Unnecessary Preacher

Relevant Bible Verses:-

1) Phil 1: 9-10 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,

2) Phil 1: 15-17 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.

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I do not think it is an easy task to preach with full conviction week after week behind the pulpit if we do not recognize the authority of the Word of God. One has to humble himself or herself before God and rely on the Spirit of God to reveal the truth and the much intended meaning of the Word before he or she can even start writing about it. I have now discovered the hard work after started this blog 3 months ago. I can’t believe I am still writing. But His Grace is sufficient for me.

The convenience and the advancement in this fast changing modern world had affected all facets of life and church life is not spared either. We can see the pattern of how church services are conducted in this modern age so as to suit and be relevant to this fast changing world. We know and do understand that a church is not a social club, neither is it a place for the holy ones. In fact it is a body of Christ where we gather to have fellowship with one another in the Lord.

I am very concerned with the paradigm shift in some of the ways preaching are being conducted by some pastors these days. I am prepared to and interested to listen and discuss about theology, perhaps even spirituality and at least humanity in our lives. Maybe some current affairs and politics would be bearable. But when preaching are focused so much on physical church buildings, strategies, and formulas of success (prosperity gospel), something in me just shuts down. Worst if the preaching is not at all aligned with the Word of God. It is not enough to just preach the Word or content of it. We have to be gloriously reigned with conviction, humbling ourselves before God, taking up the responsibility to study and truly understand the authority of the Word of God, building the unshakable foundation of the truth. “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.” (Eph 4:14)

In Phil 1:9-10, Paul prayed that the Philippians would be fully reigned with conviction in the Word and be able to discern to distinguish between his preaching and that of the Judaistic believers (see articles “New Covenant” and “Judaism”). All believers today also need to discern between the many different kinds of preaching and not be distracted from the main stream of God’s Word. We have to ask whether or not such preaching is for God's economy and His move on the earth today.

Certain famous charismatic preachers may be very knowledgeable and eloquent in their words. But if we have discernment, we shall realize that the ulterior motive of their preaching is for the furtherance of their own work, not for the advancement of God's economy. In order to discern the preaching of others in this way, we need more experience of Christ. The closer we get to Christ, the more we begin to understand and discern what is right and what is wrong and what is imperative.

Only the experience of Christ can cause love to abound in us in full knowledge and all discernment. Let us encourage one another to love as Paul did to the Philippians, but to love in knowledge and discernment, not in foolishness and in blindness.

Humility

Relevant Bible Verses:-

1) 1 Cor 8:1 We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

2) Phil 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

3) Matt 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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I stumbled upon some very encouraging sermons of an apologist by the name of Dr Ravi Zacharias in my iPod. I did not know that this friend of mine who gave me the iPod had actually downloaded Dr Zacharias’ sermons on it. I truly enjoyed his words and I am thankful that God is using people of such great minds in our time to reach out to the lost as well as to the believers. One particular sermon that prompted me to write this article is entitled “Character Counts from the Leadership and the Political Arena”.

The higher we climb in the corporate world, the more resources we shall possess, the more power and authority we shall be given, the more liberty we shall become, the more respect we shall command and more pride shall emerge. These finer “things” in life are what most people yearn for in this world. Therefore it is really not surprising to me when I read about people who are prepared to cheat and even kill, stooping themselves down to the lowest self esteem point in their lives in order for them to have these finer “things” in life.

Where is God among all these so-called “finer things” in life? My understanding of the word “poor” in Matt 5:3 is simply being empty or nothingness. When our hearts are filled with all these finer things in life, there is simply no room for God. We need to empty ourselves so that God can come in and be blessed. Leaders of all spectrum of life are most vulnerable, no matter how immensely gifted they are. We must live up to the truth in God in the pursuit of life where we embrace humility and recognize His Grace is sufficient for us. Always consider others better than ourselves.

Therefore...

“The greatest mark of a great leader is humility, one who recognized his or her poverty of spirit. Not untamed passions or wanton power or unteachable temperament.
The greatest mark of a great leader is humility, willing to accept that he or she is a sinner saved by Grace standing before God.” (Dr. Zacharias)

Christ came and exhibited his humility by serving the people. Remember, in this world, we are judged by how many people serve us. But in that world, we will be judged by how many people we have served.

Temptation

Relevant Bible Verses:-

1) Matt.6:13 And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

2) 1 Cor. 10:13 No temptation has taken you except that which is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow that you be tempted beyond what you are able, but will, with the temptation, also make the way out, that you may be able to endure it.

3) 1 Pet. 5:8 Be sober; watch. Your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion , walks about, seeking someone to devour
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I was having a pleasant after dinner evening chat with the husband of a friend whom my family was staying with during our last holiday in Jakarta. He was a young chap who was nice to hold conversation with. One thing led to another, and we were on the subject of cars. A very knowledgeable person in automotive and he knows the technical aspects of cars in details. Without me realizing there was actually a brand new 911 Carrera S Porche parked in his closed up double-garage. He’s just spray-painted the car and has recently fitted it with a complete full body car kit set.

I was hoping that the invitation to test-drive the car to come. True enough the invitation came faster than I expected and it was going to be at midnight the same day where there would be much less traffic in the Jakarta highway. Well, well, well… Who in the right frame of mind who hasn’t driven a Porche before and with 28 years driving experience would reject such an invitation? Invitation accepted!

Temptation is very often difficult to avoid and resist. I am only talking about test driving a Porche. There are of course many other temptations in life, which can be way too powerful for humans to resist, than a mere invitation to test-drive a brand new Porche. Most of these temptations will often lead us into sin.

The first occurrence of temptation in the recorded history of mankind is found in Genesis 3:1-7, where serpent (Satan) successfully tempted Eve and Adam to sin. It may be succinctly said that temptations are a certainty of life that every person will experience it, be they Christian or non-Christian. In Matthew 6:13, the Lord taught us to pray that we would not be brought into temptation. We cannot predict when temptation will come before us. But we can still pray faithfully and consistently that God would not bring us into temptation. This prayer is for our protection.

As Christians we need to also recognize the power of the Scripture in overcoming temptation. "Thy Word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee" (Psalms 119:11). When God's Word becomes an integral part of our lives, it fortifies and protects us against the power of temptation.

How much more do we need Christ and His Word to redeem and protect us from temptations.

In the beginning was the Word…the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Manna our Daily Bread (Part 2)

Relevant Bible Verses:

1) Matt 6:11 Give us today our daily bread.

2) Matt 6:31-33 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (KJV)

3) Phil 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NIV)
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To be fully constituted with God, we need to continue to partake Christ as our daily bread.

In God’s salvation, He desires to work Himself into us to be everything to us. God intends to be our everything so that we can be built up as His dwelling place on earth. God has a purpose in His salvation, there is no need for us to beg Him to have mercy upon us and to rescue us. All the hard works have already been completed by Christ on the cross of Calvary. In Exodus, we see that the children of Israel were not to be anything or to do anything. Whenever they did something, the Lord was offended, even when they did something good. The Lord simply wanted the people to be in His hand so He could work Himself into them.

Matthew 6:11 shows us that we have to look to God and pray to Him every day. The Lord teaches us to pray, "Give us today our daily bread". We do not pray weekly, but daily. Just as we cannot eat for the rest of the week or month, likewise we cannot pray for weekly bread or monthly bread; we have to pray for bread daily. How much trust in God is required here! The Lord is not ignorant of our daily needs; He does not tell us to forget about praying for these needs. Rather, He tells us to pray daily. It was the same reason why the manna was provided for the Israelites in the wilderness from the heavens on daily basis. Actually, the Father already knows the things that we need. The Lord wants us to ask God for our bread day by day because He wants us to learn to look to the Father day by day; He wants us to exercise our faith day by day. The Lord wants us to depend upon Him in all things.

God is working in us and for us, and He knows all our needs. If we know the Lord and His ways, we shall not complain or murmur whenever we have a need. Instead, we shall say, “Praise the Lord! He knows our every need. He knows our need, and He will send the supply at the right time. He knows what is best for us. Let us accept with a grateful heart whatever He gives us and not be anxious in anything.

We often extend our worries too much into the future, and we stretch our prayer too much into the future. Brothers and sisters do not worry about tomorrow; sufficient for the day is its own evil (Matt 6:34).

Praise the Lord! Christ is our Redeemer.

Manna our Daily Bread (Part 1)

1) Exodus 12

2) John 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

3) Matt 6:11 Give us today our daily bread.

4) Matt 6:31-33 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (KJV)
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Wishing you a Happy And Wonderful New Year! Bye Bye 2008, Hello 2009...

I took my family to Jakarta recently for a short holiday and stayed with a friend whom we have not seen for almost 8 years. She was a student at Monash University and attended the weekly Bible study meeting at my apartment in Melbourne.

We insisted for local Indonesian food as we wanted something than our usual diet. The local food was different and I enjoyed it - initially. But after a few days of those food, I begin to long for Malaysian food. This has prompted me to think about the Isaelites in the wilderness when they were led out of Egypt. There were murmurs and complaints that Moses and Aaron had to deal with the Israelites, particularly of their desire for Eqyptian food.

In the previous article, we have seen the importance of the Passover which implies redemption and regenerated life in Christ. In this posting, however, we are going to see God’s intention to change our constitution; that is, He intends to reconstitute us through change of diet.

Although the children of Israel had been redeemed and delivered, they were still Egyptian in their constitution. As far as constitution is concerned, there was no difference between them and the Egyptians. They were a composition of the Egyptian element, for they grew up in Egypt and were raised on the Egyptian diet of cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. Everything they ate was Egyptian. Like the children of Israel, we today have been delivered out of "Egypt", out of the world, but in our nature and constitution we are still worldly. Therefore, it is necessary for us to grasp the concept concerning the change of constitution.

Over a period of forty years in the desert, God gave the children of Israel nothing to eat except manna. No one knows the essence or element of manna. We only know that it daily came from the heavens. In John 6 we learn that this heavenly manna is a type of Christ. Christ came from God to be our diet, our daily bread. We need to eat Him, drink Him, and breathe Him. We need a change in our inward constitution, not merely a change in our outward behavior. If we would have such an inward change, we need to have a change of food supply, for the food we eat is the source of our constitution. The more we eat Christ, the more we are like Christ. As God’s people today, we need to be reconstituted with Christ as our very element. In this way, we shall become Christ as far as our constitution is concerned. Through the change of diet, we receive the heavenly essence that reconstitutes us with Christ.

Praise the Lord! Christ is our daily bread, similar to the manna in the wilderness which was provided by God to the Isrealites on a daily basis.