Bring Along the Key of Gratitude for a Happy New Year!

Read on, mate, to find your key to happiness.

The following extract is a message from Carolyn Savelle of Jerry Savelle Ministry International (JSMI) to partners of JSMI as found in JSMI Australia blog for your edification:- 

"One powerful way to shift from sorrow to joy is through appreciating the good things God has already placed in your life. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Gratitude is a key that unlocks the door to happiness. 

When you choose to thank God for what you have, even in challenging times, you will start to see just how blessed you truly are. You may not always feel like there’s something to be thankful for, but I encourage you to look again – there’s always a blessing waiting to be noticed.

I remember a family that came to our church many years ago that were believing for a new car. When Jerry asked to see the car they were currently driving, he was taken aback. The car was filled with trash, fast food wrappers, and was in complete disarray. Jerry told them, “If you’re truly believing for a new car, start by taking care of the one you have.”

Friend, if you want more joy in your life, start by loving and caring for what you have right now. Psalm 84:12 says, “LORD Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.” One definition I’ve seen for the word blessed is blissfully happy or content. 

Maybe you aren’t driving the car you want, living in the house of your dreams, or wearing the clothes you desire, but when you choose to trust God, express gratitude for what you do have, and declare, “I choose to live a happy life,” you set yourself up for God’s blessings to overflow.

One of the greatest blessings God has given us is our family. I treasure the moments I’ve spent with my late husband, children, and grandchildren. We used to take vacations all together, packed into the car with grandkids on my lap, and I remember telling Jerry, “I’m the happiest anybody could ever be.” Though my grandchildren have outgrown sitting on Grandma’s lap, I thank God for great-grandchildren now! 

These moments are precious gifts from God, and He desires that your family be filled with love and happiness too.

I want to remind you that there is an enemy out there trying to disrupt your joy, especially within your family. Since the beginning of time, satan has tried to tear families apart- turning brother against brother and children against parents. 

But God’s plan is different. He created us to live in love, to reflect His image (Genesis 1:26), and to enjoy our families, growing in happiness together.

When you love and appreciate the people God has placed in your life, He will bless you with even more joy and abundance. Matthew 25:29 tells us, “To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance.” 

Deuteronomy 30:19 says, “…I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore, choose life, that you and your descendants may live.” You have the power to choose – to choose gratitude, to choose love, to choose life. 

As you make choices that honor God and put your trust in Him, you will find true joy, and God will work on your behalf.

I encourage you to take a moment today and ask yourself, “What do I have to be happy about?” Write down everything you can think of, big or small, and praise God for it. I promise, as you do, joy will begin to fill your heart, and God will bless you beyond measure. 

I have learned that hope and expectation live alongside joy. When you choose to be grateful, you start to expect good things. Your focus begins to shift from fear to faith. 

You can reject negative thoughts dwelling on the hurts of the past and you can choose to appreciate the good things God has given you. As you do, faith and expectation will begin to rise inside of your spirit. 

As I look to move into a new year, I’m grateful that God has shown His goodness to me despite the circumstances. God is faithful!" 

Click here for free resources from JSMI Australia to build your faith in Christ Jesus and also to find out more about JSMI.

Have You Thought About God?

In his sermon "What about God?", Pastor Kevin Koh of Cornerstone Community Church touched on the three stages of Christian maturity:

1. What about me?

2. What about others?

3. What about God?

As Christians we have to be careful that we do not remain stuck at serving only oneself and other people. Like King David we need to think about God (building Him a great temple was David's desire to offer unto the LORD).

Photo by Neven Krcmarek on Unsplash

In knowing God's heart, let us work out our response in love and offer Him a gift or service that would be well-pleasing unto Him.

Click here for What about God?.

Click here for Who Invented Candy Canes?

YouVersion Bible App

It used to be that we have to bring a physical Bible around with us and we do our Quiet Time with a physical devotional guidebook. 

Thanks to the God-given ingenuity bestowed upon people, we can now access the Bible and devotional materials with ease on our mobile phones, tablets and computers.

YouVerson Bible App, which is brought to us by Life Church, is a great App for you to try out, if not already done so. It is my go-to Bible App as it is user-friendly and enriching. I like the wide-range of Christian leaders and teachers who come on board to share and this has widened my sphere of resources for solid Christian teaching and preaching and see how others are serving the LORD to the praise and glory of His name.

Screenshot of YouVersion

The stated mission of YouVersion as gleaned from its website is as follows:-

"We wholeheartedly believe a daily rhythm of seeking intimacy with God has the power to transform lives.

That’s why YouVersion creates biblically centered, culturally relevant experiences that encourage and challenge people to seek God throughout each day. It’s through these experiences we create opportunities fit for anyone’s daily routine, ultimately helping them form a spiritually-rich rhythm of seeking God intimately.

Our mission is to encourage and challenge people to seek intimacy with God every day.

Our hope is that each person in our community is on an active journey to become who God made them to be, abiding in Him, and drawing closer every day."

Click here to download and explore YouVersion.

Click here to find out more about Life Church.

 

The Authority of God's Voice

Earlier this week, I listened to the following sermon by Rev. Bonnie Chavda. In it she shared how the voice of God sustained her impossible pregnancy for her to deliver a miracle baby.

Click here for The Voice of the LORD| Rev. Bonnie Chavda | Cornerstone Community Church | CSCC Sermon

Just this evening (21/09/2024) at City Harvest Church, Pastor Kong Hee shared on how Pastor Christine had a miracle baby because her husband prayed audibly to the baby in her womb (around the age of 2 and a half years old, the baby recounted hearing her dad's voice while still in her mother's womb).

These timely messages remind me that God's voice and the voice of the believers have authority over circumstances much like in Genesis when God spoke the world into existence.

All the promises of God to us are "Yes" and "Amen". Who are we then to question or doubt what God has said concerning His words?

If we can have faith for our salvation through faith in Christ Jesus, surely we can take God at His Word on all other areas of our lives that require His deliverance and empowerment to overcome.

What words have your inner person heard from God through the preaching of His Word? Believe in Him and claim these words over your situations audibly; make your faith concessions with utterances of His words to you by the Holy Spirit.

What dreams or miracles do you need to see come to pass? Speak the word of God to your mountains of challenges and difficulties, and let God do only what He can do while you trust Him and lean on Him in alignment to His Word.

Remember how the people marveled at Jesus because He spoke with such authority? His words are life and spirit.

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)

"But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” " Matthew 4:4 (NKJV)

Truly, God's Word is life-giving with spiritual authority. Let us study the Word of God and speak forth the Word of God as little Christs and ambassadors for Christ with authority by the Holy Spirit for His Kingdom sake and for the glory of His Name. Amen.

With the Word of God, we will experience spiritual prosperity and more abundant life. The following painting and wordings are by Santi Teo for your meditation.

"Spiritual Prosperity" by Santi Teo

"Psalm 1:2-3 (NIV)

but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers

Meditate on the word of God day and night is a crucial part as a Child of God. It is not a law of instruction, but a reflection of our love for God.

His word is like nutrition; it refreshes our soul, mind and strengthens us in our difficulties. It is likened to a tree planted by streams of water and never dries up. It doesn't fear the heat when it comes, bears fruit in its season and whatever it does, it shall prosper.

Let's connect with the vine that provides everything you need.

Santi Teo

AZ Division

City Harvest Church"

Jehovah Shammah (The LORD is There)

"The distance around the city shall be 18,000 (4 x 4,500) cubits; and the name of the city from that day [and ever after] shall be, ‘The Lord is There.’” (Ezekiel 48:35; AMP)

Gratefulness by Kylie Koh 

The following article is adapted from Rev Dr Kong Hee's preaching at City Harvest Church on 24 August 2024 regarding JEHOVAH SHAMMAH (The LORD is There), which is yet another name for YHWH.

God is there wherever you are and every moment of each day. God's Presence is tangible towards your entire day. Turn your thoughts towards God in simple conversations with Him all day long such as: "Thank you, Jesus, for another day. Please help me with the meetings for the day." and "Help me to be kind and patient. Let me be a blessing as I interact."

Gleaning from "The Practice of the Presence of God" by Brother Lawrence, Pastor Kong shared on the following practical actions we can emulate to experience the Presence of God:

1. Put God in your thoughts all day long

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." (Isaiah 26:3; NKJV)

When we are conscious of God, a special grace comes upon us as God's omnipresence transcends into manifested Presence. Our hearts will follow who we cherish. The more we know Him, the more we love Him.

2. Converse with God while you work

 

"pray continually" (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV)

Talk to God continually... "Father, I love you. Jesus, help me. Holy Spirit, give me wisdom."

Don't put any limits to what you speak with God. Have a humble and loving heart. Give thanks in all circumstances. Be in constant communion and fellowship with God. Sweet communion of inner joy and strength.

3. Transform ordinary moments into tiny holy encounters with God

"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:17; NKJV)

"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men," (Colossians 3:23; NKJV)

Brother Lawrence suffered a serious injury to his leg in the French Army. He worked in the kitchen of a monastery for 50 years. While rugged in appearance, he was full of the love, joy and the gentleness of Jesus. He spoke with such wisdom and many came to seek him for spiritual guidance. All of Brother Lawrence's actions is out of love as an act of worship unto the LORD.

Click here for Wikipedia's coverage of Brother Lawrence.

Click here and fast forward to 1:01:17 for Pastor Kong Hee's sermon on Jehovah Shammah (Part 1).

Click here and fast forward to 50:15 for Pastor Kong Hee's sermon on Jehovah Shammah (Part 2).

God is there all around and within us notwithstanding
the vastness of our planet. 

Walking with God

What does it mean to walk with God? As Christians, we say that this is what we do each day.

For the Biblical insights on walking with God, the following sermon by Pastor Jeremy Choy will enlighten us and help us deepen our daily walk with God.

Click here for Jeremy Choy: Walking With God.

Vertical and Horizontal Righteousness

The following article is adapted from Rev Dr Kong Hee's preaching on Jehovah Tsidkenu (The LORD Our Righteousness) on 3 August 2024 at City Harvest Church.

With righteousness we have the ability to stand in God's Presence without any sense of guilt, condemnation or inferiority.

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1 (NKJV)"

The effects of righteousness are as follows:

1.    Righteousness restores your standing with God.

"The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. Isaiah 32:17 (NKJV)" 

2.    Righteousness restores your communion with God.

"for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. John 16:27 (NASB)"

3.    Righteousness restores your confidence in life.

"The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are bold as a lion. Proverbs 28:1 (NASB)"

How does God make us righteous? 

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)" 

"He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness]. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (AMP)"

Vertical righteousness Corum Deo (in the presence of God) is passive, positional, imputed and justifying.

Horizontal righteousness Corum Mundo (in the presence of others) is active, actual, imparted and conforming. 

Righteousness is a gift made possible through Jesus Christ. "For if by the trespass of the one (Adam), death reigned through the one (Adam), much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in [eternal] life through the One, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17 (AMP)"

The Greek word for "receive" in the above verse is lambano which means actively take it, be intentional about it!

Righteousness is the key to God's power. As we internalise once and for all that vertical righteousness has been imputed upon us, keep receiving God's grace every day and appropriate His righteousness every day in Christlikeness we receive an abundance of God's grace "so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:21 (NKJV)"

Click here for Kong Hee: Jehovah Tsidkenu and fast forward to 40:45 for the sermon.

 

What Does It Mean to Follow Jesus?

Before we start to follow Jesus, the hardest thing for us to do was to decide to accept Him as our LORD and Saviour in our mind and heart, conclusively, once and for all. Since then we are on a quest to go deeper in our walk with Him through obedience unto Him and doing the will of our Heavenly Father just as Jesus did.

There is process and progression in our walk of faith and we are but pilgrims on planet Earth. We have not arrived at the destination of our faith at the moment of our conversion or any time soon thereafter; we have a lifetime to attain God's purpose and will for us with the help of the Holy Spirit and other believers.  

And, so we continue to love not worldly things such as lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life. We are to walk not as people who do not follow Jesus, but with self-examination and care to practice spiritual disciples such as prayer, studying the Word of God, fasting, tithing, praise and worship. Just as secular schooling, we grow from one level to the next.

We are to take up our cross daily and follow Christ such as releasing forgiveness (instead of harbouring unforgiveness), loving people who are different from us, and obeying God wholeheartedly instead of following Him on our terms. If God is not our LORD of all, He is not our LORD at all. God is worthy of our all and no less than that. This dying to self need to grow so that God will increase while our self will diminish as we relinquish the throne of our heart unto Him.

True discipleship is more than just cosy fellowshipping and attending church. We need to see the bigger picture of God's desire for the church and each individual believer to keep growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Chirst. We need to stay hungry for the things of God; seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Our faith will be tested just as Job was subjected to the onslaught of our adversary within limits set by God and Peter was sieved by this same adversary of our faith, but Jesus had interceded for Peter.

If none will follow, would we still follow Jesus? If things are not happening according to what we expect, would we still follow Jesus? Is it going to be all in for Jesus unconditionally?

Indeed, the highest peak we can attain as a follower is to love Jesus more than our own life because He is trustworthy and has only our best interest in His heart. May we continue to grow deeper in our walk of faith and make this a living truth:-

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20; NIV)"

Click here for The Cost of Salvation and be challenged to take up your cross daily and follow Jesus beyond attending church per se. True discipleship need to be happening every day with intentionality and internalisation, and not just when we attend church.

How Much Do We Love God Actually?

GOD is love. We love Him because He first loves us (1 John 4:19). Our love originates from God by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). 

Jesus' imperative for us is to love God wholeheartedly and to love people fervently.

" So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ” "(Luke 10:27; NKJV)

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35; NKJV)

It is easy to say that we love God. However, is our love for Him shallow and according to our own dictate such that we pick and choose to love God when it is convenient and expedient, and love people only when they are lovable or only when we feel like loving them?

In John 14:12-14 Jesus spoke of having faith in God to do the greater works with His help and in verses 16-17 He spoke of sending another Helper in the Person of the Holy Spirit. Sandwiched between the aforesaid verses, Jesus said: " “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” " (John 14:15; NKJV)

After Peter's denial of Christ and Jesus' resurrection, Jesus encouraged Peter three times to keep loving Him by feeding and tending His sheep in spite of Peter's earlier misplaced and resolute distancing from having anything to do with Him. (John 21)

Without the undergirding of love for God and people, our good works will amount to nothing. "And now abide faith, hope and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13; NKJV) 

How much do we love God actually? God's love for us is undeniable. But our love for God will only be known through the inner witness of the Holy Spirit who searches our heart and knows how much we truly love God wholeheartedly and love people fervently.

No Longer Bound By Fear

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

As followers of Jesus Christ who have received the Holy Spirit, our inner man (spirit) is led by the Holy Spirit.

However, if our soul (mind, will and emotion) is more dominant than our yielding to the Holy Spirit we may end up doing things in our own might and power rather than by the Spirit of God.

Fear is not just a feeling but a spirit which we need to resist. Our weapons of warfare against evil spirits cannot be carnal (of the flesh) but must be spiritual such as the Word of God which is the sword of the Spirit.

If fear is not dealt with, it would imprison us and keep us from growing in our experience of God's grace and our knowledge of God. But, thanks be to God for giving us the Holy Spirit.

" "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” " Acts 1:8 (NKJV)

"... the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:5 (NKJV)

" "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ." 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 (NKJV) This is the sound mind which understands the things of God and receives His instructions.

There is so much spiritual blessings that God wants to impart to us by the Holy Spirit. We need to stay hungry for the things of God such as the spiritual blessings of power, love and sound mind by letting the Holy Spirit permeate us and take over the driver's seat of our life to vanquish all ungodly fears such that the only fear that we know is the fear of the LORD.

Stop Comparing Yourself With Others

"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." -- Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) 

You are a unique creation of God like clay in the Potter's hand. God has created you for a specific purpose and has placed in you the disposition to accomplish what He has in mind through you.

Moses stood up against bullies and was a great nation builder, but he was not a warrior like his successor Joshua, and they both accomplish God's purposes in the leadership role required for Israel's season of time.

If you were a painter, how and what you draw would be different from someone else.

"Worthy" by Esther Tan

So stop comparing yourself with someone else and let God show you the potential of the person that you are meant to be. Grow in the knowledge of God and also of yourself. The following clip is a great reminder to stop comparing ourselves with others.

Click here Quit Playing The Comparison Game | Joseph Prince | Gospel Partner Excerpt. 

Let the Joy of the LORD Arise In You

"Then Ezra said to them, “Go [your way], eat the rich festival food, drink the sweet drink, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be worried, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and your stronghold.”" -- Nehemiah 8:10 (AMP)

When you know that you know that God has got your back, there is nothing to fear or worry. He is your Heavenly Father who cares for you and all His other children. Indeed, He entreats you to come to Him and cast all your cares upon Him.

Truly, if God is for you, who can be against you? With God, you can speak to your mountains and they will be removed; don't rehearse your situations to God but decree with your mouth to unleash the power of God's word in your mouth over your situations. 

Joy is found in a Person -- our Lord Jesus Christ, whom every knee shall bow and confess that He is Lord. Fix your eyes on Jesus rather than the things of this temporal world and receive the joy of the Lord. When you have Jesus, you have everything that you need.

Click here for Joy (What The World Calls Foolish) | feat. Martin Smith | Gateway Worship.

Click here for Rend Collective - Joy of the Lord (Church Online).

Click here for ‘The Joy of the Lord Is Your Stronghold’.

True Worshipper of God With Direction and Purpose

If you are not excited about going to church, this message is definitely for you. You need to receive now a revelation of who God is by silencing your distractions; be still and know that He is God. 

Magnify God by making Him the biggest influencer (using contemporary lingo here) in your life. Dethrone yourself and let God be enthrone in your life.

When you go to church, don't just sing the songs; own them and sing like you mean it. More than that: own the songs and sing them as your testimonies of who God is to you and what God has done for you.

What you say and sing with your mouth is powerful. Let God arise and His enemies be scattered. When we sing and shout the name of Jesus, the adversary of our faith will be defeated.

Click here for Living Life on Purpose (Part 2) by Rev. Celia Apeagyei-Collins.

 

Do You Love God or His Blessings?

If there is no more blessings, would you still love God?

Would you be satisfied by a love relationship with God alone?

Is loving God enough as the destiny for you?

Would you still love God if there is nothing in it for you except for God Himself?

Would you be willing to let go of your precious in obedience to God?

Is your highest love reserved for God alone?

Click here and fast forward to 43 min and 50 sec for Kong Hee: Blesser or Blessings?

Our God Is Awesome

"Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:17 (NIV)"

Nowadays we have misused the word "awesome" with reference to human achievements such as cooking, sports and engineering when it ought to be reserved for glorifying God alone.

Indeed as we grow in the knowledge of God (theology), it would cause us to behold the awesomeness of God which leads us to worship Him (doxology). And, we can then realise how much more immense and wonderful is God when compared to the things of this world.

The above verse reminds us that God is King forever and ever. We live in a finite world within the constraints of time and space. But God in His otherness transcends time and space, and reign as King from everlasting to everlasting. God is not our buddy; He is the eternal King of kings and Lord of lords.

God is the source of life and He lives on forever. "... He who is the blessed and only Potentate (Sovereign), the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen. 1 Timothy 6:15b - 16 (NKJV)"

No one can see God and live. For our own safety, it is good that God is invisible because He is Holy.

Indeed, we ascribe all glory to God alone, forever and ever. We can take a glimpse of the throne room of heaven as follows:-

"Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—
    the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”

Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,

“You are worthy, O Lord our God,
    to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things,
    and they exist because you created what you pleased.”

Revelation 4:8-11 (NLT)"

Click here and emulate David's praises unto our awesome God.

Be still and know that He is God.

The Fear of the LORD

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." -- Proverbs 9:10 (NKJV)

"The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death." -- Proverbs 14:27 (NKJV)

Click here for [Let's Talk About] The Fear Of The Lord | Benny Ho

These are some takeaways from the above clip which are poignant with revelation for understanding of the Fear of the LORD.

* There is a difference between the fear of the LORD and being afraid of God. A non-believer would be very afraid of God and rightly so because of the dread of the LORD. But, believers can have the confidence through faith in Christ Jesus to come before God's throne with reverence.

* The proof of God's love for you is grace. The proof of your love for God is obedience. We may be sinning still, but God still loves us. However, we cannot say that we love God when we are living in disobedience. Jesus said, "“If you love Me, keep My commandments."" (John 14: 15; NKJV)

* The end goal of discipleship is: Christlikeness. We need to have a balance between Word-centric and Spirit-centric. Pastor Benny has outlined how we can achieve this by showing the process of nurturing Christlikeness with the need for both the Word of God and the Holy Spirit as follows:

CHRISTLIKENESS
🔝
Transformation by renewing of the mind
🔝
Apply God's Word
🔝
Spiritual Delights in the disciplines (I want to do it)
🔝
Spiritual Disciplines (I have to do it)
🔝
Spiritual Hunger
🔝
The Holy Spirit imparts spiritual hunger

The Word without the Spirit, we will dry up.
The Spirit without the Word, we will blow up.
The Word and the Spirit, we will all grow up.

"God's Intended End" by Pastor Peter Prothero

We are all a work-in-progress and God has an intended end for each of us as we continue to journey with Him by faith.

God is more concerned for us to cultivate our character unto Christlikeness than our comfort and conquest. 

Thus, if you are in a difficult place: hold on to the Word of God, truly know God for yourself, learn to trust Him and acknowledge Him in all of your ways.

The following message will be a great encouragement to you as you understand the heart of God and His intended end for you.

Click here for "God's Intended End" by Pastor Peter Prothero.

Do All In The Name Of Jesus Christ

"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Colossians 3:17 (KJV)

The Ascension of Jesus Christ

It is not often that we hear a sermon preached on the ascension of Jesus Christ and what it means to Christians. 

The following sermon on the ascension of Jesus Christ, who is now seated at the right hand of God the Father, would enlighten us: "that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." (Ephesians 1:18b - 23, NKJV)

With this revelation of us as being seated together with Jesus Christ in the heavenly places as joint heirs with Him, we would walk, pray and live from a position of victory instead of despair and desperation.

As per the blurb on "A Higher Realm" sermon:-

"The Church has primarily focused on the Gospel’s core elements: the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, and rightfully so. However, there’s another crucial dimension often overlooked – the higher realm Christ died for us to enter. Without grasping this elevated dimension of living, our spiritual walk and warfare will lack effectiveness."

Click here for A Higher Realm as preached by Pastor Sabrina Low of Cornerstone Community Church.

Click here for Cornerstone Community Church.

Grow In Knowledge and Revelation of God Through Leviticus

Most believers would struggle with reading and understanding the full significance of the book of Leviticus. 

Also, it is not often that you would hear a sermon that focusses on Leviticus.

After clearing the initial illustration of what a law concerning "theft" looks like, you will find the following sermon more and more revelatory concerning the heart of God.

In particular, you will learn that Leviticus :

a) Shows us how to live a holy life so that God may dwell among us; and 

b) Shows us that God is Holy so that we may worship Him who is worthy of our full allegiance.

Click here for The Law Of Our Holy God (Part 1) - Rev Dr Chua Chung Kai 

Trusting Faith

During the recent weekday churchwide prayer meetings in City Harvest Church from 29 January to 2 February 2024 via Zoom, Rev Dr Kong Hee taught on how to grow from faith to faith.

The following is an excerpt on "Trusting Faith" by Rev Dr Kong Hee for your edification.

"Trust is of a higher level than belief.

Belief is a confidence in what God can do; trust is a commitment to who He is (Psa. 34:8).

A person's belief can fail and be shipwrecked (cf. Luke 22:32; 1 Tim. 1:19), but trust is eternal (Psa. 125:1). God wants to perfect your faith to such a high level that you could be like Job -- "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him" (Job 13:15, NKJV).

Consider Shadrach, Meshech, and Abdednego:

"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from your majesty's hand. But even if He does not, we want you to know, your majesty, that we will not  serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up" (Daniel 3:17-18, NIV).

What made Shadrach, Meshech, and Abdednego heroes of faith was not their belief, but their trust in God. The only reason God allows you to go through hardships is to purify and strengthen you, and to bring you closer to Him.

God wants to bring you to a high level of trust because He has greater blessings in store for you. Not merely temporary ones, like bringing your prayer requests to pass, but blessings that are more permanent and far-reaching than what you can ever imagine!"