May the force be with you

So after they [the church at Antioch] had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them [Barnabas and Saul] and sent them off....... 

- Acts 13:3 -

Thoughts on This Verse... While fasting is not widely practiced in many churches today, it is clearly something that was a part of the early church experience. Whether sponsored by our congregations or not, let's make sure that we prepare for major events with a time of prayer and fasting, asking for God's leading, power, and guidance as we embark on his work in the world.

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Good habits

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching....... 

- Hebrews 10:24,25 -


Thoughts on This Verse... We need each other. We cannot make it on our own. God calls us to get together regularly to encourage and to motivate each other to live vibrant lives of service and faith. With the day of Jesus' return and our ultimate victory on the horizon, we should be motivated even more to help and to encourage each other.

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Light shineth over!

The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?...... 

- Psalm 27:1 -

Thoughts on This Verse... I love the coast of Maine. The craggy shorelines, the crashing surf, and the lighthouses perched at strategic and well-fortified points along the coastline. I cannot help but think of our heavenly Father when I watch the gloom gather as an impending storm noisily makes its way on shore. There in the storm -- with lightning ripping through the sky, winds howling, and the surf crashing -- stands the light that guides the way, strong against the elements and a beacon of direction and hope. Yes, the LORD, Yahweh the God of Israel, the Almighty Creator of all things, is my light and my salvation. My life, the eternal part of me, is entrusted to him. I choose not to fear. I place my trust in him.

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Glory

''I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.''...... 

- John 17:4 -

Thoughts on This Verse... One of the most amazing things that Jesus ever said, he said to his Father in heaven:''I have completed the work you gave me to do ...'' In fact, when he breathed his last, he said,''It is finished.'' Let's live with the glory of God our highest priority! This is our purpose as God's children (cf. Eph. 1:6, 12, 14; 1 Pet. 2:9-10). The more we live by Kingdom priority (Matt. 6:33), the more we can rest assured that we can finish our lives with a line similar to Jesus'!

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

He is the reason

As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us....... 

- Psalm 103:12 -

Thoughts on This Verse... Praise and thank God our Father. He doesn't just forgive our sins; he removes them from us completely!


Merry Christmas everyone. Remember that our dear Lord Jesus Christ was born this day and the true meaning of JOY is meant to be spread around!:)

 

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Obey to Love

[Jesus said]''Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.''...... 

- John 14:21 -

Thoughts on This Verse... Love is much more than a feeling or an attitude: love is an action. When we love, we show it by our deeds. As disciples of Jesus, our love is shown by our obedience to the things Jesus taught. Of course, that obedience brings an incredible blessing -- Jesus reveals himself to those who obey him!

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Everyone can fail you except God

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain....... 

- 1 Corinthians 15:58 -

Thoughts on This Verse... Our financial investment opportunities can be fickle. Friends can disappoint you. Nothing is truly sure except one thing, or better yet, our very special Someone! If we build our lives on his work and his plan, we can hang in, persevere, and even triumph regardless of what happens in this life.

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Sense suround

Sometimes, someone who professes to know Jesus chooses a life that rejects God's clear teaching. Whether the choices include sexual sin, addictive substances, a lack of ambition, or something else, any action that leaves God out risks ending badly. 

If we ignore clear biblical morals and neglect our relationship with God, we can expect trouble.

Keep your senses around you. Live for God by the guidance of His Word

-the Daily Bread-

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Delighted

He [the one who delights in and meditates upon the Law of the Lord] is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers....... 

- Psalm 1:3 -

Thoughts on This Verse... Some kinds of earthly delight can feed our hearts for a short time. However, when difficulties come, our hearts will wither in the drought of their false nourishment. On the other hand, delighting in the LORD and in his will for us provides us with ongoing and ever-fresh joy. Out of this God-seeking lifestyle come both short-term and long-term benefits as well as a resiliency that withstands life's worst droughts.

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Gifts

Our gifts and abilities come to us by God's grace and are to be used by faith in love and service for Christ- not for personal recognition.

-Our daily bread- 

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Our best

What do we gain from all our work?
I know the heavy burdens that God has laid on us. He has set the right time for everything. He has given us a desire to know the future, but never gives us the satisfaction of fully understanding what he does. So I realized that all we can do i to be happy and do the best we can while we are still alive/ All of us should eat and drink and enjoy what we have worked for. It is God's gift.

-Ecclesiastes 3:9-13- 

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Helper

I lift up my eyes to the hills -- where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth....... 

- Psalm 121:1-2 -

Thoughts on This Verse... Since God could speak into existence the universe, and since God knows our names and the number of the hairs on our head ... surely we know that we can go to him for our help. Let's lift up our eyes and our hearts to El Shaddai, Lord God of the Mountains, and know the Almighty sees our needs, hears our requests, and cares about our hearts.

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Rejoice!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!...... 

- Philippians 4:4 -

Thoughts on This Verse... Sometimes the squabbles of church can be discouraging and cause us to lose sight of the incredible blessings we have in God's family. We have many reasons to rejoice in the Lord. Let's not lose sight of those, especially when those around us get caught up in pettiness and rivalry. Let's remember our hope is in the crucified Nazarene, who is also our resurrected Lord and ever-present Savior.

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Lips of an angel

The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.......

- Proverbs 10:21 -

Thoughts on This Verse... I have several friends who are very wise in the way they speak. When they do speak up, everyone listens attentively because their words are always wise, well-timed, and worthwhile. Their righteous lives and careful use of words blesses and nourishes all who listen. There are others, however, that are constantly talking about everything and spending little or no time practicing what they preach. Their words are discounted as nothing more than their own desire to hear their own opinions about matters on which they know nothing. We each need to give serious consideration to what we say and how others will view the things that we say.

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Yours faithfully

Pastor Ricky Ho

18/12/2011

1. Faithful

Acts 20:17-27:¹⁷ From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. ¹⁸ When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. ¹⁹ I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. ²⁰ You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. ²¹ I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
 ²² “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. ²³ I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. ²⁴ However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
 ²⁵ “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. ²⁶ Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. ²⁷ For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.

*Adjective
*Minister of God must be faithful in

-serving the Lord

vs 18-20

-preaching the gospel

vs 21

-finishing the course

vs 24-27

2. Faithfulness 

*noun
*true to the fact of the original
*steadfastness of stability
*reliability or dependability - God can depend of you to save souls
*We should resolve faithfulness rather than popularity
*The world is watching us
*The saints of God must
-be on guard
vs 28
-protect the church
-be alert
vs 31-32
-Remember God's love
vs 35
*We must not be single minded
*Many people use religion for financial purposes
*We should share with others God's love
*We should start thinking for our future generation
*Always embrace the good things rather than bad things of the church

3. Faithfully

*Adverb
*Actions that one does "in a royal manner"
*All of us must

-Pray

vs 36

-Remember 

vs 37

-Begin anew

vs 38

*We make mistakes in the past but God is gracious

*Nobody is perfect, only Jesus

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Unselfish prayer

''My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.''...... 

- John 17:20-21 -

Thoughts on This Verse... Few things are more precious than knowing that Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, thought to pray for us! So often, we read the words of John 17 and study them as a prayer for his apostles in the upper room. But if we look closely at this passage, we also see that Jesus prays for us, those who believe on him because of the apostles' testimony. He wants us to be one! He wants us to live with the same unity, purpose, and character of God that he did. If we do not, then how will the people of the world know that God sent his Son? How will they know what to believe? How will they find Jesus as their Savior?

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Wicked sin

For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace....... 

- Romans 6:14 -

Thoughts on This Verse... As we called on Jesus' name in baptism and trusted him to be our Savior, we died to sin. In this death, we die to dying and pass from death to life because of our faith in Jesus and in God's power (John 5:24; Col. 2:12). Our life is joined to Jesus, and his glorious future becomes our own (Col. 3:1-4). We are not under law, but grace. Let's respond to the gift of grace with passion and with zeal to be holy. Let's open ourselves to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, who changes us to be like Jesus (2 Cor. 3:18). We are grace-children. We are not in bondage to sin, but liberated by grace to be all that God has made us to be -- his craftmanship (Eph. 2:1-10). Sin will not be our master!

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Have a little faith!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight....... 

- Proverbs 3:5-6 -

Thoughts on This Verse... Trust. It can't be half-hearted. Either it is full trust or it is clouded with suspicion. So as we face the everyday challenges of life, or as we look for answers for deep and difficult problems, let's put our full trust in the LORD. Let's ask for his wisdom and guidance as we make our choices so that our paths may be straight. Let's give him praise for the good in our lives and seek his blessing for the days ahead. Why? Because he longs to bless us with life, both now, and forevermore.


**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Overflowing gifts

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless....... 

- Psalm 84:11 -

Thoughts on This Verse... God doesn't hold back on his goodness! In fact, the Father loves to give his children gifts. These gifts are all encompassing. These gifts are gladly given. How do I know? Three ways: 1) I've been repeatedly blessed; 2) I've seen what God has done to bless his people through the centuries; and 3) his Word promises this to be so.

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

The Lord's Prayer

So we say with confidence,''The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?''...... 

- Hebrews 13:6 -

Thoughts on This Verse... How can we be confident in what happens today? What is our assurance for tomorrow? Where do we muster excitement about eternity? The Lord is our helper! Fear will not be our master because our future, our destiny, our eternity rest in the hands of the eternal Lord. The worst that man can do is to send me home to my Lord.

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Power of your love

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline....... 

- 2 Timothy 1:7 -

Thoughts on This Verse... When we became Christians, Jesus gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; Titus 3:3-7). The Spirit lives in us, making our bodies a Temple (1 Cor. 6:19-20) and blessing us in many ways (Romans 8). We can be courageous people even in the face of attack, criticism, and ridicule because of the Spirit's presence. The fruit that the Spirit produces (Gal. 5:22-23) and the love that the Spirit pours into our heart (Rom. 5:5) do not make us weak. Instead, the Spirit's presence is a powerful force to help us overcome sin (Rom. 8:13) and live self-disciplined lives.

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Accountability guaranteed

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective....... 

- James 5:16b -


Thoughts on This Verse... So many hearts, hopes, and homes are broken by sin. This brokenness infects our culture and invades our lives. God has provided both a deterrent to sin and a means of forgiveness for its guilt: honest and genuine confession of our sin. At the heart of confession is a passion to see sin for what it is in the eyes of God and to be anguished for our participation in it. No wonder confession is so healing (cf. 1 John 1:5-2:2). No wonder God wants us to confess our sin to each other and then come to him for each other's healing from sin and its damage. No wonder God grants such power to the prayer of a righteous person interceding for one led to confess. Let's confess our sin and leave it behind.

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Immeasurable

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen....... 

- Ephesians 3:20-21 -

Thoughts on This Verse... What is your biggest dream? God longs to do more than that through you! The real question is whether or not you will believe it, receive it, share it and then give him the glory for it!

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Weary not

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up....... 

- Galatians 6:9 -

Thoughts on This Verse... Weariness is a part of life. Weariness is a part of ministry. Weariness is definitely something that overtakes us when we set our hearts on doing good for others. The wonderful blessing of God, however, is that he will renew us and sustain us and rekindle us. He does it through the encouraging word of a friend. He does it through his presence, the Holy Spirit in us. He does it through songs that lift our hearts. He does it through Scripture and prayer. So while our bodies and spirits may get weary, let's not let our hands fall idle. If we will serve with faithfulness, discipline, and integrity, God's grace will empower us to do what he has called us to do.

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

No judgment taken

Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters....... 

- Romans 14:1 -

Thoughts on This Verse... Our life in Christ is such a blessing! We welcome new Christians into our fellowship to share that blessing. We don't bring them in to scrutinize their past failures or the current struggles, but to bring them into the love of God's family. God has welcomed us graciously and compassionately. Let's do the same with new Christians.

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Scar for life

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man....... 

- Proverbs 3:3-4 -

Thoughts on This Verse... Character is measured by the love and faithfulness we genuinely display in our daily lives. These are not simple virtues that we can fake. Merciful love is displayed when we have power over another but choose to treat them with kindness and genuine concern. Faithfulness is being a person of truth -- genuine and trustworthy in word and deed. These virtues need to be a part of our everyday lives and permeate our very identity. When they do, others will notice and God will be pleased.

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

A new leaf

Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life....... 

- Romans 6:3-4 -

Thoughts on This Verse... Baptism is far more than getting wet or checking off another thing on our obedience to do list. You see, what saves is Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection (1 Cor. 15:1-5). God has given us the incredible grace (Rom. 6:1,14,15) of being able to share in Jesus' saving work through faith and experience it in baptism (Gal. 3:26-27). We die to the old way of life and bury it in the past. It no longer holds us. This death is the death that matters most. Raised to a new life, our life is now joined to Christ and his future becomes our own (cf. Col. 3:1-4). The life we now live is to glorify God and to live with him forever. That means the Gospel is not just something preached; it is something we experience by grace.

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Saved by the Only One

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved--and that by God.......

- Philippians 1:27-28 -

Thoughts on This Verse... Let's live as if we've been redeemed! Let's show our love and character in our daily lives. Let's especially work together, with one voice and spirit, making a vigorous effort to share the Gospel with those who have never heard of the grace of God in the ministry of Jesus. In the face of opposition, let's not be deterred or divided. Instead, let's work hand-in-hand for the cause of the Gospel.

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

With all your soul

[Jesus replied,]'''Love the Lord 
your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your 
mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: `Love your 
neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than 
these.''...... 

- Mark 12:30-31 - 

Thoughts on This Verse... Sometimes the most important 
things are not hard to understand. God wants us to love him with every 
fiber of our being and to also love those around us. All of his demands 
on character really boil down to honoring these two great principles 
that transcend law and bring the character of God to hearts.

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Complete

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us....... 

- 1 John 4:12 -

Thoughts on This Verse... What an incredible thought! God can be seen in my home. The Father of the universe lives in my church. The Almighty God's love is recognizable in my life. How so? When I love those around me, when they love me back, when we choose to be loving instead of petty, unforgiving, critical, and harsh, God's presence, power, and perfection are revealed in us!


**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Sing to the Lord

I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD....... 

- Psalm 104:33-34 -

Thoughts on This Verse... Do you sing in the shower? What words are on your lips? Singing is such a wonderful gift! First, it is a gift from God to us, to help us express our joy, excitement, sorrow, and victory. Second, it is a gift from us to God, to help us communicate our respect, appreciation, love, and confidence in God. So let's sing, praising God for what he has done, proclaiming what he will do, and sharing what he is currently doing in our lives!

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

He loved sinners

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us....... 

- Romans 5:8 -

Thoughts on This Verse... Interestingly, the Bible doesn't ever just say that God loves us. Instead, it says:''God demonstrated his love...''''In this is love, not that we loved God but that God loved us and gave...''''For God so loved the world that he gave...'' Love is more than emotion or intention. True love, redemptive love, God-styled love is active; it does something. For us, Jesus did more than something; he sacrificed everything. What's more, he did it when we most needed it. He demonstrated his love when we were sinners!

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Set apart

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,''Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.''...... 

- Acts 13:2 -

Thoughts on This Verse... When people genuinely worship, when they fast and seek God's will, he calls them to service and mission. Christian worship is not an end in itself, but a launching pad to Christian mission. We shouldn't get so caught up in the worship experience that we leave it at the door when we walk away. Instead, we must understand that our''private'' or church worship is to inspire us to public worship and service in the world during our everyday lives (cf. Rom. 12:1-2). As we worship with our brothers and sisters, we should also listen to the words to the songs, the message of the Scriptures, and the conviction of the Holy Spirit on our hearts. God is calling each of us to a special mission in our world!

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Wicked

Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned....... 

- Psalm 34:21 -

Thoughts on This Verse... God has promised a closing time, a reckoning where human power and influence cannot buy out the truth and where each person will have to face up to what he or she has done. Evil will overtake those who have been partners with evil. Those that hate good people, righteous people, will be condemned in their own hate. God's righteousness, truth, and justice will not be short-circuited!

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**