Know the Lord all over again

Two weeks ago during service, Pastor called Jesus as Counselor, Prince of Peace..and as he called God by those names, I began to reflect upon my own relationship with God, and what do I know Him by...? My best friend? My Saviour? I then felt in my heart a determination to know the Lord all over again..
And so began my quest to seek after Him more on a personal Bible study:

1) Jesus fulfilled all righteousness (Matt 3:15)
He asked John the baptist to baptise Him - He did what was right even when it wasn't necessary.
Sometimes we don't do what is needed cos it doesn't feel necessary, so it is important to follow in the footsteps of Jesus to fulfil all righteousness.

2) Jesus knew the word of God (Matt 4:4-11) - vital for defeating the enemy
That's why it is necessary for us to also memorise God's verses...How else to wield the sword of the Spirit?

3) Jesus prayed for God's will to be done when things seemed trying (Luke 22:42-44)
Each time I experience difficulty to do what is right, I recall the picture of Jesus in the garden of Gethsamene praying, saying, Father if You are willing, remove this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done. And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly. And His sweat was as if it were great drops of blood falling to the ground.
So we can take heed that even when things become very difficult at times, we should follow the example of Jesus and get up and pray.

4) Jesus taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law (Matt 7:29)
Therefore, teach out of conviction, with conviction and don't just preach.

5) Jesus was calm in times of trouble and storm (Matt 8:24)
When the storm came, the disciples were panicking, yet Jesus Himself was totally unaffected by the storm. But He woke up from sleep and rebuked the winds and the waves.
Speak to the problems and not let the problems overwhelm you.

6) Jesus was embracing of everyone (Matt 9:12-13)
He never despised anyone/ sinners, and even sat with them for dinner.
Sometimes, we fnd it hard to accept those who don't share our same level of faith, and we view them with eyes of judgement and despise. And Jesus has this to say, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice"

7) Jesus never stopped 'working' (Mark 3:2-4)
Even on the day of Sabbath, He was healing people and He even challenged the pharises not to be legalistic. This reminds me of what pastor Mike Connell did as he was leaving the hall to rush for the next service.. As he was walking out, he was laying hands and praying for every single person he met along the way. To me, it certainly felt like it was no longer a job. Pastor Mike Connell had taken full ownership and responsibility of his call and was faithful to it. In the same likeness as Pastor Kong who is always serving... be it counseling or preaching etc. Yet, it is of prime importance that we never neglect to commune with God so we will never need to come to a stage of burning out.

8) Jesus was compassionate to the needy (Matt 9:36)
We should be emphathetic to people's situations, for they, in Jesus words, "are like sheep without a shepherd."

9) Jesus empowers (Matt 10:1)
Even though He had all authority, He gave His disciples to perform them (miracles).
And a friend reminds me of this verse from John 14:12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do.." what Jesus is really saying here is that as the risen Lord, who dwells in us by means of the Spirit, He will do greater things through us than He did when He was here in the days of His flesh. Hallelujah!

10) Jesus hated wickedness (Ps 45:7)
In fact, He hated wickedness so much that He bled to wound it to the heart; He died that it might die; He was buried that He might bury it in His tomb; and He rose that He might forever trample it beneath His feet.
Even when I struggle, the Spirit Himself reminds me that I am a co-heir with Christ and that He died so that we are no longer slaves to sin.
And tonight, all the more I am decided that I want to follow Him; to walk on the narrow path.
(there can hardly be any goodness in a man if he be not angry at sin; he who loves truth must hate every false way.)

It's so hard to do what is right sometimes

God, it's so hard to do what is right.
It's so hard... to say, "Father, if You are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but Yours be done."

And the answer is found in Jesus' advice to His disciples, "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."

Well, God never said it was going to be easy. Even Jesus Himself prayed till His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

So, get up and pray
Get up and pray
Get up and pray..

Pray and enjoy a moment more with Him..

A friend of mine recently asked this question, "Why do we need to pray since God already knows what's going to happen to us? Does God change His mind?"

And in answering that, I came to seek Him more....

I told my friend, I had thought about that question before; about praying, but it subsequently became an easy question to answer especially when you open the Bible and it's filled with Jesus praying.. asking His disciples to pray, asking you and me to pray.. etc etc

Why there! Praying IS the way to go! Especially when Jesus HIMSELF is praying too!


And here's what I also told my friend..

1) our finite mind isn't able to understand an infinite God, so we can only rely on how far our finite mind can possibly take us. Yet, we should not let it handicap us in understanding God
"Lean not on your own understanding but in all your ways acknowledge and He shall direct your path"

2) Even if the twists and turns in life have already been planned and decided for us, not praying only discounts us from having an encounter with God, much less experiencing His miracle. (A miracle is not quite the same without a prayer) and it shortchanges us of His revelation. Cos' we NEED God, not the other way around. So say, even if the results are going to be the same whether or not we pray (God loves us the same even when we don't pray) when we don't pray, we are really cutting ourselves short in our relationship with God.
So, each moment we don't pray, is a moment less with Him, each time we don't seek Him, is time lost with Him.


Given that He loves us all the same, don't you want to encounter Him in a deeper and more intimate way? So pray and read His word, and He will give you wisdom and show you a glimpse of future, and He can speak to you when you seek after Him.

James 4:8 says to draw close to God and He will draw close to you.

do not go back to the old days

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
1 Pet 1:14-15

Amen.

Be content in any and every situation

Things hadn't been very rosy of late, and I've been feeling rather discouraged. At work and ministry.. especially at work - Things just didn't seem to go right. And with the little remuneration for the amount of work done, it certainly wasn't very encouraging.. But I decided to comfort myself by imagining that I am a villager.
I think about those poor but happy villagers who live in the mountains in China, and as I sit by my bed counting my blessings, things didn't feel as bad afterall.

Godliness with contentment is great gain
1 Timothy 6:6

In order to meet with the various challenges that faced me, I decided to keep confessing I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

That night when I was reading the word of God for encouragement, I turned to Phil 4:19
..my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

And that was when God spoke to me, He said..
Be content in any and every situation.. whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

..
you know how different people can comfort and dispense great advice and yet sometimes you may still find it hard to overcome your fears and worries? But when God speaks a rhema word to you, the peace of God comes upon you and you know that God has spoken and you fret no more.
And that's exactly how I feel right now..

I thank God for His rhema word, for His comfort.
Surely as I become content in any and every situation, as I seek first the kingdom of God and all His righteousness, all things shall be added to me.

Thank You God for Your peace in me..