by Pastor John Lin
Pillar 2:
As you go into your home
(Family & Marriage)
Big idea:
Be an active participant of what God is doing in Grace Assembly
Strategic pillars
- generations
- family & marriage
- community outreach
- missions
Matthew 28:18-20
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Genesis 2:24
That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Hebrews 13:4
Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.
Divorce:
- Conflict & breakdown
- family violence
- extra marital affair
- parenting stress
Parents, you are your child's primary disciple makers
Deuteronomy 6:4-7
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Pillar 3:
As you go into the community
Community outreach
Deuteronomy 15:7-8
If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. 8 Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need.
Deuteronomy 15:11
There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.
Pillar 4:
As you go into the nations
Missions
Go and make disciples
9 Areas of Missions Project in GraceAOG
With Evangelism & Discipleship as the Cornerstones
1. Church Planting & Support
(Providing flexible support structure based on needs & vision)
2. Medical
(Penetrating local communicties through the provision of medical healthcare)
3. Humanitarian & Community
(Alleviating pain and suffering, and elevating partners' standing in communities for evangelism)
4. Education
(Engaging pre-believing students & families to acquire, develop, attain literacy or vocational skills)
5. Training
(Supporting bible schools, providing scholarship, and training in theology, ministry & life skills)
6. Biblical Justice
(Extending Christ's love, compassion & care to the vulnerable, poor & marginalised widows, orphans, trafficked victims)
7. Sustainability Support
(Providing resources to sustain ministry and support partners' livelihood to be self-sufficient)
8. Business as Missions
(Supporting sustainable, for-profit and wholesome businesses to propagate the gospel in creative access nations)
9. Local Missions
(Reaching out to the diasporas in our nation)
Thursday, January 30, 2025
Monday, January 20, 2025
GraceAOG Pillars
by Pastor Wilson
Big idea:
Be an active participant of what God is doing in Grace assembly
A pre believer (stage A)
A mature believer (stage B)
Replicate the process with other pre believer (stage C)
Christ command to his disciples to move to stage C even though the disciples have not reach to perfection
Disciple making is Intentional and systematic
Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Why is it so important?
1. Inadequate methods for disciple making from stage A to stage B
- The back door of your life is as large as the front door
2. Inadequate emphasis on stage C
- we must reach the conversion growth, not transfer growth from church to church
- reignite the mandate to reach the pre believer
Pillar 1
Generations
Psalm 78:1-7
My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old— 3 things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. 5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children, 6 so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. 7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.
- This passage involves three generations of believer
- the intent is to gain wisdom from previous generation to the next generation
(The next generation - below 30 years)
- They must have personal encounter with Jesus Christ for them to remain in church (KWRSS)
(The silver generation - above 65 years)
- crystallise your experiences and impart to the next generation
- release of position of power, including life experiences bringing life to others which is meaningful and fulfilling
R E - T I R E
What about the In-between age group?
- being a Disciple Maker to our kids
- preparing to move to silver generation
Big idea:
Be an active participant of what God is doing in Grace assembly
A pre believer (stage A)
A mature believer (stage B)
Replicate the process with other pre believer (stage C)
Christ command to his disciples to move to stage C even though the disciples have not reach to perfection
Disciple making is Intentional and systematic
Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Why is it so important?
1. Inadequate methods for disciple making from stage A to stage B
- The back door of your life is as large as the front door
2. Inadequate emphasis on stage C
- we must reach the conversion growth, not transfer growth from church to church
- reignite the mandate to reach the pre believer
Pillar 1
Generations
Psalm 78:1-7
My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old— 3 things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. 5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children, 6 so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. 7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.
- This passage involves three generations of believer
- the intent is to gain wisdom from previous generation to the next generation
(The next generation - below 30 years)
- They must have personal encounter with Jesus Christ for them to remain in church (KWRSS)
(The silver generation - above 65 years)
- crystallise your experiences and impart to the next generation
- release of position of power, including life experiences bringing life to others which is meaningful and fulfilling
R E - T I R E
What about the In-between age group?
- being a Disciple Maker to our kids
- preparing to move to silver generation
The posture of fasting
by Pastor Peter
Big idea:
We need to consecrate ourselves to God when we pray and fast.
We leave the outcome to God
Matthew 6:16-18
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Specifically right after He taught the disciples the lord's prayer
When you fast, not if, not after....
The Jews were expected to fast and pray, Jesus did not dictate how frequent ...
Early Jews Twice a week, wed and Fri usually 24 hours.
Jews were expected to fast and pray
Fasting is a much better response
Types of Biblical fasting:
A. Fasting is limited to food and water, things that literally sustain our bodies, with abstinence so our spirit, soul, body can fully focus on God
- TV, movies etc is abstinence, not fasting
B. Fasting can be done individually and in community
Benefits of fasting in the community:
- it increases unity
- it increases prayer
- it increases motivation
The "hypocrites" fasted with a posture of pride and did it to make them look good
How should we fast?
#1 Approach God with sincerity
- authentic, real
- sin must be repentance of the heart
- come to God in brokenness during crisis
- have the attitude of seeking God's face and His will
- please only God the Father
- we're only seeking His rewards, not other rewards
Fasting is a time to deepen your communion with God
John piper
They were hungry enough for God's leading that they wanted to say it with the hunger of their bodies and not just the hunger of their hearts
#2 Adopt a posture of humility
- not show off a sense of spirituality
Humility begins when we see God for who He is, which then provides the basis on which we see ourselves for who we are
Knowing and seeing God, we response by submitting and surrendering to Him
Esther 4
When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. 2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. 3 In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes. 4 When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why. 6 So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. 7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people. 9 Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, 11 “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.” 12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” 17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.
the story of King of Nineveh
The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. 6 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”
James 4:6-10
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”[a] 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
urges believers to draw near to God... Seeking friendship with God, not loving the world but love God by submitting, repent, mourn and weep.... A type of fasting through self denial
This verse is so necessary in today's world, Where people are Self reliant, affluent society, highly educated
To separate ourselves from the world, we must humble ourselves through acts of self denial
As we fast, God will awaken within us a deeper hunger and love for Him - a work of His grace
If pray and no answer, then chart forward what is right and pray for peace of God. If peace of God not felt, then means even though the right decision is not what God wants....
Big idea:
We need to consecrate ourselves to God when we pray and fast.
We leave the outcome to God
Matthew 6:16-18
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Specifically right after He taught the disciples the lord's prayer
When you fast, not if, not after....
The Jews were expected to fast and pray, Jesus did not dictate how frequent ...
Early Jews Twice a week, wed and Fri usually 24 hours.
Jews were expected to fast and pray
Fasting is a much better response
Types of Biblical fasting:
A. Fasting is limited to food and water, things that literally sustain our bodies, with abstinence so our spirit, soul, body can fully focus on God
- TV, movies etc is abstinence, not fasting
B. Fasting can be done individually and in community
Benefits of fasting in the community:
- it increases unity
- it increases prayer
- it increases motivation
The "hypocrites" fasted with a posture of pride and did it to make them look good
How should we fast?
#1 Approach God with sincerity
- authentic, real
- sin must be repentance of the heart
- come to God in brokenness during crisis
- have the attitude of seeking God's face and His will
- please only God the Father
- we're only seeking His rewards, not other rewards
Fasting is a time to deepen your communion with God
John piper
They were hungry enough for God's leading that they wanted to say it with the hunger of their bodies and not just the hunger of their hearts
#2 Adopt a posture of humility
- not show off a sense of spirituality
Humility begins when we see God for who He is, which then provides the basis on which we see ourselves for who we are
Knowing and seeing God, we response by submitting and surrendering to Him
Esther 4
When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. 2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. 3 In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes. 4 When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why. 6 So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. 7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people. 9 Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, 11 “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.” 12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” 17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.
the story of King of Nineveh
The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. 6 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”
James 4:6-10
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”[a] 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
urges believers to draw near to God... Seeking friendship with God, not loving the world but love God by submitting, repent, mourn and weep.... A type of fasting through self denial
This verse is so necessary in today's world, Where people are Self reliant, affluent society, highly educated
To separate ourselves from the world, we must humble ourselves through acts of self denial
As we fast, God will awaken within us a deeper hunger and love for Him - a work of His grace
If pray and no answer, then chart forward what is right and pray for peace of God. If peace of God not felt, then means even though the right decision is not what God wants....
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
The reason for fasting
by Pastor Wilson teo
What does the bible says about.....
Big idea:
We pray and we fast in response to something sacred that God is doing
What is fasting?
Luke 5:33-35
They said to him, “John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.” 34 Jesus answered, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? 35 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.”
The pious Jews fasted at least twice a week
The lord replied using a wedding illustration. Aka The lord coming to earth is a joyous occasion, we don't fast.
However, a day will come when our lord is no longer with us on earth physically. Fasting is a solemn act..
Matthew 3:16-17
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
We need to be water baptise as part of a commandment from our lord Jesus Christ
Water Baptism is an act where God the father affirm jesus to the world.
Our lord fasted 40 days and night... He find an alignment to God's will
# Fasting is a natural response to a serious, or grievous, sacred moment to seek God's Will to find alignment
Theology shapes behaviour, whether good or bad
What is the correct understanding of fasting as seen in the scriptures?
Example 1:
Corporate sacred moment
Leviticus 16:29-31
“This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves[a] and not do any work—whether native-born or a foreigner residing among you— 30 because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins. 31 It is a day of sabbath rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance.
Priest offered animal sacrifices to have sins atone for, from any form of pleasure, a response to a yearly sacred moment of coming before a holy God to have a fresh start with Him. The fasting prepared them to come before YW in humility, it is a physical act of humility before God.
# Fasting was a physical act that showed the heart's response - a heart of repentance and humility before God
@@ The Process of Fasting:
Step 1: A sacred moment had occurred
Step 2: The sacred moment triggered a fast to seek God for alignment with His heart
Christ had become the perfect sacrifice in today's context, bring my physical and spiritual body to align with God
God, as I enter into this new year, What is the will and purpose? Myself, my family and my career?
Example 2:
Corporate deliverance (purim)
Esther 4:15-16
Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
Step 3: The alignment with God's heart led to a divine intervention
Step 3 happens when God choose to do so
We must never think we can control God's hands through our fasting. We're seeking alignment with God's heart and mind through fasting
Example 3:
Personal sacred moment
Acts 9:4-9
He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
This describes Saul transformation encounter with jesus from persecutor to a builder. It was through blindness that Saul encounter jesus
In Saul case, Step 1-3 occurred
Allows God to download His heart into our heart
Example 4:
Personal request
2 Samuel 12:15-23
After Nathan had gone home, the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. 16 David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth[a] on the ground. 17 The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them. 18 On the seventh day the child died. David’s attendants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, “While the child was still living, he wouldn’t listen to us when we spoke to him. How can we now tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate.” 19 David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead. “Is the child dead?” he asked. “Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.” 20 Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate. 21 His attendants asked him, “Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!” 22 He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ 23 But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”
In David's case, only Step 1&2 occurred
Even though his fasting and prayers not answered, David washed up and ate and continued life as normal. David understood the purpose of fasting.
# Fasting is a natural response to a sacred moment that leads us to seek God's heart and mind and find alignment with His Will
Fasting is not about what we want from God. It is about what God wants for us. We must seek God's will.
What does the bible says about.....
Big idea:
We pray and we fast in response to something sacred that God is doing
What is fasting?
Luke 5:33-35
They said to him, “John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.” 34 Jesus answered, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? 35 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.”
The pious Jews fasted at least twice a week
The lord replied using a wedding illustration. Aka The lord coming to earth is a joyous occasion, we don't fast.
However, a day will come when our lord is no longer with us on earth physically. Fasting is a solemn act..
Matthew 3:16-17
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
We need to be water baptise as part of a commandment from our lord Jesus Christ
Water Baptism is an act where God the father affirm jesus to the world.
Our lord fasted 40 days and night... He find an alignment to God's will
# Fasting is a natural response to a serious, or grievous, sacred moment to seek God's Will to find alignment
Theology shapes behaviour, whether good or bad
What is the correct understanding of fasting as seen in the scriptures?
Example 1:
Corporate sacred moment
Leviticus 16:29-31
“This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves[a] and not do any work—whether native-born or a foreigner residing among you— 30 because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins. 31 It is a day of sabbath rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance.
Priest offered animal sacrifices to have sins atone for, from any form of pleasure, a response to a yearly sacred moment of coming before a holy God to have a fresh start with Him. The fasting prepared them to come before YW in humility, it is a physical act of humility before God.
# Fasting was a physical act that showed the heart's response - a heart of repentance and humility before God
@@ The Process of Fasting:
Step 1: A sacred moment had occurred
Step 2: The sacred moment triggered a fast to seek God for alignment with His heart
Christ had become the perfect sacrifice in today's context, bring my physical and spiritual body to align with God
God, as I enter into this new year, What is the will and purpose? Myself, my family and my career?
Example 2:
Corporate deliverance (purim)
Esther 4:15-16
Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
Step 3: The alignment with God's heart led to a divine intervention
Step 3 happens when God choose to do so
We must never think we can control God's hands through our fasting. We're seeking alignment with God's heart and mind through fasting
Example 3:
Personal sacred moment
Acts 9:4-9
He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
This describes Saul transformation encounter with jesus from persecutor to a builder. It was through blindness that Saul encounter jesus
In Saul case, Step 1-3 occurred
Allows God to download His heart into our heart
Example 4:
Personal request
2 Samuel 12:15-23
After Nathan had gone home, the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. 16 David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth[a] on the ground. 17 The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them. 18 On the seventh day the child died. David’s attendants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, “While the child was still living, he wouldn’t listen to us when we spoke to him. How can we now tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate.” 19 David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead. “Is the child dead?” he asked. “Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.” 20 Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate. 21 His attendants asked him, “Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!” 22 He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ 23 But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”
In David's case, only Step 1&2 occurred
Even though his fasting and prayers not answered, David washed up and ate and continued life as normal. David understood the purpose of fasting.
# Fasting is a natural response to a sacred moment that leads us to seek God's heart and mind and find alignment with His Will
Fasting is not about what we want from God. It is about what God wants for us. We must seek God's will.
Saturday, January 4, 2025
Who's glad to be alive in 2025?
by pastor Wilson Teo
Big idea:
God watches over those who love Him as Saviour King
Q1: Who is the God of your life?
Q2: How long do you want to live?
Q3: How do you live your life?
Q4: How certain are you to experience divine providence in 2025?
Q1: Who is the God of your life?
Psalms 90:1-2
Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. 2 Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Do you have Christ in your life?
Is he your saviour King?
It's not just to forgive our sins and gave us eternal life. He also came to reign as our only King in all that you do, is He the king in your career, in your marketplace, in your family, in your marriage, in your personal life?
Christ does not just want us to have Him as Saviour, but He wants to be the Saviour King in our lives!
God is not a spiritual game that we play every week, he wants a daily relationship with us
Q2: How long do you want to live?
> Psalms 90:3-10
You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.” 4 A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. 5 Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death— they are like the new grass of the morning: 6 In the morning it springs up new, but by evening it is dry and withered. 7 We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. 8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. 9 All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. 10 Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
Moses is describing The depravity of human life as compared to God
Have you lived a meaningful and fulfilled life in Christ?
of what God wants for you to live?
Are you ready to meet our lord if you're taken home tonight?
Q3: How do you live your life?
Psalms 90:7-12
We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. 8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. 9 All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. 10 Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. 11 If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due. 12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
v12
God, teach me to number my days that I may get a heart of wisdom.
Similar events to happen until we have converted the learning points ...
Age is not an indicator of wisdom, because some did not gain them ..
Godly wisdom begins with a fear of God and continues with a posture of learning from the past to gain wisdom for the future
So that We can learn and gain wisdom from there. Allow his to probe deeper and process learning points that I may grow a heart of wisdom in my life
From experiences to wisdom
Q4: How certain are you to experience divine providence in 2025?
Psalms 90:13-17
Relent, Lord! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants. 14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. 16 May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. 17 May the favor[a] of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.
Father may your presence go before us and establish the works of our hands..
Bani:
Brittle
Anxious
Non linear
Incomprehensible world
Psalms 121:3-4
He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; 4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
Despite of difficulties and challenges in my life, God says: Nothing is wasted with Him, Nothing is wasted with the lord
Big idea:
God watches over those who love Him as Saviour King
Q1: Who is the God of your life?
Q2: How long do you want to live?
Q3: How do you live your life?
Q4: How certain are you to experience divine providence in 2025?
Q1: Who is the God of your life?
Psalms 90:1-2
Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. 2 Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Do you have Christ in your life?
Is he your saviour King?
It's not just to forgive our sins and gave us eternal life. He also came to reign as our only King in all that you do, is He the king in your career, in your marketplace, in your family, in your marriage, in your personal life?
Christ does not just want us to have Him as Saviour, but He wants to be the Saviour King in our lives!
God is not a spiritual game that we play every week, he wants a daily relationship with us
Q2: How long do you want to live?
> Psalms 90:3-10
You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.” 4 A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. 5 Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death— they are like the new grass of the morning: 6 In the morning it springs up new, but by evening it is dry and withered. 7 We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. 8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. 9 All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. 10 Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
Moses is describing The depravity of human life as compared to God
Have you lived a meaningful and fulfilled life in Christ?
of what God wants for you to live?
Are you ready to meet our lord if you're taken home tonight?
Q3: How do you live your life?
Psalms 90:7-12
We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. 8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. 9 All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. 10 Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. 11 If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due. 12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
v12
God, teach me to number my days that I may get a heart of wisdom.
Similar events to happen until we have converted the learning points ...
Age is not an indicator of wisdom, because some did not gain them ..
Godly wisdom begins with a fear of God and continues with a posture of learning from the past to gain wisdom for the future
So that We can learn and gain wisdom from there. Allow his to probe deeper and process learning points that I may grow a heart of wisdom in my life
From experiences to wisdom
Q4: How certain are you to experience divine providence in 2025?
Psalms 90:13-17
Relent, Lord! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants. 14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. 16 May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. 17 May the favor[a] of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.
Father may your presence go before us and establish the works of our hands..
Bani:
Brittle
Anxious
Non linear
Incomprehensible world
Psalms 121:3-4
He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; 4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
Despite of difficulties and challenges in my life, God says: Nothing is wasted with Him, Nothing is wasted with the lord
Christmas
by Pastor John Lin
During Joseph time, For the past 400 years there was silence. No word from God, no prophecy. But prior to that God would raise different prophets to prophecy about the coming of a Messiah, the chosen one, the anointed one, this man would be the saviour King who would rule the world bringing salvation and healing.
What is God trying to save us from? What is sin to begin with?
God, right at the beginning, He created humankind in his image to represent him on this earth. We were made to flourish in relationship with God and with one another and to rule the earth with him. But our world and our humanity became broken in this world because of sin. Sin is simply choosing our own way, our own will over God's plan and design for us. And this sin separated us from our created God and it fragmented our relationship with one another but God sent His son Jesus Christ to come as flesh as a baby to be born and later to die for the sins of the world. Three days later he would rise again, resurrect, having the power to overcome sin and death so that the world can experience what true freedom, hope and love is in Him. We get to experience that with God.
# Sometimes the very disappointment we face could actually be a divine appointment from God
Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in the mind of a man but it's the purpose of God that will stand.
# Sometimes the best decisions in life are also the hardest decisions
During Joseph time, For the past 400 years there was silence. No word from God, no prophecy. But prior to that God would raise different prophets to prophecy about the coming of a Messiah, the chosen one, the anointed one, this man would be the saviour King who would rule the world bringing salvation and healing.
What is God trying to save us from? What is sin to begin with?
God, right at the beginning, He created humankind in his image to represent him on this earth. We were made to flourish in relationship with God and with one another and to rule the earth with him. But our world and our humanity became broken in this world because of sin. Sin is simply choosing our own way, our own will over God's plan and design for us. And this sin separated us from our created God and it fragmented our relationship with one another but God sent His son Jesus Christ to come as flesh as a baby to be born and later to die for the sins of the world. Three days later he would rise again, resurrect, having the power to overcome sin and death so that the world can experience what true freedom, hope and love is in Him. We get to experience that with God.
# Sometimes the very disappointment we face could actually be a divine appointment from God
Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in the mind of a man but it's the purpose of God that will stand.
# Sometimes the best decisions in life are also the hardest decisions
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