Friday, January 8, 2010
Welcome to 2010!
Choose God & Abundance this Year!
We had our very first cell meeting of the year last evening! There seems to be a sense of His presence with us and that is just so encouraging! Clearly, everyone was glad to see everyone, and there was a very comforting sense of familiarity, I am sure all would agree. :)
Living 'On Target'
God's Spirit was with us and prompted us to position ourselves, fortify our team, so that we can be Christians that live 'ON TARGET', not just generic and vague. It is a prime (and subtle) strategy of our enemy to keep us as generic and vague Christians, so let's refuse that and break out of it! The following are first steps to more actively involving everyone, in fact, mobilising everyone, to do greater things for Him this year!
Everyone can Lead
This year, we will continue with the concept of a Roster for leading our weekly meetings. This arrangement was well received in the last few months and we have decided to continue doing this. We want everyone to feel a sense of ownership to this group, and to use the gifts, talents and inspiration God has given you in this fellowship group setting. [I will be e-mailing the roster and members' contact list shortly.] Each group will be responsible for leading worship and sharing, and this year, we have also scheduled musicians (Sharon requested this!) :)
The 'A' Team
In addition, we have also assigned various roles to our members, as follows:
Simon & Audrey - Social Service Coordinators
Teik & Gim - Treasurers*
Chai Lih & Joyce - Prayer Coordinators
Susan - Birthday Coordinator
Sharon, Paul, Simon, Kah Lin - Musicians
Don't worry if some of you don't see your names here yet - we are working on your special roles and will mobilise you in due time! :)
We brainstormed a bit on how best to coordinate prayer and suggested a few things. We shall leave Chai Lih and Joyce to think thru' this a little more and propose to us what's the best arrangement. Our vision in this space is simply that we want to leverage on prayer to move God's hand in matters that matter - eg. claiming salvation for our loved ones, upholding members who are facing challenges, etc.
Kingdom Building Fund
* For a start, as suggested at last night's 'AGM', we would like to invite each member to contribute $20 into a Cell Group Fund. This will mainly be used to cover the costs of our social outreach activities, birthday gifts for members, and get-well gifts for members/their parents or children. Kindly arrange to pass this to our Treasurers, Teik and Gim, at our next meeting (22 Jan). We will only request the next collection after the funds are depleted (don't worry, we will try to go easy on our wallets.) :)
Our First Social Service Effort!
What better way to kick-off the New Year than to bring cheer to our friends at PeaceHaven Nursing Home! Today (9 Jan) marks a historic start in our community service endeavour. We had a lovely time with a bunch of folks and brought songs (incl. Teresa Teng's), conversation and energy to them. Of course, our young ambassadors - Josiah, Eleanor and Ian - stole the show outright! Cheers to Simon and Audrey for helping us get this off the ground! This is not just going to be ECA, but will be an integral component of our fellowship life, as we seek to be more community-centric Christians, to bring His fragrance into the lives of many.
So, here's wishing you all, my dear brothers and sisters, a year of abundance, as we put God first in our lives!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Sharing on 28 August 2009
Learning to Flourish During Difficult Times
by Joshua
Introduction
We live in a very uncertain world. Many predict that difficult times are ahead. But regardless of what is happening around us, we need not be shaken. We don’t have to live in fear. We need not panic or live constantly in despair. Jesus said in John 16: 33 , In this world, you will have troubles. But take heart, I have overcome the world”. In fact, the uncertain times are golden opportunity for Christians to live out our faith. He wants to demonstrate to the world that He takes care of His children even in difficult times. Our God reigns over our lives. If God is for us, who can be against us”. Roman 8:31
Isaac Flourished in the midst of difficult times
There are wonderful stories in the OT of how took care His servants and children during difficult times. This evening, we would like to focus on of His servants, Isaac. We can learn much from Isaac, especially how he flourished during difficult times. Genesis 26: 26:1- 6; 12 -22 records two major problems Isaac faced.
The first struggle was an economic disaster
We read in verse 1 that there was a famine in the land. There was not enough food for his family and his servants if he had stayed in the land. There was not enough grass for his flocks and herds too. Economically he was devastated by the famine. He had no choice but to pack and leave. Where would he go? Egypt would be a natural choice. In the past, His father, Abraham went to Egypt. And Egypt at that was well watered by River Nile. We read that Isaac went to King Abimelech in Gerar, instead. As Egypt was far way, perhaps Gerar was the waiting place before he could make his move to Egypt. But Gerar was not spared from famine. Now the defining moment of his life came at this least expected place. He had an encounter with God. In verse 2, we read, “the Lord appeared to Isaac and said, do not go to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live, stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you”. And Isaac obeyed the Lord”.
What happened next? As an act of obedience, Isaac sowed seeds in the land of famine. In the same year, he reaped a hundredfold harvest. He became rich, but not only that, his wealth increased until he was very rich. Gen 26:13. He prospered right in the land of famine. This is awesome. God did the miracle. God provides and takes care of us when we are in the right place, strategically aligned to His purposes even when the prevailing circumstances in that place may not be to our liking or preference. Isaac was where God wanted him to be. He was obedient to what God told him to do. He stayed in that place. He sowed seed in that land. He trusted the Lord. And God prospered him. Where God plants us, He will prosper us and make us fruitful despite real or apparent challenges. Amen.
The second struggle was an unwanted opposition (Gen 26:14 -33)
As Isaac prospered, the people of Gerar became very envious of him. They teamed up together to drive Isaac away. Their strategy was simple - to fill up the wells of Isaac with dirt and earth. How did Isaac respond? He did not waste his energy defending his wells. He moved away from the city of Gerar and dug a new well. But the herdsmen of Gerar pursued him there too and made an unreasonable claim over the wells for their flocks. He did not confront them although he had every reason to do so. It is interesting to note that Isaac was simply re-digging the wells that belonged to the father. Isaac was a peace-loving person. He preferred not to have strife with the people. So he and his servants moved on and dug another well and the same thing happened. And so they moved on and dug another well again. This time there were no disturbances from the Philistines. No more disputes. No more conflicts. This time he enjoyed rest and peace in this place. So Isaac named it “Rehoboth” which means a large room; a large place. He said the Lord has given us a large place and we will flourish in this land”. What a wonderful confession and declaration.
Perhaps some of at this time us may be facing unwarranted opposition and challenges in our work places, in your businesses or even among your relatives. We may feel we are being bullied and chased from place to place. We may feel being unfairly treated and taken advantage of. There may be some “Philistines” mocking at you and trying to make your life very difficult and even miserable. Take courage from the life of Isaac. If we know we are in the right place and rightly aligned to His purposes and His callings in our lives, we need not follow the methods of the world – defensive and fight to the end. Don’t misunderstand me. Sometime the right thing to do is to dig in and fight. But there are also times when we have to let go and move on. We need wisdom and discernment from God. He will show us what to do as He did for Nehemiah when he was intimidated by Sanballat. He fought the battle with the help of the Lord. Friends, not all battles are worth fighting. There are times God will engage us in spiritual warfare. There are also times He will tell us that the battle belongs to Him. In such times, all we have to do is to stand still and see the glory of God as King Jehoshaphat did. We need to be discerning to the Holy Spirit and do what is right in that situation. The major truth we can learn from Isaac is that God vindicates His servant in the midst of unwarranted opposition and resistance. He brought him to a larger place to flourish.
Conclusion
Are you where God wants you to be? If you are, then hang in there. God is bringing you into your “Rehoboth” – a large place and He will cause you to flourish. He is going to take care of you and allow you to flourish even in the midst of your perplexing and difficult circumstances. We must live by faith and not by sight. To conclude, Isaac’s experiences and responses inspire us to go back to the basics. What are they?
Isaac sought the Lord.
He listened to the Lord.
He obeyed the Lord.
He acted on his faith by sowing seed in the land of famine.
And he prospered. Hallelujah!
by Joshua
Introduction
We live in a very uncertain world. Many predict that difficult times are ahead. But regardless of what is happening around us, we need not be shaken. We don’t have to live in fear. We need not panic or live constantly in despair. Jesus said in John 16: 33 , In this world, you will have troubles. But take heart, I have overcome the world”. In fact, the uncertain times are golden opportunity for Christians to live out our faith. He wants to demonstrate to the world that He takes care of His children even in difficult times. Our God reigns over our lives. If God is for us, who can be against us”. Roman 8:31
Isaac Flourished in the midst of difficult times
There are wonderful stories in the OT of how took care His servants and children during difficult times. This evening, we would like to focus on of His servants, Isaac. We can learn much from Isaac, especially how he flourished during difficult times. Genesis 26: 26:1- 6; 12 -22 records two major problems Isaac faced.
The first struggle was an economic disaster
We read in verse 1 that there was a famine in the land. There was not enough food for his family and his servants if he had stayed in the land. There was not enough grass for his flocks and herds too. Economically he was devastated by the famine. He had no choice but to pack and leave. Where would he go? Egypt would be a natural choice. In the past, His father, Abraham went to Egypt. And Egypt at that was well watered by River Nile. We read that Isaac went to King Abimelech in Gerar, instead. As Egypt was far way, perhaps Gerar was the waiting place before he could make his move to Egypt. But Gerar was not spared from famine. Now the defining moment of his life came at this least expected place. He had an encounter with God. In verse 2, we read, “the Lord appeared to Isaac and said, do not go to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live, stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you”. And Isaac obeyed the Lord”.
What happened next? As an act of obedience, Isaac sowed seeds in the land of famine. In the same year, he reaped a hundredfold harvest. He became rich, but not only that, his wealth increased until he was very rich. Gen 26:13. He prospered right in the land of famine. This is awesome. God did the miracle. God provides and takes care of us when we are in the right place, strategically aligned to His purposes even when the prevailing circumstances in that place may not be to our liking or preference. Isaac was where God wanted him to be. He was obedient to what God told him to do. He stayed in that place. He sowed seed in that land. He trusted the Lord. And God prospered him. Where God plants us, He will prosper us and make us fruitful despite real or apparent challenges. Amen.
The second struggle was an unwanted opposition (Gen 26:14 -33)
As Isaac prospered, the people of Gerar became very envious of him. They teamed up together to drive Isaac away. Their strategy was simple - to fill up the wells of Isaac with dirt and earth. How did Isaac respond? He did not waste his energy defending his wells. He moved away from the city of Gerar and dug a new well. But the herdsmen of Gerar pursued him there too and made an unreasonable claim over the wells for their flocks. He did not confront them although he had every reason to do so. It is interesting to note that Isaac was simply re-digging the wells that belonged to the father. Isaac was a peace-loving person. He preferred not to have strife with the people. So he and his servants moved on and dug another well and the same thing happened. And so they moved on and dug another well again. This time there were no disturbances from the Philistines. No more disputes. No more conflicts. This time he enjoyed rest and peace in this place. So Isaac named it “Rehoboth” which means a large room; a large place. He said the Lord has given us a large place and we will flourish in this land”. What a wonderful confession and declaration.
Perhaps some of at this time us may be facing unwarranted opposition and challenges in our work places, in your businesses or even among your relatives. We may feel we are being bullied and chased from place to place. We may feel being unfairly treated and taken advantage of. There may be some “Philistines” mocking at you and trying to make your life very difficult and even miserable. Take courage from the life of Isaac. If we know we are in the right place and rightly aligned to His purposes and His callings in our lives, we need not follow the methods of the world – defensive and fight to the end. Don’t misunderstand me. Sometime the right thing to do is to dig in and fight. But there are also times when we have to let go and move on. We need wisdom and discernment from God. He will show us what to do as He did for Nehemiah when he was intimidated by Sanballat. He fought the battle with the help of the Lord. Friends, not all battles are worth fighting. There are times God will engage us in spiritual warfare. There are also times He will tell us that the battle belongs to Him. In such times, all we have to do is to stand still and see the glory of God as King Jehoshaphat did. We need to be discerning to the Holy Spirit and do what is right in that situation. The major truth we can learn from Isaac is that God vindicates His servant in the midst of unwarranted opposition and resistance. He brought him to a larger place to flourish.
Conclusion
Are you where God wants you to be? If you are, then hang in there. God is bringing you into your “Rehoboth” – a large place and He will cause you to flourish. He is going to take care of you and allow you to flourish even in the midst of your perplexing and difficult circumstances. We must live by faith and not by sight. To conclude, Isaac’s experiences and responses inspire us to go back to the basics. What are they?
Isaac sought the Lord.
He listened to the Lord.
He obeyed the Lord.
He acted on his faith by sowing seed in the land of famine.
And he prospered. Hallelujah!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
29 May 2009
The Power of the Spoken Word
by Brother Teik
Tonight, brother Teik shares with us his precious daily practice of confessing his faith. We are happy to share his set of 5 declarations here for your reflection and use. Brother Teik prays these at the start and close of the day. What a beautiful way to open and close the day!
I also took the opportunity to do a quick search of the scriptures on the power of the spoken word, and leave the following verses with you:
First of all, God speaks the universe into existence! Genesis 1:3 - Then God said, "Let there be light, and there was light".
Mark 11:22-23 - [Jesus says] That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
John 6:63 - [Jesus says] The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
Proverbs 18:21 The tongue [spoken word] has the power of life and death.
(1) Taken from Dr. David Yonggi-Cho's 4th Dimensional Living in 3rd Dimensional World (pg.18-19)
I believe in Jesus Christ, my personal Saviour and Lord
I received forgiveness through the precious blood of Jesus Christ
I believe in the Holy Spirit who sanctifies me
I believe I shall be healed from sickness
I believe I shall be blessed
I believe in the Resurrection and in everlasting life in heaven
and I believe I'm a citizen of God.
(2) From Brain Bailey's 'Heaven's Glories and the Untold Terrors of Hell' (pg. 202)
Dear Lord, forgive me for my backsliding. Draw me again to You and graciously receive me. Strengthen me and cause me to walk in Thy ways, never again to leave the pathway of righteousness. Amen.
(3) A hymn by Lemmel from the Methodist Hymnal
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of the earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
(4) At the Close of Day (prayer)
O Lord my God, I thank thee that thou has brought this day to its close. I thank thee that thou dost give rest to body and soul. Thy hand has been over me, guarding me and preserving me.
Forgive my feeble faith and all the wrong I have done this day, and help me to forgive all who have wronged me.
Grant that I may sleep in peace beneath thy care and defend me from the temptations of darkness. Into thy hands I commend my loved ones, I commend this household, I commend my body and soul. O God, thy holy name be praised. Amen.
(5) The prayer of Saint Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console
To be understood, as to understand
To be loved, as to love
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
by Brother Teik
Tonight, brother Teik shares with us his precious daily practice of confessing his faith. We are happy to share his set of 5 declarations here for your reflection and use. Brother Teik prays these at the start and close of the day. What a beautiful way to open and close the day!
I also took the opportunity to do a quick search of the scriptures on the power of the spoken word, and leave the following verses with you:
First of all, God speaks the universe into existence! Genesis 1:3 - Then God said, "Let there be light, and there was light".
Mark 11:22-23 - [Jesus says] That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
John 6:63 - [Jesus says] The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
Proverbs 18:21 The tongue [spoken word] has the power of life and death.
(1) Taken from Dr. David Yonggi-Cho's 4th Dimensional Living in 3rd Dimensional World (pg.18-19)
I believe in Jesus Christ, my personal Saviour and Lord
I received forgiveness through the precious blood of Jesus Christ
I believe in the Holy Spirit who sanctifies me
I believe I shall be healed from sickness
I believe I shall be blessed
I believe in the Resurrection and in everlasting life in heaven
and I believe I'm a citizen of God.
(2) From Brain Bailey's 'Heaven's Glories and the Untold Terrors of Hell' (pg. 202)
Dear Lord, forgive me for my backsliding. Draw me again to You and graciously receive me. Strengthen me and cause me to walk in Thy ways, never again to leave the pathway of righteousness. Amen.
(3) A hymn by Lemmel from the Methodist Hymnal
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of the earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
(4) At the Close of Day (prayer)
O Lord my God, I thank thee that thou has brought this day to its close. I thank thee that thou dost give rest to body and soul. Thy hand has been over me, guarding me and preserving me.
Forgive my feeble faith and all the wrong I have done this day, and help me to forgive all who have wronged me.
Grant that I may sleep in peace beneath thy care and defend me from the temptations of darkness. Into thy hands I commend my loved ones, I commend this household, I commend my body and soul. O God, thy holy name be praised. Amen.
(5) The prayer of Saint Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console
To be understood, as to understand
To be loved, as to love
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
22 May 2009
Not by Might, nor by Power...
Reflections on Jeremiah 17:5-8
This evening, we looked at Jeremiah 17:5-8. It talks of two kinds of people - those who trust in human beings and those who trust in God. Or, those who make flesh their strength vs those whose hope is in God.
The truth is, most people have this inclination of trusting in the strength of their flesh. Let's face it - it's a human tendency. We tend to believe in the seen and heard, and find it hard to believe by faith that which is unseen and not very obvious to our natural senses.
The men of God in the bible all had a distinctive quality - they trusted in God, even against huge and impossible odds. We immediately think of King Jehoshaphat and Gideon.
The Prayer of Jehoshaphat is worth meditating on (2 Chronicles 6-12). Perhaps you might like to consider doing this as a personal reflection for the week. As we examine and unpack Jehoshaphat’s prayer, we will find 3 stages, or principles. The first thing Jehoshaphat does in his prayer is he initiates praise; secondly, he identifies the problem, and thirdly, he implores God for help. You may wish to check out the following link for a good study guide on Jehoshaphat's Prayer. http://www.reformedtheology.ca/2chronicles20.htm
"Gideon & his Valiant Three Hundred" is the other remarkable story. God chose Gideon, a young man from an otherwise unremarkable clan from the tribe of Manasseh, to free the people of Israel and to condemn their worship of idols. Gideon started off with 32,000 men in his army. Ironically, God couldn't act when Gideon had this many. It was cut to 10,000, then finally to a mere 300. Could you imagine how Gideon, a rather tentative character, actually felt about being in this situation? His faith prevailed in the end, and the battle was won with 300.
From Jehoshaphat and Gideon, we learn 2 important perspectives -
(a) The battle is not yours but the Lord's. (2 Chronicles 20:15)
(b) The victory is not gained by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord of Hosts. (Zech 4:6)
We had a good time of sharing this evening, and some key points emerged:
(a) God often gives us challenges and problems that are well beyond us, so that we can learn to trust Him. Indeed, it's usually the case that only when we have come to the end of ourselves that God begins to act. (He's really not in a hurry!)
(b) The simple disciplines of praying and reading the word are paramount and contain the secret to moving mountains! We call these 'disciplines' precisely because it's common to neglect these practices, and we really have to be intentional about it. Start by doing a little each day - do it no matter how little and whether we feel like it or not. God is pleased even if we take very small steps in the right direction, and He will enlarge our steps as we faithfully go along.
(c) The daily act of declaring God's Word and promises ushers the reality of God into our lives. (Teik practices this diligently and will teach us some of his daily declarations this coming Friday!) The world competes with God all the time for our attention, and vey often, we succumb to the attractions this world offers. We trust things that we can see, hear and touch. Actually, God is as real as these things, and it takes someone with a sensitised and awakened spirit to sense God standing next to you all this while. As we press in daily, we will become more sensitive to the presence and leading of God's Spirit. It's worth it and exciting - so let's all press in!
Have a blessed and victorious week! Remember to carve out a little time each day for reflection and pause a little to regain some perspective.
Reflections on Jeremiah 17:5-8
This evening, we looked at Jeremiah 17:5-8. It talks of two kinds of people - those who trust in human beings and those who trust in God. Or, those who make flesh their strength vs those whose hope is in God.
The truth is, most people have this inclination of trusting in the strength of their flesh. Let's face it - it's a human tendency. We tend to believe in the seen and heard, and find it hard to believe by faith that which is unseen and not very obvious to our natural senses.
The men of God in the bible all had a distinctive quality - they trusted in God, even against huge and impossible odds. We immediately think of King Jehoshaphat and Gideon.
The Prayer of Jehoshaphat is worth meditating on (2 Chronicles 6-12). Perhaps you might like to consider doing this as a personal reflection for the week. As we examine and unpack Jehoshaphat’s prayer, we will find 3 stages, or principles. The first thing Jehoshaphat does in his prayer is he initiates praise; secondly, he identifies the problem, and thirdly, he implores God for help. You may wish to check out the following link for a good study guide on Jehoshaphat's Prayer. http://www.reformedtheology.ca/2chronicles20.htm
"Gideon & his Valiant Three Hundred" is the other remarkable story. God chose Gideon, a young man from an otherwise unremarkable clan from the tribe of Manasseh, to free the people of Israel and to condemn their worship of idols. Gideon started off with 32,000 men in his army. Ironically, God couldn't act when Gideon had this many. It was cut to 10,000, then finally to a mere 300. Could you imagine how Gideon, a rather tentative character, actually felt about being in this situation? His faith prevailed in the end, and the battle was won with 300.
From Jehoshaphat and Gideon, we learn 2 important perspectives -
(a) The battle is not yours but the Lord's. (2 Chronicles 20:15)
(b) The victory is not gained by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord of Hosts. (Zech 4:6)
We had a good time of sharing this evening, and some key points emerged:
(a) God often gives us challenges and problems that are well beyond us, so that we can learn to trust Him. Indeed, it's usually the case that only when we have come to the end of ourselves that God begins to act. (He's really not in a hurry!)
(b) The simple disciplines of praying and reading the word are paramount and contain the secret to moving mountains! We call these 'disciplines' precisely because it's common to neglect these practices, and we really have to be intentional about it. Start by doing a little each day - do it no matter how little and whether we feel like it or not. God is pleased even if we take very small steps in the right direction, and He will enlarge our steps as we faithfully go along.
(c) The daily act of declaring God's Word and promises ushers the reality of God into our lives. (Teik practices this diligently and will teach us some of his daily declarations this coming Friday!) The world competes with God all the time for our attention, and vey often, we succumb to the attractions this world offers. We trust things that we can see, hear and touch. Actually, God is as real as these things, and it takes someone with a sensitised and awakened spirit to sense God standing next to you all this while. As we press in daily, we will become more sensitive to the presence and leading of God's Spirit. It's worth it and exciting - so let's all press in!
Have a blessed and victorious week! Remember to carve out a little time each day for reflection and pause a little to regain some perspective.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
8 May 09
'Love One Another'
This evening, there was no agenda other than just coming together and catching up. It was a return to the basics of fellowship... where we gathered just to share hearts and be there for one another.
Everyone shared what's going well in their lives and what's been challenging, and we joined hands and entreated of the Lord together.
Some of us shared afterwards that it seemed we are growing closer and our corporate prayer seems to have taken on a new quality and momentum. I was heartened by this comment.
It is such a joy and privilege to share lives. When we do, we almost feel that we were made for this.
The Godhead is a community, and community is indeed the ultimate pattern for living. Jesus movingly exhorted... "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35)
This evening, there was no agenda other than just coming together and catching up. It was a return to the basics of fellowship... where we gathered just to share hearts and be there for one another.
Everyone shared what's going well in their lives and what's been challenging, and we joined hands and entreated of the Lord together.
Some of us shared afterwards that it seemed we are growing closer and our corporate prayer seems to have taken on a new quality and momentum. I was heartened by this comment.
It is such a joy and privilege to share lives. When we do, we almost feel that we were made for this.
The Godhead is a community, and community is indeed the ultimate pattern for living. Jesus movingly exhorted... "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35)
Monday, April 27, 2009
17 April 09 (Week 7 on the theme "Standing on God's Word")
The Mysteries of Christ
By Paul
Paul shared a very interesting message on the 'mysteries of Christ'. He talks about the 6 mysteries and skillfully strings scripture together to present a coherent understanding and fascinating perspectives into the mysteries of Christ...
__________
Unlocking the Mysteries of Christ allow us to understand salvation, the wisdom, and the grace of God in a new way. Being saved is only the first step of the journey to inherit the Kingdom of God, and to be joint heirs with Him. When we understand these mysteries and see their connectivity, it will also help us understand the progression in our spiritual walk that will lead us towards godliness and eternal life in heaven.
Mystery 1 - Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. 1 Cor 2:7 and Eph 3:3. The role of Christ in God's redemptive plan for humankind was a big secret. In fact it was kept as a secret or mystery for such a long time that even the principalities and powers did not know (otherwise they would not have crucified him). God had to keep the purpose of Jesus' life and the significance of His death, a mystery to all, only revealed by the Spirit to the discerning. This is the first step in our eternal journey towards the heavenly Kingdom of God. To acknowledge the power and gift of God, which is Jesus Christ our Redeemer and Saviour.
Mystery 2 - the salvation of the Gentiles. Eph 5:32 and Eph 3:6. As I read the bible, I am so thankful that it was possible for salvation to be given only to the believing Jews and that would have been the end of the matter for everyone else, including the Gentiles. In His mercy and wisdom, the bible tells us that it was also a secret that Christ's death would atone for the sins of the Gentiles, as well as the Jews. The ingrafting of the wild olive branch (Gentiles) to the olive tree (the Jews) will form a new tree - an allegory indicating that the Church of Jesus Christ, His pure and spotless Bride, is the splicing of both Jews and Gentiles as one. This is the second step in our journey where the body is slowly built up. Stone by stone, person by person, from all over the world.
Mystery 3 - the Kingdom of God. Matt 13:11. The bible tells us that the Kingdom of God is at hand. Jesus therefore explained that He had to explain the mystery of the Kingdom, what its like, how to get there etc through parables. Of course, telling interesting stories is one way to get many people's attention, but really the crux is that for the listeners to know exactly what those stories mean - they had to be give revelation by the Holy Spirit. The way we enter into foreign countries and kingdoms today is through road, rail and airplane. To enter the Kingdom of God, one must enter it through the Spirit. This is the third step where our salvation and call will lead us to our heavenly country, our eternal home - the kingdom of God.
Mystery 4 - Christ in us, the Hope of Glory. Col 1:26. Just like Jews in the old days who had to climb the steep slopes up to Jerusalem every year, to ascend the spiritual hill of the Lord will require discipline and sacrifice. Its tough. As we prepare ourselves to enter and claim the Kingdom of God, we must endure persecution and hardship. The good news is we can do it with Christ dwelling in us. His person alone is not sufficient for us to enjoy the benefits of the mysteries revealed, it is Him in us, that is key to receiving glory. This is the fourth step and its very much like the first step. We have to repent of our sins and ask the Lord to enter into our hearts for us to be saved. Only with Him inside us, can we have the hope of glory. There can be no hope of any eternal glory for anyone who does not invite Christ into their heart.
Mystery 5 - the power of Resurrection. 1 Cor 15:51. Some will ask, if I seek after the kingdom of God, and do everything that pleases the Lord, will I have eternal life immediately or will I still pass away in the world. If there is no difference in the outcome compared to other religions, then what are the sacrifices of the Christian life worth? Well, the good news is Resurrection is another great mystery too. We don't know exactly how it works scientifically, but we do know by faith that death will have no grip over us Christians - through Christ, we will enjoy the power of resurrection, and more specifically, the resurrection unto life. This is what counts at the end. The true manifestation and promise of eternal life, is the absence of death. With God, He has promised that temporary physical death or separation will be overturned and a new body will be given to us.
Mystery 6 - the Mystery of Godliness. 1 Tim 3:16.. This kind of starts of, and sums up, the whole topic of the mysteries of Christ. The proof that Christ is real, he is not a ghost or pure spirit being (as was falsely preached by the agnostics), that He as God's plan for salvation also ushers in a new era where we live by the Spirit and not by flesh, He was really revealed to the principalities and powers, He is not just for the Jews etc.
God manifest in the flesh, --> John 1:14
Justified in the Spirit, --> Matt 3:16
Seen by angels, --> Matt 28:32
Preached amongst gentiles, --> Roms 10:18
Believed on in the world, --> Col 1:16
Received up in glory. --> Luke 24:51
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
3 April 09 (Week 6 on the theme "Standing on God's Word")
History's Greatest Master of Metaphors
by Wan Chung
Tonight, we started off by looking at God's instructions for the building of the tabernacle in Exodus 25-31.
We pondered on what these very elaborate instructions tell us about who God is.
Extravant, Grand, Lavish, Detailed, Exacting, Richly-Symbolic...
We picked up on this last one about God's extravagant use of symbols. God uses colours, numbers and things to represent ideas and meanings.
Then, we reflected on how we don't quite see God presenting Himself - grand and glorious - in the NT. Where has this God gone to? Where is the fire, cloud and smoke?
The metaphor has switched from Lion to Lamb...
What is a 'symbol'? A symbol has 2 parts - meaning and expression. The God of the Universe is a God who uses symbols, He is a God who communicates. In the NT, He continues to communicate thru' symbols - except this time, He uses parables, allegories, metaphors, songs - or stories.
In Exodus, God was building a physical temple - He used artisans and physical materials. In the NT, Jesus would build living temples (1 Cor 3:16, 1 Cor 6:19 2 Cor 6:16 ). Transforming lives necessitate the use of relational tools. Jesus used relational tools and strategies to engage, provoke and capture his audience - stories, conversations and lots and lots of questions.
In Exodus and much of the OT, He communicated His glory. In NT times, He communicated His grace.
Jesus is one great fellow of a storyteller. The Gospel is one magnificent story. The Bible, from cover to cover, is one unbroken chain of stories...
Someone said 'The future belongs to the storytellers, especially those who can build stories around arresting metaphors and compelling images'.
Today, we prefer 'analysis' over stories. While analysis is good for control and prediction, story-sensibility is good for understanding meaning and role.
The great Chinese storytellers of old waxed lyrical and enchanted their audience in the teahouses and hidden corners of Yangzhou. Their legacy is the perfected art of storytelling...
Parables
Jesus recognised the power of story. He used parables and indeed purportedly only used these in teaching the masses. He knew that parables would provoke thought and coax his listeners into participating more actively as they consider the parables' ambiguous content.
The parables were simple and memorable enough to survive in an oral tradition before being writen down years after Jesus' death.
Questions
Nowadays, asking questions and conversation have been elevated to the coveted status of 'art'.
McDonalds was created when Ray Kroc asked 'Where can I get a good hamburger on the road?' The Theory of Relativity came about when Einstein asked 'What would the universe look like if I were riding on the end of a light beam at the speed of light?'
If asking good questions is so critical,why don’t most of us spend more of our time and energy on discovering and framing them? Our culture and education system focuses on having the “right answer” rather than discovering the “right question.” Quizzes, examinations, and aptitude
tests all reinforce the value of correct answers. Is it any wonder that most of us are uncomfortable with not knowing? The aversion in our culture to asking creative questions is linked to an emphasis on finding quick fixes and an attachment to black/white, either/or thinking. (Just to stir your thoughts...)
Jesus recognised the power of questions.
Look at Luke 2:46 - Jesus was teaching in the temple, by listening and asking questions. One would typically associated the act of teaching with making statements. But, Jesus listened and asked questions. Jesus asked a total of 82 questions in the book of Matthew!
Now, look at Luke 24:13-35 (Road to Emmaus). 2 short lines in red (Jesus' words - they are open-ended questions) generated long responses from the 2 disciples. Questions are very powerful in provoking thought and reflection. "Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked with us on the road...?" The disciples later declared. What a powerful declaration! I wonder if I am also able to bring others to this sacred place of self-discovery and conviction...
The challenge I leave with us - How are we able to emulate the example of Jesus by using more stories and questions to build trust and relationships, and to provoke reflection and participation?
Rembrandt told the moving story of the prodigal son (Luke 15) with oil on canvas. This canvas hangs in The Hermitage in St. Petersburg today. Henri Nouwen encountered this story told through the window of art, through a print of it in 1983, and his life was never the same again. The Prodigal Son, with its main cast - the son, the elder brother, the loving father and the joyous community - became a powerful portrayal of a spiritual odyssey for him, which eventually led him to live and serve in a community of mentally handicapped persons.
by Wan Chung
Tonight, we started off by looking at God's instructions for the building of the tabernacle in Exodus 25-31.
We pondered on what these very elaborate instructions tell us about who God is.
Extravant, Grand, Lavish, Detailed, Exacting, Richly-Symbolic...
We picked up on this last one about God's extravagant use of symbols. God uses colours, numbers and things to represent ideas and meanings.
Then, we reflected on how we don't quite see God presenting Himself - grand and glorious - in the NT. Where has this God gone to? Where is the fire, cloud and smoke?
The metaphor has switched from Lion to Lamb...
What is a 'symbol'? A symbol has 2 parts - meaning and expression. The God of the Universe is a God who uses symbols, He is a God who communicates. In the NT, He continues to communicate thru' symbols - except this time, He uses parables, allegories, metaphors, songs - or stories.
In Exodus, God was building a physical temple - He used artisans and physical materials. In the NT, Jesus would build living temples (1 Cor 3:16, 1 Cor 6:19 2 Cor 6:16 ). Transforming lives necessitate the use of relational tools. Jesus used relational tools and strategies to engage, provoke and capture his audience - stories, conversations and lots and lots of questions.
In Exodus and much of the OT, He communicated His glory. In NT times, He communicated His grace.
Jesus is one great fellow of a storyteller. The Gospel is one magnificent story. The Bible, from cover to cover, is one unbroken chain of stories...
Someone said 'The future belongs to the storytellers, especially those who can build stories around arresting metaphors and compelling images'.
Today, we prefer 'analysis' over stories. While analysis is good for control and prediction, story-sensibility is good for understanding meaning and role.
The great Chinese storytellers of old waxed lyrical and enchanted their audience in the teahouses and hidden corners of Yangzhou. Their legacy is the perfected art of storytelling...
Parables
Jesus recognised the power of story. He used parables and indeed purportedly only used these in teaching the masses. He knew that parables would provoke thought and coax his listeners into participating more actively as they consider the parables' ambiguous content.
The parables were simple and memorable enough to survive in an oral tradition before being writen down years after Jesus' death.
Questions
Nowadays, asking questions and conversation have been elevated to the coveted status of 'art'.
McDonalds was created when Ray Kroc asked 'Where can I get a good hamburger on the road?' The Theory of Relativity came about when Einstein asked 'What would the universe look like if I were riding on the end of a light beam at the speed of light?'
If asking good questions is so critical,why don’t most of us spend more of our time and energy on discovering and framing them? Our culture and education system focuses on having the “right answer” rather than discovering the “right question.” Quizzes, examinations, and aptitude
tests all reinforce the value of correct answers. Is it any wonder that most of us are uncomfortable with not knowing? The aversion in our culture to asking creative questions is linked to an emphasis on finding quick fixes and an attachment to black/white, either/or thinking. (Just to stir your thoughts...)
Jesus recognised the power of questions.
Look at Luke 2:46 - Jesus was teaching in the temple, by listening and asking questions. One would typically associated the act of teaching with making statements. But, Jesus listened and asked questions. Jesus asked a total of 82 questions in the book of Matthew!
Now, look at Luke 24:13-35 (Road to Emmaus). 2 short lines in red (Jesus' words - they are open-ended questions) generated long responses from the 2 disciples. Questions are very powerful in provoking thought and reflection. "Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked with us on the road...?" The disciples later declared. What a powerful declaration! I wonder if I am also able to bring others to this sacred place of self-discovery and conviction...
The challenge I leave with us - How are we able to emulate the example of Jesus by using more stories and questions to build trust and relationships, and to provoke reflection and participation?
Rembrandt told the moving story of the prodigal son (Luke 15) with oil on canvas. This canvas hangs in The Hermitage in St. Petersburg today. Henri Nouwen encountered this story told through the window of art, through a print of it in 1983, and his life was never the same again. The Prodigal Son, with its main cast - the son, the elder brother, the loving father and the joyous community - became a powerful portrayal of a spiritual odyssey for him, which eventually led him to live and serve in a community of mentally handicapped persons.
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