God Is Looking For A Volunteer

In his book "You Were Born for This" co-written with David Kopp,  Bruce Wilkinson posited, "If I were to ask you what you think is happening in Heaven at this very moment, what would you say?" 

From his experiences, "People mention angels, harps, God sitting on His throne, a lot of praise and worship. Others mention higher states of consciousness. But little involving action comes to mind."

He would then venture to ask questions such as: "Any committee meetings going on up there? Strategy planning sessions? Does Heaven have something like an agenda for the day?" People don't think so, apparently.

Now that he has the rapt attention of his target audience, he unveils this clincher, "But what if you discovered that the spiritual realm of Heaven and the material realm of earth are actively linked in billions of ways? What if you discovered God is intently at work right now on tasks that matter greatly to Him and that He's constantly looking for volunteers to help Him?"

When God calls and we put our complete trust in Him, He will provide us the power to get the commission done. If we would not respond, God could always look for another person or another way. 

Indeed, Scripture reveals to us that: "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him." (2 Chronicles 16:9a; NKJV) 

"God is always on the alert, constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to him." (2 Chronicles 16:9a; MSG)

Make no mistake, God is not just sitting on His throne and listening to worship songs. He is also watching over His people intently. Will He see our faith in the seasons, times and circumstances of our life so that He can show Himself strong on our behalf?

I don't know about you, but this very thought of God watching over me intently is causing me to take a fresh look at how I run my life -- that how I apply faith in His Word and yield to His Spirit's leading in every day situations matter for a life of obedience that would please Him.

As we trust and obey Him, I think we would be ready for some volunteer work when God dispenses His assignments for the day. As Bruce Wilkinson proffers in "You Were Born for This", "What if ordinary people like you and me are invited to partner with God to deliver miracles to others?" 

Yes, we are the change agents of God, with the help of His Spirit in us and the angels as well as like-minded people around us. Oh, yes, we could well be God's answer to the prayers of people who are calling out for a miracle. Trust and obey God. Listen in to what good works is on God's mind. Get prepared. Get ready and be a volunteer today!

If you are interested, you can look up "You Were Born for This" by Bruce Wilkinson and David Kopp at:

http://www.mountzion.com.sg/

http://www.sksbooks.com/ 

http://www.amazon.com/

Do We Really, Really Trust in the LORD?

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5,6 (NKJV)

At the minimum, we do trust in the LORD. Thus, we keep reading the Word of God, pray to Him as our Heavenly Father, honour Him with our tithes and offerings, fellowship with other believers, pray for the sick, make disciples of all nations, and so forth.

However, it is a higher level of believing when we can trust in the LORD fully, completely and without wavering. The challenge is to keep trusting in the LORD in spite of discouraging circumstances such as when: we do not have any breakthrough to advance towards our dream; we are thrown in the lions' den or fiery furnace; or we have just experienced a shipwreck.

As believers we are still susceptible to forget God's Word and operate with a carnal mind. This happens when we allow fear (i.e., false evidence appearing real) and circumstances to take our eyes away from the Word of God -- the truth which can set us free from all manner of sin, such as the lack of faith, which displeases God.

Our understanding is very finite, indeed. Let the words of our infinite, omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient God speaks louder to us than all the things this world has to offer. "Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones." Proverbs 3:7-8 (NKJV)

So, to what extent, do we acknowledge God in our ways, let alone all of our ways? I submit that the more in tune we are to the frequency of God's radio station manned by the Holy Spirit and let His Word guide us, the more conscious we will be to interact with the Holy Spirit as our Senior Partner and live life in tandem with His leading and instruction.

Lest we forget, "For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God." 1 Corinthians 2:11-12 (NKJV)

As we are led by the Holy Spirit, He will make straight or smooth, the paths that we take. If we can acknowledge and receive such an immense gift as our salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, trusting God fully and acknowledging Him in all our ways need to part of our DNA as His new creation.

Truly, as we trust God wholeheartedly and undertake all our endeavours in God's way, He will be glorified though us. ""Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, for in these I delight," says the LORD." Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NKJV)

Follow JESUS the Good Shepherd

"Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” John 21:22 (NKJV)"

After having breakfast by the Sea of Tiberias, Jesus asked Peter three times whether he loves Him just as Peter had denied Him three times. In so doing, Jesus restored Peter and charged him to "Feed My lambs", "Tend My sheep" and "Feed My sheep". Then Jesus prophesied the manner of Peter's death to the glory of God and exhorted Peter to follow Him.

That said and done with, Peter ventured to ask Jesus what would happen to John -- is he going to die for being a follower of Jesus, too? Jesus did not answer Peter's question. Instead Jesus reminded Peter to follow Him; to focus on his life's mission to be a follower of Christ.

For sure, Jesus, who knows all things, would know what will happen to John. Perhaps it was not the time to reveal the matter. In any case, it was His prerogative to keep what needs to be hidden for the moment.

We. too, can be like Peter by wanting to know what will happen to other believers in their walk of faith. Following from Jesus's discourse with Peter, we can surmise that our walk of faith is personal to us and we are to keep following the steps and the path He leads us.

When we follow and serve Jesus: He will make us "fishers of men" (Mark 1:17); we deny ourselves and take up our cross daily (Luke 9:23); we shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life (John 8:12); we will be with Him and His Father will honour (John 12:26); and experience the fullness of Psalms 23.

To be approved by God the Father, we need to follow Jesus and do whatever He tells us to do. When they ran out of wine during a wedding at Cana of Galilee, Mary told the servants, " Whatever He says to you, do it.” (John 2:5) Lo and behold, after those servants have filled the six waterpots, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece, with water just as Jesus said to do, the water was turned into wine of exquisite quality.

Would we hear His voice as a servant and follow Him? Can we be like those servants who filled the waterpots to the brim? Can we be like servant Caleb? "But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it. Numbers 14:24 (NKJV)"

As we trust and obey the Good Shepherd, our walk will be pleasing to Him. We will then know who we are and whose we are. Remember the words of Jesus, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:27 (NKJV)"

It is crucial for us to obey what the LORD has told us to do specifically. The account of the prophet in 1 Kings 13 is a sombre reminder. The LORD's instruction to him was: "You shall not eat bread, nor drink water, nor return by the same way you came." 

When King Jeroboam entreated the prophet to eat and drink, he remained steadfast to the the Word of the LORD. But, an older prophet came to the prophet and said: "I too am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.’” (He was lying to him.)" 

Because of his disobedience to the Word of the LORD, the prophet was consequently killed by a lion. Click here to read the full account in 1 Kings 13.

God still speaks today. Just yesterday, while browsing over some books in City Harvest Church before the service, I saw Pastor Edmund and felt prompted to approach him to ask for his blog address which I had heard of months ago during one of his sharing in a prayer meeting. 

However, I disobeyed the voice of God and missed the golden opportunity for an aspiring writing like me. God is gracious. He confirmed His prompting when Pastor Kong Hee called Pastor Edmund during the service  to give a testimony. Pastor Edmund shared on how the LORD has blessed him through his blog and writings for honouring (obeying) Him in tithing and givings. 

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. His call for us today is still, "Follow Me".


P/s: I am reading "Surprised By The Voice of God" by Jack Deere and you may find it helpful in your desire to hear the voice of God. Click here to view. 

Jack Deere (Th.D). formerly an associate professor of Old Testament at Dallas Theological Seminary, is a writer and lecturer who speaks throughout the world on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. He is the author of the best-selling book, Surprised by the Power of the Spirit. Deere lives with his wife and three children in Whitefish, Montana.