It's been an interesting near 2 months, since Senior Pastor, under the Lord's leadership, led the church into a season of "Going Deep". I've been conscious, and faithfully praying for the Lord to renew and teach me, through every situation and every circumstance.
And Lo and Behold, since the beginning of the year, many things have happened. I was hospitalised with scares here and there on my health; I see many imperfections and discouraging things in my own sheep (Just being real here) I found myself discouraged, exhausted, spent.
That drove me to seek the Lord.
In my quite moments with the Lord, I saw this vision. My father eats "Quaker Oatmeal", and they come in tin cans (Like your Nestle Milk) as well as packets, which you can refill into the tin cans. Whenever the time comes for Dad to refill the tin, he'll pour a quarter into the tin can, then shake the tin to let the oats settle, then pour in some more, then shake and hit the tin again. The process repeats till the whole packet goes into the tin- filled to the brim, and compact. Growing up, I've helped Dad fill the tin a couple of times, I've learnt that you need to be "merciless" in shaking and hitting the tin, to let the oats settle, so that you can pour more in. No shake, no oats!
Hebrews 12:26-27
God will shake, whatever that can be shaken, be prepared, He will shake it. Why? Like the Quaker Oats illustration, shaking helps to bring the oats nearer to the base of the tin. Parallel with humans, shaking brings us closer to our foundations - Christ.
I find myself asking this question of late - "Is Christ sufficient for me?" I pray constantly, daily that I can say, with full conviction what Smith Wigglesworth said "I have all, when I have Jesus."
Is God shaking you of late? Have you drawn closer to your foundation? Or are you resisting the shake?
Before He can use us Powerfully, He will test us Deeply!
Thursday 22 February 2007
Wednesday 14 February 2007
Drink Deep- From Deceitfulness to being Contrite
Numbers 22
Balak, the King of Moab had a threat - God's chosen people, Israel. After seeing what Israel had done to the Amorites, Balak decided he needed God to be on the Moab side. But since he had no relationship with God (Moabs are Baal worshippers), he sought Balaam, God's prophet to curse Israel.
I don't know what was in Balaam's mind that he actually had to sought God if he should do it. If someone told me "I will give you money and honour if you come to me, and help me curse FC," I think without a doubt, I ask say to the person "Shut up, Satan!"
Interestingly, the very "Spiritual" act of Balaam to seek the Lord is actually a deceitful act of his heart. He wanted the honour. He wanted the money. He fed on the need that he was wanted by a King. Hence, he went to seek the Lord on something, that clearly, was a "NO" from the Lord.
Is God silly? Can God be mocked? Doesn't the Lord know that Balaam was trying to "pull a fast one on God?" Certainly, God knows!
God knows, and in his wisdom, wanted to teach Balaam, as well as Balak a lesson. Notice, he allowed Balaam to go to Balak, yet was angry with Balaam that he was going.
Contradiction? No. God knew that unless He allowed Balaam's deceitful desires to be acted out and let him taste the bad fruit, Balaam will not learn the lesson. The deceitfulness will still be in Balaam, and he will still be blinded to think that he was being right by "seeking the Lord."
Notice that from v22, God had wanted to strike Balaam dead. Even his donkeys saw the angel of the Lord, yet Balaam was so driven by all the fame he will get in Moab that he was totally blinded! His donkey wanted to protect him, and sought to turn away from the angel, yet Balaam kept striking the donkey (3 times) to get the donkey on way to Moab. Finally, the Lord, pleased with the donkey, extended grace to Balaam. God opended the eyes of Balaam and he repented.
Does this strike a chord with you? Alot of times, people "seek God" on whether or not they should do something, that clearly, will displease the Lord. They rationalize in their hearts that it would not matter, and looked only to the benefits that they'll get, not whether or not it was against the nature of God. They have the audacity to ask God to bless them, or even ask at all.
Where is the Fear of the Lord? God is loving, but He will not be mocked. Why do we procrastinate to do what is pleasing before His eyes? Because we have desires in our hearts that are not 100% desires of Him!
Clearly, when our hearts are not 100% desiring the Lord, let's not kid ourselves - we're not. Let's not pretend to "Seek the Lord" on outcomes on such matters, but be clear-minded, repenting before God for our heart conditions.
God was even more pleased with a Donkey than Balaam! Repent from Deceitfulness, a Contrite heart is all He desires!
Balak, the King of Moab had a threat - God's chosen people, Israel. After seeing what Israel had done to the Amorites, Balak decided he needed God to be on the Moab side. But since he had no relationship with God (Moabs are Baal worshippers), he sought Balaam, God's prophet to curse Israel.
I don't know what was in Balaam's mind that he actually had to sought God if he should do it. If someone told me "I will give you money and honour if you come to me, and help me curse FC," I think without a doubt, I ask say to the person "Shut up, Satan!"
Interestingly, the very "Spiritual" act of Balaam to seek the Lord is actually a deceitful act of his heart. He wanted the honour. He wanted the money. He fed on the need that he was wanted by a King. Hence, he went to seek the Lord on something, that clearly, was a "NO" from the Lord.
Is God silly? Can God be mocked? Doesn't the Lord know that Balaam was trying to "pull a fast one on God?" Certainly, God knows!
God knows, and in his wisdom, wanted to teach Balaam, as well as Balak a lesson. Notice, he allowed Balaam to go to Balak, yet was angry with Balaam that he was going.
Contradiction? No. God knew that unless He allowed Balaam's deceitful desires to be acted out and let him taste the bad fruit, Balaam will not learn the lesson. The deceitfulness will still be in Balaam, and he will still be blinded to think that he was being right by "seeking the Lord."
Notice that from v22, God had wanted to strike Balaam dead. Even his donkeys saw the angel of the Lord, yet Balaam was so driven by all the fame he will get in Moab that he was totally blinded! His donkey wanted to protect him, and sought to turn away from the angel, yet Balaam kept striking the donkey (3 times) to get the donkey on way to Moab. Finally, the Lord, pleased with the donkey, extended grace to Balaam. God opended the eyes of Balaam and he repented.
Does this strike a chord with you? Alot of times, people "seek God" on whether or not they should do something, that clearly, will displease the Lord. They rationalize in their hearts that it would not matter, and looked only to the benefits that they'll get, not whether or not it was against the nature of God. They have the audacity to ask God to bless them, or even ask at all.
Where is the Fear of the Lord? God is loving, but He will not be mocked. Why do we procrastinate to do what is pleasing before His eyes? Because we have desires in our hearts that are not 100% desires of Him!
Clearly, when our hearts are not 100% desiring the Lord, let's not kid ourselves - we're not. Let's not pretend to "Seek the Lord" on outcomes on such matters, but be clear-minded, repenting before God for our heart conditions.
God was even more pleased with a Donkey than Balaam! Repent from Deceitfulness, a Contrite heart is all He desires!
Saturday 3 February 2007
Drink Deep- From Seedlings to Being Rooted
Mark 4:16-17, Eph 3:16-18
Many a times, we've met believers, still in bondage over an area in their lives say this - "You don't understand. I've tried to pray, I've tried to worship, I've even tried to read the word, but nothing helped!" or, some would say - "You know, I've prayed and asked God for this, but He didn't do it!"
Salvation belongs to God. And we'll always rejoice in Faith when one person gives his/her life to Jesus through the sinners prayer. But very often, when a severe disappointment or seemingly unanswered prayer occurs, they become offended with God, and want to have little to do with Him.
Notice what the Lord Jesus says in Mark 4:16- 17
"Who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution arise for the word's sake, immediately they are offended"
Believers, who chose to interpret that God did not come through for them, hold certain beliefs:
Many a times, we've met believers, still in bondage over an area in their lives say this - "You don't understand. I've tried to pray, I've tried to worship, I've even tried to read the word, but nothing helped!" or, some would say - "You know, I've prayed and asked God for this, but He didn't do it!"
Salvation belongs to God. And we'll always rejoice in Faith when one person gives his/her life to Jesus through the sinners prayer. But very often, when a severe disappointment or seemingly unanswered prayer occurs, they become offended with God, and want to have little to do with Him.
Notice what the Lord Jesus says in Mark 4:16- 17
"Who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution arise for the word's sake, immediately they are offended"
Believers, who chose to interpret that God did not come through for them, hold certain beliefs:
- "What's important to me is that I get what I want (healing, set free, success etc.) God must give me what I want."
- "God doesn't seem to care about my feelings through this, He must don't love me."
Why do people chose to be so quickly offended with God? Because as said in Mark 4, they were not rooted. Rooted in what you will ask? Ephesians 3:16-18 - To be rooted and grounded in the Love of God.
Love of God, is a knowledge that comes from knowing and seeking His character, His nature. We need to study and know that God is love; there is no selfishness or evil in Him. His nature is to give, not to take. His nature is to forgive, not to punish. His nature is to discipline so as to become like Him, not to hurt us because He doesn't care about us.
Are you rooted in God's love? Ask God for a fresh revelation of His love everyday of your life. You'll be amazed. Instead of just asking for the healing, the success, the setting free. Ask God to show you His love. Receive it with Faith.
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