Hear, you peoples,all of you, listen

Hear, you peoples,all of you, listen

Scripture:
Hear, you peoples, all of you,listen, earth and all who live in it, that the Sovereign LORD may bear witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple. Look! The LORD is coming from his dwelling place; he comes down and treads on the heights of the earth. The mountains melt beneath him and the valleys split apart, ike wax before the fire, like water rushing down a slope. Micah 1:2-4

Because of this I will weep and wail; I will go about barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal
and moan like an owl. For Samaria’s plague is incurable; it has spread to Judah. It has reached the very gate of my people, even to Jerusalem itself. Micah 1:8-9

Observation: Micah means “Who is like Jehovah?” In a time when Israel, Samaria and Judah have become relatively wealthy, a lot of sinful influence has come in, especially idolatry and sexual immorality. As a result, the consequence of sin and wickedness brings judgment from our righteous God and the role of the prophet Micah is to bring a grave warning to the people.
Starting off, Micah speaks to all the people of the earth by focusing their attention on God. He reminds them of the power of the Lord who knows the evil that they do,and he declares that God is coming to judge them because of the evil they have done. The picture given us is the Lord watching all that happens from His holy temple above and then coming down on the mountains, causing it to melt beneath Him and the valleys being split apart like wax before the fire. The imagery reminds us of the power of the volcano with its molten lava streaming down the mountains,destroying everything in its path. The water rushing down a slope also reminds us of the terror of the tsunami,with its rushing waves sweeping everything in its path.
In the second passage, we see Micah in great distress, weeping and wailing in nakedness because of the sin in Samaria and Judah, even in Jerusalem, the city of God. Samaria's sin of idolatry and prostitution is likened to a plague that has spread to Judah and Jerusalem.
There are four main lessons we want to focus on from these two passages. Firstly, God sees everything. The evil that man does, the true intentions of his heart, nothing is hidden from God in Heaven. Secondly, sin and evil will bring the judgment of God. The natural disasters that we see around us in increasing frequency is a sign and warning of God's judgment upon the earth.Thirdly, the heart of God's servant like Micah hurts and grieves when their society lives in sin. What is our attitude towards sin? Are we flippant,or do we grieve like God grieves? Finally, sin is highly contagious. If we live near to highly sinful communities, there is a strong pull towards sinful actions. If you lived in a place like Las Vegas, there would be strong pull towards gambling and immorality. If we find ourselves in such situations, a high level of spiritual hygiene is required, a strong discipline in quiet time and spending time with the Lord, and a strong love and passion for the Word of God. Some are called to minister and save souls in such places. However, it is important to never underestimate the danger of the contagiousness of sin and to take the effort to undergird ourselves with a close relationship with Jesus and much prayer and humility.
Application: Remember that God is all-seeing, all-knowing and that nothing is hidden from Him. As we increasingly see and hear of natural disasters around us, keep praying for God's mercy and provision, knowing that the time of the end is near. Pray for a heart of compassion and to grieve for communities who live in sin before the Lord, like Micah did. Always be alert against the risk of sin contagiousness and undergird ourselves with prayer and close relationship with God.
Prayer: Praise You, O Heavenly Father, that You see all things and know all things in Heaven above. Help me know and remember this, that I might strive to live a righteous life before You as I follow Your Holy Spirit. As I see the disasters around me, let me cry out to You for mercy. Give me a heart of compassion like You, to pray for the salvation of even whole communities who do not know You. Protect me always from the sin that is so prevalent around me, and let me always walk closely with You. Praise You, Lord, Creator of all things. In Jesus name, Amen.

Is it right for you to be angry?

Is it right for you to be angry?

Scripture: But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the LORD, “Isn’t this what I said, LORD, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” But the LORD replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?” Jonah 4:1-4

But the LORD said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” Jonah 4:10-11

Observation: In this last chapter of Jonah, we see the prophet becoming very angry that the Lord had spared Nineveh. Taking it personally, he literally threw a temper in front of God, asking God to take away his life. Then, as Jonah sulked away some distance from the city, the Lord used a practical example to teach him a lesson, bringing Jonah a plant to comfort him and taking it away overnight. When Jonah again voiced his anger, the Lord explained to him that if he cared for a simple plant, how much more would God care for a city of more than 120,000 people and also many animals.

There are quite a few lessons we can learn from this chapter. Firstly, God’s ways are higher than our ways. Jonah couldn’t understand how he could spare Nineveh. He was looking from a human perspective, and could not understand why the Ninevites should deserve any mercy. However, from God’s perspective, they too are his children, although they had gone far astray. It is not for us to decide who deserves mercy and who doesn’t.  The Lord decides what is right to do in His sight.

Secondly, as Jonah rightly mentioned, our God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, who relents from sending calamity. Because of the righteousness of God’s nature, He will bring judgment upon sin and rebellion. However, at the same time, because of His great love, He opens the avenue for mercy if men would humble themselves and come to Him in repentance.

Thirdly, it is not for us to judge others. As Jesus said “Do not judge or you too will be judged”. Jonah did not have a right to judge the Ninevites and decided whether or not they should receive mercy. We are all sinners saved by grace. It is for us to walk humbly before the Lord.

Fourth, God is also concerned about animals. Jesus later mentioned that not one sparrow falls to the ground apart from the will of God the Father. Just as God treasures His creation, we too should treasure and respect the animals that God has made. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t kill mosquitoes and pests or eat meat. However, we should not torture or hurt animals or insects for fun.

Application: Remember that God’s ways are always higher than our ways. His wisdom is always greater than ours. Praise God that He is loving and merciful although He is just and righteous. Remember not to judge others but leave all judgment to God. Remember that animals are God’s precious creation. Therefore we should not treat animal’s lives lightly.

Prayer: O Lord, as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are Your ways higher than our ways, and Your thoughts than our thoughts. Help me always submit to Your wisdom O Lord. Praise You Heavenly Father for Your great love and mercy to us on earth. Let me not judge others, but learn to love others as You have loved me. Give me also a fresh appreciation of Your beautiful creation, even the animals that roam the earth. Bless Your Heavenly name O Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

God may yet relent

God may yet relent

Scripture:

Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” Jonah 3:1-2

But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”

When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. Jonah 3:8-10

Observation:- In Jonah 3, we see the call of God coming to Jonah a second time and this time he obeys. Amazingly, the people of Nineveh, and even the king believe Jonah, and repented before God. Scholars speculate that in the belly of the large fish or whale, the acidic juices would have made Jonah’s skin and hair a ghastly white as he walked through the city. Terrified at his appearance, the Ninevites could have been convinced God’s judgment was coming to them.

There are three main things we can learn from this chapter. Firstly, God is a God of second chances. Although Jonah failed the first time, God did not give up on him, but drew him back and restored him to his commission. Some of us may have served God for a time but then due to various reasons walked away from our calling. The Lord calls us to return to His service. Just like He restored Jonah and restored Peter, He can restore us too if we only we come back to Him.

Secondly, the actions of a leader has great impact over those under him. The actions of the king of Nineveh in calling for city-wide repentance and calling urgently on God averted judgment on the great city. Similarly, for those us in authority, over our family, over a church or cell group, over a company on business, over a district or state or nation, we have a special responsibility before God that has great impact on those under us.

Thirdly, God forgives when people repent and turn back to Him. Even when a king as evil as Manasseh repented, God relented from judgment upon him. Likewise, even though the Ninevites were so cruel and violent in their ways, God responded to their repentance. The Scripture is true that God does not want anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

Application: If we have walked away from a particular calling of God, turn back, come back to God that He may restore us. Recognize the authority of leadership and the impact we have on those below us. Ask God for wisdom to use this ability well to be a blessing to others. Thank God that the Lord’s compassion is great and He does not want anyone to perish.  If we have fallen away, turn back and return to Him. He is the way, the truth and the life.

Prayer: Father God, forgive me for the times I forsook my calling. Bring me back that I may serve You again in full passion and by Your Holy Spirit. Thank You Lord for those in authority over me, and those I have authority over. Give me wisdom and peace to lead them well and grant my superiors with wisdom and righteousness too. Praise You O Lord, for You do not want anyone to perish but to come to repentance. Help me return to You O Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

Yet you have brought my life up from the pit

Yet you have brought my life up from the pit

Scripture:-

“ I cried out to the LORD because of my affliction, And He answered me. “ Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, And You heard my voice.  For You cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, And the floods surrounded me; All Your billows and Your waves passed over me. Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight; Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’

The waters surrounded me, even to my soul; The deep closed around me; Weeds were wrapped around my head. I went down to the moorings of the mountains; The earth with its bars closed behind me forever; Yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O LORD, my God.

“ When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the LORD; And my prayer went up to You, Into Your holy temple. Those who regard worthless idols Forsake their own Mercy. But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.” Jonah 2:2-9

Observation: From inside the fish, Jonah called out to God for help. From his words, it appears that Jonah actually died and descended into hell before being brought back to the land of the living again. In Matthew 12:40, Jesus said “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Sheol in Jewish culture is known as the land of the dead. We know it as hell today. From Jonah’s words, we get some information about how hell is like. Firstly, hell is deep below the earth, where the mountains have its roots. Secondly, hell is like a prison, with bars separating the dead from the land of the living. Thirdly, hell is a pit. It is a hole where those who fall in cannot get out. Time and again, there have been individuals who have somehow been thrown into the pits of hell for a very short time and then allowed to come back to give a warning to the world. The Scripture in other places speak of it as a place of fire, of judgment, of darkness, of sorrow, of maggots and worms, of torture. It is a place with no water, a place where there are demons and evil angels. Just thinking of the horrors of hell, we are reminded of the great need to walk humbly before the Lord, in close relationship with our Lord Jesus who saves us.

In Jonah’s prayer here, there are three things we can learn in particular. Firstly, God is a God who hears us.  Just as Jonah cried out to God in his affliction and received God’s answer, so too have millions throughout the ages who have called out to God for help and found salvation in Jesus Christ. The Scripture says that God is our strength and our refuge, an ever present help in times of trouble.

Secondly, we must remember the Lord. In times of severe crisis, we may become so overcome by the problem at hand that we forget about the Lord. Move your eyes away from the problem and remember Jesus who is with you. Ask Him for help. God will deliver us when we depend on Him.

Thirdly, we are to sacrifice with voice of thanksgiving. Thanksgiving and praise to God is an important part of our ongoing relationship with God. As the Psalmist says “He who sacrifices thanks offering prepares the way for me to show him the salvation of God”. It is important to be thankful in all circumstances, and give glory to God easily. Beware of ungratefulness and complaining that cost the Israelites entry into the promised land.

Application: Praise God that He is the Lord who hears us. Remember the Lord even in terrible times of crisis. Seek His face for help. He is an ever present help in times of trouble. Be thankful and sing praises easily to the mighty God who is with us. Beware of the ungrateful and complaining spirit which can lead to great loss indeed.

Prayer: Praise You, O Heavenly Father for You hear our prayers in Jesus name. Help me always remember You and seek You, even in our darkest hours for You are our strength. Let a heart of thanksgiving and praise always be with me. Forgive my complaining and ungratefulness. Change my heart I pray. In Jesus name, Amen.

But Jonah ran away from the Lord

But Jonah ran away from the Lord

Scripture:

The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. Joshua 1:1-3a

Then they cried out to the LORD, “Please, LORD, do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, LORD, have done as you pleased.” Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. At this the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him Joshua 1:14-16

Observation: In this well known story of the Bible, we begin with Jonah, the prophet of the Lord given a most unsavory assignment – to preach to the great city of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria. At that time, it was said to be the largest city of the known world, and the gardens of Nineveh were considered one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Nineveh was also renown for its terrible sinfulness. Assyria was a constant threat to Israel and later would carry off the Israelites into exile.

At first sight, it seems that Jonah ran away from this assignment because of cowardice, perhaps afraid at the terrible things the Ninevites might do to him when he proclaimed this message. However, when we see his angry response later when Nineveh surprisingly repented, we see that his motive was not cowardice but rather not wanting Nineveh to be saved.

However, when Jonah tried to flee by ship to Tarshish, the Lord sent a great storm and the sailors were forced to throw Jonah overboard to save themselves.

This study we want to focus on 3 main things we can learn from the first chapter. Firstly, we can’t fight against God’s will. Jonah tried to fight against God’s will by human means but failed. God is all seeing and all knowing. We can try to run away from God, we can try to hide but He always finds us. We cannot have true peace and purpose until we surrender to His will. Saul in his zealousness went all out to make war against the Christians, when the Lord appeared to Him and said “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It’s hard for you to kick against the goads” Acts 26:14.  (A goad is a stick with a pointed piece of iron fastened to the end of it. This instrument is used to prod the oxen on when they are plowing. When a stubborn ox attempted to kick back against the goads (pricks), he would actually wound himself.) In other words, Jesus was telling Saul that it was useless to fight against His will.

Secondly, God loves even the most unlovable. The Assyrians in Nineveh must have been the most detested people in the whole world at that time because of their cruelty and wickedness. Still, despite their sins, the book of Jonah shows that God loves even the worse sinners and wants them to come back to repentance.

Thirdly, God can turns bad situations to good ones. By sending the storm for Jonah and stilling it after Jonah was thrown overboard, He displayed His awesome power in front of the sailors, who developed a new found respect and awe of the God of the Hebrews, the Lord who made the sea and the dry land.

Application: Some of us may have received a particular calling from God that we may be fighting against for various reasons. Some of us might be trying to run away, to try and ignore the voice of the Holy Spirit. However, in time, we need to realize that we are just kicking against the goads, and it is our destiny and purpose to come back to God’s will. There may be some people in our lives that we cannot quite help but detest or dislike. However, we need to remind ourselves that God still loves them, and that we need to learn to love them too. No matter how bad a situation, remember that God can still make it something special and useful for His glory. Trust in Him and wait for His purposes to be revealed.

Prayer: Father God, help me to understand what it means to pray “Not my will, but yours be done”. Curb the rebelliousness of my heart O Lord, help me to submit to Your will. Help me love everyone O Lord, even those who hurt me most. I cannot do it on my own, but in You O Lord, I am able to love. Thank You, Lord, that even in my worst situations, You are there with me, and You are always able to make the ugly beautiful. Bless You O Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

The pride that deceives

The pride that deceives

Scripture:

The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’ Obadiah 1:3

On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them. You should not gloat over your brother in the day of his misfortune,
nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast so much in the day of their trouble. Obadiah 1:11-12

“The day of the LORD is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head. Obadiah 1:15

Observation: The book of Obadiah with its solitary chapter is a prophecy of the downfall of Edom, the descendants of Esau, the brother of Jacob. Studying the book of Obadiah, we are especially reminded of particular characteristics that the Lord detests.

Firstly, the Lord detests pride. Esau himself was a man of pride, dependent on his own strength and never on God. He despised even his own birthright, and did not treasure the spiritual inheritance of his grandfather Abraham. Pride is the most dangerous of all sins. It caused the downfall of Satan from heaven. It was the final temptation that lured Eve to take the fruit. Throughout Scripture we are reminded that the Lord hates the proud but gives grace to the humble. That’s why it is so important for us to keep humble hearts towards God.

Secondly, Edom was accused of apathy, even gloating over Judah in the day of their misfortune. Do we do the same? When misfortune befalls others, do we stand back and think “this doesn’t concern me”. Do we even sneer and gloat when bad things befall others? A typical characteristic of Malaysians is to be so curious when an accident happens, even causing a traffic jam just to survey the misfortune, or even glean some benefit by taking down the number plate (for those who believe numbers involved in accidents will likely come out in the sweepstakes). Similarly, we take dark pleasure in scandals, even by relatives. We need to stop and instead consider the suffering others are facing and pray for them and help where we can.

Thirdly, it was prophesied against Edom that their deed would return upon their own head. In others word, it will be done to you as you have done to others. Jesus said “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you”. Similarly, do not do unto others as you would not have others do unto you. The important principle here, is not to just think about ourselves, but to consider the other person. Paul writes “Do not do anything out of vain conceit and selfish ambition, but in humility, consider others better than yourselves”.

Application: Beware of pride constantly throughout our lives. If we sense pride coming in, humble ourselves quickly before the Lord. Ask Him for help. Beware also of apathy and being joyful over the misfortune of others which the Lord strongly disapproves. Instead, pray for them, and help where possible. Endeavor to live the principle of “doing to others as you would have them do to you” and “not doing to others as you would not have them do to you.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank You for Your grace, Your love which You freely give. Forgive me O Lord for the pride that often comes into my heart. Help me always humble myself before you and not consider myself more highly than I ought. Forgive me for the times I have gloated over the misfortune of others. Give me a heart of compassion instead that looks also to the needs of others. In Jesus name, Amen. 

The reaper overtaken by the plowman

The reaper overtaken by the plowman

Scripture: “In that day “I will restore David’s fallen shelter— I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins— and will rebuild it as it used to be, so that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear my name may seek Me,” declares the LORD, who will do these things.

“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes. New wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills, and I will bring my people Israel back from exile. “They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the LORD your God. Amos 9:11-15

Observation: This Scripture from Amos is the beginning of prophecy fulfilled before our eyes. For almost 2,000 years, there was no such country as Israel. Since the Romans destroyed the temple of Jerusalem, the Jews were scattered all over the world for centuries. In spite of their various geographical locations, they maintained their identity and preserved the Old Testament that we now have in the first part our Bible today. After World War II, Jews started coming back to Israel from all over the world and declared the independence of Israel in 1948. Despite severe resistance from the Arabs, Israel prevailed and established herself. Over the decades, despite inheriting a dry and barren land, the Jews have now built a network of irrigation systems that has made the land fertile and fruitful. As the Scripture in Amos prophesied, ruined cities were rebuilt, and more and more Jews have returned to Israel.

The description of the reaper being overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes give us the picture of abundant, overflowing blessing. A similar picture would be when Jesus asked the fishermen to let down their nets and the catch was so great the nets began to break.

In this Scripture we are reminded of three main things. Firstly, God is a God of restoration. He loves to restore, to bring back the years that the locusts have eaten, to bring sinful man back into relationship with Himself. Some of us may feel that we have lost so much in life. God can restore life and meaning to us, if only we turn to Him.

Secondly, God is the God of past, present and future. The fulfillment of prophecy in the Bible shows us that God is in control of all history, even what is yet to happen. We are bound by time and space, but God is timeless, infinite, without borders. What a great God we have indeed!

Thirdly, God is the God of abundant blessing. He loves to bless His people with overflowing abundance. To those who trust Him, who fear Him, who obey Him, He will bless with abundant grace.

Application: Some of us may feel let down in life, bogged down by regrets and complaints. Stop! Turn to God! He is the God who restores, who can bring us back to the life of hope and love and promise that should be ours. He sent His Son Jesus Christ to restore us back to Him.

Praise God that He is God of past, present and future. Praise God for the fulfilled prophecy in His Word which again and again show us the sovereignty and authority of God. Bless the Lord for His great blessing and generosity. He showers plentifully upon His children more than they need. In Jesus Christ, we have all that we need.

Prayer: Bless You O great Lord, for You are Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. You hold all the earth, all time, all history in Your hands. Restore us O Lord. Let Your face shine upon us that we might be saved. Restore to us O Lord the years that the locusts have eaten. Give us new life, new passion, new hope in You. Shower Your love upon us, Your abundant blessings that You give most generously to us. Give us more of Your Holy Spirit and a greater and deeper wisdom in knowing You, Lord Jesus. May Your name be praised forever. In Jesus name, Amen.

A famine of God’s Word

A famine of God’s Word

Scripture: “The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign LORD, “when I will send a famine through the land— not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD. People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the LORD, but they will not find it. Amos 8:11-12

Observation: In this famous verse from Amos, we see the prophecy declaring the famine of hearing the words of the Lord. This came true for 400 years from the time of Malachi to John the Baptist, when the Lord raised up no prophet among His people Israel.

From this Scripture, we can clearly see that the famine of God’s Word is far worse than the famine of food or water. Today, God speaks to us primarily through His Word, the Bible. However, there was a time in the past, during the dark ages, when the Bible was kept away from the masses, and only reserved for reading by the clergy. How precious is the Word of God readily made available to us today in many different languages! We must never take it for granted!

The absence of God’s Word is symbolic of the absence of God Himself. In everyone of us, there is a moral standard inborn in us. All of us know that it is wrong to kill another human being, to steal or to cheat others. Standards may differ from individual to individual but there is always a basic understanding of good and evil in each person. Where does there this morality come from? It is from our Creator God, who is just and strong, yet faithful and loving.

In societies where God is not present, it will quickly degenerate into anarchy and chaos. God’s Word brings order, righteousness, peace. It is not by chance that early Western Christian nations were transformed from barbaric, violent societies to civilized, peace-loving countries as more and more people began to adhere by the principles of the Bible. In this day and age, the Word is more and more disdained by the modern generation, and these countries are again degenerating into lawlessness.

In his in-depth teaching on blessings and curses, the late teacher Derek Prince spoke of a clear connection between blessing and listening to the Word of God and doing it. Likewise, there was a clear connection between curses and not listening to God and not doing what He says. Psalm 1 speaks of how blessed is a man who delights in God’s Word.

Application: God’s Word is infinitely precious. Ask God to give you a deeper, more intimate love for His Word. Endeavor to read Scripture and commit some to memory. In these last days, a time may well come again when access to the Bible may become very difficult.

Prayer: How precious is Your Word O Lord. Deepen my love for Your Word I pray. Open my eyes to understand Your Word more and more. Let Your Word always be near me, deep in my heart. Praise You, Father, Son, Holy Spirit. In Jesus name, Amen.  

Only a sheepbreeder

Only a sheepbreeder

Scripture:

Thus the Lord GOD showed me: Behold, He formed locust swarms at the beginning of the late crop; indeed it was the late crop after the king’s mowings. And so it was, when they had finished eating the grass of the land, that I said: “ O Lord GOD, forgive, I pray! Oh, that Jacob may stand, For he is small!” So the LORD relented concerning this. “ It shall not be,” said the LORD. Amos 7:1-3

Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah: “ I was no prophet, Nor was I a son of a prophet, But I was a sheepbreeder And a tender of sycamore fruit. Then the LORD took me as I followed the flock, And the LORD said to me, ‘ Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’ Amos 7:14-15

Observation: In Amos 7, the Lord shows Amos three visions. The first is a vision of locust devouring the late crop after the king’s share had been harvested. The second, a vision of God calling for judgment by fire, and the third, the Lord setting a plumb line among Israel. In the first two visions, Amos prayed and the Lord relented from His judgment. 

In this first passage, we learn three things. Firstly, God shows His plans to His people. Secondly, the role of an intercessor is crucial to the fate of a people or a nation. Thirdly, the Lord responds to prayer.

In the second passage, Amos is confronted by Amaziah who rudely asks him to leave because of his unwelcoming prophecies. Amos replies by acknowledging he has no qualifications, not having the experience of a prophet or being the son of a prophet. However, it is the Lord Himself who has called him from his occupation as a humble shepherd and planter to be His messenger.

The lesson for us is that any one of us can be used by God. Regardless of occupation or gender or race, God can use anyone at all. God always looks at the heart and not at the outward appearance.

Application: Praise God that He shows His plans to His people. Seek to be an intercessor, to stand in the gap on behalf of our family, our people, our nation. Believe that our prayers can make a difference and move the hand of God. Know that God can call anyone at all to serve Him. It is purely whether we have willing hearts.

Prayer: Praise You, Father in Heaven for You reveal Your great plans to Your people. Teach me to be an intercessor, O Lord, to stand in the gap and pray before You for my family, my people, my nation. Praise You, O Lord, for You are a God who hears our prayers. You look not at how great or perfect we are, but on how willing and teachable our hearts are. Let me always have a humble and teachable heart that You may guide me and show me many things. Praise You O Lord. May Your great name be praised forever. In Jesus name, Amen.

I abhor the pride of Jacob

I abhor the pride of Jacob

Scripture: Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria,
you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of Israel come! Amos 6:2

You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph. Therefore you will be among the first to go into exile; your feasting and lounging will end. The Sovereign LORD has sworn by himself—the LORD God Almighty declares: “I abhor the pride of Jacob and detest his fortresses; I will deliver up the city and everything in it.” Amos 6:6-8

Observation: The first passage of Scripture in Amos is a warning towards those who are complacent. Typical of the end time church, which is interpreted as the Laodician church at large, is their complacency. They think they are alright, having big buildings, money in the coffers and plenty of activities for the member to pass time by. In Jesus' letter to the Laodicians, he said “

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see” Revelation 3:15-18 Typical of complacency is lukewarmness, a commitment without passion. In contrast, God calls us to be passionate for Him,on fire and zealous for the Lord's sake.

The second passage of Scripture warms those who are enjoying life, drinking plentiful wine and using the finest lotions but with no regard for the plight or suffering others. Some people think that it's perfectly fine to live life peacefully, minding your own business and enjoying your possessions. However, the Scripture tells us that the sin of omission also has consequences. We who follow Jesus are also called to care for the poor, to have a heart desiring to reach out and help those less fortunate than us. This passage also reminds us that God hates pride. We must always be humble before Him and depend on the Lord rather than on our fortresses (be it our money, property, qualification, skills,etc.)

Application: Always be on guard against complacency. Desire a fresh anointing, a fresh passion for the Lord and for the lost. Pray for a heart of compassion for others. Do not just treat those suffering as strangers but seek to make a difference where we can. Remember to be humble always before the Lord and to trust in Him rather than worldly fortresses.

Prayer: Forgive me O Lord for the times I have become complacent. Give me a fresh anointing and passion I pray. Let me have a heart of compassion for others, and empower me to make a difference where I can. Forgive my pride. Let me always walk humbly before Your.Bless Your holy name, In Jesus name, Amen.

He who made the Pleiades and Orion

He who made the Pleiades and Orion

Scripture:  He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns midnight into dawn and darkens day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land— the LORD is his name. Amos 5:8

Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the LORD God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph. Amos 5:14-15

Observation: The first portion of scripture talks of three aspects of God. Firstly, He is creator of Pleiades and Orion. The Pleiades, also known as the seven sisters are among the nearest clusters of stars to earth and is said to be the cluster most obvious to the naked eye in the night sky. Different cultures all over the world have each given special significance towards this cluster of stars. Orion, also known as the hunter is one of the most recognizable constellation of stars in the night sky, visible throughout the world. In Job 38:31, the Lord says “Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades? Can you loosen Orion’s belt? Just by looking at the stars, one just can’t help but acknowledge the smallness of men in contrast to the greatness of God in Heaven. The Psalmist writes “When I consider the heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and stars that you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” Psalm 8:3-4.

The second aspect talks of God turning night to day and day to night. This reminds us of the faithfulness of God. As God promised Noah, “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” Genesis 8:22.

The third aspect tells us that God calls for the water of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land. Comparing this description to the mighty Tsunami that crashed over Japan just earlier this year, we can only be reminded of the great power of God.

In the second portion of Scripture, the prophet exhorts the people to seek good not evil. Since the fall in the garden of Eden, the weight of choice has always been with men. Do good or do evil. The word “seek” tells us which direction we are facing. If we seek righteousness, we are facing towards righteousness. Our desire and attention is to be righteous and we seek the Holy Spirit who helps us walk in righteousness.  Romans 8:5-8 says: “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.” Seeking has to do with where we set our mind. There are many distractions in the world. We have to wrestle to bring back our minds to be set upon what the Spirit desires, which is righteousness.

We are called to hate evil, to hate sin. Yet these days, we are so drawn towards sorcery, the occult, horror, and Hollywood makes it so interesting. Likewise, sexual immorality is made to be heroic, even “praiseworthy” by the media. Again the mind is the key, and we must strive each day to decide whether to follow the Spirit or follow our fleshly desires.

If we seek good, and love good, the Lord will be with us. Justice in the courts is also so important to the Lord. Our God is a just God, and we must be just and fair in our dealings.

Application: Look at the stars and praise God’s greatness. Praise God for His faithfulness, for His mercies that are new every morning. Praise God for His great power. Renew our minds by reading the Word of God and seeking the Holy Spirit. Train our hearts to always seek the Spirit, and not be easily led by our flesh. Pray for justice to prevail, and endeavor to be fair and just in all our dealings.

Prayer: How great are the stars in Heaven which You have created O Lord. I praise You for Your faithfulness, Your great mercy day by day. Indeed, O Lord, You have all the power, and even the seas and the winds obey You. Strengthen my mind O Lord, to be disciplined to seek Your Spirit. Led me not be easily led by the flesh, but to seek Your will. Let justice prevail in this land O Lord. Help me too practice fairness and justice in my life. Blessed be Your name always I pray. In Jesus name, Amen.

He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind

He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind

Scripture: He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals his thoughts to mankind, who turns dawn to darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth— the LORD God Almighty is his name. Amos 4:13

Observation: In this verse of Amos, we see a powerful description of the Lord. Meditating upon it, we can learn something of the Lord in each portion.

Firstly, we are reminded that it is God who forms the mountains. Mountains are one of nature’s great wonders. When we think of mountains, we think of beauty and greatness. Yet mountains are also symbolic of obstacles. It is hard going climbing up the mountain but once we conquer it, reaching the top, it is so satisfying. In thinking of mountains, we are reminded that life is not easy, there are problems to overcome everyday. But God allows mountains in our lives to make us stronger and more mature day by day.

Secondly, we are reminded that God creates the wind. Wind is so powerful yet intangible. You can’t see it but you can hear it and feel its presence. You do not know which way it will go. Wind speaks of change. God brings change to the world constantly. Rulers come and go, businesses start up and vanish, governments are overthrown overnight. God hold everything in His hands. We are reminded that though life is uncertain like the wind, God is in control.

Third, God reveals His thoughts to mankind. He is not a faraway, distant God. He is a God who is near us and loves to communicate with us, and share His thoughts with us. The Scripture says that God is not far from us, and we need only to reach out and touch Him.

Fourth, the Lord turns dawn to darkness. He is in control of time. He has set seasons and times in its place. Day and night is ordained by the Lord. Whether it is dawn where there is light, or evening, where there is darkness, the Lord is there.

Finally, God treads on the heights of the earth. No matter how high man may think he is, God is always higher. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” says the Lord. It is for us to humble ourselves and seek Him for He is wiser than us.

Application: Thank God for the mountains in our lives. Pray for His help to overcome every obstacle, and trust in Him to help us overcome in His good time. In times of uncertainty, trust in God though the whole world is thrown in turbulent winds. Praise God that He is a God who loves us and reveals His thoughts to us. Praise God that He is in control of light and darkness. Humble ourselves and seek His ways for He is ever wiser than us.

Prayer: Thank You O Lord for the mountains You have placed in my life. I know everything has Your purpose and You allow even obstacles to cultivate my character. Help me trust You always, O Lord, even in the most turbulent of time. Reveal Your thoughts to me, O Lord. May my heart ever seek You, I pray. You are in control of light and darkness, time and space. I will humble myself to seek Your face O Lord, for Your ways are far higher, Your thoughts far greater. Praise Your great name O Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

You only have I chosen

You only have I chosen

Scripture: “You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins.” Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?  Does a lion roar in the thicket when it has no prey? Does it growl in its den when it has caught nothing? Does a bird swoop down to a trap on the ground when no bait is there? Does a trap spring up from the ground if it has not caught anything? When a trumpet sounds in a city, do not the people tremble? When disaster comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it? Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. Amos 3:2-7

Observation: The Scripture today begins with the Lord reminding Israel that they were chosen out of all the families of the earth and therefore would be judged more severely. The warning is applicable too for us who have tasted the goodness of the Lord and still turned away and followed after evil. As Hebrews 10:29 says of those who deliberately go on sinning after knowing the Lord- “How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?” We must never lose the fear of the Lord, but endeavor to always live our lives reverently before God, seeking to be righteous like Jesus by depending on the Holy Spirit who is with us.

The next few verses remind us of the logic of cause and effect. Two don’t walk together unless they have agreed to walk together. A lion roars when it has prey. A bird swoops down to a trap because bait is there. In the first picture of two walking together, we are reminded of Psalm 1 which says that blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked. Each one of us has a choice whether to walk in the ways of the world or walk in the ways of Christ. If we are walking in the way of the world, it is because we have agreed to walk in it. The analogy of the bird and the trap reminds us of the temptations of the world which bait men. Power, lust, greed in different areas call out to us, and many fall into the trap. James Chapter 1 says that each one is tempted when by his own evil desire he is dragged away and enticed. We have to accept that temptation is part of life. Even our Lord was tempted. It is for us to stand up against temptation by depending on the power of the Holy Spirit who is with us.

The last verse speaks of the Lord doing nothing without revealing His plans to His servants the prophets. This shows us the loving heart of the Lord who involves human men like you and me in His divine plans. Each one of us who are in the Lord can become God’s messenger to others. This also shows the heart of the Lord for the human race as a whole. Peter clearly writes that God does not want anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

Application: Remember to fear and revere the Lord, knowing that our privileged position in knowing Christ also means more will be expected of us in how we live our lives. Let us desire to grow more and more in the Lord and to live by His Holy Spirit. Remember that temptations are part of our lives and the world will call us to depart from our values in the Lord. Depend on God for help in all circumstances. Praise God that He reveals His plans always to His servants. Pray for a greater understanding and revelation of God’s plans for us in these last days.  

Prayer: Father God, may Your name be praised forever. Guard my heart O Lord, let me always remember to fear You for You are our great and awesome God. Help me grow more and more in You O Lord. In my hours of temptation be my strength. As I seek you, help me Lord know you more and your great plans. In Jesus name, Amen

Obedience is better than sacrifice

Obedience is better than sacrifice

SIB/Pastor Lee Choo/4/12/11

Today’s message was all about the principle of obedience, based on the text 1 Samuel 15:1-23. In this historical narrative, we see how King Saul was ordered by God to totally destroy the Amalekites, every person and every animal. Saul gathered 210,000 men and totally defeated the Amalekites. However, he did not obey the Lord’s instructions completely, sparing the Amalekite king Agag, and the best of the sheep and the cattle.

From this story, there are 3 main lessons on obedience. Firstly, is the predicament of obedience. To every child, there is one basic command – obey your parents, and this is fundamental to a child’s future and success. A child asked to sleep at 7-8pm when the adults sleep much later may not understand why their parents want them to sleep early. They have to trust that simply, their parents know better. For us it is the same. We may not understand why we have to obey but simply trust that God knows better.

Typical questions we may ask include “Why obey when it doesn’t make sense?”, “Why obey when no one else is doing it?” and “How much do I have to obey for it to be considered obedience?”. In God’s command to Saul, he was in fact briefed as to the reason why the Amalekites had to be eradicated, because of the way they waylaid the children of Israel in the desert. As instructed, Saul annihilated the Amalekites except for their king and only kept the best of the animals. To what extent had Saul obeyed? 50%, 70%, 80%? As far as Saul was concerned, he had obeyed. But God said He was grieved and said Saul had turned away from His instruction. The truth is: partial obedience is not obedience. Obedience is better than sacrifice.

In those days, it was the customary practice for invading kings to destroy everything, men, women and children. It was a culturally accepted thing. However, in those days, no one came back without bringing back the defeated, humiliated king. No one came back without any spoils for battle. Saul had in fact obeyed not God but the culture of the day, doing what everyone else was doing.

A second problem in thinking many Christians have is “if I am obedient in one area, I can be disobedient in other areas”. Everyone knows that one should not steal and kill, but how about immorality and ethical standards? Saul erected a monument in his own honor. Pride and arrogance had come into Saul. The Hebrew word for Obedience ‘shm’ (pronounced shamah) means to listen intelligently with an attitude to carry out all the instructions”. In Greek, the word means “to come under, to hear and to conform to a command of authority”.

In our human nature, we naturally do not want to obey. Obedience is a clash of 2 wills, our belief system and God’s system. Obedience is saying “not my will be done, but thy will be done”. We cannot cover up disobedience by sacrifice. The crux of the story is this: Does God delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as obeying the voice of the Lord?

Pastor Lee Choo shared how relatives often praised her mother for bringing up an intelligent and pretty daughter. However, her mother would retort “so what if she becomes even a judge if she is not obedient?” She thought that she was obedient, studying hard and earning good grades. However, in other areas, like washing the dishes and being nice to grandma, she had not been obedient. Partial obedience was seen as disobedience.

Imagine you had a son or daughter who really loved you and showered you with sacrifices – composing poems, singing love songs, saving up to buy gifts for you. However, they also did not do their homework, played computer games all the time and essentially did not do what you asked them to. Would you not treasure obedience far above sacrifice?

Some Christians who have sacrificed time to go to cells and tithe think they can be disobedient in other areas. In SIB, the church is looking for disciples not converts. Even a simple thing like asking new members to go to a membership class is a simple act of obedience. Why is obedient so important?

In John 14:31, Jesus said “I love the Father and I do exactly what my Father has commanded me”. Once there was a girl who came to church but was a bit of a rebel. However, when Pastor confronted her, she said “but I love the Lord” thinking that her love for the Lord justified her otherwise rebellious behavior.

There is great power in obedience, which gives the devil no foothold over our lives. In John 14:30, Jesus declared “the prince of this world comes, and has no foothold”. There was a boy addicted to computer games. He had tried in vain to stop but could not until one day, in a friend’s house, he suddenly felt the presence of the Lord envelop him and set him free from his addiction.

In 2 Corinthians 10:5-6 speaks about bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus. Obedience releases the authority of God in our lives. The spirit of lawlessness and disobedience is in the world. Against this, the people of God must learn obedience. In Deuteronomy 28, we see the clear principle that obedience brings blessing.

On the other hand, disobedience to God brings a downward domino effect in rebellion against authority. In Samuel’s rebuke of Saul, he likened rebellion to the sin of witchcraft and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Arrogance is thinking we know better than God.

In 2011, there were many catastrophes and for most people, the earthquake cum tsunami cum nuclear disaster in Japan was the worst of all. However, the Japanese, who were trained in obedience responded with remarkable dignity. There was no violence, no looting, no rape. On the other hand, for Pastor, the worst disaster was actually the rioting in Britain. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 speaks of the man of lawlessness being revealed. If you walk in disobedience, the spirit of God deserts you and spirits of demons comes upon you.

Partial obedience is not obedience. Obedience brings blessing and vice versa. Obedience is always better than sacrifice.