I am wrong

Got this in an email and I just thought that it was really appropriate and important, so would like to share with you all. Thanks bro for the email. :)

"What are you wrong about, preacher?"

I don't know. If I knew I would change.

"Then how do you know you're wrong?"

Unless I'm perfect and know everything -- I must be wrong about some things. I just don't know what.

"But I thought preachers knew everything."

Some of them may think they do. But even the Apostle Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament, said he only knew in part.

1 CORINTHIANS 13:12 NIV
12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

There are two ways to face life: thinking you know everything and are doing everything right, or realizing you are not yet perfect. The first way is pride, the second is humility.

If you think you know everything, you cut yourself off from learning. If you think everything you do is right, you almost eliminate any chance of improvement.

Do you really desire to never know more than you do now? Would it please you to never make any progress from where you are now?

Then, to protect you from the enemy of pride, start each day saying, "I am wrong. Lord, show me where to change."

Pride stunts your growth as a person.
Pride retards progress.
Pride robs you — and can kill.
Pride causes strife and destroys relationships.
Pride isolates.
Pride closes doors of opportunity.

Humility is the only antidote for pride and all its horrible consequences.

The first step to wholeness is to realize you have a problem.

1 Corinthians 4

We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!

1 Corinthians 4:10

Consider the following conversations:

A: How's life?
B: Ok.

A: How's everything?
B: Good.

A: How have you been?
B: Fine.

A: Everything's ok?
B: Of course.

So often we are defensive about our personal life. People are constantly putting on a false front, a smile, a mask to hide the emptiness and pain in their hearts. People are afraid of showing their weakness to others and making themselves vulnerable. In a sense, we are fake, we are just pretending.

I personally believe that no one is so holy that he or she does not need God. I don't think anyone is so spiritual that he or she does not fall into sin or struggles. I don't think anyone is so strong that he or she is never weak.

From past till present, strong men have fallen. Even men of God, men of the faith have fallen, what makes us better than them? David fell to adultery and murder. Peter denied Jesus three times. Moses committed murder. Samson fell into sexual immorality.

People are tired of hypocrisy. People are disgusted by masks and false fronts. People are not looking for leaders who are high, mighty and strong. People have enough of others acting, smiling and pretending to be fine when things aren't going fine.

Our relationships are now superficial. We say hi and bye. We stick together in good times, but we are not there in tough times. We act so strong that others don't know how we feel or what we are going through.

We need to learn to be foolish, to be weak, to be vulnerable. We need humble leaders, humble servants. We need people who is willing to expose themselves, to show and share their sins and struggles with others. We need people who are willing to be fools for Christ, people who are willing to show their weak and needy side.

For myself, the musical have been a challenging time for me. There are discouraging times, times when I feel like giving up and throwing in the towel. There are times when I'm impatient and lose my cool. I'm actually weak. I'm easily discouraged.

Yet, I thank God for the people that God has brought alongside me to encourage me, people to support me. Each one of their help, though small or big, means so much to me. Their prayers, their sms, their act of service, their words of encouragement, their touch, their time, their gifts gave me the strength to continue.

As a tribe leader, I have failed in many areas. I haven't been the best tribal leader exactly and I probably have disappointed or failed some of my tribe members. I always treasure the time where we just open up and share our struggles and challenges. Those times when we see the weak side of others mean so much to me. It's at those times when you see who are your true friends, it's at those times when you see God work. Personally, God has always work when I'm weak, when I share my struggles, when I admit my weakness, when I tell others I can't do it.

Yet, I thank God for Oasis. This is been my pillar of strength and support. Each one have made an impact and difference in my life. The sms that you all sent, the times when we talked, the prayers made together, the outings, the photos, everything and everyone of you has brought joy and good memories to me.

I'll end with Oasis tribe verse:

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

For God to give us rest, we need to come to Him. And coming to Him involves acknowledging our weakness and inability. It means humbling ourselves and saying that we cannot do it. It means making ourselves vulnerable. May God help us in this area.

Are you willing to be weak for Christ's sake?
Are you willing to be a fool for Christ?
Are you willing to make yourself vulnerable?
Are you willing to share your struggles with others?

1 Corinthians 1

I'm reading through the book of 1 Corinthians recently and will be reading one chapter a day, so decide to share one main point from each chapter as I proceed along this book and I hope this simple sharing will minister to you as you read this post.



The pictures above show Roger Federer, Thiery Henry and Tiger Woods, who are considered one of the best in their respective areas.

In this world, we are always looking for the most qualified person for a job. We are always on the lookout for the most talented person and we 'book' him. The smartest person is highly honoured. When we look for a team of people, we look for the best in terms of skills, talents and gifts.

Sadly, we have brought this attitude to church. We tend to judge others. We tend to choose only the best person to do certain things, and we deem others as unworthy. We favour the rich, famous, powerful, beautiful and talented and look down on the weak, poor, unknown, unlovable and untalented people. By focusing on the abilities and talents of the person, we are thinking like the world and not like God.

From past to present, God has never focus on choosing the most qualified or talented, He's simply looking for a man or woman who's willing to serve. He's looking for a humble person!

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29

It is said that God do not call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

As James 5:16 puts it 'Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.' There is beauty in confessing sins, there is beauty in sharing experience.

Firstly, it helps others learn from my mistake. Secondly, it reminds myself of the mistakes and for me not to do it again. Thirdly, it helps others pray for me better after knowing my struggles and needs.

I would like to share one struggle in my life, and that is pride. I struggle with the sin of pride countless times and God has to break me down over and over again and remind me that I am nothing.

I remember there was one time I was at Adam Road and I boasted about how good I was, serving in the children ministry, the various activities we are having, how great the plans are, what's going to happen and stuff. It was all about ME!

After that, when I looked back, I'm disgusted by my pride. What a proud and boastful person I am! I can claim to be doing it for God's glory, but deep within, I'm snatching His glory. This is a pride hypocrite! I need to come back to God, confess my sins and ask Him to forgive me.

Even now, there are times when I struggle with pride. A sinful and proud thought enter my mind and I'm tempted to sin. At that moment, I need to catch the thought and say to myself, 'I'm doing this for God's glory, not mine.'

Please pray for me and with me that as I serve in Children Ministry, I would not be proud, I would not snatch God's glory, but I'll humble myself and depend on Him.

Pride hinders our effectiveness for God.
Looking to ourselves make our service for God futile.
Humility enhances our effectiveness for God.
Looking to God make our service for God fruitful.