MAN’s STRUGGLE

Our struggle with our sinful desires can be very real. More so for man and our sexuality. It is definitely not true that when we receive Christ or the Holy Spirit, we will no longer sin. In fact, we may still sin.

I am sure there had been times, the temptation to commit sin can be very strong, even sometimes after we thought we prayed to God, we are still having the struggle. We may even at times reasoned with God that: God, you must have allowed us to commit this sin right? Verse such as 'when sin increase, grace increase may be the backdrop of our argument with God.

Worst, sometimes, we will attempt to resist the any temptation to sin, even citing resist the devil (temptation) and it will flee from you. And the more we try to resist, the worst the temptation may become. It sometimes behaves like a spell that keep drawing us to sin.

But somehow, we may end up succumbing to our weakness. Feeling guilty or at times shameful.

And if ever we succumb to our weakness a few more times, we may even be so numb to the shame as guilt as well.

And with that, we may end up attending church like nothing has happened. We may have even devised a camouflage image doing all the 'Christian behaviour' in church.

I am not writing this merely from observation, but also personal experience in my own Christian walk.

Have I fallen before? Countless times! Will I dare to say, now that I have the Spirit of God, that I will not fall anymore? Certainly not!

I am also a human! Paul wrote in his epistle to the Romans:

“For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will do, I do not do; but the evil I will not do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.” - Romans 7:15-20

Even apostle Paul struggled with sin amid his active ministry days.

So does that mean that I am writing this as a passport for me to sin? Certainly not! Paul also in his writings did not give us this clearance. He continued into a lengthy explanation of paradigm living in the Spirit, which may confuse many new believers.

However, this writing is not a theology discussion of living in the Spirit or being resurrected in the Spirit etc. But a down to earth sharing on what happens if we even really committed any sin.

To clarify, I am not suggesting that we can wilfully sin, the consequence is not worth it!

“Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”- 1 Corinthians 6:18-20

So please don't ever defile our temple wilfully!

Sharing one time while I was worshipping at the altar. Right in front of me, I saw a flaming fire. Immediately, I recognised it as the fire of God. The fire was like asking me to draw near to be burnt. My first instinct was fear! Somehow, I felt that I am such a wretched person, confirm will get burnt by it! But at that moment, I heard a gentle and clear voice: This is My Holy fire, it is meant to burn away your impurity, it will not hurt you. I love you and want to sanctify you....

This really gave me a real revelation! I can still approach Him despite my sinful nature! And through the blood of Christ, I can approach Him boldly, so that He can sanctify me! Somehow, the equation seems quite complete.

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

So how is that relevant to us falling to sin? We that I had a new understanding: That the rule number 1 when the moment we realised we have sin or fallen into sin, is to TURN AND RUN BACK TO GOD! SO THAT HE CAN SANTIFY AND RESTORE US.

“Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood.” - Joshua 20:2-3

During the Old Testament, God has already instituted His commandment where the Jews were running distance from any place in the country when they committed a major crime. This concept of city of refuge was designed so that the murderer could run there and find protection, likewise, when we sinned, God wants us to run to Him

The mistake most of us may made is avoid God! On the contrary, God is always calling us with His love to come back to His embrace, the blood of Jesus is that for a reason, so that the separation of hostility is removed! Do not be tricked, His grace is never too little to forgive us!

And now the benefit of running back to Him is this: to be RECONNECTED BACK to His Spirit- “the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses” -Rom 8:26

Now, with this equation, the bible did not guarantee that we will not fall to sin, but if we constantly run back to our Abba Father, and like David asked: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.”- Psalm 51:10-12

Each time, we will gradually align and “live accordingly to the Spirit and inherit the spiritual mindset.” - Romans 8:4, eventually bearing the fruit of the Spirit as we walk in the Spirit and we can eventually relate us finally conqueror over sin. Not by our human strength, but by His Spirit that is at work in us!

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” - Gal 5:16

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” - Rom 8:39

 

In the news today, I read that a prominent Christian politician resigned from politics after being found to be having an affair. He was featured in a number of Christian articles, including salt and light etc. There is no doubt that this will impact a lot of us as believers. As such, I am inspired to share my thought as a fellow believer of Christ

Written by Bro Justin Sng on the 17th of July 2023 at 11:15pm. Editied by BDR.. 

What matters is eternal

This evening, while I was struggling though the second half of my 8.6km run, this phrase suddenly dawned on me:

Whatever that may happen in this liefetime is temporal, because we have an assured eternity. With that, why not give thanks to God whatever circumstances we may be in because it is no longer significant compared to our eternal future.

Leading on, my mind was flooded with thoughts of his goodness, wonders and grace, despite the fact that I am a mere being in the whole universe (Psalm 8). Overwhelmed my his wonders, I instinctively batantly lifted up my hands to praise Him. Surprising, amid the fatigue of the run, I found myself running faster as if there was a fresh burst of energy. All the tiring feelings seems to dissappeared. The remaining of the run was completed with ease.

Yes, it is indeed a praiseworthy incident, thanking Him for the strength and inspiration.

However, what inspired me further was awestrucked. I suddenly saw the parallel to the incident which apostle Paul literated in this second letter to the Corithians when he was tormented by the thorn in flesh. In response to his 3 plead to the Lord for removal of the thorns, Paul was 'merely' told that God's grace is sufficient for him. Apparently, the pain was not removed. With that, Paul's focus was directed to a more important perspective, of seeing God's wonders. With that, the pain was no longer significant to him, giving him the ability to move forward.

The above is not a passage for us to endure pain or sufferings, instead it is a passage for the shift of paradigm; for us to direct our focus on what seems more significant than what we have to go through this lifetime.

Instead of simply just thanking God for the strength to complete the run, afterall it is good to thank him, I would like to thank Him for the realigning of focus. As a rational person, the muscles would have been definitely tired from the run. Hence, I believe that it was the re-alignment of focus which infused a fresh wave of motivation filled with joy, thus randering all fatigues insignificant. God really does work and answer prayers in inexpected ways.

Before the start of the run, I 'foolishly' prayed for God's protection and strength that I could finish the run well and safely. Convinently, I added the following: let this also be an opportunity for a realignment of focus to Him. Intially, my intention of the 2nd part was meant as a 'retorical prayer' because 'turning my eyes to Jesus' is more of an action to execute than a prayer. Thus, it was really an unexpected prayer answered.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8
Recently, someone I know was lamenting about the apparent poverty he has to endure because his parents 'sacrificed financially' for the cause of Christ, resulting in the children having to suffer monetarily. What was relavent was the remark which he made: When things goes well, they thanked God, and when situation was unfavourable, they still thanked God believing that situation will get better. It seems like a conspiracy theology for Christians to feel better in bad situations while still blindly trust in God. Instead, if he happens to read this, how about seeing it this way:

Whatever that may happen in this liefetime is temporal, because we have an assured eternity. With that, why not give thanks to God whatever circumstances we may be in because it is no longer significant compared to our eternal future.

Pain & Suffering

Some say it is ILLUSION
Some say it is FATE
Instead, we can face it with the GRACE AND POWER OF GOD!!!

Peter, do you AGAPE me??

John 21:15-23 speaks of Jesus asking Simon Peter THRICE: 'Do you love me?' with Peter answering back 'I love you'. Each time Jesus asked the same question, Peter got more hurt, or maybe guilty, especially when he had just denied Jesus THRICE a while ago.

Many people crossed referenced this passage to that of Peter's denial of Jesus in John 18 and that the above event is a symbolic restoration of Peter. The NIV bible even titled this passage 'Jesus Reinstates Peter'. However, if we read into the original Greek version of this passage, the idea is more than this simple restoration Jesus did on Peter. 

Before proceeding further, it is important to note that the Gospel of John was originally written in Greek. And in the Greek language, there are 4 different words for love, which are:

Agape: Unconditional love (often referred to the highest order of love)

Eros: Romantic love

Philia: Friendship/brotherly love (lesser form of love in comparison of Agape)

Storge: Natural blood-ties affection

During translation of the bible to English, all these Greek words for love were either substitute with words of similar ideas or just with the word LOVE. As a result, the original essence may be lost lost through translation. As such, we shall re-examine John 21:15-23 with the with the Greek's word for love:

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, " Simon Peter do you AGAPE me?"

"Yes LORD," he said you know that I PHILIA you"......

Again Jesus said, " Simon son of John, do you AGAPE me?

He answered, "Yes, LORD, you know that I PHILIA you"......

The third time he said to him," Simon son of John, do you PHILIA me?....

(Peter finally answered,) "LORD, you know all things; you know that I PHILIA you."

From the above passage, Jesus was in fact asking if Peter love him with the highest and purest form of love, just as he had loved the world. However, Peter knew of his inadequacy of love, coupled to the fact that he had just denied Christ 3 times. He could only love God just like a loyal friend or brother. Hence, he did not even answer to the question.

The following chart illustrates the imbalance of love between God and man(Peter).  

Imagine in today's context of the passage, if Jesus is to appear and ask:

'My child, do you AGAPE me?'.

We will most probably answer:

'LORD I hope to AGAPE you.' (not answering to question)

And again if he ask the second time, we may subconsciously be reactive and react like Peter and answer:

' LORD, you know my heart, you know that I desire to love you!!' (not answering to question again......)

If there is a love test towards God, I believe that none of us can profess that we AGAPE God the way he has loved us. This truly reflects our inadequacy to God's standard of LOVE! We seriously has a balancing issue with God, the love balancing beam is well tilted to the extreme.

However, in the passage, the third time Jesus questioned Peter, he finally brought down his standard, asking PHILA instead. This is significant because it strongly indicated that Jesus was accepting Peter's PHILIA, knowing he could not AGAPE.

Finally, Peter managed answered to the question. 

God does not expect us to come to him with this highest form of love. He knows that we cannot achieve it. Instead, the loving God is willing to accept the love at our level. Recently, a Christian told me this: " I want to be a Christian, but I am not sure if I am up to it." Of cause, all of us are not of the 'STANDARDS' to be Christian!
All God is asking is for us to come to Him, despite of how unworthy we may be. Because he will come down to our level....

To be continued.....
So how did Peter turn out in the end?...

Rivers of Babylon

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down Ye-eah we wept, when we remembered Zion.. By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down Ye-eah we wept, when we remembered Zion.. When the wicked carried us away in captivity, Required from us a song.... Now how can we sing the LORD's song in a strange land...... Let the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart be acceptable in thy sight here tonight.. LORD, my ROCK and my Redeemer.... (From the lyrics of Rivers of Babylon) Psalm 137 & Psalm 19:14

In this fallen world

In this world thats fallen..
help me be firm for you...
That I may shine for you..

There are times where I may fall..
Teach me to run to you..
instead of being far from you...

Thank you for blessing me...
with things which I may still not appreciate...
But I know that you want the best for me!!

Why am I so downcast.. my soul...
from the burdens of this world..
pressing down so hard on me...

My LORD...
it is you who approach me..
in such a time as this....
reminding me that you are still here..
that you still cares for me...

Now i stand in awe of you..
For your wonderful hand...
and how you are always here...

True you are to your word..
that you will never leave me...
nor forsake me.

And I will praise your name...
and lift your name up high...
for you are ever faithful.....

Content of the new book.. Chronicle of the dynasty

Content:
1. Rise of a new empire
2. Banishment of royal princess by empress dowager
2. A new concubine
3. Breaking down of the imperial household
4. Leech infested village of bitterness
5. Imperial household re-established
6. Presentation of the crown prince to the royal courts
7. Crown prince goes to the mountains to seek wisdom
8. Defecto kingdom established.