Leaving To Go Homeby Jon Walker
Simon Peter answered, “Lord, who will we go to? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that You are the Holy One of God!” John 6:68–69 (HCSB)
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Jesus fed the 5,000, and then Jesus walked on water. He showed the disciples that, with a mustard-seed faith, they too could step onto, and not into, the water, like Peter taking baby steps toward Jesus.
But then Jesus said he was the Bread of Life – that his ministry wasn’t about giving the faithful a free lunch, all the food and miracles anyone could ever want. “Don’t come to me for what you can get,” Jesus explained. “Come to me because I am the One.”
“From that moment many of his disciples turned back and no longer accompanied him. Therefore Jesus said to the Twelve, “You don’t want to go away too, do you?” (John 6:66–67, HCSB)
Peter, forever stating exactly what he’s thinking, says there’s no where else to go. “We have come to believe and know that You are the Holy One of God!” (John 6:69, HCSB)
And God wants to bring us to this same place, where we understand there is no other way, or truth, or life, but Jesus (John 14:6); where we stop wandering in the wilderness, holding on to a hopeless hope that there is someone else, something else that can do for us what only Jesus, the One, the Son, can do.
We believe there is somewhere else to go when we step out independent from God, following the wrong gods home. We may chase after little gods, such as drugs, sex, or theft; but the danger is that we also follow the more subtle false gods of anger, gossip, or lying.
But like the prodigal, we keep coming back to Jesus, until we finally understand deep within that only he has the words of eternal life; only he is the Holy One of God. (John 6:68–69, HCSB)
In my own walk, I have come back in confusion; I have come back in heartbreak; I have come back in defeat. I have come back with my anger and my shame, crying out, “I am leaving; I am leaving; I will leave.”
Yet, I remain because my Savior never leaves.
What does this mean?
God is pushing you toward the narrow gate – He knows that there is no one else to go to and so he is drawing you toward the narrow gate: “How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.” (Matthew 7:14, HCSB) God’s insistence that there is only one Way, one Truth, one Life is not a selfish demand; he knows, painfully so, that there is no other way to him except through Jesus Christ.
Really, there is no one else – For many years, I chased after the wrong things, and I’m still tempted to do so today. Sometimes, when I hear voices from the far country, I turn my gaze toward the horizon. But I’ve learned through costly trial and painful error that I’ll eventually just end up right back at the feet of Jesus. So, I sit back down at the Master’s feet, and turn my gaze upon Jesus. Ask God to help you – and to help me – act as we believe: “We have come to believe and know that You are the Holy One of God!” (John 6:69, HCSB)
Look to where God is pushing you – God is pushing you closer and closer to the One who has the words of eternal life. By coming to the place where you can say to Jesus, “You are the only and Holy One of God,” you have also come to the place where you are seeking him, and
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
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Thursday, March 27, 2008
Jesus Or the Boat
Jesus Or The Boat?
2008/03/27
“But the boat was already over a mile from land, battered by the waves, because the wind was against them.” Matthew 14:24 (HCSB)
*** *** *** ***
Jesus needed time to refresh and so he sent his disciples on ahead, across the Sea of Galilee in one of their fishing boats. But storms sweep across this inland sea like tornados that emerge from nowhere.
And now the disciples were in a fight with the Goliath-like forces of nature. Some of the disciples were fishermen. They understood the danger, and so they fought the storm long and hard, but made little headway.
It was three o’clock in the morning, that no-man’s-land time of day when you haven’t yet escaped the night, but you still haven’t crossed into morning. It’s the kind of time when you wonder if you’ll even make it through until sunrise.
The Golan Heights, rising from the water like a wall within a quarry, are hard to distinguish against a sky so dark and drench. They’re over a mile from shore, and the water is transforming into an evil presence, so deep and so menacing.
And just then, someone on the boat yells, “Look! What is that? It looks like a man, but it just can’t be.” Before he’s even finished saying them, his words disappear into the wailing wind. But no one has to say anything else. All eyes are on this ghostly figure walking toward them like an incarnation of the storm!
And then Jesus says, “It is I.” (v. 27)
What does this mean?
· Jesus or the boat? – When faced with such a situation, where is the safest place to be? In the boat or in the arms of Jesus?
· Jesus peace – Logic tells us we’re safer in the boat; but the Bible tells us we’re safer in the arms of Jesus, the Lord and Master over the storm. He offers a peace that passes all understanding.
2008/03/27
“But the boat was already over a mile from land, battered by the waves, because the wind was against them.” Matthew 14:24 (HCSB)
*** *** *** ***
Jesus needed time to refresh and so he sent his disciples on ahead, across the Sea of Galilee in one of their fishing boats. But storms sweep across this inland sea like tornados that emerge from nowhere.
And now the disciples were in a fight with the Goliath-like forces of nature. Some of the disciples were fishermen. They understood the danger, and so they fought the storm long and hard, but made little headway.
It was three o’clock in the morning, that no-man’s-land time of day when you haven’t yet escaped the night, but you still haven’t crossed into morning. It’s the kind of time when you wonder if you’ll even make it through until sunrise.
The Golan Heights, rising from the water like a wall within a quarry, are hard to distinguish against a sky so dark and drench. They’re over a mile from shore, and the water is transforming into an evil presence, so deep and so menacing.
And just then, someone on the boat yells, “Look! What is that? It looks like a man, but it just can’t be.” Before he’s even finished saying them, his words disappear into the wailing wind. But no one has to say anything else. All eyes are on this ghostly figure walking toward them like an incarnation of the storm!
And then Jesus says, “It is I.” (v. 27)
What does this mean?
· Jesus or the boat? – When faced with such a situation, where is the safest place to be? In the boat or in the arms of Jesus?
· Jesus peace – Logic tells us we’re safer in the boat; but the Bible tells us we’re safer in the arms of Jesus, the Lord and Master over the storm. He offers a peace that passes all understanding.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
| 1st concurrent 9/3/08 | 2nd concurrent 16/3/08 | |
| Song Leader | Reuben | Jon Lee |
| Samson Yap | Chun Shie Yee | |
| Keyboard | Lisa Lee | Wong Tzi-Li |
| Laura Yee | Sara Lee | |
| Acoustic Guitar | Koh Kok King | Nigel Lim |
| Electric Guitar | Kenny Chin | Daniel Seliong |
| Bass | Tan Su Ann | Julian Koay |
| Drums | David Yong | Jayson Phuan |
| Singers | Daniel Ng | Kelly Yap |
| Yap Zhi Fung | Amelia Tee | |
| Melanie Yong | Jason Ong | |
| Sound crew | Daniel Seliong | Chiew Hoe |
| Stage crew | William Ong | Kevin Chin |
| LCD operator | Ben Hean | Samson Yap |
| Brian Lau | Brian Lau |
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Hope you enjoy this music video.
To all muisicians and singers, please be reminded that the following week on the 29th of Feb 2008 there will be a friday night worship session called "waves". All musicians and singers are required to come. The announcement was made in today's service , so pass the word around.
Come and be ready to offer your finest to God(2Samuel 24:24). Be blessed and let's make this worship month a significant one.
Bless you heaps!
youthalive! worship
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