1 John 1:6-10

6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do
not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have
fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all
sin.  8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 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 has no place in our lives.

Meditation:
1. Confession: Sharing our deepest weaknesses and failures with God and
trusted others, so that we may enter into God’s grace and mercy and
experience His ready forgiveness and healing.
2. God is light. In order to be in fellowship with God and fellow believers, we
need to enter into God’s light and to live accordingly. Those who had left the
fellowship claim they are without sin, but not the faithful. We must admit
that we do sin and need Jesus to forgive and cleanse us from sin so that we
may continue walking in the light “as he himself is in the light”.
3. Pray: Am I struggling with some sin? What deeper bondage is still not
released? Does my guilt hold me back from Jesus? Talk to him about this.
Now sit silently, listen for Jesus’ response. What is his desire for me?

Personal Note:
At the retreat, through the messages and activities and prayer with brothers and sisters, I am being revealed of the sins and darkness that needs to be released through the light of God.  The main message I received was that I am to dwell in my identity as God's beloved son before getting on with doing ministry, planning, teaching, etc. I pray for all brothers and sisters to have the courage to take up the commitment made at the retreat starting today and throughout the week.

Devo John 16:7-15

7But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away,
the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8When he
comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness
and judgment: 9in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10in regard
to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no
longer; 11and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now
stands condemned. 12”I have much more to say to you, more than you can now
bear. 13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.
He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell
you what is yet to come. 14He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine
and making it known to you. 15All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why
I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

Meditation
1. The Holy Spirit has three ministries to the world. In regard to sin: the essence
of sin is unbelief (v9). Our trust in Jesus contrasts the world’s rejection of
Him, this confirms its guilt. In regard to righteousness: the ultimate standard
of righteousness is God Himself, expressed in Jesus, whose claims have
been vindicated by His return to the Father’s side(v 10). Though men see
Jesus no longer, His character is displayed in believers’ Christlike lives. We
continually exhibit the gap that exists between sinners and the Lord. In
regard to judgment: The Cross and Resurrection – the reality of which are
seen in the believer who lives his life in Jesus’ resurrection power (Rm 8:11),
proves unequivocally that Satan is a defeated foe. Thus the world system he
dominates is an empty sham.
2. There is nothing we can do to convict the world we live in. It is our lives,
infused by the Spirit’s power and displaying heaven’s grace, that boldly
proclaim the judgment of our God.
3. Thank the Holy Spirit for His guidance in helping me to live out the Christlike
life daily.

Personal Note:
It is the Holy Spirit that convicts me of my sins and disobedience to God.  It is also the Holy Spirit that convicts anyone of their sins and disobedience to God.  I pray that as I continue to model after Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit will go ahead of me to work in the lives of the people whom I will have contact with.  I pray that my thoughts and actions are completely guided by the Holy Spirit.

Devo John 8:1-11

1But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2At dawn he appeared again in the
temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to
teach them. 3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman
caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4and said to Jesus,
“Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses
commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6They were
using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus
bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept
on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is
without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8Again he stooped down
and wrote on the ground. 9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a
time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing
there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no
one condemned you?” 11”No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn
you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Meditation
1. Imagine myself in the crowd that day. Picture the embarrassed and ashamed
expression on the woman’s face. Hear the condescending voices of the
religious leaders. Feel the dirt blowing against me as Jesus bends down and
writes something in it.
2. Come honestly before God and ask the Spirit to reveal to me the sins I’ve
engaged in recently. Then imagine myself in the same situation as this
woman. I’m caught in this sin, exposed. Imagine me and Jesus having the
same conversation: “Does no one condemn you?” “No one, Master.” He
looks me in the eye. “Neither do I. Go on your way. From now on don’t sin.”
What am I feeling? Thinking?

Personal Note:
God has forgiven me all of my sins! All of my greed, lust, pride, indifference, envy, and all sorts of wicked thoughts are forgiven through Jesus Christ, who absorbed God's wrath on all of my sins.  I feel like an heavy burden is lifted off my shoulder!

1 John 5:13-21

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
 16 If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.

 18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. 19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

 21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

Introduction and Background on 1 John 5

Why did I choose this for devotion this morning?  As we celebrate Christ rose from the dead and alive in our lives, we are looking into the implications for us.  This passage is an awesome reminder of the live that we are promised with in light of Christ's resurrection.

In the beginning of the chapter 5, we are reminded that everyone who believes Jesus Christ is the saviour who died and overcame death for the purpose of forgiving our sins are children of God.  Regarding the testimony from Spirit, blood, and water, the testimony of the manifestation (showing) of the Spirit, atonement for sin from crucifixion of Christ, and baptism of Jesus and his followers in water are testimony from God.

Reflection on 1 John 5:13

Why did John write this letter?
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (v.13)

Does God listen and answer our prayers?
Having Eternal life is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. (v.14-15)

How can a sin not lead to death (v.16)? Recall (The wages of sin is death... Romans 6:23)
Our new nature of being children of God is our real identity.  As we expected, Satan will use our old nature to tempt us, causing us to fall and stumble into sin.  This sin does not lead to death, but how do we reconcile with Romans 6:23?  We reconcile the verse in Romans 6:23 by knowing it completely.  The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:8-9).  When we stumble to sin, confess to God right the way, and the Spirit will lead us to live a life that is more like Christ.

What should we do when we see a brother or sister commit a sin?
a) Condemn him or her and never talk to him or her again in order to preserve purity
b) Gossip and let the rest of the group know to shame him or her for repentance
c) Pray for him or her to repent and trust that God will give him or her life
d) Nothing and keep on being encouraging to him or her

What are the characteristics of people who are born of God?
We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him (v.18)

Who has given us meaning and security?

We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true.  It is the eternal life we have through Christ that gives us true meaning and security (v.20).

Application

1. During your prayer time, ask God for more faith and pray more boldly for things according to his will.

2. When you see a brother or sister sinning, (prideful/rude words, gossips, uncaring towards others, etc), ask God to guide him or her to repent so he or she can experience life

3. Pray and give thanks that we are God's children, and pray for three of your friends' salvation so they can have eternal life in Christ.

1 Peter 4:1-6

 1Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same
attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2As a result,
he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for
the will of God. 3For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans
choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and
detestable idolatry. 4They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into
the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. 5But they will have
to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6For this
is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that
they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according
to God in regard to the spirit.

Reflection:
1. Peter describes the Roman world of his day as a society that has lost its mind
in excess.  Violence, oppression, cruelty, the abuse of power, and sexual
insanity dominate the landscape.  How is it possible for Christians to maintain
sexual sanity in a sexually overheated society?  At school, teens ridicule
Christian young people for not being involved in drinking and premarital sex.
Coworkers can’t understand why we don’t stop off at the local bar after work
to get drunk on Friday night.  And yet so many non-Christians quite sincerely
ask, “What do you do for fun?” They think it strange that we don’t plunge
with them into the same flood of dissipation.
2. And, as Peter warned, they “heap abuse on you.”  When that happens,
remember that you have been transformed by the love of Jesus.  With God’s
help, I will determine to be done with sin.  And my calling is to do the “will
of God”(v2)—to speak the truth of the gospel into the lives of those who do
not  yet know Christ as Lord.
3. Take some time to be silent before God and reflect:  How big is the influence
of the world, its trend, culture or value, to me? How can I live my life out
in contrast with those around me, but continue to pursue God’s mission in
building restored relationships with them?

Personal Note:
What makes me different than people of this world?  Do I follow the same trend, culture, and value?

For example, the world value individual that climbs the social ladder with education, career advancement, wealth, and status for bringing glory to the individual.  Jesus Christ value followers that reaches down the social ladder by using the gift of education, career, resources, and influences for brining the good news of Christ as part of God's work of redemption.

Hebrews 9:23-28

 23It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified
with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices
than these. 24For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a
copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s
presence. 25Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way
the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his
own. 26Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of
the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do
away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27Just as man is destined to die once,
and after that to face judgment, 28so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the
sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to
bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

MEDITATION
1. There was a kidney patient, whose dialysis machine kept him alive.  Yet he
dreaded the process.  The kidney dialysis machine that kept him alive also
reminded him of his illness.  He was not free, but bound to return to the
machine to have his blood purified his again and again.  Away from it, his
sickness quickly took hold on his body, and sapped all his strength.
2. That’s just what Hebrews 9 says about the Old Testament system (vv 6-9).
The repeated sacrifices of the Old Testament system reminded worshipers
of their continuing desperate condition.  But, the one sacrifice of Christ
reminds us of His total victory.  The blood of Christ has cleansed us from all
sin!  By one sacrifice Jesus has made us well, and guaranteed victory!  We
are the lame, called to leap and dance.  We are the blind, called to see.  We
are the deaf who now hear.  By the once for all sacrifice of Jesus, we are
forgiven, made well, and called to face life rejoicing in the assurance that the
victory we need has already been won!
3. Do I let Christ’s one sacrifice free me to live confidently and joyously?  Do I
let myself be dragged back into sin by the weight of my past?  Remember,
because of Jesus, the past has no hold on me anymore.  Thank God for this.

Personal Note:
Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross is sufficient for me.  I am free to live confidently and joyously.  I am no longer bound by the sins of the past.

Ephesians 2:1-10

 1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used
to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom
of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us
also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature
and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects
of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made
us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace
you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with
him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he
might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to
us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and
this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one
can boast. 10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good
works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Meditation
1. Works are to faith as exhaling is to inhaling. They complete the gift of
salvation. Good works are not what we do to win salvation; they are what
we do to demonstrate and enjoy it. Followers of Jesus have for the longest
time been perplexed by the relationship between faith and works. However,
Jesus said, “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”(John
13:17)
2. Does my behaviour demonstrate to others my faith in Jesus Christ? What are
the things that I know but have not done? Ask the Holy Spirit to show me
how to actually do these good works.

Personal Note:
I am in the midst of planning for strategies and actions for this year.  I can create a wonderful plan, but without action and actually doing it, it is a complete waste of time.  I am called to courageously lead and invite brothers and sisters to do the will of God.  I am called to care and love the people I lead.  I am called to pray and invite my unbelieving friends to fellowship so they can know Christ.

Mark 2:1-12

 1A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that
he had come home. 2So many gathered that there was no room left, not even
outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3Some men came, bringing
to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. 4Since they could not get him to Jesus
because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after
digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. 5When Jesus
saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6Now some
teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7”Why does this
fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
8Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in
their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9Which
is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take
your mat and walk’? 10But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority
on earth to forgive sins . . . .” He said to the paralytic, 11”I tell you, get up, take
your mat and go home.” 12He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of
them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never
seen anything like this!”

Meditation
1. God has called us not only to individual spiritual formation, but to be formed
into communities of faith too. We pray for one another and work for the
healing and wholeness of others, just as this paralytic’s four friends help him
receive the healing he needs.
2. Prayer: Dear Lord, how I desire the mutual love, care and sacrificial support
between this paralytic and his friends. I hope that there will be similar
relationships between me and my cell members so that we may all receive
healings in our body, emotion, spiritual life, daily life……

Personal Note:
It is our desire in Crossroad that brothers and sisters may all receive healing in our body, emotion, and spiritual life.  Friends who care and pray for one another are necessary for our mutual growth.

Romans 7:18-25

18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have
the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the
good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now
if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in
me that does it.
 21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.
22For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23but I see another law at work
in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making
me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched
man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—
through Jesus Christ our Lord!
 So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a
slave to the law of sin.

Meditation
1. There is no use looking for a “secret” to the spiritual life that exempts us from
trouble and conflict, defeat and doubt, despair and inadequacy.  No doubt we
are “at war” (v23).  There are fierce difficulties with the resurrection life.  Have
I uttered the cry as Paul did: “Who will rescue me”?
2. Read slowly:
God uses failure, sickness, breakdown, sin, personal tragedy, and sorrow to reduce
His people to usefulness.  Unless the servant of God learns to depend utterly on
God and to forsake self-dependence of any kind, he or she remains too strong to be
of much value.  – Robert C. Girard
3. Prayer
Lord, I come humbly to you and admit that I am weak, cold and easy to fall
into sin.  Depending on myself, I will only be worse and sink deeper. Thank
you for your salvation and the continued deliverance that I will be able to
overcome sin and temptation.  Thank you, Lord.

Personal Note:
We all need a saviour.  At various times in my life, I have choose different things to "save me" and rescue my self esteem.  In the past, I chose to rely on myself to save myself.  I tried to save myself by being a smart student, having a high paying job, appearing to be cool and popular, and seeking to feel secure from having a girlfriend.  Of course, when I depended on those things instead of depend on God, I failed, broke down, sin,  and I went into sorrow and defeat.  I repented and realized that on my own strength, I will keep on doing what is evil in the eyes of God.  My only hope is in Jesus Christ my personal Lord and saviour.

I admit that I am far from perfect.  I am weak and easy to fall into sin.  It is your grace and your continual leading that allow me to overcome sin and temptation.  I thank you God for your love and mercy.

Romans 6:15-23

 15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no
means! 16Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him
as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin,
which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17But thanks
be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed
the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18You have been set free from
sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
 19I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you
used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing
wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.
20When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.
21What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed
of ? Those things result in death! 22But now that you have been set free from sin
and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the
result is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal
life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Meditation
1. Search myself for an area where I don’t walk in freedom but continue to
struggle with sin.  When do I easily give in to temptation?  What comfort,
relief or pleasure does the sin give me?  What pain or discomfort does it
bring?  What do I fear I would lose if I gave up the sin?
2. Read this passage with this specific sin(s) in mind.  Read the passage through
my life experience.  Do I identify with “Shall we sin because we are not
under law but under grace”?  What about “now offer (your body) in slavery
to righteousness”?  Take time to identify what my do and don’t agree with.
3. Pray and ask God to take over my struggle and unresolved problems.  As I
determine to obey God’s command, I will ask God for my freedom.

Personal Note:
Like the topic of the workshop I will give in TC2012, three areas of struggle for myself and most guys (if they are really honest) are money, sex, and power.  I give in to temptation when I feel lost and hopeless.  I could be struggling at work, at a relationship, at ministry, over my self-esteem.  Giving in could take the form of not being generous towards God in offering, dwelling on thoughts of how to get rich fast, checking out lustful media, dwelling on memories of lustful images, create plans and execute actions that promote my own status, dwelling in thoughts of how to become like those successful people I read about.  There seems to be temporary comfort, relief, or pleasure that result from the actions mentioned above.  Realistically, the discomfort increases as it fuels more worries, envy, lust, insecurity, anxiety... I asked why myself why do I keep dwelling on the sin.  I realized that the sins mentioned were my coping mechanism.  I fear that if I live in faithful submission to God's leading, I would not be in control and having the comfort I desired.

I am totally convinced that I am under grace (getting a gift I do not deserve) instead of under the law.  I should not think that I can sin all I want because of God's grace and mercy.  I have a new heart and mind thanks to the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.  I no longer desire to engage in the sinful activities, which may appear to be pleasurable, but they ultimately leads me to death.  I agree that I am to offer my body including my eyes, ears, mouth, hands, legs, heart, brain...  to be slave for righteousness.  I trust God that He is faithful and will walk with me to overcome my struggles.

Romans 3:23-28

23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by

his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25God presented him

as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate

his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand

unpunished— 26he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to

be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

27Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of

observing the law? No, but on that of faith. 28For we maintain that a man is

justified by faith apart from observing the law.


Meditation

1. Like prisoners on death row, all people are guilty, condemned and awaiting

the execution of God’s wrath. They sit silently in the miserable darkness of

their cell, all hope extinguished. Then abruptly, the door swings open and

darkness becomes light, death becomes life, and bondage becomes freedom.

“You are pardoned,” a voice tells them. But how? Why? This passage tells us

that this is exactly our situation. But how did I get pardoned? Why would

it happen?

2. When did the message of God’s grace become real to me? What impact is it

having on my life right now?


Personal Note:

I along with everyone else on earth have all failed to live up to God's standard of perfection. We sin when we missed God's standard. The wages of sin is death and we are all guilty. Some people may think that God is unfair. He is the one who created us and we are doomed to fail on our own. Our alienation and guilt resulted from our will to separate ourselves from God and we would like to be god ourselves. For example, a famous philosopher Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche said that God is dead and we killed Him. It is unfortunate that some people decided to follow the ways of the wicked. The ways of the wicked lead to miserable darkness.

God loves me and He knows that I cannot save myself. That is why he sent Jesus Christ to die for our sins and take the punishment on the cross for the sins that we deserved.

The message of God's grace become real to me eight years ago when I was led to Christ. From that point on, I experienced how God transformed my life from someone who lives for my own pleasure to someone who lives for God's glory. Of course, this takes time and today, I am far from being a total humble and faithful servant of Jesus Christ. I do have faith that God is at work in shaping myself to be more obedient to His Words and His leading. There is great joy and peace when I trust in God's love and faithfulness.