Brian Littrell - In Christ Alone
“In Christ alone I place my trust
and find my glory in the power of the cross.
In every victory, let it be said of me,
my source of strength, my source of joy,
is Christ alone”
John 5:1-9. The Healing at the Pool
Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
Reading Max Lucado’s Cast of Characters
I came to see the invalid in me. When it comes to healing our spiritual condition, we have no solution. We don’t fulfill the prerequisite of holiness, how can we ever become perfect like God?
But Jesus comes to the rescue. While He was in Jerusalem for a feast, He walked to a place of the blind, the lame and the paralyzed. He could have stayed in the throne, but He came down.
“Do you want to be well?”
YES, I DO!
Verse 8-9. When Jesus spoke, the invalid believed and responded with faith. Do I believe? Do I have faith in the power of His cross?
It starts with one question (taken from day 3 of The Purpose Driven Life). What drives my life? The answer is, honestly, not at all related to God. It was more like for my own enjoyment, my foolish desires.
This is God speaking:
Ephesians 5:15-18.
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit
1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
I was ever since troubled with my conditions. I know I’m worshiping something else besides God. Challenge myself to say this prayer.
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10)
Have I glorified His name? Has my life reflected His kingdom? Have I lived according to His will? Hard to admit, but, nope.
Summing up Philippians 3:
My struggle. Confidence in the flesh (external appearance). Mind on earthly things. Appetite as god.
vs.
My prayer. knowing Jesus Christ. His power of resurrection and transformation. Becoming like Him
Robert & Lea - Only You
Coming to Your presence, Lord, with sacrifice of praise
Jesus, we enthrone You with with the highest place of all
Coming to Your presence, Lord, with holiness in life
Jesus, You alone deserve the highest place of all
Only You can satisfy my soul, o Lord
For there is nothing in this world like You
Only You can fill my thirsty life with love
Jesus You are my first love
Sunday, 1st of January 2012
During my flight back to Melbourne, I got the time to ponder about the “everlasting joy” He promised me. It was about close fellowship with the Holy Spirit.
Some time in the past, I sensed God’s presence strongly for few days, not just in the church, but in public places while doing my daily routine. It was a bit bizzare for me, cuz His presence (especially if it’s tangible) is supposedly to be in the house of God, during prayer meetings, or your devo time. I’ve prayed for this thing (i didn’t know what to call it, feeling or peace or what) to not be taken away for the rest of my life (it was so addictive i tell ya!!!). But then after few days, I couldn’t sense it anymore, I was grieving for that. God then gave me this verse :
John 16:20-22
I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
I didn’t really understand but I kept this promise. I was waiting for that joy ever since. I don’t know what He had in mind, a joy that will never be taken away, that sounds huge! It must be something big, cuz He’s talking about everlasting joy. Everlasting. Not temporary, not once-off, but timeless joy. Whoaaaw! Very very intriguing!
Anyway, I finally got the understanding through my experiences in Indo. In that passage, He was talking about the coming of Holy Spirit, God’s Spirit with whom believers were going to have close fellowship. The disciples were mourning because Jesus was about to leave, they were not aware that God’s Spirit would be sent and that they would rejoice because of that.
Similarly, I was grieving because I wasn’t aware that God’s presence is always with me through His Spirit. I thought I was losing Him because I didn’t sense His presence. It’s not about the feeling, it’s about conviction from the truth. Doesn’t matter what I’m feeling, God’s presence is always there. The joy He talked about, was the joy of being in close fellowship with God’s Spirit who is within us, who is close to us.
When I reflected back, I remembered the sermons told about “God’s presence is there too!”. I remembered that He kept telling me in my heart that His Spirit lives in me. I remembered that His Spirit, is Spirit of love, power and self-control (God granted me the opportunity to experience each of them!). I’ve been put in situations where I was by myself and I only had Him to talk to. I was, sort of trained to be in constant fellowship with Him. All of these are pointing to this verse. By the way, the joy was also included in the package. I was not aware until someone told me that I can still smile despite of my problems. That was totally the work of the Spirit that I was able to endure, really.
It is supposedly to be an everlasting joy, because He never leaves us. How can we not rejoice being close to God who loves us (He is truly the source of joy!). Don’t you feel happy when you spend time with people you love and who love you? The question is, are we aware of that? I found that when I focused on other things (e.g. problems, self-insufficiency, people’s judgment) I lost that awareness. But the Counselor is with me to teach me, to remind me. I thank God for this revelation and experience! And note that, I believe this is just the intro.
Saturday, 31st of December 2011
Reflection. If I have to ask myself, what have I learnt in the year of 2011, i gotta say, heaps! His grace, His crazy love, His rebuke, His wonders, His works, His faithfulness and power, His characters, and the list goes on. Wow! I’ve just known Him for one and a half year, yet He has given me a lot of awesome experiences. This is just the beginning. How much more will He show in the future? That’s out of my wildest imagination. Must be crazy things, things that never even cross my mind.
If i have to mention what is the most impressive experience with Him, I don’t know, I can’t choose. But I might gonna close this with one strong conviction I’ve got lately, that is His divine joy. I’m talking about the joy of having Him around, the joy of knowing Him around, the joy of His salvation, the joy of being His princess, the joy of being loved by a Father, the joy of working with Him, the joy of singing of His love, and many many more. His joy makes me able to endure, even in times of troubles. His joy empowers me through the Holy Spirit. In Melbourne, He has promised me the joy that will never be taken away. Could it be this joy? Or is there any greater joy He is going to show me? I’m looking forward to it.
Counting down. My departure is at hand. I can’t lie to say that I’m not wondering whether I’ve been His light during my visit here. I’ve been a bit curious about that. Have I really done His will? Btw gonna post my wishlist for 2012 soon!
