THEOSIS - AFFECTIONS

-salvation is not on knowledge.. our reading must be mixed with prayer, praise and worship

   -reading alone will become dry

-salvation is not a self improvement thing, a better person.. but its an ultimate relationship with God

-we are declared righteous to declare God's righteousness

-righteousness and power have to be grounded to love

-without love, our faith cant work... faith works through love

-God is righteous, containing love and the power

-affections are more than feelings

   -feelings come and go, ups and downs

   -affections is temperament 

3 affections we should have

1. gratitude

remember what God has done for us even in times of hardship

2. compassion

compassion to love like Jesus...

Jesus loves, no matter how His day was

3. courage

courage gives us the strength and hope that God has a better plan for us!

BEING KNOWN BY GOD

-as much as we want to know God more, God also wants to know us more thoroughly and accurately

-we may claim tt we know God, but does God really knows us?

there is a possibility tt in our pursuit, us wanting to do great things for God... we also have to be known by God

a person known by God

1. has identity in Christ

-one has a name, whereas the rich man name is unknown

   -this difference cos of the identity

-wealth of the rich man does not prevent him from going to paradise... but his identity

-well known on earth, but completely nameless in heaven

-dont get self-worth by works, esteem by being better than others

   -its is not sustainable... we will fall into a trap that we will feel a failure if we did not accomplish anything...and this will destroy us

one who has his/her identity remain intact even if we pursuit success

2. choose to submit and obey God's will

-do we submit the situation or do we choose to take control over the situation on our own?

   -if we are arrogant, it will not please God

a person loved by God is one who still trust and love God even if prayers is not yet answered

-Jesus chose to submit fully to God

-Jesus chose maturity over miracles

-Jesus chose to stay instead of running away

3. cares for the poor and the marginalized

show compassion to others is regarded as God as doing for Him (doing on His behalf)

showing kindness is the least we can do to show tt we are the child of God

-the Pharisees look down at the poor

-give out of compassion, out of genuine kindness...

-not give to sneer at others, out of pity

THE COMPASSION OF JESUS

compassion is who God is

as such we can trust God that He can do the compassionate thing in every situation of our life

3 things abt Jesus' compassion

1. unconditional

-compassion comes from deep within.... 

-compassion of Jesus does not come from external situations, without conditions attached

do good without expecting anything in return

-freely we received compassion, freely we give

   -we dont receive and just enjoy it, but also to give it away

2. moves us to action

Jesus' compassion resulted in actions

when Jesus is moved with compassion, Jesus always action!

our job is to believe.... Jesus' compassion always move Him to do miracles

we must act!! when we act, miracles can happen

3. Jesus' compassion draws us to God

God wants to commune with us

God shows us His compassion cos He wants to visit us every morning and draw us closer to Himself

Abraham had encounter with God as 3 man

-Abraham did not join in the meal but observed from afar

-perhaps he thinks that he's not invited...

at the divine table, God is waiting for us to come and meet Him face to face

-when God draws us, dont harden our hearts

-theres nothing God cannot do if only we believe