How Shall You Run Your Life?

One of the blessing of my life is the many fresh revelations that I have caught since attending City Harvest Church. As a church with close to 100% of members who tithe, I have experienced what is written in Malachi 3:10a (NKJV), "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house,".

People need people is a common refrain. But, hey, we need spiritual food, too. God, our Creator, has furnished us with not just a body and soul, but also a spirit (inner man). God's instruction manual has made it clear for his "very good" creation that: “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’" (Matthew 4:4b; NKJV)

When we backslide, neglect or gloss over God's Word and relegate into carnal mindedness, it's time to sit up and seek for freshly baked bread to feed and stir up our spirit man. By honouring God's Word, we are honouring Him. What God has said, let it be settled in our mind, established in our heart and followed through in obedience by faith.

As we do so, our eyes will be opened to fresh revelations of spiritual truths such as "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105; NKJV); “.. He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.” (Matthew 8:17); and "All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." (John 3-51:; NKJV)

Back to the question of "How shall you run your life?", I am reminded of what my cell group leader had shared on 27 March 2015 to run our lives in the following three manners:

1. Be like Jesus who has a clear Vision and Purpose.

2. Be like Jesus who has led a Disciplined Life.

3. Be like Jesus who has centred Himself around God the Father.

When we have a clear vision and purpose coupled with a disciplined life in Christ Jesus, we are running our life well. 

But, the clincher is to do the specific will or assignment that the Father has for us and glorify God the Father just as Jesus did.

"... nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42; NKJV)

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16; NKJV)

Let us therefore take heed of what God the Father is saying to us already in His Word as well as what the Holy Spirit is revealing to us.

As Jesus told His disciples, "But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]." (John 16:13; Amp)

This Book of the Law

"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." Joshua 1:8 (NKJV)

Ordinarily, it is daunting for me to memorize a Scripture verse. However, on 17 November 2014, Joshua 1:8 took hold of me and I found myself memorizing it with relatively ease. There and then, the Word of God became alive as a rhema to me. 

That said, let's review and memorize Joshua 1:8 (J18) by breaking it down into the following chunks. We could start by memorizing the first chunk and then move on to the next, and right through to the final chunk. And, when we put all the memorized chunks together, we would have ingested J18!

This Book of the Law
What's going to capture most of our thoughts today? Is it going to be the economy, the newspaper, the latest movie, some sports event, another celebrity showing off or acting badly, Huffington Post, Twitter, Facebook, Yahoo!, Instagram, YouTube or some other things which could crowd out the Word of God?

After reading this article, just try recalling J18 and you will see how often your mind would have drifted to other things if you do not make a conscious effort to direct your attention back to J18. You could be in your prayer closet but your mind is drifting. Or you could be in a crowded subway and yet reviewing J18 loud and clear in your mind. 

Let's choose to focus on "This Book of the Law" more than our problems, regrets or hung-ups.

shall not depart from your mouth
As we mutter the Word of God to ourselves so that we actually hear it, it would be easier for His Word to take root in us. 

By the by, the Scripture verse or passage which we have been speaking out of our mouths will become established in our inner man, and the Holy Spirit would help us recall them as a Sword of the Spirit to stand our ground in the face of adversity and fight the good fight of faith.

Why not to try looking at ourselves in the mirror and preach His Word to the person in the mirror? This way we can see how truly persuaded we are that the Word of God is faithful and true.

but you shall meditate in it day and night
As we meditate (the note in my Holy Bible says "ponders by taking to himself") on the Word of God, we shall be be "like a tree planted by rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in season, whose leaf shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper." (Psalms 1:3; NKJV)

However, let's not meditate on God's Word out of compulsion or a sense of duty. Rather, let's take delight in meditating on His Word (Psalms 1:2) and thereby learn to live life according to God's Way. And, experience His Blessing!

that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it
The Word of God is like an instruction manual on how to operate our life as God has originally intended. If we choose to disobey, then we will malfunction and learn the lessons of life the long and hard way. 

The emphasis here is not to be just a hearer but also a doer of God's Word. The Holy Spirit brings afresh to us the Word of God through Paul, praying "that you may have a walk worthy of the LORD, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;". (Col. 1:10; NKJV)

The grace of God is not cheap, but it is freely given to us. Our part is to grow in love with God and His Word so much so that His Word becomes a part of our spiritual DNA and we become more like Jesus, walking in God's way and speaking words of the Holy Spirit and of life.  

For then you will make your way prosperous
Ahem, who makes our way prosperous? We are the ones who make our ways prosperous. God is all for us to succeed in life. Often the problem is the man in the mirror -- ourselves! 

Let's be wary lest we become the greatest hindrance to living the good live in our spiritual Goshen. We do well to take heed of J18 and let the Word of God be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Psalms 119:105).

We could do a daily spiritual check-up before God who has perfect knowledge of man. "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalms 139:24; NKJV)

and then you will have good success.
As we do things according to God's way and become prosperous, we will then enjoy the land of milk and honey. God is the source of our success, but our obedience to His Word is the key to our success. All glory be to God for the fruit of victory!

Not only would we and our loved ones be rejoicing over our success, but God jumps in to celebrate His children's success, as well. "The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you in His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17; NKJV)


Now that we have memorized J18 successfully, the next stage would be to meditate on it by muttering and/or speaking it to ourselves. Review our thoughts during the course of the day and consciously re-direct our thoughts to J18 and speak it out to ourselves whenever we have some time alone. 

We could apply the same to other Scripture verses like Psalms 119:105 and Isaiah 41:10, and so forth. And, we shall experience the power of God's Word that proceeds out of our mouths! 

Encountering God in His Word

This article "Encountering God in His Word" was written way back in 2010. Please click here to read and be blessed in Jesus's Name.

More Than a Conqueror by Rev Dr Kong Hee

I like this YouTube message on being More Than a Conqueror by Rev Dr Kong Hee. Please click here to watch. The message starts around 5:30. Hear the Word of God and be blessed.

Our Words are Powerful!

Our words are important; what we say matters. More accurately and more than just audible sound, our spoken words are full of power -- the ability to do things. Our tongue may be a small part of our body but we need to be reminded regarding the power of the tongue.  Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV) states matter-of-factly, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Research has shown that our body listens to our brain. Specifically, the speech centre of the brain exercises control and dominion over our entire body. This is consistent with what James 3:4-5 (NKJV) has stated through the centuries, “Look also at the ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!”

Indeed, there is much wisdom to adhere to the maxim of being quick to listen but slow to speak. As written in Proverbs 15:2 (NKJV), isn’t it true that “The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.”?

Today, we need to do an assessment of our spoken words. Do we tend to be negative, neutral or positive? Do we choose to bless or wallow in cursing? Do our words promote health or pierce like a sword?

How then are we to speak? The answer that springs out is 1 Peter 4:11 (NKJV), “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

We can also reflect on Colossians 4:6 (NKJV) which urges us to “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”

When we speak wholesome words we are acting wisely for our sound words bring health to our body rather than wrought curses to our body. That’s the least we could do to steer clear from the venom of foolish words and avoid being a part of the “brood of vipers” who speak and act contrary to the Word of God.

But, there is more to our speaking than keeping a healthy body, soul and spirit. We can speak the Word of God so as to be more than conquerors in Christ (Romans 8:37) and to reign as kings and priests in this life (Romans 5:17; Revelations 5:10).

The Word of God has to speak louder to us than everything else so that we can change the seen with God’s Word and shape the unseen things by calling things that are not as though they were. (Romans 4:17)

In his book “Changing the Seen & Shaping the Unseen”, Pastor Charles Capps writes that: “God’s Word is the establishing force of the image of unseen things. We should not allow circumstances and the cares of life to create images within us. Take God’s Word and change things that are seen – the things that you don’t desire – into things that you desire.”

Consider the four lepers in 2 Kings 7 where the city of Samaria was besieged by the Syrian army and beset by a great famine. Now they were at the entrance at the gate and reasoned amongst themselves that if they continue to sit around, they will die. If they enter the city, they will also die as the famine is in the city. Their final decision was to approach the Syrian camp and surrender themselves with the hope of being kept alive, at best.

Early next morning, when they had come to the outskirts of the Syrian camp, they were surprised to find that the enemy had fled, leaving behind their camp intact. There they found much spoils including food and drinks, tents, horses, donkeys, silver, gold and clothing.

Unbeknown to them, God had caused the Syrian army to hear the noise of a great army approaching them at twilight. Many believed that as the lepers moved, God moved by magnifying the sound of their several footsteps.

What is crucial is that earlier on in the chapter, Elisha had spoken God’s Word that the famine would be over by tomorrow, and the lepers had step forth into the realm of God performing His Word. They encountered what the Greeks called a kairos moment -- the right or opportune moment; the supreme moment.

As the prophet, Jesus or the man or woman of God speaks the Word of God, we, too, can step into the realm of God performing His word. God says He is ready (watching) to perform His Word (Jeremiah 1:12) and His Word which goes forth shall not return to Him void “But it shall accomplish what I (God) please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11b; NKJV)

The words of Jesus are spirit and they are life (John6:63b). When Jesus says we are healed, we are healed, indeed! When Jesus says we live, we shall not die but live! Also, as He is, so are we. Thus, we, too, are the light of the world and salt of the earth. The Word of God works because God is watching over it so that His purpose will be accomplished.

The Word of God which was revealed by Jesus Christ and by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to Paul the apostle will also be proven to work. It will also work when men and women who are followers of Jesus Christ speak the Word of God.

Today is the day for us to go up one notch in our understanding and application of what Pastor John Osteen calls The ABCs of Faith, which is to: (A) Agree with the Word of God; (B) Believe the Word of God; and (C) Confess the Word of God with Your Mouth.

Our words are powerful. God’s Words are even more powerful. God’s Word in our mouths is as powerful as His Word in His mouth. We have everything to gain and be blessed by speaking God’s Word over our lives, our loved ones and our world, and let God bring about the results for His Glory.