Spiritual Lessons from 2005
Hello people :D I know this seems self-centered and egotistical, but for my first post to this devotional, I'm going to share about the Spiritual Lessons I've learnt in 2005. My justification for doing so is taken from 2 Cor 12:9 (NIV) "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."
1) Miracles don't belong to Big Shots.
Over the years, I've heard many testimonials of miracles and healings from Pastors and Church leaders. Exposure to this sort of minstering has left me with the deep conviction that "God does Miracles in the lives of Pastors and Leaders for the empowerment of their church community" Upon coming to Melbourne. I've realised gradually that God is a God of Love, and that the very fact that He died on the cross to save me from my sins is a miracle that I'm living in all day, everyday (virgin birth, Resurrection, etc). The God of the universe loves us so much that He's willing to entertain our prayers anytime. To sum this up, everyone sick or infirmed that I've prayed for has been miraculously healed by the blood of Jesus Christ as written in 1 Peter 2:24,
"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." (KJV) and in "When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases" "(NIV) Isaiah 53:4 cited in Matthew 8:16-17
I am a nobody. I don't have any position in church. But even though I am a nobody in the eyes of the world, God loves me as much as any Pastor, Evangelist or Prophet in the church.
2) God loves me.
Having come from a self-destructive Pre-salvation state. The idea of someone loving me was a non-existential concept (satan used to convince me thoroughly that people alighted from Public Transport because someone named Darren got on). But what I've learned in 2005, is that not only does God love me; He loves me very much too. Probably one of the biggest spiritual lessons learnt in 2005 took place yesterday at City Harvest Church. Jane assured me that I was going to feel very welcome in her church. On the contrary, I did not. The only two people who came up to talk to me were requests to move to the front and for tissue paper. During the service, when everyone was hugging each other and thanking everyone for the great work they've done. I felt like the loneliest person on earth (picture everyone singing fellowship songs with arms around each other's shoulders...everyone except me). But it was in that critical moment,
God began to show me the revelation that I've been looking for throughout the year. That NO MATTER how lonely I was, God still loves me. It seems like a simple lesson. But to Darren, who has been feeling resentment at his home church for isolation...it's big. As written in Psalm 23:4 (NIV) "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me..."
3) Freedom
The lesson of Freedom had been taught to me in a dramatic turn of events one night at the BOOM youth service. I went for service alone. I was feeling depressed, and my heart was full of nasty crap which satan had placed in my heart to weigh me down. Then the first song played, and the revelation which I had been subconciously looking for slowly opened my eyes. Freedom. Freedom. I had been depressed because someone had been saying mean things about me and it held me in bondage. I had been depressed, because I let the world, and sin, and satan, and the lies of the enemy bind me into submission. But then I realised, Jesus died to set me free. Why am I living a life of bondage to the enemy? Is it not written in Galatians 5:1 "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" Gal 5:1 (NIV). From that moment on...I lived a life of freedom.
4) God Answers Prayer
Perhaps this is the most embarassing lesson I've learnt over the year. It's straight-forward and simple. God answers Prayer. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened unto you"Matt 7:7 (NIV)
In all things...I cannot stress this enough. Give God Glory. All Honour and Glory and Power Belongs to God above. I dont need to give evidence here because it is unnecessary. All reason and arguments fail when You're confronted by the holiness of God. Everything wallows up into a deep ball of Praise when Confronted By the Glory of God. (Isaiah 6:5...Note that Isaiah was a big shot in his times, He was a writer, a politician and a teacher)
To God be all Honour, Glory and Power, Forever and Ever.
In the Name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Amen
1) Miracles don't belong to Big Shots.
Over the years, I've heard many testimonials of miracles and healings from Pastors and Church leaders. Exposure to this sort of minstering has left me with the deep conviction that "God does Miracles in the lives of Pastors and Leaders for the empowerment of their church community" Upon coming to Melbourne. I've realised gradually that God is a God of Love, and that the very fact that He died on the cross to save me from my sins is a miracle that I'm living in all day, everyday (virgin birth, Resurrection, etc). The God of the universe loves us so much that He's willing to entertain our prayers anytime. To sum this up, everyone sick or infirmed that I've prayed for has been miraculously healed by the blood of Jesus Christ as written in 1 Peter 2:24,
"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." (KJV) and in "When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases" "(NIV) Isaiah 53:4 cited in Matthew 8:16-17
I am a nobody. I don't have any position in church. But even though I am a nobody in the eyes of the world, God loves me as much as any Pastor, Evangelist or Prophet in the church.
2) God loves me.
Having come from a self-destructive Pre-salvation state. The idea of someone loving me was a non-existential concept (satan used to convince me thoroughly that people alighted from Public Transport because someone named Darren got on). But what I've learned in 2005, is that not only does God love me; He loves me very much too. Probably one of the biggest spiritual lessons learnt in 2005 took place yesterday at City Harvest Church. Jane assured me that I was going to feel very welcome in her church. On the contrary, I did not. The only two people who came up to talk to me were requests to move to the front and for tissue paper. During the service, when everyone was hugging each other and thanking everyone for the great work they've done. I felt like the loneliest person on earth (picture everyone singing fellowship songs with arms around each other's shoulders...everyone except me). But it was in that critical moment,
God began to show me the revelation that I've been looking for throughout the year. That NO MATTER how lonely I was, God still loves me. It seems like a simple lesson. But to Darren, who has been feeling resentment at his home church for isolation...it's big. As written in Psalm 23:4 (NIV) "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me..."
3) Freedom
The lesson of Freedom had been taught to me in a dramatic turn of events one night at the BOOM youth service. I went for service alone. I was feeling depressed, and my heart was full of nasty crap which satan had placed in my heart to weigh me down. Then the first song played, and the revelation which I had been subconciously looking for slowly opened my eyes. Freedom. Freedom. I had been depressed because someone had been saying mean things about me and it held me in bondage. I had been depressed, because I let the world, and sin, and satan, and the lies of the enemy bind me into submission. But then I realised, Jesus died to set me free. Why am I living a life of bondage to the enemy? Is it not written in Galatians 5:1 "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" Gal 5:1 (NIV). From that moment on...I lived a life of freedom.
4) God Answers Prayer
Perhaps this is the most embarassing lesson I've learnt over the year. It's straight-forward and simple. God answers Prayer. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened unto you"Matt 7:7 (NIV)
In all things...I cannot stress this enough. Give God Glory. All Honour and Glory and Power Belongs to God above. I dont need to give evidence here because it is unnecessary. All reason and arguments fail when You're confronted by the holiness of God. Everything wallows up into a deep ball of Praise when Confronted By the Glory of God. (Isaiah 6:5...Note that Isaiah was a big shot in his times, He was a writer, a politician and a teacher)
To God be all Honour, Glory and Power, Forever and Ever.
In the Name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Amen
posted by Darren at 2:47 pm
1 Comments:
in regard to point three... freedom... i have two comments...
1. As i understand it, i think Paul is alluding to submission to "rule keeping systems" (the message)or circumcision being forced on the Galatian Christains
2. the victory Jesus won, was won by submission to the powers of the world. Submission to death.. even death on a cross..
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