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sons of God and the daughters of men

When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.” The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown. Genesis 6:1-4

Many Christians read the encounter of sons of God with daughters of men in Genesis 6 and wonder if the Nephilims were Demi-God, a product of Angels in heaven having sexual relations with women of the earth.

This article sums up my position on this age old debate:  http://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/sons-god/

Child-likeness

What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. Galatians 4:1-2

In Israel, Children are only a little better than slaves. They have no rights to themselves nor authority over others. Have little knowledge or experience that they can boast about. Have little or no possessions that they can call their own. Yet, a child's joy is not determined by these things.

As we grow older in life, we begin to amass great wealth, much biblical and secular knowledge; and begin to lead or have authority over other people. Despite it all, we must never forget to maintain our child-likeness before God.

Being the child in this context mean to be humble, reliant and always hungry for his father's attention and love. A child's joy is not determined by possessions or status. A child is secure and joyful in the faithfulness and unfailing love of his father.

Humility has great emphasis in this context. A child has absolutely no knowledge or life experience to boast or be confident in, whereas an adult may have learnt and gone through more in life. However, certain lesson we learn in life hinder the truth of God because they come from our understanding of the world. Worldly truth may not always be Godly truths. Jesus calls us all to reduce our confidence in our knowledge and experiences to that of a little child, so that in doing so, we may have a soft heart to accept Godly truth. In John 3, He calls Nicodemus to be "Born again" for this very reason - the Pharisee needed to "Reboot" and trash all of his life's knowledge in order to gain the kingdom of heaven.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

The bible says that the Gospel is a foolish concept to many and contradicts human wisdom. How could an almighty God be killed or even crucified? It takes uncompromising faith and humility to accept such a notion as our core belief. Thus the saying, unless we become like little children, we cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. 1 Corinthians 1:22-25

Many of us have grown up strong in God and mighty in our careers. We've accumulated much more wealth than we've ever had when we were children. We've grown even greater in knowledge and experiences. But let's not forget what it means to be that child before God again.

If God doesn't fulfill your dreams or hold off to give you the desires of your heart, will you still come back to the place of a little child, to love him, trust him and give him praise for who he is in your life rather than the things and circumstances he's yet to provide or unfold for you?

Will you allow God to reduce you to a little child, so that he can reshape and transform your understanding and reveal his truth into your hearts?

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
Matthew 18 : 2-5

Do you love me?

“Simon son of John, do you love me?” John 21:16

Here is another one of the most famous episodes in the bible. Jesus had resurrected from the dead and reappeared to His disciples while they were back in their fishing boats. While they were having breakfast on the beach, Jesus asked Peter one of the most astonishing questions in their entire time together, "Simon, do you love me?"

Many people who read this verse believe that Jesus was confirming Peter's love and dedication for Him. While that is true, most people do not see the underlying conversation going on underneath those three "Do you love me"s.

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

To understand what I'm talking about, we have to go back into the greek translation of these verses and look at the word "Love" that's been used here.

Verse 15:
Jesus: Simon son of John, do you love [Agapao] me more than these?”
Peter: “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love [phileo] you.”

Verse 16:
Jesus: “Simon son of John, do you love [Agapao] me?”
Peter: “Yes, Lord, you know that I love [phileo] you.”

Verse 17
Jesus: “Simon son of John, do you love [phileo] me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love [phileo] me?”
Peter: He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love [phileo] you.”

Can you see the problem now?

In verse 17, it says, "Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?”". Most people think that Peter was hurt because Jesus had asked him the same question the third time. But the problem wasn't that. The problem was the change in the use of words to portray Simon's love for Jesus. It grieved him so. In the first two verses, Jesus asked Peter if he [Agapao-ed] Him. Whereas in the last verse, He asked him if he [Phileo-ed] Him.

What was the difference between the two words that caused Peter to grief so much? 

Agapao, in brief, is a love that's commonly associated with God's Love - which is unconditional and sacrificial. It was a love fully surrendered to God and went beyond feeling (though may include feelings as well). Whereas Phileo is usually acquainted with loving affections - that is, its primarily a type of love that springs from emotions.

To understand Peter's grief even more, we find the following scripture in John 13:

Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” John 13:36-37

Here, Jesus revealed to His disciples that He was going to die (John 12) and that He will be betrayed by one of them (John 13). Simon then steps out boldly to show his love and devotion to the Lord by declaring that he was willing to lay down His life for the Lord. In saying so, he was trying to imply that his love for Jesus was an Agape type of love - unconditional and sacrificial till death. Jesus knowing the true heart condition of Peter then said to him "Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!" John 13:38

And as we know Peter did indeed deny Jesus three times while he was being questioned and flogged in the crowd. 

Therefore, when Peter was asked the first two times, "Peter, do you Agape me?". Peter could only reply that he Phileo-ed the Lord - that is, his love was limited only to His feelings for Jesus, not the Unconditional, Sacrificial Love that he always thought he had for the Lord. He wasn't truly willing to lay down his life for the Lord. 

That's why it grieved Peter so much when the Lord finally acknowledged that Peter Phileo-ed him the third time He asked. Jesus, by one simple question, had revealed to him the true condition of his deceitful heart.

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9

Most Christians are like Peter. They are pumped up, loud, extravagant for Jesus and in everything that they do, they try to prove their love for Jesus by their exceptional display of outward devotion. Yes, most of them do have genuine passion and emotional love for God. Yet, the truth is, they too like Peter, do not yet understand the true conditions of their Heart. God however, sees much more than that. 

The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

Peter learnt through this experience to be discerning over his own heart. He learnt not to be driven by his emotional love for God, but rather by the Long-Suffering Grace and Forgiveness that the Lord has displayed upon him - That is, even though he couldn't do what he so boldly declared and that despite the fact that he disowned the Lord three times in His most crucial hour, Jesus not only forgave him, but could still bring himself to use him to shepherd His flock. 

This is Love [Agape], not that we Love [Agapao] God, but that He loved [Agapao] us (1 John 4:10).

Agape Love is Sacrificial. It is first of all Fully-Surrendered unto the Lord. It is not defined by feelings and is not attained in split seconds. However, it comes from the understanding of God's Love and Grace in our lives through the revelation from the Holy Spirit. It's only when we fully understand the depth of God's Love and Grace in our lives, that we can surrender ourselves fully to Him in return and love in this way. It is only then, that we can find the strength to truly love [Agapao] God and our enemies / neighbors.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Matthew 6:12

Unless we come to a revelation of God's forgiveness and grace in our lives, we can never forgive or show grace to others. It was never about our love or devotion for God. It's always been about God's Amazing Love and Grace towards us.

Feed my sheep

Until we've learnt to recognise the true condition of our hearts for God, God cannot use us. 

When Jesus asked Peter the third time: "Do you love [Phileo] me?" - that is, do you now know that your love for me are just unreliable feelings of affection? Peter could only reply "Lord,  you know all things (i.e. only you see the true nature of my heart) You know that I (can only) love [Phileo] you." 

It's only then that Jesus would say, that revelation alone is enough, because now Peter finally understood that he couldn't love [Agape] God by his own strength and was finally ready to truly die for Him by the power of the Holy Spirit at work in Him. He then said to Peter, "Feed my sheep. But in doing so, you will be persecuted and die as a martyr."

“Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. 

Then he said to him, “Follow me!” John 21:17-20

------------------------------

Peter died AD67 and was crucified at Rome with his head downwards, as he himself had desired to suffer. This is why an upside down cross is generally accepted as a symbol of Peter, who would not have considered himself worthy enough to die the same way as his Savior.

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Peter

First Love

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Revelation 2:4

I often hear Christians use this verse a lot. However, whenever they use this verse, the intention they seem to convey is that we have fallen away from God.

I'd like to share my perspectives on this verse. The verses prior to this verse actually says this:

I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Revelations 2:2-4

The context of the scripture was targeted at the Ephesian Church. From the scripture, they were noted for their zealousness towards God. 

These were their attributes as listed in the verse:

- They were hardworking
- Had great perseverance in doing God's work
- Intolerant towards wicked men 
- Tested the word of self-proclaimed apostles like noble Bereans in Acts 17:11
- Obviously strong in the word
- Endured Hardship for the name of Jesus
- Yet remained strong

They seemed like such perfect Christians, serving the Lord to the fullest and careful in all their ways to honor God. Yet, God held something against them - they had forsaken Him.

How is that possible? The Ephesian church seemed so truly respectable in every way as Christians.

The common evaluation of the Ephesians in this verse is that they have focused more on the outwardly deeds of Christianity than on God himself. But their interpretation implies that God has to have the first place in our hearts, otherwise we fall into the category of the Ephesians in this passage.

Though I do not disagree with the fact that God has to be first place in our hearts, I disagree with the condemnation or inception of guilt with intentions to make people love God more. The only thing this achieves is to ultimately prove that we will never be good enough for God.

I believe, the true definition of forsaking "your First Love" is to forsake "the one who first loved you". There is a huge difference between the two. The first interpretation makes you try to love God more with your own human strength, while the other one relies on the revelation of God's Love for our relationship with God.

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” 1 John 4:16

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10

We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4 :19

Therefore, not forsaking God is to live and rely on His Love for us. That is, we love God and His people, because He first loved us. In order to love God more, we have to come to the revelation of His Grace and Unconditional love for us.

Many will quote from verses like Mark 12:30-31:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”

The truth is, the Greatest Commandment was given to Israel since Deuteronomy 6, yet for the entire history of Israel as a nation, they always fell short of this commandment. That is, by our mere human strength, we can never attain this state of Love for God. This is a condition that can only be attained through the work of the Spirit in us. The Spirit of the Lord in us produces genuine Love for God in our hearts.

...the fruit of the Spirit is love... Galatians 5:22

About Repentance:

The verse after Revelations 2:4 says this:

Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. Revelations 2:5

God says to the Ephesian Church to repent and do the things they did at first. What does this mean? Was God telling them to do more than they have already done? What else have they not done and what were they doing at first?

To understand this, we have to go back to the book of Ephesians. In Ephesians 1, Paul says this about them:

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. Ephesians 1:15-16

From the beginning of their journey with God, they were noted for these things:

- Their Faith in the Lord

- Their Love for all God's people

Obviously, in their early years, they've developed such love and passion for God, but over the decades, they lost what was more important (i.e. Faith and Love in God) and became distracted with outward things.

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Galatians 5:6

At the core of Paul's letter to the Ephesians contains what I believe is God's eventual will for them:
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19

God's message to the Ephesian Church was that they be rooted and established in Love by attaining the surpassing knowledge of the Christ's Love for them so that they may be filled with the fullness of God (i.e. becoming more like God).

Don't become like the Ephesian church as described in Revelations and become side-tracked with "Perfectionist Christianity" and deviate from what truly matters to God. Continue to walk in God as they have walked in God at the beginning and seek to attain the full measure of the Lord Jesus Christ in your life.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

Seek First His Kingdom and His Righteousness

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

Many Christian leaders use this verse to spur their members to serve God harder. The common saying is that by serving and giving God more, He will take care of you and bless you.

Though I truly believe in serving God to the fullest, I disagree with their interpretation in regards to this scripture.

Luke 17:21 says this:
“The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.” 

1) The Kingdom of God is not observed

That means its not something that's tangible that you can pin point.

2) The Kingdom of God is in your midst

The NIV footnote and KJV version for this verse says "Within" you. That means the Kingdom of God is not something we need to build externally as if it was a physical building nor is it a ministry (though it does sound much like that).

Looking at the context of this scripture, Jesus was speaking to Jews. They were non-Christians, but no doubt, deeply religious Believers of God. You don't need to tell religious believers to serve God harder. 

The truth is, Jesus was talking about Salvation. He was beckoning the Jews to get themselves Saved - to become part of the Kingdom in which He was referring to. Jesus definitely wasn't referring to Salvation by Works. Being part of the Kingdom wasn't something they had to work for. Rather, it is a Kingdom that is received by Faith.

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13-14

To be even more precise, I believe Jesus was referring to the receiving of His Holy Spirit - which is a Mark or Seal of Gods' Kingdom within us.

To shed even more light on this scripture, we have to consider His Righteousness. Now the Christian Faith is certainly not one received by doing good. Isaiah 64:6 says: "all our righteous acts are like filthy rags".

So this verse, even though superficially seems to tell us to do good, really talks about the Core of Christian Righteousness - Imputed Righteousness or Righteousness through Faith.

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. Romans 3:20

This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. Romans 3:22

Therefore, the simple and most commonly used scripture in all of Christian History has been gravely misused and misunderstood, making Christians serve harder for the wrong motives - resulting in burn outs and disappointments with God.

To truly summarise this verse, Jesus was talking about:

1) Seeking His Holy Spirit

This was the whole reason of the Gospel, that men might be reconciled and receive intimacy with God through the Holy Spirit. 

2) Receiving His Righteousness

We will never be considered Righteous in sight of God simply by doing good things. By fulfilling the Law, we have only done our duty. 

So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’” Luke 17:10

True Righteousness in God's eyes is to believe that God is our All-Sufficiency and Salvation. This belief shapes what we do and the way we live out lives. The scripture says: "be transformed by the renewing of your mind" Romans 12:2

About Serving God

As mentioned, I do not condone serving God with all we have. In fact, I am a firm believer of serving God will all that we have and in everything that we do.

Nor does this scripture deny the fact that we are to serve God. In fact, the truth of the matter is, the more we develop a soft heart to seek God and fill ourselves with His Holy Spirit, the more we will desire God and His will in our lives.

God is not pleased merely because we are zealously serving Him. Rather, He is more concerned that we are doing His will (zealously). 

Many people think that God's will only revolves around church Ministry. The truth is far further than that. Yes, God desires for His church to be glorious. But more than that, He desires Mercy, not Sacrifice (Hosea 6:6). The good Samaritan was not a Jew, but he too performed God's will, by caring for the needs of a wounded man in his path.

In summary, seek the Holy Spirit and Trust Wholeheartedly in the Lord. When Intimacy and Faith is established in us, "all things will be given unto you".

Moody's quotations

If a Sabbath School Teacher does not love his scholars - if he goes to them as if it was a lesson he wished to get over, it will not be long before they find it out. They will see it in his eyes, in his face, in his actions. And so let us see the necessity of having the love of God in our hearts.

If you go from a sense of duty, you will make no progress with them, but if you go to them and talk of the love of Christ, and show kindness in your actions, they will hear you.

A worker must win the hearts and affections of the people before he can do any effective work.

The world wants sympathy about as much as anything. There are so many we could reach if we could sympathise with them. If we stand upon a higher plane, we won't succeed. The Son of God passed by the mansions and went down in a manger that he might sympathise with the lowly. If we want to reach people, we have got to put ourselves in the places of those people, if we are going to succeed.

The churches would soon be filled if outsiders could find that people in them loved them when they came, and if the elders and deacons were glad to see them and were ready to take them by the hand and welcome them. Such things would draw sinners. Actions like these speak louder than words. We do not want to talk of love and not show it in our deeds; we want something more than "Tongue Love".

- D. L. Moody

Do It Yourself

. . . bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ . . . —2 Corinthians 10:5

Determinedly Discipline Other Things. This is another difficult aspect of the strenuous nature of sainthood. Paul said, according to the Moffatt translation of this verse, “. . . I take every project prisoner to make it obey Christ . . . .” So much Christian work today has never been disciplined, but has simply come into being by impulse! In our Lord’s life every project was disciplined to the will of His Father. There was never the slightest tendency to follow the impulse of His own will as distinct from His Father’s will— “the Son can do nothing of Himself . . . ” (John 5:19). Then compare this with what we do— we take “every thought” or project that comes to us by impulse and jump into action immediately, instead of imprisoning and disciplining ourselves to obey Christ.

Practical work for Christians is greatly overemphasized today, and the saints who are “bringing every thought [and project] into captivity” are criticized and told that they are not determined, and that they lack zeal for God or zeal for the souls of others. But true determination and zeal are found in obeying God, not in the inclination to serve Him that arises from our own undisciplined human nature. It is inconceivable, but true nevertheless, that saints are not “bringing every thought [and project] into captivity,” but are simply doing work for God that has been instigated by their own human nature, and has not been made spiritual through determined discipline.

We have a tendency to forget that a person is not only committed to Jesus Christ for salvation, but is also committed, responsible, and accountable to Jesus Christ’s view of God, the world, and of sin and the devil. This means that each person must recognize the responsibility to “be transformed by the renewing of [his] mind. . . .” (Romans 12:2).

- Oswald Chambers

Missionary Weapons

When you were under the fig tree, I saw you —John 1:48

Worshiping in Everyday Occasions. We presume that we would be ready for battle if confronted with a great crisis, but it is not the crisis that builds something within us— it simply reveals what we are made of already. Do you find yourself saying, “If God calls me to battle, of course I will rise to the occasion”? Yet you won’t rise to the occasion unless you have done so on God’s training ground. If you are not doing the task that is closest to you now, which God has engineered into your life, when the crisis comes, instead of being fit for battle, you will be revealed as being unfit. Crises always reveal a person’s true character.

A private relationship of worshiping God is the greatest essential element of spiritual fitness. The time will come, as Nathanael experienced in this passage, that a private “fig-tree” life will no longer be possible. Everything will be out in the open, and you will find yourself to be of no value there if you have not been worshiping in everyday occasions in your own home. If your worship is right in your private relationship with God, then when He sets you free, you will be ready. It is in the unseen life, which only God saw, that you have become perfectly fit. And when the strain of the crisis comes, you can be relied upon by God.

Are you saying, “But I can’t be expected to live a sanctified life in my present circumstances; I have no time for prayer or Bible study right now; besides, my opportunity for battle hasn’t come yet, but when it does, of course I will be ready”? No, you will not. If you have not been worshiping in everyday occasions, when you get involved in God’s work, you will not only be useless yourself but also a hindrance to those around you.

God’s training ground, where the missionary weapons are found, is the hidden, personal, worshiping life of the saint

- Oswald Chambers

Love one another

Some of you may know about this, but Shinyee and I have moved to Melbourne and we are attending a church here called City Life Church. This was the church that Ps Lailing and Wilson and the entire Hope Movement sprang from.

Anyway, we've only been here for about almost two months. We've settled down in the church and attended a life group for youth adults and starting families. The life group happens once every two weeks, so we really haven't had much time to meet and interact with everyone.

However, just in a short span of just eight weeks, after much pouring out of heart matters and talking about personal opinions about matters, Shinyee and I could tell that almost 80% of people (except for its leaders) who are attending have in one way or another been hurt by Christians. YES, CHRISTIANS.

One of the ladies (let's name her C) who was there had been constantly bringing another lady (let's name her K) to the life group. C commented in the life group that for K to even come and step foot into a Life Group again, it was the grace and miracle of God.

How sad is that? To know that the only assembly of people that was meant and called to preach God's Love, ended up to be one of the most dreadful place K wanted to be in.

This cannot be the will of God. This cannot be the church that Jesus died for..... but it is. And it is a sad fact. I look at the Aussies around and I know, that one of the reasons why they are so hard-hearted, was that the church has failed to live up to what it first and foremost stands for - The Sacrificial Love of Christ.

We should be fervent and zealous for God. That's a definite yes. But if our zeal and fervency means that we become ignorant and insensitive to other's feelings (especially those within the church), then we have failed to live up to the commandment of God.

Let us reflect on the true Heart of Christ and start Loving One Another - Inside and Outside the Church!

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you MUST love one another." John 13:34

Serving ungodly leadership (with favor)

- Daniel (served 3 generations of Babylonian kings who enslaved and occupied Israel)
- Nehemiah (served the King of Persia as a Cup Bearer)
- Ester (became wife of a King of Persia)

Foreign kings in the bible speaks of unbelievingly (Gentile) rulers.  We need to recognize that it was God who gave them authority to rule and who made israel subjected to them. Not only that; but also that God has placed us in their service to prospers them - i.e. the Gentile Ruler and their cities, in order to administer God's grace to them in its many forms (1 Peter 4:10).

seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Jeremiah 29:6

God doesn't always appoint leaders who are godly, reasonable or worthy of service. However, it is always his will that we subject ourselves to their authority and to be committed to serving them (within the boundaries of God's uncompromisable will) in order that God's higher purpose be accomplished. Just because your team members don't share the same conviction doesn't mean we hold back our contributions. God establishes us with such people so that we may work as a team. Master and servants serve as one team instituted by God.

All of these prophets/prophetess, served their kings faithfully and received favor in their eyes. They were commended in the bible for their acts and faith in God despite living in a perverted society.

Our service and testimonies to these [kings] are God's way of reaching out to them.

At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, [The Gentile King of Babylon,] raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. Daniel 4:34

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.  1 Peter 2:12

God’s Love vs Our Love

Some people anchor their security on their Love for God. But God desires that we have feed our assurance on His Love for us through faith in the blood that was shed on the cross.

The message that the bible brings forth is that "we love because God first loved us", not because "we loved so much and so God loves us back". Love for God can only be produced through encountering God’s divine love and grace - just as it has been said, "He who has been forgiven much, loves much". Self-Motivated Love for God can never produce the transformation God so desires in us.

God does not desire a generation of sold-out martyrs, he desires children who knows fully that they are well taken care of in His plans – only then, will we be able to walk in stillness before Him.

The other name for Security in our own love for God is called "Self-Righteousness" or "Confidence in the flesh". The Bible preaches "Righteousness by Faith and Salvation by Grace". All these happened while we were still weak to overcome sin and loved God not.

Repentance

From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." Matt 4:17

Jesus' version of repentance was not simply about living right again or feeling sincerely sorry. Because obviously, even the Jews with high regard of the law could not do so, by their own humane strength or discipline; nor did it make them justified before God

Instead, its simply about turning away from the old ways of thinking and becoming part of a new kingdom - a new rule who's values are not based upon  justification by works but rather justification and sanctification by faith. That now, we (not just those who are Holy) can turn to God to receive Forgiveness and Grace to change and heal our lives.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

11 days vs 40 years

Someone once said this to me:

"The Isralites had to go through the desert 40 yrs when it can be done on 11 days."

If they went in in 11 days, they would not have had the faith to take down all the giants in the land. They simply weren't ready. God needed to bring them through a process of 40 years in order to tame and mould them to take on the giants.

Many times we always see what others could have been but not allow God time to nurture others to grow into who they should be. God understood Israel's weakness and made provision for them to grow in their faith by testing and disciplining them to walk in faith in the desert for 40 years. Many times, God deals with us in the same way.

It's not about getting to the destination. It's about truly understanding who God is - sovereign over all our lives.

Love is first of all Patient (1 Cor 13:4) . That is why Love is King. Because Love covers a multitude of Sins (1 Peter 4:8) and God is love (1 John 4:8)

Today, as you look at others and your own lives, are you judgeing the 11 days that they've/you've missed? Or are you trusting God that you will emerge glorious with God after 40 years?

God is not in a hurry to raise you up though he is fully capable of doing so. He's more interested that you will last the journey with Him.

For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. Hab 2:3

Feeding the Flesh

Feeding the Flesh

The following illustrations are included in my book Dug Down Deep.

Recently, I preached from Romans 13:14 which says, "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." In my message, I wanted us to consider what "the flesh" is, and how it functions in our lives. As I was thinking about this, I started doodling on my notes—something that helps me think more clearly (I tend to do it in meetings, which sometimes irritates my friends). Anyway, these doodles gave me the idea of sharing a bunch of the cartoons I drew to try and explain the flesh and how it functions in our lives. So, here goes:

1. This is you. Or us, a human made in God's image. Ladies, sorry you have to identify with a little guy. I'm not sure why he doesn't have a shirt.

2. This is the flesh. He's kind of a Jabba the Hut meets WWF wrestler. The Flesh represents the sinful, corrupted desires of our heart. It's not a reference to our bodies—our bodies are created by God and are good. The flesh represents our sinful cravings to live for ourselves and disobey God's laws and commands.

3. Before Jesus saves us, this is how all of us relate to the flesh. The Bible says that we are slaves to our sinful desires. Our flesh is boss. If you're not a Christian, I'm not trying to offend you. I know this isn't a flattering picture of your current condition but it's true of all of us apart from God saving us.

4. This is what happens when we trust in Jesus. Because Jesus died on the cross and conquered sin and rose again, we are freed from the power of sin. It's no longer our boss. See how the chain is broken? And we get clothes, which is really great.

5. But our flesh doesn't disappear. It still hangs around to entice us. After we're Christians, we're no longer slaves to sin, but the flesh can still tempt us. We can choose to give into temptation and indulge the flesh. This is what theologians call "indwelling sin." Jesus broke the power of sin, but we still live with the presence and influence of sinful desires.

6. That's why the Bible is full of encouragement to fight our fleshly desires. We can't live at peace with it. We have to attack it and deny it. (In hindsight, I guess the "sword of the Spirit" would have been a bit more biblical. Oh well.)

7. The problem is that too often Christians make friends with their flesh. In fact they feed their flesh. We give into our sinful desires. We pamper our flesh. We provide it three rounded meals a day with snacks and dessert. We might think that since we've been freed by the cross it's okay to indulge the flesh. But there's a real problem. When we feed the flesh...

8. ...it grows! And before you know it, the flesh is bigger and stronger than you and starts to push you around. That's why Paul is telling us in Romans 13 that we need to...

9. ...starve our flesh!

That's what we want our flesh to look like. We want the flesh gaunt and feeble.

When Paul says "make no provision for the flesh" he's saying don't feed your sinful desires. Don't do things—don't think things, don't watch things, don't meditate on things—;that strengthen your sinful inclinations.

Hebrews 6:1-3

Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so.

Time to grow my friends. :)

I want to Sing

Hi Guys... Come worship with me and enter God's lovely presence.

Recently God's been speaking to me. Many times, all we want is God's power, His Gifts, His Strength, wisdom, anointing, revival, etc.... but we lose sight of the most important thing... HIM.

God desires your presence more than anything else. He wants us to come, to seek Him first before all these things. To trust Him and lay all our wants, our needs, our fears, our worries at His feet. To get down on our knees and start seeking His face. God is greater than these things in your life. As you seek Him first and Him alone, He will place your life into the right perspectives.

Just like peter and his companions, throw down your net and "Follow Him"...

Conversation with God in OC 2009

With much expectation and prayers waiting for answers, I arrived Philip Island, Melbourne, a place where God changed my life. He revealed to me how small my problems were during OC2007 and I committed my life unto Him during that OC, I got baptised in the Holy Spirit in that OC, I also experienced God's touch during that OC, and seems like God used all these experience trying to tell me something in OC2009.

Earlier this year I have been going through a period of spiritual dryness and I have reached a point where I am almost walking away from God, God as well has been doing surgery in my heart, and I have been going through a time of molding and seeking. Therefore one of my expectation for this OC is to really grow in my relationship with God and to see Him move in our lives, and being a faithful God, He has answered all my prayers in this OC.

During praise and Worship section, I was seeking God as usual, but something unusual happened, seems like God is talking to me.

-> Father, I can't see you, I have been seeking and I can't find you.
->Son you first have to clean your glasses because all this time you have been seeing through all the mud that's on the glasses.

As God was saying that, I started to see shadow before me, and I know it is God.

->here you are...I finally have found you now.
->I have always been with you Son, I have never left you, remember that I told you in a dream before? "I will always be with you and never leave you". remember?
->Yes father, I remember it very clearly...

And since then, I have gained a passion of singing P&W unto God, I have not stopped singing during this 3 days in OC, I sing when I walk, I sing when I sit in the car, I sing when I am bored. And I just love singing P&W!! Hehe...
I also realised how God has been walking with me through my ups and downs, Thank you Lord.

And in another P&W section, I sensed that God was saying to me:
-> Son, remember this room where you first fall in love with me?
and I started praying to God to ask him to renew this feeling of 1st love with God and I just felt so refreshed in Him and the Joy of God filled me! I walked in being a bit emotional, and walked out smiling and singing to God...! How awesome is HE!

The theme of this OC is moving in the spirit, and indeed I have expectation to really move with God's holy spirit, and during one ministering section, I stepped out in faith and started praying for brothers and sisters in Judah5, and I laid hand on people and I could feel what God wants me to say to them, and I confirm with them after my prayer, and almost everyone I prayed for confirmed what I prayed for them was true. Also we have prayed for a sister that has back pain, we prayed, and nothing seem to have happened, but we prayed a second time, and this time I sensed that God has touched her, and I asked her if she is healed, and the answer is yes! no more back pain! And I realise how important faith is in terms of moving in the spirit, with faith, all things are possible with God!

And finally, OC has ended and I have arrived home safely, but I really don't want to just return to my "normal" life, I want to sense God's presence like I did in OC. So Tuesday morning, I put this Dvd I bought previously into my computer, it's a Hillsongs P&W DVD, after singing through 2 praise songs, when It comes to a worship song, I started to ask God for His presence on me, and just when they sing this song "with all I am"-> 'Into your hands, I commit again, with all I am, for you Lord, I'll walk with you, in the palm of your hand, and I AM YOURS, FOREVER' just through the verse, I started weeping in God's presence, as I sing through the rest of the song, I fell down on my knee and face down on the ground, and I became speechless in God's presence, it's so strong and I cried as if I was a baby, I have not cried like this for a very long time...I was just so touched in God's presence that seems like everything else doesn't matter anymore, it's a weird sensation where I feel that I am in awe, yet I am crying, it's like you have lost strength on your body...
And as the Dvd continue to play, I started speaking in tongue and asked God for some answers, and God just told me this "Believe in me, I will give you the best in the best timing" I believe it is true for many of us, we always ask God for directions and stuff, but we don't seem to trust God fully sometimes, for those who are seeking for answers...

Matthew 6:33
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

And through all these experience with God, I start to understand what it means to be a friend of God, our relationship with God should be a two way thing, not just you telling God what happened to you, and what you want, but also you should allow God to tell you what He wants, and allow Him to speak into our lives.

God bless

Eli vs Samuel

Eli was the High Priest at Shiloh ministering to the people during Samuel's time. Shiloh was where the Tent of Meeting was situated and often where the entire assembly of Israel gathered. 

Now Eli had two sons who were also priests, but had not the fear of God in their hearts. They went around treating God's offering with contempt (1 Sam 2:12-17) and sleeping around with the women serving at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting (1 Sam 2:22-25) and the bible said that the sins of these young men were very great in God's sight (1 Sam 2:17).

As a father, Eli had to be responsible for the behavior of his two sons. As High Priest, Eli should have made ensured that the offerings of God were handled in the right way. Eli, however, did nothing to rectify the situation.

As high priest, Eli would have stood out among his fellow Levites in his earlier years to have attained such position. Scriptures showed the he was discerning of God's ways when he instructed Samuel on how to hear from God (1 Sam 3:1-19).

The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions. (1 Sam 3:1)

However, we need to understand that Sin (and not dealing with Sin) quenches the Holy Spirit in us, no matter how anointed anyone has been. Eli by now would have experienced tremendous dryness in his spirit. The scripture above reveals that he had lost the ability to speak God's word (Logos or Rhema) into Isreal.

Note that the prophecy upon the house of Eli (1 Sam 2:27-36) was given before Samuel began ministering at the Tent of Meeting. God was giving Eli a chance (and seemingly years as Samuel grew up) to repent, yet Eli did nothing in response to this.

Had Eli repented before God after he was prophecised upon, God would have relented and not bring about the Judgement as he did to Eli and his Two sons and Eli could probably still be ministering before the Lord as High Priest.

If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. (Jeremiah 18:7-8)

Samuel on the other hand was faithful, obedient and constantly seeked God through His word.

The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD. The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word. (2 Sam 3:19-21)

As we stay faithful to God and His calling, keeping His ways and honouring Him first, He will exalt us above all others. There is nothing to hide, because all men will see and recognise the anointing that is upon us. Yet, on the other end of the spectrum, when we lose God's Spirit, that too cannot be hidden. For in time to come, God will withhold his blessings and anointing from us and even replace us from the establishments that he has allowed us to possess.

In summary, Eli:

- Had not been a faithful in the things that God has called him (Bad Stewardship)

- Allowed Sin to prosper in His time (Procrastination)

- Was unrepentant before the Lord (Hardened Heart)

Samuel, on the other hand was:

- Faithful in ministering God's word

- Had the fear of God above the fear of men (by speaking boldly to Eli, hiding nothing)

- Seeked God constantly through His word

Get right with God today and continue to seek the Lord in Spirit and in Truth.

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24)

my testimony sharing

I am so shy to share this haha...so embarrassing.......anyway....here you go...




Below is my script...but I didn't follow exactly

Hi Guys, my name is Robin, I come from HK. I am from this lovely and supporting group of J5, And I am doing veterinary science in UQ, for those who do not know what that is, that means doctor for animals, Today I would like to share even how God have changed my life, but before I start my story, I would like to tell you a little bit about the education system in HK. In HK, there are 7 yrs of secondary schooling, and at the 5^th year, which is form 5, there are a period of open exams called HKCEE, which is similar to O level, and then, if your result is satisfactory to proceed, there is an A level at the end of the 7^th year. And for my case, although I tried very hard, I still wasn’t good enough to proceed to Form 6, I was just a little behind the standard and for that reason I wasn’t able to continue my study in the same school, I didn’t want to study in other secondary school because that is not going to be a good option as I could only get into schools that are worse than the one I used to be in, and I reached a point where I decided to just start working instead of continue on studying, but thank God for my wonderful mother, she pursued her attempt, and she tried every sources just to get information to find a way out for my situation.

With God’s blessing, she managed to find UQ foundation which was willing to offer my enrolment in Brisbane. And that’s why I am in Australia today, And through that I entered Uni one year earlier than my other friends in HK, isn’t that amazing?. And after 1 yr or so, some friends of mine who have been attending Hope Brisbane Christian Church, which is this church, invited me to live group. At 1^st I didn’t want to go, but my dear friends kept inviting me, so one day I decided to just give it a try JUST becoz I feel bad rejecting him so many time, and, this is the interesting bits, because of my poor English back then…….I accepted Christ without truly understanding what it really means….so of coz I didn’t continue to join them and didn’t go to church, however, about 1 yr down the track, God put me in a situation where I was filled with heart-brokenness and regrets. I was walking from my house, which was in St.lucia, to coronation drive bikeway with tears on my face, and that day was when God started to turn my life to Him. And a brother I met in LG b4, whose name is Rayson, he is my dear shepherd now btw, happened to drive pass me and he felt a prompting from God to go back and find me, and amazingly, somehow he knew I was at coronation drive bikeway!! He was waiting in front of me and He came to talk to me, and I talked to him about my situation, I felt so much better after talking to him, and since then I started to give open my heart to God. And from that day onward God kept directing me to Him, the most significant experience with God was at OC 2007, a convention which is organised by our church, I truly experienced God’s love and His presence was so strong, I remember, I couldn’t stop crying during that particular worship night, and from that point onward, I start to come to church regularly and decided to follow Him wholeheartedly.

I want to finish off my testimony with this verse, jeremiah 29:11,” For I know the plan I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you hope and a future.” brothers and sisters, this verse truly is God’s promise, which is never failing, He planned all these things to happen in my life, from 5yrs ago, where I had no choice but to come to Australia to study, from someone who couldn’t get into any Uni in Hk, to someone who is doing this specialist courses in UQ, and Praise God He helped me through my degree, (I am in 4^th year now by the way), and to where I was walking in Coronation drive bikeway and God changed my life, and. Everything was in His plan, and as the verse have said, it is for our good, to give us hope and a future, therefore, bro and sis, you might be complaining about your situation right now, but I encourage you to trust in God’s plan because it is always the best for us!!! Thank you!