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Showing posts from August, 2010

Why Faith?

Why faith? What is there that we need to know about faith? Why is it that without faith it is impossible to please God? Why did the Lord say, according to your faith be it done unto you? And a lot of times did He say, rise and go your way, your faith has made you well. What is faith? One thing is settled in my heart. It’s not really something so out of this world or something so mind blowing. The Bible does not refer to a special thing or meaning when it talks about faith, or some great mystery hidden behind it. It is as plain and simple as described in the common dictionary. Faith is but the strong belief or conviction in one’s heart. What ever you believe in, that is where your faith is. So when God talks about faith, He means a strong conviction in one’s heart, not doubting, but a firm unwavering conviction that His Word is a settled truth, not subject to debate or argument or whatever. It is settled. Walking by faith and not by sight simply means that we don’t change what we be

Give me Jesus

There is a song by Jeremy Camp that goes, "You can have all this world, just give me Jesus..." Such strong words but can we really? We sang it several times in church but can we really give up everything for God? What would you give up for God? Your job? Properties? Loved ones.. Abraham was willing to give up his one and only son. The rich young ruler on the other hand declined to give up his wealth. But how about us, how far can we go with God? Can we give, and give, and give until there is nothing to give? And all that remains is just us and God? The truth is, in the end it will just be between us and God, all other things or persons will not count. And so God says, what profit will it be for you if you gained the whole world and lose your soul. It should be clear to us that God does not exist for mankind but it is mankind that exist for God. It is not us who have something to do for God but it is God who has something to do for us. And our attachments to th

Born in Zion!

Abraham looked for a city... By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Heb 11:9-10) But I was born there! A Psalm or Song for the sons of Korah. His foundation is in the holy mountains. The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah. I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there. And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her. The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah. As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee. (Psa 87) Are you born again?

Lazarus And The Rich Man

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried. And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that

God's mercy extends even to them that are in the grave.

1Pe 3:18-20 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (19) By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; (20) Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. KJV The spirit does not die, and so when the body was put to death, the LORD went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed God in the time of Noah. Yet there still is a second death: Rev 20:14-15 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (15) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

We are able.

Mat 20:22-23 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. (23) And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father . It's so wonderful how God made everything easy for us. In context, the baptism the Lord is talking about is his passion, the death by crucifixion. He asked His disciples, Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? And they answered, we are able. A foolish answer you might say but true. And so the Lord said, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with. The Apostle Paul explains in Rom 6:3-4 Kno

Abundance and Need

Material resource is important because it is the mechanism that allows us to accomplish things. And so if we don’t have money we cannot move. If the ministry didn’t have the money, it cannot move. We wouldn’t even be here if we didn’t have the money to spend for the transport. In fact we are working abroad because the money here is better than back home. And so money is important. However, we should not be too concerned about money that it becomes a struggle already. Struggle with money is a trap by the Devil. And you will know when the Devil has caught you because everything will become heavy for you. And that’s where Satan wants you, he wants you burdened with all the troubles, with all the cares of this world. And getting out of that does not require that you get more money. Because you will get trapped in that situation again the very next time money runs out. And people tend to fight it by saving in the bank. That will not work. Why? Because trouble is gonna come.

Victory belongs to you.

For it is written, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Rise up! And take the challenge of your time, and walk in the victory of your Lord. For the victory belongs to you and it was wrought long ago, but it belongs to you. Walk this world with a shout of a king in your midst, sayeth the Lord. For thou art mine and the world belongs to you. So sayeth the Spirit of God unto you. (Excerpt from Priesthood and Sacrifice – Pastor Chris)

In the last days..

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. ESV (2 Tim 3:1-9)

It is by grace through faith, not of works..

The Apostle Paul has constantly and strongly advocated this to the Jews because the Jews found it hard to get out of that mentality in the Law that unless they perform according to the law, there will be no blessing. And religion has taught us that too. Religion has taught us that we have to work for our own salvation. That we have to earn it by good works.  And so for many Christians it is hard to get out of that mentality also! On one hand Christians believe that they are not going to hell because they receive the salvation of the sacrifice of Christ. But on the other hand, they work their butt off to earn a living, and are most cautious not to misappropriate even the smallest portion of their hard earned pay! I find that ironic.  We receive salvation by faith but the prosperous life that comes with it, we want to earn by the works of our hand. We subscribe to financial management more than to God's promises. But how far can you get with financial management? Say you have your

I am angry...

I am angry but i will not let it show. I will exercise infinite patience and continue to magnify God's ever enduring love. If a brother falls, it is with deep sorrow. A strong rebuke would even destroy. I allow the spirit of meekness and compassion. And the spirit of love will restore. Let strength to flow like the waters of a silent river. For the Master stands in the gap between God and the unbeliever.