I had some problems with the car this week. Right in front of a friend's house, the car 'cried out' and refused to be pacified until the battery was disconnected! In a way I am thankful that this did not take place in some unknown place or right in the middle of traffic! The cause of the problem was the alternator. It was not doing its work to charge up the batteries. There was just not enough power for the car to function fully as it should. Also I had not noticed the symptoms over the last few days. I thought with a new set of battery I would not have any problems. But I was wrong!
Isn't this true sometimes in our life when we ignore the signs that show our lack? We live our lives as if we are on our own. The truth is that we are designed not to operate on our own. We need fellowship with God more than we realise. To live our lives independent of Him would be like the car that only operates on its own batteries. Be careful and watch out for the symptoms of living such a life. The 'I' problem can be fatal. It is no wonder then that we are commanded by Scripture to be filled with the Spirit of God. Not just once but be continually filled. Only He can give us life.
Pr. Ben
February 25, 2011
February 8, 2011
It's Only Words
There's an old Bee Gees song that has these lyrics: "It's only words, and words are all I have to take your heart away" Can words have a way to move people, even their hearts? Most certainly! Just take a look at all the songs that people listen to. One must be careful of one's words, even casual remarks. Once it leaves our lips, it cannot be taken back no matter how we offer a thousand apologies and regrets. The Bible tells us to "Let our conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know to answer everyone." (Col. 4:6)
I was reminded recently of how one's words can affect a person's decision in the future. I had once made some remarks on being 'unequally yoked' in our relationships. It was just a casual conversation. Words that I have now virtually forgotten. But more than three years later these words were remembered by someone who had faced an important decision in her life. Wow! God can use our ordinary conversations to affect lives! I wonder how many more such words that I have said that may have affected other lives? Yes, I am fully conscious also of the times when I had said things that I did not really mean to say. Worse still the unconscious ones.
My wish and prayer is that my speech may be full of grace and flavour. Not filled with loose and empty words that will do more damage than good especially for eternity. May this be true in your life too as you celebrate this New Year with your family and friends.
Pr. Ben
I was reminded recently of how one's words can affect a person's decision in the future. I had once made some remarks on being 'unequally yoked' in our relationships. It was just a casual conversation. Words that I have now virtually forgotten. But more than three years later these words were remembered by someone who had faced an important decision in her life. Wow! God can use our ordinary conversations to affect lives! I wonder how many more such words that I have said that may have affected other lives? Yes, I am fully conscious also of the times when I had said things that I did not really mean to say. Worse still the unconscious ones.
My wish and prayer is that my speech may be full of grace and flavour. Not filled with loose and empty words that will do more damage than good especially for eternity. May this be true in your life too as you celebrate this New Year with your family and friends.
Pr. Ben
January 5, 2011
Welcome to 2011
We are into the New Year. What the year 2011 is going to be like, only God knows. I started the year by talking about the new heaven and earth and what a beautiful and wondrous place it is, waiting for the people of God (as described for us in Rev. 21-22). I had also mentioned the kind of people that will be there and those that will not. The people found in the new heaven are those who thirst for God and those that overcome. They will be satisfied and rewarded. But the list of those who did not make it was a whole lot longer. There is a book of life (Rev. 20:15) in heaven that contains the names of those redeemed by the Lamb, which will certainly include the thirsty and the overcomers.
There are two things I would like to see more in my life for the coming year, that is to have a thirst and hunger for God and to be an overcomer in relation to sin and trials in life. What does it mean to thirst for God? The psalmist likens his spiritual thirst for God to that of a deer panting for 'streams of water' (Ps. 42:1-2). In his season of dryness, he longs to meet with the living God to satisfy him, as he remembers during a time of joyous celebration and worship in God's house. Jesus says in the Beatitudes: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." (Matt. 5:6) To thirst and hunger for God and His righteousness is to have a desire for a relationship of obedience and trust with God. The water of life is freely given by God (Rev. 21:6; Isa. 55:1) There is blessing and happiness when our spiritual needs are met. We feel satisfied and contented. Are you feeling dry in your soul? Do you thirst for God to satisfy you? There's a hymn that says, "Fill me till I want no more" May this be your prayer as it is mine.
The seven churches in Revelation (ch.2-3) faced great trials and persecution. One had lost their first love. Another was neither hot nor cold. There were many threats within and without that endangered their existence. Yet Jesus challenged them to overcome and be a conqueror. How did they conquer? By the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony (Rev. 12:11) Ironically whilst the enemy wants to conquer them by taking their lives, they overcame by giving away theirs! All this is not in vain. To each of the church were given a promise of reward if they overcome their trials (2:7; 2:11; 2:17; 2:26; 3:5; 3:12; 3:21). There is a price and cost to pay to be victorious. It can come in many forms and varying degrees including being threatened, marginalised, imprisoned, loss of job or business and to some even death. This is certainly not for the fainthearted and cowardly. It is no wonder that Jesus warns us to count the cost before following Him and to take up our cross daily (Luke 9:23). Is there anything that will keep us from the love of God? No! For we are more than conquerors in Christ! (Rom. 8:37-39)
May this year be one that finds your thirst for God satisfied and your life lived victoriously, not ashamed of the gospel of the Lord Jesus.
Blessings for the New Year.
Pr. Ben
There are two things I would like to see more in my life for the coming year, that is to have a thirst and hunger for God and to be an overcomer in relation to sin and trials in life. What does it mean to thirst for God? The psalmist likens his spiritual thirst for God to that of a deer panting for 'streams of water' (Ps. 42:1-2). In his season of dryness, he longs to meet with the living God to satisfy him, as he remembers during a time of joyous celebration and worship in God's house. Jesus says in the Beatitudes: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." (Matt. 5:6) To thirst and hunger for God and His righteousness is to have a desire for a relationship of obedience and trust with God. The water of life is freely given by God (Rev. 21:6; Isa. 55:1) There is blessing and happiness when our spiritual needs are met. We feel satisfied and contented. Are you feeling dry in your soul? Do you thirst for God to satisfy you? There's a hymn that says, "Fill me till I want no more" May this be your prayer as it is mine.
The seven churches in Revelation (ch.2-3) faced great trials and persecution. One had lost their first love. Another was neither hot nor cold. There were many threats within and without that endangered their existence. Yet Jesus challenged them to overcome and be a conqueror. How did they conquer? By the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony (Rev. 12:11) Ironically whilst the enemy wants to conquer them by taking their lives, they overcame by giving away theirs! All this is not in vain. To each of the church were given a promise of reward if they overcome their trials (2:7; 2:11; 2:17; 2:26; 3:5; 3:12; 3:21). There is a price and cost to pay to be victorious. It can come in many forms and varying degrees including being threatened, marginalised, imprisoned, loss of job or business and to some even death. This is certainly not for the fainthearted and cowardly. It is no wonder that Jesus warns us to count the cost before following Him and to take up our cross daily (Luke 9:23). Is there anything that will keep us from the love of God? No! For we are more than conquerors in Christ! (Rom. 8:37-39)
May this year be one that finds your thirst for God satisfied and your life lived victoriously, not ashamed of the gospel of the Lord Jesus.
Blessings for the New Year.
Pr. Ben
December 28, 2010
Social Network Christmas
We have just celebrated Christmas Day. But we are still in the Advent season! I came across this video that gives us a picture of what it would be like if Mary & Joseph were living in our days of social networking! Please enjoy the video and rejoice for the Son has come.
December 21, 2010
A Time for Giving and Forgiving
Christmas is a time for giving and forgiving. It is reported that in USA the total sales for the Christmas season constitute a quarter of the year's total sales! It is big money and big headache for those buying! I was reminded today in a news article that there are many things that we can give, not only during the Christmas season but everyday of our lives.
You can actually start creating your own list of giving for Christmas and the New Year and it may include: give your time to a worthy cause; give your hand to the needy; give a call to the lonely; give a word of encouragement to the discouraged; give a cup of water to the thirsty; give your forgiveness to the one who hurt you, and the list goes on.
Don’t just make a list but put in the names (if you know them) of real people that you see or know as you live each day. Not everything you give will require money. Lastly, give others an opportunity to give back to you too!
Blessed Christmas!
Ps. Ben
You can actually start creating your own list of giving for Christmas and the New Year and it may include: give your time to a worthy cause; give your hand to the needy; give a call to the lonely; give a word of encouragement to the discouraged; give a cup of water to the thirsty; give your forgiveness to the one who hurt you, and the list goes on.
Don’t just make a list but put in the names (if you know them) of real people that you see or know as you live each day. Not everything you give will require money. Lastly, give others an opportunity to give back to you too!
Blessed Christmas!
Ps. Ben
December 3, 2010
A Brave Testimony
The most persecuted Christians are found in North Korea. Yet their faith remain as strong as ever. There is something about suffering that helps build a strong faith. Listen to the testimony of this 18-year old girl who came from North Korea as she shared to the audience at the recent Lausanne Congress on World Evangelisation in Cape Town. May your faith be challenged as well.
November 11, 2010
Our Lady VIPs!
On October 30 we arrived at another milestone in the life of the church. The ladies had their first Ladies Fellowship after a long time! Present at this meeting was an old friend, Betty Rode, who spoke about "Your Foundation", with two of her Sri Lankan friends, who shared a testimony.
It is our hope that this fellowship will be a place where hearts and lives can be ministered and refreshed by God's Word and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. May this beginning be followed by many days of rich blessings flowing from the Lord in making this fellowship an oasis for all who come.
Ps Ben
It is our hope that this fellowship will be a place where hearts and lives can be ministered and refreshed by God's Word and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. May this beginning be followed by many days of rich blessings flowing from the Lord in making this fellowship an oasis for all who come.
Ps Ben
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