Followers

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Is My Church Growing? I Think So!


Is my church growing? Physically, it is self-evident. But bear in mind that church is also the place for corporate spiritual growth. Some clear evident for spiritual growths are:

1) the congregation thirst for the Word of God;

2) the awareness of the importance of personal prayer, instead of depending on the clergies. The clergies are there to pastor and guide. A shepherd never feed his sheep with a spoon full of grass; instead he LEAD them to a field and monitor.

There are many more signs of church growth, but these two are in need of serious attention at the moment as I personally felt that ‘we have not yet switched on the right switch to intimacy with God’.

Let’s go to basic: We laughed at the Sunday School children, assuming that they looked FUNNY and cute when they sing and pray but little do we realize that we are no better than them; we are not even close to be more ‘matured’ than the kids if we don’t grow spiritually. Let’s be frank; we feel as if we ‘know God more than the kids just because we are OLDER.’ We laughed when the kids said ‘dairy’ instead of ‘daily bread’ in the Lord’s Prayer. But do we pray like the kids, who of no great knowledge of the world around them, pray for ‘just enough for the day’?

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:14)

Do we feel the growth in our church? The disciples rebuked those who brought the children to Jesus (verse 13) for they thought that it is ‘unnecessary’ and that Jesus might be disturbed. But hey, Jesus WANTED the kids to be brought to him and said ‘the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’ The children, obviously not fully-grown adults, were the ones that God wants to have in His kingdom. They are in the process of GROWING. Think about that. I’ll leave that all for you to ponder. I have to go out for supper. Catch up with you guys later….!

Lastly, don’t stop growing even when you get out of shape! (“,)…

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Character: The Inner Struggle That Shows the Outer Victory.

Shalom!

It's almost the end of the month of August now, which means I've been serving here in Sri Aman for a complete 9 months. That also means I have came across hundreds of different people's characters, so much so as they had came across mine. Character is that one thing that defines who we are, apparently from the outer appearance, and that is also a disadvantage because it is hard to evaluate our own character; unless of course we ask directly to the people closest to us. But then, that also is not a precise evaluation. In order to know our own character, we need to ask the one who created us and formed us in our mother's womb- God the creator.

A good question arose in my mind: Why does character matter…..???

Before we sort out the probable answers, let us look at what God wants to say about ‘character’:

My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

(Proverbs 3:1-4)

Next, we look at what our good friend Paul preached to the believers in Galatia:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

We can easily fool people for a while by our words and actions, but who we are on the inside will ultimately show itself on the outside. Our words and actions will reflect our hearts.

Character is so important because it is a direct reflection of our hearts. For example, committing to worship shows that God comes first in our hearts. Committing ourselves to kindness shows a commitment to serve others. What is our hearts committed to? If we are not sure about it, then others probably aren’t either.

Lastly, ‘even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure and right’ (Proverbs 20:11)…. ‘Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind’ (Psalm 26:2)

CHARACTER builds COURAGE and gives the COMMITMENT to CHANGE..!

-Pastor Rock Rod-

Friday, August 27, 2010

Church: Our Involvements.

“Lord, why is it important for me to be involved in the church”?

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.’ (Ephesians 2:19-21).

There are many things that can be said from the portion of scripture above, among the many, is that we are ONE in Christ. The picture that can be projected from it may be the picture of a big building, or a big church; where the walls and the foundation are made up of different bricks and stones. We are, though in times we forget, those bricks and stones, put together to make up a strong and unshakable building during the hurricanes of world’s trials and temptations. And yet, because of the divine ‘chief cornerstone’, Christ himself, we were given God’s warranty that lasts eternally. We are that ‘building’ and subsequently, the ecclesia.

Again and again, we are being reminded that ‘church’ is NOT merely a ‘building’. It is not; in fact there is a saying ‘the Church is the only thing left when the building collapsed’. Where there is the assembly of Christ’s followers, be it in an open space or a field grouped together to celebrate God’s glory in worship, it is then a Church. Jesus said ‘For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” That is why fellowships are needed apart from the Sunday services.

Let us look at Romans 12:4-6

‘Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

WE HAVE DIFFERENT GIFTS! God has given us different gifts! Why? So that the Church will be more exciting! But then, not many churches have urged their members to exercise their gifts and that is sad. Some are kept in the dark corners for no apparent reason. If you know any of them in your church, invite them to serve. God wants to use them for His glory.

Lastly, it is through Jesus that we are at home with God. When everyone in the congregation uses their gifts to serve, the church becomes a POWERFUL FORCE FOR GOOD, A STRONG WITNESS FOR JESUS, AND A MIGHTY ARMY TO COMBAT SATAN’S ATTACK AGAINST GOD’S PEOPLE in your community.

Amen.

my chains are gone (acoustic by Rod)

Shalom!
this is my simple rendition of Chris Tomlin's 'My Chains Are Gone'...let's sing our hearts out...

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
Chorus:
My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

Chorus(x2)

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine

Sunday, August 15, 2010

wherever u will go (acoustic by Rod)


So lately, been wondering
Who will be there to take my place
When I'm gone you'll need love
To light the shadows on your face

If a greater wave shall fall
And fall upon us all
Then between the sand and stone
Could you make it on your own?

If I could, then I would
I'll go wherever you will go
Way up high or down low
I'll go wherever you will go

And maybe, I'll find out
A way to make it back someday
To watch you, to guide you
Through the darkest of your days

If a great wave shall fall
And fall upon us all
Well then I hope there's someone out there
Who can bring me back to you

If I could, then I would
I'll go wherever you will go
Way up high or down low
I'll go wherever you will go

Run away with my heart
Run away with my hope
Run away with my love

I know now, just quite how
My life and love might still go on
In your heart, in your mind
I'll stay with you for all of time

If I could, then I would
I'll go wherever you will go
Way, way up high or down low
I'll go wherever you will go

If I could turn back time
I'll go wherever you will go
If I could make you mine
I'll go wherever you will go
I'll go wherever you will go