Every evening, the kids in my neighborhood comprising various races, played together in harmony. These kids are the best witness to what Merdeka is all about. These kids don't understand what racialism is all about. They have no discernment of color, language or religion among themselves. They are each best friends. They may fight, argue and quarrel and the occasional declaration of "I DON'T FRIEND YOU" statement, but they make up before you even realized they had fought.
Could the secret be simply because politics does not exist in their lifestyle.
They don't have politicians sowing negative and sensitive sentiment into their lives. Politicians are the culprits of all forms of conflicts. Children are innocent, pure and truthful. Their minds are not tainted with any influence of evil. Their friendship are not pretentious, deceitful or dishonest. They don't go to bed planning how to destroy their friends the next day. Children go to bed with pleasant thoughts hoping to meet their friends the following day, enjoying each other's company.
Politics exist because many people do not have a mind of their own to manage their own life. They needed someone who is known as a politician to elucidate to them what is right and wrong, who are our friends and who are our enemies, what we should do and what not! These people surrendered their minds as playgrounds to politicians. The greatest irony is every few years we elect these politicians or more correctly term as mongoloids, the retards of politics to act for us and then we stressed ourselves out complaining about them and the cycle repeats itself.
On a similar note, children too will become cautious of the friends they socialize if parents cautioned them about who their friends are. Parents play the role of a mentally corrupted politician in the household when their way of judging their children's friends becomes extreme and unjustified. In the adult world, politicians were elected to represent the voice of the underprivileged people, fighting for their rights and needs and not abused the responsibility entrusted to them.
Parents and the government are bestowed with a responsibility to care for the welfare of their children and people. The children and the people look to them as angels to guard and protect them, not as devils to maltreat them.
Simply put, the world is definitely more peaceful and a better place to live in if politics doesn't exist. But the irony is we created these politicians because we are so apprehensive in confronting the many issues of our daily lives. We elect someone to represent us and we condemned them for abusing and disrupting our rights of life!
Merdeka to me means freedom from politics; being set free from the bondage of deception that another person could manage a life that we are ignorant of! Maybe we should start emulating the lifestyle of the innocent child again to fully experience what Merdeka is all about.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Death Is The beginning Of Life
If you desire to live, you must first desire to die for unless you die, you will never live!
Death is, actually the beginning of living.
Don't die the death you don't deserved, but die the death that you deserved to live!
Die with Christ to live the new life with him through his resurrection.
Die to the present earthly life to live in the coming heavenly life!
May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, The Almighty Creator, and Father of our Saviour Lord Jesus Christ bless you richly with His Holy Spirit.
Death is, actually the beginning of living.
Don't die the death you don't deserved, but die the death that you deserved to live!
Die with Christ to live the new life with him through his resurrection.
Die to the present earthly life to live in the coming heavenly life!
May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, The Almighty Creator, and Father of our Saviour Lord Jesus Christ bless you richly with His Holy Spirit.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
The Humble Servant
What are you?
Are you someone who goes around washing feet or are you someone who prefer your feet to be washed?
Are you a leader who is serving humbly as a servant or are you a servant who is serving arrogantly like a leader?
What exactly are you? Check your heart!
For correction, please consult Jesus Christ.
Are you someone who goes around washing feet or are you someone who prefer your feet to be washed?
Are you a leader who is serving humbly as a servant or are you a servant who is serving arrogantly like a leader?
What exactly are you? Check your heart!
For correction, please consult Jesus Christ.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
A Daily Walk With Christ
A Personal Letter To CK
As promised, I wished to document my gratitude and appreciation for your trust in me, the decision to open a Blue Mountain Arts gifts and cards store.
Over the last few months together, I hope you have learned a lot about living life the 'abnormal' way. I hope you are learning how to live your life by "standing out of line!" I live my personal life, not depending on my own effort, and wisdom, but purely dependent on God's Spirit to guide, teach and help me.
I jest about accolades to me when your store register overwhelming sales figures, but as you should know by now, God has burden me with a heart for the poor. While I pray each day that your store will enjoy an abundance of God's blessings, allow me to also ask God to bequeath you with the same burden of sharing your wealth and success with the poor. These are truly God's children. God placed them amidst us to teach and help us to love.
It is when we learned to share, then God will fill our hearts with His peace and joy. It pleases God when we fashioned our lifestyle to share what He has given us. The person who gives actually gave out of God's providence.
I want you not only to learn to give ten cents away, but to really have joy in sharing the ten cents. Just sharing is not complete until you've learned to share it with joy and love in humility.
I trust that each day with me, you have learn, heard and understood the messages that Jesus spoke to you through my mouth.
Human efforts accomplishes nothing, rather place your hopes and trust in the Almighty God and His son, Jesus.
When you do everything with love, then you know that God in his son, Jesus lives in your heart to provide you the ability. It's tough when we rely on our own strength and wisdom; Thank God who has provided us the answer in His son-Jesus!
Peace:
The Chairman
As promised, I wished to document my gratitude and appreciation for your trust in me, the decision to open a Blue Mountain Arts gifts and cards store.
Over the last few months together, I hope you have learned a lot about living life the 'abnormal' way. I hope you are learning how to live your life by "standing out of line!" I live my personal life, not depending on my own effort, and wisdom, but purely dependent on God's Spirit to guide, teach and help me.
I jest about accolades to me when your store register overwhelming sales figures, but as you should know by now, God has burden me with a heart for the poor. While I pray each day that your store will enjoy an abundance of God's blessings, allow me to also ask God to bequeath you with the same burden of sharing your wealth and success with the poor. These are truly God's children. God placed them amidst us to teach and help us to love.
It is when we learned to share, then God will fill our hearts with His peace and joy. It pleases God when we fashioned our lifestyle to share what He has given us. The person who gives actually gave out of God's providence.
I want you not only to learn to give ten cents away, but to really have joy in sharing the ten cents. Just sharing is not complete until you've learned to share it with joy and love in humility.
I trust that each day with me, you have learn, heard and understood the messages that Jesus spoke to you through my mouth.
Human efforts accomplishes nothing, rather place your hopes and trust in the Almighty God and His son, Jesus.
When you do everything with love, then you know that God in his son, Jesus lives in your heart to provide you the ability. It's tough when we rely on our own strength and wisdom; Thank God who has provided us the answer in His son-Jesus!
Peace:
The Chairman
Saturday, August 18, 2007
The Priceless Gift- Free!
I always wonder and is curious what other Christians ask for in their prayers?
When I pose my curiosity to another Christian brother, he revealed to me that he normally asked for blessings for his family, blessings in his work and, blessings of good health and prosperity for family and himself.
"What about you, Mao?" he asked me back with the same curiosity.
"Well! My request is rather simple. I ask God for His blessings of the Holy Spirit to guide, counsel, teach, comfort and guard my earthly life so that in everything I do, I'll do it together with my Saviour Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit to please God, my heavenly Father, bringing Him honor and glory," I replied.
"How can I be obedient and live my life pleasing God, my heavenly Father and Saviour of my soul if God had not gifted me with His Spirit?," I continued, "I am nothing but dust without the gifting of the Holy Spirit. I will never be able to fathom God's amazing truth."
The Holy Spirit is God's priceless gift representing His grace, mercy and unfailing love through His son, Jesus Christ, to us, who acknowledge that He is the Redeemer. The Holy Spirit identify us as His sons. And because we are His sons, we can ask the Father for anything that will bring Him honor and glory.
So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him. Luke 11:13
Perhaps you may want to ask wisely the next time you pray.
When I pose my curiosity to another Christian brother, he revealed to me that he normally asked for blessings for his family, blessings in his work and, blessings of good health and prosperity for family and himself.
"What about you, Mao?" he asked me back with the same curiosity.
"Well! My request is rather simple. I ask God for His blessings of the Holy Spirit to guide, counsel, teach, comfort and guard my earthly life so that in everything I do, I'll do it together with my Saviour Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit to please God, my heavenly Father, bringing Him honor and glory," I replied.
"How can I be obedient and live my life pleasing God, my heavenly Father and Saviour of my soul if God had not gifted me with His Spirit?," I continued, "I am nothing but dust without the gifting of the Holy Spirit. I will never be able to fathom God's amazing truth."
The Holy Spirit is God's priceless gift representing His grace, mercy and unfailing love through His son, Jesus Christ, to us, who acknowledge that He is the Redeemer. The Holy Spirit identify us as His sons. And because we are His sons, we can ask the Father for anything that will bring Him honor and glory.
So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him. Luke 11:13
Perhaps you may want to ask wisely the next time you pray.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Jesus Christ Decides
Lately, there has been a lot of display of knowledge, with praises and condemnation to judgement from the various people over the emergence of a gay pastor in the midst of the Christian community in Malaysia. What's the hue and cry all about?
To all you people out there, whether you are a Christian or not...if your son or daughter or a loved one close to your heart is gay, what will you do? How do you seek help?
Has anyone who has been sharing their know all about rights and wrongs of what they know in the Bible attended the services by this gay pastor recently?
Did this gay pastor promotes homosexuality in his preaching? Or is he trying to bring gays to the knowledge of Jesus Christ? Was he using the Lord's name in vain to promote homosexuality or was he given an agenda by God to establish His son, Jesus, to the gay community?
Paul was hunting down Christians, persecuting them, and executing them before Jesus called him to serve Him. Does that mean Paul, who was an enemy of God, was disapproved of God? One of God's biggest commandment was not to kill, so, why was Paul, an accomplice in the crime, chosen to serve God?
I have heard a lot of stories by Christians themselves judging and condemning other Christian denominations, discerning who are wrong and who are right. It's as though these people knows the hearts of man! Perhaps these people have the ability to examine the hearts of man. Perhaps they believed they are gods!
Honestly, I thought a true Christian is someone who is obedient to the teachings of Jesus Christ and live his life obedient to the Holy Spirit. I thought the issue of judgement belongs exclusively to Jesus.
If Paul, who was a "killer" of God's chosen people was chosen to serve, why not a gay?
In 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And He chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
So do you know how God works? Who He chose to bring Him honor and glory?
God is after a worker who is after His heart and will to serve Him. God wanted a worker who will yield to Him, totally dependant of His strength and wisdom to serve Him. God is after a person who will labor obediently according to His instructions and not just someone who talks a lot.
Who can work for God without God helping them by the Holy Spirit? Well, if God, Himself is helping these workers by His Spirit, then who are we to comment on God's servants?
So, if God has chosen a person to do His will, who are we to judge God's chosen?
How about you started questioning whether your pastor is an approved worker or is he an illegal worker of God? Is he chosen or is he on his own?
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for his sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don't belong to him and he isn't their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hands runs away because he's working only for the money and doesn't really care about the sheep. John 10:11-13
Before you judge what's outside your church, how about starting from inside your church?
You might be in for a surprise!
To all you people out there, whether you are a Christian or not...if your son or daughter or a loved one close to your heart is gay, what will you do? How do you seek help?
Has anyone who has been sharing their know all about rights and wrongs of what they know in the Bible attended the services by this gay pastor recently?
Did this gay pastor promotes homosexuality in his preaching? Or is he trying to bring gays to the knowledge of Jesus Christ? Was he using the Lord's name in vain to promote homosexuality or was he given an agenda by God to establish His son, Jesus, to the gay community?
Paul was hunting down Christians, persecuting them, and executing them before Jesus called him to serve Him. Does that mean Paul, who was an enemy of God, was disapproved of God? One of God's biggest commandment was not to kill, so, why was Paul, an accomplice in the crime, chosen to serve God?
I have heard a lot of stories by Christians themselves judging and condemning other Christian denominations, discerning who are wrong and who are right. It's as though these people knows the hearts of man! Perhaps these people have the ability to examine the hearts of man. Perhaps they believed they are gods!
Honestly, I thought a true Christian is someone who is obedient to the teachings of Jesus Christ and live his life obedient to the Holy Spirit. I thought the issue of judgement belongs exclusively to Jesus.
If Paul, who was a "killer" of God's chosen people was chosen to serve, why not a gay?
In 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And He chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
So do you know how God works? Who He chose to bring Him honor and glory?
God is after a worker who is after His heart and will to serve Him. God wanted a worker who will yield to Him, totally dependant of His strength and wisdom to serve Him. God is after a person who will labor obediently according to His instructions and not just someone who talks a lot.
Who can work for God without God helping them by the Holy Spirit? Well, if God, Himself is helping these workers by His Spirit, then who are we to comment on God's servants?
So, if God has chosen a person to do His will, who are we to judge God's chosen?
How about you started questioning whether your pastor is an approved worker or is he an illegal worker of God? Is he chosen or is he on his own?
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for his sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don't belong to him and he isn't their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hands runs away because he's working only for the money and doesn't really care about the sheep. John 10:11-13
Before you judge what's outside your church, how about starting from inside your church?
You might be in for a surprise!
Jesus Performed Baptism
God's truth is in the Bible. When you don't spend time in fellowship with Jesus Christ through the Bible, you can be falsely led. A lot of people can write and speak eloquently, with deception! Your relationship must be built on the Rock, which is Jesus Christ. How can anyone have the Truth when they chose to live apart from Christ, (when you don't spend time reading the Bible)? Don't chose to believe everything people say or write, whether they claimed to speak or write with the help of the Holy Spirit. Your relationship with Jesus Christ must be bonded by your endless pursuit for the Truth through constant prayers and reading of the Bible.
A fortnight ago, I wrote and question whether Jesus baptized his disciples, incorporating quotes from the Bible to support my discussion about baptism. I waited for a week for anyone to write in questioning my postings. (Maybe everyone is busy with their worldly life.)
Here are the verses in John 3:22-26 mentioning that Jesus baptized the believers. Then Jesus and his disciples left Jerusalem and went into the Judean countryside. Jesus spent some time with them there, baptizing people. At this time John the Baptist was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there; and people kept coming to him for baptism. (This was before John was thrown into prison.) A debate broke out between John's disciples and some Jews over ceremonial cleansing. So John's disciples came to him and said, "Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us."
I wished to mention that there was no intent to cause harm or to plant deception of any sort, neither there was intent to cause you to stray from the Truth in my last two posting. I merely wanted you to know the dangers of trusting in man. Jesus warned us umpteen times about false teachers and false prophets that lives in our midst to bring destruction to our beliefs.
It is better to trust the LORD than to put confidence in people. (Psalm 118:8) Man, whoever they claimed to be can be use by the evil one but not the Holy Spirit whom God has gifted you when you acknowledged that Jesus Christ is the son of God, the Redeemer and Saviour. I have written these things to you because you need to be aware of those who want to lead you astray. But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don't need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you all things, and what he teaches is true – it is not a lie. So continue in what he has taught you, and continue to live in Christ. 1 John 2:26-27
The other time when Jesus sort of baptized the disciples was when our Saviour washes the feet of his disciples in John 13. Here is a part of what Jesus told Peter when he tried to refrain the Lord from washing his feet. Unless I washed you, you won't belong to me. (John 13:8b)
The following is what I believe about true baptism. True baptism is simply a declaration to commit from the heart to follow Jesus Christ and to stay obedient to His teachings.
Baptism is simply a pledge to repent wholeheartedly from wrong doings committed in the past, severing your relationship with the world and initiating a new relationship trusting in Jesus Christ, the son of God fully guided by the Holy Spirit.
Baptism is simply surrendering your old sinful life because of your guilt when God's Truth that was revealed to you by the Holy Spirit, convicted you after hearing the Good News of God's son, Jesus Christ our Saviour.
No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not a cutting of the body but a change of heart produced by God's Spirit. Whoever has that kind of change seeks praise from God, not from people. Romans 2:29
For those who wished to know the difference between baptism and circumcision: Baptism and circumcision are simply rituals commemorating your new faith because God has open your hearts to the Gospel of his son, acknowledging that Jesus Christ is the son of the living God, the Saviour who came to die on the cross for our sins, resurrected on the third day to provide a hope for all believers that someday Christ will return soon to bring us all safely home to the Father.
A true Christian is someone who has fully repented in the heart and turned to Jesus, trusting in the Saviour to help him live the new life by the power of the gifting of God's Spirit, the Holy Spirit. Matthew 4:17 is Jesus first utterance as He began his ministry doing the Father's will. From then on Jesus began to preach, "Repent from your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of God is near."
True Christians are those who loved each other truthfully and those who exhibit Jesus love in their hearts in all parts of their way of living powered by the Holy Spirit. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. John 13:35 True Christians are those who are fully guided by the Holy Spirit. The children of God are those who are guided by the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:14
May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 2 Corinthians 1:2
A fortnight ago, I wrote and question whether Jesus baptized his disciples, incorporating quotes from the Bible to support my discussion about baptism. I waited for a week for anyone to write in questioning my postings. (Maybe everyone is busy with their worldly life.)
Here are the verses in John 3:22-26 mentioning that Jesus baptized the believers. Then Jesus and his disciples left Jerusalem and went into the Judean countryside. Jesus spent some time with them there, baptizing people. At this time John the Baptist was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there; and people kept coming to him for baptism. (This was before John was thrown into prison.) A debate broke out between John's disciples and some Jews over ceremonial cleansing. So John's disciples came to him and said, "Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us."
I wished to mention that there was no intent to cause harm or to plant deception of any sort, neither there was intent to cause you to stray from the Truth in my last two posting. I merely wanted you to know the dangers of trusting in man. Jesus warned us umpteen times about false teachers and false prophets that lives in our midst to bring destruction to our beliefs.
It is better to trust the LORD than to put confidence in people. (Psalm 118:8) Man, whoever they claimed to be can be use by the evil one but not the Holy Spirit whom God has gifted you when you acknowledged that Jesus Christ is the son of God, the Redeemer and Saviour. I have written these things to you because you need to be aware of those who want to lead you astray. But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don't need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you all things, and what he teaches is true – it is not a lie. So continue in what he has taught you, and continue to live in Christ. 1 John 2:26-27
The other time when Jesus sort of baptized the disciples was when our Saviour washes the feet of his disciples in John 13. Here is a part of what Jesus told Peter when he tried to refrain the Lord from washing his feet. Unless I washed you, you won't belong to me. (John 13:8b)
The following is what I believe about true baptism. True baptism is simply a declaration to commit from the heart to follow Jesus Christ and to stay obedient to His teachings.
Baptism is simply a pledge to repent wholeheartedly from wrong doings committed in the past, severing your relationship with the world and initiating a new relationship trusting in Jesus Christ, the son of God fully guided by the Holy Spirit.
Baptism is simply surrendering your old sinful life because of your guilt when God's Truth that was revealed to you by the Holy Spirit, convicted you after hearing the Good News of God's son, Jesus Christ our Saviour.
No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not a cutting of the body but a change of heart produced by God's Spirit. Whoever has that kind of change seeks praise from God, not from people. Romans 2:29
For those who wished to know the difference between baptism and circumcision: Baptism and circumcision are simply rituals commemorating your new faith because God has open your hearts to the Gospel of his son, acknowledging that Jesus Christ is the son of the living God, the Saviour who came to die on the cross for our sins, resurrected on the third day to provide a hope for all believers that someday Christ will return soon to bring us all safely home to the Father.
A true Christian is someone who has fully repented in the heart and turned to Jesus, trusting in the Saviour to help him live the new life by the power of the gifting of God's Spirit, the Holy Spirit. Matthew 4:17 is Jesus first utterance as He began his ministry doing the Father's will. From then on Jesus began to preach, "Repent from your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of God is near."
True Christians are those who loved each other truthfully and those who exhibit Jesus love in their hearts in all parts of their way of living powered by the Holy Spirit. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. John 13:35 True Christians are those who are fully guided by the Holy Spirit. The children of God are those who are guided by the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:14
May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 2 Corinthians 1:2
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Jesus Baptized The Disciples
Did Jesus Christ baptized His disciples?
Jesus did baptized his disciples....
Keep a date here to find out the answer.
May the Holy Spirit guard and bless you.
Jesus did baptized his disciples....
Keep a date here to find out the answer.
May the Holy Spirit guard and bless you.
Friday, August 03, 2007
Baptism Or Circumcision?
Baptism or circumcision?
Honestly, what answer was you expecting?
The answer is we don't need to accomplish anything anymore because all had been done at the cross by our Saviour Jesus who bought our freedom when we decided to place our faith and trust in him for our salvation.
Salvation is in Jesus Christ, who alone is our Lord and Saviour.
We are hopeless people when Christ came to buy us our freedom. We were all heading for destruction when God, the Father have mercy on us.
There's is nothing required of us anymore to be saved other than believing and trusting in the Son of God, Jesus Christ our Saviour. All that is require of us is to live our earthly lives obedient to the power of the Holy Spirit gifted to us by the Father, when we place our hopes in His only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.
All that is require of us is to live our earthly life honoring God, our heavenly Father in Christ Jesus our Saviour by bringing glory to Him alone who loves us.
The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:17
Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. For "Who can know the Lord's thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?" But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:15-16
Remember the words of God in Romans 8:14?
Those who live by the Spirit of God are children of God.
God guard his own children from evil by his own Spirit. God who redeemed us by the precious blood of his son, our Saviour Jesus protect us with His Spirit because He is concern about our safety from false teachers and false prophets who will rise unceasingly to bring harm to His children.
I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don't need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true- it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.
1 John 2:26-27
If you, who are reading this now believes that you are truly a child of the living God, because you have placed your hope and trust in Jesus Christ, whom God, the Father sent to save you from destruction, YOU HAVE BEEN SET FREE FROM ALL THE RULES OF MAN, because God's Spirit lives in you. The Holy Spirit will guide, teach, counsel, comfort, and guard your earthly life for the honor and glory of God, the Father who alone have mercy, grace in His unfailing love for us.
May the Holy Spirit be with you until the day our Saviour returned to bring us all, who belong to Him, safely home to our heavenly Father's loving arms.
Honestly, what answer was you expecting?
The answer is we don't need to accomplish anything anymore because all had been done at the cross by our Saviour Jesus who bought our freedom when we decided to place our faith and trust in him for our salvation.
Salvation is in Jesus Christ, who alone is our Lord and Saviour.
We are hopeless people when Christ came to buy us our freedom. We were all heading for destruction when God, the Father have mercy on us.
There's is nothing required of us anymore to be saved other than believing and trusting in the Son of God, Jesus Christ our Saviour. All that is require of us is to live our earthly lives obedient to the power of the Holy Spirit gifted to us by the Father, when we place our hopes in His only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.
All that is require of us is to live our earthly life honoring God, our heavenly Father in Christ Jesus our Saviour by bringing glory to Him alone who loves us.
The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:17
Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. For "Who can know the Lord's thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?" But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:15-16
Remember the words of God in Romans 8:14?
Those who live by the Spirit of God are children of God.
God guard his own children from evil by his own Spirit. God who redeemed us by the precious blood of his son, our Saviour Jesus protect us with His Spirit because He is concern about our safety from false teachers and false prophets who will rise unceasingly to bring harm to His children.
I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don't need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true- it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.
1 John 2:26-27
If you, who are reading this now believes that you are truly a child of the living God, because you have placed your hope and trust in Jesus Christ, whom God, the Father sent to save you from destruction, YOU HAVE BEEN SET FREE FROM ALL THE RULES OF MAN, because God's Spirit lives in you. The Holy Spirit will guide, teach, counsel, comfort, and guard your earthly life for the honor and glory of God, the Father who alone have mercy, grace in His unfailing love for us.
May the Holy Spirit be with you until the day our Saviour returned to bring us all, who belong to Him, safely home to our heavenly Father's loving arms.
Baptism: Water Or Spirit?
"Christians" must read the Bible. Reading the Bible construe to fellowships with God, our heavenly Father and Jesus Christ our Savior. Frequent fellowships with God and Son forged a relationship resulting in the Holy Spirit revealing God's Truth to us. Truth is vital because when you don't have the Truth, you cannot discern lies and deceptions within you.
Many of us perceived "The pastors, priest or the church leaders" who have authority over us could never be wrong in justifying what they do because these are "men of God" or "men appointed by God."
The perception is if the entire world is practicing the same, how can "we" be wrong?
Don't forget that 2000 years ago, it was Jesus versus the world at large who was against the son of God! The entire world, including God's chosen tribe, the Jews, who affirmed that God is their true Father is against Jesus. Still Jesus spoke against them. "No, you are imitating your real father, the devil. They replied. "We aren't illegitimate children! God himself is our true father." John 8:41
Is our baptism correctly performed? Were you correctly baptized? And I wished to add by asking whether water baptism is necessary?
While Jesus himself undergo water baptism, Scripture did not record any of Jesus' disciples undergo water baptism- why?
I will cite the relevant verses from the Bible and leave you to decide for yourself by asking the Holy Spirit to reveal you the truth! The truth about understanding baptism and it's relevance.
I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am- so much greater that I'm not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Matthew 3:11 (These are John the Baptist own words regarding our Saviour Jesus. John, who was chosen by God, the Father, defy himself as being unworthy even to be a slave of Jesus)
Once when Jesus was eating with his disciples, he commanded them, "Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gifting of the Holy Spirit he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." Acts 1:4-5
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere- in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 (Without the Holy Spirit, no one can do the works of God, the Father)
And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. Acts 10:38 (After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. Matthew 3:16) Even Jesus, the son of God was equipped by God's Spirit and with power before setting out to do the Father's will.
While Apollos was in Cornth, Paul traveled through the interior region until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. "Did you received the Holy Spirit when you believed?" he asked them. "No" they replied, "we haven't even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." "Then what baptism did you experienced?" he asked. And they replied, "The baptism of John the Baptist." Paul said, "John's baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus."
As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. Acts 19:1-6
The above verses articulated Jesus' message on the significance of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God's only way to protect His chosen children, redeemed by the precious blood of his son Jesus, from evil. Jesus, himself spoke at length about the Holy Spirit and his role in our earthly lives in John 16.
Why the baptism of the Holy Spirit supersede water? I mentioned earlier that I personally believe that the gifting of the Holy Spirit is God's personal reason to guard and protect us, His chosen children against deception from the false teachers. Our heavenly Father in Christ Jesus our Saviour knows that His children are vulnerable to fall and stray away from His grace without His protection.
Our heavenly Father through our Saviour Jesus made a couple of statements in the Bible about the importance of his children worshipping Him in Spirit, hence the baptism in the Holy Spirit is important.
John 4:23-24, But the time is coming- indeed it's here now- when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.
Romans 8:14, 16 For all who are obedient to the Spirit of God are children of God. For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children.
Galatians 3:2 Let me ask you this question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Holy Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Jesus.
Ephesians 4:30 And do not bring sorrow to God's Spirit by the way you live. Remember, God has identified you as his own child by his Spirit, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the last day. Take note that without the Holy Spirit in us, God will not be able to identify those who belongs to Him.
1 John 4:13 And God has given us his Spirit as evidence that we live in Him and He lives in us.
Above are, but only a handful of God's messages in the Bible about how important His Spirit's role is in our earthly lives. Living obedient to the Holy Spirit is living in God's grace! Let's be expounded by Galatians 2:20, I was put to death on the cross with Christ, and I do not live anymore-it is Christ who lives in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith, trusting in the Son of God who alone loved me and gave himself to save me. It's important that you understand we no longer live under law rather, we now live by God's grace in Christ Jesus, our Saviour.
God's Word above simply explain that we cannot be saved unless we put our trust in his son, our Saviour Jesus to live out our earthly lives by obeying the Holy Spirit gifted to us when we confessed and believed in our hearts that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour.
Baptism simply means surrendering totally to our sinful life or dying to our sinful ways and commit to live a new life obedient to God's Spirit through Jesus who will guide, teach, counsel us to live to please God, the Father and Jesus Christ our Saviour. Our sins cannot be washed away by water but by total repentance from a contrite heart who trust in Jesus to help us.
Our Saviour Jesus resurrection has provided us victory over death. That what Jesus meant when He says in John 14:6, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life!
Baptism is simply being truly sorry for all the wrongs we committed against God, the Father and sincerely asked to be forgiven by a repentant heart to live a new life believing and trusting Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.
And God, through Jesus Christ his son, our Saviour will gift the Holy Spirit to those who are truthfully repentant of their sins and seek a new relationship with Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Lastly, please note that the Holy Spirit is only gifted to those after they have acknowledged that Jesus Christ is the son of the living God, Creator of heaven and earth and everything in it, and that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected on the third day to provide us victory over death and by trusting in Jesus that someday through this hope, our Saviour will return to bring us, His chosen children home safely to the loving arms of the Father.
True baptism is genuine repentance of your sins from the heart.
No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God's Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people. Romans 2:29
Keep a date here to read and discover the true meaning behind baptism and circumcision.
Many of us perceived "The pastors, priest or the church leaders" who have authority over us could never be wrong in justifying what they do because these are "men of God" or "men appointed by God."
The perception is if the entire world is practicing the same, how can "we" be wrong?
Don't forget that 2000 years ago, it was Jesus versus the world at large who was against the son of God! The entire world, including God's chosen tribe, the Jews, who affirmed that God is their true Father is against Jesus. Still Jesus spoke against them. "No, you are imitating your real father, the devil. They replied. "We aren't illegitimate children! God himself is our true father." John 8:41
Is our baptism correctly performed? Were you correctly baptized? And I wished to add by asking whether water baptism is necessary?
While Jesus himself undergo water baptism, Scripture did not record any of Jesus' disciples undergo water baptism- why?
I will cite the relevant verses from the Bible and leave you to decide for yourself by asking the Holy Spirit to reveal you the truth! The truth about understanding baptism and it's relevance.
I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am- so much greater that I'm not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Matthew 3:11 (These are John the Baptist own words regarding our Saviour Jesus. John, who was chosen by God, the Father, defy himself as being unworthy even to be a slave of Jesus)
Once when Jesus was eating with his disciples, he commanded them, "Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gifting of the Holy Spirit he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." Acts 1:4-5
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere- in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 (Without the Holy Spirit, no one can do the works of God, the Father)
And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. Acts 10:38 (After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. Matthew 3:16) Even Jesus, the son of God was equipped by God's Spirit and with power before setting out to do the Father's will.
While Apollos was in Cornth, Paul traveled through the interior region until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. "Did you received the Holy Spirit when you believed?" he asked them. "No" they replied, "we haven't even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." "Then what baptism did you experienced?" he asked. And they replied, "The baptism of John the Baptist." Paul said, "John's baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus."
As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. Acts 19:1-6
The above verses articulated Jesus' message on the significance of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God's only way to protect His chosen children, redeemed by the precious blood of his son Jesus, from evil. Jesus, himself spoke at length about the Holy Spirit and his role in our earthly lives in John 16.
Why the baptism of the Holy Spirit supersede water? I mentioned earlier that I personally believe that the gifting of the Holy Spirit is God's personal reason to guard and protect us, His chosen children against deception from the false teachers. Our heavenly Father in Christ Jesus our Saviour knows that His children are vulnerable to fall and stray away from His grace without His protection.
Our heavenly Father through our Saviour Jesus made a couple of statements in the Bible about the importance of his children worshipping Him in Spirit, hence the baptism in the Holy Spirit is important.
John 4:23-24, But the time is coming- indeed it's here now- when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.
Romans 8:14, 16 For all who are obedient to the Spirit of God are children of God. For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children.
Galatians 3:2 Let me ask you this question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Holy Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Jesus.
Ephesians 4:30 And do not bring sorrow to God's Spirit by the way you live. Remember, God has identified you as his own child by his Spirit, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the last day. Take note that without the Holy Spirit in us, God will not be able to identify those who belongs to Him.
1 John 4:13 And God has given us his Spirit as evidence that we live in Him and He lives in us.
Above are, but only a handful of God's messages in the Bible about how important His Spirit's role is in our earthly lives. Living obedient to the Holy Spirit is living in God's grace! Let's be expounded by Galatians 2:20, I was put to death on the cross with Christ, and I do not live anymore-it is Christ who lives in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith, trusting in the Son of God who alone loved me and gave himself to save me. It's important that you understand we no longer live under law rather, we now live by God's grace in Christ Jesus, our Saviour.
God's Word above simply explain that we cannot be saved unless we put our trust in his son, our Saviour Jesus to live out our earthly lives by obeying the Holy Spirit gifted to us when we confessed and believed in our hearts that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour.
Baptism simply means surrendering totally to our sinful life or dying to our sinful ways and commit to live a new life obedient to God's Spirit through Jesus who will guide, teach, counsel us to live to please God, the Father and Jesus Christ our Saviour. Our sins cannot be washed away by water but by total repentance from a contrite heart who trust in Jesus to help us.
Our Saviour Jesus resurrection has provided us victory over death. That what Jesus meant when He says in John 14:6, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life!
Baptism is simply being truly sorry for all the wrongs we committed against God, the Father and sincerely asked to be forgiven by a repentant heart to live a new life believing and trusting Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.
And God, through Jesus Christ his son, our Saviour will gift the Holy Spirit to those who are truthfully repentant of their sins and seek a new relationship with Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Lastly, please note that the Holy Spirit is only gifted to those after they have acknowledged that Jesus Christ is the son of the living God, Creator of heaven and earth and everything in it, and that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected on the third day to provide us victory over death and by trusting in Jesus that someday through this hope, our Saviour will return to bring us, His chosen children home safely to the loving arms of the Father.
True baptism is genuine repentance of your sins from the heart.
No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God's Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people. Romans 2:29
Keep a date here to read and discover the true meaning behind baptism and circumcision.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Baptism: Water Or Spirit?
Is water baptism significant?
Our Saviour Jesus undergo it when John the Baptist baptized Him.
My question: If water baptism is significant, why didn't our Saviour Jesus baptize his disciples?
Read all about it soon in my next post.
Our Saviour Jesus undergo it when John the Baptist baptized Him.
My question: If water baptism is significant, why didn't our Saviour Jesus baptize his disciples?
Read all about it soon in my next post.
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