God's Bounty

Sorry I've not updated for a while! We recently returned from a trip to Hokkaido. We visited a fruit orchard there, which was simply glorious. After paying a small admission fee, we could wander freely in the orchard, and pluck as much fruit as we wanted to eat. It was amazing to be there, surrounded by God's bounty - the enormous red apples, giant green pears, and deep purple grapes growing on their vines. It was amazing to choose an apple or pear growing on its tree, pluck it, and enjoy its sweet, natural, juicy taste immediately. I felt God's presence there very strongly, and His wonderful blessings - I thought about how marvellous it was that He provided us with such wonderful fruit to eat and enjoy!




A Time When It's Good To Curse!

YH heard this from a friend, who heard it from a Pastor Prince sermon. I personally did not hear the sermon, but apparently, he said something like this, which I thought was quite clever...

Sometimes, people may be a little uncomfortable with always praying for blessings, or even praying in a positive manner (although we really should try to!) so, on occasion, instead of asking God to bless you, or praying for healing in a positive way, how about asking for a curse?

For example, you can pronounce curses on things you don't want in your life. Like - Lord, I curse that bad habit of mine, or I curse the pain in my leg, or I curse the way I'm always feeling depressed, etc.

I thought this was a very good idea, as often we humans are such negative creatures...why not put some of this negativeness to good use? :) 


Songs of Worship Series: Who Am I

This is another of my favourite worship songs. It is called "Who Am I" by Casting Crowns. It has a lovely catchy tune and lyrics - and describes perfectly who we really are, and of Jesus' love for us even though we are pretty transient and insignificant (but not in His eyes).

(My comments are in red below)

Who Am I by Casting Crowns

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart

[God knows each of us by name, and has counted every hair on our heads! You may feel you are insignificant and unimportant, but you ARE important to Him. (Luke 12:6-7 says, “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.)]

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are

[It's not because of things we have done, or good works we have performed that we are important to God. It's because of what Jesus has done, and who He is. We are certainly not deserving, but He chose to suffer for us. It's a display of great love from our Heavenly Father to His creations, His children.]

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours

[Our lives are relatively short, we are pretty transient in the whole scheme of things. But Jesus still hears us when we call and comes to our aid. And we know who we are - we are Jesus'. We belong to Him. 

Many people question why are we here on this earth, and what is our purpose, etc. Well, the answer is simple. We were created by God to worship Him, and for Him to love us. That's it. I used to have the same questions. Surely there was something more purposeful in life, some mystery to discover, some enlightenment to seek. Surely we are not (as I've heard before) just puppets created like chess pieces roaming the earth? Well, I gained peace and my "enlightenment" when I realised that yes, I am a child of God and we are here because God created us to worship Him. It's as simple and as peaceful as that. The self-important man would not like this answer, though...]

Who Am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again
Who Am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me

[We are sinners, but Jesus bore all our sins for us. He loves us beyond our comprehension. He calls out to us and the only one who can calm the storm of troubles and emotions within us - no human can do that.]

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours

[edit: The Song repeats the above 2 verses]

I am Yours
Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear
'Cause I am Yours
I am Yours

[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?
Psalm 27:1]




Looking around...

My mum said this to me tonight! I was thrilled at it. She got it from a Pastor Prince sermon she heard recently:

"Look inside and be depressed
Look outside and be distressed
Look at Christ and be at rest!"


AMEN :) 


Songs of Worship: In Christ Alone

The first song in this "series" of posts is "In Christ Alone", words and music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend.

I love this song because it has the most amazing lyrics. The tune is also nice, but the lyrics are what grabs me. Good lyrics based on grace-based Christian belief is also a great way to build your own faith, because you are listening to "teaching" as you listen to the song. I'll go through it with my comments added in red, so you see what I mean -

In Christ Alone
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2001 Kingsway Thankyou Music

In Christ alone my hope is found;                             
He is my light, my strength, my song;                      
This cornerstone, this solid ground,                          
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.        
What heights of love, what depths of peace,          
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!          
My comforter, my all in all—                                      
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

[The only solid foundation for your hope is Christ. He stands firm through the fiercest droughts and storms (troubles) you may encounter in your life. 

His love, His peace, will still your fears and stop your striving! Just rest in Him, you have nothing to fear. Let Jesus be your strength, your comfort. You can stop striving and fighting, just rest and stand in His love.]

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,

Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.

[Jesus came down on earth and became man, but was still God. But He is human - He knows and understands how we feel, He feels the same emotions we do. 

When Jesus died on the cross, He FULLY satisfied God's wrath and judgment that should have fallen on us. Every one of our sins, my sins, your sins, was laid on Him. He was judged instead of us, and so in His death, we live!]

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

[Jesus died and rose again. He is victorious over death. Because of what He did, sin has lost its grip on us. We can stand victorious in Christ. All our sins were paid for by Jesus' precious blood.]

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.

[We now need not feel guilty or condemned in life, because Jesus bore our sins and was punished for us. Do we deserve to be punished? Yes! But we won't be, because Jesus was punished instead. Is this fair? No! But this is the gift we have received. Accept it with gratitude and praise for God. 

No power of hell or evil scheme can separate us from God now. Despite the situations that you may face, stand in the power of Christ - stand in victory and when you fight, fight from victory, not for victory.]




Songs of Worship Series - Intro

I was listening to some songs of worship today and was struck (as I am each time I listen) to the lyrics. There's nothing like listening to good music worshipping Jesus - it can move your heart in an amazing way. They don't call it "worship" for nothing! A good tune and moving lyrics can even bring me to tears and helps me feel God's personal love for me.

Today as I was listening, I thought it would be interesting to include some lyrics of songs I particularly like. As song lyrics are an expression of Christian faith and belief, there are some songs that get it right, and some that are slightly condemning. So it is also important when you listen to worship songs, that you also take in the right message! 




"The race is not to the swift" - some hope for us slow runners

"The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill, But time and chance happen to them all."

Ecclesiastes 9:11

I was just reading the quote of the day that popped up on the site (Ecclesiastes 9:11) and felt prompted to write something about it. "The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong...But time and chance happen to them all." This sounds quite arbitrary, doesn't it? But I think it gives us (the ones who are not the fastest, nor the smartest) a little hope... 

And it's not "luck" or "fate" that's behind the "time and chance" either, but God. I think this is what it means to be blessed by Him. You don't have to be the most intelligent, or the one with the most skill at something, but God can put you at the right place at the right time. 

So, if you have ever felt down that you are not good enough at something, or wonder if you can succeed when you know so many people out there are better, stronger, smarter, wiser, etc. take heart. If God is on your side (and He is!) then there's nothing you can't achieve with Him helping. This is something I've got to keep reminding myself of, too. If it came down to the crunch, which would you prefer? To be the most intelligent person on this earth? To be the most talented person, the most popular person, the most lucky person, or to have God looking out for you all the time? 

Slightly off point, but I think it is interesting how people can more readily believe in the concept of luck, Lady Luck, or fate (all non-physical concepts) but have difficulty in believing in God... 




Prayer to Overcome Fear - 2 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7

If you suddenly feel afraid, or are plagued by doubts, stress, etc. this one-line prayer is really handy and powerful. When we are afraid, it can be difficult to just stop being afraid on our own accord. Often if we tell ourselves (or someone tells us) - stop being afraid, or there's nothing to be afraid of, etc., often this doesn't really help, even if we logically know our fears are silly (or we just want to calm down). So we need something more powerful and reassuring than that, and this verse is perfect.

In 2 Timothy 1:7, God is telling us that He did NOT give us a spirit of fear. Our spirit is NOT a fearful spirit. Instead, our spirit is powerful. Our spirit is one of love. And our spirit has a sound mind - that means those crazy, silly, insecure fears and thoughts that may enter our mind is NOT the real you.

I really recommend memorising this simple, one-line verse, and the next time you are caught in fear, pray it out loud (or under your breath if you're in public!) and keep repeating it over and over again until the fear leaves you. And while you pray, imagine your spirit as a powerful spirit, a loving spirit, and a spirit with a sound mind that doesn't succumb to irrational thoughts.

(Then, once you have calmed down, if the situation is appropriate, pray to God for protection!)




Prayer is the answer to every problem in life

YH fowarded me this quotation that was published in 1965. I thought it was lovely and positive, and very apt at describing the Power of Prayer!

"Prayer is the answer to every problem in life.
It puts us in tune with divine wisdom which knows how to adjust everything perfectly.
So often we do not pray in certain situations because from our standpoint the outlook is hopeless.
But nothing is impossible with God.
Nothing is so entangled that it cannot be remedied.
No human relationship is too strained for God to bring about reconciliation and understanding.
No habit is so deeply rooted that it cannot be overcome.
No one is so weak that they cannot be strong.
No one is so ill that they cannot be healed.
No mind is so dull that it cannot be made brilliant.
Whatever we need or desire, if we trust God, He will supply it.
If anything is causing worry or anxiety, let us stop rehearsing the difficulty and trust God for healing, love and power."

Unknown author, Review and Herald, October 7, 1965. 


Fear Not, the Lord is on Your Side - Psalm 118

If you are feeling afraid or fearful, or have something challenging to do and feel like you are facing it alone, firstly, know that you are not alone, and take strength in the knowledge that God is on your side, fighting for you. 

It also helps to read and pray some relevant chapters in the Bible, such as Psalm 118. I especially like verses 5 -6:

I called on the LORD in distress;
The LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.
The LORD is on my side;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
(Psalm 118:5-6)

The Lord answers you when you are distressed, and He is on your side. You need not fear what man will do to you - you have the greatest, the strongest, the most loving being, your Creator on your side, fighting for you!

Even long ago, this was the case. King Hezekiah said these words to his men before battle -

“Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.”

(2 Chronicles 32:7-8)

These words can still hold true today - your challenge may be like the king of Assyria and his multitudes... but you have the Lord on your side, and that is MORE than all the multitudes!

Psalm 118 (extract)

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

10 All nations surrounded me,
But in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
11 They surrounded me,
Yes, they surrounded me;
But in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
12 They surrounded me like bees;
They were quenched like a fire of thorns;
For in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
13 You pushed me violently, that I might fall,
But the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.




Trust in the Lord - Proverbs 3:5-6

Another of my favourite verses is Proverbs 3:5-6. It is also good to memorise and use as a prayer for many different situations, eg. when you feel uncertain, are trying to make a decision, or when you get frustrated with how things are turning out in your day or life. If you are the sort of person who deals with situations like traffic jams by reasoning that the Lord is delaying you for a good reason, then this prayer also helps. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 is also a wonderful prayer to say in the morning, especially on days you face something challenging (like a new situation or difficult task). As you pray the words, feel yourself relaxing and trusting in Him, and know with confidence (and joy!) that He will direct everything you do that day, and that it will turn out well. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

This version is from the New International Version (NIV), and I like it over other versions simply because I prefer the wording. Also, the NIV version of Proverbs 3:5-6 is written on our little stone tablet that is propped up against the wall next to our coffee machine, and I read it as I wait for the coffee. It is a great prayer to say every morning just to worship the Lord.




Enforce Your Healing Rights

God made a lot of promises to His people in the Bible, but you'd have to agree that many Christians today are not living the blessed, abundant life that God promised. Why? First of all, it is not because God was lying, or that He chooses to bless some people over others. God doesn't want to see His people lead lives full of pain, suffering or misery. Christians are meant to be an example to the world about how great and wonderful God is.

One of the things God promised His people is health and healing. 

"Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases" Psalm 103:3

“So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days." Exodus 23:25-26

But, you may ask, why do I still get sick or have that painful symptom?

Your sickness/disease is NOT from God

Firstly, the world we live in is a fallen world, with pain, sickness, and disease. But it is extremely important for you to know and believe that God did not give you your sickness or disease. 

Some people believe that God made them sick as a kind of test or punishment. This is NOT true. God is not punishing you, because all your sins have already been forgiven. Jesus already bore all your sins on the cross. 

God said, 

"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Hebrews 8:12

"Who forgives all your iniquities" Psalm 103:3

Nor is sickness a test from God to make you stronger or to teach you some lesson. When Jesus walked on earth, He didn't go around healing some people and giving others diseases to teach them something! He cured all the sick people who went to Him. And "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8. 

If you really believe sickness is some test to teach you something, would you then pray for your children or loved ones to be "blessed" with some teaching, too? Of course not! You wouldn't want your child to be sick, neither does your Heavenly Father want you to be sick.

So, why are Christians still suffering from sickness and disease?

I believe that one of the reasons is the lack of knowledge of their healing rights. God says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Hosea 4:6. 

God has promised us health in the Bible, but do we really believe it? And why must we believe it for it to take effect, can't we just be healed because God has promised it, and He's all powerful, so He should just heal us whether we believe it or not?

Sometimes miracles do happen and God steps in. But more often than not, we need to take some action, too. It's like we are hanging off the side of a cliff and God is reaching down to to rescue us. But we may also need to stretch our hand up for His hand to pull us up.

Here's a shopping analogy to help explain why you may need to take some action regarding your own healing:

You decide to become a member of a tennis club, and upon joining, you are given a membership brochure with information about the club, when and where they hold classes, and additional benefits of being a member.

The next day, you head out to the local sporting shop to buy some tennis equipment. You pay for the equipment, then leave. What you didn't know, though, was that members of the tennis club enjoy a 20% discount off all tennis equipment at that shop. The information was in the membership brochure, but you had not read it. As a result, you didn't inform the salesgirl you were a member, and you didn't receive your discount. The shop was willing to give you the discount, but because you did not speak up, you didn't benefit from it.

Healing can work the same way. You are a member of a club, ie. a Christian. Being a member entitles you to certain benefits given by God. But you also have to speak up and enforce your benefit ie. healing in order to receive it.

Why do things work this way?

Well, it doesn't always work this way. People can get healed without prayer. But it's better to pray bold prayers than not to take any action at all. If you are suffering from some sickness or are in pain, why not remind God of His promise that He will heal you? When you pray words like, "God, you said you are a God who heals all my diseases, so I know you have healed this disease/this pain of mine!", isn't this a bold and faithful statement of your trust in Him? 




The Benefits of God - Psalm 103

This is another of my favourite psalms, especially the first five verses, which list the benefits of God. 

Verses 1-5 are quite short so it is good to memorize, as it is a very handy prayer to pray as you go about everyday life. Of course you can always pray using your own words, but there's power in quoting God's Word, too, and sometimes when you are in the midst of your emotions, it can be hard to express yourself.

Pray these words under your breath whenever you are feeling down, want to pray for healing, long life, protection, or when you just want to worship God!  

Psalm 103:1-5

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

I believe in the truth of the Bible (see previous post The Bible - the basis for everything) so when I read these verses, I believe them. Literally.

The benefits of God we are entitled to as Christians:

• God heals ALL your iniquities - your sins have ALL been forgiven (due to Jesus' work on the cross);
  
• God heals ALL your diseases - the question of Will God heal me? is answered!
  
• God redeems your life from destruction - this includes an early death. God will save you from your life being destroyed by destructive habits, behaviour, drugs, alcohol, etc.
  
• God crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies (self-explanatory)
  
• God satifies your mouth with good things and renews your youth.
  

Psalm 103 Praying Tips:

Here are some tips when praying Psalm 103:1-5 that I find helps me. I visualise each line as I pray it. This helps the words become a lot more meaningful and real to me as well.

When you are saying, "all that is within me, bless His holy name!", feel your entire body, all your limbs and organs praising God... 

When you pray the words, "who heals all your diseases", imagine your body in perfect health, or imagine God immediately healing the parts that are troubling you at that moment, and visualise them healthy...

If you are walking in a dangerous area or you suddenly have a fearful thought like - what if a car appears and hits me? - recite "who redeems your life from destruction" and visualise yourself protected and walking past without anything happening.

When you say, "your youth is renewed like the eagles', imagine your whole body regenerating and youthful!




A Hidden Message from Adam's Family

When reading the Bible, have your eyes ever glazed over some of the long lists of names recorded? Sure, it may not be the most important thing to read who begat whom and who lived until how many years, but did you know there's a message hidden within the genealogy of Adam?

Right at the start of the Bible, in Genesis 5, God lists several generations of Adam's descendants (I've set it out below - you needn't read it through carefully, just get a rough idea of what it's about!): 

Genesis 5

1 This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created. 3 And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. 4 After he begot Seth, the days of Adam were eight hundred years; and he had sons and daughters. 5 So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died. 6 Seth lived one hundred and five years, and begot Enosh. 7 After he begot Enosh, Seth lived eight hundred and seven years, and had sons and daughters. 8 So all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years; and he died. 9 Enosh lived ninety years, and begot Cainan.[a] 10 After he begot Cainan, Enosh lived eight hundred and fifteen years, and had sons and daughters. 11 So all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years; and he died. 12 Cainan lived seventy years, and begot Mahalalel. 13 After he begot Mahalalel, Cainan lived eight hundred and forty years, and had sons and daughters. 14 So all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years; and he died. 15 Mahalalel lived sixty-five years, and begot Jared. 16 After he begot Jared, Mahalalel lived eight hundred and thirty years, and had sons and daughters. 17 So all the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred and ninety-five years; and he died. 18 Jared lived one hundred and sixty-two years, and begot Enoch. 19 After he begot Enoch, Jared lived eight hundred years, and had sons and daughters. 20 So all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years; and he died. 21 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. 22 After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. 23 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. 24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. 25 Methuselah lived one hundred and eighty-seven years, and begot Lamech. 26 After he begot Lamech, Methuselah lived seven hundred and eighty-two years, and had sons and daughters. 27 So all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years; and he died. 28 Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and had a son. 29 And he called his name Noah, saying, “This one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD has cursed.” 30 After he begot Noah, Lamech lived five hundred and ninety-five years, and had sons and daughters. 31 So all the days of Lamech were seven hundred and seventy-seven years; and he died. 32 And Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah begot Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 

Whew! So the sons of Adam listed are: Adam, Seth, Enosh, Cainan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech and Noah. (Note: we are stopping at Noah, and not mentioning his three sons - they have separate genealogies)

Let's take a look at what their names mean...

ADAM - means "man", from adomah (man).

SETH - means "appointed". The 3rd mentioned son of Adam and Eve. When he was born, Eve said, "For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed." (Genesis 4:25)

ENOSH - means "mortal", "frail" or "miserable". From the root anash, meaning to be incurable, grief, woe, sickness.

CAINAN - (also Kenan/Qenan) from one of three words, one meaning "spear", another "dirge, chant, elegy (a song/poem of sorrow or lamentation", and a third meaning "sorrow".

MAHALALEL - means "the blessed God". From mahalal (blessed) and El (God).

JARED - means "shall come down". From the verb yaradh (shall come down).

ENOCH - means "teaching" or "commencement". From the verb hanak, meaning dedicate, begin, also imprint, instruct, make wise. 

METHUSELAH - means "his death shall bring". From muth (death) and shalach (to bring, to send forth). The flood began the year that Methuselah died.

LAMECH - means "despairing". The name still exists in the English word "lament".

NOAH - means "to bring relief", "rest" or "comfort". His father Lamech says in Genesis 5:29 - "And he called his name Noah, saying, "this one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands..."

SO...... Put together, what is the hidden message?

Adam Seth Enosh Cainan Mahalalel Jared Enoch Methuselah Lamech Noah 

-->

Man Appointed Mortal Sorrow The Blessed God Shall come down Teaching His death shall bring (The) despairing Rest

Amen!

                




I've amended the last two paragraphs of the post "The Ten Commandments no longer apply..." 


The Ten Commandments no longer apply...

If anyone tells you that the Ten Commandments still apply to you, a Christian, you can politely inform them that they don't because you are Christian, not Jewish.

For Christians today, the Ten Commandments no longer apply. Does that sound radical? Well, the Bible actually says so!!!

Take a look at Hebrews 8:7-13 -

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 

8 Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— 

(So, God says He is going to make a new covenant)

9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD. 

(This covenant is not going to be the same as the first one made with the children of Israel who were led out of Eygpt. Which covenant was made at that time? The Ten Commandments (and other miscellaneous laws, see Deuteronomy 5 - 27).

10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 

(This is the New Covenant that has REPLACED the Old Covenant! The laws are no longer written on stone tablets, but in our minds and hearts. 

So does this mean people can go out and commit adultery, murder, etc.? Well, the Ten Commandments no longer apply, but look at what has replaced it - God's going to put His laws in His people's hearts and minds. Do you think God would put a thought like - go cheat on your spouse or kill so-and-so in your heart or mind? The answer is of course NOT! 

So, why the big deal, if ultimately, it leads to a similar way of living? 

It is a big deal, because of the way the Old Covenant was worded. If people obeyed all the laws, all the time, they would be blessed. If they failed to obey even one time, they would be cursed. As Jesus said, if you get angry at someone without cause, that's considered murder, and if you look at someone lustfully, God views that as adultery. (Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28). Now let's be honest. Have you ever gotten angry at someone for no good reason or admired another human body? The law is perfect, but man isn't, so ultimately, man is doomed to failure under this system. 

God was merciful and gave us another chance in the form of a New Covenant. In the New Covenant, how does God deal with man's imperfections?)

11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 

12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

(Verse 12 is a beautiful and amazing statement - God has chosen to forget our sins and lawless deeds! But how does this fit into the concept of God being a just God? He said previously that if we broke a law, we'd be punished. Now He's saying He'll forget all about it.... Now God can certainly change any rule He wants to, but He doesn't work that way. So, what happened?

Jesus came down to earth and said, Punish Me, instead. God punished His own Son on the cross, instead of us. And after all our sins were punished, God said He will remember them no more. That's Grace!)

13 In that He says, “A new covenant, ” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

The previous covenant is obsolete because Jesus fulfilled it. All that we were unable to do, He did for us. This is why He said, "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill." (Matthew 5:17) God is now able to justly forget our sins and lawless deeds because Jesus has been punished for them on our behalf.  This is the New Covenant of grace!

Why is this so important? Because if you keep putting yourself under the Old Covenant (ie. the Ten Commandments), and keep struggling to obey the law, you are actually implying (although you may not mean to) that Jesus' work on the cross was not necessary. It also keeps you further from (rather than closer to) God, because you know deep inside that it is impossible for you to keep the law perfectly. 

(And you can't be angry at me for saying this because then you'd just have broken a law...)

(This is a really huge topic and not everything is covered in this post. I've only concentrated on Hebrews 8 here and the general concept of the Old and New Covenants.)




Faith for Healing - Mark 2:1-12

I remember a sermon I heard a while back that left a strong impression. It was about how Jesus sees our faith, and in this particular case, our faith for divine healing.

A lot of times, we may hear people say that you have to have faith for healing. So, what kind of faith do we need?

3 of the 4 gospel stories describes an incident where Jesus healed a paralysed man. (Matthew 9:1-8, Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:17-26). All 3 versions are basically the same. Jesus was in a house in Capernaum, and a lot of people were gathered there to listen to Him preaching. Then some men (Mark mentions 4 men) brought a paralysed man who was lying on his bed to the house but they couldn't enter due to the crowd of people there. So, what did these 4 men do? They climbed to the rooftop of the house, and broke through the roof above Jesus. Then they carried the paralysed man up to the rooftop and lowered him down through the opening. 

So, picture this in your mind: Jesus is sitting inside a crowded house, preaching, and there's some noise coming from above, and then suddenly a man on a bed is being lowered from the roof. So Jesus looks up. What does He see? 

The bed? A man lying on a bed? The heads and hands of 4 men as they lower the man on the bed (presumably with ropes of some kind)? The hole in the roof? 5 people about to interrupt His teaching?

I suppose He did, but He saw something else, too...

"Jesus saw their faith" - Mark 2:5

That's such a beautiful line! When Jesus saw the 4 men lowering down their paralysed friend, Jesus saw their faith! The 4 men believed that Jesus would heal their friend, and went to great lengths to enable Jesus to see him (carrying a man up to a rooftop and lowering him down takes some strength!) and the paralysed man believed Jesus would heal him, too - he allowed the 4 men to carry him up and lower him down - what if they had dropped him halfway?

Basically, all 5 men believed that Jesus COULD and WOULD heal the man. That's the faith we need to have for healing! Jesus can heal you and WILL heal you, too! In today's context, we can't physically go to where Jesus is preaching, but He's left us His Word in the Bible. And we can't physically break a hole in a rooftop to show our faith, but we can go before Him boldly in prayer.

How do we pray boldly? There's no fixed words, but compare the two versions:

1. Thank you for your healing Jesus, I know You are my healer. I thank you for healing me of this disease/pain/sickness etc.

2. Please Jesus, heal me, if that is Your will..

Which version do you think shows a bold faith?

Click to read the full story (Mark 2:1-12)

Mark 2:1-12
1 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. 3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.
5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Just a few comments about the rest of this story. Jesus forgives the paralysed man his sins (for Christians today, we are blessed because Jesus bore our sins on the cross and all our sins have been forgiven!). Then some people there got a bit upset because they thought only God can forgive sins (they did not recognise Jesus was God). Jesus knew what they were thinking, so He asked them which was harder - to forgive sins or to say to the paralysed man, get up and walk? 

Answer: It is harder to tell the paralysed man to stand up, because it will be obvious one moment after whether he actually stands or not. To say your sins are forgiven, well, it can't be seen physically. So Jesus showed them His power on earth to forgive sins (the "easier" option) by doing the more "difficult" option - healing the man and showing them physical proof right away. 




Comfort for Aging

This verse is from the New Century Version, and when I first heard it I felt really emotional. The words from our Heavenly Father are so comforting and warm and speak to the fear of aging and being alone.

I have carried you since you were born;
I have taken care of you from your birth.
Even when you are old, I will be the same.
Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you.
I made you and will take care of you.
I will carry you and save you.

Isaiah 46:3-4 

(New Century Version)




Psalm 91 - A Psalm of Protection

When you experience moments of fear, it is hard to stop being afraid by just telling yourself to stop. You need something more powerful to help you overcome your fear, and that power is prayer. Psalm 91, a prayer of protection, is a very good prayer for such situations.

I love this Psalm. It is comforting and powerful and bold. Most of the Psalm describes what you are protected from by dwelling in God's shadow - protection against disease, terrors in the night, destruction in the day, illness in your house, etc. I love the vivid imagery of verse 7 - a thousand people, ten thousand people may be dropping around you like flies, but you will not be affected! 

The last part of the Psalm (verses 14-16) is the most beautiful, though. The viewpoint shifts from a 3rd person point of view, to God's point of view. God promises to answer when you call, deliver you from trouble, satisfy you with long life and show you His salvation. I quote this part often, especially if some sudden fear enters my head about an early death. 

Next time you are fearful, or as a daily routine, try reading this Psalm, and as you read, believe in God's promises to you! He doesn't lie.

Psalm 91

1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”

3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”




The Bible - the basis for everything

The Bible is the basis and foundation of Christian belief. We believe that the Bible was written by God (ie. God inspired the authors to write down what they did). It is God's love story to us. He writes about His relationship with man and His great love for us. It contains what He has promised to do, what He has already done, and what He would like us to do.

So the question today is - do we truly believe that what the Bible says is true?

Why is this important? Because our faith flows from believing God's words in the Bible. The children's hymn - "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so" - sums up this point. If we don't really believe what the Bible tells us, it is difficult for our faith to be strong. Does Jesus really love me? Does God want to heal me? Does God want my life blessed? All these questions start to spring to mind if we don't have knowledge about what God says on these topics, and secondly, if we know what is written, but don't really believe it.

The answers to those questions are in the Bible (and they are all YES). Some things, though, require your knowledge and belief before they can fully manifest. So let's continue to grow our faith by finding out what the Bible says on various topics. 

'So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.' Romans 10:17 


A Graceful Epiphany

20 something years in a traditional denominational church and yes, I'd heard a lot of and read a bit of the Bible. I was familiar with most of the parables, Jesus' life and a lot of other Biblical stories - I thought I was familiar with the pertinent details a Christian ought to know. I'd read the whole of Genesis. And struggled through Deuteronomy. I've even had my share of exploration and doubt and spent some time wondering how accurate the Bible actually was and if I needed God at all. But slowly I felt God calling me back and I came full circle and returned to Him. I was that lost sheep He went searching for and found at one time, the prodigal son who returned. But...

... my true moment of Christian Epiphany came on 6th August 2004, when I attended an evening service at New Creation Church. I was brought there by a friend, and I was more than a little suspicious of what I termed a "happy clappy" type of church. But from the moment their senior pastor, Pastor Joseph Prince started talking, I was captivated by his message. I sat there for the full hour-plus sermon, awe-struck and soaking up the message I heard like a sponge. The words spoke to the depths of my spirit, which heard it and whispered, Yes, this is right. After the sermon, I rushed to find some pen and paper and sat down to write everything I could remember (to my amazement, I found I could actually remember quite a lot). 

One of the first few things I heard that I was struck by was this -

If you do bad things, do you lose favour with God?
No.

If you do good works, do you gain favour with God?
No.

And that one does not do good works to gain favour with God, one does good works out of love for God. 

I also learnt about grace, and the law. Sure, grace is a concept Christians know about. We have been saved by the grace of Jesus Christ. He died for us, took our sins for us. But what about the law, how did that all fit in? I learnt that Jesus fulfilled the law, and that because we are now under the New Covenant, we are no longer under the law of the Old Covenant- the Ten Commandments. We are no longer under the Ten Commandments? What was all that about? I'd grown up watching and loving the Charlton Heston movie "The Ten Commandments" - they showed it once a year every Easter, so I probably saw it more than 10 times. I'd thought the Ten Commandments were an essential part of Christian life... well, I finally found out that yes, it mattered for B.C. people (pre-Jesus), but that today, because of Jesus' sacrifice, all our sins have been forgiven, and we are under the New Covenant of grace! (I'll write more on this at a later date, as it needs further explanation...)

On the evening of my epiphany, I also took my first step into really knowing and feeling God's love for me. It became so much more than a general - hey, God loves you - it was this awesome knowledge that He loved me personally.

I will always look back and remember that feeling of epiphany and revelation, and how for the first time, I felt so alive, loved, and at peace.