Daily Devotion: John 3

Jesus Teaches Nicodemus

³In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

⁴"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"

⁵Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. ⁶Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. ⁷You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' ⁸The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

⁹"How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.

¹⁰"You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? ¹¹I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.

Nicodemus's response is just like all of us - by Logic. Even in the face of Jesus, who has performed signs and wonders, Nicodemus still was functioning by Logic!

Jesus reminds us that even through logic is our old nature, the moment we receive Christ, we receive the new nature which is to function by faith! If we continue to function by logic, we will never be able to comprehend the things of God!

Do not let God be the last recourse for us today! Let Him be the first source that we turn to at any moment! :)

Daily Devotion: John 2

Jesus Changes Water to Wine

⁵His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

⁶Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

⁷Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.

⁸Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."

Jesus Clears the Temple

¹⁴In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. ¹⁵So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. ¹⁶To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"

¹⁸Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?"

¹⁹Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."

Regardless of the times and seasons of life, Jesus was always ready to put a foot down and do / speak radical things so that all man's attention will be captured and of course ultimate end result to turn to Him and find salvation.

1. Jesus was radical in his ACTIONS (vs. 5-8, 14-16)

2. Jesus was radical in his SPEECH (vs. 18-19)

The only way we will ever see transformation in our families, friends, marketplace is really when we dare to be radical and do something different, something counter culture. Only when we are radical, we stand out different from the the usual - where we choose not to be norm.

What are some ways we can be radical for God in our actions and speech today?

Examples: Dare to pray for the sick / needy around you and believe God for that healing and providence? Against oppressing situations when everyone is negative and depressed, do we dare to speak words of Faith and believe God can turn situations around?

Daily Devotion: John 1

TALK IS CHEAP!! LET YOUR ACTIONS PROVE YOUR TALK!

Don't just be a bystander in your walk with God. Don't just talk airy fairy about your faith in God. Is our faith in God all talking and unable to withstand the trials of life?

So what can we do to build a strong faith foundation that doesn't wither in touch times?

ANSWER: Don't just talk about Jesus! But take active step to come to Him... EVERYDAY!

³⁵The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. ³⁶When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"

³⁷When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. ³⁸Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?"
They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"

³⁹"Come," he replied, "and you will see."
So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him.

My Commitment as a Christian

(Written by a young African pastor and tacked to the wall of his home)

I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problems recognizing me - my banner will be clear!

Listen only to the good stuffs...

Yo yo yo!! VaZe here... I bring you good news of great joy in the end times...

Yeah man... Today i gonna share with ya all a song that inspires me again... Its from the Christian rock band Petra, entitled "No Doubt"

Petra - No Doubt

There are times when you feel like you can't go on
There are times when you feel like giving in
And there are times when you feel like you can't try anymore
There are times of trouble in believing

This test of your faith will last
As long as it takes to pass
Till you have no more doubt you'll endure
And your faith will emerge true and pure

(Chorus)
No doubt it'll be alright
With God it'll work together for good
No doubt in the end it will be understood
No doubt it'll all work out
With faith He can move any mountain for us
No doubt in the power of Jesus
And after all is done we find out
All we really need to have is no doubt

There's a time to take a reckless leap of faith
There's a time to be cautious and to wait
And there's a way of learning from the past
That this time of trouble won't last

And sometimes we want to think we know
The ways He will choose to make us grow
But it's never the way of our choosing
And we can't always see what He's using

(Bridge)
There will be winters in the seasons of our soul
With a cold and bitter wind that chills our lives
But our faith can be building a fire
That will warm us till springtime arrives
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Can you relate to this song? No doubt all of us can relate to this song... There are certainly times of our lives when we lose hope, in people, in church, in our friends, family and work... And so tight we are that we can hardly breathe, hanging on the line, no strength to push a centimetre more... Your brothers and sisters advice and encourage ya to pray... But it seems that you just can't find God... You may even lose hope and faith in God and yourself...

But read the 2nd stanza of the song... These dry seasons of your life is to test your faith, and it will certainly take some time to pass... These dry seasons taps and tests the substance deep down in your hearts, whether is God the central focus of your heart... If God is the central focus of our hearts, then we will be able to endure!! And our faith wlll emerge true and pure...

Chorus tells us through these times of trials and hardships, we will not understand why all these are happening... But the author says that God will certainly make a way out for us and bring us through... And at the end of the trial and sufferings, we will know why all these are happening...

The author also tells us that times of trouble won't last... Isn't it so encouraging to know that no matter how dark the skies are, it will have to go eventually... Ultimately... It all boils down to whether we can last thru the storms or not... Remember that the author says that we need to endure...

Many times we pray to God to ask Him to show us how my life be like, what to expect when He moulds us to grow... But the author says that this is not up to us to choose... And we cannot see what God is using to teach us and craft us... God uses the circumstances and the people around us to teach us, many times unexpected and unprepared for.. For His ways are higher than our ways...

Going on to the bridge of the song... Life batters us with coldness and chills... Many times we feel cold, no one to lean on, no one to depend on... But when all else fails, ultimately the one God doesn't fail us... And thus the author says that our faith will keep us warm, keep us accompanied and sheltered till the times of trials are over...

My brothers and sisters... Our last cell group meeting made me realized that many people in our cell are facing problems of finding Hope, Comfort, Encouragement... May this song speaks to you and make u realize that when all else out there fails, when all else out there are uncertain and you do not know why bad things jus happen and keep coming, there is a God that never fails, His faithfulness carry you thru...

So yeah... wanna encourage ya to listen to the song.. Its really inspiring and I feel that the lyrics of the song speaks volume and fortitude of the author in his walk with Jesus... Its certainly a song that makes us go the distance...

The song found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6ADMKK0aTM

Doing Good vs. Responding in Evil

Proverbs 11:27 He who seeks good finds goodwill, but evil comes to him who searches for it.

This was a verse which Ps Eugene shared last night at the YouthNet Leaders' Meeting and got me thinking quite a fair bit, espacially in line with what I shared last week during cell group about living by the Spirit and not the Soul.

a) Shouting back at our parents, colleagues or superior intentionally to spite them;

b) Backstab, harbor ill-intention thoughts or wanting to take advantage of others;

c) Revengeful thoughts and actions

Aren't these evil ways flowed out of our soulish living? When we are unable to keep out soul (mind, emotion and will) under the check if the Holy Spirit, we often will let it overtake and dictate our lives!

And the consequence? Just like what Proverbs 11:27 mention.. if we search for evil and respond in it, then natural evil will search us back and haunt us!

Do a heart check on ourselves today!

1. Are we harboring any ill-intentions or revengeful thoughts against others i.e. esp those whom have hurt or harm us?

2. Do you find yourself getting easily angered and irritated by people? If so, meditate through Galatians 5 and revew your Spirit man in the Lord and choose to grow in the fruit of the Spirit!

3. Share with an accountability buddy (cell brother or leader) and get him to keep you in check.

People Never Crumble in a Day

Slow Fade
by Casting Crowns

Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade

Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day

Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see

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Hi guys, this is the cool song which we heard in service on Sunday which Ps Khong shared with us. I posted the MTV here for us to listen again.. but more importantly I want us to read the lyrics clearly and reflect what it means for ourselves.

Let's not play hide-and-seek with God anymore and answer these questions truthfully:

1. How are we doing in our Christian walk? Give a 1-10 rating to it.

2. Are we crumbling in our spiritual walk already?

3. If yes, reflect and ask yourself why? What were some things that you did, or didn't do that cause your walk to crumble?

4. Are there any areas in our life that we may have crossed the line on God, or are potentially nearing the line?

5. Are we flirting with sins in our lives and still keeping it hidden under the carpet, refusing to repent before the Lord and let things come to light?

6. Do we have any desire to want to improve our current situation?

7. If yes, what do you think you should do practically? If no, why?

Let's get serious in our walk with Lord. Let's not play religious games with the Lord anymore. Let's reflect and question ourselves to the very depths of our souls - Are we serious about God? Do we really desire to grow?

If Yes, then the decision is clear! It's time to kick away those addictive habits. Stop being loose with our words. Stop looking down on ourselves and think negatively. Stop being emo and eating worms in our sorrows. If we are serious, we got to taken practical actions to the nice words we utter!

If No, then the decision is clear too. You can float along but in the end, you do not know where you are going. You just want to feel good by coming to church but yet not serious about changing your life. Honestly, there won't be much growth.

I would like to implore of us to reflect and make a personal decision about your relationship with God and where it's going to go.

Our Time is Up! Don't drift around anymore! Stop playing church or the religious game anymore! No man can serve two masters - we either be committed to the Lord and though Him serve and be a blessing to the world, or we be committed to the World and treat God like a religion.

It's time to get serious with God!