True Riches

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

(2Co 8:9)

Recently someone "preached" to me about how Christians should be rich - in monetary terms - because of this verse (2Co 8:9) above. This verse is of course one of the favourite verses for Prosperity Gospel preachers, and many of their "misled" sheep.

Now, let me say this carefully - I have no issue with Christians who are rich in worldly wealth (praise the LORD for them)... but I do have concerns with Christians pursuing worldly riches as a "right" bought by the precious blood of Jesus.

Is 2Co 8:9, therefore, a proof text verse for Prosperity Gospel preachers?

FAAAAAAAAAAAR from it. Let me show u.

If we read 2 Corinthians chapter 8 & 9 carefully, we see that this is a section about GIVING - and not just "anyhow giving", but giving GENEROUSLY & SACRIFICIALLY with LOVE.

Apostle Paul was boasting to the Corinthian church about this amazing spirit...this amazing GRACE of giving the Macedonian church was showing - a clear PROOF of their salvation & genuine love - not because the Macedonian church was rich, but they were in EXTREME poverty.

Paul was admonishing the church to give...to excel in this act of grace...JUST LIKE how Jesus gave His life for us...so that we too can imitate and GIVE RICHLY to others who are in need.

Please read verses 1 to 9 slowly to see this vital point:

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints-- and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. But as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you--see that you excel in this act of grace also. I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

(2Co 8:1-9)

Paul was not teaching "HOW TO GET RICH" to the Corinthian church via the means of giving. Nor was he teaching about this "divine right" we have as Christians that we should all be rich in monetary terms.

On the contrary, Paul was very much AGAINST "prosperity gospel":

Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

(1Ti 6:6-9)

So was Jesus in many places. Here is just one example:

For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

(Rev 3:17-18)

What is "true riches" above? Here's how Apostle Peter put it:

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

(1Pe 1:6-7)

Conclusion: 2Co 8:9 is NOT a license to monetary riches. And prosperity gospel is a false gospel.

Seeing is Believing?

In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe.

(Psalm 78:32)

One of my biggest struggle in reading thru Exodus was - HOW can the Israelites NOT believe in Jehovah God despite ALL those signs & miracles?! WHY?!

More than once, deep in my heart, how I wish I could literally go into the pages of the bible and SHOOK UP those blind fools! I wanted to scream: "CAN'T you SEE that God is REAL?!"

Yet, despite the 10 plagues...despite the parting of the Red Sea...despite hearing God's thunderous voice on Mount Sinai...despite ALL the signs & wonders, Bible says: "They DID NOT believe."

Now, forward the time to the time of Jesus... Again, we see a period of time whereby God fully manifested His glorious power in the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ through such an outpouring of signs & wonders.

Jesus touched the lives of thousands & hundreds of thousands. From the poorest to the richest, from the outcast to the most educated...Jesus touched the lives of all classes of people. His fame went throughout Judea & Samaria. Everywhere Jesus went, Bible says MULTITUDES followed Him.

Yet, despite ALL that, Bible says there were ONLY 120 disciples in the Upper Room, in fear, awaiting for the "promise of the Father". ONLY 120 out of the thousands & thousands & thousands who had been eye witnesses of Jesus' miraculous ministry.

ONLY 120.

Measured against much of today's "corporatized" churches, Jesus was a DISASTER, a MAJOR FAILURE! What happen to the "convincing" power of signs & wonders? It defies logic, doesn't it?!

What then is the purpose of signs & wonders? How are they applicable to the Church today? Well, these questions are beyond the scope of this article.

What I want to say is: When we, the Church, is seeking signs & wonders as a means to making believers...as a means to convince an unbelieving world... it is DOOMED to failure. And extremely dangerous. But most importantly, it isn't biblical.

There is ONLY one way - by the preaching of the Gospel.

Yes, it sounds like such foolishness. Yes, it sounds so weak & beggarly. Yes, it sounds so naive. Yes, it sounds so boring. Yes, it sounds so low-tech... Well, at least thats how it sounds to unbelievers, that is.

But what does the Bible say?

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is THE POWER OF GOD for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)

The Church is called to be faithful in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ - the death, burial & resurrection of Jesus Christ!

And that is the ONLY way God has ordained to save souls!

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

(1 Corinthian 1:21-24)

Seeing is NOT believing, but the righteous shall live by faith.

T4G 2010 - Adjusted Gospel, How Does It Happen?

T4G 2010 -- Session 3 -- Al Mohler from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.

T4G 2010 - Theology of Sleep

T4G 2010 -- Session 5 -- John MacArthur from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.

Rachel's 1st Day at Church

Very good good girl...didn't cry or complain... :)

Greater Works?

How many times in your life have you wished IF ONLY you could perform some REALLY COOL miracles by the power of God (ok, may be a small one will do also lah)... how much EASIER it would be for you to convince others that God is REAL?!

Have you? Well, I confess I have. Many times.

I mean don't you wish God could somehow anoint you with the kind of power Moses had? Parting the Red Sea? Calling down plagues? Turning water into blood?

Dude! Thats SERIOUS attention getters, won't you agree? You will be like the HOTTEST ticket in town!

Lets consider Jesus' ministry while He was walking the streets from Judea to Samaria. Bible says everywhere He went, HUGE crowds followed.

How come? Well, I think a big part of the reason was: Everywhere Jesus went, miracles - signs & wonders - followed too. He healed the blind, cast out demons, raised the dead, turning water into wine, multiplying bread & fishes... the list just goes on and on! In fact, apostle John wrote:

And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. (John 21:25)

HOW COOL was THAT?!!!

Now, imagine TODAY. Imagine if the Church could DO all that TODAY... Gosh! You will be making converts in no time from your neighbors, your stubborn relatives, your irritating friends....even your enemies! ;)

That would be like THE ULTIMATE REVIVAL Christendom has been waiting for! Woohooooo!

So, the million dollar question is... IF I, a mere lowly mortal, could think of such a scheme, how come God doesn't seem to "get it"?

Why is God not pouring out MORE of His signs & miracles in the Church? Doesn't God want to see the world converted? I mean, we NEED all the help we can get, right?

After all, Jesus did promise saying:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. (John 14:12)

Today, according to surveys, we have like 1 billion Christians world wide... 2 billions if you add in the Catholics!

My question is: How come we don't see the "GREATER works" happening yet? (presuming greater works mean greater signs & wonders) I mean, I do hear scattered reports of the blinds receiving sights, cancers healed, the lame walked, deaf ears opened...even some dead were raised! (Praise the LORD for all miracles great & small!) But NOTHING on the scale & scope that many have been led to believe...

Are we lacking faith? Lacking true believers?

Over the past decades, we have certain circles of Christians who have developed certain theologies - under the guise of many names - that basically says there will yet be a "Golden Era" in the near future, in the last days, whereby God shall pour out SUCH anointing, SUCH abundance of signs & miracles, that it shall overwhelm even those recorded in the Bible in the early Church.... so much so that even Apostle Paul would envy from heaven... (hypothetically, that is lah) ;)

And there will be SUCH harvest of souls through these outpouring of "greater works"...

I used to buy that wholesale. But now, I have second thoughts.

to be continued...

Easter Sunday

This year the church has the Easter service at MBKS. Totally cool.

Anna of course couldn't join us...after all, she is STILL doing confinement with her baby lah.

After attending the Mandarin congregation for more than 1 year...somehow, we do find ourselves gravitating towards the empty seats closest to the bro & sis from Mandarin church ;)

As a Bible geek, I purposely brought along my burgundy calfskin bible this morning to match the occasion...but unfortunately there was "no opportunity" to even open the Word of God :(

The auditorium styled seating arrangement was excellent. Those seats were really good too. Tax money well spent ;)

Happy Easter!