Who do you serve – God or Money?

Matthew 6:24

²⁴“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

 

We don’t seem to treat money in the same light as Jesus does. Jesus equates money with master. He equated it with God Himself. That’s the weight that Jesus attributes to money. It’s a MASTER over our lives. Isn’t it time to quiet down and reflect seriously who our MASTER is?

Let’s ask ourselves, “Who are we more afraid of losing – God or Money?” Be honest with yourself about the answer – this could be the greatest gift you can give yourself – your honest answer can save your life!

I remember reading about George Mueller, and how he lived seven years without money, each day just waiting on the Lord to provide for the needs of hundreds and later 2000+  orphans. I didn’t like what I read. In fact I squirmed inside of me, and thought how I would not be able to live like this man did. (God brought me into it, I’m still in it but I’m rejoicing through it – hallelujah to the Lamb!)

A minister I knew, when challenged by God, broke out in cold sweat while she cut up her credit cards.

So friend, don’t be ashamed by your response, we can’t hide it from God who sees all our wickedness anyway. Rather, be courageous and honestly confront yourself with the question.

Ecclesiastes 10:19 (New International Version)

 

 ¹⁹ A feast is made for laughter,
and wine makes life merry,
but money is the answer for everything.

Isn’t it true that money is the answer for everything? It’s so easy to do things, even things for God when we have money. But when there is no money, we have now to depend TOTALLY on God for answer. This really is the starting point of true service to God and discipleship in Jesus Christ.

If you would surrender yourself and your will wholely to God and dare to trust God completely, you will be most blessed because it’s in this place that you will KNOW GOD. You will know that –

• He is the all powerful, all glorious, supernatural, miracle working God who moves every mountain to meet all your needs.
• He is a true friend because when your bank account is empty, and even the closest friends had fled away, He stayed.
• He is faithful because you’ve received the promises He made in His Holy Word.
• He is your Father who always provide no matter how little you have.
• He is the comforter whose comfort allows you rest and peace in the midst of storms.
• He is Love. True, Sincere, Pure and Sacrificial Love. Love so passionate, so complete; even death and hell could not keep you away from Him.
• He is victory, because LOVE NEVER FAILS.

This is true blessedness and real freedom.

I want to encourage you: “Do not be afraid. Do not trust in your own understanding about money and what it would be like if you are without. Rather decide right now that you will have God alone as your master. Decide knowing that it will kill the old man, but you will come out all victorious! Decide right now to stand with God, no matter what.”

This decision is so important because money is Satan’s weapon. This is one of the strongest vice he is using against us today.

Proverbs 3 (New International Version)

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

 ⁶ in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

To serve money or God? I believe this is the biggest test for all christians.

A good approach to this issue may be found in this statement by William Carey:

“My real business is to preach the gospel and win lost souls. I cobble shoes to pay expenses.”

Why Moses could not enter promised land.

The other day, my colleague told me how he was upset with God because He didn’t allow Moses to enter into promised land (Numbers 20:1-13). His argument was that God was too severe with Moses considering all the great things which Moses did for Israel.

But we know that God is not petty like this, and surely it’s His will that no one perishes, not even the wicked.

So how can it be that Moses, the servant of God should be left outside. No, no! This is impossible with God. In Hebrews it is written that He does not forget our labour of love.

So what could be the explanation?

Firstly, we must understand that the Law and the Prophets are prophecies concerning Jesus Christ. Jesus said it Himself:

Matthew 11:13 (New King James Version)

¹³ For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

 In other words, God was telling ahead of time what He was going to do for Israel, that Israel should pay attention to these signs that they may recognise the Messiah when He comes.

To make it a little simpler to understand, the Old Testament is like postcards, e.g. one of the Statue of Liberty which I can show to children that they may know what it looks like. But when I finally bring my children to New York, they will see the Statue and they will immediately recognise that that’s the ‘real’ Statue of Liberty which before they only saw in the postcard.

Similarly, the Law and the Prophets shows us all the things that will be fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Perhaps the easiest illustration is that of the Passover Lamb. We can see so easily that God was teaching them and us that the blood from God’s chosen Lamb will save us and preserve us forever. It wasn’t the lamb that Israel sacrificed that saved them, even though God by His power did passover them to prove to them that He will able to save them. But that passover did not eternally save them, for we read afterwards how so many died in the wilderness, not able to enter in because they did not have faith in God. They trusted instead in the law – their own righteousness, that if they obey the law, then they are righteous and they would be saved.

The Law cannot save us, and Moses is the law and the old testament, which could not enter in.

John 1:17 (New King James Version)

¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the rock from which water or grace of God will flow to give life to His people. Only Jesus can bring us in to the Kingdom of God.

God told Moses to speak (grace) to the Rock, Moses hit (works) the rock instead.

This is also a picture / postcard of those who are still in the law e.g. the Pharisees will hit out at those walking in grace (Jesus).

Galatians 3:11 (New King James Version)

¹¹ But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”

Acts 13:38-40 (New King James Version)

³⁸ Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; ³⁹ and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

And we know that only those who are justified, are forgiven completely of all sins, and these will surely enter in.

Though, Moses couldn’t enter the promised land here on earth, he has surely entered in to the REAL promised land – the City of God, the heavenly Jerusalem. And that’s all that counts!!

How much does God love us?

Got this in my email today, and I just have to post it here for all to see, and be encouraged! Whether this story is true or not, I don’t know. What I am sure of is this – that God TRULY is as this story protrayed Him to be!

How do I know? Because He has done the same for me – so many times over.  Sadly, I have not been able to find the time, nor the right words to pen these experiences.

I’m overwhelmed as I read this mail, reminded again of His faithfulness, love and kindness towards us – a very helpless people. All glory and honour be unto our God and King, who alone knows all things and moves all things for the ones He loves!!

 

 

Isaiah 65:24

Before they call, I will answer.

This beautiful story was written by a doctor who worked in Central Africa.

 One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter.

We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive; as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator). We also had no special feeding facilities..

Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle.

She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates).. ‘And it is our last hot water bottle!’ she exclaimed.

As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.

‘All right,’ I said, ‘put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm.’

The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.

During prayer time, one ten-year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. ‘Please, God’ she prayed, ‘Send us a hot water bottle today. It’ll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.’

While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, ‘And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she’ll know You really love her?’

As often with children’s prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say ‘Amen’? I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything; the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren’t there?

The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel from home. Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!

Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses’ training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door.. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there on the porch was a large 22-pound parcel.

I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly… Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box.

From the top, I lifted out brightly-colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas – that would make a batch of buns for the weekend.

Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the….. could it really be? I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, a brand new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.

Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, ‘If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too! ‘Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully-dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted!

Looking up at me, she asked, ‘Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she’ll know that Jesus really loves her?’

‘Of course,’ I replied!

That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God’s prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child – five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it ‘that afternoon’.

‘Before they call, I will answer.’ (Isaiah 65:24)

A Great Missionary – John Paton

I was looking around for biographies of missionary to encourage myself when I stumbled upon the life of John Paton. WOW… How I was encouraged indeed. What a christian example for us to follow – truly a light that shone in the dark.

Here’s a short excerpt of this wonderful biography, or if you just can’t wait to get to the real thing, this is the link : http://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/biopaton.html

The Apostle of Christ to the Cannibals of the New Hebrides by Eugene Myers Harrison It was New Year’s Day, 1861, on the island of Tanna, in the New Hebrides. The missionaries had spent the day taking medicine, food, and water to the villagers, hundreds of whom were smitten down with a virulent type of measles. Most of those who took the medicine and followed instructions recovered, but vast numbers preferred to try their own experiments. Scores of them, tormented by the burning fever, plunged into the sea seeking relief and found it in almost instant death. Others dug holes in the earth, the length of the body and several feet deep, and lay therein, the cool earth feeling pleasant to their fevered bodies. In this futile effort hundreds of them died, literally in their own graves, and were buried where they lay. In the evening, the missionaries knelt in the mission house in a fervent prayer of consecration of their all to Christ and of petition for the salvation of the cannibals among whom they lived. They solemnly committed themselves to the protecting presence of their Lord, not knowing that even then the house was surrounded by fierce savages, armed with clubs, killing-stones and muskets, determined to slay and eat the foreigners whose God, they believed, had brought disease, hurricanes, and other troubles upon them. After the worship, the younger missionary stepped out of the door to go to his own house close by. Instantly he was attacked and fell to the ground screaming, “Look out! They are trying to kill us!” Rushing to the door the older missionary shouted to the savages, “Jehovah God sees you and will punish you for trying to murder His servants.” Two black men swung their ponderous clubs and struck at him, but missed, whereupon the entire company fled into the bush. The younger white man was in such a state of excitement that for days he was unable to sleep. In fact, his nervous system was unhinged by the shock of the attack, his mind gave way under the apprehension of being killed and eaten by savages, and in three weeks he died. The older missionary had already survived many such attacks on his life and was destined to survive many more. John G. Paton — for such was his name — found in the presence of his Lord the antidote to fear and the assurance that his life was immortal until his work was accomplished. “During the crisis,” he says in his Autobiography, “I felt calm and firm of soul, standing erect and with my whole weight on the promise, ‘Lo, I am with you alway.’ Precious promise! How often I adore Jesus for it and rejoice in it! Blessed be His name.” The precious promise! The secret of a calm Soul! The secret of a joyous heart! The promise to stand on! The promise to lean one’s whole weight upon! “Lo, I am with you all the way.” Matthew 28:20 was the text that sang its way through all the changing scenes, manifold trials, and monumental accomplishments of the life of John G. Paton. This was the text of which David Livingstone said: “It is the word of a Gentleman of Honor and there is an end of it!” This is a history-making text, because it speaks of a wonder-working, never-failing Presence.

Read the biography here: http://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/biopaton.html

Christian or hypocrite?

If we’re christians, then let’s walk like Christ walk, live as He lives, talk as He talks, think as He thinks, do as He does.

If we’re Christians, we would have put on Christ. This sometimes is hard to understand, but it doesn’t have to be.

Take ‘Ronald McDonald’ for example. When we see him in any of the McDonalds Restaurants anywhere in the world – China, Africa, India, USA, Europe… he looks exactly the same. Even little children recognises him and are excited to see him. But we know that inside is a real man – whose face and name is unimportant to us, neither are we keen to know.

To put on Christ is exactly the same. When we walk, talk, live, breathe, think, act and do all as Jesus would do, then, all over the world, people will start to see the same Christ. 

Are you wondering now how we can do as Jesus would do? Easy! Just follow the instructions in the bible – especially Matthew 5 – 7, those are the things that Jesus do. That’s how He thinks and lives, and we, His followers are to follow them. That’s why we’re called followers. 

If we christians would do this, Christ will be magnified. He will truly be manifested as the King over His Kingdom and His people. Christians from any part of the world will look exactly like their Father in heaven, living a life of praise unto their Lord and King, that truly their lives are lived to honour Him, to glorify and magnify His name, to proclaim and declare His Sovereign, His majesty. Unto our King, who is altogether righteous, who is altogether powerful, who died and rose again that in Him alone is salvation for wretched souls – unto Him alone be glory, honour, praise and the highest worship, now and forevermore. Amen.

Christian, He who is this power was manifested that He may destroy the works of His enemy. He did not destroy a light thing, as of something that is just a small disturbance. He destroyed the works of His ENEMY. The works He hated. The works which robbed Him, mocked Him, spat at Him, humiliated Him, ridiculed Him, caused the whole world to disobey Him and finally, spitefully crucified Him and condemned Him who has no sin. Dare we mock God by telling Him that His power was not enough for us to stand with His Beloved Son?

If we’re not yet ready to obey the words of Christ with all our heart, we’re not yet a Christian – we’re still hypocrites. We’re exactly like the pharisees who knew what ought to be done yet would not do it. Having not done it, we cover it up (white-washed tombs as Jesus worded it in Matthew 23) by our own false confessions.

If you’re offended by what I wrote here, it’s probably because you’re not yet ready to obey and submit to Jesus as is required of us. You might be thinking that you don’t have the courage to suffer, forsake all or even to die for Jesus. Well, here’s the good news! Peter, our great apostle was not ready to die for the Lord either!

God knows that in our own strength and ability, we would not be able to obey. That’s why He gave us Jesus! What God expects of us is to make a firm and sure decision to follow Jesus and live as Jesus lived. He expects us to make a firm decision to want it (as Peter did), and to set our whole heart and mind and soul and strength to continue in this decision. So He promised us – seek and you shall find, knock and it will be opened.

When we’ve made the sure decision to obey Jesus all the way, God gives us His Spirit of grace, His wonderful Holy Spirit to overcome – even as Jesus Christ our Lord overcame by the power of the same Spirit.

Do you see what an inheritance, what a great gift that God had bestowed upon us? It’s by the power of the Holy Spirit that Satan’s work is destroyed in our lives, that sinful men is transformed into saints. God has proven this – through Paul, who tried to destroy His church; Peter who denied Him 3 times; Nicodamus who was too ashamed to openly acknowledge Him; Mary out of whom He casted out 7 demons, John Newton the slave trader, and the thieves, and drug addicts, and prostitutes of our day. There is a sure conversion from the old to the new.

Sadly, the gospel we hear today is not the same gospel that Paul and the apostles preached. They preached the judgment, the power and the glory of God – which is – Repent and be Converted that we may be Saved!

How can we stand before the Great White Throne and justify our compromise on that dreadful judgement day??

Are you a friend of God?

God called Abraham His friend. Funny, I always imagined that God must have many friends, afterall He is so big, so rich, so great, so wonderful, so famous, so…..

But this morning, I had the strangest feeling that God doesn’t really have that many friends. In fact, I believe He is quite lonely, and the few friends that He finds, He really, really treasures them.

So why does He have so few friends?

Too many who call themselves friends of God, are not really His friends. They’ve loved Him for what He has, and what He is able to do for them. Isn’t that the reason why the rich and famous have throngs and throngs of friends? Men may be fooled by such pretensions, but not God.

He looks for sincere and true friends. He knows too well what ‘friends’ come to do. By His generous nature, He will still give and allow such false friends to come in and take from Him. All the time saddened by the ugly nature, but love cannot hate. Love persuades. Love pleads. Love prays. Love desires what is good, what is true, what is noble, what is pure…. So though He knows our ugly motives, He is too great to put us through the horrendous shame that hypocrites deserve, but patiently and kindly speak to us that we must change. Love hopes!

But love by itself does not make a person a friend. I was at the hospital lately and I saw all these sick people in pain. Love saddens me to see them in such a state, and compels me to pray peace and blessings over them. However, that act of love does not make us friends, it is only the beginning of a possible friendship.

Friendship develops when love is proven to be true. Proven by sincerity, trust, integrity, respect, consideration. It is proven through circumstances over time, not temporary joy and comfort because a need or some needs were met.

Let’s consider – if you see someone walking into your friend’s house and stealing from him, would you not stop the robber and turn him over to the authorities so that he does not continue to cause harm to the community. Yet, we who call ourselves friends of God not only watch people coming into His house to rob from Him, we even encourage them to do so. Have we not heard many ‘great preachers’ even preaching such a message:

“Come to Jesus, He’s the answer to all your needs and wants. Jesus is your key to heaven, solutions to problems, health and wealth and joy, and all things under the sun that can make you a happy man. All of it is FREE, a free gift from my generous friend – just come into this great, big, rich house and just take whatever you want. My friend Jesus Christ is so good and kind He doesn’t mind at all that you just want to come in and take of His things, use His name to make transactions of whatever kind, abuse His generosity. He doesn’t mind it at all. In fact, He loves you so much, that He even died the most terrible and shameful kind of death so you can get all these things from Him. Come on, what are you waiting for – come and take this free gift. Take all that you want. My gracious friend Jesus Christ just loves to bless you even invite you into His house so you can rob Him. In fact, He loves you so much that after you’ve robbed Him of all that you want, you can also call on His powerful name, and He will chase all your enemies away – enemies whom you have also robbed and stolen from, some you’ve killed by your false testimonies, your evil tongue and by your evil deeds. Just call on His name and He’ll save you and deliver you from all your troubles!”

Are we indeed God’s friend or are we His enemy? Have we invited sinners into His house that they may repent from their wicked ways and walk in His goodness? Or have we invited sinners into His house so they can rob from the biggest house one can find under the sun? Are we those who loved God more than men, or do we love men more than God? Isn’t that the reason why we preach salvation without repentance – because we love men so much we don’t want them to burn in hell, and we couldn’t love God enough to be jealous over the terrible price that God had to pay for us in order to save us? Do we still love our own lives more than we love God – and that’s why we think it’s perfectly alright to come into His house of love and abuse it?

A friend does not come in to steal, kill or destroy. A friend is one who loves enough to stand up and protect the interest of his friend. A friend shares the same interest, views, values, understanding, outlook of life. There is a rapport between them, a likeness, an understanding. There is a trust between them that nothing in this world can take away, a trust so strong that they are able to rely and depend on each other without any doubts. There is a very firm knowledge of the character, the sincerity, the integrity of each other.

In this world, where the standard of friendship is so weak, we find it difficult to have friends. How much more difficult is it for Jesus to find His?

Repent is not a Bad Word.

Often I’ve noticed how people squirm when told they need to repent. They think of this word as if this is the most terrible word one can ever speak to another. It’s a word to be avoided by every means.

The truth is, repent is a salvation word. Salvation cannot come until and unless we first repent. It is a good word. It’s a blessing word, not a curse as some believe it to be.

Repent really means to change your mind. The purpose of it is to show you the wrong, and at the same time, teach you the right, so you don’t have to continue in a mistake.

For example, if I’ve been trying to make muffins from a wrong recipe, you as my friend will not keep quiet about it if you know that the recipe is wrong. Rather, you’ll be happy to give me your recipe for great muffins. Likewise, I’ll be so thankful for the recipe and gladly throw out the wrong recipe.

Repentance is the same. God is good, and He alone knows what is good. Man can try to be good, but God says:

Romans 3:12 (New International Version)

 ¹²All have turned away,
      they have together become worthless;
   there is no one who does good,
      not even one.”

You see how we’ve all turned away from the original goodness, and now we’re lost. Though we may still have the understanding that we’re required to do good, but we don’t do the good that is according to God. The good that we do is so much perverted because the world that we live in, that God is the only One who is able to teach us what good really is. Isaiah spoke of us:

Isaiah 5:20 (New International Version)

 ²⁰ Woe to those who call evil good
       and good evil,
       who put darkness for light
       and light for darkness,
       who put bitter for sweet
       and sweet for bitter.

Can you recognise that this woe has come upon us? If you can recognise this, then you’ll agree with me that repentance is good. It’s not a bad thing. It’s only bad if we refuse to change. But if we sincerely desire what is good, if we’re not too proud to admit that there is One who knows all things better than we do, then, repent is really a welcoming word. For everytime we embrace it, we get better.

Acts 3:19
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

There are great and wonderful promises for us from this verse. But first the condition. Can you see that if you want God, there must first be repentance?

It also promises to wipe out our sins, and that  times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

What then, do we need to repent from? According to…

Luke 16:15 (New International Version)

¹⁵He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.

Isn’t this true of us? We are offended when told to repent because we feel we are right. But right according to who? As our Lord Jesus says: “We justify ourselves in the eyes of men…”

We must believe that our natural (worldly) values are completely the opposite of what God holds as good.

Truly, friends, look back on our past and judge for ourselves if the word that God spoke is not true. Have we not made so many WRONG DECISIONS, many Mistakes, took many wrong turns, have messed up! All because of our lack of wisdom and our foolishness. And what great distress this has caused us and our loved ones!

Until we are willing to humble ourselves and admit that we are unable to direct our lives wisely, we will not turn to God and lean on Him.

Simply put, if we cannot see that we’ve gone wrong, we will also not need God to save us from our dire situation. But the one who knows his mess and regrets the consequence of it, he will treasure his salvation. A second chance in life – this time to live it right – it’s the greatest gift. It will not matter if he had to forsake all that he had, his only desire is to grab on to this second chance and make it right that he may be a blessing to all.

Matthew 16:25 (New International Version)

²⁵For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

Repentance is to change your mind about all that you think and believe is good and right. 

Repentance frees us from all the wrong values and beliefs that we had been fed with all our lives from the world. She teaches us new values and beliefs which are written in the Word of God which leads us to God.

Repentance cause us to admit our wrongs. As we confess our mistakes, God forgives, so that sin may not hold us.

Repentance kills pride and makes us humble, that we may receive grace from God.

Repentance makes us weak that He may be strong, and His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

Repentance makes us in the image of Christ, that those who sees us will no longer sees us, but Christ in us the hope of glory.

Repentance will bring us to God, and when finally her work is complete, the heart is now pure, we’ll see God!

Repentance is the result of love. It’s meant as a blessing not a curse. It’s a  Wonder-Full, Miracle Performing Word!

Sinking Ship…

I woke up this morning seeing a friend out on the ocean, all alone on this sinking ship. Naturally he was trying very hard to save the ship fearing that he may lose his life.

After working frantically at it, a voice said: “You ought to be more concerned about salvaging your life than your ship. Even if your ship should sink, and all the cargo with it, you only need a little piece of the ship to keep you afloat till help comes. What you really need, is just a small piece of debris and a lot of grace from God.”

In these days of trouble, many are trying to salvage their sinking ship… it may be a business, a job, investments, home, lifesyle… But God is speaking here.

He is saying it’s time to reflect on your life, repent that you may be saved.

It’s time to understand that all our works cannot save us. All that we thought was our security (ship) like our business, jobs, insurance, savings, property etc., these are all the things of this world which will soon be destroyed. All that we’ve spent our time and sweat and blood building up on, will soon amount to nothing – if we don’t quickly take account of our lives! The ship will sink – but we can be saved. But for those whose eyes are fixed upon the ship, you’ll neglect to save your own life.

It’s time to get lean for the Lord. For a long time, we’ve been deceived by riches, prosperity, a luxurious life. Yet the apostles warned us of these times when men will become lovers of money, rebellious, unlawful, unloving, lovers of themselves….

The ship will sink. But what do we do before it sinks. Do we study carefully how we may be saved out of this shipwreck or do we busy ourselves saving the ship till we are sure it can no longer be salvaged. Then looking around, we find there’s not even any debris left which we can hold on to to save ourselves!

Matthew 16:25 (New International Version)

²⁵For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

WAKE UP! O WAKE UP! For the time is near, and the bride must make herself ready!

Love, Faith and Doubts. What’s their connection?

While reading “Have Faith in God” by Smith Wigglesworth, the following passage caught my attention…

There is one special phrase to which I want to call to your attention, “And shall not doubt in his heart.” The heart is the mainspring. See that young man and young woman. They have fallen in love at first sight. In a short while there is a deep affection, and a strong heart love, the one toward the other. What is a heart of love? A heart of faith. Faith and love are kin. In the measure that that young man and that young woman love one another they are true. One may go to the North and the other to the South, but because of their love they will be true to each other.

It is the same when there is a deep love in the heart toward the Lord Jesus Christ. In this new life into which God has brought us, Paul tells us that we have become dead to the law by the body of Christ, that we should be married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead. God brings us into a place of perfect love and perfect faith. A man  who is born of God is brought into an inward affection, a loyalty to the Lord Jesus that shrinks from anything impure. You see the purity of a man and woman when there is a deep natural affection between them; they disdain the very thought of either of them being untrue. I say that, in the measure that a man has faith in Jesus, he is pure. He that believes that Jesus is the Christ overcomes the world. It is a faith that works by love.

Ok, let’s try to put this together. When a person tells me that he loves me, I must either believe him or I don’t believe him. If I don’t believe him, it’s  because I believe he is lying, and he is lying in order to get something out of me. I will conclude then that he is a liar. 

On the other hand, if I should believe him, it’s because I believe he speaks the truth. That his claim is true and sincere. Then if I believe that, I must also believe that all that he would tell me – his ideas and plans for our lives together MUST BE GOOD. He who loves me can NEVER do me harm. His thoughts and plans for me and us MUST BE TO BLESS and to do us good. It is unthinkable that he who loves me will do me wrong, or injustice, or cheat me or lie to me. Such thoughts are evil and they are the opposite of love. If such evil should creep in, then this love relationship is already contaminated, and there can be no peace. When this happens, rather then walking in the joy of knowing that I’m loved, I would be walking in the misery of doubts. I will be wondering all the time if the one I loved was speaking truth or lies? Doubts had defiled a once pure love. Then even if he had spoken in truth, and meant all things for my good; but because of my doubts, I cannot receive the fullness of these blessings.

For example, a young man may say to his beloved, “I’ll have to go away for a while to pursue my degree. After I have attained this, I will come back and take you as my wife. It is important that I complete this task so that I can provide abundantly for you and our children.” So it was agreed. While he was away, friends started to plant doubts into this young woman’s mind. “Maybe he had forgotten you. Perhaps he had found someone else. Perhaps he had changed his mind…” Soon the young lady begin to believe her friends more than the one she loved, and soon became bitter that this young man had lied to her. She became angry everytime she thinks of this incident, sure that this man had cheated her. But alas… doubts had crept in and defiled the purity of that love.

One thing I know, my Lord said He’s coming back for His bride. He has to stay in heaven for a while but He’s surely coming back. While He’s away, His bride may suffer for a while. His enemies may gather to try to poison her. This is to try the love of the bride. Let her hold to His promises, which are TRUE, and steadfast. He who is TRUTH cannot Lie. Even if she walks through the shadow of the valley of death, and all around her is dark, she knows He is there. She may not see Him with these carnal eys, for surely the vision from these eyes are limited; but she knows the just walk by faith, not by sight. Her love for Him is so pure, that she no longer fears. She knows Him, she knows He is true to perform His Word. She walks with Faith and knows there is nothing impossible with the one she loves. Her life is not based on the consequences that’s around, but on the Words of Christ. She is proven to be worthy of the kingdom which He had gone ahead to receive, that they may live there forever. Blessed Lord and Saviour, even so, COME!

Reflections on the Cross

The late Dr. A. W. Tozer has a striking word to say about the contemporary approach in the field of evangelism: “The Cross of popular evangelism is not the Cross of the New Testament. It is rather a new, bright ornament upon the bosom of self-assured and carnal Christianity: its hands are indeed the hands of Esau, but its voice is the voice of Jacob. The old Cross slew men, the new Cross entertains them; the old Cross condemns, the new Cross amuses; the old Cross destroyed confidence in the flesh, the new Cross encourages it; the old Cross brought tears, the new Cross brings laughter.”

Quote taken from REVIVAL IN THE HEBRIDES ISLANDS, SCOTLAND. By Duncan Campbell. To read this little wonderful book http://firesofrevival.com/trevival/dcrevival.htm