In returning and rest, in quietness and confidence

In returning and rest, in quietness and confidence

Scripture:- For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not Isaiah 30:15

Observation: In this Scripture, there are four things that God exhorts each one of us to do.

The first is returning. The picture then was Israel rebelling against God, doing this their own way and going astray. Yet God remained faithful, and when they turned back, when they returned to Him, He restored them. For us too, there may be times and periods in our lives when we may have wavered and gone down a different path than what God had intended for us. Like the prodigal son, who realized his error and returned to his father, we too must recognize our error and return to our Lord. Jesus said, no one who comes to me will I turn away. While we have breath yet in our mouth, there is still hope. The time of turning back, of returning to God is today, not tomorrow, for who knows what tomorrow may bring?

The second is rest. In life, many of us strive, trying to achieve this and that, but stress has come in, and we have no real peace. God is saying to us, take time, stop and find rest in Me. No matter how busy Jesus was, he always made time to go and be alone with His Father where He found rest and peace. Jesus also asks us to come to Him and find rest. He says “Come unto me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. My yoke is easy and my burden is light”. Somehow, in serving Jesus, we find a divine peace, and divine rest.

The third is quietness. Closely connected to rest, it is an important discipline to learn to be still and quiet before God, to wait upon Him and listen to what He may say to us. Even when no words are spoken, it is precious just to be still and know that the Lord is God, and there is no other.

Finally, the fourth is confidence. Some trust in chariots and some trust in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God! The Psalmist exclaims. When we are confident in God, we will not be shaken, no matter what the circumstance. He is our mighty fortress, our deliverer. Not even the great armies of the earth can prevail against our great and living God!

Application:- We need to learn to return to God, to find rest in Him, to be quiet before Him and to always base our confidence and trust in His strength. Jesus is our rock, and if He is for us, who can be against us?

Prayer:- Lord, when my heart strays, draw me back that I may return to you! May I ever find rest in your presence Lord Jesus. Teach me to be quiet before You, and let my confidence, my trust always be in You that You will always be with me to the very end of the age.

The potter and the clay

The potter and the clay

Scripture: Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding? Isaiah 29:16

Observation: Isaiah 29 speaks further of a time where God will come and cause a great and powerful shaking on the earth. It is a time of earthquakes, storm and tempest, devouring fire. And there will also be a loss of wisdom among the people, with the wisdom of the wise men perishing and the understanding of prudent men being hid. In the midst of these upheavals, many will question why this is happening.

In life too, when things go wrong, when we are not happy with ourselves, perhaps not happy with our parents, our husbands, our children, many may begin to question God. Why did you place me in this family? Why did you make me look this way? Why do I have these defects? Why did you allow me to take this job? Why is my life upside down?

It is here that Isaiah 29:16 gives us perspective. God made us. He placed us where we are. He is our maker. Who are we to question him? Can the clay say to the potter “Why did you make me this way?” Or the toy to the toymaker “Why did you make me this way?” It is the prerogative of the Lord to put us where He wants according to His purposes. If He brings trials and hardships, it is His prerogative.

Job, after being stricken by numerous disasters exclaimed “Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked I shall depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. May the Lord be praised!”

The main principle here is that we should not question the circumstance we are in or delve into self-sympathy and regret. Instead, we should look forward to the bright future that we have in Jesus Christ. All testing and trials and hardships should instead be accepted as training to make us better and more mature as James writes “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

Scripture talks of an “evil day”, referring to a time when trouble and hardship comes. Yet, even an “evil day” can be used by God for good. The evil done to Joseph was turned into the salvation of Jacob’s whole family. The calamity endured by Ruth and Naomi was turned into the blessing of being included into the family of Boaz. The day meant for the extermination of the Jews during the time of Queen Esther was turned into a day of feasting and celebration that they celebrate to this day.

Application:-  As Jesus turned water to wine, He can in an instant turned our unsavory situation into something precious all in His good time. Hence, we do best not to question Him but the pray for strength and endurance, and use that circumstance to help us draw closer to God.

Prayer:- Lord, I do not understand why some things happen, when turbulence and upheaval comes into my life. However, I choose to trust You, Lord, that You know the best for me, and I submit myself to You. Give me strength and endurance and patience I pray.  Bless You, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

Daughters of Abraham

Daughters of Abraham

Recently, still on the subject of marriage, I listened to some teaching on the role of wives in submission to husbands.

The main text is drawn from 1 Peter 3 where Peter exhorts wives to submit to their husbands in such a way that even if they are unbelievers, they will also be won over because of the good behavior of their wives. Submitting is not a sign of weakness, but rather of strength. Now men and women are equal before God but their roles are different. Man was made first, and has a role to take the lead, to be the head of the household. Woman was made next to support the men and be a good helpmate and partner. Both are equal but find fulfillment in the respective roles that God intended them for. In the same way, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit is One, but each have their own role. They are one, yet they perform different roles. The Son is submits Himself to the Father, and the Holy Spirit submits himself to the Son.

Now many husbands are deemed unworthy of respect by their wives. However, Peter’s teaching is not to submit only if they are worthy. He says to submit even if they are unbelievers. Now submitting can be done rebelliously, reluctantly giving in but sulking and muttering under the breath. However, the manner of the submission spoken of by Peter gives us the impression of gentleness and love. Now there are some things that are clearly wrong and against God’s will that a woman should not follow even if ordered by her husband – to kill or hurt someone, to prostitute herself, or to do something that clearly harms herself or the children, to worship idols. Nevertheless, even in such situations, the attitude of refusal should be gentle and loving. i.e. “I respect and love you as my husband, but I cannot do this”.  

Daniel and his three friends would not eat meat sacrificed to idols, but did not outrightly defy the officer in charge of them. Instead, they asked him to give them 10 days to prove their diet would leave them healthy. They had a submissive attitude and trusted God to find a way out for them.

The fact is, most of the time, wives do not submit to their husbands are because of pride or selfishness. Sometimes, wives can be so “on fire” that they can really put their husbands off themselves, the church and even Christ. Imagine, a gung-ho passionate lady for God who attends cell group, prayer meeting, seminars, and then goes home and condemns her husband who is not in favor of her attending so many activities. In reality, she can do greater good by submitting to her husband, showing him more love instead of nagging him.

The beginning of 1 Peter 3 is “likewise”, referring to the preceding verses which talk about Jesus who submitted Himself to God, even to death on the cross. Hence, the theme is about wives submitting to their husbands just as Jesus submitted to the Lord.

Verse 3 in a way has been misquoted by some to say women should not wear gold at all. However, there are three things mentioned – women are plaiting the hair, wearing gold, and wearing clothes. The point is not about not allowing women to plait their hair or wear gold or to wear clothes, but to not depend on these for their outward beauty. Instead, of far greater value is a meek and quiet spirit which in the sight of God is of great worth.

When God and two angels came to visit Abraham and promised him a son through Sarah in the coming year, she laughed in her heart thinking “Shall I have this pleasure, being so old, and my lord also?” Even in her heart, Sarah thought of Abraham as her lord, like her master.

Now the rewards of wives submitting to their husbands can be seen in verses 9-10. They will inherit a blessing, being able to love life and see good days. How wonderful it would be for all of us to be able to love living and seeing good days!

There is the story of Abigail who protected her husband Nabal and his servants from slaughter by David and his men. Although he was not worthy of her, Abigail used all her wit and wisdom to protect him. And when he died, David called for her and she became married to the future king of Israel.

  

There is also the true story of a wife whose husband refused to let her go to church. She gently kissed him and told him she had to go, and left. When she came back, she found herself locked out in the cold. The next morning, when he opened the door, she simply kissed him and made him breakfast. Not long after, amazed at the love, he too came to believe Christ and eventually became a famous preacher, whom God used to raise 10 people from the dead in his lifetime.

Now, why would Scripture use Sarah as the example of all women? Ruth too was submissive to Naomi, and there is Abigail. However, Sarah was most famed for being submissive to her husband, and we see that God blessed her with youthfulness and beauty even in her old age, so that she was sought after even at 90!

Each sister in Christ has the potential to be a true daughter of Sarah, with great inner beauty and a quiet spirit, submitting to their husbands as to the Lord. May the Lord bless you with His wisdom and love, gentleness and beauty, as you seek His presence and love others through His love. In Jesus name, Amen.

The threefold cord- Christ in the centre of marriage

The threefold cord- Christ in the centre of marriage

Recently, I was listening to a message on marriage, and there are some interesting points we would do well to consider.

Firstly, as a saying goes, a threefold cord is not easily broken. Christ must be at the center of every marriage for it to have lasting success and growth. When Paul spoke to wives, he said, submit to your husband as to the Lord, and to husbands, he said, love your wives as Christ loves the church. Marriage was instituted to show us God’s love for His people, Christ’s love for His church.

Some wives may feel their husbands are unworthy of respect but Paul exhorts wives, don’t look at him first, look at Lord Jesus, then respect your husband as you would Lord Jesus. Similarly, some husbands look down on their wives, but Paul says, look at Jesus first, see how He loves His church, then love your wife the same way! Jesus is at the center always, and teaches us to love.

Now, looking at all creation, we see that where God made a thing, it should naturally be near where God made it to be blessed. In the skies, God made the sun and moon and stars, and so they should stay there. A fallen star is a dead star. From the sea, God made fishes and fishes should stay in the sea. Likewise, animals made from the land should stay on land.  When God made Adam, He said “let us” referring to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and saw Adam is made from God himself but Adam’s body is made from the dust. And then God made Eve from Adam’s side. Being created from Spirit, Adam must stay close to God for that’s where he belongs. That’s why there is a desire inside each one of a man’s heart to seek God. Unfortunately, some who have not managed to fulfill that need have turned to idols as a poor replacement. Eve being taken from Adam’s side belongs next to Adam’s side, and there is a sense of meaning and purpose for every wife standing beside her husband. She was not meant to rule over him or be stepped on by him, but to serve beside him as an equal partner. To single women, you can stand at Jesus side and enjoy His warmth and love and when you find your husband, Jesus is still there in your threefold cord.

There is a dangerous teaching in some circles that says that there is a perfect one person that God has placed for you to be your spouse. The implied danger is that whenever things don’t go well, you immediately start to wonder, is he or she the perfect one meant for me? No such thing! Scripture has said that God can cause all things to work together for the good of those who love him. No matter how imperfect or weak your partner may seem to be in your eyes, Jesus can change that in an instant. Your job is to continue obeying, to love your wives as Jesus loves the church, to submit to your husbands as to the Lord.

The first miracle Jesus ever did was at a wedding at Cana, and He turned water into wine. The wine was so good that the master of the ceremony commended the bridegroom. Marriage was always important to Jesus and to God and he stated clearly God’s stand against divorce. Just like Jesus changed water to wine, He can also easily change your marriage into something really wonderful.

To the married, may the Lord bless your marriage with unity and joy and make it like fine wine. To singles, may the Lord bless you with His precious presence, and grant you wisdom and grace where you are led to marry. Praise be ever to His name. In Jesus name, Amen.

In Perfect Peace

In Perfect Peace

Scripture:- Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: Isaiah 26:3-4

Observation: The Scripture today gives us the picture of a man in perfect peace. What can we observe about this man? His mind is stayed on God. He is always aware of God, always conscious of God’s presence with him, wherever he goes. He trusts God, and in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.

In today’s world of extreme busyness, with so many things vying for our attention, work, entertainment, investments, children, relationships. It is indeed quite easy to forget God in the midst of all our hectic hurrying. Even in church, with numerous programs and responsibilities, one can also forget the most important part of all our service, which is our Lord Himself.

Isaiah tells us that we can have perfect peace. Even in the midst of a storm, deadlines, and the impatience of bosses and superiors, we can have perfect peace. And a lot of that peace is trust, trusting in God no matter what, that He will make everything work together for the good of those who love Him.

Joseph, in his difficult years, continued to trust God, as a slave, as a prisoner, and even later as Prime Minister. His trust in God never wavered through thick or thin, and looking back, he calmly told his brothers that what they had meant for evil had been used by God to instead provide salvation for the whole family.

The antidote for stress and worry is trust in God. Cast your cares on the Lord for He cares for you and He will never let the righteous fall. The righteous will live by faith, so we need to continue to believe and trust in God in every situation.

Application: Make it a point to desire to constantly have God in our awareness, through every part of the day and night. It doesn’t mean, we are always praying or reading the Bible or reciting verses but that we always have that calm consciousness of God with us, Emmanuel. In trouble or distress, choose to continue to trust God.

Prayer:- Lord, let my mind always be focused on You, through every waking moment and even whilst I sleep. Strengthen my trust in You always, even in the darkest valleys of life, let me never fail to trust You. In Jesus name, Amen.

Where, O death is your victory?

Where, O death is your victory?

Scripture:- He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it Isaiah 25:8

Observation:- In this prophetic verse, the prophet Isaiah actually prophesies of the coming Messiah Jesus Christ who has swallowed up death in victory so that whose who follow Him may say “Where O Death is your victory, where O Death is your sting?

From ages old until now, from the time of Adam during the great fall, death has ruled supreme. The Book of Genesis begins with Creation and ends with Death. Death is said to be the great equalizer. Rich or poor, famous or unknown, royalty or commoner, good or evil – death has no respect for the status of a man. When the times comes to go, then it is time, and we cannot take any possessions with us as we decay in the dust.

Yet when Jesus came and died on the cross and was raised on the third day, He did away with Death. “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies, and he who lives and believes in Me will never die.” By this Jesus was referring to the second life. The Book of Revelation records how when Jesus comes in the skies, all those in Him who have died together with those in Him who are still alive will be caught up in the air to join with Him together forever.

In fact, in the Book of Revelation, God was warning His people to expect persecution and even death but not to fear it. Revelation 12 speaks of the people of God who overcame the dragon by the word of their testimony and the blood of the lamb and did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. The death of His saints is precious in the eyes of the Lord. To die for Jesus is a great privilege indeed. However, it is not our call but the Lord. If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go and if anyone is to be killed by the sword, by the sword he will be killed. We should be like the apostle Paul, who said to live is Christ and to die is gain.

The picture of God wiping away the tears from the faces of His people is again seen in Revelation “For the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd and he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes”. Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted. God is a loving and compassionate God and He feels for us even in our times of sorrow and despair.

Application:- Do not fear death, but live life to our best ability to know Jesus and serve Him, trusting God to determine the number of our days and our life’s length. Know that God cares for us and loves to comfort us.

Prayer: Lord, I entrust my life to you for you know best. Help me live the number of days you have given me to the fullest, in honor of You. Thank You for Your great love and comfort. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

For them that dwell before the Lord

For them that dwell before the Lord

Scripture:- And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing. Isaiah 23:18

Observation:- Isaiah 23 speaks of a prophecy against the great maritime city of Tyre, that was exceedingly successful in business and trade. However, the knowledge of God was not present in this place, but instead, its god was materialism and commercialism. In her pride and selfishness, Isaiah prophesied of Tyre’s downfall, and in the final verse, we see that the treasure that Tyre hoarded up for itself would instead go to them that dwell before the Lord, for their food and clothing.

This brings to mind Jesus’ Words when He walked the earth such as “Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth” and “But many who are first will be last and many who are last will be first”. Jesus was always concerned about the poor of the land, and often spent time among the poor, the widows, the outcasts. Even in Old Testament times, we see how God prepared special provisions for the poor to be looked after in His law.

Yet at the same time, it is not wrong to be rich in itself. Being rich enables us to participate with God in blessing the poor, in making a difference in life and society. Still there are many who has made wealth their god and they hoard up for themselves like the people of Tyre, boasting in their riches, and competing with one another to see who could be more luxurious.

To be exceedingly rich is not for everyone, as wealth can come as a curse for those who know not how to wield it. Yet God is raising a generation of philanthropists who take pleasure in giving and making the world a better place, even among the super rich elite of the world.

Ultimately, we should be content with whatever God gives us – to eat sufficiently and own durable clothing is blessing enough for us.

Application:- Focus not so much on storing up treasures for ourselves, but look for opportunities to give to bless others on a regular basis. Source out worthy causes for our giving that will change the world in areas where we are passionate in. It could be helping poor Orang Asli children gain a better life by giving them more education, or provide clean water supply for a village in Africa, or help drug addicts redeem lost lives.

Be content with what we have, and give according to how God has blessed us.

Prayer:- Lord, I thank You for all that You give me, especially the food that I eat, the clothes that I wear, and the roof over my head. Help me content in all that you give me, and where you have blessed me with much, help me bless others likewise. In Jesus name, Amen.

The Key of David

The Key of David

Scripture:- And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. Isaiah 22:22

Observation:- This verse in Isaiah is in reference to Eliakim the son of Hilkiah who was described as God’s servant, who was destined to hold the government in his hand, and be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the house of Judah. Elsewhere in 2 Kings, Eliakim is recorded as “over the house” and “over the household” during the reign of the godly king Hezekiah. He himself was not king, but Eliakim was like a governor, and even had the authority to speak to Rab-shaketh, the Assyrian commander who had come up to battle against Israel.

Later in Revelation, we see that Jesus Christ has the key of David, and as he that opens that no man shuts and he that shuts that no man opens Revelation 3:7. And it is written that Jesus has opened a door for the church of Philadelphia that no man can shut. Effectively, as King Hezekiah gave the keys to the government of Judah to Eliakim, God has given the keys of David to Jesus. The key is the symbol of authority that Jesus has. He has the keys to death and Hades.

And Jesus said to His disciples, I give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever you shall bound on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Binding is similar to shutting and loosing is similar to opening. So we see that the authority Jesus has He has also given to us, His servants.

Jesus Christ has all authority and power on earth and in Heaven and He has given us the keys to the kingdom of Heaven so that whatever we bind on earth will be bound on earth and whatever we loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven. When Jesus left, He proclaimed to His disciples “These signs will accompany those who believe. In my name they will cast out demons, they will speak in new tongues, they will pick up snakes with their hands, and when they drink deadly poison, they will not be harmed at all, they will lay their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” These are the signs of binding and loosing. Demons are bound, sickness and infirmity and death is bound, new tongues are released, healing is released. We even have power to come against and bind the powers and principalities in this dark world. All this is the work of the Holy Spirit which Jesus has given us. He is the key to the power Jesus has given us that we appropriate through faith in Him.

Application:- Since we know we have this key, this authority, we should exercise it daily. When we pass an idol, we should declare, I bind you, spirit of deception in Jesus name, I command that those in bondage to you be released in Jesus name. When we pray for a sick person, we can declare “I bind you, spirit of infirmity in Jesus name, Healing, be released in Jesus name.

Prayer:- Lord Jesus, thank You for the authority that You have given us. Give us the wisdom and courage to use it often and powerfully for the extension of Your kingdom. In Jesus name, Amen.

The good watchman

The good watchman

Scripture:- For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth. Isaiah 21:6

Observation:- Exploring further into Isaiah and his prophecy to the nations, we see one of the first references to the watchman. Later in Ezekiel, God appoints the prophet as a watchman in Israel. Traditionally, the role of the watchman is to watch, to stand guard, to sound the alarm and quickly alert the people if there is danger on the horizon - an invading army, a band of robbers, any type of trouble or distress that is coming upon the city.

In a way, we are also watchmen for God, some of us very particularly so. But what are the characteristics of a good watchman?

Firstly, a good watchman has Vision. The watchman opens his eyes and sees what is happening on the world’s horizon. He understands the developments in the world from a biblical point of view, and is able to encourage the church in the way it should go. The watchman is like the men of Isaachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel must do. In this day and age, the Church of God is beginning to move increasingly into the marketplace. More and more believers begin to see themselves as the light and salt of the earth right where they are, and begin to impact workplace and society as they honor God. In the day of the megachurch and growth of churches in diverse countries, the watchmen also has to pay particular heed to the diverse teachings entering the church. There is a need to be like the Bereans who studied the word to see if Paul’s teachings were true.

Secondly, a good watchman has Courage and Integrity. A watchman is useless if he quivers and shakes at the sight of approaching armies and runs and hides. He is only useful if he immediately runs and sounds the alarms, telling his people of the approaching danger. Some will heed while others may ignore him, but he will do his duty and keep warning them. In this respect, the good watchman also must have integrity. If he has lied before about approaching danger, it is hard for people to believe him as his credibility is in doubt. With courage and integrity, we have a strong foundation in the words we speak to others, because they know we can be trusted.

Thirdly, a good watchman has Perseverance in Prayer. When Jesus went into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, He asked His inner circle, James, Peter and John to watch with him. He exhorted them “Watch and pray, the spirit is willing but the body is weak”. A good watchman needs perseverance in prayer to breakthrough and see the vision that God has prepared for him. Our Lord Jesus, the prophet Daniel, Moses, David and many other great men and women of God all spent time persevering in prayer, and God indeed showed them great and wonderful things. We too need to learn to Persevere in Prayer before God

Application:- Aim to be a good watchman for God by seeking Vision, establishing courage and integrity in our daily lives and persevering in prayer to seek God’s will.

Prayer: Lord, open my eyes that I may see. Let courage and integrity be cornerstones of my heart, and strengthen me that I may persevere in prayer as I seek Your face. In Jesus name, Amen.

    

                                                                                                                      

Forgiving the undeserving

Forgiving the undeserving

Recently, I heard a message based on the parable of the unmerciful servant, and spent some time contemplating on this.

Now Peter had asked the Lord this question “How many times should I forgive my brother? Seven times?” And the Lord replied “Not seven, but seventy times seven.” and then proceeded to tell them the parable of the unmerciful servant. The parable of the unmerciful servant is about a servant shown unlimited grace by his king but he himself not showing even very limited grace to his fellow servant. He had owed the king a few million dollars and was forgiven when he asked for mercy. However, when his fellow servant who owed him a few dollars asked for mercy, he would not forgive him. His unforgiveness earned him great wrath from the king, and we will to if we do not forgive others.

This is indeed one of the most serious commands that Jesus taught - we must forgive so that our Heavenly Father will likewise forgive us. But how can we forgive terrible sin against us? How can a rape victim forgive her assaulters? How can a wife forgive her adulterous husband? How can a man forgive his own family members who mutilated him? How can the lone survivor forgive the gunmen who killed his entire family? Terrible as all these may be, Jesus is still telling us that we must forgive, and the magnitude of God forgiving us is far greater than how much we have to forgive our fellow men in life. To even begin to comprehend the difference, we only need to look at the cross, for Jesus Christ, the sinless perfect Savior endured all the punishment due to us on the cross, so that we might receive God’s forgiveness. No matter how much we have suffered, we only need to look at the cross to see that Jesus Christ suffered far, far more.

Humanly, there are many sins committed against us that we just can’t find it in our heart to forgive in our own strength. However, when we look at the cross, and meditate on the sacrifice of our Lord, we shall indeed find the strength to forgive. It is written that we love because God first loved us. We cannot force ourselves to love our enemies on our own. Only when we look at Jesus and understand and feel His love will we be able to reciprocate this same love to the undeserving who have hurt us. After all, we too were undeserving but God still loved us and even gave His precious son for us.

Forgiveness as we need to understand it is not based on feeling, but based on choice. We need to make a conscious decision to declare “I forgive ………. In Jesus name, from my heart.” Forgiveness releases the victim, setting him or her free to love Christ and receive His love and forgiveness unconditionally.  Sometimes, we may not feel any different, but as we confess with our mouth, and believe in our heart, over time, we will sense that forgiveness flowing through us. We need faith to forgive.

May the Lord give us the strength to forgive all who sin against us that we too may receive His love and forgiveness. In Jesus name, Amen.

Go, throw yourself in the sea

Go, throw yourself in the sea

Have faith in God “Jesus answered” I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain “Go throw yourself in the sea” but does not doubt in his heart but believes what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours. Mark 11:22-24

There is a Great Mountain on our country, a great and terrible mountain. And millions are trapped under that mountain, in darkness, in frustration, in chains. The Mountain blocks them from the light under the false pretense of protecting them. They have no opportunity to hear the good news. Their ears have been shut, their eyes have been covered. They are systematically cut off from the truth that would reach them, and generation after generation, they are destined to follow the paths of their fathers, trapped in the mountain, suppressed, and in darkness.

There are many of us who live free around this Mountain. Perhaps it is only because we are born of a different color that we are free, free to choose whom we will worship, free to choose whom we will love.

The Great Mountain has made a pact with us. Leave my people alone, and you can carry on your own lives peacefully, conduct your own worship, do your own thing. Violate this, and we will put you under the Mountain too, and take away your freedom. Therefore, we, of the Christian faith respect that, and we call it submitting to the authorities. We accept the tyranny on another race, and the deprivation of religious freedom that they endure.

Over time, over generations, we have come to accept that as the way of life, as the way things are, and cannot be changed. Instead, we are becoming increasingly focused on the deprivation of our rights in other areas. We detest the special privileges that the other race receives at our expense. We are so concerned with unfairness and discrimination against us. Many of us even leave the country completely in indignation and anger. Yet, we have perhaps forgotten, or even failed to realize that for all the privileges they receive, they have been denied the most important privilege of all that will determine their eternal destiny – the privilege of choosing Christ and being saved.

Therefore, instead of being so concerned about our rights, should we not be far more concerned about the salvation of their millions. Wouldn’t that be the very thing that our Lord Jesus would be far more interested in? Did He not also die for them?

Brothers and sisters, let us shake off our self-seeking, inward-looking, fearful mindset, but let us put on the mind of Christ, and be Kingdom-focused.

You may ask, what can I do? This Mountain is so great and huge? My friend, the Word of God says you can make it go and throw itself into the sea. What if every Christian in our beloved country were to wake up every morning, look at this Mountain, and say “In Jesus name, Go throw yourself in the sea”? I believe that if more and more of us stand up and believe and pray, this mountain cannot stand, no matter how great and powerful it seems.

Friends, I believe God really calls to us, love this people as I love them. Get rid of this Mountain. Set your country free that all may worship Me!

Mercy, truth, justice, righteousness

Mercy, truth, justice, righteousness

Scripture:-And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness. Isaiah 16:5

Observation:- in the midst of a prophecy against Moab in Isaiah 16, we see a prophetic verse referring to the coming reign of our Lord Jesus Christ. And there are four qualities that describe His reign.

Firstly, is mercy. What is mercy? It gives the impression of forgiveness, letting go of a debt, sparing someone from punishment. As the Psalmist writes, all have turned away, there is no one who does good, not even one. They have become altogether corrupt. Without mercy, no one could stand before the Lord, but it is God’s mercy through Jesus Christ that enables us to come to Him. Jesus told the Pharisees “If you had understood what these words mean, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent”. It is God’s nature to show His creation mercy, as it is written, His mercies are new every morning. Likewise, we too, who have been shown mercy, must show others mercy. Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy. There is also the warning of the parable of the unmerciful servant who would not forgive his fellow brother and received his due punishment.

Secondly, is truth. Mercy and truth are often mentioned together in the Bible. Abraham’s servant blessed God for showing His mercy and truth to Abraham. Jacob thanked God for His mercy and truth. The Psalmist writes “mercy and truth are met together.” Truth speaks of the unchanging faithfulness of God, His precision and exactness in all things, His honesty and loyalty and integrity.

Thirdly is justice. The king will judge and seek judgment. He is concerned about establishing order in the kingdom, and cultivating a people who will follow His ways.

Finally is righteousness. The coming king is righteous, doing what is right and ruling a people who are called to be righteous.

Application: These four characteristics should also define us who follow Jesus – mercy, truth, justice and righteousness

Prayer: Lord, May You change our hearts each day as we grow to love You more and more, and let the Spirit cultivate in us Your mercy, Your justice, Your truth and Your righteousness that we might reflect Your glory. In Jesus name, Amen.

To save that which was lost

To save that which was lost

Recently, I listened to a message on the popular children’s Bible Story on Zacchaeus. It is the story of a short man of very high stature, as the chief of the tax collectors. In his profession of those days, Zacchaeus was shunned by the general Jewish public as a traitor and cheater of his own people. It was common for tax collectors to collect more from the public than was required with the balance lining their increasingly rich pockets. Now Zacchaeus in his desperation to see Jesus, did the very undignified thing of climbing up the sycamore tree. Imagine a man wearing a long skirt clambering up a tree! Zacchaeus knew that his life was empty and unfulfilled despite of his vast riches, and that he was a sinner. He was looking for salvation, and searched for Jesus desperately, not caring what others would think of him.

And then to his shock and great delight, Jesus stopped and looked up at him, and offered to stay at Zacchaeus’ house. When Jesus said “I must stay at your house today”, the word “must” was a very strong word used, the same as when Jesus said “I must do my Father’s will”. When He walked the earth as a man, Jesus specially looked out for sinners as He said “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” While the crowd praised God whenever Jesus healed the sick or cast out demons, they were perplexed when He associated Himself with prostitutes and tax collectors. They did not understand that the whole purpose Jesus came was to seek and save that which was lost. They were right that Zacchaeus was a sinner, but they should have realized that they too were also sinners, and also in need of God’s grace.

Generally, in the gospels, it seems that Jesus had harsh words for the rich. He gave the example of the man who built bigger barns to store his wealth, thinking he would enjoy many more years but lost his life before he could enjoy any of it.  Also when the rich young ruler asked to follow Him, Jesus found his heart out by asking him to sell everything he had. Then the Lord further said that it is easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Yet, in the case of Zacchaeus, a rich man, he found salvation.

His change of heart was immediately seen as he exclaimed “I give half my goods to the poor, and I will pay back fourfold any man I have cheated”. The fruit of his salvation was Zacchaeus’ new found generosity that he gave with a willing heart.

We should also note that Jesus did not ask Zacchaeus to leave his profession. There are times of course when a man may have to leave his job to uphold his faith, but in this case, it was not wrong for Zacchaeus resolved to be an honest tax collector. When the tax collectors came to John the Baptist, he did not ask them to leave their jobs but to not collect more than they should.

In conclusion, some things we can learn from this story is:-

(i)  Do not look down on others as worst sinners but learn to see others with the eyes of Jesus

(ii) Be desperate in seeking out Jesus

(iii) Those with wealth should use their wealth to bless others

(iv) Be honest in whatever job we have been given

(v) Jesus came to seek and save sinners like us who were list

Rest from sorrow, fear and bondage

Rest from sorrow, fear and bondage

Scripture:- And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve, Isaiah 14:3

Observation:- The beginning of Isaiah 14 is addressed to Israel and to the “strangers cleaved unto her” which seems to be a reference to us, the Gentiles, who through Jesus Christ have also become God’s people. And in his prophecy, Isaiah declared that there would be a day when God would give Israel 3 things, rest from sorrow, rest from fear, and rest from hard bondage.

Firstly, looking at sorrow, we see that God is always the Great Comforter. When Jesus came upon the earth, He healed the sick, cast out demons, and raised the dead, often turning sorrow into joy. Jesus said that when He went away, He would ask the Father to send us another Comforter which is the Holy Spirit. In the Book of Revelation, it is written that God will wipe away every tear from the eyes of His loved ones. In Peter, we see the great verse “Cast your cares upon Him for He cares for you”. Jesus feels our sorrow and He bore the sorrows of the world on the cross. When Lazarus died, I believe Jesus already knew He would raise him from the dead, yet Jesus wept. I believe this is because He felt acutely the sorrow that Mary and Martha felt. Indeed, God know our sorrows and comforts us in His love.

Secondly, looking at fear, we realize that today there is much in life to fear. Crime, disease, loss of occupation, political instability, the economy….  Yet God has promised a time when we will find rest from fear, and it is a very precious thing indeed. The tonic for fear is trust, and the more we trust God, the more fear dissipates away. The worries of this life is a dangerous thing and one of the reasons many Christians live an unfruitful life. But we need to remember that God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. When we focus on the love of Jesus, we will not fear for where there is perfect love, there is no fear.

Finally, looking at hard bondage. In many parts of the world today, there are many, even Christians, who are under hard bondage, slave workers in factories, prostitutes and beggars all over the world, even maids employed by cruel employers. When Jesus Christ comes again to rule upon the earth, all these bondage will be no more. Likewise, there are also many who are enslaved by the things of the world – alcohol, drugs, gluttony, shopaholics, computer addicts, glue, obsession with beauty, pornography. The list is endless. Jesus said that He came to set the captives free, and when we come to Jesus, we indeed can be set free from the things that enslave us.

Application:- When we are in sorrow, come to Jesus and find Comfort in Him. When we are fearful, come to Jesus, and find peace in Him. When we are in bondage, come to Jesus, and let His truth set us free.

Prayer:- Lord, I thank You that You are my Great Comforter, and You always care for me. I thank You that You are my peace that drives away all my fear. I thank You that You have set me free from every bondage by Your precious sacrifice on the cross. Thank You, Lord, let me ever abide in You. In Jesus name, Amen

Sanctified, mighty, rejoicing

Sanctified, mighty, rejoicing

Scripture:- I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness. Isaiah 13:3

Observation:- Isaiah 13 depicts a prophecy of the coming wrath of God upon the world and upon Babylon in particular. The imagery is similar to the descriptions in the Book of Revelation - The darkness when sun and moon would not give light, the earth removed from its place, the coming of a large army to inflict great wrath on mankind, Babylon left desolate.

However, our verse today, verse 3 focuses on three characteristics of those who serve the Lord. Firstly, they are sanctified, secondly they are mighty, thirdly they rejoice in God.

What does it mean to be sanctified? To be sanctified means to be made holy, to be blessed, to be consecrated, to be set apart for God. When we received the Lord Jesus into our hearts, we became sanctified by the blood of Jesus Christ. We became included as part of God’s family, destined to reign with Him as priests and kings on the earth. A typical picture of being sanctified is the wearing of white clothes, made of fine linen, bright and clean. These are the robes of righteousness that Jesus has given us. We are clothed not with our own righteousness which are like filthy rags, but with the pure righteousness of Jesus, holy and perfect. We need to view ourselves that way, wearing Jesus’ righteousness!

Secondly, we are mighty! The Scripture says that we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. We are given a spirit of power. We have authority in the heavenly places over every power and principality because of the name of Jesus and His Spirit which is in us. Therefore we should not fear but recognize that we are mighty in God, yet gentle as lambs.

Finally, we rejoice in God! Thanksgiving and Praise to God should always be on our lips. In everything, give thanks! He who sacrifices thanks offerings prepares the way for me to show him the salvation of God – as declared by the Psalmist. Rejoicing in God is really so important.

Application: Look at ourselves as sanctified, wearing robes of righteousness. View ourselves as mighty in God, overcoming all things. Always have a heart of rejoicing, praising God and thanking God in everything.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you that I am sanctified and redeemed, and You have given me white clothes to wear, bright and clean. Thank You Lord, that in You, I am mighty and able to overcome all things. May my heart ever rejoice in You in every situation and praise You for Your goodness and love. In Jesus name, Amen.