God will have to use a storm to sever them and to send you out to sea. Put everything in your life afloat upon God, going out to sea on the great swelling tide of His purpose, and your eyes will be opened. If you believe in Jesus, you are not to spend all your time in the calm waters just inside the harbor, full of joy, but always tied to the dock. You have to get out past the harbor into the great depths of God, and begin to know things for yourself— begin to have spiritual discernment. –Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest
Friday, April 30, 2010
Notes & Quotes
God will have to use a storm to sever them and to send you out to sea. Put everything in your life afloat upon God, going out to sea on the great swelling tide of His purpose, and your eyes will be opened. If you believe in Jesus, you are not to spend all your time in the calm waters just inside the harbor, full of joy, but always tied to the dock. You have to get out past the harbor into the great depths of God, and begin to know things for yourself— begin to have spiritual discernment. –Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
DEALING WITH LIFE’S DISSAPOINTMENTS
I found this encouraging; a reminder of God's faithfulness.
"THE FACTS OF THE MATTER"
"A weekly letter of encouragement to business and professional men and women"
April 28, 2010
Good Morning!
DEALING WITH LIFE’S DISSAPOINTMENTS
Last night a long time friend called to share disappointments he is facing in his life. While in his twenties he had in his mind what his service to God would look like, and how it would play out. Over the years, however, the demands of supporting and raising a family, of developing a career, and dealing with the intensity and complexity of life in a major metropolis, have exacted a far greater toll on him than he ever imagined. At mid-life, he finds himself exhausted, struggling with depression, and disoriented as to what his purpose in life should be. As we chatted, several thoughts came to mind:
First, it is God, not I, who determines the direction of my life: ”In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps…A man's steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way? I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.” (Pro. 16:9; 20:24 ; Jer.10:23) Observe Jesus’ words to Peter, in foretelling his martyrdom, “’I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.’ Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, ‘Follow me!’" (Jn. 21:18-21) (See Psa. 33:11; 135:6)
Second, God often accomplishes his sovereign and mysterious purposes without explanation. “All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: ‘What have you done?’ ...I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” (Dan. 4:35; Isa. 46:10) (See Psa. 33:11; 115:3; 135:6) How, for example, am I to comprehend the fact that God directed Hosea to take a prostitute for a wife; instructed Abraham to kill his son, and took away everything that was most precious to Job, one of his righteous adherents?
In humility and with childlike trust I am to choose to surrender myself to the Lordship and sovereignty of our incomprehensible God: ”…My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts…Destruction is certain for those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot ever argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, `Stop, you are doing it wrong!' Does the pot exclaim, `How clumsy can you be!'. (Isa. 55:8, 9 NIV; 45:9 NLT) (See Psa. 92:5; Hos. 14:9; Rom. 11:33 -36)
Philip Yancey said, "We are asked to live out the life of Christ in the world, not just to refer back to it or describe it. We announce His message, work for justice, pray for mercy, and suffer with the sufferers. . . .He has given me joy and love and happiness and goodness. They have come in unexpected flashes, in the midst of my confused, imperfect world, but they have been enough to convince me that my God is worthy of trust. Knowing Him is worth all enduring."
Third, God’s plan for me is not primarily about what he wants me to do, but what he intends for me to become: Christlike. The reality is that most spiritual transformation transpires through suffering: “We…rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope…” ( Rom. 5:3, 4 – Selected) The suffering allowed by God in Romans 8:18-27, culminates in our conformity into Christlikeness: “…We can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son…” (Rom. 8:28 , 29a – Msg.)
"In a way I wish I could take to heaven my old, tattered Everest & Jennings wheelchair. I would point to the empty seat and say, ‘Lord, for decades I was paralyzed in this chair. But it showed me how paralyzed You must have felt to be nailed to Your Cross. My limitations taught me something about the limitations You endured when You laid aside your robes of state and put on the indignity of human flesh.’ At that point, with my strong and glorified body, I might sit in it, rub the armrests with my hands, look up at Jesus, and add, ‘The weaker I felt in this chair, the harder I leaned on You. And the harder I leaned, the more I discovered how strong You are. Thank you, Jesus for learning obedience in your suffering...You gave me grace to learn obedience in mine.’" Joni Eareckson Tada
QUESTION: Have you come to this level of mature perspective in responding to God’s sovereign plan for your life?
This week may you experience His grace, peace and protection!
R. Dwight Hill
Monday, April 26, 2010
DISCIPLING IMPERFECT CLAY
"THE FACTS OF THE MATTER"
"A weekly letter of encouragement to business and professional men and women"
April 21, 2010
Good Morning!
DISCIPLING IMPERFECT CLAY
If you are engaged in discipling/mentoring people, and their progress appears to be slow, don’t despair! One of our problems in discipling is that we desire the very qualities of Christlikeness in our protégés at the entry point of our involvement with them. The fact is that the clay God gives us to work with is pretty raw stuff. Only a miracle of God can transform them into the beauty of Christ. “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” (I Cor. 3:6, 7)
Take the twelve disciples, for example. They were:
Competitive: At the supper table, the night before the crucifixion, Jesus informs them of his imminent death. Their immediate response was not grief, shock or dis-belief. Rather, they started arguing among themselves as to whom among them would become the greatest as Christ’s replacement. (Lk. 22:24)
Cowardly: During the dinner with Christ, after Jesus warns of his upcoming ordeal, Peter impetuously informs the Master, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” (Lk. 22:33b). Yet after Jesus was apprehended by the authorities, Peter wilts under pressure and denies him three times. (Lk. 22:54-62) In fact, the rest also deserted him. (Matt. 26:56)
Weak: Jesus, sensing the need to spend time in prayer with the Father before the ordeal of the cross, invites Peter, James, and John to join him, with the warning, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." (Lk. 22:40b) Apparently they had totally forgotten his recent teaching on prayer that “they should always pray and not give up.” (Lk. 18:1) Thus, when Jesus began to pray, they fell asleep. (Lk. 22:45, 46)
Combative: Comprehending the fact that Jesus’ death would put them in danger, their first impulse was to fight back. Thus, there was not the slightest evidence of their trust in God for his protection, or of any remembrance of his earlier teaching to turn the other cheek when struck. (Lk. 6:29) “The disciples said, ‘See, Lord, here are two swords…Should we strike with our swords?’ And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.” (Lk. 22:38, 49, 50)
Doubting: Weeks after the resurrection, the remaining eleven disciples met Christ at the mountain. Some of the men worshipped him, while others still doubted who he was. Yet Jesus proceeded to commission them to make disciples of all nations. (Matt. 28:17-20) My inclination, after looking over this unlikely lot would have been to say, “Hey guys…let’s take another year or two to go back and review what you apparently missed on our first go-around.” Not Jesus. He went with what he had. Imperfect clay.
In Jesus’ prayer to the Father, the night before the cross, he speaks of his faithfulness in completing the task assigned him by the Father of investing in the eleven: “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do…I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world…They have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.” (Jn. 17:4, 6-8 – Selected)
Imagine what was accomplished through these imperfect clay vessels! It was said of them that they “…turned the world upside down…” (Act. 17:6b)
So, my fellow discipler, don’t despair. Faithfully work with the imperfect clay God has entrusted into your care. Just be sure it is God who has assigned them to you! Through the eyes of faith, choose to believe that he will bring them to maturity: “…Beautiful in his time.” (Ecc. 3:11b - KJV) (See Psa. 138:8; Phi. 1:6; 1 Thes. 5:23; 2 Thes. 1:11; 1 Pet. 5:10)
This week may you experience His grace, peace and protection!
R. Dwight Hill
Unloading the Baggage
I admit I read this a bit late. But its relevant to me at this point of my life.
I boarded the plane in Chicago with too much baggage. Not the kind of baggage you stow in the overhead compartment or squash under the seat in front of you. Not even the kind you check in at the airline desk. This was the kind of baggage that weighs your heart down and that, if carried around, leaves you emotionally and spiritually exhausted. An unexpected attack from a trusted friend had left me deeply upset and really confused about how to respond.
As the flight attendants went through their pre-flight checklist, I was lost in thought world thinking through all my options. Feeling betrayed and unjustly wronged, I had a long list of possibilities—the kind of responses that seemed very natural to my fallen heart—but they were the types of choices that were wrapped in the old revenge, self-protection, and “I don’t get mad, I just get even” kind of stuff.
As we taxied out to the runway, I knew I needed a second opinion. So I simply prayed, “God, I need you to talk to me. I desperately need your wisdom. You brought this into my life for a purpose, but I don’t know what to do next.”
As the plane climbed, I began to feel closer to God. Not physically closer (although praying above the clouds at 35,000 feet does lend a different perspective), but spiritually closer as He began to share His wisdom with me from Matthew 5. My natural thoughts and desires to fight back and demand my rights were replaced with Jesus’ instruction to “turn the other cheek,” to “go the extra mile,” to “bless those who curse me” (Matthew 5:38-48).
Of course, my human nature continued to argue for a while. “But, God, I’ll feel so weak. I’ll feel like a pushover, a weakling. I need to fight for myself.” The reality is, my pride wanted to keep the baggage. My ego wanted to hang on to the situation and try to deal with it through human, natural, flawed means. Trusting the Lord’s wisdom would mean that I no longer had control of the situation.
But God in His grace reminded me of the surrender of Christ on the cross. He drew me to the fact that, for Jesus, the path to glory was the path of surrender and letting go. The one who is the Lion of Judah is also the Lamb that was slain. And God drew me to that point of decision once again. Was I going to manage this situation to my advantage or was I going to release it, in trust and obedience, to Him?
I am thankful to say that when the plane landed in New York, I left some baggage on it. I walked through the terminal without the heaviness of heart that comes from fighting for my own rights. I headed for my hotel free of the weight of bitterness that the enemy was trying to stir up in my soul. God had renewed my strength and the weariness was gone.
Let me invite you to the privilege of waiting on the Lord. As Isaiah 40:28 reminds us, God never grows weary. His wisdom never runs out. His power, His might, and His truth are available and accessible to His children. You don’t need to walk another step with that load of fear, guilt, anger, bitterness, or confusion.
Check your carry-on baggage. Surrender it to Him and then seek His wisdom to strengthen and direct you.
It makes the journey so much more enjoyable!
YOUR JOURNEY…
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Today's Text: Hebrews 12:1Unloading the Baggage
“Throw off anything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.” Hebrews 12:1I boarded the plane in Chicago with too much baggage. Not the kind of baggage you stow in the overhead compartment or squash under the seat in front of you. Not even the kind you check in at the airline desk. This was the kind of baggage that weighs your heart down and that, if carried around, leaves you emotionally and spiritually exhausted. An unexpected attack from a trusted friend had left me deeply upset and really confused about how to respond.
As the flight attendants went through their pre-flight checklist, I was lost in thought world thinking through all my options. Feeling betrayed and unjustly wronged, I had a long list of possibilities—the kind of responses that seemed very natural to my fallen heart—but they were the types of choices that were wrapped in the old revenge, self-protection, and “I don’t get mad, I just get even” kind of stuff.
As we taxied out to the runway, I knew I needed a second opinion. So I simply prayed, “God, I need you to talk to me. I desperately need your wisdom. You brought this into my life for a purpose, but I don’t know what to do next.”
As the plane climbed, I began to feel closer to God. Not physically closer (although praying above the clouds at 35,000 feet does lend a different perspective), but spiritually closer as He began to share His wisdom with me from Matthew 5. My natural thoughts and desires to fight back and demand my rights were replaced with Jesus’ instruction to “turn the other cheek,” to “go the extra mile,” to “bless those who curse me” (Matthew 5:38-48).
Of course, my human nature continued to argue for a while. “But, God, I’ll feel so weak. I’ll feel like a pushover, a weakling. I need to fight for myself.” The reality is, my pride wanted to keep the baggage. My ego wanted to hang on to the situation and try to deal with it through human, natural, flawed means. Trusting the Lord’s wisdom would mean that I no longer had control of the situation.
But God in His grace reminded me of the surrender of Christ on the cross. He drew me to the fact that, for Jesus, the path to glory was the path of surrender and letting go. The one who is the Lion of Judah is also the Lamb that was slain. And God drew me to that point of decision once again. Was I going to manage this situation to my advantage or was I going to release it, in trust and obedience, to Him?
I am thankful to say that when the plane landed in New York, I left some baggage on it. I walked through the terminal without the heaviness of heart that comes from fighting for my own rights. I headed for my hotel free of the weight of bitterness that the enemy was trying to stir up in my soul. God had renewed my strength and the weariness was gone.
Let me invite you to the privilege of waiting on the Lord. As Isaiah 40:28 reminds us, God never grows weary. His wisdom never runs out. His power, His might, and His truth are available and accessible to His children. You don’t need to walk another step with that load of fear, guilt, anger, bitterness, or confusion.
Check your carry-on baggage. Surrender it to Him and then seek His wisdom to strengthen and direct you.
It makes the journey so much more enjoyable!
YOUR JOURNEY…
- Make a quick list of some of the problems and conflicts that have surfaced in your life. How much of your time and energy is spent in dealing with these issues?
- How has your emotional and spiritual health been affected by the weight of these issues? How about your physical health?
- What fears surface when you think about giving up control of those situations? Why is it tempting to hang on to them?
- Take a few minutes in prayer to release those situations, one by one, to God’s control. Then humbly ask the Lord to fill you with His truth and wisdom.
- As you move through the rest of your day, wait on the Lord. Instead of rushing ahead to your own solutions for each situation, practice the skill of waiting for Him to give you direction.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
The Last Lecture by late Prof Randy Pausch
"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand"
Professor Randy Pausch died from pancreatic cancer on 25 July 2008. He was diagnosed in 2007 with pancreatic cancer. He had an op but 3 months later was told it had spread and turned terminal. In his last year, he chose to live a full life with family. He delivered his Last Lecture at Carnegie Mellon University entitled "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" which can be viewed from the Last Lecture website: http://www.cmu.edu/uls/journeys/randy-pausch/index.html
This is a book that is not exceptionally fantastic but helpful reading for those with terminal or chronic illnesses. I have chronic diseases, am on medication and have the occasional symptoms of heart attack but yet I choose to run, work, bless people @ work and serve God where possible. Like Randy, I try to seize the day/moment. I try not be handicapped by the fact that my heart may just stop working anytime as those diagnosed with enlarged left ventricle might.
Many who have no health impediments cannot identify with those with terminal cancers or chronic diseases. We have to fight denial and then depression. I recall how for a period, I was quoting to myself part of a bible verse "To die is gain" but ignoring the first part of that verse that "To live is Christ". Overcoming obstacles and at the same time enabling the dreams of others which Randy did in his last year of life can be insightful and inspiring. A friend from Perth told me she has MS and she takes every opportunity to travel around the world and adopt poor kids from far away lands.
Interestingly, in the midst of reading the book, an ex-pastor literally pronounced me a non-living thing. I was sharing that since young to now, I am not driven by goals or ambitions such as good school results, 5-digit salary, owning private property, high position in workplace, etc. My life has been very blessed by God as my secondary school results have been pretty good, I ended in a uni and course that I didn't expect but yet graduated in 3 years, got a job I stayed 14 years and left not because of low pay/ bonus but because I could not continue to work under a particular boss and I had just 2 weeks ago turn down a 5-digit pay job when I'm no where near getting that amount now and with lesser work hours. So I was told in front of other people "How can a living thing not have goals or not be driven by something?" Nope, I had to disappoint the guy by saying I'm not driven to run a marathon, read as many novels or books as fast as I can, etc
Well, I am amazed (& offended and angered at the same time) how some people think they can analyse or understand everyone. Pity I'm not a typical psychology case study. Basically I'm a simple person. Lacking in ambition. Not a very relational person and introverted. Too difficult for complex people and thinkers to understand. Actually, Jesus was a simple Person. But the Pharisees and others thought he was complex and a threat to their Jewish religion, practice and laws. Most including Jesus' own disciples could not understand his parables which were drawn from everyday living then where the Jews were shepherds, fishermen and crop planters. Jesus was a simple Person. I am fairly thrifty, I still have ties and work pants that I bought when I started working 16 yrs ago. I wear old t-shirts to sleep that are older my than my 10yr old boy. My wife can confirm this. I thought I was doing fine as a simple person but unfortunately that is not so because I'm not a living being. At least, I know Jesus understands what I am going through and how I feel.
Randy in his book and lecture shared about achieving childhood dreams. He achieved some but not all. I presently can't remember having any childhood dreams. Weird huh? Did I want to be an accountant or auditor? Nope. Did I want to study overseas? Nope. Did I want to own a house? Nope. Nada. I was a simple, not too bothered about many thing type of kid. Stayed home after school when my friends were playing soccer on the muddy and wet fields. That's why whether in school or in Uni or Workplace, I always only have less than 3 close friends. Definitely an introvert. Of course, some wiser persons will disagree with me. As Randy says, obviously, "they have me pegged" or at least they think so.
Lastly, life's too short. No point fighting and arguing. But life can be made miserable not by things but people. There is a couple who has intruded into my private life without my consent. Suddenly, I'm the bad guy and they are trying to see how they can help to 'manage' me and my behaviour.
Firstly, some people must realise that sincerity does not equal being right. This applies to Job's 3 friends and the Pharisees. Both groups were sincere. Job's friends was telling the righteous Job that He must have sinned and must humble himself and confess. The sadness is that, with the 'help' of his 3 friends, the righteous Job went from a man who would not curse God but praised God (Job 1:20-21) to one who questioned God and in the end also got reprimanded (Job 40:1-5). The Pharisees sincerely believed that Jesus blasphemed God, and out to destroy Jewish law, customs and way of life with HIS radical teaching and actions. In their sincerity, they got it all wrong.
Secondly, I may be wrong and definitely not as righteous as Jesus or even Job. But no one wants to resolve the root problem. Even as I type this, the root problem is happening. But life's too short, at least for me. I'm not gonna to bother with people who obviously are wiser than a simple person like me. But I don't think I'm a simpleton. God will be my Judge and He will deliver me in His wisdom and way in due time. As an introvert, I only how to withdraw from people who hurt me. That is my one great personality fault of mine. But for those reading this who are close to me, just watch who I withdraw from. I won't speak or look for those people. I 'chap siau' them. I 'bo chap' them. I just withdraw into my turtle shell around these people. Don't bother asking me who I withdraw from. Just watch.......life's too short to keep debating and arguing and justifying each other's views. Especially when people think they have me all figured out. Actually, my best friends like slow_runner know me as a simple person. Ask my close friends. I think they will agree.
Well, I don't share much of my spiritual journey or struggles on my blog. This is one of the few. So, it's precious.
HONEST DOUBT OR STUBBORN UNBELIEF? (Part #2)
"THE FACTS OF THE MATTER"
"A weekly letter of encouragement to business and professional men and women"
April 14, 2010
Good Morning!
HONEST DOUBT OR STUBBORN UNBELIEF? (Part #2)
In last week’s “Facts” we discussed “Weak Faith” and “Wavering Faith.” The third characteristic of honest doubt is:
#3 Perplexed Faith: Do you ever have times when life is not working? Everything seems out of focus. The pieces aren’t falling together. Confusion reigns. The Greek word for perplexity, aporeo, conveys the idea of having no way out; being at a loss; standing in doubt.
The Apostle Paul experienced perplexity in his faith: ”We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death…We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair.” The encouraging news is that Paul and his team, amidst their perplexity learned…”that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.” (2 Cor. 1, 8, 9; 4:8 - Selected) (See Lk. 24:1-8; John 13:21-29; Acts 2:5-13; 10:9-20)
So, my fellow struggler, take heart. Take your weak, wavering, and perplexed faith to Jesus, because, “We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Heb. 4:15b, 16)
Stubborn unbelief, however is a whole different matter: One word used in the New Testament for unbelief is a combination of two Greek words, apeitheia and apistia, that conveys the idea of volitional, disobedience and distrust. The account of the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead serves as an example. Jews who had just witnessed the miracle of Lazarus’ resurrection by Jesus, immediately set out to murder the Savior. (John 11:46-53) The miracle was self-evident for all to see. Yet these willful unbelievers were cold and calculating in their decision to not believe in the One behind the miracle. It was recorded of them and other unbelievers, “Despite all the miraculous signs [Christ] had done, most of the people did not believe in him.” (John 12:37) In another context, Jesus said of willful, disobedient and distrustful unbelievers, “O you unbelieving (warped, wayward, rebellious) and thoroughly perverse generation! How long am I to remain with you? How long am I to bear with you?” (Mt. 17:17b Amp.) (See Dt. 9:23; Ps. 106:7, 8; John 3:36; Acts 14:2; 19:9; 28:24; Titus 1:15; Heb. 3:12)
You may recall the story of the rich man and the beggar, Lazarus, who longed to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. The wealthy man ends up in hell, and Lazarus at the side of Abraham. In torment, the rich man cries out to Abraham, across the great gulf that separated Abraham from the place of torment, “’I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' ‘’No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” In other words, the brothers in their stubborn unbelief would not respond to the terrifying truth of hell amidst the most convincing of evidence. (Luke 16:27-31 - NIV)
The Greek word dialogismos in the New Testament conveys the idea of stubborn unbelief in the form of disputation, doubt, debate, vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculation. This is the word that was used in the account of the crippled man who was let down through the roof for healing. When Jesus saw him, he forgave his sins. In reaction, the Pharisees and teachers “began to reason, saying, ‘Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?’ But Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, ‘Why are you reasoning in your hearts?’” That is, why are you engaging in stupid speculations and stubborn unbelief? (Lk. 5:21, 22) (See Acts 19:9; Heb. 3:12)
In summary: Honest doubt is a problem encountered by believers. Stubborn unbelief is a characteristic of non-believers.
This week may you experience His grace, peace and protection!
R. Dwight Hill
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
HONEST DOUBT OR STUBBORN UNBELIEF? (Part #1)
"THE FACTS OF THE MATTER"
"A weekly letter of encouragement to business and professional men and women"
April 07, 2010
Good Morning!
HONEST DOUBT OR STUBBORN UNBELIEF? (Part #1)
The other day, a young, newly minted PhD philosophy professor sat in my living room, expressing with angst doubts he harbors concerning the veracity of the Biblical accounts. It is obvious that his blue chip education is crashing head on with his faith in Jesus.
Tell me, do you ever have moments of doubt? Ever wonder if the whole Christian thing is a charade? Ever fear that God won’t show up in your time of crisis? How do you think God views our struggles with doubt? Is it ok to doubt? Is there a difference between honest doubt and unbelief?
The Scripture seem to divide honest doubt into three categories.
#1 Weak Faith: Remember the father whose son Jesus delivered from an evil spirit? Said the father, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us,” to which Jesus replied, “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Said the man in response, “Lord I believe…help my weakness of faith.” (Mk. 9:23 – Amp, 24). My guess is that what this father meant in his heart of hearts was, “Lord, it is useless to hide this unbelief that still struggles in my heart. I wrestle with it and cry out for your help against it.” Obviously, the Lord had compassion on him. After all, he healed his son.
The disciples on the Road to Emmaus after the crucifixion said, “We thought [Jesus] was the Messiah,” to which the Master replied, “O foolish ones [sluggish in mind, dull in perception] and of heart to believe.” (Lk. 24:25 Amp.) Commentator Adam Clarke writes of these men: They were “slow of heart – backward, not easy to be persuaded of the truth, always giving way to doubtfulness and distrust.” Yet, it was these very men Jesus commissioned to take the Gospel to the ends of the world. We know from history that most of them were martyred for their faith.
#2 Wavering Faith: John the Baptist, languishing in prison while awaiting execution - after powerfully heralding the coming of Christ – wavers in his faith, sending an emissary to Jesus, asking, “Are you the Christ, or do we seek another?” And Jesus’ response? Castigation? Angry disappointment? No, exoneration. ”I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist.” (Matt. 11:3, 11)
Remember the account of the disciples observing Jesus walking on the water? Peter asked if he could walk to Christ. “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’" That is, Why did you “waver?” (Matt. 14:30, 31) Yes, Peter wavered in his faith. But he grew in faith to become the powerful leader of the 1st Century church. Years later, he wrote this powerful statement on faith: “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (I Pet. 1:6, 7) Some years later Peter was martyred for his faith.
After the resurrection, Jesus met the eleven on the mountain where he commissioned them to take the Gospel to the world. Yet, “When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.” (Matt. 28:17) That is, they wavered in their faith. Had this been my training program, I probably would have said, “Hey guys. Time out. Let’s take another year or so and go back over this issue of faith.. Given your shaky belief system, I’m not quite ready to entrust the future of Christianity into your hands.” Not Jesus. He went with what he had, knowing, as history has proven, that their wavering faith would mature into stable, strong convictions.
Next week we will conclude our discussion with “Perplexed Faith,” and “Stubborn unbelief.”
My prayer is that you are having a great week!
R. Dwight Hill
Monday, April 5, 2010
Managing Money God's Way by Benny Ho
John Wesley: Gain all you can; Save all you can; Give all you can.
3 'theology' on money: Poverty theology --- Stewardship theology --- Prosperity theology
Stewardship theology: God is the owner and controller of all things. What we possess as Christians is a privilege rather than a right. We are simply stewards entrusted with resources, which include our time, talents, treasures and territory. Our ultimate goal is to be able to give an account for all that He has given to us. In the end, true measure of godly success is not based on the amount of wealth we can accumulate but how faithfully we have been minitering with wisdom what God has given to us; be it little or much.
Materialism can never be satisfied. The more you get, the more you want.
MONEY can buy a bed, but not sleep;
MONEY can buy books, but not wisdom;
MONEY can buy food, but not appetite;
MONEY can buy companions, but not friends;
MONEY can buy medicine, but not health;
MONEY can buy finery, but not real beauty;
MONEY can buy a house, but not a home;
MONEY can buy marriage, but not love;
MONEY can buy a good life, but not eternity;
Hold every blessing that God gives with an open palm. Enjoy blessings while you have them without desiring to possess them. Then, if God should choose to take them away, He need not pull your fingers apart!
TITHE
1) A recognition of God's sovereignity
Lev 27:30-32 - A tithe is of everything from the land, whether from the soil or livestock
A tithe simple belongs to the sovereign Lord who owns everything
Therefore we don't 'give' our tithes to the Lord since it doesn't belong to us in the first place, but we 'bring' our tithes to Him.
2) An expression of worship
Prov 3:9-10: Honor the Lord with your wealth & your firstfruits
Honoring is an act of worship
3) A means of sanctification
Rom 11:6 - Unrighteous dough or mammon made holy by us offer back the tithes. When we offer the first 10%, the rest of the 90% is sanctified. 90% with God's blessing is better than 100% without.
4) It is part of God's economy
Numbers 18:24 - Like Old Testament times, tithes are for the upkeep of the Church and its' workers. (cf 1 Tim 5:17-18)
5) An act of sowing
2 Cor 9:6-7 - Each time we give in faith, we are sowing a seed.
If we sow in faith, we can expect the promise in the following verse to come to pass: 2 Cor 9:10-11
We cannot say "Lord prosper me, then I promise to tithe". God's economy does not work this way. We don't reap before we sow. Just like a bank that pays interest only after we deposit money, so we must sow first before God's blessings will flow.
Phil 4:16-18: We do not sow from a harvest, but we sow towards a harvest.
God blesses obedience and not methods. We tithe not to be prosperous. We tithe because we believe it pleases God and we simply want to obey and bring pleasure to His heart. God will bless us and we expect to be bless but we are not motivated by the blessings we will bring us. We are motivated by the pleasure we are bringing Him.
Just as the great patriarch Abraham gave a tithe to King Melkezedek (Heb 7:4, 6-8), when we tithe, we recognise the greatness of King Jesus. Tithing is not about the needs of the church. It is not to avoid a curse. It is not to keep a law. It is bringing the King a portion due to Him.
Under the Law during Old Testament times, tithing 10% was the ceiling. But now, tithing is the floor. God has given us much. So we give 10% out of obedience & gratitude and the other 90% out of love. 1 Cor 13:3: Under New Testament grace, we are compelled to give out of love.
There is nothing wrong with money. It is amoral. Bible didn't say money is root of all evils, but the LOVE of money is the root of all evils (1 Tim 6:10)
To much to reproduce or summarise, but Benny shares on:
1) Principle of Proportion
Give the Lord as He prospers you. To whom much is given, much is required. Luke 21:1-4
2) Principle of Priority
3) Principle of Purpose
Give purposefully as an act of worship. Prepare your tithes & offerings before hand.
4) Principle of privilege
2 Cor 9:7: Give cheerfully what you have decided. Giving will then no longer be a sacrifice but a joy.
5) Principle of Profit
2 cor 9:6 & Luke 6:38, Prov 11:24-25
Danger of Greed
Fable: The man with the goose that laid a golden egg every day and he became rich. Because of greed, he killed the goose and lost the source of the golden eggs.
Charateristics of Greed: Based on Story of Gehazi in 2 Kings 5
1) Greed is hidden: Gehazi "said to himself" (vs 20)
2) Greed rationalises (vs. 20)
3) Greed is compulsive: Gehazi 'ran' after Naaman. Gehazi 'hurried' after Naaman and Naaman saw Gehazi 'running' (vs 20 & 21). Gehazi was running, getting and hurrying after material pursuits.
Greed is idolatry in god's eyes (Colossians 3:5-6)
4) Greed is deceptive: Gehazi was so overcome by greed he lied to both Naaman and Elisha.
5) Greed distorts: For one talent of gold and 2 sets of branded clothes, Gehazi was prepared to betray his master, Elisha. For about $2,000, Gehazi sold himself.
6) Greed destroys: Ironically, what Naaman lost, Gehzi ended up having - leprosy! Gehazi was greedy and he schemed and his body ended up corrupted. (1 Tim 6:9)
What's the alternative? Using the story of the Golden Goose, we are all at different stages of our lives and may fit into the following categories:
1) More golden eggs: Some of us have reached the stage of being able to share some golden eggs with others. Perhaps, God is challenging us to increase the number of golden eggs we are giving away.
2) Some golden eggs: There may be some God is challenging to confront materialism and greed. The best way to dethrone greed is to be generous and go in the opposite spirit.
3) The golden goose: For some, God may be placing a greater demand and asking us to surrender our golden goose. In other words, surrender our wealth and future income through our career by serving Him full-time in ministry.
--> Whatever God is asking you to do, do not fear because you will be surrendering your resources to the ONE who gave them to you in the first place.
How Do You Want To Live?
1) Live above your means: "Buy the things they do not need with the money they do not have just to impress the people they do not know"
2) Live with your means: The life philosophy of "eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we may die" - spending all we have by the end of the month and always waiting for next pay cheque. Can be a very stressful way to live.
3) Live within your means
Living with some wisdom. Making sure they have something set aside for a rainy day. Have given though to things like insurance and investments.
4) Live below your means
People who are skilled in spiritual discipline of simplicity come to the point where, even though they can well afford something, they choose to do without it so that they have more to share with others. They have learnt to say "Enough is enough".They are people who have found a place of contentment in God.
3 'theology' on money: Poverty theology --- Stewardship theology --- Prosperity theology
Stewardship theology: God is the owner and controller of all things. What we possess as Christians is a privilege rather than a right. We are simply stewards entrusted with resources, which include our time, talents, treasures and territory. Our ultimate goal is to be able to give an account for all that He has given to us. In the end, true measure of godly success is not based on the amount of wealth we can accumulate but how faithfully we have been minitering with wisdom what God has given to us; be it little or much.
Materialism can never be satisfied. The more you get, the more you want.
MONEY can buy a bed, but not sleep;
MONEY can buy books, but not wisdom;
MONEY can buy food, but not appetite;
MONEY can buy companions, but not friends;
MONEY can buy medicine, but not health;
MONEY can buy finery, but not real beauty;
MONEY can buy a house, but not a home;
MONEY can buy marriage, but not love;
MONEY can buy a good life, but not eternity;
Hold every blessing that God gives with an open palm. Enjoy blessings while you have them without desiring to possess them. Then, if God should choose to take them away, He need not pull your fingers apart!
TITHE
1) A recognition of God's sovereignity
Lev 27:30-32 - A tithe is of everything from the land, whether from the soil or livestock
A tithe simple belongs to the sovereign Lord who owns everything
Therefore we don't 'give' our tithes to the Lord since it doesn't belong to us in the first place, but we 'bring' our tithes to Him.
2) An expression of worship
Prov 3:9-10: Honor the Lord with your wealth & your firstfruits
Honoring is an act of worship
3) A means of sanctification
Rom 11:6 - Unrighteous dough or mammon made holy by us offer back the tithes. When we offer the first 10%, the rest of the 90% is sanctified. 90% with God's blessing is better than 100% without.
4) It is part of God's economy
Numbers 18:24 - Like Old Testament times, tithes are for the upkeep of the Church and its' workers. (cf 1 Tim 5:17-18)
5) An act of sowing
2 Cor 9:6-7 - Each time we give in faith, we are sowing a seed.
If we sow in faith, we can expect the promise in the following verse to come to pass: 2 Cor 9:10-11
We cannot say "Lord prosper me, then I promise to tithe". God's economy does not work this way. We don't reap before we sow. Just like a bank that pays interest only after we deposit money, so we must sow first before God's blessings will flow.
Phil 4:16-18: We do not sow from a harvest, but we sow towards a harvest.
God blesses obedience and not methods. We tithe not to be prosperous. We tithe because we believe it pleases God and we simply want to obey and bring pleasure to His heart. God will bless us and we expect to be bless but we are not motivated by the blessings we will bring us. We are motivated by the pleasure we are bringing Him.
Just as the great patriarch Abraham gave a tithe to King Melkezedek (Heb 7:4, 6-8), when we tithe, we recognise the greatness of King Jesus. Tithing is not about the needs of the church. It is not to avoid a curse. It is not to keep a law. It is bringing the King a portion due to Him.
Under the Law during Old Testament times, tithing 10% was the ceiling. But now, tithing is the floor. God has given us much. So we give 10% out of obedience & gratitude and the other 90% out of love. 1 Cor 13:3: Under New Testament grace, we are compelled to give out of love.
There is nothing wrong with money. It is amoral. Bible didn't say money is root of all evils, but the LOVE of money is the root of all evils (1 Tim 6:10)
To much to reproduce or summarise, but Benny shares on:
1) Principle of Proportion
Give the Lord as He prospers you. To whom much is given, much is required. Luke 21:1-4
2) Principle of Priority
3) Principle of Purpose
Give purposefully as an act of worship. Prepare your tithes & offerings before hand.
4) Principle of privilege
2 Cor 9:7: Give cheerfully what you have decided. Giving will then no longer be a sacrifice but a joy.
5) Principle of Profit
2 cor 9:6 & Luke 6:38, Prov 11:24-25
Danger of Greed
Fable: The man with the goose that laid a golden egg every day and he became rich. Because of greed, he killed the goose and lost the source of the golden eggs.
Charateristics of Greed: Based on Story of Gehazi in 2 Kings 5
1) Greed is hidden: Gehazi "said to himself" (vs 20)
2) Greed rationalises (vs. 20)
3) Greed is compulsive: Gehazi 'ran' after Naaman. Gehazi 'hurried' after Naaman and Naaman saw Gehazi 'running' (vs 20 & 21). Gehazi was running, getting and hurrying after material pursuits.
Greed is idolatry in god's eyes (Colossians 3:5-6)
4) Greed is deceptive: Gehazi was so overcome by greed he lied to both Naaman and Elisha.
5) Greed distorts: For one talent of gold and 2 sets of branded clothes, Gehazi was prepared to betray his master, Elisha. For about $2,000, Gehazi sold himself.
6) Greed destroys: Ironically, what Naaman lost, Gehzi ended up having - leprosy! Gehazi was greedy and he schemed and his body ended up corrupted. (1 Tim 6:9)
What's the alternative? Using the story of the Golden Goose, we are all at different stages of our lives and may fit into the following categories:
1) More golden eggs: Some of us have reached the stage of being able to share some golden eggs with others. Perhaps, God is challenging us to increase the number of golden eggs we are giving away.
2) Some golden eggs: There may be some God is challenging to confront materialism and greed. The best way to dethrone greed is to be generous and go in the opposite spirit.
3) The golden goose: For some, God may be placing a greater demand and asking us to surrender our golden goose. In other words, surrender our wealth and future income through our career by serving Him full-time in ministry.
--> Whatever God is asking you to do, do not fear because you will be surrendering your resources to the ONE who gave them to you in the first place.
How Do You Want To Live?
1) Live above your means: "Buy the things they do not need with the money they do not have just to impress the people they do not know"
2) Live with your means: The life philosophy of "eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we may die" - spending all we have by the end of the month and always waiting for next pay cheque. Can be a very stressful way to live.
3) Live within your means
Living with some wisdom. Making sure they have something set aside for a rainy day. Have given though to things like insurance and investments.
4) Live below your means
People who are skilled in spiritual discipline of simplicity come to the point where, even though they can well afford something, they choose to do without it so that they have more to share with others. They have learnt to say "Enough is enough".They are people who have found a place of contentment in God.
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