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.