Weeks 37 & 38 (09) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about the spirit of man, the spirit of Satan and the Spirit of God and how man’s spirit can be influenced by the other two. The truth is that our maturity in Christ is a direct product of that influence.

There is a huge battle going on in the Heavenly, with God trying to protect and guide His people and Satan trying to destroy and misguide God’s people. The weapons are respectively Faith and Fear.

The Spirit of God is humility, submissiveness and interdependence. The spirit of Satan is pride, rebellion and independence. They are the exact opposite of one another. And the spirit of man is being pulled in both directions, depending on the will of man and the man’s daily walk.

I shared about the 3 priorities in the world today (God’s, Satan’s and ours) in a recent leadership teaching and I passionately believe that they are the keys to our victory in Christ in an increasingly secular world.

Dan Brown (author of Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons) made the headline again with his latest book “A Lost Symbol”. The prologue to the book was an initiation ceremony of Freemasonry – a man willingly welcomed a death curse upon his own life! The book sold over 300,000 copies in the first 36 hours of release in the UK.

We are what we eat, naturally and spiritually. For our well-being, we need to differentiate between what is good and what is junk. Sadly, junk food, whether natural or spiritual, seems always more appealing and "tasty"!

The Word of God is good food for our soul. It is a light to our path, a lamp to our feet. Different books in the Bible are there for special purposes, offering us various aspects of God’s instructions to us.

The Book of Psalms shows us man’s relationship with God. Through the psalmists, we see God’s hand and God’s heart. God spoke through the psalmist who and what He is. “Praise the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendour and majesty. How many are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number — living things both large and small. There the ships go to and fro, and the leviathan, which you formed to frolic there. These all look to you to give them their food at the proper time. When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things. When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust. When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth. I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD [Ps 104:1,24-30,33-34 NIV]. They teach us how great our God is and why God deserves our praises and our worship.

Many Christians find some part of the Old Testament uninteresting, not unlike food for patients, esp. chronic ones, often bland & boring. The Book of Chronicles 1 & 2 are such examples. “The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar…… Azariah the father of Seraiah, and Seraiah the father of Jehozadak. Jehozadak was deported when the LORD sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar……These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the LORD after the ark came to rest there. They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon built the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them [1 Chron 6:1-3,14-15,31-32 NIV]. Such information, I dare say, is good bedtime reading, esp. for insomnia sufferers.:o) But without them, I would not know the names of the great grandfather, grandfather and father of Aaron, Moses and Miriam! They are a special group of people whom God has chosen to minister before Himself.

The New Testament not only consists of the 4 Gospels that tell the story of Jesus, it also contains a lot of the instructions for believers. Through Apostle Paul, God spoke about the sinfulness of man. “We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do — this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God — through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin [Rom 7:14-25 NIV]. He openly confessed that it is a struggle for man to live for Christ, which further demonstrates how amazing God’s grace and forgiveness is.

The Book of Proverbs is a treasure house of God’s wisdom. Through the writing of the wisest king of all time Solomon, God shares with us His wisdom, as opposed to the wisdom and wickedness of man. “My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favour and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Honour the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honour. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed. By wisdom the LORD laid the earth's foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; by his knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew. [Prov 3:1-20 NIV]

May the Word of God continue to help us to know God and build us up in Him. Amen!

Weeks 35 & 36 (09) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

I am reading a book on Listening to God. I have read quite a number of books on prayer by big names like Cindy Jacob, Peter Wagner and Yonggi Cho, but I find this one very special. Even the listed price is a humble £3.99.

Deeply influenced by her Dad’s prayer life since young, the writer has grown up communicating with God as a life style. But in the past 9 years before writing this book, she learned to prayerfully listen to God. The book reflects her rich experience of discovering that God is far from silent.

Here is a wonderful testimony of listening to God:

“The Lord….puts His ideas into my mind, and especially His perspectives. He widens my vision, helps me to see what is really important in life, and to distinguish the really important from the unimportant…….He comes to me, in the listening, receptive moments of prayer, and He transfuses His power into me.”

On the chapter “A Taste of Silence”, she stresses the importance of a time of silence before God:

“If we are to witness to Christ in today’s market places, where there are constant demands on our whole person, we need silence. If we are to be always available, not only physically, but by empathy, sympathy, friendship, understanding, boundless caritas, we need silence. To be able to give joyous, unflagging hospitality, not only of house and food, but of mind, heart, body and soul, we need silence.”

I believe many people got burned out serving because they did not have times of silence before God, allowing oneself to be refreshed and rejuvenated. So don’t get offended if a Christian leader prefers to be alone once in a while. :o)

Listening prayer is also a time of openness before God:

“ …to pray is to change….Prayer if it is real is an acknowledgement of ……our openness to be changed…..We face God as we are: sinful, spiritually handicapped and disabled in many ways, chronic patients. And we accept these handicaps and disabilities because He accepts us as we are and because He loves us as we are.”

God indeed speaks to His people. People of God in the Old Testament testified to it. “…….Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel was among those who called on his name; they called on the LORD and he answered them. He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud; they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them……O LORD our God, you answered them……..” [Ps 99:1-9 NIV] The key is that these people obeyed God. When we have true relationship with God, in submission & obedience, God will answer us when we called on Him.

Jabez was another great example of a man of God who had a good relationship with God. He was honourable in God’s eyes and God granted his bold request. “Jabez was more honourable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain." Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request.” [1 Chron 4:9-10 NIV]. I believe that when our walk with God is right, we can make big petitions to God and He will grant us those requests as long as they are in line with God’s plan.

Prayer is an integral part of our walk with God. Not only are we justified by faith, we also have access to God. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us….” [Rom 5:1-11 NIV]. Through this personal relationship with God, we share in the hope of the glory of God. We also rejoice in our sufferings of being a Christian in a secular world. It is God’s way of refining us in perseverance and character. The end result will be awesome, if we pass the test.

God has not been silent. He has been trying to get our attention. “Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech: ‘How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you. But since you rejected me when I called and no-one gave heed when I stretched out my hand, since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you — when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. ‘Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me. Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD, since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.’” [Prov 1:20-33 NIV]. When disaster strikes, stubborn people will have themselves to blame.

Amen!

Weeks 31 - 34 (09) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

It has been quite a busy August, participating in the Euro Leaders Conference (ELC) in Berlin, attending our son Nic’s civil wedding and shopping & eating in Hong Kong, and joining the first Global Conference (GC) of Hope in Singapore and visiting our good friend Sunny and family there. The GC marked a new chapter in Hope after it is rebranded as Hope International Ministries (HIM).

I received a vision during the ELC. I, together with many Hope people, were worshipping God in open air. Rain fell down despite of a blue sky. It was rain of oil, not water. I prophesied that God was pouring a fresh anointing on us in Hope. Then the Word came to me in [Ps. 92:8-15]. “But you, O LORD…..have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; fine oils have been poured upon me……The righteous will flourish like a palm tree…..planted in the house of the LORD….. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, "The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him." I prophesied that it was a prophetic Word from the Lord for Pastor Simon (he was in the meeting), who is maturing in age. God will pour fine oils (anointing) on him. God will give him authority and strength (horn of a wild ox) and his ministry will be fruitful even in old age.

I received 2 other visions during the GC. In the first, I saw a lot of people, many in darkness with light shining on some – they were born-again Christians. But many of the Christians had their heads hung low, and only a few were joyful and confident. God was telling us that we need a new understanding in God’s ways, which will allow us to experience a victorious Christian walk through God’s love and His power when we walk by faith. In the second, I was sitting in the passenger seat of a car that was moving at a frighteningly high speed and it was moving faster & faster, but God was driving it. God was telling us the time we are in, moving faster as the end is approaching. Many happenings in the world will also frighten us. But if we move with God, we will find peace and security instead of fear and anxiety.

I believe the 3 visions were exhortations and encouragement from God as we start afresh as a Movement, moving forward victoriously and with confidence, trusting in God’s presence and His power.

I also turned 61 this month. I count myself blessed to be living in a time such as this, witnessing the final chapter of the human history unfolding. I thank God for the strength and passion that He bestows on me in serving Him at my advanced age. And I am continually amazed at His favour upon my personal life, and my church & market place ministries. All of the above cause me to look forward to living each day with excitement and expectation.

The new understanding allows us to be victorious because ‘If you make the Most High your dwelling…..then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways……You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."’ [Ps 91:9-16 NIV]

Going forward, we will need more of God’s power & miracles. As I was turning 61, I read God’s Word about King Hezekiah who became ill and was about to die. He was saddened that God told him so. ‘“Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, "Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly. Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him: "Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD. I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.'" Then Isaiah said, "Prepare a poultice of figs." They did so and applied it to the boil, and he recovered. Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, "What will be the sign that the LORD will heal me and that I will go up to the temple of the LORD on the third day from now?" Isaiah answered, "This is the LORD's sign to you that the LORD will do what he has promised: Shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or shall it go back ten steps?" "It is a simple matter for the shadow to go forward ten steps," said Hezekiah. "Rather, have it go back ten steps." Then the prophet Isaiah called upon the LORD, and the LORD made the shadow go back the ten steps it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.’ [2 Kings 20:2-11 NIV]. Yes, I also asked God to grant me another 15 strong years in serving Him, but I do not need any sign from God. I just claim it in Jesus Name. :o)

Apostle Paul is a great example for us who wants to serve God at a time such as this. He was sensitive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He preached the gospel despite of great opposition. He was tent-making and he considered it more blessed to give than to receive. “….Paul….said to them: "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you….I served the Lord with great humility and with tears…..I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you…..compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace…… Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood……. Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" [Acts 20:17-35 NIV].

Here are some words of wisdom that will guide and enlighten us. “It is to a man's honour to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel…...Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find? The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him……A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much…..If a man curses his father or mother, his lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness…..A man's steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way?” [Prov 20:3,5-7,19,20,24,25,27 NIV]

Amen!

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!

Weeks 23 & 24 (09) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

The election in Iran has captured the attention of the world because her development has far reaching implications on peace in the Middle East region and beyond. One Iranian friend in London e-mailed me a string of cartoons depicting the lack of authenticity of the election. Hundreds of thousands of Iranian came out onto the street of Tehran to protest that the election was “stolen” by the incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The official results gave Mr Ahmadinejad 63% of the vote against 34% for his main election rival, Mir Hossein Mousavi.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued a stern warning that protests against the country's disputed presidential election results must end. In his first public remarks after days of protests, Ayatollah said the outcome had to be decided at the ballot box, not on the street. He said political leaders would be blamed for any violence.

Whilst demonstrators calling for a new election earlier vowed to stage fresh protests, the ayatollah addressed huge crowds at Tehran University voicing support for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, saying the president's views on foreign affairs and social issues were close to his. Very robust words indeed from the Supreme Leader. Ayatollah Khamenei said the election results are fine and there's no way that any vote rigging could have happened in this nation. "There is 11 million votes difference," the ayatollah said. "How one can rig 11 million votes?"

In the meantime, he has told Western nations "keep your nose out of our business, these are domestic affairs you are meddling in and you are responsible for the allegations of vote rigging to begin with".

It is difficult to see how the protest could end quickly and easily. Considering the Iranian leadership’s attitude towards outside opinions in the area of nuclear development, it is unlikely that the outside voices would have much sway in the election results.

There will be much turmoil in the world going forward. Further shakings will take place in all the nations until a kind of new world order comes into being, which may appeal to all. All these are signs of the End approaching. For people of God, it is a time of prayer and waiting upon the Lord. “But as for me…..I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD…….Even when I am old and gray…….I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come. Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, you who have done great things. Who, O God, is like you?” [Ps 71:14-24 NIV]

Wouldn’t it be great to see the power of God moving in His Church one more time. Let us pray for a double portion of anointing that Elisha asked for. ‘The men of the city said to Elisha, "Look, our lord, this town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive." "Bring me a new bowl," he said, "and put salt in it." So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it, saying, "This is what the LORD says: 'I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.'" And the water has remained wholesome to this day, according to the word Elisha had spoken.’ [2 Kings 2:19-22 NIV]

I attended the prayer meeting before the service in Hope Hatfield this morning and I sensed a quickening in my spirit that God is going to move powerfully in this land in the next 5 to 10 years. Revival will come to Europe when God’s people seek Him with all our hearts. We shall witness signs and wonders in the 21st century church like the early church. ‘"Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: "'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.'…….They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." [Acts 4:23-33 NIV]

Indeed God has not been silent. God has been calling out to His people unceasingly. ‘Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech: "How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you. [Prov 1:20-23 NIV] The question is ‘do we want the King of Glory to come to our cities and nations?’ He will when we do.

Amen!