God was there in your failure

I am currently attending the Eagles Leadership Development Program in Bali. It is a wonderful place. I thank God for such a good timing for me to partially take a break from ministry.

In the first day of retreat, Peter became a significant person in my reflections. I have been reflecting about his life and ministry - from his calling from Jesus until he disown Jesus. We can learn three things from Peter's failure as disciple.

1. God Knows That You Will Fail

Matthew 26:34   "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you (Peter) will disown me three times."

We need to know that all of us are subject to failure.Many great people went through failures before they succeeded. Jesus knew that Peter will fail him - disown him three times.

2. God Were There When You Fail

Luke 22:61  The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times."

One important thing we need to know as well is that God were there every time we fail. I want to share why sometimes we fail. Sometimes we fail because we think God is a loser. Imagine the scenario Peter was in. He saw Jesus was being beaten, weak and helpless. Peter saw this and doubted.

Sometimes, when we face difficulties and when God seems like a loser, we would fail God. But once you fail, you need to remember that God already knew that you will fail.

3. God Is Still With You After You Fail

John 21:17   The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. 

Most of us would think that once we fail God, God will leave us. In fact, failure is a transformational moment in our lives. Three times Peter disowned Jesus. Three times Jesus asked if Peter still love Jesus. 

Before this, Peter was afraid to die because he knew Jesus. But after this incident, Peter recovered and transformed. 

John 21:19  Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!" 

Isaac

Congregational Singing

While I was doing my thesis - the last chapter which is on the practical aspects of Intergenerational Worship (IGW) - I was dealing on how praise and worship can be made as an intentional education and a time where all ages can experience faith together. I came across Martin Luther thoughts on Congregational Singing which is equivalent to our praise and worship today. He believes that through congregational singing, we are proclaiming the Word of God to the congregation. To him it is another form of preaching!

When I was doing this, I feel more and more worry on the way that our church handling Congregational Singing. I am more and more worry with the songs we sing every Sunday! I am more worry with the modern Christian songs that are available to us now. I was reflecting with some of the songs that we have sung recently. I might sound that I am criticizing songs, but I am just raising my concern here. Please don't get me wrong that I am attacking worship leaders here, I am certainly not (I am not defending here, but I just want to avoid some misunderstanding).

I concern with some of the modern songs which have a weak theological expression. I see more and more songs which only describe God as an active God and human has no responsibility. Only what God has done for us; His grace is enough for us. Songs that portrayed that we are an passive Christian. A lot of songs addressed to Christians felt needs - with music and lyrics. Many songs were written out of inspirations than inspirations plus real experience. Many songs were written just because we think how God looks like.

Shallow music form shallow people (Marva J. Dawn). Shallow theological expression form shallow christians! As a worship leader, we should be serious in choosing our songs that we are going to sing in church weekly. We need to discern they type of the songs that we are going to sing. We should not be moved by the tune of the music or the impressiveness of the lyrics. One thing extra that the worship leader need to concern today is the theological expression of the songs!

Isaac

'tis so sweet to trust in Jesus

When I was doing my devotion this morning (just now), this hymn came to my mind - 'tis so sweet to trust in Jesus. A lot of things happened to me since the beginning of the semester - family problem, financial, thesis, and the struggle of mind. All these are affecting my progress in thesis, my readings and assignments.

Of all these struggles, the Lord comforts me with His Word and this hymn. I learned one thing - TRUST in Jesus! By God's grace that we can trust Him more and more. This hymn was written out of struggle of Louisa Stead (click the name) who lost his husband who was trying to save a boy from drowning. Perhaps, it is not a coincidence that I led this hymn during the Anglican retreat.

Not all Christians can really trust in Jesus in times of difficulties. After all the things that had happened to composer; what has happened and still happening to me, how can a person really say that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him?" - Romans 8:28.

The ability to trust in Jesus is grace to us. The ability to trust in God who works for the good of those who love Him even in the time of difficulties is grace. Let's trust in Jesus, the precious Jesus; O for Grace to trust Him more.

1. ’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
   Just to take Him at His Word;
   Just to rest upon His promise,
   And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”
   • Refrain:
     Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
     How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
     Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
     Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
2. Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
   Just to trust His cleansing blood;
   And in simple faith to plunge me
   ’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!
3. Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
   Just from sin and self to cease;
   Just from Jesus simply taking
   Life and rest, and joy and peace.
4. I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
   Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
   And I know that Thou art with me,
   Wilt be with me to the end.

Isaac

Worship

John 4:23 "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Disclaimer!!

Make sure you read this if you cannot sleep at night!!

Three weeks ago, the passage on John 4:23 came to my mind during the church service. I've forgotten where the verse came from. They next day, as I was doing my devotion, I read this passage again. I was wondering what God is trying to speak to me.

In the midst of pondering the passage, another passage came to my mind, Colossians 3:16. Gosh, so I keep on pondering the relation with these two verses.

As I study the verse, Col. 3:16 I began to see some light. It is so true that, if you keep on meditating or reflecting on certain verses, it will speaks to you. That is the power of God's Word. In Col. 3:16, "The Word of Christ" is the subject. The main verb is "to dwell" (imperative/command). The Word of Christ must dwell in us richly. When the Word dwells in us richly, the next three verbs are the consequences: to teach and to admonish, and to sing (all three are in participle form). [I know is a bit academic here, but to be faithful to the Word of God, we do need to go back to the original text to have a better insight]

Recently, I've encountered a lot of "debates" or "insights" of what worship is? I believe these two verses have spoken to me. Our worship, our preaching, our giving, our daily life and etc is the consequences of the Word of Christ that dwelt in us. We can't just worship the Lord just because of our feeling as Christian that God loves us, therefore we worship him. But we must let the Word of God dwell in us, and with conviction, from inside out we worship our God. Not only in worship, but also in preaching. How can we preach unless the Word of God dwell in us and has convicted. To dwell in us, it is not just having understood the passage, but from inside-out, in practice, we are able to show what has been dwelt in us (1John 4:16b, 20 - God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him; if someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen).

What then shall I say? (wow! Like St. Paul arguing certain issue, :D) Am I saying that the Word of God is the most important? Yes! Last Friday, there was a person was arguing that in a service, everything is important. She said, we cannot say the Word is more important than worship, and worship is more important than any other "items" in a service. I think she got it wrong! In a service, all that we are doing are the consequences of the Word that has been dwelt in us. I believe that everything that we do in a service must be Christ centered, and the CLIMAX of the service is the Word of God (the reading and preaching) because that is where the word is proclaimed to us (the Reading) and where through the preacher, we believe that God is using him to reveal the Word to us so that it speaks to us in our current context which in the end lead us to Christ who is our stronghold, and in Him we shall not be afraid (Psalm 27:1b).

Conclusion? Our worship, preaching (or even sharing in a devotion), is the effects of the indwelling of the Word in us. By then, true worshipers that have understood the dwelt Word and practice it will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. Therefore, we need the Holy Spirit, our Helper, the Spirit of truth (John 15:26) who will remind us what Jesus had taught us (John 14:16) to worship God our Father. Worship not just as in singing praise and worship, but also in prayer, preaching and our daily lives.

Our action: Read your Bible and pray everyday so that God's word will dwell in you richly!

Isaac

God's faithfulness

Yesterday, Bishop preached in FCC. I din't expect that. Why I say that I din't expect that is because firstly, we have a good chat. Really din't expect that..:D Secondly, God has used him to ministered to me and challenged me..Really din't expect that too..His life has been an inspiration to me. I am sad that many people have misunderstood him. I do not want to say why people can misunderstood him. I think only time and the future generation will know in the end why he is a great man..

As he shared yesterday that he memorized the psalms and one of it is Psalm 91, this morning I give myself a challenge to memorize it too. One verse comforts me and assures to me a lot. Psalm 91:4 - his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Only God who is faithful in our life. Only he is the one who never leaves us nor forsakes us. But many time we put our hope in the unfaithful one, things that will perish rather than imperishable and the faithful one. Many times, I seek my own way to solve my problems rather than relying on his faithfulness. But the Lord promises, his faithfulness will be our shield and rampart. Amen!

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Isaac

Charles Simeon Con't

I was thinking what are we going to do for tomorrow pastoral group. Either play a game or do some reflection. I decided to do a reflection on Charles Simeon. This person really inspired me a lot as I read more about him.

As I read what John Piper has commented about him, I was touched with his life and perseverance as a rejected-friend and rejected-priest/vicar. I wonder how can this guy can stand for such "persecution" surrounding him yet he still can have the passion to continue to preach!

John Piper says that "Simeon saw his suffering as a wonderful privilege of bearing the cross with Christ.": One striking witness to this was during a time when the university was especially cold and hostile to him. He reflected on his own name "Simeon" which is the same as Simon who was compelled to bear the cross for Jesus. And he exclaimed about that text: "What a word of instruction was here - what a blessed hint for my encouragement! To have the cross laid upon me, that I might bear it after Jesus - what a privilege! It was enough. Now I could leap and sing for joy as one whom Jesus was honoring with a participation of His sufferings." (Moule, 59f)

This person is really positive in thinking and during his hard time. I think we should have the same attitude as Simeon. We should see that it is a wonderful privilege of bearing the cross with Christ. We must be able to see that in time of our suffering, we are actually bearing the cross on our shoulder. Having faith that God will deliver us through times of suffering, we must persevere!

Isaac

Charles Simeon

I got to know this guy from Dr. Paul Barker. I read his biography, and one thing I learnt is his patient in times of suffering.

The lonliness as a Christian that Simeon experienced as a college student was replaced by the active opposition of his new parisioners. The congregation did not care for Simeon's biblical preaching and would have preferred the assistant, Mr. Hammond, to become rector of the parish. They showed their displeasure toward Simeon by not attending and locking the small doors of their pews (which most churches had at the time). At times, they even locked the doors of the church to prevent Simeon from holding additional services. Simeon persevered, however, and remained rector of the parish for 54 years, gradually winning over his parishioners and making a great impact that reached well beyond Cambridge.

In April, 1831, Charles Simeon was 71 years old. He had been the rector of Trinity Church, Cambridge, England, for 49 years. He was asked one afternoon by his friend, Joseph Gurney, how he had surmounted persecution and outlasted all the great prejudice against him in his 49-year ministry. He said to Gurney, "My dear brother, we must not mind a little suffering for Christ's sake. When I am getting through a hedge, if my head and shoulders are safely through, I can bear the pricking of my legs. Let us rejoice in the remembrance that our holy Head has surmounted all His suffering and triumphed over death. Let us follow Him patiently; we shall soon be partakers of His victory" (H.C.G. Moule, Charles Simeon, London: InterVarsity, 1948, 155f.).

I've lost my patient a lot whether in ministry or in relationship with friends. I always talk about "hey! I'm hurt now. You must say sorry!" Impatient causes me to become more and more individualistic. Is all about my feeling, my rights or this is what I want! I've forgotten what pain that I have compared to the pain that Christ bore on the cross. I've forgot what rejection it is compared to the rejection received by Christ on the Cross.

Pray that in this Lent season, I can persevere a Christ did.

Isaac

They did not realize it

Today I am so blur that I thought our breakfast starts at 7am. Because I am on duty today for breakfast, so I woke up at 6am to go and prepare. I finished everything at 645am and waiting for my partner to come. Then suddenly I realize that breakfast at 730am!! Sigh..So, I don't want to waste time, I did my devotion there while waiting for the time to pass.

An interesting thought came to my mine as I read John 5, when Jesus healed the paralyzed man in Bethzatha (Bethsaida). Once this man was healed, he take up his pallet/mat and walk. The Jews then rebuked the guy, "It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat." As I read this verse, the thought came into my mind. Actually the Jews are working too. Well, I don't know who are these Jews. Probably they are the "someone else goes down ahead of me" when the guy wanted to go into the pool? or probably the Pharisees (this what actually came into my mind).

A lawyer works is to exercise the law when it is needed. So do the Pharisees. Their job is meditating the law and make sure that everyone is following it. When someone breaks the law, they will be on duty (WORK).

So when the Pharisees in the Gospel rebuke Jesus on healing in Sabbath, they did not realize that they too are 'working' while rebuking people.

Matt. 7:4-5

⁴How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

Isaac

when imperfect meets the perfect.

I was reflecting on what John Piper wrote in his book.

Anytime some weakness or bad habit in our lives is exposed by contrast to someone else's goodness, instead of dealing with the weakness or the bad habit, we keep away from those whose lives make us feel defective. We don't kill them. We avoid them. Or worse, we find ways to criticize them so as to neutralize the part of their lives that was making us convicted. We feel like the best to nullify someone's good point is to draw attention to his bad point. And so we protect ourselves from whatever good he might be for us. - John Piper

I find this sound so chinese.:D

Isaac

Why do you have to be like others?

I've just gone through tough times past few weeks. It affects me until the extend of not doing my devotion, pray, read the bible and spent time with God. I just felt angry and dissatisfy with the things happened to me. Things surrounding me are unfair to me. I compared myself with other people. I asked God, "Am I that bad?" even to the point I told God, "Did you forgive me? If not why you din't answer my prayer, my needs?"

It's a dilemma to me on the other hand as I studying His words and yet I do not want to have relationship with Him. It was a hard time to me. It was a struggle. I even come to point take it academicly rather than spiritually.

I adviced people not to compare, but I myself compared myself to other people. Comparing to other people can really lead us complain to God that we not have enough. Indeed it is human nature that we can never be satisfied with what we have. We want more and more. We desire more. Desire is really a dangerous thing. I still haven't overcome my desire to have good stuff, as I still not satisfy with things I have not, and I will never be satisfy. I read this book by John Piper, he quoted from 1 John 2: 16 which tells me whether I am from the Father or not. "For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world."

I really want to desire the feeling of desiring Jesus and be fully satisfy with it. It is hard to me eventhough I understand it. I need to experience it. My question is always, "how Lord?" Until now I still searching for it.

One of the answers that convicted me is this question, "Why do you have to be like others?" It is amazing that God can speaks to you eventhough you are trying to ignore him. Yes, why do I have to be like others. Why must I compare with others? Though the amount of blessings I received from others is deifferent, but the amount of grace we receive is the same, that is the price that was paid on the cross.

If we say we are special, comparism shouldn't come in. My life is not built on people's blessings nor also my faith. I really hope that I can find that enlightenment that when I desire Jesus, full satisfaction comes upon me and I can overcome the world!

Would like to end this with a quote from John Piper on how worldly things can corrupt us.

"When we don't have what we want, the world corrupts us with covetousness. And when we do have what we want the world corrupts us with pride."

Isaac

All gains - one loss - one Christ - who has everything

Philippians 3: 4 -7

4 Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If any other man thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:

5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law a Pharisee,

6 as to zeal a persecutor of the church, as to righteousness under the law blameless.

7 But whatever gain(the list in vv5 - 6, plural) I had, I counted as loss(singular) for the sake of Christ(singular).

Another reflection and partial exegesis for this passage. I was reflecting on this passage during the exegesis class this morning.

It is a meaningful passage as we see how Paul see that he loss everything for Christ's sake. All the list that he made in vv5 - 6, he count it as one loss, for one person's sake, Jesus Christ, whom have everything, more than this world. Notice the bold words. It has a pattern. It goes like this; plural - singular - singular - plural; which means; all gains - one loss - Christ - who has everything.

When we commit ourself to Christ, we cannot count each things as partial loss. For example, I sacrifice my five figure salary as one big loss, friendship, 80% loss and etc. All things come in one package as a loss. Do not ever boast of what you loss for the sake of Christ, but boast on what Christ has done, and what you gain from him inspite of all the losses.

All the things that we achieved, we count as one loss, for Christ who has everything. What a beautiful thing.

Isaac

Christ's Humility in Philippians 2:5 - 11

My favorite passage in Philippians.

The Song of Christ Glory

1 Christ Jesus was in the form of God:
but he did not cling to equality with God.

2 He emptied himself, taking the form of a servant:
and was born in our human likeness.

3 Being found in human form he humbled himself:
and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.

4 Therefore God has highly exalted him:
and bestowed on him the name above every name,

5 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow:
in heaven and on earth and under the earth;

6 And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord:
to the glory of God the Father.

Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

Today's Collect - Pentecost 10 (Trinity 9)

Father of mankind, who gave your only-begotten Son to take upon himself

the form of a servant and to be obedient even to death on the cross: give us

the same mind that was in Christ Jesus that, sharing his humility, we may

come to be with him in his glory; who is alive and reigns with yu and the Holy

Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

What is left?

"I must admit that I often find myself desiring other things besides God: material goods, emotional strokes, human relationship, etc. Pausing to reflect, I realize that if I were to release things in my life, one by one, there would come that moment when I would have only God left to me. More importantly and more accurately, he would have me." - Fuller's student response to Psalms 73:25

Came across this verse as I read a book on simplicity. If we were to ask ourselves, what is the most important things in life, and when you try to release it one by one, would the last things in life gave you the satisfaction of life or would the last things in life is the things that can replace God.

Psalms 73 came across to me twice in a week. Particularly verse 25 and 26 that refresh my mind. "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire beside You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Reminds me a song from Don Moen, "God is the strength of my heart." Often we interpret this song when we tired in our lives as I did, but this student gave us another view and perspectives for this verses. Simplicity of life.

I think we have to remind ourselves that what we have now is temporarily, and is just a shell of our lives. I have tried to live as simple as I can, and it is very hard. Temptation surrounding is just too great. Advertisement keep on telling you that "use me! I'm the latest, best!"

I wonder what is my last things in life before God in my life. I think if God would be the first, there is not things as "last in our lives."

Isaac

Creation

I have been pondering Proverbs 6:6-8 for few weeks. It asks us to observe the ants, a tiny creation and observe its way and be wise. No commander, overseer or ruler yet they can store its provision in summer and gathers its food at harvest.

Just now, the lecturer ask us to go out and observe the creation for 15 minutes. All of us went out and came back with our reflection and observation. Most of us touched by the creation. Most of us confess that through our busyness, we did not observe this beautiful creation.

I have observed the ants while I was in the garden. God remind me back the Proverbs. One of my classmates also observed the ants. We came to this conclusion; the creation of God is happily living as they are. The ants are doing what God intended them to do. The birds fly freely in the air. There is no worries in this creation. But, only one creation that always worry although they were made special and different than other creation, human. We have insecurity in our lives. We keep on working to fulfill the emptiness in our lives to keep us away from that insecurity. But God says, we are much valuable than the birds in the air in Matthew 6:26. The birds do not sow or reap or store away in barn, yet God still feed them. If we are much more valuable than the birds, do you think God would not feed us?

Spent some time, and go out and look at the creation. Discern God when he speaks.

Isaac

Fix upon Jesus

Remember this hymns that spoke to me, "Turn your eye upon Jesus." One of my favorite hymns.

Today devotion really spoke to me as one of the lecturer was sharing on this passage,
Hebrews 12:1-2 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Race that marked out for us is like running on the track without lines that make us run not in a straight line. The only thing that can help us to run in straight lines is that we focus on the finish line. This is what the lecturer said.

And my further thoughts is that as we run on track and when we focus on lines on the track, we will lost our focus and we will run slightly slower because our focus is not on the finish line but whether we are running straight or not. If we have one focus that is to finish the race by focusing on the finish line, I believe we will be the first who reach the finish line.

Our focus? of course Jesus

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Isaac