A New Method for Bible Study - ChatGPT

You are probably aware of the AI (Artificial Intelligence) Re-generative Chat software. The most popular is ChatGPT (https://chat.openai.com/). This post is just to encourage you to try ChatGPT for your Bible Study. It is great for Book Bible Study(even for a verse) or Topical Bible Study. It is also great if you are confused or puzzled by some biblical text. It can save you lots of time in searching, reading commentaries, asking pastors, etc. to get the guidance or answer you need. It could at least be the first step.

Let's start with an example.

Book Study:

I asked ChatGPT to preach on Psalm 23.

Here is the answer:

Psalm 23 is one of the most well-known and beloved passages in the Bible. It is a powerful expression of trust and confidence in God's loving care for His people. Let us reflect on the profound truths found in this psalm:

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." (Psalm 23:1, NKJV)

These opening words establish a foundational truth: God is our shepherd. As a shepherd tends to his flock, God cares for us, guides us, and provides for our every need. When we acknowledge God as our shepherd, we can find contentment and rest in His provision.

"He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters." (Psalm 23:2, NKJV)

Just as a shepherd leads his sheep to nourishing pastures and calm waters, God leads us to places of rest and refreshment. In the midst of life's challenges, He invites us to find solace and peace in His presence. He knows our weary souls and leads us to places where we can find restoration and tranquility.

"He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake." (Psalm 23:3, NKJV)

Our shepherd not only cares for our physical needs but also tends to our inner being. He brings healing to our wounded hearts, refreshes our spirits, and renews our strength. Through His guidance, He leads us on paths of righteousness, aligning our lives with His purposes and bringing honor to His name.

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4, NKJV)

In life, we may face dark and challenging valleys. Yet, even in the face of adversity and fear, we can find courage and peace because our shepherd is with us. God's presence brings comfort and protection, assuring us that we need not be afraid. His guidance and discipline guide us, offering assurance and security along the way.

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over." (Psalm 23:5, NKJV)

In the face of opposition and difficulty, our shepherd prepares a feast for us, symbolizing His abundance and provision. He blesses us even in the presence of our adversaries and pours out His anointing upon us, filling our lives to overflowing with His goodness and blessings.

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (Psalm 23:6, NKJV)

The psalm concludes with a powerful declaration of God's unfailing goodness and mercy. As we walk in relationship with our shepherd, goodness and mercy become our constant companions. And the ultimate promise is that we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever, experiencing His presence and love for all eternity.

Psalm 23 reminds us that we have a loving and faithful shepherd who cares for us deeply. In every aspect of life, He guides, protects, and provides. May we find comfort, peace, and hope in knowing that our shepherd is with us always, leading us into a life of purpose and joy.

You can click on "Regenerate Response" to get another answer.

Verse Study

I asked ChatGPT to commend on John 20:23.

The answer:

John 20:23 is a significant verse where Jesus imparts authority to His disciples and commissions them for their ministry. The verse states:

"If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." (John 20:23, NKJV)

This verse takes place after Jesus' resurrection when He appears to His disciples in a locked room. He breathes on them and says these words, giving them the power and responsibility to proclaim forgiveness or retention of sins.

The verse is often interpreted in light of the broader context of Jesus' ministry and teachings. It emphasizes the role of the disciples, and by extension, the Church, in proclaiming the forgiveness of sins through the message of the Gospel. It highlights the authority given to believers to share the good news of salvation and the offer of forgiveness to all who repent and believe in Jesus Christ.

However, it is important to note that this verse is not giving individuals the power to personally forgive or retain sins in an absolute sense. Rather, it speaks to the role of the Church in declaring and applying the forgiveness found in Christ's redemptive work.

This verse serves as a reminder of the significance of forgiveness in the Christian faith. It calls believers to embrace their responsibility to share the message of God's forgiveness and reconciliation with others. It also underscores the importance of repentance and seeking forgiveness from God, as well as the role of the Church in guiding and nurturing individuals in their journey of faith.

Overall, John 20:23 carries a message of the Church's role in proclaiming forgiveness and emphasizes the transformative power of the Gospel in reconciling humanity to God.

Topical Study:

I asked ChatGPT to give me verses for healing

The Bible provides numerous verses on healing, both physical and spiritual. Here are a few passages that highlight God's power to heal and offer encouragement:

1. Psalm 103:2-3 (NIV): "Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases."

2. Exodus 15:26 (NIV): "He said, 'If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.'"

3. Jeremiah 30:17 (NIV): "But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds," declares the Lord.

4. James 5:14-15 (NIV): "Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven."

These verses remind us of God's ability and willingness to bring healing to our lives, whether it's physical, emotional, or spiritual healing. It is important to seek God in prayer, rely on His strength, and have faith in His restorative power. Additionally, seeking appropriate medical care and support is essential for physical healing.

Hope you can try it for yourself and find it useful. Preachers perhaps should use it as a baseline to judge their sermons.

How to Pray and See the Result - A mind-map Abstract from Joseph Prince's Sermons

We tend to think that effective prayer is about how hard we pray and how earnestly and sincerely we pray. We are told to fast and prayed. There is too much emphasis on us as if we are the ones doing the answering. Ps Joseph Prince explained to us what "Earnest Prayer" is and getting the result is about the faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross. 

Over the years, the famous Ps Joseph Prince has preached and published articles on how to pray and see the result. There are other titles like "How to have powerful prayers?". Below is an abstract in mind-map format of the key teachings. The sources are as below. It is highly recommended that you either you watch the sermon or read the articles. I find them very enlightening and encouraging and pray that you may follow the advice and start seeing the results.

• Sources:

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFFyXeVSQ8Y

  • https://blog.josephprince.com/how-to-pray-powerful-prayers-part-13/

  • https://blog.josephprince.com/how-to-pray-powerful-prayers-part-23/

  • https://blog.josephprince.com/how-to-pray-powerful-prayers-part-33/

  • https://www.josephprince.com/sermon-notes/how-to-pray-and-see-results

• Key Passage:

  • James 5:17:18 KJV

    • "Elias was a man [subject to like passions] as we are,

      Elias was a man like us -> we can also pray as effectively as Elias.

    • and he prayed [earnestly] that it might not rain:
      and it rained not on the earth by the space of  three years and six months.

      Earnest prayer is simply a proclamation of faith:
    • "And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, 'As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.'"—1 Kings 17:1 NKJV
    • What declaring and decreeing looks like:
    • e.g. "In the name of Jesus, you foul spirit of depression, loose that person, let his mind go free! In the name of Jesus. Amen."—You're declaring that it's not the Lord, but the powers of darkness that are holding this person back. You're declaring that He's not the problem, but the solution.

    • And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain,
      and the earth brought forth her fruit."

      Earnest is not mentioned. 1Kg 18:42  Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground, and put his face between his knees.
      • We think Elijah's prayer here is more earnest, but God just said he prayed again in James 5:18.
      • This is because when we declare God's goodness, we're partnering with Him. We're agreeing that Jesus has already borne the curse (of diseases, pains, etc.) at the cross, and given us all His blessings. In other words, praying pleading prayers (e.g. "Oh God, please heal my child") negates the truth of Christ's finished work, and gives the false impression that God still needs to be persuaded to bless us. And since the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth, He cannot bear witness to that kind of prayer, and we don't see results

• Take-away:

  • We pray not to soothe our emotions, but to bring heaven to earth and get results.

  • Your prayers have results when you know your influence with God

    • Pray from a position of sonship, completeness, and victory.

  • God doesn't help those who help themselves; He helps those who are helpless.

  • Today, it's far easier to receive God's blessings than His judgment because of
     what our Lord has accomplished at the cross

    • We live in the age of grace where it's easy to pray and see results

  • Earnest prayer is simply a proclamation of faith

    • Pray by declaring the Words of God.

  • You can confidently pray for non-believers to receive God's goodness

• Conclusion:

• Keep on declaring:
  It's the secret to answered prayers

  • Don't ask God to deal with the problem.
    Just own the authority He's given you over it, and declare!

  • Jesus' finished work is why we can pray powerful prayers

  • Even before you pray, see your prayers answered

• Job 22:28–29

  • "You will also declare a thing,

  • And it will be established for you;

  • So light will shine on your ways

  • When they cast you down, and you say,

  • 'Exaltation will come!' Exaltation will come!'

• Then He will save the humble person."

See related posts:

• Better than the Lord's Prayer
• The Secret of Effective Prayers and How God Answer Prayer
• The Right Way to Pray Effectively from the Lord's Prayer
• Breakthrough Prayer with the Format like a Court Case

Can we eat from the "Tree of Life"?

When I first read the story of how Adam and Eve sinned in paradise, I was puzzled that Adam should have eaten the fruit from the "Tree of Life" first rather than from the "Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil", then Adam would have lived forever! Or maybe not, the curse of death may be stronger than the blessing of life? I also regret that we can no longer eat the fruit from the Tree of Life anymore. But is it true?

The answer is no. We can eat from the fruit of the Tree of Life. This is because of Jesus. Jesus is the Life.

• John 6:35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
• John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." 
• John 11: 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

So, Jesus is the Tree of Life. We can then eat from the Tree of Life by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and we shall never die but have everlasting life.

Have you eaten from the Tree of Life to have eternal life?

Lim Liat (c) 23 Feb 23

Update 10 March 2023

Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;
To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

1 John 5:5 NIV Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Handling Fear and Anxiety in this Uncertain 2023

Let's start with the promises of God:

One of the verses that I quoted often in my times of fear and anxiety is 2 Timothy 1:7

NLT: For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
NIV: For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.

KJV: For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

I like KJV's version best. In panic mode, we can't think and may lose our minds. It is great that God had given us a Sound Mind. We maintain our sanity.

In the Old Testament, we have Isaiah 41:10

NKJV:

Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

God gives us 5 assurances and reasons that we should fear not.
It is God who will be working or fighting for us.

We do not have to depend on ourselves, especially when we think we have no strength and no ability at all. It is all God helping us. The ever-faithful God is helping us.

What then should be our response?

The answer is in Isaiah 12:2

NKJV: 

Behold, God is my salvation, 

I will trust and not be afraid;
'For YAH, the LORD is my strength and song;
He also has become my salvation.

It begins with knowing who God is. God is my salvation, my rescuer, my savior.

We are then to TRUST God.
And then we will not be Afraid.

We shift our focus from the problem, from our weaknesses and inability, to focus on God and trust God. We are to proclaim when God had promised in Isa 41:10, we know repeat what God had said to us, and so we said, "The Lord is my strength and song, and He is my salvation." We repeat until we feel calmness and peace. 

Prayers:

May we acknowledge God's promises to us, trust and repeat what God said to our spirit and mind until we have the peace of God. May God give you this peace whenever you are fearful and anxious. In Jesus' name, amen.

Lim Liat (c) 12 Jan 2023

Additional verses for your encouragement:

Isaiah 40:29 NKJV

He gives power to the weak,

And to those who have no might, He increases strength.

Deu 31:8 NKJV
And the LORD,
He is the One who goes before you.
He will be with you,
He will not leave you nor forsake you;
do not fear nor be dismayed.

Isaiah 45:2 NKJV

'I will go before you And make the crooked places straight;
I will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron.

Isaiah 52:12 NKJV

For you shall not go out with haste,

Nor go by flight;

For the Lord will go before you,

And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

Oxymoron in the Bible Gives the Secret of Victory - Hebrew 4:11

Hebrew 4:11 "labor to rest" seems like an oxymoron. But it is the great secret for our victorious and joyful living. It is about finding rest in Jesus' finished work so that we can labor from rest, without stress, without complaints, with acceleration, productivity, and satisfaction; working to give glory to God.

Let's look at Hebrew 4:11 

Heb 4:11 (KJV)  Let us labor, therefore, to enter into that rest, lest any man falls after the same example of unbelief.

(GNB)  Let us, then, do our best to receive that rest, so that no one of us will fail as they did because of their lack of faith.

Many translations use disobedience instead of unbelief, such as:

(ESV)  Let us, therefore, strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

(NIV) Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

The Solution to Not Falling:

The purpose of "Labor & Rest" is to make sure we don't repeat the failure of the Israelites in Moses' time. They fell because of disobedience with the disobedience coming from their unbelief or lack of faith. So the various translations do not contradict but give us more insights.

The secret is then related to when and how to "labor' and "rest". If we do it right, we will not fall as they did. 

"Labor" and "Rest" to Victory:

Ps Joseph Prince in his sermon (see  https://www.miltongoh.net/miltons-blog/put-aleph-tav-in-the-center-pastor-joseph-prince-sermon-notes) gives us an explanation:

• "We must labor to rest in God. 

• Someone who is controlled by emotions is easily manipulated.

• Rest in the Lord. When you rest in Him, you will not be lazy or inactive, but you will be like the burning bush that burns up for the Lord, yet never burning out."

So it is about resting first - resting by believing in the finished work of Christ and receiving His grace and empowerment and then laboring in God's glorying work and testimony.  But resting is not inactivity. Resting in the Lord is about reading, and meditating on His Words. It is about praying, listening, and fellowship with Him. It is about receiving instructions and wisdom from Him. It is quite busy. This is the labor to enter into His rest. If we don't find time and effort with Him, we cannot experience His presence.

After we get the rest and grace from Him, we can act out. Doing things according to His leading and with His help, we will be doing the right things rightly and with joy and satisfaction. If we just do what we think is good, we could be just chasing after winds and will feel tired and even grumpy. 

Lao Zi helps us to Understand Labor & Rest Better:

Lao Zi's DaoDeJing Chapter 63:

为无为，事无事，味无味.

Do as if Not-Doing, Work as if Not-working. Taste as if No-taste

(For a full and more detailed explanation see ( http://mind-value.blogspot.com/2012/06/5-principles-for-success-in-life.html )

Meditating one step further, Lao Zi is telling Do the Non-violating against Dao/God's Laws and you will not feel the struggle and pains. Following the Dao/God's Way is always meaningful and satisfying. Like sailing with wind supports. Going against the wind's direction will be a big struggle.  Do as if Not-Doing is like Doing from Rest. Resting on the wind's strength to carry you and it will be effortless for you.

Working as if not working is about working without the ulterior motive of gaining credits and honor or praise from people. Work not for the rewards but for the purpose and meaning of work and you will find the work worthy and fulfilling. 

Taste as if no-taste is to take our ego, our biases, our prejudices, and our desires for certain tastes away, then we can really discover the original and natural taste. We will enjoy our food more.

So, let's put Christ as our center, rest in Him by finding time and fellowship with Him, and receive from Him the directions and grace for our work with Him and for Him and also for our joy and satisfaction. Laboring from His rest will give us acceleration, productivity, and satisfaction and also bring glory to God. Remember God is glorified through our work and our testimony.

May God blesses you with a Victorious 2022 of rest(in Him) and productivity.

23 Jan 2022

Yin-Yang and Easter - The Secret for a Victorious Life

Yin-yang is a key Chinese concept in helping us to think better. Let's apply it to Easter.

Yin is hidden, dark, dead...

Yang is opened, bright, life,...

Yin is Good Friday, the death of Jesus on the cross, carrying the sins of the world.

Yang is Easter Sunday, the resurrection of Jesus, overcoming death, the victory for us all.

The problem with some churches is the overemphasis on death, the sins sacrifice, ... Emphasis on sin does not bring victory over sins. Stressing on the resurrection, the power over sins help.

Oth, just stressing on the resurrection, the grace, without an understanding of its purpose over sins, may result in grace as a license for sin.

What is needed is therefore the understanding of both, the yin and yang, the sin that needs the resurrection grace. The Grace that brings us freedom and victory over sins and death.

The order is important too. The sin and death and then the victory over sins and death. It reveals first the love of God - while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. The resurrection reveals the power of God, defeating sins and death, and more, that we all may become the children of God. We dead first to self and then made alive to live for and with God.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Remember that we are now children of God, the victors, that we can live out the resurrection power, freed from the bondage of sins, able to love and do good to others, reflecting the image of our Heavenly Father.

Have a victorious Easter and a God-blessed life.

Lim Liat (c) 3 Apr 21

Overcoming Fear in Time of COVID-19 Pandemic

What can we learn from Peter, Paul, and Confucius about overcoming fears in this challenging time?

From Peter, we learned the shortest and most effective prayer, "Lord, save me!" Mat 14:30. Jesus did everything for Peter and Peter just rested on Jesus.

For Paul, Jesus did not give him too many miracles. Paul had to go through the challenges of shipwrecks, beatings, imprisonments, escaping, etc, and coming out of them victoriously. He had the calmness and the wisdom to plan and act rightly. His advice for the young and timid Timothy was to remind him of what they had received from the Lord. Under fears, we easily forget what we have. The key verse is 2 Tim 1:7.

 (NKJV) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

(ESV)  for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

(GW)  God didn't give us a cowardly spirit but a spirit of power, love, and good judgment.

(ISV)  For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but one of power, love, and self-discipline.

The 3 keys are:

1. Power
2. Love
3. G4995 sōphronismos which got translated as:
   discipline, self-control, sound mind, and good judgment.

Power is pushy or hard-power and Love is pulling or soft-drawing-power. How hard or how soft should one be depends on the situation and the people involved. Hence, we need the 3rd key of a right-balance, the sound-mind to make the right judgment of discipline use of power and love. 

How this works is best explained by Confucius teaching captured in the Book of Great Learning Chapter 1:

知止而后有定，定而后能静，静而后能安，安而后能虑，虑而后能得。 

物有本末，事有终始。知所先后，则近道矣。

Knowing the end-point objectives/targets enables focus.

Focus enables rest. Rest enables peace/calmness.

Peace enables thinking. Thinking enables achievements.

All things have an origin and an appearance.

All projects have a beginning and an ending.

Knowing the before and after, the order or sequence is close to knowing the Way of the Universe.

So we see Jesus always give his disciples peace first.

 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (Jn. 14:27).

John 20:19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”

The peace that we need to overcome fear comes from Jesus and from His Spirit (2Tim 1:7). He gives us the peace to think and even the wisdom to find the solution. James 1:5 (NIV) 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Peter figured it out in 1Peter 1:3-7 of the unchanging and undisruptable power that Jesus had given us to enable us to endure and go through the trials victoriously.

So, when fearful, please come to Jesus, to receive the Spirit of Power, Love and Sound mind, to boldly face the situation and work out the solution, asking Him for guidance throughout.

May you be greatly blessed and may come out of this pandemic much better than and stronger than before,

Lim Liat (c) 14 Jun 2020

How to fix our embittered heart?

Learning from Ps 73 NLV version.

1. It all begins with "Envy"

• Psa 73:3 For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.

2. Then we start to "Self-Pity"

• Psa 73:14 I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain.
  
  We only look at the bad side and ignoring all the good that we have.

3. Then we become "Angry" & "Bitter"

• Psa 73:21 Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside.
  
  Even at times, we get angry with God seeing that we have been obeying Him and yet...

4. Then we become "Foolish" even like a "Beast"

• Psa 73:22 I was so foolish and ignorant—I must have seemed like a senseless animal to You.

Solution:

5. Seek God

• Psa 73:17 Then I went into Your sanctuary, O God,
• and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.
  
  Take His perspective. Take the long-term view.

6. Trust God - Hope in God

• Psa 73:26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
  but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.
• Psa 73:28 But as for me, how good it is to be near God!
  I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter,

7. Proclaim His Goodness - It reinforces our trust in God.

• 28b and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things You do.

Lim Liat (c) 7 Apr 2020

The Testimony of Older Generation - Psalm 71

What is the story or the legacy that we want to live behind? Can you sum it up in one sentence? How will others believe your story? How will future generations be affected by you? In Psalm 71, the author summarized it as God is Great and let me tell you why...

For those of us who are more than 40 or even 50 years in Christ, how will your testimony look like?

Do you want a template to share?

Here is one from Psalm 71. I kept the key verses in the following mind-map.

May we live our lives as examples even for the next generation. 

Our motto is simple it is "trust and praise Him even through the difficult times". And God assures us that the best is yet to be.

The Mind-map:

The Text:

• Come to God 1stThe Lesson of A Long Life
  
  • O Lord, You alone are my hope. I've trusted You, O LORD, from childhood. (Psa 71:5)
    • O God, You have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things You do. (Psa 71:17)
• Recall Past SuccessesMay Our Life be Like this...
  
  • My life is an example to many because You have been my strength and protection. (Psa 71:7)
  • Have we lived like that? Can we list now the specifics where people gave thanks to us for the help, advice, and even praise for?
• Ask of Help Now & For FutureNow Old and Weak...
  
  • But I will keep on hoping for Your help; I will praise You more and more. (Psa 71:14)
  • Keep our focus on God... He has the final say.
    
    • v24)... for everyone who tried to hurt me has been shamed and humiliated.
• Stick to Praising & Proclaiming God
• to the next generations
• • Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim Your power to this new generation, Your mighty miracles to all who come after me. (Psa 71:18)
  • by proclaiming & exemplify living as in v7
• Proven
  • You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but You will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth.  (Psa 71:20)
  • He has brought us through disappointments, betrayals, challenges...We thought we are gone but He will restore and honor us again.
  • You will restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again.  (Psa 71:21)
  • The best is yet to come!

Lim Liat (c) 2 Apr 2020

What is the Gospel of Grace?

Tim Keller's Book on Psalms, "My Rock My Refuge", Ps 69:7-12, says:

"The world does not understand this gospel of grace in which holy living is the result of humble, grateful joy, not a way to earn heaven... by living lives of humility, forgiveness, and sacrificial service to others."

There is no need for us to earn our way to heaven because we are already registered there.

• (Philippians 3:20-21 (NLT) 20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.)

But we are to live out this new life of humility, grateful joy, forgiveness, and services to others because:

• 2 Cor 5:20 NLV So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!
• 2 Corinthians 3:3 NLV You show that you are a (living) letter from Christ,... written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts

A Psalm of Protection Against the Coronavirus - Not Ps 91

Psalm 91 is the key Psalm of protection for this time of Coronavirus Pandemic. Please read and meditate on it to keep our peace and enjoyed this protection from our loving God. But there is another Psalm, 68:19-21, that is even more specific to this crown-shaped virus.

Psalm 68:19-21 New International Version (NIV)

19 Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
    who daily bears our burdens.
20 Our God is a God who saves;
    from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.
21 Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies,
    the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins.

Firstly, the Lord bears our daily burden. It is never once off. It is continuous. It is renewed every morning.

Lamentations 3:22-23 English Standard Version (ESV)

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;[a]
    his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.

Secondly, God saves us from death. The Lord will crush this deadly crown-like coronavirus for us. He is our loving and faithful God.

Here is a good message from Joseph Prince about what we should during this time:

7 Things God Wants You To Know During This Virus Attack | Joseph Prince

1. Don't be Afraid - Fear Not Gen 15：1
2. Refresh yourself with His Love John 17:23
3. Trust in His Faithfulness 2Thes 3:3
It is not you holding on to God but God holding you.
It is not your faithfulness but His faithfulness
4. Be at Rest (in God) Ps 91:1
5. Be led by the spirit, not motivated by fear.
Joseph & Mary led by Angel to go to Egypt Mat 2:13
6. Keep your focus on Jesus. "The Great I am..." & "Let's talk about Jesus"
7. Death has no hold on you. Rom 5:17 Righteousness as a gift to us

May the Lord bless you and keep you and give you peace. (Num 6:24-26).
May you be His light and testimony in this challenging period.

Lim Liat(c) 18 Mar 2020

The Christmas that Lao Zi Knows

In his book "Dao De Jing", Lao Zi shows us why God needs to send His Son into this world. He describes the behavior of the Dao, the Way, or the Word. The greatest and the most powerful is love, which is exhibited by God in giving His only Son to man. Let us receive and be like Him. Let's discover the details... 

The Undescribable Dao/Way/Word - Why God must come down to Man

Chapter 1 verse 1 of Lao Zi's Dao De Jing is:

道可道 非常道

The Dao/Word/Way that can be described is not the eternal Dao/Word/Way.

• John 1:1-3, In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  (2)  He was in the beginning with God.  (3)  All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.

How is that so? Someone said that if we can describe and fully understand god then either we are the god or that is not god. Our mind is limited. Our language is limited. The unlimited God could not be fully described and understood by the limited man or else God is limited. In that case, how could our limited man understand the way and the behavior of the unlimited God? That is only possible if God Himself comes down in the form of man and then tells and shows us Who he is. 

• John 1:14  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

• More on Chapter 1 of Dao De Jing can be found here  Uncovering the Mystery of Dao De Jing - The Discovery of Truth

His Son Came

Chapter 4 The Way is the Son said Lao Zi (DaoDeJing 4).

It begins with The Way (Dao) is ...

• vast and wide and provides for every usage without any limit.
• the root of all creations.
• describes its sharpness, intricacies, light, and traces/paths of its work, ... yet so quietly and almost invisible. (Jesus came in such a lowly state, born in a manger ...)

Lao Zi humbly says, "I don't know whose Son is? Like before our ancestors". 

What does Lao Zi want us to do with His Son? Receive Him & Be Like Him

挫其锐、解其纷、和其光、同其尘，湛兮似或存。

Blunt its sharpness, resolve the tangles, and follow its light.  Join its traces/footprints. 

It is so transparent/clear/pure as if not there.

We are not to refuse the penetrating power of His light that reveals our sins and confusion. We are just to follow His light so that we may see and be freed from our bondage. We are to follow His footprints. Let's be so transparent and pure of our own that we make be like Him.

His Love conquers All - Live in His Grace

Chapter 67 夫慈以战则胜，以守则固，天将救之，以慈卫之

Love conquers all. It is strong in defense. Heaven will save it and grace will protect it.

• Three Treasures for Your Greatness - DaoDeJing 67

Chapter 63 大小多少 报怨以德

[No matter] big or small, many or few, [always] repay hates/evils with love/virtues.

• Romans 5:8 NIV But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

• 5 Principles for Success in Life According to Lao Zi

Summary:

The meaning of Christmas is about God coming down to us as man, to communicate and show us what He is like. He is love that He has given us His Son Jesus Christ to die for us thereby bringing peace with God and with men. We are to receive His grace of love and simply live out the love He has given us.

Lim Liat (c) 16 Dec 2019

How do you define Righteousness? Psalm 15 tells us

Psalm 15 shows us that if you choose God over money, you will be with God forever.

The consequence of righteous living is standing forever in the sanctuary of God. The progression of Psalm 15 shows us what is right and wrong and are all related to money. The righteous keeps promise at his cost and charges zero interests on loans whereas the sinful takes bribes to lie, gossip and harms others implying doing anything just to get money.

Here is the mind-map:

The biblical text is the NLV version.



Verse 2 tells us the blameless qualifies to be in God's sanctuary. Who can be blameless? Only those who accept Jesus Christ's redemption. But what does it look like? The 2nd part of the verse shows us, doing what is right and speaking the truth from the heart without manipulative intent.

Verse 3 shows us the opposite of speaking the truth, which is gossip and speaking evil of others and doing harm to them.

Verse 4 shows the principle of righteousness --- hating evil and honoring righteous and points us yet another aspect of doing the right thing, namely, to keep promises made even when it hurts, a typical case will be at one's expense or costs.

Verse 5 makes the clear the intent, it is all about money such as charging zero interests (a good case) and taking bribes (a negative case).

The green color part of the mind-map is the lesson we learned from the study of this psalm. Never make $money$ your God. Never use $money$ as the standard of right and wrong and do all things just to get more $money.

Righteous is defined by God and we should faithfully follow it (verse 4) and the outcome will be an eternal presence with the Lord. The psalm is not teaching about salvation by work but the characteristics of those saved by grace.

Lim Liat (c) 8 Aug 2019

Who are we and how should we live? Peter tells us

We often heard that Christians are sinners saved by grace. Is that correct? Do you focus on sinners or on grace more? Let Peter gives you the correct truth about who Christians are and what they should do. Have the right perspectives of who you are and then know what you should do that you may live this life meaningfully and productively.

1Peter 2:1-10 tells us who the believers are and how should we live. The mind-map below captures the essence:



First and foremost is that believers are called, chosen, and separated by God through Jesus Christ. So believers are:

• 1 a living stone of a Spiritual House in Jesus who is the cornerstone, the headstone, from which all other stones are defined and aligned.
  • • • 
        
• 2 priesthood that is royal and holy with the purpose of to offer spiritual sacrifices
  
  Holy is separated out for God. It is distinguished and different from the world.
  The role of a priest is to present people to God to be acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. It includes prayers and intercessors for the people and to care for their spiritual developments.
• 
  
• 3 a chosen race who is precious in the sight of God
• 
  
• 4 a holy nation - a distinction to bring glory to God.
• 
  
• 5 God's own people 
• We were once not a people, and have not received mercy and in darkness.
• But now we are called out of darkness into His marvelous light to received mercy.
  
  For the purpose to proclaim the excellencies of Him.
  i.e. To preach & share the Good News of the Great & Loving God

All the 5 attributes show us how blessed and beloved we are in the eyes of God. So we are to the Beloved, sojourners & exiles in this world.

So, how should live in this world?

We have two main roles as sojourners and exiles in this world to play:

a. As Priest to pray, intercede, and care for God's people. To worship God in our mind, heart, and work.

b. As Preachers to proclaim, as witnesses to share, the good news of how great and how much God loves them. To tell about Jesus and what Jesus had done for them. To bring them out of darkness into His marvelous light and to become God's people.

Don't focus on the past, but focus on your present status and calling and work for the eternal future and rewards. 

Lim Liat (c) 30 Jul 2019

How do you know your thinking is right? James 3:17 shows us

How do you know your thinking is right?
How do you know it is from God or from Satan or from yourself?

MATTHEW 16:23 | [Jesus] turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

(Rom 8:7) For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.

The Answer:

(Jas 3:17) But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

Compare with (Phil 4:8) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

The intention, the reasoning, and the desired outcome must follow from the above list of characteristics.

Check it first:

1. Pure?
There is no evil, bias, or bad intention.
Only truth, clean, clarity, and faithful.
Stick to the pure Word of God - the Bible.

2. Peaceable?

• Does it arise out of a heart at peace? Not in the moment of anger, fear, bitterness, hatred, stress.
• Does it lead to bringing peace or to stir up more troubles?

3.  Gentle?

• The way we are going to express it, is it gentle?
• Shouting, scolding, sarcasm do not work.

4. Open to reason?

• Can you stand up to challenges? 
• Are you open to other suggestions, opinions, and reasonings? 
• Are you so worry of being wrong that you shut up your ears? 
• You don't have to agree to them but at least consider your thinking from more perspectives. The feedback you get may even strengthen your initial thinking.

5. Full of mercy & good fruits?

• Is it out of love and is to bring benefits as good fruit.
• What are the outcomes of your thinking and decisions? Where are the benefits and for whom?

6.  Impartial?

• Do you give preference to a certain group, such as the wealthy one, or especially yourself and your gang at the expense of others?

7.  Sincere?

• Do you really mean what you say? 
• Are you trying to manipulate others? or to 
• Show a good image only?

If your thought satisfies the above criteria, you can be sure your wisdom is from above. You don't need to hear an audible voice from God to know it is from above.

Lim Liat (c) 26 July 2019

Managing our Thoughts & Emotions according to Psalm 4

For our busy and stress-out friends in this challenging world...

Psa 4:4 Don't sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent.

• Don't react in anger immediately.
• Wait till the evening to think about it.
• It may be not as bad as you first thought.
• Even for the injustice and betrayal did to you.
• The Lord is in charge...so...

Psa 4:5 Offer sacrifices in the right spirit, and [trust] the LORD.

• Trust the Lord to get justice done for you. Don't take it into your own hand.

Psa 4:7 You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine. 

• So what if you don't have the riches .... you have the greater value of joy ...

• After all, why do you pursue wealth and fame? Aren't you going after joy, happiness, satisfaction?

Psa 4:8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, O LORD, will keep me safe. 

• It is the Lord who gives security and peace.
• Wealth and fame do not keep you safe at all.

The Four Secrets of an Overcoming Life - Isa 30:15

Suffering and pains come from bondage to bad habits or circumstances. We need to know how to break free and stay free. Isaiah 30:15

Isaiah 30:15 New International Version (NIV)

15 This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:
    “In repentance and rest is your salvation,
        in quietness and trust is your strength,
    but you would have none of it.

The four secrets of breaking free and staying free are given above. And the only thing that holds us in bondage is given in the last part of the verse.

The Four Secrets:

Salvation begins with:

1.   Repentance

Repentance is about making a change, a U-turn. It begins with a realization that I am in bondage and wanting to break free. It is like the Prodigal Son coming to his senses and going back to his father house despite possible shaming that he may get (which he did not get at all because of his father's love).  However, repentance is just the first step, we need help from someone who is able to help us. If we could, we could have broken free long ago. So, get up and find the right person, the right source, for help. The Gospel, the good news, is that someone is all ready to help you at your bidding. Go and ask Jesus for help. He had paid the price for our deliverance.

2.   Rest

Rest is not just not doing anything. It is about putting your weight on something solid such as resting on the chair or on the bed. Let the chair support you rather than just standing on your tired feet. So, put your full weight on Jesus and follow what He tells us to do. 1 Peter 5:7 casting all your anxieties on him because he cares for you. Our rest is to take the medicine that the Doctor prescribed for our sickness; to do what Jesus tells us to do.

Strength comes from:

3.   Quietness

A person in panic mode could not think and could not sit still. He needs to calm down first so that we can observe the situations clearly and then figure the way out. So we know Paul gives us the key to gaining the composure in Phil 4:6-8 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

As we begin our lives with Jesus, the devil will try all sorts of ways to steal away our joy and peace. He will create troubles to cause us to panic and doubts our salvation, the love of Jesus for us and His willingness or ability to help us. He will try to make us feel that Jesus does not love us anymore especially when we return to our past sins. Then, we need to back to fundamental, of trusting God's Words and His promises for us. Ask Jesus to get peace and read His promises to stir up our confidence in Him as in Phil 4:8 above and then Trust His abilities to work out all things for us.

4.   Trust

Trusting someone enables us to gain our peace and to follow his instructions. Hebrew 11 gives us many testimonies of how faith, or trust, enables them to do the seemingly impossible. Any startup begins with the founders' trust that they could succeed and bring value to the world. We have the love and the promise of God and hence we can trust God to venture out. We can tithe our income trusting God to provide for us. We can share the gospels trusting that people will be saved through it. We can boldly go because we can trust God at His words.

Takeaway:

Living in bondage and pains? 

Awake and see the light. Begin a change by asking Jesus to help. Follow Him to gain peace and trust Him to receive the strengths to break free for a new life in Him. Let's not make the mistake stated in the last part of the verse "but you would have none of it." That was the very reason that causes all the troubles for us. So make a change now.

Lim Liat (c) 9 Jun 2019

Bible Study Method: Fill in the Blank- Matthew 25:29

A good way to study the Bible is to fill the blank. 

Let's take an example：

"For to everyone who has _____, more ____ will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away." - Matthew 25:29

The blanks are not in the original text. But without knowing them, we don't really understand the verse. Jesus used it as a summary and a principle for us to learn.

We can figure out what the blanks are by studying the context. It is the parable of the talents.  

Why were the first two servants rewarded? They make good use of the talents that their master had given to them. They are faithful and good stewards of the entrusted resources. The rewards from the master are:

• His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ - Matthew 25:21

So we can fill in the blanks as:

"For to everyone who has [faithfulness/stewardship], more [money/power/rulership + joy of Lord/relationship] will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away." - Matthew 25:29

Luke 19:11-27 has a similar parable, the parable of the pound, where rulership over cities is given.

The most shocking part is this:
    Mat 25:28  Therefore take the talent from him and give it to him who has ten talents.

The shock was expressed by the servant in the parable of the pound,
   Luk 19:25  And they said to him, Lord, he has ten minas. 

Is it fair, you may ask?

If you want to invest your money, which investment will you choose?
You will invest in the one that guarantees to give you the most returns.

Are we good stewards of the talents and pounds that the Lord has given to us?

What are we doing with the time, talents, money, relationships, spouse, children, etc that we have now?

What are we pursuing with such resources?

Are we investing in the treasures in Heaven?

Lim Liat (c) 7 Jun 2019

Feeling Depressed? Discover Your're Loved Always

Everlasting, Forever, Eternal has no meaning unless there is a purpose. That was what the Author of Ecclesiastes concluded after observing the endless cycles of life and death.

What then is the purpose?

Why do we exist? 

Where are we going? 

The answer lies not in the created beings but with the creator.

Everlasting also does not mean unchanging. That is called death or nothingness. It means ever changing with an unchanging pattern of purpose. 

Life is full of changes, of struggles, of disappointments, of successes, of sadness, of whatever. But if you are anchored on everlasting love of God, then you can have peace and even joy in the midst of all these challenges and no matter what.

So we can resonance with Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Taking the verses in reverse, if I can't rejoice in this present circumstances, perhaps I have forgotten it is God's will for me in Christ Jesus.

What does in Christ Jesus mean here? It is through Christ's death that we are redeemed. It is a reminder of how much is the Love of God for me - more than the cost of a His son. It is similar to Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

If we still can't get it, we should 'pray', or talk to God one on one. Speak to him of your worry, of anger, of don't get it ... He can take all we can throw at Him for He loves us.

After our verbose and emotional screams or plead, be careful to wait and listen for His answer and comforting touch. Heb 4:16 may helps ... in time of need, boldly comes to His throne of mercy to find the grace and power that we need. Also, Hebrews 10:22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Don't leave the conversation with God until we get our peace.

Lim Liat (c) 22 May 2019

Set Free from Self-Destruction - Learning from Rick Warren

‘We are our own greatest enemy' shows us the secret to living victoriously. We lie to ourselves most of the time. We blame others for our own lack and problems. It is important to face up with reality and see the self-destructive thoughts and feelings that we have.

Rick Warren's sermon on "Set Free from Self-Destruction" not only gives the list but also provides the answer. It is very useful that I summarized it in the mind-map below:


7 weapons of self-destruction and solution.

1. Shame…it robs you of all happiness
    ...Remind myself daily what Jesus did for me. - Rom 8:1-4

2. Uncontrolled thoughts…they will ruin your life
   ...Ask the Holy Spirit to give me better thoughts - Rom 8:5-6

3. Compulsion: inner desires made you do it even though it was wrong - Rom 8:12
   ...Realize I have a new ability to say “no” through the Holy Spirit

   ...Maturity is when you do the right thing, not what you feel like doing

   ...Jesus gives us the grace power thru the Holy Spirit to live rightly.

4. Fear…enormous destroyer
   ...Turn my thoughts to God whenever I’m afraid - Romans 8:14-16

   ...(2Tim 1:7) for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

5. Hopelessness..keeps you from keeping on
   ...Focus on the long-term, not on the short term!

6. Bitterness…you hurt YOU the most…get better or bitter
   ...Remind myself that God is good and in control. - Rom 8:19-25

7. Insecurity…poser…you will do or say anything.
   ...Security - nothing can separate us from His love. - Rom 8:38-39

   ...Trust that God will never stop loving me!

Conclusion:

• When you are feeling blue, and when you are feeling bitter you need to remind yourself that God is good and in control.
• His Spirit is praying for me.
• He’s using everything for good in my life.
• He wants me to succeed and He’s going to give me what I need.

As you go through the list and the solutions, hope you find the answer you need.