The Wandering Years

So David fled and escaped, and went to Samuel at Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and stayed in Naioth. 1 Samuel 19:18

David suffered great injustice under Saul. Saul became so jealous of David that he tried to kill him five times while David was serving in the palace. Eventually, David had to flee for his life. 1 Samuel 19-27 records the wandering years of David. David first fled from Gibeah to Ramah, looking for Samuel the prophet (19:18-19).

At that time, Samuel was still very much alive. He understood the situation between Saul and David very well. To the rest of Israel, Saul was the man appointed by God to be the king. In his own right, Saul was a warrior worthy of respect. The people had no idea just how treacherous a king he could be. Who else could David have turned to except Samuel? The aging prophet was the only one who understood. When we experience trials in our lives, we need someone who can see beyond the veil and comfort us. Every Christian should have a spiritual leader-a discipler or mentor-whom we can run to in our moments of crisis.

After Ramah, David fled to the Philistine city of Gath (21:10-12). Having no other place to run to and ending up in the territory of Israel’s harshest enemy was the worst nightmare possible. And it was during this harrowing time that David composed two beautiful songs, Psalms 34 and 56. When we read these psalms, we often assume that David was writing them in the comfort of his home or temple. Quite on the contrary, they were written when he was fi ghting for his very survival!

The worst part of going through a trial is not understanding why the trial is occurring, or what the purpose of the trial is. You can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. You don’t even know where you are going. There will always be periods when you feel like you are wandering through life aimlessly. You are unable to grasp any sense of the direction you are heading. In those moments when you can’t fully comprehend everything that is going on in your life, just cling tightly to Jesus.

He is working out something wonderful for you. Matthew 3:11-12 says, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Hiswinnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fi re.” The process of winnowing takes place when the wheat is tossed up and down to separate the chaff from the wheat. God uses times of shaking to separate the bad from the good in you. Although it may be a heartbreaking time of weeping, God will use those seasons ultimately for your good.

Final Events of Bible Prophecy

Exciting multimedia documentary that reveals the amazing Bible truth behind earth's last day events!

The Power Of Your Testimony

“Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now.” Acts 22:1

The word of our testimony is a very powerful spiritual weapon when we engage in soul-winning (Rev. 12:10-11). A faith-filled, positive, well-organized testimony is a very effective destroyer of fear, doubt and apathy. A testimony is especially powerful when it is inspired by the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). Jesus encourages us that the most dire situation may “turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist” (Luke 21:13-15).

Principle #1 in sharing your testimony: Identify and endear yourself to your listener. In Acts 21-22, Paul was brought before a hostile crowd. He didn’t try to act religious or be superspiritual. He simply used wisdom to gain a chance to witness for the Lord. He appealed to the fact that he was a citizen of the Roman Empire and as such, he had a constitutional right to speak freely as a citizen (21:37-39). To win their attention, Paul spoke to the predominantly Jewish crowd in the Hebrew language instead of Greek. By doing that, he identifi ed himself as a fellow Jew and endeared himself to the people (21:40-22:2).

Principle #2: Don’t preach down at others; be persuasive by talking politely to them. Paul didn’t preach hard at the people in a condescending tone. Instead, he chose to simply share his personal life testimony (22:3).

Principle #3: Briefly tell how you were like before you accepted Christ. Paul shared about his past as an ultra-zealous Pharisee, preoccupied with jailing Christians and persecuting many believers to death (22:4-5).

Principle #4: Briefly tell how you received Christ. Paul then shared how he met Jesus on the way to Damascus (22:6-16). All throughout his testimony, he didn’t use highsounding theological jargons. He spoke so simply that even the most hardened sinner could understand him.

Principle #5: Briefly tell how you are like after you accepted Christ (22:17-21). Notice that all throughout the sharing, Paul kept his testimony very short and brief. A good testimony should not last more than fi ve minutes. Paul used this simple testimony format very effectively to reach out to many sinners-to government offi cials and even King Agrippa. Agrippa was so moved by his sharing that he told Paul: “You almost persuade me to become a Christian” (26:28). Learn to be a good witness for Christ by always being ready to share your testimony.

No More Death

Romans 8:19-23……The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Man’s sin in the Garden of Eden not only meant expulsion from the presence of God and no more relationship with Him but it also dealt a death-blow to the whole of creation.

Man, who was intended to live forever in sublime harmony with God and all of His perfect creation, was now doomed to die outside of intimacy with God on a tainted and decaying planet.

God, in His limitless mercy sent Jesus Christ, His sinless Son, to make a way for mankind to be reconciled to God, to conquer death, to live with Him in a heavenly paradise and, ultimately, as sons of God, to reign with Him in a new heaven and a new earth forever.

All of creation groans in anticipation of paradise regained as does our spirit-man in the knowledge that not only are we redeemed back into a pre-fall closeness with God but our spirit and soul will occupy a new resurrected body that will never decay.

Heaven is an awesome place. None of earth’s flaws are there and none of our flaws will be there either. It is a magnificent place where everything is perfect.

Are you eagerly looking forward to going there?

There is, of course, only one way to get to heaven and that one way is through Jesus Christ. We must believe that He is the first-born Son of God who made the way open for us, as sons of God, to get there.

As believers in Him; as Christians, we must choose to live our lives in obedience to Him. In doing so, others will come to know Him and they too will be with Him in paradise forever.

Much as we look forward to going to heaven, it is our purpose on earth to share the good news of its accessibility with as many people as possible before we go there.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for opening-up heaven to all who become Christians. Amen

The Gift Of Encouragement

And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 20:18-21

Paul was a great encourager. Why? Because he worked at it. After he planted a church, he was conscientious about visiting whenever possible, writing letters and sending others to minister in his absence. He always assured people of his accessibility, even though he may physically be many miles away or even locked up in a prison cell. Paul’s meeting with the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:13-38 includes some guidance for the godly Christian who wants to uplift others.

Firstly, Paul was able to lend support because his listeners respected his example. If he had been unable to speak the words in verses 18-21 with a clear conscience, the meeting would have been over. He had made an investment over time and had demonstrated by his example that he was a man of integrity.

Secondly, Paul didn’t gloss over or distort the reality of the dangers that may arise upon his departure to Rome. He didn’t soft-pedal the bad news that may come the elders’ way. What’s more, no matter what reality looks like, the leader who trusts God must blend God’s presence and power with the discipline of honest work (20:32-35). Paul lived an exemplary life of a faithful, hardworking minister of the gospel. There is no shortcut to success in life, career or ministry.

Thirdly, Paul prayed with the elders before his departure (20:36). He demonstrated genuine love and care for them (20:37). Because he showed such strength of character, his friends wept when he left them. Effective leaders not only make good decisions; they also make good friends.

Paul’s story in this passage demonstrates that providing encouragement doesn’t always accompany auspicious circumstances. Paul was facing hardship and separation from his friends, and their parting was diffi cult. But his uplifting words despite the coming trials show us that the gift of encouragement must always be related both to God’s sovereign power and to the leader’s genuine concern.

Wanting Something Out Of God’s Will

And the LORD said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.“ 1 Samuel 8:7

Although Samuel was the undisputed spiritual leader of Israel, the people rejected his leadership. One reason was because Samuel committed the same mistake as Eli, the former high priest. Just like the latter, Samuel appointed his sons to top leadership although they were ungodly and dishonest. And he failed to discipline and remove them from office when they took bribes and perverted justice in the temple.

If change doesn’t come top down by revelation, it will eventually come bottom up by revolution. In the end, the people of Israel used the failure of Samuel’s two sons as an excuse to force him out of leadership. They could have gone the spiritual way and prayed for a God-given solution for their nation. Instead, they wanted a charismatic king just like the heathens around them. But God wanted Israel to be led by spiritual leaders-His prophets and priests-not by a king mandated by popular demand. So when the people rejected Samuel, they were in effect rejecting God Himself!

You must be very careful when you want something very badly from the Lord. Because when you want it badly enough, God may give it to you. However, you must be ready to face the consequences of your request. That is why prayer requests must always be according to the will of the Lord. And sometimes when your prayers don’t come to pass immediately, it may be because it is not God’s best for your life. But if you stubbornly insist on it, God may grant you your wish, even when He knows it is bad for you. Psalm 106:15 says, “And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.”

You must make sure that the desires of your heart are in alignment with the will of God, that your heart is in tune with God. And what you are seeking is also what He desires for your life. Otherwise, you may live with regrets later on. Despite the repeated warnings Samuel gave about the danger of having a king, Israel refused to listen. Eventually, God granted them their wish. Saul became their king … and what a terrible leader he was for the nation.

The scariest thing that can happen to a believer is for him to have an external form of religiosity, but no presence and power of God in his daily walk. Or for that Christian to invoke the name of Jesus in His prayer, and find no power in his invocation. May the glory of God never depart from your life!

A Form Of Godliness

Then she named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel!” because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. 1 Samuel 4:21

In 1 Samuel 4, Israel needed the power to fight against the Philistines, but she was found wanting. She lost. The Philistines won. The Philistines represent a type of the lawless self or the fleshly nature in man. The first time the Philistines are mentioned in the Bible, they were a people without the fear of God (Gen. 20:11). The second time the Philistines are mentioned, they were a people filled with jealousy and envy (Gen. 26:14).

They pleased themselves with immorality (Is. 2:6). God ultimately judgedthem for their pride (Zech. 9:6). Therefore, the Philistines speak of the self-life, self-love, selfpleasure and self-exaltation in the soulish man. God never lets His people face a battle unprepared. Yet, when the Israelites fought against the Philistines, they were resoundingly defeated. You can never defeat an enemy you have embraced as a friend. Israel was behaving exactly like the Philistines themselves. The leaders were self-centered, and indulging themselves with the food and offerings that were given to the temple. They were perverting the house of God into a prostitution den with their gross immorality. Israel may have had the priesthood and the temple, but she had become undisciplined, lawless and carnal.

The worst thing that can happen to a church is to have a form of godliness but not the power thereof (2 Tim. 3:1-5). Having the outward religious motions but not the inward spiritual reality. Maintaining the external form of ecclesiastical structure but devoid of the Holy Spirit’s fire and power.

Israel went into battle against the Philistines with a very impressive number of troops. They were very loud and excited because the ark of covenant was with them. Unfortunately, God was not. Israel had the form but no longer the power. Eventually, the two sons of Eli the high priest died and the ark was captured (1 Sam. 4:11). The glory of the Lord had departed from the people.

Shadows

Helen Keller was a remarkable person. She fought blindness and deafness from a young age. Her courage is a powerful example for us all. Helen wrote, "Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow." The observations of this wise blind woman have deep meaning. If we concentrate on the positives of life (count your blessings, as some would say), then we will not slip into the feelings of discontent that "shadows" can bring.

There are shadows in life just as the sun causes each object to have a shadow. The shadow is not the real thing; it is only a dark reflection of the real object. It is interesting that a shadow is dark—showing a loss or blockage of light. The sunlight warms us and provides clarity of vision.

Focus on the things that are cheerful and bright, and the problems we all face will be easier to handle. It is not wise to ignore problems—they do not go away. But when we realize how fortunate we are, we enter a position where we can make decisions with the frame of mind that includes hope, faith and all things that are positive (Philippians 4:8).

The Sacrifice Of Praise

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Acts 16:25

Paul had just cast out a spirit of divination from a slave girl in the city of Philippi. When her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they had Paul and Silas arrested, severely beaten and imprisoned. There in the Philippian jail, instead of despairing for their lives, Paul and Silas started praying and praising God by singing hymns at the midnight hour. There are five facts about praise:

(1) Praise is always vocal. Since it is an expression of your faith-which itself is not silent-praise is never silent too. Two Hebrew words for “praise” are shabach and halal, both implying to shout aloud noisily until it seems like you are clamorously foolish! Paul and Silas were singing hymns so loudly in the Philippian jail that all the prisoners could hear them clearly.

(2) Praise is a sacrifice. Hebrews 13:15 says, “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” It is easy to praise God when life is going well. But for praise to be meaningful, it must cost you something. The most important time to praise the Lord is when everything seems to be going wrong, and you least feel like praising Him. Those are the moments when your praise is most precious to the Lord. Even though they were unfairly tormented, Paul and Silas decided to praise God by their sheer willpower and faith in Him.

(3) Praise is the cure for depression. It is the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Is. 61:3). Praise will lift up your spirit every time you feel down.

(4) Praise is a powerful spiritual weapon against Satan. Psalm 8:2 says that praise is the means by which we can silence Satan, the accuser of the brethren. Literally, that means that each time you praise the Lord, God will tell the devil to “shut up” on your behalf.

(5) Praise prepares the way for divine supernatural intervention. The literal Hebrew text of Psalm 50:23 says, “To him who offers praise, he prepares a way for God to show His salvation.” In the Bible, we read that both Jehoshaphat and Jonah had found this to be true. They had their deliverances when they started praising God. Deep in the dungeon of Philippi, the praise Paul and Silas offered to the Lord brought about a great earthquake that shook open the prison doors. The next time you are serving God and things don’t quite go the way you planned, remember to offer God your sacrifice of praise. Praise always triumphs gloriously!

Get Planted In God's House

But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.” Ruth 1:16-17

The book of Ruth introduces Elimelech, a man who lived in Bethlehem-Judah. The name of that town literally means “the house of bread and praise,” an unmistakable picture of the church. Then a famine hit the land and Elimelech uprooted his family, left the house of God, and emigrated to Moab (1:1) The Moabites were the descendants of Lot’s incestuous relationship with his eldest daughter. In that sense, Moab was spiritually a cursed land.

Actually, the name “Elimelech” means “my God is King.” But his lifestyle didn’t quite measure up to his name. That is really a lack of integrity-he stood for one thing and yet practiced another. Elimelech is like many Christians today who readily claim that God is number one in their lives. But the moment they see a better opportunity somewhere else, they would leave their house of bread and praise. God, in reality, is not really their King. When you say, “Jesus is Lord of my life,” you are saying that He rules over you 100 percent in everything. In good times, in bad times, you will always place Him first. His house automatically becomes the first order of consideration in the way you arrange your life.

Elimelech had a wife by the name of Naomi (1:2). In the passage of time, Elimelech and his two sons, Mahlon (”sick”) and Chilion (”wasting away”) all died (1:4-5). Finally, Naomi came to her senses. She told her two daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth: “Girls, I want to go back home to the house of the Lord. I know there is a famine there but I want to start putting God first again. If you girls want to stay behind, that’s fine with me. But I am going back to the house of bread and praise.”

Orpah said, “Err, thanks but no thanks. I think I’ll stick around in Moab for a while.” But Ruth said to Naomi, “I will never forsake you” (1:16-17). Naomi’s newfound passion for God’s house so inspired Ruth that the latter now wanted to go back with her. When they got back, Ruth found her kinsman-redeemer in a man by the name of Boaz. They fell in love and got married. Out of their lineage came forth Jesus Christ. By being planted in the house of the Lord, Ruth found her destiny. When you are planted in God’s house, you too become part of an amazing process that will manifest Jesus Christ to the whole world.

Armageddon Countdown

Tribulation

Strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22

We are a generation of Christians who are so fearful of the word “tribulation.” But trials and tribulations are part and parcel of the Christian life. In fact, Jesus promises: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Tribulation is a promise from God. And when we are spiritually and psychologically prepared to tackle them, we won’t be shocked or caught unawares when they do show up. Why does God allow trials and tribulations? Because as terrible as they may be, they are good for our spiritual development. Romans 5:3-4 says, “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Basically, Paul is saying that you should rejoice in tribulation because it builds a backbone of steel and character in you. And you need those two things if you want to see your visions and dreams coming to pass.

Today, there are many Christians who believe that God will never allow His children to suffer. Unfortunately, the escaping of tribulation is never supported in the Scriptures. God is more interested in your character than in your comfort. Just look at the disciple whom Jesus loved the most—John. He was imprisoned on the island of Patmos for his faith in Christ. How did John address himself? He said, “I am your brother and companion in tribulation” (Rev. 1:9).

Tradition has it that John was eventually killed by being boiled in a pot of oil. But wait a minute! Wasn’t he the favorite disciple of Jesus? Then shouldn’t Jesus have done something for His most beloved follower? If Jesus didn’t exempt John from tribulation, what makes you think you are

any more special?

In these end-times, God is not raising up a congregation of softies. He is raising up an army that can endure hardship for Him. Don’t be afraid of the many tribulations you may have to go through. Paul says, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). When you face sufferings (or persecution!) for your faith in Jesus, you will receive special grace to go through them in that hour. Remember: “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you … If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name” (1 Pet. 4:14,16 NIV).

Fasting

As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. Acts 13:2-3

The leaders in the Antioch church were ministering to the Lord with prayer and fasting. Fasting is often a neglected spiritual activity among believers. Yet it is referred to all throughout the pages of the Bible. Fasting is defined as the voluntary abstaining from food for spiritual purposes. It is often done with prayer because fasting intensifies your praying.

The most natural thing for us to do every day is to eat. When we give up eating, we deliberately turn away from the natural by turning to God and to the supernatural. By fasting, we are really renouncing the natural to invoke the spiritual. All throughout the Scriptures, we see how God attached tremendous importance to fasting as the appointed way for His people to humble themselves before Him.

When Ezra and Israel fasted and humbled their souls before God, the Lord protected them from their enemies (Ezra 8:21-23). When Jehoshaphat humbled himself before the Lord by fasting, God delivered the kingdom of Judah from destruction (2 Chr. 20:2-4). Before Jesus entered His public ministry, He had to pass through two critical experiences: 

(1) He had to be filled with the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit, and 

(2) He had to fast for 40 days in the desert (Luke 4:1-2). Even Jesus had to humble Himself and focus on the spiritual! The result of His fasting was the great personal victory He had over Satan’s temptations. Besidesthat, His fasting released the power of the Spirit to fl ow without any hindrances through His life and ministry. If we want to follow in the other great works that Jesus did, then it seems logical that we must also begin where He began-by fasting!

In the Early Church, prayer and fasting were the standard ways by which the New Testament leadership operated. In the Antioch church, the sending of Barnabas and Saul for missions was entirely a miraculous work of the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:4). But it was only through fasting that the leaders were able to move from the realm of the natural into the supernatural.

Finally, fasting is God’s appointed way to bring your carnal nature into subjection.Your body makes a wonderful servant but a terrible master. If you really want to succeed in the Christian life, you must ensure that your body does not dictate you or control you (1 Cor. 9:27).

Rather, you are controlled by God’s destiny and purpose for your life. By regular fasting, you serve notice to your body and your carnal nature: “Body, you don’t control me. I’m not subject to you. You’re my servant. You’ll obey what the Holy Spirit in me declares I have to do!”

The Antioch Church

And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Acts 11:26

The city of Antioch is 480 km north of Jerusalem. In the days of the Roman Empire, it was the third largest and third most important city after Rome and Alexandria. It had one of the most important ports in the world, and it was the communication center for the entire empire. As a very modern city during its time, Antioch had magnificent buildings, theaters and forums. The people were highly educated and spoke Greek fluently. However, the Antioch church was a relatively young congregation. The concept of missions was a very new and novel idea. Yet, in one generation, the Antioch church practically changed the entire Gentile world. How could one church do so much for world missions?

There are five reasons:

(1) The Antioch church had a deep spiritual hunger for God. They were strong in prayer and the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:1-4). There was a strong passion for spiritual revival.

(2) The Antioch church excelled in discipleship. A disciple is a thoroughly trained worker with a great attitude. Discipleship takes time. It took Paul and Barnabas one whole year of teaching and imparting to train the believers in the church. The result of all that discipleship is that the members of the church started talking like Jesus, thinking like Jesus, acting like Jesus, working like Jesus, and living like Jesus. They were so identified with Christ that, for the first time in history, the public started calling them “Christians” (11:26).

(3) The Antioch church was a very giving church. They were generous with both their financial and human resources. They gave sacrificially for the relief work in Judea (11:29) They were quick to send out workers into the mission field whenever the Holy Spirit directed them (13:2-3).

(4) The Antioch church worked as a team. They sent out missionaries in teams that often comprised of both church workers and volunteers.

(5) The Antioch church really supported and cared for their missionaries. Whenever Paul and his team returned from a missionary journey, the entire congregation would shower love and care upon them (cf. 14:27-28). Those five ingredients will turn any local congregation into a strong missions church.

Memorial Prayer

And said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God.’ Acts 10:31

Acts 10 is a very significant chapter because it is in this chapter that the Gentile Church was born. With the preaching of the gospel to Cornelius’ household, world evangelism and world missions were launched. While there had been many Gentiles who were kind to the gospel, Cornelius did something that drew God’s attention directly to him. There is no doubt he was a man who loved God. And in his love for God, he caught hold of the principle that Jehovah is a giver, not a taker.

As he prayed and prayed, and gave more and more, all of a sudden the Lord gathered up all his prayers and giving, blended them together, and turned them into a powerful memorial prayer that activated His hand into quick action. A memorial is a reminder-a tool to preserve remembrance. While God never forgets, He asks to be reminded. Isaiah 43:26 says, "Put Me in remembrance; let us contend together; state your case, that you may be acquitted." When you mix your prayer with giving, you "promote" that prayer into a special memorial that will move God to act on your behalf.

When barren Hannah mixed her intercession with a vow to give, the Lord immediately remembered her and she conceived that same night (1 Sam. 1:19). When Jephthah mixed his prayer with a vow to give, immediately God moved mightily and delivered Israel from the Ammonites (Judg. 11:32). When the widow of Zarephath decided to mix her prayer with giving, she "promoted" her prayer into a special memorial before God. Almost instantly, God took her out of abject poverty into His financial abundance (1 Kin. 17:9-16). What kind of giving memorializes a prayer? In Mark 14:8, a woman "did what she could" in her sacrifi cial giving to Jesus. She offered her best and most precious to the Lord. Jesus took notice of her and her deeds were memorialized for all time (14:9). What was the key? She gave her best to God!

Be a prayer warrior. But know that it is the prayer of faith that moves mountains. So start mixing your intercession with your faithful tithing and generous giving. Your giving will turn your faith loose and intensify the supplications you are bringing before the Lord.

The Mission Mandate

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” Acts 9:15-16

Paul constantly exhorts us to pattern our lives after his (Phil. 3:17). His is the life of a missionary. So must ours be. Missions can be defined as God sending the whole church with the whole gospel to the whole world to meet the spiritual and social needs of humanity.

Why is missions so important?

(1) The purpose of Jesus dying on the cross is for world missions. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”(John 3:16). God sent His Son as a Missionary to our fallen world. His heart is in missions. Jesus died so that every nation, tribe, people and tongue could enter the kingdom of God (Rev. 7:9-10).

(2) The purpose of being a child of God is for world missions. God charged man to subdue and have dominion over the earth (Gen. 1:28). That means to change the spiritual environment by saving the lost in every town, city and country.

(3) The purpose of your calling is for world missions. “I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles”(Is. 42:6). God didn’t call you just to be an entrepreneur or a marketplace professional, or even a fivefold minister per se. His primary calling for you is to be a light to the unreached in the mission field.

(4) The purpose of Pentecost is for world missions. The anointing of the Holy Spirit was given so that you can do missions (Acts 1:8). Only when the 11 disciples obeyed the Great Commission and went out into the mission fi eld did the Holy Spirit confi rm their preaching through signs and wonders following (Mark 16:15-20).

(5) The purpose of prosperity is for world missions. The reason why God pours out His abundant blessings to you is so that “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed”(Gen. 12:3). God gives you the power to get wealth so that the Abrahamic mission covenant can be established (Deut. 8:18). How many mission trips are you planning to go on this year? Don’t procrastinate anymore. Prayerfully sign up for one as soon as you can!

Gideon's 300 Men

Then the LORD said to Gideon, “By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand. Let all the other people go, every man to his place.” Judges 7:7

Gideon was given the task of delivering the Israelites from the Midianites, desert nomads who repeatedly raided Israel. Gideon the judge portrayed our Lord Jesus Christ in two interesting ways. First of all, when Gideon was choosing men to fight against the enemies, he had 32,000 volunteers who joined his army. God instructed him to reduce the number of men lest Israel should claim glory for herself when He grants them victory. The fearful and afraid were sent home and Gideon was left with 10,000 men (Judg. 7:2-3). However, God was still not satisfied with the number of people and He put them through another test. This time, He tested their alertness and readiness. Those who knelt down to drink with their mouths in the stream were sent home. Only 300 passed (7:6-7)! In a similar way, Jesus chooses only those worthy to be in His army. He never appealed to the crowd, He went after serious disciples. The Bible says many are called but few are chosen (Matt. 22:14). Among the called and chosen, you find another category of people: those that are found faithful (Rev. 17:14).

Secondly, both Gideon and Jesus shared the same strategy in their missions. Gideon and his men all had pitchers in their left hand and trumpets in their right. When they launched their attack, they blew the trumpet, broke the pitchers, each concealing a torch within, to allow the light of the torches to shine forth as they charged forward (Judg. 7:19-21). On the cross of Calvary, Jesus died in His mortal human body-an earthen vessel of clay. His body was broken so that the light of God can shine forth and dispel the darkness of sin in our lives.

Your trumpet is the gospel you need to proclaim to the whole world. As you crucify your old man with Christ, you are breaking your pitcher. And the glory of the new man, which bears the life of Christ, can then shine forth. Jesus says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).

Nursing The Wounded

Village life ceased, it ceased in Israel, until I, Deborah, arose, arose a mother in Israel. Judges 5:7

In the book of Judges, the wife of Lapidoth was special because she was the only female judge of the Bible. She was the first female head of state in the history of Israel. “Deborah” was not her original name. She received her name from another Hebrew girl who lived generations before-Deborah, the nurse of Rebekah (Gen. 35:8). As such, when God raised up the wife of Lapidoth to be the judge of Israel, she borrowed the name of Rebekah’s aide since she herself functioned very much as a “nurse” to the entire nation.

A nurse is someone who takes care of another person who is sick or wounded. As a nurse, Deborah was a spiritual mother to Israel. The name “Deborah” literally means a “bee.” In entomology, there is a very special bee that is called a “nurse bee.” Its function in the bee colony is to care for the young. The ministry of Deborah was just like that. God used her to nurse a spiritually sick and backslidden nation back to a healthy relationship with Him.

As a deliverer, Deborah delivered the children of Israel from the oppression of the Canaanites. As an encourager, she inspired the demoralized Barak and gave him the confidence to lead the army of Israel against the enemy (Judg. 4:8-9). As a restorer, Deborah restored the faith of the people back to the living God. As a woman, she allowed herself to be physically and emotionally vulnerable in the face of great adversity.

With so many who are bruised and wounded today, God needs spiritual mothers and shepherds in His Church. He needs leaders who will bind the wounds of those who are hurt and strengthen those who are weak. God is looking for leaders who can be vulnerable and meek before the people they serve. A good leader would be like Jesus, who would “feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young” (Is. 40:11).

The Canaanites speak of the curse of sin (Gen. 9:24-27). Every soul is precious. We must not lose them to the Canaanites. May you rise up as a Deborah-a spiritual nurse-to the spiritually wounded and discouraged people God brings across your path.

Dealing With Your Past

When the children of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for the children of Israel, who delivered them: Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. Judges 3:9

After coming into the Promised Land, the children of Israel backslided spiritually. In Judges 3, God allowed Cushan-Rishathaim, the king of Mesopotamia, to oppress the people for eight years (Judg. 3:8). Mesopotamia symbolizes the land of our past. It was the world of sin and idolatry that Abraham forsook for Canaan (Acts 7:2-3).

King Cushan-Rishathaim is a type of Satan, the devil, the power who once ruled your life (Eph. 2:1-3). And this wicked king, from the land of the past, came with his forces to oppress God’s people once again. Satan knows that you are now born again. But like Cushan-Rishathaim, he doesn’t want you to enjoy the new life in God. He wants to make a comeback into your life. Are you oppressed with an old habit or a former lust? Or could it be a past hurt, guilt or failure? You need to have the victory over your personal Cushan-Rishathaim who has returned to haunt you.

When God’s people cried out to Him, He sent Othniel to save them (Judg. 3:9). Othniel is a type of Jesus Christ. His name means the “lion of God.” He was from the tribe of Judah. Like Jesus, the Lion of Judah, Othniel was anointed by the Spirit to set the people free from their oppression (3:10).

Deliverance must begin with a cry. God will only respond when there is a genuine desire within us to see our past dealt with by Him. Many Christians today are aware that they are oppressed by their old hurts, old lusts and old habits. But they don’t really have a desire to rid themselves of them. God will only deliver you when you really want Him and allow Him to. The Bible declares, “Whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved” (Joel 2:32). Whatever your Cushan-Rishathaim may be, Jesus is your present-day Othniel. As you cry out to Him for deliverance, you will find Him to be a very present help in your time of need.

The Place Of Agreement

Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. Acts 4:32

The Jerusalem church in Acts was very powerful because those in the church were of one heart and one soul in their vision for the kingdom. Jesus says, “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven” (Matt. 18:19). The place of agreement is the place of power. Conversely, the place of disagreement is the place of powerlessness.

Every principle in the Word flows out of the character and nature of God. Although God is a triune God-Father, Son and Holy Spirit-He is always in total agreement with Himself. All three members of the Godhead are forever in unity. God wants the same in His relationship with you. If you delight yourself in Him, which means to be in agreement with His will for your life, He will give you the desires of your heart (Ps. 37:4).

In a church, God wants unity in your relationships with others. When there is one vision, there will never be division. There will be no confusion or weakness in the camp. Psalm 133:1-2 says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments.” The anointing of God can flow mightily in a church where members dwell in unity. So great was the unity in the Jerusalem church that awesome power for miracles and financial provision was released (Acts 4:33-34).

In the days of Babel, “the whole earth had one language and one speech” (Gen. 11:1). Even God marvelled at the effort of the people in wanting to build a tower that reaches to the heavens. God says, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them” (11:6). As incredulous as the building of that tower may sound, God was fully convinced that the people would succeed. Make certain that you eliminate those things in your life that cause disunity-unforgiveness, anger, gossip, a critical spirit, being easily offended, unrealistic expectations, and hidden agendas. Remember that when there is unity, nothing is impossible!

Solving The Messiah Mystery

You Are A Conversionist

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” Acts 3:19-21

In the Scriptures, God reveals Himself by His name. More than just revealing His ability, the names of God reveal His character. God introduces Himself for the first time in Genesis 1:1 as Elohim, the Creator. As the Creator, He is full of creativity, ability and productivity.

When God created man, He put that same nature into man. Adam was created with God’s creativity, ability and productivity inside of him. When Adam sinned against God, his fall didn’t nullify those gifts. He still had them except that they were now corrupted. For example, consider his son, Cain. In Genesis 4, Cain was able to build a whole city (4:16-17), provide employment (4:20), music and entertainment (4:21), manufacturing, and the building of weapons (4:22). He was able to singlehandedly accomplish great feats out of the same creative potential God had deposited into the entire human race, albeit that they were now perverted and self-serving.

Herein lies a very important concept: When man fell, God didn’t plan for the elimination of men, society, culture, or the whole world. Instead, God sought to bring about the restoration of fallen humanity. Elohim God started to reveal Himself by another name-Yahweh, or God the Redeemer (Ex. 3:13-14). The essence of redemption is taking that which is broken, fixing it, and restoring it back to its original purpose and intention.

Jesus came to be our Redeemer-to bring about the conversion of fallen man from darkness to light, and from death to life. But He also seeks to convert the creativity, ability and productivity that God has put inside man back to its original purpose. Acts 3:19-21 says that this conversion is not just the restoration of man from the sin problem, it is the restoration of all things in life. People, families, marriages, businesses, education systems, culture and arts must all be born again.

You are not called to hide from the world. As a follower of Christ the Redeemer, you are now a conversionist. You are to use your creativity, ability and productivity to redeem everything you see in your world back to God’s original purpose and intention. So that they could be used for the cause and glory of His kingdom. Start being a conversionist in your world today!

Unusual Miracles

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know.” Acts 2:22

How do we know that Jesus was approved of God? Not by His philosophical prowess or oral eloquence, but by three things: miracles, signs and wonders. Jesus healed the sick, cast out demons, cleansed the lepers, raised the dead, fed great multitudes, turned water into wine, etc. How do you know if someone is a real servant of God? We measure his ministry according to the same standard outlined here in Acts 2:22.

Take for example, Paul’s apostleship. “Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds” (2 Cor. 12:12). The workings of miracles are the signs of true apostleship, not just the presiding over of a huge megachurch or a denomination. If a preacher claims to be an apostle, miracles must be constant occurrences in his ministry. They must be there in “all perseverance”-in other words, happening in great consistency.

Hebrews 2:4 says: “God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?” Again the testimony of God was proven by miracles, signs and wonders. Miracles were so normal in the Ephesian church that God started working unusual ones among them (Acts 19:12). All throughout the New Testament, we see that the reality of God was proven time and again by supernatural miracles. To say that we have passed the days of signs and wonders is effectively denying the Holy Scriptures!

The word “miracle” in Greek is dunamis, which means “power.” As a Spirit-filled believer, you have received the dunamis of the Holy Spirit to work miracles in Jesus’ name (Acts 1:8). But why is it that we don’t see miracles or healings take place regularly in our churches today? The overwhelming reason is the presence of doubt and unbelief for them to happen in our midst (Mark 6:5-6). Remember, without faith, it is impossible to please God . . . or see the miraculous.

True Hope Can Only Be Found In God

“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.” Psalm 62:5

We are to hope in God. What is hope? It is confident expectation that good will happen. How can we have hope? True hope can only be found in God.

Why is that? It is because without God there is no true foundation for our hope. Without God, maybe something good will happen; maybe it will not.

But when we commit our lives to Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we now become children of the most high God Who created the heaven and the earth. God has all power and authority. He has promised to love you and to care for you and God wants only our best. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" So you can have true hope for the future -- even if you don't know exactly what will happen, you can know God cares for you and will work out what is best in your life. He will protect you and will cause all things to work together good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

So, this week, let us pray that God will

• Bring hope to those who are discouraged and weak and sad
• Help Global Media Outreach reach millions of more people with the gospel
• Protect our volunteers and staff from all harm

THANK YOU so much for your prayers. God loves you and He knows what is best for you!

May God bless you,

Possessing The Heart

And it came to pass when all the kings who were on this side of the Jordan, in the hills and in the lowland and in all the coasts of the Great Sea toward Lebanon-the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite-heard about it, that they gathered together to fight with Joshua and Israel with one accord. Joshua 9:1

As the children of Israel entered the Promised Land, there were seven whole nations to defeat. They were the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites (Josh 3:10). These seven nations could well represent seven things that are an abomination to the Lord. “These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren” (Prov. 6:16-19). Israel was commanded to utterly destroy these seven nations and their kings.

These kings and domains represent enthroned areas of the “self life” where ego still reigns instead of the Lord. They are the pockets of resistance, preventing us from fully experiencing the kingdom of God. These kings are proud, rebellious, and self-willed. Each king guards and protects his own interests and furiously opposes anyone or anything that dares to tamper with even an inch of his territory.

God wants to ultimately settle His presence and glory on Mount Zion. But even that location was guarded by the Jebusites. Mount Zion is a picture of the believer’s heart in which God wants to reside. But the heart has many enemies of the kingdom that we need to subdue. Jesus says, “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” (Matt. 15:19).

The Lord appeared to Joshua with a sword drawn in His hand as they were about to go against the enemies of the land (Josh. 5:13-15). We must seek God earnestly and allow Him to confront us with the directness of His Word concerning those rebellious areas of our heart. Until the enemies of righteousness within us are dealt with, we can never enter into full rest. While they are still alive and active, they cause unrest, frustration and defeat.

Unfortunately, Israel was complacent and settled for compromise. They allowed many little enemies to stay in the land of their inheritance. The Scriptures make it clear that Joshua did not bring them into full rest (Heb. 4:8). Full rest is ours when we subdue all our enemies and secure our hearts-the spiritual Mount Zion-for God to build His habitation.

Thomas Faith

Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29

Thomas, one of the apostles, is most remembered because he was slow to accept anything as truth without sufficient evidence. In addition to his inclusion in the list of disciples’ names, Thomas is mentioned four other times in the biblical record. The first two of these incidents give us some insight on the passage in John 20. In John 11, Thomas makes a pessimistic and perhaps sarcastic statement about following Jesus to Lazarus’ tomb, “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (11:16). On another occasion, when Jesus was explaining to the disciples that He was about to go to his Father’s house, Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” (14:5).

But Thomas is best known for what occurred after Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus appeared to the disciples, but Thomas was not with them at that time. When they told Thomas they had seen Jesus, he refused to believe them. Thomas believed only when he had sufficient evidence to convince him that this astounding miracle had actually occurred. His physical senses told him that Jesus was already dead. Without evidence, he wouldn’t believe.

Many people claim to have faith in Jesus and the Bible, but their faith is only in the realm of the mind—that is head-faith or “Thomas faith.” This is a very natural, human faith which says, “I am not going to believe anything unless I can see it and feel it!”

What we need is “Abraham faith” or heart-faith. Abraham did not consider physical knowledge or the glaring fact that he was 100 years old and Sarah was 90. He only considered the spiritual truth of God’s Word; that God was going to give him a promised son. And out of that son would come descendants as numerous as the sands on the seashore and stars in the night sky.

Real faith is built on the spiritual truths of God’s promises. While we don’t deny the problems, pain and other negative symptoms of life (for they may be very real), we look beyond them to God’s Word. Real faith says, “If God says it is so, it is so!” Period. Head-faith is just an intellectual acceptance, or mental assent, of certain facts and doctrines. That is not true Bible faith. It won’t produce results or changes in the lives of people. But heart-faith will always produce a definite change in people. Romans 10:10 says, “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness.”

Be Strong & Courageous

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

God, Moses and the Israelites all encouraged Joshua to excel in His leadership. What exactly is needed in leadership? Four things apply:

(1) Courage. Seventeen times, the Bible says, “Be of good courage!” Therefore, having courage is a very good thing. The primary ploy of the devil is to bring discouragement to a leader, that is to take courage out of your heart. If he succeeds, then he has trapped you in a place of weakness, despair and hopelessness. Your vision would soon disappear. What is courage? Courage is the capacity to do what is right even when it is unpopular. As such, courage relates to the integrity of character. A courageous person will do what is right in the midst of opposition and mockery, even when there are no perceived benefits to him at all. When you do what is right—simply because it is the right thing to do—that is courage.

(2) Boldness. Someone once counted that 365 times, the Bible says, “Fear not!” In other words, in every single day of the year, a leader must never be afraid. To be bold is to have confidence. David says, “Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this I will be confident” (Ps. 27:3). Even under house arrest in Rome, Paul preached “with all confidence” (Acts 28:31). The Bible says, “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward” (Heb. 10:35). Courage relates to character; boldness relates to your personality. Have a confident personality and be secure in who you are.

(3) Strength. Again and again, Joshua was exhorted to be strong. Strength is the ability to stand up on your feet whenever you are knocked down. There are many confident and charismatic people who are not strong. Whenever they are hit by a crisis, they wilt away without having the ability to bounce back in life.

(4) Wisdom. Proverbs constantly speaks of knowledge, understanding and wisdom. Knowledge is the getting of information. Understanding is the analyzing of information. Wisdom is solving the problem. Proverbs says, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom” (Prov. 1:7). A leader must be wise.

Jesus' Prayer Life

Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You.” John 17:1

The chapter of John 17 might more appropriately be called “The Lord’s Prayer” rather than Matthew 6:9-13. The prayer contains a threefold petition from Jesus:

• Petition #1: That He may be glorified (John 17:1-5). Jesus says, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You.” The prayer of Jesus for Himself is not for a selfish motive. His desire was to glorify the Father. To glorify God is to make Him known. Jesus knew that He would soon be manifested as the Savior of the world through His atoning death on Calvary’s cross. Believers in Him would know God and thus possess eternal life.In everything that you do, you should have this same mind—to pray that God may be glorified through your daily life.

• Petition #2: That His disciples may be sanctified (17:6-19). Although Jesus does not pray that His immediate disciples be removed from the world, He does pray that they would be kept from the world’s evil through the Father’s name. He also prays that they might be sanctified, that is, set apart for the ministry of truth. Billy Graham once said, “God loves you just the way you are, but He loves you too much to leave you the same.” God desires an ongoing transformation of your heart, mind and attitude. Pray that you will be changed daily from glory to glory into the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18).

• Petition #3: That the church may be unified (John 17:20-26). In the final portion of His prayer, Jesus prays for the unity of all believers in subsequent generations. The oneness He requests is not an organizational unity, but a spiritual one. He prays that this unity will be visibly manifested in the life of the Church and will bear witness to the divine mission of Christ. Knowing Jesus’ heart in this matter, you must commit yourself to bring about the unity of the Church. Pray for the unity of your local congregation and the interchurch relationships in your nation.

The Final Kingdom

Ready For Leadership

Then He inaugurated Joshua the son of Nun, and said, “Be strong and of good courage; for you shall bring the children of Israel into the land of which I swore to them, and I will be with you.” Deuteronomy 31:23

Joshua became Israel’s leader during one of the most difficult times in its history. Within days of his appointment, he led the nation across the Jordan River into hostile territory and set out to conquer, divide and settle in the land. It was a daunting task and Joshua’s success in this enormous assignment lied in these very important reasons:

First of all, Joshua’s hunger for God’s presence. Joshua often accompanied Moses to the tabernacle of meeting where God talked with him face to face. Moses, after hearing from God, would leave and address the people. But when Joshua came into God’s presence in the tabernacle of meeting, he “did not depart from the tabernacle” (Ex. 33:11). Joshua demonstrated a deep passion to be in God’s presence. This intimate relationship with God would serve him well in his demanding leadership challenges to come.

Secondly, Joshua’s commitment to obey God. Of the 12 spies who checked the land in preparation for Israel’s invasion, only Joshua and Caleb encouraged the people to follow God’s command to move forward. Although all 12 spies saw the same obstacles, 10 of the 12 concluded that the people should turn back. Joshua’s and Caleb’s response (Num. 14:5-9) helps explain why Joshua succeeded as Israel’s leader when he was appointed 40 years later.

Thirdly, Joshua’s integrity and character. God (and Moses) established and legitimized Joshua’s positional leadership for the nation. God left no question about who was in charge when Moses departed (Josh. 1:1-9). Both Joshua’s positional and personal power were based on an impeccable life. Joshua’s integrity and character were essential to his effectiveness as a leader.

Fourthly, Joshua’s discipleship by Moses. There are four passages that call Joshua “Moses’ assistant.” That reveals an important fact about Joshua’s success as a leader. Moses had spent years training his successor. Israel had a great leader in Joshua because Moses had the foresight to cultivate and equip him as the next leader.

Finally, Joshua’s godliness. Joshua 4:14 says, “On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they had feared Moses, all the days of his life.” Joshua was a powerful leader because he was a godly leader. Joshua was a godly leader because he was a godly man.

Circumise Your Heart

And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. Deuteronomy 30:6

Circumcision has a marvelous spiritual significance. For one thing, a believer cannot receive his inheritance until he is circumcised. This was true outwardly for an Israelite, and it is true inwardly for a Christian. There is no inheritance until we are circumcised in our hearts. God told Abraham that before he and his descendants could inherit the land of Canaan, they had to be circumcised (Gen. 17:1-14).

Circumcision is to cut away the flesh. Spiritually, it is a cutting away of the natural, sinful, Adamic nature we are born with. Uncircumcision represents uncleanness. It means that what we are born with has not yet been dealt with. It signifies that the old nature, with its wrong desires, ways, thought patterns, and responses, still remain. “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word” (Ps. 119:9). How does God circumcise our hearts? By the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God applied to our lives by the working of the Holy Spirit. There are a few evidences of a circumcised heart:

(1) A circumcised heart is compliant. “Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer” (Deut. 10:16). To be “stiff-necked” is to be rebellious, inflexible and stubborn.

(2) A circumcised heart does not resist the Holy Spirit. “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you” (Acts 7:51).

(3) A circumcised heart does not resist the preachers sent by God (7:52).

(4) A circumcised heart is humble, broken and repentant. “But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers, with their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me, and that they also have walked contrary to Me … if their uncircumcised hearts are humbled, and they accept their guilt—then I will remember My covenant …” (Lev. 26:40-42).

(5) A circumcised heart is quick to forgive and release people for the offenses they have committed. A hardened heart cannot easily forgive but remembers and cherishes grudges (Matt. l9:7-8; Mark l0:4-6).

The Centrality of the Cross

1 Corinthians 2:2….. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

The Cross where Jesus Christ was crucified is so pivotal that it even determines our western-world calendars. Traditionally, we speak of events in history taking place BC; before Christ and AD; (Anno Domini) – the year of Our Lord’s birth, the official start date of the Gregorian calendar.

However, it is not only in the establishing of historical times and dates that gives the Cross of Jesus such importance, far more important are the events that took place there.

Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten son – God manifest on earth, was crucified on Calvary’s Cross. The innocent Lamb of God who never sinned, took your sin and mine upon Himself and paid the penalty for our sin on our behalf so that, if we choose, we can be reconciled to His Father in heaven

If we believe this and acknowledge that our sins are now paid for by the blood of Jesus, we will be forgiven, washed clean and adopted into the family of God as sons and co-heirs with Christ. His Father will become our Father.

Jesus won a tremendous victory on the Cross for us. He overcame sin and death and made the way for us to spend eternity with Him.

That’s not all, when we ask Jesus to forgive us and invite Him to be not only our Saviour but our Lord also, we embark on an amazing journey of salvation that leads to our destiny and the fulfilment of the purpose of our life on earth.

After His death on the Cross and His burial, on the third day Jesus rose from the grave. He overcame death to give us the hope of eternal life. Forty days after His crucifixion He ascended back to heaven telling his disciples as He was taken into the clouds, to wait on the promise of the Holy Spirit.

Ten days after His ascension, on the first day of the Feast of Pentecost, that promise came to pass when the Holy Spirit filled the 120 followers of Jesus who were gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem.

By the end of that day there were 3,000 more people added to their number through the outworking of what the prophet Joel speaks of in Chapter 2 of his book in the bible….

A series of cataclysmic events starting at Calvary’s Cross and spread over the next fifty days have changed the whole course of mankind. Have they changed you?

Lord Jesus, thank you for the Cross. Amen

Greater Works

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 promise that Jesus made regarding prayer in John 14:12-14 is almost breathtaking. Preparing to place His ministry in the hands of His disciples, He said to them in the upper room (and to all of us today), “He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do.” When Jesus was on the earth, everything He did, He did it through His earthly body. Now Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father. Everything He does now, He does through His spiritual body—the Church of the living God. And Jesus says that we, His Church, will do greater works!

The works of Jesus refer to His miracles, healings, signs and mighty acts of power. His works included healing every kind of disease, casting out demons and raising the dead. He controlled the wind and the waves, walked on water, multiplied food, and turned water into wine. The promise here is that every believer can receive the Holy Spirit and be endued with power from on high so that he potentially can do all the works of Christ. But more than that, we are supposed to exceed Him. How?

The “greater works” are works greater in quantity and further in global reach. Jesus had scores of converts; the apostles numbered in the thousands. Jesus ministered only to the Jews in Palestine. Peter opened the door for Gentiles to be saved at Cornelius’ house. Paul and the early Christians soon took the gospel to reach the known world.

When Jesus preached, His biggest crowd at any one time may have been 5,000 to 20,000 people. But at his Millennium Crusade in Lagos, Nigeria, German evangelist Reinhard Bonnke had 1,600,000 people attending a single gospel service. That night, 1,093,000 lost souls responded to the altar call. At the end of the six-day event, a total of 3,450,000 people had registered decisions for Jesus! In his 30 years of faithful ministry, Evangelist Bonnke has given out 68 million copies of follow-up booklets to help new converts who got saved in his meetings.

Today, with television, radio, satellite broadcasting, the Internet, and printed media, hundreds of millions of people can hear the gospel all at the same time. We must harness all the power of God and the technology available in the world to win the masses for Christ. We must put our faith in Jesus’ words. Our Savior would never lie to us. This is truly the day of the harvest! We are the people of the greater works!