I was quite shocked at the people who rubbed salt in wounds and started using this chance to criticise and point fingers... Pastor How wrote an article that put this into an even bigger perspective that I never saw - that all this finger-pointing will cause us to shrink back and start making decisions based on fear. So, last weekend Pastor How also taught us about making faith-based decisions. It was really an eye-opener for me. Made me reflect on how I make decisions...
But before I go into the message, I thought to share a part of the article that I really like. You can read the rest at www.pastorhow.com
"We can’t stop the falling rocks but we can stop throwing stones." - Pastor Tan Seow HowThe rocks have done enough damage. Don’t allow it to further kill the spirit of adventure and discovery in our youths.
The last thing we should do is to shrink back and start bubble-wrapping our kids.
We must not succumb to fear and start playing safe.
We must not over-react and over-compensate, allowing Mount Kinabalu to cast a looming shadow over our next generation. Let the avalanche come to a halt at the foot of the mountain. Don’t allow the fear to cascade down into the hearts and minds of our youths...
“The only thing we have to fear is…fear itself – nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyses needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.” - Franklin D. RooseveltHindsight is always a perfect 20/20, but it does not paint a glorious vision of the future...
If this inquest continues, it will cause our schools’ decision-makers and MOE’s policy-makers to play safe and coddle a fragile strawberry-generation.
So please put down the stones.
The decent thing to do now is to commemorate the dead, comfort the living and celebrate the heroes.
So true... The decent thing to do now is to commemorate the dead, comfort the living and celebrate the heroes.
Anyway, here's my notes from the message..
Stay tuned for Part 2 this week.
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The only thing we have to fear is fear itself - FDR
We need to decide whether we make decisions based on fear or faith.
Fear is not just an eerie feeling when you watch a horror movie
Faith is more than just positive thinking. It has to be based on God's Word and His character.
Faith and Fear affect our decision making
2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Fear renders us powerless, loveless and mindless.
Fear takes away the power to act and advance.
When people are threatened, their natural reaction is to go into self-preservation mode.
It makes us selfish, thus loveless.
It makes us selfish, thus loveless.
For example, if a colleague is afraid that they will lose their job, it will make him political and selfish.
People make illogical decisions out of fear and insecurity and jealousy.
When we are afraid that bad things will happen to you, you will begin to make bad decisions.
FAITH vs. FEAR
Faith is not about being super-spiritual.
Some questions are obviously right or wrong.
Other times, we need to use the brain God gives us.
But there are some decisions that are difficult, where after thinking through you are still not sure. Those are the decisions that we must make in faith not fear.
Question: Is there a faith environment in your home?
Do you tell your children "Study hard or you will fail your exams and become a road sweeper" or "Study hard, you can do it. I believe that you can change the world and make a difference"
Don't exchange opportunity for security.
There are 2 groups of people - those that have nothing to lose and those that have too muh to lose. Those that have some kind of success will be afraid that they have something to lose.
Fear causes us to preserve and conserve.
People who have a lot to lose are always afraid.
People who have a lot to lose are always afraid.
Job 1:1-12
Beyond Job's suffering, look at verse 5:
Beyond Job's suffering, look at verse 5:
Job 1:5 (NLT)
5 When these celebrations ended—sometimes after several days—Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, “Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.
5 When these celebrations ended—sometimes after several days—Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, “Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.
Job was a man who has it all but his prayer for his sons was "If my sons have sinned please forgive them, protect them" -- he does this regularly.
He was praying to protect what he already has.
There is nothing wrong with praying for protection - but this is a man praying out of fear.
Imagine every day just praying for your kids, "if they sin, please forgive them"?
When we pray for our kids we should pray "I pray that they will stand on my shoulders and do more than I ever did. That they will be men and women who will change the world for You!"
Imagine every day just praying for your kids, "if they sin, please forgive them"?
When we pray for our kids we should pray "I pray that they will stand on my shoulders and do more than I ever did. That they will be men and women who will change the world for You!"
We should pray in faith!
Some people make decisions on the defense and preserving the lead.
When you have a lot to lose, you end up guarding what you have instead if launching forth to gain what you don't have.
Story of the 4 Lepers
2 Kings 7:3-8
These people have nothing to lose.
They said "why are we sitting here until we die?"
If we go back, we will die.
If we sit here, we will die.
If we sit here, we will die.
If they kill us, we shall only die.
Then they went forth.
When they moved forward, God gave them breakthrough.
Make a decision based on faith not fear
JOHN WIMBER
The economy of the Kingdom of God is quite simple. Every new step in the Kingdom costs us everything we have gained to date. Every time we cross a new threshold, it costs us everything we now have. Every new step may cost us all the reputation and security we have accumulated up to that point. It costs us our life.
“A disciple is always ready to take the next step. If there is anything that characterizes Christian maturity, it is the willingness to become a beginner again for Jesus Christ. It is the willingness to put our hand in His and say, "I’m scared to death, but I’ll go with you. You’re the Pearl of great price."
We may not be Job, but we all have something to lose.
We need to make decisions based on faith.
We need to make decisions based on faith.
