Angelus' Quote: Real Success Is Doing the Will of God Regardless of the Consequences

 

Currently, I'm rereading John MacArthur's Ashamed of the Gospel (together with R.C. Sproul's The Holiness of God). In this meaty book, MacArthur is dealing with the modern-day Down-Grade Controversy. As he compares the Biblical Church to the User-Friendly Church nowadays, he touches on the topic of success: "Size [of the church] does not signify blessing. And popularity is no barometer for success... In Scripture, big budgets, affluent members, and large membership rolls are NEVER portrayed as valid goals.

"Paul was not telling Timothy how to be 'successful'; he was not instructing him on techniques for increasing attendance figures; he was encouraging him to pursue the DIVINE STANDARD... It is not prosperity, power, prominence, popularity, or any of the other worldly notions of success. Real success is doing the will of God regardless of the consequences" (page 42) 💪⚡📖 #ServeToLead #ObedienceOverSuccess #SpiritualLeader

FB Page: https://facebook.com/LEGASI.tv/              
Podcast: https://anchor.fm/LEGASI.tv/           
YouTube: http://bit.ly/LEGASItv

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Overcome Your Fear of Other People

The fear of other people will keep you trapped. It prevented you from reaching your potential and from enjoying life to its fullest. By taking deliberate and purposeful action to overcome this fear, you slowly regain your freedom - and escape from the confines of the prison you’ve created for yourself. Yes, at the end of the day it's not them, it's YOU ⚡#ServeToLead #OvercomeYourFear #FeelTheFearAndDoItAnyway #RespectPeopleDontFearThem

Watch other short videos on Personal Development, go to >  http://bit.ly/LegasiSelfDevelopment

To learn the 15 Laws of Growth, go to > http://bit.ly/The15Laws 

FB Page: https://facebook.com/LEGASI.tv/ 

Podcast: https://anchor.fm/LEGASI.tv/ 

IG: https://instagram.com/legasi.tv/ 

YouTube: http://bit.ly/LEGASItv 

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Angelus' Quote: DON'T QUIT!

Even great people have felt rejection, self-doubt and insecurity. I'm not great, but once in a while, I felt it too. I read about Norman Vincent Peale, author of The Power of Positive Thinking (I remember I read his book a long time ago at Kota Sentosa Library only in one sitting!), on how he too faced self-doubt and insecurity. At one time or another everyone is filled with fear, but the difference between those who are successful and those who are not is that successful people keep going anyway - despite their fear. As Robert Schuller once said, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going."

Ruth Stafford Peale, wife of late Vincent Peale wrote this about her husband: "My husband Norman suffered all his life from what we call today an inferiority complex. This always baffled me because I always saw him as an extremely talented and sensitive man whose gifts translated well into his life as a preacher, counselor, father, husband and friend. Still, whether speaking before thousands at a conference or preaching... Norman was not very confident in what he did. So I found myself trying hard to encourage him to use his gifts.

"When Norman began writing some of the first books, he felt like a failure. In one particular, he tried to explain the principles of Christianity in easy-to-understand language. The entire manuscript discussed simple techniques from the Bible that encouraged people to renew their attitudes by being thankful and searching the Scriptures for powerful verses of faith. Norman was not satisfied with what he had written. He walked over to the wastebasket and dropped the manuscript in. He was certain it was not good.

Ruth continues, "I found the manuscript, cleaned it up some and sent it to a publisher. The book 'A Guide to Confident Living' went through 25 printings in the next few years. It was a very readable book with the message that with God's help, you can do anything. Of course, Norman went on to write other books, one of which, The Power of Positive Thinking, has remained in print to this day." This is what I learned from Norman and Ruth Peale (besides having a supportive partner is crucial for success): When the desire to quit is about to happen as it does to everybody at some point in their life, keep going anywhere. Believe in yourself. Believe in Him. Psalm 20:4, "May [God] grant your heart's desires and make all your plans succeed." Don't quit!

Instagram -> Richard_Angelus

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Angelus' Quote: You Mighty Man of Valor!

When the Angel of the Lord appeared to tell Gideon how God wanted him to save the people of Israel from the Midianites, the first words spoken were, “The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!” (Judges 6:12) Gideon showed his true colors when he replied, “But Lord, how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family” (v.15). That was the beginning of his many excuses.

Sound familiar? So often, we sense God telling us that He has something big for us to do. But because of a poor self-image, we say, “God, I can’t do that. You’ve got to find somebody more qualified. I don’t have what it takes.” We misheard what God is telling us. He says, “I’m with you” over and over again – that’s awesome! But then He adds, “Have I not sent you?” (v.14) God is saying this: “You are not alone, I’m with you. You're not the one who will fight, I will. I will fulfill what I sent you to do. Just obey.” Like Gideon, we count on our own strengths, “How can I save Israel?” You can’t. But God can! Like Gideon, we focus on our weaknesses, “My clan is the weakest…” but God says, “You are a mighty man (or woman) of valor!” Like Gideon, we feel “least” but He says – “The LORD is with you” – that’s more than one!

 Probably you’re hiding like Gideon (see v.11). But no more! Stand up you mighty man and woman of valor! You may feel unqualified, insecure, weak, fearful and insignificant, but God sees you as a victor!

Instagram --------> Richard_Angelus

Blog -> richardangelus.blogspot.my

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Angelus' Quote: It's Time to Break Things Off

If you’re feeling too much pressure to have sex, you’re dating the wrong person – and it’s time to break things off. If you’re seeing someone who’s pressuring you to become sexually active, here’s an important question to ask yourself: Why, in the name of common sense, would you want to date a person like that? After all, if the person you’re dating really cares about you – and if that person wants to spend the rest of his or her life with you – waiting isn’t really a sacrifice, it’s an honor. But if the person you’re dating simply views you as sexual conquest, then you’d better run, run as fast as you can… in the opposite direction, to God and His Word.

Common sense tells you to wait; God’s Word commands you to wait, and your conscience begs you to wait. So wait! And if somebody tells you to do otherwise, you have absolutely no business dating them. If you’re feeling pressure from your date, it’s time to end your date.

Goodbye!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Angelus' Quote: Unfriend Your Ex After Break Up

It has been said to "Always follow your heart" and it can be true sometimes. But when it comes to matters of the heart (I'm talking about emotion) listening to your head (logic) can save you a lot of pain. Listen to me - both as heart-breaker and as the heart that has been broken - please UNFRIEND your ex. It might don't make sense now; You might think that it's harmless; Perhaps you want to act kind or maybe you just don't have the gut to do it... Take a deep breath, let go of whatever confusing emotions you have right now, go to your ex's profile - UNFRIEND!

Why? In today's world, social networking is like living in a virtual world, and there are times when your virtual world and real world intersect. When it comes to relationships, all too often the virtual and real world are at odds. If you want to really let go, then please include let them go from your virtual world too. If you still keep your ex in your friend lists, it will make the hurt deeper, longer, harder to let go, make you feel insecure and negative (imagine you see your ex with someone new, then you'll think to yourself, "What's wrong with me?" "Am I not good enough?" "Is he/she happier without me?" and all sort of imaginary questions).

Don't be overconfident by saying, "No problem, we just gonna be normal friends" or "The past is the past, it won't affect me anymore." Unless you do not really love your ex before, these foolish talks are self-deceiving talks! You're not a robot, you're an emotional being. The reasonable thing to do is to UNFRIEND your ex. Plus, what if in the future you (thought you) already move on and found someone new, what if he or she finds out that you still connected with (or secretly 'stalking') your ex? I tell you, he or she will be mad and break up with you! Then, you neither have one or the other. So, don't be overconfident. Emotionally, this might be hard for you to do, I understand. But in a long-term, logically, this is the wisest thing to do. Listen to me: UNFRIEND your ex, Now!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Timothy, Don't Let Anyone Think Less of You! (1 Timothy 4:12, No Inferiority Complex Please)

"Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity"

(1 Timothy 4:12, NLT)

"[Don't] let anyone put you down because you're young. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity."

(The Message)

Today I preached the Word of God on manhood at the church. Although I've preached many times before to the youth and students, I never failed to feel nervous as if I'm going to do it the first time. Today particularly, I feel an extra boost of nervousness. I'm nervous not because I'm not prepared or because I fear the crowd, but because I'm going to preach on manhood to men who are older than me that were in the church just now. Nervous is good because it leads me to rely on God and be prayerful; fear is not because fear assumes that the Message is yours and not God's. So what did I do? I preached to myself this verse, God's assurance: "Richard, don't let anyone think less of you because you are young!" I repeated it many times and prayed to God with all my heart until God's Word become a reality to me. When the nervousness and the fear were gone, I preached the Word of God as it is – challenged the men (including the fathers), warned them, and plead for their needs for God to become their Father. I was bold and straight to the point! After I'm done, I became nervous again but with a sigh of relief. An older man came to me afterward and asked, "Can you come again next month?"

Timothy was a young man. Perhaps by this time, he may have been about 40 years old. A man of 40 was comparatively young compared with the Apostle Paul who perhaps at this time was close to 70. Kenneth S. Wuest, a Bible teacher, points out that "many of the elders at Ephesus may have been older than Timothy." Look at it this way: 40 years-old is considered old for an athlete (Lee Chong Wei, now 36, thought that he should be retired), young for minister (Syed Saddiq Syed, Youth and Sport Minister, turn 26 on 6th December 2018), and very young for Prime Minister (Mahathir Mohamad, now 93, the oldest PM in the history of Malaysia. The real Optimus Prime!).

When Paul told Timothy to "don't let anyone put you down because you're young," what he meant was: Do not develop an inferiority complex because you are younger than some of those to whom you minister. Do not be concerned if they do not understand that God has called you to this leadership position as pastor or teacher or preacher. Do not worry if they seek to ignore you because of your comparative immaturity. "Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity." A young man (my age is near to Timothy's) may be very immature in some respects (I admit), but if he is characterized by these things: careful as to his words, particular as to his behavior, manifesting the love of God, a man of faith and is careful as to purity of life – he will earn the respect and recognition from others, even the older ones. In short, Paul said to us to first "teach believers with your life." If these characters are in you, the people "will realize that though a young man there is something about him that marks him out as a man of God, and not one who is careless in his walk and slack in his service, or who are seeking an easy-going life as a professional cleric," said H.A. Ironside.

Don't let anyone think less of you and put you down because you are young.

Be an example to all believers and teach them with your life (too).

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus' Leadership #29 He Believed In His Disciples (from Unstable 'Reed' to Immovable 'Rock')

Jesus looked at a promising young man and said, "You are blessed, Simon son of John… Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church, and all the power of hell will not conquer it…" (Read Matthew 16:16-19, NLT). Simon meant "Reed" (as in a plant that sways when any force pushes it) while Peter meant "stone" or "rock" (Jesus is "the Rock", Peter is a small rock, stone). Surely Jesus must have seen something special in Peter because his record shows that he was rather a reckless guy – hardly the kind of person you would declare to be a leader or pioneer of everything you were doing.

Peter was presumptuous when he trying to keep Jesus from going to Jerusalem because he was afraid, denying even knowing Jesus when He was captured by the Romans soldiers (this was his ultimate failure), and cutting off the Romans guard's ear with a sword after Jesus had preached love and forgiveness to him for about 3 years!

I think Jesus had to believe in His disciples and He was committed to change them. Their backgrounds were not glorious and they did not grasp what He was saying most of the time. They were constantly arguing over who is the greatest among them and they (once) dozed off and forgot Him when He needed them the most. Yet, these were the people He chose to be His apostles not just disciples and He believes the best in each of them – even when there was evidence to the contrary! He continues to give them great-Kingdom responsibilities and ultimately they were able to do it by His power and grace (except, Judas Iscariot).

It was because of His inner knowledge that allowed Jesus to give His disciples authority. He freely shared with them His longings, His Divine purpose, and even His humanity. If He did not believe in them, He would not have called them brothers [and sisters]. He would not have taken them whenever He goes and tells them about the things of God and the Kingdom of Heaven. You see, people tend to rise to the occasion when they have someone who truly believes in them. Perhaps we just need someone to show us who we really are inside. Perhaps that is what we are all so desperately searching for – someone who believes in us and to acknowledge the potential that we each sense about ourselves but are hesitant to show.

Peter went on to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ to the formerly shunned Gentiles (see Acts 11:1-18). No other preacher or prophet (although Jonah preached to the Gentiles, he didn't bring Good News) had been called to go to the "unclean" Gentiles before with such Good News. According to church history, Peter eventually was crucified for his good work of preaching Christ and the Cross. In deference to Jesus, his Lord, it is said that he asked to be crucified upside down. This request came from a man whom everyone but Jesus called "Reed." Peter no more easily sway in his faith like a reed, his faith was firm and immovable like a rock!

To have someone we admire believe in us can help set our God-given greatness free. It certainly worked for Peter. Jesus believed in him and all of His disciples.

How can you show those who work with you that you believe in them?

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

John C. Maxwell on Leadership #23 Practice Your Craft Today

William Osler, the physician who wrote The Principles and Practice of Medicine in 1892, once told a group of medical students:

“Banish the future. Live only for the hour and its allotted work. Think not the amount to be accomplished, the difficulties to be overcome, or the end to attained, but set earnestly at the little task at your elbow, letting that be sufficient for the day; for surely our plain duty is, as Carlyle says, ‘Not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand.’”

The only way to improve is to practice your craft until you know it inside and out. At first, you do what you know to do. The more you practice your craft, the more you know. But as you do more, you will also discover more about what you ought to do differently. At that point you have a decision to make: Will you do what you have always done, or will you try to do more of what you think you should do? The only way you improve is to get out of your comfort zone and try new things.

People often ask me, “How can I grow my business?” or “How can I make my department better?” The answer is for you personally to grow. The only way to grow your organization is to grow the leaders who run it. By making yourself better, you make others better. Retired General Electric CEO Jack Welch said, “Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.” And the time to start is today.

Focus your energy on trying something within your strength zone but

outside of your comfort zone.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Self-Leadership #14 Build, Exhibit, and Breed Confidence

Confidence is the cornerstone of leadership. You can teach someone to be an effective problem-solver, be a better communicator, add more commitment, be passionate, and many other fundamentals of leadership. But, if a leader doesn't believe in himself or herself, true leadership will exist only in title and position. A leader that is technically qualified for the position but lack confidence will find it difficult to lead and inspired others. Francisco Dao once said, "Self-confidence is the fundamental basis from which leadership grows. Trying to teach leadership without first building confidence is like building a house on a foundation of sand. It may have a nice coat of paint, but it is ultimately shaky at best."

I once misunderstood the difference between displaying self-confidence and being aggressive in style of leadership. The truth is that they are far from the same. Those who are aggressive are better referred to as bullies, not leaders. Leaders who are with strong confidence do not have a need to be aggressive to get their goals accomplished. Being aggressive is actually a sign of lack of confidence. People like to work with leaders who are truly confident but avoid bullies. Why is this so? Because when a leader exhibits confidence, it makes it easier to trust that leader, and people want to work with leaders they trust.

Exhibiting confidence was only stage-setting, of course. The real confidence-builder was preparation. Alex Ferguson, in his book Leading, said that he prepared his players for every game, for every eventuality. Going into a football field, they believed that they would not encounter a situation that they weren't prepared to handle. Think of Julius Caesar's observation: "Without training, they lacked knowledge. Without knowledge, they lacked confidence. Without confidence, they lacked victory." Success, in turn, brought more confidence, which brought more success. You'll be surprised how much confidence a little success will bring!

Leaders who have self-confidence believe and trust in his or her team. When a leader believed in others, they came to believe in themselves. "Trust men and they will be true to you," reasoned Ralph Waldo Emerson, "treat them greatly and they will show themselves great." When a leader exhibits confidence, he can inspire others to be confident too – and convinced them that together they would succeed.

Here are three (3) things you can do to improve the confidence level in your team or organization:

#1 Exhibit Confidence: Confidence is catching, and so is a lack of confidence. If a leader being aggressive (or bullied), people will avoid him. But if a leader exudes confidence, his team will follow his lead.

#2 Success Breeds Confidence: A team that starts winning immediately increases its confidence and immediately increases its chance of winning again.

#3 Give People the Tools They Need: Training, training, training. Give people the skills and tools they need to succeed. Preparedness is the ultimate confidence builder.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Book Review: Spurgeon on Leadership (2010) by Larry J. Michael

Spurgeon on Leadership: Key Insights for Christian Leaders from the Prince of Preachers
(2003, 2010) by Larry J. Michael

Reading biographies – Christian biographies, especially – is one of the best decision I ever made and habit that I will keep for a lifetime. Philip Brooks, preacher, and author, said, "A biography is, indeed, a book; but far more than a book, it is a man… Never lay the biography down until the man is a living, breathing, acting person to you." We who are in the ministry – of all people – ought to read biographies. We minister to real people, and the better we understand great men and their times, the better we can minister to our people in our times. A truly good biography of a great person "has a universal quality about it that makes it touch life at many points," observed Warren W. Wiersbe.

Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892), well-known British’s 19th-century preacher, though I never met him, is my spiritual mentor. Since I read two of his awesome biographies Spurgeon: A New Biography (1984) by Arnold Dallimore and Charles Spurgeon: The Prince of Preacher (1997) edited by Dan Harmon, my respect, and admiration for him ever increases. It was intensified by my reading of Spurgeon Gold (2005) collection of quotes compiled by Ray Comfort and a huge volume of The Essential Works of Charles Spurgeon: Selected Books, Sermons and Other Writings (2009) edited by Daniel Partner which is over 1,391 pages! Many great preachers today also admire Spurgeon, men like John MacArthur [in his book Ashamed of the Gospel, MacArthur warned the church today not to be like the world. He uses the life of Spurgeon as an example of a faithful preacher of Christ] and John Piper for examples [he preached and wrote a book entitled Charles Spurgeon: Preaching Through Adversity]. Spurgeon is my spiritual mentor and his life is an inspiration for me. I never dream of becoming like him – far from it – because as Philip Brooks advice, "The object of reading biography… is not imitation but inspiration." Oh yes, an inspiration indeed!

Because of this, I rejoice gladly and read with great interest this book by Larry J. Michael. You can't separate Charles Spurgeon, pastor of the first megachurch in church history, from his excellent leadership. Beside pastored a megachurch, he also began a college to train pastors, founded an orphanage, instituted countless charitable organizations, sending missionaries, and bless other churches through his preaching, publishing books and book ministry for not-well-to-do pastors. No doubt among churches today this type of leader is in high demand, and Spurgeon's leadership style and innovations provide a challenging model. Rich Warren writes, "Spurgeon's model of leadership has profoundly influenced my life and ministry." Tom. S. Rainer agrees, "In every generation as few leaders emerge to set the pace and established the standards for leadership. [C.H. Spurgeon] was definitely one of these great leaders." John C. Maxwell simply says, "I highly recommend this book to all serious students of leadership!"

Here Michael points out not merely the insights of what it means to be an influential leader but also important fundamentals such as Christian commitment and moral character. Moreover, he shows how Spurgeon demonstrated extreme courage and conviction for those principles and how, in the various controversies that surrounded his ministry, he rose to meet them with a genuine sense of Christian maturity and Biblical constancy. Michael also stresses important characteristics such as grasping a vision for the task and prioritizing one's ministry in both the setting and the context of pastoral compassion and leadership. He also highlights Spurgeon as Christian model for both his staff, church members, and – especially for his family. Here too Michael does not exclude the fact that leadership often entails suffering and that was where Spurgeon truly ascended to the heights of leadership (besides physical illnesses, he also suffered depression). This book officially becomes my favorite leadership book!

It is divided into 3 parts and each cover leadership insights that are both historical in its context and practical for today's applications:

Part 1: The Leader for All Seasons

#1 Competence: Developing and Demonstrating Leadership

#2 Confidence: Balancing Faith, Attitude, Initiative, and Humility

#3 Context: Spurgeon in Victorian England

#4 Calling: Conversion and Growth

#5 Character: An Example of Integrity

Part 2: Leading Through the Seasons

#6 Casting Vision: Spurgeon's Goals and Planning

#7 Courage: Standing for Righteousness, Scripture, and Sound Teaching

#8 Commitment: Teaching and Modelling Devotion to Family

#9 Creativity: Preaching, Methods, and Ministry Innovations

#10 Compassion: Personal Toughness and Pastoral Tenderness

#11 Compass: Leading Despite Criticism and Conflict

#12 Coping: Dealing with Illness and Depression

Part 3: Applying the Lessons of a Leader

#13 A Leader for the World in Crisis

#14 A Leader for the Daily Challenge

Do you know why Spurgeon was such a great leader? For your information, he didn't go to any theological school (huh, I’m glad). Humanly speaking, he was self-taught. This is his theology and how he became a great man of God: "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus is my Lord!" he exclaimed. With Lord Jesus Christ as his Master, only Master, everyone including Spurgeon is nothing but the humble servant of God. He first a follower of Jesus, then only he is a leader of men. Keep this in mind.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Simple Book Review: "TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking" (2016)

TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking (2016)
by Chris Anderson

If you want to improve your public speaking, I highly recommend this book. This is the only public speaking guide you ever need today! I love to watch TED talks on YouTube, at least once per week. I learned so much. TED is a short form for Technology, Entertainment and Design. At first TED began as an annual conference, but in recent years it has expanded to cover any topic of public interest. I like TED’s mission very much: To nurture the spread of powerful ideas or simply put “ideas worth spreading.” 

Chris Anderson, head of TED, believe that as “ants shape each other’s behaviour by exchanging chemicals, we do it by standing in front of each other, peering into each other’s eyes, waving our hands and emitting strange sounds from our mouths.” Public speaking if done right, it can “electrify a room and transform an audience’s worldview.” Thus, a great talk is its freshness. “Your only real job in giving a talk is to have something valuable to say, and to say it authentically in your own unique way.” Yes, but how? Well, this book will tell you how. If you’re a student or your work require you to do public speaking and presentations, then, behold, buy or borrow this book [Carmine Gallo also have written a book on public speaking in 2014 entitled Talk Like TED. You may want to buy this book if you can’t find Anderson’s]

At TED, speakers are require to present their ideas – experiences or achievements, talents or skills, studies or researches, innovations or inventions – in 18 minutes. For some people, 18 mins is like 18 hours, but for most people that have great ideas, 18 mins is too short. Chris writes “you will only cover as much ground as you can dive into in sufficient depth to be compelling.” In this book, Chris carefully guide readers to create talk that can transform people’s worldview, unlocking empathy, stirring excitement, sharing knowledge and insights and promoting a shared dream. And hopefully in 18 mins for a lifetime impact. Here are the contents of this book:

Prologue: The New Age of Fire

Foundation

#1 Presentation Literacy: The Skill You Can Build

#2 Idea Building: The Gift in Every Great Talk

#3 Common Traps: Four Talk Styles to Avoid

#4 The Throughline: What’s Your Point?

Talk Tools

#5 Connection: Get Personal

#6 Narration: The Irresistible Allure of Stories

#7 Explanation: How to Explain Tough Concepts

#8 Persuasion: Reason Can Change Minds Forever

#9 Revelation: Take My Breath Away!

Preparation Process

#10 Visuals: Those Slides Hurt!

#11 Scripting: To Memorize or Not to Memorize?

#12 Run-Throughs: Wait, I Need to Rehearse?

#13 Open and Close: What Kind of Impression Would You Like to Make?

On Stage

#14 Wardrobe: What Should I Wear?

#15 Mental Prep: How Do I Control My Nerves?

#16 Setup: Lectern, Confidence Monitor, Note Cards, or (Gulp) Nothing?

#17 Voice and Presence: Give Your Words the Life They Deserve

#18 Format Innovation: The Promise (and Peril) of Full-Spectrum Talks

Reflection

#19 Talk Renaissance: The Interconnectedness of Knowledge

#20 Why This Matters: The Interconnectedness of People

#21 Your Turn: The Philosopher’s Secret

Borrow mine if you want… :)

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus, I Will Anchor My Trust in You (Because You Promise First)

“Let not your heart be troubled. You are trusting God, now trust in me. There are many homes up there where my Father lives, and I am going to prepare them for your coming. When everything is ready, then I will come and get you, so that you can always be with me where I am. If this weren’t so, I would tell you plainly”
(John 14:-3, The Living Bible)

After shocking hearing what Lord Jesus said about Judas’s betrayal, Peter’s future denial, and His own imminent death, the disciples must have been confused and troubled (read John 13:28). So Jesus told them to anchor their trust in Him. Jesus said that He and the Father would prepare a place for the disciples while He was gone and that – He would return for them.

Jesus knew He would be taken forcefully from them, falsely accused, tortured and crucified. He knew the disciples would scatter and hide, their faith will be strongly tested. So He encouraged them to anchor on to their trust in God and to trust in Him. Later, Jesus told the disciples why He had given them glimpses of the future: “I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do, you’ll believe in me” (John 14:29). When Judas’s betrayal and Peter’s denial happened, they would believe that Jesus was who He said He was. After all, He had predicted those very events. Thus the disciples could be confident that everything (all!) that Jesus had predicted and promised would come true.

Jesus had said that He would “prepare” homes for them (for us) – in His Father’s house – and He reaffirmed that promise over and over again, adding that eventually they would “always be with [Jesus]”, reunited forever with the Father in heaven.

Jesus’ promises to the disciples really encourage me personally and I hope to you too. Throughout His time with His followers, Jesus had warned them about opposition ahead of them. He had always told them the truth, even the predictions of pain, separation, rejection and persecution. And everything happened just as He said! So we can believe His words about the future too. What a glorious future that will be! Together with Jesus forever! In the meantime, during our struggles and sorrows, we anchor our trust in Him. When we feel lonely and abandoned, we anchor in Him. When we don’t know what to do or which way to turn, we anchor in Him. Remember, Jesus is preparing a place, our place now. “If this weren’t so, I would tell you plainly.”

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus Wants to Hear You Pray: We Have Freedom of Speech with God (1 John 5:13-15)

“I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for”

(1 John 5:13-15, NLT).

The Apostle John begins by mentioning that this letter is written especially for people who are already believers: “to you who believe in the name of the Son of God” (although anybody else is welcome to read it as well, I’m sure). Why? So that we know for sure that we “have eternal life.” John is concerned that we must have the confidence and toughness we need as we are confronted by false teachers and other pressures. Some false beliefs in John’s day as well as today, were probably attractive and promised all kinds of things. So, in moments of weakness, some people would give in to the pressure and leave their faith in Jesus. Friends, in tough times, we need to be confident in the “Son of God” that we will receive “eternal life”! No ifs, ands, or buts. Our futures are in God’s faithful hands.

There are other sources of confidence besides knowing that we have eternal life: We can live with the confidence that God cares for us so much that we can speak boldly with God through prayer. “We are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.” We can share with God what is on our minds without being afraid of how He will respond. We have a freedom of speech with God. We can share our frustrations and anger as well as our praise, love, and concerns with God. God can take whatever we need to share. We don’t have to force our way into God’s presence to make an appointment months in advance as if He were the CEO of a large company or government. God is always available. There is no answering service, no busy signal, and no forwarding e-mail address. God is ready to talk with us, 24-7 a day.

God wants what is best for us. Pray for “anything.” But we are taught to pray for “anything that pleases him” or more accurately – pray “according to His will” (NIV). This is a balanced prayer. In other words, we should share our concerns with God and ask that we will want what God wants for us. This can help us get beyond presenting God with a grocery list of “our requests” for which we expect certain answers. As we tell God about our concerns, we can say that we may not be sure what the best answer is – but God knows the best for us.

Remember: Prayer involves both talking and listening. Maybe you are wondering how we can listen to God. I never have heard an audible “voice” from God. I know that some people claim to hear God on a daily basis. But that hasn’t been true for me (Am I or you less ‘spiritual’ than others if we don’t? Maybe not so). I find that Lord Jesus most often speaks to me through my own common sense and conscious, through circumstances and other people, and especially – the written Word of God, the Bible. However God speaks to you – I hope mainly from God’s Word – you can be sure and confident that He wants to hear you and wants the very best for you as well. Amen.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

In Jesus, We Are Victorious! (1 John 5:3-5)

“Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God”

(1 John 5:3-5, NLT).

I noticed that our love for God is not so much an emotional feeling as it is practical and active. We show our love by our actions, by “keeping his commandments.” This may sound kind of easy, but it’s not always so, is it? Sometimes we may just be too busy thinking about something else, like workloads, worried about how we look or act, or feel tired or sick. At times like these, we need to remember the promise of Jesus Christ: “Come to me, all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). So, when we’re burned out and feel that God’s commandments are “burdensome” – when we’re exhausted, too busy, or when our feelings get kind of numb, we are promised that, as we share our concerns with Jesus, we will get great relief. We can cast our concerns and burdens upon God because God really cares about us (read 1 Peter 5:7).

Not only does Jesus promise to give us relief and rest but He also promises to give us strength. No matter what our age, there are times we may just feel like we want to let go of everything and sleep for days and days. Life can just be too much, and who can care about other people at those times? But as we learn to keep the right balance in our lives – especially as we learn to include God in our plans and put Him at the center of what is important to us – we will be given new strength we never thought we would have. God’s got enough power and strength to last all of us through our lifetimes! So, God has not imposed a lot of impossible demands and rules on us only to walk out and slam the door. God is right here with us, never leaving us (even at times when we may not feel close to Him), always encouraging and giving us the strength we need to “keep his [not burdensome] commandments.” God wants what is best for us and wants us to have deeper joy in Him.

“And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God” Obeying God’s commandments and having faith in Jesus is one and the same, and interrelated – only God’s children will do. Our faith in Jesus brings us great victory: we can overcome and “defeat this evil world” The temptations of the world can be very appealing and alluring. The pressure to be like everyone else – to have certain things and to act in certain ways – can be overpowering. But with God on our side, we “can win this battle against the world.” We don’t need to walk around and act defeated. With God’s help, we are really victorious in life!

If you have ever won some kind of contest (I once won a musical contest during my university time, battle of the band. Or whatever you had won) you know how great you feel when you win – as if you could conquer the world! That’s the kind of attitude that God wants for us in life – a winning, forward-looking, confident, expecting the best, stretching us to the limit. “We achieve this victory through our faith” in “the Son of God.” If you’re God’s child, you don’t have to feel defeated, inadequate, and expecting the worst. In Jesus, you’re victorious! Amen.  

THINK BIG. START SMALL GO DEEP.

Jesus's Perfect Love = No Fear of God's Judgement and Punishment (1 John 4:17-18)

“[As] we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love”

(1 John 4:17-18, NLT).

Early in the Apostle John’s letter (1 John 2:28), he talks about the confidence we will have when Christ returns because of our faith in God. At that time, people who have turned away from God will feel afraid and helpless. It will be too late – nothing more can happen. The opportunities people have had to understand God’s Word or to accept Jesus – the Son of God – as Lord and Saviour will be gone, and unbelievers will be speechless and unable to move because of their fear. True Christians, on the other hand, will feel strong and sure; they have put their belief in God.

Fears and anxieties are powerful emotions. Whether we feel fear (when we know what we are afraid of), or anxiety (when we feel afraid but we’re not sure what is causing it), such feelings can make us want to back off, withdraw, run or hide. We will often feel unsure or powerless when faced with a certain situation or person. And running away may seem like the only solution. Some of us may feel that our fears are controlling us; all we can think about is being afraid. Sometimes we even get afraid of being afraid, so we avoid certain situations to keep from becoming so strong that they overwhelm us.

But here is the great news (!) for coping with our fears: “As we live in God, our love grows more perfect… Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear.” As we walk in God’s light and live with God, our fears are banished. There is no room for fear in love. It is like oil and water – the two will just not mix. Love and fear are like that; they are not compatible. God calls us to be strong, courageous persons, not weak, cowardly nerds. “Love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear.”

Friends, let’s go back to the confidence we will have as Christians when Christ returns. We know that “we will not be afraid on the day of judgment” or “fear of punishment” because we have accepted Christ (if not, you’re sure to be afraid). Jesus Christ Himself is on our side, His blood covers us – and God’s Spirit lives within us. As we believe and have confidence in God about the future, we can learn to cope with our fears on a day-to-day basis. We need to recognize and deal with our fears rather than avoid them. Then we can pray that God will help us face those situations that make us so afraid, to give us the courage to walk towards our fears rather than away from them. Well, walking through our fears may feel like walking through a long, dark tunnel. If we think about how long the tunnel is we may be tempted to give up. But if we take one step at a time, soon we feel stronger and our fears begin to lose their power. Soon the light at the end of the tunnel gets brighter and brighter, and we can find our way more easily than before. No fear.

The Apostle Paul reminds us that “God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7). That is a gift God has given us. But it’s like a Christmas present. If we put a present away and don’t unwrap it, the gift won’t do us any good.  And the gifts of courage and love won’t be ours until we claim them and ask God to change whatever habits have been giving us problems. And this love we experience with God becomes more and more perfect (or mature and complete). “As we live in God, our love grows more perfect.” It just keeps getting better and better toward perfection in Christ.

So the next time you feel like running for your life, stop! Remember the courage God promises to give you. Make use of it. Face your fears. Claim God's promises and words. And your fears will do the running instead of you. Amen?

Come let us “fully experienced his perfect love.”

With Christ. No fear.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus Is the Embodiment of "God Is Love" (1 John 4:7-8; 13-16)

John the disciple of Jesus, was known as "the son of thunder" had become "the Apostle of love."
Love effects

“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who love is child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love”

(1 John 4:7-8, NLT).

This is the third (or more) time that the Apostle John brings up the subject of “love”. So it must really have been a great concern for him – especially God Himself. But each time John talks about love, he doesn’t just repeat himself but talks about love in a deeper way, that is why I love God’s Word because it is never boring. How John knows about “love” so much? Because John had lived with Jesus physically on earth and after the resurrection, Jesus lives in him (and all of us) thru the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the embodiment of God, love in action. So John can say with confidence: “God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world. All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love” (1 John 4:13-16). John is not talking about theory or principle, but the reality of love – John has seen Jesus and he knows that “God is love.”

From our previous studies we have already seen that love and hate are like light and darkness. And that we show people that we are God’s children by the way we treat other people. But here John ties the subject of love into the very essence of who God is – “God is love.” John says that love begins with God. Since the very beginning of time, God has cared about the world and people. The Bible says, “For God loved the world so much…” (John 3:16).

[Basically, there are three ways the word “world” is referred to: 1) the physical world, 2) the world's evil system, and 3) the people of the world. We are to love 3) and care for 1) but to hate 2) totally.]

Way back in the Book of Genesis, we read that God created people in His image – in the likeness of God (see Genesis 1:26). We are different from the tigers and monkeys, the pigs and the fish. We are special and different from everything else that God has made. And to be created in the image of God, we must love, since God is both the source and origin of love. It is just God's nature to love. Thus, by knowing Jesus we know God (John 14:7), we then learn to love; and by loving other people - especially our brothers and sisters in Christ - we learn to know God and His Son. It works both ways. The word “know” here is more than just a head or intellectual knowledge. To know God is to share our lives with God. It is the deepest kind of friendship or relationship – the best kind of all.

“Let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God.

Anyone who love is child of God and knows God.”

And Jesus says, “If you had really known me,

you would who my Father is” (John 14:7).

Do you know who God is? Do you know what love is? Know Jesus.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.