The Road Less Travelled

Dear Fellow Reader

2010-01-05T21:16:00.002+08:00

Hi Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

If you've stumbled upon my blog, I would like you to invite you to check out my Facebook instead.
Just click on the facebook icon on the right and add me as a friend there.

I've been posting a lot on Facebook and not on Blogspot as it's kind of a double job to re-layout the HTML codes and all.

I hope you understand and may God continue to shower His love and mercy in your life.

Be at peace and be in Grace.
Amen,
Randy

3Fold Blessing At Jesus' Feet

2009-10-05T02:33:00.001+08:00

Ask any Christian - where is the best place to be in the Lord?

Some say in His arms. Some say on His breast. Some say on His shoulders.

I say at His feet!
(I can hear see some of you scratching your head!)

It is not a common place for a Christian to want to be.
Most often we envision ourselves serving from positions of power.
Some feel inclined to move from nations and nations to preach.
Others feel more inclined to run the race.

There is nothing wrong with the above (if you're doing it by grace).
But I recently discovered an exciting blessing and anointing at Jesus' feet.

If ever there is a place a Christian ought to be, He should always begin at Jesus' feet.
Ever wonder why?

But what does Jesus' feet mean in present day 'up and going', 'non-stop' Christianity?
Being at 'Jesus' Feet' has so often been a common saying that it has perhaps lost its meaning today.

Read these References:
Luke 10:38-42
John 11:1-44
John 12:1-11

Jesus' Feet Is A Place Of Learning
Most Christians feel, they SHOULD SERVE, whether or not there is deep gospel/theological understanding. They are more concerned about ministry results instead of a believer's growth (in fact they measure the believer's growth by the growth of the ministry!).

These Church goers want Christians to serve.
Jesus begs to differ - He tells Martha that Mary has chosen the better. And it is better for her to remain there.
In Luke 10:39, the word used for Mary's act of sitting at Jesus' feet is -parakathizo¯
It means to sit very close.
The word listen in v39 isakouo¯
It means to hear in understanding. She did not just let words pass through her head, she comprehended what Jesus was teaching in the house.

Martha, on the other hand, was burdened - perispao¯
It shows a 'dragging' burden that follows you here and there.

The word serve here is - diakoneo¯, that is to attend to (as though in a ministry).
Martha was burning with zeal - she was committed and SERIOUS about doing what she did without knowing what she ought to know.

Rather than let Mary be dragging around a burden of service, Jesus PREFERS that Mary stay close by and listen with understanding.

A 'burdensome' service only pulls a believer AWAY from Jesus.
Does that mean we DON'T serve? Of course not. I will show you an even better way to serve as you continue reading.

Jesus' Feet Is A Place Of Refuge
Consider John 11 where Lazarus is dead, and the ONLY thing Mary could do was to run to Jesus and fell at His feet.

John 11:32
When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.

I used to think it was the crowd. I used to believe it was emotions accumulating and waiting to burst.

I now think that very act of a bawling believer at the feet of the Saviour is all that moved Him.

Jesus did not react in the same way when zealous Martha came. And having Mary at His feet, His heart reached for the purpose of His coming - to bring life and the resurrection. No theological class, no silent rebuke like the one Martha about Jesus being the resurrection and the life.

Just a saviour that was moved to the heart. And when His heart moved, his lips that commanded the creation of the world, commanded the resurrection of a man in a tomb.

Jesus' Feet Is An Anointed Place To Serve
John 12:3
Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

Mary did in one act, what Martha could NEVER achieve in one lifetime of cooking in the kitchen. That's the kind of noteworthy service one can achieve when serving at His feet.

It's not about the achievement. It's not about 'I did more than you'. It's not about having many ministries under your belt, or having utilised all the human talents God has given you.

It's about receiving and resting at His feet.
It's about letting Him give and overflow your cup.
It's about learning to relax in His presence, and letting Him lead.
It's about not letting service draw you far away from Himself.

At Jesus' feet, you have more to receive from Him - and hence, more to give.
Because when we are at His feet, it's NEVER about us.
It is never about our boasting, or our ministry, or our pride.
It's not about what we've done, or how we've obeyed.

It's all about being as close to Him as possible.
And having depart from that place should tear your heart apart, and not create a more burning desire to serve.

Be like Mary at Jesus' feet...

Are we playing Church?

2009-09-11T18:26:00.000+08:00

Note: This article was written based on Thy Kingdom Come 3 Sermon on the All Souls Fellowship Nokia Podcast. It is irrelevant to the ongoing/current things happening in my life. The only relevance to me, is the application back to my own life...

Ask yourself these questions: What does loving God means to you? What do you define as loving God?

If I tried to visualise responses from a crowd, the usual definitions are:

Worshipping God

Serving God

Reading Your Scriptures

Preach your faith

Pray

Trusting Him

Obey His Commandments

Study Theology

Tithe

Submit to leadership

and much more!

You know what's the problem with this?
It's man's definition!

Don't believe me?
Go ahead - ask ANY Pharisee or Saducee, an you will get probably the SAME answer.

Ask ANY NON-Christians and you'll PROBABLY get a same answer.
Ask ANY cults, you'll also get a similar answer.
Ask ANY Atheists, and you'll get answers minus God, with philosophy added in.

If you ask most Christians regarding this list of definitions, them might be tempted themselves to define all these acts as proof of loving God. Hence, it results in a chicken and egg process.

Eg - do you love God first, and then serve? Or serve and then show that you love God? It's an endless loop that so many are trapped in their definitions.

The root of the problem?
Man and his definitions of 'loving God'.
(they may not have perfectly done it, but if you ask them, they would have agree that they have loved God to a certain extent)

Let's be honest. Let's not play the religion button or our definitions here.
Let's ask what the Bible says and test it according to the Spirit.

1 John 4:20-21
If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

(Here John shows the result of loving God is loving your brother)

Matthew 22:37-39 (Jesus said:)

Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.

(Jesus shows that loving your neighbour is very much like loving God)

Pharisees and Saducees can claim their love for God. But failed at loving their neighbour or their brother. Their claims are based on what they do - that defines their love for God.

But Jesus defined the Pharisees' neighbour as an enemy - the Samaritans!
[Jews consider Samaritans as their sworn enemy] Luke 10:37

***

A year back, I was in another Church. We had this fellow brother (which was very much alienated) who wasn't mentally stable and kept poor hygiene. (he rarely bathe and had a change of clothing only once in a few days). Often he would walk around with his fly down, and would hound & scare the girls in Church. Hence, people often sidelined him - drawing near only to feed him. Once, we were at this fellowship and we were planning to go out for some noodles outside the Church. And when I arrive, I saw this mentally unstable brother walking away down the street - away from the noodle shop. I asked those who are already there, and a leader told me that it wasn't appropriate for this brother to join us and that it would have been uncomfortable for everyone present. Other times, Christian brothers would make fun of him and mimic his antics. It was mocking him, but the only thing was that this brother didn't know it was a mockery - he was not intellectually capable of understanding what is happening.

That noodle outing incident disturbed me for weeks. I felt that I could have done something. I could have invited this brother to dine with me on a separate table. (besides, it isn't his choice to act this way, he was born like that).

***

Jesus considered loving your fellow man as great as loving God. Jesus said loving your neighbour is 'like it' (referring to the first commandment). Which is what made John wrote in 1 John 4 - that if you cannot love a person you can see, you cannot love a God you cannot see.

Not only to love those who love you - but also people who do not love you or are unable to love you. Even love those who are against you. Love those who persecute you. [That said - I have been made a mockery for a lot of things I've 'preached' on facebook and my blog]

Instead, of love - what we would find rampant in MANY Churches today is a 'Christian Standard' of conformity - that is, if you are not like us, you are not part of us. [Does it also surprise you such groupies existed even in Jesus' time? - the Pharisees vs Saducees?]

Think about it...

Going back to the list of 'Loving God'. We can say we have done all these things -by our own definition.

Some might even be tempted to shut out people from a "Deserving love" category by disqualifying those who do not have similar convictions as them.

Judging the tree by it's fruit has become - judge other trees by your own fruit.

Other good fruitful trees are condemned just because they do not have the same fruit of the person who judges. (you see, they judge by what they see - that is their own worth and what they themselves do).

Have we all made our definitions (and definition of fruits) into a religion?

Do we shut out people who don't attend the same Church, serve like ourselves, or do not possess the same Godly knowledge like ourselves? Do we kill & hate those who agree not to the same theological beliefs we hold? Some 'ex-communicate' those who do not possess 'sound doctrine' - the very doctrine ONLY their church/denomination possess.

Are we playing God by our own definitions of fruits and love and faith and sound doctrine?

Rather than rejoicing about their brother's fruit, they mock the abundance of it. But they forget one thing - it is God who grows the fruit - that is why it's called the FRUIT OF THE (HOLY) SPIRIT.

To them, if any Christian that comes along the way, and does not fit into their 'profile' they are rejected as believers - and given labels and stereotypes. (Is this God's way?)

We must begin to understand. Church is not a building. It's not something that happens within 4 walls. It's not a collection of theological beliefs. It's not a collection of ministries under one roof. It's not ministries that you serve and do things in. It's not the bible you read and the quiet time that you do.

If you make any of this 'Church', then you are merely making a set of intangible intellectual concept of definitions as an idol. In fact, challenge any of these intellectual concepts, and these people will burn you on the stake (verbally or for real) - whether you prove them right or wrong - doesn't matter.

As a consequence, labels and stereotypes are used without self-examination - myself, I have been called a BUM, wolf in sheep skin, prodigal son, hypocrite, fruitless tree, pharisees and more. Yet, are there anyone who can charge me of mocking anyone? Name callings?

Church is the body of Christ. The Bride of Christ. It does not define itself. It lets Christ defines her. It begins with Him and ends with Him. The Church submits herself to Christ.

It's all about the person of Jesus, and

NOTHING

about our definition of things.
(but please do it by faith through grace, and be established in righteousness). In fact, if you look at the Gospels - ONLY THE PHARISEES loved the definition of things - their countless 'are you the messiah?', 'who is my neighbour?', 'on whose authority do you do these things?', 'what MUST I DO to have eternal life?', 'teacher, should we stone her?' and much much more!

In fact, tear away the definitions, and these are the people who are left naked. Their righteousness and faith is based on definitions, not the real Christ.

At the end of the day, ALL OF US can play the definition card. All of us can play Church. All of us can play theologian. All of us can play servants. All of us can play righteous. All of us can play mockers.

But we can only become Christlike through the renewing of the mind.
And true, selfless love can only begin once we know we are loved by God. Our love is defined by His own love for us - for we love because He first loved us.

Law Vs. Grace Pt.2 - Cain and Abel

2009-08-28T16:25:00.001+08:00

This is part 2 of Law and Grace. Enjoy.

Genesis 4:3-7
In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."

What do you notice in these passages?
a) BOTH wanted to offer to God
b) Cain brought some fruits of the soil
c) Abel brought fat portions from the firstborn of his flock
d) God had favour on Abel and his offering but not on Cain and Cain’s offering
f) Cain became angry and his face was downcast
g) God rebukes Cain that what Cain did was wrong
h) God says ONLY to Cain that sin is crouching at his door

These are 2 brothers. Both with clear-cut motives. Good motives to make an offering to God. Whether for righteousness or just a mere offering, we do not know. Neither is there any record that God clothed Abel with garments of skin.

But what is clear is this – both men offered to God.

Cain’s Fruit Of Self Effort Cannot Please God
Please remember at this point of time, the Law of Moses has not come in yet. This may have taken place 20-30 years after the fall in Eden. The curse on the ground is still in effect. Man had to worked the ground to feed his mouth. Notice Cain offered what was curse: The ground. The ground was cursed because God has curse man that it is with his sweat that he works the ground. “Sweat” is synonym with stress and hard labour. This means Cain tried to please God with his works.

Here Cain offers his fruits to God. He worked the ground. Waters it. Puts manure on it. He sweats. He might even have injured himself a few times in the process, as there are no tools. No cangkul, no irrigation, no best known way to bear fruits.

Yet somehow he produces them and offers them to God.

His offering speaks of what he does. The effort he puts in. It describes all the pain and toil that he went through. It was his ‘ministry’ if you can call it that. It was his calling. It was his duty. It was not only his effort, but his self-worth. His work defines him.

Abel’s Fat Portions Speak Of God’s Mediator For Man
Abel offers the fat portions from his flock.
Abel was born with sin. He needed a mediator. A perfect and unblemished lamb. And as much as the Bible doesn’t say lambs, I think we all know it was fat portions from his flock of lambs.

One here must appreciate that God had to clothe Adam and Eve when they had sin in order that they could overcome their nakedness and shame. God clothed them with skin of an animal. An animal had to die in a substitution death for Adam and Eve so that Adam and Eve will have covering over what they did. God provided this death as a means of his grace. That animal we all know from what Abel offered was a lamb. This point to fact that Abel wanted to please God by telling God he was gracious!

The lamb speaks of a relationship – a shepherd and the lamb. It talks about how God (as a shepherd) deals with his people. That lamb talks about Jesus’ perfection and goodness. How unblemished and perfect it is.

It speaks of the quality of the mediator and not the offerer. It speaks of sacrificial love and not human effort. And God showed favour on the unblemished flock. Abel’s acceptance was based upon the lamb, not his own merit.

The Works Of Flesh Is Prideful
Cain was obviously not too happy about being rejected.
After all he had good intentions. He worked hard to please God.
Imagine having grown up as a boy, and having your mom and dad talk about Eden and how at the fall, God made garments of skin for them. Adam and Eve might have even shown Cain the garments.

Yet Cain had the strange idea to offer fruits. To offer self-effort. To offer his best is filthy rag. And when his filthy rag were rejected, instead of realising why he failed, he was angry at God and with Abel.

God Rebukes Cain And Not Abel
God said to Cain - If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."

When I was younger I always thought that it was Cain that withheld the best from God. I was always previously taught that Abel gave his best, but Cain offered some. But now I realise that that could not be.

Cain was not able to offer his best because he offered himself – his effort, his results, his fruit – the focus was always on himself. And God said it straight to Cain’s face that Cain would have been accepted if he offered the right sacrifice. The fruit of self-effort CANNOT please God.

Even Hebrews testify about Abel’s offering: Hebrews 11:4
By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

Earlier we established that there was no clear understanding why the offerings were made, but despite that, IT WAS STILL COUNTED AS RIGHTEOUSNESS to Abel!

Sin Crouches At The Door Of Self-Effort
What many Christians do not know is this:
Your self-effort arouses your sinful nature.

1 Corinthians 15:56
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

At the time of Cain and Abel, the Law of Moses have not been given.
But you must realise what sin does.
Romans 7:11 For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death.

Sin seizes the commandments (Law of Moses) and condemns you to death.
Hence if a person is offering self-effort, the more:-
i) unrighteous he would become
ii) realise the more sinful he is
iii) more powerless to turn from sin
iv) basically give up changing

But if you offer like Abel, you get the opposite:-
i) righteousness apart from the law & self-effort!
ii) focuses on the Perfection of Jesus
iii) gain power to overcome sin – for you are not under law, but under grace
iv) you are transformed by beholding His face

You see, God is more concerned about the perfection of your offering, than the amount of trouble, sleepless nights and effort you put in.
He is more concerned about you having Christ than you having deeds.

There is a place for deeds – but only in the way God approves.
There is no room for law and self effort.

Law & Grace Pt.1 - Deception of Eden

2009-08-25T00:17:00.003+08:00

Over the last few weeks, I've been really busy. Even as I'm typing this out, I've got tonnes of work on my hands that I'm not sure how to even start. May I have abundant Grace to finish them.

But this topic i'm sharing now has been on my mind quite some time.
I guess, I need to get it out.
Maybe God willing, in a form of a book in the future.
May you be blessed!

-------------------

I don't know if you've noticed. But EVERYTHING in the Bible is separated between Law and Grace. And I've come to realise that the greatest deception of Satan was not that he does not exist, but that - you can gain through your effort, what you already have through the cross. 1

Think about it:

Law - Grace
Law of Moses - Walking in the Spirit
Righteousness through works - Righteousness through faith
Keeping the Commandments - Christ kept the Commandments
Knowledge of good and evil - Tree of life
Sinner - Saint
Cain - Abel
Ishmael - Isaac
Esau - Jacob
King Saul - King David
Moses, the OT guide - Holy Spirit, the NT guide
Circumcision of flesh - Circumcision of heart

Let's begin from Eden.
God made Adam and Eve and God gave them free will to choose.
That is why the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life is there.
It was placed there so that God honours the free will of men to choose.
And God made men in HIS IMAGE. Adam was NOT GOD, but he WAS LIKE GOD. (Genesis 1:26)

Then came the Serpent.
People say the greatest deception of the serpent is the he does not exist.
What nonsense! Here he is in the open! Showing himself existing!

He said:
Genesis 3:5 - "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

Now, let us consider the statement above.
Are Adam and Eve already like God? YES! (they were made in His likeness!)

Where is the deception then?
It was when they sought to attain that likeness by their own effort, when they already received it by grace...

You see, law is not only a written code, but it is also SELF-EFFORT

Everything you need for salvation and life is already found in Jesus Christ.
It's either you accept it, or you go about it through your own efforts.

It is this deception that is STILL HAPPENING in Churches all over the world.
Preachers preach that you need to work out your salvation in fear and trembling - which is in fact a misquotation that is not based on the context.
How can God who gave you not a spirit of fear, but of Sonship, encourage you to go back under a system of fear? Yet it is preached!

Preachers say that you need to repent from the acts of sin. But the Bible is clear that we repent (metanoia - change our minds) from unbelief and dead works -> to believing Jesus Christ who is the Son of God who came and died for our sins and was raised again 3 days later. We are transformed from glory and glory from beholding Jesus, not from our discipline or 'acts of repentance'.

Preachers preach that you need to obey the law of Moses (or at least the 10 commandments) as a guide to living. Paul writes that we have died to the law - and we now serve in the new ways of the Spirit. (Romans 7:6)

Don't you know those who goes back under the Law are called the 'lawless'?
After all, Colossians 2:14 - having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.

The law was nailed to the cross! No more law of Moses!
Now, that the law is gone, we live by the Spirit!
In the same way a 'homeless' man desires to have a home but does not have one, so is:-
a 'lawless' man who desires to follow the law of moses, when it is already fulfilled in Christ!

But what does Hebrews 8:10 mean - when God said He will write His Laws in our hearts?
This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel
after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.

You Pharisees insist that because of this quotation, there is a need to obey the written code.
But don't you know the Law of Moses were given through angels?

Acts 7:53 [stephen before the sanhedrin]
you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it." (NIV)
Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. (KJV)

or
Galatians 3:19b
The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. (NIV)
and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. (KJV)

The Law of Moses were given through an angel!
Shocking? It is.

Hence, the law that God writes in their minds are not the Law of Moses!
It is the law of Christ!
1 Corinthians 9:21
To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law.

Brethren, you are not required to obey the Law of Moses!
May the truth set you free!
Walk in the Spirit and unleash his Fruits! The law of Moses will only bring out the 'workings of your flesh'!

Today Satan wants your life stunted. He wants you to go back under law.
He wants you to work with your bare hands what has already been attained through the Cross...
What is your choice?

Be blessed!

Next article:- Law Vs. Grace Pt.2 - Cain & Abel
Copyright @ randykhoo.blogspot.com
For more articles by Randy, log on to his FB notes.

All You Need Is Jesus

2009-08-20T00:22:00.002+08:00

I love this song. Not because of the lyrics.
Not because of the music.
But because every time I hear it, I wanna sit down, sing along and worship.

There is great beauty in simplicity.
The same Jesus who made the world, also made the simplest of atoms.
From the biggest galaxies, to the littles of nano-particles of atoms.

Please stay, listen, enjoy it. And maybe you'll sing along to as well.
God Bless you. And God grants you His peace.

Lyrics - How Great Is Our God - Chris Tomlin

VERSE(1):
The splendor of a King,
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice,
All the earth rejoice
He wraps himself in light,
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at his voice,
And trembles at his voice

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God

VERSE(2):
Age to age he stands
And time is in His Hands
Beginning and the End,
Beginning and the End
The Godhead, Three in one
Father, Spirit, Son
The Lion and the Lamb,
The Lion and the Lamb

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God

CHORUS(2)
Name above all names
You are Worthy of all praise
and My heart will sing how great
Is our God
(x2)

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
Sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
Sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God

The Greatest Deception

2009-08-15T03:15:00.003+08:00

People have often said - the greatest deception of the Devil is that he wants you to believe he does not exist.

You know what? I don't think he cares about that.

The real deception is that he wants you to work with your own effort for what you already have through Jesus Christ at the Cross.

Think about it.

2 trees in Eden, law vs faith righteousness, work vs rest, etc...
Everything that is attacked, has already been given through Jesus Christ.

Eden - Adam already possessed God's glory. The Jews call it the Shekhainah glory. He was already in the state of Glorification (if you can call it that). The serpent came and offered Adam a lesser thing through the law, that is the forbidden tree.

Job - satan's charge against God was that Job was already in a state of immunity and blessing. He says that if that is lifted from Job, Job will in fact curse God for the removal. And turn away from God to human effort. [Naturally, with human effort meeting failure, one would be bitter with God]

Jesus - the serpent told Jesus to turn these bread into stones in Matt 4 - which in fact means taking your nourishment from the 10 commandments - that is the law! Satan tries to turn Jesus' ministry back to Moses'!

Present time - Churches are feeding fear of failure to people - so much so, they doubt their salvation when they sin, or that they are not rooted in righteousness, or that they are taught to obey some parts of the law and mix it with grace.

Lord Jesus, help us all to see your light.

Does The Holy Spirit Convict Believers Of Sin?

2009-08-12T01:54:00.004+08:00

Recently some fellow Christians brothers came against a few of us because we, after reading the bible time and time again, were convinced that the Holy Spirit does not convict believers of sin.
Some brothers even came to the point of slandering us openly and behind our backs. (these were also because of other things we spoke/taught/preach.)

This article is to answer the questions and misconceptions we believe many practice...

So (for the sake of entertainment of our souls) let us take these claims that the Spirit convict believers of sin as true and see if it stands.

So, let us make an assumption.
Let's really assume that the Holy Spirit did convict believers of sin.

But with every theory and assumption, let us put it to the litmus test of the Holy Spirit.

--------------

Problem 1
The Definition Of Conviction Bars Believers From Coming Boldly To God

Let's define 'convict'.
According to: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/convict
Convict (verb)
1. to prove or declare guilty of an offense
2. to impress with a sense of guilt

Hebrews 10:15-18
The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:
"This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds." Then he adds:
"Their sins and lawless acts
I will remember no more."
And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

In these passage of Hebrews the Holy Spirit himself says He remembers our sins NO MORE.
What is there to convict of sin? What is there to bring to remembrance of sin?

Some said that it is not to convict but to impress the sense of guilt.

But Hebrews 10 later goes on to say in vs 22-
let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.(Hebrews 10:22)

What other sense of guilt is there?
If a believers' 'conviction of sin', 'sense of guilt' or 'whatever-you-term-it' remains, then you cannot draw near! Your "Knowledge of Good and Evil" will cause God to put back that flaming sword. Minds will be veiled.

But what we discover is No condemnation and no separation - Read Romans 8!
Why no more condemnation and no separation? Because He is faithful when He and that remembering our sins no more is part of His faithfulness!

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Problem 2
The Law Is Void Of Purpose If The Spirit Convicts Believers Of Sin!

Paul says in Romans 5:20
The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,

Paul's argument in Romans 5 was that the law was given so that trespass (sin) might increase - hence made known and become clearer - hence the law was given the full right to not only convict but also condemn everyone as a sinner - for all have fallen short.

This resounds in Romans 7:7
What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "Do not covet."

The purpose of the law was to convict sin and to define what sin is.

Hence if the Holy Spirit convicted believers of sin, then would not the purpose of the Law made void? Yet no where in the Bible does any part of scripture shows that the Holy Spirit made sin more clearer!

So where did such teaching come from? Men?

Also, God's word cannot return to him empty. The things of God never fail! How is it that now the Holy Spirit does law's work - that is to condemn and convict - hence implying the Law failed in its purpose???

Hence, the Law MUST HAVE achieved its purpose of bringing out sin clearer - therefore, the Holy Spirit cannot convict believers of sin.

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Problem 3
If the Holy Spirit Convicts Believers Of Sin, He CANNOT Convict Them Of Righteousness

When I read my bible, I discover:
Romans 8:2
because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death

If the Spirit of Life (that is the Holy Spirit) sets believers free from the law of sin and death, can you be convicted of sin anymore??? - IN FACT it is Him that sets us free from the conviction of sin!

You cannot be condemned NOR convicted of sin - Why?
Romans 8:3-4
For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

You see, our SINS WERE CONDEMNED at the cross - in the body of Jesus Christ! The result - the requirements of the law were met and now believers no longer live according to sinful nature (condemnation & conviction of sin) but according to the Spirit (that convicts you of righteousness)

Question - Are believers in Christ when they believe in Jesus?
YES THEY ARE! The result?

Romans 8:10
But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.

Why are believers alive? Because the righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to believers!

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Problem 4
The Holy Spirit's Conviction Of Sin Nullifies Christ's Perfect Sacrifice

The Bible says in 1 Cor 15:2-4
By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.
Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

Issues -
a) If Jesus died for believer's sins and God REMEMBERS IT NO MORE, why does the Holy Spirit still remembers it and reminds believers? (and to what end?)

b) If Christ Work is already completed and the Holy Spirit now convicts believers of sin, where can we now find forgiveness? There is no more sacrifice for sins! [some say confession - but think about it - Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith - will He save believers halfway, and leave the balance of salvation for you to do? - when in fact the bible says it is ONLY BY GRACE you have been saved and NOT BY WORKS?] Believers are saved by grace through faith - not daily confessions!

1 Peter 1:2
who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

The Sanctification process belongs to the Holy Spirit! Not you!
Your role is to make that salvation clear - that is to bring forth the fruits.

Our role is to believe and made clear the fruits of our salvation - that is to show to others what salvation through Christ is in total!

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Problem 5
The Holy Spirit's Conviction Of Sin Categorises You WITH THE WORLD!

John 16:8-11 - The Holy Spirit's Work
When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

If the Holy Spirit convicts you of sin, then you will die with the world!

You need to be clear on a few thing!
Who does the Holy Spirit convicts of sin?
THE WORLD!
Why?
because they do not believe in Jesus!

What does the Spirit convict believers?
Righteousness!
Why?
Because Jesus is at the right hand of the Father!

Who does the Spirit judge?
The prince of this world!

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Summary

The Holy Spirit cannot convict believers of sin! If He did all the problems above will arise.

But the Holy Spirit convicts believers of righteousness!
If you still believe that the Holy Spirit convicts you of sin - then you better brace yourself - because you'll fall in the same category with the WORLD!

Please change your mind! Metanoia please!

The Truth Is Found In Christ

2009-08-10T13:06:00.000+08:00

I was at Hebrew class yesterday and we reached the last Hebrew letter in the Hebrew language.
The last Hebrew letter is the Tau ת

My Hebrew teacher said in Genesis 1:1 - there is an untranslated part that is the את (read from right to left)
In the beginning God [aleph tau] created the heaven and the earth. Genesis 1:1
It was left untranslated because it was something the Jews could not themselves understand.
The Aleph-Tau also appears in :
and they shall look upon me [aleph tau] whom they have pierced... Zechariah 12:10

It is made of the first letter Aleph and the last letter Tau - which is Aleph-Tau.

If you have studied Hebrew, you would know that each letter represents one or maybe more pictures.
Aleph - Sacrificial Ox, Strength
Tau - Cross, perfection

To go deeper in Aleph, you'll realise the letter is made of 2 yods and 1 Vav.
Yod - Hand,
Vav - nail, hook

Hence, looking at these insights, you would realise that Aleph-Tau is in fact a reference to Jesus Christ, who was the Son of God who came in the flesh. He took our sins and the law and nailed it to the cross. And the Father rose Him up again after 3 days and seated Jesus at His right hand.

The problem with many denominational Christians today are that some have without knowingly gone back to law (this stems from a lack of understanding what the law is, and what its effects are). Their beliefs and teaching are based on the Cross, but not on the complete and finished work of the cross.

IF WE COULD gain anything apart from Christ and his finished work - his coming would have been unnecessary. If salvation, rewards and blessings could have come through the law, Christ would have died in vain - but not so! For we have a righteousness that comes through His finished work at the cross.

Which is why the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the day of pentecost so important.
To the Jew, Aleph-tau meant little to them - it was only a reference to God who is the beginning and the end.

But when the Holy Spirit was poured out, it filled the aleph-tau - producing truth - that is EMET - Aleph-Mem-Tau = Truth.

Dear Beloved Christian - each and every bible interpretation has to be based on the person of Jesus Christ's and His finished work on the Cross and tested according to the spirit.

If anyone attempts to seek truth without Christ or the cross, it may prove disastrous.
EMET minus the Aleph will product MET - which is death!
EMET minus the Tau - will produce Aleph-Mem Sopit = The Sacrifice Concealed
(this is because any letters that ends with a mem is transformed into its sopit form - which is Mem-sopit which meaning transforms from revelation to concealment)
To seek the truth without Christ and His finished work leads to spiritual death and blindness

Hence why, the truth, being in total has to be understood in total.
Truth - Aleph Mem Tau =
Aleph - sacrificial ox
Mem - reveal, Holy Spirit
Tau - Cross, perfection

=> the Sacrificial Ox Revealed at the Cross
Again the truth testifies the kind of freedom we receive by His finished work and has to be read according to it so.

May you be blessed! And may the truth set you free!

MAXIS IS THE NECESSARY AND LESSER EVIL

2009-07-28T15:46:00.003+08:00

I've been using DiGi for the last few months..

The experience?:- HORRIBLE

10 Reasons DiGi Failed me:-
a) always dropcalls
b) lines not responsive and are usually connected on the second try of calling (or else service is not available)
c) customer service ALWAYS fails and never carries out what they promised to do... (eg. to call me back in 48 hours time - Failed 4/5 times)
d) Constant barring of line, when in fact, DiGI HAS NOT revert to me in regards to my billing queries... hence i had to suffer for their inefficiency
e) my complains to customer service falls on deaf ears...
f) their basis of inability to tackle my GPRS billing problems is that it is customer confidentiality and forces me to accept that or get out
g) their unwillingness to examine my billings and notice that there is something not right with my bill shows their lack of initiative despite customer complaint
f) customer service always slow - puts me on hold on average 5 minutes, longest is 15 minutes...
g) their inability and absence of initiative to make amends for their errors. No apology is made for making me call them back when in fact they promised to get back to me
i) DiGi Internet (Edge) always clashes with calls - (cannot receive calls when I'm surfing with DiGi)
j) Cannot take simple instructions eg. Always send my bill to my office when I tell them to send it to my home!

Good things about DiGi
a) only 1/5 people in DiGi customer service gets the job done... hire better people please!
b) Edge is at very good speeds and stable
c) Downloadable Detailed billings at their website

My case - 012 252 7168
During my usage of DiGi, I found their EDGE useful - so I use it quite often, even more once I've gotten the unlimited date package.
However, my prob occured in my bills when DiGi billed me a staggering RM369.20 from 12th May to 11th June 2009... [this was before my unlimited data package]
Although their tier discounts lowered the sum to a maximum RM149, it did not answer what amounted to that huge surge of charges.

I checked my bills and I discovered as below (in the pic)
On the date 8th June 2009, I was billed RM 67, RM 133.70 and RM 127.60 on 3 separate occasions for GPRS (Pay As You Go)... That amounts to RM328.30...
This happened all in ONE DAY and DiGi could not determine what amounts to the data nor the website that incurred this charge.

The timing of the charges is illogical as part of the charges showed that I used the internet, when in fact, it was my norm to use my office internet during work hours. Still today is 28th July, and STILL NO answers from DiGi on this matter... That one and a half months time of investigation yielding NOTHING...

Without the additional 328.30 charge, my GPRS would only amount to RM 40.90, which would make my bill for that month as RM 101.28 and not RM 220.15 as stipulated in my bill..

To me, that is a DOUBLE CHARGE...
I switched to DiGi expecting better things, but that is not what I found

So apparently "Time To Change" does not guarantee it it always a good change.
I'm going back to Maxis...

What can you learn if you are using DiGi?
a) ALWAYS check your bills...
b) or switch to other networks
c) make sure they don't charge you randomly

What should DiGi do?
a) I don't care, I don't wanna know
b) I would have preferred that DiGi took the initiative to offer me a further discount, but I already paid my outstanding bill today, and I already put in my transfer request to Maxis... TOO LATE for anything of such..
c) Make sure you meet your promises. Even if you got nothing to report, a courtesy call can be important to customers. So many times CS promised to get back to me in 48 hours, and for me to call back asking why I was not given feedback DOES NOT look good on you...
d) Hire better people in CS - some are just horrible, some are in fact very good. As a customer, I want people that can give me results... Your CS people represents you. When they do a good job, they don't get the credit - YOU DO... when they do a bad job, you get the blame... Understand?
e) You need to hear your customer. You don't want a frustrated customer who has repeatedly given you a chance to prove yourself (one and a half months) and for them to blow their top on Social Media sites or on blogs like what I am doing now...
f) One act of kindness speaks more than the evil - assumingly you did write off those questionable charges for 8th June, my reaction would be opposite. I would be defending you instead of questioning you, I would be happy with you instead of being dissatisfied, I might even be asking people to switch to DiGi instead of Maxis (or other telcos)... But I find myself switching back to Maxis because the bad experience you have given me makes me think that Maxis is indeed the lesser evil... I may not have blogged about it, or tell my whole Facebook network about it, but I WOULD HAVE FELT GOOD ABOUT DIGI...
g) I told your CS people many times - tell me what those charges amount to and I will gladly pay if INDEED I really did use it... yet, you fail, and made me feel unimportant. Your current solution for this matter does not seem to do anything. Please change.
h) stop bothering me from now on. I'm waiting for my Maxis package to begin, and I don't want you to further hound me on anything unnecessary.. thank you...

DiGi, It is TIME (for you) TO CHANGE

You Are Not Saved By Good Works...

2009-07-26T03:41:00.000+08:00

I was having dinner today at MidValley's Manhattan Fish Market, and as usual during my makan time, I turned to the ODB of the day.

What was significant about 25th July's ODB is that it talks about Metanoeo (repentance/change your mind).

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The bible constantly speaks about repentance. But how we understand and define repentance, will result to the way we live our lives.

In the Old Covenant (that is by law), you do your best as a follower of Judaism to keep God's Commandments (with in total 613), do good, and should you at times fail, the Day of Atonement and the Sin Offering is present to save you. The Burnt offering (which often the Holy Spirit testifies in Scripture is a sweet smelling aroma) because the unblemishness (perfection) of the lamb is imparted to the believer - and that is a good will offering by the believer.

To summarise - your rightstanding (or righteousness) before God comes from WHAT YOU DO.

In the New Covenant, (that is by grace), Christ met the requirements of the law, nailing on the Cross - your sins and the requirements of the law. Christ took your sins (becoming your sin offering) and imparted His righteousness (becoming your burnt offering) and restored the broken fellowship between you and God (fellowship/drink offerings). What you attained was WHAT JESUS DID FOR YOU.

Your Righteousness comes from Jesus Christ - not something you earned, but was accredited to you (by grace) for your faith.

Hence, by one sacrifice, Jesus abolished the need of Good works as a requirement for salvation.
Question is - Why does a Christian serve today? And on what basis does he/she serves? (be it ministry, at home, at work, etc)

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So what is it that Paul is saying in Acts 26:20?
He is before King Agrippa, and Paul testifies the message he received from Jesus.

Acts 26:20 (Amplified Bible)
But made known openly first of all to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout the whole land of Judea, and also among the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works and live lives consistent with and worthy of their repentance.

Paul is clear the message is FIRST for the Jews (in Damascus, Jerusalem and Judea).
Why?

Because the Jews' understanding of righteousness is that righteousness is earned through keeping the law...
Hence, they need the change of mind (repentance) from trying to attain it themselves, to finding it given through Christ.

That is why the author of Hebrews said in Hebrews 6:
Hebrews 6:1 (Amplified Bible)
THEREFORE LET us go on and get past the elementary stage in the teachings and doctrine of Christ (the Messiah), advancing steadily toward the completeness and perfection that belong to spiritual maturity. Let us not again be laying the foundation of repentance and abandonment of dead works (dead formalism) and of the faith [by which you turned] to God,

Repentance of Dead works AKA Dead Formalism - It means don't serve God to earn your righteousness, but serve God because you HAVE your righteousness...

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The problem is this:
Churches today teaches believer to work out your salvation in fear and trembling. Phi 2:12
As a result, a lot of people are serving to gain righteousness (or God's favour) or have NO CLUE why they are serving, OR are serving out of PEER PRESSURE.

Such thinking might also stem from self condemnation (searching acceptance with peers or God) or a false notion of inactivity (that you are not a good Christian if you don't get involved like the rest)

As a result, A LOT OF active servants backslide from the Ministry!!! WHY???
Isaiah 28:13
So then, the word of the LORD to them will become:
Do and do, do and do,
rule on rule, rule on rule;
a little here, a little there—
so that they will go and fall backward,
be injured and snared and captured.

BLIND SERVICE will only cause a person to backslide...

A lot of what people receive (teaching) are not in line with the New covenant, but the Old one...
The reason why it happens is because of certain leaders who either do not know the truth, OR it was simply a tradition imparted to them, OR a lack of faith that God will sustain the ministry that He has promised to flourish...

It is clear New Wine cannot be put in Old Wineskins...
CHURCH PROGRESS is not synonymous with CHURCH ACTIVITY
You can be doing a lot, but going backwards...

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The Bible says in
Romans 8:15
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."

What does Paul mean when he says this in Romans 5, yet seemingly contradict himself in Philippians 2?
Philippians 2:12
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,

It makes more sense if you read Philippians 2:13, the continuation of vs 12!
for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

The WORKING OUT of your salvation is in fact, what God is doing in your life. (And is clear, that you are merely acting it out)

Hebrews 10:27 says
but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

The bible is clear that fearful expectation of judgment are for the enemies of God!
Hence, Paul in Philippians make sense! God's Spirit's did not come to make you have "an expectation of judgment" but a sense of Sonship.

This GOES AGAINST every teaching in the Church that says the Holy Spirit is there to convict you of sin!
What the Holy Spirit convicts you are in fact:-
John 16:8-11
When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt[a] in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

Convicts - Guilt, Righteousness and Judgment
Guilt & sin = because they do not believe in me (unbelievers)
Righteousness = because Jesus is going to the Father (to intercede for believers)
Judgment - Satan is now condemned (demons)

The Holy Spirit is here to convict believers of RIGHTEOUSNESS!!!

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Working out salvation in fear and trembling.
In fact, if you search the scripture for fear and trembling, you'll find:-
Mark 5:32-34
Why was the woman trembling with fear???
VS 33- knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.

What was it that she knew?
She knew she found grace and healing through her faith!

The Christian serve because he knows he is made righteous.

That is why James said in
James 2:18
But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

Your good works is the expression of your faith!
That is why Paul said - Acts 26:20b
I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.

Change your mind from serving to gain God's favour and salvation to serving BECAUSE you know you're already saved and are deeply loved by God.

Serve because you know you are saved.
Serve because you know you are righteous.
Serve because you have faith.

Hallelujah!

Hosanna

2009-07-09T17:46:00.000+08:00

ONE THING is needed - The Father's Love

2009-07-08T14:19:00.000+08:00

I am very caught up with work recently.
So bad, that I had no chance of having that weekly breakfast session with my mom and dad.

A few months back, a brother challenged me to honour my parents in a very different way. Lately, I’m spending more time with them than I had ever been. And I’ve also been supplying them much more than I did before. Since then, I could see grace infecting my parents! Haha… Hallelujah!

But I was shocked even more a few days ago.
I was supposed to go shopping with my parents – they have been asking me to get new clothes... My waist is not on clothing terms with my current clothes (LOL and yes I know I need to cut back on food).

I was shocked to wake up on Tuesday and my mom asking me to put on a new shirt. Obviously me being me – grumbled. Then my mom told me that my dad took the trouble – travelling down town, walked around shopping malls and got new clothing for me. And to top it up, he used ALL THE MONEY I gave him for his monthly expenses on it. I was blown away.

As much as I thought I could show my love to my dad, he showed me God’s love in a glorious manner.

That very day I drove to work, that whole event made me think deep about the way Father God gave us His Son.

It was that same all or nothing scenario…
And in the same way, God gave all he had.
That beautiful relationship the Father and Jesus had – which God the Father proclaims over all the earth - This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased (Matthew 3:17). That relationship – God’s cherished possession.

That bond of love lies broken at the cross where Jesus who had always been calling God as his ‘Father’ felt that separation – which for the first time, He could only look up and call God as eloi - Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani (Matthew 27:46).

Not only did it hurt Jesus – the crown of thorns, 40 minus 1 lashes, and the cross..
But it hurt the Father to have that broken fellowship with the Son.

As the Michael Card ‘Love Crucified Arose’ song goes – the Father turned His face away… Such a very act, that contradicts His very loving nature – must have been the hardest thing to do… But it was done because justice was required when each and every sin of ours fell on Jesus – the shroud of darkness covered Jesus from the Father’s eyes. Such was the agony Christ had to suffer – so did the Father…

I imagine when the prodigal son left his father’s household; the father would have suffered – not because his wealth was reduced but because the fellowship and relationship is broken. Out of the love for that son, he gave into his request. He withheld the hands that demand the condemnation and stoning of such a son (Deut 21:18-21). The father would probably sink down on the floor and cried behind closed doors.

It did not hurt him to lose his possessions as much as it hurt him to lose his son…

But when we come back to God. We can either live like the elder brother (who despite being a son, considered himself worthy to be a servant, and miss what God wants for him – despite everything that is the father is his). He missed the point when he thinks he can find favour from his father by serving and serving.

Or we can live like the repented son, who despite wanting to become a servant just for food; finds a robe of righteousness, a ring of sonship, a sandal of redemption and a fattened calf waiting for him – not to mention a father who RAN and embrace him. That broken fellowship is restored, and now, much closer than before.

And between the two, it is clear that through that the servanthood attitude of the elder brother caused the blessing of the firstborn to go to the second.

You can only live either by grace or by law.

For me, I choose to live by grace, not like Martha who wants to give her best, but like Mary – who receives the best at the feet of Jesus – that ONLY one thing that is needed (Luke 10:42).

Yes, there is a place for ministry, but not in the manner that Martha was serving.

Today, I look at the shirts my dad gave to me, and I could see such power of the Gospels in what my dad has done. And how much he has taught me about his love for me and the love God the Father has for me.

And that makes me love both of them more! I wouldn’t call myself the best son in the world. I still feel very much that I fall short in many areas. But by grace, I am being renewed every day!

And it is by knowing the love of the Father that grace can abound much more!

Logically, I should be ashamed, but I am not - because I realised what it cost him to make such a sacrifice. In the same way, when I realised all the more what God has done for me (and I assure you that you may think you know, but it is very different when it really sinks in), the more I am not ashamed about the Gospel - and the grace that is in it...

The Significance of 'Amen'

2009-07-06T14:42:00.000+08:00

Have you ever wondered why some Churches shout Amen to sermons?

Some Churches in Malaysia practice this, some don’t. Those who do, claim a special power to the word. Those who don’t practice it, believe that there is no power in the word.

But what does Amen mean?
אָמֵן - Amen means ‘so be it’ (also ‘let it be') or ‘truly’ (as in surely or verily)
To the Jew, the way you catch a blessing from heaven is to utter the word ‘Amen’ (ps. Joseph Prince)

Hence when the Beatles sang the song ‘Let It Be’ – they are singing the ‘Amen’ (but of course we know that ONLY Jesus is LORD).

Amen in Hebrew is made of 3 consonants: - the Aleph (א), the Mem (מ) and the Nun Sopit (ן).

These 3 letters is taken and originate from the
נאמן מלך אל (‘EYL MELEKH NE’EMAN) = God The Trustworthy King.

Amen comes about when you take the Aleph from ‘EYL, the Mem from MELEKH and Nun from NE’EMAN – to form AMN = AMEN.

Hence, when we utter the words ‘Amen’, we are saying that not only is God Trustworthy to carry out everything He promised, but it also denotes that God is a King. This not only goes in line to the Jewish perspective that the Messiah is from the line of David (the line of Kings), but also dictates that God’s word as a decree.

Today, we enjoy ALL of God’s promises through the Amen because:-
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:20)

The thing is this – If we are sinful, and we utter the Amen, It means God is trustworthy to execute the judgment we deserve. Because there is no one perfect and blameless (righteousness through the law perspective), hence the trustworthy God only punish us – and He cannot bless us.

But through Christ, we are NO LONGER the objects of God's wrath.

Christ cleanses those who are righteous through faith (apart from the law), they are blessed when they utter the ‘Amen’ because then, God can bless you without being unjust (that is because you are no longer a sinner, hence the trustworthy thing is to bless you!!!) The trustworthy King is so willing to bless!

Hence Paul said what he said!

If you look at the word Amen, It begins with the Aleph (the picture of the sacrificial ox – the picture of Jesus at the cross), goes through the revealed Mem (showing the flowing water – the picture of the Holy Spirit rushing to fill) and ends with the Nun (the picture of the moving fish – an symbolism of massive life).

Therefore, when we utter the Amen, we are uttering faith that it is through the Cross of Christ, the Holy Spirit testifies it and results (ends) with flowing LIFE! Hallelujah!

Paul understood this and hence, he that is why he included Amen in ALL HIS EPISTLES…(source wikipedia.org/Amen)

If you don't want to be blessed, it's ok.. you don't have to utter the Amen or believe in blessing. But if you want life and blessing up to the full, Amen to you!

Written and Copyrighted by Randy Khoo.

2 Recent Lessons...

2009-07-05T01:53:00.000+08:00

It's Sunday, 5th July 2009 - 1.30 am.

But I have 2 lessons I need to share with you today.

First Lesson
I was with 2 brothers and a sister today, and we were sharing the Gospel of grace with the sister.
And somewhat in my heart, I discerned that the sister was suffering what she was suffering because of a previous relationship with a man. And that she needed to hear that to be freed from her chains of the past. That she needed to know that God loved her despite of what 'that man' did to her...

But me being me, I opted to keep quiet. (as I always do)
Only after that sister was encouraged by the other 2 brothers and left did the brothers shared to me how that sister encountered an abusive marriage and suffered so...

This was the FIRST TIME we met...

I realise that some times God wants me to speak up on certain things. And perhaps as what I am encouraged to know - that's the kind of ministry that God is interested to use me for...

This experience has encouraged me to speak more boldly in the future rather that just blogging His truths that I've discovered.

Second lesson
At 1am, I finished an Old Town Cheras session with the usuals.
I was beat. Having been awake for the last 17 hours, my body showed signs of fatigue.
Plus the night before I had only 4 hours of sleep.

As I got into my car and leaving the car park, I got a call...
My friend's car had broken down. And his car battery was dead. Apparently he forgot to switch off the headlights..

So I drove back to the car park and we tried to kickstart the engine via human power - 'car pushing'.
Didn't worked.

Since we both didn't have jumpstart cables with us, we all jumped into my car and went hunting for a cable at nearby petrol stations. Finally found one...

We went back to his car, and I poped up my bonnet.
To my horror, my radiator reserve tank cover was open. It dawned on me that I have been driving around with the possibly of my radiator drying up.

I could only thank God that through such an intervention, did I realise that God's protection is on me.
And I have no doubt that my friend was put into such trouble for my sake...

It is SO TRUE that when you know how much Jesus loves you, His warm protection hedges you also!
I'm truly encouraged and this has reinforce my joy in trials...
Sometimes pain/distractions happen because God's protection is in motion.

Hallelujah and Amen!

Look Unto Jesus

2009-06-26T16:48:00.001+08:00

Hebrews 12:2
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…

What does it mean to look unto Jesus? Well, we can think of it like this: If you are drowning and somebody walks past you, you do not look at him. You look unto him. When you look unto him, you are turning to him and expecting him to rescue you.

In the same manner, you look unto Jesus expecting Him to save, heal and protect you because you know His mighty power and sacrificial love for you. God’s Word says that we are to keep “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith”. That is how God wants us to live.

So if you have a recurring migraine, keep looking unto Jesus. See Him taking that migraine upon His body on the cross and say, “Lord, I thank You that by Your stripes I am healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) As you keep looking unto Jesus, your healer, that migraine will have to bow to His finished work!

If you have a financial lack in your life, just keep looking unto Jesus with confident expectation that He will provide for you and deliver you from your lack.

“But Pastor Prince, is it really so simple? All I have to do is look unto Jesus and He will bless me financially?”

Yes, it is that simple. The problem with us is that we tend to look unto ourselves. But we cannot save or deliver ourselves. Even the apostle Paul struggled when he depended on his self-effort. That is why he said, “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.” (Romans 7:19) It was only when Paul looked away from himself and unto Jesus that he received his deliverance. (Romans 7:24–25)

My friend, if you have been looking unto yourself, it is time to start looking unto Jesus. Look unto Him, the author and finisher of your faith. And soon, you will be looking at your healing and prosperity!

© Copyright Joseph Prince, 2006. All rights reserved.

Your God Sucks

2009-06-24T12:57:00.001+08:00

By Jeff Goins
http://www.relevantmagazine.com/columns/church-today/17220-your-god-sucks

I have something to say to the fast faith, consumerist churches of America. It’s not something that you want to hear, but something that I believe you need to hear. I definitely needed to hear it. I used to try to fit God into my own broken paradigm, instead of fitting into God’s way of seeing the world. I used to relegate Christianity to political stances and moralism. And I was missing out. It took me awhile to realize that it was my theology, my view of God, that needed fixing.

Maybe that’s where you are. If such is the case, then it’s time to face the facts: Your god sucks.

Your god dwells in man-made, concrete buildings. He likes frilly things like Easter brunches and well-decorated narthexes. He appreciates a good program and applauds any effort put forth to get people to come inside the building. When the congregants leave the building, he retires to the pastor’s office until the next scheduled activity.

Your god gets mad at you for no good reason like a fickle, teenage girl, and all you can do to make it up to him is try to be really, really good or at least do your best to hide all your faults. You return the favor, doing unto others as has been done unto you, compelling your “brothers and sisters” to perform religious acts of obligation, regardless of what’s in their hearts.

Your god doesn’t care particularly for the poor or the downtrodden. Anything that’s happening on the other side of the world is of little relevance to him; he knows that the Western world is where all the real, Holy Spirit action is happening.

He has a soft spot in his heart for rich people and appreciates the excess of time they have to dedicate to going to church. He’s quite pleased that they’re not caught up in where their next meal will come from, so as not to bother him with such pathetic requests. He has a strong ethic about only helping people that first help themselves. He’s a fan of capitalism, listens to conservative radio and doesn’t have time for weaklings.

When I think about it, your god looks a lot like Donald Trump.

Like I said, your god sucks.

Your god inspired a theology that says bad things happen to people just because they do and that it’s your job to deal with it. According to him, the world’s problems are part of “the plan.” He allows pain in people’s lives, because they’re sinful and it’s their own fault. He doesn’t like to intervene, because that would upset the nature of the universe. His expectation is that you will diligently perform your duties and not bother him with petty requests like alleviating the suffering of the oppressed. He’s just too busy and aloof to redeem difficult and hopeless situations.

Your god is a one-size-fits-all, prepackaged sort of god that could be sold as an impulse buy in the Wal-Mart checkout line next to the king-sized candy bars. Your god doesn’t want a contrite heart, but just some really good sacrifices. Your god is more concerned about whether you dragged yourself to church on Sunday than he is about what you did for the guy standing on the street corner. Your god uses felt boards and attendance sheets. His idea of grace is letting slide those few times you fell asleep during the sermon, so long as you’ve made up for it with plenty of other activities.

Your god is a black-and-white god with principles, agendas and schedules that can’t be broken or bent. He isn’t interested in relationship or communication. Your god doesn’t move or speak in personal ways anymore; that was before the Reformation and the printing press.

Again, I say: your god sucks.

Your god sucks because he’s controllable. Your god sucks because he’s tame and predictable. Most of all, your god sucks because he looks nothing like Jesus, and I’m convinced he’s not the real God at all.

2009-06-22T16:06:00.005+08:00

Make Your Temple A House Of Prayer

Mark 11:17

17 Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves’.”

It would be great if every time we prayed, the answers came quickly. Thank God for immediate results, but what do we do when the results are not immediate? The promises of God are there for us, but when they have yet to manifest in our circumstances, what should we do in the meantime?

Jesus showed us what to do. After He had cursed the fig tree, the tree did not wither immediately. (Mark 11:14) What did He do then? He went to the temple in Jerusalem and cleansed it, saying that it should be a house of prayer and not a den of thieves. (Mark 11:15–17) After cleansing the temple, when the disciples saw the same fig tree the next day, it had dried up from its roots! (Mark 11:20–21)

Today, you are the temple of God. (1 Corinthians 3:16) And your temple should be a “house of prayer” or it becomes a “den of thieves”. These thieves, or powers of darkness, will steal and rob from your temple, which is your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19) They will steal and rob you of your strength, health, youthfulness, wisdom, hopes and dreams.

So make your temple a house of prayer by praying in tongues frequently. (Ephesians 6:18) When you pray in the Spirit, you are praying perfect prayers. This is because the Spirit Himself makes intercession for you when He prays through you in tongues. (Romans 8:26)

“Pastor Prince, how long must I pray?”

Well, how often in a day does the enemy attack you with fears, anxieties and worries? How often does that disease in your body remind you that it is there? How healthy and whole do you want to be?

Beloved, as you make your temple a house of prayer, the powers of darkness that have been stealing or robbing from you will be driven out of your life completely. You will see the manifestation of what you have spoken over your circumstances and you will see the withering of what you have cursed!

Look To The Word, Not Natural Facts

2009-06-21T18:27:00.000+08:00

Look To The Word, Not Natural Facts

Numbers 21:9
9So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

"Pastor Prince, I know that God is my healer. But why is this sickness and pain still in my body?” If you have been looking at your sickness and pain all this while, stop looking at yourself and start looking at Jesus. Did He or did He not take upon Himself your sickness and pain?

God’s Word declares, “Surely our sicknesses he hath borne, and our pains — he hath carried them…” (Isaiah 53:4, YLT) Since Jesus has already taken your sickness and pain at the cross, then He cannot “untake” them. Even if you find it hard to believe that Jesus has paid for your healing, especially when the pain is unbearable, the truth is that it is still paid for. It is a finished work!

God is not saying that your sickness does not exist, nor is He asking you to pretend that it is not there. He is asking you to look away from the sickness, painful as it may be, and look to the truth that it has already been judged at the cross in the body of His Son.

Once, while still in the wilderness, the children of Israel were bitten by deadly desert serpents. The serpents were real. The bites were painful and deadly. So God told Moses to point the people to the bronze serpent put on a pole — a picture of the cross. (John 3:14) Bronze signifies judgment. In other words, the serpent — their problem — was already judged at the cross.

Those who kept their eyes on the bronze serpent lived. Those who focused on their wounds died. So stop looking at your sickness. Instead, look to the cross and see your sickness already judged in the body of Jesus. Surely He has borne your sicknesses and carried your pains! That is the truth of God’s Word. And His Word supersedes natural facts.

My friend, you let natural facts rule or establish God’s truths over your problem by what you choose to focus on. So decide today not to focus on the facts concerning your problem. Instead, establish the truth of God’s Word and Christ’s finished work over your problem — and live!

So Much To Thank Him For

2009-06-20T03:40:00.004+08:00

God has been very good to me.

To be honest, my current pay is VERY comfortable.
This sum, has allowed me to pay off my initially huge credit card debt as well as to enjoy little luxuries like my Nokia 5800, more family time, dim sum sessions with parents, etc.

Now God is opening doors for me to earn another (quite significant) sum just by working an extra 8-16 hours a week. And it's a guaranteed sum - so no multilevel nonsense here.

Initially, I thought I was on goal to buy a house end of next year.
But by the look of things, I might be having that house sooner that I expect.. possibly an apartment by the end of the year or a REAL GOOD property by the middle of next year.

I can only credit all these to Jesus. After all, God is the one to bless me. And He wants to make you rich too. And for that matter, Christ came poor to make us rich (2 Cor 8v9).
[BTW, If you ask any Jew, they will tell you physical wealth is a SPIRITUAL BLESSING]
Romans 15:27 - They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.

Many Christians today can accept the Spiritual blessings in Christ, but are unable to believe that physical blessings are a form of spiritual blessings.

How is it that Christians are unable to believe Jesus - who walked on this earth in a spiritual and physical body, who was filled with the Holy Spirit, and healed the bodies of men, who can create wealth in an instant - by turning water into wine, feeding the thousands, and that same Saviour CHOOSE not to even turn the littlest stone into bread for His own benefit - that in such extreme poverty, He sought to gave us immense wealth!

Yet Christians today, took that epitome of a poor Jesus as a 'law' that they tried to follow 100% with their own efforts. [I find this an irony that it is the rich preachers would be the ones to preach a poor Christian life to believers]

And still they forget it is through the Holy Spirit that they are sanctified - Romans 15:16
Still, they try to be like Jesus on account of their own efforts.

Your Holiness, Righteousness, Justification and Sanctification has been made possibly through the Cross - not by what you do, that you can give yourself credit.

Your Holiness - that God see you Holy as He looks down as sees Jesus in you
Your Righteousness - that by the blood of Jesus you are declared so that you may inherit all the benefits of the Righteous
Your Justification - that each and every sin of yours has been taken and punished in the body of Jesus at the Cross
Your Sanctification - that through the finished work, the Holy Spirit rests in you and He is the one that continues the washing of you feet to make you more like Jesus.

Believe and be extremely blessed with abundance Grace!
You are a NEW CREATION in Christ!

Christianity

2009-06-17T17:51:00.000+08:00

Grace And Peace Multiplied To You

2009-06-17T17:02:00.001+08:00

2 Peter 1:2–3
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

Imagine if God were to visit you in a dream tonight and ask you what He could do for you. What would you say to Him? Would you ask Him to give you a deeper knowledge of Jesus our Lord?

God’s Word tells us that when you receive revelation in the knowledge of Jesus, it will cause grace and peace to be multiplied in your life. It will cause you to receive all things that pertain to life and godliness.

What is grace? It is the unmerited, unearned and undeserved favor of God shown to us. There is nothing we can do to earn God’s grace. But the more we learn of the beauty and love of our Lord Jesus, the more we see His perfect work on the cross, and the more we position ourselves to receive a multiplication of God’s grace in our lives.

The verse says that peace too, is multiplied to us through the knowledge of Jesus our Lord. The peace of God sets our hearts free from fear, stress, worries, anxieties and cares. Wouldn’t you want to have the peace of God presiding over your heart always?

God’s divine power has given us all things that pertain not just to godliness, but to life as well. Wouldn’t you say that health, money, a good job and a nice home for your family pertain to life? Well, all these things and everything else which God has already given is released to you through the knowledge of Jesus our Lord.

So let’s ask God every day, “Father, give me wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus.” For to know Jesus is to have grace and peace multiplied to us. To know Jesus is to receive all things pertaining to life and godliness!

© Copyright Joseph Prince, 2006. All rights reserved.

A Willing Service

2009-06-09T12:56:00.005+08:00

This post MAY BE taken in wrongly, as CHURCH BASHING, but NO, that is not the intention of this post, but my reflections and my thoughts.

***

The other day when I was listening to a ‘Cheerful Giving’ message from Joseph Prince (can’t remember which CD it is), it got me thinking about giving cheerfully.

After listening to it, some things stuck to my mind. One of the things which came to my mind (which JP DIDN’T touch on) was on Christian service.

When I started my Christian walk in my previous church, I realised that most often when I was there, I was called to ‘carry the cross’, ‘deny myself’ and to ‘serve the Lord’. And personally, in the past, I’ve arrived at points in life where I didn’t want to serve because I’ve felt somewhat abandoned to do it, unsupported, and wearied by it.

It just seems taxing that when we are all called (as my previous church calls it), we are left to ‘work out our salvation in fear and trembling’. (it made me doubt the surety of salvation when I did not want to serve)

Hence, when I decided to pull back and not continue in that service, I (felt like) was given a squinted condemning eye, and often pulled aside and given a mini pep talk by the elder, or having brothers coming up to me asking “what happened?” [Personally, I believe this is still happening in many churches].

Firstly, such things made people feel bad. It made me feel like God is using these people to arm-twist me to serve. It seems like an invasion of my free-will. Such things made me feel that if I do not serve, I’m not a ‘good’ Christian – or that I’m going against God’s will.

Secondly, whatever I gave could not be my best. I was doing for the sake of doing. How can I overflow blessings out, when deep inside, I was dry? What you get from an empty cup is empty.

Thirdly, church members’ reaction were negative. Rather than exhibit grace, there were a lot of backstabbing and gossiping - and none said to my face.

***

So after listening to that sermon, I came to a conclusion – that God Loves a cheerful giver – not just in sowing to the needy (financially) or sowing the word of God (in preaching or encouragement). But also in service!

I came to the conclusion that – God loves a cheerful service.
However, at that time I came to that conclusion, I didn’t have any word from God to support it.
Today I was pleasantly surprised that God confirmed this message to me!
1 Peter 5:
Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be;

Be Shepherds not because you must, but because you are willing.

1 Peter 5:2 of The Amplified Bible describes PERFECTLY what I’m saying today.
Tend (nurture, guard, guide, and fold) the flock of God that is [your responsibility], not by coercion or constraint, but willingly; not dishonorably motivated by the advantages and profits [belonging to the office], but eagerly and cheerfully;

Hence Application:
1) If you feel FORCED into a position/leadership/duty of God, don’t do it. It’s better you let it go and let someone else to do it cheerfully.
2) Don’t be afraid to voice out to your leaders about how you feel about the service that you do and how it can be improved.
3) Don’t force people to serve, and don’t make them feel bad about not serving. Don’t judge them for not wanting to help.
4) If serving causes your ego to puff up, stop serving.
5) If you feel that your service is dishonourably motivated, or that a leader above you is so, then quit.

May you be blessed and serve God in the right and cheerful manner! :)

YHWH is Jesus!

2009-06-08T01:13:00.001+08:00

The word יהוה (YHWH/Yahweh) when broken down into the Hebrew pictorials means 'The open hand of grace, was nailed in grace?'

Amazing! Jesus is YHWH!
Also when they nailed Jesus on the cross and wrote "King of the Jews" on the board above His head, the YHWH appeared there?

And most Jews don't believe in Him... :)

I See Grace

2009-06-08T01:00:00.002+08:00

I was worshiping at Renewal Creation Church today and fell in love with this song about Jesus.
It was written by members of New Creation Church.
Enjoy!

The Strong Lord, The Weak Sheep

2009-06-03T12:18:00.003+08:00

Sometimes I wish I could right all the wrongs.
Or even change the outcome of things.
But I guess I can't now.
There is nothing I can do now.

So I'm just gonna do my best and not let the past bother me.
I'm just gonna let Him carry me home.
This fractured, wounded me.
I'm just gonna lift all the frustrations up to God who works for my good...

And He also works for your good too...

I guess, if i wanted - i could take actions and arm-twist things to happen.
But I think God wants me to change from all that SELF.
Even to change from that, I guess He has to work in me.

From Self to Him, from dead works to Glory!
Year by year, month by month, day by day, hour by hour, second my second...

Keep safe, keep well, stay warm.

Always be happy. And I'm always happy for you..

I wish you God's Blessings, Happiness, Wholeness, Grace and Love.
Adios...

Grace does not make you a bum!

2009-06-01T01:27:00.008+08:00

Yesterday, on Pentecost Sunday I worshipped at this Church called Praise Sanctuary near Taman Cheras Perdana. The only reason I attended the Church was because of Victor King. He's one of the many Pastors who had their ministries blossomed by God through the preaching of grace(as per Pastor Joseph Prince from New Creation Church). I enjoyed my time worshipping there and 2 Significant things happened.

i) somewhere in the middle of the sermon, I heard chimes... TWICE... It was awesome, especially when it was on the part when He was preaching about the forgiveness of sins. AMAZING...

ii) I learnt something that I could relate back to a brother who turned bad recently. The statement is - Those under grace is not lazy.

---------------------------------------

Grace Does Not Make A Person Lazy
Now, that's really contrary to logic. (or sort of)
Think about it, grace gives you, while work says you've earned it.
How can we then say our salaries are a form of God's grace when we've earned it?

This is where we must understand.
Grace is there when the curse of work is removed.
God cursed the ground that man will eat from the sweat of the brow.
And that same God came near and sweat blood in Gethsemane to remove that same curse.
***
I was at Simon Yap's house watching the Planet Earth documentary when we saw the bamboo shrimp.
Against the flow of the raging river, that tiny shrimp extended it's frills and EASILY caught food for itself. All it had to do was stretch out it's hands/frills and receive particles of food that was trapped in its frills.

SOME PEOPLE might get the wrong idea about God on this.
They think they don't need to work. And as Paul said, these people shall not eat.
But that is not how God's provision is.
And just like the shrimp, we need to stand against the raging tide of the river, and be rooted on the rock. Then we can stretch out our hands and receive.
Does it come from the sweat of our brow? NO! It comes by being rooted on the rock.
The cross did more than just forgive and forget our sins. It removed in total, every curse humanity had to bear and threw it in the grave. And when Jesus rose again, we rose with him, but our sins and penalties remained in the GRAVE! HALLELUJAH!!!

There is a dear brother I know that might need to read this.
He's having issues at work, not attending work, and at the same time, with HUGE debts around his waist. His debts in extensive - from old bosses, to friends, to church members to exes, etc...

Recently, a few of us, encouraged him and helped him get back on his feet by giving him a job, etc.
And after not attending work for a few days on grounds of no money for transport, I believe his boss advanced money to him. Then he disappeared from work.
I often have gaming sessions at cybercafes with him, and he always had money to pay. But somewhat, he has no money for the transport to office. (weird isn't it?)

And when a few of us confronted him, we were removed from his Facebook listing.
Plus, he even send me a poisoned pen sms .

Brother, If you're reading this - Grace DOES NOT make a person lazy.
You cannot go on living on handouts and keep borrowing money.
One day it will end, then what?
God has been so GRACIOUS to restore to you the YEARS THE LOCUST HAS EATEN.
It has saddened many that you've been unwilling to change.
Come on! take responsibility, s*ck your guts it, carry your b*lls and be the man God meant you to be!

A man who understands Grace, makes sure he works for that living. And God takes that man's work and pours back ABUNDANT grace..

You might be DREAMING for 1-2 million to drop on your lap, so dream on. God will not do that unless there is superabundant divine intervention. But if you CANNOT be faithful with little, who is going to give you more?

No one is judging you. No one is condemning you. We just want you to get back the right path and stick there. We have nothing to gain by that! Only you gain you know... what is it you have to lose?

Wrath and anger for those under law...

2009-05-22T16:52:00.000+08:00

I was driving to work this morning when I received this.
My usual morning drives would consist of listening to the usual sermons I have from Pastor Joseph Prince from New Creation Church.

However, there was a clear cut ringing of this message in my head this morning.
And as I dwell upon the message, the clearer it got.

"Wrath and anger are only for those under law"

Here, I'm gonna expound more about this topic.

1. We are saved by grace through faith.
Ephesians 2:3
All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
[a] Or our flesh

The Bible says with authority that Christians WERE ONCE living among the world with a purpose to gratify the sinful nature and its desires. We WERE at that point (and by that nature), OBJECTS of wrath. Wrath set its eyes on us, to condemn us.

BUT…
Ephesians 2:4-5
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Ephesians 2:9
not by works, so that no one can boast.

This verses shows that:
1. It is ALL God's doing through Christ
2. We were saved because of God's great love for us
3. It is not by works
4. God’s wrath has passed from you to the cross – hence, God is no longer angry with you

The works in vs9 refers to the human effort to attain God’s approval.

Hence:
Law - the use of human effort to attain a goal (that is also why in terminology, it's called a contract – each parties are obligated to do something)
Grace - the unmerited and undeserved favour from God (that is why under a grace covenant, man has no role to play)

If EVER a man has an active role to play in grace, it is to acknowledge the presence of this grace through faith. In the same way, he acknowledges and proclaims Jesus is Lord.
If a man needs a physical role in working for this grace, he/she falls under law, because it is then a contract, not a grace covenant.

Issue:
Now some here might say -
i) then we are not obliged to obey God to live in holiness
ii) we don't have to serve Him in ministry
iii) or that we not accountable to live right
iv) go into sinful living since we’re under grace.

Romans 3:8
Why not say—as we are being slanderously reported as saying and as some claim that we say—"Let us do evil that good may result"? Their condemnation is deserved.
Romans 6:15
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!

If you have in mind here to say - randy is saying we can sin because we have grace.
Then your condemnation is deserved! - You have missed the point...
Sin is still sin! It is detestable, evil and deserved condemnation.
But we have been provided a way out of it – That is grace!
Hence, we cannot be saved if we opt for self-righteousness, because Christ did not come for the righteous (self-righteous), but for sinners.
Now we have grace to overcome sin! To live victorious life, to live glorifying lives!

Romans 7:19-25
For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

When Paul describes the man who does not do the things he want to do, he describes THAT man as having sin living in him. That is the natural state before Christ. That is the nature that is the object of God's wrath. This verse is about NON-BELIEVERS! [How many times have this been quoted wrongly?]

Christians have been given the power for RIGHT LIVING.

Paul says - Christ rescues us from THAT body of death!
And because we have been rescued from the body of death, we can come boldly.
For it is no longer sin who is living in us, but Christ that lives in us!

Hebrews 10:19-22
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

2. Mixture of Law and Grace
The question is - can a Christian under grace come under law?

The Bible’s answer – Yes
Read Matthew 11 & Revelations 3:14:22
It’s a picture of Law and Grace
John the Baptist and Jesus Christ
Cold and Hot

When Jesus speaks of the crowd in the marketplace who wouldn’t dance to the song, nor mourn to the dirge, it’s a picture of people stuck between law and grace. A lukewarm state.
If you meditate on that chapter, you’ll realise John the Baptist is the picture of the law, while Jesus is grace.
John was in prison – which is the ultimate showing of bondage. Law condemns and brings death (as John would also died later).
But out of Jesus, come sight, healing, life. And blessed are those who do not fall away from grace – back to law (on account of Jesus)!
Yet, Jesus explains – the law was meant to reveal grace = John was the messenger to prepare the way for grace/Jesus.
At the end of Matthew 11, Jesus invites the people to rest from religion (go check greek translation), and not physical rest as per what some churches may teach.
Jesus wants us to come out of Law, and enter Grace.

In Revelations, Jesus said, he will spit those under both law and grace out of His mouth.
Those who mix law and grace will think they are richly awarded. But God says they are not. And he beckons them to buy the white clothes to cover their nakedness.
What does this mean?
It means that Christians who are under both law and grace, have missed the point when it comes to the righteousness of Christ, they are also spiritually blinded. The fact that they need to buy white clothes to clothe their nakedness, shows that they are not righteous in God’s eyes!

Many preachers TWIST the word of God in Revelations to mean lukewarm as in how passionate we are for Jesus. God forbid it means that! That is loosely translated without scriptural backing!
It’s the line God draws between law and grace!
[it also makes no sense that even if you are not as passionate about Jesus as you would be, yet living in grace, you can be unrighteous before God??? No! That’s because He imputes His righteousness on you – but it makes all the sense that if you attempt to attain you own righteousness by your own hands, you are unrighteous because you only have filthy rags!]

3. What does being under law mean?
I’ll answer this question with another question.
Why should God bless you or are you doing some activity today to be blessed by God?

Have you had the mentality – that God should bless you in your career/wealth/family/health because you serve in ministries or are a good steward, or just because you pay tithes, etc…?
Have you ever thought that God should help you because you have been obedient in serving?
Or when trials occur – you ask – why God, Why give me problems when I’ve done so much for the church, or how much you’ve given, etc…

Or have you possessed the reversed mentality:-
God is cursing me because of my sin?
God is withholding blessings because I did not serve Him?
I’m suffering now because I ignored His ministry?

Why do I give the above examples?
Because these people seek God’s approval/good life/blessings through what they did/do.
Only people under the law seek approval through ‘good works’.

That is the method of Cain, who sowed the cursed ground to offer the fruits of his labour – sad looking spoiled fruit. [Cain couldn’t offer the firstfruits because those were the worst, but by working the cursed ground through trial and error, he sought methods to obtain presentable ones to God.]

And that is the underlying difference.
If Christianity is about doing something good for God to bless you, how is that different from religion? (we’re not even talking salvation yet – coz the world doesn’t even bother with that to an extent)
It’s not a barter trade or bargaining chip with God.

BUT IT IS:
2 Peter 1:3
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

There is no such thing as practical righteousness as some churches may preach. There is only life and godliness through our knowledge of him. It’s not your quiet time, nor your offerings that make you a better person. It’s not if you can resist temptation, or endure persecution. It’s not your passion not your doctrinal excellence.

You can donate the most in Church, be the most active, do your quiet time daily, climb up and be a leader, etc… and STILL BE A PHARISEE…
But it is your knowledge of Him that makes you godly and holy… [not the kind of puffed up knowledge ok…]

It’s when you come to the point of falling so deeply in love with Him that He walks with you every day. And that my friends, is the heart of Psalms 23 - The Lord is my shepherd.

This is what is revealed to me today.
May you be blessed and encouraged because of Grace.
Amen.

Poiema With A Purpose...

2009-05-11T12:43:00.001+08:00

Ephesians 2:10 is one of the most 'wrongly quoted' verse by Christians.
Often, it would be interpreted as, God saves you, hence you serve him back - or that God saved you for the purpose of service.

But if you read that verse in context with the whole of Ephesians 2, there are NO MENTION of human service back to God AT ALL...

But it is not by (human) works, so that no one can boast (ephesians 2:9).

Ephesians 2:10 begins with the word 'for' a continuous from verse 9.
For is also bearing the same meaning as because.
hence - because we are God's workmanship (poeima/poetry in greek)
created in Christ Jesus to do Good works (since, it is not human works, it means God's Good work in us), which God prepares in advance for us to do.

Here the Holy Spirit leads paul to mention - God's preparation in advance to do.
What are these works then? Then what does doing the good work then mean?

The Good Works
vs 11-13 - To remember how our lives without Christ is like and how we are brought near through the blood of Jesus Christ.
vs 14-18 - To receive the peace from our reconciliation with Him and come knowing that we have access to the Father by His Holy Spirit.
vs 19-22 - become a dwelling that people can testify God's presence, with Christ as your cornerstone.

And all these things ARE ALREADY GIVEN BY CHRIST, and given THROUGH THE CROSS.

The Message version of the Bible says - Ephesians 2:7-10
Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.

Zero human effort, but 100% the work of Jesus at the cross.

Hence - we should live as the Spirit ordained:
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. [Ephesians 3:20-21]

Let us glorify him through our lives, not through our works.
Let Go, Let Him.

Here I Come!

2009-05-07T18:53:00.002+08:00

Singapore, Here I Come!

New Creation Church, Here I Come!

Awesome...
Will be going down south from 8th May till 10th May 2009...

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the 2 bros who were supposed to join me, could not make it.. One is attending a wedding, the other is money matters (which i'm still scratching my head why he agreed to go in the first place).

Going by faith...
Lord lead the way...

I Dreamed A Dream

2009-04-29T17:40:00.002+08:00

by Fantine, Les Miserables

There was a time when men were kind
When their voices were soft
And their words inviting
There was a time when love was blind
And the world was a song
And the song was exciting
There was a time
Then it all went wrong

I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving
Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung, no wine untasted

But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
And they turn your dream to shame

He slept a summer by my side
He filled my days with endless wonder
He took my childhood in his stride
But he was gone when autumn came

And still I dream he'll come to me
That we will live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms we cannot weather

I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I'm living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.

Praise God!

2009-04-28T13:53:00.001+08:00

Bitterness To Sweetness

2009-04-24T11:37:00.003+08:00

Yesterday when I was studying Exodus 15, God showed me a picture of Himself in the passage.

God's provision to His people with faith are joy (sweetness), healing and blessing.
Exodus 15:22-27
Looking at the passage, it was very meaningful to me.

You see, the Israelites just came out of Egypt and witnessed the 10 plagues, the Passover, and the elimination of the Egyptian army. In the beginning chapter of Exodus 15, they worshiped with Moses and Miriam's song.

And as they continued their journey for 3 days, they found no water. And when they did, they could not drink the bitter waters of Mara.
Sometimes, as a Christian, when we stop seeing God working in our lives, we would grumble. We ask why did God let 'this' to happen, why did God not intervene, why was there no answer to our prayers, etc. As a result, we become very bitter with God.
The Bible says that god is loving and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. However, experiential wise, we might not have walked with Him in that manner.
Sometimes, deep inside that bitterness is just collecting and growing.
For the last one year after a broken relationship, I can say I was bitter. And that bitterness led me to almost do stupid things in my life and turn permanently from Christ. Myself, I have experienced this empty way of rebellion and that bitterness was the cause of it.

How are you feeling bitter today? Or about the past? How have you grumbled?
As you read this things, what bitter roots come to mind?

When Moses cried out to the Lord and God showed moses the wood.
That wood is the shadow of Jesus Christ. Christ died on the cross, took our curses on the tree. God is merciful and gracious and will give us a way of escape. And from the old testament, God has always wanted to describe that picture of Christ to all of us.
Naomi, in the book of Ruth, in response to what happened changed her name to Mara.

How have you cried out to God today? When problems come your way, what is your No.1 response? Crying out to God or to rely on your own wisdom? How do you respond when things seems bitter?

Moses threw the wood into the water, and it became sweet.
When we cast Christ into the centre of our lives - into the midst of our trials, problems and bitterness, we find the result is sweet.
For God works for the good of those who love Him.
When we focus on Christ, all our bitterness turns into joy.
You see it is not the latter act of throwing the wood into the water that is significant, but it is the former act of putting faith in what God has to say that rewards you.

What or who are you focused on today? Your duties? Your position? Your belonging?
Is your ministry filled with bitter people and acts of throwing wood, or is your ministry filled with joy, sweetness and faith?

Then God made a decree and law to the people that if they LISTEN to the voice, THEN DO what is right, pay attention and keep His commands, God is faithful to not fall the disease of Egypt on them, but heal them.
Listening PRECEDES the doing. Paying attention PRECEDES the keeping.
For it is the hearing of the word that you have faith - Romans 10:17
Most of us today are so attuned to speed - fast cars, internet, sms, communication, etc.
We might read, but not see, hear, but not listen, do, but not think.
Doing does not come before listening. If you try to throw the wood, before crying out to the Lord, the water will not be sweet.
Then your service will seem to you nothing more than mere duties.
God promises the result of listening is healing - both from the judgment of diseases, as well as general healing.

How are you LISTENING to God today? Are you hearing or listening? Are you paying attention to God?
Are you doing more, or listening more? Are you throwing the wood, without listening first? Are you experiencing healing in supernatural ways today?

Then God led them to Elim, and there were 12 springs and 70 palm trees.
After that lesson of faith, God not only promises healing, but blesses them physically. Now they have abundantly more water and shade from the heat.
God blesses people who listens before they do, who pay attention before they keep.
All is required, but Listening and Paying Attention comes first.

How are you experiencing healing and material blessing from God today?

Personal Note:
I'm really encouraged by this passage. After listening to this chapter, I'm comforted that God wants to set me free from my bitterness, my painful past and prepare a sweet, joyful and blessed future for me.

Christian Exploitation

2009-04-23T12:33:00.000+08:00

Here's something to think about...
Not to condemn, but for us to really look at Jesus and understand His love for us and change for the better...

I've heard of numerous stories of Christians who exploit other Christians and recently I had a similar experience.

As you know, I'm a freelance writer.
Yesterday a lady called me up for a writeup job for a Christian Organisation.
Apparently this Christian Organisation sends out 500+ CD materials on a monthly basis to Christian women so that they may find their comfort from their marital, relationship and grief.

This organisation (whose name was not given to me) also claims to conduct seminars all over Thailand, HK, Australia and other parts of the world. They also apparently hold a worship/study group every tuesdays at their ministry centre.

The article was supposed to be a donation drive to ask from members/public for donation for their organisation.

She wanted to press my fees (which I made it plain to her was already below industry rates by 40%). Looking at the raw article she sent me, I said, I'll further press my fees by 50%, provided if a fellow sister in christ that I know could be roped into the mailing list and be encouraged. (this dear sister in christ has been going through many broken relationships, and I thought it would be good for her to receive such encouraging materials)

Instead, of accepting that (in total) 70% discount off my fees (which i intended to give away anyway) and the opportunity to minister to another dear sister in christ, this lady from the organisation rejected the offer because she doesn't want to pay me in cash - then hung up.
[I asked for cash on delivery of work because of bad experiences in the freelance business]

***
As I think about the matter, I recalled a similar incident a fellow lawyer brother encountered.
After the completion of a legal case and won, he was not paid by his fellow brother in christ and had to absorb the cost on his own (even for the legal cost on behalf of this brother)

***
Another sister shared to me that she was humiliated in public and coerced to purchase charity dinner tickets by a fellow brother who was selling these on behalf of the church. Simply, she was guilt-tripped into handing over her money.

She said (paraphrased) - He made me feel that if I did not support the cause, I was a bad Christian. And he was loud, and everyone was looking.

***
It got me thinking about how we should be aware of such things.
Do we have an attitude that "because I'm also a Christian", I am entitled to demand certain things from other Christians?

That I should EXPECT discounts, special treatment, waivers, and 'Charity' from other Christians?
God Forbid we practise such things!

But if we do receive such grace, it comes from God's favour & grace, not men!
For Abraham said - that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, 'I made Abram rich.'
Genesis 14:23

If we begin to understand where our wealth comes from, we will become cheerful givers.

Pleading for support/grace and demanding for it are 2 different things.
Grace demanded is not grace!

Worst off, is for us to feel dejected about not receiving such 'demanded grace' that we defame one another!
Some even calls these 'unsupportive' brothers/sisters - 'astray', 'far from God', 'greedy', 'worldly', 'lovers of self', etc

In the end, God will judge all things rightly.
Who are we to make demands and label (judge) one another?

The Root Cause Of Your Problem Is Condemnation

2009-04-21T02:03:00.000+08:00

Hillsong - From The Inside Out

2009-04-17T12:15:00.000+08:00



A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
my heart and my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart, in my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Chorus 2x
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out Lord, my soul cries out

Testimony of Randy Khoo

2009-04-14T16:57:00.002+08:00

What I say here is my story. Others in my Church may have experienced their Christian lives differently. Mine is just not the same as theirs. I’ve felt that I’ve come as closed as an inch of Hell. Now God has opened my eyes to His grace and peace – and I’m set free from everything that has made me a depressed person in the past!

This story is just simply stating how from the place I grew up in, God has now led me to newer things that I find (like the new wine) cannot be contained in the old wine anymore.

May you find yourself highly favoured, richly blessed and deeply loved by Christ in reading this testimony of mine.

BTW, if you do see yourself in my shoes, I would be more than happy to sit down with you and share the truth I have discover.

***

My name is Randy and I attend XXXXXXX. I accepted Christ in 2000. When I became a Christian, I didn’t completely understand what he did for me on the Cross. I just know that I needed Him. That with Him is where I wanna be. That He died on the cross for my sins. Despite that nobody took the pain to spell out what the Full Gospel was about. Everyone just ASSUMED that I will know.

I’ve been brought up in XXXXX to be constantly serving. And I’ve been told from day one to do that. That to show my faith is real, I must have deeds. That faith without deeds is dead. To be fair, I’ve been in almost all position of leadership in my youth. I’ve been a committee, an assistant commander, a commander, a mentor and an assistant teacher.

Even then, I did not feel led by God. I’m told, if I’m called into a leadership position, I’m called by God and it’s such a big privilege to serve as ‘I don’t have the same opportunities’ in bigger Churches. Church leaders say that to fight the battle against the flesh, we gotta be constantly making ourselves busy.

Instead of feeling gratitude, I felt like a burden was put on my shoulders. Like the souls of youths cast as my responsibility without me knowing where to find the answers to begin with. And it didn’t help that I was too shy to ask and that I should work out my salvation (by serving) in fear and trembling. And it’s always been scary how God was NEVER as close to me as I hoped for. I donno what He sounds like, I donno what He wants me to do, I’ve never felt like anything I did was His will.

Everything I did within the 4 walls was what people told me I should do.

Yes, I know Him from scriptures. I know what the Bible says of Him, but I’ve never felt that He spoke at all in life. Deep inside I was dissatisfied. I wanted the real thing. I wanted to know what He needs me to do, but all I received from my fellow seniors were nothing more than a ‘to do list’ (or at least it did feel like that to me).

I was told that I had to read my Bible every day. To pray every day. To serve in ministries. Deep inside I did not feel blest. I felt like the only purpose of going to church was my duties –and that too stopped me from walking out. That did not help as a leader of the Church breathed viperously against people who leave.

I can say I knew a bit of theology. I knew TULIP. I knew Calvinism and Arminianism. I’m even the best student in class for many years! But I did not know nor experience the depth, width and height of Jesus’ love. At that point of time, I could only blame myself as I thought I did not persevere enough.

I’ve tried living such high ‘holy’ standards as ‘exhibited’ by my fellow Christians, only to meet with failure in my own life.

It was like I was abound by contract to be a Shepherd, but I had nothing to offer the sheep as I was myself starved.

I was tired and have become sick of serving, serving and serving. If I was with Joshua on the mountain when he challenged the people, I would have said serving God was the undesirable thing for me. Deep inside I felt unworthy to serve, and there were better people to do what is required. “So why bother?” became my attitude. I just felt that nothing I do could be good enough to please anyone, especially not God.

Hence, I gave up and did not even bother trying.

In 2007, I was as far away as I can be and became involved in many forbidden things. I got in multilevel marketing and they jumped on the hype of ‘The Secret’ at that time. After a painful breakup in 2008, I got further involved in NLP and Hypnosis.

I wrecked my career, and I came to the point of becoming a Satanist because I was fedup with God, and the trials that I face in my life. I had had enough of it. I’ve even research online how to make a pact with the Devil and even drafted out what I would ask from the evil one.

But thank be to God that He is faithful and His Spirit has kept me from doing anything foolish!
I remember the night that I meant to make the pact, I stopped and decided to give God one last try.

I tried living right again by serving, with little success. And I went back into the same old routine that made me a bitter and unhappy man. By this point I was disinterested in everything ‘Church’ and I felt that I’ve been living with masks on.

Recently, a dear brother shared with me what he has discovered about the Grace of God and passed me sermons from Pastor Joseph Prince. At first I was doubtful. But I listened anyway about the Grace of God and today my life has never been the same.

Everyday, I’m filled with God’s love. Even when I sin! Never has my heart experience such joy ever as a Christian! When I open the Bible, the message that I receive is clear and sharp – unlike before! And almost everyday, I receive new and fresh revelation from the Bible or Creation that I’ve never seen before! Some of the wrong teachings that have been passed down to me, has also been made clear!

The passages that I’ve avoided in the past and struggled with, now I understand. It’s as though the Bible has come alive! I’ve also been freed from the guilty conscience that has weight me down! Praise the Lord!

Today when I open the Bible, I see Jesus in every page! Amen!

Having discovered for myself what this Grace we have in Jesus Christ has given me new life and has renewed my mind. Unto Him be Glory forever and ever! I’m a changed man! Amen.”

Praise The Lord!!!!

2009-04-10T00:48:00.005+08:00

Hallelujah!

I know I haven't blogged for long. But I just can't keep quiet about this.
I believe that when God fills a person so much that when it overflows, others will receive it.
May you received this and be richly blessed and deeply loved by our Lord Jesus Christ.
Maybe God will speak to you on this Good Friday.

***

It's 12.00am and I just walked out of the Mamak stall near my house.
I looked up, there were no stars, but the moon was shining full in it's glory.

Immediately, the Holy Spirit said -
The moon is a reflection of the Church and Jesus is the sun.
I was stunned.. It came to my understanding ->
That Jesus shines His light on the world, and the Church reflect that light in the moments of darkness(night)! Jesus said we are the light of the world! Not because of our own light, but His light! Not through our own Righteousness, but through the Righteousness of Christ!!!
Amen!

That at the furthest point (lunar eclipse)[that when the Church is furthest from the light], the world will not see God's light. But when the Solar eclipse happen (when the Church stands in the light of the sun's glory - which also makes it nearest to the sun), the earth can look at the sun directly! (not for a long time, but God's meaning does come through!!!)
This means the Church is there to reveal God for all to see!

Then when the end times come, the moon will turn blood red. Why?
Coz when the rapture comes, God wants to remind the earth that it is the Blood of Christ that covers the Church (moon) - and they (the Jews and the rest of the world) should turn to Him for salvation!

Then God pestered me about the Feast of New Moon.
I quickly rushed home and checked on the internet to find out more about this.
Then I found out more!

1. Psalm 8:13 - blow the trumpet at the New Moon (it's a glorious celebration)
It's a celebration that God takes joy in - He takes joy in His Church/Bride and he urges everyone to rejoice!

2. Leviticus 23:24 - It's a day of rest and sacred!
That Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath! In Him we find rest and peace in God the Father!
In the Hebrew text, it is Kodesh which means consecrated and made holy!
That's the Church folks!

3. Numbers 10:10 - that it is during this time the burnt offering and fellowship offering (also know as peace offering) is made.
That Jesus is our burnt offering and our peace offering with God!

4. Numbers 28:11-15 - grain offering, and drink offering (of wine), a pleasing aroma, a lamb offered. (also known as Feast of Trumpets - Numbers 29:1-6)
This is a picture of Jesus! The Bread and the Wine, God's Son whom He is well pleased, the Lamb of God!!!
If you search the Bible about the offering that is a 'pleasing aroma' to God, you'll find each and every one points to Jesus Christ!!!

5. Genesis 1:14-19 - God separated the sun and the moon from the world, to GOVERN the world!!!
God separated His Son and the Church to rule the earth as Kings!!! And God said it was GOOD!
Why 4th day? It points to the 4 gentile women in the line of Jesus Christ! - Ruth, Tamar, Bethsheba and Rahab!!!
All points to Christ as the groom and the Church as His Bride!

Unto Jesus be the Glory, forever and ever!
AMEN!

It's 1.18am now.. What a beautiful revelation on this Good Friday!
Praise God. Have a blessed Good Friday!!!

** Disclaimer:
This is not so you worship the sun or moon ok... God forbid you take this the wrong way!!!
But this is ALSO the reason why Satan fuels one of the most powerful religion today with the moon.

True Freedom

2009-04-02T17:07:00.002+08:00

It is not what you do that matters. It is what Christ has done.

It is not the guilt you feel that matters, but the guilt that He has taken upon himself.

It is not your 'good works' that matters, but what He empowers you to do in His Spirit.

It is not your rank nor position that matters, but His laying down to servanthood that matters.

It is not your strength, wisdom nor talents he uses. But your weakness, foolishness and dependence on Him that He does...

For it is not by law nor human ability that you are saved.
But SOLELY by the grace of God in Christ through faith.
Hallelujah!

When Love Misfires

2009-02-11T18:04:00.001+08:00

Something for all you singles out there to enjoy.

People say - It's better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.
Utter rubbish!

It's better to have never been lost in love - I say.

The bitter elixir of intoxication can only be for a select few who are mindless enough to dare explore it's bile liquid.
A pretty packaging, but possibly a foul taste to the mouth.
Like a ship without sails, you'll drift along to the rocks.
Perhaps love can be this way.

Often it misfires and like a cannonball, plummets into the sea, never to be heard of again.
Some plays it safe, and closes in, to only blow everything to smithereens.
Some hold on in desperation to the gun, to only shoot themselves in the foot.
While others decide to never fire at all, and condemn their lives to distinct hermitship.

Perhaps such fools should never toy with love.
It's more devastating than a gun in the hand...
Frankly, a bullet to the head is less painful. Really...
Than to carry love baggages worth an eternity.

Perhaps such caviar is not for the ordinary palate.
For only a craftsman in taste could distinguish the exquisite from the ubiquitous.
And pursue such flavour throughout the days of their lives.

Instead, sad is the case of blind love,
The common symptom of a common cold life.
The reflection of the clinginess of the insecure.
A vicious cycle in the shape of hearts.

Happy Valentines Day 2009!

Longing For Something Deeper...

2008-08-04T17:43:00.001+08:00

This does not apply to non-christians.. But nevertheless, it's a good read..
Just some random thoughts I have recently..

Was talking with a brother on Sunday afternoon..
I don't remember in exact what was said (that I can print it out here exactly), but I was left with the impression that:-

Serving God = Being taken care of..

What is 'serving God' defined as?
As for the church I attend, it is the below:
i) Attend church on saturdays (for youth) and sundays(for worship)... and maybe thursdays.. (for bible study)
ii) Get yourself into a certain ministry, and do your best to share the gospel through that ministry
iii) serve unquestioningly and give your tithes
iv) whatever your gifts, you serve in what is given to you..

Honestly, that does sound like nothing more than brainwash fueled by legalism...
[I believe all Brethren churches or Gospel Halls fall into this trap all the time]

There has to be something deeper to knowing Him and serving Him..
No wonder so many people just get drained and burn out.. (at least in my church, I see it that way)
And it also sounds like emotional blackmail..
Yes, i know God doesn't need anything from us.. but the whole concept makes it feel like he blackmails us so we do good and kow tou to him...

It kinda feels like God is playing a heightened version of 'The Sims'

That is not the Jesus I know...

Reminiscence - Short Novel

2008-08-03T18:58:00.004+08:00

I was watching "Eternal Sunshine of A Spotless Mind" acted by Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet on TV3 on saturday night and the idea of erasing a person from memory intrigued me.
As far as I know, nothing as such has been invented, but here's a random emo novel based on the movie.

Plus, i write good stuff when I'm feeling sad.. So here goes..

Reminiscence
Romeo sat on the old rocking chair under the fan.
And Juliet had left a long time ago in spring.

Romeo stared into the nothingness of the night.
Times of old, flooded his mind, replaying memories of long gone.

As much as he's sitting there unmoved, his mind travelled to places in the past.
Living every history just like it's in the moment.
"I remember," he whispered.
His mind continue to flow.. Like a letter his thoughts materialise...

***

I still remember...

When we danced in the moonlight to Enrique's Hero.

When you rested your head on my chest and I kissed your forehead.

And you laid by my side as I whispered your name and played with your hair..

Remember I held your hand for the first time at the Fair?

Also when we talked late into the night, laughing and having a great time...

How could I forget the pair of reds earrings for your birthday?

And the square earrings randomly one weekend...

I recall the times we enjoyed shrimp cocktail and ox-tail soup at night.

Especially the nights when I made dinner - just for you.

I remember you said you had to always give to feel loved by your parents.

Yet I loved you for who you are, not what you did.

I remember Juliet, when you said mean words to Jonathan in the car.

As well as our random Starbucks gatecrash. I remember your fav is Java Chip Frappucino.

Remember the e-cards we sent to each other? And our long online chats when we're apart?

And how I've always gotten you chicken rice every time? and you'll never bore coz it's your favourite...

I enjoyed the perfume sampling each time we go out..

And the feasts we had at Manhattan Fish Market.

When we argued, remember you played Damien Rice's Cannonball, and I played Blunt's Goodbye My Lover? Haha.. Those were the days...

Remember Keira, Keanu, Kirsten & Kael? Those were the names we'd give our children.

I cann still see in my mind, the Fereros I'll always surprise you with..

I recall your warmth as we sat in the couple seat in the theater.

and your constant craving for Baskin Robbins or New Zealand Ice Cream.

I still taste the chicken salad from Carl's Jr that we shared.

The smell of your hair still lingers in my mind.

Juliet, I still remember.

***

If ever the letter in my mind would reach you, how would you react?

Would you laugh? or would you cry? Would you remember or would you forget?

"I still remember, but I want to forget.." Romeo whispered to the hot summer night's air..

Maybe in time, maybe with age.

Maybe a knock to the head. Amnesia or brain damage sounds good...

But tonight, I remember...

I can't forget...

Come'on.. Give Me One Last Push...

2008-08-02T09:45:00.003+08:00

Blogging from the cybercafe..

The last 24 hours...
One Saman, PC Crashed, Lost my K810i...

Come on God, give me one last push..
I'll change sides man..

What's next? My Car? My life? My family?
Come on.. Bring it on...

I don't even know why I wanna worship you tomorrow...
The most scary thing about being a Christian is :-
That you know Satan exist and that he will give you what God will not...

Just when i thought things couldn't get worse..

2008-08-02T04:45:00.001+08:00

Now my computer is the next casualty. What's next God? My car? My life?

Why Should I Continue To Believe?

2008-08-01T12:13:00.004+08:00

This post can be profane, and highly disturbing.
Please do not view if you're below 18 years old..

I donno...
I've been putting my trust in you for the last decade since form 4...
But for the last few days things just seem to click in my head...

To be frank, I have never been highly religious, but I suppose that I have my own eccentricities..
But for some bloody f**king reason, everything seems to be like shit for the last 5 months...

Tell me why?

Did I not ask you to take care for me since I'm taking this leap of faith by going freelance?

Why should I go on believing in faithfulness?
Why should I go on believing in mercy in this dog eat dog world?

Mentang mentang it's PC Fair, my IT clients suddenly so senyap one? Why?
I'm willing to work. I'm willing to put in the effort. Yet the last few months you barely throw this dog a bone... You let all my friends gain an extra something, but not me... WTF?
The ones I finish, I cannot collect..

And my business tak jadi.. My dreams koyak...
And dah lah, some church-going hypocrits now saying I snake-oiling people when in fact, I never did in the first place...

Or am I another pawn in your gamble with darkness? Like Job?

You throw me problems after problems..
Issues after issues... Trials after trials...
It DOESN'T make me persevere.. It makes me pissed!! like now...

Damn it! I've even stumble across sites like this one in my search for answers...

And only after you sent this brother to talk sense to me that I thought to myself, I should be a 'good christian', give my tithes, and serve in an appropriate manner...
I've even thought of wiping the slate clean, starting over, getting a new job, finding purpose again.. And my private talk with you in the Gym today gave me hope... or so I thought..

But No.. dah lah, you throw me a saman last week, today you hantam me again with another saman - just 3 hours ago...
damn fun meh? That is like what? Negative cashflow?

What should I expect now?
Family members dying? like Job?
Or you gonna throw me a disease and let me mourn in sackcloth?
Or throw me in prison?
Damn fun right?

Why should I continue to believe?

The Prodigal - Short Novel

2008-05-24T11:02:00.002+08:00

"It has been almost a year since I've left home. Still, I could not forget the roasted lamb, the bitter herbs and vineyard wine on my lips. It's as though I could taste it as I close my eyes right now. But now, I'm contented with bread and water... that's perfect by any standard for trash like me..."

Patrick thought as he strolled down the path home - the path he swore to never walk again. But fate seems to play its own cards. The field holds the familiar scent of the harvest - a smell that only those who lived there could recognize. The horizon filled with the sea of white barley in the setting sun is captivating enough to swoon any maidens' heart. But in Pat's heart was no maiden. No woman. Instead, his mind lingered on his past, his actions, HIS SINS...

His heart was dirtier than the "filthy rags" he was wearing. At least this one thing is still clear to him.

"Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men..."
As he thought, his lips moved to murmur, but his quiet determination broke down into silence. Pat could barely lift his eyes up, feeling the crushing shame on his shoulders - and it was a burden too heavy for one in his time. Yet, the enormous weight did not halt his pace.

Walking on silently, he thought about many things, his Father, his mother, brother, sisters, relatives, servants, belongings.... all that he LEFT behind. Patrick has always lived under the shadow of his elder brother, James. There was no doubt that James was better, smarter, and more hardworking in more ways than even the servants! And James had always had little expectations about what Patrick could achieve in life. "And I proved him right", Pat mumbled under his breath.

A sudden gust of chilling countryside wind made Pat pulled his jacket tighter. He remembered the hurricane he caused when he stormed off. Hearts cut, temper thrown, verbal daggers and back stabs. A beautiful family crushed into pieces. Like a rose trampled by the feet of men, it's hard to imagine how a family so perfect could be torn apart by men; and Patrick WAS SUCH A MAN...

Grrrrr.... and then silence.

Pat's stomach growled. It was days since he tasted anything at all. He remembered the pods the pigs ate, and how for a moment of madness he would have dug into the pods himself. "What a job! And even worse pay! I could hardly buy a loaf of bread with 5 days worth of wages... and that's not enough for even a child labourer..", the arguments with his employer lingered in his ears. These brought grief to his heart.. an ache he could clearly remember when he walked out of the door. Kleenex, shouting, slamming on the table, tears, and the door shutting behind him - the very pain that made him replay his Father's tears - like a broken cassette player in his mind.

Walking to a few hundred meters from his house, his knees caved in... The spirit was willing to go home, but the flesh was weak. After all, that was the way he succumbed to the very temptations in his life - pleasure, women & wine. And the greatest temptation was to ask for his Father's death before its time... The jellylike knees, is after all, the way his body was communicating what he did not dare to say out of the mouth.. That he was willing to come back home, like a dog with the tails between its hind legs...

No more vanity, pride and selfishness.
Only brokenness, humility and shame hangs on his head.

With all his might, Pat dragged his feet in the sand; with his eyes on the ground, he strolled for another few steps when his feet halted and just as how it began to walk, this time, it turned about and started to walk away - in the same direction it made one year ago, down the same road.

"I can't do this. I can't put them through the pain again. I walked out. I failed. I disappointed them. I am not worthy. Not worthy to serve and earn a wage. Like an animal, I belong with the pigs. I'm too cruel to be human, to be worthy of them. Walking away was the choice that I MADE. This time, I don't get to choose to walk in again..."

As he walked away, he could hear the distant, yet familiar sound of the gate opening. Instantly, memories of previous Passovers filled his mind. The slaughter of the lamb. The painting of the lamb's blood on the door post. This ritual his Father had observed every year with him watching. "How could a Lamb's blood take away sin? If only it can easily take away my sins against my Father and against Heaven! How can a Holy God be pleased and satisfied with the blood of an animal?" Tears streamed down Pat's face...

Footsteps...
From behind...
Then, a warm memorable voice...

"Son".

A strong burly arm grabbed Pat on the shoulders and tugged him to turn.
Pat turned to face his Father. The one whom he has sinned against...

But words just escape Pat's lips...
"Father I.... I have sinned ...." he stammered. The words just fail to resound.. "against heaven and against you..... I am no longer worthy to be called your son...."

Before Pat could continue, Father cut him off and commanded Joshua, the servant... "Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found".

Their eyes met.
And for the first time ever, staring at each other - like there's so much to be spoken from the window of the soul.

Wrapping His arms around Pat, Father's warm voice beckoned, "Welcome Home".
They hugged. For a minute or two, two grown men were embracing each other, tears rolling out like the flood. No public decency, no "I told you so" talk. This was love in action.

At that point, Pat just broke down.
He's felt the hard reality of life.
And this embrace was just where it's safe. In his arms. In his love.
"I was dead, but now I feel so terribly alive..."

"I'm home", Pat said and smiled weakly...
"I'm Home"...

Spiritual Gifts

2008-05-07T04:13:00.004+08:00

Recently I did a spiritual gift test online.
You can try it too..

http://www.kodachrome.org/spiritgift/

Here's my gifts according to the results:-
My top 10 gifts are -
Faith, Healing, Teaching, Encouragement, Missionary, Mercy, Apostle, Evangelism, Helps & Discernment.

I'm very surprised with my results actually.
Coz in 2002, I did a similar test at a RBS - Residental Bible Seminar in Camerons.
Back then I had the gift of Faith, Mercy, Leadership and Knowledge.

Lost my leadership and knowledge? Did my IQ dropped? lol! swt!!!

But Healing? lol..
I've never tried that actually..
Maybe I should practice it more and grow that talent. haha...

But it's good la.. at least the faith part counters the Phlegmatic's proneness to worry...
Hmmm.. is this fullness of faith the same as in Acts 6? LMAO!

But I find healing interesting coz - it's not just a physical healing, but also spiritual, mental and emotional too! Interesting!
I guess, i should learn to use it more for the Body.. hmmm...

Does this gift include my ability to listen (better than the average guy) plus my lavender and piano massages? hahaha...

And for the record, I don't know those Dukun Tenaga Batin massages - where the Dukun will sit 'bersila' while massaging sarong-wearing men... hahahaha

Birthday

2008-03-28T14:52:00.001+08:00

Your Birthdate: January 1

You are a natural born leader, even if those leadership talents haven't been developed yet.

You have the power and self confidence to succeed in life, and your power grows daily.

Besides power, you also have a great deal of creativity that enables you to innovate instead of fail.

You are a visionary, seeing the big picture instead of all of the trivial little details.

Your strength: Your supreme genius

Your weakness: Your inappropriate sensitivity

Your power color: Gold

Your power symbol: Star

Your power month: January

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?