Post worship experience
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Before I begin proper on my thoughts, let me try to address some questions that I myself sometimes ask and I think others might ask too.
"Why do Christians, and other people like me, try so hard to please this GOD? I mean isn't the faith supposed to give you joy, comfort, peace and what not?"
Having known this God who is so faithful and good to me, I have been convicted that my life should be a pleasant offering unto Him. I mean Jesus came to die for my sins so that I can be accepted by God and can come to Him freely to throw all my burdens somewhere; surely I ought to be dead to sin now.
"Huh? You dead to sin still have to strive to be sin-free meh?"
Yup cos the devil will intensify the attacks of temptation. And because our Christian walk is not a pleasant bed of roses, we might often slip a little here and there. That's when we might struggle. I wanna move to the point of faith that I can face trials without feeling it as a painful struggle, but more of as a wonderful refining process, by which my faith is strengthened. Then indeed can I really shine for God and present myself confidently before Him on the day of judgement.
"Ee.. so what man? Strive so hard in the end only become very confident.."
God has a good reward for the faithful. I think the eternal reward by far exceeds what momentarily pleasures the world can offer..
"What reason have you for your faith man? Such an uptopic faith.. Utopianism is impossible.. Didn't we discuss that in Animal Farm?"
Well I have more than enough reasons for my faith. I seriously cannot find peace anywhere else. Believe me man, I've tried. Like what Hebrews 3-4 explains in detail, God swears that if the Israelites do not believe in Him, He will not grant them rest. I've been to the place of questioning God and the Christian faith until I corner the faith with many many doubts. No peace.. Nope I toss and turn unable to sleep. Not a nice feeling at all..
I've been to the place of abandoning God for studies.. didn't quite work out either. As I've told people many many times, that was last year first sem. Really bad.. And as I place my trust back in God again, my CAP for the 2nd sem improved by 0.25. Significant improvement in my opinion.
Even Josh Mcdowell, a former skeptic of Christianity can testify to the changes brought about by God. And I tell you this, he is really a man that can research until he gets to the very roots of the matter. Go read his books if you ever have the time. If you have time in abundance, try The New Evidence for the Verdict. If you don't, why not The Da Vinci Code: A Quest for Answers?
Right..now I know I'm very very late in telling you guys this. But Worship Experience was AWESOME! If anyone actually bothers to notice my msn nickname, for some time it was "You know what cannot make me more upset?" Well failing the God standard is what cannot make me more upset. Imagine when I just get so distracted when worshipping God. Then my inner conscience just screams guilty and "stop it!" But no.. I keep getting very very distracted. Just unable to focus. And my very being just starts to really stink. To me, that is. "Why can't I focus?!?"
Not only that. I really really wanna live a life of worship. A live that God can be proud of. A life that my parents can be proud of. But lemme be frank with this big problem of mine: honouring my parents. 4th command in the 10 Commandments. Failure to do so makes me feel all the more stinky..
Worship experience taught me that God still loves and accepts me nevertheless. He'll always have His arms wide open for whenever I come to Him. I can still worship without being burdened down by my sins. My heart just warms at that thought.. Could not stop those tears from falling.. Was just so touched again by God's love.
And I came home with the thought: Well that was great; but so what?
Well the next day was district gathering. My district pastor has a powerful word. I really like his preachings actually.. Cos they really delve into the word and what it means. He was sharing from Romans 12:1-2.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, hold and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
I shall not attempt to type out all the sermon notes which I commited to memory (cos I didn't bring a pen to district gathering). But the main point that really spoke to me, amongst all others that did so strongly, was that many times we as Christians don't see why sticking to God's will is the right way to go, and the temptations and ways of this world appeals so much more to us. I can identify with that. And the reason for feeling that way is cos we have yet to make that CHOICE to not conform to the patterns of this world. Once we make that choice, our minds are renewed and transformed; we start to think in accordance to God's good, pleasing and perfect will.
I mean when we're standing on one side, we can't see what's so great about the other side until we finally decide to cross over and take a look for ourselves. The thing for us to do is to "finally decide".
That sure shook something in my spirit. That's it. Yes I've heard that making a choice stuff from Pas Jeanne Mayo before but when I responded to altar call that day, I really had to make that declaration to God. By saying that to God, I bound myself to live not with hypocritical words. Make the choice to focus on worshipping God.. Make the choice to honour my parents.. yup, God is very good..
"Why do Christians, and other people like me, try so hard to please this GOD? I mean isn't the faith supposed to give you joy, comfort, peace and what not?"
Having known this God who is so faithful and good to me, I have been convicted that my life should be a pleasant offering unto Him. I mean Jesus came to die for my sins so that I can be accepted by God and can come to Him freely to throw all my burdens somewhere; surely I ought to be dead to sin now.
"Huh? You dead to sin still have to strive to be sin-free meh?"
Yup cos the devil will intensify the attacks of temptation. And because our Christian walk is not a pleasant bed of roses, we might often slip a little here and there. That's when we might struggle. I wanna move to the point of faith that I can face trials without feeling it as a painful struggle, but more of as a wonderful refining process, by which my faith is strengthened. Then indeed can I really shine for God and present myself confidently before Him on the day of judgement.
"Ee.. so what man? Strive so hard in the end only become very confident.."
God has a good reward for the faithful. I think the eternal reward by far exceeds what momentarily pleasures the world can offer..
"What reason have you for your faith man? Such an uptopic faith.. Utopianism is impossible.. Didn't we discuss that in Animal Farm?"
Well I have more than enough reasons for my faith. I seriously cannot find peace anywhere else. Believe me man, I've tried. Like what Hebrews 3-4 explains in detail, God swears that if the Israelites do not believe in Him, He will not grant them rest. I've been to the place of questioning God and the Christian faith until I corner the faith with many many doubts. No peace.. Nope I toss and turn unable to sleep. Not a nice feeling at all..
I've been to the place of abandoning God for studies.. didn't quite work out either. As I've told people many many times, that was last year first sem. Really bad.. And as I place my trust back in God again, my CAP for the 2nd sem improved by 0.25. Significant improvement in my opinion.
Even Josh Mcdowell, a former skeptic of Christianity can testify to the changes brought about by God. And I tell you this, he is really a man that can research until he gets to the very roots of the matter. Go read his books if you ever have the time. If you have time in abundance, try The New Evidence for the Verdict. If you don't, why not The Da Vinci Code: A Quest for Answers?
Right..now I know I'm very very late in telling you guys this. But Worship Experience was AWESOME! If anyone actually bothers to notice my msn nickname, for some time it was "You know what cannot make me more upset?" Well failing the God standard is what cannot make me more upset. Imagine when I just get so distracted when worshipping God. Then my inner conscience just screams guilty and "stop it!" But no.. I keep getting very very distracted. Just unable to focus. And my very being just starts to really stink. To me, that is. "Why can't I focus?!?"
Not only that. I really really wanna live a life of worship. A live that God can be proud of. A life that my parents can be proud of. But lemme be frank with this big problem of mine: honouring my parents. 4th command in the 10 Commandments. Failure to do so makes me feel all the more stinky..
Worship experience taught me that God still loves and accepts me nevertheless. He'll always have His arms wide open for whenever I come to Him. I can still worship without being burdened down by my sins. My heart just warms at that thought.. Could not stop those tears from falling.. Was just so touched again by God's love.
And I came home with the thought: Well that was great; but so what?
Well the next day was district gathering. My district pastor has a powerful word. I really like his preachings actually.. Cos they really delve into the word and what it means. He was sharing from Romans 12:1-2.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, hold and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
I shall not attempt to type out all the sermon notes which I commited to memory (cos I didn't bring a pen to district gathering). But the main point that really spoke to me, amongst all others that did so strongly, was that many times we as Christians don't see why sticking to God's will is the right way to go, and the temptations and ways of this world appeals so much more to us. I can identify with that. And the reason for feeling that way is cos we have yet to make that CHOICE to not conform to the patterns of this world. Once we make that choice, our minds are renewed and transformed; we start to think in accordance to God's good, pleasing and perfect will.
I mean when we're standing on one side, we can't see what's so great about the other side until we finally decide to cross over and take a look for ourselves. The thing for us to do is to "finally decide".
That sure shook something in my spirit. That's it. Yes I've heard that making a choice stuff from Pas Jeanne Mayo before but when I responded to altar call that day, I really had to make that declaration to God. By saying that to God, I bound myself to live not with hypocritical words. Make the choice to focus on worshipping God.. Make the choice to honour my parents.. yup, God is very good..
