13 June 2010
Pastor Andrew Lim
Acts 26: 24-28: As Paul defended himself in this way, Festus shouted at him, "You are mad, Paul! Your great learning is driving you mad!"
Paul answered, "I am not mad, Your Excellency! I am speaking the sober truth. King Agrippa! I can speak to you with all boldness, because you know about these things. I am sure that you have taken notice of every one of them, for this thing has not happened hidden away in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do!"
Agrippa said to Paul, "In this short time do you think you will make me a Christian?"
*an almost Christian's attributes
1. Heathen Honesty
-being good and doing good
-justice for all, against unequality
What the world holds on- the truth
*not cheating, having an honest pay
*place high regards on social works
*Some of Buddhist and Hindu believers do more social works
eg: Feed the hungry, clothe the poor
2. Godliness
2 Timothy 3:5: they will hold to the outward form of our religion, but reject its real power. Keep away from such people.
-having a form of godliness but denying its power
And from such, people turn away!
Almost a Christian will have some form of Godliness
*Strive their best to avoid sin and temptation
*Be peacemakers and won't gossip
*Prefer not to curse
*Do unto others what you want others to do to you
*Seeking to do good in their acts to do kindness
*Giving money, time and energy, ignoring sweat, blood and tears to help and evangelise
*But still is an "almost Christian" only
*An "almost Christian" comes to church with excitement and reads the bible.
*An "almost Christian" has all the high ethics, hidden honest and godliness.
*He does all the things that a Christian does
3. Sincerity
"That is it possible to go thus far, and yet be but almost a Christian, I learn, no only from the oracles of God, but also from the sure testimony of experience." (John Wesley).
*God man avoid sin from the love of virtue.
* Evil man avoid sin from the fear of punishment
*If they just avoid sin because of the fear of punishment, their not even called "an almost Christian"
John Wesley
*A priest
*Had a father who is a priest
*Started to minister, wanted to do good
____________________________________________________________
Mark 12:30: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength
- Characteristics to be a "full Christian"
1. He loves God
*All his emotions, what he does and thinks is for the love of God
*He can truly cry to desire nothing but the love of God
*God is all that matters in a holy Christian
2. He loves his neighbour
Mark 12:31: The second most important commandment is this: 'Love your neighbour as you love yourself.' There is no other commandment more important than these two."
*Your neighbour is every living man in this world especially your enemies
*A love that doesn't judge and define
*An all giving love, sacrificing love
*A love that thinks nothing evil
3. Most important of all- He has TRUE FAITH
*Faith that doesn't lead to repentance is a dead/ devilish faith
*Even the devil believes that Jesus is the Son of God, the only way, the truth and life
*Yet, there is no repentance
*If we believe, but it doesn't change our life, it is a devilish faith
*Not only believe doctrines but full salvation and confidence in his heart
*Has a heart and desire to love God unconditionally
*Thats the standard God require us to be
*The purpose of this topic is not discouraging you, although we may not be at that level, we must never stop striving to reach that standard.
God will help us through
John 21:15: After they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?"
"Yes, Lord," he answered, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said to him, "Take care of my lambs."
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Expanding Horizons of the Spirit
1 Kings 17:8-24: Then the Lord said to Elijah, "Now go to the town of Zarephath, near Sidon, and stay there. I have commanded a widow who lives there to feed you." So Elijah went to Zarephath, and as he came to the gate of the town,he saw a widow gathering firewood. "Please bring me a drink of water," he said to her. And as she as going to get it, he called out, "And please bring me some bread, too."
She answered, "By the living Lord your God I swear that I haven't got any bread. All I have is a handful of flour in a bowl and a drop of olive-oil in a jar. I came here to gather some firewood to take back home and prepare what little I have for my son and me. That will be our last meal, and then we will starve to death."
"Don't worry." Elijah said to her. "Go ahead and prepare your meal. But first make a small loaf from what you have and bring it to me, and then prepare the rest for you and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: :The bowl will not run out of flour or the jar run out of oil before the day that I, the Lord, send rain.'"
The widow went and did as Elijah had told her, and all of them had enough food for many days. As the Lord had promised through Elijah, the bowl did not run out of flour nor did the jar run out of oil:
Some time later the widow's son fell ill; he got worse and worse, and finally he died. She said to Elijah, "Man of God, why did you do this to me? Did you come here to remind God of my sins and so cause my son's death?"
"Give the boy to me, " Elijah said. He took the boy from her arms, carried him upstairs to the room where he was staying, and laid him on the bed. Then he prayed aloud, "O Lord my God, why have you done such a terrible thing to this widow? She has been kind enough to take care of me, and now you kill her son!" Then Elijah stretched himself out on the boy three times and prayed. "O Lord my God, restore this child to life!"
The Lord answered Elijah's prayer; the child started breathing again and revived.
Elijah took the boy back downstairs to his mother and said to her, "Look, your son is alive!"
She answered, "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the Lord really speaks through you!"
Luke 7:11-17: Soon afterwards Jesus went to a town called Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a large crowd. Just as he arrived at the gate of the town, a funeral procession was coming out. The dead man was the only son of a woman who was a widow, and a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart was filled with pity for her, and he said to her, "Don't cry." Then he walked over and touched her coffin, and the men carrying it stopped. Jesus said, "Young man!Get up, I tell you! The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
They all were filled with fear and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us!" they said; "God has come to save his people!"
This news about Jesus went out through all the country and the surrounding territory.
Rev Dr Hermen Shastri
6 June 2010
*We are in the season of Pentecost
*Without the Holy Spirit, the church is nothing
*The Holy Spirit moves, lightens, inspires the people to the truth of the gospel
*Christ Redeemer and Holy Spirit- the unity of them
*God preserves and protects life
*Whenever we are under threat, we can be sure the Holy Spirit is at work
*What comes from God, created by God, loved by God cannot be destroyed
*Reflected by Paul sending the letter to the Romans
*Gandhi- "So may poor people in the world that God cannot appear to them except in the form of a man."
*There are many people because of poverty, power that faces danger
*What they need is a word and act that gives an assured life
*Matthew 25:37-40: "The righteous will then answer him, 'When, Lord, did we ever see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we ever see you a stranger and welcome you in our homes, or naked and clothe you? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you? The King will reply, ' I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me!'
-The Spirit is instrumental, open's opportunities in caring and sharing
*Called to be a blessing not only to others but ourselves as well
*When there is description of pentecost
Acts 2:44-45: They would sell their property and possessions, and distribute the money among all, according to what each one needed.
*Transformation and boldness in living the gospel
*True appreciation of living a simple life of sharing and caring
*How they have been blessed by generosity to the poor and non-believers
2 stories
Elijah and Jesus
*Both handling a widow
*Widows in society of those days-very vulnerable and for sure they were poor and there were restrictions that they could not enjoy a good life
*All these widow's names were not revealed
*They were non-believers and foreigners
Elijah
*Elijah was against false prophets that were brought by Queen Jezebel
*Strange journey for Elijah
-ravens brought food for him
-He will lead with encouragement and strength
-sharing the little the widow has- a bit of flour and water
*It looked like their last meal-but the widow agreed to let Elijah share her food
Jesus
*Very hard for the Jews- for the prophet to defile himself as he was in close proximity with a none believer
*encounter with a santuarian (non believer)
*He said that kind of faith I can't even see in my own people
*She was dressed, wailing and Jesus touched the coffin- defiled as he cannot come in contact with the dead
*Son will be her security for the rest of her life
*These two stories help us appreciate and see where the spirit is working where homes will open for us
*Communion that break down boundaries
*There were exchange with High Priest and the Rabbi
*Luke 4:17: and was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it is written.
-The Rabbi unrolled the scroll and spoke from the book of Isaiah
*Luke 4:26: Yet Elijah was not sent to anyone in Israel, but only to a widow living in Zarephath in the territory of Sidon.
-The Rabbi spoke about Elijah and the widow
Expanding Horizons of the Spirit- makes our living so beautiful
*God is here and everywhere. We will see his love at work into an exciting Christian life.
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
She answered, "By the living Lord your God I swear that I haven't got any bread. All I have is a handful of flour in a bowl and a drop of olive-oil in a jar. I came here to gather some firewood to take back home and prepare what little I have for my son and me. That will be our last meal, and then we will starve to death."
"Don't worry." Elijah said to her. "Go ahead and prepare your meal. But first make a small loaf from what you have and bring it to me, and then prepare the rest for you and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: :The bowl will not run out of flour or the jar run out of oil before the day that I, the Lord, send rain.'"
The widow went and did as Elijah had told her, and all of them had enough food for many days. As the Lord had promised through Elijah, the bowl did not run out of flour nor did the jar run out of oil:
Some time later the widow's son fell ill; he got worse and worse, and finally he died. She said to Elijah, "Man of God, why did you do this to me? Did you come here to remind God of my sins and so cause my son's death?"
"Give the boy to me, " Elijah said. He took the boy from her arms, carried him upstairs to the room where he was staying, and laid him on the bed. Then he prayed aloud, "O Lord my God, why have you done such a terrible thing to this widow? She has been kind enough to take care of me, and now you kill her son!" Then Elijah stretched himself out on the boy three times and prayed. "O Lord my God, restore this child to life!"
The Lord answered Elijah's prayer; the child started breathing again and revived.
Elijah took the boy back downstairs to his mother and said to her, "Look, your son is alive!"
She answered, "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the Lord really speaks through you!"
Luke 7:11-17: Soon afterwards Jesus went to a town called Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a large crowd. Just as he arrived at the gate of the town, a funeral procession was coming out. The dead man was the only son of a woman who was a widow, and a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart was filled with pity for her, and he said to her, "Don't cry." Then he walked over and touched her coffin, and the men carrying it stopped. Jesus said, "Young man!Get up, I tell you! The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
They all were filled with fear and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us!" they said; "God has come to save his people!"
This news about Jesus went out through all the country and the surrounding territory.
Rev Dr Hermen Shastri
6 June 2010
*We are in the season of Pentecost
*Without the Holy Spirit, the church is nothing
*The Holy Spirit moves, lightens, inspires the people to the truth of the gospel
*Christ Redeemer and Holy Spirit- the unity of them
*God preserves and protects life
*Whenever we are under threat, we can be sure the Holy Spirit is at work
*What comes from God, created by God, loved by God cannot be destroyed
*Reflected by Paul sending the letter to the Romans
*Gandhi- "So may poor people in the world that God cannot appear to them except in the form of a man."
*There are many people because of poverty, power that faces danger
*What they need is a word and act that gives an assured life
*Matthew 25:37-40: "The righteous will then answer him, 'When, Lord, did we ever see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we ever see you a stranger and welcome you in our homes, or naked and clothe you? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you? The King will reply, ' I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me!'
-The Spirit is instrumental, open's opportunities in caring and sharing
*Called to be a blessing not only to others but ourselves as well
*When there is description of pentecost
Acts 2:44-45: They would sell their property and possessions, and distribute the money among all, according to what each one needed.
*Transformation and boldness in living the gospel
*True appreciation of living a simple life of sharing and caring
*How they have been blessed by generosity to the poor and non-believers
2 stories
Elijah and Jesus
*Both handling a widow
*Widows in society of those days-very vulnerable and for sure they were poor and there were restrictions that they could not enjoy a good life
*All these widow's names were not revealed
*They were non-believers and foreigners
Elijah
*Elijah was against false prophets that were brought by Queen Jezebel
*Strange journey for Elijah
-ravens brought food for him
-He will lead with encouragement and strength
-sharing the little the widow has- a bit of flour and water
*It looked like their last meal-but the widow agreed to let Elijah share her food
Jesus
*Very hard for the Jews- for the prophet to defile himself as he was in close proximity with a none believer
*encounter with a santuarian (non believer)
*He said that kind of faith I can't even see in my own people
*She was dressed, wailing and Jesus touched the coffin- defiled as he cannot come in contact with the dead
*Son will be her security for the rest of her life
*These two stories help us appreciate and see where the spirit is working where homes will open for us
*Communion that break down boundaries
*There were exchange with High Priest and the Rabbi
*Luke 4:17: and was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it is written.
-The Rabbi unrolled the scroll and spoke from the book of Isaiah
*Luke 4:26: Yet Elijah was not sent to anyone in Israel, but only to a widow living in Zarephath in the territory of Sidon.
-The Rabbi spoke about Elijah and the widow
Expanding Horizons of the Spirit- makes our living so beautiful
*God is here and everywhere. We will see his love at work into an exciting Christian life.
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Praying Effectively
Dato Daniel Tay
2 Kings 20:1-18: About this time King Hezekiah fell ill and almost died. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to see him and said to him, "The Lord tells you that you are to put everything in order, because you will not recover. Get ready to die."
Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed : "Remember, Lord, that I have served you faithfully and loyally, and that I have always tried to do what you wanted me to." And he began to cry bitterly.
Isaiah left the king, but before he had passed through the central courtyard of the palace the Lord told him to go back to Hezekiah, ruler of the Lord's people, and say to him, "I, the Lord, the God of your ancestor Daid, hae heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you,and in three days you will go to the Temple. I will let you live fifteen yers longer. I will rescue you and this city of Jerusalem from the emperor of Assyria. I will defend this city, for the sake of my own hnour and because of the promise I made to my servant David."
Then Isaiah told the king's attendants to put on his boil a paste made of figs, and he would get well. King Hezekiah asked, "What is the sign to prove that the Lord will heal me and that three days later I will be able to go to the Temple?"
Isaiah replied, "The Lord will give you a sign to prove that he will keep his promise. Now, would you prefer the shadow on the stairway to go forward ten steps or go back ten steps?"
Hezekiah answered, "Its easy to make the shadow go forward ten steps! Make it go back ten steps."
Isaiah prayed to the Lord, and the Lord made the shadow go back ten steps on the stairway set up by King Ahaz.
About the same time the king of Babylonia, Merodach Baladan, the son of Baladan, heard that King Hezekiah had been ill, so he sent him a letter and a present. Heekiah welcomed the messengers and showed them his wealth - his silver and gold, his spices and perfumes, and all his military equipment. There was nothing in his storerooms or anywhere in his kingdom that he did not show them. Then the prophet Isaiah went to King Hezekiah and asked, "Where did these men come from and what did they say to you?"
Hezekiah answered, "They came from a very distant country, from Babylonia."
"What did they see in the palace?"
"They saw everything. There is nothing in the storerooms that I didin't show them."
Isaiah then said to the king, "The Lord Almighty says that a time is coming when everything in your palace, everything that your ancestors have stored up to this day, will be carried off to Babylonia. Nothing will be left. Some of your own direct descendants will be taken away and made eunuchs to serve in the palace of the king of Babylonia."
King Hezekiah understood this to mean that there would be peace and security during his lifetime, so he replied, "The message you have given me from the Lord is good."
v4- word came back that he would be healed
*God is the same as Hezekiah's time as today
Introduction
Inspiration from nature
*How does a person pray effectively?
*Isaiah said that Hezekiah was going to die
*Isaiah prayed and move the heart of God
Inspiration from invention
Inspiration from prayer
Praying effectively
1. v2 - Turning the face to the wall
*Prayer is the most important thing to Christians
*1 Thessalonians 5:17: (Pray continually): pray at all times
*Matthew 21:13 : (No house celebrationan charity but prayer) : and said to them, "It is written in the Scrptures that God said, 'My Temple will be called a house of prayer.' But you are making it a hideout for thieves!"
*We may do things and think we can get away, but nothing can be done when its too late
2. v2 & 3 - Praying and pleading (to remember his good deeds)
*What makes a prayer special?
*not like chanting
*Remember God by serving in various ministries
*Remember God by walking and doing good
*Nehemiah build the walls of Jerusalem in 52 days
- so many opposition
- says a lot of 'Remember Me' to God
-we can pray to God saying 'Remember Me' anytime
*Holy of Holies - only the High Priest gets to go in. There is a bell with him to notify that he is alive and a rope tied to his leg to pull him out in case there is no sound from him.
- when Christ dies, the curtain separting the Holy of Holies divided, to show that we have direct connection to God and that God is now our High Priest.
3. v3-wept bitterly
* If we don't lead holy lifes, we can't have the posture
*How can you have the posture to weep bitterly and touch God's heart?
*How can we love other nationality like us?
Conclusion
1. Response of World Cup
Man Utd's goalkeeper - Van der Sar manage to defend the goal for 1302 minutes = 15 games of 90 minutes each
*He is known to have a 'safe pair of hands'
*God is our 'safe pair of hands'
*The perfect does not become more perfect. God will always be the same, last time till today
*If we pray like Hezekiah, we will be able to touch the heart of God
2. Response of Hezekiah
*When our prayer is answered, what should we do?
2 Kings 20:12-18: (as stated above)
*The issue was Hezekiah's illness
*Hezekiah forgot the main issue, he addressed his wealth to the King of Babylon
*v16;17: (as stated above)
*He did not show of how he turn his face to the wall, prayed and wept bitterly
3. Response of our Answered Prayers
*Many people would respond:
"I am not Hezekiah, I will not follow his footsteps"
*We are suppose to pray for the success of our children, instead, we pray and boast of how smart our children are
*We pray for promotion because we want and think that we are a self-made man
* All these will cause a person to so easily become a proud person
*We are reminded that when we pray, we cannot ever forget the good things that God has done for us
*We should instead tell people what God has done for us through testimonies
*We should look for inspiration in answered prayers
*In all humility, all things come from God
*"The Lord of God is one, we will have to love God with all heart, soul and strength and love our neighbour as ourselves."
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
2 Kings 20:1-18: About this time King Hezekiah fell ill and almost died. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to see him and said to him, "The Lord tells you that you are to put everything in order, because you will not recover. Get ready to die."
Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed : "Remember, Lord, that I have served you faithfully and loyally, and that I have always tried to do what you wanted me to." And he began to cry bitterly.
Isaiah left the king, but before he had passed through the central courtyard of the palace the Lord told him to go back to Hezekiah, ruler of the Lord's people, and say to him, "I, the Lord, the God of your ancestor Daid, hae heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you,and in three days you will go to the Temple. I will let you live fifteen yers longer. I will rescue you and this city of Jerusalem from the emperor of Assyria. I will defend this city, for the sake of my own hnour and because of the promise I made to my servant David."
Then Isaiah told the king's attendants to put on his boil a paste made of figs, and he would get well. King Hezekiah asked, "What is the sign to prove that the Lord will heal me and that three days later I will be able to go to the Temple?"
Isaiah replied, "The Lord will give you a sign to prove that he will keep his promise. Now, would you prefer the shadow on the stairway to go forward ten steps or go back ten steps?"
Hezekiah answered, "Its easy to make the shadow go forward ten steps! Make it go back ten steps."
Isaiah prayed to the Lord, and the Lord made the shadow go back ten steps on the stairway set up by King Ahaz.
About the same time the king of Babylonia, Merodach Baladan, the son of Baladan, heard that King Hezekiah had been ill, so he sent him a letter and a present. Heekiah welcomed the messengers and showed them his wealth - his silver and gold, his spices and perfumes, and all his military equipment. There was nothing in his storerooms or anywhere in his kingdom that he did not show them. Then the prophet Isaiah went to King Hezekiah and asked, "Where did these men come from and what did they say to you?"
Hezekiah answered, "They came from a very distant country, from Babylonia."
"What did they see in the palace?"
"They saw everything. There is nothing in the storerooms that I didin't show them."
Isaiah then said to the king, "The Lord Almighty says that a time is coming when everything in your palace, everything that your ancestors have stored up to this day, will be carried off to Babylonia. Nothing will be left. Some of your own direct descendants will be taken away and made eunuchs to serve in the palace of the king of Babylonia."
King Hezekiah understood this to mean that there would be peace and security during his lifetime, so he replied, "The message you have given me from the Lord is good."
v4- word came back that he would be healed
*God is the same as Hezekiah's time as today
Introduction
Inspiration from nature
*How does a person pray effectively?
*Isaiah said that Hezekiah was going to die
*Isaiah prayed and move the heart of God
Inspiration from invention
Inspiration from prayer
Praying effectively
1. v2 - Turning the face to the wall
*Prayer is the most important thing to Christians
*1 Thessalonians 5:17: (Pray continually): pray at all times
*Matthew 21:13 : (No house celebrationan charity but prayer) : and said to them, "It is written in the Scrptures that God said, 'My Temple will be called a house of prayer.' But you are making it a hideout for thieves!"
*We may do things and think we can get away, but nothing can be done when its too late
2. v2 & 3 - Praying and pleading (to remember his good deeds)
*What makes a prayer special?
*not like chanting
*Remember God by serving in various ministries
*Remember God by walking and doing good
*Nehemiah build the walls of Jerusalem in 52 days
- so many opposition
- says a lot of 'Remember Me' to God
-we can pray to God saying 'Remember Me' anytime
*Holy of Holies - only the High Priest gets to go in. There is a bell with him to notify that he is alive and a rope tied to his leg to pull him out in case there is no sound from him.
- when Christ dies, the curtain separting the Holy of Holies divided, to show that we have direct connection to God and that God is now our High Priest.
3. v3-wept bitterly
* If we don't lead holy lifes, we can't have the posture
*How can you have the posture to weep bitterly and touch God's heart?
*How can we love other nationality like us?
Conclusion
1. Response of World Cup
Man Utd's goalkeeper - Van der Sar manage to defend the goal for 1302 minutes = 15 games of 90 minutes each
*He is known to have a 'safe pair of hands'
*God is our 'safe pair of hands'
*The perfect does not become more perfect. God will always be the same, last time till today
*If we pray like Hezekiah, we will be able to touch the heart of God
2. Response of Hezekiah
*When our prayer is answered, what should we do?
2 Kings 20:12-18: (as stated above)
*The issue was Hezekiah's illness
*Hezekiah forgot the main issue, he addressed his wealth to the King of Babylon
*v16;17: (as stated above)
*He did not show of how he turn his face to the wall, prayed and wept bitterly
3. Response of our Answered Prayers
*Many people would respond:
"I am not Hezekiah, I will not follow his footsteps"
*We are suppose to pray for the success of our children, instead, we pray and boast of how smart our children are
*We pray for promotion because we want and think that we are a self-made man
* All these will cause a person to so easily become a proud person
*We are reminded that when we pray, we cannot ever forget the good things that God has done for us
*We should instead tell people what God has done for us through testimonies
*We should look for inspiration in answered prayers
*In all humility, all things come from God
*"The Lord of God is one, we will have to love God with all heart, soul and strength and love our neighbour as ourselves."
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
Friday, May 28, 2010
Peace Begins At Home
Mr Steven Ooi
MYF SUNDAY!
23rd May 2010
Matthew 5:9: "Happy are those who work for peace; God will call them his children!"
*It is so easy to be naive in peace
*When 2 or 3 people come together, there will eventually be conflict
*Satan loves when we backstab
*If we don't have peace, we have forgotten that we belong to one-another (quoted by Mother Theresa)
*Lack of peace is so pervasive
*Conflict between Adam & Eve, Cain & Abel that lead to a brother's death
*Continuous conflict, Jesus showed us 'Blessed ar the peacemakers, for they become the Sons of God -Matthew 5:9
*Not reaching options or ideas- the 8 beattitudes marks off Jesus Christ to follow him whole heartedly
*One of the fruits of the Spirit - Peace
Phil Morgan
1. Peace Breakers
Romans 16:17-18: I urge you, my brothers: watch out for those who cause divisions and upset people's faith and go against the teaching which you have recieved. Keep away from them! For those who do such things are not serving Christ our Lord, but their own appetites. By their fine words and flattering speech they deceive innocent people.
God's heart is rebuild in Psalm 133:1: How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God's people to live together in harmony!
*Can peace be broken without knowledge?
*Have you been pushing any buttons lately?
*It is easier to break than create peace
2. Peace Fakers or Peace Keepers
Ephesians 4:25 : No more lying, then! Everyone must tell the truth to his fellow-believer, because we are all members together in the body of Christ.
-put off falsehood and speak truthfully
Members of 1 body
*If things are not resolve and when peace is being tried so hard, it is harder to resolve
3. Peace Makers-to do (strong word), to create
*Must be actively made- not by chance
*Often messy work
*Peace must be pursued and guarded
*A peace maker builds a bridge in spite of all the stones
*Hatred looks for a victim and peace wins the victory
12 Principles of Peace
1. Peace must be pursued
Romans 14:19: So then, we must always aim at those things that bring peace and that help to strengthen one another.
Psalm 34:14: Turn away from evil and do good; strive for peace with all your heart
Ephesians 4:3: Do your best to perserve the unity which the Spirit gives by means of the peace that binds you together.
1 Thessalonians 5:13: Treat them with the greatest respect and love because of the work they do. Be at peace among yourselves.
2. Being a peacemaker can be lonely
Psalm 120:6,7: I have lived too long with people who hate peace!
When I speak of peace, they are for war.
3. Peace must be prayed for
Psalm 122:6: Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you prosper.
4. The Promoter of peace finds joy
Proverbs 12:20: Those who plan evil are in for a rude surprise, but those who work for good will find happiness.
5. Pleasing God is a prerequisite for peace
Proverbs 16:7: When you please the Lord, you can make your enemies into friends.
6. Those who bring peace have beautiful feet
Isaiah 2:17: Human pride will be ended, and human arrogance will be destroyed.
7. Jesus gives peace unlike any other
John 14:27: "Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.
8. Churches grow during times of peace
Acts 9:21: All who heard him were amazed and asked, "Isn't he the one who in Jerusalem was killing those who worship that man Jesus? And didin't he come here for the very purpose of arresting those people and taking them back to the chief priests?"
"grew in numbers living in the fear of the Lord"
9. We must do everything possible to live at peace
Romans 12:18: Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody.
10. Peace is a directive from the God of peace
1 Corinthians 7:15: However, if the one who is not a believer wishes to leave the Christian partner let it be so. In such cases the Christian partner, whether husband or wife, is free to act. God has called you to live in peace.
2 Corinthians 13:11 :And now, my brothers, good-bye! Strive for perfection; listen to my appeals; agree with one another; live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
Colossians 3:15: The peace that Christ gives is to guide you in the decisions you make; for it is to this peace that God has called you together in the one body. And be thankful.
11.Righteousness is rewarded to peacemakers
James 3:18: And goodness is the harvest that is produced from the seeds the peacemakers plant in peace.
12. Jesus is the model of peace
Ephesians 2:14-17: For Christ himself has brought us peace by making Jews and Gentiles one people.With his own body he broke down the wall that separated them and kept them enemies. He abolished the Jewish Law with its commandments and rules, in order to create out of the two races one new people in union with himself, in this way making peace. By his death on the cross Christ destroyed ther enmity; by means of the cross he united both races into one body nd brought them back to God. So Christ came and preached the Good News of peace to all - to you Gentiles, who were far away from Gd, and to the Jews, who were near to him.
*Making peace is also found in the beattitude
Rewards for peacemakers
1. We are all blessed when we make peace
2. This beattitude ends with an intriguing phrase
"For they will be called Sons of God"
*Officially designated of holding particular rank like a chairman
*Own or know or recognize as what they really are -children of God, child of the Prince of Peace
*Peacemakers bears a family resemblance you will reflect the character of Father in heaven
*If you want to resemble God, be a peacemaker
*Would God be happy or sad for you to make peace?
*Until we put these into actions, they are just words
Action steps:
1. Make sure you're at peace with God
Malachi 3:8-10: I ask you, is it right for a person to cheat God? Of course not, yet you are cheating me. 'How?' you ask. In the matter of tithes and offerings. A curse is on all of you because the whole nation is cheating me. Bring the full amount of your tithes to the Temple, so that there will be plenty of food there.Put me to the test and you will see that I will open the windows of heaven and pour our on you in abundance all kinds of good things.
Ephesians 2:3: Actually all of us were like them and lived according to our natural desires, doing whatever suited the wishes of our own bodies and minds. In our natural condition we, like everyone else, were destined to suffer God's anger.
*We don't have peace unless you have peace in God
*Awesome privilege to be in work with God
*No country with peace unless peace resides within its community and unless they surrender to the Prince of Peace
2. Lead others to be at peace with God
2 Corinthians 5:15:He died for all, so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but only for him who dies and was rised to life for their sake.
*Our Lord Jesus Christ entrusted mission, go and make disciples- the great commission
*Make things right / forgive and seek forgiveness
3. Be at peace with those around you
*Do you need to settle problems with anyone?
4. Help others who are in conflict
*The peacemakers' pledge
*Peacemakers release tension, strive for resolution
2 Thessalonians 3:16 - The Benediction
"May the Lord Himself, who is our source of peace, give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you all."
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
MYF SUNDAY!
23rd May 2010
Matthew 5:9: "Happy are those who work for peace; God will call them his children!"
*It is so easy to be naive in peace
*When 2 or 3 people come together, there will eventually be conflict
*Satan loves when we backstab
*If we don't have peace, we have forgotten that we belong to one-another (quoted by Mother Theresa)
*Lack of peace is so pervasive
*Conflict between Adam & Eve, Cain & Abel that lead to a brother's death
*Continuous conflict, Jesus showed us 'Blessed ar the peacemakers, for they become the Sons of God -Matthew 5:9
*Not reaching options or ideas- the 8 beattitudes marks off Jesus Christ to follow him whole heartedly
*One of the fruits of the Spirit - Peace
Phil Morgan
1. Peace Breakers
Romans 16:17-18: I urge you, my brothers: watch out for those who cause divisions and upset people's faith and go against the teaching which you have recieved. Keep away from them! For those who do such things are not serving Christ our Lord, but their own appetites. By their fine words and flattering speech they deceive innocent people.
God's heart is rebuild in Psalm 133:1: How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God's people to live together in harmony!
*Can peace be broken without knowledge?
*Have you been pushing any buttons lately?
*It is easier to break than create peace
2. Peace Fakers or Peace Keepers
Ephesians 4:25 : No more lying, then! Everyone must tell the truth to his fellow-believer, because we are all members together in the body of Christ.
-put off falsehood and speak truthfully
Members of 1 body
*If things are not resolve and when peace is being tried so hard, it is harder to resolve
3. Peace Makers-to do (strong word), to create
*Must be actively made- not by chance
*Often messy work
*Peace must be pursued and guarded
*A peace maker builds a bridge in spite of all the stones
*Hatred looks for a victim and peace wins the victory
12 Principles of Peace
1. Peace must be pursued
Romans 14:19: So then, we must always aim at those things that bring peace and that help to strengthen one another.
Psalm 34:14: Turn away from evil and do good; strive for peace with all your heart
Ephesians 4:3: Do your best to perserve the unity which the Spirit gives by means of the peace that binds you together.
1 Thessalonians 5:13: Treat them with the greatest respect and love because of the work they do. Be at peace among yourselves.
2. Being a peacemaker can be lonely
Psalm 120:6,7: I have lived too long with people who hate peace!
When I speak of peace, they are for war.
3. Peace must be prayed for
Psalm 122:6: Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you prosper.
4. The Promoter of peace finds joy
Proverbs 12:20: Those who plan evil are in for a rude surprise, but those who work for good will find happiness.
5. Pleasing God is a prerequisite for peace
Proverbs 16:7: When you please the Lord, you can make your enemies into friends.
6. Those who bring peace have beautiful feet
Isaiah 2:17: Human pride will be ended, and human arrogance will be destroyed.
7. Jesus gives peace unlike any other
John 14:27: "Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.
8. Churches grow during times of peace
Acts 9:21: All who heard him were amazed and asked, "Isn't he the one who in Jerusalem was killing those who worship that man Jesus? And didin't he come here for the very purpose of arresting those people and taking them back to the chief priests?"
"grew in numbers living in the fear of the Lord"
9. We must do everything possible to live at peace
Romans 12:18: Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody.
10. Peace is a directive from the God of peace
1 Corinthians 7:15: However, if the one who is not a believer wishes to leave the Christian partner let it be so. In such cases the Christian partner, whether husband or wife, is free to act. God has called you to live in peace.
2 Corinthians 13:11 :And now, my brothers, good-bye! Strive for perfection; listen to my appeals; agree with one another; live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
Colossians 3:15: The peace that Christ gives is to guide you in the decisions you make; for it is to this peace that God has called you together in the one body. And be thankful.
11.Righteousness is rewarded to peacemakers
James 3:18: And goodness is the harvest that is produced from the seeds the peacemakers plant in peace.
12. Jesus is the model of peace
Ephesians 2:14-17: For Christ himself has brought us peace by making Jews and Gentiles one people.With his own body he broke down the wall that separated them and kept them enemies. He abolished the Jewish Law with its commandments and rules, in order to create out of the two races one new people in union with himself, in this way making peace. By his death on the cross Christ destroyed ther enmity; by means of the cross he united both races into one body nd brought them back to God. So Christ came and preached the Good News of peace to all - to you Gentiles, who were far away from Gd, and to the Jews, who were near to him.
*Making peace is also found in the beattitude
Rewards for peacemakers
1. We are all blessed when we make peace
2. This beattitude ends with an intriguing phrase
"For they will be called Sons of God"
*Officially designated of holding particular rank like a chairman
*Own or know or recognize as what they really are -children of God, child of the Prince of Peace
*Peacemakers bears a family resemblance you will reflect the character of Father in heaven
*If you want to resemble God, be a peacemaker
*Would God be happy or sad for you to make peace?
*Until we put these into actions, they are just words
Action steps:
1. Make sure you're at peace with God
Malachi 3:8-10: I ask you, is it right for a person to cheat God? Of course not, yet you are cheating me. 'How?' you ask. In the matter of tithes and offerings. A curse is on all of you because the whole nation is cheating me. Bring the full amount of your tithes to the Temple, so that there will be plenty of food there.Put me to the test and you will see that I will open the windows of heaven and pour our on you in abundance all kinds of good things.
Ephesians 2:3: Actually all of us were like them and lived according to our natural desires, doing whatever suited the wishes of our own bodies and minds. In our natural condition we, like everyone else, were destined to suffer God's anger.
*We don't have peace unless you have peace in God
*Awesome privilege to be in work with God
*No country with peace unless peace resides within its community and unless they surrender to the Prince of Peace
2. Lead others to be at peace with God
2 Corinthians 5:15:He died for all, so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but only for him who dies and was rised to life for their sake.
*Our Lord Jesus Christ entrusted mission, go and make disciples- the great commission
*Make things right / forgive and seek forgiveness
3. Be at peace with those around you
*Do you need to settle problems with anyone?
4. Help others who are in conflict
*The peacemakers' pledge
*Peacemakers release tension, strive for resolution
2 Thessalonians 3:16 - The Benediction
"May the Lord Himself, who is our source of peace, give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you all."
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Ascension of the Lord
"Keys To A Lively And Healthy Faith"
Rev Wong Onn Thau
16 May 2010
Mark 14:32-36: They came to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." He took Peter, James, and John with him. Distress and anguish came over him, and he said to them, "The sorrow in my heart is so great that is almost crushes me. Stay here and keep watch."
He went a little further on, threw himself on the ground, and prayed that, if possible, he might not have to go through that time of suffering. "Father, " he prayed, "My Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet not what I want, but what you want."
*How do we keep our faith alive, vibrant and healthy?
*Faithful clues are found in the garden of Gethsemane
4 keys of a lively and vibrant faith
1. Continue to pray hard
*Prayer is important
*Jesus was a man of prayer, can't escape that fact
*If Jesus needed to pray, how much more should we pray
*Jesus wanted to be in touch with his father
*Prayer is conversation and friendship with God
*If we don't pray, our faith will shrink, shrivel and die
*When they face trouble, they don't know how to pray
*We don't need a special language to communicate with God
2. Continue to grow and learn
*Study, question and clear the air
*Jesus was open to new truth in the garden
*When we stop growing and learning, our faith will shrink, shrivel and die
*Sometimes our faith have not even pass standard 1
*We need God to nourish, water and sunlight us to grow
3. We must continue to obey God
*Jesus was obedient "Not what I want but what you want"
*Come what may obedience
*The land of faith that would not die- rooted in Christian "thy will be done obedience"
4. Determination and Perserverance
*Jesus had every reason to drop out
*"Father into your hands, I commit"
*Don't quit on the church
*When things are going against us, we often quit
*Paul had a co-worker which is very capable but not well known
Why? because he quit, He was Demas
2 Timothy 4:9-11: Do your best to come to me soon. Demas fell in love with this present world and has deserted me, going off to Thessalonica. Crescens wet to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, becaus he can help me in the work.
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
Rev Wong Onn Thau
16 May 2010
Mark 14:32-36: They came to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." He took Peter, James, and John with him. Distress and anguish came over him, and he said to them, "The sorrow in my heart is so great that is almost crushes me. Stay here and keep watch."
He went a little further on, threw himself on the ground, and prayed that, if possible, he might not have to go through that time of suffering. "Father, " he prayed, "My Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet not what I want, but what you want."
*How do we keep our faith alive, vibrant and healthy?
*Faithful clues are found in the garden of Gethsemane
4 keys of a lively and vibrant faith
1. Continue to pray hard
*Prayer is important
*Jesus was a man of prayer, can't escape that fact
*If Jesus needed to pray, how much more should we pray
*Jesus wanted to be in touch with his father
*Prayer is conversation and friendship with God
*If we don't pray, our faith will shrink, shrivel and die
*When they face trouble, they don't know how to pray
*We don't need a special language to communicate with God
2. Continue to grow and learn
*Study, question and clear the air
*Jesus was open to new truth in the garden
*When we stop growing and learning, our faith will shrink, shrivel and die
*Sometimes our faith have not even pass standard 1
*We need God to nourish, water and sunlight us to grow
3. We must continue to obey God
*Jesus was obedient "Not what I want but what you want"
*Come what may obedience
*The land of faith that would not die- rooted in Christian "thy will be done obedience"
4. Determination and Perserverance
*Jesus had every reason to drop out
*"Father into your hands, I commit"
*Don't quit on the church
*When things are going against us, we often quit
*Paul had a co-worker which is very capable but not well known
Why? because he quit, He was Demas
2 Timothy 4:9-11: Do your best to come to me soon. Demas fell in love with this present world and has deserted me, going off to Thessalonica. Crescens wet to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, becaus he can help me in the work.
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
God Offers a Better Deal
Rev Yew Nieng Song
9 May 2010
Hebrews 3:1-4,7: My Christian brothers, who also have been called by God! Think of Jesus, whom God sent to be the High Priest of the faith we profess. He was faithful to God, who chose him to do his work, just as Moses was faithful in his work in God's house. A man who builds a house receives more honour than the house itself. In the same way Jesus is worthy of much greater honour than Moses. Every house, of course, is built by someone- and God is the one who has built all things.
So then, as the Holy Spirit says,
"If you hear God's voice today"
*Revival is dangerous- cause us to give up our own ways
-your time is not your time but God's time
*God is offering something much better
*Lead by the Spirit = children of God
*We are Christians but not leading things that are discern by God
*we are using carnal man to interpret life
*God did not answer our prayer - God is trying to get our attention
- work contrary to God
*Changing progressively into Jesus Christ
*If blessings are not coming in the right way, ask God if there is something wrong
*Do you know what it means to be a Christian?
*Seek God's will to know what is your destiny
*Galatians 2:14: When I saw that they were not walking a straight path in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you have been living like a Gentile, not like a Jew. How, then, can you try to force Gentiles to live like Jews?"
*God is the way, close other doors
*Jesus mission statement 'It is not complicated'
*Kingdom of God, darkness & man -those are the things we often struggle
*but Jesus is more superior
*Jesus is the message, angels are the messenger
*Church- Your at the centre
*He has an appointment here with us
*He is calling us at every church service
*You need to follow God's ways
*Do not be conform to this world but be transform by the renewing of the mind
*Many of us are settle in a comfortable life getting blessings from the church
*Hebrews author says there are things that hinder us knowing the word of God
*We are not recieving the healing of God, but we are to claim the promises of God
*We need faith to remain in that wholeness
*Hebrews - book of better things - things that rust and moth cannot destroy
*If everyone does the work of God, this adds on to revival
*We will not be in heaven forever because a new earth and heaven will be here on earth (read the book of revelation, the last book).
*So do good now to collect back the blessings soon
*Who are you living for?
*Many of us miss the mark and are living in the flesh - thats why we have many problems
*"Now the new way has come, Christ is the better way"
*We have the word of God as the light to our feet
*If a wive does not submit to husband, children will be argueing with you
*Thats why repentence are needed
*Author of Hebrews concludes with greetings
*It is a privilege to serve the most high God
*We are serving to the best
*God has better things to plan for our church
*Then, read the bible first
*Learn to give tithes
*Who knows you? If you know God knows you, he will bless you.
*Learn to let go off the good things and grab hold of the things God wants you to have instead.
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
9 May 2010
Hebrews 3:1-4,7: My Christian brothers, who also have been called by God! Think of Jesus, whom God sent to be the High Priest of the faith we profess. He was faithful to God, who chose him to do his work, just as Moses was faithful in his work in God's house. A man who builds a house receives more honour than the house itself. In the same way Jesus is worthy of much greater honour than Moses. Every house, of course, is built by someone- and God is the one who has built all things.
So then, as the Holy Spirit says,
"If you hear God's voice today"
*Revival is dangerous- cause us to give up our own ways
-your time is not your time but God's time
*God is offering something much better
*Lead by the Spirit = children of God
*We are Christians but not leading things that are discern by God
*we are using carnal man to interpret life
*God did not answer our prayer - God is trying to get our attention
- work contrary to God
*Changing progressively into Jesus Christ
*If blessings are not coming in the right way, ask God if there is something wrong
*Do you know what it means to be a Christian?
*Seek God's will to know what is your destiny
*Galatians 2:14: When I saw that they were not walking a straight path in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you have been living like a Gentile, not like a Jew. How, then, can you try to force Gentiles to live like Jews?"
*God is the way, close other doors
*Jesus mission statement 'It is not complicated'
*Kingdom of God, darkness & man -those are the things we often struggle
*but Jesus is more superior
*Jesus is the message, angels are the messenger
*Church- Your at the centre
*He has an appointment here with us
*He is calling us at every church service
*You need to follow God's ways
*Do not be conform to this world but be transform by the renewing of the mind
*Many of us are settle in a comfortable life getting blessings from the church
*Hebrews author says there are things that hinder us knowing the word of God
*We are not recieving the healing of God, but we are to claim the promises of God
*We need faith to remain in that wholeness
*Hebrews - book of better things - things that rust and moth cannot destroy
*If everyone does the work of God, this adds on to revival
*We will not be in heaven forever because a new earth and heaven will be here on earth (read the book of revelation, the last book).
*So do good now to collect back the blessings soon
*Who are you living for?
*Many of us miss the mark and are living in the flesh - thats why we have many problems
*"Now the new way has come, Christ is the better way"
*We have the word of God as the light to our feet
*If a wive does not submit to husband, children will be argueing with you
*Thats why repentence are needed
*Author of Hebrews concludes with greetings
*It is a privilege to serve the most high God
*We are serving to the best
*God has better things to plan for our church
*Then, read the bible first
*Learn to give tithes
*Who knows you? If you know God knows you, he will bless you.
*Learn to let go off the good things and grab hold of the things God wants you to have instead.
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
Monday, May 17, 2010
Battle of the Wills - Part 2 'Outstrategizing Sin'
Pastor Andrew Lim
2nd May 2010
Romans 6:1-14: What shall we say, then? Should we continue to live in sin so that God's grace will increase? Certainly not! We have died to sin - how then can we go on living in it? For surely you know that when we were baptized into union with Christ Jesus, we were baptized into union with his death. By our baptism, then, we were buried with him and shared his death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from death by the glorious power of the Father, so also we might live a new life.
For since we have become one with him in dying as he did, in the same way we shall be one with him by being raised to life as he was. And we know that our old being has been put to death with Christ on his cross, in order that the power of the sinful self might be destroyed, so that we should no longer be the slaves of sin. For when a person dies, he is set free from the power of sin. Since we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that Christ has been raised from death and will never die again - death will no longer rule over him. And so, because he died, sin has no power over him and now he lives his life in fellowship with God. In the same way you are to think of yourselves as dead, so far as sin is concered, but living in fellowship with God through Christ Jesus.
Sin must no longer rule in your mortal bodies, so that you obey the desires of your natural self. Nor must you surrender any part of yourselves to sin to be used for wicked purposes. Instead, give yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life, and surrender your whole being to him to be used for righteous purposes. Sin must not be your master; for you do not live under law but under God's grace.
*Sinful habits
- a particular area that we fall after repenting over and over again
- most destrucive in the person's mind
Colossians 3:6-9: Because of such things God's anger will come upon those who do not obey him. At one time you yourselves used to lie according to such desires, when your life was dominated by them.
But now you must get rid of all these things: anger, passion, and hateful feelings. No insults or obscene talk must ever come from your lips. Do not lie to one another, for you have taken off the old self with its habits.
eg: anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, envy
Why is sin bad?
1. Destructive- prevent the blessings of God from coming in
Proverbs 28:13: You will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins. Confess them and give them up; the God will show mercy to you.
2. Separate us from God's presence is difficult
-find something missing when doing quiet time, reading the Bible with difficulty
3. Brings condemnation
-not sin but condemnation that brings us down
-the lies of the enemy to trample- cannot rise up against the sin
4. Quenches the joy of the Spirit
Psalm 51:11: Do not banish me from your presence; do not take your holy spirit away from me.
Ephesians 4:29-32: Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you. And do not make God's Holy Spirit sad; for the Spirit is God's mark of ownership on you, a guarantee that the Day will come when God will set you free. Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort.
Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ.
"Don't grieve the Holy Spirit of God"
5. Risk losing the joy of salvation
-if we continue to live in the bondages of our lives
-It becomes part of our character/personality that it becomes impossible to break through
eg: gossiping, envy, hatred
-cannot stand (envy) seeing people more beautiful that yourself
John 8:36: If the Son sets you free, then you will be really free.
Romans 8:2: For the law of the Spirit, which brings us life in union with Christ Jesus, has set me free form the law of sin and death.
-no longer bound by sin
-don't let our sinful habits control our lives
-fight against the carnal man
-we read all the motivational, self help books but those cant help us if our spirit man is dead
1 Corinthians 10: 1-13: I want yu to remember, my bothers, what happened to our ancestors who followed Moses. They were all under the protection of the cloud, and all passed safely through the Red Sea. In the cloud and in the sea they were all baptized as followers of Moses. All ate the same spiritual bread and drank the same spiritual drin. They drank from the Spiritual rock that went with them; and that rock was Christ himself. But even then God was not pleased ith most of them, and so their dead bodies were scattered over the desert.
-(let those who think he does not sin..)
-every temptation has a way out
James 1:12-15: Happy is the person who remains faithful under trials, because when he suceeds in passing such a test, he will receive as his reward the life which God has promised to those who love him. If a person is tempted by such trials, he must not say, "This temptation comes from God." For God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. But a person is tempted when he is drawned away and trapped by his own evil desire. Then his evil desire conceives and give birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
-It is the mind that temptation comes
-we entertain our thoughts until we fall into temptation
One day a man had a very clever mongkey. He had to go for a long trip so he told the mongkey that he could do anything except never to eat the banana from the banana tree. So while he was clearing the man's house, he stopped to look at the banana tree.
He said to himself, "My master told me not to eat the banana but he did not say i could not eat the banana."
So he saw the banana.
Then he thought to himself again "My master told me not to eat the banana but he did not say i could not go nearer to see the banana tree."
So he went nearer to the banana.
Then he thought to himself again "My master told me not to eat the banana but he did not say i could not climb the banana tree."
So he climbed the banana tree.
Then he thought to himself again "My master told me not to eat the banana but he did not say i could not hold the banana."
So he held the banana.
Then he thought to himself again "My master told me not to eat the banana but he did not say i could not smell the banana."
So he smelt the banana.
Again he thought to himself again "My master told me not to eat the banana but he did not say i could not pluck the banana."
So he plucked the banana.
Then he thought to himself again "My master told me not to eat the banana but he did not say i could not lick the banana."
The moment he licked the banana, he ate it.
This is how temptation can be.
*You might want to forgive that person who hurt you but when you begin thinking about the pain he or she caused you, you change your mind.
*We try and resist temptation when we are on the way to temptation
*That is not the way. Instead, we should try and resist while it is a thought in our minds
*How does he stop while temptation is still a thought
*Jesus getting tempted in 40 days
Luke 4:1-13: Jesus returned from the Jordan full of the Holy Spirit and was led by the Spirit into the desert,where he was tempted by the Devil for forty days.In all that time he ate nothing, so that he was hungry when it was over.
The Devil said to him, "If you are God's Son, order this stone to turn into bread."
But Jesus answred, "The scripture says, 'Man cannot live on bread alone.'"
Then the Devil took him up and showed him in a second all the kingdoms of the world "I will give you all this power and all this wealth, " the Devil told him. "It has all been handed over to me, and I can give it to anyone I choose. All this will be yours, then, if you worship me."
Jesus answered, "The scripture says, 'Worship the Lord your God and serve only him!'"
Then the Devil took him to Jerusalem and set him on the highest point of the Temple, and said to him, "If you are God's Son, throw yourself down from here. For the scripture says, 'God will order his angels to take good care of you, ' It also says, 'They will hold you up with their hands so that not even your feet will be hurt on the stones.'"
But Jesus answered, "The scripture says, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test, '"
When the Devil finished tempting Jesus in every way, he left him for a while.
*In that story, Jesus immediately responded, he didn't think
Deuteronomy 8:3: He made you go hungry, and then he gave you manna to eat, food that you and your ancestors had never eaten before. He did this to teach you that man does not depend on bread alone to sustain him, but on everything that the Lord says.
Deuteronomy 6:16: "Do not put the Lord your Go to the test, as you did at Massah."
Deuteronomy 10:20: Obey the Lord your God and worship only him. Be faithful to him and make your promises in his name alone.
Ephesians 6:16: At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One.
*Faith comes by the word of God
*When our minds are filled with the word of God, we won't be tempted easily
*Every waking moment your mind is filled with the word of God if you keep reading the word of God. Then, you will not fall so easily into temptation
James 4:7: So then, submit to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you.
*THE CHOICE IS OURS
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
2nd May 2010
Romans 6:1-14: What shall we say, then? Should we continue to live in sin so that God's grace will increase? Certainly not! We have died to sin - how then can we go on living in it? For surely you know that when we were baptized into union with Christ Jesus, we were baptized into union with his death. By our baptism, then, we were buried with him and shared his death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from death by the glorious power of the Father, so also we might live a new life.
For since we have become one with him in dying as he did, in the same way we shall be one with him by being raised to life as he was. And we know that our old being has been put to death with Christ on his cross, in order that the power of the sinful self might be destroyed, so that we should no longer be the slaves of sin. For when a person dies, he is set free from the power of sin. Since we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that Christ has been raised from death and will never die again - death will no longer rule over him. And so, because he died, sin has no power over him and now he lives his life in fellowship with God. In the same way you are to think of yourselves as dead, so far as sin is concered, but living in fellowship with God through Christ Jesus.
Sin must no longer rule in your mortal bodies, so that you obey the desires of your natural self. Nor must you surrender any part of yourselves to sin to be used for wicked purposes. Instead, give yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life, and surrender your whole being to him to be used for righteous purposes. Sin must not be your master; for you do not live under law but under God's grace.
*Sinful habits
- a particular area that we fall after repenting over and over again
- most destrucive in the person's mind
Colossians 3:6-9: Because of such things God's anger will come upon those who do not obey him. At one time you yourselves used to lie according to such desires, when your life was dominated by them.
But now you must get rid of all these things: anger, passion, and hateful feelings. No insults or obscene talk must ever come from your lips. Do not lie to one another, for you have taken off the old self with its habits.
eg: anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, envy
Why is sin bad?
1. Destructive- prevent the blessings of God from coming in
Proverbs 28:13: You will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins. Confess them and give them up; the God will show mercy to you.
2. Separate us from God's presence is difficult
-find something missing when doing quiet time, reading the Bible with difficulty
3. Brings condemnation
-not sin but condemnation that brings us down
-the lies of the enemy to trample- cannot rise up against the sin
4. Quenches the joy of the Spirit
Psalm 51:11: Do not banish me from your presence; do not take your holy spirit away from me.
Ephesians 4:29-32: Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you. And do not make God's Holy Spirit sad; for the Spirit is God's mark of ownership on you, a guarantee that the Day will come when God will set you free. Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort.
Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ.
"Don't grieve the Holy Spirit of God"
5. Risk losing the joy of salvation
-if we continue to live in the bondages of our lives
-It becomes part of our character/personality that it becomes impossible to break through
eg: gossiping, envy, hatred
-cannot stand (envy) seeing people more beautiful that yourself
John 8:36: If the Son sets you free, then you will be really free.
Romans 8:2: For the law of the Spirit, which brings us life in union with Christ Jesus, has set me free form the law of sin and death.
-no longer bound by sin
-don't let our sinful habits control our lives
-fight against the carnal man
-we read all the motivational, self help books but those cant help us if our spirit man is dead
1 Corinthians 10: 1-13: I want yu to remember, my bothers, what happened to our ancestors who followed Moses. They were all under the protection of the cloud, and all passed safely through the Red Sea. In the cloud and in the sea they were all baptized as followers of Moses. All ate the same spiritual bread and drank the same spiritual drin. They drank from the Spiritual rock that went with them; and that rock was Christ himself. But even then God was not pleased ith most of them, and so their dead bodies were scattered over the desert.
-(let those who think he does not sin..)
-every temptation has a way out
James 1:12-15: Happy is the person who remains faithful under trials, because when he suceeds in passing such a test, he will receive as his reward the life which God has promised to those who love him. If a person is tempted by such trials, he must not say, "This temptation comes from God." For God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. But a person is tempted when he is drawned away and trapped by his own evil desire. Then his evil desire conceives and give birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
-It is the mind that temptation comes
-we entertain our thoughts until we fall into temptation
One day a man had a very clever mongkey. He had to go for a long trip so he told the mongkey that he could do anything except never to eat the banana from the banana tree. So while he was clearing the man's house, he stopped to look at the banana tree.
He said to himself, "My master told me not to eat the banana but he did not say i could not eat the banana."
So he saw the banana.
Then he thought to himself again "My master told me not to eat the banana but he did not say i could not go nearer to see the banana tree."
So he went nearer to the banana.
Then he thought to himself again "My master told me not to eat the banana but he did not say i could not climb the banana tree."
So he climbed the banana tree.
Then he thought to himself again "My master told me not to eat the banana but he did not say i could not hold the banana."
So he held the banana.
Then he thought to himself again "My master told me not to eat the banana but he did not say i could not smell the banana."
So he smelt the banana.
Again he thought to himself again "My master told me not to eat the banana but he did not say i could not pluck the banana."
So he plucked the banana.
Then he thought to himself again "My master told me not to eat the banana but he did not say i could not lick the banana."
The moment he licked the banana, he ate it.
This is how temptation can be.
*You might want to forgive that person who hurt you but when you begin thinking about the pain he or she caused you, you change your mind.
*We try and resist temptation when we are on the way to temptation
*That is not the way. Instead, we should try and resist while it is a thought in our minds
*How does he stop while temptation is still a thought
*Jesus getting tempted in 40 days
Luke 4:1-13: Jesus returned from the Jordan full of the Holy Spirit and was led by the Spirit into the desert,where he was tempted by the Devil for forty days.In all that time he ate nothing, so that he was hungry when it was over.
The Devil said to him, "If you are God's Son, order this stone to turn into bread."
But Jesus answred, "The scripture says, 'Man cannot live on bread alone.'"
Then the Devil took him up and showed him in a second all the kingdoms of the world "I will give you all this power and all this wealth, " the Devil told him. "It has all been handed over to me, and I can give it to anyone I choose. All this will be yours, then, if you worship me."
Jesus answered, "The scripture says, 'Worship the Lord your God and serve only him!'"
Then the Devil took him to Jerusalem and set him on the highest point of the Temple, and said to him, "If you are God's Son, throw yourself down from here. For the scripture says, 'God will order his angels to take good care of you, ' It also says, 'They will hold you up with their hands so that not even your feet will be hurt on the stones.'"
But Jesus answered, "The scripture says, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test, '"
When the Devil finished tempting Jesus in every way, he left him for a while.
*In that story, Jesus immediately responded, he didn't think
Deuteronomy 8:3: He made you go hungry, and then he gave you manna to eat, food that you and your ancestors had never eaten before. He did this to teach you that man does not depend on bread alone to sustain him, but on everything that the Lord says.
Deuteronomy 6:16: "Do not put the Lord your Go to the test, as you did at Massah."
Deuteronomy 10:20: Obey the Lord your God and worship only him. Be faithful to him and make your promises in his name alone.
Ephesians 6:16: At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One.
*Faith comes by the word of God
*When our minds are filled with the word of God, we won't be tempted easily
*Every waking moment your mind is filled with the word of God if you keep reading the word of God. Then, you will not fall so easily into temptation
James 4:7: So then, submit to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you.
*THE CHOICE IS OURS
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
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