Sunday, May 21, 2006
Miracle catch! 7 principals + 5 practical steps:)
By: Ing Ing (picture on the way soon!)
Hi Pastors, dearies and fellow bros-and-sisters in Christ,
i have typed out what God taught me during our half-an-hour QT at CG... for your reference if u do find some learning points too! :)
For those of u who may not have any idea how it came abt... basically, Watson, my leader's husband, told us to read the book of 1 Timothy. then we are to ask God how it helps us to know how to approach the miracle catch and da vinci code... i didnt have time to consider abt the da vinci code but was somewhat hung up abt watson's remarks that we should try to jote down a practical STEP-BY-STEP approach to the MIRACLE CATCH... that got into me cos upon first reading of the book, i really dun see much link, ha!
but I DONT CARE... if Watson says there is, then GOD MUST SHOW ME... cos i know God desires to talk to me... so there MUST BE... :)
ha, totally amazed by God... cos within 15min, HE OPENED MY EYES TO REALLY SEE HOW 1 TIMOTHY CAN GIVE ME 7 GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND 5 PRACTICAL STEPS TO THE MIRACLE CATCH...
MIRACLE CATCH: 100% GOD (Principle A) & 100% MAN (Principle B-G)
7 Principles to the Miracle Catch
A) Believe that even those who are seemingly impossible to be converted can be redeemed by God
1 Tim 1:12 - God's abundant grace upon Paul who "used to be a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man"
Amazing grace! so everyone can be saved! So dont be deceived that not all can be saved, even the hardest to reach out or the most stubborn "anti-christ" can be saved cos the one who redeems is JESUS Himself!
B) Pray for our leaders
1 Tim 2: 3 - "then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth"
It struck me that we are not just supposed to pray for those we are outreaching to, but also for our leaders cos somehow there is a special link... the bible says that it is good right after mentioning that we should pray for kings and all those in authority...
i believe a special favour comes along and all men will be saved cos God is pleased. So this reminded me of how the church wanted us to be committed and faithful to pray for Pastors in our midst.
C) Develop the qualities of an overseer and deacons - set an example for others
1 Tim 3: 2 - "...temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money"
1 Tim 3: 8 - "...men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain"
There are many examples given in this book about how to lead our lives and
1 Tim 4: 16 - Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
urges us to watch our lives closely as it can save us and people who see us! so we must set a good example.
D) Meet the needs of the elderly, widows & slaves i.e. those in need
1 Tim 5 advises on how to treat this special group of people... God showed me that it is really about putting others before ourselves, giving help to them and meeting the needs of them... similarly, the prebelievers have a need too. They have a spirtual need, they are spirtually blind. To reach out to them, we have to first meet their physical needs or emotional needs. Then with the bridge, we can then invite them to church!
E) Beware of what hinders my faith
1 Tim 6: 3-10 - "...unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5and constant friction between men of corrupt mind... 9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction...For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil."
God showed me that I need to be aware of what hinders my faith... must do a self-check... is my issue MONEY? or is there something else that stops me from giving my best to the Miracle Catch or believing God for it?
F) Don't give up, last all the way till 25th June 2006
1 Tim 6:12 - Fight the good fight of the faith
God reminded me to last the race and fight a good fight!!! in fact, if you read 1 Tim thoroughly, you will realise that fighting a good fight is mentioned twice. Paul keeps urging Timothy not to give up. Similarly, i cant give up even if my prebeliever friends are not responding at all. I must not give up even at the last hour before service on the 25th June. God can make the miracle!
G) Be faithful with little
1 Tim 6: 20 - "...guard what has been entrusted to your care"
God told me that i need to be faithful with little. Be it the gals who are currently under my care or the few who are more responsive when i invite them to church or whatever, i must be faithful to serve them and love them. When God can trust me with little, then the miracle catch can come for me!
5 Practical Steps to the Miracle Catch
1) List down the 12 names, even the impossible
(Principle A - Believe that even those who are seemingly impossible to be converted can be redeemed by God )
2) Self-reflect
(Principle C - Develop the qualities of an overseer and deacons - set an example for others & Principle E - Beware of what hinders my faith)
3) Meet the needs of these 12
(Principle D - Meet the needs of the elderly, widows & slaves i.e. those in need)
4) Be faithful
(Principle B - Pray for our leaders & Principle G - Be faithful with little)
5) Dont give up (Principle F)
Yup, so this is a precious lesson God taught me and clarified for me practically what i need to do for the miracle catch :) hope u are blessed as u read. feel free to share this with anyone else if u find that it is useful for them too! :)
Bombarbed by God's grace, Ing
