riearchivistfornow

[riearchivistfornow]

Driven By Passion

English 0900 2017.01.08

Driven By Passion

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Why this message is important: 1) A Spiritual Legacy. As a parent passes on their DNA to their child, so do we take on like iur spiritual parents. 2) A special rhema word for FCBC. The core vision for FCBC:

Make disciples

Plant churches

Transform Communities

DRIVEN BY PASSION

A true disciple of Christ must be driven by passion. If any man is to follow Christ, he is to deny himself, take up the cross and follow him. A disciple must act to see that the great commission is done.

1 Corinthians 9:16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

Philippians 3:13-14 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Romans 15:17-20 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.

Romans 9:3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race,

Paul is driven. In the race, we need to run to win. Run with the purpose in every step, training yourself to do what is needed.

We need to be driven by passion.

Driven by a passion to see the world coming to know Jesus Christ.

We are caught up in the era of 'either or' where we should strive for the quest of 'both and'.

Those who lose their life will find it.

It is not "To Be" vs "To Do" Who you really are is demonstrated by what you do.

John 14:15 “If you love me, keep my commands.

Often what you do will shape who you are. It is to be and to do.

It is both faith and work.

James 2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 4:8-12 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

The only way to bring life to others is to die to yourself. The aim is not just to grow FCBC but to start a church.

The church has fallen into a giving therapy to her members.

Truth will set us free.

Luke 14:27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

What should you be driven by? 1) Goals. We need to be driven by setting goals.

Run to Win. We set goals to accomplish it, to get there. Winning to Paul is winning the people for Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Numbers are very important to God. Numbers represents the lives that are being saved.

2) Growth. We must be driven by personal growth. You need to train yourself. As a result of the goal you grow.

1 Corinthians 9:27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Every athlete needs to train.

"No pain no gain"

Everybody can love Jesus but when storms come, will we still be able to say i love you Jesus?

3) Godliness We need to be driven by Godliness. You need to have disciples because they will keep you walking right with God.

1 Corinthians 10:1-13 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

[riearchivistfornow]

It's Not Me, It's You

English 9AM 2016.12.25

It's Not Me, It's You

Many of us are willing to lay our feelings aside for the betterment of everyone around. During the Christmas season, we put on a smile and try to bring cheer around to one another.

When we choose to sacrifice, it changes everything. Sacrifice is about giving up what you personally value, for something you think is of a greater value.

Philippians 2:5-11 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

1) He is Worthy. He is worthy of total commitment and total devotion because of what He has done.

Luke 2:8-14 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

The reason why He is worthy, is that He is on earth. The message of Jesus is not that because He is a superior being, therefore we have to worship Him. Instead it is not about His nature of God but that He made himself in human likeness to bear the sins of men.

Philippians 2:6-8 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

While throughout history, men wanted to be God. Even Lucifer wanted to be God, to ascend to the highest point. But Jesus is God because Jesus is willing to be the lowest, He was willing to be a human -- weak in every point -- and this was the greatest sacrifice.

God sent His son to die for us. Jesus had to sacrifice His equality to come to earth. He came to die for us. Giving up everything just to die for each and everyone of our souls.

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

2) We are worth it. We are worth it when God sacrificed Himself for us.

Sacrifice: It is an act of giving up something you value for the sake of something regarded as more important.

Philippians 2:6-7 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Psalm 139:13-18 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you.

When was the last time you thought this about yourself or when was the last time that someone said that for you?

"The Son of God became man so that men may become sons of God."

C.S. Lewis

Luke 15:3-7 Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Luke 15:8-10 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

God doesn't need you to prove your worth. He wants you to realise your worth. Jesus proved your worth when He came to earth for each one of us.

"I know for certain that God does not make mistakes, but he does make miracles. I am one. You are, too."

Nick Vujicic

If Jesus didn't value us, He wouldn't have bothered dying on the cross, one of the most painful execution methods in history. If God didn't value us, He wouldn't have sent Jesus down for us.

"God can turn any mess into a message, any test into a testimony, any trial into triumph, and any victim into a victor."

God is always wanting to interupt our lives so that He can help us. God is not absent, He is not distant. We are His creation.

[riearchivistfornow]

Unscathed

TX service 2014.09.27

Unscathed

We must trust and obey. What is this great unknown for us? We are all included into the journey of faith into the great unknown. God is going to cause us to do things that we have never done before, and seeing things you have never seen before. Some of us, the great unknown may be going out to preach to others, while to others, it may be about going out to pray for the sick. It can also be to live a holy life for Jesus, to be a great testimony for the Lord. Some of us, the great unknown may be to help our parents to know the Lord. For cell leaders, it may be to double your cell in size.

It is not a game, but there will be an opposition to this. God tells us to be bold and courageous. There will be opposition and obstacles, but despite having that, we will still push on.

In Joshua chapter 2, two spies were in the enemy's camp, and they were being helped by one of the enemy.

Joshua 2:1-24 NIV

Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there. The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.” But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut. Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.” “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.” So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. She said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.” Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.” “Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.” So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window. When they left, they went into the hills and stayed there three days, until the pursuers had searched all along the road and returned without finding them. Then the two men started back. They went down out of the hills, forded the river and came to Joshua son of Nun and told him everything that had happened to them. They said to Joshua, “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.”

Unscathed, to be safe, without harm. How can we be safe and without harm during the journey into the great unknown?

1) By knowing that God is great - We must fear him.

Rahab did not allow the two spies to be handed over to the powerful king. The city's people were melting with fear. Rahab had chosen to fear God, rather than to fear man. Do you know that God is great? If we know that God is great, why do we still fear man, rather than we fearing God? We are afraid of our enemies and the fear of man, so much so that we are not going forward in the race. Fearing God was the safest place for Rahab and her family to be safe. The safest place to be, is to put your faith and to put your fear in God for that is the safest place to be when you are fearful. We then become fearless and courageous for we have already placed 100% in God. When you are not afraid of your enemies, a reversal actually happens. Our enemies then becones fearful for we have a great God with us. Jericho is a very formidable city, but yet the people were all melting in fear because of the Lord God Almighty. If you know that God is great, then do not fear your enemies for you have the Lord with you. Go and pray for your friends that are sick. You can do great things for God because God is great. Cell leaders, don'the babysit your teenagers, bring that out to the great unknown. "Those who know God will attempt great things for God." Hence, we need to attempt great things for God because we really know him. God is great, do great things for him. Fear God rather than to fear man.

2) God is gracious - We can serve him.

Joshua chapter 2, God chose to use a nobody, a prostitute for his purposes. God had used Rahab's fear of him to help his army to win the war and to be gracious to her. Rahab had earned herself a place in God's hall of faith and fame.

Hebrews 11:31 NIV

By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

Rahab was included in the lineage of the people who was in the family, leading to Christ. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, had Rahab in his family tree. Why? She had placed her faith into the Lord, believing that he will be gracious. If God can use Rahab, God can use you. Some on us, even though we know this, some of us is unwilling to enter into the great unknown is because we feel that we are not worthy to be used by God. When you feel unworthy, Satan than uses that to keep making you feel even more unworthy. Some of us chooses to listen to that because he keeps enforcing that you are unworthy. However, God had used Rahab, despite her being a prostitute. The fact is that God can use you not because of your worthiness, but because of his graciousness.

1 Corinthians 1:26-27 NIV

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

The more unworthy you feel, the better candidate you will be. God is great, so he can use you. It is through the infinite goodness and the grace of God. It is not about your capability, but it is about the grace of God.

These four words must be written on your heart: "God can use you."

If you ever forget that God can use you, then refer to Rahab, the prostitute. Jesus walked with sinners, tax collectors, thieves and more. He does not come for the healthy but he comes for the sick.

"Faith and obedience are bound up in the same bundle. He that obeys God, trusts God and he who trusts God, obeys him. Faith is not without works."

In Joshua 2, we see both the greatness and the graciousness of God, in a single life; Rahab the prostitute. To save her, together with her family, thanks to the grace of God, his greatness, as well as the fear of God that Rahab had.

There is this great God and a gracious God; whom we fear and serve.

[riearchivistfornow]

Life: Is there meaning?

TX service 2014.09.13

Life: is there a meaning?

In life, things are very difficult, but we want to make our life count. Is there meaning in life? Life is a never ending cycle, sometimes we think "Hey, life is way too meaningless."

Ecclesiastes 1:2 NIV

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”

Questions: 1) Is there a purpose for my life? Yes.

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Ephesians 2:10 NIV

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

God's hands were at work personally, to make you. God does not create junk. And because God created you, you are not junk. Are you then sure that God has a purpose for you?

Jeremiah 20:18 NIV

Why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame?

This was said by a great prophet. Life has troubles, but why are we set into this?

John 16:33 NIV

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

God has a plan for you.

2) Where can I find my purpose? It is tricky to find this, why? Simply because you call it as if it belongs to you. You cannot figure out your purpose in life within yourself. For as this is true; that the more you look for the purpose inside of you, the further you'll be from finding it.

Colossians 1:16 NIV

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

If you were born two-three thousand years ago, and you pick up a mobile phone of today, you would never know if you just press and play around with it. To know what it can fully do, you need to either go to the creator of it, or to go back to the instruction manual. You have to go back to the creator to get the entire picture. If you look into yourself to find meaning, do not look into yourself.

Jeremiah 17:9 NIV

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

Jeremiah 17:9 NIV

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

We are double-minded people who cannot make up our minds. If you want to find a purpose, it is about going back to the creator.

Ephesians 1:11-12 NIV

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

3) How do I find this purpose? How? Simple, head back to the creator who had created you.

Revelation 3:20 NIV

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Some of you think that life is so empty and that there is nothing in you, but when you go back to God, your emptiness will be filled in.

Proverbs 11:28 NIV

Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

A life that has been shaped by God will thrive. When Adam and Eve sinned and started to do what they wanted, looking into yourself, they turned their backs away from our Heavenly Father. This is why you feel that life is meaningless. Despite this, God knew this and sent his Son down to take out place.

John 3:16 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Do not let your eyes fool you, God can do greater things.

Romans 8:38-39 NIV

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Nothing will EVER separate you from the love of God.

[riearchivistfornow]

Heaven & Hell – Is there such a place?

Teens Xcite 2014.09.06

Heaven & Hell – is there such a place?

Is there a heaven and is there a hell? Why do people ask these questions? The reason is because people wants to what happens after we die. What on earth is going to happen after we die and leave this world? We don't usually like to talk about this because we do not like to talk about death. People try to distance themselves from death. We try many ways to distance ourselves from death as far as possible. We will all eventually die one day. What do you think will happen after we die?

Some think that it is only physical Nothing in this world can ever satisfy you. Some think that we directly go to heaven, some think reincarnation.

Death is not natural. God never created you to die. He created everything without the talk of death.

Genesis 2:7 NIV

Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

It is only after man had sinned against God, then death came into the picture. After Adam and Eve sinned against God death came.

Genesis 3:19 NIV

By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

Romans 6:23 NIV

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Your payment for sin is death. Death was not in God's plan, we were called to live eternally, but because we have sinned, death came into place.

Is there a heaven and a hell? Yes.

There is more to life, than what we do here on earth. Across all religions there are two truths.

1) Death is not the end

2) Our lives will be held accountable.

There are many religions, but it all states that there is more to life than our life here on earth.

Do I go to hell? Or do I go to hell? How to we know?

Luke 16:19-26 NIV

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

One went to hell, one went to hell. Our lives will be held accountable.

2 Corinthians 5:10 NIV

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

You should think of it this way, Heaven as your job, hell as your unemployment and your life on earth as your interview. Luke 23:42-43 NIV

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. ” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Paradise meant heaven.

John 3:16 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Heaven is not a destination, however heaven is to have eternal life. Heaven is not a place. The location will change. We are called to spend eternity in the presence of God. When God created Adam and Eve, he placed them not in heaven but here on earth.

Revelation 21:1-4 NIV

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

In the end, God is going to create everything again, afresh. The thing that we are looking for is the new creation that God has made here on earth, and that he dwells here on earth, so that there is no darkness here on earth. Honestly, do you want to go to heaven if God is not there? It is not about the place, but it is about where God is.

Hell is a place that brings about eternal suffering. Who rules and reigns in hell? Jesus rules over hell. Hell is not the home of Satan. Hell is a place that has been prepared by God, for Satan.

Matthew 25:41 NIV

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Revelation 20:10 NIV

And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

If God is the one that created hell then is he not a cruel God? If a criminal is found guilty of murder with intent. The judge then sentences him to death. Is the judge a cruel judge? No, the judge is a just judge. As such, God is a just God.

"Gehenna" search this in google

Gehanna had become a place that is abandoned and was a dump for the waste and the furnance for concivted criminals.

When Jesus talks about hell, Jesus talked about going to Gehanna, to give as an example of what hell would be like. Hell is not a place that Satan lives at. In fact, Satan is not there yet and will only be there when God wins the final battle. The devil himself will be called to face judgement and will be thrown into the lake of burning sulfur.

Daniel 12:2 NIV

Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.

You either have eternal life or eternal suffering. Why would a loving God send people to suffer in hell? God may be the one who sends us to hell, but it is us who allows that to happen. They chose to reject God.

John 3:36 NIV

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

If you choose not to believe then you will be sent to hell.

2 Thessalonians 1:6 NIV

God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you

God rather have his Son to die than for us to die. Why can't God forgive everyone so that everyone may be in heaven. If you want to protect the people that you love, then you have to know how to draw a clear line.

What about those who have never heard about the gospel? Acts 9-10 In Acts chapeter 9, God appeared before Saul and in Acts chapter 10, to Cornellius. God works in certain ways that God will show himself to the people.

There is a story of a man that felt empty in life, he saw a bright light and that it spoke in Chinese, except for one word, Gospel. He researched about it and he became a Pastor.

We have been given this mandate, to go out into all the nations and preach the gospel, to make disciples of all nations. God sent his son Jesus to die for us, so that we may not be sent to hell. Check the condition of your own heart.

No fear is greater than the fear of death. If death is such a part of life then why do we feel so angry and sad about it? Death is the wage of sin. Jesus was filled with rage when he went to see Lazarus. Death is spiritual and physical. God chose to send Jesus into complete darkness to break the curse of death. One day, the true King will come to earth, and everything will be made new. We will be here on earth, joyful and wonderful. People say not to fear death for it is a part of life, however, God tells you not to fear death, as it has been defeated. Jesus will embrace you with his nail scarred hands, saying, "Welcome home, I have so much to show you."

Heaven is real, as real as God is. You can sense the immense love that God has for every one of us. It is not about what you do, because it is not enought to be in the presence of the Lord. However it is about what you have believed in. All has sinned and fallen short of the glory. Read and understand the word of God. For in it, God showed contant love for his people. No matter how far God's people are from him, he will always reach out to them. So God will always reach out to you, but will you take his hand?

Ask yourself-Where am I going? It is not about where you go, but do you have the confidence to say that through all these on earth and through everything, are you confident enough to say that you will go to where the Lord is and where his presence is?

[riearchivistfornow]

The Bible – True or False?

Teens Xcite 2014.08.30

The Bible – True or False?

TX service 30/8/2014

Can we find out that the Bible is true?

The bible is the sole truth and basis of our faith.

Fact

1. 66 books, 1500+ years, more than 40 authors.

2. Great number of manusripts that are preserves.

The bible must be of great importance. God inspired people to write the bible.

Proof:

1) Historical accuracy. This is the only book that refers to historical events that is true. One evidence is the historical truth of Jesus Christ. There are writings outside of Christianity that affirm the major details set by the bible. There is a Jewish historian that made the reference to Joahn the Baptist, Jesus Chirst and James. Second evidence shows that the recent investigations shows that it refers to David, was the King of Israel in the 9th Century before the birh of Christ Jesus.

2) Fulfilment of prophecies. The accuracy in predicting the future. Many of them has already been fulfilled, such as the prophecies of Israel. Israel continously rebelled against God.

Ezekiel 36:16-19 NIV

Again the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by their conduct and their actions. Their conduct was like a woman’s monthly uncleanness in my sight. So I poured out my wrath on them because they had shed blood in the land and because they had defiled it with their idols. I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered through the countries; I judged them according to their conduct and their actions.

This was proven by the historical evidence of the exile of Israel.

Ezekiel 34:14 NIV

I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.

In May 1948, Israel became its own state, recognized by the United Nations. We also know about the Arab-Israeli War. We know by God's divine intervention, Israel was victorious and its land had also been expanded.

Blibical prophecy has been fulfilled right before our eyes.

Matthew 24:6-7 NIV

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

We know that earthquakes are happening more often than before.

3) Consistent Message. We had many authors of diverse backgrounds, yet the authors had a single theme of a consistent message. This is showing the cinsistency of the bible. The bible is a single narrative to one who is greater. The bible talked about all the great people in history like Jacob, Abraham, Joseph, Adam, Abel, Moses, Job, David, Ester and Jonah, but yet there was one man who was better than all of them. Christ Jesus. It is a single narrative, pointing to one man, the true king and sacrifice, son of God - Jesus.

If the bible is indeed true, then how should we respond to the word of God?

Luke 6:46-49 NIV

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

From this parable, the house represents us, our lives. Do you want your life to be built on a strong foundation? Or to be built without a foundation that is torn down by the storms of life.

1) We need to know the word of God.

Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Most importantly, the word of God is to train us for the task and calling thay God has for each and every one of our lives.

2) We also need to obey the word of God and take action.

Matthew 7:21-23 NIV

��Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

We need to obey and do the will of our Father in heaven. We cannot say that Jesus is our Lord if we do not obey and do the will of God. Let us not be decieved by the devil that we only need to know the word of God, but to obey and act upon his word.

God blesses and rewards obedience.

James 1:22-25 NIV

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

We need to honour our parents.

Exodus 20:12 NIV

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

This is the only commandment that comes with a promise and blessing.

When we take the first step to change, everything else around you will change as well.

Why does Jesus need to die for us on the cross? Jesus died to break the barrier, which is sin, that prevents us from dwelling within the divine and Holy presence of the Lord God Almighty.

[riearchivistfornow]

Do Angels and Demons Exist?

Teens Xcite 2014.08.23

Do Angels and Demons Exist?

What does the word of God say about angles and demons?

Revelation 12:7-9 NIV

Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

This was the result of the disobedience of Lucifer.

Hebrews 12:22 NIV

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,

Hebrews 1:14 NIV

Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Rules of Angels: 1) They assist in the salvation of people

Acts 8:26 NIV

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”

Ulitmately man brings man to salvation, but it is still through the works of God.

2) They wage war for us to bring answers to our prayers.

Daniel 10:12-14 NIV

Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.”

It took the angel took 21 days to deliver the answers of Daniel's prayers because the angel was resisted by a demon, and was then assisted by the archangel, Michael.

3) They display intelligence, emotion and free will. Lucifer decided to turn against God, causing the first war.

Ezekiel 28:12-18 NIV

“Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “ ‘You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: carnelian, chrysolite and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings. By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a fire come out from you, and it consumed you, and I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching.

This is about Lucifer, choosing by his own free will to go against the Lord God Almighty. Lucifer was a very beautiful angel, but pride caused the downfall of him. Lucifer, "son of morning", became Satan, "the accuser".

Dod God make this mistake? No, the devil became this because of his own choice. Satan is the source of all rebellion and disobedience. "war on earth"-that is the goal of Satan, to destroy mankind. Satan hates you, for he sees the image of God in us, that we tpok his place of wprshiping God, and mostly, he wants you to worship him. Satan wants you to be destroyed.

John 10:10a NIV

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;

2 Corinthians 4:4 NIV

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 NIV

For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

Jesus is the only way to God.

John 8:44 NIV

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Maybe he is telling you that your leaders are so contorlling and that freedom is to do whatever you want. That is not true, we need to recognise the lies of the devil so that we may stand against it. Suicide is a demonic thing. Suicidal thoughts is the devil wanting to destroy you. The evil voices in your head is the devil wanting to destroy you. The emotional hurt and anger is also the devil. All these is Satan wanting to destroy you.

John 10:10 NIV

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

You have free will

How to win the war: 1) Submit to God

1 John 1:9 NIV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

James 4:8-10 NIV

Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

2) Resist the devil

God has given you the victory, make the stand to resist the devil.

1 Peter 5:8 NIV

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

For we are at war, whether you like it or not. And in war, if we are not fighting - simply standing around, or hiding from the reality of the war, or actually running away from it - we are being defeated.

We need to stand with god.

Submittng to God and resist the devil, this is how to win the war.

The Lord is willing to set us free if we are willing to submit to God and to resist the Devil. You are either in the kingdom of God or in the kingdom of the devil. There is no in-between. Satan is blinding you and wants to destroy you totally, but God really loves you. Thus he wants to being you to his kingdom.

[riearchivistfornow]

Jesus – Is He the only way?

Teens Xcite 2014.08.17

Jesus – Is He the only way?

Is Jesus really the only way?

John 14:6 NIV

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Matthew 16:13 NIV

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

The Mordern Versions of Jesus 1) A good man Jesus was a good man be ause he was the Son of God because he came down to earth and into the world.

2) A misunderstood rabbi A very talented Jewish teacher which never meant to start a new religion

3) Revolutionary Jesus "Jesus as the Messiah who came to overthrow the unjust power."

4) The Ecumenical Jesus Ecumenical: anything and everything is okay.

the truth is that all these four views of Jesus is not true.

"If you are believing in a false Christ, If your preach a false Christ you are cursed."

If you hold on to any of these views, you are not safe. Through the wealth of data uncovered by the historical and archelogical research.We are able to measure the accuracy of the Bible. It is thus accurate to the claims of the Bible being true.

Facts:

1. Jesus fulfilled prophecy.

Fakes can't fulfil prophecy. They can't direct the circumstances of their birth and death. Jesus' fulfillment of such prophecies shows that he is no fake. Jesus Christ was the credientialed, expected, authoritative Messiah for whom the world has been taught since the Garden of Eden

2. He made amazing claims about himself

He claimes that he is the Son of God He made claims that he will rise from the dead

3. Supernatural Powers

-turned water into wine -multiplied five loaves and two fishes -raised from the dead The excessive skeptism of many liberal theologians stems not from an evaluation of available data, but from an enormous predisposition against the supernatural.

4. The Empty Tomb

If we do not believe that he rose from the dead, then our preaching is useless and so is our faith.

Proofs: ~The Empty Tomb. First claim is that the desciples stole the body. This is proven wrong because of the two Roman soldiers and then roll away the tomb stone. Also his burial cloth is neatly folded, which did not make sense. Secondly, they went to the wrong tomb stone. If they did that, people would have shown that he is still dead.

~The Holy Women. Women did were of second class and did not hold abilities to claim witnesses.

~Jesus Apostles New Courage The courage that they had to finally come out of hiding because they new the truth.

~The Changed Attitude of James. He became a strong leader from once being a skeptic

~The Five Hundred Witnesses. There were five hundred witnesses there to prove it

~The Conversion of Paul He was persecuting the Church and he had an encounter with Christ, but then became one of the most powerful missionaries

~ They died for Jesus No one would dare to die for a lie

5. Transformed Lives

Everyday there are many people who still are coming to know the Lord Jesus Christ and the rate of people who are knowing the Lord Jesus is accelerating and escalating.

Possibilities: ¤ Jesus is the greatest liar in the human history ¤Jesus is a lunatic ¤Jesus is not a lunatic nor a liar but that Jesus Christ is the Lord

He's a Liar-No He's a lunatic-No He's the Lord-Yes

[riearchivistfornow]

God; Dead or Alive?

Teens Xcite 2014.08.09

God; Dead or Alive

Romans 1:20-22 NIV

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools

"Science and Faith are fundamentally incompatible. Science helps religion only to disprove its claims."

Three areas that shows that God exists:

1) COSMOLOGY If you believe that there is a beginning of the universe ten your essentially belive that there is an existence of God.

With the proof now in place, cosmologists can no longet hide behind the possibility of a past eternal universe. [In other words, scientists can no longer claim that the universe has always existed.] There is no escape. They have to face the problem of a COSMIC BEGINNIG

"The Kalam Cosmological Arguement" ~Whatever begins to exists has a cause. ~The universe became to exist ~The universe must have a cause

What kind of thing then caused the universe to exist?

"The best date that we haveconcerning the origin of the universe are exactly what I would have predicted had I nothing to go on but the five books of Moses, Psalms and the Bible as a whole.

Romans 1:20 NIV

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

Then who created God?

The argument is not whatever exists has a cause. The argument is that whatever begins to exist has a cause. God, be definition, never began to exist. By definition, GOD HAS ALWAYS EXISTED.

Genesis 1:1-2 NIV

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

God began to speak and create by the power of the spoken word.

2) PHYSICS If you were to change gravity just by one inch of how gravity is placed in this universe, intelligent life would not exist. The cosmological constant is the energy desity of space is a large and positive number, the universe ceases to exist.

"One of the most striking and amazing discoveries of physics over the past fifty years or so is has been that the numbers that govern the operation of the universe, the constants and the laws of physics and so faith, they conspire in an extraordinary way to make the universe hospitable for life."

Colossians 1:17 NIV

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Psalm 8:3-4 NIV

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?

The exquisitte order placed by our scientific understanding of the physical would call for the divine.

3) BIOLOGY DNA functions like a software programme. It needs genetic information.

A T C G

When you find information, it links back to an intelligence. This means that where ever the genetic information first started of at, was first placed together by an intelligence. This intelligence, is the Lord our God.

[riearchivistfornow]

Questions

Teens Xcite 2014.08.02

Questions

All of us have questions. Do you ever think that you will ever contain all the answers in the world? In this life, we cannot know everything and know every answer.

Deuteronomy 29:29 NIV

The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

But as for any question that we have, we should ask.

Question 1) Why does a good God allow evil and suffering? Why are all the disasters and all the suffering occuring all around us? We have difficulties and suffering that we encounter in our lives. Why do we have such a great God, but he allows evil, suffering and pain to happen?

Truth #1 God doesn't make mistakes but we do. When we ask why God allows suffering to happen, you are saying that God screwed up, or made a mistake. We are saying that God didn't do his job.

Psalm 18:30 NIV

As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord ’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.

God's ways is perfect and flawless. We do not understand this because nothing on this earth that is perfect or without flaw. When something bad happens, we tend to blame God, rather than look at what we did wrong.

Genesis 3:1, 4-6, 8-19 NIV

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

We do not like to take the personal blame for what we have done. When God created everything, he said that everything was good. We cannot say that God was bad because he cursed Adam and Eve, because it was because Adam and Eve had brought the curse upon themselves. When we open ourselves to the evil that is present, then pain and suffering comes. If we talk about global warming and all our present disasters, it isn't God's fault but it is our fault. God doesn't make mistakes but we do.

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Israel was destroyed, but in that time, God told them that. God is trying to say that we still have a hope and a future. Regardless of the circumstances that you are in, God has a plan for you. Human beings has free will. We have the ability to choose. Imagine if you are about to be married and then the person loves you because that person was programmed to. What is the use then?

Truth #2 God has an enemy, so do we.

Ephesians 6:12 NIV

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

John 10:10 NIV

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

The first sin was Adam and Eve eating the fruit. The second sin is Cain killed Abel. The moment sin came in, it tries very strongly to destroy us.

Matthew 16:23 NIV

Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

The devil wants to destroy you so that you cannot fulfil the destiny that God has for you.

1 Peter 5:8 NIV

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

This is what te devil wants to do. Haven't you felt this way before? Doing something wrong and then feeling a large amount of guilt? If you keep falling into sin, then you will realize that you are being pulled away from God. So is it the devil's fault? If it is then why doesn't God kill the devil? If God would do that, then God would have to kill us as well. Adam and Eve sinned against God, but God did not kill them. God casted them out because he wants them to have a hope of returning to him. God kept reaching out to them. God sent Jesus to reach out to them as well. In life there will always be suffering.

John 16:33 NIV

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

We know that regardless, God is in control. How then do we cope with suffering?

1. We need to find community in suffering.

We were never made to be alone. God created Eve for Adam, for it is not good for man to be alone.

Galatians 6:2 NIV

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:24-26 NIV

while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

We are called to be in a community

2. Find God in suffering.

God is not unaware of what is going on in your life.

Psalm 23:4 NIV

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

The bad times is the best times to find God. God is a God who understands

Isaiah 53:3-5 NIV

He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

God is a God who understands and is in control. In all situations, God is always in control. God is greater and he has a plan and redemption for you. Remember that in all things, God is in control.

Suffering is unbearable when you do not believe that God is for you and in you.

Philippians 3:7-8 NIV

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.

Everything else aside from Jesus is garbage. Do you trust this Jesus that he will use you despite your circumstances. You are not a mistake because God made you and he makes no mistakes. Don't ask why, but answer the question from God, "Do you trust me?".

[riearchivistfornow]

Teens Xcite

Teens Xcite 2014.08.01

If you just plant churches, you will not see transformation, but without a church, there will not be transformation.

Isaiah 60:1-3

How many of you can justify that you have arose and that you have risen.

John 15:16

if we continue to grow with the Lord then we will see the fruits and the muiplication. God is committed to our success. We think that God chose to follow us, but we have to realize that we follow God. He will not make us a failure. In this new season, we are going to be fruitful IF we abide in the Lord. In this new season, the fruits will be different. All of us are going to be surprised by what God is going to do. Heavy hearts are lifted. The Lord wants us to know that te anoiting breaks the yolk of bondage, empowers us in our weakness, the anoiting sets us free.

Isaiah 61

We are called, chosen and anointed to bear fruit. Claim the Lord's anointing and pray for an anointing spirit. Ask the Lord for the people. Be committed to the three-by-three prayers. I am called, chosen and anointed.

[riearchivistfornow]

Momentum

Teens Xcite 2014.08.01

Momentum

Momentum = Mass × Velocity. we need to keep growing.

Mass. We need to have a lot of mass. Nass means the amount of substance that an object has. We look for the wrong things. We seek for conferences to grow, but our daily walk should be the one in which that we are growing in. Psalms says that we are an arrow that is in the quiver. This means that we are supposed to be sent out.

Velocity. We have got to keep moving. A lot of us do not like to keep going. Let us run with peseverance, the race that lies ahead of us. If we lose momentum, we will be left with inertia. Inertia is the difficulty/resistance to the object gaining velocity again.

We need to continue to grow and going in the Lord. However, the devil wants us to have as much inertia as possible. The devil wants to slow us down. How do you slow down something that has a great amount of momentum? The use of drag. Drag is a frictional force that is caused by the resistance of motion. The devil wants us to experience as much of a drag as possible. The sin is the greatest drag that the devil wants us to experience. We need to come and get rid of all the sin and the things that comes and hinders us. Just because we have been to a conference or been to church, doesn't mean that we cannot fall into sin.

Sometimes something happens in the week that causes us to stop, to lose momentum when we have just been into the spiritual high. Repentance always requires a change in lifestyle. How can you change your lifestyle to fit this? How can you change your lifestyel so that you do not lose your spiritual momentum?

1 Peter 1:14-16 NIV

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Confess and acknowledge that Jesus is the Lord. Cry out to the Lord in repentance. We pray that all our sins will be forgiven, that your grace will cover us and that we are all free. For he who is set free by the Son is free indeed. We pray that if we have placed anything above you, we ask for forgiveness and to plut you first for you are the sovreign Lord. We pray that any spirit that is not of God is to be gone. The spirit of death, depression be gone, that all strongholds are torn down. "You are a chosen generation, a royal preisthood, holy people and a holy nation, and that we may proclaim the praises of him, who has called out of darkness and into his Holy light" When we come and repent, it is not condemnation but it is a repentance that comes with a hope.

[riearchivistfornow]

Teens Xcite

Teens Xcite 2014.07.24

why do some of the non believers propser but some Christans are financially struggling? It is not that the work of the Lord is imperfect. In fact, it is very much perfect. God blessed us in the heavenly realms. He who is not born again, cannot enter the kingdom of God. Jesus' death is the death of sin and his ressurection is the ressurection of our life. The blessings cannot be seen by the flesh but by the spirit. All power has been given to Jesus in the heavens and on the earth. He then gave the responsibility of the spreading of the gospel to his disciples. We know that in this world, we need money. In the spiriual world, we do not need money, we need a heavenly debit card. Debit cards are very simple. Jesus never had once used money. How do you save wealth in the kingdom of God? By doing what your leader challenges you to.

How to use the heavenly debit card.

1) To know what God has to say about your need. There is an issue of financial flow. Jesus heals and is interested in our needs. God promised Abraham a nation. God wants to multiply and help you.

2) Visualization. The bleeding woman begun to visualise the miracle. The same thing happened with Abraham. God led Abraham to visualise the multiudes. We need to visualize the miricale that we need. God is powerful.

3) We need to confess and declare the miracle. The bleeding woman and Abraham, God wants us to stand strong and to declare what God want us to declare.

4) Perseverance. You will not get anything if you do not have perseverance. You must have perseverance to get it. Abraham was persistent, as the bleeding woman was.

The money is already here, it is in your pockets. It is a challenge of faith.

[riearchivistfornow]

True Love

2014.07.12

True Love

Wake up your idea.

2 Timothy 2:22 NIV

Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

To find true love, flee from youthful lust. Lust will destroy our lives. What true love is, compared to lust. Infatuation is a feeling, it often leads to lust. Lust is a sexual desire or apetite. Lust is selfish. Love is commitment.

Run from youthful lust.

Proverbs 4:23 NIV

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

♡ Date with marriage in mind

♡ You do not need to date a lot of people, you just need to date the right one

♡ Only date believers who truly fear the Lord

Genesis 2:24 NIV:

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

2 Corinthians 6:14 NIV:

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

A successful relationship is based on (1)Finding the right person. (2)Being the right person

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Enjoy being in that Godly and joyful community. Enjoy friendships.

1 Timothy 5:1-2 NIV:

Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

Do not lust after your own sister. You need the protection of your community, of your brothers and sisters in a healthy relationships.

The Three levels of Friendship: Friendship (Casual & Social) Courtship (Going steady & Engagement) Partnership (Marriage)

Be in a community of Godly friendships.

[riearchivistfornow]

Teens Xcite

Teens Xcite 2014.06.14

To get disciples, you have to be a disciple. Wake up your idea, grow.

1) have I been growing? your spiritual growth is the backbone on what you are here for. "I will teach you" said Jesus. qhen you follow after Jesus, it means that Jesus will teach you new things. God does not want to shortchange you, God wants to make you a better person and a better disciple. lomg for the word of God so in it you will grow. we need to know the word. We are lazy, that is the problem within most of us. we are lazy, God says that you must keep in on your lips and meditate it day and night. Jesus called us to be salt and light of the word, but how can we be that if we don't even know what is in the Bible? It is important to know the word of God.

[riearchivistfornow]

Wake Up Your Idea, Go!

Teens Xcite 2014.05.31

Wake up your idea, GO!

As we call ourselves disciples of Christ, we need to look at our life, there are things we need to get straight.

Matthew 25:1, 3-13 NIV

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ “ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Are you ready to serve your Holy Father? The first thing that God wants to bring us back to is serving him. Our Christian walk has to be a walk, an onward journey that keeps moving.

1) We need to get up. Nothing in life will happen, until we get up. When we are sleeping we are inactive, we cannot control what we want to do whilst we are asleep. This is why we have to get up to do something.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the Holy Spirit.

The world is in need and the church is in trouble.

The church is in trouble because we are not getting up to do what God has called us to do. The church has never existed for itself. Some times we just like to sleep because we enjoy being in comfort, but if we do not wake up we cannot do anything.

You snooze, they lose. They refers to everyone that you will ever meet. If you sleep then you are not going to share the gospel with them amd hence they will never be saved. You are never ever going to see what God has for you if you do not get up.

2) We need to get out. We need to get out of ourselves. We need to get out of this place to where we are and live out the testimony that God has for us.

Therefore go and make disciples of ALL THE NATIONS. The only way that you can do this is if you get out of the four walls of the church. You have to bring the light into all the areas that God has placed you in. It is pointless for us to just shine inside the church, we have to go out into the darkness to shine out.

We need to get out of where ever you are. Until you get out then nothing has changed. Every journey starts with that first single step. When we come to church, we have to look beyond the four walls. Some of us are focused on our problems within us, we have to be outward looking. When we look inwards we become leeches that suck and cling onto the problems. You don't ignore your own problems but you look beyong it. The disciples were not perfect people, they kept making mistakes. Jesus taught them how to look outwards. When they went outwards, God started to use them.

Get up and get out.

We need to stop living your life where you are the centre of it all. God wants to use you to reach out to others. God has a greater thing for us. We need to get up and get out. We are not called to shine our light at God, we have to find the deepest darkest place and shine there. God has something much more out there. What ever we receive is meant to be kept in our hearts so that we may live out the word. God wants to bring us into the uncomfortable place to shine. Jesus is with you and he can use you to fulfil some great things in your life.

[riearchivistfornow]

The Songs We Sing

Teens Xcite 2014.05.24

The Songs We Sing

What we sing and why we sing it.

John 3:27-30 NIV

To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.”

What God has done for us. If we sing it with no meaning then there is no difference in singing it, and not.

"The worst of me succeeded by the best of you." – no matter how much of a failure that you think you are or if you think that you have a horrible nature to you, God can make it better.

The moment we allow God to be in us, we then become a somebody.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

When we face this over-powering odds, we cannot do it on our own. When I am weak, then I am strong, for nothing is impossible through Christ who strengthens me.

David did not draw upon his own strength. He drew upon the strength of the Lord God.

1 Peter 5:10 NIV

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Some of us want to live a righteous life but yet we are still in sin. God wants to take out the worst part of you and replace it with a better part that God will give you.

Moses was a murderer before God met him, but God transformed him.

God wants to transform you. You are here in church to be transformed.

What we must do and how do we respond? We lay down our lives to see God's kingdom being established here on earth as it is in heaven.

Luke 9:23-25 NIV

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?

Our christian life is all about surrender.

Why does it say "steel all that is within me"? Steel as a verb means to mentally prepare oneself to prepare to face something difficult. Why is this used? This is because we need a lot of courage to lay down our lives for God and to surrender your life to God. We do not surrender what is meaningless to us, but what is precious to us. We need to be strong and courageous, to deny yourself daily. It hard to give up the good things to God entirely. Surrender is not how much you give, but how much you are left with. It is never easy to live that life of faith and to surrender all.

Think about what we sing carefully, if we do not meam every single thing that we sing then we shouldn't even be singing it.

What happens when we do what we are supposed to do? What happens when God increases in us?

2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Imagine, less of all the bad things, because God has given you the spirit of power and greatness.

Matthew 5:16 NIV

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Start with the basics, get your life in order with God. Start living oit the spirit of power, love and self-discipline.

As long as there is sin, we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. When you easily fall into sin, the chain is already wrapped around you tightly. God is here to break away these chains. When his light comes upon you, he will guide you.

Psalm 119:105 NIV

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Very often, we do not cry out to God to help us to break these chains. If we cry out to the Lord to break these chains away, then he will set us free. Are you willing to let God increase in you and let yourself increase. This means that less of the things that you want, enjoy and desire. It is only when you allow God to increase while you decrease then you can arise and shine. Are you willing?

Everytime you sing these words, it is a commitment. Do you really mean all of what you sing? Mean what you sing and sing what you mean.