30 January, 2011
Many have analysed and came up with strategies to reach the world for Christ. Much has been said and much more needs to be done.
What does the church need to fulfil the Great Commission?
Call it idealism, call it naivety, call it dreaming – but the church needs it. The church needs insight and foresight; lens that enable us to see ‘what could be’. The church needs dreamers.
But dreamers must become thinkers, planners and workers. Visionaries must become Pathfinders. The church must be willing to think through things, pray through challenges and explore ways to realize the vision.
Yet pathfinders without perseverance will not get the job done. We are bound to encounter opposition in doing God’s work. Take heart – the Bible tells us that God’s work thrives on opposition. As a church, we must be resilient to take setbacks, overcome fatigue and discouragement.
Finally, the church needs discipline. Discipline will be the mortar that keeps us focused on the task ahead. We need a church of authentic, lifelong committed disciples who are disciplined in seeking the Lord’s grace and power. Discipline in the Lord’s purpose and His Presence will enable us to stay committed to global mission.
As a church, we commit ourselves to ‘empowering mission to the Dalits and beyond’ knowing full well that we are in total partnership with God and He will do it.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Treasures in heaven
January 28, 2011
Read Luke 12:13-34
Luke 12:25
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
Worry is a killer. It kills peace and joy. We all have stresses in life but we must not allow these stresses to grow into anxieties and worries.
The modern world capitalises on our fears and turns this preoccupation of ours into a multi-million dollar enterprise. The media is filled with advertisements telling us to get this and that so as not to lose our beauty, youth, health and wealth. This creates a culture where we feel that we must possess more and work for more and before we know it, it becomes greed.
Jesus’ rebuke to those who run after inheritance and possessions is ‘You fool!’ Jesus minces not his words and reminds us of the futility of accumulating treasure on earth.
Jesus is not encouraging us to be laid-back, complacent and lazy. Rather he is warning us against fighting and living for material gains. Greed for material wealth is a sign of worry and a sign of wrong priority.
Jesus challenges his people to put our priority and values on that which will last – his kingdom. One day, heaven will populate earth. God’s people will colonize the world and then our ‘treasure in heaven’ will be revealed as the stock that last for eternity. Having this understanding stems out worries and enable us to believe in a God who loves us and gives us confidence to focus on God’s priorities.
Read Luke 12:13-34
Luke 12:25
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
Worry is a killer. It kills peace and joy. We all have stresses in life but we must not allow these stresses to grow into anxieties and worries.
The modern world capitalises on our fears and turns this preoccupation of ours into a multi-million dollar enterprise. The media is filled with advertisements telling us to get this and that so as not to lose our beauty, youth, health and wealth. This creates a culture where we feel that we must possess more and work for more and before we know it, it becomes greed.
Jesus’ rebuke to those who run after inheritance and possessions is ‘You fool!’ Jesus minces not his words and reminds us of the futility of accumulating treasure on earth.
Jesus is not encouraging us to be laid-back, complacent and lazy. Rather he is warning us against fighting and living for material gains. Greed for material wealth is a sign of worry and a sign of wrong priority.
Jesus challenges his people to put our priority and values on that which will last – his kingdom. One day, heaven will populate earth. God’s people will colonize the world and then our ‘treasure in heaven’ will be revealed as the stock that last for eternity. Having this understanding stems out worries and enable us to believe in a God who loves us and gives us confidence to focus on God’s priorities.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Worth more than 5 sparrows
January 27, 2011
Read Luke 12:1-12
Luke 12:6,7
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Jesus is preparing his disciples for the head-on collision that will soon occurred between the religious leaders, the Roman power and Him. Thus he warns them sternly in Luke 12:1 to be on their guard. The disciples will be dragged into courts and be trialed for their loyalty to Jesus. Jesus assures them that when these hardships come, they will be given the Holy Spirit to lead them as to what to say.
Have you ever been betrayed, ripped off and cornered by people just because you are different or refuse to do a group-thing? Or have you ever been pressurised into compliance by some authoritative figure that you respected?
When you are in dire situations of feeling trapped, the first thing to remember is that IT IS NOT THE END. The end is when we think God is our enemy.
If you are tempted to ever think that God is against us, just lift your eyes to the most common and insignificant bird – the sparrow and recite this verse. If not, just comb your hair and pull out the dropped hair and bemuse yourself by asking God, ‘Lord, how many hair do I have now?’ I do that quite a bit – it puts things into perspective when I feel as if everything and everyone is against me
It is not the end because the person or difficulty before you is not the real enemy. They are just props that Satan, the Master puppeteer use to attack and discourage you. Our real enemy is the devil. However, Satan can harm us only if he succeeds in making us deny Christ and thereby committing the sin of blasphemy.
Smile today because you are loved. No matter what situation you are in, or who is against you, it is not the end because God loves you and will guide you in your battle.
Read Luke 12:1-12
Luke 12:6,7
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Jesus is preparing his disciples for the head-on collision that will soon occurred between the religious leaders, the Roman power and Him. Thus he warns them sternly in Luke 12:1 to be on their guard. The disciples will be dragged into courts and be trialed for their loyalty to Jesus. Jesus assures them that when these hardships come, they will be given the Holy Spirit to lead them as to what to say.
Have you ever been betrayed, ripped off and cornered by people just because you are different or refuse to do a group-thing? Or have you ever been pressurised into compliance by some authoritative figure that you respected?
When you are in dire situations of feeling trapped, the first thing to remember is that IT IS NOT THE END. The end is when we think God is our enemy.
If you are tempted to ever think that God is against us, just lift your eyes to the most common and insignificant bird – the sparrow and recite this verse. If not, just comb your hair and pull out the dropped hair and bemuse yourself by asking God, ‘Lord, how many hair do I have now?’ I do that quite a bit – it puts things into perspective when I feel as if everything and everyone is against me
It is not the end because the person or difficulty before you is not the real enemy. They are just props that Satan, the Master puppeteer use to attack and discourage you. Our real enemy is the devil. However, Satan can harm us only if he succeeds in making us deny Christ and thereby committing the sin of blasphemy.
Smile today because you are loved. No matter what situation you are in, or who is against you, it is not the end because God loves you and will guide you in your battle.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
An inside-out faith
January 27, 2011
Read Luke 12:1-12
Luke 11:40
You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for concentrating on the outward signs of faith while neglecting the inward condition of piety.
True faith means to let God scrutinize all your inner thoughts, sieve your motives and purify your intentions. It is the total giving over of your inner life to God for His cleansing which will then result in a pure life.
This inner purification comes only from the light, which refers to Jesus Himself (v 33-37). The light has two purposes – to open our eyes to the need of salvation or to show us our love of darkness. For those who love darkness and choose not to believe that Jesus is the light, they have chosen to ignore the warning of Jonah. If so, the Queen of the South and the people of Nineveh will condemn us on the day of judgement. (v. 29-32)
How often do we think that if I go to church, do all the observable things and give out ‘model’ answers during Bible studies, we are good and real believers. If we focus on that, it becomes mere religiosity and an empty shell.
If our thoughts, judgements of things and people are not brought under the Lordship of Christ’s kingdom, a dichotomy will result in our faith. With no life-change in motives and heart, such prolonged practice will discourage us or harden us from pursuing God wholeheartedly. However, we will get weary of our own charades sooner or later. This is the deception the devil will commonly use to make us blame God for not changing us and giving us the abundant life He promises in the Bible.
Yet all the while, the root of our problem lies in not surrendering to God fully and allowing his truth and light to be our guide.
The only solution is to show signs of faith and train ourselves in the discipline of self-examination as in
Psalm 139:23, 24
“Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Read Luke 12:1-12
Luke 11:40
You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for concentrating on the outward signs of faith while neglecting the inward condition of piety.
True faith means to let God scrutinize all your inner thoughts, sieve your motives and purify your intentions. It is the total giving over of your inner life to God for His cleansing which will then result in a pure life.
This inner purification comes only from the light, which refers to Jesus Himself (v 33-37). The light has two purposes – to open our eyes to the need of salvation or to show us our love of darkness. For those who love darkness and choose not to believe that Jesus is the light, they have chosen to ignore the warning of Jonah. If so, the Queen of the South and the people of Nineveh will condemn us on the day of judgement. (v. 29-32)
How often do we think that if I go to church, do all the observable things and give out ‘model’ answers during Bible studies, we are good and real believers. If we focus on that, it becomes mere religiosity and an empty shell.
If our thoughts, judgements of things and people are not brought under the Lordship of Christ’s kingdom, a dichotomy will result in our faith. With no life-change in motives and heart, such prolonged practice will discourage us or harden us from pursuing God wholeheartedly. However, we will get weary of our own charades sooner or later. This is the deception the devil will commonly use to make us blame God for not changing us and giving us the abundant life He promises in the Bible.
Yet all the while, the root of our problem lies in not surrendering to God fully and allowing his truth and light to be our guide.
The only solution is to show signs of faith and train ourselves in the discipline of self-examination as in
Psalm 139:23, 24
“Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Learning to Pray
January 25, 2011
Read Luke 11:1-13
Luke 11:11-13
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
In Middle Eastern culture, citizens are expected to extend hospitality to strangers. Thus in Jesus’ illustration, the man went to his friend asking for bread, even in the middle of the night would be confident of getting it. Jesus went on to say that even a reluctant man would oblige his friend’s persistent request.
This story illustrates how we should approach God with our requests like the friend asking from bread; in full assurance that we will get our prayers answered. God is unlike the sleepy friend and better than the best earthly father. He longs to give us everything, evident by the gift of the Holy Spirit.
So we must learn to pray with a holy boldness; a daring spirit to ask God and never to give up. Our prayers are not to be routine mutterings and going-through-the-motion kind of prayers. It should be persistent, insistent and full of expectancy.
Prayers are the hardest when we are going through trials. As we struggle on without a view of the end in sight, it is tempting for us to just give up asking. But we must understand that prayer itself is a battle. Prayer confronts the work of darkness and disarms the power of principalities and forces in the heavenly place.
We approach prayer fully believing that God is better than the No. 1 best father on earth. We dare ask believing that God is the willing friend who will not turn us down.
Right theology gives energy and determination, which will inevitably transform our attitude, approach and practice of intercession.
Read Luke 11:1-13
Luke 11:11-13
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
In Middle Eastern culture, citizens are expected to extend hospitality to strangers. Thus in Jesus’ illustration, the man went to his friend asking for bread, even in the middle of the night would be confident of getting it. Jesus went on to say that even a reluctant man would oblige his friend’s persistent request.
This story illustrates how we should approach God with our requests like the friend asking from bread; in full assurance that we will get our prayers answered. God is unlike the sleepy friend and better than the best earthly father. He longs to give us everything, evident by the gift of the Holy Spirit.
So we must learn to pray with a holy boldness; a daring spirit to ask God and never to give up. Our prayers are not to be routine mutterings and going-through-the-motion kind of prayers. It should be persistent, insistent and full of expectancy.
Prayers are the hardest when we are going through trials. As we struggle on without a view of the end in sight, it is tempting for us to just give up asking. But we must understand that prayer itself is a battle. Prayer confronts the work of darkness and disarms the power of principalities and forces in the heavenly place.
We approach prayer fully believing that God is better than the No. 1 best father on earth. We dare ask believing that God is the willing friend who will not turn us down.
Right theology gives energy and determination, which will inevitably transform our attitude, approach and practice of intercession.
Monday, January 24, 2011
The kingdom's Gospel and People
January 24, 2011
Read Luke 10:1-16
Luke 10:15
And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.
There are 2 sides to the gospel that the 70 disciples are supposed to preach in these cities: peace (v.5-9) and warning (v.10-16) with great urgency (v.1-4).
The Jews at Jesus’ time believed that the Roman oppressors would be overthrown at the arrival of the Messiah. Thus, there were many self-proclaimed Messiahs who took up arms and led uprisings to topple the Romans. The Romans’ response was to crush the revolts and crucify the so-called Messiahs on the cross as a public mockery to their efforts and beliefs. It was a display of power through violence.
Jesus warned that unless these culturally and self notions of the Messiah is replaced with that of peace (which is God’s way), Capernaum, Chorazin and Bethsaida would suffered.
A child of peace is one who understands and is upset over the injustice and oppression but will submit to the Jesus’ way because it is the ONLY way. Jesus’ way is not to begat violence with more violence but to counter violence with gospel-proclamation, service and sacrifice, even at the cross.
What does this all mean? It means God’s people should not be indifferent about injustice and oppression. Neither should we be overwhelmed by all that is going on. We hold out Jesus as the solution in confidence; fully convicted that through gospel proclamation, peaceful service and sacrifice, we shall usher in the kingdom of God.
Read Luke 10:1-16
Luke 10:15
And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.
There are 2 sides to the gospel that the 70 disciples are supposed to preach in these cities: peace (v.5-9) and warning (v.10-16) with great urgency (v.1-4).
The Jews at Jesus’ time believed that the Roman oppressors would be overthrown at the arrival of the Messiah. Thus, there were many self-proclaimed Messiahs who took up arms and led uprisings to topple the Romans. The Romans’ response was to crush the revolts and crucify the so-called Messiahs on the cross as a public mockery to their efforts and beliefs. It was a display of power through violence.
Jesus warned that unless these culturally and self notions of the Messiah is replaced with that of peace (which is God’s way), Capernaum, Chorazin and Bethsaida would suffered.
A child of peace is one who understands and is upset over the injustice and oppression but will submit to the Jesus’ way because it is the ONLY way. Jesus’ way is not to begat violence with more violence but to counter violence with gospel-proclamation, service and sacrifice, even at the cross.
What does this all mean? It means God’s people should not be indifferent about injustice and oppression. Neither should we be overwhelmed by all that is going on. We hold out Jesus as the solution in confidence; fully convicted that through gospel proclamation, peaceful service and sacrifice, we shall usher in the kingdom of God.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)