Finality of our Obedience

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
(Heb 11:8,17)

Obedience is to conform or heed a command or authority. Which is also to subject oneself, voluntary action or to become subordinate to another.

These days where there is a widespread of antinomianism (teaching that Christians are free from obeying the moral law of God by virtue of grace) or ‘cheap grace’ as Dietrich Bonheoffer put it; we need to come back to the truth of obedience to God’s commandments. Jesus warns us in Matt 24:12 that lawlessness will abound in the end times. Therefore it shouldn’t surprise us as Christians that the cheap grace gospel is spreading like wild fire in churches that uphold prosperity rather than the clarion call to holiness in order to be distinct from the world. Confusion about justification of the sinner is confused with the pilgrimage of sanctification; a journey any true obedient believer in Christ will have to take.

1. What does faith and believe in God require?

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
(Jas 2:21-24)

Why was Abraham mentioned instead of Abram? Wasn’t it an ‘Abram’ that left Ur of the Chaldeans in Gen 12? Abram means ‘exalted father’ whereas Abraham means ‘father of multitudes’. From man’s perspective it was an exalted father that left the comforts of his homeland but God saw a potential of multiplication of a man’s life in His hands. Man look for exaltation but God looks for multiplication in His divine purposes. We need to see things from God’s perspective to understand posterity because it concerns the long term blessings and even to generations down the road. Currently there is a heightened focus of prosperity which involves the ‘now’ more than posterity. We can end up having spiritual short sightedness if we don’t see from God’s perspective. As Jesus saw the potential in young boy’s 2 fishes and 5 dry barley loaves (the poor eat barley loaves, while the rich had wheat during Jesus’ days. Never say we can only give unto Jesus out of abundance only, give Him out of our little!) of feeding the multitude with abundant of left over’s. Note that it was multiplied for others whereas the prosperity gospel preaches multiplication for self. God is more interested in multiplying us and the things (time, money, talents, etc) we gladly place in His hands than bringing up covetous children.

So it was an obedient Abraham that God saw leaving his homeland. What else truly reflects the Christ-like character of selflessness? Because Jesus said ‘thy will be done’ in his prayer in Gethsemane. Jesus also taught us to pray ‘your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven’. When Jesus made the requirement that if anyone will come after Him, we have to deny self; this means that we have to give up our will to be obedient. The opposite of obedience is to be self-willed.

Many Christians if not all Christians would like to be God’s friend as was Abraham, but the criteria is ‘perfecting’ or completing our faith by obeying. Please leave the sentimentality that God is our friend and start walking the journey of obedience first. That could account for the frivolity that we have in Christianity today for ‘familiarity breeds contempt. Let there be a sense of reverence and honor for the Almighty God. True obedience is inward reverence, not just outward expression.

2. Who is it that obeys?

If ye love me, keep my commandments.
(John 14:15)

True obedience has to be founded in love. In any love relationship we want to find out what the object of our love has in their hearts. For example, in a courting between and young man and a young woman, it could be red roses or chocolates or just sitting down and talking that pleases the other party. We would obviously avoid things that would cause hurt, discomfort or dislike in the other party. In order to please the other we would have to find out what is in the person’s heart first then completing it by the action.

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
(1Jn 5:3)

If we desire to respond to our love of God, we will gladly do so by our obedience. In Gen 29:20, after having been cheated of 7 years and having to slave (the word ‘work’ in this verse carry connotation of being a bond-servant of Laban) for another 7 years for his beloved Rachel, was but a few days. Oh, how we need to come back to this place of love relationship with our Lord that involves pleasing Him first for it should bring us joy in doing so rather than finding it a chore.

3. God’s divine order

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
(Eph 6:1-4)

God’s divine order is the secret to family unity in these days of divorces (even in churches) and breakdown of relationship between parents and children. This commandment teaches us to honor our parents whom we can see, like wise we will be able to honor our Father who we can’t see physically. The promise to children would be live long, beyond living long is to live a fulfilled life without regrets. Jesus died at 33 and many great men and women died young like Jim Elliot who died at the age of 28. The man that wrote ‘He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose’ didn’t die before his time, but lived to the fullest of God’s timeline for him. The mission to the Auca Indians in Ecuador didn’t end abruptly but had long lasting fruit in that indigenous people group. Surely Jim Elliot didn’t die an untimely death but lived to the fullest of God’s plan. Jesus lived and died and cried out that it was finished on the cross and we are now recipients of that blessing of salvation. Again we see God’s sovereign hand at work in multiplying to bless generations down the road.

For parents, the Apostle warns us not to provoke our children to wrath. Today we see many children growing up angry. This is clearly reflected in their music, dressing and lifestyle. Dear parents, in order not to push our children down this road of destruction, we have to be parents that are ‘in the Lord’. Parents must come under the Lord-ship of Jesus Christ. Parents have to show the example of submission and obedience to their Lord. Children are not blind to see if their parents live double-lives. Parents can’t afford to live as hypocrites before their children. There are always the pairs of eyes staring at their parents in observation on how they respond to life.

5. What does obedience bring us to?

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
(Heb 11:17)

Obedience will finally be put to the ultimate test. Are God’s promises and blessings more important than the Giver? The Isaac’s that God will try us are not necessary bad but could be the best of God’s blessings and promises.

And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.
(Gen 22:1-5)

Abraham left the 2 young men behind because the test of obedience is going beyond alone. There is such sacredness in God’s testing that it should not be publicized but only witnessed by God and not man. The number 2 speaks of division as in creation started on the second day (Gen 1:6). In the incident of the first bringing back of the ark to Jerusalem in 2 Sam 6, there were 2 men, Uzzah which means ‘strength’ and Ahio which means ‘brotherly or good intentions’. In the finality of our obedience God wants us to leave our strength and all that we are within ourselves; and good intentions behind to face the test. Stripped of these two would mean we are brought to the end of ourselves. And test of obedience will in the end bring us to this stage. Is it about God or is it about us?

On the third day (in Hos 6:2 the third day is the day of raising up or resurrection as with Jonah and Jesus) the test of obedience took place. The test of obedience would determine if we will live before God or before man. Are we to live for men to see or for God to see?

All this is a reflection of Luke 9:23, when confronted with our cross. It’s the end of ourselves and starting the journey that Christ liveth in me (Gal 2:20).

……for now I know …….
(Gen 22:12)

God wants to know if we will obey Him to the end. The word ‘know’ is the same word used in Gen 4:1 when Adam knew Eve to conceive a child, this knowing is in deepening intimacy that produces fruit or multiplication. At this time of history the sealing of the deep intimate friendship between God and Abraham to multiply the latter’s seed and bring generational blessings. In other occasions it mentions that God spoke to Abraham, but in this incident God spoke to Abraham out of heaven. It seems that at this crucial time of the test of obedience Heaven and Earth would meet. We should not be afraid of such test of obedience because it brings Heaven down into our lives. Ever wondered why many of us don’t have the reality of Heaven in our Christian pilgrimage?

Finality of obedience brings us to the place like Abraham is unquestionable obedience and complete trust in God’s divine purposes to break us as broke bread (multiply) and feed (generational blessings). This kind of obedience changes our status to being a friend of God.

Amos, the message and the messenger

Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:
(Amo 7:14 KJV)

Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah: “ I was no prophet, Nor was I a son of a prophet, But I was a sheepbreeder And a tender of sycamore fruit.
(Amo 7:14 NKJV)

The message
Instead of weighing the message that Amos brought of God’s judgment, Amaziah went to complain to king Jeroboam that the ‘land can’t bear with all his words’. God in His mercy warned Israel through His servants the prophets (Amos 3:7). Amos had a strong message to other nations first (which the listeners probably readily accepted because it involves others) then turning to Israel and it became hard to swallow. He must have had a tremendous sense of boldness to declare the things he did. If his message didn’t carry God’s authority, it would have been promptly dismissed, but something must have stirred within the hearts of the listeners. I wonder if we were there listening to Amos speaking the hard message, would we have heeded and repented. I wonder if these lone voices crying in the wilderness today are still being negatively reacted to. There are definitely these voices today which many churches take as being too harsh and say that these message don’t carry the elements of ‘grace’ in them. Many find means and ways to counter these messages. If they weren’t true, why bother to fight back? On the flip side, we have to realize that God’s grace did exist in these messages because they are warnings prior to impending judgment. Of course we have to be like the noble Bereans (Acts 17:10) to search Scripture even though the message was from the apostle Paul. The plumb line has always been the Scripture not man’s standard. Unless some dare to declare that God who is the same yesterday, today and forever has changed his moral standards and will in the way He does things? Note also that it was the spiritual authority that rejected truth.

The reason why I am writing about this is based on my prior experience when many individuals from diverse places (countries and ministries) have come to speak the word or warning which was not only was rejected but reacted upon. It is sad to see leaders of churches reject what was consistently spoken over the pulpit by outsiders. Surely God’s grace prevailed to warn us. Our respond today was very much like the days of Amos.

The messenger
There seem to be an explosion of Christian books and popular preachers in the last few decades than ever before. I noticed a book by a well known pastor becoming one of the top sellers even among secular books. The prophets of the Bible as well as the apostles lived, suffered and died because they believed in the truth. One will discover that the saints accounted in the Foxes book on martyrs didn’t lived lavish lives nor seek after popularity or excess wealth but were ready to live (and died) as the prophets and apostles did. They lived the way they did because they believed in the truth and willing to stake their lives on it.

The Bible in both the Old and New Testament warns of prophets who look for earthly gain.

There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.
(Eze 22:25)

Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
(2Pe 2:15)

Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
(Jud 1:11)

Many will chose the path of least resistance and wealth because there will always be a market for ‘smooth’ messages.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
(2Ti 4:3)

John the Baptist was the lone voice prior to Jesus coming and I personally believe that God will also rise up Elijah’s and John’s in the closing chapters of the fallen human history to usher in the second coming of Jesus Christ.

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
(Isa 40:3)

Who was Amos?
He had a short prophetic ministry and was called out of Judah to speak to Israel in the north. As in Amos 7:14 states, his profession were a shepherd and gatherer of the sycamore fruit.

David was a shepherd boy and Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd. The shepherd will understand the meaning of ‘going astray’ from the right path as sheep do. He also understands that the rod of correction and staff of comfort (Psa 23:4) was both needed by the office of a good shepherd to keep the sheep in line as well as to protect. We all like the staff of comfort, but stay away from the rod of correction. Even bringing up children we have administer both at the right time. God Who is wiser than any good parent will certainly know best. We can’t reject the rod and accept the staff only.

The job of Amos was also to gather or tender the sycamore fruit. The sycamore is sometime called wild figs or ‘false’ figs which has a hard skin which prevents the ripening of the fruit. The tenderer of the sycamore will pierce or scrape the skin of the fruit which will start the ripening process which takes about 4 days. Without artificially piercing or wounding the fruit, it will be of no value and can’t be eaten. There are times that God will have to wound us by piercing us with the double edged sword that we will become good fruit for His harvest. Piercing us doesn’t kill us, it makes us valuable. How can we reject such work of God through men and women who speak like Amos, Elijah and John? Jesus Himself has some hard things to say about the church (sheep vs. goats, Matt 25; wheat vs. tares, Matt 13; ten virgins, Matt 25; etc). Some will argue that Jesus was separating the saved and the unsaved. Read Scripture carefully and see how the goats called Him 'Lord', the tares were in the same field among the wheat and all the virgins were waiting for the bridegroom.

God was using the Amos, the messenger as the message himself. Interestingly Jesus was called The Word (John 1:1), Who is the message Himself. Likewise being ambassadors of Christ, we to have to be God’s testament to the dying world.

There is a sad outcome of refusing to receive God’s whole truth

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
(Amo 8:11)

Notice the famine is not of the Word of the Lord revealed to us, but the ‘hearing’ of it. Subsequently when people want to hear truth, there is none to be found.

These are some of the saddest judgments that God pronounced on Israel for refusing to respond to God’s speaking.

Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down: And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them: And though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence will I command the sword, and it shall slay them: and I will set mine eyes upon them for evil, and not for good.
(Amo 9:2-4)

God's preservation
God’s mercy is one thing our human minds can never understand. But do keep in mind that the restoration is for the remnant not the majority who rejected the warning. Jesus said in the Parable of the Kingdom in Matt 22 that ‘many are called, but few are chosen’. Similarly in Matt 7:13 about walking into the strait way and narrow gate, few will find it.

And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.
(Amo 9:14-15)

But we don’t have to suffer the consequences of refusing to hear what God is speaking to us, no matter how tough it is to swallow. Yes, He does speak of His Love, Loving kindness, Forgiveness and so many other great promises from His Word. When He should speak difficult things, may we have a heart, divinely pricked by the Good Shepherd as the sycamore fruit that in due time transformed from being hard and ‘inferior’ to one of tenderness, carry a sweetness of soul and bearing the heavenly preciousness. May we find ourselves walking on the strait path, having entered into the narrow gate and finally finding ourselves as His ‘sheep’? May we be God’s living testament in the final moments of the history of the fallen world by being God’s message?

Evidence of Faith

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Heb 11:1)

1. Definition of faith (source IBLP)
Faith: to be persuaded or convinced by reason. Also means moral conviction of truth especially with regard to salvation, God’s promises and His incorruptible Word.

The test of determining if we have faith
- Do we see God’s will in the matter or are we living in God's will?
- Is it based on Scripture?
- Are we ready to obey?
- Is Christ the center of our life and decisions?

2. Faith made evident (demonstration)
Faith is not just a belief in our heart but there has to be evidence of it. If we understand that in God there is a certainty, it would be displayed in our confidence and more powerfully.... our hope.

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Rom 5:5)

Hope is powerful for by it we know the fullest extent of God’s love. We don’t live in shame and need to look for alternatives to make up for lack of it. That may account for some children (even adults) seek alternatives ways to make up for lack of love (or attention). Following many of these alternatives can hurt themselves and displease God in the process due to its immoral nature or self centeredness. Hope is powerful because it tells us of a future certainty, not as the world hope. Our hope is not empty but filled with God’s love.

(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) (2Co 5:7)

To walk is to tread around with the proof of its ability. Figuratively it means to live or the proof of the life we live. The proof of a life lived in faith is neither by human perception nor wisdom. 2 Cor 4:18 tells us that are seen are temporal but things unseen are eternal. Just as Enoch ‘walked’ with God until God was so pleased with him that Enoch was taken up to Heaven. As Christians we have to realize that there isn't anything worth coverting we can't take with us to Heaven. Heaven is real!.. but so is hell. Nobody in the Bible speaks more of Heaven and hell than Jesus.

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2Co 4:18)


3. The importance of faith
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Heb 11:6)

a. Faith pleases God
Many Christians want to please God by the ministry or works that we do, but Rom 8:8 reminds that ‘they that are of the flesh’ cannot please God. Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain (Heb 11:4) not out of the flesh but in obedience by offering ‘acceptable’ sacrifice. Whereas Cain offered a sacrifice which were from the sweat of his face (Gen 3:19). We can’t please God by merely in the ‘doing’. It has to be in the ‘being’. For example Abel was being obedient. For us we are saved not of works least we have something to boast (Eph 2: 8&9).

And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. (1Sa 15:22)

I personally believe that walking by faith is evident by obedience.

“Faith and obedience are bound up in the same bundle; he that obeys God trusts God; and he that trusts God obeys God.” C.H. Spurgeon

b. Faith justifies us
Our justification is by faith (Rom 3:28) without the works of the law. But we need the law to introduce us to the fact that we are sinners in need of salvation. Knowing that there isn’t any possible way for us to be right before God, we also understand that it requires the finish work of Jesus upon the cross to make us righteous. But we access by faith into God’s grace (Rom 5:2) fully appreciating the punishment that Jesus had to bear for us upon the cross. It cause the Son of God His life and it caused the Father much pain that His soon became sin in our stead that we might receive the gift of righteousness (2 Cor 5:21).

Therefore God made us righteous and it becomes God’s requirement upon us to be righteous. How else can be ambassodors or represent God correctly, unless we bear His character of Holiness.

As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1Pe 1:14-16)

Peter used references from Leviticus on holiness. Today some teach that we don’t have to be attentive to the Old Testament (especially on the subject of holy living) but Peter infers otherwise.

4. How do we get faith?
The day we recognize that we have sinned (as the law reveals) and believe that Jesus died for us, a propitiation (appeasing God’s wrath, remembering that God is just: Rom 3:25) for our sins, God has given us a measure of faith. Just as Jesus commended the faith of little children…

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. (Mar 10:15)

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10:17)

After being born again we need start with the milk, and eventually maturing to consume the staple diet of bread and meat of God’s Word. There is the progression of faith.

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: (1Pe 2:2)

John 1:1-14 tells us that Jesus is ‘the’ Word or the Word made flesh. Just as a man’s word is to himself, so Jesus is the expression of God.

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. (Joh 6:35)

The first principles are the foundational truths we hold on to in our belief. We will need to mature to spiritual meat for our greater strength. By the meat of God’s word we then grow into righteousness. We know that we have grown unto righteousness when sin becomes distasteful. Maturity then enables us to distinguish the right from the wrong, and choosing what is right.

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Heb 5:12-14)

5. Conclusion

Faith is a key fundamental in our Christian life, not just in our heart or thought but must be made evident in our behavior through obedience to His whole council of His Word. Faith pleases God; our aim should be to please God, because He gave His by sending His son to die for us. Further more, there isn’t any better aim in life than to please our Heavenly Father. Faith is like a spiritual muscle that we need to exercise and grow; therefore we have to be disciplined to read, meditate, memorize and obey His Word daily.

What is the reigning power over our lives?

Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Rom 5:20-21)

Advocators of Eternal Security name Grace as the reason why Christians are suppose to be ‘once saved always saved’. It is true that we are saved by Grace lest anyone should have a boast to carry before God (Eph 2:8, 9). It truly takes the mighty work of Jesus Christ on the cross to bring about remission of sins and salvation.

Jesus taught us in the practice of the Holy Communion (Matt 26:28) of the remissions of sins when we drink of the cup. ‘Remission of sins’ is deliverance or release from the bondage of sin which I believe means the separation or cutting off of sins from our lives. Therefore the shedding of the blood of Christ is the key to separating us from the sins and its curses. We look at the example of deliverance as the children of Israel set free from Egypt to the Promise-land. It was a setting free from the grasp, control, bondage of the cruel taskmaster, Pharaoh, into a live of serving God. It was really a freedom of a past reign into a new reign. Transfer of the reign of sin that brought death into reign of Christ that brings life.

The law serves a very important purpose, which is to awaken us to the fact that we have missed the mark of God’s expectation. The offense of sin multiplied from Adam onwards. Because of the multiplication of sin or offense (yes, sin makes us offensive to God), Grace need to Super-Abound or over-flowing to cover the countless transgressions. Without the triumphing of Grace there isn’t any way out for us sinners. Not just counter balancing the multiplication of sin, but beyond that which is to over coming it till there isn’t any trace of sin left. Not the covering up of sin, but the power to separate us from sins reign and authority. A transaction of death for life, of rejection for love, and of sin for righteousness… a transfer of a past dark reign to a new reigning authority. THAT is the power of Grace!

Grace is not just ‘receiving un-merited favor’. God can’t be that shallow. Grace is beyond that, it is the reign, a power that comes through righteousness. Conversely without righteousness, there is no reigning of grace. Have we thought about that?

We want to be free from guilt and condemnation; therefore we desire God’s ‘grace’. Righteousness is a gift of God (Rom 5:17, 18). But righteousness and grace are a package deal. We can’t just take grace and drop righteousness. This is where many of Christians struggle; therefore grace has been diluted to merely ‘un-merited favor of God’. Where as grace through righteousness is a reigning authority of our lives unto eternal life. Without which we can’t see the likes of Heaven when Christ returns.

Eternal Security?

A simple Google search will reveal lots of article either against or for Eternal Security. Surprisingly even some Baptist circles hold fast to this teaching.

But looking at http://reformationnation.wordpress.com/, particular Paul Washer's sermons and this one is also http://www.reformationnation.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/thesaddestwordseverspoken.mp3

However the ones who hold on to Eternal Security so cleverly quote Scripture (to support their point) but I don't see how they link because they don't take into account the whole Counsel of God.

For example the famous one....
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
(2Co 5:21)

.....but we need to look closely at vs. 20 that declares that we ARE ambassadors of Christ (If God is Holy and beckons us to be Holy for HE is Holy), then are we ambassadors that represent the HOLY God correctly?

We need to heed the following:

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
(Mat 3:8)

God is not looking to harvest our works but the fruits. For our works are filthy rags (Isa 64:6)......

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
(Mat 7:22-23)

Let us be awaken to know that He is looking for evidence of our repentance not how powerful or how great our works are.

Paul Washer on Matt 7:13-27

This is a Shockingly Powerful & Biblical message
preached to about 5,000 youth in a day when youth
are appealed to through shallow and worldly means.

At one point in this sermon the 5,000 Youth are
clapping and yelling BUT THEN the preacher makes
a comment that CHANGES THE WHOLE ATMOSPHERE TO
WHERE YOU COULD HAVE HEARD A PIN DROP... As you
can imagine, the preacher was never invited back.

We believe the whole sermon will be a blessing
to many souls. For more info about Paul Washer
go to www.heartcrymissionary.com




Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
(Mat 7:13-27)

Once save always saved?
A layman’s point of view

Most preachers of cheap grace or antinomianism (Greek: ‘anti’ or against - 'nomos' meaning law; which is to disregard the need for the 10 commandments or moral laws of God or under no obligation to regard the moral laws of God) usually preached along the lines of 'Once Saved Always Saved'. They attribute this to Apostle Paul with regard to his teaching on Grace and on Christian liberty (Gal 2:4). I.E. they say that Christians are no longer under the requirements of the law or saying that God doesn’t require anything from the people He send His only begotten Son to die to save. This is also to say that Christians don’t need to grow toward the level of holy or righteous living because once a person accepts Christ he or she is automatically holy or righteous. One recent popular verse is as follows……

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2Co 5:21)

This is to say that Jesus bore ALL our sins therefore we receive the gift of righteousness. So the conclusion is that we are no longer condemned by the law because Jesus took the full punishment for sin for us that we might be made right before God. Rightly so! In preceding verse, Paul reminds us that we Christ ambassadors, meaning we are to represent Him correctly. If God is Holy, therefore we should represent our Holy God. We know that righteousness is a gift of God by His grace, but keep in mind that a gift has to be firstly received. The condition of receiving the gift of righteousness, I believe is on the condition that we are willing to let go of the past sin life. The previous sin life and the new creation life in Christ can’t mix as much as oil and water can’t.

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. (Rom 6:14-15)

Therefore if we continue to live under the bondage of sin, Paul strongly says ‘God forbid’. For we are no longer under the dominion of sin but under the Lordship of Christ! We no longer live under the law that condemns us but it becomes liberty to us. Liberty doesn’t confine us the way we think, but liberty not to sin as well as liberty to forgive, be meek, bless our persecutors, pure in heart, etc as Jesus outlined for us in Matt 5. We need to look at liberty the way Jesus sees it, not what we perceive liberty to gratify the flesh.

So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. (Jas 2:12)

This means that we are free from the curse of the law but judged by the law of liberty which is not a law of external constraint but of internal freedom to love, forgive, etc. For example Jesus taught us that He came not to do away with the law to fulfill it (Matt 5:17) and subsequently go on to expound that He is not looking at the external but internal. For example with regard to adultery in Matt 5:28 goes another level deeper from the committing the physical act of adultery to conceiving it in the heart. If we have true liberty in Christ then we are free from the even committing adultery in the heart. This seems to be almost impossible. But what is impossible with man is possible with God. That is why the promise of the Holy Spirit is the key to being true citizens of the Kingdom of God. I believe that the Lord is reminding us that we can’t deal with flesh and sin; we need the baptism of fire which only He can baptize us with to set our internal to liberty. If our internal is liberated than the external will be free (Matt 3:11). The more we submit to Christ and allow the Fire of Heaven touch our inert the greater the freedom. David understood this by saying in Psa 51:6 that we need to be truthful inside in the dealing with sin.

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. (Gal 5:13)

As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. (1Pe 2:16)

Liberty is not to be abused and ties in with serving God. Moses told pharaoh to let His people go to serve Him. We ought to serve God with ‘clean hands’. If our service to God is motivated by love (not recognition) than we know that the self has taken second seat and others considered better than ourselves. This is where our struggle begins on our pilgrimage to complete liberty. How much of self have to die, firstly in that Christ increase (John 3:30) and secondly to serve other in love.

What is Calvinism?
Much of the ‘once saved, always saved’ thinking have been attributed to John Calvin. He was a theologian during the era of the Protestant Reformation about the same time as Martin Luther in the fifteen hundreds.

John Calvin was a very logical man and gave much thought into the understanding of salvation and came up with the acronym TULIP.The Five Points of Calvinism in acrostic form

+ T :Total Depravity : Everyone is born in enslaved in sin, being lovers of self than lovers of God.
+ U :Unconditional election : Our salvation is purely by God’s mercy, not because we choose salvation.
+ L :Limited atonement : Salvation applies to those who God has elected to be saved by His grace. This is against the teaching of universalism which says that eventually everyone will be saved because of God’s grace…. Not true teaching, since we know that salvation is by faith (Eph 2:8,9)
+ I :Irresistible grace : Salvation is God’s grace alone. This also means that the Holy Spirit overcomes all resistance (unbelief, etc) to convict individuals of sin, realizing that Salvation is the saving Grace of God.
+ P :Perserverance of the saints : This is also known as ‘eternal security’. Take note that the title ‘saints’ in the Bible is given to those who are holy or set apart by God. Some evangelicals advocate say that Christians remain ‘saved’ despite apostasy, unrepentant of sin and continually participate in habitual sin. But traditional Calvinist would dispute that in the first place did true salvation actually too place.

The antinomian may take the Perseverance of the saints as the supporting point for ‘once saved always saved’. This is of course generally true that once one put their trust in Christ, there is the assurance of salvation and eternal life with God. Once there is the complete trust in Christ, God will ensure He preserves us in the faith. John Calvin is right with regard to Perseverance of the saints as given to us in John 10:28-29, Phil 1:6, 1 Pet 1:5, and Jer 32:40.

However, we can’t neglect the call of the Apostle to ‘Fight the Good Fight’ which is to endure till we reach Heaven’s gates.

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. (1Ti 6:12)

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: (2Ti 4:7)

The crown of finishing is to ‘lay hold on eternal life’ as our crown or prize or victory. To fight means to require effort on our behalf. Why? I believe because it takes effort to pry the past life away just as the Israelites that left Egypt led by Moses but Egypt didn’t leave their hearts (Acts 7:30). 1 Cor 10:1-11 also reminds that it’s not about starting well, but ending well is just as important. Therefore we can’t say that we are ‘heaven-bound’ but continue or even return to a life of sin. Grace is not cheap and leaves no room for carnal Christianity which is by and large popularly taught in many churches today. Grace caused the Father to send His only Begotten Son and Grace caused the Son of God His life (and everything - remember that He died in shame bearing the sin of the world!)

The Bible is clear about enduring to the end (the term by Jesus in Revelation is ‘Over-comers’) as necessary for final salvation as per Matt 24:13, Mark 13:13, Matt 10:22, 2 Tim 2:11-13, and 1 Cor 15:1-2.

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (Jas 1:12)

We are warned not to give up, only those who over-come shall receive the crown of life (http://pursuinghispresence.blogspot.com/2007/11/crown-behold-i-come-quickly-hold-that.html).

We also have a responsibility to be our brother’s keeper that we will together endure till we meet Christ face to face. It is our responsibility to love others as we love ourselves.

Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. (Jas 5:19-20)

Finishing Well – December 2007 Monthly Message from the ALERT Cadet Major

Paul, during the reciting of his testimony to the Jews in Acts 13, had these words to say about King David in verse 36, "For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep…”. I’ve been meditating on this verse and would like to share with you some insights as they relate to raising our children and our sons in particular.

First, David had to serve the purpose of God with his life. God had placed David on this earth with a particular set of gifts, talents, and abilities. David was to use these gifts to their fullest to accomplish the purpose of God. During David’s time that purpose was to have a nation wholly set apart to God, as an example to the world. God would then use this example to bring men to faith and an understanding of Himself. During our current time, Matthew 28:19-20, the so-called “Great Commission,” gives us the purpose of God. I am to train my children to be proclaimers of the gospel, disciplers of men, and proper providers, or keepers at home, for their family. What I do at home in my training must be in concert with God’s purpose for them and the specifics of how they will live that out.

Next, David served the purpose of God in his own generation, or during the time appointed for him to live. Psalm 90:10 tells us that we will each have 70 years to live, or if we are strong, 80 years. This means that time is a valuable asset, more so than money, and I must teach my children that time is not be squandered or wasted, but rather invested. I cringe each time I hear that my children, or others, are just “hanging out” somewhere. Rather, I desire to see them invest their time in developing skills, talents, or abilities that will help them to accomplish God’s purpose in their lives. Or, I desire to see them investing time in a relationship with another person so that both can accomplish the purpose of God in their lives. How do I teach this? The only true way is by modeling it before them in my own life. I also hold them accountable for the use of their time in much the same way as they are accountable for their money. It has been said that if you want to know what is important to a man look at his calendar and in his banking statement!

Lastly, David fell asleep, or died. There is a God-appointed time for me, and each of us, to die. Hebrews 9:27 tells me that, “…it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.” Hence, I will die, unless Jesus returns during my lifetime. Death is not something to be feared, but rather an end to my time and purpose on this earth. Notice again what Paul said about David, “…after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, (he) fell asleep…”. I can rest in this knowing that I am “bulletproof” until I have accomplished the purpose of God in my generation. I must also instill this same way of living and thinking in my children. They are to go 100% into each activity with no fears of dying “before their time,” as some would put it. This does not mean they are to do foolish things to test God, but rather, after being convinced that a certain thing is the purpose of God for them in their generation, they are to do it with their whole heart - no reservations and no regrets. How best to teach this? Again, the answer is to model it before them in the decisions I make and the projects I take on.

I want to finish well. Given that I have 70 or 80 years to live (God willing), and 51 of them are already gone, I am in the latter days of my time on this earth. All the time up to now has been preparation for the work God has for me to do. It is certainly not a time to “retire” or take a rest. Retirement is not in the Scriptures. I see many of the aged saints and apostles continuing on with their ministry right up to their deaths. I desire to do the same, and I have asked my family to keep me accountable. I must continue to grow, develop, and serve as God gives me strength, energy, and creativity.

As you plan activities to develop your children, help them to understand about King David and the purposes in his life. He wanted to build a great temple for God to dwell in as I Chronicles 28 records, but God said no, he would not build it (because he was a man of war and bloodshed). Perhaps you as a father may have great dreams for yourself, but it will be your children who accomplish them. For me, I desire to do a great work to assist fathers in raising their sons (and daughters), and hence, I lead the ALERT Cadet ministry. However, it may be one of my sons or my daughter who turn this into a worldwide ministry with great impact. One thing I do know is that when God calls me home, I will have accomplished God’s purpose for me on this earth.

May God give you wisdom as you lead your families well.

In Christ,

Roger D. Farr
ALERT Cadet Commanding Officer and Program Director

Disasters quadruple over last 20 years: Oxfam

Experts tend to be 'clever' to explain disasters, but we ought to be aware of the times we are living in.

As long as we continue to live with the perspective of the men and women of faith that went before us, we will live circumspectly (Eph 5:15), not as fools but wisely. God has passed judgement on the world and given us the mandate NOT to hang on to the temporal and set our eyes on things above and on the crown awaiting us (Jas 1:12).

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
(Heb 11:13)

http://pursuinghispresence.blogspot.com/2007/10/famine-in-last-days-for-nation-shall.html
http://pursuinghispresence.blogspot.com/2007/09/earthquakes-in-last-days-for-nation.html


God bless,
KW

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071125/ts_nm/britain_climate_oxfam_dc;_ylt=AtCjhC.iGjFuUy87c6Pw55dZ.3QA

Disasters quadruple over last 20 years: Oxfam
Sun Nov 25, 2:50 PM ET
LONDON (Reuters) - Weather-related disasters have quadrupled over the last two decades, a leading British charity said in a report published on Sunday.

From an average of 120 disasters a year in the early 1980s, there are now as many as 500, with Oxfam attributing the rise to unpredictable weather conditions cause by global warming.
"This year we have seen floods in South Asia, across the breadth of Africa and Mexico that have affected more than 250 million people," said Oxfam's director Barbara Stocking.
"This is no freak year. It follows a pattern of more frequent, more erratic, more unpredictable and more extreme weather events that are affecting more people.
The number of people affected by disasters has risen by 68 percent, from an average of 174 million a year between 1985 to 1994 to 254 million a year between 1995 to 2004.
"Action is needed now to prepare for more disasters otherwise humanitarian assistance will be overwhelmed and recent advances in human development will go into reverse," Stocking said.
Oxfam wants the UN conference on Climate Change in Bali in December to agree a mandate to negotiate a global deal to provide assistance to developing countries to cope with the impacts of climate change and reduce green house gas emissions.

(Reporting by John Sinnott, Editing by Elizabeth Piper)

The Crown

Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
(Rev 3:11)

In the prior verse Jesus commends the church for keeping the Word of His patience. The word of His patience is the word that teaches us patience endurance. Not falling apart at the face of temptations (adversity) but He has a promise in store for the overcomer. Holding fast requires action on our behalf in this most holy faith.

To those who overcome He will make us a pillar in the temple (Rev 3:12). Pillars are important as they form the very thing that holds the structure together. Samson pushed the pillars of the temple of the Philistines and the whole temple collapse and scored his greatest victory over Israel’s enemy. Therefore pillars do play a very important role and God’s wants us to be a pillar, to be part of His eternal will and purposes. The temple Solomon built had two pillars named Boaz (‘in strength’, Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary) and Jachin (He will establish) that held the whole structure together. The promise to the overcomer is that God will establish us and put within us His strength. When God establish us we have sure foundation is in Christ that gives us a hope and a future. 2Ch 16:9a ‘For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him….’.

Paul beckons us to run the race (1 Cor 9:24) and to run with the prize in mind. For us it would be the crown of life (James 1:12). We don't run the race to complete the race only, but that we win for the crown. In life if we aim to complete what we set out to do, then we might lose the final aim: The crown.

For example if we aim to complete our job, then it's half done. Our goal is to please whom we are doing he task for and please our Lord Christ for we ultimately serve Him in all things (Col 3:23,24). This will certainly make a difference on our attitude towards our work.

So don't just aim for the finish line tape.

Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
(Pro 17:6)
As with families, aim for posterity (not prosperity). Same as whatever ministry we serve in. We aim for the next generation and the generation after. As God proclaims Himself as God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob….having the same Godly mind to see beyond the finish line tape…. See and aim at the crown beyond. We are blessed today because of Abraham. For Abraham looked for something beyond human eyes can comprehend, it was an eternal crown. So did the rest of the men and women of faith (Heb 11:13, 16), desiring the ‘better’ and wouldn’t settle for the good. For the good can be enemy of the better. The better carries a sense of eternity, the good is settling down for the ‘now’.

God will crown us with many things as we aim to please God, but the ultimate is still the crown of Eternal Life.

My pastor recently challenged the church on what are the goals we want to achieve. And after some thought this is what I came up with, beyond crossing the final timeline of my physical being:

1) To finally hear Jesus say 'Well done My good and faithful servant, welcome into My rest'
2) That my family will go along with me to Heaven!

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(Mat 5:3)

My son asked me this question about being poor in spirit. I am overjoyed to hear such a question from a 10 year old. May he grow up as Jesus did, in wisdom and in stature; by 12 years old may he be able to astonish the wise by his answers at the critical age of growing into manhood. I learned that in the Jewish culture there is not such thing as a teenager but at 12 or 13 the girl or boy grows into a woman or man taking responsibility for his own actions (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bar_Mitzvah_and_Bat_Mitzvah). I don’t think our God who called Israel to be the light of the world since Abraham intended for such a thing as the teenage years. That could be the reason why there are so much issues of teenage pregnancy, mischief, rebellion and other behaviors that cause parents so much heartache these days. May be live God’s way to understand that we train our children in the way they should go and we will not lose them to the world (Prov 22:6).

The poor in spirit are those who realize that their spiritual need to be fulfilled by non other than God. Most people, even Christians seek fulfillment in things that can be grasps in the physical therefore a success of a man or woman is found in their physical wealth. But our God looks at the heart and not the exterior values. In fact there is blessed-ness or happiness about those who are needy or seek spiritual riches where moth and rust don't destroy. Seek heavenly treasure and not earthly ones, for the former will last for eternity (Matt 6:19,20). We know that we are in danger of laying up earthly treasures when we start to yearn for physical things. Psalms 73:12 warns us that it is often that the ungodly prosper in the world as oppose to Luke 6:20 where Jesus raised His eyes and said that the poor are blessed for they receive the Kingdom of God. I suspect that these verses are not popular with the prosperity gospel preachers. God gives us power for making wealthy (Ecc 5:19), but if we trust in our richest more than God than we are in serious trouble.

Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
Pro 11:4

All of us today are considered rich as compared to the early church where most Christians were poor and some were even slaves who owned little or nothing at all. In our situation of living rich lives (good food on the table, change of clothes everyday, shelter, etc), we should remember that that we serve or worship a Living God and not riches (Matt 6:24). In other words, don’t be a slave of riches but as the Apostle Paul did to claim himself as a slave of Jesus Christ. This means that He knew and experienced the Lordship of Christ. We have to ask ourselves if He is Lord of our finances or not. Can we truthful say that we are more blessed to give than to receive?

Basically being poor means that we are in need. This is a good frame of mind (being poor in spirit) to be in need because this reflects our humility before God. For God resist the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).

James 2:5 talks about the poor being rich in faith. He is saying that we that are willing to be contented physically (willing to live with lesser things) in whatever circumstances, will have much to gain in faith. Heb 11:6 talks about the impossibility to please God without faith. For He will personally reward those who come to Him knowing that there is no other save God alone that can satisfy our needy spirit. Realizing that there is no other source of fulfillment is the key to receiving from God. But our part is to be diligent is seeking God.

I personally believe that richest of heaven are many but it begins with firstly believing that He is (the only existing One, no other source will we seek); secondly to be in the state of realization that we need to be satisfied spiritually as our aim; thirdly that we need faith that pleases Him and lastly to be humble before God and man (for the meek shall inherit the earth and gain peace, Psa 37:11). Our journey to spiritual riches starts with these as our first steps.

Remembering Christ

And when he had given thanks , he brake [it], and said , Take , eat : this is my body , which is broken for you : this do in remembrance of me .
1 Cor 11: 24

Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is for our redemption. Redeeming us unto Himself. We are saved not for our self realization or some religions label as enlightenment. We are saved unto God that we might fulfill His plan and purpose.

In whom we have redemption through his blood , the forgiveness of sins , according to the riches of his grace ;
Eph 1: 7

Paul reveals to us that in Eph 1: 4 that from the even before the foundation of the world God has a plan. This plan and purpose of God is that we would be made holy and blameless. To live life without the guilt of any accusing finger is true liberty. Especially that the devil himself is called the accuser of the brethren and tirelessly pointing his accusing finger at the ones God has called to Himself as holy and blameless (Rev 12:10).

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world , that we should be holy and without blame before him in love : Eph 1: 4

Paul goes on to say that we have the liberty without accusations founded in love. To be loved of God is powerful and gives us every reason to stand against any accusations and temptations. As Jesus was declared the Beloved of the Father at His baptism, He was ready for the realities of the wilderness of life in facing temptations and half truths. The devil was smart enough to use words 'if you are the Son of God', leaving out 'Beloved'. Because he knows that once we come to grips that we are holy and blameless and Be-Loved of God, there lies our victory.

The sacrifices of blood was a foreshadow of good things which Christ completed on the cross. The former sacrifices reminds us of sin but our partaking of the Holy Communion is to remember Christ.

But in those [sacrifices there is] a remembrance again [made] of sins every year . For [it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins . Heb 10: 3,4

No longer do we remember sin because there no longer any participation in it. It is as though remembering Christ sacrifice upon the cross bring a distaste of sin. There is no sacrifice we can offer to God in service or even our very lives that will suffice and will constantly bring the remembrance of sin. For our best works are like filthy rags before God and will still remind us of our frailty with regard to sin.

Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple , and said unto him , Behold , thou art made whole : sin no more , lest a worse thing come unto thee . John 5: 14

Jesus word finds us. Indeed it's possible because of the power of the Word gives us the hope! Jesus similarly said to the converted prostitute that He doesn't condemn. What a joy and hope for us because the accusing finger of the accuser of the brethren lost it's power as did Job, Joseph, our Lord, Stephen and Paul. We enter into God's grace rejoicing in hope of the glory of God.

We enter into the new life of holiness with boldness. It takes boldness to live a holy life because the world will reject us as Jesus was rejected. Would we rather be rejected by the world than be rejected by Christ for being ashamed in living the holy life?

Now where remission of these [is, there is] no more offering for sin . Having therefore , brethren , boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus , By a new and living way , which he hath consecrated for us , through the veil , that is to say , his flesh ; Heb 10: 18-20

What then ? shall we sin , because we are not under the law , but under grace ? God forbid . Rom 6: 15

Don't degrade the power of God's grace. But rather know it's power as though an anti-septic to sin.

The participation of the Holy Communion as often as we celebrate, should cause us to remember Christ our Redeemer, find sin distasteful in the light of Christ ultimate sacrifice and the boldness to live the holy life.

Famine in the last days

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
(Mat 24:7)

We should not be ignorant of things that must happen as Jesus warned us. If we have been warned by our Lord, what should be our response?

We must not be troubled (Matt 24:6). These events need to take place as the beginning of sorrows, meaning a birthing of a greater plan in God’s divine will. The end of the sinful world will come and there will be the establishment of the reign and rule of Christ. Eventually restoration will take place with the new heavens and new earth (Rev 21:1, 2). We will not be troubled if we look forward to the coming of Christ. If our lives are rooted deeply in the world and hope for better things in it we are destined to be troubled.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
(1Jn 2:15-17)

The dividing line of being troubled or not is in the focus of our love. We can't choose between the Father and the world. Why attach ourselves to the world and it’s systems that will eventually be replaced with the eternal. A lot of us probably don’t look forward to Jesus’ second coming because we think that we haven’t gained or reaped what we desire for from the world. But the price for gaining even the whole world will result in a forfeiting of our souls! Loving the world also forfeits us of an eternal hope. The way that we measure ourselves and others are mostly by what we have reaped from the world (what status in society we hold, how big a car or how grand a house or how large is our bank account). If we measure ourselves by the world's standards than when God's plumbline (Amos 7:7,8) is put against us, where will we stand.

If we continue to live in the love of the world, then we are famished spiritually. Our spirits are not fed and weak.

And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
(Luk 2:40)

The evidence of being strong in spirit is the filling of Godly wisdom and God’s grace upon us. Jesus was able to astonish the teachers of His time with His deep understanding. This understanding was so great that He lived a life pleasing His Father and was publicly declared as His beloved Son. How much we desire man’s praises rather than God’s. How much we desire love and admiration from people rather than God's. The grace or favor of God was so wonderful upon His life and people around Him saw the evidence of it. Many desire treasures, but few desire the favor of God. That accounts for the famine in the spirit.

I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
(1Jn 2:14b)

We need the Word of God to abide (dwell, remain, in-grain) in us in order to be strong. Lest we end up in the same situation of the prodigal son in famine, degraded to the base and be in desperation; eventually living defeated lives.

I Sam 3 is a sad documentation of where the Word of God was hard to come by. But God found the boy Samuel Whom He could share His broken heart with. So there was famine of God’s Word, but God wants so much to speak what is in His heart. The same occurs today, with the same offering of worship and supposed church life but the life giving Word lack. I believe that together with physical famine, a spiritual one will exist side by side.

May God raise Samuels who are found faithful to listen to His heart where there is spiritual famine.

May we be like Josephs (Gen 41:55) who was strong in spirit against circumstances and immorality that in the time of spiritual famine we can offer to others the bread of life and hope.

In the event of physical famine, this is where we will trust God to feed us miraculously as He did for Elijah.

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
(Psa 37:25)

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FACTBOX - Facts and figures on world's worst food crises

Reuters - Tuesday marks World Food Day, with aid workers warning that war, weather, disease and deepening poverty leave more people hungry and in need of food aid each year just as rising prices make feeding them more expensive.

Below are some global statistics on food shortages and aid and a summary of some of the world's current food crises.

-- 854 million people worldwide do not have enough to eat, more than the combined populations of the United States, Canada and the European Union.


People line up for free porridge distributed by a Christian group outside a church in Manila October 16, 2007. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), part of the United Nations, marked World Food Day on October 16. (REUTERS/Cheryl Ravelo)
-- In the 1990s, global poverty dropped by 20 percent, as the number of hungry people increased by 18 million.

-- Every five seconds a child dies because of hunger.

-- One in four children in developing countries is underweight.

AFRICA

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO -- widespread shortages persist despite the end of Africa's most destructive civil war, with the U.N. unable to reach a third of the 300,000 people newly displaced by renewed fighting in the east.

ETHIOPIA -- as Ethiopia's government fights a counter-insurgency campaign in its ethnic Somali Ogaden region, rebels accuse the government of "man-made famine" and aid workers say delivery of food aid to 600,000 people is patchy at best. The Red Cross and aid group MSF have both been expelled from the region.

LESOTHO and SWAZILAND -- the two southern African kingdoms are suffering drought, soil erosion and some of the world's highest HIV rates and have suffered serious shortages every year this decade.

MALAWI and ZAMBIA -- having suffered years of repeated shortages from drought, the impact of HIV and deepening poverty, both countries have reported a surplus this year after better weather and improved access to inputs such as fertiliser.

SOMALIA -- ongoing conflict and the worst drought in years combined to restrict access to aid agencies and commercial supply of food, particularly after the closure of the main market in the capital Mogadishu. The U.N. says there have been 13 deaths at WFP food distributions this year and the number of incidents is rising. Maritime aid shipments run the risk of piracy.

SUDAN -- despite growing insecurity aid workers continue to feed some 4 million people in need of assistance in Darfur, as well as others affected by the now ended conflict in the south and recent flooding.

UGANDA -- widespread flooding in northern Uganda, home to people displaced by conflict, has led to WFP airdrops of food. Some 250,000 people in camps did not receive their September rations because of flooding.

WEST AFRICA -- after serious shortages in the Sahel in 2005, West Africa is seen as having had a good agricultural year but aid workers warn pockets of shortage remain in countries such as Niger, which remain vulnerable to massive crop failures.

ZIMBABWE -- drought, HIV, economic and agricultural collapse have hit harvests and the U.N. sees food aid needs rising from a current one million people to 4 million by the end of the year.

ASIA

AFGHANISTAN -- despite ongoing conflict, Afghanistan has seen its best grain harvest in years.

NORTH KOREA -- still recovering from a devastating famine in the 1990s, North Korea this year suffered floods that damaged nearly a sixth of arable land. WFP is providing flood emergency food rations to 215,000 people.

SRI LANKA -- the resumption of civil war in 2006 restricted both commercial food deliveries and aid flows particularly to rebel Tamil Tiger areas in the north and east. The government-held northern Jaffna enclave has been effectively cut off for over a year, with rising prices and malnutrition rates.

MIDDLE EAST

IRAQ - food distribution in Iraq is difficult due to widespread violence, and AID agencies find it hard to reach the 2 million displaced within Iraq. Another 2 million people have fled mainly to neighbouring Syria and Jordan.

PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES -- some 2 million Palestinians receive food aid either from WFP or from the United Nations Refugee and Works Agency, which works with Palestinian refugees. Food aid has been allowed through Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip since the takeover by Islamist group Hamas. With Gaza unable to export, food stalls are unusually well-stocked but with the economy collapsing many are too poor to buy.

LATIN AMERICA

COLOMBIA -- with years of war giving Colombia one of the highest rates of displacement in the world, WFP feeds half a million people displaced by conflict.

SOURCES: United Nations World Food Programme, UNRWA, Reuters

"It is Not for Kings"
October 2007 Message from the Major Farr, Alert Cadet

Gentlemen,
Proverbs 31 is often thought of as the checklist for a godly woman. This is true for Proverbs 31:10-31, but tucked in verses 1-9 are the words of a wise mother to her son, the king.

Solomon did not write Proverbs 31, but rather King Lemuel recorded the words his mother taught him. Look at what the king remembers, "Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy."

In my family we often talk about what a king is and does. I do this to prepare my children for future leadership positions, as God leads. King Lemuel's mother gave him three things to not do and three things to do. Let's look at them in detail.

King Lemuel was to not give his strength to women, nor drink wine, nor pervert justice. The first two represent activities that have the potential to destroy men and render them fruitless for God. In one hour a man can be reduced to a loaf of bread in a relationship with a woman who is not his wife as Proverbs 6:26 tells us. Fathers, it is imperative that we prepare our young men for the wiles of women who are bent on evil. I've found the first few chapters of Proverbs to be a very good introduction to this topic.

In the same way, wine and strong drink was to be avoided lest the king forget the law, or think he was above it. Having come from a family where my father was an alcoholic, I can personally attest to the issues created by strong drink. A king must constantly be above reproach and set the example, under the law. Nothing degrades a king's leadership faster than when he, himself, does not follow the rules he has set!

Kings also have the responsibility to not pervert justice. This is the usual result when a king is under the influence of strong drink. When the foolish are punished and the righteous rewarded, then a king further establishes his kingdom. If he does the opposite, then he will not long remain in power. God has effective ways to take care of foolish young men and foolish kings.

Now that we have looked at what not to do, the Scripture gives us clear things that a king (or future one) is to do. First, they are to open their mouths and speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. While this may literally mean those who cannot speak, it also means those who have no forum to speak, such that those in authority will hear them and take action. The king must be physically amongst the people he rules so the he personally understand their needs and is ready to take appropriate action. The king cannot always sit in an ivory tower, or on the top floor of an office building, and rule effectively!

The second thing a king must do is judge righteously. When a king does this his kingdom is established, and the people rejoice as Proverbs 29:2 tells us, "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn." A king learns to judge righteously by reading and understanding the Scriptures. In fact, a requirement of Israel's kings was to copy, by hand, the Scriptures as Deuteronomy 17:18 says, "And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:" Dads, it is imperative that you and your son spend time in God's word to learn wisdom and how to judge righteously.

Lastly, the king was to plead the cause of the poor and needy. Why? Let me suggest it was so that the king would not forget that many of those in his kingdom did not live the lifestyle afforded to him as king. It kept the king in touch with the needs of the people whom he served. Christ modeled this for us as well during His time on this earth. As my children grew up, I sought to have them work with and amongst children, and adults, who did not have the tangible possessions they had. In fact, we also had a yearly de-cluttering of our home and personally gave the items to families we knew were in need. Pleading the cause of the poor and needy, and doing something about it, is truly the mark of a king!

There you have it, wise words from a king's mother to you and me on how to raise a king, or future leader. Take these and apply them to your life and to the lives of your sons. And remember, the next time someone quotes Proverbs 31 as the standard for young ladies, think to yourself that it also contains wisdom on raising a future king!

May God have the glory for the work He is doing in our lives and the lives of our sons.

In Christ,
Roger D. Farr
ALERT Cadet Commanding Officer and Program Director

Let me die….

And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.
(Jdg 16:30)

These are the last words of Samson as a prayer to God. Having lived life as a Nazarite abstaining from wine and leaving his hair grow long. He was supposed to live a separated life unto the Lord. Though he was mighty in deeds but was weak in character. He couldn’t resist temptation of loose women.

This man’s life had 19% of the book of Judges written about his ministry. Most pictures we see of Samson were of a strong man, but in order to be extraordinary he must have been looked very ordinary with extraordinary strength. God uses the ordinary to show how extraordinary He is, that is why I think that he didn’t look like any super human being. The Jews during that time were probably small in stature which is why they were continually bullied. They had to know and know deep within that God was on their side and that He was the source of their victory. God shows us strength in our weakness.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
(Psa 51:10)

David was similarly weak when it comes to women and in his confession he cried out to God to give him a new heart not a renewed heart. It has to be a creative power of the Almighty to make such a change in our lives. His cry was also for a ‘right sprit’ which is a firm or steadfast spirit. When there is steadfastness in spirit, we can resist sin. This also requires the power of the Almighty to put it there.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
(Rom 8:1)

Sadly the second half of this verse to walk not after the flesh but after the spirit is grossly left out in the NIV.
The evidence of a strong, firm or steadfast spirit in us is the obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit. This is the key to resist the flesh and it’s temptations that destroy us and our families. Proverbs constantly warn us about women that can destroy us and the lives of our families. Instead of walking after the flesh, the right thing to do is to carry the cross daily and following Jesus (Luke 9:23).

Can one even comprehend that pain in Samson working the grinding wheel day in, day out, knowing that his true destiny was to deliver his people from oppression? Wearing the chains that cut into his skin, the agony of pondering about what he has missed out in living out God’s will for his life. The latter pain must have been much greater. Having been blinded b y his captors, it was likely loosing the ability even to shed tears. Truly such pain of failure that no one can comprehend.

Finally, coming to an end of himself prayed the most powerful prayer in his entire life. In one moment of dying, killing more than he ever slew in his lifetime. God honored Samson by having his name listed in Hebrews 11 amongst the great heroes of faith. I believe that it was this final moment of his life that earned him this honor. In all the ‘great’ deeds of Samson’s life, he lived struggling with sin and the impact was small in comparison to the final moment when he cried ‘..let me die…’.

Creativity
Adapted from IBLP's 'The Power of true success. How to build character in your life'

Definition: Creativity is cultivating wise thoughts, prudent words and skillful actions to carry out God's will

1. Root word
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his [own] image , in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Created: Bara; form, shape, fashion

Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Formed: Yatsar; squeezing into shape, as with a potter forming a clay vessel

2. Importance of Creativity
A. Evidence of God working in our lives
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works , which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them .

- We are God's handiwork, not just physically but more so spiritually. As God being the Potter and we being clay. The beauty of the handiwork is dependent on how much we yield to God, not so much on us
- We are created for Good Works. Not saved by good works but rather saved for it. Our salvation is God's creation (2 Cor 5:17), old passed away and all things in our life becoming new.

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world : but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind , that ye may prove what [is] that good , and acceptable , and perfect , will of God .

- It is beyond just changing our minds but renewing it!
- We know how the much effect the creative power of God working in us by how much we don't conform to the patterns of this world (ideas, values that are contrary to the ways of the Spirit, Rom 8:1)

B. The Father is glorified

Matt 5:16 Let your light so shine before men , that they may see your good works , and glorify your Father which is in heaven .

First Westminster Confession states that the chief aim of man is to glorify God

1 Cor 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink , or whatsoever ye do , do all to the glory of God .

3. What is the source of creativity?

A. Creativity is activated by thought as God determined in the counsel of His will to create whole of creation, provide a Redeemer and establish good works for believers to follow

1 Pet 1:19, 20, Eph 1:4, Titus 2 and Eph 2:10

B. Our creativity if not based on Scripture, the results would produce selfishness or evil. Therefore we need a renewed mind (Rom 12:2).

C. Creativity is energized when thoughts are expressed in words

Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light : and there was light .

Prov 18:21 Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

- God warns us that every word we speak must be carefully chosen before we speak

4. How can I increase my creativity?

A. Know the Source of creativity
Prov 8:12 I wisdom dwell with prudence , and find out knowledge of witty inventions .

B. Ask the Creator for wisdom
Jam 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom , let him ask of God , that giveth to all [men] liberally , and upbraideth not ; and it shall be given him .

C. Ask in faith
Jam 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering . For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

D. Even cry to our Creator for Wisdom
Prov 3:3-6 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge , [and] liftest up thy voice for understanding ; If thou seekest her as silver , and searchest for her as [for] hid treasures ; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD , and find the knowledge of God . For the LORD giveth wisdom : out of his mouth [cometh] knowledge and understanding .

E. The ultimate source of wisdom is God's Word

Josh 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth ; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night , that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous , and then thou shalt have good success .

Prosperous: Good, profitable, progress to God and man

Success: Prudent, circumspect, insight

Notice that the result is neither selfish nor evil but ultimately glories God!

30 Pieces of Silver

Exo 30:
32 If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant ; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver , and the ox shall be stoned .

The price of a slave or servant gored by an ox in restitution is 30 shekels or silver pieces. Strangely this is the only case when monetary compensation suffices instead of capital punishment for causing death of a person. Could it be that the religious system that murdered the Son of God found a loop hole to clear their blood guilty conscience? Or did the Almighty God, full of Wisdom and knowledge purposely give us this as a revealing our true worth?

Matt 26:
15 And said [unto them], What will ye give me , and I will deliver him unto you ? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver .

The cost of the price for the life of the Son of God was also 30 pieces of silver, the price for restitution of a slave gored by an animal. That is how much the religious system during Jesus time valued His life. I wonder how much we value the life of the Son of God in us or we devalue Him in our own ‘religious’ standards to merely being provider, protector, healer, etc? Could it be that the life we now live, we live for ourselves and not for the Son of God Who gave His life for us?

Rom 1:
1 Paul, a servant (slave) of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

The antithetical Christian life is lived out as a slave of Jesus Christ, separated, not conform to the pattern of this world. We are slaves that don't have rights but experience the full impact of the Gospel of being dead to the old life and a new creation. This means a surrendered life of saying with all transparency to ‘let Thy will be done’. Our true liberty lies in being saved from slavery of the world and of the devil into the Mastery of Christ.

Heb 11:
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy :) they wandered in deserts , and [in] mountains , and [in] dens and caves of the earth .

The antithetical life, we will find out the hard-cold truth that we are not valued by the world or its religious system. If we are counted as worthy by the world, then the danger of being stained and counted as unworthy (Rev 3:4) is before us.

If as Christians we dare say that ‘…..Christ liveth in me… (Gal 2:20), what is the value of the life that we live? True value of life is found on our pilgrimage in discovering more and more of the worldly standards of life as dung (Phil 3:8). Are we willing to be valued at the cost of 30 pieces of silver?

Folks,
I am not sure how you read the news. Do we read it as though it'll not happen to me? Or do we read it and feel God's grief.

What stirs within our minds and hearts when we read of a 9 to 13 year old (as of now the identify of the girl has not been clear) that was raped, murdered, enduring such agony and pain unto death?

Are we so busy with ourselves and concerns that we don't see life as God would see it? Or we continue to live as in the days of Noah as though God isn't watching?

The recent wickedness of rapes, murders, arson, cheating, bribe, corruption, etc appearing more and more in the last few years. What! These things were unheard of. The wave of wickedness is increasing.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/9/19/nation/18927373&sec=nation&focus=1

May we learn to stand before God and cry out for mercy lest judgement fall upon Malaysia.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
(Rom 1:28-32)

The way this verse was written is as though God has given up that is why 'He gave them over.......'. Please fast and pray that God will not overlook this nation. That the effectual fervent prayer of righteous men and women in our land will avail much to fight and triumph over forces of darkness that is driving many to deprave acts.