The after effect of teaching the 10 commandments!

Last night as I was returning from teaching the 10 commandments to a group of catholic believers in Liverpool near Sydney. I was thinking about the questions I was asked by some in the group.

- Why did God give us the 10 commandments when He knew very well that we cannot keep them?
- Why did God choose only the nation of Israel to be His chosen people? He could have very well chosen any nation or race on this earth but why Israel?
- It is hard to keep all of those commandments but what's wrong in trying and making an effort to keep most of it?
- All religions teach about being good, so why need 10 commandments specifically to teach us to be good and do the right thing?
- Do I need religion to be good or to do good?
- What is religion?
- When did religion begin?

And many more such questions along those lines..

My intention was to teach about the Tabernacle but because we were reviewing the previously learned topic of 10 commandments it seemed to me that people were still in questioning mode. I think questions are great and it shows that you are thinking about what you've heard but mere questioning for the sake of it is also unhealthy.

At the end of the night, we discussed some of the answers to those questions and studied briefly about the Tabernacle.

- 10 commandments are God's laws, it shows us how perfect, pure, Holy our God is. It also shows that we in our own strength cannot follow them all, we need His grace and mercy to be able to keep them all. Furthermore, it is like a mirror, whenever we read about the commandments of God it shows how much we need to correct ourselves. In this sense, it is a daily reminder to us as Christians to continually reflect on these 10 commandments and change and correct ourselves.

- The best efforts of mankind to keep the 10 commandments still will fall short of the glory of God. No matter how many of those we 'try' to keep our destiny is to fall in the gulf that was created by the sin nature we inherited from Adam and Eve. Trying and making an effort to please God is often a religion based effort.

- Religion is 'man's effort to please God', therefore any amount of our efforts will constitute our religious effort which will still result in the pits of separation between us and God.

- Religion in fact was invented by man especially after his 'Godly' image was marred by sin. Religion began as one famous commentator said from Adam and Eve, when they presented themselves before God with garment made out of leaves, thus it was their effort to please God when they had sinned. Interestingly enough God rejected their efforts because if we decide to meet Him it must be according to His way and not ours. Do you think God would reject religions today?

I went on to say that when we encounter God, He will not accept us until and unless we are clothed in the righteous of Christ. This is the sign of our acceptance into His kingdom. So it does not matter what religion one belongs to as long as he/she accepts the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ and believe in His Words. Christianity in my mind is not a religion rather it is a way of life, why? you can say it is a Way To Life it self.

We don't need 10 commandments to remind us to be good, even atheist's are good people but they don't believe in God or His Words, God has given each one of us what we call as 'conscience' that tells our inner man - stealing is wrong, murder is wrong and so on..

Even Cain, who did not have a clue about the 10 commandments knew that murdering his brother Abel was wrong. I hope I have made my point clear about the 10 commandments, it simply shows the highest expectation He expects of us and we need to continually correct our selves to look into it as if they were a mirror and we change the way we look on a daily basis.

You may wonder, why I had not responded to the question 'why did God choose Israel?'.. more about it next time..

God bless you..
Chris

Employed or unemployed?

The 2009 economic crisis has affected everyone in every walk of life. Saving & jobs are lost, belt tightening in every quarters ranging from domestic finances to big corporate budgets. The common thread of this economic crisis boils down to 'greed'.

Can we liken this to the times of Noah? when people were more worried about themselves rather than listening and doing what was right in the eyes of God.

Let's pray and let's not point fingers at anyone about the mess we're in.

Firstly, pray for the unemployed.
- Lord our Father in heaven, we feel disappointed and depressed due to our circumstances. Help us to trace back our spiritual walk with Jesus in our day to day dealings rather than focusing on our situation. We know only you can make it happen through the working of the Holy Spirit. Help us to reaffirm those who are fighting it out right now. Bring back a godly confidence in your children so that they can rely on your promises each day. We ask this in Jesus' name! Amen!

Secondly, pray for ourselves if you are still employed.

• Employees be as flexible as possible to assist businesses
  
• Create a cohesive atmosphere and a sense of 'fair go' at workplaces
• Christians should create an influence at work, our attitude should be such that we attract people to do business with us and colleagues could work with us without a feeling of being 'put down'
• We take care of our actions at work, i.e. how do we work when others are not watching us or when our bosses are not watching us?

Refer: Rom 12:17-19 & Matt 5:16

Dear Lord,
Help me to be the best person that I can be with an attitude that is brings comfort and joy in others around me. Help me to sharpen my skills to be better at what I do. At work, I want to oversee my issue and look to you for guidance, for I work as though as work for you Lord. You are the one who can sustain me, promote me and provide for me in this job. Help me to be effective at work and to bring increase to my employer. Thank you Jesus!
Amen.

Notes from my teaching on James 5

James Chapter 5

Rich people categories

• Poor outside, Rich inside – e.g. Who might this be?
• Rich outside, Rich inside – e.g. Abraham, Job & Barnabas
• Poor inside, Rich inside – e.g. Paul
• Rich outside, Poor inside - e.g. Who might this be?

V1. Rich people, learn to cry out from the miseries you will face
Luke 6:24, 1 Timothy 6:9

3 Ways to display one’s wealth

• Garments - Remember it will become rotten one day James 5:2
• Jewelry - Remember it will rust and be burnt up one day James 5:3
• Fine food - James 5:4-5

Matthew 6:20 – Make Heavenly investments

James 5:7-12
7 times – ‘Brothers’ meaning Christians
All what James says relates to verses 1-6
4 commands
Be Patient i.e. long Temper x4 v.7-8
Distant/far + Thermos = Long Temper
For how long should you hold it?
Prerequisite is obedience

Do not grumble or Murmur v.9
to murmur, mutter, say anything against in a low tone
To Judge - Criteria
With any proof or evidence
Everyone has to give account to Him – 1 Peter 4:5

Show perseverance v.10-11
Eph 6:18
steadfast – 2 Peter 1:10 “to make sure”
Example of prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord v.10

Do not swear v.12 means to affirm, promise, threaten, with an oath
Matthew 5:34

James 5:13-19
Who takes the initiative when one is suffering? V.13
Who should take the initiative when one is sick? V.14
How should Christians express their cheerfulness? (Col 3:16)

• By the Word of Christ
• Teaching & Correction
• Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs
• Thanks giving

What two things should be done to the sick person?

1. Prayed over
2. Anointed in Oil

• Religious anointing
• E.g. David was anointed & Baptismal Anointment
• Anointing was also a physical ceremony

Read Luke 10:34
Two people were 1) Priest 2) Levi
Their roles – Pray & Anoint
Samaritan (usually unnamed v.37) showed:

• Compassion, Helped, Anointed, Funded for the care, Did not mind the discomfort, Took responsibility to pay back on his return.

Who do you think had a good ‘Christian’ attitude?

• Christian’s role – Priest & Levi or Samaritan?

Who was responsible for the healing of the sick man? James 5:14-15 or faith healer?
Confessing one’s sin with whom? V.17 (Acts 19:18) and PRAY

James uses Prayer as central focus of his book
Righteous/effective prayer

• Know the Lord’s words
• Be specific in your prayer (e.g Elijah v.17,18)
• Remove Cliche
• Prayer must be filled with Faith
• Don’t be surprised with the results, accept it as God only knows best and his time line.

Blessings!
Chris

When your dream are static..

What you wish may not happen in your lifetime, but what don't wish may come unexpectedly. I've learned to create an atmosphere to be content with what I have i.e to keep the dream alive and make it happen in others life as much as I can.