Before I started running today, it was drizzling slightly.

The moment I finished running the outdoor portion, the moment i stepped into the sheltered pathway immediately came the heavy downpour.

God's fragrance is sweet!

Hahaha!

My mum came and ask me what's that sweet fragrance that was coming out from the kitchen last night when she was sleeping.

Then I asked her to come to my computer and smell if its the same fragrance.

Now God's sweet fragrance is all over my house!

I thank God for giving me opportunities to share His life-changing touch in my life with Seth and Serene. Indeed what He has given and provided me with is sufficiently abundantly overflowing! Praise God!

Breakthrough at home

There was a breakthrough at home when my parents commented that I've changed.

A few issues was raised:

Dad asking me if I've made any promises to God. Their idea is for me to quietly meditate, achieve enlightenment and not go around asking people for theology and create trouble by upsetting people.

Next is tithing. They told me that it's wrong for me to tithe even when we're financially tight and the person who'll receive the blessing is my uncle and not the tither.

Bao rong xin, love and accept everyone's beliefs and don't go around spreading the gospel.

Lastly, all religion comes from the same God, so everything is the same from their point of view.

The sweet fragrance of the Lord was present during CKRM sunday prayer session.

Wisdom and Peace

Luke 24:25-32

25He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26Did not the Christ^[b] have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

28As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.

30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

So the disciples did not recognize Jesus. They had listened to Him all the way about the scriptures when they traveled, yet still at this point, even as Jesus explained they still did not recognize Him. Only after when he broke the bread, gave it to them, then their minds were opened.

1) Something was being transferred from Jesus to the disciples in that action of breaking bread, giving thanks and giving it to them. His wisdom and knowledge was being transferred to them, and on their part they receive it as a revelation.

2) Reliance on God for His wisdom because on our own we will not be able to understand.

Christ by his Spirit works on the minds of men. Even good men need to have their understandings opened.


Luke 24:36-38

36While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." 37They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?

God's spirit is peace. Many troublesome thoughts which disquiet our minds, rise from mistakes concerning Christ. All the troublesome thoughts which rise in our hearts at any time, are known to the Lord Jesus, and are displeasing to him.

True service

Luke 23

Jesus' Burial

50Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body. 53Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

55The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

Many, though they do not make any show in outward profession, yet, like Joseph of Arimathea, will be far more ready to do real service, when there is occasion, than others who make a greater noise. Christ was buried in haste, because the sabbath drew on. Weeping must not hinder sowing. Though they were in tears for the death of their Lord, yet they must prepare to keep holy the sabbath. When the sabbath draws on, there must be preparation. Our worldly affairs must be so ordered, that they may not hinder us from our sabbath work; and our holy affections so stirred up, that they may carry us on in it. In whatever business we engage, or however our hearts may be affected, let us never fail to get ready for, and to keep holy, the day of sacred rest, which is the Lord's day.

Humility

The dictionary of humility means the quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance, rank, etc.

Luke 23

39One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"

40But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."

42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.^[f]"

43Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

He reproved the other for railing on Christ. He owned that he deserved what was done to him. He believed Jesus to have suffered wrongfully. Observe his faith in this prayer. Christ was in the depth of disgrace, suffering as a deceiver, and not delivered by his Father. He made this profession before the wonders were displayed which put honour on Christ's sufferings, and startled the centurion. He believed in a life to come, and desired to be happy in that life; not like the other thief, to be only saved from the cross. Observe his humility in this prayer. All his request is, Lord, remember me; quite referring it to Jesus in what way to remember him. Thus he was humbled in true repentance, and he brought forth all the fruits for repentance his circumstances would admit.

Christ upon the cross, is gracious like Christ upon the throne. Though he was in the greatest struggle and agony, yet he had pity for a poor penitent. By this act of grace we are to understand that Jesus Christ died to open the kingdom of heaven to all penitent, obedient believers. It is a single instance in Scripture; it should teach us to despair of none, and that none should despair of themselves; but lest it should be abused, it is contrasted with the awful state of the other thief, who died hardened in unbelief, though a crucified Saviour was so near him. Be sure that in general men die as they live.

In order words the thief's humility was matching his reality of sin and accepting that he had done wrong, while choosing to give up his ways and then having placed his trust in Christ, he then set his eyes on the next life with hope.

Lord,

I understand now, it is not how much I do, but whether I have done it in a way which pleases you. Your requirement is for me to say no when necessary just so that I can do what You have required me to accomplish. Your requirement is for me to eat the right diet and be in good health. To spend time with family and friends and to be a good testimony for You. I see your beauty now Lord, I know that I do not deserve Your mercy and hence I weep in repentance for You have been so kind and generous towards me.

The God I know righteous and holy.
The God I know faithful and true.
The God I know His heart beats within me.
As you are, so are we.

Mat 7

Do not judge other people's ministry or church. They are there for a specific purpose.
If you pray for something, God will give that thing, He won't give you other things.
Work through your salvation. It is not automatic.
Every area not submitted to God will be exposed in days of testing. Know God is not enough, must do His will then will be saved. Only those who built themselves on God can withstand till the end.

In gratitude shall we live each day.

The blood of the people cries out from the earth.

Do you hear them Lord?

Will You have mercy on those whom You have created?

For you know of their cries and their pain and for every blow they took, You took it for them.

I plea for Your hand of compassion to be upon them.

You need both Word and Works

Word and Works go hand in hand.

Do you understand what this means?

John 5: 19

Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.

Character building is such that we can never be good on our own.

That's when God says, "Draw near to Him."

The meaning of draw near is not just to sit near or beside God. What He is saying is that we go up to Him and ask Him,"God what are you doing? How can I be a part of it?"

How does this work in terms of character building and being good?

Because when we draw near to Him, His goodness is so overwhelming, that whoever participates in what God is doing, effectively that leaves us no time for sin!


Word alone is nothing as it is only knowledge.

Works alone can get no where without the empowerment of God.


You need to understand what God is doing, the kind of character He has through the word then when you start participating in it, you become a channel of His work!

The Authority of Jesus Questioned

Luke 20

The Authority of Jesus Questioned

1One day as he was teaching the people in the temple courts and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. 2"Tell us by what authority you are doing these things," they said. "Who gave you this authority?"

3He replied, "I will also ask you a question. Tell me, 4John's baptism—was it from heaven, or from men?"

5They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Why didn't you believe him?' 6But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet."

7So they answered, "We don't know where it was from."

8Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

The Pharisees' question about Jesus' religious authority is in many ways a natural one. He has had no official training. He comes from Galilee, an area not known for its religious instruction or anything else of stature (Jn 7:52). He has never sat under a rabbi. Where does his authority come from? How can he justify the things he has been doing? This is really a fundamental question for the entire Gospel (4:32, 36; 5:24; 9:1; 10:19). It also opens a series of five controversies in 20:1-44. In these disputes the answer to the Pharisees' question becomes obvious, even though no direct reply is offered here. Though an answer is not forthcoming from Jesus, anyone who has followed Luke's story up to this point knows the reply, which is why Jesus' analogy with John the Baptist is so powerful. By whose authority does Jesus do these things? He responds, By the same authority John the Baptist possessed.

This controversy arises as Jesus is teaching in the temple, something he is doing daily (19:47). The fact that Jesus is teaching the gospel shows that his message has never changed. But the leadership wants to know the basis for Jesus' actions. Whether it is his teaching or his cleansing of the temple, where did he get the right to do such things? In Greek the question puts by what authority (en poia exousia) in the emphatic position, at the front of the question. In the questioners' view the leadership represents God's will and has the right to teach it. Where does Jesus get the right to challenge their teaching?

In good Jewish and Hellenistic fashion, Jesus answers the query with one of his own. This style of disputation was popular in the ancient world. It was designed to show who could ask the wiser question and expose weaknesses in the opponent. Such an approach also produced reflection about the proper approach to a problem. Jesus' question is a simple one: "John's baptism--was it from heaven, or from men?" The question is both obvious and subtle. By dealing with a public action, he has excluded a war of words merely over public claims, titles or credentials. There will be no appeal to derived authority by means of lineage or mere assertion. Did John give evidence that God stood behind his deeds? Only two options exist: either he did or he did not. The subtlety in the question lies not only in its appeal to concrete events but also in the popular consensus that has developed. The multitudes know the answer to this question: John came from God. God's presence manifested itself clearly in his ministry. Rejection of that conclusion can only reflect blindness.

So the leadership is in a dilemma, since they had not responded to John. They caucus to determine an answer. Either way of replying would leave them exposed. If they acknowledged divine authority, they would be hurting on two counts. First, they would raise the question why they had not embraced John. Second, they would concede a major point to Jesus: that one need not come from the Jerusalem school of rabbinic studies in order to teach the way of God.

If it pleases You my Lord, have the whole world, with all its past, present and future.

To trust God means to rest in him and his way. To pursue such a path is not works, but relationship with God. The entry into grace and relationship saves; the path and pursuit of righteousness follow.

To know your calling

I recall the example from Kathy Walter's ministry.

She gave the example of a missionary brought up in a missionary home who in fact his purpose was to be a business person and earn money for God. But because he wasn't in the right environment, he was not aware of his calling until he entered into business.

The other example she gave was this lady whose dream was to take care of other people's cats. So she was aware of her calling since God had planted the desire into her heart.

Intimacy with God (John Bevere)

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 (New International Version)

11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

Gold, Silver, Costly stones (Precious gems) when revealed with fire, it will purify.

Wood, hay, straw when revealed with fire, it will burn.

Hence a man can be saved, but it is up to his choice to enter into God's purpose for him.

To know your calling

1) Seek God earnestly using faith

Hebrews 11:6 (New International Version)

6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Proverbs 20:5 (New International Version)

5 The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters,
but a man of understanding draws them out.

2) Being planted in a local church - a man will lose his own vision and gain the vision of the house

Psalm 92:13 (New International Version)

13 planted in the house of the LORD,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.

3) Not being entangled.

Luke 17:11-17 Ten Healed of Leprosy

The lessons of the healing follow. There are several points:

(1) God's mercy should yield thanksgiving.
(2) God works through Jesus (v. 15).
(3) Getting close to God is a matter of trusting him. One who seems far away can really be near.
(4) The outsider, the foreigner (allogenes), is the most sensitive to Jesus. Those who respond to God may not be the ones we expect to respond.
(5) God's blessing can be appreciated or under-appreciated.

Seems far, is it prescribing to man's standing before God as how God would view, or prescribing to man's standing before God as how man would view?

Why is the outsider the person who is most sensitive to Jesus?

My days are laid before You and the Lord will make my path straight.

Jesus had an occupation

The point is Jesus had an occupation. He is a carpenter.

What do I have in my life to put forth a good testimony of God's invisible hands working in my life to unbelievers?

No amount of anointing can buy me a closer relationship with God.

I am hungry for His Word and I want to understand why He said certain things and what His reasons were, how should it be interpreted and applied.

What is the seed which you have planted in my heart Lord?

Dear God,

I thank you for giving me this brand new perspective towards life. After you have unveiled years of desperation, rage, bitterness did I manage to see things as it is. You've captured my heart's fascination and through its most intimate thoughts You spoke life into it. Just like how You've spoken through the history of mankind. I am a bystander watching in awe how You've raised people up to reshape our history and revolutionized our thinking. This is your beauty God. Only You are capable of such magnificent work.

There are 4 types of soil

1) Wayside means "Hodos" in Hebrew

It is representative of life's journey.

The Word of God may be sowed upon one's lifetime journey from childhood, teen, young adult, middle age, senior.

But it doesn't mean it will take root and grow immediately.

When people hear the Word of God, it must pass through their understanding, which is judgement.

Our judgement is then based on one's life experiences as well as the people who come into contact with us.

Only when God's Word starts to penetrate and take root in our lives then we'll experience that life changing transformation.

I'm only at the starting of my journey and I marvel at God's invisible hand in my life. He made me see the beauty in things, how ties can be reconciled.

In the end it's just between You and me

Dear God,

How was your week? I had it pretty rough, some ups and downs as usual. I know that you're there even though I can't sense you around at times. You're there in the rising sun. You're there in the midday rain. You're there in the plants. You're just there silently, watching.

I don't need to put up a mask of pretense in front of You because You already know how I feel. What is the point of putting up a smiley face just for the sake of smiling? If You being as God, who had created me cannot accept the person that I really am then what is the point of my existence?

You gave me strength in my weakness.
You gave me life through my deaths.
You showed me love though I had none.
For my sake Your blood was spilled.

I honor You as my God despite circumstances.
In my vulnerabilities I give You praise.
For You alone are worthy.
You created the world and gave it life.