4 Oct 2009
WHAT LEVEL ARE WE IN ?
In life, we progress to different
levels- even our physical body go through phases of change and so is our
spiritual life. We must continue to progress so that at any time when the
trumpet sounds, we might be found ready.
Level
1 – Curiosity Level - Come and see
Level 2 – Consecration Level - Come and surrender
Level
3 – Conviction Level - Come and sacrifice
Level
4 – Commitment Level - Come and serve
Level
5 – Cause Level - Come and suffer
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Level 1 – Curiosity Level - Come and see
Like Simeon in Acts, when our spiritual
blindness is removed, we will see the salvation of Christ- and we need to be
mindful of God’s salvation fresh before us. More than that, we need to have
the heart for the loss, to open their eyes to see the same salvation of God.
We need to share the salvation we have seen and miracles we have experienced
- with the rest of the world.
John 1:39-46
They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where
are you staying?"
39"Come," he replied, "and you will
see."
So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with
him. It was about the tenth hour.
40Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was
one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus.
41The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon
and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). 42And
he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be
called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter[j]).
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael
43The next day Jesus decided to
leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me."
44Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was
from the town of Bethsaida. 45Philip found Nathanael and
told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about
whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
46"Nazareth! Can anything good come
from there?" Nathanael asked.
"Come and see," said Philip.
Luke 2:30
30For my eyes have seen your
salvation,
31which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
God raise Lazarus. The glory of God is revealed
through miracles. We pray and believe- impossible becomes possible- when we
see miracles take place in the our lives and that of our families.
John 2:11
11This, the first of his miraculous
signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and
his disciples put their faith in him.
Psalm 34:8
8 Taste and see that the LORD is
good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
Ecc 1:8
8 All things are wearisome,
more than one can say.
The eye never has enough of seeing,
nor the ear its fill of hearing.
Level 2 – Consecration Level - Come and
surrender
When we say Jesus is Lord- we must learn
to surrender and let Him take over. We are to yield ourselves and allow Him
to disrupt and interrupt our lives – because all belongs to Him.
Mark 8:34-38
34Then he called the crowd to him
along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must
deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35For
whoever wants to save his life[c]
will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save
it. 36What good is it for a man to gain the whole world,
yet forfeit his soul? 37Or what can a man give in exchange
for his soul? 38If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in
this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him
when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."
Level 3 – Conviction Level - Come and sacrifice
In this world, we face uncertainties of
politics , natural calamities, disasters – earthquakes, typhoon,
tsunamis..etc. Nothing is certain in this world but God is in control and
miracles do happen. Miracles led to revelation and can create commitment.
Luke 5:1-11
1One
day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,[a]with
the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God,
2he
saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were
washing their nets.
3He
got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put
out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the
boat.
4When
he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and
let down[b]
the nets for a catch."
5Simon
answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything.
But because you say so, I will let down the nets."
6When
they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets
began to break.
7So
they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and
they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
8When
Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me,
Lord; I am a sinful man!"
9For
he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had
taken,
10and
so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.
Then
Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men."
11So
they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
Level 4 – Commitment Level - Come and serve
We are to be committed to the tasks of
Jesus. When Jesus touched you and you receive blessings- release itto
serve others, then your Christian life becomes meaningful.
John 12:26
26Whoever serves me must follow me;
and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who
serves me.
Level 5 – Cause Level - Come and suffer
As you progress, you are led to another
level. This is a preparation phase for the final call- because the path to
heaven is a narrow path whilst wide is the road to hell. Sinful people will
refuse to embrace us and we will face persecution for Jesus sake. There will
be persecution in the church of Jesus Christ- and we need to face them with
good courage.
Matt 5:10
10Blessed are those who are
persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 5:45
, 45that you may be sons of your
Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and
sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Acts 14:22
22strengthening the disciples and
encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many
hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.
AT THE END OF IT ALL – WE WILL RISE
TO THE CELEBRATION LEVEL, LET’S COME AND REJOICE.
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11 Oct 2009
HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER
Give thanks to the Lord.
We are silent no more- we are to make a joyful noise. For us who have seen
the salvation of the Lord – we cannot shut up. John the Baptist-
declare in the wilderness on behalf of God. Even in modern times, in the
face of calamities, disasters and destruction, we can demonstrate and
testify of his goodness- supernatural protection. We can speak and sing. We
can also share in the marketplace/ office on behalf our redeemer.
Psalms 107:1-2
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is
good;
his love endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say
this—
those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
Psalms 136
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is
good.
His love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
4 to him who alone does great
wonders,
His love endures forever.
5 who by his understanding made the
heavens,
His love endures forever.
6 who spread out the earth upon the
waters,
His love endures forever.
7 who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
8 the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
9 the moon and stars to govern the
night;
His love endures forever.
10 to him who struck down the
firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.
11 and brought Israel out from among
them
His love endures forever.
12 with a mighty hand and
outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.
13 to him who divided the Red Sea
[a]
asunder
His love endures forever.
14 and brought Israel through the
midst of it,
His love endures forever.
15 but swept Pharaoh and his army
into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.
16 to him who led his people through
the desert,
His love endures forever.
17 who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.
18 and killed mighty kings—
His love endures forever.
19 Sihon king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.
20 and Og king of Bashan—
His love endures forever.
21 and gave their land as an
inheritance,
His love endures forever.
22 an inheritance to his servant
Israel;
His love endures forever.
23 to the One who remembered us in
our low estate
His love endures forever.
24 and freed us from our enemies,
His love endures forever.
25 and who gives food to every
creature.
His love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.
REDEMPTION OF CHRIST
Jesus redeemed us form the
curse of the Law. There is no more curse – generational or ancestory. God
included us in the Abrahamic blessings. We should not let the devil take
dominium.
God protects us
supernaturally and deliver us from destruction like the way He protects
the children of Israel. Only Jesus determine our life but is our duty to
exercise wisdom to sustain our physical life.
Eph 1:7
7In him we have redemption through
his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's
grace
Gal 3:13-14
13Christ redeemed us from the curse
of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is
everyone who is hung on a tree."[f]
14He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to
Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we
might receive the promise of the Spirit.
Psalms 103:4
4
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion
Rm 8:23
23Not only so, but we ourselves, who
have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for
our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
1st Corinthians 15:42-44
42So
will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is
perishable, it is raised imperishable;
43it
is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is
raised in power;
44it
is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
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18 Oct 2009
Spiritual Blessings
18 Oct 2009
Pastor Oldie Barjan
Many Christians do not know
how to unlock the spiritual blessings. We all have primary needs and
physical needs but spiritual things are the basis of our life. Spiritual
blessings are like foundation of our life. We all have a spiritual account
in heaven like our bank accounts here. Our spiritual life also have 3
channels- one towards God, one influenced by Satan and another from the
world out there. But we are to seek first his kingdom and
his righteousness, and all these things- spiritual blessings will be given
to you as well. Material blessings follow spiritual blessings.
When we drift from God, we
need to be touched afresh. We need to ask God to revisit our spirit / our
inner for which dwells the temple of God.
What is the secret to
receiving blessings? Remember for every prayers and requests- for healing,
social, mental , material needs, it first happen in the heavenly realm- when
we pray. By the spirit of God – all spiritual blessings come, hence it is
crucial for us to present our “spiritual deposit” – to pray first and
seek ye first. So first thing first, pay attention to His voice for this
is the key to spiritual blessings.
Eph 1:3
3Praise
be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the
heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
1 Cor 6:19
19Do
you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you,
whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
Matthew 6:33 (New
International Version)
33But
seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be
given to you as well.
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25 Oct 2009 tba
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