http://www.zionbishan.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/2012-09-23-Faith-the-Starting-Point-Pastor-Dev-Menon.mp3
What is faith?
Wednesday, 26 September 2012
Wednesday, 19 September 2012
40 Days
Jesus fasts 40 days to let us know that He will hold His own body voluntarily to the cross for our sakes.
Hebrews 10b sermon
"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God"
http://www.zionbishan.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/2012-09-16-Stamina-to-Go-On-Pastor-Dev-Menon.mp3
http://www.zionbishan.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/2012-09-16-Stamina-to-Go-On-Pastor-Dev-Menon.mp3
Tuesday, 4 September 2012
The incarnation of man
We all know that One reason Jesus became flesh was to show us that He really understood us, hence He is qualified to be a priest.
Yet in our salvation, we are invited to be drawn into His life, particularly through His earthly life.
Thus what must motivate us in our actions is not so much 'what do I need to do to be like Jesus' or WWJD in each and every situation, but rather how can I know Jesus more deeply and intimately, in particular, how can I experience the Father's love for me in and through Christ.
So the church is invited to become like the true man, born again in the flesh if you like, that we may participate in the divine nature even when in the flesh, and there is no other means than to imitate Christ.
Yet in our salvation, we are invited to be drawn into His life, particularly through His earthly life.
Thus what must motivate us in our actions is not so much 'what do I need to do to be like Jesus' or WWJD in each and every situation, but rather how can I know Jesus more deeply and intimately, in particular, how can I experience the Father's love for me in and through Christ.
So the church is invited to become like the true man, born again in the flesh if you like, that we may participate in the divine nature even when in the flesh, and there is no other means than to imitate Christ.
Idolatry
Coveteousness, which is idolatry (Col 3:5)
Idol worship is not different in the OT than the NT,
that would be to say that we have fundamentally improved in the human race
However, if the sinful nature remains the same (in fact, probably gets worse)
Then we must be just as prone to idolatry as they were
So is it that the direction of idol-worship has changed from images of wood and stone to more intangible things?
Not really, because what was at the goal of idolatry?
1 Cor 10:7 - "Eating, Drinking & Playing" - was the source of the creation of the 'gods that delivered us out of Egypt'
An idol, though not having any existence, is simply humanities selfish usage of another being or person to achieve ones own flesh desires
Thus to even re-direct our focus on the Living God, yet to have these desires - makes Him the chief idol
more here - http://christthetruth.wordpress.com/2012/06/24/idolising-idolatry/
So then the only solution is a change in desires. Now that is impossible to be wrought from within ourselves. It can only be done by someone else externally changing what we most fundamentally want. And that someone must Himself be desirable above those things.
Thus the only application of idolatry, must be to bring people into situations (the church) where a desirable God is publicly preached and presented - or 'held out' to be taken up into oneself.
Idol worship is not different in the OT than the NT,
that would be to say that we have fundamentally improved in the human race
However, if the sinful nature remains the same (in fact, probably gets worse)
Then we must be just as prone to idolatry as they were
So is it that the direction of idol-worship has changed from images of wood and stone to more intangible things?
Not really, because what was at the goal of idolatry?
1 Cor 10:7 - "Eating, Drinking & Playing" - was the source of the creation of the 'gods that delivered us out of Egypt'
An idol, though not having any existence, is simply humanities selfish usage of another being or person to achieve ones own flesh desires
Thus to even re-direct our focus on the Living God, yet to have these desires - makes Him the chief idol
more here - http://christthetruth.wordpress.com/2012/06/24/idolising-idolatry/
So then the only solution is a change in desires. Now that is impossible to be wrought from within ourselves. It can only be done by someone else externally changing what we most fundamentally want. And that someone must Himself be desirable above those things.
Thus the only application of idolatry, must be to bring people into situations (the church) where a desirable God is publicly preached and presented - or 'held out' to be taken up into oneself.
Saturday, 1 September 2012
Royal Priesthood
Compare Ex 19 with 1 Peter 2 then with Heb 7
The Royal Priesthood is of the Melchizedek order not the Levitical order.
Therefore what does it mean got the church to be royal priests after the order of Melchizedek and NOT Levi??
The Royal Priesthood is of the Melchizedek order not the Levitical order.
Therefore what does it mean got the church to be royal priests after the order of Melchizedek and NOT Levi??
Eternal High Priest
Was still struggling with getting to grips with why it is a big deal that Jesus is a high priest FOREVER
The illustration given is usually what if you had a pastor who never died. And I suppose that makes some sense
But what really seemed to make more sense was the wedding vows:
I take you to be my lawful wedded Wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part...
Now imagine if you had a husband who removed the clause in that vow:
I take you to be my lawful wedded Wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, FOREVER
Now you know that once you are in a relationship, transformation happens. You become more and more like each other. 5 years later, you are closer. If the relationship goes well, 50 years later you are closer, if still well, 5000 years later imagine it... 500000 years late imagine the richness, the closeness..
Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25 ESV)
Jesus is the sole basis of drawing near to God, and that is still His eternal job...
The illustration given is usually what if you had a pastor who never died. And I suppose that makes some sense
But what really seemed to make more sense was the wedding vows:
I take you to be my lawful wedded Wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part...
Now imagine if you had a husband who removed the clause in that vow:
I take you to be my lawful wedded Wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, FOREVER
Now you know that once you are in a relationship, transformation happens. You become more and more like each other. 5 years later, you are closer. If the relationship goes well, 50 years later you are closer, if still well, 5000 years later imagine it... 500000 years late imagine the richness, the closeness..
Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25 ESV)
Jesus is the sole basis of drawing near to God, and that is still His eternal job...
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