Discipleship

A disciple is literally a follower of a leader.  And as Christians, we are all called to be followers of Christ, to be His disciples.  A Christian is a disciple.

Discipleship is not about a course or a program that certain members of a church take, upon completion of which they become "disciples."

Christian discipleship is the process by which disciples grow in the Lord Jesus Christ and are equipped by the Holy Spirit, who resides in our hearts, to overcome the pressures and trials of this present life and become more and more Christlike.  This process requires believers to respond to the Holy Spirit's prompting to examine their thoughts, words and actions and compare them with the Word of God.

Four key characteristics of discipleship that honors God:-

Firstly, God-honoring discipleship is about remaining in Christ - consistently walking in the way of the Lord, which is a teaching given to believers throughout the whole of Scripture.  It demand that true Christians progress and grow as we remain in Christ.

Secondly, God-honoring discipleship is about obeying Christ.  This is what Christ means when He says that His words remain in us.  Further, the Great Commission demands that we strive to obey everything that Christ has commanded.  There can be no discipleship without training.  And training requires obedience to instructions.

Thirdly, God-honoring discipleship is about bearing spiritual fruit.  If a disciple remains in Christ and is a pattern of obedience, that person will bear spiritual fruit.  Such fruit is inevitable as the nature of the fruit and the source of the fruit are both from God.

Finally, God honoring discipleship is about glorifying God in all that is done.  This is, ultimately, the goal of our lives.

[Extracted from Living Life-July 2012 "Honoring God through Discipleship" by Steven Oh]

 

Where Are You in Christ?

There are three stages of relationship in our Christian journey.

a) A man-God relationship started when a man accepts Jesus as his Lord and Saviour.  His eyes are opened to see God and his mind can perceive the Word of God and his will incline to godly life.  He started to delight in learning Christian language and sharing spiritual issues with others.  Then he will start praying to God and read the Bible.  He love God because of his salvation and other blessings. However, when blessing stop and troubles start calling the love toward God becomes cold.  This is the sign of a baby or young Christan.

b) A Christian started father-son relationship when the fear of God become reverent fear instead of awful dread.

This is the stage where the person focus on God's face instead of His hand, upon the 'Blesser' and not the blessing.  He knows God's love and starts to serve God and share with others about His love, not merely His gifts.

c) friendship with God

A man who is in courtship can easily give up everything and die for his beloved lover, but, not necessarily for his friends.  The power of love can make a man die for his loved one.  Likewise when God's beauty captures your heart, you are willing to die and can easily die to yourself.  Loving courtship will eventually bring a person to marriage.  In marriage, both husband and wife can share their resources and die for each other.  It is because there are one. This is the husband-wife relationship

You cannot force yourself to marry God but you can always start by calling God your father and friend and wait for Him to approach you to marry Him.

John 14:20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

Loose lips sink ships!

James 3:4  Or take ships as an example.  Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. (NIV)

James emphasizes our inclination to sin in our speaking.  Our tongue is like the rudder on a ship.  Even though it is a very small part of the ship, but it determines exactly where the ship will go.  Likewise we determine the course of our lives by the way we use our tongues.  (James 3:4)

Derek Prince wrote that we have two potential problems indicated by the mouth :

First, the old, corrupt nature which has not been changed goes on producing corrupt fruit; and second, some kind of spirit, which is not the Holy Spirit, brings forth impure, brackish water.

So the problem of the tongue takes back inevitably to the problem of the heart.

We are confronted by the truth that Solomon spoke in Proverbs 4:23  Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

The mouth is taken as the principal channel by which the issues of life flow out for good or evil. It is a well. If it be full, it flows over; and if the overflow be sweet water, the border will be fresh and green.  [Proverbs 10:11, 14][Proverbs 15:4][Proverbs 18:21]

T   Is it TRUE?

H  Is it HELPFUL?

I    Is it INSPIRING?

N  Is it NECESSARY?

K  Is it KIND?

If what I am about to say does not pass those test, I will keep my mouth shut! - Alan Redpath

A provoked spirit causes us to speak unadvisedly with our lips and these hasty words cost us many privileges and blessing.

Mission - Kunming, China

“Crossing the Bridge” with the Father

Praise the Lord for the successful trip to Kunming on 18 - 28 June.  It was  an  eye  opening  trip  for  6  people  from  3  churches.  The  team

Team

consists of members from 3 churches - half of the team members are pastoral staffs;  a license laid preacher, a youth and wife of a pastor.

Home cell

Upon arrival, we were treated to supper with Yunnan's Signature Dish,  “Cross the Bridge Noodle”.  There is a romantic story about “crossing the  bridge   noodle”.

The story involving a wife taking soup across a bridge to a small island where her husband was studying  for his imperial exam.  By the time she'd reach  the  other side of the winding footbridge, the soup would be cold, the noodles soggy. The story goes that one-day a layer of  oil  and  fat  kept  the  broth warm and  adding  the noodles and meats  allowed  it  to  cook  to  perfection on the spot.

Children church

Like wise, the team cross the bridge, with a little love in our heart for China to warm the

heart of the  Chinese believers.

We thank God  for  giving  us this opportunity.  Those  who went for this trip has came back with their  heart  enlarged by Lord with an increase of love for the land of China.  It is our prayers that God will  send  many  more Christians from Malaysia to  “cross the bridge”.  We  all  CAN  be  the “oil” to warmed the heart and provide  “spiritual noodle”  to satisfy the hunger of believers in China.  Join us in our next trip to China

We did 3 mornings of 7 hours each of prayer walking to bless the city.  In faith we believed  that  the  prayers of blessing is breaking the curses on the  land.  Thanked God for physical strength.

Prayer walk

Sis. Lili  and  Bro. Jason  conducted  a  music workshop  on playing keyboard and  guitar  with  AFC.  The  believer’s  skill was sharpened to enhance their ministry in praise and worship.

They also had a session of High Praise and testimonies.

Sis. Joy ministered to the women and Bro. Eng Lye to the men on the topic of godly manhood and  womanhood.  A two hours seminar was conducted to train & equip the Sunday School teachers at AFC House Church by Sis. Lay Ching.

A night of meeting on prophetic input/release of personal word to about 25 -30 people from the community of missionary was also conducted where the anointing of God was much felt.

The team was also stretched in their faith to step out to pray for individual.  Some have not prophesied for a long time.  The Lord once again activates them to pray prophetically for the missionary.  While others had never prophesy before and they too step forth to minister to the saints.

We are grateful that God has allowed us to submit and yield to His purposes and leading.  Thanking Him for the graces and anointing of the Holy Spirit to accomplish the work that need to
be done in China.

[Submitted by Robert/Joy]

Choose

Choice consists of the mental process of judging the merits of multiple options and selecting one of them. [Wikipedia]

Choice is always a good thing.  And what's even greater than choice is clarity of choice - Annoymous

We have choice over our thoughts, emotions and behavior, and our choice may also affect the destiny of our descendants.

MAKE AN EXCELLENT CHOICE AND WATCH THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF BLESSING.

2 Corinthians 4:18  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

A good attitude and the right focus help us to handle life joyfully, even though it doesn't change our circumstances.

Deuteronomy 30:15  See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.

v17-20   But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed.  You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.  This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.  Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. 

"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” - Joshua 24:15

H.E.A.R.T.

We need to have a  H E A R T  of Christ in the kingdom of God.

H umility

E ncouragement

A ppreciation

R espect

T rust

Humility or humbleness is a quality of being courteously respectful of others. It is the opposite of aggressiveness, arrogance, boastfulness and vanity. It is a major theme of both Old and New Testaments. It dissipates anger and heals old wounds, and distinguishes the wise leader from the arrogant power-seeker.

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.  James 4:10

Encouragement  ^- God will comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.Psalm 46:1-3

Appreciation  is an expression of gratitude.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.    And whatever you do,whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Colossions 3:15, 17

Respect - Christian respect is uniquely Christian.  Teaching respect as a Christian character trait requires that we craft a definition based on God’s Word.

Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.  1 Peter 2:18

Trust  is the reliance on another person, to have or place confidence in, depend on, and have assurance.
Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods  Psalm 40:4

Seong Teh Eh Kia (Child of God)

If you are a Christian, you are not a stranger to God. You are not an orphan, even though you may sometimes feel alone. Our heavenly Father loves you and sees you as one of His children : "And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." - 2 Corinthians 6:18 (KJV)

The Bible in the book of Romans and Galatians also promises that - ^"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." - Romans 8:15 (KJV)

"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." - Galatians 4:6 (KJV)

So no matter how old or young you may be, it's comforting to know that you are a child of God. You belong to a loving and protecting Father. God is everywhere, watching over you and ever ready to listen when you want to talk to Him.

上帝的孩子 [a song by Pas. Lim Gee Tiong]

Sheong Teh eh kia

Child of God

因为耶稣爱我 我就知道

In ui Ya So ai gua gua jiu zai iah

Jesus loves me, this I know

我是真正真正特别的人

Gua si chin chia chin chia tet piet eh lang

I am a very, very special person

因为耶稣救我 我就知道

In ui Ya So kiu gua gua jiu zai iah

Because Jesus saves me, this I know

我是真正真正宝贝的人

Gua si chin chia chin chia po puey eh lang

I am a very, very precious person

为着我他甘愿牺牲他的生命

Ui tio gua Ee gam guan hee seng Ee eh seh mia

Because of me, He is willing to sacrifice His life

不怕苦 不怕痛 因为爱我

Boh kia koh boh kia thia in ui ai gua

Because He loves me, He is not afraid of hardship or pain

叫我怎样能够不每日来感谢

Kio gua an cua eh tang mai ta jit lai kam sia

How can I not thank Him everyday

叫我怎样能够不讲给人听

Kio gua an cua eh tang mai kong hor lang thia

How can I not share His goodness to everyone

耶稣他爱我 救我

Ya So Ee ai gua kiu gua

Jesus loves me and saves me

给我知道

Hor gua zai ia

Let me know

我的名叫做 上帝的孩子

Gua eh mia kio cho Sheong Teh eh kia

My name is called Child of God

Anniversary

Today, I humbly announce that with my wife, we've crossed our 26 years together.  We've gone through not only narrow and winding roads, but mountains and valleys together.  No doubt the paths we've ridden were not always rosy nor sunny but the trials and tribulations have served to deepen the bond for each others and towards God.

If we accept that we're all human beings, and that all human beings are born imperfect, then we have to nurture self-acceptance and forgiveness.  No holding grudges, no hurt feelings, no looking back, but just keep moving forward.

The important key to our marriage is love for God and love for one another.

Love for God - the marriage must be God-centered

1 John 4:8  "But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love."

God is the Source of true love so all couples are pointed back to the Creator and Maintainer of marriage.

Love for one another - 

John 13:34   “A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

The secret recipe of our marriage is a truckload of commitment, trust, respect and compromise.   All good relationships are based on trust and loyalty - both rare commodities. Just like our heart, the strength of a marriage can be determined by a stress test; this starts off slowly, then it gets faster and faster over time.  And depending on your level of endurance, some will make it to a higher level, while some will give up mid-way.

Endurance is the key to remain happily married.  Some say marriage kills romance.  I say it's easy to fall in love, but it's tough to be in love.  Falling in love is just a one-off affair, whilst being in love is present, constant and continuous.  The same applies to "loving" a person or "being in love" with a person.  Two different states of mind.  You've got to work at keeping the flame burning every single day.

When we met, we were serving in the church, in our own ministry, with no fine wrinkles and no knee problems.  Now two children later, we patiently accept the appearance of love handles, platinum hair and the extra pair of eyes. 

THE KEY TO SUCCEEDING IN MARRIAGE IS NOT FINDING THE RIGHT PERSON;

IT'S LEARNING TO LOVE THE PERSON YOU FOUND.

Mother's Day with a Korean Taste

M-O-T-H-E-R

"M" is for the million things she gave me,

    "O" means only that she's growing old,

"T" is for the tears she shed to save me,

"H" is for her heart of purest gold;

"E" is for her eyes, with love-light shining,

"R" means right, and right she'll always be,

Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER,"

A word that means the world to me.

- Howard Johnson

M is for magnificent

        O is for one of a kind

T is for truthful

H is for helpful

E is for energetic

R is for really loving

Mother's Day this year were a different. We were treated with a Korean dinner at Daorae Korean BBQ Restaurant in Tanjong Tokong, by Allan Ooi.

Living faith

Faith without action is insincere, worthless and dead. Just like in James 2:15-17 recorded, "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food. And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Likewise, true and scriptural faith is always expressed in submission and obedience to God. Faith that continues stubborn and disobedience is dead faith that cannot save us from God's wrath and judgment.
Living faith is expressed outwardly in a continual walk of submission and obedience to God. Each act of obedience faith that we performed will developed and strengthened our faith and prepared us for our next test.

So as Christian, if we profess faith in Christ, we must be willing to identify ourselves actively with Christ's cause and Christ's messengers. We must also be willing to make a definite, open confession of our faith, which marks us out from all the unbelievers around us.

[This excerpt is taken from Foundational Truths For Christian Living by Derek Prince]