Here we are starting the first week of January 2008. As we are embarking to the New Year, a very good friend of mine, Pastor Sean Prasad, has gave a really good sermon that I would like to share with my readers. Yes, you, the one who’s looking at the monitor screen now!
I believe not only as Christians, but also as human in general, would like to make a great exit from 2007 and make a grand entrance to 2008. In order to do so, there are several things that we need to look into. I’m going to see this through Christianity perspective. To avoid my non believer friends for being clueless on what I’m talking about, I’m going to simplify everything as understandable as possible. So please bear with me, will you?
To make a great exit, you need 3 things:
1. Bring Jesus along
Continue to grow in Him spiritually, stretch your faith to greater heights and you will see how he will works in you. Let his will, plans and ways be done. As we believe, God knows what is best for us. His ways are greater than us. He will have his time and season, and when the season comes, it will bear fruits. Always walk with Him. Tag along Jesus when you are in doubts.
2. Surrender to God
Most often we caught ourselves relying too much on our wisdom and strength, and ended up in exhaustion. Remember God is always there for us as our shelter, refuge and pillar of strength. Fully surrender and commit ourselves to God. But of course it’s easier to say than to be done. But we need to learn how to let go bits by bits, and place our faith and trust in God. When we stop sweating over petty stuffs, God will bless us even greater things.
3. Come before God
All of us are sinners, even Christians. Thus we need to confront and confess our sins before Lord Jesus. Always seek for His forgiveness and cleanse away our sins. Free yourself from jealously, selfishness and wickedness. Don’t chase after worldly things which are temporary. Most important is, don’t let possessions clouded your vision. But not to say you don’t have to work lah, not as if money drops from the sky or grow on the trees.
Now, to make a grand entrance like a superstar, you need 3 things as well:
I believe not only as Christians, but also as human in general, would like to make a great exit from 2007 and make a grand entrance to 2008. In order to do so, there are several things that we need to look into. I’m going to see this through Christianity perspective. To avoid my non believer friends for being clueless on what I’m talking about, I’m going to simplify everything as understandable as possible. So please bear with me, will you?
To make a great exit, you need 3 things:
1. Bring Jesus along
Continue to grow in Him spiritually, stretch your faith to greater heights and you will see how he will works in you. Let his will, plans and ways be done. As we believe, God knows what is best for us. His ways are greater than us. He will have his time and season, and when the season comes, it will bear fruits. Always walk with Him. Tag along Jesus when you are in doubts.
2. Surrender to God
Most often we caught ourselves relying too much on our wisdom and strength, and ended up in exhaustion. Remember God is always there for us as our shelter, refuge and pillar of strength. Fully surrender and commit ourselves to God. But of course it’s easier to say than to be done. But we need to learn how to let go bits by bits, and place our faith and trust in God. When we stop sweating over petty stuffs, God will bless us even greater things.
3. Come before God
All of us are sinners, even Christians. Thus we need to confront and confess our sins before Lord Jesus. Always seek for His forgiveness and cleanse away our sins. Free yourself from jealously, selfishness and wickedness. Don’t chase after worldly things which are temporary. Most important is, don’t let possessions clouded your vision. But not to say you don’t have to work lah, not as if money drops from the sky or grow on the trees.
Now, to make a grand entrance like a superstar, you need 3 things as well:
1. Free from hate and hatred
Holding on grudges will only means giving opportunities for the Satan to get hold of us. Apart from that, you are making yourself feel awful, dreadful and indirectly, weakening self in one way or the other. As Christians, we spread the message of love. Just like what Jesus did for us, dying on the cross for our sins. Did someone hurt you with unkind words? Or you dissatisfied with some one? Just forgive and forget. No point letting the past of hate and hatred to haunt you down. Fill our hearts with love, and make yourself lovable lovably *wink* As the bible says love is the greatest of all.
2. Holiness
Being holy doesn’t measure by how many times you attended church, how often you served God, or how many prayers in a day. It will be meaningless if a devoted Christian goes to church every Sunday and backstabs people on weekdays, right? Being holy means rid ourselves from evil desires, lust, greed, malice and filthy language from lips. What matters is what comes from our heart, our actions. As we live a good testimonial of Christ. Surprise it may sound, but people do see how differently Christians behaved.
3. Happiness
In today’s world, it’s hard to run away from the negativities on what the world is trying to impart us. Whenever there’s a tragedy, disaster or turbulence, it will always hit the front page of the newspaper. The world is feeding us with facts, but bible gives us the truth. The world teaches us eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, but bible teaches us to love our enemies. We need to live a world with compassion, kindness and patience.
I’m not tying to brain wash you that this world is lovable lovably place where everyone has sufficient food and shelter. We can’t deny the fact that the world is facing problems everyday. Same goes to us. We can never run away from bumps, disappointments, despair, as long we are living.
Yes, problems do occur in life. But we have a choice. No, no, I’m not going to ask you to think positively and lie to yourself that everyone in this world is one big happy family.
But always be prepared for the negativities. When negativity happens, approach with positive responses. In other words, be a serious Christian and not a casual Christian.
I pray for the blessing of endurance fall upon each one of you to embrace the year 2008.
Have a great year, everyone!
2 comments:
Great post! I agree with you! May 2008 be filled with all the blessings from God!
Hey, wanna trade links? Then I can come back and check your site every once in a while!
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