SUBMISSION

My first posting of the decade and I am thinking of the word SUBMISSION. I think this falls into the "one-of-the-most-misunderstood-word" category. In a nutshell, it is not about obedience but a willingness to come under. It has nothing to do with gender. Rather it has everything to do with gifting, righteousness and authority. Gifting because there are always people better at things that we are not good at. The best thing to do is to let them lead and we willing come under, take the lesser role and assist. Righteousness because we are not to succumb to nor practice evil, wickedness and wrong doings. Authority because we don't have all authority in everything. As much as we lead, we too are followers of others. If one has been appointed over me, then my job is to come under and assist for the common good. It's not about me. Having said this, husbands need to stop telling wives to listen and obey and wives need not blindly obey their husbands in everything. We are called into submission to one another regardless of gender. AND more importantly, we are to submit to God first in everything even as we submit to one another. It's for our own welfare and harmony that we do not disregard God in our lives.

In the Garden of Eden, what was it that God require of man? SUBMISSION. And why submission? Because God wanted full control of everything? I don't believe God is a control freak (pardon the pun). God wants Adam and Eve to willing come under His love and protection because when God placed man on earth, there was already the presence of evil. Lucifer and a third of the angelic host had fallen prior. That's why the need for the Tree of Life and the Tree of knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden. God did not place Adam and Eve to roam the earth at the very beginning of time although His purpose was for them to populate the earth. He placed them in Eden for a specific reason. When the presence of evil manifested, they succumbed for disregarding submission. Not only did they not submit to God, Eve did not submit to Adam in a face-off with evil. Eve took the front line and command while Adam allowed her. Today, the presence of evil have filled the earth. As in Eden, man still disregard God, righteousness and authority. While many are chanting world peace, wars and rumors of wars are raging. The earth had never experienced peace. Biblical prophecies are unfolding right before our very eyes. How do we survive? How do we raise or kids? I suggest we go back to the drawing board ... back to Eden. Only in SUBMISSION can we live at peace with one another and be in harmony. Only in SUBMISSION can we harness the plentiful resource we have on planet earth. Only in SUBMISSION can we love one another. Understand submission. It's not a dirty word. To me, it's the most vital tool God had given to mankind in the presence of evil  today since the very beginning of time.

¹⁵ Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, ²⁰ giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5)

You are being programmed!

I once read about the Eskimos … how they trapped wolves. They coat knives with blood and let it freeze into Popsicles (ice cream). They then stake the knives vertically into the ground exposing the blades. Now wolves have a very keen sense of smell and they can smell blood from way off. Once it smells blood, it will become irrational and bloodthirsty. The wolf will lick the iced blood on the knife and soon the taste of blood drives it into a frenzy. As the bloodied ice melts against the  warm tongue, the sharp edges of the knife eventually cuts into the tongue of the wolf. Getting excited over its own warm blood as a result of the cut, the animal kept on licking against the knife until eventually it succumb to its own injuries and dies. It’s subtle but effective.

I want you to know … you are being programmed! It’s an ongoing process and like the wolves, you don’t even know what’s happening until the damage is done! Who’s the programmer? What is the process? What’s the outcome? I look at people today and how technology is affecting our lives.  Sad to say there’s more cons than pros. While technology is supposed to make life a little easier for us, it has become the source of more stress. It has brought about more problems that solutions to mankind and to our planet earth. Because computers work  fast and technology is advancing at a gargantuan pace, there is a huge demand for us to catch up, to move at a faster pace. As a result, people are becoming significantly impatience, impersonal, short tempered, less caring. Our language, culture has been so significantly shaped that many of us today, we have lost our roots, our very identity! Take a look at the youth around us today. Notice the transformation. I urge you to read the book of Revelation as often as you can. It’s a window into the future. Observe the populace, the nations, the physical earth. Then ask yourself, “What gives?” How in the world will the human race and planet earth evolve into such futurist stage?  Basically there is a “programmer” and there is a “process” … the devil and his cosmos (world system).

On a daily basis, our lives are being influenced and shaped  by our usual taken-for-granted daily routines. Young kids with their video gadgets are being programmed and shaped for violence as they indulge in violent video games. They are becoming more and more insensitive to violence as their tolerance level for it increases. Instant communicative platforms exposes our kids, youth and adults to a world of virtual friendships, be it friends or foes. They have become very individualistic in nature as daily they spend time alone with their gadgets socializing via cyberspace. Kids are being bullied not just in schools but also in their homes via this digital world which is highly hyper-connected and completely unfiltered. Adults are exposed to and practicing unheard-of-sexual practices. Cyber crimes are being committed daily worldwide as cyber criminals have access into your lives through the doors of your IP address. IF you think this world is getting better with its innovations and technological advancements, you need to read the Book of revelation. Even movies from Hollywood depicts the world in a chaotic mess!

But I’ve got good news! Thank God for His gift of the Church! In Christ we have this extended family. And as long as we understand and embrace this gift from God, we have safety, we have knowledge and “the gates of hell shall not prevail against His church”. Always rely on the wisdom of God's word. Walk in fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Jesus warned, the thief comes to steal, to kill and to destroy. The thief is the programmer and he is on the prowl.You are being programmed. Keep your guard up!

Flying car ... really?

Since the installation of a new transport minister in Malaysia's new governance, there has been this big hoo-hah about the introduction of flying car. There was quite a bit of a fuss on this and it drew mostly critics and negativeness.  Today I want to share my two cents on this.

Growing up, I love the TV series "The Jetsons". It's about a futurist family in a futurist age. Instead of walking, there's this option of escalators. Instead of driving a car, automated flying vehicles was the norm. Although it was just a cartoon series on the possibilities of the future age to come, TODAY we are living in the era of escalators and now ...  driverless cars! Recently in Singapore, they had a test run on a flying "taxi".  Now, that's just the Jetsons. How about  Star Wars, The Terminator and all the futuristic movies? The gadgets and the technology as depicted in these futuristic movies, are they too unrealistic or will it become a reality one day in the future? Great imaginations lead to great innovations and inventions.  Here's what I think about the flying car introduction in Malaysia. I think it's a super idea. Not that the flying cars are practical at this present age and time BUT the innovation, the possibilities, the research that lead to a prototype, now that's a wealth of knowledge and possibilities. It's like a gold mine yet to be uncovered. IT"S NOT ABOUT THE FLYING CAR FOLKS! It's about the innovation, the possibilities, the dream, the drive to make things happen, to invent. It's about INNOVATION! It's about DARING TO DREAM! So what do I think about the flying car? Super!

Have you read the book of Revelation of late? Or perhaps I should ask when was the last time you read Revelation? It's a futurist book! What is to become of this world in the future is all written there. Some of the things you read may seem too unreal but God's Word is TRUTH. Just because I cannot comprehend it in my present time doesn't mean it's not a future possibility. Instead of ignoring it, I'd pay attention to it. Why? Because flying cars will happen. Jesus will soon return! Amen.

Feeling a little overwhelmed?

Some days you will feel like throwing in the towel ...

maybe even angry at the world ...

BUT with a little adjustment, prayer and faith ...

things will be looking good again!










There's a saying ... "When the going gets tough, the tough gets going". Make some effort to have a good day today. God bless :-)

TRUST

Trust: firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something.

Going by this definition, who or what do you trust? Do you know of anything or someone who is absolutely reliable, absolutely true and who have absolute ability to do anything? If you do, that person has got to be God! You and I both know there is no one political system that works, not one person who is entirely flawless and perfect and therefore reliable. As for truth, take a look at this world and you wonder what really is true! If you can get a room and put all the world leaders together, there will be no peace but war. Why? Simply for lack of trust.

I know generally people don't reflect on these things. We think we have someone we trust,  some system we can rely on. But alas, that too is a chasing after the wind. People change and no one really knows how today will shape us into what we will become tomorrow. There are so many variables in life, so many experiences that shape us. How can we know for truth that in the future to come, we will be reliable, strong and honest. A good person will strive for these but there's this Chinese saying: "Got heart,no strength". People meant well, but they are lacking. So again I ask, who or what do you trust? After thousands of years of existence as a human race, are we better today that centuries and millenniums ago? Do we see less wars, less pollution, less disasters? Is our air cleaner today that yesteryear? Do you trust the foods you eat? Have the human race grown more trustworthy? Do you trust your government? Is evil on the rise? Is morality improving or decaying? The answer is right in front of you. Jesus had twelve disciples yet He did not entrust Himself to them or to any man. That's food for though!.

Truth is: we are all born sinners. How can a blind lead the blind? Earth is suffering. Human race is lacking. Politicians don't speak the truth. Who or what can we therefore trust IF not in God? (I said God, not religion). Trust in yourself? I need to deposit my trust somewhere. My bank is God. I trust the saying of Jesus: "I am the WAY the TRUTH and the LIFE" (Jn. 14:6). He said: "the thief comes to steal and to kill and to destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" (Jn 10:10). Today, I dedicate these thoughts to our dearly beloved Jenny Ho who, as of last night, is basking in the reality of the WAY, TRUTH and LIFE. Her trust in God has brought her to where she belonged and is today and for all eternity she will live the abundant life. No longer bound but set free. The peace of God that passes all understanding will be upon her family for like her, they too banked their trust in the good Shepherd where the dividends are heavenly. This world is broken but God is good. The future is bright as we put our trust in Jesus. Amen.

The "Presence of God"

Previous week, I preached on something “heavy” in church. By that I meant something to really ponder on, something to look deeper into. Like the Bereans, one will have to search the Scripture, discuss it and see if it is true rather than just taking everything said by the preacher behind the pulpit as truth. Preachers aren't right all the time. Here's a gist on the subject on the presence of God.

Keep in mind this Hebrew word: Paneam. It means “face to face”. Before the Fall of man at Eden, man and God were able to meet face to face. After the Fall, God removed Himself from the presence of man because in the sinful state, man cannot dwell in the presence of God (Paneam). Throughout the Old Testament, God's visited His people but not in the way He did before the Fall. His glory can be seen and His presence tangibly felt and His voice can be heard. But man still cannot “paneam” God because as God said to Moses: “ … I will let you see my glory and hear my holy name but I won't let you see my face, because anyone who sees my face will die” (Exodus 33:19-20). After this encounter, Moses physical body glowed to the extent he had to wear a veil because people couldn't look into his face. Can you imagine what would have happened had Moses stood in the presence of God? He would had imploded. God placed Moses behind a cracked rock to protect him from His presence and allowed Moses only to have a partial glimpse of Himself after He passed by Moses. Moses no doubt felt the awesome presence of God but was not allowed to be in the presence of God (paneam) lest he die.

What about us today? Can we be in the presence of God (paneam) and yet live? I don't think our physical body can take it although in spirit we are regenerated. In that sense, I believe we will not physically survive the presence of God and live. That's why God gave us His only begotten Son! That's His grace. By looking at Jesus we see God. Jesus said if we had seen Him, we would have seen the Father. If we had heard Him, we would have heard the Father. In order to know God and dwell in God's presence, we have Jesus as the Way, Truth and Life! So today as we worship and gather in the Name of Jesus to pray, we enter into the presence of God. We tangibly feel and experience God's presence but we are not seeing God face to face. We can't. Our bodies cannot take it. There will come a time we will be able to but now, in our mortal body and present condition, we have Jesus as our Mediator. When the apostle John had an encounter with God at the island of Patmos, He was caught in spirit into the presence of Jesus who was in His glorified state. John fell to the ground as though dead. Isaiah too thought he was going to die when he had his encounter with God. He had a revelation of a sinful man in the presence of the most Holy God! Unlike Moses, Isaiah and John encountered God in the spirit while Moses had a physical encounter, yet they were overwhelmed!

In my opinion, in order for us to encounter God face to face, there must be these three conditions. First of all, being born again. Secondly, a new body. This we will have when we get to heaven. Thirdly, a new name. God has a new name for us in heaven because “old things have passed away and all things have become new”. In that glorious state, we will be able to see God face to face. What God did in Eden before the Fall, God will restore then in spirit, soul and body. What's my point in sharing this? My concern for the way preachers today define the presence of God.

Preachers love to draw attention to themselves. I am not saying this as a norm. Being human, the temptation is always there. In church, there's the stage and there's the audience. People love a good performance and the star has to shine brighter in order to maintain the ambiance. This is where the preacher (if he or she is not careful) succumb. People love a hero, a star. They are willing to pay for the stage. But this is not something new. Centuries back, Paul warned in 2 Timothy 4:3: “The time is coming when people won't listen to good teaching. Instead they will look for teachers who will please them by telling only what they are itching to hear”. We need to take heed of this. Jesus is soon returning and false teachers are on the rise. My caution is: be a follower of Jesus, not a follower of preachers. God's presence is not unique only to some as some preachers would claim to have the unique ability to enter into the presence of God. I honestly think if God were to really appear, we too will cry out “woe is me for I am unclean”. How can we stand in the presence of the most high God in our present state? Yet, by the grace of God, we have been accorded the privilege of knowing Him and gracing His presence and His glory through Jesus Christ the Son of God. In Jesus we live and move and have our being. We are indeed God's offspring (Acts 17:28). Jesus is the mediator between God the Father and us and we have the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit through whom we have been adopted as sons of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Praise be to our God! One day we will meet God face to face. For now, we will embrace the awesome presence and glory of God in Christ Jesus our Lord, Master and Savior.

Churches have evolved through the centuries. What it is today is not quite the same as what it was originally in Acts. But that's alright. Time passes and generational change will continue as in methods and styles. It's understandable we don't do church the way it was done previously. Change is inevitable and is healthy and necessary as long as the core is not compromised. In fact, Paul said there are diversity of ministries and gifts but of the same Spirit. Churches come in all kinds of styles and sizes but as long as it is borne of the same Holy Spirit, it is alright. My only concern is doing church without the Holy Spirit but supposedly in the name of Jesus. 

Since I was a freshman in Bible College in 1979, I had been involved in the pioneering of a church in Rawang. So all in all, I have been in the ministry forty years, thirty eight of which were in Vineyard which  I pioneered. Through all these years, I have benefited so much from big churches and gifted pastors. Their training programs for pastors were a great help and inspiration So whether a church is big or small, it's still God's church. God is no greater in one church and lesser in another. God is God. As long as I am a follower of Christ, and as long as I abide by His Word, God's presences is felt no matter where I am. That's the joy of being a follower of Jesus. His love, His joy and His peace abide in me. I too hope sincerely (as I have so taught) that you too will be a follower of Jesus Christ, not a follower of a church or a preacher. God's presence is everywhere. Be faithful to God and to where He has planted you. Things may not be the way you want and it probably may not, but should a man leave his wife if his spouse is not up to his expectations? What works is faithfulness. As long as you stay on course, you too can contribute positively and grow your church in ways that glorify Jesus. After all, the purpose of the church ultimately is to proclaim the kingdom of God. God have mercy on all of us and to Him be all the glory!

Lightning from the east

Back in the 70s' the second coming of Christ and His soon return were very much emphasised. It sparked off the fuse for the sharing of the gospel because Christians back then literally believed Jesus' return could happen anytime! Today, this emphasis is no longer. Christians are very much distracted by the internet age (as is the world) and evangelism has lost its momentum. Coupled with this self-love age, the soon coming of Jesus Christ is far from the minds of Christians. Nevertheless, the fact still remain. Jesus is coming back soon! Let's just hope we don't fall under the category of five foolish virgins in the parable. Their unpreparedness and taken-for-granted attitude cost them the banquet! As for me personally, I am still of the hope that Jesus will come in my life time. He has to come sometime. So I am hoping it's during my life time. Foolish of me? I'd rather be ready than be left behind. AND I have my reasons for my belief. One of which I want to share with you today. An end-time prophecy as spoken of by Jesus.

32Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. 33So also, when you see all these things, you will know that He is near,d right at the door. 34Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened. 35Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. (Matthew 24)

Israel was depicted here as the fig tree. It was prophesied that Israel will cease to exist until such a time when God Himself will gather them back as a nation. After AD 70 most of the people of Israel were expelled from their land and Israel ceased to function as a nation. For almost 2000 years, they wandered, were persecuted, murdered and ultimately the Holocaust when European Jews were systematically hunted down and eliminated. In 1948, true to God's word, the fig tree budded. It's branches may still be tender but it's sprouting leaves. Read again the above verses. Who is "this generation"? This next verse is going to imply the very possibility that Jesus was speaking about our time today.

"For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man" (v. 27)

The gospel was birthed in Jerusalem. From there it went westward and travelled the globe and is headed (or has) back to Jerusalem. It's amazing how Israel became a nation in 1948 just when the gospel was heading back to where it all began! From Jerusalem in the West, you can see the gospel coming from the East! Twice the apostle Paul had wanted to take the gospel eastward towards Asia but God forbade. So from west to east, it's now returning like "lightning" from east and seen in the west! All these prophecies coming to pass IN OUR TIME!

There are other major prophecies regarding Jesus' soon return such as Revelation 9 and 13. Like I mentioned earlier, I am hoping for Jesus' return in my lifetime. All the sign that were not yet in place during the apostles' time are unfolding before our very eyes today. I am hopeful. Are you? If you are not, think about this ...

36No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,e but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. 39And they were oblivious, until the flood came and swept them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40Two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left (Matt 24).

MARANATHA!!!