ablaze notes fri 2/5/08

It was not nails that kept Jesus on the cross, it was His love for us.

 

Our sins are never to great to be forgiven

 

Haggai 2:1-9

 

Haggai 2:1-3

Press Forward to Build

 

520BC 29t Aug Haggai 1 prophecy

520BC 21^st Sept started rebuilding temple again

520BC 17^th Oct Haggai 2 prophecy

Haggai 2

The Promised Glory of the New House

 1 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: 2 “Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them, 3 ‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? 4 But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,’ declares the LORD. ‘Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the LORD, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the LORD Almighty. 5 ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’

 6 “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD Almighty. 8 ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty. 9 ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the LORD Almighty.”

1. Press forward for greater glory (v9)

 

Later on, temple were renovated

 

Proton -> Porche

 

Hope to all

Hope to the lost (1 tim 4:10)

Hope nurtured (Rom 15:13)

Hope spread abroad

 

Church = place of love, find self-worth, God’s authority, miracles, mentored to reach full potential.

 

1 tim 4:10

10(and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

 

 

Roman 15:13

13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Televised services, stages, café, lounge, disco, lights, PA systems. (Possibilities)

 

2 Press forward in your heart (v1-4a)

 

• Rise up with faith (v1-3)

 

Word of God stirred up the heart of men. Faith comes from hearing and hearing the message of Christ. Hear – Greek word rhema = spoken word

 

• Rom 5:17 NASB

 

17For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

 

• From beginning, this is a faith project. It must continue in faith!
• Matt 9:29-30

 

29Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you”; 30and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.”

·        Rise up with persistence (v4a)

·        Heb 10:35-36

·        Obstacle up, our faith must go up, our persistence must go up.

Luke 18:1-5. Widow persist until the judge give in.

·        3 Press forward together (v4b)

·        Multiplication of the effect of our faith.

·        Lev 26:8

·        Regardless of capacity.

Youth ministry workshop/conference notes

Definition of Youth:

Define some boundaries -> i.e. anything younger than 45

Define ministry: Looking after needs or young people, bringing them to Christ.

-lead -influence -guide -serve – using gifts -help -serve -spread word of God

one example of a great leader (top 5) in the bible is Joshua. Joshua was a young man and he was being mentored by Moses who trained him from a very young age. (Remember in the bible how Joshua was supporting Moses by holding his elbow to help him raise the staff in the air while the Israelites were at war?)

However, Joshua had one fatal flaw, he didnt pass the baton to anyone else. Hence the world entered a period of Judges who judged the Israelites and God was fighting against them instead of with them.

Thats why its so important to train the next generation!

So why is Youth Ministry (YM) so important? Why is it so vital?

Kids are young, if we train them well, we will have a whole new generation rise up to serve God!

There is no success without a successor. Aim to have a “generation perspective”

Christianity is only one generation away from being extinct!

if we dont teach it, we will forget it. Much like we forget a lot of our home tongue, ie. how to read or write Chinese.

From Gods perspective, we are just a tiny period on a big time line. We will pass away and move on, but someone has to be able to pick it up from us. All we do is fulfill our time in history.

Another example would be King David who prepared all the land and conqueored much of the country to prepare the way for his son Solomon. In other words, he set up the groundworks for the next generation.

 Footprints we leave behind, may all those who find them find us faithful.

In YM, we should aim to be value-centred. This means placing values first and actions/behaviour will follow. Eg.

1) Worldview: Jesus is king.

2) Beliefs: God loves everyone

3) Values: therefore I value loving everyone

4) Actions behaviour: I treat them well.

So its important to influence kids values first before we try and change their behaviour. We must facilitate the Holy Spirit to change them from the inside out. Not creating environments that change them. Its essentially God that changes them so we must lead them to God and Jesus for He is the way, truth and life.

testimony to Christ (post-OC)

As I begin to rededicate myself to Jesus and following His ways…starting from a month prior to going to the Oceania Convention, I’ve found that God radically touched on areas of my life that I didnt believe I could ever change + difficulties I know I could never overcome alone.

 The first of which I have to admit would have to be the on-going addiction or slavery to sin, lust, objectification of women, chronic pornography viewings late at night. Although I was a Christian serving for quite some time and believed I was following Christ, I was never able to shake the shackles of worldly temptations. After the OC, I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit much greater than before, I felt compelled to turn around my life and live the way God designed me to live. It feels really good to have a clear conscience and not be ashamed of aspects of my life when im facing God. I can worship Him with a heart that is sanctified by Christ, with any sins forgiven by His grace.

 I am really glad that when I tell others about God, or say praise God, I really really do mean it. I can talk about Him and praise Him with a mouth that is 95% free of obscene words and gossip. I believe God will continue to change me and help me to grow closer and closer to Him. I am forever thankful that you are there to give me a way out of temptation every time I feel tempted.

Being closer God has also given me the spiritual fruits of patience, joy, kindness, love and peace. I feel more compassionate towards other ppl when normally I would just be caring for myself. Although I still admit to being quite selfish most of the time, I am learning to put others (esp God) before me. As a result, my relationship with my cousin and a lot of my closer friends are improving gradually. On a side note, thanks to Joshua Harris’ book How I kissed dating goodbye, God has given me a stronger conviction to live a Holier emotional/physical life when it comes to the other sex. I see girls not as objects that I could derive pleasure from, but sisters in Christ. They are not there to give me love and support, but rather I feel that I need to be the one serving them and being a good neighbour/brother to my sisters.

All in all, God is just so awesome…I feel my guitar skills improving too because of a renewed will to worship Him with music….ever since the OC, God has given me the opportunity to lead my cell group in worship with guitar…The next day, there was no electricity at church…so we had to worship with piano and I played guitar too..unplugged – acoustic…it was awesome…

Lord, I hope that my love for you will never fade…because I know that Your love for me never will…I hope in 5 years time when I look back on this, I would be even closer in my walk wif U… it just feels so great…to have God in my life…

living a life of significance NoTeS

The average person will influence more than 10,000 people in their lifetimes (pastors influence more)

(Over the Top – Zig Ziglar = a good book about inspirational people that lived significantly)

Everyone has the chance to be SOMEBODY!

25% of the 300 top world leaders have a physical disability, 50% of them admit to being raised up in poverty or being abused as a child.

2) Have a Goal/end in mind! (most importantly a kingdom end in mind)

a) – decide on what you want to do/to be?

this depends on your internal conviction~!

b) Focus on others/help them with need

- Add worth and value to someone OTHER THAN YOURSELF

- Accomplish break-through projects

- Help them achieve a higher goal

3) Prepare NOW!

a) Fulfill the basics faithfully

-Focus on what you HAVE! NOT what you don’t have

b) Take on more than just enough

-Expand yourself – by involving Other ppl

-Learn more than what you are learning now

-Learn more/ Train more

-Take time out to Evaluate yourself

-Build your character /improve and work on your flaws before you are 30

-Be tough on yourself when you are still young

c) Resist the spirit of the present generation

4 Price of significance!

a) Great heart – spirit, love and mind

I WILL NOT GIVE UP!

Love people, do not keep bitterness, anger, develop great patience!!

Stephen (His face shone like an angel – LOVE) (“Lord, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing”)

b) Great attitudes – character and skillz

12 Characters!

1 Trustworthiness

2 Loyalty

3 Helpfulness

4 Friendliness

5 Courtesy

6 Obedience

7 Heartfulness

8 Thrifty

9 Reverent

10Clean

11Brave

12 Cheerfulness

Skills – just get training or read a book or a few hundred books

5. Characteristics of a non significant life

a) No progress

b) Negative person

c) Fault Finders

d) Slothful/Lazy

CHANGE YOURSELF! CHANGE THE WORLD!

save the cheerleader..save the world..lalalala Praise God for the OC…and for men like pastor PN and pastor Simon..

contemplative planning & impending doom which will result

ok…im screwed…this is a post to remind myself how screwed i am

 today is a tuesday…afternoon..its 5pm now

thursday 11am to 1pm…i have to see a doctor

thursday, friday, saturday and sunday im moving house 

this thursday night i have basketball training from 7:30pm onwards

friday night is a CTP (Christian Training Program) exam that i have to study for..

 saturday night is ministry at church…preparation for dads day~ 6pm onwards~~ singing practice x 2

sunday morning 11 oclock is a party…1.30 guitar practice for church band….2.30 church…4.30 first ever basketball competition…

sunday 5.45…20% assignment is due

monday 2pm…40% midsemester exam

tuesday 12pm…30% midsemester exam

none of which i have studied for……

 currently…open for red bull and caffeine lolly donations…~ ><

Psalms

mmm… todays sermon has left a small pawprint in the back of my mind…it questions..whether I truly have let Jesus live in my heart?

If so, why the emptiness and hopelessness? Why do we go through so many trials and miseries as Christians and why are there seemingly so many restrictions on my actions and thoughts?

 I question…am I truly following Christ and carrying His cross? Am I really His disciple? Do I really let him into every aspect of my life and let him reign over my life? How long has it been since I craved and thirsted for God’s annointing and love?

 Psalms 63:

 O God, you are MY God, earnestly I seek you. My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.

Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods, with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.

Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

My soul clings to you, your right hand upholds me……
God I pray one day that I may love you..as much as King David has….at the moment..i feel that i fall so short of your glory…and i feel so distant from you in my life….

me such an emo Christian…but let me put You first~~~ in all aspects of life…even b4 nice and cute girls.

living for ToDaY~~~

today was filled with a lot of mental and emotional activity.

mum and i had a rough time arguing over housework and i realised that it wasnt helping our relationship and spending time wif mum turned out to be more and more unpleasant over time. id rather be out with friends…soemthing had to be done..

in the arvo, went out to music spot and paid another 500 dollars off my laybuy for maton…new guitar should be coming soon!!!…went to word and bought a few books: today matters / talent is never enough / treasures of wisdom / worship: the revolution is here

enough 2 keep me occupied over the holidays…went to visit nina in the arvo, her and her bf busy doing tax stuff wahah.. cleaner guy pops in and nina kicks her out…hes like sorry boss sorry boss rofl…

mm..washed the toilet floors and did the dishes today…WILL START DOING MORE CHORES!

mm..learned 90% of 爱我还是他 (david tao)… WILL IMPROVE SELF EVERYDAY

mm…booked a ticket for ONE DOLLAR…(praise God) to NZ…going to visit grandparents…

today matters …the first chapter is very inspiring…john c maxwell is a great motivator…

“you have to give 100% everyday, if you give 75% today..you cant give 125% tomorrow to make it up” – john wooden

learning to make small changes each day adds up and contributes to a successful and meaningful life!~~ living out the best in myself to my family and friends everyday~ coz time = life…killing time…= killing self…

wise words…peace out…

Awesome foto taken by Rachel..thanks for the late post! >

Link to larger…more zoom zoom version

21 + 1

thank You God for Your love and lifting me up when im down…and giving me more than i have ever imagined..
thanks everyone for your love and your friendship….:) *moved*

Crazy psycho guitarist

A very insane version of Canon~~