My pet peeves

I have several pet peeves, including people who smoke in front of me. Today, I am going to talk about something else – people who talk when they should not.

Rely on God and be firm

Rely on God and be firm

Pastor Dr Ling,  20/12/2009

1Sa 30:1-10  Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire  (2)  and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off and went their way.  (3)  And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.  (4)  Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep.  (5)  David's two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel.  (6)  And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.  (7)  And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, "Bring me the ephod." So Abiathar brought the ephod to David.  (8)  And David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?" He answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue."  (9)  So David set out, and the six hundred men who were with him, and they came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed.  (10)  But David pursued, he and four hundred men. Two hundred stayed behind, who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor.

1Sa 30:17-25  And David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day, and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men, who mounted camels and fled.  (18)  David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and David rescued his two wives.  (19)  Nothing was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken. David brought back all.  (20)  David also captured all the flocks and herds, and the people drove the livestock before him, and said, "This is David's spoil."  (21)  Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow David, and who had been left at the brook Besor. And they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near to the people he greeted them.  (22)  Then all the wicked and worthless fellows among the men who had gone with David said, "Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except that each man may lead away his wife and children, and depart."  (23)  But David said, "You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us.  (24)  Who would listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike."  (25)  And he made it a statute and a rule for Israel from that day forward to this day.

Bad fortunes seemed to follow David. How did he face the  unfavourable situations?

Blessed Giving

Blessed Giving

Elder Ong

06/12/2009 1045

(Note: there is no evidence that tithing in the OT is renewed in NT.)

American’s giving is 2% of GDP, which is USD 307 billion (Malaysia’s GDP is USD 200 billion). 34% of the it is given to church.

Elder Ong shared on three periods in the OT: Patriarch, Law and Return from Exile.

Today, he is going to share from the NT – the teachings of Jesus and Paul.

There are three types of giving:

1.       Tithes – mandatory

2.       Alms – help the needy.

3.       Freewill offering

IBS

I travelled to Bangkok, Thailand today.

I sympathized with Columbus in Zombieland who suffered from irritable bowel syndrome because I think I have the same problem.

God Given Success

We perform according to how are are measured. A former boss and friend told me this. I think it is important how we view success in life. If we focus on the wrong things, we will be wasting our resources AND not reaching our potentials. We will not be living out the purpose God have for us.

Peace be with you

Peace be With You
Pastor Gao Chuan Long
DUMC Chinese Service
15/11/2009, 1045

Joh 20:19-23 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." (20) When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. (21) Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." (22) And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. (23) If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld."

Christians don’t retire. We retire when our names are called in heaven. Some doubt old people cannot do much because one leg is already in the coffin. Who asked us to put our legs in the coffin? Take it out. Age is just a number.

Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude

Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude

Pastor Dr. Ling

08/11/2009 10:45 AM

(The Learner's Note: I have seen this quote a few times in my tweet stream. I guess I have a great attitude in my social network, a good attitude at work, an okay one at home and a lousy one in the church. If the 'altitude' is anything to go by.)

Attitude comes from the heart and the inner life. Attitude towards God determines how we are blessed. Starting from 1 Samuel, we read often comparisons to David. Jesus is also identified as from the line of David.

When We Are Afflicted

When I am Afflicted
Elder Ong See Lian
01/11/2009 1130

Theme for Sep to Nov: Book of Psalms

Unit 1: Singing God's Praises

September 06 God Is Revealed (Psalm 19:1-14)

September 13 God Is Just (Psalm 9:1-20)

September 20 God Is Faithful (Psalms 105:1–106:48)

September 27 God Is Great (Psalm 135:1-21)

Unit 2: When the Music Stops

October 04 When I Need Comfort (Psalm 23:1-6)

October 11 When I Have Sinned (Psalm 51:1-19)

October 18 When I Am Afraid (Psalm 56:1-13)

October 25 When I Have Doubts (Psalm 73:1-28)

November 01 When I Am Afflicted (Psalm 102:1-28)

November 08* Choose Wisely (Psalm 1:1-6)

November 15 Live Righteously (Psalm 112:1-10)

November 22 Give Thanks (Psalm 116:1-19)

November 29 Obey God's Word (Psalm 119:1-176)

Learning from Saul's Failure

扫罗失败的警惕 Learning from Saul's Failure
Pastor Dr Ling
25/10/2009 1045

1Sa 15:1-11 And Samuel said to Saul, "The LORD sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore listen to the words of the LORD. (2) Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt. (3) Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'" (4) So Saul summoned the people and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand men on foot, and ten thousand men of Judah. (5) And Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley. (6) Then Saul said to the Kenites, "Go, depart; go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up out of Egypt." So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. (7) And Saul defeated the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt. (8) And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive and devoted to destruction all the people with the edge of the sword. (9) But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction. (10) The word of the LORD came to Samuel: (11) "I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments." And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the LORD all night.

1Sa 15:22-23 And Samuel said, "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. (23) For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king."

Failure is the mother of success. We learn from mistakes or we will be doomed to repeat the mistakes.

Joshua learned from the lesson of Moses’ 12 spies. If only the spies were like Joshua and Caleb, they would have entered the Promised Land earlier. When he took over the leadership, he sent only 2 spies.

The biggest failure of Saul is his disobedient to God.

Becoming a Spiritual Giant

Pastor Dr Ling

18/10/2009 1126

Kang Young Woo lost his sight in an accident while he was a teenager. He did not give up and became the first blind professor from Korea. He said he did not get good results when he could see. After losing his sight, his results were excellent. He needed to spend 3 time as much time to read Braille than a normal person with books.

Pro 4:23  Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

We learn from David, the 2^nd king of the Israel kingdom. He was tending to his father’s sheep. His father didn’t ever remember him when Samuel came to look for a king to succeed Saul.

Be a Vessel that God Can Use

Becoming a Vessel that God can Use

Pastor Dr. Ling

04/10/2009 1045

(Jesse, instead of disturbing my note taking spotted some mistakes I made and offered suggestions to correct them. Praise God.)

God build His kingdom through His children. We are the channel with which God reveals His power. He shows His love through us. If we do not understand this, we will not understand how to be a vessel of God.

The Israelites wanted a king. God told Samuel to anoint Sail as the king. Saul fought for the Israelites and obtained much land. He was used by God. But he disobeyed God. He was given a chance the first time but he sinned again. God then asked Samuel to anoint David as the next king.

Saul is often compared with David. Some even think Saul is the caretaker king while David grew up. God had a reason to choose God.

Handling Conflicts Effectively

Pastor Chen Luan Qing

27/09/2009 10:45 AM

Christians move too slowly. There are many needs outside the church. However, the church tends to be inward looking. The church seems to be battling a lot of its own problems. If Christians do not rise up, how can they help those in need in the marketplace?

Family Seminar by Pastor Chen Luan Qing, DUMC

DUMC, 25/09/2009 (Fri) 8:30 p.m.

The Biblical Family Hierarchy
Wife is to be a helper / helpmate to the husband, who is the head of the household.

帮助=替他做；扶持=鼓励、支持
To help = to do for him. To support = to encourage.

God put the wife in the family to help the husband to be the leader God intends him to be. Children are given to us so we can help them grow up to be what God wants them to be – not what we want them to be or to realize our unrealized dreams.

The Five Marks of Mature Person

成熟的人 Be Mature

谢淑宝牧师

Maturity

·         Does not depend on age.

·         Does not depend on the outward look.

·         Does not depend on achievements.

·         Does not depend on education.

Maturity is an attitude.

How do we measure maturity? We cannot compare maturity based on our own understanding. We need to turn to the Word of God in James. We will find the five marks of a mature person.

I dig this song - Preach the Word by Gold City

Paul was weary on his journey,
His body frail and weak.
The apostle knew the end was near,
As he dipped his pen in ink.
He wrote, "Timothy, my son,
You have fought the fight of faith.
Carry on what I've begun,
But most of all I pray":

Preach the word, preach the cross,
Preach redemption to a lost and dying world.
Lift your voice, unashamed, of the Gospel of His name.
Until all have heard, preach the word.

Paul and Timothy are gone now,
But the letter still remains,
And the mission that was written down,
Calls out to us to day.
Lift the name of Jesus higher,
Until the whole world knows,
The story of amazing grace,
We are messengers of hope!

Preach the word, preach the cross,
Preach redemption to a lost and dying world.
Lift your voice, unashamed, of the Gospel of His name.

(Preach the)
Preach the word, preach the cross,
Preach redemption to a lost and dying world.
Lift your voice, unashamed, of the Gospel of His name.
Until all have heard, preach the word (preach the word, preach the word).

Preach the word, preach the cross,
Preach redemption to a lost and dying world.
Lift your voice, unashamed, of the Gospel of His name.
Until all have heard, preach the word (preach the word, preach the word), preach the word (preach the word, preach the word), preach the word (preach the word, preach the word), preach the Word.

I dig this song - Three Rugged Cross by the Freemans

Three rugged crosses

Chorus

Three rugged crosses, on one lonely hill;

Two men were guilty, three men were killed.

Three men were buried, and two men are still.

Somewhere near those three rugged crosses,

On one lonely hill.

I’ve added it up, and still don’t know why;

An innocent man, would be chosen to die.

A cross is a place, where a sinner should be;

Two men should be there, so why do I see.

Chorus

When I think of Barabas, I think about me;

And all of us who should have died on that tree.

But Jesus was born, just to be crucified;

If I were to live, then he had to die.

Chorus x2

God's plan in the midst of disappointment

God has His Plans in Every Disappointment

Pastor Dr Ling

Pray for family

1.       Build a family according to God’s will (Eph 5:21-6:4)

a.       Fear God – put God in the first place

b.      Build a family altar

c.       Love one another and submit to one another

d.      孝顺父母、教养儿女Honour the parents, teach the children

2.       The Mission of the family (Deut  6:4-9)

a.       Pass the faith to the next generation (one that fears God ) 
    把信仰传递下一代(敬虔的后代)

b.      Bear testimony in family life

Giving (DUMC) 06/09/2009

奉献 Giving

(Now this is something that is close to my heart.)

Statistics from US in 2008:

· Charity organizations received USD 307 billion in donation which is 2% of GDP

· 34% of that went to the church

· 13.3% went to education

Analysis:

· 78% gave

· 22 % did not

· Only 6% tithed

· Middle income families gave less, those who gave more are those who are rich and the poor

Teaching about giving:

· Patriarchs 列祖

· Law 律法

· Back from Exile 回归

· Jesus 耶稣

· Paul 保罗

Making the Right Choice for Your Life

Making the Right Choice for Your Life

为你的人生做对的选择

Pr Dr Lim S. N. DUMC, 25/08/2009 1045

We make choices every day. Sometimes a wrong choice can cause a lot a problem. It may take a lot of effort to undo the damage. Young people especially need to make the right choices. Samuel made the correct choice when he was young.

We are often very busy. Are we busy with the right things? If we are working on the wrong things, all will be in vain.

Think of the things we are busy with

1. What results do we get?

2. What results do we want at the end of the life?

3. Does it have eternal value?

CB Samuel asked God what it meant to give all to the poor to store up treasure in heaven. He dreamed he died and went to heaven. He saw a bank counter and he wanted to make a withdrawal in his account. The clerk said he had nothing in his accounts. He was indignant because he worked very hard in charity. The clerk told him he worked hard to get OTHERS to give. Those people who gave stored up treasure in heaven but not CB Samuel. Another person came. This man gave a lot to charity during his life but still he had no money, in fact his account was in debit. He gave a lot but he also told others.

1Sa 2:18 那时，撒母耳还是孩子，穿著细麻布的以弗得，侍立在耶和华面前。

1Sa 2:21 耶和华眷顾哈拿，他就怀孕生了三个儿子，两个女儿。那孩子撒母耳在耶和华面前渐渐长大。

1Sa 2:26 孩子撒母耳渐渐长大，耶和华与人越发喜爱他。

1Sa 2:35 我要为自己立一个忠心的祭司；他必照我的心意而行。我要为他建立坚固的家；他必永远行在我的受膏者面前。

1Sa 3:19-21 撒母耳长大了，耶和华与他同在，使他所说的话一句都不落空。 (20) 从但到别是巴所有的以色列人都知道耶和华立撒母耳为先知。 (21) 耶和华又在示罗显现；因为耶和华将自己的话默示撒母耳，撒母耳就把这话传遍以色列地。

1Sa 7:13-14 从此，非利士人就被制伏，不敢再入以色列人的境内。撒母耳作士师的时候，耶和华的手攻击非利士人。 (14) 非利士人所取以色列人的城邑，从以革伦直到迦特，都归以色列人了。属这些城的四境，以色列人也从非利士人手下收回。那时以色列人与亚摩利人和好。

The fruit of Samuel’s life is very different from Eli’s. Samuel’s ministry transformed the people. They won in battles. While during Eli’s time, the Israelites lost in wars.

Samuel grew up in the tabernacles. His mentor Eli was a man who tolerated sin. Eli’s sons sinned against God. Samuel did not have any positive role models. He didn’t see anyone who loved God or obeyed God. His parents were not with him. Samuel served God silently and obeyed God.

Samuel grew in stature and in favour of God and also with man. Some people grew in age but not in mind. Samuel and Eli’s two sons grew up in the same environment but they turned out differently. This is because Samuel make the right choices.

We need the right choice even in the wrong environment. Making the right choices brings good results. In a hopeless environment, we can choose to remain positive, to have hope, to not complain.

Robert is a famous psychiatrist from US. He saw one man lying at the subway. No one paid attention. He stood in front the man and others started to gather around. One man brought food and drink. One called for medical help. This man spoke only Spanish and he did not meet anyone who could understand him. All it took was a single person to stop and pay attention.

Isa 58:10 你心若向饥饿的人发怜悯，使困苦的人得满足，你的光就必在黑暗中发现；你的幽暗必变如正午。

We are children of God and we are the light of the world. We can shine in the light. We can choose to make a change in the environment instead of letting it change us. 我们不要同流合污、我们不要随波逐流。

Choose to Follow the Will of God

See 1 Sam 2:35. God looks at the eternal. The will of God includes the love, mercy and grace of God.

Mic 6:8 世人哪，耶和华已指示你何为善。他向你所要的是什麽呢？只要你行公义，好怜悯，存谦卑的心，与你的神同行。

To walk with God means to do His will even when we don’t feel comfortable. We are to pray, to talk to people, etc. even when we don’t feel like it. Love those who are not lovely. Jesus told us to love our enemies. When we do the will of God, we choose to walk with God.

Choose to Respect Authority

In church, respect the pastors, leaders and cell leaders In the family, respect the parents and husbands. In the workplace, respect the superiors.

When the husband obeys God then only will the wife obeys the husband. The husband is to love the wife. If we do not listen to man, how can we listen to God?

God told Samuel to listen to Eli. When God spoke to Samuel for the first time he thought Eli called him. He obeyed and respected Eli, even in the middle of the night. Eli was the one who taught him to listen to the voice of God. Eli helped Samuel to build the foundation of his ministry.

Without Moses, Joshua could not bring the Israelites into the Promised Land. Sometimes our mentors are not perfect. But God uses them to teach us. We need to humble ourselves.

Eli was not perfect. He tolerated the sins of his sons. However, he made Samuel. He didn’t hinder Samuel.

Choose the Hard Way

There is a level of difficulty in every elevation.

The first thing that God told Samuel is about judgement on the household of Eli. This is first training for Samuel. He did not tolerate and told a lie. He told it honestly even though it’s tough to tell that to Samuel’s face.

Don’t expect to have it easy. This path brings eternal value. The road God chose for us is a narrow one. We go on by God’s grace.

(I went to the washroom towards the end. Jesse told me the speaker used the eagle life renewal illustration. In the spirit of Act 17:11 and Jude 4, I will approach the speaker (via email) without fear and favour. Truth (and facts) cannot be compromised.

Creating a Community of Care

Creating a Caring Community

C.B. Samuel 16/08/2009

Joh 5:1-15 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. (2) Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. (3) In these lay a multitude of invalids--blind, lame, and paralyzed [waiting for the moving of the water;] (4) [for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and stirred the water: whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was healed of whatever disease he had.] (5)

One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. (6) When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" (7) The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me." (8) Jesus said to him, "Get up, take up your bed, and walk." (9) And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. (10) So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed." (11) But he answered them, "The man who healed me, that man said to me, 'Take up your bed, and walk.'" (12) They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk'?" (13) Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. (14) Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you." (15) The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.

We are called to care because

1. 1. we have a God who cares
2. 2. it is a requirement of us
3. 3. that means we are Christlike

What are the characteristics of a person who cares?

1. 1. Seeing eyes that see differently
2. 2. Learning heart
3. 3. Listen ears
4. 4. Hands and feet to respond

The passage described a person who had been invalid for 38 years. We can conclude he was not born that way unlike the man who was born blind. It could be due to something that happened in his life. Jesus told him not to sin anymore. This suggested it was something he did later on his life. He desired to be healed. There was a practice that angels would stir the water and anyone who went into the water would be healed.

This man could have been there for 20 years. When Jesus came into town, this man was near the pool waiting for the time to be healed. There might not have been a lot of people because there was no record of Jesus healing others.

This man was there hoping to get help but no one stop to help, in fact the Bible told us they went ahead of him. Jesus stopped to help.

The first thing we noticed is that Jesus saw the man. This is a remarkable characteristic of someone who cares. They have the time to care. To create a community of care, we need people to see. When we come to a great city, we see billboards trying to grab our attention. They wanted us to see things differently, to see things we don’t have, to see things we can have, to have things to make us feel special, to get the things that if we have we will belong to a different class. But NO ONE advertises the needs around us. This makes us forget about the needs.

In Malaysia, we read a lot about A flu. But in India, there are more people dying from TB, malaria or due to birthing complexity than A flu. But the media doesn’t pay attention to this. The diseases of the middle class got all the coverage. The news of the important people spans 3 pages but the news of the poor got no coverage. Information has been controlled to make us believe what is not real.

We can drive from KL to PJ, we may not see any poor people. All we could see are mobile phone advertisements as thought that is all there is to it. When CB went to US, the people there express sympathy on the poor people in India but they failed to see the poor in their own country.

To create a community of care, we need to teach the church to know the things that break the heart of God. CB has bells palsy in a youth camp. No one noticed except a camp director whose husband had it a few years before.

James told that favouritism in the church. James was not looking at the seat but the setting arrangement. He noticed who sat where and who was greeted. He was trained to see the things that break the heart of God.

Jesus saw. A compassionate person sees. In India, the people get used to seeing poor people. Poverty is not normal. It breaks the heart of God. Being poor is not sin but perpetual poverty is a sin. When the society has lots of money but there are still people starving, it is a sin. We think when we don’t have choices we are poor. We think if we have to walk we are poor. If we have a phone without a camera we are poor even though we hardly take pictures without our mobile phone. This is a crazy world.

The people who care are people who see in God’s perspective.

In verse 6, Jesus looked at the man and knew he had been there for a long time. The Bible doesn’t tell us how Jesus knew. It could be knowledge from God or Jesus spoke to the people around the place. People who care are people who have a learning mind.

The media reports what they are interested in. There is a big difference between a Christian response and a non-Christian response. The former is moved by emotions while the latter is moved by knowledge.

In India there are doctors who function without knowledge (quacks) and doctors who function with knowledge. The quacks may give wrong treatments. The church can sometimes be a quack social worker. We have the passion but we don’t bother to learn.

The church of Jesus Christ see differently and they have a learning mind. Jesus found out that this man had been there for many years.

Jesus then did something incredible. He asked him whether he wanted to be healed. Jesus asked him not for Jesus but for the others around him. People are judgemental. The poor are poor because they are lazy, they don’t give their all and they don’t work hard. The man told Jesus he had tried to be healed. Not only that the people didn’t help but they also got ahead of him. Jesus wanted the people to hear from the needy. Before we jump to conclusion that the needy deserve to be the situation they are in, listen to them. Jesus has a listening heart.

To create a community of care, we need to get the church to go into the community to listen to them.

Jesus responded to the man’s needs. He met the felt need. His response was appropriate. He didn’t carry a tract in his pocket. After the healing, he didn’t give him a tract. The man needed to be healed and that’s what Jesus gave. Jesus met the need completely for that time. Jesus met him the second time in the temple. He told the man to sin no more. He is concerned he doesn’t fall back into the same problem.

Care is more than welfare. It’s not a onetime action. It is transformational. It gets people out from their need problem and ensuring they don’t get back into the same problem. It is both materialistic and spiritual. Care is holistic.

All of us like Christ should show care.

The Secret of God's Presence - Take Hold of God

神同在的秘诀•对神执着
撒上三：19;7:3-13

1Sa 3:19 撒母耳长大了，耶和华与他同在，使他所说的话一句都不落空。

1Sa 7:3-13 撒母耳对以色列全家说：「你们若一心归顺耶和华，就要把外邦的神和亚斯他录从你们中间除掉，专心归向耶和华，单单地事奉他。他必救你们脱离非利士人的手。」 (4) 以色列人就除掉诸巴力和亚斯他录，单单地事奉耶和华。 (5) 撒母耳说：「要使以色列众人聚集在米斯巴，我好为你们祷告耶和华。」 (6) 他们就聚集在米斯巴，打水浇在耶和华面前，当日禁食，说：「我们得罪了耶和华。」於是撒母耳在米斯巴审判以色列人。 (7) 非利士人听见以色列人聚集在米斯巴，非利士的首领就上来要攻击以色列人。以色列人听见，就惧怕非利士人。 (8) 以色列人对撒母耳说：「愿你不住地为我们呼求耶和华我们的神，救我们脱离非利士人的手。」 (9) 撒母耳就把一只吃奶的羊羔献与耶和华作全牲的燔祭，为以色列人呼求耶和华；耶和华就应允他。 (10) 撒母耳正献燔祭的时候，非利士人前来要与以色列人争战。当日，耶和华大发雷声，惊乱非利士人，他们就败在以色列人面前。 (11) 以色列人从米斯巴出来，追赶非利士人，击杀他们，直到伯甲的下边。 (12) 撒母耳将一块石头立在米斯巴和善的中间，给石头起名叫以便以谢，说：「到如今耶和华都帮助我们。」 (13) 从此，非利士人就被制伏，不敢再入以色列人的境内。撒母耳作士师的时候，耶和华的手攻击非利士人。

God is with us when we pray. We read about Eli, his two children and Samuel from 1 Sam 2 to 7. Eli and his children are priests.


1Sa 2:12 以利的两个儿子是恶人，不认识耶和华。

The two sons of Eli are worthless men, they didn’t know God.

They took the portion of the sacrifice without following the law of God. They also committed the adultery with the women who came to sacrifice. This is the same with those who abuse their position in the church today.

Eli admonished his sons but he didn’t stop them. Eli’s attitude is not to do evil but he didn’t try to do what was right. He should have removed his sons from the altar. God took this seriously. God sent someone to tell Eli he honoured his sons more than God.

1. 执着于“神有在” Take hold of God’s presence
1Sa 2:30 因此，耶和华以色列的神说：『我曾说，你和你父家必永远行在我面前；现在我却说，决不容你们这样行。因为尊重我的，我必重看他；藐视我的，他必被轻视。

The Israelites carried the Ark of Covenant into war hoping God would be with them. But God didn’t help them. When Samuel became priest, God’s hand was with the Israelites and attacked the Philistines.

God’s presence brought a change in our hearts, our finances and the church ministries. It’s different when we are in God’s presence.

Why do some Christians feel weak?

Eli’s took God lightly when they didn’t take God’s sacrifices seriously. They didn’t accord to God the honour He deserves. They were not afraid of committing sins.
We need to realize that God is in our worship, the church, the cell group and the family. Be punctual to worship. VIP can come late. We need to be early. We cannot let God wait for us. If we are late for God, He may be late for us. The same applies to leaving a service. The VIP leaves first. We should not be to eager to leave at the end of the service. Don’t be a mere spectator in a worship service. Don’t be affected by others.

A church in Hong Kong has 6000 members. When it’s time to begin worship, the door is locked. Those who came late will have to watch the TV from outside or join the next worship.

A ringing phone in a service can take away our focus. We are only in the church once a week. When we take a call during a service it shows we take the call to be more important than God. When we see someone doing that (taking a call) don’t keep quiet like Eli. Tell them to take the call outside.

2. 执着于神交托你的事 Take Hold of God Given Responsibility
1Sa 2:18 那时，撒母耳还是孩子，穿著细麻布的以弗得，侍立在耶和华面前。
1Sa 2:21b 那孩子撒母耳在耶和华面前渐渐长大。
1Sa 2:26 孩子撒母耳渐渐长大，耶和华与人越发喜爱他。

Samuel started to minister to God when he was young (1 Sam 2). We read that he began to know God in 1 Sam 3. The means he started serving God following Eli’s instructions even before he knew God personally.

God gave us the responsibility to share the Gospel and to take care of our family. We must be faithful to the task given to us. We need to surpass the expectations.

Samuel didn’t just follow Eli’s examples. He exceeded Eli’s work in his faithfulness.

We need to take seriously whatever task is given to us, however insignificant it might seem.

A Korean church asks air stewardess to teach their ushers how to bow to greet visitors.

We don’t need to do a lot of things. Getting 6 100% is better than 10 60%. We must be willing to do less if it allows us to concentrate and do well in what we do.

3. 执着于一心向神 Focus on God

When our heart is with God, the world becomes a battlefield that God will fight for us.
When our heart is in the world, it becomes battlefield where we have to fend for ourselves.

When we only let God take charge of a small portion of our life, then God can only fight the battle for us in this small portion.

A History of Teaching Math

1. Teaching maths in 1970
A logger sells a truckload of timber for £100.
His cost of production is 4/5 of the price.
What is his profit?

2. Teaching Maths In 1980
A logger sells a truckload of timber for £100.
His cost of production is 80% of the price.
What is his profit?

3. Teaching Maths In 1990
A logger sells a truckload of timber for £100.
His cost of production is £80.
How much was his profit?

4. Teaching Maths In 2000
A logger sells a truckload of timber for £100.
His cost of production is £80 and his profit is £20.
Your assignment: Underline the number 20.

5. Teaching Maths In 2005
A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habit of animals or the preservation of our woodlands.
Your assignment: Discuss how the birds and squirrels might feel as the logger cut down their homes just for a measly profit of £20.

6. Teaching Maths In 2009
A logger is arrested for trying to cut down a tree in case it may be offensive to Muslims or other religious groups not consulted in the felling licence. He is also fined a £100 as his chainsaw is in breach of Health and Safety legislation as it deemed too dangerous and could cut something. He has used the chainsaw for over 20 years without incident however he does not have the correct certificate of competence and is therefore considered to be a recidivist and habitual criminal. His DNA is sampled and his details circulated throughout all government agencies. He protests and is taken to court and fined another £100 because he is such an easy target. When he is released he returns to find Gypsies have cut down half his wood to build a camp on his land. He tries to throw them off but is arrested, prosecuted for harassing an ethnic minority, imprisoned and fined a further £100. While he is in jail the Gypsies cut down the rest of his wood and sell it on the black market for £100 cash. They also have a leaving BBQ of squirrel and pheasant and depart leaving behind several tonnes of rubbish and asbestos sheeting. The forester on release is warned that failure to clear the fly tipped rubbish immediately at his own cost is an offence. He complains and is arrested for environmental pollution, breach of the peace and invoiced £12,000 plus VAT for safe disposal costs by a regulated government contractor.
Your assignment: How many times is the logger going to have to be arrested and fined before he realises that he is never going to make £20 profit by hard work, give up, sign onto the dole and live off the state for the rest of his life?

7. Teaching Maths In 2010
A logger doesn’t sell a lorry load of timber because he can’t get a loan to buy a new lorry because his bank has spent all of his and their money on a derivative of securitised debt related to sub- prime mortgages in Alabama and lost the lot with only some government money left to pay a few million pound bonuses to their senior directors and the traders who made the biggest losses.
The logger struggles to pay the £1,200 road tax on his old lorry. However, as it was built in the 1970s it no longer meets the emissions regulations and he is forced to scrap it.
Some Bulgarian loggers buy the lorry from the scrap merchant and put it back on the road. They undercut everyone on price for haulage and send their cash back home, while claiming unemployment for themselves and their relatives. If questioned they speak no English and it is easier to deport them at the government’s expense. Following their holiday back home they return to the UK with different names and fresh girls and start again. The logger protests, is accused of being a bigoted racist and as his name is on the side of his old lorry he is forced to pay £1,500 registration fees as a gang master.
The Government borrows more money to pay more to the bankers as bonuses are not cheap. The parliamentarians feel they are missing out and claim the difference on expenses and allowances.
You do the maths.

Bumped into this here.

To move or to stay?

http://www.dailyjesus.info/i-am-the-god-who-is-more-than-enough/

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Sermons - 21st Century Christians

Pastor Richard shared about the following 4 points:
1. Stand firm in our belief
2. Stay focus as a Christian
3. Start fulfilling God's purposes in us
4. Spawn fruits to confound enemies

I found a series of 6 sermons (MP3s available) on being 21st Century Christians in the Flatland Learning Center (from the Flatland Church.)

1. Being a Christian in This Age of Information
2. Being a Christian in This Age of Plurality
3. Being a Christian in This Age of Tolerance
4. Being a Christian in This Age of Reality
5. Being a Christian in This Age of Bling
6. Being a Christian in This Age of Isolation

They should make for good read (listening.)

Walk Above Your Storm

Walk above Your Storm
Lee Cheng Huat (LEECH)
26/07/2009, Poiema Church, Kota Damansara

Joh 6:11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted.

Jesus gave to those who were resting. We cannot receive the Word of God if we are not resting at Jesus’ feet. Also, there is no quota as how much we can get from God. To pray for others doesn’t diminish what we can receive from God.

We need to give permission for God to bless us. Abraham interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah. Man can stop God’s blessings to us.

Mat 14:22-23 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. (23) And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

The disciples didn’t hear Jesus clearly so they went into a storm.

Mar 6:45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.

Jesus instructed them to go to Bethsaida.

Joh 6:17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.

The disciples went to Capernaum (meaning city of comfort) instead.

Mat 14:24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.

Mat 13:20-22 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, (21) yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. (22) As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

We want to rest in the Lord and hear from Him so the seeds he has sown in our heart can grow. Fruits come from the seed. We need to let God plant the seed in our heart and let it take root.

Eph 4:14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

We have to be careful when we study the Word. God found fault with the old covenant that’s why He gave us a new one.

Mat 14:25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.

Mar 6:48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them,

Psa 121:4 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.


Luk 15:20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

Mk 6:48, Ps 121:4, Lk 15:20
Jesus is always looking after us. Like the father in the story of the Prodigal Son, he received the son readily. He must have been looking out for the returning son. He didn’t scold him. Christ will embrace us as we are. Just come to Him and He will clean us up.

Mat 14:26-27 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear. (27) But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."

Gen 3:10, Gen 14:18 (1st mention), Gen 15:1

Whenever we read about angels or God, man is told not to be afraid.

Gen 3:10 And he said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself."

When we sin, we are afraid to meet God. God knows this and He told us not to be afraid.

God’s covenant with Abran after Lot’s rescue. Abram brought his tithes and offerings to Melchizedek (king of righteousness, a type of Christ). Melchizedek gave bread and wine which is a foreshadow of the Holy Communion.

• Joseph comforts and reassures his brothers – 3x
• Moses assured Israelites at parting of Red Sea
• God’s commission to Joshua before Jordan crossing
• Agnel of Lord assurance to Joseph and Mary separately
• Mount of Transfiguration
• Last mention – Rev 1:17 (Rev 1:17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last)

“Do not be afraid” is always followed by His provision and blessings – health, wealth, deliverance, victory … for the battle is the Lords.

When God told us not to be afraid, what are we afraid of? Condemnation.

Fear of condemnation
An adulteress faces the Light of the World.
Joh 8:11 She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."
Jesus wrote on the floor, perhaps a polite way of telling them He is the one who wrote the law (cf God wrote the 10 Commandments on the stone tables.) When He continued writing after asking anyone who had no sin to cast the first stone, it paralleled the 2nd time the law was written on the tablets.

When Jesus died on the Cross, he made provision for the forgiveness of our sins. When we bath in His blood, we are made righteous.

Rom 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"

We can approach the God’s throne of grace without fear of condemnation because of what Jesus has done.

2Ti 1:7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Christ is living is us. We have to decide whether we want to allow Him to work in us and through us to touch live and influence people. It is only when we try to run our lives on our own we get into trouble.

Shalom in Hebrew; Eirene in Greek = well, happy, wholesome, friendly, also welfare, that is health, prosperity, peace.

Let’s rest in Him and hear Him and see Him and put in the first place in everything that we do.

Know that He loves you and your position in Christ.

Rom 8:33-35 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. (34) Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

It is God who justifies us. He acquits us (no more guilty) not just pardons (still guilty just spared the punishment) us.

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Rom 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Mat 14:28-29 And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." (29) He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.

Jesus is a willing God who came to us. Don’t limit what He could do. He also wants us to worship Him willingly.

Lame man at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:6).
Jesus cleanses leper (Mt 8:2)
Mat 8:2-3 And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." (3) And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

A clean person is not to touch the unclean. Jesus touched the leper and healed him. This is like the Divine Exchange on the Cross, God took on our infirmaties and sins and He cleansed us.

Mat 14:29-31 He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. (30) But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." (31) Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

When Peter saw Christ, he could walk on water. When he looked at the pounding waters, he sank. We should keep our eyes on Jesus. Don’t look at the natural circumstances. If we are already sick, why look at our sickness, it doesn’t help. Look to Jesus.

God’s delay is not God’s denial.

2Co 3:18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

We each have a hero vacuum in us and most of us cast our eyes on the wrong target.

Seeing Christ
• Children of Israel follow cloud. Ex 40:36 (Exo 40:36 Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out.)
• Bronze serpent on a pole. Num 21:9 (Num 21:9 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.). Bronze is a picture of judgement in OT. Bronze serpant = the devil judged.
• John 10:27 (Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.)
• Ps 23:6 (Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.) When we follow Jesus, that means we turn our back to our problems.
• Deut 28:2 (Deu 28:2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God.)
• John 21:1vv Breakfast by the sea (Joh 21:7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.) The robe / garment = righteousness. Fish caught for a fisherman represents blessings, perhaps even financial.

O you of little Faith – mentioned 5 times, 4 in Matthew
Our God of “take as much as you want”

Mat 14:32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

Joh 6:21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
Rom 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

As Christ is, so is us in this world. Is God a good and honest person? We should be one.

Psa 91:14-16 "Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. (15) When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. (16) With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."

Salvation (Yeshoo in Hebrew, Soteria in Greek) – deliverance, aid, victory, prosperity, health, help(-ing), salvation, welfare.

Christians sometimes feel disenchanted with God because prayers were not answered.

Noah persisted in building the ark even though the flood didn’t come so soon.

Moses did not make it to the Promised Land. But he made it on the Mount of Transfiguration.

Elisha prayed for the Shunamite woman and she got a child. The child died. Elisha’s servant went to pray and the child remained dead. Elisha went on his own and raised the child from death.

It’s sometimes when God doesn’t answer our prayer because He is an all-knowing God. Elijah prayed that God take his life when he was running away from Jezebel. God had a better plan.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

We have two guests at the kebaktian today. Pastor Voitto from Finland and brother Glen from US.

Brother Glenn spoke for a while and requested everyone to pray for the majority group.

Pastor Voitto then preached about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (hereafter called BHS.)

Acts 1:8 - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Brother Glen thought this is part of the Great Commission.

BHS is normally linked to extra boldness to share the Gospel. When Peter preached to the multitudes, he was risking his life. BHS is connected to evangelism. It is not just for our comfort.

1. BHS is connected to Calvary and the blood of Jesus
Pentecost (as recorded in Act 1) came after the crucifixion and the resurrection. An old pastor in Finland feels songs about the blood of Jesus are more powerful.

2. Holy Spirit is God.
He is a person. We refer to the Holy Spirit as He, not it. Some charismatic churches give us the feeling that the Holy Spirit is a force like the electricity.

3. The Holy Spirit is Holy
The human mind sometimes cannot understand this because the holiness of God is beyond the comprehension of the human mind.

2 Sam 6:6-7
6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. 7 The LORD's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God.

The Philistines stole the Ark of the Covenant. King David's men retrieved it and they were carting it back to Israel. On the way, the oxen stumbled. Uzzah tried to stready it and died. Even King David did not understand it and he was angry with God.

4. The Holy Spirit is the leader and master
6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.

Paul was in his mission to Asia, passing by Turkey. The Holy Spirit led him there. Paul had this wonderful message of the Gospel. We may plan but we can only operate according to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Two things we must do:
1. We must seek God from the bottom of our heart and with all our heart.
2. We must be obedient to God and to the Word of God. If we need to repent, we repent. The Bible says we need to get water baptism, so we get it. If we take anything away from the Bible, God will not confirm our ministry.

BHS is a great thing. Smith Wigglesworth (and the wiki) was one of the most ministers in the last century. In the beginning, he was a quiet believer. He believed he had already received BHS when he had not. He later experienced BHS in a seminar in Sunderland. There was a great change. He was on fire. He was full of love and mercy to the lost, just like Jesus. He began the speak in tongues, which he believed to be a mark of BHS.

He worked many unusual miracles. There were reports of a man growing his legs back. Wigglesworth said he would not change the experience of BHS with anything else.

Smith Wigglesworth also thought that the devil wanted to hide BHS from believers.

BHS is more valuable than any possessions (Pastor Voitto cited the examples of what Microsoft or Bill Gates owns). The Bible tells us that a soul is worth more than any properties. That's why the devil wants to hide this (BHS) from us. BHS is linked to saving souls. From his books, we can tell Smith Wigglesworth valued BHS.

The Israelite have three temples:
1. The Temple of Solomon
2. The Temple of Zerubabbel
3. The Temple of Herodotes

A temple have a few parts, namely the Holy of Holies, the Holy, a hall, inner cour and outer court. Gentiles are only allowed in the outer court.

We should not take this lightly. Through the blood of Jesus we can enter the Holy of Holies. This is a great privilege.

When Jesus was crucified, the curtain of the temple was torn from top to bottom. That was the curtain separating the Holy of Holies and the Holy. That was the exact moment Jesus was crucified (wasn't this the moment Jesus died?). This is extraordinary.

The Bible tells us Jesus healed people. The Quran tells the same thing. God has also healed Ps Voitto. He is now 43. He experienced a miracle when he was 23. He lived a liberal life and he didn't know God then. He smoked and took alcohol. In Mar of 1990, he had chest pain. He was scared and depressed. He came from a Christian family and he know there were heaven and hell and nothing in between. After a few weeks of chest pain, he asked Jesus to forgive him and help him. That was the first time he called upon the name of Jesus. The chest pain went away. No more depression and his additions were gone too. He received joy.

If we desire the BHS, God desires to give it to us. He is a powerful God.

When Jesus returns, we will be surprised by His glory. Every knee will bow.

处理生命（四）

处理生命（四）
黎主能牧师

我们需要神天天的处理、洁净和栽种我们的生命。拉倒和重建的工作是持续不断的过程。

撒旦的营垒是建立在弃绝的根基上。神的新生命则是建立在神的爱上面。我们一定要无条件的饶恕。

2Co 10:3-5 因为我们虽然在血气中行事，却不凭著血气争战。 (4) 我们争战的兵器本不是属血气的，乃是在神面前有能力，可以攻破坚固的营垒， (5) 将各样的计谋，各样拦阻人认识神的那些自高之事，一概攻破了，又将人所有的心意夺回，使他都顺服基督。

我们需要籍着圣灵重生和充满。
我们也要遵守神的话-昼夜思想。
我们的灵要被神的灵、神的话和神的爱充满，我们的灵人才能强壮。
很多人灵命软弱、甚至离开神还埋怨神。那是因为他们不认识神。

Mat 6:33 你们要先求他的国和他的义，这些东西都要加给你们了。

天父的旨意是要我们有基督的形象。

爱一定要表达出来才可以被接受。我们对神的爱也是如此。

用方言来祷告敬拜很重要。神知道我们不能凭自己的能力寻求神。

爱也有施和受的原则。我们要收也要给。如果我们只是等着上帝来拥抱我们、爱我们，自己却不做上帝喜悦的事，那是不正常的。我们要听从和顺服神、父亲、丈夫然后才能在爱里被建立和成长。

Joh 14:15 你们若爱我，就必遵守我的命令。

神的命令是怎么样的？

Rom 12:2 不要效法这个世界，只要心意更新而变化，叫你们察验何为神的善良、纯全、可喜悦的旨意。

如果我们思考恐惧、欲念、怨恨，我们就给了撒旦留了地步、给他地盘。我们的心思意念要让神更新。神的话要扎根才能改变我们的生命。

主耶稣担当了我们的罪，饶恕了我们，就是要让我们可以行他的旨意。

1Ti 1:5 但命令的总归就是爱；这爱是从清洁的心和无亏的良心，无伪的信心生出来的。

Mat 5:38-48 「你们听见有话说：『以眼还眼，以牙还牙。』 (39) 只是我告诉你们，不要与恶人作对。有人打你的右脸，连左脸也转过来由他打； (40) 有人想要告你，要拿你的里衣，连外衣也由他拿去； (41) 有人强逼你走一里路，你就同他走二里； (42) 有求你的，就给他；有向你借贷的，不可推辞。」 (43) 「你们听见有话说：『当爱你的邻舍，恨你的仇敌。』 (44) 只是我告诉你们，要爱你们的仇敌，为那逼迫你们的祷告。 (45) 这样就可以作你们天父的儿子；因为他叫日头照好人，也照歹人；降雨给义人，也给不义的人。 (46) 你们若单爱那爱你们的人，有什麽赏赐呢？就是税吏不也是这样行吗？ (47) 你们若单请你弟兄的安，比人有什麽长处呢？就是外邦人不也是这样行吗？ (48) 所以，你们要完全，像你们的天父完全一样。」

以眼还眼、以牙还牙是人的想法。如果我们这么想就会给撒旦留地步，从而进入死亡的循环，与神的爱隔绝。

39节听来很不逻辑。但是主耶稣是要我们不要报复。主耶稣的智慧高过我们的智慧，主的道路高过我们的道路。他要我们无条件的饶恕。但别人打我们的时候，已经是不应该，所以我们不要报复。选择。我们要常住在神的爱里。

我们不但不要报复，还要转左脸给他打。当我们转左脸的时候，他回答吗？很可能会。但是，如果被打了，我们是有福的。因为为义受逼迫的是有福的，是与基督同受苦。保罗能写下哥林多前书13章是因为他经历了神爱的长阔高深。但是我们不要自讨苦吃。

圣经告诉我们，主耶稣不会让我们承受超过我们所能承受的，他一定会为我们开一条道路。扫罗在大马色路上遇到主，不但不再逼迫基督徒，反而成为主的仆人。

很多时候，灵魂的医治就是发生在我们转左脸的时候。因为在这个时候，神的爱才可以自由运行。转左脸是第二把钥匙。

41节提到我们被逼走一里路，我们要走两里路。这里，我们只有一条路可以走。主耶稣在十字架上担当我们的罪，饶恕了我们。选择饶恕是第一里路。表达对敌人的爱和关怀、向他们行善(以善胜恶)是第二里路。

传福音不能妥协，如果因为压力而拒绝一个寻求救恩的人，我们的福音就没有见证的能力了。神说，申冤在我。

Php 4:6 应当一无挂虑，只要凡事藉著祷告、祈求，和感谢，将你们所要的告诉神。

Luk 6:27-28 「只是我告诉你们这听道的人，你们的仇敌，要爱他！恨你们的，要待他好！ (28) 咒诅你们的，要为他祝福！凌辱你们的，要为他祷告！

我们选择善待对我们好的人没设么。我们无条件的从神支取爱，也要无条件的爱不可爱的人，这样我们才能爱神所爱的人。我们要以神的爱来爱人，不是以自己的爱。如果我们能够以神的爱来爱人，我们能爱人而不需要人来爱我们。撒种收割的原则告诉我们，我们爱，神会给我们更多爱，也会有更多人来爱我们。

神要我们得医治释放之后积极的行善。

学习

学如逆水行舟 不进则退
心似平原走马 易放难收

书山有路勤为径
学海无涯苦作舟

方知方仲永、左思之事。当勤为是！

Emotion Management

Emotion Management 情绪管理
林瑞玉牧师，DUMC

1. Know your emotion
There are both positive and negative emotions. It’s the latter type that we need to control.

2. Express your emotions properly (both to God and to man)
Pro 15:1 回答柔和，使怒消退；言语暴戾，触动怒气。A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Pro 19:11 人有见识就不轻易发怒；宽恕人的过失便是自己的荣耀。Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
Pro 29:22 好气的人挑启争端；暴怒的人多多犯罪。A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.

3. Find the Cause
Don’t just express it and forget it. Find out the root cause of the negative emotions and deal with it.

4. Make adjustments
• Renew your mind
• Come to terms with your limitations
• Understand your needs

5. Maintain healthy emotions
• Open to comments and criticisms
• Express your expectations
• Laugh!

制服您的舌头 - 林瑞玉牧师 (白沙罗卫理公会)

2009年7月5日星期日

Jas 3:1-12 我的弟兄们，不要多人作师傅，因为晓得我们要受更重的判断。 (2) 原来我们在许多事上都有过失；若有人在话语上没有过失，他就是完全人，也能勒住自己的全身。 (3) 我们若把嚼环放在马嘴里，叫他顺服，就能调动他的全身。 (4) 看哪，船只虽然甚大，又被大风催逼，只用小小的舵，就随著掌舵的意思转动。 (5) 这样，舌头在百体里也是最小的，却能说大话。看哪，最小的火能点著最大的树林。 (6) 舌头就是火，在我们百体中，舌头是个罪恶的世界，能污秽全身，也能把生命的轮子点起来，并且是从地狱里点著的。 (7) 各类的走兽，飞禽，昆虫，水族，本来都可以制伏，也已经被人制伏了； (8) 惟独舌头没有人能制伏，是不止息的恶物，满了害死人的毒气。 (9) 我们用舌头颂赞那为主、为父的，又用舌头咒诅那照著神形像被造的人； (10) 颂赞和咒诅从一个口里出来！我的弟兄们，这是不应当的！ (11) 泉源从一个眼里能发出甜苦两样的水吗？ (12) 我的弟兄们，无花果树能生橄榄吗？葡萄树能结无花果吗？咸水里也不能发出甜水来。

There are non-believers who came for the last two nights’ evangelistic meeting who came to believe Jesus. Ps Lim believed this is the time for Chinese speaking people to turn to the Lord. When the time has come for a revival, the children of God must first be prepared. It is time we arise.

We talk every day. From the scripture, we learn that despite being small, the tongue has a great impact.

Pro 18:21 生死在舌头的权下，喜爱他的，必吃他所结的果子。

Man has tamed a lot of things but not the tongue. How can we tame the tongue? We submit it to God.

During Pentecost, we read that the disciples spoke in tongues. When God control our tongues, He helped us to control our whole body.

Pro 21:23 谨守口与舌的，就保守自己免受灾难。

祸从口出.

If the boss scold his staff, the staff will go back to scold the wife, the wife the child and the child kick the dog. What we say affects our relationship with the family, friends and even the society.

James wondered how the tongue can both bless and curse.

Mat 12:36-37 我又告诉你们，凡人所说的闲话，当审判的日子，必要句句供出来； (37) 因为要凭你的话定你为义，也要凭你的话定你有罪。」

We have to be accountable to God for every word we utter. This is a very serious matter. We need to speak carefully. We need to tame and manage our tongue.

1. 常反省自己的话语
We need to review what we said. Have we hurt anyone? Have we offended anyone? It is only when we review what we said that we can make corrections. Jesus said we said what we have in the heart. When we are bitter, we will speak bitterly. When we are angry, we speak angry words. When we review, we may find out what’s in our heart.
Psa 39:1 （大卫的诗，交与伶长耶杜顿。）我曾说：我要谨慎我的言行，免得我舌头犯罪；恶人在我面前的时候，我要用嚼环勒住我的口。
David wanted to be careful with his tongue especially in the presence of the wicked where the temptation is greater to curse. Even when Saul was after his life, David did not curse Saul, recognizing him as one who is anointed by God. No wonder God lifted him up. The wicked may not be a very evil person it could just be one who is testing your temper.

2. 说祝福的感谢的话
We are tempted to tell off or even beat up those who irritate us. But God want us to bless our enemies and pray for them.

When we feel wronged and still pray for the enemy, we will be released. We will have peace from God. We no longer have hatred and bitterness in our heart. Whenever we feel angry at someone we should start to pray for the person. It’s very easy to give thanks in good times. But even during bad times, we are always able to find a reason to give thanks to God.

Gratitude should be our culture and lifestyle. Let thanksgiving be always on our lips. We want to learn to be appreciative. Such small token can make a difference.

3. 不说污秽的话
Eph 4:29 污秽的言语一句不可出口，只要随事说造就人的好话，叫听见的人得益处。
Eph 5:4 淫词、妄语，和戏笑的话都不相宜；总要说感谢的话。
Eph 5:4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

搬弄是非也是不该。对或不对都不要随便说，除非动机是好的。

Pro 10:19 多言多语难免有过；禁止嘴唇是有智慧。

Pro 16:28 乖僻人播散分争；传舌的，离间密友。

有时候，我们说的话会嫁祸给别人。

4. 用适当的态度和话语表达不满
Pro 15:4 温良的舌是生命树；乖谬的嘴使人心碎。
The Bible teaches us to speak honestly. However, we must speak in love in order to bring positive changes. The same thing said with different motive can bring different results.

5. 在逆境中说有盼望的话
It’s easy to stay positive in good times. In bad times, a negative attitude doesn’t help. However, a positive outlook may actual turn around the situation.

When we are lifted high, do not think everything will remain that way. When we are down, don’t think it will be long.

What we say reflects our heart. But when we talk about something frequently, it will also affect our heart. It’s a cycle.

An attempted break in

When we got up this morning, we found the shower not working. We thought it's an interruption to the water supply and didn't think too much. We had to leave early.

When we reached home after dinner around 7 PM, I noticed the water tap in the porch disconnected from the pipe and laying on the floor. Jesse wondered why no water flowed from the open pipe.

I checked the water meter and found that the water supply was locked.

We looked at the crime scene a bit more and deduced that someone climbed in and while he was on his way out, stepped on the tap for leverage. But he / she was too heavy and she broke the tap. Flowing water would be a telltale sign someone came in, so he / she turned off the water supply and that explained why we didn't get any water in the morning.

So, it must have happened between the time we went to sleep and the time we got up. I knew I should not have slept so early.

Last year, something similar happened. After sending Jesse to tuition, I came home to find the water tap turned on. I turned it off.

A few days later, someone broke into our house and stole 2 notebooks (the computer type, not the paper type), a printer and cash.

Worrying for the safety of the family, I called 999. I was asked to go to the Kelana Jaya station to make a report. I did. I met Sgn Nizam who spoke to me. He advised me to get the RA to work with the police. He promised to arrange more frequent patrol in our area.

Earlier, I called my dad to tell him what happened and see it he could get us a plumber. The plumber would come at 9 in the morning.

You see, if we turned on the water supply, water will all flow out from the open pipe (sans the tap.) None will get to the shower and other places. If we turned it off, we also could not get any water.

I took a shower from the wastage of the RO machine and filled 4 pails of water for Jesse and Kathleen tomorrow morning. I may stay home to wait for the plumber.

I will keep an eye outside the house these few days - sleep will have to take a backseat.

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Some quotes

"The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian."
~ A.W. Tozer

"If we have the Word without the Spirit, we dry up.
If we have the Spirit without the Word we blow up.
If we have the Spirit and the Word we grow up."
~ Unknown

"Character is what you are in the dark."
~ D. L. Moody

"One verse in every six in the first three Gospels relates either directly or indirectly to money. Sixteen of our Lords forty-four parables deal with the use of misuse of money. A loving, joyful, liberal giving to the Lords work is an acid test of a spiritual heart, pleasing to God."
~ William Allen

"When you come to knowing God, the initiative lies on His side. If He does not show Himself, nothing you can do will enable you to find Him. And, in fact, He shows much more of Himself to some people than to others---not because He has favourites, but because it is impossible for Him to show Himself to a man whose whole mind and character are in the wrong condition. Just as sunlight, though it has no favourites, cannot be reflected in a dusty mirror as clearly as in a clean one."
~ C. S. Lewis