Lessons on Temptation

This is a follow up sharing from what has been taught during support group regarding temptations. 

Basically there are two kinds of Satan attacks:

1. Desires of the world~ eg, luxury goods, entertainment and television, media and sex appeals, body building and beauty, etc. 1 Jn 2:15-Do not love the world or anything in the world. if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him
2. Desires of the flesh~eg, sexualy desires, pornography, gluttony, badmouthing/slanders, etc.

Satan's Original Victory

1 Jn 2:16 amp- For all that is in the world, the LUST OF THE FLESH [craving for sensual gratification], and the LUST OF THE EYES [greedy longings of the mind] and the PRIDE OF LIFE [assurance in one's own resources or in the stability of earthly things] --- these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself]

Victory won by Christ

• The characteristics of Jesus is explained, Heb 4:15-Jesus was tempted in everything, exactly as we are, yet was without sin.
  
• Rom 8:3,4-For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man... in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature [flesh] but according to the Spirit.
  
• What Christians don't actually realize is the fact that we do not need to constantly be in the agony of being stuck with temptations and not having the strength to overcome it. The deciding factor to overcoming is to claim victory in Jesus' name because, He had already won it on the cross. 
• Isn't insane to see ourselves having a magnificent and powerful God but living in a hermit shell of our own? No longer are we living in our own flesh, but a spirit given by God to commune with God's very own spirit. That power lies in His name, that's the punch!
  

Christian's Continual Victory

1. Know the victory is already won. Due to satan's defeat at the Cross, the deviil's only strength now is found in a Christian's ignorance (Hos 4:6) If we understand the complete work of the Cross and Resurrection in our life, the devil is stripped off any weapon against us. 
2. Walk in step with the Spirit. Walk in obedience to His inner promptings day by day (Gal 5:22-25) 
3. Recognize temptation for what it is. Temptation is NOT sin. YIELDING to temptation is (Jas 1:15)
4. Understand there is a way of escape provided. 1 Cor 10:13-No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. and God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. but when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. James 4:7-Submit to God, resist the devil and he shall flee! There's no way we could have resisted the devil with our pathetic human strength in our own name. The criteria is in the first part, submit to God! When you do so, then can the Lord show His direction and give you His power!
5. Keep the right focus in life. Col 3:1,2-Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on thigns above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. If we are called to be students, we will allow God's will to work through in our lives by studying. Therefore, other activities that might draw you away from your focus like tv can be damaging and distracting. 
6. Keep away from obvious areas of temptations. Unless you love battling with lots of temptation to cause you to sin, i guess it's totally self-explanatory.
7. Be aware of satan's schemes: (knowing the characteristics of satan helps us to identify him and outwit his tactics. for eg, when tempted with lust of the eyes, a voice comes and says, its ok la, see a while only, nothing wrong what... is this a temptation that can be justified in accordance to God's word? satan is a liar, reject him immediately with the word of God!)

• he is a liar
• he is a slanderer and accuser
• he is a deceiver
• he is a tempter
• he is an oppressor
• he is a hinderer
• he is a roaring lion

hope you guys have a better understanding now! =D

Love,

Alvin

Cool Sweet Worship Resources Online!!

Hey Guys!!

Someone passed me this just UBER COOL LINK YOU JUST GOTTA CHECK IT OUT YO!!! It's a pdf file so just paste this like and download like 142 worship lyrics with guitar chords!!! It's a must download for you guys so you can help support your kids with some guitar resources when they start to serve in cell worship k? I'll probably be emailing you guys somemore guitar resources into your emails soon, esp since the guitar workshop will come to a proper close and conclusion two weeks from now and we should probably then induct our members to serve on the division worship team using the combined worship at Golden Pines pavillion as a training platform i guess... this is open to other suggestions of course... what do you guys think?

Anyway... here's the link...
http://www.vineyardchurch.co.za/Music/homegroups/VCCWorshipRep2007.pdf
cut and paste into your browser to download the file:)

God Bless!!!
Jared

Amazing Prices & Market exam paper!

My first two papers were insane, leaving me battered and disappointed whole time round when i was just so fearful of not making through the exam papers. 

Came the third paper for Prices and Market. The burnt mid-night oil came to past when i did a past year paper for it. While practicing for it, i had no time to cover all the topics and risked with what i've studied in depth. 

Exam came. I beamed when i saw the first question, i wanted to laugh when i saw the second, came third when i was overjoyed and almost died with excitement when i read the fourth cos we need to do 4/7 questions and ALL 4 WERE ALMOST EXACT QUESTIONS to what i've studied for!

It's amazing. God filled my disappointments with His joy. First time ever i whack an exam paper and did it with much fun and enjoyment. It's so FUN! i mean, i was out of time n left a few sub-qns out, but the least was i understood what i was writing! The formulas came out with positive answers and i was so elated!

This is a classic example of how God works in our lives. I hope this sharing would spur those who are studying (duh!~tell me whose not in our zone?!) to continue pressing on towards the goal ahead. Don't give up even though sometimes when you think all has ended but God certainly provide the hope for you to carry on!

Right, hope it encourages you. Love u guys! see u all soon!

-Vin Chia

Some thoughts from the midst of exams...

these days have been tough ones for me since the time i've stepped into university and i've been constantly 'haunted' by even more distractions and intense pressures to study for my papers. Just as i've entered into the exam hall, my whole body panicked and shook in fear as the topics i've studied didn't really come out. For a few of my friends however, went away with smiles because they've spotted the questions really well. 

My world for a moment tumbled because i was left dumbfounded. Relentless effort of overwhelming God with 'whys' couldn't stop because the situation was disadvantage to me and i felt so 'cheated'. Why could others just simply study for the right questions and get away with it while no matter how hard i studied, its never enough and worse, didn't came out for the questions. My heart was fuming, disappointed and certainly at a loss...

There was no way i could dramatize this because at the instantaneous moment, my world almost collapsed. This couldn't be what i was praying for in blessings and abundance. Hello... My soul was left to disintegrate in despair! 

Then i realized, no matter what kind of leader i am in any areas could separate me from my trials. 

I decided to share with you guys this is because you all have been appointed leaders by God and being human, you are not expected to be able to endure all sorts of struggles and take it in your stride alone. I can't be really cool about it because I apprehended my dependencies had to be wholly relied on God as i was desperate and fearful i couldn't pass my exams. 

Nevertheless, i was more than comforted to have you guys to send in your loving and encouraging sms-es because that was when i felt how a support group served it's role. Cos those heavenly sent messages and concern could make a difference and i immediately thought of our members and how they might just need our encouragements in their struggles and needs. My heart was suddenly directed to them and my heart was heavy because i asked myself if i was there enough for you guys as well. 

By the way, you know right? As you're officiated into the zone, i'll be taking responsibility over you. So, be it any needs or ANYTHING in the world, if you ever need a listening ear, someone to talk to, need advise, wanna hang out or hang in, i am around and here for you. I might not be the exact solution but this is my pledge, i promise to walk this journey with you. (*need any tissues?)

As the support group serves it's purpose, know that as leaders you are also vulnerable but not defeated. It is during times like these when you need to hold another brother and sister even tightly (tt's why we hug) and build relationships that are strong, passionate and full the love of Christ for one another. It's been long time i've seen that kind of bond between Christians and i pray that it will overflow our hearts...

~it is when i am diminished then can God be magnified~

-vin

dynamic & upfront

PRAYER REQUESTS

Hey everyone! (: i hope you guys are coping well .. especially alvin and Jared with their exams around the corner! Do keep each other in prayer yes? Vivienne says hi. (she is on the phone with me) =P

Vivienne:
1. Council Rally on 22nd April 08. ( she is very very scared..)
2. Needs help to get her priorities right and to have proper time management.
3. Peer pressure
4. Knee (starting to hurt badly again)

Chermain:
1. persistent headache especially when i cough, clear my throat or laugh (i can't laugh D= )
2. upcoming tests and assignments (esp CHEMISTRY)

When many join hands to pray, the prayer is more powerful ! God Bless you all (:

-POON! regards from vivienne as well [:

Speedlight Leaders' Retreat

Forwarded. Originals sent to your lovely emails. 2 short things to take note: 1) Date Changed. 2) Fees (i know it's not cheap but pray that the funds will come to you k?=)

Dear Ministry Leaders!
Greetings in the name of the Lord!
Just to let you guys know, there will be a Combined Leaders Retreat 
for all Speedlight Leaders & Ministry Leaders! The date will be on the 
13th - 14th June (DATE CHANGED!!!) Do keep both days and nights free. 
Please mark the dates down as it is compulsory for all to attend!!!
For this retreat, we'll be getting 2 powerful guest speakers to enrich us as leaders! 
It will also be a time of mingling among the leaders of both centres, 
a time for fun and also to be ministered and refreshed by the Presence of God. 
It’s a retreat not to be missed!

Venue: To Be Confirmed 
- awaiting confirmation from the respective organisations 
We'll try to get a venue accessible by public transport for your convenience 
**if you have a good venue that can house 60-70 people overnight do let me know!!!
Fees: $25 for leaders who pay up by 27th April or latest 4th May. 
- this is an early bird price, for those paying after 4th May, the fees will be $30. 
PLEASE BE INFORMED THAT AS THIS IS A COMPULSORY RETREAT, LEADERS WHO 
CAN ONLY ATTEND PART OF THE RETREAT OR CANNOT ATTEND IT AT ALL WILL ALSO 
BE EXPECTED TO PAY FOR THE RETREAT FEES AS THE BUDGET INCLUDES YOUR SHARE 
OF LODGING, MEALS ETC. So do pay up early to enjoy the early bird rate! =D

Also, please do continue to pray for Speedlight!
Something wonderful is happening and it’s starting to brew already!! 
Let's pray and ask the Lord to pour out His Spirit 
like never before and flood the entire Speedlight!! LET'S BELIEVE!!! 
Believing is the start of every change & REVIVAL!! 
We look forward to your participation in this revival!

In His Love, 
Vinnie Lau 
SPEEDLIGHT ADMIN OFFICER 
(Leaders' Retreat IC)

Alvin

Prayer Items

Dearest(s), since our directions now are on prayers and change, i sincerely believe that we're all moving one step closer to God each time. In this pursuit of His love, nothing comes closer than prayer because worship and prayer is indeed the heart of Christianity.

When Jesus walked on earth, remember all the instances He prayed? Insane! Lots of it. He prayed, fasted and pray over and again when He was tempted, when he was in the dessert, when He was at Gethsemane before He was betrayed, when He was at the cross praying for us. Jesus was prayerful and as lovers of Christ, being changed and crafted into His likeness ...

2 Corinthians 3: 17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

So make it a point to make prayer a part of your lifestyle.

The below is my prayer item which is quite dire:

uni exams:
-first paper starts on the 25th April and i'm not near completion even yet!
-i have 4 taxing exam papers to attempt

personal:
-failed 1 of my test- History of Management Thought. (i've never really failed so badly in my entire life and the truth is, i scored only 5/20)
-my failure of the above left an emotional scar and baggage because i'm under quite alot of peer pressure and exam stress (of which i'm can easily deal with but its haunting me over and again! irritating!)

-personal discipline over mind and physical body training
-time management because God is fair to everyone but i'm running out of time (anyone can lend me some time?)
-need to juggle a lot of stuff in the midst of exams. (eg, ministries like zone, music and speedhost, dance practices, support group, bible study and i demand my personal time to relax but i cannot!=X)

i just need some love prayers going and give me an assuring and supporting hug when you see me then!

Press on!

Alvin