What Should Christians Do About The Chinese Dragon?

When I was growing up in Singapore, the Chinese dragon held a significant place in our family’s tradition. One of my first paintings, as a child, was a Chinese dragon which my father proudly hung on the wall of our living room. It’s not just our family but many Asian families are obsessed with the idea of having a benevolent dragon blessing them. The Chinese people are so in love with the dragon that we like to be known as “Descendants of the Dragon (龙的传人).

This year (2024), is a “Dragon Year”. This is an ancient idea rooted steeply in the Chinese zodiac system that consists of a 12-year cycle, with each year associated with a specific animal. The dragon holds a special place as one of the most revered animals in Chinese culture. It is believed to be a symbol of power, strength, and good fortune. Dragons are associated with the emperor and are seen as auspicious creatures.

Those Chinese babies born in the Year of the Dragon are believed to possess exceptional qualities and are often held in high regard. This reverence for the dragon has been deeply ingrained in Chinese culture and passed down through generations.

Back in 1984, when I was first appointed an Assistant Pastor, in the “Ship Series” currency notes of Singapore, the 50-dollar note featured a depiction of a dragon. At that time, because of this dragon design, some Christians refused to have the 50-dollar notes in their wallets. As for me, I told these friends that I was willing to have all their 50-dollar notes if they were afraid to hold on to them.

In this article, I will explore the origins and diverse interpretations of the Chinese dragon and understand the concerns that some Christians have regarding its compatibility with Christianity.

The Composite Nature of the Chinese Dragon
Unlike the dragons found in Western mythology, the Chinese dragon is a composite creature, incorporating features of various animals. It typically has the head of a camel, the ears of an ox, the body of a serpent, the scales of a fish, the claws of an eagle, the antlers of a deer, and the eyes of a demon. This amalgamation of different animals symbolizes the dragon’s ability to embody different powers and attributes, making it a revered and complex symbol in Chinese culture. So, strictly speaking, the Chinese dragon does not exist in reality except in the imagination of the Chinese people.

Origins and Cultural Significance
The Chinese dragon has a history that dates back thousands of years, and it is deeply intertwined with Chinese mythology, folklore, and spiritual beliefs. The early Chinese who descended from one of the sons of Noah were worshippers of one God. In time, they moved away from that worship and they embraced animistic beliefs that recognized the spiritual essence of various creatures. Animals were seen as more than mere physical beings; they were believed to possess spiritual qualities and powers. This belief system led to the attribution of symbolism and reverence to certain animals, such as dragons. The Chinese dragon was believed to bring rain, ensuring bountiful harvests and prosperity for the people. It was also seen as a protector, guarding against evil spirits and bringing good fortune.

Are All Dragons The Same?
The serpent who is the “great red dragon” mentioned in the Bible, held a prominent and benevolent position in various ancient cultures. In Egypt, it symbolized protection and served as a guardian for the pharaohs. Greeks regarded serpents as protectors against evil, associated them with good fortune, healing, and fertility, and linked them to the symbol of Asclepius, the God of Medicine.

World Health Organization logo featuring the Aesculapian Rod, 

In India, snakes were seen as guardians of sacred places, bringing luck and fertility. The Celts associated serpents with wisdom, healing, rebirth, and feminine power. Native Americans also revered snakes for their connection to fertility, healing, and renewal. In Mesoamerica, serpents were powerful beings, and the feathered serpent was a significant deity. The Naga snake even sheltered the meditating Buddha in Buddhism. These cultures embraced the serpent as a symbol of positive attributes and celestial protection.

Are Dragons Really Benevolent Creatures?
Here are several reasons why many consider the dragon to be a benevolent being.
Firstly, when Satan took control of the world system, he introduced the serpent or dragon symbol as a representation of his benevolence. Soon, many cultures began to worship him through the serpent or dragon idols. He has succeeded in becoming a temporary god for the people to worship.
Secondly, throughout history, Chinese folklore has developed numerous stories depicting dragons as benevolent creatures. These tales have ingrained in people the belief that serpents and dragons are friendly beings. As the serpent is connected to the natural world, such as its association with water and fertility, contributed to its positive symbolism in these cultures.
Thirdly, Another aspect worth mentioning is that snakes and dragons are often associated with qualities related to life and renewal. This association stems from their unique ability to shed their skin, symbolizing a process of rejuvenation and transformation.
Additionally, as mentioned earlier, some ancient mythologies featured serpents as wise and knowledgeable beings, often associated with healing, wisdom, and spiritual enlightenment. Such positive attributes could have influenced the perception of serpents as benevolent creatures in these ancient cultures.

Christian Perspectives and Concerns
From a Christian standpoint, many believers find it challenging to embrace the Chinese dragon as a symbol compatible with our Christian faith. Christianity strictly advocates monotheism, the belief in a single God, and discourages the worship or veneration of any other entities. Therefore, the ancient symbolism and mystical attributes associated with the Chinese dragon can be viewed as conflicting with our Christian teachings.

Respecting Cultural Diversity and Understanding:
While Christians may have reservations about embracing the Chinese dragon as a symbol, it is crucial to approach cultural differences with respect and understanding. Appreciating the cultural significance of the dragon to the Chinese people does not necessarily mean compromising our faith. It is possible to acknowledge and learn about our former cultures while remaining steadfast in our Christian beliefs.

Having said that, it is important to show our Christian faith with our love, faith, and hope. Merely engaging in traditional practices of visitation, giving of oranges, exchanging gifts, tossing of yusheng, exchanging the traditional greetings, and giving or receiving angpows with dragon motifs does not imply participation in evil. We should not allow the symbolism of the dragon to have a controlling influence over us.

Personally Speaking
Even though the Chinese dragon may be deemed benevolent to the Chinese culture, I recommend that we as believers avoid identifying with it. However, it is important to approach the situation with love and consideration. When someone gives me a gift or an angpow with a dragon motif, I humbly accept it. Even on social media such as through WhatsApp and Telegram, many believers sent me cliparts and emojis that have dragon motifs. I did not reject them. I receive all the greetings by faith, whether there are dragon motifs or not. Being gracious and kind is the best testimony for the glory of God.

I know of many young believers who may find the dragon motif to be troubling. To present a good Christian testimony, we should avoid wearing clothes with dragon motifs or using symbols of the dragon to decorate our homes. Out of love and respect for their conscience, we should choose not to give angpows with dragon motifs, understanding that they may cause discomfort or conflict.

It’s important to create an environment where we respect and care for one another first rather than just being legalistic and showing harsh disapproval of the dragon motifs. This means that at all costs, we should consider how others feel and adjust our actions if needed. When we act with love, we prioritize the well-being of those around us. By being kind and considerate, we help build a society where everyone feels included and valued.

How To Strengthen Your Mind’s Defense System Against Spiritual Attacks

During the recent Israel-Hamas conflict, the Hamas militants used various missiles to attack cities and towns in Israel. However, Israel has a defense system called the Iron Dome that was able to stop and destroy many of these missiles. The Iron Dome uses special technology to track enemy missiles and shoot them down before they can cause harm. This helped protect the people of Israel and reduce the damage caused by the attacks.

As Christians, we are under constant spiritual attacks and it’s usually in the mind. Just as the Iron Dome defended Israel against hostile missiles, it’s important to have a spiritual defense system in our minds to combat tempting thoughts from the devil.

The Battle for the Mind
Our minds are often considered the battleground for the devil because they play a crucial role in our thoughts, beliefs, and decision-making processes. The mind is where our attitudes, desires, and intentions originate. It is the place where we process information, form opinions, and make choices. The devil knows that if he can influence our thoughts and beliefs, he can impact our actions and faith. That is why he and his minions are working overtime to weaken our minds with ungodly thoughts, doubts, fears, and sinful desires.

More than one church member shared with me about their backsliding experience. One sister said that even though at that time, she wore a necklace with a cross and attended church occasionally, she was committing fornication with different men. Another brother left the faith because he felt that God did not answer his prayer for a particular job position that he desired. Yet another brother said that he loved the wild parties and nightlife, so much so that he left the faith for almost 20 years. The testimonies of being tempted by the devil are many. Thankfully, all these believers were spiritually revived and today, serving faithfully in the Church.

Since we know that the mind is the battleground of the enemy, how are we going to fortify our minds against the attacks of the enemy?

How can we build a resilient spiritual “Iron Dome” to safeguard our thoughts and protect our spiritual well-being?

Let us explore how Satan tempts our minds, drawing insights from Scripture and stories that reveal his strategies:

The Power of Deception:
First, we have to acknowledge that the devil is the master of deception and a master deceiver, who seeks to distort truth and lead people astray. He has many ways to present temptations that may seem appealing or harmless at first, but ultimately lead to our spiritual harm and separation from God.

Here are some common tactics he uses:

Distorting And Misinterpreting: The devil twists the meaning of Scripture or promotes false ideas to confuse us and make us doubt what the Bible says. The devil distorted God’s words by asking Eve, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1). This question falsely implied that God had forbidden them from eating any fruit in the garden, which was not the case.

Creating Doubt: The devil wants us to question whether we can trust God’s Word. He may make us doubt its accuracy, relevance, or consistency. The devil directly contradicted God’s command by saying to Eve, “You will not surely die” (Genesis 3:4). By denying the consequences of disobedience, the devil cast doubt on the truthfulness of God’s warning

Tempting Us To Disobey: The devil tries to make us ignore or go against what the Bible teaches. He may suggest other ideas or lifestyles that go against God’s Word, appealing to our desires and what seems popular.
The devil appealed to Eve’s desires and presented the forbidden fruit as something desirable and beneficial. He said, “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). This subtle manipulation played on Eve’s curiosity and her longing for wisdom and power. The end result was that she and Adam were tempted to disobey God.

Persecution And Opposition: The devil may encourage others to treat us badly or oppose us when we follow God’s Word. This can include making fun of us, being mean, or even hurting us physically. There is an account in the New Testament of the apostle Paul being mocked for his faith. In Acts 17:16-34, Paul visited the city of Athens and engaged in discussions with various philosophers and intellectuals. When he preached about Jesus and the resurrection, some of the people mocked him, dismissing his teachings as foolishness. Paul, among many disciples who suffered for their faith, had to endure numerous hardships, including beatings, and imprisonments. Eventually, Paul was martyred, traditionally believed to have been beheaded in Rome.

Cultural Influences: The devil uses the ideas and beliefs of the world around us to make us question or reject what the Bible says. He may make popular ideas or ways of thinking seem more important than what God’s Word tells us. In 2 Timothy 4:10, the apostle Paul mentioned that Demas, who was previously a fellow worker had deserted him because he loved the present world. This suggests that Demas had fallen away from his commitment to the faith and was drawn to the cultural temptations of those days.

Equipping Ourselves with God’s Word
To begin strengthening our spiritual defense system, we have to equip ourselves with God’s Word. This is the most powerful and essential way to resist the deception and temptations of the devil. The Bible serves as a guide and a source of truth, providing us with wisdom, knowledge, and discernment. Here are a few reasons why relying on God’s Word is crucial in our spiritual battle:

Truth and Discernment: The Word of God is a reliable and unchanging source of truth. It helps us recognize and discern the lies and deceptions of the devil. By immersing ourselves in Scripture, we develop a solid foundation of truth that enables us to identify and reject false teachings or worldly ideologies.

Spiritual Armor: The apostle Paul describes the Word of God as part of the spiritual armor in Ephesians 6:17. Just as a soldier wears armor for protection, God’s Word provides us with spiritual protection against the schemes of the devil. It strengthens our faith, guards our hearts and minds, and helps us stand firm in times of temptation.

Guidance and Wisdom: The Bible offers guidance and wisdom for every aspect of life. It provides insights into God’s character, His will, and His ways. By studying Scripture, we gain understanding and discernment, enabling us to make wise decisions and navigate the challenges and temptations that come our way.

Jesus’ Example: When Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11), He countered each temptation with the Word of God. Jesus quoted Scripture to resist the devil’s lies and affirm God’s truth. His example shows us the power and effectiveness of using God’s Word as a weapon against deception and temptation.

Let Our Thoughts Be Under The Authority of Christ
Paul encourages us to capture our thoughts and bring them under the authority of Christ: “Our weapons are not physical, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

By comparing Satan’s lies with God’s truth in the Bible, we can prevent them from taking hold in our minds and becoming strongholds. The truth of God’s Word serves as a powerful weapon to dismantle false arguments and align our thoughts with Christ.

Psalm 119:11 declares, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” By memorizing and meditating on Scripture, we can combat the enemy’s lies.

Seeking Accountability and Prayer
In the battle against temptation, we should not face it alone. It is crucial to surround ourselves with fellow believers who can hold us accountable and provide support. James 5:16 encourages us to confess our sins to one another and pray for each other, for prayer is a powerful tool in overcoming temptation and guarding our minds.

Summary
1. Understand that we’re in a spiritual battle, and the devil tries to tempt us.

2. Use God’s Word to protect our minds.

3. Ask God for help to understand how the enemy works.

4. Trust God’s wisdom to know what is true and what is not.

5. Equip ourselves with God’s armor. Read and study God’s Word for protection.

6. Through Christ, we gain strength to overcome difficulties.

What is Lectio Divina and How It Will Benefit Us Today

Lectio Divina, derived from Latin meaning “divine reading,” is an ancient Christian practice that fosters a prayerful and contemplative approach to engaging with Scripture. Rooted in monastic traditions, it has been cherished by believers for centuries to cultivate a profound connection with God through the study of His Word. Many believers may not be aware of the practice of Lectio Divina or may not have been exposed to it, especially within the Evangelical churches. If individuals are not introduced to the practice or educated about its benefits, they are unlikely to engage in it. To begin, we learn that the practice of Lectio Divina typically involves four key steps:

Lectio (Reading): This step involves selecting a passage of Scripture and reading it slowly and attentively. The purpose is to listen and receive the words of the text without rushing or analyzing. You have to relax and seek to “experience” the passage. It’s not a bible study.

Meditatio (Meditation): In this step, you reflect on the words and phrases that stood out during the reading. The aim is to ruminate on the meaning and message of the text, allowing it to resonate deeply within your spirit.

Oratio (Prayer): Here, you respond to the Scripture passage through prayer. This step involves expressing your thoughts, emotions, and desires to God. This prayer is prompted by the insights that you have gained from the reading and meditation.

Contemplatio (Contemplation): The final step is a period of silent contemplation. It is a time for your being to be still before God. This practice of silence and stillness is a tough one for most modern believers. Learn to open your whole being to the presence of Jesus, and allow Him to speak and work in your heart.

Engaging in Lectio Divina can benefit us in several ways today:

Deepening our Relationship with God: I have discovered that Lectio Divina allows me to have a personal and intimate encounter with God through His Word. I am not studying the Word but engaging God Himself. It helps me draw near to the Lord and ultimately, cultivate a deeper relationship with Him. Throughout the day, I have this sense of connection and communion with the Lord.

Nourishing our Spiritual Life: By engaging with Scripture prayerfully and reflectively, I have gone beyond mere bible study. Lectio Divina allows me to receive spiritual insights, wisdom, and guidance from God’s Word. My faith has been strengthened because of the spiritual sustenance provided by this approach.

Developing a Listening Ear: In our fast-paced and noisy world, Lectio Divina teaches us to slow down. Being a busy pastor, I too have to learn how to slow down and listen attentively to God’s voice. Lectio Divina helps me develop a receptive posture, thus enabling me to discern the leading and direction, not only in my life but also of my Church’s life.

Growing in Scripture Understanding: Through the practice of Lectio Divina, unlike what I had learned in seminary, I actually gained a deeper understanding of the meaning and message of the Bible. It allows me to engage with Scripture experientially and that is a more holistic and transformative way, going beyond mere intellectual comprehension.

Cultivating Inner Peace and Stillness: This is the best part – Lectio Divina provides me with a space for inner peace, stillness, and contemplation. I get to rest in the sweet presence of the Lord. I find solace in His Word, and experience His peace that surpasses all understanding.

In summary, Lectio Divina is a powerful spiritual practice that helps us engage with Scripture in a prayerful and contemplative manner. It deepens our relationship with God, nourishes our spiritual life, develops our ability to listen to His voice, enhances our understanding of Scripture, and cultivates inner peace and stillness. By incorporating Lectio Divina into our daily lives, we can experience greater spiritual growth and intimacy with God.

Here is a video lesson by Rev Grace Kang-Ong on Lectio Divina

https://youtu.be/BgDncnNJPeM?si=zHHr_6KZyN7M-Fd_
Rev Grace Kang-Ong offers a valuable teaching on Lectio Divina, guiding individuals in this ancient practice of sacred reading. Her video provides practical steps and insights, enabling participants to engage with scripture deeply, reflectively, and prayerfully. It is a transformative resource for those desiring a richer spiritual connection. Listen to this encouraging message by Rev Grace Kang-Ong and be blessed. Rev Grace Kang-Ong is one of the founding Pastors of FaithLine International Ministries. She is the Assistant Coordinator of Elijah Challenge Asia, a Director of the Healing Encounter Ministry, a Board Member of Foursquare Malaysia, and also one of the Regional Representatives of Haggai.

Would A Saved Person Go To Hell If He Were To Die With Unresolved Anger And Unforgiveness?

Recently, one of my church members raised a concern regarding his fear of dying with unresolved anger or unforgiveness still inside him. He was afraid that if he did not fully forgive everybody just at the moment of his death, he might end up in hell. I believe some of you may be having the same fear. Therefore, in this post, I like to provide some basic clarification of God’s words to shed light on our Christian perspective of salvation and how the grace of God extends beyond our mistakes and sins.

Justification by Faith
For Christians, salvation is not achieved through our own good works or righteousness. As I have shared often from the pulpit it is purely a result of the grace of God demonstrated through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This biblical concept is known as justification. As the apostle Paul explains in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The Gift of Salvation
You and I cannot earn or pay for our eternal life; it is a gift freely given by God. Jesus Christ paid the price for our salvation through His sacrifice on the cross. Acts 4:12 affirms that salvation is found in no one else but Jesus Christ. Therefore, may I emphasize that salvation is provided by Christ and Christ alone.

Our Role in Salvation
What is then our role in this salvation encounter? We know for a fact that we cannot save ourselves through our own efforts or righteousness. We also know that salvation comes alone through our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Savior. As Paul has explained in Romans 10:8-10 that salvation is obtained by confessing with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believing in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead. Salvation is a matter of faith and trust in Christ’s finished work.

The Reality of Sin
Even after accepting Christ and experiencing salvation, we may still struggle with sin and make moral mistakes. However, salvation does not condemn us to hell for every sin we commit. It is important to understand the distinction between living a life of sin and committing individual acts of sin.
Hebrews 10:26 states, “If we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.” However, it is important to note that this verse does not imply that a single act of willful sin automatically renders Jesus’ sacrifice ineffective. The emphasis is on a persistent and deliberate lifestyle of sinning without repentance. It highlights the danger of willfully rejecting the grace and forgiveness offered through Jesus’ sacrifice. What must we do? We should therefore live in accordance with the truth we have received and avoid falling back into a pattern of sinful behavior. When there is genuine faith in Christ, it should result in a transformed life characterized by obedience to God’s Words.

Living A Repented Life
What is repentance? Repentance is about acknowledging our sins, feeling remorse for them, and making a genuine effort to turn away from sinful behavior. The Bible is very clear that true repentance demonstrates a sincere desire to follow God’s commandments and seek His forgiveness. So, when we make mistakes or sin, it is essential to go to God and respond humbly with repentance and sincerely seek restoration of fellowship with God again. A repentant heart, like that of Peter after denying Christ, allows us to enjoy the joy of our salvation, and to grow continually in our faith and become more like Jesus.

The Danger of Apostasy
How does one lose his salvation? To understand what apostasy is, we can look at the life, and death of Judas as an example. He was an apostle of Jesus Christ but deliberately turned away from his relationship with Lord, and rejected the foundational truths and principles of the faith. He lost his salvation because he rejected Christ completely. Therefore, to become an apostate, you have to go beyond mere doubts or struggles in your life. You have to reject Christ and His salvation. It is a willful abandonment of the core tenets of Christianity, including the belief in Jesus as the Son of God, the authority of Scripture, and the redemptive work of Christ on the cross.

The Sanctifying Process
After salvation, the process of sanctification begins with the leading of the Holy Spirit. When we were saved, God accepted us as who we were but He wanted the very best for us. So, He sent the Holy Spirit to give us sanctification. This process involves an ongoing transformation within us to take on the likeness of Christ. The Holy Spirit will continue to show us which areas of our lives are not pleasing to God, and then guide us towards repentance and spiritual growth. The wonderful result is that soon, people will notice that we are behaving like Christ. In short, we have more and more “Christlikeness”.

The Grace of God
In conclusion, the grace of God is far greater than our mistakes and sins. Salvation is a gift received through faith in Jesus Christ, not by our own works. While believers may still struggle with sin, the conviction of the Holy Spirit guides us toward repentance and transformation. It is important to remember that unresolved anger or mistakes do not condemn us to hell. Instead, they hinder our growth and relationship with God. By seeking forgiveness, restoration, and striving to become more like Christ, we can experience the fullness of God’s grace and live in the assurance of eternal life.

The Immeasurable Reward of Loving Jesus

Loving Jesus is a central tenet of our Christian faith, and it is a lifelong journey of growing in our relationship with Him. For true believers, Jesus is not just a historical figure or a wise teacher, but the Son of God who came to earth to save humanity from sin and death. The Bible teaches that God loved the world so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins. Through faith in Jesus, we can receive forgiveness and eternal life, and we can experience the transforming power of His love.

Loving Jesus is more than just believing in Him or acknowledging His existence. It means having a personal relationship with Him and making Him the Lord and Savior of our lives. How do we know whether we have a deep personal relationship with Jesus? A piece of simple evidence is our regular communication with Him.

When you love someone, you want to spend time with that person, and fellowship with him or her. With God, it would be how often we really communicate with Him through prayers. Pastor John Piper said, “Prayer as a relationship is probably your best indication about the health of your love relationship with God. If your prayer life has been slack, your love relationship has grown cold.”

Another important way of showing our love for Jesus is by following His commandments and living our lives in a way that honors Him. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). This means that we must not only believe in Jesus but also live out His teachings in our daily lives.

As Frederick H. Taylor said, “Christ is either Lord of all or is not Lord at all”. Are we allowing Jesus to rule all aspects of our lives? To choose and pick what He can rule and what He cannot only means our unwillingness to give Him all of our hearts. In this case, Jesus might have to step out of our lives and leave us to our own devices. Many have gotten it wrong and tried to avoid obedience because they do not want to be “imprisoned” by it. What a tragic choice! Obedience is actually not bondage but freedom for it is the only way that God can hold our hands and lead us along this assured path to real freedom.

Jesus wants us to love our neighbors as ourselves, forgive those who have wronged us, and show compassion and kindness to those in need. Therefore, loving Jesus also means loving others as He loved us. Jesus taught us to love even our enemies and to show compassion and kindness to all people. He said, “By this, all will know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). This means that we must not only love those who are like us but also those who are different from us.

Talking about loving the unlovable, I must confess that it wasn’t easy for me and my team of orphanage volunteers to take in those street children who lived on the streets of Phnom Penh in Cambodia. They were naughty, quarrelsome, thieving, and absolutely filthy with lice in their hair. They were unlike the average children who have a certain degree of innocence in them.

After spending time living on the streets, they adopted the dirty tricks of the world. At a very young age, these unfortunate children, in order to survive, had learned to be manipulative, conniving, and cunning. Some older kids in our orphanage were fighting among themselves, stealing from our orphanage, and bullying smaller or younger kids. However, despite these, the love of Jesus motivated us to continue and take good care of these children. In fact, we went on to establish two more orphanages and were able to bless over 1000 homeless children.

We must seek to build bridges of understanding and compassion, even with those who may come from different social backgrounds, disagree with us, or hold different beliefs. We live in a skeptical world that is enveloped in competition, aggression, suspicion, and fear. And all these may affect us to become prejudiced against certain professions, certain races, and certain social classes. However, when we love Jesus deeply, we will soon discover that His love is helping us to take down these barriers. He comes in to open His arms of love through our lives. This love opens a passageway for hostility to become hospitality. A zone of Agape love is created to welcome the very people we fear or doubt. As Henri Nouwen so aptly said that in this zone, “strangers can cast off their strangeness and become our fellow human beings.”

Loving Jesus is not always easy, and it requires us to make sacrifices and put Him first in our lives. But the reward of loving Jesus is immeasurable. Through His love, we can experience joy, peace, and a sense of purpose that cannot be found anywhere else.

As we love Jesus more deeply, we can also grow in our love for others and become a reflection of His love to the world. We can become agents of change and transformation, bringing hope and healing to a broken and hurting world.

In conclusion, loving Jesus is at the heart of our Christian faith, and it is a journey that requires us to continually grow in our relationship with Him. Whether we are just starting our journey or have been walking with the Lord for many years, we must always strive to love Him more deeply and share His love with those around us. Through His love, we can become the people that God created us to be, and we can make a positive impact in the world.

Here is a message by Rev Albert Kang that elaborates more about what Agape love is:
https://youtu.be/uRQ0B1Cs-RE

Here is a message by Pastor Karen Wong about the secret to tapping into God’s reservoir of love:
https://youtu.be/nFSVd-4N5MU

The Lost Art of Christian Meditation

Christian meditation is a spiritual practice that can help you to connect with God on a deeper level and gain a greater understanding of His will for your life. It is a way of quieting your mind and focusing your thoughts on God’s truth.

We all know that Jesus spent long hours meditating and praying. He did that in the early morning hours way before dawn. He was showing us an example of what a true child of God should do regularly. We should have a deep and loving communion with our Father in heaven as often as we can. This discipline of Christian meditation is the essence of true discipleship.

In antiquity, believers also spent much time meditating and contemplating the Word of God. Some of these early Christians isolated themselves in desert communities to meditate and pray. They could be doing household chores or weaving baskets, but their minds, and hearts would be meditating on the scriptures in silent contemplation.

The island of Singapore is where I was born and grew up. My father owned a chicken rice business along East Coast Road. So, I spent many hours at the seaside in Katong. One of the things that I loved to do was gaze at the sea. In my young mind, I wondered what was beyond the horizon. Was there a God out there?

There was a mystery hidden in the crashing waves and vast open sky. Every cloud that floated by seemed to carry a silent message that eluded me. I sat for hours, alone but not alone. The silent quests of my wondering mind had kept me too busy to be alone. Little did I realize that I had stumbled upon “contemplation”. Later, when I became a Christian, this sense of wonder and awe helped me to contemplate and meditate upon God’s Word and His wonderful presence.

Kevin Holloran states: “Meditation is thinking in the presence of God, thinking God’s thoughts to Him and applying them to our lives, allowing our hearts and minds to be flooded with truth from the Word that the Spirit massages deep into our souls.”

SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
One of the key aspects of Christian meditation is the use of scripture. By meditating on God’s word, you can gain a deeper understanding of His character and His plan for your life. This can help you to make better decisions and live a more fulfilling life. There are many different ways to meditate on scripture, including selecting a passage and reflecting on its meaning, memorizing a verse and reciting it throughout the day, or using a devotional or meditation app. Our church offers help in terms of meditation videos. Please help yourself to these videos andwe trust that they will help you in building up your spiritual life. [For FaithLine’s meditation videos, please click here]

GUIDED MEDITATION
Christian meditation can take many forms, including guided, silent, and group meditations. Guided meditations can be helpful for beginners, as they provide a structure and guidance for the meditation. We do this type of guided meditation in our Church on our prayer nights known as “Faith Power Night”. The participants join us through Zoom and meditated along with us. A recording of the meditation video is posted on YouTube so that others may benefit. [Please click here for a guided meditation by Pastor Karen Wong, the coordinator of Faith Power Night]

Silent meditations can be more challenging, but also more rewarding, as they allow you to connect with God on a deeper level. Group meditations can be a powerful way to connect with other believers and experience the power of prayer and meditation in the community.

PRAYER
Another essential aspect of Christian meditation is the use of prayer. Prayer is a powerful tool for deepening your relationship with God and experiencing His presence in your life. It can involve talking to God and asking for His guidance and wisdom, as well as listening for His voice and being open to His leadership. There are many different ways to pray, including using a prayer book or app, writing out your prayers in a journal, or simply speaking to God from your heart.

PRAYING IN TONGUES
Praying in tongues is based on the fact that the Holy Spirit gives you the ability to pray in a language that is not known to you. This language is a form of communication between you and God. This is an important prayer gift that is given to those who seek it with a sincere heart. This is also a form of worship that allows you to connect more deeply with God. When you pray in tongues, you bypass your conscious mind and speak directly to God in a language that is not limited by your own human understanding. This practice has helped many to express their love and devotion to God in a more profound way.

MEDITATE WITH MUSIC AND ART
In addition to scripture and prayer, Christian meditation can also involve using music or art to help focus your mind on God. Music can be a powerful tool for worship and meditation, as it can help to quiet your mind and focus your thoughts on God.

Every Sunday, after lunch, at 1:30PM, our sanctuary is used for “Open Worship”. This is similar to what is commonly known as “Soaking Service”. The participants may join and leave at any time. We have quiet instrumental worship music playing in the background. From time to time, the participants sing along with the music. There is freedom in movement as there is no fixed way of soaking in the Lord. Some people sit on chairs, others sit on the floor, some pace the floor, some dance, some cry, and some do flagging. The important key is that all who come should be able to open themselves up and spend quality time with the Holy Spirit. This weekly session helps our members to quiet their souls, let go of their struggles, draw near to God, and enjoy His holy presence. If you are interested to join us, here is our address:

Open Worship
Sundays – 1:30PM
FaithLine Centre, 3rd Floor, Wisma TA, 1A,
Jalan SS 20/1, Damansara Utama, 47400
Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Coordinator: Pastor Karen Wong – WhatsApp or Telegram @ +60 123503500

Art can also be a powerful tool for meditation, as it can help to engage your senses and connect with God in a new way. As an artist, I really know how true this is. For those hours of continual creative expression with my brush, paint, and canvas, the presence of the Lord was there.

SENSE OF GRATITUDE
Finally, Christian meditation can involve practicing mindfulness and gratitude as a way of staying present in the moment and appreciating God’s blessings. By focusing on the present moment and cultivating an attitude of gratitude, you can experience God’s presence in your life in a new and powerful way. This can involve simple practices like taking a few deep breaths and noticing your surroundings or keeping a gratitude journal and reflecting on the blessings in your life.

Overall, Christian meditation is a powerful tool for deepening your relationship with God and experiencing His presence in your life. By regularly engaging in this practice, you can gain a greater understanding of His will for your life and find peace and joy in His presence.

You are invited to meditate on Psalm 71 with Pastor Karen Wong, the coordinator of Faith Power Night at FaithLine International Ministries:

Hope In The Future – Power In The Present

There is a little town in Maine that is under Flagstaff Lake. Few visitors to this lake realized that. They enjoyed the delectable lobsters and walked along the idyllic shores of the lake but seldom were they told of the submerged Flagstaff Town.

It was in 1949 that the residents got the confirmed news that their town was to be flooded and submerged because of the construction of a hydroelectric dam. Imagine that you were one of the residents of this little town. You were told to vacate the place at a given deadline. Though you would be compensated, the town that you grew up in would forever be submerged under fifty feet of water and probably in time, lost to memory.

Months before the flooding arrived, every repair work and renovation stopped in Flagstaff. That was common sense – why should anyone spend money and effort on refurbishing buildings that would be submerged underwater soon? All roads were left with gaping potholes. Every building came under disrepair and the town was ugly to sight. Families started moving out and soon Flagstaff became a “ghost” town.

In response to this despondency, Dr. Halford Luccock, Professor of homiletics at Yale University, commented, “Where there is no faith in the future, there is no power in the present.”

This is so true. The Bible says in Proverbs 29:18 – “Where there is no vision, the people perish….” When you cannot have hope in the future, the present can be paralyzing.

I pray that in this new year, you will discover that the kingdom of God is full of hope. Paul the Apostle, the great proponent of hope, wrote in Romans 12:12 – “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

A bride who is walking down the aisle beams with the hope of a great future with her groom. A mother holding her newborn is filled with joy and hope for her child. A young graduate jumps with hope because she has great potential for her future career. Even prisoners who have hope of being with their loved ones after serving their sentences, behave and survive better in prison. This hope for the future is so important that you cannot take it lightly.

So, as a child of God, you should have great hope because you know that your future is in the hand of the infinite and brilliant Creator. How did Paul the Apostle thrive even while in a cold Roman prison cell? He had hope because he knew the Lord of hope personally.

There are two things that can really enhance your hope.

The first is good relationships. Begin by establishing a good relationship with the Lord. This is vital because it will affect all your other relationships. When you have peace with God, you will have peace with others. If you struggled with having good relationships with others, then instead of blaming others, check your relationship with God.

All long-term relationships are established by having many dosages of forgiveness and Agape love. Where do you get an abundant supply of these? You get them from the Lord. The closer you are to the Lord the more loving and forgiving you would become. And these are obviously recipes for good relationships.

The second is good achievements. Whatever the Lord has assigned you, excel in it. Whatever job you are doing, give your best effort. Nobody can succeed for you and nobody can fail for you. In your business or job, always seek to go the second mile for your customers or employer.

During the time of Jesus, a Roman soldier was allowed to force anyone to carry his backpack for one mile. After that, he needed to find another person to do the task. The original person who carried the backpack was no longer obligated to assist the soldier anymore. You can imagine the Jewish victim who was forced to do the task. He must have resented the soldier.

When it came to Jesus, it was different. Instead of teaching His disciples to fight for their rights, and to resist the cohesion to serve the enemy, Jesus told them to willingly follow Roman law. Then He added a shocking instruction, “If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.” (Matthew 5:41).

One can imagine how shocked the Roman soldier would be when the victim offered to carry his backpack for another mile. What Jesus taught was that His disciples were to live beyond the requirement of Roman law. The second mile was not required by the law and so it was known as the “Freedom Mile”. The victim suddenly had the freedom and power to bless his oppressor. The Roman soldier would most probably be confused and think that the victim had become crazy. As for the disciples of Christ, they knew their identity as children of the kingdom of God. The second-mile principle is part of their lifestyle.

If you would do that in your service to others, it will not only be pleasing to the Lord but it will give you good results. No customer is going to leave you and no good employer is going to fire you when you are applying this kingdom principle.

Finally, unlike the people of Flagstaff, you can be assured that even when this old world passes away, the Lord is going to create a new earth… plus a new heaven (Revelation 21). You as a faithful child of God will inherit all these in your future.

Apostle Peter reminded us of this great promise of God. It is through Christ, we have been reborn into “…a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4).

Your life will be greatly enriched when you realize that by establishing good relationships and having good achievements, you are actually fulfilling the will of God in your life here and now. Then with the eternal hope of God’s promise of a new heaven and a new earth, you will be able to keep the proper perspective of what your life is all about.

May this new year be a year in which you have “hope in the future and power in the present”.

God bless

Albert Kang

Why Do You Drink Poison And Expect Your Enemy To Die?

In the teaching of the New Testament, believers and bitterness are contradictory to each other. It’s like fire and water. They just cannot mix. A true believer cannot harbor bitterness in his or her heart. Paul the Apostle encourages every believer to “get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.” (Ephesians 4:31 NLT).

Jesus emphasized that “forgiveness” is part of the basic character of a true believer.
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.”
Matthew 18:21-22

The rabbis of antiquity recommended the “three-strikes-and-you-are-out” approach in forgiving. A person is required to tolerate and pardon three offenses of his opponent. However, after that, he is allowed to retaliate or take revenge.

Peter was more magnanimous than the rabbis because he recommended forgiving the offender seven times. Jesus blew the concept of three and seven pardons out of the water with His “forgiveness” standard raised to “seventy times seven”. Jesus did not mean that we should only forgive 490 times. His answer to Peter set the biblical standard: as believers, as long as the person repents, you have to forgive that person. If he offended you again and again and repented, again and again, you will have to forgive Him. Yes, countless times. The apostles who were listening with Peter finally exclaimed to Jesus in full recognition of their weaknesses, “Increase our faith!” (Luke 17:3-5).

However, you may say that it is easy to say but the feeling of unforgiveness and bitterness is difficult to overcome. It is especially difficult when you have been hurt by those whom you least expected to do so. As time extends, such unresolved anger gradually turns into full-blown hatred and bitterness.

Many believers are stuck in this rut of bitterness and feel totally helpless in overcoming it. The worse thing for them to realize is that the people who hurt them do not even seem to care how they feel. In their deep anger, the devil is having a wonderful time manipulating them. He suggests many ideas of malice and revenge. And that is why bitterness and hatred inevitably become the sin of murder.

Some secretly wish that bad things will happen to the offender such as dying a gruesome death. Others curse these offenders under their breath. The more religious ones pray imprecatory prayers of judgment upon their adversaries even though the teaching in the New Testament does not encourage that. Instead, the Apostle Paul exhorts believers saying, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not” (Romans 12:14).

If you can identify with these struggles, here are some helpful steps to help prevent you from poisoning yourself.

TELLING THE TRUE STORY TO JESUS
Stop and consider telling the most accurate story only to Jesus and yourself. Why? Because for too long now, you have created a story for others so as to justify your inner struggle, hurt, and pain. You also provide the reason why it is impossible to forgive the person or persons who hurt you.

Like a good detective, you may have to search through years of scattered memories and historical rubbles to determine the facts of the situations that caused you to retaliate in anger and hatred.

Is it what the person said or did, or is it being made to look ridiculous that offended you?

When I was around seven years old, I was “made a fool” by an uncle at one of our family gatherings. It was actually nothing – this uncle mimicked my childish voice when I addressed him. All my cousins laughed and I felt thoroughly embarrassed. Ever since that incident, I had a dislike for this uncle. It did not amount to hatred but at any family functions, I avoided him at all costs. It was not until I was 40 years old that I realized that it was that particular hurt that caused me to “dislike” this uncle. Thank God for revealing that to me. How did I resolve it?

The best approach to such a negative encounter is to confess, repent and hand the hurt feeling to the Lord in the Handing-over Prayer. That was what I did and I reconciled with this uncle socially and in my heart.

STOP TELLING YOUR STORY TO EVERYONE
One of the hurting people’s weaknesses is the desire to tell their negative stories to just about anyone. You can tell your story to a counselor or pastor so that you may receive helpful counsel and advice. However, if you repeatedly share your negative story with everybody you are keeping that painful memory alive.

When you prayed and surrendered that hurt to Jesus, He had begun the healing process in you. As you keep trusting and handing the struggle to Him, soon that inner wound will be healed.

Repeating your negative story is like digging into your old wound and making it all bloody again. Then Satan will control your life because he strives in conflict and pain. Unknowingly to you, the devil has shackled you with the chains of victimhood.

CHECK YOUR EXPECTATIONS
Another reason for the inner hurt may be that you have unrealistic expectations. Even though it is common for everyone to have certain unrealistic expectations, that does not mean that it is healthy.

An elderly missionary who returned alone to the USA from the mission field of Africa wanted to be treated with great honor and respect. However, the denomination did not really accord him the level of honor that he expected and according to his son, this missionary died an angry and bitter man.

A close relative had an adversarial marital relationship because she expected her husband to be able to read her mind and anticipate everything that she needed. She associated his inability to discern her needs as he did not love her enough. She was perpetually hurt despite the assurance from her husband.

Another friend expected her family members to respond in certain ways and when they did not, she was furious. For her entire life, the sad and often angry memories of her “uncaring” family members were repeated in endless narratives to others.

Unrealistic expectations are damaging because they are too complicated for any ordinary relationship to be established. These expectations are destined for failure. No amount of unforgiveness and bitterness will change your situation. By paying attention to why every unrealistic expectation ends up in failure or quarrel, we may become wiser and better at dealing with such disappointments.

TIME TO HAND OVER YOUR BURDENS

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-29: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
The Lord is definitely sympathetic to your hurts and brokenness. You can come to Him with your tale of sorrow, and He will not scorn you. You can cry upon His shoulders, and He will not push you away. In the deep silence, you will hear His voice of comfort and liberty. He will gently untangle your throbbing affliction and His peace will calm that stormy discrepancy.

Every hurting memory does not need to own or control you. Every flood of pain does not need to drown you. When all these come and they will come, all you need to do is to acknowledge each feeling of hurt and pain. Don’t fight it. Just acknowledge it, receive it, and then give it a shape and color in your mind.

For example, someone falsely accused me of something and I was hurt. The inner hurt continued to fester as long as I avoided it. When I took responsibility to acknowledge it. I gently received it and gave it the shape of a square and the color was green. Then what did I do with that angry feeling that had a shape and color? I gently handed it over to the Lord.

You may be wondering whether that painful thought ever come back and the answer is that it kept coming back. And I kept up with the same handing-over process. Then, one day, it just didn’t come back with that emotional baggage anymore. I recalled all the words of the false accusation, but they no longer carried that emotion of hurt, anger, and pain in them. I no longer disliked the person who said it. I was able to honestly pray for him and even fellowship with him without any hesitation in my spirit.

Jesus is not only most willing to give you rest but He assures that you will surely find rest in Him. When you trust Him with all your struggles, you will receive your spiritual refreshment. A strong dose of inner nourishment and deep peace will flow within when you hand every ugly thought and painful memory to Him.

As you hand over all to the Lord, you may want to enter into His service and bask in the light of His teaching. The first “rest” is while serving Him, you’ll find your purpose of being, and the second “rest” is found in His life-giving Word. You’ll discover daily purification from the filth of the world. Both are necessary for your spiritual refreshment and growth. And both these can only be found in Christ and Christ alone. May you refuse to poison your life and surrender everything to the Lord.

Here is the playlist of a compilation of Handing-over Prayer videos for you to listen to and share with others.
Playlist of Handing-over Prayer

Handing-Over Prayer Is A 24/7 Experience

Jenny was troubled by worries about her teenage children not doing well in school. The Covid-19 situation and the two years of perpetual lock-down had taken the enthusiasm for learning away from these growing youngsters. No matter, how she nagged, scolded, and even threatened, nothing changed. She prayed to God but even those prayers were so stressful. She was pleading and her voice of despair seemed to rise no further than her ceiling.

One day, she watched one of my YouTube teaching videos on Handing-Over Prayer. According to Jenny, she followed every step carefully. It took some effort to really believe that Jesus was actually interested in what she had handed over. As she faithfully handed over every thought of concern to the Lord, her body became relaxed with the sweet assurance of God’s presence. And the best part was that she began to see some changes in her children. Her kids actually performed well in their recent class tests. Jenny was elated. She decided to hand over her relational struggles with one of her sisters. And a miracle happened – that sister called her to reconcile. She then handed a difficult client to the Lord through Handing-Over Prayer. I believe you can guess the outcome – the client decided to buy the full range of health products that she had proposed.

Today, Jenny no longer finds prayer stressful. It’s no longer a duty or religious requirement. She mused, “For the first time, I am really enjoying praying.” She said that she loves using this Handing-Over Prayer because she wants to see how God answers her prayers.

What Is Handing-Over Prayer?
You must have read what Jesus said about coming to Him and He will give us rest (Matthew 11:28). Handing-Over Prayer is the process of going to Jesus with every one of our concerns, handing them over and then just resting in Him. One of the biggest struggles that we have when we pray is always the inundation of stray thoughts. We want to focus on Jesus but our minds are refusing to cooperate. And thus, praying becomes a chore. We are always fighting to keep stray thoughts at bay so as to stay focused on the Lord. However, the brain is designed to think. These stray thoughts are like a whole troop of monkeys jumping in randomly into your mind. And that is the reason why many fail in praying is because of this phenomenon.

Accepting All The Monkeys
In Handing-Over Prayer, you will never need to worry about the “monkeys” or stray thoughts. In fact, you learn to accept all stray thoughts and side issues as they rush into your mind. Yes, you have not read wrong – learn to accept all these thoughts. Whether they be good, negative, angry, hateful, lustful, or holy, welcome them.

As Handing-Over Prayer is not violent, you do not need to fight these “monkeys” or treat them as unwelcomed interruptions. As they come into your mind, recognize that they are there in your mind, and identify them. Then gently isolate them for the handing over to Jesus.

Do not ruminate upon them but just hand them over to Jesus. Your mind is not a warehouse for all these stray thoughts. In this instance, you should treat your mind as a clear channel or a transfer station. This means that nothing stays in you and everything flows through you to Jesus.

Do Not Feel Guilty
Anything may come to your mind. It may be thoughts of anxiety or joy. However, as long as they are going to distract your time with the Lord, you just acknowledge and identify them. Take time to gently hand over all your “monkeys”. Do not feel guilty if what comes to your mind are lustful thoughts or even evil thoughts. They are temptations and temptation is not sin. Acting upon the temptation is. There is no condemnation, stress, or demand on your part. Just come confidently before Jesus, hand over and let the Lord take care of all your thoughts and struggles.

As you hand over to Jesus, say this simple prayer: “This thought I hand over to you” or “this thought I surrender to you”. If the thought comes back many times, simply hand it over again and again. Do not resist it – just receive, identify, isolate and hand it over to God.

Where Can You Do The Handing-Over Prayer?
You can do the Handing-Over Prayer almost anywhere. Many believers do it while driving to and from work. Some told me that when they were stuck in traffic jams, instead of getting upset, they took the opportunity to do the Handing-Over Prayer. Many homemakers followed my advice to do it during their daily house-cleaning session. Others do it during their gardening. One creative account was doing the Handing-Over Prayer while showering. There is no limit of creative ways that you can use this prayer approach. It will be ideal if you can find a regular time in the day to do this Handing-Over Prayer. For example, in the morning, just before or after your devotion. The Lord encourages us to pray alone in a private place – “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6).

A 24/7 Prayer
This is indeed an ideal 24/7 approach to prayer and you can actually do what the Bible speaks about “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Praying all the time may be something new to you. Like all habits, it has to be practiced regularly until it becomes a part of your daily activities. I pray that you will enjoy handing over all your struggles and disturbing thoughts to the Lord and just rest in His presence.

Here are some helpful videos about Handing-Over Prayer.

Why We Rather Deny The Cross Than Deny Ourselves?

One of the saddest confusions in spiritual formation is to take “denying ourselves” to mean “rejecting ourselves”. We do not reject our position in Christ and who we are in the kingdom of God. However, we do need to get “ourselves” and our will and personal agenda out of the way, so that Jesus can show us His will and agenda.

Let’s explore further the deeper meaning of “denying ourselves” by looking at Luke 9:23-27:

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

The two requirements that Jesus has made clear for all His disciples – the first is to deny themselves and the second is to carry their own cross. The idea of discipleship becomes blatantly clear – Jesus did not die on the cross so that we can just go to heaven. Going to heaven is already a guaranteed notion and it did not come at the instant moment that we were saved. There is another aspect that we may have to learn and that is Jesus died on the cross so that while we are living here on earth, we have the opportunity to learn how to die to ourselves.

THE CALL TO DIE TO SELF
Even though we have been justified by the death and resurrection of Christ, there is still the sanctification or transforming process that the Holy Spirit has to work within our lives. God accepted us as who we were before we were born again but He does not want us to remain in our old carnal selves. He wants us to be like His Son, Jesus Christ. He wants to get rid of our selfishness, self-centeredness, and self-focus, and so He said to take up the cross and not just one time but to take it up daily. God is actually asking us to lose our life permanently for the sake of the gospel. Just as Deitrich Bonhoeffer in his book, The Cost of Discipleship, wrote, “When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.”

Like most believers, I am much happier to preach “how to deny the cross” not “how to deny myself”. I prefer to pick myself up daily instead of picking up the cross. It is hard to follow the instruction of Jesus to deny myself and pick up the cross because I like myself too much. However, taking up my cross daily is the message that I need to hear and you need to hear because it is the most important message from the Lord.

There is seldom a big moment whereby we will be martyred like Peter being crucified upside down or like Paul who had his head cut off. For most of us, it is not that one big moment of being a martyr for Christ. It is more like every day, every moment, every action that we do, every conversation, every discussion. It is our entire life, that we must choose whether we would deny ourselves or that we would deny our cross.

WE DON’T LIKE THE CROSS
The chances are that we would very naturally deny the cross. We don’t like the cross because we don’t like to die to ourselves. I am writing from real-life experience, and I think you can identify with me. And so, the decision that I am going to make for myself is a moment-by-moment decision. As I begin to focus on the moment and live for the “now” and that means that I am very aware of the presence of God, then all these little moments when I add them up, become my whole life. So, for us to have a spiritual life, we must take care of the little moments. And by carrying our cross in those little moments, we are learning to walk towards the heart of God, learning to become like His Son, Jesus Christ.

How do we know that we are really denying ourselves? We do so by listening to what we are saying and how we are speaking. If we talk a lot about our successes, achievements, glories, and trophies then it is obvious that we are carrying “ourselves” and not the “cross”. Once we focus upon Christ, we have begun the process of denying ourselves. The very moment, we drop this burden of carrying “ourselves”, we can then carry the cross. As in Matthew 6:24, Jesus said that no man can serve two masters. We have to hate one and love the other – so as long as we are carrying “ourselves”, we will hate the “cross”.

HANDING-OVER PRAYER
Even though in some unguarded moments, we may fail to deny ourselves and carry the cross, the Holy Spirit will remind us to do so. We may react to some unhappy events, have certain unhealthy conversations that will trigger our anger, stir our bitterness and drive us to the cliff of hatred. In those moments, the still small voice of the Holy Spirit will speak and guide us back to the cross.

That is why we recommend “Handing-over prayer“. It is a good praying approach as you learn how to embrace all the hurts of criticism and then gently hand them over to Jesus. You are saying to the Lord, “Your will be done”. You are learning to deny yourself the right to be angry or upset with another person. The Holy Spirit will encourage you, “I want you to release that bitterness to the Lord because you don’t have the capacity to hold this bitterness; keep this hatred; sustain this jealousy or carry this envy; you have to hand over.”

What a privilege to have the Holy Spirit guiding us at all times. Here is a message by Rev Albert Kang that may help you in your spiritual journey of transformation.