I was very tired by the time I attended the Holy Week service just now but it was, as always, worth the while going for it. I was trying to concentrate as much as I could and I hope the things I am going to share below make sense.
Rev. Wee Boon Hup touched on "The Spirit's Power And The Disciple's Mission". He reminded the congregation that we are all commissioned to preach the Good News to every one around us and to the ends of the earth. Just as much as we are commanded to carry out this task, we were warned against doing it in our own strength. We were challenged to do so through the power of the Holy Spirit.
He commented that we can equip ourselves with all the methods available to execute the task of world mission but they are not sufficient unless it is accompanied with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Rev. Wee also corrected our perception of winning lives to Christ. It is not through man's abilities that it happened but through the Holy Spirit's.
Even Jesus Himself depended on the Holy Spirit to carry out the ministry here on earth. He is setting Himself as a model for all to follow (Acts 10:38; Isaiah 61).
What the speaker shared next glued my ears to his words - Rev. Wee cautioned the congregation that whenever a disciple of Christ wants to do something for the Lord and His people, the devil will try his very best to bring that disciple down. But if he fails to do that, he will try other means and the attacks now are aimed at the disciple's family, circumstances, temptations, etc.
This is where the congregation were urged to always be on our guard and not lose focus. Rev. Wee mentioned this very important point - "The way we live our lives opens ourselves to the attacks of the evil one." He said that the Holy Spirit always desires to play a part in our lives but sometimes the foolish side of the disciple chose to do things in his own understanding and means. When this happens, he has already opened himself for the devil to lay a foothold in disciple's life.
That is why, as brothers and sisters-in-Christ to one another, we have to always put on the armour of God, not just for personal protection, but also to pray for one another so that we cover every one in God's blood and protection.
Only when we are able to do the above-mentioned will we be able to experience the work of the Holy Spirit in us. It will also then cause the disciples to remember that they are always victorious over the devil.
We cannot fight life's battles alone - we need the Holy Spirit and also one another (siblings-in-Christ) to run alongside us. The Holy Spirit gives us the power and ability to overcome the struggles in our lives and equip us accordingly to do the work of God. As for our fellow siblings-in-Christ, they give us support - in prayer, in counsel, in encouragement, in affirmation, in rebuke - so that we can spur one another on to continue our ministries to others.
There are some of my siblings-in-Christ who are fighting the struggles of their lives alone. I admit I do that sometimes. It is my prayer that this will not be so and that God will remind us that we have one another to share the burdens of this pilgrim's journey. It will definitely make our adventure less tiring, burdensome, discouraging and demoralising.
Whether we choose to tap on these resources God gives us is totally up to us.
Well, so much for the lessons learnt. The past three nights have been times of refreshing for me. Thanks be to God.
Liverpool beat PSV Eindhoven 3-0 this morning. My staying up to watch the match is mainly the reason why I am so tired now. I went out with a brother for lunch and shopping this afternoon - thanks be to God for the time of catching up and fellowship.
Time to go.
"On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts1:4-8
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Ephesians 6:10-18
"So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:17-32
Rev. Wee Boon Hup touched on "The Spirit's Power And The Disciple's Mission". He reminded the congregation that we are all commissioned to preach the Good News to every one around us and to the ends of the earth. Just as much as we are commanded to carry out this task, we were warned against doing it in our own strength. We were challenged to do so through the power of the Holy Spirit.
He commented that we can equip ourselves with all the methods available to execute the task of world mission but they are not sufficient unless it is accompanied with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Rev. Wee also corrected our perception of winning lives to Christ. It is not through man's abilities that it happened but through the Holy Spirit's.
Even Jesus Himself depended on the Holy Spirit to carry out the ministry here on earth. He is setting Himself as a model for all to follow (Acts 10:38; Isaiah 61).
What the speaker shared next glued my ears to his words - Rev. Wee cautioned the congregation that whenever a disciple of Christ wants to do something for the Lord and His people, the devil will try his very best to bring that disciple down. But if he fails to do that, he will try other means and the attacks now are aimed at the disciple's family, circumstances, temptations, etc.
This is where the congregation were urged to always be on our guard and not lose focus. Rev. Wee mentioned this very important point - "The way we live our lives opens ourselves to the attacks of the evil one." He said that the Holy Spirit always desires to play a part in our lives but sometimes the foolish side of the disciple chose to do things in his own understanding and means. When this happens, he has already opened himself for the devil to lay a foothold in disciple's life.
That is why, as brothers and sisters-in-Christ to one another, we have to always put on the armour of God, not just for personal protection, but also to pray for one another so that we cover every one in God's blood and protection.
Only when we are able to do the above-mentioned will we be able to experience the work of the Holy Spirit in us. It will also then cause the disciples to remember that they are always victorious over the devil.
We cannot fight life's battles alone - we need the Holy Spirit and also one another (siblings-in-Christ) to run alongside us. The Holy Spirit gives us the power and ability to overcome the struggles in our lives and equip us accordingly to do the work of God. As for our fellow siblings-in-Christ, they give us support - in prayer, in counsel, in encouragement, in affirmation, in rebuke - so that we can spur one another on to continue our ministries to others.
There are some of my siblings-in-Christ who are fighting the struggles of their lives alone. I admit I do that sometimes. It is my prayer that this will not be so and that God will remind us that we have one another to share the burdens of this pilgrim's journey. It will definitely make our adventure less tiring, burdensome, discouraging and demoralising.
Whether we choose to tap on these resources God gives us is totally up to us.
Well, so much for the lessons learnt. The past three nights have been times of refreshing for me. Thanks be to God.
Liverpool beat PSV Eindhoven 3-0 this morning. My staying up to watch the match is mainly the reason why I am so tired now. I went out with a brother for lunch and shopping this afternoon - thanks be to God for the time of catching up and fellowship.
Time to go.
"On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts1:4-8
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Ephesians 6:10-18
"So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:17-32
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