EMPOWERED THROUGH PRAYER by Wei Xuan https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered Revival In NYP (Your can leave comments and like one another post too to encourage one another) :D en-us 2018-02-27 07:57:35 UTC 2018-03-10 17:26:07 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Ninja.png Xuan's Day 1- Lover Of God zayne_wx https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/235755592 Hello! Wei Xuan here! I am fasting from lunch (12pm - 6pm).

I've learnt that revival doesn't just come by praying and fasting but revival starts with our own personal relationship with God. A lot of times I feel that these different revivals that happen occurs when a group of people gather to pray, I mean ya we prayed too in groups but we don't see it coming to pass. But when the devotion talked about how revival means returning to Jesus our first love and question bout our heart and closeness to God, it really made me jump a bit because I got reminded of what Billy Graham said before "The greatest legacy one can pass on to one's children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one's life, but rather a legacy of character and faith." A legacy of character and most of the time when we approach God, we come with request and then in our daily life we live the same. We cannot pray and yet live differently. Our character shows our relationship and heart with and for God. And if Revival means coming back to Jesus then our speech, thoughts and actions should be of like Jesus as we live our daily life. So I really wanna improve in the way I talk and think of people and let it not be a thing I do specially in church but equally elsewhere too despite the different culture and challenges there might. E.g. NS! HAHA. ]]> 2018-02-27 08:04:08 UTC https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/235755592 Xuan's Day 2 - Power With A Mission zayne_wx https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/235758773 A lot of times we hear people saying why go other places when our own country still has so many people that haven't hear the gospel yet. When Billy Graham prophency that Singapore will be the Antioch Of Asia meaning we will be the place where the gospel will reach other parts of Asia, just imagine Paul didn't go out to Gentiles to preach, we wouldn't have hear the gospel. There are many people who are living in poverty that a lot of people couldn't give up their self rights to visit these places and spread the gospel so when we want to talk about revival we first need to behave like Jesus, have the heart to go out to foreign lands (stepping out of comfort zone) to reach more. Not saying we don't focus on our ministry but when there's a need let's support it because there will always be enough people to evangelise here but compared to globally, we are lacking. Furthermore, God has bless us with more education (knowledge), money and resources so let's let others experience the same kind of worship atmosphere and God's word like we did in service every week! I should too go for more short term mission trips and give to missions!

]]> 2018-02-27 08:20:21 UTC https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/235758773 Jeremy's Day 2 https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/236527962 Jeremy Huang here. I am continuing my fast from last week, for lunch (12-6pm)

Objective:
1) Die to myself -physically and spiritually
2) Rely - pray more
3) Be sensitive - listen more to the Holy Spirit 

V8, "but you will receive power when the HS has come upon you, and you will be my witness... and to the end of the earth"

The Spirit of the Lord ultimate aim is for us to be His witness. 

Not for us to remain inactive pondering on what we will as spoken in v6-v7. But to work actively according to what God so will for us to do.

Constantly we remain inactive, we remain passive because we are all too preoccupied with the small stuff. Projects, studies, family, friends, having fun. It is not that these things are of no importance, but they are not the main thing of life that we should be solely occupied with.

But the Cross, and only the Cross should be what and where we begin our occupation and focus. The things of the kingdom is what that truly matters like v8 to receive power and be God's witness.

Will not our own will and play pretend that it is God's will. But simply obey the word of God, and trust that Jesus shall return in His own will and appointed time. He make things beautiful in according to His own timing.

I pray that God help us, help me to become the kind of witness He want us, want me to be. I pray that I start my focus on the cross, and begin to be more prayerful and knee-bounding in spending time with the Lord on a daily basis. Being saturated with His Spirit, acknowledging His presence and "receiving" His power daily.

NYP needs revival. All our souls needs a revival within. Lord help me to live by decision. In Jesus name, Amen.]]> 2018-02-28 17:10:58 UTC https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/236527962 Xuan's Day 3 - Gathered For Power zayne_wx https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/236773553 The very reason where NYP Prayer Meet was established is because of today's devotion as well! :)

We all familiar with this verse "“Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:19-20

When I was still a LGL I remember myself misinterpreting this verse as well being when more people come together praying for something we will have more power to do it. It's kinda true actually but the power that we are talking about isn't because of the number of people praying about it but the power that comes from the unity of the believers.

If we look at all the revival thus far, the people who went to the prayer meeting before the revival are people who are willingly and not structured. For example the ACS Clock Tower Revival mention how everyday the people gathering to pray increase and it's not because of leaders or whatsoever but everyone's heart are genuine wanting to experience the power of God and this unity within the believers brings delight to God and glorify him. 

So, here I also want to pray that as we continue with this prayer meet, people will come with willing heart to pray together as one and ask God not just for things that are of our benefit but things of his will. For myself to stand together with the church as well to pray for the nations and needs of the church even though it might seem like I don't have the might to do anything but precisely because I do not have but God have so I pray! :D ]]> 2018-03-01 04:35:34 UTC https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/236773553 Xuan's Day 4 - A Church Revived zayne_wx https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/236777191 Woah! Every time I look at Acts I really love the part about how the believers meet up together often and share everything they have with one another. It's so heart warming and up-lifting, who resist such a bonded community since love is the very core of our survival. Everyone needs to love and be LOVED.

And indeed just as mention in the devotion. It talks about how quality WILL eventually attract QUANTITY. So we shouldn't just be always focus on the people outside but at times look into ourselves and ask if we have been behaving like disciple of christ or just a fan of his.

A Revived Church/LG
1. Grows in quality and quantity
2. Obey the teachings of Jesus
3. Devoted to fellowship
4. Devoted to prayer
5. Fears the lord
6. Flows in the spirit

I pray that as I go about fasting and praying, my relationship with God will get closer so I can see his heart more and because of seeing his heart more, I can see the desire he has to reach out to the people around me and I will obey and go and talk about Jesus to them. Quality in us shall grow quantity. :D]]> 2018-03-01 05:04:37 UTC https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/236777191 Jeremy's Day 3 https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/237036485 Reminder of Fasting &
Praying - Objective:
1) Die to myself -
physically and spiritually
2) Rely - pray more
3) Be sensitive -
listen more to the Holy Spirit

Title: Gathered for Power //
v14
"All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers." ESV

"They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers." NIV

Prayer. They took time to pray, they knew what to pray. Because they heeded from God. They knew of God's agenda. They have a vision, a mark, a "thing" to pray for. That this somehow take priority over all they have to do in their leisure time, more important than that. What is that?

They knew what they were praying for: "To receive power when the HS has come upon you, and you will be my witness... to the end of the earth."
That was what's up. Clear direction as a group, as the body! Simple direction, simple heart attitude.

" When the Benedictine monks plan their schedules, they first prioritise prayer, and then fit everything else around it." This saying intrigues and tug my heart string, this was exactly the thought I was having these days.

We need to put God first, and everything around Him, instead of putting everything first then God. A mistake we make too often as believers, including myself. I should rotate around His will. His plans. Ask Him first before doing, before planning.

This whole devotions was interesting as it highlights the aspect of Prayer, Vision, Refreshment, Priority and Unity. All of which are essential to a lifegroup, especially like how God want it to be.

Lord Thank you for today. Thank you for helping me to see that in prayer, I need a direction that is based on you. That reflection and pondering will lead us to refreshment, that by reflecting we will know of your grace and reiterate it through proclamation in our own lives. That in my time with you, I need priority, you first before anything else, before my own preferences but you my maker first. That in unity, we need the lifegroup to come together to pray together! As a house of prayer first..

God help me to apply all of these in lifegroup. To walk and then be able to talk, about what I know what I'm doing about!


]]> 2018-03-01 17:04:08 UTC https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/237036485 Heng's Day 1 https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/237089631 Fasting from gaming & kdrama (changed from social media because of CAMP)

Objective : 
1) Reliance on God (going NS soon & leading)
2) For the lost (Year 1s coming in to NYP this year) 

This passage itself shouts to me personally on loving Jesus = loving people. Something that isn't new to most people in church but yet not everyone does it or even display it. And that's it , if i claim to love Jesus , i need to be ready to give my time & energy to people that i might not even enjoy being around because Jesus still died for the person and that's what He would do too. #WWJD ]]> 2018-03-01 18:20:42 UTC https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/237089631 Heng's Day 2 https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/237107798 "Pre-occupied with small stuffs" 

In my opinion, singaporeans are the best at it including myself. However it's not caused by our faith but because we yet to have seen the world itself. Personally I'm quite in this stage as well, finding a way out to survive through NS in coming months , then go Uni , blah blah. But as those are truly things that will distract us out of focusing on God's bigger plan because we are always in this bubble. Therefore what impacted me the most out of this passage is the fact that Singapore is so enabled and privilege but seemingly struggle the most when it comes to outreach while on the other end, people who are in countries that prosecute faith , scratches their head every day to think of ways to outreach.  From this day on , will start to claim the land of NYP with the very promise of God -> "This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14) ]]> 2018-03-01 18:45:19 UTC https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/237107798 Jeremy's Day 4 https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/237708501
Reminder of Fasting &
Praying - Objective:
1) Die to myself -
physically and spiritually
"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."
- Galatians 5:24

2) Rely - pray more
PRAYER & SPIRITUAL LIFE.
PRAYER AND MINISTRY. CANNOT SEPARATE.
PRAY - INCREASE FREQUENCY with God, hearing my shepherd voice and recognizing it. A life time thing.
3) Be sensitive - 
listen more to the Holy Spirit 

Lord help me now as i depend on you, for my project work tomorrow. Barely 1/3 complete and the submission is tomorrow, i trust thy will, i trust your providence, help me to deny myself, crucify my flesh's passions and desires and be that faithful servant. Here i read thy word, for thy word is life. Draw me closer to you. In Jesus name, I pray Amen.

Title: "A Church Revived"
Acts 2:41-47

"Those who received his word were baptized."

"devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."

"And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles."

"All who believed were together and had all things in common."

"And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need."

"day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."

These are the words of a REVIVAL. Or should I say that of a healthy church, of what that does what Jesus intend for us to do.

We cannot be satisfied with what our LG nor our campus is doing now. MINISTRY is meant to be outbursting like the word REVIVAL, it is supposed to be the norm like the acts church.

I need to apply these truth, these pointers in my lifegroup as well as my own life. So that this may happen.

What was an interesting learn was about prayer: "Prayer was formal, intentional, and
sometimes liturgical. Nowadays many prefer spontaneity. There is a time for that. But God has already spoken. Prayer must include an
informed response to God’s written Word in relation to the issues of our world." We are to pray in an informed way, we are to pray responsibly, to pray in faith, to pray in truth, to pray what God want us to pray. 

Actually if you think of it.. if God, Jesus is all you have, whatever is that we are commanded to do, is not heartache at all, but you will willing do it. To be intentional to stick together, be intentional to sell your possession to help the needy among you, to be generous and praise God all the way. All of these wouldnt matters as much as it should..

Lord help me to see, help me to pray for a quality and quantity lifegroup, a deep and strong lifegroup centered around you. So that we may fulfill your calling for us, your job for us. 
What you say is true. It is what the church needs. Help me to move with the coreteam, not just one person is on fire, but that the whole lifegroup understands what you want Lord.

There is no "what if" this and that situation happen, but only the questions of willingness, "are you willing to obey?"
]]> 2018-03-03 16:56:28 UTC https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/237708501 Xuan's Day 5 - Hour Of Power zayne_wx https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/237712847 Indeed. a lot of times when our friends met with troubles they came to us for help, we gave very practical help to them by borrowing money and meeting their needs. Sometimes we are able to meet their needs but sometimes we aren't able. However, whether we have plenty or little to give, God is still the biggest gift ever we can give to someone. Sharing the gospel to our friends or strangers not only helps them to find a powerful father to lean on for problems but most importantly a gift of salvation. A ticket to heaven. Past Forgiven, Meaning given to the present and Future is Secured. Let's look beyond meeting their needs but towards the eternity.]]> 2018-03-03 17:37:45 UTC https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/237712847 Xuan's Day 6 - Times Of Refreshing zayne_wx https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/237920503 Today sets the stage for the "bearing fruit by keeping with repentance". Indeed, revival comes from our relationship with God. Every day we must remind ourselves of our heart for God, whether has it turn cold and hard because revival starts in our heart every day. The fire accumulated in us day by day till one day it cannot be contained and burst out. It is through daily obedience and also repentance. Repentance means "to change one mind". The bible also tell us that true repentance will result in a change of action (Luke 3:8-14). I pray that even as I struggle with sin every day, God will give me the Holy Spirit power to break free from the chains of sin that I will not give but through persevering I will overcome my stronghold! That my obedience will delight God and he that I may witness his revival in us.]]> 2018-03-05 04:13:32 UTC https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/237920503 Xuan's Day 7 - Keeping Koinonia zayne_wx https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/237920525 As I go through the devotions, I'm very convicted about the part about keeping my life of obedience not just when doing churchy stuff but let it overflow in my personal life when I'm outside church too and today's devotion gave an example of Barnabas which is the model of one who builds community and kept the unity of the spirit.

Barnabas
1. is a giver, not a taker
2. is a door-opener, not a gatekeeper
3. is a people-builder, not an empire-builder
4. is a servant-leader, not a dictator
5. is a model shepherd, not a hireling

Who are the Barnabas in my life:
Wei Hong 
Cai Juan

It's because of Barnabas investment that Paul became a Apostle that planted a lot of churches and made an impact in the Gentiles which is us. Similarly, in my life there are so many Barnabas that sacrficed their time to invest in me and I can pay them back by being a Barnabas to someone else. I pray that I will be always reminded of the sacrifice that Jesus has made and that because of that sacrifice many have came forward to take up the cross and today I want to be the one that take up the cross and impact someone else lives too. I pray that the Spirit will always keep me in view of the quality of Barnabas and that I will be a encourager to many others too :D]]> 2018-03-05 04:13:41 UTC https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/237920525 Huang day 8 https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/237953519 I leant that what we are living is about winning souls . When Saul approved of Stephen persecution he go around houses to arrest all the christians. Many ran to other cities. But what they do in the other city is not playing around but to preach. Those who didn’t preach when saved are like hiding the lights.]]> 2018-03-05 07:34:42 UTC https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/237953519 Xuan's Day 8 - Church Under Fire zayne_wx https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/238296467 Indeed, a lot of times in our Christian journey, it's not stagnancy or our circumstances that causes us not to grow but our respond of being content with where we are now. It is not true that we should be contented with our growth unless we are able to become like Jesus. In my army camp, we always do a peacetime preparation every thursday to ensure our system are ready to fight war and it is in these peacetime moments that we prepare ourselves so when the enemy comes we would have been well trained to do what we are doing. Similarly, in our christian life we cannot be complacent and be contented but always seeking this holy discontentment to push ourselves and others back to God :D ]]> 2018-03-05 19:09:53 UTC https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/238296467 Xuan's Day 9 - Miracle Of Miracles zayne_wx https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/238451768 Whether God heals the person, it is up to his will and sovereignty but whether we are willingly to pray for the person to be healed is up to our love for the person. I still remember how when Daniel Kolenda first came, we talked so much about praying for miracles and on my way back home I wanted to pray for this lame man but he rejected my prayer and said that Christian are deceivers and that they only know how to cheat money and told me not to go church. Until today, those words still sound brightly in my mind and I realize that miracles is not just performed to see abnormal things happening but miracles happen to change one person's life. More than his leg being healed, that guy needs a revival in his heart, a relationship with Jesus, one that gives him a purpose, a meaning and eternal life. He needs Jesus more than his leg being healed. So I pray as I journey my daily life, let me be sensitive to the needs of people around me that as I muster my courage to pray for them, they will see your work. Teach me to trust your will that I will not fear praying just because I'm scare you don't perform but I will pray because I love that person and through it, the person will be touch not by the act or result but by the love behind that act. ]]> 2018-03-06 04:42:51 UTC https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/238451768 Xuan's Day 10 - Son of Encouragement zayne_wx https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/239686436 I think there are 2 sentence in today's devotion that caught my eye.

1. Barnabas sees grace where others see disgrace
2. Barnabas sees potential where others see problems

A lot of times the most easy to forgive person is ourselves yet when people sin we tend to magnify their sin at times yet we ourselves sin too but forgives ourselves easily. Barnabas is such a great pastor the care he shown to people and the encouragement that he had is just amazing. He wasn't insecure about how people look at him but rather how God would've look at him and how God would've love the people around him. He made the right decision to invest in Saul and how Saul in the end become one of the defining apostle with the Gentiles. 

So my prayer for today is that I will look past people mistakes and more into their potential just like how I would've done with myself. To look at people with the lenses of God. Hear the Holy Spirit whisper about their potential into my heart. I want to be sensitive to the move of God as he entrust and send people to me. Open my eyes to see :)


]]> 2018-03-08 14:57:17 UTC https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/239686436 Huang Day 9 https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/240474354 It is about how peter speak truth Jesus  word to heal others. Even resurrect them from the death. It is not a tactic or formula to resurrect them but by what Jesus is doing in them. So what I learnt is that prayers heal, ask and it will be given ask for healing and offer healing]]> 2018-03-10 17:25:51 UTC https://padlet.com/zayne_wx/empowered/wish/240474354