Preach the Word

Hi guys.

Felt the urge to update. Had alot on my mind, but I did not have the time to. Or rather didn't want to spend the time to update. Hmm. I'll probably spend some time sharing my reflections on Sunday.. Thats quite long ago. And about my spiritual state now.

So I was back in church on sunday after quite sometime. It was great. To be back with my christian brothers and sisters, worshipping and fellowshiping together. One verse was mentioned while we were singing, it was from Jeremiah 17:7,8. Really nice verse. The verse which I've seen God work in the book "Nest above the abyss" by Isobel. How I hope to be a tree planted beside the waters, beside the springs of living water. Never ceasing to bear fruit for the Lord, green leaves growing throughout the seasons, despite sharp wind(s), heat and seasonal change that satan puts in our way. And this tree, will learn to reach its roots deep into the waters and will learn to trust and hope in God. Indeed, a tree planted by the waters!

Dr Freebug was the speaker for sunday's message. He preached a message on reconciliation. The details I do not remember. But we, christians have been reconciled with the Lord and it doesn't end there. God's plan for reconciliation is that we, go out, and reconcile people with Christ. Yes, to preach the word and win the lost to Christ, to make peace between sinners and God. That is what we, who are reconciled with God must do now. Because that is His purpose of reconciliation. At this point, I will like to share the 3 ways that God spoke to me, urging me to "preach the word". The first, is through the Biography of Isobel, about the missionary work in China (Lisuland). It was really encouraging and inspiring to see how Christ is preached in every possible opportunities, how people have to go through so much, even to the point of death to preach Christ's love and simple plan of salvation. Yet, we, who have the freedom of worship and preaching do so little. Really, so little. God urged me to start preaching His word now. Secondly, its through the sermon that Dr Freebug preached, on reconciliation. God's plan that we should go and reconcile people to God now. The third way God urged me to preach His word is through the sunday school video on "Does the Truth Matter?". The key verse was from 2 Timothy Chapter 4. It was Paul's last chapter in the last letter he was to write on earth. As we know, man's last word is to address something that he feels has a lot of importance. And in this case, paul was urging Timothy, a pastor, to preach the word - in season and out of season. Its quite shocking that the bible actually predicted that the world will develope into such a state where people have tickling ears and only want to hear things that pleases themselve. So its really time to consider, "Does the truth really matter" anymore? Is it more of what we want to hear, than what we NEED to hear? God's word ! Its really interesting, and amusing and to the point of disgust to see how people "change" and "modify" God's word so that it pleases and interest people. Well, you know what? I think that people doubt God when they modify and change God's word. God says clearly in Corinthians, that Paul did not come with the gift of speech, knowledge, but with only a message of peace from God. No matter how inspiring, how motivating, how emotional one get when we hear a very "good" preacher, nothing can be done inwardly except the power of the Holy Spirit. This is so that man may not boast that they have won people to Christ through their own strength, but only through the Spirit's power. People who trusts God's ability to work in every heart, simply presents the Word as it is and allow God to do the rest, that we can deem a really good preacher. We all hold God' message of peace and we are told to preach the Word (in season and out of season, through persecutions, through suffering, through joy, through sorrow, through comfort, through discomfort). We will be disobeying God if we were to modify God's Word and present it. It may even lead someone astray. Christians, simply present God's Word to the person and trust God to work in His heart. Do not doubt that God will work. If we were to change God's Word just to satisfy the hearer's tickling ears, to win "crowd"(s), to gain popularity, etc, we might not even be presenting the truth. It might be a half-truth and that is lying. It might even do more harm then good. How can God work through this? For me, I found out that sometimes I am guilty of not preaching God's word only. And I believe that many of us are. It struck me that God will be glorified only if we preach purely His Word, adding nothing of taking away nothing. People may not like, people may persecute us because of that, we may become unpopular amongst friends, we may be looked down, but whatever it is, PREACH GOD'S WORD! Present it as it is and allow God to work miraculously in their hearts and win them over through His strength. Do not give people what they want, but give them what they need! Yes, so this was the third way God urged me to preach His word.

Honestly, I haven't answered that call. And frankly speaking, I am not in a very ideal spiritual state. "love not the world", I think the world really has its power to tempt and if we are not grounede in His word, we are not walking closely by Him, but walking away and straying from God, we are in no position to overcome these temptations. And this can in turn cause a "chain reaction" to happen in our Christian life. Well, use mine for example. Its been quite a week for me. Training at least twice a day. One with school, second myself and at the end of the day, I am so tired an weary. The next day I have to get up early to go for training. I seriously can't find time to do my quiet time with God. And because my life lacked that quiet time, where I can feast on His Word and spend time casting my cares and burdens on Him, I become so vulnerable to the temptations that lies all around me. And it really is true. And this in turn caused me to slip into the things that world people do. Well, of course I do not slip to deep, but if God does not grab hold of me, I will fall deeper and deeper each day. What do I do that I consider "worldly" - playing computer games, at least excessive playing - which in turn caused me to be so tired and unable to spend time alone with God again. Well, seriously, I havent started my holidys well. I need your prayers, I need God to help me. I pray that tomorrow, as I start a new week, I am able to walk closely with Him and flee worldlineess. "love not the world" has to be lived out in my life. Pls pray for me.

What about you? How has your life been? Do you want to continue allowing yourselves to slip deeper and deeper down, until God has to show His chastening rod to bring you back? Answer to God's call of conviction right now!


... to be continued...


Hello(s)!

Well, I've got lots to say. Hopefully it wouldn't drag yea. And allow me to reflect through the Spirit, not myself and let what I say be pleasing to the Lord. I'll touch on Saturday, Sunday and probably today. =D

Saturday:
I was required to do CIP in the morning for a chinese free medical institute, flag day. Well, honestly that was my first time doing flag day. Ha. Urm, the bag they gave us were, urm, super super ugly. Eeeks, but its for charity anw so I had to go and sell flags. We first went to Orchard Road to sell. Bad idea. I opposed it right from the start. I knew that none in orchard rd will donate to a chinese medical institution. I thought China Town was the ideal place. And, bingo, I was right. We made a fruitless visit to Orchard Road before changing course to China Town. Btw, that time we havent even sold a single flag. So off we go. Well, I found out only one thing. I am so so lousy at selling flags, and so so lousy to do these public things like giving out flyers stuff like that. You see, for the whole 3 or 4 hours, I think I collected less than 3 dollars; HA. =p Thats really pathetic. I disliked when people "dao" you and just walk away when you ask them. Sigh. And I am too too shy to ask. Bleah. And ask me to give out flyers, nah. Not my type. I will only give out less than ten in a few hours. I am so lousy man. Such an introvert I am. But I believe God has made me an introvert for a purpose. He might use my weakness as His strength. He might use it to shame the proud, strong, etc. God has a purpose for making me who I am. SO for now, I'll continue to be who I am lah, ok. When it comes to talking, I am bad, real bad. But come to writing. Ha, my forte. But we must be prepared, I must be, nevertheless to give preach the word, in season and out of season, to give testimony of the gospel. This I must learn to do. I am never good at words. Or rather, I am pathetic at it. But something I heard the next day (sunday) that encouraged me, someone who can't speak well. How am I going to preach God's word and win the lost if I can't present the gospel well? No, God do not require us to have a glib tongue. He does not only use the people who speak well to preach the gospel. Everyone has to! God simple says, preach the Word. Preach Christ's love and the cross. And allow the Holy Spirit to work in the people. I will talk about this later. But now, to come back to where I was. So I left, halfway through the CIP to Marina Bay, where we met Bro Josh and some youths. Once gathered, we made way and arrived at our destination shortly.

The place was really nice. But with one really really bad point. It was filled with "dengue" mosquitos. Really, if you were to hold still for a second. You can see one buzzing and "sucking" your blood from your hands or feet. By the end of the day, my whole hands and legs itched like madness. Argh. But nevertheless, thank God for the beautiful weather. It was like going to rain, but didn't. So we had our games for quite long. First was some singing. Nice songs. And btw, I was worried throughout it because I was so ignorant about these "dengue" mosquitos and I got bitten by one. I thought that if IT had "sucked" enough blood, I would probably be down with dengue fever soon. And I was praying, (haha, dun laugh) that if God wanted me to be down with dengue fever for the next two months, let His will be done. And if He wanted to take my life, let it be also. I was, just a little nervous. But other than that, I was really at that point trusting God with my whole life that I know His way is perfect. He never makes mistakes and if it is time for me to go, it is time. And I was also praying, if God allowed me to be down with dengue, I will rejoice in my circumstance that everyone will wonder what had so much impact in my life to make me rejoice in my times of tribulation. Ha, that was what I was thinking lah! Not until Daniel told me that its such slim chances to get dengue. And if really kana, then it is really God's will le. Anyway, the sharing by Daniel encouraging. God's word spoke, I believe, to our hearts when it is read as plainly and clearly as it is, and the Sprit is allowed to work in the hearts. And God has touched mine. Verses linked with each other even though, to think they were written centuries apart. That really proves that the Bible is God's masterpiece of work! Verse from all over the bible, when put together, made sense and taught us valuable lessons. We learnt one on blessedness.

Then we had games. Played rounders. Something like softball. Quite fun lah. Then spilt up girls and guys. Guys played soccer! It was really tiring mann. Played my 110%. But, in the end we stil lost. Sigh. 9-11. But nevertheless, good game. Though a few hi-cups during the match. Then went for steamboat buffet. Not, exactly very appetising. Ha, but thank God for the food. Thank God for allowing the shop owners to lower the price a little for us and even considerate and understanding enought to turn down the volume of the music upon our request. Oh ya, Desmond came back with his cousin. At last! So long never see him. He played a good game of soccer, played well. Shall not dwell much on Saturday.