2016: Year of Spiritual Momentum

Remembering our church' humble beginning, we actually started as a home church in our Point Cook residence and our very first service, though attended by Narre Warren delegations with a spirit of celebrations, were not more than ten (10) person who were from West Melbourne area. Everyone are really happy to witness this breakthrough in FBGC-IAFB Australia and they were congratulating us as we opened this worship service. However, that was only temporary as the succeeding services were attended only by few and always with the same familiar faces. 

I was then beginning to ask our God, is this really going to progress or not. First, it was planted in a young town of Point Cook, although it is a progressing suburb, there are only few people that we know in this area and to complicates things, everyone of us are amateur in church planting. Second, I am not really an active evangelist although but thank God we have one who are so eager and passionate about his calling as an evangelist. Third, I was just a newly ordained pastor of this church and I am totally clueless of how to lead our Church. Lastly, our pioneering members are indeed newly converts.

I keep on praying to God and asking Him for more wisdom and fresh revelation of His Word that at least in ministering to His people, they will remain and continue to their faith and be equipped as we continue to build God's church in this area. Four months after, our place of worship were moved from our home to one of the Community Room in Featherbrook Community Centre and seven months later occupied the whole centre. And Now, a month before our First Anniversary; here is the ministry of God, remain standing and still growing from less than 10 persons, God draws more souls to Jesus and our strength increases 500 percent to 45-50 including the children. Indeed, the younger people are outnumbering the adults which gives me a vision that God is continuously blooming his vineyard in FBGC Point Cook.

I was reminded by Apostle Paul in his epistle at 1 Cor 7:20 when he wrote that "Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them." Our branches is rooted not in our own works but to Vine of God, our Lord Jesus, that as we keep Him to be the Core of our Faith as a church, He will take care of us and the rest of what our church needs. Instead of missing the joy in serving our God, why we don't simply enjoy it and focus in wholehearted service to the Lord while He continue to equip ourselves in preparation for the higher level of service in His ministry. He can bring us to anywhere He want whether we like it or not. It may look like difficult to grow, but with Jesus, this fear will be overcome by His abundant love.

As we face the new year with a new theme of Year of Spiritual Momentum, let us continue the work of God's hand in our lives not only in our church but also to our daily lives. Last year was a Spiritual Breakthrough and everyone receives our freedom from any bondages of sin through the love of Jesus in all aspects of our lives. And moving forward, we will continue the flame burning in our hearts to do the work of His ministries so that we can glorify our God through the empowering of His Spirit that works within us. I pray to you that "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Eph3:20-21).

God bless us all!

Follow, Submit and Obey

(Matthew 8:1-4)

1 After he came down from the mountain, large crowds followed him.

2 And a leper approached, and bowed low before him, saying, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."

3 He stretched out his hand and touched him saying, "I am willing. Be clean!" Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

4 Then Jesus said to him, "See that you do not speak to anyone, but go, show yourself to a priest, and bring the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."

When I come across the book of Matthew 8:1-5; it seems to be a very similar, simple, or familiar story from the collections of different stories in the Bible. But as much as I wanted to understand its message, there was a wonderful revelation that comes in my mind. And this story helps me to realize the obedience to God's authority and commands.

Indeed, the story is all about the man who has leprosy but was healed. During that time, the worst and poorest thing that may call a person the most unclean is when you are infected with this kind of disease. You are considered as the most sinful or cursed person during those times. And considering that this man will follow Jesus together with the crowd, he really needs courage to do it as he will definitely be humiliated and embarrassed.

The leper is teaching us that we can follow Jesus, no matter who we are. We all fall short before God's Glory, and none can ever surpass Him. Following Him needs to give some effort. As people gathered in crowd to follow Jesus in the mountain, which represents an obstacle, and so are we. As we look forward to God's glory on top of the mountain, it gives us strength and courage to move forward taking a step little by little until we reach his destination.

Following Jesus, is also imitating him. We allow Him to influence us through His example. Jesus himself set an example of living in righteousness while we are here on earth, therefore, we can also achieve the same. We have to travel the path which He has also taken to reach such holiness even how huge is the obstacles. At the end of the day, you will be on top of your own mountain.

Following Jesus is equally the same as being obedient to Him. But it doesn't stop from there. The leper's desire to approach Jesus is to take the opportunity to commune and converse with God. Its the only way to voice out our heart's content. And it's also our way to understand the will of God. We have to talk to God, we have to approach Him. It is a perfect example that access to God doesn't require anything to offer, nothing but humbleness to move a little step forward and pray. But we have to learn from the leper's prayer. He is seeking the will of God as he wish for healing, he asks for God's will. He seeks for God's purpose and plans before his own plan. He respect the possible answers from God, it could be a Yes or it could be a No.

Was the answer received when the leper was asked for his healing? Yes, and He answered according to his will. If it is God's will, the answer is instant. Immediately, you will receive what you were asking from God if that aligns with God's will. Nothing can stop the perfect will of God, even if it’s impossible. This is what the healing of the leper proves that No one can stop the will of the Lord. But in this scene, the leper asked for the will of God rather than to start asking for his own healing from the beginning of his approach.

And so, the leper received healing. Jesus instantly healed him for his wilful submission to the will of God. After that, Jesus has commanded him to keep it to his self but go to priest and give offering to his temple as his testimony for the goodness of the Lord in him. This is the greatest challenge for everyone, to obey what the Lord has instructed us to do even if it's already as clear as water to understand. The story stops there, I myself, not very sure if he did it. But one thing that reveals to me, that this passage talks to me straight from my heart, that God is a God of chances, of opportunities, and of possibilities. To follow Jesus and His footstep is the beginning, but to obey Him is the testimony of God's great will in our life.

I want to challenge myself and maybe everyone of us, be brave to do the command of God as he continuously bless us, now and the days to come!

God bless you  all!

Remain Where You Are

Remembering our church' humble beginning, we actually started as a home church in our Point Cook residence and our very first service, though attended by Narre Warren delegations with a spirit of celebrations, were not more than ten (10) person who were from West Melbourne area. Everyone are really happy to witness this breakthrough in FBGC-IAFB Australia and they were congratulating us as we opened this worship service. However, that was only temporary as the succeeding services were attended only by few and always with the same familiar faces.

I was then beginning to ask our God, is this really going to progress or not. First, it was planted in a young town of Point Cook, although it is a progressing suburb, there are only few people that we know in this area and to complicates things, everyone of us are amateur in church planting. Second, I am not really an active evangelist although but thank God we have one who are so eager and passionate about his calling as an evangelist. Third, I was just a newly ordained pastor of this church and I am totally clueless of how to lead our Church. Lastly, our pioneering members are indeed newly converts.

I keep on praying to God and asking Him for more wisdom and fresh revelation of His Word that at least in ministering to His people, they will remain and continue to their faith and be equipped as we continue to build God's church in this area. Four months after, our place of worship were moved from our home to one of the Community Room in Featherbrook Community Centre and seven months later occupied the whole centre. And Now, a month before our First Anniversary; here is the ministry of God, remain standing and still growing from less than 10 persons, God draws more souls to Jesus and our strength increases 500 percent to 45-50 including the children. Indeed, the younger people are outnumbering the adults which gives me a vision that God is continuously blooming his vineyard in FBGC Point Cook.

I was reminded by Apostle Paul in his epistle at 1 Cor 7:20 when he wrote that "Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them." Our branches is rooted not in our own works but to Vine of God, our Lord Jesus, that as we keep Him to be the Core of our Faith as a church, He will take care of us and the rest of what our church needs. Instead of missing the joy in serving our God, why we don't simply enjoy it and focus in wholehearted service to the Lord while He continue to equip ourselves in preparation for the higher level of service in His ministry. He can bring us to anywhere He want whether we like it or not. It may look like difficult to grow, but with Jesus, this fear will be overcome by His abundant love.

As we face the new year with a new theme of Year of Spiritual Momentum, let us continue the work of God's hand in our lives not only in our church but also to our daily lives. Last year was a Spiritual Breakthrough and everyone receives our freedom from any bondage of sin through the love of Jesus in all aspects of our lives. And moving forward, we will continue the flame burning in our hearts to do the work of His ministries so that we can glorify our God through the empowering of His Spirit that works within us. I pray to you that "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Eph 3:20-21).

God bless us all!

Wisdom: Comes From And Brings Down --- Heaven

Our current generation is now living a life affected mostly by the advancement of technologies, which are evolving too fast, dynamic, and influential. We can't deny it in our daily lives, personal, family, work, community, even here in our church. These enhances our living becoming more productive in doing other more important things to do. Moreover, people nowadays are becoming more intellectual, radical, social (at least in Virtual Space).

However, its danger is it also affects our wisdom. The thoughts in the mind reasons purely by what is in the mind injected by our studies, profession, and with these advanced technologies. We tend to equate them as wisdom, therefore, Atheist are now becoming more popular belief in this world. They nullify God because there is no more space left in our brain to know Him. 

Wisdom does not only comes in the mind, if it is, it's purely knowledge or intelligence. Wisdom only comes from our God, he delivered it through our experiences in our lives, through our hearts, and through His Spirit. If we talked spiritual matters to non-spiritual people, we talk non-sense to them. Because first, they are not interested to it as they wanted to occupy their mind with what the world's knowledge has to offer only. Second, they do not want to hear about Jesus and His teachings to trigger convictions to their heart. Lastly, they do not acknowledge a Divine guidance that everything they will do is a decision and action to be executed by themselves alone.

I am reminded in James 3:17 "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." The brother of Jesus who are among the people who doubted Christ when He was advancing His ministry here on earth, are now rebuked when Jesus show Himself alive and being true to about everything He and all the prophets had prophesied. But thank God, James has learned and told us where the wisdom will come from and what it bears. Apart from these categories are merely reasoning of pure intelligence.

We are not ask by God to rebel to anyone who do not believe in Him, indeed, he want us to maintain a good relationship with Him, do good works to them, that for every good things we do will be a slap on their face. Jesus' only desire is for us to preach His word and let it be heard in the ends of the world. But if we do these things, let the Holy Spirit of God lead us and share with us His wisdom. So that when we speak, it will show it purity, love of peace, considerations, submission, mercy, good fruits, justice and sincerity. 

God bless everyone!

Idolatry - The Danger of Like & Share Faith

Today as the technology advances, our generation is also pressured to embrace it. The social media, for instance, is becoming part of our daily lives not to include the different kinds of mobile devices to make these applications easily accessible. These technologies, indeed, influence us, rule us, and enslave us to the worst as we become more dependent to it. The absence of it now makes our day incomplete, especially to our younger to middle-aged generations.

Every technology owners would like to promote their products and will make every effort to make them attractive as every usage means profit. I know that it meant for a certain purpose, but mostly the product is being abuse in other aspect. And today as religions of the world are becoming unpopular and becoming a little piece of our lives, gods are now migrating to these new technologies. These become our gods. Idolatry is no longer contained to statues or any images worshiped by people, it is now elevated to the worship of the advancing technologies, rather to keep it a tool for our daily living only.

I just want to remind everyone to beware of this danger. We may not be worshiping it as we know it, but our attitude and hearts are indeed suggesting it. This similar situation occurred in the times of King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon where he forced his kingdom to worship the image he constructed asking even the Jews to do it. Except for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who refuse to do it even it will lead to their death.

Daniel 3: 16-18 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

A warning to everyone that we can live to the grace and mercy of our living God alone and we can rely to it; our faith should remain to Jesus who saves us. Not a simple like (thumbs up) to a certain chain post will heal you, prosper you, or save you from death (temporarily or eternally). Avoid the command to bow to the call of the social media to share it for simple reason of avoiding the bad luck as what the post suggest. Our God is not limited of space and time, much more to any man-made world of Social networking. Be firm, that the faith is only acted on the call of our True God, not from anyone else. 

God bless everyone!

The Best Decision Comes With Love AND Wisdom

The "ber" month has already started and we are looking forward to Christmas season and to a New Year. And our culture is to prepare as early as today for the Christmas celebrations, not only that, we are a fan of New Year resolutions. We prepare a long list of what we want to change or to happen in the next year to come.

And we all know that making decision is a difficult task. We have to consider many things before we come to the final one. And I know that there are many times in our lives where we are required to provide a critical choice. Like listing our goals for the next year, most of the times we only achieved few. Why? Simply because ... we are not used to the changes and are not prepared enough to pursue it. We need lots of preparations, we sometimes succeed but also we failed. But that is part of learning and a good exercise of making a sound decision as long as we are gaining the wisdom, the knowledge, and the experience every time.

In Philippians 1:9-11, Apostle Paul added "And I pray this, that your love may abound even more and more in knowledge and every kind of insight so that you can decide what is best, and thus be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God."

Love is and always be the primary foundation of every decision; not of anger, of malice, of advantage, or of selfishness. Moreover if added with knowledge and insights; it will produce not only but the best one. We will know it as the best only if it results to sincere, blameless, and righteous consequences. Of course, it is achievable and will not be difficult through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

God bless everyone!

Acknowledge Individuality - Break the Differences

It is too common for us to be easily annoyed when things that surround us are not what we expect to see, hear, experience, and the like. When our family and loved ones are getting into addictions, when our work colleagues adds cause you more pressure and stress, when your community are not improving rather getting worse, and many more. We wish that it is better if they are not around or exist. 

Paul in his encouragement to us in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15 not to look at the weaknesses of the people around us. He says "12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who labour among you and preside over you in the Lord and admonish you,13 and to esteem them most highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the undisciplined, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient toward all. 15 See that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all." 

Our human instinct is to give the same of what we receive, as we ourselves wanting to act on behalf of the principle of sowing and reaping for others. We have already forgotten that this principle is a divine blessing and not a curse. That is why Paul reminds us not to pay evil back with evil. He wants everyone to extend helping hand to everyone who are in need, not only in material scarcity but mostly to those who are weak in flesh, in mind, in attitude, in character, and in spirit. 

The next time we look at someone you really annoyed with, take a deep breath, close your eyes, and remind yourself that he is also a human like you and are equal. So that when you reopen your eyes, you will see a new creation whom Jesus also shed His blood for and has forgiven. Now, it is your chance to show kindness and share the same grace you received from God above! 

God bless everyone!

Do you think it’s right? Yes or No?

"Do you think it’s right?"

When I was asked with this similar question, I feel obliged to provide a qualified answer acceptable to the person who asked this. Not only that, I also have to carry the burden of the real story behind this simple query. The question has options to be answered in many ways such as political, legal, moral, spiritual, etc. It will depend on how I perceived it based from whom it originates from.

As a servant of the Living God, I need to consider an answer which mostly morally and spiritually right and not only the legally acceptable. There are many political rules, laws, rights in many parts of the world that seems wrong a few years back but now legislatively right. There are norms and cultures that are previously detestable but now socially tolerable because it adapts according to the trend in our current generation which now are politically right.

In Philippians 2:1-2, Apostle Paul says “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”

These phrases reminded me that we as Christians should keep ourselves in the attitude of Jesus in soul (thinking), in heart (love), in spirit, and in mind. That with the unity of these four aspects of our lives with Him, we can naturally produce encouragement, comfort, common goals, care and compassion to others.

Keeping these as part of our very selves, the answers to the above questions is for sure the most acceptable answer not only to the person who asked it from you but also to the God who is associated well to your being. It will flow naturally and as a result, it produces an acceptable and suitable wisdom to both. Be firm to answer it a Yes or a No, the why will be answered with the help of God who stays in your being. 

God bless everyone!

A Genuine Christian Is Free Of Self-Deception

When we were young, we were brought up by our parents to what they want us to be. Usually they groomed us to be the person whom they admired and hoped to become but didn't happen. They wanted us to continue the dreams they did not achieved. But I know that other parents wanted to bring out the best from their children and allow them to choose the path they want to take. Whether we like it or not, our success and failure are a product of how our parents guided and influenced us.

It has no difference to what God's desire for us, his children. He surely desire to let us find our true selves whom God plan us to be. But most of the time, we want to be of someone else rather than simply be ourselves. There is no wrong in this attitude, if and only if this desire is also aligned to our capabilities, skills, characters, and God's will and purpose in our lives. Like our biological parents, God is so glad to see his children succeeding in their lives and to all the aspects of it. But if not, then this attitude is just a self-deception and will lead us to failure one day.

Apostle Paul reminded us in Galatians 6:3 when he says "For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself." We have given the spiritual gifts, talents, and fruits; and God wants us to use them not for our own glory but for Him. We have to serve in God's vineyard but we cannot simply assume any roles, responsibilities, and tasks without His approval. Therefore in everything we do for God's Kingdom, we have to review it at all times as Paul suggest in verse 4 to "Let each one examine his own work. Then he can take pride in himself and not compare himself with someone else."

God wants us to be the person with integrity and be proud of our achievements in different areas of our lives but it must be of no self-deception. He loves us as a real person and not as a puppet that lives only in others expectation. Do not allow selfish ambition, envy, arrogance, and power overcomes us. Rather, let us remain humble before others and before our God and live as genuine as possible without any trace of self-deception. 

 

God bless everyone!

Listen to Jesus' Voice to Walk By Faith

Getting lost is a difficult situation. You are exerting all efforts to figure out how did you get there, and worse, how will you get over it? We started to worry, panic, and fear especially if no one to give you some help. Are we in this situation now? Are we in a position that we have tried our very best to resolve things but we still found ourselves to nowhere? Where are we heading?

Our lives are like a boat and we ride to it. We go to a journey that mostly relies simply to ourselves and serve to be the captain of it as we sail through the sea. But the trip is not always safe and smooth. Strong winds challenge us, the sea currents defy us, and sometimes even the lightning strikes us. We encounter troubles, storms, and even disasters as we go along.

In John 6:16-21, the apostles sailed through the night and they seem lost as they are occupied with worries because of the storms shaking their boats and filling them with water. Then Peter saw Jesus walking on the water from a distance and added fears to their struggles. At last Jesus speak to Peter and so they willfully allow Him to be with them in their boat. After Jesus came in, immediately they reached their desired destination. (John 6:20-21, But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.)

In times of adversities, we lost our focus on the object of our faith and starting to divert our attention to the storms in life which usually build up the walls of doubt and later develop into ghost that fears us, destroys our focus, and kills our faith. The object of our faith is no other than Jesus, our Salvation and our Eternal Life. Even if we lost Him from our sight, we must not forget about His voice. He speaks to us. His voice is loud and clear, preached and echoed in every letter inscribed in the Bible. If we listen and follow His voice, even though we are lost, we will still find our way towards Him through faith.

The best thing is when He comes into our boat (our life) the effect is immediate; you will reach the very shore of your destination, it may be a longer journey but you are initially directed on the right track; what a good start, indeed!

God bless everyone!