Roaring Lion: Spiritism In Borneo Challenged by the Power of Christ (1968) by Robert Peterson, Book Review

Roaring Lion: Spiritism In Borneo Challenged by the Power of Christ (1968) by Robert Peterson

 
This is an exciting book by Robert Peterson, a missionary in Borneo (particularly in Kalimantan) who has seen the Lord at work in the lives of many Chinese and some Malays who settle there. During this time (and still is), there were many customs and practices common to the animistic tribes of the islands. Spiritism and demon worship occupied a major place in their daily lives. All this while, Satan, that adversary who prowled around like a “roaring lion” (1 Peter 5:8), boldly manifested his unchallenged dominion over them. But that won’t be long, because when Christ’s faithful servants like Robert Peterson went there and preached the gospel of peace, darkness became light and our true King, “the Lion of Judah” (Revelations 5:5), reigned mightily. George M. Steed writes, “We believe it is not just coincidental that when the Lord’s servants commenced openly to challenge the power of darkness and, in the name of our victorious Lord, command the demons to come out of the possessed ones, the gates of hell began to yield and captives were set free.”

Of course, we must not believe there are demons under every bush, but we must not deny the existence and influence of demons in our world today either. The supernatural is natural in the spiritual realm. If you believe in God, then recognizing the reality of Satan and demons shouldn’t be a problem. But the sad fact is that so many Christians have little knowledge of spiritual warfare, or even if they do, they tend to ignore it. Based on my experiences and, more importantly, from the Scripture, we must remember that: “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). As the author puts it, we must know a little better the ‘depths of Satan', and by knowing, we are able to ‘fight the good fight of faith.’

What I like about this book is that Peterson began the story by describing his failures in dealing with demon activities. After many encounters, risks, and mistakes, he started to examine the Scripture about the issue and progressively learned how to deal with it effectively through the power of the Holy Spirit and the living Word of God. The stories he told were very interesting because they reminded me of my own experiences during church mission trips to the interior parts of Sarawak many years ago. Read this book and know that God already gives us the weapons (for example, read Ephesians 6:13–20). The chief among them is that Christ is with and in us. “Many truths in the Word of God are a source of strength in our warfare against Satan, but the realization of the indwelling Christ and a day-by-day acknowledgement, acceptance, and utilization of this truth will set us on the victory road and keep us there,” writes Peterson. “Christ has never been and can never be defeated by Satan.” Amen.

#LeadersAreReaders #RoaringLion #TheLionOfJudah #Satan #JesusChrist #IndwellingChrist #RobertPeterson #BorneoForChrist #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

To read my other book reviews/summaries, CLICK HERE

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

War In Heaven: Taking Your Place In the Epic Battle with Evil (2003, 2015) by Derek Prince, Book Review

War In Heaven: Taking Your Place In the Epic Battle with Evil (2003, Expanded Edition 2015) 

by Derek Prince

First of all, do not be confuse Derek Prince with Joseph Prince, the Singapore megachurch pastor. Peter Derek Vaughan Prince (1915-2003) was a great Bible teacher whose daily radio program, Derek Prince Legacy Radio, is broadcast around the world in various languages even now. The radio existed before the exposure of social media mind you. I see Derek Prince as impactful and effective as David Pawson, another Bible teacher whom I admire so much. Both of them are anointed Bible teachers and have the gift of explaining the Scriptures in a clear, depth, and simple way. You can find their teachings online such as on YouTube, podcast, and their websites. Derek, who was born in India to British parents and died in Jerusalem peacefully, has helped build a foundation of faith in millions of lives including mine. What makes Derek different from other teachers, in my opinion, is that he emphasizes greatly the spiritual sides of the Christian life. He is sound in theology (not that I agree with everything he said or wrote, even in this book) but he sees more than mere theology – the victory of Christ over all things seen and unseen.

In this book, War In Heaven, Derek Prince writes authoritatively about the spiritual warfare (I highly recommend Derek's other book They Shall Expel Demons) that has been going on since soon after the beginning of time, in between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2, where confusion and emptiness enter the world [refer to Chapter 3: A Pre-Adamic World]. According to Derek, when the Devil or Satan, who was formerly known as Lucifer (read Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:12-18) rebels against God for his pride to be equal with God [refer to Chapter 4: Lucifer Challenges God], he and all the fallen angels who are powerless against Him now aim their attacks to us, human beings, who are created in the image of God and His likeness. We are made "only a little lower than the angels" but God "crowned us with glory and honor" and gave us "authority over all things" (Hebrews 2:7-8). We are created to be rulers and to have dominion over all the earth and most importantly to have an intimate fellowship and special relationship with God the Creator [refer to Chapter 5: The Adamic Race: Our Origin and Chapter 6 The Adamic Race: Our Destiny]. But our problem, the big problem is that not only we are attacked by dark forces that are jealous of our future destiny, but we are also tainted by sins that separate us from the holy God. That's when Jesus, the Son of God, came to our rescue [refer to Chapter 11: By the Blood of the Lamb]. "One of the amazing things to me in Scripture," writes Derek, "is how much God concerns Himself with man." I couldn't appreciate the Good News of Jesus Christ and praise God more for His goodness, mercy, and grace. Halleluiah!

Maybe I should explain why the title War In Heaven. Isn't heaven supposed to be peaceful? According to Derek and his simple expositions of the Bible, there are three heavens: 1) Low: the invisible heaven we can see with our eyes; 2) Mid: the mid-heaven, an expanse with different types of beings coming and going; and 3) High: the location of Paradise and the place of God's dwelling – the most sacred place in the universe. So, the war in heaven that Derek writes about is mostly referred to as mid-heaven but also includes low-heaven [refer to Chapter 1: What Is Your Picture of Heaven?]. Derek explains, "Most Christians assume that heaven is a place of unbroken peace and harmony, beauty and worship. That may well be true of the third [high] heaven, but it does not apply to the first and second heavens. Some Scriptures paint a very different picture of what is currently going on in the second heaven. As already stated, it is at times the scene of great conflict between warring angels – some serving God and others serving Satan. It is primarily in the heavenly regions that such conflict takes place. It is here, too, that Satan pours out a stream of slanderous accusations against the Christians on earth who are serving the Lord" [refer to Chapter 2: Life Is a Battle!].

Knowing that the warfare and the battle in heaven are real, what must Christians do? It's no use to be neutral and passive. Either you take a defensive mode and wait for the attack or take a stand in the battle in offensive mode and declare victory in Christ. As Derek said, "The Bible teaches that all Christians must be prepared to encounter conflict and warfare in the spiritual realm." I wish every Christian read this book, especially Christian ministers who are in the midst of God's people's business and are exposed to many spiritual attacks and daily temptations. Here are 5 ways to Engage In the Battle Equipped (these are my takeaways from this book, please read the book for more details, if you can):

#1 Submit Your Life to God Fully. Don't be a half-hearted Christian. Let the dedication of Caleb be ours: "I wholeheartedly followed the LORD my God" (Joshua 14:8). Amid the battle, we must choose sides. If not, we will be squeezed! "The real issue will be this: total submission," declares Derek, "If Almighty God is willing to come into my life, there is only one logical place I can offer Him: total supremacy, complete Lordship. Anything short of this is a sham."

#2 Let Go of Pride, Be Humble. After examining the fall of Satan, Derek concludes, "I believe it is vitally important for all of us to realize that the first sin in the universe was not murder, not adultery, but rather pride." To be prideful is to be like Satan (Isaiah 14:12-15) and thus vulnerable to evil influence. To be humble is to be like Christ (Philippians 2:6-8). Since "self-humbling is an issue of the will, not of the emotions," we need to make a personal decision to humble ourselves before God. Confess our sins of pride, arrogance, and selfishness and repent from all of them. Decide to follow and exemplify Christ and let the Lord change you.

#3 Use God's Word and Intercession Prayer. Ephesians 6:12 says, "We are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies" but evil spiritual beings. Thus, our weapons are not guns and bombs but spiritual weapons given to us by God (there are lists of the armor of God in verses 13 to 17). Two offensive weapons in Ephesians 6 are God's Word "the sword of the Spirit" (v.17) and prayer (v.18-19). Derek on God's Word: "The same respect that we owe to God, we owe to His Word" and on prayer: "For effective prayer, there are two things we need: authority and power" [refer to Chapter 7: One Man and His Prayer]. These weapons at the hand of God's faithful servant will enrich his or her own spiritual life and are effective to fight against the evil ones.

#4 Affirm the Authority of God. In Daniel 10-11, the conflict between Gabriel and the angels opposing him lasted for 21 days. "What weapons did they deploy?" asked Derek. "I cannot find any detailed description in Scripture, but my impression is that God's angels do at least three things: they make proclamations, they offer praise, and they worship" [refer to Chapter 9: Angels at War]. In the mouth of God's servants, the making of positive proclamations is one of the most powerful weapons that He has given to His people. In Jesus' early ministry, He read Isaiah 61:1-2, "The Spirit of the LORD God is upon Me… to proclaim liberty to the captives… to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord…" Proclamation based on God's Word and Spirit-led, together with true praise and worship, is a very powerful combination! I have experienced this power during mission trips and conferences.

#5 Apply the Blood of Jesus. "In [Christ] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7); We are redeemed "with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and spot" (1 Peter 1:18-19); "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:28); "[The] blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). There are dozens other of verses that talk about the effect and power of the blood of Jesus. By His blood, God makes unrighteous people righteous. But Derek says that the blood gives us victory only as we learn to testify about it. The blood becomes effective when we testify about what the blood of Jesus does for us [refer to Chapter 10: Now Salvation Has Come!]. By faith, we testify:

Through the blood of Jesus, I am redeemed out of the hand of the devil.
Through the blood of Jesus, all my sins are forgiven.
Through the blood of Jesus, God's Son is cleansing me, now and continually, from all sin.
Through the blood of Jesus, I am justified, made righteous, just-as-if-I'd never sinned.
Through the blood of Jesus, I am sanctified, made holy, set apart to God.

This book, together with Derek Prince's sermon audios, has opened my eyes again to the world of the unseen, the reality of spiritual warfare, and the power of God available to us (As I read it, I also opened the Bible to check whether the references are accurate or not. This is important). There were times, I confess, when I do the Lord's ministry, I rely too much on my intellect and strength. This book reminds me that I must submit my life and ministry totally to the Lordship of Christ and let the Spirit lead me. Derek ends this book by describing the goal of achieving personal holiness (refer to Chapter 12: What Kind of People?]. God "has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness" (read 2 Peter 1:2-4 for context). "Achieving personal holiness is not something that God will do for us," Derek reminds us, "It is something that God offers us the grace to do for ourselves." Yes, God already provides us – and the church - the grace to win the battle against Satan, but it's up to us to take the Cross, follow Him, and take our place in the battle. God is sovereign, His will be done. His desire will be accomplished. The question is: Do you want to be on the side of victory or remain a victim?

Other related Book Reviews that you might be interested:

1. Deliverance from Evil Spirits: A Practical Manual (1995, 2009) by Francis MacNutt (CLICK HERE)
2. Deliver Us from Evil (1973) by Don Basham (CLICK HERE)

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

 

FB Page: https://facebook.com/LEGASI.tv/

Podcast: https://anchor.fm/LEGASI.tv/

IG: https://instagram.com/legasi.tv/

YouTube: http://bit.ly/LEGASItv

Blog: https://www.richardangelus.me/

Book Review: Sit, Walk, Stand (1957) by Watchman Nee

Sit, Walk, Stand (1957) by Watchman Nee
 Compiled and Edited by Angus I. Kinnear

Nee To-sheng or Watchman Nee (1903-1972) is remembered for his leadership of an indigenous church movement in China, as well as for his books especially The Normal Christian Life, which continue to enrich Christians throughout the world. Beginning in the 1930s, Nee helped establish local churches in China that were independent of foreign missionary organizations and were used to bring many into the Kingdom of God. From these roots sprang many of the house churches that continued to meet after Western missionaries were forced to leave the country during the Cultural Revolution. Arrested in 1952 and found guilty of a large number of false charges, Watchman Nee was imprisoned until his death in 1972. Sit, Walk, Stand was compiled from the spoken ministry of Nee at Foochow during "the spacious days of the evangelistic witness in China just prior to the Japanese war, when the author and his fellow Christians enjoyed a liberty in the service of God that is rare today,” writes Kinnear.

In this small book or rather, in his sermon talks, Nee "expresses [the believers'] triumphant assurance in the finished work of Christ." To show this, Nee summed up the epistle of Ephesians ("the highest spiritual truths concerning the Christian life") into two parts, and three sections as follow:

A) Doctrinal (Chapter 1 to 3)

1. SIT: Our Position in Christ (1:1-3:21)

B) Practical (Chapter 4 to 6)

2. WALK: Our Life in the World (4:1-6:9)

3. STAND: Our Attitude to the Enemy (6:10-24)

In the first section of the letter to the Ephesians, Nee notes the word "sit" (2:6), which is the secret of a true Christian experience. God has made us sit with Christ in the heavenly places and every Christian must begin his or her spiritual life from that place of rest. "Christianity does not begin with walking," writes Nee, "it begins with sitting." He continues, "Most Christians make the mistake of trying to walk in order to be able to sit, but that is a reversal of the true order… Christianity is a queer business! If at the outset we try to do anything, we miss everything. For Christianity begins not with a big DO, but with a big DONE." We are invited at the very outset to sit down and enjoy what God had done for us; not to set out to try and attain it for ourselves. We must start with "sit" and not "walk" or "stand." Walking implies effort, whereas God says that we are saved, not by works, but "by grace… through faith" (Ephesians 2:8).

In the second section, Nee select the word "walk" (4:1) as expressive of our life in the world, which is its subject. We are challenged to display in our Christian walk conduct that is in keeping with our high calling. Nee rightly observes that "too many of us are caught acting as Christians. The life of many Christians today is largely a pretense." So what we should do? He says, "Our life is the life of Christ, mediated in us by the indwelling Holy Spirit himself, and the law of that life is spontaneous. The moment we see that fact we shall end our struggling and cast away our pretense. Nothing is as hurtful to the life of a Christian as acting; nothing so blessed as when our outward efforts cease and our attitudes become natural – when our words, our prayers, our very life, all become a spontaneous and unforced expression of the life within." Though Christian life begins with sitting, sitting is always followed by walking. We found our strength in sitting down, then we must begin to walk. Sitting is our position, while walking is our practice.

And finally in the third section, Nee emphasizes the key to our attitude towards the enemy contained in the one word "stand" (6:11), expressive of our place of triumph at the end. Yes, Christian experience begins with sitting and leads to walking, but it does not end there. Every Christian must also learn to stand. "Each one of us must be prepared for the conflict," encouraged Nee. "We must know how to sit with Christ in heavenly places and we must know how to walk worthy of him down here, but we must also know how to stand before the foe." Who is our archenemy? It is Satan and his fallen angels! Ephesians 6 is Paul's plea for us to stand against them. But we stand not by our own might and determination, we stand "merely on the ground which the Lord Jesus has gained for us." Nee confidence that when our eyes are really opened to see Christ as our victorious Lord, we can stand firm. No doubt!

I breathe "amen" as I finished reading this book; I gave praises to God for these refreshing words; I repositioned myself to sit near to Him. I'm reading Ephesians again in the new light! Dear friends, the Christian life really consists of sitting with Christ, walking by Christ, and standing in Christ. Watchman Nee concludes this precious book this way: "We begin our spiritual life by resting in the finished work of the Lord Jesus. That rest is the source of our strength for a consistent and unfaltering walk in the world. And at the end of a grueling warfare with the hosts of darkness, we are found standing with Him at last in triumphant possession of the field." Unto Him… be the glory… forever. Amen.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

More on Watchman Nee:

1) Secrets of Watchman Nee: His Life, His Teachings, His Influence (2005) by Dana Roberts (click HERE: http://richardangelus.blogspot.com/2017/10/book-review-secrets-of-watchman-nee-his.html)

2) Watchman Nee: Man of Suffering (1998) by Bob Laurent (click HERE: http://richardangelus.blogspot.com/2017/10/book-review-watchman-nee-man-of.html)

Young Men and Women, Consider the Preciousness of Jesus

“Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious…”
(1 Peter 2:7, NKJV)

In his youth of 16-year-old, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, my hero and celebrated preacher, preached his first sermon from this verse. Could he have chosen a verse more wonderful and limitless to a lover of Christ?

Jesus was precious to the Father. “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy,” was the Father’s testimony at Jesus’ baptism (Matthew 3:17). He was inexpressibly dear to His Father. Oswald Sanders writes, “Everything in His walk from Bethlehem to Calvary gave Him infinite delight.” Wow!

Since this is so, it is little wonder that Jesus is precious to the believer. It should be noted that here the word “precious” in New King James Version is a noun, not an adjective. It could be better rendered: “To you who believe, He is the preciousness,” that is, preciousness itself. An adjective can be increase or decrease, but a noun constant. To the believer He is the essence of all preciousness.

All the most precious things are hid in Him – in Him “lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3); and “all the fullness of God in a human body” (Colossians 2:9 or in him dwells all the completeness of the Godhead bodily). We may lose any of earth’s precious things, but we can never lose Jesus, our priceless treasure. Even death serves only to bring Him nearer. He is a jewel of which neither Satan nor Death can rob us. Heat can destroy even a diamond, but the fiercest heat of trial cannot separate the believer from Jesus! He shares our sorrows, lightens our loads, and doubles our joys.

Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith (1 Peter 2:4). He is precious as Saviour. He not only saves us from our sin but shares His own life with us. Should this not make Him inexpressibly precious to us? It is when we are in deepest need that we most appreciate His preciousness. He is the complement to our every need. Charles H. Spurgeon speaks about Jesus’ preciousness in a hymn:

What the hand is to the lute,

What the breath is to the flute,

What is fragrance to the smell,

What the spring is to the well,

What the flower is to the bee,

That is Jesus Christ to me.

What the mother to the child,

What the guide in pathless wild,

What is oil to troubled wave,

What is ransom to the slave,

What is water to the sea,

That is Jesus Christ to me.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Timothy, Disciplined Those Who Made A Thorough Mess of Their Faith (1 Timothy 1:19-20)

“Timothy… fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme”
(1 Timothy 1:18-20, NIV)

To me, the last words of this chapter are sad indeed – a honest reality – and it tell a story which has been repeated over and over again both in the Old Testament and especially in the New Testament: a story of people who were once believe rejecting or putting away or “made a thorough mess of their faith” in Christ (v.19, The Message). How many there have been who have started out well (think of your ex-classmates, campus fellowship friends, church youths and family members) but have gone off from the faith and into doctrinal error and subsequently not only their relationship with God but their whole lives as well can be summed up in one word: “shipwrecked.”

If you’re not familiar with the word “shipwrecked” as I do, simply put, it mean “wandered away from the truth” (see 1 Timothy 2:17). From what I read, it seems that Hymenaeus and Alexander are wilfully turned their back on the “sound doctrine” (1:10) that came to Paul from God. They wilfully rejected their “faith” and ignored “good conscience.” As a result – shipwrecked. Hymenaeus then referred again in 1 Timothy 2:17 and we learn that at least part of his error was in teaching that “the resurrection has already taken place.” This and other errors that we can only speculate led to shipwrecked lives.

And here is a mystery. Paul says that he has delivered or “handed” them “over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.” Honestly, I don’t know for sure what it means. I remember reading 1 Corinthians 5 where Paul instructs the church of Corinth concerning a man who was living in incest to “hand [him] over to Satan”. Same treatment here. And why? “…so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord” (v.5). I don’t believe that this shipwrecked faith will mean that they will lose their salvation and go to hell – maybe or maybe not – for I interprets it as Paul’s direction to Timothy to discipline them severely even excommunication so that they would see their error and will repent. Church discipline, have you heard about it before? You must. And as Christian leader, you must take disciplinary action against those who “blaspheme” God and His name by teaching false doctrines.

Three questions to ponder:

How can you avoid or defend yourself from “shipwreck” of the faith?

Are you and your church equipped with “sound doctrine”?

As leader, do you practice church disciple?

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

God have No Hidden Agendas (Genesis 3:1-6)

“[The serpent] spoke to the Woman: ‘Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?’ The Woman said to the serpent, ‘Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It’s only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, ‘Don’t eat from it; don’t even touch it or you’ll die.’’ The serpent told the Woman, ‘You won’t die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you’ll see what’s really going on. You’ll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil.’ When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it – she’d know everything! – she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate.”

(Genesis 3:1-6, The Message)

The serpent promised Eve new eyes to see what God sees. Adam and Eve got a new perspective after they ate the fruit – yes, they were! – but it wasn’t God’s perspective. The serpent taught them to doubt God’s goodness, to suspect hidden agendas beneath the straightforward commands God gave for their happiness. The serpent taught them, in short, to find misery where God had intended only good from them. For us.

No longer comfortable with their new knowledge and perspective, Adam and Eve hid from God. They believed that the shame they were experiencing must reflect God’s true view of them. The serpent, after all, had told them that eating the forbidden fruit would open their eyes. The terrible irony is that before they ate the fruit, Adam and Eve already had a god-like view of the world they inhabited. The serpent took away the very thing he promised to give.

Since that day in the Garden, our perspective has been shewed. We find it very hard to believe what may be the simplest, most fundamental truth of all: God loves us, and He wants what is best for us. Don’t forget that!

THINK BIG. START SMALL GO DEEP.

Jesus: Master of God's Domain

God hasn’t kept the ending a secret. He wants us to see the big picture. He wants us to know that He wins. And He also wants us to know that the evil we witness on the stage of life is not as mighty as we might think.

Many passages teach these truths, but my favourite is a couple of verses recorded by Luke. Jesus speaks the words on the night before His death. He is in the upper room with His followers. They are shocked to hear His prophecy that one of them will betray the Master. Their defensiveness leads to an argument, and the argument leads to Jesus to exhort them to servanthood.

Then in an abrupt shift, Jesus turns to Simon Peter and makes this intriguing statement: “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren” (Luke 22:31-32, NKJV).

This passage gives us a glimpse into an unseen world. It raises many questions, but it also affords many assurances, the chief of which is the chain of command. God is clearly in control, and the devil is on a short leash. Did you notice the verb that followed Satan’s name? Ask. “Satan has asked…”

The devil didn’t demand, resolve, or decide. He asked. Just as he requested permission to tempt Job, he requested permission to tempt Simon Peter. Sort of recasts our image of the old snake, doesn’t it? Instead of the mighty Darth Vader of Gloom, a better caricature is a skinny, back-alley punk who acts tough, but ducks fast when God flexes. “Uh, uh… I’d… uh… like to do a number on Peter – that is, if you don’t mind.” The chain of command is clear. Satan does nothing outside of God’s domain, and God uses Satan to advance the cause of His kingdom.

[Taken from When Christ Comes by Max Lucado]

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

God's Perspective is the Best and God's Intention is Good (Genesis 3:1-6)

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?’ The woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’’ ‘You will not certainly die,’ the serpent said to the woman. ‘For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it”

(Genesis 3:1-6, NIV).

The serpent promised Eve new “eyes” to see what God sees. Adam and Eve got a new perspective, of course, but it wasn’t God’s perspective. The serpent taught them to doubt God’s goodness. The serpent accused God as having hidden agendas when He commands them the straightforward: “You must not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die” (Genesis 2:17). God desires for them to joyfully obey Him – to choose life. But the serpent wants them to find misery when God had intended only good for them.

No longer pure in hearts, Adam and Eve hid from God. They believed that the shame they were experiencing must reflect God’s true view of them. The serpent, after all, had told them that eating the forbidden fruit would open their eyes. Lies! The truth is, Adam and Eve already had a godlike view of the world they inhabited. The serpent – the Devil – took away the very thing he promised to give.

Since that day in the Garden, our perspective has been tainted. We find it very hard to believe what may be the simplest, most fundamental truth of all: God loves us, and He wants what is best for us. It is forever be true.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus Came to Destroy the Works of the Devil (1 John 3:8-10)

“But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practise of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God”

(1 John 3:8-10, NLT).

The Apostle John goes on to make it very clear that the devil is the mastermind of this problem of sin. Just as love and obedience are evidence that a person belongs to Jesus Christ, so habitual sinning and hating are evidence of the devil’s involvement.

When you think of the devil or Satan, what comes to your mind? Many people think of a monster-type figure with a terrifying face, goat-like head, dressed in red, and carrying a pitchfork. Other people may think of a demon who floats in the air like a ghost and causes scary things to happen. Some may just believe whatever the movies depicted Satan to be. What do I think? I’m not sure. I don’t care much. But I’m very sure that Satan is able to “disguises himself as an angel of light” (1 Corinthians 11:14).

As we read the Scriptures, we know that Satan existed for a very long time even before the earth was created (see Ezekiel 28). It was Satan who masqueraded as (or influenced) a serpent and tempted Eve and Adam to disobey God. Satan “has been sinning since the beginning” and is the very essence of evil. And he seems to be very sly and cunning. Satan, no doubt, has great power and influences great numbers of people. He even has a temporary throne (see Revelations 2:13; 1 John 5:13). Many people are so influenced by Satan and his demons that they worship him as the god of this world. They are totally under Satan’s control (see John 8:44; 2 Timothy 2:26).

But you my friends, don’t be afraid! We might think that Satan’s power is so great that he will rule the world forever. Don’t be afraid! The Scriptures make it clear that even though the devil is powerful, God is even stronger. In fact, Satan’s overthrow began with the coming of Jesus (read Matthew 12:25-29; Luke 10:18; John 12:31). “The Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.” Jesus took Satan’s power away to neutralize this terrible influence and replace it with the power of love, freedom, peace, and forgiveness. But even though the devil has been knocked down, he still is alive and doing well in the lives of many people. He serves God’s purposes on earth. Soon God will finally destroy Satan totally when Christ returns to earth (read Revelations 20:10). Then Satan’s power will be gone forever. Even at this moment, anytime Jesus would wish to snap His finger, Satan will be destroyed!

Then John goes on to say that “those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practise of sinning, because God’s life is in them”. “God’s life” is also translated as “God’s seed.” I think John here is compares the Word of God to a seed that produces new life (read James 1:18 and 1 Peter 1:23). Just as a beautiful plant must begin by being a seed which is fed and watered, so we as human beings grow spiritually as we study, understand, and obey what God wants us to do. God’s Word gives us strength and guidance to know who God is, and what God wants us to do. If God’s Word is in us “[we] can’t keep on sinning, because [we] are children of God.”

There are two basic tests to show what influence God is having in our lives: 1) the first is whether a person continues to sin deliberately, knowingly, and habitually. This is different from the occasional sin (which you and I, all Christians will continue to do), and shows that sin is still dominant. The second test is more positive: 2) the children of God show that they belong to God by living righteously and loving other believers. According to John, then, we show who our spiritual father is – God or the devil – by the way we behave. It’s not our words but our actions that make the difference. Talk can be cheap; actions are more costly. And the actions of the Christians are to be summed up in one word: LOVE, agape.

What can you do to change your attitudes, behaviors, and so on,

so that you can look forward eagerly for Christ to return?

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Letters to Annie: Let Us Beware of Temptations (Forgive Me?)

Dear Annie,

            I miss you more today. I know you feel the same way. This morning I feel I want to hold your hand. I wish to kiss you. And then… my imaginations failed me, I’ve sinned against God and you. I’m sorry. We indeed live in a temptation-filled world and we are all sinners (Both of us are redeemed-forgiven-sinners). The devil is hard at work in our neighborhoods, and so are his helpers. Someone once said, “Give Satan an inch and he’ll be a ruler.” Here in the 21^st century, the bad people are working around the clock to lead you and me astray. That’s why we must remain vigilant. Be alert and prayerful.

            In a letter to believers, Apostle Peter offers a stern warning: “Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). What was true in the New Testament times is equally true in our own. Satan tempts his prey and then devours them (and it’s up to us – and only us – to make sure that we’re not one of the ones being devoured!). Warren Wiersbe advised, “A Christian should no more defile his body than a Jew would defile the temple.” For the Jews, the Temple is a sacred and holy place; likewise, we have to treat our bodies as sacred and holy unto God.

            As a young couple and adults in search of godly relationships, you and I must beware because temptations are everywhere. Satan is determined to win (even though he is losing against Christ); we must be equally determined that he does not. “Above all,” said Thomas A Kempis, “we must be especially alert against the beginnings of temptation, for the enemy is more easily conquered if he is refused admittance to the mind and is met beyond the threshold when he knocks.” Let’s be strong in the Lord by His strength and power. Temptations will surely come, but we don’t have to fall for it. We have Jesus or more accurately, Jesus has us. I respect you. We must take care of one another. I know you will.

God will surely help us because “no temptation has seized [us] except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let [us] be tempted beyond what [we] can bear. But when [we] are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that [we] can stand up under it” (1 Corinthians 10:13, bracket mine). God gives us wisdom and humble hearts to get through every temptation! Let us pray every day for this relationship and young couples and youths around us. May we become salt and light of the world around us – that the Father in Heaven will be glorified. Amen.

I will never imagine those sinful imaginations again. I promise. I’m sorry. Forgive me?

                                                                                                I miss you,

Richard

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus' Kingdom grow Quietly and Abundantly (At First, it is Indistinguishable)

Wheat and weeds look very similar, it takes an experienced eyes to discern between them

“’The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew. The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’ ‘An enemy has done it!’ the farmer explained. ‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked. ‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’” (Matthew 13:24-30, NLT).

Jesus explained that the Kingdom grows quietly and abundantly, but evil still exists in the world. As Jesus provides the meaning of this parable in Matthew 13:36-39, he revealed that himself, the “Son of Man” is the farmer; the “field” is the world; the “good seed” symbolizes God’s people; the “weeds” are Satan’s people; the “enemy” is Satan; and the “harvesters” are angels. A common practice in ancient warfare and feuds was to destroy the enemy’s agriculture. Thus, the presence of Satan’s people among the people of God would weaken them. So it seems.

At first, the weeds and wheat are indistinguishable; eventually, however, the differences become obvious. At harvest time, harvesters remove the weeds and get rid of them. The “weeds” may be people in the church (and of course the world too) who appear to be believers, called themselves ‘Christian’, but who never truly believe. Later, the apostles would battle the problem of false teachers who had come from within the ranks of the believers (see, for example, 2 Peter 2:1-3; 13-22), and this problem is still exist even today – until Jesus’ second coming.

As new believers begin to mature in faith, their lives begin to reflect the Holy Spirit’s work, affecting values, perspectives, priorities, attitudes, and actions. Those who aren’t true followers of Christ, however, continue to reflect the values and attitudes of the world. Eventually, the truth will be revealed, and God will judge righteously and send each group to their deserved eternal destination. For the “weeds”, whose who “cause sin” and “do evil” (Matthew 13:41), that will be terrible. But “the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom” (Matthew 13:43).

Think about this: God is the ultimate judge of who truly belongs to him. We should be slow to judge others, realizing people have different levels of spiritual maturity. Only God knows their hearts. Instead, we can lovingly share the gospel, teach, encourage, and comfort and discipline, when necessary, leaving the final judgment to him. As for you and me, Jesus said we can tell a lot about people by their “fruit”, how they act and what they produce (Matthew 7:20), so what “fruit” are we producing that shows we belongs to Jesus? How our values, perspectives, attitudes, and actions differ from those who don’t know Christ? It is very well with our souls if we can ask these crucial questions to ourselves and examine our own hearts in the light of Christ’ gracious mercy and love. Amen.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus defeated the Enemy

Temptation picture illustration only.

“Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.’” Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus. (Matthew 4:10-11, NLT)

“When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came”

(Luke 4:13, NLT).

During the entire wilderness episode, Jesus endured Satan’ unrelenting temptation. He held strong, defeating Satan at every point. But when Jesus told the devil to leave, Satan “went away.” Because Jesus became human, he can be tempted. Because Jesus is God’s Son, he is greater, much greater than Satan. Jesus is Satan’s superior. Satan must do as Jesus commands.

But then the Gospel of Luke adds this ominous phrase, “[Satan] left him until the next opportunity came.” This wilderness experience was just the first of many encounters Jesus would have with Satan and his power. Jesus’ personal victory over the devil at the very beginning of his public ministry set the stage for his command over demons throughout his life on earth, but it did not keep Satan from continuing to try to sabotage Jesus’ mission. In other words, Jesus’ defeat of the devil at this time was decisive but not final. Throughout the next three years, Jesus would confront Satan in many other ways and circumstances. Satan is relentless and always looks for opportunities to exploit.

Without question, Satan is also powerful. Jesus called him “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31). So we should take Satan seriously and never fool around with occult practises and spiritual practises of false religions. And we should make no mistake about his intentions, namely – Satan is at war with God and his people and will do everything in his power to thwart God’s purposes on earth (Of course, in the end (and is) God rule the universe. Jesus win!).

Think about this: Just because we win a victory doesn’t mean the battle is over. Far from true. Satan is relentless. He always does whatever he can to mess with God’s people. Jesus has given us armour and weapons to use in this spiritual battle (Ephesians 6:10-20), but they won’t do us any good if we don’t use them. Peter the apostle reminds us, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith” (1 Peter 5:8-9). Jesus win, remember? We, in Jesus, the Victorious Saviour and Lord, also can win over the devil and his evil schemes.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus... Jump Off and Be Famous (3rd Temptation)

“Then the devil took Jesus to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect and guard you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’’ Jesus responded, ‘The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the LORD your God.’’” (Luke 4:9-12, NLT)

In this final temptation, Satan took Jesus to the top of the Temple, the tallest building in the area. The “highest point of the Temple” probably would have been the corner wall that jutted out of the hillside, overlooking the valley below. Here we see that Satan changed his tactics as he tried to appeal to ego, to pride. He challenged Jesus to prove his identity, to show off to the world that he was God’s Son. “Do something spectacular,” Satan was saying, “Make a grand entrance to let everyone know who you are! You’re more than a carpenter’s son – you are the Son of God! You’ll be famous. Display your power!” And what a great show it would have been: Jesus hurtling toward the group but rescued dramatically, at the last moment, by angels!

Satan doesn’t denied Jesus’ deity. He knew very well that Jesus is the Son of God (and Jesus doesn’t denied it either). So what was this temptation all about? This temptation epitomizes the third category of what the “world offers” – pride in who we are and what we have done (1 John 2:16). This was another blatant attempt to side-track Jesus from fulfilling his purpose, which was to humble “himself in obedience to God” and die “a criminal’s death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8). Jesus rebuffed this temptation by affirming his deity as he quoted Deuteronomy 6:16: “You must not test the LORD your God.”

Think about this: The appeal to pride is a huge temptation in our society today. Everyone seems to be seeking the spotlight, self-promoting, trying to gain that moment of fame, to be the next big thing, to be a star. Many people, even believers, will compromise their morals values, faith, and goals to fulfil this lust for popularity, significance, to be known and fame. But not Jesus and his followers. Jesus’ way is humility, and he promises that “those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last” (Matthew 20:16). Many of the most ‘insignificant’ people in the world will be great in Christ’s Kingdom. What matter is not how many events we organized and attended or preaching great sermons or awesome Church building project or the quality of our praise and worship sessions or whatever we do in the name of religion to gain personal popularity and fame; what matter is how we measure up to God’s standards, not the world’s – what matter is how God think.

Take a quiet time for yourself before the Lord today,

Examine your own pursuits of popularity or relevance.

Ask God to shift your personal longings to a strong desire for his glory

and his purposes in the world. Seek Jesus to be humble. Amen.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus feeling Hungry (1st Temptation)

“Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But Jesus told him, ‘No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:1-4, NLT).

During Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness, he fasted. Fasting, the practice of going without food, and perhaps even water, was used as a way to focus on prayer and preparation. As a human being, Jesus experienced hunger and thirst; in fact, he must have been famished and physically weak after forty days. Satan’s first temptation hit Jesus where he was most vulnerable.

This is Satan’s typical method of operation, attacking where we are vulnerable and making the choice seem simple and logical: ‘Just turn some of these stones into bread and have yourself a small meal.’ What could possibly be so wrong about that? But more was going on here than a seemingly compassionate suggestion for a hungry person to have lunch.

Satan began by saying, “IF you are the Son of God.” Satan was tempting Jesus with his own power. Satan did not doubt that Jesus was the Son of God or that he could indeed make bread from stones. He wanted Jesus to use his power in the wrong way at the wrong time – to meet his own needs rather than fulfil his God-given mission. (God-given power or authority or title shouldn’t be use for our own personal needs. It is for us to serve others). But instead of getting into a discussion or debate with Satan as what Eve had done in Genesis 3:1-7, Jesus refused to entertain any doubt of God’s loving provision. He answered by quoting Scripture. God’s Word is powerful to fight against Satan’s temptation. Keep this in mind: Jesus came to earth to accomplish the Father’s mission. Everything he said and did was directed toward that goal. For Jesus, obedience to the Father’s mission was more important than food – no matter how he felt, no matter what Satan said.

Think about this: This first temptation was physical, often called “the lust of the flesh” (1 John 2:16). Eating is not wrong; we have to eat to live. But one of Satan’s strategies is to take something natural and good and tempt us to use it the wrong way or/and at the wrong time. Our natural desires are good, but they can drive us to sin if we’re not careful. Ask yourself, how might meeting a physical need distract us from focusing well on God? What physical temptation troubles you most? What can you do to resist? Pray to God to help you fulfil your natural physical desires only in the right ways, at the right time – and equip yourself with God’s Word.

‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Reference:

Life Application Study Bible Devotional: Daily Wisdom from the Life of Jesus (Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2011)

Jesus talks about People’s Attitudes toward God and His Word (A Reflection on Mark 4:3-20)

To know the setting of this parable, we must know what is a parable (click HERE A Reflection on Mark4:1-2). A parable, in the simplest meaning, is a simple story drawn from ordinary nature or everyday life which conveyed spiritual truth. In this instance, Jesus talked about four kinds of soil to illustrate four kinds of attitudes toward God and His Word. I think Jesus probably told the parable as He and His followers were looking at the sight of an actual sower at work on the hills above the lake (4:1). Just my assumption.

“Listen! Once there was a man who went out to sow grain. As he scattered the seed in the field, some of it fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up” (Mark 4:3-4, GNB). Actually, this parable is self-explain in Mark 4:13-20. The sower is the one who sows God’s Word. Some people are like the seeds that fall along the path or hard-packed roadside soil that represents someone with a hardened heart. The Word doesn’t even have a chance to take root – and as soon as they hear the message, Satan or “the birds” in the form of temptations, resistances and stubbornness comes and takes or “ate” it away.

“Some of it fell on rocky ground, where there was little soil. The seeds soon sprouted, because the soil wasn’t deep. Then, when the sun came up, it burned the young plants; and because the roots had not grown deep enough, the plants soon dried up” (Mark 4:5-6). Some people are like the seeds that fall on rocky ground that represents someone with a shallow heart. They hear the Word of course and “receive it gladly.” They will follow the shout ‘Amen’, ‘Halleluiah’, ‘Yes! Yes! Yes!’ and jump up during praise & worship and even take notes during Bible Study, probably pray speaking in tongue too and always attend church services and fellowship. I know people like that. But sadly, the Word doesn’t sink deep into their hearts – only on surface level – and therefore they are very fragile in faith. So when “the sun” in the form of trouble or persecution comes, they “dried up” give up at once.

“Some of the seed fell among thorn bushes, which grew up and choked the plants, and they didn’t bear grain” (Mark 4:7). Some people are like the seeds sown among the thorn bushes that represents someone with a crowded heart. They are no doubt are interested in the Word but the worries about this life, the love of riches, and all other kinds of desires crowd in and choke the Word. I know people who always make excuses such as ‘God will understand why I have to go to work but not to church’, ‘It doesn’t matter if I read the Word or not as long as I’m sincere. Beside I have many things to do’, ‘I want to be rich! If I get rich I will give more to God’, ‘I don’t want people to think that I’m too religious’ etc. All of these choke out love for God and His Word and so they “don’t bear fruit.”

“But some seeds fell in good soil, and the plants sprouted, grew, and bore grain: some had thirty grains, others sixty, and others one hundred” (Mark 4:8). Some people, very glad to know, are like seeds sown in good soil that represents someone with a receptive heart, who cultivates an openness to God and His Word. The Word can grow and “bear fruit” because they not only hear the Word but also accept it wholeheartedly. They are receptive to God and His Word. I know that whenever I share the Word at campus fellowships most people will go back home empty handed (even some of the leaders too) but I trust and believe that someone in the group – two or three students – are receptive to the Word and really allow God to speaks and transform them through His Word. I can see that they will grow into maturity in faith much faster than everyone else.

As a closing, we must remember that a farmer “the sower” is NOT responsible for making the seeds grow into plants. “The sower” is only responsible for preparing and maintaining the soil. God has endowed “the seed” with the capacity to grow into a fruitful plant all by itself; “the sower” can only manage the conditions of the soil. Similarly, as God’s followers – you and me – are responsible to cultivate the soil in our own hearts. Are we hardened our hearts? or having a shallow heart? or are our hearts too crowded? or do we have a receptive heart to God and His Word? (Ask the Holy Spirit to cultivate your heart). We prepare the soil and God will produce unbelievable growth!

“Listen, then, if you have ears!” (Mark 4:9)

Don’t try to apply this parable to others without first of all applying it to ourselves.
Think it through, search our own hearts and respond accordingly. God be with you.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.