Beyond the Next Level (ii)

Beyond the Next Level (ii)

SIB/Pastor Chew Weng Chee

Based on 1 Kings 20, the passage begins with King Ben-Hadad of Aram, the forerunner of Assyria, attacking Samaria, accompanied by 32 kings with their horses and chariots. At the same time, King Ben-Hadad sends a threatening letter to King Ahab of Israel saying “Your silver and gold are mine. And the best of your wives and children are mine.” King Ahab answered, “ Just as you say, lord. I and all I have is yours”. Ben-Hadad is symbolic of the devil, and it is his purpose to steal, to kill and to destroy, to take away all that rightfully belongs to us. Today, the devil threatens us “I want your possessions, your wives, your children.” Are we going to just stand back and let him take all that is precious to us?

Ben Hadad continued to oppress King Ahab, saying that he would send his officials to come into Ahab’s palace and carry everything of value away. King Ahab wisely asked for counsel this time, and the elders advised him not to give in to Ben-Hadad. In anger, Ben-Hadad raised his vast army against Israel.

As Israel prepared for war, a prophet came to King Ahab promising that the Lord would give him victory. Just as the battle started from a Word of the Lord, it has been true of SIB, that every major move and plan of the church has been birthed in prayer. All direction and purpose for the church starts with God!

Then King Ahab asked “who will fight?”. The prophet said “the junior officials”. “And who will start the battle?” Ahab asked further and the prophet replied “You will”. Another powerful principle is in place here - The leadership giving direction, and the young warriors of the church going out to do battle. There is a powerful synergy when both the young and old get involved in doing the Lord’s work. There is also a God-ordained structure in which the battle is carried out.

With God ordaining the battle, the leadership giving direction within an established structure, and the young men doing the fighting, victory came against insurmountable odds, and Ben Hadad had to flee.

Still, the prophet of God came back to Ahab and warned him “strengthen your position and see what must be done, for next spring the King of Aram will attack you again”. There was no time to rest on their laurels. Israel had to make preparations to fight again. The enemy does not sit still, but devises strategies, and we must be on our guard too! The Arameans, consulting their prophets figured that they lost as Israel’s God was the God of the hills, and strategized to fight Israel on the plains. However, although Israel’s force was so much smaller, the Lord again gave Israel victory, and a 100,000 Arameans were killed in one day.

Nevertheless, King Ahab unwisely spared Ben Hadad, and the prophet told Ahab his own life would be forfeit for sparing the Aramean’s. True enough, Ahab was later killed in battle. The principle here, is that evil cannot be tolerated but must be completely cut off.

In 2012, SIBKL has unveiled a new structure, with three new Executive Pastor positions being created to oversee the various cells and ministries, as well as to play a leading role in each worship service. In respect of SIB’s mission on three broad fronts – Sabah, GG and Kampung Chempaka, the leadership is committed to provide all the direction and resources for the members to go out in dedicated service for the Lord’ glory and move together with SIBKL to beyond the next level.

The heartbeat of Jesus

The heartbeat of Jesus

SIBKL/14/1/12 Pastor Daniel

In the recent YA Camp in November 2011, Pastor Daniel was given the topic “the church is where My heart is” based on Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. As he prepared for this message, the truth of Christ’s love for His church became more and more real to him. The church is never incidental for Christ, it is fundamental for Christ. To Jesus, the church is always paramount, never peripheral. In Matthew 6:18, the Message, Jesus describes the church as being so expansive with energy that the gates of hell cannot keep it out. All this energy issues from Christ.

Ephesians 1:20-23 (The Message) reads “All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.”

The church is God’s agent for the world. The church is the hope for the world. The church is the mouth that speaks his message, the hands that stretch forth to the world, the expression of Christ’s love. In 1 Timothy 3:15, the church is described as the pillar and foundation of the truth. If you want to see love prevail in the nation, it is through the church.

Speaking of GG, in May-June 2011, a Telco company was very interested to partner with GG in the Cyberwellness area, even willing to fund a whole event. However, their marketing strategy somehow conflicted with GG’s core Cyberwellness values which were Bible based. To go ahead with them, the values would have to change. Pastor Daniel and team decided that it was better to lose a big deal rather than lose sight of GG’s values. Later, the Telco company organized another event, but invited GG to fill in a 15 minute time slot to talk about Cyber Reality in Malaysia. In the one-day event from 9am-5pm, GG was given the 2^nd slot, and amazingly after Pastor Daniel’s presentation, every speaker that came up made reference back to GG. During Q&A for the next speaker, questions were still being directed back to GG. The church is the pillar and foundation for the truth.

All the ministries were there. The Ministry of Education immediately engaged GG to come into the schools. The organizer, a professor of UITM was preparing a resolution based on this event to put through the ministry. The professor went through the main points with Pastor Daniel and he recommended three more points. One of the main suggestions was to implement a task force to implement the policies. God had opened doors for GG to influence policy. The church is a pillar and foundation of the truth! As GG held on to its core values, God was with them in the end.

What is God’s agenda for the church? The same agenda as Christ Jesus! There is no reason for the church to exist if it is not fundamental to the finished work on the cross. What did Jesus do? Luke 4:18-19 tells us “The spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. At the commencement of Jesus’ ministry on earth, He did just that, going throughout Galilee, teaching, preaching and healing every disease and sickness. What is the good news? It is not just words, but also  personified in deeds. Its not just sermons but service.

In Mark 10:46-52, there is the story of the blind beggar Bartimaus, a poor and rejected man. His name means “son of Timaus”. “Timaus means unclean. The image that comes to mind is that of abandoned children who are rejected and unloved. Not only that, Bartmaus was oppressed. The crowd paid him no attention, asking him to keep quiet. He had no self-worth to them. He was a prisoner of darkness, rejection and oppression.

There are 3 main lessons we can learn from this story. Firstly, Jesus went to Bartimaus. Jesus did not have to detour to Jericho. His calling was to Jerusalem. He was leaving the city when Bartimaus called Him.  Secondly, Jesus wanted to show forgiving love. The crowd rejected Bartimaus, but Jesus, accepted him. No mention was made of Jesus preaching yet, until He was stopped by Bartimaus’ outcry. Jesus changed the world of one person! Will we stop for someone who is in need? GG does not preach, yet through a GG event, 15 were saved through a local church leader. We don’t do good works to convert people. We are called to just show people God’s love. The gospel is reconciliation through God’s love.

Thirdly, Jesus cared more for the worth and the wealth of Bartimaus. “What do you want me to do for you, Jesus asked him?” Bartimaus needed not just physical healing but emotional healing. Bartimaus simply said “Lord, I want to see”. The worth of a person is far more important than his wealth. What use is money if you are living in darkness?

From the start, God has blessed GG with compassionate people. In the course of GG’s service, they came upon a family that came into terrible crisis because the sole breadwinner, the father, had died suddenly. There was not enough money to put food on the table, and applying for help from the government would take at least 6 months. GG decided to sponsor the family for the 6 months, but an SIBKL member stepped in and funded the family personally.

Why are we doing GG? Right after Jericho, upon entering Jerusalem Mark 11:9 differentiates between those who went ahead and those who followed behind. Bartimaus was among those who followed behind, among those who shouted Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Bartimaus called Jesus “Son of David”. When we reach out our hands to restore someone’s worth, they will give worthship to God.

During the Christmas event at Kampung Cempaka, people commented that these people must be Christian since they are so organized, so united.

In 2006, when Pastor Daniel went to the Hillsong conference, a story told by Pastor Jensen Franklin changed his life. In the story, Pastor Jensen was once passing by a hospital ward when he saw an elderly lady resting her head on the chest of a bedridden man. Curious, he asked the nurse what she was doing. She told him “this lady is listening to the heartbeat of her only son. The son died in an accident and his heart was donated to this man on the bed”. Immediately, Pastor Jensen sensed God telling him “If today I put My ear to your heart, will I hear the heartbeat of My only Son?

Like dew from the Lord

Like dew from the Lord

Scripture:

Marshal your troops now, city of troops, for a siege is laid against us. They will strike Israel’s ruler on the cheek with a rod. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Micah 5:1-2

He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. Micah 5:4

The remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the LORD, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for anyone or depend on man. Micah 5:7

Observation:

The first passage is a powerful direct prophecy of the coming Messiah, our Lord Jesus. Born in a manger in the little town of Bethlehem, the Lord Himself, the Ancient of Days, came to earth to become a man, like you and me, that He might be the Savior of the World. He was before all things and only through Him were all things made. Yet, the Lord Jesus suffered tremendously and died for our sins that we might have eternal life. Just as Micah prophesied that they would strike Israel’s ruler on the cheek with a rod, this came true as recorded in Matthew 27:30 which told how the Roman soldiers struck Jesus’ head again and again with a staff.

In the second passage, we see the Lord Jesus standing strong as Shepherd over His people in the strength and majesty of the Lord. Under the millennial reign, when the Lord will rule all over the earth, His people will live securely and be at peace. How comforting to think of our Lord as our Shepherd who leads us to green pastures and quiet waters.

In the third passage, the remnant of Jacob is likened to dew from the Lord, showers on the grass that greet the morning. Like the Lord’s mercy and faithfulness, the dew comes every morning. It is the Lord that brings life and sustains, regardless of whatever man does on the earth.

Application:

Praise God for His prophecies, that strengthen our faith. Meditate on our Lord Jesus, who came down to earth as a little infant, born to give His life for the salvation of mankind. Praise and bless Him for His willingness to suffer and die for our sake. May we always appreciate His deep sacrifice for us. Picture our Lord Jesus as our strong Shepherd, watching over us, leading us to green pastures and quiet waters. Praise the Lord for His gentle love. Think of the dew that comes every morning and remember the Lord’s faithfulness, praising Him for giving us life.

Prayer:

Praise You, O Father in Heaven, for Your Word is ever true. Thank You, O Lord for Your prophecy that confirms to us Your righteousness and truth. Bless You, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth for our sake, to die for our sins, that we might receive eternal life. May our hearts always appreciate Your great sacrifice for us. You are our Strong and Gentle Shepherd O Lord. You lead us by quiet waters, by green pastures. You are faithful and just and Your mercies are new every morning. I will ever lift up My soul to You O Lord in praise. In Jesus name, Amen.

The highest of the mountains

The highest of the mountains

Scripture: In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.”

The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken.

All the nations may walk in the name of their gods, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever. “In that day,” declares the LORD, “I will gather the lame; I will assemble the exiles and those I have brought to grief. I will make the lame my remnant, those driven away a strong nation. The LORD will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and forever.

Micah 4:1-7

Observation: Micah 4 gives us a marvelous prophecy of the millennial reign spoken about in Revelation, where our Lord Jesus will come down and reign in Jerusalem for 1,000 years.

In the first passage, we see that the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of all mountains. In Revelation 6, at the great day of the Lord’s coming, it is written that every mountain will be removed from its place. Somehow, the end result of the end-time powerful tectonic movements would be the mountain of the Lord becoming the highest of all mountains. We are given a further picture of many nations coming up this mountain to learn from God. The principle here is the Lord teaching the nations and the nations walking in His paths. There is a teaching and a doing. For us today, the principle is the same, we learn from God’s Word not just for head knowledge, but for practical application. James reminds us of the importance of looking intently into God’s law and then going away and doing what it says. If we do not, we are likened to a man who looks at himself in a mirror and then goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

In the second passage, we see the law of the Lord, the Word of God going out from Zion. The whole world will be under the Lord’s rule, and strong nations far and wide will come to Him for judgment and settlement of disputes. There will be no more war, but peace in all the nations. The Lord is our Prince of Peace, and He will bring lasting peace upon the earth. Today, as we wait for his coming, our role is to seek peace, as it is written, blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God.

In the final passage, we see a cry by the prophet Micah that he and his people will walk in the name of the Lord forever even if other nations follow other gods. This call is for us too, to be loyal to our Lord Jesus always, even if others turn away and follow other gods. The passage further highlights that the Lord will gather the lame and the driven away, making them a strong nation. In the Beatitudes, the Lord declares that blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Those who are strong and powerful in their own eyes, who think they don’t need God, will not be exalted in this coming kingdom. Instead, it will be the meek, the lowly, the humble, whom God will lift up and establish in His perfect kingdom.

Application: Remember that God teaches us so that we can walk in His ways. We are to be not only hearers of the Word but doers also.  Remember that the Lord is the Prince of Peace. We who follow Him must also love peace, pray for peace and endeavor to bring peace wherever we go in our lives. Be loyal to the Lord always, even when others are not. Remember to be meek and humble before the Lord who detests the proud.

Prayer: Blessed be Your Word O Lord, which teaches us Your ways perfectly. Teach me and give me the strength to walk in Your ways always. Let me not be only a hearer of Your Word but a doer. Praise You, Lord Jesus, for You are the Prince of Peace. Let my heart love peace always, and teach me to be a peacemaker. Let my heart stay ever true to You alone O God, even if others fall, let me never forsake You. Forgive my pride O Lord, teach me humility and meekness in You. May Your name be praised forever. In Jesus name, Amen.

I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord

I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord

Scripture:

Then they will cry out to the LORD, but he will not answer them. At that time he will hide his face from them because of the evil they have done. Micah 3:4

This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead my people astray,
they proclaim ‘peace’ if they have something to eat, but prepare to wage war against anyone who refuses to feed them. Therefore night will come over you, without visions, and darkness, without divination. The sun will set for the prophets, and the day will go dark for them. Micah 3:5-6

But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin. Micah 3:8

Observation:

In the first passage, we are given a picture of the leaders and rulers of Israel crying out to God in vain. There is no answer. The Lord hides his face from them. The reason is clearly stated in the verse – because of the evil they have done. One key verse in the New Testament springs to mind. “Without holiness, no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14. All of us are sinners. All of us have gone astray, as the Psalmist says. However, the Lord has laid on Him (our Lord Jesus), the iniquity of us all. Jesus has become our righteousness. Only in His righteousness can we be saved. Yet, are we free to live carelessly and sinfully because His righteousness saves us? No, “we are to make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14) We must not be deceived. Grace is not a license to sin, but it is our destiny and purpose after we are saved to grow in the Lord from glory to glory, led by the Holy Spirit. If we persist in following evil, taking God’s grace for granted, He will finally hide His face from us. The Lord is holy. Those who persist in sin cannot have fellowship with Him.

In the second passage, the Lord rebukes the prophets who lead God’s people astray by proclaiming peace for the sake of personal benefit. Many preach a gospel of prosperity and extravagant blessing, and masses flock to them. Their focus is on worldly things, on enjoying the things of the world now. In contrast, the Lord Himself exhorted us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Worldly blessings thought not wrong are secondary. The primary purpose is extending God’s kingdom, and seeking righteousness. Seeking righteousness is not trying to be saved by works, it is about learning to live in the way Jesus wants us to, guided by the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist exhorted “produce fruit in keeping with repentance”. Repentance means to turn around, to change one’s mind. When we repent, we turn our hearts and minds from purely doing things our own ways, being focused on our own benefits and instead become focused on what the Lord wants, and how we can best serve Him and extend His kingdom. We turn away from being self-focused to become Jesus-focused. Does your gospel teach you to focus first on your own needs and blessings or to focus on the Lord Jesus and seeking God’s righteousness? 

In the third passage, we see that Micah was filled with power, with the spirit of the Lord. The Holy Spirit who is with us is our source of dynamic power and strength. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit “ says the Lord. The Spirit of God is so powerful that nothing in all creation can ever measure up to Him. The verse further declares that accompanying God’s Spirit is justice and might. Justice and righteousness are hallmarks of God. When we seek justice and righteousness, the Spirit is pleased and is there with us in our work. When we neglect justice and allow corruption and favoritism to come in, it grieves the Spirit. What was the purpose of Micah being filled with power? To declare to Israel her sins and transgressions! The Word of God is like a two-edged sword, dividing through joints and marrow, soul and spirit, judging the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. The Word of God used rightly has great power to expose what is false, and examine the sincerity of each heart. 

Application: Remember that without holiness no one will see the Lord. Therefore, seek to be holy, depending on the Holy Spirit to help us. Beware of those who preach popular messages and say things people like to hear. We are to always seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Know that the Holy Spirit is there with us. He is all-powerful and mighty, enabling us to overcome all things as we hope in Jesus. Seek to always do what is right and just and fair in all our dealings.

Prayer: O Lord, Your Word is true. Without holiness, no one will see You. I am unable to do what is right in my own strength, but let Your Holy Spirit empower me that I might live a righteous and holy life in Your sight. Give me wisdom and discernment to identify and reject false teachings. Bless You O Lord, O  Holy Spirit for Your great power and justice. Live in Me, Holy Spirit. Lead me, that I might live a life worthy of God’s calling. Fill me with Your Power. In Jesus name, Amen.

I will surely gather all of you

I will surely gather all of you

Scripture:

Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it. They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud people of their homes, they rob them of their inheritance. Micah 2:1-2

If a liar and deceiver comes and says, ‘I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,’ that would be just the prophet for this people! Micah 2:11

“I will surely gather all of you, Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture; the place will throng with people. The One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out.
Their King will pass through before them, the LORD at their head.” Micah 2:13

Observation:

In the second chapter of Micah, the Lord begins by admonishing those who plan iniquity and sin in their beds and carry it out the next day, cheating others of their property. When there is no god, it is a dog-eat-dog world, where anything goes in the name of survival. Competition is high and there are no morals when it comes to gaining an advantage at the expense of others. In other cases, politicians and immoral leaders use their positions to obtain ill-gotten gain, squandering the people's money for their own interest. The word of God proclaims “Woe to such as these”.Judgment will be upon them who plan to do evil and then go ahead and fulfill their evil desires. In total opposite, the teaching of Christ instead exhorts us to do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

Next, the Lord admonishes the false prophets, who are master at telling people what they want to hear. In this day and age, the prosperity gospel is exactly what the lovers of money want to hear. When someone preaches, “When you have Jesus, get ready to be rich, to get gold and prosperity!”, beware! There are those who are masters at manipulating certain parts of Scripture to tell the masses what they like to hear. The more challenging parts of Scripture are instead considered to be addressed at unbelievers. They even claim that the teachings of Jesus on righteous living are the law not applicable under the covenant of grace” Jesus did not promise following Him would be easy, but that He would always be with us. In this life, until Jesus comes, we will never be completely perfect, but as we walk after Him in obedience, we will grow more and more like Him, as the Holy Spirit helps us.

Finally, at the end of the chapter, the Lord encourages Israel,speaking of a time when He will bring together the remnant, and lead them as their King. The return of Israel onto the world scene in 1948 is the beginning of the fulfilment of this promise, and as prophesied, the Lord will come in the near future to become King not only of Israel but all the earth!

Application: In a world of ruthless competition and selfish opportunism, we differentiate ourselves by seeking to do unto others as we would have others do unto us. We need to guard ourselves not to fall into the thinking of the world that seeks primarily after selfishness without consideration of others. As Jesus warned, there would be many false prophets in the last days. Beware of those who preach a different Jesus, who preach a gospel of effortlessness and blessing without the requirement of obedience. We must be on guard. Even the elect can be deceived. Praise God for the restoration of Israel which He prophesied and has begun to bring to fullness. Remember that the Lord will also come to lead us as a Shepherd leads the sheep.

Prayer: Father God, in a world of selfishness and greed, give me a different spirit, that seeks to follow Your righteousness. Teach me to do unto others as I would have others do unto me. Guard my heart and give me wisdom to resist false teachings. Praise You O Lord for the restoration of Israel which You have begun. Continue to bring Israel's destiny in You to fruition, and always be my Lord and Shepherd too. In Jesus name,Amen.