A restful heart and soul

1 Chronicles 22:7-9 (NKJV): And David said to Solomon: "My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build a house to the name of the Lord my God; but the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 'You have shed much blood and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight. Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest ('manuwach'), and I will give him rest ('nuwach') from all his enemies all around. His name shall be Solomon, for I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days.'"

Only a man of rest can build God's house (speaks of God's things, destiny, or calling in one's life) effectively. A man of war (speaks of strife, including worries, anxieties, restlessness, etc) cannot! The Hebrew word 'manuwach' here simply means 'a man of rest, a man of quietness, or a man whose heart is settled'.

Interestingly, the Hebrew word 'nuwach' (meaning 'rest, quietness, settled') here is the same word 'Noah', whom God called to build Him an ark (Genesis 6:14). You see, only a restful man can build God an 'ark' (also speaks of God's things, destiny, or calling in one's life)! 

Note: When I write about rest here, I'm referring to one's inner rest (i.e. a restful heart and soul), and not one's physical rest, though the latter is also important in life. I'm also not implying that one should just laze around all year, doing nothing and waiting for money (or goodies) to fall from the sky!

You see, one can be busy and thriving in life, yet restful in the inside. On the other hand, I've also seen people who are on holiday physically, but yet anxious, restless, or worrisome in the inside!

From the four Gospels, one can see that Jesus was a busy Man during His over three years of ministry on earth, but yet inside of Him, He also had such deep and unshakeable rest and peace. For instance, in the midst of the chaotic wind storm and the waves beating into the boat where He was in, out of the abundance of what's inside of Him, He then spoke, "Peace, be still!" (Mark 4:39), and the sea became calm again.

When your heart (or soul) is at rest (in spite of whatever happens around you), you'll also then be able to receive His revelation or wisdom more clearly and accurately, which in turn leads to clear and accurate decision-making on your part. However, if your heart (or soul) is always anxious, restless, or worrisome, you can't!

Note: The 'soul' here includes the 'mind, will, and emotion'.

Hebrews 4:9-11 says, 'There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works (i.e. self-effort, striving at work) ... Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, ...'

People of God, Jesus has already given you His rest (Matthew 11:28-29). The Bible also says, 'Peace He leaves with you, His peace He gives to you; not as the world gives, but the peace that comes from Him' (John 14:27). So, let your heart and soul be open to receive it today. And no matter what you see (or hear) outside of you today, or what happens in the world right now, never allow anyone (or anything) to take this inner rest away from you (or even rob you of it)! Instead, keep receiving this rest and peace (that comes only from Him), day by day, every day of your life. And whatever you do (or say), you'll also do it (or say it) out of this rest and peace in you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Activating God's Word into Being

Genesis 1:3 (NKJV): Then God said, "Let there be light", and there was light.

You may have studied the Word of God at one time or another, or gone for a Bible-study session before, but exactly how do you activate the Word of God into being for your life?

In Genesis 1:1-3, in spite of the darkness (and everything void), and where there's no evidence of any light yet whatsoever, God said, "Let there be light!" In Hebrew expression, it actually means: "Light, be!" And that's how light came about! Praise God!

See how God's Word releases the power to create? 'Darkness' turned into 'light' just as He has spoken! And when light comes, darkness just have to leave! The same it is with any problem you may be facing right now!

So, again, how do you activate the Word of God into being for your life? By confessing it, i.e. to say the same as what God says in the Word! It means you agree with it, and then you declare it (by speaking it forth)! And after that, continue to hold fast to this confession! (Hebrews 4:14, Hebrews 10:23) By the way, the word 'confession' (in King James Version: 'profession') here is 'homologia' in Greek, from the word 'homologeo', meaning 'to agree and to say the same (as God says)'.

For instance, if you find yourself getting a bit forgetful, or even losing your memory, how do you stop the rot?

The world may tell you all kinds of ways or methods (and some are indeed legitimate), but what does the Bible say? It says by saying the same as what God says about you, you'll have what God says! (Mark 11:23-24) The Bible also says 'by your words, you will be justified, and by your words also, you will be condemned' (Matthew 12:37). You see, there's power in the words that you speak! Therefore, choose to speak God's Word instead! God's Word creates! God's Word turns a fact (i.e. what it is now) into a truth (i.e. what God says it to be)!

So, instead of confessing "Oh no! I'm getting forgetful. I'm afraid I'm losing my memory", you say what God says about you: "I have the mind of Christ, and the mind of Christ is always sharp!" (1 Corinthians 2:16).

"But, pastor, you are telling me to run away from reality, and deny the fact that I'm actually losing my memory! Isn't this 'escapism'?"

No, my friend. You've got to know the difference between the fact and the truth? Let me explain. The fact may be that 'you are losing your memory'. But the truth is the Bible says 'you have the mind of Christ'. And indeed, the mind of Christ never gets old!

And His Word is always the truth (John 8:32), and this truth shall also set you free (from whatever problem you may be facing right now)!

So, in spite of your health problem, or your financial problem at the moment, speak like what God speaks, as if it has already happened! Instead of saying the fact, you say the truth: "In Christ, I am already healed, because Jesus has already carried my sins upon the cross, and by His stripes I was healed!" (1 Peter 2:24), or "In Christ, my (financial or career) path shines brighter and brighter day by day! (Proverbs 4:18) Romans 4:17 says, '...God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did'. In King James Version, it says, '...God, who... calleth those things which be not as though they were.'

In Numbers 13:30-33, the fact was 'there were really giants in the Promised Land', but the truth was 'God had already given the Israelites the Promised Land'! Joshua and Caleb chose to believe the truth (in spite of the fact). They then declared that 'the land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land' (Numbers 14:7), and 'do not fear these people, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us' (Numbers 14:9)! As a result, both of them have what they'd believed and spoken!

In Mark 11:23-24, Jesus says, "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them."

Also, in the midst of a great windstorm and the waves beating into their boat, Jesus then arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm (Mark 4:37-39). See the words 'be' again here?

People of God, in Christ, you too have the power and authority to cause things to 'be'! Why? Because you are heir of God and joint-heir with Christ! (Romans 8:16-17) And as heir of God and joint-heir with Christ, you inherit what He has! The Bible also says you are created in God's likeness (Genesis 1:26-27). You are therefore His sons and daughters, a people after His seed! And that's why just as God is, you too are called to turn 'darkness' into 'light' (in whatever situation you may be facing right now)!

So, the next time you pray and declare God's promises upon your life (or the situation around you), know that you are also indeed releasing the power to create 'light' through your spoken words!

The Bible says, 'For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us' (2 Corinthians 1:20). See the words 'through us' here? It means you are the one who activates all that God has promised (for you) into being! How? By declaring it! By speaking it forth! By confessing it! By claiming it! By believing and receiving it! Now, see it this way: If someone has written a will (of say, ten million dollars) for you (as an inheritance), you won't be able to enjoy it till you've signed it and claimed it! To sign it and to claim it here is to activate it!

By the way, the word 'Amen' means "So be it!" Notice the word 'be' again? So, the next time you end a prayer with an "Amen!", mean it and say it with a believing heart to receive! It's definitely not something you say religiously or out of formality, but instead, it is the power to 'create' through your spoken words, just as God said, "Light, be!" Amen! "So be it"!

In Christ, your joy is made complete!

Deuteronomy 16:15 (NKJV): "Seven days you shall keep a sacred feast to the Lord your God in the place which the Lord chooses, because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you surely rejoice (in NIV: your joy will be complete)."

This verse speaks of the celebration of 'Sukkot' (i.e. The Feast of Tabernacles) among the Israelites. Deuteronomy 16:13-14 says, "You shall observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, when you have gathered from your threshing floor and from your winepress. And you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant and the Levite, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow, who are within your gates."

People of God, this is a time to rejoice and to receive the fullness of His joy! This is also a time for renewed fellowship with the Lord, and being conscious of His Presence; enjoying Him and celebrating His blessings and goodness in your life!

Leviticus 23:40-43 says, 'And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. You shall keep it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations. You shall celebrate it in the seventh month. You shall dwell in booths ('sukkah') for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths ('sukkah'), that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths ('sukkah') when I brought them out of the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.'

This Hebrew word 'sukkah' (where the word 'Sukkot' comes from) simply means 'tabernacle, tent, or hut', i.e. 'a shelter made of tree branches'. This word 'sukkah' is in turn derived from the word 'sakak', which speaks of 'to be covered (by the Lord), to join together (with the Lord), and to shut out (from the world), as God's people dwell in booths'.

This reminded me of when Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far away from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting (Exodus 33:7), just to be alone with God. It was here that the pillar of cloud descended, and the Lord talked with Moses (Exodus 33:9) face to face, as a man speaks to his friend (Exodus 33:11). Moses later experienced God's glory in the cleft of the rock (Exodus 33:12-23), and he came out totally refreshed and renewed for the things ahead of him! (Exodus 34:1-2)

What do all these mean to you as a believer in the New Covenant?

Like Moses, we all need such time at one time or another, away from the people, and even the materialism or worldliness around us, just to be alone with God, enjoying His Presence, and communing (i.e. communicating and being in union) with Him. His wisdom and revelation would also flow when one connects with Him!

And where His Presence is, there is also His joy! Jesus is indeed the Source of your joy, and this joy is one that money can't buy, or the world can't give! It is also eternal and not short-lived (unlike the one that the world gives). Isaiah 53:4 says, "Surely He (Jesus) has borne your griefs and carried your sorrows ..." So that in exchange, you can have His joy! This happened when He died for you on the cross some 2,000 years ago!

His Spirit is also the Spirit of joy, and when His joy comes, sorrow has to leave; just as when the light comes, darkness has to flee! The Bible also says, 'this joy of the Lord shall be your strength' (Nehemiah 8:10). In Him, you are also anointed with the oil of joy that breaks every sorrow and heaviness (Isaiah 61:1-3), setting you free from every yoke, burden, or captivity. As a result, your life is now filled with the fullness of joy. Hallelujah! By faith, receive this oil of joy wherever you are right now, and be refreshed and renewed for the things ahead of you! In Jesus' name. Amen.

"Show me now Your way!"

Exodus 33:13 (NKJV): "Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight ..."

Exodus 33 is to be read and understood from the background of Exodus 32. Here, Moses was at a crucial point in his life and ministry, and in fact, he had come to the point where he didn't know how to go about any more!

So, what actually happened that led to Moses asking "Show me now Your way..."?

Let's now go back to Exodus 32. When the people saw that their leader Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, they gathered together to Aaron and said to him, "Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him." (Exodus 32:1). Aaron gave in, and there a molded calf was made (Exodus 32:4).

Then, the Lord said to Moses, "Go, get down! For your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molded calf, and worshipped it and sacrificed to it, and said, 'This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!'" (Exodus 32:7-8)

Later on, having seen how his own people were plagued because of what they did with the calf (Exodus 32:35) despite his attempt to intervene, he must have felt rather terrible. And it was at this point of heart-brokenness and helplessness that Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far away from the people, calling it the tabernacle of meeting (Exodus 33:7), to talk with God.

Moses then said, "See, You say to me, 'Bring up this people.' But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, 'I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.' Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people." (Exodus 33:12-13)

And that's when the Lord answered him, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." (Exodus 33:14)

I used to wonder what does 'His way' have to do with 'His Presence'? Why did the Lord respond with "My Presence will go with you" when Moses asked for 'His way'? I then found the answer in the Hebrew word for 'Presence' itself, pronounced as 'Paniym', which means 'face, countenance, forefront'. The Lord was actually telling Moses, "From now on, no more your face, but My face; no more your countenance (radiance), but My countenance (radiance) as you go on from here; and from now on, no more are you at the forefront, but I AM now your forefront that leads you on from here!"

Today, as a believer, know that the Lord has also shown you His Presence through His Son, Jesus Christ. In Him, you find your rest (Matthew 11:28), and in Him also, you find your Way, your Truth, and your Life! (John 14:6) As you rest in His Presence, that's when He'll also show you the way!

Moses then said, "If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here." (Exodus 33:15)

People of God, His Presence in your life is the primary thing. Everything else comes second. When you have His Presence, you have everything, and that includes His way, His power, His wisdom, His favor, His peace, His joy, and the list goes on. As a believer, even though you know that He is already in you, it helps to be conscious of His Presence, to practice His Presence, and to linger (and stay) in His Presence moment by moment, day by day. Amen.