“I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said" (Joshua 14:11-12).

“Now give me this hill country (mountain)” said Caleb when he was 85 years of age. He didn't ask for an easy job. It was the most hilly area in the Promised Land and Israel's most powerful enemies were there. Caleb feared no foe and he desired no rest till he fulfills God’s purpose in His life. Only a person of vision and faith dares to do the impossible for the Invisible God.

Unlike Caleb, many of us want to retire prematurely, especially in Kingdom service. We make excuses to serve and we want to step down from ministries in the Church. The issue is actually laziness. Are we like the servant who buried his one talent. To such a servant, Jesus was very stern. He said, “You wicked, lazy servant…throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:26-30).

In Numbers 13, twelve spies were sent to spy out the same Land. However, they came back with different reports. 10 of them gave bad reports which defiled the whole nation. Only Joshua and Caleb saw God as bigger than the giants in the land and they could easily defeat the giants. Caleb plus God was a majority.

What do we have? Faith or fear, God or giant. What we have will have us. If we have faith, then we will not have fear. If we have fear, then we will not have faith. Jesus once said, “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22); that is...”have God’s kind of faith” that will defeat giants, remove mountains and drive out fear. Fear looks at the problems, faith look for opportunities. When we experience God, His faithfulness and His power, the difficulties assume their true proportions.

We pray for healing. We want God to add years to our lifespan and health to our bodies but what do we want life for? If faith is not added to our lives, we live in vain. Like Caleb, we should desire longer lives and stronger bodies to serve Him and to fulfill His purposes on this earth. Like Caleb, we ought to proclaim “I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out (and that meant 45 years ago); I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then”. Like Caleb, dare we ask for the mountain? Do we dare to serve Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength?

“But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them…. But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things….  So the LORD's anger burned against Israel. (Joshua 6:18; 7:1)

God promised His people victory even before the battle was fought.  He said, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands” (Joshua 6:2). The battle belongs to the Lord, so He has the strategy. The city of Jericho was fortified and the wall of Jericho seemed impregnable. God’s instructions to march around the wall of Jericho with dead impressive silence seemed ridiculous to the human mind. But it was indeed a test of faith for the Israelites and a terrifying and physiological experience for the inhabitants of Jericho. However, in obedience to Divine command, the priests and the men of war marched round the walls once for 6 days and then on the seventh day, they marched around the city seven times and when the trumpets sounded and the people shouted, “the wall collapsed”. Victory came through their obedience to God’s command.

Tragically, Chapter 7 begins with “But”. Their success was short-lived. The Israelites were soon defeated by the men of Ai. Their sin of presumption had caused their downfall (Joshua 7:11). The disobedience of Achan was the sin of the whole nation. Due to one man’s sin, 36 soldiers were killed and the whole nation was defeated. To stay in victory, one must not take God for granted.

Joshua and the elders mourned for their defeat and God showed to Joshua the reason for their defeat. Joshua confronted Achan who then admitted his sin. Sin cannot escape the watchful eyes of God. Sin has to be confessed and dealt with.

God’s ways are higher than men’s ways. His instructions for the Israelites to capture Ai were amazingly simple. However, they had to be careful to put His plans to work. The people of Ai were now presumptuous and God was going to use it to bring success to the Israelites. The city of Ai was burned and all the inhabitants were wiped out. Sin must be totally eradicated or else they come in during a time of personal weakness to destroy us.

What we can learn from these chapters of Joshua?

1.   Every battle against sin, sickness and Satan must be fought using spiritual weapons (the Word of God). “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8).

2.   Victory can lead to presumptuous sins which derail our path of obedience to God’s Word.

Finally, God forgives and restores us when we repent and deal with all known sins.

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you: do not turn to the right or the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7  

This month is devoted to the study of the Book of Joshua, the sixth book of the Bible. This book has important parallels and prophetic applications for us today. Joshua is a prophetic foreshadow of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, the Israelites fought to possess a natural inheritance, a land “flowing with milk and honey.” Today we are fighting, not to obtain an earthly kingdom but a spiritual inheritance in the kingdom of God.

After the Israelites moved into Canaan, they have to defeat their enemies. They had to learn how to settle down and take possession of the land. Likewise, when we enter into the promises of their inheritance in Christ, we have to face the conflicts that must be overcome to order to obtain these promises. Then, we will receive the character, ministries and rewards of God. We will then need the wisdom to establish these blessings and keep and multiply our inheritance by passing it on to our children and spiritual children.

Our spiritual inheritance is the kingdom of God. It includes the promises of God, the gifts and ministries and also the eternal positions and rewards that God wants us to inherit in His kingdom. Jesus, our Captain, wants to lead us into God’s promises for our lives. We must conquer our spiritual enemies and establish the kingdom of God in our life, family, church, community and nation.

The Lord promised victory but Joshua had to fulfill certain conditions. Joshua had to strong and courageous. The Lord mentioned it 4 times in chapter one. Joshua was probably very insecure when he looked at his own inability to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. Also, Joshua had to meditate upon and practice the “Book of the Law.”  As long as Joshua obeyed God’s Law, he had success. These are also the requirements for us today….God requires us to be strong and as long as we meditate and obey His Word, we will succeed in entering into our spiritual inheritance.

Just as Joshua’s army broke the power of the Canaanite kings inorder to inherit the Land, the Church needs to break the covering of the satanic principalities over the nations so that revival and great harvest of souls will take place. We are the “Joshua Generation”. We are God’s mighty army that must arise to triumph over the gates of hell. We declare that we are strong and courageous. We are people of the Word!

“My food," Jesus said, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest'. I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” John 4:34-35.

Jesus did not practice what He preached but He preached what He practiced. When He commanded His disciples to be soul-winners (Matt. 28:19), He was already the soul winner. He said “The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). When Jesus said, "Follow me" (Matt. 4:19), He meant, "Watch Me as I win souls, and your job is to follow Me."

The Gospels record how He went about using different approaches to win different kinds of people. In John 4, we see how Jesus won an outcast for God. Each of His approaches varies according to the person, time, place and circumstances and we can learn from Him in this soul-winning business.

1. Jesus showed great interest and concern for one soul. 

Though Jesus often spent time with crowds, even one soul was important to Him and it did not matter whether that soul was a sinner. In Luke 15, He shows the value of one lost sheep. To God, one soul is as valuable as the world (Mk. 8:36-37). Who knows whether that the one soul would be a Paul, a Wesley, a Moody whom God can use to bring a great harvest of souls.

2. Jesus went out of His way to win one soul.

Jesus was willing to put Himself to some inconvenience in order to win one sinful woman to Himself. Too often, we are preoccupied with our business that we do not take notice of those whom God wants to give us the opportunities to win them to the Lord.

3. Jesus worked under a strong sense of urgency.

"He must needs go through Samaria" (v4). There was great urgency to win a soul for the opportunity would never come a second time. Soul winning is a "must", a command, and an imperative. His very food was to do His Father's will (John. 4:34).

4. Jesus was friendly, winsome and sympathetic in His approach.

Jesus was not reserved, distant, cold, self-righteous or judgmental. He was able to reach down to any level to touch anyone. Though He did not approve of her lifestyle, He accepted her as one needing genuine help. In order to "win some" (I Cor. 9:22), we have to be "winsome" in our personality.

Lord, help us to watch You at work and we can win at least 3 souls to the Lord this year.

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” Eph 4:30-32.

The Bible speaks of six specific sins against the Holy Spirit. One of the six sins, which is grieving the Holy Spirit, is listed above. The other five sins are; 1) The Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31-32); 2) Tempting the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:1-3); 3) Resisting the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51-53); 4) Quenching the Holy Spirit (1 Thess 5:19) and 5) Insulting the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 10:28-29). Of the six sins, one is definitely committed by the unbelievers, namely The Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit; also known as the Unpardonable sin.

Many believers often ask me, "Is there a sin God will not forgive? Is there a chance I have committed it?" Also, many inquire, "What is the sin against the Holy Spirit?" Actually, since the Spirit is a Person in the Godhead, all sin is against Him (Psalm 51:4). But several sins are especially noted as offenses against the Holy Spirit. They are in a peculiar sense directed against Him rather than against the other Persons in the Godhead. What are the sins against the Holy Spirit?

All of the sins against the Holy Spirit are serious and we must be on guard. Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit and dropped dead instantly (Acts 5:1-11). Today, many still lie and commit all kinds of sins but by the mercies of God are still standing alive.

Korah and 250 Israelite men rose against Moses and were consumed by fire (Numbers 16:1, 35). The whole nation of Israel, except Joshua and Caleb could enter the Promised Land. They all perished in the wilderness for unbelief. Not even Moses the leader was spared from punishment. As we read the Bible, we can see that God is both severe and kind. He is severe to those who sin and remain unrepentant but kind to those who sin and repent instantly.

Unbeliever, do not harden your heart to blaspheme the Holy Spirit by ridiculing His testimony. Believers do not be deliberate in disobeying the Holy Spirit by tempting the Him with lies; resisting Him by closing your ears to the Word; grieving Him when He speaks tenderly to you; quenching Him by apathy and insulting Him by falling away from Christ. We who are bought by the precious blood of Christ should heed the Spirit's invitation in Revelation 22:17 "And the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires let him take the water of life freely”. Yes, the Holy Spirit warms us; “today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” Hebrews 3:15).

“When he (the Holy Spirit) comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness…..and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned”. John 16:8-11

When Jesus ascended into Heaven, He sends His Holy Spirit to indwell us and to glorify Jesus. The Holy Spirit has a three-fold function. First, He convicts the world of guilt for not believing in Jesus. Secondly, He confirms believers of righteousness through the finished work of Jesus and thirdly, the Holy Spirit condemns “the prince of this world” (Satan) in regard to judgment.

In this world where sin is so rampant, we think that the worst sins are adultery, murder and violence. However, Jesus pointed to us that the worst sin is that of unbelief (“men do not believe in me”). Why do people go to hell? The answer is “unbelief” in Jesus. Men who have been created by God but do not acknowledge God/Jesus in their lives are heading for a Christless eternity (hell). John 3:16 reads, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”. In this verse, the only way to have eternal life is to belief in Jesus. Unbelief brings self-condemnation. John 3:18 says, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him”. If men refuse and reject the “only way” for salvation through Christ, then they are opting for all the other ways that lead to eternal death. All of us have a choice – choose either eternal life or death.

The next function of the Holy Spirit is to confirm believers of righteousness. What does that mean? Jesus is God’s righteousness revealed in bodily form. He became flesh, a human being and lived a righteous life. He obeyed God’s Will in word and deed and so He committed no sin. He was the perfect and sinless sacrifice for sins of the world. Jesus, is the “Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). When Jesus died in our place, God’s righteous demand for sin was satisfied. Instead of sin, He imputed righteousness into believers. The work of the Holy Spirit is to confirm that Jesus is our righteousness. Like Abraham, righteousness is credited to us when we believe (Romans 4:3) and we have the power to continue to grow in righteousness.

When Jesus died on the Cross for the sins of the world, He condemns Satan who is “the prince of this world”. His death on the cross not only defeats Satan but also sets us free to live in obedience to Christ. The Holy Spirit indwells believers and gives them the power over the demonic forces that work against us. In Jesus’ Name and by the power and work of the Holy Spirit, we can live daily in victory!

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Gal 5:22-23

When light passes through a glass prism, it breaks up into a rainbow of seven beautiful colors. Likewise, when the believer walks and lives in the Holy Spirit, he breaks forth into the fruit of Spirit. He reflects the beauty of Christ when the nine-fold fruit of the Spirit is manifested. The nine-fold fruit of the Spirit are the virtues and qualities of the Character/Person of Christ. The Person of Christ is now at the right hand of the Father in Heaven but the Spirit of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, indwells us. When a believer is led by His Spirit, the Presence can be seen in the believer when he is like Jesus in character, nature, attitude, word and deed.

Bearing fruit becomes effortless when believers are abiding in Christ. Once, there is life and growth, fruit-bearing is natural and supernatural. Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches and when we abide in the Christ, we will bear fruit over time.

This nine-fold fruit can be grouped in the following way:

a)   Love, joy and peace - these are virtues with special emphasis on our relationship with God.

b)    Patience/longsuffering, kindness and goodness – these are social virtues relating to our thoughts and actions towards fellow men.

c)     Faithfulness, gentleness and self-control – these are virtues that reveal his spiritual and moral reliability.

If a Christian is not bearing fruit, he not only grieves the Holy Spirit but he produces the works of the flesh. Some of the works of the flesh are “sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissension, factions and envy, drunkenness, orgies…” In Gal 5:19-21, Paul is saying that those who produce the works of the flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God. Jesus said, “By their fruit you will recognize them” for “every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.” (Matthew 7:16-17)

Beloved, let’s actively and purposefully walk in the right way. The Holy Spirit is the path we walk in and He is the guide who shows us the way. We need to crucify the desires of our flesh and turn   away from the things of the flesh so as to occupy ourselves with what is godly. When we allow the Holy Spirit to control us and we set our minds on the things of the Spirit and walk by the Spirit from day to day, the fruit of the Spirit will grow in us and be visible to others.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8

The Book of Acts is an unfinished book as “the Acts of the Holy Spirit” still continues today. What the Holy Spirit did through Jesus (the Head) when He was on earth, the Holy Spirit is still relentlessly working through His Church today. The Church was birthed on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2. All believers who are born of the Spirit form the Church (Body of Christ).

Acts 1:8 is the key that unlocks the treasures in the Book of Acts. We also need this key in living, ministering and advancing in the Kingdom of God. All believers need the anointing of power of God in our lives and ministry. Apart from the Holy Spirit and His power we are merely ‘weaknesses’ in this world. When clothed with the Holy Spirit and His power, we would be effective witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

The Early Church advanced God’s Kingdom in the power of the Holy Spirit. The first sermon that Peter preached in the power of the Holy Spirit resulted in 3000 souls saved (Acts 2:41). The numbers of souls saved increased to 5000 in Acts 4:4. Then more and more men and women were added (Acts 5:14) into the Kingdom. Multitudes were saved as the believers were empowered by the Holy Spirit. In spite of increasing persecutions, the Church grew by leaps and bounds.

“The Word of God continued to increase and spread” (Acts 12:24) to Europe and to the ends of the earth. Thus, Acts 1:8 was literally fulfilled then. The apostles did not only preach in words but signs and miracles followed their preaching, thus confirming the Word. Peter and John miraculously healed a cripple simply by declaring, “In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk” (Acts 3:6). In Acts 12, we see that the Spirit-filled Church prayed and their prayer send an angel to fetch Peter out of prison. When the apostle Paul handled a viper, he suffered no harm (Acts 28:3). Dr. Luke tells us that it was “God who anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil because God was with Him”. (Acts 10:38).

Jesus promised that we who believe in Him can do what Jesus did when we rely on the Holy Spirit and His power in advancing His Kingdom to the uttermost parts of the world. In fact, you and I can be empowered by the Holy Spirit to do “greater work” than what Jesus did because He has gone to the Father” (John 14:12). Therefore, let us believe God for the impossible and experience His mighty power working through us.

“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what  was visible” Hebrews 11:3 

If you ask a physicist what a certain table is made of, he would give you an answer in terms of atoms. If you were to ask him what atoms are made of, he would give you an answer in terms of protons, neutrons and electrons. If you were to ask him if anybody has ever seen any of these things, the answer would be ‘no’. If you press him to explain to you any of these realities, the best he could do would is to give you some kind of mathematical equation or formula. Like Science, faith cannot be easily explained. Rather it is experienced. 

“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible”. It is incredible! What we can see now was first made of things we originally could not see. 

 God wants us to know that there is immense power in words. God says, “I the LORD will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay” Ezekiel 12:25a. In other words, God is saying that He is God and when He says something, it happens. When we have the breath of God in us and we speak His words, the so called ‘impossible things’ can definitely be possible for God says that His words will not return to Him void and empty.

God is seeking for men and women who take Him at His Word. He is looking for “two or three” to come together in agreement in His Name and He promises that to do what we ask for in His Name (Matthew 18:19). How much more can we do as a church or an oikos if we believe and dare to exercise our faith to do the impossible for Him.

You may think it is impossible to perform signs, wonders and miracles. Or you may think it is impossible for you to give sacrificially. Or you may think it is impossible to pray and spend more time with God. Whatever seems impossible to you, God is able to make it possible. The Holy Spirit’s power is available for us in the Jesus’ Name. The Early Church yielded to Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit, Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk” (Acts 3:6). Today, believers have plenty of silver and gold but lack the power. We need to repent and earnestly pray, “Holy Spirit come!” Come Holy Spirit, fill us afresh and empower us to do Your Work in Your way and with Your power.

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3) 

1 Corinthians 12-14 must be read and taken together. Chapter 13 is a hymn that is sandwiched between chapters 12-14 on spiritual gifts. It implies that while exercising all the gifts, love must be the glue to hold us together.

In the past, I used to think that Paul was saying that love was the most important thing and it was all we need. However, Paul is not saying that we need love and we can do without the gifts of tongues, prophecy, wisdom, knowledge or faith. Rather, Paul is saying that if we have all these gifts but have no love, it means nothing. He was emphasizing the need for the gifts and the love. In the positive, the verses should read, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels and also have love; then it is something. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have a faith that can move mountains and also have love, then it is something. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames and also have love, then it is something.” Consider the glorious power of the Christian faith when believers exercise both the gifts and the love!

Our Perfect God gives Perfect gifts to His Church. When we are baptized by Jesus with the Holy Spirit, we flow in the gifts of the Spirit. Let’s remember these 7 principles when ministering in the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the Body of Christ:-

Every gift is needful, so welcome it.

Every gift is for the common good, so exercise it.

Every gift is temporary, so it will pass away with time.

Every gift is sovereignly given, so be humble to receive it.

Every gift is a manifestation of God’s grace, so don’t despise it.

Every gift is the best gift at the right situation, so thank God for it.

Every gift depends on His fullness for effectiveness, so stay close to the Giver.

In ROLC, we proclaim that the Holy Spirit is upon us to create an environment where His gifts are welcomed, encouraged and received. We declare that we are born of the Spirit, we worship in and through the Spirit, we exercise the gifts of the Spirit and we pray in the Spirit. We declare that the Holy Spirit is our Power, our Partner and our Provider and “signs and wonders” will follow us who believe. (Mark 16:17, 18)

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:11-13. 

Christians ought to desire the Giver more than the gifts, the Benefactor more than the blessings. In short, we must desire God more than the gold. Let’s beware that we do not make gold our ‘idol’ or any gift or blessing a form of idolatry. In the above passage, Jesus stresses that our Heavenly Father wants to give us “the Holy Spirit” – the Giver. When we have the Giver, we can be assured that the gifts will be given when the need arises. 

Eph 4:11 talks about “the ministry gifts” commonly known as the “Five-fold Ministry” of the Church. “It is he (Christ) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers” (Eph 4:11). There are “apostles and prophets” today, just as there are “evangelists, pastors and teachers”.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 refers to the “9 gifts” of the Holy Spirit that are given to all believers. A believer can possess several gifts. Paul told not to be “ignorant” for the Triune God is the Giver of these “9 gifts”. He says “there are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men” (1 Cor 12:4-6). The same “Spirit, the Lord (Jesus) and God” (Father) are attributed in the giving of these “9 gifts” to the Church. It implies that the Holy Trinity is so generous and glad to bless the Church with the gifts and we, the Church, ought to gratefully accept the “9 gifts” from the hands of the Triune God.

The “9 gifts” can be placed in 3 categories;

1. Revelation Gifts (word of wisdom, word of knowledge and discerning of spirits),

2. Power Gifts (faith, gifts of healings and workings of miracles) and

3. Vocal Gifts (different kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues and prophecy.

The above gifts are given by the Triune God not based on our merits or spirituality. Therefore the gifts should be received with gratitude to glorify God and should be used to serve His purposes. May the “Invisible God” empower us to do the impossible for Him to bring glory to His Name. Amen!

In Christianity, we believe in the Triune God: God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit. There are Three Persons in God, not three gods. There is only One God and God is One. 

God the Father is called the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9, 13) and He is the Majesty on High (Hebrews 1:3). He is the Source of everything and out of Him are two other Persons who have always existed in Him. The Father has a form but He is a Spirit (John 4:24; 5:37). God the Son is the Jehovah of the Old Testament. He is the One (not the Father) who appeared to Abraham, Moses and other prophets. The Lord Jesus said to Philip in John 14:9, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” The Son is the “express image of the Father” (Hebrews 1:3) The Son is tangible and human when He was on earth for He is the visible expression of the Godhead and it is He who rules and administrates His Father’s Kingdom and universe.

The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity. He is a distinct Being who is from God and He is equal with God (John 15:26). He is a Spirit, but He also has a form like the Father and the Son. In the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit is a “He” and not an “it”. He is not just an influence or a power but He is a Person. He executes the commands of the Father and the Son and His primary function is to reveal the truth about God and glorify the Son (John 16:13-14).

The Three Persons in the Godhead (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit) are equal and they have the same nature, substance and characteristics.  They are unified in vision, thought and purpose. Paul says of Jesus, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God” (Philippians 2:6). There are differing degrees of authority in the Godhead. The Father is supreme. He is greatest in terms of position and authority. Jesus made this very clear in John 14:28, “My Father is greater (in authority and position) than I”. Both the Son and the Spirit are in submission to the Father’s will. Jesus said, “Not my will but Thine be done.” The Trinity works together in perfect unity and harmony in ruling the universe as well as in the redemption of men.

Jesus wants believers in His Church to reflect this unity in the Godhead. In John 17:20ff, Jesus prays for all believers “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent Me.”

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Suffering comes in many unwelcome forms. Sometimes, we ask God painful questions like ‘Why?’ and ‘Why me?’ Like Job, we can even become angry with God and accuse Him of injustice and indifference. A philosopher once said, “God is either not good or not almighty. Either he wants to stop suffering but cannot, or he could but will not.” If this true, he says, it is difficult to worship him as God?

Romans 8:28 was written by the Apostle Paul who had suffered so much for the cause of Christ. In 2 Corinthians 4:8-10; he said, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” This is an amazing truth!

From his personal experiences, Paul wrote, “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose”. Suffering for suffering’s sake is foolishness, but  suffering for God’s sake in obedience to His will is true glory. Paul said that if we are God’s children, “then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Rom 8:17).

In the Bible, “suffering” and “glory” go together. They are like a pair of Siamese twins. You cannot have glory without suffering or suffering without glory. 2 Timothy 2:12 tells us, “If we endure (suffer), we will also reign with him”. Paul said that troubles, sufferings and afflictions are only “light and momentary” in comparison to the “eternal glory that outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17). When we see things from God’s perspective, we have strength to overcome any form of afflictions. When we are able to place our problems and suffering in God’s Hand, God will work out all things for our good because “we are called according to His purpose”. James, the brother of Jesus says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” (James 1:2-3).

We should not be alarmed by the afflictions and suffering in the world today for Jesus has already pre-warned us in John 16:33b, “In this world you will have trouble (tribulations). But take heart!  I have overcome the world.” Let us not fear what the world fears, for we live in a different plane, we live in Christ. We have “been raised with Christ” and so we set our “hearts on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set our minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:1-2). Praise God that each difficult day points us nearer to the glorious Return of our Lord. When Christ, who is our life, appears, we will also appear with Him in glory, provided we are willing to suffer with Him while we live for Christ on earth. These are exciting times because we look to His Return!

“She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed: her husband also and he praises her”. (Pro 31:29-30)

The above verses described Susanna Wesley (1669-1742), the mother of John and Charles Wesley. Susanna never went to University or had any formal education, never preached a sermon, never published a book or never founded a church but she is known as the Mother of Methodism. Why?

Susanna was the youngest of 25 children of Rev. Dr. Samuel Annesley, a noted scholar, beloved clergyman, a mentor to many and a chaplain to Parliament. She had no formal education but her father taught her how to read and think for herself.

At the age of 19, she married Samuel Wesley, a bright young clergyman. Of the children born to them, 3 sons and 7 daughters survived to adulthood. In 1709, a fire destroyed their home and the family was forced to live apart. 2 daughters were looked after by an uncle in London, other children were staying with friends nearer home. Susanna's 19th child was born a month later. Though many times immobilized by shock and grief, she had great determination to unite her family and save her children's souls.

She set aside an hour each day of the week for a particular child to inquire after the state of their soul, their progress, fears, expectations, and goals in other endeavors. The Wesleys arose at 5am; each hour of the day was assigned to specific activities. Susanna’s regulated home life brought stability into the family and priorities to live a useful life.

Even after the children left home: the sons to school, the daughters to serve as governesses or to marry, Susanna wrote them letters not only about family news but about manner of living and subjects of belief. Letters to the children were meaty and insightful. In addition to her letters, Susanna wrote meditations and scriptural commentaries for her own use e.g. commentaries on the Apostles Creed, the Lord's Prayer & the Ten Commandments.

What would Susanna be like in this 21st century! But she was of the 17th & 18th centuries and it is in that context that, tucked away in a small town, she planted seeds in her children's minds that paved the way for the Methodist movement. Two of her sons, John & Charles Wesley founded the Methodist movement. From her frequent illnesses and poverty grew a lively concern for clinics for the poor. From Susanna's effective home schooling grew the recognition of the importance of education for the unskilled to learn trades to lift them from poverty. From her determination to provide regularity in a world of disorder grew a method for bringing creative, positive, Christ-centered change. From her example and methods grew Methodism. What a remarkable Christian woman!

Amy Carmichael was born on 16^th December 1867. Her parents were devout Presbyterians. She was the oldest of seven children. Her father died when she was eighteen and she was adopted and tutored by Robert Wilson, a co-founder of Keswick Convention. She was a good friend of Hudson Taylor’s daughter-in-law. Amy’s life and ministry was greatly influenced by Taylor’s faith principles of trusting God for the provision of need. She became a skilled poet and writer who wrote 35 books.

Following Taylor’s faith principles, she opened a home for orphans and founded a mission in Dohnavur, (Tamil Nadu) that cared for over 1000 girls who would otherwise be exploited as temple prostitutes. She served in India for fifty-five years without furlough and authored many books about the missionary work there.

While serving in India, Amy received a letter from a young lady who was considering life as a missionary, She asked Amy, "What is missionary life like?" Amy replied, “Missionary life is simply a chance to die”. Her life and ministry influenced and impacted others like Jim and Elisabeth Elliot who followed her steps of faith and sacrifice.

Like George Muller, Amy made specific requests to God and believed for specific amounts. God provided just as she had requested. She took Mark 16:17-18 seriously and operated in the gifts of healing, casting out demons, receiving prophetic words from the Lord, prophetic dreams and visions, miraculous prayer and other supernatural encounters.

Often we ask, “How do we hear the voice of God? How do we know the impulses we receive are divinely impressed upon us?” Amy shows us three ways to divine guidance in the walk of faith.

1. Through the Scriptures – “When reading your Bible, have you not often noticed that some word has shone out in a new, direct, clear way to you?”
2. Through the Situations – Amy recognized that God sometimes engineers circumstances, maneuvering people and situations to meet His purposes.
3. Through the Inward leading of the Holy Spirit – Amy believed in receiving a “word from the Lord”, an “irresistible divine pressure” and felt “pressed in the spirit”.

In Christ Jesus, there is no racial nor gender discrimination. Through the ages, women play an important role in the Kingdom of God. During this month, we will study the life of some women of faith and be inspired by them.

Today, we look at the life of Phoebe Palmer.  She was born in 1807 and died in 1874. She suffered many tragedies in the early years of her marriage. Her firstborn died at the age of eleven months. The following year, she had another son, Samuel, who also died seven weeks after his birth. Phoebe was crushed but she sought the Lord. She admitted that she had made idols of her children. Three years later, she gave birth to a healthy baby girl named Sarah. The Lord blessed her with another daughter, Eliza. However, baby Eliza was burned to death due to the carelessness of her nursing maid. Phoebe did not blame her and opening her Bible, this verse leaped out at her – “Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and his paths beyond tracing out” (Romans 11:33). Phoebe knew that God was speaking to her and she decided to trust in God’s goodness and love. Eliza’s death became the turning point of her life. Since then, she was passionate for evangelism.

Many scholars and Christian leaders considered her as one of the most influential Christian women of the nineteenth century. She and her husband, Walter, became the catalysts for revival in many places. It is estimated that more than 25,000 people came to know Christ through her ministry.

Phoebe believed that faith and holiness go hand in hand. She found that faith enables a person to be made holy. She said, “Holiness is a blessing which is now your privilege and also your duty to enjoy. Holiness is power and it comes through a yielded life that is fully surrounded to God.” She learned the principle of confessing her faith positively and publicly.  

Do you want the great faith of Phoebe Palmer? Fully surrender yourself to God, and trust Him wholly. Have a passion for holiness. Confess the blessings God desires to impart to you. Exercise the authority God has given you to overcome the forces of the evil one. Be not afraid of emotion, but neither gets caught up in it. Do not look for manifestations but look to Jesus. Then you will walk in fullness of faith.

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” Acts 2:42

When we read, we begin with “A, B, C”; when we begin the Christian life, we need the ‘disciplines’ of A, B, C & D.

A - Attendance in church, Oikos, Sunday School, and Bible Study. The Early Church devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching. Besides personal reading, meditation and study of God’s Word, we need to give ourselves to the “public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching” (1 Tim 4:13). The Holy Spirit says we are “not to give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing” (Heb 10:25). Family Camps, Retreats, Seminars and Workshops are important avenues for us to grow “in the knowledge of Christ” (2 Pet 3:18). Let’s devote ourselves to know what we believe and apply the Scriptures in our personal and corporate growth.

B - Body Life. God makes us as relational beings. He places us in the Church (the Body of Christ) and He is our Head. The Holy Spirit dwells in this corporate Body as well as in the individual body (1 Cor 3:16; 6:16). There is the need for believers to fellowship and experience the ministry of the Body-Life. As believers, we are interdependent and dependent on Him. The psalmist says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” (Ps 133:1).

C - Celebration. The Lord Himself instituted the Lord’s Supper and He wants us to celebrate together “until He comes” (1 Cor 11:26). This Remembrance is for all believers who have obeyed the Lord through water baptism. Just as Jesus publicly obeyed the Father in water baptism, we are to be baptized and break bread together to celebrate Life and healing on the Lord’s Day. On His Body, Jesus took our diseases so we may appropriate His healing power for our weak and mortal bodies.

D - Dependence upon God. The essence of prayer is to show our utter dependence upon God for His power, provision, peace, protection and presence. When we pray in and with faith, His sweet Presence is there. He promises, “Where two or three come together in my Name, there am I with them” (Matt 18:20).

These basics are not only for the newly baptized members but they are reminders for us to be steadfast in our spiritual disciplines so that we can grow from faith to faith in advancing His Kingdom at ROLC.

“Have faith in God.” (Mark 11:22)

One morning, a budding medical student, Hudson Taylor was doing surgery on a man who had died from malignant fever. He was so careful in his work because he knew that the tiniest cut or scratch would be fatal to himself. Unfortunately, he was infected with the virus through the needle. He was in such intense pain that his superior told him, “You are a dead man. Go home quickly and set your affairs in order.”

Taylor was very sad as that meant that he could not be able to go to China as a missionary. However, deep inside him, he knew, “Unless I am greatly mistaken, I have work to do in China and I shall not die.” So, instead of hurrying home in a carriage, Taylor walked home. He almost fainted on his way and he had to continue the journey home in a carriage. Upon reaching home, he washed his hand and pierced his finger to discharge the poison. The pain was so intense that he fainted for a time but he pulled through the evening. After being bed-ridden for several weeks, Taylor recovered. All this while, he had confidence in the Lord that he would live to go to China as a missionary. 

Taylor had learned the faith principles from his friend, George Muller, and he put it to use. By faith, he founded China Inland Mission (CIM) in 1863. This earned him the title “Pioneer of Faith Missions”. To Taylor, faith was a supernatural adventure. He claimed that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 NASB). After forty years of ministry, Taylor firmly declared that “we are a supernatural people born again by a supernatural birth, kept by a supernatural power, sustained on supernatural food, taught by a supernatural Teacher from a supernatural Book. We are led by a supernatural Captain in right paths to assured victories.” 

Taylor believed faith is a gift from God which when exercised, develops into “spiritual muscles of faith.” This faith is impossible without trial. He taught that faith grows and the more it is used, the more it is given. 

Today, if you visit OMF (Overseas Missionary Fellowship) Headquarters at Cluny Road in Singapore, you will find the plaque with the inscription of his favorite verse “Have Faith in God” at the entrance to the Headquarters. CIM was renamed OMF in 1965. OMF, a missionary sending organization, now has hundreds of missionaries in more than 25 countries. This is the result of the faith of one man – Hudson Taylor. What a legacy!  What are you doing with your “have faith in God”?

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). 

The above verse best describes the life of E.M. Bounds. He became a lawyer at age 19 but gave up his promising career to answer God’s call into fulltime ministry. Bounds was ordained as a Methodist minister at the age of 24. He also served as an Army Chaplain during the American Civil War. He was captured and held in prison for 18 months. 

After that, Bounds was a man hidden away with God in prayer. During his lifetime, he never attracted a large following or gained the success and reputation that one might expect. After forty-six years of faithful ministry, he still was virtually unknown. Out of the eight classics on prayer that he wrote, only two were published during his lifetime. Though hidden and unrecognized while alive, E.M. Bounds is now considered by most evangelicals as the most prolific and fervent author on the subject of prayer.  

Bound wrote: “What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use – men of prayer, men mighty in power! The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not anoint plans, but men – men of prayer.”

After the Civil War, Bounds gathered a small group to pray on every Tuesday night to pray for revival. "For over a year this faithful band called upon the Lord until God finally answered by fire. The revival came down without any previous announcement or plan, and without the pastor sending for an evangelist to help him."  

Bounds labored in prayer for the sanctification of preachers, revival of the Church in N. America and the spread of holiness among professing Christians. He spent a minimum of three to four hours a day in fervent prayer. Sometimes, he would lie flat on his back and talk to God; but for  many hours, he would be on his knees or lying face down where he could be heard weeping. 

Today, we need men and woman like E. M. Bounds who will commit to pray for revival, for the nations, for the Church. In times like this, we should unite to pray for Singapore in our search for the most wanted man. God is also looking for His wanted ‘man’ who will devote himself to pray for God’s purposes to be fulfilled in His Kingdom. 

“You do not have because you do not ask God” (James 4:2b) 

George Muller is known as “The Apostle of Faith”. He was a Prussian by birth but migrated to England for the purpose of evangelizing the Jews. Muller had two passions: prayer and compassion for children. He established the first orphanage based on faith principles, which eventually led to the founding of five orphanages that cared for thousands of children in more than sixty years. 

Muller’s life and ministry were rooted in his understanding of Mark 11:24. It is praying for healing and claiming the promises of God for provision of needs and answers to prayers. When asked, “What do you mean by just asking God? Why do I need to ask God when He knows my needs?” Muller would simply reply, “You do not have because you do not ask God”.  Muller sought God in prayer about everything and he and his wife spent hours in prayer everyday.  

The unique thing about Muller was that he never asked people for money nor did he advertise his financial needs.  Rather, he would ask God to impress upon someone’s heart to give. He said, “If anyone desires to live a life of faith and trust in God, he must not merely say that he trusts in God, but he must really do so. 

In his biography, Muller recalled, “Not one, or five times, or five hundred times, but thousands of times in these threescore years have we had in hand for food or funds: God had never failed us, not once have we or the orphans gone hungry or lacked any good thing.” Muller did not always know how God was going to provide, but he had confidence that God would provide. 

Muller’s influence and impact were far reaching. Two of whom he mentored were J. Hudson Taylor and C.T. Studd. Hudson Taylor followed the Faith Principles of Muller and founded the China Inland Mission (CIM), now renamed as Overseas Missionary Fellowship (OMF).  C.T.Studd, a famous cricket player used the same Faith Principles and  founded World Evangelization Crusade (WEC). As a result of Muller’s walk of faith, a medical doctor by the name of Charles Cullis promoted divine healing by faith.

Can we have the kind of faith that Muller had?  Muller believed every Christian can grow the same kind of faith he lived by. His advice was “begin small”. Muller began by praying for 40 pounds and God supplied 50 pounds. That encouraged him to pray and believe for 1000 pounds to establish the first orphanage. His faith to believe God for greater provisions mushroomed ever since. If only we heed Mueller’s advice, in no time, we will be able to do the ‘impossible’.

“These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect” Hebrews 11:39-40.

Billy Graham once said, “history is His story”. There are many wonderful accounts in Church History and the Bible that tell “His story”. For the next 2 months, we will look at heroes and heroines of faith. These men and women saw the “Invisible God” and dared to do “Impossible things” for His Kingdom. The history of Christendom shows us godly men and women who “were all commended for their faith”. Let’s emulate their “Mountain Moving Faith” even when our faith is tested and purified through our struggles, sufferings, victories and defeat in our journey to heaven. It is interesting to note that Faith in God links “Abel” (Hebrews 11:4) to our present generation for “only together with us would they be made perfect”.

Having faith does not protect us from suffering; neither does lack of faith cause us to suffer. The characters that we will study in the next 2 months as well as those listed in Hebrews 11 had faith in a great God. Some even died for their faith. What then, determines whether we escape the sword or die by the sword? The answer is not "what" but "Who" determines it. The Sovereign God can deliver us but sometimes He chooses not to.

Why?  Why does God allow some to live and some to die? Often, God keeps silent as in Job’s case. Well, God’s purposes may not be easily understood by our finite minds. However, He wants us to learn the lessons of faith from His people in Hebrews 11. Let’s be people of faith and become God's witnesses to the world. Whether we live or die, we will triumph in faith. God chooses our destiny and that in itself is a mystery.

The people mentioned Hebrews 11 pleased God because of their faith in God. God has promised a new and better country for them but they have not yet received it (Heb 11:13-16) because we are the reason for the delay (Heb 11:40). We are the missing pieces in the “puzzle” of God’s Plan. God has not fulfilled this promise yet because He is waiting for us. Do you see what the writer of book of Hebrew is saying? God is saying that His Story is not complete without you and me! We are the final chapter of God's story of faith. Therefore, brothers and sisters, let’s rise up and walk steadfastly in our journey of faith with God!

“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served…..or the gods…..in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15 

Just as Moses made a challenge to the nation of Israel before his death to choose life or death (Deut 30:19-20), his successor, Joshua, made a similar challenge. He charged them to choose whom they would serve. As a family man and father, Joshua, declared his personal and family choice:  “as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord”. As a father and leader, he made a courageous decision for his whole household. He did not shirk his responsibility by delegating this decision to members in the family. He exercised his kingly and priestly role by making the godly decision – “we will serve the Lord”. Before Joshua could make that declaration, he had heeded God’s instruction in Jos.1:8 – “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth, meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful”. 

The successful Christian family is led decisively by the father/husband based on the Word of God. Obviously, a good and wise father/husband will seek God, consult his helpmate and then communicate his godly decisions to the rest of his family. When the father/husband lives in the fear of God, he is able to make wise and good decisions based on the values and principles of God’s Word. 

Life is a sum total of the choices we make. Like Joshua, we must dare to make right decisions in spiritual matters. Some of which includes “You shall have no other gods before me”, “You cannot serve both God and Money” and “Do not be yoked with unbelievers” (Ex 20:3; Matt 6:24; 2 Cor 6:14).  As a family, we must never compromise on the Christian basics for we must take up the cross and follow Christ faithfully. This is pleasing to God and He will add to us blessings upon blessings.  

As a church, we will make the choice to commit to Missions. Missions have always been the heart of God. For 3 consecutive years, we will build up the Special Missions Fund. We will start with an initial amount of $50, 000 for this year and $100,000 for the 2nd year and $150,000 for the 3rd year. We thank God for those who have experienced the blessings of tithing. We believe that God is increasingly blessing us. We will exercise faithfulness in our responsibility to grow in generosity by the way we give (tithes, pledges & offerings) for His Kingdom here and abroad. We declare we are a local and global church and therefore we must be proactive in carrying out the Great Commission (Acts 1:8) by giving and sending out workers.  

“Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated.” (Malachi 1:2b-3a), Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved but Esau I hated.” (Romans 9:13). 

Why does God love Jacob? What kind of person was he? From the beginning, Jacob was a schemer. His was already ‘wicked’ in his mother's womb. God told Rebekah that "two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; …and the older will serve the younger" (Gen 25:22, 23). True enough, Rebekah delivered twins. Esau was born first and his brother, Jacob, came after him grasping Esau's heel. Jacob had wanted to be the firstborn and therefore he held onto Esau’s heel. Thus, his name was called Jacob which means ‘supplanter’.

Romans 9:13 tells us that God had chosen Jacob to accomplish His Divine Purpose. God said to Jacob, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham, the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying….All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.” Gen 28:13-15.  Like Abraham and Isaac, God had to deal with Jacob in order to make him a channel of blessings to the nations.  

Esau despised his birthright and exchanged it for a bowl of stew but Jacob stole the birthright through his craftiness. Jacob was indeed a schemer who used his own strength to get what he wanted. Later, Jacob, together with his mother, plotted to deceive his father Isaac into getting the blessing that was rightfully Esau’s.  

God had to discipline the ‘supplanter’. Jacob suffered the consequences of being a deceiver. He was forced to run for his life. He had to leave his home to fend for himself. He suffered at the hands of his uncle and learned what it was like to be cheated (by his uncle). Finally, God encountered him and his name was changed to Israel which means ‘one who reigns with God’’. God is not ashamed to call Himself the “God of Jacob”. That is amazing!

Let’s not throw stones at Jacob. Are we not like him in many ways? Are we not deceptive in our ways? Yet God has chosen us that we should bear His Name. Like Jacob, He will discipline us because He loves us. Hebrews 12:5 says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”

“The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed” (Genesis 26:2-4)  

Of the three patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob), Isaac lived the longest. There are twelve chapters devoted to the biography of Abraham and Jacob but only one chapter (Genesis 26) was devoted to Isaac. Isaac is a type of Christ as there are some of the similarities of Isaac and Christ.  

First, Isaac was the promised seed just as  Jesus was. Genesis 17:16; Galatians 3:16 Second, Isaac's birth was a miracle (his mother was passed the age of child bearing) just as Jesus birth was miraculous (conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin). Genesis 17:17-19; Matthew 1:18-25Third, Isaac was sacrificed on Mount Moriah just as Jesus was crucified on Mt. Moriah. Fourth, Isaac was obedient to his father even unto death so was Jesus obedient to His Father unto death. Genesis 22:5; Philippians 2:5-8 

The only difference was: in the case of Isaac, a ram was substituted but in the case of Jesus, He was the substitute for the sin of all mankind. Genesis 22:13; 2 Corinthians 5:21. 7.

Abraham had personal experiences with his Father God. God appeared and spoke to Abraham on several occasions as in Genesis 12, 15, 17, 18, 21, 22. Isaac must have learned it through being the son of Abraham. The same God also appeared and spoke to Isaac. God is actively involved in every generation. Isaac learned to trust his own father Abraham and he learned to be an obedient son. He believed his father that God would provide a lamb despite the fact that there was no lamb. In obedience, he placed himself on the altar of sacrifice. Abraham and Isaac both passed the test at Mt Moriah. Abraham was an obedient son to His Father and Isaac was an obedient son to his father Abraham. Could it be that God had rewarded Isaac with long life for his obedience? (Ephesians 6:3) 

God wants to bless us and He wants to be the God of all generations. We must walk in faith in order to enjoy personal experiences of God in our generation. When we do so, our next generation will experience Him too. God is relevant to every generation. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob can be my God, my children’s God and my grandchildren’s God

“Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.” (Matt 22:29, 32) 

Many of the problems and errors in our lives are attributed to “not knowing the Scriptures and the power of God”. The prophet Hosea says that “my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). Isaiah also says, “my people will go into exile for lack of understanding” (Isaiah 5:13) 

The God we worship is referred to as the “God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”. This was first mentioned in Exodus 3:6 when Moses encountered God in the burning bush. There, God identified Himself with His people who were under severe afflictions in Egypt. 

The Jews, the Muslims and the Christians can identify themselves with Abraham but only the Jews and Christians can identify themselves with the “God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”. Why is this title so significant? First, it tells us that our God is a personal God – He knows His worshippers. Next, we see that our God is a living God. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are not ‘dead’ but are ‘alive’. Third, He is a generational God. He unites not only the three generations but all the generations. The psalmist says, “Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations”. (Psalm 90:1)  

Abraham was an ordinary man like you and I. God visited him when he was worshipping other gods. God called Abraham out from idolatry and made a covenant with him – to make him the father of God’s people. God says to Abraham, “No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations...I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you” (Gen.17:4-7). God wanted Abraham to know Him personally as the Father, the Source of Life and the Initiator of every good thing. Through all the tests and experiences, Abraham’s faith grew and he received all the blessings that His Father God had promised. He possessed the Promised Land. He became the father of many nations.

Can you identify yourself with Abraham? Isaiah 51:1 says "If you want to do right and obey the Lord, follow Abraham's example. He was the rock from which you were chipped." (Contemporary Version). He wants us to leave all forms of idolatry that robs us of our spiritual blessings. Let’s passionately and fervently worship the One True God, the Source of all good things. He chooses to bless you and all the generations after you when you choose to obey Him like Abraham did. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob wants to be your family God. Let God be your God, the God of your children and the God of your children’s children.  

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will eat. Is life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air….see how the lilies of the field grow…” (Matt 6: 25-28). 

The past week has been most worrisome for some of us, especially for those who were waiting for their O-Level results. What a relief they finally had? What a waste of unnecessary sleepless nights for those who worry. Worrying, instead of worshipping God, robs us of the joy and the strength. It blurs our view of God and siphons off the peace He gives to those who trust in Him. Worst still, by worrying, we give the Enemy too much room and attention and and allow him to devour us. When we focus on the wrong thing, we get the wrong results ie. worries, insomnia, depression and temporary defeat. 

Jesus knew that worries are needless and He told His disciples to “