Weeks 29 & 30 (09) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

The high number of deaths and increased injury rates in the war in Afghanistan has focused the minds of the British public recently. British forces suffered their highest injury rate this month since the mission began in 2001, new Ministry of Defence figures show. A total of 57 UK troops were wounded in action in the first two weeks of July alone, compared with 46 in the whole of June and 24 in May. Of the injuries in the first 15 days of July, 16 service personnel were seriously or very seriously wounded. July has also seen the most deaths - some 22 - since operations began.

The rise in injuries and deaths came as coalition forces completed the first phase of their heaviest offensive yet - Operation Panther's Claw - against the Taliban ahead of elections on 20 August.

Along with 38 UK personnel who were admitted to field hospitals suffering from disease or a non-battle injury in the first two weeks in July, there have now been some 2,650 casualties in Afghanistan since the start of MoD records in 2006.

A military surgeon told the BBC that treating the dying and wounded resulting from Operation Panther's Claw had proved a "very challenging" time for army medical teams. Lt Col Nigel Tai said: "We have certainly seen a surge in casualties. It is difficult to see young, fit guys who may have to have multiple amputations. "We try to salvage limbs, but at the same time we have to preserve life."

A spokesman for the Stop the War campaign said government assertions about the success of anti-Taliban operations were rendered "absurd" by the rising casualty figures. "The British military under-estimated the strength of the Taliban forces opposing them when they launched this offensive," he said. "These figures show just how unwinnable this war is."

The war in Afghanistan is one piece of the million pieces of puzzles that form the end-time picture.

The Bible predicts that ‘You will hear of wars and rumours of wars…..Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ……."Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come’ [Matt. 24:6-14 NIV]. It is not a time to get worried. It is a time to stand firm. It is a time to preach the gospel of the kingdom in the whole world.

We may not understand a lot of things that are happening around us. Everything seems uncertain. But one thing is certain. God has promised a coming King in the line of David (Jesus Christ) and a coming Kingdom under Him that will endure forever. “…….I have found David my servant; with my sacred oil I have anointed him……I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure....... I will not take my love from him, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness. I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered. Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness-- and I will not lie to David--that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun; it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky." [Ps 89:19-37 NIV]

I am always fascinated by the anointing of God. It empowers us to do great things for God. All God’s servants who are successful are anointed. Elisha was given a double portion of anointing. Even touching the bones of his dead body caused a dead person to come back to life. “…...... Now Elisha was suffering from the illness from which he died……..Elisha died and was buried. Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man's body into Elisha's tomb. When the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet. [II Ki 13:14-21 NIV]. Wow, that was amazing anointing and power!

We also see God’s anointing in the 1st Century Church apostles. “In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, "Stand up on your feet!" At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in human form!" Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: "Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them……..” [Acts 14:8-18 NIV]. The key to note is they did not claim the glory to themselves but gave it all to God for their success.

The LORD is the source of our success, wisdom, prosperity and blessings. He alone is to be worshipped and adored and revered. “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed…..The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil. When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him……In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps……Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. [Prov 16:1,3,5-7,9,11,20 NIV]

Amen!

Weeks 27 & 28 (09) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

The 138th British Open Golf Championship drew to an amazing end today.

The Championship, one of the 4 majors in golf, is the equivalent of Wimbledon in tennis. 73 top golfers from around the world battled it out over 4 days on the link course at Turnberry, Scotland. Not only was the course layout, which is littered with sand bunkers, challenging. Players also had to contend with 20mph wind most of the time. Severe rough that lines the fairway added to the difficulties.

59 year old five-time winner Tom Watson almost had a fairy tale win before he bogeyed the last hole, ending in a play-off with fellow countryman Stewart Cink, who eventually won.

Cink was regarded as one of the outsiders for the Championship this week as the world number 33 had previously claimed only one top-10 finish at the British Open while having just five wins in his entire career. But he showed gritty determination on the final day to secure an unlikely victory on Sunday evening.

"I'm a little intimidated by this piece of hardware," said Cink upon receiving the Claret Jug (the British Open trophy). "There are a lot of emotions running through my mind and my heart and I'm just proud to be here with this." He went on to thank his family and his wife, who brought him to faith in Jesus and he gave glory to God for the win.

It always blesses my heart to see a top sports person dedicating his or her win to ones Christian faith and to God. It is a great testimony and a great example for us to follow, giving glory to God for all our successes in life.

Indeed it is God who can grant us success in what we do. It is God who withholds or releases blessings as we deserve. We need to continue to cry out to God and seek His forgiveness of the sins of those who have gone before us, and we will see the fortunes of nations being turned around. We will see God’s blessings in those nations who repent. “Do not hold against us the sins of the fathers; may your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need. Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name's sake. Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" Before our eyes, make known among the nations……..Pay back into the laps of our neighbors seven times the reproach they have hurled at you, O Lord. Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise. [Ps 79:8-13 NIV]

God is sovereign. He can bring down and establish kingdoms. He can use a child to lead a nation that honours Him. God used Jehoiada, a high priest of Judah, to establish the kingship of Joash, a 7 year old. But the people must turn away from worshipping idols and worship only the true God “In the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of units of a hundred, the Carites and the guards and had them brought to him at the temple of the LORD. He made a covenant with them and put them under oath at the temple of the LORD. Then he showed them the king's son….. Jehoiada then made a covenant between the LORD and the king and people that they would be the LORD's people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people. All the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. Then Jehoiada the priest posted guards at the temple of the LORD. He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards and all the people of the land, and together they brought the king down from the temple of the LORD and went into the palace, entering by way of the gate of the guards. The king then took his place on the royal throne, and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the palace. Joash was seven years old when he began to reign. [II Ki 11:1-2,4,15-21 NIV]

If God can turn a sinner like Paul (known as Saul), who persecuted many Christians before his met God on the road to Damascus, into one of the great apostles, God can do great things through any of us. “Saul….went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."…For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. [Acts 9:1-16 NIV]

God is no respecter of mockers, who are many in the world today. Let us be wise instead, because “Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. ‘The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.’" [Prov 9:9-12 NIV]

Amen!

Weeks 25 & 26 (09) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

Whether one believes in God or not, there is in each of us a heart of worship. When God is not worshipped, something else takes His place.

There were tens of thousands of worshippers in Glastonbury last week, a Festival that takes place annually in a beautiful location - 900 acres in the Vale of Avalon, Somerset, England. It is an area steeped in symbolism, mythology and religious traditions dating back many hundreds of years. It's where King Arthur may be buried.

The event coincided with the unexpected death of Michael Jackson on 25th June. His last public appearance was to announce a series of 50 sold-out concerts in the Millennium Dome (O2). The news of his death was broadcasted around the world and it was bigger than the election of US President Barack Obama.

At a time of global recession, when there is hardly any good news, people find inspiration and hope in music. Last night musician Jarvis Cocker joined the panel of mostly politicians at David Dimbleby’s Question Time programme. Whilst the politicians were one by one hackled by the audience, the musician’s rather no-brainer answers were warmly applauded. Musicians and their music seem to have greater appeal to people throughout the ages.

Talking about music, Hillsong Church London is one of the fastest growing churches in London and it is not difficult to understand why, although a large part of the growth is church membership transfer. The truth is that even very spiritual Christians enjoy good music and good music seems to enhance worship. Of course we have to be careful about whom we are worshipping.

The one we worship is the Creator of the Universe. He is also the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. “We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near; men tell of your wonderful deeds. You say, "I choose the appointed time; it is I who judge uprightly. When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm. To the arrogant I say, 'Boast no more,' and to the wicked, 'Do not lift up your horns. Do not lift your horns against heaven; do not speak with outstretched neck.' No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt a man. But it is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another…….As for me, I will declare this forever; I will sing praise to the God of Jacob. [Ps 75:1-10 NIV]

The one we worship is the God of Elisha, through Whom, Elisha performed many miracles. He even made an iron axhead float. “….. As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. "Oh, my lord," he cried out, "it was borrowed!" The man of God asked, "Where did it fall?" When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float. "Lift it out," he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it. [II Ki 6:1-7 NIV]

The one we worship is the God of Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Son came to earth as man some 2000 years ago and died at the hands of men. “…..'You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him---'" [Acts 7:44-53 NIV]

The one we worship is the everlasting God. He is from eternity to eternity. He says “I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began. When there were no oceans, I was given birth, when there were no springs abounding with water; before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, before he made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world. I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth. Then I was the craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind……Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death." [Prov 8:23-36 NIV]

Amen!