SHINE FORTH HIS GLORY
Ps Denis Lu is one of the pioneering members of Hope Kuching with Ps Simon in 1992. He curently serves as the senior pastor of Hope Kuching and is also overseeing the Hope churches and centres in Sabah, Labuan & Sarawak.
Ps Denis graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia in 1991. He lectured at Stamford College Kuching and later became the principal of the college in 1995.
He went on to be an education counselor for Taylor’s College Malaysia before going full-time in 2001. Pastor Denis is married to Sister Chong Hai Eng and they have a 10 years old son, Azriel
SHINE FORTH HIS GLORY
Jesus reveals the keys to living a life of transformation through to His disciples.
But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God. John 3:21
1. A disciple lives by the truth.
The desire for truth drives the disciple to seek light, not darkness. Living is an active and continuous act. It is both a conscious and unconscious act, automatic you might say. We often breath in and out without even thinking about that marvel of respiration. At times, after a hard run, we gasp for air and are aware of the act of breathing!
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' Matthew 4:4
Is it truth that God is working in your heart even right now? Are you aware that He is working in you? What is God saying to you?
Is there a desire for truth, even truth that exposes the sins and filth within you? Is the hunger for truth greater than your hold on pride? Is the pull for truth stronger than the fear of shame?
Truth is the measurement by which a disciple lives by. He or she measures their own lives by the truth of God's Word. Whatever is out of alignment, the disciple changes. What is out of alignment in your life today?
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. John 8:31
All sin has its root in lies and deception. We sin because we buy into the lies and deceptions of Satan, the father of lies. Eve bought into the serpent's lies that eating from the forbidden tree will not cause her to die but become wise. Adultery sells the lies that you can find the happiness and fulfillment with another person who is not your spouse.
Materialism sells the lie that you will find satisfaction and meaning in life through the accumulation of things and possessions.
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17
Therefore the way out of the webbed jungle of lies is by living by God's truth.
2. A disciple's life can be seen plainly.
Observable. Distinguishable from those who are not disciples. Disciples bear the resemblance of the Master whom they follow. You find it in their mannerism, in their speech, in their thinking. The disciples imbibe the Master's philosophy of life. They live out that philosophy of life. They pass on that philosophy of life to others.
More than that, as Christ's disciples, they are new creations, new spiritual beings, born of heaven but living on earth!
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13
In the field for the Olympics, you can tell the difference between the bulked up hammer throwers and the lean and tall high jumpers. The discipline and training to which they subscribe to, plus their natural physique of course and inclination and talents. The point is that you can tell them apart. Perhaps for other track and field disciplines it might be harder to tell them apart, but the point is clear. Just as you can observe an athlete competing in his or her events, you can observe a disciple in his or her life too.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1
3. A disciple's life displays the workings of God.
A disciple is not inactive. He or she is active in the doing the will of God, and by the strength and provisions of God! In times of spiritual victories, you'll discern that God was behind the success of the disciple! In times of weaknesses and failures, you'll find the disciple seeking and receiving the grace of God to get up and get going again. Through it all, one will conclude, it is God at work in the disciple. Through such workings, God is revealed in the disciple, seen by the world, and therefore displaying the love and grace of God to the on-lookers.
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
It is God who works mightily in the disciple's life. If he serves, he serves with the strength of God. If she leads, she leads by the grace of God. If they speak, they speak as if God Himself was speaking through them.
for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Phil 2:13
In the Great Barrier Reefs of Australia, you'll find all sorts of marine life, each with their distinct shapes and sizes, patterns, colors, habitats, and habits. Each one of these swimming creatures are so delightfully colorful and unique that you can be amazed at it and overwhelmed with praise to God, just by watching! So it is too that when people see the lives of Christ's disciples, they just erupt with praise to God, giving glory to God.
The workings of God is displayed in every facet of the disciple's life if he really allows them! So, don’t hide away God’s dealings & workings in your life! Share wisely and lovingly so that others too may pattern themselves into Christ-like disciples!
