FAITH WALKERS

I really love the night markets in Asia. I had a wonderful evening with some friends in Singapore, Australia and United Kingdom. We had great seafood dinner, followed by walking along the street market. You need to bargain in order to get a good deal. See photos below.

FAITH WALKERS

We all like to accomplish great things in our life, whether it is fulfilling childhood dreams, becoming a sports star, having a thriving career, business or ministry. People like to go somewhere in life; not stay in a stationary position. As Christians, God called us not to walk aimlessly, without any sense of direction or purpose. God wants us to be faith walkers, people who walk with the leading of the Holy Spirit into their God-given destiny. I would like to share three importance principles of being faith walkers for Jesus.

Matthew 14:25-33 (New International Version)

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

Faith walkers are close to God

Apostle Peter did not walk blindly to Jesus. He heard the voice of Jesus calling him to get out of the boat and into the water. The Bible says in Roman 10:17: “Faith comes from healing the word of God”. When we hear from God, our faith level increases just like a little child hearing the voice of his parent, jumps into their arms. We need to develop a close relationship with God through daily devotion, prayer and worship. God longs to inject faith into our Christian walk so we can be victorious in life.

Faith walkers are risk-takers

Apostle Peter accepted the risk of sinking when he stepped out of the boat. Faith requires us to do things that are beyond our natural ability or understanding. Walking in faith can be risky but God will be faithful to His words. The Bible says that God is not a man that lies. God does not give dreams and visions to believers so they can fail and be disappointed. When Jesus called Apostle Peter out of the boat, Jesus intended for him to walk supernaturally on water. Jesus did not intend for Apostle to sink into the sea.

Faith walkers are history makers

History makers are those who do great exploits for God. They are able to leave behind a great legacy for the next generation to follow. Apostle Peter experienced firsthand a miracle by walking on water that inspired the other apostles to believe God for supernatural.

One of my spiritual heroes is Smith Wiggleworth. He was a plumber who became an international healing evangelist. Everywhere he ministered the gospel; lives would be transformed by the power of God. God used Smith Wiggleworth in the healing ministry because he took the risk for God. He wrote many books that are still in print after his death. He carried the Bible with him everywhere. He treasured the Word of God. He heard from God so he could pray effectively for every person. His faith inspired people around the world to believe God for miracles.

Let’s be Faith Walkers today!

CHOSEN INSTRUMENT

I have been attending the 5am morning prayer this week. I need to get up at 4am to get ready for morning prayer. It is a bit tiring because I am not a morning person. When I arrived at the meeting, I was surprised to see so many people seeking and worshiping God. I believe God will reward everyone who seeks His face diligently and with a sincere heart.



CHOSEN INSTRUMENT

When I was reading Acts 9:15, the phrase "Chosen Instrument" really struck me in the heart.

But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. Acts 9:15

God desires to His chosen instrument

It is just like a carpenter who has many tools at his disposal so he can use it for a specific purpose. For example, a carpenter uses a saw to cut the wood, uses a hammer to strike the nail to the wood and a carpenter uses a drill to make a hole. Every tool in the hands of the carpenter was designed for a special purpose and function. God is like a carpenter who desires to use the tools, which represent believers, for His glory. Saul was God’s chosen instrument to become an apostle for his generation.

Apostle Paul planted churches wherever he went. Apostle Paul performed miracles, signs and wonders among the people. Read Acts 14:8-10

In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, "Stand up on your feet!" At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. Acts 14:8-10

A lame man since birth was able to walk for the first time after Apostle Paul commanded him to stand up on his feet in the name of Jesus.

We need to respond to God's calling

The fact we are chosen by God does not answer the question of how we should live our lives. Do we live our lives with a sense of purpose and destiny or do we just live an ordinary life? I believe God desires for all believers to be His chosen instrument. We are not all called to be like Apostle Paul but God desires to use all of us in a meaningful and significant way for our generation. Read John 15:16

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. John 15:16

Bearing abundant fruits for God

God desires all of His children to go and bear fruit for Him wherever they are called. Some people are called to be in the marketplace, some are called to be at home, some are called to study and some are called to full-time ministry. When we follow the call of God to be His chosen instrument, many lives will be blessed and transformed.

I am praying that God would use all of us as His chosen instruments to bring blessings to the multitudes in 2010. Let's be God's chosen instrument in 2010.

EXPLORING THE FISH MARKET

I had a fun day exploring the fish market and taking photos. The fishes are caught and sold on the same day. There are a great variety of fishes, prawns and crabs sold at the market. The fishes are also cooked on the grill for hungry shoppers. I thank Minghan for his wonderful hospitality. He took me to many nice places to eat and sightseeing. I had a great holiday. (See photos)


IT IS FINISHED

With His last breathe on the cross; Jesus uttered these three words, “It is finished”. What was on His mind when He cried out “It is finished”? His death of the cross is not fully understood by many people in the world. Many people think Jesus was a good moral person, a carpenter, a Jewish teacher or a religious fanatic. Jesus’ death on the cross has little or no significance to many people for many reasons. Perhaps, people did not know why he died in the first place. Perhaps, people think it was just a historical event. Perhaps, people are misinformed about the purposes of Jesus’ death.

I would like to share what Jesus’ death means for us today.

Jesus’ death gave birth to new relationship

God is a holy God and not one could come near to God except the high priest in the Old Testament. The high priest could only come to the most holy place to offer animal sacrifices to God on behalf of the people once a year. If the high priest committed sin, he will be struck down by God and his sacrifices and prayers will be not accepted.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrew 4:14-16

Jesus became the great high priest for mankind. Jesus offered His body as a living sacrifice for the sin of the people because there were no sacrifices that can wipe away the sin of mankind. The curtain of the temple was torn after the death of Jesus to make a way to a new relationship with God. We now have direct access to God because Jesus died for our sins. We can come directly to God through Jesus to help us in time of need.

Jesus’ death gave birth to eternal life

No one likes to face the reality of death because there is a natural instinct to live. When God created Adam and Eve, death was not part of His plan. Adam and Eve chose to disobey God and suffered the consequences of their sins. They were driven away from the tree of life.

The good new is that two thousand years ago, God sent Jesus into the world to save mankind from eternal punishment by dying for their sins on the cross.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

The Bible says that Jesus have risen from the death. He overcame death to give life to mankind.

For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. Romans 6:9-10

Jesus' death brings eternal life to all who receive His gift of salvation.

A YEAR OF MIRACLES

I had a wonderful seafood dinner with Ps Anthony, Moi Moi and friends in KK. We ate shellfish, crabs, prawns etc. See photos.

MUSIC VIDEO: HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD

A YEAR OF MIRACLES - 2010

You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. Psalm 77:14

When we declare the greatness of God, we will see the greatness of God in our lives.Let us believe God for the following miracles to take place in 2010.

Miraculous Provision

God supernaturally provides for the needs of His people, just like how he provided for the Israelites in their time in the wilderness in the Old Testament. God provided water, manna and quail in the desert for the Israelites for forty years. Their clothes and shoes never wore out for forty years. Our lack can become God's miraculous provision. I love to see that God bless His people so much so they can be a blessing to the people around them. We are blessed by God to be a blessing to others with greater needs. (Read Phil 4:19, Numbers 11:7-9, John 2:1-12, Matthews 17:24-27)

Miraculous Encounter

Let us draw closer to God to receive greater experience of His love, grace, mercy, peace, joy and victory. I desire for a greater encounter with the living God in 2010. I want my past experiences with God to seem faint compared with my new experiences with God. Moses had an encounter with God in the wilderness that changes his destiny and those living under slavery in Egypt. Encountering with the living God can result in live transformation. (Read Exodus 3, Psalms 23, Romans 8:37)

Miraculous Power

The miracles of God recorded in the book of Acts are for today too! Miracles can become a part of a Christian’s life because Jesus is alive. God can move powerfully when we pray for ourselves, families, communities and the nations. The sick will be healed, the blind will see, the deaf will hear, the paralysed will walk, the barren will bear children, those possessed by evil spirits will be set free and cancer will be gone in the name of Jesus. (Read Joshua 10:12-14, 1 King 18:16-40, Acts 4:30-31)

Let's believe God for a miraculous year of provision, encounter and power in 2010.