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.