Weeks 23 & 24 (08) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

Recently God opened another door for me in market place ministry. I joined the Committee of The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers UK Chapter and I was given the task to organise this year's Dragon Boat team. The London Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival is an annual event sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London. By the 8th June, The Dragon Boat Day, I managed to recruit a team of 21 paddlers and one drummer, mostly engineers plus three of our church members.

There were 44 teams entered this year, including 3 club teams, the "professionals". Each team had 3 heats, with the best 8 entering the Final. All our members were novices, with only a few who had done it before. With just one practice under our belt, a top ten finish would have been an amazing result.

I understand the secret of dragon boat racing (involving 16 paddlers) is synergy, not power. 16 paddlers working in unison would generate more speed than 16 powerful paddlers who are not. Thats what I tried to work on and encourage in my briefing before each heat. The result was an excellent team spirit (see pic. attached).

The race was a 250m dash. Each heat was a 4 boat race. We won the first heat comfortably with 1 min. 18 sec.. Our 2nd heat improved by 4 sec., beaten only by a club team. We won the 3rd heat again with 1 min. 18 sec.. Amazingly, our best time of 1 min. 14 sec. got us into the Final. Although we did not do well in the Final, because by then we were all totally exhausted, it was incredible that we got into the Final nonetheless and I give all the glory to God!

Through this event, we have learnt a valuable lesson on the power of synergy. We have also made more than 20 new friends. We are working on activities to reach out to them. I pray and hope that all of them will be saved one day!

One other thing that surprised me was how God sustained me in the 4 races. I only felt the strain the next day. I echo what the psalmist says in Ps.71. 'In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame......Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone......Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.' [Ps 71:1-2,9-10,18 NIV] Yes, I will continue to declare God's power and might to all who are to come!

It is most reassuring to know that 'God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?...." No misfortune is seen in Jacob, no misery observed in Israel. The LORD their God is with them......God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox.' [Num 23:18-26 NIV] God's people are blessed people. No one can curse whom God has blessed!

As we build God's church, let us continue to pray to God like Paul did 'that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ..... proclaim it clearly......Be wise in the way......act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let....conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that......may know how to answer everyone.' [Col 4:2-6 NIV]

'Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? [Prov 30:2-9 NIV] You are blessed because you know the answers and you believe. :o)

Amen!

Weeks 21 & 22 (08) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

When I was in Kota Kinabalu for the Leaders Conference, I learnt about the Florida Outpouring. Through an unusual man by the name of Todd Bentley, God poured out His Spirit and His power and many good things appeared to have happened.

I have had a look at Todd Bentley's website. Whilst I am encouraged by the miraculous healings taking place, I am troubled by the other manifestations including a variety of animal sounds and movements. I do not deny that it could be a move of God, but I also know that every move of God would have a mixture of spirits which require discernment and regulation.

During the Empowerment Meeting of 27th April in Hope London, I gave a prophecy that Hope Europe shall experience an abundant harvest in the next 7 years (2009 - 2015). I included certain conditions for it to happen. I sense that the timing is right for the Lord to show Himself in tangible ways in this spiritually dry land. These would include signs and wonders. But I also believe that God does not want us to have it too easy. It will be more like [Mark 16:20] 'Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.' It will involve great efforts on our part. It will involve hardwork in building His Church. Yes, keep up the good work brother Peter Troung. :o)

I also shared with my leaders that more and more, we need to step up our faith by dreaming and thinking imaginatively of God's might and glory. We have seen nothing yet!

I also believe that whilst our God is loving and joyful, in His presence, we should not be like revellers getting high on alcohol. When God moves, His people will rejoice in His presence with reverence and thankfulness. Our spirit will be heightened. It will be more like that in the Psalm 'Those living far away fear your wonders; where morning dawns and evening fades you call forth songs of joy. You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it. You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops. You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the desert overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness. The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing.' [Ps 65:8-13 NIV] Other signs would include prosperity and physical blessings.

When God moves, our understanding of God will be transformed. Our eyes will be opened. We will learn that God can do anything beyond our knowledge, including using a donkey to speak to Balaam. 'Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?" Balaam answered the donkey, "You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now." The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?" "No," he said. Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.' [Num 22:21-31 NIV]Come Holy Spirit!

Our desire for God to move should match that of a man in the desert longing for water. Our desire to know Christ and His power should mirror that of Apostle Paul's heart cry. '........ I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ......I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,' [Phil 3:1-21 NIV] When we are in God's presence, we share in His sufferings (in our service to Him) and His victory (resurrection power in advancing His Kingdom).

Whilst we wait upon God patiently for Him to move, we should also have the confidence that the future is in God hands. Events will unfold according to God's timing for '.....the LORD....directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases........The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD.' [Prov 21:1-3,31 NIV]

Amen!