Reach Community Church 2/177 Beavers Road Northcote VIC 3070
Tel: (03) 9481 6889 Email: info@reachcc.org
www.reachcc.org
Pastor: Victor Soo Church Administrator: Sharon Oen
CHURCH SERVICE Celebration Service REACH Kids
Chinese Service
Sunday Sunday
l 10am - 12pm l 11am - 12pm
Saturday l 7pm - 9pm
PRAYER MEETING
Monthly Ministry & Prayer Intercessory Prayer
1st Friday of the Month l 7.30pm - 9.30pm
Tuesday l 7.30pm - 9.30pm
BIBLE STUDY
Young Adults
University & Youth Groups
Family
Wednesday l 7.30pm - 9.30pm Friday l 7.30pm - 9.30pm Monday l 8pm - 10pm
Friday l 7.30pm - 9.30pm
OTHER ACTIVITIES Praise Dance
MOPS (Mothers of Pre-schoolers)
Ladies’ Meeting Men’s Breakfast
Thursday l 10am - 12pm Every 2nd & 4th Friday l 10am - 12pm Quarterly Quarterly
Welcome to the fifteenth issue of REACH. In this issue, you will learn to walk in the Spirit, read a testimony about how the truth of God has set the person free, a poem written in awe with God’s love, also learn how to practise truthfulness, to depend on God during your times of weakness, to find the purpose in life, to cook to impress, and to exercise your brain power. 4
Reach Message
Fruit and more Fruit Reach Reflection
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For when I am weak, then I am strong Reach Book Review
The Purpose Driven Life Reach Inspiration
Relentless Love Reach Testimony
The TRUTH that set me FREE Reach Character
Practise Truthfulness Reach Recipe
Spicy Fried Prawns Reach Teaser
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Reach Teaser
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welcome
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Reach Message
Fruit and more Fruit - Walking in the Spirit
Reach / Winter 2019
By Joel Pinga
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:2225)
In these verses, the Holy Spirit is represented as a fruit tree. Psalm 1 says that a man is like a tree. Jesus said good men and bad men are like good trees and bad trees (Matt. 7:16 – 20). This helps us to understand both the nature and function of the Holy Spirit. We sometimes decorate our homes with artificial plants. Imagine plastic fruit on our dining table. It is lovely and impressive, but the fruit is fake and completely inedible. You might die if you eat it. Comparatively, for appearances’ sake, we sometimes put out our own plastic fruit in our lives, as religious status symbols, to try to convince others (and perhaps even ourselves) how “good” we are. What a pity that even Christians sometimes try to substitute spiritual dryness for the living tree of the Holy Spirit! As Christians, we don’t have to play this game of make-believe and “pretend fruit”. When the tree of the Spirit thrives within, we can point to both the tree and its fruit and say, “It’s the real thing.”
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be
entangled again with a yoke of bondage. (Gal. 5:1)
Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (2 Cor. 3:17)
The fruit of the Spirit is liberating. Love begets freedom from hate. Joy brings freedom from gloom. Peace displaces conflict. Longsuffering makes free from impatience. Kindness brings out the best in us. Goodness liberates from evil. Faith brings freedom from confusion. Meekness delivers from arrogance. Self-control brings freedom from excesses. In Galatians, great emphasis is placed on the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Paul affirmed that believers receive the gift of the Spirit through faith. The Spirit comes in the moment of conversion to dwell in the heart of the believer and to provide assurance of salvation (Gal. 4:6). The Holy Spirit comes into our hearts to deliver us from living at the carnal level of fleshly appetites. The Holy Spirit lifts people to operate and thrive at the level of the Spirit and to invest their lives in the matters of the Spirit. Believers are to follow the leadership and guidance of the Spirit who dwells within rather than following the external code of the law given through Moses (Gal. 5:18). There is indeed a constant struggle of the Spirit with our carnal nature that remains even after the miracle of the new birth has taken place.
Love The Holy Spirit pours out the love of God within the heart of the believer (Rom. 5:5). Our Lord commanded us to love not only our friends but even our enemies. The fruit of the Spirit is not the eros or philia love but the ultimately superior God-given agape love. Joy The Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to recognise and experience God’s goodness and grace, resulting in true joy. Real joy is not a temporary sensation of happiness; it is an abiding sense of the Spirit’s presence that remains constant whatever the circumstances. Peace Through faith in Jesus Christ, we obtain peace with God. This peace is something more than an absence of turmoil. By cooperating with the Spirit, we possess this tranquillity even in the midst of external chaos. Patience (longsuffering) Patience is that ability to responsibly keep on keeping on. Many of us are impatient. We do not have the persistence to stay with the task until completion. The Holy Spirit sustains us until the work is done. Kindness Kindness is simply love in action. Kindness involves spending our time, talent and
treasure on others. Kindness can be costly and inconvenient but the Holy Spirit will enable us to serve with kindness, but only if we allow Him to. Goodness God blesses and enriches us always, so we can extravagantly bless others. The goodness the Holy Spirit builds and deposits so we can pay it forward to others. Gone is our stingy self-centred behaviour. It is not merely goodness possessed; it is goodness expressed. Faithfulness Faith is the currency of heaven. We need to have faith in faith as the way to please God. We need to have faith in faith as the way that leads to the abundant life in the here and now. Real faith is not merely belief about God. Real faith is trusting His will for our lives. The Holy Spirit teaches us faithfulness to God and His Word. The Holy Spirit works within us to produce this fruit of faithfulness. Gentleness (meekness) Meekness is not weakness. A meek person is considerate and tolerant of others. God loves us and accepts us as we are. He does not wait until we have brought ourselves up to a certain quality or condition before He begins to love us. He loves us unconditionally (even when we were still sinners) and so must we love others. The Holy Spirit leads us to love and to accept people as they are, because that is the way God is.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (Matt. 5:5)
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Only as we respond with faith in the Holy Spirit and with faithfulness in following His leadership can we overcome this fleshly nature and manifest the higher nature of the children of God.
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Reach Message
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Reach Message Self-control The surest formula for self-control is Spirit-control. He dwells within to help us overcome the appetites of the flesh. We lose control and wreck ourselves when we do not have power brakes activated by the power of the Holy Spirit. Self-control is most important in our lives. When we lack self-control, we are in bondage – outof-control rage and passion gets us into trouble. Self-control starts with our identification with Christ – knowing that we are children of the most high God! Self-control is NOT a gift, it is a fruit. A fruit is something that grows - not a matter of instant results. We must allow God to work in us to get the fruit, and then get the fruit to grow. So what is controlling you? Smoking? Substances? Pornography? Gossip? Internet gaming? Vanity? Adultery? Sex? Fear of man? There are many traps and snares out there. The Bible tells us what they all are. It starts when you cross that line of thinking and considering it. We must all live pure and godly lifestyles. We need to be accountable to someone. The apostle Paul says, “But
I discipline my body and bring it into subjection…” (1 Cor. 9:27)
In Greek mythology, Ulysses, aware of the danger of the sirens and their deadly song, tied himself to the mast to restrain him. Crudely effective as it was, he was still tied up - he was in bondage.
In contrast with Jason (Argo) – he got the best lute player that he could find. At the first sound of the sirens, he got the lute player to play the sweetest best music. The sirens were rendered ineffective because the lute sounded sweeter. Jesus is that beautiful sound. We need to hear THE Master’s voice! The grass is not greener on the other side of the fence – it is greener where it is wellwatered! Every life bears some sort of fruit, good or bad. Let us make sure that the right tree is planted. To harvest the right fruits, there must be the right roots. Remember, THE DEEPER THE ROOT, THE GREATER THE FRUIT! To ensure spiritual health, let us make sure that we give daily attention and response to the tree of the Spirit. To live the abundant life, let us do right by the tree of the Spirit. Remember the words of our Lord: “By this
My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be My disciples” (John
15:8).
To experience the full fruit of the Spirit, we must recognise that the Holy Spirit does dwell within us and that all of His purposes are always for our benefit. We need to respond to the wonderful and exciting truth that God’s greatest works arise from within us rather than from external stimuli. The Holy Spirit is eager to produce within us that attitude and disposition of heart and mind that will manifest itself in our conduct and cause others to see the beauty of Christ within us.
For when I am weak then I am strong
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Reach Reflection
For when I am weak, then I am strong? What an oxymoron! Some of you might ask, “What is an oxymoron?” Well, according to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, it is “a combination of contradictory or incongruous words (such as cruel kindness), or something (such as a concept) that is made up of contradictory or incongruous elements.” There are many oxymorons used in the English language, some common examples: Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” is frequently described as a tragic comedy (or is it comic tragedy?); Mr Right as awfully nice (but after the wedding fairly awful); and Miss Right as awfully pretty (but after the wedding pretty ugly). OK, you get the idea. The two well-known “oxymorons” in the Bible are:
So the last will be first, and the first last. (Matthew 20:16a) and For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10b) In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul explained that he had every reason to boast, but he was given “a thorn in the flesh” to keep him from boasting about his advantages and achievements in life.
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2
Corinthians 12:9-10)
What does this mean? How can we be strong when we are weak? The meaning of these verses dawned on me recently. I have been involved in a fortnightly children’s ministry reaching out to children who live in the public housing of Collingwood. Last year, I was given the responsibility of tutoring (together with a few other volunteers) and mentoring two groups of senior students. One group consisted of 4-5 girls, ranging from Grade 5 to Year 8. Apart from tutoring Maths and English, I was responsible for the “Chat time” – an allocated time of 20-30 minutes, on any topic of my choice, to impart on them. Some topics we covered last year included peace comes from knowing God, the love of God, and peer pressure.
Reach / Winter 2019
By L.C
Reach / Winter 2019
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Reach Reflection However, in the middle of last year, I felt overwhelmed and inadequate in this given role and responsibility. Being a tutor in academic subjects was not my trained profession, I was also discouraged by the lack of responses from the students during the chat time. It became worse when one of the girls went into Women’s Refuge with her mother and younger sister. It perturbed me that despite knowing this girl for many months, I had no inkling that she was going through this in her life. I felt that I had failed as a tutor, and as a mentor. For the rest of the year I struggled with self-doubt and my contribution to this ministry. On the week leading up to the meeting, I often felt anxious and tense. I could only pray and ask God to give me strength, sensitivity and sound mind to impart His knowledge and wisdom on the students. God is faithful, every meeting went well, and left me with joy in my heart, compassion for the students, and gratitude for the privilege of being part of their lives. Nonetheless, the cycle of self-doubt–anxiety–joy and gratitude continues for the rest of the year. This year, there are some new changes to the program. In order to better engage the older kids, the decision was made to train them as “buddies” for the younger kids, giving them the responsibility of mentoring. At the first “buddy training” session, which I was not present, one of the girls I mentored last year expressed to the group that I am her role model, and that she wanted to be like me. Wow, I was both honoured and humbled when this was relayed to me. There I was, feeling unqualified in my role, fearful of failing in my responsibility; yet God was able to use me to impart and inspire someone. I now understand what Paul meant by “when I am weak, then I am strong”. I realised that I am at my best when I am dependent on God rather than on my own ability and adroitness. God can and will achieve so much more in me and through me when I allow His Spirit to work in me.
The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?
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Reach Book Review
What on earth am I here for? What is God’s purpose for my life? Many years ago, I began asking myself these questions. Then, I picked up this book and many eternal truths were explained in an easily digestible manner. Rick Warren explains that it all starts with God. The purpose for our lives is greater than our own personal fulfilment, peace of mind, family, career, and our wildest ambitions. We were born by His purpose and for His purpose. We need to see life as God sees it, from His point of view. The book is divided into 40 short chapters: each with a ‘Thinking about my purpose’ section, which contains a point to ponder, a verse to remember, and a question to consider. These features engage the readers onto a spiritual journey - with a summary of the principle in each chapter, bible verse that teaches a truth from the chapter, and question to help us think of the implications of what we just read and how it applies to us personally.
This book emphasises that there is more to life than the here and now, it reminds the readers to look beyond the temporary, to focus on what will last forever, to live like a temporary resident and not get too attached to the things of this world, and to live in light of eternity. Rick Warren explains that there are many things that drive people’s lives, but God should be the one who drives our lives. We must surrender our fears, regrets, problems and future plans to Him. We are to love Him supremely, trust Him completely, obey Him sincerely, praise and thank Him whole-heartedly. Rick Warren shows us how God has revealed His purposes for our lives through the Bible. God is the starting point and the source of our lives. We must turn to God’s Word to discover our purpose. As we read this book, we understand that we were formed for God’s family, created to become like Christ, shaped for serving God, made for a mission, and that we bring glory to God by worshipping Him. This brief review barely scratches the surface of the spiritual truths in this book. It was a guide to a spiritual journey for me, helping me better understand what brings God glory, what pleases God, and how to build intimacy with God. What is your purpose in life? Do you want to know what on earth are you here for? Do you want to have an abundant and fulfilled life? This book is a great starting point to direct you to the biblical truths.
Reach / Winter 2019
Author: Rick Warren, Reviewed by Danny Tanyi
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Reach Inspiration
Relentless Love
On July 27, 2012, I felt so depressed that all I wanted to do was to curl up in my bed to sleep it off. But I couldn’t ignore His persistent nudging, “Get up and write!” Grudgingly, I sat up, grabbed a pen and paper. Then the words just came…
By Sharon Benedicto
From the beginning I was in God’s mind… His hands carefully and lovingly formed me in my mother’s womb, His longing and desire for me was insurmountable! With great pleasure, He watched over me. A love song, He sang over me. Day and night and night and day – He filled the womb with His voice, singing His heart out for me. With restless feet, He danced and pranced around me. Swaying left to right and right to left, with such delight that His heartbeat overwhelmed Him. When He thought of me and what I could become in Him, His moves became fancier and more excited. Then the most awaited day arrived, my day of birth. He jumped in exhilaration that He almost couldn’t contain Himself. He sang and danced with His angels, a burst of unique orchestral sound played loud and proud in the heavenlies! With outstretched arms He called out to me, “Sharon! Sharon, here I am! Here I am! I am here!” I looked at Him but I did not see Him. He kept calling out to me but I did not hear Him. I walked past Him and turned to a corner. He followed and tried to catch my attention but I was far too occupied with where I was heading. He stood still with immense pain in His heart. Disappointment and a crushing sensation came over Him. A raging anger arose steadily from within Him, with thoughts of endangerment and compassion for me, He said, “I must rescue her, she doesn’t know that it is toward death that she is heading.” His heart grieved and His anger flared up each time He saw me being beaten up, cruelly and hopelessly to the ground, by the taunting and laughing enemies! Furiously, He battled with them. He persevered and endured excruciating death blows on His already bloodied and weak body.
Despite this, His love and zeal for me diminished not. On the contrary, they grew more intensely and infinitely. Then, a most heart wrenching event occurred, life left His body and the enemies rejoiced triumphantly, shouting words of slurs and abuses. They yelled at me, “What now, Sharon? Where is your hope? Who will rescue you?” Indescribable pain gripped my heart and feelings of hopelessness consumed me. A loud and eerie silence could be heard for what seemed like eternity. With my fist, I beat my aching heart, “What’s going to happen to me? Where will I go from here?” I waited for an answer but there was only silence… a long unbearable silence… Then from a distance, I heard shouts of jubilation and celebration. “Is this possible at such a time as this?!” I thought to myself. The noise was so enticing, that in utter desperation, I turned toward the unmistakeable sounds of clapping and acclamations. Inexhaustibly, I searched and forcefully pushed myself through the strong crowd. I stumbled and fell to the ground scraping both hands and knees. Dust covered me, I rolled on the ground in pain… A gentle warm hand reached out to mine to help me up. Slowly, I stood up in my torn and dirt-stained dress. I looked up and saw piercing but loving eyes gazing down at me. I paused as I marvelled at the beauty before me. His face lit up with a smile and my heart skipped a beat. A loving silence overtook us, as we stared at each other’s eyes. A pleasurable and delightful feeling came over my body as I kept my eyes on Him. Finally, He said, “My love, I have longed to embrace you eternally, would you come away with me?” I replied, “Yes Lord, I will come with you.” Completely awestruck by what just happened, I marvelled at the thought that He would still choose to use me despite my heavy heart. Then I noticed that I wasn’t feeling so sad anymore. Instead, there was lightness, excitement and joy flowing from within me.
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever. (Psalm 30:11-12)
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Reach Inspiration
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Reach Testimony
The TRUTH that set me FREE
From seeking physical healing to finding intimacy with my Abba Father
Reach / Winter 2019
By Mabel Yim I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior in the 90’s. Every part of this journey has been interesting, but I want to share what happened to me about three years ago. Most testimonies speak of an event that changes people’s lives. In mine, it was finding God’s Word that changed me. In the past three years, something major took place in my heart: answers I have been searching for over two decades were unveiled to me, one by one; and it only began when I made a decision to discover the truth of God’s Word. In Jeremiah 29:13-14a, it says, “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you…” Glory to our faithful God who is true to His Word!
Overwhelmed by illnesses
I grew up feeling safe and secure. Studies were smooth and I was blessed with a steady relationship with my now husband since university. However, when I became a Christian, things changed. Challenges I never imagined, one of which was a sickness that eventually led to the pain of infertility, miscarriages, and all the gruesome medical interventions associated with it. Although I knew God could heal, I was never sure if it was His will to heal me. This went on for many years. Sickness and healing always had me baffled. Countless days and nights I came desperately before God, begging and crying out, “Have mercy on your servant.” God blessed us with a healthy child after four years of asking. Praise the Lord! I am also thankful for a wonderfully supportive spiritual family at Reach Community Church, and for Pastor Victor, without whom, our family would not know where we would be today. The same struggle on health, however, resumed not long afterwards, leading to countless of heartbreaks beyond words can tell. Gradually I no longer heard God’s voice. God appeared silent. Somehow I thought God must have been displeased with me, for whatever evil I had thought, said or done. My earthly parents would do anything to see their children healed. I heard them say that they would suffer in our place, so that we would be well. Why not my Heavenly Father who loves me so much more? Many thoughts went through my mind, many questions that needed answers. Things went from bad to worse. In November 2015 I was given two new medical diagnoses. Fear overwhelmed me, yet deep down I knew there had to be something more, that God could do beyond medical science. I decided to investigate what God says about physical healing. I vowed to learn “every word that proceeded from the mouth of God” concerning His will on healing our bodies.
I started searching far and wide. I looked up healing ministers from the 19th century to present times; from Pentecostal to Denominational churches. I saw various differences and similarities. Some ministers only operate in “gift of healings”; some develop faith from the Word; some execute both; some even claim miracles and healing passed away with the last Apostle. What dawned on me were the numerous Scriptures I found concerning healing, and hundreds of testimonies. People are still being divinely healed since bible time! In December 2015, my late sister’s cancer returned for the third time. Somehow hope rose up within me. I knew God’s healing was available, attainable, somewhere. I kept reading and learning, going through Scriptures, every single day. It shocked me to see some of these in the Bible, that Jesus “took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses” (Matt. 8:17), “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows” (Isaiah 53:4, Hebrew word ‘griefs’ means sickness and ‘sorrows’ means pains), “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law” (Gal 3:13). The Bible says Jesus has taken upon Him - not only my sins, but also my sicknesses - at Calvary! Accomplished 2000 years ago! That is why in 1 Peter 2:24 “by whose stripes you WERE healed” was written in past tense! As I read through the four gospels, I began to see Jesus in a whole new light. I saw His compassion towards the lost and the sick. Everywhere He went His ministry revolved around three things: Teaching, Preaching and Healing. Each time someone asked Him for healing, His answer was always, “I will”, “I will come and heal him”, “Your sins are forgiven, be healed.” Jesus never rejected one single person who came to Him. The only time where He could do no mighty miracle was in His hometown. Why?
Seeing the light
For months I meditated on Proverbs 4:22, God’s words are health, healing and medicine to all our flesh. But how? One day in August 2016, two verses came to me: “So then faith comes by hearing, hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17), and “Your faith has made you well” (Mark
5:34). Suddenly, I saw a connection between “God’s Word”, “faith” and “healing” - “faith” connects the other two. All the Scriptures I learnt came together and came alive in me! I was so excited, as if I had just dug up a treasure chest in my own backyard! I began learning about faith. Is there a spiritual law of faith? How does faith come by hearing the word of God? How do fear and doubt counteract faith? I learnt about the integrity of God’s Word (Matt. 24:35, Ps. 89:34, Num. 23:19, Isa. 55:11, Heb. 11:3, John 1:1, Gen. 1, 2 Cor. 1:18-20). I began to understand our authority as believers, that we are seated in heavenly places with Christ (Eph. 2:6); the power that raised Christ from the dead dwells in us (Rom. 8:11); we were commanded to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons and as freely we have received, freely give (Matt. 10:8). 1
For the curses and the blessings of the Law, see Deuteronomy 28
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Reach Testimony
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Seeking the truth
Reach / Winter 2019
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Reach Testimony In Genesis, I saw God’s wonderful original plan for mankind, and how Jesus came to restore EVERYTHING Adam had lost. The dominion on earth stolen by satan, Jesus has taken it back and handed it over to His Church! My life was changed forever! There is so much MORE to our Christian life which I did not know. We are indeed children of a supernatural God, not only with whom all things are possible (Matt. 19:26), all things are possible to him who believes (Mark 9:23). During those times, I wholeheartedly believed my sister could be healed supernaturally, even though she herself did not. I had the revelation that God’s best for her was a long and fulfilled life, where she would fully devote herself serving God. In 2017 I saw God’s miracles as we prayed for her, though at the very end she lost the battle with cancer and went home to be with Jesus. I thank God that she is now having the time of her life, at the most beautiful place called Heaven. I truly meant what I shared at her funeral, “Even if she had a choice to return, I know she wouldn’t. Not because she didn’t miss us, but because being in the presence of God in heaven is just too wonderful.”
Overcome by insights
I did however reflect on what went through my mind during those times when we stood by her in prayer, my fear and doubt as her condition deteriorated. I was continually shown more insights. One of them was in Ephesians 2:8-9, about God’s grace - which was already given to us through Jesus, yet only by faith we can obtain. No faith no grace, at the same time, no grace no faith. I finally understand what Jesus’ perfect sacrifice meant to all mankind - His blood covenant. No demon from hell can undo the finished work of Jesus! I finally understand what it meant “by whose stripes you WERE healed”. Our assurance is this: we are fighting from a point of victory. We are “the healed” resisting sickness, not “the sick” trying to be healed. To be a “water-walker”, it is important not to be moved by wind and waves, but be solely anchored in God’s Word, to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7).
A changed life
Since then, my outlook on life is different in many aspects. I began to recognise the enemy’s tactics - deception through our minds. I recognised that I held a wrong perception of my Heavenly Father for so long. “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed BY the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38). So my sickness was an oppression by the devil! Not a chastening from God!
“..For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8b). God’s will has been fully revealed in Jesus! As Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). I discovered that God is always FOR me, NOT AGAINST me, and freely give me all things (Rom 8:31-32).
In the past I had an Old Covenant mentality. I now know we are in a New Covenant with better promises (Hebrews 8:6). I learnt to accept my true identity in Christ and know all my inheritance. I stopped begging God in desperate times like an orphan. Instead, I come boldly to the throne of grace (Heb. 4:16). I learnt to guard my thoughts, and renew my mind with the Word (2 Cor. 10:5, Rom. 12:2). Every time I see someone afflicted with an illness, something burns inside me, I feel God’s compassion, how He wants them healed (3 John 1:2). At the same time I feel God’s anger towards sickness that torments people. God hates sickness as much as He hates sin, so much so that God nailed all our sins and the results of sins on the cross with His own Son, Jesus. Praying for the sick has since become my passion. I am compelled to approach strangers offering prayers for them when I see a need. Jesus has commissioned us to do His works on earth. His Kingdom come, His Will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:10).
In Christ alone
But there is always that one question: “not everyone gets healed”. Very true, it is as true as “not everyone gets saved”. Do we then stop sharing the gospel? Or stop praying for people with the full conviction that salvation and healing are God’s will? Do I let my experiences define God’s Word or change its integrity? Does God’s character, revealed through all His names, ever change? Most of all, can the finished work of Jesus ever be undone? And what if miracles occurred when we keep pressing in and not give up? “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14). We don’t know why some people are not healed or saved. We don’t know the variables in life for we only know in part now. What I do know is, God is not fickle, shows no partiality and His Word is forever settled in heaven (James 1:17, Rom. 2:11, Ps. 119:89). Recently during a Sunday church service, the worship leader passionately shared about the finished work of Jesus. I then asked God why I was not seeing the victory in myself and others as much as the Bible says, though I’m fully convinced of the work of the Cross? In turn, the Lord asked me, “Why do you think I call satan a THIEF?” He went on to say, “Because satan came to STEAL what rightfully belongs to My children! I want My children to take up their given authority and power and enforce the law on the thief!” I then said to God, “Lord, sometimes I’m tired of fighting.” The Lord said, “That is why you need to come to Me for rest. Rest in the finished work of Jesus, your confidence and focus ought to rest in Christ alone.” This was confirmed in my heart as three church brothers shared John 10:10 and 1 Peter 5:89. God is really our good good Father, who yearns to reveal Himself and to help His children.
Reach / Winter 2019
I was in awe of God’s grace and His unconditional love, how He forgives all our sins and heals all our diseases (Ps. 103:3). God’s true nature, character and goodness is unfathomable. During the time I thought God was silent, He never stopped speaking. I had built a barrier between us with my own disappointment, self-pity and bitterness towards Him. How my earthly parents would suffer in my place was the very thing Jesus has done for you and me, so that we can be set FREE: body, soul and spirit!
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Reach Testimony
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Reach Testimony
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I am still learning and want to be changed. I’m learning to discipline myself to feed on the Word of God daily. I am convinced that the Word and the Holy Spirit work hand in hand to build us up. I believe that signs, wonders and miracles will break forth before our eyes if we press on.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23)
These songs “I found my King”, “I am no victim”, “I know who I am”, “Worthy is the Lamb”, and “Alpha and Omega” mean so much more to me now. All glory goes to Our Father! He is worthy to be praised!
Practise Truthfulness
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Reach Character
Spirit confirm it (Romans 9:1, NLT). Like Paul in the New Testament, we are to be With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm truthful, not only in our speech, but also in our action. Let us make the decision to be it (Romans 9:1, NLT). Like Paul in the New Testament, we are to be truthful, not only in our speech, truthful by the help of the Holy Spirit. but also in our action. Let us make the decision to be truthful by the help of the Holy Spirit.
Tell the truth.
For my mouth will speak truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips. (Proverbs 8:7)
Recognise and admit your faults.
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. (James 5:16, NLT)
Uphold Jesus Christ in your life.
For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)
Tell the facts and events accurately.
The Teacher sought to find just the right words to express truths clearly. (Ecclesiastes 12:10, NLT)
Honestly giving feedback, with the intention to build up.
In the end, people appreciate honest criticism far more than flattery. (Proverbs 28:23, NLT)
Fill your mind with God’s Word.
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. (John 17:17)
Understand that cheating and stealing are untruthfulness.
Do not steal. Do not deceive or cheat one another. (Leviticus 19:11, NLT)
Live a transparent life.
But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. (Matthew 5:37)
Not to exaggerate or boast.
For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. (2 Corinthians 12:6a) But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. (James 3:14, NLT)
Encourage others to be truthful1.
Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. (2 Timothy 2:25, NLT)
Stand firm for the truth.
For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth. (2 Corinthians 13:8, NLT)
Be Sincere in your speech and deeds. I speak with all sincerity; I speak the truth. (Job 33:3, NLT) Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. (1 John 3:18, NLT)
1 Taken from Achieving True Success How to Build Character as a Family, published by Character Training Institute, Inc. 1
Reach / Winter 2019
Practise Truthfulness With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy
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Reach Recipe
Reach / Winter 2019
SPICY FRIED `PRAWNS By Tina Chen
Ingredients: Tiger Prawns (with shells) 1 kg Spring onion 2 stalks - slice Garlic 8 slices Ginger 6 slices 1 tablespoon light soy sauce 1 tablespoon cooking wine 1 tablespoon sugar Pinch of salt 1 tablespoon LEE KUM KEE chili garlic sauce 1 tablespoon LAO GAN MA black bean chili sauce Methods: Step 1: Use a toothpick to devein the prawns, wash and set aside. Step 2: Put oil in a heated pan and stir-fry spring onions, ginger and garlic in the pan until fragrant. Step 3: Add chili garlic sauce and black bean chili sauce into the pan, and fry until oil separates. Add prawns and stir-fry for a while. Step 4: Add light soy sauce, cooking wine, sugar and salt, and stir-fry for a while. Add a small amount of water to cover the pan, and boil over medium heat for a few minutes. Step 5: Use high heat to reduce liquid. A delicious spicy fried prawns is done. Best served with rice.
Reach Teaser
Answer the following questions, the first letter of each answer forms the name of one of the great Jewish feasts. 1. That which we are to do without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). 2. The man God knew would command his household after him (Genesis 18:19). 3. A bird God notices as it falls to the ground (Matthew 10:29). 4. A church mentioned in Revelation (Revelation 3:1). 5. The number of times Christ offered up Himself for sin (Hebrews 7:27). 6. That which Jesus calls Himself in John 15:1: “the true___________�. 7. A man who sold his birthright to his twin brother (Hebrews 12:16). 8. The last book in the New Testament. The great Jewish feast: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Scrambled Bible Names
Can you figure out these Bible names by rearranging the letters? Jaileh _ _ _ _ _ _ (Hint: a prophet who was fed by ravens) Henteps _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (Hint: an apostle who was stoned to death) Ulpa _ _ _ _ (Hint: blinded on his way to Damascus) Bamhara _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (Hint: the father of Israelites) Lisas _ _ _ _ _ (Hint: thrown into jail with Paul) Anho _ _ _ _ (Hint: the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth) Raash _ _ _ _ _ (Hint: the mother of Isaac) Nana _ _ _ _ (Hint: a prophetess in the Bible) Ossem _ _ _ _ _ (Hint: an Israelite leader succeeded by Joshua) Utist _ _ _ _ _ (Hint: went to Jerusalem with Paul and Barnabas)
These bible teasers are taken from the website www.jesus-is-savior.com, with some adaptation and changes.
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Reach / Winter 2019
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Bible Acrostic
Elijah, Stephen, Paul, Abraham, Silas, Noah, Sarah, Anna, Moses, Titus Answers for scrambled bible names
1. Pray 2. Abraham 3. Sparrow 4. Sardis 5. Once 6. Vine 7. Esau 8. Revelation ,Passover Answers for bible acrostic
