Daily Devotion: John 17

³Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

How do we really know that we have known Jesus?

1. Obedience to God's Word (vs. 6)

2. Knowledge that everything we have comes from the Father (vs. 7)

3. Acceptance of the Word of God (vs. 8a)

4. Wholehearted belief that Jesus came to die for our sins (vs. 8b)

Application:

1. Reflect on these 4 areas and how are we doing in them?

2. What are some areas that we need to improve on in this journey of really knowing and believing in Jesus?

3. Identify some of the struggles which are holding you back and account to your cell leader to pray together with you.

Daily Devotion: John 16

³³"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."

I was pondering through this verse today and wondering what Jesus meant by "these things". It seemed so important because it sounded like that if we knew what "these things" were, then we would have peace in our hearts!

As I look through the scripture, it dawned upon to me what "these things" meant.

We can have peace in our hearts because:

1. We know that Jesus is always with us (vs. 16 & 22). Though Jesus may not physically be with us, but He has given us the wonderful counselor - Holy Spirit - to reside within each and everyone of us.

2. We are confident and assured of our place in God, therefore whatever earthly problems and troubles we face, it doesn't trouble us greatly (vs. 22-24). With this knowledge in mind, it helps us to be God-conscious instead of Self-conscious. Ever realized this? Most of our problems occur because we are too self-conscious / too conscious of how people look at us.

My Personal Application:

Honestly, I was very nervous this morning when I had to lead the combined staff worship. However, knowing these two things in my heart gave me the liberty in Christ.

Firstly, I know that as I lead the worship, it is not me alone, but the Holy Spirit is with me and in fact He is using me to minister to the people through worship.

Secondly, I know that even if I screw up the worship, God still loves me and I will still have a place in His Kingdom. That gave me the assurance to go out and worship with all my heart, focusing my attention on God instead of how man would look at me.

Daily Devotion: John 15

The Vine and the Branches

⁴Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. ⁸This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Many times we have the wrong mindset of what a Christian should be. We often think of Christians as weak, not a fighter, quiet, simple life...etc. Far too often we never thought that a Christian would be someone who is successful (or even rich) and is a striking role model at a high level. Someone who can balance between God's work and marketplace work. And often we think that God wants it this way... WRONG!

God wants us to be successful! (vs. 8)... but there is a post condition. Successful for what? Read on in Vs. 8 and it says that "showing yourselves to be my disciples"

God wants us to be successful so that we can show the world that we are His disciples! So that we can lead people to glorify Jesus! So that people and us can praise God the provider!

However, Jesus know that it is very difficult to balance between being successful in the world and also serving passionately in church. That's why this passage of scripture teaches us a basic biblical truth to embrace in that rough journey.

The solution is: "Remain in Him"

What does "Remaining in Him" means? Well, it simply means putting and considering Jesus first in all things and obeying his Word. Be it decision making, doing our work, talking to people, responding to people.... etc. We "remain in Him" by putting Jesus first and not ourselves.

Application:

1. Are there any major decisions you have to make this week? Instead of planning and strategizing how the decision could profit yourself or your organisation, why not pray and ask God how you can honor Him and remain in Him through this decision.

2. Are there any "hard teachings" that the Lord is prompting you to follow despite your dislike? Make a deliberate choice to remain in Him and follow through.

3. Involve one of your brother / sister in the cell group as an accountability buddy to check on you on remaining in God this week.

Daily Devotion: John 14

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

¹⁶And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— ¹⁷the Spirit of truth.
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²⁵"All this I have spoken while still with you. ²⁶But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

What really will refresh our so-called 'boring' quiet time is really that sudden spark of revelation. But have you ever wondered where such sparks come from? Or how we are able to have an exciting quiet time everyday that is filled with revelations?

The answer comes in the form of a special form of connection - the Holy Spirit Broadband Connection.

Honestly, the scripture will just remain no different from a story book unless the Word of God comes alive and speak to us. Such will only happen when we allow the Holy Spirit to accompany us in reading the scripture in faith instead of through our eyes of logic.

Instead of just jumping straight to reading the scripture daily, start by praying in tongues for 5-10 minutes to stir up our spirit man and let the Holy Spirit energize us.

Ask the Holy Spirit to remove the human logical scales on our natural eyes and grant us supernatural eyes to see the Word of God come alive! Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal truth through the written word of God.

Daily Devotion: John 13

¹²When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. ¹³"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. ¹⁵I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

It's just astonishes me that this would be the passage of scripture that is "assigned" for my devotion on my birthday! Indeed, this is another scripture that has inspired me in my journey as cell leader.

The greatest leader is one who is also a great servant. Before one wants to lead, he must learn to serve. This example was set by Jesus himself.

Application:

1. Have you been active serving in any area in cell/church? If no, why not?

2. Take an active step today to serve one brother or sister in the cell group.

Daily Devotion: John 12

²³Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ²⁵The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

This is the key scripture that I always hear Ps Adrian share ever since I started out my journey in coming back as a believer, and then moving on to being a leader and after which serving actively in ministry. =D

Many time people ask me what drives me to serve at the capacity I am going in ministry? Is it the "lucrative rewards", prominent status or pride in leading large number of people?

Honestly, none of these are true. If these were true, I probably would have dropped out of God's work much earlier because of pride issues.

What keeps me going is knowing that the life that I live now (today)... however I choose to live it, it will have an impact and influence on the people around me. So I can choose to either leave a good, positive, lasting influence..... or be famous for all the yucky bad reasons.

I chose the former... and that's the hard part. Because with that choice, it literally means I have to 'die' daily. Die to some of my desires and dreams. Die to my conveniences. Sacrifice seems to always to be greater in the equation.

Each time I come to a crossroad of challenging decisions, this first pops up and I ask myself, "How else can I 'die' such that people can have life and be blessed in what I decide?"

Application:

1. What are some things we have to sacrifice or 'die' to in order that we may have life? Example: Sacrifice watching our favorite TV show to do Quiet Time.

2. What are some things we have to sacrifice or 'die' to in order OTHERS may have life? Example: Going down the extra mile to help a fellow brother/sister which may inconvenient our pre-arranged schedule.

3. When we struggle to 'die', think about it. Is it because we can't do it? Or we don't want to do it? Take some time to reflect and see if are there any selfish thoughts we are holding?

Daily Devotion: John 11

Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead

³⁸Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. ³⁹"Take away the stone," he said.
"But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days."

⁴⁰Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"

I'm once again reminded of what Ps Ed Silvoso shared with us - "If you want to see what you've never seen before, then start doing what you've never done before!"

But in the process of doing things which we have never done before i.e. moving in faith, there are bound to be obstacles which we need to overcome! And I would term these as stone(s) which we need to roll away.

When we think about rolling away these spiritual obstacles i.e. stones, the battle within our minds begin where seemingly logical and valid reasons will stop us from doing so.

But if we really believe God and that He is powerful, and will work things out for the good of those who loves Him (Romans 8:28), we will push ahead and roll away the stone(s).

Application:

1. Can you identify what are some of these "stone(s)" which prevent you from moving in faith or trusting God 100%? Examples: Fear, insecurity, pass hurts / disappointments, sin... etc.

2. What practical ways do you think your cell group can help you in rolling away these stone(s)? Example: Keep me accountable, spotcheck on me, encourage me more... etc.

3. Re-evaluate your faith goals 2009. Pray and ask God to re-ignite a fresh passion in you to believe in Him to move in faith.