And we start talking...
GOD'S AIM - Abstinence
Posted on Saturday, March 27, 2010
GOD'S AIM Series
Speaker: Wenjiang 28/3/2010
A for Abstinence
What is fasting?
The willing and voluntary setting aside of our appetite to talk to God and hear from God.
Appetite for food, hunger, fun, sleep.
Why is fasting good?
Do we fast to deny ourselves so that God will pity us?
Benefits of fasting/ abstinence
A. Humble ourselves before God and entrust our lives into His hands
B. To spend time to seek God
C. To be more spiritually aware of God's presence and His will for us in our lives
Instances where fasting fails/ do not work:
Fasting that fails
Isaiah 58:2-7
1. Fasting that fails to engage with the truth (v2-5)
God cannot be mocked and deceived
Fasting will fail if it is inconsistent with the truth
Matthew 6:16-18
Zechariah 7:5, 8-10
2. Fasting that fails to contend for your faith (v6)
God wants us to break from our bondages through fasting
3. Fasting that fails to lead us to compassion (v7)
It's about feeling for others that are suffering
Isaiah 58:9-14
D for Devotions (Mark1:35-39)
Speaker: Wenjiang 28/3/2010
A for Abstinence
What is fasting?
The willing and voluntary setting aside of our appetite to talk to God and hear from God.
Appetite for food, hunger, fun, sleep.
Why is fasting good?
Do we fast to deny ourselves so that God will pity us?
Benefits of fasting/ abstinence
A. Humble ourselves before God and entrust our lives into His hands
B. To spend time to seek God
C. To be more spiritually aware of God's presence and His will for us in our lives
Instances where fasting fails/ do not work:
Fasting that fails
Isaiah 58:2-7
1. Fasting that fails to engage with the truth (v2-5)
God cannot be mocked and deceived
Fasting will fail if it is inconsistent with the truth
Matthew 6:16-18
Zechariah 7:5, 8-10
2. Fasting that fails to contend for your faith (v6)
God wants us to break from our bondages through fasting
3. Fasting that fails to lead us to compassion (v7)
It's about feeling for others that are suffering
Isaiah 58:9-14
Labels: esermon
WOOHOO! I LOVE JESUS! 5:20 PM
Posted on Sunday, March 21, 2010
Italics are for verses or REFLECTION POINTS
http://alexanderhope.blog.friendster.com/2010/03/d-for-devotions/
Mark 1:35-39 (Amplified Bible)
35 And in the morning, long before daylight, He got up and went out to a deserted place, and there He prayed.
36 And Simon Peter and those who were with him followed Him, pursuing Him eagerly and hunting Him out,
37 And they found Him and said to Him, Everybody is looking for You.
38 And He said to them, Let us get going on into the neighboring country towns, that I may preach there also; for that is why I came out.
39 So He went throughout the whole of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
Introduction:
ID2010 is the year of discipleship.
It occurs in 2 phases: Being a disciple to Being a disciple-maker.
Jesus is not as interested in what we do as much as WHY we do - the motives, attitudes, reasons behind it.
Disciples take responsibility for their lives!
If Jesus were to ask us if we lived out our full potential and influence for Him, can we confidently say yes to Him?
Spiritual discipline are spiritual exercises given by God to transform and strengthen us!
Devotions bring us to the highest high and sustains us in the lowest low.
Personal time with God keeps our inner fire burning - it helps us to walk closely, love God, love people and serve Him effectively!
Even Jesus spent devotional time with God!
1) The Discipline of Devotion Helps Us to KEEP OUR FOCUS (v35)
1.1) Jesus Took Deliberate and Initiative to Spend Time With God
Sunday 0300 HRS (v35....early in the morning.... as in 3am kind of EARLY)
Jesus, only nine hours after a powerful ministry, got up at 3AM to seek God.
Jesus wanted to be in the Presence of God! Jesus GOT UP Himself. Nobody woke Him up - not even the Father was mentioned in this entire passage!
1.2) Jesus Got His Life Re-Focused (v38)
The whole town of Capernaum was there.
Jesus's popularity soared because of His miracle ministry among the towns people.
Like all opportunistic humans, Jesus's disciples must have wanted to cash in and milk on His popularity.
The town loves Him- His ministry could receive alot of support and respect from the locals. With the whole town behind Him, it's hard to imagine that Jesus and His disciples will have material lack in that town!
Yet in v38 ......get going on into the NEIGHBORING country towns......that is WHY I came out.
Instead of choosing to remain in the town where everything is cool with Him, Jesus urged his disciples to move on and go to the nearby towns. He remembered God's mission for Him from the very beginning- to preach the Good News and ultimately die on the cross for Mankind!
Jesus got His life re-focused after His 3am devotions with God.
Have we been so busy fulfilling tasks and assignments that we forgot our calling in our respective marketplace (workplace, universities)?
Had you lost focus on WHY you do what you do?
Are you merely a serving machine now?
If you are, please wake up and know that God loves you as His child, and you serve Him out of love, not to hit goals or to "earn" God's favor or human approval!
Warning: Just because your ministry is doing well does not automatically mean that your personal relationship with God is doing well!!!!!!
1.3) When We Spend Time with God on a Daily Basis, We Allow God to Adjust Us on a Daily Basis
1.4) It is Most Advisable to Do Devotions in the Morning
Psalm 5:3
"In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."
Research from University of Pennsylvania had shown that the mood you start your day with has an effect on the rest of your day.
Morning is the time where you are least distracted.
We may remember to bring our keys and cash before we leave our house, but do we bring God with us before we go out?
1.5 )If you want to hear the still small voice of God, you need to be still before God!
Exodus 14:14 "The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."
Psalm 46:10-11
10 "Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."
11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah
2) The Discipline of Devotion Helps Us to CONNECT WITH GOD
Let's put the situation into perspective:
Saturday 1200 - 1800 HRS
Jesus was having a powerful miracle ministry in Mark 1:32-34
Saturday 1800 - Sunday 0300 HRS
The town people left. Jesus and His companions went to rest.
Sunday 0300 HRS (v35....early in the morning.... as in 3am kind of EARLY)
Jesus, only nine hours after a powerful ministry (and tangibly experiencing God's presence and anointing working through Him), got up at 3AM to seek God.
In contrast, we often left the Bible in our bags after we returned home on Saturday night after service.
2.1) It is not Enough to Connect with God Only a Few Times per Week
Connection with God is our source of strength and anointing!
Connection with God cannot be accumulated! Do you eat buffet one day and then go without food the next day?
John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
2.2) The Human Heart Wanders Easily
The Gospel of Mark recounts Jesus's solitary time with God on 3 occasions:
Mark 1 After the miracle ministry in Capernaum
Mark 6 After feeding the 5000
Mark 14 The night before Jesus was arrested.
Do you feel tired physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually?
What gets you the most distracted from God?
What takes away so much energy from us?
eg. family issues, burdens and tasks, strained relationships, repeated failures, worries?
WILLINGNESS NEEDS TO BECOME INTENTIONALITY
SPEND TIME WITH THE GOD WHO WANTS TO SPEND TIME WITH YOU!
E-sermon : Outreach- What does it mean to outreach, really?"
http://alexanderhope.blog.friendster.com/2010/03/d-for-devotions/
Mark 1:35-39 (Amplified Bible)
35 And in the morning, long before daylight, He got up and went out to a deserted place, and there He prayed.
36 And Simon Peter and those who were with him followed Him, pursuing Him eagerly and hunting Him out,
37 And they found Him and said to Him, Everybody is looking for You.
38 And He said to them, Let us get going on into the neighboring country towns, that I may preach there also; for that is why I came out.
39 So He went throughout the whole of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
Introduction:
ID2010 is the year of discipleship.
It occurs in 2 phases: Being a disciple to Being a disciple-maker.
Jesus is not as interested in what we do as much as WHY we do - the motives, attitudes, reasons behind it.
Disciples take responsibility for their lives!
If Jesus were to ask us if we lived out our full potential and influence for Him, can we confidently say yes to Him?
Spiritual discipline are spiritual exercises given by God to transform and strengthen us!
Devotions bring us to the highest high and sustains us in the lowest low.
Personal time with God keeps our inner fire burning - it helps us to walk closely, love God, love people and serve Him effectively!
Even Jesus spent devotional time with God!
1) The Discipline of Devotion Helps Us to KEEP OUR FOCUS (v35)
1.1) Jesus Took Deliberate and Initiative to Spend Time With God
Sunday 0300 HRS (v35....early in the morning.... as in 3am kind of EARLY)
Jesus, only nine hours after a powerful ministry, got up at 3AM to seek God.
Jesus wanted to be in the Presence of God! Jesus GOT UP Himself. Nobody woke Him up - not even the Father was mentioned in this entire passage!
1.2) Jesus Got His Life Re-Focused (v38)
The whole town of Capernaum was there.
Jesus's popularity soared because of His miracle ministry among the towns people.
Like all opportunistic humans, Jesus's disciples must have wanted to cash in and milk on His popularity.
The town loves Him- His ministry could receive alot of support and respect from the locals. With the whole town behind Him, it's hard to imagine that Jesus and His disciples will have material lack in that town!
Yet in v38 ......get going on into the NEIGHBORING country towns......that is WHY I came out.
Instead of choosing to remain in the town where everything is cool with Him, Jesus urged his disciples to move on and go to the nearby towns. He remembered God's mission for Him from the very beginning- to preach the Good News and ultimately die on the cross for Mankind!
Jesus got His life re-focused after His 3am devotions with God.
Have we been so busy fulfilling tasks and assignments that we forgot our calling in our respective marketplace (workplace, universities)?
Had you lost focus on WHY you do what you do?
Are you merely a serving machine now?
If you are, please wake up and know that God loves you as His child, and you serve Him out of love, not to hit goals or to "earn" God's favor or human approval!
Warning: Just because your ministry is doing well does not automatically mean that your personal relationship with God is doing well!!!!!!
1.3) When We Spend Time with God on a Daily Basis, We Allow God to Adjust Us on a Daily Basis
1.4) It is Most Advisable to Do Devotions in the Morning
Psalm 5:3
"In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."
Research from University of Pennsylvania had shown that the mood you start your day with has an effect on the rest of your day.
Morning is the time where you are least distracted.
We may remember to bring our keys and cash before we leave our house, but do we bring God with us before we go out?
1.5 )If you want to hear the still small voice of God, you need to be still before God!
Exodus 14:14 "The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."
Psalm 46:10-11
10 "Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."
11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah
2) The Discipline of Devotion Helps Us to CONNECT WITH GOD
Let's put the situation into perspective:
Saturday 1200 - 1800 HRS
Jesus was having a powerful miracle ministry in Mark 1:32-34
Saturday 1800 - Sunday 0300 HRS
The town people left. Jesus and His companions went to rest.
Sunday 0300 HRS (v35....early in the morning.... as in 3am kind of EARLY)
Jesus, only nine hours after a powerful ministry (and tangibly experiencing God's presence and anointing working through Him), got up at 3AM to seek God.
In contrast, we often left the Bible in our bags after we returned home on Saturday night after service.
2.1) It is not Enough to Connect with God Only a Few Times per Week
Connection with God is our source of strength and anointing!
Connection with God cannot be accumulated! Do you eat buffet one day and then go without food the next day?
John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
2.2) The Human Heart Wanders Easily
The Gospel of Mark recounts Jesus's solitary time with God on 3 occasions:
Mark 1 After the miracle ministry in Capernaum
Mark 6 After feeding the 5000
Mark 14 The night before Jesus was arrested.
Do you feel tired physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually?
What gets you the most distracted from God?
What takes away so much energy from us?
eg. family issues, burdens and tasks, strained relationships, repeated failures, worries?
WILLINGNESS NEEDS TO BECOME INTENTIONALITY
SPEND TIME WITH THE GOD WHO WANTS TO SPEND TIME WITH YOU!
Labels: christianity, devotions, E-sermon, esermon, God
WOOHOO! I LOVE JESUS! 2:16 PM
Posted on Sunday, March 14, 2010
Becoming a disciple: God's Aim Part 2
13/3/10 - Joshua
Outreach- What does it mean to outreach, really?
[romans 10;14-15]
[Philippians2:12-14]
1) Working out of our salvation (v12-13)
-What does it mean to be saved?
-We approach God with fear and trembling because God is holy.
-He opposed to sin
-We shld live a life worthy of the Gospel
-God will help us in the work of salvation if we co-operate with God.
-If our realtionship with God is seared, we will see no value in doing God's works.
[1timothy 4:16]
2) Being blameless (v14-16)
-Do things without complaining or arguing when doing God's work
-we are still trapped in a cycle of "i hav not enough" and we tend to forget to give thanks to God with wad we have now
-when times are bad, what's ur response towards helping fellow brothers and sisters?
3) Be committed (v17-18)
-Time is short
-What u intend to carry to ur next life?
[2 Cor 5:11-15]
Godly Fellowship
13/3/10 - Joshua
Outreach- What does it mean to outreach, really?
[romans 10;14-15]
[Philippians2:12-14]
1) Working out of our salvation (v12-13)
-What does it mean to be saved?
-We approach God with fear and trembling because God is holy.
-He opposed to sin
-We shld live a life worthy of the Gospel
-God will help us in the work of salvation if we co-operate with God.
-If our realtionship with God is seared, we will see no value in doing God's works.
[1timothy 4:16]
2) Being blameless (v14-16)
-Do things without complaining or arguing when doing God's work
-we are still trapped in a cycle of "i hav not enough" and we tend to forget to give thanks to God with wad we have now
-when times are bad, what's ur response towards helping fellow brothers and sisters?
3) Be committed (v17-18)
-Time is short
-What u intend to carry to ur next life?
[2 Cor 5:11-15]
Labels: E-sermon
WOOHOO! I LOVE JESUS! 6:53 PM
Posted on Saturday, March 6, 2010
Becoming a disciple: GOD'S AIM
10 Part Series
Gathering for fellowship
Outreach
Devotion with God
Stewardship
Abstinence
Intercession
Ministering to God
Acts 2:42-47
Pastor Jeff Chong 06.03.2010
Part 1: Gathering for fellowship
1. To experience covenantal relationship (v42b,44-46)
- Committed to fellowship
- It's about covenantal relationship
Hebrews 10:24-25
- People didn't meet for fellowship for convenience, they were devoted and committed towards it
- Be committed to work things out biblically
Commit to authenticity
- in order to experience fellowship, there must be authenticity
- no secrets between them
Genesis 2:9-10
- only can be loved to the extent that we are known
- authenticity preceeds community
James 5:16a
2. To experience God (v42-43, v46b-47)
2.1 Through His words
Acts 2:42 Proverbs 25:11-12
2.2 Through Communion
- experience silence to seek God
Isaiah 30:15a
2.3 Through Prayer, Praise and Worship
Acts 2:46-47
Acts 2:42
Relationships series - Friendships
10 Part Series
Gathering for fellowship
Outreach
Devotion with God
Stewardship
Abstinence
Intercession
Ministering to God
Acts 2:42-47
Pastor Jeff Chong 06.03.2010
Part 1: Gathering for fellowship
1. To experience covenantal relationship (v42b,44-46)
- Committed to fellowship
- It's about covenantal relationship
Hebrews 10:24-25
- People didn't meet for fellowship for convenience, they were devoted and committed towards it
- Be committed to work things out biblically
Commit to authenticity
- in order to experience fellowship, there must be authenticity
- no secrets between them
Genesis 2:9-10
- only can be loved to the extent that we are known
- authenticity preceeds community
James 5:16a
2. To experience God (v42-43, v46b-47)
2.1 Through His words
Acts 2:42 Proverbs 25:11-12
2.2 Through Communion
- experience silence to seek God
Isaiah 30:15a
2.3 Through Prayer, Praise and Worship
Acts 2:46-47
Acts 2:42
Labels: esermon
WOOHOO! I LOVE JESUS! 6:11 PM
Posted on Monday, March 1, 2010
Hong Teck
Ecclesiastes 4:9-11
Lasting friendships in the church is possible and 4 ways to build lasting friendships in church are..
1) Insist on growing honesty in our friendships Proverbs 27:5
Why is there open rebuke in a marriage? It's because marriage is a lasting friendship, and there has to be honesty in marriage.
The only reason why marriage/friendships breakdown, is cos communication does not exist. So steps to undertake for building honesty in friendships.
Step 1, call a friend for a drink
Step 2, come slightly late
Step 3, come looking distraught
Step 4, and ask what's wrong with me
God is likely to use your friend to tell you what's wrong with you.
After all, your friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you!
2) Express appreciation openly
Encourage one another frequently, our friends are burnt out because they are discouraged, if we love them, we gotta constantly show them we appreciate them!
3) Practice trust first, & let distrust be earned.
Wounds from a friend can be trusted.
The level of distrust is high in our world today. Society is moving away from community, to individuality.
As God's people, we have to live like hos children! To trust first, and let distrust be earned! Trust our leaders, submit to them so that their work will be a joy!
Leaders must also trust their people, and believe in them.
The foundations of Friendships are based on trust first!
Everyone we meet is likely to be human, they'll have good and bad sides. So the key is to Try to look for the good side of the person!
We can never replace a friend. When a man is fortunate enough to have many friends, they will all have unique aspects that make them special.
4) Beware of sweet things
The enemy multiplies kisses, beware of things that are too good to be true. Sweet things are sweet for a reason, they tempt us into distorting the truth. In friendship there are 4 types of sweet things. The temptations of 4 Ps.
1) temptation of possessions
2) temptation of people's adoration
3) temptation of power
4) temptation of possessiveness
Don't let possessions hold you, Tan Qian Shang Gan Qing. (Direct trans: Talk money hurts feelings)
Don't let peoples adoration get to you. The temptation of power is when we let ourselves think we are deserving of all these things. We see ourselves higher than what we are.
Balance out perceptions, know where your security lies, it lies in God.
Phillipians 3:16
Don't try to falsify more than you are, all people have attained a level of character.
Colossians 3:12-14
I am a lean mean loving machine!!
Ecclesiastes 4:9-11
Lasting friendships in the church is possible and 4 ways to build lasting friendships in church are..
1) Insist on growing honesty in our friendships Proverbs 27:5
Why is there open rebuke in a marriage? It's because marriage is a lasting friendship, and there has to be honesty in marriage.
The only reason why marriage/friendships breakdown, is cos communication does not exist. So steps to undertake for building honesty in friendships.
Step 1, call a friend for a drink
Step 2, come slightly late
Step 3, come looking distraught
Step 4, and ask what's wrong with me
God is likely to use your friend to tell you what's wrong with you.
After all, your friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you!
2) Express appreciation openly
Encourage one another frequently, our friends are burnt out because they are discouraged, if we love them, we gotta constantly show them we appreciate them!
3) Practice trust first, & let distrust be earned.
Wounds from a friend can be trusted.
The level of distrust is high in our world today. Society is moving away from community, to individuality.
As God's people, we have to live like hos children! To trust first, and let distrust be earned! Trust our leaders, submit to them so that their work will be a joy!
Leaders must also trust their people, and believe in them.
The foundations of Friendships are based on trust first!
Everyone we meet is likely to be human, they'll have good and bad sides. So the key is to Try to look for the good side of the person!
We can never replace a friend. When a man is fortunate enough to have many friends, they will all have unique aspects that make them special.
4) Beware of sweet things
The enemy multiplies kisses, beware of things that are too good to be true. Sweet things are sweet for a reason, they tempt us into distorting the truth. In friendship there are 4 types of sweet things. The temptations of 4 Ps.
1) temptation of possessions
2) temptation of people's adoration
3) temptation of power
4) temptation of possessiveness
Don't let possessions hold you, Tan Qian Shang Gan Qing. (Direct trans: Talk money hurts feelings)
Don't let peoples adoration get to you. The temptation of power is when we let ourselves think we are deserving of all these things. We see ourselves higher than what we are.
Balance out perceptions, know where your security lies, it lies in God.
Phillipians 3:16
Don't try to falsify more than you are, all people have attained a level of character.
Colossians 3:12-14
I am a lean mean loving machine!!
Labels: esermon
WOOHOO! I LOVE JESUS! 4:10 PM
