LIFE SKILLS VIII: LET US SHOUT ALOUD
Developing a Thankful Heart

Psalm 95 (NLT)

1 Come, let us sing to the LORD!
Let us give a joyous shout to the rock of our salvation!
2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving.
Let us sing him psalms of praise.
3 For the LORD is a great God,
the great King above all gods.
4 He owns the depths of the earth,
and even the mightiest mountains are his.
5 The sea belongs to him, for he made it.
His hands formed the dry land, too.
6 Come, let us worship and bow down.
Let us kneel before the LORD our maker,
7 for he is our God.
We are the people he watches over,
the sheep under his care.
Oh, that you would listen to his voice today!
8 The LORD says, “Don’t harden your hearts as Israel did at Meribah,
as they did at Massah in the wilderness.
9 For there your ancestors tried my patience;
they courted my wrath though they had seen my many miracles.
10 For forty years I was angry with them, and I said,
"They are a people whose hearts turn away from me.
They refuse to do what I tell them."
11 So in my anger I made a vow:
"They will never enter my place of rest."

I know I lack a thankful heart. How do I know? All I need to do is watch myself in traffic. I grew up in the Los Angeles area, notoriously known for its traffic. The freeways are constantly a parking lot, no matter what time of day it is (unless of course you’re driving at 1:00 in the morning). Even the weekends are jammed pack with motorists driving all over the place and going in all directions, sometimes using illegal means to do so.

I admit I hate sitting in traffic. I get impatient as my car inches by at less than five miles an hour. Cutting people off is a skill you need to develop. There is no time to signal before switching lanes; you either go for it and squeeze into a narrow space between two cars, or you have to wait 30 minutes before finding another open lane. And do not think that just because you signal people will let you into their lane: LA drivers value any space they can get on the freeway. Now add all this with smoggy weather, no AC in your car, a sore back and rear end, and constant braking, and you too can easily grumble and complain. I confess I can be unpleasant when I drive in these conditions.

I will also confess that in the midst of my complaining and bitterness I am not thankful I could actually drive and that I have a car to drive. Many people do not have their own personal automobiles to drive to work. They have to use public transportations to get around town. Many individuals also do not have the privilege to own a driver’s license. I can do both, but I seem to take these privileges for granted when I am caught in traffic. Because I feel like I am being inconvenienced I deserve to whine about the situation rather than being humble that I have the opportunity to drive in the first place.

Surely many of us can identify with this situation. It may not be traffic for you, but it could be busyness in life, relationship problems, family issues, etc. Whatever the situation is one thing is clear: it is easier for us to complain and grumble rather than to have a thankful heart. For some reason we believe we are entitled to the best things that life has to offer. Only then do we acquire a thankful heart. But, if life hands us a degrading situation, we protest to our heart’s content.

But, have you wondered that the reason why you are constantly bitter and angry is because you do not have a thankful heart? Maybe your lack of close friendships is due to your constant complaints towards others instead of appreciation of love and care for them. Maybe you take your loved ones for granted, which is a form of abuse rather than one of thanksgiving. Whatever the causes are, a deficiency of a thankful heart will always result in brokenness instead of healing.

Psalm 95 speaks about the importance of having a thankful heart. A thankful heart connects us in worship to the almighty God. It is in the presence of this God where we find strength and restoration. And it is from this restoration that we are called to convey God’s healing to those who live shattered existences.

Psalm 95 begins with the psalmist calling the people to enter the presence of the Lord with singing and psalms of praise. (verses 1-2) Scholars believe that the scene is one where people are summoned from all over the land to approach the Temple and dwell in God’s presence. Imagine the sight of thousands of people from every direction beginning to congregate, shouting out loud and proclaiming in one joyous voice towards the rock of their salvation. And specifically, the psalmist calls the people to come before God with thanksgiving. (verse 2a) Here is the first principle:

1. A thankful heart must be the basis of our lives. (verses 1-2)

Normally we are thankful when something good has been done to us. A thankful heart is the result of somebody extending kindness towards us. But, note in verse 2 that we approach God in thanksgiving, not necessarily because God did something good for us, but because a thankful heart is just the proper response to God. We must learn that a thankful heart must be the basis of our lives and character. It is possible to be thankful even when nothing good is being done to you.

· Do not always think a thankful heart is the result of a good deed done upon you.

We must break away from thinking that we are only thankful if somebody is nice to us or has treated us well. But, if we are always called to approach God in thanksgiving, whether or not God blesses us first, then surely we can also approach everything in life with thanksgiving, whether or not we experience blessing first. Having this attitude will prepare us to be always thankful in all circumstances.

· We must constantly be thankful even when life is painful.

Always having a thankful heart means we are also grateful during the most difficult times of life. Normally life’s complexities only invite our complaints and grumbling. When our parents abuse us, we complain. When our significant others exploit us, we criticize. When I face constant traffic on the freeways I fume and get upset over the perceived stupidity of other drivers who do not know how to drive and are getting in my way.

· A thankful heart projects a zealous passion for God.

But, when we cultivate a thankful heart that passionately seeks after God, we also embrace the varied intricacies of life in thanksgiving. How so? Our second principle is:

2. A thankful heart is anchored upon the God of reliability and permanence. (verses 1, 3-5)

Verse 1 states that we are to give a joyous shout to God, the rock of our salvation. Being the rock means God is reliable and trustworthy, unlike our emotions and moods, which many times fluctuate without any rhyme or reason.

· A thankful heart is not dependent upon our emotional moods.

Unfortunately, our emotions and moods are intricately tied to having a thankful heart. If somebody gets us upset, we are not thankful. If somebody said something bad about us, we are not grateful. We cold hold grudges against a person for the rest of our lives just because this person said we are not handsome or beautiful!

Yet, a thankful heart should not be based on how we feel. A thankful heart is developed within us because God is the rock of our salvation!

· We are always thankful because of God’s constancy, stability and protection over us!

We should be thankful because our foundation is always stable and constant. We can count on God to be the same yesterday, today, and forever. As human beings our beliefs and character are always in flux; we are one person one day and another person another day. No wonder we can easily be thankful to our friend today, but brand him as an enemy the next day.

But, the Lord God is different. He is the rock. He is the great king above all other (false) gods. All of creation belongs to him, from the depths of the earth, to the mightiest mountains, to the sea and the land as well. How secure are we to lay our thanksgiving upon this great rock!

· With God’s constancy as our foundation, we are able to restore our broken relationships with families and friends.

Since our thankful hearts are built upon a constant unmovable God, we can mend wrecked relationships with other people in thanksgiving! We are no longer dependent upon our emotions and moods to cultivate a thankful heart. Instead, we are solely reliant upon the God of all creation, in whom we now receive his strength and mercy. A thankful heart is solidly based on the rock of our salvation, not upon fluctuating feelings.

Thus, even if somebody has purposefully hurt you, you will respond to them with a thankful heart. No matter what slanderous words and hateful actions you had to endure from someone else, your thankful heart is securely fastened to the great God who is above all other gods. Restoration with our enemies can be accomplished because our hearts of thanksgiving are not dependent upon human emotions; instead, our hearts are dependent on the permanency and eternal hope found in God alone.

This is further elaborated in verses 6-7a, which leads us to third principle:

3. A thankful heart brings us face to face to God’s adoring care. (verses 6-7a)

Again, the psalmist calls the people to come into the presence of God in worship. But, whereas verses 1-2 invite people to the direction of the Temple, in verses 6-7a the people are now entering the Temple. This section becomes more personal, focusing not so much on the whole community, but on the individual worshiper. Each person is to worship God in reverence, bowing down and kneeling before the almighty God. Why such a humble posture? Because he is our God, the one who watches over us; we are his sheep and he is our shepherd, providing constant care to us.

· We approach God in humility; God approaches us with healing.

We have a thankful heart because of this face to face encounter with the loving God. When we approach God he does not reject us. Instead, he embraces us with nurture and healing.

· We find forgiveness and restoration through this personal encounter with the all-loving God.

It is in this most intimate moment with God that we find his mercy. God desires for his flock to live in freedom; he seeks to break the bondages that hold us back from experiencing true love in him. Our thankful heart is shaped by this divine encounter. We are grateful because we put our hope upon a God who tenderly heals us through his unconditional love and grace.

· Result: A transformed heart will reach out to broken lives.

But, this blessed restoration should not remain in us. A thankful heart allows us to restore other broken lives as well, especially to those who might have hurt us in the past. Though you might think you are justified in distancing yourself from those who have abused you and taken advantage of you, God has other ideas.

A thankful heart gives us the freedom to forgive those who have hurt us. How so? If God’s desire is to heal us in forgiveness, then it must be the case that his desire is also to forgive those who have wounded us. Maybe our fathers never showed their love towards us; they were always strict and demanding. Maybe our mothers never encouraged us; they always put us down and say that we are stupid. Maybe we had experienced some form of abuse from a loved one. The list here could go on and on. Yet, having a thankful heart breaks this chain of hopelessness in our lives. Since we have personally received the loving care of God, we can now accept our enemies back into our lives in forgiveness. This does not mean every hurtful issue needs to be swept under the rug. But, what it does mean is that the road to recovery begins when a broken person (you) can reach out to another broken person (your enemy) because of your thankful heart. God is as much concerned about your enemy as he is with you.

Our last point is this:

4. A thankful heart does not grumble and complain. (verses 7b-11)

· Background: Exodus 17:1-7

Psalm 95 interestingly ends with this story from Exodus 17. The people of Israel were in the desert as they made their way to the promised land. They began to test God by complaining of lack of water. They grumbled that they were better off in Egypt, ironically the place where they were kept as slaves. They did not appreciate what God had done for them by rescuing them from bondage and leading them to their own land. God commanded Moses to strike a rock to get water for the people. Moses named the place Massah and Meribah because Israel quarreled and tested the Lord.

The point here is that God does not want us to have a heart of complaint. Grumbling and complaining only leads to testing one another and quarreling against each other.

· A heart of complaint only produces bitterness.
· A heart of complaint cannot forgive and restore.

- We cannot forgive ourselves: leads to self-pity and self-destruction
- We cannot forgive those who have hurt us: leads to broken relationships

· Result: A heart of complaint suffocates the growth of a thankful heart.

Maybe the reason why you are full of bitterness is because you are failing to live with a thankful heart. Your attitude towards this world is one of hatred. Yet you must still come before God with thanksgiving. Come before him face to face and let him be your shepherd. Let him heal you; make yourself vulnerable to him. Let God transform you to be a person always thankful in all circumstances. Do not be fearful about this: remember, your foundation is the rock of your salvation and he is constant and permanent in keeping a watch over you. Finally, use your heart of thanksgiving to reach out to those who have mistreated you. They, too, need healing from God. Today, let us all shout aloud with one voice; let us be thankful because of the everlasting love of our Lord God.

© Arthur Hsu (2003)

LIFE SKILLS VII: THE RICHES OF LIFE
Achieving Financial Responsibility

Proverbs 27:23-27 (NLT)

23 Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds, 24 for riches don’t last forever, and the crown might not be secure for the next generation. 25 After the hay is harvested, the new crop appears, and the mountain grasses are gathered in, 26 your sheep will provide wool for clothing, and your goats will be sold for the price of a field. 27 And you will have enough goats’ milk for you, your family, and your servants.

I remember the first day of college. It was a bustling day. All along the main corridor of school many people congregated. It seemed like all of the college clubs were there trying to recruit brand new freshmen to join their cause. From the religious to the environmental, from the athletic to the social, all the organizations were reeling in one individual after another.

And then I saw a group that caught my attention, an organization with bright lights and outlandish offers, a club that will change my life forever: a credit-card company.

“You qualify for a credit card!” “You do not need a job!” “Money at your fingertips!” “Credit limits of up to $5,000!” “Low interest rates!” “Pay only $20 a month!”

Now that is tempting to a first-year college student like myself. I can have money in my pocket without having to work at all. I started dreaming about what I could buy as I was signing up for membership. Hmm… a stereo system, music, clothes… I fell in love with college right after the credit-card representative smiled at me and said that I was automatically approved.

At the end of my first year I had a staggering seven credit cards with an even staggering balance in my accounts. The total? $4,000! Things did not look good for me. In fact, because of poor grades I lost my scholarship. I had to borrow loans just to stay in school. With no job and no scholarship, I was in a financial dilemma. How could such a nice story end up as a nightmare?

This is not an uncommon incident for many of us. In fact, I bet many of you can identify with my story in some way. Money has been a blessing and a curse in human history. We recently witnessed how the Internet and dot.com industries in the 1990s created an influx of wealthy people. We also witnessed such a strong dependence upon money and the irresponsibility of spending that when the financial bubble burst, many of the same individuals lost their entire savings and livelihood.

Did you know that the Bible has much to say about how we should be responsible with our finances? In fact, Scripture is kind of like a financial advisor that teaches us godly principles in how we should embrace money and the pitfalls that come from such a dependence on it. This morning we will look at one such text that challenges us how we can have the right perspective when it comes to finances and the responsibilities that God expect us to have in view of this.

Verse 23 of Proverbs 27 begins by stating that we need to know the state of our flock. As an animal herder it is important to know how many animals are under your care and how much production you will receive from your animals. For example, you know that you need five cows to produce 25 gallons of milk a week to care for your entire family. If you have less than five cows or if you are not receiving 25 gallons from your cows, then your living sustenance will be tight and you will need to make financial adjustments to provide adequate care for your family. Maybe you normally buy 2 dozen eggs with some of the money you got from selling 25 gallons of milk. But, if you only have 15 gallons this week, you may opt to buy only 1 dozen of eggs instead of the normal 2 dozens.

The same is true when it comes to our finances. The first principle is this:

1. Know the state of your financial situation. (verse 23)

You must understand how much you are making and what production you can receive from it. Do not fool yourself to think you can afford everything by what you are earning. Let me give an example:

You make $2,000 a month after taxes. With rent, bills, food, savings, etc., your budget comes out to $1,900 per month. That means you are making enough each month and still have $100 leftover. Normally, you spend that $100 to buy clothes.

But, you find out that your landlord is raising your rent by $50 a month. With your current budget, this means you now only have $50 leftover. This results in buying fewer clothes than before. There is no way you can continue to purchase $100 worth of clothes a month when you know you only $50 leftover. You will be in a deficit all the time. This is what it means to know the state of your financial situation.

Other suggestions related to this are:

· Are we living beyond our means?

For example, you know that you can only afford $700 a month for rent. Yet you live in this house that costs you $1500 a month. You are living beyond what you can afford. Knowing the state of your financial situation means comprehending how much you can spend on rent, clothes, food, etc., and not living beyond your means.

· Our professions could determine our income’s restrictions.

Many times your job determines your financial restrictions. For example, as a pastor, there is no way I can live a lifestyle that a pop star singer might be able to. On average, a singer earns more money than a pastor. MTV has a show called “Cribs” where they go into the houses of well-known celebrities and film how these celebrities live. Many of them have gigantic mansions with expensive cars and lavish pools with waterfalls overlooking the city. There is no way I can ever afford any of those homes. I understand that my profession does not allow me to live such an extravagant way. And I should not pretend that I could live like a singer or actor. Part of knowing the state of your financial situation is comprehending the restrictions you face because of your profession.

· Where we are in our life stages could determine our income constraints.

Our life stages can also affect our financial standing. Generally speaking, a college student is financially poorer than an engineer. An elderly person may be poorer than a middle-aged person since the younger person has greater opportunities to work while an elder person may not have the luxury to work at all. The point here is that where we are in our life stages can limit our financial resources and how we spend those resources.

The second half of verse 23 states that animal herders need to put their hearts into caring for their herds. Since the herders earn their living from the produce of their herds, they must make sure the proper food, nutrients and environment are established for the herds to breed healthily.

The same is true when it comes to our finances. The second principle is this:

2. Be responsible for what you own. (verse 23)

For example, an automobile is important for many of us because it transports us to work and school. Cars are also used to take us to the grocery store, the doctor, etc. Yet, though we pay good money to buy the car, many of us do not invest wisely in keeping the car in good running condition. We could save thousands of dollars in car problems if we only spend far less amount of money on regular car maintenance such as an oil change or a tune-up. As it is, we fail to care for our “herds,” which force us to waste more money that could have been stashed away as savings.

We have to be responsible for the things that we own. This includes our cars, houses, clothes, etc. Properly maintain what we have so that we do not to spend more money trying to fix things. God wants us to be economically responsible for the things that we have. Our possessions are not “toys” that we can rightfully destroy and waste. These are blessings that God has given to bring us comfort as well as be used to be a blessing to other people. Wouldn’t it be a shame that you could not take a person to church just because you consistently fail to get an oil change and now your car is not working? God holds us accountable for our actions.

So far we have learned that it is important to know our financial situation and to be responsible over everything we own in life. Why are these significant? The answer is found in verse 24: riches do not last forever just as human power cannot guarantee peace for future generations. All of us know that politics and human authority cannot warrant security for the future. Kingdoms and “crowns” cannot assure safety forever; they appear and disappear just like the wind.

Since this is true about human power, it is also true when it comes to riches. Here is the third financial principle:

3. Life should not be shaped by how much you make. (verse 24)

· Do not base your identity upon human foundations; money and power do not last forever.

Money and power come and go. They have short-term gratification but do not provide lasting joy. They may give us temporary happiness here in this temporary world, but they cannot guarantee eternal hope.

· Be fixed to the eternal hope found in Jesus alone.

34 Then he called his disciples and the crowds to come over and listen. “If any of you wants to be my follower,” he told them, “you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me. 35 If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will find true life. 36 And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? 37 Is anything worth more than your soul? 38 If a person is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, I, the Son of Man, will be ashamed of that person when I return in the glory of my Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:34-38)

It is unfortunate that we define our lives based on what careers we have, what rankings we occupy, how much money we earn, even what school we go to. Jesus tells us that this is our way of saving our lives. Yet, if we try to keep our lives for ourselves we will lose it. Gaining the whole world will not rescue our souls when God comes to judge us. Instead, our lives must be fixed in the eternal hope that only Jesus can give. Things of the world do not last forever, but the love of Jesus does if we choose to submit to him and allow him to be our Lord and Savior. Remember that your soul is worth more than what you will ever make in your lifetime. Connect your life to Jesus now.

The passage ends by explaining the purpose of possessing things. Why are there hay, new crops and mountain grasses? Why do sheep provide wool and why are goats sold? What is the purpose of goats’ milk? We come to our fourth principle:

4. Understand that financial resources are meant to provide care for you and your loved ones. (verses 25-27)

· Owning things should reflect our needs, not our abundance.

As a society today we fail to properly comprehend why we own things. We think that ownership allows us to accumulate as much stuff as we possibly can. As long as I can buy it, I have a right to own it.

But, this is not what verses 25-27 tell us. Nowhere does it say that we have a right to live a life of abundance or extravagance. Instead, God gives us the responsibility of ownership in order to help us care for one another, not to collect as much material objects as we possibly can.

Many of us are negatively affected by finances because we fail to understand what it means to own. We might have 15 pairs of jeans in our closet even though we know we only need 3 pairs. I read stories in the Internet of people who would buy countless numbers of computers and computer parts because of great deals, even though they know they do not need 10 systems in their home.

Proverbs 27:23-27 teaches us that we own so that we can care for ourselves and our families. This does not mean that we have to live on the bare minimum. But, all of us can admit that we love to live in extravagance. This is not what God expects from us. Begin to reflect on what you own and you need to ask yourself honestly if God would be pleased with what you have. Do you really need what you have or did you buy because it makes you look and feel good?

· Financial resources support provision, not selfishness.

Ultimately, many of the things we own are due to our selfishness rather than our needs in life. We want the more expensive jewelry, we shop at the more exquisite stores, we desire the sophisticated cars, etc. What we own goes beyond what we need to enjoy life the way God wants us to. This leads us to the last principle of this message:

5. Learn a life of giving and not a life of receiving.

One effective way to break out of our selfish greed and become more financially responsible is to learn to give instead of to receive. We want to develop a habit of caring for others instead of piling things up solely for ourselves. Maybe our extra clothes in our closets could be given away to families who need them. Maybe we can use our automobiles to give people rides or even lend them our cars. Maybe our homes are to be used to bring people in and make them feel connected and well-cared for.

When we root ourselves out of personal selfishness we will begin to understand God’s purpose when it comes to financial responsibility. Finances help us bring care and protection for us and our family so that we can engage this world for Jesus. We are not supposed to hoard up and accumulate as much stuff as we can. We own and have money to provide security for our loved ones. And by giving to those less fortunate than us we train ourselves to give always because that is what God does for us each and everyday. We are not shaped by how much we have; instead we are formed by the unconditional love that Jesus gave to us through his death on the cross. The riches of life are not found here on earth; they are found within the very being of God.

© Arthur Hsu (2003)

LIFE SKILLS V: THE POWER OF ONE
Freedom in Singleness

1 Corinthians 7:32-35 (NLT)

32 In everything you do, I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him. 33 But a married man can’t do that so well. He has to think about his

We live in a world today where “more is better.” This is very obvious when it comes to material possessions. People are happier if they own two cars instead of one, have a three-bedroom house instead of a studio apartment, or possess 10 pairs of shoes instead of only one pair.

This principle of “more is better” has been carried over to human relationships as well. Now, some of the reasons why are for advantageous motives. For example, if you are moving to a new place it is much easier and more efficient to have five of your friends help you instead of moving everything on your own. In fact, when it comes to friendships, it is beneficial to have many trustworthy friends whom you can lean on versus not having a single friend at all.

This idea of “more is better” is clearly seen when we talk about marriage. We always talk about the healthy benefits of having a husband or wife who can encourage us, strengthen us, challenge us, and build us up to become a better servant for Christ and to become a solid mature human being. The church heavily promotes marriage as the best thing a person can ever experience outside of his or her devotion to God. We believe that everybody needs to have a partner in life to find significance and self-worth.

But, what about the single person? If a person is not married does that mean he or she has less worth than a married person? Obviously the answer is a resounding “No!” Unfortunately, society in general, and the church specifically, fails to honor the value of singleness. We instinctively think that if somebody is single that person is lonely or something is wrong with that individual. A single person is looked down upon as an incomplete human being who is unable to enjoy the full benefit of life unless he or she has a life-long partner. It is extremely sad to hear about many churches who demand that their pastors are married so that the pastor can fully grasp what life is truly all about. Would Jesus have been qualified to be a pastor at a church today given his single status? This is indeed a sad testimony.

1 Corinthians 7:32-35 addresses the issue of singleness. The passage does not determine whether being single is better than being married, or vice versa. Instead, the text teaches us the value and worth of a single person and the advantages a single person has when it comes to serving God. The hope of the message today is to encourage the single person to understand his or her position in Christ and the opportunities he or she has in living out a life that is pleasing to God.

Paul starts off by teaching the church at Corinth that in everything they do they need “to be free from the concerns of this life.” (verse 32) Why? Because in order to give one’s best to God one needs to have as few distractions as possible. (verse 35) The first point is this:

1. Singleness is one way we can reduce distractions in order to serve God more effectively.

We are not saying that singleness is the only way to become spiritually effective. We are also not advocating that singleness is better than being married. Here Paul is pointing to a common-sense principle: the amount of obligations we have in life will affect our time and effort when it comes to serving God. An unmarried person does not need to worry about the well-being of a spouse, whereas a married person does. Being single means a person has fewer responsibilities and thus can commit that extra time and energy to serving the Lord.

I can speak on this first-hand. I am a married man; I’ve been married for over a year now. Before I was married I had a lot of flexible time to serve God. I could have discipleship any time of the day. I can spend time with people without looking at my watch all the time. I can go on trips with the students without worrying about a spouse at home.

My life has changed once I got married. Now I have an added responsibility to take care of my wife. One way I do this is to be at home at night and spend time with her. I can no longer stay out late with other people. I have to do more chores at home, which creates less time for me to be involved in other ministry activities. Whenever a ministry opportunity arises I would need to consult with my wife and see what her thoughts are. Simply put, I have more things that I am responsible for that a single person does not have to think about.

Being single provides a person with a single focus towards God, whereas a married person has a double focus, one on God and one on his or her family. There is nothing wrong with being married. It’s just that a married person has different priorities than a single person. Singleness allows a person the flexibility to do God’s work and have a single-minded focus in accomplishing God’s purpose.

It is clear that a single person does not have to be responsible for a spouse or family. Less distractions in life lets a person give their best to serving God. Here is the second point:

2. Singleness offers more opportunities to serve the Lord.

Paul mentions that an unmarried man, because of fewer distractions in caring for a family, can use that extra time to serve and please God. An unmarried woman can also devote her time for God’s work in body and spirit. A married man and woman, on the other hand, do not have as much opportunities to serve God because they have added responsibilities to please their spouses as well. The interests of a single person can be single-minded, whereas that of a married person is divided.

Again, this is a common-sense principle. The fewer responsibilities you have, the more time and energy you can exert to serve God. A person who has to take care of a spouse, work to feed his family, pay bills, and maintain his house and cars will have less opportunities to serve God than somebody who is single and does not have all of these added responsibilities. The life of a single person, generally speaking, is much less complex than that of a married person. A single person can pack up and go on a road trip with the youth group on a single’s notice, whereas a married person cannot readily do that. A single person can stay much later after care group and pray for people, whereas a married person might need to go home earlier to his or her spouse and children. The point is evident: singles have more time, and thus more opportunities, to do more things for the Lord.

Now, having more opportunities and actually living out those opportunities are two different things. Though it is true that singles are more available to serve God, it does not mean that they will actually live out their lives for God. Many times the amount of opportunities found in a single’s life becomes a detriment to serving the Lord. When we have a lot of time on our hands, it is tempting to use that time for ourselves; we become spiritually lazy and do nothing for God at all. This should not be. All of our lives must be given over to God, including our time, energy, and flexible lives. Being available should not be squandered in busyness, schoolwork, career, etc. Instead, being single affords you more opportunities to care for God’s people; use your time for God’s work so that he could be pleased with you. (verse 32)

Again, this message is not to prove whether being single is better than being married, or vice-versa. Instead, it wants to encourage those of you who are single that you are very valuable to God. Many people believe that finding a partner in life will bring completion to their lives. This is not true at all. Marriage does not bring completion; only through a personal relationship with God will each of us find completion. This leads us to our final point:

3. Whether we are single or married, we find true completion only in Jesus Christ.

Marriage, in and of itself, cannot give you true fulfillment. Our purpose in life can only be found in an active relationship with God. Why do you think over half of marriages, including Christian marriages, end up in divorce? Marriage does not guarantee your life will be filled with peace and hope.

For those of you who are single, the most important thing in your life is your walk with God, not whether you will find a spouse or not. You must purposefully seek God out and ask if marriage is part of his plan for you. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. Whatever it is, it does not make you a better or worse person than anybody else. Marriage does not make you a good person, anymore than being single makes you a bad person. Being married or staying single is looked at by God equally; what he is more concerned about is your personal devotion to him. And God knows which option, whether marriage or singleness, will help you grow spiritually.

This means that if you are single, recognize that you are valuable to God and you can be used by him to make a difference here on earth. You are no less a person just because you are single. Remember, you have more opportunities to accomplish great things from God; spend your time doing God’s work and thinking about how to please him. You are less distracted that a married person to focus single-handedly on serving the Lord and his people. And your relationship with God will afford you true completion that nothing else in this world, including marriage, can give you.

Here are two applications that we can employ in our lives when it comes to singleness:

1. Being single gives you freedom to love everybody equally.

When it comes to love, a married person is automatically biased towards his or her spouse and children first. Even if his or her family made a mistake towards somebody else, a married person must still stand by his or her family and support them in love; this may not necessarily be the case if the love is directed towards another family that is not yours.

But, a single person can manage to love everybody equally because he or she has no close ties with anybody else. A single person can love all of the children at church in the same manner, whereas parents will naturally side with their own children first. There is freedom for a single person to make a difference in a Christian community that a married person may not have. You have the power to make a change in people’s lives because you are not tied down to anybody else.

2. Being single gives you freedom to achieve personal healing in your life.

Many of us need the time in life to grow up and find out who we are in Christ. Being married may not give you the space needed to do this. Some of us need to deal with emotional, psychological, physical, and spiritual issues, and part of the healing process is time and space for us to be restored. This is hard to accomplish if we have a spouse to worry about, children to take care of, etc. God wants each of us to be made whole in all areas of life. Who knows, being single at this juncture of your life may be a blessed thing for you; by being made whole now you will be a much stronger individual in the future if God calls you to in fact get married and raise an family. Use this time to grow as a person and understand the unique purpose of God in your life.

In summary, there is power found in being single. Do not believe you are much better off if you are married. God can still use your single lifestyle to accomplish great things through you. What is of greater significance for you is your willingness to surrender your life over to him. Do God’s work and pursue the things that please him. Be single-minded in your focus and devotion to him. Take advantage of your opportunities to make a difference and do not let any of life’s distractions hinder you from fulfilling God’s purpose in your life. Use the freedom found in singleness to devote your whole life to Jesus.

© Arthur Hsu (2003)

Deep down, we all desire to have good, intimate and satisfying relationships, no matter what culture you are from. It is because God said from the beginning that it is not good for man and woman to be alone.

But in spite that universal longing in each of us to have satisfying relationships—we discover that it is not easy. We see broken relationships everywhere.

Today is the 4th in a series called Life Skills. And the reason it is a skill is because there are many qualities that are needed in this life that we do not naturally possess or you may not have had the opportunity to develop growing up. Today, we are going to talk about the skills necessary to cultivate the intimate relationships that matter in our lives. It could be your husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend, or even your close family members. Now some of you will immediately ask—but I don’t have someone special in my life now—this topic is not relevant to me. I cannot disagree more—because when problems in marriage or relationship occur at the very end, it is often difficult to change; the time to change is at the beginning end, when things are preventable.

The best time to learn about such things are when you are younger so that you can save yourself from as much frustrations as possible. Don’t you think so?

There is no such thing as a problem marriage, only problem people who get married.

We live in a world where people have lost value in marriages
Matthew 19:5-6 (NLT)
And he said, 'This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.' [6] Since they are no longer two but one, let no one separate them, for God has joined them together."

Ruth 1:9 (Living)
And may he bless you with another happy marriage."

Jeremiah 17:9 (NIV)
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

When two people get married, they bring together with them all their past hurts, emotional baggage, unrealistic expectations and unresolved issues into the relationship. In marriages and relationships are often the best places to grow in character—but it would be better if we grow in character before that. Often, when things don’t work out in a relationship—we tend to blame the other person. We have to recognize that we all need to work hard to build a good, solid, God-centered and satisfying relationship by refining your own character and building each other up.

1 Thes. 5:11 (NLT)
So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

1. Purpose in your heart to prioritize your relationship with God above any other relationship.
What has this got to do with any relationship or marriage? None of us have all the strength and wisdom needed to grow a strong and satisfying relationship. Everyone of us has limited love. “Every relationship – even good ones – have conflict. If you don't know how to deal with it, how to resolve it, how to manage it, you can kill your relationship.” A person who already has a relationship with God naturally knows how to connect to an endless source of strength and love. But without God—when things go wrong—you go to books and seminars—books, seminars and counseling, very good as they are cannot give you more love and more strength. A person who does not know God is helpless when prolonged conflict comes. So for example—if you love someone without God—all you have is your limited love; but with God, its you + God’s endless and supernatural love.

Psalm 46:1 (NIV)
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

2. Cultivate Communication Skills
The lack of communication skills is one of the biggest killers in relationships and marriages. Talking is not necessarily communication.

a. Taking an active, proactive interest in the other person’s interest.
Philip. 2:4 (NLT)
Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing.

b. Learn to Listen Carefully
Proverbs 18:13 (Msg)
Answering before listening is both stupid and rude.

Proverbs 18:15 (Msg)
Wise men and women are always learning, always listening for fresh insights.

3. Cultivate friendship within the marriage or relationship

Song 5:16 (NIV)
His mouth is sweetness itself; he is altogether lovely. This is my lover, this my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

Do you know that our relationship with God is partially a friendship? In John 15:15, He says—I call you friends; this is seen when Jesus asks Peter this question—Peter, do you love me, then feed my sheep; Peter, do you like me. In the same way, learn to be friends with in your significant relationships.

4. Have a life outside each other
Sometimes when couples get together, they end up only living for each other. They live and breathe only for each other—and this is so unhealthy.
Your wife or husband will never be able to meet the needs of your total person. That is why God gave all of us friends, family and wonderful distractions…

a. Friends
Friends are a gift from God. They are wonderful resources and a source of joy. Even the best marriages and relationships have conflicts and sometimes, the relationship cannot handle any more pressure—friends are a blessing especially at this point.

Proverbs 27:10 (NLT)
Never abandon a friend—either yours or your father's. Then in your time of need, you won't have to ask your relatives for assistance. It is better to go to a neighbor than to a relative who lives far away.

Also, having regular friendships give you perspective about life that you cannot see in your relationship. Not only that but when one person has joy in friendship, that strength and energy in brought back into the relationship as a blessing to both persons.

b. Hobbies and interests.
While you first priority is your responsibility to the other person, remember that God has also made you a unique individual with gifts and talents to cultivate and enjoy. Develop and use them to the glory of God…

5. Seek out and listen to Godly counsel and accept discipline
There will be times when difficulties come and you have no answers. Just be humble and get help—rather than holding on to pride and living with a broken relationship. Get counseling or seek people with wisdom and experience in this area. And then do what you need to do. Remember that we all have sin and unresolved areas in our lives

Psalm 37:30 (NLT)
The godly offer good counsel; they know what is right from wrong.

Proverbs 19:20 (Msg)
Take good counsel and accept correction—that's the way to live wisely and well.

Psalm 119:40 (Msg)
See how hungry I am for your counsel; preserve my life through your righteous ways!

ALWAYS THERE

1 The LORD is my shepherd;
I have everything I need.

2 He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.

3 He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk
through the dark valley of death,
I will not be afraid,

for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.

You welcome me as a guest,
anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.

6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the LORD
forever.

Psalm 23 (NLT)

When I was in the fourth grade my class went to visit a farm. On the farm one event caught my attention. The farmer was tending to his sheep and I noticed how all the sheep followed the farmer's commands. Wherever the farmer went, the sheep were always behind him. Wherever the farmer chose to settle down, that is where the sheep grazed. When the farmer prodded the sheep to go in a specific direction, the animals obeyed without hesitation. And when the farmer brought out pails of water, the sheep surround him for a drink.

The reason this caught my attention was the fact that the farmer was always there for the sheep. There was this special bond between the animals and the one shepherding them. The sheep instinctively submit their fate into the hands of the farmer, all day and all night.

When we sense that God is not with us, it is this special bond that we question is missing. We are like sheep that depend so much on the instruction and guidance of our shepherd, the Lord. When God is nowhere to be found, we become lost, beings without any direction in life.

Psalm 13 is a perfect example of a person who believed God had forsaken him, and he questions where God is at. "How long will you forget me? Forever?" cries the frustrated psalmist. "How long will you look the other way?" The writer continues to ask God when he will bring victory to the writer who is suffering endless beatings from the enemy. The psalmist whimpers in pain, "How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day?" When the shepherd abandons the sheep, the sheep's life becomes meaningless.

But Psalm 13 is not just all about this supposed abandonment. In fact, the psalmist reminds God that God's nature is one of faithfulness to his people. The psalmist challenges God to appear again and restore victory and hope in the psalmist's life. God does so and in the end of the psalm, the song-writer praises God because God had finally rescued him.

Psalm 23 is like a continuation of where Psalm 13 lefts off. Psalm 13 begins to unveil for us the truth that God never really abandons us, contrary to what we think, "feel" or "sense." Psalm 23 affirms this truth: God is always there for us.

Psalm 23 begins with this assertion: The Lord is our shepherd and we have everything we need. (v. 1)

Verse 1 clarifies two points for us. First, it establishes God's position and function in our lives. God's position is that of a shepherd, which means we are his sheep. God's function is to always care for us and provide guidance for our daily lives. As the sheep, we are fully dependent on the leadership of God. We willingly give up our trust in ourselves in favor of trusting in God's wisdom and strength.

The second point verse 1 clarifies for us is that we have everything we need. Note carefully that it does not say we have everything we want. It says we have everything we need. This is significant because it is God who determines what is enough for us. When we seek the Lord and allow him to be our shepherd we lack nothing.

How does God provide for all of our needs? He lets us rest in green meadows and leads us to peaceful streams. (v. 2) Green meadows and peaceful streams signify refreshment and restoration for the person who puts his or her trust in the Lord. God is very concerned with our well-being; as a shepherd it is his job to provide nourishment and care for us.

Here is the first lesson of the passage:

1. God is not an abandoner. He is the care-giver of life.

God does not flee from his responsibilities as the shepherd of our lives. We can hold onto his promises in delivering us from our enemies and lead us to the green meadows and peaceful streams where we can find rest. God cannot abandon us; that is not his nature. Instead, his nature is to care for us in his lovingkindness.

Remember, though, that the underlying assumption here is that for God to care for us, we must allow him to be the true shepherd of our lives. This means submitting in faith to everything God wants us to do. He is our leader – he knows what we need in life, he knows where we need to go for nourishment, and he is the only provider of peace and rest. We cannot be the rulers of our own fate and still expect God to pull through for us. For God to be the care-giver of our lives we must choose to make him the only shepherd of our lives. When we do, rest assured that God will always be there for you.

Now, it is easy to acknowledge God as our shepherd when life is going well. It is simple to exclaim that God is always there for us when our problems are solved without difficulties. But, what should our response be when times are very rough in life? In fact, it is in the midst of great troubles that we need God the most, right? Will he be there for me?

The answer is a resounding YES! God will always be there for you, in the most joyful of times as well as in the most difficult of times. As our shepherd it is God's responsibility to protect and guide us through every circumstance in life. Look at what the psalmist writes here in Psalm 23, verses 3-4:

It is God who renews our strength. Because of our sinful limitations we are unable to renew our own strength. Only God, our shepherd, can offer us the strength and courage we need to break through from our trials.

It is God who guides us along right paths. When we choose to shepherd our own lives, it is a guarantee that we will walk down the wrong paths of life because we do not know where we are going. We will continually make the same mistakes and hurt one another in the process. That is what the stronghold of sin does to us.

But, with God in control over our lives, he will lead us in the right direction towards the green meadows and peaceful streams. Again, we cannot go wrong when we follow the Lord faithfully. Our obedience brings honor to him, and rightfully so: all credit goes to the One who never abandons his people.

Therefore, when we face the dark trial of life, we no longer have to be afraid. (v. 4) Why? Because God has dominion over our lives. As the shepherd God is prepared to defend us from any wicked schemes from the enemy. God is close beside us; his rod and staff is used to fight the dangers that come our way. This is what God is equipped to do for us; he will always comfort us and he will always win our battles. We need to trust in such an unfailing guarantee.

The second lesson we can learn in Psalm 23 is this:

2. As the care-giver of life, God will defend you into victory.

God does not just protect and comfort us. He does so in victory! A shepherd uses his rod and staff as protection if other animals want to destroy his sheep. The rod becomes the weapon that will chase the sheep's enemies away. That is what God offers us. As our care-giver God will chase down our enemies and destroy them one by one. Again, the idea here is not just one of protection; it is a protection that leads us into victory.

That is why you do not have to live fearful lives anymore. Even as you walk through the dark valleys of death, you have the assurance that God is already winning the battles for you and you can face your difficulties with boldness. He is not just comforting you, he is destroying your very enemies! Whereas in Psalm 13 the writer is frustrated because God is nowhere to be found, here in Psalm 23 we have definitive guarantee that God is in fact always with us.

Want proof that God has already claimed victory for you? The psalmist ends the chapter by making some profound statements. First, God has prepared a feast for the writer in the presence of the writer's enemies. (v. 5) "To prepare a feast" is normally reserved when victory is in hand and the king declares a celebration for the triumph. We learn here that we are allowed to celebrate victory with God in front of our conquered enemies!

Second, this victory is further illustrated with the writer being welcomed as a guest of God to the feast of celebration. (v. 5) And as a guest of God, the writer is anointed with oil, another sign of victory in the life of the writer. His life is overflowing with the blessings from God. Our lives will also experience the anointing and blessings of God as long as we trust that he is always there for us.

Third, victory is always at hand because God's goodness and unfailing love has been pursuing the writer all the days of his life! (v. 6) Once you have given your life over to God the care-giver you cannot escape his great love and mercy for you. His love will overwhelm and consume you so much your enemies cannot defeat you. No matter whether your life faces an uphill battle or you have sunken so low in the valley of death, you are still victorious because God has pursued you with his love.

This leads us to our final lesson:

3. Our response to God, our care-giver, is also to pursue him forever.

Psalm 23 ends with the writer acknowledging that he too will live in the house of the Lord forever. (v. 6) The psalmist recognizes that for all that God has done for him there must also be a reciprocity of commitment back to God. As God chooses to pursue us with his love and grace, we too must choose to entrust our lives over to him, to live with him forever in infinity. God does not abandon us; he chases us with his unconditional mercy. He cares so much for you that he is willing to walk with you, even in the most depressing times of your life, in order to protect you from your enemies. But, this protection is more than just temporary comfort; it is guaranteed victory for you. Triumph will come because God has given our enemies to us. Celebration ensues as we come into contact with the blessings of God.

Therefore, believe in this God who cares so much for you, for he is always there for you…

© Arthur Hsu (2003)

Learning from the Master

We all have different eating habits. Some of you have two meals a day; others have 1 or 3 meals a day; some like snacking throughout the day—chips, peanuts, candy etc. Some like Karen Carpenter and others are starving herself with her anorexia. What if you don’t eat? What happens when you just eat once a week and snack the rest of the time? You become unhealthy, gaunt, emaciated and terribly ugly with sunken cheeks. “Yet many of us eat spiritual food by going to church just once a week and then snack on tidbits the rest of the time. The Barna research tells us that 80% of American Christians read their Bibles less than once a week.

There is an old proverb that says that if you give a fish to a hungry man, he will live for a day; but if you teach him to fish, you will feed for life.” The American Journal of Medicine says, “The health of America will not be determined by what people can get doctors to do for them, but what the doctors can get the people to do for themselves.” The same is true spiritually, we need to come to a point where are able to feed ourselves, because the health of the church is founded upon this. It is okay to be fed all the time if you are a child. But if a 20 or 30 person needs to be fed, something is seriously wrong. Learning to feed yourself is a sign of maturity.

1 John 2:26-27 (NLT)
I have written these things to you because you need to be aware of those who want to lead you astray. [27] But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don't need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you all things, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So continue in what he has taught you, and continue to live in Christ.

One of my favorite pianist during my time was Richard Clayderman. He could play both classical and popular songs without any difficulty. It was by listening to his music that set my heart on fire for playing the piano. Just imagine one day if he would say to me—Monsieur Andre, would you like me to teach you how to play the piano? I would wake up early in the morning if I have to. After a while, 6 months later, when I play the piano, people who know Clayderman’s music will say—I know that playing, where have I heard it before. I know, I know—they style, the intonation, the cadence, is the sound of the master himself. You sound just like the master.

Can you imagine if the master of the universe himself, teaches you everyday, giving you the wisdom of the ages. What would you say to that?

The insights that you will get will be different than if you were to be taught by some other Christian or pastor. Many of us come to church of ICF, and we hear tidbits of truth here and there. And when we talk about our faith, bits and piece of the tidbits come to mind. I see this all the time in Bible studies—I know I know I know, the pastor the other day said this or that. I think the Bible says something like…; what’s happening here? There is no confidence or first hand experience with the word of God. But if God teaches you directly, if you know something, you know something because God taught you that himself. You meet some people and they speak the word of God with confidence, why? Because God has directly deposited His truth in their hearts. Jesus said to Peter in Matthew: flesh and blood did not reveal that truth to you—in response to who do you say that I am.

Jesus says, I will personally mentor you, everyday. I will speak my truth directly into your heart. So that if you have been with me long enough, people who hear you will say: I know that style—that is something Jesus would say. You are just like the master. That is what happens when we allow God to speak to us through the Bible every day.

SO WHY IS THE BIBLE SO IMPORTANT?
Because we don’t have enough wisdom to become the husband, wife, Christian, friend, minister that God wants us to be on our own. You don’t have enough wisdom to live a victorious life, or even a successful Christian life on your own.

So how do you get wisdom?
There are a couple of ways. One of them is the most popular one: it is called experience. You put your hand into the fire. Ouch, fire hot, hand soft, hand in fire painful! After that you will put your hand into the fire again. Or I have met people who have been in prison for crime and they say—I learned a lesson—I will never steal again; I will never drink when I drive again; those are great lessons, and if it takes 5 years to learn that wisdom; you can only learn about 10 lessons in this life; Life is too short to become wise in this way. Wouldn’t it be great if we could just go around trick or treating from each person’s experience and put that gem and wisdom into our heart.

That is why we read the Bible.
Jeremiah 15:16 (NIV)
When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight…

Doing Daily Devotions…
1. GIVES US WISDOM BEYOND HUMAN YEARS.
Psalm 119:100 (Msg)
I've become wiser than the wise old sages simply by doing what you tell me.

But there is a better way. Learn from other people’s mistakes, but don’t suffer their pain.
It is full of testimonies. We learn from:
David:
Absalom:
Peter:
Asa: Start well, and end badly…
And other lessons:

Reading the Bible helps us to grow deep and to understand the things that we wouldn’t have been able to understand before. These include not just the acts of God, but the ways of God. By reading, we begin to see and understand God’s heart behind His actions.
We’ll learn and understand that sometimes God hides His blessings from us because our character is not ready to receive it. He’ll hide His promises until our maturity is greater and until we can hear, understand and accept it. It could be that we’re filled with pride or, even worse, be filled with fear so that we forfeit our God-given assignment.

2. GIVES YOU MATURITY.
Romans 12:2 (Msg)
Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Devotions and knowing the word of God gives you a strong anchor when the winds of life comes. People will say an do things that will go against your current. OR when circumstances go opposite of your expectations. Will you collapse? Only Biblical maturity will keep you standing.

If I am easily discouraged or easily offended. I know that my spirit is in shallow ground. I know that I have not done by devotions and spent my time with God sufficiently.

The first two eternal benefits of daily devotions is that it will give you wisdom beyond your years and it will also give you spiritual maturity. The final benefit has to do with prayer. What is prayer? Do you think that a holy person is one who is able to pray the hardest by talking the loudest? Of course not! It’s actually hearing from God, not just hearing myself complain or talk the whole time.

3. LISTENING IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF PRAYER.
2 Tim. 3:16-17 (NLT)
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. [17] It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.

When I returned to Singapore a few years ago, I sought out an old pastor friend of mine who I really respected. I talked about less than 10% of the conversation; I asked questions and clarified and took down notes so that I would forget. In fact, I honored him by taking down notes. Why? So that I could remember them and recall them—as well as to indicate how important the lessons were.

Learn to journal
Jeremiah 30:2 (NLT)
"This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Write down for the record everything I have said to you, Jeremiah.

God tells you to write down, or journal, what He is telling you. This will help you more than I can ever say. Just remember that your journal is not a diary; it is God is speaking to you when you put aside an hour a day for devotions.

We are starting something new at ICCSD. We call it the 20/20/20 Vision.

We used an acrostic, SOAP:
Scripture - finding a scripture out of passages we read for that day and writing it down.
Observation - taking a couple of paragraphs and observing just what it says.
Application – writing about how we may apply what we’ve just learned (the revealed truth) to our lives.
Prayer - writing out a prayer asking the Lord to help us apply it to our lives. We also write how thankful we are for the power of His Word.

The last thing that I would do is flip to the table of contents and title the entry of the scripture with the date and the page. Manuscript notation (writing out full sentences) is preferred rather than heading notation because a year from now when I go back and read it, everything God taught me will come flooding back, including the very heart of the lesson… even the prayer.

When doing devotions you are hearing God’s Word, writing it down and applying it to your life. Even if you miss a day, keep coming back to it because there’s victory when you’ve filled out an entire Bible bookmark. By journaling everyday you’ll have fertile soil in your heart and when God plants a seed, a tree starts to grown and fruit beings to be born.

Joshua 1:8 (NLT)
Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed.

- This sermon is inspired from Pastor Wayne Cordeiro, pastor of New Hope in Hawaii.

Practicing God-Confidence

Hebrew 12: 1-2

Fear weakens a person.
FEAR : False Evidence Appearing Real.
Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is—German Proverb
It is difficult to have faith in God if we have low-confidence. We saw some of the results of having a lack of confidence: we always think about what others think about us and lose our true selves in the process; it reduces our ability to make deep quality relationships with other people; it is the source of laziness because we fear failure, so we are frozen with fear, doing nothing; it is the source of pride because we need to overcompensate and cover up for our insecurities.

There is fear of growing old, fear of failure at work at relationships, fear of rejection by others, fear of the unknown, fear of insufficient finances for the future, fear of losing your freedom, conflict with others, rejection by opposite sex or in a love relationship, fear of criticism, losing people’s respect etc. Any of these apply to you?
_ Living in fear means living with a constant underlying tension that leads to broken health.
_ When we have fear, we seldom feel the confidence to try something new; we tend to stick to old habits and familiar ways.
_ In addition, fear leads to condemnation and destroys your sense of self over time.
_ In my own personal observation, when Christians fear, it comes out in the most frightening way: you see it in the form of religious fanaticism or Phariseeism. It also happens to parents, when parents sense that they are losing the child, they tighten the rules—they become more dogmatic and fall back on rules and laws. Often when Christians become insecure or fearful of losing control, they become Pharisees where everything is simply black and white. I believe that Pharisee thinking is a result of fear.

Many of us live our lives out of fear. We fall back on the security of our fears, so we live only by Pharisical rules and laws.
What I want to do now is quickly revisit and review what we were talking about last week on God-confidence and extend ways for us to practice God-confidence.

1 Cor. 10:12 (Msg)
Don't be so naive and self-confident. You're not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it's useless. Cultivate God-confidence.

Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)
What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.
Or Faith is the bird that sings, when the dawn is still dark.

Hebrews 11:6 (NLT)
So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens. Tolkien
Leap into God’s promises by faith and you will see a new road that you never saw before. Remember that it is not having faith in faith, but it is faith in the promises of God. If God promises something to you in the Bible and there are over 7000 of them, you can take a leap of faith that He will answer you. The second component is that we need the God-confidence to keep our faith on fire. But having been a Christian for a long time now, reality tells me that it is easy to have God-confidence while we are excited, inspired with chicken skin. But our God-confidence begins to erode away over time. How to we realistically, practically, and Biblically keep our God-confidence alive in the long term? Especially when things are not working out the way we expect?
Now if you study the book of Hebrews carefully, Paul defines faith in chapter 11, and then he gives examples of people who demonstrate a life of faith, like Abraham who has so much God-confidence that he was willing to kill his son Isaac; and Moses and other heroes. Now he comes to chapter 12

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. [2] We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish...
Look at v. 1b: “And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.”
We are in a race. In every race, it is easy to start well. It is easy to have faith after listening to a sermon. It is easy to say then that you really trust God.

So how do we keep your God-confidence from backsliding away from God in our race? Look at v.2: “We do this by keeping (focusing) our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish...”
Our God-confidence can only stay strong if we keep our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish.
What has been consuming you lately with fear? Your finances, your future, your career, your uncertain plans, your past? I want you to practice this today: focus on Jesus, and then look at your fears and say—Jesus, I know you will help me sort out my career, my relationship etc.…I know I will be victorious…

Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Practice choosing your daily actions to reflect the God-confidence you have in Jesus.
Let your God-confidence show up in your lifestyle. Remember that without faith, it is impossible to please God. God is not impressed with how well you can talk or how much you know. The question is…are you going to practice what you know? God does not want you to be a good talker only. Let your God-confidence come out in your actions.
What issues are you facing in your life today? Some of you know that you need to get your life in order—you have been delaying when you know God has spoken in your spirit—some of you need to repent and come back to Jesus; some of you have been paralyzed and by fear and you want to face your future with God-confidence…It is time to stop living by fear…

Isaiah 8:13 (NLT)
Do not fear anything except the Lord Almighty. He alone is the Holy One. If you fear him, you need fear nothing else.