1) God is with us.
2) Not just with us in a way, like we say the air is with us, but God will help us. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you” Isaiah 43:2
3) “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.” does not mean that we are free from trouble. In fact, it is the opposite. God will chasten us when we sin. He will intentionally make us pass through the waters. But, such is the process of refining us, and to make us a better person. And the most comforting promise of God being with us applies.
4) God will do a new thing for us. He will give us a makeover, i.e. help us overcome our sin problems, give us the zeal to serve, give us strength to study God’s word (and schoolwork).
5) God’s promise is sealed in a New Covenant, an assurance that He will indeed do all the wonderful things that He had said.
The third message is supposed to be the message that we find it difficult to accept. What? God says He will help us but He does that by chastening us? But after listening to it I really don’t mind God chastening me, if that is His gesture of tough love. The problem is I’m not sure if I have truly accepted Him yet.
The fourth message is really the most wonderful message of all. Imagine being able to break free from sin and being able to find joy in the midst of difficult times. This is not just lip service. So many people can testify to that. Everyone whom I spoke to, the moment they accepted Christ as their saviour, the moment the Holy Spirit entered their body, they felt that huge sense of joy and gratitute that others could not have. And everyone I spoke to, also was a joyless person before.
However, during consecration night, I finally, unexpectedly stood up. Pastor asked those who do not think they are in God’s new covenant, that if they desire to enter this covenant, please stand up. Those who are already in God’s new covenant, if they desire to grow in faith, please stand up too. The first applied to me, so I gladly stood. I guess I did make some progress from last year then, lol.
In all, this conference did make an impact on me. Firstly every message is surprisingly relevant, despite not really applicable to me at this point in time.
* This message is for those struggling with sin problems that are difficult to overcome.
* Promise of God’s presence and help.
* If we ask, God will change us for the better. He will help us overcome our sins.
* Promise of God sealed in new covenant.
As I talked to Ping Khuan about my so-called “faith” or rather the lack of one, and why I was not making any progress, he asked me if sin haunts me. Immediately, and without thinking, I replied yes. He then told me the main issue that concerns, and leads us to salvation, is the issue of hating sin. We should be worried about being sinners, and feel grateful that our sins can be forgiven, by the blood of Christ. It was then I realised, I have not really been haunted by my sins at all. I have been having the wrong mindset that under pressing circumstances, should I fall, should I sin, that is understandable. Isn’t that bollocks or what? Really, I can’t blame anyone if I sin but myself. Even the most heinous crimes, such as murders, can occur under circumstances that forced the killer to “have no choice but to murder”, but we ourselves can feel disgust, and yet we still think that we are not like that! The truth is, even under the most difficult situations, all of us have a choice, to sin or not. And more often than not, we stumble and we sin. So in other words, we cannot lie to ourselves and say “Oh, we can’t help it. Situation made us this way.” The truth is, we choose to sin. And to have our sins forgiven there is only one way – to commit ourselves to Christ.
It’s time for me to truly humble myself and not waste anymore time.
