I. Overview of Book
This book is pretty much a book of testimonies mainly of their ministry in Mozambique and how God has been faithful in multiplying food, providing financially, healing the sick, lame, blind, deaf, and even raising the dead. It is amazing to read about how desperately intimate they are to God and how they are always following the guidance of the Holy Spirit every step of the way. The book also covers earlier recollections of their lives, how they met together and has been faithfully serving God's calling through the different countries, cultures and languages.
II. 2 points learnt from the book.
A. Always enough. Just like the title of the book, this seems to be a repeated theme that both Rolland and Heidi keeps reiterating in the book. No matter what sort of problems they are having, how little they have, how sick they are, how tired they are, how hungry they are, there is always enough. God's love, glory, Joy, strength and provision Will always be enough. Their reliance and faithfulness to God's leading, answers and timing is truly inspirational.
B. Another great lesson to learn from the book is that faith without work is dead. Our faith and religion are worthless if we ignore the physical needs of those in need around us. If we are truly living disciples of God, we would be seeking Him heart earnestly. His heart breaks for those people living miserably in sub-standard conditions and injustices, not aware of His love and Grace for them and the sacrifice He has done for Him where all sickness, darkness, bondages etc has been defeated. So if we are going to be His disciples then we would have to take actions upon the injustices
III. Discuss an aspect of God's character.
God is seen to be absolutely Sovereign in all of His ways in the book. Miracles upon miracles He granted. The sick were healed. The lame walked. The blind saw. The deaf heard. The dead raised. Food that seemed few and scarce became enough. Funds miraculously being sent from the other side of the World at the most perfect timing when they were about to purchase a tent and the stories goes on and on.
He doesn't always perform physical Miracles. He also worker through the workers healing emotional pains of the people they worker with. These workers mentioned in the book really worked through God's eyes. Loving people and children like God Himself does. The pouring out of the Holy Spirit is eminent and central to the works of these people.
IV. Discuss a quote/paragraph from the book.
"Just focus on His face. You Will only make it to the end if you can focus on His face. Focus on His beautiful face. You cant feed the poor, you cant go to the street, you cant see anything happen unless you see His face. One glance of His eyes, and we have all it takes to Lie Down. We're not afraid to die." page 177
When it comes to living a life in missions, people need to keep their focus on Jesus. When they start to rely on others' approvals then they will run dry soon enough. Men can be guaranteed to fail to meet our needs at some point. God won't. He told us not to fear and to rely on Him. The strength, wisdom and ability to sustain such position in the 'missionary world' can only be graciously and freely be granted by God.
Working in the mission field also requires the worker to put everything they have down at the cross of Jesus. Everything. Including one's own life. Which is all the more reason why we should really rely on God and make Him the central and sole focus.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Lessons learnt from "Jesus Culture"
I. Overview of book.
This book is a book about revivalists. Banning starts the book off by introducing the readers to the era that we are in now, living through the greatest hour of history and bringing up a new generation of revivalists. He then breaks the book down through the four sections outlining the characteristics these revivalists ought to have including: an ability to honour the older generation; a passionate love for others that burns from the love they received from Jesus; a prayerful life knowing that God desires to respond to them; and constant demonstration of the supernatural power of God through their lives. He does base the points that he was making by using a lot of scriptural references.
II. 2 Points learnt from the book.
A. Banning made a very sobering point about the battle of the generations occurring in the body of Christ. He mentioned how in Exodus 17:8-16, the story of Joshua's victory against the Amalekites was dependent completely on Moses being in position with the rod of God. It was Moses' covering of authority that was essential to Joshua's success as Joshua was properly aligned with Moses.
Everyone is called to be under some sort of authority in life. Submission to authority is an ongoing matter regardless of how long we have held a role of authority. 'We cannot walk in authority without being submitted under authority.' (page 74) The age of the people of authority that you are called to submit to really doesn't matter. God has strategically placed these people to be used in His Kingdom according to His plans.
"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. (Exodus 20:12 NIV) We have our biological parents to honor. But we cannot ignore those who have spent countless hour pouring into our spiritual lives namely our Godly, spiritual parents or any other elders that have helped us grow. A continuity of power and blessing occurs when we actively honor those people we can call our 'parents'.
By ensuring we are honoring and submitting under those authoritative cover, we are being aligned like Joshua was.
B. A life of prayer is a life of power. Prayer shifts the atmosphere and allows for access to the realm of authority that nothing else can tap into. Prayer is a time where He reveals His heart out to us. Prayer is established in that 'secret place' that releases an anointing like no other. Jesus taught us how to pray and led by example with the amount of time He spent with the Father.
There are four keys to a prayerful life:
1. Intimacy. Intimacy with God through loving Him and letting Him love me.
2. Responsibility. Realizing that I have the responsibility to pray. Whether it be for the salvation of my family members, breakthrough in my own lives or even to see a change of attitude around my campus.
3. Belief. I must believe that breakthrough is around the corner, knowing that God responds to my prayer.
4. Revelation. There are different types of revelations including prophetic (words, dreams or scriptures), friendship (where He calls me His friend), and sonship (knowing that I have received the Spirit of adoption so that I can cry out "Abba Father" to Him)
III. Discuss God's character evident from the book.
God's love is so evident throughout this book. Out of the love we have received from Him, we will find the passion to love on others and all humankind. His love is also what sustains our relationship with Him. It is what gives us the confidence to know that He longs to respond to our prayers. His love is what made Him send his Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. He calls us His friends because of it. His love is the basis of the Spirit of adoption that allows us to call Him as "Abba Father", a very intimate term to be used. His love to everyone is what will move Him to exercise His supernatural power of prophecy, signs, healing, etc to those who needs it.
I want to experience more of His love, become more aware of it, appreciate it more, so I can be empowered to do the things He has created me to accomplish in my life!
IV. Discuss a quote/paragraph from the book.
"History makers are risk takers, and radical obedience is the key to supernatural fruit" page 198
If I want to become a true ambassador of the Kingdom of God on earth, I cannot just keep talking about it but rather demonstrate the power of the Kingdom. This demonstrations includes healing of the lame, sick, deaf; word of knowledge; and prophetic words. For this to happen, I have to act in 'radical obedience' and by asking for His power to be released. The anointing of God is released through faith when I take a risk. Only then will I start seeing supernatural fruits.
I realize that fear of failure and people will prevent this power to flow. Disappointments and deficiency should be expected. But don't view it from a man's perspective. See it from an educational/experience perspective where every situation needs to be embraced as an opportunity to grow.
I need to believe that the simple acts of obedience will result in a breakthrough!!! Let risk-taking be my signature as a history maker, world changer and Kingdom shaper!
This book is a book about revivalists. Banning starts the book off by introducing the readers to the era that we are in now, living through the greatest hour of history and bringing up a new generation of revivalists. He then breaks the book down through the four sections outlining the characteristics these revivalists ought to have including: an ability to honour the older generation; a passionate love for others that burns from the love they received from Jesus; a prayerful life knowing that God desires to respond to them; and constant demonstration of the supernatural power of God through their lives. He does base the points that he was making by using a lot of scriptural references.
II. 2 Points learnt from the book.
A. Banning made a very sobering point about the battle of the generations occurring in the body of Christ. He mentioned how in Exodus 17:8-16, the story of Joshua's victory against the Amalekites was dependent completely on Moses being in position with the rod of God. It was Moses' covering of authority that was essential to Joshua's success as Joshua was properly aligned with Moses.
Everyone is called to be under some sort of authority in life. Submission to authority is an ongoing matter regardless of how long we have held a role of authority. 'We cannot walk in authority without being submitted under authority.' (page 74) The age of the people of authority that you are called to submit to really doesn't matter. God has strategically placed these people to be used in His Kingdom according to His plans.
"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. (Exodus 20:12 NIV) We have our biological parents to honor. But we cannot ignore those who have spent countless hour pouring into our spiritual lives namely our Godly, spiritual parents or any other elders that have helped us grow. A continuity of power and blessing occurs when we actively honor those people we can call our 'parents'.
By ensuring we are honoring and submitting under those authoritative cover, we are being aligned like Joshua was.
B. A life of prayer is a life of power. Prayer shifts the atmosphere and allows for access to the realm of authority that nothing else can tap into. Prayer is a time where He reveals His heart out to us. Prayer is established in that 'secret place' that releases an anointing like no other. Jesus taught us how to pray and led by example with the amount of time He spent with the Father.
There are four keys to a prayerful life:
1. Intimacy. Intimacy with God through loving Him and letting Him love me.
2. Responsibility. Realizing that I have the responsibility to pray. Whether it be for the salvation of my family members, breakthrough in my own lives or even to see a change of attitude around my campus.
3. Belief. I must believe that breakthrough is around the corner, knowing that God responds to my prayer.
4. Revelation. There are different types of revelations including prophetic (words, dreams or scriptures), friendship (where He calls me His friend), and sonship (knowing that I have received the Spirit of adoption so that I can cry out "Abba Father" to Him)
III. Discuss God's character evident from the book.
God's love is so evident throughout this book. Out of the love we have received from Him, we will find the passion to love on others and all humankind. His love is also what sustains our relationship with Him. It is what gives us the confidence to know that He longs to respond to our prayers. His love is what made Him send his Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. He calls us His friends because of it. His love is the basis of the Spirit of adoption that allows us to call Him as "Abba Father", a very intimate term to be used. His love to everyone is what will move Him to exercise His supernatural power of prophecy, signs, healing, etc to those who needs it.
I want to experience more of His love, become more aware of it, appreciate it more, so I can be empowered to do the things He has created me to accomplish in my life!
IV. Discuss a quote/paragraph from the book.
"History makers are risk takers, and radical obedience is the key to supernatural fruit" page 198
If I want to become a true ambassador of the Kingdom of God on earth, I cannot just keep talking about it but rather demonstrate the power of the Kingdom. This demonstrations includes healing of the lame, sick, deaf; word of knowledge; and prophetic words. For this to happen, I have to act in 'radical obedience' and by asking for His power to be released. The anointing of God is released through faith when I take a risk. Only then will I start seeing supernatural fruits.
I realize that fear of failure and people will prevent this power to flow. Disappointments and deficiency should be expected. But don't view it from a man's perspective. See it from an educational/experience perspective where every situation needs to be embraced as an opportunity to grow.
I need to believe that the simple acts of obedience will result in a breakthrough!!! Let risk-taking be my signature as a history maker, world changer and Kingdom shaper!
Lessons learnt from "WHO you are when noone's looking"
I. Overview of Book
Bill Hybels has written this book about how to live life full of virtues and Godly characters. He sees beyond today's 'wrong world' and views it as a great challenge for individuals to keep pursuing an improvement on their Godly characters so that changes can occur in this world. Not just small changes, big changes such as to see love being spread, needs of people being met, injustice confronted, no more violence and also leading others towards Jesus. He highlights the different virtues that are important and through his personal experience and scriptural references, he explores the ways in which we can improve our Godly characters to become a better influencer, world changer and kingdom shaper.
II. 2 Points learnt from
The book
A. A person with vision have the ability to see beneath the surface of people's lives. They believe it is worth the effort to 'dig' beyond people's cover. They know that looking at people's heart, character, hopes and fears that motivate a person's behavior, is the gateway into helping them be a step closer to the great person God had originally intended them to be.
Each person is made unique by God. For a person to have the ability to tap into other people's 'hidden jewel' is truly a blessing. You'd be able to see potential, prospect and future when others may have lost faith. It then leads to an easier process of surrender to God personally to let Him work in our lives.
B. There are many aspects of sacrificial love for different types of relationships. It is the backbone of lasting marriages and strong friendships. In marriage, it is to put the spouse's needs before your own because you want to see them grow into their full potential. In friendships, it means the willingness to meet others' needs to show that they are well-loved. In the world at large, this type of love is as simple as spreading and giving out love to those who need it the most.
III. Discuss an aspect of God's character
A great aspect of God's love expressed in this book through the fact that Bill had dedicated 4 chapters in the book speaking about the different types of love. God's love is so big for us that it is mostly beyond our comprehension. The love that we understand can be divided into a few different categories (in the book it is classified as: tender love, tough love, sacrificial love and radical love). All four types of love i want to be able to enjoy and grow in to be able to maximize my ability to influence others.
I feel I need most improvement on tender love. I need to learn to view people as tools to be used or trouble to be avoided. Another way of viewing it is to treat people like Jesus does including lifting people up, forgiving them and continue to treat them with love and respect.
IV. Discuss a quote/paragraph from the book.
"Endurance sustains courage. A burst of courage for fifteen minutes is good, but it is not enough to carry you through. Endurance gives staying power to discipline" page 60
Many people struggle with endurance as there are many quitting points in this life. Go back a century and you will find that quitting was considered as disgraceful. These days, it is pretty common. I see this a lot especially when it comes to those people with leadership positions. Sometimes it looks like it is so much easier to just become spectators instead of a leader or servant. The challenge is, do we really want to stop becoming an influence to others when we have a greater calling to serve for God's glory?! If I ever get to that stage, I hope that I will turn to God, trust Him to empower me to crash through the quitting point barrier and know that God will help me come out in one piece on the other side.
Lessons learnt from Passion and Purity
Just taking excerpts from the book reports that i had to do....
I. Overview of book
This book written by Elizabeth Elliot partly follows her life story as she and her first husband Jim battles through similar things that we do today when it comes to our fleshy, selfish, ungodly, unholy sexual desires with the person whom we love and want tos spend the rest of our lives with. She is à living testimony when it comes to living à life in purity, holy before God and what it means to wait upon THE Lord, daily "killing" THE flesh in order to say yes to God. She doesnt pretend that it was easy, nor does she "sugarcoat" what her flesh so desires. Their love story may not be a common one but that doesnt discount the lessons one can learn (especially THE females) through her wonderful testimony of how she resisted temptations, remained faithful to her beloved while being wholly devoted to God.
II. 2 points learnt from the book
À. So Often we, as females, find ourselves in à position where we become impatient, and want to take matters into our own hands and end up becoming THE initiator. What some of us dont realise is the fact that it becomes a turn off when we try to fulfill what the male are created to do. Adam's job was to be responsible, to care, protect, provide and cherish Eve. Male in their physical design are Made to be the initiator. Females are then to be the reciprocal and are ought to be the receptors and responders. In accordance to scriptures, we are also to submit to our husband.
Taking the story of Adam and Eve a little further, it can be seen how devastating of a result we get when they start reversing roles. Chaos was seen then and it still is evident today due to their role-swapping. I am sure that it was never God's intention for us human beings to try and swap roles just as it was always intended for us to prepare ourselves to be His bride as a representation of the relative position of Christ and the church.
B. In Chapter 38, she talks about this idea of THE process of letting go is part of our ongoing spiritual life. We stunt THE growth of our soul when we refuse to let go of THE things God wants us to let go of. In fact, we sometimes have THE incorrect perception where we think once we have received something from God, that it is ours and that we can do whatever we want with it. THE truth is, we are to thank God for it and always be ready to offer, relinquish and let go of it should Hè require it from us.
We need to Remmember that THE growth of any living thing requires THE Seed to first die before THE new shoot Springs up, giving way to à new form of life. Just like our body cells die to give way to new cells in order for us to function, there Will be things in life we need to let go, or "kill", to give way for His purposes to be fulfilled in our lives.
III. An aspect of God that is very evident through the book is His holiness. This then extend and relates back to me being pure in heart for Him and Him alone even when I am in a relationship with a person of the opposite sex. The bible is clear when it comes to discussing the issues of sex before marriage and/or sex within marriage. The marriage bed is to be kept pure. There's no gray area for it.
THE book is à testimony that it is possible for two young people, full of hormones, curiosity and Passion to resist temptation. A pure and worthwhile motive is required to assist them as well God to be in their midst to enable them to stay unadulterated. It is obviously on our part not to walk ourselves into 'temptation' itself. Because we Will Then have to stand before God and be accountable for it.
Simply put, Hè has given THE absolute best for me ie Jesus Christ in all His righteousness and holiness being crucified, why cant i do this somewhat seemingly minute act of obedience in comparison, for Him?
IV. Get a quote or paragraph from the book and talk about it.
"While purity before marriage... consists in holding ourselves from one another in obedience to God, purity after marriage consists in giving ourselves to and for each other in obedience to God. Passion, whether that of one who is hungry for another not yet given or that of one who, by God's gift, shares the bed of another, must be held in principle. The principle is love - not erotic or sentimental or sexual feeling, but love." (page 180)
By experience, the notion of being 'in love' isn't going to last forever. Many marriages have ended due to one or both of the parties falling "out of love". I have learned through this book that love needs to be "maintained by the will, deliberately strengthened by habit, reinforced by grace which both partners ask and receive from God.." Once love is maintained in the relationship, passion is then upheld and then purity can be cultivated inside a marriage. I find this to be an important lesson now as this will remind me in the future not to be so selfish when it comes to my married life but rather to ask for God's grace continually to maintain a healthy marriage. :)
I. Overview of book
This book written by Elizabeth Elliot partly follows her life story as she and her first husband Jim battles through similar things that we do today when it comes to our fleshy, selfish, ungodly, unholy sexual desires with the person whom we love and want tos spend the rest of our lives with. She is à living testimony when it comes to living à life in purity, holy before God and what it means to wait upon THE Lord, daily "killing" THE flesh in order to say yes to God. She doesnt pretend that it was easy, nor does she "sugarcoat" what her flesh so desires. Their love story may not be a common one but that doesnt discount the lessons one can learn (especially THE females) through her wonderful testimony of how she resisted temptations, remained faithful to her beloved while being wholly devoted to God.
II. 2 points learnt from the book
À. So Often we, as females, find ourselves in à position where we become impatient, and want to take matters into our own hands and end up becoming THE initiator. What some of us dont realise is the fact that it becomes a turn off when we try to fulfill what the male are created to do. Adam's job was to be responsible, to care, protect, provide and cherish Eve. Male in their physical design are Made to be the initiator. Females are then to be the reciprocal and are ought to be the receptors and responders. In accordance to scriptures, we are also to submit to our husband.
Taking the story of Adam and Eve a little further, it can be seen how devastating of a result we get when they start reversing roles. Chaos was seen then and it still is evident today due to their role-swapping. I am sure that it was never God's intention for us human beings to try and swap roles just as it was always intended for us to prepare ourselves to be His bride as a representation of the relative position of Christ and the church.
B. In Chapter 38, she talks about this idea of THE process of letting go is part of our ongoing spiritual life. We stunt THE growth of our soul when we refuse to let go of THE things God wants us to let go of. In fact, we sometimes have THE incorrect perception where we think once we have received something from God, that it is ours and that we can do whatever we want with it. THE truth is, we are to thank God for it and always be ready to offer, relinquish and let go of it should Hè require it from us.
We need to Remmember that THE growth of any living thing requires THE Seed to first die before THE new shoot Springs up, giving way to à new form of life. Just like our body cells die to give way to new cells in order for us to function, there Will be things in life we need to let go, or "kill", to give way for His purposes to be fulfilled in our lives.
III. An aspect of God that is very evident through the book is His holiness. This then extend and relates back to me being pure in heart for Him and Him alone even when I am in a relationship with a person of the opposite sex. The bible is clear when it comes to discussing the issues of sex before marriage and/or sex within marriage. The marriage bed is to be kept pure. There's no gray area for it.
THE book is à testimony that it is possible for two young people, full of hormones, curiosity and Passion to resist temptation. A pure and worthwhile motive is required to assist them as well God to be in their midst to enable them to stay unadulterated. It is obviously on our part not to walk ourselves into 'temptation' itself. Because we Will Then have to stand before God and be accountable for it.
Simply put, Hè has given THE absolute best for me ie Jesus Christ in all His righteousness and holiness being crucified, why cant i do this somewhat seemingly minute act of obedience in comparison, for Him?
IV. Get a quote or paragraph from the book and talk about it.
"While purity before marriage... consists in holding ourselves from one another in obedience to God, purity after marriage consists in giving ourselves to and for each other in obedience to God. Passion, whether that of one who is hungry for another not yet given or that of one who, by God's gift, shares the bed of another, must be held in principle. The principle is love - not erotic or sentimental or sexual feeling, but love." (page 180)
By experience, the notion of being 'in love' isn't going to last forever. Many marriages have ended due to one or both of the parties falling "out of love". I have learned through this book that love needs to be "maintained by the will, deliberately strengthened by habit, reinforced by grace which both partners ask and receive from God.." Once love is maintained in the relationship, passion is then upheld and then purity can be cultivated inside a marriage. I find this to be an important lesson now as this will remind me in the future not to be so selfish when it comes to my married life but rather to ask for God's grace continually to maintain a healthy marriage. :)
Huntington Beach, OC, CA
Sooooooo... OC is like insane so far. Im staying at a 'first assembly of God' church in Santa Ana. TAkes us about 20mins to get to the home church called the Refuge which is a pretty big church about 20mins from d beach. We have around 130 of us from YWAM Denver. Around 120 from 'circuit riders' in Kona, Hawaii.
Every morning we gather at the hub to meet up andworship together and pray etc. Have lunch together then get sent off to our different ministry places. So far we have had Peter Warren (leader of YWAM Denver) speak on how this entire thing come about. We had John Dawson WHO is kind of the 'grandpa' of YWAM spoke and blessed us with annointing to go forth and share about Jesus to people.
I say that this place has been insane because i know for a fact God is doing some funky awesome stuff here :) our first day together, some mexican family that own a mexican restaurant supplied us withlunch. They refused to be paid. Fed 250+ of us for freeee!!!! And all they asked was for prayer.. Nuuuuttzzz....
Also, We have hired a tent at Hilton of Huntington Beach. It is normally rented at $10,000/night. Its not one of those cheap tent stuff. Its a HUGE white tent normally used for wedding reception. Its right across the road from the beaccbh!!!! Prime spot and all!!!! God somehow did something and gave it for us to use for $450/night. We've got it booked for a week. And today i heard some guy wrote a cheque to cover for that rent!!!!!!! And theeeennnnn..... We have vans from Denver but nowhere near enough to b able to transport us around. This morninggggg some non-profit group donated 6 rented cars for us for a wk. And they've paid for insurance etc on each car!!! Soooo craaaazzzyyyy....
So many peoplehave been saved/rededicated their lives to Jesus. Revival is breaking out like crazy in this county. And we have only had 2 nights at the tent. Im so priviledged to be a part of this... :)
Yesterday was crazy... I was talking to some retired guy and ended up playing those jamba drum thing worshipping with 4 other ppl in the middle of huntington beach carpark!! It's crazzzzyyyy... Hehheheheheh...
Every morning we gather at the hub to meet up andworship together and pray etc. Have lunch together then get sent off to our different ministry places. So far we have had Peter Warren (leader of YWAM Denver) speak on how this entire thing come about. We had John Dawson WHO is kind of the 'grandpa' of YWAM spoke and blessed us with annointing to go forth and share about Jesus to people.
I say that this place has been insane because i know for a fact God is doing some funky awesome stuff here :) our first day together, some mexican family that own a mexican restaurant supplied us withlunch. They refused to be paid. Fed 250+ of us for freeee!!!! And all they asked was for prayer.. Nuuuuttzzz....
Also, We have hired a tent at Hilton of Huntington Beach. It is normally rented at $10,000/night. Its not one of those cheap tent stuff. Its a HUGE white tent normally used for wedding reception. Its right across the road from the beaccbh!!!! Prime spot and all!!!! God somehow did something and gave it for us to use for $450/night. We've got it booked for a week. And today i heard some guy wrote a cheque to cover for that rent!!!!!!! And theeeennnnn..... We have vans from Denver but nowhere near enough to b able to transport us around. This morninggggg some non-profit group donated 6 rented cars for us for a wk. And they've paid for insurance etc on each car!!! Soooo craaaazzzyyyy....
So many peoplehave been saved/rededicated their lives to Jesus. Revival is breaking out like crazy in this county. And we have only had 2 nights at the tent. Im so priviledged to be a part of this... :)
Yesterday was crazy... I was talking to some retired guy and ended up playing those jamba drum thing worshipping with 4 other ppl in the middle of huntington beach carpark!! It's crazzzzyyyy... Hehheheheheh...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)