Give Me Jesus

Fernando Ortega - "Give Me Jesus" from Adamson.TV on Vimeo.

Prayer Meeting

I was glad that i went for the prayer meeting at Redemption Hill Church tonight. It was a tough struggle for me, contemplating between devouring my readings or spending some time of prayer in a community of people i don't know. But i felt it strange in my heart that i should go even if i'm going to be a stranger in a strange land.

It was a time of communion with God, everyone praying in unity yet in diversity. Speaking in tongues or in common languages, the whole church prayed from Scripture after Scripture, seeking the revival of God to be sent throughout the nations. One passage that night hit me after Simon prayed for humility among us all. Of how we should humble ourselves and rely on the grace of God, not falling into the trap of self-confidence and reliance on one's own power to do things.

"So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful." Col 3:12-15

Indeed, as i looked back at my life, i realised i have a lot of complaints against pastor Chen and Leong. Felt betrayed, belittled, hurt. But yet at the same time, how could i not forgive them when Jesus forgave me of even greater sins committed against Him. Why can't i have the humble spirit to bear and love one another, and to put on love to preserve the bond of unity. It is not easy to forgive... indeed it is not. But by the grace of God i have to learn to let go of the bitterness within.

Really am attracted to the vision of Simon in making his sunday sermons more 'evangelistic' in style. To be gospel-centered in preaching, for even christians need the gospel every single day of our lives. Met a few muslim converts and am very amazed by the grace of God in their lives. Really am looking forward to next week's community group on wednesday.

Church Discipline

During lunch with Shenjun, he said something which really struck me. It was about the working of church discipline. A lot of times when i come across that passage on church discipline, i only think of excommunicating the sinning brother from the church. And in the contemporary context, it won't exactly work out as that excommunicated person can easily hop to another church. But it dawns on me that it is not that of physical separation. This church discipline works because the church is in fact a very close-knitted community where every one loves each other deeply. To excommunicate a brother from this community will be to exclude this brother from this community of love hoping that this pain will bring about a repentance from the sinning brother. At the same time, the community of brothers and sisters must also be feeling this pain and anguish in losing a brother, and should be begging, praying and imploring this sinning brother to turn back. Suddenly when i look at my tuanqi, i realised no... there isn't. Its unfair for me to say that because there was once when i did almost fell off the cliff when there were brothers and sisters who though not knowing the problem, implored me to come back. How i hope one day the whole tuanqi can become this close-knitted community where when one falls, the rest bleeds along with him. sigh... all have to start with myself.

It is finished! The Messiah Dies

It is finished! THe Messiah dies,
cut off for sins, but not his own.
Accomplished is the sacrifice,
The great redeeming work is done.
It's finished! All the debt is paid:
Justice divine is satisfied;
The grand and full atonement made;
God, for a guilty world, has died.

The veil is torn in Christ alone;
The living way to Heaven is seen.
The middle wall is borken down,
and all mankind may enter in.
The types and figures are fulfilled,
Exacted is the legal pain.
The precious promises are sealed;
The spotless Lamb of God is slain.

The reign of sin and death is o'er,
and all may live from sin set free.
Satan has lost his mortal power -
It's swallowed up in victory.
Saved from the legal curse I am;
My Saviour hangs upon the tree.
See there the meek, expiring Lamb!
It's finished! He expires for me.

Accepted in the Son you loved,
and clothed in righteousness divine,
I see the bar to Heaven removed;
and all your merits, Lord, are mine.
Death, Hell and sin are now subdued;
all grace is now to sinners given.
And so I plead the atoning blood,
and in your Son I claim your Heaven.

Faith

Evidence weighed and knowledge obtained lead to faith.

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)

Are You Born Again?

This is one of life's most important questions. Jesus Christ said,"Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).

It is not enough to reply,"I belong to the church; I suppose I'm a Christian." Thousands of nominal Christians show none of the signs of being born again which the Scriptures have given us - many listed in the First Epistle of John.

No Habitual Sinning
First of all, John wrote:"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin"(1 John 3:9)."Whosoever is born of God sinneth not"(5:18).

A person who has been born again, or regenerated, does not habitually commit sin. He no longer sins with his heart and will and whole inclination. There was probably a time when he did not think about whether his actions were sinful or not, and he did not always feel grieved after doing evil. There was no quarrel between him and sin; they were friends. But the true Christian hates sin, flees from it, fights against it, considers it his greatest plague, resents the burden of its presence, mourns when he falls under its influence, and longs to be completely delivered from it. Sin no longer pleases him, nor is it even a matter of indifference to him; it has become a horrible thing which he hates. However, he cannot eliminate its presence within him.

If he said that he had no sin, he would be lying (1 John 1:8). But he can say that he hates sin and that the great desire of his soul is not to commit sin at all. He cannot prevent bad thoughts from entering his mind, or shortcomings, omissions, and defects from appearing in both his words and his actions. he knows that "in many things we offend all" (James 3:2). But he can truly say, in the sight of God, that these things cause him grief and sorrow and that his whole nature does not consent to them. What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?

Believing in Christ
Second, John worte:"WHosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God" (1 John 5:1).

A man who is born again, or regenerated, believes that Jesus Christ is the only Saviour who can pardon his soul, that He is the divine person appointed by God the Father for this very purpose, and beside Him there is no Saviour at all. In himself he sees nothing but unworthiness. But he has full confidence in Christ, and trusting in Him, he believes that his sins are all forgiven. He believes that, because he has accepted Christ's finished work and death on the cross, he is considered righteous in God's sight, and he may look forward to death and judgment without alarm.

He may have fears and doubts. He may sometimes tell you that he feels as if he had no faith at all. But ask him if he is willing to trust in anything instead of Christ, and see what he will say. Ask him if he will rest his hope of eternal life on his own goodness, his own works, his prayers, his minister, or his chruch, and listen to his reply. What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?

Practicing Righteousness
Third, John wrote:"Every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him" (1 John 2:29).

The man who is born again, or regenerated, is a holy man. He endeavors to live according to God's will, to do the things that please God and to avoid the things that God hates. He wishes to continually look to Christ as his example as well as his Saviour and to prove himself to be Christ's friend by doing whatever He commands. He knows he is not perfect. He is painfully aware of his indwelling corruption. He finds an evil principle within himself that is constantly warring against grace and trying to draw him away from God. But he does not consent to it, though he cannot prevent its presence.

Though he may sometimes feel so low that he questions whether or not he is a Christian at all, he will be able to say with John Newton,"I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am." What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?

Loving Other Christians
Fourth, John wrote:"We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren" (1 John 3:14).

A man who is born again has a special love for all true disciples of Christ. Like his father in heaven, he loves all men with a great general love, but he has a special love for those who share his faith in Christ. Like his Lord and Saviour, he loves the worst of sinners and could weep over them; but he has a peculiar love for those who are believers. He is never so much at home as when he is in their company.

He feels they are all members of the same family. They are his fellow soldiers, fighting against the same enemy. They are his fellow travellers, journeying along the same road. He understands them, and they understand him. They may be very different from himself in many ways - in rank, in station and in wealth. But that does not matter. They are his Father's sons and daughters and he cannot help loving them. What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?

Overcoming the World
Fifth, John wrote:"Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world"(1 John 5:4).

A man who is born again does not use the world's opinion as his standard of right and wrong. He does not mind going against the wrold's ways, ideas and customs. What men think or say no longer concerns him. He overcomes the love of the world. He finds no pleasure in things which seem to bring happiness to most people. To him they seem foolish and unworthy of an immortal being.

He loves God's praise more than man's praise. He fears offending God more than offending man. It is unimportant to him whether he is blamed or praised; his first aim is to please God. What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?

Keeping Oneself Pure
Sixth, John wrote:"He that is begotten of God keepeth himself" (1 John 5:18).

A man who is born again is careful of his own soul. He tries not only to avoid sin but also to avoid everything which may lead to it. He is careful about the company he keeps. He knows that evil communications corrupt the heart and that evil is more catching than good, just as disease is more infectious than health. He is careful about the use of his time; his chief desire is to spend it profitably.

He desires to live like a soldier in an enemy country - to wear his armour continually and to be prepared for temptation. He is diligent to be a watchful, humble, prayerful man. What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?

The Test
These are the six great marks of a born again Christian.

There is a vast difference in the depth and distinctness of these marks in different people. In some they are faint and hardly noticeable. In others they are bold, plain and unmistakable, so anyone may read them. Some of these marks are more visible than others in each individual. Seldom are all equally evident in any one person.

But still, after every allowance, here we find boldly painted six marks of being born of God.

How should we react to these things? We can logically come to only one conclusion - only those who are born again have these six characteristics, and those who do not have these marks are not born again. This seems to be the conclusion to which the apostle intended us to come. Do you have these characteristics? Are you born again?

- J. C. Ryle

Key to Salvation

I was reading John MacArthur's Hard to Believe when i came across this passage. I find it hard to believe that the Catholic Church can mislead so many people in the expository of the doctrine of salvation.

The Catholic chruch believes people can be saved without the gospel, as a story in the Los Angeles Times showed. The newspaper quoted Pope John Paul II saying, "All who live a just life will be saved, even if they do not believe in Jesus Christ and the Roman Catholic Church." The Pope continued, "The gospel teaches us that those who live in accordance with the Beatitudes, poor in spirit, the pure in heart, those who bear lovingly the sufferings of life, will enter God's Kingdom."

Many people reject the biblical teaching that salvation comes only in response to faith in Jesus Christ. They insist that the heathen are saved if they just live good lives - if they're poor in spirit, pure in heart, and do what's right. As long as they are sincere, what they believe doesn't really matter.

THis has been in the fabric of Roman Catholicism for centuries. That is why Catholic apologist Peter Kreeft, who wrote the book Ecumenical Jihad, can say that there are Buddhists, Hindus, Confucianists, Muslims, atheists, and orthodox Jews in heaven: sincerity and goodness are the ticket to God's kingdom, not believing in the Christ of the gospel. THrough innate goodness, they naturally reason themselves into a knowledge of God, please Him, and earn their salvation, whether they ever set eyes on a Bible in their lives or not.

THere can only be one response from me after reading this...utter rubbish and blasphemy to our Lord.

Jesus said that no one can go to the Father except through Him. He is the only path to salvation.

i was wondering if the Pope do even know the existence of the 10 commandments that God has given Moses. (These people idolises and remembered the wrath of God upon those who bow down to idols in the Old Testament?)

Take a look at Matthew 7:21

There are actually much more to react against this absurd comment this Pope has made in accordance to the Bible... but i have to stop here as i'll be leaving for Taiwan soon... shall continue when i get back. =)

Salvation

Entrance into the kingdom requires earnest endeavor, untiring energy, and utmost exertion, because Satan is mighty, his demons are powerful, and sin holds us fast. God can break that hold and free our hearts to respond. The kingdom is not for weaklings and compromisers; it is not for the half-committed, the lovers of the world, or the shallow disciples who want to hold on to the stuff that perishes. The kingdom is for those who are willing to affirm their desperate need for salvation from sin and seize the offer of grace.

John MacArthur "Hard to Believe"

People Need The Lord

Everyday they pass me by
I can see it in their eyes
Empty people filled with care
Headed who knows where

On they go through private pain
Living fear to fear
Laughter hides the silent cries
Only Jesus hears

CHORUS:
People need the Lord
People need the Lord
At the end of broken dreams
He’s the open door
People need the Lord
People need the Lord
When will we realize
People need the Lord

We are called to take His light
To a world where wrong seems right
What could be too great a cost
For sharing life with one who’s lost
Through His love our hearts can feel
All the grief they bear
They must hear the words of life
Only we can share