Be normal, live normal

Many people have a distorted idea about normal life. They want a life that is free from any responsibilities, any duties, not obliged to anything, just wanna do what they want. And honestly I want that too! But guess who is the christian lived a most normal life in the bible? Yes, of course is Jesus. Many people they thought to live a christian life is to live a sinless life, live up the name of "sainst", as sinless as Jesus. But when God is establishing us to be His holy nation special people, the word "holy" doesn't means sinless, you know? The opposite of holy isn't sin, but is actually "common". Actually God wants us to be uncommon people! It's like when everyone complaining the government, you are speaking good of, and blessing the government; when everyone are under financial situation, you are not under the situation but above; when no body care a person on clutcher walking in the street, but you do because you have a solution; when people say we can live life however you want, but you say we live life in the WAY.

Friends! Everyone may has his or her own version of being normal. But as a believer, if your life are not flowing with signs and miracles perhaps you actually do not believe in the Good News of Jesus (Mark 16:15-18). But if you do believe yet no signs and miracles flowing in your life, probably you are believing in the Good News partially and selectively. And that is very sad, because Jesus had purchased the whole package of the Good News with His life (He died). But out of THOUSANDS of the promises in the Good News you take only ONE! I think Jesus are screaming up there: "Come oooon, I had already redeemed it all back to you! USE IT!!"

Come on, be normal and live normal. Be the freaky people on the earth, live up to "Mark 16:15-18"... And He(Jesus) said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

What shall I liken people who call themselves christian but no signs and miracles flowing in their life? It's as if: you are a guy but you live like a girl, and your life doesn't show that you are a guy!


A group of people were having vacation on Disneyland, they start praying for people there and people got healed!! Hundred souls saved!! Watch also part2-4.

"From Occupation to Expansion" by Bill Johnson

One of the warriors of old made this statement: "The purpose of war is victory, and the purpose of victory is occupation." In the Kingdom, we add one more step to the process: The purpose of occupation is expansion.

The Lord would not give the Promised Land to Israel all at once because they did not have the ability to occupy all of the territory. By only giving them the amount of land they could occupy, He positioned them for expansion. Expansion is vital to advancing the Kingdom of Heaven. The man who was given the one talent and buried it simply occupied and protected that accomplishment but suffered tremendously because he did not take what he had and position it for increase (Matthew 25:15-28).

It's important that we view life with the perspective of expansion and forward motion. When we think this way, we are positioning ourselves for increase and promotion. It's not healthy to simply find a place you want to stay in and occupy. The moment you have found a leveling-off place is the moment you begin backsliding.

When your passion begins to decline, you already start to die. You were born to burn. Elisha came to the king and said, "Please strike the ground with these arrows." And he struck the ground three times. The prophet became furious at the king and said, "If only you had struck the ground five or six times you would have annihilated the enemy, but now you're only going to have three temporary victories." Because the king did not live out of passion, he couldn't carry the anointing that God wanted to give him, and it cost the nation. When leaders don't have passion, it costs everyone who follows.

Passion and the anointing run in parallel courses. A person with passion will take risks. Everything you want in the realm of the Kingdom is found through this veil of difficulty by stepping into the realm of inconvenience. You don't get it by coasting on yesterday's breakthrough. You were born for expansion.

Be discreet and listen, dude!

Last time whenever I hear testimonies from fellow brethrens, I felt so frustrated because the testimonies was their not mine. And many times I asked God for such experiences, but I didn't see the prayer answered. So naturally I read bible more and pray more. I'm not sure have you guys ever have such mentality, when I don't see promises come to pass I will live my christian living even more "perfect" in order to get the promises come to pass. And that's completely a lie of devil.

And when I read Bible, pray, and listen to sermons of many famous men and women of God. I started to learn more about the spiritual and natural truth. I was thinking in my mind, "yeah man, I learn a lot. I will excell in my ministry quicker..." I even started to criticize my own senior pastor's sermons. Thinking in my mind, this point is not well presented, this explanation is wrong, I can explain this point better... You know what, I think the person most expert in bible knowledge in the whole world is none other than pharisees and scribe in the Bible. But almost all of them at all time were finding fault in Jesus's teaching. That's why there was one time in the Bible, Jesus was ready to heal the people there when He was teaching (Luke 5:17). But end up only one person who was paralyzed was healed recorded in the Bible.

Back to story, I had not been receiving any revelation and strength during my senior pastor's teaching ever since I had such mentality. Then I blame my senior pastor not anointed enough. As long as i embraced such mentality, I couldn't received anything during teaching time. I personally think I was even out of the coverage of anointing of my senior pastor, because things didn't work well in my ministry.

There was another story in Bible, a scribe asked Jesus a question (Mark 12:28). This scribe was different from others. After Jesus answered him, and the scribe responded wisely(v32). Jesus saw that he answered intelligently [discreetly, having his wit about him]. Jesus said to him, "you are not far from the kingdom of God"(v34, amplified bible). Wow, isn't it wonderful? When you remain discreet and listen carefully to words of God, God says, you are not far from the kingdom of God; let say, when your mentor or leader was speaking some godly wisdoms and advices to you, and you remain discreet and listen carefully, God says you are very near to my King-dom, "King's Dominion". As you know our King is a good King, His kingdom is filled with good stuff too: love, joy, peace, gifts of healing, miracles... gentleness, blah blah blah.

I have already settled with my heart, repented. How about you?

Remark: Sorry to my senior pastor for my foolish way. However I praise Jesus! There is now no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ! Yeah!! Therefore let us continue with our foolishness. ...Certainly not!(Romans 6:1)

"Never Know" part 2

I want to share with you something that i learned from my and as well some other's experiences. There is one story about the battles between the tribes of Israel and tribe of Benjamin in the book of Judges chapter 20.

The tribe of Benjamin backslided and had done a great crime. Tribes of Israel was at war with them.(v18)The children of Israel went to the house of the Lord consulted God and asked which of them should take the lead to battle against Benjamites, and God said Judah should go up first. In that battle 22,000 men of Israel died and loss.

(v22)But the people, the men of Israel, took courage and strengthened themselves and again set their battle line in the same place where they formed it the first day. And they went up and wept before the Lord and asked of the Lord shall we go up again? And the Lord said, yes go up against them. In that battle 18,000 men of Israel died and loss again.

(v26)Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up and came to the house of God [Bethel] and wept; and they sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. And they asked again, shall we yet again go out to battle against our brethren the Benjamites or shall we quit? And the Lord said, Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand. In that battle Israel got a complete victory. Later on, Israel welcomed Benjamites repent and back to Israel.

Notice, that God allowed Israel to go into the battles and they loss. They wept and consulted God, they done everything so correctly but they loss. About 40,000 men of Israel died in that first two battles. But one thing that really is crazy and bizzare is after their first loss, they took courage and strengthen themselves; after the second loss, they wept and fasted before God in the House of God, and offered the ultimate highest offering and worship to God! And they asked again, shall we go up against the Benjamites... or shall we quit.(v28)And the Lord said, Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand. If you look at the battle, they loss; If you look at it from eternal view, they won.

When you pray for miracles, or share gospel, or reach out to somebody, and you followed everything that your mentor taught perfectly. But there's no result, what will you do? God, shall we go up again... or shall we quit? God said, Go up again. For tommorow I will surely bring him the miracle that he need, without fail.

You can look at things from different view and question God, why didn't He heal me when i first prayed, why didn't He cause the person to repent when i first preach gospel to him, why didn't i become leader after i completed the training, why this why that. But things can be turned entirely different, if only you take courage and strengthen yourself again and talk (or cry, for some people)to God in the secret place. And offer an ultimate worship to Him. Then when you ask Him again, God should i go up again? You can never know how great is the victory that you are going to receive.

Encouraging words: What makes you so special that He answers so many prayers, but refuse to answer yours?! Huh? Tell me please!

Jimmy's Journal: Never Know

Everytime I look back I can't stop praising God. My earthly parent playing a very important roles in my life. They had done whatever's possible to make me a useful man, and my Dad in Heaven.... is doing the impossible to make me a king.

----------------------------------------

1999, I was a kid often wanna know more. To know more about life. And um... I liked to listen to people who seem wise (wise man, haha...) about their views on life. And that time buddhism influenced me a lot. I viewed life like a buddhist do. I tried my best to do good, please my family and my friends to gain recognition. I had a little success on it.

Until I met a person, Jon (short name). He studied same year with me in secondary school. He was my guitar teacher, the one inspired me the most in playing guitar. He was teaching a few of us in a class, he shared to us about the passion and the love of Jesus and brought us to church (this is a good idea to do outreach dude!). And thanks to my Father i was one of the victim. Hahaha (Selah...)[pause, calmly think about that]

--------------------------------------------

2000, Because of the enthusiastic guitar teacher, Jon. He invited me to a church camp. I didn't want to go because wanted to save my parent's money. I told Jon i would ask my parent for permission to join the church camp, and i thought my parent will never allow me because it's "church" camp. So i should be quite safe. Who know turned out my parent allow me to join. (It made me realized that God's hand is bigger) So i went. Amazingly, it was a great camp. In the strong presence of God, i was speaking in tongue during the worship session. I had never expect that, no one expect that. Haha (Selah...)[pause, calmly think about that]

-------------------------------------------

2004, Jon kept encouraging me to keep the sabbath and come and serve in children church. I stayed at a place far from the church, i wasn't driving. I wanted to serve as a bassist and i realized that they did provide transport for some children who stay near me. So i came only to children church, but not Sunday for convenience sake's. Regardless how they advised me to keep sabbath I just wasn't not moved. I know Jon and others bro and sis in Christ were disappointed by my decision. But they never gave up. They encouraged me continuously and i believe they prayed a lot for me.

-------------------------------------------

2005, All of them gave up. I stopped going to children church, they stopped inviting me to church. And that time we focused on our form 5 final exam. Seemingly the devil got the victory. Unknowingly, my academy was going down and down because i didn't have the reason and vision to study. I didn't even have the vision and reason to live for future. My life was just boring, I not sure whatever i was doing had anything to do with my future. I learned many good value and also bad value, but i was confused because i didn't have vision and reason for my life. I locked myself in room and i prayed and cried for revelations and purposes of life, and i gave my life to God. I did this many time since that time. Fuuh... the demon has never ever win even one time!!! Selah [pause, calmly think of that]

------------------------------------------

2009, I am now a fulltime minister in World Harvest Church. Sharing the same vision with my church and the Body of Christ. Now I am actively reaching out to non believer and train believer to be a disciple. And every day have fun with God, share His thought over me and His people. All glory to You, my King, Lover, Father, and Friend. Thanks Jesus!!

*I wanna share this to you my dear friends, that whatever effort you had made and effort that you are going to make for your disciples, friends, and your neighbor are definitely not wasted. Your prayer will certainly come to past, no doubt. You may never know what you had done has plant an important seed in somebody's life, and it's growing certainly. Thanks to my friends, Jonathan Loh, Gui Lan, Gui Lian, Pastor Wong Fook Sang, Steve Lee, Mun Hoe, and my formal leader and now my colleague, Karen Yap, and also my senior pastor Pastor David Wong Kim. Let our hearts not fail and be discouraged in our mission to see His will be down. Amen

We all look the same [adorable, deeply loved by God] in His eyes

Those who thinking themselves of no use, not deserve, not worthy, come and celebrate! In His eyes we all look the same with people who are success, intelligent, good looking.

Word of encouragement,

Do not think about yourself your way, think about yourself God's way.

From Bill Johnson: I not afford to have a thought that about me that is not His.



Took me a while, but i'm finally here
So i just wanna testify, make it crystal clear
(Take Ya Time)
See I've been picked out, to be picked on
Talked about out my friend's mouth
I've been beat down, til' He turned my life around
(Turned my life around)

Seems like I always fall short of being worthy
Cuz I ain't good enough, but He still loves me (Yeah)
I ain't no superstar, spotlight ain't shinin' on me (No, No, No, No, No)
Cuz I ain't good enough,(no) but He still loves me
(Loves Me!)

[Beyonce]
I used to, wake up some days, and wished I had stayed asleep (why cant you girl)
Cuz I went to bed on top of the world, today the world's on top of me
Now everybody's got opinions (They Share)
They ain't been in my position (They Don't Care)
And it breaks my heart when I hear
what they have to say about me
(What they say about you)

[Chorus: All]
Seems like I always fall short of being worthy
Cuz I ain't good enough, but He still loves me
I ain't no superstar, spotlight ain't shinin' on me
Cuz I ain't good enough,(no)but He still loves me
(Loves Me!)

I'm not perfect
Yes I do wrong
I'm trying my best
But It aint good enough
Shunned by the world
If I don't succeed
Cuz I aint good enough
But He still loves me


If you ain't worthy just raise your hands
And let me know that you understand
That we are all so blessed to be loved....loved
Stand for Him or fall for anything
Cuz through His eyes we all look the same
What will we do, without blame

Seems like I always fall short of being worthy (We are not worthy)
Cuz I ain't good enough, but He still loves me
I ain't no superstar, spotlight ain't shinin' on me
Cuz I ain't good enough,(no)but He still loves me (me me)

I'm not perfect
Yes I do wrong
I'm trying my best
But It aint good enough (But the Lord is so good to me)
Shunned by the world (if you shunned by the world)
If I don't succeed (Shunned by the world)
Cuz I aint good enough (I ain't good enough)
But He still loves me (But the Lord still loves me)x2

No I ain't good enough (No, No, No, No)
But He still loves me (Raise your hands if you understand)
No I ain't good enough (How He blesses you, coz He blessed me too)
But He still loves me (Even though I ain't worthy)
No I aint good enough (You ain't worthy,we ain't worthy He's there for you)
But He still loves me (No matter what I do)
No I aint good enough (I ain't good enooooooooough)
But He still loves.....me (But the Lord still loves...me)

It's not little at all

If you have very little resources, talents, time and etc to serve God and His people, excellent! In God's eyes it's not little at all.

Facing the great multitude of about 20,000 who followed Jesus, they had a very urgent natural need: Food. And they were at a wilderness and they were so far from the nearest town. Jesus asked one of His disciple how much money they had to buy food for the multitude. The disciple answered Him they had very little money left to buy food for 20,000 poeple. Then Jesus asked another disciple how many food left over. And there was a kid offered five loaves and two fishes. The disciple (second one) said "What are they among so many?". Then Jesus, He is so cool. He took the food and gave thanks, broke it once and kept giving it out to disciples, and the disciples pass the food to the multitude. It was continued until everyone of them being filled. Wow!! See, Jesus didn't despise the little the kid had. He gave thanks for that somemore, and multiplied it to fill 20,000.

*If you have only a little, good! Thanks God for that and GO! And use that for God and His people. Jesus is going to multiply the little.

It's always not about how do you feel about Jesus, what do you think about Him, not even how much you love Him (you might not love Him at all); But it's about how does He feel about you (He loves you), how does He think about you (you are His children and beloved), and how much He loves you (He died for you!)

He loves all of you whether are you worthy or not, He don't even care how good or terrible you are. When you listen to this song and meditate on His love on you, His love will [certainly] give you strength to face all things.

Jesus is EVERY blessings!!

Part 2
Jesus = STRENGTH
If you type this word "strength" in digital Bible or online Bible, you can find plenty of results and some of them are in capital "S". Whenever you see the words in Bible its first letter is capital letter, for example: Shield, Strong Tower, and etc it can be saying the multiple natures of God. That's why you never see Bible said God is "Curse", "Anger", and etc. "Strength" is one of the words describing the nature of God. And I have found some original definitions of this word "Strength", sometime make you marvel that Holy Spirit trying to tell us so many things when He uses certain words to describe. Yet He is not secretive in revealing Himself.
Strength=Perpetual Success
"And also the Strength of Israel will not lie or repent; for He is not a man, that He should repent." 1 Samuel 15:29
In this verse, "Strength" is referring to "the Perpetual Success" (that's the meaning in Greek/Hebrew, forgotten which one). The Perpetual Success of Israel will not lie or repent (change of mind); for He is not a man, that He should repent (change of mind). Who is the Perpetual Success? Jesus. Wow, now we have clearer understanding about Jesus. So can you imagine, when you are spending time with Jesus, the Perpetual Success is with you. How to find perpetual success? By reading Rich Dad Poor Dad? No! When you have Jesus with you, the Perpetual Success is with you. Imagine you can worship your success... Haha. I mean God, the Perpetual Success, not your little little success like winning the badminton games, winning singing competition, winning a heart of a girl, winning a position of manager. I'm talking about the success of the WHOLE LIFE! How can your life not successful while the CREATOR of U-NI-VERSE, the PERPETUAL SUCCESS is with you? I'm giving a knowledge to you my friends, but I am not going to stay there. I want to work it out to be my experience. Allow Jesus to be my Perpetual Success. Email me should you have any question (my email address is in my profile), let us discuss and together we learn to be the friend of our God, the STRENGTH OF ISRAEL!

All blessings found in the Person of Jesus

I am going to share with you guys what are the blessings you can find in the person of Jesus, and the answer for that question is "ALL" blessings. Really! If you just realized it, it's not too late. I'm going to write a series of posts, I'll share everything that i know about the blessings that can be found in the person of Jesus.

Jesus is "Healing"... JEHOVAH RAFA

God has many names because God is too great. For instance, when i experienced God in miraculous finance then i will conclude that God is a Provider. Name always signifies the character and the nature of the person (so please consider before you want to name your child Ah Gao, Ah Cat, Useless...etc). It's impossible to know God completely, but we can gradully know Him deeper and deeper.

He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.” (Exodus 15:26)

The original text of "I am the Lord who heals you" is actually not that long, it is I Am JEHOVAH RAFA. Means I am JEHOVAH HEALING. One of the Names of God is "Healling". He is Healing, He don't give healing but He Himself is Healing! This is a refining moment. When you know this truth, instead of seeking for healing, you seek God; instead of wanting healing, you should want Jesus.

Some people want only the healing but not Jesus, and it's totally weird!

There's a pastor from Singapore named Joseph Prince. His very young daughter was very sick. Got serious fever. And they tried everything, but it seem got no better. So it was a night, the daughter was sleeping in tiredness. Ps Joseph went into the room quietly, and he felt tired with the condition too. And he worshipped God quietly, singing psalms to God. And instantly he could feel the presence of God filled the room. And what he focused was no longer the situation of his daughter but God, he just sing and sing and love God. Next day morning when he woke up. He found his daughter is completely healed and smiling at him. What an awesome works!! When God simply comes into situation, any bad thing will be solved.

When you are in a difficult situation, He don't give you a hand book to solve the problems. He give you Himself, a Person. That's the reason why sometimes we don't even need to pray over situation but we worship God, want Him, love Him. And situation will just be solved (2 Chronicles 20:21-22). If you are having sick (may be sicknesses), and you tried many doctors, and whatever funky medicines. Or may be you had consulted with witch doctor but situation is still remain the same. Can you give Jesus a chance to heal you? You may not know much about Jesus, but when you are suffering He want to come and touch you. Not giving you a healing as a thing, but He give Himself, the HEALING to you.

You can pray with me: Jesus my HEALING, come to me now. I want You, I need You now. Come into my situation, I know when You come, everything will be fine. Amen!
If you are a Christian, stop only asking God to give you this or give you that! But ask God to have Him, want Him and embrace Him (He loves you to do so). Since the Person of Jesus is all the Blessings, how can you suffer lack when He is with you?(Genesis 39:2)

One Piece, The Undead

One Piece is a very popular comic and is very sell-able now in many nations. Many people especially youth are crazy for this comic. And I tell you what, I am one of the fans to this comic, and by God's grace I am not insane for this comic but just really enjoy reading it to see how the main character (Monkey D Luffy), a stupid, good hearted, funny pirate achieve his dream to be the king of pirates. I think there are a few reasons why i enjoy reading this comic.

1) First of all, the story was not began with a characters that soooooooooooo super duper strong. Especially Luffy's ability, i think it's one of the most stupid ability that a pirate can get for fighting.
2) The first 20-30 episodes were just a honey moon for the pirates group, you thought the enemies they met were already so strong for them. Start from somewhere middle of the comic, you will realize the author has been making a lot of impossible tasks for this pirate group. Their enemies were faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar stronger than them.
3) But they somehow make it to push through the difficulty, despite the impossibilities, the mocking of the opponents, and somehow received so many favor to turn the situation at the crucial time, all their hearts were just to defeat the enemy and save the situation and their friends.

I was thinking: Of course! They are the main characters in comic, surely the author will somehow turn their impossibilities to possible then to victory. And in fact the reason the author let them gone through so much difficulty is because everything happening throughout this comic are supposed to be the stage for them to rise above, to shine!! Because they are the VIP. They are predestined to fight until the end and gain the greatest victory.

This is a great metaphor for our life!! The Author of Salvation, Jesus Christ, has already wrote the beginning and the end for our life. The moment we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we have automatically enrol into this great adventure. Last time I kept fearing of problems rises against me and I would choose to remain silence from everything possible in this world. But now it's different. We are now soaring above the systems of the world. All the problems, troubles, sufferings, and attack from demons are now the stages for us to step on, to rise above and to shine!! We are the main actor or actresses, the super star!! Once upon a time, we used to be a puppet of the system of the world and also of Satan. In the world, we didn't have much choices to be made, we are forced to make certain choices that the world told us to. There is no liberty and freedom. And some people they wanted to be liberated so much and they don't know how to. So they choose to do something different from what people around them told them to. And finally many many of them do something really stupid, because they want to be different, "we have freedom to do whatever we want to do what~!"

When we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and the Author of Salvation, we are instantly being placed into the comic and to be the VIP. We might seems short, weak, like a sheep before a slaughter, however Jesus had already finished writing this comic and even the ending of the comic. Guess what kind of identity and conclusion of the story He wrote for us? We are the children, the army, the athlete, the light, the prince, and the kings!!! And our destiny is to finished the race, be a champion, and receive the crown of glory when Jesus come back again. And no matter what kind of impossible situation we will face to take us down from reaching the goal, it will just become a chance for us to rise above and to shine even brighter. While we struggling through the tough situation, all the heroes and angels in Heaven are cheering us to push on, like how i cheered the main character in the comic One Piece: Come on, you are the main character and VIP here man! How can you being defeated and died?!! You are the VIP written by the author. Come on, you're not going to lose and died!! Carry on!!

When we accepted Jesus Christ, Jesus had already died for all our failures, weakness and sins. Means the moment we believe in Him, we are totally freed from failures, weaknesses, and sins. Our old imperfect and super sinful nature has already died with Jesus, and we are resurrected with Him with a brand new spotless nature. We are perfected in Jesus through out the whole race!!... When you are not in Jesus, and you dig back your old man corpse and smell the corpse and feel sick about the corpse. Then don't feel like want to continue the race but just keep lamenting on the old corpse on how imperfect and terrible it is. This is the most stupid thing a predestined (to win) hero can do when he is on his journey to victory. And I think God might be crying out that time: OHHHH MY GOODNESS!! What are you doing?! I already make you a forever new man, and you will surely win the race with the destiny I wrote for you. What for you hugging your smelly old sinful nature and lament?!!! My son, WAKE UP!!!

I personally believe the main character in the comic One Piece will never died, in whatever impossible situation. He may be discouraged for a short moment, but he will rise up in the next moment, kill and defeat the impossibilities that stand in his way. When we believe in Jesus, we already died with Him on the cross and now resurrected with Him with a new body. A person who already died once, can never die twice. We are undead now. Come on, remember that we are undead now. Regardless what situation, how big is the enemy, how many powerful skill he can use to kill you, YOU ARE THE UNDEAD IN JESUS CHRIST, YOU WILL NEVER DIE.

Satan, the Fallen Worship Angel

Hi guys, I had been very busy since past few months. i have to stop writing to focus on some other important stuff. Yesterday I found a "chun"(good) article in guitarpraise.blogspot.com, I must share with you guys. Especially those who're serving in worship ministry. Don't miss it!!... ...

Satan, the Fallen Worship Angel

The Bible names three angels - Michael, Gabriel, and Lucifer. The last angel is, of course, better known as Satan. Ps 103:20 tells us that angels are "mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word" - each of these angels represent the various ways we serve God.

Michael is known for being an angel of works, putting into action what is needed to help others ("then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me", Dan 10:13). He is also an angel of warfare ("Michael and his angels fought against the dragon", Rev 12:7), and represents the spiritual battles we fight for others in the community. The second angel is Gabriel, who is known for delivering God's Word. Gabriel is most well known for preparing Mary for Jesus' birth (Luke 1:26-38); he was also called to speak to Daniel about a vision (Dan 8:16).

The last (ex)angel, Lucifer, served God in worship, like many of us. I find it quite uncomfortable to be compared with the devil, but the truth is that we we need to keep on our toes against vanity and pride.

Ezekiel 28:12-14 tells us that Lucifer was a beautiful creature:
"You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.. every precious stone adorned you... Your settings and mountings were made of gold; You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones".

In the same way, musicians can look quite good on stage, and do get quite abit of attention from their friends. I do get abit of 'fame' in church, from people recognising (recognising, not admiring!) me from playing the guitar. When I meet friend's friends in church, I'm always introduced as the guy who plays the guitar on stage, like its something cool.

The attention can get to one's head, as was with the devil:
"Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor" (Eze 28:17).

Satan himself has walked down the path of pride, and tempting people into self-glorification could very well be his most powerful weapon against us. After all, it was what led to the first sin and the separation between man and God. As a result, musicians are very exposed to his temptations. We must guard our hearts and minds, and constantly walk down the path of humility. We must also see ourselves not as musicians, or worse, rock stars, but first and foremost servants of the Lord.

Look forward not to your friends' praises, but to the Lord's delight in you. James 4:10 tells us to "humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you". Imagine finally coming before the throne of God - seeing His glory, we prostrate in unworthiness before Him. Yet, God comes to us, brings us back to our feet, and tells us that He is proud of us, for putting Him before our pride. Just as Ps 84:10 writes that "better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere", better is one word of praise from the Lord than to have fame amongst the multitudes.

On a more practical level, here are two tips:

• The small things matter. There's alot of 'menial' work in the ministry, like hauling amps and mixers around. You might also feel reluctant to serve for smaller services, like prayer meetings. Take up your cross and serve in these areas wholeheartedly.
• Deflect & avoid attention. Sometimes, my friends say I 'perform' on stage. I usually tell them, light-heartedly of course, that I prefer to use the word 'serving'. Also, don't do anything that gets you too much attention on stage, e.g. running to the front during a guitar solo.

posted by kenny on Monday, February 09, 2009