God is Good! My first Sunday morning message.

God is good! I must start this sharing on that simple yet profoundly real note. For years, I have constantly prayed for God to show me the next step. That is all I have asked for and He has always been faithful. I didn’t need to see my entire future or even have my immediate questions or concerns answered. I just prayed a simple prayer asking for a clear view of what God wishes me to do next and He has always replied. God is good! Be it learning the meaning of worship, teaching Sunday School, counseling the youth at my church, planning out the vision for our English congregation, getting my doctrinal fundamentals built, learning apologetics, or taking on a position on the church board to serve as evangelism chair - God always revealed that one next step. This leads me to an important step I took yesterday.

Yesterday, I delivered my first Sunday morning sermon. I have taught Sunday schools, led workshops, shared in fellowship discussions - in my church, at other churches or even university fellowships but this was my first Sunday morning message. It was a big step for me. Funny how as I was preparing I asked myself what the big difference was between a Sunday morning message and all the other areas of service God has called me to. Functionally, perhaps not much but meaning wise it was of tremendous significance to me. I thank Rev. Felix Wong for accepting me and giving me the opportunity to speak at Toronto Simpson Chinese Alliance Church…

Me Interrupted

“It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.”

- A. W. Tozer, The Root of the Righteous (Camp Hill, Penn.: Christian Publications, 1986), 137.

Today’s sharing comes in the form of an audio file. I may be getting lazy but I figure mixing up the type of communication method may make it less boring and perhaps fits more of the personal nature of this reflection. I will try and do this on occasion so it isn’t just long portions of text you have to read

The below are two items I reference in the above audio file.

Click here to read the “Cast Down” Our Daily Bread devotional.

Thanks and God Bless,

- Sumair

Why would God create beings He knew would cause pain and suffer and hold them accountable? Isn’t His design flawed?

Question:

Sumo,

I have a friend who has raised a question which we would like to seek your input on.  Here is the question: “Why would God create beings (i.e. Satan) He knew would cause pain and suffering upon each other, and then hold them accountable by punishing them eternally for his own flawed design”

Thanks,

Answer:

Hey ,

Below are some of my thoughts that are pretty much aligned with your initial ideas.

I would break down his statement, as follows, into a few pieces to address each point and potential nuance.

“beings He knew (i.e. Satan) would cause pain and suffering upon each other”
I would ask for more detail on the beings as Satan is given as the example but I am guessing humans are the “other”. These would be two different types of beings and have different nuances to them as Satan holds a unique position. Humanity itself as you have stated is given free will and has the ability to choose right and wrong. They have a conscience that testifies to this (as Paul says). Why did God choose this? Well the opposite would be mindless freewill-less slaves or zombies. (keep in mind that would also be His sovereign choice as well and we couldn’t question it). This leads to another point dealing with “questioning” God aka judging God. We are not in a position to question Him. See an excerpt from a post to another question I had on my web site dealing with…

A plea for the Truth and Christianity’s inherent humility…

Below is a letter that I wrote to my uncle in March of 2008 after he visited for a few short days and returned to his home in Stockholm Sweden. My uncle was the first family member I told after I became a Christian. He comes from a Muslim background, as I do,  and has strong post-modern views rooted in the familiar mantra of relativism and humanist views focused on being “good” while on earth. We had several intense conversations related to absolute truth and Christ being the only path to salvation. He had clear views on all religions being equal yet different paths and Christianity’s exclusive claim to salvation having a tone of arrogance. I thought I would share this letter with all of you and perhaps it may help in your evangelistic dialogues with others…

Dearest ,

I write this email just after you have left our house and hopefully successfully made it onto your plane for Ottawa. The reason I write this email now is to express my gratitude and love for you and your cause.

Without question, I understand and value and appreciate the efforts you made this weekend and the intention that was seeded in you across the ocean to come to help my family - your family and your sister. This IS love and it is ALWAYS felt - love is a unique characteristic because it can never be overcome with darkness.. Love never fails. Below is a famous passage from the Bible that describes love (you can check it to ensure it matches your…

Testing the Spirits

Key verse(s)/quote(s):

“Unbelief can be as much a mark of spiritual maturity as belief.”  –  John Stott

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” - 1 John 4:1

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?” - Matthew 7:15-16

Key takeaway(s):

1. Historicity of Jesus (1 John 4:2)  –  1^st test is the complete recognition of Christ; the acknowledgement of the historical incarnation of Jesus, that “Jesus Christ has come in the flesh.”
2. Testimony of the Spirit (1 John 4:4)  –  2^nd test is the Holy Spirit; We overcoming because of the Spirit in us… when we feel something is wrong… it should be like a radar that helps us seek it out and assess it… false teachers will not be able to completely subdue us when we have the Holy Spirit in us.
3. Needs to be from the Word not the world  –  The world likes the message because it is from the world… acceptance from the world will be a red flag. (2 Timothy 4:3)
4. 7 Key Tests…

Overview:

As John exhorts us to “test the spirits” in 1 John 4, it is important to note how we can do this and also why John feels so passionately about this topic. John writes this letter…