24 November 2008

Chapter 20: Right Relationship with God

Written on 25 November 2008


Everyone wants to have a close relationship with God. Jack’s Stuff desires too. People often sing in church, “We long to seek Your face. Draw me close to You. I will follow You wholly.”…etc. So, do you think they really mean it when they sing that?


Example 1: “We long to seek Your face.”
Often I heard the youth singing something similar to this verse, but do they really seek God’s face daily? I think they hungrily seek the movie series (Love story, Adventure…etc) more than God daily.

Example 2: “Draw me close to You.”
Often the church got event, most of the people will find excuse, “Ah ya… busy!” Or they will say, “Ah ya! I am so tired. I’m lazy to attend.” Even God wanna draw these people close to Him, but they rejected and ignored God.

Coming to church is our lifestyle already. It is our relationship with God eternally. If the people really want to have a closer relationship with God, does the church still need to call those people to come? Is it a duty for the church to call the people? Or should I say, do the people know that they are actually having a relationship with God? These people especially youth will say, “The leaders didn’t call us, so we assume there is no cellgroup gathering.” So do you want me to call you to eat when you know you need to eat, dude?

Christians often share gospel to people – Heaven is free. Jesus is good. God changes our life. However, look at their life. Is there any relationship between them and God? Non Christians are not foolish; they can see whether we have God through our life testimony. They will know whether you have a right relationship with God. Is your life really changed? I ask you now.


Heaven is more important? Or the relationship with God is more important? They are not the same. Think carefully. Most Christians will say, “Believe in Jesus, so you will not go to Hell.” It is true in what they say, but they should actually emphasize the relationship on God instead of Heaven, even though Heaven is the gift of God.

As you can notice, if those Christians say, “Believe in Jesus, so you can go to Heaven.”, you can see that their relationship with God is not right. It is because they do not want to go to hell, so they believe in Jesus. In fact, they care for themselves more, and simply ignore God in their life. In other words, they focus on themselves more than God. This is called “Selfish”. Do not simply say that we love God, yet we know that we are not. You know yourself clearly.
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As a father, he will challenge his son saying,
“Son, if you score “A” in all your exams, I will give you a gift which you desire the most.” Hence, this son can have either one of the thoughts in his mind:

1) I score “A” in all my exams, is because I can get the gift which I desire the most.

2) I score “A” in all my exams, is because I love my father. I want to honor him. I wanna make my father proud. The gift is not that important. However, I will still accept my father’s gift because it is from his heart.

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Now I ask you. Which mindset do you have?
In future, I will write more on how we get the right relationship with God.

Romans 12: 1 – 2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship.



16 November 2008

Chapter 19: God’s will

Written on 17 November 2008

“I believe this is God’s will.”


I always hear this sentence from people. Readers, DO NOT say this as if it’s a normal thing. Do you know that you are saying a serious thing? If it is not God’s will, you will be accountable to God. You need to be responsible for what you have said and done, i.e. God’s judgment.

As I had mentioned about Falsehood, many people do many wonders in the name of Jesus. However, not all of them go to Heaven, unless they follow Jesus properly and do God’s will. I believe those people also say this, “I believe this is God’s will.” before they start their “wonder” ministry – healing sick, casting out demons, gifted in music, and many other incredible things…etc


I know people will say, “We pray really hard for this. And I receive confirmation from God. This is God’s will.” Well, be careful on what you have said. It is because I cannot judge for what you have said, I cannot say you lie unless the lie is too obvious. Christians, please be careful.
(I urge you)

I would like to take Jack’s Stuff for an example. I never mention to anyone, saying, “Jack’s Stuff is God’s will. It is because now many people know me even outsiders.” NEVER!

I DO NOT dare to say this. I only say, “If God’s willing, Jack’s Stuff will be famous.” Sometimes, I said to some people, “God allows Jack’s Stuff to happen.”

“God allows…” and “God’s will” are two different matters.

Mark my words. “God allows…” is that when some situations happen exactly to what you had prayed. When people saw miracles happening, they will surely say, “This is God’s will!” In fact, it is NOT. Whether the miracles will happen, God can choose to allow either to let it happen or not. However, it is not God’s will.
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Jonah 1:1; 3:2, 4, 10
"Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me."

"Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you."

He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned."

“When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.”

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In Book of Jonah, you can see that God has a choice to destroy the city of Nineveh. God chose to take away the destruction
because the people repented.

The word “will” means a fixed and persistent intent or purpose. God’s will is always the same now and forever. We must understand this. Wanna know God’s will? You need to cultivate a habit of reading bible yourself to find out. An example of God’s will is listed below.
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John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
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“God’s will” is fixed. God’s will never change. It always remains the same. Before the world was created, God has already set His will from the beginning, now and forever. If you say, “I believe this is God’s will”, yet this is not, you had committed a serious sin.
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Exodus 20: 7
"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name."
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Do not simply use the name of the Lord by saying, “This is God’s will.” Instead of God’s will be done, it is our will be done. Be careful. Some cheaters are even worse, “I come in the name of Jesus to tell you this…” And I warn those who love to say, “The Lord says…”, “I sense the Lord is telling me…”… etc. God knows everything. Do not deceive yourself and God.
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Ephesians 5: 17
“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.”
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So, please... I urge you. Do not simply say,
“I believe this is God’s will.” Instead, you should say, “If God’s willing…” or “God allows this to happen.”

Get the point?

07 November 2008

Chapter 18: Falsehood

Written on 7 November 2008


“Hi, Jack!” Eugene said in Msn.


Yesterday, I received a message from my Singapore friend in MSN. It’s been a long time that we have not contacted with each other. At first we talked about business and IT matters, then suddenly he asked me a question,

“Which church are you in?” He asked.
Anglican.” I replied.
“Is your church charismatic?” He asked again. Thinking for a while, erm… Our Sabah Anglican is more on balanced. So I answered, “Yes, kinda...”

Then he laughed "LOL". Before he went offline, he sent me a Bible verse:

Matthew 24: 24
“For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect — if that were possible.”


___________________________________

Obviously, he is saying that I am one of the falsehoods. If you ask me whether I am offended, the answer is definitely “Yes”. However, I didn’t hate him. I began to think why he will show me this verse. There must be some reasons why he is against it. Frankly speaking, I should thank God for Eugene. I believe God used Eugene to remind me whether I am on the right path with Him. Think carefully, readers. Ask yourself this, “Am I doing the will of God in my daily life?”

I prayed hard to God, kept asking,
God, am I still walking in the right way which you had showed me? I just want You, Jesus Christ, to tell me only. No other gods but You… Please tell me my mistakes, which I do not pay attention to. Please refresh my heart and search me whether I am still in tuned with You.”

To me, I do not really care how talented I am. Between Talents or Righteous, I rather choose Righteous. What God wants is not seeing us being giftedperforming miracles, healing, and casting out demons and interpreting the speaking in tongues… etc. We must be aware of what God wants. God wants a person who truly follows and understands what He thinks – to do His will.

Matthew 7: 21 - 23
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'


Scary, isn't it?

Nowadays, many called onto God, “Lord! Lord!” Many use His name to do many wonders, but they MAY NOT be the ones who do the will of God. These people MAY BE false Christs, false prophets in Matthew 24:24. These people MAY NOT enter the kingdom of Heaven. These people MAY NOT even know they themselves are one of the falsehood. DO NOT think, "Once I received Christ, I will surely go to Heaven."

I am so scared that I am actually one of the people who are mentioned in these verses. In fact, I should thank Eugene for reminding me of Matthew 7:21 – 23. Why will God say, “Away from me, you evildoers!”? In my opinion, I think it is all about the relationship between you and God.


So what is God’s will? How close are we to God? Do we really follow what God has told us to do? Do we follow what He wants? Often we pray, “Your will be done!”, yet mostly it is our will be done. Agree?

I have read many blogs from some Christians. They only talk about their life, they never share about God who has done great things in their life. When we talk to them about God, they will rather talk about Soccer player or some famous celebrities or others. I ask you, “Are you sure that God is in your first place?”

In future, I will try to find out: What is God’s will? What kind of relationship between you and God? What is your meaning of LOVE… etc. If you have any question or doubt, you may ask me too. I will be more than willing to find out and we learn together. Please do not hesitate to ask me too.

Though I am Anglican, I will be loyal to Anglican. However, to me, whether I am Anglican, whether I am Charismatic, this is NOT the primary matter. The relationship between God and me is the primary reason why I am still in this world. I would rather stop all arguments whether who is right or wrong. This is pointless. To me, the most important thing is searching for the Great Glory of Goda life after God’s own heart.

Thank you, Eugene, for reminding me to be ALERT. However, Eugene… Those who call “Lord, Lord”, yet NOT is doing the will of God…

YOU MAY BE ONE OF THE FALSEHOOD TOO.



05 November 2008

Chapter 17: Exorcism

Written on 5 November 2008


During one of our cellgroup fellowship, we discussed about casting out demons. Hirai asked each of us whether we have experienced about exorcism. Then Winston pointed at me, and says, “Jack, I thought you had experienced this before?”

Readers, can you believe Jack’s Stuff experienced this too? Heard of the movie – Exorcism of Emily Rose?
Do you think it is true that exorcism exists?
Here is my story.


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On 14 June 2006, 10am in the morning, Mary invited us to do the home blessing for her house. There were me, a pastor and a lady. Mary was a new Christian who just came to know Jesus at that very time. She is a married woman with two daughters.

When we are inviting Jesus to take care of that house, Mary suddenly felt unconscious and falls to the ground. We are shocked to see that! We saw her struggling on the ground, twisting her body up and down, moving like a worm and her face is full of sweat. The most obvious thing is that her eyes were fully in white and she was breathing in difficulty. At that time, we truly know that she was possessed by an evil spirit. She was tortured bitterly. If you had seen the movie: Exorcism of Emily Rose, you will understand what I am talking about.


In the holy name of Jesus Christ, We prayed for her and even ordered the evil spirit to get out of her. The movies always mislead the people. The handmade Cross, and the handmade Bible books are not the tool to drive the evil spirits away from the people. There is NO such thing as Holy Water. You do not need garlic or any nonsense to drive them away. ONLY by the holy name of JESUS CHRIST, all evil spirits will be driven away. Amen!


After praying, she started to feel better. She explained why she was possessed. She used to worship the demon before she came to know Jesus Christ. The demon did not want to let go of her. She still kept a mysterious “thing” which belonged to the demon under her bed because she doubted that Jesus Christ is the only one and true God. Immediately, Mary confessed her sin and went into the room to take the “thing”. When she was about to destroy the “thing”, she was possessed AGAIN!

Suddenly, Mary’s voice changed into a MONSTER’s voice. She was NOT herself anymore. She stood up and reacted differently. She jumped up and down, and shouted loudly. Her eyeballs turned into RED. As we prayed louder, the demon started to laugh even louder!! We grabbed hold of Mary tightly, but the demon’s power is overwhelming.


The most interesting thing is that the pastor’s voice CHANGED TOO!! Her voice sounded like a Godly man’s voice with strong authority! She kept repeating the sentence, “IN THE NAME OF JESUS, I commanded you to get out RIGHT NOW!” Immediately, the demon fled in fear and Mary was no longer possessed. She was saved by Jesus Christ

At last, I would like to say that demons, devils or evil spirits may be very scary to human beings. However, Jesus Christ is the only God whom demons, devils, and evil spirits are afraid of.

Philippians 2:10
“that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,”

Romans 14:11
“It is written: " 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.' "
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This testimony is true. It was witnessed by Jack’s Stuff. One thing I wanna emphasize – Why human tend to scare of demons more than Jesus? We human should fear Jesus more. Remember Jesus holds authority of your life and death. If you think God is funny, read this:

Luke 12:4 – 5
“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him.”

Demons, devils and evil spirits are included in “those who kill the body and after that can do no more”.

Now you should know who you should fear.