Sunday, October 13, 2024
Paul’s letter of joy from the prison (Adapted from Ps Samuel’s sermon 13/10/24)
Ps Samuel shared that Paul most likely wrote Philippians in a Roman prison. He had founded the church in Philippi during his second missionary journey. His third journey is marked with many conflicts, false accusations from religious leaders, persecution, court cases, imprisonment and it is in this setting Paul is writing this chapter.
I am currently writing “12 years in the prison”, a Christian book reflecting my own personal journey. Like some, I have been trapped in my own “metaphoric” prison with many hurts and scars from the battle that it was. Everything that could go wrong went wrong. We prayed and believed God had wanted me to enter a certain business in China. We were sure God had sent a certain mentor to guide me. His heart was good initially, but later his heart changed, had mistresses and did many awful things which left me in financial ruin.
Transformation
It was in the darkness of the “prison” I had to search deep as to why God allowed all these to happen. I was in chains financially, I was hidden from my friends in shame. God hid me.
When God chooses to hide you for a time, He is preparing you for a greater purpose. God hid Joseph in a prison before he came to the palace. He hid Moses in the desert for a third of his life before he led the people out of Egypt. God hid Elijah at Cherith before his great life contribution at Carmel.
God hid David in the mountains, running in and out of caves from Saul, before he was recognized as king. God hid Paul for three years in Arabia after his conversion, before he became a missionary.
Ever since the road to Damascus, Paul transformed into the greatest missionary and evangelist. His mission was to the gentiles and legend has it he spent 3 years in Arabia preparing for ministry – dedicating himself to study, prayer and meditation.
My 3 years in Arabia
I was transferred to Singapore to work for a year in 1999. It was a tough year for me as I had to come back on weekends to attend lectures and exams in KL on 2 out of 6 weekends for my executive MBA program (University of Hull-HELP). By the grace of God I managed to be the Best Overall Student for the program.
In Singapore I joined Hope of God during the weekends I was present on the island. They used my company apartment for care group meetings and I was water baptized in East Coast Park before being transferred back to the KL office.
Once back I joined Renewal Lutheran Church (RLC) in the year 2000 and for three (3) years chewed through like 4 Christian books per week, attended all the bible classes and Deeper Life Seminars. I didn’t socialize or go out but after work, I put in solid 4 hours of bible studies each night in my room. I had a spiritual hunger. Like Paul I had my three (3 )years in Arabia. Life was good and fun, just had to learn more about the Bible and the way He talked. But it was all theory and head knowledge. But I had no grit and steel in me. I had not been tested.
Test to Testimony
Indeed after a series of successful side ventures, I went to do my own trading and consultancy business in Malaysia full-time. I was supplying sheep, deer placenta and other supplements to direct selling companies in Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong. But after that I met a man who brought my business to China. The mismanagement and misuse of the funds collapsed everything.
Why did God allowed it?
I believe like Paul said “for the furtherance of the gospel”. When trouble came I wanted to exit the world, run away from everyone. But God had a special minister (Pastor Charles Popson, a pastor praying for me at Grace Assembly PJ, and now has planted Greater Glory Rehoboth Center in Manchester) who has been praying for me since 2007. God made sure I had someone to lean on for prophetic guidance till today.
I chose God through the uncertainties and turbulence. That was the only choice as even my family looked at me in disdain. It was for over twelve (12) years, hence the book “12 years in the prison”. God is now transforming my life, but life is never linear nor is His restoration. There are still many up and downs. I still face lots of obstacles in my businesses. I had a relationship with someone this year but she left without giving a reason except that she feels she is not ready. Yes she is not a Christian but I do not doubt our paths were meant to cross.
I am not ashamed of the gospel, nor am I ashamed of the humiliation I went through, for it’s the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who has seen my transformation and how God is restoring me. I believe my businesses will go to China again but this time with me in the driver’s seat.
Whatever unfolds as Paul said “however, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace (Acts 20:24).
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). We may lose everything soulish, but in the process gain everything spiritual and eternal.
1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Paul’s Chains Advance the Gospel
12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,[b] that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard[c] and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.[d] 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.
Life Worthy of the Gospel
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit,[e] striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
Saturday, October 05, 2024
We are at war!
We are not in tribulation but we are at war! We are at the time of the unveiling of the red horse.
"When He opened the second seal
I heard the second living creature saying,
'Come and see.'
And another horse, fiery red, went out.
And it was granted to the one who sat on it
to take peace from the earth,
and that people should kill one another;
and there was given to him a great sword."
(Revelations 6:3-4)
On October 1, Iran launched 181 ballistic missiles at Israel, the biggest missile attack on a nation. In another attack on September 29, Israel killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and others in Lebanon. The Bible has a lot to say about Lebanon which is symbolized by Tyre then Sidon and now it is called Beirut. Tyre was a highly esteemed place for ship building.
Ezekiel 26-27, God judged Tyre and in chapter 28 it even says there are some satanic forces…..wanting to be like God… Doesn’t that sounds a bit like Lucifer?
Therefore thus says the Lord God:
“Because you have set your heart as the heart of a god,
7 Behold, therefore, I will bring strangers against you,
The most terrible of the nations;
And they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom,
And defile your splendor.
8 They shall throw you down into the Pit,
And you shall die the death of the slain
In the midst of the seas (Ezekiel 28).
Lebanon was once a Christian majority (80%) nation like a lot of the Middle East countries. Persia now modern day Iran was friendly to Israel. Esther became queen over Persia. But we just saw them launched 181 missiles into Israel.
Israel will surely respond…and this will be bad for Beirut as God will devour it by fire (verse 4). If there is any time for a nuclear attack it is probably in the next month or two. A war will come soon enough.
Israel Defended Against Enemies (Zechariah 9)
The burden of the word of the Lord..
3 For Tyre built herself a tower,
Heaped up silver like the dust,
And gold like the mire of the streets.
4 Behold, the Lord will cast her out;
He will destroy her power in the sea,
And she will be devoured by fire (Zechariah 9:3-4).
Iran sends hundreds of millions to fund these Hezbollah terror cells. Indeed verse 3 reads “heaped up silver like dust and gold like the mire of the streets”.
When nations gang up against Israel, the Lord says He is going to show His justice. He will show mercy and compassion to both sides. No one likes war and we are not taking sides as God loves both the Arabs and Jews, but we can’t prevent God’s judgement. God’s justice and holiness is being revealed. People think there are no God or that He is asleep. His active Hand and judicial power is now manifested and He will not allow all these acts of terror.
Iranian leader Khamenei says “Israel will not last long” yesterday at his sermon. He urged nations from “Afghanistan to Yemen and from Iran to Gaza and Yemen” to be ready to take action against the enemy, and praised those who had died doing so. He will soon have to eat his own words. Those words are going to get judge. His regime may not last long. The Bible says “out of your mouth I will judge you” (Luke 19:22) Nasrallah the leader of Hezbollah was gloating that he will defeat Israel and then a bunker busting bomb eliminated him 60 feet deep.
Now Ashkelon and Gaza are watching to see if Hezbollah going to win. They will be fearful when they see Israel blow them up in flames. Verse 5 says the king shall perish from Gaza. Much of Hamas leadership have fled from Gaza and placed on the wanted list.
5 Ashkelon shall see it and fear;
Gaza also shall be very sorrowful;
And Ekron, for He dried up her expectation.
The king shall perish from Gaza,
And Ashkelon shall not be inhabited (Zechariah 9:5).
A mixed race shall settle in Ashdod (verse 6). No one wants to hear this, not even the Jews or Arabs. So what is this mixed race? It’s the Christians, a multiethnic group of believers. Arab Christians, Middle East Christians who have been persecuted and displaced. They are even persecuted in refugee camps where they run to. The bible talks about a place for the mixed race in Judah which includes Gaza. The only way for Israel to have peace is to have a friendly neighbour. You can’t have peace when you have a hostile neighbour. We the Christians love the Jews, love the Bible and will never attack Israel. We also love the Arabs and want to save the persecuted Arab Christians.
“A mixed race shall settle in Ashdod,
And I will cut off the pride of the Philistines (Zechariah 9:6).
The Bible is true and coming to pass.
