God-Sized Calling!

[extracts from IF YOU WANT TO WALK ON WATER, YOU'VE GOT TO STEP OUT OF THE BOAT]

A calling is something you discover, not something you choose. The word vocation comes from the Latin word for voice. Discovering it involves very careful listening. The whole idea of calling is that there is a Call-er and a call-ee.

You are I are the call-ees and God is the Call-er. God equips the worker and assigns the work.

Frederick Buechner wrote that calling is "the place where your deep gladness meets the word's deep need." It is not heard to figure out were the world's deep need is. It is everywhere! What turns out to be more difficult than you might expect is discovering where your deep galdness lies. What work bring syou job? For what do you have desire and passion - for these, too, are gifts from God. This is why giftedness i about more than just talents - it includes passion. As Arthur Miller says, "It's the lifeblood of a person, the song that her heart longs to sing, the race that his legs were born to run... There's an electricity associated with giftedness. Give a person the chance, and he'll jolt you."

That does not mean that following a calling always brings feelings of enjoyment. Often it means the gritty resolution to bear with a hard task when it would be easier to quit. But even this yields a certain satisfaction when I know I have been skilled and fitted by God for the task. But I must be ruthlessly honest about my deep gladness.

People sometimes romanticize the notion of vocation. Receiving a calling from God is not the same thing as falling into your dream career. A dream career generally promises wealth, power, status, security, and great benefits. A calling is often a different story.

As a rule, the people (e.g. Moses, Jonah, Jeremiah) whom we read about in Scripture who were called by God felt quite inadequate. When God called Abraham to leave home, or Gideon to lead an army, or Esther to defy the king, or Mary to give birth to the Messiah, their initial response was never: Yes, I'm up to that challenge. I think I can handle that.

The first response to a God-sized calling is generally fear. Henry Blackaby writes,

Some people say, "God will never ask me to do something I can't do. I have come to the place in my life that, if the assignment I sense God is giving me is soemthing that I know I can handle, I know it is probably not from God. The kind of assignments God gives in the Bible are always God-sized. They are always behyond what people can do, because He wants to demonstrate His nature, His strenght, His provision and His kindness to His people and to a watching world. This is the only way the world will come to know Him.

This doesn't mean that God calls us in a way that violates our "raw material." Where God calls, God gifts.
A career may end with retirement and lots of "toys." A calling isn't over until the day you die. The rewards of a career may be quite visible, but they are temporary. The significance of a calling lasts for eternity. A career can be disrupted by any number of events - but not a calling. When God calls people, He enables them to fulfill ther callings even in the most unlikely circumstances.

[Chapter 3 Discerning The Call. John Ortberg.]

Psalm 118

Praise to God for His Everlasting Mercy

1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.

2 Let Israel now say, “His mercy endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron now say, “His mercy endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the LORD now say, “His mercy endures forever.”

5 I called on the LORD in distress;
The LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.
6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me
7 The LORD is for me among those who help me;
Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.

8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
10 All nations surrounded me,
But in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
11 They surrounded me, Yes, they surrounded me;
But in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
12 They surrounded me like bees;
They were quenched like a fire of thorns;
For in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
13 You pushed me violently, that I might fall,
But the LORD helped me.

14 The LORD is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.
15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous;
The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.
16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted;
The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.
17 I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the LORD.
18 The LORD has chastened me severely,
But He has not given me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness;
I will go through them, And I will praise the LORD.

20 This is the gate of the LORD,
Through which the righteous shall enter.
21 I will praise You, For You have answered me,
And have become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This was the LORD’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day the LORD has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity.

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.
27 God is the LORD, And He has given us light;
Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise You;
You are my God, I will exalt You.
29 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
_________________________

The things of life can easily choke up one's mind and if we're not guarded, discouragement can seep into our soul and depression sink in. Life with God doesn't guarantee us a bed of roses but it does assure us of a way out! As Don Moen writes:

God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me

He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength
For each new day
He will make a way
He will make a way

By a roadway in the wilderness
He'll lead me
And rivers in the desert will I see
Heaven and earth will fade
But His Word will still remain
He will do something new today

Psalm 118 of the eternal Word of God is our surety that God will make a way, for His mercies endures forever... Halleluyah!

#nelle#

Victorious Living!

1 Thessalonians 5:2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

The 2nd coming of Christ will catch the world by surprise. The bible warns us not to be deceived by the false cries of safety for it is the calm before the end. As children of God, we do not fear. As sons and daughters of the Light, let us not slumber. Instead, we are to:

1. be watchful and sober;
2. put on the breastplate of faith and love; and
3. guard our minds with the knowledge of God's salvation through Christ.
4. be expectant of the glorious end after which we would have fellowship with the Trinity for eternity!

This is the guarantee of God to those who love and diligently seek Him.

By generalising the context of this verses for daily living, there are 3 basic principles (3 A's) we can apply to our lives right away:

1. Be ALERT!
Do not fall into complacency in anything you do. Be sensitive to undercurrents so as to be responsive when issues surface (reminder: 11 characteristics of the new S.I.N.G.A.P.O.R.E.A.N.).

2. Be ARMED!
We do not wrestle against flesh and blood but principalities and powers. Our primary protection is the armour of God (Eph 6:10-18).

3. Be ASSURED! (and ASTOUNDED!)
Expect a resounding outcome! God will always show up for His namesake to bring light into the situation. We just need to stay close to Him and listen for the guidance of the Holy Spirit through the path, however winding.

The NEW S.I.N.G.A.P.O.R.E.A.N.

The ugly Singaporean is one who is:

1. kaypo - he is interested in the latest, hottest ongoings of his neighbour/colleagues/friends (existing and the long lost ones) and goes around regurgitating them to willing listeners, recounting the lives of others like a soap opera (wait wait, havent finish...);

2. kiasu - he sets his eyes on what you have that he doesnt and makes sure he gets more/better that what you possess; he also works just-enough for his dollar (don't be stupid! why do more?? this is not my job.); and

3. kiasi - he is afraid to stand up for what he believes in and simply goes where the wind blows (what principles? not worth a cent. don't be smart-alec and invite trouble lah!).

But thank God for Christ - the anchor of our hope! Yes, there is HOPE! You can be renewed in your mind to be transformed, as larva (that does nothing else but eat) to a butterfly (beautiful and free in spirit), into the NEW S.I.N.G.A.P.O.R.E.A.N. (sermon Jan14, 2007). That is, one who is:

1. Socially-responsible - this is about making decisions and taking actions that would enhance the general welfare of our environment (further read: Wikipedia) e.g. volunteering activities in the neighbourhood districts; participating in corporate philantrophic/charitable activities etc.

2. Innovative - we are created in the image of our Father in Heaven and so aer empowered with creative abilities. Dare to dream and make dreams real...

3. Nett Giver - we are receiving something from someone or the government all the time. Let's make it a point to be a blessing i.e. to give more than we would receive.

4. Globalised - widen our horizons through travel, reading of books and papers, watching of documentaries, being aware and alert of things going on around us and around the world!

5. Advanced - there's never a time we stop learning. Everything is on the move and so progressing. Those who do not progress and are resistant to learning will find themselves living as modern cavemen, disconnected from the world in which they live.

6. Problem-solver - Knowledge in available in abundance. Having knowledge and not knowing how to apply them is emptiness. See a problem and solve it, not ignore it. The fact that you saw it indicates that you have seen beyond others and so have the potential to breakthrough it!

7. Opportunity-seeking - Watch for the gaps to fill; that's where new products and services may be created!

8. Resilient - Perseverance or the ability to bounce back is what differentiates a winner from a loser. Everyone meets with obstacles but it is he who overcomes them in spite of the odds that grows and gains!

9. Educated - The importance of education cannot be undermined. It is both about increasing know-how and expanding one's mental capabilities. Things may be theoretical but you can't den that ideals set the mark of perfection for us to work towards!

10. Adaptable - Flexibility is key! Routine is necessary to establish the core activities/life but it is flexibility that is required to emerge through new situations and circumstances.

11. Nation-conscious - Like it or not, we are all part of a larger identity. Just as the letters of the alphabets are meaningless on their own, no man is an island. Our purpose is realised when we are part of a family, a school, a corporation, an industry, a church, a country! There's a place we all fit into from birth through death.

The fabric of society is made of an amalgation of individual beliefs and practices. In order for us to penetrate the marketplace, we have to influence our societal and corporate cultures. This entails asserting our belief system in our place of work, neighbourhood, schools and families! The betterment of our culture is dependent on the progressive (and positive) changes that we experience individually in our own belief systems. There is a symbiotic relationship between us and our environment/social infrastructure that we cannot deny or shun away from.

The cultural mandate from God says that we are to "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth." The kind of input determines the kind of output. For the cycle of fruitfulness and multiplication to be continuous, it is evident that we are to fill the earth with what is positive and good!

God's blessing over us was never meant to be an end but a means. We are not called to be mere receivers of God's blessings but rather, are appointed as channels for the blessings of God to flow through! The new S.I.N.G.A.P.O.R.E.A.N. is one who would sows and reaps for the good of self and others.

2 Corinthians 8:13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, 15 as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little." #nelle#

ALL Employed!

Rare as this is (for me at least!), I was awoken at about 3am last night with eyes wide open, mind fully alert, but having nothing to see to. So I asked the Lord if there was something I needed to do and was directed to check my handphone. In it was this message:

Reinhard Bonnke says that Christ did not die to give people a career but to save the lost! Time is running out fast.

My mind started churning. Thoughts started running, "What is it, Lord? I know You didn't die just so we could have a good career and yes, the lost in the marketplace needs to be saved. But what exactly are You trying to tell me?" And as I pondered on this statement, this came to me hard and deep:

There is no unemployment in My kingdom. Everyone in My house is gainfully employed if only they would walk with me. Then, they would know just where to be and when/how to do what.

There should be no such word as UNEMPLOYMENT in the vocabulary of a Christian!

This coincided with today's sermon in church about our calling to the mandate of developing and shaping the culture of our societies! We cannot bring God into our areas of work by talking Christianny and shunning away from the issues of life or "darkness of pop culture" but rather, we are sent out as lambs amongst wolves (Luke 10:3) for the harvest is great and sadly, the labourers are few (Luke 10:2)! But NOW! God has revealed: EVERYONE CAN BE ENGAGED by Him! And this means, IT IS TIME that you and I arise!

Yes, YOU ARE AN AGENT OF GOD! A winning agent gets about his/her way with a good representation of his/her product and services. Yet so many times, I have heard Christians in the marketplace make claims that God is their Boss (particularly when things are not going well and they needed to justify their righteous actions!). They would insist that everything they do, they do unto the Lord who knows that their conscience is clear (really?) so if others are not able to accept it, it's just too bad; God save them! And guess what? When a good agent of God tries to share Christ with a non-believer colleague who has observed this all, it is not unusual to see a face of contempt. Why? Cos there is/was/are/were (baa-baa-)black sheep! in their very midst. This is the unfortunate impact of religiosity; of legalism.

How could we turn the world right side up for Jesus if we were not part of it? If we can only stand and look into the world (high and lofty), then there is absolutely no chance that we make a difference in it. To effect changes, we have to be a part of the entire system AND be received/perceived positively.
This does not mean that we do as the world does. The bible is clear that we are to be in the world but not of the world. So the question is: WWJD? Yes, what would Jesus do? Ask Him! You have the Holy Spirit in you so you can seek God and ask for wisdom and guidance!

We need to realise this: the best you know how may not be the best for the situation. Instead of simply being headstrong and insistent in upholding your "principles/values," (I'm not suggesting you don't BUT!) we must be open and sensitive to the Holy Spirit as God might have another way to assert what is fair and right. God is Boss. Right? Right... Then when was the last time you asked your Boss what is going on and proceeded with His counsel??

We are engaged by God to bring order to every strata and aspect of society. But engagement without empowerment is lame! Until we tap into the power of Christ, we can do nothing to reconcile everything in Him. Paul says in Ephesians 1:10-12 that:

10 in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

It all started with Him. It shall all end in Him. And there is an inheritance in Christ. What is it? Everything that God has given Him is ours! But it will only be made known and available to us in the time that He purposes and for the particular work that He wills. Then, as we step out of the boat and act in accordance to His revealed counsel, the work is established and we give glory where glory is due! When we first trusted in Him, and the mysteries He unfolds comes to pass, we know that all the praise and all the glory are His! There is not an ounce of credit we can rob God of because everything is for Him, through Him and to Him! We are at best privileged vessels through which He works.

Open your ears and listen to the testimonies around you. It usually goes like this, "I thank God that when I did XXX, He blessed me greatly. By His grace, I achieved YYY and so got my desired ZZZ." This is the first level of seeing God's hand working in your life: by HINDSIGHT! But friends, there is a HIGHER way! To see God's hand move by FORESIGHT!! And this is possible only if we are pressing in to God continually, seeking His wise counsel for everything (big and small), trusting His voice (loud and soft), and simply obeying; keeping focussed on Jesus at every point of the action!

It is just like Peter walking on water as recorded in Matthew 14:

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.

Peter did very well when he stepped out of the boat, eyes completely fixed on Jesus! It can be the same for us!

Has God given you a plan and said to you, "I am with you, do not be afraid" ? And you, instead of stepping out spent the time seeking confirmation (upon confirmationS)? But God is good. He is patient. His word remains as one, "Come." Then, finally, you took your step forward and miracles happen! You see (read: know experientially) that what God has spoken is true (duh!!). And the testimony becomes, "God is awesome!! I could do YYY the way I did only because God showed me XXX and it was the precise solution for that situation. So I thank God for a WONDERFUL COUNSELLOR in Jesus without whom attaining ZZZ would not be possible. Glory to my Lord God Almighty!!"

Would you like to see Jesus going BEFORE you in all that you do? Yes, that is THE way because Jesus said, "Follow me." I repeat, He said: F.O.L.L.O.W. Me, not CHEONG BEFORE Me! Amen?
Only when we take the place of a follower of Christ, then we can be effectively engaged as God's employee (contemporary word for "servant" in the bible - must talk pop)! #nelle#

Thoughts From The Book Of Jeremiah

Jeremiah 7:23 But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.’

This verse defines the God-man relationship. God knows and is in control of all. So He should do the telling and us, the doing. Yet often, we forget and instead tell God what to do, when and how. Excuse me, are you Mr. God?

Jeremiah 17:7 “ Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD. 8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

Is your trust and hope in the LORD? If yes, then blessed are you! For even in the most dire of circumstance, you will have divine wisdom and creativity, courage and strength to do your utmost. And God will cause the increase. The fruit of your work is consequential!

Jeremiah 31:31 Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

In Old Testament times, God is apart from His people. Even the great men of God like Moses and Elijah could only see the back of God or the back of His hand. The Law was given to guide their ways and they had only their own strength to depend on to attain it. But thank God for His new covenant! Through the birth and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ Jesus, we have a higher way; we experience the saving grace of God. His deposits His Spirit in us. In this way, God has written His Law in our hearts. The Holy Spirit is God in us. How could we not meet God face to face every day?

Jeremiah 45:4 ... ‘Thus says the LORD: “Behold, what I have built I will break down, and what I have planted I will pluck up, that is, this whole land. 5 And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,” says the LORD. “But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.”

Does God not want us to have a good life and valuable possessions? Is He against wealth and money? Certainly not! The point is that we are not to be absorbed by the yearnings for a life life of wealth and luxury. The point is not to seek it; to run after it; to pursue it, thereby missing the whole point of life: to discover and fulfil the purpose that God has for you. As Matthew 6:33 puts it, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Yes, when your live is in Christ, and Christ in you, you inherit the God kind of life. Thus, this divine life becomes as a prize to you. Wherever you go, God is with you. When you obey God, all will go well with you.

#nelle#

As I Promised: A Land Of Milk & Honey!

Genesis 9

1 So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth ... 7 ... Bring forth abundantly in the earth and multiply in it.” 8 Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying: 9 “And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you..."

God made his first covenant with mankind to Noah and his sons. The covenant was made not just with mankind but every living creature!!! When God protects, He protects not just you but all that He gives you and so belongs to you!!

Genesis 12
1 Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 4 So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him...

Then came a second promise made to Abram who became the beginning of a chosen nation! God spoke clearly of a chosen land; a chosen people that He would establish through Abraham.

Numbers 13

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them.”3 So Moses sent them from the Wilderness of Paran according to the command of the LORD, all of them men who were heads of the children of Israel... 17 Then Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, “Go up this way into the South, and go up to the mountains, 18 and see what the land is like: whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, few or many; 19 whether the land they dwell in is good or bad; whether the cities they inhabit are like camps or strongholds; 20 whether the land is rich or poor; and whether there are forests there or not. Be of good courage. And bring some of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes.

God is true to His word! Generations after, we see Moses delivering the children of Israel from the hands of a hard-hearted Pharaoh. But this first generation of Israelites failed to trust and obey God. Thus, a new generation was raised. Then, God was ready to establish His word. The LORD spoke clearly to Moses to send out the leaders to check out the land of Canaan, as He had promised Abraham. This command was given while they were still circling in the wilderness. In an environment of barrenness, God revealed to them His choice land. Yes, ESPECIALLY FOR THEM! All the spying was merely for the leaders to see it for themselves. And I believe, a major part of it was to instill faith in them so that they might return to influence their respective tribes with their zest and lead them to reach out and acquire the land.

In fact, God was so encouraging! He instructed Moses to go about this land investigations when the land was in its "season of the first ripe grapes." It was a time when they would surely see the good of the land! It was but a confirmation to God's word that He had a promise land - a haven on earth - awaiting them!

27 Then they told him, and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan.” 30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”

And indeed, the reports were affirmative! It was a land that "truly flows with milk and honey" and they had its fruit in hand as proof of its goodness! The next step is clear, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." YES! The time has come - FINALLY! But no... we've got some leaders (no, actually, it was MOST leaders!) who were so bounded up in their wilderness mindset!

31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” 32 And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. 33 There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”

And how did these wet blankets perceive this piece of haven? "Oh, the land is good, no doubt but... but... but... we are not strong enough. They are stronger than we." Really? What are the people like? "... giants...; and we were like grasshoppers... in our own sight, and so we were... in their sight."

Did you get that? Who saw who as grasshoppers?? How you see yourself and so project of yourself is what others would perceive of you.

Now, God had said that Canaan IS the promise land... that that was THE land FOR THEM! And guess what these grasshoppers (in their own sight!) said, "It's a good land but no lah... let's just stay here in this wilderness. It's safe here... why risk fighting the giants and losing...?"

Can you see how ridiculous this sounds and is??? They'd rather play-it-safe all their life! Oh, how kia-si! The wilderness mindset is a play-it-safe mindset. It is a don't-change-what-is-still-working-ok-although-not-fantastic mentality. It is a i'm-not-good-enough-for-what-you-have-for-me perspective! It's a when-there's-enough-to-get-by-don't-bother-working-hard-for-more lifestyle. What a let-down!

What areas of your life are you having this wilderness mindset?? What does God say of those barren arenas of your life? What is His vision; His choice decision for you in those respects?

When the best is yours to possess because your Almighty God has said so, my dear friend, please... don't deny the grace! It is His gift of love; His blessing of abundance. Stand by what God says. If it's for you, go get it!! Get it?!?!? #nelle#

Shine!

The Light Of Christ's Gospel
[2 Corinthians 4:1-6]

1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.

Our default ministry as a servant of God is to spread the Gospel! There is no better person to this ministry than you for we have received the mercy of God. Freely you receive so freely give (Matthew 10:8). The experiential knowledge of the grace of God that brought you out of darkness into the Light shall be the force that propels you forward so others might know of His goodness and grace of salvation too! What we have is for good! When God gave, He gave wholeheartedly, without a shadow of doubt or turning (James 1:17).

Most of us received salvation because someone(s) shared to us the Good news. They knew and assumed responsibilities for the ministry of advancing the Gospel. And so it shall be the same for us. The good things that we learn, receive, hear and see our spiritual family do, do and the peace of God will be with us (Philippians 4:19). Further more, James 4:17 clearly states:

Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

We have the knowledge of good and evil and surely, we cannot help but do what is good, exercising what the word of God says!

2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

Having the Word of God does not make us perfect overnight. There is a process by which we turn away from the ungodly thoughts and ways of our "previous" lives. God will teach us His ways and as we walk in it, the power and truth of God’s word would be revealed in our lives by and by. The changes in this ongoing process of sanctification would be evident to people around us thereby causing a stirring in their conscience. You shall be like a Timothy, sent out to remind others of the ways of Jesus (1Corinthians 4:17). This is lifestyle evangelism! By our words and ways, we reveal who God is and what pleases Him. And so my prayer is as Romans 15:6 says:

that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.

In all that we are and do, we be and do to exalt the name of Jesus. As Paul says here, “we do not preach ourselves but Christ the Lord.” We merely serve to bring the Word to the world that the veil of deception held by the Devil would be lifted in Christ (2 Corinthians 3:14)!

A bondservant is one bound to service without wages. A servant is one who is subject to the beck and call of his master. As a bondservant for Jesus, a slave of Christ, we are to do as God wills; as God sees fit for us to live each day. By this, we present ourselves as living sacrifices to the Lord. “Not my will but yours be done, Lord!” Jesus says:

“Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” (Mark 1:17)

“But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:6-8)

“The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few… Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves…” (Luke 10:2-3)

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19)

6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

From Genesis 1, we know that:

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light "day" and the darkness "night."

This is the account of creation. So it is the same in the creation of our new life in Christ. It is only God who can command light to shine out of darkness. It is only God who can save and it pleases Him to do so! There are times that we would wonder if it is God’s will to save our family and friends. We pray for their salvation, we reach out, we share what God is speaking to us and nothing happens as far as our naked eye can see. But let us be reminded that as new creations in Christ, there is a new dimension of life and vision open to us: the spiritual. So “while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2Cor4:18). Hence, we are to “speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1Cor2:13). And where would we find the things spiritual to compare with? In communion with the Holy Spirit and the unfailing word of God!

Our part is to make known the knowledge of salvation to man. The Holy Spirit will bring the conviction to the hearts. It will not be by persuasion of words so we need not be over-zealous, stepping into the boundaries of what is not ours to do. It is God who causes the increase. Have faith in God! For Jesus says in John 10:27-29, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.”

When God created light, He saw that it was good and so separated the light from the darkness. Similarly, God has set us apart from the darkness of the world as the light of the world and Christ has said that we are sent into the world just as He is (John 17) to declare and demonstrate the love of God.

You bear the light of Christ’s Gospel. Hand it out. Shine! #nelle#

From The Wilderness To The Wondrous!

Halleluyah! 2007 is here! Fresh visions and new hopes must be founded on the right attitude. Let it begin here:

Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Powerful verse! A promise of something great and wondrous! But it requires something of us...

The bible is explicit that God is ABLE to do:
(a) EXCEEDINGLY & ABUNDANTLY
(b) ABOVE ALL that we ask or think

Oh, how we love to claim and confess this verse! That God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we ask or can imagine! A picture of great achievements and high hopes...

H.O.P.E. What is hope? Let's see... Hope is a confident expectation of things yet to come. But there is also another kind of hope called FAT hope which means: wishful thinking! It is an airy-fairy mindset that expects everything without having to do anything!

Confident expectations come with a condition: It is according to the power that works in us. What is this power? And how does it work in us?

As Christians, we are filled with the Holy Spirit. He is our Source and Potential for greater works. Yet we know that not all Christians lead a victorious life. Even with this seed of God's power in us, Christians can be quite powerless. Why so? The bible is clear: the magnitude of exceeding abundance is proportionate to the power that works in us.

Evidently, the reason has got to do with whether the power in us is working or not? If so, how much? If not, how to get it powered up? Romans 12 presents a list behaviours for Christians of which verse 11-12 says, "not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer..."

Prayer is communication with the Spirit of God. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 says:

But as it is written:“ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

In order to have exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ever ask or imagine, we have to set apart time for communion with the Lord!

Self-evaluation and 360-degree feedback can help us identify our strengths. The results of our work and an overview of the kinds of awards/accolades we have attained are demonstrative of our distinctive (what we're exceptionally good at). But it is only through the fellowship with the Holy Spirit that we can receive a rhema. And a word in season from heaven is what would take us out of the wilderness into the promise land, the wondrous!

Divine revelation is our gateway to a victorious lifestyle. The measure with which we spend time with the Holy Spirit is the measure with which we would be able to discern the will of God and be empowered to realise it!

We can choose to be safe in our plans and be sorry for the thousand and one things we wanted to do but never had the guts or "right time" to do. Or, we can decide to be in the safe hands of our Lord Jesus Christ and be soaring on eagle wings!

Safe and sorry or safe and soaring, it is a personal choice. The difference is who takes centerstage: you or God.

It is the Lord's counsel that stands firm in spite of circumstance. What God purposes would surely come to pass. Until we seek Him and step out as the Spirit leads, the power in us is curbed. That is why Romans 8:14 says:

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are (mature) sons of God.

All it takes is a step of faith but you say, "I am afraid... I have no faith. What if I heard wrong?" But what if you heard right? Until you have tried it, nothing can be proven. Even if it were the slightest of impressions, dare to do it for Psalm 121:3 encourages us as follows:

He will not let your foot slip — he who watches over you will not slumber.

The world says: No risk, no gain. The word of God says: No faith, no gain. There is no guarantee that everything we do would turn out right but there is absolute guarantee that should things go wrong, your Lord God would lift you up on His Hands so steady and strong. He does not slumber... So move it!

Begin the year strong in the Lord and undoubtedly, you shall end it stronger in Him for the end is always more glorious than the beginning! Halleluyah! Have a FANTABULOUS year ahead! #nelle#