In Christ Alone

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

Tears

"There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are messengers of overwhelming grief...and unspeakable love." -C.S. Lewis

Tears! Tears! What is the use of them anyhow? Why not substitute laughter? Why not make this a world where all the people are well, and eternal strangers to pain and aches? What is the use of the storm when we might have a perpetual calm? Why, when a family is put together, not have them all stay, or if they must be transplanted to make other homes, then have them all live? The family record telling a story of marriages and births, but of no deaths. Why not have the harvests chase each other without fatiguing toil, and all our homes afflicted? Why the hard pillow, the hard crust, the hard struggle? It is easy enough to explain a smile, or a success, or a congratulation; but, come now, and bring all your dictionaries and all your philosophies and all your religions, and help me this evening to explain a tear. A chemist will tell you that it is made up of salt and lime, and other component parts; but he misses the chief ingredients - the acid of a soured life, the viper sting of a bitter memory, the fragments of a broken heart. I will tell you what a tear is; it is agony in solution. -DeWitt Talmage, The Ministry of Tears 1832-1902

We are really blessed as Children of God. Today, Zhencong asked me when was the last time I dropped tears/cried. I replied that it was during the sermon just now and very much these past few months. I just could not control my emotions every time I looked back at my past life and how much God’s love, grace and mercy was upon me even when I was still HIS enemy… when I was still dead in my sins. I was saved two years ago by the Grace of God. I am forever thankful for HIS great Salvation. No matter how much tears I shed, tears of repentance and joy, it would not be enough to express this feeling of gratitude in the face of such an immense Grace.

Many a times, tears are seen as a mark of sorrow, a mark of weakness. Yet, contrary to this thinking, tears are precious and it brings out the emotional side of us all according to God’s Creation and Plan. That makes it so beautiful, definitely not a sign of weakness.

"God allows us to experience the low points of life in order to teach us lessons that we could learn in no other way." -C.S. Lewis

The Bible (Strong’s Concordance) provides 697 references for verses associated with crying (weep, cry, tears).

One of the first Bible references for tears is in the book of Genesis when Abraham wept over the death of Sarah. Hannah wept before the Lord in her barren state. Esau wept over his father Isaac, asking for a blessing. King David writes prolifically in the Psalms of his tears before the Lord, even saying they were his portion day and night.

The Bible provides accounts of tears of grief (as above, also David weeping over the death of Absolom, Jairus’s daughter and the death of Jesus Christ). Others wept tears of repentance and sin-sorrow (Israel as they stood to hear the scriptures read and were broken over not following the Lord their God and His law, David as Nathan confronts him, Ninevah when Jonah finally goes there to pronounce God’s judgment, Peter after the rooster crowed for the third time). Jeremiah was called the Weeping Prophet, authoring the book of Jeremiah and the Lamentations of Jeremiah. Jeremiah wept for the pride of Judah. Israel cried to God in affliction. Professional mourners attended the deaths in New Testament times. Jairus’s daughter’s death may have been one instance of this. The commentaries vary.

God is called “Comforter” (Jeremiah, for example) and the God of all comfort. God’s law and His love are described as comfort-givers. The body of believers is called to comfort, also.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (NIV)

The second occasion of the tears of Jesus takes place as He travels to Jerusalem, just after the triumphal entry is described.

When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, "If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. "For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation." Luke 19:41-44 (NASB)

He prophetically announced the destruction of the Temple. The Greek word used is for weeping in this verse is klaioo, meaning to weep audibly, to burst into tears.

Certainly, tears drop due to many reasons be it in grief, sorrow, repentance or happiness etc. It all part of the God’s Plan for us… “for blessed are those who mourned.”

"God who foresaw your tribulation, has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain" -C.S. Lewis

Today’s sermon gives another interesting perspective to seeing tears. After the Great Flood in Genesis, God established a covenant with Noah.

And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth." -Genesis 9:12-16 (NIV)

When the Prophet Ezekiel saw visions of God, it was written,

Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.
This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

Beyond doubt, the rainbow that we have grown so used to and yet still so enchants many of us to this day, is one of the manifestations of God’s Glory on earth. When tears well up in our eyes, what do we see? Are we able to see the rainbow behind the tears? Are we not seeing the Glory of God?

However, as believers, we are not saddened and disheartened for great is the promise of God!

for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes."

–Revelation 7:17

Reference

New American Standard Bible

New International Version

Quotes by C.S. Lewis, http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/1069006.C_S_Lewis accessed 18 April 2010

DeWitt Talmage, The Ministry of Tears (1832-1902), http://www.gracegems.org/SERMONS2/ministry_of_tears.htm accessed 18 April 2010

Mary Beth Swan, an excerpt from a report on tears by Mary beth Swan, in What the Bible says about tears, http://www.sethbarnes.com/?filename=what-the-bible-says-about-tears accessed 18 April 2010

盟约

歌曲：盟约
歌手：小羊诗歌
所属专辑：盟约
爱+～词酷.歌△※词网.№谢谢您支持
盟约
小羊诗歌－盟约

我以永远的爱爱你　我以慈爱吸引你
聘你永远归我为妻　永以慈爱诚实待你
哦　我愿夺得主的心　用我注视的眼睛
我的心如禁闭的井　新陈佳果存留为你
将我放在你的心上如印记
将我带在你手臂上如戳记
你的爱情坚贞　胜过死亡
众水不能熄灭　不能淹没
将我放在你的心上如印记
将我带在你手臂上如戳记
你的爱情坚贞　胜过死亡
众水不能熄灭　不能淹没
我赐你肉心代替石心　把律法写在你心里
我用水将你洗洁净　你的罪恶我全忘记
因你鞭伤我得医治　你受刑罚　我得平安
你受咒诅　我得祝福　因你流血　我得生命
将我放在你的心上如印记
将我带在你手臂上如戳记
你的爱情坚贞　胜过死亡
众水不能熄灭　不能淹没
将我放在你的心上如印记
将我带在你手臂上如戳记
你的爱情坚贞　胜过死亡
众水不能熄灭　不能淹没
将我放在你的心上如印记
将我带在你手臂上如戳记
你的爱情坚贞　胜过死亡
众水不能熄灭　不能淹没
将我放在你的心上如印记
将我带在你手臂上如戳记
你的爱情坚贞　胜过死亡

众水不能熄灭　不能淹没

同奔天路

同奔天路
道路虽然崎岖，还是要坚持下去，为主撒种实在是不容易。
但靠主恩万事成，前面困难何畏惧，抬起头来鼓起勇气。
亲爱第兄姐妹我们本是陌路人，
但是感谢主恩我们成知己，彼此接纳包容，在主内合一，
仰望基督同奔天路，快乐无比。
谁不愿安舒，我们却选十架路，既已踏上要完成这征途。
虽然挫败不泄气，因有彩虹作应许，明天还是一样灿烂与美丽。
亲爱第兄姐妹我们本是陌路人，
但是感谢主恩我们成知己，彼此接纳包容，在主内合一，
仰望基督同奔天路，快乐无比。

Love of Money

1 Timothy 6:3-10

³If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,

⁴he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,

⁵and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.

But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.

⁷For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.

⁸If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.

⁹But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

¹⁰For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Today, there are many preachers of the prosperity gospel. In the Bible, we have already be warned about this. Yet, millions of people are still flocking to these places which they call church.

Clearly, they are just chasing after the pot of Gold from the true God.

Mark 10:17-24
The Rich Young Man
¹⁷As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

¹⁸And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.

¹⁹"You know the commandments, DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, Do not defraud, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.'"

²⁰And he said to Him, "Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up."

²¹Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

²²But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.

Misinterpretation of Scriptures to say that God hints us on how to increase our wealth

Example:

This man was young just like many of you here today. The bible said he was also rich and how did he become rich? This passage gave us a clue… he kept the 4^th to the 10^th commandments since he was a youth. You see in the 10 commandments given from God to Moses and the children of Israel, the 1^st 4 commandments deals with our relationship with God and the last 6 deal with our relationships with others. Hence, when you are able to good relationships with others, you are likely to have good success in life.

Clearly totally misinterpreted and definitely the person here is picking cherries. Let carry on to see what Jesus has to say about wealth.

²³And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!"

²⁴The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!

²⁵"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

²⁶They were even more astonished and said to Him, "Then who can be saved?"

²⁷Looking at them, Jesus said, With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God."

²⁸Peter began to say to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You."

Beyond doubt, that rich young man certainly gains wealth and he is just to sad to part with his wealth. Yes, he has gained the whole world but clearly, he loses his soul.

"How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!"

Mark 8:36
"For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?

If you anyone uses this text to preach about Wealth. Know that you just are asking people to take the path down to Hell :)

Ask yourself, have u left everything to follow Jesus Christ? or are you hoping that God is so kind as to grant u all your worldly desires (the same reason why that guy beside u believe in Dua Pei Kong/ Guan Yin Ma/ Prosperity Buddha etc) and at the same time gives you the membership pass to Heaven?
Think Twice

Again,

Matthew 7:21-23

²¹"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

²²"Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'

²³"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

I hope these people wake up!

The LORD, the Psalmist’s Shepherd.

A Psalm of David.

1 The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.

3 He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

God Works Through Trials (James 1:1-13)

From Bible.org
http://bible.org/seriespage/god-works-through-trials-james-11-13

Introduction

As I have reflected over the events of the past few days and months I was drawn to the first chapter of James. In the first 13 verses we are given some understanding of the purpose of trials that come our way.

* The good that has come from trials.
* The comfort we can have in trials.

So this passage speaks to us to help us in our time of trial when we need understanding and comfort. And yet in a real way I have also thought that the life of our friend and loved one actually was a living example of this passage:

* As she and her family demonstrated before us the reality of this portion of God's Word.
* I shall never be able to read these verses without thinking of (Name) and how her life reflected this passage.

So for a few minutes, think with me as we look into God's Word. (Read verses 2-4) The Lord would first of all have us know that there is. . .
Purpose in Trials
(verses 2-4)

1. When difficult times come into our lives and we find ourselves unable to comprehend/to understand; the enemy is quick to throw doubts/questions into our minds.

2. We find ourselves questioning God's goodness/God's wisdom in allowing these things to happen.

3. We may even be bitter and angry with God for allowing this to happen to us and wonder if He really understands.

4. But God's word confidently reminds us that God does understand . . .

* Things do not just happen haphazardly to the Christian.
* With no meaning/no purpose.

5. God is in control and as Paul reminds us no one or nothing can separate us from God's love. Rom. 8--even the most difficult of circumstances.

6. James reminds us that God wants us to trust Him in the trials of life.

* For as we trust Him in the trials God can use the difficult trial to mold us:
* To mature us.
* So that we will be more like Jesus Christ our Savior.

7. Isaiah the prophet said in trying to comprehend God's ways: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts. Neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isa. 55:8-9)

8. God would have us trust Him in the difficult trials:

* For even though we cannot understand He loves us and He is in control.
* He will use this trial to help us grow spiritually and to help us mature and become more like Jesus Christ.

9. Trust Him! Keep your eyes on Him! And God will use even this trial for His glory.

10. But James goes on to tell us that not only does God have purpose in trials--but also that God gives wisdom in trials.
Wisdom in Trials
(verses 5-11)

(Read verses 5 and 6)

1. James recognizes that we may not always be able to see the purpose in trials or see the good that can come from trials.

2. When we find ourselves unable to see the good and the purpose in trials we are to:

* Keep on asking Him for wisdom.
* In faith.
* And our God who loves to give will respond so that we can see the good and the purpose in trials.

3. Then James illustrates and says:

* That even a poor man has much good in his trial of poverty if he knows God--the owner of the universe.
* And a rich man through he lose everything can rejoice in the good of having learned not to place his faith in riches which quickly pass away.

4. God has been very good to us in allowing us to see the good even in this difficult trial.

* For so much good has already come from this trial:
* As a church family we are growing spiritually and united together.
* As individuals we have seen faith in action and we have learned lessons we shall never forget.
* As we have seen at least three people come to Jesus Christ through faith. (As NAME shared her vital faith with Jesus Christ with others)

5. Yet in the days to come we will continue to need wisdom to see the purpose and the good in this trial.

* James exhorts us to keep on asking God in faith for wisdom.
* And our generous loving God will give us the wisdom needed.

(But finally James reminds us that not only does God have a purpose in trials; and gives wisdom in trials but thirdly there is comfort in trials.)
Comfort in Trials
(verse 12)

(Read verse 12)

1. James here reminds us that this life is not all there is to life.

* That right will be commended.
* That due reward will be give for faithfulness.

2. We often live as if we are the living on the way to the dying.

3. But God's word makes it very clear that we are the dying on the way to the living.

4. What is in store then for one who knows Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and passes from this life?

* Phil. l tells us that when a Christian departs he is with Christ.
* II Cor. 5 tells that when we are absent from the body we are present with the Lord
* And I Corinthians 15 and I Thessalonians 4 tells us that someday that body which for the present sleeps in the grave will be resurrected and united with our soul/spirit and in this glorified state we will be with the Lord forever.
* And there rewards will be given for endurance through trials and for faithfulness to God in difficult times.

5. So today we sorrow - but we sorrow not as others who have no hope.

* We have the assurance of the word of God that (name) is with Christ.
* (Name) had trusted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior from sin.

6. But I cannot help but think that perhaps some of you are not prepared to face death and you are not prepared to meet Jesus Christ face to face. Nor are you ready to face a trial like (Name) has faced with peace in your heart.

* The strength that enabled this dear one to face her trial with confidence and assurance was not her own.
* It came as she allowed the life of her Savior to live His life through her. It came from a confidence that she was ready to meet her Savior.
* She had made her peace with God through faith in Christ and desired above all else to glorify Him with her life.

7. I invite you right where you are sitting to invite Christ into your life as your Savior from sin.

* Jesus Christ died as your substitute paying the penalty for your sin.
* But He asks you ;by an act of your will to trust Him as your personal Savior from sin.
* If you do this, on the authority of God's word you are a new creature/born again and prepared to meet your Savior.

Conclusion

James (The Holy Spirit of God) in the quietness of this hour reminds us that . . .

l. There is purpose in trials:

* God is still in control
* He has not forsaken us but wants us to trust Him so we can mature.

2. God has and will give us wisdom to see the purpose and the good in this trial--As we ask in faith.

3. And there is comfort in knowing that this life is not all there is--that absent from the body means present with the Lord.

4. These truths were demonstrated before us in the life of (Name). (Name) faith in Christ enabled her to face her trial with the peace that passes understanding. Phil. 4:7

5. And I trust that now as her family as her family and friends we may lay hold of the same Savior and the same truths from God's word to enable us to bear this trial together.