Friday, February 15, 2008
We are not ashamed!
Sharing the Gospel
Many of us know the essence of the Gospel - that God loves us, that Man has sinned, that Christ died to reconcile us to Him and that we need to accept Him as our Saviour. We can even recall many instances in which we could have shared... silences we could have spoken into, problems we could have prayed over with our pre-believing friends, intimate conversations during which we could have shared about Who we placed our faith in.
But are we often held back by the fear that the Gospel will offend?
"Will introducing the Gospel into this conversation be too abrupt or obvious?"
"What if my friend starts to think of me as brainwashed and biased?"
"What if I offend my friend and make it harder for him/her to receive the Gospel in future?"
"Will they think I always have an ulterior motive of converting them? Will that make them more reluctant to draw closer to me in future?"
And because of this, we have slunk away from many chances we could have had to declare it.
People's Response to the Gospel
In the book of Acts, the disciples declared the Gospel to all, unabashedly and boldly. Did they receive the opposition that we so fear in this day and age? YES! They were persecuted and reviled in almost every city (Acts 8 onwards). Many were receptive to them at first and granted them an audience, but these who were once receptive turned hostile towards the Gospel after listening to what the disciples had to say (Acts 7, Acts 13).
Let's not deceive ourselves: The Gospel WILL offend, no matter how you sugar-coat it. (Romans 9:33 NKJV - Jesus is a rock of offence to many, which makes them stumble.) There is only one way for anyone sharing the Gospel not to offend anyone at all: if the full Gospel is not shared.
But was preaching it worth it? Yes, because many also were not offended, and believed. If we are afraid to risk offending, we are also forgoing the chance for others to believe.
Learning From Experience
Many of us are afraid to share because of past experiences, in which our friends complained to us of insensitive Christians who've shared with them, or in which we have ourselves been those insensitive Christians.
We have come away learning this lesson: "I must be VERY careful about sharing the Gospel in future." We come to the conclusion that God must be telling us that it is our technique of sharing the Gospel that is wrong, and omit sharing it on so many occasions for fear of making more mistakes.
Why not let THIS be the lesson we learn instead? That instead of cutting down on sharing the Gospel because we've not yet "perfected" our techniques of "non-offence", we decide, "I will increase in LOVING others all the more." For perfect love casts out all fear, and against it there is NO LAW (Galatians 5:22). God WILL be pleased if we share out of love, even if the results seem to go awry, as it did in so many cases with the disciples in Acts.
God's Promise
God promises to be with us as we share the Gospel (Matthew 28:18-20), not just to stand by and do nothing, but to BEAR WITNESS (Acts 14:3). His Word does not return to Him void! If we sow, we WILL see fruit (Galatians 6:9), but we MUST sow.
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
Romans 1:16-17
Prayer & Meditation
The believers prayed for boldness when they first encountered persecution.
Read Acts 4:23-31
Prayer:
- deeper love for lost friends
- boldness to witness, unashamed
- dependence on the Holy Spirit
- inquiring of God for guidance for every step in witnessing
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Have you really met Him?
The purpose of Harvest Rally was to seek His face, and to meet Him. 2 Chronicles 7:14 does not even instruct us to pray that He would heal our land... it only told us primarily to humble ourselves, pray, seek His FACE (not even His hand in the form of a revival for our society), and turn from our wicked ways.
2 things happen when we have seen God:
1) We are changed - we are broken, as Isaiah was when He saw the Lord. (Isaiah 6)
2) We are even MORE desperate and hungry for Him. Think of Moses, who spoke with the Lord almost face to face for 80 solid days. I think very few, if any, of us would even dare to compare our encounters with God to that of Moses. And YET, at the end of those 80 days, Moses did not say, "Thank You for having revealed Your glory to me!" Moses said, "Please show me Your glory." (Exodus 33:18) He wanted SO much more that he reacted as if he had seen none!
After Harvest Rally, what are we thinking...
That was a good job! or
This part of the programme was good. or
I have seen God, and I am happy for it.
Or are we thinking,
God You are so HOLY and woe am I! I want SO much more of You.
Are we desperate for Him?
If we have not been changed, if we have not been truly broken, and if we are not more desperate for Him (not the works of His hand!)... if we are COMPLACENT, then have we truly met Him?
If the answer to this question is, "No", let us commit to seek Him DESPERATELY and extravagantly. Although there appears a cost to pay, we WILL gain the treasure in the field and that Pearl of great worth - Christ Himself - that whatever we can possibly offer, even if we paid with ALL that we have and are, will pale in comparison to Him and His glory that we will see.
Prayer and meditation:
- Pray for YOURSELF, for revival.
- Ask Him to reveal Himself to you.
- Let His glory and beauty invite you to pursue Him more.
- Ask Him to help you repent His way, to truly break you.
- Be silent and know that He is God. (Psalm 46:10, Habakkuk 2:20, Ecclesiastes 5:1-2)
2 things happen when we have seen God:
1) We are changed - we are broken, as Isaiah was when He saw the Lord. (Isaiah 6)
2) We are even MORE desperate and hungry for Him. Think of Moses, who spoke with the Lord almost face to face for 80 solid days. I think very few, if any, of us would even dare to compare our encounters with God to that of Moses. And YET, at the end of those 80 days, Moses did not say, "Thank You for having revealed Your glory to me!" Moses said, "Please show me Your glory." (Exodus 33:18) He wanted SO much more that he reacted as if he had seen none!
After Harvest Rally, what are we thinking...
That was a good job! or
This part of the programme was good. or
I have seen God, and I am happy for it.
Or are we thinking,
God You are so HOLY and woe am I! I want SO much more of You.
Are we desperate for Him?
If we have not been changed, if we have not been truly broken, and if we are not more desperate for Him (not the works of His hand!)... if we are COMPLACENT, then have we truly met Him?
If the answer to this question is, "No", let us commit to seek Him DESPERATELY and extravagantly. Although there appears a cost to pay, we WILL gain the treasure in the field and that Pearl of great worth - Christ Himself - that whatever we can possibly offer, even if we paid with ALL that we have and are, will pale in comparison to Him and His glory that we will see.
Prayer and meditation:
- Pray for YOURSELF, for revival.
- Ask Him to reveal Himself to you.
- Let His glory and beauty invite you to pursue Him more.
- Ask Him to help you repent His way, to truly break you.
- Be silent and know that He is God. (Psalm 46:10, Habakkuk 2:20, Ecclesiastes 5:1-2)
Hallelujah I am Free!
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. - Matt 6:33 - 34
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." - Matt 11:28 - 30
Are you feeling overwhelmed? Having a lot of practicals, tutorials, tests and lectures to attend to? Or maybe you are weary from the ministry you are serving in? or the sins which are in your life are proving too heavy a burden?
But wait a minute! Shouldn't Christians rejoice in the fact that they are free? that their God reigns even in their difficulties!
In Exodus 12 - 14, in it the people of Israel in Eygpt just experienced the passover and were released from their slavery under Eygpt. They left immediately and followed God after 430 years of slavery! Imagine how the people felt! Now how about you?
The reason (at least i know for myself) why we may be overwhelmed could be that we have forgotten about the future hope we have and have been focusing so much on the present. We forgot that Christ has set us free and chose to place on ourselves the yoke of slavery to the world.
Let us cast aside our worries, put aside our wicked ways, put away our kingdom and seek God's kingdom and purpose. Set aside time daily to pray and seek God's face. Rejoice in the fact that you are free and stay free! And use your freedom to glorify Christ in whatever you do! I am sure people will see your joy amidst difficulties and see God working in your life!
Personal Prayer:
- Thank God for freeing us from the hold of sin in our lives
- Cast your worries unto Him and place your trust in God to deliver you over all the burdens for His glory.
- For God to help you focus on His kingdom and His will
- Perserverance to live for Him amidst the difficulties
Pray for Community and Campus:
- That People will be able to feel the burden of this world and see that Christ yoke is light and accept it!
- That the powers of this world will be dethroned from the hearts of people and Christ will rule in their hearts
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
It Begins After 8.30pm
Harvest Rally is finally here! Let us know that Harvest Rally is not the finale, but the START of this movement to seek Him and glorify His name.
Do continue to check this site for updates!
Daily prayer meetings continue!
1pm
Benches near Qoo Machines
(between LT25 and Coffee Grounds)
Do continue to check this site for updates!
1pm
Benches near Qoo Machines
(between LT25 and Coffee Grounds)
Day 14 – The beginning (29/01)
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time. – 2 Chronicles 7: 14 – 16
We have been through 13 days of preparation. This journey does not finish after Harvest Rally. Our passion to serve the Lord and our prayers should not end here. Let us look back at the past 2 weeks and give thanks to the Lord for seeing us through this time. Thank Him for teaching us and pruning us in His sovereign way.
In the same way, let us continue to uphold fellow believers and pre-believers in our prayers. We want to persevere on this life journey with Christ sitting on the throne of our lives. Keep praying for the harvest and that God’s name will be known through our lives!
Prayer and Meditation
Praying for Personal Needs:
- Renewed passion daily
- Not to grow weary and tired
- Commitment and perseverance to love and serve Him and that passion and desire will not end after Harvest Rally
- Constantly uphold fellow believers and pre-believers in prayer
Praying for the Ministry and Campus:
- To continue to encourage one another in our walk with God
- Constantly reminded of the need of people for God (Matt 9:37-38)
- Seeds planted (during the weeks before HR as well as on HR itself) would yield fruit
- Growth of new believers and for the Christians to follow up
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time. – 2 Chronicles 7: 14 – 16
We have been through 13 days of preparation. This journey does not finish after Harvest Rally. Our passion to serve the Lord and our prayers should not end here. Let us look back at the past 2 weeks and give thanks to the Lord for seeing us through this time. Thank Him for teaching us and pruning us in His sovereign way.
In the same way, let us continue to uphold fellow believers and pre-believers in our prayers. We want to persevere on this life journey with Christ sitting on the throne of our lives. Keep praying for the harvest and that God’s name will be known through our lives!
Prayer and Meditation
Praying for Personal Needs:
- Renewed passion daily
- Not to grow weary and tired
- Commitment and perseverance to love and serve Him and that passion and desire will not end after Harvest Rally
- Constantly uphold fellow believers and pre-believers in prayer
Praying for the Ministry and Campus:
- To continue to encourage one another in our walk with God
- Constantly reminded of the need of people for God (Matt 9:37-38)
- Seeds planted (during the weeks before HR as well as on HR itself) would yield fruit
- Growth of new believers and for the Christians to follow up
Monday, January 28, 2008
Day 13 –Preparing your heart (28/01)
Therefore say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.' And when they come there, they will remove from it all its detestable things and all its abominations.
And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. – Ezekiel 11:17 – 20
A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.
Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah
Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle!
Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah – Psalms 24
Even as we approach the day of Harvest Rally, Let us continue to prepare our hearts for God to work in and through us. Only those who have clean hands and pure heart can approach God. But how do we have clean hands and pure hearts? We remove every detestable thing that displeases God.
Today, take this time to be still before God and ask Him to prepare your heart and cleanse it. Allow God to direct you in this time of prayer.
Prayer and Meditation
Praying for Personal Needs:
- Ask God to show you what to pray for and His directions for you.
- Holy Spirit to prepare & convict hearts
- Cleansing of heart and hands
- Pray against worldliness and pursuit of worldly things (studies, knowledge, relationships, money etc) above God.
Praying for the Ministry and Campus:
- Empowerment of Holy Spirit for Christians
- Pray for God to send forth His people into His harvest field
- For God to soften hearts
Therefore say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.' And when they come there, they will remove from it all its detestable things and all its abominations.
And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. – Ezekiel 11:17 – 20
A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.
Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah
Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle!
Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah – Psalms 24
Even as we approach the day of Harvest Rally, Let us continue to prepare our hearts for God to work in and through us. Only those who have clean hands and pure heart can approach God. But how do we have clean hands and pure hearts? We remove every detestable thing that displeases God.
Today, take this time to be still before God and ask Him to prepare your heart and cleanse it. Allow God to direct you in this time of prayer.
Prayer and Meditation
Praying for Personal Needs:
- Ask God to show you what to pray for and His directions for you.
- Holy Spirit to prepare & convict hearts
- Cleansing of heart and hands
- Pray against worldliness and pursuit of worldly things (studies, knowledge, relationships, money etc) above God.
Praying for the Ministry and Campus:
- Empowerment of Holy Spirit for Christians
- Pray for God to send forth His people into His harvest field
- For God to soften hearts
Sunday, January 27, 2008
2 DAYS TO THE START OF IT ALL!!!
Prayer & Preparation
1. Monday & Tuesday prayer: 1pm (benches near Qoo machines)
2. Pre-Harvest Rally Prayer: 29 Jan, Tuesday, 6pm (outside LT26)
3. The fast continues...
29 January 2008 (THIS Tuesday)
6.30pm
Confirmed Venue: LT26
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