“No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified” (1 Cor 9:27 )  

At the recent Asian Games, the athletes did Singapore proud, winning 27 medals, 8 were gold, 7 silver and 12 bronze medals. As a nation, we came in 12^th position. Every athlete competes with the dream of winning the prize.

The Christian life and ministry is likened to sports like running a race. “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” says Paul in 1 Cor 9:25.

Rewards are important. Faithful believers will be rewarded at the Bema Seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:10 ). The apostle Peter says that “judgment begins with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the Gospel of God.” (1 Pet 4:17). A.W. Tozer says that all of us will have to give an account of our lives to the Lord “for what we have done and why we have done it.”

Although our salvation is secured in Christ, Jesus warns in the Sermon the Mount that “not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt 7:21). In Eph 2:8-10, we are told that “we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works”, therefore we are to work out (not work for) our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12 ).

At the threshold of the New Year, it is appropriate to examine our lives to see what we have done for the Lord.

• How have we expressed our love for the Lord, for His church and the community?
• Have we been faithful stewards of the time, wealth and health He has given to us?
• How many have we shared or won into His Kingdom?
• Have our presence in His kingdom made a difference?
• Has God been pleased with us in 2006?

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Emmanuel…, Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa. 7:14; 9:6).

The above passage tells us that real P.E.A.C.E. is found in God, in the Person of the Lord Jesus. His NAME speaks of P.E.A.C.E. Jesus is the “Prince of peace”, “Everlasting Father”, “Almighty God”, “Counsellor who is so wonderful” and “Emmanuel” the God who is always with us in all situations of life.

When we do not have peace, it shows that we are not in touch with the God of Peace (Phil 4:8-9, Rom 5:1). Sinners need to be reconciled with God through Jesus Christ and then they can become God’s ambassadors of peace to others.

For years, the focus of all the world problems is in the Middle-East and major wars have been fought over the city of Jerusalem. Ironically, Jerusalem means the City of Peace but for centuries, it has been the hotspot of hatred, conflicts and wars. Many Peace Treaties that have been signed are broken “even before the ink dries”. The truth is that there can be no peace in the world if the Prince of Peace is ignored and rejected both by the Jews and the Gentiles.

When the twin towers of New York were reduced to rubble on 11^th September 2001 (911); the world has never been the same. Today, there is so much fear and insecurity. The wars in Afghanistan and in Iraq against terrorisms only serve to widen the spread of evil and terror everywhere. The Gulf wars, SARS, Tsunami, earthquakes, floods, mud flow and bombings in our neighboring nations bring terror nearer to Singapore. We are so vulnerable to any global disasters and terrorisms. Where can we flee to for safety? Where can we find peace?

There is only one safe Fortress for us to hide. Let us run to the God of Psalm 91. Let us dwell “in the shelter of the Most High” and find “rest in the shadow of the Almighty” and confess that the Lord is our “refuge”, our “fortress” our “God in whom we trust”. This God promises to keep us from the fowlers snare (Bird flu), from all other “deadly pestilence” and “fear the terror of night”. This is our God, the Jehovah-Shalom. We can have this Peace of God in the God of Peace through all seasons of life.

“Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide.” (Gen 22:13-14)

Isaac was about 30 years old when Abraham offered him on Mt Moriah as a burnt sacrifice. The angel of the LORD (Jesus appearing in Theophany) appeared and called out “Abraham! Abraham! do not lay a hand on the boy”. In this one act, Abraham’s faith had reached the highest and touched the heart of God. It had taken him at least 30 years to grow his faith in the Almighty GOD. God is still waiting for our faith to mature. When will we pass that kind of test that God had set for Abraham?

Abraham’s faith in God was so strong that he “reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death” (Heb 11:19). He gave his best to God when he gave his only son, Isaac. It was in that context of total sacrifice that God revealed that He is  Jehovah-Jireh, the LORD who provides.

Often, we flippantly say that God is our Provider without realizing the context of this revelation. Abraham and Paul had experiential knowledge that God is “Jehovah-Jireh” (the Lord who provides) when they were severely tested (Gen 22:13-14, Phil 4:19). Abraham found God to be true and faithful when God intervened and spared Isaac but HE provided a ram in Isaac’s place as the complete sacrifice.

Isaac, a type of Christ, was spared the knife. But for Jesus, He had to bear our sins at Calvary’s cross and there was no eleventh hour intervention. Paul said that God “did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us” (Rom 8:32a). He was the sacrifice. Jehovah-Jireh gave Himself for us. If the best has been given, why do we need to fret? We are assured of His daily provision when we are obediently submitted to Him.

As we come to the end of 2006, we need to renew our faith and commitment to God. Abraham was willing to give up his Isaac. What is our ‘Isaac’? Can it be the treasures, time and gifts that He has blessed us with? What sacrifice is needed for us to know our Jehovah-Jireh? What is hindering us? Has not the Almighty said, “Test me….and see if I will throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour so much blessings that you will not have enough room for it?” Malachi 3:10

“With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. So they was great joy in that city” (Acts 8:7-8)

Those who went to the Indoor Stadium and Bethesda Cathedral from Monday to Thursday were amazed at witnessing the reality of the above verse in our very own city and modern days. There had never been such great demonstration of God’s Power in our city. The many demons that came in with the crowd were cast out of the individuals in the Mighty Name of the Lord. Loud shrieks of the demons were heard all over the stadium especially on the second night. Very accurate word of knowledge and prophecies were given to individuals, people were set free, many were instantly healed of diseases and those who came in wheel chairs and crutches were able to walk again. There were mass healings and deliverances. Hidden sins were exposed and sinners were rebuked in love not to sin anymore. What Jesus did in the four Gospels and what the Holy Spirit did through the Acts of the Apostles came alive in Singapore. Hallelujah! Praise the Mighty Name of Jesus!

Prophet T.B. Joshua clearly said, “I am not the healer. I know the Healer. His Name is Jesus”. He stressed the need to “go and sin no more” (John 8:11). He cautioned all who wanted salvation, healing and deliverance to be ready to “be ruled by the Word” in their daily living. We need to be repented of being a “conscious sinner” (one who deliberate sin against God and others). Only then will they experience true and lasting healing. He is a man who is so Word centered and Spirit filled.

All praises and glory to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever. JESUS is indeed the Mighty Healer and Deliverer. We who have witnessed the awesome demonstration of God’s power against the demons and diseases should desire to “know Christ and the power of His resurrection” (Phil 3:10). Jesus promised us in John 14:12, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.  Do we believe this?  Do you believe that if (in reality) GOD can use a man of God like Prophet T. B. Joshua to perform miracles of healing and deliverance in HIS NAME, HE can use you and me?  T.B. Joshua said that God’s power is dormant in believers today. We need to stir up this gift in us to allow Him to use us heal and set others free for living for His Kingdom.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV).

What transformed the coward Peter into the courageous Peter within a short period of time? Out of fear, he denied Jesus three times. Then a few days later, he became fearless even in the midst of threats. It is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in his life that caused the transformation. Peter was then able to pray; “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness” (Acts 4:29). The early disciples were certainly filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. They did not possess “a spirit of fear but of power, of love and a sound mind”. Without the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, the Early Church would not be able to preach the Gospel fearlessly and sensibly.

Fear is not only an emotion. It is a spirit.  Since fear is demonic in nature, we ought to resist this demon whenever it surfaces in our lives. To do that, we need first to “submit” ourselves to God, then “resist the devil and he will flee” from us (James 4:7). When we humble ourselves before God, we will then have His grace to resist the enemy.

All of us have fears especially in the area of evangelism. We fear ridicule, rejection, failure, strangers or even friends. Fear seals our lips from sharing the Good News to family members and friends. Let us allow the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to work through us. Let us redeem the remaining days of 2006 by praying for pre-believing relatives and friends and bringing them to hear the message of Christ both at the Indoor Stadium and at our year-end services. Do you want to see them saved, healed and set free by the power of the Holy Spirit? Let us not allow fear to paralyze us by not inviting them to hear the message of Salvation.

“After they prayed the place where the meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly” (Acts 4:31). We certainly need to be emboldened by the Holy Spirit to go out of the four walls of our church to prayer walk and saturate our community with this Gospel of Salvation. Don’t allow the devil of fear to trample us under his feet. Instead, Jesus has given us the authority and the power to trample our enemy under our feet and nothing will harm us (Luke 10:19).

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16  

In Matthew 10, Jesus sent out the Twelve into the Mission Field. Did it sound like “Mission Impossible?” Jesus said, “I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves”.  A sheep is silly and docile but a wolf is cunning and wild. The outcome is certain yet Jesus further reminded them to “be wise as serpents and harmless as doves”.

Jesus was the “Lamb of God” that was sacrificed for the sins of mankind. We are to imitate Him – to be lambs in this hostile world. He wants us to be obedient and trusting even though we may be hated and persecuted for preaching the Good News.

Following Christ is costly. Though we face dangers, we are to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves”. The serpent senses danger quickly and runs for safety. To be wise as serpent means to do everything possible to protect ourselves from impending dangers and deaths. When this is not possible, we are to be lambs that are willing to be led to the slaughter. The prophet Isaiah said of Jesus, “he was led like a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7b). When our persecutors harm us, we are to be “harmless as doves”. Jesus did that for us. When mocked and ridiculed, He didn’t fight back but He suffered for us. Even when He had to die, He chose to die with forgiveness on His lips for all who insulted and ridiculed Him. On the Cross of Calvary, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34 ).

Our Lord warned us of the dangers and the cost of following Him. He has set for us the example of being obedient unto death. He wants us to do likewise - to deny ourselves even to the point of death. When we are willing to die for our faith, we can then overcome the enemies of the Christian Faith. We win by dying. We have no fear of death in fulfilling the Great Commission. We need only one fear: the fear of God in laying down our lives at His altar of sacrifice. Are we able to join the many heroes of faith who will gladly lay down their lives for His Kingdom? Let’s be wise as serpents and harmless as doves in our service for God.

“I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity” (Jonah 4:2b)

The book of Jonah reveals God’s grace to both His prophet, Jonah and to the Ninevites. It is about the “God who so loved the world”, regardless of race, color or language. Though Nineveh was a wicked city, God gave the inhabitants the opportunity to repent.

Chapter 1 – rebellion 
Jonah forgot that the will of God is not an option, but an obligation and an opportunity. In running away from God, Jonah went down to Joppa (v3); Jonah had gone down into the innermost part of the vessel and lain down and fallen fast asleep (v5); Jonah was down in the stomach of the fish (v17) and Jonah sank down to the bottom of the sea mountains (2:6). When we disobey, it is always downward.

Chapter 2 – repentance
Jonah should have prayed for divine help in carrying out his mission. This would have spared him of the chastening and the need to cry out to God for deliverance. By fleeing for Tarshish, he went away from the Presence of God and by turning towards the temple; he showed repentance and returning into God’s Presence. We must always turn to God, face God not turn our back to God for repentance is the only way of life.  

Chapter 3 – restoration
God is always gracious and concern for His worker as He is for the work. He could have sent another prophet to preach at Nineveh . Instead, God chose to work in and through Jonah. God always seeks to mature His servants. In this chapter, we see God’s grace in His love for sinners. He is “not willing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3:9). God’s grace is also seen in blessing the ministry of an imperfect servant by using his message to bring the city to repentance.

Chapter 4 – resentment
If God wanted only to save Nineveh , the book would have ended at chapter 3. But God chose to deal with His worker. Jonah was an angry man who was not fully yielded to God. God had to teach him compassion and love for another nation. The greatest hindrance to God’s work is often the worker himself. God always has to deal with His worker more than the work itself.

“But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights. And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land” (Jonah 1:17 ; 2:10 ).

M.R. DeHaan said, “If a man caught a fish, it is no news, but if I fish caught a man, that is news”. Skeptics ridicule the book of Jonah. If one can deny the existence of Jonah, his death and his restoration back to life, then all other miracles in the Bible can be discarded. For Jonah’s life, death and restoration is a type of the life, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, if Jesus’ resurrection can be denied and disproved, then Jonah’s story can also be discarded.

In the book of Jonah, the main character is not Jonah nor the fish but God. It is all about the Lord. He sent His servant Jonah to preach to the people of Nineveh (1:1;3:1). He “sent a great wind” (1:4). He “provided a great fish” ( 1:17 ). He “commanded the fish and it vomited Jonah onto dry land ( 2:10 ). He “provided a vine and made it grow” (4:6) and He “provided a worm which chewed the vine so that it withered” (4:7) and it is also the Lord “provided a scorching east wind” (4:8). If Almighty Creator-God is sovereign, “Who are you, O man, to talk back to God?” (Rom 9:20 ). “Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Rom 1:20).

Jesus Himself endorsed the authenticity and historicity of the book of Jonah by alluding to His own resurrection in Matt 12:40 – “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be in the hearts of the earth.” This is sufficient to silence any skeptic. The Ninevites repented at Jonah’s preaching, should we not also repent at Jesus’ preaching?

This minor prophet Jonah has a major message that points to the future resurrection of the dead in Christ at the Lord’s glorious Return. No wonder the enemy viciously attacks calling it a myth. In this book, we see Jonah running from God, Jonah running back to God, Jonah running with God and Jonah running ahead of God. Are you a modern day Jonah? Are you running away from God? Or are you running away from the God-given assignments? Where can we run to if the earth is the Lord’s? The safest place is still in the Lord.

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life” (1 Tim 1:15-16)

Dr. Luke recorded Saul’s dramatic conversion thrice in Acts 9, 22 & 26. Saul was the worst enemy of the Early Church . His goal then was to arrest Christians and put them behind bars. The persecutor who was confronted by the Lord on the road to Damascus then became the preacher of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Saul became Paul. Once he lived to erase the name “Jesus”, later he lived to proclaim “Christ and Him crucified”. His life was so changed that he won many to the Lord and planted many churches in Asia Minor . Paul was thrown in and out of prison for sharing Christ and he suffered much for Christ because he knew whom he had believed (2 Timothy 1:12). If Christ could save him, “the worst of sinners”, there is hope for anyone who believes in Jesus.

Today, we have before us another man who had similar experiences to that of the apostle Paul. In his book, “Iron Man”, Neivelle Tan testifies of the transforming power of God. I read the book for the third time now and I praise God for His marvelous grace upon all who believe. In his late teens, Neivelle Tan was numbered amongst the most notorious gang fighters in the streets of Singapore in those days. His was a life of street crimes, violence and armed robberies; and he was in and out of Changi Prison. Neivelle met Jesus in Changi Maximum Security Prison and his life was turned around. He could have been a social ‘scum’ but today; he is a servant of the living God. In his own words. Neivelle said, “My story was a story of shame, of defeat, of failure but God came into that story and changed it into a story of glory, of victory and of success. It is His story, not mine. I was the villain; He was and is the Hero.” Today, Neivelle plants churches and travels far and wide to bring the Gospel resulting in the salvation of thousands of souls.

All throughout history, God is in the business of transforming lives! Has He touched you and changed you? Are you a living testimony of His wonderful saving grace? The apostle Paul and Reverend Neivelle Tan are great examples of those who have been grateful and obedient to God and in return they are used by God to snatch many out of the kingdom of darkness. What have you done for Christ who has saved you?

“But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment…Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift”. (Matt. 5:22-24)

C. Jones once said, “The best way in which we, the people of God, can reflect the nature of God here on earth is in the way we relate.” Counselors say that “almost every problem we have in life stems from a difficulty in relationships – our relationships with God, with others or with ourselves”.

Christianity is about reconciliation. If we have been reconciled to God through the Lord Jesus, all other relationships that are broken are reconcilable if we are willing and humble enough to surrender our “rights” to Jesus and others. The essence of reconciliation is giving up the right to be right. A good relationship exists when we are using our resources for the wellbeing of others.

Our Lord Jesus says that making peace with our brother or sister is our TOP priority. When the presence of the Holy Spirit is so strong, He will awaken our conscience to recall a broken relationship that needs reconciliation. Could it be that God wants us to reconcile with a brother, a sister, a spouse or a friend? Do we take heed to His promptings or do we willfully choose to disobey and ignore Him by ‘continuing with our worship’? If we do not make good our broken relationships, our gifts and sacrifices to God are not acceptable! God says, “Obedience is better than sacrifice”(1 Samuel 15:22 ). It is hypocrisy! It is honoring God with our lips but our hearts are far from Him.

The spirit of anger hinders reconciliation. Like Jonah, we think that we have the right to be angry with God, others and self. We are deceived into thinking that the anger in us needs to be expressed in shouting, cursing and even violence. Jesus says to be angry is as good as “murder”. Cain first murdered Abel in his heart before he murdered him with a weapon in his hand. Let’s us evict this demon (the destroyer of relationships) that has gained entry into our lives. Let us be the “first” to go and be reconciled to our brother. Then we can worship God with our gift. This then is true worship in the sight of God.

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the Prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them” (Matt 5:17 ).  

A Kingdom has three elements, a king, the law and the subjects. In God’s Kingdom, we have King Jesus, His Law (His Word) and His subjects are those of us who have entered into His Kingdom through faith in Jesus.

Jesus said that He did not come to abolish or do away with the Law, but by His life and ministry, He kept God’s commands perfectly. There are two ways to be totally righteous. One way is to keep all the commands perfectly without breaking anyone of them at anytime. The other way is to believe in Christ and trust in His finished work of salvation. This is the “righteousness of God” for all believers. Jesus is the only One who has ever lived and not sin. He has not committed any sin in thought, word or deed. He is indeed the sinless Lamb of God who died and took away the sin of the world.

Once we are saved by His grace, God wants us to love Him by keeping all His laws at all times. John Flavel, a Puritan father said, “The Law sends us to Christ to be redeemed and Christ sends us back to the Law to be regulated”. In order to be able to keep God’s laws, we must first be born in the spirit like Nicodemus (John 3). Only then can we have God’s Nature and His Ability in us to obey His laws through the power of the Helper who indwells all believers. True believers are not sinless but sin less as they allow the Holy Spirit to work through them to fulfil God’s requirements in us. We need the holy fear of God to align our lives to both the Living Word (Christ) and Written Word, the Holy Scriptures. Subjectively, the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of Christ will then enable us to fulfil His Laws when we read, meditate and observe His words day and night (Psalm 1). The psalmist said, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against You. Praise be to You, O Lord; teach me your decrees.” (Psalm 119:11, 12)

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matt 5:13-16).  

A Jewish Rabbi once said, “Light shines, not talks”. However, Christians talk but do not shine. No wonder, Peter urges the believing wife to shine so brightly in her home that her unbelieving spouse “may be won over without words” by her behavior  (1 Pet 3:1).  

First, Jesus says, “you are the light of the world”. The plural pronoun “you” means all of us together must shine for Jesus in this dark world. Second, He says, “you are the light of the world”. That means that we must shine for Him now (at this present moment) and not “you will” (later). He is stating a reality that Christians have the nature of God in them and that nature is light. Just as Jesus says “I AM the Light of the world” (John 8:12 ) and God Himself is Light (1 John 1:5), Christians “are the light of the world”. Third, it implies that there is darkness everywhere and so we are positioned in different locations for one purpose – to be the lights to shine for Him. When we fulfill our purpose in this dark world, pre-believers will be attracted to the Light. When light comes in, darkness disappears. What an impact light makes on them. They will see the good deeds we do and will “praise” our Father in heaven.  

Hey, lights!  Are you shining brightly for Jesus?  There is darkness everywhere – in your home, school, office and neighborhood. Do these places become “brighter” because we (the lights) are there? Shine for Jesus by our lives (our good testimonies) and by our lips (declare the Good News of Salvation). If you are not shining, begin to stay connected to the Source of Power, the Holy Spirit, and you will surely SHINE for JESUS everywhere! Praise be to God.

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it” (Pro 2:6). “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instructions of the Lord” (Eph: 4)

The words “son” and “daughter” are originate from a root word meaning “to build”. Every child is first a child of God before he is a child of his parents. All parents are entrusted with the awesome task of molding their children to the Divine design like the potter and the clay.

In the Bible and in church history, we have godly children like Moses, Samuel, Jesus and Timothy who have been raised by godly parents. Charles & John Wesley came from a big family. Their widow mother, Susannah, single-handedly raised up 19 children in the way of righteousness with the Bible as her only textbook. Her 16 Rules have certainly stood the test of time. They are:-

1. Eating between meals is not allowed. 2 A child must be in bed by 8 pm. 3. The child is required to take medicine without complaining. 4 Subdue self-will in a child and thus work together with God to save the child’s soul. 5. Teach a child to pray as soon as he can speak. 6. Require all to be still during Family Worship. 7. Give the child nothing that he/she cries for and only that which he/she asks for politely. 8. To prevent lying, punish no fault which is first confessed and repented of. 9 Never allow a sinful act to go unpunished. 10. Never punish a child twice for a single offense. 11. Commend and reward good behavior. 12. Any attempt to please, even if poorly performed should be commended. 13. Preserve property rights, even in smallest matters. 14. Strictly observe all promises. 15. Require no daughter to work before she can read well. 16. Teach the child to fear the rod/cane.

We urgently need parents like Susannah in this problematic world. God’s solution for this sinful world is a godly generation of children who will take, shape, sharpen and shake the world for the Kingdom of God . We need parents who are mighty in Spirit to teach and train children to love righteousness and to possess godly fear. Parents, are we positioning ourselves for God to use us to “go against the tide” by changing the destiny of our children for Christ?

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4). “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Everything about Jesus is supernatural. If we were to follow His commands, we need supernatural strength because it is impossible to obey His commandments in our human strength. Christianity is not being religious. It is a spiritual relationship with a Personal God who loves us and empowers us to fulfill our destiny in this world.

Take these commands “Rejoice in the Lord always” and “Be joyful always”. Is it possible to rejoice when we are in very difficult situations or when our loved one is having a sickness unto death? Yes, you can. Christians “live by faith and not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7) that is, the world of faith and the world of sight. When God commands us to rejoice, He is telling us to have an excitement in our spirits for what God is going to do through the trials He permits in our lives and circumstances.

Joy is one of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22) and when we live by faith, we are living in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is then able to produce the fruit of Christlikeness (e.g. joy) in and through us even in the face of opposition, persecution and suffering.

In Phil 4:4, we are instructed 1. to rejoice (What). 2.  We are to rejoice in the Lord and not in our circumstances (Where). 3.  We are to rejoice in the Lord always (When).  That means, if we are always living in union and communion with the Lord, we will always be joyful in this hostile world. The Psalmist says, “Those who look to God are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame” (Psalm 34:5).    

Joy and praise are twins. When we are joyful, we are grateful and thankful. These twin characteristics are sandwiched in prayer. “Praying continually” connects us with the Sovereign God who knows and cares about us. When we are certain that He is in charge, we can rest in Him and enjoy Him no matter what happens (Psalm 91). God is able to use all things to mature His children and He is able to deal with those who persecute His children. Therefore, rejoice!

“Come Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19)

 Jesus calls everyone in the world to follow Him because He has created us and has shed His blood for our sins. To follow Christ means to set aside our own goals and pleasures and to embrace the purposes for which God has created us. Following Jesus means being close enough to hear Him and to follow His guidance. No one can follow Jesus at a distance. Instead of “Following Me (Jesus)” we are “following men”. We follow man-made religions and philosophies and so we have lost the Way back to the Father (John 14:6). No wonder, we are weary and troubled. But the Lord Jesus still invites those who weary and burdened to “Come to Me….. and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28).

The call to follow Jesus has two implications. The first is the call to Salvation, that is, to know Him personally. The second is to Discipleship, that is, to make disciples of others by teaching them all of God’s commandments. However, instead of being fishers of men, we have become keepers of the aquarium. Many of us do not want to pay the price of being a fisher of men. A fisherman has to get up early in the morning, endure the harsh weather and wait long hours to catch fish. This is the spirit Jesus wants of His followers.  It requires time, effort and great personal involvement to catch ‘fish’ and to draw them to Christ. It means a total restructuring of our priorities. Rather than putting our business first, we put the Lord’s kingdom first. Rather than seeking our own pleasures first, we look for ways to benefit others in order to bring them into the kingdom of God. We should not major even on building churches but on making disciples because these are fruits that will last for eternity.

Have we been fishers of men?  How many ‘fishes’ have we brought to the Lord since our salvation? Have we lost sight of our calling? Let’s repent individually and corporately for not fulfilling the Great Commission to win souls and make disciples for Him. Let’s begin to ‘fish’ for souls in our family, among our relatives, our workmates, neighbors and friends. Let’s win them before it is too late.