Joy in the Mist of Trials

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." James 1:2-4 (NKJV)

It is not easy to find believers who are joyful while going through trials. When we revert to worldly wisdom in our carnal minds, it would appear reasonable not to rejoice in the midst of trials. Indeed, the world has its reasonable test of how a person would respond to trials -- along the downstream drift of nurse it, curse it and rehearse it. We can call this the 'Poor Me' syndrome or  'Victim Mentality', no joy intended.

However, when our mind is renewed by the Word of God, we can face trials squarely with the grace of God and in the knowledge of His unconditional-and-everlasting love for us. Notably, Jesus Christ and Paul did not allow trials to rob them of their joy. 

Just as Jesus has completed His race for the joy that was set before Him, we are urged to do the same:"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-3 (NKJV)

Having obtained the gospel through the revelation of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:12), Paul paints for us a landscape of reasons for his joy, perseverance and hope in Christ in his various writings by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit such as the following verses from Romans 8: 

"18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.  

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 

29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 

30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 

32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 

33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 

34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

36 As it is written:

“For Your sake we are killed all day long;We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 

38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 

39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Many Christians would probably fancy a trouble-free life. But that is not in the plan of God! As we are seeing in God's Word, trials or persecutions will produce patience or perseverance and really goes to prove that our faith is genuine -- that we will live by faith anchored in Christ alone and secured in the love of Christ.

Indeed, as Jesus said, 

"Blessed are you when men hate you,And when they exclude you,And revile you, and cast out your name as evil,For the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven,For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets." Luke 6:22-23 (NKJV)

Also, consider the following Scripture passages:

"My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful." James 5:10-12 (NKJV)

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen[a] you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1:7-9 (NKJV)

What shall we say then in the light of this? I would say that while we are in the midst of trials, it would be only a mist in Christ. When we have Christ, we have everything; when we have everything except Christ, we have nothing. I would even venture to echo that apart from Christ, we are nothing.

Let's keep digging into God's Word and grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ!

More Than a Conqueror by Rev Dr Kong Hee

I like this YouTube message on being More Than a Conqueror by Rev Dr Kong Hee. Please click here to watch. The message starts around 5:30. Hear the Word of God and be blessed.

I Have Been Crucified with Christ

"I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Galatians 2:20 (AMP)

Much have been said and taught that the Word of God is Life and Spirit and that man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Knowing the truth of God's Word in our mind is insufficient. As A.W. Tozer had observed, "Truth that is not experienced is no better than error, and just as dangerous."

However, when we experience God's Word it would elevate us to a whole new plane of knowing it in our heart. Now, I wouldn't say that I have fully experienced Galatians 2:20, but just scratching the surface of this kernel of truth was enough to propel me powerfully today so much so that I wanna penned it down as a tribute to the Word of God and God Himself.

This morning the Holy Spirit brought to my mind Galatians 2:20 and it infused new energy for me to carry out my work and all for the day. I have memorized the aforesaid verse before in the New King James version and did not even have to meditate on it to be superlatively rejuvenated in my spirit, soul and body.

Much intrigued, I am meditating on this verse and cross-referencing it to other Bible verses. My short study is presented here along the way. 

'I have been crucified with Christ' ....When Christ died, all of my sins were nailed to the cross. My old self was crucified on the cross and sins do not have power over me. As Romans 6:6 (AMP) explains, "We know that our old (unrenewed) self was nailed to the cross with Him in order that [our] body [which is the instrument] of sin might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin."

Galatians 5:24 (AMP) says, "And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires." 

Further on, we have Paul's declaration, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, in Galatians 6:14 (AMP), "But far be it from me to glory [in anything or anyone] except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) through Whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world!"

'It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me'.... Far be it from me to think that I can run my life the way I want it. It is Christ whom I need to enthrone on the seat of my heart so that my every thoughts and actions will be captivated by the will, purpose and delight of the LORD of lords and KING of kings. God is worthy of my all; He alone is my all in all. 

Following from this, whom shall I fear and of what shall I be afraid of? God alone is supreme. all-powerful, all-present and all-knowing. With God as the Chief Operating Officer of my life, I am more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:37) and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)

'I live by faith in the Son of God' .... My life is centred on Christ Jesus who has said, inter alia, that He is the Bread of Life and has come to give us life and life more abundantly,and He will come again. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and no one can come to God the Father except though Him (John 14:6). 

This means that I submit myself to live life in a manner that is according to the Word of God such as 2 Corinthians 5:15 (AMP): "And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake."

'the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me' .... this truth is expounded expansively in Ephesians 2:4-6 (AMP), "But God—so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us, 

Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved ([a]delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation). 

And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us [b]joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."

Oh, such unconditional love of Christ for us! As Isaiah 53:12 (AMP) describes it, "... He poured out His life unto death, and [He let Himself] be regarded as a criminal and be numbered with the transgressors; yet He bore [and took away] the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors (the rebellious)."

Thank God for His Word which is living and active. 

May the truths of Galatians 2:20 spurs us to live in a like manner after Colossians 3:1-4 (AMP), as well:- 

"If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.

For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory."

Grace, Grace

“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’Says the Lord of hosts.  ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone
With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’” Zechariah 4:6~8 (NKJV)

Ephesians 2:8 speaks of saving grace; the grace of God for our salvation. And, this verse reveals to us that grace is free gift of God, not of our own works and it is activated through faith in the Giver -- God Himself. 

But, I have been further enlightened through the teachings of John Bevere that grace is not just for salvation and it can apply to other aspects of life, too. That was a powerful revelation which liberated me from my limited or ignorant view of grace.

Just last week, while listening to a YouTube message by Pastor Jentezen Franklin on "Grace, Grace", I was further enlightened by his categorization of grace into:

1. Saving Grace (Ephesians 2:8; NKJV);

2. Justifying Grace 

"... being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ" (Romans 3:24; NKJV) 

3. Teaching Grace  

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works." (Titus 2:11~14; NKJV)

4. Enabling Grace

"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:14~16; NKJV)

Now that we know better, we could be happier and live victoriously as we become both the hearers and doers of God's Word.

 As Pastor Dennis Burke has rightly noted in his book "Grace (Power beyond your ability)": "We have been invited to come boldly before the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find the grace we need to help us through any situation. The more time we spend in the presence of God, the more we will grow in the grace of God."

And, now, if you have got the time and hunger, may I entreat you to hear out Pastor Franklin's message on Grace, Grace by clicking here.

April Reflections by Rev Dr Ngoei Foong Nghian

(Source: page 3, TRUMPET April 2014, published by Trinity Theological College, Singapore. Rev Dr Ngoei Foong Nghian is the Principal of Trinity Theological College.)

Once a year we are given license to poke fun at others such as getting people to believe ridiculous things or send them on a 'fool's errand'. Sometimes even the media gets into the act all for a good laugh. The origin of April Fool's Day is uncertain, although it is supposed to be one of the more light-hearted days of the year. Some believe that the switch to a new calendar changing New Year's Day from 1 April to 1 January by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 led people to make fun of those who refused to accept the change or unaware of it. Since then, many people good-naturedly welcome such jests to light up their lives.

Indeed if laughter is to be medicine for the soul, it should not only be humour at the expense of others, but also encourage people to laugh at themselves. Those who take themselves too seriously lose sight of this special gift available to us all. Thus, in our stressed filled lives at school, at work and at home, having a sense of humour restores the equilibrium of our senses. It rejuvenates our mental and emotional health as individuals, and that in turn enhances the wellbeing of our society.

 April also calls for serious contemplation as Christians commemorate Jesus' sacrificial life which ended on Good Friday. The season of Lent is a time of fasting and praying and abstinence from the appetites of human desires in our focus on our relationship with God.But the practice of these spiritual disciplines can become ends in themselves unless they lead us to reflect on our 'trespasses'.

One of the problems we face in this modern era is the tendency to minimize sin and its consequences. Perhaps, the internalized moral authority of our upbringing has become less dominant and as a result, right and wrong are not clearly demarcated as it used to be. So Holy Week should lead us to re-order our priorities, take stock of our value systems and renew our moral standards. To be sure, the grace of God is sufficient to cleanse us from any and every sin, but repentance (that is, confession followed by transformation) is a necessary step towards becoming Easter Christians.

April sounds the bell for the last lap for our graduating cohort. They will press towards the finishing line and expect to receive their degree in theology. It marks the closing chapters of formal theological education. This cohort, like others before them, will be assessed on how well they have integrated their theological studies and how they will apply their learning to the varieties of Christian service. But ministering to this generation will be far more difficult in the face of formidable challenges from the world and its secular offerings.

It is said that when quality of life improves through better education, and there is more equitable income distribution and longer life span, then religion will decline as more people embrace atheism. It is even projected that by 2041, religious people will become a minority with the rise of secularism. Consequently, religion will lose clout as it becomes the minority view in more societies as already seen in Sweden and Japan.

Are these ominous signs? Are 'secular gods' more attractive? Near the end of his life, John Wesley said: 'I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist...but I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having a form of religion without the power". Wesley believed that the discipline, stewardship and frugality of his followers would eventually lead to a better life. But he also knew that economic wellbeing puts Christians at risk of embracing secularism which could subtly hollow out their once vibrant faith. Therefore, it is imperative that our generation be intentional in building up Body of Christ to ensure that our children and their descendants will hold fast the faith.