1 John

9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
This is both comforting and guilt trip. I prayed for years to find acceptance in the church even though I didn't know God at the time, yet he still answered.  Through scripture no matter how many times we break our promises to him, he's consistently faithful. He can never betray his own character. I am saved through grace and in a way I can wrongfully take advantage of this, "God will forgive me if I lie, manipulate, objectify, make unproductive use of my time" or "this will be the last time". True repentance means i'm committing to change, not just refraining from sin but HATING it. I can't refrain from temptation in a justifiable manner if the intention isn't backed up by God, and usually my change is temporary as I fall under it over and over again. I need to consistently pray for God to make me love him more than myself because whatever technique i'm doing since the cut off, hasn't been going very well. 

James 2

This chapter definitely challenges the state of our Church's welcoming culture. Very often I fall into the trap of only taking interest or approach to people who would benefit me personally. This is dangerous to my effectiveness to God because it can drag me back to my consumer christianity. Attending Cheil for the purpose of gratifying my needs if something I never ever wish to go back to.

Forge Fellowship // Manhood Requires Brotherhood day 6

This definitely speaks to me more than the other entries. I show favoritism by a landmile, i’m exclusive who i evangelise to and who I open up to. Untrusting of others is my main motivation.

If I believe the Body of Christ to be nondiscriminatory then God wants us to work with each no matter our economic status, walks of life etc. I’ve been a Christian for probably less than a year now and yet I’ve still been protective of myself. A changed life visibly seen through others is a natural byproduct of true faith.

Forge Fellowship // Manhood Requires Brotherhood day 5

If i were to love God, I would be naturally inclined to follow his commandments and that would be to seek and maintain relationships with fellow brothers even if it’s awkward. The beauty of the Body of Christ is that it is made up of people from various walks of life, we can get to learn that God can work individually in us all differently. This would increase our knowledge of God sovereign power and grace.

Forge Fellowship // Manhood Requires Brotherhood day 4

I'm often paranoid of what people will think of me, hoping that I'd get the recognition for my self benefit. But here Peter reminds us to accept recognition from God as far more of personal value than human recognition. I need to humbly obey even if it breaks my pride with current circumstances. 

This is a reality check for me wherever I go. I'm extra needy but extra cautious at the same time, therefore nothing becomes achieved. Even if my good intentions might be met with awkwardness or rejection, I should remind myself that my labours do not go in vain. I need to reflect more on 1 Corinthians 15:58

God's Joy in Jesus: Devotions with John Piper day 5

Just the day earlier I was reminded that God keeps His promises and today solidifies it. John 14:1-3 and John 20:31 encapsulates this perfectly his faithfulness. The gospel contains everything we need to know about how to maintain our relationship with God and so I hope we can all start to place more if not all of our security in this. There is no need to worry, our trials and tribulations and trivial in the eternal scale, God will still keep our room for us if we disappoint him. Let us remind ourselves to be joyful!

God's Joy in Jesus: Devotions with John Piper day 2

Throughout my life I've valued the loyalty of bad people as my security, and although my brothers and sisters were loyal till the end our lifestyle would be short-lived and difficult in the long run. Even though i’ve left that life, it would be a lie to say that my reliance and love is 100% on Jesus as i'm frequently reminiscing on the pagan activities left behind. As cheesy as this message is, Jesus is the most important thing to value in life. When life becomes frustrating we have some sort of entitlement that things should go our way, there is no justified reason possible for our day to be ruined. But when we abide our mind according to scripture Jesus never disappoints, He never break His promises, He will always be with you (Joshua 1:9). To abide by Jesus in genuine love despite eternally petty hardships is what I envy of others most. And so I hope that something as simple as Bible reading will break and humble me before my God like it used to when I first gave up my life for Him

God's Joy in Jesus: Devotions with John Piper

Apologies for the day late entry, i'm looking forward to growing with you all these next 4 days!!!
Surprisingly enough, many of the people I know of whom who are most hungry for God suffer from a sort of depressive or melancholy mindset. For me personally to read, pray or even sing about God in a joyful manner is one of the most difficult things to do. We can view and treat ourselves as so low sometimes that we become inefficient for growing fruit. Just like how Moses lectured and gave over his leadership to Joshua (Deuteronomy 31:8) I believe that we should also take into account that Matthew 25:23 commands us NOT to let our self pity take ahold of our mind as it can distract us of our responsibilities. What was given to us through the cross should be enough to make us live thankfully.

Cheil Sermon 5th Nov

John 10: 1-10

• the most ancient type of bullying is 'religion'
• instead of using the Torah to guide peoples love and admiration for God, they made it increasingly difficult (adding more unnecessary rules made worshipping God more and more obligation)
• Jesus is the gate for the sheep, not rules or religion
• Jesus doesn't just say he's God, but proves it and then confirms it. Light of the world (brings sight to a blind man) and bread of life (feeding thousands with three loafs)
• verse 4 - we will know to understand God's speaking to us through his word. And in turn we will hear His word through our daily activities.

Forge Fellowship // Manhood Requires Brotherhood day 3

1 Timothy 5:8 - Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
This made me think a lot about my Mother, she consistently places my Father and I ahead as more important than herself. She's the only one of us who grew up in a nurturing white neighbourhood where words of Affirmation was common place. In this household, this is not the case. My Father and and I typically don't thank or congratulate each other for what is initially expected of us. While I perform my duties by doing chores, showing a respective attitude etc, I doubt this is enough to make my Mother satisfied. Loving words is a foreign language to me, unless it's said in my banter  (which would be very inappropriate in a Christian household), I'm not sure how this can change except to willingly put myself in uncomfortable situations. 

As for her family, majority being alcoholic bogans who I see on average once a year, I've never been motivated or made effort into being vocally gospel to them. They might be uncomfortable or offended with my views especially since we never see each other, this truth is for their benefit. I don't contribute to my family very well. 

Forge Fellowship // Manhood Requires Brotherhood day 2

Philippians 2: 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

God has placed me in a position to live and work in one of the most multicultural suburbs in Australia. Meeting a Christian worker here is a rarity and despite spending a large portion of my time and money to be a missionary, I'm not evangelising to my fellow community. While I do make my best efforts contribute to the workforce, I'm not contributing to others in the scale of eternity. 

There are multiple reasons why I don't evangelise.
1. The large majority of Non-christians intimidates me as well as I'm one of the few white workers
2. I don't think Cheil will welcome my colleagues due to lack of interest and prejudice against Indians/arabs etc. 

Despite these reasons being founded on past observations, this is selfish of me. Something which is so trivial that prevents me from being vocal on the gospel shows how much I can't comprehend and not appreciate my salvation.