Hebrews 12:1-2
Jesus was the original pioneer. Jesus, the Word of God become flesh, pioneered creation, pioneered human life, overcoming sin and every attack, pioneered death and resurrection life, and pioneered the building of the Church. When we believe in Jesus, he changes our hearts through salvation, changing our eternity, our lives, our families and generations. Jesus, the pioneer of our salvation and faith, begins his pioneering work first in our hearts.
God plants beautiful things in our hearts – secrets, dreams, hopes, longings – and God’s plans for us are much greater than our plans could ever be. God never underperforms, but sometimes our hearts get in the way. The issues of our heart limit our lives. As Jesus is completing his work in and through us, we must be mindful to guard our hearts from things that obstruct his work - such as jealousy, envy, competitiveness, comparison, hurt, bitterness, and unforgiveness. When Jesus, the great surgeon of our heart has his way in us, he reveals the beauty and purpose of God in our lives.
hat Jesus starts in our heart he finishes in our life – his salvation starts in our hearts and affects every part of our lives. Everything begins and ends with Jesus – he is the author, captain, leader, pioneer, perfecter, accomplisher and completer or our faith. We must make room in our hearts for him, allow him to expand our hearts, look after what he puts in our heart that he is trying to pioneer, and believe the seed he plants in our heart will bear incredible fruit in our lives.
Let us allow God to begin and finish what he wants to do in our hearts and through our lives, refusing to give the devil ground, opportunity or footholds in our hearts, and holding tightly to the will and purposes of God in our lives. May we always look to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.
BIBLE AND BELIEF
Use these questions and scriptures to help believers develop a biblical worldview.
Read: Colossians 3:1-17
Q: What does it mean to “set our hearts on things above” (v1)? What reasons does Paul give for why we should do this? (v1-4)?
Q: What things does this passage tell us to “put to death” (v5) and “rid ourselves” (v8)? Why should we?
Q: How do we do actually do this?
Q: This passage talks about our “old self” (v9) and our “new self” (v10). What do you think Paul is talking about?
Q: What does our “new self” look like (v10-11)?
Q: There are new virtues we are instructed to clothe ourselves with (v12-14). What are these virtues?
Q: How do we “clothe ourselves” (v12) with these virtues? How do we “put them on” (v14)?
Q: How is this not just works and striving?
Q: How do we “let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts” (v15)? (Hint: Perhaps the rest of the passage has some clues).
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Pioneering Again Part III
Notes for next Bible Study
Acts 1:4-8, Isaiah 43:10, Jeremiah 29:11-13
God thinks on a different scale than we do. While our thoughts and dreams are often limited by our immediate circumstances, God’s plans and thoughts have always been about reaching the ends of the earth. God can do big things with someone who has a heart to serve him and pioneer his gospel, amazingly even us ordinary, broken people.
God’s thoughts for us are good – for peace, for hope, for a future with him and he pours out his Spirit on us for our good. The Holy Spirit does something explosive in our lives. With the Holy Spirit we receive the promises of God and are witnesses to his wonderful works. When we face opposition, we depend on his strength and in the Holy Spirit we experience all that God has in his heart for us.
Through his Spirit, God gives us a new law, new language, and new land. When we operate in the Holy Spirit we are no longer under the law of sin and death, but instead the law of his life. The Holy Spirit unifies us and gives us a new language. As we understand the power of the Holy Spirit, we see the marvelous works of God in our lives, extend the boundaries of the possible, and by depending on him we are empowered to invade the realms of the impossible – reaching the ends of the earth with his gospel.
We live thankful for the promise of our almighty God fulfilled through his Spirit in our lives. May God ignite his wonderful works in our lives, leading us to dream the impossible, taking new territory in Jesus name. Let us be stirred to pioneer again – believing God through the power of the Holy Spirit to continue to do the impossible in our lives as we give him all the glory.
Read: Jeremiah 29:11-13, Psalm 139
Q: How are God’s thoughts different than ours?
Q: What activities and thoughts does God do these verses say he engages in that would be physically impossible for a human?
Q: How does understanding God’s thoughts and heart toward you change what you believe to be possible?
Q: Think of examples of “hurtful” thoughts we may have in our human experience and the corresponding “everlasting” ways of thinking God invites us to have (Psalm 139:23-24).
Q: Identify mindsets, thoughts, language that you are believing God’s Holy Spirit to make new in your life and in our world?
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Mar 14 Cg bible study note with thoughts - PIONEER AGAIN
Here is the pack and unpack moment with the Word of God
Theme : Pioneer again
Key text. Isaiah 43:19, Acts 1:8, Hebrew 11:1
unpack Isaiah 43(NKJ)-The redeemer of Israel
the theme of this chapter started the with God's choice of Israel being His own and His miraculous deliverance, His faithfulness & undivided love to the children of Israelite. He called them to be His witness (vs 10)..this echoes in NT in Acts 1:8. God declared His promise to pioneer again with miraculous provision but this will not be the same like before. The ultimate declaration of His creation or "pioneering again" is just for Him and His creation to Praise. The whole redemption plan of God is back to the original intention of God. Ref Gen 1 again. Hold this thought ...will get back to this later.
Unpack Acts1:8
The promise of the Holy Spirit to all believers to be His witness and His second return was Jesus last Word before He ascended to heaven.
The word witness by definition refer to evidence and to be presence.
We discussed about the significant of the Holy Spirit in our life not just to give us power but also the seal of salvation for the second coming of Christ for His full redemption plan. The empowered Spirit filed life ultimately help us to be efficient witness for Christ( Read Amplified version for Acts 1:8)
We did not go further on Hebrew 11:1 but recognize that the promises of God do have substance to show just as as witness required evidence. Our faith will eventually produce substance from unseen in physical to seen.
Now, how does "pioneer again" unpack from the above verse to pack to our real life?
Before we answer this, As much as redemption or restoration are back to origin, we proceeded to unpacking Gen 1
The pattern of God creation in the beginning revealed a glimpse of His "Pioneer" again" that may give us a pattern to ponder and consider in embarking the "Pioneer again" in our life.
God created the "Light" then , sky by separating the water, earth, vegetable and animal in order of each day. Each day of His creation was considered good and then He created human kind Adam and Eve on 6th and rest on 7th day. His creativity { Pioneer } was within order and should this be a pattern for us to consider? a tip of wisdom from heaven?
God's patience is indescribable and what more is pioneering each season in our life?
what to unpack here? God's surely creative and hardworking for 6 days and rest only one day. This inspires us to think of this as a farmer describe in 2 Tim 2:1-7
Thinking of farmer, the successful fruits from the land takes farmer patience to fertilise the ground , plant the seed, water and protect the seed diligently for right season for harvest. The farmer has to respect the season do his part consistently and diligently tend the seed and see it grows at its own pace. He cant control the season but he understand the natural progression of the seed.
How does this unpack from this truth and pack back to our real life?
God has planted seeds and dreams in our life. We are the steward of the seeds and dreams. God is going to pioneer again in our life. What space we have given him to pioneer again in our life? Are we still looking at past miraculous to repeat the same way or are we continue to seed of faith of us to grow to fulfill the promise.
Fulfillment of God promises take time and all in God's timing? We need to respect the season God set for us. Every season is our witness to him as we remain presence with Him.
Our life is a powerful witness for Christ as we continue to be filled by the Holy Spirit.
Any good relationship grows with presence with each other and this is mirrored in our presence with Him from empowered and Spirited filled life.
What practically we can do?
Back to basic 101
Talk to Him daily in a personal way.
Personal challenge to all, do try to tell Him every morning you love Him or if you dont feel like it just ask him to teach you to know and love Him in consistent 7days.....you will pioneer again in a new Holy an Wholesome another level in enjoying your journey of discovery about your true identify, God and life all together.
He loves you passionately regards you love Him or not....a seed of faith you can pioneer again
Each of us pioneer our life uniquely ...no rivals but equally accepted & loved by God...
To end this session ...there is no perfect answer to all but worth go deeper in His truth in person and as a lifestyle
Monday, March 17, 2014
Pioneer Again Part II
Isaiah 43:19, Acts 1:8, Hebrews 11:1
Our church sets out to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ for generations to come. We will
always seek to be a church that lives with a pioneer spirit, thankful and open to the big things
God has for us.
God uses ordinary people to outwork his extraordinary purpose. When we open ourselves to
God’s purpose and advance his gospel into the different spheres of life we see territory
previously considered uninhabitable flourish. With a pioneering spirit we will reach the
unreachable and include the excluded. As in the book of Acts, pioneering the gospel can be
music to the ears of those who are lost and uninitiated but clashing brass to the establishment.
Despite opposition, like the apostles, and faithful believers before us, we step out in faith into the
new things God is doing. A pioneering spirit centred on Christ will give us a supernatural ability
to beat the odds and bring longevity, stretching boundaries and extending horizons; reinventing
the parameters of the possible and violating the laws of the impossible.
With pioneering hearts we hold to the faith that paves the way for others to come to know Jesus,
faith that is “the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen.” Let us then
put our whole lives into what God is doing, not taking the easy road, but putting the will of God
first in our lives to see fruit in our generation and generations to come through the advancement
of his kingdom on earth.
BIBLE AND BELIEF Use these questions and
scriptures to help believers develop a biblical
worldview.
Read: Isaiah 43:19, Acts 1:8
Q: What extraordinary things does God
promise in Isaiah 43:19 and Acts 1:8?
Q: What did it mean for the apostles to
be a ‘witness’? What does being a
‘witness’ mean for us today?
Q: What ‘new things’ did God do
through Jesus in the Gospels, and
through the apostles in Acts? What
can we learn from their experience?
Q: The Church was a “new thing” in the
New Testament. What “territory” was
taken by planting churches in Acts?
Q: What kind of things will it take for Acts
1:8 to be fulfilled? Where do we need
to pioneer the gospel today to see
this become a reality? How are we
doing that as a church?
CONNECTION AND ACTION Use these questions to promote conversation and connection.
ICEBREAKER: Share the most surprised you have been and how you reacted.
Q: Who is the most “extraordinary” person you have met? What makes them extraordinary?
Q: What does it take for God to do extra-ordinary things through ordinary people?
Q: What ordinary areas in your life would you like to open up to God to do something new?
Q: Pioneers make uninhabited land habitable. We recently celebrated 30 years as Hillsong
Church. During that time, what “uninhabited land” has been made “habitable” for
others?
Q: What does your pioneering faith gain from being part of a pioneering church, with
pioneering leaders?
Q: In your family, circle or world, what “uninhabited land” could you pioneer that would
allow those who come after you to live freely?
Q: In what ways have you been stirred to step out in faith this year?
Our church sets out to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ for generations to come. We will
always seek to be a church that lives with a pioneer spirit, thankful and open to the big things
God has for us.
God uses ordinary people to outwork his extraordinary purpose. When we open ourselves to
God’s purpose and advance his gospel into the different spheres of life we see territory
previously considered uninhabitable flourish. With a pioneering spirit we will reach the
unreachable and include the excluded. As in the book of Acts, pioneering the gospel can be
music to the ears of those who are lost and uninitiated but clashing brass to the establishment.
Despite opposition, like the apostles, and faithful believers before us, we step out in faith into the
new things God is doing. A pioneering spirit centred on Christ will give us a supernatural ability
to beat the odds and bring longevity, stretching boundaries and extending horizons; reinventing
the parameters of the possible and violating the laws of the impossible.
With pioneering hearts we hold to the faith that paves the way for others to come to know Jesus,
faith that is “the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen.” Let us then
put our whole lives into what God is doing, not taking the easy road, but putting the will of God
first in our lives to see fruit in our generation and generations to come through the advancement
of his kingdom on earth.
BIBLE AND BELIEF Use these questions and
scriptures to help believers develop a biblical
worldview.
Read: Isaiah 43:19, Acts 1:8
Q: What extraordinary things does God
promise in Isaiah 43:19 and Acts 1:8?
Q: What did it mean for the apostles to
be a ‘witness’? What does being a
‘witness’ mean for us today?
Q: What ‘new things’ did God do
through Jesus in the Gospels, and
through the apostles in Acts? What
can we learn from their experience?
Q: The Church was a “new thing” in the
New Testament. What “territory” was
taken by planting churches in Acts?
Q: What kind of things will it take for Acts
1:8 to be fulfilled? Where do we need
to pioneer the gospel today to see
this become a reality? How are we
doing that as a church?
CONNECTION AND ACTION Use these questions to promote conversation and connection.
ICEBREAKER: Share the most surprised you have been and how you reacted.
Q: Who is the most “extraordinary” person you have met? What makes them extraordinary?
Q: What does it take for God to do extra-ordinary things through ordinary people?
Q: What ordinary areas in your life would you like to open up to God to do something new?
Q: Pioneers make uninhabited land habitable. We recently celebrated 30 years as Hillsong
Church. During that time, what “uninhabited land” has been made “habitable” for
others?
Q: What does your pioneering faith gain from being part of a pioneering church, with
pioneering leaders?
Q: In your family, circle or world, what “uninhabited land” could you pioneer that would
allow those who come after you to live freely?
Q: In what ways have you been stirred to step out in faith this year?
Friday, March 7, 2014
CG - envision in 2014
-Transparency & safe place to share personal struggles without being judged
-Confidentiality
- Focus on Prayer
- Focus on serious Bible studies without much side tracks... WH allows all to time out if talk too much -More time to rest & with God
- stir up talents ... Many
- encouraging in positive speech
- be each other keeper
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
CG arrangement Mar 14
Week 1(coming month 3/3)1st forthnight -VJ's place( next one on 3/3) VJ will co-ordinate with topical or book bible study or prayer ) book studies with 3 persons to host .
week 2(12/3) break for all
Week3- Hillsong Bible Study ( this month 19/3) 2nd fortnight at VJ's place- bible study(lead by Wan Hei)
Week 4(Prayer week ) Prayer start sharp at 8pm( No food provided)
week 2(12/3) break for all
Week3- Hillsong Bible Study ( this month 19/3) 2nd fortnight at VJ's place- bible study(lead by Wan Hei)
Week 4(Prayer week ) Prayer start sharp at 8pm( No food provided)
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
What is Biblical Submission ?
Article by Amy Ng
The word ‘submission’ and the ideas that flow from it bring out various reactions, ideas, emotions for different people depending on their life experience, mindset and culture. Richard Foster (in his book ‘Celebration of Disciplines’) notes that “Most of us have been exposed to such a mutilated form of biblical submission that either we have embraced the deformity or we have rejected the Discipline altogether.” Still, there are others that truly believe in the necessity and amazing value of biblical submission and the fruits that come forth and thus, practise this discipline faithfully.
The discipline of submission ultimately refers to our submission and obedience to God and our heart attitude toward God and His Word. Jesus said that who ever desires to follow Him, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Him (Mark 8:34). Though most of us may wholly agree or embrace the principle and concept of biblical submission, I think the challenge lies in how to live it out in a way that pleases the heart of God.
Philippians 2:8 “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
Absolute submission and surrender to God is seen in the life of Jesus. Jesus Christ humbled Himself and obeyed God even to death on the cross and suffered unimaginable pain and horror to redeem humankind to Himself. Indeed God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. There is awesome power in the very act of biblical submission. Submission and love goes hand in hand. Submission without love will ultimately lead to legalism and even perhaps an unbiblical form of subordination.
John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another as I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another”. Galatians 5:13: ‘serve one another humbly in love’
Jesus not only lived a cross death but also a cross life. He demonstrated His cross life by washing the feet of his disciples, talking to and forgiving the Samaritan women by the well, spending time with tax collectors and many more instances where Jesus goes against the culture and prejudices that exist at that time to reach out to humanity and to demonstrate God’s love and purpose for humankind.
My submission is first of all to God (which includes His Word and His Holy Spirit) and only from there, all other submission flow e.g. submission to our family, our leaders and pastors, the state and authorities and one another.
One also needs to be aware that submission to human leadership is not absolute and where it becomes destructive, that is where submission ends. The purpose of submission is freedom and not to fetter or limit us. Ultimately, by practising this discipline in a biblical way, we will experience freedom. Fosters said that ‘It is the ability to lay down the terrible burden of always needing to get our own way.’ Submission does not only involved self-denial and self-fulfilment but also self-actualisation and self-love.
Besides experiencing freedom, Foster also suggest that ‘in submission we are at last free to value other people.” Thus, in submission and self-denial (live out and practice in biblical way), one is able to let go and overcome the sinfulness and ugliness of self-interest or self-centeredness. I believe one of the most crucial first steps to address issues and problems encountered in relationships (whether in marriage or any relationships with another person) which would lead to lasting healing and restoration in a meaningful manner is when one is able to submit to one another, let go of their own self ambition and self-interest and love one another unconditionally. Indeed there is liberation to the soul when one gives up one’s right for the betterment of another and when done with the right motivation and intention. Contrary to what many believe, the way to self-fulfilment is through self-denial. Is it possible for one to surrender to God wholly and also to one another? God does not ask us to give the perfect surrender in our own strength or by the power of our will; God is willing to work it in us. Indeed, it is God that work in us, both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
Submission is…
Self-denial
Self-fulfilment
Self-actualization
Self-love
Submission is not…
Self-hatred
Self-mortification
Self-contempt
Self-pity
Self-indulgence
The hymn below by George Matheson provides a wonderful picture of fulfilment through submission:
Make me a captive, Lord,
And then I shall be free;
Force me to render up my sword,
And I shall conqueror be.
I sink in life’s alarms
When by myself I stand;
Imprison me within Thine arms,
And strong shall be my hand
Excerpts taken from R Foster’s book: Celebration of Discipline
The word ‘submission’ and the ideas that flow from it bring out various reactions, ideas, emotions for different people depending on their life experience, mindset and culture. Richard Foster (in his book ‘Celebration of Disciplines’) notes that “Most of us have been exposed to such a mutilated form of biblical submission that either we have embraced the deformity or we have rejected the Discipline altogether.” Still, there are others that truly believe in the necessity and amazing value of biblical submission and the fruits that come forth and thus, practise this discipline faithfully.
The discipline of submission ultimately refers to our submission and obedience to God and our heart attitude toward God and His Word. Jesus said that who ever desires to follow Him, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Him (Mark 8:34). Though most of us may wholly agree or embrace the principle and concept of biblical submission, I think the challenge lies in how to live it out in a way that pleases the heart of God.
Philippians 2:8 “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
Absolute submission and surrender to God is seen in the life of Jesus. Jesus Christ humbled Himself and obeyed God even to death on the cross and suffered unimaginable pain and horror to redeem humankind to Himself. Indeed God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. There is awesome power in the very act of biblical submission. Submission and love goes hand in hand. Submission without love will ultimately lead to legalism and even perhaps an unbiblical form of subordination.
John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another as I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another”. Galatians 5:13: ‘serve one another humbly in love’
Jesus not only lived a cross death but also a cross life. He demonstrated His cross life by washing the feet of his disciples, talking to and forgiving the Samaritan women by the well, spending time with tax collectors and many more instances where Jesus goes against the culture and prejudices that exist at that time to reach out to humanity and to demonstrate God’s love and purpose for humankind.
My submission is first of all to God (which includes His Word and His Holy Spirit) and only from there, all other submission flow e.g. submission to our family, our leaders and pastors, the state and authorities and one another.
One also needs to be aware that submission to human leadership is not absolute and where it becomes destructive, that is where submission ends. The purpose of submission is freedom and not to fetter or limit us. Ultimately, by practising this discipline in a biblical way, we will experience freedom. Fosters said that ‘It is the ability to lay down the terrible burden of always needing to get our own way.’ Submission does not only involved self-denial and self-fulfilment but also self-actualisation and self-love.
Besides experiencing freedom, Foster also suggest that ‘in submission we are at last free to value other people.” Thus, in submission and self-denial (live out and practice in biblical way), one is able to let go and overcome the sinfulness and ugliness of self-interest or self-centeredness. I believe one of the most crucial first steps to address issues and problems encountered in relationships (whether in marriage or any relationships with another person) which would lead to lasting healing and restoration in a meaningful manner is when one is able to submit to one another, let go of their own self ambition and self-interest and love one another unconditionally. Indeed there is liberation to the soul when one gives up one’s right for the betterment of another and when done with the right motivation and intention. Contrary to what many believe, the way to self-fulfilment is through self-denial. Is it possible for one to surrender to God wholly and also to one another? God does not ask us to give the perfect surrender in our own strength or by the power of our will; God is willing to work it in us. Indeed, it is God that work in us, both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
Submission is…
Self-denial
Self-fulfilment
Self-actualization
Self-love
Submission is not…
Self-hatred
Self-mortification
Self-contempt
Self-pity
Self-indulgence
The hymn below by George Matheson provides a wonderful picture of fulfilment through submission:
Make me a captive, Lord,
And then I shall be free;
Force me to render up my sword,
And I shall conqueror be.
I sink in life’s alarms
When by myself I stand;
Imprison me within Thine arms,
And strong shall be my hand
Excerpts taken from R Foster’s book: Celebration of Discipline
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