G’day mates! i sincerely hope that ASS doesn’t stop on Monday, cos if it does, we’re gonna have a lot of acronyms ending with S. kill that thought of not doing your Quiet Time! and by Quiet Time, I mean solid time with the Lord and not lying down on the bed ‘meditating’. doesn’t work that way pal.

so I thought I’d share one of the many things that struck me over the cause of reading ‘3:16’ by Max Lucado, and perhaps be that spark that ignites a huge flame for God. I was going to write ‘…passion for God’ but alas, passion for God is not enough. quite simply, we need faith not just in words but through action as well. Faith surrounds us in every aspect of life. saying grace to God is an act of faith.

Ever wondered what God meant by saying, “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God” (John 3:7 NKJV)? Giving birth in its entirety is a passive act. The father encourages. The doctor advises. But the mother pushes. No one labours but the mother.

The mother pays the price of birth. She doesn’t enlist the assistance or the advice from the infant. After all, the baby can’t even take a breath without umbilical help, much less navigate a path to new life. Nor, Jesus is saying, can we. Spiritual re-birth requires a capable parent, not an able infant.

Who is this parent? Check the strategically selected word again. The Greek language offers two choices for again:

Palin: which means a repetition if an act; to redo what was done earlier.

Anothen: which also depicts a repeated action, but requires THE ORIGINAL source to repeat it. It means “from above, from a higher place, things which come from heaven or God.” In other words, the one who did the work the first time does it again. This is the word Jesus chose.

It’s crystal clear. Without Jesus dying on the cross, we can never get eternal life. It’s that simple. Because only He can repeat it. He’s the original source. No one else comes close.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him shall perish but have eternal life.”


In His love
Isaac

'Believe'

I say on Sunday how much I want revival,
but then on Monday, I can’t even find my Bible!
Where’s the power?
The power of the cross in my life.

I’m sick of playing the game of religion!
I’m tired of losing my reason for living!
Where’s the power?
The power of the cross in my life.

I’m not content just to walk through my life, giving in
To the lies, Walking in compromises now
We cry out as a generation that was lost
But now is found in the power of the cross!

We believe in You
We believe in the power of Your Word that is true
We believe in You
So we lay down our cause
That our cross might be found in You

I’m not satisfied doing it my own way
I’m not satisfied to do church and walk away!
I’m not satisfied there’s no love in my life but You!

I’m not satisfied living in yesterday’s hour
I’m not satisfied to have the form but not the power!
I’m not satisfied, Lord I am crucified in You!


howdy! hope everyone's doing good despite the busy schedules! don't forget to seek the Lord at EVERY opportunity. He created this world! of course we can relate everything to Him. i pray that this blog has served it's purpose in helping you focus on God at all times! i really apologise for not posting something last week. my bad! but i'm excited cos over the cause of the last two weeks, i have never been closer to God!

this week, we take a break from the parables and re-discover something fundemental. here goes:

i was thinking of a song to suit the whole ASS thingy and i remembered there was such a song Hillsongs sang quite some time ago.it's the song above, 'Believe'. read the lyrics and punch the keys into Youtube and you'll probably find the song. it's a wonderful proclaimation! i have not stopped humming and singing it. i believe people have given me weird stares when i sing too loud on the chorus, but who cares! God cares more than those people do!

"Where's the power of the cross in my life?" if you're constantly asking yourself this question, it's time to go back to the basis of faith. As the bible defines faith in Hebrews 11: 1, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

Our faith in Jesus is based on being sure of what we hope for (God's word does a really great job on this) and certain of what we do not see (we definitely cannot see Jesus but we know He exists). many of us, me included, posses faith by OUR own standards. we always want to SEE things first before believing it's true. 'Seeing is believing' goes the phrase anyway, we give the excuse. we want to experience before we commit.

but no my brothers! far too long have we been living according to OUR own interpretations of faith that we think that it's 'correct'. we all know that if a lie that is constantly said as true, it becomes the truth not because it's right but because of repetition. we ask for God to be near us to heal us, rescue us and lift us. wrong! God is everywhere! are we really practicing faith by praying: "God! Help! i need You HERE. please help me with this problem HERE..."? are we REALLY being certain? truth is, we're too used to ask God to come to us. we're too concerned with God doing this for us rather than what we can do for God.

before i continue, i would like to qualify myself. there is NOTHING wrong with asking God to come to us. BUT it's the context that we ask that makes the difference. there is nothing wrong in asking God to draw close to us when we want to know Him more. BUT plain asking God to come and come again for our benefit is not only insulting to God but also belittling Him. we're implying that He is not sufficient for us! with that, i continue.

i'm currently reading '3:16' by Max Lucado, an awesome read i picked up from my bookshelf. i was reminded by one particular story in Luke that highlights true faith.

Luke 7: 1- 10 reads:
1 When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue." 6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." 9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel." 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

how many times do we say: "Lord, don't trouble Yourself. Just say the word and i trust You'll do it in Your good time... i do not derserve to have You in my life...i do not even consider myself worthy of You." the first thing we say would probably be: "God! COME NOW!" brothers! acknowledge God's sorvereignty in our lives and in this world!

the centurion had authority. he even had the authority to arrest Jesus if need be. he had a few dozen men under him, ready to strike. he even commanded the elders of the Jews. he wanted to heal his servant. he could have left his servant to die and appoint another to replace the poor soul. he was willing to send servants to intercept Jesus to ask Him to heal his servant. he did not consider himself worthy of the Lord's feet in his house, probably a huge one filled with treasures. he was not even a Jew. yet he humbled himself before a carpenter and said:"Say the WORD, Jesus, and my servant would be healed."

Jesus was amazed. He doesn't amaze easily. that's faith in action my brothers. true faith in action.

Jesus, i lay down my cause that my cross might be found in You.

ASS251009
isaac

howdy mates! we're in the 10th month of 2009 and we're 22 months since the birth of this blog. really hope and pray that this blog has been a source of inspiration and comfort for you (and that includes those not from our cell group too!).

in case you've been living under a rock, each monday, now and then, there will be a post to aid us in our daily living from monday to friday. rightly put by our TRAC president, Rev Dr Wee Boon Hup, "...christians spend more time in the marketplace then in church." we're constantly struggling against this After-Sunday-Syndrome inherent in most christians, who tend to live their lives NOT in accordance to the Word of God. realising the importance of living as a consistent christian, we birthed this initiative.

*i thought i could also use this opportunity to encourage our brethren who are currently feeling the heat from the examinations.

there is a rather bad and naggy habit in our youth ministry in which the youth 'disappear' from church to study for their exams. claiming that they need more time, they use the excuse abundantly, inevitably pulling themselves away from church and ultimately God.

i think it's time to address this issue seriously. Matthew 6 : 33 rebukes strongly: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." By not attending church and cell group, are we saying that God is not worth the three hours in church? aren't we sinning against God? are we lacking faith in God such that we take refuge in our homes and books? Hebrews 11 :1 highlights :"Now faith is being SURE of what we hope for and CERTAIN of what we do not see."

brethren! take heed of what your bible tells you!

for the brothers whose exams have ended(yahoo!) take this opportunity and time to thank the Lord in solitude. *

This week in ASS, we look at yet another popular parable, 'The Parable of the Ten Minas(talents).

Scripture records this in Luke 19: 11 - 27

background: This parable was told by Jesus right after he visited Zacchaeus' house. I feel that Jesus tapped upon the topic of money and giving to approach this topic.

this famous parable teaches us to treasure the gifts that God has given us. we are quite simply told to multiply our talents and gifts for the expansion of His kingdom. have we been doing that? or are we idle, letting others serve while we seat in the background and watch?

one question that brother amos shared during cell group on sat touched me: "Jesus died for me. What am i going to do about it?" are we letting the death of Christ amount to nothing in our lives?

if you look hard enough, there's always space for an extra hand in any ministry in church. the ushers could use an extra pair of hands to count money on sunday, the floral ministry could use another to help with the arrangement. the tape recording ministry could use an extra pair of hands to help with the distribution.

brother, you are served.

Once again i look upon the cross where You died
I'm humbled by Your mercy and I'm broken inside
Once again i thank you
Once again i pour out my life!

ASS121009
isaac