Today is the last day of 2009. As I reflect on the year gone by, I cannot help but be thankful for the many blessings bestowed by God this year. I thank God for friendships, the Korea silent retreat, iDTS, the Mt. Carmel School of Ministry, the Wesley prayer team, the Cornerstone Community Church, and everyone who has journeyed alongside me in Christ all year. I thank God for stretching me beyond my comfort zone (through my boss, He made me do more public speaking this year than suits my personality ... although I thank Him because I recognise that this training is useful for preaching and sharing my faith and testimony in front of large crowds :P I also thank Him for the inspiration for this blog (which came from the Wesley prayer team) ...
God has a calling on each one of us. This sermon by Lance Wallnau is worth listening to - the synopsis is this:
"Every Christian has an assignment to release God's glory on earth. We are called to be His kings-priests who administer His authority and invade systems. Being an overcomer involves aligning ourselves with God's kingdom purposes on this earth. Overcomers exercise authority to liberate nations and manifest the unseen realm and the glory of the age to come."
What has God called us to do? Sometimes, we get an inkling in what He has gifted us to do, and what we enjoy doing. For me, it's writing. I love to write. I once had a discussion with a friend about what I would love to do in heaven for eternity. Yes, we will worship God forever. But I believe we will also have roles (or assignments), which we do to the glory of God. No, I told my friend, we won't be floating on clouds and playing our harps all day long. So ... what would I like to be doing in heaven? I hope I get to be a scribe. According to Wikipedia, "A scribe is an ancient occupation. A scribe's job involved reading and writing, especially during the Renaissance. Being a scribe meant writing letters, and historical records for kings, nobility, and temples." I would love to be a scribe for the King of Kings, Lord of Lords. To write the prayers of the saints, and the historical records of the goodness of the Lord :) But ultimately, God knows best, so I'll do whatever He assigns me to.
What would you like to do? Please share.
Happy New Year! :)
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
The key to spiritual discernment and hearing God's voice
The Wesley prayer team had a gift exchange at our Xmas party two days ago ... being the prayer team, we rightly had to ask God what we should buy! (Urm, this is without the knowledge of who would pick up our gift ... and thus, needs to be Holy Spirit led). This allows us to practice listening to God ... and to know His voice. Anyway, I asked God and had the impression that I was to buy a dartboard. Now, this is totally outside my realm of safe or generic gifts to buy. And I had this nightmare that perhaps a young girl or even one of the ladies in the group might pick this gift, and that I would be gloriously wrong! But thank God ... in the end, a young boy picked it up, and loved it! It made me very happy to know that I made someone's day :) Thank you Father!
Back to listening to God ... my desire is to be able to hear Him acutely and sharply ... so that my prayers can be like a "single stroke of the sword of the Spirit". Or in the case of buying the dartboard, I wouldn't dither and wonder, or have nightmares about whether it's a foolish idea of my own mind or a genuine prompting of the Holy Spirit. How do we come to a place where we know our Father's voice so intimately that we will be fully confident when He speaks?
I came across a very well-articulated answer recently in Sandra Teplinsky's "Israel's Anointing".
How do I know my Father's voice so intimately, and His ways so clearly, that I will have a revelation of Him?
The answer, according to Sandra Teplinsky, is to have a passion for holiness!
"Without holiness, no one will see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14)
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." (Matthew 5:8)
And this passion for holiness, starts with us knowing God's love, abiding in it, and manifesting it in obedience.
"This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome." (1 John 5:3)
"We have come to know him, if we obey his commands." (1 John 2:3)
Teplinksy writes: "A consummate carrier of the fire of God's love, (the apostle) John is passionate about obedience. Is it coincidental that John receives the most profound single-recorded prophecy in the Bible - the entire book of Revelation? God's love leads to obedience, and obedience leads us to holiness. Love-propelled holiness, in turn, relates dynamically to spiritual discernment and a release of high-level revelation."
Wow! As believers, I think all of us yearn to have spiritual discerment and revelation. The key to unlocking all this - love-propelled holiness. Would it be that we would grow in love-propelled holiness day by day.
Back to listening to God ... my desire is to be able to hear Him acutely and sharply ... so that my prayers can be like a "single stroke of the sword of the Spirit". Or in the case of buying the dartboard, I wouldn't dither and wonder, or have nightmares about whether it's a foolish idea of my own mind or a genuine prompting of the Holy Spirit. How do we come to a place where we know our Father's voice so intimately that we will be fully confident when He speaks?
I came across a very well-articulated answer recently in Sandra Teplinsky's "Israel's Anointing".
How do I know my Father's voice so intimately, and His ways so clearly, that I will have a revelation of Him?
The answer, according to Sandra Teplinsky, is to have a passion for holiness!
"Without holiness, no one will see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14)
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." (Matthew 5:8)
And this passion for holiness, starts with us knowing God's love, abiding in it, and manifesting it in obedience.
"This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome." (1 John 5:3)
"We have come to know him, if we obey his commands." (1 John 2:3)
Teplinksy writes: "A consummate carrier of the fire of God's love, (the apostle) John is passionate about obedience. Is it coincidental that John receives the most profound single-recorded prophecy in the Bible - the entire book of Revelation? God's love leads to obedience, and obedience leads us to holiness. Love-propelled holiness, in turn, relates dynamically to spiritual discernment and a release of high-level revelation."
Wow! As believers, I think all of us yearn to have spiritual discerment and revelation. The key to unlocking all this - love-propelled holiness. Would it be that we would grow in love-propelled holiness day by day.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
God's calling upon our lives
Attended Lea Salonga in concert at the Esplanade this evening, and oh my goodness. What an inspiring performance she gave. I last saw Lea Salonga more than 15 years ago in London, in Miss Saigon. Now she's 38. But wow, what an incredible voice she still has! And as I watched her on stage, I couldn't help but think that God has created her to sing. What immense talent. What a gift!
One of my favourite films is Chariots of Fire ... a true story on Eric Liddell, who chose not to run in his best race - the 100m sprint - in the Olympics of 1924 because it fell on a Sunday. This committed Christian went on to run in the 400m race and win. He was quoted as saying, "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure."
Lea Salonga was created to sing. Eric Liddell to run. Both bring glory to God with their gifts.
Psalm 139:14 declares, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
All of us are fearfully and wonderfully made. And each of us was created with unique and distinct traits to bring glory to God. Ps Peter Tsukahira said if we are hungry enough to find the calling God has upon our lives, and if we seek Him about this, He will reveal it to us. Praise God that He is liberal with his gifts towards us!
Ps. One of the songs that Lea sang in concert tonight is "Two Words", which is actually the vows she sang at her wedding. Her husband Rob was so touched, he couldn't stop crying. It's such a beautiful song, I simply have to share it here...
One of my favourite films is Chariots of Fire ... a true story on Eric Liddell, who chose not to run in his best race - the 100m sprint - in the Olympics of 1924 because it fell on a Sunday. This committed Christian went on to run in the 400m race and win. He was quoted as saying, "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure."
Lea Salonga was created to sing. Eric Liddell to run. Both bring glory to God with their gifts.
Psalm 139:14 declares, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
All of us are fearfully and wonderfully made. And each of us was created with unique and distinct traits to bring glory to God. Ps Peter Tsukahira said if we are hungry enough to find the calling God has upon our lives, and if we seek Him about this, He will reveal it to us. Praise God that He is liberal with his gifts towards us!
Ps. One of the songs that Lea sang in concert tonight is "Two Words", which is actually the vows she sang at her wedding. Her husband Rob was so touched, he couldn't stop crying. It's such a beautiful song, I simply have to share it here...
Sunday, December 13, 2009
The secret behind prayers that are like "a single stroke of the Spirit"
In Christian/ prophetic circles, the sense is that we are living seriously close to the end days; and that as people of God, we need to arise. To me, that means growing in intimacy with God ... from which flows the anointing from Him to fulfil the purpose for which He has created us. As time is short, each of us in the body of Christ (with our different gifts) needs to be positioned where we can make maximum kingdom impact. And we need to be obedient (meaning brave, faithful, secure in the Lord's ability to hold and help us) when He calls us to an assignment greater than ourselves. In the last days, the darkness will be unprecedented; but so will God's glory ...
Elijah was called to a giant-sized assignment. He was called to a spiritual battle against the false prophets of Baal. He called for a very public showdown at Mt Carmel between the God Almighty and the false Gods that the people of Israel were worshipping.
In a public showdown, where he was clearly outnumbered, Elijah needed to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God would show up. This is what transpired in 1 Kings 18:36-37
"At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."
Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
At Mt. Carmel, Ps Peter Tsukahira said something that pierced my heart. He said Elijah's prayer from 1 Kings 18:36-37 was like a "single stroke of the sword of the Spirit" ...
How many of us yearn for this ... that we know so clearly what God's will is for a person or situation that when we pray, it is like a "single stroke of the sword of the Spirit"?
David Davis in his book "The Elijah Legacy" helped to crystallise the secret to Elijah's confidence, and the authority he wielded, at that showdown on Mt Carmel.
He writes: "The courage of Elijah was a great challenge to us. To what can we attribute the courage of a single man publicly standing against an entire nation? We don't know that Elijah was naturally courageous or confrontational. I believe the answer can be found in the prophet's simple prayer on that memorable occasion.
He implored "the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel" to hear and respond to him, because "I have done all these things at Your word" (1 Kings 18:36).
Every word and action of Elijah on that day was dictated and directed by the Lord. God told him specifically what to do - the 12 stones, the trench, all of it. Prophets walk in the power of a word not their own, but from God. "Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path." (Ps 119:105)
The source of Elijah's courage was his absolute obedience to a word from God. He knew that God watches over His word to perform it. The prophet had also been refined for over 3 years since giving his last public prophetic word. In the Lord's economy, purity always precedes power. Elijah heard, obeyed and prayed a simple prayer, and God manifested his presence."
At a superficial level, Elijah seems like one of God's superheroes. One of these men destined for outsized assignments - a rare breed. But actually, what Elijah achieved is not outside what God calls each and everyone of us to do ... which is to know His voice, and be absolutely obedient to a word from God. Every word and action of Elijah on that day was dictated and directed by the Lord. God told him specifically what to do. Prophets walk in the power of a word not their own, but from God.
Were it be that we too, are people who hear God's voice, and only do what He tells us to do. That alone is what enabled Elijah to pray a prayer that was like a "single stroke of the Spirit".
Is it any surprise that God answered?
Elijah was called to a giant-sized assignment. He was called to a spiritual battle against the false prophets of Baal. He called for a very public showdown at Mt Carmel between the God Almighty and the false Gods that the people of Israel were worshipping.
In a public showdown, where he was clearly outnumbered, Elijah needed to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God would show up. This is what transpired in 1 Kings 18:36-37
"At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."
Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
At Mt. Carmel, Ps Peter Tsukahira said something that pierced my heart. He said Elijah's prayer from 1 Kings 18:36-37 was like a "single stroke of the sword of the Spirit" ...
How many of us yearn for this ... that we know so clearly what God's will is for a person or situation that when we pray, it is like a "single stroke of the sword of the Spirit"?
David Davis in his book "The Elijah Legacy" helped to crystallise the secret to Elijah's confidence, and the authority he wielded, at that showdown on Mt Carmel.
He writes: "The courage of Elijah was a great challenge to us. To what can we attribute the courage of a single man publicly standing against an entire nation? We don't know that Elijah was naturally courageous or confrontational. I believe the answer can be found in the prophet's simple prayer on that memorable occasion.
He implored "the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel" to hear and respond to him, because "I have done all these things at Your word" (1 Kings 18:36).
Every word and action of Elijah on that day was dictated and directed by the Lord. God told him specifically what to do - the 12 stones, the trench, all of it. Prophets walk in the power of a word not their own, but from God. "Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path." (Ps 119:105)
The source of Elijah's courage was his absolute obedience to a word from God. He knew that God watches over His word to perform it. The prophet had also been refined for over 3 years since giving his last public prophetic word. In the Lord's economy, purity always precedes power. Elijah heard, obeyed and prayed a simple prayer, and God manifested his presence."
At a superficial level, Elijah seems like one of God's superheroes. One of these men destined for outsized assignments - a rare breed. But actually, what Elijah achieved is not outside what God calls each and everyone of us to do ... which is to know His voice, and be absolutely obedient to a word from God. Every word and action of Elijah on that day was dictated and directed by the Lord. God told him specifically what to do. Prophets walk in the power of a word not their own, but from God.
Were it be that we too, are people who hear God's voice, and only do what He tells us to do. That alone is what enabled Elijah to pray a prayer that was like a "single stroke of the Spirit".
Is it any surprise that God answered?
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
What God is zealous for
I was listening to Ps Yang's sermon on zeal recently, and the emphasis was on us having zeal for God. But what struck me was this question: What is God zealous about?
If we know what God is zealous about, we will catch a glimpse into what He will fight for...what matters to Him.
A quick search unveiled this:
1. God is zealous for His name. "Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will now bring Jacob back from captivity and will have compassion on all the people of Israel, and I will be zealous for my holy name." (NIV, Ezekial 39:25)
2. God is zealous for Jerusalem. “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘I am zealous for Zion with great zeal; With great fervor I am zealous for her." (NKJV, Zechariah 8:2)
Honestly, I have known God is zealous for His name for a while already. But I was truly surprised when Ps Yang shared that God is zealous for Zion. There are very few mentions in the Bible on what God is zealous about - and Jerusalem figures as one of them! That was new to me. It also made me realise how for many of us (including me), Israel has been peripheral to our faith. Yet, it is clearly central to God, and His heartbeat.
Why is God zealous about Jerusalem?
Because it is the city He has put his name on. Forever. Even when the people failed Him, and the temple was destroyed, and the ark of the covenant removed from the Holy of Holies, one thing did not depart from Jerusalem. God's name.
"Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever." (2 Chronicles 33:4) Other verses which say the same thing are: 1 Kings 11:36; 2 Kings 21:4; 2 Kings 21:7; 2 Chronicles 6:6
And because Jerusalem is where Jesus will one day return to rule and reign as Messiah. It is to be where He takes up residence on earth.
This is what the LORD says: "I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain." (Zechariah 8:3)
This didn't hit me until it was taught us in Israel recently.
And now that I'm more sensitive to this, that God is zealous for Jerusalem, am also more awakened to the adversities Israel faces. The attempts to divide up Jerusalem continue... with Sweden leading the latest charge. We need to watch this, and pray against it, because this is clearly not what God intends to happen.
Check out what is happening in the latest headlines.
If we know what God is zealous about, we will catch a glimpse into what He will fight for...what matters to Him.
A quick search unveiled this:
1. God is zealous for His name. "Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will now bring Jacob back from captivity and will have compassion on all the people of Israel, and I will be zealous for my holy name." (NIV, Ezekial 39:25)
2. God is zealous for Jerusalem. “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘I am zealous for Zion with great zeal; With great fervor I am zealous for her." (NKJV, Zechariah 8:2)
Honestly, I have known God is zealous for His name for a while already. But I was truly surprised when Ps Yang shared that God is zealous for Zion. There are very few mentions in the Bible on what God is zealous about - and Jerusalem figures as one of them! That was new to me. It also made me realise how for many of us (including me), Israel has been peripheral to our faith. Yet, it is clearly central to God, and His heartbeat.
Why is God zealous about Jerusalem?
Because it is the city He has put his name on. Forever. Even when the people failed Him, and the temple was destroyed, and the ark of the covenant removed from the Holy of Holies, one thing did not depart from Jerusalem. God's name.
"Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever." (2 Chronicles 33:4) Other verses which say the same thing are: 1 Kings 11:36; 2 Kings 21:4; 2 Kings 21:7; 2 Chronicles 6:6
And because Jerusalem is where Jesus will one day return to rule and reign as Messiah. It is to be where He takes up residence on earth.
This is what the LORD says: "I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain." (Zechariah 8:3)
This didn't hit me until it was taught us in Israel recently.
And now that I'm more sensitive to this, that God is zealous for Jerusalem, am also more awakened to the adversities Israel faces. The attempts to divide up Jerusalem continue... with Sweden leading the latest charge. We need to watch this, and pray against it, because this is clearly not what God intends to happen.
Check out what is happening in the latest headlines.
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