Tuesday 30 June 2009

sermon notes 5 - praying brings results

You can't be a minimalist when it comes to prayer
1 Corinthians 14:14
2 Corinthians 10:5-6

Be engaged. Tune in to God
Proverbs 17:3
Daniel 3:16

God will deliver!!

Monday 29 June 2009

hearing from the Holy Spirit

Last Sunday's sermon was inspiring.

I was blessed by the various illustrations that pastor gave to explain the leading of the Holy Spirit, as well as her personal encounters of His guidance and prompting.

She shared that at the prompting of the Holy Spirit, she boldly read out a verse three times to a pre-believer, even when told by family members that the person was not open to the gospel. She then asked the person whether she wanted to believe, and the person did. Pastor then knew at that moment that she would want to be baptized and thus asked the family member to check with her. The family member finally relented and asked and was surprised at the answer. Pastor had left by this time, and returned that very afternoon to baptise the lady.

  • She taught that conviction, not emotions or goose bumps, indicate the leading of the Holy Spirit.
  • Neither trying nor drifting are beneficial to spiritual transformation, but depending on the Holy Spirit.
  • We discern and move along with Him, so we can keep step with Him.
  • She also gave the example of the church as a pair of gloves, and it is the Holy Spirit in us who fills the gloves.
  • IT IS TIME, she said, for the church to move.

One phrase that she shared spoke so strongly to me, that tears ran down my face. It was an example of how the Holy Spirit was using her, as i believe that the particular phrase was not in her sermon notes. "Your grace is sufficient", she said, and i was reminded once again of how God had spoken to me the day before regarding the truth that He is on my side. It was a RHEMA word spoken right into my spirit.

Her message had me thinking further about how we gauge or 'feel' or 'sense' the presence of the Holy Spirit. Like she said, this is not emotional in origin. It is a spiritual encounter or experience not easily described with mere words. However, when we sense the presence of God, our emotions are involved, impacted, affected as well.

The prompting of the Holy Spirit is birthed in our spirit. Often, these promptings go against conventions or logic. Our usual ways of thinking or behaving are challenged. When we choose to follow or obey His prompting, we are emboldened, even strengthened, and the results are good, sometimes even phenomenal. Often our spirits are stirred, prompted, nudged, inspiring our very passions. If we ignore His promptings, we grieve the Holy Spirit.

I was talking to my cousin in law at a family function yesterday. She expressed a spiritual principle in very simple terms with a clear illustration. It was like an unintended answer to an unasked question. She was sharing that she was touched by a powerful message delivered in Mandarin by my late grandfather. As the message was in a unfamiliar language, one that she understood just a little, she felt that that message cut to the quick, right into her spirit. Often, she said, we would allow our intellect, our own thinking to tamper with or temper the message. She understood that messages are imparted spirit to spirit, even subliminally.

In that moment, i understood more clearly some of the things i had been experiencing.

This, i believe, is what happens in our spirit when we pray or sing in tongues. The Holy Spirit communes with our spirits directly without interference from our understanding, and we are stirred, established, encouraged and strengthened.

Sunday 28 June 2009

sermon notes 4 - peace in turbulent times

I heard this message a few months back when we attended a friend's church.

We have peace in turbulent times (John 14:1,26)
1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
26But 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.

This is because
  1. we know where we are going
  2. the Father loves us
  3. we have the promises of God that we shall overcome:
  • we will do what others cannot do - even greater things than what Jesus did
  • we will not suffer any lack (John 13: 13-14) - those who trust and obey Him will not suffer lack
13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

- obey = love Jesus (John 14:21a- He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. )
- love Jesus = loved by Father (John 14:21b - And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.)
- loved by the Father = Father will be with you (John 14:23 - Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.)
  • we will not be alone (John 16:13)
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

Friday 26 June 2009

Psalm 18

This is a song i learnt in Myanmar taken from Psalm 18. Sung in the local language in harmony and saturated with the anointing of the Holy Spirit, this locally composed song touched our hearts even when we did not understand the language.

O Lord my God
You're my strength and You're my life
I love you with all of my heart
(repeat)

You're my Rock and You're my fortress
You're my stronghold
You're the One who sets me free
You're the One in whom i trust
You're my shelter
You're the horn of my salvation
You are my refuge O Lord

Thursday 25 June 2009

sermon notes 3 - power of peace (day 3)

Proverbs 31:10-31

1 Peter 5:6
Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you,

We humble ourselves. We don't look for ways to exalt ourselves.

Colossians 3:15
And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].

Strong verb - rule. Peace is not weak nor feeble. Peace is STRONG!!

Romans 16:20
And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) be with you.

God of peace is powerful enough to CRUSH satan.
'Snakes and scorpions' used to represent evil powers and principalities. Scorpions cannot be squashed to death. They must be grounded and twisted - CRUSHED!

Hebrews 13:20-21
20Now may the God of peace [Who is the Author and the Giver of peace], Who brought again from among the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood [that sealed, ratified] the everlasting agreement (covenant, testament), 21Strengthen (complete, perfect) and make you what you ought to be and equip you with everything good that you may carry out His will; [while He Himself] works in you and accomplishes that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ (the Messiah); to Whom be the glory forever and ever (to the ages of the ages). Amen (so be it).

The God of peace ROUSED Jesus from the dead...He makes us everything we need to be strong, like the proverbs 31 woman who girds herself with strength.

His peace does not only calm us, but emboldens us.

We need to be properly clothed... in peace, etc. so that we are not even in a hurry to get out of a difficult situation, like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

Wednesday 24 June 2009

sermon notes 2 - power of peace (day 2)

1 Peter 1:2-4
2When they observe the pure and modest way in which you conduct yourselves, together with your reverence [for your husband; you are to feel for him all that reverence includes: to respect, defer to, revere him--to honor, esteem, appreciate, prize, and, in the human sense, to adore him, that is, to admire, praise, be devoted to, deeply love, and enjoy your husband]. 3Let not yours be the [merely] external adorning with [elaborate] interweaving and knotting of the hair, the wearing of jewelry, or changes of clothes; 4But let it be the inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which [is not anxious or wrought up, but] is very precious in the sight of God.

Inner beauty is found in God - a gentle and peaceful spirit.

Philippians 4:6-7
6Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. 7And God's peace [shall be yours, that ranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

The phrase "mount guard" shows us that this peace is more powerful than anything that can come against it.
No peace can come until you do what is in verse 6.
Esther 4:14
For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from elsewhere, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion?

God has prepared us for a time and a place. We can't take this spiritual place till we take our place with God.
The peace of God is powerful enough to hold us in place. Like Esther, we will know the plan of God, with our words and composure divinely provided and calculated.
The peace of God draws favour. Esther risked her life to enter the throne room without being summoned, but found favour in the eyes of her husband the king. She waited on God till the right time to go in.

Ephesians 6:15
And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.

Our feet must be shod with peace. These shoes of peace can walk through all circumstances.

What you look at affects your feet.

Philippians 4:8
For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].

So fix your eyes on Jesus as all that are in the above verse are found in Him.

Tuesday 23 June 2009

sermon notes 1 - power of peace (day 1)

These notes were taken at a seminar for women leaders in August 2008.

Psalm 68:11
The Lord gives the word [of power]; the women who bear and publish [the news] are a great host.
  1. Women to stand in their place in God, marching in step with His plan
  2. We wait upon the Lord, taking orders only from Him.
  3. You will never find your place naturally till you take your place spiritually.
To walk in the power of peace and be tremendously used by God - influentially, not manipulatively - be wise and not proud.

1 Peter 3:1, 5-6
IN LIKE manner, you married women, be submissive to your own husbands [subordinate yourselves as being secondary to and dependent on them, and adapt yourselves to them], so that even if any do not obey the Word [of God], they may be won over not by discussion but by the [godly] lives of their wives,

5For it was thus that the pious women of old who hoped in God were [accustomed] to beautify themselves and were submissive to their husbands [adapting themselves to them as themselves secondary and dependent upon them]. 6It was thus that Sarah obeyed Abraham [following his guidance and acknowledging his headship over her by] calling him lord (master, leader, authority). And you are now her true daughters if you do right and let nothing terrify you [not giving way to hysterical fears or letting anxieties unnerve you].

You can't make the supernatural happen. You believe, and supernatural happens.
Hebrews 11:11-12
11Because of faith also Sarah herself received physical power to conceive a child, even when she was long past the age for it, because she considered [God] Who had given her the promise to be reliable and trustworthy and true to His word. 12So from one man, though he was physically as good as dead, there have sprung descendants whose number is as the stars of heaven and as countless as the innumerable sands on the seashore.

Monday 22 June 2009

I am on your side

On Saturday morning, God revealed to me and reminded me of His faithfulness with this simple phrase whispered to my spirit: I am on your side.

All my anger and upset feelings melted in His love. All my questions and doubts dissolved because of His tender words.

This is why i love my God. He sustains me every day.

Wednesday 17 June 2009

things above

I often hear from God early in the morning, those moments between sleeping and waking. I've to make effort to remember and quickly note down what was being said, or else it's easy to just forget everything...

The following is what i remember hearing:

I woke up this morning and had a conversation with the Holy Spirit. He started the conversation first. I heard Him asking me to set my heart on things above and not on things below. I started to bargain with Him but knew that that was not being willing and obedient, that was not pleasing Him. So i started to change my attitude. Then He went on to show me the specific steps i could take to accomplish this in this phase of my life.

Then i saw Him (in my spirit, not in a vision) turn away as if to leave, so since we were on a roll here, i quickly asked Him about another issue i had been praying and believing for some time, and He said He was taking care of it. I told Him i was tired of waiting (since the previous evening i had been saying that in my mind and to hubby). What i heard in reply was if you wait on Me, you will never be tired. Once again, I didn't especially like the answer, as i would have preferred to know a more specific response, such as the date... But i understood. If i waited on Him, His word does promise that i will renew my strength according to Isaiah 40:31.

So i will purpose to set my heart on things above, and i will purpose to wait on Him.

Sunday 14 June 2009

we're back...

Praise God for a wonderful trip. His grace is indeed sufficient for us! I spoke in sentences that i never thought i could!

He does immeasurably more than i can ask or imagine!

:D

Sunday 7 June 2009

off!

Hubby and i are off to teach for a week! Pray for us! :D
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