Fresh Perspective and Insights on Communion with God

Pastor Bill Johnson was in City Harvest Church recently and the following are the sermons which he had shared for your edification.

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Right Perspective of Success in Life

In the realm of nationhood, nationalists would boast about the prowess of their country's influence and standing. On the homefront, parents take pride in their children while grandparents are goo-goo, gaa-gaa-ing about their grandchildren. 

At institution of learning, students make their mark in the academic, sports and social-cultural-and-political arenas. On the workfront, individuals and companies bask in their performance and economic success.

Where is God in the scheme of our works? Lest we forget, we do well to remember to include and honour God as part of the the equation of our being and becoming.

Thankfully, we have the Word of God to help us keep a right perspective of what true success in life constitute.

Consider Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NKJV) with the clarion call of how God sees true success in the way we live our life:-

"Thus says the Lord:

“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 who 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."

As further expounded by the Amplified Bible,

"Thus says the Lord, “Let not the one who is wise and skillful boast in his insight; let not the one who is mighty and powerful boast in his strength; let not the one who is rich boast in his [temporal satisfactions and earthly] abundance; but let the one who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me [and acknowledges Me and honors Me as God and recognizes without any doubt], that I am the Lord who practices lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on the earth, for in these things I delight,” says the Lord."

Truly, the reverential fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. When we give due honour to God, He is delighted with us. What more do we need, when God is pleased with us?

Does God Answer Prayers?

The following sermon notes are sourced, with adaptation, from Rev Bobby Chaw's preaching from the Book of Numbers, Chapter 16, at City Harvest Church on 24 November 2018.

In English the fourth book of the Holy Bible is called the Book of Numbers as it began with God's command to take a census of all the congregation of Israelites.

However, in Hebrews it is known by the key word of its first sentence, Bemidbar, which means "in the wilderness" of Sinai where God gave the aforesaid command.

In Numbers 16:1, Korah, Dathan and Abiram and other leaders numbering two hundred and fifty started a rebellion against Moses and Aaron. Consequently, God instructed Moses and Aaron to stand apart from among this congregation which He is slating for destruction.

However, these two priests of the LORD "... fell on their faces, and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and You be angry with all the congregation""(Numbers 16:22 NKJV)?

The ringleaders and their households were swallowed up by the ground which had split open and then closed after they had fallen in. 

In a second rebellion (v. 41), all the surviving congregation turned against Moses and Aaron. "And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” Again they fell on their faces" (Numbers 16:44, 45 NKJV).

"So Moses said to Aaron, “Take a censer and put fire in it from the altar, put incense on it, and take it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them; for wrath has gone out from the Lord. The plague has begun.” Then Aaron took it as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and already the plague had begun among the people. So he put in the incense and made atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped" (Numbers 16: 46-48 NKJV).

Prayer makes a difference. It stops death and safeguards life. 

Pray for your enemies and those who mistreat you. "“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you" (Luke 6: 27-28 NKJV).

The incense are the prayers of the saints . "Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints"(Revelation 5:8 NKJV). 

Prayers make the difference. Prayer is the greatest outlet of power.  

The Holy Spirit is our inlet of power. ""But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth"" (Acts 1:8 NKJV).

In order for us to be an outlet for the power of the Holy Spirit in us, we need to yield to Him and be led by Him rather than treat Him like a temporary guest.

There are 4 outlet of power:

1. Our Life

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13 NKJV). Our lives are more powerful than our serving. 

2. Our Lips

"And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God" (1 Corinthians 2:4-5 NKJV).

3. Our Services to People

""But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many”" (Matthew 20:25-28 NKJV).

"how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him" (Acts 10:38 NKJV).

Our services to people, the Jesus' Way, is matter of Faith and Power instead of face and powder. 

4. Our Prayers

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV).

We can do nothing of power until we have done the prayer thing. 

Prayer is not the only thing, it is the first thing we do. Our lives are empowered through prayers. 

"When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”" (Luke 22:40 NKJV)

When we pray, Heavenly help comes. "And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed,... Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him (Luke 22:41-43 NKJV). 

Keep praying always. "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak" Ephesians 6:18-20 NKJV).

Our services are empowered through prayers. "Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints," (Romans 15:30-31 NKJV)

"The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing" (Psalm 34: 10 NKJV).

God still answers prayers. Rev Bobby then went on to share from George Muller's memoir concerning the orphanage ministry through which Muller sought to demonstrate that God will provide for the ministry through the power of prayer alone -- to prove that God answers prayers. He had a bigger mission to magnify that God answers prayers than just caring for the orphans. 

One highlight is the rhema word which Muller received from the LORD on 5 December 1835, namely: "I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it" (Psalm 81:10 KJV). 

Click here to read a biography of George Muller.

Then Rev Bobby shared a moving testimony by a Taiwanese pastor of how his parents finally came to the LORD, dramatically, after much prayers. You can catch this once the YouTube clip of this sermon is ready for me to include in this blog.

Prayer makes a difference. Don’t allow circumstances to beset you. Prayer is not an option, it is required. 

""If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”" (Luke 11:13 NKJV)

"And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness"(Acts 4:31 NKJV).

In conclusion, does God answer prayers? The answer is: Yes! Yes! Yes!

Do You Really, Really Believe That GOD Is Good?

The following notes are adapted from Rev Sun Ho's sermon on Faith v.s. Reality at City Harvest Church 10 November 2018 where she shared a life-transforming revelation of God's goodness such as His desire to heal us of all infirmities and sicknesses. 

"His fame spread everywhere! Many people who were in pain and suffering with every kind of illness were brought to Jesus for their healing—epileptics, paralytics, and those tormented by demonic powers were all set free. Everyone who was brought to Jesus was healed!" Matthew 4:24 (TPT)

Everyone who was brought to Jesus was healed. Only believe. Our level of faith has everything to do with our encounter with God. Faith is directly related to our revelation of the goodness of God.

In Psalm 27:13 (NASB), King David confessed, "I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." 

David's life was full of challenges. He was the youngest boy in the family and was tasked to look after sheep away from the comfort of home. When he defeated Goliath, King Saul was envious and sought to kill David. His trouble did not cease when he was coronated as king. He lost his first child with Bathsheba and one of his son, Absalom, attempted a coup to take David's throne. Through it all, David believed that he will see the goodness of God in his lifetime.

Such was David's faith in God, notwithstanding the struggles he had to face, that he was able to affirm, "Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases," (Psalm 103:1-3; NKJV)

Jesus fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy as “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses." (Matthew 8:17; NKJV) Infirmities refer to physical and mental weaknesses, frailty, feebleness, impairment, disability, ailments, illness, and the like.

The following are part of the commandments Jesus gave to His twelve disciples, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." (Matthew 10:8; NKJV)

Would Jesus have mentioned all these works of miracles if God is bereft of the power to deliver? Of course, God has the power to perform miracles in addition to delivering us from the power of sin (which is death).  

In reality, we have prayed for the sick but not all have been healed. 

How do we navigate this tension of faith versus reality? We do not have all the answers. Some deep things of God will remain in the realm of mystery until we have a revelation. They are hidden for us to discover.

"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter." (Proverbs 25:2; NKJV)

In Mark 8:22-25 the blind man saw men like trees. He needed to contend for more from Jesus so as to see men as men with clarity. We need to persist in our prayer like prophet Elijah who prayed for rain.

In Mark 9:14-29 a father brought his child who was tormented by a mute spirit to Jesus for healing. ""Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”" (Mark 9:23-24; NKJV)

The disciples could not cast out the death and dumb spirit. Jesus explained that this type comes out only by prayer and fasting. Depths of intimacy with the Father has caused Jesus to access the realms of heaven. 

The degree of faith demonstrated by us is dependent upon revelations through encounters. 

We stop praying because we stop believing God. You have stopped praying because you have stopped believing in the goodness of God based on your circumstances rather than faith in God-- that God loves you and loves to bless you. 

Neither God nor His Word has changed. Won't we draw nearer to Him and contend for more of Him in our life as His royal sons and daughters? 

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord,  I will be joyful in God my Savior." -- Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NIV) 

In 2 Chronicles 20:21 - 22 the people rejoices in the LORD and God defeated their enemies for them. 

Find strength in your heart to praise and worship Him. You cannot go to war where you have not gone into intimacy with God. 

When Jesus died on the cross the veil of the temple of God was torn in two so that we can come into intimacy with God. 

It is our privilege and honor to have intimacy with God. (Do you see this open revelation of the extent of God's goodness?! Or, do you get more excited when you have direct access to an earthly Who's Who than God Himself?) 

How we treat or honour God is a reflection of the worth we ascribe to Him. (Do you cheer more for your favourite team in the sports arena than the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in church?)

Coming to church is a privilege to enter into a place of engagement with God. It is an honour to minister to God personally. When we are in deep communion with God, the result is spiritual authority. And, we will begin to do more and more of the kind of miracles that Jesus did. 

Let us build heaven’s culture of His Presence; a culture of faith in this House of God. Miracles demonstrate the love of the God the Father. Contend for more of God’s Kingdom and His goodness.

Note: Will be posting the link to YouTube once the sermon has been uploaded. It will remove whatever lingering doubts you have concerning the goodness of God when the reality is not aligned with His assured goodness yet.

Meanwhile, click here for CityWorship - Worship With Us playlist to spur you on to honour God with praise and worship.

  

Flourish In The Courts Of Our God

"The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. Psalm 92:12-13 (NKJV)"

This evening, Psalm 92:12 took me aside like a burning bush and I ended up memorising it and verse 13, as well. I know not how then, but this particular serving of God's Word became alive to me and prompted me to meditate upon them. They became like heavenly bread for my spirit man.

Here then is a timely refresher for me from my desk calendar that it is the Holy Spirit who quickens the Word of God to become living and active: "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63 (NKJV)"

The righteous obeys the voice of God like a sheep that follows the Good Shepherd. By his action, the upright shows that he reveres and trusts the Word of God.

The flourishing of the righteous is like a palm tree which, according the the Amplified Bible translation, is "long-lived, upright and useful". A date palm, for instance, is known to be capable of reaching a height of over 20 metre with  a primary root system that averages 4-metre deep and may extend further downward to 10 metre. 

The righteous is steep in his love for God's Word as both a hearer and doer as well as deep in His fellowship with God. 

In turn, this is how God has responded to him: "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. Psalm 91:14 (NKJV)"

As for the cedar tree, the Amplified Bible speaks of it being "majestic and stable". The righteous keeps growing in wisdom, stature, grace and the knowledge of God. He knows whom he has believeth and is confident that God is able to keep him in perfect peace internally.

The righteous person is rooted in a congregation of believers for edification and mutual relationship to advance the kingdom of God. With such unity of fellowship, there God commanded His Blessing in accordance to His Word such as the following:

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore. Psalm 133;1-3 (NKJV)"

""Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:19-20 (NKJV)"

The earthly courts are no match for the courts of God -- where we appear in the Presence of the King of kings and LORD of lords. 

God is awesome and His works are awesome, too!

Consider the following:

"And I said: “I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments, please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned. Nehemiah 1:5-6 (NKJV)"

"Say to God, “How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You. Psalm 66:3 (NKJV)"

May you flourish in the courts of our God as you feed on His Word daily, clothe yourself with the righteousness of Christ, confess your sins and be a hearer-and-doer of God's Word.

The Beginning of Wisdom

The usual quote on 'the fear of LORD is the beginning of wisdom' is taken from the Book of Wisdom, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding (Proverbs 9:10; NKJV)."

Today's reading from Psalm 111:10 (NKJV) is a refreshing take: 

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever."

Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash

When we humbly recognise our lack of wisdom, we can ask God for heavenly wisdom (James 1:5). 

However, having due reverence and honour for God would be the first step we need to take in order to be wise; not in our eyes but in God's sight. 

As we walk in the ways of God such as heeding His commandments, which God has in His infinite wisdom established to be non-negotiables from the very beginning, we show that we have a good grasp of what is good for us.

Even when we are not conscious of the divine edicts of God, we are blessed when we do them, and we begin to learn and understand the will of God as we see the favourable outcomes of our good conduct.

"The [reverent] fear of the Lord is the beginning (the prerequisite, the absolute essential, the alphabet) of wisdom; a good understanding and a teachable heart are possessed by all those who do the will of the Lord; His praise endures forever (Psalm 111:10; AMP)."

As the blessings of wisdom in fearing and obeying the LORD's guidance become established as a lifestyle, we can't help but be full of praise and thanksgiving unto God.

Indeed, "The good life begins in the fear of God— do that and you’ll know the blessing of God. His Hallelujah lasts forever (Psalm 111:10; MSG)!"

For your further rumination, please study and meditate the following Scriptural passages as well:

"And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding’ Job 28:28 (NKJV).”

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother; for they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck. My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent (Proverbs 1:7-10; NKJV)."

The Presence of God

While people in the world talks about the usual things such as finding your tribe, the good ol' days, politics, fashion, sales and so forth, the tribe of the Lion of Judah (aka Christians) gets to recount passionately about the Presence of God which they have experienced in church, cell group, Christian conference and personal time with God.

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

The Presence of God is like heaven on earth where we can see and believe that all the Promises of God are indeed "Yes" and "Amen".

Recently, while reading "Becoming Aggressive About Your Harvest" by Dr. Jerry Savelle, I received a fresh revelation that being in God's Presence is like a two-fold blessing of experiencing not just His tangible reality but, also, the dissipation of all evil and whatever hindrances that come against our walk of faith, hitherto.

The particular extract from Dr. Savelle's blog post is as follows for your edification:-

"This is what the Psalmist was saying when he declared, “My enemies will fall back and perish in your presence.” (Psalm 9:3 TLB)

I like to say it this way: Every assignment of your adversary is broken when you stand in the presence of God. When the presence of God shows up on the scene, every attack of the enemy must cease."

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Don't settle for the last row in church. Gather unto the LORD with expectancy, come hungry spiritually and press in for the Presence of God; touch the hem of His robe.

Click here for Becoming Aggressive About Your Harvest by Dr. Jerry Savelle

Click here for I Love Your Presence/I Remember - Annabel Soh