On Concert Preparation...

Gosh, if you are going to look at the tremendous works ahead of you, plus the stress and the pressure of the things that needs to be done and the expectations you need to meet, you will definitely explode... The tiring job of finishing the concert, gathering the kids, listening and acting to their complains or "sumbong", I really find it crazy and nerve-wrecking. How I wish that for just a moment, I wanted to fly to a solitary place, relax and be alone for even just a moment...

But, wait a minute, I'm doing this for the Lord, whether I get the help that I need, I need to finish strong, for the love of God and for these little kids whom I fell in-love with...indeed its tiring actually most of the time, but just to see them dance, sing and act for God is a very wonderful achievement for me, they used to be so shy and afraid to stand and be noticed, but hey! now, they are so eager to perform for the Lord, mentioning Chescka, Hanna, Nicole, Jappy, Bea, Shane, Baham, Winwin, Faye and all of them are so eager to do this, I simply don't care about the motive but what is important is that they are enjoying performing for the Lord. This is something that they will never forget, because this will leave a mark in the history of their childhood days, that someday will be God's tool to hone them to become children of the King!

Lord, thank You for the inspiration I get seeing the next generation of worshipers, I will not regret dying in the ministry, for me, this is a lasting legacy for the future of the church tomorrow. Guide them in Your hands Lord and never let them go!

THANK YOU with lyrics - captions- by Katinas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL3YdzELZ_s&feature=related

THEME: Feast of Tabernacle

TOPIC: Feast Of Tabernacle: Its Significance in My Personal Life

Title: What Does Feast Of Tabernacle Means to Me

Texts: Lev. 23-24; Exodus 25 and Hebrews 8-9

I.  DEFINITION OF TABERNACLE:

The most famous feast that YAHWEH gave the Israelites; celebrated on the 14^th night of the 7^th month of Hebrew calendar: Tishri [September to October] with a full or harvest moon and lasted for seven days and a Sabbath day on the 8^th. It was also called the “Feast of Ingathering” which corresponded to the final harvesting of crops.

II. ELEMENTS OF THE FEAST: -

a. THE TABERNACLE – Exodus 25:8

“A Sanctuary that I may dwell among them.” A special dwelling be erected for Him where His presence could be manifest daily to them, to commune with them through Moses and the priests in generations to come. Every part of the tabernacle was typical of the nature of God, the coming redemption, the sinfulness of man, the means of pardon through grace and the full reconciliation of man to God.

b. THE PEOPLE – LEV. 23:40-43

The people were commanded by God to rejoice, during the feast to make booths and to dwell therein.

c. THE OFFERINGS – LEV. 23:36-38

Offerings made by fire to the Lord:

· Burnt offering

· Meat offering

· A sacrifice

· Drink offering – everything upon his day

d. THE BOOTHS – LEV. 23: 42-43

Hebrew “hadar” which means magnificence, beauty, goodly glorious and majesty. These booths were made with boughs of goodly trees, the Septuagint version of the Bible refer them to the fruit of trees to eat as they built booths, inasmuch as they had no tome for cooking that day it also contained branches of palm trees, thick trees, perhaps the myrtle and willows of the brook.

e. OIL FOR THE PERPETUAL LIGHT – LEV. 24:1-4

God commanded the children of Israel to bring pure beaten oil of olive to be used in the tabernacle to cause the light to burn continually.

f. THE SHOWBREAD – LEV. 24:5-9

The showbread was made with fine flour and 12 in numbers, this must be placed on the table inside the tabernacle and the frankincense on it will make it an offering made by fire to the Lord, the showbread must be replaced every Sabbath and it was for Aaron and his sons and must be eaten inside the “Holy Place”.

III. ORDINANCES OF THE FEAST – LEV. 23:35

a. A holy convocation unto the Lord without servile work. – God requires all Israel be gathered together in a holy assembly on the first day of the feast and that there will be no servile work. However the people are required to make offerings to be brought to the priest, the people were asked to make booths for them to dwell therein during the 7 days feast while some are asked to do service in the temple.

i. The God who came to dwell with men desires a special day where He could commune, bless and fellowship with Him He is the center of the gathering, the focus of attention and the object of worship and service.

ii. No servile work must be committed – servile work refers to slave and hired-man work or the ordinary labors of men. This is what God wants from us that as His children, we should find time to withdraw from our responsibility in this world and be more focused and committed in works related to His kingdom.

b. They were asked to dwell in booths during the period of the feast. Booths are small tents made of boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees and willows of the brook. Lev. 23:42-43

i. This command of God is a picture of God’s deliverance of Israel from spiritual bondage and carnality of heart and mind. When God brought Israel from Egypt and caused them to dwell in booths, God wanted the Israelites to be spiritually, emotionally and mentally from this state of carnality. Too much attachment to this world will affect the possibility of exclusion from the feast.

ii. When the Israelites dwelt in booths, they leave the comfort of their homes – God wants a sacrificial living not in the comfort we made in our own private world, but in temporary dwelling place which signifies our readiness to be of service to Him, living in full dependence of His provision, not in our own strength – a life of faith and commitment to God.

c. Offerings made by fire to the Lord – Lev. 23:36-39

i. The offerings were: 71 young bullocks, 15 rams, 105 lambs, 8 kids of goats for a total of 199. These offerings were beside their regular offering: they offered in the morning and in the evening: 2 rams, 14 lambs and a goat for a sin offering. This serves as sweet aroma made by fire to the Lord.

ii. The purpose of this offering if for the sin of the people - the priest should not come to the tabernacle without blood. [Hebrew 9:7]

d. Oil for the perpetual light: Lev. 24:1-4

i. God commanded that a pure oil made from beaten olive oil not heated be taken by the people, the oil will be used as an agent to help the lamp burn continually day and night.

ii. This refers to God’s availability every time the people needed Him; however the access of people is through the priest who were given the authority to minister to the Holy of Holies.

e. Table of showbread – Lev. 24:5-9

i. God instructed that a bread be baked out of fine flour, 12 in quantity to be set in 2 rows with frankincense on each row on top of pure gold table before the Lord.

f. Pouring of water at the base of the altar which will happen on the last day of the feast. The priest accompanied by the a joyous procession of musician had to go to the Pool of Siloam to get the water in the golden pitcher.

IV. THE FEAST OF TABERNACLE: ITS SIGNIFICANCE TO ME:

What does the Feast of Tabernacle stands for in my life?

The celebration of the feast always points out to Christ and His redemptive work on Calvary, the Feast commemorates the deliverance of every believer, the future celebration and the present privilege every believer attained because of Christ’s work.

® As we mentioned earlier the Tabernacle was a typical of God’s nature:

§ The Outer Court: offerings of sacrifices at the Brazen Altar, cleansing at the Laver of Brass.

§ The Inner Court also known as the Holy Place – light coming from the Candlestick, food from the Table of Showbread

§ Holy of Holies – Ark of the Covenant, Golden Censer, Golden pot with manna, Aaron’s rod that budded and Tables of Covenant.

What was the effect of Christ’s work on this feast? The completed work of Christ has enabled me to enjoy the true meaning of this feast.

® Various offerings were no longer needed – Heb. 9:12

Christ came as the offering not with animals’ blood but with His own blood and this offering us final and complete to disregard the various sacrifices. The ultimate sacrifice of Jesus and His blood has all the power to allow anyone to cleanse the conscience from dead works in order to serve the living God.

® Booth-making is only a prefigure of our earthly dwelling, Heb. 9:15

Because of Christ work, we have now the assurance of a more excellent dwelling place that awaits us - a dwelling place not made with human hands or earthly things, but God-made. The only requirement is detachment from this world and attachment to God.

® Believers can enjoy free access through the tabernacle – Heb. 9:23

The Feast of Tabernacle in the time of the Israelites only allow the priest to come once a year inside the Holy of Holies, but because of Christ’s work, every believers gains an access to God because of Christ representation of us.

® Pouring of Water – Heb: 10:22

Christ’s work and His promise of refreshment to those were part of the feast, once we accept the work of Christ, Christ will pour the Holy Spirit to cleanse us and ready us from this life’s struggles and to cause every believer to be satisfied with the presence of the Lord.

® Oil of Perpetual Light – John 8:12

Because of Christ work, we need not gather oil of Olive to burn the candle inside the tabernacle. The Holy Spirit: the kind of perpetual light dwells in us in order to keep our lamp burning in full service to God. As a vessel of this oil, the Holy Spirit, we should be clogged-free to keep the fire burning perpetually.

® Table of showbread – John 6:35

The table of showbread is no longer limited to the priest, because of Christ’s work; Christ who is the Bread of Life has the power to satisfy the hungry heart of anyone who are willing to come to Him.

Conclusion:

Revelations 21:3

Not everyone can be a part of this feast of tabernacle, only those who have responded to God’s invitation can celebrate with Him. The Tabernacle of God will come to be with men forever, no restrictions and no offerings needed, just a pure heart for the Lord which was changed from the carnal state of mind to spiritual or heavenly state. The kind of tabernacle made not with human hands but by God Himself.

I. GIDEON’S 300: QUALITY OVER QUANTITY

II. GOD’S QUALIFYING EXAM

III. JUDGES 7

A. Introduction:

∞ How would God choose a person to be a member of His army?

∞ Background of Gideon: Judges 6

ü 6^th Judge of Israel, preceded by Deborah and Barak

ü Son of Joash – verse 11

ü The least from the tribe of Manasseh: verse 15 – Gideon’s concept of himself

ü Unbeliever – verse 13

ü Doubter – verse 15

ü Finicky – verse 18, 37 – 40

ü Coward – verse 25 – 27

B. The Task – Deliverance of God through Gideon from the Midianites

Conflicts:

∞ The Israelites were being oppressed by the Midian as a result of their idolatry. Chapter 6 verse 1 – 7

∞ The allies of Midian joined forces together to destroy the Israelites – verse 33

∞ The Israelites gathered together with Gideon and he did not limit the people.

C. God’s Method of Elimination: Qualifying Exam to Join the Army of the Most High God.

I. Test of Character – Measure of Faith: Chapter 7 verse 3 – “Whoever is fearful and afraid…”

a. God uses people who first are related to Him – if you are walking with God and is closely related to Him there is no reason to be afraid.

b. And possesses the faith amidst the impossibilities – in chapter 7:12 it says there that the enemy is numerous and countless as the sand on the seashore, the 32,000 men gathered by Gideon is not enough to defeat the enemy, Gideon’s men was numbered while the enemy’s quantity was uncertain. Yet God ordered that the number be narrowed down, leaving those who have the faith and the vision that God has already placed the victory in their hands.

II. Test of Integrity – Measure of Commitment: Chapter 7 verse 3 – “And 22,000 of people returned, and 10,000 remained.”

a. Those who remained with Gideon hold on to their faith and to their integrity [WALANG IWANAN PRINCIPLE] when integrity is tested your commitment is measured.

b. This is not an expression of pride but of their commitment to walk and face the challenge side by side. It is the same with not leaving your post, sometimes when we experience difficulties and life’s pressure we seem to give up and leave, God desires committed people who will carry out their tasks whether the job is impossible to accomplish.

III. Test of Personality – Measure of Improvement: Chapter 7 verse 5, “And the number of those who lapped putting their hand to their mouth, was 300 men…”

a. God has no qualifications for those who want to be saved, this is a free gift to all, but God wants a change, and improvement must be liken to Him once accepted into His team. If there is no improvement at all then how can we be identified with Him?

b. For those who drink like dogs, this is a marked of uncivilized behavior, this should not be so, because when a person accepted the work of Christ, this has become evident in him, Ephesians 5:8-10

c. God desires that we bear fruit of righteousness, in Luke 3:8 “bear fruit worthy of repentance…” if we are saved then our lifestyle is the living proof of our relationship with Christ, but if we are the type of Christian who still goes back to our former lives, we are like dogs who return to their own vomit.

INSIGHT: the 9,700 returned and only 300 remained. What kind of strategy God has prepared for Gideon? What would God do with them?

D. GOD’S PROMISE OF DELIVERANCE: God laid out His plan, 300 men is enough to trample the thousands of enemy. God assures us that:

§ With little God can increase – remember the 5 loaves of bread and two fish

§ With little God can overthrow a huge army – remember David, Samson, Elisha and other heroes of faith

§ With little God can do mighty things –

® This proves that nothing and no one can out plan, outwit God and survive! He’s the Almighty God and He knows the capacity of a person and He works amazing things in our limitation so that God’s name is glorified.

E. GOD’S CONFIRMATION OF DELIVERANCE: God is overly patient with us in our fear and unbelief so He uses things that seem impossible to believe; in this case God uses an enemy to confirm Gideon’s victory!

Verse 13 – 14 The Dream and the interpretation – revelation comes from God and it’s a wonder that the channel God used was from the enemy! This proves that when we follow God’s plan and strategy He will cause our enemy to submit and fall down because we serve the mighty God.

We represent Him in every battle; the enemy knew that he is no match to our God that’s why he himself will follow and obey the orders from the servants of the Lord’s army! They will conform to what God wants!

F. GOD’S STRATEGY OF DELIVERANCE – verse 16

♥ Surround the enemy camp: Division of workers, Dispersion and Saturation!

∞ Power in dispersion but united in purpose – surrounding the enemy camp is a way of building human walls in order to ensure saturation in the camp, you hold the entrance and exit of the camp.

∞ Christians must learn how to claim the enemy territory and redeem it for Christ and this will be done if we know the ways of the enemy, their going and their coming in, we need to scatter around, saturate every area and be united with God in His purpose to ensure His victory.

G. GOD’S WEAPON OF DELIVERANCE –

I. Trumpet in every man’s hands: In Israel, trumpet was used for different purpose with different tones:

Long blowing of both trumpets for the gathering of people

One long blowing called the princes

Short sharp tones – mobilizing the camp of Israel by order

Alarm – sound of war – Numbers 10:9

For offering, burnt and peace offering

SIGNIFICANCE: A promise was given to Israelites that deliverance will be given through blowing of trumpets, take note that God determined the kind of weapon to use, He did not give swords, shields and spears but a heavenly tool which signifies:

* Victory to His children

* Defeat to His enemies

♥ It is an instrument calling and inviting the presence of God. Showing full dependency on God – a call or cry for help!

♥ It is an instrument declaring praise for the sure mercies and deliverance of God, remember God dwells in the praises of His people and He will show Himself strong amidst His enemies in the presence of His people.

II. Torches inside the empty pitchers – verse 19

a. When Gideon broke the pitchers, the torches inside ablaze like a wild flame, when the enemy saw this they were frightened; God created a vision of huge army attacking them and so they fled and others attacked one another with a sword.

b. Pitchers or jars or vessels in the Bible has different content:

♥ Oil – Elisha and the Shunamite widow 2^nd Kings 4 – for service – God empowered us to serve

♥ Water – Jesus and the Samaritan woman - for refreshment knowing and encountering God resulted to a refreshed soul and spirit

♥ Torch – Gideon – fire – war: God knew perfectly what suits in every occasion.

c. The empty pitcher is a Christian decreased by the increased presence of the Holy Spirit in his life, we will ablaze if we allow the Holy Spirit to work freely in our lives, we must be empty first of ourselves [doubt, fear, pride etc.] so that the Holy Spirit can fill us and when the Holy Spirit is at work in us, see the amazing results, the enemy tremble and flee in fear!

III. And they cried, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!” verse 20

A. Proclamation of the Commander and His follower. Once the enemy heard who they were up at against with, they will flee in fear. This shows that the enemy will automatically flee because they knew: they are no match against the Commander of the army: GOD!

B. Proclamation of Partnership. If we walk and follow God’s pattern and strategy for battle, the enemy knew that we too are untouchable, Psalms 91 declares that a thousand may fall at your right hand and the left but they will never come near you, you shall behold them only with your eyes.

C. Relationship established and strengthened, we will never walk alone in battle because God promised togetherness and He will share His glory with us! Why we are the product of His training and partnership.

As a result, Gideon and the 300 overthrow and defeated the enemy, he was honored by the Israelites, he reigned as judge for 40 years in Israel and there was peace throughout the land. Imagine what reward awaits those who submit to God, we too will enjoy the fruit of our labor.

H. CONCLUSION:

♥ Quantity is not as important compared to quality.

♥ God can do wonders in small things

♥ God is a miracle-worker for those who trust Him

♥ The deliverance and might of the Lord depend on our faith and obedience to Him.

♥ No weapon formed against us shall prosper; we have a weapon that can pull down strongholds.

To God be the Highest Glory!

♥hsy,5/15/11

THEME: LEARNING FROM THE ROD OF GOD

TOPIC: THE PAIN OF CHASTISEMENT LEADING TO…

TITLE: GOD’S INTENTION VS. MAN’S DECISION

TEXT: HEBREWS 12

INTRODUCTION:

Heroes of Faith who have endured the rod of God ending up gloriously.

DEFINITION OF TERMS:

Chastening versus Trials

Chastening is to have someone undergo correction, instruction and discipline, when chastening is given an offense has been committed. On the other hand, trials is different, trials is given even when there is no offense involve.

	Purpose	Goal
Chastening/ Rod of God	To discipline To execute judgment To learn the instruction And follow it	To become partakers of God’s glorious appearing, to become holy and worthy of God’s inheritance
Trials	To strengthen the faith To perfect the faith

i. Who receive God’s rod?

VERSE 5-6 – Legal son and or children: the heavenly Father favored His children so much the reason why it is God’s desire that every child of His must receive the rod in order for Him to bring them up righteously.

ii. Reason of God’s rod? VERSE 6 AND 10

a. The love of God is God’s first and foremost reason why He allowed us to experience His rod, it is important that as children we must see why we are being corrected not the pain we are experiencing.

b. When God received us into His family, we enjoy the privilege of son ship and at the same time the right of the Father to correct us and as His children receives the correction.

c. He wants us to be partakers of His holiness – as a member of God’s family, the rod of God is one of His means to lead us to holiness, it is not for His sake but for our own profit. A person who commits mistakes but never receives correction will never realize the consequence of the sins committed, he will learn to live without conviction and so sin becomes natural in him.

INSIGHT: God’s rod never go against His character, He doesn’t chasten just for the sake of fun, He doesn’t chasten because He just want to, He doesn’t chasten because He is angry, He doesn’t chasten because He favors the one and hated the other. God’s character is far different from that of human.

GOD’S ATTRIBUTES

MERCIFUL	FAITHFUL	RIGHTEOUS
FORGIVING	KIND	JUST
DOES NOT KEEP A RECORD OF WRONG

iii. What is God’s rod? Verse 11

a. Painful but promised a reward in the future – correction and discipline are indeed painful, it is the reality that encompasses in the “child – parent” relationship. A mistake will never be learned when we will never feel the pain of our own offense. Let’s look at Jesus, when the sins of the world were on HIS SHOULDER THE PAIN IS TOO GREAT TO BEAR, YET HE ENDURED IT. When Jesus endured the cross the future glory awaits Him and those who will endure with Him.

b. Leads a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have trained by it – this is the ultimate goal of Christ: for us to become partakers of this righteousness because this is the ultimate goal of Jesus on His way to Calvary that all who will receive the righteous work of Christ may become righteous.

INSIGHT: God’s rod is to train and discipline those who are His, His rod doesn’t punish us for His enjoyment. He does not delight to see us suffer but He wants us to know realize every bit of mistakes so we can correct them ourselves.

iv. Two Kinds of Rod of God:

A. Child correction and training –

a. the purpose of this is for God’s children to learn the way of righteousness

b. To submit before the authority of God

c. For God’s children to learn God’s instruction and carry it over until fully accomplished.

B. Punishment upon rebels – this is a simple law of sowing and reaping, what you sow, you will reap the consequence. This applies to those who willfully disobey and reject God as stated in Leviticus 26.

INSIGHT: Remember there is blessing to those who obey and curse for those who disobey.

God’s intention is perfect; however the result is based on man’s decision.

GOD’S ROD MAY BE A FORM OF
LOSS – financial and material	OFFENSE	GOD’S ROD	LESSONS LEARNED
SAMSON Judges 16	Intermarry a non-Jew – he’s a Nazirite	Loss of strength, eyesight and his position	He acknowledged his strength was from the Lord, he was humbled to the point of death
PERSECUTIONS
JONAH Jonah	Disobedience to preach in Nineveh	Tempest, Swallowed by a big fish and stayed there for 3 days and 3 night Gourd that comforted him died	He knew that God is merciful, loving and just, but the Book of Jonah doesn’t have a clear ending as to Jonah’s acceptance of God’s correction, the book ends with God in His final words to JONAH

GOD’S ROD MAY BE A FORM OF
JUDGMENTS	OFFENSE	GOD’S ROD	LESSONS LEARNED
DAVID 2nd Samuel 11-12	Murder and adultery	Judgment on his entire family, death of David’s child with Bathsheba, wife taken from him, rebellion in his house	Confession of sins, accepted the judgment of God in his entire family, yet he considered it a blessing to suffer in God’s hands than from someone else.

v. EFFECTS OF LEARNING THE ROD OF GOD

a. Healing and restoration – verse 13 if we have accepted the rod of God, the bond of our connection is firmly established, we will be strengthened and healed by our infirmities because we have allowed God to mold us and shape us into something best than what we are settling in.

b. Behold the King of glory – verse 14 the rod of God which purges us to holiness is our means to behold and be with God.

c. A Christian under chastening must ask grace and strength from God in order to help him focus not on the pain but on the purpose and goal why God has allowed him to experience such rod.

d. Jesus Himself experienced the rod of God on our behalf, this rod was intended for mankind, but He endured the pain of the rod in order to accomplish the goal so that He and all who will partake in that rod will have a glorious reward.

vi. EFFECTS TO THOSE WHO REFUSE

a. Fall of the grace of God – we may not be able to meet the requirements set by God, it is important to follow the directions and instructions of God for living if not we are not in the right course.

b. Trouble – we will be in trouble with our relationship with God and with other people.

c. Defilement – our Robe of righteousness will be ruined because of our refusal to correction.

d. There are people who have experienced the rod of God but they never learned the lessons behind it, they are either too stubborn to obey or too proud to admit.

INSIGHT:

1. People are suffering because of their sins yet it’s so sad they still refuse to obey God.

2. Stubbornness will separate us from God, the same way the Israelites who died in the wilderness.

3. The rod of God is one way of showing His love towards His children the same way, His forgiveness, compassion and mercy.

4. The rod of God is His instrument to lead us to Him

5. There is blessing in learning from the rod of God and curse for those who reject its purpose.

6. In Psalms 23: 4, David said that, “Thy rod and thy staff comfort him,” David must’ve reached the level of faith and maturity which enables him to say that the mere presence of God’s rod comforts him. It’s better for him to experience the rod of God than suffer in the hands of humans for he has learned the lesson of God’s rod.