Time will not repeat itself.
We must know the contingency of us and in-contingency of God.
Ancient Greek values wisdom, moral and blessing.
Bible emphasizes on wisdom, moral and treasuring our time.
Most human beings are sensitive to loss of valuables, they are not sensitive to passing of time.
There are two types of men:
1) Those who are unwise, passing their time anyhow.
2) Those who make full use of their time and seeking the will of God.
15 He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight. Luke 16
16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesian 5
16 要 愛 惜 光 陰 ， 因 為 現 今 的 世 代 邪 惡 。以 弗 所 書 5
Sunday, August 19, 2012
The Works of Holy Spirit III
The traits of a Holy Spirit filled individual:
1) Everything he does, he does it for the glory of God. He is theocentric.
2) He has wisdom in carrying out his duty and he does it with his best.
3) He dare to spread the good news bravely.
One should not:
1) Suppress the works of Holy Spirit.
2) Make use of Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit:
Uphold the cross.
As witness of Jesus Christ.
Will never go against the words of God
Characters are affected by:
1) Inheritant
2) Environment
3) Temperament inclination
4) Habit
5) Religion
6) Culture
7) Difficulties
Holy Spirit:
1) Leads.
2) Touchs
3) Persuades
4) Moves
and thus remoulds the characters.
The Holy Spirit brings back the straying mind into the right track of God.
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.John 14
38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him Acts 10
17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. Ephesians 1.
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Ephesian 5
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 1 Corinthians 6:19
1) Everything he does, he does it for the glory of God. He is theocentric.
2) He has wisdom in carrying out his duty and he does it with his best.
3) He dare to spread the good news bravely.
One should not:
1) Suppress the works of Holy Spirit.
2) Make use of Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit:
Uphold the cross.
As witness of Jesus Christ.
Will never go against the words of God
Characters are affected by:
1) Inheritant
2) Environment
3) Temperament inclination
4) Habit
5) Religion
6) Culture
7) Difficulties
Holy Spirit:
1) Leads.
2) Touchs
3) Persuades
4) Moves
and thus remoulds the characters.
The Holy Spirit brings back the straying mind into the right track of God.
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.John 14
38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him Acts 10
17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. Ephesians 1.
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Ephesian 5
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 1 Corinthians 6:19
Always giving thanks to God
We often pray to God for his grace.
We are often bestowed with his grace.
But we seldom thank God for his grace.
Some people are forever thankful, even if they are in the midst of suffering.
Yet many are grumbling even if they are living abundantly in His grace.
They are forever not satisfied.
"Those who are poor are happier that those who are rich yet never feel satisfied"
Why many are not grateful?
1) We thought we deserve it.
All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
We don't deserve anything, the blessings are all out of the grace and mercy of God.
2 ) We see things at their own instead of through God's prospective .
3) We don't count our blessings.
4) We compare with others.
always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.Ephesian 5: 20
Sunday, July 29, 2012
How to overcome fear
Types of fear in disguise:
1) Greed- fear that we have not enough
2) Fear of rejection: fear that we are not accepted by others
3) Guilt:-- fear that someone might find out
4) Anger- fear of loosing control
5) Jealousy: - fear that someone else will be better than us.
Causes of fear:
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41
1) Greed- fear that we have not enough
2) Fear of rejection: fear that we are not accepted by others
3) Guilt:-- fear that someone might find out
4) Anger- fear of loosing control
5) Jealousy: - fear that someone else will be better than us.
Causes of fear:
- Sin
- Imagination
- Education
- Innocence
- Doubt
- Acknowledge its presence
- Identify causes
- Focus on fear will not make it smaller. Instead we should focus on the word of God
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought
When we think too highly of ourselves, we tend to:
1) rob off the glory of God
2) proud
3) look down on others.
On the contrary, if we think too lowly of ourselves, we may:
1) grumble to God
2) envious of others achievements
3) not explore our own talents
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Romans 12
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Live for the glory of God
What is the real meaning of being blessed.
It is not:
-A lot of descendants
-very Wealthy.
-High Education
-Healthy
-Being liked by everybody.
it is:
1) Happy whether one is rich or poor.
2) Do things for the Lord, not to please others.
3) No matter it is criticism or praise, do things for God' sake only.
4) To glory God in whatever we do.
5) Hope during suffering
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Seeking God vs God seeking
Religion is not seeking God, it is avoiding real God.
We get no merit for seeking after God, because the ability to seek after God comes from His own grace .
He choosed us even before creation.
It is not anthropocentric to prove the existence of God.
It is theocentric which brings relevation and manifestation.
There is general revelation and common grace for all human being created in the image of God.
We get no merit for seeking after God, because the ability to seek after God comes from His own grace .
He choosed us even before creation.
It is not anthropocentric to prove the existence of God.
It is theocentric which brings relevation and manifestation.
There is general revelation and common grace for all human being created in the image of God.
The meaning of life
If we spend our life eating,drinking,playing and having fun,what is the difference between us and animals .
Why are we spending the grace of God only, occupying land without production and wasting our time and life away
Do we know that our life and death can be the blessing or curse for others?
Do you use the grace of God for the benefits of others or do you use it to make others suffer?
History is but the shadow of the greater people in the past era.
Why are we spending the grace of God only, occupying land without production and wasting our time and life away
Do we know that our life and death can be the blessing or curse for others?
Do you use the grace of God for the benefits of others or do you use it to make others suffer?
History is but the shadow of the greater people in the past era.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Righteousness
Attributes of a righteous person:
1) Intergrity.
2) Fairness. Two types of people are despicable:
2.1) Those who like to go against the superiors, yet especting their subordinates
To obey them all the time.
2.2) those who are very obedient toward superiors, yet very harsh toward their subordinates.
3) Seeking after the truth. Using truth to guide his thinking.
4) Does not compromise with sin.
5) Self controll
When we rebuke others, it should be out of love.
Romans 1:17 (NIV1984)
17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.
羅馬書1:17 Chinese Union Version (Simplified) (CUVS)
17 因为神的义正在这福音上显明出来；这义 是本於信，以致於信。如经上所记：义人必 因信得生
1) Intergrity.
2) Fairness. Two types of people are despicable:
2.1) Those who like to go against the superiors, yet especting their subordinates
To obey them all the time.
2.2) those who are very obedient toward superiors, yet very harsh toward their subordinates.
3) Seeking after the truth. Using truth to guide his thinking.
4) Does not compromise with sin.
5) Self controll
When we rebuke others, it should be out of love.
Romans 1:17 (NIV1984)
17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.
羅馬書1:17 Chinese Union Version (Simplified) (CUVS)
17 因为神的义正在这福音上显明出来；这义 是本於信，以致於信。如经上所记：义人必 因信得生
Sunday, January 15, 2012
The true meaning of kindness
"A philanthropist is a but a selfish person with foresight"
" If you want recognition from men, you will not be recognized by God".
What is the definition of kindness?
8 He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God Micah 6
1) Do not retreat in front of difficulty; do not be the first to go after benefits.
2) Lover of peace. Do not raise conflict whenever one goes. If what he should insist, he does not insist; what he should let go, he does not let go, he will make himself a despicable man.
3) Do not treat others according to their standard. Others must be responsible for whatever they do, while we are responsible for our character. No matter how others treated us, we still have the freedom to choose how we react to others. We should not lower the standard of our character and use the standard of others to respond to them.
4) Must continue to do good things without grumbling although there is no results.
5) When we mentioned that others are not kind to us, do we check that whether we are kind to others in the first place.
Reference: Dr. Steven Tong
" If you want recognition from men, you will not be recognized by God".
What is the definition of kindness?
8 He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God Micah 6
1) Do not retreat in front of difficulty; do not be the first to go after benefits.
2) Lover of peace. Do not raise conflict whenever one goes. If what he should insist, he does not insist; what he should let go, he does not let go, he will make himself a despicable man.
3) Do not treat others according to their standard. Others must be responsible for whatever they do, while we are responsible for our character. No matter how others treated us, we still have the freedom to choose how we react to others. We should not lower the standard of our character and use the standard of others to respond to them.
4) Must continue to do good things without grumbling although there is no results.
5) When we mentioned that others are not kind to us, do we check that whether we are kind to others in the first place.
Reference: Dr. Steven Tong
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