"Three Kingdoms: Wits and Wisdom"

Rev Ricky Ho

James 3:13-18: "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth

Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.


*There is a difference between earthly and spiritual wisdom
*True wisdom is not philosophical. It has to be acted upon, just like faith without deeds is nothing

1. True Wisdom is active (v13)
*Respect is not due to age
*Respect needs to be earned

2. False wisdom is self-serving (v14-16)
*The difference between false and true wisdom is that false wisdom self seeking
*Earthly, Unspiritual, Relative to the Devil was how James describe false wisdom
*Wrote the book of Proverbs to give God's wisdom
*The story of Ester-save her people by addressing the problem to the king
*Saul's envy and selfishness destroyed him as a king
*Temptation of being successful is dangerous

*Revelation 21:8: But cowards, traitors, perverts, murderers, the immoral, those who practise magic, those who worship idols, and all liars- the place for them is the lake burning with fire and sulphur, which is the second death."

*2 Kings 20: (King Hezekiah's illness and recovery)


*Earthly wisdom cannot equate with God's wisdom because there is a God factor in it.
*Winning is true love and sacrifice

3. True wisdom is pure (v17)
*God's wisdom is a wisdom of peace
-Considerate and submissive
-Full of good fruit
-Impartiality- no matter what were wearing, we are cloth with Christ
-Sincerity- what God says, he will do. Thus, we must do the same

The only thing we have to care is the Kingdom of God

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

Redeemer!

The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him....... Thoughts on This Verse... God not only buys us out of our bondage and debt to sin, but he also assures us that he will provide refuge for those who trust in him. Our future is tied to him and not to our ability to provide and protect what we need. 


-Psalm 34:22-

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

1st John

If anyone declares that Jesus is the Son of God, he lives in union with God and God lives in union with him.


-1 John 4:15-

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

Growing is NOT an option

Uncle Cho Hui

13/2/2011

2 Peter 3:18: But continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory, now and for ever! Amen.
2 Peter 1:5-8: For this very reason do your best to add goodness to your faith; to your goodness add knowledge; to your knowledge add self-control; to your self-control add endurance; to your endurance add godliness; to your godliness add brotherly affection; and to your brotherly affection add love. These are the qualities you need, and if you have them in abundance, they will make you active and effective in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.


*Spiritual growth
*Imperative gives an idea of command
*Growing is an on-going process which is not an option
*We have to keep on growing even in heaven because God is infinite
*We are imperfect and have hindrances preventing us from growing
1. The idea that we think were too old or young to learn
*But in reality, we neither too young or old.

2. We think were smart enough, and do not need to grow anymore


3. We think we are too busy, hence no time to grow
*1 Corinthians 15:10: But by God's grace I am what I am, and the grace that he gave me was not without effect. On the contrary, I have worked harder than any of the other apostleas, although it was not really my own doing, but God's grace working with me.

*Grace is what God gives to a person
*The best way to show is through spiritual gifts
*Grace is also what God does to a person
*What are the things we should do so that God can do something for us?
*Humble and contrite heart = spiritual discipline and transform you to be a little bit more caring, loving and so on.
*We should think spiritual discipline as efforts of making space for grace

Conclusion
*We as Christians cannot say we don't want to grow in knowledge and in spirit
*We must hear and obey, mold and apply
*We need to do something and follow up such as attending some good beneficial workshops or courses:)

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

"The Power Of Persistent Prayer"

Rev Ricky Ho

Daniel 10:12-14: Then he said, "Daniel, don't be afraid. God has heard your prayers ever since the first day you decided to humble yourself in order to gain understanding. I have come in answer to your prayer. The angel prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Micheal, one of the chief angels, came to help me, because I had been left there alone in Persia. I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the future. This is a vision about the future.


Luke 18:1-7: Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to teach them that they should always pray and never become discouraged. "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that same town who kept coming to him and pleading for her rights, saying, 'Help me against my opponent!' For a long time the judge refused to act, but at last he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or respect man, yet because of all the trouble this widow is giving me, I will see to it that she gets her rights. If I don't, she will keep on coming and finally wear me out!'"


And the Lord continued, "Listen to what that corrupt judge said. Now, will God not judge in favour of his own people who cry to him day and night for help? Will he be slow to help them?

Jesus taught us we should always pray and not give up

*Hardly any of us pray for the same thing for 21 days
*Whats the point of praying the same thing when God already knows
*God asks us to be consistent with our prayer
*David prayed for the sins of the Israelites, wisdom, prayer in his room and lions den 3 times a day
*Jesus point was on the persistent widow, we ought to pray and never give up

1. Why should we always pray and not give up
*No, in fact, as soon as you begin to pray, an answer is given
*Daniel 9:23: When you began to plead with God, he answered you. He loves you, and so I have come to tell you the answer. Now pay attention while I explain the vision.

*Our theology sometimes deny spiritual warfare because when we pray, an angel is at the back.

2. When you pray, angels are at your beck and call
*The story of Daniel's prayer says it all
*When Daniel prayed demonic forces rose up (the prince of Persia) and angelic warfare broke out which means:
- we turn loose the very power of heaven
-we have the power to battle the very forces of darkness
-angels are willing to answer your prayers
*Do you pray for your loved ones to come to the Lord
*Prayer is an active, powerful ministry

3. What might have happened when we give up
*Every time we pray, we unleash more and more power from the throne of God

Conclusion
*Pray. Until. Something. Happens. PUSH your prayers!
*If you believe in prayer, pray and persist in prayer in times of troubles!



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

Perishable vs Mortality

"When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."


-1 Corinthians 15:54-

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

Don't trust men alone!

"Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?"


-Isaiah 2:22-

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