I was in Utrecht last weekend ministering in Hope Utrecht. I was met at the airport by Albert Junior (Samuel) who gave me a very nice welcome (see pic.). I was surprised to see Tor & Wanda joining us in the Saturday pm session (see pic). They were in Holland for Wanda's Mum's 70th birthday. What a beautiful divine appointment. It was great to have this opportunity of fellowshipping with them!
God truly blessed us with a wonderful weekend. I praise the Lord for many new people which God has brought to the church. I met 11 of them and, amazingly, 6 of them came to the church through the Hope Utrecht website! I give thanks to God for His faithfulness to a faithful servant Albert and his dear wife Claire. God also bless them with 2 lovely children, Samuel and Salome. It gave me great joy to spend the weekend with them and the church people!
Albert joined Hope after attending a Hope conference in Asia. Hope Utrecht was one man in the beginning. Despite of the challenges of church planting in Europe, we can see the fruits in the life of Albert - a good job, a loving wife, 2 adorable children and a beautiful church family. Only God can make it possible!Despite of what most people think or say about our Lord Jesus in Europe, the psalmist reminded me that He is the Lord over this continent. "How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth! He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet........Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne." [Ps 47:1-9 NIV] Indeed, let us hold onto the promises that He is the King of all the earth and He reigns over the nations. We should continue to sing praises to Him until we see Jesus returning in triumph to fulfil these promises!In the natural, we may not seeing this happening in Europe yet. But in the spiritual, the victory is won.
God is looking for a people who will trust and obey. "'Do not make idols or set up an image......in your land to bow down before it. I am the LORD your God......'If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit......You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you. Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand.......'I will look on you with favour and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you.......I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. I am the LORD your God,......I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.'" [Lev 26:1-13 NIV]
When we trust and obey, we will see our enemies defeated and experience God's favours in our lives. We can walk with heads held high!This is what faith is all about. "Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands........For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we....wish....to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight."[2 Cor 5:1-10 NIV]
Our confidence comes from trusing and obeying a God who is good, righteous and just. "For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones." [Prov 2:6-12, 20-22 NIV]
Amen and amen!
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