Sermon Re-cap (24th Dec 2006)

The Reason For The Season

Christmas is a season for us to remember that Jesus’ coming to the world is for the purpose of redemption.

Why do we need redemption?

• We have all sinned.
  
• Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,
  
• We are deserving of death because of our sins.
  
• Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
  
• However, Jesus has taken our sins upon himself and died on the cross for all of us.
  
• Rom 5:8 But God commends His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.
  
• Therefore, when we receive Jesus into our lives, our death sentence is revoked and we are saved.
  
• Rom 10:9-10 Because if you confess the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. (10) For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses unto salvation.
  
• We now have life because the Son of God lives in us.
  
• 1Jo 5:11-13 And this is the record, that God has given to us everlasting life, and this life is in His Son. (12) He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. (13) I have written these things to you who believe on the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have everlasting life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God.
  

Let this Christmas season be a meaningful one as we understand the true meaning of Christmas. Let Christ alone reign in our lives.

Ps Samuel Hari

 

 

Sunday Re-cap (10th December, 2006)

Christ in You is the Hope of Glory
Ps. Rey Benito

Col 1:26-27- Because of CHRIST in us we can now experience the glory of God.

Ps. 105:8-15 God remembers His covenanted people forever. He protects, blesses and keeps them from harm.

Those who are in Christ, God brings every favour, grace and blessing that they will be a blessing to others. God brings His glory through us for Christ is the Spirit of Glory in us:

1. He comes to beautify our lives
a) Eph 2:10 We are now God’s workmanship – God accepts us as we are but the Spirit of Glory (CHRIST) transforms us from glory to glory and makes all things beautiful.

b) 2 Peter 2:9 We are a chosen generation and belong to the Kingdom of Light.
We are children of God and a citizen of the Kingdom of God.

c) Heb 12:22-24 Our names are registered in heaven because of Jesus Christ – church of the general assembly of the firstborn. The church on earth is a representative of the church in Heaven; we are Christ’s ambassadors, representing Christ – we shine to others Christ’s glory.

d) 1 Cor 2:16 We have the mind of Christ. We can receive ideas / thoughts from God. God says, “my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.”

2. God gives us an excellent spirit.
Dan 1:20- Daniel had the spirit of excellence. The glory of God is the best charisma we can have (Dan 6:3)

3. Brings bounty in our lives
2 Cor 9:10 We need to plant seeds of the Word of God – increase the fruits of your righteousness.

How to allow the Holy Spirit to manifest in our lives?
1. Commit totally to God.
2. Acknowledge what the Word of God says about you.
3. Arise and shine. Isaiah 60:1- Show our good works to the world and touch people.
4. Patience & perseverance – we have to believe, respond and persevere like Joseph till God placed him in a position of glory.

So church, lets allow the Holy Spirit to manifest in our lives till the Glory of Christ is seen.

Sunday Re-cap (03rd December, 2006)

Unity
Ps. Samuel Hari

God is ready to intervene in the affairs of man.
Heb 11:1, 6 Faith is … Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
The hope that is found in the Bible is a deep yearning / assurance of what God is doing.
Rom 5 – Hope doesn’t disappoint.

Ps. 133 – How Good and Pleasant for brethren to dwell together.
Not Many things in life are both GOOD and PLEASANT. Exercise, discipline, studying, medicine, constructive criticism is good but may not necessarily be pleasant.

John 17:24 Jesus’ definition of Unity – that we may all be one as the Father is in Jesus and Jesus in the Father. That we may be one in THEM that the world may believe that the Father sent Jesus. It’s Koinonia relationship. It’s much deeper – sharing, close association, partnership, participation, a communion, contributory help. An intimate bond of fellowship.

Acts 2:42 The believers who were baptized in the Holy Spirit were literarily devoted to this kind of covenant relationship- through communication and unity with God and one another.

Eph 4:3 Endeavor – Pressing in / making the effort to continue steadfastly in the God (apostles’ doctrine and prayer) and in one another (fellowship and the breaking of bread).

Acts 3 – Peter & John healed the lame man (Powerful miracle); Acts 4 persecution and opposition came along. When there is unity there will be opposition, but it’s faith that brings the miracles.
We need to understand the deception that is around us (Acts 4:13-17). The eyes that are blinded or those who even consciously reject the LORD even after seeing and admitting for themselves the manifestation of God’s power and presence. Here we also learn that it’s not always miracles that bring people to the LORD but it’s a revelation of who He is / an encounter with the living God.
Acts 4:24 - with one accord raised their voices (covenant prayer) to God
Acts 4:31-33 – the place was shaken and they:
1. Assembled in ONE place.
2. They PRAYED
3. They were filled with the HOLY SPIRIT
4. They spoke the Word of God with Boldness – direct reference with verse 18; which is EVANGELISM)

Church lets put all effort to live in the Koinonia relationship and experience the power of Unity in the Body of Christ!

GROW Christmas Programmes

Prophetic Ministry

Sunday Re-cap (19th November, 2006)

Be Perfect don’t settle for second best
Ps. Daniel Toh

Our God is Holy and Perfect and so He wants us to be likewise …holy & perfect!
Eph 4:1 - I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.

We all fall short of the glory of God; no one is perfect except God alone. The Bible says a young rich ruler asked Jesus, what he ought to do to obtain salvation and was told to sell his wealth and give them to the poor. Jesus said this so that he would be set free from living in the pattern of this world, the wealth of this word and its pressures. God wants us to depart from living in the patterns of this world and follow God’s pattern – holy & perfect.

Matt 5:48 -Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
This is not an instruction but a Command from the lord.

We can be perfect if only our minds are renewed through the word of God and we start thinking according to God’s way.
Rom 12:2- And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Restoration of the mind:
2 Cor 10:5 - casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Resurrection power is in us, so don’t wait use this incomparable mighty power to practice to take authority over the stronghold of our minds and all the other harmful habits.
Eph 1:19-21- and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

Phil 3:12-14 - Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Rev 3:1-6 - "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God…

So be renewed in the mind, be more and more like Jesus and bring all things under submission to the ways of God and prepare to reach perfection. Don’t’ settle for second best.

Sunday Re-cap (12th November, 2006)

Linger in God’s presence, do the things of God and reach out to others.
Ps. Francis Peter

We are called to be children of the Living God. Jesus Christ has constant prayer & fellowship with the Father that caused Him to do great things. Like wise we ought to spend time with God before we go out and reach out to others about God’s love and gift of salvation.

Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
- We speak to God more only through prayer and God speaks to us most of the time through his word (Bible).
- We ought to be doers of the Word. ( James 1:22)

Matt 28:18-20 We are call to Go out and witness

Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

Eze 22:30 So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.

Jesus Promises to be with us to help and guide us to do the things of God, Jesus will never leave or forsake us as we continue to linger in His presence and be witnesses to others

Ps.37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way.


Isa 40:28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.

1 Peter 3:9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

Mt 28:20 .. and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen

Luke 11:9-10 "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.


John 14:13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Jer 33:3 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'

1 Cor 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

1 Pet 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

So spend time with God, linger in His presence and have a heart for the lost souls of our relatives, friends and neighbours because they are dying without Jesus Christ in their lives.

Sunday Re-Cap (5th NOV, 2006)

Fellowship-Koinonia
by Ps Samuel Hari

Jn 17:20-21 Jesus defines UNITY. Does the UNITY in our fellowship line up with this desire? Why UNITY? It brings both individual and corporate blessings. Acts 2 and Ps 133.

The desire of our heavenly Father is that we be one in Him.

Acts 2:38-42: The model of UNITY in the early church.

They were in fellowship with one another (v42). What is fellowship? Is it only sharing food as we sometimes know it?

Fellowship found in this verse is koinonia (Gk). It is a compound word that means the following:

I. Sharing

1. In every aspect. Gospel, testimonies, etc. In a deeper sense it a sharing of lives; letting go of the comfort zones. No cliques. Like a close knit family.
2. It involves a breaking of paradigms.
3. What do we have that we can share with one another? Every one of us has a gift.
4. Start by practicing sharing in church and then we can expand it to sharing with the world around us.
5. It awakens us to the needs of the world around us.
6. One statistics say that 20% if the church does 80% of the work. We can break out of this by the power of the Holy Spirit.

II. Close Asssociation

1. When the Holy Spirit filled the early church they became less and less associated with the world and more and more closer to each other sometimes even without realising it.
2. There is a risk of becoming closer to one another. We can get get offended, hurt, discouraged. However the key to getting closer is our relationship with God. With the Holy Spirit in the combination, we can overcome and grow stronger and closer.
3. The closer we get to God, the closer we get to one another. Don't attempt to do it in our own strength. Ask the Holy Spirit for grace.
4. Step out in faith in getting closer to one another.

III. Partnership

1. Complementing one another's giftings. Don't covet one another's gifts.
2. Recognize one another's giftings in God and that they are unique for the building of the body of Christ.
3. Appreciate one another's giftings.
4. Encourage gifts. This will help us to avoid the path of cynism and move us to a lifestyle of encouraging one another.
5. Avoid flattery.

As we meditate on Koinonia type of fellowship, we understand better the flavor of Holy Spirit empowered UNITY in the early church. Let us stir up one another to love and to serve God with a cheerful heart.

Sunday Re-Cap (29th OCT, 2006)

The Quality of Unity
by Pastor Samuel Hari

Text: John 17:20-21

Before the church can be effective in reaching out and touching the community physically, emotionally or spiritually, the church must have a certain level of unity. What level is that?

We can worship and believe that our worship impacts our community but without UNITY, the effect is limited; although not entirely ineffective.

The church in Acts 2:1 was together in one place in one accord. There was a Quality of Unity that was present in the early church. What was the benchmark? Jesus said in Jn 17:21 that we may be one in the LORD as Jesus and the Father are one.

This is the quality of unity that is being sought out by the Father.

1. Where are we individually and as a church in reference to this benchmark?
2. Can we say that we are one in Him as Jesus and the Father?
3. What prevents us from arriving at this goal of the Father?
   
   There are three things that prevent us from arriving at this unity:

1. Js 5:16 Unforgiveness.
2. Js 4:1-10 Pride that leads to strife.
3. 1 Jn 4:7-8 No revelation of God’s LOVE. Murmuring, Complaining, Grumbling, seeing evil in everything. In one word, the FLESH. Solution: A crucified life.
   
   

In the book of Acts, the Father was so impressed by the Quality of Unity that he poured out the Holy Spirit without measure upon the early church.

The blessing upon the church was both individually and corporately and we can expect the same today. Not only were they blessed individually by the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the whole community around them were also blessed by an outpouring. Does our community need an outpouring today? Do we need an outpouring today? Then the answer lies in the Quality of Unity that we have. Love IS the KEY to EVERYTHING we do for JESUS is the SOURCE of it all!

Let’s believe God for that same QUALITY of UNITY and expect a mighty outpouring upon us individually, as a church and as a community.

The only unanswered prayer of Jesus is the UNITY of the believers. The answer is our response.

Sunday Re-Cap (15th OCT, 2006)

Weapons Of Warfare
By Pastors Hank & Myrene Morrison (COTW Van Nuys CA)

Introduction:
There are 2 Kingdoms that are at war with each other which are The Kingdom of God and The Kingdom of Darkness.

Kingdom Of God-Love, Light, Joy, Peace, Kindness, Gentleness, Goodness, Faithfulness.
Kingdom Of Darkness-Hate, Darkness, Fear, Pain, Torment, Anger, Violence, Cruelty.

Kingdom Of God brings UNITY and Kingdom Of Darkness brings DIVISION.

Eph 6.12: Each of these Kingdoms wants ultimate rule.

2 Cor 10.4-5: What are these WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE?

1. The TRUTH. John 8.32
2. The BLOOD of JESUS. Rev 12.11 Lev 17.11
3. The Authority of the name of JESUS. Mark 16.17
4. The word of their TESTIMONY. Rev 12.11
5. The WORD of God and the SWORD of the SPIRIT. Eph 6.17
6. LOVE. 1 Jn 4.18
7. FASTING. Matt 17.21
8. Anointing with OIL. Is 10.27
9. Laying on of HANDS. Luke 13.11-16, Luke 4:40-41, Acts 19:11-12
10. Songs of DELIVERANCE. Ps 32.7
11. Binding and Loosing. Matt 16.19, Matt 18.18
12. Warfare Prayer in Tongues. Matt 12.28
13. Prayer of Agreement. Matt 18.19
14. PRAISE. Ps 149.6-9
15. Gifts of the SPIRIT. 1 Cor 12-14
16. Prayer of REPENTANCE. 1 Jn 1.8-9
17. WARFARE SHOUTS. Jer 50.15; 51.14
18. Hands at WAR. Ps 18.34

Q. When do we use which weapon?
A. Lean not on your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge HIM and He shall direct your paths. Prov 3.5

Sunday Re-cap (08th October, 2006)

Don’t settle for anything less when your heart asks for more
Pr. David Lai

Mark 10:46-52 - Blind Bartimaeus determined in his mind & heart to get his sight.
The devil doesn’t want us to have more. He wants to kill, steal and destroy us from having more.

Genesis 37:3 – Joseph was hated by his brothers because he had more. Likewise when we have more the devil wants to destroy us. But we need to rise up and allow God to bless us move that we can impact nations.

Daniel - Served four kings but finally he had more and became a prophetic voice to the nation.

Saul (1 Samuel 9:1-27) – Saul a handsome guy was selected to be the king of Israel but Saul with his own mind and perspective say I’m from the smallest clan of Benjamite and tries to avoid the more that God wanted to bless him.

We just need o allow God to touch our hearts for His blessings are unlimited, we need to change our believe system so that we can trust on what the Word of God says; only then our spirit-man will line-up towards God’s plan for us.

1 Sam 10:9, 26 – God gave Saul another heart, a changed heart to do His will. Learn to pull down every stronghold in the mind in Jesus’ name.

Gideon (Judges 6) – Gideon had the same mind set like Saul that he was from the smallest and weakest clan, but he wanted move- to see the deliverance of the nation of Israel. Since he wanted more, he became a mighty leader. God is a God of Much More!

Jabez (1 Chron 4:9-10) – “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!"

2 Chron 25:6-9 - God has power to help and to overthrow - "The Lord is able to give you much more than this."

Eph 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”

So don’t settle for anything less when your heart asks for more in the things of God!

Sunday Re-cap (01st October, 2006)

Do You Really Know God
Bro. Daniel Jacob

Gen 19:1 -15 ~ Sodom & Gomorrah were punished.
Gen 18:20 – Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed because of their sin. Ezekiel 16:49 says their sin was that they did not help the poor, were haughty and did detestable things.
The main reason God destroyed them was because they did not help the poor and the needy.


Gen 18:20 – Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed because of their sin. Ezekiel 16:49 says their sin was that they did not help the poor, were haughty and did detestable things.
The main reason God destroyed them was because they did not help the poor and the needy.

Gal 2:9-10 ~ The Apostles and Paul had the same desire that is “to remember the poor”.

Jeremiah 22:16 ~ To have compassion on the poor. That compassion must do something, and
not just having good intentions but without actions. The Bible says that Jesus was moved by
compassion to do something.

Lev 19:1-10 ~ The Lord told how the harvesters must consider the poor & needy by leaving some at the edge, whatever falls don’t pick up, so that the poor may collect them.

We have to heed the call of the poor and needy.
Pro 21:31~ Don’t shut the cry of the poor and remember what we sow is what we will reap.
Mt 25:31-46 – Jesus mentions that whatever we do to the least of the brethren, we do it unto Him.

Eph 2:8 By grace we have been saved through faith. James says ‘Faith without works is dead”. If we have faith, the natural result is action to do something.
We become selfish and self centred if we do not give or help the poor. When we are insensitive to something, we are oblivious to the problems around.

Poor are those who due to circumstances in life are not able to help or fend for themselves due to ill health, death of sole provider, lack of opportunity, oppression from outside.

We should proactively want to help the poor & needy.
Pro 22:9 – Generous giver will be blessed.
Deut 15:10 – Give without grieve and God will bless all your works
Pro 19:17 – He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD…

You can give without loving but you cannot love without giving!
So to what extend do we help the poor & needy? The picture of a true Christian is one who blesses the poor.

Conclusion: God is interested in people, especially people in difficulty. Give without expecting anything in return!

Sunday re-cap (24th September 2006)

In Spite Of…..Unconditional Devotion Part II
Pr. Vincent Liew

Introduction

The danger of backsliding in our devotion to God may not be present only in difficult times but also in the ‘good’ times when our lives are a ‘breeze’. This trend was very typical of the Israelites in OT times. When they were ‘high and dry’, they cried out to God for help, but when they were having a good life, they reverted back to their old rebellious ways, forgetting who their God was (Hosea 13:4-8).
However, Christians can model their lives after 3 persons in the OT whom, in spite of their success, continued to be unconditionally devoted to God. Their devotion to God was reflected in their;-

A. Fear of God – Gen. 39:1-10 (Joseph – Slave to Prince)

i. Joseph resisted Potiphar’s wife’s sexual advances because he had the fear of God. He had the revelation that whenever someone sin, first and foremost, he or she sins against God Almighty, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. In spite of being ‘the man’ now in Potiphar’s house, he did not compromise his devotion to God. Sin is not only about the physical realm, but more importantly; it has drastic implications in the spiritual realm too.
ii. Quote: “When we lose the fear of God, by default we will inherit a thousand lesser fears.

B. Faith in God – Esther 4:15-16 (Esther – Peasant to Queen)

i. Esther became queen of Persia almost overnight. The king was ‘head over heels’ in love with her. She could have asked and got anything she wanted. But when her people, the Jews, were in trouble, Esther turned to God for help. In spite of success in the Persian court, she knew her limitations and she chose to put her faith in God rather than in herself.
ii. The more gifted or talented we are, the stronger the temptation to rely on self rather than God. God becomes our plan B.

C. Fellowship with God – Daniel 6:1-10 (Exile to Governor)

i. Daniel was a VVIP in Babylonia. He was one of the busiest politicians. God had blessed him with favor and everybody wanted a share of him. Even the king maintained a personal relationship with him. However, in spite of his popularity with royalty, Daniel continued to keep his personal fellowship with God like he had always done. Although the situation was not favorable, yet he did not neglect his quiet time with the Lord.
ii. The key to a strong personal fellowship with God is consistency.

Conclusion – Read Ecclesiastes 12

We should strive to remain unconditionally devoted to God by fearing Him, having faith in Him, and fellowshipping with Him even when everything is well in our lives.

Sunday Re-cap (17th September, 2006)

WHAT JESUS TOOK BACK TO HEAVEN
Text: Acts 1: 9-11
By: Ps. Abel Phillips

Introduction: The Bible has much to say about the first coming of Jesus and what he brought from Heaven to earth. But not much is said about WHAT JESUS TOOK BACK TO HEAVEN. In this message we will look at WHAT JESUS TOOK BACK TO HEAVEN.

1. HE TOOK OUR PARDON - JUSTIFICATION - Romans 5: 8-11
Jesus died for our sins and arose for our Justification --- The Pardon is Signed In His Own Blood, Delivered to the Father, And Sealed In The Vault of Heaven Until That Great Reunion Day. We stand before God in the righteousness of Jesus!

2. HE TOOK THE NAIL PRINTS OF HIS SUFFERINGS
Nail Prints, in his hands and feet! --- The devil appears before God to accuse the saints! --- Jesus stands and shows the nail scared prints to the devil, and presents the nail scared prints to the Father… Jesus says I died for them on Calvary and here are the nail scared prints to prove it. Get lost devil, This is a redeemed Child of God!

3. HE TOOK THE AUTHORITY TO SEND THE HOLY SPIRIT
John 16:7 - "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away, for if I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you: but if I depart, I will send Him unto you."
THE 120, WAITING IN THE UPPER ROOM KNEW JESUS HAD MADE IT HOME, WHEN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT COME UPON THEM.
Gal 5:20-22 – We ought to live and operate by the fruit of the Spirit.

4. HE TOOK AN INTERCEDING SPIRIT
Hebrews 9:24 - "For Christ is not entered into the Holy places made with hands, which are the figure of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.
I John 2:1 - "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, ye have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

5. HE TOOK THE BLUE PRINTS OF OUR HEAVENLY HOME
John 14:2 - "In my Fathers House are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." Wait to you see my brand new home!

6. HE TOOK WITH HIM THE DESIRE TO COME AGAIN
Acts 1:11 - "This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."

John 14:3 - "And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself that where I am there ye may be also."

B - "For the Lord HIMSELF, shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Conclusion
1 John 5:1-5 - Have faith in the Son of God. Be eager and anticipate in His Return by being obedient to His Word and the Holy Spirit's Guidance on daily basis.

Sunday re-cap (10th September 2006)

In Spite Of (Unconditional Devotion to God)
Pr. Vincent Liew

Introduction: James 1:2-3 – My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.(NKJV)

i. It is natural for all of us to desire that everything goes well in our lives; our wealth, our health, our family, our relationships, etc.
ii. However, in reality, not everyday is a ‘beautiful Sunday’. We will definitely experience ‘good days’ as well as ‘bad days’. So what do we do?

We will look at three specific yet unique scenarios where those who were involved had to make a choice to either abandon God or follow Him in spite of their circumstances.

A. Scenario 1: Provisions – Habakkuk 3: 17-18

i. Fig tree, grapevine, olive, grain, and flocks covers the entire range of agricultural produce that Israel was dependent on for their livelihood
ii. We are not talking about the luxuries of life but the very basic needs in life. Imagine losing our jobs, having no food to feed us or our children, no money to pay our water or electric bills, and etc.
iii. But in spite of the seemingly bleak situation, Habakkuk could still rejoice in God his salvation. His confidence did not rest in visible yet temporal blessings, but rather in an unshakeable relationship with God. God is still God whether He continues to provide these things for his people or not. Habakkuk was determined to rejoice and exult in the Lord even though there may not be any visible or external signs of His presence or favor.

B. Scenario 2: Persecution/Deliverance – Daniel 3:15-18

i. Three good friends of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced life and death situation. Bow down and worship a false idol or be thrown into the blazing furnace.
ii. In spite of staring death in the face, obeying God was more important than life to these three, so if God chose not to deliver them, they will still be devoted to Him. They did not know how God will deliver them, but dead or alive, they knew they were God’s treasured possession. God may be trusted to protect us, but our honoring Him is not conditional upon His preserving us. The three were not delivered from the fire, but in the fire!

C. Scenario 3: Physical Wellbeing/Healing – Job 2:7-10

i. Apparently hopeless case. In spite of all his afflictions (material, emotional, physical) Job did not sin against God. He had disproved Satan’s claim that he would sin with his lips by cursing God if he was physically struck down.

Conclusion
We can rise above the circumstances because our God is with us and He will never leave us nor forsake us. He the One who gives us strength and grace to be more than overcomers.

Sunday Re-cap (03rd September, 2006)

Know your Calling
Ps. Alfred Ee

Text: Matt 14:15-21; 15:32-39 & Rom 12:3-8

Eph 4:7-16 Everyone of us are called into the Ministry, not only the 5 fold Ministry. Let each one function within their gifts / calling.

Three Meaning Grace:
1. Salvation Grace / Unmerited favour – Saving grace of God
2. Dynamic power of God – Don’t operate in your own strength. Be strong in the Lord and not in your own ability.
3. Grace as gifts and ministry (Eph 3:1-3,8)

Because of God’s Grace we go to heaven; because of God’s mercy we don’t go to hell.

Five Fold Ministry (Eph 4:11-16)
1. Apostles
2. Prophets
3. Evangelists
4. Pastors
5. Teachers
Function:
i. Equipping of the saints for the work of ministry
ii. Edifying of the body of Christ
iii. Unity of the faith, Knowledge of the Son of God

The Seven Fold Ministry (Rom 12:3, 6-8)
1. Prophesying
2. Serving /Ushering
3. Teaching
4. Encouragement / Exhorting
5. Giving with Liberality
6. Leading / Leadership
7. Gift of Mercy

So know your calling / gifting. If you are not in the Five Fold Ministry, then through the grace given to us, serve through the seven fold ministry according to Roman 12:6-8

Sunday Recap (27th August 2006)

Tending Our Garden
By Ps Samuel Hari

Text:

^NLT Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.

1. HEART

Definition:

1) inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding (Note: SOUL-emotions, mind, will)

• most times we guard our spirit man by prayer, word, etc. but not much time is spent in guarding our hearts (heart and soul are interchangeable as seen in definition above).
• we need to realize that when we are saved, our spirit man is born again and then The Holy Spirit begins the process of renewing our souls. God breathed his Spirit and then told us to look after the garden.(Gen 2.15)
• What is the condition of this garden? (Pro 24:30-34).
• it requires our attention, no one can do it for us.

Mat 9:16 -17

• The wineskin is speaking about our hearts-soul. The soul (wineskin) is the container for the spirit (wine).
• most times we are patched up souls in the church. A little bit of the old and a little bit of the new i.e. a new creation but can get angry, lie every once in a while…forgive most people, tending our garden is a practical exercise and requires….

2. GUARD/DILIGENCE

Definition:

1) place of confinement, prison, guard, jail, guard post, watch, observance

1a) jail, prison, guard-house

1b) guard, guard post, act of guarding

• the act of guarding is not just casual guarding. That’s sometimes the reason it gets broken into many times! IT IS AN ACT OF MILITARY PROPORTIONS!
• It is the wellspring of life; affects everything you do! Business, family, finances, HEALTH etc.
• In the natural we guard our physical hearts. If the heart breaks down ALL our wealth, fame, fortune means nothing. People who are depending on us are left abandoned; Is GOD using this to speak to us about our spiritual heart which is our soul? If our spiritual heart breaks down……
• attending a good seminar, listening to a good teaching tape or letting the words of a Christian song minister to us?
• what about our friends? We need friends to help us guard our hearts. Wrong friends means garden is neglected or in a total mess!

3. ABOVE ALL ELSE!

God says ABOVE ALL ELSE! Put it at the top of the list of things in the morning. I AM GOING TO GUARD MY HEART TODAY, every moment, every day, every word, every thought.

Mat 5:29-30

• Is it eyes and hands that the LORD is talking about? He’s talking about costing us something to keep our gardens in order. If we need to stop associating with someone ungodly, even if its painful do it! If you’re going to be ridiculed for following HIM, do it! If you have to give up your girlfriend, boyfriend, even if means having no life partner, so be it!
• It’s a matter of life and death.
• No wonder the Bible says it is the wellspring of life and it affects everything we do!

Sunday Re-Cap (20th Aug 2006)

Knowing the Seasons of God
by Ps Donnaven Teoh

Introduction
Mark 1:14-15: We are here for a definite reason and a definite season for a divine purpose. We don’t have to wait for the upper room experience, but we can have the fullness of the Holy Spirit. E.g. Billy Graham knew when the season ended for him and made a graceful exit.

Two Types of Time:

1. Chronos – Natural time


2. Kairos – God’s Time: The time is fulfilled. It has come to a maturity and a time to accomplishment. An opportune moment or season where a foreordained event is going to take place.

Jesus was about 30, when he left the house. When he was baptized, the carpenter disappeared but the Son of Man appeared (new mandate). God gave him open recognition “This is my beloved son…” the new season/office as the Son of man has begun. When he died and resurrected he became the Son of God.

30 in Hebrew signifies maturity. Jesus was waiting for the mandate from heaven and was launched into a new season.

God is ready to do something new. The season has come, let God be God. When Kairos comes, we ought to repent and belief. Repentance – change of heart and be more passionate to reach out; wanting to know what the Father says.

Luke 19:41-44 – Jesus wept because the people we ignorant of what was happening in the season.

In the Flood, Noah took 120 years to build the ark; God’s judgement was upon them who were ignorant.

Lk 19:42 – You miss the Kairos of your visitation. There is a season coming very quickly and God is gathering the hearts of His people.

John 7:5-8 – Jesus knows God’s Season and timing. Jesus knows what and when He is supposed to do. We ought to be walking the walk of Jesus on earth.

Mark 6 – The disciples feed the 5000. As they fed or gave out a miracle happened.

We ought to be walking the walk of Jesus on earth. The Holy Spirit is available all the time but do we have it in our hearts the fullness of God? Know the Kairos time and move with God.

Special Meeting-19th August

Merdeka Prayer Rally

Combined Churches Youth Camp (22-24 Aug)

Rapha Healing Service

Sunday Re-cap (13th August 2006)

Being Renewed In God
By: Sis. Ann Low (NECF)

Text: Isaiah 40:28 -31

We have our hope in the Lord, our Everlasting God.
Eph 1:3 God has blessed us with Blessings. “GROWBM” = God Reaches Out With Blessings Marvelously.
Renew means spring up in our walk with the Lord; being renewed in our spirit man, soul and physical realm.

Why God renews us

1. To be a Strong Christian so that we have the abundance of power to help the weaker ones. Become a blessing to more people. (Eph 3:16-18)

2. God strengthens us so that we can be victorious and rise above the storms of life. Jesus restores and redeems us no matter how many times we fall. Peter denied Jesus, yet was redeemed. Paul was in so much trouble but not defeated.

Rom 8:11 – “God gives life to your mortal bodies through the Holy Spirit.”
Matt 16:18 - The Church shall be strong and the gates of Hades shall not prevail
against it.

3. God renews us so that we will not grow weary but He shall be our strength to move fast. Nehemiah with God strength was able to build the wall and to complete it fast.

4. God wants us to persevere and run with endurance and be not weary or wear out. He wants us to walk and not faint.
2 Tim 2:3 - Endure perseverance. Endure the cross, carry the cross endure persecution.

So don’t be a “Yo-yo Christian” but WAIT upon the LORD; be renewed, grow in the Lord and be a blessing to others around you!

Sunday Re-cap (6th Aug 2006)

First Love by Pastor Samuel Hari

Our THEME scripture: Eph 3:10

What does it mean to be a SAINT?

Rev 2:1-5

1. Ephesians Church-good works, good programs, persevered, not weary.
2. However, ONE thing God had against them; they had a lost their first love.
3. We can have EVERYTHING without having that ONE thing. Without that ONE thing we can lose EVERYTHING!
4. There must be intensity, extreme passion for Christ.
5. Do we have our first love? If not, where has it gone?
6. We cannot serve without our first love; next to impossible.
7. No amount of motivation gets us to serve unless we have our first love.
8. We will get tired and eventually die down. We need an encounter with God.
9. Before we can repent and submit and obey, we need to have our first love.
10. We are caught up doing instead of being. We are human BEINGS and not DOINGS.
11. When someone has an encounter with God ie. First Love, we don’t need to keep convincing them i.e. about tithing and giving, doing evangelism, prayer.
12. No 1 priority, get our first love BACK!

How do we lose our first love?

1. After too much of doing and doing, we cross that line and find that our first love is missing.
2. Some never had an encounter with God. Symptom-they need to be prodded and prodded. They cannot understand those who are passionate with God.
3. Cares of this life, deceitfulness of riches, etc. (Matt 13:18-23: Read parable of sower).
4. Disappointments, offenses, unforgiveness, bitterness, discouragement. We need to guard our hearts with ALL DILIGENCE (Prov 4:23)

Let’s reestablish our covenant with God.

1. How? Go back to the places of remembrance. Remember the times God met us in the past. As the patriarchs set up altars. Remember the altars. They constantly reminded themselves and their children about God’s testimonies.
2. Don’t look for excuses and don’t blame anyone.
3. What kind of environment have we set up around us, in our home and church.
4. Keep confessing the word until we get a revelation. Fast and pray and read the Word.
   Let’s devour the WORD.
   
   Do not try to serve God any longer without that First Love!
   
   A saint is not just one who has life but also has life more abundantly! Jn 10:10
   
   It’s not our service that makes us get our first love BUT it’s our FIRST LOVE that makes us and KEEPS US wanting to SERVE!
   

Prayer
LORD, I need an encounter with you again. My family needs an encounter with you again. I need that excitement that I had when I first met you. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Do Your Best

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."

"When Leonardo da Vinci was still a pupil, his elderly, well-known teacher asked him to finish a painting he, the teacher, had begun.

"Young da Vinci stood in such awe of his master's skill that at first he respectfully declined. But his teacher would accept no excuse. He simply said, 'Do your best.' Trembling, da Vinci took his brush and began. With each stroke, his hand grew more steady as the genius within him awoke. Soon he was so caught up in his work that he forgot his timidity. When the painting was finished, the frail and weak master was carried into the studio to see it. Embracing his student, he exclaimed, 'My son, I paint no more!'"2

Not everyone has the kind of talent and genius that Leonardo da Vinci had, but every one of us has God-given talents that he wants us to develop and use for his glory. He never expects from us what he hasn't gifted us to do. And he has already equipped us to do what he wants us to do. So use what talents you possess. Do your best and leave the rest to God. As Henry van Dyke said, "The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best."

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for the talents you have given to me. Please help me to see what they are, develop them fully, and use them to the best of my ability for your glory. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."

The Church: The Cure for Difficulties

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused im. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
--1 Samuel 16:7

Indeed it may be truthfully said that everything of lasting value in the Christian life is unseen and eternal. things seen are of little real significance in the light of God's presence. He pays small attention to the beauty of a woman or the strength of a man. With Him the heart is all that matters. The rest of the life comes into notice only because it represents the dwelling place of the eternal being. The solution to life's problems is spiritual because the essence of life is spiritual. It is astonishing how many difficulties clear up without any effort when the inner life gets straightened out....

Church difficulties are spiritual also and admit of a spiritual answer. Whatever may be wrong in the life of any church may be cleared up by recognizing the quality of the trouble and dealing with it at the root. Prayer, humility and a generous application of the Spirit of Christ will cure just about any disease in the body of believers. Yet this is usually the last thing we think about when difficulties arise. We often attempt to cure spiritual ills with carnal medicines, and the results are more than disappointing. The Next Chapter After the Last, 82-83.

"Problems loom so large, Lord, because they seem so prevalent. Help our church to focus on 'prayer, humility and a generous application of the Spirit of Christ.' Amen."

Respect for Life

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Exodus 20:13
You shall not murder.

Respect for Life
Every 22 seconds someone in the United States is
beaten, stabbed, shot, robbed, raped or killed.
The average American citizen has a 1 in 153
chance of being murdered. Intentional
killings-murders and suicides-rank fourth among
causes of U.S. deaths, after heart disease,
cancer and accidents. Obviously, such a low
regard for human life is appalling and reflects
how far America has strayed from the principles
of the Ten Commandments.
But Jesus broadened the "You shall not murder"
commandment even more. He said, "You have heard
that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not
murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of
the judgment.' But I say to you that whoever is
angry with his brother without a cause shall be
in danger of the judgment" (Matt. 5:21-22).
While Christians are unlikely to murder someone
physically, they can easily be murderers in their
heart. Perhaps you can identify with Clarence
Darrow, the famous criminal lawyer, who said,
"Everyone is a potential murderer. I have not
killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction
out of obituary notices."
When we have hatred in our hearts toward someone
or we nurse an angry attitude toward a person who
has offended us, we qualify under Jesus'
guidelines as murderers. That may be shocking,
but it's true. If you fall into this category,
ask God to forgive you and to replace your anger
and bitterness with an unconditional love for the
one you previously hated. Go to that person and
seek reconciliation. Ask for forgiveness because
of your inappropriate attitudes. Reach out to her
and try to make your one-time enemy your friend.
It's the only way to remove murderous attitudes
from your heart. Since your attitudes are just as
important as your actions, don't dismiss too
quickly what the Lord Jesus said. Take an
attitude check today and see if there is murder
in your heart, even if it is not in your head.

An attitude can murder just as easily as an ax.
_________________________________________________

The Church: 100 Pianos

..that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You,
that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You
sent Me.
--John 17:21

Someone may fear that we are magnifying private religion out of all
proportion, that the "us" of the New Testament is being displaced by
a selfish "I." Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos
all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other?
They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to
another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one
hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ,
are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were
they to become "unity" conscious and turn their eyes away from God to
strive for closer fellowship. Social religion is perfected when
private religion is purified. The body becomes stronger as its
members become healthier. The whole church of God gains when the
members that compose it begin to seek a better and a higher life.
The Pursuit of God, 90.

"Lord, let this start with me. Give me a closer walk with You today.
Then as a leader enable me to encourage others as well, individually,
so that all to whom I minister might be in harmony as we individually
are close to You. Amen."

It's Time for a Change (Fasting)

Fasting is a knife that cuts away superficiality, getting to the bone. Effective, because it is able to break up daily patterns upon which you have become so dependent. When those patterns of pleasure are removed, you are left with your own internal resources. If those resources are bankrupt, then during fasting, you will come face to face with a vacuum that only God can fill.

Fasting also applies pressure to the flesh, and, you may be appalled at how much the flesh will squirm. But it is high time that the flesh is removed from the role of God, dethroned and placed under the foot of your will. It is the creativity of a freed will which lifts us above animal instincts and releases us from the cages of empty routine.

Fasting accomplishes two purposes. First, it will reveal how much the flesh has taken control of your emotions. And secondly, it will serve in breaking the flesh’s hold upon the will.
Fasting will invariably bring to the surface deep seated fears which affect thinking and decision-making. It does this by challenging that complex human instinct called self-preservation. This instinct has been created in every living thing on earth, including man. But you are a New Creation in Christ, recreated not to be controlled by instincts. Because of your rebirth, you have been recreated into a creature of a higher and more grand design than that of your former life.
Fasting forces us to face the chaos of addictions, compulsive behaviors, depression and internal pain. It’s like pressing the pause button of life, and quietly observing how crazy and detached we have become to who we are.

Want to get off the conveyer belt of life? Smash those meaningless patterns—the ones you hated in your youth when you had passion, a sparkle for living, when you really believed in something—promising never to get trapped in the horrible mundane in which mom and dad lived as you grew up. Do you want to live a life with meaning, driven by conviction, even willing to take a chance—becoming the best you can before God? Do you want to be empowered by the Master of your destiny? His desire is for you to be decisive, powerful, self-controlled and free.
But first we must come to grips with those hidden, subtle demons of our character: fear, hopelessness, worry, doubt and selfishness. Beat the bushes, flush them out, expose them for what they are and destroy them with the power of the Word.

They don’t die quietly, because their tentacles can reach into your emotions. They taint everything they touch, no matter how pure. Their presence will rise up against you with great force when you try to fast before the Lord.

When you begin to face them, you set yourself up for failure. There is a risk of pain, especially if you are willing to go deep. It takes courage to go down to the bottom. Who knows what you may find? Faces from the past. Forgotten horrors in the root cellar of your soul. But God is there too. There is no part of you which He does not see, no matter how well you hide. And He loves you and longs to see you set free.

During fasting, patterns of living are broken. Fasting can be an oasis of spiritual refreshment in a life that has become a desert of uselessness. A spiritual desert that has been left in the wake of selfish materialism.

We have been warned not to conform to the patterns of this world, but if you are honest, very little of your lifestyle is different from that of your neighbor’s.
Quite frankly, for Christ to become front-and-center in your life, things will have to be sacrificed. And at the start, it is going to hurt.

True, spiritual fasting smashes religion and draws a distinguishable line in the sand. It is a magnifying glass that allows us to examine our unconscious patterns of living. The driving force of where our life is going. That is why Satan has invested so much energy towards controlling the subconscious patterns of mankind. He will be appalled if you attempt a fast because fasting exposes how much he has been able to infiltrate the destiny of your life.
Ron Lagerquist

Priority One

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Exodus 20:1-3And God spoke all these words, saying: "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.
John Wanamaker was a man who had his priorities straight. In the late 19th century he opened a department store in Philadelphia. Within a few years the enterprise became one of the most successful businesses in the country. But operating his store wasn't Wanamaker's only responsibility. He was also named Postmaster General of the United States and served as the superintendent for what was then the largest Sunday school in the world at Bethany Presbyterian Church. When someone asked him how he could hold all these positions at once, he explained, "Early in life I read, 'But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you' [Matt. 6:33].That's what I've done." In the midst of a busy life, Mr. Wanamaker made God his number-one priority and the results speak for themselves. As the Israelites began their new life of freedom, God instructed them to "have no othergods before Me." This was not for His benefit,but for theirs. To live life successfully, we must know what's most important. All of our other priorities will be out of kilter until we get our first priority straight. When we know what comes first, the rest will fall into place. God must always come first in our lives, in our daily schedules, our checkbooks, our estate plans, our thoughts and our actions. He is priority one.If your life is chaotic, it may indicate your priorities are jumbled. Make God priority one in your life and you may be surprised at how easily everything else comes together. Only by starting your priorities right can you hope to end them right.Everything begins with the right priorities, and right priorities begin with God.

Never Soar as High Again?

By Selwyn Hughes

For reading & meditation - 1 Peter 1:3-9"These have come so that your faith ... may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." (v. 7)

We turn now to examine some of the ways in which our lives become fractured, and what we can do to become "strong at the broken places." We begin by looking at the brokenness which comes about through failure. Probably someone reading these words is caught up in a vortex of gloom due to a failure. You may be feeling like the man who said to me: "I am stunned by my failure. My life is shattered into smithereens. I read somewhere that 'the bird with the broken wing will never soar as high again.' Does that mean I can never rise to the heights in God which once I knew?"
I reminded him of Simon Peter - a man with one of the worst track records in the New Testament. He was prejudiced, bigoted, stubborn, and spiritually insensitive. Again and again he got his wires crossed, such as the time when he attempted to divert Christ from going to His death in Jerusalem (Matt. 16:22), or his insistence that they should stay on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt. 17:4). Then, on the eve of Christ's crucifixion, he denied and even cursed his Lord. I can imagine Satan whispering in his ear: "Now you're finished. Burned out. A failure. You'll be forgotten ... replaced."
But by God's grace, Peter rose from failure to success. He became "strong at the broken places." Because he refused to live in the shadow of his bad track record, his two letters are enshrined forever in the Scriptures. Failures, you see, are only temporary tests to prepare us for more permanent triumphs.

Prayer:
O Father, I see so clearly that no failure is a failure if it succeeds in driving me to Your side. All things serve me - when I serve You. Amen.

Discipline vs. Punishment

God said, "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline."1

Nine-year-old Al had disobeyed his father who, as a strict disciplinarian, sent him with a note to a police station in London. When Al came in late after curfew, his father met him at the door and handed him a note and said, "Take it to the jail house."Al was terrified. "The officer, a friend of his father, opens the note, reads it, and nods. 'Follow me.' He leads the wide-eyed youngster to a jail cell, opens the door, and tells him to enter. The officer clangs the door shut. 'This is what we do to naughty boys,' he explains and walks away.... The jail sentence lasts only five minutes. But those five minutes felt like five months. Al never forgot that day. The sound of the clanging door, he often told people, stayed with him the rest of his life."The fear of losing a father's love exacts a high toll. Al spent the rest of his life hearing the clanging door. That early taste of terror contributed to his lifelong devotion to creating the same in others. For Al--Alfred Hitchcock--made a career out of scaring people."2
True, discipline is important but the "punishment"always needs to fit the crime. Some children are impaired for life because of severe punishment as achild. Others are left terrified if they were beaten severely or abused. It is imperative that parents never discipline out of anger because that is punishment, not discipline. Discipline always needs to be in love. Those whom God loves, he disciplines in love--not punishes in anger. We need to do the same with our children.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that when you discipline me it is always out of your love for me and for my good. Help me to do the same when disciplining my children. May it always be in love and never out of anger. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."

Sunday Re-Cap 30th July 2006

LESSONS FROM SOLOMON
By Pastor Samuel Hari

Background:
Ecc 1: Solomon towards the end of his life is seen as a totally frustrated man, complaining about life. What made him this way? Are many of us in the same predicament? Frustrated and complaining about everything even though we’ve been Christians for years and know the bible cover to cover? Is more PRAYER and more WORD the answer?

Solomon’s life
1 Kgs 3: Solomon’s early life was full of great promises and answers from God. He had all the wisdom and all the knowledge and honor and riches. He even had a great manifestation of God (1 Kgs 8:10-11). Were all this enough to sustain his walk with God? Sometimes we think that all this is the purpose of our Christian walk. But what did it to do Solomon?

1 Kgs 11: 1-13: Solomon walked away from God in spite of all the great things he had and in spite of everything going great for him.

What keeps us “fresh” and excited about God? Is it more knowledge and more prayer? All these are extremely important foundations for our Christian walk but what keeps us going can be found in the life (and heart) of David.

Ps 51: Gives us a great glimpse into the heart of David. Some of these characteristics are:

1. Submission-“who am I submitted to?” It’s not about the one we’re submitted to but it’s about our own heart attitude.


2. Conviction-no amount of reading and praying the word will change us unless we have conviction. Too many times we read the pages without allowing the WORD to read us.


3. Repentance is a natural flow over from conviction. It’s no use repenting for the sake of repenting if there’s no conviction. FIRST conviction THEN repentance. Repentance is a total overhaul of the mindset. A renewing of the mind.


4. Obedience must follow repentance. Otherwise all we’ll be doing is repenting day in and day out.


5. This will lead to humility before God and one another.

The Conclusion of the Matter
We must be careful not to do the above in our own strength. Solomon gives us instruction in Ecc 12:9-14.
The Fear of God is essential in our walk with God. Without it, all of the above will make us not unlike any other religions in the world which is man’s attempt to please God. Let us FEAR GOD and KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS though the strength of the HOLY SPIRIT.

Wonder what would happen?

Wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phones?

• What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
• What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
• What if we flipped through it several times a day?
• What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
• What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
• What if we gave it to kids as gifts?
• What if we used it as we traveled?
• What if we used it in case of an emergency?
• What if we upgraded it to get the latest version?

This is something to make you go..hmmm...where is my Bible?

Oh, and one more thing, unlike our cell phone, we don't ever have to worry about our bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill!

Sunday Re-cap 23rd July 2006

Know Your Identity
by Michael Lee

People are moulded and their mould comes from what they see, hear and speak. Hearing, seeing and speaking produces the activities of our lives and works. What Eve heard and saw produced what she spoke through her action that changed her identity (Gen. 3:1; 2:16; 3:2-7)

What we hear enters to our spiritual realm and produces fruits whether good or bad. There is a difference bwtween facts and the truth. It was not what Adam and Eve ate that changed their identity, but rather it was what Eve took heed when she heard the serpent.

Gen 1:26 – Our identity is of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. We were made in God’s Image. This is our real identity.

Gen 3:1-6 – Adam & Eve forget who they were and the followed what the cunning serpent said to them. Adam & Eve gave in to the serpent’s temptation by hearing, seeing, speaking and doing what the serpent wanted them to do. That was to disobey God and forget their identity as the sons of God.

Eph 1:3-6 - If we know our true identity then we will live as a son of the Living God. We will be like a butterfly with beautiful colours being displayed, enjoying the nectar of the flowers (enjoying the Word and the fellowship of the saints), and doing the work of pollination (carrying out the Great Commission).

Many times people do not realize they have a identity crisis and they become like caterpillars, just taking rather being a blessing to those around them.

Eph 3:10 -11 - Saints of God – having the image of God
“to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,”.

~ God sent his Son Jesus Christ to restore our identity with God and know the reason why we were created; and made known the manifold wisdom of God.

~ We are one family and we are called to be here.

~ We are called to read the Word of God and know that we are sons of the Living God and feed on the His words.



1 Chronicles 4:9-10
“Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, "Because I bore him in pain." And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!" So God granted him what he requested.

1. Proverbs 18:20 -21 - Power of the tongue. “A man's stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth, From the produce of his lips he shall be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” Jabez understood the power of the tongue.

2. Ps. 119:9 - How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. Jabez knew that change in his life can only come when he decreases and God increases in his life. He prayed for an enlarged territory to contain more of God's Word.

3. Jabez prayed that the hand of God will be with him, moulding and shaping him to be a blessing.

Know your identity, for we are the product of what we identify with!

Enter to worship, depart to serve

"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!' And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. So I said: 'Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.' Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: 'Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here am I! Send me.'" (Isaiah 6:1-8)

Isaiah had the worship experience of all worship experiences. He came into the very presence of God. He had a vision of God that literally changed his life. I am convinced that our daily walk, our daily service is directly proportional to our vision of God. That our concept of God determines how we much we love and serve Him. That how we worship God has a lot to do with how we live and serve Him throughout the rest of the week. Shallow worship translates into shallow service. And meaningful worship translates into meaningful service.

Enter to worship, depart to serve.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

Sunday Re-cap 16th July 2006

Obedience Brings the Presence of God
Ps. David Lai

Text : Jonah 1 & 3

2 Peter 3:7 ~ Heaven and earth are preserved by the Word of God. We can trust that preserved Word of God. The Word of God (WOG) is the real world to us.
Obey the Word, then the presence of God is there.

Jonah 1:1-3 ~ Jonah received the WOG but not the presence of God because he went on another direction. Man of God can come and go but the WOG remains.

Mark 4:15 ~ Satan will try to snatch the WOG when it is sown. Obey God’s word and enter the supernatural and experience the presence of God in your lives.
- Peter walked on water by obedience to Jesus’ words.
- It’s the WOG that God wants to manifest, that will enable us to move on to the next step in our walk with God. Joseph experienced that all through his life.
- Obedience to God’s word will always bring the blessings.

Jonah 1:10-17 ~ Jonah fled from the presence of God. The sailors prayed and threw Jonah into the sea and he went into the belly of the fish.

Jonah 3 ~ Jonah finally obeyed the Lord’s word and went to Nineveh. God already knew that the people of Nineveh will repent.

No matter what happens even in the hour of our testing, we must persevere and keep the WOG and trust Him. We need to give our hearts to God.

Lucifer, one of the arch-angels was once with God; and Judas was in Jesus’ presence but they both failed because they never fully surrendered their hearts to God.

~ It’s always about what God wants to do in us and through us by the Word of God.

1 Kings 17 – Elijah in obedience to the WOG, received his provision.

When we obey the WOG, the provision is already there.
Receive your provision by what you say!

Youth 4 Christ

Cristian Cortes Biodata

Special Meeting

SRI PELITA SCHOLARSHIPS

A leading, Christian-based private education institution, Sri Pelita, celebrates its 6th year of providing quality education in Penang by offering 10 SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIPS to deserving students, primarily for secondary school from Form 1 to Form 4. (Primary school students may apply too.)

“Sri Pelita School was established six years ago by a community of parents and teachers who believe that learning should be a joyful experience for students. Throughout these six years, they have been resolutely working to establish a conducive environment whereby students studying in the school can reach their highest potential.

Today Sri Pelita School is known for her richness in curriculum and her care for her students. One of the hallmarks of Sri Pelita is its emphasis on the development of Multiple Intelligences. The essence of Multiple Intelligences is to respect the many differences among people, the many ways that they learn and the almost infinite number of ways they can leave a mark on the world.

Thus the goal in Sri Pelita is to create an environment to cater for these individual differences. Our prayer is that through this environment, we will be able to nurture a generation of students who will be independent, confident, ICT literate, well-spoken and well-read.” – quoted from website: www.sripelita.com.my “Welcome from the Principal, Dr Seow Siew Hua.”

SCHOLARSHIP QUANTUM
Scholarships offered at 50% of fees with consideration for up to 100% for deserving students.

BASIC CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

1. Income level of parents will be a significant consideration for selection. (Scholarships designed to provide equal opportunity to financially constrained, deserving students to receive quality education which they may otherwise be deprived of.)
2. Academic and extra-curricular merits will also be taken into account to determine quantum of scholarship.
3. Good character reference by church pastor.

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION

1. Electronically – by completing and emailing the attached application form to:

“The Sri Pelita Scholarship Board”
Email address: fgacen@streamyx.com or fgacen@tm.net.my

1. Mailing the completed application form to:

“The Sri Pelita Scholarship Board”
c/o Pastor Prem Kumar
Fettes Park Baptist Church
15 Jalan Meranti, Fettes Park
11200 Tanjung Bungah
Penang

The Sri Pelita Scholarship Board members are:

1. Dr Seow Siew Hua – Principal
2. Pastor Prem Kumar – Member
3. Pastor Albert Tan – Member

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATION
Closing Date: 31 August 2006
Note: Scholarships are available for the remaining of the 2006 school year or for the new school year beginning 2007.



Blessings
Albert
On Behalf of Sri Pelita Scholarship Board

Important For 40 Day Fast 2006

Lighting Up The Nation

New Developments

NECF News

Sunday Re-Cap 2nd July 2006

Our Weakness God’s Strength
By Ps Dong Campoy

TEXT: 1 Cor 1:26-29

1. OUR WEAKNESS, GOD’S WEAPON

• One of the clearest principles in the Bible is that God uses weak things. He uses men and women who abandon their reliance on their natural abilities and resources and cast their dependency, totally upon God.

2. GOD’S WAYS ARE NOT MAN’S WAYS.

• God uses nobodies from nowhere with nothing but who are willing to depend upon Him for everything. 1Co 1:28, Isaiah 40:29,2 Corinthians 3:5


• The word “strength” is the word “dunamies”, from which we get the word dynamite. It is the same word used in Act 1:8 translated POWER. The word “perfect” is the same word used in John 19:30 translated “finished”, complete in our weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:10 Hebrews 11:34


• Our weakness is the best backdrop for God to display His power.

3. WEAKNESS DEMANDS HUMILITY

• A humble man has a proper evaluation of himself. He realizes that all of his intellect, his training, his experience, and his position in life mean absolutely nothing apart from the supernatural enabling of god.


• 2 Cor 12:7

4. HUMILITY BRINGS US DEPENDENCE (1 Cor 2:1-4)

• Humility - means rating ourselves insignificant. Phil 2:5-6 (MSG)

The fact is that God uses those who are dependent upon nothing but Him alone.
He has to removed first our strength and brings us to the end of ourselves so that we will look at the task and say,


“God, I cannot do this without you”.

Sunday Re-Cap 25th June 2006

When God Speaks
By Ps Kul Bal

1 Sam 3:9-10

• Many times we say “Listen LORD, thy servant speaks..” instead of “speak LORD, thy servant heareth”.
• The Most important thing for a believer is to hear the voice of God.
• We may think our Eli is calling i.e. sickness, depression, poverty, old nature; if we don’t recognize the voice of God.

God will test us in 4 ways (Gen 22)
4 TEST pressure points:

1. Present Reality

• Whatever is happening currently.


• We must realize that God is watching us on how we respond and not our current situation. Many times we focus on the situation when God is focusing on something else.

2. Time

• Test of time.


• Building Faith and Patience.

3. Oppressors

• Oppressing and diminishing our vision.


• Often people who are close to us.


• We have to ignore the opressors and the negative voice within.

4. Adversities

• Demonic.


• Stop us in the direction that God is taking us.


• Distractions.

When God Speaks we normally go through 7 stages:

1. Excitement

2. Doubt

3. Fear

At this point we must:

4. Remember, Repeat, Rehearse the WORD

5. Apply FAITH

6. Put into ACTION

7. Joy (Gen 22:13-14)

Most of us go through these steps. However many people stop at point 3 and miss their victory. Let us be people who carry it through from steps 4-7. Let us be like JESUS.

Heb 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Phi 2:5-11
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Sunday Re-Cap 18th June 2006

The Christian Father

Text:
Deut 6:6-7

The role of the Christian Father is extremely important in nurturing their children. It is said in a statistic that ~80% of all criminals in one western nation had problematic relationship with their natural fathers. This however should not be an excuse for those of us who did not have good fathers. We now have the greatest Heavenly Father!

The 3 Key Biblical Roles of The Christian Father towards his family in the home which are found in our TEXT today are:

1. Teach The Word

• The role of teaching the WORD should not be only the responsibility of the mother. Fathers must take up this primary role except in the event of the father not being physically present or is an unbeliever.

2. Talk To Them

• Fathers must overcome their previous mindsets and talk to their children. We must learn to say words like “I’m Sorry”, “I Love You” to them. It’s not wrong for a Christian Father to hug his children.


• The importance of Family Altars and partaking of the Holy Communion together.


• Affirm our children by encouraging and positive words. Col 3.21


• If we don’t talk to our children, someone else will. MTV, Movies, wrong friends, etc.


• Watching TV, Movies together is not considered spending quality time.


• We should not substitute spending quality time by buying expensive gifts for our children as this communicates a very wrong message to them.


• The way our children relate to their fathers is how they are going to relate to their heavenly Father. Are we approachable or do our children fear us?


• To our children LOVE is spelt as T.I.M.E.

3. When we sit in the house, walk by the way, lie down and rise up.

• these speak of the most intimate times we have with our families.


• Do they see the same person or are we one thing in church and in the public and then another thing at home.


• What do they hear us speaking at home and in the bedrooms?


• Children learn more through examples then through all that we can say to them.


• Help them to thank God for all that He has done before they sleep and show them by example that God has great things in store for them when they wake up in the morning. Help them to plan their day by planning your day.

Let us be the kind of fathers that God wants us to be through the strength that the Holy Spirit provides us. We’ve only got ourselves to blame if our children are not turning to the LORD. It’s still not too late even if our children are teenagers and have grown up. Anything is possible through prayer and the AGAPE love that we can show to our children.

By Ps Samuel Hari

Profile Of Ps Dong Campoy

RAPHA NIGHT 1st July 2006

Combined Youth Meeting with Ps KUL BAL

NASA proves that the BIBLE is True

For all you scientists out there and for all the students who have had a hard time convincing these people regarding the truth of the Bible here's something that illustrates God's awesome creation and shows He is still in control.
Did you know that NASA's space programmers are busy proving that was has been called 'myth' in the Bible is true? Mr. Harold Hill, President of the Curtis Engine Company in Baltimore, and a consultant in the space programmes, relates the following incident:
One of the most amazing things that God has for us today happened recently to our astronauts and space scientists at Green Belt, Maryland. They were checking out the positions of the sun, moon and planets out in space where they would be 100, and 1000 years from now. We have to know this as we do not want a satellite to collide with any of these in its orbits. We have to lay out the orbits in terms of the life of the satellite and where the planets will be so the whole project will not bog down. Computer measurements and data were run back and forth over the centuries when suddenly it came to a halt, displaying a red signal, which meant that either there was something wrong with the information fed into it or with the results as compared to the standards. They called in the service department to check it out, and the technicians asked what was wrong. The scientists had discovered that somewhere in space in elapsed time a day was missing. Nobody seemed able to come up with a solution to the problem. Finally one of the team, a Christian, said: "You know, when I was still in Sunday School, they spoke about the sun standing still......." While his colleagues didn't believe him, they did not have an answer either, so they said: "Show us." He got a Bible and opened it at the book of Joshua where they found a pretty ridiculous statement for any one with 'common sense'. There they read about the Lord saying to Joshua: "Fear them not, I have delivered them into thy hand; there shall not be a man of them stands before thee." (Joshua 10:8). Joshua was concerned because the enemy had surrounded him, and if darkness fell, they would overpower him. So Joshua asked the Lord to make the sun stand still! That's right ? "And the sun stood still and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is this not written in the book of Ja'­sher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven and hastened not to go down about a whole day." (Joshua 10:13).
The astronauts and scientists said: "There is the missing day!" They checked the computers going back into the time it was written and found it, but it was not close enough. The elapsed time that was missing back in Joshua's day was 23 hours and 20 minutes ? not a whole day. They read the Bible again and there it was: "about (approximately) a day." These little words in the Bible were important, but they were still in trouble, because another 40 minutes were still unaccounted for, and this could mean trouble 1000 years from now. Forty minutes had to be found because it can be multiplied many times over in orbits. As the Christian employee thought about it, he remembered somewhere in the Bible which said the sun went backwards. The scientists told him he was out of his mind, but once again they opened the Book and read these words in 2 Kings. Hezekiah, on his deathbed, was visited by the prophet, Isaiah, who told him he was not going to die. Hezekiah asked for some sign as proof. Isaiah said: "Shall the sun go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?" And Hezekiah answered: "It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees; nay, but let the shadow return backwards ten degrees." And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the Lord, and He brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz." (2 Kings 20:9 >?11).
Ten degrees is exactly 40 minutes! Twenty-three hours and twenty minutes in Joshua, plus 40 minutes in 2 Kings accounted for the missing day in the universe! Isn't this amazing? Our God is rubbing their noses in His Truth!