Break Down the High Place

I just found out how beautiful this song is. I've taken this song sometimes for granted. It was only when I heard it in Be Strong in the Lord album that I really learnt to appreciate this song. "Help me break down the high place, once reserved for You. Help me rebuild my altar and worship You anew. Help me cast out all thoughts that exalts above Your own. Help me listen for Your sweet voice, so Your will is always known."

I remembered this was my prayer of consecration before. To break down the high place, and to worship God anew. June Camp at Awana, Genting, left me with a very pleasant and memorable experience. Well, that time I guess I was P6 and I was not really seeking God yet, but I really love that camp because of the camp site and this song. When I listen to this song, I think back, and sometimes, feels so nice.. I remembered it was near genting, and every morning we would have breakfast at this cafe which looks out to a beautiful golf course, and beyond that beautiful mountains and God's masterpiece. Well looking back at that june camp, I always feel so nice. I love that scenic view of God's wonderful creation. Thinking of it really warms my heart. Really, to think the God who created all these magnificant mountains, trees, nature is for us. To think we, like the children of Israel so often stray from our God, and bring shame to Him. O, that we may really come before God and cry, "Help me break down our high place." and "worship Him anew". To surrender anything we are holding back and submitting to Him. The second stanza, so applies to us. How we long before to to have first place, but how our focus soon turn away from His dear face and seek our own way. Before coming back humbly, and pleading for God's mercy and to be restored and give our lives back to Him.

Help me break down the High place once reserved for You!

Thinking of June Camp. How I pray it would come soon. I'm really lookng forward to it. Just to refresh my soul and rest in Him again. But now, stress plus stress plus more stress. Deadlines, MRP, common tests, Nationals, everything seems not to give me space for breath. If it wasnt for God's grace I would have burnt out. But I thank God I felt really so refreshed after the weekend. And I had so much of God's grace to strengthen me for all that is ahead. Have to continue drawing from Him, the fountain of living waters, the grace I will need to sustain me. I'm really, even physically, on the brink of burning out. Just two days in school can really exhaust me so much. What more, a year? Two? A life time of work? But, if we have God's grace, I think these shouldnt be a problem to us. We'll do our best for God!

I'm... botak! Heh, I went to shave with my friends today after training. Now I understand why monks need to shave their hair. Anyway, being botak will never look nicer than with hair la. BUT, its okay la. Have to get use to this. I find that if taken positively can be a way to discipline one from being vain. I dunno, thats what I think. Heh. But anyway, was a daring go la. I guessed I was still a little apprehensive even tho I did it once before. Now, its over. Nothing to be bothered about anymore.

I'm gonna miss my deadline for MRP. Sigh. That means minus 2. But, I think I have to accept it as punishment for being lazy la. I really really feel that if we all have the right motivation, the right focus we would be gladly, dilligently studying and paying perfect attention to lessons. I havent been able to feel such. Let's commit to prayer, to study unto God not unto men.

Preview of my MRP proposal:

Background

Jesus Christ came to earth 2000 years ago, as the Messiah, Son of God. His ministry on earth lasted for only 3 years, in which He taught, not only on keeping the laws and commandments, but also salvation through faith in Him and the Kingdom of God. He was crucified on a cross, but is believed to have rose from the dead 3 days later, and ascended into Heaven. Despite merely 3 years of teaching, His teachings on salvation and the Kingdom of God lived on and continue to impact the world, as it always had before.
Jesus’ followers were instructed to fulfill the Great Commission (bringing the good news of salvation to everyone) and thus, setting up churches with that purpose. The church grew tremendously (increase in numbers) in a short period of time, and before long, churches were set up in many countries as long as the gospel was introduced.
The church is a body of believers, with the purpose of obeying Jesus’ commission to “preach the gospel” to the world. And just as the world hated Jesus when He was ministering on earth, Jesus taught that the world would hate His disciples as well. Thus, the church in the past were not as “comfortable” as churches appear in this day, however were under great oppression and persecution. These persecutions were mainly from the Roman government who were reigning over the most parts of the world at that time, after the conquering expansion of Alexander. They feared the Christians to be the ones who will rebel and overthrow their government. Persecutions also came from Jews, (God’s chosen people) who still practiced Judaism. They did not believe that Jesus, was the prophesized Messiah (Savior) who came to save them, because they expected Him to be One who will be a King, setting them free from Roman captivity. However, little did they understand that God’s promise of deliverance was to be from the captivity of their sin, and not physical captivity. Therefore, they despised Jesus Christ and heavily persecuted the Christians.
Persecution came in several ways, and I shall not go further and elaborate on it yet. But notice that persecution was only one challenge faced by the church during the early church age. There was many more, and various to come over the next two millenniums.

Rationale

In this research paper, I look forward to finding out the many challenges faced by church throughout history, and to see how, through these challenges the church has been “shaped” into the state it is now. And I certainly wish to discover what is the motivation and driving force the church had, to overcome all the ordeals, continue to fulfill its purpose and impact the lives of many. As someone once said, “No one can read church history without being impressed by the fact that multiplied thousands have given their lives for their Christian beliefs.” Church History provides a synthesis of the past, an explanation of the present, a guide to correct conduct, and inspirational motive to good, practical illustrations for the preachers and it is a liberalizing and broadening study.


Research Question

1) What were the main challenges faced by the church throughout history? When were these challenges predominant?
2) What were done and how successful were they to overcome these challenges?


Thesis Statement

Challenges of the church came in various forms at different periods of time through history; extreme persecution in the early church, heresy challenges after the apostolic period, etc. My stand is that the church was able, eventually, to prevail over their predicament each time, and emerge victorious.


Methodology

For this research paper, my primary sources would be mainly dependant on theology books, historical books on church history, from certain resourceful internet websites, and of course, not forgetting the Bible. My secondary sources would be the other Internet websites that may be used to support the primary sources. Through these means, I hope to be able to accomplish the research and prove my thesis.

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To leave the world's side and be satisfied with simply abiding in Jesus Christ.

12:34 AM :: ::

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