1 John 4:19: We love Him because He first loved us.
1 John 4:19 says, ‘we love Him because He first loved us.’ It doesn’t say, ‘He love us because we first loved Him.’ Now who loved who first? Obviously the answer is God loved us first. God demonstrates His own love toward us, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). That’s how good God is to us.
In Luke 5:3-10, you can see God’s love and goodness demonstrated in Simon Peter’s life. This led him to true repentance, and he finally became a disciple of Jesus. In Luke 5:3, Jesus got into Simon Peter’s boat at the time he was washing his fishing nets after a frustrating night of toiling, with no results (Luke 5:5). In other words, Simon Peter was feeling such a failure that day. And that was the time Jesus came into his life. Little did he know it was the turning point of his life. Friends, when Jesus comes with all His love and goodness into your life, your life will definitely be changed too!
In Luke 5:4, Jesus asked Simon Peter to launch out into the deep again, and let down his nets for a catch. Simon was a little apprehensive at first as he had toiled whole night without results, and who is this ‘man’ asking him to go back to the sea again. Nevertheless, he obliged. Guess what? This time, he caught a great number of fish, and the net was about to break! Simon even had to ask his partners in the other boat to come and help. Now when Simon Peter saw this goodness of God, he was astonished and fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!’ But Jesus answered, ‘Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.’ Simon found and experienced God’s love, goodness, grace, and even destiny in life. He forsook all, and followed Jesus from then on.
So, from an uneducated, rough and probably foul-mouthed fisherman who was a failure, God’s goodness changed his life that day. It led him to true repentance. He confessed being a sinner (Luke 5:8). There was a change in his heart and mind. He suddenly realized how much God loved him, and how good God has been to him. He probably might have thought otherwise before that. But now he has experienced the goodness of God that changed his life forever. This is true repentance, my friend.
Simon Peter went on to become a key disciple of Jesus, and later in Acts 2:14, he preached a sermon under the power of the Holy Spirit where 3,000 souls were saved that day, and the church was birthed forth.
Friends, it is God’s love and goodness that really leads to true repentance, not judgmental preaching and message that is based on fear, or religious law that tries to change us in the outside. We are talking about true repentance from the heart, the inner change. God is not an angry God looking around and hunting for your sins, waiting to punish you. In fact, your sins have already been punished when Jesus died on the cross, once and for all (Romans 6:10). Your sins have already been judged on the cross. So now, believers, rest assured that you are not punished anymore. Believe He is always good to you. Receive His goodness today!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
We are entering a season of triumph!
2 Corinthians 2:14: Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
It is God who always leads us in triumph. The word ‘leads’ here speaks of God leading us in triumph. He is our Leader. The word ‘triumph’ comes from the word ‘thriambeuo’ in Greek which means ‘to make an acclamatory procession, to conquer, to give victory, to triumph over, with songs or noise of celebrating, with shouts of triumph.’ In New International Version, it says ‘God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ.’ This procession comes with celebration, a celebration of triumph, parading the victory won, to loud cheers, applause, and shouts of triumph (Psalm 47:1, Exodus 15:1, Exodus 15:21, Psalm 92:4). And we triumph not by our own self-effort, but we triumph in Christ, the anointed, all-powerful One. Friends, we are entering such season now. The battle is on, but the victory is ours. The ‘ark of the covenant’ is in procession again, just as in King David’s time (1 Chronicles 15:14-16) when the ark was brought into Jerusalem. It’s also likened to the time Jesus entered Jerusalem in a triumphal entry (Matthew 21:1-9), and people were shouting ‘Hosanna’, which means ‘help, save, rescue us!’ It’s an exclamation of adoration to the Messiah, the anointed One. This triumphal entry is important as this was when Jesus the Messiah was publicly recognized. Before that, Jesus refused public recognition of Himself as the Messiah, and ministered outside Jerusalem. So the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem was a procession, a public parade (or show) of the entrance of the King of Glory. Jesus is the King of Glory. The ‘ark of the covenant’ always symbolizes the glory of God, the very presence of God. The ark is also a symbol of God’s promise, a reminder of God’s leadership in a battle.
When we live in triumph in Christ, we’ll diffuse or spread the glory of God. However, this is not done through toiling, striving, or self-effort. It’s done in the spirit. It’s done from our resting in the Lord. It’s done by the leading of the Lord. The fragrance or sweet aroma of the knowledge of the glory of God shall permeate the spiritual realm, wherever we go. And whatever happens in the spiritual realm shall be reflected in the natural realm. Imagine the sweet fragrance of flowers and fruits that fills the air. Likewise, the knowledge of the glory of God shall fill the earth as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14). This is truly an end-time prophecy. And this knowledge of the glory of God is not just ‘head knowledge’. The word ‘knowledge’ here in Greek is ‘gnosis’. It means ‘knowing, understanding, be sure.’ It is ‘yada’ in Hebrew. It means ‘be sure, knowing, endued with.’ It is knowing by experience. It’s the expression ‘I know that I know that I know.’
This fragrance of the glory of God is spread ‘through us.’ We are ‘the vessels, the channels, the carriers’ of the glory of God everywhere we go. We are the carriers of spiritual light that emanates in the darkness. When light comes, darkness flees. So every time we are praying in the spirit, or releasing the Word, we are changing the spiritual realm with the ‘light’. The ‘light’ emanates to change the atmosphere around you. This ‘light’ is the glory of God (Revelation 21:23). So, every time we praise, every time we worship, the ‘light’ shines and triumph over the darkness. Every time we love (with the love of God, ‘agape’) and serve, every time we edify someone with the Word of God, every time we preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, the ‘light’ emanates outward and changes the spiritual atmosphere. This is how the knowledge of the glory of the Lord fills the earth as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14). It’s time to look away from ‘what it seems to be on earth now’, and look to God, for we ‘walk by faith, not by sight’ (2 Corinthians 5:7). To walk by faith here is to walk by ‘pistis’ in Greek. It means ‘to walk in conviction, truthfulness of God, assurance, constancy, and reliance upon Christ.’ We are not to walk by sight, which is ‘eidos’ in Greek, meaning ‘an outward view, appearance, form, shapes, fashion, sight.’
So be ready fellow partners in Christ, for we’ll be used by God as such vessels in this season, the end-time season, in a greater intensity than we’ve ever known before. The time is now. The glory of God is here, and reaping time is now (John 4:38). Hallelujah!
It is God who always leads us in triumph. The word ‘leads’ here speaks of God leading us in triumph. He is our Leader. The word ‘triumph’ comes from the word ‘thriambeuo’ in Greek which means ‘to make an acclamatory procession, to conquer, to give victory, to triumph over, with songs or noise of celebrating, with shouts of triumph.’ In New International Version, it says ‘God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ.’ This procession comes with celebration, a celebration of triumph, parading the victory won, to loud cheers, applause, and shouts of triumph (Psalm 47:1, Exodus 15:1, Exodus 15:21, Psalm 92:4). And we triumph not by our own self-effort, but we triumph in Christ, the anointed, all-powerful One. Friends, we are entering such season now. The battle is on, but the victory is ours. The ‘ark of the covenant’ is in procession again, just as in King David’s time (1 Chronicles 15:14-16) when the ark was brought into Jerusalem. It’s also likened to the time Jesus entered Jerusalem in a triumphal entry (Matthew 21:1-9), and people were shouting ‘Hosanna’, which means ‘help, save, rescue us!’ It’s an exclamation of adoration to the Messiah, the anointed One. This triumphal entry is important as this was when Jesus the Messiah was publicly recognized. Before that, Jesus refused public recognition of Himself as the Messiah, and ministered outside Jerusalem. So the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem was a procession, a public parade (or show) of the entrance of the King of Glory. Jesus is the King of Glory. The ‘ark of the covenant’ always symbolizes the glory of God, the very presence of God. The ark is also a symbol of God’s promise, a reminder of God’s leadership in a battle.
When we live in triumph in Christ, we’ll diffuse or spread the glory of God. However, this is not done through toiling, striving, or self-effort. It’s done in the spirit. It’s done from our resting in the Lord. It’s done by the leading of the Lord. The fragrance or sweet aroma of the knowledge of the glory of God shall permeate the spiritual realm, wherever we go. And whatever happens in the spiritual realm shall be reflected in the natural realm. Imagine the sweet fragrance of flowers and fruits that fills the air. Likewise, the knowledge of the glory of God shall fill the earth as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14). This is truly an end-time prophecy. And this knowledge of the glory of God is not just ‘head knowledge’. The word ‘knowledge’ here in Greek is ‘gnosis’. It means ‘knowing, understanding, be sure.’ It is ‘yada’ in Hebrew. It means ‘be sure, knowing, endued with.’ It is knowing by experience. It’s the expression ‘I know that I know that I know.’
This fragrance of the glory of God is spread ‘through us.’ We are ‘the vessels, the channels, the carriers’ of the glory of God everywhere we go. We are the carriers of spiritual light that emanates in the darkness. When light comes, darkness flees. So every time we are praying in the spirit, or releasing the Word, we are changing the spiritual realm with the ‘light’. The ‘light’ emanates to change the atmosphere around you. This ‘light’ is the glory of God (Revelation 21:23). So, every time we praise, every time we worship, the ‘light’ shines and triumph over the darkness. Every time we love (with the love of God, ‘agape’) and serve, every time we edify someone with the Word of God, every time we preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, the ‘light’ emanates outward and changes the spiritual atmosphere. This is how the knowledge of the glory of the Lord fills the earth as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14). It’s time to look away from ‘what it seems to be on earth now’, and look to God, for we ‘walk by faith, not by sight’ (2 Corinthians 5:7). To walk by faith here is to walk by ‘pistis’ in Greek. It means ‘to walk in conviction, truthfulness of God, assurance, constancy, and reliance upon Christ.’ We are not to walk by sight, which is ‘eidos’ in Greek, meaning ‘an outward view, appearance, form, shapes, fashion, sight.’
So be ready fellow partners in Christ, for we’ll be used by God as such vessels in this season, the end-time season, in a greater intensity than we’ve ever known before. The time is now. The glory of God is here, and reaping time is now (John 4:38). Hallelujah!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing!
Psalm 34:10: The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.
Psalm 34:10 says ‘those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.’ The word ‘seek’ in Hebrew is ‘dawrash’. It means ‘to pursue, follow, worship, ask, or require’. So, those who pursue, follow, worship, ask, or require of the Lord shall not lack any good thing. What are the good things in your life? These include good health, good family, good relationships, good jobs, good finance, open doors, and the list goes on.
The psalmist says ‘even the young lions lack and suffer hunger’, but you will not. Lions are pictures of strength, might, and power. They are supposedly the most powerful of all animals, the king in the wild. But Psalm 34:10 says even the lions in all their strength, might, and prowess can be in lack, and can’t satisfy the hunger of their young ones. But when we look to God, we’ll never lack any good thing.
Let’s look at Psalm 20:7 now. It says ‘some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.’ A chariot means ‘human despatch.’ A chariot was used in those days as a vehicle or wagon to despatch things from one place to another. Now what does a chariot speaks of here? It speaks of man-made things, men’s methods being used to despatch things. It symbolizes man-made systems, be they economic, social, or politics. Sometimes, we tend to rely so much on men’s methods or systems to give us good things, at the expense of looking to God, the source of all good things. ‘Horses’ in Psalm 20:7 symbolize ‘strength of the flesh.’ It speaks of 'human abilities.'
But instead of trusting in ‘chariots’ or ‘horses’, David, the one who wrote this psalm said he’d rather remember the name of the Lord and trust Him. David was a man after God’s heart, and he knew the way to prosper is to look to God. David knew who God is, ‘The Great I Am’, the awesome, all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-present God.
Beloved, whatever situation you are facing now, start looking to God like David did, not to men of power, wealth or position for help, not to man-made methods or systems, and not to your own strength, might or intelligence. In times of uncertainty, God is the only One who is constant and certain. He is our Rock and Fortress (Psalm 31:3). Look to Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. God always has a redemption plan for you, a way out for you, no matter what mess you may be facing now. He loves you, and He’ll never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). That’s why He came on earth. He has indeed finished His works for you on the cross and redeemed you. So look to Jesus, and His finished works on the cross. He has carried and taken all your sicknesses, poverty, curse, shame, and sins, died on the cross, and made you whole. Believe, and receive.
Psalm 34:10 says ‘those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.’ The word ‘seek’ in Hebrew is ‘dawrash’. It means ‘to pursue, follow, worship, ask, or require’. So, those who pursue, follow, worship, ask, or require of the Lord shall not lack any good thing. What are the good things in your life? These include good health, good family, good relationships, good jobs, good finance, open doors, and the list goes on.
The psalmist says ‘even the young lions lack and suffer hunger’, but you will not. Lions are pictures of strength, might, and power. They are supposedly the most powerful of all animals, the king in the wild. But Psalm 34:10 says even the lions in all their strength, might, and prowess can be in lack, and can’t satisfy the hunger of their young ones. But when we look to God, we’ll never lack any good thing.
Let’s look at Psalm 20:7 now. It says ‘some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.’ A chariot means ‘human despatch.’ A chariot was used in those days as a vehicle or wagon to despatch things from one place to another. Now what does a chariot speaks of here? It speaks of man-made things, men’s methods being used to despatch things. It symbolizes man-made systems, be they economic, social, or politics. Sometimes, we tend to rely so much on men’s methods or systems to give us good things, at the expense of looking to God, the source of all good things. ‘Horses’ in Psalm 20:7 symbolize ‘strength of the flesh.’ It speaks of 'human abilities.'
But instead of trusting in ‘chariots’ or ‘horses’, David, the one who wrote this psalm said he’d rather remember the name of the Lord and trust Him. David was a man after God’s heart, and he knew the way to prosper is to look to God. David knew who God is, ‘The Great I Am’, the awesome, all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-present God.
Beloved, whatever situation you are facing now, start looking to God like David did, not to men of power, wealth or position for help, not to man-made methods or systems, and not to your own strength, might or intelligence. In times of uncertainty, God is the only One who is constant and certain. He is our Rock and Fortress (Psalm 31:3). Look to Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. God always has a redemption plan for you, a way out for you, no matter what mess you may be facing now. He loves you, and He’ll never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). That’s why He came on earth. He has indeed finished His works for you on the cross and redeemed you. So look to Jesus, and His finished works on the cross. He has carried and taken all your sicknesses, poverty, curse, shame, and sins, died on the cross, and made you whole. Believe, and receive.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
The power of worship
Acts 16:25-26: But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.
When Paul and Silas were falsely accused (Acts 16:16-22) and then imprisoned (Acts 16:23-24), they began to worship God. They did not complain, find faults, wondering what went wrong, or got worried and anxious about their situation. They instead surrendered their situation to God in prayer and sang songs of worship (hymns) to God.
What is worship? It is ‘shachah’ in Hebrew, which means ‘to prostrate, fall down or bow oneself down.’ In other words, it means ‘to surrender ‘. In Greek, the word ‘worship’ is ‘proskuneo’, where the English word ‘prostrate’ come from. To prostrate is ‘to surrender, throw oneself in submission, or being yielded to a superior strength.’
So in Acts 16:25-26, Paul and Silas were worshipping God, surrendering their situation to God, resting and trusting God in total surrender. They chose not to worry, complain or sulk. Instead, they chose to worship, even in the middle of the night. Friends, when you are in your ‘midnight hour’, in the darkest hour in your life, and faced with a difficult situation, do not worry nor be anxious. Rest assured God is still here with you. And He is a great and awesome God, a miracle-working God. After all, He owns the whole galaxy. Put your trust in Him. Worship Him, just as Paul and Silas did. When we worship, we are actually surrendering our whole life, and the whole situation to God, allowing Him to take over.
You see, ‘worship’ and ‘worry’ are total opposites. To worship is to let God take over your situation, as you trust and rest in Him. To worry is not resting and trusting in God, but instead trying to figure out what to do with our own self-effort or strength. That’s the difference.
As Paul and Silas were worshipping, their breakthrough came. The ‘prison’ was shaken, the ‘chains’ loosed, and the ‘doors’ opened, by the power of God. Now don’t get me wrong. We do not worship God in order to get a result. In other words, we do not worship God to try to earn a breakthrough. Worship is not a human effort to earn something. We worship Him simply because of who He is, and how great and awesome He is, not because we want to try to earn a breakthrough or His acceptance. In fact, we are already accepted when He died for us on the cross. Our part is simply to believe on Him, and worship is an expression of our total surrender and trust in Him.
Beloved, it’s so good to worship God, and as you magnify Him in worship, trusting and resting in Him in total surrender, He’ll take over. Your ‘prison’ shall be shaken, your ‘chains’ shall be loosed, and your ‘doors’ shall be opened. Hallelujah!
When Paul and Silas were falsely accused (Acts 16:16-22) and then imprisoned (Acts 16:23-24), they began to worship God. They did not complain, find faults, wondering what went wrong, or got worried and anxious about their situation. They instead surrendered their situation to God in prayer and sang songs of worship (hymns) to God.
What is worship? It is ‘shachah’ in Hebrew, which means ‘to prostrate, fall down or bow oneself down.’ In other words, it means ‘to surrender ‘. In Greek, the word ‘worship’ is ‘proskuneo’, where the English word ‘prostrate’ come from. To prostrate is ‘to surrender, throw oneself in submission, or being yielded to a superior strength.’
So in Acts 16:25-26, Paul and Silas were worshipping God, surrendering their situation to God, resting and trusting God in total surrender. They chose not to worry, complain or sulk. Instead, they chose to worship, even in the middle of the night. Friends, when you are in your ‘midnight hour’, in the darkest hour in your life, and faced with a difficult situation, do not worry nor be anxious. Rest assured God is still here with you. And He is a great and awesome God, a miracle-working God. After all, He owns the whole galaxy. Put your trust in Him. Worship Him, just as Paul and Silas did. When we worship, we are actually surrendering our whole life, and the whole situation to God, allowing Him to take over.
You see, ‘worship’ and ‘worry’ are total opposites. To worship is to let God take over your situation, as you trust and rest in Him. To worry is not resting and trusting in God, but instead trying to figure out what to do with our own self-effort or strength. That’s the difference.
As Paul and Silas were worshipping, their breakthrough came. The ‘prison’ was shaken, the ‘chains’ loosed, and the ‘doors’ opened, by the power of God. Now don’t get me wrong. We do not worship God in order to get a result. In other words, we do not worship God to try to earn a breakthrough. Worship is not a human effort to earn something. We worship Him simply because of who He is, and how great and awesome He is, not because we want to try to earn a breakthrough or His acceptance. In fact, we are already accepted when He died for us on the cross. Our part is simply to believe on Him, and worship is an expression of our total surrender and trust in Him.
Beloved, it’s so good to worship God, and as you magnify Him in worship, trusting and resting in Him in total surrender, He’ll take over. Your ‘prison’ shall be shaken, your ‘chains’ shall be loosed, and your ‘doors’ shall be opened. Hallelujah!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
God's protection is with you!
Psalm 91:4: He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
When you have Jesus, you have His protection. You are covered ‘under His wings’, as the psalmist said. Let me tell you a story to illustrate God’s protection. Once, there was fire in a farm, and many herds of cattle and poultry were burnt alive. As the fire died down, the farmer went around, assessing the extent of the loss in his farm. When he reached the chicken coop, he took notice of a carcass of a mother hen, lying dead on its front with the wings spread, and severely burnt at its back. As the farmer picked up the carcass of the mother hen, he was surprised to find all the small chicks beneath the dead mother hen, all alive! The farm fire did not touch them. The mother hen had obviously sacrificed herself in order to protect and cover her little chicks.
The same way, Jesus died for you, and he was smitten, stricken, bruised, and wounded for you on the cross (Isaiah 53:4-5), like the mother hen died to cover and protect her little chicks. Jesus laid down His life for you. He has taken all your judgment and condemnation, on the cross. Jesus who knew no sin became sin for us, carried our sins, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). Such is God’s great love for you and me!
Now who is Psalm 91:4 talking about? The answer is Jesus Christ. Psalm 91:4 says, ‘His truth is your shield and buckler.’ Let’s cross-refer to the book of John now. John 1:17 says, ‘grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.’ John 14:6 says, ‘Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.’ So, ‘grace and truth’ came down, in person. His name is Jesus Christ. He came to save us. The blood that has been shed on the cross not only washes all your sins away, but it also covers and protects you. So today, you can come under the blood of Jesus Christ, and plead His blood for protection.
Beloved, come under His covering and trust Him for your protection and safety, also for your family and loved ones, or even your possessions, finance, properties, and every other area in life.
When you have Jesus, you have His protection. You are covered ‘under His wings’, as the psalmist said. Let me tell you a story to illustrate God’s protection. Once, there was fire in a farm, and many herds of cattle and poultry were burnt alive. As the fire died down, the farmer went around, assessing the extent of the loss in his farm. When he reached the chicken coop, he took notice of a carcass of a mother hen, lying dead on its front with the wings spread, and severely burnt at its back. As the farmer picked up the carcass of the mother hen, he was surprised to find all the small chicks beneath the dead mother hen, all alive! The farm fire did not touch them. The mother hen had obviously sacrificed herself in order to protect and cover her little chicks.
The same way, Jesus died for you, and he was smitten, stricken, bruised, and wounded for you on the cross (Isaiah 53:4-5), like the mother hen died to cover and protect her little chicks. Jesus laid down His life for you. He has taken all your judgment and condemnation, on the cross. Jesus who knew no sin became sin for us, carried our sins, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). Such is God’s great love for you and me!
Now who is Psalm 91:4 talking about? The answer is Jesus Christ. Psalm 91:4 says, ‘His truth is your shield and buckler.’ Let’s cross-refer to the book of John now. John 1:17 says, ‘grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.’ John 14:6 says, ‘Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.’ So, ‘grace and truth’ came down, in person. His name is Jesus Christ. He came to save us. The blood that has been shed on the cross not only washes all your sins away, but it also covers and protects you. So today, you can come under the blood of Jesus Christ, and plead His blood for protection.
Beloved, come under His covering and trust Him for your protection and safety, also for your family and loved ones, or even your possessions, finance, properties, and every other area in life.
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