Don’t Go Back To Legalism

My defense to those who examine me is this: Do we have no right to eat and drink? Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? 1 Corinthians 9:3-5

We must never be a stumbling block to the weak in faith. But at the same time, you must not allow people to abuse this principle and lure you back into legalism. Usually, the line of reasoning goes like this: “If others don’t like whatever you do, then you shouldn’t do it.” So if people don’t like your speaking in tongues, eating out in a restaurant, or liking certain fashion wear, you should stop doing them.

Then even Jesus Himself couldn’t measure up to that standard! Jesus constantly offended people. He offended the Pharisees by healing on the Sabbath, by going to parties, and by mixing with the “sinners.” If Jesus always had to worry about not upsetting people, He would have been paralyzed by the fear of men. The truth is that you will always find someone who disagrees with your personal tastes and preferences.

Many people often use the phrase “stumbling block” as a coverup for two problems they have—jealousy and envy. While the Bible teaches us not to allow our freedom to become a stumbling block, it never says that if someone has a difference of opinion from you about something you like, you have to immediately stop liking it. That is surrendering your freedom in favor of legalism. You are letting other people control your life!

What really is a “stumbling block?” A stumbling block is any word or action that will cause another Christian to fall back into a former sinful lifestyle. It does not refer to words or actions that people disagree with or don’t approve of. A stumbling block causes a weaker Christian to sin against his own conscience.

Some legalistic people were trying to lay a guilt trip on Paul. From 1 Corinthians 9:1-13, they labeled Paul’s lifestyle as a preacher a “stumbling block.” Paul retorted that he had done nothing to be ashamed of. He said, “I have my rights but in certain situations, I limit them. But don’t expect me to limit them all the time. When I’m not with the weak, I don’t have to act like the weak. When I’m not with legalists, I don’t worry about my own freedom. But in every situation, I do show regard to the people around me.”

Is that being hypocritical? No, not at all. That is being loving and showing concern for other people’s feelings. That is saying: “I wouldn’t do anything that would cause you to stumble in your conscience.” But when it comes to amoral issues like my personal tastes and preferences, I am not going to stop liking whatever I like just to appease my critics.

The Journey To The Anointing

And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you,

before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” 2 Kings 2:9

Elisha, the faithful servant of Elijah, was hungry and thirsty for more of God. He had witnessed for himself the signs and wonders in the life of Elijah. And in his own service for the Lord, Elisha wanted so much to move in that realm of the supernatural-just like his master! But there is always a price for the anointing. Elijah and Elisha were both at Gilgal (2 Kin. 2:1). Gilgal was the first place where the Israelites were circumcised and celebrated their Passover.

As such, Gilgal speaks of the salvation experience. Sensing that God was about to take him up into heaven, Elijah tested Elisha: “Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel” (2:2). It was a holy discouragement but Elisha was not to be deterred. He insisted on going to Bethel with his master. Bethel means the “house of God.” It speaks of the church. When a believer gets saved, the next step for him is to get planted in God’s house. Again Elijah tested his disciple: “Elisha, stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Jericho” (2:4).

Jericho was the city where the Israelites fought, speaking to us of spiritual warfare. Many people get converted and join a local church. But they are unwilling to get involved in the frontline ministry of evangelism and intercession. Elisha was not just a “pew-warmer” in the house of God, he wanted to do mighty exploits for the kingdom. So he went to Jericho.

At Jericho, Elijah told Elisha he was going on to the Jordan (2:6). Jordan is the place of signs and wonders for the Israelites. It speaks of the anointing for healing, deliverance and the miraculous. Elisha wanted all that very much. So he tagged along with Elijah to the Jordan.

All this while at Bethel, Jericho and the Jordan, there were many “sons of the prophets” who knew that God was going to take Elijah away (2:3,5,7). But they were neither hungry nor urgent enough to get the transference of Elijah’s anointing. They were contented to be sidelined as spectators of the kingdom.

Finally, Elijah asked Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” That double portion on Elijah’s mantle gave both Elijah and Elisha the power to cross over the Jordan on dry ground (2:8-9,14). When you are willing to move from salvation to God’s house, to spiritual warfare, and to the miraculous, that double portion anointing will also come upon you. And it will help you “crossover” into the world as a powerful witness for Christ!

Remedy For Depression

But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” 1 Kings 19:4

In 1 Kings 19, we see a downside in prophet Elijah’s personality-he was prone to depression. Some scholars have even gone so far as to say that Elijah probably struggled with bipolar disorder. His mood-swings could be so extreme that right after the euphoric victory over the false prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel, he plummeted down into having suicida tendencies. When he heard that Queen Jezebel wanted him dead, he became so depressed that he wanted to end his life (19:1-4). According to a recent American NIMH survey, up to 18 percent of the US population suffer from depression. More than 2 million, or one percent, struggle with bipolar disorder.

What was God’s remedy to Elijah? He got him to eat a cake baked by an angel. He then got him to drink, and then sleep (19:6-8). The cake speaks of the Word of God. In the treatment of depression, psychiatrists often talk about “reprogramming” or “re-framing” your thinking pattern. Really, there is no better tool for renewing one’s mind than God’s Word. As your thinking changes, your entire life will be turned around (Rom. 12:2).

The angel got Elijah to drink a jar of water. This speaks of the Holy Spirit. Jesus says, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink the Holy Spirit. Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-39). The Holy Spirit is always a tremendous lifter of a depressive mood.

The Lord then wanted Elijah to sleep. Proper management of your physical body is very important in dealing with depression. Elijah had worked very hard. He now needed some rest.

Next, Elijah met the Lord at Horeb, the mountain of God (1 Kin. 19:8). An encounter with God will heal any wounded, confused heart. God encouraged him, “Elijah, you are not alone, there are 7,000 good men like you in the land. And you are making a big difference” (19:18). In the presence of God, there is always love and encouragement to lift up a troubled soul.

Finally, God gave Elijah a new mission. God wanted Elijah to go and anoint a new king-Jehu the son of Nimshi. Also, God wanted Elijah to make a disciple out of Elisha (19:16-17). If you are feeling down, get a fresh vision from the Lord. Get up and do something productive. With God’s Word, the Holy Spirit, proper rest, a spiritual encounter with God, and a fresh vision for the kingdom, Elijah was lifted out of his depression. The same can happen to you.

The Dragon And The Woman

Great Expectations

Isaiah 41:9…… See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.

I don’t think it’s something in the air and it’s definitely not something in the water…. it’s more likely to be something in the heavenlies because God is up to something. Can you sense it in your spirit? I am excited….

That ‘something’ that God is up to is something big…. huge. I have great expectations. Change is coming; it’s springtime. The trees are bursting with life. It is a time to blossom and grow.

In the UK, we are on the threshold of a general election. There is a promise of change from all political parties. People are restless, they are looking for change, they want change.

Ironically, we live in a world that changes constantly; nothing seems permanent. People nervously scurry from one inadequate ‘solution’ to another but in a topsy-turvy lifestyle of extreme changes we are caught-up in a world of lies, excuses, deception and cover-ups. If change is coming, how can we consolidate it? How can we know that, this time, it will be a change for good?

We cannot trust the politicians, or the bankers, or the media or even the weather. In this season of election it is time to vote for Jesus. He alone is the Unchanging One, the same yesterday, today and forever.

I believe we are about to see the biggest wave of global evangelism ever and it will be effortless.

I believe that the Holy Spirit is about to draw unprecedented multitudes into the kingdom of God. Like shockwaves from a nuclear explosion it will start in the epicentre of our own homes and families and continue out to the ends of the earth. Like a seismic aftershock, no-one will be left untouched.

Get ready for this harvest of souls, they will fill our homes and flood our hearts. It is our responsibility to show them Jesus.

Thank you Lord Jesus, we have voted for you to be our leader. Amen. 

Envy, Strife and Division

For you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?1 Corinthians 3:3

The Corinthian church was a congregation very much open to the power of the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, a partying spirit arose among the people and there was much compromise in their midst, especially in the realm of sexual morality. Instead of centering on Christ, the Corinthian believers were a very egocentric lot. Jesus was their Savior but not yet their Lord.

They were more interested to get rather than to give. The apostle Paul wrote to rebuke them for their spiritual immaturity. He highlighted in no uncertain terms: “You are still just babies in the Christian life. You are not following the Lord but your own selfish desires. I cannot talk to you as I would to healthy Christians who are filled with the Spirit” (1 Cor 3:1, TLB). The Corinthian believers had divided themselves into quarreling groups, jealous and suspicious of each other. Paul chided them for “acting like people who don’t belong to the Lord at all” (3:3, TLB).

Do we see that among the body of Christ today? Absolutely. “Church politics” and infighting are widespread in many quarters of the kingdom. Rival ministries are often comparing and competing with each other. The Corinthians were proof of that. Simmering below all the spiritual gifts and revelatory knowledge in the Corinthian church was a whole range of jealousy, friction, resentment, bitterness and hatred for one another.

In Genesis 26, Isaac went to the Valley of Gerar and started digging wells to get drinking water for his family. Contention arose when some Philistines claimed the right to the well. Isaac called that well Esek, which means in Hebrew, “quarrel” (26:20). Not wanting to create strife, Isaac dug another well. But again the Philistines fought him over the second one. He called the second well Sitnah, which means “hatred” (26:21). Why did the Philistines behave in such a bullying way? Because they had previously seen the prosperity of Isaac, and they “envied him” (26:14).

Envy makes you quarrel and fight. Envy fills you with hatred for others. Envy is a work of the carnal flesh (Gal. 5:21). Whenever we allow envy, strife and division in a fellowship, not only do we hurt ourselves, we bring tremendous disrepute to the gospel. Such “church politics” and fleshly maneuvering should never be present among Christians. Isaac refused to stoop down to the level of the envious Philistines. He dug another well.

This time, he called the well Rehoboth, which means “spaciousness.” God had made room for him to be fruitful in the land (Gen. 26:22). When you choose to be a genuine disciple of Jesus and refuse to embrace the envy and strife of the world, God will ensure that you will come to your own realm of fruitfulness.

The Mind of Christ

For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16

In several places in the Bible, the word “mind” is translated from the Greek word phronema. Phronema is not just what you think but how you think-how you construct your thoughts and make your conclusions. Therefore, phronema is a mind-set, a mental paradigm or inclination, a framing or structure of thoughts. It controls the way a person views people and things around him. There are a number of phronemas in the Bible:

(1) Adamic mind-set. This is a natural, humanistic reasoning instilled by the value systems of this fallen world. In Matthew 16:21-23, Jesus rebuked Peter for being “not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” The Adamic mind-set is so natural that it can’t receive any spiritual revelation.

(2) Carnal mind-set. This is a self-centered paradigm. Every thought is processed only for the pleasing of the self. Romans 8:7-8 says, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” The Christian with a carnal mind-set often redefi nes spiritual principles in order to give license for himself to sin.

(3) Proud mind-set. This often applies to arrogant people who are puffed up by certain knowledge, “revelation” or education they have received. It can also manifest itself through ethnic pride or nationalism.

(4) Base mind-set. Paul says, “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things” (Phil. 3:18-19). A base mind is set on earthly things. It has no reverence for God or spiritual matters. People with such a mentality usually end up becoming very anti-Christian, anti-Church and anti-Christ.

(5) Childish mind-set. A child is immature and can’t accept responsibility. A child blame-shifts and gets into a temper tantrum whenever he can’t get his way. The Bible says, “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things” (1 Cor. 13:11).

(6) Mind of Christ. This is the mind-set that reads everything through the eyes of God. This is a paradigm that thinks everything through faith in the Word and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Put on the mind of Christ today!

The Three 'G's

For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David. 1 Kings 11:4

Solomon was lifted up by God to build Him a sanctuary. There was none as wise as Solomon in all the earth, yet this very wisdom became the basis of his corruption. What was the lifestyle that caused one so blessed to fall away from the plan and purpose of God for his life? Solomon fell prey to the three most basic temptations faced by all leaders: glory, girls and gold.

(1) Glory. Solomon’s will was in direct disobedience to the laws for kings. In Deuteronomy 17:16, God warns that a king “shall not multiply horses for himself.” Solomon went on a great military spending spree to gather chariots and horsemen (1 Kin. 10:26-28). They filled the whole kingdom of Israel. God was not against the formation of a necessary defense force but He was absolutely against a king putting his entire trust in them. Solomon presided over the greatest military buildup in Israel’s history only to satiate his own pride and vain glory.

(2) Girls. Deuteronomy 17:17 says that a king shall not “multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away.” While it is good for a man to have a wife, God says, “Don’t multiply wives!” “King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites … he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart” (1 Kin. 11:1,3). These sins may seem very remote to us but Jesus says that you can commit adultery in your heart (Matt. 5:28). The Bible talks about fallen church leaders that have “eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin” (2 Pet. 2:14). Those things can disqualify us from God’s anointing and blessings.

(3) Gold. Finally, Deuteronomy 17:17 warns that a king is not to “greatly multiply silver and gold for himself.” Solomon used his navy to bring into Jerusalem gold, silver, ivory, apes and peacocks (1 Kin. 10:22). He was using his God-given wisdom to enrich himself. There is nothing wrong with money. But the lust of money is the root of all evil. God did not forbid a king from gathering silver and gold. What He did forbid is the greedy multiplying and hoarding of them. It is the greed and adoration of possession that can ruin us as they did to King Solomon. If someone as great as Solomon could fall into temptation, then “let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12).

Faithful to God's Purpose

Now three times a year Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar which he had built for the LORD, and he burned incense with them on the altar that was before the LORD. So he finished the temple. 1 Kings 9:25

When the temple was completed, Solomon remembered the commandment of God in Deuteronomy 16:16, where God says, “Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God … and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed.” The people are to appear at:

(1) The Feast of Passover. This is symbolic of salvation. When we stand before God one day, we are to appear with souls we have turned to the Lord for salvation. We are not to come before Him empty-handed.

(2) The Feast of Pentecost. This is symbolic of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. We too have to appear before the Lord with souls we have led into the Spirit baptism. Again, we are not to come before His throne empty-handed.

(3) The Feast of Tabernacle. This is symbolic of Christian perfection. When we stand before the judgment seat of Christ, we are to present to Him the believers we have discipled and led into the pathway of spiritual maturity. May we not come before Him empty-handed in this area too.

See the beautiful spirit of Solomon? Unlike many ministers or denominations, Solomon was not transfixed by the splendor of the temple he had built; nor did he look upon it as an end in itself. He knew that the house of God was the place where the purpose of God would be accomplished. And for his faithful obedience to God’s Word and purpose, God blessed him greatly.

“King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom” (1 Kin. 10:23). God had promised him not only wisdom and understanding, but also riches and honor. Wisdom often precedes abundance. Solomon himself said that wisdom brings with it a long life, riches and honor (Prov. 3:16). No wonder he exhorts, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom” (4:7). Solomon lacked nothing. There was an abundant supply of wealth to accomplish all the dreams and visions God had given to him. In these exciting days, God is searching for people who would apply their hearts to divine wisdom. And into their hands will be given an abundance of wealth to perform all the will of God on the earth.

Temple of the Holy Spirit

Then he set up the pillars by the vestibule of the temple; he set up the pillar on the right and called its name Jachin, and he set up the pillar on the left and called its name Boaz. 1 Kings 7:21

As believers, we are the temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in us (1 Cor. 3:16). What kind of a temple does God want us to be in His kingdom? We can have a clue of that from the composition of Solomon’s temple.

First of all, Solomon’s temple speaks of purity. The whole building was characterized by its great length. The Holy Place alone was 40 cubits long (1 Kin. 6:17). The number “40″ in the Bible speaks of “purging by fiery trials.” Moses spent 40 years in the backside of the desert. The Israelites spent 40 years going round and round the wilderness. Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness learning to overcome the temptations of the devil. Maybe as you read this devotion today, you are going through some challenging situations in your life. Be encouraged to know that the fiery trials are sent your way to purge and equip you so that you will be able to enter into your “new building” with God’s blessing.

Secondly, Solomon’s temple speaks of perfection. The Holy of Holies was 20 cubits in length, breadth and height (6:20). Twenty was the age when an Israelite was deemed mature or “perfect enough” to join the army. God wants you to grow up into the spiritual maturity of perfection. The Bible says that the purpose of the ministry gifts is “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Eph. 4:12-13).

Thirdly, Solomon’s temple had strong pillars. The pillars on the right and left had significant names (1 Kin. 7:21). “Jachin” means “God shall establish” and “Boaz” means “in God is strength.” The whole temple was supported not by brick and mortar but by the Lord Himself. Our lives should not be any different. Jesus Christ is our foundational pillar.

Finally, Solomon’s temple was made of pure gold. It cost billions of dollars to build because it was covered within and without with pure gold. God wants your inner life and outward ministry to be gloriously full of His presence and power.

The Double Portion

Then the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying: “Concerning this temple which you are building, if you walk in My statutes, execute My judgments, keep all My commandments, and walk in them, then I will perform My word with you, which I spoke to your father David.” 1 Kings 6:11-12

Solomon began building the temple exactly 480 years after the children of Israel had come out of Egypt (1 Kin. 6:1). Why was the year given so precisely in the Scripture? The number “48″ in the Bible is the number implying priestly worship. There were 48 cities given to the Levites for conducting their worship when the Israelites came into the Promised Land (Josh. 21:41). The number “10″ is the fulfillment of the law. So “480″ (or 48 x 10) means that the emphasis in Solomon’s temple would be on worship done by faithful priests in accordance to the law. The primary reason for building God a house is really for the offering of sacrificial worship (2 Chr. 2:5-6).

Similarly, in the end-times, Father God is looking for true worshipers. Jesus says, “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24). The first sanctuary God commanded man to build for Him was the tabernacle of Moses. It was 30 cubits by 10 cubits. But the measurement of the temple Solomon was building was 60 cubits by 20 cubits, which is exactly twice the dimensions of Moses’ tabernacle. Herein lies a beautiful truth. The fi rst tabernacle is a picture of the Early Church while Solomon’s temple is a picture of the End-time Church. The Church in the last days will receive a “double portion” of the Holy Spirit for a great global harvest (James 5:7). This will be the fulfillment of Jesus’ words when He said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father” (John 14:12). The prophet Haggai also prophesied, “The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former” (Hag. 2:9, KJV).

The building of the house of God in the latter days will be an urgent task. In 1 Kings 6:11-12, God came to Solomon in the middle of the construction process to spur him on, to encourage him to persevere to the end. God is doing the same to you as you read today’s devotion. “Don’t grow weary while doing good, for in due season you shall reap if you do not lose heart” (Gal. 6:9). Keep on keeping on!

God Wants To Trust You

In the opening chapters of 1 Kings, we have the ascension of Solomon to the throne. There was a series of stages in this interesting episode of his life.

(1) Appointed: Solomon was publicly declared to be chosen by David, who was a type of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(2) Anointed: He had the true anointing when the oil out of the tabernacle was poured on him.

(3) Authority: Solomon rode the royal mule of David.

(4) Adherence: He walked in the instructions of David and clearly loved the Lord. He had gone through the discipline and chastening of both his parents David and Bathsheba.

(5) Abundance: At Gibeon, Solomon offered 1,000 burnt offerings on God’s altar. It was a reign of unlimited generosity and fruitfulness. In fact, Solomon had a vineyard called Baal Hamon, which literally means “the Lord of abundance.”

(6) Asking: In 1 Kings 3:5, God appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, “Ask! What shall I give you?” What kind of an answer would an untrained person have given? “Lord, give me gold, girls and glory!” Not Solomon. He asked the Lord for wisdom (3:9). What an invitation God had offered Solomon. But he didn’t waste that opportunity on glory or wealth. He went after the most important thing-wisdom! To whom would God appear to? Only to those who are trained and disciplined. To those who love His commandments and keep them (John 14:21). Jesus says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8).

(7) An open heaven: When God finds a man who is disciplined and discipled so carefully that he could be brought face to face with Him, He will give this man an open heaven. Jesus had such a beautiful communion with the Father that on His way to Calvary, He said, “If I wanted to, I could ask and My Father would give Me 12 legions of angels right now” (Matt. 26:53). Whatever Jesus asked for, He would receive. Because God can trust Jesus to always ask according to His will. God can trust Jesus to always want to bring glory to Him. Similarly, God wants to bring us to that place where He can trust us with an open heaven. The heavens are open to any man or woman who will walk in the same spirit of Solomon. This is God wants you to be. Just like there was no limit to Solomon’s vision and dream during his reign, nothing then would be impossible to you.

To be Born Again

John 3:7…… You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'

The phrase ‘born again’ has become so acceptable that it has made its way into the secular world. It is a phrase that is often used and frequently abused. It is maligned by non-Christians and not properly understood by far too many Christians.

Let’s settle the matter right now; what does it mean to born again?

To initiate the process, those who want to be born again must first want to die to their old way of life. Repenting of a sin-filled and self-centred lifestyle, we must ask for forgiveness and believe that we are cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, whom we believe is the Son of God, who died, was buried and rose again for anyone who chooses to follow Him as the Lord of their life.

This decision will activate our soul to interact with the Holy Spirit and we will be born again. We will be regenerated in our mind, will and emotions. We will be completely recreated anew and become born again Christians. We have taken a step into the kingdom of God; the first step on our journey of salvation.

To complete this initial process we must also be baptised in the Holy Spirit. If we ask, we will receive power from Jesus that will complete our conversion and enable us to follow Him all the days of our life.

The speed of this process and the power that is manifest in our life is determined by each individual. The Holy Spirit will not take over to control our lives but will operate in accordance to how much control we give Him. Even if we surrender completely to the lordship of Jesus, we still set the parameters. The Holy Spirit will not cause us to loose control. He will not override our decisions, our choices or our will. We have self-control. Therefore, we choose how we behave.

The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to reveal Jesus and to make Him known. As He works in us and through us it is to do just that. As He leads us on the path prepared for us to walk in and, if we choose to walk in that way, He will conform us into the likeness of Christ. In doing so, He will draw all men to Jesus and to the Cross-roads of their own destiny.

Lord Jesus, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to help us to be born again and become more like you. Amen.

Living Sacrifices

If his offering is a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish; he shall offer it of his own free will at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the LORD … And the priest shall burn all on the altar as a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD. Leviticus 1:3, 9

There are five offerings in Leviticus that speak of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. With the exception of one, all the offerings mentioned are sacrifices that involve the shedding of blood. Each portrays a certain aspect of Christ and our spiritual walk with Him.

All aspects of those offerings are given in great detail. Nothing is left to the imagination and private interpretation of men. A wise man once said:

• “The holiness of God demanded a sacrifice;
• The majesty of God required certain regulations;
• The honor of God necessitated a code of conduct;
• The perfection of God expected the best of its kind;
• The purity of God deserved freedom from blemish;
• The sovereignty of God meant absolute obedience to details.”

The first of the five offerings in Leviticus is the burnt offering. It is a freewill offering in which one would offer his best possessions to the Lord. Four items of an animal must be placed on the altar, to be consumed by fi re: 

(1) The head, which speaks of our thoughts and aspirations. 

(2) The fat, which speaks of the extras that God has prospered us with. 

(3) The internal entrails, which speak of our deepest feelings. 

(4) The legs, which speak of our spiritual walk. 

All these areas of our lives must be yielded, purified and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Christ is our burnt offering. He came into the world as a man, not to do His own will, but to fulfill the will of the Father who sent Him. He has “given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma” (Eph. 5:2). He has willingly surrendered His total self—body, soul and spirit—to do the will of His heavenly Father, and to complete it victoriously.

But the burnt offering is also about you. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb. 9:14). While you are not saved by works, you are saved for good works.

The burnt offering speaks of your personal consecration as a vessel for God’s use. Paul beseeches you to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1). Like Jesus, when you willingly submit your life to do God’s will in your generation, you become a Holy Spirit fired-up offering. You are now a sweet-smelling aroma to the Lord.

The Rhema Word

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

The source of faith is always God’s Word. But there is a supernatural “mountain-moving” gift of faith that comes through a Spirit-given revelation or rhema. Romans 10:17 says that faith comes by hearing the word (rhema) of God.

In the Greek text, the Word of God can be expressed both as the logos and the rhema. The logos means the sum total or whole counsel of God’s Word. The logos therefore is the entire Bible-the Holy Scriptures. Jesus is the Living Word (”Logos”) because He is the full, expressed image of who God is (Heb. 1:2-3). On the other hand, the rhema is a word spoken for a particular occasion for a specific person. It is a personal word from God to you-a word that you should take immediate action upon. Christianity is not a philosophical, moralistic religion. Your relationship with God is alive and very dynamic. God longs to speak to you on a daily basis (3:7-8). Jesus says, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word (rhema) that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). The written Scriptures give us the general principles of God to live by. But each day, we should be led dynamically by the Spirit of God and tune our spiritual ears to hear the words that flow from His mouth!

God’s rhema to you becomes the basis for your dreams and visions. You have a direct word from heaven for your life and destiny! The faith that comes from a rhema is very powerful. It becomes the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17). You can use it as a weapon against the doubts and condemnatory accusations of Satan whenever he tries to hinder you from reaching your dream.

With the rhema, Peter was able to walk on water (Matt. 14:22-33). With the rhema, Jesus healed the paralytic who was infi rm for 38 years (John 5:1-8). With the rhema, Paul boldly became the apostle to the Gentile world (Acts 9:15-16). Start learning to hear the rhema from the Lord. Develop an active relationship with the Holy Spirit. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes as you learn to discern His leading and spiritual impressions. Without tuning to the rhema, there can be no strong, powerful faith. Christianity would become a dry and dull religion. But with the rhema, your Christian life will become a daily adventure with Jesus!

New Life In Jesus Christ

"Be filled with the Spirit." Ephesians 5:18

You can have new life in Jesus Christ! Just as Jesus was raised from the dead, so God can give us new life through the power of the Holy Spirit. "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

The Bible says 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." God has given us power to live new lives.

When we truly accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord,

• Our sins are forgiven
• God gives us the power to be filled with His Holy Spirit
• Our names are written down in heaven
• We can overcome sin and death because of Christ's death for us
• We can live in newness of life, no longer weighed down by our past

God loves you so much that He gave His Son Jesus Christ for you. You can live a victorious life in the wonderful life-changing power of God's Holy Spirit.

So, this week, let us pray that

• God will help us make disciples of all nations
• God will help you live above your circumstances in the power of His Holy Spirit
• God will bring blessing and protection to our staff and volunteers

THANK YOU so much for your prayers. God can use your prayers greatly to bring change to people and to nations.

God loves you!!!

Give Me More Grace

1 Thessalonians 5:28……The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Let’s face it, no matter how gracious we are, we all have a long way to go before we will be like Jesus. No matter how hard we try, we all fall short of His mark. Therein lies the dichotomy; in our strength we will never do it but in our weakness we will succeed.

It is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that must flow through us, His grace, because only His grace is sufficient for us. When we recognise our inability to mimic His great grace and give up trying, through our surrender, He will release His grace to be poured into our challenging situations.

We all need more of His amazing grace to flow from us to others, but it does not fall upon us like ‘magic dust’ from heaven no matter how long we pray. No, to grow in grace the Lord allows us opportunities to exercise the grace we have and, since we never have enough, He stretches us to give us more.

How does He do this? Do you remember that really awkward person who started sitting in the seat next to you in church or that really difficult family that moved into the house next door? Those people were ‘grace-builders’ sent by the Lord in answer to your prayer for more grace.

Instead of complaining and getting annoyed, see the situation as a positive opportunity to grow in grace and start praising the Lord. You never know, you may be someone else’s grace-builder. Hallelujah!

Thank you lord Jesus for helping us to grow in grace. Amen 

Victory Over The Flesh

O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! … Romans 7:24-25

Paul didn’t want to leave us with the impression that God’s laws are bad (Rom. 7:13). God’s laws are meant to lead us into a meaningful life in close fellowship with Him. The real problem is our inability to live up to the standards God has set. By nature, we are flawed and inclined toward sin. We don’t set out to become enslaved to sin, but if we follow the dictates of our sinful nature, that is what would eventually happen. But we can be thankful that God has made a provision for our weaknesses, solving the sin problem through the finished work of Jesus Christ. Now, if we surrender our lives to God, we can experience His transforming power. He will provide us with the help we need to break free from slavery to our old nature and be ruled by the Holy Spirit.

Paul then described a struggle all of us can identify with. He was most revealing when he said, “I am carnal, sold under sin” (7:14). The great apostle still carnal? Yes, as long as he was alive, he had to contend with his fleshly nature. Paul said, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not fi nd. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me” (7:18-20). Again, Paul was using the present tense to describe his assessment of his own carnal self. He recognized the power of sin in his life and admitted how helpless he was against it.

We all long to do what is good, healthy and right, but we constantly end up committing the same old sins. As we honestly reflect on our lives, we admit our failures and seek to change, but we still may fall back into our old habits again. However, we must not allow this struggle to discourage us. We need to continue to confess our sins to God, even if we have confessed the same sins numerous times. God promises to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness

(1 John 1:9). We’ll never become so spiritual that we can stop confessing our sins. In fact, when we admit that we don’t have the power to overcome the sins that entangle us, only then will we be ready to accept the help that God offers. And only with God’s power will we be able to overcome the temptations we face.

Crucifying The Old Man

Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. Romans 6:6

How can we ever come to a place where we seldom or hardly sin? The key is found in Romans 6:6 where it says that our old man needs to be crucified with Christ. What does that mean? Let me illustrate with this example:

Say there is this terrible man who drinks heavily and smokes a lot. He watches pornography on television all the time. He visits sleazy massage parlors and constantly cheats on his wife. Whenever he is in a bad mood or comes home drunk, he becomes violent and beats up his wife and kids. And whenever his wife and children come back from church, he would use the vilest profanities and start cursing God.

One Sunday morning, his wife and kids have gone to church and the man is watching pornography on television again. He has a glass of whiskey in his hand and a cigar in his mouth.

That Sunday, his family has a wonderful time in church. But as they approach home, they become very fearful. Would daddy be drunk when we enter the door? Would he beat us up again? But when they step into the house, they are shocked. The cigar and whiskey are by the table but the man is not smoking or drinking. The television is on but he is not watching it either. He didn’t shout, curse or swear at them. He didn’t get violent or beat them up. What happened?

The man had just died of a heart attack! And when he died, he also became dead to sin-to all his bad habits and vices!

The Bible says that at Calvary, Jesus took your old nature, the old man, the “old you”-who likes to sin, rebel, lie-and nailed it together with Him to the cross. In exchange, the new man, the nature of God in Christ, becomes alive in us. When we live out the life of the new man, the power of sin has no more hold on us.

A very important truth is that Romans 6:6 starts with the word “knowing.” That word means “knowledge by experience” or “knowledge by supernatural revelation.” That is why it is so crucial to have personal encounters with the presence and the power of God. Religious information to your head alone will not help you become victorious. You need daily encounters with God to live out the overcoming life in Christ.

Godly Discipline

So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.” 2 Samuel 12:13-14

In 2 Samuel 11-12, David fell from grace. The fact that a man as anointed as David could fall should alert all of us. Why did the “Sweet Psalmist of Israel” get into trouble? David committed three sins:

(1) The sin of irresponsibility (11:1). At a time when kings should lead their troops into battle, David was complacent. When you don’t flow with God and His presence, you will always get yourself into serious trouble.

(2) The sin of opulence (11:2). David started to love comfort a little too much. He was resting and pampering his body while his soldiers were dying out in the battlefield.

(3) The sin of not taming his eyes (11:2-3). The eye is the window of the soul. David started lusting for Bathsheba, the wife of one of his mighty men.

The sad drama that followed was one of deception, intrigue, adultery and murder. Thankfully, that was not the end of the story. When Nathan the prophet confronted David with his sins, the latter immediately repented before the Lord. And the beautiful thing is that God extended His grace to him and forgave him of his sins. However, David had to bear the consequences of his evil deeds. Eventually, three of his sons would face violent death. Killing and bloodshed would persist in his family all the days of his life. Many of his own wives would be taken away from him. David reaped whatever he had sown (Gal. 6:7-8).

Let us understand the difference between forgiveness and judgment. Very often, we think that when God forgives, we don’t have to bear the consequences of our actions any longer. That is wrong. Forgiveness has to do with the record. Judgment has to do with the character. God has to deal with your character defects so that you will not sin again in those same areas. And His tool to do that is discipline and judgment. David understood this principle of positive judgment. In Psalm 51:4, David says,”Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight—that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge.”

As a child of God, you must not become afraid of God’s discipline. Which good earthly father wouldn’t discipline his own children? “For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness” (Heb. 12:10).

The Faith of Abraham

He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. Romans 4:20-21

Many people claim to have faith in Jesus and the Bible, but their faith is only in the realm of the mind. That is called head-faith. Having head-faith is like having “Thomas faith.” When Thomas heard that Jesus was resurrected from the dead, he found it very difficult to believe that his Master was really alive. All his physical senses and human reasoning told him that Jesus was already dead (John 20:24-29). He saw Him crucified on the cross. He saw His lifeless body buried in the tomb. His natural, human faith said, “It is impossible for a dead man to come back to life. I’m not going to believe it unless I can see and feel Jesus for myself.” Headfaith is just an intellectual acceptance, or mental assent, of certain facts and doctrines. This is not true Bible faith at all. And it will never produce results and changes in the lives of people.

What we all need is “Abraham faith” or heart-faith. Abraham did not consider mere physical knowledge or natural facts. He only valued the spiritual truth of God’s Word. While you should not deny the problems and pains you may be experiencing in life, you must look beyond them to God’s promises. Real faith says, “If God says it is so, it is so!” Although Abraham was already 100 years old and still childless, he stood on God’s promise to him. God had said, “For I have made you a father of many nations” (Rom. 4:16-17). That was more than enough for him. His faith perceived as reality what was not revealed to his physical senses.

To believe is a strong decision to trust God and His Word no matter what the circumstances may say. Abraham had already decided, “God is going to give me a son. Period!” He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief or second thoughts. He was fully convinced that God would perform as He had promised to him (4:20-21). And while waiting for his dream to come to pass, Abraham kept on praising God by giving Him glory all the time.

Eventually, the boy Isaac was born to his wife Sarah! Decide today not to be weak in faith. Don’t hold on to the attitude that “seeing is believing.” Be a person that believes in the promises of God first, having faith that you will see them come to pass later on.

The House Of God

That the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.” 2 Samuel 7:2

For most of his life, David had been a warrior fi ghting battle after battle. Eventually, he came into a season during which God gave him “rest from all his enemies all around” (7:1). One day, David stood at the balcony of his palace admiring its splendor when it suddenly dawned upon him the shabbiness of God’s tabernacle. Immediately, he was grieved in his heart because a makeshift tent was not an appropriate place for the King of kings. David complained to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains” (7:2).

That night, the Lord responded by saying, “Would you build a house for Me to dwellin?” God does not need to stay in a house made by human hands. He is too big for that! The best supercomputers in the world estimate that there are 40 sextillion stars in the universe. That is 4 followed by 23 zeroes! Even if you travel at the speed of light, it would still take 50 quintillion years to reach the edge of the universe. That is 5 followed by 19 zeroes! Yet, even the heaven of heavens can’t hold our God. He is infinitely bigger than the universe He has created. How then could God be contained in a house of cedar? Nonetheless, God was very moved by the love David had for him. He was touched by the fact that when David had become famous, wealthy and powerful, he had not forgotten the Source of his success (7:6-9). The temple David planned to build was temporal at best. But turning His face to David, God now offered to build David a royal house that would last for all eternity. He promises, “Your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you.

Your throne shall be established forever” (7:16). And 28 generations later, out of that royal house came forth Jesus Christ, the heir to David’s throne, whose kingdom will have no end. God has one building program on the earth today-His Church (Matt. 16:18). Have you come on board with that building program? When God gives you the power to get wealth, when He blesses your business, career and family, do you ever think of building Him a great house on the earth, like David did? The “church house” we can build for the Lord may last 30 years, 50 years, or at best several hundreds of years. But in exchange, God will build for you and your family a “royal house” that will be established forever. Isn’t that a wonderful exchange?

The Call Of God

So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim. 2 Samuel 5:20

Every one of us has a call of God for our lives. You are called by God to do something specific for Him. There is no useless person in life and you should not be drifting through life without a sense of destiny or purpose. From David’s experience in 2 Samuel 5, you can learn five important lessons about discerning God’s calling for you:

(1) What word or rhema have you received from the Lord? That word will be a good indicator of your calling in life. David had a word from heaven that he shall be the shepherd and ruler of Israel (5:1-2). Faith comes by hearing that rhema. Without that rhema revelation, you won’t have the faith to obey.

(2) What are you gifted and anointed with? David was anointed three times in his life: by the prophet Samuel, by the men of Judah, and by the elders of Israel (5:3). An anointing is an impartation of ability by the Holy Spirit. God never wastes His anointing. What He has gifted and anointed you with is often indicative of your calling.

(3) What does other trusted leadership see in you? The reason elders chose him was because the gifting and ability of kingship in David were already clearly evident to all (5:3). God works through spiritual protocol. A calling upon your life should be evident to the mature, spiritual leadership God has surrounded you with. Let them confi rm your calling.

(4) How are your enemies opposing you? If you are not walking in your calling, you will never be a threat to Satan. But the moment you step into your destiny, you can be sure he is not going take things lying down. He will be very agitated and start hindering you (5:3). Sometimes, an unprovoked attack could be an indication that you are walking in your calling.

(5) What breakthrough has God provided you with? When David went to the Valley of Rephaim, God provided a way for him to attain resounding victory over his enemies. He renamed that valley Baal Perazim, which means “Master of Breakthroughs”(5:20). God often speaks to us through an open door. When you receive a breakthrough in an impossible situation, it is a good sign that God wants you to walk through it. That is your calling from the Lord.

Faith To Live By

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17

Four times the Scripture declares to us that the just or righteous shall live by his faith (Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38). For it to be repeated practically word for word that many times shows that the subject of faith must really be important. In fact, by the proclamation of this truth alone, a tiny minority managed to change the course of world history.

In 300 years, it brought the whole of the Roman Empire to its knees. Another 1,200 years later, this same revelation empowered Martin Luther to dislodge the power of Roman Catholicism and started the Protestant Reformation. Likewise, if we can comprehend and apply this simple truth by faith today, it can revolutionize our individual lives and our ministry in the kingdom. Let’s look at Romans 1:17 again. In the original text, the word “live” connotes the idea of a sustaining force. As such, faith is the sustaining force that keeps your entire life going in the Lord. Faith is what makes life a never-dull adventure. The word “live” covers all areas of the human experience-the spiritual, mental, physical and material. It even covers basic activities like breathing, thinking, speaking, working, sleeping, etc. For any person to be accepted as righteous by God, all these activities must be motivated and controlled by the one great principle of faith.

Consider the trivial matter of eating. “But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin” (Rom. 14:23). God expects you to have faith to the extent that even your eating must proceed from faith. But what does it mean to eat from faith? 

(1) You acknowledge that God is the one who provided you with the food that you eat. 

(2) You thank God that your food is now blessed and sanctified. 

(3) You acknowledge that the health and strength you receive through your food will be used for God’s service and glory. 

Imagine that God expects faith in you even for such a trivial activity like eating! The converse of eating in faith is to “eat in darkness” which will result in sorrow, sickness and frustration (Eccl. 5:17).

Consider another trivial matter-sleeping. Many people struggle with sleep because of fear, worry and anxiety. David was a man who went through many troubles and dangers, but in the midst of them all, his faith in God sustained him: “I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me . . . I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety” (Ps. 3:5; 4:8). If God expects such trivial matters like eating and sleeping to be done in faith, what about the rest of life’s activities? Start living by faith in every area of your daily existence!

Personal Pentecost

Acts 9:18….. Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again.

Saul of Tarsus hated Christians. He hunted them down and persecuted them, even to death. He was a self-righteous Pharisee who learned his theology at the feet of the famous Gamaliel.

On the road to Damascus he was struck blind. There followed a dramatic sequence of events that led to his sudden conversion, the cure of his blindness at the hands of a Christian disciple Ananias and his baptism. Saul became Paul and eagerly accepted his commission to preach the gospel of Christ first to the Jews but mainly to the Gentiles.

Paul was not among Jesus’ disciples when Jesus lived on the earth. After his spectacular conversion leading to personal insight and revelation of the Gospel, he became one of the most zealous early Christians. His missionary letters comprise almost one-third of the New Testament.

Paul had a personal pentecost experience that was every bit as powerful as the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost in the Upper Room in Jerusalem. As a result of which he was completely changed. Surely this is what conversion literally means.

Every Christian needs this experience. We all need our own personal pentecostal encounter with the Holy Spirit. It is only the beginning of our salvation journey to meet Jesus at Calvary, but after Easter comes Penetecost and with Pentecost comes the power to change.

Christians cannot fully function in a Christ-like lifestyle until we have been set on fire by the power of the Holy Spirit; this fire that ignites an unquenchable passion for Jesus.

Have you had your own personal penetcost? Why don’t you ask the Holy Spirit to change you today?

Lord Jesus, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to baptise us with power from on high. Amen. 

Hope And Restoration

And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. 1 Samuel 30:6 (KJV)

The time in Ziklag was one of the darkest hours in David’s life. One day, when David was out of the city, the Amalekites invaded and burned it to the ground. David’s family and children were taken captive, and all his possessions were totally destroyed. By now, David had spent 10 years as a fugitive from Saul and he was already battle-weary. The anguish was so great that he and his men cried “until they [had] no more power to weep” (1 Sam. 30:4).

The men around him were so emotionally grieved that they turned against him and wanted to stone him to death. A Ziklag-type circumstance is where most Christians forsake their faith and give up on life. But God is the God of restoration. He can turn your setback into a comeback!

(1) Decide to regain what you have lost. Restoration happens only when you really, really want to regain what you have lost. David wept before the Lord. God always honors a broken spirit and a contrite heart.

(2) Seek after God. In the midst of all the confusion, “David encouraged himself in the LORD his God” (30:6). There will be moments when you have to go to God’s presence all by yourself to find strength in Him. David started seeking the face of God to know His mind in the midst of his difficult situation.

(3) Surround yourself with strong believers. David had 600 men. But at Brook Besor, only 400 were left as the rest were too weary to continue with him. Strength is absolutely vital in restoration work. Surround yourself with believers who have the spiritual stamina to last the

distance with you.

(4) Gain knowledge of the situation. David needed knowledge. An Egyptian provided him with valuable information concerning the secret hideouts of the enemies (30:11-16). Strength comes from a position of knowing.

(5) Persevere until total victory is achieved. Never become complacent. Although David and his men were exhausted, they fought the Amalekites until the latter was totally subdued (30:17).

(6) Be serious to take back all the spoil. David recovered all that the Amalekites had stolen away (30:18-20). You need to take stock of all the losses Satan has infl icted upon your life and have an unshakable desire to recover them. What do you want to see God restore to you? Ziklag is a powerful reminder of one truth: that in your darkest hour of loss, there is always hope and restoration in God.

Vision

“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.” Acts 26:19

One of the main reasons God pours out His Spirit is so that we can all see visions and dream dreams (Acts 2:17). Visions and dreams are the substance for life’s great achievements. “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Prov. 29:18). Martin Luther King was a black pastor growing up under severe racism in America. On August 28, 1963, he led a march in Washington, D.C. and gave one of the greatest speeches ever in human history. Reverend King said, “I have a dream that one day, my four little children will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character!” Racism policies in America started to change. King’s vision became a reality.

William Carey was the first missionary in modern history. He wanted to go to Burma to preach the gospel at a time when church leaders were saying, “If God wants to save the Asians, He can do it all by Himself-without us!” But Carey had a vision for mission outreaches. His motto in life was “attempt great things for God, and expect great things from God.” His vision eventually came to pass.

There is no such thing as a great person. We are all ordinary people committed to great dreams. And when what we dream happens, that dream makes us great. You may think that you are developing a dream. The contrary is true: your dream is really developing you. Dr. Yonggi Cho, the pastor of the world’s largest church, once said: “You don’t make a vision, your vision will make you!”

There are five types of people in the world:

(1) Those with no vision. You will live out your life in boredom, frustration and regrets. One day, you will look back and wonder about the what-if’s of your life.

(2) Those with low vision. You are afraid to step out in faith and believe God for a great dream. You want to play everything safe. But without faith, it is impossible to please God.

(3) Those with wrong vision. Make sure you know where you are heading. Make sure that you don’t climb up the ladder of life, only to realize at the end of your life that your ladder is leaning against the wrong wall. Don’t pledge first class allegiance to second class causes.

(4) Those with vague vision. You want to do something great with your life but you don’t know what you really want.

(5) Those with God’s vision. Paul had a heavenly vision from God and he was absolutely obedient to fulfill it. When you are living out God’s vision, you will experience the most exciting and meaningful life possible!

The Fool

“Please, let not my lord regard this scoundrel Nabal. For as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him! But I, your maidservant, did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent.” 1 Samuel 25:25

Nabal was an arrogant landowner and successful shepherd in Carmel (1 Sam. 25:2-3). He held a feast for his sheep shearers while David was hiding from Saul in the wilderness of Paran. David and his 600 men were camping near the town of Maon and, during his time there, he protected the livestock and property of Nabal. When David heard about Nabal’s feast, he requested some food for his hungry men. In his drunken state, Nabal refused the request of David and insulted his 10 messengers.

The name “Nabal” literally means “fool” and by dishonoring David, he was, in every sense, a fool. In Luke 12:16-21, Jesus talks about a similar rich “fool” who lived to amass and enjoy riches. He put his trust in his riches and gave his entire soul totally to them. But in his complacency, he forgot that he owed all his blessings to God-even his very breath!

Eventually, his life was cut short by the Lord and he slipped into eternity unable to take any of his possessions with him. To Jesus, a fool “is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (12:21).

The spirit of Nabal was also evident in the days of Malachi when Israel dishonored God by robbing Him of their tithes and offerings. The little they gave to the Lord were offerings they themselves had despised-the blind, the lame and the sick. For their lack of honor toward Him, God allowed the devourer to destroy the fruit of their ground (Mal. 3:8-11). The result of foolishness, ungratefulness and dishonor is always loss and a destiny cut short.

In anger, David determined to kill all of Nabal’s household. After Nabal became sober and heard about David’s plans to kill him, he had a heart attack and died about 10 days later (1 Sam. 25:37-38).

Nabal had a wonderful wife, Abigail. She anticipated David’s reaction and immediately loaded a convoy of donkeys with food to feed all of David’s men. As soon as she met David, she impressed him with her beauty, humility, praise, and advice (25:32-33). Abigail is a beautiful picture of the Church. Nabal is a picture of the nonbeliever or backslider. David is the picture of the soon-coming King. When you minister to Jesus, you are being wise like Abigail. You will be accepted and loved by Him. When you reject and dishonor Jesus, you are being foolish like Nabal. Jesus is coming back for His Abigails. Be one today!

Touching God’s Anointed

And he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD’S anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.” 1 Samuel 24:6

In 1 Samuel 24, something very interesting happened. Saul had gone into a cave to ease himself. Sensing a great opportunity, David’s men “prophesied” to him, saying, “This is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you’” (24:4a). Every prophecy needs to be judged, and in this case, David’s men-with all their good intentions-were way off the mark.

In the natural, David was given a golden opportunity to ambush Saul. After all, God had promised him the necks of his enemies and Saul was right there, ripe for the picking. Every natural indicator pointed toward the killing of Saul. But God didn’t instruct David to do that. We must always walk by the leading of the Holy Spirit and not by our own clever human reasoning. Unfortunately, there is always the temptation to “help God out” when our vision is not forthcoming.

Although Saul was a terrible man, he was nonetheless David’s anointed king, father-inlaw, and mentor-albeit a bad one! The Bible says, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves” (Rom. 13:1-2). We must not come against those God has ordained.

David had the good sense not to listen to his men. But in his heart, he wanted to teach Saul a lesson. He wanted to shame Saul openly. So, “David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe” (1 Sam. 24:4b). That was an arrogant act designed to let Saul know that he could have killed him if he wanted to. In the natural, to David’s own men, his cutting off a corner of Saul’s robe was an act of mercy. But to God, it was an attitude of gross dishonor. God was so upset that He smote David’s heart (24:5). David had touched His anointed.

Our attitude determines our altitude. Very often, it is not just what we do or don’t do, it is the attitude we project; the signals we give. And to God, those signals are more important than our words and deeds. If David could not honor the authority God had ordained in the nation, he had no right to exercise authority over others. Therefore, David said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD” (24:6). May we never touch the anointed servants of God in His kingdom.