Post by MIRIAM JACOB on Oct 2, 2006 12:10:18 GMT -5
Are You M.A.D.? By Michael Chu
Are you M.A.D.(Making a Difference)? “Who? Me?” you ask. “Yes, you.” You and I are not able to accomplish a great many things in our own strength. But, with God all things are possible. The same Holy Spirit’s power that resurrected our Lord Jesus Christ rests upon us, and works mightily in and through us. By the grace and mercy of God, we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus cos’ it is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us.
With God we can make a difference. But, let’s not be so caught up with serving the Lord that we neglect our time of fellowship with Him. After all, the foundation of our faith is JESUS Himself; it’s not even about sound doctrine or good works per se. We need to devote time and efforts to know Him more, learn from Him with the help of the Holy Spirit, and act on what He tells us to do. “And this is the way to have eternal life -- to know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one You sent to earth (John 17:3).”
We also need to be ready to face spiritual opposition to the things of God. As Paul urges in Ephesians 6, we are to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, and put on the whole armour of God so that we can stand firm against all the strategies of the devil. We have to undergo spiritual training so that the power of the Holy Spirit can work effectively through us. Then, we will, inter alia, be able to strengthen ourselves in the Lord (as David did), cast out demons with fasting and prayer (as Jesus did), and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ with miracles (as the apostles did).
As we get into our standby mode, let’s hear from God today on how He wants us to be M.A.D. for Him out of a genuine love for Him and people (for outside of love, all that we do will amount to zilch). Then, whether the Holy Spirit nudges or zaps us, we will launch out to the deep and let down our nets for a catch, doing whatever He tells us to do so that every person will have an opportunity to hear the gospel in their own language.
For starters, we can make a difference BY PRAYING. We read in Acts 12:5, “But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.” That night an angel led Peter out of the prison unnoticed by the guards and when they reached the iron gate, it opened for them all on its own. On another occasion, “Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! (Acts 16:25, 26).”
Prayer releases power to advance the Kingdom of God. A praying church is a powerful church. Paul knows the importance of prayer: “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. … So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for Him, as I should (Ephesians 6:18-20).”
When the plague begun to destroy the people in their rebellion against Moses and Aaron, Moses responded swiftly by asking Aaron to take an incense burner, place burning coals on it from the altar, and carry it among the people to purify them and make them right with the Lord. “Aaron did as Moses told him and ran out among the people. The plague had already begun to strike down the people, but Aaron burned incense and purified the people. He stood between the dead and the living, and the plague stopped (Numbers 16:47-48).”
Right now, CHRIST JESUS is interceding for us; He lives forever to intercede with God on our behalf (Hebrews 7:25). We have become Christ’s body on this earth, fully able to exercise the authority that He has snatched back from the thief (satan) who stole it from Adam. “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am among them (Matthew 18:19-20).”
God has initiated a noble plan of salvation for all the world in His fullness of time. In Genesis 3:15 God prophesied that the offspring of the woman would strike satan’s head (as happened on Easter) and satan will strike his heel (as happened on Good Friday). Speaking in Luke 10:18, Jesus prophesied the eventual downfall of satan as believers are given all authority over satan, and can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them.
Our praying must, amongst other aims, be directed towards the preaching of the gospel. Jesus prophesied that it has to be done before He returns again in power and glory. “And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14).”
God is our Father in heaven. We can certainly ask Him for many things. But, would we ask of God what is the dearest in His heart? He entreats us through David, “Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession (Psalms 2:8).”
We’ve got a whole world to win back for our Lord Jesus Christ. With God, we can do it as we become the salt of the earth and light of the world; such that, every where we go, people will want to know: who we are, where we come from, and where we will be going in due time. So, we tell them. “…And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it (1 Peter 3:15b).”
Permit me to leave you now with this song, “Making A Difference”, from the “Life” CD album by City Harvest Church as you wait upon the Lord to direct you in your endeavours towards M.A.D., :-
Won’t You Lord
Take a look at our hands
Everything we have
Use it for Your plan
Won’t you Lord
Take a look at our hearts
Mould it, refine it, as you set us apart
We want to run to the altar
And catch the fire, to stand in the gap
Between the living and the dead
Give us a heart of compassion
For a world without vision
We will make a difference
Bringing hope …
To our land
We will answer the call
To build this church without walls
Let your glory be shown
Bring salvation to the lost, to the lost …
We will make a difference (3X)
Bringing hope…
To our land (4X)
(All Scripture quotations are taken with thanks from Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.)
Article Source: www.faithwriters.com
Are you M.A.D.(Making a Difference)? “Who? Me?” you ask. “Yes, you.” You and I are not able to accomplish a great many things in our own strength. But, with God all things are possible. The same Holy Spirit’s power that resurrected our Lord Jesus Christ rests upon us, and works mightily in and through us. By the grace and mercy of God, we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus cos’ it is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us.
With God we can make a difference. But, let’s not be so caught up with serving the Lord that we neglect our time of fellowship with Him. After all, the foundation of our faith is JESUS Himself; it’s not even about sound doctrine or good works per se. We need to devote time and efforts to know Him more, learn from Him with the help of the Holy Spirit, and act on what He tells us to do. “And this is the way to have eternal life -- to know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one You sent to earth (John 17:3).”
We also need to be ready to face spiritual opposition to the things of God. As Paul urges in Ephesians 6, we are to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, and put on the whole armour of God so that we can stand firm against all the strategies of the devil. We have to undergo spiritual training so that the power of the Holy Spirit can work effectively through us. Then, we will, inter alia, be able to strengthen ourselves in the Lord (as David did), cast out demons with fasting and prayer (as Jesus did), and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ with miracles (as the apostles did).
As we get into our standby mode, let’s hear from God today on how He wants us to be M.A.D. for Him out of a genuine love for Him and people (for outside of love, all that we do will amount to zilch). Then, whether the Holy Spirit nudges or zaps us, we will launch out to the deep and let down our nets for a catch, doing whatever He tells us to do so that every person will have an opportunity to hear the gospel in their own language.
For starters, we can make a difference BY PRAYING. We read in Acts 12:5, “But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.” That night an angel led Peter out of the prison unnoticed by the guards and when they reached the iron gate, it opened for them all on its own. On another occasion, “Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! (Acts 16:25, 26).”
Prayer releases power to advance the Kingdom of God. A praying church is a powerful church. Paul knows the importance of prayer: “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. … So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for Him, as I should (Ephesians 6:18-20).”
When the plague begun to destroy the people in their rebellion against Moses and Aaron, Moses responded swiftly by asking Aaron to take an incense burner, place burning coals on it from the altar, and carry it among the people to purify them and make them right with the Lord. “Aaron did as Moses told him and ran out among the people. The plague had already begun to strike down the people, but Aaron burned incense and purified the people. He stood between the dead and the living, and the plague stopped (Numbers 16:47-48).”
Right now, CHRIST JESUS is interceding for us; He lives forever to intercede with God on our behalf (Hebrews 7:25). We have become Christ’s body on this earth, fully able to exercise the authority that He has snatched back from the thief (satan) who stole it from Adam. “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am among them (Matthew 18:19-20).”
God has initiated a noble plan of salvation for all the world in His fullness of time. In Genesis 3:15 God prophesied that the offspring of the woman would strike satan’s head (as happened on Easter) and satan will strike his heel (as happened on Good Friday). Speaking in Luke 10:18, Jesus prophesied the eventual downfall of satan as believers are given all authority over satan, and can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them.
Our praying must, amongst other aims, be directed towards the preaching of the gospel. Jesus prophesied that it has to be done before He returns again in power and glory. “And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14).”
God is our Father in heaven. We can certainly ask Him for many things. But, would we ask of God what is the dearest in His heart? He entreats us through David, “Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession (Psalms 2:8).”
We’ve got a whole world to win back for our Lord Jesus Christ. With God, we can do it as we become the salt of the earth and light of the world; such that, every where we go, people will want to know: who we are, where we come from, and where we will be going in due time. So, we tell them. “…And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it (1 Peter 3:15b).”
Permit me to leave you now with this song, “Making A Difference”, from the “Life” CD album by City Harvest Church as you wait upon the Lord to direct you in your endeavours towards M.A.D., :-
Won’t You Lord
Take a look at our hands
Everything we have
Use it for Your plan
Won’t you Lord
Take a look at our hearts
Mould it, refine it, as you set us apart
We want to run to the altar
And catch the fire, to stand in the gap
Between the living and the dead
Give us a heart of compassion
For a world without vision
We will make a difference
Bringing hope …
To our land
We will answer the call
To build this church without walls
Let your glory be shown
Bring salvation to the lost, to the lost …
We will make a difference (3X)
Bringing hope…
To our land (4X)
(All Scripture quotations are taken with thanks from Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.)
Article Source: www.faithwriters.com