Faith Assembly (AG) Teluk Intan: December 2009

A Blessed Christmas and Blessed New Year 2010

The Dawning of a new day [Luke 1:78-79]

The arrival of Jesus signaled the beginning of a new era.

God entered history in a personal way, and made it clear that He is on man's side, doing everything possible to save man.

In Genesis, the first book of the Bible, God is presented as speaking the creation into existence. Everything seen and unseen, called into being by God's spoken word.

This time God's word takes on human form and enters history in the person of Jesus.

[Isaiah 9:2] He came as the Great Light, to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide out feet into the way of peace. It was the dawn of a new day.

(Day spring from on high has visited us)

[Luke 1:78] because of the tender mercies of God.

He brought redemption, salvation, life, light and peace. Truly Jesus is the light which gives light to all man.

Celebrate JESUS

Rev. Rachel (Senior Pastor)

How's Your Firewall?

1 Kings 22 (The Message Version)

Make sure you're protected.

We've recently expanded our offices and in the process of moving, we've had to invest in new telecommunications, office equipment, alarms, network stuff and so on. The one thing that we initially forgot was a firewall to safeguard us from internet pirates.

Now, if you're tech savvy - you'll understand that we could have been in for some trouble. In theory some malicious hackers could get in and do some damage to our network or worse yet, install viruses or steal data.

If you're not tech savvy, let me try it this way: would you drive your car without wearing a seat belt or having insurance? Would you leave your house without locking all the doors and windows (ok, now that I don't live in London, I can see people might). Do you leave your money under the mattress?

I am hoping you say 'no' to most of the above, but here's a question that really is the start of what I want to share with you this time: How's your Firewall!

Not the one on your network or the free one that came with your home computer bundle - I mean the one that's in your heart!. The one that protects your life.

When was the last time you checked it was configured properly and doing its job right. maybe you've turned it off because everything feels safe or maybe it's overloaded from being under too much attack. Either way - if it isn't working - you might get wounded or even die (I don't mean literally but maybe emotionally, spiritually, mentally or soulishly)

1 King 22 is a great story that starts out with a season of peace, then encounters prophetic consultation, disbelief, stubbornness, a bad decision, blood shed, and then death, if you don't have time to read it, here's the Key facts:

Peace had been enjoyed for 3 years.

The King of Israel went into war disguised; in other words, he didn't go as King )who God had made him to be) but as someone of no significant. He had a chink in the armour he was wearing, which 'randomly' led to his death.

This is one of those stories that makes me think - am I hearing god properly and will I listen to REAL words He speaks! Can I hear from Him and what if the firewall on my heart doesn't let the God traffic through but let's the hacker traffic in? What if there's a gap in my armour that could let a random arrow pierce my heart and cause my death: emotional, spiritual or otherwise.

I wonder if there has ever been a moment in your life when there your firewall wasn't working and you got hurt? Have you recovered? Have you lost your way? Or have you died in some way? May be you've been sitting around on your hands, enjoying peace and thinking there's no need to listen to the warning that God is giving.

Think about this story.

I want to encourage you to take a moment at the beginning of every day to make sure that before you do anything 'ask God guidance' (verse 4-5), make sure that you then listen to His guidance - this way you won't have to miss the mark and suffer from a random attack.

Prayer: Father I thank you for your wisdom and I pray that there is always an open connection to my heart. Please show me the way, show me Your way and guide my path. Help me to make good decisions and give me the strength to fight, the courage to stand and the passion to pursue all that You have for me.

Jamie Anderson

Creative Director

Prayer for the Nations

www.prayerforthenations.org

God the Parent
Whenever your kids are out of control,
you can take comfort from the thought that even God's omnipotence did not extend to God's kids.

After creating heaven and earth, God's created Adam and Eve.
And the first thing He said to them was 'Don't'.
'Don't what?' Adam asked.
'Don't eat the Forbidden Fruit." God replied.
'Forbidden fruit? We got Forbidden fruit?
Hey, Eve....we got Forbidden Fruit!"
'No way!"
'Where?'
'Don't eat that fruit!" sad God.
'Why?'
'Because I am your Creator and I said so!' said God,
wondering why he hadn't stopped after making the elephants.
A few minutes later God saw the kids having an apple break and was angry.

'Didn't I tell you not to eat that fruit?' the 'First Parent' asked.
'Uh,' Adam replied.
'Then why did you?'
'I dunno,' Eve answered.
'She started it!' Adam said.
'Did not!'
'DID so!'
'DID NOT!'
Having had it with the two of them,
God's punishment was that Adam and Eve should have children of their own....
thus the pattern was set, and it has never changed.

Father!
St.Peter stood at the Pearly Gates, waiting for the incoming.
He saw Jesus walking by and caught his attention.

'Jesus, could you mind the gate while I go do an errand?'

'Sure,' replied Jesus. 'What do I have to do?'

'Jesus find out about the people who arrive.
Ask about their background, their family, and their lives.
Then decide if they deserve entry into Heaven.'

'Sounds easy enough. OK.' So Jesus waited at the gates while the gates was a wrinkled old man.
Jesus summoned him to the examination table and sat across from him.
He peered at the old man and asked, 'What was it you did for a living?'

The old man replied, 'I was a carpenter.'

Jesus remembered his own earthly existence and leaned forward.
'Did you have a any family?' he asked.

'Yes, I have a son, but lost him.'

Jesus leaned forward some more.
'You lost your son? Can you tell me about him?'

'Well, he had holes in his hands and feet.'

Jesus leaned forward even more and whispered,
Father?

The oldman leaned forward and whispered,

'Pinacchio?'