Saturday, June 09, 2007

Sunday Re cap (3rd June 2007)

Our Christian Response
by Rev Samuel Hari

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Luke 21:13 But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. 14 Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. 18 But not a hair of your head shall be lost. 19 By your patience possess your souls.

1. An Occasion for testimony
We have prayed together with Christians in Malaysia and in many parts of the world. After having prayed, we may of may not have received the outcome we expected. So how do we respond? We have to believe that God has the better, best plan.
We need to come to the realization that every adversity is an opportunity for growth.
With every TEST there is a TESTIMONY.
Esther used her occasion as a testimony. She spoke up and God will raise many Esthers, Mordecais’ in this land for such a time as this.

2. Settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; 
Not to use human reasoning or methods i.e. spread hatred, bitterness, anger, violence, rioting, etc. The moment we are bitter, we lose the battle. When we encounter adversity, things don’t turn out the way we pray, desire, we can either become BITTER or BETTER. Bitterness closes the door for God to move in our nation and in whatever situation we are praying over. God moves only through one channel; LOVE.
Rom12:2 ; 1Jn 4:18 

3. I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.
Not an earthly wisdom. 1 Cor 1:12-16 (NKJV).
He’s going to give us a different kind of mouth.
It’s a time of training the believer in all godliness for the events that are to come. We must begin to condition our spirit-man. An occasion to be transformed from worldly, carnal thinking to godly thinking and a way of life that follows that pleases the Father and brings forth a testimony to the world. That we may prove.
Rom 12:2b

4. You Will Be Hated By All For My Name’s Sake. 
The outcome of this situation is in fact well within the plan of God! They cannot understand because it is foolishness to those who do not know.
1 Cor 1:18-21

5. Not A Hair Of Your Head Shall Be Lost.
We need to understand that whatever the outcome, we will never lose out; even if we are put to death through physical death of death by defamation (at work, home, the press). We have the victory!

6. By your patience possess your souls.

Patience: cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy: - enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).

Don’t let your soul/emotions run wild. Don’t let it take the carnal, worldly course (anger, retaliation, bitterness). The key is through your patience. Let the fruit of patience increase through situations like these…When pray or desire patience, God uses situations like these.

Will you be the Esthers’ and Mordecais’ of today? At your work, school, business?

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