Weeks 51 & 52 (08) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

As the year 2008 comes to an end, it is a time for reflection. It has been a very eventful year indeed in every way. The most dramatic event was certainly the global economic crisis since 15th September, when financial giant Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy. A lot of my related thoughts on End-times events have been shared in my regular fortnightly sharings in these past few months.

I truly sense and believe that we are at the threshold of a breakthrough for the Gospel in the hardest grounds of the world including Europe, where the enemy is strongest. The keys of victory shared in my last sharing are therefore very significant!

I emphasised that the most important key is HOLINESS - personal holiness and holiness in the Church. God will purge the Church of evil and wickedness before He would use her as His instrument to advance God's Kingdom and His plan of salvation any where in the world.

We have started renovating our house of 10 years since about 3 weeks ago. It is amazing how filthy the house can get in 10 years. A lot of dirt and dust showed up when the desks, wardrobes etc. are moved to make room for new paints on the walls and new floorings (see pics). The house cleansing/renovation is kind of prophetic, comparing to God cleansing His House and making it beautiful before His return!

Holiness starts with the "fear of the Lord". When we are determined to have nothing to do with evil and wickedness, and cry out to God for help, He will hear our prayers and protect us. "O LORD, I call to you; come quickly to me. Hear my voice when I call to you ....... Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers......Let a righteous man strike me-- it is a kindness; let him rebuke me-- it is oil on my head.......Yet my prayer is ever against the deeds of evildoers....... my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign LORD; in you I take refuge-- do not give me over to death. Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, from the traps set by evildoers. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety." [Ps. 141:1-10]

There will come a time when we have to decide which God to follow - the god of the world or the God of the Bible. Ruth has set us a very good example. ".......said Naomi, "your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her. But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." [Ruth 1:14-17 NIV] She was determined to follow the true God despite of possible loss of benefits.

Jesus did not mince words when it comes to sinful or wicked men who live in secrecy or darkness. Above all, have no fear of the devil who can only kill the body. "So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known......Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell......Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven." [Matt 10:26-34 NIV] Christians who would not acknowledge our Father in heaven before men watch out. Jesus will disown them before the Father!

Let us be wise and truthful in how we build God's Church. Because " by wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures......" [Prov 24:3-4 NIV] Let us warn our brothers who are sinning and rescue them before God's judgement. God will not forgive us if we pretend to be innocent. "Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?" [Prov 24:3-4,11-12 NIV]

Amen!

WISHING YOU AND FAMILY A WONDERFUL AND FRUITFUL NEW YEAR IN THE LORD!

Weeks 49 & 50 (08) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

I recently met up with the leaders in Hope UK in a Retreat to plan for 2009 and beyond. Based on a number of prophsies I gave in the last 3 years, I felt the Lord is preparing us for a time of fighting in the coming 7 years, a bit like the time when God commanded Joshua and the Israelites to enter and take posession of the promised land. I prayerfully received 7 keys which I believe are essential for victory. They are represented by the 7 letters of the word PRAYERS:

1) Prayers and intercessions without strife
2) Repentance (consciousness of sin)
3) Alertness in spiritual warfare
4) Yielding to God (humility)
5) Empowered in service (work hard & smart under God's anointing)
6) Reconciliation in the Body (unity in God's family)
7) Sanctification (personal holiness)

The last key is probably the most important of all, because our God is holy. God cannot bless people who do not walk in holiness. It is not going to be easy, but we must strive for it under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Without God's blessings, everything we do will be in vain. "Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who minister by night in the house of the LORD. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD. May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion." [Ps 134:1-3 NIV] May the Maker of heaven and earth bless us indeed.

When Samson was walking in holiness, God blessed him with great success against his enemy. "As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands. Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men........Because he was very thirsty, he cried out to the LORD, "You have given your servant this great victory. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?" Then God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his strength returned and he revived....." [Judg 15:14-20 NIV] God even supernaturally provided him with water when he was thirsty!

God will also supernaturally protect us when we are in His plan, in the same way He protected child Jesus. "........an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod..........When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi." [Matt 2:13-18 NIV] God will deliver us one step ahead of the enemy's attack. He will do the same to the Church in the days to come!

We are living in the most exciting time of the entire history of mankind. For those who are commited to God's ultimate plan of building His Church, God will grant them success in everything they do. "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. The LORD works out everything for his own ends........When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him." [Prov 16:1,3-7,9,11,20,33 NIV]

Amen!

Weeks 47 & 48 (08) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

When I witness the dawn of a new era in the political and economic world, I also sense the dawn of a new era in God's Kingdom. The natural is reflecting the spiritual. Whilst the changing world prepares the way for final chapter of the kingdom of darkness on earth, something is being planned in the Heavenly Court that will match the final outcome. There is a quickening in my spirit that God is positioning the Church for the final battle.

We had a very good Hope Europe Leaders Conference last week in Berlin. There was a spirit of excitement in the air. There was a sense of great expectation that God is beginning to do a great work in this continent. I am watching eagerly God's next move.:o)

One story in the Bible came to my mind. It was Passion Week - the final week that Jesus fulfilled His mission on earth. The first thing that Jesus did after the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem was to cleanse the temple. I believe that will also be God's first act in the final chapter of the Church age. God will prepare His Church holy and blameless, ready for Christ's return.

The closer we move towards the End, the more we can expect the devil working extra hard to destroy our faith. We need to be extra vigilant. One way is to appreciate our gift of salvation more."When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." [Ps 126:1-6 NIV] Indeed our Lord has done great things for us. Let us treasure them and allow the nations to witness how great our God is through us!

Time and time again I see how God allowed the enemy to punish His people who did evil in His eyes. "Once again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and because they did this evil the LORD gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel. Getting the Ammonites and Amalekites to join him, Eglon came and attacked Israel, and they took possession of the City of Palms. The Israelites were subject to Eglon king of Moab for eighteen years." [Judg 3:12-15,28-30 NIV] It is a time for God's people to win the battles against the enemy. Let us make sure that God is on our side by not doing evil in the eyes of God!

[Rev. 15] pictures a people who have overcome the enemy in the final battle. "......I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: "Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed." [Rev 15:1-8 NIV] They fear God alone and bring Him glory, because God is holy.

One powerful weapon the devil will use to destroy Christians and their marriages is sexual immorality. The Word of God is clear. "Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?.....So is he who sleeps with another man's wife.....a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself. Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away...." [Prov 6:27-35 NIV] Let us be very careful and be very afraid at the same time.

Amen!

Weeks 45 & 46 (08) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

For the first time in the history of mankind, the world's richest nations sat down with emerging yet economically important nations around the same table to find a way forward to solve the world financial problem. The G20 nations met on the 14th & 15th November in the Summit on Financial Markets and The World Economy to work out what British Prime Minister Gordon Brown termed a "Route Map" to economic recovery. The G20 group of countries consists of 19 leading industrialised and developing countries, as well as the European Union. This will be the final act of world leadership of President George Bush [see pic. 1] before the transfer of power to Senator Barack Obama on the 20th Jan. 2009.

Key issues agreed by world leaders at this summit included, among others:
1) reform of international financial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund
2) an agreement by the end of 2008, leading to a successful global free-trade deal
3) asking finance ministers to draw-up a list of financial institutions whose collapse would endanger the global economic system
4) strengthening countries' financial regulatory regimes

This is the first of a series of global co-operation and regulatory events that will unfold in the End-Time.

On the same day (14th Nov.), Prince Charles turned 60 [see pic. 2]. . He was also born in the same year as the rebirth of the Nation of Israel and yours truly. The difference is that he was born a prince and I was born a pauper (but I am now a prince of the Heavenly King :o)). I believe he will play a very significant role in the End-Time drama!

I have been preaching from the Book of [1 Peter], preparing our people to be strong and ready to face the End-Time challenges. In this depressing time, it is important to hold our heads high, looking to God instead of hanging our heads low. Indeed, "I lift up my eyes to the hills.....My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you-- the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." [Ps 121:1-8 NIV]

As Joshua was coming to the end of his life, he encouraged the Israelites to hold fast to God. "I am old and well advanced in years. You yourselves have seen everything the LORD your God has done to all these nations for your sake; it was the LORD your God who fought for you.......The LORD your God himself will drive them out.......before you, and you will take possession of their land, as the LORD your God promised you. 'Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. Do not associate.......do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. But you are to hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have until now." [Josh 23:1-8 NIV] I would encourage you to do the same, although I am by no means coming to the end of my earthly life yet :o).

We are living in exciting times. God is trying to get our attention. "...... a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short." [Rev 12:10-12 NIV] We may not hear a loud voice in heaven, you can be sure that the devil is very angry and is playing out its last days on earth.

"My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding........then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. 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 2:1-15 NIV]

Amen & amen!

Weeks 43 & 44 (08) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

The Americans have chosen their new President. A new era has dawned in the USA and in the world. It signals a change that will bring the End that much closer.

The election of an African-American Senator Barack Obama as the 44th President of the USA will bring a change to an America that has become very unpopular in the world community in recent years. It sets the scene for greater international co-operation in foreign, economic and, may I add, religious policies. America will continue to lead the western world, but it will be in partnership and not in isolation. It prepares the world for working closer together against radicalism and pave the way for a period of world peace, which will ultimately lead to a One-World Government and a One-World Religion in the years ahead.

I know in my heart that the true mover & shaker of the world is the Lord Himself. "He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases" [Prov 21:1]. I sense in my spirit that the Lord is creating a window of opportunities for the nations to be more open to Christianity and for the Church to reach out to all - Muslims, Hindus, Atheists, Gays, Greens..............& finally the Jews, and dispel the myths and lies about our God's true nature in Christ Jesus, which is righteousness and justice. God loves sinners, but not their sins, which include pride and unbelief.

The biggest challenge for the Church in the years ahead is balancing grace and truth, extending our hands to all people, yet standing firm on the Christian faith that salvation is found in Jesus ALONE [Acts 4:12]. There will be pressure for the Church to conform to an all-faith Religion, but only those who stand firm till the end will be saved [Matt. 10:12].

This passage in Ps. 119 reflects my heart and aspiration towards God. "I have done what is righteous and just; do not leave me to my oppressors. Ensure your servant's well-being; let not the arrogant oppress me. My eyes fail, looking for your salvation, looking for your righteous promise.......I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes. It is time for you to act, O LORD; your law is being broken. Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold, and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path." [Ps 119:121-128 NIV]

I like to think of myself as the 21st century Caleb because his life inspires me. "....Caleb...said...."You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions,.....I....followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly......Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then......" [Josh 14:6-12 NIV] I wish I could still be fighting fit (in spirit) and strong in the Lord at 85. :o)

I firmly believe that the End-time Church will be an overcoming church, overcoming the world pressure to conform. The Church must be sensitive to God's voice and open to His rebuke and discipline at a time such as this. "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." [Rev 3:19-22 NIV]

Let us heed the Lord's exhortation that "A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed-- without remedy......A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor." [Prov 29:1,23 NIV]

Amen!

Weeks 41 & 42 (08) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

I have always enjoyed following the major news around the world, in order to discern where the world is heading. But these days it is mostly the same boring stuff - the world's financial crisis and global share markets going up and down like a yo-yo, despite Governments of the world's major economies doing everything possible to stem it. I guess this will continue until some kind of world system is set up to regulate financial & banking practices that every nation will have to subscribe to.

I did come across a piece of news that I found amusing. The news was about an English double-glazing salesman remarrying his first wife whom he divorced 20 years ago. They had since 4 other marriages between them, the men 3 and the woman 1. The man said it took him all these while to figure out that she was the one!

We do become undecisive sometimes with our choices, changing our mind on stuffs like which tie or shirt or jacket to wear. But taking 3 other marriages to find out that the first choice was right is......hmmm.....!!! However, I am kind of happy for the man because God's Word does encourage us to "rejoice in the wife of our youth" , implying the first wife. :o)

Indeed there is so much wisdom in God's Word. As a pastor, I know it is every pastor's dream to have a church which like their pastor. Oops, the secret is out! But it is true. And God's Word gives me insight in realising this dream. It says "May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word.......May those who fear you turn to me, those who understand your statutes." [Ps 119:73-80 NIV] The answer is simple - a church which respect God will also respect their pastor who obeys God's Word. Elementary. :o)

God's Word not only teaches us God's wisdom, it also reminds us of God's power. One of the greatest miracles recorded in the Bible besides Jesus' resurrection is God stopping the sun and the moon from going down on a day when Joshua and his men were fighting the Amorites. "So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best fighting men. The LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you." .........On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel: "O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon." So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies........There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a man......" [Josh 10:7-14 NIV] It is interesting to note Joshua's confidence in God's promises and faith in his prayer. Powerful stuff!

God's Word is absolutely key to our survival as a Christ follower. Because "Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for.......Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son." [II Jn 1:7-11 NIV]

God's Word also builds our trust in God. "Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.....The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful........Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise......for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the LORD..........." [Prov 22:2,4,12,17-19 NIV]

AMEN!

Weeks 39 & 40 (08) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

As the "financial earthquake" referred to in my last e-mail continues to shake the world, I am seeing a glimpse of [Rev 18:10-15 NIV] "......they will stand far off and cry:'Woe! Woe, O great city, O Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has come!' The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes any more........The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment........". I do so with reverence in my heart!

The financial crisis that started in America has now become global [Pic shows US National Debt at over $9 trillions]. It has led to governments of large economies having to work closer together in finding ways to stem the crisis. A day after seven central banks around the world cut interest rates in a co-ordinated effort to calm financial markets, the International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Khan urged countries to act "quickly, forcefully, and co-operatively" to solve the global economic problems. The IMF chief said further co-ordinated action was necessary. "All kinds of policy co-operation are to be commended," he said. He also issued a stark warning against countries acting unilaterally to fight the crisis, referring to recent isolated moves by certain European Union member countries!

Today, finance ministers from the Group of Seven most industrialised nations - the US, Japan, Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Canada - are gathering in Washington to address the global crisis. In addition to that meeting, US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is going to meet the G20 nations, which include major economies like Russia, China and India. Talks will also be held at the International Monetary Fund in the US capital over the weekend.

As I reflect on the Book of Revelation, I was pondering about the timing of a one-world government [Rev 17]. I can see signs of an embryonic one-world government, at least in financial policies, coming into being. Eventually, we will also see the establisment of a one-world religion [Rev 13]. The two will work in tandem, paving the way for the Anti-Christ.

It is crucial time to discern our God's leading and ask Him to "Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared." [Ps 119:33-40 NIV]

The "ark of the covenant" that symbolised God's presence was key in leading the Israelites. "This is how you will know that the living God is among you.......See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you........And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD-- the Lord of all the earth-- set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.......So the people crossed over opposite Jericho." [Josh 3:9-16 NIV] As the Israelite needed God to help them crossing the Jordan in the dry and entering the promised land, the Church will need the guidance of the Holy Spirit to chart our way ahead, giving us wisdom in building His Church at this time. We will need God's help in dealing with the one-world religious system that is to come. Only God can preserve the Church of Jesus Christ!

Jesus warned about the end of the age by asking His followers to "..... keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." Apostle Peter said about the last days that "........ scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised?........But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness." [2 Pet 3:3-7,10-13 NIV]

"A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth. A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered." [Prov 17:24,27 NIV] Yes Lord, grant us your wisdom, your knowledge and your understanding that we may discern the time we are in and walk according to your will.

AMEN!