Romans Road

Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:9
That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:13
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Annanias and Sapphira

The Dangers of Looking Good
Passage: Acts 4:32 – 5 :11

1. True Christianity has a practical effect
2. The Christian Community is not perfect
3. Character is more important than popularity
4. God cares about the purity of his people

•  We need to be people who tell the truth even in the little things
•  We must depend on God’s grace and not our works
•  We need to learn to do “our acts of righteousness” before God and not others

 

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I was really surprised with what Pastor Lim shared today: The story of Ananias and Sapphira. They were struck down and killed for lying (who would’ve thought that would happen??). I guess I am reminded that God doesnt tolerate any kind of sin. I know that sometimes we would think that a simple lie could not be bad (because we don’t find it as bad as killing a person) but I guess when it comes to God, there are no gray shades; just black or white. A sin is a sin; and God doesn’t like sin.

 

Pastor Lim also quoted a passage from Ken Hughes’ book “Acts: The Church Afire” today and it spoke to me. I underlined the part that struck me the most because I am guilty of that.

 

We must be absolutely clear as to what Ananias’ sin was. It was not casual deception. Rather, he feigned a deeper spiritual commitment than he had. We share Ananias’ sin not when others think we are more spiritual than we are, but when we try to make others think we are more spiritual than we are. Examples of Ananias’ sin today include: creating the impression we are people of prayer when we are not; making it look like we have it all together when we do not; promoting the idea that we are generous when we are so tight; misrepresenting our spiritual effectiveness (for example, saying, “When I was at the crusade, I ran the whole follow-up program,” when the truth is, you were a substitute counselor). When a preacher urges his people toward deeper devotion to God, implying that his life is an example when in actuality he knows it is not, he is repeating Ananias’ sin! When an evangelist calls people to holy living but is secretly having an affair with his secretary, he is an Ananias! This gives us all a lot to think about, if we dare.

 

Psalm 121

Pastor Lim had some suggestions on the notion of “Focusing on God” (taken from his sermon today)
- Read through Psalms.

- Go outside and look around.
- Read some records where God intervened in the life of Israel.
- Read Jesus’ healings and miracles in the New Testament.
- Look back on your life.
- Look at the cross.

 

With this, I decided to read Psalm 121 (Since I just finished listening to the song ‘Look to the Hills’ by ‘Ever Stays Red’)

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Psalm 121

 ¹ I lift up my eyes to the hills-
       where does my help come from?

 ² My help comes from the LORD,
       the Maker of heaven and earth.

 ³ He will not let your foot slip-
       he who watches over you will not slumber;

 ⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
       will neither slumber nor sleep.

 ⁵ The LORD watches over you-
       the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

 ⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
       nor the moon by night.

 ⁷ The LORD will keep you from all harm-
       he will watch over your life;

 ⁸ the LORD will watch over your coming and going
       both now and forevermore.
 
This psalm really speaks a lot to me. One thing that I got from reading this is not to worry too much. With me, school is about to finish (either i graduate this summer or next year) so I tend to worry on whats next in my life. The next chapter of my life seems like a big mystery because I still have no idea on what to do… I cant envision myself on what I’ll be like/doing in 5 years from now (wow, I would be 27 years old by then… *shivers* haha). But after reading this chapter (especially verse 7 and 8), i found some sense of peace and serenity… and assurance that God will be with me all through the way; and that I shouldn’t worry or fear anything. All I need to do is have faith in God. With this, I am reminded of one of Pastor Lim’s quotes in one of his sermon:

Little faith + BIG God = anything can happen.