By: Rev. Arnel Tan
“…….And what a comfort they have been!”
Col.4:11c NLT
When your cup is empty and dry you needed a refill that refreshes the inner man. In meeting his spiritual dryness Paul mentioned so many names that refreshed him in many ways. It is so humbling to admit that at one name you and I will be in a position of receiving supply than just giving it. If it is better to give than to receive, this time it is humbling to receive than to give. Let us remember that we will not be always in the position of dispensing grace, honestly we have never left the position of receiving it.
The call to refresh others is twinned by the humility to be refreshed by others. It is here that we experience a unique kind of delight that comes from the touch, prayer and care of God sent messengers of grace that refreshes our tired soul. Prayerfully let us be sensitive to seek weary and perhaps wounded people that somehow need to be refreshed. Unselfishly let us extend whatever God gave us that others might need. It is not always in the form of material goods sometimes it can be time- to listen not lecture, to pray not criticize.
If you have friends who have refreshed you thank God for them at the same time ask God for a chance to refresh others. Allowing others to refresh you is not weakness but a sign of authenticity that we are not superhumans. It is here that God’s grace is so at work that the communities of believers become a testimony to the outside world. It is here that we are humbled and desperate to see that we cannot make this journey without others.
Let us make it a lifestyle to refresh others not only to those we know, discerningly and prayerfully even to those we don’t know. Refreshing others is not a pay back that we are all required to do rather it is an outflow of gratitude for the grace we undeservingly received from God and from others. It puts a smile on God’s face I think, as it has always put a smile on any parents face when they see their children living in harmony refreshing each other. While prayer is important so is prompt obedience for you can never tell how urgent it is to be a “Barnabas” to a discouraged soul. Finally refreshing others can be messy for sometimes the messenger of refreshment taste himself a bitter spill over of other people’s bitterness. Refresh and be refreshed, we will be in both side one of these days.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
EPAPHRAS – A MAN OF PRAYER
By: Rev. Arnel Tan
“Epaphras, from your city, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident of the whole will of God. “ Colossians 4:12 NLT
While most servants of God race and rush to the lime light, this man Epaphras stayed in communion with the Light of the world. Yes he preachers, but more than anything else he prays. He really prays! He never called himself a man of prayer, he simply prayed. Like the Master his prayer life did not go unnoticed from the eyes and admiration of his colleagues. Paul, testifies of him as a man who agonizes in prayer.
Anyone who desires the ministry of prayer must fast from the praise of men and to be totally confident only in the approval of God. Prayer in the life of Epaphras is so modeled in grace that he need not pressure people to be like him. By his testimony and commitment to pray God stirred hearts to desire to be men and women of prayer. Oh how we need more men and women of prayer in the church today, who like Epaphras will not pressure or make people guilty but would wholly pour out his heart in prayer.
Compare to our long litany of spiritual insights and our subtle ways attempting to “change” other people praying for them proves to be a million times better and a million times God honoring. In prayer all attempts to transform others stops, to give way for God to do the reviving, changing and awakening. One salient point to remember is Epaphras modeled prayer in grace not using prayer as a pressure for others to tow the line. It is God who stirs hunger for prayer in the hearts of His people not our long sermon on prayer.
Finally, to desire to be a man or woman of prayer is to relinquish tendencies to subject others to our dictates. Prayer is rest and release when everything is truly surrendered in the Sovereign hands of God. Actually in prayer the Lord makes us realize that we are not in control, and the real blessing of all is that the Lord takes away the desire to be in control! May the Lord stir in us deep hunger for prayer!
“Epaphras, from your city, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident of the whole will of God. “ Colossians 4:12 NLT
While most servants of God race and rush to the lime light, this man Epaphras stayed in communion with the Light of the world. Yes he preachers, but more than anything else he prays. He really prays! He never called himself a man of prayer, he simply prayed. Like the Master his prayer life did not go unnoticed from the eyes and admiration of his colleagues. Paul, testifies of him as a man who agonizes in prayer.
Anyone who desires the ministry of prayer must fast from the praise of men and to be totally confident only in the approval of God. Prayer in the life of Epaphras is so modeled in grace that he need not pressure people to be like him. By his testimony and commitment to pray God stirred hearts to desire to be men and women of prayer. Oh how we need more men and women of prayer in the church today, who like Epaphras will not pressure or make people guilty but would wholly pour out his heart in prayer.
Compare to our long litany of spiritual insights and our subtle ways attempting to “change” other people praying for them proves to be a million times better and a million times God honoring. In prayer all attempts to transform others stops, to give way for God to do the reviving, changing and awakening. One salient point to remember is Epaphras modeled prayer in grace not using prayer as a pressure for others to tow the line. It is God who stirs hunger for prayer in the hearts of His people not our long sermon on prayer.
Finally, to desire to be a man or woman of prayer is to relinquish tendencies to subject others to our dictates. Prayer is rest and release when everything is truly surrendered in the Sovereign hands of God. Actually in prayer the Lord makes us realize that we are not in control, and the real blessing of all is that the Lord takes away the desire to be in control! May the Lord stir in us deep hunger for prayer!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
PRAY FOR US TOO
by: Rev. Arnel C. Tan
“Don’t forget to pray for us too……” Colossians 4:12 NLT
There are a lot of spiritual lessons and insights we can get regarding intercession. To intercede is to go to God for someone in prayer, bringing other people’s pain to the throne of grace as if it were your own. To be an intercessor has two obvious truths. Number one, you are praying for another. Number two is you are humble enough to ask others to pray for you. One cannot stand without the other. You don’t only pray for others like Paul you take the risk or vulnerability to ask others to pray for you.
It is so humbling that the great Apostle would solicit prayers for him and his team as they discern the open doors God opens for the gospel. The clear lesson here is no one is so sufficient that he can only depend on his own prayer. God designed it in such a manner that we nourish our prayer life connected with the community of other praying believers. Do you pray for others aside from your immediate love ones? Do you have a circle of praying friends that is ready to pray for you even in the middle of the night? It is a great comfort to know that our Lord Jesus Himself is our great intercessor and that He never forgets to pray for His own.
Remember asking for prayers need discernment. Be careful to reveal your deep prayer request to people who are not prayerful, for your prayer request will become the latest gossip of the town. The same is also true while asking for prayers from other praying believers let us also discern our involving others in prayer lest this become a gossip item rather than a sincere prayer item. Where do you get discernment in prayer? When you pray! I think it was Oswald Chambers who said that we exercise discernment not to judge others so we can intercede. Wow timely reminder for all of us.
It is startling that Paul addressed his prayer request not to individuals but to the church. He solicited prayer to a church, a congregation who prays! Honestly, how serious and committed is the church today in prayer? If you ask prayer from the prayer less church it will end to no one praying for it! Let this be a challenge that as a church let us ask God to create in our hearts a burning desire to pray. Pray for others and humbling asking others to pray for us!
“Don’t forget to pray for us too……” Colossians 4:12 NLT
There are a lot of spiritual lessons and insights we can get regarding intercession. To intercede is to go to God for someone in prayer, bringing other people’s pain to the throne of grace as if it were your own. To be an intercessor has two obvious truths. Number one, you are praying for another. Number two is you are humble enough to ask others to pray for you. One cannot stand without the other. You don’t only pray for others like Paul you take the risk or vulnerability to ask others to pray for you.
It is so humbling that the great Apostle would solicit prayers for him and his team as they discern the open doors God opens for the gospel. The clear lesson here is no one is so sufficient that he can only depend on his own prayer. God designed it in such a manner that we nourish our prayer life connected with the community of other praying believers. Do you pray for others aside from your immediate love ones? Do you have a circle of praying friends that is ready to pray for you even in the middle of the night? It is a great comfort to know that our Lord Jesus Himself is our great intercessor and that He never forgets to pray for His own.
Remember asking for prayers need discernment. Be careful to reveal your deep prayer request to people who are not prayerful, for your prayer request will become the latest gossip of the town. The same is also true while asking for prayers from other praying believers let us also discern our involving others in prayer lest this become a gossip item rather than a sincere prayer item. Where do you get discernment in prayer? When you pray! I think it was Oswald Chambers who said that we exercise discernment not to judge others so we can intercede. Wow timely reminder for all of us.
It is startling that Paul addressed his prayer request not to individuals but to the church. He solicited prayer to a church, a congregation who prays! Honestly, how serious and committed is the church today in prayer? If you ask prayer from the prayer less church it will end to no one praying for it! Let this be a challenge that as a church let us ask God to create in our hearts a burning desire to pray. Pray for others and humbling asking others to pray for us!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
LIVING THE NEW LIFE IS LIVING A LIFE OF PRAYER
By: Rev. Arnel Tan
“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart/”
Colossians 4:2 NLT
As prayer is so important in the life of Christ it was also so important in the life of Paul and the early church. In fact Paul’s admonition to all the churches was to be a people of prayer. He made mention of Ephapras to be a man who agonize in prayer (4:12). As Christ modeled it became an attraction to his disciples that they requested Him to teach them how to pray! Prayer and Christ are inseparable and so role of prayer in living out our new life is essential.
Paul exhorted the church to devote themselves in prayer. The word “devote” speaks of urgency and priority meaning this should never take second place in the lives of those who follow Christ. Just like in any other relationship the barometer of intimacy and being close is when both parties are not just in talking terms but eagerly looking forward for that delightful moment of communion and conversation.
Paul said devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and thankful hearts. How are these instruction applied? If prayer is an essential part of living the new life, being alert would mean being focused. Remember prayer is not a play ground but a battle ground, it is here that the ultimate hatred of hell us unleashed to prevent any child of God from enjoying God. Being alert means to be focused on God himself and not be distracted by the problems and needs that we bring to Him. Prayer in the new life is finding sufficiency and significance on God Himself. There are times that we think we are praying when in reality we are talking to ourselves. Prayer is talking to God and not self talk.
In prayer we loose our focus on self and direct all our attention and energy to seek God. The new life is about living the will of God in our lives, remember it’s no longer self but Christ and in prayer a Christ centered life and a God first living, Holy Spirit empowered living is happening. Take away prayer, we are not living the new life, we still trust our efforts. What prevents us from enjoying the new life is not unanswered prayer but it’s the tragedy of unoffered prayers. In prayer we are invited to be authentic. Yes we can direct all our complaints to God Himself then at the end we become thankful people instead of bitter ones. In other words when the Lord is doing further transformation of our attitudes and providing us spiritual breakthrough He is doing it when we are in prayer! The new life is a life of prayer, the more weak and messy the more we kneel at the throne of grace for mercy.
“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart/”
Colossians 4:2 NLT
As prayer is so important in the life of Christ it was also so important in the life of Paul and the early church. In fact Paul’s admonition to all the churches was to be a people of prayer. He made mention of Ephapras to be a man who agonize in prayer (4:12). As Christ modeled it became an attraction to his disciples that they requested Him to teach them how to pray! Prayer and Christ are inseparable and so role of prayer in living out our new life is essential.
Paul exhorted the church to devote themselves in prayer. The word “devote” speaks of urgency and priority meaning this should never take second place in the lives of those who follow Christ. Just like in any other relationship the barometer of intimacy and being close is when both parties are not just in talking terms but eagerly looking forward for that delightful moment of communion and conversation.
Paul said devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and thankful hearts. How are these instruction applied? If prayer is an essential part of living the new life, being alert would mean being focused. Remember prayer is not a play ground but a battle ground, it is here that the ultimate hatred of hell us unleashed to prevent any child of God from enjoying God. Being alert means to be focused on God himself and not be distracted by the problems and needs that we bring to Him. Prayer in the new life is finding sufficiency and significance on God Himself. There are times that we think we are praying when in reality we are talking to ourselves. Prayer is talking to God and not self talk.
In prayer we loose our focus on self and direct all our attention and energy to seek God. The new life is about living the will of God in our lives, remember it’s no longer self but Christ and in prayer a Christ centered life and a God first living, Holy Spirit empowered living is happening. Take away prayer, we are not living the new life, we still trust our efforts. What prevents us from enjoying the new life is not unanswered prayer but it’s the tragedy of unoffered prayers. In prayer we are invited to be authentic. Yes we can direct all our complaints to God Himself then at the end we become thankful people instead of bitter ones. In other words when the Lord is doing further transformation of our attitudes and providing us spiritual breakthrough He is doing it when we are in prayer! The new life is a life of prayer, the more weak and messy the more we kneel at the throne of grace for mercy.
Friday, October 1, 2010
YOUR WORK MATTERS TO GOD
By: Rev. Arnel Tan
“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men”
Colossians 3:23 KJV
Unemployment is not just an economic issue it is also about character issue. God is so involved in your work. In the strictest sense of the word He is the real One who hires and fires. If you are employed today consider this instruction of Paul. By the way this instruction is addressed not to the general crowd but only to those who have found their new life in Christ. If you are unemployed today consider this as a spiritual preparation now so when the Lord grants you your work, you will excel for God’s glory!
The word “whatever” suggest that all kinds of work that does not violate the standards of God is acceptable to the Lord. Whether you are a plumber, a CEO, an inventor or etc, God desires to walk with you in your routine. Believe it with all of your heart it does make a difference when you dedicate your work to God. Living the new life in the work place is our worship to God too. It means do it heartily! Christ like excellence is not being the best but doing your very best availing of God’s strength. Remember that the reward of man is second it is God’s reward that is lasting. Man’s reward is short live and will soon be caught in the cob webs of boredom and performance. God’s reward is lasting it makes you depend more to the Lord than your self.
Work is an extension of worship but be warned not to worship your work! God rested on the seventh day, shouldn’t we rest too? To become workaholics makes us people who depends on our work instead of God. This is also another form of PRIDE. Ministers are not exempted for there is not difference between secular work and ministry work when it comes to making it acceptable to God. It is not accident that you are in the work God gave you especially if you sought God in fervent prayer. It is also a wise advise that you consistently seek God and listen to His voice as you pray and study His words, diligently discerning if God still want you to stay in your work now. If He says God adjust your sail to the direction He leads you. Remember it is impossible to please God without faith.
Lastly don’t forget the Paul’s words that work is done excellently not unto men but unto the Lord. So wherever your company assigns you don’t look at the position or the power along with it rather look to Jesus the One who walks with you in your work place. Start your day with a quiet prayer that you may learn to be wise as you seek God. Leave your work with a thankful heart and again in prayer commit yourself to God that you may not come home an angry person. Enjoy your work today for your security is in the Lord of the work!
“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men”
Colossians 3:23 KJV
Unemployment is not just an economic issue it is also about character issue. God is so involved in your work. In the strictest sense of the word He is the real One who hires and fires. If you are employed today consider this instruction of Paul. By the way this instruction is addressed not to the general crowd but only to those who have found their new life in Christ. If you are unemployed today consider this as a spiritual preparation now so when the Lord grants you your work, you will excel for God’s glory!
The word “whatever” suggest that all kinds of work that does not violate the standards of God is acceptable to the Lord. Whether you are a plumber, a CEO, an inventor or etc, God desires to walk with you in your routine. Believe it with all of your heart it does make a difference when you dedicate your work to God. Living the new life in the work place is our worship to God too. It means do it heartily! Christ like excellence is not being the best but doing your very best availing of God’s strength. Remember that the reward of man is second it is God’s reward that is lasting. Man’s reward is short live and will soon be caught in the cob webs of boredom and performance. God’s reward is lasting it makes you depend more to the Lord than your self.
Work is an extension of worship but be warned not to worship your work! God rested on the seventh day, shouldn’t we rest too? To become workaholics makes us people who depends on our work instead of God. This is also another form of PRIDE. Ministers are not exempted for there is not difference between secular work and ministry work when it comes to making it acceptable to God. It is not accident that you are in the work God gave you especially if you sought God in fervent prayer. It is also a wise advise that you consistently seek God and listen to His voice as you pray and study His words, diligently discerning if God still want you to stay in your work now. If He says God adjust your sail to the direction He leads you. Remember it is impossible to please God without faith.
Lastly don’t forget the Paul’s words that work is done excellently not unto men but unto the Lord. So wherever your company assigns you don’t look at the position or the power along with it rather look to Jesus the One who walks with you in your work place. Start your day with a quiet prayer that you may learn to be wise as you seek God. Leave your work with a thankful heart and again in prayer commit yourself to God that you may not come home an angry person. Enjoy your work today for your security is in the Lord of the work!
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