Let's think a while, are we far apart from God? Well, sometimes it's just us who felt God is so near but seem so far. Guess again, I found out that the first staement mentioned above is wrong when I am doing my devotion. What are the reasons? You'll know when I continue to share on about what God have revealed to me about this and prompted me to share with everyone. Let's focus our thoughts in the Covenant of God.
Let's start off with the most fundamental thoughts, what does the word covenant meant in the eyes of God? It's an "agreement" between us and God to do refrain from doing some act; a compact." Let's get start rolling on the Old Covenant. Then make a difference and conclude the benefits of living in God in this new era.
The Old Covenant
~> This is what the people of God practised in the times of our fore-fathers. One of the most commonly mentioned is the Ten Commandments. You may refer to http://www.the-ten-commandments.org/the-ten-commandments.html if you are not familiar with it. The Ten Commandments are practised by the Israelites those days and they disobeyed God's Ten Commandments. They have the attitude of unbelief, rebellion, disobedience and disregard for the law [the Ten Commandments], therefore they were severely punished by God Himself. Their disobedience and unbelief reflected on God's reputation. However, God desired the Israelites to be obedient so they can continue in God's light. Till now, the Israelites or most of us are still bounded to keep the law because it was the covenant way of life. Coming up is also a practise by the olden days where they sacrifice animals [lamb]. This is rather a just a "ceremony" where most people thought this old covenant is like a various ceremony that consists of food and drinks [Heb 9:10]. They require blood of an undefect lamb [perfect]. Besides, they conduct this ceremony in the Most Holy Place where only can be accessible by High Priest not anyone else. The people of God who gone through this ceremony is only "outwardly clean" but not spiritually because it is not able to clear the conscience of God's people/ His worshippers. This leads to most people being ignorant and continue to commit sins with no honest repentance. Therefore, their regular basis of sinning helps us to realise our weakness and limitations and this leads us the needs to seek guidance and aid from the Holy Spirit [God's Spirit] to overcome our human nature. The practise of Old Covenant is rather a disadvantage because we only received materials blessings if we obey and able to fulfil the requirement of keeping the law. This is rather more depending on human effort than God's grace. However, we still be saved by God's grace but God did bring them salvation and never promise an eternal life in the Old Covenant.
The New Covenant
The new covenant starts after the death and resurection of Jesus. This is because God said that " A covenant is only valid only when men are dead; never able to enforce when alive." Unlike the Old Covenant, the new Covenant came by grace and truth by Jesus. The new covenant is a better hope introduced by God, so we can draw close to God [Heb 7: 19]. This can be testified in God's oath about Jesus where He is a High Priest forever; pure, perfect and defectless [Heb 7: 26~27]. He does not need to cleanse Himself from sins before cleansing people's sin. God's love us for us that He sent His one and only son to die for us. Jesus able to save us permanently for those who come to God through Him; because He always interceed on our behalf. After Jesus was sacrifised for us, the law has been made pefect forever (Heb 7:28). Therefore, by accepting Jesus in our lives; for His blood able to cleanse our conscience from sin (acts that leads to death) so that we may serve the living God. By His blood that purify us; it has forgive our wicknedness and sins. Hence, it is said that we can enter to the Most Holy Place through Jesus blood and communicate with God. However, it is also important to know that sins, pride and other worldly wicked act will hinder us to communicate with God. The new covenant relies on Jesus living His own life in us through Holy Spirit. It's a direct change where it is not about the abedience of law like the Old Covenant, but we live in the grace of God [Romans 6:14] . We still be saved by God's grace but God did bring us to salvation and promise an eternal life in the New Covenant.
How do we treasure the New Covenant?
~> Honest Repentance
~> Acknowledge the value/importance of the New Covenant
~>A correct attitude in communion.
~>Conviction towards Christ and live a righteous life.
Conclusion
As a conclusion, it is indeed an advantage to live for God in the new era. It is important to know that we can seek God anywhere with the desire of seeking Him in correct attitude; without entering the Most Holy Place.
**I will be focusing God's word in the new blog with 3 other admins. Feel free to drop by to http://witheverything.blogspot.com/ **
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Worship & Growing in Worship
Apart growing in His words and prayer, it is important to grow in worship as well because:
~> Worship is more than just a service itself!
~> A normal part of Christian life.
~> Build a close relationship with God. God created us to worship and to fellowship with Him.
~> God will not accept the wrong kind of worship from our own ways, culture and tradition.
~> We should always worship God better than the previous session we have (improvement).
Worship~> Can be done in various ways. (singing,clapping hands, dancing & etc..). It also covers every actions of our lives daily. Bible also tells us to present our very own lives to God as living sacrifises (Romans 12: 1~2). This allows God to use you in His good work. Worshipping not so much comes from actions and work, but what comes out from heart! We have to differentiate between give thanks and worship because some of us tends to get mixed up just like the difference of mercy and grace. Give thanks~> For what he has done in our lives. (blessings, protection and etc...), meanwhile Worship ~> For who He is and for His worthyness.
Why do we worship?
1) One of the way to fellowship with God.
~>Christians continue to worship our Lord in heaven eternally.
~>We will get to know the heartbeat of His when His presence comes to us during worship.
2) God is seeking true worshippers.
~> Very important in God's sight.
~> God is very delight when we worship Him.
~> True worship does not depend on the place where we worship him, or who we are: It depends upon your heart attitude towards God. No point if we just worship Him by singing and etc...without sincerity of our hearts and acknowledging the Lord.
3) Bible commands us to worship.
~> refer Psalms 29:2 and Psalm 95 : 6~7
4) Worship is an act of honouring God.
~> We worship Him for all what he has bore much sufferings for us and died for us at the cross.
He deserved to be worshipped.
5) Worthy to be praised and worshipped.
~> Our God is always great and waesome!
~> Acknowledge Him & the wonderful deeds for us.
~> For He has chosen us and saved us from sins, treating us as His Treassured possession.
Growing in worship~ (Luke 7: 36~50) as ref text
Keep in mind that the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart. Most of us may keep on mentioning coming back to heart of worship. But do we really know what does it means fully? The word "H.E.A.R.T" has it's own meaning itself.
H stands for Humility or Humbleness of Heart.
~> When we seek God, we should always humble ourselves down before God. Most of us expect God to reach out to us, but the we should have done the vice~versa. Always remember that pride is the primary hindreance to worship. Pride makes us to be consumed with the thoughts about yourself. Therefore, we must not concern how people looking at you. Just worship as who you are! Humility cause us to think more of God and this makes us more focus in worshipping.
E stands for Emotion. (luke 7: 38)
~> Do not hold back any genuine and visible emotion. It is OK to let it all out to God. It's OK to cry, raise our hands and etc... for our God! We put our pride aside, submit yourselves and everything to Jesus. Come with the spirit of humility and get involve in emotion totally to worship God.
A stands for Adoration.
~> Adoration has a definition of to worship as divine and giving the person at the highest all, most respect. Do we give the Lord the adoration that He supposed to get? It's easy that we adore others such as animals, pop stars, worldly materials, but what about God? This is one of the reason why sometimes we are out of the presence of God when we seek God in the house of God. This is because we have adored the wrong things! We should be full-life in worshipping Him, commited and fully to worship Him.
R stands for Repentance. (Luke 7 : v39, 47, 48)
~> Of everything, we must never deny the fact that we are sinners!
~> We should learn to surrender your everything to God; weakness, wrong doings & sins before God.
~> To grow in worship we need to grow in righteousness because when we walk in sin we cannot worship God fully. So, we should confess our sins before God. To worship Him must accept 2 truths;
i) Who God is & who we are. We are saved sinners!
ii)Honest repentance ~> so that we won't lie to God, ourselves and others.
T stands for thanks giving Heart (luke 7: 46~47)
~> Worship is more than just a service itself!
~> A normal part of Christian life.
~> Build a close relationship with God. God created us to worship and to fellowship with Him.
~> God will not accept the wrong kind of worship from our own ways, culture and tradition.
~> We should always worship God better than the previous session we have (improvement).
Worship~> Can be done in various ways. (singing,clapping hands, dancing & etc..). It also covers every actions of our lives daily. Bible also tells us to present our very own lives to God as living sacrifises (Romans 12: 1~2). This allows God to use you in His good work. Worshipping not so much comes from actions and work, but what comes out from heart! We have to differentiate between give thanks and worship because some of us tends to get mixed up just like the difference of mercy and grace. Give thanks~> For what he has done in our lives. (blessings, protection and etc...), meanwhile Worship ~> For who He is and for His worthyness.
Why do we worship?
1) One of the way to fellowship with God.
~>Christians continue to worship our Lord in heaven eternally.
~>We will get to know the heartbeat of His when His presence comes to us during worship.
2) God is seeking true worshippers.
~> Very important in God's sight.
~> God is very delight when we worship Him.
~> True worship does not depend on the place where we worship him, or who we are: It depends upon your heart attitude towards God. No point if we just worship Him by singing and etc...without sincerity of our hearts and acknowledging the Lord.
3) Bible commands us to worship.
~> refer Psalms 29:2 and Psalm 95 : 6~7
4) Worship is an act of honouring God.
~> We worship Him for all what he has bore much sufferings for us and died for us at the cross.
He deserved to be worshipped.
5) Worthy to be praised and worshipped.
~> Our God is always great and waesome!
~> Acknowledge Him & the wonderful deeds for us.
~> For He has chosen us and saved us from sins, treating us as His Treassured possession.
Growing in worship~ (Luke 7: 36~50) as ref text
Keep in mind that the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart. Most of us may keep on mentioning coming back to heart of worship. But do we really know what does it means fully? The word "H.E.A.R.T" has it's own meaning itself.
H stands for Humility or Humbleness of Heart.
~> When we seek God, we should always humble ourselves down before God. Most of us expect God to reach out to us, but the we should have done the vice~versa. Always remember that pride is the primary hindreance to worship. Pride makes us to be consumed with the thoughts about yourself. Therefore, we must not concern how people looking at you. Just worship as who you are! Humility cause us to think more of God and this makes us more focus in worshipping.
E stands for Emotion. (luke 7: 38)
~> Do not hold back any genuine and visible emotion. It is OK to let it all out to God. It's OK to cry, raise our hands and etc... for our God! We put our pride aside, submit yourselves and everything to Jesus. Come with the spirit of humility and get involve in emotion totally to worship God.
A stands for Adoration.
~> Adoration has a definition of to worship as divine and giving the person at the highest all, most respect. Do we give the Lord the adoration that He supposed to get? It's easy that we adore others such as animals, pop stars, worldly materials, but what about God? This is one of the reason why sometimes we are out of the presence of God when we seek God in the house of God. This is because we have adored the wrong things! We should be full-life in worshipping Him, commited and fully to worship Him.
R stands for Repentance. (Luke 7 : v39, 47, 48)
~> Of everything, we must never deny the fact that we are sinners!
~> We should learn to surrender your everything to God; weakness, wrong doings & sins before God.
~> To grow in worship we need to grow in righteousness because when we walk in sin we cannot worship God fully. So, we should confess our sins before God. To worship Him must accept 2 truths;
i) Who God is & who we are. We are saved sinners!
ii)Honest repentance ~> so that we won't lie to God, ourselves and others.
T stands for thanks giving Heart (luke 7: 46~47)
~> Let's reminiscence a moment in our lives, do we really felt thankful for all he did sometimes?
~> We must have a mindset that God is the most precious thing, more than everything we have in our lives.
~> live a life of content, gratefulness and thankfulness for what he has blessed you.
~> Give to God what belongs to Him. (eg. music talents--> serve Him the best in worshipping team, tithes, and other talents).
~> Do not hold back and give your best shot in worshipping Him.
~Conclusion~
Begin with a himble Heart
Brims over Emotion
Exhibit yourself in Adoration
Leads a life to Repentance
Have a heart of Thanks Giving
*To bring enjoyment to God is your first purpose of your life; this proves your worth, you are important to God. -Rick Warren-
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Growing in HIS words
Do you ever know that Bible is one of the most popular books sold on Earth? No book in the world can be compared with the Bible because it is not written by man, but through the inspiration of God. The Bible is also a single, unified book, with a single unfolding theme concerning God's redemptive plan for mankind. The Bible is God's revelation to man; free from human error. Bible has great influence towards lives of readers. This is because Bible is the source of all revealed and unchanged truth. Bible is also the highest standard and truth for our lives. Christians uses biblical teaching in their daily lives to weigh the rights and wrongs of problems they encounter.
Bible is divided into 2 main compartment;
Old Testament~> There is only one, true, and living God and before Jesus is born. More towards to law, relationships between God and Man and also about prophets and their prophecies. It also shows God's wrath on human and the old covenant. Text originally written in Hebrew
New Testament~> Jesus Christ is the Saviour of all mankind. He died on the cross for our sins and was raised 3 days later from the dead. It also discuss Jesus' journey of live in ministering, His second coming and how we, believers will reign eternally with Him. Text originally written in Greek.
Why do we need to read Bible?
a) Word of God is our spiritual food ~> Man is made up from 3 parts; body, soul [mind] and spirit. Just like our physical body needs food, our spirit too requires food to "grow". God's Word provides nourishment for our spirit, helping our spirit to "grow" and help us in becoming more like Christ-like character.
b) Gives direction in our lives~> It is said to be our lamp and light which guides us to walk on the right path that God desire us to go [God's Will]. Reading bible on the regular basis helps us to understand God's plan and His will for our lives.
c)God's word is like a mirror ~> Not only reveals the holiness of God but also reveals the imperfection of men. It also helps us to reflect upon our mistakes and sins that we have committed.
d)Prepare us for His every good work~> Bible is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so we can be thoroughly equipped for every work He has prepared for us.
e) Training us more to be like Jesus ~> God calls us to transform ou lives to be as perfect as our heavenly Father. No doubt that we cannot do it alone, but with God's grace and through following the teachings of the Bible will help us in that aim. God does not expect us to change in one day, but He gradually develop and transform our lives to be more like HIM.
Right Attitudes towards the Bible.
1) Obey the Bible~> The bible is full of authority because it is the Word of God. We should sincerely be submissive and obedient to the Bible.
2) Hunger for God's Word~> We must have the desire to know and understand the Bible fully. Even though you did not understand what His scripture says, do not worry as you just have to accept for the time being and pray that He will reveal the meaning of it.
3) Having Faith towards Bible~> Bible allows us to draw close to the Lord and enter into His presence. We should read the Bible with faith and not with the attitude to disprove its truth. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Have faith in it because; free from human error, holds the highest standards, precepts and truths, able to transform us into a better being.
4) Commitment in His words~> regardless how busy we are and what we faced in our lives, we should spend QUALITY time daily in HIS words.
5) Quick in listening~> This means we listen carefully in order to get the right message. It is important to do so because the Devil wants us to listen to wrong things as to corrupt our mind. Devil can corrupt us through emotions [prejudice, anger, sorrow and etc..] , songs [emo type] and etc..All these are the walls build by the Devils to separate us from listening to God.
6) Slow in speaking~> We're talking about the inner whisper, not the externally. We cannot listen carefully while you are thinking. You also must not have the attitude of rejection where you cannot accept the God's words and His teachings.
7) Slow in becoming anger~> the word anger means orge in Greek where it shows an inner resentment. Therefore, it is important to have the value of patience while you are learning and also endure throughout the process of learning.
It is important to prepare yourself spiritually so you are ready to accept and listen to His words. We can prepared spiritually by;
a) Pray before you read
b) Worship
c) Do not argue with God
Conclusion
1)We must daily read the Bible with Hope and Faith that it will transform our lives.
2) Bible reveals God's will for us.
3) Bible as a guideline in our lives.
4) SPEND SOME TIME READING BIBLE DAILY!!!
Bible is divided into 2 main compartment;
Old Testament~> There is only one, true, and living God and before Jesus is born. More towards to law, relationships between God and Man and also about prophets and their prophecies. It also shows God's wrath on human and the old covenant. Text originally written in Hebrew
New Testament~> Jesus Christ is the Saviour of all mankind. He died on the cross for our sins and was raised 3 days later from the dead. It also discuss Jesus' journey of live in ministering, His second coming and how we, believers will reign eternally with Him. Text originally written in Greek.
Why do we need to read Bible?
a) Word of God is our spiritual food ~> Man is made up from 3 parts; body, soul [mind] and spirit. Just like our physical body needs food, our spirit too requires food to "grow". God's Word provides nourishment for our spirit, helping our spirit to "grow" and help us in becoming more like Christ-like character.
b) Gives direction in our lives~> It is said to be our lamp and light which guides us to walk on the right path that God desire us to go [God's Will]. Reading bible on the regular basis helps us to understand God's plan and His will for our lives.
c)God's word is like a mirror ~> Not only reveals the holiness of God but also reveals the imperfection of men. It also helps us to reflect upon our mistakes and sins that we have committed.
d)Prepare us for His every good work~> Bible is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so we can be thoroughly equipped for every work He has prepared for us.
e) Training us more to be like Jesus ~> God calls us to transform ou lives to be as perfect as our heavenly Father. No doubt that we cannot do it alone, but with God's grace and through following the teachings of the Bible will help us in that aim. God does not expect us to change in one day, but He gradually develop and transform our lives to be more like HIM.
Right Attitudes towards the Bible.
1) Obey the Bible~> The bible is full of authority because it is the Word of God. We should sincerely be submissive and obedient to the Bible.
2) Hunger for God's Word~> We must have the desire to know and understand the Bible fully. Even though you did not understand what His scripture says, do not worry as you just have to accept for the time being and pray that He will reveal the meaning of it.
3) Having Faith towards Bible~> Bible allows us to draw close to the Lord and enter into His presence. We should read the Bible with faith and not with the attitude to disprove its truth. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Have faith in it because; free from human error, holds the highest standards, precepts and truths, able to transform us into a better being.
4) Commitment in His words~> regardless how busy we are and what we faced in our lives, we should spend QUALITY time daily in HIS words.
5) Quick in listening~> This means we listen carefully in order to get the right message. It is important to do so because the Devil wants us to listen to wrong things as to corrupt our mind. Devil can corrupt us through emotions [prejudice, anger, sorrow and etc..] , songs [emo type] and etc..All these are the walls build by the Devils to separate us from listening to God.
6) Slow in speaking~> We're talking about the inner whisper, not the externally. We cannot listen carefully while you are thinking. You also must not have the attitude of rejection where you cannot accept the God's words and His teachings.
7) Slow in becoming anger~> the word anger means orge in Greek where it shows an inner resentment. Therefore, it is important to have the value of patience while you are learning and also endure throughout the process of learning.
It is important to prepare yourself spiritually so you are ready to accept and listen to His words. We can prepared spiritually by;
a) Pray before you read
b) Worship
c) Do not argue with God
Conclusion
1)We must daily read the Bible with Hope and Faith that it will transform our lives.
2) Bible reveals God's will for us.
3) Bible as a guideline in our lives.
4) SPEND SOME TIME READING BIBLE DAILY!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)