Sanctification... The Life Side...... for He came that we may have life...

"... I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." (John 10: 10)

Emerging from The Death Side of Sanctification... The Life Side.

Our guilt, our shame, our sin, and everything else that keeps us from the God the Father was put to death on the cross, but are WE willing to die to them that we may receive His life?

"He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption." (1 Corinthians 1:30)

The mystery of sanctification is that the perfect qualities of Jesus Christ are imparted as a gift to me, not gradually but instantly once I enter by faith into the realization that He was "made [my].. sanctification..." Sanctification means nothing less than the holiness of Jesus becoming mine and being exhibited in my life.

The most wonderful secret of living a holy life does not lie in imitating Jesus, but in letting the perfect qualities of Jesus exhibit themselves in my human flesh. Sanctification is "Christ in you..." (Colossians 1:27). It is his wonderful life that is imparted to me in sanctification - imparted by faith as a sovereign gift of God's grace. Am I willing for God to make sanctification as real to me as it is in His word?

Sanctification means the impartation of the holy qualities of Jesus Christ to me. It is the gift of His patience, love, holiness, faith, purity, and godliness that is exhibited in and through every sanctified soul. Sanctification is not drawing from Jesus the power to be holy - it is drawing from Jesus the very holiness that was exhibited in Him, and that He now exhibits in me. Sanctification is an impartation, not an imitation. Imitation is something altogether different. The perfection of everything is in Jesus Christ, and the mystery of sanctification is that all the perfect qualities of Jesus are at my disposal. Consequently, I slowly but surely begin to live a life of inexpressible order, soundness and holiness - "... kept by the power of God..." (1Peter 1:5) - Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest"

Sanctification... The Death Side.

"This is the will of God, your sanctification..." (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

In sanctification God has to deal with us on the death side as well as on the life side. Sanctification requires our coming to the place of death, but many of us spend so much time there that we become morbid. There is always a tremendous battle before sanctification is realised - something within us pushing the resentment against the demands of Christ. When the Holy Spirit begins to show us what sanctification means, the stuggle starts immediately. Jesus said,"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate... his own life... he cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:26)

In the process of sanctification, the Spirit of God will strip me down until there is nothing left but myself, and that is the place of death. Am I willing to be myself and nothing more? Am I willing to have no friends, no father, no brother, and no self-interest - simply be ready for death? That is the condition required for sanctification. No wonder Jesus said,"I did not come to bring peace but a sword" (Matthew 10:34). This is when the battle comes, and where so many of us falter. We refuse to be identified with the death of Jesus Christ on this point. We say,"But this is so strict. Surely He does not require that of me." Our Lord is strict, and He does require that of us.

Am I willing to reduce myself down to simply "me"? Am I determined enough to strip myself of all that my friends think of me, and all that I think of myself? Am I willing and determined to hand over my simple naked self to God? Once I am, He will immediately sanctify me completely, and my life will be free from being determined and persistent toward anything except God. (see 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

When I pray,"Lord, show me what sanctification means for me," He will show me. It means beind made one with Jesus. Sanctification is not something Jesus puts in me - it is Himself in me ( see 1 Corinthians 1:30). - Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest".

Lord, lead me to the point where I can die to myself completely
Lead me to the point where I come face to face with my depraved, sinful self
Lead me to the point where I can't run anymore
Lead me to the point of death
The point where new life begins...

This lesson O Lord, is an extremly bitter pill to swallow, but I know you love me. All I can do... is surrender...

I offer devotion...

"For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
..."
(Psalm 51: 3-4)

Have mercy on me Lord, for your servant has taken his eyes of You this week. I'm sorry. I'm ashamed to say I've taken my eyes of Christ my Saviour, and even more ashamed of the things I have done as a result.

Sometimes I feel like a hypocrite. I really do. I tell and encourage people to focus on Christ in all they do, and I myself am guilty of not doing that. Lord, I don't want another moment without you being the centre. Forgive me Lord, for I have not sought a true realization of Christ in all I do. I need your grace and mercy.

"Have mercy on me , O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin!
......
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow"

This my prayer O God... that I may walk in your ways always.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me now way from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit
......
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
...
For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God,
you will not depise."

I'm yours Lord... I'm yours

I'm delivered but it doesn't seem right, unless I keep my eyes focused on the Saviour who gave His life...

Mysterious Connect Retreat photos...

Ok I really don't know who was playing with my phone during the Connect retreat, but as I was looking at my phone, I realised I have MANY pictures which I didn't take, hear are some of them...


Derrick, Edward and Denise doing the Funky Chicken.


Nathan is my fwen. (i tried to straighten to photo, i promise!)


I suspect SHE took the photos.

This Is Love...

"EVERY RELATIONSHIP for a Christian is an opportunity to love another person like God has loved us. To lay down our desires and do what's in his or her best interest. To care for him or her even when there's nothing in it for us." (Josh Harris)

Friends, let us carefully consider our current friendships and relationships. How far are we from honouring God in our relationships and friendships? It's time for us to step up and surrender this area of our lives to the Lordship of Christ. Especially for the sinner writing this.

We've been too selfish, too long.

"A new command I give you: Love one another.
As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
By this all men will know that you are my disciples,
if you love one another."
(John 13:34-35)

Mighty Is The Power Of the Cross

Ok for those of you who have been in the music ministry room, you might have seen this picture, among others, all over the walls. the pictures were done by ian last year for a worship mininstry thankgiving dinner. Here's mine. Sorry for the weird look on my face.

however, i like this picture for one reason and for one reason only. (and no it is not my sweaty shirt). i like how everything in the picture is really grainy and sorta fading away, EXCEPT FOR THE CROSS.

I see my my heart's desire in that picture: that my life be nothing about me but all about the MGHTY WORK OF MY SAVIOUR ON THE CROSS. may the old me fade into the shadows such that when one looks at me, all they see is Christ living His life through me.

Day by day, less of me Lord... and more and more of YOU.

Bible study...

Just came back from a new bible study class which Boon Cheang (the teacher) invited me to attend. This is additional to my regular class at BC's place with Debbie, Jiamin, Lifang, Ivan, Huiting, Ivan, Kenneth & Collin. I think BC actually wanted me to observe and learn from how he conducts bible study sessions. Well from my first session tonight, I'd say there's so much more to learn, not just from the conducting point of view, but especially from the Word of God. You can never have too much of the Word of God, so I'm really happy to have this additional opportunity to study His word.

But I think the greatest blessing of all with regard to being part of this bible study class is the people whom I'm attending it with. With the exception of Ivan, and to a much lesser extent Joel Pang & Kax, I can't say I know any of the people in this group well at all... which actually is quite sad in a sense since we're all part of the same church AND in THREE ministries together (for most): JYM, Connect & Worship.

How well do you know the people your churches and in your ministries whom you serve with? The people who are part of your spiritual family, your brothers and sisters in Christ. Do you know what's in their hearts? Do you know what makes each individual the way he or she is? I don't mean that EVERYONE has to be best friends (although that would be great), but do we make an effort to look beyond the surface of the people we meet once a week every Sunday (sometimes more)?

The church is not a social club. We were meant to be a fellowship of disciples, of believers. We ARE Christ's body. How can you be one body if one part doesn't know the other? I personally feel that if we seek (with the Holy Spirit's help) to look into the hearts of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and not just focus on a person's exterior actions/looks, we will understand why a person behaves the way he or she does. We will know what makes them tick. And imagine how many conflicts in the church could be avoided if the people involved looked beyond the surface in love, and sought to see, in light of the Spirit's illumination, what was in the other person's heart? Many times you'd find that they were actually on the same page. I too am guilty of passing judgement and jumping to conclusions, and have to repent and seek His forgiveness & grace on a daily basis.

Too many times in church we seem to stick within our comfort zones, our own cliques. The other people in church who are not "our gang", we just offer the standard pleasantries, smile a bit and that's it really. Is that what brings glory to the Father? Could someone be hurting and we miss it? Could someone be hurting and EVERYONE misses it? This has got to be one of the enemy's best weapons against the Body Of Christ: a church that's united in clumps, and even so probably only in terms of human relations and not in the spirit. Only because we failed to follow the example of Jesus who looked into the hearts of men, and saw what our heart and souls really needed. Let's start learning to serve each other rather than wondering what the church can do for us. Hey Christ has already done enough for you don't you think? Just respond and serve His body... (By the way, those whom we are "close" to, do we even know what's really in THEIR hearts?)

Ok... wow... I've drifted so much from wherever I was when I first started this post. But I'm not gonna delete it. Stuff like this has been on my heart for too long. Which is why I'm thanking God for the opportunity to really get to know other members of my spiritual family who I ashamedly do not really know. I just pray that my pride won't get in the way, that with a heart of humility and love I'll be able to seek how to better serve my fellow brothers and sisters, and foster stronger bonds in Christ.

Oh... and congratulations to you to if you've actually stuck around to the end of this post. I wonder if you think I'm mad... oh but I am.

Keep falling in love...

Every moment I'm awake
Fill me with the wonder of your glory
Captivate me with your beauty
Flood my heart with passion for YOU

All this, O Lord
That I may keep
Falling in love...

Hello hedge pee...

Random snap of my drab workspace. Haha, even though THE ORGANISATION and my work hours allows for us to work from home as and when the need arises (like every day?), I'm determined to spend more time in the office so I can actually build relationships with my colleagues.

I wanna do it! Haha... even if it means putting up with substandard coffee (I'll get my fix elsewhere). And of course watching an NCC member debate with a CEFC member about grace is quite a treat too, as I have discovered today.

Person A (NCC): blah blah blah... just rest in grace!

Person B(CEFC): I don't buy cheap grace!

Imagine...

It's here again guys. Start inviting all your friends! It's gonna be a magical night...

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ok i'm kidding of course...

bleah...

So I've finally cut my hair after for the first time since Chinese New Year. Personally I wished he didn't cut so much of the length off. But anyhow what's done is done. Here's a sampling of the responses I got as I walked around church yesterday & today:

Claud: Ahhhh! (yes she that was her first reaction) ....Ugly!
Jeremy Yap: *sniggers* nice hair...
Rachel Tang: you like a small boy...
Gloria Teng: it's nice... (Gloria is my friend!)
Henry Yew: it's ok what... it'll grow out (so considerate, what a nice guy)
Nadine: it would have been better if you didn't cut it...
Nat (he's 12): eh your hair very funny/eh your hair very ugly... x 10

ok that's enough, I don't wanna remember any other comments anymore. my heart cannot take it.

Now, I need to find a nice cap... or maybe a wig.