Mutual Encouragement
We had a leader's meeting yesterday and the topic was on encouragement. Listening to Pastor Kenny share, I couldn't help but wonder "Do I encourage the Cg enough?". After much thinking, I decided that I should make a list of things that I'm encouraged by and share it with you guys, so that you will be encouraged as well. Mutual encouragement!
(Ahem... pardon my amateur drawing!)
Feelin encouraged yet?
Well I actually had one more point: I'm encouraged when you do your homework.
I forgot to take a picture of it so it's not online :/
But you guys get the point right?
The leaders are most encouraged when we see you reflecting the glory and love of Christ.
I really enjoy leading you all, despite how tough it can be :)
Love,
Germs
Sin in a Christian's life
I was at a Christian bookstore yesterday, when a lady started talking to me. She was trying to recommend me some books by Watchman Nee, a Chinese writer and preacher. She told me that many Christians avoid Watchman Nee's books because he is very honest in writing about God's expectations of Christians. I do think God expects a lot, but isn't it amazing that He doesn't expect us to do it alone. We have the Holy Spirit in us to guide us.Well anyway, the lady and I ended up talking about sin in a Christian's life and how Christians are supposed to be growing and never staying stagnant.
Consider your own life. Compared to how you were one or two years ago, have you become more Christ-like? Has the spirit been working in you? And have you been obeying its promptings? We can never reach perfection and we should never be satisfied with the level we are at!
The book of 1 John has very clear words. 1 John 3:4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either sin him or known him.
My cousin told me that he had a friend who memorised the entire book of 1 John. And with good reason! The book takes a very strong stand on people who claim to be in Christ yet continue to indulge in sin! How can someone who has an encounter with the LORD MOST HIGH remain unrepentant and continue in his own way?
I worry sometimes when I look at Christian youths who have no intention of changing their ways. I've been there once. Was worse than you would have imagined. As I encountered Christ, I couldn't help but change. Sin made me feel too guilty. It no longer had the same appeal compared to the glory of God and the inheritance to come!
Are you disrespectful to teachers? Do you cursed and sweared online and offline? Do you lie? Do you dishonour your parents? Are you unkind to your classmates? Do you gossip on your blog? These are just few of the many potential sins we could commit.
I'm not sure if you're aware, but sometimes when Christians speak, there almost seems to be a complete DISREGARD of God! What lack of fear and reverance we have nowadays... I do believe that many people will die THINKING they knew Jesus but Jesus would say "Depart from me, I never knew you." My heart goes out to people who have a false assurance of salvation. When you don't see Christ in your life, you have to wonder, is He really in your life?
Sanctification is a two way street. The Holy Spirit will promt, but you have to obey. Please know that you're never living up to the leader's standards but the GOD MOST HIGH's. At the end of your life, we are not the ones you'll be facing, it's God. I do want to wish all of you the best in your walk with God. Learn to seek Him with all your heart!
Love,
Germs
Exams again?!
Hi Effervescence,
I know it's exam period again. For some reason, your exam period seems to be all year round. Hearing from other CGs, every time exam period comes, commitment to God seems to drop. Studying becomes an excuse to neglect God. What does it say when we place a bigger importance on studies than on God? I do want to encourage you all to be exceptionally faithful to God during this time. I believe it's tempting to compromise on CG, service, Bible study, quiet time... But I also believe that when you honour God, God will honour you.
If we are faithful to God ONLY in the good and easy times, what does that really show about us? It's when things are getting tough that your faith and steadfastness is truly tested. I know how tedious studying is. But don't let it cause you to lose sight of God. Keep God in the centre of it. Honour Him by studying hard and honour Him by spending time with Him, even when time is already limited.
Try this: Every time you get ready to start studying (even after a break), begin with an heartfelt prayer to God. Seek to please Him with your studies and ask for His wisdom and strength to study hard.
May our CG learn to live for God :)
Germs
Confession
I must admit, I never really liked confession.
I have a weakness - Pride. Because of my pride, I never really liked confessing my sins to God. Why? Because it forced me to think about the wrong things I did or was still doing. I like to think that I'm a relatively good person. Now that I think about it, what arrogance and self-righteousness I was demonstrating...
Now, I've learnt that confession and repentance (from new sins I commit) should be the norm for a Christian. It's not because I will go to hell if I don't confess! Definitely not! But every time I sin or continue to sin, my relationship or fellowship with God will be affected. Confessing and repenting restores the relationship with God and gives me the confidence to draw near to Him again.
Don't take sin lightly because God doesn't take it lightly. Confess. God will be ready to forgive you. Below is an article from gotquestions.org on the topic of confession:)
Love,
Germs
Question: "Why do we need to confess our sins if they have already been forgiven (1 John 1:9)?"
Answer: The apostle Paul wrote, “To the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding” (Ephesians 1:6-8). This forgiveness is referring to salvation, in which God has taken our sins and removed them from us “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). This is the judicial forgiveness that God gives us upon receiving Jesus Christ as Savior. All our past, present, and future sins are forgiven on a judicial basis, meaning that we will not suffer eternal judgment for our sins. We still often suffer consequences of sin while we are here on earth, however, which brings us to the question at hand.
The difference between Ephesians 1:6-8 and 1 John 1:9 is that John is dealing with what we call “relational,” or “familial,” forgiveness—like that of a father and a son. For example, if a son does something wrong to his father—falling short of his expectations or rules—the son has hindered his fellowship with his father. He remains the son of his father, but the relationship suffers. Their fellowship will be hindered until the son admits to his father that he has done wrong. It works the same way with God; our fellowship with Him is hindered until we confess our sin. When we confess our sin to God, the fellowship is restored. This is relational forgiveness.
“Positional” forgiveness, or judicial forgiveness, is that which is obtained by every believer in Christ. In our position as members of the body of Christ, we have been forgiven of every sin we have ever committed or ever will commit. The price paid by Christ on the cross has satisfied God’s wrath against sin, and no further sacrifice or payment is necessary. When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He meant it. Our positional forgiveness was obtained then and there.
Confession of sin will help to keep us from the discipline of the Lord. If we fail to confess sin, the discipline of the Lord is sure to come until we do confess it. As stated previously, our sins are forgiven at salvation (positional forgiveness), but our daily fellowship with God needs to stay in good standing (relational forgiveness). Proper fellowship with God cannot happen with unconfessed sin in our lives. Therefore, we need to confess our sins to God as soon as we are aware that we have sinned, in order to maintain close fellowship with God.
Hi for CG this week, meet at Admiralty MRT station at 2.20pm. CG will be at my house!
Germs
