach these scholars have taken in their studies is study based on sense knowledge and rationalization. So much so that there is nothing definitive in their interpretations, just educated guesses. For example, to this day, it is debated whether 1st and 2nd Corinthians is actually a series of letters or just two letters. It is also debated what Paul meant when he referred to the 'destruction of the flesh' in 1 Cor 5:5, as well as what the phrase 'handed over to Satan' exactly means. I also came across many scholarly debates on whether the believer is actually still a sinner or is he justified. In the whole morass of confusion, someone actually postulated that we are still sinners now but we'll only be justified in the future on judgement day. Some also postulated when commenting on 1 Cor 5:5 that God in His infinite wisdom hands people over to Satan to try them! Saying that He handed Jesus, Job and Paul over to Satan! I even came across an article entitled 'Satan, God's Servant'! Some wondered how a person could be saved after his flesh got destroyed. . .you get the picture.
In hindsight I can see why so many in the Body of Christ are confused, sick and in dispair. That's because we have attempted to understand God with our intellect. But God is a spirit. In fact, if you are born again, the Holy Spirit lives in your spirit. He dosen't live in your mind -- although what he shows you in your spirit will eventually show up in your mind.
So there I was, dazed and confused (maybe that's how Led Zepplin got the title to their song). And to top it all off, the tenants renting my common room began to mess up my house over the weekend -- they actually started making dumplings in my house! I was really in dispair!
But like it always is in our lives, when we are completely helpless, our Helper the Holy Spirit comes on the scene!
This morning as I awoke, I heard that old song I used to sing years ago sung in my heart, "Oh Lord, your tenderness, melting all my bitterness, O Lord I recieve your love, Oh Lord I recieve your love".
Then I began to worship the Lord. "I will rejoice, I will rejoice, I will rejoice for I made my choice to rejoice in the Lord. . .It dosen't depend on my circumctance, the strength of my arm or my voice, it dosen't depend on the way I feel, I made up my mind that I'm gonna rejoice!" "You have made me glad, you have made me glad, I will rejoice for you have made me glad".
Then I had an inner vision. I actually saw the Lord rejoicing over me as a bridegroom rejoiced over his bride!
But the great surprise only came later when I checked up in the Bible what I saw in my spirit. I googled 'He rejoices over us with joy' and got directed to Zephaniah 3:17:
NKJV
the Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet (you) with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.
NASB
the Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.
I realized that he had quieted me with His love. . .remember the song He sang in my heart -- Oh Lord your tenderness. . .I recieve Your love? Then I saw him rejoicing over me with joy! And what a promise! He not only rejoices over us, He is actually rejoicing in His power to deliver us from our troubles!
What a difference when we are hooked up to the God of the Word who lives in our hearts, as opposed to trying to understand the Word of God with our brains.
One brings Life. The other brings Death. Thank God for the Tree of Life. Thank God for Jesus in our hearts.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
The Word of Christ
Did you realize that one of the first things Jesus did when He rose again was to teach the disciples about HIMSELF from the old testament?
25He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
26Did not the Christ[b] have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?"
27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. Luke 24:25 NIV
I was reminded yesterday evening of something Pastor Prince mentioned in a sermon I heard some time ago. He said that Faith comes by hearing the word of CHRIST. The more we see Jesus in the Bible, the more our faith rises.
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17 NAS
Interestingly enough, the word 'word' in the verse is actually 'Rhema'. That means a spoken word. It's when the Holy Spirit speaks into your heart. It's the 'now' word for your life. And did you realize that when Paul wrote these words under inspiration from the Holy Spirit, the Bible as in its present form didn't yet exist?
That means God wants us to live by faith, by the reality of the 'now' word the Holy Spirit is speaking in our hearts -- revealing to us Jesus.
When the Holy Spirit opens the Bible to us, He always points us to Jesus. But when we try to understand God's word with our own understanding, more often than not, we get confused, condemened and become legalistic.
4Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God.
5Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.
6He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
7Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was,
8will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?
9If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!
10For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory.
11And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
12Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.
13We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away.
14But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.
16But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect[a] the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Cor 3:4-18 NIV
So an accurate understanding of His Word does not come by reasoning with our minds. An accurate understanding of His Word comes when the Holy Spirit opens our hearts to see Jesus in the word! Jesus is the Tree of Life! He is not the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil!
The book of John tells us, that the Law came through Moses, but Grace and Truth comes through Jesus! The law condemns but Jesus is truth and life! Lets see Jesus!
Is it any wonder then that Paul's constant prayer for believers was:
17That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, Eph 1:17-18 KJV
Notice that it is the Spirit of Revelation and Wisdom flooding the eyes of our spirits (or your heart -- the core of your being) that causes us to really 'know'. Verse 18 says '. . .THAT you may know'.
Pray that prayer for youself continually. It will change your life.
25He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
26Did not the Christ[b] have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?"
27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. Luke 24:25 NIV
I was reminded yesterday evening of something Pastor Prince mentioned in a sermon I heard some time ago. He said that Faith comes by hearing the word of CHRIST. The more we see Jesus in the Bible, the more our faith rises.
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17 NAS
Interestingly enough, the word 'word' in the verse is actually 'Rhema'. That means a spoken word. It's when the Holy Spirit speaks into your heart. It's the 'now' word for your life. And did you realize that when Paul wrote these words under inspiration from the Holy Spirit, the Bible as in its present form didn't yet exist?
That means God wants us to live by faith, by the reality of the 'now' word the Holy Spirit is speaking in our hearts -- revealing to us Jesus.
When the Holy Spirit opens the Bible to us, He always points us to Jesus. But when we try to understand God's word with our own understanding, more often than not, we get confused, condemened and become legalistic.
4Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God.
5Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.
6He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
7Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was,
8will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?
9If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!
10For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory.
11And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
12Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.
13We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away.
14But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.
16But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect[a] the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Cor 3:4-18 NIV
So an accurate understanding of His Word does not come by reasoning with our minds. An accurate understanding of His Word comes when the Holy Spirit opens our hearts to see Jesus in the word! Jesus is the Tree of Life! He is not the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil!
The book of John tells us, that the Law came through Moses, but Grace and Truth comes through Jesus! The law condemns but Jesus is truth and life! Lets see Jesus!
Is it any wonder then that Paul's constant prayer for believers was:
17That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, Eph 1:17-18 KJV
Notice that it is the Spirit of Revelation and Wisdom flooding the eyes of our spirits (or your heart -- the core of your being) that causes us to really 'know'. Verse 18 says '. . .THAT you may know'.
Pray that prayer for youself continually. It will change your life.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
The Blood of Jesus Speaks
22But rather, you have come to Mount Zion, even to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless multitudes of angels in festal gathering,
23And to the church (assembly) of the Firstborn who are registered [as citizens] in heaven, and to the God Who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous (the redeemed in heaven) who have been made perfect,
24And to Jesus, the Mediator (Go-between, Agent) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood which speaks [of mercy], a better and nobler and more gracious message than the blood of Abel [which cried out for vengeance].(I)
Hebrews 12:22-24 Amplified Bible
The blood of Jesus speaks better things than the blood of Abel. When Cain slew Abel in jealousy, Abel's blood cried out for vengence from the ground. When Jesus brought his blood to heaven and sprinkled it on the mercy seat, He transformed the mercy seat into the Throne of Grace!
The blood of Jesus today cries out 'It is Finished!' Instead of crying out for vengence, it cries out that our complete redemption has been utterly paid for.
In heaven's legislation, there is a new covenant in place. And that legislated covenant has been rattified (sealed and put into effect) by the blood of Jesus!
The blood cries out'you're healed', 'you're provided for', 'you're justified', 'you're a citizen of heaven', you're delivered'.
So when the Father answers your prayer, He's not 'doing you a favor'. He is being just. It's because of the blood of Jesus. The blood has qualified you.
Halelujah!
23And to the church (assembly) of the Firstborn who are registered [as citizens] in heaven, and to the God Who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous (the redeemed in heaven) who have been made perfect,
24And to Jesus, the Mediator (Go-between, Agent) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood which speaks [of mercy], a better and nobler and more gracious message than the blood of Abel [which cried out for vengeance].(I)
Hebrews 12:22-24 Amplified Bible
The blood of Jesus speaks better things than the blood of Abel. When Cain slew Abel in jealousy, Abel's blood cried out for vengence from the ground. When Jesus brought his blood to heaven and sprinkled it on the mercy seat, He transformed the mercy seat into the Throne of Grace!
The blood of Jesus today cries out 'It is Finished!' Instead of crying out for vengence, it cries out that our complete redemption has been utterly paid for.
In heaven's legislation, there is a new covenant in place. And that legislated covenant has been rattified (sealed and put into effect) by the blood of Jesus!
The blood cries out'you're healed', 'you're provided for', 'you're justified', 'you're a citizen of heaven', you're delivered'.
So when the Father answers your prayer, He's not 'doing you a favor'. He is being just. It's because of the blood of Jesus. The blood has qualified you.
Halelujah!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Faith and Patience
This morning as I was grumbling to the Lord about the lack of a manifested breakthrough in my life I suddenly saw the phrase 'Patience' flash across my spirit.
Then I knew in my heart that it meant that I needed to add patience to my faith. I somehow needed a spiritual 'hardiness' during this time -- between the time of the promise and the time of the manifestation.
That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Heb 6:12 King James Version
I felt a little flustered. Because it reminded me of the sermons I used to hear in my previous church of 'soldiering on' and 'bearing' the suffering and struggle till the manifestation.
Then tonight, as I lay my head down to sleep, I began to sing in my heart to the Lord. And in His Prescence, I suddenly realized what He meant.
You see, the Psalmist of old were often times going through hard times in their lives. What did they do? They poured out their hearts to the Lord in their times of trouble. It wasn't pretty. Sometimes grumbling and cries of dispair were the order of the moment--that means they were honest before the Lord. They weren't mechanical fake bible verse quoting people--there is no power in confessing the Word when you're full of fear and worry!
But fear and worry vanish when you're in the prescense of the Almighty--the prescense of Love personified.
And when that happens, when you pour out your heart and then begin to experience the flow of the Holy Spirit and the new songs of the Spirit, you're strengthened. Your worldview changes once more to take in all your problems with the realization that He's there with you!
You've just been strengthened to be patient. The Lord has renewed your strength!
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isa 40:31 King James Version
The hebrew meaning of the word 'wait' (strongs --6960. qavah -- 'kaw-vaw')is:
A primitive root; to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e. Collect; figuratively) to expect -- gather (together), look, patiently, tarry, wait (for, on, upon).
So as we wait on the Lord, we're literally entwining ourselves with Him! In His prescense we are inspired to expect in hope. In fact some versions translate this verse as 'But they that HOPE in the Lord'.
Notice also that the original Hebrew also carrys the meaning of patience, part of the Strongs entry says 'patiently'.
So I'm no longer flustered. I was. I felt frustrated and tired. But in His presence I have been taught His truth and strenghtened once more to be constant in my faith that the manifestations of His promises in my life are on track!
Here's the song I'm singing right now to the Lord who is my strength:
I'll Wait For You--Kent Henry
I'll wait for You
I'll wait for You
Waiting alone in the secret place
Where all you say is true
I'll wait for you
I'll hear Your voice
I'll hear Your Voice
Waiting alone so silently
Lord this is my choice
I'll hear Your voice
For those who wait will gain new strength
You know they'll run and will not faint
By prayer they grow not weary
You wait in high
You even long
To hear us sing that waiting song
Of Lord we will spend time with You
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
The Supernatural Life
The battles of our lives are fought and won in the river of His love.
It's supernatural, because we can't do it on our own.
Let the Lord love you today.
Give Him all your burdens. Give Him all your cares. Give your entire life to Him and place yourself in His mighty hands.
One wonderful way to do that is to abandon yourself to Him in His prescence.
Open your mouth and begin to sing to Him. Cry to Him. Express yourself to Him. Pour out you heart to Him.
And then let the River of His prescence flow as you worship Him in the Spirit.
Here's an extract from some wonderful material on spontaneous worship I
found from http://www.justworship.com/praisepoints/spontaneousworship.pdf:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ephesians 5:18-20
Be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
We are told to be filled with the Spirit and to let the word of Christ dwell richly, to sing and speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Psalms and hymns are known melodies and words. Spiritual songs are spontaneous, Spirit breathed songs, sung and led by the Holy Spirit in the moment. They are new songs previously unknown and unsung. Do we need this kind of song in our private and corporate worship today?
A search for the keyword 'new song' on net.bible.org reveals 9 verses (Ps. 33:3, 40:3, 96:1,
98:1, 144:9, 149:1; Isa. 42:10; Rev. 5:9, 14:3).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
God want us to live a life that is supernatural -- we are born of the Spirit after all aren't we?
It's a life where we have interuptions, intrusions and invasions of the Holy Spirit from the spiritual realm into the natural realm daily.
When that happens, we experience the supernatural realm of the Holy Spirit.
And living in the supernatural isn't as far fetched as you think.
When you pray in the Spirit -- that's supernatural.
When you flow in inspired utterence as you worship Him and pray in tongues --that's supernatural.
I have been uplifted over these last few weeks by the supernatural intrusions of the Holy Spirit in my life.
Yesterday's word from the Lord is one example.
The first two lines in this blog are another. They are actually part of two spontaneous songs I felt inspired to sing as I was worshipping the Lord on two seperate occasions. And it has a taught something I didn't know and reminded me of something I have known. It is the simple gift of prophecy.
So begin to fan the flame of the Spirit in you heart and don't let the enemy of your soul silence you.
Lift up your voice and praise the Lord, both in the Spirit, and with understanding.
Begin to live in the supernatural as you begin to hear the Lord sing and speak through you!
It's supernatural, because we can't do it on our own.
Let the Lord love you today.
Give Him all your burdens. Give Him all your cares. Give your entire life to Him and place yourself in His mighty hands.
One wonderful way to do that is to abandon yourself to Him in His prescence.
Open your mouth and begin to sing to Him. Cry to Him. Express yourself to Him. Pour out you heart to Him.
And then let the River of His prescence flow as you worship Him in the Spirit.
Here's an extract from some wonderful material on spontaneous worship I
found from http://www.justworship.com/praisepoints/spontaneousworship.pdf:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ephesians 5:18-20
Be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
We are told to be filled with the Spirit and to let the word of Christ dwell richly, to sing and speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Psalms and hymns are known melodies and words. Spiritual songs are spontaneous, Spirit breathed songs, sung and led by the Holy Spirit in the moment. They are new songs previously unknown and unsung. Do we need this kind of song in our private and corporate worship today?
A search for the keyword 'new song' on net.bible.org reveals 9 verses (Ps. 33:3, 40:3, 96:1,
98:1, 144:9, 149:1; Isa. 42:10; Rev. 5:9, 14:3).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
God want us to live a life that is supernatural -- we are born of the Spirit after all aren't we?
It's a life where we have interuptions, intrusions and invasions of the Holy Spirit from the spiritual realm into the natural realm daily.
When that happens, we experience the supernatural realm of the Holy Spirit.
And living in the supernatural isn't as far fetched as you think.
When you pray in the Spirit -- that's supernatural.
When you flow in inspired utterence as you worship Him and pray in tongues --that's supernatural.
I have been uplifted over these last few weeks by the supernatural intrusions of the Holy Spirit in my life.
Yesterday's word from the Lord is one example.
The first two lines in this blog are another. They are actually part of two spontaneous songs I felt inspired to sing as I was worshipping the Lord on two seperate occasions. And it has a taught something I didn't know and reminded me of something I have known. It is the simple gift of prophecy.
So begin to fan the flame of the Spirit in you heart and don't let the enemy of your soul silence you.
Lift up your voice and praise the Lord, both in the Spirit, and with understanding.
Begin to live in the supernatural as you begin to hear the Lord sing and speak through you!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
The Spirit of Prophecy
The Holy Spirit dwells within our hearts and not in our heads. That's something I heard Kenneth E. Hagin preach over and over again many years ago.
And it's absolutely the truth.
Tonite as I lay on my bed, tired and downcast in my mind, I began to just pray in the Spirit. I prayed in tongues.
Then I felt a flow of words. It was as if I was beside myself listening to Him speak from my heart. My mind was tired and worn out, but there was a boldness in my spirit.
I heard these words eminate from my heart out from my mouth:
Let there be the shout of the King in this place.
Let there be His praises.
No weapon formed against me shall prosper.
The life of God in me swallows up all death.
The light of God in me shines through the darkness.
The One who parted the Red Sea,
And who caused quails to fall from the sky,
And manna to fall from Heaven,
The One who fed the children of Israel 40 years in the desert,
And who fed the multitudes with five loaves and two fishes,
Will He not take care of you oh precious one?
Jesus said that out of our innermost being shall flow forth rivers of living water. This spoke He of the Holy Spirit. One of those rivers is the gift of prophecy -- inspired utterence in a known tongue.
It is the voice of the Holy Spirit. It is the shout of the king! The voice of the Lion of Judah.
Tonight I realized where the strength of my life is. He's Jesus and He lives in my heart.
When your own strength is gone, realize that you're not alone. For He who gave His life for you calls you His own.
I can still feel the fire of the Spirit burning in my heart as I write these words. I guess this is how the disciples felt on the road to Emmaus when they said, 'Did our hearts not burn within us, while He talked with us. . .'
And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? Luke 24:32
I just realized something only now. I actually felt led to sing 'Burn it Deep' earlier before all this. . .
BURN IT DEEP
============
Burn it deep
Within my soul
New strength and fire O Lord
Burn it deep
Within my soul
New zeal and fire O Lord
Burn it deep
Within my soul
New strength and fire
It makes me whole
Burn it deep
Deep within my soul
Oh my.
This is one supernatural nite. Indeed, we are never alone in our lives.
Thank God for Jesus. Thank God for the Holy Spirit. Thank God for the Spirit of Prophecy.
And it's absolutely the truth.
Tonite as I lay on my bed, tired and downcast in my mind, I began to just pray in the Spirit. I prayed in tongues.
Then I felt a flow of words. It was as if I was beside myself listening to Him speak from my heart. My mind was tired and worn out, but there was a boldness in my spirit.
I heard these words eminate from my heart out from my mouth:
Let there be the shout of the King in this place.
Let there be His praises.
No weapon formed against me shall prosper.
The life of God in me swallows up all death.
The light of God in me shines through the darkness.
The One who parted the Red Sea,
And who caused quails to fall from the sky,
And manna to fall from Heaven,
The One who fed the children of Israel 40 years in the desert,
And who fed the multitudes with five loaves and two fishes,
Will He not take care of you oh precious one?
Jesus said that out of our innermost being shall flow forth rivers of living water. This spoke He of the Holy Spirit. One of those rivers is the gift of prophecy -- inspired utterence in a known tongue.
It is the voice of the Holy Spirit. It is the shout of the king! The voice of the Lion of Judah.
Tonight I realized where the strength of my life is. He's Jesus and He lives in my heart.
When your own strength is gone, realize that you're not alone. For He who gave His life for you calls you His own.
I can still feel the fire of the Spirit burning in my heart as I write these words. I guess this is how the disciples felt on the road to Emmaus when they said, 'Did our hearts not burn within us, while He talked with us. . .'
And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? Luke 24:32
I just realized something only now. I actually felt led to sing 'Burn it Deep' earlier before all this. . .
BURN IT DEEP
============
Burn it deep
Within my soul
New strength and fire O Lord
Burn it deep
Within my soul
New zeal and fire O Lord
Burn it deep
Within my soul
New strength and fire
It makes me whole
Burn it deep
Deep within my soul
Oh my.
This is one supernatural nite. Indeed, we are never alone in our lives.
Thank God for Jesus. Thank God for the Holy Spirit. Thank God for the Spirit of Prophecy.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Heaven's Economy
Our entry into heaven has been bought by a source that is from heaven. Nothing that stems out from our human efforts can ever qualify us. Only heaven's provision can qualify us for heaven's acceptance. That's because God demands absolute perfection. And Jesus is that perfect sacrifice. By the same token none of our shortcomings can disqualify us.
Our sonship has been purchased by the sacrifice of Jesus. And it was planned before the foundation of the world.
4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Eph 1:4-7 King James Version
God the Father deemed fit -- in His infinite wisdom -- to send His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for us -- in our place -- to pay the penalty for our sins. Then Jesus rose again and brought His body and His blood to the altar in Heaven, thereby offering Himself as the sacrfical lamb for us.
9Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first,that he may establish the second.
10By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
15Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
16This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
19Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21And having an high priest over the house of God;
22Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Heb 10: 9-22 King James Version
And He paid for all of our sins, sins that he knew in His inifinite omniscience. When I say all, I mean all. He knows them all as if He had an itemized list of them. And Jesus died on the cross for them all.
If that were not true then how could he be the Judge of the living and the dead? The book of Revelation tells us that there are books that keep record of whether we enter heaven or not.
12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Rev 20:12 King James Version
That passage refers to the judement those without Jesus must face. Thank God that we who have accepted Jesus will be judged by His perfect sacrifice.
But then we must now begin to esteem the perfection of that sacrifice. Jesus not only cleansed us from all our sins, He has actually purchased for us the right to now sit with him. Does not the bible say that we are seated with Christ in heavenly places? He has made us kings, priests, sons and daugthers.
5And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Rev 1:5-6 King James Version
6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: Eph 2:6 King James Version
In Heaven's economy only one thing qualifies you. Jesus and His blood. The same holds true for prayer.
Are you coming before the Father in prayer, trying to purchase your answers with your good works? Jesus told us to pray in His Name. In other words, based on His perfect sacrifice -- on the merits of His person.
All the promises of God are Yes and Amen in Christ Jesus! You have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus!
2For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. 2 Cor 1:2 NIV
2Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Eph 1:2-3 King James Version
It would be beneficial for us to note here that when the bible refers to spiritual blessings, it refers to the location of the source. It's not inferring that it does not mean its not physical.
When you pray for financial provision, God (the spiritual source) manifests it in the natural! The same is true for divine healing.
Why don't we recieve the manifestation of answered prayer? I've been feeling a leading in my heart of late that it's because we don't receive by grace.
The bible says that cursed is everyone who is of the works of the law.
13For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them Gal 3:13 King James Version
If you attempt to earn your way to receiving anything from God, you are under a curse.That's because all of our 'sacrifices' fall short of the mark. God's standard is absolute perfection. That's why Jesus needed to offer himself in our place.
So rely on His finished work the next time you pray because answered prayer is truly found. . . in Jesus Name.
Our sonship has been purchased by the sacrifice of Jesus. And it was planned before the foundation of the world.
4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Eph 1:4-7 King James Version
God the Father deemed fit -- in His infinite wisdom -- to send His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for us -- in our place -- to pay the penalty for our sins. Then Jesus rose again and brought His body and His blood to the altar in Heaven, thereby offering Himself as the sacrfical lamb for us.
9Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first,that he may establish the second.
10By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
15Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
16This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
19Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21And having an high priest over the house of God;
22Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Heb 10: 9-22 King James Version
And He paid for all of our sins, sins that he knew in His inifinite omniscience. When I say all, I mean all. He knows them all as if He had an itemized list of them. And Jesus died on the cross for them all.
If that were not true then how could he be the Judge of the living and the dead? The book of Revelation tells us that there are books that keep record of whether we enter heaven or not.
12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Rev 20:12 King James Version
That passage refers to the judement those without Jesus must face. Thank God that we who have accepted Jesus will be judged by His perfect sacrifice.
But then we must now begin to esteem the perfection of that sacrifice. Jesus not only cleansed us from all our sins, He has actually purchased for us the right to now sit with him. Does not the bible say that we are seated with Christ in heavenly places? He has made us kings, priests, sons and daugthers.
5And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Rev 1:5-6 King James Version
6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: Eph 2:6 King James Version
In Heaven's economy only one thing qualifies you. Jesus and His blood. The same holds true for prayer.
Are you coming before the Father in prayer, trying to purchase your answers with your good works? Jesus told us to pray in His Name. In other words, based on His perfect sacrifice -- on the merits of His person.
All the promises of God are Yes and Amen in Christ Jesus! You have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus!
2For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. 2 Cor 1:2 NIV
2Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Eph 1:2-3 King James Version
It would be beneficial for us to note here that when the bible refers to spiritual blessings, it refers to the location of the source. It's not inferring that it does not mean its not physical.
When you pray for financial provision, God (the spiritual source) manifests it in the natural! The same is true for divine healing.
Why don't we recieve the manifestation of answered prayer? I've been feeling a leading in my heart of late that it's because we don't receive by grace.
The bible says that cursed is everyone who is of the works of the law.
13For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them Gal 3:13 King James Version
If you attempt to earn your way to receiving anything from God, you are under a curse.That's because all of our 'sacrifices' fall short of the mark. God's standard is absolute perfection. That's why Jesus needed to offer himself in our place.
So rely on His finished work the next time you pray because answered prayer is truly found. . . in Jesus Name.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
How Well Did Jesus Do?
I'm just beginning to scrape the surface I know. But it's already changing my life.
I feel a constant stream today -- a leading to meditate on the totality of the Finished Work of Jesus on the cross.
I feel as if I'm chewing on His word in my spirit. It's a spiritual sensation that's really happening. No kidding.
I begining to experience what's descibed in the book of Hebrews as 'repentence metanoia -- changing my mind) from dead works and of faith towards God'.
The questions that cause my heart to leap with joy are:
* Can I STAND completely on the merits of the cross AND NOTHING ELSE?
* Is His work on the cross MY ONLY basis of acceptance into the Kingdom of God?
* Can this foundation stand the full weight of my dependence on it?
The answer is a resounding 'Yes!'
Think about it with me. When you ask God for something. . .let's say healing . . .what's the first thing that pops into your mind? For me it's 'how well did I do today?' or 'did I trip up morally?'
I'm beginning to realize now that I should instead be asking 'How well did Jesus do?'
If you were to hold your breath for 10 minutes and if you are a believer, you would be instantly with the Lord. You would be in Heaven. Think about it.
You're clean and pure enough in your spirit to actually go to heaven.
In fact,you're clean and pure enough in your spirit for God the Holy Spirit to actually dwell in you right now.
Why?
It's because you and I have been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. All of our sins -- past, present and future have been punished in the body of Jesus. More than that -- because Jesus overpaid with His perfect person -- we now have the same standing as Jesus in Heaven.
We do sit with Him in Heavenly places right?
If all that is true, why shouldn't we recieve answers to our prayers? Did we attain heaven because of anything we had done?
Absolutely not. It was because of the perfect work of Jesus on the cross.
When Jesus cried 'It is finished' on the cross, the veil in the temple was rent top to bottom indicating that God's official residence on earth had moved. He was no longer seperated from man because of their sin. He paid for our sin and took it out of the way. Then on the day of pentecost He rushed into man's heart.
He rushed to be with us! Think about that the next time you ask God for something.
I feel a constant stream today -- a leading to meditate on the totality of the Finished Work of Jesus on the cross.
I feel as if I'm chewing on His word in my spirit. It's a spiritual sensation that's really happening. No kidding.
I begining to experience what's descibed in the book of Hebrews as 'repentence metanoia -- changing my mind) from dead works and of faith towards God'.
The questions that cause my heart to leap with joy are:
* Can I STAND completely on the merits of the cross AND NOTHING ELSE?
* Is His work on the cross MY ONLY basis of acceptance into the Kingdom of God?
* Can this foundation stand the full weight of my dependence on it?
The answer is a resounding 'Yes!'
Think about it with me. When you ask God for something. . .let's say healing . . .what's the first thing that pops into your mind? For me it's 'how well did I do today?' or 'did I trip up morally?'
I'm beginning to realize now that I should instead be asking 'How well did Jesus do?'
If you were to hold your breath for 10 minutes and if you are a believer, you would be instantly with the Lord. You would be in Heaven. Think about it.
You're clean and pure enough in your spirit to actually go to heaven.
In fact,you're clean and pure enough in your spirit for God the Holy Spirit to actually dwell in you right now.
Why?
It's because you and I have been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. All of our sins -- past, present and future have been punished in the body of Jesus. More than that -- because Jesus overpaid with His perfect person -- we now have the same standing as Jesus in Heaven.
We do sit with Him in Heavenly places right?
If all that is true, why shouldn't we recieve answers to our prayers? Did we attain heaven because of anything we had done?
Absolutely not. It was because of the perfect work of Jesus on the cross.
When Jesus cried 'It is finished' on the cross, the veil in the temple was rent top to bottom indicating that God's official residence on earth had moved. He was no longer seperated from man because of their sin. He paid for our sin and took it out of the way. Then on the day of pentecost He rushed into man's heart.
He rushed to be with us! Think about that the next time you ask God for something.
Friday, August 21, 2009
The Perfection of His Work
I was reminded today that as flesh and blood people, many times our 'see you there in 5 minutes' promises are usually nothing more than figures of speech for 'I'll be there in a while' and not necessarily 5 minutes!
Words have lost their weight in today's society -- they aren't accurate. As my pastor has mentioned many times in his sermons over the years: we say we 'love' God, we 'love' our significant other, but then we turn around and also say we 'love' chocolate!
That's certainly not true of God. God doesn't exagerate. He is exact and He keeps account. The Bible says that He even numbers the hairs of our head. I would venture to say that even you are not aware of how many hairs there are on your head! And my friend, that number changes every day.
So when we consider that God the Father sent Jesus to die on the cross for us, we must understand the very powerful ramifications of that act.
The spotless, perfect Son of God became sin in our place. He paid the price for us. What does that mean?
It means He took all the punishment for your sin. Past, present and future. And He paid for your sins according to His estimation and knowledge of your sin. And God knows your shortcomings better than you do.
He is the one whom the Bible describes as the One whom all things are laid bare, the One to whom we must give account. He took the punishment for our sins of commission and our sins of ommission forever.
But there's a catch. He overpaid.
At the end of the old covenant, just before Jesus went to the cross and ratified a new covenant sealed in His blood, He said, 'Up till now have you asked for nothing in my Name. Ask and you shall recieve, that your joy may be full.' What did he mean 'Up till now'? He meant that they were on the verge of a new covenant, a new day! In the dispensation of the new covenant, answered prayer would be answered based on the perfect payment made by Jesus perfect sacrifce.
So when you pray in Jesus name, God the Father answers you based on the perfect work of Jesus on the cross. I felt God challenge me today to find out the full extent of the perfection of Jesus. To the measure I understand the perfectness of the Man, is the measure I will understand how thoroughly God the Father wants to answer our prayer! He isn't 'doing us a favor' by answering our prayers. They've been OVERpaid for!!!!!!
That perfection erdicated the effects of sin! That perfection erradicated the power of sickness! That perfection erradicated poverty!
So as the greatest old testament prophet John the Baptist said, 'BEHOLD (look intently) the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!'
And as we behold the perfection of His work, we feed on Him and we are strengthened!
Words have lost their weight in today's society -- they aren't accurate. As my pastor has mentioned many times in his sermons over the years: we say we 'love' God, we 'love' our significant other, but then we turn around and also say we 'love' chocolate!
That's certainly not true of God. God doesn't exagerate. He is exact and He keeps account. The Bible says that He even numbers the hairs of our head. I would venture to say that even you are not aware of how many hairs there are on your head! And my friend, that number changes every day.
So when we consider that God the Father sent Jesus to die on the cross for us, we must understand the very powerful ramifications of that act.
The spotless, perfect Son of God became sin in our place. He paid the price for us. What does that mean?
It means He took all the punishment for your sin. Past, present and future. And He paid for your sins according to His estimation and knowledge of your sin. And God knows your shortcomings better than you do.
He is the one whom the Bible describes as the One whom all things are laid bare, the One to whom we must give account. He took the punishment for our sins of commission and our sins of ommission forever.
But there's a catch. He overpaid.
At the end of the old covenant, just before Jesus went to the cross and ratified a new covenant sealed in His blood, He said, 'Up till now have you asked for nothing in my Name. Ask and you shall recieve, that your joy may be full.' What did he mean 'Up till now'? He meant that they were on the verge of a new covenant, a new day! In the dispensation of the new covenant, answered prayer would be answered based on the perfect payment made by Jesus perfect sacrifce.
So when you pray in Jesus name, God the Father answers you based on the perfect work of Jesus on the cross. I felt God challenge me today to find out the full extent of the perfection of Jesus. To the measure I understand the perfectness of the Man, is the measure I will understand how thoroughly God the Father wants to answer our prayer! He isn't 'doing us a favor' by answering our prayers. They've been OVERpaid for!!!!!!
That perfection erdicated the effects of sin! That perfection erradicated the power of sickness! That perfection erradicated poverty!
So as the greatest old testament prophet John the Baptist said, 'BEHOLD (look intently) the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!'
And as we behold the perfection of His work, we feed on Him and we are strengthened!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
The River of the Spirit
I remember when I first got saved in 1986, one of the first things I began to instinctively do was make up songs of love to the Lord.
No one taught me to do it, I just did.
Later on as I began learning more about Praise and Worship, I realized that what was happening to me was a result of being filled with the Holy Spirit.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Eph 5:18-19 King James Version
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Col 3:16 King James Version
Jesus likens the Spirit of God in our hearts to a river.
38He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.
39But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
John 7:38-39 NASV
When we begin to worship from our innermost being, or our spirits, the Spirit of God begins to flow like a river! The founders of Integrity Hosanna descibed this like going white water rafting. You start out paddling at first, but as you begin to flow downstream, the powerful currents of the river begin to take over and soon you're just being carried along!
Kent Henry always admonishes worshippers to 'let the river flow'. I have found that when I do, new spontaneous songs begin to flow out from my heart. And more often than not, it ministers to me as well. It's actually the simple gift of prophecy in action. It's inspired utterence that encourages, uplifts and comforts. And there are times that it even teaches.
Psalms 46:4 says, 'There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High.'(NASV)
Amen. That's us! The dwelling places of God where the river of His Spirit flows!
And that river brings us freedom and deliverence in our trials!
25And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
Acts 16:25King James Version
Is it midnight in your life? Do things look like they are the darkest? Thank God for the River of the Spirit. Let it flow and see the chains fall off and the prison doors swing open!
No one taught me to do it, I just did.
Later on as I began learning more about Praise and Worship, I realized that what was happening to me was a result of being filled with the Holy Spirit.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Eph 5:18-19 King James Version
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Col 3:16 King James Version
Jesus likens the Spirit of God in our hearts to a river.
38He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.
39But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
John 7:38-39 NASV
When we begin to worship from our innermost being, or our spirits, the Spirit of God begins to flow like a river! The founders of Integrity Hosanna descibed this like going white water rafting. You start out paddling at first, but as you begin to flow downstream, the powerful currents of the river begin to take over and soon you're just being carried along!
Kent Henry always admonishes worshippers to 'let the river flow'. I have found that when I do, new spontaneous songs begin to flow out from my heart. And more often than not, it ministers to me as well. It's actually the simple gift of prophecy in action. It's inspired utterence that encourages, uplifts and comforts. And there are times that it even teaches.
Psalms 46:4 says, 'There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High.'(NASV)
Amen. That's us! The dwelling places of God where the river of His Spirit flows!
And that river brings us freedom and deliverence in our trials!
25And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
Acts 16:25King James Version
Is it midnight in your life? Do things look like they are the darkest? Thank God for the River of the Spirit. Let it flow and see the chains fall off and the prison doors swing open!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Hearing the Heart of God
I was Googling Kent Henry tonite and I rediscovered this wonderful prophetic song he sang in the mid 1980s. It's called Vessels of Honor. It really reveals God's hearbeat for us.
Talk about a holy moment in time.
It foretold that there would be a time that God's Words would burn in our hearts deeper within us full of His Grace. That moment would be a time where those behind the plow would be called to understand His abundant grace.
20 years later we're living in those times foretold in this prophetic song. That time is now.
After listening, I feel that yearning, aching and hungering for God once more. That river of worship, that wonderful river of worship. It's been a long time, but it's still there. That hunger for the Lord.
When we come into contact with true worpshippers like Kent Henry, he begins to draw that river out from us. He begins to make us cherish the things of Heaven, the things of the Spirit, the things of God.
I miss that so much.
Here's a transcript of that prophetic song.
Vessels of Honor
=============
There is an hour
When my fear will return
There is an hour
My words will burn
Deeper within you
Full of my grace
I'll show you
in my Spirit
There is a moment
Where I must use you now
There is a moment
I call those behind the plow
To know and understand my mercy
To understand my abundant grace
This is the hour
That my fear shall return
This is the hour
Well my word will begin to burn
This is the hour
Where you will bow every knee
You who began in my Spirit
You who began in my Spirt
You who began in my Spirt
They will see
For you have not cried alone
that I have not seen it says the Lord
You haven't cried alone
that I haven't seen it says the Lord
For I have been crying for years
For a people lost and seperated from me
Open up your hearts
And you will see
That I've been there
in every dark and weary hour
That I've been there
in every dark and weary hour
You haven't walked one mile
or one inch alone
For I have watched over you
Did you forget I knit your bones?
So rise up, and be my people
Set aside for the work of my holiness
So rise up, be that holy people
That I have ordained from years ago
You are my vessels of honor
My channels of power
You're my vessels of honor
My channels of power
No and I haven't turned you
Haven't turned you aside
For I've engravened you on My hand
that you could ride with Me
As My vessels of honor
Don't you know you're my channels of power
Well you are my vessels of honor,
You are My channels of power
And I've reserved you for such,
Such a time as this
So you could come before me in worship
As it were, be kissed
For you're My vessels of honor
Don't you know you're my channels of power
You are my Vessels of Honor,
You are my only channels of power
For you who have given your heart
to Me in this place
Are coming to understand
How to finish out your race
As vessels of honor
And channels of My power
You are My vessels of honor
You are My channels of my power
You are My vessels of honor
You're My channels of power
Reserved for this holy hour
Vessels of honor and channels of power
You are My vessels
You are My vessel
Are you listening my children?
You are
My vessels of honor
And channels of power
Channels of my power
Here's a YouTube link to the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7okmI3MA9Mk
Talk about a holy moment in time.
It foretold that there would be a time that God's Words would burn in our hearts deeper within us full of His Grace. That moment would be a time where those behind the plow would be called to understand His abundant grace.
20 years later we're living in those times foretold in this prophetic song. That time is now.
After listening, I feel that yearning, aching and hungering for God once more. That river of worship, that wonderful river of worship. It's been a long time, but it's still there. That hunger for the Lord.
When we come into contact with true worpshippers like Kent Henry, he begins to draw that river out from us. He begins to make us cherish the things of Heaven, the things of the Spirit, the things of God.
I miss that so much.
Here's a transcript of that prophetic song.
Vessels of Honor
=============
There is an hour
When my fear will return
There is an hour
My words will burn
Deeper within you
Full of my grace
I'll show you
in my Spirit
There is a moment
Where I must use you now
There is a moment
I call those behind the plow
To know and understand my mercy
To understand my abundant grace
This is the hour
That my fear shall return
This is the hour
Well my word will begin to burn
This is the hour
Where you will bow every knee
You who began in my Spirit
You who began in my Spirt
You who began in my Spirt
They will see
For you have not cried alone
that I have not seen it says the Lord
You haven't cried alone
that I haven't seen it says the Lord
For I have been crying for years
For a people lost and seperated from me
Open up your hearts
And you will see
That I've been there
in every dark and weary hour
That I've been there
in every dark and weary hour
You haven't walked one mile
or one inch alone
For I have watched over you
Did you forget I knit your bones?
So rise up, and be my people
Set aside for the work of my holiness
So rise up, be that holy people
That I have ordained from years ago
You are my vessels of honor
My channels of power
You're my vessels of honor
My channels of power
No and I haven't turned you
Haven't turned you aside
For I've engravened you on My hand
that you could ride with Me
As My vessels of honor
Don't you know you're my channels of power
Well you are my vessels of honor,
You are My channels of power
And I've reserved you for such,
Such a time as this
So you could come before me in worship
As it were, be kissed
For you're My vessels of honor
Don't you know you're my channels of power
You are my Vessels of Honor,
You are my only channels of power
For you who have given your heart
to Me in this place
Are coming to understand
How to finish out your race
As vessels of honor
And channels of My power
You are My vessels of honor
You are My channels of my power
You are My vessels of honor
You're My channels of power
Reserved for this holy hour
Vessels of honor and channels of power
You are My vessels
You are My vessel
Are you listening my children?
You are
My vessels of honor
And channels of power
Channels of my power
Here's a YouTube link to the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7okmI3MA9Mk
Sunday, August 16, 2009
A Supernatural Taxi Ride
The day I had been dreading had arrived. It was time to go to church and serve in the choir again.
I actually was in such dispair that I actually couldn't sleep last nite. I finally only got bedded down only at 5.30am and had to cancel meeting Amous for second service because I was just too tired. I smsed him at 7.52am and told him I couldn't make it.
As I always do when I'm sad, I sleep after I worry. Don't ask me why, but that's my coping mechanism. So my plan was to actually sleep till evening and not go to church. So I went back to sleep after smsing Amous.
I awoke again at 12.40pm and thought to my self that I would sms my choir leader to tell him that I was not coming for duty, that I was unwell. Then I felt a check in my heart. If I did that, if I ran away from this, would I look back to this moment and wonder if had missed out on God's complete deliverance because I had taken matters into my own hands by running away?
I jumped out of bed and washed-up quickly, and picked-up my handphone to call a cab. I had half an hour to get there. The cab came 12 minutes after I managed to book one. The driver was really blur, turning past the building and then coming back down the slope again a minute later after reaching the deadend up the slope. Great, now I get a blur driver.
'Why the turning so weird one ah?', was the first the thing the driver said when I got in. 'Haha...', I responded as I thought what a blur case this guy was.
While in the cab my emotions began to make their prescense felt. Sadness, shame and dispair. I was going to be late, so I smsed my leader that I was going to get there 5 to 10 minues late.
Then it happened.
As I lifted my eyes away from my phone and out the taxi window, a gunmetal gray silver surface catches my eye, invading my peripheral vision, it's the side panel of a van. Right in the middle of the panel in a bold black typeface are these words:
'Is There Anything Too Difficult For The Lord?
I am startled back to reality. Not my natural reality, but the supernatural reality of God's involvement in my life.
If you were the taxi driver, you would have suddenly heard me saying, 'No. . .no'.
So in the midst of all my emotional turmoil, God saw it fit this afternoon to speak to me through the side panel of a van belonging to a ministry called 'Living Stones'.
As I'm writing this entry, I am reminded of a spontaneous song I sang yesterday during worship. In essence the song said that I couldn't make it on my own, that I needed a touch from Him and that it would be Supernatural.
And indeed relying fully on God is a supernatural journey. Lord, I cast all my cares on You. I rely on You. You alone are my strength in this valley.
And NOTHING is too difficult for You.
I actually was in such dispair that I actually couldn't sleep last nite. I finally only got bedded down only at 5.30am and had to cancel meeting Amous for second service because I was just too tired. I smsed him at 7.52am and told him I couldn't make it.
As I always do when I'm sad, I sleep after I worry. Don't ask me why, but that's my coping mechanism. So my plan was to actually sleep till evening and not go to church. So I went back to sleep after smsing Amous.
I awoke again at 12.40pm and thought to my self that I would sms my choir leader to tell him that I was not coming for duty, that I was unwell. Then I felt a check in my heart. If I did that, if I ran away from this, would I look back to this moment and wonder if had missed out on God's complete deliverance because I had taken matters into my own hands by running away?
I jumped out of bed and washed-up quickly, and picked-up my handphone to call a cab. I had half an hour to get there. The cab came 12 minutes after I managed to book one. The driver was really blur, turning past the building and then coming back down the slope again a minute later after reaching the deadend up the slope. Great, now I get a blur driver.
'Why the turning so weird one ah?', was the first the thing the driver said when I got in. 'Haha...', I responded as I thought what a blur case this guy was.
While in the cab my emotions began to make their prescense felt. Sadness, shame and dispair. I was going to be late, so I smsed my leader that I was going to get there 5 to 10 minues late.
Then it happened.
As I lifted my eyes away from my phone and out the taxi window, a gunmetal gray silver surface catches my eye, invading my peripheral vision, it's the side panel of a van. Right in the middle of the panel in a bold black typeface are these words:
'Is There Anything Too Difficult For The Lord?
I am startled back to reality. Not my natural reality, but the supernatural reality of God's involvement in my life.
If you were the taxi driver, you would have suddenly heard me saying, 'No. . .no'.
So in the midst of all my emotional turmoil, God saw it fit this afternoon to speak to me through the side panel of a van belonging to a ministry called 'Living Stones'.
As I'm writing this entry, I am reminded of a spontaneous song I sang yesterday during worship. In essence the song said that I couldn't make it on my own, that I needed a touch from Him and that it would be Supernatural.
And indeed relying fully on God is a supernatural journey. Lord, I cast all my cares on You. I rely on You. You alone are my strength in this valley.
And NOTHING is too difficult for You.
Friday, August 14, 2009
The Selah -- Finders Keepers
For us many times we feel like we've failed in ife. I know I have. This morning while I was on the way to work I was thinking, 'what would people think of me? Good Lord, what a looser'.
Then I felt this burst of life in my heart accompanied by the words 'Finders Keepers Loosers Weepers'.
As I meditated on that, the Lord began show me the woman sweeping her house for the lost coin.
We may be think that we're 'Loosers Weepers' but for God, He looks at us and thinks 'Finders Keeprs'.
We often say we 'found Jesus'. But the truth of the matter is that He found us. And He certainly intends to hold on to us.
To Him, we're like a man who found buried treasure! The Bible tells of a man who sold all he had to buy the pearl of great price. Jesus gave up Heaven to die on the cross so that you and I could enjoy heaven on earth today as accepted children to the Father.
I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind but now I see.
Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace
Chris Tomlin
'Do you want to be important to man or to me?' I hear Him say.
To You Lord,to You.
Then I felt this burst of life in my heart accompanied by the words 'Finders Keepers Loosers Weepers'.
As I meditated on that, the Lord began show me the woman sweeping her house for the lost coin.
We may be think that we're 'Loosers Weepers' but for God, He looks at us and thinks 'Finders Keeprs'.
We often say we 'found Jesus'. But the truth of the matter is that He found us. And He certainly intends to hold on to us.
To Him, we're like a man who found buried treasure! The Bible tells of a man who sold all he had to buy the pearl of great price. Jesus gave up Heaven to die on the cross so that you and I could enjoy heaven on earth today as accepted children to the Father.
I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind but now I see.
Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace
Chris Tomlin
'Do you want to be important to man or to me?' I hear Him say.
To You Lord,to You.
The Selah
I was just thinking whether it was wise to have been so open about what has been happening to me recently. Because, honestly, it dosen't look very pretty. All this thrashing around. All these expressions of doubt. All this uncertainty. I mean what would people think of me? All these wonderful blog entries then suddenly. . .reality strikes!
Like the saying goes, reality bites -- and Eugene's ass sure got bit.
But I am reminded that that's what happened in the Bible.
The Word of God does not whitewash people's lives. It's a Book of very real lives -- lives that went through tragedy, dissapointment, failure.
Take a look at the Book of Psalms. You find many song entries expressing great frustration and sadness. In the New Testament, take a look at Paul's life. The revelation that God's grace is made sufficient came after Paul -- 'God's man of power for the hour' -- got down on his knees and begged God to remove a tormenting personality he was experiencing in his life.
Paul characterized his cry as human weakness. But then like many of the Psalmist who cried out to God and poured out their souls to the Lord, there came the Selah and the revelation of God's ability to empower us in our weakness.
The moment when we still oursleves before the Lord after our initial cries of anguish -- that's when we realize that He is still good.
But the amazing thing here is that the Holy Spirit saw fit to display the weaknesses of His people in the Bible. It was as if these fallable lives were a backdrop where His mercy and amazing love shone. How can love be fully seen unless there is a reciepient?
So I'm going to continue to keep things real in this blog. I am tired of religeous formulas and fake churchianity. I know I serve a living God.
I have poured out my heart. I now wait on the Lord to hear and see him in the midst of my troubles.
I am treating this as an experiment in Grace. That's because I know and believe the Love God has for me.
1 John 4:16-19 (New King James Version)
16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.
I have poured out my heart. Now I await the revelation of His love.
Selah.
Like the saying goes, reality bites -- and Eugene's ass sure got bit.
But I am reminded that that's what happened in the Bible.
The Word of God does not whitewash people's lives. It's a Book of very real lives -- lives that went through tragedy, dissapointment, failure.
Take a look at the Book of Psalms. You find many song entries expressing great frustration and sadness. In the New Testament, take a look at Paul's life. The revelation that God's grace is made sufficient came after Paul -- 'God's man of power for the hour' -- got down on his knees and begged God to remove a tormenting personality he was experiencing in his life.
Paul characterized his cry as human weakness. But then like many of the Psalmist who cried out to God and poured out their souls to the Lord, there came the Selah and the revelation of God's ability to empower us in our weakness.
The moment when we still oursleves before the Lord after our initial cries of anguish -- that's when we realize that He is still good.
But the amazing thing here is that the Holy Spirit saw fit to display the weaknesses of His people in the Bible. It was as if these fallable lives were a backdrop where His mercy and amazing love shone. How can love be fully seen unless there is a reciepient?
So I'm going to continue to keep things real in this blog. I am tired of religeous formulas and fake churchianity. I know I serve a living God.
I have poured out my heart. I now wait on the Lord to hear and see him in the midst of my troubles.
I am treating this as an experiment in Grace. That's because I know and believe the Love God has for me.
1 John 4:16-19 (New King James Version)
16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.
I have poured out my heart. Now I await the revelation of His love.
Selah.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Some Thoughts on My Latest Dead Hamster Moment
I'm still recovering from last nite's meet-up with my Music Ministry leaders. Where do I begin? Where I felt misunderstood? Where I felt defended? Where I felt I was able to air my opinions? Where I felt I was judged?
Before I go down this road of sharing what happened and how I feel about it, I want to say that the leaders in the New Creation Church Music Ministry are some of the most loving, caring, patient and well meaning people I have come across in all my years in Christian circles. Indeed the message of Grace has impacted these lives and has built a ministry that is excellent but loving. Really.
The meeting was scheduled for 7.15pm at the Rock Auditorium but only got underway at 7.30pm. The two leaders I was told I would meet were there, and to my surprise my worship pastor decided to join in.
After some preliminary smalltalk, the session began. My Choir Leader said she felt that she had already dealt with the technical aspects of my singing and that was closed. But she had heard from another leader whom I have been close contact with that I was affected by the auditon and was thinking of whether I was going to leave the ministry.
I told her that was true. I had not made up my mind yet, but I had felt that if I could not contribute meaningfully to the ministry, then maybe it was time for me to go. I shared that either I was a 'has been' or the ministry had moved to a style that was different from what I had to offer. I mean if I didn't sing in the Choir anymore, it would not make any difference from a vocal point of view. It may make a difference because I would no longer be in as much contact with the friends I had made in the choir.
My Choir Leader said she had felt that I was too sensitive and that was just the way I was made. My pastor quipped to my Choir Leader, 'Why? You talking from experience is it?' That surprised me. Here was a man that was willing not to tow the party line after all. Not bad.
My Choir Leader said that she felt insulted (the way it was said was not at all vindictive so please don't read too much into this) that I thought she was being nice to me when she said I could sing well. I told her that I was actually complimenting her and that I thought she was reaching out to me. Laughter all around. Great. Now that got defused well enough.
My Choir Leader then mentioned that this would also cause me to check my motivations for joining the ministry.
I thought that went abit too far.
I assured everyone in the room that I was content to be singing in the choir and that I had made no attempt at all to draw any attention to myself. I was happy to be 'just one of the guys' and 'in the shadows' I said.
In fact I had not pulled any strings or made any hints to get an audition. But now that this had happened and turned out the way it did, it was embarrassing and painful. This had nothing to do with joining the ministry to be seen. I said I joined the ministry because I felt the call of God on my life and I knew how the anointing felt. The messages I had preached in YAM 10 years ago were still as fresh in my heart today as then. I missed flowing in the anointing, including leading worship.
I wondered out loud why this had happened. It was as if I was singled out for a painful experience.
Pastor shared about how sometimes painful situations can turn around for good. He recounted how his mum got saved when His dad was in ICU. He also shared that this audition was after all for the back-up team (there are some there he said that had also been rejected previously but were re-selected later)and not about worship leading.(You mean there's hope? I thought. Haha).
Then he said something that touched me.
At the end of the day, the audition was man's report and not God's report. Whose report did I believe?
I thought I registered shocked looks from the other two leaders in the room. That surprised me. Here was a man that was willing not to tow the party line after all. Not bad at all.
I assured everyone in the room that I had great respect for the leaders in the ministry (and I do) and that I would submit to them (and I will). I shared that last time I left the music ministry because I was idealistic and young, but that I did not want to do that again. I told Pastor that in fact, I had not even contacted Jack and told him what I was going through. I did not want there to be any hint of human manupalation on my part.
Pastor shared that this may be a time where it may lead me to cast off the weight and sin that so easily besets us to run the race set before me to fix my eyes on Jesus.
Now this is the part I don't really agree with. I mean what weight is he talking about? There's no weight here. It's just shame and humiliation that I feel! I have been fixing my eyes on the Lord. How does anyone think I've managed to maintain an even keel though all this?
Pastor and the Choir Leader mentioned Moses (he came to a point of brokeness that he could even speak properly. . .I guess this is what they meant) and how David went back to being a shepherd boy even after being anointed. And that David did whatever his father asked him to do.
Pastor said that there was great favor on my life (I wonder what that's all about?) but that it would increase if I submitted.
I told everyone that I would not do anything rash. The reason that I was here was to listen to the collective wisdom of the leaders and that I would tread carefully and not just leave. God had spoken to me in the course of this incident about being like David. So this may very well be what he meant -- to just do whatever my hands find to do in God's house.
So that was the end of the session. This is how I feel now.
I guess at the end of the day I'm earnest to see this through so that I can experience God's will in it's entirety.
The sadness I feel in all of this is that I feel my leaders think I have a motivation problem. That I've come back to the ministry with an agenda for some self seeking attention.
I'm just feeling embarrassed that I've been rejected and found wanting vocally. It's that simple. Nothing more nothing less. Is that so difficult to understand?
It was an audition I never asked for. I was singled out and rejected. Now it seems to be the same for this 'debrief' that I also did not want (and come to think of it. . .predicted correctly what they would say hahaha) and now have to deal with all these feelings of being misunderstood.
They said that I would have to learn to just doing what my hands find to do and be about the Father's business. Well actually that's what I've already been doing before this incident. They said that I would have ot learn to submit. That's what I already have been doing before(and now after) this incident.
I mean to be honest, does it mean that what I need to be a better man is a healthy dose of humiliation and broken self-esteem? It does seem rather cruel if that's the truth.
So after all is said and done. I still don't know what this is all about. The only thing I've gained through all this is seeing people love me even when they think I have a character flaw! This is so weird that I really don't know whether to laugh or cry.
Again don't get me wrong. I really do believe that all the leaders in that session really do love me!
I don't know. I'm not going to do anything rash, but the more I think about this, the more I think maybe it would be better to leave.
Perhaps I should really do a slow gradual retreat. Being in the Choir is not a crutch to me. I'm actually quite happy not being in the ministry. Especially with all this stuff happening.
Sometimes I feel the alternative of just singing to Jesus in the bathroom and in the congregation and blessing my friends with my blog is what I should do.
I will continue singing my spontaneous songs only to me and be glad that 10 years ago, I had a chance to bless people with the gift of leading worship in my life. I'm happy that I got the chance to do back-up for Phil Driscoll, Geoff Bullock and even Bob Fitts. I'm happy that I got a chance to lead worship for the New Creation Church mid-week services where Pastor Prince told me he appreciated the anointing in my life and where he gave me a word that I was called and that I should not let the fear of man stop me, not even my senior pastor.
But that was 10 years ago. It looks like now it's really all over.
Wah lau. Sounds pathetic right? Well it's not the end of the world. Jesus still loves me. Maybe I should move on. Maybe I should have done that a week ago.
I don't know. But I do know that Jesus is still here with me. And He will guide me though all this.
And if you're wondering what the title of this blog is all about, go and read the first blog entry in Alive and Writing.
Before I go down this road of sharing what happened and how I feel about it, I want to say that the leaders in the New Creation Church Music Ministry are some of the most loving, caring, patient and well meaning people I have come across in all my years in Christian circles. Indeed the message of Grace has impacted these lives and has built a ministry that is excellent but loving. Really.
The meeting was scheduled for 7.15pm at the Rock Auditorium but only got underway at 7.30pm. The two leaders I was told I would meet were there, and to my surprise my worship pastor decided to join in.
After some preliminary smalltalk, the session began. My Choir Leader said she felt that she had already dealt with the technical aspects of my singing and that was closed. But she had heard from another leader whom I have been close contact with that I was affected by the auditon and was thinking of whether I was going to leave the ministry.
I told her that was true. I had not made up my mind yet, but I had felt that if I could not contribute meaningfully to the ministry, then maybe it was time for me to go. I shared that either I was a 'has been' or the ministry had moved to a style that was different from what I had to offer. I mean if I didn't sing in the Choir anymore, it would not make any difference from a vocal point of view. It may make a difference because I would no longer be in as much contact with the friends I had made in the choir.
My Choir Leader said she had felt that I was too sensitive and that was just the way I was made. My pastor quipped to my Choir Leader, 'Why? You talking from experience is it?' That surprised me. Here was a man that was willing not to tow the party line after all. Not bad.
My Choir Leader said that she felt insulted (the way it was said was not at all vindictive so please don't read too much into this) that I thought she was being nice to me when she said I could sing well. I told her that I was actually complimenting her and that I thought she was reaching out to me. Laughter all around. Great. Now that got defused well enough.
My Choir Leader then mentioned that this would also cause me to check my motivations for joining the ministry.
I thought that went abit too far.
I assured everyone in the room that I was content to be singing in the choir and that I had made no attempt at all to draw any attention to myself. I was happy to be 'just one of the guys' and 'in the shadows' I said.
In fact I had not pulled any strings or made any hints to get an audition. But now that this had happened and turned out the way it did, it was embarrassing and painful. This had nothing to do with joining the ministry to be seen. I said I joined the ministry because I felt the call of God on my life and I knew how the anointing felt. The messages I had preached in YAM 10 years ago were still as fresh in my heart today as then. I missed flowing in the anointing, including leading worship.
I wondered out loud why this had happened. It was as if I was singled out for a painful experience.
Pastor shared about how sometimes painful situations can turn around for good. He recounted how his mum got saved when His dad was in ICU. He also shared that this audition was after all for the back-up team (there are some there he said that had also been rejected previously but were re-selected later)and not about worship leading.(You mean there's hope? I thought. Haha).
Then he said something that touched me.
At the end of the day, the audition was man's report and not God's report. Whose report did I believe?
I thought I registered shocked looks from the other two leaders in the room. That surprised me. Here was a man that was willing not to tow the party line after all. Not bad at all.
I assured everyone in the room that I had great respect for the leaders in the ministry (and I do) and that I would submit to them (and I will). I shared that last time I left the music ministry because I was idealistic and young, but that I did not want to do that again. I told Pastor that in fact, I had not even contacted Jack and told him what I was going through. I did not want there to be any hint of human manupalation on my part.
Pastor shared that this may be a time where it may lead me to cast off the weight and sin that so easily besets us to run the race set before me to fix my eyes on Jesus.
Now this is the part I don't really agree with. I mean what weight is he talking about? There's no weight here. It's just shame and humiliation that I feel! I have been fixing my eyes on the Lord. How does anyone think I've managed to maintain an even keel though all this?
Pastor and the Choir Leader mentioned Moses (he came to a point of brokeness that he could even speak properly. . .I guess this is what they meant) and how David went back to being a shepherd boy even after being anointed. And that David did whatever his father asked him to do.
Pastor said that there was great favor on my life (I wonder what that's all about?) but that it would increase if I submitted.
I told everyone that I would not do anything rash. The reason that I was here was to listen to the collective wisdom of the leaders and that I would tread carefully and not just leave. God had spoken to me in the course of this incident about being like David. So this may very well be what he meant -- to just do whatever my hands find to do in God's house.
So that was the end of the session. This is how I feel now.
I guess at the end of the day I'm earnest to see this through so that I can experience God's will in it's entirety.
The sadness I feel in all of this is that I feel my leaders think I have a motivation problem. That I've come back to the ministry with an agenda for some self seeking attention.
I'm just feeling embarrassed that I've been rejected and found wanting vocally. It's that simple. Nothing more nothing less. Is that so difficult to understand?
It was an audition I never asked for. I was singled out and rejected. Now it seems to be the same for this 'debrief' that I also did not want (and come to think of it. . .predicted correctly what they would say hahaha) and now have to deal with all these feelings of being misunderstood.
They said that I would have to learn to just doing what my hands find to do and be about the Father's business. Well actually that's what I've already been doing before this incident. They said that I would have ot learn to submit. That's what I already have been doing before(and now after) this incident.
I mean to be honest, does it mean that what I need to be a better man is a healthy dose of humiliation and broken self-esteem? It does seem rather cruel if that's the truth.
So after all is said and done. I still don't know what this is all about. The only thing I've gained through all this is seeing people love me even when they think I have a character flaw! This is so weird that I really don't know whether to laugh or cry.
Again don't get me wrong. I really do believe that all the leaders in that session really do love me!
I don't know. I'm not going to do anything rash, but the more I think about this, the more I think maybe it would be better to leave.
Perhaps I should really do a slow gradual retreat. Being in the Choir is not a crutch to me. I'm actually quite happy not being in the ministry. Especially with all this stuff happening.
Sometimes I feel the alternative of just singing to Jesus in the bathroom and in the congregation and blessing my friends with my blog is what I should do.
I will continue singing my spontaneous songs only to me and be glad that 10 years ago, I had a chance to bless people with the gift of leading worship in my life. I'm happy that I got the chance to do back-up for Phil Driscoll, Geoff Bullock and even Bob Fitts. I'm happy that I got a chance to lead worship for the New Creation Church mid-week services where Pastor Prince told me he appreciated the anointing in my life and where he gave me a word that I was called and that I should not let the fear of man stop me, not even my senior pastor.
But that was 10 years ago. It looks like now it's really all over.
Wah lau. Sounds pathetic right? Well it's not the end of the world. Jesus still loves me. Maybe I should move on. Maybe I should have done that a week ago.
I don't know. But I do know that Jesus is still here with me. And He will guide me though all this.
And if you're wondering what the title of this blog is all about, go and read the first blog entry in Alive and Writing.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
I Resign
Today I awoke from bed and began inexplicably to feel a little out of sorts.I think it must be because its the beginning of the work week after a lovely long weekend.
Hahaha.
Or perhaps it's because I'm actually going to my first choir rehearsal tonite after the last episode of the very embarassing audtion I had a few weeks ago. Or perhaps I'm supposed to meet two leaders in the music ministry tonite for the audition debrief. I think it's mainly because of that! Come to think of it, I actually had a nitemare last nite about the music ministry.
I think it still haunts me, what happened at the audition.
But as I'm writing this blog entry now -- it's about 11am in the morning, and I'm at my workstation -- I'm reminded to resign from the post of God of Eugene's life.
I told Kevin something the other day that keeps coming back to me. 'Everytime you feel stressed out about something, it's because you've become more important than God in your own life.'
Absolutely.
If I'm suddenly my own God and I have to take over the reigns of my life, then puny old me is going to have a real stressful time working out all the details.
So I now officially tender my resignation.
God is God and I am not.
I am his child. Rested, secure and stress free! And since He's God, He's taking care of it all for me!
I actually thought of resigning from the ministry, but now on second thoughts it might be better if I first resigned from being in charge of my life.
I'm handing over everything again into His loving hands -- and it feels good!
Hahaha.
Or perhaps it's because I'm actually going to my first choir rehearsal tonite after the last episode of the very embarassing audtion I had a few weeks ago. Or perhaps I'm supposed to meet two leaders in the music ministry tonite for the audition debrief. I think it's mainly because of that! Come to think of it, I actually had a nitemare last nite about the music ministry.
I think it still haunts me, what happened at the audition.
But as I'm writing this blog entry now -- it's about 11am in the morning, and I'm at my workstation -- I'm reminded to resign from the post of God of Eugene's life.
I told Kevin something the other day that keeps coming back to me. 'Everytime you feel stressed out about something, it's because you've become more important than God in your own life.'
Absolutely.
If I'm suddenly my own God and I have to take over the reigns of my life, then puny old me is going to have a real stressful time working out all the details.
So I now officially tender my resignation.
God is God and I am not.
I am his child. Rested, secure and stress free! And since He's God, He's taking care of it all for me!
I actually thought of resigning from the ministry, but now on second thoughts it might be better if I first resigned from being in charge of my life.
I'm handing over everything again into His loving hands -- and it feels good!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Worthy is the Lamb
Over the years have you noticed many well known ministries that have suffered spectacular failures,when the ministers themselves have been found guitly of commiting the very sins they preached so hard against?
I remember one minister who went very hard against homosexuality, only to be later found to be visiting male prostitutes himself.
Tonight as I was having dinner with Kevin and we were talking, it occured to me that these individuals were victims of shame and legalism. They couldn't face the ugliness of their lives and bring themselves to believe that God still accepted them and loved them.
I dare say that what these ministers went through mirror what many of us go through in our daily lives. The only difference between us and them is how public their lives are.
Let me explain. When we fall spectacularly into a sin that we've been working hard NOT to do, we are horrified! Horrified at how utterly ugly we are, how depraved we are. What do we do then? We're so ashamed! So we 'Reeeeeeeeeepent', not just repent.
Not really.
What we usually do is hate ourselves and then scold ourselves in our hearts. And when we've done that enough, we tell God we're sorry, and we finally allow ourselves to be forgiven only after we've purposed in our hearts NOT to do the same thing again.
When we see someone else caught in the same sin -- we are horrified! How could THEY do such a thing? We go in hard because it reminds us of our shame.
This my friend is a recipe for disaster. Because in my life when I've done that -- look away from the ugliness of my sin to cover it up with my will power in promising NOT to do it again -- I always end up doing the same sin again.
Instead of simply accepting His grace -- His full unmerited forgiveness -- I feel that 'my purposing not to sin again' or 'hating myself' can somehow earn me my forgiveness.
But God is showing me something different. He that knows us the most loves us the most.
He wants us to look at our ugliness -- all the sins and failures we have commited -- squarely, and know that He still loves us like that. That my friend is understanding that we are the righteousness of God. It is scandalous (1 Cor 1:23 -- the greek for stumbling block is skandalon, where we get the English word scandal). It is the truth.
Perhaps this is why Paul always referred to himself as the chief of all sinners (1 Tim 1:15). He faced his sins sqaurely, but in the light of God's unmerited favour and forgivenss.
Once your heart grasps that, sin falls away from your life like dead leaves.
That is why in Heaven, they all sing 'Worthy is the Lamb'. Because of the greatness of His sacrifice for us. Great because of the greatness of our sins. Notice it dosen't say Worthy is the One who did so many mighty miracles. He is the Lamb, the sacrificial Lamb that took all our sins.
And He is the Lamb that was slain from the foundations of the earth (Rev 13:8).
He knew all our days before we even live them. God lives outside of time. To us time is linear. To Him He see all time as if it was today. He knew on the cross every single sin you are about to commit even before it happens. And He forgave you and cleansed you and bore your punishment for it on the cross.
Your future sins have all been taken care of on the cross. And that's the truth.
Worthy is the Lamb.
I remember one minister who went very hard against homosexuality, only to be later found to be visiting male prostitutes himself.
Tonight as I was having dinner with Kevin and we were talking, it occured to me that these individuals were victims of shame and legalism. They couldn't face the ugliness of their lives and bring themselves to believe that God still accepted them and loved them.
I dare say that what these ministers went through mirror what many of us go through in our daily lives. The only difference between us and them is how public their lives are.
Let me explain. When we fall spectacularly into a sin that we've been working hard NOT to do, we are horrified! Horrified at how utterly ugly we are, how depraved we are. What do we do then? We're so ashamed! So we 'Reeeeeeeeeepent', not just repent.
Not really.
What we usually do is hate ourselves and then scold ourselves in our hearts. And when we've done that enough, we tell God we're sorry, and we finally allow ourselves to be forgiven only after we've purposed in our hearts NOT to do the same thing again.
When we see someone else caught in the same sin -- we are horrified! How could THEY do such a thing? We go in hard because it reminds us of our shame.
This my friend is a recipe for disaster. Because in my life when I've done that -- look away from the ugliness of my sin to cover it up with my will power in promising NOT to do it again -- I always end up doing the same sin again.
Instead of simply accepting His grace -- His full unmerited forgiveness -- I feel that 'my purposing not to sin again' or 'hating myself' can somehow earn me my forgiveness.
But God is showing me something different. He that knows us the most loves us the most.
He wants us to look at our ugliness -- all the sins and failures we have commited -- squarely, and know that He still loves us like that. That my friend is understanding that we are the righteousness of God. It is scandalous (1 Cor 1:23 -- the greek for stumbling block is skandalon, where we get the English word scandal). It is the truth.
Perhaps this is why Paul always referred to himself as the chief of all sinners (1 Tim 1:15). He faced his sins sqaurely, but in the light of God's unmerited favour and forgivenss.
Once your heart grasps that, sin falls away from your life like dead leaves.
That is why in Heaven, they all sing 'Worthy is the Lamb'. Because of the greatness of His sacrifice for us. Great because of the greatness of our sins. Notice it dosen't say Worthy is the One who did so many mighty miracles. He is the Lamb, the sacrificial Lamb that took all our sins.
And He is the Lamb that was slain from the foundations of the earth (Rev 13:8).
He knew all our days before we even live them. God lives outside of time. To us time is linear. To Him He see all time as if it was today. He knew on the cross every single sin you are about to commit even before it happens. And He forgave you and cleansed you and bore your punishment for it on the cross.
Your future sins have all been taken care of on the cross. And that's the truth.
Worthy is the Lamb.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Stop being Part of the Mob
I'm beginning to come to a place in my life that all the religeous doctrines I have had -- that has put God within the limitations of my narrow-minded religeous doctrines -- is falling away. I feel like I'm loosing control, only to find that when I do, He is indeed real.
That's because He's not a manufactured doctrine. He's a living being.
I find myself refraining from telling people how they should live their lives. Instead I find myself telling them how loving and gracious God has been to me and how much He still loves them in spite of their struggles.
My religeous mind gets horrified that I am not 'dealing with sin in people's lives' by telling them 'the right thing to do'.
I find myself telling people that God still loves them even when they are struggling in sin. That's because that's what He has been telling me.
But I am in awe when I see the love of God move so deeply in people's lives when they meet Jesus through my life. This love changes lives from the inside out. I know, because it has changed mine.
What hypocrites we are, when we thumb our noses at others -- when we can't even change our own lives by ourselves. If we're really honest about it -- it's always His love and grace in our life that has changed us permanently. Always.
My friend Kevin shared with me over dinner yesterday how he had reached out to a former colleague who had left New Creation because she was struggling with a lesbian relationship and a broken relationship with her dad. Kevin shared with her that God still loved her and accepted her. Through the course of a few weeks, God's love touched her to the point that she came back to church together with her dad and her whole family. When Kevin told a Christian relative the good news that 'another soul was coming back to the Lord', he was met with the terse reply that 'I feel sorry for you and the girl because she is living in sin'.
Kevin's relative joined the mob that gathered to stone the woman caught in adultery.
Did you notice that in the gospels only those who were aware of their failures were drawn to Jesus? But the Pharisees stood in judgement of these very ones Jesus reached out to.
Did Jesus tell the woman at the well that she was a terrible person? He simply told her that she had been involved in multiple relationships, but that His love would satisfy her. Jesus was the answer. And he didn't judge her.
Did Jesus tell the woman caught in adultery 'I feel sorry for you that you're in sin *tsk *tsk*'?
He did tell her to sin no more, but only after he said,'Woman, where are your accusers? Neither do I condemn you.'
I'm begining to realize that our part is to point people to His unconditional love. Then God takes care of the rest.
But first let's take a good look at ourselves and how merciful God has been to us.
We're not there to judge them. I've discovered that that kind of attitude just dosen't do anything for people's lives. You know what? Most of the time peole already know the right thing to do, and find that they can't do it, and they are just so condemned in their hearts.
What they need is to abandon themselves to the person of Jesus just as they are and let the Shepherd of their souls heal and restore them back to spiritual health!
If Kevin had taken that attitude his relative had, I dare say that Kevin's colleague would have just gone all the way into living recklessly and she would not have come back to church or to the Lord.
I seem to recall Jesus telling someone (see Luke 7:36-48) that -- I'm paraphrasing -- him who is forgiven much loves much, and that him who who is forgiven little loves litte.
But the point behind this saying is that we are all forgiven much aren't we? It's only those with a faulty estimation that think they are forgiven little.
That's because He's not a manufactured doctrine. He's a living being.
I find myself refraining from telling people how they should live their lives. Instead I find myself telling them how loving and gracious God has been to me and how much He still loves them in spite of their struggles.
My religeous mind gets horrified that I am not 'dealing with sin in people's lives' by telling them 'the right thing to do'.
I find myself telling people that God still loves them even when they are struggling in sin. That's because that's what He has been telling me.
But I am in awe when I see the love of God move so deeply in people's lives when they meet Jesus through my life. This love changes lives from the inside out. I know, because it has changed mine.
What hypocrites we are, when we thumb our noses at others -- when we can't even change our own lives by ourselves. If we're really honest about it -- it's always His love and grace in our life that has changed us permanently. Always.
My friend Kevin shared with me over dinner yesterday how he had reached out to a former colleague who had left New Creation because she was struggling with a lesbian relationship and a broken relationship with her dad. Kevin shared with her that God still loved her and accepted her. Through the course of a few weeks, God's love touched her to the point that she came back to church together with her dad and her whole family. When Kevin told a Christian relative the good news that 'another soul was coming back to the Lord', he was met with the terse reply that 'I feel sorry for you and the girl because she is living in sin'.
Kevin's relative joined the mob that gathered to stone the woman caught in adultery.
Did you notice that in the gospels only those who were aware of their failures were drawn to Jesus? But the Pharisees stood in judgement of these very ones Jesus reached out to.
Did Jesus tell the woman at the well that she was a terrible person? He simply told her that she had been involved in multiple relationships, but that His love would satisfy her. Jesus was the answer. And he didn't judge her.
Did Jesus tell the woman caught in adultery 'I feel sorry for you that you're in sin *tsk *tsk*'?
He did tell her to sin no more, but only after he said,'Woman, where are your accusers? Neither do I condemn you.'
I'm begining to realize that our part is to point people to His unconditional love. Then God takes care of the rest.
But first let's take a good look at ourselves and how merciful God has been to us.
We're not there to judge them. I've discovered that that kind of attitude just dosen't do anything for people's lives. You know what? Most of the time peole already know the right thing to do, and find that they can't do it, and they are just so condemned in their hearts.
What they need is to abandon themselves to the person of Jesus just as they are and let the Shepherd of their souls heal and restore them back to spiritual health!
If Kevin had taken that attitude his relative had, I dare say that Kevin's colleague would have just gone all the way into living recklessly and she would not have come back to church or to the Lord.
I seem to recall Jesus telling someone (see Luke 7:36-48) that -- I'm paraphrasing -- him who is forgiven much loves much, and that him who who is forgiven little loves litte.
But the point behind this saying is that we are all forgiven much aren't we? It's only those with a faulty estimation that think they are forgiven little.
God Demands Perfection
God is perfect, so you must also be perfect. That's clear from the Ten Commandments.
The Bible says that if you break just one law, you are found guilty of breaking the entire Law. When Jesus walked on the earth, he took it one step further.
If you merely look at a woman to lust after her, He said, you have already commited adultery in your heart. If you hate your brother in your heart, you have already commited murder.
Jesus wanted us to know that we are not to bring God's Law down to a human level -- of merely conforming to an outward form, rather, we are to look at the unbending perfection of God's Law.
Jesus wants us to realize that God's Law is not just incredibly difficult to keep.
It is absolutely impossible to keep.
So why then did he not accuse the woman caught in adultery? So why then did he freely forgive prostitutes?
That's because He came to take the punishment for all of mankind.
He didn't come to condemn the world. He came to save it. He came to save us. He came to love us -- even when we couldn't be good, holy or righteous. In fact we were just the opposite.
God's perfect Law had been transgressed by man and justice demanded perfect retribution. But only a perfect sacrifice could satisfy the perfect requirement of Heaven's judicial system.
That perfect sacrifice was Jesus.
The spotless, sinless Son of God, died on the cross as the Son of Man -- in our place -- so that heaven's demand for justice might be satisfied -- once and for all.
When Jesus wrote the Ten Commandments on the sand, in front of the mob that had gathered to stone the woman caught in adultery, He knew that He would pay the penalty for man breaking every single one of those commandments.
Then he said to the crowd,'Him who is without sin, cast the first stone'. The mob dispersed, ashamed.
But He who could have cast a stone himself, said, 'Woman, where are your accusers?' He than said,'Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more'.
The perfect sinless Son of God is the only sacrifice that is able to meet Heaven's demands for justice.
And He fully paid for our sins on the cross!
You'll never be able to be good enough in your own efforts. Neither has anyone else throughout history. Realize that and you'll find the rest in Jesus that you've been seeking after. He is your Righteousness.
The Bible says that if you break just one law, you are found guilty of breaking the entire Law. When Jesus walked on the earth, he took it one step further.
If you merely look at a woman to lust after her, He said, you have already commited adultery in your heart. If you hate your brother in your heart, you have already commited murder.
Jesus wanted us to know that we are not to bring God's Law down to a human level -- of merely conforming to an outward form, rather, we are to look at the unbending perfection of God's Law.
Jesus wants us to realize that God's Law is not just incredibly difficult to keep.
It is absolutely impossible to keep.
So why then did he not accuse the woman caught in adultery? So why then did he freely forgive prostitutes?
That's because He came to take the punishment for all of mankind.
He didn't come to condemn the world. He came to save it. He came to save us. He came to love us -- even when we couldn't be good, holy or righteous. In fact we were just the opposite.
God's perfect Law had been transgressed by man and justice demanded perfect retribution. But only a perfect sacrifice could satisfy the perfect requirement of Heaven's judicial system.
That perfect sacrifice was Jesus.
The spotless, sinless Son of God, died on the cross as the Son of Man -- in our place -- so that heaven's demand for justice might be satisfied -- once and for all.
When Jesus wrote the Ten Commandments on the sand, in front of the mob that had gathered to stone the woman caught in adultery, He knew that He would pay the penalty for man breaking every single one of those commandments.
Then he said to the crowd,'Him who is without sin, cast the first stone'. The mob dispersed, ashamed.
But He who could have cast a stone himself, said, 'Woman, where are your accusers?' He than said,'Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more'.
The perfect sinless Son of God is the only sacrifice that is able to meet Heaven's demands for justice.
And He fully paid for our sins on the cross!
You'll never be able to be good enough in your own efforts. Neither has anyone else throughout history. Realize that and you'll find the rest in Jesus that you've been seeking after. He is your Righteousness.
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