Every Member a Minister

It's so 'coincidental' that everything seems to be linking nowadays. Well, I think there is a lesson God wants me to learn here:

Last night, Capt Steve Davies (Sandy Krause's sister's husband) shared in evening service something very convicting. He is a strong advocate of 'every member a minister', and he was sharing about an experience in the military. He went up to one of the soldiers one day, and was checking on the progress of a task. His sergeant / NCO came up and 'interrupted' the conversation, and said to Capt Davies, "I've got that, Sir!"

Capt Davies used this illusatration to challenge us that as members of the local church, are we supporting our Pastor in ministry, e.g. giving a call to that someone who was missing in church on Sunday - and by the time the Pastor asks, "Hey, was So-and-So in church yesterday? I wonder what happened." You can at once reply, "I've got that taken care of, Pastor!"

Every Member a Minister! If we are committed todo the ground work, to support our Pastor in every possible way, that frees our Pastor to do what God has called him to - pray and study God's word!! If our Pastor is not able to do his job well, guess who is to be blamed?
We are!

In class, I was reminded of these verses again...

Hebrews 13:7,17
Remember your leaders,
those who spoke to you the word of God.
Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
Obey your leaders and submit to them,
for they are keeping watch over your souls,
as those who will have to give an account.
Let them do this with joy and not with groaning,
for that would be of no advantage to you.

We need to obey and submit to our spiritual leaders, especially our Pastor because GOD SAYS SO! Though each of us will have to stand before the Lord one day to give an account of the kind of stewards we have been, but God requires of our Pastor to give an account of us too! He has been given the task of watching over our souls.

My prayer is that when Pastor gives an account to God about me, he would be able to do so with joy and not with groaning! It is not for Pastor's glory, but God says it is for my on benefit!

This has been a very exciting week for me. Hearing God's word preached at me, speaking directly to my heart, convicting me of my pride and self-righteousness. Taking some time to write down some very convicting truths for me.

***

Sunday... Children's Church

How often we take for granted that God is actively working in our lives, whether we are aware of it or not. Not seeing a (school) bill paid off by somebody doesn't mean God has not heard your urgent plea! He kept the job that you are working at so that you do not get into debt. Even the thought that nothing exciting is happening in your life means that your heavenly Father is keeping watch over you, protecting you from dangers, toils and snares! He hears, and answers every prayer in accordance to His will, not ours!

Monday... (Theology III: Bibliology)

By God's mercy and grace we are saved! Nothing else. Not our own merits. All our righteousness are as filthy rags. How can we ever think that we deserve something better than hell - punishment for our sins! Not even a Christian merits anything! It is solely by His grace and mercy we are saved! Christ took our place for sin's punishment!

Do you know that God could have destroyed His creation the day Adam and Eve sinned? Why didn't He? It's grace! It's mercy! Do we deserve it? No, not at all!

No one left one his own will seek God - including the little tribal man lost in some forgotten corner of this earth! (Psalm 14 & 53, and Romans 1 & 3) In fact, the sinful nature in us HATES GOD! We do not naturally do His will, we hate righteousness! From the Fall till this day, God is the One Who inititates the reconciliation. Even the little promptings in our hearts that there is a God. The fact that He loves us and how He, from time began loved us and knew that Jesus Christ is going to redeem us by His death upon the cross, is beyond our limited, finite mind's comprehension. He loved us first! (1 John 4:19)

Christ's sacrifice was necessary and perfect to redeem, and it is only because of His righteousness that we can come boldly to His throne of grace for help in time of need!

Tuesday night...OT Historical Books

How can we then question God when we fall into trials and temptations? Why God? Why me? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why am I suffering? Why are you not giving me what I need (want)? Do you even know what is happening?

David (and Joseph) in the trials that they went through, continued to trust God's sovereignty in every situation! He knew that He is the chosen King of Israel, yet there were so many trials he had to overcome. What was really striking was that he knew that Saul and Absalom were God's anointed - he did not take things into his own hands to remove these men from the throne that God had given David! He could have, but in all his situations, he humbled himself & trusted that the Sovereign Lord will make right his situations, and to each of these men, he should mercy.

Have we ever been caught in any situation like these men or worse? Have we been found faithful? Have we taken things into our own hands and by so doing tell God that He is not able!? God forbid!

Christians, there is no righteousness in us except Christ's righteousness that was credited into our life account at salvation.

The life we have now is bought with a price! Christ's death! Christ our Creator God! Have you ever thought how humbling it was for God to become man? Think for a moment: what is the most disgusting thing / job in the world to you? What is the most horrible living condition you can ever imagine? What is the greatest opposition, oppression, etc you have ever faced? The disgust you feel at that disgusting thoughts, the pain and suffering you went through or had to put up with, they are but a minute fraction of the humiliation Jesus Christ went through when He humbled Himself to become a Man for us that He might suffer death on the cross for our redemption!

We ought then to daily think about how our God has manifested His love toward us, the grace and mercy extended towards us, and repent our sin of faithlessness, pride, self-righteousness, discontentment, etc!

Our sufficiency in Christ alone! The life we now live is for Christ!

Friday... Hebrews & General Epistles: 1 Peter

So what if (in your opinion) you're suffering some kind of injustice, physical pain, emotional discomfort, etc ? Is that a greater injustice, humiliation, discomfort than Christ's? (1 Peter 4:12-19)

1 Peter 4

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh,
arm yourselves with the same way of thinking,
for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer
for human passions but for the will of God.
For the time that is past suffices for doing what
the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions,
drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry...
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled
and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love
covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another
without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to
serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God;
whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God
supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified
through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion
forever and ever. Amen.

Psalm 94
8 Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise?
9 He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see?
10 He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge--
11 the LORD--knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath.

12 Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law,
13 to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked.

14 For the LORD will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage;
15 for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.
16 Who rises up for me against the wicked? Who stands up for me against evildoers?
17 If the LORD had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.
18 When I thought, "My foot slips," your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up.
19 When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.
20 Can wicked rulers be allied with you, those who frame injustice by statute?
21 They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.
22 But the LORD has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge.
23 He will bring back on them their iniquity and wipe them out for their wickedness; the LORD our God will wipe them out.

God is Sovereign

Finally the new leader has emerged. It's a privilege to be here witnessing this world changing event. Totally mixed feelings about the whole matter, but one thing is for sure - God is sovereign!

Something that I've been learning:
God is sovereign, and He allows things, good and bad to happen. Whatever it be, even in judgment, He receives glory.

In less than 48hrs, a new leader will emerge to affect not only his country but the world.

my prayer...

Psalm 140:8
Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked:
further not his wicked device;
lest they exalt themselves.

FREEBIES!

Often when we think of freebies, we are kind of skeptical. My husband reminds me once in a while that - cheap things no good! good things no cheap. He has been right a couple (or more) times. But this time, I got a GREAT DEAL!

Yep! Free! At zero monetary cost. IBC offers a freebie class - Speed Reading! It's free and it's taught by Dr Jerry Tetreau, a man whom I highly respect.

Not only do I not have to pay a nickel for this class, in the last 5 lessons, Dr T gave out many random freebies. Here are some that I caught:

• You can (speed) read through the Bible in 72h
• Everyone ought to have a fave verse in each of the 66 books of the Bible
• Guard your heart - it affects your attitude
• Life is more than about being comfortable
• A mule can see all 4 of its feet because of its great peripheral vision. A horse can't.
• Put your heart into your tasks
• (On grocery shopping) Make a stopping list, rather than shopping list

On the last point: Dr T looks up the best grocery deals in the papers on Wednesdays, make a list of which store has the best deal for what he needs. Saves money and time by making stops to pick up the stuff when you pass the store.

Wish I had caught more. I honestly think it's impossible, he is just too random.

"Father, help us. Amen."

**Well, he 'randomly' prays in the middle of the lesson, discussion, etc. And usually it's at the 'amen' we realize he was /we were praying ... puzzled? We are too. But I do think this is how close he is to our Heavenly Father! :)

Make Known His Deeds

Well, my Biblical Counseling instructor challenged us to journal what the Lord has been doing in our lives so that we can go back and remember how He has brought us through everything - ups and downs.

I understand the value of it, especially knowing how the sinful nature is - forgetful! ungrateful! discontented!

Psa 105:1-6
Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!
Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!
Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!
Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
O offspring of Abraham, his servant, children of Jacob, his chosen ones!