Hope to our sin stricken world

Redemption to all who would acknowledge the

Incarnation of God in human form

Saviour of our soul

Transforming lives, changing hearts, bringing new

Meaning to our very existence

Assurance in times of trials, providing

Strength when we are weak

What is Christmas to you? Is it Santa Claus and his reindeers? Great time for shopping bargains? A time of family get-together, feasting on turkey and cranberry sauce? Exchanging gifts and fun?

All these may be part and parcel of Christmas today but without CHRIST indwelling in our individual lives, Christmas will just come and go when the festivity dies down.

Why not let this Christmas be different? Let CHRIST indwell in you . . . be part of all your activity and most of all your ROCK foundation as you journey through this life on earth.

mw

Many of us Christians are familiar with verses in the Bible like these:

“He who wins souls is wise”(Prov. 11:30b).

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations. . . “(Mt. 28:19)

“And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?” (Rom.10:14)

We want to win souls, make disciples and tell others of Jesus Christ. However, we don’t seem to be making much headway in releasing the aroma of Jesus. What is the missing ingredient?

Successful witnessing depends on four essential ingredients:

The joy you have in your heart. If you are thrilled to be a Christian, you won’t have trouble convincing lost people of the value of accepting Christ.

The purity of your own life. If your life is right with God, lost people will listen to what you have to say. If your life is stained with sin, your testimony for Christ will be weakened.

Your ability to use the bible. The successful Christian witness has to know his bible. With a thorough knowledge of God’s Word, you should be able to answer the questions and excuses put forward by the unsaved.

Your ability to use the bible. The successful Christian witness has to know his bible. With a thorough knowledge of God’s Word, you should be able to answer the questions and excuses put forward by the unsaved.

Christmas is round the corner and countless opportunities are provided by the church. We can do our part to spread the aroma of Christmas joy to our friends, colleagues and neighbours.

We’ve a story to tell to the nations
That shall turn their hearts to the right,
A story of truth and mercy,
A story of peace and light,
A story of peace and light.

We’ve a song to be sung to the nations
That shall lift their hearts to the Lord,
A song that shall conquer evil,
And shatter the spear and sword,
And shatter the spear and sword.

We’ve a message to give to the nations
That the Lord who reigneth above
Hath sent us His Son to save us
And show us that God is love,
And show us that God is love.

We’ve a Saviour to show to the nations
Who the path of sorrow hath trod,
That all of the world’s great peoples
Might come to the truth of God,
Might come to the truth of God.

H.Ernest Nichol

That story which inspired the hymn writer, the same story of God’s grace, mercy and power, has not changed through the ages. As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, in all our busyness, we need to ponder for a moment: What is my story? What has God done in my life?

The details in each individual’s life may differ. That’s the beauty of God’s workings. Each individual’s story is unique, one of its kind. Each has a story to tell to friends, colleagues and neighbours. Only you can tell your story. No one else can tell it as effectively as you.

Let us ask God for boldness, empowered by the Holy Spirit as in the days of Acts, to tell our stories. We can never be sure of what God can do with one simple story. Tell it. Sing it. Give it. Show your Saviour to the world.

ms

“Give me a drink,” Jesus said to a Samaritan woman at the well (Jn. 4:7).

“They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat,” Jesus told his baffled disciples, facing a crowd of hungry listeners (Lk. 9:13).

“Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did...” said the Samaritan woman, an outcast in her community throwing an invitation to the men in her village (Jn. 4:29).

“Do you want to be made well?” Jesus asked the man by the Pool of Bethesda who had been paralysed for 38 years (Jn. 5:6).

“Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk,” Peter said to the man at the Gate of Beautiful who had been born lame (Acts 3:2).

A simple request . . . a statement . . . a question. They triggered everything and brought hope to hopelessness. Obedience and simple faith coupled with an empowerment from on high were the keys which unlocked the miracles of salvation and deliverance.

As we move about in our daily living, doing seemingly mundane chores, meeting practically the same faces day in and day out, are we sensitive to do what the Spirit bids us to do? A simple obedience on our part would be all that is needed for God to break into someone’s hopeless world because that is what witnessing is all about.

mw

The militant sound of tramping feet, searching for lost people in the alleyways of life.

A tender touch, a hand extended to a person on the edge of indecision and despair.

A warm appeal to empty lives to come to the richness of new life in Jesus Christ.

Meeting people with a handshake, a bit of conversation, and a friendly invitation to visit your church.

Telling others about Jesus Christ and his power to redeem.

(Clip-art Features for Church Newsletters 4)

Many Christians when approached to serve in the church, tend to be diffident, lacking zest . Why is this so? Do we feel the necessity to attain some special credentials to be good enough to serve?

Let us look at Isaiah, a man called by God to be a prophet. There is no previous record of Isaiah’s qualifications. Isaiah’s immediate response to the Lord’s call was, “Here am I! Send me” (Isa. 6:8). What made him respond thus? Why didn’t Isaiah evade the question of servanthood? I believe Isaiah, though he might have felt inadequate, was able to respond positively because he saw the contrast of the glory of God to his own unworthy state. When the Lord called, Isaiah must also have felt really honoured that a holy God would be willing to use such an ‘unworthy’ vessel such as him: “a man of unclean lips” (Isa. 6:5). Yet, God chose to use him. What was required on Isaiah’s part was a willingness to be cleansed and empowered by Him.

If you were also called by God like Isaiah, what would your answer be? You may not think you have much to offer. You may not be the ‘best’ in the team as yet. However, God is more than able to release the full potential in a willing vessel. The early disciples who turned their world upside-down were mere uneducated fishermen whom God made ‘fishers of men’.

Isaiah, the early disciples and the countless men and women whom God has called and used for His glory through time were ordinary beings. The wondrous truth is that ordinary vessels are sufficient for our God. He can use the ordinary to do the extraordinary if we avail ourselves.

St. Francis of Assisi encourages us: Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.

mw

O Lord, please open up my eyes
To see the needs of those around
Help me discern the heartfelt cries
The yearning pleas without a sound

I want to reach out with Your love
To touch people who are hurting
So they may glimpse God from above
Gentle, compassionate and caring

I’ll strive to meet the needs, I pray
And seize the chance when I see it
I shall respond with no delay
To heed the call of Your Spirit

Into this work I’ll pour my all
I won’t hold back or step aside
For this is my heavenly call
While on this earth I still reside

Please do not let my effort be
For personal triumph or fame
I’ll make it known to all who see
It’s for the glory of Your name

kk

Christ demonstrated what it is like to be a servant leader. Many other people also left behind a legacy for posterity. Their lives impacted the people of their time and their words of wisdom have left an indelible mark on humanity.

Mother Teresa (1894-1995):
Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.
I must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work (Jn. 9:4).

Billy Graham:
God has given us two hands, one to receive with and the other to give with.
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ (Eph. 4:11-12).

Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1988):
The life of a Christian is an education for higher service.
For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost (Lk.19:10).

David Wilkerson:
God uses people. God uses people to perform His work. He does not send angels... He uses burdened broken-hearted weeping men and women.
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty . . . (1 Cor. 1:27).

mw

Jesus said, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (Jn. 6:38). Knowing that He would soon be crucified for the sins of the world, Jesus came before His heavenly father and prayed, “...not My will, but Yours, be done” (Lk. 22:42).

What about us? Would we be willing to carry on the Father’s will here on earth? We may not be great preachers, teachers or evangelists. But still God has a purpose for our lives. There is a part for each of us to play so that the beauty of the Lord is seen. Consider this:

I am not sent without a purpose,
My days on earth to waste away;
I am here God’s grace to learn,
And His sovereign will to obey.

He leads me through smiles and tears,
Charting out the seasons of my life;
Lord, help me welcome both cheers and fears,
Though trials and temptations be rife.

No service in itself is too small,
None so great though men applaud;
That which seeks His sovereign will,
Help me embrace as a worthy cause.

Hold my hand, O God, as I journey on,
Guide all my doings still;
Let my life’s one aim always be
To do or bear Thy will.

TJ Bach said, “If we are going to wait until every possible hindrance has been removed before we do a work for the Lord, we will never attempt to do anything”.

mw

God has been showing us what a disciple looks like - he looks like Jesus. God has also been showing us that there is more to life than ministry. His own ministry on earth lasted just over three years. His followers, a little band of unschooled, ordinary men whose only badge of discipleship as far as on-lookers were concerned, was that “they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). Their character was to matter more than their ministry.

There is a heart-submission about discipleship that has all its springs in the One who came to give us an exchanged life, not merely an improved one, when He gave His life on the cross. This moment is poignantly portrayed by theologian-poet, Calvin Miller, in a piece where the Father says, “Son, the time has come … our loving shall bless the ages”. The Son replies, “I understand. But will the nails hurt?” The Father says, “Yes - both of Us.” Love and pain. The heart of Christianity is the heart of Jesus.

In any group where discussion moves to being like Jesus in our heart-attitudes and responses, having the fruit of the Spirit, the cry is invariably, “It’s so hard!” They are wrong. It’s not hard, it’s impossible. Jesus said as much when He declared, “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.” Not a thing. So, why do we try so hard? Why are we struggling to produce love, peace, joy, love, suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control when we are not the producer of the fruit but the Holy Spirit is. We are merely bearers or abiders. To the measures we have the Spirit in us by yieldedness, we have Christ-likeness in our lives.

The truth is, we are not enough like Jesus. But focusing on the fruit will not change us. We can try “getting” the fruit and do a lot of good things - yet open the door for self-righteousness. God looks for a heart of love in all our doing.

A saint is not one who tries harder. He just lets the light shine through. How long?

“Until Christ be formed in you.” (Galatians 4:19).

sn

There is no peace in the border lands. The halfway Christian is a torment to himself and of no benefit to others.

Anon

“Are you a disciple of Jesus Christ?” A blank stare . . . an answer that lies somewhere between “yes” and “no”.

As Christians we would say that we are believers or followers of Jesus. But disciples? That is when we put the brakes on our tongues. What makes us hesitate? Is it because we do such a poor job representing our Master that we hesitate at the word ‘disciple’ ?

Regardless of our age as Christians, we know there is more to what we are experiencing of life here on earth. Despite our efforts, we don’t seem to be able to live out the godly life that the bible portrays. We tend to get frustrated. At times we feel like failures. Some of us may even want out.

In 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul says: No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it (The Message).

With this in mind, we can hold fast to each and every promise of God and stand firm as disciples of Christ, chosen by Him for the fulfilment of God’s will here on earth. Followers may fall away when the going gets tough. Disciples are different. They have decided to follow Jesus and there is no turning back. They have counted the cost. They have put their hands to the plough. With the cross of Jesus before them and the world behind them, they can march on, persevering even when the going gets rough. There is no looking back, no turning back.

mw

There is no peace in the border lands. The halfway Christian is a torment to himself and of no benefit to others.

Anon

Doing the will of the Master

Investing in the kingdom above

Surrendering one’s desires for a higher purpose

Choosing to walk the narrow way, however unpopular

Inspiring others to hunger after righteousness

Praising the Master regardless of circumstances

Loving the unloving and the unloveable

Expecting no earthly reward for one’s labour

Seeing another through the eyes of the Saviour

Helping to intercede for the lost and the helpless

Inviting the thirsty to drink from the Living Waters

Placing Him above all others

at

Sandpaper is a wonderful substance for working with wood. It removes all the rough spots, making wood as smooth as glass and just as nice to touch. But sandpaper is not nice if it is woven into the fabric of a person’s personality.

“Sandpaper” people are those who rub us the wrong way. Yet these would be the very people God is using to make us more like Christ. It could be anything from the way they wear their hair to the way they talk. Most of us can probably identify at least one person like this who taxes our patience and Christian spirit. Perhaps it would help if we try to take a different view of these people. We should pray for such people and ask God to love them through us. This will help us to be more tolerant and forgiving in our attitude.

Tips on How to Get Along with People:

Keep chains on your tongue; always say less than you think. Cultivate a pleasant, persuasive voice. How you say it often counts more than what you say.

Make promises sparingly and keep them faithfully.

Never let an opportunity pass to say a kind word to somebody. Praise good work done, regardless of who did it. If correction is needed, criticize helpfully, never in a destructive manner.

Be genuinely interested in others. Let everyone you meet feel that you regard him or her as a person of importance.

Never engage in gossip. Make it a rule to say nothing about another unless it is something good.

Be careful of other people’s feelings. A laugh at another’s expense is rarely worth the effort, and it may hurt where least expected.

Pay no attention to cutting remarks that others may make about you. Learn to live above such comments.

Don’t be too anxious about your rights and having favours repaid. Let the satisfaction of helping others serve as its own reward.

Be cheerful. Keep the corners of your mouth turned up. Hide your pains, worries and disappointments under a smile.

Keep an open mind on all controversial questions. Discuss without arguing. It is possible to disagree and yet be friendly.

(Extracted from Clip-Art Features for Church Newsletters )

We hear it every day. We hear it in church. We see it on the titles of novels and on the covers of magazines. It is found in religious journals and even Christian doctrines at large where ‘fellowship’ and ‘denomination’ are interchanged.

What is the meaning of ‘fellowship’? The translation for our English word is the Greek word, ‘koinonia’. This in short simply means , ‘togetherness’, ‘community’, and ‘in common’.

Fellowship is imperative if we want to be united as one body with Christ. In order to live as one body and encourage one another, we need to know each other. We need to learn about one another by sharing our trials and challenges as much as sharing our happiness and joys.

However, fellowship is not just doing anything together. It is only doing God’s will together. Quite obviously, our fellowship with others is only as good as our fellowship with Christ, our unity. We can only participate with Him in doing God’s will, for that is all He ever does!

It is not wrong for us to participate in pot bless, watch football, play basketball or engage in other social activities with fellow believers. These are excellent channels to start relating and working with one another. It even acts as a testament and encouragement to non-believers about the Christian community. However, we must not lose sight of the real importance of fellowshipping. All activities should have one aim, that is, to ultimately do God’s will. Fellowship means working together to accomplish God’s will here on earth (Acts 2:44-47).

Having said all that, the primary importance of fellowship stems from the fact that fellowship is the indispensable means of accomplishing the God-given purpose of the church. According to Ephesians 3:8-11, the church is God’s instrument in showing the world the many faceted wisdom of God.

With the unity of the Holy Spirit and a divine purpose, we must all put our shoulders to the plow until God’s plan is complete. We may seem alone sometimes but with persistence and endurance we will see results.

How is the world to know God if we don’t work together?

So let us all practise fellowship as naturally as did those in the days of the early church that the character and purpose of God may be revealed through this church!

my

The prospect of being sentenced to solitary confinement can be daunting for even the most combat-hardened POW. There is something about being alone that doesn’t sit well with us. This is because of the way God created us.

Man is created as a communal being who thrives on relationships. None of us is actually created for our own sakes. When we become Christians, we are added to the family of God. Consider for a moment: while on the one hand, God made us for Himself, He also made us for others. Isn’t that awesome?

When we focus only to be on the receiving end of a relationship, we are actually missing the real purpose of fellowship. The real purpose of fellowship is giving of ourselves and at the same time allowing others to speak into our lives as we share with one another from the wealth of our individual experiences. In that way, we grow together and spur one another to good works to the glory of God. In fellowship we can be edified. Be blessed. Be strengthened. Be enriched.

We are familiar with the analogy Christ used to describe his body. God knows that every one of us needs someone else. The proper functioning of his body can only be realised when each member gives to the other and receives from others through fellowship. But just as the purity of Adam’s fellowship with Eve was affected when they focused on themselves and allowed sin to enter into the relationship, our fellowship with our brethren will be affected when we begin to think of ourselves instead of others; when we begin to consider what we can get out of a relationship and not what we can put into it.

Then we will experience the gladness, cheerfulness and joy that should characterize Christian fellowship. As so succinctly put by Marva Dawn, God’s amazing love for us transforms us into people who deeply love Him, and one another as well, people with a solid hope for the future: eternity in heaven with God and His people (The Hilarity of Community).

oc

As Christians we are to live our lives as committed members of God’s family. To belong, not just to believe. As pointed out by Rick Warren in his book, The Purpose Driven Life, the most important lesson God wants us to learn during our time on earth is how to love people unselfishly, especially those in His family. According to John 13:35, our greatest testimony to the world will be our example of love for one another.

As we experience real fellowship, a life together as a family of believers, we will meet people who will tug at our heartstrings with their love. They will draw us into their circle of warmth, bless us with their graciousness and comfort us in our time of brokenness or heartbreak, teach us the mutual importance of giving as well as receiving and uphold us in our walk with God. They exemplify the passage in 2 Corinthians 8:5 “…they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will”. These are people whom we should honour and encourage by our love and appreciation.

However, sometimes as we draw closer and gain familiarity with one another, we forget the common courtesies and little gestures of appreciation that interspersed the beginning of our relationship. We overlook the little acts of everyday kindness and modest heartfelt words of gratitude that were customary in the beginning. Unconsciously and unintentionally, we gradually slip into the habit of taking each other for granted.

It is even easier to slip into that tendency with people for whom we do not feel a particular fondness or have a special bond. They could be the ones who have inadvertently hurt or disappointed us, those who have let us down and taken us for granted. However, in Colossians 3:13, we are instructed to “bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances we may have against one other. Forgive as the Lord forgave us”.

Let us make a conscious and continuous effort to appreciate the members of God’s family. We do not have to perform grand deeds of appreciation or buy lavish gifts to show our love. A congratulatory pat on the back, a heartfelt show of appreciation, a few meaningful words of gratitude or a small thoughtful token will do just as well. Such little acts of love can make a big difference.

kk

In a society where mindsets like ‘It’s my business!’, ‘What I do won’t hurt others’, and ‘ME first!’ take precedence and dictate social behaviour, Christians are called to be different. Christians are called to be in community. With the privilege and calling to be a child of God come the responsibility of loving and caring for others through fellowship.

Fellowship is not mere attendance at Sunday services or other Christian meetings. Neither is it a time for food and casual talk to fill the time though such things may be involved. Real fellowship is experiencing life together, the kind of life that the Christians in Acts demonstrated.

When fellowship is real and not faked, there will be:

Unselfish loving.
Honest sharing.
Practical serving.
Sacrificial giving.
Sympathetic comforting.

Our world today needs real fellowship and Christians are the vessels God can and wants to use to heal our broken society. Both within the church and without, people are crying out to be accepted as they are. They long to be understood and treated with respect. They cry out for genuine friendship in their homes, schools, work places and church. They hunger for someone to walk with them in their pain and rejoice with them in their joys. Paul encouraged the Roman Christians, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (Rom. 12:15).

We need to be willing to commit ourselves. We must dare to love and serve the ‘rejected’, lend our ears and shoulders to the hurting and serve one another. Like Christ, we must be prepared to be rejected or hurt even as we reach out to others in fellowship. Then the kingdom of God will be established here on earth.

mw

It is not only about the music and the singing.

So what are we doing when we worship?

We need to be aware of some types of worship mentioned in the bible:

There is a wonderful story of Brother Lawrence, a medieval monk who practised the presence of God in the monastery kitchen, washing pots and pans. On his deathbed, in a faint whisper, he insisted, "I am not dying. I am just doing what I have been doing for the past forty years, and will be doing what I expect to be doing for all eternity!" When asked what that was, his fervent reply was, "I am worshipping the God I love!" The fact that he was dying was secondary. He knew the reason for his existence.

And that is for us too. The whole reason for being on earth - the response of worship, felt first of all in our hearts. Jesus spoke about this. He said out of the good treasure of the heart, good things are brought forth. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks (Mt.15:19). Or sings. Or whispers. Brother Lawrence whispered his love for God as a witness to those around his bed. He was worshipping.

Mary of Bethany who loved much because she had much forgiven her, showed extravagant love when she broke the alabaster jar and anointed Jesus’ head with perfume (Lk. 7:37- 47). Hers was a costly gift that was much esteemed by the Master. It cost her money, dignity, everything. The others were aghast at such waste. The money could have helped the poor. But Jesus defended her anointing of Him as a hallmark of history. He saw her tears, her kissing of His feet as a precious heart attitude of absolute surrender. No singing. No praises. No music. Just wordless tears and the offering of the perfume as a symbol of her love. She was worshipping.

Watchman Nee says that our brokenness always releases the sweet fragrance of our approval before God.

In David we see an astounding approach to intimacy with God. He releases the innermost thoughts of his heart - anger, frustrations, despondency and desires to be avenged. All these amazingly balanced by a deep devotion, contrition, adoration, wonder and fear of the Lord. There was no place in him that was not in God. Even when he sinned, he was quick to cast himself on the mercy of God.

God wants us to be real. If doubts come, yet our trust in Him is unshaken. We reach a deeper level of knowing God than if we never allow ourselves to ponder over "Why?" With David, there was no pose or posture. He connected with God as he brought every area of his strength and weakness before Him.

sn

Today I went to church for the second service and well, as usual, it’s the same as every other Sunday... worship ...some announcements followed by a sermon. The difference...caught up with a few people I used to know in my younger years whom I’ve not seen for over 10 years. We exchanged a few words and the typical see-you-around phrase...

A typical Sunday? I’m sure some can relate to this. There are those who are trapped in a rut for whom worship is the same every Sunday. It’s only about how good the worship leader is in leading the congregation into praise and worship. Some sing because they like or are familiar with the songs. Yet others worship because they are moved by the lyrics of the songs.

So you ask, “What then, is the right way to worship?” Really, there is no right or wrong way to worship as long as you do it earnestly with a sincere and penitent heart to the Lord. Everyone has his own style of worship. One person cannot judge another just because his style is different. God made us all unique and it is this difference that creates a spectrum of individual uniqueness in worship that pleases God. What matters is for us to be aware of His presence and be sensitive to what He is saying to us and wants to do in our own lives.

We need to be aware of some types of worship mentioned in the bible:

Vain worship (Mt 15:8-9)

Ignorant worship (Acts 17:22-23)

Restricted worship (Col 2:20-23)

True worship (Jhn 4:23-24)

The question we need to ask ourselves is: Which of these categories do I fall into?

And we must remember that worship is not confined to Sundays. Our daily lives are to be living examples of our worship to God. What we do and say or how we respond to circumstances around us should all be in worship to God. Jesus said,”God is Spirit” (Jhn 4:24). Therefore, our worship of Him must be spiritual. The way we live our lives must be in tandem with the Spirit of God.

Since we all know at least the basics of God’s nature, shouldn’t we also be like Him? To be like Jesus is to live our lives in spirit and in truth, according to His word. Being a reflection of Christ in our everyday walk and talk brings us back to the true meaning of worship.

my

God who made the universe including you and me is great and awesome. His willingness to call us His very own draws us to respond in worship, giving God the praise, glory and honour due to Him.

There is on-going worship in heaven to the One who sits on the throne (Rev 5:8-14). This is God’s blueprint for His creation. As such, we see the idea of worship revealed in the lives of God’s people through the pages of the Bible.

An Old Testament worshipper is Abraham. Abraham’s worship involved his submission to God’s call and instructions though he did not understand the full plan of God. Abraham even had to come to a point of sacrificing his promised son Isaac. Abraham did not hold back anything in his worship. He was ready for whatever God had in store for him.

In the New Testament, Jesus reminded the Samaritan woman whom He met at the well that true worshippers must worship the Father in spirit and in truth (Jhn 4:23). This means that believers must use their spiritual language as well as their understanding in worship. To do that, we must take time before worship to make ready our hearts, minds and emotions so that the Holy Spirit would be poured out even as God’s people worship. The Holy Spirit will lead us to all truth.

Paul encourages us, “I beg you..as an act of intelligent worship, to give Him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to Him and acceptable by him (Rom 12:1 JB Phillips translation). The New King James version says this type of worship is our “reasonable service” (vs1) to God. Offering anything less than that would therefore be ‘unacceptable or unreasonable’.

Are you ready to be what you are created for? Are you excited about what happens when Christians give God their reasonable service? It begins with an individual. You can be the spark that gets the fire going.

ry

You are chosen of the Lord
To sing His highest praise;
And through the medium of song
To show His wondrous ways.
Yours is the privilege of grace
Your words His truth express;
Through sacred music you promote
The cause of righteousness.
So lift your voice with one accord
And let your anthems ring;
Your words His truth express;
The people will be richly blessed,
And God will hear you sing (Anon)

Worship in the general sense is defined as reverence and respect paid to God, someone or something. Therefore, there exists in each of us an object of worship. So called ‘free-thinkers’ may not be found in places of worship but they would be ‘worshipping’ their careers, ambitions, hobbies, families or the like. As such, many Christians think that worship means going to church on Sundays, singing a few songs while enjoying the music.

However, worship for Christians is more than songs and music. In order to worship God Almighty, we must come to a point of surrender. Romans 6:13 encourages us,"Give yourselves to God...Surrender your whole being to Him to be used for righteous purpose" (TEV). We only dare to surrender to Someone when we trust Him. In order to trust, we need to accept our limitations and allow God to take over the ‘wheels’. This kind of trust results when we know the extent of God’s love for us. Do you know the depth and length and breadth of our Father’s love? Knowing Him comes from reading the Word and communicating with Him through prayer.

When Christians surrender 100% to God, it brings Him pleasure. Our total surrender reflects our absolute trust in our heavenly Father who knows exactly what He is doing. Christ prayed, "Abba Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will" (Mk 14:36 NKJV). To paraphrase it would be: "Father, You can do all things. If this problem, pain, sickness or circumstance that I am going through is necessary to fulfill Your purpose in my life, then please don’t take it away. I want Your will and not mine to be done." To be able to come to that point of surrender requires maturity.

Friends, let us go beyond the music and songs. Let us return to the heart of worship and allow God’s blessings to flow freely into our lives. Let us remove the hindrance of self: our self-will, stubborn pride and personal ambitions and surrender to Him who made us, knows us and loves us. God sent His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross so that the curse of sin is broken and we may once again be reconciled to God.

mw

Today I am stepping across the line. I’m tired of waffling, and I’m finished with wavering. I’ve made my choice; the verdict is in; and my decision is irrevocable. I’m going God’s way. There’s no turning back now!

I will live the rest of my life serving God’s purposes with God’s people on God’s planet for God’s glory. I will use my life to celebrate His presence, cultivate His character, participate in His family, demonstrate His love, and communicate His Word.

Since my past has been forgiven, and I have a purpose for living and a home awaiting in heaven, I refuse to waste any more time or energy on shallow living, petty thinking, trivial talking, thoughtless doing, useless regretting, hurtful resenting, or faithless worrying. Instead I will magnify God, grow to maturity, serve in ministry, and fulfill my mission in the membership of His family.

Because this life is preparation for the next, I will value worship over wealth, “we” over “me”, character over comfort, service over status, and people over possessions, position, and pleasures. I know what matters most and I’ll give it all I’ve got. I’ll do the best I can with what I have for Jesus Christ today.

I won’t be captivated by culture, manipulated by critics, motivated by praise, frustrated by problems, debilitated by temptation, or intimidated by the devil. I’ll keep running my race with my eyes on the goal, not the sidelines or those running by me. When times get tough and I get tired, I won’t back up, back off, back down, back out, or backslide. I’ll just keep moving forward by God’s grace. I’m Spirit-led, purpose-driven, and mission-focused, so I cannot be bought, I will not be compromised, and I shall not quit until I finish the race.

I'm a trophy of God’s amazing grace so I will be gracious to everyone, grateful for everyday, and generous with everything that God entrusts to me.

To my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, I say: However, whenever, wherever, and whatever You ask me to do, my answer in advance is yes! Wherever You lead and whatever the cost, I’m ready. Anytime. Anywhere. Anyway. Whatever it takes Lord; whatever it takes! I want to be used by You in such a way that on that final day I’ll hear You say, “Well done, thou good and faithful one. Come on in, and let the eternal party begin!”

This article is printed from the website www.PurposeDriven.com. © 2005 by Rick Warren. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

“Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” Mark 16:15

Evangelism is helping men and women to know and believe that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Saviour.

1. “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea.” This is E-1 evangelism.

E-1 evangelism is ordinary evangelism, where you cross only the one barrier between the church and the culture of your own world. Jesus declared to his disciples that they would be witnesses among the Jews. It is often-called ‘near-neighbour’ evangelism. It is moving out of your church to reach out to the unbelievers—your family members, relatives, friends, colleagues and neighbours or simply people of your own culture.

The local church expands by E-1 evangelism. If there were no other barriers, ordinary evangelism would be good enough. But there are other barriers.

2. “You will be my witnesses in all Samaria.” This is E-2 evangelism.

E-2 evangelism is cross-cultural evangelism among people who are somewhat similar to your own culture but have distinct differences that pose as barriers. Jesus pointed to the Samaritans, a small community on the doorsteps of the Judeans, with whom the Jews were not on speaking terms. They were culturally and ethnically related to the Jews, but their differences were significant enough to be considered an additional barrier. It includes not only moving out of the church but also cross a degree of cultural barrier to share the gospel. Evangelism among East Malaysian students and Orang Asli villages would be E-2 evangelism.

3. “You will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth.” This is E-3 evangelism.

E-3 evangelism is cross-cultural evangelism among people whom you do not have any cultural affinity or linguistic headstart. It is evangelism among the various unreached people groups. This is perhaps the hardest kind but has been done, and will be done. Many of our missionaries are engaged in this kind of evangelism.

The kingdom of God extends by cross-cultural evangelism. The full implication of this unfolds as we realize that the bulk of the non-Christian world are at E-2 and E-3 distances. Jesus emphasised its PRIORITY:

“And the gospel must FIRST be preached to all nations.”(Mark 13:10)

DM

You are a one-of-a-kind original masterpiece, custom-designed, and “fearfully and wonderfully made ” (Ps 139:14). No one else was, is, or will be a duplicate of you. God planned you knowing exactly how you will be able to serve Him. No one else on earth will be able to play the role God planned for you. (Purpose Drive Life, page 241).

If you don’t make your unique contribution to the body of Christ, it won’t be made—it’s as simple as that.

We all want to know God’s will for our lives. In the case of service to Him, what is He calling us to do? Most times there are practical indications as to what this calling is. For instance, answers to these questions will provide clues:

1. Are you naturally good at a particular task?

2. Do you have a passion and enthusiasm for what you are doing? and

3. Do your friends easily compliment your particular giftings?

One other indication is the passion with which you immerse yourself into a task. If you are passionate about what you are doing, chances are you will do it well and your service will be effective in advancing the goals of the church.

Your past experiences, hurts, handicaps and failures may well be God’s “lessons” and preparations for your unique contribution to the body of Christ.

However, you may be one of those blessed with a variety of gifts and talents. If that is you, just start serving. You may even want to experiment with different ministries. You’ll soon discover those gifts that God wants you to offer to the church. THE KEY IS TO START SERVING.

FGA HAS A RANGE OF MINISTRIES AND NEEDS. COME AND FIND YOUR FIT AT THE MINISTRY FAIR AFTER THIS SERVICE.

Remember, the ministry that you are being led into will be the stepping stone to something bigger. The bonus is that you’ll be playing to the biggest audience ever—An Audience of ONE.

PT

I am shaped to serve God. Just as every creature in the world is created to play a specific role, so I am created to do a specific task. I am created to fulfill a specific ministry. God has given me abilities, interests, talents, gifts, personality and life experiences so I can use them all for His glory. When I identify and understand these factors, I can discover God’s purpose for my life. Rick Warren summarises the five main factors in the acrostic S H A P E.

Spiritual Gifts

God has given me specific Spiritual gifts and they are to be used in ministry. These are gifts given to me when I became a believer. They are to be used in serving the wider body of believers. Each believer is to use his individual gifts to serve and complete the church.

Heart

The Heart speaks of my desires, hopes, interests, ambitions, dreams and affections. In short, it describes all of my motivations—what I love to do and what I care about most. What is in my heart reveals who I am and what I am shaped to do. I need to examine myself to find what I am most passionate about and use that passion to find a place to serve God and the church.

Abilities

Your Abilities are your natural talents. Each of us has different abilities and all can be used for God. In order to accomplish the work of the Kingdom, the body of Christ must combine their skills to finish the task at hand.

Personality

Personality is the specific unique way that God designed you and often our personality helps determine our passion. Our passion is one way God helps us determine our service to Him. You need to ask yourself: What gets you excited? What troubles you? What are the desires of your heart?

Experience

God never wastes Experiences. There are many experiences which He uses to shape us: educational, family, vocational, spiritual, and even painful experiences. Painful experiences develop your character, and you will be able to help others in similar circumstances.

None of these matter unless you are ready to take action. We should not only be hearers of God’s Word, but doers also.

JT

The form that discipleship takes is conditioned by the historic times in which one lives, as well as by the context of an individual’s life, but the underlying principle remains the same: each of us is called by love to love; called out of our narrow individualism and our small private world, to allow ourselves to be “turned around” by the allurement of God, and to live for him, as Jesus did.

Thelma Hall, Too Deep for Words

To become a disciple means a decisive and irrevocable turning to both God and neighbour. What follows from there is a journey which ... never ends in this life, a journey of continually discovering new dimensions of loving God and neighbour.

David J. Bosch, Transforming Mission

The first and last word for a disciple of Jesus is “Obey!” I mean to say that today the word “believe” is not as important as, “You who believe, obey him whom you believe!” Of what use is believing if you cannot obey?

Johann Christopher Blumhardt in Thy Kingdom Come: A Blumhardt Reader, Vernard Eller, ed.

All true knowledge of God is born out of obedience.

John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion

It has become popular to preach a painless Christianity and automatic saintliness. It has become part of our “instant” culture. “Just pour a little water on it, stir mildly, pick up a gospel tract, and you are on your Christian way.”

A.W. Tozer, Jesus, Author of Our Faith

Suffering is the true badge of discipleship. The disciple is not above his master.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

KS

God created mankind in His image so that mankind can be in fellowship and in communion with Him. One aspect of the Christian trinitarian God is His relational nature. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit dwell in perfect harmony, centred on the other. God desires a family patterned after His relational, other-centred and loving nature. Contrary to the self-centred nature of human society, God’s nature is selfless and other-centred. This is the nature of His love.

In order to prepare us to live in harmony with God and with each other in heaven, God trains us here on earth to be loving to each other and wants us to be in regular, close fellowship with other believers—no matter how irritating, slow and imperfect they may be. Love cannot be learnt in isolation. We are called not just to believe but to belong as members of His body, the church. The Bible says in Rom.12:4-5, “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”

Just as the organs in our natural body fulfill their purpose by being connected to our body, the same is true for us as a part of Christ’s Body, the church. As members of this body we each have a specific role in life through our relationship with others in the church. We can miss this second purpose in our life if we are not attached to a living, local church. We need to be connected.

Extracted and adapted from The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren

Some churches have become divided over styles of worship. One group may be insisting on a traditional service, while another is agitating for a more contemporary format. We can all profit from a lesson a man learned on a business trip after attending a church service near his hotel. He talked with the pastor about how he had been blessed by the sermon, even though some of the worship time was not to his liking.

The pastor simply asked, “what was it you think God didn’t like?”. The man had the grace to reply, I don’t suppose there was anything He didn’t like. I was thinking about my own reaction. But worship isn’t really about me, is it?”.

When we as believers come before the Lord in worship, we must always remember that it is Him we are worshiping. This would sometimes require us to surrender our preferences and opinions so that we can do as the Scripture says, “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”(Eph 4:2-3). Just as the earth is filled with different landscapes and colours, different gifts to bring Him glory and pleasure. In understanding this, we will understand one another better.

Just like David the worshiper king, the Lord is looking today for men and women who are after Hid own heart. Tradition and style mean little to Him, “for the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. (1 Sam 16:7)

By Vernon Grounds (Extracted/adapted from Our Daily Bread)

Many times as we make our journey through life, we simply trust that God loves us and is at work even though we do not have enough evidence to prove that reality. At times like these we find strength in such words as: "When you cannot trace the band o/CW, you can surely trace His heart" (Charles Haddon Spurgeon). There are those other times when we can say with certainty that God's fingerprints are all over the place.

We truly believe that we are at one such time in the history of FGA. Now is one of those times when we are certain the hand of God is moving us as a company of His people, young and old, to embark on this spiritual adventure, the 40 Days of Purpose Spiritual Journey, together. What a joy to see the FGA family moving with urgency and in one accord to discover and experience the Lord's power and purposes in a new and living way. In the words of the prophet, Habakkuk: "Lord, Shave heard the news about you; I am amazed at what you have done. Lord, do great things once again in our time; make those things happen again in our own days" (NCV).

We would therefore urge you to commit to this 40 Day Spiritual Journey. Take advantage of this unique opportunity for spiritual growth. We challenge you to jump in with both feet and commit yourself to all the aspects and possibilities this church-wide event offers. Get ready to have your life changed and be blessed!

Elder Dr. Koh Eng Kiat and Elder Ang Chui Lai

The way you see your life shapes your life. That image is your life metaphor. It determines your expectations, values, relationships, goals, and priorities. If you think life is a party, your primary value in life will be having fun. If you see life as a battle, winning will be very important to you.

What is your view of life? You may be basing your life on a faulty metaphor. To fulfill the purposes God made you for, you will have to challenge conventional wisdom and replace it with the biblical metaphors of life.

The bible views life as a Test. God continually tests people’s character, faith, obedience, love, integrity, and loyalty. For example, God tested Abraham by asking him to offer his son Isaac (Gen 22:2). Character is both developed and revealed by tests, and all of life is a test. When you understand that life is a test, you realise that nothing is insignificant in your life.

The good news is that God wants you to pass the tests of life, so He never allows them to be greater than the grace He gives you to handle them. Every time you pass a test, God notices and makes plans to reward you in eternity.

The bible also views life as a Trust. Our time on earth and our energy, intelligence, opportunities, relationships, and resources are all gifts from God that He has entrusted to our care and management. We are stewards of whatever God gives us.

In the story of the talents, a businessman entrusts his wealth to the care of his servants while he’s away (Mt 25:14). When he returns, he evaluates each servant’s responsibility and rewards them accordingly.

Most people fail to realise that money is both a test and a trust from God. He uses it to teach us to trust Him, and for many people, money is the greatest test of all. God watches how we use money to test how trustworthy we are.

Extract from The Purpose Driven Life - Rick Warren

Living with purpose is the only way to really live. Everything else is just existing.

Most people struggle with three basic issues in life. The first is identity: “Who am I?” The second is importance: “Do I matter?” The third is impact: “What is my place in life?” The answers to all three questions are found in God’s five purposes for us.

There are many “good” things we can do with our lives, but God’s purposes are the five essentials we must do.

What is most important and what matters most is that we fulfill God’s eternal purposes . The Bible says, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”(Prov 19:21). We are to focus on God’s purposes for our lives, not our plans, since that’s what will last forever.

David dedicated his life to fulfilling God’s purposes on earth. David, “a man after God’s own heart”(Acts 13:22)“served God’s purpose in his generation.”(Acts 13:36a)

That we served God’s purpose in our generation is the ultimate definition of a life well lived. We do the eternal and timeless (God’s purpose) in a contemporary and timely way (in our generation). That is what the purpose-driven life is all about. Neither past nor future generations can serve God’s purpose in this generation. Only we can. Like Esther, God created us “for such a time as this.”(Est 4:14)

Paul lived a purpose-driven life. He said, “I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step”(1 Cor 9:26). His only reason for living was to fulfill the purposes God had for him.

God is still looking for people to use. Will you be a person God can use for His purposes? Will you serve God’s purpose in your generation?

Extract from The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

The word ‘fellowship’ was first mentioned in the New Testament (NT) in Acts 2:42. Fellowship then was more than casual conversations, socialising, food and fun—it was real fellowship. There was an atmosphere of honest sharing, practical serving, sacrificial giving, sympathetic comforting. In short, they were experiencing life together.

Honest sharing or authentic fellowship is one of the greatest challenges faced by Christians today. In being honest one needs coverage and humility. It also means that an individual is open to reflection and being hurt. Therefore to escape the fear of rejection and exposure it is easier to be an “angel fish” in church on Sundays. As such honest sharing needs to begin with us first, so that we can grow spiritually and be emotionally healthy in our walk with the Lord.

Real fellowship requires real mutuality, particularly in the area of giving and receiving. The believers in Acts 2:42–47 were not only practical in serving but sacrificial in their giving. They depended on one another and were committed to each other. Is this possible in FGA? It is possible if every member would echo the words of Paul to the Corinthian church in 1 Cor 12:25 “The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church; every part depended on every other part.”

According to Rick Warren, the deepest level of fellowship, besides honest sharing and real mutuality, is the ‘fellowship of suffering’. At this level we enter into each other's burdens and learn to share that burden. As such, it is of pivotal importance that we have a small group of friends who are real and tangible, able to share the burden. Do you have such a group? Galatians 6:2 emphasises that we need to carry each other's burden in order to fulfil the law of Christ. May we, as a church, fulfill that law individually and collectively.

D.S.

Rick Warren, in his best-seller, ‘The Purpose Driven Life’, says that none of us are here by accident. God planned us for His purposes, and these extend far beyond the few years we will spend on earth. Each of us need to understand God’s amazing plan for our lives—both here and now, and for eternity. We are made to last forever! Based on this premise, our life becomes meaningful and purposeful, an exciting journey of faith; of seeing and discovering God in unexpected places—in the loving touch of a mother’s hand or in the eyes of an orphaned child. When we begin to see life through God’s eyes, our entire perspective changes. We begin to understand that our lives are not about us but about Jesus; His Kingdom; His plan and purpose for mankind.

As the FGA family takes this 40-day journey of discovery together, we need to:

CENTRE our lives on God, not ourselves, and this begins with us surrendering our lives completely to Christ.

CONNECT with other believers for real fellowship. We were formed for God's family, and fellowship provides the fabric that knits us together.

CULTIVATE spiritual maturity and godly character. We are created to become like Christ, and developing habits necessary for spiritual growth is of paramount importance.

CONTRIBUTE something back by using our talents in ministry. God has shaped us for service. We need to find our niche in the body of Christ and be actively involved in the life of the church.

COMMUNICATE God's love to others and develop a heart for the world. All of us are made for a mission—let’s share our faith and participate in some kind of mission activity.

This emphasis and focus will help answer life’s most basic question: What on earth am I here for? May God help us as we begin this journey to discover His eternal purposes for our lives!

Extracted/Adapted from The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

The following was written by a young African pastor and tacked on the wall of his house:

“MY COMMITMENT AS A CHRISTIAN”

“I’m a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of His. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

“My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living and dwarfed goals.

“I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be the first, top, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

“My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, or ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

“I won’t give up, shut up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all I know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me - my banner will be clear!”

Extracted from Facts of the Matter by Dwight Hill

In a day when everyone, it seems, wants his name in lights or print, the idea of being an unheralded labourer for God goes down painfully. Yet, God’s true work is done without fanfare. Take for example, Dorcas. At her funeral, this quiet servant of God was praised for her “deeds of kindness and charity” (Acts 9:36,39). And what were her deeds? That of making underwear for others. Underwear! (Literally: “undergarments”)

God commands us to do His work without seeking recognition: “When you do something for someone else, don’t call attention to yourself...just do it quietly and unobtrusively.” (Matthew 6:1,2—The Message).

Even our private life of prayer with God is to go unnoticed: “And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom!...Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage....” (Matthew 6:5,6—The Message)

The true servants of God understand that God does not take kindly to sharing His glory: “My glory I will not share with another.” (Isaiah 48:11)

That is precisely why the real work of God is done quietly and humbly, and most often without the notice or appreciation of others.

Such service may appear to be sacrificial, but God’s mature servants are aware that true rewards will be handed out by Him in eternity. They know that God has a different system of evaluation: “Many who are first will be last, and the last, first.” (Matthew 19:30)

Adapted from Fact Of the Matter by Dwight Hill

The disciples had left all to follow Jesus. In Him they had found their hope and inspiration, their teacher and their guide. He was the One who had “the words of eternal life.” When they did not know how to pray, He taught them. When they could not answer the questions or the objections of the scribes and Pharisees, He was right there to teach them. When they needed to know what the Bible had to say about Him and His place in God’s plan, He opened their minds and warm their hearts. When they could not still the storm or cast out a demon, He was there with the power to help them.

What would become of the disciples after Jesus’ departure? Were they ready to do what they had been commissioned to do or face the resistance that would stand in their path? Obviously not! They could never do what they were given to do because their mission is a divine one that cannot be accomplished by human ingenuity. To be functionally adequate for the task ahead of them they needed nothing less than Pentecost.

Without Pentecost the whole mission of the disciples would have been frozen by fear and powerlessness. Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirt on the first church, provided the warmth, the dynamic and the joy that characterized the whole movement of the Gospel in the first century. Every part of the daily life of the believers, including their work and worship, was dedicated to Christ Jesus as Lord and under the direction of the Holy Spirit. They did not supposed that if a person tried hard enough he could live a good life and please God. They acted like they needed the constant help of the Spirit.

The Christian Church today sometimes (perhaps often) appears crippled because it has little or no emphasis on the Holy Spirit. The Christianity produced is a sad, despairing type of interim days between the Crucifixion and the Resurrection - of the first and second day, but not the third day. It is a broken-off Gospel - a before-Pentecost message instead of an after-Pentecost– frustrated instead of fruitful.

Adapted from Abundant Living by E. Stanley Jones and What the Bible Says about the Holy Spirit by Stanley M. Horton

What do you think is the greatest need of the church you are in? Your answer will depend on what puts you off in the church, or what you react strongly to. If you think people in the church are too cold, too snobbish, too unfriendly, you would probably say the greatest need of the church is love.

Likewise, if you feel church members are too worldly and materialistic, or too spiritual and unrealistic, or too legalistic or too liberal, your answer will correspond to what you strongly feel.

But really, there is one need that if it is met will answer all other needs. The one thing we desperately need is the Holy Spirit.

A. W. Tozer once commented that if God were to take the Holy Spirit out of this world, most of what the church is doing would go right on, and few people would notice the difference. I guess that’s because the Holy Spirit never had the recognition due to Him in the first place. One reason we do not give the Spirit due honour is that we have developed a religious industry whose machinery runs quite smoothly without any need of Him. We rely more on our human ingenuity than on the power of the Holy Spirit, though we are not short in paying lip service to Him.

Too much of our religious life is made up of programmes and human ideas, talents and strategies. We spend money and time trying to keep up with the latest development in communications and the state-of-the-art electronics. While these have value, they pitifully fail to meet the need of the hour. What we need desperately is the Holy Spirit. All our cleverness can’t transform a single crack addict, heal the heart of a rape victim, or draw a jaded businessman to Christ. Only God’s Spirit can do that.

The Old Testament declaration is still 100 percent true today: It is “not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty” (Zechariah 4:6). A decade of gadgets and gimmicks will never accomplish what God the Holy Spirit can do in one month as He works in the life of the church.

Adapted from Fresh Power by Jim Cymbala

He is not energy or force. He is not courage or enthusiasm. He is not the personification of all good qualities and virtues. He is a person. (Anonymous).

When we know we have most of Christ, when we love Him most, live for Him most, we know that the Holy Spirit is within us in power. (F. B. Meyer in A Castaway and Other Addresses).

The Holy Spirit is our power base. We rely on Him for our spiritual life as we rely on fresh air for our physical life. Without the Holy Spirit we are as helpless as a fish out of the water, and as useless as a yacht without wind. But with the Holy Spirit, we are in our element! We have the power to do all that God has called us to do. (Real-Life Christianity).

Like the wind, the Holy Spirit cannot be seen. But we can certainly see the effects of His presence, and the differences He makes. He is with us at every stage of our Christian life. He was the midwife who brought us into new life with God when we were born again. He is our life-giving teacher who makes it possible for us to develop spiritually. It is He who helps us praise and pray, and it is He who helps us share our faith with others. Without Him, neither spiritual life nor spiritual impact is possible. (Real-Life Christianity).

There is no need for us to wait, as the one hundred and twenty had to wait, for the Spirit to come. For the Holy Spirit did come on the day of Pentecost, and has never left since. Our responsibility is to humble ourselves before His sovereign authority to determine not to quench Him, but to allow Him His freedom. For then our churches will again manifest those marks of the Spirit’s presence.

(John Stott in Authentic Christianity)

Many Christians wish to be filled with the Holy Spirit because they are all too aware of their spiritual ineffectiveness, weaknesses, fruitlessness and failure. Out of real spiritual concern, such individuals wish to be more successful and effective as a pastor, evangelist, missionary, or teacher, or simply desire to live a more victorious Christian life.

What churches usually do to “pump up” the interest and attention of spiritually dry and thirsty Christians is turn to such substitutes as increased religious activity, new methods and dynamic programmes. But they are all poor and inadequate substitutes for what they really need, which is, the life and power of the Holy Spirit.

While Jesus didn’t promise the Spirit as an end to all our problems, He did make it crystal clear that the Holy Spirit is a vital and an indispensable part of those following Jesus. The Spirit is God’s ultimate gift to us, the supreme expression of God’s fatherliness. The assurance that the Spirit is God’s best gift is implied in Jesus’ words: “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him” (Luke 11:13).

As we stand on the threshold of the consummation of the age, when the world’s foundations are already beginning to crumble around us; as we stand in the midst of an increasing flood of satanic wickedness, as we find ourselves living in an age in which the term “discipleship” has lost its real meaning, and Christians seem, all too frequently, little more than pale shadows of their earlier brethren, with neither the power nor the fruits of the Holy Spirit in their lives, we need more and more to reclaim the Holy Spirit for the whole Church. Above all, we need more and more to allow the Holy Spirit to reclaim each of us for the Father.

(Adapted from Rediscovering the Spirit, Rob Warner and Deeper Life, Hobart Freeman)

What comes to mind when you think of the Cross? For me, I see arms—the outstretched arms of Jesus. Arms that, 2000 years later, still yearn to engulf the frustrations and fears, the disappointments and anxieties of mankind; still yearn to welcome and embrace.

Someone else might first think of the pain that Jesus suffered. Or the way He was mocked by bystanders. Someone else might think of the vertical position of the Cross, reaching up to heaven and descending into the dark unknown of death.

But when I think of the Cross, I see Jesus, dying a slow and terrible death, with His arms pulled wide. He could have been stoned, like Stephen. But then, to ward off those merciless stones, His arms would have been pulled in to cover His head. Or He might have been beheaded, like his cousin John. But then His hands would have been bound behind His back. Instead Jesus’ arms were stretched taut, leaving bare His heart. Even when He could no longer physically hold them out, His arms were held in place by the nails.

When I see the outstretched arms of Jesus, I think of how much I needed them; when I was weighed down by my wretched yesteryears and my sombre future, those kindly arms took me in.

When I think of the Cross, I think of the collective need of the church to open its arms—in forgiveness and in acceptance, fully aware of our faults and imperfections. Only when we open our arms as Jesus did, go to Him and to each other as He comes to us, will the Cross become the Cross it is meant to be.

Adapted from Picturing the Cross by Andrea Midgett

Throughout all of history, Christians cherish the belief that there is a God who understands the human dilemma. That in the midst of pain and suffering on Earth, there is a good reason for us to carry on. That God hears our prayers and cries. During Passion Week, the week leading to Easter Sunday, Christians focus on the supreme event when God demonstrated for all time that He knows our pain.

If Isaiah 53, the most quoted chapter on the suffering Christ, were written to modern man, it would sound something like this:

Look! Just look at Him! Do you see anything that suggests this is the ultimate Champion and Benefactor of mankind? You wouldn’t even say that He is mediocre, not to mention charisma. He simply wasn’t the kind you would take a second look. Pathetic, weak, wimpish, are the words to describe Him. (He was without form or comeliness... A tender shoot out of dry ground).

Certainly not the kind you’d like to be associated with or whose name you’d love to throw to gain mileage. No, no. On the contrary, you will deny you have anything to do with Him. If you see Him walking towards you, you’d turn and walk in another direction. (We esteem Him not... We hid our face from Him). You may think you have been looked down or passed over, but here was a man who was treated as scum. (Despised and rejected by men). Here was a man who knew suffering firsthand. (Man of sorrow, acquainted with grief).

But what’s astounding is that we actually think He deserved it: that God was punishing Him for His misdeeds (Smitten of God). But it was pure injustice. He suffered for crimes He absolutely did not commit. The fact is, He suffered because He took the punishment that we deserve. He suffered on account of our rottenness (He was wounded by our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities). And did He complain in the face of such injustice? Ah, no! He was as helpless as an animal dragged to be slaughtered, as mute as a sheep pinned down by its shearer. (He opened not His mouth).

What pain are you carrying? A physical condition that makes you say; “If only this will go away...” Emotional pain? The criticism that stings long and hard; the rejection that makes you feel small and worthless; the feeling of being betrayed or used by people you trusted? Are you carrying the pain of loneliness or the loss of someone who means the world to you. Come to the Man who was “tempted in every way we are,” and “touched with the feelings of our infirmities”.

AC

A life that is consecrated to God does not come without a price. That is because the ‘old man’ will do everything - pull out every trick up it’s sleeve - to stay alive. This tussle between the flesh and the spirit, between what we want and what God desires, between half-hearted commitment and total submission goes on relentlessly.

Often, the victory only comes when we are in total desperation. In our desperate time, the Holy Spirit helps us realize that a cosmetic surgery on the outer man is just not adequate. Since God is after something much deeper, a radical surgery is needed. Times like that are also moments of decision: we must put the ‘old man’ on the line and let it die if we are to do “the good and perfect will of God”.

During those moments we have our toughest battles to fight. It is like the wrestling match between Jacob and the angel of the Lord. The old Jacob life had to be subdued and that it was not going to come easy.

That wrestling match is a picture of how God deals with His people to bring about lasting change. This is how God makes an Israel out of a Jacob, a prince out of a con man. It is scary how many great experiences we can have and remain unchanged. We flee the presence of God, even while we serve Him. We speak to Him but avoid His eyes lest they penetrate our defences and we are exposed. But God pursues and overtakes us; He arrests us only to bless us. If only we know how committed He is to change us into the likeness of His Son.

Adapted from When Heaven is Silent by Ronald Dunn

What drives you to work? Pure survival? To provide for the family? Looking for enough money to live the good life — whatever you make that out to be? Do you see work as a reflection of your identity and worth? If so, you are only as valuable as what you produce.

Many of us work for a multiple of reasons and are so overwhelmed by them that we forget that as Christians, the main reason we work is to honour Him. Paul gives us his theology of work:

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving (Col. 3: 23-24).

How many of us would say that we work primarily to honour God? When our main concern is to glorify God, we will not have to struggle with many of the ethical issues we face at work. We will not have to resort to unscrupulous practices. We will not even have to worry about the outcome because pleasing God supercedes all that. Being faithful and obedient to God is the only thing that matters.

God may or may not bring wealth to our life. If He does, it should come as a by-product of obedience, not an end in itself. But God may call each of us to be obedient in situations that may not yield immediate, positive results. It is in these times that our faith must be obedience-based rather than outcome-based. What if Jesus had considered the immediate ramifications of whether he would go to the cross? Based on the immediate outcome, the decision would have been an easy one. Who wants to die on a cross? However, for Him there was a higher purpose in that obedience. We are called to this same kind of obedience. This means putting our own flesh on the line daily, dying to our own self-will.

This is what it means to be a consecrated Christian. God knows how to bless such a Christian for He said, “... those who honour me I will honour...” (2 Samuel 2: 30).

Adapted from Working in a Spirit of Rest by Stacey S. Padrick.

What marks out a Christian whose life is fully consecrated to God? Consider George Mueller who was known for building orphanages by faith in the mid-1800s. It was only four years after his conversion that he fully surrendered his life to God. He told what it was like once that happened:

The love of money was gone, the love of place was gone, the love of position was gone, and the love of worldly pleasures and engagements was gone. God alone became my portion. I found my all in Him; I wanted nothing else. And by the grace of God this has remained, and has made me a happy man, an exceedingly happy man, and it led me to care only about the things of God. I ask affectionately, my beloved brethren, have you fully surrendered the heart to God, or is there this thing or that thing with which you have taken up irrespective of God? I read a little of the Scriptures before, but preferred other books; but since that time the revelation He has made of Himself has become unspeakably blessed to me, and I can say from my heart, God is an infinitely lovely Being. Oh, be not satisfied until in your own inmost soul you can say, God is an infinitely lovely Being!

Many will never get to the place where George Mueller was in his spiritual life because they are unwilling to release control of those areas he spoke about. Many may not even aspire to be where he was, fearing that the price is too high to pay to get there. But God knows how to bring us through a process to the realization that the only way to a life of freedom, purpose, and meaning is through complete surrender. That process may involve pain and suffering. For many of us, without hardship to shake us loose from the hold of worldly power, position and money, we will never find the abundant life God meant for us to live.

Adapted from “Christ In The Workplace” by OS Hillman

Eric Liddell was an Olympic runner from Britain who won a gold medal in the 1924 Paris Olympics. He was a man deeply committed to the Lord and had planned to become a missionary one day. In the meantime, he knew God had given him a special gift to run, and he often said: “I feel God’s pleasure when I run.”

Liddell spent years training, passing each hurdle that came and finally qualified for the Olympics. During the games that were held in Paris, he encountered a problem. One of his running events was held on Sunday. Liddell refused to run on that day, believing it would dishonour the Lord’s Sabbath if he did so. He was heavily persecuted for that. Even with the full realization that he was letting go something that meant the world to him, Liddell decided he would not exchange his obedience to God with man’s applause. Just when the circumstances seemed hopeless, something developed that allowed Liddell to run on a different day.

As Christians, we are often face with situations that test our hearts to see if we will remain faithful to Him at the cost of something important to us. Once He knows where our loyalty lies, He opens a new door that meets the desires of our hearts. God takes pleasure in seeing His creation used for His glory. Liddell understood why he was made to run. He used his gift of running to bring pleasure to his Creator. Later, Eric Liddell went on to serve God in the mission field.

Does your life work bring pleasure to God? Do you understand that God instilled certain gifts and talents in you so that He might find pleasure in creating you?

Adapted from ‘Christ In The Workplace’ by OS Hillman

Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where are we heading? Any school of thought that convincingly answers these age-old philosophical questions will no doubt win converts to it.

Christians have found the answers to those questions in the person of Jesus Christ who is “the way, the truth and the life”. We know those answers to be true because we are “set free” by them. That’s what the apostle John said: “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free”.

But sometimes in the course of living we forget our divine root (our past), the purpose we are here (our present) and our destiny (our future). We dart to and fro like ants on planet earth. We growl and bark like dogs in a dog-eat-dog world. We scurry and scramble like rats in the rat race.

“We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus”, mentioned apostle Paul. We who have become fallen creatures through sin are now restored and recreated through Jesus. We are now products of the Master Craftsman. We now bear the titles saints, ambassadors, priests, kings, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, who are “saved out of darkness into His marvellous light”.

Knowing where we come from, the next big question is “Why are we here?” The answer, as Paul said, has long been conceived in the mind of God. We who are saved in Christ have all been divinely prearranged “to do good works.” That’s our purpose for living. It is written in our spiritual DNA. Until we follow in the steps of our Lord and Saviour in the “good works,” we cannot be the person God has designed us to be. And how else can we realize the purpose we are called for except by living a life consecrated to the service of the Master.

AC

According to some statistics, only one Christian in 100 ever leads another person to faith in Christ. One way to change this trend is by finding creative ways to share Christ everywhere we go.

Some Christians do prayer walk through their neighbourhoods, workplaces and schools, lifting up the spiritual needs of those around them. As they prayer walk, they ask the Lord to save souls and to arrange opportunities to speak with acquaintances about Jesus Christ.

Leading our world to the Saviour requires us to both “walk the walk” and “talk the talk”. Witnessing becomes effective when we both do something and say something to others about what Jesus has done and can do for them. I’ve seen actions and words working together in witnessing as men on disaster relief teams prepared and served meals to hurricane and tornado victims. Having met the physical and emotional needs of others, some of the people on these disaster relief teams also shared with others how they could avoid the eternal loss of their souls.

Romans 10:17 says: “So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.” Let each of us determine to begin our day asking the Lord to make us sensitive to the spiritual needs of those around us and to give us the courage to speak with them about Jesus.

Adapted from Sid Woodruff, Stand Firm

We are all needy people. Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs states that we start with the most basic needs for food, shelter, protection and then move up to emotional needs, and then finally to self-actualization need. At any point in our life, we are always seeking to have a certain need of ours met.

Knowing how easy it is to be frantically preoccupied with our personal needs and concerns, Jesus calls us to lay them aside and shift our attention to “the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” “Seek first...,” He said. Our supreme goal, our highest ambition, the thing that should capture our heart and mind... should be heavenly things.

Some people may be so heavenly minded that they are of no earthly use. But the reason we should make the kingdom our priority, according to Jesus, is: we have a Father in heaven who will never neglect or abandon us. He will ensure that we have all that we need and what deem best for us.

Schoettgen relates a story about a king and his valiant soldier who had somehow won the king’s favour. “Ask what you will and I will give it to you,” the king said to the gallant young man. The young soldier thought to himself: “If I ask to be made a general, I shall readily obtain it. But I will ask something to which all these things shall be added.” So he said to the king: “Give me your daughter to be my wife.” Because he asked for the daughter, he was not only given the daughter, but made the general and added all the dignities of the kingdom.

Jesus mentioned if we know what to seek first, the things we need in life will automatically come to us. There’s absolutely no necessity to live frantically. Consecrating our life to God is very much at the heart of seeking “first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” When we do so, we can expect to reap kingdom benefits and privileges.

Ac

The workplace is well acquainted with Christians who say they follow Christ but live no differently t