Identified With Christ, Not Sin

Identified With Christ, Not Sin

The Old Covenant reminds you of your sins, because your conscience is evil (Heb 10:2-3). You live each day conscious of your sins. It keeps you bringing daily sacrifices to God, where you realise that you are sinful and helpless.

The Old Covenant points you to the need of a Saviour, Jesus Christ.

The New Covenant reminds you of your righteousness, because your conscience is perfected (Heb 10:22). You live each day conscious of the Son. It keeps you bringing daily thanksgiving to God, where you realise that you are a beloved son and victorious.

The New Covenant points you to who you are in Christ and who He is in you.

But as it is, He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. - Heb 9:26

The word 'put away' in Greek means 'annulment', 'rendered no longer in effect'.

Christ offered Himself once and for all to annul sin and render sin no longer in effect. This is why it is impossible for God to punish you for sins. This is called Double Jeopardy.

Your sickness is not a punishment from God.

Your loss of loved ones is not a punishment from God.

Your trauma is not a punishment from God.

Your pain, rejection and abandonment is not a a punishment from God.

Your town facing natural disaster is not a punishment from God.

Not everything in your life happens for a reason or a good purpose. Stop believing in these religious lies. There is another world (called the kingdom of darkness) at work. It's bent at destroying you. And it is not God.

Because sin has been dealt with (Heb 9:27-28), it is no longer in you. You can't make any further sacrifice/offering for your sins, because it would then be a reminder that your conscience had not been purified by the works of Christ on the Cross.

Instead, if you stumble, remind yourself of who you are in Christ. Thank God for a good and clear conscience that is completely free from guilt, so that you can walk as close to Him as possible. 

The most secured son walks the closest to the Father.

Your Conscience Is Perfected

Your Conscience Is Perfected

According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper... - Heb 9:9

The Old Covenant could not perfect our conscience. Hence, the New Covenant had to be introduced by God (Heb 8).

In the Greek, the word 'conscience' used in Heb 9:9 refers "to perfect one that his own conscience is satisfied, i.e. that he can regard himself as free from guilt."

In other words, if your conscience is perfected, you are free from guilt, because you no longer need to have any consciousness of evil aka sin.

Since Christ has perfected our conscience (Heb 10:22), we can live everyday free from guilt because we are free from the consciousness of sin.

People say that you need to be conscious of your sins so that you can confess your sins and ask God for forgiveness.

You are not forgiven because you cried, felt sorry, confessed your sins, or repented, or even uttered a sinner's prayer. You are forgiven because Christ's blood was shed on the Cross. (Heb 9:22)

Confession is to acknowledge and agree with what God said. And what God said about you is what He did through Christ.

Repentance is to turn away from the consciousness of you and step into the consciousness of Christ. It's to turn away from the consciousness of sin and step into the consciousness of Son.

This is why it's called changing your mind. You remove yours and change to the mind of Christ.

When we believe that Christ has perfected our conscience and we can live free from guilt everyday, we are walking in repentance.

This is a precious gift in the New Covenant. Don't go back to the obsoleted covenant.

To The UV Community

To The UV Community

Over the past 3 years, I have had individuals contacting me as they have left their churches due to V. They were hurt and disappointed with their pastors and leadership.

There are many more as I see and hear from various groups.

I can share this as one whose family is completely UV; who went through the discrimination; the insane lock-down from entering any location; buying our field chairs and table to eat in the park and open field; prevented from entering a church service when a church is supposed to walk in faith and power, etc.

We forgave. Forgiveness is not a choice. It's a command. When we see the Cross, we know that Grace is present to forgive everyone.

For the UV Christian community, I would say this, "No church is perfect. The moment you enter, a perfect church becomes imperfect." 

Forgive your pastors. Forgive your leaders. They do not know better. They are just as 'humans' as we are. When we get hurt by them, it's because we unknowingly worship them. They are no better than anyone in the eyes of God. They are not more holy, nor more powerful than any son and daughter of God. They are just given a function to work in His kingdom and are just doing the best that they know how.

It's good to go back to your community. You are there for Christ and because of Christ. Don't let a pastor's/leader's mistake become the source of your rebellion. We are submitted to Christ and His kingdom.

Let's not do things for the sake of rebellion. Rebellion is witchcraft in the Bible.

For me, I'm wired the way I am by God. It is not just about the V. My wife has always joked that I'm weird and do things different from people.

The difference between my wife's age (she's my senior) and mine broke social norms. We chose homeschooling and it broke social norms. We are a UV family and it broke social norms. We left institution (not because we are hurt by leadership) and it broke social norms. The way I do things broke social norms, not that I purposely wanted to, but there are things that I see differently. I can honestly share that it is not rebellion.

I sat with a group of pastors and leaders in a meeting and I felt totally out of place, because the ministry conversations were totally different from my understanding of ministry ever since I understood the Kingdom. It felt weird especially when I had been in full-time church ministry.

I preached in churches and some never invited me back again because I would say that my theology on healing wrecked theirs and they couldn't accept it.

That's who I am. I'm glad though, that there are a few crazy ones whom I know personally too.

I haven't gone back to an institution, not because I want to rebel, but there is nothing out there that I fit in. I don't want to create an issue with the things I do if I were inside an institution, such as entering funerals trying to raise the dead (if the family permits). But I'm still in a community. And I still send my son to a church service because he wanted to go.

Therefore, I encourage us... the UV believers... return to your community (if it fits you) and forgive your pastors and leaders. The grace of God be with you all.

Relationships & Truth

We are relational beings. And since love covers multitudes of sins, the deeper our relationship is with others, the more we are willing to overlook their wrongs.

This is why we are quick to judge outsiders and slow to recognise the weaknesses and wrongs of those closer to us.

I would say that if we don't have a deeper relationship with someone, be slow to point out what we think is wrong. Because what we think might not be what it is, in the absence of relationship and communion. We often misinterpret what the person is saying because of a lack of true understanding.

On the other hand, we need to point out what is wrong with the person whom we have deeper relationship with, by taking a step back and observe what is truth. We tend to overlook that in the presence of familiarity.

While Jesus is Love (1 Jn 4:8), He is also Truth (Jn 14:6). This is why Paul taught us to speak the Truth in Love (Eph 4:15).

Because if we truly love someone, we need to let him know the truth. This is regardless of his status, whether he is a CEO, a Senior Pastor, a high ranking official, etc.

If we only give truths to those who are not "higher" in function/role than us, it's not biblical love. It comes from a condescending spirit, rooted in the fear of men.

There is a healthy tension between relationships (love) and truth. When we want to be quick to judge someone, ask, "Do I need to build a deeper relationship with the person first?" 

When we have a deeper relationship with someone, ask, "Are there truths that I should speak to the person but have overlooked them?"

The Struggle Of Parenting Gen Alpha

The Struggle Of Parenting

As homeschooling parents, we have purposed to do things different from social norm. We want to impart good values to our kid (though we are not perfect). This is the reason for homeschooling in the first place.

For J, it is sometimes, a struggle to break away from his circle of homeschooling friends. Yes, we need to keep finding the right community. Most of his male friends, despite homeschooling, are stuck with both handheld (including mobile) games and console games.

We have been intentional in avoiding/delaying J from those stuff. Yet when he's with his group of friends at homeschooling lessons/activities, he couldn't help but feel lonely, because he couldn't play them, and thus, could not connect on those topics. There were many times when he felt left out as he shared with us.

Once someone takes out the mobile device, the whole social communication/interaction vanishes. The rest of the boys will all focus on the mobile games.

Welcome to Gen Z and Gen Alpha where social media & games (for boys) are everything. The set of struggles for girls will be different from boys.

We cannot blame the homeschool parents, for the role of homeschooling mums are most tiring as compared to SAH mums and working mums. I say this in general.

SAH mums whose kids go to schools have the best privilege of daily "me" time and self-cares. Again, I say this in general.

Working mums have the privilege of taking a break from their kids.

Homeschooling mums are constantly revolving around the kids. There is no daily "me" time or regular breaks from the kids. The engagement is almost 24/7. By the time when the kid goes to bed, the mum is already exhausted.

This is the reason why we cannot fault homeschooling mums for allowing their kids to play mobile/console games. Because when the kids' attention is drawn away from the mum, the mum is able to take a breather and rest.

It will be so easy for us to simply let J play mobile/handheld games. It makes our lives way easier. It removes the struggle of him trying to fit in with his circle of friends.

But we need to be firm and unwavering. We need to remind ourselves the purpose of homeschooling. The pressure and social conformity might be strong in this nation, but how we navigate this as parents, and how we build tenacity and values in our child is true empowerment.

We are empowering him for the future. We are empowering him to say "No" to what is not beneficial. We are empowering him to resist temptations. We are empowering not to be conformed, but to reform. We are empowering him to be a leader, not a follower. We are empowering him to be different from the majority so that he can go after God and the narrow path, even if it is difficult.

The struggle is real at times, but we must look beyond the present into the future. We cannot mould him into what we want him to be. But we can provide the platform for him to step into who he could be. By His grace.

Do What We Preach

My son passed me a sweet dessert to have a bite.

I said, "No. I don't like sweet stuff. You can enjoy it."

He replied, "Everything must try. That's what you always say to me."

Since I have said that, I had to swallow back my words and take a bite.

Fathering requires you to do what you preach. It forces NATO out of your life because you have a mini mirror (aka your child) reminding you what you have said.

Humility & Honour

There is more to write about certain pastors today (happens to be another's birthday), whom I had personal encounters with. Yeah most people only see the elevated part.

I got to see how insecure they are, while they fiercely preach on identity and minister like superstars.

Not pointing fingers. That's why we are not naming anyone.

It continues to show that we are all on the same level playing field, regardless of your ministry achievements, public affirmation and spiritual title/position.

All are but sons and daughters. All are growing unto His likeness. All have NO superiority over one another because Christ is the only Supreme Authority and the only Superstar.

Therefore, we shall walk in humility and honour towards one another, especially the least and the unknown, who can bring no value to us.

There is no double honour needed for elders and pastors (1 Tim 5:17) except for those who 'rule well'. In Greek, it means 'to have character which provides the needed model to direct others and the excellence by living in faith.'

Have been reading the book of Timothy, so pardon me for these posts.

True Humility

Years ago before the School of Power and Love SG conference, I went up to a Senior Pastor, trying to thank him for assisting us to publicise the event. He gave the "don't come and disturb me" expression and wanted to quickly brush me aside.

During the conference, he came up to me one day and gave a sarcastic remark, saying, "Pastor, I need to go off earlier. Sorry I can't attend the full day." Well, he knew that I'm not a pastor. I'm just a volunteer hosting School of Power and Love SG.

In School of Power and Love SG, we intentionally refused to elevate any pastor but gave everyone the same treatment ---- it is the main message of identity and sonship. But I guess some including him got offended.

Yeah others might see him as a humble pastor but I saw more things and much deeper about leadership (and some pastors) in this conference.

Humility is not based on how you "humble" yourself by treating others of similar position. True humility is revealed by how you treat the least and the unknown.

Btw today happens to be his birthday. Jesus still loves him. Amen.

The Word Delivers

The Word Delivers

For a period of time, my son was afraid of Halloween and the picture of skeletons. He's generally more sensitive (and imaginative) to stuff since he was born. I believe he's a seer.

I gave him a lot of the Word to memorise, confess and believe. But it didn't help him to break free from this fear. It did, however, build a foundation in which the voice of God can come through.

One day, I took him aside and asked him to confront this issue with God together. We prayed and waited for the Holy Spirit to speak to him.

He saw a sword that grew bigger and it slayed a skeleton to pieces. And the verse that appeared in the sword is 'I will be with you wherever you go, Joshua 1:9."

Love (Joshua 1:9) produces faith that extinguishes the fiery darts that come against you.

From that day onwards, he broke free from the fear of skeletons.

The Word delivers when the Word becomes real to you. Hearing from God without the Word can result in unstable faith, tossed around by every circumstance. 

But hearing from God with the Word builds an unwavering faith that is stable in every situation.

I have seen too many strong prophetic people who are weak in the Word. I don't think it has to be the way.

My desire is to build a strong foundation of the Word in my son's life so that he can move in the power of the Spirit that is based on truths.

Genealogies (Curses)

Genealogies (Curses)

Generation curses are not biblical. In fact, it is not even found in the Old Testament, though most teachings on this topic gather their verses from the Old Testament.

What we could see in the Old Testament is simply negative parenting/modeling resulting in repeated behaviours of the future generations.

Paul was determined to teach the Gospel of Christ. This is what he said to Timothy...

"...you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. - 1 Tim 1:3-4

The word 'genealogies' in Greek refers to 'tracing by generations'. Titus 3:9 says that it is useless and worthless.

Why? It promotes speculations rather than the stewardship (aka administration) from God that is BY FAITH.

If we continue to teach and believe in generation curses, we are tracing by generations, promoting speculation rather than the Gospel of Christ which is walked and lived BY FAITH.

There is so much authority and power in Christ delegated to every believer. We need to stop finding excuses for our behaviours and patterns because the past generations have NO HOLD on us if we decide to walk differently.

Fallen From Grace

Fallen From Grace

"You have fallen from grace."

This is a phrase we hear over and over again when a spiritual, public figure's sin is exposed.

But this is not Bible.

To fall from grace is to not about sinning and missing the mark. To fall from grace is to go after works and live by the Law.

You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. - Gal 5:4

This is the only passage in the Bible that talks about falling from grace. You can't fall from grace regardless of how you sin. Because when you were a sinner, His grace reached out to you. 

The only way to fall from grace is to depend on your works, achievements and ministry performance. Because you turn Christ into a religion.

You and I can never fall from grace if we continue to cling onto Christ as our salvation. The public figures in ministries might have sinned (just as you have sinned), but they can never fall from grace if they keep holding onto Christ.

The sin that the public figures committed is no different from the sin that we committed. Theirs are exposed publicly. Ours are kept privately. If we get the chance to be exalted to their position, ours will be exposed publicly.

The fact that we are surprised by the sins of those prominent, public figures only reveal one thing ----- we exalted them beyond Christ. We worshiped them unknowingly. Our eyes failed to focus on the God of Man. Instead, we focus on the Men of God.

If we truly understand identity, everyone is on the same level playing field, regardless of whether you are a pastor, prophet, evangelist, apostle or whatever public figure. There is no exaltation and elevation needed except Christ and Christ alone. Period.

The Three Things

The Three Things

John shared three things that separate a believer from the world.

1 John 2:16 - For all that is in the world — the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life — is not from the Father but is from the world.

1) What your eyes see and desire ---- ENVY

2) What your soul and body feel and desire ---- LUST

3) What you have achieved and accumulated ---- POSSESSIONS

In my world of real estate, posting about awards (commission earned) and achievements/accolades falls straight into the category of the pride of life (possessions). John was very clear about it. It is not from the Father, but is from the world.

The three things are the barometer of whether we love the world or the Father. If we keep ourselves away from these three things that will pass away with the world, our hearts will be prevented from lukewarm Christianity.

H2H Talk Over Girls

Had a H2H talk with my son walking down the streets at night.

Was educating him about girls with sexy dresses revealing their cleavage and exposing almost half of their breasts. For he asked me why they would dress this way.

Initially, he said that he didn't like these kinds of girls. But I wanted to know how he genuinely felt seeing them.

He said, "It feels weird. I don't know how to explain it." But he was curious (as he is growing up).

Then I started explaining to him about the Fall, how men, by nature, are drawn to cleavage and breasts. But Jesus has empowered us to live a new way --- by living from the spirit, to the soul and to the body (sight) instead of the normal way of living from the body to the soul and spirit.

Having the Spirit inside us, we now can decide how to live, whether from the spirit or from the body.

Also educated him about ladyboys. When we were taking the train, we saw a ladyboy and I highlighted it to him.

Then I told him to do his devotion on the train, since communion with God can be on the move, even when there are people around.

He shared what he saw in a vision.

"I saw a ring that dropped into the drain. A person tried to search and find it but he couldn't. After trying for a long time, he gave up."

I said, "Can you ask the Holy Spirit what it meant?"

He then added, "It's about a man losing hope and giving up."

I asked, "Can you ask the Spirit who this person is?"

He prayed for a while but couldn't seem to get it.

So I hinted, "Who was the last person you were looking at?"

Suddenly it dawned on him that God was speaking to him about the ladyboy sitting in the train.

I added, "He was straight. But he lost a relationship. It broke his heart deeply. He tried to salvage it but failed. So he gave up hope about a BGR relationship and became a ladyboy. You have heard God correctly."

The Spirit of God is always searching for someone who is ready to listen to Him. Communion reveals His heart and it can be done anywhere, anytime. We just need to lean in and listen.

Fathering work involves Him. The more we allow Him to father us and the more we learn to be His son, the more we learn how to father our child.

Making A Stand

Making A Stand

The heart of homeschooling is to impart life and values to the children where the institution can't. We can't blame the institution because it is impossible to do so in a class of 40 students. It is not their job.

It's the parents' responsibility to grow and nurture their own children. Similarly, it's not the church institution's job to disciple our children. It is impossible to do so in the crowd. It's the parents' own responsibility.

For this reason, we chose homeschooling, so that we can be actively involved in parenting. This also means that we have to make a stand from time to time, both towards our child and other parents.

Recently, my wife had to make a stand regarding some matters as J was constantly exposed to some stuff by other kids in the homeschooling activities.

If we compromise, it would defeat the purpose of homeschooling. We might as well send J back into the institution.

She shared with me, "Sometimes, I guess we have to be ready to lose some friendships when we make a stand."

I replied, "That's totally fine. In life, we have to make a stand from time to time, and if those friendships are not meant to be, so be it."

Jesus never compromised for the sake of friendships. When He made His stand, many left Him. Only a few stood by Him. On the Cross, only John stood near. If not for Jesus making His stand, we would not have been sozo-ed.

Relationships are important, but not at the expense of conviction and truths. Don't build your life around relationships. Build your life around conviction and truths, and those valued relationships will find you.

Homeschooling Exams

Homeschooling Exams

Taking his first academic (MOE) exam in life. Compulsory for homeschoolers from 10 years old onwards.

As a homeschooler, he gets to go for his Karate class, chill in Orchard during the weekend before exams, and he gets to enjoy lunch and play with his friends right after each paper.

***Photo taken after two Math papers while Science and Chinese papers are up and coming.

Academic exams are purely events in life but they are not the proof of life. Life is way more than academic exams.

Real life begins when exams end. Because life encompasses exams which are not events (non-academic) but processes. You get to take them over and over again until you learn to overcome that test of life.

We want our son to walk through the processes needed for his life to become what God wants him to be and do.

Study -> Academic Exams -> Go vacation and play -> Rinse and Repeat every year is NOT the way of life. It might be the general life of a Singaporean child but we have determined in our hearts to give him a purpose in life.

This is why we chose homeschooling to defy the social norms. Challenging, time consuming, yet fulfilling.

Shout out to my wife for teaching him and preparing him for the compulsory event (academic exams) in SG!