Power Evangelism
Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.
(Mat 26:13)
We know of Mary’s act in the things surrounding her actions; in terms of it being the outworking of her love because of the much forgiveness she received (Luke 7:47). There was a lavish sacrificial expression in breaking the alabaster flask of costly ointment. The incident recorded for us in John 12:2-8 tells us that it was anointing for His burial. The women who went to the grave early morning hours (Mark 16) didn’t have the privilege to do so. Only Mary did have the privilege. This act that Mary carried out was prophetic in nature. So powerful that it was a memorial of her that is linked to the preaching of the Gospel.
We know that this memorial is because she was one who poured out to the Lord. A poured out life is precious to the Lord. In Scripture we read of David, Paul, and Mary and of course Jesus poured out before the Lord. Pouring out is a non reversible offering that is not required as per any commandment outlined on sacrifices in Leviticus. It is an offering that once poured out, it is given in totality without reservation. Albeit not commanded, but with great acceptance by the Father.
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
(John 17:21)
I personally believe that the secret to Mary’s act (David, Paul and Jesus) was because there was that oneness with the God. As the ointment was only reserved for the bridegroom, so this act by Mary speaks of an intimacy so deep, precious and holy that only can be understood between two. There is such an oneness in the act that the one pouring out everything is oblivious to the surroundings. It is a lonely journey at the risk of people’s questioning and rebuke. Mary just did what she knew she had to do, despising the shame. That is why for Jesus it is a personal joy that He carried within that caused Him to endure the cross (Heb 12:2).
The act of pouring out is not just despising the shame, but it is a sacred act. Oneness in marriage cannot and should not be shared with another. So is our oneness with Christ. So much an important requirement that God has upon His redeemed that Jesus had to pray this in His High Priestly prayer. It takes a powerful prayer of Jesus to achieve this oneness. We can’t strive to attain it; we just receive as an answer to His prayer.
Today power evangelism is so much surrounded on the external in ‘great’ worship, ‘anointed’ speakers and ‘awesome’ miracles. Not implying that these are not bringing people into the Kingdom. There are those in these ministries who lived poured out lives before the Lord. On the flip side, power evangelism in Jesus’ perspective is when it's a memorial built that the very Heaven’s will recognize. Instead of memorials reflecting acts of man which may down play the act of God. For it takes an act of God to achieve oneness with Him.
Oneness with Christ is a lonely life to live because it is lived for God alone to see, not man. Oneness with Christ is life of joy where pride has died in order to have the power to despise shame. Oneness with Christ is when the world will know that He has sent us and not man. It is goes hand in hand with the preaching of the gospel leaving behind a memorial that God’s cherishes for eternity... this carries a heavenly power in evangelism.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
God Perfecting Us
Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
(Heb 13:21)
Lately I have been pondering over my personal reading into ‘The Normal Christian Life’ (the portion on Romans 8) by Watchman Nee and recently Ps Susan’s Tang sharing in our little house church about God working in us. I realized that many of us are so keen to display our Christianity through many means. Of my years of service in the worship ministry, many either volunteered themselves or even been volunteered to ‘help’ out in the ministry. Many of whom were new believers not even firmly grounded in their new found faith. Does God promote volunteerism with show of such zeal? Yes, we are to be God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works (Eph 2:10). Yes, it is God’s divine will that we have been ordained to do so. Is the practice of Christianity today producing ‘cookie cutter’ servants?
“You did not do anything to achieve your salvation, but you must do something to exhibit it. You must "work out your own salvation" which God has worked in you already (Philippians 2:12). Are your speech, your thinking, and your emotions evidence that you are working it "out"? If you are still the same miserable, grouchy person, set on having your own way, then it is a lie to say that God has saved and sanctified you.” – Oswald Chambers
Paul tells us that we are God’s workmanship or handiwork. We are to be products of God’s work that produces vessels of honor (2 Tim 2:20) made of ‘gold’ not of ‘wood’.
The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
(Pro 17:3)
God’s vessels have to be purified and heart must be tested. Why else God chose David over Saul, for the former had his heart tried by fire to be proven to be a man after God’s own heart. Here we are trying to help God in churning out workers for Him with the Saul nature who concern themselves more with their own water face than God’s honor. David knew it was only God and God Himself and sought His face even with the conviction of sin (Psa 51). Where as Saul didn’t get replies from God and ended up in blatant disobedience in offering the sacrifice (only allowed by prophets and priests) and worst, consulting a medium. Resorting to our own mean is a sure sign that our heart has not been tried.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
(Eph 3:20)
God wants to work in us! The Ephesians church did works derived from self which led to their losing their first love (Rev 2:1-11). They probably loved their works more than God for self is exalted, not God. Jesus said that if He be lifted up (John 12:32), He will do the drawing of men into His church. Not by means of music, magic shows, entertainment or even what we term as ‘good deeds’ or ‘seeker friendly’. It is the crucified Christ that is the mark of the church that will draw people. We who are no greater than our Master have to live the reality of the cross too. We are what we believe. There is a power of God working in us, not just men’s idea or interpretation of Scripture. Truth needs to be worked into us.
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
(Eph 1:4)
The power that God works in us is unto perfection or completeness according to His will. Heb 13:21 has lost the Greek meaning ‘to do His will, working in you’. It meant rather that God is continually doing it in us His good work unto completeness. Completeness in that we should be holy and without blame. The truth is that God’s aspiration in our salvation is that we be made holy and blameless not just to make it to heaven. If we are made holy and blameless than there isn’t any thing the accuser of the brethren can point the finger at. Not just at us but also at God (remember the incident of the devil questioning God on Job’s uprightness). To be holy means that we are wholly His, qualifying us to live in the place of His pleasing (fully acceptable) and that Christ be glorified forever.
Don’t rush ourselves and don’t rush God. David spent his time in the wilderness to be completed to do God’s plan. So was Paul in the Arabia. Jesus stayed 30 years hidden from man’s eyes and heavens open at His baptism. Keep our eyes on the end, let God work out the means as we submit wholly to Him.
Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
(Heb 13:21)
Lately I have been pondering over my personal reading into ‘The Normal Christian Life’ (the portion on Romans 8) by Watchman Nee and recently Ps Susan’s Tang sharing in our little house church about God working in us. I realized that many of us are so keen to display our Christianity through many means. Of my years of service in the worship ministry, many either volunteered themselves or even been volunteered to ‘help’ out in the ministry. Many of whom were new believers not even firmly grounded in their new found faith. Does God promote volunteerism with show of such zeal? Yes, we are to be God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works (Eph 2:10). Yes, it is God’s divine will that we have been ordained to do so. Is the practice of Christianity today producing ‘cookie cutter’ servants?
“You did not do anything to achieve your salvation, but you must do something to exhibit it. You must "work out your own salvation" which God has worked in you already (Philippians 2:12). Are your speech, your thinking, and your emotions evidence that you are working it "out"? If you are still the same miserable, grouchy person, set on having your own way, then it is a lie to say that God has saved and sanctified you.” – Oswald Chambers
Paul tells us that we are God’s workmanship or handiwork. We are to be products of God’s work that produces vessels of honor (2 Tim 2:20) made of ‘gold’ not of ‘wood’.
The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
(Pro 17:3)
God’s vessels have to be purified and heart must be tested. Why else God chose David over Saul, for the former had his heart tried by fire to be proven to be a man after God’s own heart. Here we are trying to help God in churning out workers for Him with the Saul nature who concern themselves more with their own water face than God’s honor. David knew it was only God and God Himself and sought His face even with the conviction of sin (Psa 51). Where as Saul didn’t get replies from God and ended up in blatant disobedience in offering the sacrifice (only allowed by prophets and priests) and worst, consulting a medium. Resorting to our own mean is a sure sign that our heart has not been tried.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
(Eph 3:20)
God wants to work in us! The Ephesians church did works derived from self which led to their losing their first love (Rev 2:1-11). They probably loved their works more than God for self is exalted, not God. Jesus said that if He be lifted up (John 12:32), He will do the drawing of men into His church. Not by means of music, magic shows, entertainment or even what we term as ‘good deeds’ or ‘seeker friendly’. It is the crucified Christ that is the mark of the church that will draw people. We who are no greater than our Master have to live the reality of the cross too. We are what we believe. There is a power of God working in us, not just men’s idea or interpretation of Scripture. Truth needs to be worked into us.
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
(Eph 1:4)
The power that God works in us is unto perfection or completeness according to His will. Heb 13:21 has lost the Greek meaning ‘to do His will, working in you’. It meant rather that God is continually doing it in us His good work unto completeness. Completeness in that we should be holy and without blame. The truth is that God’s aspiration in our salvation is that we be made holy and blameless not just to make it to heaven. If we are made holy and blameless than there isn’t any thing the accuser of the brethren can point the finger at. Not just at us but also at God (remember the incident of the devil questioning God on Job’s uprightness). To be holy means that we are wholly His, qualifying us to live in the place of His pleasing (fully acceptable) and that Christ be glorified forever.
Don’t rush ourselves and don’t rush God. David spent his time in the wilderness to be completed to do God’s plan. So was Paul in the Arabia. Jesus stayed 30 years hidden from man’s eyes and heavens open at His baptism. Keep our eyes on the end, let God work out the means as we submit wholly to Him.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Our Conscience - Oswald Chambers
Conscience is that ability within me that attaches itself to the highest standard I know, and then continually reminds me of what that standard demands that I do. It is the eye of the soul which looks out either toward God or toward what we regard as the highest standard. This explains why conscience is different in different people.
Conscience is that ability within me that attaches itself to the highest standard I know, and then continually reminds me of what that standard demands that I do. It is the eye of the soul which looks out either toward God or toward what we regard as the highest standard. This explains why conscience is different in different people.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
The Excellency of our God
O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
(Psa 8:1)
We can see excellence in man’s work and will quickly respond in praises to what comes out of man’s ingenuity, intelligence, creativity, etc. But God’s Name is excellent by it self! The word ‘excellent’ means glorious. We know that names and titles are important and people are recognized for them. Royalty for example command the reverence and respect from ‘commoners’. Some acquired their recognition through their contribution to society or sciences. Some are born with names that command respect and some earn them.
However, God’s name LORD our Lord; Jehovah our Adonai speaks of the nature of God Himself. Jehovah or Yahweh is the holiest name of God that was never written or spoken by any Hebrew (except by the high priest on the Day of Atonement, the holiest day which denotes much fasting, prayer and work is forbidden. It is the receiving of the second set of the 10 Commandments and to atonement for the sin of idolatry of the golden calf) which is why we don’t know the true pronunciation of that Name. There is a special exclusivity of that Name. It means 'I am that I am,' or 'I am the one who is.' The Name Yahweh which must never be blurted out frivolously, because that Name is a revelation to the early fathers (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Exo 3:15). We will never know the God that is behind that Name unless we receive a revelation of Who He truly is to us. Thus our knowledge of God has to be a personal revelation, so does our salvation.
Adonai means Lord or Master. The Jews won’t dare use Yahweh in their prayer but call upon Adonai instead. This first verse of Psalm 8, David uses Yahweh our Master or we can say O Holy and Glorious God who has revealed Himself to those who are under His Divine Lordship. This seemed to be a mouthful, but this is how I would interpret it. Is He Lord over our lives with concrete evidence of His Mastering over our entire lives, living it out gloriously. The acid test of our glorious living is determined how much we embrace the revelation of God.
The Name by Itself is excellent or glorious or Chris Tomlin sang, Indescribable! The Psalmist cried out in the similar manner beginning with ‘O Yahweh our Lord’. Whole creation is full of His glory and radiates forth His Excellency. We are beggar for words. We can’t begin the fathom the greatness of the stars in the heavens and can never name each and every one of them (Job 9:8,9), but He did. Yet whenever we gaze into the clear night at the majesty of the heavens we are constantly reminded of how small we are and how great is our God who created all those in a single command… ‘Let there be light’! The awesomeness and glory of God can’t be hidden even in the deepest of the deeps. Creation cries out His Glory. Everything is found in its proper place.
Why personal revelation of God? It is found in the word ‘our’. How can He be LORD our Lord if there is no relationship. Our relationship as shown by the forefathers who received the relation of ‘I AM’ is that there are marks of obedience, trust, love, acknowledge Him in all things and willing to die for Whom they believed in. We have to take ownership of our relationship with Him. There is such sweetness in the little word ‘our’ that is towered between Yahweh and Adonai. That is where our balance in life is…. living under that shadow of our LORD Lord.
(Psa 8:1)
We can see excellence in man’s work and will quickly respond in praises to what comes out of man’s ingenuity, intelligence, creativity, etc. But God’s Name is excellent by it self! The word ‘excellent’ means glorious. We know that names and titles are important and people are recognized for them. Royalty for example command the reverence and respect from ‘commoners’. Some acquired their recognition through their contribution to society or sciences. Some are born with names that command respect and some earn them.
However, God’s name LORD our Lord; Jehovah our Adonai speaks of the nature of God Himself. Jehovah or Yahweh is the holiest name of God that was never written or spoken by any Hebrew (except by the high priest on the Day of Atonement, the holiest day which denotes much fasting, prayer and work is forbidden. It is the receiving of the second set of the 10 Commandments and to atonement for the sin of idolatry of the golden calf) which is why we don’t know the true pronunciation of that Name. There is a special exclusivity of that Name. It means 'I am that I am,' or 'I am the one who is.' The Name Yahweh which must never be blurted out frivolously, because that Name is a revelation to the early fathers (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Exo 3:15). We will never know the God that is behind that Name unless we receive a revelation of Who He truly is to us. Thus our knowledge of God has to be a personal revelation, so does our salvation.
Adonai means Lord or Master. The Jews won’t dare use Yahweh in their prayer but call upon Adonai instead. This first verse of Psalm 8, David uses Yahweh our Master or we can say O Holy and Glorious God who has revealed Himself to those who are under His Divine Lordship. This seemed to be a mouthful, but this is how I would interpret it. Is He Lord over our lives with concrete evidence of His Mastering over our entire lives, living it out gloriously. The acid test of our glorious living is determined how much we embrace the revelation of God.
The Name by Itself is excellent or glorious or Chris Tomlin sang, Indescribable! The Psalmist cried out in the similar manner beginning with ‘O Yahweh our Lord’. Whole creation is full of His glory and radiates forth His Excellency. We are beggar for words. We can’t begin the fathom the greatness of the stars in the heavens and can never name each and every one of them (Job 9:8,9), but He did. Yet whenever we gaze into the clear night at the majesty of the heavens we are constantly reminded of how small we are and how great is our God who created all those in a single command… ‘Let there be light’! The awesomeness and glory of God can’t be hidden even in the deepest of the deeps. Creation cries out His Glory. Everything is found in its proper place.
Why personal revelation of God? It is found in the word ‘our’. How can He be LORD our Lord if there is no relationship. Our relationship as shown by the forefathers who received the relation of ‘I AM’ is that there are marks of obedience, trust, love, acknowledge Him in all things and willing to die for Whom they believed in. We have to take ownership of our relationship with Him. There is such sweetness in the little word ‘our’ that is towered between Yahweh and Adonai. That is where our balance in life is…. living under that shadow of our LORD Lord.
Friday, May 02, 2008
The Divine Exchange
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
(2Cor 12:9a)
The weakness mentioned by Paul is with regard to our moral frailty or even bodily. We struggle and hard pressed to find God’s grace sufficient enough for us. The trouble is that we wrestle with our human strength, understanding, and wisdom and all that we can muster up from within. I suppose that is why we can’t experience the reality of God’s graciousness in tough and most trying circumstances. The word ‘grace’ used is ‘charis’, which is commonly interpreted as God’s unmerited favor upon us. However there is another aspect which is the divine influence upon our heart. God’s divine influence cannot come in unless we are stripped of self influence seated deep within our heart. Self influence will continually rear its head to give us the ‘positive’ mentality that we can make it. If we read this verse carefully, Paul is telling us not to consider ‘making it’ but to consider ourselves surrendered and start waving the white flag. Someone once said ‘Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity; man’s security is Satan’s opportunity.’ We have to be freed from this false sense of security that which we constantly summon in the face of our struggles with sin or character flaws.
If we are faced with circumstances that we need victory over sin; or patience for a difficult child; or love for an irritable person; or trust in God in the face of adversity, we ask God for them. How oft that our prayers are left unanswered regardless of how earnest we are. I have, and I don’t see whence my help comes (Psa 121:1). This can be frustrating and can even come to the point of questioning God if He is truly real to deliver us.
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Rom 6:11)
Adam sinned or disobeyed God’s commandment not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen 2:17) and lost our innocence to sin. We are only to partake from the tree of life and leave the decision or discernment of the good and evil to God. As such the sin nature have over taken the nature that God’s first created man. Thus all that is in man is not of God, how can we draw from within in this state? So the solution is that we die to the sin nature and start anew as in a totally new creation (2 Cor 5:17). We are saved not to have victory or to have a better disposition over our weaknesses, the truth is that we must be completely renewed. A divine exchange has to take place to realize divine sufficiency. This truth of this exchange has to be reckoned. To reckon is an accounting term which is to count or calculate to know the bottom line. It is not subjective but objective, unprejudiced.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
(Gal 2:20)
‘I am’ is the declaration to principalities and to God of death to the old nature and taking on the new creation. It is death to the ‘me’ factor that constantly want to surge to the fore that sufficiency of God’s grace can’t be complete. But when we so surrender all to Jesus, Christ take over meaning the government of our lives becomes His responsibility. We can trust Him completely because He loves us with His life. When Christ takes over the reign, our moral and bodily frailty becomes His to deal with. Christ’s power will deal with our habits we never have been able to rid off, addiction, lust, covetousness, etc. Our victorious and glorious living becomes the bottom line in Christ.
Paul says that it is ‘my strength’; there is that oneness of Christ strength that becomes ours to bring it to completion. Isa 40:31 reminds that our strength comes with a renewing, a divine exchange not an added strength. How else can we soar in victorious living save understanding that the exchange required for us has to be Divine in nature.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
(2Cor 12:9a)
The weakness mentioned by Paul is with regard to our moral frailty or even bodily. We struggle and hard pressed to find God’s grace sufficient enough for us. The trouble is that we wrestle with our human strength, understanding, and wisdom and all that we can muster up from within. I suppose that is why we can’t experience the reality of God’s graciousness in tough and most trying circumstances. The word ‘grace’ used is ‘charis’, which is commonly interpreted as God’s unmerited favor upon us. However there is another aspect which is the divine influence upon our heart. God’s divine influence cannot come in unless we are stripped of self influence seated deep within our heart. Self influence will continually rear its head to give us the ‘positive’ mentality that we can make it. If we read this verse carefully, Paul is telling us not to consider ‘making it’ but to consider ourselves surrendered and start waving the white flag. Someone once said ‘Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity; man’s security is Satan’s opportunity.’ We have to be freed from this false sense of security that which we constantly summon in the face of our struggles with sin or character flaws.
If we are faced with circumstances that we need victory over sin; or patience for a difficult child; or love for an irritable person; or trust in God in the face of adversity, we ask God for them. How oft that our prayers are left unanswered regardless of how earnest we are. I have, and I don’t see whence my help comes (Psa 121:1). This can be frustrating and can even come to the point of questioning God if He is truly real to deliver us.
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Rom 6:11)
Adam sinned or disobeyed God’s commandment not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen 2:17) and lost our innocence to sin. We are only to partake from the tree of life and leave the decision or discernment of the good and evil to God. As such the sin nature have over taken the nature that God’s first created man. Thus all that is in man is not of God, how can we draw from within in this state? So the solution is that we die to the sin nature and start anew as in a totally new creation (2 Cor 5:17). We are saved not to have victory or to have a better disposition over our weaknesses, the truth is that we must be completely renewed. A divine exchange has to take place to realize divine sufficiency. This truth of this exchange has to be reckoned. To reckon is an accounting term which is to count or calculate to know the bottom line. It is not subjective but objective, unprejudiced.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
(Gal 2:20)
‘I am’ is the declaration to principalities and to God of death to the old nature and taking on the new creation. It is death to the ‘me’ factor that constantly want to surge to the fore that sufficiency of God’s grace can’t be complete. But when we so surrender all to Jesus, Christ take over meaning the government of our lives becomes His responsibility. We can trust Him completely because He loves us with His life. When Christ takes over the reign, our moral and bodily frailty becomes His to deal with. Christ’s power will deal with our habits we never have been able to rid off, addiction, lust, covetousness, etc. Our victorious and glorious living becomes the bottom line in Christ.
Paul says that it is ‘my strength’; there is that oneness of Christ strength that becomes ours to bring it to completion. Isa 40:31 reminds that our strength comes with a renewing, a divine exchange not an added strength. How else can we soar in victorious living save understanding that the exchange required for us has to be Divine in nature.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)