Loved to Love project

As a church, we would be embarking on the above on Good Friday, 2 Apr 2010.  Thus far based on yesterday's details at P & P, we've about 130 odd homes making requests for our services.  Many oikos members, especially among the youths, have gone back to homes which did not respond last Friday.  Praise God for their love and enthusiasm in reaching out!


I was sharing with the prayer warriors yesterday that as we participate in this community outreach, we would certainly be blessed and I quoted from Acts 20:35 which says, "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"  Already we've been blessed by the Lord when we receive salvation and eternal life through Jesus Christ.  The verse tells us that we shall be more blessed when we return the love of God to others in unselfish giving.  No doubt it requires hard work (mopping, cleaning, washing, etc) on our part to help the weak (needy, poor, under-privileged), but the rewards are immense to those who help.


I am reminded of a quote (can't remember from who):  "There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting someone up."  When we begin to do something good for others,  a special refreshing comes to our soul to know that we have impacted the lives of others in a positive way.  This can also take place in our office or home environment.  Whether we're helping a customer, client, student or relative, when we give of our best to them, more often than not, they would show appreciation to us for the effort we've put in to help them.  But regardless of whether they show appreciation or not, the Lord said that those who give shall be more blessed.  So be a giver rather than a receiver!


As we pray, we can commit our members who would be involved in the following ways:
1) God's strength, wisdom and favour to rest on them.
2) No harm and danger would befall them.
3) Opportunities to relate and build bridges in our community.
4) Unity and love among the members; more will come onboard to participate.


Final quotation, "Service to others is the rent we pay for the room on earth."

God's dwelling place (John 14)

This chapter begins with the comforting words of our Lord, "Let not your heart be troubled.", which was again repeated in verse 27.  Indeed, there are many things in life that can trouble us; giving us no peace of mind.  That's why we need the peace of God, not the peace that the world offers, to assure us of His divine presence. The apostle Paul exhorted us, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil 4:6-7 NASB). 


Many times we allow the devil to torment us with his spirit of fear over our hearts and minds.  The antidote to this is to set our mind on God, directing our prayers to Him with an attitude of thanksgiving.  When we do this, we turn our gaze away from the world and allow God to infuse us with His divine peace.  God desires to inhabit us through His Holy Spirit (Jas 4:5); likewise the devil (Mt 12:43-45).  If we entertain negative evil thoughts in our mind, it would give the devil an opportunity to oppress us.  If we keep nursing those thoughts and acting them out, it may allow him to have a foothold over our lives (Eph 4:27).


In heaven, there are many dwelling places that God has prepared for His children (14:2-3).  The wonderful assurance Jesus gave was that those who follow Him would go to where His Father is (14:6).  On earth, God too has an abode!  That abode is the heart of man and woman who loves God and keep His Word (14:23).  Notice that it is an obedient heart that God desires; not simply one who reads His Word out of habit to no effect.  And if we're sensitive to the Holy Spirit, He will bring to our remembrance the words of Jesus (14:26). Those who are obsessed with evil would neither love God nor keep His Word (14:24).  And this is how we distinguish between the spirit of truth and the spirit of error (1 Jn 4:6).


Let's show our love for God by keeping His commandments. 

JESUS: Light of the World

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (Jn 8:12)  This is one of the seven "I am" statements made by Jesus in the Gospel of John. 


Jesus' light shone into the darkness of the hearts of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law when He challenged them to hurl the first stone at the woman caught in adultery (Jn 8:7). As He spoke, Jesus testified of His Father but the religious leaders couldn't understand because their minds have been blinded (2 Cor 4:4).  They couldn't see the light of glory shining through Him.


The healing of the man born blind is a manifestation of Jesus' power over human defects and deficiencies (Jn 9:1-12).  More importantly, it serves to illustrate the fact that through the physical sign of opening blind eyes, Jesus is able to open the spiritual eyes of those who can't see Him as the Son of God.  The spiritual healing of the soul is more important than the physical healing of the body.  All physical healings that God does should point us to the deep spiritual work He desires to do within our spirit man. 


Jesus said that it is not the healthy who requires a physician but the sick.  And He has come to call the sinners and not the righteous to repentance (Mt 9:12-13).  So the first step in recognising our need of a Savior is to acknowledge that we are sinners.  Similarly, unless we recognise that we're blind to our ways, we would not need the Light of the World to show us the way. 


"Lord, You're the light of the world
And we desire to follow Your leading
Your word is a lamp to our feet
And a light for our sojourning
Give us daily guidance
In all our decision making
To You all the glory shall redound
As we abound in praise & rejoicing"

The Gospel of John

When I became a Christian in my secondary school days, this was the first book introduced to me.  I remember being given a booklet on the Gospel of John before being given a Bible of my own.  And certainly this was a good book to start for a new believer because the apostle John aptly wrote, "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (Jn 20:31 NIV). 


Whether you are reading this gospel for the first or umpteenth time, it is good to be reminded of the wonderful Person of Jesus Christ - that He is our Saviour.  John's gospel is different from the other three gospels in a number of ways.  Matthew, Mark and Luke are known as synoptic gospels as they have similar characteristics exemplified through events and teaching that are being recorded.  The three writers recorded from a historical perspective Jesus as the Son of Man, while John recorded from a theological perspective, Jesus as the Son of God.  Listing the contrasts of the four gospels, we have the following (see Rev 4:7):


Matthew (King/lion), Mark (Servant/ox), Luke (Son of Man/man), John (Son of God/eagle)
 
There are two special sevens in the Gospel of John:


(I)  Seven Signs of the Son of God


1. Jesus turns water into wine (2:1-11).  Jesus’ blood replaces the Jewish purification system and brings God’s forgiveness, healing and new life to the entire world.


2. Jesus heals the official's son (4:46-54).  Jesus, in whom is life, is sent by the Father at the perfect hour to give life to the children of God.


3. Jesus heals the man at the pool of Bethesda (5:1-15). Jesus offers oceans of living water, not small pools, for healing and wholeness to the people who are willing to be made well.


4. Jesus feeds the multitudes (6:1-14). Jesus is the bread that the Father has sent from heaven to give nourishment and spiritual life to the world.


5. Jesus crosses the sea (6:15-21).  Jesus is God, inside of his creation, during the backdrop of the Passover, crossing his people over the sea again. The enemy is no longer Pharoah, but now sin itself. Jesus is the bread that gives cure to sin.


6. Jesus heals the blind man (9:1-34). Jesus, the Light of world, gives sight to a hopelessly blind world.


7. Jesus raises Lazarus (11:1-44). Jesus, the Shepherd who calls his sheep by name, will himself walk out of the grave, having conquered death. Those who choose to follow him now will follow his resurrection from their own grave and graveclothes.


(II) Seven I am's of the Son of God


1.  I am the bread of life (6:48) - Our Sustainer
2.  I am the light of the world (8:12) - Our Illuminator
3.  I am the door (10:9) - Our Mediator
4.  I am the good shepherd (10:11) - Our Caretaker
5.  I am the resurrection and the life (11:25) - Our Life-Giver
6.  I am the way, and the truth, and the life (14:6) - Our Leader
7.  I am the true vine (15:1) - Our Success-Maker


Jesus' eternal existence was seen in the statement He made to the Jews, "Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am."  (8:58).  Indeed He is the Great I AM. 


Seven is the number of perfection and John the apostle uses sevens or multiples of it again in the book of Revelation.


May the Lord fill you with special revelation as you read this inspired book!

What promises are there for those who fear the Lord? (Ps 33-34)

The eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him (33:18).


The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him and rescues them (34:7).


For those who fear the LORD, there is no want (34:9b).


From the above three verses, those who fear God can be assurd of His protection and provision.


The psalmist David spoke of teaching us the fear of the LORD (34:11).  This would result in long life and goodness being bestowed on us (34:12).  Those who fear God would refrain from speaking and doing evil (34:13-14).  Instead they seek and pursue peace. 


The fear of the LORD is to have a holy reverence of Him.  This is very much different from the fears that are borne out of the need to avoid punishment.  Our God is certainly gracious and loving; He delivers us from all our fears (34:4).


Another wonderful promise found in Isaiah 33:5-6 relating to the fear of the LORD is that it brings salvation, wisdom and knowledge (Pr 1:7; 9:10). Don't we all need them - deliverance from evil and daily wisdom and knowledge to accomplish our work.


May God's fear (and blessings) be upon you.

Character & Leadership Development

Gave a talk to JC1 parents a few hours back regarding the above.  Our college, like most other schools, provide various platforms for students' character and leadership development.  It very much depends on each child how he/she wants to seize these learning opportunities.  Character development takes place in the classroom as well as outside the classroom.  In the classroom setting, students hone and build up their EQ through relating properly with their peers and tutors, apart from the intellectual stretch that is afforded by the curriculum.  Confidence and skills set are developed when students initiate and take the road less travelled.  In our Asian context, students fight shy in volunteering themselves to present their answers before their class.  But when they do overcome their shyness and start asking questions or volunteering themselves, they build confidence within themselves.  At the same time, important soft skills, like communication and presentation,  are acquired along the way.


Outside the classroom, through community involvement projects, CCAs and overseas trips, students' learning and horizons are stretched even more.  Through working together to prepare for concerts, competitions or overseas expedition, students learn to work together as a team.  Some will lead and others will follow.  It goes without saying that those who are involved in the planning and execution of programmes would invariably develop much in their character and leadership qualities.  It is in getting their hands dirty, so to speak, that students learn the finer art of relating to one another and feeling the sense of achievement when a job is well done.  The important thing for a child is still to learn how to balance their academic commitment with their co-curriculuar activities. Even children who are not doing well academically can learn to develop resilence and tenacity in the face of setbacks.


I would like to share a website with you under the link, Tim Elmore Leadership.  This is a good site to learn more about grooming leaders among our youths.  Do check it out!

The Book of Ephesians

This epistle was part of what is known as the Prison Epistles, all written by the apostle Paul. 
"A trio of men left Rome in the year AD 62, bound for the province of Asia, which was located in what is currently designated Asia Minor.  These men had on their persons four of the most sublime compositions of the Christian faith. These precious documents would be invaluable if they were in existence today.  Rome did not comprehend the significance of the writings of an unknown prisoner.  If she had, these men would have been apprehended and the documents seized.  When they bade farewell to the Apostle Paul, each was given an epistle to bear to his particular constituency.  These four letters are designated 'The Prison Epistles of Paul' since he wrote them while imprisoned in Rome, awaiting a hearing before Nero, the Caesar at that time, to whom Paul as a Romon citizen, had appealed his case." (adapted from J Vernon McGee, Exploring Through Ephesians)


Epaphroditus, from Philippi had the Philippian Epistle (Phil 2:28; 4:18); Tychicus had the Ephesian and Colossian Epistles (Eph 6:21, Col 4:7); Onesimus, a slave from Colossae had the Epistle to Philemon and the Colossian Epistle (Col 4:9).


The theme of Ephesians is The Christian Walk or what I would call the Walk, Sit, Stand Epistle.


"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called ..."   (Eph 4:1 NKJV)
" ...and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus"  (Eph 2:6 NKJV)
"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."  (Eph 6:11 NKJV)


Outline of Ephesians
1.  The Christian's Wealth (ch 1-3)
      a.  Intro (1:1-2)
      b.  Praise for blessings in Christ (1:3-14)
      c.  Prayer for understanding (1:15-23)
      d.  The People with Position (2:1-22)
      e.  Paul's stewardship (3:1-12)
      f.   Prayer for power and understanding (3:13-21)


2.  The Christian's Walk (ch 4-6)
     a.  In unity (4:1-6)
     b.  In diversity (4:7-16)
     c.  In holiness (4:17-5:17)
     d.  In the Spirit (5:18-21)
     e.  In relationships (5:22-6:9)
     f.   In warfare (6:10-20)
     g.  Conclusion (6:21-24)


In contrast to Ps 1:1, we are instructed in this epistle how we can walk, sit and stand.  As you read the Book of Ephesians may you be inspired to walk in pursuit of holiness, sit with Christ in position of authority and stand against the schemes of the devil.