The 5.30 a.m. Post
Ok ok. I know this is so not me (Blog-wise, anyway) but it's just such a landmark that I just HAVE to announce it.
I just finished my stinking essay. At 5.15 a.m. After slogging since 10 p.m.
Haha, first I slog, then I blog...
Alright like I said, it's 5.30 a.m. in the morning and I haven't slept a wink, been staring at my comp (and I'm sure it was glaring malevolently back at me, wishing it could get some rest) for the last 7 hours straight (oh yeah, I really am NOT getting paid for this, but if you need to stay up in future, iCafe will do the trick. It worked wonders for me. Then again, it could be the rain...), oh yes the rain. Man. I love rainy nights and mornings. I normally sleep like a pig when it's not raining. When it's raining, pigs sleep like me! So it was with a sense of regret as I did my work that I listened to the rhythm of the falling rain, telling me just what a fool I've been... hmmm. That sounds familiar...
Oh yes, no thanks to the rain and the coffee and everythng else, I'm stinking FREEZING too. Never knew my room air-con was so powerful before. My fingers are numb... almost as numb as my brain. Ok save your comments there... I just KNOW what you're gonna say. Ha ok at least my brain's not THAT numb afterall... but guess the SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES helped keep me awake too. Or maybe I could've died of hypothermia, I dunno. Hmmmmm...
Ok I'm babbling now. Better go and get some sleep...
Oh yes, something before I go.
"If you want a religion that makes sense, I suggest something other than Christianity. But if you want a religion that makes life, then, I think this is the one."
- Rich Mullins
Monday, October 20, 2003
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
Whose Battle Are You Fighting?
Last week at The Edge, Jeremy shared a great sermon titled 'When Faith Gets Tired'.
With the story of Gideon and his army of 300 pursuing the Midianite kings Zebah and Zalmunnah (Judges 8:4-12), Jeremy shared about how at times we can get so spiritually exhausted fighting the battles of God, we're tempted to just sit back and take a rest; or we start relying on past experiences, past encounters with God to get us through. But it's usually in times like this that God has something else, something greater for us. And it's exactly when we're tired that we need to take it to the next level, just like how Gideon and his men crossed the Jordan in pursuit of Zebah and Zalmunah.
What was significant was the fact that they had already won a great victory before they even got to the Jordan; Gideon and his 300 men had struck down 120,000 Midianites! They could've given up the chase, thinking to themselves, We've already accomplished our goal. We've chased them out of our territory. We're done. Crossing a river takes time and energy. By this time Gideon and his men were exhausted. But what did they do? They pressed in. The crossed the river and took it to the next level. As a result, it wasn't just a great victory. It became a COMPLETE victory.
I'm quite sure those of us who were there (and those who may not have been but read the previous 2 introductory paragraphs) can identify with that sometimes. There are so many times when we just get so tired and drained out spiritually. We just want to take a step back, take a break. Retreat, rely on past experiences.
But what really hit me (one day later, on Sunday) was this question.
Why do I get so tired? Do I get tired fighting God's battles?
Or do I get tired fighting my own?
The sermons shared over the past few weeks have really allowed me a lot of thinking (not to say that I usually don't think, but just more thinking than usual). The Morales', with their indomitable spirit of spiritual conquest. Judith has got a great entry on this, go check it out. Pastor Seaward's sermon on sowing. Jeremy's message. Stuff that's been happening in my own life. And it really made me think.
Whose battles am I fighting?
What's God's battle anyway?
It's quite simply this. A war for the eternal souls of men and women. I like the way one of our guest preachers (was it?) put it. We need to plunder hell to populate heaven.
We all know this verse. We fight not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers. Therein lies the problem. Has our fight become once against flesh and blood?
Has our work become our battle? Yes, we are to do our best at everything, even our work, but to what end?
Has our family become our battle? As children, we are to honour our parents; as parents, we are to bring up our children right. But again, what's the purpose of it?
Are our relationships our war? Yes, "it is not good for man to be alone" and "there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother", but have our friendships and relationships (or our search for friendships and relationships) become the greatest time and energy consumers in our lives?
Are we fighting a battle for our ministry? Again, yes, we want to do our best, especially since it's God's work. It's great if you want to have a great ministry, you want to have the largest net, you want to be the best worship leader, guitarist etc. etc. I ask again. To what end?
Please know this, these are questions I'm asking myself as well. Sure, the things I've listed are noble purposes. But are they God's battle? Some of them even look remarkably like a battle God would want us to fight. But are they? Do they boil down to what Acts 1:8 says? "You shall be my witnesses..." Or are we fighting these battles for our own sakes?
What's God's battle? It's a battle for souls. It's a battle for your unsaved friends and family.
If you're tired fighting God's battle, then take heart. There's a breakthrough just ahead. If you've been praying for your friends' salvation but there seems to be no response and you're getting tired, don't give up. Take it to the next level.
If you're tired fighting your own battles, it's time to give them to God. He will take care of them. Go read Matthew 6:25-34 if you don't believe it, or you need a reminder.
And He's asking you to report for duty at the frontlines of the greatest battle ever. A battle that has been raging since the fall of man. A battle which can only be won, because it already has been.
Now that's where the REAL fighting is.
Last week at The Edge, Jeremy shared a great sermon titled 'When Faith Gets Tired'.
With the story of Gideon and his army of 300 pursuing the Midianite kings Zebah and Zalmunnah (Judges 8:4-12), Jeremy shared about how at times we can get so spiritually exhausted fighting the battles of God, we're tempted to just sit back and take a rest; or we start relying on past experiences, past encounters with God to get us through. But it's usually in times like this that God has something else, something greater for us. And it's exactly when we're tired that we need to take it to the next level, just like how Gideon and his men crossed the Jordan in pursuit of Zebah and Zalmunah.
What was significant was the fact that they had already won a great victory before they even got to the Jordan; Gideon and his 300 men had struck down 120,000 Midianites! They could've given up the chase, thinking to themselves, We've already accomplished our goal. We've chased them out of our territory. We're done. Crossing a river takes time and energy. By this time Gideon and his men were exhausted. But what did they do? They pressed in. The crossed the river and took it to the next level. As a result, it wasn't just a great victory. It became a COMPLETE victory.
I'm quite sure those of us who were there (and those who may not have been but read the previous 2 introductory paragraphs) can identify with that sometimes. There are so many times when we just get so tired and drained out spiritually. We just want to take a step back, take a break. Retreat, rely on past experiences.
But what really hit me (one day later, on Sunday) was this question.
Why do I get so tired? Do I get tired fighting God's battles?
Or do I get tired fighting my own?
The sermons shared over the past few weeks have really allowed me a lot of thinking (not to say that I usually don't think, but just more thinking than usual). The Morales', with their indomitable spirit of spiritual conquest. Judith has got a great entry on this, go check it out. Pastor Seaward's sermon on sowing. Jeremy's message. Stuff that's been happening in my own life. And it really made me think.
Whose battles am I fighting?
What's God's battle anyway?
It's quite simply this. A war for the eternal souls of men and women. I like the way one of our guest preachers (was it?) put it. We need to plunder hell to populate heaven.
We all know this verse. We fight not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers. Therein lies the problem. Has our fight become once against flesh and blood?
Has our work become our battle? Yes, we are to do our best at everything, even our work, but to what end?
Has our family become our battle? As children, we are to honour our parents; as parents, we are to bring up our children right. But again, what's the purpose of it?
Are our relationships our war? Yes, "it is not good for man to be alone" and "there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother", but have our friendships and relationships (or our search for friendships and relationships) become the greatest time and energy consumers in our lives?
Are we fighting a battle for our ministry? Again, yes, we want to do our best, especially since it's God's work. It's great if you want to have a great ministry, you want to have the largest net, you want to be the best worship leader, guitarist etc. etc. I ask again. To what end?
Please know this, these are questions I'm asking myself as well. Sure, the things I've listed are noble purposes. But are they God's battle? Some of them even look remarkably like a battle God would want us to fight. But are they? Do they boil down to what Acts 1:8 says? "You shall be my witnesses..." Or are we fighting these battles for our own sakes?
What's God's battle? It's a battle for souls. It's a battle for your unsaved friends and family.
If you're tired fighting God's battle, then take heart. There's a breakthrough just ahead. If you've been praying for your friends' salvation but there seems to be no response and you're getting tired, don't give up. Take it to the next level.
If you're tired fighting your own battles, it's time to give them to God. He will take care of them. Go read Matthew 6:25-34 if you don't believe it, or you need a reminder.
And He's asking you to report for duty at the frontlines of the greatest battle ever. A battle that has been raging since the fall of man. A battle which can only be won, because it already has been.
Now that's where the REAL fighting is.
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