Returning to the Place of My Beginning

The past one week was rather busy for me as I raced to finish the devotional materials for our season of Lent. I am glad that part is over and the booklet was distributed today at the various congregations. I pray that it would be helpful to those who use it. But writing the devotional and the bible discussion materials for cell group had been one great and exciting task. Actually I learned so much personally. I was challenged in my walk with the Lord. It was my personal “return to the Lord”.

Today’s sermon by Pastor Chong Leang was very challenging. I was once reminded of the need to come closer to the Lord. One of the salient points in his sermon is the revelation of God to Jacob regarding Bethel. It was here that he first met God. He was running away from his brother who swore in his heart to kill him. Here at Bethel God renewed his covenant with Jacob as he did with his grandfather Abraham and his father Isaac. The text that Ps Chong Leang spoke from was about God asking Jacob to go back to Bethel – going back to the place of beginning, a place of consecration, a place where he first met God. But this time he sees this place as El Bethel. The first time Jacob named the place Bethel – the house of God but this second time he called the place the God of the house. That to me was a very interesting observation and it does change one’s perspective – from the house of God to God of the house!!

I was really blessed. Pick up the DVD version of the message from the church. You can request for it. You will enjoy the message. It is very encouraging.

Malaysia Oh Malaysia

What is going on in our country? News, news and more news – not good ones but disturbing ones! This couple of weeks I had been writing the Lent’s daily devotions for the church and our reflection is on the justice of God. Sometimes I feel like shouting at the top of my voice and to let off some frustrations as I see all the mud-slinging going on in the leadership of the nation. I am not involved in politics BUT I read about our nation every day. I am NOT trying to give any political view to what is happening BUT in my frustration I want to ask God to come and do something in this nation of ours. It is so disheartening and so disturbing.

God…show forth your mercy to our nation. God….show your hands of justice to our nation. Do not let evil has its day in our nation. Oh….just frustrated.

Walk the Talk ….for me!!

I had a wonderful time today talking to Cheng See at the House of Hope. House of Hope is a community project spearheaded by Cheng See at Rifle Range Flats. I am amazed at the way the Lord uses her, It was so refreshing to learn of God’s presence working among the people in this place.

I am in the midst of writing the devotion for our season of Lent and our reflection is on the justice of God. The more I read the scriptures about God’s justice the more aware I become that God is very interested in the poor and the needy, the down trodden and the sick. In fact, the sound of the cries and tears of these souls is heart-wrenching to God. The injustices reach God, I am sure. But more than that I found myself asking the question – what am I doing here typing away on my computer explaining about God’s love for the people? How do I respond to such cries?

Well … that accounts for the fact that I got myself up from my computer and pay a visit to Cheng See. I realized that knowing it is one thing but doing it is another thing. I think I said that in one of my blog entries. I need to go out there and do something. I did just that. I am happy to commit myself to doing something for the poor community and praying that in doing so I would serve God in dispensing justice to these down-trodden people. What was really refreshing to meet up with Cheng See is to learn that since she came to this part of town more than a hundred people have come to the Lord. I believe they saw Jesus through her life and her love. She was telling me lots of testimonies of healing and of God’s provision. Praise the Lord! Something stirs within me to want to go there more often and get involved. That’s where real Christianity starts!

Insanity

I heard a message today and it was generally a good reminder for us to have accountability and to take care of our spiritual well being. But somewhere in the sermon the speaker spoke about the need to attend bible classes. So far so good until he asked a question: “Can these bible classes help you grow?” Wow…I thought that was a good question until he gave the answer to his own question. He said “NO” and I cringe in my seat. What? I found myself silently letting out an exclamation!

I have no doubt about the intention of the speaker BUT such statement would send out mixed signal. The question that popped up in my mind is this: why bother to go for bible study class if it is not going to help me grow? Of course his next statement is that these teachings give us spiritual nutrients but does not help us grow. That’s the work of the Holy Spirit. Again that sounds spiritual – more like a spiritual cliché! What’s the difference between receiving instruction and nutrient through bible teachings and the work of the Holy Spirit n helping you grow? I think we need to be clear with our thinking process and not use spiritual somersault on people! What does nutrients do? Simple science will tell you that nutrients help you in your growth process.

So what’s the deal here? I think we cannot run away from the fact that cognitive learning is vital if we are ever going to have the right nutrients to grow. We need not be apologetic about getting believers to use their brains to understand, to gain knowledge, to be instructed, and to make sense of all that God has for us. The Holy Spirit will use the knowledge that we gain from the instruction of God’s word, from the bible teachings of faithful men and women and bring about not only a cognitive understanding but a heart transformation. No one can convince me that our mind is not to be involved in the inner transformation of our lives. No one can say that we are changed solely by the power of God supernaturally without the Holy Spirit working in our mental faculty. It’s ridiculous – such experience never last. Take a look at the children of Israel – they have seen all the miracles yet they complained and complained and were never satisfied. Where is their trust? Where is their conviction of the great power display of the Almighty God? Look at Moses – he was changed by his encounter of God in the burning bush. The name of God was revealed to him. In the very description of God’s name came the revelation of who God is. That revelation makes a lasting impression not only in his heart but edge into his mind permanently. Revelation is more than an empirical (experiential and pragmatic) awareness of God’s virtue embedded in his name BUT it had an epistemological underpinning to it – the fact that his mind engages in the reality of the God whose name is I AM.

Insanity is losing the sense of reality. An insane person may tell of all his experiences, all of the sensations that he is experiencing, and can tell of all the dreams and visions. But only a sane person is in touch with reality. A sane person is one who has a right mind. There it goes again – the mind. How far can we run away from the fact that we need to use the faculty of our mind to understand the reality of God’s love, the meaning of life, etc

Oh….get yourself equip in the word of God by attending all the classes that are available. You stop learning you stop growing. You need all the nutrients you can get. You need all the knowledge that is available in the Word of God. You need that or the devil will temp you with a lie and you will be deceived.

Still on the Case about Cognitive Learning

Sometimes I think I try too hard to convince people that seeking knowledge is a very spiritual thing to do. Some people think that praying, reading the bible, worship, speak in tongue are all spiritual exercises that are more valuable BUT I beg to disagree. There is a place for all the Christian disciplines mentioned and the development of a healthy and coherent theology should be included.

People are put off by the word theology. I have come to appreciate it very much. In fact it is in and through theological reflections that I have come to appreciate God in a whole new way. My worldview has changed tremendously over the last few years. It is largely due to my new appreciation of theology.

One of the theological issues that I had a privilege of discussing, researching, and reading about is pastoral theology – the theology behind the pastoral ministry. While it is great to be hands-on and practical in doing pastoral ministry there is a place for the understanding of the doctrinal and theological nature of pastoral ministry. I have benefited a lot in discussion about pastoral theology. Take for example the role of preaching in the life of a pastor. If we approached pastoral ministry on a pragmatic fashioned then preaching does not seems a big deal. All you want is to care, to help, to comfort, to sustain, etc, etc the flock. But if you want to seriously think about God and his role in pastoral care then preaching will take a new understanding. The preaching becomes a very important conduit to proclaim the truths of God. The theological underpinning is that propositional truths are important and the declaration and the herald of it are extremely essential to the spiritual nurture of every believer.

Quote: Millard J. Erickson, Introducing Christian Doctrine

The word doctrine may prove somewhat frightening. It conjures up visions of very technical, difficult, abstract beliefs, perhaps propounded dogmatically. Doctrine is not that, however. Christian doctrine is simply statements of the most fundamental beliefs that the Christian has, beliefs about the nature of God, about his action, about us who are his creatures, and about what he has done to bring us into relationship with himself. Doctrine deals with general or timeless truths about God and the rest of reality. There are several reasons why the study of doctrine is NOT optional: (1) Correct doctrinal beliefs are essential to the relationship between the believer and God. (2) Doctrine is important because of the connection between truth and experience. (3) Correct understanding of doctrine is important because there are many secular and religious systems of thought that compete for our devotion these days.

Apprehending God through Worship

First, worship involves our emotion. In Ephesians 5:18-20 we read, “And do not be drunk with wine in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit. Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things…”

Worship is holistic – body, soul, and Spirit. Worship is the full expression of our love for God; it involves our emotions. Some things will stir within us to respond to songs of praise, words of adoration, etc,

Second, worship involves our reverence and honour. In Malachi 1:6 we read, “A son honours his father and a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is my honour? And if I am a Master, Where is my reverence, says the Lord of hosts to you priests who despise my name. Yet you say, ‘In what way have we despised your name?’

What God is really saying is that; how come you call me with these marvellous titles but I don’t sense any reverence from you, I don’t see any obedience from you? You call me father where is the holy? When I come to him and he reaches out to me and loved me he is still the Lord of glory, he is still my holy father. “You call me father, where is my honour?”

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” (Hebrews 12:28) Worship is godly fear; living our lives in the grace of God and serving him without hidden agenda.

Third, worship involves our sacrifice. Read the story of the woman with the alabaster box in Mark 14:3. Worship is like the breaking of the alabaster jar of very expensive perfume – a life of brokenness and a life of complete sacrifice.

While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head (Mark 14:3).

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased (Hebrews 13:15 – 16).

In these verses we come to understand that the author of Hebrews spoke about sacrifice of praise as the fruit of our lips. But he went on to state that sacrifices involve not only verbal praise but also deeds – how we live our lives out there. The apt title of one of the book by Chuck Colson is “Now How Shall a Man Live?” and that describes what worship is, that is, a way a man lives his life.

Fourth, worship involves our purity of heart. I believe that worship can only happen when we come to him with clean hands and pure hearts just like what the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 23:3-4:

Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may dwell in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully.

Aligning to God’s Will

God’s will is straight, inflexible, and unchanging. It does not bend or vary for anyone. It is an iron-bar and forms the STANDARD by which all actions will be measured. God does not yield, bow, or play politics.

Jesus’ will is found in his statement: “I do always those things that please the Father.” This ability to always do the will of the Father was a LEARNED ACCOMPLISHMENTS in Jesus’ life just as it must be in our lives.

Hebrews 5:8 – Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.

Putting aside one’s will for that of another can cause suffering but Jesus’ will was perfectly aligned with God’s will in all instances – regardless of personal inconveniences, preferences, pain or outcome. Whenever his Father’s will go Jesus went. This is alignment – the CREATED WILL in perfect alignment with the UNCREATED WILL of our eternal Father!

Man’s Will – This is where chaos and confusion come into the picture. He has the desire to do the will of God – to make his will “line up” to God’s will but he must become a continuer – that new nature must MATURE INTO CONDUCT. The EKG of man’s will doesn’t bear much resemblance to the straight and unbending lines of the will of the Father and the Son, does it? Is there a possibility of bringing that erratic will into line with the even heartbeat of God?

Luke 3:4-6 (Living Bible) – “Prepare a road for the Lord to travel on! Widen the pathway before him! Level the mountain! Fill up the valley! Straighten the curves! Smooth out the ruts! And then all mankind shall see the Saviour sent from God.”

The mountains of pride, arrogance, self-will, rebellion, and resentment must be brought down. The valleys of depression, despair and loneliness must be brought up. The curves of deflection and deviation from the will of God must be straightened. The ruts of past habits, pattern and “my ways” of doing things smooth out! Those around us can begin to see the Saviour in us; demonstrated by a life which is changed and conformed to the image and will of God’s son, Jesus Christ.

Let us briefly run through this alignment procedure: (1) The believer catches the challenge of the possibility of bringing his will in line with that of the king. (2) Once we expressed this desire we are eligible to become a continuer. (3) God begins the process of conforming us to his will. We might as well face the fact that it is not going to be easy and it may not always be pleasant.

Adorning the Truths of God

Titus 2:10 – “…that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things…”

We need to adorn the doctrine of God in all things in the midst of the contemporary culture because we are the recipient of God’s Truth. In a world of relativism where post-modernistic ideologies rule we need to rise up and stand upon God’s truth. Much of today’s malady is pluralism; a world so cluttered with alternative worldviews, a world of multiple choices and we are told that there is no absolute truth, just pick and choose.

Read earlier verses in Titus 2:1, 7-8

But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:…..in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.

First, let us get back to the reality of divine revelation. God reveals Himself to man. His revelation of Himself is two-fold: (1) Through His creation which we call general revelation. By looking at the world we can make sense of reality; the vastness of the universe, the beauty of the earth, nature and its order gives us an indication that there is design and there is a Designer. (2) His revelation of Himself is through His Word, the Holy Scriptures which we call His specific revelation.

The bible contains the history of man and the involvement of God in the lives of humanity. It is in His word that we discover our way back to God; his salvation for mankind, and his inheritance for man through His Son Jesus Christ. The reality of divine revelation also includes these: (a) He loves us with an everlasting love; (b) he desires that none should perish in their sins, and (c) who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross.

Second, we have the content of God’s will for mankind. You and I have a purpose and meaning in life. We do not exist on the sea of meaninglessness because God created us and we have his image. We are his image-bearer; in that we mean, there is a life-purpose and a life-mission for each of us. No only that – there is an overarching story that hangs the whole of the history of humanity since the creation of this world. We have the content of God’s overarching PURPOSE and WILL for humankind – you and I have the message of the love of God in our hands!!

Third, the redemption story is powerful. We must not take it lightly or flippantly. Jesus died for you, for me, and for the whole of mankind so that we can continue to reach the ultimate intention of God which is to have a family where He is the true father and we have become his “sons.”

Fourth, in order to safeguard ourselves from relapsing into paganism, into idolatry, or into worldliness we need the Word of God to have full authority in our lives. We must allow the Word to be our guide and the measuring rod against the inroad of spiritualism, idolatry, and secularism. We should guard ourselves from falling into self-deception – the trap of materialism.