Sensuality

IGNYTE Sunday Group, we're moving back to chapel! That is wonderful news, because it means we're growing, and God is releasing His blessings upon us to grow even further. Let us keep growing.

But even as I was pondering upon this thing of moving our service back to chapel, God spoke to my heart. This generation is a sensual generation. Are we, too?

'Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.' (Ephesians4:14)

One question that I have is this, are we becoming sensual believers? Are we living our lives based on our own feelings? Are we making decisions based on our own emotions? Are we making choices because "I feel like it"? Most of all, are our services dependent more on the "ambiance" than on God Himself? Is our worship dependent on the quality of the sound and 'nice-ness' of the lights, or perhaps on the singer's voice?

One of the questions I desire to ask is this, one day if our church building is destroyed somehow, and we hold our services underground or perhaps in a muddy field, maybe even out in the rain, would the people come? WOULD YOU COME?

One of the weapons of the enemy today is sensuality. The enemy will throw all kinds of sensual things at you because he knows once he gets to your senses and emotions he'll get you. Friends we have to know this. Our faith cannot be based on sensual things, cannot be influenced by the 'I feel like', nor on earthly values anymore. Friends it is time to tune our hearts to God, away from everything that the world throws at us. That's also what being radical for Jesus means. To stand firm on the rock of Christ despite all the waves that the devil throws at you, all the winds that he throws at you. It is about standing firm on the truth of God's Word and the power of His love despite all your circumstances.

Friends, you and I must stop allowing the spirit of sensuality to affect our worship, to hinder our commitments with God, to ultimately destroy our relationship with God. Friends, let us turn our face away from our circumstances and choose instead to focus on the face of God.

Radicalled yet?

Was looking through some blogs, viewing the different posts from different ones about IGNYTE camp. Though each one different, each post carried the same tag line: Rad(I)cal was life-changing. Rad(I)cal has just passed. And the last few days I have been recollecting what I can take away from the camp. Sure, the games were fun, the sermons were great, the bonding was awesome, but above all, what does God want us to take away from Rad(I)cal?

"Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." (Hebrews 5:13-14)

What does being radical mean? Living a radical lifestyle means to know your purpose in living and living for that one purpose. It speaks of complete devotion to that ONE cause and doing everything it takes to see the cause prosper. For us, it is the cause of Christ. In a world of divided loyalties, our devotion to the ONE cause of Christ is being tested every day.

BUT just as Hebrews5:13-14 states, those who trade solid food for milk is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. Solid food, when consumed, requires one to chew and break it down. It requires work, training and time. But milk, on the other hand, simply needs to be swallowed. It is easier to consume compared to solid food. Just as in our spiritual life, many times we'd rather trade our trials and sufferings for something easier. Many of us today only accept the blessings from God, but refuse the service to God. We only want the 'easy' part of Christianity. Come On! It's time for us to stand for all we believe in. If you know that your God is mighty to save, then why are you afraid to accept the 'solid' trials and sufferings, of which you know you will emerge stronger, because the joy of the Lord is your strength?

Recently at a cell-based Christmas Party, I SALTed an 'Anti-Christ'. As I was SALTing the person, it came to my knowledge that his 'Christian' friends wanted me to stop. They were afraid that because both of us are quite strong headed, they were afraid that quarrels might ensue. Come on! If your friend is skeptical about Christ, all the more you should SALT him! The enemy has taken a foothold in your friend's life, and you, in your fear of the unexpected, refuse to SALT to him, what does this tell God about you? Would you rather trade the solid food for milk? It's time to war! It's time to accept more than just the 'easy' part. SALT even the hardcore people!

Friends, like it or not, we have been called into spiritual warfare. Sure, it isn't going to be easy, and there is only 1 way you can fight this war. Fight as a strong soldier with your allegiance for God clear, or you will be destroyed when the war is fought.

"It was he who gave...until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming." (Ephesians 4:11-14)

Friends, radical living requires us to be mature. No more 'infant' behaviour. No more being afraid of anything else besides God alone. Sure, childlike faith is to be applauded, but childlike thinking and behaviour is to be admonished. We cannot be infants anymore. When our allegiance with God becomes clear, we will no longer be like infants, tossed around by what the world throws at us. Instead, we will stand firm on the rock of Christ. Friends, it's time to grow up. IT'S TIME TO ARISE FROM OUR SLUMBER. To live radical lives involves being mature in our speech, life, love, faith and purity. To be mature involves learning how to walk in obedience to God. It is making the choice to live by God's viewpoint rather than your human viewpoint. Galatians 5:16 and 25 give the key, "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature…Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." The word "walk" in verse 16 is from the Greek word peripateo, which means "to walk with a purpose in view." The word "walk" in verse 25 is translated from another Greek word stoicheo and it means "step by step, one step at a time." It is learning to walk under the instruction of another. That person is the Holy Spirit. And since we are indwelt by the Spirit, we must learn to walk under His control.

Radical living involves moving out of our comfort zone, and while being clear of our purpose and allegiance with God, going all out. In camp we talked about taking our nation for Jesus. And the time has come. Rad(I)cal camp has ended, radical living starts now. As a believer, you are not to be milk-fed. Instead, you are called to chew on the "meat" of God's Word. Friends, THE TIME HAS COME.

"And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light." (Romans 13:11-12)

The Time Has Come.wma - Hillsong

Found love beyond all reason
You gave Your life Your all for me
And called me Yours forever
Caught in the mercy fallout
Found hope
Found life
Found all I need
You're all I need

The time has come
To stand for all we believe in
So I for one am gonna
Give my praise to You

Today today it's all or nothing
All the way
The praise goes out to You
Yeah all the praise goes out to You
Today today I live for one thing
To give You praise
In everything I do
Yeah all the praise goes out to You

All we are is Yours
And all we're living for
Is all You are
Is all that You are Lord

A Broken Heart, A Contrite Spirit

PSALM 51
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.

5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts ;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.

14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.

16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.

18 In your good pleasure make Zion prosper;
build up the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then there will be righteous sacrifices,
whole burnt offerings to delight you;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.


Oh Lord I have sinned. I gave in to temptation, well knowing I shouldn't have. I knew, yet I did it. I ignored you, Holy Spirit. My heart is broken, my bones crushed, my spirit dried, my soul lost. Lord I need you. Do not turn your face away from me. Have mercy on me, Lord Almighty. Renew my mind and transform my entire being. I know I have sinned. I know my mistake, and I come to you. Lord I pray that you will come and fill me once again. Holy Spirit come and take your place. I am a sinner, but you Lord, are a Lord of grace. I cheapened your grace, but Lord you never let me go. In your love you watched me as I fall, but you never left me. In your mercy you watched as I succumbed, yet you made a way. Lord I'm sorry. I am a sinner. Forgive me. Rebuke me, Lord, that I may learn. But also make a way. That I may return to you just as the prodigal son did. Now I truly know the story. Such grace, unheard of. Such love, unspoken of. Oh, if I could have just a portion. That would satisfy. Lord Jesus, only you can satisfy. I need you.