Waist girded, lamp burning

Jan 1 2015

Today is the first day of 2015. I believe that God has given me a word for my life and my ministry this year....

This I know that I have to continue watching &  praying, praying & watching & attending the morning watches for 2015...

This I know that in order to do so, I need spiritual strength and this strength will be embedded in my spirit when "my waist is girded, my lamps are burning"....

Luke 12:35-36 "Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately"

This verse seems to echo the verses on the 10 virgins. Of the 10 virgins, 5 kept their lamps burning and full of oil. The other 5 slumbered and slept.

At midnight, there was a cry announcing the bridegroom at the door. The 5 that had their lamps burning and full of oil went to meet the bridegroom. The 5 that slumbered and slept tried to buy the oil to keep their lamps burning but it was too late. The bridegroom had left with the 5 who had their lamps burning and the door was shut. 

The parables may be different but the message is the same. 

Be ready, be prepared! Keep your waist girded at all times and your lamps burning!

1. Waist girded

What does it mean to gird my waist?

In the OT, it speaks of carrying the weapons of war at the waist. The waist is one of the place where the children of Israel kept their weapons of war. It seems the most suitable place to keep the weapons of war as the hands are free to work the works of God.

Deut 1:41 "...and when everyone of you had girded on his weapons of war, you were ready to go up to the mountain"

1 Sam 25:13 "Then David said to his mean, "Every man gird on his sword." So every man girded on his sword, and David also girded on his sword...."

Neh 4:18 "Everyone of his builders had his sword girded at his side as he build...."

Where is the sword kept so that hands can be free to do the work of the Lord? At the waist of course! The most natural place!

In the NT, we are to gird our waist with truth (which is the Word of God).

Eph 6:18 "Stand therefore, having your waist girded with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness"

This year, I know that God wants me to go deeper in the study of the Word of God. He wants me to build myself in the Word of God.

The Word is an effective weapon of warfare. I am recalling how these verses came to me time and again each time I attended the morning watches last year. It came so often (and there was even a song that accompanied it in church) that I just had to find out what are the "weapons of warfare".

The verses are found in 2 Cor 10:3-5 "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high things that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ"

I believe God wants me to be skilful in using the weapons of warfare in particular one of most effective and offensive weapon which is the Word of God.

2. Lamp burning

The second preparation I need to look into for my spiritual life is to keep my lamp burning. The lamp is the soul of the body. Just as the natural lamp needs oil to keep the fire burning, the soul needs the Holy Spirit to keep the love of God burning. 

The lamp also has to be kept burning continually. In order for it to keep on burning, it had to be constantly refilled with oil. God commanded that the pure oil of pressed olives be used for the refill.

The refilling seem to go on day and night (24/7) so that the lamps in the temple will not go out.

The lamps need the following:

- to be filled with pure oil of pressed olives. 

Ex 27:20 "And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light to cause the lamp to burn continually".

The pure oil of the pressed olives represents the best of the best of the olive oil. It also represents the Holy Spirit. In order for my lamps to be constantly filled with the Holy Spirit, I need to be in tune with Him day and night praying and worshiping in the Spirit.

- to be filled evening till morning (continually) speaking of the 24/7 prayer and worship

Lev 24:3-5 "Outside the veil of the Testimony, in the Tabernacle of the Meeting, Aaron shall be in charge of it from evening until morning before the Lord continually"

- to have incense burnt on it. This speaks of prayer and intercession in the Spirit or intercession as guided by the Spirit of God.

Ex 30:7 "Aaron shall burn on it sweet incense every morning; when he tends the lamps, he shall burn incense on it"

Rev 5:8 "Now when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints"

- to be put on a lampstand so that all may see the light. This is in line with the word released during overnight prayer on letting our light shine in great darkness.

Luke 11:33 (The Lamp of the Body) "No one, when he has lit a lamp puts it in a secret place or under a basket but on a lampstand, that those who come may see the light"

Indeed I believe this is the way to go for the prayer ministry in 2015, praying and declaring the Word of God and intermingling our prayers with worship!

Lessons from Jehoshaphat

There are so many things to learn from Jehoshaphat's life. Although he made mistakes, he was generally a good king and tried to do his best for his people.

One key lesson appeared throughout his life i.e he was delivered whenever he called upon God. Whenever he did not depend upon his arm of flesh, he found his deliverance. He was not perfect, he made mistakes but he overcame his mistakes by turning back to God each time.

6 key characteristics:

1. Delighted in God
2. Dedicated to God
3. Dependent on God
4. Dealt with by God
5. Discipled by his elders
6. Discipled a nation

...........................................................

1. Delighted in God

Jehoshaphat was 35 years when he became king and he was king for 25 years. In 2 Kings 17:6 we read that "...his heart took delight in the ways of the Lord, moreover he removed the high places and wooden images from Judah"

To take delight in God is to love God voluntarily and to desire to please him. Jehoshaphat was such a man. He also actively took steps to remove idols and images that he knew would displease God.

I know there are idols/images in my heart that displease God. What are these idols? Self-worship is an idol that needs to removed from my life and covetousness!

2. Dedicated to God

Jehoshaphat was dedicated to God as evidenced from his actions:

- he did not seek the Baals
- he sought the God of his father
- he walked in God's commandments
- he removed the wooden images from the land

2 Kings 19:3 "Nevertheless good things are found in you, in that you have removed the wooden images from the land, and have prepared your heart to seek God"

To prepare the heart to seek God is to live in constant repentance and an awareness of God's holiness and righteousness.

3. Dependent on God

It was because of his dedication and delight in God that enabled him to know what to do when faced with great enemies in 2 Chron 20:1-3:

"It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them beside the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying "A great multitude is coming against you from the sea, from Syria and they are in Hazazon Tamar (which is En Gedi). And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord and proclaimed a fast throughout Judah"

His prayer over this trouble reflected his close relationship with God all his younger years and his dependency in God:

2 Chron 20:5-6 "Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, and said: "O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the nations of the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?"

Only a person who had walked closely with God all the earlier years of his life would have reacted in such a manner. Comparing him with some of the kings of Israel whose tendency would be to turn to idols the moment they are in dire straits!

I have much to learn from Jehoshaphat.

4. Dealt with by God

Although a person may have walked closely with God all the days of his life, there is a possibility that he could still turn away from God in the face of trouble. 

After all the great blessings of Jehoshaphat such as riches and honor and abundance came to him when the nation of Judah was in an era of peace.

What would happen when a spiritual leader is faced with great trials and testings beyond his physical strength? Will he turn to God or turn to others for help? The kings of Israel like to turn to Egypt for help. Will Jehoshaphat do the same?

In 2 Kings 17 Jehoshaphat had honor and riches in abundance. In 2 Kings 19, he established judges and fortified city by city. He was having a successful run politically.

However in 2 Chron 20, he had his first test of faith. The combined armies of Moab and Ammon came together to battle Jehoshaphat. So great that some came to him saying "A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria, and they are in Hazazon Tamar".

There are some who are bearers of bad news but what is important is our reaction to the bad news. Its ok to panic but what is more critical is what we will do after the panic stage.

Jehoshaphat was afraid but he did the right thing in turning to God for help and proclaiming a fast throughout all Judah.

2 Chron 20:3 "And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah".

In being dealt with by God in the testing of his faith, Jehoshaphat emerged victorious in routing his massive enemies!

However Jehoshaphat had his weakness. His main weakness was that he had ungodly allies. It happened twice that he was rebuked by his prophets for forging military alliance with Israel's kings that almost cost him his life. Each time, God delivered Jehoshaphat from a mistake that could have proven costly.

In God's mercy and grace, Jehoshaphat was rescued twice by divine intervention. Once was when Ahab invited him to combine forces against Ramoth Gilead. 

Milcaiah the prophet warned Ahab in the presence of Jehoshaphat that the battle would be a failure.

2 Chron 18:16 "Then he (Milcaiah) said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, 'These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace'"

Jehoshaphat's life was divinely spared even though he had put on his royal robes at Ahab's request. Possibly Ahab intended to protect himself and to create a diversion for the enemy thus his request was for self-preservation.

Knowing that wearing his royal robes would endanger his life, Jehoshaphat still did as Ahab requested. 

As it happened the foolish act almost cost him his life as the enemy went after him thinking that as he was in his royal robes he had to be the king of Israel.

2 Chron 18:31 "So it was, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, "It is the king of Israel!" Therefore they surrounded him to attack but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him, and God diverted them from him"

The next time, he was tested again in the same area which he had failed. Again, he was mercifully restrained from making another mistake because of his godly advisers.

The second time, he allied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, a wicked king.

2 Chron 20:35-37 "After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted very wickedly. And he allied himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish, and they made the ships in Ezion Geber. But Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat saying, "Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the Lord has destroyed your works" Then the ships were wrecked, so that they were not able to go to Tarshish"

God saw the good things in Jehoshaphat's life and preserved him from destruction.

Before this we read in verse 32 "And he walked in the way of his father Asa, and did not turn aside from doing what was right in the sight of the Lord"

Jehoshaphat kept himself close to God and to godly counsel. I believed that these practices and good habits pulled him through in moments of vulnerability and weakness.

May we keep ourselves close to God always and surround ourselves with those who love God so that in times of weakness, they will cover for us and bring us before His throne of grace!

5. Discipled in the ways of his elders

1 Kings 17:3-6 "Now the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the former ways of his father David, he did not seek the Baals, but sought the God of his father and walked in His commandments and not according to the acts of Israel"

In 2 Chron 20:32 "And he walked in the way of his father, Asa, and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord"

Jehosphaphat was the son of Asa, the son of Abijah, the son of Rehoboam, the son of David.

He made right choices in his life to follow the ways of his father Asa who followed in the ways of David. Ultimately, we cannot blame our elders for our failures because the choices we make are ours alone and the consequences of those choices are also ours alone. 

Just like Abijah made wrong choices, Jehoshaphat could have done the same but he did the right things from the start and laid proper spiritual foundations so that he could face the trials and testings that would come upon him.

6. Discipled a nation

God gave Jehoshaphat the wisdom to disciple his nation. How did he do it?

He raised up leaders to teach in the cities of Judah.
His leaders were those who knew the word of God. 

I often wonder how I can do the works of the ministry alone. God began to show me that the only way I could do it was to raise people up to help me. In doing so, I would also be discipling them as I guide them in their prayer assignments.

2 Kings 17:7-9

"Also in the third year of his reign he sent his leaders, Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah. And with them he sent Levites: Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tobadonijah - the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests. So they taught in Judah, and had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them; and they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people"

I may not be perfect to consider myself a discipler but I know I have to start somewhere that's why I try to disciple my youngest daughter by accompanying her for Bible study and my life group members by accompanying them for spiritual classes.

Keys to spiritual prosperity

Prosperity is not only about wealth. 

It is about living a successful life. It is holistic and encompasses every area of our undertakings and assignments (at work or at home). 

Of course, it also includes wealth but not wealth so that we can spend it carelessly but wealth so that we can control it and make it a blessing to others.

Looking at the 101 verses on "prosper", it would appear that there are six (6) keys to walk in prosperity and they are:

1. Living in repentance

2. Meditating on God's word

3. Obeying God's word and serving God

4. Seeking God wholeheartedly and doing right

5. Share the Gospel

6. Giving to the work of the Lord

...............................................

1. Living in repentance

Daniel gave this advice to the king:

Daniel 4:27 "Therefore O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity"

To confess any unconfessed sins, to do righteously to others we have wronged, to be merciful to the poor - this is a step toward prosperity in our lives.

2. Meditating on God's word

It is much easier to obey God's word when we have been spending time meditating on God's word. 

The importance of meditating on God's word (not just mere reading) is the key to spiritual prosperity. 

Joshua 1:8 "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous then you will have good success"

Psalm 1:2-3 captures the essence of the above:

"But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither and whatever he does shall prosper"

3. Obeying God's word and serving Him

David commanded Solomon to do this very thing in 1 Kings 2:3. David charged Solomon to keep the charge of the Lord, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes and commandments, judgments and testimonies so that "you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn".

Job 36:11 "If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity and their youth in pleasures"

Isaac obeyed God's word in not going down to Egypt but he dwelt in Gerar as commanded by the Lord. 

In Genesis 26:12-13 "Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped the same year a hundredfold and the Lord blessed him. The man began to prosper and continued prospering until he became very prosperous"

4. Seeking the Lord wholeheartedly and doing right

Joseph, Asa, Uzziah are examples of this.

Joseph sought the Lord in the household of his master. In Gen 39:2-3 "The Lord was with Joseph and he was a successful man and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand"

Prosperity is of the Lord!

Asa prospered in his reign. 2 Chron 14:2 "Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord His God"

What he told his people confirmed his lifestyle of seeking God wholeheartedly and doing right:

2 Chron 14:7 "Therefore he said to Judah "Let us build those cities and make war around them, and the towers, gates and bars, while the land is yet before us, because we have sought the Lord our God, we have sought Him and He has given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered"

In order to prosper in God, we need to be at REST IN GOD! 

Uzziah in 2 Chron 26:4-5 "And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord...He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the vision of God, and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper"

5. Share the Gospel

Ecc 11:6 "In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening, do not withhold your hand. For you do not know which will prosper, either this or that or whatever both alike will be good"

6. Give

1 Cor 16:1-2 "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also. On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collection when I come"

Salvation will God appoint for walls and bullwarks

Today during the Saturday watch, I received this from the Lord:

Isa 26:1 "In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah, we have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bullwarks"

Isa 26:2 "Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in."

Isa 26:3 "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You"

Some key truths:

1. A song will be sung 

The "song" here refers to "shiyr" which means "a religious song" or "a song of the Levitical choirs".

In the morning watches, our prayer time is mostly sing and pray, sing and pray....so it seems that God was confirming to me that He was referring to the way we pray and "sing songs" during our prayer time.

2. The land of Judah

This land is where Jesus reigns as Lord and King. Our church is like the "land of Judah", a land where we have a God as our spiritual head and king.

3. A strong city

Our church is a "strong city" because of each one of us. Why is it strong? It is strong because of the prayer watches. It is strong because of praise and worship songs sung in spirit and in truth during the daily prayer watches. It is strong because of its strong doctrinal beliefs.

It is strong because of the word of God which is the foundation of those who dwell in it. We have to build the prayer watches and the word of God in our lives so that collectively as ONE BODY we make up a strong city.

4. Salvation will God appoint for walls and bullwarks

Salvation = "Yeshuwah" which means "salvation by God" or "deliverance" or "victory", "help", "health", "welfare", "saving", "save".

It is not man's appointment but God's appointment meaning that it is God who "appoint" salvation for us/our friends and family members. It is God who will work through us as we obediently go forth to share the Gospel.

God appoints by:

1. setting His mind to do it

2. putting and laying His hand on it

3. stationing Himself there to do it

4. taking His stand on doing it......

"Walls" refer to the walls that surround a town. 

If our church is a city then we have walls surrounding the church.

All around us, God has written on our spiritual walls "salvation" for Ampang! This is our destiny to be the hope of salvation for our community!

"Bullwarks" are "cheyl" which means "ramparts, fortress or wall".

Also refers to "an army or host" or a "defence" or "fortification".

Salvation is written on the walls of our church. It is God who appoints it for our community through His church!

Checking further on the meaning of "city", I learn that "city" speaks of doctrinal things. A group of people in a community believing and practising shared doctrines.

The "wall" of the "city" refers to the truths of the faith that defends the doctrines that this group of people believed in.

A "wall" is a neutral thing. In the context of the Bible, it can be good and it can be bad but in this context it is good as it speaks of a church having as its doctrine the importance of evangelism and missions and the truth of faith that the mission of the church is to evangelize the lost.

What is the purpose for this?

So that our gates will be opened for a righteous nation to enter in. Those who believe in Jesus will become a righteous nation. Those who believe in Jesus will keep the truth of what Jesus has done for them on the Cross. Those who believe in Jesus will be obedient to Him!

Entering into the city, we will experience PERFECT PEACE. This is the message of Christmas - PEACE ON EARTH, GOODWILL TO MEN!

Is it ok for Christians to prosper?

Whilst preparing this offering exhortation, I was excited to learn that it is indeed God's will for us to prosper.

What is prosperity? What is the difference between prosperity and materialism?

Prosperity - when we can control our wealth in that we know when to receive wealth and release wealth to others.

Materialism - when money controls us and we seem to never have enough.

I learn the following 4 principles about prosperity in one short verse in 3 John 1:2:

"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers"

"Prosper" - "euodoo" in Greek means to grant a successful journey or to lead by direct and easy way. It also means to grant a successful issue.

I realize that I can pray for my office work to prosper so that I can resolve problems in a direct and easy way. Writing that report or looking for answers to difficult questions posed by my bosses will not be a problem if God were to prosper me in my work.

Principle 1 - God wants me to prosper. 

Receive this new understanding of the word of God!

101 verses in the Bible cannot be wrong!

Principle 2 - It is ok to pray for others to prosper especially our loved ones.

This morning during the watches, I prayed for the India missions team to prosper. Received update shortly after that the car which broke down, got working again and went for another 130 km! I also prayed for all the Christmas events to prosper!

Principle 3 - Prosperity is not all about money. 

Prosperity is HOLISTIC. It encompasses everything in life. 

In the NKJV, it is "prosper in all things".

In the NIV, it is "...and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well"

In the NASB, it is "Beloved, I pray that in ALL RESPECTS you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers"

Principle 4 - Prosperity in all our undertakings/endeavors/ventures is anchored in the prosperity of the soul.

Prosperity in our soul is the foundation of prosperity in all areas of our life.

The fear of God

What does it mean to have the fear of God?

It is the one important vision and goal in our life that we can follow hard after:

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all" - Ecc 12:13

If a person has no goal in life, no vision, no purpose then it is good to adopt this verse as our vision and purpose statement. 

This is what we are created for, this is all that we need to do, to fear God and to keep His commandments. Everything else will flow from this obedience!

To gain the fear of God, we need to put first thing first:

1. Put away our idols

Joshua when encouraging his people after they have crossed over to Canaan said this to them, "Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord!" - Joshua 24:14

What are idols? Physically they refer to images of persons, animals or things that are the focus of our worship. As a Buddhist before, I worshiped gods of wood and stone. When I became a Christian, I had to put away my idols.

However another type of idols exist that are unseen that I bow down and worship. It is the idol of SELF. Self-importance, self-survival, self-serving, self-interest, self-justification, self-will.....these may be unseen idols but they are spiritual bondages that are very real. They will keep me from serving God in sincerity and truth.

They will cause me not to have the fear of God.

2. Serve God in sincerity and truth

It is only in putting away my idols that I can serve God in sincerity and truth. 

What does it mean then to serve God in insincerity and deception? 

It would mean that I am serving God with an ulterior motive. If I have the idol of SELF that I bow down and worship then my service to God is without sincerity and truth but in hypocrisy and with the agenda of promoting my BIG SELF to be hero-worshiped.

I have to be cautious about this because this can happen to anyone at anytime. The only way to serve God in sincerity and in truth is to KEEP ON REPENTING OF SPIRITUAL PRIDE! 

A more effective method for me is to pray before I stand before a crowd asking "God to hide me under the shelter of His wings and promising to give Him all the glory, honor and praise".

When I did this in Philippines before preaching, I could sense an incredible liberty of the Spirit and a great release in my soul! 

3. No iniquity, no partiality, no corruption

There is a need for us to intentionally and determinedly "take care and do it". This means that this kind of behavior may not naturally come upon us but we have to actually make up our mind to:

• to be released from any iniquity
• to show no partiality
• to be free from corruption

2 Chron 19:7 "Now therefore, let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take care and do it, for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, no partiality, nor taking of bribes"

This is something we need to take care and do it. When people type "take care" in reply to sms, it really means for us to take care. 

Some effort on their part is needed when we asked others to take care. Perhaps drink more water, sleep earlier, fast and pray, make it habit to leave work earlier....

How do we take care to ensure that we are always in the fear of God?

Make every effort to keep a clean heart, to treat everyone equally and not to be swayed by others who give us monies or treats.

4. Not taking advantage of the people

It is important for leaders to have the fear of God. That's why I often pray for leaders in the civil service to fear God.

God-fearing leaders have certain marks about them:

• they do not take material gifts or things from the people
• they do not take money from the people save that which is necessary
• they do not act like a BIG SHOT over the people

"But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and took from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even the servants bore rule over the people, but I did not do so, because of the fear of God" Neh 5:15

Many times we avoid doing certain things because of the fear of God.

I was talking with some lawyers about certain political leaders and they commented that some politicians are really "clean". I realized that when leaders are not corrupted they will actually be known as such. Their reputation will precede them, no need to boast!

Leaders who act like BIG SHOTS or stressed out the people through heavy taxes and huge demands will not last long. Soon, they will be on their way out. 

5. Just

"The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: 'He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God" 2 Samuel 2:3

Benefits of the fear of God

1. Long life

A definite and sure blessing is long life.

"That you may fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged" Deut 6:2

As I want to live to see my children's children, the fear of God is a MUST for me. No compromise. I need to "take care and do it"!

2. Protection

"And the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day" Deut 6:24

I have heard many testimonies of God's protection from my church members. Testimonies of those who escaped serious injury because they fear God.

I had a very bad encounter on the plane from Miri to KL when making the last lap back to KLIA 2. 

The plane shook so violently that I thought it was going to crash. Lights went off and people were screaming and shouting all over the place. I saw lightning flashed outside the plane window. I thanked God that even as I shouted JESUS and prayed loudly in the Spirit with my husband (who cares when this could be my last day on earth), the turbulence gradually subsided.

We landed safely but what a nerve-wrecking experience it was for me. I had never been on a plane with such turbulence before. Totally unexpected, totally scary....but the fear of God preserved our lives and the lives of all those on board with us.

3. Deliverance

"But the Lord your God you shall fear; and He will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies" - 2 Kings 17:39

In my office, I am still learning not to fear man but to fear God. Even if my reputation is at stake, God will work things out for me until I come out of the difficult situation looking good!

The victim will always become the victor, the defeated will always become the conqueror!

4. Holiness

"Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" - 2 Cor 7:1

Cleansing is a process, holiness is a process, perfection is a process.....

5. Knowledge and wisdom

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge but fools despise wisdom and instruction" - Prov 1:7

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" - Prov 9:10

How can we learn the fear of God?

No need to worry if we do not have the fear of God. There are several MAJOR KEYS to gain the fear of God:

The first key is to read and read and read the Word of God.

"And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes" - Deut 17:19

When we soak ourselves in the Word of God, the Word of God will soak us in the FEAR OF GOD!

The second key is to tithe faithfully.

"And you shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herd and your flocks, that you may learn the to fear the Lord your God always" - Deut 14:23

Can we learn to fear God through our faithful tithing? Certainly yes!

The third key is to pray, pray, pray and pray....

"Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon his God" - Isa 50:10

Can a non-believer have the fear of God?

Cornelius is such a man with the fear of God even though he was not a believer.

Cornelius is a man from whom I can learn many precious lessons. A truly god-fearing man will find God if he faithfully practises the 2 things:

1. Giving faithfully

2. Praying constantly 

"A devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people and prayed to God always" - Acts 10:2

Because of the story of Cornelius, I can pray for political leaders and judges in the judiciary to have the fear of God!

Watching & Praying - More Bario lessons

Date: 12/10

3. Watching & Praying

The Bario churches have a one and half hour morning watch daily from 5:30 to 7 am before they go to the fields.

I sense that the morning watches kept by the Bario churches are indeed the back-bone of the spiritual revival and they continue to sustain the revival for the past 40 years until today. 

Pause for a moment to absorb this truth - for the past 40 years, the Bario believers have been waking up at 5:30 am daily to pray for their community! 

For our church in Ampang, Pastor has been at the morning watches for the past 16 years. As for me, I have only been coming to the prayer watches for the past 2 months! 

Not only is the morning watch held in one church but in several churches scattered all over Bario! The way they call the people to the watches is also unique. A drum is beaten at 5:30 am in the morning as a sign that it was time to awake, arise and to pray.

Currently there are about 15 churches scattered all over Bario, a town of about 1,000 people. 

This does not include the morning watches in the primary and the secondary schools (the latter being the place where the revival first started).

Think about this for a moment - will there not be a great revival in Ampang if several churches in Ampang build the morning watches on a daily basis? Not just one watch but several churches.....

How can a place like Bario not experience a revival with this kind of fervent, sacrificial and sincere praying. 

How can God not move in to answer the prayers of such a prayerful and watchful community.

However it is not just praying alone but also watching and praying.

Both are integral to the prayer life of the Kelabit people.

They watched and prayed over the following:

1. The Kelabit diaspora all over the world. Little wonder that the Kelabit people are doing very well in their respective vocations whether it be in politics, business or education.

2. They watched over the church, the nation and the nations of the world. They watched over their community, praying against forces that try to convert them to another faith.

Recently one of the leaders shared a wonderful testimony about a group of pagans who wanted to come to Bario for this very purpose. However their efforts were thwarted when their flight had to be cancelled due to turbulent weather!

I am reminded of Exodus 14:24, a scripture that the Lord had given to me about the morning watch in our church. When the Lord looked down in the morning watch and saw the pillar of cloud and fire that His people had built in the morning watches, He "troubled the Egyptians" on our behalf!

At the morning watch, God "looks down" from heaven. What does this mean? It means a time of His favor. The moment the face of God is drawn to us and He sees us, we are assured of His deliverance and answers to our prayers!

Who are the Egyptians? Anything and anyone that try to stop us from worshiping the living God!

The Lord has been speaking to me about the importance of the morning watches since our church started the 6 to 7 am watches after the 40-day prayer & fasting.

I believe that there are many benefits from waking up early not just to pray but to watch and pray.

To watch is to be alert, be awake, be aware, be attentive, be active in praying (5 As I call it) over the events happening in our community, region, nation and in the nations of the world. 

It is also to hear/see the events in the future that God will graciously reveal to us in His time. A watchman is actually standing in a prophetic end-time function - seeing, hearing, declaring and preparing God's people for the things to come!

Initially it was tough to keep awake (and on certain days it still is especially when I have had a late night the day before) but the benefits far outweigh the physical discomforts!

The 5 purposes (SSSSS) of the morning watches are as follows:

1. Spiritual strength to overcome the works of the flesh

Jesus actually put a period of time for "watching & praying" for his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane.

The best period of time for watching and praying is one hour as advocated by the Lord which seems to be the optimal and best time for one to gain victory over the flesh!

Matt 26:40 "Then he came to His disciples and found them sleeping; and said to Peter, "What? Could you not watch with me one hour?"

Matt 26:41 "Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak"

Look at the scriptures closely again. 

Jesus did not actually tell His core team the testing that was about to come upon them. He wanted them to be prepared to face it on their own but with the help of spiritual strength gained through prayer!

If they had known perhaps they would not have fallen asleep while praying. Jesus saw the details of what He was going to go through at the Garden of Gethsemene and He gained the strength to go through it. If our Lord and God needed to pray that one hour to gain the strength to resist temptation, even so the more we need that one hour in prayer.

I believe that if Peter and the disciples had prayed that one hour with the Lord at Gethsemene, the Gospel would have a different story to tell us.

Nevertheless all things are written as a lesson to us!

2. Spiritual stamina for the long-haul not only for ourselves but also for others

Eph 6:18 "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints"

For the believers in Bario, the watching and praying is for the Kelabit diaspora all over the world!

3. Seriousness in prayer, not 'play, play'!

We show the Lord that we are serious in praying when:

- we are awake when praying, not sleeping

- we are aware of national and world events, not ignorant of what is happening to God's people in other parts of the world

- we are attentive to the problems being faced by our members, not distanced from them

- we are alert to any spiritual attacks and deception against our members, not dulled or lulled ourselves by the same deception

- we are to be active in upholding the events happening in our nation in prayer unto the Lord, not having an attitude that it has nothing to do with me

1 Peter 4:7 "But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers"

1 Thess 5:6 "Therefore let us not sleep as others do but let us watch and be sober"

4. Sensitive to the signs of the Lord's return

I believe that those who have been watching and praying will know the signs of the Lord's return more acutely than others as the time draws near. 

They will know it more sharply and more accurately than others who have not been watching and praying. Recall that Daniel was given many visions of the end-time when he was watching, praying and fasting......

They will be more sensitive to the signs than those who are not watching and praying!

Rev 3:3 "Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore, if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you"

Jesus said "if you will not watch" then the day of the Lord will come upon us like a thief in the night. 

Does this mean that if we will watch, the day of the Lord will not come upon us like a thief in the night?

The answer is a resounding YES if we remember the parable of the 10 virgins!

5. Standing with our pastor in prayer

In my recent post, I highlighted that Jesus said to his core team "will you not watch with me" at the Garden of Gethsemene. 

He did not ask them to "watch for him". If he had done so, they might as well go home to pray!

Why bring them to the Garden of Gethsemene on the night that He was going to be betrayed unless it was to get them to pray together with Him?

I have never had the chance to pray daily with my pastor until the past 2 months during the morning watches. 

For the first time, I really sense that I was fulfilling my call as the prayer leader of the church. 

For such was the role I have been appointed to, for such is the work that God has called me to do....

LORD JESUS GIVE US GREAT GRACE TO CONTINUE WATCHING AND PRAYING & BUILDING THE MORNING WATCHES. AMEN

Giving & Sowing - More lessons from Bario

Date: 12/10/14

2. Giving and Sowing - Lessons from Bario (continued)

While in Bario, we had the privilege of hearing the testimony of Nekson Balang, a young man whom I considered a hero of faith in Hebrews 11.

Like the men listed in the roll-call of faith in Heb 11, Nekson fulfils the criteria as a singing evangelist. Called into full time at the age of 14, he gave his life to serve the Lord. 

He traversed jungles, mountains and forests in Indonesia to reach the unreachable tribes in Indonesia with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Indeed it is men like him who is hastening the return of the Lord as they determined in their hearts to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth, to people living in unreachable parts of the world or in the most difficult terrain!

One of those tribes is the Suku Wana tribe in Central Sulawesi. To travel there will take 5 days and 5 nights by foot in the jungle.

Naively I thought that we could go there for missions but was informed by Nekson that the only other way there is by boat to Pala and helicopter to their villages!

We were stirred in our hearts as we heard the testimonies of this modern-day Sadhu Sundar Singh:

1. He was almost killed 3 times by the people of the Suku Wana tribe deep in the Sulawesi jungles.

The first time, they came at him with an axe (tombak) but he escaped. The second time, they threw poison darts at him but the darts landed on trees instead. The third time, they threw spears at him but he also managed to escape!

The 4th time he fell deathly sick but survived. With all these attempts to murder him coming to nothing, the tribal chief was in awe of the power of God upon him and commanded his entire tribe to listen to what this man of God had to say!

2. Little by little, the community started to experience change. 

According to Nekson, this tribe is most "jahat" or wicked due to the immoral things they do. They are a lawless people who do not know the difference between right and wrong.

They go about naked, practised child marriages, incest (young girls married their fathers, young boys married their mothers) and lived on top of trees.

Nekson told us that he was their pastor, teacher and doctor. He attended as midwife to the women giving birth. He taught the children the word of God. He even put the dukun or witch doctors who practised child marriages in prison.

Today the community has stopped all their wicked practices by the grace of God!

3. He went without food for 4 months in the jungles in the Sulawesi looking for tribes that have yet to come to know Jesus. 

Eating only the batang pisang or the bark of the trees, he prayed and committed his life to the Lord. He said to the Lord "If I die, I die serving you and I am prepared to die but if I live, I will also carry on serving you preaching the Gospel to the tribes who have yet to know you"

He said he became really thin like a stick and even had kutu on his head!

I was awed to be in the presence of this young man (in his 30s) who is quite unknown but quietly evangelizing the lost for Christ deep in the jungles of Sulawesi and going where others do not want to go.

These verses in Hebrews aptly describe the ministry of Nekson Balang.

Heb 11: 33-34

"who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouth of lions, quenched the violence of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of aliens"

Heb 11:38 

"of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth"

Today he writes songs and produces CDs for sale to support himself in the ministry (he has no fixed financial support from any church). 

Each time he ministers to the Suku Wana, God will give him a song to sing about them as a story to tell the whole world. Indeed because of his life which has been poured out as a love offering to the Lord, he sings under a wonderful and rich anointing of the Holy Spirit that can be felt tangibly!

When he sings, I will instantly be drawn deep into the presence of the Holy Spirit and begin to drink of the rarified air of the glory of the Lord! 

I will sense a certain fullness of the spirit as though I have drank that I needed to drink of the waters of life, ate all that I needed to eat of the bread of life!

As he had no financial support from his own church, the Bario leadership decised to make a collection for him on the last night. People streamed forward to put their money on the table. Soon there was a huge pile of money on the table for Nekson's ministry!

Now this was totally unexpected as they had just collected an offering as a seed for building the prayer house in Bario!

The people in Bario are not rich being farmers and homestay owners. Yet in a matter of two days, a collection of RM5k was received two nights in a row for two different purposes!

As S and I did not have much money with us, we decided to take down Nekson's bank account to send him a love offering when we are back in KL.

Giving and sowing with the right heart attitude brings much blessings to the giver and the recipient.

Giving and sowing involves

1. Bountiful reaping

2 Cor 9:6 "But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly; and He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully"

2. Joyful and hilarious giving

2 Cor 9:7 "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, or grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver"

"Cheerful" means "hilaros" - willing, good natured, joyfully ready. Spirit of enjoyment in giving that sweeps away all restraints. Hilarious giving is the appropriate English word.

3. "No sweat" meaning "No problem in giving"

2 Cor 9:8 "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you that you always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work"

God is the one who will enable us to give! So why worry! Giving is no sweat at all or like the Cantonese say "MMT" or "Moh Man Tai"!

4. Increase in the fruits of righteousness

2 Cor 9:10 "Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness"

What are the "fruits of our righteousness" mentioned here?

These are the fruits of the Spirit freely flowing in our life i.e. love, joy, peace, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, long suffering, self-control!

Lessons from Bario - Sending and Going.....

Time: 5 am
Date: 12/10 (Sunday morning)

The Lord downloaded this message to me today while I was deep in His presence in the early watches of the morning in the quiet presence of my room....

I guess there are times when I need to be away from others just to be alone with Him. It is good that Sunday is the day I need not go to church for the 6 am watch otherwise it will be a big rush for me and I will miss listening to His gentle and loving voice....

The Lord said that it is ok for me to do so....and that He wanted me to set aside at least a few days a week to be alone with Him in my personal morning watches. 

He had things to share with me, He said....

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH HOLY SPIRIT!

Lessons from Bario

Here are the lessons I received from the Lord from my recent trip to Bario. I went there to learn about their morning watches and I want to thank the Lord for teaching me much more than that....

1. Sending & going

Jesus said to go into all the world to preach the gospel to the nations and to make disciples of them (Matt 28:19).

Before going there has to be the physical act of sending. 

There can be no going to the nations without the sending forth by the church under the authority of the Lord Jesus Himself.

Sending out our short term missionaries in a manner worthy of God

In Acts 13:1-3, the apostles in Antioch as a collective group of teachers and prophets, Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen fasted and prayed and received from the Lord to send Barnabas and Saul "for the work I have called them" (the Lord speaking to the apostolic group collectively).

The sender is just as important as the goer as the senders have a part and a share in the ministry/fruits of the goer.

How should we send a person forth into missions whether it be Bario, Manila, India, KKB or China?

- We should send them forth with our heartfelt prayers and the laying on of hands

Acts 13:3 "Then having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them (Barnabas and Saul), they sent them on their way"

- We should send them out in the power of the Holy Spirit desirous to see a great harvest of souls and signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 

Acts 13:4 "So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit...."

Acts 14:3 "Therefore they stayed there (Iconium a long time) speaking boldly in the Lord, who is bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands".

- We should send them out "with one accord" as the sending forth is not just an act of the leadership but also of the whole church. 

Acts 15:22 "Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas...."

- We should send them forth in peace.

1 Cor 16:11 "Therefore let no one despise him (Timothy) but send him on his journey in peace, that he may come to me; for I am waiting for him with the brethren"

- We should send them forth with the expectation of an encouraging report

Phil 2:19 "But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state"

- We are sending them forth to comfort the hearts of others

Col 4:8 "I am sending Tychicus to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts"

- We should send them forth as though we are going with them in the Spirit

Phil 2:25 "Yet I considered it necessary to send to you, Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow messenger...."

Col 4:7 "Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me"

Paul considered that sending Epaphroditus and Tychichus to the churches in Philippi and Colosse as if he was going there himself because he described them as his "brother, fellow worker, fellow messenger, fellow messenger". 

Conclusion

God is pleased when we send out our short term missionaries with the above heart attitude.

3 John 6 "who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well"

In the same way we will be blessed when we receive traveling missionaries with the same heart attitude.

3 John 8 "We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth"