Weeks 19 & 20 (08) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

I read somewhere that the strength of the human body peaks at the age of 20, followed by a slow decline up to the age of 60. From 60 onward, the strength will decline sharply!

With 60 approaching fast, I can testify to the above statement. Whilst maintaining a disciplined life helps, it will not alter the trend.

Before I travelled to Asia 2 weeks ago, I was suffering from hay fever. The long flight to Hong Kong did not help. The change of weather in Hong Kong added to the battle. It took me almost a week to get to some kind of normality. But before I settle down to the warm climate in Hong Kong & Malaysia (where we had our Leaders Conference), I was on my way back to London!

Landing at Heathrow yesterday in the early hours, I was determined to re-adjust my body clock back to GMT. By sheer will power, I managed to stay awake till 10pm. Bedtime was extra sweet. This morning, I went for my 4.2k run. I was happy with the very modest time of 29 min., and I found the soak in a hot bath afterwards quite heavenly.:o)

I learn so much about my spiritual condition through my body. Whilst the condition of the body is controllable, I cannot say the same about the spirit. It is a battle of the mind, which is much harder!

I often ponder about what is pleasing to God as a witnessing Christian. The answer is in [Rom 12:2 NIV] "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will." However, I find "the renewing of the mind" bit easier said than done. I guess it will remain "work in progress" until the Day of the Lord. But I am willing to give it a go and press on. With God's help, I will get there one day. :o)

Spiritual warfare or "battle of the mind" will continue to be a big part of the life of every Christian who seriously live for God. We will need to continually cry out to God for help in this fight. 'O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you......Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. They who seek my life will be destroyed......all who swear by God's name will praise him.....'. [Ps 63:1-11 NIV]

For us to be victorious, we need to be constantly mindful of God's goodness in our lives, just like God's reminder to the Israelites. 'The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God."' [Num 15:37-41 NIV] God's blessing is a circle. When we rememember God's goodness, it will in turn remind us to obey His commands. When we do obey God's commands, we end up with more of God's blessings. Its an amazing circle of truth! But are we buying into it?

Apostle Paul understood the battle of the mind very well. He adminished the Ephesians with these strong words from God. 'So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.......do not give the devil a foothold.....'. [Eph 4:17-28 NIV] But how many of us are heeding the Word of God?

Do not be a fool.'A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions. A fool's lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool's mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul.' [Prov 18:2,6-7 NIV] Let us pay attention to God's opinions and heed them instead.

Amen!

Weeks 17 & 18 (08) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

3 pieces of news grabbed the headlines in the UK in the past 2 weeks - the tragic cyclone disaster in Burma, an Austrian man fathered his own daughter's 7 children and the "clown" of the Conservative Party Boris Johnson became Mayor of London. I firmly believe that what happens in the natural reflects the spiritual. Whilst the first 2 pieces of news are merely confirming Matthew 24 (Signs of the End of the Age) respectively in v.7b and v.12, I find the 3rd one particularly revealing.

The choice made by the people of London of a man who very few people take seriously as the Mayor somewhat perplexed me. I pondered on it and I asked God what this means for this city at this time. The impression I got was found in [Prov. 29:18] "Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint...". It reminded me of the rebellious spirit the Israelites that we see in [1 Sam 8:1-22] "When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges for Israel......But his sons did not walk in his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice. So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, "You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have." But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.......When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the LORD. The LORD answered, "Listen to them and give them a king." ......"

We know from history that God gave the elders of Israel Saul as their king. So let us understand that THE PERMISSION OF GOD IS NOT ALWAYS THE WILL OF GOD!

Man is the crown jewel of God's workmanship. But if we reject Him, He will reject us. Even King David, one who was after God's own heart knew it well when he said "You have rejected us, O God......you have been angry-- now restore us! You have shaken the land and torn it open; mend its fractures, for it is quaking. You have shown your people desperate times.......But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow....Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered. Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless. With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies." [Ps 60:1-5,11-12 NIV] So, why should we be surprise when disaster strikes some people. Why should we not understand when some people experience desparate time and failure. But let those who fear God be assured that victory is on their side!

We are living in a time that demands our faith to be strong and courageous because the natural is challenging the spiritual."They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community.....they reported to them.....and showed them the fruit of the land......it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large......Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." [Num 13:26-33 NIV] We can choose to have the faith of the timid spies who were scared of the enemy that APPEARED to be powerful, or we can be like Caleb who believed in the promises of a mighty God.

Also, we will eventually be standing before God and each will have to give his or her accounts to God. "Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load. Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." [Gal 6:1-10 NIV]

Indeed let us work hard to please the Spirit. Let us ask God to grant us the strength and hardwork of an ox trusting that ".........from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest........The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good man rewarded for his....... All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." [Prov 14:4,14,23 NIV]

Amen!

Weeks 15 & 16 (08) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

I was in Utrecht last weekend ministering in Hope Utrecht. I was met at the airport by Albert Junior (Samuel) who gave me a very nice welcome (see pic.). I was surprised to see Tor & Wanda joining us in the Saturday pm session (see pic). They were in Holland for Wanda's Mum's 70th birthday. What a beautiful divine appointment. It was great to have this opportunity of fellowshipping with them!

God truly blessed us with a wonderful weekend. I praise the Lord for many new people which God has brought to the church. I met 11 of them and, amazingly, 6 of them came to the church through the Hope Utrecht website! I give thanks to God for His faithfulness to a faithful servant Albert and his dear wife Claire. God also bless them with 2 lovely children, Samuel and Salome. It gave me great joy to spend the weekend with them and the church people!

Albert joined Hope after attending a Hope conference in Asia. Hope Utrecht was one man in the beginning. Despite of the challenges of church planting in Europe, we can see the fruits in the life of Albert - a good job, a loving wife, 2 adorable children and a beautiful church family. Only God can make it possible!Despite of what most people think or say about our Lord Jesus in Europe, the psalmist reminded me that He is the Lord over this continent. "How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth! He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet........Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne." [Ps 47:1-9 NIV] Indeed, let us hold onto the promises that He is the King of all the earth and He reigns over the nations. We should continue to sing praises to Him until we see Jesus returning in triumph to fulfil these promises!In the natural, we may not seeing this happening in Europe yet. But in the spiritual, the victory is won.

God is looking for a people who will trust and obey. "'Do not make idols or set up an image......in your land to bow down before it. I am the LORD your God......'If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit......You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you. Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand.......'I will look on you with favour and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you.......I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. I am the LORD your God,......I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.'" [Lev 26:1-13 NIV]

When we trust and obey, we will see our enemies defeated and experience God's favours in our lives. We can walk with heads held high!This is what faith is all about. "Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands........For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we....wish....to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight."[2 Cor 5:1-10 NIV]

Our confidence comes from trusing and obeying a God who is good, righteous and just. "For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones." [Prov 2:6-12, 20-22 NIV]

Amen and amen!

Weeks 13 & 14 (08) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

Last Sunday I had the rare opportunity of meeting Dr. J in London. He had just spent a few days speaking at the University of Oxford Said Business School as their Skoll Fellow. Before flying off to another engagement in Sweden, he stopped by London for a couple of hours to address Thai university students studying in London about various social economic issues back home. I managed to catch a brief conversation with him by accompanying him in the train journey to the airport.

This is the man who inspired me to join Hope 15 years ago. His zeal and enthusiasm about advancing God's Kingdom has not waned after all these years. I sensed an even greater intensity and urgency in his mission spirit. His 2-hour address was only punctuated by a few questions from the floor!

"My heart is stirred by a noble theme .....You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed with grace, since God has blessed you forever. Gird your sword upon your side...... In your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness; let your right hand display awesome deeds......You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy." [Ps 45:1-7 NIV] Although this psalm was ascribed to our Lord Jesus, I use it to pay tribute to Dr. J whom God has anointed to do great things for His Kingdom. I believe God has installed for him an even larger role in impacting the nations in the years to come!

God looks for a lasting and unbroken relationship with His people. "The LORD said to Moses,"Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning continually. Outside the curtain of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, Aaron is to tend the lamps before the LORD from evening till morning, continually. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. The lamps on the pure gold lampstand before the LORD must be tended continually. "Take fine flour and bake twelve loaves of bread......Set them in two rows, six in each row, on the table of pure gold before the LORD......This bread is to be set out before the LORD regularly, Sabbath after Sabbath, on behalf of the Israelites, as a lasting covenant.....". [Lev 24:1-9 NIV] Dr. J's lasting commitment to the Lord is an inspiration to us all Christ followers.

The secret of this longevity is found in Paul's exhortation to the Corinthian church. "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.......All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." [2 Cor 4:7-18 NIV] Indeed as we build God's church, although it is tough going, "the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God" should powerfully motivate us to keep going!

My dear brothers and sisters, let us persevere in ploughing the land and sowing the seeds, because "he who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty." [Prov 28:7-8,10,13,18,19,26,27 NIV]

Amen and amen!

Weeks 11 & 12 (08) - Blessing of Divine Guidance

I thank the Lord for a great Easter Fest. It was certainly our best so far with an attendance of 142, represented by all Hope UK churches in Leeds, Birmingham, Nottingham, Bristol, Reading, Ealing, Hatfield and London. I also thank the Organising Committee and helpers for doing a fantastic job. We had 3 decisions for Christ, 6 water baptism and many Holy Spirit baptism. There was a tremendous buzz throughout the whole Fest. We also had a white Easter Sunday [see picture]. The scripture in [Isa 1:18] came to mind that morning. "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow......" . Praise the Lord for washing our sins as white as snow!

There is an excitement in my spirit that something great is going to happen in the UK and Europe in the not too distant future. In the Fest, I reminded the people of a prophecy I gave 2 1/2 years ago. I said in 3 years' time, the light of the Gospel will break through the cloud of spiritual darkness and starts to shine in this land again [Isa. 60:1-3]. I have chosen the theme "Enter the Land" for our 10th Anniversary in October. It signifies that our churches will launch forward to take the land in Jesus name!

Easter reminds us of the cross and God's amazing gift of salvation and abundant life. "Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O LORD, you preserve both man and beast. How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast in the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart." [Psalms 36 NIV]

'"Aaron shall bring the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household, and he is to slaughter the bull for his own sin offering.......He is to put the incense on the fire before the LORD, and the smoke of the incense will conceal the atonement cover above the Testimony, so that he will not die. He is to take some of the bull's blood and with his finger sprinkle it on the front of the atonement cover; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the atonement cover. "This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites." And it was done, as the LORD commanded Moses.'[Lev 16:11-14, 34 NIV] It still blows my mind to think that the Son of God Himself became the animal that was sacrificed for the forgiveness of my sins (and yours) once for all!

I am also amazed at God's definition of love. It is not pampering; it is not "do whatever you like"; it is not withholding correction either. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." [1 Cor 13:4-13 NIV]

A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength;....if you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength! [Prov 24:5,10 NIV] May the Lord grant us the power and strength to take this land for Jesus!

Amen and amen!

Weeks 09 & 10 (08) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

Lately, I become totally convinced that discipline is the key to success in life. A lazy and undisplined body is the root of much failure; a lazy and undisciplined mind is the cause of the lack of success in life! God, in His wisdom, instituted special events to discipline our mind & body to remember His goodness whilst we are still on this side of eternity, living in a sinful world. With Easter coming soon, it focuses our mind on our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and I look forward to the Easter Fest (Camp) in 10 day's time. :o)

People of God are blessed people, because "Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.......I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"-- and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." [Ps 32:1-7 NIV]

God's blessing is not limited to the forgiveness of our sins and His gift of eternal salvation. He desires us to enjoy a wholesome and healthy life. "'When a man is cleansed from his discharge,.....he must wash his clothes and bathe himself with fresh water, and he will be clean......'When a man has an emission of semen, he must bathe his whole body with water, and he will be unclean till evening.......'" [Lev 15:13-18 NIV] God wisely teaches us personal hygiene for the body; He actually encourages us to be clean in body, mind and spirit.

Life in Christ is a life of transformation or change. In our 9th Annivesary Celebration in October last year, we chose the theme "Go4Gold", with 3 goals set for the coming year. One of them is Personal Holiness. Holiness simply means God-likeness. We should desire God's likeness in us - in thought, in speech and in action. In theory, it is a very high order because changes are uncomfortable. To achieve it requires discipline or strict training. "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly.........No, I beat my body and make it my slave.....so that......I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." [1 Cor 9:20-27 NIV]

I am learning the lesson of discipline through my training for the 2009 London Marathon. I learn to make my body my slave. A couple of days ago, the Holy Spirit inspired me to make my mind my slave as well. Instead of thinking that I am running 4.2 kilometers (my usual training route), I break it up into 100m lengths. I discipline my mind to run 100m at a time and at the end of each I say "praise the Lord". This morning I tried it and I finished the run in record time and I was still fresh, because I made my mind (and body) my slave. :o)

I believe we can apply this discipline to any areas of our life that we want to change. For example, one can give up smoking by cutting down 1 cigarette a day, and no forgetting to praise the Lord at the end of each day. One will give up smoking in no time. Remember to set small targets and celebrate when each target is met. When we become disciplined people in body and mind, we will experience victory after victory like never before!

"In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil.......A wise man attacks the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust." [Prov 21:20,22 NIV] May your house be filled with choice stuff from God; may you have victory over all the giants in your life.

Amen and amen!

Weeks 07 & 08 (08) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

Yesterday (26Feb), just before 01:00 GMT, UK experienced the biggest earthquake for nearly 25 years. It has shaken homes across large parts of England. People in Newcastle, Yorkshire, London, Manchester, the Midlands and Norfolk and also parts of Wales, felt the tremor. A man suffered leg injuries when a chimney collapsed in South Yorkshire. The British Geological Survey (BGS) said the epicentre of the 5.3 magnitude quake was near Market Rasen in Lincolnshire, NE of England. Bev Finnegan, who lives in the town, said: "I was terrified to be honest. The noise was really, really terrifying... it was so deep and rumbling. And Justin Cowell, in Gainsborough, told BBC News that it "started as a massive shake. People had come out into the street. It seemed the whole town had woken up."

If people think that the relatively minor earthquake was really, really terrifying, let us be warned of the prophesy of the day of the Lord in [Isa 13:9-13] "......the day of the LORD is coming- a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger-- to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it. The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless.......I will make the heavens tremble; and the earth will shake from its place......". This prophesy is reiterated by Jesus in [Matthew 24]. A lot of people who are in spiritual slumber now will for sure be woken up on that day!

Clearly, God is doing many things in the world today to warn people of that fateful day. But sadly, many are either blind to them or choose to ignore them! But for those of us who believe and trust in the Lord, we can confidently proclaim that "The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?........For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling.......I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living......" [Ps 27:1-6,13-14 NIV]

Amazingly, God has, throughout the ages, initiated a plan of redemption for all mankind. But we need to acknowledge that we are sinners who cannot save ourselves. "'If a person sins.......he must confess in what way he has sinned and, as a penalty for the sin he has committed, he must bring to the LORD ......a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin." [Lev 5:1-6 NIV] In our case, Jesus is both the sin offering and the priest who has made atonement for our sins when He died on the cross. All we need to do is to "confess with our mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in our heart that God raised him from the dead, we will be saved." [Rom. 10:9]

Once upon a time I thought I was wise by human standards. Seventeen years ago I thought I was strong and needed no help. "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-- and the things that are not-- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-- that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption." [1 Cor 1:26-31 NIV]. I am thankful to God for proving me wrong and for opening eyes to see the truth in Christ Jesus!

Today, I live in awe of the mightiness of our Great God and choose to have a healthy fear of the Lord. This is because "he whose walk is upright fears the LORD.......A wise man fears the LORD.......He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death." [Prov 14:2,16,26-27 NIV]

Amen!