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.

The Right Balance for the Great Commission - Mat 28:19-20

While the great commission is one, there are three parts to it.  Not getting the right balance will result in an unfruitful church.

The Great Commission:

[ESV] Mat 28:19  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mat 28:20  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

There are 3 parts to the commission:

1. Go & Make Disciples & Baptise them - all nations
2. Teach them to follow what Jesus taught
3. Jesus is with us when we are doing 1&2 - all the time even till the end.

The Balance:

Neglecting anyone one of three will result in imbalance and sickness.

Doing just 1 without 2 will result in many baby believers who are unstable and easily misled and/or always needing people to care for them.

Doing just 2 without 1 will be stagnation. It is too inward looking and the church could be a social club for members only.

Not knowing 3 will make all work difficult and unproductive.

Having all 3 will make a lively, growing church with joyful pre-believers(BEST of Taiwan's Happiness Group) and believers with miracles testifying the presence of Jesus and the truthfulness of His Words.

The 3 parts applying to Church will we find the five-fold ministries of Eph 4:11-12, and operational ministries of Rom 12:6-13, and the exercising of spiritual gifts of 1 Cor 12:28, with all working together to build up and grow the Church.

The 3 parts will apply to every believer's personal life too.  While we may excel in certain gifts and the corresponding ministry, we need to do all to live a meaningful and satisfying life.

Are you living a balanced life?

• Time with Jesus?
• Time in sharing the gospels with others? 
• Time in fellowship with Jesus and His Words? 
• Time is caring and developing others?
• Time in prayers for His will to be done on earth through us.

Lim Liat (C) 12 Mar 2019

The Attributes of the Leader who God Selects

The three attributes of a leader who God select can be found in Psalm 78:70-72. They are the heart of a mother, the uprightness and the skills put into action. 

The Bible Reference:

Psalm 78:70-72 English Standard Version (ESV)

70 He chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfolds;
71 from following the nursing ewes
     he brought him to shepherd Jacob his people, Israel his inheritance.
72 With upright heart, he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand.

The above passage reveals the attributes that God want to see in a leader.

1. from following the nursing ewes - The model and motive.
2. With upright heart - The Character.
3. with his skillful hand - The Abilities and Execution - Action with Wisdom.

David had been shepherding his sheep. He could see how the mother sheep nurse the lambs. He grew up with a loving heart like the mother sheep.

The next attributes, because of the translation difficulties, have other words used. It is important to read many translations to get the true meaning. Here are the various translations:

upright heart ESV:

The original Hebrew is H8537  and according to BDB Definition:
   1) integrity, completeness
     1a) completeness, fullness
    1b) innocence, simplicity
   1c) integrity

• integrity of heart NIV, ASV, CEB, JB2000, KJV
• upright heart, BBE, NRV, RSV
• a pure heart HCSB
• unselfish devotion GNT, GWT
• an innocent heart NCV, DRC
• a faithful and honest heart. NIRV
• a true heart NLV
• (integrity, guilelessness) OJB

 skillful hand ESV:

• skillful hands NIV, CEB, HCSB, NCV, NIrV
• skillfulness of his hands ASV, KJV, OJB
• wisdom of his hands BBE
• intelligence of his hands JB2000

Skillful is H8394 with BDB Definition:
  1) understanding, intelligence
     1a) the act of understanding
          1a1) skill
    1b) the faculty of understanding
         1b1) intelligence, understanding, insight
   1c) the object of knowledge
  1d) teacher (personification)

The phase with skillfulness of his hands shows that David put his skill into action. He personally got involved with the people and led them with his examples.

The Consolidation:

The qualities of a God selected leader begins with:

1.  The motive of a Mother to bring up her children into mature man and women.
2.  The character of integrity, uprightness, a pure heart, guilelessness, and unselfish devotion. He has no ulterior motive of using people for achieving his own glory. His devotion is to the upbringing of the people under his charge. The shared goal is growing up into the real experiential knowledge of God and be like Jesus.
3. The wisdom and skillfulness of leading his people with personal involvement in their lives and his exemplifying behaviors where they can copy and promote.

Our reflection:

Are we such a leader that God wants us to be?
Do we care for our members like a mother?
Do we have a pure motive, openness, and integrity dedicated to their upbringing?
Do we acquire wisdom and skills to lead them to higher ground with our personal testimonies? Can they copy us just as Paul dare to say "Follow me as I follow after Christ"(1 Corinthians 11:1 )?

Leadership is about the discovery and development of its members to achieve a shared goal.

"The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things." --Ronald Reagan

"The task of the leader is to get their people from where they are to where they have not been." --Henry Kissinger

 "Leadership Is About Enabling The Full Potential In Others" --Glenn Llopis

“Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.” — Sheryl Sanberg, COO of Facebook

“Leadership is a privilege to better the lives of others. It is not an opportunity to satisfy personal greed.”— Mwai Kibaki, Kenyan politician

"True leadership lies in guiding others to success--in ensuring that everyone is performing at their best, doing the work they are pledged to do and doing it well." --Bill Owens

“A leader is someone who holds her- or himself accountable for finding the potential in people and processes.”— Brené Brown, research professor, and best-selling author

Lim Liat 10 March 2019

See also:

• Leadership Singapore Style and Ancient Chinese Wisdom...
• 15 Commitments to Conscious Leadership and Chinese...

The Parable of the Sower - An Interpretation from Chinese Viewpoint

The Parable of the Sower (sometimes called the Parable of the Soils) is a parable of Jesus found in the three Synoptic Gospels in Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, and Luke 8:4-15.  There are many comments and interpretations of the parable and on Jesus' explanation of the parable. Essentially, while the seed, the gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven is the same, there are four types of hearers represented by the different types of soils, giving four kinds of results which only the last one, the good soil, producing fruits of 100, 60 and 30. 

Type of Soils	Growth Process	Result
1 Paths	Heard but Stolen	Nothing
2 Rocky	Receive with joy but easily fall away because of trouble & pressures	Short growth & die.
3 Among Thorns	Choked by worry and lured away by wealth	Growth but no fruit.
4 Good Soils	Hears & Understands by doing the Words.	Fruits, some 100, some 60, and some 30. Different degree of practicing the Words.

In the saying of the Ancient Chinese Sages, the following is attributed to 鬼谷子 (The Sage of the Ghost Valley, the Father of the School of Diplomacy. For his teaching see Gui Gu Zi - Art of Strategic Alliances & Persuasions )

悟道可有四重境界: Enlightenment of Dao(The Way) can have four realms:

1. 初为闻道 - First is Hearing the Dao - Sound good. But so what? So forgotten.
2. 次为知道 - Second is Knowing the Dao - Good to know. But so what? Did not put into practice and hence really do not know. It is knowing the theory of swimming but never really jump into the water to swim.
3. 再为见道 - Third is Seeing the Dao i.e. put the Dao into behavior that can be seen. It is a good understanding of the Dao. It is experiencing the Dao. But it could be a one-off effort.
4. 终为得道 - The final, fourth stage, is Obtain the Dao i.e. internalize the Dao so that the behavior is automatic and self-motivated and self-directed action.

Confucius says, “At 15 I set my heart on learning, at 30 I achieve success & independence, at 40 I have no more doubts and confusions, at 50 I knew the will of Heaven (life’s purpose), at 60 my ears were attuned to right and wrong and not emotionally affected by what others say, and at 70 I followed my heart’s desire without violating the laws.”

So we know that Confucius spent 70 years to internalize the Dao so that his actions automatically follow from the Dao and will not violate it.

So for us believers, what have we done with His Words? 

Do we know His Words? 

Do we understand His Words? 

Do we follow His Words? 

Have we internalized His Words so that we automatically think and act like Jesus?

Do we have the mind of Christ? 

What is the Mind of Christ?

Psalm 119:11 (NIV) I have hidden your word in my heart

    that I might not sin against you.

1 Corinthians 2:14-16

But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.

Philippians 2:5–8

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Lim Liat (c) 4 Mar 2019

How to Get the Benefits From Sermons

Listening to Sermons:

Two potential errors that we commonly made when listening to Sundays Sermons.

• One is to listen for another person. If only so and so is here, this message is great for him or her. So we ordered the message CDs to give that person in mind,
• The other is to just appreciate the enlightenment and new understanding from the message and forget to apply it into our lives.

Whether we just listen for another person or just for our mind, we fail the reap the true benefits of the message because we fail to apply them for our own lives.

We recall the parable of building on sands and rocks that Jesus preached (Luke 6:46–49).

May we be careful to listen well (throw away the rubbish if any) and to apply what we learned and get healthy growth for ourselves.

Then when the other person sees our ourselves, they may be drawn to ask us for the secrets. 

Changing others begins with changing ourselves first.

Lim Liat (c) 28 Feb 2019

Discovery Bible Study with Multi-views Method - Be Enlightened More

By shifting our point view we can discover more from the passage we are studying. This is especially applicable to the study of parables. Let's work with some examples:

1.  The Parable of the Pearl of great price.

• Matthew 13:45-46 (NIV) 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

The teaching is clear - what is of most value will be worth higher than all the rest. We are to give all that we have just to gain this most valuable thing.

The tradition interpretation: 

The pearl, and the treasure in verse 44 represent Jesus Christ.

We are the merchant searching for treasure and we found it (Recall the "I've Found It" of the Billy Graham Crusades in the '70s).

So, we have Paul's life as our example in:

• Philippians 3:8 (ESV) Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 

Another Possible Interpretation:

By switching the roles: the pearl is us(sinners) and the merchant is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ gave of His all more, to suffer for us,  just to gain us. We are worth as much as all of God!

• Php 2:5-8  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,  (6)  who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,  (7)  but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  (8)  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

The 2nd interpretation gives us the example and the empowerment to accomplish the 1st. It is Christ who enables us to give our all to gain Him, who has given Himself to gain us. So we have:

• Galatians 2:20 (NIV) 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.

2. A better understanding of "Robbing God" of Malachi 3:8

• Mal 3:8  Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions.

The traditional interpretation is obvious as stated in the verse. We are robbing God because our tithes belong to God. 

A deeper understanding is to ask, does God need our tithes? Where did the tithes go? Why does God demand our tithes? The answer is obvious, it is for our benefits. Whatever God commands is always for our benefits. This is revealed in verse 

• Mal 3:11  I will rebuke the devourer for you so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts. 

So our tithes give God the rights to protect the rest and the long term growth of our wealth! So, what how are we robbing God if we don't give our tithes?

The answer is "You are robbing God of the opportunity to bless you!" which is essentially robbing yourself if you don't give your tithes.

3. The Mustard Seed Parable of Matthew 13:31-32

• “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” 

The principle taught is the principle of amplification and multiplication:

• just one smallest of all plant seeds (don't judge by outward appearance nor of size)
• sowed in a field.
• give time to grow
• become the largest of all plants 
• to be a tree to give homes to birds

What does the seed stand for?

Jesus did not tell us specifically and hence Jesus is telling us that is a Kingdom Principle and is applicable to many things.

What things?

Many use the seed as faith. A small seed of faith as a start to accomplish great things for God.

Many also use the seed as money. Money is given away like a seed being sowed and whereby bring forth a great harvest of profitable returns.

The seed could also be an idea. When sowed, meaning, being realized as an innovation or an invention, that brings many benefits to all and great wealth to the inventor or entrepreneur.

In summary, at times, we can to learn more and understand better when we extend our viewpoints. There is only one caution - never overextending to conflict with the original meanings of the text within the context. Always find verses to support your interpretations.

• Matthew 13:52-54  (CEV) 52 So he told them, “Every student of the Scriptures who becomes a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like someone who brings out new and old treasures from the storeroom.”

Lim Liat (c) 17 Feb 2019

For more on Kingdom Laws see Kingdom Laws & Principles

Breakthrough Prayer with the Format like a Court Case

An effective prayer could take the format of a court proceeding as an advocate presenting his case before a judge.

A pastor and a friend shared about the following three ways of praying:

1.  Father-Son Relationship: We pray to our Father to present our needs to Him.
2.  Friendship: We pray for our friend's needs as a stand-in. This is intercessory.
3.  Judge-Plaintiff Relationship: We present our case before the Judge as an advocate.

Is there any basis for the type 3 format of prayer?

We have the Old Testament verses:

• “Come now and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow …” (Isaiah 1:18)
• “Put Me in remembrance; let us contend together; state your case, that you may be acquitted.” (Isaiah 43:25)

We find God encouraging us to reason with Him and give Him reasons for Him to forgive us.  Abraham did that when he pleaded for Sodom(Genesis 18:16-33). Moses did that for his people (Numbers 14:11-20).

However, we also find:

• Pro 26:2  Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight. 

So firstly, we have the good news that we are protected from any curse that does not have any valid reason to catch hold of us. We can live safely and are protected.

Secondly, we have the danger part implied in the inverse of the verse. The curse can stay if there is any valid cause.  Peter warned us that the devil is like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). The devil is hunting for any cause to attack us.

While God is love, excessively by man's standard. God is also just. God will have to extend that justice to the devil too. So if the devil can find any legitimate reason such as our sin, he can attack us and block our prayers from being answered. This is also the reason why Jesus Christ, as the Son of God, has to become a man to die on the cross to pay for our sins and to arise to give us new lives. 

In prayers for healing, unforgiveness is often a cause that blocks the healing from taking place.  In the Lord's prayer, "forgive us our sins as we have forgiven others" (Matthew 6:9-13) and Paul in Eph 4:32 "forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you".  Healing usually takes place after the person concerned had forgiven some particular others.

Thirdly, no matter what was the cause, as we discover it, we can plead the blood of Jesus to cover and remove it as Jesus had paid the price for our deliverance. The Lord's Prayer Petition#7 is "But deliver us from evil."

Fourthly, the difficulty lies in the cause, which may not be due to us but due to our relatives or people around us and also to our forefathers who we did not even know at all. Such are known as the generational curses which could transfer 3 to 4 generations (Exodus 20:4-6). In such cases, our elders may know, and we can also rely on the Holy Spirit to reveal to us.

Whatever, we can count on God. 

• Heb 4:16  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 

Jesus has enabled us to confidently go to the throne of grace to receive mercy, not even plead, and to get the grace empowerment, to get our needs fulfilled.

What does such prayer look like? Below are two posts that give us the details:

• How to Break a Generational Curse
• Battle Prayer Against Terminal Hodgkin's Disease

Finally, after reading this, please do not be alarmed that you spend time digging into your past to find any curses or sins. You should only do the digging when you are led to or when you are finding you are not getting your answers after some long period of praying.

Lim Liat (c) 19 Feb 2019

Getting Your Needs Met God's Way - 2 King 4:1-7

Ask God first. God will start with what you have, instruct you to do with what you can, and bless you with more than what you need (solve the immediate needs and provide for future needs). We just need to trust and obey His given instructions. Our blessings depend on the faith reflected in our action. Ref: 2King 4:1-7

Bible Study the Mind-map Way:

How do I get to the above summary about how we can get our needs met God's way by reading the passage 2King 4:1-7? I will like to show you the mind-map way as shown below:


The steps are as follows:

1. Copy and Paste the passage text from your favorite translation of the Bible.
2. Break each verse into meaningful sub-branches.
3. Put in your comments, shown in brown text.
4. Find related bible verses, shown in blue text, if needed to emphasize the point.
5. From your comments, consolidate them, and write a summary, shown in red text.

The mind-map software used is Freeplane. You can create an HTML page directly from the software and it is shown below:

Elisha and the Widow's Oil

• The Needs

  • 2Ki 4:1  Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets

    • wife of the son of the a prophet
      - one generation away!

    • God's blessing will pass down many generations

      • I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on 
        your descendants. (Is 44:3)

      • I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children
        I will save. (Is 49:25)

      • All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their
        peace. (Is 54:13)

      • My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words 
        that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the 
        lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from 
        this time on and forever, says the Lord. (Is 59:21)

      • The children of Your servants will live in Your presence; their 
        descendants will be established before You. (Ps 102:28)

  • cried to Elisha,

    • go to the man of God

    • She did not waste time seeking help from her relatives or friends.

    • Now we can go to God, our Heavenly Father, directly through Jesus

  • “Your servant

    • why Elisha should help her

  • my husband is dead,

  • and you know that

    • your servant feared the LORD,

      • Her basis for asking for help.

      • Psalm 37:25 ► I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not 
        seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

  • but

    • She know it should not happen this way

    • the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.”

• The Answer

  • 2Ki 4:2  And Elisha said to her,

  • “What shall I do for you?

    • Our Father will ask us as we go to Him to ask.

      • Luke 18:41 "What do you want me to do for you?" "Lord, I want to
         see," he replied.

        He could ask for money instead of healing as in this widow's case.

  • Tell me; what have you in the house?”

    • God uses what we have to bless us.
      No need to go or do to get other thing first.

  • And she said,

    • “Your servant has nothing in the house except

    • a jar of oil.”

      • Whatever you have, no matter how little is enough for God

  • 2Ki 4:3  Then he said,

    • “Go outside,

      • from all your neighbors,

        • out of yourself, go to others for help

    • borrow vessels

    • empty vessels

    • and not too few.

      • expect big blessings

    • 2Ki 4:4  Then go in and

    • shut the door behind yourself and your sons &

    • • Keep to yourself;
        Do it secretly
        Not time for testimony yet

    • pour into all these vessels.

    • And when one is full,

    • set it aside.”

    • • specific, details

  • • Very clear instructions from God

• The Follow-up Actions

  • 2Ki 4:5  So she went from him and

  • shut the door behind herself and her sons.

    • did as instructed

  • And as she poured they brought the vessels to her.

    • fast team work

  • 2Ki 4:6  When the vessels were full,

  • she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.”

  • And he said to her, “There is not another.”

  • • flow stopped when there
      was no more vessel

      She could get more if she has borrowed more vessels. The blessings depend on our faith that is put in action. She probably followed Elisha's instructions well, borrowing from ALL her neighbor that was why she had enough to pay the debts and had enough for future needs.

  • Then the oil stopped flowing.

    • according to the capacity you have.

• • Follow instructions exactly

• Report Back & Ask for Further Instruction

  • 2Ki 4:7  She came and told the man of God, and

    • She did not know what to do with the oil. So she went back to ask. 
      When we don't know, go back and ask

• Further Guidance

  • he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts,

    • solve the immediate needs

  • and you and your sons can live on the rest.”

    • provide for future needs

• Summary

• Have a need?

  • Ask God first.

  • God will

    • start with what you have,

    • instruct you to do with what you can, and

    • bless you with more than what you need.

      • solve the immediate needs

      • provide for future needs

• We just need to trust and obey His given instructions

• Our blessings depend on the faith reflected in our action

Lim Liat (c) 12-1-19

The Purpose of Christmas - Salvation for Good Work

What is the purpose of Christmas? Many will reply it is the for the salvation of mankind by Jesus Christ. But there is more to that. Titus 2:11-14 tells us more.

Titus 2:11-14 ESV:

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

The Grace of God is for:

• bringing salvation for all people,-----Salvation is just the first step. Born-again with a new life and identity in Christ.
• training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and
  --- We move away from ungodliness and worldly passion
  --- and go after:
• to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 
• waiting for our blessed hope=the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ ----We look towards the coming of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul emphasizes again...

Jesus gave Himself for:

• to redeem us from all lawlessness and 
• to purify for himself a people for his own possession 
• who are zealous for good works.

His own people are purified from lawlessness and zealous for good works.

We are Saved for Good Work

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 

Let us, therefore, live out the new life that Jesus Christ has saved us for. God's glory is revealed through us.

Matthew 5:16 NIV In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Lim Liat(c) 19 Dec 2018

Top Priority - Parable of the Pearl of Great Price

What is top priority? How does it work? Learn from the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price in Matthew 13:45-46.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.— Matthew 13:45-46, King James Version

The Kingdom Principle of Top Priority - It takes all to get it

The Parable shows us what a top priority is or what does one mean by most valuable?  Top priority means you give all to achieve the one thing that is most valuable.  The principle is "sold all that he had, and bought it."

Jesus said it in John 15:13 NIV Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.

It is so valuable that it costs our lives. People are willing to die for a worthy cause. Dying for a cause should be the last resort to give for the cause. The more practical means is the meantime is to give one's time, efforts and talents for the cause. This is shown by Paul in Philippians 3:8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. 

The Pearl of Great Price - Christ

For Paul, the pearl of great price is Jesus Christ. He counted his past successes, learning, position, achievements as rubbish when compared to the knowledge of Christ. He was willing to suffer persecutions and many hardships just to spread the gospel of Christ. He eventually gave his life for Christ. We can learn from Paul in giving our time, effort, and talents to follow the calling of God for our lives, living out the Christ in us to bring glory to Him.

The Pearl of Great Price - Man

In the eyes of Jesus, we are the pearl of great price. He gave of Himself, setting aside His status of God and came to us, born of a virgin, and then died on the cross to pay for sins. He gave His all just to gain us. 

Application: Living Out Christmas through Our Years

In response to Jesus seeing us as His pearl, can we be like Paul who sees Jesus as his pearl and seek first His kingdom and righteousness (Matthew 6:33)?  Can we live our lives with gratefulness and contentment? Can we see wealth, honor, sufferings, disappointments, losses, persecutions, troubles etc in the new light and count them as nothing compared to what we already are in Jesus Christ.  That is the way to have Christmas all the years and the true meaning of Christmas.

Lim Liat (c) 17 Dec 2018

He has chosen and called you - Your Life Has Meaning

Our lives are meaningful. We are not an accident. Why? Because God has chosen us, adopted us, and give a purpose and meaning for our lives, that God's glory may be given and shone through our lives.

The Mindmap:



God has Chosen Us:

There is a great difference between natural and adopted children. Children had no say to choose whose their parents will be. But adopted children are specially chosen by the adopting parents. While adopting parents may have certain conditions to choose their adopted children, God's love and grace are without conditions. We don't deserve nor could we work at it. It is all of God's initiative.

Paul's Version:

1Th 1:4 ... brothers loved by God, that
• He has chosen you,
• Not that we have done anything to deserve that. In fact, it was opposite - we reject, rebel, against God.
• But Rom 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
• 1Th 2:12  we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

Jesus' Version:

• John15:16 You did not choose me,
• 
  
  • but I chose youBy Love & Grace
  • & appointed youA Purpose & Meaningful Task for us
  • 
    
• that you should
• go and bear fruit andwork of faith, the labor of love, steadfastness of hope
• your fruit should abide

Our fruit can abide, and last eternally as rewards in heavens, by us asking God's first for His will and empowerment to do works that please Him.

• so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

• God empowers us to His work through us.
• 1 Cor 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
• 
  
• Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
• 
  
• Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.

Peter's Version:

Peter tells us more about what we are chosen for and are. What a wonderful list:

• 1Pet 2:9 But you are
• a chosen race,
• a royal priesthood,
• a holy nation,
• a people for his own possession,

Our Purpose:

• that you may
• proclaim the excellencies of Him Jesus as Our Savior & Lord
• who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
  The Gospel - from death & bondage into Life & Freedom in Him
• The Gospel is not to make people good but to make dead people alive.
• 
  
• Col 2:13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses.

Our Reflections and Applications:

Do you know who you are?

Do you know what and how to live out this meaningful life that God has chosen you for?

May God bless you.

2Th 1:11  To this end we always pray for you,
that our God may make you worthy of his calling and
may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power,

2Th 1:12  so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

See also:  You are a Masterpiece Created in Christ Jesus.

Lim Liat (c) 10 Dec 18

Settling Disagreement in Church - Php 4:2-9

In the name of love, disagreements in Church are usually ignored or covered-up and hence the problem remains and relationships become superficial.  Paul shows us how to resolve them in Phillippians 4:2-9.

The Disagreement in Church

Php 4:2  I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.

Here we have two prominent ladies of the church that are in disagreement. The disagreement has come to the attention of Paul. Did Paul tell them to just agree in the Lord? No. Paul gave us the way to resolve the conflict.  He gave the reason why they need to resolve it --- because of the Lord. They are to work together in harmony because they all belonged to the same Lord and working for the same gospel. There is this basis for harmony.

1. Get A Mediator:
Php 4:3  Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women...

Paul requested a true companion, someone who had known the women, and who worked side by side with Paul and Clement. And most importantly, someone who had the respect and good relationships with the women.

We do not know who he was. Looking up Wikipedia, we found some suggestions: Peter Toon, in his commentary, wrote: "His identity is not known, but he was probably a respected and influential member of the church whose word would be heeded".[9] William Barclay, after discussing various possible identities, states "Maybe the best suggestion is that the reference is to Epaphroditus, the bearer of the letter."[10] 

2. Have the Right Emotion: Calm, Peace, Joy, Gratefulness(In Christ)

Php 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Most people might think that v3 is the end of the topic of resolving conflict and Paul had moved on to another topic. However, v5 tell us otherwise and we shall see later.

People in an emotionally charged-up state could not listen and reason. It is important to calm the emotions first before proper discussion can take place. It is best if both parties prepare themselves and have the attitude to want to resolve the issue rather than trying to blame one another.  So Paul wanted them to calm down and better still in an emotional state of gratefulness and joy and wanting to resolve issues amicably. So, they must recall the joy and gratefulness in Christ. The Chinese wisdom teaches us to address the emotion first, then reason out and then agree on the settlement. (以情入理而后立法). Starts with relationships, giving and saving face, and then address the mindset and then the ways to go forward.

3. Right Thinking - Reasonableness

Php 4:5  Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;

Paul wanted them to be reasonable. How reasonable should they be? Should be able to show to all and all people agree that it was reasonable! In fact, the reasonings should be used as an example for all to follow in the future.

Paul restated the purpose, in the Lord, and the urgency to settle it because the Lord is at hand.

The standards of reasoning should be based on pleasing the Lord. Discuss the issues as if the Lord is physically present.

4. Bring the Issues to the Lord - Get His Wisdom and Power

Php 4:6  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Many will be worried about the settlement. Will I lose out? How would it be better for me? What were be the better ways out? You see, when we worry, our focus will be on ourselves. Paul reminded us that there is a higher force at work. There is the greater help at hand. We just need to present them to God. Come to God, and list down all your concerns and needs and entrust them to God. Focus now on God and see how God lead you. When we understand God will help us, we shall calm down because the Power of Christs will guard and keep our minds in Jesus and with His wisdom.

5. What are the Biblical Principles to apply?

What and how will make a good settlement? How shall we think and behave? What are good or bad. Paul list down eight things to consider:

Php 4:8  Finally, brothers, think about these things:

1. whatever is true, 
2. whatever is honorable, 
3. whatever is just, 
4. whatever is pure, 
5. whatever is lovely, 
6. whatever is commendable, 
7. if there is any excellence, 
8. if there is anything worthy of praise, 

6. Follow the Good Examples of Paul/Worthy Leaders and Practices:

Php 4:9  What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

If we are still blur about what and how to do, Paul said to follow his examples and practices.

Next time if there be any disagreement, don't just ignore it, but maybe can put Paul's advice into practice and have a church with authentic relationships.

Lim Liat (c) 29 Nov 2018