Monday, August 27, 2007
Treasures In The Marketplace
Ps.Steve Ogan breakfast meeting 27/8/07.
The market place is a sphere of vast potential, with multi-dimensional resources which we can tap into. Sadly, often we do not see the potential of the market place that is in our midst. Successful people in the likes of Henry Ford and Bill Gates were not only great innovators, but were able to see something in the invisible realm that others could not. They saw the invisible, dreamt the incredible and received the unbelievable.
So pray and ask the Lord to open your eyes to "see" (Psalms 119:8). The poorest person in this world is not the person without money, but the person who has no vision, and he whom cannot see. The market place has countless treasures; of the physical - the gold, rubies and royal riches; and the spiritual which is priceless. The physical treasures be of more glitter, but the spiritual with eternal value.
It will be too myopic for anyone to see the treasures of the market place as just a pot of 'gold'. At an outset we can categorize them into:
These days most currencies are not backed by any gold reserves. But a currency provides a medium of exchange. In any economic down turn, remember cash is 'king'.
Good infrastructure is important for transportation, communication and premises for which business is to be conducted. Infrastructure includes not only buildings, highways but the IT infrastructure in today's borderless world. We can now communicate with someone across the globe, at a different time zone at the click of a button, and cheaply.
If you read Isaiah 45:2-3, God will give us the treasure of darkness and riches stored in secret places. If you read the Hebrew word of darkness "chosek", it literally means "in the dark" or "obscure." The Hebrew word for secret "mictaariym" means concealed. God had deposited all these treasures there (Gen2:11) that his children may discover them.
In Ezra Chapter 5, God showed how he can use resources from those who oppose our vision. God was intending to use resources of the Royal Treasury (Ezra 6:4), from the revenue of Trans-Euphrates (Ezra 6:8) to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. It was the governor of Trans-Euphrates, Tattenai who was one of the 2 main opponents to rebuilding the wall.
Some of the values in this category of treasures are implicit - living to God's standards; right partnership (equally yolked); right weights and scales.
Jacob was shortchanged by Laban for many years, yet you could say he had the final laugh. But it was by divine revelation in a dream which he learnt the idea of separating the speckled and streaked livestock (Gen 31:6) for great personal profit.
It has been said, it is not the lack of money being the problem, but the lack of ideas. Pray that the Lord gives us divine ideas.
Sometimes the Lord may give us a one-off miracle like that which fed 5,000 people.
All the material things to a Christian are a means to an end, but not an end in itself. All the world's riches and king's treasure cannot redeem a single soul from hell. If you look for souls, God will give you the "cash", the means for God's redemptive work that not a single soul shall perish.
The Bible says he who wins souls is wise (Pv 11:30). It is our mandate. Will you play your role in God's redemptive plan he began for mankind the moment Adam fell into sin?
In the market place we have a duty as God's children to lead people into righteousness (Daniel 12:3-4). The greatest treasure in the market place is in the missionary, and not the monetary. The greatest treasure in the market place is the soul, and not the silver. If you still cannot arrive at this revelation, just look at the impermanence of the physical treasures.
In this fast pace market place, with technologies ever evolving and obsolete, where does the divine fit in? Arguably it is in the (1)visionary and; the (2) missionary.
There are are many critical success factor in the market place, but it all starts with a vision, for the poorest man is not the one without money, but the one without vision. The vision should not only be limited to material treasures, but also encompass a burning heart for souls. Secondly, the market place is undeniably the world's greatest mission field. In this marketplace, the vision and mission are complementary.
The market place is a sphere of vast potential, with multi-dimensional resources which we can tap into. Sadly, often we do not see the potential of the market place that is in our midst. Successful people in the likes of Henry Ford and Bill Gates were not only great innovators, but were able to see something in the invisible realm that others could not. They saw the invisible, dreamt the incredible and received the unbelievable.
So pray and ask the Lord to open your eyes to "see" (Psalms 119:8). The poorest person in this world is not the person without money, but the person who has no vision, and he whom cannot see. The market place has countless treasures; of the physical - the gold, rubies and royal riches; and the spiritual which is priceless. The physical treasures be of more glitter, but the spiritual with eternal value.
Multi-dimensional
It will be too myopic for anyone to see the treasures of the market place as just a pot of 'gold'. At an outset we can categorize them into:
1).Monetary treasure or cash
These days most currencies are not backed by any gold reserves. But a currency provides a medium of exchange. In any economic down turn, remember cash is 'king'.
2).Infrastructure
Good infrastructure is important for transportation, communication and premises for which business is to be conducted. Infrastructure includes not only buildings, highways but the IT infrastructure in today's borderless world. We can now communicate with someone across the globe, at a different time zone at the click of a button, and cheaply.
3). Mineral treasure & precious metals
If you read Isaiah 45:2-3, God will give us the treasure of darkness and riches stored in secret places. If you read the Hebrew word of darkness "chosek", it literally means "in the dark" or "obscure." The Hebrew word for secret "mictaariym" means concealed. God had deposited all these treasures there (Gen2:11) that his children may discover them.
4). Man-made information
In Ezra Chapter 5, God showed how he can use resources from those who oppose our vision. God was intending to use resources of the Royal Treasury (Ezra 6:4), from the revenue of Trans-Euphrates (Ezra 6:8) to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. It was the governor of Trans-Euphrates, Tattenai who was one of the 2 main opponents to rebuilding the wall.
5).Moral treasures of integrity
Some of the values in this category of treasures are implicit - living to God's standards; right partnership (equally yolked); right weights and scales.
6).Miraculous treasures of divine ideas
Jacob was shortchanged by Laban for many years, yet you could say he had the final laugh. But it was by divine revelation in a dream which he learnt the idea of separating the speckled and streaked livestock (Gen 31:6) for great personal profit.
It has been said, it is not the lack of money being the problem, but the lack of ideas. Pray that the Lord gives us divine ideas.
7).Divine encounters
Sometimes the Lord may give us a one-off miracle like that which fed 5,000 people.
8).Missionary treasures of souls
All the material things to a Christian are a means to an end, but not an end in itself. All the world's riches and king's treasure cannot redeem a single soul from hell. If you look for souls, God will give you the "cash", the means for God's redemptive work that not a single soul shall perish.
The Bible says he who wins souls is wise (Pv 11:30). It is our mandate. Will you play your role in God's redemptive plan he began for mankind the moment Adam fell into sin?
Seek Him First
In the market place we have a duty as God's children to lead people into righteousness (Daniel 12:3-4). The greatest treasure in the market place is in the missionary, and not the monetary. The greatest treasure in the market place is the soul, and not the silver. If you still cannot arrive at this revelation, just look at the impermanence of the physical treasures.
FAST PACE WORLD
In this fast pace market place, with technologies ever evolving and obsolete, where does the divine fit in? Arguably it is in the (1)visionary and; the (2) missionary.
There are are many critical success factor in the market place, but it all starts with a vision, for the poorest man is not the one without money, but the one without vision. The vision should not only be limited to material treasures, but also encompass a burning heart for souls. Secondly, the market place is undeniably the world's greatest mission field. In this marketplace, the vision and mission are complementary.
How much better is wisdom than gold and understanding than silver (Proverbs 16:16)
It has been said to be successful you need to have:
1).Knowledge- which is the acquisition of facts;
2).Understanding - the interpretation of facts;
3).Wisdom - the application of facts.
T.S.Elliot qualmed, "Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?"
People don't even seriously read the Bible these days. All they do is read "electronically "forwarded or subscribed tracts and devotions in the Internet. I am not against IT but these electronic enhancements are an addition, and are not a substitute for reading the Bible and personal devotion with God.
Below is a short article I wrote a 6 years back.
If you are an intellectual believer, then perhaps you may argue that your knowledge affords you wisdom. You are learned in all your endeavors and flawless in all your reasoning. Perhaps even a tinge of intellectual pride.
You may be a person of high IQ, with more neurons in your little toe than most of us have in our entire brain. But wisdom has nothing to do with IQ or even intellect, not even common sense.
Today there are many people who are intelligent and highly educated, but they run broken homes, have poor marriages, and make lousy investments and fraudulent business decisions. Is that wisdom? There are many ‘intelligent fools’ indeed not? How wrong is Shakespeare who describes man as a breed infinite in wisdom and noble in his reasoning. But J.I Packer is probably more correct. He says man is half angel, half ape. We aspire to be like angels, but we consent like apes. Just look at the world today.
Wisdom is seeing and responding to life from God’s (Christ’s) perspective (Proverbs 4:11) If that is not everything, then what is? Solomon tells us that it is supreme; it is the principal thing (Proverbs 4:7). Even if you have to lose ‘everything’ to obtain it (Proverbs 4:7), it is worth it he says, because nothing you could ever desire could compare with it (Proverbs 3:15)
Where can wisdom be found? (Job28:12). There was no doubt in Job’s mind, but he was not certain his few pious friends knew.
But we know very well today what is wisdom. Christ is the wisdom of God (1 Cor 1;24). Just look at Jesus. He embodies it. He is wisdom personified. Therefore live in Him, and He in you. That is everything, as He is the ‘purest and most infinite source of wisdom.’
Victor Chen
April 27, 2001
1).Knowledge- which is the acquisition of facts;
2).Understanding - the interpretation of facts;
3).Wisdom - the application of facts.
T.S.Elliot qualmed, "Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?"
People don't even seriously read the Bible these days. All they do is read "electronically "forwarded or subscribed tracts and devotions in the Internet. I am not against IT but these electronic enhancements are an addition, and are not a substitute for reading the Bible and personal devotion with God.
Below is a short article I wrote a 6 years back.
You may interject me abruptly and say that wisdom is not everything. That depends on one’s source of wisdom. Some believers still lack the revelation of what wisdom is. You may be walking in it. But just don’t think of it as just some proverbial saying found in a book written principally by Solomon or even limit it to just the Bible.
WHAT IS WISDOM?
If you are an intellectual believer, then perhaps you may argue that your knowledge affords you wisdom. You are learned in all your endeavors and flawless in all your reasoning. Perhaps even a tinge of intellectual pride.
You may be a person of high IQ, with more neurons in your little toe than most of us have in our entire brain. But wisdom has nothing to do with IQ or even intellect, not even common sense.
Today there are many people who are intelligent and highly educated, but they run broken homes, have poor marriages, and make lousy investments and fraudulent business decisions. Is that wisdom? There are many ‘intelligent fools’ indeed not? How wrong is Shakespeare who describes man as a breed infinite in wisdom and noble in his reasoning. But J.I Packer is probably more correct. He says man is half angel, half ape. We aspire to be like angels, but we consent like apes. Just look at the world today.
Wisdom is seeing and responding to life from God’s (Christ’s) perspective (Proverbs 4:11) If that is not everything, then what is? Solomon tells us that it is supreme; it is the principal thing (Proverbs 4:7). Even if you have to lose ‘everything’ to obtain it (Proverbs 4:7), it is worth it he says, because nothing you could ever desire could compare with it (Proverbs 3:15)
WHERE IS IT FOUND?
Where can wisdom be found? (Job28:12). There was no doubt in Job’s mind, but he was not certain his few pious friends knew.
But we know very well today what is wisdom. Christ is the wisdom of God (1 Cor 1;24). Just look at Jesus. He embodies it. He is wisdom personified. Therefore live in Him, and He in you. That is everything, as He is the ‘purest and most infinite source of wisdom.’
Victor Chen
April 27, 2001
Friday, August 24, 2007
August 6th, 2007 article (Perfect Principles)
I spoke to some very successful Christian businessmen and they agree to my viewpoint as laid out in the August 6th article. There is little point in asking a pastor who has never really dealt with the issue of bribery in this business world. He will tell you old stories that he never had to bribe to get the church bus license renewed which is no parallel to the issues businessmen face today. Yes, we must do what is morally right, but I shared in the August 6th article, I could not find a single verse that the giver of the bribe is in the wrong, but the taker. Furthermore, God has not limited himself to revelation in Scripture; he also has a general revelation in nature (Rom 1:19-20; 2:12-14).
To succeed, to follow absolute law may not get you far. The most successful Jewish and Christian businessmen practice wisdom with God's grace to get where they are.
There are 6 major ethical systems - (1) antinomianism; (2) situationism; (3) unqualified absolutism; (4) conflicting absolutism; (5) generalism; (6) graded absolutism.
I won't go into depth but you can buy this book on Christian Ethics by Norman Geisler which will dwell in it in depth.
Examples of the 6 ethical views:
Corrie ten Boom tells how she lied to save Jews from the Nazi death camps. During U.S Senate hearings on the Iran-Contra issue, Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North testified that he had, in the process of performing his duties, lied to save innocent lives. North said, "I had to weigh lying and lives."
In a number of Biblical stories people lied to save lives. the Hebrew midwives lied to save the baby boys (Exodus 1;15-19). Rahab lied to save the lives of the Jewish spies in Jericho (Joshua 2).
Is it ever right to save lives? Is it ever right to bribe as the prevailing business practice in that nation?
I won't deal with all the 6 ethical views but only some;
Lying is sometimes right: Situationism claims there is only one universal law, and telling the truth is not it. Love is the only absolute, and lying may be the loving thing to do. The situationist believes lying to save lives is morally justified.
Lying is forgivable: Conflicting absolutism recognizes that we live in an evil world where absolute moral laws sometimes run into inevitable conflict. In such cases it is our moral duty to do the lesser evil. We must break the lesser law and plead for mercy. This view is perfectly valid in my mind! Perfect principles are for a perfect world. Some just don't work in an imperfect world.
Lying is always wrong: Unqualified absolutism believes that there are many absolute moral laws, and none of them should ever be broken. Truth is such a law. Therefore, one must always tell the truth, even if someone is to die as a result of it. Sounds a bit like a pharisee huh?
To succeed, to follow absolute law may not get you far. The most successful Jewish and Christian businessmen practice wisdom with God's grace to get where they are.
There are 6 major ethical systems - (1) antinomianism; (2) situationism; (3) unqualified absolutism; (4) conflicting absolutism; (5) generalism; (6) graded absolutism.
I won't go into depth but you can buy this book on Christian Ethics by Norman Geisler which will dwell in it in depth.
Examples of the 6 ethical views:
Corrie ten Boom tells how she lied to save Jews from the Nazi death camps. During U.S Senate hearings on the Iran-Contra issue, Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North testified that he had, in the process of performing his duties, lied to save innocent lives. North said, "I had to weigh lying and lives."
In a number of Biblical stories people lied to save lives. the Hebrew midwives lied to save the baby boys (Exodus 1;15-19). Rahab lied to save the lives of the Jewish spies in Jericho (Joshua 2).
Is it ever right to save lives? Is it ever right to bribe as the prevailing business practice in that nation?
I won't deal with all the 6 ethical views but only some;
Lying is sometimes right: Situationism claims there is only one universal law, and telling the truth is not it. Love is the only absolute, and lying may be the loving thing to do. The situationist believes lying to save lives is morally justified.
Lying is forgivable: Conflicting absolutism recognizes that we live in an evil world where absolute moral laws sometimes run into inevitable conflict. In such cases it is our moral duty to do the lesser evil. We must break the lesser law and plead for mercy. This view is perfectly valid in my mind! Perfect principles are for a perfect world. Some just don't work in an imperfect world.
Lying is always wrong: Unqualified absolutism believes that there are many absolute moral laws, and none of them should ever be broken. Truth is such a law. Therefore, one must always tell the truth, even if someone is to die as a result of it. Sounds a bit like a pharisee huh?
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Pray for peace upon Malaysia
Ps Charles Popson prayer meet at Grace Assembly, PJ (23/8/07).
Psalms 122:6-7 reads "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces."
God has set us apart as the church in Malaysia to intercede for the country. God has willed that His church will inherit the nations (Psalm82:8), and this includes Malaysia. The church will influence this nation as God has ordained it, and not the other way around. Yes O God we break the strongman's hold on this nation in the spiritual realm. In the name of Jesus, we bind you the Prince of the North, Prince of the South, Prince of the East and Prince of the West. Yes,we displace you in the name of Jesus, and we replace you with the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) at the four corners of the nation.
Yes, the Lord's peace which transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7) will reign over Malaysia, for without peace, there can never be prosperity. We pray for political peace, racial harmony and tolerance.
Jeremiah 1:10 reads "See that I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant."
This is the day God has set us over the nation of Malaysia. It all starts with the vision. We must see it in our spiritual eyes before it becomes a reality. In prayer, we root out all the schemes of the enemy against the church in Malaysia. We pull down all spiritual strongholds of the enemy and the Lord will destroy it with His consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29). We destroy and overthrow every arguments and pretension that sets itself against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Yes O Lord, You will build your church in Malaysia and the gates of Hades will not overcome it (Matt 16:18). Yes Lord, Your church in Malaysia will grow from strength to strength, and from glory to glory in Christ Jesus.
Certainly God brought the Chinese and Indians to Malaysia for a time such as this. We are born here by divine appointment. Our forefathers came to this land by His hand. It was not a mistake. Personally I had many opportunities to work and emigrate abroad, given that I had worked for many MNCs and even in a regional capacity. I actually did my primary/secondary/tertiary schooling abroad. I am a registered Medical Practitioner in Australia. My brother-in-law whom visited us from Adelaide quipped to me yesterday that I may have been happier had I stayed back in Australia (seeing me still single and still building up my business). But the safest place on earth is to be in the will of God. I know I am right where God wants me to be.
From a country where Christians are the majority like Australia, the challenge is different. The prayer and warfare is different. The dependence on God has a different make-up. They are living like the times of King Hezekiah, while we in Malaysia are living the times of Daniel in Babylon. We really need to warfare and pray like Daniel. We need walk in God's wisdom like Daniel to stand out in our chosen fields.
Psalms 122:6-7 reads "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces."
God has set us apart as the church in Malaysia to intercede for the country. God has willed that His church will inherit the nations (Psalm82:8), and this includes Malaysia. The church will influence this nation as God has ordained it, and not the other way around. Yes O God we break the strongman's hold on this nation in the spiritual realm. In the name of Jesus, we bind you the Prince of the North, Prince of the South, Prince of the East and Prince of the West. Yes,we displace you in the name of Jesus, and we replace you with the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) at the four corners of the nation.
Yes, the Lord's peace which transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7) will reign over Malaysia, for without peace, there can never be prosperity. We pray for political peace, racial harmony and tolerance.
Jeremiah 1:10 reads "See that I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant."
This is the day God has set us over the nation of Malaysia. It all starts with the vision. We must see it in our spiritual eyes before it becomes a reality. In prayer, we root out all the schemes of the enemy against the church in Malaysia. We pull down all spiritual strongholds of the enemy and the Lord will destroy it with His consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29). We destroy and overthrow every arguments and pretension that sets itself against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Yes O Lord, You will build your church in Malaysia and the gates of Hades will not overcome it (Matt 16:18). Yes Lord, Your church in Malaysia will grow from strength to strength, and from glory to glory in Christ Jesus.
Certainly God brought the Chinese and Indians to Malaysia for a time such as this. We are born here by divine appointment. Our forefathers came to this land by His hand. It was not a mistake. Personally I had many opportunities to work and emigrate abroad, given that I had worked for many MNCs and even in a regional capacity. I actually did my primary/secondary/tertiary schooling abroad. I am a registered Medical Practitioner in Australia. My brother-in-law whom visited us from Adelaide quipped to me yesterday that I may have been happier had I stayed back in Australia (seeing me still single and still building up my business). But the safest place on earth is to be in the will of God. I know I am right where God wants me to be.
From a country where Christians are the majority like Australia, the challenge is different. The prayer and warfare is different. The dependence on God has a different make-up. They are living like the times of King Hezekiah, while we in Malaysia are living the times of Daniel in Babylon. We really need to warfare and pray like Daniel. We need walk in God's wisdom like Daniel to stand out in our chosen fields.
Myself featured
Myself featured on Pastor Wah Lok's website www.tabernaclemusic.net.
Pastor Wah Lok wrote 2 great hits which most of us have sung in churches:
1). I want to be your servant
2).Every time I pray
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Love and Desires
Inevitably being a genuine disciple of Jesus there are conditions, and there are costs to a true follower. The very meaning of the word ‘testament’, of which there is an old and new, is derived from the Latin word ‘Testamentum. The word literally means ‘an arrangement by one party’, and either accepted or rejected by the other party.
We too either reject the Bible or we accept it as sovereign over our lives. It is like a contract whereby all the clauses are binding. Either you sign on the dotted line, or you don’t.
The Revised Version Bible used the word ‘covenant’. It means that that both parties are obligated towards the agreement. Like any contract we must fulfill the conditions of the agreement to inherit the promises bequeathed by the testament or covenant. We must therefore spend time to read this covenant or testament to ensure we are complying with its precepts.
We too either reject the Bible or we accept it as sovereign over our lives. It is like a contract whereby all the clauses are binding. Either you sign on the dotted line, or you don’t.
The Revised Version Bible used the word ‘covenant’. It means that that both parties are obligated towards the agreement. Like any contract we must fulfill the conditions of the agreement to inherit the promises bequeathed by the testament or covenant. We must therefore spend time to read this covenant or testament to ensure we are complying with its precepts.
THE CHOICE
One of the most striking features of Jesus’ teachings is that He gives us a choice to follow or to reject his claims and His ways. As one goes through the Gospels, a reader is faced with a choice as to His Messianic claims. Just like any testament or contract we can either reject it totally or accept all that it demands. The Jewish religious leaders continually rejected Him at all cost despite the evidences. This is in contrast to the disciples who had the revelation of the risen Lord, and followed Him even if it cost them their lives.
Either we reject Him and His commandments as the Pharisees and Scribes did, or we bow down and call Him ‘Lord’. And if we are to call Him ‘Lord’ (Greek: kurios), then He must be the Lord over all areas of our lives. That is the precise meaning of the word. Jesus did not give us the alternative to follow only the commandments that suit our desires. It is just like accepting the law of thermodynamics, but not the law of gravity if it does not suit us.
To truly call Him Lord, there are conditions. Jesus himself told His12 disciples and those who desire to come after Him, they must deny themselves.
UNFORGETTABLE EPIGRAMS
There are 2 passages in Matthew, whereby Jesus himself said if you were to truly call Him ‘Lord’, the ‘sovereign One’ that guides your life, some conditions apply.
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“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” Matthew 16:25-26.
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“Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” Matthew 10:37-39
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Notice the key words; love, desire and life. Whoever desires to save his life will lose it says Jesus.
To keep one’s life, it is not just continuing to live in outrageous sin and refusing to acknowledge Him as the Son of God. To lose one’s life is not just forgoing Sunday activities and going to church.
WHAT IS LIFE MEANT BY JESUS?
In those 2 passages the word ‘life’ the Greek word ‘psucheen’ is used. It is also the Greek word used when the Bible refers to the soul (soul-life). It is distinct from ‘bios’ which refers to our physical life and ‘zoe’ which is God’s eternal life. Our soul life is our mind, will, and emotions.
The Lord over time will break us so that we will surrender our soul-life to Him. Along the road I find that we will mix a life in the soul and the spirit. We will live for God but also for ourselves. We serve God but also with our own motives. We live by faith yet also by our feelings. We may be governed by the Spirit, but also by our souls. Let’s be honest.
Losing our soul-life does not mean we hold on to no desires, and lose all our thinking, affections and emotions. Friends, there is a difference in “losing a person’s soul-life to Jesus”, and losing the “function of the soul-life” altogether and be a robot. Other wise how can express God’s thoughts and God’s love to others.
WHY THE WORDS ‘LOVE’ & ‘DESIRES’
From experience, undoubtedly the 2 hardest things of our soul-life most of us have problems with in submitting to the Lord are – ‘Love’ and ‘Desires’. Little wonders why Jesus mentions these 2 words in the passages with regard to denying ourselves.
LOVE
Invariably, the most difficult thing for us to submit to the Lord is our love. He commands His disciples to “Love the Lord with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind” (Mt 22:37). We are to completely hand over our love to Him. That is what is meant by taking up the cross and follow Him. If we truly love Him with all our heart, we must follow Him and His commandments.
He is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5). Even if we give God the lion share of our love, we may reserve a little for someone or ourselves, this small amount is enough to make us impure. Remember that rat poison is 98% good corn; it is the 2% that makes it poisonous. Thus to be pure we are to completely trust and obey Him, and be filled with His love first. In reality, no man can fill us with the love that only God can give. What a person desires is ‘unfailing love’ (Proverbs 19:22), and we can never give this to another without His love in us and vice versa. This ‘unfailing love’ is very different from romantic or even ‘phileo’ (friendship) love. Love from the flesh can change with time and circumstances.
Any love not of God that we desire and cling on to is certainly from our flesh, and I have learnt painfully unless we crucify that soulish love we can never be delivered from the power of the flesh. When the Holy Spirit tells us that someone is not for us, or it is not the right time yet, we must obey immediately. Real death of the soul-life is to lose all the love of the soul, except the love of the Lord. We then seek love within the will of the Lord, and with the love of God. Such is a man who is led by the Spirit; he walks transcendent and above the love of man.
Some may advocate that if you go out with someone then there is a possibility that the person may come to Christ. I have dated many friends of the opposite sex who are probably much more loving and caring (in different measures) than I am, but when it comes to the gospel most still can’t accept it. Even if they do become a Christian, it is pointless as God is only a beneficiary of their love for you.
And seriously friends we as Christians, are we able to love God more than another person, a boyfriend or a girlfriend, believer or non-believer? Can we nail all our ungodly love to the cross? If not, then we are still led by our natural instincts (flesh), and not by the Spirit (Jude 18-19; Galatians 5:17).
DESIRES
Naturally we will have our desires and there is nothing wrong to admit that. Looking back in the past years at myself, our fleshly desires are usually self-seeking. We need recognition, chase after self-fame, or we are after security other than which God provides. Let’s be honest. When I started out working, there were a million and one ambitions in my heart and what I was to achieve.
In this modern materialistic world, we often desire the comforts and power that wealth commands. Many of us start out hoping to make it big, especially guys. Paul warns that, “people who want to get rich fall into a temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desire that plunge men into ruin and destruction”(1 Timothy 6:9). It is better to wait for the Lord to bless us in His own time for when the Lord brings wealth, unlike the devil, He adds no trouble to it (Proverbs 10:22). I have seen how wealth has destroyed many friends. Wealth without character will destroy us. It can destroy friendships, spiritual lives, health and marriages.
In the matter of desires it does not mean we should harbor no ambitions, and have no desires, but rather to seek His kingdom first. If it is in His will, He will then fulfill our own desire (Ps 145:19). I am now finding that if I allow the cross to work deep enough in us, our desires will come to be in line with God’s desires naturally. There are a lot of things we do not desire as we used to. What was a pleasure a few years back has become a burden.
Those who are in Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24). That is past tense and reflects our position in Christ, but are we living up to that status experientially?
Sacrifice and offerings He does not desire. Burnt and sin offering he does not require (Psalms 40:6). We can give Him all the sacrifice of praise, prayers and worship we like, but unless we do the will of God, it does not please God (Hebrews 10:8-10).
The control of our love and desires is strongly linked to our will. The will is also in our soul, and in collaboration with our desires it will determine what desires we follow – our own or God’s. The choice to chose a life in the soul or the spirit ultimately rest on the individual.
When our time is up, all we have chosen that is not eternal counts for nothing. Do not love the world or the things of the world (1 John 2:15). Even friendship with the world is hatred towards God (James 4:4). The world and its desire may pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever (1 John 2:17). Are you living with this eternity in mind? The love we have of this world, the desires we seek in this world are only temporal.
MATURITY
The sharing above, some may feel it is too ideal. If someone wrote this and sent it to me 2 years ago not only will I not understand it, but show my two fingers to the writer. But surely we must use God’s standard of perfection to measure ourselves (Mt 5:48) and not the standards set by men. It is something I continually struggle with, but only the strength of the Holy Spirit empowers one to be triumphant. His strength is perfected in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). When our flesh is on the cross only can His strength manifest in us.
Paul says some people will remain worldly-mere infants in Christ, never ever ready for solid food (1 Corinthians 3:1). Just who did Paul called infants? Look in the first chapter of 1st Corinthians. They were believers who were knowledgeable about Christ, and who did not lack and moved in the spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 1:5-7).
Why are they still called infants? Read the chapter found between the 2 chapters and remember men divided it into chapters for easy reference, not the Holy Spirit. Simply, because they do not follow the intuition of the spirit. They still walk in the flesh.
If we are to be considered spiritual (1 Corinthians 3:1) we must follow the leading of the Spirit. As our knowledge of the Lord increases, the Holy Spirit will convict our conscience to increasingly set our soul-life apart for the Lord (Romans 9:1). We will know what is a desire of our own or from God.
If a believer begins to know more of God’s will, and if he or she resists the leading of the Spirit through the intuition, there will be no peace, as our conscience in the spirit man will condemn us (1 John 3:20). If it tells us we are wrong then we must repent as God too condemns us of what the conscience condemns us of (1 John 3:20). Remember, if we do not obey His law, even our prayers are detestable (Proverbs 28:9). We will never have a perfect fellowship with God.
The Apostle Paul said “I also exercised myself to always to have a conscience without offence to God (Acts 24:16) because “if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence towards God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:21-22). With increasing maturity we must be honest to what the conscience convict us of. It is God’s brake in our lives. I can only wished I had done so earlier in my Christian life to avoid all the painful tearing down I have had been experiencing.
CONCLUSION
Are we allowing God to terminate our soulish life?
That is the only way He can make us a group of believers who will follow Him till the end, regardless of the cost. Most of us are willing to follow when the going is easy and good, when it suits their desires, when we are comfortable and there is no major sacrifice. However, when the cross comes demanding that we crucify our soul-life with our own desires, we are hesitant and refuse to go on the cross. A faith that suffers nothing, lose nothing is usually worth nothing.
Only God can build in us a spiritual life of rest, peace and of purity. We may lose everything soulish, but in the process gain everything spiritual.
Victor Chen
May 16, 2001
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
“How to overcome and avoid spiritual dryness” by Dr.Vernon Falls
This is a practical book to guide followers of Christ, how to avoid and to overcome spiritual dryness. The book directs the reader to the ‘rivers of living water’ daily for sustenance and growth in our faith, in order to have the passion for Christ revived daily, so that we can continually be a salt that penetrates and a light that illuminates, in a world that is often tasteless, and its light hidden and dimmed..
The writer points out a few essential keys; firstly a consistent devotional and word life to sustain and maintain us, and also a productive Christian fellowship where the affections and compassion of Christ reaches us, and the beauty of Christian character is experienced and developed..
The book also looks at other factors which contributes to spritual dryness and how they may be overcome. This includes the areas of sin, giving and the fear of men; obvious factors but yet afflicts many of today’s Christians.
The book starts off challenging the reader to begin the day by spending an hour in the morning with the Lord, which inevitably means I have to program my circadian rhythm an hour earlier. Personally functioning on a rhythm that is grossly out of phase for years, and early morning somnolence always a problem, the challenge posed by the author, sounded to me like an ideal that is even more impossible than the Beatitudes.
Well after reading on and putting it into practice, now, I see much irresistible truths and benefits, and conclude that this author is very much a realist and every bit as pragmatic as Sir Winston Churchill in holding the fortress and overcoming the enemies; only that the arena of warfare is different of course.
This book is a must, and let it guide you to form the cornerstone of your own devotional revival, transforming a spiritually dry life to one experiencing fire from heaven, refreshed from the springs of abundance, in the solitude of His presence.
The writer points out a few essential keys; firstly a consistent devotional and word life to sustain and maintain us, and also a productive Christian fellowship where the affections and compassion of Christ reaches us, and the beauty of Christian character is experienced and developed..
The book also looks at other factors which contributes to spritual dryness and how they may be overcome. This includes the areas of sin, giving and the fear of men; obvious factors but yet afflicts many of today’s Christians.
The book starts off challenging the reader to begin the day by spending an hour in the morning with the Lord, which inevitably means I have to program my circadian rhythm an hour earlier. Personally functioning on a rhythm that is grossly out of phase for years, and early morning somnolence always a problem, the challenge posed by the author, sounded to me like an ideal that is even more impossible than the Beatitudes.
Well after reading on and putting it into practice, now, I see much irresistible truths and benefits, and conclude that this author is very much a realist and every bit as pragmatic as Sir Winston Churchill in holding the fortress and overcoming the enemies; only that the arena of warfare is different of course.
This book is a must, and let it guide you to form the cornerstone of your own devotional revival, transforming a spiritually dry life to one experiencing fire from heaven, refreshed from the springs of abundance, in the solitude of His presence.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Memories
My cell group singing at the shore of East Cost Park, Singapore.
My cell group posing with me holding the water baptism certificate.Farewell to C3 cell group, Hope of God (Singapore)
(29 November 1998)
What I will take back home with me are the memories
of those moments we spent playing baseball together,
.......in the night,.........the light,.........and the half light.......
Then as God drew the curtains of darkness,
we cuddled theatre-style,..............................................
viewing the imagination of His creation ,.....................
where the sky and sea meets in a gray of infinity............
Then as Andrew plucked his strings,
we praised God with our dear hearts and prayers,........
God perhaps was pleased,..................... and smiled,.......
and the light broke,............spangling the night............,
with the moon and the stars.......................................
The unity of our hearts,
the love of God transcends,
as the moonbeam kisses the sea,
as if heaven kissed the earth...
We sang on,
and God laughed,
and the chirpy waters became a sonnet to our melodies.
Occasionally God yawned, stirring the winds and all below.....,
so that we can feel the breath of life from Him so fresh,..........
........so real,.....so gentle,........ embraced over our silky skin.....
Now the sky is no more darker than a hundred midnights.
How pure and dear this dwelling-place,
forever I will treasure in my heart.
Our existence is but a moment in eternity,
yet that night was so rich,........ so calm,........so soft,....yet eloquent.
The smile from Him that wins,
the tint from above that glows.
I pray that one day God will bring us all back together again
to savour the same beauty,.......same vision, ..........same joy..........same intimacy.
Love never fails,
Victor.
of those moments we spent playing baseball together,
.......in the night,.........the light,.........and the half light.......
Then as God drew the curtains of darkness,
we cuddled theatre-style,..............................................
viewing the imagination of His creation ,.....................
where the sky and sea meets in a gray of infinity............
Then as Andrew plucked his strings,
we praised God with our dear hearts and prayers,........
God perhaps was pleased,..................... and smiled,.......
and the light broke,............spangling the night............,
with the moon and the stars.......................................
The unity of our hearts,
the love of God transcends,
as the moonbeam kisses the sea,
as if heaven kissed the earth...
We sang on,
and God laughed,
and the chirpy waters became a sonnet to our melodies.
Occasionally God yawned, stirring the winds and all below.....,
so that we can feel the breath of life from Him so fresh,..........
........so real,.....so gentle,........ embraced over our silky skin.....
Now the sky is no more darker than a hundred midnights.
How pure and dear this dwelling-place,
forever I will treasure in my heart.
Our existence is but a moment in eternity,
yet that night was so rich,........ so calm,........so soft,....yet eloquent.
The smile from Him that wins,
the tint from above that glows.
I pray that one day God will bring us all back together again
to savour the same beauty,.......same vision, ..........same joy..........same intimacy.
Love never fails,
Victor.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Water Baptism
My water baptism at East Coast Park, Singapore (1998)God said the flesh must die (Romans 6:6, Galatians 5:24). The flesh refers to our sinful nature, not just our body; it is our old nature - including our carnal mind -Romans 8:6. That’s why those that were baptized into His name were also baptized with Him in death.
It was not only a substitutional death but also a co-death (Romans 6:3).
When we are dead; lust, alcoholism, sin etc cannot touch us as we are "dead." Amen!
Get away from the mulititude
Ps.Charles Breakfast Prayer, 13/8/07 at Grace Assembly, PJ.
"You must leave the multitude to reach your altitude" said Ps.Charles.
"So it was, as the multitude pressed about him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the lake Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fisherman had gone from them and were washing their nets. He then got into one of their boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. when he had stopped speaking, he said to Simon, "launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing, nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net." And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were breaking." (Luke 5:1-6).
God wants you to shine out from the multitude in these last days. To get God's distinctive blessings for you individually, you must leave the multitudes. We need to leave the multitudes of disappointments, failures and hurts.
If you are in depression or in despair, do not give up and don't go and wash your nets as Simon did. Let Jesus enter into your boat, and into your problem. That is the key as the month of August is the month of visitation. Yes, in the month of August, Jesus will visit your business, your career and workplace.
God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9). Notice that it was daytime when Jesus asked Simon to lower his net. A professional fisherman will tell you you fish during the night, and not the day. But nevertheless at Jesus' word we must act accordingly even if it does not make sense. That may be the key for you to leave the multitude!
"You must leave the multitude to reach your altitude" said Ps.Charles.
"So it was, as the multitude pressed about him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the lake Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fisherman had gone from them and were washing their nets. He then got into one of their boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. when he had stopped speaking, he said to Simon, "launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing, nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net." And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were breaking." (Luke 5:1-6).
God wants you to shine out from the multitude in these last days. To get God's distinctive blessings for you individually, you must leave the multitudes. We need to leave the multitudes of disappointments, failures and hurts.
If you are in depression or in despair, do not give up and don't go and wash your nets as Simon did. Let Jesus enter into your boat, and into your problem. That is the key as the month of August is the month of visitation. Yes, in the month of August, Jesus will visit your business, your career and workplace.
God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9). Notice that it was daytime when Jesus asked Simon to lower his net. A professional fisherman will tell you you fish during the night, and not the day. But nevertheless at Jesus' word we must act accordingly even if it does not make sense. That may be the key for you to leave the multitude!
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Words That Shook The World
I bought this book a while back.
Words that Shook the World celebrates over 40 of the most extraordinary speeches of the last 100 years. Speeches include "I have a dream" by Martin Luther King Jr. Other orators incude Ronald Reagan, Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein, J.F Kennedy, Yizhak Rabin, Anwar Sadat, Robert F Kennedy, etc. Illustrated with dramatic black-and-white photographs, the book sets each of the speeches and speakers within a historical context that includes timelines and contemporary press commentary.
In addition, readers are brought inside every paragraph of 20 of these magical speeches to discover what has made these words so powerful.
And, best of all, two audio CDs reveal the passion of many of these extraordinary individuals as they faced their audiences, opened their hearts, and spoke Words that Shook the World.
I listen to the CDs in my car regularly.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Gates of Bronze
"I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you will know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name."(Isaiah 45:2-3).
This is a time for conquest folks! The horn has sounded the battle cry, so gird yourself with the helmet of salvation, the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness. In one hand is the sword of the Spirit and the other, the shield of faith (Eph 6:14). The Commander-in-chief has called us into war. In a war, even innocent bystanders will be wiped out. You are either on God's side or the devil's. But the Bible tells us which side already have the victory on hand.
As a king, we war to tear down the gates of bronze and bars of iron that are blocking the breakthroughs. By His spirit we will not only breakthrough, but the Lord will give us the treasures of darkness, and riches we never even knew existed. The Lord will break into the reservoir of the devil, and entrust them in the hands of the righteous. We go on the offense Lord and nothing can stop us, because you O' Lord have gone before us, and leveled the mountains. Your power is transcendent through bronze, steel and all barriers.
As a priest, I come against the lies of the devil in the name of Jesus. I smash the scales you have put over the eyes of those still in darkness. I break your authority over them. The light of Jesus will shine into the hearts of Malaysians and the gospel of Jesus Christ which is the power unto salvation will illuminate their spirit. Who cares whether this nation is Islamic or secular when corruption is rampant and increasingly swept under the carpet, crimes of all kind escalating, and justice ever more perverted. As someone mentioned "it has to start WITHIN. Can the leaders, politicians, administrators declare themselves clean and corrupt-free? If they can, then I have absolutely no qualms about whatever label they choose to pin on themselves and the country, because it is the SUBSTANCE, not the FORM, that matters at the end". All the talk of religion and Islamic state is hot air with nothing of real substance. Innocent lives can vanquish, but perpetrators remain unpunished! It is all a stench before God. O Lord you have heard the cries of the rakyat for Your justice to prevail. Come and breakthrough the bars of injustice, lies and manipulation.
As a prophet, I speak of God's will for the nation. He will instill His righteousness in this nation. He will take this nation back in this year of Jubilee (Lev 27:24). He will rule with an iron scepter. He will heal this land as we humble ourselves and bow before him and pray. He will unite this nation, unite the races and cut through what divides. We yearn for this miracle, the truth is that the Lord desire it just as much. He is a good and just God, and the whole nation will know He is Lord, the Lord God Almighty.
This is a time for conquest folks! The horn has sounded the battle cry, so gird yourself with the helmet of salvation, the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness. In one hand is the sword of the Spirit and the other, the shield of faith (Eph 6:14). The Commander-in-chief has called us into war. In a war, even innocent bystanders will be wiped out. You are either on God's side or the devil's. But the Bible tells us which side already have the victory on hand.
As a king, we war to tear down the gates of bronze and bars of iron that are blocking the breakthroughs. By His spirit we will not only breakthrough, but the Lord will give us the treasures of darkness, and riches we never even knew existed. The Lord will break into the reservoir of the devil, and entrust them in the hands of the righteous. We go on the offense Lord and nothing can stop us, because you O' Lord have gone before us, and leveled the mountains. Your power is transcendent through bronze, steel and all barriers.
As a priest, I come against the lies of the devil in the name of Jesus. I smash the scales you have put over the eyes of those still in darkness. I break your authority over them. The light of Jesus will shine into the hearts of Malaysians and the gospel of Jesus Christ which is the power unto salvation will illuminate their spirit. Who cares whether this nation is Islamic or secular when corruption is rampant and increasingly swept under the carpet, crimes of all kind escalating, and justice ever more perverted. As someone mentioned "it has to start WITHIN. Can the leaders, politicians, administrators declare themselves clean and corrupt-free? If they can, then I have absolutely no qualms about whatever label they choose to pin on themselves and the country, because it is the SUBSTANCE, not the FORM, that matters at the end". All the talk of religion and Islamic state is hot air with nothing of real substance. Innocent lives can vanquish, but perpetrators remain unpunished! It is all a stench before God. O Lord you have heard the cries of the rakyat for Your justice to prevail. Come and breakthrough the bars of injustice, lies and manipulation.
As a prophet, I speak of God's will for the nation. He will instill His righteousness in this nation. He will take this nation back in this year of Jubilee (Lev 27:24). He will rule with an iron scepter. He will heal this land as we humble ourselves and bow before him and pray. He will unite this nation, unite the races and cut through what divides. We yearn for this miracle, the truth is that the Lord desire it just as much. He is a good and just God, and the whole nation will know He is Lord, the Lord God Almighty.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Are we worthy?
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what does righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? (2 Corinthians 6: 14-16)
There are some things in the bible that are difficult because they are hard to understand. There are some things in the bible that are difficult because they are hard to ACCEPT. But more often sadly it is the latter.
Some may feel that some of God’s commands may be a bit too much, as if some heavenly spoilsport or dictator who does not understand our feelings and emotions had conjured it up. We may wave our liberal fists at some of his commands we do not like; but the fact remains that he is God and we’re not.
God had created a universe that functions by certain moral as well as physical laws. For instance, the law of gravity keeps us constrained, just as moral laws performs the same function in the spiritual sphere.
By the grace of God we have discovered God’s light and know that His word is sacrosanct. They are there for the very reason to ensure we are not ensnared by what is evil and instead to live a fruitful life and be guided by his Word (Proverbs 2). We simply cannot rewrite it to suit our living and personal convictions.
I have learnt since we are all God’s children we can either take God’s word as an absolute or as an indicative? After all, if we don’t believe in Him, why bother to take heed any of his commandments?
If we based our convictions on the word of God, we are taking it as an absolute. If not then we are taking it as an indicative, and since it is not consistent with the word of God, we always have to be justifying our reasons for not doing so.
A conviction not in line with God’s word is certainly from our own flesh, as the guiding Holy Spirit does not contradict the Word of God. The Word of God tells us precisely not to form binding relationships with unbelievers.
A conviction inconsistent with the word of God is not peaceful. Just try to blot out those verses from memory. Try in your heart not to believe those commands or that God did not give those commands. Try every argument you can to convince yourself that you are in line with his word or it is just misinterpreted by the masses. The reality is that you cannot even if you try to blot them out from your soul (memory). It is because it the ‘conscience’ of your spirit man is not at peace. I know as I have tried. It is just like trying to convince yourself that you do not believe in God anymore. Just try it for the next 2 weeks.
God in all his infinite wisdom has given us very clear and absolute commands. When Eve didn’t take God’s instructions as an absolute, problems began.
God had commanded that they shall not eat from the tree of knowledge, just as Paul had asked us not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. Look at what happens when we start questioning God’s command. When our mind is stimulated, it stifles the spirit and the Spirit therefore can’t lead us.
Just look at how devious Satan puts forth the question to get our mind to think instead of just believing. “Did God really say, you shall not eat from every tree of the garden”. See the danger in even questioning God’s command. When our soul (mind) takes over the spirit loses its governance. God made man a tripartite being and had ordained that the spirit governs the soul and the body. But with the fall of man, fellowship of our own spirit with the Spirit (God) is lost. We don‘t hear from God. Instead now the spirit of a man is lost in the soul and being dictated by the soul. This is what is meant by being soulish (flesh). In the New Testament, as sons of God, we are to be led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14).
In as much as we form binding relationships with non-believers, we are testing God’s command not to eat from the tree of knowledge. ‘Did he really say’ one cannot date a non-believer, even if there is a hope God’s grace will see that he or she will come to the faith.
Even if the unbelieving friend came to know Christ it is simply because of God’s grace, and we are not to credit it as our self-righteous judgment. Nor must one ever dare to give those who had advised us in love the kind of “Told you I was right in the beginning” look. In life, I have learnt that just because others are wrong it does not necessary make us right. It is all God’s grace and we still need Him to maintain a healthy relationship. Simply thank God for his grace and the prayers of others for your well-being.
The bible tells us that Adam was not deceived by the devil (1 Timothy 2: 14). But we know he loved Eve and fell because of his affections (soul) for Eve. When we are emotionally tied-up to someone, or emotionally ‘yoked,’ we are not able to follow the Spirit. The devil got Adam to fall into sin by attacking his emotions. Sin did not enter the world when the woman sinned, but when Adam sinned (Romans 5:12) as God had made him accountable right in the beginning.
In short, once we are emotionally involved, we might be tempted to compromise on our God given principles as regards to certain things without us realizing. Also our focus and commitment towards doing God’s work may be compromised.
I have recently learnt not to judge brothers and sisters who are at the wrong end of the stick as far as God’s commands are concerned. Just simply pray that they remain within God’s grace and that the cross works deeper into their hearts and that God will sanctify them through and through (spirit, soul and body)- 1 Thessalonians 5:23.
Each time we do not take God’s word as an absolute we are in reality compromising. It has been well said, “Give Satan an inch and he will be a ruler”. Paul even warned that the time would come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. But instead to “suit their own desires.” (2 Timothy 4:3)
Therefore do not be deceived (1 Corinthians 6:9) as we cannot see everything with our naked eye, as the battle in the beginning was not against flesh but against the spiritual forces in the heavenly realms. Receive the word not in the word of men (their own convictions), but as in truth the word of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13), and continue to live in the truth in these last days.
“Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” Matthew 10:37-39
What then does the Word of God say about our affections for loved ones, be it our family members, spouse or special friend, in relation to God? It is very clear.
Abraham was obedient and took God’s command to sacrifice Isaac as an absolute even though it made no sense. The reality is that God can give us things and take it away just as easily. The relationships we have, whether of God or not can come and go, but only the Lord remains. As David said “Whom have I in heaven but Him” (Psalms 73:25). What God desires is for our hearts to want him over and above everything. Understandably it is hard but are we willing to put our affections on the cross if required and follow him. Are we worthy of Him? Many of us await the return of the Lord, but not all will be unashamed and confident when they meet him (1 John 2:28). Let us be blameless till his coming.
Young believers will take time to stay on the cross. But in the maturation process, we are to increasingly set our lives apart for Him and Him only.
“Do not be unequally yoked”. These are not the arbitrary commands of a heavenly dictator, but a Creator who knows what is best. He too understands the pain in going on the cross and cries with us that he may laugh with us later.
His grace will be more than sufficient and his “love is…with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts”(Psalms 130:17-18)
March 27, 2001
Victor Chen
There are some things in the bible that are difficult because they are hard to understand. There are some things in the bible that are difficult because they are hard to ACCEPT. But more often sadly it is the latter.
Some may feel that some of God’s commands may be a bit too much, as if some heavenly spoilsport or dictator who does not understand our feelings and emotions had conjured it up. We may wave our liberal fists at some of his commands we do not like; but the fact remains that he is God and we’re not.
God had created a universe that functions by certain moral as well as physical laws. For instance, the law of gravity keeps us constrained, just as moral laws performs the same function in the spiritual sphere.
CONVICTIONS
By the grace of God we have discovered God’s light and know that His word is sacrosanct. They are there for the very reason to ensure we are not ensnared by what is evil and instead to live a fruitful life and be guided by his Word (Proverbs 2). We simply cannot rewrite it to suit our living and personal convictions.
I have learnt since we are all God’s children we can either take God’s word as an absolute or as an indicative? After all, if we don’t believe in Him, why bother to take heed any of his commandments?
If we based our convictions on the word of God, we are taking it as an absolute. If not then we are taking it as an indicative, and since it is not consistent with the word of God, we always have to be justifying our reasons for not doing so.
A conviction not in line with God’s word is certainly from our own flesh, as the guiding Holy Spirit does not contradict the Word of God. The Word of God tells us precisely not to form binding relationships with unbelievers.
A conviction inconsistent with the word of God is not peaceful. Just try to blot out those verses from memory. Try in your heart not to believe those commands or that God did not give those commands. Try every argument you can to convince yourself that you are in line with his word or it is just misinterpreted by the masses. The reality is that you cannot even if you try to blot them out from your soul (memory). It is because it the ‘conscience’ of your spirit man is not at peace. I know as I have tried. It is just like trying to convince yourself that you do not believe in God anymore. Just try it for the next 2 weeks.
ABSOLUTE COMMANDS
God in all his infinite wisdom has given us very clear and absolute commands. When Eve didn’t take God’s instructions as an absolute, problems began.
God had commanded that they shall not eat from the tree of knowledge, just as Paul had asked us not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. Look at what happens when we start questioning God’s command. When our mind is stimulated, it stifles the spirit and the Spirit therefore can’t lead us.
Just look at how devious Satan puts forth the question to get our mind to think instead of just believing. “Did God really say, you shall not eat from every tree of the garden”. See the danger in even questioning God’s command. When our soul (mind) takes over the spirit loses its governance. God made man a tripartite being and had ordained that the spirit governs the soul and the body. But with the fall of man, fellowship of our own spirit with the Spirit (God) is lost. We don‘t hear from God. Instead now the spirit of a man is lost in the soul and being dictated by the soul. This is what is meant by being soulish (flesh). In the New Testament, as sons of God, we are to be led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14).
In as much as we form binding relationships with non-believers, we are testing God’s command not to eat from the tree of knowledge. ‘Did he really say’ one cannot date a non-believer, even if there is a hope God’s grace will see that he or she will come to the faith.
Even if the unbelieving friend came to know Christ it is simply because of God’s grace, and we are not to credit it as our self-righteous judgment. Nor must one ever dare to give those who had advised us in love the kind of “Told you I was right in the beginning” look. In life, I have learnt that just because others are wrong it does not necessary make us right. It is all God’s grace and we still need Him to maintain a healthy relationship. Simply thank God for his grace and the prayers of others for your well-being.
ADAM NOT BEGUILED
The bible tells us that Adam was not deceived by the devil (1 Timothy 2: 14). But we know he loved Eve and fell because of his affections (soul) for Eve. When we are emotionally tied-up to someone, or emotionally ‘yoked,’ we are not able to follow the Spirit. The devil got Adam to fall into sin by attacking his emotions. Sin did not enter the world when the woman sinned, but when Adam sinned (Romans 5:12) as God had made him accountable right in the beginning.
In short, once we are emotionally involved, we might be tempted to compromise on our God given principles as regards to certain things without us realizing. Also our focus and commitment towards doing God’s work may be compromised.
MORE OFTEN THAN NOT
I have recently learnt not to judge brothers and sisters who are at the wrong end of the stick as far as God’s commands are concerned. Just simply pray that they remain within God’s grace and that the cross works deeper into their hearts and that God will sanctify them through and through (spirit, soul and body)- 1 Thessalonians 5:23.
Each time we do not take God’s word as an absolute we are in reality compromising. It has been well said, “Give Satan an inch and he will be a ruler”. Paul even warned that the time would come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. But instead to “suit their own desires.” (2 Timothy 4:3)
Therefore do not be deceived (1 Corinthians 6:9) as we cannot see everything with our naked eye, as the battle in the beginning was not against flesh but against the spiritual forces in the heavenly realms. Receive the word not in the word of men (their own convictions), but as in truth the word of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13), and continue to live in the truth in these last days.
NAILED TO THE CROSS
“Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” Matthew 10:37-39
What then does the Word of God say about our affections for loved ones, be it our family members, spouse or special friend, in relation to God? It is very clear.
Abraham was obedient and took God’s command to sacrifice Isaac as an absolute even though it made no sense. The reality is that God can give us things and take it away just as easily. The relationships we have, whether of God or not can come and go, but only the Lord remains. As David said “Whom have I in heaven but Him” (Psalms 73:25). What God desires is for our hearts to want him over and above everything. Understandably it is hard but are we willing to put our affections on the cross if required and follow him. Are we worthy of Him? Many of us await the return of the Lord, but not all will be unashamed and confident when they meet him (1 John 2:28). Let us be blameless till his coming.
Young believers will take time to stay on the cross. But in the maturation process, we are to increasingly set our lives apart for Him and Him only.
“Do not be unequally yoked”. These are not the arbitrary commands of a heavenly dictator, but a Creator who knows what is best. He too understands the pain in going on the cross and cries with us that he may laugh with us later.
His grace will be more than sufficient and his “love is…with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts”(Psalms 130:17-18)
March 27, 2001
Victor Chen
Monday, August 06, 2007
Perfect Principles
These days to do business in some neighboring countries you need to bribe. Even locally it may also be the case. It is not that I condone bribery or pretend that it does not exist, but Christian business people must see its reality and then factor in as a cost. If this cost still makes sense and the risk worth taking, then perhaps one may proceed depending on one's conviction. If you wait for the normal process, the business may out of vogue or the product not in demand anymore. You may have missed the opportunity to make a good profit.
I searched the Bible and in all cases the offender in the bribery case is often the accepting party. The warning or the trespasses of bribery seemingly is always on the acceptor of the bribe, rather than the giver.
This is plausible as it is those in authority who had placed the premise in which business is run, or how permits are to be issued. There is a deluge of such scriptures that condemns the person accepting the bribe (Ex23:8; Duet 16:19; Duet 27:25; 1 Sam 12:3; Job 36:18; Ps 15:5; Pv 17:23; Pv 21;14; Eccl 7:7; Isa 5:23; Mic 3;11). as his judgments on business permits and practices should be impartial.
In contrast, there is only one verse that implicates the giver of the bribe. This is found in Pv 17:8, "A bribe works like magic. Whoever uses it will prosper!". As I read the different translations of this verse, there seem to be no hint of wrong-doing on the giver's part. Rather, this scripture seems to acknowledge it power and privilege, if not its acceptance.
The above sharing may sound like that of an iconoclast, but lets face the truth. In some countries, it is standard business practice, and all the spiritual warfare won't budge the system. It may be seen as subsidizing the officers' paltry salaries. In some countries like Honduras, some government servants have not been paid for over 10 years. Yet they turn up to work everyday. Taking illicit money is their only means of survival. If we give to them a small sum it can be seen as a blessing rather than a bribe.
I can imagine if the Pharisees had asked Jesus the modern day version of Caesar's taxes which includes some illicit bribes and state taxes as we see in Matthew 22:17 , what his response would have been. Even then the tax collectors were unjust and were hated by the subjects in those days. Zacchaeus was one of them who prospered from imposing unjustly from the public.
I can imagine Jesus saying literally and metaphorically, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's" (Mt 22:21). In some business cultures, a bribe however significantly small or big is the way of business. That is why Pv 17:8 says it works like magic and you will prosper. I find no implicit punishment mentioned. The Lord abhors different weighing scales yes, but the one maneuvering the scales is the person in authority and power. The giver is the victim of the system and not the perpetrator.
I was told by some elders that even the Jews who have prospered and are the upper echelons of the business society practice Judaism but with much grace, in spite of the legalistic candidness of its laws and teachings. I am sure the same goes for successful Christian businessmen. Following strict edicts won't get you far at times. Perfect principles are for a perfect world. Some of them you can't apply to an imperfect world such as ours depending on the circumstances.
I searched the Bible and in all cases the offender in the bribery case is often the accepting party. The warning or the trespasses of bribery seemingly is always on the acceptor of the bribe, rather than the giver.
This is plausible as it is those in authority who had placed the premise in which business is run, or how permits are to be issued. There is a deluge of such scriptures that condemns the person accepting the bribe (Ex23:8; Duet 16:19; Duet 27:25; 1 Sam 12:3; Job 36:18; Ps 15:5; Pv 17:23; Pv 21;14; Eccl 7:7; Isa 5:23; Mic 3;11). as his judgments on business permits and practices should be impartial.
In contrast, there is only one verse that implicates the giver of the bribe. This is found in Pv 17:8, "A bribe works like magic. Whoever uses it will prosper!". As I read the different translations of this verse, there seem to be no hint of wrong-doing on the giver's part. Rather, this scripture seems to acknowledge it power and privilege, if not its acceptance.
The above sharing may sound like that of an iconoclast, but lets face the truth. In some countries, it is standard business practice, and all the spiritual warfare won't budge the system. It may be seen as subsidizing the officers' paltry salaries. In some countries like Honduras, some government servants have not been paid for over 10 years. Yet they turn up to work everyday. Taking illicit money is their only means of survival. If we give to them a small sum it can be seen as a blessing rather than a bribe.
I can imagine if the Pharisees had asked Jesus the modern day version of Caesar's taxes which includes some illicit bribes and state taxes as we see in Matthew 22:17 , what his response would have been. Even then the tax collectors were unjust and were hated by the subjects in those days. Zacchaeus was one of them who prospered from imposing unjustly from the public.
I can imagine Jesus saying literally and metaphorically, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's" (Mt 22:21). In some business cultures, a bribe however significantly small or big is the way of business. That is why Pv 17:8 says it works like magic and you will prosper. I find no implicit punishment mentioned. The Lord abhors different weighing scales yes, but the one maneuvering the scales is the person in authority and power. The giver is the victim of the system and not the perpetrator.
I was told by some elders that even the Jews who have prospered and are the upper echelons of the business society practice Judaism but with much grace, in spite of the legalistic candidness of its laws and teachings. I am sure the same goes for successful Christian businessmen. Following strict edicts won't get you far at times. Perfect principles are for a perfect world. Some of them you can't apply to an imperfect world such as ours depending on the circumstances.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Making Changes
The Bible says "Faith without works is dead" (James 2:26)
With Merdeka celebrations closing, the churches of Malaysia are now organizing prayers for the nation. NECF has organized a 40 day pray&fast. We all yearn for justice; equality; eradication of corruption, cronyism and racism. The Lord too desires changes to take place.
But when I had asked many Christians, most are not even registered to vote, and have never voted in their lives. How on earth is God going to put in god-fearing people in positions of power when the righteous in Christ mostly don't vote?
We need not be the majority, as Daniel rose to be the Prime Minister in both the Babylonian (Nebochudnazzer) and Medo-Persian (King Darius & Cyrus) empires. Joseph was the only one in the Egypt and he too rose be the Prime Minister in the most powerful nation of that day. And both of them made a positive impact in a nation where they were not the majority.
Therefore, besides praying, I encourage you all to register yourselves with the Election Commission and vote in god-fearing people who wants justice. They may be Indian, Chinese or Malay, but desire justice & equality, wanting to wipe out corruption, and know that there is a Greater-being in heaven looking down.
All the prayer without works is also dead! To find out how to register to vote go to www.spr.gov.my.
With Merdeka celebrations closing, the churches of Malaysia are now organizing prayers for the nation. NECF has organized a 40 day pray&fast. We all yearn for justice; equality; eradication of corruption, cronyism and racism. The Lord too desires changes to take place.
But when I had asked many Christians, most are not even registered to vote, and have never voted in their lives. How on earth is God going to put in god-fearing people in positions of power when the righteous in Christ mostly don't vote?
We need not be the majority, as Daniel rose to be the Prime Minister in both the Babylonian (Nebochudnazzer) and Medo-Persian (King Darius & Cyrus) empires. Joseph was the only one in the Egypt and he too rose be the Prime Minister in the most powerful nation of that day. And both of them made a positive impact in a nation where they were not the majority.
Therefore, besides praying, I encourage you all to register yourselves with the Election Commission and vote in god-fearing people who wants justice. They may be Indian, Chinese or Malay, but desire justice & equality, wanting to wipe out corruption, and know that there is a Greater-being in heaven looking down.
All the prayer without works is also dead! To find out how to register to vote go to www.spr.gov.my.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Praying Through The Promises of God
There are about 7,000 promises in the Bible.
Many of us have also received prophecies concerning our life and businesses, but often we see things going from bad to worse, teetering on the brink of collapse. Satan and his forces do not know the exact purposes of God concerning you in a particular area, until they are revealed by prophecy. Immediately, after they discover a revelation, they take measures to ensure that the prophecy for your life never come to pass. If you fold your arms and say "because God said it, it shall surely come to pass", the prophecy can be aborted by the kingdom of darkness. Satan is not the sort who will just sit still. He will declare war on that prophecy and most of us don't even know it.
The promises of God are manifested by earnest prayers. We need to break through in the realm of the spirit by battling earnestly in the realm of the spirit.
There are many preachers citing faith is important. They say that without faith it is impossible to please God. "All you have do is to master the art of faith confession". Believe it and you will move the mountains of your life so to speak. Some will also proclaim Duet 8:18 proclaiming God's anointing for us to get wealth. But the Bible clearly states,..."the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous man avails much (James 5:16)", not the faith of the righteous. Without the confession of faith through prayer, our faith is worthless.
The moves of God never precede prayers, and things don't happen because people believed the promise. Satan will contend with one's faith, but flee from the prayers of a submitted saint. You must do more than just believe. You must wow to get violent in prayer in the Spirit over God's promises for your life, and to destroy the plots of the enemy to hinder the Heavenly Father's promises to you.
This book reminded me that my praying in the dark hours of the night are not futile but needed.
Friday, August 03, 2007
Diseases, Illnesses & Sickness
Ps.Charles message at Grace Assembly, PJ (02-08-07 at 8pm).
Duet 7:15, "The Lord will keep you free from every disease. He will not inflict on you the horrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but he will inflict them on them all who hate you".
"If the Lord can deliver you from hell, he can deliver you from diseases", said Ps.Charles. We are not Egyptians, so diseases must leave us. To men a lot of things are impossible, but to these things then God is responsible. He is responsible to heal us, to deliver us etc. This was the gist of the message. I would like to think so but I don't entirely agree.
In truth, I would like to believe all that, but in reality many prayers for healing are unanswered. The miracle healing rallies being held in many churches often play on emotions and mixed with consumerism. True miracles though they exist, are extremely rare. Lets face the truth! Typically a miracle healer will give an altar call, and then ask if the person is healed. "Are you healed?", they will ask. If not, they will ask you to repeat the praying process again, and 100% of the time they will say there is some degree of healing as otherwise they will feel embarrassed or embarrassing God in front of the congregation.
There is a connection between sin and diseases. We live in a fallen world. Despite prayers, I see a lot of prayer for healing go unanswered. It is not that God cannot heal or that He does not want to; but we must understand the spiritual root of diseases. God's perfect will is not to heal you; His perfect will is that you don't get sick.We have gone into captivity and are perishing because of the lack of knowledge or just no knowledge at all. There are many spiritual roots and blocks to healing. Get the book "A More Excellent Way by Ps.Henry Wright". For the ignorant, this book has sold more copies than some best sellers such as Purpose Driven Life. The Bible says, "it is the lack of knowledge that destroys people", not the lack of faith. So the next time someone says your healing is due to lack of faith and if you see the doctor you have no faith, keep away from that person.
But the verse in Duet 7:15 says the Lord will keep you from all diseases. But if you smoke like a chimney, drink like a fish and eat like a glutton, the Lord in all His might cannot keep you from all diseases.
But nonetheless, the Bible verse here refers to diseases. As a doctor, I know this is correct as disease refers to the pathological process in the body, illness refers its effects on the person (manifestation as cancer etc), and sickness refers to the social effects of the diseases (can't work, cannot perform activities of daily living etc).
Duet 7:15, "The Lord will keep you free from every disease. He will not inflict on you the horrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but he will inflict them on them all who hate you".
"If the Lord can deliver you from hell, he can deliver you from diseases", said Ps.Charles. We are not Egyptians, so diseases must leave us. To men a lot of things are impossible, but to these things then God is responsible. He is responsible to heal us, to deliver us etc. This was the gist of the message. I would like to think so but I don't entirely agree.
In truth, I would like to believe all that, but in reality many prayers for healing are unanswered. The miracle healing rallies being held in many churches often play on emotions and mixed with consumerism. True miracles though they exist, are extremely rare. Lets face the truth! Typically a miracle healer will give an altar call, and then ask if the person is healed. "Are you healed?", they will ask. If not, they will ask you to repeat the praying process again, and 100% of the time they will say there is some degree of healing as otherwise they will feel embarrassed or embarrassing God in front of the congregation.
There is a connection between sin and diseases. We live in a fallen world. Despite prayers, I see a lot of prayer for healing go unanswered. It is not that God cannot heal or that He does not want to; but we must understand the spiritual root of diseases. God's perfect will is not to heal you; His perfect will is that you don't get sick.We have gone into captivity and are perishing because of the lack of knowledge or just no knowledge at all. There are many spiritual roots and blocks to healing. Get the book "A More Excellent Way by Ps.Henry Wright". For the ignorant, this book has sold more copies than some best sellers such as Purpose Driven Life. The Bible says, "it is the lack of knowledge that destroys people", not the lack of faith. So the next time someone says your healing is due to lack of faith and if you see the doctor you have no faith, keep away from that person.
But the verse in Duet 7:15 says the Lord will keep you from all diseases. But if you smoke like a chimney, drink like a fish and eat like a glutton, the Lord in all His might cannot keep you from all diseases.
But nonetheless, the Bible verse here refers to diseases. As a doctor, I know this is correct as disease refers to the pathological process in the body, illness refers its effects on the person (manifestation as cancer etc), and sickness refers to the social effects of the diseases (can't work, cannot perform activities of daily living etc).
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Loving Malaysia - the key to intercession
As I prayed at midnight today, I felt led to pen some words down. It was important to intercede for the nation and ourselves as August is a key month. We need to usher in this important month battling the dark forces with power of the Holy Spirit and that God's will prevail over Malaysia.
God has given us the spiritual weapons and authority to rule the earth. Deut 32:30 says that one can chase a thousand and two put ten thousand to flight. There are so many enemies on the other camp we can nullify if there were enough soldiers of Christ battling. This is the year of Jubilee in Malaysia, and God has come to take His land back (Lev 27:24) but many of us have not arisen in prayer warfare.
I have an ex-colleague who sends mass emails of downloaded materials from Malaysia Today. His intention is to make people aware of the current government's shortcomings and to vote them out. However, the Lord has given us Christians a better tool, the weapon of 'prayer', not necessarily to vote anyone out of power but to change the spiritual landscape of the nation. There are just not enough warriors interceding deeply for Malaysia. We must love the country first, then interceding for Malaysia comes naturally.
2 Kings 19:35 shows if we intercede in the 'night', we can call upon the angel of the Lord and put to death 185,000 enemies. Only one angel is needed to put to death 185,00 enemies - racial discrimination, unfair policies, diseases, depression, corruption, financial blockages, business enemies etc. It was in the night that the angel acted, and in the morning the battle is already won when they enemies awake (Read 2 Kings 19:35).
We can call forth the angels of the Lord to help Malaysia. We can call upon the angel of the Lord to tear down the kingdom of darkness. There are more angels than evil spirits, as only a-third of the angels fell. Moreover, God is likely to be creating new angels constantly. We need not call upon many angels to do a job, as it will be too boring for them. One can kill 185,000 enemies, so if we call upon too many angels in some cases it will be like dropping a nuclear bomb on Singapore (just an illustration)!
This is not the time to be idle as the hour is urgent.
God has given us the spiritual weapons and authority to rule the earth. Deut 32:30 says that one can chase a thousand and two put ten thousand to flight. There are so many enemies on the other camp we can nullify if there were enough soldiers of Christ battling. This is the year of Jubilee in Malaysia, and God has come to take His land back (Lev 27:24) but many of us have not arisen in prayer warfare.
I have an ex-colleague who sends mass emails of downloaded materials from Malaysia Today. His intention is to make people aware of the current government's shortcomings and to vote them out. However, the Lord has given us Christians a better tool, the weapon of 'prayer', not necessarily to vote anyone out of power but to change the spiritual landscape of the nation. There are just not enough warriors interceding deeply for Malaysia. We must love the country first, then interceding for Malaysia comes naturally.
2 Kings 19:35 shows if we intercede in the 'night', we can call upon the angel of the Lord and put to death 185,000 enemies. Only one angel is needed to put to death 185,00 enemies - racial discrimination, unfair policies, diseases, depression, corruption, financial blockages, business enemies etc. It was in the night that the angel acted, and in the morning the battle is already won when they enemies awake (Read 2 Kings 19:35).
We can call forth the angels of the Lord to help Malaysia. We can call upon the angel of the Lord to tear down the kingdom of darkness. There are more angels than evil spirits, as only a-third of the angels fell. Moreover, God is likely to be creating new angels constantly. We need not call upon many angels to do a job, as it will be too boring for them. One can kill 185,000 enemies, so if we call upon too many angels in some cases it will be like dropping a nuclear bomb on Singapore (just an illustration)!
This is not the time to be idle as the hour is urgent.
