Interview with the Devil

“To start with, Satan is not all-powerful, not all-knowing, and not even worth to compare with the almighty God. Satan is not (never!) God’s equal. The Book of Revelation revealed that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, equal with God will defeat Satan permanently! …  By the way, if you love C.S. Lewis’s Screwtape Letters you gonna love Russell Wight’s Interview with the Devil... enjoy reading!” (Richard Angelus)

 ‘News flash: Satan tells the Truth’ The Bible describes Satan as “the father of lies” (John 8:44)… but what would he say if he ever told the truth? Find out here in Russell Wight’s book Interview with the Devil.

This intriguing study of Satan is presented in an easy-to-read fiction format, supposing a journalistic interview in which the devil actually tells it like it is.

Including key scriptures that define Satan’s character and motivations, this book addresses the rebellion in heaven, the attach on Job, the temptation of Jesus, and much more – including what you can do to resist the devil’s attacks!

This month, I’m giving away for FREE ONLY 3 BOOKS of this title. I hope and pray that this book may open your spiritual eye to see the true character of the Devil, the accuser of the brethren – and most importantly, the infinite power of Christ over all His creation. You are welcome to get a copy of this book for yourself by simply do these 2 things:

First, comment below “Rich, give me one copy___(Your name). I eagerly want to read this book because… [Not less than 10 words]”

Then, E-mail me at Motivates4life@hotmail.com or send message to my Facebook account your real name, phone no. and your postal address. Thank you.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Introducing, My First Lady!

Jesus honored his mother, Mary, at all times. He respects his mother when he was young. When he was around 30 years old and actively involved in public ministry, Jesus didn’t allow himself to be pressured by his mother and her demands (see Matthew 12:25-27) – yet he clearly loved and honored her. Even when he was hanged on the cross with real pain he gave attention to her needs, entrusting her to the care of John, his faithful disciple (see John 19:25-27). Thus, as a grown man and woman, you too can honor your mother without allowing her to restrict your work or your movements. Mother is our first lady, she is to be honored.

The Scripture clearly says, “’Honor your father and mother’. This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, ‘things will go well for you, and you will have long life on the earth’” (Ephesians 6:2-3, NLT).



Pic: me, Warren (bro) and
our first lady. We still try our
best to honor her.

As for now, let us only focus on mother (though we must acknowledge that Scripture above says ‘and’ not ‘father or mother’ - both). Whether she is a believer or not is irrelevant here. If we want things to go well for us and have a long life on earth, obey God’s Word and honor our mother. Only “foolish children despite their mother” (Proverbs 15:20) – friends, I want to be wise! You too, right?

If you’re still living at home and under her care, honor your mother by obeying her always as long as it doesn’t violate God’s Word. If you’re still living with her even when you’re not under her care anymore or if you already married and she is weak and dependent with old age, you must honor her all the more. Even if there is little to respect in her character and attitude, you must show due respect to your mother just because she is your mother.

Friends, mother is our first lady, she is to be honored.

Jesus Himself exemplified it. The Bible testified it. God our loving Father confirmed it!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

The Bible's Marvelous Unity

The Bible is a unique book which displays an amazing unity of thought even though it was formed in the midst of great diversity. The Bible was written over 1600 year period by over 40 different authors who came from every walk of life.

Most people who read the Bible in the 21st century rarely stop to think about the 66 different books that compose the sacred Scriptures which we called the Bible today. Because the 66 books fit together so perfectly, it is easy to consider them to be one organic unit.

As I prepared picture graph below, I am amazed by how creative and majesty the God of the Bible is. He wants Himself to be known through His living Word. Friends, how could we ignore such precious Book?!

[Feel free to copy, print and Photostat this picture graph, okay? God bless you]

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Pengalaman Sekarang Berguna untuk Masa akan Datang

“[Tuhan] memilih hamba-Nya, Daud, dan mengambil dia dari padang rumput, dari tempat dia menjaga ternakan, dan menjadikan dia raja Israel untuk mengembalakan umat Allah. Daud menjaga mereka dengan penuh perhatian, dan membimbing mereka dengan kecekapan” (Mazmur 78:70-72, BM).

Apa saja pekerjaan kamu sekarang,
terus bertumbuh dan lakukan yang terbaik

Lakukan yang terbaik dimana saja kamu berada, dan ingat bahawa Allah tidak pernah mensiakan apa-apa. Sebaliknya, Dia menggunakan (atau ‘mengambil’) apa saja yang Dia mahu untuk melakukan kehendak-Nya yang sempurna. Daud pada asalnya ialah hanya seorang gembala. Gembala ialah antara pekerjaan yang paling rendah sekali dalam masyarakat Israel pada masa itu. Potensi untuk seorang gembala menjadi raja Israel adalah sangat tipis! Malah tidak terlintas dalam fikiran langsung!

Namun begitu, (hairannya) Tuhan telah “memilih hamba-Nya, Daud, dan mengambil dia dari padang rumput, dari tempat dia menjaga ternakan, dan menjadikan dia raja Israel untuk mengembalakan umat Allah”. Semua pengalaman yang Daud perolehi semasa dia menjadi gembala sangat berguna bagi dia untuk memimpin umat Allah. Dia memerintah bukannya sebagai seorang yang buas atau gila kuasa, tetapi dengan penuh “perhatian dan kecekapan” seperti seorang gembala.

Seperti Daud, Allah akan menggunakan kamu dalam apa jua perkara dan keadaan yang kamu alami sekarang. Dia akan menggunakan pengalaman kamu ini sebagai persediaan kamu untuk menggenapi rencana-Nya dalam hidup kamu pada masa yang akan datang. Jika kamu merasakan bahawa kamu hanya melakukan perkara yang biasa-biasa saja sekarang, jangan mudah kecewa – teruskan bertumbuh dan terus melayani bersungguh-sungguh. Rasul Paulus menulis kepada jemaah di Filipi: “Aku yakin bahawa Allah, yang sudah memulakan pekerjaan yang baik pada diri kamu, akan meneruskannya sehingga selesai pada Hari Kristus Yesus datang kembali” (Filipi 1:6).

Allah telah “memilih” kamu dan Dia akan “meneruskan [pekerjaan yang baik pada diri kamu] sehingga selesai”. Jika kamu benar-benar ialah anak-anak Allah, ini pasti akan terjadi kepada kamu! Dia memilih Daud, seorang gembala menjadi raja Israel; Dia memilih Saulus, seorang Farisi menjadi Paulus, seorang penginjil Berita Baik tentang Kristus. Kedua-dua mereka melakukan yang terbaik dimana saja mereka berada. Dan apabila Allah memanggil mereka untuk melakukan kehendak-Nya, ternyata, mereka menggunakan pengalaman-pengalaman mereka yang sedia ada untuk melakukan rencana-Nya.

Oleh itu, kawan-kawan, lakukan yang terbaik dimana saja kamu berada,
dan ingat bahawa Allah tidak pernah mensiakan apa-apa.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

9 Rule for Effective Bible Study

“Your word [God’s Word] is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”
(Psalms 119:105, ESV, bracket mine)

After I do a Bible Study with a group of college students (during holiday break), they asked me to summaries on how to do a personal and/or group Bible Study effectively. So the next day I handed them this picture graph and explained briefly on what I mean by each ‘rule’. Feel free to copy, print and Photostat this picture graph, okay? Hope that this simple graph will prove helpful for you… and for your Bible Study group. 

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP. 

God is a Worker

Work is part of God’s plan for our lives, and our work matters to God. In fact, God Himself is a worker. The Scripture recorded, “On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work” (Genesis 2:2, NLT). Until now and for eternity, God will always work. Jesus, the Son of God said, “My Father always working, and so am I” (John 5:17). Our forefather, Adam, whom God made in His own image is designed to be a worker, and even before the Fall Adam was given work responsibility by which he could glorify God. “The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it” (Genesis 2:15).

No doubt after the Fall work became tougher. “By the sweat of your brow”, God said to Adam, “will you have food to eat” (Genesis 3:19). This was to be the lot of Adam and his descendants and – the whole humanity.

But do not be despair, Good News is here! Work can be redeemed in Christ. In Christ, work now becomes a means of glorifying God. And even though we work in a fallen world, work becomes for us a primary outworking of God’s will in our lives. To the Christian slaves in Ephesus (regarding their attitude to their masters), Paul writes this: “Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people” (Ephesians 6:6-7).

Next time… oh wait, tomorrow… No! Today!  Try to see your work in this new godly perspective. Ronald A. Beers advice, “Do your work to the best of your ability as a service to God and others until God opens a door of opportunity for you to move on”. Amen?

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Things I Wish I had Known Before I Was Twenty-One

That a man’s habits are mighty hard to change after he is twenty-one.

That a harvest depends on the seeds sown.

That thing worthwhile requires time, patient and work.

That you cannot get something for nothing.

The value of absolute truthfulness.

The folly of not taking other people’s advice.

That what my mother wanted me to do was right.

That dad wasn’t an old fogey after all.

More of the helpful and inspiring messages of the Bible.

The greatness of the opportunity and joy of serving a fellowman.

That Jesus Christ wants to be my Savior and Friend.

That THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP. is a great principle of life!

[Quoted from The Speaker’s Qoute Book by Roy B. Zuck. Published by Kregel Publications. 1997, 2009. Page 558]

Be a Person of Initiative

To be Christ follower is to be a person of initiative, for God Himself takes initiatives. He was the One who said; “Let there be” and “Let us make” at the beginning of creation in the Book of Genesis. God took the initiative too, in salvation. We were “dead… live in sin… subject to God’s anger” (Ephesians 2:1, 3) but by God’s own initiative, Paul explained why He is willing to saved us;

“God so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead (It is by God’s grace that you have been saved!)” (Ephesians 2:4-5, NLT).

By this great Divine example (and many more throughout the Scripture) – we all – therefore, must learn to take initiative, to make first move to change things, for we are made in God’s image. We should reflect His characters and let His Spirit who lives within us to lead and enable us to do so. Be the first person (if none) who initiates change or take action in your family, church and community wherever whenever there are needs. “Don’t wait for something to turn up”, said one wise man, “Go and turn up something!” Let’s not adapt to status quo; as Christ followers let’s make a change for the better!

God be with you

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Be An Example

Pic taken from: professionalservicesleadership.com

In the Bible, leadership is always exercised by the power of example. Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, Nehemiah, Ezra and all the great leaders in the Scriptures lead the people of God with authority and godly examples. If that doesn’t impress you, think of Jesus, the Son of Man, his’ perfect examples in the Gospel stories. The bottom line is: people will copy what you are and do rather than fall in with what you merely say. People don’t care how much you say until you show how serious your words are by your own examples. That’s why I always remind myself over and over again that; if I want my students to keep on reading, studying and living the Word of God, I myself must lead the example. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 4:20,

“For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power” (ESV)

“For the kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power” (NLT).

“God’s Way is not a matter of mere talk; it’s an empowered life” (The Message)

If you want those you lead to look up to you as a good example, then have a servant’s heart, take responsibility for your actions, speak up when something is wrong, and do not seek for your own glory. In the end, when all have been said and done, leaders who consistently live with kindness, integrity, and a deep love for God will be the most respected and honored. They are the ones who lead by God-given power.

Again, Paul writes, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1, ESV). Friends, can you confidently say this to your family, your juniors at work, your people? Are you worth to imitate? A real leader practices one preaches and preaches only what one practices.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

A Servant's Heart

Jesus washed Peter's feet and others too (John 13)

Taking responsibility and exercise leadership does not mean pushing other people around. Only those who are under authority, those who gladly serve others – are qualified to be in authority. Since the day I know about Fellowship of Evangelical Student (FES) Malaysia during my university time until today as fulltime staff worker, I’m amaze by my leaders who lead under the lordship of Christ are eagerly serving others while at the same time are in authority over us. They serve and lead. What a servant’s heart. What a legacy to follow.

In Matthew 20:25-28, Jesus taught his disciples (and us) about serving others;

“You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (NLT).

Leaders, how great is your serving capacity? (We are all leaders somewhere or another) Look to Jesus. Jesus, the greatest of all men, the ultimate Lord and Savior, gladly washed His disciple’s feet – the most menial task of His earthly day. Leaders, can you stoop to lowly tasks? Can you take orders at work? Do you regard certain jobs as beneath you?

Pray to God for a servant’s heart.
Be a servant-leader.
Look to Jesus.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Let Your Temple be Clean (Fitness and Glooming)

“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?” (1 Corinthians 6:19, NLT)

“Though 1 Corinthian 6:19 here refers mainly to treat our body as sacred unto the Lord and thus by the Spirit’s power avoid sexual immorality, it is also applicable to point out that we need to take care of our physical body care-full-ly” (Richard Angelus)

Until 20^th century the normal demands of everyday living in Malaysia provided most people with adequate physical exercise (my grandma said). Many walked miles to work and used a variety of muscles doing jobs which today require little more effort than the pressing of a button or two. When I was in primary school I and my friends used to walked miles to school and back (Before I owned a bicycle!). Some of you may have experienced this before. Not to over-simplify to say that today we ride in cushioned comfort from one place to another and, in between, let machines do most of our work.

Friends, mind, emotions and spirit function best in healthy body. Since normal living today often fails to keep us physically fit, as responsible stewards for our God-given body we deliberately need to build some kind of exercise into our personal schedule.

Apostle Paul wrote, “…for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come”(1 Timothy 4:8, ESV) Now, if physical exercise was of “some value” in Paul’s time, how much more so today! While our spiritual health is not to be measured in terms of physical health, every one of us who takes the gift of our physical body seriously will organize ourselves some regular exercise. With exception of those whose daily-working nature is mostly physical, we the modern men and women have no excuse!

It goes without saying that smoking (unless you’re in a cold country), excessive alcohol intake, and drug-taking (not for medicine purposes) have absolutely NO place in the life of the people of God. They offer no benefits whatever and are proven dangers to good health. We dare not pollute the temple of the Holy Spirit with such activities. Have a regular exercise – walking, jogging, cycling, playing games etc. – and for your own sake and people around you – clean your room (office and home), brush your teeth, cut your hair smart, cut your nails and take bath regularly!

Friends, proper attention to personal hygiene and good grooming will add the finishing touches of proper self-respect to our God-given body. God desires us to be healthy in spirit, soul and body; “Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again” (1 Thessalonians 5:23, NLT).

Above all, no doubt, godliness is much better than physical training and caring. “Godliness is of value in every way”. Good physical healthy man is not necessary a godly man, but a godly man by all mean want to maintain his physical health because in doing so he can be more productive and better able to exercise his inner godliness outwardly. We must take care of our physical being – is it God-given gift. Do not forsake it!

Friends, God may (by His divine goodness) allow sickness to fall upon us or tragedy happened that may cause us handicap to accomplish His eternal purposes in our life (for purposes we sometime don’t understand) now or in the future, but that is not a valid excuse for us to neglect our body. While we are still able, as humanly as possible – let your Temple be clean.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Heavenly Math

“If you try to understand the Trinity, you will lose your mind.
But if you deny the Trinity, you will lose your soul” (Wilbur Smith)

God makes every effort to reveal His true identity within the pages of the Bible. Yet we can have difficulty understanding what He is telling us. In some places the Bible clearly declares that God is one: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). In other places God speaks of Himself in the plural: “God said, ‘Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us’”, and Jesus calls for the recognition of God as three distinct persons: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

So is God three or is God one? Our earthbound math limits us to one of those two options. But the God who created our world – and mathematics – lives beyond such limitations. That’s why He can describe Himself as both three and one at the same time: 1 + 1 + 1 = 1.

If I were reading any other book, I might quickly dismiss that idea as preposterous. Yet, because I know that “the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom” (1 Corinthians 1:25), I read the Bible in the different way. When I recognize the Bible as God’s own book, I can ponder these equations and nod my head in agreement, marveling at a mystery that exceeds my comprehension*.

*This short article is quoted from Understand Your Bible by John A. Beck. Published by Barbour Publishing, Inc. ©2011. Pg. 30-31.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

FREE BOOKS!

I’m giving away for FREE ONLY 3 BOOKS of “Understand Your Bible” by John A. Beck. This short and simple but informative book is designed to remove obstacles to your understanding, giving you a greater desire for – and success in – daily Bible reading. You are welcome to get a copy of this book for yourself by simply do these 2 things:

1. Comment below “Rich, give me one copy, (Your name). I want to understand the Bible more because……………………. (not more than 10 words).
2. And E-mail me at Motivates4life@hotmail.com or send message to my Facebook your real name, phone no. and your postal address. Thank you.