In my previous post, I mentioned about Elijah where God questioned him as to why he has gone to Mt Horeb. Before coming to Horeb, Elijah was at another mountain, Mt Carmel, where he alone contended with the false prophets of Baal and Asherah. The contrast between these two mountains cannot be more startling. In life, we can spend an inordinate amount of time in one mountain at the expense of the other.
Mt Carmel represents our life filled with activities and performance, just like Elijah where he conducted a miracle campaign in front of the people of Israel with showmanship thrown in for good measure. To be sure, he called on God to rain down fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice. God answered his prayer and the Israelites acknowledged Jehovah as the true God. Elijah had all the false prophets slain. It was, to say the least, a very successful outcome to the contest Elijah had thrown the gauntlet at the false prophets. However, this great performance took a toll on Elijah's socio-emotional well-being. No wonder he suffered a burnout and went into depression at the threat from Jezebel. It was indeed a spiritual battle at its peak whereby the forces of darkness were sent helter-skelter. Our life is a constant battle between good and evil, whether we are involved in spiritual or so called secular work.
Mt Horeb represents our life filled with quietness and refreshing as we wait for God to speak and minister to us. We certainly do not have knowledge of all things and sometimes we need to hear a revelation from God to enable us to put things in perspective. As we allow God to mould us, our lives would be transformed by the His power, just like Elijah where he was no longer afraid of Jezebel's threat and went back to continue the rest of what God intended him to do. Mt Horeb is time alone with God as opposed to attending a prayer meeting whereby it can degenerate into performance mode, if we are not careful. It is less of talking and more of listening to God, which is a great discipline by itself.
The question to ask ourselves: Which mountain am I spending most of my time in 2013?
Certainly, we cannot avoid Mt Carmel but we have to endeavour to spend more time at Mt Horeb.
May the new year 2014 bring us more to Horeb!
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Monday, December 9, 2013
An Interview with God
I’ve
had the privilege of being in interview panels interviewing students either for
a special programme or for a scholarship.
I have also interviewed adults wanting to join the education service. I have sat in interview panels
where teachers are being interviewed for key personnel positions. At the same time, I had also been interviewed
for key appointment positions as well.
One
common denominator in interview panels is that there is usually a chairperson
accompanied by at least 2 others. How
successful you will be is determined by how well you answer the questions that
would be posed to you. Questions are
asked to draw out the character and values of the person, apart from sizing up
his/her intellectual capacity and knowledge of things around.
Job
wanted an audience with God to present his case.
3 If only I knew where to find him;
if
only I could go to his dwelling!4 I would state my case before him and
fill my mouth with arguments. Job 23:3-4
(NIV)
God did answer Job in the form of an
interrogation or interview.
“Brace yourself
like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.” Job
38:3 (NIV)
Imagine
having an interview with God – a panel constituting of the Godhead. This is not an interview
to determine your entrance to heaven. If
you are a believer, that has already been settled by Christ’s death on the
cross of Calvary.
Let’s
say it’s an interview to determine your level of preparedness to meet your
Creator. What might He ask you? As
2013 draw to a close, I would like you to ponder these questions by way of
personal reflection with regard to our relationship with God.
1.
What are you doing here?
(1 Kg 19:9)
Elijah
went to Horeb (or Mt Sinai where the Law was given through Moses), the mountain
of God to seek Him. God did not summon
him to go there. In fact, God has need of Elijah to continue His work. Hence the question: What are you doing here?
Not an usual question to start off an interview as most interviewers would like
to find out the reasons why you are applying for the position / programme /
scholarship?
You
must understand that God is all-knowing.
The reason why He asks questions is so that we can verbalize what’s in
our heart. For Elijah, he sought God to
tell Him how zealous he had been for God while all the rest have rejected
Him. But his pride turned into self-pity
when he realized his life was in danger and like the rest, he would soon be killed
as well. Earlier Elijah had prayed: “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my
life; I am no better than my ancestors.”
1 Kg 19: 4 (NIV)
After
the display of wind, earthquake and fire, God asked the same question a second
time. When an interviewer asks the same
question again, it means you have misunderstood what is asked and need to
reframe your reply or seek clarification.
Elijah could have asked God for strength and courage to carry on but he
didn’t; in fact, he gave the same response.
Elijah
didn’t have complete knowledge of what was happening – you can say he was not
organizationally aware – God had to remind him that there were still 7000
people in Israel who have not worshipped Baal.
He’s not a Dodo that is going extinct!
What
are you doing here?
Reflecting
on the year 2013, what would say to God?
- Will you tell Him what you’ve done? Your zeal & steadfastness for God, like
Elijah
- Will you bring your complaints to Him? Unanswered
prayers or burdens too heavy to bear
- Will you confess your weaknesses and ask Him for
strength to carry on worshipping and serving Him?
2.
(a) Who do you say I am? (Mt 16:15)
A
question to draw out your knowledge of the organization or whom you would be
serving. No one can know who Jesus is
unless God reveals it to him/her. Upon
Peter’s confession of faith, Jesus promised to build His church. Subsequently, all who profess faith in Jesus
Christ as Saviour and Lord are part of this universal church.
Who do
you say I am?
Is He
your Saviour?
Is He
your Lord?
If not,
why don’t you confess Him today?
(b)
Where are you? (Gen 3:9)
God is not so much interested in
your physical location as to your spiritual location. Certainly God knows where Adam and Eve were;
God simply wants them to come clean before Him.
And you know what; they started to blame one another for what had
happened. Man blamed woman who blamed
the snake.
Where
are you?
If
Jesus is Lord of your life, have you been obeying Him?
Are you
going through the motions of being a Christian, holding to a form of godliness,
but yet denying its power?
We can
be persevering and working hard for the Lord, like the Ephesian church, but we
can lose our first love for God.
On a
scale of 1 to 10 (closest), how close are you to God?
3.
What is that in your hand? (Ex 4:2)
A
question to see what you can offer in terms of talent, skills or
expertise. When you give whatever you
have to the Lord, He will transform it into something wonderful, like the lad
with the 5 loaves and 2 fishes to feed the 5000. Moses had a lot of excuses to avoid being
called to be the deliverer of Israel.
Many of us would defer to someone else for a task to be done.
What is
that in your hand?
Are you
going to say nothing?
God has
given us the ability to make wealth (Dt 8:18)
Have
you been faithful in your tithes and offerings?
God has
given us spiritual gifts for His service (1 Pet 4:8)
Have
you been faithful in using the gift God has blessed you?
Now
the final question. Usually, the final
question of an interview is “Do you have any questions for us?” This is where the tables are turned where the
interviewee can seek answers to queries he/she may have. And the final question God has for you is no
different. It is an offer which no one
should resist.
4.
What do you want me to do for you? (Mk 10:51)
Blind
Bartimaeus had a deep-seated longing to be healed of his blindness. Ever since he heard of Jesus the miracle
worker, he longed for the day to meet Him and to be touched by Him. That day eventually came. And like a little child who is not
self-conscious, he shouted again and again with all his might, “Jesus Son of
David, have mercy on me!” With an
intense cry like that, God cannot help but stop to attend to his need.
What do
you want me to do for you?
This is
not a question whereby you have to think long and hard.
It
should come spontaneously as a result of an intense and deep longing which
you’ve been crying out to God all this while. Ask Him
now! God wants to hear you verbalize
your need.
Character
of Interviewer: The grace of God shone through in all the examples of the
people God questioned in spite of their weaknesses and frailties.
For
Elijah, God recognized his work on earth.
When he was running away due to the threat by Jezebel, God provided
sleep and refreshment for him. He knew
his servant Elijah was tired and worn out and so asked him to anoint Elisha to
succeed him. But He didn’t grant him his
request to die but took him home on a heavenly chariot. Elijah’s translation to heaven is a type of
the coming rapture which the omega-transition generation will experience,
by-passing physical death. Like Elijah,
God will certainly recognize the work that you do for Him in this generation,
despite the sufferings or persecutions you have to endure.
“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love
you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help
them.” Heb 6:10 (NIV)
For
Peter, his confession of Jesus as the Christ, the anointed of God, brought him
into the glory realm before his death.
He saw Jesus glorified and in conversation with Moses and Elijah, whose
experiences of ‘death’ were rather unusual.
One died and the body couldn’t be found; the other didn’t die but got
translated to heaven. Jesus, Himself,
was to experience death & resurrection.
Like Peter, you may also be taken into the glory realm before your time
to meet God. However, this does not
happen often and not to everyone. If you
do, it is His grace towards you.
For
Adam and Eve, their disobedience to God brought about toil, pain and death.
However, out of this ominous situation, God’s grace shone brightly where the
promised seed will crush the head of the serpent – referring to the salvation
plan of God for mankind – and the clothing of animal’s skin for their
nakedness.
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his
heel.” Gen 3:18 (NIV)
We
are all beneficiaries of this grace of God!
For
Moses, he started off as a reluctant deliverer of Israel. He grew into his job and it’s not an easy one
having to lead about 2 million people across desert lands; many were stiff
necked and rebellious people. Moses’
patience was tested and he became the most humble man on the planet. Despite his disobedience, God allowed Moses
to see the Promised Land (west side of Jordan) from afar and God Himself buried
Moses (Dt 34:6). How would you like God
to conduct your funeral service? O the
wonderful grace of God!
For
Bartimaeus, he received his sight! And
likewise, you too if you keep knocking on heaven’s door.
When
we are discouraged, fearful and anxious, all we could hear is the voice of the
enemy taunting us – telling us to give up; just like the words of Jezebel
sending Elijah fleeing for his life and wanting to end it all. When you quieten
yourself down, as what Elijah did in the cave of God, you will be sensitive to
God speaking. He received instructions
to go back and complete some unfinished business. His fear and anxiety dissipated when he
realized he wasn’t the only left and God could use ungodly people to fulfill
His will in getting rid of unrighteousness, including Jezebel.
Do you
have unfinished business from God?
Remember
that God will not take you to a place where His grace cannot sustain you.
God’s
reply to all of us is and will always be:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in
weakness.” 2 Cor 12:9 (NIV)
It
is God’s grace that will see us through the challenges of 2014 as
well. Keep close to God and listen to
His instructions for our lives.
Thursday, November 7, 2013
God's blessings
It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich,
And He adds no sorrow to it. Pr 10:22 NASB
We all want to be blessed by God - be it materially or experiencing His peace or receiving divine health and so forth. The wise man Solomon proclaims that it is the LORD's blessing that makes us rich without having any need for us to feel guilty or experience any uneasiness due to something we have done with evil intent.
God's blessings can be material wealth just as He has blessed Abraham with flocks, herds, precious materials and slaves (Gen 24:35). Abraham did not acquire them through unscrupulous means but through gifts from Abimelech (Gen 20:14). Abraham also tithe to the Lord by giving a tenth of everything he had (Gen 14:20). We can never outgive God in His generosity towards us, His children.
God's blessings can be seen in the ability He has given us to create wealth by using our minds and hands (Dt 8:18). We should thank God for a healthy body; allowing us to earn our own keep and having sufficient to give away as well. No doubt, God has also blessed Abraham with the ability to multiply his flocks and herds.
God's blessings can also be seen in a bountiful harvest when He blessed Isaac after he had sown and was the envy of his neighours (Gen 26:12-15). Abraham experienced God's blessing of a son, Isaacc, in a season of barrenness, fulfilling God's promise to him that his descendants shall be like the stars in heaven.
Begin to thank God for the blessings that are coming your way. He can choose to direct provision for your needs to be met. These blessings will make you glad and not add sorrow upon you. Indeed, God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19).
And He adds no sorrow to it. Pr 10:22 NASB
We all want to be blessed by God - be it materially or experiencing His peace or receiving divine health and so forth. The wise man Solomon proclaims that it is the LORD's blessing that makes us rich without having any need for us to feel guilty or experience any uneasiness due to something we have done with evil intent.
God's blessings can be material wealth just as He has blessed Abraham with flocks, herds, precious materials and slaves (Gen 24:35). Abraham did not acquire them through unscrupulous means but through gifts from Abimelech (Gen 20:14). Abraham also tithe to the Lord by giving a tenth of everything he had (Gen 14:20). We can never outgive God in His generosity towards us, His children.
God's blessings can be seen in the ability He has given us to create wealth by using our minds and hands (Dt 8:18). We should thank God for a healthy body; allowing us to earn our own keep and having sufficient to give away as well. No doubt, God has also blessed Abraham with the ability to multiply his flocks and herds.
God's blessings can also be seen in a bountiful harvest when He blessed Isaac after he had sown and was the envy of his neighours (Gen 26:12-15). Abraham experienced God's blessing of a son, Isaacc, in a season of barrenness, fulfilling God's promise to him that his descendants shall be like the stars in heaven.
Begin to thank God for the blessings that are coming your way. He can choose to direct provision for your needs to be met. These blessings will make you glad and not add sorrow upon you. Indeed, God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19).
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Words to live by
This is an excerpt of the message I gave today at the Saturday Service.
There’s an old proverb that says: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
In an earlier form it went something like this: “Eat an apple on going to bed, and you'll keep the doctor from earning his bread.”
When we eat healthily, we will contend less with illness in our body and hence spend lesser amount of time seeing the doctor. The onus is on us to keep our bodies healthy. Proverbs are simple concise sayings that contain wisdom and truths. There are many such sayings in the Bible, esp in the book of Proverbs. I want to share one today. These are the words we can live by.
“Anxiety in the heart of a man weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad.” Pr 12:25 NASB
What is anxiety? In the KJV, it uses the word heaviness, with the meaning of
Sorrow: Distress and uneasiness over things that have occurred or could happen
Fear: of the unknown especially of the future events that have yet to occur (imagined or otherwise)
What can we be anxious about?
Health (ill), relationships (strained), finances (lack)
Meeting (how things are conducted)
Interview (for a job/course/scholarship)
Examinations (including medical ones)
Project or task given to handle
Outcomes or results eg. Ballot for P1 registration, flat allocation, etc.
How does it weigh us down?
Anxiety can cause us to feel stressed up. Though a certain amount of stress is good for us, (as it girds us into action to prepare ahead of time or to overcome the challenge at hand), an inordinate amount can cause us to be paralyzed by inactivity or destructive behavior such as escaping into a world of drugs, alcohol and gambling. All of us cope with the stresses of life differently. Some are more high-strung than others; while others relish the adrenalin rush by doing things last minute. Signs of inability to cope are manifested in physio-emotional symptoms such as depression, loss of appetite, frequent headaches, sleeplessness, etc.
The peace of God eluded Jacob for 20 years when he struggled in the flesh to fulfill God’s prophecy over his life. It was all to culminate in his meeting with Esau whom he last heard bore a grudge against him and wanted him dead.
Jacob was heading back to the Promised Land when he heard that Esau was coming to meet him with 400 men; this brought great fear and distress to him.
7In great fear and distress Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups, and the flocks and herds and camels as well. 8 He thought, “If Esau comes and attacks one group, the group that is left may escape.” 9 Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, LORD, you who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’ 10 I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps. 11 Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children. 12 But you have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.’” Gen 32:7-12 NIV
Jacob girded himself into action (self-protection mechanism) by
•Splitting the people/animals into 2 camps
•He prayed to God, reminding Him of His promise and asking God to deliver him from his brother Esau
•He sent gifts ahead for his brother to appease him
Jacob was a man who had to grapple with the 3-D syndrome:
1. Deception: cheated Esau of his birthright & blessing; connived to produce more & stronger flocks for himself and less and weaker flocks for Laban (Gen 27:35-36; 30:37-43)
2. Doubts: he doubted God’s promise to him and made a conditional promise to follow God only if God provides and protects him (Gen 28:20-21); very unlike his grandfather Abraham who believed God & was counted as righteous.
3. Departure: took flight on the advice of Rebekah to Haran (Gen 27:43); fled from Laban without informing him (Gen 31:20-21)
What is a good word?
A good word (spoken) is a timely word that is suitable for us at a particular season of our life. It is the rhema of God released to lift up the weight and bring lightness of heart for us to carry on living. How do we obtain this good word? We have to hear it from God ourselves or rely on godly people to speak to us on God’s behalf.
Jacob’s past was about to catch up with him, and sleep fled from him. God came in the form of an angel to initiate a wrestling match with Jacob.
22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”
But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
27 The man asked him, “What is your name?”
“Jacob,” he answered.
28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”
But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” Gn 32:22-30 NIV
Why would God want to wrestle with Jacob as opposed to simply speaking to him and how long did it last? It must have been a fairly long wrestling match; during that period of time, God must have been speaking to him and Jacob’s past flashes into his mind.
Jacob had a lot of fears, weaknesses and insecurities that God wanted to break in his life. There’s no better way to do so than through a wrestling match. Clearly, the angel could have easily subdued Jacob but he didn’t. In God’s mercy and grace, he wanted Jacob to admit his weaknesses that he is a supplanter or cheat before releasing a good word which would change his identity and destiny forever – no longer would he be called heel grabber but Israel, prince with God (literally). God dealt with Jacob’s deception by giving him a new name. Likewise, we ourselves when we become Christians.
Despite his hip being dislocated, Jacob clung on to the angel instead of letting go despite the severe pain he must have endured. This is what God wanted him to do all along, that is, to trust and depend on Him no matter what happens. What was the blessing that Jacob was requesting? Hadn’t God blessed him with flocks, herds and families? I believe it was the peace of God that had eluded him these past 20 years; to know that all would be well in his encounter with Esau and that God will bring him safely back to his father’s house. God dealt with Jacob’s doubts and departure in one fell stroke. Whether Jacob contemplated to run away again from his fears when he was left alone, we don’t know. But one thing is clear, the act of God certainly put paid to that thought of fleeing once again.
Have you had an encounter with God like Jacob did?
If you've ever prayed long and hard over a certain matter or questioned God or doubted your faith, or struggled through a time of spiritual dryness or puzzled over the discrepancies between what you've heard in church and how you are living life ... then you've wrestled with God, whether you are aware of it at the time. Know that God is breaking and moulding you into His image in order that you may trust Him more.
Jacob bore the scar of battle, a dislocated hip, a constant reminder of his need to cling on to God for blessing, instead of trusting in the arm of flesh.
Jacob called upon God in his dire straits and so should we. He acknowledged his unworthiness and claimed God’s promises over his life (that his tribe would not be wiped out). He specifically requested God to save him and his family from the attacks of Esau. God came in respond to his request to wrestle him; to deal with his 3-D syndrome – God’s peace and favour came upon him after he humbled himself before God. Jacob's story is an object lesson in the application of Phil 4:6-7.
6 Do not be anxious (Stop being anxious) about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present (keep on doing so) your requests to God. 7 And the peace (at one again) of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7 NIV
Are you anxious and fearful over life’s problems? Turn them over to God in prayer. It says in every situation present your requests to God. God wants to change your identity from a worrier to a warrior, from being fearful to being faith-ful, from being storm-tossed to experiencing serenity in God.
Do you know of people who are anxious and fearful over life’s circumstances, weighed down by emotional anguish? You and I can be instrumental in bringing a good word to them to lift up their spirits. We don’t have to be prophets to bring an encouraging word to others. The Bible exhorst us in Heb 3:13 "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness." NIV
God wants to use you to be instrumental in bringing a good word, a word of encouragement to those who are discouraged or anxious about life’s issues. A good place to start would be to release the truths of God’s Word to them. And we can only do so inasmuch as we input the Word of God into our lives.
Be that channel that makes people glad by lifting up their spirits!
There’s an old proverb that says: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
In an earlier form it went something like this: “Eat an apple on going to bed, and you'll keep the doctor from earning his bread.”
When we eat healthily, we will contend less with illness in our body and hence spend lesser amount of time seeing the doctor. The onus is on us to keep our bodies healthy. Proverbs are simple concise sayings that contain wisdom and truths. There are many such sayings in the Bible, esp in the book of Proverbs. I want to share one today. These are the words we can live by.
“Anxiety in the heart of a man weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad.” Pr 12:25 NASB
What is anxiety? In the KJV, it uses the word heaviness, with the meaning of
Sorrow: Distress and uneasiness over things that have occurred or could happen
Fear: of the unknown especially of the future events that have yet to occur (imagined or otherwise)
What can we be anxious about?
Health (ill), relationships (strained), finances (lack)
Meeting (how things are conducted)
Interview (for a job/course/scholarship)
Examinations (including medical ones)
Project or task given to handle
Outcomes or results eg. Ballot for P1 registration, flat allocation, etc.
How does it weigh us down?
Anxiety can cause us to feel stressed up. Though a certain amount of stress is good for us, (as it girds us into action to prepare ahead of time or to overcome the challenge at hand), an inordinate amount can cause us to be paralyzed by inactivity or destructive behavior such as escaping into a world of drugs, alcohol and gambling. All of us cope with the stresses of life differently. Some are more high-strung than others; while others relish the adrenalin rush by doing things last minute. Signs of inability to cope are manifested in physio-emotional symptoms such as depression, loss of appetite, frequent headaches, sleeplessness, etc.
The peace of God eluded Jacob for 20 years when he struggled in the flesh to fulfill God’s prophecy over his life. It was all to culminate in his meeting with Esau whom he last heard bore a grudge against him and wanted him dead.
Jacob was heading back to the Promised Land when he heard that Esau was coming to meet him with 400 men; this brought great fear and distress to him.
7In great fear and distress Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups, and the flocks and herds and camels as well. 8 He thought, “If Esau comes and attacks one group, the group that is left may escape.” 9 Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, LORD, you who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’ 10 I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps. 11 Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children. 12 But you have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.’” Gen 32:7-12 NIV
Jacob girded himself into action (self-protection mechanism) by
•Splitting the people/animals into 2 camps
•He prayed to God, reminding Him of His promise and asking God to deliver him from his brother Esau
•He sent gifts ahead for his brother to appease him
Jacob was a man who had to grapple with the 3-D syndrome:
1. Deception: cheated Esau of his birthright & blessing; connived to produce more & stronger flocks for himself and less and weaker flocks for Laban (Gen 27:35-36; 30:37-43)
2. Doubts: he doubted God’s promise to him and made a conditional promise to follow God only if God provides and protects him (Gen 28:20-21); very unlike his grandfather Abraham who believed God & was counted as righteous.
3. Departure: took flight on the advice of Rebekah to Haran (Gen 27:43); fled from Laban without informing him (Gen 31:20-21)
What is a good word?
A good word (spoken) is a timely word that is suitable for us at a particular season of our life. It is the rhema of God released to lift up the weight and bring lightness of heart for us to carry on living. How do we obtain this good word? We have to hear it from God ourselves or rely on godly people to speak to us on God’s behalf.
Jacob’s past was about to catch up with him, and sleep fled from him. God came in the form of an angel to initiate a wrestling match with Jacob.
22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”
But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
27 The man asked him, “What is your name?”
“Jacob,” he answered.
28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”
But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” Gn 32:22-30 NIV
Why would God want to wrestle with Jacob as opposed to simply speaking to him and how long did it last? It must have been a fairly long wrestling match; during that period of time, God must have been speaking to him and Jacob’s past flashes into his mind.
Jacob had a lot of fears, weaknesses and insecurities that God wanted to break in his life. There’s no better way to do so than through a wrestling match. Clearly, the angel could have easily subdued Jacob but he didn’t. In God’s mercy and grace, he wanted Jacob to admit his weaknesses that he is a supplanter or cheat before releasing a good word which would change his identity and destiny forever – no longer would he be called heel grabber but Israel, prince with God (literally). God dealt with Jacob’s deception by giving him a new name. Likewise, we ourselves when we become Christians.
Despite his hip being dislocated, Jacob clung on to the angel instead of letting go despite the severe pain he must have endured. This is what God wanted him to do all along, that is, to trust and depend on Him no matter what happens. What was the blessing that Jacob was requesting? Hadn’t God blessed him with flocks, herds and families? I believe it was the peace of God that had eluded him these past 20 years; to know that all would be well in his encounter with Esau and that God will bring him safely back to his father’s house. God dealt with Jacob’s doubts and departure in one fell stroke. Whether Jacob contemplated to run away again from his fears when he was left alone, we don’t know. But one thing is clear, the act of God certainly put paid to that thought of fleeing once again.
Have you had an encounter with God like Jacob did?
If you've ever prayed long and hard over a certain matter or questioned God or doubted your faith, or struggled through a time of spiritual dryness or puzzled over the discrepancies between what you've heard in church and how you are living life ... then you've wrestled with God, whether you are aware of it at the time. Know that God is breaking and moulding you into His image in order that you may trust Him more.
Jacob bore the scar of battle, a dislocated hip, a constant reminder of his need to cling on to God for blessing, instead of trusting in the arm of flesh.
Jacob called upon God in his dire straits and so should we. He acknowledged his unworthiness and claimed God’s promises over his life (that his tribe would not be wiped out). He specifically requested God to save him and his family from the attacks of Esau. God came in respond to his request to wrestle him; to deal with his 3-D syndrome – God’s peace and favour came upon him after he humbled himself before God. Jacob's story is an object lesson in the application of Phil 4:6-7.
6 Do not be anxious (Stop being anxious) about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present (keep on doing so) your requests to God. 7 And the peace (at one again) of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7 NIV
Are you anxious and fearful over life’s problems? Turn them over to God in prayer. It says in every situation present your requests to God. God wants to change your identity from a worrier to a warrior, from being fearful to being faith-ful, from being storm-tossed to experiencing serenity in God.
Do you know of people who are anxious and fearful over life’s circumstances, weighed down by emotional anguish? You and I can be instrumental in bringing a good word to them to lift up their spirits. We don’t have to be prophets to bring an encouraging word to others. The Bible exhorst us in Heb 3:13 "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness." NIV
God wants to use you to be instrumental in bringing a good word, a word of encouragement to those who are discouraged or anxious about life’s issues. A good place to start would be to release the truths of God’s Word to them. And we can only do so inasmuch as we input the Word of God into our lives.
Be that channel that makes people glad by lifting up their spirits!
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Guidance
"My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Bind them always on your heart;fasten them around your neck. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you." Pr 6:20-22 NIV
Proverbs is a wisdom book to instruct us to get God's wisdom in our lives. It begins with a proper disposition - having the fear and reverence for God (Pr 1:7;9:10). This posture means we are willing and humble to be used by God and ready to obey when God speaks to us. Jesus says, "My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me." (Jn 10:27 NASB). What a wonderful promise by our Lord to those who belong to Him!
Guidance from God can come from different sources. In the passage quoted above from Proverbs, we see that the counsel of godly people, be they our parents or church leaders, can be a real source of guidance. Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, advised him regarding the way he should approach people's problems and not wear himself out thin doing all the work by himself. That was one real good counsel! (Ex 18)
In our walk of life, we certainly need guidance for a lot of things - schools to go to, courses to take, who to marry or not to marry, where to stay, how to handle a difficult situationn, etc. Sometimes God can specifically guide us with a rhema word that comes supernaturally through dreams, visions, prophets or the impression of the Holy Spirit. The rhema word would be a counsel in season because that's the issue we could be contending with at that point in time. I remember receiving a prophetic word quite sometime back that God was doing a work in my family to bring healinng and restoration; it was certainly a word in season at that time and it brought tears to my eyes.
Most of the time, God expects us to hear Him through His written Word. The Bible tells us that in the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe (Heb 1:1-2 NIV). Jesus Christ is the incarnation of God, to reveal the Father to us and how we are to conduct ourselves as citizens of the kingdom of God. The logos or written Word that has been preserved for us contains much of His words. We are to read and meditate on the Word of God in order that we may allow God to speak to our lives. We don't need someone to tell us we ought to forgive one another because God's Word explicitly say so (Eph 4:32).
The Bible may not address a lot of issues specifically but it does provide us with precepts and principles to guide us in life. For instance, 1 Cor 6:12 says, “I have the right to do anything,” you say — but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything” — but I will not be mastered by anything. We may have the freedom to do many things within the acceptable limits of the law but we have to contend with whether it is beneficial for others or ourselves and whether one would come under any bondage or addiction. When that happens, the freedom we have been given to exercise may be subtly taken away from us without our knowing.
May God's counsel guide, watch and speak to us in our waking and sleeping times as we seek Him daily.
Proverbs is a wisdom book to instruct us to get God's wisdom in our lives. It begins with a proper disposition - having the fear and reverence for God (Pr 1:7;9:10). This posture means we are willing and humble to be used by God and ready to obey when God speaks to us. Jesus says, "My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me." (Jn 10:27 NASB). What a wonderful promise by our Lord to those who belong to Him!
Guidance from God can come from different sources. In the passage quoted above from Proverbs, we see that the counsel of godly people, be they our parents or church leaders, can be a real source of guidance. Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, advised him regarding the way he should approach people's problems and not wear himself out thin doing all the work by himself. That was one real good counsel! (Ex 18)
In our walk of life, we certainly need guidance for a lot of things - schools to go to, courses to take, who to marry or not to marry, where to stay, how to handle a difficult situationn, etc. Sometimes God can specifically guide us with a rhema word that comes supernaturally through dreams, visions, prophets or the impression of the Holy Spirit. The rhema word would be a counsel in season because that's the issue we could be contending with at that point in time. I remember receiving a prophetic word quite sometime back that God was doing a work in my family to bring healinng and restoration; it was certainly a word in season at that time and it brought tears to my eyes.
Most of the time, God expects us to hear Him through His written Word. The Bible tells us that in the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe (Heb 1:1-2 NIV). Jesus Christ is the incarnation of God, to reveal the Father to us and how we are to conduct ourselves as citizens of the kingdom of God. The logos or written Word that has been preserved for us contains much of His words. We are to read and meditate on the Word of God in order that we may allow God to speak to our lives. We don't need someone to tell us we ought to forgive one another because God's Word explicitly say so (Eph 4:32).
The Bible may not address a lot of issues specifically but it does provide us with precepts and principles to guide us in life. For instance, 1 Cor 6:12 says, “I have the right to do anything,” you say — but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything” — but I will not be mastered by anything. We may have the freedom to do many things within the acceptable limits of the law but we have to contend with whether it is beneficial for others or ourselves and whether one would come under any bondage or addiction. When that happens, the freedom we have been given to exercise may be subtly taken away from us without our knowing.
May God's counsel guide, watch and speak to us in our waking and sleeping times as we seek Him daily.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Responding to Prophecies
This post complements a much earlier one on the Prophetic Ministry.
The Bible tells us: “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good.” 1 Th 5:19-21 NKJ
Even though there are false prophets, we should not reject prophecies altogether. Lest we throw the baby out with the bathwater, the Bible exhorts us to test all things and in this case, prophecies. I have mentioned some things we can do to weigh and judge prophecies in the post, Prophetic Ministry.
Personal prophecy is where individuals receive a word directly into their lives and circumstances from heaven. It is always good for personal prophecies to be taped and transcribed so that the recipient can read and discern what has been said.
An example in the NT: And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” Ac 21:10-11 NKJ
Private prophecy has to do with prophesying outside the constraints of meetings and the accountability of leadership. Prophets must earn the right to minister into people’s lives. If they are living in a godly fashion and are seeking to behave responsibly, they should have no fear of accountability. We should be wary of receiving private prophecies from individuals who do not seek to come under any spiritual authority.
Three characteristics of personal prophecy
1. Incomplete – a prophecy gives a small insight into God’s will for our lives. God only reveals what we need to know in order to do His will in that particular time and place. Prophecies may give us positive highlights about our future but be silent on the pitfalls we may encounter. Prophets know and prophesy in part (1 Cor 13:9). The issue of timing is an indicator where prophets may get it wrong. Joseph saw the fulfillment of his dreams after 20 odd years; going from pit to prison and then to palace.
2. Developmental – the Lord will never speak the totality of His heart to us in a single prophetic word. Rather, He speaks words that will give us focus for now and the immediate future. As we work within those prophecies and allow our lives to be encouraged and shaped by them, we can see that prophecy builds from one word to another. Example, different prophets saw different aspects of Jesus’ life (1st and 2nd coming and all in between). Also, Abraham received 5 prophecies concerning himself and the great nation that shall come from him (Gen 12-17).
3. Provisional – personal prophecy refers to the possibility, not the inevitability. If your response is poor and full of unbelief or your lifestyle is one that continually grieves the Holy Spirit, you may not expect those prophecies to be fulfilled. Example, King Saul had the kingship taken from him because of disobedience.
Responding to Prophecies
Assuming that the prophetic words have been judged and found to be sound, the next thing is for us to respond to them.
1. Acceptance and acknowledgement – We need to be listeners and not just hearers, to have teachable and open hearts, and we need to be sure that we are living in obedience to what God has previously spoken, because very often He’s not going to add to it. He’s not going to add disobedience to disobedience. All prophecy must receive a response even if it is simply one of thanksgiving and praise. Words that really mean something to us need us to go over them thoroughly at the first opportunity. Prophecy opens us up to the realm of faith.
2. Absorption and assimilation – Most prophecy is not self-fulfilling but we have responsibility in the matter. Our part is to commit ourselves to the application of the prophetic word. The advice of significant people will be of great benefit to us. We need others to help us judge and weigh the prophetic word and to correctly identify what the Lord is really saying. Words that bring joy, hope and excitement will also bring us into a time of testing. After the promise usually comes a problem, a set of circumstances that are designed to enable us to hold on to the words we have received.
3. Actualization and attainment – Faith and obedience are ongoing responses that we must make continually to the Lord. How we respond to prophecy dictates what will happen to the word; will it be fulfilled or discarded?
a) Moral Imperative: Between the prophecy and its fulfillment, the Holy Spirit will be dealing with our character. The Lord will likely test you in an effort to bring to death many character flaws you had no idea you had. We must live in alignment with His revealed Word or covenant to us. Case in point: Moses.
And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the LORD met him and sought to kill him. 25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses’ feet, and said, “Surely you are a husband of blood to me!” 26 So He let him go. Then she said, “You are a husband of blood!” – because of the circumcision. Ex 4:24-26 NKJ
Moses had received prophecy regarding his role as the deliverer of Israel from the Egyptian bondage and the promise of Canaan as the Promised Land. In this passage, we see that Moses had sinned against God by not having his son circumcised according to the covenant God enacted with Abraham. In his disobedience, Moses had broken faith with God. Even though he had a wonderful prophecy and a purpose, he was still in opposition to God because he had not obeyed the revealed Word!
b) Prayer Agenda: Prophecy will provide us with an agenda for prayer and action (1 Tim 1:18-19). Jonah was sent to the city of Nineveh to prophesy its destruction in 40 days due to its wickedness. But the city repented through prayer and fasting and God relented on the punishment (Read Jon 3:7-9).
c) Through faith and patience, we will inherit what God has promised (Read Heb 6:11-12). Example of Joseph.
Cling on to the prophetic words God has spoken to you for it shall surely come to past in God's good timing (Hab 2:3).
The Bible tells us: “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good.” 1 Th 5:19-21 NKJ
Even though there are false prophets, we should not reject prophecies altogether. Lest we throw the baby out with the bathwater, the Bible exhorts us to test all things and in this case, prophecies. I have mentioned some things we can do to weigh and judge prophecies in the post, Prophetic Ministry.
Personal prophecy is where individuals receive a word directly into their lives and circumstances from heaven. It is always good for personal prophecies to be taped and transcribed so that the recipient can read and discern what has been said.
An example in the NT: And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” Ac 21:10-11 NKJ
Private prophecy has to do with prophesying outside the constraints of meetings and the accountability of leadership. Prophets must earn the right to minister into people’s lives. If they are living in a godly fashion and are seeking to behave responsibly, they should have no fear of accountability. We should be wary of receiving private prophecies from individuals who do not seek to come under any spiritual authority.
Three characteristics of personal prophecy
1. Incomplete – a prophecy gives a small insight into God’s will for our lives. God only reveals what we need to know in order to do His will in that particular time and place. Prophecies may give us positive highlights about our future but be silent on the pitfalls we may encounter. Prophets know and prophesy in part (1 Cor 13:9). The issue of timing is an indicator where prophets may get it wrong. Joseph saw the fulfillment of his dreams after 20 odd years; going from pit to prison and then to palace.
2. Developmental – the Lord will never speak the totality of His heart to us in a single prophetic word. Rather, He speaks words that will give us focus for now and the immediate future. As we work within those prophecies and allow our lives to be encouraged and shaped by them, we can see that prophecy builds from one word to another. Example, different prophets saw different aspects of Jesus’ life (1st and 2nd coming and all in between). Also, Abraham received 5 prophecies concerning himself and the great nation that shall come from him (Gen 12-17).
3. Provisional – personal prophecy refers to the possibility, not the inevitability. If your response is poor and full of unbelief or your lifestyle is one that continually grieves the Holy Spirit, you may not expect those prophecies to be fulfilled. Example, King Saul had the kingship taken from him because of disobedience.
Responding to Prophecies
Assuming that the prophetic words have been judged and found to be sound, the next thing is for us to respond to them.
1. Acceptance and acknowledgement – We need to be listeners and not just hearers, to have teachable and open hearts, and we need to be sure that we are living in obedience to what God has previously spoken, because very often He’s not going to add to it. He’s not going to add disobedience to disobedience. All prophecy must receive a response even if it is simply one of thanksgiving and praise. Words that really mean something to us need us to go over them thoroughly at the first opportunity. Prophecy opens us up to the realm of faith.
2. Absorption and assimilation – Most prophecy is not self-fulfilling but we have responsibility in the matter. Our part is to commit ourselves to the application of the prophetic word. The advice of significant people will be of great benefit to us. We need others to help us judge and weigh the prophetic word and to correctly identify what the Lord is really saying. Words that bring joy, hope and excitement will also bring us into a time of testing. After the promise usually comes a problem, a set of circumstances that are designed to enable us to hold on to the words we have received.
3. Actualization and attainment – Faith and obedience are ongoing responses that we must make continually to the Lord. How we respond to prophecy dictates what will happen to the word; will it be fulfilled or discarded?
a) Moral Imperative: Between the prophecy and its fulfillment, the Holy Spirit will be dealing with our character. The Lord will likely test you in an effort to bring to death many character flaws you had no idea you had. We must live in alignment with His revealed Word or covenant to us. Case in point: Moses.
And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the LORD met him and sought to kill him. 25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses’ feet, and said, “Surely you are a husband of blood to me!” 26 So He let him go. Then she said, “You are a husband of blood!” – because of the circumcision. Ex 4:24-26 NKJ
Moses had received prophecy regarding his role as the deliverer of Israel from the Egyptian bondage and the promise of Canaan as the Promised Land. In this passage, we see that Moses had sinned against God by not having his son circumcised according to the covenant God enacted with Abraham. In his disobedience, Moses had broken faith with God. Even though he had a wonderful prophecy and a purpose, he was still in opposition to God because he had not obeyed the revealed Word!
b) Prayer Agenda: Prophecy will provide us with an agenda for prayer and action (1 Tim 1:18-19). Jonah was sent to the city of Nineveh to prophesy its destruction in 40 days due to its wickedness. But the city repented through prayer and fasting and God relented on the punishment (Read Jon 3:7-9).
c) Through faith and patience, we will inherit what God has promised (Read Heb 6:11-12). Example of Joseph.
Cling on to the prophetic words God has spoken to you for it shall surely come to past in God's good timing (Hab 2:3).
Friday, July 26, 2013
Of Jars and Glory
This is part of the message shared at last Saturday's service.
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Cor 4:6-7 NIV
It was customary to conceal treasure in clay jars, so as not to attract attention eg. the Dead Sea scrolls were found in clay jars.
What is this treasure Paul is talking about?
It is the gospel light and the power of the Holy Spirit residing within believers.
But God chose to dwell in this tabernacle made of clay (human body) so that His glory can be revealed through us. We worship the God of glory. Glory has to do with great beauty, magnificence and splendor.
The manifestation of God’s glory was often seen in a cloud in OT times:
Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Ex 40:34-35 NIV
When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled his temple. 1 Kg 8:10-11 NIV
In the NT time, God’s glory is seen in Jesus and reflected in the church:
Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light ... While he (Peter) was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” Mt 17:1-2,5
And we all, who with unveiled faces reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Cor 3:18 NIV
Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? 1 Cor 6:19 NIV
Why would God choose to inhabit man? God chose the weak things of the world to demonstrate his glory so that man has no excuse to boast.
Why our bodies are jars of clay:
1. Subject to sickness, deterioration & death – Paul’s torn in the flesh
… in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor 12:7-9 NIV
The physical condition and attacks from his enemy did not keep Paul from fulfilling his call to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. It was to keep him humble before the Lord. Likewise, whatever our physical condition, we can still shine for Christ.
2. Subject to carnal inclinations – the impulsiveness of James and John, sons of thunder
When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them. Lk 9:54-55 NIV
Jesus and his disciples were heading towards Jerusalem to observe the Jewish feasts. It was a three day journey from Galilee to Jerusalem. The Samaritans refused overnight shelter for the pilgrims. Alluding to what Elijah did when he called down fire to consume the soldiers, James and John wanted to do the same. The received a rebuke from the Lord.
Don’t be too quick to accuse James & John for their behavior. If we reflect deeply, we are often guilty of it when things don’t go our way. We will lash out at those in the way, displaying our baser instincts such as outbursts of anger, selfish ambition and jealousy - some of the works of the flesh mentioned by Paul in Gal 5. Can we still do the Lord’s work if we fail to bring our carnality into Christ’s subjection? Yes certainly. But the Lord will continue to refine us through the Holy Spirit to transform us.
3. Subject to disappointment and disillusionment – John the Baptist had of Jesus
John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” Lk 7:18-19 NIV
We are emotional beings subject to the vicissitudes of life. We get hurt or disappointed easily, especially if our expectations of others are not met. We can be disappointed with people or God. Here we see John the Baptist getting disillusioned with Jesus. Probably, his expectation of Jesus as the savior of the world was to deliver him out of prison. Jesus did not deliver him out of prison; in fact John remained in prison until his death. Jesus commended John as the greatest among those born of women. That’s how God looks at us (He never forgets the work we’ve done for Him) even when we are at our lowest; isn’t it amazing!
Jesus’ reponse: “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” Lk 7:22-23 NKJ
Don’t get offended by the way God works. His ways are not our ways. Jesus points John to the works He’s been doing, namely, healing and evangelism. That’s how God’s glory is revealed – through healed, saved and restored lives! And we are to continue being the incarnation of Christ by doing His work.
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Hab 2:14 NIV
How is God’s glory to fill the whole earth? In as much as His children shine for Him wherever they may be. We all carry the glory of the Lord in jars of clay; imperfect though we may be, God still delights to use us. However, there is a price to pay if we desire to be a vessel of honour for the Lord. This is where I turn to another metaphor used by Paul.
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 2 Tim 2:20-21 NKJ
In the house of the great King, only gold and silver will suffice to reflect God’s glory. All others will not do. To be a vessel of honour, we need to cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles flesh and spirit.
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal 5:19-21 NASB
Church revival begins with each one of us forsaking sin and drawing near to God in worship and communion. As we listen, we would be instructed as to what to do. Do you want to be a vessel of honour? Then do what God says. When we obey God’s word, God’s glory will be manifested in our lives, not just by our words but our actions as well.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Walking by Faith
This is an except of the message I spoke during a Saturday's service last month in church.
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Cor 5:7 (NKJ)
Our church motto is Forward in Faith. And rightly so, as we have been moving ahead through faith in God to see the realisation of the church building and its subsequent expansion without borrowing any money from financial institutions.
Faith makes God possibilities available to mankind.
“ …with God all things are possible.” Mt 19:26 (NKJ)
“ …all things are possible to him who believes.” Mk 9:23 (NKJ)
The thing that connects us to the eternal world is faith. The world says, “Seeing is believing.” But God says
“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Jn 20:29 (NKJ)
“Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” Jn 11:40 (NKJ)
We all begin our journey of faith through the various God-encounters in life, culminating in our conversion experience. Some of the God-encounters could be the following:
· Influence of family members, friends, relatives or even strangers (to attend church or Christian gatherings); I’m heartened by the wonderful testimony and work of Sis Esther who spoke to 3 persons recently, inviting them to church meetings and they came!
· Being placed in a mission school; my first encounter with Jesus was in a Christian Brother School
How did we exercise our faith? We believed in the promises of God as found in His Word concerning salvation and eternal life such as John 3:16 and Rom 6:23. It is that same level of simple trust in God and His Word that will enable us to grow in our faith walk. We have to overcome our old nature of being dependent on sight
Young children, by virtue of the fact that they have just been implanted the spirit of life by God, bears the imprint of God in their lives. That is why Jesus said that whoever does not receive the kingdom of God
In our journey of faith, our trust in God is often tested by time and trial/tribulation. They are God’s instruments to build faith & character in us. The wise man, Solomon, tells his son to
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Pr 3:5-6 (NIV)
Trust is an attitude of the heart that submits to God’s ways. The mind (sight) is often impatient and takes over to override what God has spoken. This can be seen in Abram and Sarai, where the test of time was used to mould and stretch their faith. Mind you, Abram already believed God when God showed him the stars of heaven and said that his descendants shall be as plentiful as them.
Then the word of the Lord came to him (Abram): ‘This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.’ Gen 15:4 (NIV)
After a period of anxious waiting, Sarai persuaded Abram to have children through her maid, Hagar (Gen 16). Through human understanding, the Arab nations were brought forth, which resulted in the perpetual conflict we see in the Middle East since time immemorial. It took another 14 years since the birth of Ishmael before Isaac came. We see that Abram’s straight path became crooked; it became a valley for Sarai to grapple with, especially in contending with her slave Hagar who despised her when she got pregnant.
The other test of faith is the trial/tribulation that comes to our life. It can be broadly categorized into 3 big areas: health, possessions and relationships.
Sickness and ill health is an avenue for us to stretch our faith in God to believe Him for healing. We have to remember that God also uses medical practitioners to bring healing/health to our bodies. Sometimes God chooses not to heal some so that we can empathise with others and be a blessing to them or to keep us humble. Case in point: Paul’s thorn in the flesh; Joni Eareckson (quadriplegic) & Nick Vujicic (born w/o limbs). Our body is but a jar of clay where the Spirit of God uses to work his love and wonders amongst men. If we are not healed physically this side of heaven, we will be on the other side. In the meantime, our real person, the spirit man, can speak life to others. Be a river that flows, not a reservoir that hoards.
There was period in my life, during my 20th birthday, when I was hospitalized due to the passing of black stools. I became anemic and had fainting spells. My aunt came to pray for me during lunch time almost everyday. She prayed in tongues for my healing. Despite being subjected to a battery of tests, the doctor couldn’t find the cause of the bleeding. I was healed after about a week’s stay in the hospital. Since then, I have never had a similar occurrence. My eyes were opened to the healing ministry Jesus brings.
Where possession is concerned, I have in mind assets and loved ones; the Bible tells us that we cannot serve both God and mammon (Mt 6:24). They have the power to draw us away from the simplicity of devotion to God. We can be busy making ends meet (not enough) or earning our next million (not satisfied). The next test that Abraham faced was to offer up his only son Isaac on the altar of sacrifice. You could well imagine what went through Abraham’s head when the word was given. However, Abraham passed the test with flying colours. Let’s read the commentary on Abraham by the writer to the book of Hebrews (11:17-19 KJV):
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.
“Just the very act of letting go of money or some other treasure, does something within us. It destroys the demon god.” Richard Foster
Jesus said that thief comes to steal, kill and destroy (Jn 10:10a) ie. our faith in God.
Don’t allow possessions to side-tracked you from the straight path of having intimacy with God. The camp speaker says that the longer we walk with God there is a constant need to get our wheels realigned.
Relationships or people can test our faith like no one could. Abraham did not deal rightly with king Abimelech when he lied to him that Sarah was his sister. Many have been disappointed by Christians; the way they behave and speak. This has to do with giving and receiving offences. Because of bad experiences, some stay away from joining an oikos or move to another church. Sure, we tell people not to look at men because they’re fallible; but not everyone is made of Teflon material. When some get hurt, they hurt badly. What this means is that we all have to make it our goal to grow towards spiritual maturity and not let carnality have the better of us.
The apostle Paul says, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” 1 Cor 11:1 (NKJV). He also mentions that “..you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.” 2 Cor 3:3 (NKJV)
How is your faith walk? There are many things in life that will prevent us from walking the straight and narrow path God has destined for us. Our paths may be crooked, strewn with obstacles/mountains along the way and there are also deep ravines or valleys we are encountering. But God has promised:
“I will go before you and make the crooked places straight ..” Is 45:2
The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert
A highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted
And every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth.” Is 40:3-4 (NKJV)
“Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert
A highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted
And every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth.” Is 40:3-4 (NKJV)
In the near Middle Eastern culture, to prepare for a monarch’s visit, great lengths have to be taken to make a smooth passage to welcome his entourage.
God is in the business of
· Lifting every valley: depression & low points in your life
· Leveling every mountain: humbling you & clearing roadblocks in your life
· Straightening your crooked paths: bringing you back to the goal of having intimacy with Him
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