Dear…
‘According as to His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue.’
2 Peter 1:3
Much of the Western world is in recession, while large parts of Asia is experiencing rising inflation.
But when the two meet, will the world metamorphosize into stagflation, a dragon the still very much alive Paul Volcker slay as Federal Reserve Chairman back in the early 1980s, before the color green of envy and unfettered greed, spanned across much of the global economy. Of course, now we know ex super hero Alan Greenspan might really be at subpar or subprime even at his prime then.
Is this stagflation scenario a bridge too far to cross given the very determined efforts by major governments to keep interest rates low, literally robbing “Peter”(as in depositors) to fund “Paul”(as in the borrowers).
Man plans, God directs. And in old school economic theory, we all learn that price controls(in this case the cost of capital) by governments will create unreal situations like now, that can be excruciating on the rebound once that artificial hand is lifted.
Is the rising prices of food the prelude to the real sleeper, the present static prices of crude oil, the devil’s brew that is simmering, just like the present geopolitics of the Middle East, waiting for a trigger to boil over? It is interesting that while much of the Israelite defense general staff is in internal turmoil, its arch nemesis Iran is fast tracking their offensive capabilities and America is increasingly haunted by a President that seems to be vacillating, a behavioral characteristic that can emit the wrong green light for sowers of troubles to proceed.
‘These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast….and the waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteh, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore(that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth)……For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil His will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled…’
Revelation 17:13-18
The mark of the beast. The prophecy of a world that one can only transact and make a living in if one carry the mark of the devil. Many books and attempts have been made to try to identify what constitute that mark, and in our present technologically wired world, most are inclined to believe that it will be an embedded computer chip in our flesh.
But is not the mark of the beast already with us? God looks at our hearts, and are we living out the fruits of the Spirit or in reality, in our desire to be in this world, are many of us living a life that is more aligned with what the devil desires, be it pride, selfishness, anger, impatience, greed and the whole litany of non virtues that form the behavioral DNA of animals? What many perceive to be emotional behaviors are the very manifestations of the fallen angels!!
‘No man can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.’
Matthew 6:24
Can we survive in this world, but be not of this world? Human sinfulness just like natural disasters are part and parcel of our fallen world. The difference as climatologists are saying, is the intensity and regularity is unprecedented. What about the world we live in today, in terms of acceptable values? Increasingly in the corporate world, to live a life that honors God is near impossible, on our own strength, for to do so would mean not just lost opportunities, but possibly an early career demise.
‘Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s
Matthew 22:21
The days of fine balancing secular career and spiritual life just got tipped over. The US subprime crisis or the European Greek crisis are just the latest manifestations of the ills of the “me first” godless generation.”
And this attitude is now making inroads into the rest of the world. There is a race by the devil and its’ cohorts to shred and snuff out all semblance of good human values, much as the godly seeks to share the gospel of salvation to all before Christ returns.
Does it mean that one must withdraw from the world, and go into full time ministry or lived off one’s savings, in order to be out of the Babylonian system? I believe not, for God wants the faithful to stay engage with the world, to point the harvests to God our Sower.
Is Revelations 17:13-18 bring fulfilled by what is happening in the European Union? Is it possible that the Europeans will eventually move from economic to full political union, with all rights divested in exchange for a continuation of the great lifestyle that many have taken as a birth right, not realizing that they no longer can live off the largess of their colonial past?
And would not the same apply to the greater global economy which is going through the throes of a new global order, that would see the atheist countries like Russia and China take greater prominence in global institutions in exchange for a continued supply of dollars to the hopelessly indebted once God fearing Protestant British and American Empires?
‘Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.’
Matthew 24:44
In the End Times intensified that we are in today, the time has come for those who professed to love God to live out their faith. Can there be a parallel economy, one that works on Godly principles that will allow the faithful to “seek God first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you..’(Matthew 6:33)?
‘Not everyone that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.’
Matthew 7:21
I believe it was the famous author Rudyard Kipling( of “Jungle Book”) who coined the phrase, East is East, and West is West, and the twain shall never meet. And just in case some of you was wondering if “twain” was more than a figurative word, most will have heard of “Mark Twain” author of great classics like “Tom Sawyer” But a less known fact is that Mark Twain loved the Island of Mauritius and called it “the model upon which Heaven replicated.” And indeed if one look at the sheer beauty of its geography, it is a beautiful land, though the soft side is not as pretty, for that is where the “dodo bird” was shot out to extinction by the colonizers from the West and many an African slave lived in misery after being napped to work on the many sugar plantations on this island. But just forty-five minutes away by air, lies the French concession of Reunion Island, a rugged land of dark hellish waters compared to the clear blue waters of Mauritius, a sharp contrast in geography, yet a wealthy land by virtue of the generosity of its French masters compared to the independent nation of Mauritius. Sharp contrast these two lands might seem, but are they not representative of the diverse yet equally carnal and sinful desires of men and should men continue on the same road to eternal damnation or start to walk the straight and narrow path that God has long laid for us and that road is how we live our lives now, not when we retire or have enough provisions to be not of the world?
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(27th Aug 10)
How does God guide?
‘Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’
The peace of heart from the conviction of the Spirit of God residing in those who believe is one key specific guidance that God provides in our decision making. And in this increasingly unsettled world that we live in, many of us who are desirous of making the right decision at every fork road of life are often unsure if we heard God right? But is it not because we are looking ten steps ahead, when the light of God will only shine on the next small step, in the darkness of this world?
God does give other specific guidance like vision, dreams, deep impressions on the heart, affirmation through His word, people or circumstances. And guidance from God will usually be a combination of some if not all of the above, suffice for us to know it is truly from His will.
'I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in right paths....'
Proverbs 4:11
But often, we err not because we heard God incorrectly, but rather, obedience will mean a result contrary to what we desire based on our finite and sinful understanding. To trust God, we must know Him, and our spirit must be align with His, always in communion. Before we can even discern the specific instructions of God, we must be able to know His general instructions. And what are these, but the commands of God, the fruits of the Spirit and all the virtues that God has taught in His Word. We need to soak our very being always in God’s presence, in His word, in prayers and praise and in His work. Then can we, even without God telling us specifically, know what we must do in our daily living, which is,
‘Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do. And the God of peace shall be with you.’
Philippians 4:8-8
In a nutshell, in all decisions, the principle should be
- Do what honors God
- Put the interest of others before yourself
'See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.'
1 Thessalonians 1:15
- Be thankful in all situations, for thankfulness allow us to witness the hands of God at work in our lives and that of others.
‘…for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.’
Philippians 4:11
Friday, August 27, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
In Spirit and Truth #9 The fourth dimension (21st Aug 10)
Dear…
‘He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.’
John 1:10
This morning, I felt physically and emotionally drained for no inexplicable reason. But I have come to learn, especially in such situations, to take my ‘power nap’ with the source of all grace and glory, God our Father.
And indeed the Spirit of God sanctifies, edifes and brings about new truths to one’s very being. And from being refreshed, also came a fresh new thought in my heart, which is, the dimension upon which God communicates with us.
‘And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.’
John 1:14
In the Old Testament, God communicated with chosen men like Abraham, Moses, Daniel and Joseph, amongst others, who in turn was used by the Lord to lead, teach and guide His flock. In the chasm of 600 years between the Old and the New Testament, nothing specific was documented in that period of Biblical silence. But after that, in the New Testament, God came to men in the flesh, in the form of His beloved Son our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet not all believe in Him and in fact, many were intent on persecuting Him.
‘Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?’
1 Corinthians 3:16
When the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ was taken to Heaven, to sit next to God our Father, He promised that the Holy Spirit will be sent to reside amongst men who believed, to guide, teach and correct all who believed. And this is where we are today.
But why is it so difficult for many professed Christians to even believe in this relationship, not to talk about actually communicating with the Spirit of God? Is it because many who call themselves Christians, do not truly live out their lives like Christ, and hence do not know Him?
‘Cause me to hear Your loving kindness in the morning, for in You do I trust...’
Psalm 143:8
The fourth dimension is a term a dear brother in Christ just shared with me yesterday. The natural world we live in is a three dimensional plane, where our carnal senses work best in. The fourth dimension is the spiritual realm where the Spirit of God moves.
‘Thou hidest Thy face, they are troubled. Thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. Thou sendest forth Thy Spirit, they are created, and Thou renews the face of the earth.’
Psalm 104:29-30
This morning, and before I confuse my readers further, there is only one morning a day, at least in our natural world, but each of my personal journals are usually over a period of time, hence God does leave a stream of thoughts in my heart over several days, and when He so wills, I am led to string it together into a prayerfully coherent message, that will edify if it is truly from Him.
So, coming back from this little sidetrack, this latest morning, our good Lord brought me to Psalm 104(see link http://www.o-bible.com/cgibin/ob.cgi?version=kjv&book=psa&chapter=104) and interestingly, this Psalm talks about the unseen hands of God in yet the very visible natural world that we live in(that is, the three dimension world), and yet men have never given much thought to its well ordered structure, nor to the very present God Who brought this about. We see His works, but we see not our Maker, for God is Spirit and the carnal man cannot communicate with the Spirit God.
‘If it had not been the Lord Who was on our side, when men rose up against us. Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us……’
Psalm 124:2-3
Rare it might be, but it is not unique nor limited to just a privilege few who seem to ‘see and hear’ God and have a close walk with Him. Enoch was one such men of the Old Testament, and God took him out before much of the world was destroyed by the great flood(circa Noah’s Ark).
Today, while still a minority, the Spirit of God is increasingly manifested in the lives of the faithful, as the time is short and the world continues to plummet towards its own sinful destruction.
‘And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ….for ye are yet carnal.’
1 Corinthians 3:1-3
How can one transpose oneself from the carnal into the Spiritual realm? On man’s finite understanding, many are already unwittingly entering that realm, but not of God’s but of the devil. Avatar might at the moment be a fun world of one’s delusions, played out on the internet. Ditto for the games eg World of Warcraft, that many play globally on the broadband world of escapism. But when does imagination merge into reality? It might be a matter of nanoseconds before many will be willing like Dr Faustus to sell their soul, for the things of the world, not realizing the true price is eternal damnation.
Today, many of us who were brought out of bondage, out of the Egypt of our lives by the grace of God have long consigned to memory that indescribable joy and peace, when the Spirit of God sanctified our parched souls. Should we not turn back to the ever faithful God?
As the once exiled and now repentant Israelites asked their leader, Ezra “what must we do to be made right?’
Let me close by sharing some thoughts from the great 19th century preacher, Charles Spurgeon, delivered in a series of three sermons, close to a 150 years back. The Word of God is of relevance through all ages and may it help to guide you back into the one and only true path that God has set for all who fear and loved Him.
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
20th Aug 10
What did the Spirit of God say through Charles Spurgeon?
'Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation and uphold me with Thy free Sprit.'
Psalm 15:12
Interestingly, these sermon notes were given to me by a friend back in year 2005 and it would have stayed out of sight and out of mind if not for those rare occasions of housecleaning in my office, and I found it, just two days back, sandwiched between the many distractions of the world, which I was discarding.
Charles Spurgeon in his first sermon talked about the infallible signs of revival when God alone has been exalted on a large scale. When a church hungers for God, when the church sigh and cry for the Lord's presence. And when men is prepared to throw overboard everything except that which is the glory of God.
Contrast this to the reality of the lives of many Christians today, where they mouth God, but their hearts are with the world.
Charles Spurgeon in his second sermon spoke about the story of God's mighty acts.
'We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work Thou didst in their days, in the times of old.'
Psalm 44:1
Today, the mighty works which was accomplished in the olden time will be repeated and the Lord shall be greatly glorified.
Yet, without faith, we will never see the grace of God. And today, how many Christians can truly claim that they have a relationship with the ever present God. And how many Christians are in reality looking to idols of their lives, for they do not trust a God they have never known.
Charles Spurgeon in his third sermon spoke about Spiritual revival - the want of the church
'O Lord, revive Thy work.'
Habakkuk 3:2
Spiritual revival will come when we truly ascribe nothing to man, but all to God. And where change and transformation from carnality to spirituality must start with ourselves, by the grace of God. Sound doctrine upon the Word of God, deathlike solemn earnest prayers where only truly the will of God matters, and all praise and glory to God, these must be the wants of every Christian for revival to begin.
"When the twain shall meet" this will be the title of my next sharing. The Spirit of God is working mightily in my heart, placing this desire in me to no longer separate my secular life from my spiritual walk with Him. Can we be truly in this world but yet not of this world? Can we live in the Spirit with our Lord, much as we are still living in this sinful carnal three dimensional world?
May I truly discern the leading of the Spirit of God even as He shows me His plans for me and you, plans that are wonderful, that we will truly want to follow in total obedience.
'I have heard of Thee by the hearing of my ear, but now mine eye seeth Thee, wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.'
Job 42:5
‘He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.’
John 1:10
This morning, I felt physically and emotionally drained for no inexplicable reason. But I have come to learn, especially in such situations, to take my ‘power nap’ with the source of all grace and glory, God our Father.
And indeed the Spirit of God sanctifies, edifes and brings about new truths to one’s very being. And from being refreshed, also came a fresh new thought in my heart, which is, the dimension upon which God communicates with us.
‘And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.’
John 1:14
In the Old Testament, God communicated with chosen men like Abraham, Moses, Daniel and Joseph, amongst others, who in turn was used by the Lord to lead, teach and guide His flock. In the chasm of 600 years between the Old and the New Testament, nothing specific was documented in that period of Biblical silence. But after that, in the New Testament, God came to men in the flesh, in the form of His beloved Son our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet not all believe in Him and in fact, many were intent on persecuting Him.
‘Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?’
1 Corinthians 3:16
When the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ was taken to Heaven, to sit next to God our Father, He promised that the Holy Spirit will be sent to reside amongst men who believed, to guide, teach and correct all who believed. And this is where we are today.
But why is it so difficult for many professed Christians to even believe in this relationship, not to talk about actually communicating with the Spirit of God? Is it because many who call themselves Christians, do not truly live out their lives like Christ, and hence do not know Him?
‘Cause me to hear Your loving kindness in the morning, for in You do I trust...’
Psalm 143:8
The fourth dimension is a term a dear brother in Christ just shared with me yesterday. The natural world we live in is a three dimensional plane, where our carnal senses work best in. The fourth dimension is the spiritual realm where the Spirit of God moves.
‘Thou hidest Thy face, they are troubled. Thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. Thou sendest forth Thy Spirit, they are created, and Thou renews the face of the earth.’
Psalm 104:29-30
This morning, and before I confuse my readers further, there is only one morning a day, at least in our natural world, but each of my personal journals are usually over a period of time, hence God does leave a stream of thoughts in my heart over several days, and when He so wills, I am led to string it together into a prayerfully coherent message, that will edify if it is truly from Him.
So, coming back from this little sidetrack, this latest morning, our good Lord brought me to Psalm 104(see link http://www.o-bible.com/cgibin/ob.cgi?version=kjv&book=psa&chapter=104) and interestingly, this Psalm talks about the unseen hands of God in yet the very visible natural world that we live in(that is, the three dimension world), and yet men have never given much thought to its well ordered structure, nor to the very present God Who brought this about. We see His works, but we see not our Maker, for God is Spirit and the carnal man cannot communicate with the Spirit God.
‘If it had not been the Lord Who was on our side, when men rose up against us. Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us……’
Psalm 124:2-3
Rare it might be, but it is not unique nor limited to just a privilege few who seem to ‘see and hear’ God and have a close walk with Him. Enoch was one such men of the Old Testament, and God took him out before much of the world was destroyed by the great flood(circa Noah’s Ark).
Today, while still a minority, the Spirit of God is increasingly manifested in the lives of the faithful, as the time is short and the world continues to plummet towards its own sinful destruction.
‘And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ….for ye are yet carnal.’
1 Corinthians 3:1-3
How can one transpose oneself from the carnal into the Spiritual realm? On man’s finite understanding, many are already unwittingly entering that realm, but not of God’s but of the devil. Avatar might at the moment be a fun world of one’s delusions, played out on the internet. Ditto for the games eg World of Warcraft, that many play globally on the broadband world of escapism. But when does imagination merge into reality? It might be a matter of nanoseconds before many will be willing like Dr Faustus to sell their soul, for the things of the world, not realizing the true price is eternal damnation.
Today, many of us who were brought out of bondage, out of the Egypt of our lives by the grace of God have long consigned to memory that indescribable joy and peace, when the Spirit of God sanctified our parched souls. Should we not turn back to the ever faithful God?
As the once exiled and now repentant Israelites asked their leader, Ezra “what must we do to be made right?’
Let me close by sharing some thoughts from the great 19th century preacher, Charles Spurgeon, delivered in a series of three sermons, close to a 150 years back. The Word of God is of relevance through all ages and may it help to guide you back into the one and only true path that God has set for all who fear and loved Him.
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
20th Aug 10
What did the Spirit of God say through Charles Spurgeon?
'Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation and uphold me with Thy free Sprit.'
Psalm 15:12
Interestingly, these sermon notes were given to me by a friend back in year 2005 and it would have stayed out of sight and out of mind if not for those rare occasions of housecleaning in my office, and I found it, just two days back, sandwiched between the many distractions of the world, which I was discarding.
Charles Spurgeon in his first sermon talked about the infallible signs of revival when God alone has been exalted on a large scale. When a church hungers for God, when the church sigh and cry for the Lord's presence. And when men is prepared to throw overboard everything except that which is the glory of God.
Contrast this to the reality of the lives of many Christians today, where they mouth God, but their hearts are with the world.
Charles Spurgeon in his second sermon spoke about the story of God's mighty acts.
'We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work Thou didst in their days, in the times of old.'
Psalm 44:1
Today, the mighty works which was accomplished in the olden time will be repeated and the Lord shall be greatly glorified.
Yet, without faith, we will never see the grace of God. And today, how many Christians can truly claim that they have a relationship with the ever present God. And how many Christians are in reality looking to idols of their lives, for they do not trust a God they have never known.
Charles Spurgeon in his third sermon spoke about Spiritual revival - the want of the church
'O Lord, revive Thy work.'
Habakkuk 3:2
Spiritual revival will come when we truly ascribe nothing to man, but all to God. And where change and transformation from carnality to spirituality must start with ourselves, by the grace of God. Sound doctrine upon the Word of God, deathlike solemn earnest prayers where only truly the will of God matters, and all praise and glory to God, these must be the wants of every Christian for revival to begin.
"When the twain shall meet" this will be the title of my next sharing. The Spirit of God is working mightily in my heart, placing this desire in me to no longer separate my secular life from my spiritual walk with Him. Can we be truly in this world but yet not of this world? Can we live in the Spirit with our Lord, much as we are still living in this sinful carnal three dimensional world?
May I truly discern the leading of the Spirit of God even as He shows me His plans for me and you, plans that are wonderful, that we will truly want to follow in total obedience.
'I have heard of Thee by the hearing of my ear, but now mine eye seeth Thee, wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.'
Job 42:5
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
In Spirit and Truth #8 Pursuits (18th Aug 10)
Dear….
‘Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god….’
Psalm 16:4
Some of us of the slightly older vintage might remember the diminutive South African long distance runner of some reputation, Ms Zola Budd. She was famous for running barefooted but became infamous when her foot accidentally caught the thighs of her rival, the American runner Mary Decker and derailed both their Olympic dreams in the Summer Olympic Games in 1984.
‘How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God.’
Mark 10:17-23
By God’s prescience, the Daily Bread reading this morning(DB Tuesday 17th Aug 10) talks about the dangers of our race for the riches of the world and I quote “Don’t let riches or the pursuit of riches, derail your pursuit of Jesus.” A known fact this might be, but still a useful reminder for many who have since lost sight of God’s purpose for their finite lives, having been blindsided by this great desire to cumulate things of the world for eternity, forgetting that it is life after that matters more. And on the matter of derailment, reality is that much as troubles can bring us much grief, such troubles also double as a means to bring us back into focus upon things that truly matters, that is, eternity with God or eternal damnation in Hell.
‘Hell and destruction are never full, so the eyes of man are never satisfied.’
Proverbs 27:20
The Olympics according to folklore originated in Greece, as a competition to glorify the physical prowess of the then all conquering Greek city states as well as a tribute to their great god, King Zeus, who purportedly rules in the Heavens. Today, much as many have come to disregard Greek mythology as the basis for the Olympics, for the modern Olympics is meant to be a platform of men’s idealism, reality is many continue to pursue the gods, though of a different form - that of glory and adulation.
‘Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is none else, I am God and there is none like Me.’
Isaiah 46:9
Many of us often accepted the faith, and brand ourselves Christians when we tripped up, like Zola, in our lives. And once God picked us up, we often resume running on the same track of carnal desire, with mammon as the end all of our determined pursuits, instead of switching tracks towards Christ, the author and finisher of our faith.
‘Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust…..
Psalm 16:1
What if you are truly desirous of running the heavenly race and is prepared to leave the treacherous paths that the devil has laid for all of Adam’s seeds? How can one stay the course and not be swayed back into the once well trodden alluring road to damnation?
If you are willing, God’s will shall prevail.
‘I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for He is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and His domination shall be even unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth and He worketh signs and wonders in heaven and earth, Who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.’
Daniel 6:26-28
This morning, as I spent time with our Lord, He brought me to the book of Daniel and most will be familiar with the faithfulness of Daniel and how God protected him in the lion’s den. And how King Darius, the ruler of most of the known civilized world then truly acknowledge the faithfulness of the Sovereign God, much as nowhere was it mentioned that King Darius worship Daniel’s and our God.
‘The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup; Thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places, yea, I have a godly heritage. I will bless the Lord, Who hath given me counsel, my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me, because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.’
Psalm 16:5-8
Tearing is an emotion I do not do often, but since the Spirit of God touched me that night in Bangkok, a welling of joy and thankfulness that cascades into tears of thankfulness is an oft enough occurrence that the Lord has blessed me at His time. And this morning, the reading of Daniel, not an unfamiliar story nor an unfamiliar verse in my regular traipsing through God’s Word imbued in me this tearful thankfulness. Indeed God stays faithful, but unlike Daniel, most of us often err in our steadfastness to an ever present God.
‘Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house, and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before His God, as he did aforetime.’
Daniel 6:10
Our only goal in life must be one where we strive to look towards Christ the author and finisher of our faith, and our pursuit of this command of God must never be swayed by the distractions of the world nor our self deceit. Daniel was a man of the Old Testament. He looked to God. Today, as children of God living in the New Testament, our great God has now brought forth the next phase of His plans, for God knows that the finite men can never meet the requirements of the law, but the law was put in place to remind us of our need to look to Christ as our example, and to lean upon the leading of the Holy Spirit that Christ left in the hearts of believers to intercede for us with God our Father, till His return.
‘By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.’
John 13:35
What must be the measure of the “success” of our total pursuit of our relationship with the Sovereign God?
Can men see the glory and grace of God upon our lives and like the evil men of Daniel’s time, they can find no fault in us, other than our total obedience and love and fear for God our Father?
‘Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.’
Daniel 6:5
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(17th Aug 10)
What should we truly pursue in life??
Do take time to read and ponder through Psalm 128( see linkhttp://www.o-bible.com/cgibin/ob.cgi?version=kjv&book=psa&chapter=128) and may it be both edifying and enlightening.
‘Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god….’
Psalm 16:4
Some of us of the slightly older vintage might remember the diminutive South African long distance runner of some reputation, Ms Zola Budd. She was famous for running barefooted but became infamous when her foot accidentally caught the thighs of her rival, the American runner Mary Decker and derailed both their Olympic dreams in the Summer Olympic Games in 1984.
‘How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God.’
Mark 10:17-23
By God’s prescience, the Daily Bread reading this morning(DB Tuesday 17th Aug 10) talks about the dangers of our race for the riches of the world and I quote “Don’t let riches or the pursuit of riches, derail your pursuit of Jesus.” A known fact this might be, but still a useful reminder for many who have since lost sight of God’s purpose for their finite lives, having been blindsided by this great desire to cumulate things of the world for eternity, forgetting that it is life after that matters more. And on the matter of derailment, reality is that much as troubles can bring us much grief, such troubles also double as a means to bring us back into focus upon things that truly matters, that is, eternity with God or eternal damnation in Hell.
‘Hell and destruction are never full, so the eyes of man are never satisfied.’
Proverbs 27:20
The Olympics according to folklore originated in Greece, as a competition to glorify the physical prowess of the then all conquering Greek city states as well as a tribute to their great god, King Zeus, who purportedly rules in the Heavens. Today, much as many have come to disregard Greek mythology as the basis for the Olympics, for the modern Olympics is meant to be a platform of men’s idealism, reality is many continue to pursue the gods, though of a different form - that of glory and adulation.
‘Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is none else, I am God and there is none like Me.’
Isaiah 46:9
Many of us often accepted the faith, and brand ourselves Christians when we tripped up, like Zola, in our lives. And once God picked us up, we often resume running on the same track of carnal desire, with mammon as the end all of our determined pursuits, instead of switching tracks towards Christ, the author and finisher of our faith.
‘Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust…..
Psalm 16:1
What if you are truly desirous of running the heavenly race and is prepared to leave the treacherous paths that the devil has laid for all of Adam’s seeds? How can one stay the course and not be swayed back into the once well trodden alluring road to damnation?
If you are willing, God’s will shall prevail.
‘I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for He is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and His domination shall be even unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth and He worketh signs and wonders in heaven and earth, Who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.’
Daniel 6:26-28
This morning, as I spent time with our Lord, He brought me to the book of Daniel and most will be familiar with the faithfulness of Daniel and how God protected him in the lion’s den. And how King Darius, the ruler of most of the known civilized world then truly acknowledge the faithfulness of the Sovereign God, much as nowhere was it mentioned that King Darius worship Daniel’s and our God.
‘The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup; Thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places, yea, I have a godly heritage. I will bless the Lord, Who hath given me counsel, my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me, because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.’
Psalm 16:5-8
Tearing is an emotion I do not do often, but since the Spirit of God touched me that night in Bangkok, a welling of joy and thankfulness that cascades into tears of thankfulness is an oft enough occurrence that the Lord has blessed me at His time. And this morning, the reading of Daniel, not an unfamiliar story nor an unfamiliar verse in my regular traipsing through God’s Word imbued in me this tearful thankfulness. Indeed God stays faithful, but unlike Daniel, most of us often err in our steadfastness to an ever present God.
‘Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house, and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before His God, as he did aforetime.’
Daniel 6:10
Our only goal in life must be one where we strive to look towards Christ the author and finisher of our faith, and our pursuit of this command of God must never be swayed by the distractions of the world nor our self deceit. Daniel was a man of the Old Testament. He looked to God. Today, as children of God living in the New Testament, our great God has now brought forth the next phase of His plans, for God knows that the finite men can never meet the requirements of the law, but the law was put in place to remind us of our need to look to Christ as our example, and to lean upon the leading of the Holy Spirit that Christ left in the hearts of believers to intercede for us with God our Father, till His return.
‘By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.’
John 13:35
What must be the measure of the “success” of our total pursuit of our relationship with the Sovereign God?
Can men see the glory and grace of God upon our lives and like the evil men of Daniel’s time, they can find no fault in us, other than our total obedience and love and fear for God our Father?
‘Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.’
Daniel 6:5
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(17th Aug 10)
What should we truly pursue in life??
Do take time to read and ponder through Psalm 128( see linkhttp://www.o-bible.com/cgibin/ob.cgi?version=kjv&book=psa&chapter=128) and may it be both edifying and enlightening.
Friday, August 13, 2010
In Spirit and Truth #7 When God speaks (13th Aug 10)
Dear….
‘But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for Himself, the Lord will hear when I call unto Him.’
Psalm 4:3
The thought that God placed in my heart last night was to share about Him speaking to me. And this morning, as I turned the Bible to the relevant verses that He shared with me last night in my quiet time, He brought me instead, to the above verse Psalm 4:3.
Why bring me to the other side of the coin, I pondered? Yet is not this a truism, that most Christians spent more time asking God than listening. And we spent time telling God about our will, rather than listening for the His still quiet voice showing us His will.
‘I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go. I will guide thee with Mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding…’
Psalm 32:8-9
“Hold your horses’ we must, for this might be a restraining phrase more associated with Western movies of yond, where fresh in the face white cowboys were more than eager to scalp a few Red Indians, on the misguided notion that their guns would out-shoot the arrows of the original natives of America. When we first believed, the Spirit of God will imbue us with that joy and peace, but believing is just the beginning of a process of refinement and transformation, as we learn to let go and let God mold us. It is not a 100 meters dash, nor is it a walk or trot in the park, and certainly it is not an easy breezy run, as God will surface for refinement, the multi-layers of carnality still encrusted in our very being.
Would we allow the Spirit of God residing in us to “hold us back” from letting our own sinful understanding plunge us back into sin and instead, learn to take time unto the presence of God, for Him to speak to us and to lead us, in His way and in His will?
‘The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary, he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. The Lord hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.’
Isaiah 50:4-5
Prayerfully, the first line of Isaiah 50:4 is not a statement of sinful pride but rather a joyful thankfulness to our Great God for allowing me to be used by Him, as He speaks words of healing, encouragement or even gentle rebuke through me, to those He wants spoken to. And indeed God truly speaks to me often enough these past one year, as shared previously, in the transient period between my sleeping and my waking up. And these impressions that He left with me might be in all brevity, yet they are the most specific commands that I have ever received from Him. And much as this has been an ongoing experience in the past one year plus, like new toddlers learning to walk, I have often tripped over my own logic and prayerfully, save a few bumps here and there, God is good and I have learned to be more resolute in obeying, in surrendering and in following Him.
‘He that loveth his life shall lose it, and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me, and where I am, there shall also my servant be, if any man serve me, him will my Father honor.’
John 12:26
You could say I literally stumbled unto this verse, as I was leafing through the pages of my Bible to look for the details of John 10:4. A little side track this might be, but it is a reminder of what it means to work on our salvation, much as we do not work for our salvation. A Christian is a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ, and this is what we are commanded to do. For to live is Christ, to die is gain.
‘….and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him, for they know not the voice of strangers.’
John 10:4-5
Lately, in my conversations with friends or even once strangers, I have matter of fact stated that God spoke to me and I shared on what He said. A moment of madness such thoughts must have crossed the minds of some of these recipients of my attestation of faith, but the truth only resonates when the sheep knows the voice of the shepherd. So who am I the once mule to even want to harbor the thought of judging my fellow brothers who have yet to know the Shepherd and will not understand nor fathom the significance of what I am saying?
Our omnipresent God truly communicates with us, if we only we could take time to know Him and be still to know His will. Christianity is a relationship, it is different from other beliefs, which often have physical symbolisms that the natural man could grasp and understand. God is Spirit and His Spirit communicates with our spirit, and we need to allow Him to help us discard our natural carnal self, in order for us to “hear” Him in a dimension that we are not familiar with.
And to seek God in His Words, in prayer, in praise and in works, to love others as Christ has shown us and to live out the fruits of the Spirit, these are the very necessary responses that God expects from us for us to truly know and hear Him.
‘Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother, my soul is even as a weaned child.’
Psalm 131:2
America is turning the lights down in many of its cities and tearing up its paved roads, by virtue of lack of funds. For most of us, we are not cognitive of the darkness of the sinful world we live in till the delusory lights are shut off and our lives unraveled. And indeed, God looks for a humble and contrite heart, for it is often when we are flat on our back, will we learn to want to take time to know God and in doing so, we will over time come to recognize and know that still, quiet but yet resonant voice of our God and how wonderful it will be.
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(12th Aug 10)
When sparks fly!!
The closest I ever came to hearing God with my ears, was in a vision I had a few years back, when His voice sounded like the roaring of waves as described in the Book of Ezekiel. Most of the time, I hear Him through His Words speaking to me as I read the Bible, or lately through impressions on the heart, both in my sleep as well as in my active hours.
Is the recent intensity and scale of disasters from the Asian tsunami, to the Myammar cyclone to the present fiery maelstrom in Russia and the floods in the Indian subcontinent and China as much as result of men’s follies as it is God allowing our lives to be shaken up a lot more to get our attention?
A cursory glance most of us would pay heed to these distant disasters, but clearly a continued looking away from God could mean that one could be the next in line, as the world shakes further, as it surely would.
And does it mean that determined and diligent followers of our Lord Jesus Christ will have no storms in their life?
Psalm 23, the verse quite frequently used in funerals and obituaries was explained to me(by my present study topic in the Bible Online course) in a different context to what most of us have understood till now. In Psalm 23:1 it acknowledges and affirms that ‘The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want.’ And it follows through with some wonderful reassurances in Psalm 23:2-3 ‘He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, He leadeth me besides still waters. He restores my soul, He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.’
Yet, abruptly, in Psalm 23:4, God brings us into a less than ideal environment for ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me, Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.’
God never promises us who seek Him no storms in our lives. In fact, storms are a very part and parcel of our refinement process. Yet the promise of God is that He is with us throughout, be it the hills of joy and valleys of depression or the in between nonchalant moments of our finite lives.
And yet God also promises that after the storms, is already prepared wonderful things for those who trust in Him.
‘Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies, Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.’
Psalm 23:5-6
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. That is true if we in our carnality continue to look for conclusions, but if we take time to know God, we will know Him and will acknowledge that His presence is very real, and what matters will no longer be the conclusion, but the certainty that it is God Who matters and what must matter to all of us is that we do know His voice.
‘But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for Himself, the Lord will hear when I call unto Him.’
Psalm 4:3
The thought that God placed in my heart last night was to share about Him speaking to me. And this morning, as I turned the Bible to the relevant verses that He shared with me last night in my quiet time, He brought me instead, to the above verse Psalm 4:3.
Why bring me to the other side of the coin, I pondered? Yet is not this a truism, that most Christians spent more time asking God than listening. And we spent time telling God about our will, rather than listening for the His still quiet voice showing us His will.
‘I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go. I will guide thee with Mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding…’
Psalm 32:8-9
“Hold your horses’ we must, for this might be a restraining phrase more associated with Western movies of yond, where fresh in the face white cowboys were more than eager to scalp a few Red Indians, on the misguided notion that their guns would out-shoot the arrows of the original natives of America. When we first believed, the Spirit of God will imbue us with that joy and peace, but believing is just the beginning of a process of refinement and transformation, as we learn to let go and let God mold us. It is not a 100 meters dash, nor is it a walk or trot in the park, and certainly it is not an easy breezy run, as God will surface for refinement, the multi-layers of carnality still encrusted in our very being.
Would we allow the Spirit of God residing in us to “hold us back” from letting our own sinful understanding plunge us back into sin and instead, learn to take time unto the presence of God, for Him to speak to us and to lead us, in His way and in His will?
‘The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary, he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. The Lord hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.’
Isaiah 50:4-5
Prayerfully, the first line of Isaiah 50:4 is not a statement of sinful pride but rather a joyful thankfulness to our Great God for allowing me to be used by Him, as He speaks words of healing, encouragement or even gentle rebuke through me, to those He wants spoken to. And indeed God truly speaks to me often enough these past one year, as shared previously, in the transient period between my sleeping and my waking up. And these impressions that He left with me might be in all brevity, yet they are the most specific commands that I have ever received from Him. And much as this has been an ongoing experience in the past one year plus, like new toddlers learning to walk, I have often tripped over my own logic and prayerfully, save a few bumps here and there, God is good and I have learned to be more resolute in obeying, in surrendering and in following Him.
‘He that loveth his life shall lose it, and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me, and where I am, there shall also my servant be, if any man serve me, him will my Father honor.’
John 12:26
You could say I literally stumbled unto this verse, as I was leafing through the pages of my Bible to look for the details of John 10:4. A little side track this might be, but it is a reminder of what it means to work on our salvation, much as we do not work for our salvation. A Christian is a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ, and this is what we are commanded to do. For to live is Christ, to die is gain.
‘….and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him, for they know not the voice of strangers.’
John 10:4-5
Lately, in my conversations with friends or even once strangers, I have matter of fact stated that God spoke to me and I shared on what He said. A moment of madness such thoughts must have crossed the minds of some of these recipients of my attestation of faith, but the truth only resonates when the sheep knows the voice of the shepherd. So who am I the once mule to even want to harbor the thought of judging my fellow brothers who have yet to know the Shepherd and will not understand nor fathom the significance of what I am saying?
Our omnipresent God truly communicates with us, if we only we could take time to know Him and be still to know His will. Christianity is a relationship, it is different from other beliefs, which often have physical symbolisms that the natural man could grasp and understand. God is Spirit and His Spirit communicates with our spirit, and we need to allow Him to help us discard our natural carnal self, in order for us to “hear” Him in a dimension that we are not familiar with.
And to seek God in His Words, in prayer, in praise and in works, to love others as Christ has shown us and to live out the fruits of the Spirit, these are the very necessary responses that God expects from us for us to truly know and hear Him.
‘Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother, my soul is even as a weaned child.’
Psalm 131:2
America is turning the lights down in many of its cities and tearing up its paved roads, by virtue of lack of funds. For most of us, we are not cognitive of the darkness of the sinful world we live in till the delusory lights are shut off and our lives unraveled. And indeed, God looks for a humble and contrite heart, for it is often when we are flat on our back, will we learn to want to take time to know God and in doing so, we will over time come to recognize and know that still, quiet but yet resonant voice of our God and how wonderful it will be.
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(12th Aug 10)
When sparks fly!!
The closest I ever came to hearing God with my ears, was in a vision I had a few years back, when His voice sounded like the roaring of waves as described in the Book of Ezekiel. Most of the time, I hear Him through His Words speaking to me as I read the Bible, or lately through impressions on the heart, both in my sleep as well as in my active hours.
Is the recent intensity and scale of disasters from the Asian tsunami, to the Myammar cyclone to the present fiery maelstrom in Russia and the floods in the Indian subcontinent and China as much as result of men’s follies as it is God allowing our lives to be shaken up a lot more to get our attention?
A cursory glance most of us would pay heed to these distant disasters, but clearly a continued looking away from God could mean that one could be the next in line, as the world shakes further, as it surely would.
And does it mean that determined and diligent followers of our Lord Jesus Christ will have no storms in their life?
Psalm 23, the verse quite frequently used in funerals and obituaries was explained to me(by my present study topic in the Bible Online course) in a different context to what most of us have understood till now. In Psalm 23:1 it acknowledges and affirms that ‘The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want.’ And it follows through with some wonderful reassurances in Psalm 23:2-3 ‘He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, He leadeth me besides still waters. He restores my soul, He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.’
Yet, abruptly, in Psalm 23:4, God brings us into a less than ideal environment for ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me, Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.’
God never promises us who seek Him no storms in our lives. In fact, storms are a very part and parcel of our refinement process. Yet the promise of God is that He is with us throughout, be it the hills of joy and valleys of depression or the in between nonchalant moments of our finite lives.
And yet God also promises that after the storms, is already prepared wonderful things for those who trust in Him.
‘Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies, Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.’
Psalm 23:5-6
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. That is true if we in our carnality continue to look for conclusions, but if we take time to know God, we will know Him and will acknowledge that His presence is very real, and what matters will no longer be the conclusion, but the certainty that it is God Who matters and what must matter to all of us is that we do know His voice.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
In Spirit and in Truth #6 From following to surrender (8th Aug 10)
Dear...
'I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel you
and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no
understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to
you.'
Psalm 32:8-9
Much as we believe in the fine gray matter that exist in all of us, that
supposedly distinguish us from all other living matters that populate the world,
it is quite a comedown to be equated to the lowly donkey which can be stubbornly
disobedient.And even more so for those of us who truly believed that we have been diligently seeking and following the Lord our God!!
'Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the
man who trusts in Him.'
Psalm 32:10
Just like Friday, I commiserated with a new found brother in Christ my present
"troubles' much as I glorified God for His wonderful work in my life these past
decade, since His Spirit fell upon me. And much as I know that God is bringing
me to a new and deeper level of relationship with Him, which entails one going
through further refinement in the crucible of fire, it can be dauntingly
miserable. And God has indeed prepared me for this present trials, for He has
spoken to me' late last year, about the need to buy gold, as in one' s character
as refined by Him.
This dear new brother in Christ shared a simple but profound thought that never
really struck me till then. Which is, am I ready to move from following to
totally surrendering to the will of God?
The Daily Bread reading this Sunday morning(Aug 8th) talks about God trying to
get our attention through some circumstances in our life. Are we ready to submit
and ask Him, what spiritual lessons He wants us to learn?
'But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord our God of Israel with
all his heart.......'
2 Kings 10:31
I know I am no king of the roost, strutting around famously with no regard for
anyone except myself. In fact, I count myself as one of those blessed to desire
to seek God actively in His words and in His work. So, is it fair for the Spirit
of God to convict me of my guilt as a dumb mule, for one who still needs a stick
or bridle to be prodded along in the right direction of the Spirit's leading?
'Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter
end. There are many devices in a man's heart, nevertheless the counsel of the
Lord, that shall stand.'
Proverbs 19:20-21
For most of you who have cared to lend an ear to my past few seasons of
sharing my relationship with God via this word based ministry, you might
realize that I have a surfeit of imperfections, yet God remains faithful, and I
am thankful that my right response was to cling on to Him always.
And especially these past couple of years, the voice of God has never been
clearer for me. yet, like Ed the talking horse(a very old popular American
television comedy series about a horse that can talk), I often question the
logic of a clear word from God.
This year, our good Lord has moved me from the words "patience" to "stop" to
just last week "sell with patience."
Much as these are related to the field of financial investments, my perceived
area of expertise. it has been quite a challenge for me to want to surrender my
own understanding and follow not blindly but in full obedience knowing that God
is Sovereign.
But God is Sovereign. And like those who seek Him with our all, there will be
very little room for us to not discern correctly His will. For God will affirm
and correct if we are off tangent. Question is, will we surrender??
'Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you,
as though some strange thing happened unto you. But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are
partakers of Christ's sufferings, that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may
be glad also with exceeding joy.'
1 Peter 4;12-13
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(9th Aug 10)
The Spirit of God will bring us into the truth
- we are no donkey, but are sheep
Man plans, God directs. God brought me out of my self inflicted spiritual
depression in late June. And I recovered my resolve sufficiently to obey Him and attended the first inaugural gathering of praying men in Singapore. And
that was where I met my new found brother in Christ, the source of my present
enlightenment.
It was a cursory meeting, and nothing more might have come out of it, but
interestingly, this brother felt compelled to not just pray for me(much as we only
had a brief encounter) but to drop me an email to share the desire that God
placed in his heart to keep me in his prayers.And it works two ways, for this
gentleman was the key subject of a conversation that same week, when I was in
Bangkok with my wife and I had resolved to contact him when back in Singapore
and was indeed pleasantly surprised by his email on the need to pray for me.
Coincidences is a prevalence in a follower of Christ's life, but it stays as
coincidences if we choose not to following the leading of the Spirit of God, as
He leads our very being. Faith comes from God, but response comes from us, and
often, we deprive ourselves of the grace of God because we either
- do not come unto the ever present God
- or even if we do, we behave like the smart mule, going our own way, when the
truth is that the way of God is the only true and correct path.
'He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out....and his sheep follow him
because they know his voice.'
John 10:3-4
If we truly know God, we must follow unequivocably. I know God, but I have not
done so. I will now.
'I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel you
and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no
understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to
you.'
Psalm 32:8-9
Much as we believe in the fine gray matter that exist in all of us, that
supposedly distinguish us from all other living matters that populate the world,
it is quite a comedown to be equated to the lowly donkey which can be stubbornly
disobedient.And even more so for those of us who truly believed that we have been diligently seeking and following the Lord our God!!
'Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the
man who trusts in Him.'
Psalm 32:10
Just like Friday, I commiserated with a new found brother in Christ my present
"troubles' much as I glorified God for His wonderful work in my life these past
decade, since His Spirit fell upon me. And much as I know that God is bringing
me to a new and deeper level of relationship with Him, which entails one going
through further refinement in the crucible of fire, it can be dauntingly
miserable. And God has indeed prepared me for this present trials, for He has
spoken to me' late last year, about the need to buy gold, as in one' s character
as refined by Him.
This dear new brother in Christ shared a simple but profound thought that never
really struck me till then. Which is, am I ready to move from following to
totally surrendering to the will of God?
The Daily Bread reading this Sunday morning(Aug 8th) talks about God trying to
get our attention through some circumstances in our life. Are we ready to submit
and ask Him, what spiritual lessons He wants us to learn?
'But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord our God of Israel with
all his heart.......'
2 Kings 10:31
I know I am no king of the roost, strutting around famously with no regard for
anyone except myself. In fact, I count myself as one of those blessed to desire
to seek God actively in His words and in His work. So, is it fair for the Spirit
of God to convict me of my guilt as a dumb mule, for one who still needs a stick
or bridle to be prodded along in the right direction of the Spirit's leading?
'Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter
end. There are many devices in a man's heart, nevertheless the counsel of the
Lord, that shall stand.'
Proverbs 19:20-21
For most of you who have cared to lend an ear to my past few seasons of
sharing my relationship with God via this word based ministry, you might
realize that I have a surfeit of imperfections, yet God remains faithful, and I
am thankful that my right response was to cling on to Him always.
And especially these past couple of years, the voice of God has never been
clearer for me. yet, like Ed the talking horse(a very old popular American
television comedy series about a horse that can talk), I often question the
logic of a clear word from God.
This year, our good Lord has moved me from the words "patience" to "stop" to
just last week "sell with patience."
Much as these are related to the field of financial investments, my perceived
area of expertise. it has been quite a challenge for me to want to surrender my
own understanding and follow not blindly but in full obedience knowing that God
is Sovereign.
But God is Sovereign. And like those who seek Him with our all, there will be
very little room for us to not discern correctly His will. For God will affirm
and correct if we are off tangent. Question is, will we surrender??
'Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you,
as though some strange thing happened unto you. But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are
partakers of Christ's sufferings, that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may
be glad also with exceeding joy.'
1 Peter 4;12-13
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(9th Aug 10)
The Spirit of God will bring us into the truth
- we are no donkey, but are sheep
Man plans, God directs. God brought me out of my self inflicted spiritual
depression in late June. And I recovered my resolve sufficiently to obey Him and attended the first inaugural gathering of praying men in Singapore. And
that was where I met my new found brother in Christ, the source of my present
enlightenment.
It was a cursory meeting, and nothing more might have come out of it, but
interestingly, this brother felt compelled to not just pray for me(much as we only
had a brief encounter) but to drop me an email to share the desire that God
placed in his heart to keep me in his prayers.And it works two ways, for this
gentleman was the key subject of a conversation that same week, when I was in
Bangkok with my wife and I had resolved to contact him when back in Singapore
and was indeed pleasantly surprised by his email on the need to pray for me.
Coincidences is a prevalence in a follower of Christ's life, but it stays as
coincidences if we choose not to following the leading of the Spirit of God, as
He leads our very being. Faith comes from God, but response comes from us, and
often, we deprive ourselves of the grace of God because we either
- do not come unto the ever present God
- or even if we do, we behave like the smart mule, going our own way, when the
truth is that the way of God is the only true and correct path.
'He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out....and his sheep follow him
because they know his voice.'
John 10:3-4
If we truly know God, we must follow unequivocably. I know God, but I have not
done so. I will now.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
In Spirit and in Truth #5 Presence (4th Aug 10)
Dear……
‘I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.’
Romans 1:16
Presents are what most kids and some grown up ones as well look forward to in the annual ritual of Christmas. And it seems Santa Claus is more associated with Christmas than our Lord Jesus Christ. You could say dear Santa stole a march on the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ. But there are greater ramifications. In being enamored by the delusions of the present, many have lost sight of what the birth of Christ meant to their salvation from eternal damnation. And as this continued misinformation continues through the unschooled generations(as regards the truth of the Bible), and many have been led further astray by being led to associate Christ with Santa every day of their lives, for they are told that God so loves us, and unlike the miserly Santa, God will give us presents(things that we lusts after) every time we ask, and not just on Christmas day!! May the overweight Santa be stuck in his chimney for not working harder to please us Christians!!
‘Your ears shall hear the word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it.” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left..’
Isaiah 30:21
Unto the presence of God is what a desirous follower of our Lord Jesus Christ must seek. And all who call themselves Christians is commanded to do that.
Yet, it is clear that not many who call themselves Christians pay much attention to this command of God to seek Him with our all. Why? Is it because they do not believe that God is real? Or is it that they figured that real God might be, but He is somewhere far away, having so many things on His plate to bother us? But God is omnipresent, if so, why do we not “see or hear” Him?
‘Unto Thee will I cry, O Lord my rock, be not silent to me, lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit. Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto Thee, when I life up my hands toward Thy holy oracle…’
Psalm 28:1-2
Lately, or more like these past couple of weeks, I find myself caught in this conundrum of emotions, not of my own making or desire, yet I am right smack in the middle(like a bad movie except one is an actor in it with no end in sight), and much as I wish it will end soon or at least I can step out of, God seems to have other plans, and will I let go and let Him?
‘And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.’
Hebrews 10:24
How do you deal with counterparties who are looking from their sense of understanding, righteousness and needs? And it is quite burdensome for me, like in the whirlpool, where however hard you try to swim, the sense of being sucked in deeper and deeper permeates one’s very being. If only everyone truly learn to look and live from God’s perspective, much of the world’s angst and woes will cease!
‘Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God Who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.’
Philippians 2:12-13
It is times like this that one wish that “the lately absent” God will just come right by and in one sweep restore my till recently peaceful life. A drowning man clings on to any straw. But for those who know our Lord, life only becomes futile when we stop believing in the Sovereignty and omnipresence of our Father in Heaven.
‘Lets us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering;(for He is faithful that promised;”
Hebrews 10:23
Patience and perseverance are what God in His word reminds all who seek Him, and hope will not be left unfilled, for at His timing and way, the Spirit of God will imbue our very being and bring us forth.
‘Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound, they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of Thy countenance.’
Psalms 89:15
As I pen this, two of the three separate strings of imponderables in my present life just got extended further, much as I had hoped for a conclusion. Do I despair in frustration or do I use my own wiles to bring about my perceived desired result? Through it all, God reminded me to be patient, and to trust in Him, and if my emotions as of now is not stretched taut to near breaking point, it is because through these past two weeks, much as I felt like a victim of one of those ancient sadistic methods of being pulled apart by three horses tied to one’s limbs and running in different directions, I have stayed generally whole and at peace in the heart, because God is Whom I look to, and His presence is very real in my moment of need.
‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’
Matthew 11:28
Those without faith will not know God. And faith comes from God and is received by those who are willing to come unto His presence. And “prayer is the voice of faith, trust that God knows and cares”(from Daily Bread 2nd Aug 10)
‘But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God….’
2 Chronicles 26:16
Joseph took many trials to truly be made ready, to be placed by God in a great position of influence, to do His will. And it was necessary for God first had to make right what was not right in him and then after that, to buffer him up completely with this humility and obedience to God, that when God prospers Him, he will not be corrupted by His blessings, for pride was what befell Lucifer, the angel of light who fell from grace and sunk into the sinful darkness.
I am no Joseph, but like all who seek the Lord, the Word of God reminds us that these are end times intensified, and correction and refinement will start with God’s people.
‘The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God…..’
Psalm 53:1
Job’s wife called him foolish and asked him to curse God and die, rather than cling on to a not just seemingly absent God, but one Who does not seem to give two hoots for Job’s present troubles. My troubles are pale in comparison to Job’s and is also paltry if compared to that of many others. But big or small, man likes to look for conclusion, while God looks for obedience.
‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.’
Psalm 46:1
Refuge in most context is perceived to be an externality, a shelter where one can ensconced oneself. But with God, it is our inward bring that we should focus our all on, for it is in our hearts that His Spirit resides. And it is no wonder that many never recognized the presence of God in their lives, for they were looking at the wrong plane, and in their rush to resist the wiles of the devil, they totally miss the still quiet voice of the Spirit of God speaking to them, to submit to Him, then only can we resist the devil.
‘Be still, and know that I am God…….The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah’
Psalm 46:10-11
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(2nd Aug 10)
Nothing is further from the truth, when the Spirit of God speaks to us
‘My soul melts from heaviness. Strengthen me according to Your word. Remove from me the way of lying. And grant me Your law graciously. I have chosen the way of truth……’
Psalm 119:28-30
As I soldier on, like one of those actors in HK who star in too many movies simultaneously, a key actor yet never in control nor fully aware of when the movie ends, it can be tiresome and burdensome.
God knows our needs, and the refiner’s fire He will put us through, but thankfully, strengthening and resolve comes from him, and not us. Truly as in Psalm 119:28-30, His word indeed will strengthen, assure, guide and eventually bring us out to His glory. And the Word God impressed upon my heart last evening was “to be still and know His will(Psalm 46:10-11).
In Matthew 11:28, the Word of God says ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’ Quite contrary to the intuitive actions in all of us flawed men, where our self defensive mechanism often goes into overdrive to deal with issues our way. And often in our going to God, it is still about asking Him to answer prayers our way. But we can never resist the wiles of the devil on our own strength and understanding.And more importantly, in not trusting and letting God, we have lost sight of the fact that God is Sovereign, and that thankfulness in all situations will allow us to see the wisdom of His ways, and the greater plans He has for us, to transform us in His likeness.
Matthew 11:29 says ‘ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’
In our relationship with God, there is a need to seek and yet also to response.
- God is literally asking us to leave our cares of the world with Him, and instead, take on the desire to do His will?
- Does this resolve one’s present problems or fulfill one’s present pressing needs?
- Would the answer to this question be another question which is “does what matters to us now truly matter after all?”
- If God is Sovereign, then what matters is for us to be fully aware of His omnipresence, and seek to stay unto His presence always. Present issues of the world might seem pressing, but other than seemingly depressing, release will come if we learn to look beyond our needs to the will of God.
'Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.'
Matthew 7:14
Do reflect upon the following two verses, for may it speak to you, as they did for me, on God’s purpose for us, and not our own purpose in life
‘Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth, shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.’
Isaiah 43:18-19
‘In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.’
John 7:37-38
‘I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.’
Romans 1:16
Presents are what most kids and some grown up ones as well look forward to in the annual ritual of Christmas. And it seems Santa Claus is more associated with Christmas than our Lord Jesus Christ. You could say dear Santa stole a march on the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ. But there are greater ramifications. In being enamored by the delusions of the present, many have lost sight of what the birth of Christ meant to their salvation from eternal damnation. And as this continued misinformation continues through the unschooled generations(as regards the truth of the Bible), and many have been led further astray by being led to associate Christ with Santa every day of their lives, for they are told that God so loves us, and unlike the miserly Santa, God will give us presents(things that we lusts after) every time we ask, and not just on Christmas day!! May the overweight Santa be stuck in his chimney for not working harder to please us Christians!!
‘Your ears shall hear the word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it.” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left..’
Isaiah 30:21
Unto the presence of God is what a desirous follower of our Lord Jesus Christ must seek. And all who call themselves Christians is commanded to do that.
Yet, it is clear that not many who call themselves Christians pay much attention to this command of God to seek Him with our all. Why? Is it because they do not believe that God is real? Or is it that they figured that real God might be, but He is somewhere far away, having so many things on His plate to bother us? But God is omnipresent, if so, why do we not “see or hear” Him?
‘Unto Thee will I cry, O Lord my rock, be not silent to me, lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit. Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto Thee, when I life up my hands toward Thy holy oracle…’
Psalm 28:1-2
Lately, or more like these past couple of weeks, I find myself caught in this conundrum of emotions, not of my own making or desire, yet I am right smack in the middle(like a bad movie except one is an actor in it with no end in sight), and much as I wish it will end soon or at least I can step out of, God seems to have other plans, and will I let go and let Him?
‘And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.’
Hebrews 10:24
How do you deal with counterparties who are looking from their sense of understanding, righteousness and needs? And it is quite burdensome for me, like in the whirlpool, where however hard you try to swim, the sense of being sucked in deeper and deeper permeates one’s very being. If only everyone truly learn to look and live from God’s perspective, much of the world’s angst and woes will cease!
‘Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God Who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.’
Philippians 2:12-13
It is times like this that one wish that “the lately absent” God will just come right by and in one sweep restore my till recently peaceful life. A drowning man clings on to any straw. But for those who know our Lord, life only becomes futile when we stop believing in the Sovereignty and omnipresence of our Father in Heaven.
‘Lets us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering;(for He is faithful that promised;”
Hebrews 10:23
Patience and perseverance are what God in His word reminds all who seek Him, and hope will not be left unfilled, for at His timing and way, the Spirit of God will imbue our very being and bring us forth.
‘Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound, they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of Thy countenance.’
Psalms 89:15
As I pen this, two of the three separate strings of imponderables in my present life just got extended further, much as I had hoped for a conclusion. Do I despair in frustration or do I use my own wiles to bring about my perceived desired result? Through it all, God reminded me to be patient, and to trust in Him, and if my emotions as of now is not stretched taut to near breaking point, it is because through these past two weeks, much as I felt like a victim of one of those ancient sadistic methods of being pulled apart by three horses tied to one’s limbs and running in different directions, I have stayed generally whole and at peace in the heart, because God is Whom I look to, and His presence is very real in my moment of need.
‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’
Matthew 11:28
Those without faith will not know God. And faith comes from God and is received by those who are willing to come unto His presence. And “prayer is the voice of faith, trust that God knows and cares”(from Daily Bread 2nd Aug 10)
‘But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God….’
2 Chronicles 26:16
Joseph took many trials to truly be made ready, to be placed by God in a great position of influence, to do His will. And it was necessary for God first had to make right what was not right in him and then after that, to buffer him up completely with this humility and obedience to God, that when God prospers Him, he will not be corrupted by His blessings, for pride was what befell Lucifer, the angel of light who fell from grace and sunk into the sinful darkness.
I am no Joseph, but like all who seek the Lord, the Word of God reminds us that these are end times intensified, and correction and refinement will start with God’s people.
‘The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God…..’
Psalm 53:1
Job’s wife called him foolish and asked him to curse God and die, rather than cling on to a not just seemingly absent God, but one Who does not seem to give two hoots for Job’s present troubles. My troubles are pale in comparison to Job’s and is also paltry if compared to that of many others. But big or small, man likes to look for conclusion, while God looks for obedience.
‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.’
Psalm 46:1
Refuge in most context is perceived to be an externality, a shelter where one can ensconced oneself. But with God, it is our inward bring that we should focus our all on, for it is in our hearts that His Spirit resides. And it is no wonder that many never recognized the presence of God in their lives, for they were looking at the wrong plane, and in their rush to resist the wiles of the devil, they totally miss the still quiet voice of the Spirit of God speaking to them, to submit to Him, then only can we resist the devil.
‘Be still, and know that I am God…….The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah’
Psalm 46:10-11
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(2nd Aug 10)
Nothing is further from the truth, when the Spirit of God speaks to us
‘My soul melts from heaviness. Strengthen me according to Your word. Remove from me the way of lying. And grant me Your law graciously. I have chosen the way of truth……’
Psalm 119:28-30
As I soldier on, like one of those actors in HK who star in too many movies simultaneously, a key actor yet never in control nor fully aware of when the movie ends, it can be tiresome and burdensome.
God knows our needs, and the refiner’s fire He will put us through, but thankfully, strengthening and resolve comes from him, and not us. Truly as in Psalm 119:28-30, His word indeed will strengthen, assure, guide and eventually bring us out to His glory. And the Word God impressed upon my heart last evening was “to be still and know His will(Psalm 46:10-11).
In Matthew 11:28, the Word of God says ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’ Quite contrary to the intuitive actions in all of us flawed men, where our self defensive mechanism often goes into overdrive to deal with issues our way. And often in our going to God, it is still about asking Him to answer prayers our way. But we can never resist the wiles of the devil on our own strength and understanding.And more importantly, in not trusting and letting God, we have lost sight of the fact that God is Sovereign, and that thankfulness in all situations will allow us to see the wisdom of His ways, and the greater plans He has for us, to transform us in His likeness.
Matthew 11:29 says ‘ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’
In our relationship with God, there is a need to seek and yet also to response.
- God is literally asking us to leave our cares of the world with Him, and instead, take on the desire to do His will?
- Does this resolve one’s present problems or fulfill one’s present pressing needs?
- Would the answer to this question be another question which is “does what matters to us now truly matter after all?”
- If God is Sovereign, then what matters is for us to be fully aware of His omnipresence, and seek to stay unto His presence always. Present issues of the world might seem pressing, but other than seemingly depressing, release will come if we learn to look beyond our needs to the will of God.
'Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.'
Matthew 7:14
Do reflect upon the following two verses, for may it speak to you, as they did for me, on God’s purpose for us, and not our own purpose in life
‘Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth, shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.’
Isaiah 43:18-19
‘In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.’
John 7:37-38
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