BelovedPrincess's Revelife

You are so faithful - lyrics

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 14:57:31 GMT

We ended with this song for service today. Surprisingly, I found only 2 versions of it on youtube. The link here is sung by the original singer and writer, Bob Fitts. The video is sweet :) though it does not quite fit the lyrics.

It's been some time since I heard it. It was one of my favourites in the past but with the passing of time, and the newer songs that came up, it just slipped away. When we sang this today, it brought back memories. Nostalgic and sweet. The song may be 'old' but the truth will always stay the same. And that's the beauty of the song.. and the intimacy.

Sing it to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

I love You Jesus...

Like the sun that rises everyday,
You are so faithful. Lord, You are faithful.
Like the rain that You send,
And every breath that I breathe,
You are so faithful, Lord

Like the rose that comes alive every spring,
You are so faithful. Lord, You are faithful.
Like the life that You give,
to every beat of my heart,
You are so faithful, Lord.

I see the cross and the price You had to pay,
I see the blood that washed my sins away.

In the midst of the storm
through the wind and the waves,
You'll still be faithful, You'll still be faithful,
When the stars refuse to shine and time is no more,
You'll still be faithful,
You'll still be faithful, Lord.

What do you think happens to us after we die?

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 17:45:28 GMT

I'm going to my mansion in heaven!

On another note, I'm asking the Lord to satisfy me with long life that I may see His glory on earth! I'm believing that the times are near.. so I'll be raptured and not see death :)

What exciting times we live in! Praise Jesus! What a great work He is doing! Oh, it's dangerous NOT to be a Christian. I'll choose being Christ's! Being a dangerous Christian any day!

I just answered this Featured Question, you can answer it too!

17 August 2008 - Sin offering

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 17:19:54 GMT

[My thoughts in square brackets. Verses that are in square brackets are not specifically referred to in this service but supports the point that he was making.]

17 August 2008 (3^rd service)

Pastor Prince – teaching on the Sin offering

Numbers 18:8-11

And the LORD spoke to Aaron: “Here, I Myself have also given you charge of My heave offerings, all the holy gifts of the children of Israel; I have given them as a portion to you and your sons, as an ordinance forever.

This shall be yours of the most holy things reserved from the fire: every offering of theirs, every grain offering and every sin offering and every trespass offering which they render to Me, shall be most holy for you and your sons. In a most holy place you shall eat it; every male shall eat it. It shall be holy to you.

“This also is yours: the heave offering of their gift, with all the wave offerings of the children of Israel; I have given them to you, and your sons and daughters with you, as an ordinance forever. Everyone who is clean in your house may eat it.

Under the old covenant, you perform to become.

Under the new covenant, you become to perform.

In the Old Testament, the priests were healthy and strong for service and the work of the tabernacle. This is because under the old covenant, the priests had to fulfil criteria – no blemish, etc..

It is a lack of understanding of Jesus’ work in their lives that people are suffering. To the extent you have fear and anxiety, to that extent you do not know. Humble yourself to ask the Lord to reveal the truth in your life.

Of the 5 offerings, 3 are a sweet smelling aroma to God: Burnt offering (perfection of Jesus), Grain offering (beauty of Jesus) and Peace offering.

The burnt offering is burnt on the altar of burnt offering within the temple whereas the sin offering is burnt outside the camp because it reminds God of our sins.

Leviticus 4:11-12 (there is offal in sin offering because it reminds God of our sins, not burnt offering)

But the bull’s hide and all its flesh, with its head and legs, its entrails and offal— the whole bull he shall carry outside the camp to a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn it on wood with fire; where the ashes are poured out it shall be burned.

Our self-efforts are dung – even our achievements. Whenever we try to achieve righteousness by works, our righteousness are like filthy rags.

[Philippians 3:4-9

If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

Isaiah 64:6

But we are all like an unclean thing,
And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;]

Hebrews 13:11-13

For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.

4 types of people in the OT who offered the sin offering –

Person	Anointed priest	Whole congregation	A ruler	A commoner
Sacrifice	Young bull	Young bull	A male kid	A female kid
Blood	Blood put on the horns of the altar of incense		Blood put on the horns of the altar of burnt offering

[Tabulated for easier reading. All verses found in Leviticus 4 (extracted at the end of the sermon notes)]

Typology:

Female and male speaks of “strength” – passive and active. It is not literal.

Eg. You may be a female but you have the strength of a male in the things of God – i.e. hungry for the things of God. You may be a male but are a female in spiritual matters – i.e. fall asleep during service!

The sacrifice – sin offering – speaks of Jesus carrying our sins

Male kid: A leader who sins must have a strong active appreciation of the finished work of Christ

Hebrews 10:1-4

For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

The moment you have a perfect sacrifice, there is no more sin consciousness.

We have a divine redemption for all eternity.

To be conscious of sins when you know that it’s been removed is to insult the blood of Christ.

God forgave us, not based on our knowledge of our sins, but by His knowledge of our sins. [That means, all our sins, even sins we are unaware of, are SURELY paid because it’s by His knowledge!]

God is not merciful in making us righteous. He is merciful in sending Jesus. Our sins brought Jesus down. His righteousness brought us up to the Father’s throne. Today, His judicial righteousness must abide by the finished work of His Son who paid for our sins with His blood! (without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins)

The question to ask is whether God is satisfied with the sacrifice of Jesus.

Jesus’ sacrifice – our true rest. Your heart is at liberty in rest.

Blood of bulls and goats – temporal forgiveness.

Blood of Christ – eternal forgiveness.

Ephesians 1:7

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

In the mind of God, the burnt offering and the sin offering is one.

The Holy Spirit is jealous to guard the glory of Jesus.

Because of the sin offering, God turned His back on His Son. But as the burnt offering, Jesus was never more pleasing to the Father.

We are transformed by beholding the glory of the Lord by the Spirit of the Lord.

Would to God that God gives us more new covenant ministers to uncover the beauty of Christ!

As your Sacrifice is, so is your rest.

Just as Jesus’ sacrifice is eternal, so is our rest divine and eternal.

Hebrews 10:11-12

And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,

In the OT, the priest had to stand.. daily.. repeatedly..

But this Man, one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down. [It is a completed work!]

In the OT, the judgment is greater than the sacrifice. Elijah called down fire, which consumed the sacrifice, the water, and even the stones! Nothing was left.

In the NT, the Sacrifice is greater than the judgment. After Jesus consumed God’s judgment, He could say, “It is finished!” and like the King He is, dismissed His Spirit to God. The Sacrifice is greater than the judgment! What assurance! Hallelujah! Fully fully paid!!!

4 types of people in the OT who offered the sin offering –

Leviticus 4:1-3

Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘If a person sins unintentionally against any of the commandments of the LORD in anything which ought not to be done, and does any of them, if the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, then let him offer to the LORD for his sin which he has sinned a young bull without blemish as a sin offering.

Leviticus 4:13-18

Now if the whole congregation of Israel sins unintentionally, and the thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done something against any of the commandments of the LORD in anything which should not be done, and are guilty; when the sin which they have committed becomes known, then the assembly shall offer a young bull for the sin, and bring it before the tabernacle of meeting. And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the LORD. Then the bull shall be killed before the LORD. The anointed priest shall bring some of the bull’s blood to the tabernacle of meeting. Then the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD, in front of the veil. And he shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar which is before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle of meeting; and he shall pour the remaining blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.

Leviticus 4:22-23

When a ruler has sinned, and done something unintentionally against any of the commandments of the LORD his God in anything which should not be done, and is guilty, or if his sin which he has committed comes to his knowledge, he shall bring as his offering a kid of the goats, a male without blemish.

Leviticus 4:27-3

If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally by doing something against any of the commandments of the LORD in anything which ought not to be done, and is guilty, or if his sin which he has committed comes to his knowledge, then he shall bring as his offering a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed. And he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering, and kill the sin offering at the place of the burnt offering. Then the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour all the remaining blood at the base of the altar. He shall remove all its fat, as fat is removed from the sacrifice of the peace offering; and the priest shall burn it on the altar for a sweet aroma to the LORD. So the priest shall make atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him.

10 August 2008 - notes from Pastor Mark's sermon

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:24:27 GMT

Pastor Mark preaches to the hokkien and mandarin congregation in our church. Most of them used to be taoists. Pastor Mark himself, before he was born again, was one of those who used to take himself off to Thailand to visit temples, buy charms etc. God has revealed to him the roots of many chinese customs which could be traced from the Old Testament. It's amazing!

I have just reproduced the notes though without the explanation :) So if you're familiar with chinese customs, I do not mind elaborating if you want to discuss. (Especially since this month is the 7th month.)

____________________________________________________________________________

10 August 2008

Pastor Mark

Exodus 28:29-30

So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over his heart, when he goes into the holy place, as a memorial before the LORD continually. And you shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim,and they shall be over Aaron’s heart when he goes in before the LORD. So Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel over his heart before the LORD continually.

Ezra 2:63

And the governor said to them that they should not eat of the most holy things till a priest could consult with the Urim and Thummim.

Romans 8:29-30

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

因为他预先所知道的人，就预先定下效法他儿子的模样，使他儿子在许多弟兄中作长子。预先所定下的人又召他们来；所召来的人又称他们为义；所称为义的人又叫他们得荣耀。

John 3:16

神爱世人，甚至将他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他的，不至灭亡，反得永生。

Colossians 1:18

And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22

Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

My future is secured. The path of the righteous shines brighter. My future is very bright.

Accept His salvation everyday. Jesus specialises in saving me. From my problems etc. He loves to save me because He came to die for me.

The righteous by faith will speak forth. (Romans 10:6)

But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’”(that is, to bring Christ down from above)

Whatever you depend on Christ will always be a success.

Ephesians 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

Cf Fengshui. The place of protection, of blessing is in Christ

How to get a placed blessed? Proclaim the Word of God over your place, yourself, your situation.

What God does for you is permanent.

If we fall sick, contrary to the Word “by His stripes we are healed” and we say what we see, we are contradicting the truth in our lives. (Facts vs truth. Facts are temporal but Truth, backed by God Himself, is eternal)

We want to say what we see, but God wants us to say what we want.

God wants us to believe first.

God is waiting for me to open my golden mouth!

Everything (we have/want/need) is at the cross.

God wants us to have a blessed life on this earth. He wants us to reign in this life.

As long as you have Jesus.

God is giving us a simple way. Trust Him (not your circumstances)

Believe and say

I am destined to reign. I am a blessed woman! Praise the Lord!

1 Peter 2:9-10

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Feeding on Jesus' love

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 05:16:52 GMT

Yesterday, Pastor Prince unveiled Jesus in Leviticus in the peace offering sacrifice.

20 July 2008 (Sunday – 2^nd service)

Pastor Prince

FEEDING ON JESUS’ LOVE

Let’s learn to encourage ourselves in the Lord

Pastor’s ministry – not of motivation but an unveiling of Jesus

Famine רעב (Hebrew) – a leader looking at the house

- When the prodigal son was out of his father’s house, he was in the pig pen

- Provisions and abundance are in the house of God

- God supplies all your needs according to His riches in glory

- Isaac sowed in famine and reaped a 100 fold

- Jacob thought “all these things are against me” but his beloved son Joseph was the one in authority

God does not send the famine. But in every famine, God makes use of it. 2 things happen:

i) Unveil the true heart of the people – do they really trust God?

ii) Unveil God’s heart

Joseph told his brothers to come near. The heart of our heavenly Joseph is revealed during famine.

God gives us more than enough during the famine. He is the one who sees us through

Natural facts (temporal) versus eternal truth

- People are more willing to trust a written cheque for one million dollars than God’s Word

- God’s integrity is behind every redemptive truth in the bible

The road to Emmaus (Luke 24) – He restrained their eyes from seeing Him bodily and expounded from the bible things concerning Himself.

Find Christ in the bible – that’s your identity, your inheritance.

Bread – you can eat it.

The word “Emmaus” means “warm baths”

The disciples had warm hearts (“did not our hearts burn within us”) because they saw Jesus in the bible. Warm hearts = health

Feeding the new Adam, not the old man

See Jesus in the bible (not in person). Their bodies were rejuvenated (v33 “and they rose up the same hour and returned to Jersualem”)

Jesus lifts you out of your depression and self-occupation by expounding things concerning Himself.

For you become like the one you see

- Eg Peter was able to walk on water like Jesus as long as he kept his eyes on Him.

We are in the world but not of the world

Rich in every way (you do not want to have lots of money but be a poor man)

The way you feed on Jesus is in finding Him in the bible

Salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2) In Hebrew, “Jesus is Lord”(Yeshua Jehovah) – at the point when he said this, his prayer was answered.

Revelation is transformation

Peace offering – Leviticus 10:14

The breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the heave offering you shall eat in a clean place, you, your sons, and your daughters with you; for they are your due and your sons’ due, which are given from the sacrifices of peace offerings of the children of Israel.

His sinless life qualified Him for His death on our behalf

The peace offering (shelemim) – plural – sacrifices

Shele – comes from the word shalom – peace for spirit, soul, mind and body = sacrifice of peace-s

Offeror lays hand on the offering (ox, lamb) – his sins are transferred; all the “acceptableness” (of the sinless sacrifice) is transferred to the offeror.

The lamb is placed on the altar of burnt offerings. Fire consumes the sacrifice (judgment)

The offeror goes out without sin-consciousness because another is dying in his place. He goes out with the acceptance and perfection of the lamb, and lives with the expectancy of good.

“What does Jesus’ righteousness deserve in this situation?” For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Leviticus 10:14 – it’s your due because you’re a priest

Priest of the bible – must have no blemish.

Today, Jesus qualifies you to become a priest. You don’t become to qualify.

I am a king-priest

Leviticus 7:28-34

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘He who offers the sacrifice of his peace offering to the LORD shall bring his offering to the LORD from the sacrifice of his peace offering. His own hands shall bring the offerings made by fire to the LORD. The fat with the breast he shall bring, that the breast may be waved as a wave offering before the LORD. And the priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be Aaron’s and his sons’. Also the right thigh you shall give to the priest as a heave offering from the sacrifices of your peace offerings. He among the sons of Aaron, who offers the blood of the peace offering and the fat, shall have the right thigh for his part. For the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the heave offering I have taken from the children of Israel, from the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and I have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons from the children of Israel by a statute forever.’”

v 30 “..that the breast may be waved as a wave offering before the LORD.”

- Breast speaks of love

- Your food is to feed on Jesus’ love for you (not your love for Jesus)

John depended on the Lord’s love for him.

Peter boasted of his love for the Lord.

John was the only disciple at the foot of the cross, fit for the Master’s use.

There is all nourishment in the breast of the sacrifice. (Jesus’ love)

God is love. How can there be love where there’s nothing to be loved? Long before all things were created, the Father loved the Son and the Son loved the Father. And the Father gave His Son for us. Jesus gave His life because He loved us and because He loved the Father.

v 30 “.. as a wave offering before the LORD.”

- Jesus finds His nourishment in loving you. He feeds on His love for you.

- Fellowship – sitting at the same table, eating the same food (feeding on Jesus)

v 31 “..the breast shall be Aaron’s and his sons’.” – Jesus has qualified us to be priests. Aaron is the high priest just as today, Jesus is our High Priest.

v 32 “Also the right thigh you shall give to the priest as a heave offering..”

- Thigh – a picture of strength

- Heave – resurrection – raise

- The wave offering and the heave offering (actions), makes a picture of the cross

v 33 “He among the sons of Aaron, who offers the blood of the peace offering and the fat, shall have the right thigh for his part.”

- you’ll first feed on His love then you feed on His power. Power always follow after love

- “Because You love me, Your power shall supply all my needs”

v 33 “He among the sons of Aaron..” – “who offers”

- not all the sons of Aaron, but he who offers

- offers (H7126) in Hebrew means to come near to Jesus

- drawing near is looking to Him, “Because You love me, Your power is on this situation; and protect him” (to pray for our enemies too..)

In the midst of your challenges, He prepares a table. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies ..(Psalm 23:5)

I don’t know what tomorrow holds but I know who holds tomorrow.

Don’t determine God’s love for you by looking at your circumstances. The way you determine God’s love is the cross.

We have a hero, Jesus. And He is no fantasy.

We are designed for the love of Christ. Even at a ‘lower’ level, when you love someone, that person is transformed.

What’s the difference between “kindness” and “loving kindness”, “mercies” and “tender mercies”?

- eg. A little boy falls off his bike. A kind stranger picks him up, a ‘merciful’ stranger brushes the dirt off his pants. Suddenly, a lady pushes through the crowd to her son, hugs him and comforts him. Here is “loving kindness” and “tender mercies”

- it’s not just the action, it’s the heart. And God loves us like that!

The most important thing to do every single day is to feed on His love.

Eg. When you hug your daughter and love her and are reminded that Jesus gave her to you.

Worship is when you love someone/ something and your heart overwhelms with thanksgiving for the One who gave him/ it to you.

You are what you eat J

And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. (Colossians 1:17)

- in Christ, all things are held together (relationships, marriages, business, mind and consciousness)

_________________________________________________________________________________

Leviticus 10:12-13 (Grain offering – next week)

And Moses spoke to Aaron, and to Elemazar and Ithamar, his sons who were left: “Take the grain offering that remains of the offerings made by fire to the LORD, and eat it without leaven beside the altar; for it is most holy. You shall eat it in a holy place, because it is your due and your sons’ due, of the sacrifices made by fire to the LORD; for so I have been commanded.

It is NOT about YOUR willpower

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 07:23:46 GMT

Have reproduced last Sunday's sermon notes, mostly unedited. Went home, typed it up and looked up the biblical references. The choice of versions was mostly my personal preference though Pastor Josh did refer once to Living Translation.

13 July 2008 (Sunday - 3^rd service)

Pastor Joshua

Christianity is not about shunning evil and doing good; it’s about receiving the life of Christ.

When you want to be a better person, you put yourself under the knowledge of good and evil – it’s very subtle. Understand that in your flesh dwells no good thing.

We have a choice everyday – to eat from the knowledge of good and evil or from the tree of life.

Satan’s hangout place is in the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Where are you eating your fruit from?

Romans 7:12 – 8:4 (NLT)

But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good.

But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes.

So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

Romans 8

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

The law is proclaiming that you can’t do it.

When you will to do good, in your strength, you can’t.

When you are angry, you are mentally insane for a few minutes.

2 Corinthians 4:7 (KJV)

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

God can use a cracked vessel. You don’t need to have it altogether before God can use you. His power is made perfect in weakness.

Many times we try to overcome our weakness by doing good. But this approach is wrong, it should be by His life. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NLT))

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

When you acknowledge you are weak in yourself, “for when I am weak, then He is strong” (God’s power shows up best when you are weak and not full of yourself)

When you see flesh, don’t react with flesh (or you’ll get more flesh)

See people as “under construction” Main contractor -God; Subcontractor – Holy Spirit

We are also “under construction”

Hebrews 10:15-23 (NKJV)

But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,
“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.3 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

The “help” is not in knowing. It’s not in knowing you’re forgiven.. (this is head knowledge); it’s about going to Jesus. From Him will come your strength and life.

Boldness to enter into His presence

Even the most demon possessed man (ref “Legion”) had a will. Use your will to run to Jesus. (You cannot overcome sin by your will - ref Romans 7 above)

God is the one who increases strength in us.

Quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. (the reverse is also true: quick to anger, quick to speak, slow to hear)

The choice is not the things we do with our good intentions, it is to choose Jesus.

Eg. When we are angry, it is not in counting to 10, it is in going to Him, “Jesus, You are my patience”

Let Your Heart Be Established by Grace

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:37:49 GMT

My devotion for the day. Be blessed :)

Let Your Heart Be Established By Grace

Hebrews 13:9
9… it is good that the heart be established by grace…

God does not want your heart full of worries and fears, tossed and turned by every challenge that comes your way. He wants your heart at rest and established by His grace towards you.

But when you think that the breakthroughs to your challenges depend on your ability to obey God, then your heart will never be at rest. It will be full of worries and anxieties. Why? Because you can never obey God perfectly.

But when you depend on God’s grace, that is, His undeserved, unmerited favour, the opposite happens — your heart becomes established. When you know that the only thing that qualifies you to receive God’s blessings is faith in the finished work of Christ, your heart becomes established. Then, you will walk without fear of your troubles swallowing you up. You will walk with full assurance that His blessings will be manifested in your life.

My friend, God wants your heart established, knowing that His righteousness, healing, protection and prosperity are yours — all paid for by Jesus’ finished work at the cross. God’s blessings are sure in your life because they are not dependent on your ability to keep His laws.

You see, under the old covenant, you receive God’s blessings only if you keep all His laws. (Deuteronomy 28:1–2) If you sin and fail to keep even one law, you are disqualified from receiving His blessings. But today, under the new covenant, your sins no longer disqualify you because God Himself has said, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 8:12)

So let your heart be established by God’s grace. Because of His grace, you have full access to His blessings. You no longer have to worry about whether you are good enough. You can stand firm on the promises made in His Word and enjoy His blessings today because Jesus has paid the price. Your part is only to believe and receive!

© Copyright Joseph Prince, 2006. All rights reserved.

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Are you responding like an athetist?

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:15:25 GMT

We were blessed with Terry Mize as our guest speaker in our church yesterday. 3 points in the message that got me thinking. Terry Mize was preaching on the multiplication of the loaves and fishes.

Matthew 16:13-17

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"

They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"

(God isn't interested about who other people say He is. He is more interested in how we see Him. Because His power in our lives rest on how we see Him. If we see Him as our healer, He is our healer. When we see Him as provider, El-Shaddai, the all abundant One, He is able to the abundant blessings in our lives. When we see Him as our righteousness,then He is that to us. Our perception of God determines our response and the manifestation of His power in our lives.)

Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

John 6:5-9

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, hesaid to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

Jesus has been telling people about God, about Himself, the Son of God. And He asked Philip this question and Philip's response was a very natural one - he checked the money bag.

When God asks you to do something, do you check your bag or do you look to God?

Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"

Terry Mize made an interesting and (tome), a painful observation. He said that if Jesus had asked anathetist, how should we feed these people? Well, the athetist would reasonably reply, "it depends on how much you've got to pay for the food."

It is reasonable response from an athetist. But for a disciple of Jesus to respond the same way...

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"

1. Don't look into the bag!

Encouraging for me. My pastors included a stutterer, a bankrupt and analmost school dropout. I ran away from the calling on my life 'cos I thought I sucked at what I did. The thing about God is He wants us to take that step of faith and believe Him rather than our own eyes. Rely on Him rather than our own talents. Depend on Him rather than on wha twe have.

2. Who do you say I am?

I've seen God as Abba, Jesus as my friend and Beloved. I've confessed that He is my righteousness. I've taken the Holy Communion and remembered the finished work on the cross; that He is my healer.

But He is EVERYTHING isn't He? (To live IS Christ!) God introduced Himself to Moses as I AM. Basically, that's like a blank cheque. I AM your Healer, Provider, Teacher, Friend, Father, Spouse, Righteousness, Wisdom, Redemption, Sanctification, Sacrifice.. Reminds me of Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us

3. Are you responding like an athetist?

Man, that was THE question to ask. To me, it struck a chord. What'sthe main difference between a believer and an athetist? It's that Ihave accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. So am I behaving like I am orphaned?

I recall the song "We exult thee We exult thee We exult thee O Lord"and Pastor telling us, "We don't have to make God big, He's very big already. It is about us making Him big in our lives." So this song to me, is an invitation, a plea...Lord I exult You in my life. Be lifted in my life. I see You in my Life. You are in my life. O Lord, be magnified in my life.

We are children of the most High, beloved of the Lord, whom God has chosen... He has created us, fearfully and wonderfully and when He wentto the cross, He saw me and counted it as joy.. my name is inscribed inthe palm of His hands...

When Terry Mize posed that question, in light of all I know about whatJesus has done for me, it left a bitter taste in my mouth. It was as if I've slapped the hand that stoop to help me and behaved like a beggar child throwing a pity party when God gave everything for me.

But you know what, even when I blame myself and my 'weakness', myFather does not respond like me. When I am faithless, He remains faithful. He comes down to my level and comfort me. Like a wailing child that cannot see reason, He may be exasperated but is infinitely patient with me. Love's like that. Takes your nonsense and still remains.

Love you Jesus. :)

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Sun, 25 May 2008 16:00:36 GMT

Today was more of bible study where Pastor showed us the difference between the old and new testament in context. To prove 2 points:-

1. There is no such thing as generational curses for the believer today.
2. There is no such thing as sowing to sin.

I shall write the points in bold with the biblical text supporting the points

The generational curse (v29) is not applicable under the new covenant

Jeremiah 31:29-31

In those days they shall say no more:

      ‘ The fathers have eaten sour grapes,
      And the children’s teeth are set on edge.’

But every one shall die for his own iniquity; every man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.
"Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—"

Sins used to be visited to the 3rd and 4th generation under the old covenant, however, the cross of Jesus changed all that

Hebrews 10:17-18

then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

The redemption work included generational curses

John 19:28-30

Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Why was Jesus given sour wine to drink? There are no insignificant details in the bible. This was in reference to Jeremiah 31 above "the fathers have eaten sour grapes"

i. You will reap more than you sow. ii. The old covenant includes sowing to the negative

Hosea 8:7

They sow the wind,
      And reap the whirlwind.
      The stalk has no bud;
      It shall never produce meal.
      If it should produce,
      Aliens would swallow it up.

Sowing in the new covenant was made in the context of giving (common points underlined)

Galatians 6:6-10

Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

1 Timothy 6:17-19

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Pastor made an interesting point here. It's not "that they may have eternal life" but "they may lay hold on eternal life" You must already have eternal life in order to "lay hold" of it. It's not only having it, it's seeing the manifestation of it! It's renewing of youth, God's strength; it's revealing the zoe life within us

The seed is also the Word

Mark 4:13-14

And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word.

Pastor ended the sermon with the finished work

Isaiah 53:4-6

Surely He has borne our griefs
      And carried our sorrows;
      Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
      Smitten by God, and afflicted.
       But He was wounded for our transgressions,
      He was bruised for our iniquities;
      The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
      And by His stripes we are healed.
       All we like sheep have gone astray;
      We have turned, every one, to his own way;
      And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all

Is it difficult to hear God's voice?

Mon, 19 May 2008 15:18:35 GMT

You're faced with a decision and you don't know what to do. You prayed. But the skies have not opened, and God's voice is not heard. You keep very quiet. Nope, no still silent voice either. So you made your decision and hoped for the best.

Few weeks, months, years later, you realised things did not turn out as you hoped, expected, desired. And you think to yourself, "I must have missed God then. If only I had..."

What does the bible say about hearing God's voice?

The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice... My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:3,4,27)

Two interesting observations:-

i) We determine whether we heard God's voice by the results of our actions. It is an indication, not that we did not hear Him, but that we have not obeyed. He speaks though the Word, in the service, through Godly counsel. And you'll know that it is Him speaking to you because when it is an external voice regardless of source, your spirit, which is one with the Holy Spirit, will bear witness.

ii) Sometimes, God lets us choose. Challenges does not mean that we are out of God's will but an opportunity to rely on Him.

Regardless, "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28)

I liked an illustration that Philip Yancey used in his book of an amateur playing chess against an expert. The amateur can make any moves that he wants. He has free choice. Yet the result is already determined from the start. The expert will win regardless of the choices that amateur makes during the game.

Our relationship with God is very much like that. Aren't you glad that God is in control and that He is for you?