Monthly Archives: June 2017

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Paul’s Secret on How to Change the World – Part 01

Without a doubt, the apostle Paul was one of the most influential people of world history. His indefatigable energy in evangelism and church planting during the 1st Century AD changed the face of Europe and the world. He was part of the company who ‘turned the world upside down’ (Acts 17:6). He also wrote up to half of the New Testament. Every day of the year for the last 2,000 years, his legacy continues to pay rich dividends to the church and the world.
Born with the Hebrew name Saul in the city of Tarsus, Cilicia in south central Asia Minor (Turkey), he may have been given the Roman name Paul at birth. In the natural, he was a gifted man: multi-lingual, a Roman citizen from birth, from the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. Like Moses and Daniel, Paul had a solid education in classical things and of the empire of the day. Despite his Diaspora-birth, he was fully orientated to Jewish theology and practice as one trained by the respected Rabbi Gamaliel (Acts 5) in Jerusalem. Paul could be forgiven for thinking he was destined for great things.
Yet, Paul’s personal earthly ambitions and strengths evaporate in the light of what God had planned for him. For those who want to make a difference in this world, who are more interested in being significant than merely successful, and want to leave a legacy that blesses the world, then Paul is your role-model.
How did Paul succeed in changing the world? His method is more valuable than the multi-billion dollar 11 herbs and spices KFC recipe. Unlike KFC’s recipe, which is a secret, Paul’s ‘recipe’ is open for all to see.
You can find it in the words of Philippians 3:7-12:
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
At first glance, Paul’s principles might appear to be ‘radical discipleship’ but in reality he is offering a blueprint for the normal Christian living. Let’s look at a few of them here.
Principle One: Don’t let your natural gifts get in the way of God’s grace. Be willing to surrender them all to God in order to live by grace and truth (John 1:14,17).
The apostle affirms that his assets – pedigree, education, nationality – were dispensable. In terms of obtaining the ‘excellency of knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord,’ he was willing to ‘lose’ his assets and counts them a dung in order to win Christ.
Is knowing Christ of far greater value than your natural gifting? Without a doubt! Remember that even gifted people have faults, failings, and deficiencies. When you ‘win Christ,’ He becomes your sufficiency (II Corinthians 3:5). All the potholes in your life are filled by Him, regardless of how numerous and deep they may be. Regarding your gifting, surrender it to Christ. If He chooses, the Lord will return your gift to you, anointed by the Holy Spirit, ‘renewed and improved,’ so that your impact will be far greater than you could imagine.
Another way of looking at this is that Paul became a world changer by letting go of everything – his assets, sin, pride, blindness, everything – in order to be ‘hands’ free’ to take hold of Christ (v. 12).
You cannot change the world until you are willing to be changed yourself. In fact, change is not enough – you should be willing to be transformed. Paul’s principles guarantee that will happen. To be continued.

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

7 Pillars to Understanding the Future: Pillar 05

II Timothy 2:11: If we be dead with him, we shall also live with him.
Of the seven pillars to understanding your God-given future, number five may sound the most bizarre. Yet, it is of the utmost importance if you are going to live victoriously in this world with assurance of the world to come.
From a Biblical, theological view, people are ill-prepared for a God-ordained future. Personal corruption, walking in sync with a fallen dying world, plagued with bad attitudes and actions that condemn, a stubborn persistence at folly, and making foolish and wrong choices, all these things mar our present and jeopardise our future. Our attempts to overcome these deficiencies include good intentions, good ideas, and good works, including ‘good religious’ works. Yet none of these can remove the reproach, stain, stench  or penalty of sin. This does not bode well for the future.
The Fifth Pillar to the Future
How do we overcome these things? Great light is shed from Colossians 3:3-4 (NKJV):
For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Hannah Whitall Smith in her multi-million best-selling classic, The Christian’s Secret to a Happy Life, makes these verses the centrepiece of her entire teaching. Though published in 1870, her practical Bible-based message has blessed many lives for decades.
What do we learn? In order to be future-ready, understand what it means to be simultaneously dead and alive. This truly is the Christian’s secret to a happy, overcoming life.
The Problem
Truth is that all people are already simultaneously ‘dead and alive.’ The problem is that they are dead and alive in the wrong areas. Put simply, most people are ‘alive’ to this lost, dying, and corrupt world and yet they are ‘dead’ to the holy, glorious, and wonderful, and eternal things of God.
As Ephesians 2:1-2 (KJV) states:
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (Emphasis mine).
This means that because of the influence of the world, the devil, and the disobedient spirit, mixed with our carnal nature, sins and trespasses have made us dead to God. This is a serious matter: God is the author of life so to be dead or ‘separated’ from Him means we are truly dead, even if we are breathing in and out. If this situation is not remedied by repentance and faith in the gospel, the eternal prospects are terrifying.
The Solution
In order to be ‘alive’ to God and ‘dead’ to the world – to reverse the common order – we need Jesus Christ and the power of His cross. While the message of a crucified Messiah may appear to be defeated and foolish, the reality is that it is the secret to abundant life These are the words of I Corinthians 1:23-24, the sermon entitled ‘Christ Crucified’ is the power and wisdom of God.
As we say ‘Yes’ to Christ and the gospel, we upload to Jesus our worldliness, sin, and corruption. He nails these things to His cross. Yet that is not all. Jesus downloads His life and righteousness to us. We stand before God innocent of transgression and righteous because of faith. Indeed, it is Jesus’ righteousness, not our own, that gives us the right to boldly approach a holy God (Hebrews 4:16).
Therefore, we become simultaneously ‘dead’ to the world and ‘alive’ to God. The good thing about ‘dead men’ is that they neither sin nor do they fear.
Of course, the world, the devil, and the demons will be ‘hopping mad’ that you defected from their side. They can manipulate people to cause misunderstanding, rejection, and reproach. Yet, remember that ‘dead men’ don’t hear, see or feel anymore. Psalm 38:12-14 (NKJV) says it well:’
Those also who seek my life lay snares for me; those who seek my hurt speak of destruction, and plan deception all the day long.13 But I, like a deaf man, do not hear; And I am like a mute who does not open his mouth. 14 Thus I am like a man who does not hear, And in whose mouth is no response.
This might seem like a ridiculously passive response in the face of aggression, but it contains the spirit of wisdom – be deaf, mute, and, if necessary, blind – to the deceitful and opposing forces of the world. It is also a practical demonstration of the spirit of meekness, which is the only way to inherit the earth (Psalm 37:11; Matthew 5:5).
Pearls of Wisdom from Romans 6
The future-ready principle of ‘dead to the world, alive to God,’ is greatly amplified in Romans Chapter 6. Without exaggeration, this chapter is your ‘Declaration of Independence’ from a sin-dominated ‘self-life.’ Consider the benefits:
•   Dead to sin means you will no longer live in it (v. 2);
•   Water baptism identifies with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ; therefore, you can ‘walk in newness of life’ (vs. 3-4);
•   Identify with Christ’s death and you will also be identified with His resurrection and life (v. 5) – without this there is no God-given future;
•   He that is dead through Christ is freed from sin (v. 7);
•   Dead with Christ means you will also live with Him (v. 8);
•   Practical point: Reckon yourself to be dead indeed to sin but alive to God (v. 11); ‘reckon’ is an accounting term, so budget into your life that you are simultaneously ‘dead and alive;’
•   Yield yourself to God, as one alive from the dead (v. 13); you will serve to whom you yield, whether to sin or God.
•   Sin will not dominate your life because you are under grace and not the law (v. 14);
•   Made free (dead) from sin you became the servant of righteousness (v. 18);
•   Free from sin (dead), servants of God, you have your fruit unto holiness and everlasting life (v. 22);
•   God’s free gift is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (v. 23).
‘Future-ready’ living ultimately is obtained by hearing and doing the Word of the Lord so that you build your life on an unshakeable rock, from which you will never be washed away (Matthew 7:24-25).

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Book of Revival: WHY STUDY II CHRONICLES

Now all theses things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come — I Corinthians 10:11 (NKJV)

He had everything going for him. Solomon, wisest man who ever lived, took the throne of Israel at the apex of its history. Yet, despite all his advantages, the temple that bears his name, the magnificence of his capital at Jerusalem, the fact that he attracted the attention of oriental queens, he failed to live up to the spiritual standard of his father David. His throne was meant to be greater than his father David’s (I Kings 1:37, 47), but he fell short. That is why a ‘greater than Solomon’ came (Matthew 12:42; Luke 11:31). He will also be greater than the temple Solomon built. Someone who is wiser, holier, and faithful to fulfil all God’s will.
II Chronicles is the important story of Israel’s history from wise king Solomon to the benevolent Medo-Persian ruler Cyrus, Israel’s long history is told from the priestly view. Its leadership is assessed by fidelity to God, not economic policy, military prowess, or charismatic presence.
II Chronicles is not just a history book. It is a manual for revival. In the midst of lukewarmness and backsliding also there also comes periods of mass repentance and turning back to God. Revival is where God’s people, in humility and faith, change their wayward ways and return to a whole-hearted commitment to God. As the word ‘revival’ implies, they are coming ‘alive again’ to God. To be revived is to be dead to the world and alive to God. Carnal living is the opposite.
II Chronicles, which is the last book in the Hebrew Bible, ends with the hopeful words in the decree of Cyrus ‘Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.’
We study II Chronicles to hear of God’s perspective of leadership, keys to revival, and despite His people’s unfaithfulness, He proves to be faithful no matter what. It helps us understand that even chosen people need a Saviour, the ‘greater than Solomon.’
HEBREW NAME
Dibere Hayyamim meaning ‘The words or accounts of the days.’ We get the name ‘Chronicles’ from the Latin Vulgate Chronicorum Liber which speak about sacred history of the time of the Judean kings.
AUTHOR
Author is anonymous but most likely candidate is Ezra. Some of the sources include Isaiah, Iddo, Ahijah, Gad, and Nathan the prophet.
PORTRAIT OF CHRIST
Christ is ‘greater than Solomon, greater than the temple (Matthew 12:6; John 2:19 [body is the temple]; Revelation 21:22 no temple because the lamb is the temple), and the root and branch of the indestructible Messianic lineage. The tenacity of this bloodline is all the more remarkable because it is threatened by captivity, battles, murder, and treason.
THEME OF I CHRONICLES
Israel’s history from the time of Solomon, through the Babylonian captivity, and to the time of King Cyrus’ decree for the Jews to return to Jerusalem. The focus is on Judah alone.
KEY VERSES
II Chronicles 7:14 (KJV) f
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
II Chronicles 16:9 (KJV)
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
SUMMARY
II Chronicles tells the history of Israel from Solomon to Cyrus from a priestly point of view. That is why there is emphasis on the temple. Solomon is the last king of the united kingdom. After his time, the nation was divided into two entities: Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Unlike the books of I & II Kings, II Chronicles focuses primarily on Judah.
Every leader is assessed on whether he did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. It did not matter how impressive the king was in the eyes of people; all that matter was his standing with God. From chapters 10-36, 70% of the narrative is devoted to the 8 good Judean kings and the other 30% to the 12 evil ones. As the king went, so did the nation. Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. Judah’s covenant relationship with God is what preserved it through the ups and downs of the ancient Middle East; its survival despite diminutive size and largeness of neighbours has to be considered miraculous. Covenant with God preserves and blesses; violation of the covenant brings judgement and dispersion.
In addition to the leadership inventory and emphasis on revival, II Chronicles speaks of some famous Biblical events, like Solomon’s dedication of the temple (6), the visit of the Queen of Sheba (9), Jehoshaphat’s miraculous victory over 3 armies (20), Hezekiah’s miraculous deliverance from the Assyrian army (32), evil Manasseh chastened by being sent to Babylon (33), good king Josiah slain at Megiddo (35), Jerusalem captured, Solomon’s temple destroyed (36), and Cyrus gives a decree for the Jews to return home (36).
REVIVALS IN II CHRONCILES
Revival: It literally means ‘coming alive again.’ This term applies to God’s people, who are meant to be alive to Him and dead to the world. To be from God’s people and yet alive to the world means one is simultaneously dead to God. This condition is known as ‘back-slidding’ and the only remedy is repentance, faith, and returning to the Lord. This was a constant challenge in Israel’s Biblical history. In II Chronicles there are 5 revivals, as listed below:
1.       Asa (II Chronicles 15);
2.       Jehoshaphat (II Chronicles 20);
3.       Joash (II Chronicles 23-24);
4.       Hezekiah (II Chronicles 29-31);
5.       Josiah (II Chronicles 35).
OUTLINE OF I CHRONICLES
I. Kingdom of United Israel: Solomon Reign (1-9)
    A     Commencement of Reign (1)
    B      The Temple (2-7)
    C      Other works (8-9)
II. Kingdom of Judah: Rehoboam to Ahaz (10-28)
    A     Rehoboam (10-12)
    B      Abijah (13)
    C      Asa (14-16)
    D     Jehoshaphat (17-20)
    E      Jehoram (21)
    F      Ahaziah (22)
    G     Joash (23-24)
    H     Amaziah (25)
    I       Uzziah (26)
    J       Jotham (27)
    K     Ahaz (28)
III. Hezekiah to Babylonian Captivity (29-36)
    A     Hezekiah (29-32)
    B      Manasseh (33)
    C      Josiah (34-35)
    D     End of Kingdom of Judah; Cyrus’ decree (36)