History Makers

Ever so often in the course of history there are individuals born who defy common reason and statistical explanation. These are the great ones, who break the tether of their generation’s expectations and rise to the high call that seems to echo from somewhere beyond the grave.

The prophets of old peered into the future and spoke of these violent ones who would force their way into the Kingdom, take hold of Heaven and pull it down to earth. These reigning saints refuse to have their exploits be a mere reflection of the past, but instead break the gravitational barriers of naysayers and doubters, and journey far beyond the boundaries of reason into places where no one has ever gone before. Ultimately they capture the prize of the upward call of God that lies in Christ Jesus. These are God’s history makers, the Lord’s chosen people, His mighty men, His holy nation.

Many of us can feel the vacuum of this vortex drawing our hearts into this divine destiny. We find our inner man longing, stirring, and burning for the great adventure. Live or die, we must press through the walls of mediocrity and find the Promised Land of our souls. We live with a passion to be numbered among those who have gained fame in the halls of Heaven and are feared among the prison guards of hell. If we are going to walk as God’s ruling royalty, we have to:

➢ Pray unceasingly
➢ Give sacrificially
➢ Dream unreasonably
➢ Serve wholeheartedly
➢ Love unashamedly
➢ Walk innocently
➢ Believe undoubtingly
➢ Live powerfully

These are the qualities of the Bride of Christ in all of her glory. She is called to be the most creative force on the face of the earth. Therefore, we must not allow ourselves to become known for our boxes, that is, famous for what we don’t do because of our “righteous” constrictions. Abraham Lincoln, George Washington and Benjamin Franklin had certain moral values that restrained their behavior, but they were famous for what they did, not for what they didn’t do! It would be tragic if the most creative people on the face of the earth allowed themselves to be reduced to rent-a-cops guarding a box (The Ark of the Covenant) that God vacated 2,000 years ago.

The truth is that if we don’t take our rightful place in the earth, we will relegate sinners, void of the mind of Christ, barred from the wisdom of the ages, and wandering in utter darkness, to being the most brilliant minds of our time! If the brightest light in this world belonged to those locked in darkness, how great would the darkness be in our world? Something is fundamentally wrong with this picture, but this is our brain on religion. Religion is like kryptonite to Superman. Religion can conform the most righteous, reigning saints into mindless zombies, puppets repeating someone else’s convictions they don’t even understand themselves.

Attack Of The Clones
I am convinced that religion is the father of genetic cloning. Religion invented cloning long before the world ever thought of it. Religion has a way of sucking the most powerful people on the planet into a spiritual look-a-like contest, calling it discipleship. True discipleship is meant to empower people to be transformed into the image of their Creator, but religion redefines the terms, conforming people into replicas of their leaders. Religion takes God’s mighty men and makes them artifacts in a museum.

Religious people, like the Pharisees of old, have the hardest time reaching out to folks who think “outside of the box” and don’t behave inside their hopeless shackles. Part of the struggle comes from what they have done to the Savior of the world. They have sterilized the gospel. Jesus took water and turned it to wine, but 2,000 years later, today’s Pharisees have diluted it to grape juice. Religion has reduced the supernatural power of God to a history lesson about serving the dead body of a helpless Christ who, still nailed to the Cross, is incapable of rocking their sacred boat. They emphasize the drowning of baptism, arguing over how people should get wet and what should be said over them during their dipping. Religious people have lost touch with the fact that the bold print of baptism is not on the descent but on the ascension. The death of Christ paid for our sins, but it was His resurrection that gave life to our mortal bodies. Religion embraces death sadistically and moves the risen Christ out of the garden and back to the tomb. Religious people pray things like “God, kill me,” not realizing that even the One who came to give His life as a ransom for us all prayed, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup (of death) from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Jesus did not want to die; He wanted to do His Father’s will. If religion had its way, it would rewrite Mary’s proclamation to read, “He is in the tomb just where we laid Him!” We have lost sight of the fact that the Cross was for the old man not the new man, and that the true Christian life is not about dying for Christ, but living in the life He purchased for us to establish His Kingdom on earth! The Church must shake off the shackles of religion and embrace our supernatural destiny.

Our Commission
The world is crying out in distress, and we must not miss this kairos moment, the opportunity of the ages. In the late sixties, the Beatles took America by storm. In a few short years, four boys from Liverpool altered the course of our nation’s history. Soon after, the world was swept into the wake of their anointing—all while they were singing “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” But it wasn’t long before the Fab Four started to experience a crisis in their own souls. They began to cry out in desperation, singing,

Help, I need somebody
Help, not just anybody
Help, you know I need someone, help

When I was younger, so much younger than today,
I never needed anybody’s help in any way.
But now those days are gone, I’m not so self-assured
Now I find I’ve changed my mind and opened up the doors

Help me if you can, I’m feeling down
And I do appreciate you being ‘round
Help me get my feet back on the ground.
Won’t you please, please help me
Help me, help me, ooh.

But their cry for help fell on deaf ears in the sanctuary of hope, and soon they were calling Hare Krishna their “sweet lord.” The Church can’t afford to fall asleep in the harvest today as we have done so many times in the past. We are not supposed to reflect our culture; we are commissioned to transform it.

We are called to disciple all the nations of the world. Discipling nations means submerging them in God—not religion—and “teaching them all I commanded you” (Matthew 28:20). Teaching nations how to think is the transformational catalyst to changing cultures. But as long as Christians aren’t valued in society, they will have no influence in the world. (You only have as much influence in people’s lives as they have value for you. Anytime you try to have more influence than someone has value for you, you will manipulate them.) It is imperative that we become kings who understand the ways royal people influence authority. Otherwise, we will reduce ourselves to social begging, hoping that the BIG, powerful people feel compassion for us and help our cause. This poisonous poverty mindset reduces the Christian message to a cry for help instead of a call for leadership. We don’t need nations to change for our sake. We have a living, abiding, unshakable Kingdom that dwells within us and prospers under all circumstances. We need the nations to change for the sake of those still lost in darkness. They need the culture around them to create a safe environment for them until they get the Kingdom within them.

This cultural begging has relegated the Kingdom of God to a subculture. God never intended Christianity to be a subculture. Subcultures are those cultures that are subservient to a more powerful culture. The world’s commentary on the first century Church reflects the true influence we are meant to have in society. They proclaimed, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too” (Acts 17:6 NKJV). We are called to turn the world around and set it back on its feet again. We are to be counter-culture until the mindset of the nations begins to take on the attitude of the Kingdom. Christians are not subservient to the world because God has assigned us the highest level of authority that exists on this planet. When Christians lose their desire and courage to confront the evils of our day honorably, we begin to be influenced by the lying principalities that are also commissioned to disciple the nations, but with an antichrist agenda. These demonic forces work to dethrone the Prince of Peace, Who is the rightful prince of the principles that make societies prosper, and instead enthrone the prince of darkness. Consequently, the enabling principles of a culture become demonically inspired instead of Kingdom in-Spirited. This dark prince works to establish evil thinking that leads to destructive behaviors. But when Jesus rules, He enables the principles of the King to transform the culture through the mind of Christ. In other words, people in a nation governed by the Kingdom begin to think like God!

However, it is important that we learn how to carry His power and authority. If we believers become combative instead of honorably confronting we will reduce our influence to the small pond of the church and render ourselves powerless in the ocean of humanity. We are to carry God’s authority into the lives of people and nations through invitation, not through intrusion or invasion. Although we are called to be combative to the powers of darkness, we are to be honorably confronting to people, demonstrating the benefits and rewards of a superior Kingdom.

By Kris Vallotton (Snr Associate Pastor, Bethel Church, Redding CA)
http://www.ibethel.org/features/journal/index.php?f=journal.php&id=22

Pray.

I do not know how this short post will speak to you all. But right now, these are the only words that is left in me.

"Teach us how to pray Daddy. Even if there are no words left to speak, see thru our hearts and let us keep looking to You. That is all i ask for myself, for this ministry, this family."

Chris.

Trust, Perspective & Reality

We live in a world full of mistrust, different perspective (positive/negative) and chose to avoid reality. Living on this Earth, how much do you trust people? What is the extent of Trust? Are we always living in denial? What's our perspective of our future? Is it good or bad?

All these questions came forth as I ask myself, my purpose of living. Since young, I was "Fatherless". My dad wasn't with me, my mum was working and always striving hard for this family, all for one purpose, to live happily as a family. Sometimes, we look back and wonder whether it is really worth it. What do I mean by "Fatherless"? I lived through most of my life with a dad who spent his life away from the present life. He was in prison while I needed that love so much.

I knew the Lord when I was 10. Followed Jesus when I was from 10 to 12 when I had Sunday school at Evangel Assembly of God (known as Evangel Family Church now). When I was 15, I went over to St Hilda's Church, baptized and thought I lived a proper life. I was changed but in the midst, I was mislead and I fell. Till last year, my life was still in sin, unrepentant, full of nonsense. I guess even in the beginning of this year, I was struggling. Now I'm more confident and trust my Lord and Saviour. His name is Jesus, my best friend.

My perspective changed. I was living a sinful, unrepentant life. I cheated many girls in my relationship life. I've hurt them in many ways. I've not been a good disciple of Jesus Christ! But Jesus has been with me, drawing me near to Him. At the start of this year, I fell to my knees, asking for a renewal, revival and restoration of my life. I dare to admit all these and more because I believe in Jesus. He doesn't condemn. His perspective is about forgiveness, love, mercy, hope, peace, joy and many more. Many of us, our perspective is about hate, merciless, hopeless and etc.

The Reality is that Jesus loves us. I testify that as I reflect upon my life. My life was rotten but He restored it. My life was full of sin but He cleanses it each day. It's been a daily affair and I hope that Jesus will keep dealing with my life and change my perspective. No one can change my life except Jesus. And I truly know that. Do you want to know Jesus? If you do, drop us a message on our tagboard and we'll get back to you. [http://worldofsinners.tk]

Jesus loves you! You are His princes and princesses of God!

Be Blessed!

Love,
Kenny@

Happy Birthday, Guan Wen!

Happy Birthday, Guan Wen! May the Lord bless you richly and use you in SMU! Enjoy your 23rd birthday though! Thanks for being a great brother in this BIG family, this ministry.

Josh + Guan Wen

Guan Wen + Chris

Lynn + Guan Wen + Cheryl + Chris

Lynn + Guan Wen + Cheryl + Kenny

Continue to serve the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.

Be Blessed!

Hi everyone...

This is a kind of maiden post for me in this blog and as much as i don't exactly like to start on a negative note, well sort of, i just felt that i needed to share this in light of what happened this saturday. It's rather personal and maybe a bit long winded, so i hope i don't scare you guys...

This year started off pretty well enough for me on the surface, but there was one particularly nagging problem at the back of my mind. That is: my lessons at school clash with cell group on friday nights. That means, that for one whole semester, i can't go for cell at all. Actually, additional info would be, because of some administration issues in school, i even have 2 modules on friday that clash at the same time. Which means that i pay for classes i cannot attend. D'oh.

Regarding the cell issue... This is by no means a small issue to me because cell group has been a very integral part of my life, given the circumstances that resulted in me even getting involved in cell in the first place.

On top of that, i must admit that my walk with the Lord has grown cliched and tired and this actually kind of crept up on me gradually. On the surface, i knew that God was with me, i've been reading the bible, i talk to God, but somehow there was a disconnection that i knew too well existed.

I came to PSP and church with a general attitude of "nothing's going to happen... it's all routine, this happens every week. Same words all the time. What's new?" I was all numbed out. Indifferent. Empty.

But what happened this saturday shook me up good.

Throughout the first part of the service, i was saying almost like a mantra: "God, i'm here just for you and i want to just worship you." just so that i could psycho myself into it. But spiritually, i couldn't commit to what i was saying. Eventually, i simply conceded to my weaknesses and was saying over and over: "God, i'm just so tired... (and fed up)" (not physically, but spiritually)

But when we began to sing "Hungry", and Joshua made the call for us to simply kneel before God, i promptly did so. (Interestingly, at the beginning of the service, i wanted to because i wanted to just surrender to God but felt like it wasn't appropriate due to silly socially-politically correct reasons) So i was glad for the opportunity.... And then the niagara falls just happened. (bit of info: all the 3 girls in my row were also crying. i believe that what was happening at that point was in season for each of us)

To cut the long story short, everything from "Sister Elaine's" prayer of embracing God's Love, to Pastor Jenn's vision of our Warrior God, to her sermon's message, had cut deep and brought me once again to that (wonderful) point of brokenness before the Lord.

But it was only during the debrief when Pastor Jenn reiterated once again that spiritual warfare will happen and has already begun, did i really realize the reality (that was a lot of rea-s) of the spiritual realm and the kind of attack i was already under: cell group (where we edify and minister to one another and seek God, etc) that is being taken away from me for 3 months, to my walk that has become stale and routine, to other personal struggles that has interfered with my walk. Not only have there been my own issues, but there've also been some issues manifesting among some of the people around me in church.

This post isn't meant to bring anyone down or to sow fear, but it is to share with you how we need to be EXTRA careful with our walks. Our war is not an Earthly one, but is one that's in the supernatural realm, which is not an airy fairy notion. Our God is supernatural, and being his children, our lives need to include the supernatural. I share this to remind us that we need to be vigilant over our thoughts, our beliefs, our words and our actions.

I share this also because i want to edify and affirm those who gave, have given, of themselves in whatever way, to say that despite all the improvements-that-need-to-be-made, you made a difference and God ministered to people through you.

Sometimes with all the years in church and with the seemingly same structure we're used to, we run the risk of feeling jaded and falling into an immune and numb mental state that we lose the intensity of the truth of what our lives in Christ stand for.

It is therefore my desire that we continue to truly understand and embrace fully our identity in Christ (first sermon of the year), and have faith and belief in all that we are capable of because of the Holy Spirit that lives in us. Sounded cliche yeah, even i would've cringed at this paragraph before saturday's service.

But truly, like what Pastor Jenn has said: Before you can see things you've never seen before, you need to do things you've never done before.

Each of us are at different stages in our walks. So if you have not trusted and embraced the truth, trust and embrace it. If you have not moved in faith before, move in faith. If you have moved in faith, continue to do so! Be that salt and light for Him! :-)