Oh no! The TV has to go!

Today's sermon by SP was certainly different. In case you are still wondering if SP said it right.... Yes! Ladder of Success stops with immediate effect, so don't turn up for Post Encounter or SOL next week! Someone joked that when SP mentioned that during service, he turned around to see if anyone around him pumped their fist in the air and went, "Yes!" Upon some reflection, I wonder if there are those among us who really feel this way. Finally for once, we can wake up later on Sunday. Thank God for the break, thank God for the rest! Thank God that we got more time to do our own things! I hope not! If you heard SP clearly, we are stopping all equipping because our hearts are not right before God! What's the use of doing all these just so that we can fill up the blank spaces in our equipping record? Today was a timely reminder to ask God to check our hearts. [+]

Personally, the 40-Day fast from TV is going to one of my biggest struggle. TV time for me is de-stressing time for me. But I realise that it too has become an idol in my life. I question myself, why watch TV to de-stress instead of reading the Word of God which refreshes my soul and equips me for every good work? It seems a simple decision to make right? But it required such a drastic call to pray from SP to tear me away from the goggle box. I think that's reflective of the state of my walk with God. I would rather watch TV then spend time with God.

Two things I heard over the weekend stood out for me this week. The first was when SP said, "It is not that God wants to deprive us of the things that we desire. He doesn't want us to sacrifice the most important thing in the world - our relationship with Him." I believe it's time we learnt the truth of that. Is knowing and obeying God more important than our computer games, our TV shows, our dinner with friends, our outing with old schoolmates? It is easy to say yes, but I urge you to ask God to test your heart so that it might be revealed true and authentic before Him.

The second thing that struck a cord with me was during prayer meeting when Pastor SL challenged us, "What's the difference between us as spiritual leaders and the leaders out there in the world if we do not pray?" It was really a rhetorical question of course. There is no difference. We are as good as depending on our own abilities and skills instead of tapping into the infinite resources of the Almighty. It is no wonder that while we hope and expect supernatural things to happen (eg.great revival, breakthroughs in members' lives, the sick healed, the dead raised, etc), we witness only those humanly possible. It is impossible to be a cell leader/G12 leader if we don't pray. Supernatural things call for supernatural means! More importantly, how do we know God's heart in all that we are doing if we don't bother to seek and listen to Him?

I pray and encourage all of us that we will grow to delight God in this area. For a start, no TV and computer games will feel a little like cold-turkey treatment. I felt it tonight already. (The urge was very strong but I chose to deny myself.) But I pray that we will all grow to delight in spending time with God, to walk with Him, to tarry with Him. And in case you are wondering about this word that appeared in the hymn we sang today, Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary defines tarry as 1. to linger in expectation or 2. to abide or stay in or at a place.

May you be blessed greatly as you tarry with God personally. Amen!


Joshua Teo