The Rod Of Correction

The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool shall swallow him up. Ecclesiastes 10:12

Solomon, having shown the benefit of wisdom and of what great advantage it is to us, exposes the folly of a fool here in Ecclesiastes 10.

(1) Fools talk a great deal with no purpose. They show their folly by the multitude of their words. The words of a fool not only expose him to ridicule, but also bring him to ruin. Adonijah foolishly spoke against his own life (1 Kin. 2:23).

(2) Fools have little control over their emotions. Ecclesiastes 10:13 states, “The words of his mouth begin with foolishness, and the end of his talk is raving madness.” The fool speaks foolishness and ends up in great anger and fury. No one seems to be able to talk sense to him.

(3) Fools never know when to stop talking. Ecclesiastes 10:14 says, “A fool also multiplies words. No man knows what is to be; who can tell him what will be after him?” A fool speaks endlessly and never knows when to leave off. Many who are empty of sense are full of words, and those without substance are the noisiest.

(4) Fools toil a great deal to no purpose. Ecclesiastes 10:15 says, “The labor of fools wearies them, for they do not even know how to go to the city!” The foolish tire themselves in endless pursuits and never bring anything to pass. Proverbs 22:15 reads, “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him.” The way to drive foolishness out of our hearts is through the rod of correction. Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” How do we lay aside every weight as well as the sin that easily ensnares us?

The answer is found in Hebrews 12:5-6, “And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: ‘My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.’” We all need to be disciplined and to endure the hardship of the rod of correction. But to learn, you must be willing to be taught. Therefore, if you want to be wise and drive foolishness away; then as children, submit to your parents, listen to them and honor them. As believers, submit yourselves to your spiritual leaders so that they may train you to be a true disciple of Christ (13:17).

Be Strong In The Lord

“…I am convinced that neither death nor life…neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38, 39

“Be strong in the Lord.” What does it mean to be strong in the Lord? It does not mean physical strength it means spiritual strength.

When we are strong spiritually, we know who we are in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, has overcome sin and death and hell. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, He then lives in us spiritually, and we live in Him. The Bible says we are “seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

So sin does not need to be victor over you because greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. Fear does not need to rule you because Christ’s perfect love casts out fear. Even death does not have victory over you because if you have accepted Christ, you will go to heaven when you die.

No matter what faces you, ask God for His strength and His peace and His victory and you can overcome. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So this week, let us pray that

* God will help you and us to overcome all sin and temptation in our lives through Jesus Christ
* God will help Global Media Outreach to reach even more people for Jesus Christ and will fill our staff with His Holy Spirit
* God will help you and us to love even our enemies in Christ’s love

THANK YOU so much for your prayers. God loves you very much. We are so glad to be part of God’s family together.

May God bless you,

Bad Things Do Happen To Us

I returned and saw under the sun that—The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all. Ecclesiastes 9:11

We are often disappointed by circumstances and challenges in life. There are so many events that do not always make sense even with the most rational prospects and probabilities. Life very often happens not according to one’s expectations. Here in Ecclesiastes, Solomon gives instances of disappointments.

We would think that the lightest of foot should, in running, win the prize; and yet the race is not always to the swift. Some accidents may happen that could retard them; or they might feel too secure, therefore becoming careless, letting those who are slower get ahead of them. We would think that in fighting, the most numerous and powerful army should always be victorious.

But the battle is not always to the strong. A host of Philistines was once put to flight by Jonathan and his men (1 Sam. 14). “Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you” (Lev. 26:8). We would think that men of sense should always be men of substance, and that those who have understanding should have abundance. Yet it does not always prove so. Many talented people who were likely to thrive in the world, have strangely gone backward and come to nothing.

This may be a surprising thought to you but God is not the cause of everything that happens in our lives. There are things that happen in the course of life which are results of us living in a broken down world. Everyone who breathes faces problems. We need to know sometimes that bad things do happen to good people. But in Christ we have the power to overcome every storm of life. “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” (1 John 5:4-5)?

The prophet Habakkuk resolves to rejoice no matter what happens. “Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls—Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills”
(Hab. 3:17-19).

When the disappointments are enormous, when the blows are relentless, when all expectations are dashed, that is when we need to say, “I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation!”

Building A Life Of Purpose

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Your birth was no mistake or mishap, and your life is no fluke of nature. Your parents may not have planned for you, but God did. You are alive because God wanted you to be. “The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever” (Ps. 138:8, NRSV). God made you for a reason. He determined the natural talents you would possess and the uniqueness of your personality. God never does anything accidentally, and He never makes mistakes. He has a reason for everything He creates. As such, we must understand His purpose for our lives through the Bible. There are five benefits of discovering your purpose in life:

1) Knowing your purpose gives meaning to your life. Without God, life has no meaning. Without meaning, life has no significance or hope. Hope is as essential to your life as air and water. You need hope to cope with life’s challenges. Hope comes from having a purpose. You may be facing a hopeless, impossible situation, but Jeremiah says God has a future and a hope for you.

2) Knowing your purpose simplifies your life. It defines what you do and what you don’t do. Your purpose becomes the standard you use to evaluate which activities are essential and which aren’t. People who don’t know their purpose try to do too much—and that causes stress, fatigue, and conflict. But “You, LORD, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you” (Is. 26:3, TEV).

3) Knowing your purpose focuses your life. It concentrates your effort and energy on what is important. You become effective by being selective. Paul was very effective in his life because he was focused. Paul says, “No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead” (Phil. 3:13, NLT).

4) Knowing your purpose motivates your life. Purpose produces passion. Jesus knew the purpose of Calvary’s cross and that became His passion. “To them also He showed Himself alive after His passion (His suffering in the garden and on the cross)” (Acts 1:3, AMP).

5) Knowing your purpose prepares you for eternity. Many people spend their lives trying to create a lasting legacy on earth. They want to be remembered when they’re gone. Yet, what ultimately matters most will not be what others say about your life but what God says. Everything we do here on earth is a preparation for eternity. Once again, reaffirm your purpose in God and ask the Lord to continue to strengthen you so that you can fulfill His purpose and to “walk in wisdom … redeeming the time” (Col. 4:5).

Spiritual Discipline

The end of a thing is better than its beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Ecclesiastes 7:8

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He declared to the disciples that He has taken back all the authority which Adam had lost to Satan because of the Fall. He then commissioned His disciples and all believers to commit to the great task of bringing the gospel to the whole world (Matt. 28:18-20). Indeed, Jesus is coming back again. But before He does so, the gospel must be preached to all the peoples of the world (24:14). God’s desire is that all men would come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” But how shall the unbelievers believe in Him unless there is a preacher (Rom. 10:14)? The question that Isaiah heard in his vision is still ringing from heaven today: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us” (Is. 6:8)?

World missions is the responsibility of every believer. The purpose of Pentecost is for world missions (Acts 1:8). When the 11 disciples of Jesus were endued with power from on high, they went everywhere preaching the gospel with signs and wonders accompanying. In one generation, they brought the gospel message to the entire known world. In these last days, God is again pouring out His Spirit upon His people for one reason—that we might bring the gospel message to the world.

In Luke 19:44, Jesus talks about His first coming, that Jerusalem did not know the time of their visitation. The word “time” (Gr. kairos) means a time of opportunity. Jesus could come back anytime now in our generation. He is delaying His second coming for one and one reason alone: So that more and more people will have a chance to hear the gospel and be given the opportunity to believe on Him for salvation. Let us therefore recognize the kairos time of opportunity that we have now to witness for Christ. Because the day will come when Jesus will appear for the second time and, by then, it will be too late.

The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Jesus is the Lord of the harvest and He is sending more laborers into the harvest field. He said of Himself, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4). Will you be a laborer of the harvest like Jesus? Will you respond like Isaiah, “Here am I! Send me.” Decide to make every soul-winning opportunity count. Seize every kairos moment to share the gospel and be a witness for Jesus!

Pursuing God

Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart. Jeremiah 24:7

Men who achieve greatness in the kingdom of God have a heart to know God. While traveling on the road to Damascus, Saul, who became the apostle Paul, was smitten to the ground by the brightness of God’s presence and cried out, “Who are You, Lord?” (Acts 9:5). Saul needed to know Whom he was dealing with before he knew how to respond. All this while he had only known about God and His Word through the theological training under Gamaliel. Now he met the God of the Word. This experience totally revolutionized his life.

Paul’s faith was no longer founded upon a philosophy or tradition, but in the Person of the living God. He later wrote, “For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Tim. 1:12). It is not enough to know God intellectually; we need to experience Him personally.

This experience will produce an unshakeable conviction in the reality of God. God does not want us to experience Him just once. He wants us to draw near to Him again and again. Moses was a man who wanted more of God. Moses had led the children of Israel out of Egypt intothe wilderness with mighty signs and wonders. But the people rebelled and turned against God to worship the golden calf. In His wrath, God judged the children of Israel (Ex. 32:35). Then Moses cried out to God, “Please, show me Your glory” (33:18). He felt that he had come to a place where he could no longer lead Israel until he knew God better. He was not satisfied at just having the burning bush encounter with God. Do you sometimes feel like Moses? Do you feel you have come to your wits’ end and you need a fresh touch of the Holy Spirit? Well, you can pray to God like Moses did. God instructed Moses to stand at the cleft of the rock and “the LORD passed before him” (34:6). Moses had a fresh revelation of God and that experience gave him the strength and courage to continue as the leader of Israel.

These two outstanding men of God—Moses, representing the Old Testament, and Paul, a key New Testament figure—understood that it is God’s will that we know Him. They recognized their need for an unfolding revelation of God and His need to give that selfrevelation. Over 76 times, the Old Testament says, “know that I am the LORD.” God has never issued a command without also providing the ability to fulfill that command. He will give us a heart to know Him (Jer. 24:7). Our responsibility is to draw near to Him with a true heart in full assurance of faith. Let us make a decision to pursue God every single day of our lives.

A Life Of Commitment

When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed. Ecclesiastes 5:4

Making a vow or a commitment has always been God’s way of relating to His people. The kingdom of God is a kingdom of commitment. God is a commitment-making and commitment-keeping God. More than 300 times in the Bible, He says, “I am a covenant-keeping God!” A covenant is an agreement confirmed by oath between two parties. In His relationship with Abraham, God gave a promise (Gen. 17:7). As we look at the history of the Jewish people, we see God’s faithfulness in keeping His covenant with Abraham no matter how impossible the circumstances seemed to be.

When we make faith promises, God wants us to keep our word. In the book of Judges, Jephthah made a vow to offer whatever comes out of his house to meet him as a burnt offering to the LORD (Judg. 11:30-31).When he came to his house at Mizpah after the victorious battle, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and dancing. It was a tough call. The Bible records, “and he carried out his vow with her which he had vowed” (11:39). Jephthah kept his promise.

God is looking for men and women who would swear to their own hurt and keep their vows. Why? Because character is built through commitment. If we don’t value commitment, everything in our life will fall apart. Nothing great ever happens without making commitments. There are three life commitments that we must make:

(1) Commitment to people. We are commanded to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:39). It takes commitment to love people because “love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Cor. 13:4-7).

(2) Commitment to spiritual fitness. “Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next” (1 Tim. 4:7-8, NLT).

(3) Commitment to our life’s purpose. “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). The apostle Paul was totally committed to his purpose and he allowed nothing to distract him. This is the kind of life God wants us to live—a life of commitment.