God's Thoughts

Two things I would like to share about God's thoughts.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."   Is 55:8-9 NIV.

God's thinking is definitely much higher than ours.  We may think that we know a lot or that the world in the last few decades has accumulated a lot more knowledge than the past centuries combined, well they certainly cannot surpass the knowledge God has.  In fact, not just knowledge per se, but also the manner of thinking is also different.  The way humans think is very much different from the way God thinks.  Over on this side of heaven, we do not have full knowledge and understanding as to how end time prophecies will come to pass. For instance, there are many different interpretations or schools of thought with regard to the second coming of Christ.   Some say He will come before the tribulation, while others in the middle and yet others after the tribulation.  The Bible correctly tells us that we know in part and we prophesy in part (1 Cor 13:9).  The various end time prophecies found in the Bible may not tell us the whole picture.

Just as our existence on earth is in two different environments - mother's womb and earth - so likewise when we die and are released into heaven, we would experience a totally different environment.  In the spirit realm, we could possibly fly like Jesus when He ascended to heaven.  Our thinking and understanding would also be changed when we meet with our Creator; the aha moment would come when we begin to understand the Scriptures from God's perspectives.  Someone has said that if we couldn't get along on earth, how can we get along in heaven?  Well, our thoughts and attitude toward one another would also be changed.  There would also be infinitely more things to know and understand.   The beauty and glory of heaven will certainly surpass that of earth.    

The second thing I want to mention is that God thinks a lot about us.
"How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!"  Ps 139:17 NIV

There are so many people on earth and yet God is interested in each one of us, especially His children.  It's like thinking everyday and every moment about our own children.  Well, that may be true during their formative years but as they grow older and have their own programmes and activities, it will become infrequent. Because God thinks of us, He also wants to communicate with us.  He has our future in His heart: "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jer 29:11 NIV.  This promise was spoken to the children of Israel when they were in Babylonian captivity, punished for their sins of rebellion and idolatry.

Even though we may go through difficult times, God will see us through if we put our hope and trust in Him. We may have gone astray from God, but like the father of the prodigal son, God longs eagerly for us to return back to Him. He thinks about us everyday and the moment He sees us coming back to Him in repentance, He runs toward us to welcome us home.  Let's heed the injunction of prophet Isaiah and return back to God this year.

"Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.  Let the wicked forsake their ways    and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon."  Is 55:6-7 NIV 

Blessed New Year 2014!

The message on the last Sunday of 2013 was on being empowered by God for 2014.  It was delivered by Dr Paul Ang.  I thought it was a timely message for the new year.  In summary, there are three points:
1.  Release the past to God - Joseph had a difficult past where he was ostracized by his brothers, thrown into the pit and then into prison before moving on into the palace.  God caused him to forget the past (Gen 41:51) and often times, there is a redemptive purpose for the unpleasant things that happen in our lives (Gen 50:20).

2. Maximise your presence - use whatever gift(s) God has bestowed on you for the good of others.  Joseph used his interpretative gift for good, which eventually elevated him to become the second in command in Egypt.  We have to sanctify ourselves, just like Joseph did, by not allowing temptations to have a grip on us. God is certainly a rewarder of those who seek after Him (Heb 11:6).

3. Believe God for a great future - the best is yet to be.  The prophet Haggai prophesied that the latter glory of God's house shall be greater than the former.  Indeed, with God all things are possible and all things are possible to them that believe.

The Bible tells us that love keeps no record of wrong (1 Cor 13:5).  This means we have to forgive the people who may have hurt us in 2013.  As we do so, we set ourselves free to journey into the new year unencumbered with any excess luggage.  We can then worship and serve God with a whole heart like David did when he confessed his sins to God (of adultery and murder).  God is not only interested in our service for Him in the new year but also the fruits we are to bear for Him - both of our own character and souls saved. Use the gifts and talents God has given to draw people closer to Him.  Where there are challenges ahead, believe that God can turn things around and cause things to work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28).  Love never fails and God is love!

Wishing you a blessed 2014!  

A tale of 2 mountains

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!

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. 

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).

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!

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.