They sell the innocent for silver

They sell the innocent for silver

Scripture: This is what the LORD says: “For three sins of Judah, even for four, I will not relent. Because they have rejected the law of the LORD and have not kept his decrees, because they have been led astray by false gods, the gods their ancestors followed, I will send fire on Judah that will consume the fortresses of Jerusalem Amos 2:4-5

This is what the LORD says: “For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not relent. They sell the innocent for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name. They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. In the house of their god they drink wine taken as fines. Amos 2:6-8

Observation: In the Scripture today, Amos moves on from proclaiming judgment on the heathen nations to judgment on Judah and Israel specifically. God in His justice and righteousness judges both the heathen for their sins and also the children of God themselves where they have turned away from Him. Just as God judges Israel, He too will judge those who turn away from Christ. In the book of Hebrews, there are stern warnings for those who still go on purposely sinning even after receiving Jesus- “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 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?” Hebrews 10:26-29

Against Judah, they were judged for rejecting the law of God and not keeping them, even following after false gods. Under the new covenant, we are not under law, but under grace. However, this means living by the Holy Spirit as Galatians 5:18 says “If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law”. The Holy Spirit will not force His will upon us for that is not His way. As long as we are on earth, there is temptation, and we have a choice, to do things God’s way or to do it our own sinful way. Though temptation calls, if we continue to see God’s Holy Spirit, we will receive the power to overcome all temptation. The mind is important. We must set our mind to follow the Holy Spirit. The Spirit loves God’s Word, and will lead us often to it. The result of the Spirit’s leading is love for God, and love for our neighbor, which is the very spirit of the law.

Israel were especially admonished for their cruel treatment of the poor, their deceit and their sexual immorality. From the beginning, God has always been concerned for the poor, and those who are cruel and take advantage of the poor will receive harsh judgment from God lest they repent. In our lives, we should always have a heart for the poor, and help where we can. Also, we need to be on particular guard against sexual immorality, one of the most dangerous of all sins. Just see what happened in the case of King David and Bathsheba. Paul warns in 1 Corinthians 6:18 “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.

Application: Resolve to seek the Holy Spirit day by day, seeking to live by His guidance. Remember that when we are led by the Spirit, we are not under the law, and He will lead us to exhibit fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Beware of hardening our hearts and deliberately continuing in sin which is akin of trampling the Son of God under our feet. Remember that God is particularly concerned about the poor, so we too should feel likewise, and do what we can to help the poorer in society where we can. Be very careful of sexual immorality, the sin committed against one’s own body.

Prayer: Precious Holy Spirit, lead me to follow God’s ways day by day. Lead me O Lord in the way everlasting. Forgive me O Lord, for the times, I deliberately sinned because of my own selfishness or impatience. Help me grow more and more like You, Lord Jesus. Give me a heart of compassion for the poor, and help me always flee from sexual temptation. May Your name be praised forever. In Jesus name, Amen.

One of the shepherds

One of the shepherds

Scripture:  The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa—the vision he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel. He said: “The LORD roars from Zion and thunders from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds dry up, and the top of Carmel withers.” Amos 1:1-2

Observation: The book of Amos is a prophecy directed mainly at Israel who turned away from God and followed the ways of the nations surrounding them. However, chapter 1 starts with prophecies of judgment upon the neighboring nations – Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom and Ammon.

In the Scripture today, we saw that God chose a shepherd to be a prophet. In those days, shepherding was not seen as a respectable occupation, but the choice of Amos the shepherd shows that the Lord does not look at the rank or occupation, but rather the heart of a person. It does not matter how young we are or how lowly our occupation may be. What matters is that we are willing to be used by God. If we are willing, God can raise us up to do far more than we could ever imagine.

The name Amos means “burden” or “burden bearer”. In a way, when we are given an assignment by God, it is like a burden which we are compelled to carry out. The prophet Jeremiah likened God’s Word within him to a fire he could not keep but had to speak out. Yet this burden is not a terrible thing when we follow Jesus. As the Lord says “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light”. All of us who follow Jesus carry a burden for the lost, a desire for others who do not know Jesus to come to Him and be saved. Let that burden burst forth in prayer for others, and in a readiness to speak when the time comes to share in the Holy Spirit.

The dating of the prophecy “2 years before the earthquake” and the reference to the reign of Uzziah and Jeroboam places clearly the prophecy of Amos at a distinct point in time. God’s Word is not only a Spiritual Book but a Historical Book with actual events at distinct times involving actual people recorded in history.

The second verse is similar to Joel’s description of the Lord roaring from Zion and thundering from Jerusalem, bringing us imagery of great storms, lightning and thunder.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               The pastures drying up and the withering of Mount Carmel brings us imagery of judgment by fire. The Lord promised Noah never to destroy the earth again by water, but the coming judgment by fire is a certainty.

Application: Recognize that God can use anyone to serve Him, regardless of rank or age or occupation. It is the heart that the Lord looks at and not the outside appearance. Some of us have received a particular calling or burden to serve the Lord. Let the burden cause us to burst forth in prayer, and ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and the right timing. Often, we who are in Christ will receive a burden to pray for an unsaved family member or friend. Let that burden cause us to pray for him or her, and pray for opportunities to show Christ’s love to them. Remember that though God is loving, He is also just, and He will judge the earth by great fire.

Prayer: Father God, I thank You that You look upon men without favoritism, but choose Your servants according to their hearts and not their outward appearances or occupations. Fan the fire of the calling and burden You have placed in my heart O Lord. Help me call out in prayer to You. In Jesus name, Amen.

The mountains will drip new wine

The mountains will drip new wine

Scripture: The LORD will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the heavens will tremble. But the LORD will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel. “Then you will know that I, the LORD your God, dwell in Zion, my holy hill. Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her. “In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run with water. A fountain will flow out of the LORD’s house and will water the valley of acacias Joel 3:16-18

Observation: Joel Chapter 3 speaks of the Lord restoring the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, and judging the nations that had plundered them. The themes of restoration and justice can be felt throughout the chapter. There is a call to war, in the Valley of Jehoshaphat. The Book of Revelation also speaks about this day, calling it Armageddon, where the Lord will pour out His wrath on His enemies.

In the Scripture chosen, we see the great power of the Lord, reflected in great thunder and the shakings of the heavens and the earth. Most of us have heard very loud thunder, and cringed at the sheer volume of the sound. Every time we hear thunder and see lightning, we are reminded of the power of the Lord in Heaven. It is not without reason that He has created the elements in the forms He has chosen. Even watching on TV the mass devastation caused by the recent Tsunami in Japan, one cannot help but tremble at the power of the Lord. Earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, hurricanes, all remind us of the coming end. Many put their trust in themselves, but who can stand in the face of the nature God has created?

Yet the Lord is a refuge for His people. We who are in the Lord Jesus are the Lord’s people. We are His own. He is the Shepherd, we are His sheep. Jesus will be our stronghold, our refuge! The Scripture also writes that Jerusalem will be holy. Again we are reminded that we are saved to be holy. Just as God called Israel out of Egypt to be a holy people unto Himself, we are called out of the world to be a holy people unto Jesus.

The final picture of the mountains dripping with new wine, the hills flowing with milk, and the ravines running with water give us a wonderful image of the perfection and beauty of the coming reign of Jesus.

Application: Whenever we see lightning or hear thunder, or behold a great event of nature, remember that God is all-powerful and all-mighty, and we are just His humble creatures, dependent on His grace and mercy. It is a reminder to us not to be proud, but in humility fear God and shun evil. Put our trust completely in Jesus are our refuge, our stronghold. Recognize that we are saved to be holy, pray for the Holy Spirit to empower us to live holy lives into God. Look forward with joy to the coming reign of Jesus, and the abundance and beauty He will bring.

Prayer: Father God, You are all-powerful and al-mighty, high above the Heavens. The thunders and lightning reveal Your great power and strength. May my heart always revere You and be careful to obey You and shun evil. Let Your grace lead me from sin in Jesus name. Praise You, Lord Jesus, for You are my perfect refuge and stronghold. Help me, Holy Spirit, to be holy, to please the Lord. O Lord Jesus, let Your reign come, in all Your perfect glory. In Jesus name, Amen.

Prayer:

I will pour out my Spirit on all people

I will pour out my Spirit on all people

Scripture: “Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing— grain offerings and drink offerings for the LORD your God. Joel 2:12-14

I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten— the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm— my great army that I sent among you. Joel 2:25

And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy,   your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, even among the survivors whom the LORD calls Joel 2:28-32

Observation: We are looking at three portions of Scripture in Joel 2 today. The first portion gives us a picture of the Lord calling his people to return to Him with all their heart. “Even now” tells us that the time is already late, and that the Lord’s people have turned away from Him far too long and are on the brink of utter destruction and judgment. However, “even now”, the Lord calls them to return. There are some of us who have drifted from the Lord for far too long. We have no idea how close we are to the point of no return. “Even now”, the Lord says, return, return with all your heart!”  “Rend your heart” gives us the idea of a truly contrite and convicted heart. The Lord looks at our heart. If our heart is proud or hard, we resist the Lord. However, if our hearts are humble and repentant and open to the Lord, He is able to forgive us and spare us from calamity, even giving us His blessing!

The second portion of Scripture tells us about restoration. Years of sin, of being away from God may have led us to a point where we have lost so much. Yet, for those who come back to God, the Lord promises restoration. Nothing is impossible with God and He can easily restore to us the years that the locusts have eaten. We may have lost even our youth pursuing meaningless, temporal things, but even now, the Lord can give us fresh meaning and purpose and joy in His service.

The final portion of Scripture talks about the pouring out of God’s Spirit on all people. The picture given is of children prophesying, old men dreaming dreams, young people seeing visions. Do we have beloved family members who do not know the Lord? Pray for the Holy Spirit, that He will bring a vision to them that will lead them to God! An old man in a village completely dominated by a different religion dreamt that he was underwater and saw different signs. But the sign for Jesus was higher than the rest. The last days are here, and the Lord pours out His Holy Spirit. Pray that He will pour out His Holy Spirit on us and all around us that many will call on the name of the Lord and be saved!

Application:- If we have drifted away from the Lord, no matter for how long, stop, come back. The Lord says, even now, come back, return to Me. Bring me your heart! If our lives are filled with much regret, and we feel we have lost so much, come back to God! Trust in Him to restore the years the locusts have eaten. Let the Lord revive us with fresh passion and purpose in our lives! According to His Word, pray for God’s Spirit to be poured out upon us, on our loved ones, on our families, our colleagues, our neighborhoods!

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for the many years I went far from You. I confess my sins, I pray O Lord, that You take me back. Restore the years the locusts have eaten O Lord. Let me have Your fresh purpose and destiny in my life. According to Your word O Lord in Joel 2, pour out Your Holy Spirit on me, my family, my loved ones, my colleagues, my neighborhood. Let Your Spirit work wherever I go O Lord, and cause many to call on Your name and be saved. Praise Your name forever, O Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

Shaking your foundations

Shaking your foundations                                                                 CDC/Foundation Day/Pastor Chew Weng Chee/20-11-11

Scripture: ²⁵ See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? ²⁶ At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” ²⁷ The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

 ²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, ²⁹ for our “God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:25-29

In the text today, the word “warn” is mentioned twice. Throughout the passage, there is an urgency, a sense of warning, a call to take heed. In talking to a friend who was in the alarm business, Pastor Chew was told that a good alarm system does several things. Firstly, it signals the users that an abnormal event or condition has taken place. Secondly, it indicates the severity of this abnormality. Thirdly, it diagnoses the problem, and finally, it allows users sufficient time to correct the problem.

God’s Word does each of these things, telling us when there is problem, indicating its severity,  diagnosing it, and giving us sufficient time to respond. Typically, there are 2 types of alarms, an alarm clock and an alarm bell. The alarm clock wakes us from slumber and the alarm bell warns us of danger so that we have sufficient time to respond. If we don’t take note, the time runs out, and the danger settles. What is God warning us about? 7 things!

Firstly and secondly, God is shaking the heavens and the earth. In Hebrews here, God is writing in the “logos” what is being played out as a “rhema”. God is warning us by shaking the heavens and the earth. The natural disasters that we see around us with increasing frequency is warning us, waking us up. Once time runs out, time is up for everybody. From 1900-2008, the graph depicting the natural disasters impacting the earth shows a steadily increasing trend, with greater and greater intensity. Being a former gynecologist, this graph is in fact very similar to a typical topograph of a woman on her way to giving birth. Based on the graph, it says that labor is imminent. This is completely biblical, Matthew 24 says that wars, famines, earthquakes are all the beginning of birth pains!

Isaiah 24:1-6 describes this “See, the LORD is going to lay waste the earth and devastate it; he will ruin its face and scatter its inhabitants— it will be the same for priest as for people, for the master as for his servant, for the mistress as for her servant, for seller as for buyer, for borrower as for lender, for debtor as for creditor. The earth will be completely laid waste and totally plundered. The LORD has spoken this word. The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers, the heavens languish with the earth. The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt.  Therefore earth’s inhabitants are burned up, and very few are left.

Mankind has broken environmental laws because of his greed. The earth belongs to God. Men have broken the everlasting covenant. Now the time has come for the earth to fight back and none are spared.

The third shaking is when god shakes the created things. This refers to man-made things like technology and tall structures. In today’s time and age, Christians face a very real danger of being distracted by the things of the world. We make a lot of things in our lives idols and God becomes just an afterthought. No more so, when God shakes the created things!

Tim Keller defines an idol as anything that becomes more important to you than the Lord, anything that can reach your heart and imagination and take the place of God. It is when we seek anything to give you what only God can give. What legacy are we teaching our children? Are we giving God the priority?

We have to ask ourselves “is God secondary to us?” Less and less people are in love with God because God is no longer their first love. When Jesus spoke of Jonah, he said “as Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be.” Literally speaking, since Jesus died during that time, Jonah must have died too. Words that a dying man speaks are especially insightful, and Jonah exclaimed “those who cling on to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs” in Jonah 2. We must put our priorities right and put create things in their proper place.

Fourthly, God will shake the world’s financial systems. Europe is in deep trouble economically. Greece, Italy and Spain face bankruptcy. In a society such the Rotary club, there are some members called 100%centers, never missing a meeting for 20-30 years. Yet, people skip church over small matters.

Fifth, God will shake the spiritual forces in the heavenly realms. Hebrews 12:26-27 indicate a shift from what is physical to what is supernatural. There is bad news spiritually around the world. A false religion will dominate the world. There is a massive, wide-scale spread of Satanism. Europe is practically gone spiritually, and a new Dark Age is on the rise. Forces of darkness are mustering all over the earth.

Yet, God is sounding the alarm bell and there is also good news! The number of evangelical Christians are growing 3-5 times faster than the population of the world. 20% of Indonesians are Christians today. While in 1897, less than 3% of Africans were Christian, today, 50% profess to be Christians. In 2008, Pastor Chew was praying at his annual retreat to Cameron Highlands and he asked God “Why did you raise up SIBKL?”, and God told him :”to plough back into East Malaysia!” God is launching a marvelous, powerful work in East Malaysia with SIBKL playing a leading role!

Sixth, Israel will be shaken! A big question on many people’s minds today is “Will Israel attack Iran?” What will be the repercussions of that? The current prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu belongs to a Zionist group that believes that the reign of David will be brought back in contemporary times. A ring was discovered in the excavation of the City of David that had the name “Benjamin”, and he believes he could be the one chosen to return Israel to its Davidic borders and power. God’s eye is always on Israel, and there will be great shakings in that nation in these end times! So watch Israel!

Finally, God will shake the church! God is just and takes no favorites. Can we just go ahead and sin and live life how we want after receiving Jesus and still be saved? 1 Peter 4:17 says ”For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” God will not spare his own who do not obey. God is fair and just. God will judge his house.

In closing, Pastor Chew gave a 3-fold call to CDC to wake up from slumber and be warned.

Firstly, invert your mindset. Secondly, invest your time and resources to build up the church. Finally, involve yourself. Be hands on!

Change your thinking. Start to see our workplace, our entertainment, our neighbors as our mission field. Aim to live a life pleasing to God. God needs every available soldier.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Declare a holy fast

Declare a holy fast

Scripture: Put on sackcloth, you priests, and mourn; wail, you who minister before the altar. Come, spend the night in sackcloth, you who minister before my God; for the grain offerings and drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God. Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD. Joel 1:13-14

Observation: In Joel Chapter 1, the prophet speaks of great swarms of locusts that come and devastate the land, destroying crops and the whole economy. There is referece also to a mighty nation invading the land, most likely the Babylonians. It is a time of great tragedy and misery for the people. In the backdrop of this, the priests and ministers of the Lord are called to mourn and cry out to God for mercy.

1 Peter 2:5 says “you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Therefore in a way, each one of us called to be an intermediary between God and man in Jesus Christ, in regard to the lost, and in regard to our nation and community who do not know Him. When disaster impacts our communityor our nation, we are called to come before God in prayer, to seek His face and plead for His mercy.,just like Moses and Ezra of old. Sometimes we don't know how to pray, and we could never fully understand the suffering people go through. However, the Holy Spirit knows, and when we pray in the Spirit, He groans deeply for those who suffer with words that cannot be expressed.

Today, we may have freedom of worship, and can praise God openly. However, a time may be coming when open worship may become restricted and even church meetings become dangerous,as was the case in China not too long ago.Christians are called to fast and pray for the nations. We should never take our freedom for granted but be ready to pray and mourn before God. There is great power in fasting,in declaring a holy fast. The call to prayer is not only for the leaders but for everyone,both small and great.

Application: Acknowledge that we are chosen to be a holy priesthood, to stand in the gap and intercede for the non-Christians in our community,to open avenues to lead others towards our Lord. Pray for a heart of compassion from the Holy Spirit, that we may learn to mourn for the lost, to seek God fervently. Endeavor to learn to fast and pray. Thank God that the call to pray is for everyone, small and great.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that You have chosen me to be part of Your royal priesthood.Help me see myself as Your intermediary, with the task to bring others to Your knowledge. Give me a heart of compassion, let me learn to really love the lost and mourn for them. Teach me how to fast and pray. I thank You that You created everyone equal, and you hear the prayers of the humble who truly cry out to You.May Your name be praised forever.In Jesus name, Amen.

Take words with you and return to the Lord

Take words with you and return to the Lord

Scripture: Return, Israel, to the LORD your God. Your sins have been your downfall!  Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to him: “Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips. Hosea 14:1-2

I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them. Hosea 14:4

Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them. Hosea 14:9

Observation: The first Scripture is a call to Israel to return to the Lord. Just as the sins were Israel’s downfall, so too sins will be our downfall if we persist in it. Like Israel, sinners who have turned away are asked to “take words with them” and return to the Lord. God has given us a mouth for a purpose, to communicate. He has made us relational beings, being able to have meaningful conversations with each other through words. And our mouths are an important tool in communicating with God. If we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved. Profession and declaration is a very important part in our relationship with God. He even gave us the gift of tongues through the Holy Spirit to help us speak when we don’t know what to say. We worship Him with our mouths and God loves to hear our praises. We are forgiven so that we may offer our sacrifice of praise to God.

The second Scripture speaks of God healing Israel’s waywardness and loving them freely. Our hearts are naturally deceitful, and has a strong tendency towards waywardness. It is for us to come humbly before the Lord, and bring our hearts to Him that He may change it and mould it for His glory. The Scripture speaks of God taking away our heart of stone and giving us a heart of flesh. The heart touched by the Lord has a new compassion and purpose never seen in a person before.

The third Scripture tells us that those who are wise and discerning know that the ways of the Lord are right and that the righteous walk in them. How do we know the ways of the Lord? By studying the Scriptures.

Application: Thank God for giving us a mouth to say words, to communicate with Him and praise Him. Resolve to use our mouth often for His glory, to praise His name, to give good testimony, to worship Him. Surrender our hearts to God, asking Him to mould it to His likeness. Resolve to grow deep in the Word.

Prayer: Thank You, Father Lord, for the mouth You have given me to praise Your name. Let the words of my mouth be pleasing to You O Lord. Let praises always be found on my mouth as Your Spirit lives in me. Take my heart O Lord, and mould it more like You. Give me a fresh desire to grow deep in Your Word, which holds the secrets of eternal life. Praise Your holy name. In Jesus name, Amen.