But who would be the first to comfort? Why, the first to suffer! Who would be the first to speak of the cross with great power and great conviction? (That is, who would be able to speak of the cross with words firmly set in reality?) Who would be the first to declare resurrection? Only one who had died. Who would comfort, except the comforted? Who would heal, except the healed? Who would wield power? None, except those who had been made terribly weak. Who would shield us from legalism and law, except he who had had that beast broken in the depths of his very own nature? Who would pour out his life in long hours of counseling, guidance, direction, except the one who had gained a great deal of counsel, guidance and direction...slowly, painfully, richly...
But why does God permit such suffering to befall his bride?
This suffering produces gold in the lives of those individuals who suffer. That gold, in each life, is then blended into the body of Christ to make the bride what she ought to be.
Careful, Chris, the very thing that you are now rebelling against just might be in perfect harmony with the Lord. What you see and feel so painfully may be the Lord's effort to polish a stone.
Greatly rejoice
Right now you must suffer a little bit.
But these sufferings
These tests of your faith
Are worth a great deal more than gold.
Survive this
And your faith will be proven genuine
And the result will be praise and glory and honor. (1 Pet 1:6-7)
....
It has been given to you,
Not only to believe on him,
But also to suffer for his sake (Philippians 1:29)
One day you are going to look back over your life to recall to mind many an incident. I trust that most of what you remember will be the joys. But remembrances of dark sorrows will surely be included. Whichever tips the balance, remember you will never know how much you owe to suffering. You may even be surprised at just how little the rich blessings and joy have contributed to your growth in divine life. Be sure, some of the greatest blessings yr life will ever know, some of the deepest revelation you will ever peer into, some of the most cherished works the Lord will ever do in your life, yes, the things you hold most dear, were but the child of your greatest sorrow!
One day you will make a chance remark to another believer and be very surprised to discover that your remark deeply blesses and enriches his life. On another occasion, with another Christian whose heart is about to break, you will share something that will change his night to die. You will pause, wonder, and then remember where it was you found that word of wisdom, that oil of comfort.
If you could trace the source, you would find that virtually every help you have ever received- whether it has been from the hands of some brother, or from some word in Christian literature, or perhaps from the scripture- was passed on to you from out of sorrow's fiery furnance and from beneath the bludgeoning blows of suffering's hammer.
Sorrow does have its compensation.
We comfort others, With the comfort that came to us (2 Cor 1:5)
Imagine a distraught, perplexed and broken hearted Paul imprisoned in Rome and addressing a church in a city hundreds of miles away. It is a church he has never seen, and this is what he tells them:
You are rejoicing and filled with praise. You are doing well in Colossae. Why? Because I, Paul, here in Rome, Am taking suffering that was actually meant for you. I am taking that suffering into my very own body, and that has freed you. You are not suffering; you are rejoicing. The pain destined for you lies here in Rome And is now in me.
Suffering meant for believers in Colossae was being absorbed in Rome by Paul. He agonized while they gloried.
But even these are not the last of his mind boggling words. He pressed on to say, 'For this, I was made a minister.'
Paul saw himself as one who was to take up part of the sufferings that really belonged to the church. For this purpose- this incredible purpose- he was made minister....
Now I rejoice in my sufferings. They are for your sake. In my body I am doing my part for his body to complete what is not finished of Christ's afflictions. (Col 1:24)
[24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God ]
CHrist did not finish his sufferings while here on earth? There is more suffering for him to complete? Is this what Paul is telling us? And is he saying that he, Paul, could complete those sufferings? Or at least play a part in seeing that those sufferings are completed? The mind drowns in the idea.
Jesus Christ did not complete his early sufferings- incredible!
...
It has been given to the church to complete the sufferings of Christ.
There is Christ who is the Head...that is, he who lived upon the earth, who was crucified, rose and ascended and now reigns. But there is another part of Christ. There is a part of Christ that is right here, right now, upon the earth today- visible-potraying Christ daily before the entire world. I speak of the physical, visible body of Christ. You see, the body is also Christ. The body, which is the church, is part of that Christ. ..
There is one aspect of the cross that none of us will ever know-praise God! We will never know what it means to be the sin bearer. That is one thing I will never experience, nor will you.
The Inward Journey
Gene Edwards
----
Now I understand better what these verses means:
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
-2 Cor 1:3-7
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." F22 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
-Rom 8:35-39
In case u get the above wrong, its not suffering for suffering per se, or the mentality of a victim. We are victorious in Christ. Though, we will go thru persecution for His name's sake, or He allows us to go thru the fire to build our character. :)
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Remove and Replace
Had a good service today at Covenant. Really blessed by the sermon today by Ps Edmund Chan. :) Praise and Worship was good too, haha..cos they sang Hillsongs! Yay!
I guess what I really like about Covenant is the emphasis on being "in" Christ. Being a christian not as a performance driven kind of thing, but really, it is God who moulds us and grows us and makes us change. It is a gift! It isn't so much of our own labour or achievement to be more and more spiritual. So the emphasis is not on recruiting ple to ministry, or to attend this or that, to make ple give money, but rather, the emphasis on changing ple on the inside- leading them towards radical change in their behaviour.
He made a statement that really convicted my heart, that "God's work in us, must preceed His work through us". Really true! Its not about starting with the mindset that I (capital and bold- emphasis on self) am going to slay goliaths, do great things for God...I me and myself. But it is abt starting with the mindset that God- I can do nothing except IN You!! Hence it is of utmost importance that God works within our hearts first, whereby we come to this place of surrender, obedience, and where we may lay down our pride...all glory goes to Him. Its not about the goliaths that WE have slain. Its all about obedience toward Him, and being His tools.
Really exciting, met up with Benny, ex-chef of Goshen Restaurant just now too. He is going to start a Fifteen Restaurant equivalent in Singapore! :) Genuinely very happy for that to happen. Youths must be given a direction and purpose. That is so impt! One day I hope that the model will include depressed kids as well.
I guess what I really like about Covenant is the emphasis on being "in" Christ. Being a christian not as a performance driven kind of thing, but really, it is God who moulds us and grows us and makes us change. It is a gift! It isn't so much of our own labour or achievement to be more and more spiritual. So the emphasis is not on recruiting ple to ministry, or to attend this or that, to make ple give money, but rather, the emphasis on changing ple on the inside- leading them towards radical change in their behaviour.
He made a statement that really convicted my heart, that "God's work in us, must preceed His work through us". Really true! Its not about starting with the mindset that I (capital and bold- emphasis on self) am going to slay goliaths, do great things for God...I me and myself. But it is abt starting with the mindset that God- I can do nothing except IN You!! Hence it is of utmost importance that God works within our hearts first, whereby we come to this place of surrender, obedience, and where we may lay down our pride...all glory goes to Him. Its not about the goliaths that WE have slain. Its all about obedience toward Him, and being His tools.
Really exciting, met up with Benny, ex-chef of Goshen Restaurant just now too. He is going to start a Fifteen Restaurant equivalent in Singapore! :) Genuinely very happy for that to happen. Youths must be given a direction and purpose. That is so impt! One day I hope that the model will include depressed kids as well.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Prosperity and Provincialism
"I've thought a lot about prosperity theology. I thought about it as I walked through the streets of Cairo's Garbage Village, shaking the grimy hands of Christians living in abject poverty. I thought about it when I worshipped along faithful believers on a rough backless bench in a dirt-floor church in Kenya. I thought about it again when I sat in a dim room with pastors behind the Iron Curtain. I thought of it when I walked down muddy backstreets in Cambodia and squeezed into tiny homes in China. I thought about it as I was flown across the United States, put up in a plush hotel room, and picked up in a limousine that drove me to a Christian television studio for a twenty minute interview...
My novel Safely Home is the story of a U.S. businessman and his Chinese roommate who graduated from Harvard together twenty five years before. They haven't communicated with each other for two decades but are suddenly reunitied in China. The one who has followed Christ is experiencing adversity and joy. The one who turned from Christ is experiencing prosperity and emptiness. The contrast between these two old friends is the contrast between biblical Christianity and prosperity theology...
In America, a sharp looking businessman stands up at a luncheon to give his testimony: 'Before I knew Christ, I had nothing. My business was in bankruptcy, my health was ruined, I'd lost the respect of the community, and I'd almost lost my family. Then I accepted Christ. He took me out of bankruptcy and now my business has tripled its profits. My blood pressure has dropped to normal and I feel better than I've felt in years. Best of all, my wife and children have come back, and we're a family again. God is good-praise the Lord!'
In China, a disheveled former university professor gives his testimony. 'Before I met Christ, I had everything. I made a large salary, lived in a nice house, enjoyed good health, was highly respected for my credentials and profession, and had a good marriage and a beautiful son. Then I accepted Christ as my Saviour and Lord. As a result, I lost my post in the university, lost my beautiful house and car, and spent five years in prison. Now I work for a subsistence wage at a factory. I live with pain in my neck, which was broken in prison. My wife rejected me bacause of my conversion. She took my son away and I haven't seen him for ten years. But God is good, and I praise Him for His faithfulness.'
Both men are sincere Christians. One gives thanks beacause of what he's gained. The other gives thanks in spite of what he's lost.
Material blessings and restored families are defintely worth being thankful for. The brother in China would be grateful to have them again; indeed, he gives heartfelt thanks each day for the little he does have. And while the American brother is certainly right to give thanks, he and the rest of us must be careful to sort out how much of what he has experienced is part of the gospel and how much is not. For any gospel that is more true in America that in China is not the true gospel."
From Money Possessions & Eternity- Randy Alcorn
Dear God,
If I am wrong about this pls correct me and speak to me. If this is the truth then pls convict my dear brothers and sisters who are reading this. Protect us from the evil one and any distortion from Your truth.
Thank You Lord.
My novel Safely Home is the story of a U.S. businessman and his Chinese roommate who graduated from Harvard together twenty five years before. They haven't communicated with each other for two decades but are suddenly reunitied in China. The one who has followed Christ is experiencing adversity and joy. The one who turned from Christ is experiencing prosperity and emptiness. The contrast between these two old friends is the contrast between biblical Christianity and prosperity theology...
In America, a sharp looking businessman stands up at a luncheon to give his testimony: 'Before I knew Christ, I had nothing. My business was in bankruptcy, my health was ruined, I'd lost the respect of the community, and I'd almost lost my family. Then I accepted Christ. He took me out of bankruptcy and now my business has tripled its profits. My blood pressure has dropped to normal and I feel better than I've felt in years. Best of all, my wife and children have come back, and we're a family again. God is good-praise the Lord!'
In China, a disheveled former university professor gives his testimony. 'Before I met Christ, I had everything. I made a large salary, lived in a nice house, enjoyed good health, was highly respected for my credentials and profession, and had a good marriage and a beautiful son. Then I accepted Christ as my Saviour and Lord. As a result, I lost my post in the university, lost my beautiful house and car, and spent five years in prison. Now I work for a subsistence wage at a factory. I live with pain in my neck, which was broken in prison. My wife rejected me bacause of my conversion. She took my son away and I haven't seen him for ten years. But God is good, and I praise Him for His faithfulness.'
Both men are sincere Christians. One gives thanks beacause of what he's gained. The other gives thanks in spite of what he's lost.
Material blessings and restored families are defintely worth being thankful for. The brother in China would be grateful to have them again; indeed, he gives heartfelt thanks each day for the little he does have. And while the American brother is certainly right to give thanks, he and the rest of us must be careful to sort out how much of what he has experienced is part of the gospel and how much is not. For any gospel that is more true in America that in China is not the true gospel."
From Money Possessions & Eternity- Randy Alcorn
Dear God,
If I am wrong about this pls correct me and speak to me. If this is the truth then pls convict my dear brothers and sisters who are reading this. Protect us from the evil one and any distortion from Your truth.
Thank You Lord.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Joy in prayer
Found this link in a friend's blog, quite blessed by it:
http://gregscouch.homestead.com/files/Quiet_Time_Guilt.htm
It's so true, I often feel guilty or like a "bad" christian when I don't spend enough quiet time with God. But this author challenges us to seek God, not out of legalism. :)
http://gregscouch.homestead.com/files/Quiet_Time_Guilt.htm
It's so true, I often feel guilty or like a "bad" christian when I don't spend enough quiet time with God. But this author challenges us to seek God, not out of legalism. :)
Sunday, August 20, 2006
This is me...
Yup. U came to the right blog. I figured that the old skin was too tough to read all my long blogs, and hopefully this is more reader frenly. :) I'm not sure who comes here anyway.
I went to Covenant instead today. Cos yup, I didn't want to face the pain of disagreeing. This is me- sometimes when something bothers me, it can sit in me for hrs and hrs, and it goes around in a loop in my mind, and makes me feel bad. This lingering feeling from yesterday night..yes, it remains and it bothers me.
Covenant was okay today. One thing I really miss is the worship at CHC, and yup, it just brings me right into the presence of God. Whereas at Covenant, most ple are comfortable putting their hands behind their backs of just clasping them together, or putting them at the side, I instinctively reach out my two hands- and this to me feels like worship. Don't be mistaken here, I am not saying that is the right way, but it is more of a comfort thing.
There are lots of possibilities in this world. And ple who make things happen are not those who indulge in the negative. But they look beyond the negative and see the possibilities. That's what I am trying to do. Focusing on the negative= church-less, relationship-less, and blurred future. But focusing on the positive- reminding myself that yes, God is bringing me to a new place of closeness with Him thru this season, and there are so many doors that He is opening up for me wrt work. :)
Did a google on Dr. AR Bernard, and discovered some interesting things, like how he stood up for truth and talked abt the white church failing wrt racial equality (smthing along that lines). His church building is a big complex complete with cafe and garden and all. Yet, the church also build schools, and helps the poor in New York. So yep, I've come to the realisation that there can be beliefs A, B and C. Person X may believe in ABC, but person Y believes in AC, and Z in AB. And that creates a whole lot of spectrum of differences wrt how XYZ views life, and how he shd live as a christian. Nevertheless, there are always things to learn from each other, and different aspects of each church that are strong and we can be encouraged by. I hope this makes sense.
So looking at possibilities, its just exploding all the way. :) Dear God lead me in Yr truth. Help me to focus on the major and not the minor. Help me to do what is right, not being distracted or losing energy on the things that go around me.
Today's sermon on finishing well...on the test of reality. Whether or not we are satisfied in God or in other stuffs. Ya, there are still so many things that are holding me back in my heart...there's portion that still needs to be surrendered to God. And it is so difficult to find total satisfaction in Christ alone. Afterall, God said it was not good for men to be alone. ;)It is within our nature to feel lonely etc. I really hope that I can seek Christ first over and above all other things that I desire.
I went to Covenant instead today. Cos yup, I didn't want to face the pain of disagreeing. This is me- sometimes when something bothers me, it can sit in me for hrs and hrs, and it goes around in a loop in my mind, and makes me feel bad. This lingering feeling from yesterday night..yes, it remains and it bothers me.
Covenant was okay today. One thing I really miss is the worship at CHC, and yup, it just brings me right into the presence of God. Whereas at Covenant, most ple are comfortable putting their hands behind their backs of just clasping them together, or putting them at the side, I instinctively reach out my two hands- and this to me feels like worship. Don't be mistaken here, I am not saying that is the right way, but it is more of a comfort thing.
There are lots of possibilities in this world. And ple who make things happen are not those who indulge in the negative. But they look beyond the negative and see the possibilities. That's what I am trying to do. Focusing on the negative= church-less, relationship-less, and blurred future. But focusing on the positive- reminding myself that yes, God is bringing me to a new place of closeness with Him thru this season, and there are so many doors that He is opening up for me wrt work. :)
Did a google on Dr. AR Bernard, and discovered some interesting things, like how he stood up for truth and talked abt the white church failing wrt racial equality (smthing along that lines). His church building is a big complex complete with cafe and garden and all. Yet, the church also build schools, and helps the poor in New York. So yep, I've come to the realisation that there can be beliefs A, B and C. Person X may believe in ABC, but person Y believes in AC, and Z in AB. And that creates a whole lot of spectrum of differences wrt how XYZ views life, and how he shd live as a christian. Nevertheless, there are always things to learn from each other, and different aspects of each church that are strong and we can be encouraged by. I hope this makes sense.
So looking at possibilities, its just exploding all the way. :) Dear God lead me in Yr truth. Help me to focus on the major and not the minor. Help me to do what is right, not being distracted or losing energy on the things that go around me.
Today's sermon on finishing well...on the test of reality. Whether or not we are satisfied in God or in other stuffs. Ya, there are still so many things that are holding me back in my heart...there's portion that still needs to be surrendered to God. And it is so difficult to find total satisfaction in Christ alone. Afterall, God said it was not good for men to be alone. ;)It is within our nature to feel lonely etc. I really hope that I can seek Christ first over and above all other things that I desire.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
It's really tuff...
Just went to Dr. AR Bernard's session at CHC, and will go again tmr. Was really blessed once again by his wisdom on social order and how God wanted to restore social order again...on earth, so that the world can function as what God originally inspired. Truly very inspiring. :) And he talked abt how God will use us to speak to men in authority, so that these men in authority can also influence and change culture. Reminds me of how God is opening doors for me in the co. to speak to the director.
But at the end of the msg, I think I couldn't identify with Pastor Kong's conclusion on the sermon cos I kinda had a diff conclusion about it. I think Dr. Bernard wasn't trying to get at us being the top lawyer/business person etc, but really abt the wisdom of God in diff situations in reaching out to individuals. How God can use us to influence ple in authority, so I may just be a small secretary in the office yet, God will open doors for me to speak to my boss in authority. Its really abt wisdom of God and this awareness that God is working in every person's life, and we are partners with Him. Its not really about us being the best this and top that in our industry.
It's really tuff thinking differently from other ple, its like u got some disease or something, or u ate some pills that makes u see the world in different colour. When I went back home and discussed with my sis, she said I was quite skewed in my thinking, and that after a while we stopped discussing cos it got uncomfortable. I really don't know why I have to go around explaining to ple my stand. And it is really tuff and painful to be different from the rest. I am really not very secure I guess. It gets lonely being different. :( And tiring.
But at the end of the msg, I think I couldn't identify with Pastor Kong's conclusion on the sermon cos I kinda had a diff conclusion about it. I think Dr. Bernard wasn't trying to get at us being the top lawyer/business person etc, but really abt the wisdom of God in diff situations in reaching out to individuals. How God can use us to influence ple in authority, so I may just be a small secretary in the office yet, God will open doors for me to speak to my boss in authority. Its really abt wisdom of God and this awareness that God is working in every person's life, and we are partners with Him. Its not really about us being the best this and top that in our industry.
It's really tuff thinking differently from other ple, its like u got some disease or something, or u ate some pills that makes u see the world in different colour. When I went back home and discussed with my sis, she said I was quite skewed in my thinking, and that after a while we stopped discussing cos it got uncomfortable. I really don't know why I have to go around explaining to ple my stand. And it is really tuff and painful to be different from the rest. I am really not very secure I guess. It gets lonely being different. :( And tiring.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
2 interesting posts
1. What Would Jesus Buy?
Hur hur....what would He buy?
Hmm..Prada? Armani?
2. Possessed or Obsessed?
Haven't really read this article, cos it is so long! But its quite interesting in providing the background and different views on deliverance. :)
Hur hur....what would He buy?
Hmm..Prada? Armani?
2. Possessed or Obsessed?
Haven't really read this article, cos it is so long! But its quite interesting in providing the background and different views on deliverance. :)
Monday, August 07, 2006
The Cross
Long time since I blogged here, but I was so touched and challenged by a sermon that I downloaded from Cornerstone, that after listening to it, I wept in conviction of my sin, and how I've misinterpreted what the cross means.
http://www.cscc.org.sg/cornerstone/spiritualfood/spiritualfood4.htm
The msg was by Pastor David Ravenhill, titled "The Cross". Do download it to listen if u have the time to. Its such a vastly different msg from those I've heard, I wish that I could type it out. But mainly, the gist of it, was that God sent Jesus so that He could bring us to Himself. It was not so that we could dump our sins with Him, and then have a tkt to heaven, and that was that. But now that we are saved, we become slaves/servants to God.
And he said..many of us christians, after we have been saved, we don't ask God what our purpose was. But instead, we continue on with the plans that we have. E.g. a person who aspired to be a lawyer, is converted some time when he is 16, and he just continues on to go to law school, cos thats what he always wanted to do. But how can it be after conversion, that this person's life remains the same? Planning and going about doing what he wanted to do all his life, even before he became a christian.
Ahh..u must listen to the sermon! I was so convicted that I cried, cos I told God, if He wanted to send me to somewhere in the world to preach, I would go. And then I thought of my parents angry with me. But I felt something broke tonight. And I surrendered control of my life to God.
http://www.cscc.org.sg/cornerstone/spiritualfood/spiritualfood4.htm
The msg was by Pastor David Ravenhill, titled "The Cross". Do download it to listen if u have the time to. Its such a vastly different msg from those I've heard, I wish that I could type it out. But mainly, the gist of it, was that God sent Jesus so that He could bring us to Himself. It was not so that we could dump our sins with Him, and then have a tkt to heaven, and that was that. But now that we are saved, we become slaves/servants to God.
And he said..many of us christians, after we have been saved, we don't ask God what our purpose was. But instead, we continue on with the plans that we have. E.g. a person who aspired to be a lawyer, is converted some time when he is 16, and he just continues on to go to law school, cos thats what he always wanted to do. But how can it be after conversion, that this person's life remains the same? Planning and going about doing what he wanted to do all his life, even before he became a christian.
Ahh..u must listen to the sermon! I was so convicted that I cried, cos I told God, if He wanted to send me to somewhere in the world to preach, I would go. And then I thought of my parents angry with me. But I felt something broke tonight. And I surrendered control of my life to God.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)