Young Men and Women, Consider the Union with Jesus

“Don’t you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ?"

(1 Corinthians 6:15, NLT)

One of the most important doctrines (teachings) relating to the inner spiritual life of the believer is that of his union with Jesus Christ – we are “parts of Christ.” Indeed it could be claimed that it is our only hope of victory over sin and of triumph in the testing circumstances of life, and of abundant and prosperity of life! Yet many Christians do not know that they have been united with Christ and that Christ is in them and them in Christ. If we realize that we “are actually parts of Christ” – union with Him – everything He accomplished by His life, death and resurrection become ours.

Several figures are used in Scripture to illustrate this wonderful and mysterious union. There is the figure of marriage: “Now you are united (or married) with the one who was raised from the dead” (Romans 7:4). This is the highest and most intimate union known to man and is a picture of Christ and His Church. Marriage “is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one” (read Ephesians 5:31-33).

There is the figure of the body and the head. “…growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church” (Ephesians 4:15). This picture here is of mutual dependence through sharing the same life. The smallest member of the body shares the life of the head.

Jesus also used the figure of the vine and the branches. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches” (John 15:5). The vine and the branches are one. Neither can exist independently of the other but it is the vine that supplies the nutrients and sap to the branches for fruit-bearing. The sole responsibility of the branch is to receive from the root and stem the vital, nourishing fluid. Then fruit-bearing is automatic and inevitable!

To Hudson Taylor, the great missionary, at a time when he was heavily burdened, the fact of the union of the believer with Christ as illustrated by the vine and the branches brought a transformation of experience to him. Here are his own words: “Here I feel is the secret. Not asking how I am to get the sap out of the vine into myself, but remember that Jesus is the Vine – root, stem, branches, leaves, twigs, flowers, fruit. Let us not want to get anything out of Him, but rejoice in ourselves being in Him. I have not got to make myself a branch. The Lord tells me I am a branch. I am part of Him and have just to believe and act on it.”

We are parts of Christ.

Believe and act on it!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Young Men and Women, Consider the Power of Jesus

“[I am] glad to boast about my weaknesses,

so that the power of Christ can work through me”

(2 Corinthians 12:9, NLT)

It is a truth of Scripture that whatever Jesus is, He is for us by virtue of our union with Him. His power works through me or dwells in me. He is the “reservoir of divine omnipotence from which we can constantly draw for our ever-recurring needs.”

It is good to know that the Greek word dunamis, or inherent power, is different from exousia, or authority. The writers of the Gospel never used the word dunamis together with our Lord while He was on earth nor in the Bible does Jesus ever exercise His dumanis. There is only one occasion on which both words are used of Him: “What authority (exousia) and power (dunamis) this man’s words possess! Even evil spirits obey him, and they flee at his command!” (Luke 4:36). But these were the words of neither the comment of the Gospel’s writers nor of Jesus Himself, but of the people, the spectators. Elsewhere, only exousia (authority) is used of Him. “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth…” (Matthew 28:18).

Jesus was the Son of God but He completely identified Himself with the human race – us. Therefore, in fulfilling His earthly ministry, He never exercised or draw on His inherent power (although He could!) but exerted only the authority delegated from His Father.

There is much comfort and encouragement for us redeemed-sinners in this fact. When we read of Jesus’ miraculous works of power, it seems like it does not help us much. We say, “Yes, that is wonderful but He was the Son of God. I am just a weak and sinful man. Christ had powers and resources that are not available to me. He was sinless and I am sinful.” But that is just where we are wrong.  Although Jesus possessed limitless inherent power, He voluntarily refrained from using it (He can but He won’t). In order that Jesus might be made “in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters” (Hebrews 2:17), He renounced that privilege and restrict Himself to exercise only the authority His Father had delegated to Him. Jesus claimed: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself” (John 5:19).

His miracles were not performed by innate power, but in dependence upon the Holy Spirit’s dunamis. In the same way, the miracles done by the apostles were done by the authority He delegated to them. So, instead of being discouraged by the fact that Jesus was the Son of God, we can be encouraged that He chose to be continually dependent on His Father for power to do His will. We can do the same!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus Prayed Eyes Wide Open: Awake and Watchful

“[Jesus] brought them [the disciples] to a garden grove, Gethsemane, and told them to sit down and wait while he went on ahead to pray. He took Peter with him and Zebedee’s two sons James and John, and began to be filled with anguish and despair. Then he told them, ‘My soul is crushed with horror and sadness to the point of death… stay here… stay awake with me’”
(Matthew 26:36-38, The Living Bible)

The Gospels tell us that Jesus and His disciples regularly visited Gethsemane. After the last supper, Jesus took them with Him. Once they were in the grove, Jesus had eight of the disciples stay close to the entrance while He moved deeper among the trees to pray. Some says that it was a rocky place surrounded by trees. Jesus then took Peter, James and John with Him, the same three who had accompanied Him on the mountain when He was transfigured in Matthew 17:1-13 [At this point, Judah Iscariot was going to the Pharisees to betray Him]. I assumed those with Jesus could clearly see that their Master was “anguish and despair.”

Then Jesus told the three who were with Him, “My soul is crushed with horror and sadness to the point of death… stay here… stay awake with me.” Newer translation translated: “Stay here and keep watch with me” (NLT). Jesus was literally said: “I am very sad” or “grieved.” This statement by Jesus reminds me of Isaiah’s words about the Suffering Servant whom God would eventually send to His people, the Messiah: “We despised him and rejected him – a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised and we didn’t care” (Isaiah 53:3). Jesus was about to experience the worst parts of His earthly life…

Jesus asked the three, “Stay here… stay awake with me” or “Stay here and keep watch with me.” The term He used means “keep aware.” Jesus wasn’t asking them to pray while He go for ministry; He was asking them to pray alertly as He Himself was praying. This is interesting: It is not likely that Jesus closed His eyes during prayer, nor that He instructed His disciples to do so. We’re told that before He raised Lazarus from the grave, “Jesus looked up to heaven and said…” (John 11:41); also, at the beginning of His high priestly prayer, “When Jesus had finished saying all these things he looked up to heaven and said…” (John 17:1). I noticed that keeping awake and watchful were what in Jesus’ mind as He talked about prayer.

Even though Jesus is the Son of God, in times of crisis, as a man He turned to prayer and bringing others to join Him. He expressed His dependence on God and His dependence on others too. He went to the cross alone but He invited others to walk there with Him as far as possible. This make me think: People we depend on often let us down (and we, in the same way, let others down) but that is not necessarily a compelling reason to stop depending on others. Even though Jesus knew the shortcomings of His disciples, He trusted them in His hour of need. After all, that was the only way for them to eventually learn to be trustworthy. For a very independent person like me, these lessons from Jesus are great reminder for me to: 1) Pray by keeping awake and watchful; and 2) Learn to depend and trust on others, just like Jesus. Amen.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus is able to Rescue Us from Temptation

Jesus crushed the Serpent, the Devil under His feet at the Cross. Jesus wins. 

“And don’t let us yield to temptation,

but rescue us from the evil one”

(Matthew 6:13, NLT).

Traditionally the first half of this verse asks, “Lead us not into temptation” (KJV), but a more accurate translation is “Don’t let us yield to temptation.” God doesn’t tempt us, as James clearly states: “When you are being tempted, do not say, ‘God is tempting me.’ God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away” (James 1:13-14, NLT). At times God allows us to be tempted, as a test. But this testing always has a purpose. Always. God continually works to refine his people, teach them to depend on him. How he does this differs in every person’s life. Don’t try to compare.

The next line has been translated “Deliver us from evil” (KJV), but the more accurate translation is “Rescue us from the evil one.” Satan, the evil one, is actively looking for ways to harm God’s people, to throw them off course. Jesus wanted his followers to place their trust in God during trying times and to pray for deliverance from “the evil one” and his deceit. We can’t – absolutely can’t – resist temptation or defeat in our own strength; we must depend on God working in us and in our situation. Believers who pray these last lines of the Lord’s Prayer seriously will realize their sinful nature and their need to depend on God in the face of temptation.

Think about this: All Christians struggle with temptation. A temptation can be so subtle that we don’t even realize what is happening. Yet hear this promise: “God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show a way out so that you can endure” (1 Corinthians 10:13, NLT). When temptations hit, thank God for trusting you that much, ask him to show you what to do, and pray for his strength to deliver you from the evil one. Ask God to show you ways to resist and endure, and thank him in advance for his promise of deliverance.

The truth is Jesus himself when he became human were being tempted (Matthew 4) but he never sinned. The Bible says Jesus “shared fully in our experience of temptation, except that he never sinned. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace will fullest confidence, that we may receive mercy for our failures and grace to help in the hour of need” (Hebrew 4:15-16, J.B. Philips). Thus, as man, Jesus experiences our temptations; as God, he is able to rescue us from temptation and the deceits of the evil one. And even if we fall into temptation (it won’t be long, repent), his mercy and grace is there to lift you up again. Amen.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP. 

Jesus taught that God is our Sustainer and Provider

“May your [God’s] Kingdom come soon.

May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us today the food we need”

(Matthew 6:10-11, NLT).

The Jewish people knew the prophecies of a coming Messiah, whom they expected to throw off the nation’s oppressors, defeat her enemies, and restore Israel to her former glory under King David and King Solomon (called the “Golden Age of Israel Kingdom”). God had announced his Kingdom in the Covenant with Abraham (see Genesis 17:7-8), and pious Jews were still waiting for it – even today. So most Jews found accepting Jesus as the Messiah to be very difficult because Jesus preached a spiritual Kingdom, not an earthly, physical one. At least the physical one – future Kingdom – is coming soon but first, spiritual Kingdom.

When Jesus told his disciples to pray, “May your Kingdom come soon,” he was referring to God’s spiritual reign, not Israel’s freedom from Rome. To pray, “May your Kingdom come soon,” is to ask that more and more people will enter God’s Kingdom and to ask God to rule in their lives. It also reaffirms belief in the coming of a future Kingdom, when all evil will be destroyed, God will establish the new heaven and earth, and his glory will be known to all the nations (Psalm 110:1, Revelation 21:1).

Saying “May your will be done” acknowledge total submission to God’s rule, praying that God’s perfect purpose will be accomplished in this world (“on earth”) as it already is in heaven. With submission to God and his rule comes total dependence. The next request regards personal needs and provisions. “Give us today the food we need” or better “Give us today our daily bread.” “Food” or “bread” refers to food in general, though it could also refer to spiritual nourishment. Ask God for physical and spiritual “food.” Notice that we must trust God “today” to provide what he knows we need.

Think about this: Believers must trust God for provision and not worry. The fact that God provides daily food does not mean we should just sit back, relax, and wait for food (or money) to drop into our laps. We need to work to earn enough to pay for what we eat. Praying for daily food acknowledges that God is Sustainer and Provider. God gives us ability and opportunities to work. He provides.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

5 Important Lessons I Learned from Jesus (A Reflection on Mark 6:30-44)

At first Jesus intentions was to take his disciples away for a brief “staff retreat”. They had just returned from their preaching mission and “met with Jesus, and told him all they had done and taught” (Mark 6:30, GNB) and they were tired. Jesus understand their fatigue and said to them, “Let us go off by ourselves to some place where we will be alone and you can rest for a while” (6:31). So they started out in a boat by themselves for a lonely place. But the crowd followed them by land and arrived ahead of them. Then Jesus was filled with compassion. So he gathered them around and taught them.

By late afternoon the disciples interrupted Jesus to tell him that “It is already very late, and this is a lonely place. Send the people away, and let them go to the nearby farms and villages in order to buy themselves something to eat” (Mark 6:35-36). How considerate his disciples were to their Master and the people’s welfare. There was no food available, so it is practical to let the people go and find something to eat. But Jesus commanded them a very unpractical command, “You yourselves give them something to eat” (Mark 6:37). Doesn’t he knew that they were tired, a bit irritated by the people, and broke? Why would he asked them to give the multitude of crowd something to eat? What was in Jesus’ mind?

I think Jesus want to teach his disciples some lessons here. First, as it is also apply to us, that sometime we have to sacrifice our rest in order to attend the immediate needs. My number one priority in student ministry is to teach students to read and to live out the Gospel. There were time when I was very tired that I want my personal quiet, solitude and rest, then suddenly student leaders asked me to share God’s Word in their camp or Christian fellowship at campus (obviously because the initial speaker doesn’t turned up). What should I do? Say no and let the opportunity goes by? Never! First thing first. God first, personal second. People first, program second. “Sheep without shepherd” (6:34) first, be alone and rest second. Sometimes it’s the other way round. Use God-given wisdom and conscious.

Secondly, Jesus wants to teach them and us that success in the ministry (and life!) is dependence on Him. I think when they “met with Jesus, and told him all they had done and taught” (6:30) there was some proud moments involved. During the mission, they were casting out demons and healed people. What can be more excited than that? Sometime accomplishments and successes in ministry can intoxicated us with pride and sense of superiority. Overtime, if we’re not careful, we will think that all the things that we have done and achieved are due to our own efforts and independent from God. That’s why Jesus said, “You yourselves give them something to eat.”

Since they can’t do miracle on their own, to feed more than 5,000 men, they gave the most practical and calculative respond, “Do you want us to go and spend two hundred silver coins on bread in order to feed them?” (6:37). Peter and the gang why so cynical in your response, since you all had casting out demons and healing the sick, can you all perform some miracle here? No, Jesus will. He will show them and all of the people and us who the Boss is. Who is the source of success in God’s Kingdom and the Person in whom should we dependent upon.

So Jesus asked them, “How much bread have you got? Go and see” They told him, “Five loaves and also two fish” (Mark 6:38). Forget about logical thinking, mathematic equations and the law of physic, Jesus the Lord of all creation will defy all of them. “Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, and gave thanks to God. He broke the loaves and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people… Everyone ate and had enough… the number of men who were fed was 5,000” (Mark 41-44). Thirdly, Jesus teaches them and us that nothing is impossible for God. It doesn’t matter how much we have but how much we know who our God is. Even the situation may seem hopeless and impossible – 5 loaves and 2 fish vs. 5,000 hungry men – God of the Bible can make thing happen! Here Jesus also showed (forth lessons) that God not only cares for our spiritual needs (Jesus taught God’s Word) but also for our physical needs as well (Jesus feeds his people). Just like Jesus, we should care for people’s spiritual and physical needs around us too. Awesome Jesus! Thank you Lord.

Fifthly, by performing this miracle, Jesus showed himself to be the Messiah.

The Jew expected the Messiah to bring manna down from heaven

just as Moses had done in the wilderness. Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Why the Poor are Blessed?

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”
(Matthew 5:3, ESV)

Matthew chapter 5:1-12 is called the Beatitudes. If I’m not mistaken the word derives from ‘beauty’ and ‘attitude’ which mean ‘beautiful attitude’ as described by Lord Jesus Himself. As we read the Beatitudes, we must understand that it was addressed basically to Jesus’ disciples (therefore, this part of the Bible verses is not suitable for the nonbelievers. Not that they can’t understand, but that it doesn’t make sense to them). The Beatitudes describe the attitudes and characteristics of a true disciple, not a code or set of rules to be followed legalistically. This is how Jesus’ followers ought to live.

“Blessed” is a happy word. It describes someone who is to be congratulated because his or her place in life is a fortunate and happy one. But then we read the recipients: “are the poor in spirit” – not so happy words. Why “the poor” are “blessed”? Go to the city of Kuala Lumpur, can we say that the poor are blessed? Walk around any Sarawak marketplaces, do we say that ‘Wow, look at the poor, they are so blessed!’? Surely, there were many poor people during Jesus’ time. I bet they will roll their eyes if this is what Jesus meant by “the poor.”

“The poor” that Lord Jesus referring here is to the poor “in spirit” not to the poor in pocket! There are two words for “poor” in Jesus’ contemporary language: first, one who has nothing superfluous; second, one who has nothing at all – totally bankrupt and has no resources. Lord Jesus used the second meaning here. Therefore, to be “poor in spirit” is not to be poor-spirited in the sense of timid or cowardly or materially poor but to acknowledge (very important word, acknowledge) one’s spiritual bankruptcy before God.

Do you “poor in spirit” by recognize and confess your unworthiness and unrighteousness in the sight of God? Do you “poor in spirit” by not being proud and self-sufficient? Do you “poor in spirit” that you call out to God for mercy because in reality you’re bankrupt and have nothing except Him? In summary: “Blessed” are those who acknowledge that in the presence of God, they are nothing, bankrupt spiritually because to them belongs “the kingdom of heaven.” Not a reward for good works, but the “poor in spirit” depend on God.  Not to be earned, but a gift of grace. Happy! Happy! Blessed!

Jesus painted the picture of blessedness in reverse of what the men of the world

considered fortunate and happy. He is different; we’re different, my friends.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Nota Khas bagi orang Kristian yang Sedang Mengalami Penderitaan dan Kesusahan Hidup

 “Kita tahu bahawa penderitaan menghasilkan ketekunan.
Ketekunan menyebabkan kita diperkenankan oleh Allah.
Oleh itu kita mempunyai harapan” (Roma 5:3-4).

Apa yang kelihatan [kesusahan] hanya tahan sementara,
tetapi apa yang tidak kelihatan itu [kemuliaan] kekal selama-lamanya” (2 Korintus 4:18).

Di dalam masyarakat sekarang, dimana keinginan untuk menjadi senang dalam sekelip mata dan keinginan untuk hidup gembira senantiasa adalah beberapa faktor utama yang penghalang kita untuk memahami maksud tersirat di dalam penderitaan atau kesusahan yang kita alami di dalam kehidupan ini. Malah, kita sanggup membuat apa sahaja untuk mengelak semua itu. Namun begitu, bagi orang Kristian khususnya, penderitaan yang kita alami di dalam hidup ini ialah cubaan yang terpenting bagi kita untuk menguatkan iman kita dalam Yesus Kristus dan untuk kita bertumbuh secara rohani melalui pengharapan kita kepada-Nya.

Tiada seorang pun di dunia ini yang suka akan penderitaan, pencubaan dan kesusuhan kerana semua ini akan mencabar kita secara fisikal, mental, emosi dan rohani. Namun, bagi orang yang pernah melalui semua ini dengan iman yang teguh dan harapan yang bersandarkan kepada kekuatan Tuhan Allah – mereka ‘keluar’ dari cabaran-cabaran ini menjadi lebih kuat iman dan lebih bijaksana. Adakah kamu pernah mengalami perubahan seperti ini? Jika pernah, kamu pasti tahu apa yang saya cuba maksudkan di sini.

Sebelum saya pandai bermain bola sepak sewaktu remaja dahulu, saya pernah jatuh terseliuh dan tangan saya retak kerana berlanggar dengan tiang gol (ketawalah). Sebelum saya pandai bermain gitar, jari-jari saya menjadi bengkak kerana terlampau lama belajar menekan kod-kod gitar (senyumlah). Sebelum saya lulus memandu kereta, saya selalu melanggar tiang-tiang semasa latihan meletak kereta dan tergelungsur ke belakang semasa latihan naik bukit (Wah, wah, wah, kamu tidak pernah ka?). Semua contoh-contoh ini boleh juga kita samakan dengan kehidupan rohani kita.

Kita tidak mungkin boleh menjadi seorang Kristian yang teguh iman dan penuh berharap dengan Tuhan Allah sekiranya kita tidak pernah mengalami kesusahan dan percubaan hidup. Tidak dinafikan bahawa Tuhan Yesus tidak senang melihat kita sengsara, namun begitu kadang-kadang Dia akan membenarkan kesengsaraan dan penderitaan terjadi di dalam kehidupan kita supaya iman kita diteguhkan, peribadi kita dikuatkan, dan harapan kita kepada-Nya akan menjadi semakin nyata di dalam hidup kita.

Melalui penderitaan, Tuhan Allah mahukan kita supaya mengalihkan pandangan kita kepada-Nya. Dia mengingini supaya kita bergantung harap kepada-Nya dan mempercayai setiap janji-janji-Nya di dalam Firman-Nya yang Hidup, Al-Kitab. Kita harus mengalami kasih-Nya di dalam penderitaan dan memahami kasih-Nya melalui pengalaman peribadi kita. Ini janji-Nya di dalam 1 Petrus 5:10, “[Tetapi] setelah kamu menanggung penderitaan untuk sementara waktu, Allah sendiri akan menyempurnakan kamu. Dia akan menegakkan, menguatkan, dan mengukuhkan kamu, kerana Dia Allah yang sangat baik hati dan yang sudah memanggil kamu untuk turut menikmati kemuliaan-Nya yang kekal, kerana kamu hidup bersatu dengan Kristus”.

“Dialah yang berkuasa selama-lamanya! Amin” (1 Petrus 5:11).

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

When Our Strength Gone, God’s Strength Shown

“The greatest discovery we can make is to realize that our own strength is not enough” (Catherine Marshall)

When things are going bad, when situation turned ugly, and when there seem to be no hope at all, you wonder – Where is God when you need Him the most? The answer is always the same. As surely as the sun rises, as there is water in the ocean, as oxygen fills the air that we breathe – more surely that God is right besides you. God is there. Jesus is here. He has the power and the desire to help you, for He wants to display His glory so that you will praise Him forevermore. In difficult times, don’t think that God will save you from your trouble (He never promises that) but He wants to be there for you to go through those times together with you in your trouble. In this way, your faith will grow and your awareness for total dependence on God will also increase.

Let me tell you a story. One day I saw my little cousin playing with his father’s dumb-bell. He was trying and trying very hard to lift it up but he couldn’t. Pity on him, I asked him if he need my help. Arrogantly he refused my offer.  He said to me in modern Iban’s language, “Uncle, see! See! I can move it”. “Yes, but you can’t lift it… let me help you”, I replied. “No! No! No! Errr… I’m using all my energy now!!!” he screamed as he does the Dragon-Ball-Super-Saiya-thing. I looked at him in the eyes and said, “Si Kecik, I don’t think you are using all your energy, for you haven’t asked for my help… Do you know who am I? I’m Incredible Hulk!”

As I reflect on this story, I remember us. We something think that we are helpless and powerless when we face troubles, but perhaps it is because we didn’t realized that God is there for us. We haven’t asked for His help. Friend, in your troubles – ask for God’s help. Have hope in Him. Be like the Psalmist, “I will keep hoping for your help; I will praise you more and more” (Psalms 71:14NLT). Prophet Isaiah recorded God’s promise: “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you” (Isaiah 43:2NLT). God wants and will helps you through all your troubles; would you trust Him? Remember: It is through God’s help today that you will learn to rely on Him in the future.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.