Retreat (noun)
A place affording peace, quiet, privacy, or security.
A period of seclusion, retirement, or solitude.
A period of group withdrawal for prayer, meditation, or study: a religious retreat.

I am so refreshed from the wonderful 3 days at Desaru. We stayed at Pulai Springs Beach Resort, a beautiful hotel with its own beach. It was 3 fulfilling days spent in the presence of God. I don't just mean when we entered the conference room for the sessions. But I think all of us had an awareness of how the presence of God simply infiltrated the entire hotel. Samuel, one of my year 2 schoolmates, captured the feeling best when we were praying together as a group beside the beach. He said that it was a privilege to be praying beside the sea with the sound of its crashing waves. And so we sat there praying for an hour in the spirit. Beautiful.

Psalms 29:3-4
The voice of the LORD is over the waters; The God of glory thunders; The LORD is over many waters.
The voice of the LORD is powerful; The voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

I think the next best part was being able to play and worship God. In my mind, I was thinking, what an honour to be serving in this ministry and worshiping with all these "spiritual heavyweights". Of course, God quickly got my attention off them and back on Him. Its such a joy to worship Him.

All throughout the first 2 days, I was telling God that I wanted a Word from Him through the Coopers. (They were a couple, the guest speakers for the retreat) God was telling me that I didn't need a Word, that I already have the battle plan. But I told Him that I wanted an confirmation, or rather an encouragement that I was on the right track. So when it was my turn to be prayed for, it didn't surprise me that all that was mentioned were the same things that I've gotten from God before. There were 2 things however, that were new to me. These were regarding anointing and restoration. Such words of comfort. I had been hearing people saying that I was anointed before but I never really accepted it. Having heard it from God makes it so much more believable.

And so the key topic for this retreat is praying in the spirit. For a greater anointing and greater power. Oh the number of things that can be achieved when we let God use us even when we pray.

A prayer from the Heart
Father I want to bring Daryl before you. I ask that You grant him Your spirit of wisdom and revelation every day, every time he reads Your Word, I pray that he will learn something new and You will give him a a fresh revelation.

Lord, I thank You that he has a teachable heart, and I know that You are gonna use that and teach him many things because his heart is so open to you, and I know that you will also use him to impart all the wonderful things he has learnt to others who need to hear it. I know and I declare that he will do great things for you, and I pray that you continue to grant him enough light for every single step that he takes with you, as he follows your leading and as you take him to higher levels, one at a time.

Father I also pray that you will increase his boldness. You know that he has a desire to reach out to the lost, to share the gospel and bring people to You. I ask that you will really help him to step out of his personality! That he will be filled with boldness and declare your gospel aloud!

We know that Your Word is powerful and speaks for itself, it's not the words we use or how well we speak but Your word is living and it transforms people and so we thank you that we dont have to rely on ourselves to reach out to other people and be afraid of saying the wrong things or looking stupid, but we can rely on you as your Holy Spirit gives us the words to say.

I pray that Daryl will be so in tune with the Holy Spirit, every single second of his life, in all the decisions he makes, the situations he faces. He will do as you guide him. I also pray that you keep Daryl from temptation and protect him from any accidents or harm that the devil might want to put in his way as he goes to Desaru until Wednesday. I ask that it will be a time of refreshing for him. During this time he will learn so much from you and have such intimate times with you. I pray that he will come back different! Changed and convicted by the Holy Spirit in new areas of his life no longer the same but changed forever for you!

We thank you in advance for all our prayers , that although we cant see them by our eyes, we believe by faith that you have heard and have answered! We rejoice in advance for all the wonderful things you are doing and are going to do in Daryl's life and we pray all these in Jesus' mighty name. Amen.

I seem to have had a revelation today while I was walking home from the MRT and it makes me happy! I think I'm going to shock some people in the near future. I've had some setbacks regarding the last post where I mentioned my desire to become bolder and more radical for the Lord. Isn't it just like the devil to come and try to discourage and disappoint you when you're making a decision to glorify God? Isn't it just like the devil to come and try to condemn you for not being able to carry out that decision?

So often we're being deceived into thinking that our actions are bad because they don't fit into the culture that we're in. I think I'm tired of having people dictate what I am and what I'm permitted to do. And very often, condemnation comes because we fail to live up to people's expectations. In 1 Corinthians 10:29, Paul asks For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience?" I'm not saying that we lower the standards. I'm saying that we raise them to please the only One whose opinion matters. When you follow after Christ, you're bound to step on some people's toes. Again I'm not saying that you go out of your way to offend others. But I just realised tonight that I've been trapped in people's opinions and judgements. Fear of condemnation. No more of that for me.

Luke 4:18-19
The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind.
To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.

Jesus purchased my freedom on the cross. Romans 8:1 says "...no more condemnation to those who are IN CHRIST JESUS!"
2 Corinthians 3:17 says "...where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty!"

In Proverbs 19:12 and 20:2, it says "The wrath of a King is like a roaring lion."
We all know that God is the "Lion of Judah" and the "King of Kings". And many of us think that God rebukes or disciplines us by condemning us. But that is not the case!

1 Peter 5:8 says "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."
The devil prowls around like a roaring lion. The father of lies tries to imitate the only true and living God. He tries to mislead people into thinking that God's anger is on them. In short, the devil tries to bring condemnation where there should be none. If the devil cannot stop us from getting saved, he's going to try to get us to become ineffective. What better way for him to do that than making the Christian feel sinful and unworthy?

The truth is, God does not condemn us anymore. There are no consequences of sin to bear from God. The wrath of God has already been exhausted on the glorious Jesus Christ. The consequences of sin have been paid for in full. Thats the beauty of the gospel.

John 3:17-18
"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned..."

There's an awkwardness when I come to blog now. I'm in the process of changing and trying to incorporate something into my lifestyle. Its something that I have been trying to do for years but so far it hasn't been successful. I'm talking about evangelism.

I've never been the type who would go up to strangers and start talking openly about Christ. There are people who can do it and I marvel at them. My mind cannot comprehend how they are able to speak with such authority and boldness. I seem to come up with more reasons why they shouldn't accept Christ instead. Thats my problem, see? Again, I try to reason out Salvation logically. There's no way to reason it out!

I think the problem I'm experiencing is that subconsciously, I'm making it my responsibility to convert the people I'm speaking to. Same with when I lay hands on people to be healed. Its like I'm trying to heal them or change them. Many of us are familiar with the verse in Romans 1:16.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

We often heard it said that we should not be ashamed of the Gospel but don't you think that it is weird that there is anything to be ashamed of at all? Why are we ashamed? When we look at the verse in Paul's context, we can see that he had reason to be ashamed! Persecution, ridicule from fellow Jews. Christianity was viewed as second rate. But in this day and age, in our multi-racial society of Singapore. What is there to be ashamed of? The Gospel or Good News is the Power of God to salvation. We should be proud of it!

Lets look at how Paul utilised this power in his ministry in the previous verse.
Romans 1:15
So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.

We simply preach or to put it in a less threatening word, we speak of the Gospel. We don't have to spice it up or dilute it to "suit" the audience.
Romans 1:17
For in it (the gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed...

The Gospel. I so often have a hunger to see people coming to God. I long for the honor of being part of the miracle of 'Spiritual Rebirth'. But sometimes there are hindrances. Sometimes I feel as if I don't have the ability or the right to speak the gospel. But that right is given to every believer. So what other excuse can we give for not doing more?

God's righteousness is revealed when we speak. The pressure should not be on us to make our words powerful. The Gospel IS the Power of God! If we are truly convinced of what salvation means to us, then that alone is enough to speak of it to others. What is this fear that stops us from sharing? Is it personality? Our environment or society? Our upbringing? Culture?
This challenges me in my spirit. Do I really really REALLY know Christ? Isn't Jesus greater than all we lack? Do we need to script out the wonder of God's grace and mercy? I've all but started praying for God to bring me souls. I know what a heavy responsibility it is. I know if I simply ask for the opportunity to evangelise, God will be faithful and create them. But asking for opportunities means being able to step out of your personality and obeying Him. It may mean looking foolish for Him. Am I radical enough?

I want to be able to come to a point in life where I can look back and say, "I think I made a difference, I think I made an impact in people's lives."
Where people would exclaim that it MUST have been God working in my life. It is not possible that you did it on your own. Of course, one must ALWAYS be wary not to fall into the trap where you're striving for the honor and recognition of being used by God rather than simply being the instrument.

Patience and Perserverance, Daryl

Its good to be made to think. But its not good to be made to worry. There are things which I have to pray about. Not worry about. Because worrying will only cause white hairs. There are some issues that are valid. I have to take them into my prayer room. Different people have different callings. People specialise in different areas and prosper in different areas as God blesses their abilities. There are abilities which I should learn and develop. But just because someone isn't blessed in certain areas doesn't make them any less special or less 'called'.

I will not let myself be looked down upon just because I'm not as highly educated, highly qualified, well-mannered, intelligent or well-spoken. Thank God that He is my qualification.
Daryl, Servant of the Most High God.

I shudder to even think myself worthy of such a title. But the Word says I am made righteous! Its by His grace alone that I even have a chance in life. Not just a chance, but a opportunity to reign! (Romans 5:17-21)
To reign! I rule over the things in life because God has given me authority, through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit. I obey, I study the Word, I do not falter and He makes me the head and not the tail. It means I am on top of things! Above and not beneath.
Lord... I earnestly desire!!!

to burn with zeal
1. to desire one earnestly, to strive after, busy one's self about him
2. to exert one's self for one (that he may not be torn from me)
3. to be the object of the zeal of others, to be zealously sought after

Jeremiah 1:17-19
But YOU, daryl, dress yourself for work. My work! Gird up your loins, prepare yourself, build yourself up! Arise and say to them everything that I tell you. Speak when "I tell you to speak. Obey when I tell you. Your obedient response sparks off the power.

Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them!

Will you be affected by Me, influenced by Me, reliant on Me? Then forget them? My Word will prove itself. And I will make you strong, give you the ability to withstand and defend. Where ordinary people would normally be struck down, you will stand firm, unshakable. And you will be a pillar for others to lean on, to hide behind. Against ALL who come against you, against all who will fight you and try to prove you wrong. They will try to tear you down. But I am with you, to carry you out of harms way and to prove my Word to be true.

Jeremiah 5:14
Because you have spoken this Word, I am making my Words in your mouth a fire, a consuming fire

I'm so grateful for the sheer number of chances that God has given me to be encouraged and to minister to others. I just pray that I'll be able to speak the words of God and not my own opinions. Its seems so easy to speak from experience and distort what God says.

Here's what happened on the second day of the house visitation in Myanmar.

DAY 2
The amount of walking that we had done the previous day left me surprisingly tired out at the end of the day. I recognised it as signs of dehydration. It is equally as hot in Myanmar as it is here, but the difference is how dry the climate is. Thankfully, there wasn't as much walking in sun.

We made our way by taxi and trishaw to a house church located in the dried up fields. The sun was shining brightly but the air still maintained its morning coolness. We reached the house about an hour before they were scheduled to start. The family, made up of a couple and their 3 children, were all busy preparing in one form or another. The man, squatting beside a clay stove, was putting the finishing touches to the meal he had prepared for us visitors. His wife, having laid out the mat in the middle of the hut, had gone out to inform the neighbours that we had arrived. There was a child with a physical handicap in her legs and a speech impediment. But she was so cheerful and scooting around the hut giving us "massages" on our arms. There was another small girl who had just taken her shower and was changing in front of us. The 3rd child was an infant lying on the floor making cute sounds.

And so the 6 of us (3 from the Rhema team & 3 from the AoG church) sat down for lunch at the makeshift dining table, the rest of the family looked quizzically at us. The custom in Myanmar is for the guests to eat their fill before the hosts even start eating. Also because the table could not sit all of us at the same time. The food was quite good but I was having a slight tummy problem so I was eating as little as my conscience would permit and as much as my digestive system would allow.

We finally got started with the service almost 2 hours after arriving. We only found out at that moment that they desired us to speak to them. So we got the most senior of us to do the job, the only Rhema Alumni in the team, to do the job for us. Thank God for her because I wouldn't have any clue as to what to speak about. At the end of that session, there were 4 people who wanted to receive Christ.

Just at we thought that we could breathe a word of thanksgiving for the 4 souls added to the Kingdom of God, we were informed that the sunday school teacher was on the way to the house church and there was still a sunday school session. But the thing was, it wasn't sunday and the sunday school teacher would not be teaching. She was coming to hear us. So we had to frantically come up with another evangelistic topic to speak on. I got assigned to speak on the importance of the blood of Jesus.

Before we knew it, 3 more youths were added to the Kingdom and I was left speechless at how desperate God must have been to reach these people that He worked in spite of my limitations and unpreparedness. 7 souls added to the Kingdom that day. We were also asked to pray for the healing of several of them. I believe that they were blessed just by our being there. He really showed Himself to be faithful to His Word. All Glory to God!

Welcome to 2007. I'm really behind time in my journaling. I haven't even blogged about Youth Camp. I should catch up by this week. Should have my newsletter up soon too.

People have been asking me about resolutions, plans, paths and ideas. I answer these in typical fashion. I don't know. I don't have the specifics yet. All I know is that there is so much more to learn. So much to prepare for. I know that I need to continue in my focus on Him.

I need to read and study more. My current reading project is the "Autobiography of George Mueller". I'm also studying Jeremiah and Ezekiel in the bible. I pray that I'll be able to continue with this when the added load of school readings come in. Something good is happening though. Something exciting will happen this year. I know it!

During the trip, we had opportunities to go visit the villagers in their homes and attend the house churches. As usual, not knowing what to expect, I just went along believing that God would do his thing.

Mark 16:20 says “And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.”
He confirms the message, He confirms His Word. I don’t have to try to make it happen.

DAY 1
And so we went out on the first of two trips to the villages. I fell asleep on the drive to the villages and when I awoke, I was surrounded by land as far as the eye could see. I was awed by how vast it was. It made me feel small, dazed and intimidated. The simplicity of the living conditions was astounding. A family would be staying in a hut, half the size of most people’s bedrooms. My attention was pulled to the sight of 4 little children, 2 guys and 2 girls standing in the little plot of land outside their hut. They were naked.

As we made our way into the village, I quickly realised that the house at the entrance of the village was the biggest one, probably belonging to the village head. The huts in the village were much smaller and stood side by side along the road. The entrance was about 1.4 metres high. There were a lot of children around as well. These were the ones who were still too young to go to school. They were running around and playing amidst the pigs that weren’t tied to posts beside the entrances. Our guide and translator, Hau, had mentioned earlier that there were many children in the village and she wasn’t kidding. It occurred to me that they had no knowledge of birth control or contraceptives.

Later on when we walked quite a distance to another part of the village, about 15 minutes away, we arrived at an orphanage. Here I discovered that there were about 24 children being taken care of by a Christian lady. Here I learnt that if families got too large for the man to support, children had to be given away. The lady shared about how her husband, who recently passed away, had started the orphanage. When they first started, they only had 3 cups of rice for themselves and a child. But as they trusted in God and more and more children came into the orphanage, she testified that they had never gone hungry.

As I glanced around the room, I noticed scripture verses pasted all over the walls. They were written side by side in Burmese and English. These were the promises of God that they were claiming. At that moment, she gestured towards the space between the staircase and the prayer corner. There lay 4 large sacks of rice. Her faith produced more than a 1000% increase in rice.

John 6:35 says “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”

Isaiah 49:10 says “They shall neither hunger nor thirst, neither heat nor sun shall strike them; For He who has mercy on them will lead them, Even by the springs of water He will guide them.”

Life in December is so packed. After coming back from a wonderful trip from Myanmar, I had to immediately prepare myself for youth camp. The more I think about it, the more I realise how much I still have to learn about the ministry. Sometimes it seems as if I'll never be able to reach the standard or the proficiency that we see many well-known evangelists or preachers. But thats not the point right? I really thank God for the things He's showing me and revealing to me.

Training takes time and I praise God that He has giving me the ability to learn by observation. I realise that even with learning music, I'm the kind of person that needs to watch and listen. Then I need to try it out to get the hang of it. Principles and theories do very little to convince me. Thats why I feel that having the opportunity to teach and minister in Myanmar did a lot to educate me. I keep getting comments from people that I am a "teacher". Maybe its the way I present the topics or explain things but I don't feel as if I am special in that area. My session with the students from the Church Planting Institute went pretty well. I was slightly nervous before I started but praise God that I was able to keep my focus. I did waver somewhere in the middle when I couldn't find my place in the notes. But I felt that I was able to come back. The time that the translator took also helped me to think before every sentence.

I was really encouraged by what Pastor 'V' said to the students after my session. I had mentioned during my introduction that I was halfway through my first year in bible school. He told them that they should be able to preach like I did because they have already been in training for almost 3 years. It really puzzled me. It must have been God working through me because I felt like I was nowhere near being a benchmark for the students.

While preparing for the teaching, God showed me Jeremiah 1:7-9
“Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth!”(NLT)

It made me realise that God was more concerned about the people than my shortcomings. In Jeremiah 1:12.
Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it."(ESV)

Muted amazement.
I don't want to sound like a newbie and squeal about every little thing that I saw in 'The Golden Land' but at the same time, the things that I saw God doing is worth shouting about!! Its plain to see that God has great plans for that nation. I was constantly amazed at how willing He was to use us to achieve His purpose. Its almost as if He was using any excuse there was to bless them! It seemed as if He used us despite our shortcomings.

As I prepared for this trip, I didn't know what to expect. I had no clue what the land looked like. I had no idea what the people did or how they spoke. Even when the team landed in Yangon, I couldn't form an impression of them. It was clear that many were living in poverty. There were great physical and fiscal needs. But I felt that there was something that God wanted to tell me about them. I just couldn't grasp it at the time.

It wasn't until the next morning that I realised what God was trying to tell me. We made our way by bus to the church where the team would do its first seminar. The journey through the residential area made me pray and wonder why I didn't feel anything for them. But as we approached the church, I felt as if something in the atmosphere was changing. One way to put it was that I could feel that I was approaching the church before I actually saw the church. Coming down from the bus, I quickly realised that there was a live worship going on. So I rushed to the entrance of the church and looked for the live band. All I could see at the front of the room were 2 girls and a guy singing. There was a keyboardist and a guitarist at the side too. It was bizarre because what I heard and what I saw didn't make sense to me. The congregation, made up of a large majority of people over 40 were shouting and jumping and praising God.

Thats when it hit me. Thats when the Love of God came sweeping over me. The realisation hit me like a wave. God loved this country. It wasn't a comparison to the love that He had for any other nation. He was beginning to show me His heart for Myanmar. They were something special.

Types of Redemption in the Old Testament
The Brazen Serpent
Numbers 21 - Background

1. We see again the complaints of Israel against God and against Moses. By doing so, they stepped out from under the hand of protection of God. They were no longer heeding the conditions that were stated in Exodus 15:26.
   Fiery serpents came and bit the people and many died.
   
   
2. We see in verse 7 that the people were quick to repent and they begged Moses to intercede for them.
   God instructs Moses to make a fiery / bronze serpent and to set it on a pole. So that everyone who sees it shall live.
• The serpent on the pole is a type of Christ on the cross. Everyone who looked at the cross would live.
• Numbers 21:8 Then the Lord told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” 9 So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed! (NLT)
  
  
3. God strongly desires that His people would be living in fullness of health. That is why He made a way for the people of Israel. That is why He sent Jesus for us. The people were healed when they fixed their eyes on the serpent. What about us today? Today we have the real thing. The true and real Jesus. If we fix our eyes on Him, He heals us.
• Numbers 21:9 And Moses made a serpent of bronze and put it on a pole, and if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the serpent of bronze [attentively, expectantly, with a steady and absorbing gaze], he lived. (AMP)
  

Types of Redemption in the Old Testament
Bitter Water Made Sweet
Exodus 15 - Background

1. Moses had just led the people of Israel out of Egypt and they had all seen the miracle of God parting the Red Sea.
• Exodus 14:31 Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord and they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses.
  
  
2. So after praising God, they continued on their journey to the promised land. They travelled for 3 days and at the first sign of trouble, they started complaining again. They arrived at Marah (bitterness) where they finally found water but they couldn’t drink it because it was bitter.
• Exodus 14:24 And the people grumbled against Moses…
  
  
3. And Moses, being the super-spiritual giant of faith prayed with authority and commanded the water to become drinkable. NO!
   Moses was reacted in the same way any human under stress. He CRIED out to God.
   
   
4. God showed him a log / a tree, and Moses threw it into the water and the water became sweet.
1. The Log / Tree is a picture of the cross
2. The Waters of Marah / bitterness is a picture of pain, disease, sickness.
   
   
• John 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.
• Isaiah 53:4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! 5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. (NLT)
  
  
5. There are conditions that have to be met. Rules to enjoy the sweet waters.
• Exodus 15:26
• diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God
• do what is right in His sight,
• give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes

Types of Redemption in the Old Testament
Korah’s Rebellion & The Plague
Numbers 16 - Background

1. The pride and rebellion of Korah against Moses and Aaron was sin. If we look back at Leviticus 6 - 9, we see that God was raising up Aaron by teaching him the priestly responsibilities. God had chosen Moses and Aaron as priests The people had seen God approve of Aaron. (Leviticus 9:22-24) and here was this troublemaker Korah bringing 250 others like him to question their authority.
   
   
2. Sin leads to death. God gave a chance to the people to separate themselves from the judgement of Dathan and Abiram. The earth opened up and swallowed them all. The 250 chiefs were also burnt up by fire from the Lord.
   
• James1:14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
  
  
3. There is a compassion for the people. When they heard God’s judgement, immediately they fell facedown and interceded.
• Number 16:22 Then they fell on their faces, and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and You be angry with all the congregation?”
• Romans 8:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned. 17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)
• Numbers 16:44 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 45 “Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” And they fell on their faces.
• Romans 8:34 It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
  
  
4. Numbers16:47 Then Aaron took it as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and already the plague had begun among the people. So he put in the incense and made atonement for the people. 48 And he stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped.
• This is a picture of what Christ did for us. Like Jesus, Aaron entered into the midst of disease and sickness.
• Jesus was the atonement, He paid the price, He stood between the living and the dead. There is an infection of sin in the world, which only the cross and intercession of Jesus Christ can stay and remove.
• Eziekiel 22:30-31 So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. 31 Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord GOD.

Praise Life

The results and revelations of praise

How is it possible to describe the goodness of God in 200 words? Ever since coming into Rhema Bible Training Centre, God has been doing so much for me. Initially, I couldn’t tell the difference in myself. I had people coming up to me and telling me how I’ve changed and how different I’ve become. Glory to God!

Waking up in the morning can be a painful experience. When the mind is dull with sleep and every fibre in your body screams out for more sleep. Ever since my kindergarten days, I always dreaded waking up early. My parents would exclaim that it was as if the frame of my body had been fused to the mattress. Any attempt to get me out of bed before I was ready (5 minutes more!) would leave me grumpy and in a foul mood. This habit followed me down through the years.
A change came when I was reading a book and the author quoted Smith Wigglesworth.

I don't ask my body how it's feeling; I tell it how to feel.
- Smith Wigglesworth -

The revelation felt like a punch to the head. It occurred to me that I could choose to do that too! I decided to try it. And it was a disaster! I would mumble “Thank You God” under my breath when I woke up the next morning. But I was feeling as horrible as always. But I kept trying and kept praising God. I even turned on some praise and worship songs like “Rejoice in the Lord Always” in the morning which would change my focus and put a smile on my face.

I woke up today feeling pretty lousy. My body was aching from the drumming during AWE worship. My head was aching from all the thoughts rushing through my head. I went to the computer to try to install the new hard disk that I'd gotten but I couldn't get it to work. At that moment, I really felt very useless. I seriously didn't feel like going to church. As I was walking back to my room, I told myself, "This isn't the way I should be behaving!!" Thats when I started to pray in tongues and began to thank God and praise God for how good He is. Luckily there was no one at home because they would have be scared by my shouting, "Hallelujah" and "Praise God". And that was when I started to feel better! Praise God that when I stepped out of the elevator to the lobby, there was a cab waiting for me.

Many times in life, I would question God, “How come You don’t do the great things that I see in other people’s life for me?”
I would get upset when I heard good reports and testimonies from others. Not upset at them or that good things were happening to them. But upset that I was not experiencing those blessings. I wanted those blessings so much! I would pray fervently for God to bless me and use me to achieve His purposes.

God in His graciousness told me over a series of events that it wasn’t that He was withholding His blessings. It was that I wasn’t taking time to recognise it. I wasn’t giving Him the glory and praise that was due to Him. My understanding of His blessings was too shallow, selfish and warped. When I would pray for a situation, I would come to Him with preconceived ideas on how I wanted Him to work. Ways which I could figure out with my mind.

He began to show me His hand guiding and protecting me in my life. He reminded me of things that He’d done for me when I was in Polytechnic, in the army, in church and even now in Rhema Bible Training Center. He told me in such a loving way that it offended Him that I wasn’t thanking Him. You see, I was demanding that things be done in my way and even though He fulfilled His plans in a more glorious and splendid way, I didn’t recognise it.

If I want to see more power, I’d have to learn to recognise and thank Him for what He’s already done for me.

He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much…
- Luke 16:10 -

I believe that because I’m praising Him, He’s showing me more and more adjustments that I have to make in my life. At the same time, He’s revealing more truths to me. Praise God forever!

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
Forever.
[Psalm 23:5-6]

A table? A table of what? A banqueting table. A feast. He indulges me in front of my enemy. God seeks to benefit me so that I can glorify Him. The devil doesn't like it that I'm enjoying a luxurious meal with my Father. Every bite I take of that wonderful buffet makes the devil mad. My Father and I find that very humourous indeed.

He then proceeds to anoint my head with oil. He blesses me greatly with this anointing. The oil is a type of Holy Spirit. And because of this, I am greatly filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. My cup overflows. I cannot contain the blessings and riches that He pours out on me. (John 7:37-39)

I become like a magnet for blessings of His goodness and mercy. The New Living Translation says "Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life".
All this because of His Grace and Love. Because He is my shepherd. I shall not want / I will not be in want / I have all I need / I shall not lack. Not only for my sake. But for His honor and glory.

I think I was more encouraged than them when I saw that they were encouraged at what I was initially encouraged about.

This is what I learnt today. Today made me realise how much God is directing and blessing my life. I've been constantly encouraged since I got in to the car to go to school this morning. Listening to Reinhard Bonnke's sermons really inspire and encourage you. Shared about God's goodness in my life during 'Praise Life' which Lynette was teaching.

During Prayer School, I received the words, "Right place at the right time." An then, God showed me to head down to Plaza Singapura. So thats where I had the first meeting with Mark today. The first of many more to come I hope. After that I took a bus to Suntec City to submit the timesheet for Life Bookshop. I met Natalie Francois on the bus and it brought to mind her brother. I prayed for him on the bus.

After submitting the timesheet, I started to walk back to city hall MRT through the city link mall. I remember feeling a little tired at the thought of having to take so long to get home. So I whispered a prayer to God. Thats when I bumped into Patricia who was making her way to meet Loong and Gloria at Marina Square. She invited me to join them and I did. It was such a good time of fellowship. I felt that God was showing me a glimpse of what He wanted me to do in the future through that meeting.

Could it be coincidence?
No.
Providence...

Blessing With Our Overflow
I've been having this in my heart for quite a few weeks now. A strong sense that God wants to empower our church. Not in the general way he wants to empower every Christian. But in a specific way that will help us achieve His purpose. God doesn't want to send the wounded and unarmed into battle. It would serve no purpose in sending us unequipped! It would do far greater harm than good if He allowed that.

But these few weeks have been nothing but amazing. Our times of worship have been going up spiritually. We are meeting God more often in church! I'm praying that it'll become the standard. Praise God that He is constantly revealing more of Himself. He wants to re-lay our foundations so that we are REALLY strong and secure in Him.

In Luke 24:49, Jesus told the disciples to wait for the power before they went out to minister to others. You see, God didn't intend for us to just have the Spirit when we were born again. He wants us to be filled till we overflow! It is His desire to see us prosper and succeed in life! And because of this abundance, we will have something to tell people about. Don't you find that whenever you truly encounter God, you really have something to talk about? Isn't it better to have something about your God that you love, that you can boast about? Things that would spark people's interest in to finding out why God is so good to us? We have to be UTTERLY CONVINCED how great our God is before we even attempt to reach out to others.

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. [3 John 2]

Obedience to God

Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites.
No one went out and no one came in. Then the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in." [Joshua 6:1-5]

Instructions from God sometimes seem to make no sense. But as you see how the story goes, obedience to God's will releases a power that no circumstance can withstand. The story continues with Joshua making sure that all the instructions were followed. And when they did and gave a shout of victory at the end, the walls came down.

But imagine that you were one of the soldier's in the army of Joshua, marching around the walls everyday. What good would marching do? Logically, these instructions made no sense. But God often made no earthly sense in the past. But that didn't stop God from bringing victory right?

When I'm in God's will, difficulties, doubts and trials will definitely come my way. The devil will make sure of that. But these are merely acts of desperation on his part.

Imagine a soccer player tearing down the length of the field towards the opponent's/enemy's goal. The defender is desperately chasing you down and from the corner of your eye, you see him launch into a sliding tackle to try to cut you down from behind.

This is the moment in many people's spiritual life. This is the moment where you have to make the decision to either keep running or stop and be taken down. But in this moment, you have to remember that we're leading in the match 10 goals to nil. The defender cannot stop you from winning the match. The choice is whether you want to score that goal. It really takes the pressure off, doesn't it?
I want to score that goal. I want to fulfill God's will in my life.