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Monday, February 27, 2006

"I am the bread of life." --John 6

John 6:5-6 Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Phillip, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?" This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do.
I think Jesus here is teaching us a lesson of "Mary or Matha".For Mary's approach it would be to draw on Jesus' strength and provision first, and then feed the crowd, while Matha's approach is simply to get on with the work, find the money, find the food and see what we can do.


John 6:15 "So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone."
This is a powerful example of leadership. A lot of leaders today will eagerly embrace success and fame rather than "withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone." Jesus stayed faithful and connected with the Father in all circumstances. And this is the secret of His power and true success.


John 6:56 "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him."Galatians 5:16-18 "Walk in the Spirit....But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law."
God is still speaking today. If we don't believe that, then we are not led by the Spirit, but by the law. The law kills but the Spirit gives life and life more abundant. If we're not hearing His voice, then we're missing His will and His power in our lives, then we'll be running around frustrated like Martha and missing out on all the blessings of Mary.

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Who's voice are you listening?--Job

When there's trouble and frustration in our lives, it's easy for us to lose focus on God's voice and turn our attention to the voices of our friends: the negative voice, rational voice and cynical voice,etc.The most dangerous question to ask in time of trouble is "why?" rather than simply trust.Faith and doubt can't coexist. Perfect love cast out fear.There has to be a time when we make up our mind:"enough is enough, now I'll just listen to what God has to say and simply believe."
Job1:21 "...The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."
There's blessing when the Lord gives; and there's double blessings when the Lord takes away. Don't let the devil trick you and take you off the track.

The Woman of Samaria -- John 4

John 4:7 "There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, Give Me a drink."Drink to me speaks of presence. Jesus is asking us here to give him our presence, to give him what we have. And when we give Him our attention, then He will give us His presence and what He has, the living water.

The second part of conversation the woman was confronted of who she thinks she is. She was convicted of her package. She felt unworthy. "Our fathers worhiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worhip."(v20)She thought only those people with high achievements and church leaders are worthy of worship. For this, Jesus' reply was, I'm your savior, I love you just as you are.

"God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."(v24)
In spirit, is the 1st part,"Give Me a drink." We must be present in the spirit. We come to Him with almost a naked heart, a wide open heart fully attentive, ready to be touched. Not tired, bored, can't be bothered, or absent minded. We give Him our cup of drink.
In truth, we come as we are, with all our baggages, not pretending to be some holy people. We will be convicted, but Jesus comes for the sinners, not for the righteous. He's here to save, not to condemn. He loves us just as we are.

And if we give Him our open heart, then He will give us His open heart, and we'll be able to touch and feel His heart and His passion. We'll be able to know His will and His purpose for us.1John5 :14 "...if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him."
John4:34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work."

We have the drink, and we have the food, and we'll have a very fulfilled life.

Sunday, February 19, 2006

The Word -John 1

John 1:1-2&14 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

The Word speaks of language, means of communication, bridge of relationship to me. In the beginning God desired to have a relationship, to love, to communicate. The Word is living word. He speaks constantly.He communicates with us by various means. Just like the communication between a husband and a wife. They constantly talk and communicate. We're given the means of communication with God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. The Word brings God and us together. Through the Word we can enjoy a close relationship with God. If we accept Jesus into our hearts, then the word speaks in us, and God lives in us. And if God lives in us, then we can hear, sense,and feel His Word.

This is a prophetic word by Kent and Andrea Simpson:"You speak of Me as if I Am a book. Do you not know that I Am NOT wood pulp and ink bound in genuine leather. You reference to the Holy Scriptures as if they can save you. I tell you, these words testify of Me and My works. Many of you worship this Holy Book as if it can save you, but I declare to you, you cannot be saved except you first come to ME.Jesus Christ the Word of God.

In the footsteps of Elisha - 2 King 2

2King 2
Elisha has been following Elijah. He's been faithful in his servanthood. He's been following orders, doing chores.

What made him stand out from the rest of the people and became an extraordinary man of God?

There're 3 places of significance in this chapter.

1. Bethel: a place of church, house of God. Religion. Boundaries of law. Reinhard Bonnke in his book "Even Greater" (P55)said,"Somehow, I believe this transition between obeying earthly authority and obeying God's authority is an essential test for those who serve Him."

2. Jericho: a place of proclaiming, obedience(following God's specific orders and guidance), praise, and spiritual breakthrough.

3. Jordan: a place of overflowing. Joshua 3:10"By this you shall know that the living God is among you..."

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Abide in Christ --1 John2

1 John2
Above everything else, to abide in Christ is the ultimate purpose of all creation.

Above all purposes and all achievements, to abide in Christ gives God the ultimate joy and fulfilment.

We're created to abide. Not just to achieve.

Achievements will be gone one day. Purposes fade away at the eternal glory. But abiding is what God's heart craves.

He created us for relationship. He longs for us to abide in Him, and enjoy all He has, to share eternity with Him.

There's no lack in eternity. There's no lack in Him.

A husband doesn't want a wife who just wants his money or some benefit. A husband wants a wife that he can share everything he has with her and to live life together.

And abiding in Christ is the ultimate calling to all God's people.