Bells and Pomegranates (The blessings of Jesus our High Priest)

“Make pomegranates out of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and attach them to the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them. The gold bells and pomegranates are to alternate all around the hem. Aaron will wear this robe whenever he ministers before the Lord, and the bells will tinkle as he goes in and out of the Lord’s presence in the Holy Place. If he wears it, he will not die.” Exodus‬ ‭28:33-35‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The tinkling sound from the bells are the declaration and reminder of the Good News of the gospel. The golden (royalty) bells will sound out the service movements of our high priest; Jesus Christ.

These heavenly sounds of the bells are for all to hear: To our Heavenly Father of His mercy (giving His only begotten Son), to Jesus Christ our high priest on His sacrificial service and for all of us to know we have the blessed assurance of salvation! The sweet sound of redemption!

Pomegranate is a biblical sign of blessing; it is a fruit that is made up mostly of seeds and contains very little pulp. Therefore, it symbolizes a fruit with the unselfish desire to grant further blessings and seedlings for the world with itself. The red juice oozing out of the fruit when it’s crushed symbolizes again Christ in Isaiah.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

The pomegranates are made with colors with meanings represented of the high priest. The Blue shows the heavenly divinity of the Jesus; the Purple shows the royalty of the Lord as the Father’s Son; the Scarlet Red shows the redemption blood of Christ. White speaks of pure righteousness of the virgin birth.

With the alternate locations and collision of the bells and pomegranates, they speak of the blessings and fruitfulness from Jesus Christ our eternal high priest. Halelujah!

A Little Mustard Seed, A Little Faith

“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” Matthew 17:20

We often hear voices in our heads that we have so little faith; that we don’t have enough faith for it to matter. Because if we have even a little faith like a mustard seed, we can literally move mountains. So we therefore judged and concluded that, if we cannot move mountains, then we don’t even have that little mustard seed of faith!

Do you think God really meant that?

NO! We have been duped by the enemy for so long. In Luke 17:5-6, Lord Jesus used the same parable but in a different context; the disciples asked to be increased in faith:

The apostles said to the Lord, “Show us how to increase our faith.”   The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you! Luke 17:5-6

We have been hoodwinked with the wrong focus. You see, we are not to judge how much faith we have to determine how much we can do but rather to know that with faith, however small will one day, move mountains and uproots trees! We should stop seeing ourselves as believers without faith, weak and helpless. We are to see ourselves as mountain-movers and tree-uprooters, since it take only a mustard seed of faith to do those things.

In Hebrew 11, we see all the giant characters of faith, yet in the concluding verse: All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us. Hebrews 11:38-40.

So what is the secret promise that is even better and perfect than these amazing faith feats?

It is in the following verses in Chapter 12:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Hebrew 12:1-2

In the post-cross perspective, our Lord Jesus Christ is the Champion who is the Initiator and Perfector of our faith. In Amplified Bible, it reads: Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity]. Great as their faith may be, even the faith giants mentioned in the Old Testament couldn’t have received all the portions God has promised; the perfection of faith from the risen Lord!

So in conclusion, it’s not really about how much faith we think we have, but to just keep our eyes on Jesus Christ, and HE will be the One who will bring us to move mountains and uproots trees.

 

 

 

 

Where You Choose to Dwell

We all have a choice to choose where we like to dwell or stay. Physically, our homes, the surroundings, our careers, our ministries, and the people around us will all have an impact on our lives, whether we like it or not, positively or negatively. For some, they chose to dwell in their past failures or even a loss of loved ones. Without coming out of their dwellings, mentally they cannot progress further.

In the hard realities of the world; in the face of impending doom or gloom often thrown at you, where do you choose to dwell? Wherever you choose to camp, very often already determines where you probably ends up, your very destiny.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalms 91:1-2

Escapism is the tendency to seek distraction and relief from unpleasant realities, especially by seeking entertainment or engaging in fantasy. But to place our trust and hope in the very Living Hope, Jesus Christ (1Peter 1:3) is not fantasy but an exercise in faith. Just simply knowing that the Shepherd will lead you out of the wilderness or darkness, will empower you to push out your first step.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. John 10:11-13

When the wolf is coming, where do you choose to dwell?

 

 

Kingdom Of Heaven Looking

“Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13:43-46‬ ‭NLT ‬

 

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The past week has been the most eventful; no, I’m not talking about the Euro-Cup. 🙂

There is a great ongoing shaking in the world now. An established first-world, democratic nation has turned his back on his fellows; closing the front door permanently. Probably fueled by fear and flesh, xenophobia and even racism; reversing introspectively and with self-occupation. World leaders are scratching their heads, not knowing what to do. Rumors of predicted famines and economic tumblings abounds. Even one of the best from the human race, with it’s proud heritage, establishments and achievements, has again demonstrated that mankind are unpredictable.

At the opposite end of the world as well as spectrum, I have the honor and privilege to witness shaking of another, a spiritual shaking. In a third-world country, without even modern toilet facilities at some areas, large multitudes who opened their doors (philosophically because their huts have no doors) and hearts welcoming the Kingdom of Heaven. The King of kings and Lord of lords, Himself, came with His blessings and offerings of salvation and eternal life!

Through humble and grace-filled servers who are heavenward-looking and selfless; from different ages, different nations, different genders, different cultures and backgrounds, coming together as one people-one body; spreading the gospel and Good News of Jesus Christ; and carried with them an outpouring of grace and love to anyone who is willing to accept.

The harvest is so plentiful and so ready!

To me, the contrast is stark and sobering. You see, the Kingdom of God will come down to anyone who is willing to open his door of his heart; tumbling down walls of obstacles and hearts of stone. Even in the worst living conditions, people who received Jesus Christ into their hearts can still be filled with such heavenly glory.

Which side do you belong to?

Remember ME

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”    1 Corinthians 11:23-26

I used to have many questions and opinions about the Holy Communion. “Do this in remembrance of me.” Why does the Lord keep wanting us to remember Him? He needs that much attention? Surely, He has more concerns about His impending betrayal than some bread and drink, right? So, do we just plainly remember, then what happens? Why do we need to do it so often?

If you like me, we have much to appreciate the Lord’s Supper, a wonderful gift. That even at the final hours of his imminent torture, His mind is still for the benefits of the disciples, then and now. You see, the bread is not just a mere symbol of the Lord’s body, it IS the Lord’s body, wounded and broken for us. The cup is not just a symbolic drink but the very blood, flowed out for the us. But what for?

If we refer to Isaiah 53, that tells us the details of what exactly the Lord’s body suffered for, then we will grow to appreciate the bread and the cup.

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
a punishment for his own sins!

But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.  Isaiah 53:4-5

You see, our Lord Jesus has taught us by using the bread and cup, we can better focus on Him, not on ourselves or on the circumstance. The communion is the very physical representation of Jesus Himself. So, if we are weak or sick, Jesus used the communion to remind us, “I am the Bread of Life; Remember ME!”. If we are tired, and burdened, the communion says the Lord will give you rest, Remember ME. If we are depressed, the communion declares His suffering on the cross, so we need not suffer again, Remember ME. If we think we are unclean and unworthy, the communion points to the cleansing, washed by the very Blood, Remember ME. If we are rejected, the communion confirms that we are accepted, “Remember ME!”.

We just need to remember the “ME”.

 

Out Of The Mouth Of Babes

Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!”

The blind and the lame came to him in the Temple, and he healed them. The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the children in the Temple shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David.”

But the leaders were indignant. They asked Jesus, “Do you hear what these children are saying?”

“Yes,” Jesus replied. “Haven’t you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, ‘You have taught children and infants to give you praise.’”   Matthew 21:12-16

We are all quite familiar with the account of Jesus driving off all the merchants buying and selling within the temple grounds. This is an account where for most of the time, we learned of Jesus’ indignation with regards to the degradation of the religiosity of the Jewish temple, to a greed driven machinery that is so far away from the heart of God.

After Jesus healed the blind and lame there, the children, in their innocence, praised God with much shouting. The corrupted leaders were not pleased, and even questioned Jesus. And our main focus here was Jesus’ reply:

‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have perfected praise’?”

Matthew 21:16 (NKJV)

You see, Jesus quoted a portion of scripture from Psalms 8:2 which reads:

Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have ordained strength,
Because of Your enemies,
That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

But there is an obvious divine twist here. In New International Version (NIV), it reads:

you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

So if we line them up on the same term, Jesus has revealed the key here:

-> give You (God) praise -> You (God) have ordained (or give) strength -> You (God) silence the enemy and the avenger

So you see, the revelation is that if we praise and worship God, even when with our handicap, even when we are faced with difficult and surmounting circumstances, and with a bleak-black vision or future; God will give us the strength to persevere and He will see to it to silence the enemy and avenger; our enemy, our avenger.

The weaker we are or the bigger the problem we face, the more we need to praise and worship God; because through it comes our bigger help and our bigger stronghold, and our bigger defense from our Lord!! The final silence of our enemy and avenger will be oh-so-sweet.

 

 

Happy Thoughts!

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. […] Then the God of peace will be with you.   Philippians 4:8-9

We are coming to the end of the year and it is the time where we are feeling festive and blissful. We put down the bad and the ugly behind,  looking forward to a new beginning. And that’s really good. The bible says, fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable, what is right and what is pure and lovely. What is admirable and things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

You see, we are being constantly ‘bombarded’ by terrors, uncertainty, diseases/viruses, and so many other negative things, that if we dont have a counter, we will then go on a slow spiral down into depression and sickness. Your mind will be trouble, your spirit will be down and finally sickness appears for a final countdown.

Happy thoughts!

That’s what the world can offer at best, keeping fixing on whatever happy thoughts you can gather and keep replaying in your mind. But dear brother and sisters, we have something even more power and everlasting. What is more true and right and pure and lovely and admirable and excellent and worthy of praise?

It is this: That God, Christ Jesus, Himself, left and gave up His own majesty and divinity to come into this world. Willing suffered at the hands of the very creation He wanted to save. To redeem us from our sin by taking our sin on Himself and suffered its consequences. After exhausting all the judgement and punishments on our behalf, Christ Jesus died a sorrowful death.

By His death – we are given life, by His strips – we are healed, by his sorrows – we rejoice. Out of love, to save you and I from eternal damnation. Think of such thoughts:

• That you are so preciously loved that Christ Jesus so willing to die in your place.
• That God will redeem you out of whatever bad situation you are in because He had redeemed you from the worst.
• That God Himself will restore what you have lost and will be above what you have originally lost.
• That Christ has done all that needs to be done, we are rest fully in His perfect work.
• That you are not caringly nurtured, truly blessed,  and highly favored because you are children of the Almighty God.
• That you are forever, saved and redeemed for eternity in heaven, a place Christ personally are preparing for you.
• That we have such an awesome and wonderful God that is so worthy of praise.

Such are the happy (excellent) thoughts!

Have a blessed Christmas full of revelation of Christ Jesus!

Through Christ

Recently, I haven’t had much time to write, ponder or reflect. I probably have been too caught up by the world too. But the Lord is so good that I have is this wonderfully nudging about “Through Christ”, that I just cannot not ignore.

God, the Father is holy beyond reach of us mere sinful humans; the Holy Spirit is invisible and silent. That is, why Jesus Christ came and He is the very visible image or representation of the invisible God (Col :15). There is just no way for lowly human beings to reach out to a high holy God. A simple bible search of “through Christ” yields 70 very powerful passages:

John 1:17

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Acts 10:36

You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

Romans 1:4

and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 1:8

[ Paul’s Longing to Visit Rome ] First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.

Romans 2:16

This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

Romans 3:22

This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,

Romans 3:24

and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 3:25

God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—

Romans 5:1

[ Peace and Hope ] Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Romans 5:11

Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord JesusChrist, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Romans 5:12

[ Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ ] Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—

Romans 5:17

For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

Romans 5:21

so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:4

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Romans 7:4

So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.

Romans 7:25

Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

Romans 8:1

[ Life Through the Spirit ] Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

Romans 8:2

because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 9:1

[ Paul’s Anguish Over Israel ] I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit—

Romans 10:17

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

Romans 15:18

I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done—

Romans 15:19

by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.

Romans 16:27

to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

1 Corinthians 4:15

Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.

1 Corinthians 8:6

yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

 

The entire victorious Christian living; in fact, the key to the gospel is found within these 70 Scriptures. Christianity is not designed to be difficult. The Lord did not put His gift of eternal heavenly salvation as a trophy high on the podium, only for ‘champions’ who can manage to attain. This is not only impossible, but a ultimate lie.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-10

But Jesus Christ came, and deliver that trophy personally. Through His bloodied hands…

 

Will The Real Gospel Of Peace Please Stand Up

By now, most would have read about yet another horrific terrorist attack on Paris, one of the most iconic cities in the world. The disgust and sadness that followed, where unarmed civilians were brutally and calmly slaughtered were obvious. It is incomprehensible for fellow human beings firing assault rifles into unwary and inoffensive everyday-crowds of people. Even trained soldiers shudder at such thoughts.

The Islamic-State (IS) has claimed responsibility for the attacks. Their call for Jihad, or “holy-war” is anything but holy. The attacks at a stadium, concert hall and cafes and restaurants in northern and eastern Paris where over a 120 were killed in cold-blood, is their way of fighting a “war”.

While much has been said and done, it’s too little, too late. I would insist that the top Islamic bodies and institutions condemn, re-educate and fight the theological extremism driving these terrors. However, in my spirit, I know I am barking up the wrong (fruitless) tree.

So, will the real gospel of Peace please stand up.

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s amour so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s amour so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body amour of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. (For shoes, put on the readiness to preach the Good News of peace with God.) In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.   Ephesian 6:10-18

With the full amour of God, I used to think of the sandals/shoes to be the least important, preferring to focus on the more gung-ho sword or shield. Ignorantly, I missed the point that the solider and his entire amour is propped up solely by these very shoes-> the gospel or Good News of Peace, with God.

So, what’s so important about the gospel of Peace?

You see, the gospel of peace is the very foundation; the message that Jesus Christ gave Himself to those who would trust and believe in Him (John 14:27; Romans 6:22-23). This gospel of Peace establish our standing and assurance from God-the Father that we are His children and nothing can snatch us out of His hands (John 10:29; 1 John 5:13). The Good News outlines clearly what is required to become a child of God, that God is not angrily-unforgiving and that nothing more is required to be made right (relationship) with the Most High God. (Romans 10:5–10).

The gospel of Peace for us believers has a 2-fold function: both defensive and offensive. On the defensive, in order to defend ourselves against the accusations and “flaming arrows of the evil one”, we must have the confidence in the position of Jesus Christ (as God and Son) and also our position in Christ (the redeemed saved by grace). We must understand the grace and mercy of God, that salvation through Christ is fixed solely on God’s goodness, not based on our own abilities, worthiness or what we have done (Titus 3:5).

On the offensive, we have to bring this gospel of Peace-Jesus Christ to the world. We need to let people know that they will never be able to buy or earn their way into heaven (Ephesians 2:8-9). Everything has been paid by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross (Colossians 2:13-15); they just need to simply believe in Him. That’s it!

One of the main reason why such terrorism happens is because there are some very grave believes going around propagating. False ideologies and extremism that taught people to willingly commit cold-blooded mass-murders and blowing themselves up for a cause. We must counter these wrong believes that eternal salvation can be earned, a price able to be paid, to achieve a good position with a holy God; to have an access to express elevator into the heaven (with bloodied hands).

We need to let them know there is a better, surer way and only Way-> Jesus Christ, Who is  the very gospel of Peace. Only when we have the peace with God, can we have real peace with ourselves and people around us.

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God freely and graciously declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. Romans 3:23-25

Keeping An Eye on Missions -> Feeding Children (Cambodia)

For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’   Matthew 25:35-36

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I had the privilege of paying a visit to a dear missionary in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Visiting their work in the field was an experience that still have me pondering with my own life’s priorities and soul-searching on my life’s journey. It was a sudden awakening from a (first world) bubble wrap into the sad reality of the real (third) world. Much of what we have taken for granted as basic and a necessity is “godsend” in some parts of the world.

It is quite unimaginable for young children to grow up literally on piles of rubbish and playing in dirt. These children have no clean water to drink or enough food to eat, most are scruffy and dirty. Birthed into impoverished families, they have no school and at a young age, they are forced to help provide for their families by scavenging through rubbish or work as child-labour.

On the contrary, we are so blessed but yet materialistically clamouring for more. For me, it took a rubbish dump site (where families lived), some simple food for feeding and the children’s laughter to provoke me into repentance. You see, we just cannot turn a blind eye to the abject poverty in our (prosperous) midst; the elephant in the room. We cannot deny what God, and the Holy Spirit who is in us, wants to do; to help out in whatever way we can. We just cannot bask in the glory of the Lord, overflowing with love and grace we have received through Christ, and yet do nothing at all. This is because Christ’s compassion for the needy is also bursting from within.

Our Lord Jesus fed the 5,000 in the gospels because he had compassion on them. More importantly, He fed the people through His disciples (Matthew 14:13-21). Similarly, we are His current disciples here on earth. Dear God’s beloveds, it is now up to you and me… to spread the Lord’s goodness through us. 

 

Victory Over Sin As God’s Children

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.

Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.

Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.   1 John 3:1-10 (NLT)

Very often, we are taught or understood concepts the wrong way up. We put the cart before the horse, and wonder why are we not experiencing a victorious Christian life that we should? You see, there are many lessons we have grossly misunderstood, contrary to what the Bible says in 1 John 3:1-10 (NLT), written by a disciple “whom Jesus loved”.

Firstly, we must have the knowledge that we, the children of God, are dearly loved by the Father. We are not orphans fending for ourselves or fighting and sacrificing ourselves to gain the God’s acceptance. We already have the Father’s favour! We already gained the Father’s love. Only children who knows they are loved are empowered to venture into life without always looking behind their backs.

Secondly, we are born into sin because of Adam’s fall, and are sinners because we are in sin. But because Jesus Christ came to redeem us from sin, we are no longer in sinners. This is solely by the blood of Christ that washed our sin away (past, present and future), we are no longer sinners, EVEN if we sin. However, we are not to live sinful since we have nothing more to do with sin, instead to new a life. Romans 6:1-4

However, if we are stagnant in sin, without guilt, without intention of getting out or even enjoying in a sinful lifestyle over long periods of time, then we have no revelation of who the Father really is or how much Christ had done for us.

A pig who loves the mud pool, even though if it is cleaned, will jump back into the mud pool the first opportunity it gets. But a sheep will never want to go near a mud pool, even if it is filthy. If it fell into a mud pool, the sheep will be miserable and will want to get out of the mud the first chance it gets. It is about who you are and knowing who you are; Christ has changed us from a pig to a sheep; so don’t behave still like a pig, you sheep!

So the very key of this message is “Do you want a victories Christian Life? Do you really know the Father’s heart and do you really know Jesus Christ’s love for you?”

Let’s pray: Our Father in heaven, we know you love us and gave Your very best- Jesus Christ your only Son to sacrifice on the cross for us. Christ suffered and died for us so that we can live a victorious and abundant life. Help us to see more of Your love, demonstrated by Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit guide and open our hearts to know more from the Bible and resources that reveal the grace and love of the Father and the Son. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Understanding Holiness Through The Temptation of Christ

Everyone who received Jesus Christ into their life always does it with such great joy. If you remember your first love encounter with the Lord, it is always so sweet. However, for some of us along the Christian journey, we lost some of that joy. Along the way, we were told that since we gained salvation freely by the grace of our Lord, we need to now work towards our own holiness.

Well, so what is holiness? Much has been said and written, but let’s see if we can also glean something from the Temptation of Christ; as Jesus is the very role model for our quest for holiness. In Matthew 4:1-11, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the devil.

1.   Turning stone to bread – Jesus had fasted for 40 days and nights; obviously very hungry.  Even with the tempting of the devil to turn a stone into bread, Jesus did not giving in to the demands of the flesh, although the desire or urge was legitimate. We are not talking about willpower or mind over matter but Jesus knew well that God-the Father is the ultimate Provider.

If we see God as our personal Provider and trust fully in his provision, then there is nothing we need to covet, yearn or to be envious about, even it is within our power to get it. All our needs will be fully met in due time, and often beyond our expectations. Suppose you know you have a royal buffet coming, would you steal a piece of old-stale bread? No, you will not even bother, right? You will even roll-eyes in the face of that temptation!

We will not be tempted by the flesh if we fully trust that the Lord will fully and overly provide all our physical needs. And that’s holiness #1 – See the Father God as the Provider.   And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.   Philippians 4:19

2.   Jumping off the cliff – Thereafter, the devil used the promise in the bible about God’s protection, urging Jesus to test it out by jumping off the cliff. But Jesus having such a close and intimate relationship with Father God obviously wouldn’t want to test God.

You see, if we are so close and fully assured of God’s protection, would you test God? If you know your parents loved you so much, would you run out a busy street just to test if they would come for you. Obviously not.

It is during difficult times when we experience doubts on the love of God. During such times, the devil has the chance to tempt us to question or even test God on His protection and promises in the bible. To prevent that, that we need to build ourselves in the love of God beforehand, by knowing Him through the Word, through prayer, through worship, through testimonies of others and through revelation of the Holy Spirit that assures us that we have a really good loving God, who would not leave or forsake us no matter what happens. And so, when temptations come that go against the promises of the Word of God, we will not waiver. We will not be tempted of the mind if we fully trust that the Lord will surely protect us even without testing. And that’s holiness #2 – See the Father God as the Protector.

He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust him. For He will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you.   Psalms 91:2-7

3. Worship the devil for all the kingdoms of the world – Finally, the mask were off the devil, with his ultimate motive revealed; he wanted to be worship like a god, that he isn’t. What the devil wanted is just to peel believers off God, and instead to worship him. Ironically, the devil offered in exchange for the kingdom of the world that was cheated off Adam and Eve, of which the ownership were given to them by God in the first place. So like a highly-skilled con-man, the devil uses what isn’t his to cheat what is yours!

The kingdom of the world represents the riches, authority and power this side of heaven can offer, although all of it came from God. The root of all evil is not money itself, it is the love of money. People who long to be rich with no regards where the source is always ended up foolishly mining it from the world instead of God, plunging themselves into ruin and destruction. (1 Timothy 6:9-10)

So finally, for holiness #3 – See the Father God as the source of Power and Prosperity.

In the wall of text above, if you have learned nothing (or you have just simply scrolled right down); it’s fine. But do read the very key here: In the previous chapter just before the temptation of Christ, Jesus was baptised in the river. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”   (Matthew 3:16-17)

But when the devil tempted Jesus, he said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”. Noticed the difference?  -> he missed out the “whom I love”.

You see, we need to know we are not simply just a believer in the Almighty. We must know intensively that we are a child of God.  But even more than that, one that God dearly love. We are in a position that no other creation ever had. Jesus Christ never lose faith in God, more importantly, He never lose the sense of the Father’s love for him. He never doubt the divine goodness and love.

Holiness is not a set of cold rules. It is not a series of self-prowess to remain flawless. It is the faith you have to see God as a Provider, Protector and the Source of Power and Prosperity. Holiness is a fruit gotten through with the knowledge of the love of God. And we know God the Father loves us so deeply because He gave His most beloved – His Son, Jesus Christ, for our sake.