Champion of the Gospel with Jonathan Heng: Recent Episodes

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The book of Psalms is a songbook of praise and worship. There are many portions that express human emotions, ranging from sorrow and distress, to trust and thanksgiving. Also, there are other passages that are prophetic, concerning the sufferings and glory of Jesus Christ.

In Psalm 84, we see the pilgrim passing through the valley of Baca on the way to Mount Zion. In his journey to God’s dwelling place, he was led to go through the valley of Baca, which means the valley of weeping, and leaves it as springs of living waters.

Many Godly people experience suffering and pain. Yet, in the wilderness, in a dry and barren land, by God’s grace, we can dig a well for others to find rest and refreshing.

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The overview of this passage in Isaiah chapter 11, verses 1 to 5 pertains to the advent and revelation of Jesus Christ, both His first and second comings. We see His birth, life, death and resurrection. We also have a glimpse of His glorious rule and reign during the Millennium.

From the cradle to the cross, from the cross to the crown, Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. From the virgin birth of Jesus Christ to His sacrificial death for our sins, to His rule and reign on the throne, Bible prophecy has been, and is being fulfilled.

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We are the temple, the house, the sanctuary of the Holy Spirit. Our bodies are bought with a price, which is the precious shed blood of Christ. We are to glorify God in our body and spirit. Not just the spirit, but the body and spirit.

As Christians, we face temptations and there are times we fall into sin. We need to ask the Lord to forgive and cleanse us. Sin must never be taken lightly. Those who continue to practise sin, habitually and repeatedly, are bound for eternal separation from God.

Christianity is not a religion. We do not follow a list of rules and regulations, or a system of dos and don’ts. Rather, it is relationship with Jesus Christ who transforms our heart and life. His grace does not give us a licence to sin, but liberty to live a holy life. Christ has won the victory and we are more than conquerors through Him. We are overcomers through faith in Him, according to first John, chapter 5, verse 4, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4)

Do we realize that there is no greater joy and honor than to have the Holy Spirit dwelling and residing within us?

On the other hand, do we tremble at the solemn warning on the destructive power of the sins of the flesh?

Idolatry, adultery and fornication are physical acts, but they start from the heart. We cannot live a victorious and holy life by our own strength or willpower, but only by surrendering and yielding to the Holy Spirit. This is the source of spiritual power and grace.

Sexual relationships between a husband and a wife are meant to reflect the intimate love between Christ and the church. Hence, whether married or unmarried, any sexual intercourse other than with one’s spouse is sin. Marriage is a covenant, a commitment of faithfulness. Sexual expression is not just physical, but holy and spiritual. When a man and a woman is united in holy matrimony and consummate the marriage, they become one flesh. They can procreate and bring forth children, who can be a blessing in the home.

Spiritually-speaking, when a person confess and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, he or she experiences the new birth, and is one spirit in union with Christ. This Christian is to be fruitful and make disciples for the Lord. In essence, he or she produces spiritual children in the family of God.

As our bodies are His temple, we are to keep it pure by His grace. We humans have three distinct parts – spirit, soul and body. We are to yield each part to our Lord Jesus Christ. Not one part, not two parts, but all of our being. First Thessalonians, chapter 5, verse 23 says, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

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In Mark 9:2, Jesus took his disciples “Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.” Until now, these disciples have seen Jesus perform miracles. They know the power of Christ. However, what they are experiencing now is not just about what Jesus can do, but an encounter and revelation of His glory – of who He is! They see the transfiguration and transformation of Jesus who is not just someone in human body, but also a powerful manifestation of His divine nature, holiness and purity! Jesus is not just a reflection of light, but He is the very source and epitome of light!

Here, the disciples see Elijah and Moses talking with Jesus. We know that through Moses, God gave humankind the laws, which includes the Ten Commandments. As for Prophet Elijah, even though He lived during the time of the Old Testament, He represents grace and the new covenant. At the transfiguration of Christ, where He appeared with Moses and Elijah, it demonstrates a pivotal point in time in the mission of Jesus, where He came to fulfil the law and the prophets, and to establish the covenant of grace. Jesus was to fulfil the law by meeting all the demands and satisfying the curse of the law through His precious shed blood on the cross!

Here, Peter probably had good intentions to make three tabernacles – one for Jesus, one for Moses and one for Elijah. However, while Moses and Elijah were great men of God, Jesus alone was both God and Man. Jesus was fully divine and fully human. True, we need to honour and esteem those who are called and anointed of God. Yet, only Jesus Christ and Him alone deserves our worship! All others must fade into the background! No one has, is, and will ever be equal with Christ! We must never exalt any individual to be on par with Jesus – the King of kings and the Lord of lords!

In the awesome holy and righteous presence of God, these three disciples cannot but feel unworthy and undone. Not only did they stand in cloud of God’s Skekinah glory, which rested on the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle, the disciples heard the voice of God the Father declaring Jesus as the Beloved Son and the Messiah! It is a declaration of the deity and mission of Christ! This is not just an ordinary dream or even a vision, but a supernatural revelation that Jesus is preeminent and supreme! Jesus is not just a great teacher and prophet, but the very and only begotten Son of God! Here, even though these three disciples had witness the transfiguration, Jesus charged them to tell no one, until after the resurrection!

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When we have a real encounter with God, we will be transformed. When we seek His face and behold His glory, we will never be the same again! Our hearts and spirits will be filled with awesome wonder and holy fear of God! We will not speak lightly of what we have experienced. Any spiritual and supernatural experience must not contradict what the Bible says. Otherwise, it must be rejected and renounced. We must not elevate spiritual experience above God’s Word. We are not to boast or be proud about such encounters within themselves, but rather to glory in the Lord and His finished work on the cross!

It is easy to be part of the crowd who admire Jesus for His miracles and what He can do. But for Peter, James and John, who witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus, they experienced Jesus for who He is! You and I may never have exactly the same encounter with Jesus as these disciples, but let’s press in, draw near to God, seek His face and let Him transform us! As Christians, it is wonderful to have mountaintop experiences. Let us behold the glory and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. When we are filled with His Spirit in His presence, let us also go down to the valley, where we can minister to the lost and hurting!

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Nicodemus was a Jewish Rabbi, member of the Sanhedrin, and one of the richest men in Jerusalem. He is a type of many people, even religious ones, in our world today. They profess that Jesus is a good moral man, a great Teacher and Prophet, but not the Son of God.

Some people take pride in the country, the class or the family that they are born into. Others are religious or perform many good works, thinking that this would get them to heaven. In the natural, Nicodemus has these impressive attributes and qualities. Yet in John chapter 3, Jesus introduces a spiritual truth where an individual needs to be born again to see the kingdom of God. Jesus is not referring to natural birth, but new spiritual birth – to be born again of both water and Spirit. The “water” here is not water baptism, though water baptism is an important outward ordinance of the new covenant. Rather, the “water” here speaks of God’s Word. As Ephesians 5:26 says, “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” Also, the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and if we repent, put our faith in Christ and what He has done for us on the cross, our hearts and spirit experience a new birth.

Though Nicodemus is a knowledgeable and religious person, yet He needs a revelation of what it means to be born again. His eyes of spiritual understanding needs to be opened. In Mark 10:27, Jesus said, “ …With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” Thank God! There is evidence that later on, Nicodemus believed and accepted Jesus Christ as Saviour!

In our pluralistic world, the gospel of Jesus Christ may not be politically and culturally correct. Yet, we must proclaim the truth and light of the glorious good news! In John 14: 6, Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” There is only one Saviour. There is only one door of salvation! We must be born again! The encounter between Nicodemus and Jesus reflects one of the most important truths in the Word of God. Being born again is not a cliché. Jesus is not talking about a physical rebirth of entering again into our mother’s womb. He is talking about being born of water and of the Spirit, according to John 3:5. It is being born from above!

We want to invite you to be born again. We were born physically, when we came into this world. But we need to be born again of the water of the Word and of the Spirit – in order to enter the Kingdom of God! We need to ask Jesus Christ to be our Lord and Saviour. As the Holy Spirit brings conviction,

Admit the fact that you are a sinner, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23); Be willing to repent from disobedience and rebellion against God, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3); Believe that Jesus is your only Saviour, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16); Confess and trust, and receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:9-10).

Please pray this prayer and do mean it with all your heart:

"Dear Lord Jesus, I now recognize that I am a sinner and I am in need of salvation. I accept the sacrifice You paid for me on the cross of Calvary and I allow Your precious shed blood to cleanse me. I now surrender myself to You and invite You to be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart. Take full control of my life and help me live and serve You from this moment forward. I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen."

If you prayed this prayer in all sincerity, you are now a child of God. We encourage you to find fellowship in a Bible believing, Spirit filled church and obtain a copy of the Bible and that you read it diligently so that you will be the kind of Christian God wants you to be.

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The first Pentecost took place some 2,000 years ago. Throughout the church age, there has been moves and waves of the Holy Spirit.

In 1906, there was an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Azusa Street, Los Angeles, USA. This is the birthplace of the Pentecostal movement that has spread all over the world. Since then, hundreds of millions of believers have been baptized in the Holy Spirit. In the midst of this move of God, there was a prophetic utterance that declared in the last days, there will be an overemphasis on:

· Praise to a God we no longer pray to,

· Power rather than righteousness, and

· Spiritual gifts rather than the lordship of Christ.

We are to avoid these dangers and pitfalls. There are parts of the church that have become seeker-friendly, instead of Spirit-filled. Yes, we are to be sensitive to people, but we must first and foremost, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter, but He is also a consuming fire. As we develop various means and methods of outreach in the church, let us not neglect the Person and Ministry of the Holy Spirit who still convicts sin, call for repentance and conform God’s righteousness in our lives. We need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and not grieve or quench Him in the process of drawing large crowds to our churches. In the Gospels, when Jesus said, “Follow Me”, it meant forsaking oneself and taking up one’s cross.

In the early church, the Apostle Peter preached a message that pricked the hearts of the hearers and saw 3,000 people saved. Peter’s sermon, under the work of the Holy Spirit, was convicting and hardly comfortable, yet it results in a harvest of conversion. Why? And how?

The key is the anointing of the Holy Spirit. When we are sensitive and yield to the Holy Spirit in ministry, He will discern the hearts of the ones being ministered to better than any of us could expect, or at least in the way that He intends. Thank God for the Person and Ministry of the Holy Spirit!

We need to allow the Holy Spirit to move in the House of God. A Spirit-filled church is a church that has a heartbeat for anointed worship. True worship is a lifestyle, not just an activity. It is more than simply turning up for church services, but is a reflection of loving “the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength... ” (Mark 12:30). We are called to experience not only the visitation of the Holy Spirit, but to be His habitation too, “In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22).

The House of God needs to be ignited with the Holy Spirit. We need a blast of wind, a blaze of fire. We need a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit today. Thank God for the first Pentecost in the early church, as recorded in the book of Acts. Thank God for the move of God throughout different periods of the church, especially the Azusa Street revival that birthed the worldwide Pentecostal movement at the turn of the 20th century. As we move ahead in this 21st century, we need a new Pentecost now.

We cry again for a sound from heaven, a rushing mighty wind. We want to see people being baptized in the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking with other tongues, to be equipped for service in the Kingdom of God. We are called as a holy people and a royal priesthood.

Next, we are to be united with one accord in our hearts. In a world of racial and class divide, believers need to be united in love. We are the Body of Christ, one in communion and purpose with the Headship and Lordship of Jesus. At the same time, unity must be based on foundational and fundamental truth. The truth that Jesus saves, heals, baptizes in the Holy Spirit and is coming again. The truth that all blessings comes through the cross of Christ! Unity does not mean conformity. We are one and united in Spirit, but with have different types of gifts and ministries.

A New Testament church is ignited with the fire of the Holy Spirit, is united in love, communion and purpose. It is also to sow and reap an expedited harvest of souls. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit for employment, not enjoyment. We are employed as laborers in His harvest field. We ask the Lord for open doors. Due to the pandemic, the last few years have been difficult with all the shut downs. It’s time to step up again to usher in the final hour harvest of souls. The power of the Holy Spirit will accelerate and expedite the fulfilling of the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.

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Nehemiah was a trusted cupbearer to the King of Persia (Nehemiah 1:11). He received report that Jerusalem was in ruins. The city walls had been torn down, the gates were burned, leaving the residents vulnerable to the enemy’s attack and invasion. There was no peace and no security. Nehemiah was heartbroken and desperate to see the hand of God move and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

Today, we see devastation of false doctrines in the body of Christ. Spiritually-speaking, there are gaps in the walls of our churches. We need to proclaim that Jesus saves, heals, delivers, baptizes in the Holy Spirit and is coming again. That we are justified and sanctified by grace through faith, on the basis of the finished work of Jesus Christ at Calvary’s cross. It’s time for us to rise up and build the walls of sound Biblical doctrines.

In our life, our ministry and in serving the house of God, there are precious truths we can learn from the life of Nehemiah. For example, there are lessons about defeating distraction, discouragement and distress. Through prayer, Nehemiah responded to God’s call to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Although God is sovereign and omnipotent, He is looking for men and women with hearts who are broken and burdened to fulfil and finish His work. Today, there is so little anguish and agony in the house of God.

Do we experience the sorrow and pain of God’s heart over the sins, the backsliding and compromise in the church? Are we also grieving for lost souls and do all we can to reach them with the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ?

To accomplish the task that God has set before us, we need to know that He is the Master Builder. We are to keep in step with the Spirit, know the right timing and opportunity to move in faith and boldness. When Nehemiah stood before the king with sadness on his face to seek permission to build the walls of Jerusalem, it was in essence, a ‘live or die’ moment. Thank God for the king’s compassion and favour to grant Nehemiah’s heart desire to go to Jerusalem. Yet, there are people who opposed Nehemiah. Just because we are doing God’s work does not mean that it will always be smooth-sailing. We will be distracted, discouraged and distressed at times. We can face accusation, attack, intimidation and lies against us from people. We need to stand strong, secure and steadfast in finishing the task, and not allow opponents to shut us down. We need the Word of God and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to help us not react in the flesh in such times.

Nehemiah was a role model on handling criticism and misunderstanding. He did not let discouragement stop Him from obeying God and carrying out his responsibility. He kept building the wall. Today, we may face all kinds of distractions. Worldly pleasures and wrong relationships may divert our attention from fulfilling our calling. We are to stay the course and refused to be disturbed and disrupted.

When God called Nehemiah to rebuild the walls, there was a lack of resources and people thought that the task was going to take a long time. In spite of hindrances, Nehemiah fixed his eyes on the Lord with undivided commitment and complete this massive task in just 52 days.

Nehemiah’s motives and motivations are to give God all the glory and praise. It is all about God’s plans and purposes, not our ambitions. Once the walls were rebuilt and gates restored, Nehemiah planned to revive the authority of God’s Word in the land. Gatekeepers and musicians were appointed. Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s days is a picture of the church today. Like the Israelites, many Christians are spiritually apathetic and defeated. False doctrines, idolatry, worldliness, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life have become widespread throughout the body of Christ.

The church is a called-out body, separated from worldly culture. Separated but not isolated. We need to repent of our backsliding and disobedience. Ask the Lord to revive us, restore us, and set us apart for Him, to be light that shines in our dark and evil world.

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We are called to be disciples for Jesus Christ, committed to follow Him as Lord and Master. We are entrusted with the mission to spread the gospel and reach the lost. We are to be filled and anointed with the Holy Spirit.

Discipleship is a committed way of life, dedicated to the Person of Jesus Christ and His purpose. It is not paying lip service. Some follow Jesus out of convenience, but true disciples will experience opposition and persecution from others. Discipleship is denying oneself. This does not mean asceticism, which is the practice of strict self-denial of legitimate things in life, such as having food and sleep. Of course, it is Biblical to fast from food and sleep or some other activities, in order to spend more time in prayer and studying God’s Word. However, we must not carry out these spiritual disciplines with a holier-than-thou attitude, or to believe that we can earn God’s favour. Rather, self-denial is to surrender and give up all self-effort. To take up our cross is to put our faith in Christ and His victory on the cross.

We are to commit ourselves to Christ above all persons and possessions. Our love for Christ is to be so much more than our family, friends, jobs, money, hobbies and the like. As human beings with affections, it is so easy to put relationships and riches ahead of the Lord. Yet, any excessive devotion to people and things becomes idolatry. The cares and concerns of everyday life will keep people from following the Lord wholeheartedly. We must, in essence, count the cost and ask, are we willing to pay the price?

The Christian life is a journey – to fight the good fight, run and finish the race, and keep the faith. In 2 Timothy 4:7, the Apostle Paul said, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:" (2 Timothy 4:7). This should be our prayer and our cry too.

We have a mission – to fulfil our calling and role to win the lost and equip the saints. The Great Commission of Jesus Christ involves evangelism and discipleship. We are called-out and set apart to be salt and light to the world.

In the church, there is tendency to measure success in terms of the size of attendance, buildings and money. Another condition is that far too often, many Christians are spectators, when we lay the responsibility for God’s work largely on the shoulders of the five-fold ministers – the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Jesus did not call us just to be churchgoers and pew-warmers, but disciples.

To carry out the work of the ministry, we need the anointing of the Holy Spirit. We need to be alive and ignited with the flaming fire of God. The book of Acts is the blueprint of what the church should be and must be. The church was born in power, with a community and worldwide vision. Jesus told the disciples that they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit to be witnesses unto Him, " …both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

Throughout the church age, we have men and women of God who have caught the heavenly vision and were consumed with the passion and compassion to declare the good news of the gospel. As labourers, we must point people to look to God as the source. We are not celebrities, but servants with Christ-like humility. Our pride and vanity must be pulled down and removed. It’s all about Jesus, and not about us. In this age of self-esteem and promotion, we need to lose ourselves and let Christ be our everything. We need the anointing and demonstration of the Holy Spirit and of power, to fulfil our mission to win souls. Not entertainment and amusement, but the preaching of the gospel.

The gospel message is not always popular with the wise and wealthy in this world. It is not easily accepted by the great and mighty in society. Even the religious are confounded and stumbled by the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross. Many look at the Christian faith as foolish and weak. Yet, it is the preaching of Christ crucified that is the power of God unto salvation.

In Acts chapter 17, verses 1 to 6, we read, "Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;" (Acts 17:1-6). Here, we see Paul and Silas who preached Christ boldly, and have turned the world upside down. God’s messengers have often been accused of creating mess but the truth is, for those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, their lives will be turned right side up. It was sin and the fall that have brought disorder in our world. The presentation of the glorious gospel brings light and shines into the darkness of hearts. People can either receive or reject this light.

As disciples of Jesus Christ, our mission is to preach the gospel and fulfil the Great Commission, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Let us follow the examples of the apostle Paul and many other men and women of God through the centuries.

Let’s be M.A.D. (Mission Anointed Disciples) for Jesus!

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In the book of Amos, God called Amos as a prophet to Judah and Israel. Yet, Amos considered himself as no prophet. In the eyes of men, Amos was relatively uneducated. His occupation as a herdman and gatherer of sycamore fruit may be modest and unassuming. Yet, God anointed him as a prophetic voice to speak to His people. At that time, Israel and Judah were prosperous and wealthy. Outwardly, they were far from showing any signs of decline. But sin was infecting the land, and the people refused to repent. Israel was on its path to destruction, and would soon be carried off to captivity in a heathen land. The people were given ample warning and yet, they would not heed. When God’s Word is rejected, there will be a spiritual famine.

Even though Amos spoke to Israel at that time, the message has relevance to our day and age. Today, there is also a famine in the land and a famine in the church. I say this with heaviness and sadness. Many nations of the world and segments of the Body of Christ have forsaken the Word of God and the ways of God. We have lost our moral compass. God has ordained three great institutions: the home, the church and the state to be pillars of light and liberty, to stand for righteousness and truth.

There is a rising tide of darkness and sin in the nations of the world. Regrettably, in parts of the Body of Christ, there is lukewarmness and even apostasy. Man-centred, self-help psychology has infiltrated our Bible Colleges and churches. We have added to, or subtracted from the message of the cross. We have quenched and grieved the Holy Spirit. We have mixtures in our lives – we claim to follow God and yet, remain worldly and carnal. We have committed spiritual adultery and idolatry. Most, if not all of us, like to hear words of comfort, peace and prosperity. To be sure, there are times that we need to receive such positive messages. On the other hand, there are occasions when prophetic warnings to nations and churches are necessary to bring us back to the right path.

In every generation, God has voices and vessels whose lips and lives are touched with burning coals from the fire of His altar. These messengers are not always popular. In fact, often, they are despised and opposed by most of the world and even segments of the church. In the face of hostility and tribulation from the world, where evil is called good, and good is called evil, we need preachers to blow the trumpet of God’s righteousness, to sound the alarm that He will judge evil. Yes, God is full of love and grace, but it is His goodness and kindness that leads us to repentance. We need the pure unadulterated and uncompromised Word of God, preached under the power of the Holy Spirit, to speak to the hearts of people. We need Holy Ghost filled preachers who are moved by the fear of the Lord, not the fear and favour of people.

In the wisdom of the world, the preaching of the cross is perceived as foolish. Yet, it is the power of God unto salvation. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the most important message on the face of the earth. It can change the destiny of individuals. The world is getting worse and worse, and evil will intensify. Yet, as witnesses and representatives of Jesus Christ, we are called to reach out to our community, to bring the good news to the lost. Today, we have an abundance of Christian churches, books, videos, television and internet programs but regrettably, much of these are hype. We lack preachers who are delivering the true Word of God. In the midst of spiritual scarcity, we must repent and return to the Lord’s table, take time to dwell in His Presence and feast on His Word. We need manna from on high, the Bread who satisfies us completely.

Spiritually, are we hungry and thirsty enough to sit at the Lord’s table in the heavenly places?

In times like these, when there’s a spiritual famine in the land, we can still feast at the Lord’s table. Let’s take time to wait upon the Lord in His Presence. Let’s hunger for the Bread of life, the Word of God and thirst for the living waters of the Holy Spirit. We want to study the Bible, the authoritative, infallible and inspired written Word, which will draw us near to the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

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The church of Jesus Christ often swings to extremes – parts of it are legalistic, which is attempting to attain righteousness and holiness by conforming to rules and regulations, as well as performing outward religious works and ordinances. Yet, there are other segments who are licentious or lascivious, which is using God’s grace as a license to live carnal lifestyles. Whether Christians lean towards legalism or licentiousness, some of us reflect these mind-sets and behaviours outrightly. Others are more subtle. Also, there are some preachers who teach false doctrines and heresies. Others mix some truth in with error. We are to be firm and take a strong stand against such deception. We need a Biblical balance of God’s law and grace. It is grace that empowers us to live a Spirit-filled life. It is grace that enables us to be free from the law of sin and death.

For us to understand and apply the foundation doctrine of righteousness and victory we have by faith in Jesus Christ, we can learn much from the writings of the Apostle Paul given under inspiration by the Holy Spirit, such as the book of Romans and the book of Galatians, among other epistles. We can see Paul, who once persecuted the church, now preaches the gospel of grace. We see Paul reproving Peter, a fellow apostle, for reverting to law. We also see Paul’s warnings against the works of the flesh and lasciviousness. These are examples and exhortations for us, to walk in true liberty of God’s grace, in order to avoid the dangers of legalism and licentiousness. We need a revelation of the New Covenant. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13) and the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19), in order for us to experience His favour and freedom. We are neither to be legalistic nor licentious, but to stand fast in the liberty of Jesus Christ, on the basis of what He has done on the cross, to set us free from the bondage of the law and the arm of flesh.

One of the questions Christians ask is, “Since we are under grace, should we keep the law?” In the King James Version of the Bible, the word “law” appears over 500 times. In some other translations, it occur more than 600 times. In the Bible, the word, “law” has a number of definitions and applications.

In the Old Testament, the word “law” primarily and most prominently refers to the Law of God given to Moses comprising three parts, namely, moral, ceremonial and civil, with the moral part which includes the Ten Commandments.

In the New Testament, the word “law” is used in other contexts and meanings. For example, in Romans 7:22 to 25, we see the various “laws” that are being alluded to, "For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." Then in Romans 8:2, we read, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." In these verses, we see that there are:

· The law of God,

· The law of my mind,

· The law of sin and death, and

· The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.

Furthermore, there are other types of spiritual laws or principles, if you will, such as:

· The law of faith mentioned in Romans 3:27,

· The law of sowing and reaping in Galatians 6:7,

· The law of Christ in Galatians 6:2, and

· The law of liberty in James 1:25.

These applications give us the blueprint for living a victorious Christian life.

Alright, to answer the question, “Since Christians are under grace, should we keep the law?” The issue of law and grace has been a contentious subject in the church. Now, when Jesus came, we no longer have to observe the ceremonial laws, rituals and sacrifices of the Old Testament. As far as salvation and sanctification are concerned, it is all by grace, not of works or law. We cannot mix law and grace. The law cannot justify and sanctify us. True faith is having a relationship with Jesus, not religion. It is concerned with “being”, not “doing”. However, out of a living relationship with the Lord, we will produce good works and be obedient to moral laws. The love for God is our source and motivation. We have a hunger and thirst for righteousness, to be Christ-like and bear the fruit of the Spirit.

In our fallen world, we are also to respect civil laws, which are necessary to protect the freedom of people and punish offenders. Without law and order, society will be chaotic. As Christians, we keep God’s moral law and commandments not to earn or merit our salvation. Yes, we are saved by grace and delivered from the law, but grace is not lawlessness. It is the love of God shed abroad in our hearts that fulfills the law. We walk in His Word and His ways, to lead Godly lives. Not in the letter of the law, but by grace through faith. Not in our own self-effort and strength, but by the power of the Holy Spirit. External laws and commandments are meant to be a schoolmaster (or, it could also mean, custodian or guardian) to bring us to Jesus Christ. Only Jesus has ever kept the demands of the law fully and completely. Outward piety cannot remove our sins. It is the work of the Holy Spirit within our hearts and minds, as we put our trust in the Lord and His finished work on the cross, that justifies and sanctifies us.

Today, there’s so much news concerning racism. However, we Christians can be guilty of a number of “ -isms”, namely:

· Legalism

· Asceticism

· Galatianism

· Sectarianism

· Antinomianism

We have already touched on legalism just now, which is attempting to be righteous by observing the law and performing religious works.

Now, closely related to legalism is asceticism, which is the practice of strict self-denial. Now, please do not misunderstand. Denying oneself, and taking up the cross and follow Jesus is Biblical. However, when we reflect a holier-than-thou attitude in the eyes of others, we fall into spiritual pride and self-righteousness.

Next, there is a subtle error that we could be guilty of, which is called Galatianism. This term is derived based on a prevalent situation in the Galatian churches when Paul wrote the epistle then, and still is among segments of the Body of Christ today. In essence, Galatianism means that we are saved by grace, and then kept by law and works. Now, this is subtle and often cloak in spirituality. For example, when we think that it’s our self-effort in more praying, more fasting and more studying of God’s Word that makes us holy, we fall into the deception of Galatianism. Now, all these spiritual disciplines are very important, but they must be based on a loving relationship with the Lord, and not done in a dry, mechanical and fleshly way.

Also, we are to beware of another ‘ -ism’: denominationalism or sectarianism. While it can be a blessing to belong to a particular church, denomination or ministry, when we begin to esteem our group as superior to others in the Body of Christ, it becomes spiritual elitism, which is pride. The spirit of exclusivity must die. We must never boast in our accomplishments or traditions, but we exalt Jesus Christ, the precious Lamb of God! We glory in the cross of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation! (Romans 1:16)

One more “ -ism” that we will cover is a theological word called “antinomianism”, which means, “anti-law” or “against the law”. This is the opposite of legalism. People who promote “antinomianism” teaches that since we are under grace, it does not matter how we live or behave. Often, antinomianism is expressed by being “licentious” and “lascivious”. This is taking the grace of God to extreme. This is false doctrine which will destroy the soul. While we are dead to the law, the true grace of God does not mean that we are to be lawless.

In fact, in the New Covenant, we are to be obedient not just outwardly, but inwardly. We have the indwelling Holy Spirit who empowers us to live under a new law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. You see, we can obey laws outwardly without allowing God to change our hearts inwardly. But God judges the root of our hearts and the fruits of our works. He knows our thoughts, not just the acts. Yes, we are justified and sanctified by faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ for our sin. Keeping the law will not save us. But true grace is not lawless. It is out of the abundance of His law of love in our hearts that we walk in the power of the New Covenant. Praise God!

Now, let’s take a closer look at a few other spiritual laws and principles for the Christian life.

Romans 7:23 speaks of the law of the mind, which is like a battleground. Whether we experience victory or defeat, our mind is a powerful weapon. Thoughts are seeds that grow and produce physical and spiritual harvest, whether good or bad.

Many of us think of “law” in the sense of moral code, especially when we read the Old Testament. Keeping the Mosiac law is good but it cannot save us. It is faith in Jesus Christ and what He did at Calvary that we receive the gift of salvation. In Galatians 5:13, we see the law of liberty and the law of love, even though the term “law” per se is not used, "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another."

Another law is the law of the flesh. One of the most destructive gaints we face in life is lust. If we do not walk in the way of the Spirit, we will become licentious or lascivious, "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which

do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:16-21).

What then can make us free from the acts of the flesh, and the law of sin and death? It is another law, if you will. A more powerful law called the law of the Spirit – "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2). We cannot combine the works of the flesh with the way of the Spirit! We cannot live for God in our own strength. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit! Let’s live and walk in the Spirit!

The cross of Jesus Christ is the foundation of our faith. When we glory in the cross, we experience liberty in Christ Jesus! We are free from the dominion and government of law. We walk in victory and are dead to the world system and the flesh. We overcome legalism, licentiousness and all the other unbiblical errors we have mentioned.

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Tithing is one of the most significant Bible doctrine. Giving to God is an act of worship, an expression of thanksgiving to Him. If we do not tithe, we are in fact, robbing God. This is very serious. Some people claim that tithing is an Old Testament Mosaic system and has been abolished at the cross. That we are now under grace in the new covenant and are not obligated to give. The truth is, tithes and offerings were practiced before the law.

There are three tithes mentioned in God’s Word, constituting a total of 23 and one-third percent.

The first tithe of 10 percent was given physically to the Levites, who were God’s ministers. The Levites were responsible for the maintenance of the tabernacle. Today, our tithes support those in the five fold ministry.

The second tithe, another 10 percent, was to be set aside for the individual and his household to cover expenses to attend feast days. Today, this second tithe is to be used for travelling expenses to church meetings and conferences.

The third tithe, another 10 percent, was to be given once over three years, for the poor and needy. When translated on a yearly basis, this means three and one-third percent every year.

Some Christians will say that under the New Covenant, we are no longer under any curse. They will quote Galatians 3:13, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: " Whether in the natural or spiritual realms, there are principles that work, such as the law of sowing and reaping. These applications were not, are not, and will not be suspended or superseded. A farmer cannot expect a harvest without sowing seeds. Likewise, spiritually, when we abide in Christ who is the true vine and obey His Word, we will produce much fruit.

Do we realize that in the Word of God, words such as “bless and blessings” appears almost three times more than words like “curse and cursing”. God is a God who wants to bless more than to curse. Praise God! Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Now, under the Old Covenant, the storehouse refers to the Temple. Today, in the New Covenant, we give to the house of God where we are spiritually fed. This can be a local church where we belong to and attend regularly. It can also be ministries that spread the good news, the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are to support evangelistic and missions efforts that fulfill the Great Commission. Sadly, I realize that not every preacher, not every church and not every ministry are proclaiming the true gospel. Believers have been misled by so-called ministers before and are now wary about giving financially. We need to ask these questions:

· Does the minister preach the full counsel of God’s Word under the anointing of the Holy Spirit?

· Are people being saved, healed and baptized in the Holy Spirit?

We need to see not just spiritual gifts in operation but that the preacher and people’s lives also reflect the fruit of the Holy Spirit. When these spiritual characteristics are evident on a minister and a ministry, we are to support in prayer and financial gifts. God wants meat in His house. In the Old Testament, people brought lambs, fruits and other produce to the Temple and support the priesthood. Today, we bring money as tithes and offerings into God’s house. God’s house is both physical and spiritual. Physical in the sense that He can use the building of a local church so that we can come together to worship, pray, fellowship and receive His Word. He can also use a media ministry as a platform to reach out to an audience who might otherwise not step into a church facility. Above all, God’s house is spiritual. This is the crux. He calls men and women, as temple of the Holy Spirit, to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

There is abundant blessings and rewards for those who tithe. God will open the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Not only will we be blessed, but God will rebuke the devourer, Satan, who seeks to steal, kill and destroy us. We will be fruitful in our work, walk in divine health and prosperity. Physically, financially and above all spiritually, we will reap a harvest of abundance. In general, the more people there are in a nation who follow the Lord, the more light there is. Socially, economically, scientifically and technologically, the country will shine. Other nations will call her blessed.

Tithes and offerings are pictures and types of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. If God the Father gave His Son as a sacrifice for our sin, we cannot outgive God. Salvation is God’s gift to us. Jesus paid the price on the cross of Calvary for our redemption. We can never ever earn salvation through our gifts and offerings. Yet, tithes and offerings are the means to support the work of God. They are acts of obedience and worship to the Lord. We are laying for ourselves treasures in heaven.

We cannot afford not to tithe. We don’t want to rob God, which brings a curse. Instead, we want Him to open the windows of heaven, and pour out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough for us to receive it. The choice is ours. Cursing or blessing. Poverty or prosperity. Barrenness or fruitfulness. Let us obey God, and see Him command supernatural abundance and reap a harvest of rewards in every aspect of our lives, physically, financially and above all, spiritually.

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We are living in a dangerous time, spiritually-speaking. Erroneous beliefs and false doctrines have infiltrated the modern church. There are preachers and teachers who have misrepresented, twisted and perverted the scriptures. We are going to address the dark spiritual conditions that were prevalent not only during the early church age, but even today. We will see that the Bible has a considerable amount of warning about wrong doctrine and direction. However unpleasant and unpopular, they are necessary to confront and correct these errors.

Now, when looking at the subject of this message, you might ask, “Jonathan, what do you mean by having additional or missing pages? My Bible has 66 books, 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament, with a total of 1,189 chapters and 31,102 verses. Nothing more, nothing less."

Now, our position is this, there are preachers who add to, or subtract from the Word of God. They are promoting man-made heresies and even doctrines of devils. Some claim that they receive special revelation beyond what’s found in the Bible. All those who preach these counterfeit beliefs are akin to either adding to or removing pages from the Bible. It is very important who we listen to, the ministry that we sit under. Our eternal soul can be at stake, if we follow false teachings. We want to take a stand against a few false doctrines. The list is not exhaustive but we will mention those that we are more familiar with. In doing so, we are against the teachings, not the personalities. We do not judge the hearts of individuals, but we must test the fruits.

The first error we will touch on is, Cessationism. This is a belief that the gifts of the Spirit, such as tongues, healing and word of wisdom have ceased with the early church, and are no longer in operation today. Worse still, some say that such gifts are from the devil. I realize that there are counterfeit gifts and false manifestations but to say that spiritual gifts have passed away, is incorrect. Churches and denominations that do not allow the exercise of spiritual gifts are short-circuiting the work of God. To be sure, we do not need to be baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues or move in the gifts of the Spirit to be saved, but with due respect and love, you can choose to be a cessationist but I would appeal to you not to ascribe all spiritual gifts as coming from the power of darkness. To do so would come close to grieving and quenching the Holy Spirit.

Another unscriptural doctrine is the Word of Faith. Now, we believe in Biblical faith and positive confession. I have been blessed by some of the teachings on prayer and spiritual gifts coming out from the faith movement. However, some of these preachers and their followers focus on prosperity, that we give in order to get rich. While these preachers become financially wealthier, the average layperson becomes poorer. Now, please don’t misunderstand. God wants to prosper us – spiritually, physically and financially. However, this does not mean that every Christian is a millionaire. Some preachers also minimize the power of the cross, and emphasize on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They say that the cross is a place of defeat while the resurrection is a place of victory. Yes, it is true, according to 1 Corinthians 15:14, that “ …if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.” However, it is on the cross that Jesus was the perfect atoning sacrifice who paid the price for our sin. In 1 Corinthians 1:18, the Apostle Paul declared, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” Then in Galatians 6:14, he said, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” As we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we must also boast in the power of the cross.

Also, one of the most prominent teachings in some church circles today is what is referred to as the Grace Revolution. Yet, there are other Bible teachers who have evaluated this grace message and found it to be unbalanced and extreme. They call it by terms such as hyper-grace, counterfeit grace, cheap grace and greasy grace. Now, to the Grace Revolution preacher’s credit, there are some good seeds of truths being communicated, such as the teachings on the new covenant of grace and the gift of righteousness through the finished work of Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross. This aspect is generally excellent and sound. Regrettably, there are errors in some other areas. For example, this hyper-grace doctrine claims that whenever a Christian sins, he or she does not have to confess the sin and ask God for forgiveness. It also says that the Holy Spirit does not convict believers when they sin. This is a dangerous and diabolical deception. Their interpretation of 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”, is that this verse applies to Gnostic unbelievers, not to Christian believers. This is incorrect. This pertains to both sinners and saints. Of course, as Christians walk in the Spirit, we do not practice habitual and wilful sin. There are verses that affirm the victory we have over sin, such as, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14); “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin [a better interpretation is, does not practice sin habitually]; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (1 John 3:9); and “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not [again, a better understanding is that we do not practice sin habitually]; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not” (1 John 5:18). While we are not to sin habitually and wilfully, we do sin at times. When we sin, we are to confess, and not to ignore. Known sin that are unconfessed is sin unforgiven. To confess is to agree, in this case, with God’s Word. Not to excuse, justify or rationalise the wrong, but with a contrite spirit, to ask God for forgiveness and repent. In our earthly relationships, there are times that we have done wrong against other individuals. We apologise and seek to make it right. How much more do we need to confess and ask God to forgive us when we fail Him.

The Government of Twelve (or G12, in short) is one more church growth method that is unbiblical. The home cell program works like a pyramid scheme. The leaders have strong control over their group members’ lives. While submitting to spiritual elders and leaders is Biblical, the G12 structure has gone too far in promoting group thinking and manipulation. Through encounter retreats, people are involved in activities such as writing out their sins on paper and then throwing them into the fire or stamping their feet on them. Such physical acts might be symbolic, but it is faith in Christ and His shed blood on the cross that we are forgiven and cleansed. For many G12 members, instead of being led by the Holy Spirit, they are overly accountable to their leaders in an unscriptural way.

The Purpose Driven Life is yet another popular church growth model that have mixtures of Christian and worldly philosophies. It is, in the words of Galatians 5:9, "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." In another translation, it means “This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough!” On the surface, the five main purposes expounded on the Purpose Driven Life book appear scriptural, such as:

· Purpose #1: You Were Planned for God's Pleasure, speaking of worship God

· Purpose #2: You Were Formed for God's Family, about belonging to a local church

· Purpose #3: You Were Created to Become Like Christ, our discipleship journey

· Purpose #4: You Were Shaped for Serving God, in ministry

· Purpose #5: You Were Made for a Mission, in fulfilling the Great Commission

However, on a closer look, the author has quoted from various well-known, humanistic individuals in the fields of business, science, politics and religion. While this is not to say that we cannot learn from non-Christians, we have to be very discerning as many of these perspectives and values are athetistic or anti-God.

One other major reason for apostasy in the church is the variety of modern Bible versions that are widely used. Many of them are not word-for-word translations, but paraphrase. The more accurate translations I would recommend are the King James Version, the New American Standard Bible and to a lesser extent, the New King James Version. Personally, I use the King James Version most of the time. While not a perfect translation, it is very close to the meaning of the original words. The language may be 17th century Elizabethan English but it is really not too difficult to understand. After all, we regularly pick up new terminologies in the news and on social media these days. If we can be savvy about natural facts, how much more should we hunger for God’s eternal truths, by making the effort to read and study from a reliable Bible translation. I exhort you to compare, side by side, the King James Version with these modern translations. You will discover that many present-day versions have either distort, add or omit some words.

Thus far, we have highlighted some of the deceptive doctrines and practices in the church. There are, sadly, other man-made, self-help and seeker-sensitive programs that we have not mentioned in this message. What is important is that we follow the example of the believers in Berea, who check what preachers preach by the Word of God. In Acts 17:11, we see that these believers “ …were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” We need to be Biblically accurate and literate, and not just accept every fad and wind of doctrine that is promoted by preachers, no matter how popular or well-known they are.

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God commanded the prophet Isaiah to cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show the people their sins. It’s not comfortable and popular to address sin, but a true messenger must choose whether to obey God or to please people. The voice like a trumpet is a clarion call. Every God-called man and woman must sound the alarm and speak against sin, without fear or favour. He or she will also guard the faith and address false doctrine. There are seducing spirits and doctrines of devils that lead people astray and even cause them to forsake the Lord. There are religious spirit that add to, or subtract from the Word of God. There are also preachers who preach truth mixed with errors. Today, in the church world, we see Christians following preachers based on their personalities and charisma, rather than because they are preaching the truth of God’s Word.

Outwardly, it is possible to be religious, ritualistic and self-righteous. To show hypocritical profession, pretence and practices without true faith and relationship with God. Such acts of false piety describes God’s people not just during the time of the prophet Isaiah, but also throughout history and even today. It is sad and tragic to have an appearance of godliness, but without the power. We need the power of the Word and Spirit! We need to get back to the cross of Jesus Christ, the cornerstone and foundation of our faith. Not running after some latest fads and formulas, but standing on the time and tested truth of the Scripture and the anointing of the Holy Spirit! True spirituality is not just fulfilling outward observances and obligations, but having a transformation of the heart and spirit. Whether it’s fasting, praying or Bible reading, we must not just go through the motions, we need an impartation and revelation of the Holy Spirit in the inner man. We are to walk in the power of the New Covenant. We cannot keep the law in our own strength, but by the power of the Holy Spirit. Religion is legalistic and oppressive. By this, we speak of man-made rules and regulations. We can go through ceremonies and formalities such as prayer and fasting and yet, our hearts are far from God. The true measure of our spiritual life is not just who we are publicly, but also privately. We must be consistent in our behaviour whether people are watching us or not. Many people are concerned with their reputation, but it is character that truly matters. We can appear to be holy when we are in church or when we are engaging in spiritual activities in public, but it is who we are in private and when we are alone that God sees our true self. God desires truth in the hidden and inward parts of our lives, as much as He wants us to influence and inspire others around us.

To love God is to obey Him fully, not just in part. Worship is not just paying lip service, but that our heart, soul and mind is filled with His Spirit and truth. We are to help the hungry, homeless and needy. When we reach out to people with physical and spiritual needs, we will experience God’s blessings and promises, in spirit, soul and body. When we obey God and help others, God rewards us abundantly. I know we are to seek and worship God for who He is, and not so much for what He can do for us. Nevertheless, God still blesses those who love Him! He will guide us, satisfy us and sustain us!

God gave the prophet Isaiah an important mission, which was to: · Rebuild the old waste places · Raise up the foundations · Repair the breach · Restore the paths

During the time of Isaiah, Judah rebelled against God and abandoned His Word. The moral condition of Judah was defiled and desecrated, like a wasteland. Today, parts of the church is in the wilderness, spiritually-speaking. We have puppet preachers who are more interested in their own popularity, financial livelihood and reputation than concern for the spiritual development of God’s people. They might be better called as spiritual pimps, if you will pardon my expression. They cannot preach the whole counsel of God’s Word for fear of offending those who support financially to their churches and ministries. Woe unto these preachers for misleading their flock. How we need God to raise up more preachers to stand up and deliver the Word with no uncertain sound – “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry” (2 Timothy 4:2-5). There is a call for God’s people to rebuild His house, to be a sanctuary of glory for Him to dwell. Not so much the physical building per se, but where the Holy Spirit can move mightily.

Next, the foundations of many generations will be raised up. To raise the foundation of truth, so that we stand on the solid living rock who will not be shaken. To lift up the name of Jesus, who is the head of the church. In Matthew chapter 16, verses 18 to 19, Jesus declares: “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:18-19). From generation to generation, the Great Commission of Jesus Christ is being fulfilled. We must continue to champion and proclaim the glorious gospel. In Matthew chapter 28, verses 19 to 20, Jesus commands us to: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Then, we are to repair the breach. Just as there was a breach (meaning a gap or crack) in Judah when God’s people were unfaithful, there is a breach in the church today when we mix law and grace, when we add or subtract to the finished work of Christ on the cross. This is committing spiritual adultery! We need to repent and repair the breach. We need to get back to the Word of God and cry for a fresh move of the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts!

Also, we are to restore the paths of righteousness. There is still a way of holiness that we are to walk on. Isaiah chapter 35, verse 8 says: “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 it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein” (Isaiah 35:8).

Under the Mosaic law, Israel was to observe the Sabbath, which is Saturday. It was a day of rest. Today, under the new Covenant, Jesus is our Sabbath rest. When we delight ourselves in the Lord, the Christian life will no longer be a duty. We must take time to be refreshed and renewed in His Presence, which is important for both our spiritual and physical health. We need the rain of the Holy Spirit to flood our soul.

Spiritually-speaking, do we see the old waste places around us? Are there people we know whose lives have been ruined by sin? Through the power of the Holy Spirit, you and I must do all we can to repair the breach and restore the paths to dwell in.

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This Psalm of David, the 103rd Psalm, is full of thanksgiving to God. The word “bless” means to kneel, to adore. Often, we think of “blessings” flowing from a higher authority or sovereign power to the subjects. But it can also come from a subordinate to a superior being. In this Psalm, it is humankind worshipping and giving thanks to the Almighty God.

David was praising and blessing the Lord for His salvation and redemption. Even though Jesus Christ has yet to come through David’s lineage when this Psalm was written, David expressed his praise and worship to the coming Promised Messiah!

The benefits of the Lord are manifold – salvation, healing, deliverance, gifts of the Holy Spirit, and every spiritual and physical provision. Through the cross, Jesus is the source of all blessings and benefits we need in life.

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This is a Psalm of David, which is also known as the Shepherd’s Psalm. David was a shepherd who became king. He wrote this Psalm from the perspective of his own life.

Yet, this Psalm also refers to Jesus Christ the Messiah, the anointed one. Even though Jesus came through David’s lineage and He is called the Son of David, our Lord and Saviour was born of a virgin, supernaturally conceived of the Holy Spirit.

While Jesus is our Great Shepherd, there was a point in time that He was also a sheep. When Jesus was on earth, Jehovah God the Father was His Shepherd. In Isaiah 53:7, it says, “He [referring to Jesus] was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.”

On the cross, Jesus is the lamb and the sheep, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

For Christians, as we follow Jesus as our good shepherd, we are “the sheep of his pasture” (Psalm 100:3).

This entire Psalm reflects the names and nature of Jehovah God. Thank God! Jesus is the Shepherd who cares and watches over us by night and by day!

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The messages in the book of Isaiah has dual and even multiple applications. Firstly, the prophet Isaiah addressed God’s Word to the people of his day in the Kingdom of Judah and the nearby countries. Secondly, he prophesised the first advent of the Messiah and His ministry. And thirdly, there are also passages that speaks of the second coming of the Lord.

With this understanding, there are prophecies in the book of Isaiah that have been fulfilled, and yet other parts that will be fully realized in the last days, the second coming of Christ, the Millennium, the new heaven and new earth.

As a person, he was full of conviction and yet, filled with compassion. He was a bold and uncompromising prophet. Jesus Himself, in Luke 4:18 referred to the words of Isaiah 61:1 when He said, the Spirit of the Lord is upon me. We need the Spirit of the Lord in our life and ministry, as we follow our Master.

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The seventy-third Psalm, written by Asaph, a worship leader, compares and contrasts the prosperity of the wicked with those who put their trust in God.

While the ungodly seems to prosper and the godly suffer in this world, it is the godly who are blessed and rewarded in the end.

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Just as sin causes desolation and destruction to Israel and other civilizations throughout history (and let me quickly say that I love the Jewish people, even though we do not condone or justify any of their wrongdoings), there is also a parallel when it comes to the spiritual condition of the Body of Christ throughout the church age over the last 2,000 years or so, since the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

When we look at church history, we can also see the rise and fall of churches, denominations and ministries. There have been mighty Christian movements that once made great impact on cities, countries and continents that today, are nothing more than monuments.

I say this with grief and sadness. Carnality and worldliness have invaded the church. It is getting to a place where ungodliness is not just creeping, but blatantly sweeping into the church. Regrettably, many ministers and believers are spiritually blind and do not even realize it. Yet, Jesus loves His church and is making an appeal for us to hear His voice and repent.

Often, we can recognize outward sins, such as when a person commits sexual immorality, financial fraudulence or other desires and passions of the flesh. Yet, there are inward sins of the heart and spirit that are accepted and even celebrated by the church. The root problem of spiritual adultery, idolatry and elitism is more subtle and as such, many of us do not know when we have fallen into these spiritual conditions.

Mixing law and grace, adding to or subtracting from the finished work of Christ, is committing spiritual adultery. Spiritually-speaking, many Christians have two husbands – one who is called law, the other grace. While the law was given by God, it is to reveal His standard of righteousness and our utter sinfulness. The law is perfect but due to the fall, we are powerless to keep it fully, no matter how hard we try. Only Jesus Christ fulfilled all the demands of the law. His death on the cross paid the price and penalty of sin, when we place our faith in Him and His atoning sacrifice. Yet, while many believers know that salvation is by grace, we have a tendency to live for God by law and practise sanctification by works. We seek to be holy and keep the commandments by performing some seemingly spiritual acts in order to earn the favour of God or others or even ourselves. For example, spiritual disciplines such as studying the Word, prayer and fasting are important. However, to live a victorious and holy life, it is not by our own might or ability or willpower. It is by surrendering and yielding to the Holy Spirit, on the foundation of Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross. This is the source of spiritual power and grace. The story of Cain and Abel is a lesson for us. Is our offering based on works or faith? What looks good to man is repulsive to God. Man’s way is pride, performance and self-righteousness. God’s way is repentance and faith. Oh, let us repent from spiritual adultery and unfaithfulness. If we are married to Christ, our husband, the epitome of grace, then we must quit flirting with anyone else.

Mixing the ways of the Spirit, the world (system) and the flesh, constitutes spiritual idolatry. The cry of any true spiritual leader and pastor is to develop Christlikeness among the flock of God – for babes in Christ to grow up! Yet, in the context of the Corinthian church, spiritual carnality and childishness was a problem. There were discord and division among them. Instead of looking to Christ, they see themselves as belonging to Paul or Apollos. Now, there is nothing wrong with emulating, honouring and respecting our spiritual leaders. However, if we idolize them, we act not only like heathens, we break the heart of God. Another form of idolatry, which is subtle, is when we place the mechanics of worship over the heart of worship. These days, we have skilled musicians, advanced musical instruments, audio and visual systems. If we are not careful, we become entertained, rather than being dependent on the Holy Spirit in worshipping the true and living God! The blessings of God is primarily for us to advance His Kingdom, to spread the gospel – the good news of Jesus Christ! We need to ask God regarding the church and ministry to support financially and prayerfully. Are souls being saved, healed, delivered and baptized in the Holy Spirit?

Spiritual elitism is another problem in the church. It is the spirit of pride, superiority and exclusivity – when we boast in our church, denomination or ministry, more than giving glory to Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross. If we often use words such as “us and them”, or believe that we have received revelations of the so-called “deep things of God”, we have fallen into the trap of spiritual elitism.

Let us all beware of spiritual adultery, idolatry and elitism! Let us ask the Lord to search our hearts and that we repent from these inward sins of the heart and spirit.

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While Israel has turned her back on God, and rejected Jesus Christ as the Messiah, God still has a plan for Israel in the last days. Despite many Jewish people not acknowledging Jesus Christ as their Saviour, they were chosen for a purpose. The Abrahamic covenant, is that humankind, both Jews and Gentiles, would be blessed.

Now, for those of us who are Gentiles, we are considered pagans, morally and spiritually unclean, uncircumcised in the flesh. Without Christ, we are aliens and strangers, separated from God. Yet, through the blood and the cross of Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles, are reconciled as One New Man.

Who is this New Man? I realize that there are different definitions and interpretations. Some regard it as our corporate identity in Christ, while others say that it refers to an individual, whether as Jew or Gentile. I do not claim to be an expert but I am persuaded that the key is to understand the new covenant of grace. The Abrahamic covenant is great and has its rightful place. Likewise, the Mosaic law served an important purpose in providing the moral standard for knowing right from wrong. Yet, it is who Jesus is and what He did on the cross that completes what the old covenant could only point to.

Yes, as an individual, we are a new creature. At the same time, we are the Body of Christ, where Christ is the head of the church. While there are many members, there is One Body and One Man in Christ. In Christ, the walls between the Jews and Gentiles are broken, and we are reconciled and united with God and with each other. As new creation in Christ, we are One Body, the church, the family of God, we have access by One Spirit unto the Father.

The question is, is the church, whether Jews or Gentiles, One New Man, One Body and One Spirit in Christ? I thank God for Messianic Jews, those who believe in Jesus as the Messiah. I also recognize that there are Gentile Christians who seek to discover and practise elements of Jewish tradition. I do not judge the heart of anyone. However, I want to affirm that our foundation and cornerstone must be on Jesus Christ Himself, not on rites and rituals. Yes, Jesus Christ, as a man was a Jew. He is the son of David and descendants of Abraham.

Now, please don’t misunderstand. I believe God still has a plan for the future of Israel as a nation. There is a divine destiny for the Jewish people. There will be mighty restoration of Israel in the last days!

God’s heart and will is for the salvation of the Jews. We as Christians, especially Gentile believers, must love the Jews like never before. In this day and age where many people around the world hate the Jews, we must stand up and support Israel and the Jewish people. If God can show His grace and mercy to Gentiles, our desire and prayer is that He will ultimately bring Israel back to Him as well.

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In this day and age, more than ever, we need men and women of God in society, in the church and in the family at home, to set forth the standard of moral and spiritual life.

We are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Yet, the world around us is opposed to God’s way. Walking with the Lord is a narrow way. There is a price to pay, and at the end of our life’s journey, a prize to receive. There is a cross to bear, and a crown to gain.

We need men and women of authenticity and integrity, in public and in private. Whether you are a minister in church, an administrator in the workplace, or a father and mother at home, you influence the destiny of lives. The calling of God is for us not just to start well, but to complete our race in victory. We have not yet arrived, but we press on to reach the finished line.

In ministry, there will be hardships and struggles. What are some of the tests we will face? Will they make us or break us? Some of us will experience one area more than others, and vice versa. However, it is how a man or woman of God who perseveres under these testings that will reveal if one is a real servant of Christ.

The areas that will either develop us or destroy us are: • Vision – Are we following God’s vision? • Family – Do we prefer Jesus more than our family? • Worldliness – Are we a friend or foe of the world?

These are tough questions that we must ask God to search our hearts.

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I want to highlight the essence of our spiritual position and posture in Christ, in order to experience victory over the world, the flesh and the Devil. Friends, we need to understand the times we are living in. The church ought to be a beacon of truth and light. Yet, there is so much spiritual apathy and lethargy!

We need the Person and Power of Holy Spirit to awaken us, and make us alive in Christ. We need to come before God with fear and trembling. Today, many churches attempt to amuse and entertain the crowds. Fewer and fewer would preach on repentance and surrender. A true minister must allow the Holy Spirit to have His way, “And when he (referring to the Holy Spirit) is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8). The Holy Spirit will bring conviction of sin. Not to condemn us, but to lead us to repentance. He will reveal the righteousness of Jesus, of who His is and what He did for us on Calvary’s cross. He will warn of judgment, where the prince of this world, Satan, was defeated at Calvary and likewise, those who reject Christ will also be doomed.

The great need of this hour is a revival of the Holy Spirit’s power. When we are ablaze with the Spirit, we will hunger for the Word, which has the power to wash and cleanse us. While there is an abundance of so-called Christian books, music, television and internet today, regrettably, many of them are junk, if you will pardon my expression. There is so much emphasis on prosperity and success, and so little on repentance, surrendering our lives to God and preparing for eternity. Don’t get me wrong. God does bless His children. He blesses us so that we shall be a blessing to others. The greatest blessing is to be His vessel of the Gospel, to share the message of salvation and justification by faith.

The Word of God is under attack today. Often, the assault is not outright, but subtle. The danger is to add to, or subtract from the Word. If we are ignorant, do not search and study the Scriptures diligently, we will be “ …tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Ephesians 4:14). We need to get back to declaring the whole counsel of God’s Word. Not mixtures. Not half-truths and half-falsehood, but that we speak “the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). When we are filled with the Spirit and full of the Word, we will be watchful and sober, spiritually-speaking.

Watch out! Be alert! We should “ …earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Jude 1:3-4). We have a responsibility to guard the truth! Defend the doctrines of our faith! Be ready for the rapture! Watch and pray! At the same time, occupy till He comes! Be in the business of winning souls! The priority of the church is to fulfill the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ! Jesus is coming soon! While we are still alive and living today, let us ask God not for temporal earthly treasures, but for eternal treasures!

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Many people think of the cross as a symbol of shame, horror, defeat, foolishness and absurdity. Though Jesus is sinless, He was made a curse for us. He took our place and bore our punishment on Calvary's cross. Yes, it is the preaching of the gospel and the cross that souls can call upon the name of the Lord and be saved. There is power in the gospel message, the logos Word of the mighty cross, where Jesus paid the price for our redemption and salvation. That He saves, heals, delivers, baptizes in the Holy Spirit and is coming again!

There are those who profess to be Christians, having the trappings of Christianity, who are outwardly godly and religious but in reality are apostate, denying and ignoring the power of the cross and the Holy Spirit. False preachers are leading many astray with a different gospel, following after seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. Wake up, Church! Many are claiming to follow the Lord when the truth is, are chasing a counterfeit and corrupted gospel. Yet, there is a remnant in the Church, who knows the voice of the Shepherd, who walks the narrow way, which leads to life. Our victory is standing in the finished work of Christ, what Jesus did on the cross of Calvary and the power of His resurrection! Not in our flesh, not under the law, but by the grace of God that we are justified and sanctified. It is surrendering and yielding to the Holy Spirit that we overcome sin and death. The Holy Spirit is more than a force, more than power, more than energy, more than dynamite. He is a Person, a member of the Godhead. Just as the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit is a real Person. He dwells within the hearts and lives of those who walk after Him.

The cross of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone and foundation of our faith. Any message that does not have the cross and the blood of Jesus is perverted. There is a true gospel, and a false gospel. A false gospel is full of pride and self-righteousness, full of law, religion and good works. Such a gospel cannot save. Such a gospel is accursed. What then, is the true gospel? It is the power of the cross, the gospel of grace, the good news of the new covenant - that Jesus saves, heals, delivers, baptizes in the Holy Spirit and is coming again! It is the revelation of Jesus Christ, of Him crucified and resurrected. It is the gospel that breaks bondages, heals the broken in heart, spirit, soul and body.

Are you a part of the cross power generation? Tell others who Jesus is, and what He has done for you. We want to bring our loved ones and friends, as many people as possible, to experience the good news and know the Lord too. Let's reach out to others in our generation and from all backgrounds.

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Spiritual leadership is not just a job, not just a career, but a high calling from God. Our talents, time and treasures, our very life, belong to the Lord!

We are first and foremost sons and daughters of God. Our primary position and status is being God's children, heirs of God. Our greatest purpose and pursuit is Christlikeness. We are to abide in Him, the vine. We are His friends and also, His servants. We are His friends, if we obey Him. We are His servants not because we have to, but because we want to. Out of the abundance and overflow of His love for us, where He laid down His life for us, we choose to love and serve Him and others. In the world, the greater the position one holds, the greater the authority. In the Kingdom of God, greatness comes from serving others. The purpose of our gifts and callings is for the perfecting of the saints, equip them for service, for the work of the ministry, to champion and proclaim the Gospel message to the world - the good news that Jesus saves, heals, delivers, baptizes in the Holy Spirit and is coming again!

As shepherds, we are to build up believers in the Word - feed them with spiritual milk and solid meat, so that they grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord. We are to speak the truth in love, to teach sound doctrine, reproof, correct and instruct in righteousness.

As God's stewards, we are called to be faithful. We must multiply our God-given gifts and talents for His glory, and not hide or bury them. While pride can destroy our life and ministry, false humility shows a lack of dedication and diligence for the Lord's service. In the Kingdom of God, there are those who attempt to do that which the Lord has not called them to do, and others who do nothing at all! We will give an account of how we use our talents, time and treasures at the judgment seat of Christ.

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In the Kingdom of God, there are principles we can apply when it comes to leadership. First of all, we must know our gifts and callings to be effective and successful in ministry, not to blindly copy some concepts and formulas of other churches and ministries. There are general callings for all believers but there are specific roles and functions entrusted only to some in the Church.

For example, the primary call for all believers is to “stand in the gap”: to intercede and evangelize to our unsaved friends and loved ones. While we are all called to be witnesses unto Christ, not every one of us is called to stand in the office of an evangelist as such (according to Ephesians 4:11). And even when one is called to be an evangelist, he needs to know when and where to go to hold crusades, and whether or not God has specially instructed him to also preach over the media or enter into other vehicles of outreach. The sphere of influence of one evangelist will usually be different from another. It is not a question of which evangelist is more important, but how one is exercising faith and faithfulness in the area of responsibility and the place of ministry where God leads. This same principle of faith and faithfulness can also be applied to any other ministry gifts and callings God has entrusted us.

Some of you listening to me might or might not be called to be an evangelist or another office in the “fivefold” ministry, but you can still be effective and fruitful in serving the Lord in a vital supportive role. All too often, Christians want to fulfill a particular ministry or office they like when God has never called them in the first place. However, as God calls you into a ministry, you will have the inward witness in your spirit and the anointing to carry out the tasks that come with it. People can confirm your ministry but God alone chooses your role in the Body of Christ.

God is not impressed with people having offices, positions and titles for self-glory but He is looking for those who will build up the corporate Body of Christ. The ultimate aim is not to build our own kingdoms, enterprises or empires, but to empower the local church and evangelize our communities for Christ.

We need to discern and distinguish whether it is a general responsibility or a specific commission. We must neither underestimate nor overestimate ourselves. We must know the times and seasons of the Holy Spirit. We must know when to enter an area of ministry, and when to exit. We must know when to move in, when to move on. The true foundation and cornerstone for spiritual success is still the grace and gift of God.

For those of us in ministry and know the voice of our Master, we have the privilege and joy of not only being stewards and servants of Christ, but friends as well. By the grace of God, as our church and ministry grows and expands, we should be fulfilled not because of the success of our efforts, but because we are fulfilling the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ and that many are drawn to follow Him.

John 3:30 says, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” The attitude and cry of John the Baptist must be ours as well. Jesus Christ must be pre-eminent and supreme in our lives and ministries, not our church, our denomination, our organization or our titles. We must hide ourselves behind the cross of Christ!