Mar
07
2010

Sermon: “Expand the Spiritual Family” – 7th March 2010

Sermon: “Expand the Spiritual Family” – 7th March 2010

 

 

Matthew 28:19-20… Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

  • Every February is “giving birth” time for RLM Fellowship. Last week the RLM Spiritual Family welcomed 4 new Family Members into our Spiritual Family. It was indeed such a glorious Sunday. Praise Jesus! Since the birth of RLM Fellowship (Church) in 2006 – Jesus has never failed to multiple our Spiritual Family EVERY February.

 

  • Acts 1:8… Becoming a Christian and belonging to church is JUST the beginning of our Spiritual Life. During Jesus’ life on this earth – Jesus set an example of what it means to be God’s witness on a daily basis – which is to share the Christful Truths to the people that God puts into the world around us.

 

  • Jesus went forth to;
    • Luke 5:1… Preach to the Congregation (multitude)
    • Matthew 20:17-19… Shepherd the Sheep (a group of 12)
    • Mark 9:2… Befriend the Befriendee (one to one / very small group)

 

  • Luke 10:1-3… Whether it is preaching to the Congregation, Shepherding the Sheep or Befriending the Befriendee – the goal of all three is to be sent out by Jesus and for Jesus! Some Christians are better in Preaching, some are better in Shepherding and some are better in Befriending. YET just the same… all have been sent out. Every real Christian will be sent out to make disciples! Jesus preached, shepherd and befriended the people in His world.

 

  • 2 Peter 3:9… Jesus died for EVERYONE. Yet each one needs to hear the Gospel, repent of their sins and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. But unless real Christians make a decision to preach, shepherd and befriend the people in their world no one is going to hear the Gospel, repent of their sins and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior

 

  • John 17:20… One of the PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY of the Preacher, the Shepherd and the Befriender is to pray for the people. When reaching out to the people – there will be moments of concern, frustration, anger and sadness – but the thing to do in times like this PRAY PRAY PRAY!

 

  •   In Jesus’ ministry as a Preacher, a Shepherd and even a Befriender – Jesus was;
    • Mark 15:12-13… Hated by the Congregation
    • Mark 14:10… Betrayed by His Sheep
    • Luke 22:34… Denied by His Befriendee

 

  • Matthew 10:38… If Jesus was hated, betrayed and denied while making disciples – who are we to expect less? After all Jesus had already warn us that His real servants, will carry the cross.

 

 

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Mar
02
2010

The Grace of Jesus – what it means to me…..

I was sitting in my bedroom one solitary night, thinking and meditating on the truth of God’s Grace and how He can demonstrate this same Grace to others through me. In other words, how am I to be gracious to others just like Jesus is? This was when Jesus revealed to me how His Grace works in the lives of many – yours and mine.

Why is it that some of us take such a long time to overcome the issues of life? This question and others following will be answered as you read along. The truth Jesus revealed to me is astounding in the sense that it’ll hopefully make us understand how He operates in our lives. However, His revelation to me may not go down well with some of us. Whatever He reveals to each one of us can be different because there are many sides to His Grace & my revelation is just one of them.

Have you noticed how we can be so controlled in one area of our lives and not so in other areas? Think of some areas of concern that you have right now and compare it to an area of your life that you won’t even give a second thought. For example, someone has a struggle with jealousy but that same person does not even have to crack their head over drug abuse because it has never been an issue. Why? On the other hand, someone has a struggle with jealousy but that same person also has a struggle over drug abuse yet one struggle is more complicated than the other. Again….why?

When we’re able to answer the above questions, we’ll see Jesus’ Grace in those situations. Jesus is very gracious in that, if you notice, He does not let us handle too many issues all at one shot. He gives us time to handle them one at a time, day to day. Once we have mastered one area of our lives, then we have the added strength and knowledge to tackle other areas. If Jesus were to let us overcome our issues all at once which He is perfectly capable of doing, we will suffer burnout because we’re humans. Out of His concern and boundless love for us, He will not let us go through it all at one go.

Yet, there are those who do try to deal with all their issues at one go in their own strength. This is when they have nervous and mental breakdowns – something which Jesus never intended. Yet, they can reach a turning point in their lives once they refocus their lives on Jesus again.

This is why some of us who struggle with issues of jealousy, pride, anger, envy & a whole host of other sins seem to take a longer time to get over them because Jesus is dealing with other issues first in our lives. Jesus chooses which issue is His priority in that person’s life based on that person’s character & personality.

It is also dependent on that person’s responsiveness to Jesus’ dealing in their lives. If they do not succeed in a certain struggle of their life, Jesus will focus His attention on another area that they can handle with His strength. Then, He will go back to deal with that struggle again. Here we see how Jesus honours the choices we make. He respects us that much despite our backgrounds.

Are you beginning to see His Grace in action? Can you see why He is able to be so patient with us and we are not? He understands the human heart and not just any heart – it’s yours and mine. Only, He knows what goes on in our hearts and minds. Doesn’t it make sense for us then not to judge others? Yet we still do. Why? The devil is around, prowling around like a lion and he always uses the tactic of comparing our lives with those of others and when we see something we don’t have a struggle with but the other person has it, human nature says: “Don’t be patient with that person. He/she is so much worse off than you. Do all you can to change that person.” This is where humility from Jesus needs to be in us so that we know how to deal with such situations.

Certain situations that have people really struggling with issues and you notice they’re not doing anything about them calls for rebuke (the righteous kind) that gets them going full steam ahead to make changes themselves. Such rebuke is possible only if it’s wisdom from Jesus. Again the devil is around and he transmits thoughts like radio waves into our minds to give the wrong type of rebuke.

It only makes sense to learn from Jesus by putting Him first in our lives. Even that is a struggle for some of us. Yet, because of how His Grace works, it also makes sense why we need not crack our heads if we don’t meet His requirements because He knows that in the ‘next round’, He has faith that we’ll succeed.

With GRACE, everything ties in nicely – strength, knowledge, concern, love, character, honour, respect, patience, humility, wisdom & faith (as mentioned in bold above) – qualities of the Christian life, all emanating from Jesus Himself.

I then asked Him how do I deal with someone who I love very much without condemning them. He revealed it in His Name –

                                                         J udge not

                                                         E mbrace him/her

                                                         S urrender the situation to Jesus

                                                         U nderstand the person you’re dealing with

                                                         S ay sorry when necessary

Is it easy to do the above? No. Yet, it’s possible because nothing is impossible with Jesus. If someone I love has wronged me or done something I disapprove of, the first thing to do is not to judge but to embrace him/her. At the next available moment when I’m alone, I should immediately surrender the situation to Jesus before the devil can take a foothold. Once that is done, Jesus helps me to understand the person I’m dealing with and when necessary, I should say sorry without expecting an apology from the other person. Yet, if Jesus is given first priority here, it’s definite that He will stir the heart of the one whom you love to say sorry, too, when necessary and it may not be on the same day but it does not matter. Jesus knows best.

Finally, to sum it all up, Jesus gave me this conviction – if we make the effort to spend time with Him, He promises to reveal more and more truth. Hallelujah!

3
Mar
01
2010

Sermon: “My Spiritual Family” – 28th Feb 2010

Sermon: “My Spiritual Family” – 28th Feb 2010

 

Mark 3:34-35… Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

  • Jesus revealed the truth about Spiritual Family during His life on this earth. He called the Christians in His life – His Family! Jesus has His own “Immediate” Spiritual Family – the small group that He often sat in a circle to fellowship together, eat together, pray together, sleep together and live together.

 

  • Acts 16:15… The moment we get baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, we become a member of the Christian Spiritual Family. Every other real Christian is part of our Spiritual Family. Yet today in our generation – we have drifted so far from this biblical truth – a lifestyle of having and living with our Spiritual Family. No Christian is a solo Christian. That is NOT Jesus’ intention for us.

 

  • 1 Corinthians 12:12… The Body of Christ is ONE family. The bible calls us sons and daughters of God!
    1. Every real Christian (those who believe in Jesus and Jesus alone as their God) on this planet becomes is our Spiritual Relative.
    2. Every Christian in our own Homechurch (the church that we belong to) is Spiritual Extended Family member.
    3. Every Christian in our Care Group is our Spiritual Immediate Family member. Like the group of people that Jesus often sat in a circle to fellowship together, eat together, pray together, sleep together and live together.

 

  • 1 Corinthians 1:14-15… Real Christians are baptized in the name of Jesus. Does not matter which pastor baptizes us  or which church we are baptize under – the real Christian is baptize in no other name but the name of Jesus. In other words everyone in the Spiritual Family which includes our Spiritual Relatives, our Spiritual Extended Family members and our Spiritual Immediate Family members have the same “surname” which is CHRIST. Jesus is known as Jesus “Christ”. And Believers of Jesus are known as “Christians”. Each time we proclaim “I am a Christian” – we are actually proclaiming – “I am a child of Christ”. This is a very significant proclamation to our physical and spiritual world. In other words – I am no longer Edmund Lawrence Smith – instead I am Edmund son of Christ!

 

  • 1 Corinthians 3:1-2… The moment we repent of our sins and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior – we get Born Again and become Spiritual Infants (babies). A 70 year old man could be a Spiritual Infant in the Kingdom of God YET a 17 year old young man could be a Spiritual Adult. Spiritual Maturity is not based on our age or the experienced we have had in life. A Spiritual Mother can be younger in age than her Spiritual Son.

 

  • 1 Peter 2:17… Honor all people, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king.
2
Feb
21
2010

Sermon: “Expect & Hope” – 21st Feb 2010

Tags: , ,

Sermon: “Expect & Hope” – 21st Feb 2010

 

1 John 5:14…This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

 

  • I learned a lesson that Jesus taught me a long time ago – which is to understand the difference between “expect” and “hope” and how to apply them accordingly in my life. Jesus taught me this POWERFUL lesson of “expect” and “hope” that has benefited me so much in my…
  1. 1.       Friendships and relationships with people
  2. 2.       Desires

 

  • Expect = where the word “expecting (pregnancy)” comes from.  It WILL / MUST happen. Every pregnant woman is SURE that there is a baby inside of her and is also SURE that the baby will come out in due time. There’s no “maybe”! Examples of “expect”;
    • I expect him to remember my birthday. If he doesn’t …
    • I expect her to pay me by Monday. If she doesn’t …
    • I expect you to spend time with me everyday. If you don’t …
    • I expect my husband to give me all the money. If he doesn’t …

 

  • Hope = desire – it MIGHT happen. “Maybe”! Examples of “hope”;
    • I hope I will get that job.
    • I hope he will understand my feelings for him.
    • I hope it won’t rain tomorrow.
    • I hope everything will go on well with your marriage.

 

  • Applying “Hope” in friendships and relationships.
    • We live in an imperfect world filled with imperfect people around us (including ourselves).
    • The human heart often breaks and we end up hurt, disappointed and discourage WHEN we EXPECT someone to pay attention but she doesn’t, to share but he doesn’t, to be truthful but he is not, to be faithful but he is not, to understand but he doesn’t, to love but she doesn’t, to trust but he doesn’t, to listen but she doesn’t.
    • Instead of EXPECTING – the better thing to do when it comes to our friendships and relationships is to just HOPE in that someone. Hope that he will pay attention, share, be truthful, be faithful, understand, love, trust and listen. When we hope, we give that person a freedom of choice. But on the other hand, when we EXPECT – there’s no choice given!

 

  • Proverbs 10:24… Applying “Expect” in Jesus. As long as our desires are Christful (according to God’s will) – we can and should EXPECT Jesus to grant them!

 

  • Romans 5:5… In Jesus – we can be confident and have Christful expectations. Jesus wants us to have a confident expectation because as God’s children, Jesus highly favors us.

 

  • Colossians 1:27… Jesus “the hope of glory” is in us. With that – we can expect the glory of God to shine into every area of our lives – our Family Life, Work Life, Ministry, Health and Finances!

 

  • Matthew 7:7… We have been hurt, disappointed and discourage because of our expectations in our family, friends and others. But the bible tells us that there our expectations in God – does not disappoint! Jesus promised us that as God’s children – when we ask He WILL give us. When we seek, we WILL find. When we knock, the door WILL be opened.

 

  • Philippians 4:6… We must believe and mediate that Jesus loves us so much and Jesus wants to give us the best! When we present our desires to Jesus – we are to THANK Jesus (even before we see our desires come to past). Because we know and believe that it has also been given to us and we can EXPECT it to enter into our lives! When we believe and meditate that Jesus loves us, we will have a positive expectation of good things. We will have expectations that does not disappoint!
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Feb
16
2010

Sermon: The curse of the “Sweat of the Brow” – 14th Feb 2010

Sermon: The curse of the “Sweat of the Brow” – 14th Feb 2010

 

Proverbs 13:21… Misfortune pursues the sinner, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.

  • Chinese New Year is a time when “Good Luck and Prosperity” is of the primary focus! Everyone wants to prosper or at least be stable financially. Yet each one has his own formula;
    • Some believe in Luck  / Feng Shui
    • Some even believe in Cheating & Lying
    • Most people believe in Working Hard
  • Many people work hard in this generation. Yet if working hard is the formula for financial prosperity, then everyone who works hard SHOULD be financial prosperous! But that is definitely not the case. Many people who work very hard are still very poor!
  • Proverbs 10:4… The bible clearly says that God is against laziness and every Real Christian should repent from laziness. Yet – the truth is that working hard is not how we experience Jesus’ financial prosperity in the Kingdom of God. A Christian, who works overtime all the time and is stressed out, is a Christian who has not been set free from a curse that Jesus has broken 2000 years ago.
  • Genesis 3:17-19… Work is not a curse because God blessed Adam with work before the curse came. Adam was given the work of taking care of the Garden of Eden before the curse came. But after Adam sinned, the cursed entered Adam’s Work Life. Adam experienced what I call – the cures of the “Sweat of the Brow”.
    • Antecedent: The Curse of the Sweat of the Brow
    • Behavior: Working Hard yet producing little
    • Consequences: Experiencing stress, struggle and anxieties in Work Life
  • John 19:2… Working hard and yet producing little is a sad thing and that is not God’s plan for us. Praise Jesus – he took the crown of thorns and his brow was pierced. When Jesus did that – Jesus declared that He has taken the curse of the “Sweat of the Brow” for us and redeemed us from the curse. Jesus wore the crown of thorns so that our Work Life can be stress-free and we can have great results. We don’t have to worry and be stressed out day and night like the people of the world so to experience financial prosperity.  Jesus can get you there without the worries and stress.
  • Matthew 6:31–33… Every curse that was supposed to fall on our head fell on Jesus’ head, through the piecing of the crown of thorns about 2000 years ago. Jesus wore the crown of thorns for us so that we can have peace of mind. Jesus wore the crown of thorns for us and took the curse of the Sweat of Brow so that we can wear the crown of glory and take His righteousness, and all the benefits being the righteousness of God!
  • Matthew 11:30… The children of God are not called to Work Hard like the people of the world. Instead we are called to work Christfully! We are to believe and meditate that the curse of the Sweat of Brow has been broken and we the children of God can expect to see the blessings of Jesus come into our lives without blood, sweat and tears because Jesus wore the crown of thorns for us!
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Feb
07
2010

Sermon: “Thought, Word & Deed”- 7th Feb 2010

Sermon: “Thought, Word & Deed”- 7th Feb 2010

Jeremiah 31:3…The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”

  • God loves us with an everlasting love! God’s love for us is perfect and complete.

 

  • John 13:8…People find it so easy to believe and meditate that God wants us to love Him. But not many have come to the place believing and meditating that God desires a relationship with us and wants to love us. Peter could not imagine Jesus washing his feet. But Jesus told Peter, if Jesus doesn’t wash his feet, Peter has no relationship with Jesus. Jesus was saying if Peter did not allow Jesus to love him – Peter cannot flow together with Jesus.

 

  • Ephesians 5:25–26… The bible tells us that Jesus loves us and gave Himself for us, so that He might cleanse us with the washing of water through the Word. We are cleansed with the washing of water through the Word. The more we hear God’s Word, the more the cleansing of our lives goes on!

 

  • There is a “Love Triangle” going on in the Kingdom of God which is;
    1. God loves me
    2. I love God
    3. I love others

 

  • 1 John 4:19As always – in everything, it has to begin with God. Unless we FIRST have the love of God in our lives – we can never love God or love anyone with Christful Love.

 

  • The “Love Triangle” in the Kingdom of God;
  1. John 3:16… Jesus loves me – Jesus gave up HIS ALL to express His love for us!
  2. Mark 12:30… I love Jesus – Loving Jesus with my all. Loving Jesus above all else!
  3. Mark 12:31… I love others - Loving our neighbors as we love ourselves. Loving others in thoughts , words and deeds (Complete)

 

  • Luke 10:29-37… Who is our neighbor? Anyone that Jesus puts into our lives that need our love! And loving them completely (in thought, word and deed);
    • Some only love in thoughts  (thinking of the one they love / loving in the heart)
    • Some love in words = always saying “I love you”
    • Some love in deeds = always doing things / giving things  to show love

 

  • Isaiah 44:24… God wants us to love others because He created each one of them. If God truly created the people around us and even died for each one of them, it sure means that every human being around us is precious.

 

  • I often call the people in my life “Precious man / Precious woman”. Many wonder why I say so. Some even feel uncomfortable. The reason I often address the people in my life as “Precious man / Precious woman”  – is because I truly believe that every person is so precious! If Jesus created those human-being plus died for him / her – that person MUST be precious!

 

  • John 15:12… Jesus continuously teaches us to love one another. There will be times in our lives when we will have to love (in thoughts, words and deeds) the people whom we do not like. Loving and Liking someone are two very different things! Every child of God can supernaturally come to a place of loving our neighbors no matter whom. 

 

  • I have am in the place in my life where I can love (in thoughts, words and deeds) even the people who have hurt me the most. That does not mean I like him. Jesus COMMANDS us to love, even when we do not like. In Jesus name we can be like the Good Samaritan who went forth to love in spite of being considered as the enemy of the one who was hurt!
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Jan
31
2010

Bible Verses: “One with Jesus”- 31st Jan 2010

Bible Verses: “One with Jesus”- 31st Feb 2010

1 Corinthians 12:27… Now you (Christians) are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

  • In my last Sunday’s sermon – we have established a truth that no Christian can afford not to know! The bible clearly proclaims that Jesus is the head and we the church are His body. Every real Christian need to believe and meditate that Jesus and the church are one. Jesus and every real Christian are one.

  • Colossians 1:18… It is ridiculous to even think that the Head and the Body are TWO! It is totally unbiblical to say that ;
    • In God’s eyes the Head is perfect but the Body is imperfect.
    • The Head is accepted but the Body is rejected by God.

  • 1 Peter 2:5 & 2 Corinthians 5:17… When God sees us today – God sees Jesus. Today just as Jesus is perfect in God’s eyes and is accepted by God – we the Children of God are also look at as perfect and God accepts us! As much as God accepts Jesus – the same way, every real Christian is accepted by God!

  • 1 John 4:17… Whatever Jesus is before God, we His body is the same in this world! It is wrong to believe that;
    • The Head is healthy but the Body sick.
    • The Head is a priest but the Body is a sinner.
    • The Head is rich but the Body poor.
    • The Head hs peace but the Body is full of stress.
    • The Head is powerful but the Body is powerless.  

  • Luke 3:22… As children of God – Jesus gives us the rights to believe, meditate and proclaim that His perfections, together with the joy that He brings to the Father’s heart, Jesus stand before God representing us His Body. Only when we truly believe and meditate on this truth, we will begin to realize that since Jesus is a sweet-smelling aroma to the Father… so are we!
  • Ephesians 5:23… The more we begin to believe and meditate that we are one with Jesus, the more we will realize and experience that whatever we need right now, we have it.
    • If we have symptom of sicknesses in your body, Jesus our Head will supernaturally naturally pass on His health and healing to us.
    • If we are sexually broken, Jesus our Head will supernaturally naturally link His wholeness into your sexuality.
    • If we lack wisdom, Jesus our Head will supernaturally naturally pass on His wisdom to us.
    • If you have any lack, Jesus our Head will supernaturally naturally give us His great riches.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:23… We must remember all the days of our lives that we the Body of Christ can never be separated from Christ our Head from whom comes all the supply for our lives — all the power, wisdom, prosperity and health. Make a choice to believe and meditate on this truth TODAY and greater things will BEGIN to happen.
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Jan
24
2010

Sermon: “Condemning Christ”- 24th Jan 2010

Sermon: “Condemning Christ”- 24th Jan 2010

 

Ephesians 5:23…For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ (alone) is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.

 

 

  • The moment we receive Jesus and Jesus alone as our Lord and Savior – supernaturally we become part of Jesus’ body (the Body of Christ). In other words – since Jesus is the head and we are His body – Jesus and His Body are ONE!
  •  
  • 1 Corinthians 12:27… In the natural, no way – can the head and the body be separated and so it is in the spiritual. How we think, speak and treat a Christian / Church – like it or not, that is how we are thinking, speaking and treating Jesus!

 

  • Matthew 25:42-45… Jesus especially wants us to pay attention to those in the Body of Christ who are weak spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically, financially, sexually and so on. And when we choose to love those who are weak – we are choosing to love Jesus!
  •  
  • Luke 6:37… Sadly the fact is – instead of making the choice to love those who are weak in the Body of Christ, so often we choose to judge and condemn them not realizing that we are actually judging and condemning Jesus. When we judge / condemn a Christian / Church – we are judging and condemning Jesus. But the question would be – “What do I do when I have the revelations of a Christian / Church being un-Christful?
  •  
  • Luke 5:16 & Matthew 5:44… As always – Jesus has the answer for EVERY question that we need answering. Jesus set the example of having a Prayer Warrior. Jesus always prayed. Jesus taught His sheep to pray. When we have a revelation of a Christian / Church being un-Christful, it is our responsibility to PRAY!
  •  
  • Ephesians 6:18… Every Christian is called to be Prayer Warriors and to pray for ONE ANOTHER…like Jesus is doing as Jesus’ sits at the right hand of the God in the person of the Father in heaven. Some people believe that only some are called to be Prayer Warriors but the truth is ALL are called to KEEP ON PRAYING!
  •  
  • Today, God in the person of the Holy Spirit dwells ONLY in two places;
  1. 1 Corinthians 3:16… In the Christian
  2. Matthew 18:19-20… If two or three gathered for Jesus’ name sake – Jesus will be there among them.
  • Mark 11:14-17 & 20–21…  After Jesus cursed the fig tree, the tree did not die immediately. Jesus went to the temple in Jerusalem and cleansed it, saying that His house should be a house of prayer and not a den of thieves. After cleansing the temple, Jesus’ sheep saw the same fig tree the next day, it was dead!
  •  
  • 1 Corinthians 6:19 … Today we are the temple of God. We should be a “house of prayer”. If we don’t we WILL become a “place of robbers”. Satan, will steal and rob from our temple / our body. Satan will steal and rob our time, talent, treasure, strength, health, youthfulness, wisdom, hopes, dreams & whatever he can.
  •  
  • Romans 8:26… Jesus wants us to make our temple a house of prayer by praying in tongues all the time. When you pray in the Spirit, we are praying perfect prayers. The Holy Spirit prays for us. When we make our temple a house of prayer, Satan & his instruments (the robbers) will be driven out of our lives completely.
2
Jan
18
2010

Sermon: “How the Holy Spirit Helps Us”17th Jan 2010

Sermon: “How the Holy Spirit Helps Us”17th Jan 2010

 

Romans 5:1… Therefore, since we have been declared righteous (holy) by faith, we have peace with God (in God’s standard) through our Lord Jesus Christ.

  • According to the bible – there is only ONE WAY on how anyone can become righteous (holy) in God’s standard. The Word of God declares that through our faith in Jesus & Jesus alone – supernaturally we become holy – in God’s eyes.
  •  
  • John 14:26… When God in the person of Jesus left this earth – God in the person of the Holy Spirit came to be the Counselor, Helper & Teacher. The Holy Spirit is in search for holy people (holiness in God’s standard) – so to live in them!
  •  
  • Acts 2:4… From the very first time when the Holy Spirit filled the people – supernaturally, they began to speak in tongues. Yet today – many have fallen into Satan’s trap and are refusing to believe that speaking in tongues is of God!
  •  
  • Romans 8:26-27… The bible tells us that the Holy Spirit is inside us to help us in our weaknesses.

 

  • When we are weak/ when we make a mistake / do something wrong… the Holy Spirit is there to help us. The Holy Spirit is for us. The Holy Spirit is not against us. The Holy Spirit is not in us to point out our faults or nag at us when we are weak / when we make a mistake /  do something wrong. The Holy is in us – to help us!

 

  • The word “helps” in the original Greek text means “to take hold together against”. The word “together” is referring to the Christian and the Holy Spirit working hand in hand.  In other words, we have a responsibility to work TOGETHER with the Holy Spirit! Our job is to open our mouth to allow the Holy Spirit to pray through us. When we open out mouth and let our tongue loose – we are cooperating with the Holy Spirit in solving our problems / troubles / challenges.

 

  • 1 Corinthians 14:14… Sadly – in moments of desperation and when there are problems / trouble / challenges;
  1. Christians become fed up and enter into the place of not knowing  how to pray anymore
  2. Or become clueless on what to pray for, many give up instead of praying in tongues!

 

  • Jude 1:20…When we choose to give up / sit back and worry / do nothing; the Holy Spirit does not have us to take hold TOGETHER to go against our problems / troubles / challenges! When we choose not to open our mouth and pray in tongues – we leave the Holy Spirit with no choice. But when we pray in tongues, we are actually allowing the Holy Spirit to pray through us. And the Holy Spirit will take hold together with us against the problem / trouble / challenge, and pray the perfect prayer through us because the bible tells us that the Holy Spirit makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
  •  
  • 1 John 5:14–15… Because the Holy Spirit says perfect prayer / no mistake / flawless prayers – we can be confident that we are praying according to the will of God, and Jesus SURELY hears.
2
Jan
10
2010

Sermon: “The balance of Grace and Power”10th Jan 2010

Sermon: “The balance of Grace and Power”10th Jan 2010

2 Corinthians 12:9… But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

  • Jesus revealed to Paul – when we are faced with challenges / persecution / trouble / problem; what we truly need is, to believe and meditate on Jesus’ Grace and Power. In other words – the availability of Jesus’ almighty power for our lives even though we don’t deserve it! Some people believe and meditate on Jesus’ Grace and some believes and meditates on Jesus’ Power. But the wise will believe and meditate on the Grace and Power of Jesus!
  •  
  • 2 Corinthians 4:8–9…
    • Before knowing the grace and power of Jesus, whenever we are faced with challenges / persecution / trouble / problem;
      • we cry until we have no more tears left
      • Our heart breaks into pieces
      • We become depressed and often feel like the looser
    • But when we start to believe and meditate on the grace and power of Jesus, things change! When we are faced with challenges / persecution / trouble / problem;
      • We may still cry from the outside, but supernaturally we will sense a peace inside
      • We may be sad on the outside, but supernaturally our hearts won’t be heavy and it won’t break into pieces
      • We won’t understand what’s happening, but deep down inside us,  there will be something strengthening us
  • 1 John 4:4…  Supernaturally something good will happen from the inside even when evil is taking place from the outside. That something good, which is rising from the inside of us, is the Power of Jesus in us!
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  • As long as we are on this earth, we are desperate for the Power of Jesus because the bible has warned us that we will be hard pressed on every side, made confused, experience misery, persecuted & struck down! The Power of Jesus;
    • Isaiah 9:6 & John 14:27… Brings PEACE: When Satan throws trouble at us, the Prince of Peace who says, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
    • John 14:6… Shows us the WAY: When Satan put us in a bad situation and we feel lost, Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life, will say, “It will all be all right. I will provide a way out for you.”
    • 1 Corinthians 15:57…Gives us VICTORY: At the end of the day we know we are not the looser because Jesus the Victory is already IN US!

 

  • Colossians 1:27… Today when we choose to believe and meditate on the Grace and Power of Jesus, we will experience Divine Hope of Glory!  “Hope” in the Bible means a definite, positive expectation of good. In other words –
    • Jesus in us is the definite, positive expectation of a glorious family life!
    • Jesus in us is the definite, positive expectation of glorious health!
    •  Jesus in us is the definite, positive expectation of a glorious providence!
    • Jesus in us is the definite, positive expectation of a glorious ministry!
    • Jesus in us is the definite, positive expectation of a glorious life!
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