Category Food4mySoul

Extracts of God’s infalliable Word, and other inspirational quotes from famous people.

Does Jesus know you?

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You know Jesus, but does Jesus know you?

Matthew 7:21-23
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

It’s interesting to note how many will say, “I know Jesus!” or “I serve Him” but in turn Jesus says, “I never knew you”. It’s like me saying, “I know Lee Hsien Loong, my prime minister… I serve my national service and pay my tax”… But I’m sure, he will say, “I don’t know who is Andrew”.

There is no personal relationship.

I’m concern how many of us, the Church especially in this day and age have equated our attendance or involvement with church events, activities or programmes as having a relationship with Jesus.

The reality is our relationship with Jesus is forged and deepened mostly out of the four walls of the church and in real life, not sheltered (but not apart from His Church).

For ie. How we obey Him in our sufferings? How we are surrendering to His will in challenging circumstances? How we remain faithful in the mundane humdrum of life? How are we extending grace to those around us?

However today, we people pay a lot of attention on the form and not the power. We want to DO more, we look for what to DO next, and we are engross in what we can DO. We are missing the plot.

Doing doesn’t mean you know Jesus. You can do a lot and accomplish a lot but find out that you do not know Him a lot or none at all. And that’s a horrific reality. You know that you know Him or He knows you when you bear His fruits; you BECOME like Him. Now that’s power!

We become like Him only because we are communing with Him. When we bear His fruits, it’s evidence of His life living and working in us. So today, don’t confuse form with power, and pursue His power and not the form.

So you know Jesus, does Jesus know you?

Consecration in the New Covenant

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Biblical understanding of “Consecration” from Ezekiel 43:18-27…

Prayer

Old Covenant

There can be NO consecration without sacrifice. In the Old Covenant, blood was required to be shed in order for someone or something to be consecrated to be used by God.

A sacrifice is always REQUIRED to be consecrated- cleansed and fit for use as an instrument for God. And now in the New Testament, the good news is Jesus Christ is that sacrifice. He is the Lamb and His blood alone cleanses and consecrates you and I as His people.

But even in modern day Christianity, when we hear or speak of consecration we think the sacrifice is about us… “I must do more”…. “I must give more”…. “I must serve more”. This is not the truth.

Consecration is NOT about you and I doing good works. It is also NOT based on our performance. And trying to be worthy or to achieve spirituality. Consecration is not trying to be perfect cos we are not.

New Covenant

Consecration is about Jesus and Him as a sacrifice that makes us perfect and He alone qualifies us to be worthy to be used. You and I only need to believe wholeheartedly and be willing to follow Him unreservedly.

Today as a New Covenant follower, you ARE worthy and you ARE spiritual IN CHRIST even if you do not do any good works. It is entirely based on Jesus and His righteousness in you. It is He through the power of the Holy Spirit that will work in you to bear His fruits resulting in good works.

So when we speak about consecration, it is a life of rejoicing and living out of gratefulness of God’s grace of His sacrificial gift in Christ. Now, we do good works because we WANT TO, and not because we have to… c.f. 1 Peter 2:9-10

Living a consecrated life

Finally, consecration is about the BEING, not the doing. It is not to do more for Him and to be successful (defined by the world) for Him. It is simply to know Him and make Him be known with your life.

You and I need to always remain focus on following (study His life and teachings) and becoming like Jesus (living out His life in us).

The Next 50 Years

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Singapore celebrates her 50th birthday.

The 50 years has passed with much accomplished in one generation. The question to ask ourselves now is WHAT’S NEXT?

“Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed.”

Acts13:36

All of us will live and die like David. But not everyone lives to serve and fulfill God’s purpose in his own generation.

Today, will you and I serve the purpose of God in your own generation?

God knows you

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“You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: carnelian, chrysolite and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared.”

Ezekiel 28:13

I have been reading the book of Ezekiel for my daily devotion. And this verse intrigued me for quite awhile.

You see I don’t even know the specific names of every gem stones. When I see one or more or another coloured one, to me they are all the same. For sure, I won’t be able to name them.

But interestingly, God knows the names of these gem stones! He created them and named them. He knows how each one is different from the other.

Similarly, the Holy Spirit showed me how God knows each of us by name. He created us and He calls us by name. If He can name and call out each gem stone, how much more precious are we?

Although we might be the same species called humans. But like gem stones, to God each of us are different from one another. He designed each of us uniquely with our own individual characteristics.

So if you think you’re not special, think again. And if you think God doesn’t pay attention to you or doesn’t love you think again. These are far from the truth, you are precious to Him and He knows you by name.

Remember there is only one YOU. If you’re a diamond, don’t try to be an emerald. You will never be an emerald. And you will never be truly fulfilled as you are not being you. He created you to be YOU. So love YOU like how God loves you!

Seek the fruits, not the works

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Jesus warned us of false prophets. He said “by their fruits you will know them” (c.f. Matthew 7:20).

I believe most of us Christians have got it MIXED UP between “the fruits” and “the works/gifts” of the Holy Spirit. And we mostly assess the authenticity of a spiritual leader by looking at the works/gifts of the Holy Spirit through their ministry.

For example, we look at the number of followers, or the extend of charitable giving or the many signs and wonders demonstrated etc.. All these are not wrong, but that was not what Jesus taught His disciples to look out for. He told them (and is also telling us today) to assess and identify by their fruits, NOT works or gifts.

Don’t forget that Jesus also said that not everyone who calls Him Lord or prophesied in His name, cast out demons in His name and done many many wonders in His name will enter His kingdom. In fact, He will declare, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (c.f. Matthew 7:21-23)

The enemy is very cunning and has infiltrated into our Christian camps. Paul says the devil masquerades as an angel of light. Which means he knows how to blend in and fake it.

Hence we need to be alert and pray. Being close to Jesus and knowing the truth is our weapon to discern and engage the lies to corrupt our lives towards allowing His kingdom to manifest on earth.

Therefore, let us not be confused. Look for the FRUITS of the Holy Spirit to assess one’s authenticity of a spiritual leader. Jesus also said, “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit” (c.f. Matthew 7:15). The fruits refer to GODLY CHARACTER.

How is he/she walking in integrity especially in managing finances?

Is he/she anchored and teaching sound and balanced theology?

How is he/her demonstrating humility and love by being a servant leader, even when receiving criticism or feedback?

Is he/she reflecting holiness and purity through their lifestyle?

By the world’s standard, we pay attention to a person’s or organisation’s reputation or accomplishments. But with God’s standard, we are more concern on the character. And that should also be what we ought to be personally pursuing for ourselves- godly character towards fruitfulness.

The greater glory found in Grace

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Contrary to mainstream’s fear or belief of licentious grace, GRACE does not demand any lesser than the law. In fact, grace DEMANDS and EXPECTS more.

Jesus always pointed out that the law focuses on our performance and OUTWARD behavior manipulation, but grace focuses on our heart and INWARD transformation that manifests outwardly.

The law places demands on you and I, we are thus ENSLAVED by guilt, fear, shame and condemnation because of our weaknesses. But grace places that heavy demand on CHRIST, and not on you and I… Halleujah!

For we can NEVER meet the glorious standard of God that the law demands.

But by grace, CHRIST on our behalf fulfills that demand which took HIS LIFE and consequently, sets us FREE. That is a COSTLY demand that allows us through our faith in His Son, to become the righteousness of God!

Putting off the OLD and putting on the NEW

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What do you want to see different this year? Do you want to see change in your life? Perhaps you could do yourself some good by first examining your MINDSET.

Don’t be surprised if you discover limits that you might (unknowingly or knowingly) have placed on yourself (and God) with your OLD thinking.

Old thinking says, “This is how I am and how I have been doing things in the past” or “This is how I’ve been taught to do so all this time”. These kind of thoughts limit the potential of NEW things happening in your life.

This year, decide to change your thinking by the renewing of your mind with His TRUTH and promises for you. When you change your thinking, you change your life!

What do you want Him to do for you?

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“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

“Go,” said Jesus, “your FAITH has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

~ Mark 10:51-52

Most times, we err by misplacing our faith in man rather than in God. We naturally look and trust in what we man can (or cannot) do- our credentials or achievements, our physical attributes, and capabilities. And that misplaced faith causes us to limit God in our lives.

I love how Jesus said, “Your faith has healed you”. He did not say because of your bad or splendid past or because you’re poor or rich, so I healed you. It is the blind man, Bartimaeus’s faith that healed him. And that faith was placed on what God can do (and not what man can do).

Friends, with God all things are possible. Place your faith solely on Him. God loves it when you and I place all our ‘bets’ on Him. He relishes when we fully trust Him. That’s the only condition God simply looks at- our faith and nothing else.

What is it do you want God to do for you today that you cannot do? Approach your loving Abba Father and ask Him to do it for you. And according to your faith (and His will), it will be done to you.

Loving one another as Christ commands

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“We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar.

For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.

And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”

~ 1 John 4:19-21 (NIV)

I’ve learnt over the years as a Christ-follower that God’s love is redemptive in nature. He never tears down or condemns even if we’re wrong. This revelation is from my own fair share of personal failings toward others and experiencing His grace.

When we are wrong or even sometimes not, He chides and disciplines as He loves us. However, His ways are always with the intent to draw us closer to Him, never to chase us away from His presence. 

Hence, the approach may seem harsh or cold from our perspective, but the intent is redemptive, not judgmental or condemning. And I guess that is where we as the Church are confused. How do we love?

It is clear that appropriating His love in our lives or situations is never easy since we are still more flesh and His love is not easily comprehended unless encountered from glory to greater glory. However, loving each other remains the key command and action we need to uphold regardless of any situation. 

Apart from the above scripture, the apostle John also penned the new command from Jesus in the gospel of John in 13:34-35- Love one another so that everyone will know that you’re my disciples. From this, we can conclude that it is not theology or doctrines or righteousness that will lead people to recognize Christ and the Church. It is firstly His love. 

Although the truth- theology, doctrines and righteousness are also building blocks to our faith, but they need to be built upon LOVE and expressed from LOVE. For example, righteousness without love becomes self-righteousness. 

So brothers and sisters, let’s obey the call like never before in this end of days where the world is looking to the Church for answers and solutions to an evil and corrupt world. 

Let’s arise and demonstrate true love that is OF the Father, not for the Father. Loving the GOD of the word over the word of God. Our world needs to know WHO we know rather than what we know. And this begins with us, the Church. Amen.