Heart to heart #61 Ten years on (28th April 2013)

Dear....

Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
                     Psalms 12:1

The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.
                     Psalms 12:8

"Let things evolve," that was the guiding principle our present Prime Minister used when asked about the issue of societal standards as regards same sex marriage and all its paraphernalia. If one was to pay attention to the news, both globally and locally, clearly there is an ongoing concerted effort on the part of the proponents of the alternative lifestyle to bring that evolution their way.  And earthquake prone New Zealand not just joined the increasing ranks of countries legalizing same sex marriage, but took the dishonor of being the first country in Asia Pacific to do so.

Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own:who is lord over us?
                     Psalms 12:4

"Tyranny of the minority."  Will  our society suffer the same fate as that of mainstream America and much of the Western world? Where being neutral to the rights demanded by the LGBT is increasingly taken to be unconscionable, and any differing views from that propagated by them is deemed to be discriminatory and could possibly cost you your job, your safety and your peace and being litigated against.

Toilets in UK are increasingly unisex, because transgender complained vociferously about being discriminated by the traditional male/female segregation. Would an exhibitionist have the same basis to demand the removal of all cubicles in the toilets? What about the rights of more modest genuine females?

Today, beauty pageants  must accept transgender as contestants. The legal precedent was set in Canada. Should not an ape now go to the same court to demand participation rights by virtue of Darwin's theory of evolution.

Ludicrous this thought of mine. But increasingly, through the clever  use of semantics, seemingly rational but warped logic, and strategically placed sympathizers,the determined proponents of an alternative lifestyle are steamrolling across societal norms.
Credit must be given where it is due, and one cannot fault them for their strength of belief in their way of life and their cohesiveness and determination to jostle for space within a pluralistic society.

But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
                      Genesis 19:4-5

The utopian dream would be where society has a place for everyone to live out their individuality, yet be in harmony. Reality is, man are in the main rarely contented with their lot, and the urge is to encroach on thy neighbor. The proponents of same sex marriage in the Western world are increasingly pushing for not just the right to be married in the civil courts, but to solemnize their union in Church. Will the law be used to trample upon the rights of Christians within their own space?

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit:for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
               2 Corinthians 3:6

Should we push back? Yes but not by our way but God's way.
To seek God with our all and to love our neighbors as much as ourselves.
We cannot agree with the pink tide but we must learn to love them, for they are also the children of God. How is it possible?

These things have I written unto you concerning them that would lead you astray. And as for you, the anointing which ye received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any one teach you; but as his anointing teacheth you; concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, ye abide in him.
                1 John 2:26-27

The only way  is to turn to God. For Christ when he was tempted by the devil, drew upon not just the word of God, but his deep familiarity with His Father, to overcome Satan's delusions. Today, as children of God, we must do the same when dealing with deceit. A lie does not stick when we live in truth.

Who will rise up for me against the evildoers?
or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
            Psalms 94:16

Ten years on, it is likely Singapore will go the way of America. Pink will permeate mainstream society. It is not just because the lovers of carnality has pointed all their big guns upon our little red dot, for the stakes are high given our ordained call to be the Antioch of the East. But if we as a society continue to be enamored with our God given provisions, rather than be with God our Provider. Divorces are on the rise  and even where the family unit is maintained,  it is increasingly dysfunctional. Our children are taught more the ways of the world, than the will of God.

Is an alternative lifestyle in reality due less to one's genes but rather, is a conscious choice, a direct result of the failure of the traditional family to live out her role as intended by God? Seeking solace from rejection, be it due to dysfunctional family where love is lacking, one looks for substitutes.

O God, how long shall the adversary reproach?
shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?
                   Psalms 74:10

But despair not. There is truly a Divine God, Who will intervene to save us from ourselves. For God's purpose for Singapore to be used to minister to the rest of Asia must be fulfilled.
Will we voluntarily repent and turn to Him now, or would we rather face His corrective wrath? Lately, we read of testimonies of men of material success whose priority changed when faced with terminal illnesses. God can use you mightily on your very last breath, but will it not be better when the hourglass of one's life is still quite full?

The church is the body of Christ who are willing to follow the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and be led by the Holy Spirit. In the increasingly deceptive world of ours, the 'church' can also be an embodiment of the followers of the devil, who mouth Christ, but whose hearts are aligned with the ways of the devil. Are they now in our midst?

'Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.'
         Malachi 4:5-6

The pink tide will dissipate only if we individually and collectively as children of God are willing to turn to Him and be purified into literal white. Pink comes from mixing red with white. The purity of man is now tainted by the carnality of lustful red, angry red. Families are dysfunctional, leading to a fertile pool of unloved recruits  who are susceptible to the arguments of the pink proponents who proffer love or rather lusts?

In closing, it is important to remind ourselves that the victory has been won with the resurrected Christ. The machinations of the devil and its followers cannot change this reality. However, it matters to you personally for how you choose to live your life will determine which eternity you will end up in - be it eternal bliss in Heaven or eternal damnation with the red devil.


God blesses

Eng Hieang
28th April  2013

This sharing was written in Jan 2013. Was not sure if I should share it for am I speaking from a biased stance or am one speaking as led by the Holy Spirit and was it written with love or judgement?
But with the recent article in Yahoo Singapore  on the Appeal by the gay couple against the High Court ruling which had an interesting quote as below, I felt led that it is time to share these thoughts.
Do take time to ponder upon what is truly from God, and what is from man, no matter his/her perceived anointing.

"Former Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore and Malaysia, Reverend Yap Kim Hao(  http://www.freecomchurch.org/) said he also hopes the Christian community will be more inclusive.

“The official teaching of the Methodist Church in Singapore did not declare homosexuality a sin until 2002, and the interpretation of the bible is always personally directed, time bound, historically determined and culturally conditioned… In light of Kenneth and Gary’s decision to appeal, I hope that moving forward, the christian community will focus on love, compassion, understanding and harmony instead of hate, condemnation, contradictions and conflicts as we strive to live in unity in spite of our diversity.”

28th April 2013

Heart to heart #60 Walking in victory (20th April 2013)

Dear....

And Enoch walked with God:and he was not; for God took him.
               Genesis 5:24

Is death such a fearful proposition for most of us? Is dying the inevitable  route that all have to take?
Enoch not just lived a long life but he never experienced  mortal death, for God whisked him away. Prophet Elijah experienced the same privilege(2 Kings 2:11)

Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
                 Matthew 16:28

And we the faithful can and will experience the same should the Heavens herald the return of our Lord Jesus Christ now, for we will be lifted up to the Heavens.
Death, or rather the fear of death still has a grip on me, albeit it has loosened tremendously.
Is it because one is afraid of what comes after? But it should not be for we know eternity awaits the faithful.

For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
               Colossians 3:3

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
              Colossians 3:2

Or is it because one cannot let go of the temporal treasures of this finite world?
Much as we live in an increasingly sinful world, there still exist good things worth treasuring, be it family and friends.

In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider:God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.
                  Ecclesiastes 7:14

Should we succumb to despair and become disgruntled with God when circumstances do not go our way? Or should we stay not just steadfast, but move even more boldly to be like Christ, holding on to the knowledge and belief that God's way are not just better than our way, but it is the only way?

That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments:
               Psalms 78:7

In my moment of despair that one night in Bangkok, the Spirit of God convicted me of my sin. The question posed to me was an indictment. Why did I always thank God after the fact, but never before? He has always provided. Would I not trust and obey now rather than do so only when matters conclude? "Stop questioning, and start following," and indeed since that defining moment in Bangkok, my heart somehow has that "little extra oomph," by His grace, that has continued to sustain my resoluteness to seek our Lord with my all.

In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.
                    Psalms 138:3

Straggler I no longer am, for I know I rest in our Lord. But strutting like a confident handsome cockerel I am neither. The victory lap has been laid out by our risen Christ, but often when the storms buffet me, my knees go a little bend, and my steps of faith turns tentative. Why can't I walk boldly but humbly in victory with Christ every moment of my life?
For clearly God has already laid a path of victory for us the faithful!!

' Let not your heart be troubled:ye believe in God, believe also in me.'
                  John 14:1

There are times when God speaks aloud to us the very thoughts that we had believe was only privy to us. The Spirit of God residing in us indeed searches our hearts and make supplications to the Lord our God. God knew I was a little troubled and He literally spoke to me in John 14:1. How can our faith not grow in a Sovereign and omnipresent loving Father Who knows the thoughts hidden in our inner sanctum? And God not just assures, He clarifies, affirms and bring us forth.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you:not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
                    John 14:27

We the carnal man seek the conclusions that will provide temporary relief. God gives us the peace that is beyond our imperfect understanding, and peace that has a permanence regardless of our circumstances.
Only with this Spirit filled peace can we walk the highway of holiness, where no evil can throw asunder. Are you willing to let go and let Him?

'...all the days ordained for me were written in your Book before one of the came to be.'
                     Psalm 139:16

And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness;
the unclean shall not pass over it; .......But the redeemed shall walk there.'
                   Isaiah 35:8-9

God blesses

Eng Hieang
20th April 2013

Heart to heart #59 What is faith?? (6th April 2013)

Dear...

Mark 14:36
And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me:nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

If you read the Bible, you will be familiar with this poignant moment in the Garden of Gethsemane. Does it not strike a familiar chord for all of us? Maybe even more for those of us who are going through a present struggle in our lives.
Christ took on the form of man yet from the verse above, there were two distinct differences from us, the seed of the sinful first man, Adam.
- Christ knew God's will
- Christ was willing to submit to the will of God.

The Bible declares "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen."
From the context of most of us, faith  is taken to mean the clinging on to the hope of fulfilling our wishes, much as matters are not going our way.
Prayers and supplications are often made with our will in mind, and God is a convenient "genie in the lamp."
Is it no surprise that our prayers are not always answered? And even if they were, the joy is fleeting and God is quickly forgotten!
And  prayer life for most is either a wish list asked in a tentative manner, for we are not too sure if God hears us and we are quite unwilling to dig more deeply into the spring of life, Christ our Lord.  Or for some, the belief is faith equates claiming boldly God's list of goodies as prescribed in the Bible, with the expectation of immediate gratification and no responsibility on our part.  Is God also Santa? Would us Earthly parents who love our children give them everything they whined for?

What does "faith" truly mean for  the spirit man and woman of God?

I am crucified with Christ:nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
            Galatians 2:20

In this fallen world, like the virulent cancer cells, troubles multiply and regenerate. Man desires the resolution of their troubles, and in our prayers and supplications with our Lord, we limit Him to our will, not His. But who are we to direct our Creator? The carnal man desires conclusion, God wants our obedience.

Faith is about knowing the will of God.
Faith comes from God, for knowledge of His will comes from Him.
Being faithful is about staying true to what God has shown us, holding on to the belief that His words to us will be fulfilled, much as events and circumstances seem to point otherwise.

Victory for the spirit man of God  is not measured by looking from the outside, but it is from the inside, from a submissive heart that believes that God is Sovereign. And that much as troubles might abound, and that we see no conclusions our way, we not only can remain joyfully steadfast in our Lord, but move forth with the deep assurance that we will and can honor God in every way, for His light will smother the darkness His way, His timing.

For troubles are the platform which best illuminates the victory of the Risen Christ. But will we be the sturdy lamps upon which His light shines forth, in the midst of the turbulent storms?

Christ had faith, for he knew the plans of God. But he still struggled at Gethsemane but in the end, he stayed faithful, for he let go and let God.
What about the other men of great faith. Abraham, Moses? They had faith, for God spoke to them about His will. They too struggled to be faithful,  though in both cases, God divinely intervened to bring them forth.

Can we have faith, ie knowledge of the will of God. Yes, if we are willing to seek God with our all. He will draw near to us and His Spirit will imbue upon our hearts, an understanding of His will.
But we are finite, and we struggle against principalities. Can we be faithful, ie be willing to submit to the will of God?
God knows our limits. He will divinely provide for a heart that seeks after Him.

Let me conclude with this testimony of my latest epiphany moment.

Both a wandering eye as well as a wondering heart I have. It is only through the God given discipline of coming unto the presence of our Lord, that by His grace, my wandering heart is often realigned back into focus upon Christ the author and finisher of our faith.
And just this evening, I had the opportunity to experience this truth. The internet is like the biblical Tree of Knowledge. Lurking in its midst are temptations than can spring on one unexpectedly and ensnare one into sin. Reading the news on Israel has become a habit for me. Never did I expect to be drawn into lust from the most unexpected source. My spirit was willing but my flesh was weak. I did flee from temptation like Joseph with Potiphar's wife, though I must admit it was a struggle. But God is good. Much as He allows me to be tempted, He knows my limits and He divinely provided a way out.

To look away from temptation also requires us to look to God, then can we overcome the nagging but sure pull of the siren, tugging at our carnal man.
Not too sure how it came about, but staring at me in my Ipad was no longer the Israelite temptress, but instead was a video of a sermon by the late David Collins, the son of my spiritual mentors, Paul and Bunty. And the topic was on "becoming an overcomer." Glad that God once again intervened where my finite man cannot overcome this spiritual attack, and to boot, God sent to my rescue, a man who died in the body back in 2007, but is very alive in the spirit.

Deuteronomy 30:20
to love Jehovah thy God, to obey his voice, and to cleave unto him; for he is thy life, and the length of thy days; that thou mayest dwell in the land which Jehovah sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

And much as God took me away from creeping sin, He also enlightened me on a very fundamental spiritual truth that I have completely missed, in the midst of my struggle these past 6 months.
The carnal world( including many Christians measures success and happiness by worldly parameters. We, who are more than believers, being determined followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, like to think we are different, but reality is, we have fallen short as well. At least I know I still struggle with the fear of failure and pride,  much as I know God Who has clearly called me into this new ministry has and will provide. The fact that God is Sovereign and omnipresent, and victory has been won on the cross seems to hold little comfort for me, until I get the conclusion I like.

Ecclesiastes 3:11-12
He hath made everything beautiful in its time:also he hath set eternity in their heart, yet so that man cannot find out the work that God hath done from the beginning even to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to do good so long as they live.

Why this unbelief?  It is because I am still looking for conclusions my way,  when God desires only my obedience. I have foolishly defined success as based upon my  finite understanding, setting the boundaries for God to follow. Foolish indeed we are, for God's way are more amazing that when we finally let go and let Him, we will experience His precise ways, and cannot but wonder in awe at His wisdom and our foolishness in not following His Spirit's leading.

Indeed, it is imperative to start the day with the knowledge that God is Sovereign in all matters. Acknowledge that truth in our every moment throughout the day, no matter what the world throws at us. And close the day reflecting with a thankful heart, the truth of God's omnipresence and empowering grace that has been suffice for us for today.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:Fear God, and keep his commandments:for this is the whole duty of man.
                     Ecclesiastes 12:13

God blesses

Eng Hieang
6th April 2013