Some days I wonder but it makes me wander. So what I do is to tether myself tightly to His embrace and snuggle in close to His heartbeat.

I value Truth over reality any time. Sometimes reality as we know it in this world is just too unreal.

I prefer letting myself be distracted by The Word than by the world. One is the source of true freedom. The other is the source of true imprisonment. I’d rather be captured by His grace than caught up in worldly cares. Sometimes it is hard though to dissociate ourselves with the things of this world… We are after all in this world but not of this world. So I recall how I rejoiced years ago to read that we do all things as if they are for the LORD.

Even if we have earthly things to do, we do it to reflect His love, His light, His truth, His glory. So when I vacuum my floor, I do it with a joyful heart. When I do my work, I do it with a restful spirit. I don’t write blindly. All that I do, I commit to Him for leading.

Sometimes it is hard for the world to understand what it means to rest in Him for the leading to come. It means when I do any work, I work not of my own, but in Him. I parent not of my own, but in Him. It means the deadline might be close for a work but I only start when He says GO! Because starting off any time earlier sometimes means I waste more time.

When inspiration flows, writing is so fast and smooth. But when I try to force it out from my ego, it stays stuck.

I have learned that everything is beautiful in HIS time. Not my time. :)

So I have learned to trust.

It isn’t easy when u first start or when you “up a level” but recalling His faithfulness makes it easy, because it isn’t about how faithful we are but how faithful He is to keep His promises.

His promises are always good. His destination is always far more excellent than we can ever imagine.

I began my journey being a mother in darkness (I was a single mom) and uncertainty & I must say where I am today I could not have imagined then.

Thus I walk each path one step at a time, one day at a time. I don’t want to focus on the WHAT IFs or the IF ONLYs the world likes to meditate on. I choose to be joyful, hopeful knowing my LORD is faithful. He is GOOD all the time.

I thank Him for my husband, Ian, and our boys, Kaelen Michael and Noah Isaac. His banner over us is LOVE & His love opened His arms on the Cross for us.

Oyasumi!! Time to ZzzZzzZ :)

Praise Report

Karine- history of fibroid and husband also had a closed vein situation. Wanted to have baby and one of three praise requests for 2012. Told will be hard. Dreamt she would have a baby. April 2012 found out she was indeed pregnant. Was asked to opt for C-Sec. Wanted natural birth but received peace abt C Sec. During delivery found out her baby’s umbilical cord was coiled three times around tummy. Had she done natural birth, baby would have been in danger. During pregnancy was blessed career wise.

USA sis- didn’t have revelation of grace despite Christian. Had severe fistula and tear during delivery. Was depressed and underwent surgery but got worse. Got an abscess. Believed being punished for past sins. God’s grace never let go of her. Intro to PP and received gospel of grace- started reading bible looking for Jesus, not condemnation. Through God’s grace she is healed and no more fistula. Hallelujah!!

SERMON-

Been studying about the wonderful results about looking at Jesus. Life full of grace, favour, shalom (perfect health, whole was, well being, grace and peace) be multiplied to us through Jesus our LORD. All can only increase by beholding and not doing.

Sanctifying effect of looking at Jesus- taken out of the self. Painful to be self occupied and self engrossed. But when lifted out of self and behold object of perfect glory and beauty- every which is moral excellence, grandeur- takes u out of yourself. Look at earthly king no transformation. Look at Jesus transform from glory to glory.

John 12:26 if anyone serves ME… him, My father will honour.

The Father honours those who serve His Son. Honour = prize, value in Greek. God values you above the rest. What God prizes = special attention.

Not just doing Christian work. U can be doing Christian work and serving self. U can do a lot of things in the name of God but doing it out of vain glory.

How much of what u do serves Christ? Get involved in church. When you are filled with the Spirit, u must have a place to pour out and serve. Multiplies time back to us when we serve.

When fisherman were washing net (day is over, worked all night, all the seaweed etc). Putting net back in boat was a sacrifice- but had a net breaking, boat sinking load of fishes.

LORD Jesus- perfect and divine servant.

God knew in his wisdom that four gospels needed to cover the many facets of our LORD Jesus. U can be a CEO of a famous company- but u can be a dad, a social man, a husband- diff facets. One gospel is not enough. Matthew written to Jews but presented Jesus as a King. Genealogy goes back to Abraham. Four faces of cherubim- correspond to facets of Jesus in the Word. Face of the Lion (King). Gospel of Mark- face of the Ox (servant)- strong to labour. Gospel of Luke- trace back to Adam and portrays Jesus as Man. Anointed by HS. Face of Man. Gospel of John - no genealogy, Jesus the God come down as human flesh. Face of eagle because it flies higher than any bird. Ezekiel and Revelation.

Good for Chinese. Won’t lose face. Lose one face still have three more left. :D

Four faces - four faces of our serving.

Sometimes we get proud when we are promoted. Some people are lofty and don’t know how to come down. Eagle and King high and lifted. Ox and Man pic of servitude. When U come home from work, wife doesn’t want u to be a CEO, but a real Man.

The LORD has all these our faces he wants us to transform to. Place to he a friend, a man in social setting

1 Cor 15:58- when you serve the LORD, your labour is never in vain. Noah preached for years but only his family was saved. But in the LORD, there will be fruits and rewards and blessings.

Steadfast- Greek: to sit. To relax. We don’t work or serve to be saved. Can do nothing to be saved. Receive finished work and sit down. Relaxed. Parent and serve and go to work relaxed. Do everything relaxed because Christ has redeemed is from all stress. Be settled.

Immovable- cannot be moved.

Abounding in the work of the LORD- nothing can distract you from your resolute to serve in the work. It is a privilege to serve the LORD. Going beyond the boundaries. Quality and quantity- Peruseo in the Greek.

Gospel of Mark- u don’t ask a servant for his pedigree. Comes serving straightaway.

Phil 2:5-8 (NASB)

Jesus never saw His godness to be something to seize upon.

Seven steps down, seven steps up. Every time u humble yourself, get ready to be exalted in due time. God exalts us no one can pull us down. No one can demote us. When we exalt ourselves, we have to maintain ourselves to stay exalted.

Mark - Jesus as a divine servant. Shortest of the four gospels. Only sixteen chapters. Most chronological. Written to Gentiles. Matthew to Jew but Mark to Gentiles. Hence no mention of Jewish laws. Explained at most Jews wash their pots and pans - as if to people who don’t know about it. That’s all. Mark - 3 x more miracles than parables. What u serve more than what u say. Divine servitude. One thing to have a lot of love but another to have power!

Serve the LORD- honour and privilege because He serves us first until we are so full.

Even in most tired form, Jesus gave His best to woman at the well. Served so full she became evangelist immediately- no bible school.

He wants to serve you, to wash your feet, give peace to your mind. You must consent first. No part in Him if we don’t let Him serve us.

Eutheos- straight away. Inmediately. At once. > speaks of service.

Mk 1:10, 11, 12, 20, 21, 28, 29, 30, 31 (once u are served, you serve), 42, 43 = 11 times in Mark 1

Mark uses one verse to another verse with this word. Teacher in school would say you don’t know a full stop, u cannot begin sentences with this word. AND.

Mark uses 35/45 of the word AND at the start of sentence in the gospels. Mark has 16 Chapt and 11 began with AND. Why did HS use AND? About divine servant- how He was always abounding with the service- to heal us, to set us free

Mark 1- seed plot of entire gospel seen here.

Mk1:3- from prophecy from Isaiah 40- Prepare the way of the YAHWEH. John was saying prepare the way for YAHWEH. YAHWEH and JESUS one and the same. He veiled His glory. Faith unveils His glory. But He couldn’t hide His glory from the demons. He always told them to shaddup. He didn’t need advertisement from demons.

Only a wife has the power of attorney of the husband. We have the power through Christ.

Mark - 12 Acc of Jesus serving with power over the demons.

When u serve, power of Jesus comes behind u. Learn the power of serving, of humility. Power belongs to servant heart.

7A
- ANNOUNCED BY THE FORERUNNER> John the B was the forerunner. The voice or Word comes first? Word. Formulated thought before it can be spoken. John the voice but the Word is Jesus. John the B did no miracle but he pointed people to Jesus. Genuine ministry. Jesus said he was the best prophet. Bring people to Christ. Brings Christ to the people. Any ministry to point people to efforts/ self - questionable.

- APPROVED BY THE FATHER > Mk1:10,11 Heaven opened to Him. Heaven opens to the name of Jesus. All the provisions opened to Jesus.
You are my beloved Son and in you I delight. Know God approves of you before u serve and do any miracles. 30y of hidden manna. Only pic we saw of Jesus as a child 12yo asking teachers questions- in season for his age. Didn’t go preaching and teaching at age of 12. He was subject unto his parents although knew more than them. He submitted. We have wrong ideas of submission when we feel someone must be greater and smarter first before we submit. That is why God asked wife to submit to husband. Increase in favour after submission. Beloved Son- declared at River of Jordan and Mt of Transfiguration. Mt is highest pinnacle of any pinnacle in Israel, 10000ft above sea level. Jesus was transfigured whiter than the snow on the mountain. River of Jordan- near Dead Sea, lowest place on Earth (1400 ft below sea level). Bethany beyond Jordan- where baptism took place. And in these two places, God proclaimed Jesus is His beloved Son. Declare it from the northern most and southern most that Jesus is His beloved. The Love of God- beyond religion, reality. Nothing religion can destroy. Father approve your children. We are so afraid if we tell our kids they will become proud. Many adults have pride issue because didn’t have parental approval. Approve them before they have the results. Opened arms are here whether u succeed or not- and they will succeed.

- ANOINTED BY THE SPIRIT>dove landed on Him.

Jesus like a fine flour. Can’t hold it. So fine, goes through fingers. Jesus doesn’t hurt the afflicted when he judges sin. We as man throw baby out a bath water. On this fine flour, pour oil. Meal offering- Lev 2. Three kinds.

Jesus conceived by HS- fine flour mingled with oil

Jesus says Spirit of the LORD is upon me - fine flour poured oil over

The only son of a widow, going to be buried one way. Jesus and apostles going the other way. Jesus touched the stretcher and saying YOUNG MAN AROSE. Both parties walked with Him after that. He had compassion- no one else in bible portrayed as one with compassion.

ASSAILED BY THE DEVIL > Mark 1:12- Spirit drove Jesus into wilderness right after Father spoke. Angels ministered to Him. 40 days in wilderness. Assailed by devil. “Tempt”- tempted to sin or tested. Two meanings possible. Jesus cannot be tempted to sin as only flesh can be tempted. Jesus was never tempted to sin. Jesus was tempted at all points as we are YET WITHOUT SIN (not pertaining to sin). He was tested. For Jesus, the word always means TESTED. For us it can be tempted or tested. Testing of Jesus who is pure gold, no dross- God sent Jesus to wilderness to let devil test Jesus to prove He is pure good, and after 6 weeks, the devil has to say He is pure gold, no dross.

ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE WILD BEASTS- For 6w, Jesus was also with WILD Beasts. In the Greek, v accurate. It says He was with the wild beasts- He was in company with them and they with Him. Acknowledged their creator. Only scars on Jesus when He went back to heaven made by men not by wild beasts. Judean wilderness- not a tree or flower or bird- just howling wind. Gets v lonely and quiet there. He was there for 6w.

ATTENDED TO BY ANGELS - Angels are with us today. Angelic ministry also talked about in Acts- Peter freed from prison by angels and went to Mary the mother of John Mark (who wrote G of Mark). John Mark failed at Pamphelia in ministry and because of that Paul didn’t agree, Baranabas took John Mark. After that no more mention of Barnabas. John Mark did fail but wrote about Servant who didn’t fail. (2Tim 4:11—- restored to ministry). God’s grace. Gives us all hope. No matter how we fail, as we look to Jesus, we will be restored. Protection of Angelic Ministry- TWA travelling with Angels. If u go up the plane, Angels go up with u. Guide the plane to safety. Angels are with children. It is never luck who kept you safe. It is never something who pulled u back. It was an Angel. Myriads of angel- only 1/3 fell with Lucifer. We have 2/3. God doesn’t need your service. The Angels never get tired or have raspy throats when worshipping Him yet He delights to hear your voice out of time as you are. It’s like parents receiving card from a kid “I LAF U!”- not spelt wrote but treasured because of the love. :)

Angels attend the way to keep us in the way.

ACCLAIMED BY THE MULTITUDE> Mk 1:32-34 The demons knew Him and He didn’t allow them to speak.

“hold your peace, come out of him”- Jesus to demons. Demons knew Him, the Storm at Lake of Galilee knew who He was, Wild beasts knew who He was…. Although He veiled His glory. Only man blinded.

Mark 1 - begins w Sunset, Mark 16- begins w Sunrise (Son rise)

He came into our darkness. From sunset to sunrise= darkest periods of our life. Came into our darkness to bring His light, His glory, His power.

Very last two verses of Mark 16- THE LORD WORKING WITH THEM AND CONFIRMING THEIR WORD THROUGH THE ACCOMPANYING SIGNS- although exalted in glory, still working. When I serve, I am not alone HE IS WORKING WITH ME.

Jesus seen after resurrection w Girdle- girded with gold. Although glorified, still serves. Girdle- servitude.

We are empty. We are steadfast, seated, unmovable and we allow Him to fill us. We don’t pour out of ourselves- pride.

To bring our lives as a daily offering of worship to our servant king.

jawnchan:

tonight i asked God who i was supposed to be, 
and He said,
“mine,”

it was singularly the most infuriating and pleasing thing to hear
all at the same time.

Not ashamed of gospel because the dunamis of God unto our sotaria (soundness and health and wholeness and preservation and well-being)- Greek for salvation.

Gospel is the power of God. Paul preached grace and wasn’t ashamed of grace. He was attacked for it.

Salvation is not just eternal life. It is also wholeness and health. Yeshua is Hebrew for Sotaria. Righteousness of God from faith to faith, unveiling the gift of righteousness.

During the time of the reformers, they preached justification by faith. But sadly today if you preach what they preached, you are told u are preaching a new or different gospel. Upside down faith being propagated. No wonder people feel that there is no power in the gospel because churches are preaching a different Jesus from what’s in the bible.

Fear and unbelief is sin. Fearfulness and unbelieving = categorised before the adulterors etc. Jesus appeared in the upper room in the midst of the disciples when they were afraid. He appeared to a tax collector who was perceived to have betrayed his nation. Jesus came to be with us forever even if we have challenges we are facing within ourselves.

God did not withdraw his voice or fellowship from Cain- did speak to ask him where Abel was. Cain believed in performance, not Abel. Abel believed he could not satisfy God by self efforts so brought a blood sacrifice in form of lamb. Cain was a worshipped depending on self works/ efforts. The first murder was because of religion. Today those who believe in self efforts still persecute those who trust in grace.

Romans 16:25-26

Mystery kept secret NOW made manifest. Not new thing invented by pastor. Rediscovered. Paul said where sin abounds, grace SUPERabounds. He didn’t say where there is grace, it causes there to be sin. Have more faith in what Jesus did, not in what Adam did.

Martin Lloyd Jones said we are not being persecuted like Paul was because we don’t preach about grace like him.

Made manifest for OBEDIENCE to the faith. Under Law> obedience is the root. Under Grace> obedience is the fruit. Jesus did not qualify people before healing them. It wasn’t a legalistic obedience. When we believe right, we will love right. The righteous shall live by faith. Right believing will release the power of God and right results will be effortless.

Romans 5:19 We sin because we are sinners. Not because we sin. Adam’s sin made us all sinners.

By ONE MAN’s obedience— refers to Jesus’ obedience. If u are elated because you obey, by the same token u will be dismayed when I disobey. Or if u think u have God’s favour when u obey then by same token u will feel u have lost favour when u disobey. —-> all warfare based on focus on self-occupation. To the extent we are Christ occupied, to the extent we are not in pain.

Woman at the well was self-occupied at first. Clue to this: She wanted to avoid gossipers. Jesus told her if she knew the gift of God, she would receive His supply not try to supply Him.

As long as we hide our sin we don’t feel loved. Repentance means “giving consent to be loved”. Many times we are led astray, but when we got reminded of God’s superabounding love for us, we repent and go back into our Father’s arms and rcv lots of love!

True worship is seen in John 4. Note in John 3, Nicodemus didn’t receive the revelation. But the revelation of worship and who the Messiah is was given to the fallen woman in John3. She transformed from self occupation to Christ occupation. We see Jesus is reinvigorated when we receive from Him. “I have food that you do not know of.”

2Cor 10:4-5 obedience OF Christ is the essence of warfare. Enemy wants us to think it is all of our obedience. You should not be trying to make your thoughts obey, instead you should bring it to HIS obedience. Our own obedience is never enough.

Unworthy partaking of communion in bible isn’t referring to our level of worthiness but our actions ie. when we forget that his striped body purchased our health.

The devil engages us in mind games. He likes to put personal pronouns in our minds. The “I” in statements like “I am a failure” is not borne of you. He makes u take the thought. Even during P&W you can suddenly hear his blasphemous thoughts surface in your mind. Don’t stop praising. Keep praising and don’t put hands down. Although our flesh has already been crucified, we still hear echoes from it. Like when u ring a bell, u can hear its echoes even afterwards.

The highest form of resistance against the enemy is IGNORING him, not rebuking him. Rebel against the devil- he plants thoughts in your mind then whacks you on the head when u accept them ie. those fears or lies manifest.

Jesus forgiveness is in our past, present and future. Pastor shared how when he was younger he would often confess straight after he uttered something wrong- cover his mouth and whisper his repentance to God. People thought he was strange and it did not give glory to the peace Jesus left unto us or the joy that the gospel affords us.

Shared about how he and Pastor Henry once helped a lady undergoing demonic possession. She said in a distinctly male voice “I WANT HER MIND!” When the demon finally left her, the whole room reeked like a rubbish dump. Opposite of what the Word says of us- sweet fragrance to God because we are in Christ.

Pastor shared how he was the only one struggling with this crazy worry whether he had committed the unpardonable sin. Came across John Bunyan’s autobiography where he shared- First, all my comfort was taken from me; then darkness seized me; after which whole floods of blasphemies, both against God, Christ, and the Scriptures, were poured upon my spirit, to my great confusion and astonishment. While I was in this torment, I often found in my mind a sudden urge to curse and swear, or to speak some grievous thing against God, Christ His Son, or of the Scriptures. Now I thought, surely I am possessed of the devil. At other times, I thought I would lose my mind; for instead of praising and magnifying the Lord with others, if I but heard Him spoken of, presently some most horrible blasphemous thought or other would bolt out of my heart against Him.

This is why Jesus was crucified at Golgotha ( place of the skull).

See 1 Jn 4:17> “As Jesus IS” and not as Jesus was. Crowned with honour, glory, might.

We are transformed by beholding and not by struggling. Pastor shares testimony of lady in our church who wrote “Does Jesus have lumps? NO!” on her doctor’s report on her cancer. She was healed. As HE is, so is she. As He is, so are we.

How to have more grace? 2 Peter 1:2> the more Jesus is unveiled, the more grace is multiplied.

When Peter beheld Jesus, he could walk on water like Jesus. But when he got distracted, he became natural. When the people suffered from snake bites looked at the bronze serpent they were healed.

Not enough emphasis on the significance of the High Priest (HP). Where the HP went, Israel followed. When the HP entered the Holy of Holies and exited alive, there was great rejoicing because the people knew they would enjoy a plentiful period. When the HP entered but didn’t make it out alive, they knew they would suffer. It was not about how good the nation was but how good the HP was. See Exo28.

Many people know what Jesus did but don’t know what He IS doing right now.

The shoulder represents power/strength. The shepherd bore the sheep on his shoulder. The sheep can’t carry itself. The shepherd does everything. The sheep rest.

Names of tribe are engraved on His heart. God loves us individually. Not just as a whole. Why engraved? Because it cannot be erased. It is eternal. There is a passage of the bible that talks about names being blotted out from the Book of Life. The names of both believers and non-believers are written in the book of life. Names blotted out at the end of the day are those who have chosen not to receive the LORD’s salvation. Once you receive His salvation through faith, cannot lose it. It is not salvation until the next sin. It is a perfect and eternal salvation. The LORD loves us individually. We aren’t just a face in the crowd. Jewellery shops use a special light to display their precious stones because the stones reflect the light and their beautiful clarity and cut becomes visible. People sometimes are across to come into God’s light fearing that it will expose their imperfections. No. We need not fear because we reflect His light and show how perfect the finished work of The Son is.

Exo 28:36-38 > Aaron is the HP. On his hat, in gold, holiness ?? LORD. See Exo 28:38—- our iniquity is forever written on his forehead. We are accepted not because we think good thoughts. Based on the HP’s thoughts. As long as His thoughts are holy, we are accepted and considered righteous.

We don’t need to fear that our thoughts ( that are stressful/ angry/ wrong/ about self-r/ self-efforts) will disqualify us tomorrow.

What happened in a garden ends in a garden.

Like 22:44- Note the word “sweat”. Adam’s sweat vs Jesus’ sweat. The blood of the LORD fell to the ground that was cursed. We have been redeemed from the curse of self-effort. Everywhere we go, where we step becomes favour ground!

Even in our best days, still our thoughts are filled with iniquity but these are not imputed unto us. HP bears it all for us. The iniquity of the hallowed gifts- even our self efforts to do good have iniquity. God knew about it. So in Christ as long as His thoughts are holy, we are righteous. God assess us based on Jesus’ thoughts and not our own.

The word ‘accepted’ here is Ratzon in Greek. Favour. We are accepted and thus we have favour. Jesus does not disappoint!

Not ashamed of gospel because the dunamis of God unto our sotaria (soundness and health and wholeness and preservation and well-being)- Greek for salvation.

Gospel is the power of God. Paul preached grace and wasn’t ashamed of grace. He was attacked for it.

Salvation is not just eternal life. It is also wholeness and health. Yeshua is Hebrew for Sotaria. Righteousness of God from faith to faith, unveiling the gift of righteousness.

During the time of the reformers, they preached justification by faith. But sadly today if you preach what they preached, you are told u are preaching a new or different gospel. Upside down faith being propagated. No wonder people feel that there is no power in the gospel because churches are preaching a different Jesus from what’s in the bible.

Fear and unbelief is sin. Fearfulness and unbelieving = categorised before the adulterors etc. Jesus appeared in the upper room in the midst of the disciples when they were afraid. He appeared to a tax collector who was perceived to have betrayed his nation. Jesus came to be with us forever even if we have challenges we are facing within ourselves.

God did not withdraw his voice or fellowship from Cain- did speak to ask him where Abel was. Cain believed in performance, not Abel. Abel believed he could not satisfy God by self efforts so brought a blood sacrifice in form of lamb. Cain was a worshipped depending on self works/ efforts. The first murder was because of religion. Today those who believe in self efforts still persecute those who trust in grace.

Romans 16:25-26

Mystery kept secret NOW made manifest. Not new thing invented by pastor. Rediscovered. Paul said where sin abounds, grace SUPERabounds. He didn’t say where there is grace, it causes there to be sin. Have more faith in what Jesus did, not in what Adam did.

Martin Lloyd Jones said we are not being persecuted like Paul was because we don’t preach about grace like him.

Made manifest for OBEDIENCE to the faith. Under Law> obedience is the root. Under Grace> obedience is the fruit. Jesus did not qualify people before healing them. It wasn’t a legalistic obedience. When we believe right, we will love right. The righteous shall live by faith. Right believing will release the power of God and right results will be effortless.

Romans 5:19 We sin because we are sinners. Not because we sin. Adam’s sin made us all sinners.

By ONE MAN’s obedience— refers to Jesus’ obedience. If u are elated because you obey, by the same token u will be dismayed when I disobey. Or if u think u have God’s favour when u obey then by same token u will feel u have lost favour when u disobey. —-> all warfare based on focus on self-occupation. To the extent we are Christ occupied, to the extent we are not in pain.

Woman at the well was self-occupied at first. Clue to this: She wanted to avoid gossipers. Jesus told her if she knew the gift of God, she would receive His supply not try to supply Him.

As long as we hide our sin we don’t feel loved.

True worship is seen in John 4. Note in John 3, Nicodemus didn’t receive the revelation. But the revelation of worship and who the Messiah is was given to the fallen woman in John3. She transformed from self occupation to Christ occupation. We see Jesus is reinvigorated when we receive from Him. “I have food that you do not know of.”

2Cor 10:4-5 obedience OF Christ is the essence of warfare. Enemy wants us to think it is all of our obedience. You should not be trying to make your thoughts obey, instead you should bring it to HIS obedience. Our own obedience is never enough.

Unworthy partaking of communion in bible isn’t referring to our level of worthiness but our actions ie. when we forget that his striped body purchased our health.

The devil engages us in mind games. He likes to put personal pronouns in our minds. The “I” in statements like “I am a failure” is not borne of you. He makes u take the thought. Even during P&W you can suddenly hear his blasphemous thoughts surface in your mind. Don’t stop praising. Keep praising and don’t put hands down. Although our flesh has already been crucified, we still hear echoes from it. Like when u ring a bell, u can hear its echoes even afterwards.

The highest form of resistance against the enemy is IGNORING him, not rebuking him. Rebel against the devil- he plants thoughts in your mind then whacks you on the head when u accept them ie. those fears or lies manifest.

Jesus forgiveness is in our past, present and future. Pastor shared how when he was younger he would often confess straight after he uttered something wrong- cover his mouth and whisper his repentance to God. People thought he was strange and it did not give glory to the peace Jesus left unto us or the joy that the gospel affords us. Shared about how he and Pastor Henry once helped a lady undergoing demonic possession. She said in a distinctly male voice “I WANT HER MIND!” When the demon finally left her, the whole room reeked like a rubbish dump. Opposite of what the Word says of us- sweet fragrance to God because we are in Christ. Pastor shared how he was the only one struggling with this crazy worry whether he had committed the unpardonable sin. Came across John Bunyan’s autobiography where he shared- First, all my comfort was taken from me; then darkness seized me; after which whole floods of blasphemies, both against God, Christ, and the Scriptures, were poured upon my spirit, to my great confusion and astonishment. While I was in this torment, I often found in my mind a sudden urge to curse and swear, or to speak some grievous thing against God, Christ His Son, or of the Scriptures. Now I thought, surely I am possessed of the devil. At other times, I thought I would lose my mind; for instead of praising and magnifying the Lord with others, if I but heard Him spoken of, presently some most horrible blasphemous thought or other would bolt out of my heart against Him.

This is why Jesus was crucified at Golgotha ( place of the skull).

See 1 Jn 4:17> “As Jesus IS” and not as Jesus was. Crowned with honour, glory, might.

We are transformed by beholding and not by struggling. Pastor shares testimony of lady in our church who wrote “Does Jesus have lumps? NO!” on her doctor’s report on her cancer. She was healed. As HE is, so is she. As He is, so are we.

How to have more grace? 2 Peter 1:2> the more Jesus is unveiled, the more grace is multiplied.

When Peter beheld Jesus, he could walk on water like Jesus. But when he got distracted, he became natural. When the people suffered from snake bites looked at the bronze serpent they were healed.

Not enough emphasis on the significance of the High Priest (HP). Where the HP went, Israel followed. When the HP entered the Holy of Holies and exited alive, there was great rejoicing because the people knew they would enjoy a plentiful period. When the HP entered but didn’t make it out alive, they knew they would suffer. It was not about how good the nation was but how good the HP was. See Exo28.

Many people know what Jesus did but don’t know what He IS doing right now.

The shoulder represents power/strength. The shepherd bore the sheep on his shoulder. The sheep can’t carry itself. The shepherd does everything. The sheep rest.

Names of tribe are engraved on His heart. God loves us individually. Not just as a whole. Why engraved? Because it cannot be erased. It is eternal. There is a passage of the bible that talks about names being blotted out from the Book of Life. The names of both believers and non-believers are written in the book of life. Names blotted out at the end of the day are those who have chosen not to receive the LORD’s salvation. Once you receive His salvation through faith, cannot lose it. It is not salvation until the next sin. It is a perfect and eternal salvation. The LORD loves us individually. We aren’t just a face in the crowd. Jewellery shops use a special light to display their precious stones because the stones reflect the light and their beautiful clarity and cut becomes visible. People sometimes are across to come into God’s light fearing that it will expose their imperfections. No. We need not fear because we reflect His light and show how perfect the finished work of The Son is.

Exo 28:36-38 > Aaron is the HP. On his hat, in gold, holiness ?? LORD. See Exo 28:38—- our iniquity is forever written on his forehead. We are accepted not because we think good thoughts. Based on the HP’s thoughts. As long as His thoughts are holy, we are accepted and considered righteous.

We don’t need to fear that our thoughts ( that are stressful/ angry/ wrong/ about self-r/ self-efforts) will disqualify us tomorrow.

What happened in a garden ends in a garden.

Like 22:44- Note the word “sweat”. Adam’s sweat vs Jesus’ sweat. The blood of the LORD fell to the ground that was cursed. We have been redeemed from the curse of self-effort. Everywhere we go, where we step becomes favour ground!

Even in our best days, still our thoughts are filled with iniquity but these are not imputed unto us. HP bears it all for us. The iniquity of the hallowed gifts- even our self efforts to do good have iniquity. God knew about it. So in Christ as long as His thoughts are holy, we are righteous. God assess us based on Jesus’ thoughts and not our own.

The word ‘accepted’ here is Ratzon in Greek. Favour. We are accepted and thus we have favour. Jesus does not disappoint!