“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me; and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24) 

Today is the last Sunday of the Year 2007. Time flies and before long we have to give an account of what, why and how we have spent this year for Him. 

In some churches, the last Sunday of the year is a challenging time for soul searching. All the members are asked to review their stewardship of the money God has entrusted to them for the year. If they have not given the amount due to God, they should settle all outstanding debts to God before the year ends. They are to “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” (Matthew 22:21). All believers are to heed Malachi’s summon – “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse” and “test me in this” says the LORD Almighty (Malachi 3:10). God, who gives us the means to produce wealth, commands us to sow “seeds” of wealth into His Kingdom. Tithing has always been one of the conditions for God to bless us with wealth and prosperity.  

Honoring God with the tithe is not for believers only. Every human being is expected to give the minimum. The GST is a fair way of taxing every citizen so that there are funds for the Government to build the infra-structures of the country. Evading taxes incur the wrath of the law and the penalty is often 10 times the amount of the tax. For believers who don’t honor God incurs the wrath of God and invites a curse upon themselves.  

Money can be liken to seeds. When we give, we are sowing seeds that in turn will yield good fruits in the future. It has been observed that people and nations who faithfully give get richer and richer and those who fail to give are poor. 

Psalm 139:23-24 is a serious call to God to “search” our hearts for out of the heart are the issues (problems) of life (Proverbs 4:23). The Psalmist courageously invites God to test him to see that there is no anxious and wicked way in him. He desires that God would lead him in the everlasting way. To all those who have been obedient and faithful to Him, we can come and give thanks to Him for His grace. To those of us who have not been able to honor God in our stewardship of time, gifts or money, we can come sincerely before God to repent and ask God to change us. Together, let us seek His Face in humility and ask for His grace to resist the Tempter who seeks to “steal, kill and destroy” all that rightly belong to God and God’s children. We can choose to end the year 2007 in triumphant victory in Christ.

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks at night…Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people, Today…a Saviour has been born to you, he is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:8-11) 

The writer of the Gospel of Luke must have been extremely accurate in his documentations of what had truly happened in the events surrounding the Birth of the Saviour Jesus Christ because he was a doctor by profession. 

As we ponder on the wonderful Birth of the Saviour of the world in Luke’s Gospel, we marvel at the simplicity, solemnness and serenity of our Savior’s arrival on earth. His First Coming was so perfect in timing and manner. Paul said – “when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman” (Galatians 4:4). 

The shepherds were the first people to be blessed with the Good News. They were ordinary men who took turns in “keeping watch over their flocks” in the open and cold nights. The sheep/lambs were within the vicinity of the temple waiting to be bought by worshippers for sacrifices according to the Levitical laws. On this glorious night, the baby Jesus was born to be the Lamb of God who would take away “sin of the world” (John 1:29). Jesus was born to die, to be our sacrifice and substitute for our sin so that we might not “die”. This is the Good News. 

Unfortunately, the world did not receive Him! In Luke 2:7b, there was no room for Him in the inn the night he was to born….and there is still no room for Him in many hearts. Do we have room in our hearts for Jesus? When our hearts are crowded with the ‘world’, we have no room for God. Unless we empty your hearts of all the clutters and filth, we cannot receive the King of kings into our lives. In simple words, let’s repent of and remove all the worthless occupants, let’s embrace the ONE who is WORTHY to be our Redeemer and Ruler.  

In fact, Jesus was not only that sacrificial Lamb of God, but He is also our Good Shepherd. When we receive Him as our Lamb, He becomes our Shepherd. He guides us and watches over His sheep (believers). We can confidently proclaim: He is the Lamb who had died in my place and He is also my Lord, my Shepherd and I shall not be in lack (Psalm 23).  

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi (Wise Men) from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” (Math 2:1-2)

Major decisions that are made daily have local and global implications. The latest conference in Bali was concerning the climate change and the emission of carbon dioxide. The alarm was raised that unless everyone does his part to cut down wastage and reduce the emission of harmful gases, this planet earth will not be safer, healthier, and cleaner for the future generations. The ever increasing prices of crude oil have greatly affected the cost of living in every country. All these have contributed to greater fear, anxiety and stress which have in fact lead to more sicknesses. The world is in need of help and healing. God knew well ahead and that was why He planned the wonderful Birth of Jesus into our world to be our Savior.

While world leaders and politicians gather to make major decisions to solve the world’s increasing problems and pains, God in His great wisdom and foreknowledge had already planned a dramatic rescue mission, that is to solve real problem (internal, not external). Every man needs a heart-transplant. He needs a new heart. A new heart is possible only through a new birth. The prophet Ezekiel says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezek 36:26).

Today, we ought to ask the same question the “Magi” (wise men) had asked: “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?” That “Babe” of Bethlehem can be born anew in the heart of anyone who chooses to believe God’s Good News. To every heart that is open to receive Jesus as his/her Lord and Savior, God gives him/her the right/power to become His son/child, even to him/her who believes on His Name (John 1:12).

To be born into God’s Family is EASY. Just accept this “EASY” step to faith in Christ.

Every one is a sinner (Rom 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”)

All sinners will die (Rom 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”)

Sin’s penalty has been paid. (Isa 53:6 “We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”)

You can be saved. (Rom 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”)

The Wise Men found Jesus and experienced the first CHRISTmas. If you have sincerely followed this EASY step, you are the wise men who have found Jesus this CHRISTmas

“An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt 1:20-22) “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? (Heb 1:14)

The Bible mentions  ‘angel’ or ‘angels’ 299 times and in various ways like “the Angel of the Lord”; “the Angel of God”; “His Angel”; “an angel”; “an angel of God”; “angel from heaven”; “strong angel”; “mighty angel”; “the archangel”; “Michael the archangel”; “Michael and his angels”; and “angel Gabriel”.  

God sends His angels on various missions: to deliver messages (as in the announcement of the birth of Jesus), to explain the meanings of visions (as in Daniel’s dreams and visions), to give direction and guidance (as in Paul’s experiences), to protect and deliver (e.g. Peter was set free from prison, Paul and those on the ship were delivered from the storm), to destroy the enemies and enforce discipline (as in the case of Balaam). The Bible mentions 2 angels: the Archangel Michael, the warrior angel who protects God’s servants and the angel Gabriel who delivers Good News. Other than carrying out their missions, angels are always found worshipping and praising the Thrice Holy God (Isaiah 6, Revelation). Angels are awesome but we are not to worship them. When the apostle John was about to fall “down to worship at the feet of the angel”, he was told to worship the Creator rather than His created angel (Rev 22:8-9).

We are told that angels are “ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation”. Today, servants of God have testified of angelic visitations and supernatural deliverances in times of danger and need. Angels know the Word of God and they are quick to obey the awesome Name of Jesus. Believers are told to exercise their authority in Christ to activate angels in any area of their ministry.  The Psalmist says “the angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them” (Ps 34:7). Are we using the authority that God has given to us engage His angels to protect and assist us wherever we go and in whatever we are doing for God? Let’s choose to walk by faith and move in the supernatural with God and His angels before, behind and beside us.

“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe” Hebrews 1:1-2. 

There are many ways that God reveals Himself to men but God designs only One Way for men to come to Him and that is through His Only Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus declares, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

All religions, faiths and “isms” are men’s attempts to find God, but the Bible declares that Jesus is Only Way to God. Dr Luke confirmed that “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

A failure to hold on to this fundamental truth weakens our evangelistic passion for lost souls. Last week, Curtis Hemphill told us that people in hell certainly know that hell is reserved for those who refuse to repent. It will be too late to discover the truth when one is experiencing torment in hell. We don’t need to go to hell to discover its reality; we can take God’s warning in His Word. We must snatch lost souls from the ‘arms’ of hell. We must be passionate to evangelize the lost to save   them for heaven. No born-again believer will want to go to heaven alone. We must not ignore and neglect the thousands who are perishing daily without Christ. The untold millions must be told the Good News. They must know that “without Christ it is a hopeless End but with Christ it is an Endless hope”. Believers, have we lost our passion and urgency to witness and win souls?

Whenever the Lord enables me to win a soul to the Lord, I see so much joy not only in the believer but also in his/her family. The Bible tells us that there is so much rejoicing in heaven over one soul who repents (Luke 15:7, 10, 31). Luke 15 speaks about “rejoicing” in heaven over one soul who repents but in Luke 16, we see “torment” over one soul who is lost for eternity. Do you want to experience the joy of seeing your loved ones saved? 

This time of the year is the best time to share Christ with your loved ones and friends. You can seize the opportunity to invite them to join us in celebrating The Joy of Christmas. Let’s pray and invite them to hear the Good News and receive the Savior of the World into their lives. The Savior makes a difference in this aimless, helpless and hopeless world. Will you share your Savior with the world?

The Bible is a unique Book in that it contains food for all ages. For new born babes, there is spiritual milk (1 Pet 2:2); for growing Christians, there is “daily bread” (Matt 4:4) and for the matured, there is “solid food or meat” (Heb 5:14). For those who are sick, it has medicine for the whole body (Pro 4:22). In the physical, Vitamin A is good for eyesight; Vitamin B is good for blood disorder and Vitamin C is good for treating scurvy and so on. In the spiritual, the Bible has vitamins (supplements) for our spiritual health and they help us fight diseases. I like to recommend these 9 Vitamins to keep our corporate Body healthy. They are:

A - Attendance. We are told not to forsake the “assembling of ourselves together” as some are in the habit of being absent. (Heb 10:25)

B - Body of Christ. The Church is the Body of Christ and every member is to be intimately linked with one another and the Head, who is Christ (Rom 12; 1 Cor 12)

C - Contributions. We must be committed in contributing our tithes, time and talents to invest into His Kingdom and to advance God’s Kingdom among men. (Matt 6:33; Mal 3; 2 Cor 8, 9)

D - Disciples. The Great Commission demands that we “make disciples of all nations” until Christ returns. (Matt 28:19-20)

E - Evangelism. We are saved to save souls, to be His witnesses beginning in our respective “Jerusalem”. (Acts 1:8)

F - Fellowship. One of the four pillars of the Early Church is fellowship among believers. (Acts 2:42)

G - Growth. As a living organism, the Church grows in quantity, quality, in favor with God and with   men. (Acts 2:47; 6:7)

H - Home. The Church is one big family where Christ is the Head and every member loves and serves one another. (Eph 5:21-33)

I - Impact. If we have all the above “Vitamins”, we will be a healthy Church, influencing and impacting society and invading the kingdom of darkness. When every home becomes “an Oikos” for Christ, we will definitely impact earth before our Lord’s Return. 

On 18^th Nov 2002, River Of Life Community Church was granted permission to function as a society by the Registry of Society and on the next day, we received the Gazette Document.

As we reflect on what God has done for ROLC Church, we are thankful to God for the 10 founding members, for their vision of starting ROLC Church and for trusting Kathleen and I to spearhead this outreach at Sengkang/Punggol.  

Today, ROLC Church is 5 years old. The biblical significance for ‘5’ is ‘grace’. It is by grace, through grace and in grace that we stand as a church united despite the challenges and difficulties from within and without. We appreciate all our elders, council members and members for their dedication and commitment to serve our Lord in love and unity. Let us work even harder to push back the forces of the evil one who seeks to weaken us. 

ROLC Church has progressed in the areas of Making Disciples, Ministry and Missions. Through our Oikos, Livewire and the Chinese Ministry, we are continually making disciples that they in turn will build others up in the faith. We also believe that we exist to serve the Body of Christ through opening our doors of ministry to those outside our church. Praise God for the individuals and couples who have been set free through our ministry of Prayer, Healing and Deliverance. As for Great Commission to reach the world for Christ, we are strengthening our Missions program. We are identifying Myanmar and two or three other mission fields where our members can be actively involved in the years ahead. 

We have yet to incorporate all of the Five-fold Ministry of “apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers” (Eph 4:11) in order to equip and empower the “saints for the ministry so that the Body may be built up” (Eph 4:12). This means that every one of us must “grow upward” in maturity and “grow forward” in unity and grow “inward” in purity. We also need to network with other members of the Body of Christ and to connect with other “apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers” for mutual learning and growth.  

Above all, we acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Head of our Church. We need the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to fulfill all that we are called to do so that we will bring all glory to our God. Amen!

“Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? What is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” (Genesis 4:6-7)

It is in Genesis 4:6-7 that we first see depression in the Bible. Cain was the first to have experienced depression. His depression was caused by guilt at not doing what he knew to be right. David was depressed because of his sin of adultery and murder (Ps. 32:3-4). Tamar, the daughter of David, was depressed when her half brother Amnon raped her (2 Sam. 13:20). Elijah was depressed after his encounter with the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 19:1-18). The faithful ones of Israel were depressed because of their long captivity in Babylon (Isa. 40).

There are some basic causes for depression. One of which is unconfessed sin in our lives. While it is true that all of our sins, past, present and future, were forgiven when Jesus died on the cross, God still asks us to confess our sins. God already knows that we have sinned; we aren't telling Him something He doesn't already know. For us to feel right with Him again, it requires us to stand up and take responsibility for our sinful behavior and agree with Him that we have sinned against Him. The sin may be something as serious as David's sin of adultery and murder or it may be as subtle as Cain's desire to choose his own way over what he knew was God's way. We must be willing to look at our own behavior through the eyes of God and admit when our behavior is not all that God commands us to be.

Why would a person like Elijah be depressed? Everyone would agree that Elijah's victory over the prophets of Baal was one of the most incredible stories in the entire Bible. There was no doubt that the only true God was with him on Mount Carmel. Yet, immediately after that tremendous victory, he wanted to die. This depression had two major causes: the aftermath of a great spiritual victory and physical fatigue and hunger.

There is one common thread that weaves all the cases of depression in the Bible characters is this: depression sets in the moment the person focused on himself or the situations around him than on God. Psalm 34:5 says, “Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”  However, the moment the depressed person looks to the Lord and not on his/her circumstances, depression fades away. No wonder, we are reminded in Hebrews 12:2 to “fix our eyes on Jesus” always and “run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” 

“Create in me a pure heart, O God; and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)

Psalm 51 records the prayer of repentance of King David after he was being rebuked by Prophet Nathan for his sin of adultery and murder. This psalm reveals the worst of man and the best of God. King David abused his position and power and he fell from grace into disgrace. Thereafter, he lived in guilt for almost a year. The guilt was so strong that he expressed in Psalm 32:3-4: “when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.”

Guilt is a terrible tormentor and many of us either ignorantly or deliberately choose to stay in this prison. A prisoner can set himself free if he has the key that unlocks from within. However, many refuse to use the key. The good news is the truth that we can be set free from this prison called ‘guilt’. God has given us the key to freedom. Jesus said, “Then you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.” (John 8:32). Would you use this key God has given?

This key to being free from guilt is ‘repentance’. This key requires us to humble ourselves by crying out to God like David did when he said, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgression. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.” (Ps 51:1-4)

When confronted by Prophet Nathan, David instantly repented. With contrite heart, he confessed, “I have sinned against the LORD” (2 Samuel 12:13). David certainly would not have fallen into sin if he had prayed this prayer “Create in me a pure heart, O God” before he was even tempted to commit adultery and murder. Let’s learn from David. Let’s guard ourselves so as not to fall into sin by asking God daily to enable us to have pure hearts. Let’s also be quick to repent whenever we sin so as not to let the devil have a foothold in our lives. Let’s honor God by our lives.

“The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15). “When they all had enough to eat, he said to disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted” (John 6:12).

These past weeks we have been reminded about the Environment Climate Changes that are affecting our planet Earth. We are all facing the effects of too much carbon dioxide, the ozone gas, industrial emissions of poisonous elements into the air, the usage of plastic and disposable utensils.

Like most of us, I pay little attention to these until I attended a workshop by National Environment Agency (NEA). I repented and resolve to do my part to “save the earth” as passionately as I believe in saving lost souls. In other words, let us do our level best in saving the lost world of sinners and the lost earth of resources. We must live not only for now but for the future. We live for our children and children’s children. Living for Christ means being good stewards and examples of everything that God has created. “In the beginning God created the heavens and earth” (Genesis 1:1) and He put Adam (mankind) “in the Garden to work it and take care of it”.

Thus far, the world through “Save the Earth Foundations” and locally, the NEA is spear-heading efforts to do their best in saving the earth by reducing waste, recycle and removing harmful ways like unnecessary usage of deposable things. It is never too little or too late to do our part in taking care of God’s Earth.

Our nation shares worldwide concern in reducing consumption of ozone depleting substances (ODS) and helps preserve the stratospheric ozone layer, for a safe and healthy environment both now and for the future. The NEA is launching programs, workshops and publicity for us to work in tandem with all sectors to keep our air cleaner, places free from mosquitoes breeding resulting in less Dengue Fever spreading both locally and globally. Let us play our part not only by praying but doing some basic practical steps like…

1.  Use the fan instead of air-con where necessary or open the windows and let the fresh air in and
     turn on the fans, especially when you are the only one in the room.

2.  Avoid using disposable utensils like paper/plastic plates, cups, forks, spoons, etc.

3.  Use both sides of the paper and recycle them.

4.  Let children use used papers for writing, drawing, etc instead of new/clean papers.

5.  Bring your own shopping bags; avoid using plastic bags as they contribute to industrial waste.

6.  Turn off electricity, computer, etc that is not in use for 20 minutes.

7.  Set air-con temperature at 25% (every degree reduces electricity bill by $600 annually.)

“All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one and another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (1 Peter 5:5-6).

The words “pride” and “sin” have something in common. Both have the letter “I” in the centre. Isn’t “I” being the culprit in all of our relationship conflicts and difficulties? When “I” or “Self” is the focus and priority, we make ourselves disgusting and distance ourselves from people. If pride (I) refuses to die, prolonged difficulties will end up in distress, depression, disease, divorce, and death.

Pride must go before friends and God can come near to self. To have friends, one must be friendly and the way to remain friendly is through humility and selflessness as a lifestyle. No one likes to associate with proud people. Prideful people expels friends. They make God their enemy and the Devil their friend. The Devil himself is the epitome of pride. Proud people attract Lucifer as iron attracts magnet. It was “pride” that Lucifer was thrown out of Heaven into earth.

The prophet Isaiah said; “How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star (Lucifer in KJV Bible) son of the dawn! You have been cast down to earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven: I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:12-14). 

These five “I wills” of Satan were the cause of his fall from the most lofty place. God drove him from the Holy Place to planet earth. God said, because “your heart became proud so I threw you to earth” (Ezek 28:17). This God who dwells in the “high and holy place” seeks to dwell with those whose hearts are “contrite and lowly in spirit” (Isaiah 57:15). Though God has two places or thrones to live in, Heaven or the heart, God prefers to dwell in the hearts of those who are contrite and lowly in spirit. Paul echoes this truth and pray that “Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith” (Eph :16). Yes, Christ (who is God) longs to dwell, stay permanently in our hearts. May we response to Him and say, “Come into our hearts Lord Jesus! Come in and stay permanently there! HE will gladly come and stay. When we dethrone self and enthrone Him in our hearts, God abides in us and we abide in Him. Only then and there we find our resting place when the King is on the Throne of our lives. Let’s pull down pride and enthrone Christ in our hearts.

"After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward." (Gen 15:1, KJV).

Someone has counted that there are 366 verses on “fear not” or “do not be afraid”. That means one for each 365 days and an extra one for the leap year. Isn’t God wonderful?  He has a daily “fear not” for His children. Almost every book of the Bible as a “fear not”. The Enemy uses fear, but God wants us to have faith in Him.

Both fear and faith grow – depending which one you feed. It is possible to have fear and faith at the same time. For example, Elijah had great faith in God and gave the Baal worshippers and the people with this challenge: “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but it Baal is God, follow him” (1 Kings 18:21). After his great victory, the prophet “Elijah was afraid and ran for his life” (1 Kings 19:3) when Jezebel threaten to take revenge.

Job, “blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1:1) also had the wrong fear for in chapter 3:25 he said, “What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me.” In other words, Job said, "I did what was right, but I was afraid that God would not take care of me." 

Pastor Henry Wright said that there are at least 4000 kinds of fear and 80% of our diseases are due to “fear, anxiety and stress”. If we deal and defeat the spirits of fear, anxiety and stress, we will prosper in soul and be in health. One of the root problems of asthma and itch is fear. Ask God to set you free from fear and you will be surprised your asthma and itch instantly disappear.

It is said that “FEAR” means “False Evidences Appearing Real”. Jesus challenges us to have faith not fear. He said “Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.  And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive" (Matt 21:21-22 KJV).

The God of Abram who said “Do not be afraid” today says to you and me. “Fear not, for I am with you”. The Presence of God drives out the presence of evil and the Evil One. However this promise if for those who are “with God and for God”. Paul said in Romans 8:31 “If God is for us, who can be against us?” May you seek after God for He too seeks after you.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes...Are you not more valuables than they?" (Matthew 6:25ff). 

Whenever we need to see a doctor, we will see Dr.Tay of Bedok Reservoir Clinic. He has been our friend and become our family doctor. His most reassuring words are “not to worry” and then he would carefully examine us and explain what’s happening to our bodies. If a mere human physician can be so assuring and calming, how much more our Great Physician, the Lord Jesus can do. Three times in Matthew 6, Jesus said, “Do not worry” (vs 25, 31, 34).

To be concerned is human, but to ‘worry’ can be a problem. Millions of people in this world worry and ended up with chronic mental illness and warded in hospitals. They lose both their wealth and health. They let cares (worries) of the past and the tomorrow to enter and cloud into their present day. God promises sufficient grace for each day, but when we let ‘yesterday’ and ‘tomorrow’, we have an overload. No wonder we can’t cope when we live in the past and future as God gives us ‘daily bread’ and ‘daily grace’ as we live one day at a time depending upon Him. 

The fact that we humans remember the past, anticipate the future, and make choices about the present adds stress to our lives. The Biblical word for worry means to choke or to strangle. When worry becomes a noose around our necks, we have a problem. Worry chokes the Word (seeds) sown into our hearts. Jesus said, “The worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making in unfruitful” (Mark 6:19).

God promises to provide our basic needs, not our greed or wants. In the Gospels, our basic needs are defined as “food” and “clothing” and “shelter” It is said that a day of worry is more exhausting than a day of work. Some people handle worry by eating (like chocolates and unhealthy food); others go for strong drink to drown their worries. They pay a price by having poor health and less wealth through such indulgences.

A better and biblical way is to bring our worries to the Lord and leave them there. Why not trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding? Why not discover today that Jesus cares for you. Do what Peter says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). I trust that as you face your lf’s tests, both in schools and workplaces, you are resting in God’s faithfulness and intense care over you and your future. He is our Good God. Trust Him!

“Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:13 -14).

Children are precious to Jesus! He welcomed and blessed the precious children who were brought to Him. Jesus rebuked His disciples for hindering the children in coming to Him. C.H. Spurgeon said, “Anything we do to hinder a child from coming to Jesus greatly displeases our dear Lord. He cries to us, stand off. Let them alone. Let them come to me, and forbid them not”. Children are not a nuisance to Jesus.

Jesus used little children as illustrations when teaching on: entrance into the Kingdom of heaven, humility, obedience and childlike faith in Christian living. Jesus said, “Unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of the heaven” (Matt 18:3). In v 4, Jesus said that “whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of the heaven”. He continues in v 5 saying that when anyone “welcomes a little child like this in my name, welcomes me”.

Our Lord’s brother, James, says “religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans” (James 1:27 ). Children, especially orphans, are very helpless and God specially cares and protects them. Deuteronomy 10:18 says that God “defends the cause of the fatherless…giving him food and clothing.”

Children’s Day has been celebrated all over the world but on different days. The United Nations designates 20^th November to remember and respect all the children like all human beings who are worthy of love, care, basic rights, freedom, protection from want, illness and abuse. In India , Children’s Day is celebrated on 14^th November. It is also a day chosen to remember their first Prime Minister, Nehru, who had great passion and love for children.

Children should be carefully nurtured as they are the future leaders of the Church and the nations. Every child should be given equal opportunity to realize his/her potential. Let’s thank God for our children and let us bring them to Jesus daily that He may touch them. As a church, we will nurture our children to realize their potentials in Christ. We will encourage them to serve the King of kings and to impact the nations for Christ.

“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).

We are prone to shrink from services that endanger our lives or incur financial loss. However in the cause of Christ, we must be prepared to “take up the cross” and follow Him. Mordecai said to Esther, “Who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this”. Similarly, the Holy Spirit says to us, “Who knows that you have come to be a Christian and are now seated in royal high position with Christ for such a time as this?”

In His providence, God used Mordecai to care and raise up Esther in the environment of an earthly king. After Queen Vashti was deposed, Esther was chosen to be the next queen. Though the Name of God was not mentioned in the book of Esther, God was the Sovereign One protecting and preserving His chosen people from the schemes of Haman to destroy the entire Jewish race.

Haman hated Mordecai and he wanted Mordecai dead. However, God intervened and thwarted Haman’s plot. Haman himself was hung on the gallows that he had built for Mordecai! What an irony! When we want to destroy others, we ourselves will be destroyed. God will always protect those who are His own.

The providence and protection of God are still seen and experienced today. Just as Esther and the Jews were saved from destruction, we can rest assured in His security and shelter. The psalmist says, “he will save you from the fowler’s snare (bird flu) and from the deadly pestilence (like dengue fever). He will cover you with his feathers and under his wings you will find refuge” (Psalm 91:3-4).

We are living in the ‘last days’ when evil is on the increase. The evil one is on the mission to destroy us and hinder the growth of God’s kingdom. We cannot remain silent. We need to speak out and speak for God especially on issues that are immoral and are against Scriptures. Like Esther, we are placed in positions in our spheres of influence “for such a time as this”. If we don’t speak up, we will likewise perish with them.

“In bitterness of soul, Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life…” (1 Sam 1:10-11)

Hannah was the first of the two wives of Elkanah and was the mother of Samuel. She was barren for the LORD had “closed her womb” and her rival used it to provoke her to grief. Instead of being bitter, Hannah turned the pain into prayer.

This woman of prayer poured her heart out to God. In James 5:16, we are told that God hears the prayer of a righteous person when he/she comes boldly into His Throne of Grace to receive mercy and grace in time of need. God filled Hannah’s heart with love and assurance and He met her need. Her condition changed immediately after she had encountered God and she began to live above her circumstances (1 Sam 1:18 ). Her heart was changed before her child was conceived in her womb. She believed God even before she saw the signs of pregnancy. She kept her vow to God and at the appointed time, when the child was weaned, she released him to the Lord (1 Sam 1:24 -28).

Mothers, we know that it is not easy to be physically separated from our children especially when they are so young. But we all know that the time will come when our children will have to leave us and we should be well prepared to release them. Let’s learn from Hannah. She did not hold on to her son physically or emotionally but she entrusted her son to God and held on to him with the cords of prayer. Parents, let us realize that we do not always have the time to care, guide and train our children in godliness. This period of time will quickly pass away and then it will be hard to undo the wrongs that we have already done. Let’s treasure our children by training them to love the Lord and releasing them to be who God wants them to be.

Hannah was filled with thanksgiving and praises to God. Her Magnificat in 1 Samuel 2 inspired Mary, the earthly mother of Jesus, who praised God for the great things He has done for her (Luke 1). Hannah lived a fulfilled life: she lived to see her son, Samuel, fulfilling his destiny as the great priest and prophet of Israel . Through him, the school of prophets was birthed and he was instrumental in raising two great kings, Saul and David.

The success story of Hannah began the moment she surrendered her struggles to God. God turned her tragedy into triumph, her sorrow into song and her bitterness into blessings. The same can be true for you when you live a life of obedience to God. 

The Bible is a book of truths as it tells the strengths and weaknesses of Bible characters, including Sarah. Though Sarah was known for her beauty, submissiveness, gentleness, faithfulness, loyalty and obedience, she also had negative traits. She was impatient, argumentative, blaming, sarcastic and she also lied twice.

In Genesis 12:11, Abram said to Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are”. Jewish tradition also records that Sarai was very beautiful. Her beauty had posed a danger to her husband and he told her to lie to save his skin. He told her to tell the king that she was Abram’s sister. This act was again repeated in Genesis 20.

Take heart if we are not as beautiful as Sarah for in many of us is the inner beauty which the apostle Peter talks about. He said that the inner beauty is “the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight” (1Peter 3:4). Peter exhorts wives to emulate Sarah’s example of being submissive and non-argumentative towards our husbands. “Wives, in the same way, be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.” (1Peter 3:1-2). Peter speaks of “wordless evangelism” by our good conduct in the home. Husbands and children “may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives” and mothers. No one can doubt the powerful influence of the godly example of submissive wives in the home.

Sarai was also loyal and obedient to her husband, Abram, during times of crisis. She risked her purity and her very life to protect her husband. Instead of protecting Sarai, Abram subjected his wife to dangers because he feared losing his own life. Despite this, Sarai obeyed Abram without arguing. Did she trust God to deliver her? God was good to them. He intervened twice and rescued them but rebuked Abram for his lack of faith in endangering Sarai.

In Genesis 17, God restored them and changed their names from “Abram” to Abraham and from “Sarai” to Sarah”. It takes a lifetime to learn faith. When Abraham was a hundred years old and Sarah was passed the age of childbearing, they had to learn faith by trusting God to give them a son. At first, Sarah laughed when she heard that she was to bear a son. She had to learn that nothing is too hard for the Lord. Despite the fact that Abraham and Sarah faltered in their walk with God, their names were listed in the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11.

Like Abraham and Sarah, we fear and fail to trust God at times even though we are faithful believers. Let us always be quick to repent and return to God. He will always forgive us and restore us into fellowship with Him.

“When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law” (Matthew 7:28 -29).

There are at least 50 verses in the New Testament that are attributed to Jesus as the Teacher. He often used parables (stories) and miracles to teach spiritual truths. Parables are “miracles in words” and miracles are “parables in works”.

Jesus was unique for He taught “as one who had authority, and not as the religious teachers whose teachings were dry, dead and legalistic. The guards declared, “No man ever spoke the way this man does” (John 7:46 ). People flocked to Jesus because His language was easy and simple. He used simple words which the common people could understand. Jesus simply referred to God as “your heavenly Father” unlike some people who referred to God as “the Great First Cause”.

He was often referred to as the “Rabbi” meaning teacher. Even Nicodemus, a member of the ruling Jewish Council, proclaimed Jesus as the “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him” (John 3:2). The longest lesson taught by Jesus in didactic form was the Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew 5-7. At the end of the Sermon, he said that the man who puts His Word into practice is a “wise man” who “built his house on the rock and the man who does not obey His Word as a foolish man who built his house upon the sand. In Jesus, we see a Teacher who speaks with authority and wisdom and whose works bear testimony to His Word.

It is a good reminder on Teachers’ Day to glorify our Master Teacher. When we know this Teacher, our lives are changed to be more like Him. Let’s be passionate in our teaching for we are pointing our students to our Savior who can transform them. Let’s teach in such a way that our students can testify to this blessed experience……“First, I came to love my teacher,
                                                    Then, I came to love my teacher’s Bible,
                                                          And finally, I came to love my teacher’s Savior”.  

“But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him. We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them. ‘Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.’” (John 20:24-25).

In John 11:16; 14:5 & 20:24-29 we have brief descriptions of Thomas. We can learn from Thomas in the following areas:-

First, Thomas was loyal. Jesus was facing increasing hostility from the religious people and He had to avoid public ministry. While Jesus was away, a close friend, Lazarus was seriously ill. His sisters called for Jesus’ help. Jesus was delayed in coming to them and later announced that He was returning to Bethany. Knowing the danger Jesus was facing, Thomas told his fellow-disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (John 11:16). Jesus had become so significant to Thomas that he was willing to die with Him. He was indeed a loyal friend to Jesus!

Next, Thomas was certain of the Way to the Father. It was after the Last Supper that Jesus shared about the fact that He was leaving the disciples. “You know the way to the place where I am going” (John 14:4). This saying puzzled the disciples but Thomas asked, “Lord, we don’t where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Christ’s response to Thomas assured him that the disciples were following the right Person. Jesus declared: “I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father; except through me” (John 14:6). Thomas knew that the key to Heaven is not finding a location but a relationship with Jesus. Christ was going to be with the Father and knowing Christ is the only passport to where He is.

Finally, Thomas’ doubts were cleared. Thomas was not present the first time when Jesus appeared to His disciples after the Resurrection. When the others told him that they had seen the Lord, Thomas was doubtful. He said emphatically, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it” (John 20:25). Thomas was still grieving over the death of his Lord and he just could not fathom that Jesus rose from the dead. However, eight days later, Jesus personally came to him and the other disciples in the enclosed room to invite Thomas to examine the wounds in His hands and side. Thomas fell to the ground and worshipped, “My Lord and my God”. Immediately, all his doubts vanished when he saw the Living Christ right before his very eyes

Thomas had all his doubts cleared so that he was sure he trusted in Christ, the Resurrection and the Life. Because Thomas doubted, we do not need to doubt. The One who said He is the Way, the Truth and the Life rose triumphantly from the grave and He is able to deliver us from death and the Devil. What a glorious truth!

“When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Dear woman, here is your son’, and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother’. From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” (John 19:26-27).

The Gospel according to John is the only book in which we find this phrase, "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (John 13:23 , 19:26 ; 20:2; 21:7 & 21:20 ). Jesus did not call John “the disciple whom Jesus loved” but it is John himself. Does this mean that we too can call ourselves “the disciple whom Jesus loved”? Of course we can if we can live up to that name which the Apostle John did.

John and his brother, James, were first called to be disciples of Christ when they were pursuing their career of fishing with their father, Zebedee (Matthew 4:21 -23). Immediately, they left their fishing nets to follow Jesus. They were not only included in the Twelve; but together with Peter; they found their places in the inner circle of Jesus’ friends.  Matthew 17:1 says that “Jesus took with him Peter, James and John…and led them up a high mountain by themselves." Because of this favored relationship with Jesus, James and John asked for special positions to be seated on either side of Jesus in His glorious Kingdom (Mark 10:37 -38). Jesus rebuked them saying, “You don't know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” Jesus pointed out to them that the price for positions of honor in God’s Kingdom is to suffer for His Name. True enough, history tells us that James was a martyr for Christ and John died while in exile (for Christ) on the Island of Patmos .

Who could Jesus entrust his earthly mother to in his final hour on the Cross of Calvary? Who could give the best care to his mother when He ascended to Heaven? It is none other than John, “the disciple whom Jesus loved”. Here is one man who is not only loved by Jesus but he is also one who knew how to love. Indeed, love is the theme in John's letters (1, 2 and 3 John). In his short time with his Master, John had learned God’s agape love. He wrote; "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." (1 John 4:7-10)

“Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me” (Psalm 41:9).

King David was betrayed by his trusted counselor, Ahithophel. He joined Absalom to dethrone King David. This verse is also a Messianic prophecy - Judas betrayed Jesus (Matthew 26:23; John 13:18-19). Judas betrayed his Master with a kiss. A kiss is the most intimate act; yet it is used as a treacherous weapon against Jesus, the kindest person who has lived on Planet Earth. I’m sure that some of us have also experienced the intense pain of the consequences of the above verse.

Luke tells us that our Lord spent the whole night in prayers before He appointed His core team of twelve (Luke 6:12-16). The other eleven disciples and Jesus must have trusted Judas as to give him the post of ‘minister of finance’. Unfortunately, he betrayed their confidence in him by siphoning out the money a little at a time and finally he sold his Master for 30 pieces of silver coins.

Betrayal begins small and if left unchecked leads to tragedy like suicide as in the case of Ahithophel and Judas. Where there are strives, struggles, suspicions and insincerity in a relationship, there is the spirit of betrayal.

What leads to Judas’ betrayal of Jesus?

First, Judas was a pretender and a hypocrite. He was not a true believer. He had never believed in Jesus (John 6:64-71); he had not been ‘bathed’ all over (John 13:10-11) and he had not been among the chosen ones whom the Father gave to the Son (John 13:18; 17:12). It is sad to say that Judas was so close to salvation, yet he missed it.
 
Next, Judas was covetous. He was a thief who siphoned money from the treasury of the Twelve.
 
Finally, Judas did not guard his heart. Initially, “the Devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot” (John 13:2) to betray Jesus and then Judas let the door of his life wide opened and “Satan entered into him” (John 13:27) to cause more destruction in his life.

Are we guarding our hearts to prevent the enemy from entering into our lives to destroy our name and our families? King Solomon says, “A good name…is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold” (Proverbs 22:1). Let’s guard ourselves against all forms of covetousness. Let’s give no room for the spirit of betrayal to sow seeds of hatred into our lives. Let’s work at bearing a good name for Jesus, for our children and the generations to come.

“These are names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew…” (Matthew 10:2) Jesus “appointed twelve – that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach…” (Mark 3:14).

The Bible reveals many interesting men and women who had relationship with God. We will do well to learn and unlearn from their walk with God. In August, we will learn about the four men of God and in September, we will learn about the four women of God.

We will learn about Peter today. Peter was listed first in all the four lists of the disciples in the Gospels. He was one of the 12 disciples and he was often the spokesman in the inner circle of the three close friends of Jesus. 

He was the first disciple to follow Jesus with his brother Andrew and he was the first to be called a fisher of men. Peter was always the first to respond to our Lord. When asked, “Who do men say that I am.” Peter replied with certainty, “Thou art the Christ, the son of the living God!” (Matthew 16:16). When Jesus asked if the disciples would also desert Him, Peter spoke, “Lord, to whom shall we go. You have the words of eternal life. We believe and are sure that you are Christ the son of the living God.” It is unbelievable that despite his declaration, he was the first to deny our Lord three times. 

On the night of Jesus’ betrayal, Peter was the first to defend Jesus with a sword (John 18:10-11). He was also the first to enter the empty tomb and he was also one of the first disciples to whom Jesus had appeared after His resurrection (Luke 24:34).

In John 21:17, Jesus gently restored Peter and commissioned him to his pastoral office to “Feed my Sheep”. Thus, it is not surprising to see that Peter was the spokesman for the church at Jerusalem (Acts 1 -12). He was the first to speak at Pentecost and the first to preach a sermon that pierced 3000 hearts. It is interesting to note that the first apostolic miracle was done by Peter when he healed the crippled beggar outside the Temple. Then Peter boldly preached before the Sanhedrin. He was also the first to speak up for the Gentiles after seeing the vision. In Galatians 2:7, Peter was appointed ‘the preacher to the Jews’ while Paul was ‘the preacher to the Gentiles.’

Many of us name our sons “Peter”. We pray the ‘Peters’ today will fulfill the purpose for which that name bears. May we, like Peter, love our Lord to the extent of laying down our lives for advancing His Kingdom on Earth. Praise God for the many ‘Peters’ who are serving the Lord unreservedly.

“Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” (Psalm 5:1-3)

Prayer can be in ‘words’, ‘sighs’ (meditation) and ‘cries’. It progresses and intensifies from ‘words’ to ‘sighs’ and ‘cries’. Are we serious in seeking God? David said that he sought God twice “in the morning”. In Psalm 55:17, he said, “evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice”. Even that was not enough for in Psalm 119:164, he sought God “seven times a day”. To David, God was his priority, purpose, pursuit and pleasure. Why chase after created thing when we can have the Creator? Why go for the temporal when we can have the Eternal? Why go after perishable thing when we can have the Imperishable? David knew that God was His delight and God rewarded him with the desires of his heart (Ps 37:4).

God listens to the cry of his children. He delights to hear and help when we earnestly seek Him. To those who seek Him earnestly in faith, God is pleased to reward them (Heb 11:6). I believe that as we fast and pray to seek His Face during this month; God is real, near and dear to us. Some of us may be surprised to have received visions, revelations, answered prayers, break-through and blessings in our lives.

Let’s us move up to another level in our corporate spiritual journey by strengthening our devotional life in seeking God in the morning. The morning is the first part of the day and it is fitting that God who is First should be given the first and best time of the day. Before we begin the day, let’s begin with God. First, face God in worship, prayer and reading His Word and then we will have His Presence, Power and Wisdom to face the day and world. Then, when we come before God to pray before we sleep, we will have more praises for the successes and victories that He gives us through the day.

Godly men like Hudson Taylor, Martin Luther, John Wesley all woke up early in the morning (at 3 am) to pray, worship and read His Words. Even in the midst of a busy day, our Lord Jesus still got up “very early in the morning, while it was still dark…and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). He accomplished much for the Kingdom because He sought God and His wisdom to do His Father’s business. Let’s maintain the spiritual disciplines of fasting, praying, solitude, and worship as we live “upright and godly lives in this present age while we await the blessed hope of the glorious return of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:12-13)

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting for forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ (Matthew 4:1-4)

We have been brought up to think that if we don’t eat, we will die. This half-truth is a lie of the Enemy. It is a lie that we are sustained by food alone. He has trapped us with food which is the same bait that he used to lead Adam and Eve to sin. In a sense, the Devil is actually very stupid. He tries the same trick to trap us. However, if we know God’s truths, he cannot get us to sin. What we need is discernment from God to reject and resist the lies of our enemy.

Jesus says, “Man does not live on bread alone”. Man is not just a physically and psychological being. He is a ‘spirit-man’ and needs ‘spiritual’ food. Being created in the image of God, man needs to be sustained by ‘spiritual food’ – the Word of God. Jesus says in John 6:63 that “the words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.”

We become what we are by what we eat. Man has allowed food to be his idol. His stomach is his god. Paul in Colossians 3:5 says that “covetousness” (including the greed for food) is “idolatry”. One way to fight and dethrone this idol is by drawing near to God through the spiritual discipline of “fasting and praying”. We can be delivered from the ‘spirit of gluttony’ when we devote ourselves to God in fasting, prayer and worship.

In fasting, we deny ourselves of legitimate things for a higher purpose, that of seeking God. In prayer, we depend upon God for life’s needs. Fasting reminds us that “man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God”. Jesus has demonstrated to us that extended time of prayer and fasting strengthens and empowers us to resist the tempter and the temptations of life.

During this period of 40 Day Fast/Pray, let us seek God earnestly and intensely for personal victory over stubborn habits, secret sins, long-term diseases and all other strongholds in our lives. It is time to say to the spirits, “I am not letting you defeat me any longer! Enough is enough! It is time you go and get out of my life, my family and my household!” We will confess that “the LORD is my Light and my Salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the Strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Ps 27:1).

“When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly towards you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.” (Nehemiah 1:4, 6, 7)

Nehemiah was willing to set aside his legitimate duty and appetites to “mourn, fast and pray” upon hearing the plight of His people and the broken walls of Jerusalem . He demonstrated seriousness in seeking God with all his heart. Through him, God bought revival to Israel and enabled the walls of Jerusalem to be rebuilt.

How do we respond to disasters, to SARS and currently to Dengue Fever that hits our nation? Well, other than heeding the NEA campaign to ensure that we keep our environment clean to prevent breeding grounds for mosquitoes, let’s follow Nehemiah’s example of “mourning, fasting and prayer” for the wickedness we have committed against God as a nation.

Do we see wickedness prevailing in our city? Do we hear of abuses in homes, work places and in our neighborhood? Are we aware that our laws are being relaxed and changed to accommodate sodomy, gambling and other vices? Are we aware of the increase in rentals to thousands of foreign workers while paying them low wages? Are we not making the poor poorer thus enriching ourselves? Are these not injustice and oppression in God’s sight? Are these not wickedness in God’s sight?

Is the prevalent Dengue Fever a warning or judgment upon our city? If we heed not God’s warning, a more severe disaster may fall on our land. While we thank God for the progress, prosperity and peace in the land, we must be vigilant to offer “requests, prayers, intercessions… for kings and all in authority” (1 Timothy 2:1-2) so that our leaders will make righteous laws and decisions. Without righteousness, the nation falls. Let’s also fast and pray for national break-through, so that evil and evil people will be curbed. As a tiny nation like Israel , we face all kinds of enemies from without and within. We need to have a “prayer-shield” over the nation at all times.

Let us come together to fast and pray corporately for 3 days just as Esther did. I urge every member and the fathers to lead in family prayers and also to bring your family to church on 27^th July for 3 hours of intercession. Let devote 3 full days for corporate prayer and fasting (choose the kind of fasting that you desire). There is a special Anointing when we are united to pray. The Early Church devoted 10 days of continuous prayer and God visited them resulting in the salvation of thousands. Revival is costly. Let’s pay the price for personal, family and corporate revival. When we “seek God with all your heart, God will be found by us" (Jeremiah 29:13, 14).

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting…But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only your Father, who is unseen and your Father, who sees what is done, will reward you” (Matthew 6:16-18).

Fasting is not an option for Christians who want to have full power in prayer. Fasting is as much neglected as prayer. In fact, many Christians do not fast at all. John Wesley said that he would not ordain any minister who did not fast at least once a week.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus placed fasting on the same level as prayer and giving. He said, “When you fast” not “If you fast..."  This implies that it is expected of every believer to fast. In Matthew 17:21, when the disciples asked Him why they couldn't cast out a demon, Jesus' reply was "...this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting." Indeed, there is spiritual power in prayer and fasting.

Although Christians are not commanded to fast in the New Testament, Jesus Himself fasted and prayed for forty days and nights in the wilderness. It is the practice of the Jews to fast but He did not approve of the way they fasted. They fasted like “the hypocrites do” only to be seen by men so they will only be ‘rewarded’ by men but not by God.

Fasting without prayer consumes us but fasting with prayer strengthens us. There are many tangible benefits of fasting. God will never tell us to do something unless it is for our own good. There are definitely medical and physical benefits when we fast and pray. There have been personal victories over stubborn habits and spiritual break-through on the personal and corporate levels.

Fasting makes things happen. In Luke 2:37 & 38, Anna had been fasting and she was the first to recognize the Baby Jesus. In Acts 10:30, when Cornelius was fasting, he received the vision. In Acts 13:1-4, the Church of Antioch was engaged in prayer and fasting and they were told to send Paul out as an apostle. 

The churches in Singapore have designated from 1^st July to 9^th August (40 days) to fast and pray for spiritual breakthrough for our nation, our families and ourselves. As a local church, let us join hands with our brothers and sisters in Singapore to call upon the Lord to bring spiritual revival into our nation. Let us earnestly seek Him. Let us position ourselves to receive the blessings of God.

“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say “I find no pleasure in them”. (Ecc 12:1) 

Today is Youth Day. All young people may want to read and reflect on the words of the wisest man, Solomon, in Ecclesiastes chapter 12. The book of Ecclesiastes is an autobiography of his life. He found that life without God (seeking after worldly pleasures) is largely meaningless. (Ecc 1:2).  

Studies show that with increasing age there is less of a chance of someone coming to Christ. The percentage for a born-again experience decreases with age. This is because patterns, habits and strongholds that are built during our youths are carried through the rest of our lives. Thus, it is vital that parents, especially the fathers, lead their children to the Lord and inculcate in them godly patterns that will be their foundations for life. The wise man in Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it”. 

Once the parents have trained and established patterns of righteousness during their growing years (childhood, teens and adolescence), they will somehow return to God even if they should go astray for a period of time in their later years. St. Augustine was one such example. He rebelled and went deep into sins and vices. But his godly mother never ceased to pray for him to return to God. One day, God convicted him and he repented when this verse spoke to him, “Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.” (Rom 13:13). 

Everyone has only one chance to be young. Thus it is critical for youths to recognize the importance of knowing God at this stage of their life. Remembering God while young helps youths to “swim against the tide”. It is easy to give in to ‘peer pressure’ but if youths are equipped with Biblical life principles, they are able to fight against youthful temptations and thus avoid bad consequences that can mar their future.         

In verses 2-8, Solomon vividly mentions the diminishing capacities when we grow old: poor eyesight, weakness, hearing problems, sleep problems, graying hair and decreasing strength. Despite this happening, if we walk close to God, we gain spiritual strength, wisdom and vision. What we lose in the physical, we gain in the spiritual.

Young people, let’s heed Solomon’s advice. “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (vs. 13-14)

“Surely I have acted like a fool and have erred greatly”. (1 Sam 26:21b). “Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse” (1 Chron 10:13-14).

We have just returned from the Church Family Camp. We are “feeling good” after learning and enjoying so much. It is at such times that we need to be prayerful and watchful. Let us not forget what we have learned. It is possible to know God’s Word and yet do the very things that are opposed to God. Saul knew God and His Word but he became unfaithful to God and he allowed the spirit of envy to destroy himself, his family and kingdom.

King Saul was like a ‘mentor’ and ‘father’ to David. David had won many wars for Saul. There was rejoicing and dancing in the camp over the victory. “As they danced, they sang: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.’” (v7). In the midst of this rejoicing, a spirit of envy came into Saul. Instead of being proud of his ‘son’ or ‘mentoree’, Saul was envious. He could not stomach the word “tens”.

Let us guard our lives and not open our lives to any evil spirit. In the camp, the children learned to use their whole body to honor God, the youths had been challenged to live for God and the adults had learned five of the Principles of Life (Design, Responsibility, Authority, Suffering and Moral Freedom). Let’s not be slow in applying what we have learned. Let’s not allow the evil one to take God’s Word away from our heart. Let’s not be like Saul who “played a fool”. Let’s be like the Psalmist who can confidently say, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Ps 119:11)

The principle of Design reminds us to find our identity and fulfillment in Christ. The principle of Responsibility teaches that God holds us responsible for our words, thought, actions, attitudes and motives. When we sin, we must be quick to confess and make rest