News update by The Star's newsdesk
PUTRAJAYA: Lina Joy lost her final round of appeal when the Federal Court dismissed on Tuesday her appeal against a ruling that the National Registration Department was right not to allow her to remove the word "Islam" from her identity card.
Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim and Federal Court judge Justice Alauddin Mohd Sheriff delivered the majority decision dismissing her appeal.
Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Justice Richard Malanjum dissented.
On Sept 19, 2005, the Court of Appeal decided that the NRD director-general was right in refusing her application to drop her religious status from her IC on the grounds that the Syariah Court and other Islamic religious authorities did not confirm Linas renunciation of Islam.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Monday, May 28, 2007
Sunday Re Cap (27th May 2007)
Asking the Relevant Questions
By Michael Stubbs
Some points to note:
By Michael Stubbs
Click here to listen (recorded in Victory Fellowship, Emporia, Kansas)
John 4: 1-30Some points to note:
- v7: People want to be INVISIBLE for many reasons i.e. sin. Don’t be INVISIBLE anymore!
- v14: eternal life is supposed to a perpetual spring of living water DEEP inside of us. Not just droplets here and there.
- For real transformation to take place we need to ask ourselves relevant questions. Jesus kept asking this woman; and now to us all these relevant questions.
- Through these questions God wants us to move from superficiality to depth in our believe system and emotional maturity.
- v28: God works many times through a “suddenly anointing”. Sometimes we need to keep pressing on and on for the truth with no apparent results. However, when we think nothing is happening, that’s when God is at work in people’s lives and ours.
- We need to stop making everything a personal issue. We need to ask why? Why? Why?
Sometimes the reason for this goes all the way back to childhood. - There must be a willingness to be vulnerable before God; only then can we change. The Samaritan woman kept being defensive (v20, 25).
- We can be vulnerable before God by being repentant, by opening up ourselves to correction through the Word of God, through prayer.
- When God asked Adam and Eve “Where are you?” it was an opportunity to repent and be vulnerable. However they missed that opportunity and suffered the consequences to this day. It was the same with Cain when God asked him “Where is your brother?” The purpose of the question was not because God did not know where he was but it was an opportunity to repent and to be vulnerable before God.
- Emotions are not evil. They help us be vulnerable before God.
Conclusion
Our Christianity must go beneath the surface. If the heart is right then everything will be right. Let every area of our life be saturated with God-even the good, bad, pain, sorrow, joy-EVERYTHING!
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Sunday Re cap (20th May 2007)
The LORD is My Shepherd
By Michael Lee
Click here to listen to this sermon
2 Chr 7:16
Many are called but few are chosen. Saul, Judas and Gehazi were called but not chosen.
We praise God that when we are called, we make the choice to follow the LORD. How? The key is found in Ps 23: 1-3
The LORD is My Shepherd I shall not want.
Matt 8:22: Instant obedience is required to follow the LORD. Delayed obedience is considered disobedience.
Disciples followed the LORD immediately when they were called.
Mark 8:34: We deny ourselves (self nature) when we follow the LORD.
I shall not want- we can be assured that even when we deny ourselves we will never lack anything.
We shall not have a desire or a need of anything when we have the Shepherd. He alone is all that we need. Seek Him first.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures.
He desires that we “settle” in a local church.
He is the one who makes us lie down in a place of rest when we have found a “spiritual” home.
We humble ourselves to His leading as He makes us lie down. There is no more agenda of self.
He leads us beside the still waters.
This speaks of our constant relationship with God. He leads us to the place of intimacy.
We can see ourselves when the waters are still. We see ourselves as we are in Christ alone.
He leads us to a place of rest in the midst of the challenges of our day-to-day life.
He restores our soul.
This is not speaking of the restoring that we think it is.
It is a restoring to God’s own pattern and design for our lives.
When we are not fishing, we are fighting. Instead of being fishers of men, we become fighters of men.
If we know we are rich in the LORD, we will not desire to steal.
We become without blame-no one will blame us if we do not blame anyone.
Restoring our soul is a dying to self.
Let’s remember 2 Chr 7:14-16
2Ch 7:14-16 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (15) "Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place. (16) "For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.
By Michael Lee
Click here to listen to this sermon
2 Chr 7:16
Many are called but few are chosen. Saul, Judas and Gehazi were called but not chosen.
We praise God that when we are called, we make the choice to follow the LORD. How? The key is found in Ps 23: 1-3
The LORD is My Shepherd I shall not want.
Matt 8:22: Instant obedience is required to follow the LORD. Delayed obedience is considered disobedience.
Disciples followed the LORD immediately when they were called.
Mark 8:34: We deny ourselves (self nature) when we follow the LORD.
I shall not want- we can be assured that even when we deny ourselves we will never lack anything.
We shall not have a desire or a need of anything when we have the Shepherd. He alone is all that we need. Seek Him first.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures.
He desires that we “settle” in a local church.
He is the one who makes us lie down in a place of rest when we have found a “spiritual” home.
We humble ourselves to His leading as He makes us lie down. There is no more agenda of self.
He leads us beside the still waters.
This speaks of our constant relationship with God. He leads us to the place of intimacy.
We can see ourselves when the waters are still. We see ourselves as we are in Christ alone.
He leads us to a place of rest in the midst of the challenges of our day-to-day life.
He restores our soul.
This is not speaking of the restoring that we think it is.
It is a restoring to God’s own pattern and design for our lives.
When we are not fishing, we are fighting. Instead of being fishers of men, we become fighters of men.
If we know we are rich in the LORD, we will not desire to steal.
We become without blame-no one will blame us if we do not blame anyone.
Restoring our soul is a dying to self.
Let’s remember 2 Chr 7:14-16
2Ch 7:14-16 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (15) "Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place. (16) "For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Sunday Re-Cap (13th May 2007)
Be Faithful & Bring Forth
by Shireeni
We are to bring forth “Christ” in this generation. How? By rising up, being obedient to His leading. The spiritual birthing forth might be in different ways, for different purposes, for each of us. For Queen Esther, it was to rise up and deliver her nation. For Mary, it was to bring forth The Messiah. For Deborah, it was to deliver the Israelites.
What do you think about that with respect to yourself?
Are you one who is thinking yes, this is what I am already sensing?
Are you one who is thinking, not interested? I just want to finish the service and get out of here. Do my own thing.
Are you one who is thinking, I am no Esther, nor Mary, nor Deborah? I am just an ordinary person. How can I bring forth anything? Maybe when things are better in my life.
There are another 3 ladies in the Bible who were special to God. They were not queens, nor judges, nor the mother of the Messiah. They possibly died thinking that they were ordinary people just like you and I. But now we, looking back, can see that they had a mighty destiny and it was not ordinary. They obeyed and they brought forth. They brought forth, not when things were good and fine, but in desperate and overwhelming circumstances.
1. The first is Leah. There are many women today in this world who are in similar situations as Leah was in. Her husband had 2 wives and he loved the other (Rachel) more than he loved Leah. Eventually……. She probably died thinking she was an ordinary person and did not realize this great truth. What truth? She was part of the genealogy of Jesus Christ. She was in the lineage of Jesus. Not Rachel, but her. Leah. You see God has the big picture. We have only bits and pieces. She just needed to be faithful where she was, trust Him, obey Him, move with Him. And she brought forth.
2. The second is Ruth the Moabitess. There are many women in this world who can identify in some ways to this woman. The loss of loved ones. The making of difficult choices. She had to make a difficult choice – to stay back or to follow her mother-in-law. Her mother-in-law released her to go back to her home and have a chance at a new life.
She chose to come out of her comfort zone. I believe she followed her mother-in-law not knowing completely her future or what was in store. Ruth stepped out in faith and followed her mother-in-law. And she was blessed. She did get another chance at a new life. She married Boaz and had a son called Obed, who was the father of Jesse, who was the father of David. She became part of the genealogy of Jesus. She was faithful, obedient to make the right choices and she brought forth.
3. The last is Rahab, the prostitute who helped the Israelite spies from being caught in Jericho. She realized the greatness of the God of Israel. She risked her life to hide the spies. Played a part in the victory over Jericho. She was probably an ex-prostitute when she married Salmon, and had a son called Boaz. So Rahab was the great-great grandmother of David. She became part of the genealogy of Jesus. We have to align our thinking to HIS WORD and not the world. I believe God is going to send people into the church who are different from us. Receive them with unconditional love because they are special to Him, because they have been accepted by Him as they come and believe in Him. Rahab – part of the geneology of Jesus. She was faithful and rose above any feelings of unworthiness she had. But she made a difference & she brought forth.
The enemy will lie to you to keep you from your destiny. We have to be faithful, obedient and bring forth what God has purposed for us to bring forth.
by Shireeni
We are to bring forth “Christ” in this generation. How? By rising up, being obedient to His leading. The spiritual birthing forth might be in different ways, for different purposes, for each of us. For Queen Esther, it was to rise up and deliver her nation. For Mary, it was to bring forth The Messiah. For Deborah, it was to deliver the Israelites.
What do you think about that with respect to yourself?
Are you one who is thinking yes, this is what I am already sensing?
Are you one who is thinking, not interested? I just want to finish the service and get out of here. Do my own thing.
Are you one who is thinking, I am no Esther, nor Mary, nor Deborah? I am just an ordinary person. How can I bring forth anything? Maybe when things are better in my life.
There are another 3 ladies in the Bible who were special to God. They were not queens, nor judges, nor the mother of the Messiah. They possibly died thinking that they were ordinary people just like you and I. But now we, looking back, can see that they had a mighty destiny and it was not ordinary. They obeyed and they brought forth. They brought forth, not when things were good and fine, but in desperate and overwhelming circumstances.
1. The first is Leah. There are many women today in this world who are in similar situations as Leah was in. Her husband had 2 wives and he loved the other (Rachel) more than he loved Leah. Eventually……. She probably died thinking she was an ordinary person and did not realize this great truth. What truth? She was part of the genealogy of Jesus Christ. She was in the lineage of Jesus. Not Rachel, but her. Leah. You see God has the big picture. We have only bits and pieces. She just needed to be faithful where she was, trust Him, obey Him, move with Him. And she brought forth.
2. The second is Ruth the Moabitess. There are many women in this world who can identify in some ways to this woman. The loss of loved ones. The making of difficult choices. She had to make a difficult choice – to stay back or to follow her mother-in-law. Her mother-in-law released her to go back to her home and have a chance at a new life.
She chose to come out of her comfort zone. I believe she followed her mother-in-law not knowing completely her future or what was in store. Ruth stepped out in faith and followed her mother-in-law. And she was blessed. She did get another chance at a new life. She married Boaz and had a son called Obed, who was the father of Jesse, who was the father of David. She became part of the genealogy of Jesus. She was faithful, obedient to make the right choices and she brought forth.
3. The last is Rahab, the prostitute who helped the Israelite spies from being caught in Jericho. She realized the greatness of the God of Israel. She risked her life to hide the spies. Played a part in the victory over Jericho. She was probably an ex-prostitute when she married Salmon, and had a son called Boaz. So Rahab was the great-great grandmother of David. She became part of the genealogy of Jesus. We have to align our thinking to HIS WORD and not the world. I believe God is going to send people into the church who are different from us. Receive them with unconditional love because they are special to Him, because they have been accepted by Him as they come and believe in Him. Rahab – part of the geneology of Jesus. She was faithful and rose above any feelings of unworthiness she had. But she made a difference & she brought forth.
The enemy will lie to you to keep you from your destiny. We have to be faithful, obedient and bring forth what God has purposed for us to bring forth.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Sunday Re Cap (6th May 2007)
Enthroning JESUS
By Ps Samuel Hari
Eph 1:17-23
I. THE MORE WE ENTHRONE HIM, THE MORE WE ARE ON THE THRONE (COME INTO A POSITION OF kingship)
We can say JESUS is on the throne but our lifestyle will show if this is true. Just like there’s a battle for the real throne going on in the heavenlies, there’s a battle going on for the throne in our lives. The more we enthrone HIM, the more we are on the throne ; we accurately receive power and move in authority in every situation and circumstance in our lives. We position ourselves in kingship.
1. The spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, It doesn’t just drop from heaven or simply through the laying on of hands. It requires diligence, passion, and hunger on our part as well as these things. (seeking first matt 6:33; blessed are those who hunger and thirst…they shall be filled).
2.The eyes of your understanding being enlightened. PROVERBS 2:1-6.
a. That you may know (many don’t know, understand, confused, discouraged).
i. What is THE HOPE of His calling (the confident hope he has given to those he called--). Hope does not disappoint. (ROM 5); Abound in hope (ROM 15:13); NLT Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the confidence (the confident expectation) that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
ii. THE RICHES of the glory of His inheritance in the saints (his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance). Phil 4:19 God is able to supply…according to His riches in glory…) God’s view of riches and man’s view of riches are different. Daniel 3:16-18; man- you bless me I praise you. Godly mindset- I praise you no matter what.
iii. 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.
We need to get the whole picture of what God wants to do. Gather everywhere the word is spoken…CG, Prayer meeting, Sunday service. Get all the missing links. Fit the puzzle together. Eph 2:4-10
II. OUR UNITY ENTHRONES HIM.
Notice He
1. Made us alive TOGETHER.
He makes us alive together. Don’t forsake the gathering of the saints. Walk in the light as He is in the light, fellowship and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.
2. Raised us up TOGETHER.
We go up together. We progress together. We advance together. No fun advancing alone. Use your talents, gifting to build together.
3. Makes us sit TOGETHER in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
All experience the power of God, the authority of God. All are far above principalities and powers and might and dominion and name in this age and that which is to come!
Its all or nothing for the Christian. For us to be sitting on the throne, we need to get this revelation. We need church, we need UNITY. It’s the place of connectivity. It’s where the throne is; where the church stands united. Endeavoring to keep the unity (Eph 4:1-6).
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Monday, May 07, 2007
Friday, May 04, 2007
Sunday Re-cap ( 29th April )
Giving JESUS the THRONE in our Lives
By Rev. Samuel Hari
Is Jesus really enTHRONEd in our lives? Is His THRONE in us strong?
Why do we need to ENTHRONE HIM?
Heb 12:2; Jesus is on the THRONE
Satan is afraid of the THRONE 1 Sam 5-7 esp chap 7.
Rev 3:21; We will sit down with Him and rule with Him- a place of power and authority.
What happens when we ENTHRONE HIM?
Rev 7:17 Guide us to the waters of life (refresh, renew us) and wipe away every tear from our eyes (remove every burden, sorrow, pain, sickness).
Ez 47:8,9,12
The river of God flows from the THRONE Rev 22:1-;Ps 46:4; Joh 7:37-38 Now on the final and most important day of the Feast, Jesus stood, and He cried in a loud voice, If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! (38) He who believes in Me [who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living water.
This speaks of fruitfulness in evangelism. Fruitfulness has one purpose: that is to bring people to Christ.
How can we ENTHRONE HIM?
Rev 4:8-11: When we give Him the HEADSHIP/LORDSHIP/RULERSHIP in our lives.
When we worship Him. His ATTRIBUTES. Ps 22:3; Rev 4:2 in the spirit we see His THRONE; When we worship we are singing His attributes.
When we recognize the strongholds in our lives and in the lives of those around us and at a higher level in the spiritual realms.
Eph 1:20-22 Jesus is on the THRONE; Eph 2:4-6 We have the power and authority to pull it down.
2 Cor 10:3-5
Eph 6: 10-18: When we take up the whole armor of God.
We give no room to the wiles/schemes of the devil v11.
Whose armor is it? God’s! We need not fear.
Do we put it on partially or WHOLE ARMOR?
Truth/The WORD: Daily Devotion, Bible study, cell group equipping. The counterfeit and the real are so close; rolex watches in Bt Frghi. Familiarize, build a strong foundation Matt 7:24-29
Righteousness: A revelation of JESUS in us.
Gospel of peace: Looking out for opportunities to share JESUS.
Shield of FAITH: Walk by faith and not by sight; whatever that is not of faith Is sin; Faith pleases God Heb 11.
Helmet of Salvation: The battle field of the mind. Constantly protect your mind. Renewing your mind. GIGO.
Sword of the Spirit: Application!
Jesus is seen when we ENTHRONE HIM.
(Rev 5:13) And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the THRONE, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever."
Rev 7:9-17
By Rev. Samuel Hari
Is Jesus really enTHRONEd in our lives? Is His THRONE in us strong?
Why do we need to ENTHRONE HIM?
Heb 12:2; Jesus is on the THRONE
Satan is afraid of the THRONE 1 Sam 5-7 esp chap 7.
Rev 3:21; We will sit down with Him and rule with Him- a place of power and authority.
What happens when we ENTHRONE HIM?
Rev 7:17 Guide us to the waters of life (refresh, renew us) and wipe away every tear from our eyes (remove every burden, sorrow, pain, sickness).
Ez 47:8,9,12
The river of God flows from the THRONE Rev 22:1-;Ps 46:4; Joh 7:37-38 Now on the final and most important day of the Feast, Jesus stood, and He cried in a loud voice, If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! (38) He who believes in Me [who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living water.
This speaks of fruitfulness in evangelism. Fruitfulness has one purpose: that is to bring people to Christ.
How can we ENTHRONE HIM?
Rev 4:8-11: When we give Him the HEADSHIP/LORDSHIP/RULERSHIP in our lives.
When we worship Him. His ATTRIBUTES. Ps 22:3; Rev 4:2 in the spirit we see His THRONE; When we worship we are singing His attributes.
When we recognize the strongholds in our lives and in the lives of those around us and at a higher level in the spiritual realms.
Eph 1:20-22 Jesus is on the THRONE; Eph 2:4-6 We have the power and authority to pull it down.
2 Cor 10:3-5
Eph 6: 10-18: When we take up the whole armor of God.
We give no room to the wiles/schemes of the devil v11.
Whose armor is it? God’s! We need not fear.
Do we put it on partially or WHOLE ARMOR?
Truth/The WORD: Daily Devotion, Bible study, cell group equipping. The counterfeit and the real are so close; rolex watches in Bt Frghi. Familiarize, build a strong foundation Matt 7:24-29
Righteousness: A revelation of JESUS in us.
Gospel of peace: Looking out for opportunities to share JESUS.
Shield of FAITH: Walk by faith and not by sight; whatever that is not of faith Is sin; Faith pleases God Heb 11.
Helmet of Salvation: The battle field of the mind. Constantly protect your mind. Renewing your mind. GIGO.
Sword of the Spirit: Application!
Jesus is seen when we ENTHRONE HIM.
(Rev 5:13) And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the THRONE, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever."
Rev 7:9-17
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