God and Mammon

This is a message actually shared by Pastor David Goh from Banner of Love church which I think is relevant in the light of the world right now...

Yesterday, I was invited to a marketing business plan which shared about opportunities of business and I won't say bad things about the business but there was something that really struck my mind. The people there who were promoting this business were mainly having motives of:

1) Proving to other people that they could make it big
2) Wanting to make money
3) Wanting to help ease the burden of their families (I consider this a noble reason)

And just by seeing the 1st 2 of these motives does it no confirm more of what the bible says in 1st John 2:15-16 which says "Do NOT love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life - is not of the Father but is of the world! "

Now whether or not you may be in such a business is not my concern, but 1st of all to you Christians:

My brothers and sisters, I plead with you, please please do not run after the things of the world. Do not be obsessed with them for when our Lord and Saviour, Jesus comes again, all these things will BURN UP in the flame and you will be left standing naked before Him and all your treasures you laid up here on earth will just be gone... Please.. Spend your time on earth to seek His face.

Yes no doubt money is important, in fact I would accept it if someone gave me 1 million dollars but if to gain the 1 million would mean compromising my relationship with God,

FORGET IT!!

Please..run after Him..Only then can your joy be full..

To you non-Christians, I cannot tell you how wonderful and awesome Jesus is and how fulfilling He is, filling up the very holes and emptiness in your heart which even loads of money can't fill. All I can do is pray that you will find out that the stuff of these world will not last, but it will all be rot and dust when Jesus comes again.. However, I guess it's something that you all must go through to find out that Jesus is MORE THAN ENOUGH for you..

Anyway back to a portion of the message shared by Pastor David: Alright, in Matthew 6:24 - No one can serve 2 masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Notice this that the only other god mentioned in the New Testament is mammon. Jesus didn't even mention anything about the Baals, Ashtoreths and etc... and if you realize that in the Old Testament, any other god that comes up, God would "challenge" that God and show that He is superior to those other gods..

eg. In Exodus, the plagues that happened were actually showing how powerless the gods of Egypt were. For instance they worshiped the sun but the sun was darkened and no light was given.

So even in this time, God is shaking the heavens and the earth. God is show His superiority over mammon. Take a look at all these economic crashes, currency just dropping, inflation etc.. and take note, these are only the beginnings and the worst is yet to come! God is staging a "fight" with the god of mammon cause He wants to show His people and the rest of the world not to depend on money but to depend on Him Who is the source of EVERYTHING!

Therefore, in conclusion, let us not look to money as our everything but to God and Him alone. Our God is everlasting, infinitely rich and glorious, even the sparrows He takes care, what more us who are of more value than sparrows (Matt 10:29-31).

Pleading with you,
David

FaCEBOok? mY vIeW

Paul Washer - "Young man...some of you need to get off your Facebook! "

lol...people know me as the "anti-Facebook" person and I know by posting up this post, I'm going to receive a lot of criticism. But before you start shooting me, I just want to clarify that

Facebook is NOT BAD! (if put in proper use)

Yes Facebook can be used to promote events very effectively and perhaps even get a crowd to your event (eg.Easter, Christmas) ...

Yes by Facebook you can know what your friends are feeling, their emo-ness and therefore encourage them...

Yes Facebook can connect you to friends whom you have long lost (a point which I have to admit is a good part of Facebook)

Yes Facebook allows you to play games and keeps you entertained.

Just take these 4 reasons ok..

Though Facebook can promote your events, try comparing it to this... BUT if I were to trade the time I spend on Facebook, trying to set up the poster etc... with praying and getting in tuned with God... Would not signs and wonders follow me?? eg. healing, prophecty etc... and by that happening wherever I am, would not people be drawn to it? I mean a city on a hill cannot be hidden right?? O_o Light somehow still shines in darkness right? Comparing these 2, by Facebook, people know about the event but by praying "kao kao", people know and people WANT to come..which is more effective?

Yes people nowadays post up all their emotions on Facebook..so to keep up with whats going on, Facebook is a good tool... And when you do find a friend that is emo, you encourage and perhaps in that way touch his/her life.. BUT compare it to this.. Instead of frequently checking Facebook for updates on how people feel, spend time praying and ask God to show you who is in need.. God reveals and you contact that person... I'm sure the person would be SHOCKED as in how did you know the situation he/she is going through and this would definitely cause this person to be instantly encouraged and open to God right?? Power! lol

*The 3rd point as mentioned above is really a good thing but perhaps if looked in the ideal way, we could actualy consider praying and God directing us to meet up with that long lost friend via His divine apointment (a lot of testimonies of that).. =)

Facebook may entertain you, but I have seen some who have used Facebook for games, videos etc.... to the extent they spend hours on it..Spamming here and there on people's pages (via commments I think) and you know, as a Christian, it really is disappointing to see these young people spend time on Facebook but not with God (believe me I have witnessed this 1st hand). Imagine if the time spend on Facebook was spent with God.. Imagine the revival we would be see-ing!

Bottomline...Facebook is not bad...but to use it, you must be able to control it and not it controls you..if it takes up your time with God, better delete the account.. Should your whole body go to hell because you lived a live of little passion for God cause you spent more time with Facebook? But if by using Facebook, you can control, then by all means USE IT FOR GOD'S GLORY! =D

but 4 me, I want to be an example to the younger generation whom I work with that we can live without Facebook and that God is all we need! ....

*a video by Paul Washer about Facebook =p

Hope I didn't offend you,
David

Warning out Of Judgement or Love?

Helooo people!..2nd post of the year..lol...anyway, I've been going through a rough time. A time in which i think God is working to remove the impurities in me that I may be pure. And Yes there are a lot more of impurities which I Still see in myself and I'm allowing this Refiner's Fire to clean me up..I know it's gonna be super hard to go through, but by His strength and ONLY by His strength I will overcome.

Anyway, what I've been facing this week is this. It starts with a call from someone very close to me saying, "I feel uncomfortable with the way you quote scripture.

WHAT!!!

I LOVEEEE to quote scripture and now you say you are uncomfortable with me doing that? (that was exactly what went through my head at that moment) And you know, when it comes from someone really close it actually PRICKS! =/

So of course I had to look into it as u never know God actually uses people to tell you your errors when you ain't listening to Him. And I went to get a second opinion. And yup, this other person said i was to judgmental and that I should try to see things from other people's point of view.

OK !! SO 2 people kinda like confirmed with me that something was wrong with me. And I asked God on what is to be done and whether or not I should tone down when warning people of God's judgment or against lukewarmness. And as I read my bible, I was at:

ezekiel 3: 18-19 - When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. ¹⁹ But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself.

So in conclusion is this:

SORRY

to the people who have been offended by me when I quoted scripture and seemed to be judging you or if I was to harsh and did not understand you or your situation. I'm sorry I could not think of other stuff to advice you cause to me I thought that by sharing with you God's way, it could help you out in your situation and sorry cause I don't know much of other methods. All my methods only come from the bible cause I don't really read other books.

HOWEVER

I will still not condone sin or anything that goes against God's ways no matter how you tell me your situation is cause if I did condone it, I would be in deep trouble before God. And like what the verse said (Eze 3:18-19), I do not want your blood on my hands.

BUT

If ever I do warn you, I'll warn you out of love and not of a judgmental spirit. And I know i might fail someday or sometimes but right here right now, I give you the permission to tell me if I sound to judgmental. Help me to learn how to tell or warn in a loving way.. Thanks people. Would really appreciate your cooperation with me on this. =)

Learning to Love,
David

The Christian Way

sorry people for the looooooonggg time I did not blog..lol..u noe lar..college life with all the assingments and exams etc....

and u noe..1 regret throughout this exams and assingments is that I did not spend time with God. And the result of that is my results not being as good as b4. seriously. honour God and He will Honour you.. let me repeat

HONOUR GOD AND HE WILL HONOUR U!

For you students out there, let me remind u once again, we are in this world to serve God and to live for His glory. Our main goal here is not just good results and all that kinda stuff. However dun get me wrong that i'm askin u not 2 study at all but rather, to put God 1ST no matter how busy u may be.. God 1st ya! =) Seek ye 1st the kingdom of God and His righteousness and the rest shall be added unto You.

Anyway, purpose why i write this blog is 2 share with u people some of the stuff which has actually struck with this few weeks or so.. With the wake of the church burnings and all that plus also some stuff in college which really pissed me off, all i felt was anger and thought of the ways of revenge but clearly if i was to harbour anger and think of revenge, what different would that make me from those that piss me off or even those church burners?

Going back to the book of Matthew and the sermon on the Mount, Christ actually thought us what to do when people offend us or even piss us off. Reading from:

Matthew 5:39 - Jesus said, "But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on
your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and
take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.

Matthew 5:44 - But I say to you, love your enemies and bless those that curse you, do good to
those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute
you that you may be the sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes the sun
rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and unjust. (my
favourite part --->) For if you love those who love you, what reward do you
have?

From what we see here in Jesus' teachings, its like TOTALLY out of this world. Anyone in this world would definitely react in the opposite manner. However, coz we are christians, we are called to be salt and light to this world, to be different. And i know its easy for me to say this and to preach, but believe me, i go through the exact same thing that i speak about here in my college and each day i pray for strength to react the way Jesus would. What bout u? Will you do the same?

One modern example of a person who actually followed this teaching of Jesus is my mum. For more than 10 years, there was this person who like totally hated here. She wanted to resolve this issue and talk it out so that there won't be any tensions, but that person refused to. However, instead of like retaliating and playing cold war, my mum actually continued to cook 4 that person, helped that person out in all ways that she could and of coz continued to uphold her in prayer.

AND GUESS WHAT!!!!

1 day, after like 10 long years, the person came up 2 my mum to apologize and now they are like really cool with each other.. Amazing isn't it, God's ways!? =D .. We are to conquer evil with good and not evil with evil. Yes it is harder but the results are also better. Bigger sacrifice, Bigger fruit. So what will your reaction to be to people who actually hurt you?

Retaliate or Love?

Convicted to love,
David