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The Holy Spirit and Korn.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
20090322 - Following the Lord's Will
Following the Lord’s Will
Elder Stephen Chong, 22/03/2009, 0920
This is his first time preaching in SEA Park this year. David Pawson is coming to minister to us on 13 Apr.
The theme for the month is maintaining spiritual health. The focus is to live an obedient life according to the will of God. The topic today is Following the Lord's Will.
Some people call Isaiah little Bible. There are 66 chapters, the same number of books in the Bible. Chapters 1 to 39 parallels Genesis in the discussion of sin and the consequences. The following chapters (up until chapter 45) are on the establishment of the nation. The book of Isaiah speaks of judgement but it also talks about hope. It describes God as a Holy God. The Holiness of God demands punishment of sin. God’s sovereignty is seen here when He used foreign nations to judge Israel. The message of Isaiah is to call Israel to be a holy nation. Israel has enjoyed the blessings of God and yet they fell away from God.
Ah, Ariel, Ariel, the city where David encamped! Add year to year; let the feasts run their round. Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be moaning and lamentation, and she shall be to me like an Ariel. And I will encamp against you all around, and will besiege you with towers and I will raise siegeworks against you.
(Isa 29:1-3)
Ariel refers to Jerusalem. God’s judgment is imminent.
But the multitude of your foreign foes shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the ruthless like passing chaff. And in an instant, suddenly,
(Isa 29:5)
Why did God want to judge a city?
And the Lord said: "Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,
(Isa 29:13)
Because their worship was false!
1. Avoid false worship
Jerusalem was to be the centre of worship. Everyone came to Jerusalem bringing their sacrifices to offer to God. The people came to worship but they did not live a life according to God’s will. They were unjust and unrighteous. They did not believe God to deliver them. False worship is to live outside God’s will and it causes a person to become spiritually insensitive to the Word of God. It’s a hypocritical life.
And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed. When men give it to one who can read, saying, "Read this," he says, "I cannot, for it is sealed."
(Isa 29:11)
This verse reveals those who are numb and could not read the Word of God. Jesus told the woman at the well that a time would come when the people would worship in spirit and in truth. That simply means worship with integrity and purity. Linda in her testimony shared that true worship is to be obedient. It is doing what God lives. Worship is not to be an empty ritual.
The Word Ariel represents an altar.
We are burned in the stock market and the workplace. Don’t be burned by God. Don’t wait for God to discipline us but rather offer ourselves as living sacrifice.
And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed. When men give it to one who can read, saying, "Read this," he says, "I cannot, for it is sealed." (Isa 29:11)
2. Acknowledge God’s Sovereignty
Ah, you who hide deep from the LORD your counsel, whose deeds are in the dark, and who say, "Who sees us? Who knows us?" You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of its maker, "He did not make me"; or the thing formed say of him who formed it, "He has no understanding"?
(Isa 29:15-16)
King Hezekiah trusted the Lord. But the leaders were afraid. Assyrians were cruel. When they entered a city, they skinned people. The war strategy involved inculcating fear. The leaders in Jerusalem wanted to form an alliance with Egypt. They did not think God is strong enough to defend them. God is so small in their eyes. They also thought God did not know. They did not recognize the sovereignty of God and His presence in their life. This is caused by false worship. “Who can see us” (v15)
The Word potter in v16 shows that God is the creator and the giver of life. Isa 6:1 to 4 reveals God to be sovereign and full of glory and the angels cried Holy. Isaiah had a vision of God which seated on the throne.
In Genesis, we read the story of Hagar. She was pregnant with Abraham’s child but she was mistreated by Sarai and she ran away. In her misery felling bereft and forgotten, God saved her. Hagar recognized that God saw her in her difficulty. God comforted her.
So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, "You are a God of seeing," for she said, "Truly here I have seen him who looks after me." (Gen 16:13)
3. Ask for His guidance
"Ah, stubborn children," declares the LORD, "who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; who set out to go down to Egypt, without asking for my direction, to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt! Therefore shall the protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame, and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to your humiliation.
(Isa 30:1-3)
The leaders wanted to form an alliance with Egypt. God called them rebellious children. Egypt’s help is tangible to them. To trust is God requires faith. That is intangible. They decide to seek help from a tangible source. When we face problems do we look for tangible help or do we seek God in prayers? There is nothing wrong to ask pastors to pray along with us. Pastors, elders and deacons do not have a secret path to God. We all know the same thing. As children of God, each of us have a direct access to God.
Note that even God called them obstinate and rebellious, God still called them children. Sometimes the battle is not tangible. It is physical. Only God can help us in this case. God used the Assyrians and later on Babylonians to discipline His people. There came a point when God would defeat the Assyrians. It was not by sword or human power.
Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited.
(Isa 31:8)
In the song of Deborah in Judges, God caused rain to fall to make the iron chariots of Israel’s enemy to be trapped in mud.
God can make a way when there seems to be no way. Seek His guidance.
4. Act on His will We Trust
For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift. One thousand [shall flee] at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill. And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD [is] a God of judgment: blessed [are] all they that wait for him.
(Isa 30:15-18)
The only way to return to God is the return (repent) and rest (don’t struggle) as mentioned in v15. There are three things to do here, to repent, to rest in Him (to cast all our cares upon Him) and put our trust in God.
A simple definition of trust:
To trust someone is to voluntarily make yourself dependent on that person for some outcome or other, or for the result or consequences.
It is a decision / choice we have to make.
God allows us to go through difficulties but we also trust that He will see us through.
When we see enemies as strong as the Assyrians and there is nothing we could do, we depend on God.
God message ends in v18. Blessed are all who wait for Him.
Elder Stephen Chong, 22/03/2009, 0920
This is his first time preaching in SEA Park this year. David Pawson is coming to minister to us on 13 Apr.
The theme for the month is maintaining spiritual health. The focus is to live an obedient life according to the will of God. The topic today is Following the Lord's Will.
Some people call Isaiah little Bible. There are 66 chapters, the same number of books in the Bible. Chapters 1 to 39 parallels Genesis in the discussion of sin and the consequences. The following chapters (up until chapter 45) are on the establishment of the nation. The book of Isaiah speaks of judgement but it also talks about hope. It describes God as a Holy God. The Holiness of God demands punishment of sin. God’s sovereignty is seen here when He used foreign nations to judge Israel. The message of Isaiah is to call Israel to be a holy nation. Israel has enjoyed the blessings of God and yet they fell away from God.
Ah, Ariel, Ariel, the city where David encamped! Add year to year; let the feasts run their round. Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be moaning and lamentation, and she shall be to me like an Ariel. And I will encamp against you all around, and will besiege you with towers and I will raise siegeworks against you.
(Isa 29:1-3)
Ariel refers to Jerusalem. God’s judgment is imminent.
But the multitude of your foreign foes shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the ruthless like passing chaff. And in an instant, suddenly,
(Isa 29:5)
Why did God want to judge a city?
And the Lord said: "Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,
(Isa 29:13)
Because their worship was false!
1. Avoid false worship
Jerusalem was to be the centre of worship. Everyone came to Jerusalem bringing their sacrifices to offer to God. The people came to worship but they did not live a life according to God’s will. They were unjust and unrighteous. They did not believe God to deliver them. False worship is to live outside God’s will and it causes a person to become spiritually insensitive to the Word of God. It’s a hypocritical life.
And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed. When men give it to one who can read, saying, "Read this," he says, "I cannot, for it is sealed."
(Isa 29:11)
This verse reveals those who are numb and could not read the Word of God. Jesus told the woman at the well that a time would come when the people would worship in spirit and in truth. That simply means worship with integrity and purity. Linda in her testimony shared that true worship is to be obedient. It is doing what God lives. Worship is not to be an empty ritual.
The Word Ariel represents an altar.
We are burned in the stock market and the workplace. Don’t be burned by God. Don’t wait for God to discipline us but rather offer ourselves as living sacrifice.
And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed. When men give it to one who can read, saying, "Read this," he says, "I cannot, for it is sealed." (Isa 29:11)
2. Acknowledge God’s Sovereignty
Ah, you who hide deep from the LORD your counsel, whose deeds are in the dark, and who say, "Who sees us? Who knows us?" You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of its maker, "He did not make me"; or the thing formed say of him who formed it, "He has no understanding"?
(Isa 29:15-16)
King Hezekiah trusted the Lord. But the leaders were afraid. Assyrians were cruel. When they entered a city, they skinned people. The war strategy involved inculcating fear. The leaders in Jerusalem wanted to form an alliance with Egypt. They did not think God is strong enough to defend them. God is so small in their eyes. They also thought God did not know. They did not recognize the sovereignty of God and His presence in their life. This is caused by false worship. “Who can see us” (v15)
The Word potter in v16 shows that God is the creator and the giver of life. Isa 6:1 to 4 reveals God to be sovereign and full of glory and the angels cried Holy. Isaiah had a vision of God which seated on the throne.
In Genesis, we read the story of Hagar. She was pregnant with Abraham’s child but she was mistreated by Sarai and she ran away. In her misery felling bereft and forgotten, God saved her. Hagar recognized that God saw her in her difficulty. God comforted her.
So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, "You are a God of seeing," for she said, "Truly here I have seen him who looks after me." (Gen 16:13)
3. Ask for His guidance
"Ah, stubborn children," declares the LORD, "who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; who set out to go down to Egypt, without asking for my direction, to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt! Therefore shall the protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame, and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to your humiliation.
(Isa 30:1-3)
The leaders wanted to form an alliance with Egypt. God called them rebellious children. Egypt’s help is tangible to them. To trust is God requires faith. That is intangible. They decide to seek help from a tangible source. When we face problems do we look for tangible help or do we seek God in prayers? There is nothing wrong to ask pastors to pray along with us. Pastors, elders and deacons do not have a secret path to God. We all know the same thing. As children of God, each of us have a direct access to God.
Note that even God called them obstinate and rebellious, God still called them children. Sometimes the battle is not tangible. It is physical. Only God can help us in this case. God used the Assyrians and later on Babylonians to discipline His people. There came a point when God would defeat the Assyrians. It was not by sword or human power.
Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited.
(Isa 31:8)
In the song of Deborah in Judges, God caused rain to fall to make the iron chariots of Israel’s enemy to be trapped in mud.
God can make a way when there seems to be no way. Seek His guidance.
4. Act on His will We Trust
For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift. One thousand [shall flee] at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill. And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD [is] a God of judgment: blessed [are] all they that wait for him.
(Isa 30:15-18)
The only way to return to God is the return (repent) and rest (don’t struggle) as mentioned in v15. There are three things to do here, to repent, to rest in Him (to cast all our cares upon Him) and put our trust in God.
A simple definition of trust:
To trust someone is to voluntarily make yourself dependent on that person for some outcome or other, or for the result or consequences.
It is a decision / choice we have to make.
God allows us to go through difficulties but we also trust that He will see us through.
When we see enemies as strong as the Assyrians and there is nothing we could do, we depend on God.
God message ends in v18. Blessed are all who wait for Him.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Accident
I left on time today, oops, I mean yesterday (it's now 0033, Tuesday.)
I finished off a last minute request by a colleague and joined K. She let me drive. K dropped Jesse for his tuition class in Uptown. So, I went there for dinner.
We then picked up Jesse. I came out from the Uptown area passing by OCBC and 7-Eleven. Kathleen commented that OCBC was still open. I was moving to the right lane (the one before the ramp) to prepare for a U-turn towards Damansara Jaya when we heard a long and loud honk (beep) from a motorcycle. The rider beeped all the way passed me from my right and then rammed into a 4WD in front of me.
Jesse speculated he was giving me warning so I would not hit it. However, he did not look at the stalled traffic in front. I moved out and proceeded home.
I have half a hear to get down even though it was really not needed. K remarked how God protected us.
Praise God!
I finished off a last minute request by a colleague and joined K. She let me drive. K dropped Jesse for his tuition class in Uptown. So, I went there for dinner.
We then picked up Jesse. I came out from the Uptown area passing by OCBC and 7-Eleven. Kathleen commented that OCBC was still open. I was moving to the right lane (the one before the ramp) to prepare for a U-turn towards Damansara Jaya when we heard a long and loud honk (beep) from a motorcycle. The rider beeped all the way passed me from my right and then rammed into a 4WD in front of me.
Jesse speculated he was giving me warning so I would not hit it. However, he did not look at the stalled traffic in front. I moved out and proceeded home.
I have half a hear to get down even though it was really not needed. K remarked how God protected us.
Praise God!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
I should do this more often
Kathleen and I went to install the backseat safety belts in the Perodua service centre in Section 19. I got to mee Liyana whom I have spoken on the phone on several occasions, including making appointment and then requesting to move it to school holidays. Liyana has been very helpful. It tooks about 30 minutes. I am impressed with their professionalism, efficiency and courtesy.
We then rushed to the Bandar Utama Hall (near Puay Chay 2) to see what we could get with the coupon we bought to help the cause of the United Voice. By now you should notice Jesse was not with us. He wanted to spend his time playing computer games, even though his recent exam showed a drop in marks. We met Crystal and Danny. We also saw a hardworking pastor intern doing her part in clearing up the place.
We proceeded to 1 Utama. We had three GSC movie vouchers courtesy of Michael and Jamie. I intepreted their wedding service. We were trying to decide among Slumdog Millionaire, Watchmen and Race to Witch Mountain (that's our first choice because Jesse said he wanted to watch it.) We decided on the last one.
Kathleen called my mom to pick Jesse up for the weekly shopping with my sister and my little niece. We didn't want him to be alone at home for so long.
We walked around and then had some food and coffee in Starbucks. Of course we went online.
The movie was enjoyable. I am partial to Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson. He was one of my favourite "superstar" in WWE. And as an actor, he is still one of my favourites. I told Kathleen he would win an Oscar someday. She didn't believe it.
We also bought a pair of shoes for me. Kathleen reminded me that she listened and remembered what I said.
I got to spend time alone with Kathleen. I thank God for it. I need to spend more time with her and Jesse.
Come what may, I think I am ready to face the challenges. I am not alone.
We then rushed to the Bandar Utama Hall (near Puay Chay 2) to see what we could get with the coupon we bought to help the cause of the United Voice. By now you should notice Jesse was not with us. He wanted to spend his time playing computer games, even though his recent exam showed a drop in marks. We met Crystal and Danny. We also saw a hardworking pastor intern doing her part in clearing up the place.
We proceeded to 1 Utama. We had three GSC movie vouchers courtesy of Michael and Jamie. I intepreted their wedding service. We were trying to decide among Slumdog Millionaire, Watchmen and Race to Witch Mountain (that's our first choice because Jesse said he wanted to watch it.) We decided on the last one.
Kathleen called my mom to pick Jesse up for the weekly shopping with my sister and my little niece. We didn't want him to be alone at home for so long.
We walked around and then had some food and coffee in Starbucks. Of course we went online.
The movie was enjoyable. I am partial to Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson. He was one of my favourite "superstar" in WWE. And as an actor, he is still one of my favourites. I told Kathleen he would win an Oscar someday. She didn't believe it.
We also bought a pair of shoes for me. Kathleen reminded me that she listened and remembered what I said.
I got to spend time alone with Kathleen. I thank God for it. I need to spend more time with her and Jesse.
Come what may, I think I am ready to face the challenges. I am not alone.
Friday, March 13, 2009
So, that's why I was bothered ...
Looking back the past blog posts, I now realize why I was bothered. It was because of this.
So, I was forewarned. I just could not put my fingers on it. I was already anticipating it. So, let it be.
I will continue to be the sunshine to the people I care.
So, I was forewarned. I just could not put my fingers on it. I was already anticipating it. So, let it be.
I will continue to be the sunshine to the people I care.
Giving up? No way!
I shared with two sisters that it's been a long long while since I last felt unhappy.
This is not a big issue. It's supposed to work that way. If I am really thinking about the good of the whole group, I should be a good soldier and do my part. If I am going to be relegated to a drone that hardly adds value to the community, so be it ... unless I want to try another community.
This is definitely not a good time to look around let alone move around.
I should really learn to count my blessings. Let's see.
So, don't fret. It's a long way to heaven, don't sweat the small stuff.
Let's see how long I can remain sunny.
... sometimes it helps to have someone to shine on.
This is not a big issue. It's supposed to work that way. If I am really thinking about the good of the whole group, I should be a good soldier and do my part. If I am going to be relegated to a drone that hardly adds value to the community, so be it ... unless I want to try another community.
This is definitely not a good time to look around let alone move around.
I should really learn to count my blessings. Let's see.
- After the Thailand trip, I have a sort of a "change of heart" and I have been trying hard to "be good" to my family and loved ones.
- I have started practicing "flash prayers" and I find it a wonderful thing to do.
- After the 2-day Coaching and Mentoring workshop which I utterly enjoy, great speaker, practicing haka and all (not to mentioned getting to know her better), I look at my colleagues in a different light. This is not so much due to the workshop but the time I spent with my colleagues. I can genuinely try to love everyone now, yes, even those few.
- She has overcome her problems. She has made her decision. I thank God for that. We have established a good friendship that is filled with fun and joy. I had a celebration lunch with her today.
So, don't fret. It's a long way to heaven, don't sweat the small stuff.
Let's see how long I can remain sunny.
... sometimes it helps to have someone to shine on.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
... then why do I still feel burdened?
If things have indeed worked out well for her, why do I still have a heavy heart? What is burdening me now?
I feel like there is something I need to pray / intercede. I don't know what that is.
Holy Spirit, please show me.
I feel like there is something I need to pray / intercede. I don't know what that is.
Holy Spirit, please show me.
No more problems
It seems that she will brave the storm. I am very glad she has decided continue the struggle. That's my KPY (god friend). I considered elevating / doubling the relationship between 2 KPYs into KG (god brother) and KM (god sister). But I think I will let it be right now as everything is working just fine.
She said I am very considerate person. Hmm ... mental note taken, do this to the ones I love.
We have established how I could help her. She is also clear that whenever she has stress and needs someone to talk to, she know who she can turn to.
I am very glad things worked out for her. I am very glad indeed. Praise God.
She said I am very considerate person. Hmm ... mental note taken, do this to the ones I love.
We have established how I could help her. She is also clear that whenever she has stress and needs someone to talk to, she know who she can turn to.
I am very glad things worked out for her. I am very glad indeed. Praise God.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Blogging from LCCT
Here I am, very early in the LCCT terminal waiting for my flight. It's now about 1712 and the flight is scheduled for 1845. I booked my seat so getting ahead of the queue is not an issue. But I am always paranoid. I firmly subscribe to Murphy's law. Once I was late for a MAS flight to Singapore and we took a Singapore Airlines flight to Changi instead of landing in JB. That cost a lot of money.
As I prepare myself mentally and emotionally for my training in Bangkok, I still a burden.
I have shared in a previous blog (in Chinese) and at the moment it is not permissable for me to share more details. I'd like to say I am prepared for the worst but I am not sure if I have.
When I was sitting for my SPM. a friend of a friend whom I have grown a fond relationship with considerd not taking the Biology paper because it was too tough for her. I told her I'd help. And that she could come to my school for some last minute revision on the day itself. I told her if she didn't take the paper, I would not. Not taking paper would have dire consequences. She didn't turn up, my friends told me she would take the paper so I did too.
Being more 'mature' (really?) and have more commitment and responsibility now, I don't make such rash decisions anymore.
I have an idea how I would like things to turn out. But that's what I want. It may not be what she (my friend in the current situation, not the one who took her Biology paper) wants.
I saw this quote in the Burger King joint in Mutiara Damansara (the three of us went there two nights in a row for supper! So much for eating healthy!) Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get. In this case, I can only pray for her to have both success and happiness.
I have lots of happiness as far as my work is concerned.
And I am using Happiness in Kingdom of Loathing. It's a gift from a clan member. It helped me tremendously.
I wish I could be as helpful as I want myself to be.
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