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!

Church, Do It In the Name of Jesus!

The humble beginning of our satellite church here in Point Cook started from a simple bible study meeting. We opened our place for this kind of gathering and later decided to open for the home church service. Is our church real? It looks like a fancy little group of people who simply gathers together with the appointed pastor leading the group in every services and activities.

We need to be careful of what our church bears and does that recognize us as a genuine Christians. Paul shared in Colossians 3:16-17 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God. And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Primarily, our church must dwell in God's words. We need to soak ourselves with the Words of God; we must read the Bible that records the word spoken by God and Jesus. If any Christian faith-claiming organizations prohibit at least a single member from reading the Bible, they are a big hoax. If school courses require many books for references to study, we are not the exception to this with our Bible, which also survives time while preserving its content and the wisdom that strengthens our faith.

Secondly, our church must be attending services that enjoy the spiritual fellowship. The church is God's people and we are called to gather to exhort one another, learn and be inspired from everyone's wisdom and be in unity in praising and worshiping the Almighty God.

Thirdly, our church must be known as Church that bears the name of our Lord Jesus Christ as the author of our salvation, the giver of Grace and Mercy, and the Son of the Living God. If a church exist less of Jesus or not acknowledging Jesus as God, that church is simply a big cult.

Lastly, our church must always be grateful to God - The Father - through His only Son Jesus in everything. It must be the core of our existence to live in harmony, in unity, in victory, and most especially in eternity with Jesus. 

God bless everyone!

True Freedom Through Spirit-filled Lifestyle

Looking back to my earlier days, I feel chained by poverty that seems too impossible for me to get out of it. I still remember that as I age more and understand what my true situation was, I feel even harder for everyday that ends. It was a difficult situation for me, indeed; but I thank God for He did a great job to put everything in my life in order under His careful instruction and supervision.

God made us and breathed us to life, and so His spirit was shared in us too. Only if we learn to believe that God does exist in our lives, then we can make use the power behind it to the most possible way. God is too willing to free us from any form of bondage like pain, sufferings, inequities, and sins. He wants to restore not only the broken relationship between us and Him but also to restore us as His precious creation. We are the only creation of God that He breathed to live, and that makes us the apple of His eye.

Paul, in His letter to the Corinth churches, reminded them the presence of God's Spirit and the privilege that it brought to those who acknowledge it. It was stated in 2 Corinthians 3:17 --- "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom." God wants us to experience true freedom that can't be influenced by anything the world can offer, but only if we learned it through His divine presence in our lives.

Jesus in His ministry on earth promised us to send The Father's advocate and that is the Holy Spirit. It should be the our utmost desire to acknowledge Him in every moment we live because He gave us more than freedom and these are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22-23). I encourage everyone to enjoy true freedom by living a spirit-filled lifestyle.

God bless everyone!

Shared Responsibility: Do Not Be A Stumble Block

During my advanced military training way back on my university days, we were thought of the very common principle “Obey first, before you complain.” This discipline has embedded to me and I allow myself to submit to any person that has authority over me, most especially to our God. In the same way, I am sharing the same principle to others if there are opportunities and with shared responsibility.

Before, my idea of being obedient to this principle is simply following any orders given by my superior. And when it came a time for me to impart this to others, I feel the burden while sharing it to them. I have learnt that there is hidden joint responsibility to it which is to be a role model to my subordinates. The moment I told them about the value of full obedience without any hesitations, then the burden of bearing the influential authority and its responsibility felt heavier. Thereafter, everything I am about to say, to act, and to think must be carefully presented to avoid them copying anything that is wrong both to them and to the organization.

In the same way to our Christian Community, every believer has responsibility to carefully examine their ways in dealing with people of different beliefs, moreover, to weaker people of the same belief. Apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 8:9, “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.”

Weaker people are mostly new members of our church who are starting to know our God and Jesus but also extended to those who have already been with us for longer time and remains child in their spiritual lives. They believe in God but also they look at us as an authority over their faith. Bearing this right is dangerous as it may lead them to stumble if we committed things which are against God’s authority and influence. Though we have the responsibility to behave well imitating Jesus as the best role model for Christian living, we also need them to understand who they should look up to and that is our dear Lord Jesus only.

We must lead them towards Jesus and focus their eyes only to Him, following His instructions, commandments, and teachings; so that even if we fail to the human standard, we will avoid contributing to their own stumble if there will be any.

God bless everyone!

The Price Of Your Soul

The legality of same-sex marriage in America has finally declared legal throughout its whole nation and is a trending topic in the whole world, indeed. Different Groups, Communities and even Christian Believers have their different views of this worldwide historical event of humanity. A dangerous question is --- what is our view about it?

In my personal view only and as per my Christian background, I strongly disagree of its legality. Not that I don’t want these people to be happy but I firmly believe that if this becomes the law of the land, the whole nation will be opened up to participate in vulnerabilities of its acts. Moreover, this does not differ to legalizing divorces, prostitution, gambling, adult pornography and the like. We all know how these legalities affects the people getting involve to it, enjoying it, and later on abusing it are ending their lives in miseries (but not everyone, of course, those who find their way out of it). I would like to remind myself about Jesus question to us in Mark 8:36-37 that asked us, “­­­­36­ What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”  

It seems to be that there are people who are looking for opportunities to win the world and yet losing their soul. Our soul is our very essence, the God’s design as part of His universal creation, which acts for a greater purpose in our lifetime to do His good will. And although we cannot control the world as we do not own it, WE CAN control ourselves. Even if we live in this world now where people are willing to lose their soul, we can still choose to keep our soul and avoiding what the world offers (1 John 2:16 - For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.)

Again, let me ask you the same question --- what can you give in exchange for your soul? 

God bless everyone!