For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
One thing I dislike about the December break, especially this year's, is that firstly it flies by so quickly that you wonder now where it all went and secondly, unlike previous December breaks there is still my FYP to finish with a progress report in mid-January. Needless to say, the past two and a half weeks have been less than productive and the inertia to get going again is not helped by the fact that my experimental runs seem to quit on me continuously.
Oh man I wish FYP would be over soon, though what happens after that is a whole other story.
*Edit* One of my experiments just ended and gave me some decent results. So praise God for that. :)
Oh, the bitter shame and sorrow That a time could ever be When I let the Saviour's pity Plead in vain, and proudly answered: All of self and none of Thee!
Yet He Found me; I beheld Him Bleeding on th' accursed tree, Heard Him pray: Forgive them Father; And my wistful heart said faintly: Some of self and some of Thee!
Day by day His tender mercy, Healing, helping, full and free, Sweet and strong and, ah! so patient, Brought me lower, while I whispered: Less of self and more of Thee!
Higher than the highest heavens, Deeper than the deepest sea, Lord, Thy love at last has conquered; Grant me now my spirit's longing: None of self and all of Thee!
- Theo Monod
Taken from Leonard Ravenhill's book, Revival - God's Way
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
- Colossians 4: 2-4
I am simply astounded at the Apostle Paul. Even while in prison and suffering deprivation and physical discomfort, his only prayer request to the Colossians was that the Lord might open doors for him to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Should we not be ashamed at our own petty prayer requests for our own comfort?
Even as another year comes and goes, And the well-wishes come in, Lord I remember your Grace, I give you praise for Your Mercy.
Where would I be without You oh Lord my God. If it were not for Your restraining Hand what would I have become. Yet You chose to save a wretch like me. Who is like the Lord? There is no one.
Hold me close to You oh Lord. Grant me the discipline and the wisdom to seek after You. That my food would be to do You Will, And that You would get all the glory You can out of my life.
One fellow said, "I just finished three years in Seminary." I asked him, "Did anyone ever preach a sermon on eternity?"... "No." "Did you ever hear a sermon on the judgment seat of Christ?"... "No." "Did anyone preach a sermon on "The Bride of Christ?"... "No." The man burst into tears. I said, "In God's name, why do you go to seminary? To learn how to bury the dead?"
There is an eternity in front of us! There is a world that now is in more rebellion than ever! "As in the days of Noah" they rebelled against God. For 100 years Noah never preached a new message, he preached repentance, he preached righteousness. Alexander White used to say, "You can preach divine healing, you can preach prophecy, you can preach anything, but you can't preach righteousness; people won't have it."
I say with all my heart, we’re looking for a painless Pentecost. We want to invest a dime and get a million dollars back. Can you drink of the cup? "We are able," and so they drank, and were crucified.
Today it is considered sadistic if you even say that people have to take up their cross. "Don’t tell young people about the cross—they’ll be discouraged." Are you suggesting that Jesus wasn’t smart? "If you’re going to be my disciple, kiss the world goodbye." You see, when people are born again these days, they don’t get separated from the world. Most likely their pastor is the most worldly guy around! But if you’re going to get what He wants to give, if you’re going to get the true baptism of the Spirit, you have to drink of that cup.
-Leonard Ravenhill 1907 - 1994
*Edit* Found a wonderfully stirring message by Ravenhill that he shared in his last meeting before his death. A must read for all true believers. Read it here.
While some are satisfied with a miserably low degree of attainment, and others are not ashamed to live on without any holiness at all—content with a mere round of churchgoing and chapel-going, but never getting on, like a horse in a mill—let us stand fast in the old paths, follow after eminent holiness ourselves, and recommend it boldly to others.
Why oh Lord did you call me back to that place? Is there a purpose, a plan? Where is the one who seeks after You? So many have turned aside to things of this world. Their interests lie more in gods of gold and silver, In gods of entertainment and sport, Rather than the One True God.
Why oh Lord have you placed me there? Where every morning one pleads that you may be present, and that Your Word may be preached faithfully. No one speaks of You nor of your excellencies. Even I have so often been lulled into apathy. My soul grieves for Your Name is not Glorified; In that place where it was always meant to be glorified.
How long will You tarry from us oh Lord? If You do not move, we will remain utterly destitute. Our prosperity and numbers merely blind us from the Truth; That we are blind, naked and poor. We have traded your Light for a form of godliness; But without any power. We have sold out to the world that crucified Your Son.
But who am I to bring this charge against others? Am I not guilty of so much of the same? Be merciful to me oh God and hear my complaint; For my soul despairs of ever seeing Your mighty Hand move in that place. How long can I remain here; In the place where so many despise Your Name without knowing.
But yet Your ways are not my ways; And Your thoughts are above my thoughts. You are faithful to preserve Your people; And no other power may overthrow Your work. Lord forgive me of my unbelief and doubt; And lead me in your paths of Righteousness. That I may Delight in You and dwell in your House; Forever and Ever.
Amen
I said on Sunday how much I want revival But then on Monday, I can't even find my Bible Where's the power The power of the cross in my life
I'm sick of playing the game of religion I'm tired of losing my reason for living Where's the power The power of the cross in my life
I'm not content just to walk through my life, Giving in to the lies, Walking in compromises now We cry out as a generation, that was lost But now is found in the power of the cross
Chorus: We believe in You We believe in the power of Your Word that is true We believe in You So we lay down our cause That our cross might be found in You
I'm not satisfied, doing it my own way I'm not satisfied, to do church and walk away I'm not satisfied, there's no love in my life but You I'm not satisfied, living in yesterday's hour I'm not satisfied, to have the form but not the power I'm not satisfied, Lord I am crucified in You (Chorus)
So we lay down our cause That our cross might be found in You
He has come To bring light into the darkness He has come To bring freedome to the captives He has come To restore the brokenhearted It's time to proclaim The year of the Lord
Prepare the way Prepare the way for our Redeemer Prepare the way Prepare the way for our Restorer Make ready your heart Make ready your home Make ready the poeple of God Prepare the way
He has come To bring hope to the hopeless He has come To comfort all who mourn He has come To heal our every sickness It's time to proclaim The year of the Lord
Just one quote that I want to pick out from the morass and mess that is a poor excuse for an article.
More basic than theology, though, is human need. We want, as Abraham did, to grow old surrounded by friends and family and to be buried at last peacefully among them. We want, as Jesus taught, to love one another for our own good—and, not to be too grandiose about it, for the good of the world. We want our children to grow up in stable homes. What happens in the bedroom, really, has nothing to do with any of this. My friend the priest James Martin says his favorite Scripture relating to the question of homosexuality is Psalm 139, a song that praises the beauty and imperfection in all of us and that glorifies God's knowledge of our most secret selves: "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." And then he adds that in his heart he believes that if Jesus were alive today, he would reach out especially to the gays and lesbians among us, for "Jesus does not want people to be lonely and sad." Let the priest's prayer be our own.
What the?!?! Where the heck did these people get such conclusions? As I posted before, the whole problem can be seen in the very first line of the quote. I assume what they mean by more basic really means more important. The whole obsession with self and what self wants. Someone should go back and read Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Issac in obedience to God's command.
*Edit* Isaiah at Word and Verse pointed me to an article rebutting the one in Newsweek. A must-read to get that disgusting taste out of your mouth.
If there were ever one thing worthwhile that one could set his mind upon, it would without a shadow of doubt be to set it upon Him, the Holy and Risen One, the One who sits at the right hand of the Father in Glory forever and ever.
From where does passion flow from? From what source does Life come? What is the essence of your motivation to worship and serve Him?
So many people in churches today in Singapore wonder why is it that Sunday morning seems to elicit barely a tenth of the excitement and passion that is so often displayed during a football match the night before. The very same people who could debate passionately over the latest football results or fashion trends or stock prices would struggle to stifle a yawn whenever a preacher steps up to the pulpit.
So many leaders in Youth Ministries wonder why their charges seem so dead in their worship and walk with the LIVING God and all their attempts to bring in the latest pop worship songs and/or 'exciting' and 'relevant' 'preachers' only seem to animate the corpse which is their Youth Ministry for a few weeks before the 'fire' dies out again.
"Our youths need passion!" seems to be the battle cry heard so often in countless youth ministries across the country. And so we bombard them with motivational talks and speakers. We tell them funny and/or inspirational stories in order to 'encourage' them to be 'on-fire' for God (however that is defined). We read the latest books on methodologies and ways of 'engaging' youths. We manipulate their emotions using music or by dimming the lights and giving long drawn-out altar calls. We appeal to their sense of 'destiny', of the 'great' and 'wonderful' things that God wants to do through them if only they'll let Him.
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? - Romans 10:14
Now one would probably start asking, "Are you saying that our youths do not know who God is? That's preposterous! They've had years of Sunday School and Bible Studies! They prayed that prayer accepting Christ! They already know who God is! Sure, most of them aren't really walking with God as they should walk, and they're not really concerned with the things of God, but the problem is probably that they do not have enough self-esteem or self-confidence. We need to build them up, not tear them down. Teaching on things like repentance and sin and Man's depravity are too depressing for kids who are increasingly 'emo' (how I hate that word). No, no, no. We need to keep telling them how wonderful and good they are. We need to continually affirm them and not harp on their sins lest they leave for some other church. Teaching about God and His attributes just isn't practical enough. And if we were to teach on God's attributes, the only thing I like is His Love. His Holiness, Wrath and Sovereignty are simple too much for me to understand/accept, and I don't think the youths would want to hear about those things, so we'll put them aside and not talk about them. We need to teach them about Spiritual Gifts and Spiritual Warfare since that's what excites them the most and besides, we need to be pragmatic about this."
Now do you realize what the problem is in so many of our youth ministries? It's all about Man and not about GOD!! We assume that the Gospel is merely something small and trivial or, God forbid, about giving Man his best life now. So many youths enter youth service to sing a bit of 'christian' karaoke and leave utterly deceived into thinking that they have worshiped in the presence of the Most High God. They have completely no conception of the Majesty and Beauty of the One who hung on that tree, the Lion-Lamb who is worthy of all praise and honour and worship forever and ever amen. They have no passion to worship Him because they do not know Him! And why? Because no one is telling them!
O may the Lord be merciful and forgive us for the frivolous and nonchalant way we have treated His Son and His Cross. That the Lord may open our eyes to the reality of the sacrifice shown on Calvary, to understand just a fraction of what it means to say He shed His own blood for my soul.
If there is one thing that the Lord has ever led me to consider more often than not, it will usually be on the frailty of Man. As one of my favourite preachers so often says, "Yesterday I was 9, today I'm 43, tomorrow I'll be 90."
Life, as we know it on this earth, is but a passing dream and all the things that glitter, all the things that Man so often desires for in this life, are but dung and refuse that moths and rust will destroy. Man is but a vapour that appears for a little while, then vanishes away with the rising of the sun.
So often, and especially in a culture as materialistic and consumer-orientated as this one, people would chase with such passion after luxuries and things of gold and things of silver rather than the God who is infinitely more precious than such trinkets. People would rather get excited over a football game and expend so much time and resources in order to imitate their favourite football or movie stars, while sitting as cold as a stone in church and despising the Son of God whom we are all called to imitate. I know this, because I am so often guilty of the same thing.
Why do you boast O Man in your strength? Is it not a passing phase? (and a short one at that). Will your strength last forever? Why do you boast O Man in your wisdom? Are you able to number all the stars in the sky? Are you able to count all the hairs on your head? Are you able to determine the length of your life? Why do you boast O Man in your wealth? Are you able to take it with you into the next life?
Why do you boast O Woman in your beauty and flaunt it for others to see, thus dishonouring the Lord who created you? Is it not true that, as a Mayfly that is born in the morning and then dies in the evening, all physical beauty quickly passes? Do not all beautiful women one day grow old and ugly?
Why do you boast in your youth O young person? Do you really believe that you will remain young forever? Do you believe that there will always be a tomorrow for you to repent and turn back to God? Why O Why do you live life as though there would not be a Day when you would be called to account.
Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD." - Jeremiah 9: 23-24
Away with such trivialities! Away with such things that will not last! Pursue that which is eternal, that thieves cannot steal nor rust destroy. Pursue the treasure that is Christ, who hung on a tree crushed by His Father so that wretches such as you and I may be reconciled to God. Pursue with eternity in mind, knowing that one day all Man will stand before God to account for all that he has done. Woe to the one who is not found in Christ on that Day, for while he may beg with whatever might he has, there will no more mercy and grace left for him on that great and terrible Day.
And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word. - 1 Kings 18:21
Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers take counsel together Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, "Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!" He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them.
- Psalms 2:1-4 (NASB)
Who is like the Lord? There is no one.
*Edit* Found a few interesting articles (yes I know I should be studying) by Pastor Voddie Baucham regarding youth ministry. Read more about it here. (In case you're wondering, he holds that youth ministry is unbiblical)
Well I guess it is time for me to actually sit down and study properly for the exams. I hypothesize that the amount of time spent studying for an exam is inversely proportional to the time spent in Uni.
P.S. I must praise God for giving me decent marks for History module CA though I really did not have the "form" that I had with previous history modules.
P.P.S. A must read tract by J. C. Ryle, especially in view of the coming Christmas Day. "What Think Ye of Christ?"
On Sunday morning, amidst worshiping congregants and following unifying prayers that our President-elect be granted wisdom as he prepares to lead our nation through difficult global, social and economic challenges, the Michigan left declared open war on peaceful church goers.
They did it with banners, chants, blasphemy, by storming the pulpit, by vandalizing the church facility, by potentially defiling the building with lewd, public, sex acts and by intentionally forcing physical confrontations with worshipers.
Despite the terrible week and my unfaithfulness, and the prospect of an even worse week ahead, I will praise and rejoice in Him who sustains my every breath. And these two verses that will always remain in my heart come what may, they give me every reason to be glad.
Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills. - Habakkuk 3: 17-19
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8: 38 - 39
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you. - 2 Timothy 1:8 - 14
I am truly thankful to God for graciously allowing the few of us to gather and read His Word as well as having brothers in Christ, who when it is said that we need to come back to the Gospel give a hearty "Amen" instead of giving me the "what the heck you talking" look.
Reading 2 Timothy chapter 1 today, one is struck by Paul's focus on the Gospel of Christ, which is echoed throughout most (if not all) of his letters. And in verse 8 he begins with "do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord." Immediately verses like Romans 1:16 spring to mind. (For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.) How often are we ashamed by the Gospel of our Lord. How often do we tweak it by adding or taking away from it in order to appeal to a wider audience. As Paul Washer so often puts it, this Gospel of ours is a scandal and therein lies the power of it. I seriously feel it is ludicrous for us to think we should help God make His message more acceptable to carnal men, to pander to their sinful desires and lusts. I mean come on, is God so weak and feeble that unless we help Him with a bit of PR no one would come to Him?
Secondly, Paul tells Timothy to not be ashamed of him, a prisoner. While alluding to both his status as a prisoner of Christ as well as a prisoner of Caesar, the statement is clear. Do we despise men who preach the hard truths? Do we rather prefer men who teach things that would tickle our ears and feed our selfish desires?
The third thing, and the one that really struck me today, was Paul's request for Timothy to "share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God". Are we not all then called to suffer for the Gospel's sake? So often we, myself included, would rather choose to sit back and relax. To take the easy rather than the hard path. And yet, Paul tells Timothy to share in his sufferings, by the power of God no less.
And Paul ends it off so beautifully, "I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed." And I know in whom I have believed, the Lord high and lifted up, the Lord mighty in battle. That is why I am not ashamed.
It is often at times when one is so overcome with activities and projects that one feels he does not even have the strength to go on. When the future looks so bleak or uncertain and it does not even seem possible that one would be able to provide for himself, much less a spouse or his parents.
It was at a time such as this that I found myself in this week. Granted that a large part of it is due to fact that I can't seem to discipline my time properly, I felt so overwhelmed by the stuff I had to do for Uni and worrying, as I always do, about the future.
And as I was jogging today (I truly was!), it was as though God suddenly pointed out, "Is My Grace not enough?" Immediately it was like flashes of my past came flying past my mind's eye. The times when I struggled during BMT both physically and spiritually. The time when I passed the 2.4km run for the first time and fell to my knees thanking Him upon crossing the finishing line (the Sergeant thought I was going to faint or something). The terrible morning and evening runs in OCS. The 16 weeks I took to pass IPPT in AFS. The time when I so nearly gave up on my faith because I had felt so completely cut off from God. And yet looking back at it all from where I am now, seeing the path that the Lord had laid for and guided me on by His Providence, how can I deny that the Lord is good.
I am under no illusion that the path ahead would be any less rugged and hard than the one behind me, but indeed my soul finds rest in God alone and the work that He begins, He will finish it. What will happen in the future? O Lord God, you know.
May He receive all the Praise He deserves.
My soul finds rest - Psalms 62 by Stuart Townsend
My soul finds rest in God alone, My Rock and my Salvation. A fortress strong against my foes, And I will not be shaken. Though lips may bless and hearts may curse, And lies like arrows pierce me, I'll fix my heart on righteousness, I'll look to Him who hears me.
Chorus: Oh praise Him, Hallelujah My Delight and my Reward, Everlasting, never failing, My Redeemer, my God.
Find rest my soul in God alone, Amidst the world's temptations. When evil seeks to take a hold, I'll cling to my salvation. Though riches come and riches go, Don't set you heart upon them. The fields of hope in which I sow, Are harvested in heaven.
I'll set my gaze on God alone, And trust in Him completely. With every day pour out my soul, And He will prove His mercy. Though life is but a fleeting breath, A sigh too brief to measure. My King has crushed the curse of death, And I am His forever.
The true and proper way of evangelizing. A must watch for all who are distressed over the countless multitude being deceived every week by false gospels and false christs.
If you share my passion for the building of true churches for the glory of God, then join us February 19-22, 2009, and pray that God will allow us to dive into His Word examining and experiencing the wonderful grace of repentance. Repentance is not a doctrine of which to be fearful but one for which we should be deeply grateful! After all, receiving grace to turn from darkness, condemnation, and despair to find light, justification, and hope is not a bad thing but a wondrously good thing!
Striving not to build great churches but true churches…for the glory of God,
“ To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” Says the LORD. I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, Or of lambs or goats. “ When you come to appear before Me, Who has required this from your hand, To trample My courts? Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. - Isaiah 1: 11 - 15
“ For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. “ For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. “ For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; And it shall be to the LORD for a name, For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” - Isaiah 55: 8 - 13
May the Word of the Lord be preached faithfully to all the Nations.
Blessed be the Name of the Lord
*Edit* The Book of Isaiah is a really incredible book. And to think that I've only ever read seriously a few chapters here and there from it. Isaiah 55 is indeed one of the most complete Gospel Calls ever given for Man.
Though I do not agree with some of the lyrics theologically, the reminder that our sins have been removed as far as the East is from the West is timely.
A month or two ago my church youth service had a guest speaker from another church come and give a sermon based on overcoming fear of spirits and demons. While I do not want to go into what the details of the sermon were (though I can say I did not quite agree with the focus of the whole thing), what really stuck to me was what he said at the end of the sermon.
I can't quite recall what was the topic leading up to it, but he said that if someone thanks him for preaching, he does not believe in saying "Thank God", because "God could probably preach better than him", but rather to just say "you're welcome." While I definitely agree that God could do a better job preaching, or in fact doing anything on his own rather than relying on weak, sinful Man, the way he seemed to dismissively ridicule the very act of thanking God has rankled me up till this day.
Just to address the first part quickly, why would God choose to work though weak Man rather than on His own, one must first accept the fact that whatever God does is for His own Glory and Name's sake and that God is jealous and passionate for His Glory. Once we accept this fact, then the answer becomes clear. While yes, God will get Glory when He works apart from Man, but how much more Glory and Praise does God receive when not only does He accomplish what He accomplishes by His own Hand, but He is also able to use and empower weak Man for His purposes. It is in fact a double honour to Him. Just like prayer, if God gives you something without you praying for it He receives Glory for providing, but if He gives you something that you have prayed for, does He not receive the added Glory of answering prayer? Kind of answers the question that people always ask that if God is going to provide for His people anyway, why do we still need to pray for provision.
"So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth." - 1 Corinthians 3:7 (ESV)
However as I stated above, what really irked me was the way he dismissed the acknowledgment of God. While not explicit in the statement, one could sense the lack of reverence and knowledge of how lowly Man is. When one reads the accounts of God's conversations with Man in books like Job, Jeremiah and Isaiah, one is completely blown away by the awesomeness and "incredibleness" of God.
"LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him? Man is like a breath; His days are like a passing shadow." - Psalm 144: 3-4 (NKJV)
"Sever yourselves from such a man, Whose breath is in his nostrils; For of what account is he?" - Isaiah 2:22 (NKJV)
From where does Man's life come from? Or where does he receive understanding? Is it not all from God and by the Grace of God? Why then does Man boast in his wisdom or in his accomplishments? Man is but a breath of air and he is not even assured of taking another without the Grace of God.
I know there are many definitions of Sin, but one that seems to come to my mind often is this, Sin is anything, whether action, thought or motive, that is not for or acknowledges the Glory of God.
"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)
God gives grace for Man to preach His Word. God gives each and every breath a Man breathes. Do you dare, even for one nanosecond, to take any glory for yourself in whatever you do. While I thank God indeed that He can use preachers like Paul Washer, John Piper and Don Carson as He does, I am ever wary not to idolize the man, but to instead look to the God who gives these man such wisdom and strength and say that He is indeed Worthy to be praised.
Just finished MacArthur's book "The Truth War" today after basically devouring almost two-thirds of the book in a marathon 4 hour session while at a super long wedding dinner. Based around the Book of Jude, MacArthur highlights the urgent need for the Church to rouse herself from her apathy to sound doctrine and to contend earnestly for the Apostolic Faith. Combined with today's bible study on 1 Timothy 4, as well as with certain unsavoury events that have occurred over the past couple of weeks, there is indeed the need for all true Christians to stand up and be willing to defend the central tenets and sound doctrines of biblical and historical Christianity.
"Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,..." - 1 Timothy 4: 1-2
Opening the chapter, it is abundantly clear that there will be deceiving doctrines and counterfeit gospels. In fact, if there is one thing that quite a number of the Epistles touch on, aside from Christ and the Gospel, it is the warning to hold on to sound doctrine and teachings. There are so many false prophets and false christs running around today and the carnage they leave behind is plain to see.
"If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness....... These things command and teach. Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine..... Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you." - 1 Timothy 4: 6 - 16
It is interesting, and indeed quite sad, how we so often take verse 12 out of context, especially in youth ministries. We use it to justify and encourage youths to "move in the spirit" and to contribute in youth ministry, not realizing the context that Paul is writing to Timothy. While yes indeed physical age should not be a barrier to one's serving in church, Paul's emphasis seems to be on the doctrine that Timothy should use in nourishing himself and in the teaching of others. How many times have we used this verse to call youths out and then directed them to the reading, studying and meditating on God's Word? Have we ever instructed them to give themselves ENTIRELY into the study of doctrine and that the fruit of such study will be evident to all?
What has happened to our doctrine? In our ignorance we had elevated doctrine to a higher plane that only few could understand and relegated its teaching to something of secondary (if indeed it is that high) importance. We would rather concentrate on "applying the Word" and on motivational speeches and "catering to people's needs". If indeed that one can only discover who God truly is through His Word with the Holy Spirit, how many people in the church really know God?
Because we would rather cater to itching ears and unregenerate hearts, so many people are left ignorant of who God truly is and they are carried with every wind of (unsound) doctrine. Some of the more apparent issues would of course be things like the health-and-wealth gospel, feminism, "carnal christianity" or lukewarmness and backsliding. So often in the Church, especially in an Asian context like Singapore, we would rather compromise on sound doctrine than to hold fast to what is True. All in the name of "unity" and harmony.
In deciding to stand for the Truth, one is faced with a hard question. Are you willing to forsake all that you have in contending for the Faith? Are you willing to lose all your friends and earthly reputation for the sake of standing up for the Truth? Are you ready for the barbs and gossips and rumour-mongering that will inevitably crop up once you make a stand for God? But yet, this is a stand that all who trully love the Lord and His Glory will have to make, for in a sense, there is no middle ground.
*Edit* My friend here just so happened to have written on the importance of doctrine on the same night as I wrote this post. He probably does a much better job of articulating the issue at hand than me because he is a doctor-to-be and I am just in a glorified polytechnic (As I always like to call NUS Science :P)
A video that Charles introduced to me some time back. Finally decided to post it here for the benefit of all who pass by. Will comment on some thoughts I have on it later, God willing.
The Prosperity Gospel and John Piper
"God is most glorified in you when you are most satsified in Him in the midst of loss, not prosperity" - John Piper
*Edit* I dun think I will comment on this just yet. Hopefully will do so sometime during the coming week
It is indeed a tragedy that while life hangs literally by a thread for all Man, we would rather preach and talk about "happy" and "inspirational" things or give motivational self-help pep talks every Sunday. Rather than confront people with the Truth of God's Word, with their sinfulness and rebellion against God, we would instead endeavor to build up their self-esteem or soothe their wounded pride. We would rather give them painkillers instead of giving them the bitter medicine that saves. "For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." -1 Corinthians 2:2 (NKJV)
But while I may go on my usual tirade on the almost pathetic state of preaching in churches nowadays, I have decided instead to look at something just as sobering, if not more so.
One would have read in the newspapers today about two deaths that would seem almost in direct contrast with each other. One is of a man who has lived for over eight decades and who has for almost all intents and purposes been in the twilight of his life for at least a decade if not more. The other is of a boy, just twenty years of age, not even old enough to vote, who seemed to have his whole life ahead of him. One died in his sleep, the other died doing pull-ups. One had seen all and done all. The other thought he was going to see all and do all.
Yet one thing in common they had was that both had just the day before talked, laughed and/or cried with others. Both had plans for the future, one to run for the 2011 elections, the other to become an air force technician. And now, both of them are gone. To heaven or hell, who knows? But that is not the main point here.
Anyone who has followed the news over the past month would also recall the death of a 15 year old girl and her supposed 23 year old god-father after jumping from a HDB flat. Or the 16 year-old boy who so wanted to get a thrill driving that he went and sneaked out with his brother's car. Dead after crashing into a tree. I know an acquaintance of mine who at 21 years of age is suffering from two separate cancers. My class rep back in JC died at 20 from Leukemia suddenly just as it seemed he would recover.
Why this morbid fascination with death you may ask. It is not so much that I "like" reading or hearing such things, but rather that every time one reads of such things, one cannot help but think of all those youths who live their lives as though they would never die, never would be called to account for what they had done in their lives. When one is young, death often seems so far away or something that will never come. "I can repent tomorrow and get my life in order, but today I want to enjoy myself." What tragedy! They believe that tomorrow will always come, not knowing that no one can have assurance that he will wake up the next morning. Is it not all the more urgent for them to know the Gospel. To repent and believe before it is too late. Before that Day when the trumpets will sound and grace will be taken away and the dead will be judged before Christ. Maybe that is why I so detest preaching that tells Man to come to Christ so that he can get his best life now, or so that he can be blessed with so much material and worldly blessings that will turn to dust eventually.
"By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God." - Hebrews 11: 9-10
Life indeed is so fragile. Man, like a flower, is here today, then gone tomorrow. Like a vapour he appears for a little while, then vanishes away. All the material goods one stores up for himself in this life, in the end moth and rust destroy and one's enjoyment of earthly delights fade away into nothingness with time.
And yet, we would rather continue pursing such things. Is it not madness? Indeed I am so often the maddest one of all, for so often does my heart stray from the magnificent obsession that is Christ to things of silver and things of gold.
If only youths and people in general would consider the fragility of their lives more seriously, then hopefully they would become sober and self-controlled and seek with all earnestness the one thing that will last into eternity and beyond. So that one day when you swing out into eternity on a scarlet thread, that scarlet thread, which is Christ, will be enough.
Saw this on the Def.Con. blog and I really never thought that such a thing could ever happen. Someone who actually stood up for the Truth *gasp* on international television. *double gasp*
Quote of the Day: "I am a herald of the Truth of the Gospel, and my job is to teach the Gospel according to what the authors have said, not according to what I think the culture wants to hear."
An old song that I wonder why the church nowadays doesn't seem to sing anymore. Probably because we do not seem to believe anymore in a God that changes and regenerates Man, or that a true Christian is a new creation in Christ, with a heart that seeks to glorify God's name above all else.
May the Lord bless you mightily through this song.
I will never be the same again, I can never return, I've closed the door. I will walk the path, I'll run the race And I will never be the same again.
Fall like fire, soak like rain, Flow like mighty waters, again and again. Sweep away the darkness, burn away the chaff, And let the flame burn to glorify Your name.
There are higher heights, there are deeper seas, Whatever you need to do, Lord do it in me. The Glory of God fills my life, And I will never be the same again.
It is indeed a joy and even a certain amount of ecstasy when one reads the Bible and the words seem to jump out of the pages or verses that you may have read a hundred times before suddenly seem to give new insights or revelations.
Over the past couple of days I have been doing concurrent readings of 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy and in the mirror of God's Word, so much error in my thinking and theology have been exposed and indeed I praise God for the grace that He has given in revealing them to me. There is so much that the Lord is leading me to consider and I hardly know where to start or what to write down first, but I shall try to put in a coherent manner despite my own messy way of thinking.
"What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth." - 1 Corinthians 3: 5-8 (ESV)
As I have shared before, so often I have fallen into sinful pride, in thinking that I was someone, a boy who knew more about God's Truth than most of his peers and the only person whom God could use to preach the truth in his church. But as I read this passage again, what is the man whom God uses but a person He so chooses to pour out His Grace upon? As one of my favourite preachers said, "I always remind myself [if ever I become proud in my own preaching] that God can speak through rocks and donkeys." Indeed the Lord uses the foolish to confound the wise and the wisdom of this world is folly to God.
In addition to this, this morning when I awoke there was this subtle yet obvious temptation in my flesh to dabble again in lustful thoughts, a habitual sin in my mind that has plagued me for more than a decade. And as I struggled against it as I always do, I read the two passages of 1 Corinthians that I had earmarked for today. And lo and behold, chapters 5 and 6 contained Paul's warnings against sexual immorality. Needless to say, the temptation subsided really quickly after that. May the Lord grant me the grace to remain holy as He is Holy. "Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s."
- 1 Corinthians 6: 18-20
I have more thoughts regarding some things in 1 Timothy that God has impressed upon me regarding the false ascetism and super-spirituality that so often I have mistaken as closeness to God, but I shall probably write it down another time God willing.
One other thing that the Lord seems to be pressing upon me is whether, in my cynicism and caution, I have in a way despised or "quenched" the Spirit. While I believe that God is the indeed the God of miracles and a God who heals, there is a certain part of me that seems over-cautious and unbelieving when dealing with what is often termed now as "moves of the Spirit". Now I do dislike the way certain people seem to treat God and the Holy Spirit with a certain amount of irreverence or as a miracle vending machine that they can pull miracles out at will, but there is a sense that I may have become too judgemental and in the process may have inadvertently blasphemed against the work of the Holy Spirit.
“And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven."
- Luke 12:10
May the Lord grant me wisdom and mercy in discerning this.
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a Treasure (Paul Washer)
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."
How can God ever “justify the ungodly” without becoming an abomination to Himself? “He who says to the wicked, ‘You are righteous,’ peoples will curse him, nations will abhor him [Proverbs 24:24]. How can God say to sinners like us, “You are righteous,” without violating His own character? How can God ever save us from Himself and His own righteousness and justice? . . . Repentant sinners know that they deserve to be punished, and that it would not be right for them not to be. They know that God cannot just “sweep their sins under the rug” and forget about them. Hence, the cry of their hearts is, “How can a just God ever smile upon me? How can this burden of guilt be removed? How can God pronounce a blessing upon me? How can a man like me be in the right before God!” There is only one answer to this dilemma. Someone has to pay for the sinner’s sins. Justice must be satisfied. Either it will be satisfied by the sinner’s own suffering forever in Hell, or it must be satisfied by someone else on the sinner’s behalf.
I believe today has been a culmination or fulfillment of a lesson God has been trying to teach me for the better part of two weeks. I had always thought that upon moving from ministry in BB to church, I would be essentially hitting the ground running. I had so many big thoughts and dreams and just wanted to serve the Lord actively in church just as I had spent the last 6 -7 years in ACS, or so I thought.
I thought, and I confess my shame in it, that I was going to be "God's Gift" to my church. I had thought that with what little knowledge God had so graciously granted me of Himself in the past year in ACS that I, Nicholas the MAN, could go forth and speak mighty things in His Name.
Oh how I thought wrong. Oh the foolishness of it all.
During the past week I could definitely sense the Lord leading me to patience, to be willing to sit down and just gaze upon Him and His Beauty. To be willing to, at the risk of sounding cliche, just be still and know that He is God. What need does God require of me running around impatiently doing "His Will"? The Lord moves in ways that we cannot see, and indeed He moves in His time.
But no, I would not heed His warnings. "Let me preach oh Lord, let me preach," that was my own selfish cry. I had "ingested" so many sermons by Ravenhill, Reidhead, Washer, etc... that in my conceitedness and pride I had deluded myself into thinking that I could preach like the best. And God let me have my own way. When Marc asked me to help him do one bible study for the Year 6s, I pushed aside all His warnings and jumped at the chance despite knowing deep down that something wasn't right. Even though in His graciousness He led me clearly to what should be preached, the preparation was tedious and without joy. During the sharing itself, indeed throughout the whole Bible Study, there was simply no flow or movement of the Holy Spirit. In fact it seemed like as though something had clouded my mind and I just could not get my thoughts together (as horribly jumbled as they already are). There was simply no passion or conviction in the message at all. There was no reality of Christ.
And as I walked back home, it almost seemed like the Lord was telling me gently. "I told you so, I told you so." And all I could do was reply, "Yes, Lord, you were right all along." I definitely sense now that the Lord is leading me into a time of spiritual wilderness, to a time of waiting upon Him and discovering His Joy as well as anguish for the church in ever increasing measure. To be able to wait patiently until the time He says,"Go." Indeed there is so much pride, self-righteousness and puffed-up knowledge within me that only His divine hands will be able to rescue from them, for I cannot even change myself.
Forgive me for my foolishness.
"We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him." - 1 Corinthians 8: 1-2
One of my calculations for my FYP just went kaput. Potentially lost a week's worth of calculations and I have no idea whether my backup data will upload properly.
Sigh, I really do not yet know the purpose God has for me in continuing on for my Honours year. As I've always believe, I am not academically inclined, and even after a month I still have almost no idea what my FYP is really all about. Added to the fact that somehow have no "form" for my sole history module, this semester is turning out to be a real disaster.
However, by faith I know that He will see me through and by faith He will guide me in His steps. Teach me oh Lord to seek after a city with foundations, who's builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:9).
I have no idea why I cannot seem to spend more time in prayer. Actually maybe I do, but there is a sense that unless the Lord grants me grace, I will never be able to pray the way that I ought to pray.
The mind is a terrible thing. So many thoughts that distract, so often wandering off and thinking things that I know I should not be thinking.
I can't even spend a half an hour with Jesus, but I can spend hours upon hours just surfing on the internet or even reading a book. Unless the Lord should grant me a glorious revelation of Himself, one does sense that one will continue to languish in a spiritual dead-end.
Oh Lord teach me to pray. Teach me to persevere in prayer.
Gosh, so many things to do, so many things to write about. Uni work is really beginning to take a toll this semester. Don't really have time to write something long for now, so I'll just leave a song instead. :P
Standing here in Your presence Thinking of the good things You have done Waiting here patiently Just to hear Your still small voice again Holy, righteous, faithful till the end Saviour, healer, redeemer and friend
I will worship You for who You are I will worship You for who You are I will worship You for who You are Jesus
My soul secure, Your promise sure, Your Love endures, always My soul secure, Your promise sure, Your Love endures, always My soul secure, Your promise sure, Your Love endures, always
I've decided to post the whole sermon here. We are all under obligation to preach the Gospel and to preach the whole Gospel without altering or manipulating it. May God bless you through this message mightily.
*I apologize for the sound quality. Seems the upload caused some of the sound bits to go haywire. If you want the clearer original file, go to the sermon links on the sidebar.*
Over the past couple of weeks since finishing up my ministry in BB and turning my attention to church, it is almost like learning to walk all over again. Going into a completely new environment is always disconcerting and coming back after a gap of almost 6 years (or was it 7?) means that many things have changed, though some fundamental things have not.
I guess what troubles me most now, as it was 6 years ago, is the quite apparent lack of revelation of God and His Gospel in the church. The lack of reverence and desire for holiness pains me now more than ever. We embrace every new and "exciting" doctrine or method in the hope that it would attract the youth of today. My dear friend, what the church needs today are not new methodologies or fads, but the return to solid preaching of the Gospel and faithful exposition of Scripture. To realize it is not about boosting a person's self-esteem or promising him his best life now, but that is has all to do about eternity and the Glory of God.
We often treat God's word so flippantly and lightly. "God says this", "God says that," or "The Lord is telling me now to tell you this etc...." Now do not get me wrong. The Bible does instruct us not to quench the Spirit nor despise prophecy (1 Thess 5: 19-20), but it also does tell us immediately after that to test all things and hold fast to what is good (1 Thess 5:21). Do you not understand the seriousness of saying something is from God? It is not something to be uttered casually or without much serious discernment and prayer. Can you imagine the shame of standing before God on that Great Day and Him, who is above all things, tell you, "Why did you say things in my Name that I never said."
Oh the need for sober-mindedness. Oh the need for the Holy Spirit to convict men once again of their sin and utter depravity before God and to lead them to throw themselves upon Christ and the Cross. Oh the need for God's Grace to be upon us, to be able to rightly discern falsehood from that which is true.
I am sure that some who read these words of mine might think me arrogant and/or proud. However, let me just say that I too am guilty of doing so many of things I have stated above. May the Lord have mercy upon me and give me the grace and faith to conform more and more to the likeness of His Son.
Really really really need a fresh inspiration by the Holy Spirit. Life is beginning to feel like a roller-coaster of spiritual highs and lows again.
Fresh Fire by Don Moen
Fresh fire let it fall O God hear our call Send Your Spirit like a rushing wind We need fresh fire
We are hungry we are thirsty Crying our for more of You Lord we are desperate for Your mercy Let us burn to know Your Truth Light a flame in us now Send Your holy fire down
We have left our hearts unguarded We confess we've walked away Lord take us back to where we started Where we first found love and grace Light a flame in us now Send Your holy fire down
More of Your love More of Your power Send a revival We need it now Stir up a fire Let it burn brighter Let the flame burn higher higher higher
I think I just need to put this down as a sort of "disclaimer" for those who happen to chance upon this blog somehow by the grace of God :).
There is much in theology that remains much of a mystery to the finite mind of Man. Even the very basis of the Gospel, that how is it that God can so choose to love Man so as to send His only Begotten Son, to be crushed under His own almighty Wrath so that Man may be reconciled to Himself, is simply beyond the capabilities of Man to fully comprehend.
As such, there is so much in my understanding of God that needs refining and correction. I make no claim to special revelation nor of infallibility, but like all Man, I am so prone to stepping off the path and of turning my mind to dark and foolish things. Indeed after reading on all the various doctrines and theologies of Christianity, one does come out with a sense of knowing less that what one started with.
While it is still important to discover more about God through the study of various men's writings on Him and through the use of commentaries or study guides, it is also vital to walk with Him as a lifestyle and to literally seek and chase after Him throughout the day.
All that I post is of special conviction to my own life and of which I pray will also be to yours. But indeed I believe that God will continue to refine my knowledge and understanding of Him and His Word and that I am still much of a novice in Christ.
Recently gotten into a bit of a writer's block for this blog. It's not so much as there is nothing that I want to write about, but the fact is that some of the things that I wish I could write here, I am the least qualified to write about. More and more do I realize how little I know about God, His Grace and Mercy. So little do I know about prayer and His Glory. Who am I to speak and write about Him, the One who created the Heavens and the Earth. The One who placed all the stars in their place and which by His Power, not one of them is missing.
Why then do I continue to write on? I guess it is to provide a sort of travel log over the years. I look back at what I have written a year or two ago and realize how different my views and focus are now. Indeed that looking back, God is indeed faithful and true. May He always be praised and adored.
"This is a faithful saying:
For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself."
- 2 Timothy 2:11-13
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Been contemplating a bit on life the past few days and I am ever so conscious about my own mortality. So much that I have done will turn to dust and so much that I have treasured will one day be destroyed by rust and moths. What then will last into eternity?
When it's all been said and done There is just one thing that matters Did I do my best to live for truth? Did I live my life for you?
When it's all been said and done All my treasures will mean nothing Only what I have done For love's rewards Will stand the test of time
Lord, your mercy is so great That you look beyond our weakness That you found purest gold in miry clay Turning sinners into saints
I will always sing your praise Here on earth and in heaven after For you've joined me at my true home When it's all been said and done You're my life when life is gone...
"Your Call is to Jesus Christ, not to a geographical place."
- Paris Reidhead speaking on Missions
An excellent message regarding the verse "when two or three are gathered in His name." It's not about saying, "in Jesus name", at the end of prayer, but about gathering together and praying first and foremost for the Glory of God.
Warning: May offend those who believe in a soft, happy-go-lucky, antinomian god who just really can't get anything done on this earth if there aren't any well-meaning people to help him out
===================== Just an additional add-on for one of my older posts (It belongs to Christ). This is the edited portion that I wanted to post but for some reason the website I use had a problem at that time.
Okay, maybe I am exaggerating when I say that I am currently in a whirlwind of thoughts now as it is more like a breeze that you feel just before it rains, but indeed there are many thoughts and worries that contest for my attention, especially over these past few days. So bear with me if I appear to be rambling (as I usually do) and/or my posts appear to be disjointed and "non-flowing" (is there even such a word?) over the next few days.
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Supremacy of Christ vs Supremacy of Man (Voddie Baucham @ Desiring God Conference 2006)
Indeed in this Man-centered age, so often have many "Christians" and "churches" relegated God to be nothing more than a divine vending machine, where we go to to get our wishes granted. And so often has our evangelism been based on what sort of perks and benefits God can give you in this temporal world. Believe in God/Jesus and He will heal your backache. Believe in God/Jesus and He will give you a great job or top grades in your exam. Believe in God/Jesus and He will bless you with all the luxuries of this life.
What a travesty! Believe in God because He has sent His only begotten Son to die on a cross to save you from His Wrath! Believe in Christ because though you did not deserve mercy or grace, in His Love He came and drank down the Wrath of His Father so that you can be reconciled and redeemed to God! Don't you dare cheapen the Gospel Call to anything less than that.
But no, no. We want to know what God can do for ME. And it does not even cross our minds to ask ourselves how can a Holy and Just God not strike us down where we stand because of our crimes against Him.
Indeed if it were not for His Mercy, sinful Man would have been obliterated from the face of the Earth eons ago. If it were not for His Grace, Man would have no hope of being reconciled to Him. But yet, and in this is the beautiful mystery, He chose to Love us, and to demonstrate His Love to us by sending Christ down, and for Him to face His Father's Wrath in our stead. What else could you possibly want? What else could you possibly need? Is this sacrifice not sufficient for you, insignificant little you, to live out your days in complete Joy and thanksgiving come what may?
I too struggle with this question. I thank God with every fibre of my being for what He has blessed me with, yet my constant fear would be this, if one day God so chose to take away all the comforts of this life which He has given, would I curse God to His face as Job was tempted to. Lord I beg you for faith if that day should ever come.
To the Wind with your problems (Paul Washer)
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Having read this blog post from this blog, I too realize that so often felt a certain sense of self-righteousness based on my experiences. So often have I been like the Pharisee who despised the tax collector because I do this or believe that. So often have I thought that because I know this certain Truth or done that commandment of God, I must be somehow better than this other person in church, forgetting that all we like sheep have gone astray, and only that by God's Grace alone has He seen fit to reveal what little Truth so far to me compared with the fullness of His Glory. Indeed I so need to repent daily of this, and that it is only by His sustaining Grace that I should have breath in me.
I do not know why I so often turn my thoughts to the future and all its uncertainties. Maybe it is at this point in life that one is literally left at a loss at what to do and the future appears less clear and certain than what one is used to.
Growing up, it is indeed easy to become so singly focused, as I usually am, on what one has to do and on the next step in life. From NYPS to ACS, from ACS to ACJC, from ACJC to NS, from NS to NUS, the path is more or less clear and easily seen. However as one now turns his thoughts to the future, thoughts of work and family, thoughts of taking that first independent step into the unknown, one is literally overwhelmed with the amount of choices and uncertainties there are. Where the verse, "We walk by faith and not by sight" really takes on a whole new reality.
Things of course are not helped by the sheer number of weddings that I have had to attend and would probably be attending over the next few years. For a person who rarely feels an emotional attachment to anyone, to move in this direction is quite really a terrifying experience. Notwithstanding the issue of supporting such a relationship, the idea of entering a relationship is something that I can never quite really comprehend or imagine. Oh I have had my fair share of crushes and infatuations, but the weight of responsibility and expectation in a relationship is something that I have always shrunk from.
But in the words of the Lord God, "It is not good that the man should be alone" (Gen 2:18). One dreams of a companion and helper that the Lord will provide. Indeed if the Lord so wills, He will provide one who is a fellow slave of Christ, for no other criteria matters. Whether He chooses to bless me with singlehood or marriage, may His Name be praised amongst the nations.
"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life....
For the death that He (Christ) died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace."
-Romans 6: 1-4, 10-14
Oh God help me, for I cannot help myself
He's Alive
The gates and doors were barred and all the windows fastened down; I spent the night in sleeplessness and rose at every sound Half in hopeless sorrow and half in fear the day Would find the soldiers breakin' thru to drag us all away
And just before the sunrise I heard something at the wall The gate began to rattle and a voice began to call; I hurried to the window and looked down into the street Expecting swords and torches and the sounds of soldier's feet
There was no one there but Mary so I went down to let her in; John stood there beside me as she'd told us where she'd been. She said "They moved Him in the night and none of us knows where; The stone's been rolled away and now His body isn't there!"
We both ran t'ward the garden, then John ran on ahead; We found the stone and empty tomb just the way that Mary said. But the winding sheet they wrapped Him in was just an empty shell; And how or where they'd taken Him was more than I could tell.
Well, something strange had happened there, but just what I didn't know; John believed a miracle but I just turned to go. Circumstance and speculation couldn't lift me very high 'Cause I'd seen them crucify Him, then I saw Him die.
Back inside the house again the guilt and anguish came; Everything I'd promised Him just added to my shame. When at last it came the choices, I denied I knew His name; And even if He was alive, it wouldn't be the same
But suddenly the air was filled with strange and sweet perfume; Light that came from everywhere drove shadows from the room. Jesus stood before me with His arms held open wide; And I fell down on my knees, and just clung to Him and cried.
He raised me to my feet and as I looked into His eyes, Love was shining out from Him like sunlight from the skies Guilt and my confusion disappeared in sweet release And every fear I'd ever had just melted into peace
CHORUS He's alive! He's alive, He's alive and I'm forgiven! Heaven's gates are open wide: He's alive, He's alive, He's alive and I'm forgiven Heaven's gates are open wide He's alive, He's alive, He's alive and I'm forgiven Heaven's gates are open wide He's alive, He's alive, He's alive
I am so thankful to God for men such as D. A. Carson who have been given the grace to exposit on the Word with such authority and clarity. Even as we sat listening today for the second day in a row as he spoke on the Book of Revelations (no easy book by any measure), one indeed becomes so enchanted with the beauty of God's Word. That when he said that due to time constraints he could not go deeper into it, one almost feels like shouting, "By God, give that man another hour, two hours, the whole night even! I want to know more. I want to know more about God, His Word, His Majesty and Beauty."
But today as he spoke about false doctrines and false prophets, one point rang clearly in my mind. Satan isn't stupid. He would not lead many (true) Christians astray by planting a clear heresy in the church. No, he instead just needs to turn a Christian's eyes away from the Gospel and from Christ. Oh, no need to talk about sin and all that, it's too depressing. Oh, no need to continually talk about the Gospel, just assume every Christian already "knows" enough about it. Oh, no need to keep on talking about Christ, just concentrate on teaching "Christian" principles like how to love or about unity, after all it's more important to teach people how to apply Christianity to their lives rather than to teach them about Christ. Don't keep preaching about the Cross, be pragmatic! Teach about application or about what God can do for me.
What rubbish! It's either Christ or nothing. How on earth can one teach on love and not point back to Christ. How on earth can one talk about unity and not talk about unity in Christ and Christ alone.
Now do not misunderstand me. While yes we should teach on Love, Unity, Providence, etc..., at the center of it all must be Christ and the Gospel. The Gospel cannot be treated as merely Christianity 101 that we quickly skip by and then move on to the more "mature" stuff. In Christ do all things consist, and all things are made through Him and for Him.
So often in 12th Company we have taught love and unity without Christ. Oh love your Juniors we would say, without telling them about the Love that Christ showed us first, which only then can we truly love others. Our camps became thinly veiled attempts to conform or contort the Boys into an idea of unity that has more in common with our godless culture than with biblical unity, using the same methods that the world uses since, in our pragmatism, they produce the "results" that we want. All those defaulter and change parades and rabid shouting, what did they accomplish in the end? So what if a Cohort becomes "united" if they are not united in Christ and through Christ. If Christ be not the foundation, then all that is built above it will turn to dust eventually. And there are so many more examples that came to my mind about how we in the 12th have turned our eyes and focus away from Christ and the Gospel. From our Mission trips to our CE programme / Bible Studies to our much vaunted "Spiritual Blueprints", we have placed our trust more in methods and programmes than in God and the Gospel.
Oh the need to be watchful in these days of loose doctrine and rampant mysticism. I myself am so guilty of treating God's Word lightly and of not studying it with the seriousness that I ought to have. Oh may the Lord have mercy on us.
I've been reading this book by John Macarthur on "The Vanishing Conscience", which he wrote in 1995. I think that 13 years on it is safe to say that it does not require much updating since what he wrote about then is just as prevalent now.
When you have stories like this appearing in our newspapers, you can be sure that when the bible says that the"wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5), it is definitely true today as it was in the early days of creation. How on earth anyone can go public regarding such "loose" living and not feel a tinge of shame or remorse is beyond me. Oh you may not care what others think, but I am indeed fearful of what you will be thinking when you stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ on that day.
Society literally crumbles all around us, and all we are concerned about is asking God for that nice Mercedes or for a job that would give us a five figure monthly salary. Man marches in a vanity fair and into eternal destruction while churches today worry over their image/numbers and self-esteem of their members. This should be cause enough for us to weep.
"Awake, awake! Put on your strength, O Zion;..." - Isaiah 52:1
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