thoughts

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I’ve been humbled this year; I’ve had my grasp of theology, my exegetical and hermeneutical prowess, my experience of different church denominations - all pretty much torn asunder in moments when I'm brought to my knees before God. When I'm stripped back to nothing but prayer and the Word. Just the other day I went into a deliverance session unequipped — I didn't even have a Bible with me — and all I could do was call upon the name of Jesus Christ, and praise God for the Holy Spirit dwelling within me. Nothing but prayer and speaking out truth from the Word, and the miraculous power of God through the Name of Jesus could see those demons cast out. Through all this I've learnt to be open to what God can do, and continuously humble myself before His miraculous saving power, miraculous sustaining power and miraculous healing power. How precious it is that He adorns His bride with spiritual gifts that we might grow and be edified, presented holy and blameless before the perfect Groom at the final day.

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Listening to sermons are a huge blessing, and I so cherish the exposition of Scripture, but should it come down to the words of a gifted theologian trying to explain the things of God, or the Word of God manifested in supernatural power through the actions of an ordinary person who just humbles himself before God, with the result of bringing edification to the church & all glory to Jesus, I find the latter a thousand times more convincing.

I wanna be a Christian who is open to the incredible ways the Holy Spirit can bless and move in my life. If that involves a miraculous gift at any given time, I humbly receive it with thanks. May it be used to edify the church, be a witness to unbelievers but ultimately and most significantly point to the great redemption found in Jesus Christ. (Btw spiritual gifts are not magic tricks you can whip out of your pocket whenever you want, and they should never be regarded as such.) Even if I never received miraculous gift, I still humbly give thanks. There are many other ways I may be used by the Lord. But I still earnestly desire the gifts, and pray God will use me however He wants, but all for His glory.

Also, I like this quote: “Men can grow lopsided by emphasising the truth of divine healing. Man can get wrong by all the time preaching on water baptism. But we can never go wrong in exalting the Lord Jesus Christ, giving him preeminent place and magnifying Him as both Lord and Christ, yes, as very God of very God.” Smith Wigglesworth, Ever Increasing Faith

~Emily Seto, Excerpts from a Letter, 28/10/16

“Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”” Mark 16:14-18

“And it shall come to pass afterward
That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions.
29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.” Joel 2:28-29

“The grass withers, the flower fades,

But the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8