Quotes from Joseph Prince

Recently heard a couple of Joseph Prince's sermons and here are my 3 fave quotes:

Aggressive evangelism is an insult to Jesus.

Looking at how people had to queue just to enter the service each sunday at NCC proves just what he said. Lift up the beauty of our Lord Jesus and it will draw people to him.

The church is not the place for natural answers.

Wow, i love this statement. Even in my cell group my fellow brothers and sisters would often suggest me to go to this well known doctor because so and so went there too. The body of Christ should have a supernatural mindset.

And my favorite:

It is better for a wife to have a husband who loves her more that she loves him.

:)

I love how pastor Prince's sermons always focus on the beauty of our Lord Jesus, but here and there he would make a brief statements regarding some topics about family, children, husband and wives, etc. Those brief statements have blessed me tremendously.

Eventhough

Eventhough sometimes I doubt my faith.

Eventhough many times I questioned His goodness in my life.

Eventhough more than 5 times a day I remember the child I lost and asked why haven't God restored my lost.

Eventhough I thought of quitting.

Eventhough I envy those who don't know Him but seem to have perfect life.

Eventhough I still cry at night, sometimes.

Eventhough...

I can not deny the fact, the very real fact that since God revealed His grace for me, my spirit screams of praises for Jesus.

Even in the midst of my cry and agony, I'd heard my spirit said,

"Thankyou Jesus, I love You".

I don't know what happen, but the voice keeps coming within me. Like it wanted me to follow him to believe, that God is real and Jesus is good. All the time.

Forgiveness of Sins and Healing

Psalms 103:2-3

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,

Mazmur 103:2-3

(2) Pujilah TUHAN, hai jiwaku, dan janganlah lupakan segala kebaikan-Nya!

(3) Dia yang mengampuni segala kesalahanmu, yang menyembuhkan segala penyakitmu,

God's Promise

6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you.

Genesis 17:6-7

God made me not only fruitful, but EXCEEDINGLY fruitful and from me shall come kings and queens! Amen!

Isaiah 30_15

For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: "In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength."

Sebab beginilah firman Tuhan ALLAH, Yang Mahakudus, Allah Israel: "Dengan BERTOBAT dan TINGGAL DIAM kamu akan diselamatkan, dalam TINGGAL TENANG dan PERCAYA terletak kekuatanmu."

AMEN

Wonderful Quote

The answer is to love. We are not to be known by our theology. We are not to be known by our answers to questions of soteriology, eschatology or any other biblical topics. And we certainly are not to be known by labels. They will know we are Christians by our love.

Steve McVey

Read his full article here : http://gracewalkministries.blogspot.com/2011/02/should-we-be-universalists-trinitarians.html

The Living Bread

I Copied-Pasted this from Grace For Life by Terry Rayburn

A young man had been preaching in the presence of a venerable divine, and after he had done he went to the old minister, and said, “What do you think of my sermon?”

“A very poor sermon indeed,” said he.

“A poor sermon?” said the young man, “it took me a long time to study it.”

“Ay, no doubt of it.”

“Why, did you not think my explanation of the text a very good one?”

“Oh, yes,” said the old preacher, “very good indeed.”

“Well, then, why do you say it is a poor sermon? Didn’t you think the metaphors were appropriate and the arguments conclusive?”

“Yes, they were very good as far as that goes, but still it was a very poor sermon.”

“Will you tell me why you think it a poor sermon?”

“Because,” said he, “there was no Christ in it.”

“Well,” said the young man, “Christ was not in the text; we are not to be preaching Christ always, we must preach what is in the text.”

So the old man said, “Don’t you know young man that from every town, and every village, and every little hamlet in England, wherever it may be, there is a road to London?”

“Yes,” said the young man.

“Ah!” said the old divine “and so from every text in Scripture, there is a road to the metropolis of the Scriptures, that is Christ. And my dear brother, your business is when you get to a text, to say, ‘Now what is the road to Christ?’ and then preach a sermon, running along the road towards the great metropolis—Christ. And,” said he, “I have never yet found a text that had not got a road to Christ in it, and if I ever do find one that has not a road to Christ in it, I will make one; I will go over hedge and ditch but I would get at my Master, for the sermon cannot do any good unless there is a savour of Christ in it.”

(From "Christ Precious To Believers", preached March 13th, 1859)

2011

You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance.

(Psalms 65:11)

AMEN AMEN AMEN !!!

Experiencing The Love of The Father

A couple of days ago i was reading a book and got tired so i closed my eyes. I thought i was falling into sleep and having a dream. I saw my self when i was little, about 6 years old. I knew it was me because i wore a pink dress that my mom made. And in that dream (or vision) i heard God spoke through my conscious that to Him i was always His little girl. That He loves me just as a Father cares and loves His daughter so much. Suddenly i was swept by incredible joy. I cried and i cried and i cried. I felt loved, really loved. I felt like He was hugging me, and that many angels were also there and shared my joy.

It was a very precious moment.

New Covenant believers: Prayer in the new covenant

New Covenant believers: Prayer in the new covenant: "Praying in the new covenant is totally different from that of the old covenant. We pray in seated position with Him; from the victory point..."

My Teacher

Matthew 11:29

29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls.

Ooh this verse speaks loudly to my ear and heart. How many times in life that i said:

"This church teach heresy"

"What he said is wrong, what i said is more biblical"

"You said You're a good God, but why did You allow .... "

I was such a snob. I thought i knew everything there is to know. I was not learning much because many times i close the door which might lead me to grow.

Now consider myself as a lifelong student and my main purpose is to learn. Learn from My Teacher.

Then rest.

Romans 5:5

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

This verse is beautiful! And notice that it's Romans 5 verse 5, double the number of Grace!

Just reading it lifted up my spirit.

Love=Faith=Healed

It's been a week that i noticed i got a strange headache. Not like usual headaches eventhough i rarely had them. This was a pain that came from somewhere underneath my left ear. Sometimes the pain occur with such intensity that i screamed, "Ouch, what was that?". I thought maybe it was some pain related from my recent tooth surgery, but i didn't know for sure. Anyway, i prayed many times to command the pain to leave. I spoke verses that promising healing, but unfortuneately the headache was still there.

This afternoon, while driving to my parents house Holy Spirit impressed me to worship the Lord. So i sang eventough the tape was not on. I sang random songs, and ended up singing "Jesus i believe in You, Jesus i belong to You. You are the reason i believe the reason that i sing... with all my heart".

Singing the song, i sensed such joy and peace and... love from Jesus. I cried while my mouth still sing the song. My tears flowed on my cheeks, and i knew this is not a self-pity-fear-of-punishment-cry i once experienced before i knew the truth about His grace. This was a cry that came from a grateful heart, know that i'm loved so deeply by my Creator.

I began worshipping Him. Thanking Him for what He has done in calvary. Thanking Him that He died so i could live. Thanking Him that by His blood i'm free from punishment, free from any curse, free from condemnations. Thanking Him that by His stripes i am healed. Thanking Him for wanting me to be happy, healthy and fruitful. Thanking Him that by His sacrifice i am called to be God's daughter.

I arrived at my parent's home 20 minutes later, and realized a relief in my head. Up till now 5 hours later, i'm still free from headache. Praise Lord Jesus!

I realized that the Holy Spirit taught me something important today. Miracles and healings come through faith. But faith must be activated by love, God's love. Like Joseph Prince once said, "Faith is the confidence of how much God's love us". When we realize how much He loves us, it automatically increases our faith, and by having an increased faith it creates a channel (or some said "bridge") for the manifestation of miracle and healing.

Our focus shouldn't be on the manifestation of healing, but to believe in His love. If that happen, surely healing will be manifested. In my personal opinion it is not just by claiming, screaming verses or using our authority to get rid of the symptoms. Of course we could use verses, commanding sickness to go and using our authority by having a king-priest position in Christ. but we should be careful because these activities could easily turn into some sort of "work" which lead us into "performance mentality".

God's style is always simpler and easier. Just believe.

Believe that He is a good and loving God.

Searching for A Graceful Church

According to the New Testament, the church is not a building. Neither is it a denomination, a religious service, nor a non-denominational organization. The church is a living organism. It is simply this: A community of people who possess the life of God’s Kingdom and who express it together.

(Quoted from Reimagining Church by Frank Viola)

Almost 2 years has passed since we moved here from France, yet we haven't joined any church. Of course sunday mornings were spent on a building called "church" but with no conversations afterwards among other brothers and sisters after the service, let alone helping and supporting each other just like the early church did.

Arrghhh.... how i long for a community of believers, who accepted each other as they are. Who practicing signs and wonders and supporting each other to tell people that the Kingdom of God is at hand. Who know each other well and love each other with the love of Christ.

God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

WOW.

James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5. This sentence was quoted two times or more in the Bible. I guessed it is quite important.

This verse is amazingly timely for me.

Continue from my previous post, now i'm starting like a new believer. I want to put behind the fact that i've accepted Jesus as my Savior since i was 15, and serving Him since. I put aside all the theories and theologies which shaped my frame of thoughts.

I have nothing to be proud of in front of men and You.

Now i want to learn from the beginning.

Of Your grace and mercy.

Of Your salvation, healing and prosperity.

Of Your rest.

Of Your power and works of wonders.

Lord, i don't want to be the judge anymore. I used to look behind and seeing the evidence when i thought You didn't care, and trying to make sense all of it with what people said about Your love. I am nothing compare to Your wisdom. Perhaps i know not now, but maybe someday You'd show me Your grand plan in my life. One day i'd look back and see that You work everything into good.

As John Gill's commentary for James 4:6:

but he giveth more grace to the humble

who are sensible of their own vileness and meanness, and acknowledge it; who think the meanest of themselves, and the best of others; and do not envy the gifts and graces of God bestowed upon others, but rejoice at them; and ascribe all they have, and are, to the free grace of God; and ingenuously confess the deficiency of their duties, and the insufficiency of their righteousness to justify them before God; and that when they have done all they can, or are assisted to do, they are but unprofitable servants: now to these God gives grace; he not only gives grace at first, to make them humble, but he gives them more grace, or increases what he gives: grace is God's gift; he gives all the grace that is in Christ, and all the blessings of grace that are in the covenant, and all the grace that is in the hearts of his people; as faith, hope, love, repentance, humility, patience, self-denial, resignation to his will, and every degree of spiritual knowledge; and grace is only his gift; men cannot give it to themselves, nor can the best of men give it to others; not godly parents to their children; nor ministers to those to whom they preach; no, nor the angels in heaven; nor is it to be obtained by the works of men: it is a free gift; it is given of the sovereign will and good pleasure of God, to whom, and when, and in what measure he pleases; to which he is not induced by any motives in men, for they have nothing in them to move him to it; and it is given by him absolutely, without conditions, not suspending it till the performance of them; and he gives it cheerfully and not grudgingly, largely, bountifully, and in great abundance.

Simply a Beginner

Last week i wasn't really well. Not sick or whatever, just a bit gloomy. Hubby's leaving town to work, and i'm alone. I keep listening to Curry Blake's DHT files every night but i can not push my self to read daily devotional from Joseph Prince. Each of ps Prince's sermons describe the goodness of God and at that time i just couldn't picture Him as a kind God.

I saw a photograph of a newly born son of a friend. It's her second child. She has infertility problems but manage to deliver 2 healthy babies.

I realize that most of my friends who had infertility issues have already had children right now.

I remember the moment i miscarried two years ago. It's almost impossible to relate that God is kind but He also allowed me to experience the tragedy of loosing a child. Maybe part of it was my fault, because i didn't know that it is not God's will for people to miscarry. Thus, i didn't have the faith to confess or claim whatsoever. But i wished God would've told me the truth before.

I felt condemned.

I lost my peace and joy, and even had sleeping problems.

But today, while watching TV, the Holy Spirit speak through my conscience. He said, "Be a student, learn everything from the basics".

I felt sudden peace. I realized that all this time i over analyze everything. I put God into my system of thinking, about justice, kindness and love. When i found that God violates the system in my head, i blamed Him.

This morning i said to God, "I'm a student now Papa. Let me learn Your love, show how it works in my life. I don't want to judge You, i don't want to blame You for anything from now on. I just want to learn. Please reveal to me everything that i need to know about You. "

I'm the student and He is the teacher.

The Best Description

I quote this from Steve McVey:

Life in Christ is certainly not a passive lifestyle but neither is it a lifestyle of religious hyperactivity either. It doesn't have to be one or the other. Resting in Him means that we live our lives knowing that He holds us safely in His arms and that His loving embrace carries us through every situation we face in life. Sometimes our lifestyles will involve external activity and at other times it will involve outward inactivity, but at all times we are enjoying His divine hug.

The Prayer

A couple of days ago I was feeling down because I sensed that my period is coming. Also, there were additional causes, another pre-birth anouncement from relative, people i met who accused me of not working hard enough to have a baby, etc etc etc.

I was not feeling right. I knew i should reach out to His grace. I knew that i should guard my heart, not to worry and keep my peace as the only thing God told me to do. But sometimes it's plain hard. My best friend a.k.a hubby was at work and he seemed to lost idea of how to cheer me.

So he prayed.

At first, I felt a bit reluctant. I was angry. But i listened to everything that he said to God. Not to long after that I sensed something different. It's like a flood of peace and joy came rushing from heaven above upon us. I felt like God was hugging us both, He didn't seem to be troubled with the fact me and hubby on different island. I felt the three of us, me, Him and my husband were on the same spot together.

After praying, hubby asked, "Do you feel it?" . "Yes" I said with tears on my cheek.

We trust by faith, not by feelings. But now I knew that God doesn't mind reaching out to us. Making known of His presence. Telling us directly how much He loves us.

With the peace and joy back on track, I found that guarding my heart becoming an easy task. I'm glad God moves when we need His help.

The Kingdom of God

Is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17)

Is not in word but in power. (1 Corinthians 4:20)

Is within us (Luke 17:21)

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)

Teaching, Preaching, Healing

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. (Matthew 9:35).

He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. (Luke 9:2)

But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. (Luke 9:11)

And heal the sick there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you. (Luke10:9)

It seems that teaching, preaching and healing was one complete package in Jesus' Ministry. Notice also that almost everytime the bible mention the kingdom of God were being preached, the sick also being healed. Hallelujah!