13 Sep 2012; Luke 5:27-39
Getting back to God.
Verse 27-32 is about Jesus dinning with Levi the tax collector. The key is
And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
(Luke 5:31-32 ESV)
Verse 33-39, is about old wine and new wine in old and new garment.
And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed.
(Luke 5:37 ESV)
The everyday activities of work and family has kept me busy, and away from God. The verse today reminds me of the initial mandate of knowing who my Jesus is. It is not knowing Him in order to get the blessing in life or so that Jesus can be package in some convience so that we can call upon as at when we want.
I had a bad dream and it reminds me of a few movie I watch about 8 persons struck underground in a cellar with no way out - a hopeless case that turned one person on the other.
We are in a way "struck" in this world and therefore the hope of getting out is in the Lord. Our lives here is a few decades, but it is the promised of eternal life in Christ Jesus. The Lord came, give us that hope - the redemption of sinners like us to repent.
In the likewise, we are like wine in this wolrd of wine skin. A mismatch. Our place is not in this world, not in the business we are creating, the career we are creating, the acadmemics achivement etc.
The purpose of our stay, is for the purposes of God, not the purposes to create or achieve in this mismatch world. The purpose of Jesus coming is the hope that we may live a life free of sins for Him.
It therefore starts with our perspective. Our hope is in God, not the things of the world. Christ perspective is for the sinners not the righteous.
I pray for that turning towards you, the heart (to repentance) and the hope (to the things of Christ and not of this world.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012
13 Sep 2012; Luke 5
13 Sep 2012; Luke 5
Luke 5:12-26
Jesus did 2 healing - one to a leaper and the other to a paralyzed man.
The leper was able to approached Jesus and asked Jesus if He was willing to heal him. Jesus did.
The second, the paralyzed man failed to approached Jesus. But probably has asked his friend to bring him to Jesus. They failed to approached Jesus, they resorted to bring him down from the roof. This time the man did not ask Jesus to heal him, but Jesus
And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”
(Luke 5:20 ESV)
What did the paralyzed man want? His desired was to be healed to be able to walk again. That was why he go all out to get to the presence of Jesus. But Jesus did not heal him, He forgive his sins.
The leper - if you are willing, make me clean.
Similarity:
Both want to be healed.
Both approach Jesus
Contrast:
Jesus heal one, but forgive the other.
Story:
The leper knew Jesus as such his desire is to be cleanse on the outside.
The paralyzed heard about Jesus and his works. His desire is to be heal on the outside. But Jesus needs to "cleanse" the inside.
Response:
What therefore matters most is not about the physical state of healing but the soul-state of healing.
In a similar way, we engage God because we want to connect with Him.
In a similar way, it is not the works that touches man, but Jesus that touches the heart.
Jesus simply want us, not the physical state but make right the conditions of our heart and soul so that we can approach God again.
Let my heart be right with God and begin right with Him before all works. The conditions of our heart matters. Amen.
Luke 5:12-26
Jesus did 2 healing - one to a leaper and the other to a paralyzed man.
The leper was able to approached Jesus and asked Jesus if He was willing to heal him. Jesus did.
The second, the paralyzed man failed to approached Jesus. But probably has asked his friend to bring him to Jesus. They failed to approached Jesus, they resorted to bring him down from the roof. This time the man did not ask Jesus to heal him, but Jesus
And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”
(Luke 5:20 ESV)
What did the paralyzed man want? His desired was to be healed to be able to walk again. That was why he go all out to get to the presence of Jesus. But Jesus did not heal him, He forgive his sins.
The leper - if you are willing, make me clean.
Similarity:
Both want to be healed.
Both approach Jesus
Contrast:
Jesus heal one, but forgive the other.
Story:
The leper knew Jesus as such his desire is to be cleanse on the outside.
The paralyzed heard about Jesus and his works. His desire is to be heal on the outside. But Jesus needs to "cleanse" the inside.
Response:
What therefore matters most is not about the physical state of healing but the soul-state of healing.
In a similar way, we engage God because we want to connect with Him.
In a similar way, it is not the works that touches man, but Jesus that touches the heart.
Jesus simply want us, not the physical state but make right the conditions of our heart and soul so that we can approach God again.
Let my heart be right with God and begin right with Him before all works. The conditions of our heart matters. Amen.
Monday, September 10, 2012
10 Sep 2012; Luke 5
10 Sep 2012; Luke 5
Luke 5: 1-11, Jesus called Simon Peter.
Background:
The crowd was pressing in towards Jesus and as a result Jesus retreated to preach on a boat. The boat happened to belong to Simon.
To being with, Simon has just finished fishing. In fact he was washing his nets.
and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.
(Luke 5:2 ESV)
Simon has been fishing all nights can catch no fish.
And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”
(Luke 5:5 ESV)
Jesus asked Simon to fish again. They caught fish, BUT this is Simon response:
But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
(Luke 5:8 ESV)
Similarities:
In the last chapter, Jesus rebuke the demons and the fever. When the demons saw Jesus, they knew who He was. When the sick came to be healed, they knew Jesus only as a doctor.
“Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”
(Luke 4:34 ESV)
And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.
(Luke 4:41 ESV)
Contrast:
Simon's mother-in-law was one of the person healed by Jesus.
Simon's eyes were opened. He saw Jesus not as a miracle worker, but the Lord, the Son of God. He responded like the way a demon who knew Jesus would response.
Rach mentioned well in her blog on the call to repentance. Unless we see the lord as your Lord and God, there will be no change. If the yearn is for the blessing, the healing, it will be just a thank you God and in good response, like Simon's mother-in-law, we start serving.
Response:
As such, Lord, open my eyes that I may see you as the Lord and God. Not that I want you to depart, but let my sin departs that I may be close to you.
Part of a personal revival is seeking the presence of God. Let you presence fall in this place. You have no place for sins, but you can forgive us for our sins. cleanse us that we may be near to you. Amen.
Luke 5: 1-11, Jesus called Simon Peter.
Background:
The crowd was pressing in towards Jesus and as a result Jesus retreated to preach on a boat. The boat happened to belong to Simon.
To being with, Simon has just finished fishing. In fact he was washing his nets.
and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.
(Luke 5:2 ESV)
Simon has been fishing all nights can catch no fish.
And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”
(Luke 5:5 ESV)
Jesus asked Simon to fish again. They caught fish, BUT this is Simon response:
But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
(Luke 5:8 ESV)
Similarities:
In the last chapter, Jesus rebuke the demons and the fever. When the demons saw Jesus, they knew who He was. When the sick came to be healed, they knew Jesus only as a doctor.
“Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”
(Luke 4:34 ESV)
And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.
(Luke 4:41 ESV)
Contrast:
Simon's mother-in-law was one of the person healed by Jesus.
Simon's eyes were opened. He saw Jesus not as a miracle worker, but the Lord, the Son of God. He responded like the way a demon who knew Jesus would response.
Rach mentioned well in her blog on the call to repentance. Unless we see the lord as your Lord and God, there will be no change. If the yearn is for the blessing, the healing, it will be just a thank you God and in good response, like Simon's mother-in-law, we start serving.
Response:
As such, Lord, open my eyes that I may see you as the Lord and God. Not that I want you to depart, but let my sin departs that I may be close to you.
Part of a personal revival is seeking the presence of God. Let you presence fall in this place. You have no place for sins, but you can forgive us for our sins. cleanse us that we may be near to you. Amen.
Sunday, September 09, 2012
9 Sep 2012; Luke 4
9 Sep 2012; Luke 4:31-44
After Jesus left Nazareth, He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath,
(Luke 4:31 ESV)
Two repeated ministry was mentioned from this last portion of Luke chapter 4. He cast out demons and teaching in the synagogues
But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm.
(Luke 4:35 ESV)
And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
(Luke 4:44 ESV)
for I was sent for this purpose.”
(Luke 4:43 ESV)
In the former ministry, which was so successful that people began to see Jesus as the healer, a doctor and began to bring the sick to Him. Part and parcel of ministry, but the main purpose is for and so that the good news (the teaching) can go forward.
Jesus speak with authority. The demons know Him, but the people to whom He teach do not. Contrast.
How then is this authority build upon. Jesus is the Son of God - of course. How about us? God has given us the Holy Spirit.
And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
(Acts 1:4-5 ESV)
How then it is for us to receive?
Personal Revival - it all starts with a personal desire. A desire for the spirit to fill us, a desire to see breakthrough and a desire to see a change - a revival in our spirit man.
How? Through Prayer, seeking His Presence and putting our Priority rights.
After Jesus left Nazareth, He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath,
(Luke 4:31 ESV)
Two repeated ministry was mentioned from this last portion of Luke chapter 4. He cast out demons and teaching in the synagogues
But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm.
(Luke 4:35 ESV)
And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
(Luke 4:44 ESV)
for I was sent for this purpose.”
(Luke 4:43 ESV)
In the former ministry, which was so successful that people began to see Jesus as the healer, a doctor and began to bring the sick to Him. Part and parcel of ministry, but the main purpose is for and so that the good news (the teaching) can go forward.
Jesus speak with authority. The demons know Him, but the people to whom He teach do not. Contrast.
How then is this authority build upon. Jesus is the Son of God - of course. How about us? God has given us the Holy Spirit.
And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
(Acts 1:4-5 ESV)
How then it is for us to receive?
Personal Revival - it all starts with a personal desire. A desire for the spirit to fill us, a desire to see breakthrough and a desire to see a change - a revival in our spirit man.
How? Through Prayer, seeking His Presence and putting our Priority rights.
Friday, September 07, 2012
7 Sep 2012; Luke 4
7 Sep 2012; Luke 4
It has been a while since I last blog. Nevertheless, it is good to start again.
Jesus begin His ministry in Galilee, Nazareth. Interestingly, He was rejected because He was just the son of a carpenter.
And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”
(Luke 4:24-27 ESV)
Jesus went on and minister at Capernaum, and in the synagogues of Judea (v44).
If Jesus is not rejected at Nazareth, will His ministry stays and continue there only?
God has a plan for humanity. It will begin in Hebrews to the gentiles.
Likewise, lets began our ministry here at our home, Singapore and then oversea. How then and what then to minister at home.
Anchor the family in the God - build an interest in Him - who is my God (theology)
Anchor the family in the word - build an interest in the Jesus - who is my master (allegiance and identity)
Anchor the family in worship - build an interest to praise - what am I called to do (purpose and value)
Anchor the family in giving - build an interest to serve - what is important to me (priority)
Anchor the family in prayer - build an interest in engaging Him - how can I be build up (empowering and foundation).
It has been a while since I last blog. Nevertheless, it is good to start again.
Jesus begin His ministry in Galilee, Nazareth. Interestingly, He was rejected because He was just the son of a carpenter.
And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”
(Luke 4:24-27 ESV)
Jesus went on and minister at Capernaum, and in the synagogues of Judea (v44).
If Jesus is not rejected at Nazareth, will His ministry stays and continue there only?
God has a plan for humanity. It will begin in Hebrews to the gentiles.
Likewise, lets began our ministry here at our home, Singapore and then oversea. How then and what then to minister at home.
Anchor the family in the God - build an interest in Him - who is my God (theology)
Anchor the family in the word - build an interest in the Jesus - who is my master (allegiance and identity)
Anchor the family in worship - build an interest to praise - what am I called to do (purpose and value)
Anchor the family in giving - build an interest to serve - what is important to me (priority)
Anchor the family in prayer - build an interest in engaging Him - how can I be build up (empowering and foundation).
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