"16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (1 John 3:16)
"God is love." (1 John 4:16)
36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[b] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[c] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:36-40)
20If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. (1 John 4:20)
Main Idea: God is love, therefore, we also are to love.
Jesus demonstrated the fullness of His love through washing His disciples feet. He loved us so much, that we was willing to humble himself, and serve the disciples, doing a task that not even slaves did. In the body, along with in the world, we are to love people. We are to be willing to lay down our lives for our brothers, and to treat others as we would desire them to treat us. Let us be the Body, let us be believers that love, for we know, that out of faith, hope, and love, love is the greatest(1 Corinthians 14).
Challenge: Love a brother today. Ask him how he is? See how his day is? Pray for him.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Waiting on God
8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. (James 4:8)
4 One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple. (Psalm 27:4)
31But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
Main Point: Waiting upon God is essential in your life.
Recently I(Richard) felt in my life a little rollarcoastery, where my spiritual life is up and down, up one week and down another, up one day, and down another. Yet, this verse just struck my heart, and I realized that it is when I wait on God, God will renew my strength. I prayed today to God is that I'll be like King David, that I one thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek, to dwell in the house of the Lord, gazing upon the beauty of the Lord, seeking Him in his temple.
4 One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple. (Psalm 27:4)
31But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
Main Point: Waiting upon God is essential in your life.
Recently I(Richard) felt in my life a little rollarcoastery, where my spiritual life is up and down, up one week and down another, up one day, and down another. Yet, this verse just struck my heart, and I realized that it is when I wait on God, God will renew my strength. I prayed today to God is that I'll be like King David, that I one thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek, to dwell in the house of the Lord, gazing upon the beauty of the Lord, seeking Him in his temple.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
What are you meditating on?
8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
(Joshua 1:8 NIV)
15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.
(Psalm 119:15-16)
Main Point: Meditating on God's Word is key to a successful Christian walk.
As said on previous posts, God's Word is absolutely vital in our Christian walks. It is a lamp to our feet and a light for our path(Psalm 119:105). Therefore, we should make every effort to be sure that we are walking according to His Word. That is where meditation comes in. Meditation may sound like a mystical weird word; nevertheless, it is very simple and practical. It is to simply engage in thought or reflection. It speaks in 1 Timothy 4:7 that we are to train ourselves to be godly. Pondering and thinking thoroughly on God's Word, seeking understanding and insight, is a great step in training oneself in godliness. We are to be doers of the Word, and not simply hearers, as it says in James 1:22. Let us fill our minds and hearts with God's Word, letting it overflow our in our lives. Let this be the prayer of our hearts.
25 I am laid low in the dust;
preserve my life according to your word.
26 I recounted my ways and you answered me;
teach me your decrees.
27 Let me understand the teaching of your precepts;
Psalm 119:25-27
Challenge: Meditate on a specific scripture passage this week, seeking God to mold you in becoming more like Him. Ask for understanding, ask for His ways, and He will answer.
(Joshua 1:8 NIV)
15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.
(Psalm 119:15-16)
Main Point: Meditating on God's Word is key to a successful Christian walk.
As said on previous posts, God's Word is absolutely vital in our Christian walks. It is a lamp to our feet and a light for our path(Psalm 119:105). Therefore, we should make every effort to be sure that we are walking according to His Word. That is where meditation comes in. Meditation may sound like a mystical weird word; nevertheless, it is very simple and practical. It is to simply engage in thought or reflection. It speaks in 1 Timothy 4:7 that we are to train ourselves to be godly. Pondering and thinking thoroughly on God's Word, seeking understanding and insight, is a great step in training oneself in godliness. We are to be doers of the Word, and not simply hearers, as it says in James 1:22. Let us fill our minds and hearts with God's Word, letting it overflow our in our lives. Let this be the prayer of our hearts.
25 I am laid low in the dust;
preserve my life according to your word.
26 I recounted my ways and you answered me;
teach me your decrees.
27 Let me understand the teaching of your precepts;
Psalm 119:25-27
Challenge: Meditate on a specific scripture passage this week, seeking God to mold you in becoming more like Him. Ask for understanding, ask for His ways, and He will answer.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Understandings of a Human
I was reading Proverbs 30 today (in part because I attempt to read a Proverb a day in hopes of gaining more wisdom) and the chapter spoke deeply to the roots of my heart. I will break it down by parts.
Source: Bible Gateway
Translation: NLT (I love NIV and NKJV, but NLT rocks)
Proverbs 30
Proverbs 30
The Sayings of Agur
1 The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh contain this message.[a]
I am weary, O God;
I am weary and worn out, O God.[b]
2 I am too stupid to be human,
and I lack common sense.
3 I have not mastered human wisdom,
nor do I know the Holy One.
4 Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down?
Who holds the wind in his fists?
Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak?
Who has created the whole wide world?
What is his name—and his son’s name?
Tell me if you know!
Isn't it amazing how God is using an honest man, completely useless and broken before the Lord, to prophesy about Jesus?! Look at verse 4--this man, Agur, comes before God in anguish and pain about his lack of humanly understanding, is the only man in ALL of Proverbs to reference the Son of God! This is truly what Paul was talking about in 1 Corinthians 1, where he says God will use the weak to shame the wise.
If you are reading this and you are one of those Christians who tends to think that you do not know or understand much of the Bible, CONGRATULATIONS! You may very well be used to prophesy or declare the Word of God! I reflect upon all the times I have poked fun at my friends or acquaintances for lack of common sense, but why have I prided myself into making others seem foolish?
5 Every word of God proves true.
He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.
6 Do not add to his words,
or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.
The Word of the Lord cannot be tarnished or changed. As it says in Hebrews, Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I realized that as a preacher, not only can you not alter what God has planned to say, but you HAVE to say what's on God's mind. This is scary! What if people will get offended by what God has to say? I have no choice, and neither do you because the Word of the Lord is not declared through simply preaching, but word of mouth, such as sharing the Gospel with friends, family, and strangers. I have been rebuked by the Lord through many ways: other people's messages, my authorities, my friends and accountability partners, through a series of unfortunate events.
7 O God, I beg two favors from you;
let me have them before I die.
8 First, help me never to tell a lie.
Second, give me neither poverty nor riches!
Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.
9 For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?”
And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.
Here is an often asked ice-breaker: What would you do if you had a million dollars? However, my question right back is, "Why would I want a million dollars?" Surely, there is nothing in this world I can buy that will satisfy me! An iPod will only get outdated by another iPod, and a 2009 car will be trumped by its 2010 successor. Lord, I just pray for satisfaction with my finances, not an abundance; only give me the abundance if you want to bless me to bless others.
I will continue verse 10 to 19 sometime in another post.
--dan
Source: Bible Gateway
Translation: NLT (I love NIV and NKJV, but NLT rocks)
Proverbs 30
Proverbs 30
The Sayings of Agur
1 The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh contain this message.[a]
I am weary, O God;
I am weary and worn out, O God.[b]
2 I am too stupid to be human,
and I lack common sense.
3 I have not mastered human wisdom,
nor do I know the Holy One.
4 Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down?
Who holds the wind in his fists?
Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak?
Who has created the whole wide world?
What is his name—and his son’s name?
Tell me if you know!
Isn't it amazing how God is using an honest man, completely useless and broken before the Lord, to prophesy about Jesus?! Look at verse 4--this man, Agur, comes before God in anguish and pain about his lack of humanly understanding, is the only man in ALL of Proverbs to reference the Son of God! This is truly what Paul was talking about in 1 Corinthians 1, where he says God will use the weak to shame the wise.
If you are reading this and you are one of those Christians who tends to think that you do not know or understand much of the Bible, CONGRATULATIONS! You may very well be used to prophesy or declare the Word of God! I reflect upon all the times I have poked fun at my friends or acquaintances for lack of common sense, but why have I prided myself into making others seem foolish?
5 Every word of God proves true.
He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.
6 Do not add to his words,
or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.
The Word of the Lord cannot be tarnished or changed. As it says in Hebrews, Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I realized that as a preacher, not only can you not alter what God has planned to say, but you HAVE to say what's on God's mind. This is scary! What if people will get offended by what God has to say? I have no choice, and neither do you because the Word of the Lord is not declared through simply preaching, but word of mouth, such as sharing the Gospel with friends, family, and strangers. I have been rebuked by the Lord through many ways: other people's messages, my authorities, my friends and accountability partners, through a series of unfortunate events.
7 O God, I beg two favors from you;
let me have them before I die.
8 First, help me never to tell a lie.
Second, give me neither poverty nor riches!
Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.
9 For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?”
And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.
Here is an often asked ice-breaker: What would you do if you had a million dollars? However, my question right back is, "Why would I want a million dollars?" Surely, there is nothing in this world I can buy that will satisfy me! An iPod will only get outdated by another iPod, and a 2009 car will be trumped by its 2010 successor. Lord, I just pray for satisfaction with my finances, not an abundance; only give me the abundance if you want to bless me to bless others.
I will continue verse 10 to 19 sometime in another post.
--dan
Sunday, March 22, 2009
"I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth." (Isaiah 62:9)
It speaks here of putting watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem, which can figuratively represent the Church. Watchmen are those that are in watch with God. Whether it's meditating on the Word of God, focusing your thoughts on Him, or praying, it is being awake with the Lord, spending time with Jesus. Jesus speaks could we not keep watch with Him for one hour. (Mark 14) We learn that we should strive to call on God and give ourselves no rest, until he establishes Jerusalem(church) and makes her the praise of the earth. Keep on praying, and see God make His Church shine brighter than ever, lighting this dark world in grace and truth.
I) Remain in Him
II) Live a Life in watching for God ( Keep watch for an hour a day )
III) Focus on prayer
IV) Pray the Word of God ->
It speaks here of putting watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem, which can figuratively represent the Church. Watchmen are those that are in watch with God. Whether it's meditating on the Word of God, focusing your thoughts on Him, or praying, it is being awake with the Lord, spending time with Jesus. Jesus speaks could we not keep watch with Him for one hour. (Mark 14) We learn that we should strive to call on God and give ourselves no rest, until he establishes Jerusalem(church) and makes her the praise of the earth. Keep on praying, and see God make His Church shine brighter than ever, lighting this dark world in grace and truth.
I) Remain in Him
II) Live a Life in watching for God ( Keep watch for an hour a day )
III) Focus on prayer
IV) Pray the Word of God ->
Friday, March 13, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Testimony of the goodness of God
Over the years in my life, I now marvel God’s work in my life. He has changed me in such a deep and amazing way, bringing me to a fresh understanding of having an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit and growing through God’s Word. By his great love and mercy, the Lord has saved me, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast”(Ephesians 2:8-9). To be honest, it has been difficult in my journey as a Christian, but one thing I understand, that God is constant, being true to His word.
Growing up as a child, I loved playing video games. They were my heart’s desire. From fifth grade, I began playing, where hours would be wasted over purposeless actions. Video games became my safe haven, where I would look for comfort and entertainment. I would be completely mindless and at times neglect my own duties in school and at home for them. Trapped also in pornography at a young age, I was living the life as one “separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world”(Ephesians 2:12). In sixth grade, I earnestly desired to fit in. There were many cool crowds, and I felt that if I was in that group of people, my identity would be established, with good friends I am capable of relying on. Nevertheless, many times however, I was hurt by my friends. No matter how much I tried to fit in, I still did not feel satisfied with hope and purpose. Church was not something important to me; neither was God. However, during these years from 4th-6th grade, the Lord has been planting many seeds to prepare the time where I would turn my life over to my Savior.
That day in my life where I became saved was the turning point of my life. A pastor had been preaching there for quite a while, and stirring hunger for God in my soul as well as others. I felt the Holy Spirit convict me of my sinful lifestyle, and I knew that if I did not change, I would most likely go to hell. I knew I had said the prayer to invite Jesus into my heart as a child; nevertheless, I did not truly believe for I did not bring my life into complete submission to God. However, that day I did. I asked Him to come into my life, by my Lord and Savior, and to reign over me. From that day, I began to live my life for Jesus.
One thing I am most grateful for is the follow-up after. The youth director, as well as many other godly men and women turned to disciple and train me on how to live a life pleasing to God. That summer, Wendy, my youth director, told me to consider going to Brooklyn for missions. I prayed about it, and I felt the Lord confirmed that I should go. Before going, many of us would pray and seek God’s face. I learned to receive God’s healing, seek His face, and grow deeper with Him. Sharing my faith was not something I was an expert on, however, applying it changed my life.
Many struggles continued to arise after the missions; nonetheless, God was faithful, for He is always faithful, and brought me through. One thing I learned is to have a godly mentor to teach and guide you in knowing God more. In the Summer of 2009, I went to Asia to do missions and attend a conference. I was amazed and the Lord deeply challenged me in my character, passion, and how I do ministry. The Lord has molded me, broke me, and stretched me to teach, pray, and have compassion for those that are especially lost and weak.
Once a lost sinner, by His grace, I am now a child of God. Day by day by His mercy, I am able to walk in His ways, and I give Him all the glory.
Growing up as a child, I loved playing video games. They were my heart’s desire. From fifth grade, I began playing, where hours would be wasted over purposeless actions. Video games became my safe haven, where I would look for comfort and entertainment. I would be completely mindless and at times neglect my own duties in school and at home for them. Trapped also in pornography at a young age, I was living the life as one “separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world”(Ephesians 2:12). In sixth grade, I earnestly desired to fit in. There were many cool crowds, and I felt that if I was in that group of people, my identity would be established, with good friends I am capable of relying on. Nevertheless, many times however, I was hurt by my friends. No matter how much I tried to fit in, I still did not feel satisfied with hope and purpose. Church was not something important to me; neither was God. However, during these years from 4th-6th grade, the Lord has been planting many seeds to prepare the time where I would turn my life over to my Savior.
That day in my life where I became saved was the turning point of my life. A pastor had been preaching there for quite a while, and stirring hunger for God in my soul as well as others. I felt the Holy Spirit convict me of my sinful lifestyle, and I knew that if I did not change, I would most likely go to hell. I knew I had said the prayer to invite Jesus into my heart as a child; nevertheless, I did not truly believe for I did not bring my life into complete submission to God. However, that day I did. I asked Him to come into my life, by my Lord and Savior, and to reign over me. From that day, I began to live my life for Jesus.
One thing I am most grateful for is the follow-up after. The youth director, as well as many other godly men and women turned to disciple and train me on how to live a life pleasing to God. That summer, Wendy, my youth director, told me to consider going to Brooklyn for missions. I prayed about it, and I felt the Lord confirmed that I should go. Before going, many of us would pray and seek God’s face. I learned to receive God’s healing, seek His face, and grow deeper with Him. Sharing my faith was not something I was an expert on, however, applying it changed my life.
Many struggles continued to arise after the missions; nonetheless, God was faithful, for He is always faithful, and brought me through. One thing I learned is to have a godly mentor to teach and guide you in knowing God more. In the Summer of 2009, I went to Asia to do missions and attend a conference. I was amazed and the Lord deeply challenged me in my character, passion, and how I do ministry. The Lord has molded me, broke me, and stretched me to teach, pray, and have compassion for those that are especially lost and weak.
Once a lost sinner, by His grace, I am now a child of God. Day by day by His mercy, I am able to walk in His ways, and I give Him all the glory.
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