Verse Today: Revelation 14:7

Verse of the Day : November 30
Revelation 14:7
7 He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water."

Revelations 4-5

A glimpse of Jesus on the throne of heaven ....
.... one sitting on the throne .... appearance of jasper & ruby
.... a rainbow sun like an emerald encircling the throne
... 24 other thrones
... the 4 living creatures
.... 24 elders ... in white & crowns of gold
.... worshipped God
.... on the right hand ... a scroll with 7 seals
"Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?"
Revelations 5:5
"Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll & it's seven seals."
.... saw the Lamb .... looked as if it had been slain .... at the center of the thrones
.... went and took scroll from God
Revelation 5:9 ... new song
You are worthy
Your blood purchased for God ... all people & nations
You made them a kingdom of priests to serve God and reign on earth.

Revelations 2-3

Message to the 7 churches

Revelation 1:10-11 NIV

[10] On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, [11] which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”

Verse Today - 1 Chronicles 16:34

Verse of the Day : November 28

1 Chronicles 16:34

34 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

What a Beautiful Day

Being awed by God’s wonderful creation .... just need to open our eyes and look ...

Revelation 1

Some key verses from Revelation 1

Revelation 1:20 NIV

[20] The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Revelation Summary

Started on my own reading of the book of Revelation .....

Basic Truths of Christian Faith - 20

20. Why have you received the grace of God?

I have received the grace of God because of His eternal, electing plan in Christ.

Romans 8:29-30 (NIV)

29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Basic Truths of Christian Faith - 19

19. Why are you utterly dependent on the grace of God?

In myself, I am dead in sin and resist God, seeking only to serve myself.

Ephesians 2:4-5 (NIV)

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Romans 3:10-12 (NIV)

10 As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
11     there is no one who understands;
    there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away,
    they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
    not even one.”

When faced with afflictions

Today's reading was a good reminder when I am facing afflictions to turn to God and still be thankful ..... 12 useful reminders .... It is definitely hard to do ..... when faced with trials or earthshattering situations ....

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12 Things to Thank God for in the Midst of Affliction
by Mark Altrogge

One of the most important things we must do when we suffer is to give thanks. I don’t say this lightly and I know many believers who have endured unimaginable pain and tragedy.  Giving thanks in the midst of agony and affliction is certainly not easy to do. 

Yet Ephesians 5:20 tells us we should give thanks “always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” and 1 Thess 5:18 says to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Giving thanks helps us focus on God in our affliction, steers us away from complaining, strengthens our faith, and brings glory to Jesus.

There are many things we can give thanks for when we suffer, but here are 12 that I try to remember:

1) That God is sovereign and in complete control of the intensity and the duration of your affliction.

2) That God’s love and mercies never cease

3) That Jesus will never leave nor forsake you.

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Heb 13:5

4) That God is with you in your affliction

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. Is 43:2

5) That God hears your every prayer

6) That God is using this affliction to make you like Christ.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Romans 8:28–29

7) That this affliction is momentary and light compared to the eternal reward it is producing

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison… 2 Cor 4:17

8) That Jesus is your sympathetic High Priest who intercedes for you constantly

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Heb 4:15

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. Heb 7:25

9) That God is near you in your pain

10) That Jesus is your refuge, strength, and strong tower you can run to.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Ps 46:1, ESV

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. Pr 18:10

11) That God has saved you, washed away your sins, and adopted you as his own child.

Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Rom 4:7

12) That someday Jesus will wipe away every tear from your eyes and you will see his glorious face.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Rev 21:4

Encouragement

Basic Truths of Christian Faith - 18

18. What is the grace of God?

The grace of God is the undeserved favour, mercy and action of God in rescuing sinners.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV)

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Basic Truths of Christian Faith - 17

17. How can you be united to Jesus and His work?

I can only be united to Jesus and His work only by God’s grace.

Ephesians 2:4-5 (NIV)

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Basic Truths of Christian Faith - 16

16. Is Jesus the only saviour?

Yes. No one can find reconciliation with God and salvation from sin except through union with Christ.
 
Acts 4:12 (NIV)
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
John 6:57 (NIV)
57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.
John 10:9 (NIV)
9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.

CHC Sentensing

Final closure to the CHC trial

Pastor Darryl reminded us at the Budget Retreat that we are to constantly be reminded of our motives and methods for doing our Ministry work, that God's glory and God’s will be at the centre of all our initiatives.

Following the CHC verdict and sentence. ... We as a Christian family will need to:
* Pray for the Christian Family
* Proclaim the Gospel & good news about Jesus and the forgiveness of sins

 

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Six City Harvest Church (CHC) leaders were sentenced to between 21 months and eight years' jail on Friday (Nov 20) for misappropriating S$50 million of church funds.

Senior pastor Kong Hee, the founder of the church, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for criminal breach of trust. John Lam, former secretary of the church's management board, was sentenced to three years' jail.
Sharon Tan, former finance manager, was sentenced to 21 months in prison.
Former board member Chew Eng Han was given a sentence of six years and senior pastor Tan Ye Peng, five years and six months. Serina Wee, former finance manager for the church, was handed a five-year jail term.

Heart Change is Key

Read this today and is a good reminder to keep my heart pure and rely on the HS to keep from sinning.

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Does Your Inside Match Your Outside?
by Mark Altrogge

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” MT 5:8

Once a father told his child to sit down. The child refused. Again the father told his child to sit down, and again the child stubbornly refused. Finally, the father said, “If you don’t sit down I’m going to give you a spanking.” The child sat down and said, “I’m sitting down on the outside, but I’m still standing up on the inside!” Reminds me of what Jesus said to the Jewish leaders:

You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me…’ MT 15:7-8

Outwardly they honored God. They sang songs and prayed and tithed. But they had no love for God. Their hearts – their inner persons – were impure – they acted religious to be noticed by men, not to please God.  They were hypocrites.

The word hypocrite comes from a word meaning actor. A hypocrite’s an actor, a pretender. He professes some value or belief but his private life does not match it. He’s not pure in heart. So, to be pure in heart means our words match our thoughts. Our outer life matches our inner life.

When God saves us he gives us new hearts:

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. Ezekiel 36:26-27

God gives us new hearts that want to follow and obey him and pours his Holy Spirit into us who motivates us to sincere obedience.

A friend once requested I ask him about his TV watching every time he traveled for work. This man sincerely wanted to please Jesus and didn’t want to sin when no one else was watching.

To be pure in heart doesn’t mean we never sin. But it means that now we don’t want to. We hate it when we do, and are grateful for Jesus’ constant cleansing (1 JN 1:9).

Trust in Him

Basic Truths of Christian Faith - 15

15. What does it mean that Jesus was raised for you?
Jesus was raised bodily from the dead and ever lives for me, praying for me and protecting me from all my enemies – the world, the flesh and the devil. 

Romans 4:25
25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

Hebrews 4:16
16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 7:25
25 Therefore he is able to save completelythose who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Basic Truths of Christian Faith - 14

14. What does it mean that Jesus died for you?

Jesus died on the cross for me, fully bearing the wrath and curse of God against me for my sins and fully meriting the forgiveness of my sins.

2 Corinthians 5:19
19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.21 God made him who had no sin to be sinfor us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Basic Truths of Christian Faith - 13

13. What does it mean that Jesus lived for you?

Jesus perfectly kept the holy law for me as the second Adam and as the true Israelite, and He imputes His perfect righteousness to me.

Matthew 3:15
15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

Romans 5:17-18
17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.

BSF Grand Sharing (3rd Nov 2015)

After 30 weeks of study, today we came to the last session which was the Grand Sharing Night ....  Some of the learning shared by the men which I took away ....

- intimacy with God

- God word is life

- life is not smooth ... ups and downs ... take away is that God is with us on this journey

- Moses finished well ... He kept his eyes fixed on God and His purpose for Moses .... obedience to God. Perseverance in difficult time. Courage to act. Transformation of Moses life .... 

-  Moses the faithful servant .... until the end .... He ended well

- Moses the good shepherd. ... He asked for successor for the people (even after knowing he will die) ... his focus was his love for God and his love for the people

-  desert experience .... reading about it is different from living it ..... Pray that God gives strength to persevere and sustain us. Be humbled and stop complaining. Remember God’s goodness and blessings. God doesn't remember my failure.

- exodus 14 ... fickle pharaoh changed his mind .... Moses asked the people to stand firm ... God will fight for you. ... just be still!! Trust God to deliver.

- sin carries consequences 

- God choose Moses .... even at his last moment God was with Moses. God is faithful

- Christ cleanses our sins ... but also takes away our guilt 

- God is my giant that is more powerful than the giants in life.

- the bible God's Word is the pillar of fire & cloud ... that leads us today

- We have to read God's Word ... it is life

- God is faithful to his promises

- warning against murmurs & complaints .... disobedience

- God delivered Israel from slavery .... reflection of my walk as God delivers me from Sin .... what is the promise land on earth now ... We need to be contented and not complaining. 

- courageous leader ... not fearing for his life

- seek God when faced with trials and difficulties all the time

- God is serious about my sin ... We are to deal with it in His way.

- listening and meeting God face to face is not a chore but a privilege

- God chooses the leader and not man .... Koran incident ... Moses let God justified him

- it is easy to sing God’s word vs living it out ....

- it is easy to be distracted from God

- continue to depend on God 

- Deuteronomy 6:6-7 ... teach God's word to your children

- beware of your complaints

- life is short ... use your life productively . .. count your days

- Moses desire is to serve God until his end

Clear Skies

Praise God that we had clear blue skies today .... how we had taken for granted the fresh air ....