Category Archives: Prophecy

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Seven Pillars to Understanding the Future: Pillar Six




In this important series we have been learning the pillars that help us to make sense of the future. So far, the pillars we learned include:
         




Pillar 01: Bible Prophecy is the key;
Pillar 02: We live in a spiritual world and the challenges, problems and solutions are equally spiritual;
Pillar 03: We have power and victory over the enemy;
Pillar 04: We are called to fearlessness;
Pillar 05: We are simultaneously ‘dead’ and ‘alive;’
Pillar 06: To this we now offer an important sixth pillar: God provides a way of escape. Think of it: the world is in a mess. The problems are of such a nature that they appear to be unsolvable. Ultimately, the only way forward is the ‘God-solution.’ He either will supernaturally clear the way or He will take His people out of the way. God makes a way where they seems to be no way. Isaiah says God makes a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert (Isaiah 43:19).
The testimony of Scripture confirms this. If God does not make a way of escape, then Psalm 91, and other passages and promises, are meaningless. Consider the story of David in I Samuel. Through no fault of his own, his king and father-in-law Saul pursued him with murderous intentions. If he did not have a divinely appointed ‘way of escape,’ he would have been destroyed.
David’s Place of Escape: Adullam
One of those places of escape was the Cave of Adullam (I Samuel 22:1-2). It was either located in the Valley of Elah, west of Bethlehem or in the nearby Judaean wilderness. It was an ideal place: nearby to David’s family but hard to discover and not in the line of fire. David was not the only person to have a fall out with Saul. There were those who were in distress, indebted, and discontented. They had no future with Saul so they decided to hitch their future with David’s. So 400 men gathered there and Adullam became the recruitment ground for David’s mighty men.
Adullam, a centrally located quiet place, provided refuge, rest, refreshment, and recruitment. Here David’s family could meet with him. The refugees were transformed into a fighting fit force. Some of the psalms may have been written here. From Adullam David and the mighty men were launched into their stellar military career.
Consider the great victories that David and his mighty men achieved: They warred and defeated the Philistines, Edomites, Ammonites, and Arameans. Damascus, capital of Syria, was captured by David and he put a garrison there. The rebellions of David’s son Absalom and Sheba the son of Bichri were suppressed. Most significant of all, David and the mighty men had achieved a military victory that eluded Joshua, the judges, and Saul: the conquest of Jerusalem. This Jebusite enclave was converted into a royal city and holy city.
Think about it:all this stemmed from a sojourn to a quiet place, a way of escape, called Adullam. Modern mortals need an Adullam more than ever; consider the paradox that despite so many time-saving devices, we complain about having no time. ‘I’m so busy’ is the constant refrain and, unfortunately, much of the busyness is in vain. Don’t expect any ‘brownie-points’ from the LORD; He is not going to tell anyone, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant, you were so busy!’ It is fruitfulness, not busyness, that wins the prize.
God’s ‘Way of Escape’ in Scripture
Consider other instances were God provides a way of escape:
•      Noah’s Ark (Genesis 6-8): the human race got a fresh start;
•      Jacob’s Peniel (Genesis 32:30): Here Jacob won a wrestling match and became Israel, ‘Prince of God;’
•      Joseph’s Storehouse (Genesis 41:34-36): the chosen family and Egypt were preserved;
•      The Torah’s ‘City of Refuge’ (Numbers 35:9-15): People were protected from the avenger of blood;
•      Ruth’s wings of the Lord (Ruth 2:12): she transferred her trust from the gods of Moab to the God of Israel;
•      Psalmists ‘hiding place’ (Psalm 32:7; 119:114) & ‘secret place’ (Psalm 91:1) refuge,’ ‘fortress’ (Psalm 91:2);
•      Proverbs ‘strong tower’ (Proverbs 18:10): Whoever comes into this tower is kept safe.
•      Psalm 91: Your insurance policy about future protection;
•      Nahum’s refuge 1:7: The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
•      New Testament: Egypt became refuge for Holy Family & the wisemen’s gifts sustained them. God takes care of today, tomorrow, forever;
•      Jesus tells us Luke 21:18 But there shall not an hair of our head perish.
•     The Lord promises a ‘way of escape’ in Luke 21:36: Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
•     To the Philadelphian Church, again Jesus promises protection from the hour of tribulation: Revelation 3:10: Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
The evidence is there for all to see. Now, more than ever, it is time to trust God with all of your heart, all of the time. He will make a way for you.

Next time, we will discover the seventh and final pillar.
Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Jerusalem: A Burdensome Stone – Part 02

Last month, we learned that Jerusalem is the Number One foreign policy issue and will get increasingly more global attention in the days ahead. We also reviewed Jerusalem’s history from the time of its founding 4,000 years ago until the time of Christ. We continue.
David in 1,000 BC made Jerusalem his royal city and the holy city. A millennium later Jerusalem in the 1st Century AD welcomed Jesus of Nazareth on His triumphal entry. They uttered Messianic cries of ‘Hosanna to the Son of David, Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord.’ Yet, less than one week later, this same city turned on Him with fury. He was betrayed, arrested, mocked, condemned, and crucified on a rugged Roman cross. His crime was written on a sign nailed above His head: ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.’ Christ, Son of David, was being crucified because He was a king and Rome would only tolerate ‘kings’ that were propped up by them, including the puppet Herodian dynasty.
Jerusalem Chronology: Decades later in 70 AD, David’s 1,000 year old capital was destroyed by the Romans, Herod’s temple was burned to the ground, and the Jewish people dispersed. From the time of the Roman destruction and the end of Jewish autonomous rule, Jerusalem was occupied by a series of rulers, including:
•    Roman rule (63 BC – 325 AD): In 135 AD, the city of Jerusalem became a heathen Roman city called Aelia Capitolina and remained so until 325 AD;
•    Byzantine Period (325 – 638 AD): This was a period of Roman Christian rule from the capital of Constantinople; the Persians temporarily occupied the city in the 7th Century AD.
•    Arab & Muslim Period (638 – 1099 AD): This was under the Umayyads and Abbasid Islamic empires; the Dome of the Rock and al Aqsa Mosque were built on the Temple Mount late in the 7th century.
•    Crusader Period (1099-1187 AD): The Christian crusaders from Europe conquered the Holy Land in 1099 AD. The Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque became churches during this era; the last crusader kingdom came to an end when Acre fell in 1291;
•   Ayyubid Period (1187-1259 AD): Their greatest leader was Saladin, who retook Jerusalem from the Crusaders in 1187. Also, Jerusalem was temporarily returned to Crusader rule from 1229-1244 AD;
•   Mamluk Period (1259 – 1517 AD). Walls of the city removed and the population declined;
•   Ottoman Turkish Period (1517 – 1917 AD): Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent rebuilt the Old City of Jerusalem’s walls, which are the ones we see today (1538-1541). Apart from that, the city languished for four centuries;
•   British Mandatory Rule (1917 – 1948 AD): The League of Nations, incorporating the November 2, 1917 Balfour Declaration, awarded a mandate in Palestine to the British. It is a modern concept, an ‘occupation with an expiry date,’ to prepare country for independence;
•   Divided city (1948 – 1967 AD): During the first Arab-Israeli war of 1948, known in the Jewish state as the ‘War of Independence,’ Israel captured West Jerusalem and Jordan the Old City, Mount of Olives, and eastern suburbs. The border inside Jerusalem was along the western wall of the Old City (not the Western ‘Wailing’ Wall), scarred with barbed wire, mine fields, and sniper fire. Residents could not cross from one side to the other;
•   Reunification (June 7, 1967): At the height of the Six Day War, the Israel Defence Forces captured the Old City and Mount of Olives and reunited the city. By the end of the month, Israel annexed the eastern sector, declared Jerusalem as its indivisible, united, and eternal capital.
When it came to future peace talks with the Arabs, Israel declared ‘Jerusalem is not negotiable’ and this was its policy for 33 years. In the year 2000, at the Camp David peace summit between Israel’s Ehud Barak and Palestine Authority President Yasser Arafat and hosted by US President Bill Clinton, the status of Jerusalem was put on the negotiation table for the first time. Barak was willing to divide the city if it would lead to permanent peace. Though Arafat rejected Barak’s proposal, from that point onward Jerusalem never left the negotiating table. This move ensured that the nations would become even more involved in the affairs of the holy city than ever before.
Now that international interest is at an all-time high, the nations will discover that Jerusalem is a burdensome stone for all people (Zechariah 12:3). To be continued.
Upcoming ‘Understanding the Times’ Tour: August-September 2017
A Burdensome Stone: Jerusalem and the Middle East in the Age of Trump (updated) will be the topic of the upcoming third annual, Australia-wide ‘Understanding the Times’ speaking tour. Click on to the link below for the schedule.
vision.org.au/events

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)

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

A Prophecy for the Church in Malaysia

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

Jerusalem: A Burdensome Stone Part 01

It has got to be one of the greatest puzzles in foreign policy today. A city of under 1 million people, lacking major roads, waterways, or rivers. In fact, its mountainous terrain makes access a real challenge. It possesses no natural resources though it is well-endowed with religious sites. In other words, it has none of the normal ingredients of greatness. Yet this city commands more global attention than any other.
Its international legal status continues to be in limbo. Though it serves as a capital city, no foreign embassies are found there. Yet, from the highlands of New Guinea to the jungles of the Amazon, the name recognition of this city is universal. It is the subject of frequent United Nations resolutions and causes foreign secretaries of major western countries to have sleepless nights.
The city in question is none other than Jerusalem. What we are going to discover is that the global spotlight will shine more and more brightly in the coming days. It will go from a global ‘concern’ to a global ‘obsession.’ What’s more, this attention was forecast 2,500 years ago in Scripture.
Jerusalem in History: To know the future, it is important to understand the past. And Jerusalem has a very long, rich past: a 4,000 year old history. The first 1,000 years (2000 -1000 BC) it was as a heathen town called ‘Jebus,’ perched on a slope known as Ophel, framed by the western hill (now known as Mount Zion) to the west and the Mount of Olives on the east. Despite its size, it eluded capture and occupation by Joshua, the judges, and even King Saul. It was a foreign enclave among the settled tribes of Israel.
The second 1000 years (around 1000 BC) Jerusalem was captured by Joab and King David’s mighty men (II Samuel 5; I Chronicles 11). In a masterstroke of genius, David took this ‘neutral city’ that belonged to none of the Israelite tribes, and made it his capital and royal city. Once he moved the Ark of God there, Jerusalem became a holy city, known as the ‘City of David, City of God.’
Yet another dimension occurred that would catapult the city into prominence. In II Samuel 7 and I Chronicles 17, God made a covenant (a binding agreement) with David, known as the ‘Davidic Covenant.’ The terms of this theocratic covenant were simple: God would give David a son who would rule on his throne forever. Bonus point: David’s son would simultaneously be God’s Son as well.
This Son would be known as The Messiah, the Anointed One (King of kings, Lord of Lords, Anointed of the anointed), Son of David – Son of God. In Israel’s Old Testament past it had three categories of ‘anointed’ people: prophets, priests, and kings. Messiah, known in Greek as Christ, is the ultimate anointed one. He would be anointed a prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18); anointed a priest like Melchizedek (Psalm 110; Hebrews 7), and anointed a king like David (I Samuel 13:14). As the Gospels and Acts testify, Jesus of Nazareth was anointed with the Holy Spirit and power (Acts 10:38). Jesus Christ was anointed in everything, including His burial. To be continued.
This Jerusalem will be the topic of the upcoming third annual, Australia-wide ‘Understanding the Times’ speaking tour. Click on to the link below for the schedule.
https://vision.org.au/blog/2017/01/31/dr-kameels-back/

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

GOD’S PEACE PROCESS – PART 05

Perfect Peace from a Perfect God
With anxiety and depression on the increase, even in peaceful prosperous nations like Australia, people are spending millions of dollars to find relief. Yet, the best peace, indeed, perfect peace, you can receive for free.
The road to ‘perfect peace’ is found through God’s peace process.
So far, we have learned the following steps to God’s peace process:
1.        Pre-requisite to peace: Make a decision not allow your heart to be troubled or afraid, because Jesus is sending His peace to you (John 14:27).
2.        Peace established: When you say ‘Yes’ to the gospel, you have reconciliation and peace with God (Romans 5:1);
3.        Protective, prevailing peace: God’s peace is like the body guard that keeps your heart and mind safe in Christ (Philippians 4:6-7).
4.        Great peace: As you grow in God’s peace, it will build a protective shield against hurt and offence. When people get offended, they build a ‘Berlin Wall’ around themselves as a prison. With God’s peace, the wall comes crashing down (Psalm 119:165).
As always in God, there is more and more and more. The same applies to his peace process. For in this fifth and final step, you are invited to reach out to God’s ‘perfect peace.’ Once achieved, you will be in an enviable state that cannot be shaken, rocked, dislodged, or distressed.
An example of ‘perfect peace’ is found in Psalm 46:1-3 (KJV):
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah
When you can stay cool, calm and serene while the earth is moving under your feet and mountains are being thrown into the sea, then you have a ‘God-type of peace.’ Since God Himself is a rock, all who build their lives on Him will never be shaken.
So how do we achieve ‘perfect peace?’ The same way that you enter into the heavenly peace process in the first place. By coming unto God and obeying His word.
Regarding perfect peace, we come to Isaiah 26:3-4 (NKJV):
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.4 Trust in the Lord forever, for in YAH(JEHOVAH), the Lord, is everlasting strength.
This passage is a great encouragement during times of waiting, uncertainty, even crisis. So let’s see how to apply in one’s life.
Perfect Peace comes when you focus on God
When a fighter pilot wants to attack an opponent, they take their view-finder, locate the target, ‘lock-in on it,’ and then press the button. This is guaranteed to achieve the objective.
We actually do the same thing with God, though with a different motive and outcome. Cutting out the multi-tasking, multi-minded distractions, we put our sole (and soul) focus on the Lord and keep it there. God is the God of Peace (Romans 15:33; 16:20; Philippians 4:9; I Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:20); and Jesus Christ, God’s Son, is the ‘Prince of Peace’ (Isaiah 9:6). As we single-mindedly focus on the Lord, God downloads all the peace we need!
To fulfil the condition of having your mind stayed on God, it involves a few practical things:
1.       Devotional Bible reading: Read the word as part of your daily quiet time – if you don’t have one, its time to get one. Without ‘quiet time,’ you will not enter into God’s peace process and/or be a fruit-bearing disciple of Christ.
2.       Bible study: Take time – short or long – to learn more of the Word;
3.       Meditation: Joshua 1 and Psalm 1 promise that those who meditate on God’s Word will prosper in everything they do. This means to relax, focus on God’s Word, go over the promised verse again and again, putting an accent mark on different aspects. For example, in our key verse, meditation means we think and/or say aloud softly:
•   You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You;
•   You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You,because he trusts in You;
•   You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You;
•   A focused mind brings perfect peace;
•   Perfect peace comes from trusting God;
•   God keeps (continually) us in perfect peace;
•   Trusting God is the key to perfect peace.
Repeat this process again and again until you are filled with insight, wisdom, and peace.
With so much emphasis from worldly sources about the benefits of meditation, remember that it is a Biblically-endorsed practice provided you are focusing on the Bible and, most importantly, the God of the Bible.
Perfect peace comes from trusting God
Trusting is something even a child can understand. Yet what we all need to understand is that trusting God is a commandment, it is disarmingly simple, the secret of superlative blessing, and it is the source of unshakeable, perfect, and everlasting peace.
The word ‘trust’ is found 134 times in the Authorised Version.[1] It means the following:
1.     To be totally confident in God;
2.     To draw strength from the Almighty;
3.     Seek refuge in God;
4.     Hand over all control to God;
5.     Let God carry you and your burdens. As one Bible teacher put it: ‘Let God do the heavy lifting.’
Neither I nor anyone I know, after having posted a letter in the bright red postbox, tossed and turned at night worrying that their letter would not arrive at its destination. The reason is that we ‘trust’ Australia Post to be reliable and competent enough to deliver our mail, despite the vast distances of this island continent.
The same thing applies to God: Like the letter to the postbox, we commit all our needs, desires, prayer requests, literally everything to the Almighty. Then we trust God to bring it to past. We stop controlling, worrying, or percolating over the issues – it is in God’s hands so we can, like a slow-cooker in the kitchen, ‘set and forget.’
Focus and trust in God will fast-track you from fear and worry to peace and strength. You will live your life in the LORD, the solid rock, and you will be unshakeable.
Enter in now to God’s peace process and you will have what the world doesn’t know and money cannot buy.


[1] “KJV Search Results for “trust”.” Blue Letter Bible. Accessed 8 Jan, 2016. http://www.blueletterbible.orghttps://www.blueletterbible.org/search/search.cfm
Articles, Bible, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

ANOTHER LOOK AT DAVID: WHY STUDY I 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 is one of the most famous and significant figures in the Bible. The covenant God made with him changed history and paved the way for the coming of the Messiah. He set an example of leadership, worship, and service of God. He was not perfect but so dedicated was he to the Lord that he was called the ‘man after God’s own heart’ (Acts 13:22).
The person in question is David, king of Israel. The book of I Chronicles is primarily about him. Out of love for God he wants to build a temple, but God forbade him because he had shed too much blood. So though his son and successor Solomon will be the temple builder, David will do all the planning and preparation necessary to make the temple possible.
Chronicles was written after the Israelites returned to Judah from the Babylonian exile in the 5th Century BC. It serves as a reminder that God is faithful to those who keep His covenant and put all their trust in him.
HEBREW NAME
Dibere Hayyamim meaning ‘The words or accounts of the days.’ We get the word ‘Chronicles’ from the Latin Vulgate Chronicorum Liber which speak about sacred history of the time of the Judean kings.
AUTHOR
Author is anonymous but Ezra is nominated by the Talmud and makes a good candidate. In any case, the author wrote the book at after the Babylonian exile.
PORTRAIT OF CHRIST
Seed of David who will sit on his throne forever. Christ is simultaneously Son of God and Son of David, thanks to the Davidic Covenant (I Chronicles Chapter 17).
THEME OF I CHRONICLERS
I Chronicles is the official priestly-prophetic account of David’s genealogy and reign.
KEY VERSES
I Chronicles 17:11-14:
And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom. 12He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever. 13I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee: 14But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.
I Chronicles 29:11:
Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.
SUMMARY
I and II Chronicles is a single volume in the Hebrew Bible. It speaks of people and events found in II Samuel and I & II Kings.
Here in I Chronicles there is a focus on the royal lineage of David (chapters 1-9), followed by his reign as king of Israel (chapters 10-29). Unlike the other books of Samuel and Kings, there is no mention of Saul’s persecution of David, David’s first 7 years as king in Hebron, the rebellion of Absalom, the wives of David or his adultery with Bathsheba. While Solomon gets credit for building and dedicating the temple, it is David who made it possible with his meticulous preparation.
DISTINCTIVE OF I CHRONICLES
Samuel-Kings                                                                      Chronicles
From Samuel to Cyrus                                                        From Adam to Cyrus
David             at his best and worst                                                David the good king
Kings of Israel & Judah                                                       Kings of Judah alone
Emphasis on all kings: good & evil                                  Emphasis on good Judean kings
Solomon builds the temple                                                            David plans the temple
Response of kings to God’s covenant                               Focuses on faith institutions
OUTLINE OF I CHRONICLES
I.  Royal Lineage of David (1:1-9:44)
A.  Genealogy from Adam to Abraham (1:1-27)
Adam to Noah, Noah to Abraham via the 3 sons of Noah: Ham, Shem, and Japheth
B.  Genealogy from Abraham to Jacob (1:28-54)
The Patriarchs, Esau’s descendants, kings and chiefs of Edom
C.  Genealogy from Jacob to David (2:1-55)
D.  Genealogy from David to the Babylonian Captivity (3:1-24)
E.  Genealogies of the 12 tribes of Israel (4:1-8:40)
12 tribes listed except Dan. Great emphasis on Levites, the lineage of the                   priests, and Aaron.
F.  Genealogy of the returning exiles (9:1-34)
Lists those Israelites who returned to Judah from Babylonian captivity
G.  Genealogy of Saul (9:35-44)
II.  David’s Righteous Reign (10:1-29:30)
A.  David Becomes King (10:1-12:40)
Saul’s death, anointing of David, Jerusalem captured, David’s mighty men.
B.  The Ark of Covenant (13:1-17:27)
                       
After a bad start, David brings the Ark to Jerusalem. God makes a covenant with David.
C.  The Military Victories of David (18:1-20:8)
Victories over the Philistines, Zobah, Ammon, Moab, and Syria.
D.  David’s Preparation for Temple (21:1-27:34)
Disastrous Census and material preparation of the temple.
E.  Final Days of David (28:1-29:30)

Briefs Solomon, prepares for the temple, prayer of thanksgiving, Solomon coronated, and David’s death.
Articles, Bible, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

7 PILLARS TO UNDERSTANDING THE FUTURE: PILLAR Four God Has Called Us to Fearlessness

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go – Joshua 1:9 (NKJV)
Whose playing in the football match this weekend?
Where will we spend our family holiday?
What kind of cuisine shall we have for dinner tonight?
People give attention to short-term issues of today and tomorrow, but seem to give little thought to the long-term future. Why is this the case? There are several reasons, but one of the key explanations is that people think the future will be unpleasant. If people are struggling to balance their budget or handle their teenage children, how can they cope with the notion that the world is being turned on its head – or going out of business altogether.
If we are going to achieve the worthy goal of becoming ‘future ready,’ we need to understand what the future is about. One means is to keep well informed by reliable, truthful, and balanced news sources.
More importantly, it is important to understand Bible prophecy. Yet amazingly, despite talk of ‘wars and rumours of wars,’ ‘antichrist,’ ‘harlot of Babylon,’ ‘seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments,’ there is a very clear prophetic call from God to His people: ‘Fear not.’
God does not want you to be afraid of anything. The phrase ‘fear not’ is used 63 times in the Bible, ‘be not afraid’ 26 times, and the word ‘peace’ 429 times. The only fear you should have is the ‘fear of the Lord’ (Proverbs 9:10) and it has the divine ability to cancel all other fears.
Read Joshua 1:6-9 and amazingly God commands the man Joshua three times to be ‘strong’ and ‘courageous.’ Despite the fact that he stood at the backdoor of Canaan, where seven nations (another name for people groups) awaited Israel’s invasion. Some of these nations had tall giants and even taller walls. Yet God shows the possibility and necessity of being strong and courageous in the face of all challenges.
In the Book of Joshua, the basis of courage and fearlessness comes from three sources:
1.       A Decision to Hear and Obey God’s Command to be Strong and Courageous;
2.       Putting God’s Word in Your Heart;
3.       The Presence of the Lord;
Yes, the challenge of conquering Canaan is softened greatly by making a decision to be strong and courageous. Yes, strength and courage are a decision you make to obey God and He will do the rest.
The command to be ‘strong and courageous’ is not just for Joshua – it applies to every believer. Twice in the psalms God promises the psalmist that if he will be of good courage, God will strength his heart (Psalm 27:14; 31:14). Preceding the command to be courageous is to ‘wait on the Lord.’
Practically speaking, in order to obey the command is to believe it, affirm it, and confess it.
Second point is to put God’s Word in your heart. This comes from devotion, study, and meditation. With the Word in your heart, faith levels arise. You become more aware and attentive to what God says. From the fullness of your heart, you will be strengthened and encouraged to do what God says.
Finally, understand that God’s presence with you and in you will be a source of tremendous courage. The promises of Scripture are clear: God is with His people. He promises to never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus says to His great commission obeying disciples that He will be with them always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).
How can we forget the reality of the Twenty-Third Psalm, Verse 4:
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
David the psalmist had every good reason to fear in the natural. The wilderness where he tended the sheep had wild animals, venomous reptiles, scarcity of water and food, and it was easy to get lost. Yet he says that even in the ‘valley of the shadow of death,’ he will fear not evil. What is the basis of his fearlessness: For you art with me.
When God is with you and for you, no one and nothing can be against you.
It is like the story of the 12 year old student. For him, recess was not a time of fun and games but of torment. Why? Because a 14 year old school yard bully was waiting in the playground to taunt and harass. A dark cloud hung over his head and a knot tightened in his stomach as the bell rang. Yet, the time came when he could go into the playground and the bully could not touch him. Why? Because the student’s 16 year old brother accompanied him there.
If an older brother can keep us safe from schoolyard bullies, how much more will the promised presence of God keep us fearless despite the uncertain and tumultuous times in which we live.
Remember that true courage is not the absence of fear; it is the mastery of fear through the tools God has given us. So if we are to be ‘future-ready,’ hear and respond to God’s wonderful call to fearlessness. It will open all kinds of wonderful doors for you.