Romans 2:1-4 God's Kindness Leads To Repentance (#LetterToTheRomans)

Why does God still let the sinners live? Surely it's NOT because they are good but because God IS good. Many of us misunderstand the goodness of God towards the sinners. "God’s kindness [or goodness] is meant to lead you to repentance" (Romans 1:4). The clock is ticking. The offer is now. Today is probably your last breathe. Will you repent? ⏳⌛⚡

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Not to Rest In Our Blessings But In the Blesser Himself

"When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws, and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied... then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery” (Psalms 16:2, NIV) #ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #DontForgetTheBlesser #SpiritualBlessingsAndRedemption

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Energized by Books #1Book1Week August 2020

 

As an introvert (at its core), I'm energized when I read books quietly outside but noisily inside. And because I love to explore various subjects, find new ideas and challenge my beliefs, these lists are very enriching. Let me know if you want to discuss any of these books 😉

 < Blessing Or Curse> One of my favourite Bible teachers Derek Prince, in this book, shows how the forces behind blessings and curses might be at work in our lives. Drawing from God's Word and real-life experiences, he helps us understand the causes of curses and ways of blessing. Read my BOOK REVIEW here: https://www.richardangelus.me/.../blessing-or-curse-you...

 < Difficulties In the Bible > This book examines some of the difficulties surrounding the Bible and explains how we should deal with them when they arise (so, R.A. Torrey didn't deal with every difficulty). Each chapter focuses on a different passage of Scripture and provides an illuminating perspective on the biblical text. Read my BOOK REVIEW here: https://www.richardangelus.me/.../difficulties-in-bible...

 < Hitler > Some people say this is “In the best short biography of Adolf Hitler"; some disagree. N.A. Wilson comes from very narrow angles of what made the 'Fuhrer' the phenomenon he was. His conclusions make fascinating, somewhat controversial, and unique. I appreciate the brevity because I don't want to read a long biography of this man (or some say, animal). Read my BOOK REVIEW here: https://www.richardangelus.me/.../hitler-2012-by-n-wilson...

 < Rich Malaysia, Poor Malaysians > This statement says it all: "Malaysia is blessed with abundant natural resources, petroleum being the most precious. With income per capita of about US$9,970 and Petronas continuously providing an onerously generous 40 percent to government revenues, Malaysia has all the essential ingredients to flourish." But why? Oh why rich Malaysia, but poor Malaysians* still? Read my BOOK REVIEW here: https://www.richardangelus.me/.../rich-malaysia-poor...

 < The Art of Thinking Clearly > If you love reading about psychology and human behaviour like I do, this book is essential. It is about cognitive biases, namely, systematic errors in thinking that occurs when people are processing and interpreting information in the world around them and affects the decisions and judgments that they make. Read my BOOK REVIEW here: https://www.richardangelus.me/.../the-art-of-thinking...

 #ServeToLead #1Book1Week #LeadersAreLeaders #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain #Theology #Hermeneutic #Biography #Politics #Thinking

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Blessing or Curse: You Can Choose (2006) by Derek Prince, Book Review

Blessing or Curse: You Can Choose (2006) by Derek Prince

Last week I didn't post anything on my social media, so I have lots of time (and works too, but I'm able to manage my work very well) to read books. I finished two books. One by N. A. Wilson on the life of Adolf Hitler and this book. Now can you see how much time we wasted on social media weekly? Monthly? Yearly? Except for WhatsApps, I don't even have active personal social media accounts! You can be a reader - all of us can - if only you reduce your idle time on social media. Join my #SocialMediaSabbath every week. To know more, visit LEGASI.tv Instagram.

Okay, about this book. If I want to understand the Bible better, I refer to David Pawson; but if I want to learn more about spiritual warfare, I go to Derek Prince (don't be confused with Joseph Prince ya). There are invincible forces influencing our lives today. Some recognize it, some just simply ignorance. "The Bible speaks plainly about these forces," writes Prince, "In fact, it has a great deal to say about them. It calls them respectively blessings and curses." The word “bless” or “blessing” occurs more than 410 times in the Bible; the word "curse" occurs nearly 160 times. Both are absolutely real —so real that our Lord Jesus had to be made a curse so that we might be redeemed from the curse and receive the blessing (read Galatians 3:13).

Prince explains, "Some people are inclined to think that blessings are real but curses are imaginary, or hypothetical. That is an illogical idea. If we consider any pair of opposites, it stands to reason that if one is real, the other must be real. Take day and night, for example. If the day is real, then the night is also real. Heat and cold — if heat is real, then cold is real. Good and evil — if good is real, then evil is real. We cannot accept one and ignore the other. So it is with blessings and curses. Blessings are real, and so are cursed." I think the questions from the back cover are very telling: Are you or your family experiencing repeated sickness or accidents? Do you feel under mental, emotional, or financial pressure much of the time? Are your closest relationships in turmoil? Do you wonder why success comes easily to others but seems to elude you? If you say YES to most of the questions (there are very good questions outline in the book to identify it), probably, you're intentionally or unintentionally, is under a curse.

Don't be discouraged if you think you do. The good news is that God has provided the means to overcome it. From the beginning, God desires for you to receive His blessings and not curses through Jesus Christ, His Son. In my life, relationships and ministry, I sense that something is not right and believe that spiritual warfare and curses were in operations. Only when I acknowledged what's going on, I then bring it in prayer to my Father in heaven. Now I know that I'm free and experience God's blessing in my life. The best is yet to come! I really recommend this book. Or, you can start by watching YouTube video How to Pass from Curse to Blessing by Derek Prince. Would you pray this prayer:

"Lord Jesus Christ, I believe that You are the Son of God and the only way to God; and that You died on the cross for my sins and rose again from the dead. I give up all my rebellion and all my sin, and I submit myself to You as my Lord. I confess all my sins before You and ask for Your forgiveness — especially for any sins that exposed me to a curse. Release me also from the consequences of my ancestors’ sins. By a decision of my will, I forgive all who have harmed me or wronged me — just as I want God to forgive me. In particular, I forgive [say the name of the person]. I renounce all contact with anything occult or satanic — if I have any 'contact objects,' I commit myself to destroy them. I cancel all of Satan’s claims against me. Lord Jesus, I believe that on the cross You took on Yourself every curse that could ever come upon me. So I ask You now to release me from every curse over my life — in Your name, Lord Jesus Christ! By faith, I now receive my release and I thank You for it."

😊⚡✔ #ServeToLead #1Book1Week #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain #LeadersAreReaders #DerekPrince #BlessingsAndCurses #SpiritualWarfare

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Angelus' Quote: Count Your Garden by the Flowers, Never Leaves that Fall

Count your garden by the flowers 🌹 Never leaves that fall

Count your days by the golden hours 🕘 Don't remember clouds at all

Count your nights by stars ⭐ not shadows

Count your years with smiles ☺☺☺ not tears

Count your blessings 😇 not your troubles

Count your age by friends 👭👫👬 not years

(by Unknown) #GrowingLeader

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Lessons of CURSE > BLESS > SAVIOUR I Learned from Luke 1:67-80 (Short Bible Study)

Open Your Bible to Luke 1:67-80 (NLT):

Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy:

“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people. He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David, just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago.

Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us. He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant — the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham. We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live.

“And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.”

John grew up and became strong in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.

Lessons of CURSE > BLESS > SAVIOUR:

#1 From CURSING to BLESSING

#2 From BLESSING to SAVIOUR KING

#3 Before SAVIOUR KING, one must PROCLAIMING!

Want to Watch Previous Videos?

Episode #1: https://youtu.be/PVorOCQqOVM

Episode #2: https://youtu.be/F5Kp-JU-c90

Episode #3: https://youtu.be/1h56S9IGvf0  

Episode #4: https://youtu.be/2fQYRCvIn5k

Episode #5: https://youtu.be/4JsE7rFRCig   

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Angelus' Quote: Serve and You'll Become Rich!

Most of the time, near the elevator (this is for the psychological purpose, I assumed), when you walked at any of the shopping malls, you'll smell delicious cookies. That's Famous Amos cookies! These handmade cookies are expensive but no doubt, superbly delicious! When I read the concise history of Famous Amos at the back of the pack, I was very encouraged (this, I also assumed, is part of the psychological purposes). Here's how the cookies became famous:

"Originally, Wally Amos, a true cookies lover, baked his cookies to share with his friends. Once he perfected the ultimate chocolate chip cookies, he started using them as his calling card and as thank-you gifts. As Wally made his rounds in his entertainment business, more and more of his friends and clients asked for another bag of Wally Amos Cookies. Finally, with the backing of several Hollywood personalities, Wally launched The Famous Amos Company in 1975."

When I read about Wally Amos' story, I remember one of Zig Ziglar's famous quotes (oh, I used to listen to See You at the Top audiobook every day!): "You will get all you want in life, if you help enough people get what they want." That mean, first, you want to serve others! Wally initially baked cookies to share with his friends and clients. He wants to serve them. Soon, people want more of his cookies - he delivered what people want - and so he became the channel of blessing to others and himself (automatically) were blessed. From the desire to serve/share with others, he built his company and inevitably became rich! By serving and giving, he already a rich man in his heart and soul.

Do you want to be rich? (Famous, I'm not sure). Then, first – SERVE.

Instagram ---> Richard_Angelus

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If Your Gift Is Writing (or Whatever Your Gifts Are), Do It to Honor God and to Benefit Others (Read 1 Kings 3:1-15)

So far, King Solomon had carefully lived by God's Wonderful Law and He gave him success. Solomon asked God for wisdom, and with it, God gave him economic prosperity and fame. "[Give] to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil…," (1 Kings 3:9, NKJV) asked Solomon. God was pleased with Solomon's prayer, He replied, "Because of you have asked this thing… for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. And I have also given you what you have not asked…" (1 Kings 3:11-13). Solomon asked for wisdom to lead God's people; God gave him the wisdom to serve others. In short, God had given you gifts, talents, and potentials so that we can use it to do His will. When we do, everyone else benefits.

"I recently flew to St. Louis on a commercial airline," recalled Max Lucado in his book Cure for the Common Life (2005), "The attendant was so grumpy I thought she'd lemons for breakfast. She made her instructions clear: sit down, buckle up, and shut up! I dared not request anything lest she pushes the eject button. Perhaps I caught her on a wrong day, or maybe she caught herself in the wrong career.

Two weeks later I took another flight. This attendant had been imported from heaven. She introduced herself to each passenger, had us greet each other, and then sang a song over the intercom! I had to ask her, ‘Do you like your work?' ‘I love it!' she beamed. ‘For years I taught elementary school and relished each day. But then they promoted me. I went from a class of kids to an office of papers. Miserable! I resigned, took some months to study myself, found this opportunity, and snagged it. Now I can't wait to come to work!'…

"You can do something no one else can do in a fashion no one else can do it. Exploring and extracting your uniqueness excites you, honors God, and expands His Kingdom. So ‘make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that' (Galatians 6:4, The Message). Discover and deploy your knacks," concluded Max. If you were given Solomon's opportunity to ask for anything, what would you choose? Would your requests benefit others if God granted them?

In your prayer, as you about to finished reading this blog post,

Ask God for your heart's desire (I always wanted to inspire others).

Trust in God's generosity to you (He gave me the wisdom to write).

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John C. Maxwell on Leadership #11 Let Failure Point You to Success

Oliver Goldsmith was born the son of a poor preacher in Ireland in the 1700s. Growing up, he wasn’t a great student. In fact, his schoolmaster labeled him a ‘stupid blockhead.’ He did manage to earn a college degree, but he finished at the bottom of his class. He was unsure of what he wanted to do. At first, he tried to become a preacher, but it didn’t suit him, and he was never ordained. Next, he tried law but failed at it. He then settled on medicine, but he was an indifferent doctor and was not passionate about his profession. He was able to hold several posts only temporarily. Goldsmith lived in poverty, was often ill, and once even had to pawn his clothes to buy food.

It looked like he would never find his way. But then he discovered an interest and aptitude for writing and translating. At first, he worked as a Fleet Street reviewer and writer. But then he began to write works that came out of his own interests. He secured his reputation as a novelist with The Vicar of Wakefield, a poet with “The Deserted Village,” and a playwright with She Stoops to Conquer.

My friend Tim Masters says that failure is the productive part of success. It provides the road you don’t have to travel again, the mountain you don’t have to climb again, and the valley you don’t have to cross again. At the time you’re making mistakes, they may not feel like “the kiss of Jesus,” which was Mother Teresa’s term for failures that drive us to God. But if we have the right attitude, they can lead us to what we ought to be doing.

[The Difference Maker: Making Your Attitude Your Greatest Asset (2006) by John C. Maxwell. Published by Thomas Nelson]

Embrace your failures as blessings in disguise.

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Help Child Deal with Divorce #9 Annabel, the Lord Make His Face Shine on You

Dear Annabel,

            Divorce is often compared to death because the grief is similar to what one feels when someone has died. But of course, that statement is over rated. One thing is sure though, it’s okay for you to cry… Crying, as you know, is a natural way to deal with losses. And divorce – the ending of your family as you know it – is a huge loss.

            Cry, I and your aunty are here for you. Crying is not a form of weakness. If you think crying is not cool, then think again. Crying helps you express your emotions and acts as a release valve to let go of the awful sadness and pain that builds up inside you. You will almost always feel better after you have cried. In John 11:35, when our Lord Jesus felt sad about the death of his friend Lazarus, he “wept.” Even Jesus shed tears when He feels sad and angry. Ah, I know, Bel, you may prefer to be alone when you cry… you may feel embarrassed… but don’t be ashamed to cry in front of us or your parents and friends. If they really care about you, it’s a great way to let them know that you need support.

            You will feel better, I promise. It might not happen tomorrow or next week or even next month, but eventually you will become comfortable with your new life as a person with divorced parents. Going through a divorce is like experiencing a bad weather. First you notice black clouds, then the sky gets darker and darker… then rain and strong wind. You’re frightened, and you feel like the whole world is coming apart. Then guess what? Everything will change! The clouds will disappear, the wind dies down, the sky bright and the sun shines again. No matter how bad the storm is, the sun will always shine after it is gone. You’ll be fine. In fact, you’ll be stronger!

Dear child, this is my prayer to you:

“The Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make his face shine on you

and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his face toward you

and give you peace” (Numbers 26:24-26)

love,

Angelus

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Help Child Deal with Divorce #4 Annabel, Nobody Can Make Anybody Love Anybody Else

Dear Annabel,

This is going to sound really awful, but it isn't much you can do to stop your parents from getting a divorce. You have tried, uncle knows about it, to get your parents to love each other again. But the truth is, my dear, nobody can make anybody love anybody else. You don’t have to play-cupid, it is a mythology. I don't want to be sound harsh, you know that your parents have made a decision and it's something you will not able to change no matter how hard you try.

Do you know? Many children who are going through a divorce dream that their parents will get back together – but that very seldom happens. Your parents have made what they believe is the best decision, and by the time they tell you their decision, they've thought about it a lot and have pretty much made up their minds. We who witnessed your parents making decision know that it was a tough decision for them both.

 So, Bel, rather than putting your energy into trying to get your parents to stay together, put your energy into helping yourself stay strong. There is a blessing in this mess. Remember that you once told uncle that you want to make a difference? Well, if you face this difficult moment with a brave heart and faith in God, our Saviour, you someday can help those who will face the issue of divorce like you. You can be their mentor and teacher! :)

Love,

Angelus

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Letters to Little Richard #4 Work Hard as Something Done for the Lord

Dear little Richard,

            In a world where easy-money is promoted online and you can be muscular just by drinking drink in one week without exercise, don’t forget the old way of getting things done: work hard. I mean work hard in your vocation, doing it promptly and doing it well. As the Scriptures say, “Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23).

            Rich, God has created a world in which generally hard work is rewarded and sloppy work is not. Yet sometimes, you may be tempted to seek ease over excellence, or you may be tempted to take shortcuts when God intends that you walk the straight and narrow path. There are times when shortcuts and pragmatic ways are good and harmless – but not always. Work hard is always right and in fact a blessing by itself. “The world does not consider labour a blessing, therefore it flees and hates it,” writes Martin Luther, “but the pious who fear the Lord labour with a great and cheerful heart, for they know God’s command, and they acknowledge His calling.” Be an industrious worker in God’s field in this world “as something done for the Lord.”

            Work hard. Wherever you find yourself – whether at work, home, school, university, or anyplace in between – give it your best. When you do, you will most certainly win the recognition and respect of your peers (either they like you or not). But most importantly, God will bless your efforts and use you in ways that only He can understand. So, my dear brother, do your work with focus and dedication. Ecclesiastes 9:10: “Whatever your hands find to do, do with [all] your strength”….and leave the rest up to God.

Read the Bible, God doesn’t use lazy people you know,

With brotherly love,

Richard

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Young Men, Consider the Ascended Jesus

“[Jesus] left them and was taken up into heaven”

(Luke 24:51, NIV)

The ascension of our Lord directs attention to the fact that He is not only risen, but enthroned. It is that event in which the risen Christ finally and visibly withdrew from His disciples and passed into the heavens – a fitting climax to His life of perfect obedience on earth. His glorious ascension was the necessary and appropriate complement to His resurrection, and the manner in which it took place was consistent with His miraculous life and achievements.

He did not vanish out of sight as He did at Emmaus (Luke 24:31) leaving a question as to whether there might be yet further appearances. He walked away from them, and then He was carried up into heaven, there to sit at the right hand of God. It took place as they were looking on, in broad daylight (Acts 1:9). There was no possibility of mistake. He was really and finally gone.

He ascended bodily, and carried His glorified human body into heaven. He left the disciples, with His hands outstretched in blessing. As soon as His nail-pierced feet left the earth, He commenced His ministry as their Advocate and Intercessor. They exchanged His physical presence for His spiritual omnipresence.

The ascension was an important part of the Lord’s ministry on our behalf. It imparted the assurance that His death was effective and that all God’s claims against sinful men had been met. It evidenced the fact that the problem created by man’s sin had been finally solved. It enabled His disciples to give a satisfying account of the disappearance of Christ’ body from the tomb.

Further, it was the necessary prelude to the coming of the Holy Spirit as promised by the Lord. As the Scriptures says, “the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified” (John 7:39). Now the way was open for the Pentecostal effusion. By the ascension, the local Christ became the universal Christ whose personal presence was mediated by the Holy Spirit.

To Christ, it was the reward of His obedience unto death. “Therefore God exalted Him…” (Philippians 2:9). The ascension reversed man’s verdict on the Son of God. Had the Saviour not ascended, we would be without a representative in heaven, and without the Comforter to lead and guide us on earth. His presence in heaven makes heaven a blessed reality to us. Amen.

[Edited, modified and modernized from Consider Him (1976) by J. Oswald Sanders]

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Young Men, Consider the Hands of Jesus

“He lifted up his hands and blessed them”
(Luke 24:50, NIV)

Like our faces, our hands reveal much to the intelligent observer. How expressive they are – an index to our character and habits. With practiced discipline we can mask our facial expression, but how are we to mask our hands? They tell their own story. They can beckon or repulse. They can caress or kill. They can be inexpressibly tender or diabolically cruel.

What has Scripture to say about the hands of our Lord Jesus Christ? First, that they were human hands (Luke 24:39-40). To the frightened disciples in the upper room, the risen Christ suddenly appeared. Their fears were dispelled when He said to them, “Look at my hands.” The livid nail-marks forever assured them that He was the very same Jesus they had known before His crucifixion.

They were stainless hands. “Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?” asked the Psalmist. “The one who has clean hands and a pure heart” (Psalm 24:3-4). Christ’s hands were never stained by a single sin. They never performed an action contrary to His Father’s will.

They were calloused hands. “How are such mighty works done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter?” (Mark 6:2-3, ESV). He came to earth as a working man and demonstrated the dignity of honest labour. Jesus sweated at a carpenter’s bench, placing Himself on the level of the labourer.

Then they were sympathetic hands. “He reached out his hand and touched the man” (Mark 1:41). Unafraid of contagion, Jesus gave the amazed leper the touch of human compassion he had been denied for so long.

They were wounded hands. “What are these wounds between your hands?” was the probing question of Zechariah 13:6. The reply: “The wounds I was given at the house of my friends.” How eloquent of love and mercy were the prints of the nails.

Then, too, they were powerful hands. His “hand marked off the heavens” (Isaiah 40:12). The limitless oceans lie as a drop in His palm. They were uplifted in blessing (read Luke 24:50). Our last glimpse of the Master before His ascension is with His powerful hands spread in blessing.

They are protecting hands. “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28). How utterly safe we are!

[Edited, modified and modernized from Consider Him (1976) by J. Oswald Sanders]

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Jesus, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful (Mark 10:46-52)

“Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him’”
(Mark 10:46-49, NIV).

What caused our Lord Jesus to turn His attention away from the large crowd to Bartimaeus, the rudely persistent, blind and outcast beggar? I think, when Jesus heard the magic word: Mercy. “Jesus… have mercy on me!” Mercy is compassion or pity that leads a person to provide relief for someone in misery (not simple say “God bless you…” then walk away). A merciful person is one who feels deeply the hurts of others and acts to comfort and relieve those hurts. You see, mercy is a primary nature of God. God said of Himself, “The LORD God, merciful and gracious” (Exodus 34:6); and Moses said, “The LORD your God is a merciful God” (Deuteronomy 4:31). For Jesus, the Son of God, mercy was one of the essential characteristics of His earthly ministry.

Let’s turn to Bartimaeus now. This physically blind beggar actually could spiritually “see” much more than most people. First, he had heard enough about Jesus to correctly identify Him as “Son of David” a title that designated Jesus as the promised Messiah – God come to earth (notice, Jesus doesn’t deny him). Second, he knew enough about the God of his ancestors to know that He is merciful (heart knowledge, not merely head knowledge). And third, he had faith to believe that Jesus was personally interested in him and would heal him.

When Jesus heard Bartimaeus cry for mercy, He asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51). He was merciful and willing to act compassionately to the faithful Bartimaeus. The same quality of mercy that God evidenced in the Old Testament and Jesus demonstrated in the New Testament is available to anyone who sees Jesus through the eyes of faith as Bartimaeus did. Jesus knows where we’re hurting and when we turn to Him with our hurts, He is ready to say, “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus’ mercy turned into miracle because of faith. “Rabbi, I want to see,” Bartimaeus replied. “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road (Mark 10:51-52).

There is no pain, disappointment, confusion, fear or loneliness that Jesus cannot understand. When you come to Him with faith crying, “Jesus, have mercy on me!” He will responds either with a supernatural healing or through the caring of a concerned friend or simply by His presence with you or however – He will respond. Like Bartimaeus, you may feel that you are not very important in God’s sight. But when you come to Jesus with faith and brokenness, you’ll discover that you are of the supreme important to God. You may feel that your hurts are not important to God. You may feel that you don’t have a special place in God’s heart. You may believe that God doesn’t have time to bother with you. But if God’s mercy can reach poor Bartimaeus, think what He has waiting for you when you call on Him!

Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” twice (10:36, 51)

James and John answered: We want authority and power (10:37); they were ask to serve first.

But when Bartimaeus answered: I want to see (10:52); he received his sight immediately!

Jesus is indeed, the most gracious, the most merciful Saviour. Amen.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus wants Us to Live the Life of a Servant, Not a King (Mark 10:35-45)

“Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to [Jesus]. ‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘we want you to do for us whatever we ask.’ ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ he asked. They replied, ‘Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.’ ‘You don’t know what you are asking,’ Jesus said. ‘Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?’ ‘We can,’ they answered”
(Mark 10:35-39, NIV).

As Jesus was leading His disciples toward Jerusalem, two of the disciples – James and John, the sons of Zebedee – let their imaginations run wild. Jesus clearly stated (for the third time!) the destiny awaiting Him at Jerusalem: “The Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise” (Mark 10:33-34). But James and John doesn’t bothered with what Jesus had just said to them. They were imagining an entirely different conclusion: Jesus would overthrow the Roman military establishment in Jerusalem with supernatural power. In their minds, Jesus and His followers would soon rule Jerusalem.

The Zebedee brothers were so confident in their imagination that they decided to apply early for two top parliament seats. “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” They were completely blind to Jesus’ prediction of His coming suffering. Jesus as if saying, “Are you ready to go through everything I go through?” He was thinking of the pain and humiliation of the trial, His flogging and crucifixion. “Oh yes,” they replied confidently. They were thinking of the excitement and glory of being in the positions of importance. Then Jesus looked ahead through the coming years and said, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with” (Mark 10:39). They may thought that Jesus was granting their request but He was referring to the fact that in the future James would be rejected and killed (see Acts 12:2) and John would be rejected and exiled (see Revelations 1:9).

Sad to say, there are many Christians today who think like James and John (including me). They have a distorted picture of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. “What am I going to gain from being a Christian?” they ask. Many of us, like Jesus’ first disciples, have a hard time getting the message: the Christian life is not a smooth-sailing, hassle-free, magic-carpet ride to heaven. We don’t get to live the life of a king (at least not here on earth), we live the life of a servant! Jesus Himself said, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:43-45). Therefore, don’t ask what you can gain from being a Christian [although the Bible assures us that there will be endless rewards and blessings await us], rather, ask, “What I can give as a servant of God?”

The pattern of greatness among God’s children is still the same: Service

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus' Triumphant Entry (the Spirit of Palm Sunday): Either You Praises or Curses Him

“Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me’… The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Hosanna in the highest heaven!’”
(Matthew 21:1-2, 6-9, NIV)

Jesus knew how to get a party started. On that day there were thousands of Jews journeyed to Jerusalem to celebrate their annual Passover festival. Jesus chose that crowded day to enter the city on a donkey. What may seem like an ordinary ride to some people (for an Iban like me, this event is meaningless) was actually a significant fulfilment of a prophecy by the Old Testament prophet, Zechariah, that the Promised One, the Jewish Messiah, would ride into Jerusalem on the back of a young male donkey (read Zechariah 9:9 and Matthew 21:5).

Lining Jesus’ path with clothing and branches was a sign of paying homage to the One they now proclaimed as their God-sent King. Like screaming fans watching a celebrity walk to the red carpet, the Jewish people shouted with joy over Jesus’ arrival. Many considered Him their long-awaited Deliverer who would rebuild Jerusalem and restore the line of King David. They hailed Him as “the Son of David” which He was through the linage of both Joseph and Mary.

But Jesus’ glory ride would soon end (for the people) in tragedy. The crowds would change their praises of him “Hosanna!” to curses “Crucify him!” (Matthew 27:22-23). Why such dramatic changed from “Hosanna” to “Crucify him”? Because the crowds had the wrong expectations of Him. You see, Jesus on His first coming didn’t come to earth for people’s honour, recognition, privilege or title. He said His mission on the previous chapter: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).

This Palm Sunday please be remember that: ‘the triumphant entry’ story is about the King who came as a lowly servant on a donkey, not in royal robes; but on the clothes of the poor and humble. Jesus comes not to conquer by force as earthly kings; but by love, grace, mercy, and His own sacrifice for His people. His is not a kingdom of armies and splendour; but of lowliness and servanthood. He conquers not nations; but hearts and minds. If Jesus has made a triumphal entry into our hearts, He reigns there in peace and love. As Jesus followers, we must exhibit those same qualities – the spirit of Palm Sunday – love, grace, mercy, servanthood and peace. Let the world sees the true King living and reigning in triumph in us. Amen.

If you display love, grace, mercy, servanthood and peace in your lives, you praises Him;
If you display the otherwise, you curses Him

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.