Life Through The Spirit

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.  Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. - Romans 8:1-17(NIV)

We Are Beautifully and Wonderfully Made

For you created my inmost being; 

  you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

  your works are wonderful,
  I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you
  when I was made in the secret place.
  When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

  your eyes saw my unformed body. 

All the days ordained for me
  were written in your book
  before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! 

  How vast is the sum of them!

Were I to count them,
  they would outnumber the grains of sand.
  When I awake,
  I am still with you. - Psalm 139:13-18(NIV)

"I and the Father are One"

Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one." John 10:25-30(NIV)

Proclaim the Kingdom of God and Heal the Sick

He told them: "Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them." - Luke 9:3-5(NIV)

In the Kingdom of Heaven

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

“And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. - Matthew 18:1-5(NIV).

God Is Truthful

“The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful.For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.” - John 3:31-36(NIV).

Compassion VS Indifference

Compassion in the home includes:

·    Realizing each other’s needs for love and attention, and planning outings and activities to meet those needs.

·    Sensing each other’s need for respect and listening to ideas with an open mind.

·    Seeking to understand another’s struggles from his or her viewpoint and experiences.

·    Being willing to give up activities that could disappoint and hurt one another.

Rewards of Compassion:

·    Favour: A person who diligently seeks the good of another will receive approval and favor of those who observe their unselfish actions.

·    Friendship: Becoming involved in the life of another brings a deeper level of intimacy and friendship.

I will:

·         Stop to help.

·         Listen when other want to talk.

·         Give of my resources to help those in need.

·         Look for lasting solutions.

·         Comfort others without regard to race, gender, faith, age, or nationality.

"He Has Made Me Possible"

Brothers & sisters in Christ,  

May the peace of God be with you.

My name is Adeline Lim, I am from Miri. I am just a young believer in Christ, I started to join GMC in 2007 and I started to join cell group in 2008. I have never thought that I am able to serve the Lord in this way even to stand here today is an “Impossible” to me. I am always not convinced that I am being good enough to share with others. I am still a person who needs to be transforming into Christ likeness. So in order to live a Christian life, I have decided I should serve the Lord as much as I can.

This was my 3^rd trip to Selangau. The first trip was last year August 2009 and the second trip was on November 2009. After the two previous trips to Selangau I still do not have the confidence that God would use me like how he would use others, all my previous teammates are gifted and talented. They could lead smoothly and effectively. I think I have only managed to assist them in a small area only. It was a BIG challenge for me to join the mission trip because I am not fluent in Malay and definitely not understanding any of the Iban language.

The reason why I decided to go back to this mission trip is because I wanted to continue to serve the Lord.  We can only serve him with our heart and yet he doesn’t need anything from us, therefore we should try our best to serve him in the area that we are gifted. During the two previous mission trips I have actually build a strong relationship with the local people at Selangau. They are all very warm hearted and friendly nice people. I wanted to go back and to see the transformation of the people.

There is a “BIG Difference” of this trip compare to the two previous mission trips. It is something that I have never expected. When I promised to join the 3^rd mission trip then only I found out that all my previous teammates were not going and I was anxious and extremely worried but I have already promised that I will attend the first meeting. So during the meeting I had brought up a discussion suggested to postpone our trip so that others were able to join us. But my team leader responded that we should go on this date because it was a school holiday and all the children would be around. They assigned me to lead on children ministry. At that moment, my mind was like having “Millions of Impossible” of how could I lead? There’s a language barrier and I am so young in Christ. When I went home, I had the thought that I should not go and I couldn’t sleep the whole night I even thought to call my team leader to cancel my name. But I have been thinking the whole night if I don’t go, I won’t be able to find a replacement in such a short notice. I put my faith in God and my family prayed for me so I decided to go lastly. 

Praise the Lord on the next day my younger brother, Addam decided to join me to the mission trip. On the last week itself, 6 people from Bintulu Immanuel Church decided to join us. There are all very gifted in Children Ministry. They are assigned to teach the children. I myself and Monica will lead on the singing and Artwork. We only practiced for 2 times on the children songs even I was so nervous when leading the singing but GOD DID AMAZING WORK, the Holy Spirit was with us and the prayers were answered. The children enjoyed the singing and responded well. They were very eager to learn. Thank God all my teammates were very supportive and encouraging to each others. We made it!!!

I praise God because He has made me possible. I never thought that God will use me to lead and bless the children. I am very joyful because I can praise the Lord and God has built my confident to serve him.

“GOD WILL MAKE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE”

Thank you!

Sharing by Adeline Lim

Posted & Photos by Peter Yong

Made New In the Attitude

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. - Ephesians 4:22-24(NIV)

The Lord Will Provide

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!"
      "Here I am," he replied.

Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."

Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."

Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?"
      "Yes, my son?" Abraham replied.
      "The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"

Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together.

When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"  "Here I am," he replied.

"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."

The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."  - Genesis 22:1-18(NIV)

Made Alive in Christ - It is the Gift of God

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. - Ephehians 2:1-10(NIV)

Life by The Spirit

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. - Galatians 5:16-26(NIV)

Living Hope

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. - 1 Peter:3-9(NIV)

Mighty To Save

"Who Do You Say I Am?"

The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.

He replied, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah." Jesus then left them and went away.

When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. "Be careful," Jesus said to them. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."

They discussed this among themselves and said, "It is because we didn't bring any bread."

Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, "You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? Do you still not understand? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? How is it you don't understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"

They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" - Matthew 16:1-15(NIV)

"Go and do likewise"

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"

He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"

The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." - Luke 10:25-37(NIV)

"Do you still have no faith?

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" - Mark 4:35-41(NIV)

God So Loved the World

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. - John 3:16-17(NIV)

"I have food to eat that you know nothing about"

"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor." - John 3:34-38(NIV)

Education Mission to Bakun Penan Longhouses

Posted and photographs by Peter Yong

This sharing is in photos slide. This was a three days short term mission trip to Belaga, Bakun@22nd-24th January, 2010 by a group of ten members team from Miri various Methodist churches. Their mission were to share the gospel and continuous love, support in educating the Penan there in the jungle.

Hears My Words and Put Them into Practice

"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete." - Luke 6:46-49(NIV)