March 20, 2011
The Church is Christ’s glory and pride.
God is extremely proud of His church not because she is perfect. He is pleased with the church because Christ founded the community of faith with His precious blood. The church is dear to God because we are now covered with the precious blood of our beloved Saviour.
As the Head of the church, Christ is the Director and the President. The church has been given a message to speak. The message is Christ. In lifting up Jesus, we fulfil God’s plan for His church. Christ is our hope for salvation, our antidote to sin, our example in living and our aim in character transformation.
Thus in Colossians 1:28,
“He (Christ) is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.”
The Church makes good Christ’s sacrifice for us when we aim to grow in spiritual maturity. When each member takes responsibility for our own growth and cares for the development of each other, the church will realize God’s plan for us.
Christ loved the church and gave himself up for us (Eph 5:25). What extravagant love! May we not forget this vital truth and may Galatians 2:20 now be our life motto as individuals and as a corporate body.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Only then can we confidently say we have done our best, with His help, to make Him proud.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Visitation of the Holy Spirit
14 February, 2011
Read Acts 2:1-4
The visitation of the Holy Spirit upon a band of frightened, puzzled and fearful disciples totally transformed them. They would go on to become stirrers and shapers of history.
The Holy Spirit was described as a “sound like the blowing of a violent wind” from heaven and “what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated”. It was a phenomenon not of this world and difficult to describe. The manifestation of the Spirit’s enabling was that the disciples broke out in tongues or different languages in verse 4.
Christians have all longed for the Holy Spirit’s filling and many have been confused by it. Some believe that the Spirit comes in a quiet peaceful way and are sceptical about the display of emotions such as crying and tongues. Yes, the Spirit comes in that way too. Bezalel of the tribe of Judah was filled with the Spirit of God and worked quietly with his hands (Exodus 31:2-4). Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit when he preached with logic and clarity (Acts 4:8). The filling of the Holy Spirit need not be loud and spectacular.
There are also records of others being filled with the Spirit and something visible and almost outrageous happened; such as in Acts 2 here. There are Christians who claim that the filling of the Holy Spirit must be evidenced in the speaking of tongues and outward signs. There is even a denomination called “Pentecostalism”.
All Christians must know that the Holy Spirit has His own way and how He comes and manifests the filling is of His prerogative. The Holy Spirit decides. He could do it in outward signs and wonders or in quiet boldness and confidence. Either way He is not containable, beyond our comprehension and cannot be manipulated or locked in.
There are two things that are clear though. First, God wants to give us His Holy Spirit and we can ask for His filling. We must and should ask because God never goes back on His promise.
Luke 11:13
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!”
Secondly, the sure sign of the Spirit’s filling is that of a transformed, courageous bold life lived out in obedience to God. It will be a fruitful life that bears the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22.23) and effective witness to the gospel’s truth (Acts 1:8).
Read Acts 2:1-4
The visitation of the Holy Spirit upon a band of frightened, puzzled and fearful disciples totally transformed them. They would go on to become stirrers and shapers of history.
The Holy Spirit was described as a “sound like the blowing of a violent wind” from heaven and “what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated”. It was a phenomenon not of this world and difficult to describe. The manifestation of the Spirit’s enabling was that the disciples broke out in tongues or different languages in verse 4.
Christians have all longed for the Holy Spirit’s filling and many have been confused by it. Some believe that the Spirit comes in a quiet peaceful way and are sceptical about the display of emotions such as crying and tongues. Yes, the Spirit comes in that way too. Bezalel of the tribe of Judah was filled with the Spirit of God and worked quietly with his hands (Exodus 31:2-4). Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit when he preached with logic and clarity (Acts 4:8). The filling of the Holy Spirit need not be loud and spectacular.
There are also records of others being filled with the Spirit and something visible and almost outrageous happened; such as in Acts 2 here. There are Christians who claim that the filling of the Holy Spirit must be evidenced in the speaking of tongues and outward signs. There is even a denomination called “Pentecostalism”.
All Christians must know that the Holy Spirit has His own way and how He comes and manifests the filling is of His prerogative. The Holy Spirit decides. He could do it in outward signs and wonders or in quiet boldness and confidence. Either way He is not containable, beyond our comprehension and cannot be manipulated or locked in.
There are two things that are clear though. First, God wants to give us His Holy Spirit and we can ask for His filling. We must and should ask because God never goes back on His promise.
Luke 11:13
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!”
Secondly, the sure sign of the Spirit’s filling is that of a transformed, courageous bold life lived out in obedience to God. It will be a fruitful life that bears the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22.23) and effective witness to the gospel’s truth (Acts 1:8).
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Big or Small Role
Read Acts 1:15-26
Acts 1:26
Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
Jesus was gone from among them. The 11 disciples were waiting for the filling of the Holy Spirit. However, they also had to make sense of the situation before them.
Judas Iscariot was one of them. He had relationships with them. They ate with him, walked with him for more than three years. They were buddies. They were intimate for they were “The Twelve”. And now they were the eleven.
How does one make sense of a senseless situation? How does one wrap his/her mind around things that had happened but shouldn’t have and doesn’t make any sense?
The disciples did 2 things: they went to the Word of God and they prayed. Through these two means, they found a sense of peace and saw what they must do to move forward. Judas’ betrayal and death was not out of God’s control even though it was tragic. God showed them the next step: another person was needed to take the place of Judas.
The disciples knew what to do next to pick up the broken pieces. The qualification criteria for an apostle were drafted. Two men were nominated: one Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Both were equally qualified for the selection. They drew lots and Matthias was chosen. Justus was no less qualified but Matthias was chosen.
Yet how many of us read about Matthias in the Bible after this? Not much; nothing in fact. In fact, James, the brother of Jesus surpassed many of the apostles in terms of mentioning in the Bible. But James (the author of James in the Bible) did not even fit the criteria for an apostle because he only believed after the resurrected Jesus appeared to him (I Cor 15:7 and John 7:5).
Justus, Matthias, James and the apostles – all these lives teach us one great important truth: that each of us has a role to play in God’s kingdom. It is not how big or small a role one plays, it is that humble obedience to play the role well that counts in God’s eyes. Be it a visual and big role or quiet and small role, what God demands is that of complete obedience and submission.
Ultimately, God decides our role. Our call is to be faithful to the roles that He has called us.
Acts 1:26
Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
Jesus was gone from among them. The 11 disciples were waiting for the filling of the Holy Spirit. However, they also had to make sense of the situation before them.
Judas Iscariot was one of them. He had relationships with them. They ate with him, walked with him for more than three years. They were buddies. They were intimate for they were “The Twelve”. And now they were the eleven.
How does one make sense of a senseless situation? How does one wrap his/her mind around things that had happened but shouldn’t have and doesn’t make any sense?
The disciples did 2 things: they went to the Word of God and they prayed. Through these two means, they found a sense of peace and saw what they must do to move forward. Judas’ betrayal and death was not out of God’s control even though it was tragic. God showed them the next step: another person was needed to take the place of Judas.
The disciples knew what to do next to pick up the broken pieces. The qualification criteria for an apostle were drafted. Two men were nominated: one Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Both were equally qualified for the selection. They drew lots and Matthias was chosen. Justus was no less qualified but Matthias was chosen.
Yet how many of us read about Matthias in the Bible after this? Not much; nothing in fact. In fact, James, the brother of Jesus surpassed many of the apostles in terms of mentioning in the Bible. But James (the author of James in the Bible) did not even fit the criteria for an apostle because he only believed after the resurrected Jesus appeared to him (I Cor 15:7 and John 7:5).
Justus, Matthias, James and the apostles – all these lives teach us one great important truth: that each of us has a role to play in God’s kingdom. It is not how big or small a role one plays, it is that humble obedience to play the role well that counts in God’s eyes. Be it a visual and big role or quiet and small role, what God demands is that of complete obedience and submission.
Ultimately, God decides our role. Our call is to be faithful to the roles that He has called us.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
New Power
Read Acts 1:6-8
Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
God left us a job to do on earth. God's kingdom is not a pie in the sky - heaven is not just 'up there'. God's kingdom will come when He brings about a union of the new heaven and new earth in a new way (Read Rev 21 and Eph 1). Jesus new resurrected body functions kind of illustrates this 'newness".
The disciples were told not to worry about the time when the kingdom 'would be restored' but they were told to be faithful to the commission Jesus gave them.
Jesus has all the 'authority' as the Resurrected Savior in verse 7. We are told one day 'every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil 2:10,11) This gives us tremendous comfort: no earthly authority is vested without the permission of God; no earthly organisation and person has absolute authority except Jesus. It gives us boldness and courage to appeal to the absolute authority on earth and in heaven, Jesus. He is the just and loving One who holds the full authority.
Notice too that we are given 'power'. The word 'power' used here is 'dynamis', where the word 'dynamite' is derived from. This is the promise given to us who seeks to do God's will and fulfil his Great Commission to testify of who Jesus is. We will receive 'dynamite' or power to do so. How? By waiting to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4,5)
My cell phone is an amazing tool for me to connect with my friends and loved ones but if i don't take time to charge it every now and then, it becomes a useless piece of technology junk. It fulfils it function only when i remember to charge its battery and that takes time.
Take time to charge your 'power' and then you can be witnesses for Christ in a dynamic way.
Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
God left us a job to do on earth. God's kingdom is not a pie in the sky - heaven is not just 'up there'. God's kingdom will come when He brings about a union of the new heaven and new earth in a new way (Read Rev 21 and Eph 1). Jesus new resurrected body functions kind of illustrates this 'newness".
The disciples were told not to worry about the time when the kingdom 'would be restored' but they were told to be faithful to the commission Jesus gave them.
Jesus has all the 'authority' as the Resurrected Savior in verse 7. We are told one day 'every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil 2:10,11) This gives us tremendous comfort: no earthly authority is vested without the permission of God; no earthly organisation and person has absolute authority except Jesus. It gives us boldness and courage to appeal to the absolute authority on earth and in heaven, Jesus. He is the just and loving One who holds the full authority.
Notice too that we are given 'power'. The word 'power' used here is 'dynamis', where the word 'dynamite' is derived from. This is the promise given to us who seeks to do God's will and fulfil his Great Commission to testify of who Jesus is. We will receive 'dynamite' or power to do so. How? By waiting to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4,5)
My cell phone is an amazing tool for me to connect with my friends and loved ones but if i don't take time to charge it every now and then, it becomes a useless piece of technology junk. It fulfils it function only when i remember to charge its battery and that takes time.
Take time to charge your 'power' and then you can be witnesses for Christ in a dynamic way.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Empowered by the Holy Spirit
Read Acts 1:1-5
Acts 1:4,5
On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit.”
The book of Acts is a sequel to Christ's continuing work via the Holy Spirit. It records the exciting beginning of the Christian Church: of Jews and Gentiles coming to the saving knowledge of Christ.
Jesus told the disciples to wait for the filling of the Holy Spirit before venturing out to serve. How important is the waiting.
Many of God's servants are eager to dash out and serve without waiting upon the Holy Spirit anointing and filling. The filling of the Holy Spirit is an important step that should not be skipped if we are to be fruitful in God's vineyard.
Imagine a combat soldier rushing off to fight the enemies without his weapons or instructions from his commander. That is how it is for one who does not have the filling of the Holy Spirit rushing out to serve God. This is blind zeal and unprepared service.
The Holy Spirit is the Person that guides, leads and instructs us as to how to serve God. The Holy Spirit is also our Power, the Energizer who gives us the Power to stay when service gets tough.
Make it a practice to wait for the Lord in some quiet, giving the Holy Spirit to fill and use us for His glory today. Make this a habit daily upon waking and see if your day takes on a God-dimension then.
Acts 1:4,5
On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit.”
The book of Acts is a sequel to Christ's continuing work via the Holy Spirit. It records the exciting beginning of the Christian Church: of Jews and Gentiles coming to the saving knowledge of Christ.
Jesus told the disciples to wait for the filling of the Holy Spirit before venturing out to serve. How important is the waiting.
Many of God's servants are eager to dash out and serve without waiting upon the Holy Spirit anointing and filling. The filling of the Holy Spirit is an important step that should not be skipped if we are to be fruitful in God's vineyard.
Imagine a combat soldier rushing off to fight the enemies without his weapons or instructions from his commander. That is how it is for one who does not have the filling of the Holy Spirit rushing out to serve God. This is blind zeal and unprepared service.
The Holy Spirit is the Person that guides, leads and instructs us as to how to serve God. The Holy Spirit is also our Power, the Energizer who gives us the Power to stay when service gets tough.
Make it a practice to wait for the Lord in some quiet, giving the Holy Spirit to fill and use us for His glory today. Make this a habit daily upon waking and see if your day takes on a God-dimension then.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
The Wisdom of God
March 6, 2011
In Christianity, there exists a “Theology of the weak”. In this theology, we recognise the necessity to be weak in order to be strong. The strong has no need of God but the weak does. God is near to the weak and faint-hearted but resists the proud and the strong.
Coming to God and admitting that our strengths may lead us to self-sufficiency and thus is our very weakness, God generously take us, forgive us and heal us. In broken repentance, we emerge from God’s Presence, strengthened in Him and not in our own power. This is a mystery and the Christian paradox.
Yes, the world applauds greatness and strength while God takes delight in the weak and the meek.
Christ illustrated this spiritual truth when He made Himself weak, emptied Himself at the cross and died as Sin for the sinners. He was a pathetic sight on the cross. He was weak.
But then in submitting to God, the Almighty lifted Him up – Christ rose again and is now seated at the Right hand of the Father. He became strong.
The cross is an apparatus of weakness and death but it is now a symbol of victory and life.
There is no brilliance in the Message of the cross – only sufferings, shames and pains. There is nothing to attract us to the cross – only nails and blood. Yet it is the tool through which our Savior uses to pardon, redeem and save us.
Looking back and looking forward, it is a mystery, paradox and brilliant and altogether wise.
I Cor 1:25
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
In Christianity, there exists a “Theology of the weak”. In this theology, we recognise the necessity to be weak in order to be strong. The strong has no need of God but the weak does. God is near to the weak and faint-hearted but resists the proud and the strong.
Coming to God and admitting that our strengths may lead us to self-sufficiency and thus is our very weakness, God generously take us, forgive us and heal us. In broken repentance, we emerge from God’s Presence, strengthened in Him and not in our own power. This is a mystery and the Christian paradox.
Yes, the world applauds greatness and strength while God takes delight in the weak and the meek.
Christ illustrated this spiritual truth when He made Himself weak, emptied Himself at the cross and died as Sin for the sinners. He was a pathetic sight on the cross. He was weak.
But then in submitting to God, the Almighty lifted Him up – Christ rose again and is now seated at the Right hand of the Father. He became strong.
The cross is an apparatus of weakness and death but it is now a symbol of victory and life.
There is no brilliance in the Message of the cross – only sufferings, shames and pains. There is nothing to attract us to the cross – only nails and blood. Yet it is the tool through which our Savior uses to pardon, redeem and save us.
Looking back and looking forward, it is a mystery, paradox and brilliant and altogether wise.
I Cor 1:25
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
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