Working of God’s grace By Ivan Ho   First written 26 June 2015   Paul says: “But by the grace of God, I am what I am…” (1 Corinthians 15:10) We are who we are by the grace of God, if we allow God’s grace to work in our life. Before Paul encountered Christ, his name was Saul, a totally different man. He was a well learned man going around persecuting followers of Christ until one day Jesus appeared to him saying: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9: 3-5) Since then, his life was totally transformed when he became Paul the apostle preaching the gospel of Christ. The working of God’s grace changed him into a totally different person.   Many people, though they have accepted Christ, still prefer to be the person they used to be. That is where they feel “more comfortable, more at home, more happy”. They...

Prayers that bring results By Ivan Ho      First written 26 May 2016   If any of you lacks money, recognition, self esteem, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5 BMV Sorry that is according to the “Bless Me Version” written by motivational speakers. Let me go to the New King James Version: If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:5-8 NKJV If we want to ask anything from God, we need to first find out God’s wisdom: “What is God’s heart and mind,...

Training schools vs. hospitals By Ivan Ho   First written 10 Jun 2016   Most churches are set up as hospitals to help people heal their wounds and hurts by doctors and nurses who have overcome wounds and hurts in the past.   There is a flawed thinking that past hurts and mistakes qualify people to help others going through similar problems. All they do is sympathise with them, not help them.   Few churches are set up as training schools to teach people self defense so they won’t get beaten up and hurt by the enemy in the first place. When I see the enemy attack me, I‘m not going to wait for him to hit me before I make my move. I knock out the enemy first!

Peace or not, choose God By Ivan Ho     First written 17 Jun 2016 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:14‭-‬17 NKJV I have heard preachers use Colossians 3:15 as a barometer to determine God’s will for one’s decisions in life. However, if read in context, there was no mention of “finding God’s will” in relation to internal feeling of peace at all! This is a classic example of how scriptures are being taken...

Woman at the well, why? Why not? By Ivan Ho   First written 20 Jun 2015 Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well   1. The woman wasn’t a man. 2. The woman wasn’t Jewish, didn’t have the same D N A. 3. The woman wasn’t religious, wasn’t a church goer. 4. The woman wasn’t a leader, didn’t have any achievements of note. 5. The woman had a checkered history, have had many husbands in the past. 6. The woman wasn’t under authority, probably didn’t know what authority meant.   So, of all people, why did Jesus choose to speak to her?   7. The woman had one quality that many don’t have: When Jesus asked her to fetch him a drink, she RESPONDED!