The Crossing

"For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:13-14)

The moment you experienced Christ, you do not belong to this world. You have crossed over from darkness to light, from sin to righteousness, from slavery to freedom. You have a new identity. No longer slaves in Egypt but sons and daughters of the Living God. No longer do you need to "worship from afar", but you can draw near to where your Heavenly Father is, without fear or hesitation. He calls you, just as He called the Israelites - to draw near to Him in worship and intimacy.

Many Christians have accepted God's gift of salvation but are still "flirting with the world". Like the Israelites, they are still carrying Egypt with them in their hearts and minds. When the going is tough, they do not have the tenacity to persevere but kept on looking back at the world they left behind, instead of moving on to claim the promises of God (Exodus 14 and 16).

The greatest freedom you can experience is the freedom to say "No" to worldly temptation and sin. It is still your choice whether to allow sin to continue to rule in your life. Having the power and exercising it are two different things.

Have you crossed over completely?

Who needs Favour?

Pastor Tommy Tenney's message last Sunday must have been very well received by all, particularly the young people.

First, there was a compelling story to share. Esther's story is a rags-to-riches story, like Cinderella or "Pretty Woman". The kind of story every young person likes. Don't we all dream of that "one day" or that "one encounter" that will change our individual destinies.

Can we believe the same God who was at work in Esther's life is at work in our lives?

Then, Esther's story is a story of favour. Don't we all need that? Especially for that exam, the job interview, the special assignment or window of opportunity ahead of us. Esther "won the favour of everyone who saw her" (Esther 2:15) but more importantly, she won God's favour (v. 17). I'm reminded of the example of our Lord Jesus too.

"And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men." (Luke 2:52)

Pastor Tenney pointed out that Esther's obedience gave God a reason to bless her. I thought that was so well put. God wants to bless us, at every chance He gets. But are we making it easy or difficult for Him to do so?

Growing in Interdependence

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh." (Galatians 5:16 NASB)
"If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." (Galatians 5:25 NASB)

In the first quarter of this Year of Sabbath, we got back to basics in our PERSONAL walk with the Lord. We've focused on reading the Word and Prayer, on Fasting and Repentance. Individually, we need to continue walking (Galatians 5:16) in the Spirit, so that we will not carry out the desires of the flesh.

Yet the Greek word for "walking" by the Spirit in Galatians 5:25 refers to a CORPORATE walk in the Spirit. We need to learn to walk in step with one another "in the Spirit".

Consider the following checks and guidelines gleaned from a teaching by Pastor Benny Ho.

3 things that can cause dis-unity in the Body of Christ:

Do we get conceited, "do our own thing" and pull ahead of the Body?

Are we excessively competitive and cause others to pull aside in the ministry?

Do we get envious of others' successes and pull out of the race in order to "save face"?

3 things we must do to keep in step with one another:

Is there someone who has fallen and needs a helping hand?

Is there something you can do to help those who are overloaded?

Is there a place where you need to take personal responsibility to carry your own load?

Let's commit to march as one army, so that we can corporately enter God's rest. A step-by-step walk individually, as well as corporately, into God's glory.

Psalm-thing for you!

I had an interesting dinner conversation with my daughter the other day. I asked her what the Fear of God means to a youth nowadays. She asked me how I had been able to grow so much in so short a time as a young Christian. Did I find the desire within to read and love the Word of God? Or did I follow what some leader told me to do? We talked about the pressures a young person faces these days and how difficult it is to find good models of those who consistently live out God's truth and the reality of the Christian faith.

My mind went back to Psalm 119 which we've just read for the week. If you manage to read all 176 verses of this longest Psalm in one go, I congratulate you! Psalm 119 is the psalm for a young person. In it, you will find precious nuggets of truth which will guide you in your walk towards a victorious life in Christ. One of my favourite portions is found in Psalm 119:9-11.

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."

PS. Pastor Julie will have a little gift for anyone who can memorise these verses and recite it to her in church this week!