Was contemplating about this kingdom of heaven and was reminded of a few interesting aspects of it.
The first thing that I was reminded of is regarding money and wealth.
The world sees money as a very important thing in their lives and some even value it more than their own life itself.
I saw how people choose the establish relationships and friendships with people who are high flyers and so-called high key people, the rich; the wealthy; the famous; the well-known... And would very much want to be associated with them.
Yet, Jesus came and associated himself with the unloved, unworthy, unpopular.. To me, this is the kingdom of heaven - to love the unloved, to reach the unreached, to give a value to those who feel that they are not worthy, to bring those who are outcasted close.. And not be afraid to be associated with them. We are in the world, but not of the world.
The bible says, we cannot serve 2 masters, God and mammon, for if we love one, we will hate the other.
The world sets itself on a mode to get and store up for itself the riches of this world. But I was reminded of something I learnt back in 2006 when I was attending SOT. One teaching that impacted me till today.
When you need money, don't sell your things, give them away. For it's more blessed to give than to receive.
Many many many times in the bible, it was shown that as the man or woman of God put their trust in God, pouring out the exact thing they needed most on the altar, God will take care of their needs!
- the widow who is left with a jar of oil
- Elijah who poured water on the offering in the midst of a drought
- and many more
Yes, money is essential for survival in this world where everything is dollar and cents. I'm not saying that we should be on a extreme of not working and just trusting God to provide, because the bible says that, he who does not labor shall not eat.
But what I am saying is, are you motivated by money? Is money having it's stronghold in your life? If just like the rich young ruler, God is to call you to sell and give away all your possessions, properties, shares etc and follow Him, will you so gladly do it or will you be grieved for your possessions are much?
Friday, June 27, 2014
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Washing of the heart
Last week Pastor Tan shared on The Tabernacle and one of the items found in the tabernacle is the Bronze Laver.
Exodus 30:17-21
The Bronze Laver is to be place between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar, filled with water for Aaron and his sons to wash their hands and their feet
Water is often a symbol of the Holy Spirit and the word of God
Vs 20. Aaron and his sons are to wash after ministering and before minister, lest they die
Whenever there is a double emphasis in the bible, it means it is really serious.
vs 21. the Lord emphasised saying, so they shall wash their hands and feet, lest they die.
The washing of feet in comparison to Jesus' times when He wash the feet of the disciples, is for the cleansing and making whole, to be completely clean.
John 13:8
Jesus said to Peter, "if I do not wash your feet, you have no part with me"
It is a constant choice that Aaron and his sons have to make to come and wash themselves at the Bronze Laver. Not just themselves, but the bible say that it shall be a statute forever to them and their descendants throughout their generations!
However, this washing of hands and feet is the symbol of something deeper, it is the washing of our hearts. And this washing cannot be washed by anything else, other than the Holy Spirit and the word of God. We are to wash ourselves in the Holy Spirit and the word of God each time before and after we minister!
What do our hearts have to be washed of?
Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13 (AMP)
You cannot serve God and mammon for you will love one and despite the other.
Mammon - deceitful riches, money, possessions or anything in which you trust and on which you rely
Pastor Bob said that in chinese, it means "心怀二以" - Your heart is no longer loyal to ONE.
Matthew 12:25
"Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand"
This applies even to our individual life, if we are not ONE, we "心怀二以" on the inside of us, then we will also not stand.
Matthew 5:37
"But let your 'yes' be 'yes' and your 'no' be 'no'. For whatever is more than these is from the evil one."
Many times in the bible, the fall of someone is when their heart is no longer ONE unto the Lord, they have allowed mammon into their hearts.
Take for example, Saul was not taken over by David as king because God has raised up another leader or because David tries to do something to take that position from him. Saul was taken over because he had allows mammon to enter his heart.
In 1 Samuel 10:9, when Saul was anointed king, the Lord gave him a 'new heart'
But what was Saul problem?
#1: He was lack of confidence and self-esteem
The bible says that " there was no one like him among all the people"; "from his shoulder upwards he was taller than any of the people"; "not a more handsome person than he among the children of israel", but yet at the point of proclaiming him as king, he hid among the equipment
Like what Weifang shared last week, God has a call in our lives and it is irrevocable, so what are we doing about our callings?
If you were there for the last 40-night prayer meeting with Pastor Tan, he talked about the inheriting of the land.
At first, the 9 and a half tribe were allocated to 10.5% each to the Western part. But because they did not 'receive' the inheritance though it was 'given', the 2 and half tribe that went in took up in total with the other 2 and half tribes, 75% of the whole land of Israel. Leaving only 25% to be shared among the remaining 7 tribes.
I can imagine the 7 tribes must be complaining that it is unfair that the 2 and half tribes took more than that which was allocated to them!
Yes the call of God that was 'given' is irrevocable, but until we stretch out our hands to 'receive' it, we still have not 'inherited' the promise!
Maybe just like Saul, we are feeling that we are not good enough to lead. What we need is a revelation that we are leading through God and in His authority, not our own.
Very often I feel like I am not good enough, example when pastor ask the leaders to go out and pray for the people or sometimes when in ministering to the members in CG but most of the time we will feel like this is because we have not washed our hands and our feet before and after we minister!
According to Pastor Tan, this is known as a spiritual heart condition!
Therefore, we need to wash ourselves every time before and after we minister, with the Holy Spirit and the word of God, lest we die (not just referring to a physical death, but a spiritual death that leads to eternal death)
#2: He allowed the mammon of approval of men rather than the approval of God to enter him
Saul offer up the unlawful sacrifice that he should not have done as a king because he was afraid the people scattered from him, he felt compelled
Later part in 1 Samuel 15:24 when Saul sinned against the Lord again, he said "because I feared the people and obeyed their voices"
Galatians 1:10 "For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ."
Sometimes it can be very easy to fall into this trap of doing more, studying harder, working more or even serving more, just to wish to hear the praises of our parents, bosses or leaders over our lives
As leaders, sometimes we end up not discipling the members because we were 'afraid' that they would be scattered from us
There is a difference between honoring our leaders, our parents, our bosses versus seeking the approval of men
Recently I was watching a TV series about this lady who often does work beyond her call of duty and with great excellence. She always tries to impress her boss just so that the boss will praise her, but the boss never did. She did EVEN MORE, not connecting well with other colleagues because she always tries to be better and more superior over them. One day, she passed her, done beyond the call of duty, work to the boss but instead of being praised the boss said that she should think carefully whether it is necessary before doing it. She could not hold it back anymore she broke out in tears and said that she was only hoping to hear her praises and approval but the boss said this, "If you are doing everything just to get my approval, then you are missing the whole point"
We can be doing the same thing but with a different motivation, ask yourself what is the driving motivation for you to be hanging on or even striving on?
If your aim is the approval of men, then when you do not receive the kind of approval you are expecting, you will be discouraged and give up. But if you motivation is to please God, know that whatever you do and are not rewarded on earth, you will be rewarded in heaven!
3 times in Matthew 6, Jesus talked about this:
vs 1 "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven."
vs 5 "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward."
vs 16-18 "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting. but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."
After talking about these, Jesus went on to talk about laying up for yourselves the treasures in heaven and where our treasure is, there our hearts will be!
If your treasures are in the rewards on earth, found in the approval of men, then there your heart will be!
If you work tirelessly with excellence but have not receive your reward on earth, be of good cheers for your rewards are treasure stored in heaven!
Aaron and his sons are required to wash themselves before and after they serve, so as to remind themselves that the ministry they do is to serve the people for the glory of God and not for their own glory; therefore they must wash lest they die (spiritual death that leads to eternal death)
#3: He was not consistent in his obedience unto the Lord and did not obey ALL THE WAY
Saul brought back the best of the spoil to sacrifice to God and spared Agag king of the Amalekites, despite the word of God was to utterly destroy them.
What is mammon again?
Mammon - deceitful riches, money, possessions or anything in which you trust and on which you rely
When Saul was destroying the livestock of the Amelakites, his heart was moved to keep the best, though he used it for the sacrifice unto the Lord, but what did Samuel say about this?
1 Samuel 15:22-23 "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice. And to heed then the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is a iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king."
Saul started out obeying the Lord, but he did not obey all the way!
Are your heart moved by the riches that the world can offer?
This does not mean that we cannot excel in the marketplace or work to earn money but it is about, what is the word of God for us. The bible says, obedience is better than sacrifice!
Just this week, Pastor Kong was saying, "With God NOTHING will be impossible"
Nothing in greek means no-pas-rehma = "with God no any spoken word will be impossible!"
But the world says, without money all things are impossible
So which do you rely on?
Saul was no longer ONE inside him, because he was divided and just as we saw earlier in Matthew 12:25 that whatever is divided against itself will not stand!
Later part in 1 Samuel 28, vs 2 we see that Saul after the death of Samuel, put all the mediums and spiritists out of the land. But in vs 7, he went to a medium to inquire of her for the Lord did not answer him through dreams or prophets.
Saul obeyed the Lord, but he did not obey all the way!
Aaron and his sons have to make a decision to obey the Lord in the washing of their hands and feet before and after they minister all the days of their lives, to obey the Lord all the way!
#4: He had a competitive spirit
1 Samuel 18:7-11 Saul tries to kill David twice simply because the people sang "Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands."
No one can take over our place just because they are better or have done more. Saul was replaced and rejected not because David is winning the people to himself.
But God raised up for Himself another king, David, because Saul did not obey His word and was rejected
To each of us, we all have our individual callings and none of us rise up above another by putting each other down (the system of the world)
It is not about who is better or who had done more, but all authority comes from above!
When we have a right heart and a right attitude, God will rise us up at the appointed time
The bible say that we are to be as ONE and united in our knowing of the Lord, through the share our revelations and grow together in our knowing of the Lord!
Therefore let us encourage one another and grow as ONE in our knowing of the Lord and remind one another to wash ourselves constantly at Bronze Laver!
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Tests in our lives
Every situation in life, is a lesson to learn.
Very often this learning attitude will determine how well you 'pass' or 'fail' the test.
Like we often said, your attitude determines your altitude!
Talking about test, i think our lives are filled with test from the very day we know to make sense of anything.
Almost when you couldn't even remember, we are often tested on our integrity and moral principals like,
- did you take the cookies from the cookies jag?
- who broke the glasses?
- did you take any cold drinks in school?
- have you finish your homework? (Most of the time when you are catching your favourite TV series or cartoon show)
even in little things like this, the test had already begun.
When we entered pre-school, the termly test known as exams begun. It remains constant for almost a huge fraction of our lives. To many, it seems unnecessary but to me, i think it prepares us for the real test in life.
One thing i learn about test are,
IF YOU FAIL, YOU WILL HAVE TO SIT FOR IT AGAIN!
Are you tested in your love for people? Trust in God? perseverance through difficult times?
Know that we have a God who is more interested in our character than comfort!
The grace is, you get to sit for the test AGAIN!
The way to pass is not depending on your own strength but the grace of God is sufficient for you!
You only move on after you actually pass the test.
I believe in every situation, God is testing both the tester and the testee.
The tester is often the one tested with bitterness and hurt, who in turn tries to hurt or put the testee through a trial due to that hurt or pain he explained that was not deal with properly; temptation to betray to protect oneself or for the benefit of one.
Whilst the test for the testee is how he/she will handle the situation without feeling bitter about the tester, but yet in all, choose to love.
Recently, even before these incidents happened, God spoke to me when i am in the bathroom, as always.
I was feeling a lot about this and about that and sometimes felt that certain things someone did, can be done better etc.
I guess it's just human, but God came and said to me that, the reason why He allowed me to feel a certain way is not so that i can be complaining all day, but to the change agent!
Be the one to make a change!
If there's a way to make the world a better place, it always begins with the man in the mirror!
So i decided that i want to start something NEW called 'Celebrating your success!' where we can come together to support and share the joy of one another's success!
Sometimes it can be quite emotional when you feel that no one is sharing your joy.
We will be there not just for the good times but we will also be there for the bad times!
Lord, strengthen me that i can be the change agent and make this family a better place, a place where we can be united to know you more!
Very often this learning attitude will determine how well you 'pass' or 'fail' the test.
Like we often said, your attitude determines your altitude!
Talking about test, i think our lives are filled with test from the very day we know to make sense of anything.
Almost when you couldn't even remember, we are often tested on our integrity and moral principals like,
- did you take the cookies from the cookies jag?
- who broke the glasses?
- did you take any cold drinks in school?
- have you finish your homework? (Most of the time when you are catching your favourite TV series or cartoon show)
even in little things like this, the test had already begun.
When we entered pre-school, the termly test known as exams begun. It remains constant for almost a huge fraction of our lives. To many, it seems unnecessary but to me, i think it prepares us for the real test in life.
One thing i learn about test are,
IF YOU FAIL, YOU WILL HAVE TO SIT FOR IT AGAIN!
Are you tested in your love for people? Trust in God? perseverance through difficult times?
Know that we have a God who is more interested in our character than comfort!
The grace is, you get to sit for the test AGAIN!
The way to pass is not depending on your own strength but the grace of God is sufficient for you!
You only move on after you actually pass the test.
I believe in every situation, God is testing both the tester and the testee.
The tester is often the one tested with bitterness and hurt, who in turn tries to hurt or put the testee through a trial due to that hurt or pain he explained that was not deal with properly; temptation to betray to protect oneself or for the benefit of one.
Whilst the test for the testee is how he/she will handle the situation without feeling bitter about the tester, but yet in all, choose to love.
Recently, even before these incidents happened, God spoke to me when i am in the bathroom, as always.
I was feeling a lot about this and about that and sometimes felt that certain things someone did, can be done better etc.
I guess it's just human, but God came and said to me that, the reason why He allowed me to feel a certain way is not so that i can be complaining all day, but to the change agent!
Be the one to make a change!
If there's a way to make the world a better place, it always begins with the man in the mirror!
So i decided that i want to start something NEW called 'Celebrating your success!' where we can come together to support and share the joy of one another's success!
Sometimes it can be quite emotional when you feel that no one is sharing your joy.
We will be there not just for the good times but we will also be there for the bad times!
Lord, strengthen me that i can be the change agent and make this family a better place, a place where we can be united to know you more!
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Choosing the path
With the most recent thing i read, i think i felt even more than how i felt about the haze PSI that went up to 401. I guess there is no right or wrong, just different perspective of issues. When people are, there will always be different views and understanding of things i guess.
What i just read did not cause me to feel waived or doubt the church at all. In fact, it cause me to feel like i probably could understand what he is going through. I was on that path a short while back.
In life, there are always many paths. The broad way and the narrow way. Usually it is harder to stay on the right path than to go astray. Situations may happen, but it is how we response that God is looking at. People may be in the same situation but sitting for a different test.
The truth is for us to choose to love and show mercy despite of the shortcomings, not for us to judge. Christ did not come to judge but to save those who are lost.
We are saved by love, for love.
*Praying that the love of God will move and soften the hardened heart*
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
7 facts i say to myself when kana hit
I realised i wrote this in 2009 but it was saved in my draft! Enjoy!
haha
this is a very silly but effective 7 facts for myself to remember
so each time the devil tries to hit me down
these are the 7 things that i will say to myself
to get back into my senses and back to normal
but thought of getting it into a list
cuz recently keep kana hit down
and sometimes the time needed to pick myself up gets a bit too long
then will affect the people around me also
so decided to state them
you can try saying them to yourself too
=P
7 FACTS:
1. the devil is stupid, there's no room for argument de
2. he cannot think of better ways of attacking meh =.=
3. i will not let down my hedge of protection de hor
4. i know his stupid tricks and i wont fall for them de rite
5. i am so smart and sharp in the spirit, i'm sure the devil wont get me with this de =)
6. most importantly, God's Will will stand~!
7. and all things will work out for my good!
=D
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Mercy and not sacrifice
"Learn what I mean by "I desire mercy and not sacrifice"" Jesus said.
This verse has been ringing in my head. I seems like a fairly easy verse but yet Jesus replied this same verse a couple of times in His 3 and a half years of ministry and emphasized by the disciples in the gospels.
Today, i woke up praying and reading the bible that God is our deliverer and He will stretch out His hand to us. Ending off, i was reminded of "I desire mercy and not sacrifice" again.
Giving mercy seems to be quite an easy task, when no one is 'stepping on your toes'.
Showing mercy becomes tough with the very same person just keeps 'stepping on your toes' over and over again and yet still insist they are right.
When i was just a student, doing well is an individual thing. You cannot blame others for your results and you cannot do better by putting others down. But in the world, people goes up only when others comes down. Its amazing to see how people put others down just so that they can go up. Whether is it just in terms of position or ranks, sometimes people do it even for emotional elevation, to make themselves feel that they are better than others.
This week i was watching Dr. OZ and he was talking about bullies. Tera was on the show and she said this "most of the time the person who bullies often has an issue themselves and by putting others down, they are trying to draw confident to themselves" and "most of the time, the bullies are hurting more than you are, on the inside"
It is human to sometimes want to complain. I am human.
But to show mercy is not just an 'act' of kindness to the person, but it is also not to speak evil of the person. Sometimes it may not even be speaking 'evil', sometimes it is just the TRUTH. But yet, you still choose not to speak it of that person. That in itself is showing mercy.
Is it really that easy? i guess it is not and it will be a learning process. If it would have been easy, Jesus would not need to ask us to LEARN, what He meant by that.
This verse has been ringing in my head. I seems like a fairly easy verse but yet Jesus replied this same verse a couple of times in His 3 and a half years of ministry and emphasized by the disciples in the gospels.
Today, i woke up praying and reading the bible that God is our deliverer and He will stretch out His hand to us. Ending off, i was reminded of "I desire mercy and not sacrifice" again.
Giving mercy seems to be quite an easy task, when no one is 'stepping on your toes'.
Showing mercy becomes tough with the very same person just keeps 'stepping on your toes' over and over again and yet still insist they are right.
When i was just a student, doing well is an individual thing. You cannot blame others for your results and you cannot do better by putting others down. But in the world, people goes up only when others comes down. Its amazing to see how people put others down just so that they can go up. Whether is it just in terms of position or ranks, sometimes people do it even for emotional elevation, to make themselves feel that they are better than others.
This week i was watching Dr. OZ and he was talking about bullies. Tera was on the show and she said this "most of the time the person who bullies often has an issue themselves and by putting others down, they are trying to draw confident to themselves" and "most of the time, the bullies are hurting more than you are, on the inside"
It is human to sometimes want to complain. I am human.
But to show mercy is not just an 'act' of kindness to the person, but it is also not to speak evil of the person. Sometimes it may not even be speaking 'evil', sometimes it is just the TRUTH. But yet, you still choose not to speak it of that person. That in itself is showing mercy.
Is it really that easy? i guess it is not and it will be a learning process. If it would have been easy, Jesus would not need to ask us to LEARN, what He meant by that.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Building your life on the solid Rock!
God gave us 5 senses and He wants us to use all of them when it comes to knowing the word of God!
1) I receive it with my EARS, hearing the word of God
Romans 10:17
The same seed being sow at different places can bring a completely different harvest!
The difference is, the soil need to be PREPARED for the seed.
It has to be plowed, fertilized.
Our heart must be PREPARED to hear the word of God! we need to be in a receptive mood!
Heart reception need 4 attitudes:
A) Be quiet
Quick to listen, slow to speak!
You cannot hear when you are talking!
B) Be calm
Slow to become angry. when you are emotional upset, you cannot hear what people is saying.
"Be still and know that I and God"
C) Be clean
"Lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness"
Filth - Ear wax
Wickedness - anything in our life that we know is wrong
We get these out of our lives through, confession!
D) Be humble
Ready to do whatever God tells you to do in His word
2) Read it with my EYES
James 1:22-25
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
1) I receive it with my EARS, hearing the word of God
James 1:19-21
19 So then,[a] my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
Romans 10:17
The same seed being sow at different places can bring a completely different harvest!
The difference is, the soil need to be PREPARED for the seed.
It has to be plowed, fertilized.
Our heart must be PREPARED to hear the word of God! we need to be in a receptive mood!
Heart reception need 4 attitudes:
A) Be quiet
Quick to listen, slow to speak!
You cannot hear when you are talking!
B) Be calm
Slow to become angry. when you are emotional upset, you cannot hear what people is saying.
"Be still and know that I and God"
C) Be clean
"Lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness"
Filth - Ear wax
Wickedness - anything in our life that we know is wrong
We get these out of our lives through, confession!
D) Be humble
Ready to do whatever God tells you to do in His word
2) Read it with my EYES
James 1:22-25
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
A) looks = reading and reflecting in the word of God
Evaluate yourself
glance in the mirror or gazes into the mirror
B) continue = revealing the word
C) not forgeting = remembering
D) doing it = responding
E) be blessed in what he does
3) Research the word of God with my hands = studying the word
Writing something down and talking to someone about it!
Listen, write, read and talk!
John 5:39
39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
Search the word (Hands and mouth), for it all points to God
4) Reveal and remember the word of God with my mind
studying the word and remember them because when you need the word, you may not always have the bible with you
You will remember what is important to you!
Memory can be increased
Study have shown that remembering verses can help to increase your memory over other areas of your life
Mediation - remembering and revealing the scripture in your mind
Joshua 1:8
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
if you mediate on My word day and night!
5) Respond to it with my actions
James 1:22
You only believe the part of the bible you actually do!
Matthew 24:
Building your life on the unchanging Rock!
When you are not building your life on the Rock, you have stress in your life because the ground is constantly moving!
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