Psalm 22 is an example of a Messianic psalm whereby Jesus the Messiah fulfilled the words quoted in many portions. The opening line, “My God, my God, why have your forsaken me?” was the anguished cry of our Saviour on the cross of Calvary (Mt 27:46). God the Father turned away from His Son when He hung on the cross bearing the sin and shame of the whole world. Indeed, by His stripes we have been healed! (Is 53:5).
Despite the difficulties and problems we faced in life, and even though God may seem far from us, the psalmist realised that God is still enthroned on high. He is still holy and will always be; He cannot be overtaken by evil (v 3). This fact should comfort us as we see the increase of wickedness and perversity that is taking place on our planet. We can still put our trust in Him just like our forebears did (v 4), knowing that He will deliver us eventually (v 24).
Another rendition of v3 says, “Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.” When Israel or we sing praises to our God with whole-hearted devotion, we build a throne of praise for God to inhabit. In the words of the song, “Jesus we enthrone you …. We proclaim you are King … as we worship build your throne …”, God literally comes down to manifest His holy presence amongst us; that’s where miracles, signs and wonders can take place.
When we come into the assembly of God’s people, be it in church or at oikos, let’s worship God with a whole heart (v 22,25). When we feel that God is far away from us, begin to declare His praises, for He is as close as the mention of His name.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
The fine art of small talk by Debra Fine
Picked up this book at Marine Parade Library a few weeks back. The reason is that there're many opportunities for us do small talk, apart from church (after service).
This book lays the foundation as to what type of questions one can ask and how to go about asking them, even to strangers. The benefit, of course, apart from building friendship, is networking.
I particularly liked the chapter on Crimes and Misdemeanours. Debra liken conversation killers to criminals and she listed eight of them:
1. FBI Agent: relentless assault at asking a series of qns
2. The Braggart: boasting of his accomplishments with great embellishment
3. The One-Upper: will top someone else story
4. The Monopolizer: hog the conversation
5. The Interrupter: cutting people's conversation short by jumping in
6. The Poor Sport: will not play by the rules; will not return the ball back when thrown at
7. The Know-it-all: interested in no other person's opinion but his own
8. The Adivser: a veritable agony aunt
The poor sport can figure prominently in family conversations when a question is asked and the perpetual response is "Don't know". This part was shared and talked about during our family vacation recently.
I also like the part on 50 ways to fuel a conversation in chapter 11. Here's a sample:
1. Be the first to say hello.
2. Introduce yourself to others.
3. Take risks and anticipate success.
4. Practice different ways of starting a conversation.
5. Make an effort to remember people's names. (often times i need to write down to remember them)
6. Show curiosity and sincere interest in finding out about others.
7. Tell others about the important events in your life. Don't wait for them to draw it out.
8. Demonstrate that you're listening by restating their comments in another way.
9. Smile, make eye contact, offer a handshake, and go find the approachable person.
10.Greet people that you see regularly.
That would get you started. BC has been told to be a people-oriented church and how else can we be unless each one of us make the first move. So, this Sunday, go out on a limb and take the first step in connecting with someone new. You'd be surprised what you can gain along the journey.
This book lays the foundation as to what type of questions one can ask and how to go about asking them, even to strangers. The benefit, of course, apart from building friendship, is networking.
I particularly liked the chapter on Crimes and Misdemeanours. Debra liken conversation killers to criminals and she listed eight of them:
1. FBI Agent: relentless assault at asking a series of qns
2. The Braggart: boasting of his accomplishments with great embellishment
3. The One-Upper: will top someone else story
4. The Monopolizer: hog the conversation
5. The Interrupter: cutting people's conversation short by jumping in
6. The Poor Sport: will not play by the rules; will not return the ball back when thrown at
7. The Know-it-all: interested in no other person's opinion but his own
8. The Adivser: a veritable agony aunt
The poor sport can figure prominently in family conversations when a question is asked and the perpetual response is "Don't know". This part was shared and talked about during our family vacation recently.
I also like the part on 50 ways to fuel a conversation in chapter 11. Here's a sample:
1. Be the first to say hello.
2. Introduce yourself to others.
3. Take risks and anticipate success.
4. Practice different ways of starting a conversation.
5. Make an effort to remember people's names. (often times i need to write down to remember them)
6. Show curiosity and sincere interest in finding out about others.
7. Tell others about the important events in your life. Don't wait for them to draw it out.
8. Demonstrate that you're listening by restating their comments in another way.
9. Smile, make eye contact, offer a handshake, and go find the approachable person.
10.Greet people that you see regularly.
That would get you started. BC has been told to be a people-oriented church and how else can we be unless each one of us make the first move. So, this Sunday, go out on a limb and take the first step in connecting with someone new. You'd be surprised what you can gain along the journey.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Driven by Eternity
Just completed reading book of the abovementioned title by John Bevere. It's very readable and with his usual style of writing he peppers his message with stories and personal anecdotes. One difference about this book compared with his other writings is that he uses parables to convey his teaching. The Kingdom of Affabel serves to highlight the kind of personalities that would ultimately get their just reward or punishment at the end. For those who would like to know the distinction between the millennial reign and the time of the new heaven and earth, Bevere writes with compelling evidence as to how they are to be panned out. In the appendix, there is a list of Scriptures detailing the rewards awaiting saints for their works done on earth.
The concept of eternity is explained in the beginning and how our limited time on earth pales in comparison with it. The key message is that all of us should be driven (or motivated) in our actions and attitudes toward the goal of meeting our Creator in eternity unashamed. One clear thought that struck me as I read the book was that if we fail to fulfill the plans and purposes God has for our lives, He would bypass us and choose someone else to do the job. There is a chapter on Heaven and Bevere quotes a real life story of someone who died and went to heaven and back again to tell his story.
I believe this book would help you set your bearing in life and make your life count for all eternity. I particularly like the chapter on Multiplication and how it has implications on us as we impact and influence lives through the generations.
The concept of eternity is explained in the beginning and how our limited time on earth pales in comparison with it. The key message is that all of us should be driven (or motivated) in our actions and attitudes toward the goal of meeting our Creator in eternity unashamed. One clear thought that struck me as I read the book was that if we fail to fulfill the plans and purposes God has for our lives, He would bypass us and choose someone else to do the job. There is a chapter on Heaven and Bevere quotes a real life story of someone who died and went to heaven and back again to tell his story.
I believe this book would help you set your bearing in life and make your life count for all eternity. I particularly like the chapter on Multiplication and how it has implications on us as we impact and influence lives through the generations.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Interpreting the Parables
A parable is a short simple story from which a moral lesson may be drawn. It is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.
Jesus often spoke parables using the realm of
Creation – using symbols such as seed, wheat, tares, fish, leaven, pearls, sheep, etc.
Human relationships – such as father and son, servant and master, bride and bridegroom, friends, etc.
There are various kinds of parables:
True parable: eg. the Good Samaritan or the Prodigal Son
Similitude: eg. the leaven in a meal
A few points to note in interpreting parables:
1 Every parable is designed to conceal and reveal one fundamental spiritual truth. All details of a parable find their significance in relation to its main point. The intended response by the audience is crucial to the point of each parable.
2 Parables involving symbols must be properly interpreted before the lesson of the parable can be rightly discerned. Scripture should interpret Scripture. Parables are different from allegories whereby elements in stories have quite different meanings from the stories themselves.
3 Interpretation should be based on the cultural context of what has been said.
4 Doctrine should not be solely founded on parabolic teaching.
Looking at an example used by our Lord where He gives the interpretation:
Parable: Matt 13:24-30 Interpretation: Matt 13:36-43
Kingdom of heaven like a man … Wheat gathered to barn Sower – Son of Man
Sowed seed The good seed – children of the kingdom
In his field The field is the world
The enemy The devil
Sowed tares Children of the wicked one
Wheat and tares grow together until harvest End of the world
The reapers The angels
Tares bundled to burn Wicked gathered and cast into fire
Wheat gathered to barn Righteous shine in the kingdom
The main point of this parable is that the wicked and righteous would be separated into their eternal destinies at the end.
As you read the parables of Jesus, don’t miss the point of each story and know who His intended audience was.
Jesus often spoke parables using the realm of
Creation – using symbols such as seed, wheat, tares, fish, leaven, pearls, sheep, etc.
Human relationships – such as father and son, servant and master, bride and bridegroom, friends, etc.
There are various kinds of parables:
True parable: eg. the Good Samaritan or the Prodigal Son
Similitude: eg. the leaven in a meal
A few points to note in interpreting parables:
1 Every parable is designed to conceal and reveal one fundamental spiritual truth. All details of a parable find their significance in relation to its main point. The intended response by the audience is crucial to the point of each parable.
2 Parables involving symbols must be properly interpreted before the lesson of the parable can be rightly discerned. Scripture should interpret Scripture. Parables are different from allegories whereby elements in stories have quite different meanings from the stories themselves.
3 Interpretation should be based on the cultural context of what has been said.
4 Doctrine should not be solely founded on parabolic teaching.
Looking at an example used by our Lord where He gives the interpretation:
Parable: Matt 13:24-30 Interpretation: Matt 13:36-43
Kingdom of heaven like a man … Wheat gathered to barn Sower – Son of Man
Sowed seed The good seed – children of the kingdom
In his field The field is the world
The enemy The devil
Sowed tares Children of the wicked one
Wheat and tares grow together until harvest End of the world
The reapers The angels
Tares bundled to burn Wicked gathered and cast into fire
Wheat gathered to barn Righteous shine in the kingdom
The main point of this parable is that the wicked and righteous would be separated into their eternal destinies at the end.
As you read the parables of Jesus, don’t miss the point of each story and know who His intended audience was.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7)
Here are some insights taken from J.O. Sanders, For Believers Only.
Keys to interpreting the Sermon on the Mount:
(i) Constitutes a portrait of the Preacher Himself.
(ii) Not a series of rules but principles for spiritual growth.
(iii) Peotical portions need to be interpreted appropriately. Oriental minds appreciate concrete illustrations of truths much more easily than abstract ideas.
(iv) Extreme hyperbolic way of conveying truths (eg. 5:29-30) and proverbial method of teaching (eg. 6:21).
Two views concerning the Sermon found in Luke 6 and Matthew 5-7:
(i) Discourses reported by Matthew and Luke are entirely separate and distinct. Jesus most likely repeated His teachings concerning the laws of the kingdom many times.
(ii) The two discourses are the same and there are no insuperable problems in reconciling the apparent differences. Luke omitted various matters of special interest to Jewish leaders eg. Mt 5:17-42 and other material which he himself purposed to give later eg. Lk 11:1-4; 12:22,27.
"The Sermon on the Mount was spoken in the ear of the church, and overheard by the world.” Bishop Gore
The Beautitudes (beautiful attitudes) are divided into two groups:
1 Passive personal qualities (5:3-6)
Poor in spirit: oppositie of pride and self-sufficiency. We can be Chrisitians but still live a life independent of God; depending on our own wisdom and strength.
Mourn: not of bereavement but over sin or the pain of others. Do we mourn over our lack of spiritual attainment or slowness of growth in divine life? Do we mourn over inward depravity or bondage to besetting sin?
Meekness: opposite of haughty and self-assertive spirit; it represents forces of character held firmly in hand like the breaking-in of wild horses. The meek person will yield to no one where a point of principle is involved, but he will be strong enough to give way when a matter of purely personal advantage is at stake.
Righteousness: not conformity to an impersonal law but that of outlook and character (ethical righteousness). Hunger and thirst here are used to convey the passionate desire for holiness. These are two of the most agonising and intense of human appetites.
2 Active social qualities (5:7-12)
Mercy: something we deserve but God withholds eg. punishment. It can only be exercised to the undeserving. Even though God is merciful, yet He does not condone our unrighteous acts. He is able to by-pass judgment over us because of what Christ has done for us.
Pure: freedom from alloy; sincerity and integrity. Cleanness of heart brings cleanness of vision. Sin so befogs the heart that God becomes invisible. There are moral conditions for spiritual vision.
Peace-makers: those who reconcile people who are estranged, in whose healing presence tension and discord give way to peace and harmony. Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace (Is 9:6). Children bear the likeness of their fathers; even so we bear the likeness of our Heavenly Father if we are peace-makers.
Jesus stipulated three qualifying conditions for the blessings of the persecuted (5:10-12):
1 It must be for righteousness sake; doing what is right at whatever the cost to himself.
2 The reviling must be falsely based ie. the disciple has not brought it on himself through his own sin or failure.
3 It must be for Christ’s sake; arising out of the disciple’s unwavering loyalty to his Master.
Let us examine our life in the light of what our Master has taught, pressing on into the new year with a resolve to work on our inward beauty so that it can be seen in our outward demonstration.
Wishing you a blessed New Year 2010 in the Lord!
Keys to interpreting the Sermon on the Mount:
(i) Constitutes a portrait of the Preacher Himself.
(ii) Not a series of rules but principles for spiritual growth.
(iii) Peotical portions need to be interpreted appropriately. Oriental minds appreciate concrete illustrations of truths much more easily than abstract ideas.
(iv) Extreme hyperbolic way of conveying truths (eg. 5:29-30) and proverbial method of teaching (eg. 6:21).
Two views concerning the Sermon found in Luke 6 and Matthew 5-7:
(i) Discourses reported by Matthew and Luke are entirely separate and distinct. Jesus most likely repeated His teachings concerning the laws of the kingdom many times.
(ii) The two discourses are the same and there are no insuperable problems in reconciling the apparent differences. Luke omitted various matters of special interest to Jewish leaders eg. Mt 5:17-42 and other material which he himself purposed to give later eg. Lk 11:1-4; 12:22,27.
"The Sermon on the Mount was spoken in the ear of the church, and overheard by the world.” Bishop Gore
The Beautitudes (beautiful attitudes) are divided into two groups:
1 Passive personal qualities (5:3-6)
Poor in spirit: oppositie of pride and self-sufficiency. We can be Chrisitians but still live a life independent of God; depending on our own wisdom and strength.
Mourn: not of bereavement but over sin or the pain of others. Do we mourn over our lack of spiritual attainment or slowness of growth in divine life? Do we mourn over inward depravity or bondage to besetting sin?
Meekness: opposite of haughty and self-assertive spirit; it represents forces of character held firmly in hand like the breaking-in of wild horses. The meek person will yield to no one where a point of principle is involved, but he will be strong enough to give way when a matter of purely personal advantage is at stake.
Righteousness: not conformity to an impersonal law but that of outlook and character (ethical righteousness). Hunger and thirst here are used to convey the passionate desire for holiness. These are two of the most agonising and intense of human appetites.
2 Active social qualities (5:7-12)
Mercy: something we deserve but God withholds eg. punishment. It can only be exercised to the undeserving. Even though God is merciful, yet He does not condone our unrighteous acts. He is able to by-pass judgment over us because of what Christ has done for us.
Pure: freedom from alloy; sincerity and integrity. Cleanness of heart brings cleanness of vision. Sin so befogs the heart that God becomes invisible. There are moral conditions for spiritual vision.
Peace-makers: those who reconcile people who are estranged, in whose healing presence tension and discord give way to peace and harmony. Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace (Is 9:6). Children bear the likeness of their fathers; even so we bear the likeness of our Heavenly Father if we are peace-makers.
Jesus stipulated three qualifying conditions for the blessings of the persecuted (5:10-12):
1 It must be for righteousness sake; doing what is right at whatever the cost to himself.
2 The reviling must be falsely based ie. the disciple has not brought it on himself through his own sin or failure.
3 It must be for Christ’s sake; arising out of the disciple’s unwavering loyalty to his Master.
Let us examine our life in the light of what our Master has taught, pressing on into the new year with a resolve to work on our inward beauty so that it can be seen in our outward demonstration.
Wishing you a blessed New Year 2010 in the Lord!
Monday, December 21, 2009
The Gospel of Matthew
The crux of the gospel:
God
Offering
Sinful
People
Eternal
Life
Matthew was for a long time the church’s “favourite” gospel. It contains one of the fullest accounts of Jesus’ life and teaching (the other gospels are Mark, Luke and John). Most of what is inside Mark’s gospel can be found in Matthew. Matthew arranges everything by topic, especially the teachings of Jesus. He organizes it into 5 sections, each rounding off with the saying “When Jesus finished saying these things …”
1 Sermon on the Mount, concerning the character, duties, privileges and destiny of the believer in Christ
(Ch 5 – 7)
2 Instructions for mission (Ch 10 – 11:1)
3 Parables about the Kingdom of heaven (Ch 13)
4 Teaching on discipleship (Ch 18)
5 Teaching about the end of age and the coming Kingdom (Ch 24 – 25)
Matthew wrote to a Jewish audience sometime after AD 80. One of his key concerns is to show that Jesus’ first coming had fulfilled the promises God gave in the Old Testament. He quoted extensively from Old Testament texts (abt 130 direct or indirect references can be identified). He wanted to reveal the blindness of the Jewish leaders who had waited for the Messiah but missed him when he came. Matthew showed that Christians are the true inheritors of the Old Testament promise.
As we approach Christmas and commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, let us be reminded of what Scriptures tell us about Jesus:
(i) He was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the virgin Mary’s womb (1:18, 20, 25).
(ii) His mission was to save people from their sins (1:21).
(iii) He came in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies (1:22-23).
(iv) He was born a king in humble circumstances (2:1-2).
Christ has a kingdom which is not of this world. It is a kingdom in the spiritual realm which He often spoke about in his parables. You and I can be a part of that glorious kingdom when we put our faith in Jesus, trusting Him as our personal Lord and Saviour. This Christmas, make Christ the centre of your celebration by inviting Him into your heart and allowing Him to lead and guide you all the days of your life.
Wishing you all a Christ-centred Christmas!
God
Offering
Sinful
People
Eternal
Life
Matthew was for a long time the church’s “favourite” gospel. It contains one of the fullest accounts of Jesus’ life and teaching (the other gospels are Mark, Luke and John). Most of what is inside Mark’s gospel can be found in Matthew. Matthew arranges everything by topic, especially the teachings of Jesus. He organizes it into 5 sections, each rounding off with the saying “When Jesus finished saying these things …”
1 Sermon on the Mount, concerning the character, duties, privileges and destiny of the believer in Christ
(Ch 5 – 7)
2 Instructions for mission (Ch 10 – 11:1)
3 Parables about the Kingdom of heaven (Ch 13)
4 Teaching on discipleship (Ch 18)
5 Teaching about the end of age and the coming Kingdom (Ch 24 – 25)
Matthew wrote to a Jewish audience sometime after AD 80. One of his key concerns is to show that Jesus’ first coming had fulfilled the promises God gave in the Old Testament. He quoted extensively from Old Testament texts (abt 130 direct or indirect references can be identified). He wanted to reveal the blindness of the Jewish leaders who had waited for the Messiah but missed him when he came. Matthew showed that Christians are the true inheritors of the Old Testament promise.
As we approach Christmas and commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, let us be reminded of what Scriptures tell us about Jesus:
(i) He was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the virgin Mary’s womb (1:18, 20, 25).
(ii) His mission was to save people from their sins (1:21).
(iii) He came in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies (1:22-23).
(iv) He was born a king in humble circumstances (2:1-2).
Christ has a kingdom which is not of this world. It is a kingdom in the spiritual realm which He often spoke about in his parables. You and I can be a part of that glorious kingdom when we put our faith in Jesus, trusting Him as our personal Lord and Saviour. This Christmas, make Christ the centre of your celebration by inviting Him into your heart and allowing Him to lead and guide you all the days of your life.
Wishing you all a Christ-centred Christmas!
Friday, December 18, 2009
Who are the God seekers? (Ps 13-14)
God is looking for people who would seek after Him (14:2).
There two groups of people mentioned here:
The foolish generation: people without moral compass, who do wicked things and do not seek Him (14:1,4).
The righteous generation: people who seek God, trusting in His lovingkindness (13:5a).
When we seek God, we can pour out our fears and frustration before Him like David did (13:1-2). Do you ever question God? David did … four times … How long? How long? How long? How long? Christianity is about having a vital living relationship with God through Jesus Christ our Lord. This can be exemplified through us having a daily conversation with God through the ups and downs of life. And God who searches the hearts of all men will respond with His salvation (13:5b) and set us free from captivity (14:7). We can then truly rejoice and sing to the Lord because He has dealt bountifully with us (13:6).
May God use us to raise a righteous generation (our children) and to impact & influence others in our sphere of influence for Him.
There two groups of people mentioned here:
The foolish generation: people without moral compass, who do wicked things and do not seek Him (14:1,4).
The righteous generation: people who seek God, trusting in His lovingkindness (13:5a).
When we seek God, we can pour out our fears and frustration before Him like David did (13:1-2). Do you ever question God? David did … four times … How long? How long? How long? How long? Christianity is about having a vital living relationship with God through Jesus Christ our Lord. This can be exemplified through us having a daily conversation with God through the ups and downs of life. And God who searches the hearts of all men will respond with His salvation (13:5b) and set us free from captivity (14:7). We can then truly rejoice and sing to the Lord because He has dealt bountifully with us (13:6).
May God use us to raise a righteous generation (our children) and to impact & influence others in our sphere of influence for Him.
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