Winners Never Quit, Quitters Never Win (Angelus Leadership Video)

To give up midway is easy but to continue despite challenges is difficult. That is why only winners are remembered for a long time. They are our role models, who teach us that it pays to never quit. Success only knocks on the doors of winners because they are determined in life. On the other hand, a quitter lives most of his life in regret because of his lack of motivation and dedication 😉

Vince Lombardi, a famous American football coach, famously said, “A quitter never wins and a winner never quits" 💪⚡🔥

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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

R.I.P. Tracy... And F**k You Death!

"Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?"

(1 Corinthians 15:55, NIV)

"Do not be afraid. I [Jesus Christ] am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades."

(Revelation 1:17-18, NIV)

We are not a close friend, Tracy and I (I need to put it up front in all honesty and integrity. I don't want to have that appearance of BFF with the deceased when in fact, I'm not). A bit higher than an acquaintance but slightly lower than a best friend. Although we were a good friend during secondary school, like most school friendship, after SPM everyone was doing their own things – continue form 6 or further studies to college or university (in her case, matriculation) or went straight to workplace. Sometimes, if you're lucky, you get to be with some of your old friends. Sometimes you just get updates from one another once in a while (this was before the social media boom). And sometimes you just follow the flow – let it be – leaving the friendship under the hands of time and event. Either way, we all need to move on with our lives, right?

Occasionally, I met her at coffee shops and malls. Twice at the food fair. Since she used to work with my cousin, I get to hear some news about her. And because I met our mutual friend, John (who truly her best friend), more often than her, he will fill in the blank of what news that I might be left out. To cut the story short, we get to talk during John's wedding because we were on the same table and then to add to the festive mood, she gave me her coming-soon-wedding invitation card. I was surprised! Not just because she invited me [As I said, we were a good friend but over time, we are not a close friend] but primary because she was getting married! Do you know how HUGE is that? TRACY GETTING MARRIAGE, that's HUGE! Souness Peter, brother, if you read this, let me explain why you're VERY special to her:

Tracy was a lovely girl who became a beautiful woman. Back in secondary school, many boys like to flirt with her – you can't ignore a girl like her – but Tracy won't bother with most of them (There are some hilarious and memorable stories related to this which I won't mention here, only those who were close to us know about it). Besides all of her admirable qualities, gracious attitude and not-so-perfect characters, one exception which stands out for me is this: She often chooses the wrong guys (a**holes) as boyfriends. I told her so, she admitted it, and yet, she did it again (I know because it takes one to know one). So, you see, TRACY GETTING MARRIAGE is a HUGE thing. Was it possible for her to make a wrong decision again? Heartbroken, weaken trust, bad memories, try again? Most people won't be that quick to start all over again. Healing requires time, trust needs to be built, memories over layer the old ones. To open up again, he got to be bigger than all of this mess. "Beautiful Mess," as Jason Mraz puts it. And then you come into her life, Souness. I don't know much about you but I know this much about both of you: you and Tracy are meant to be with each other. As an outsider, I only can observe behaviors and find clues. She loves to travel, her family and cousins can witness this, but not as much as she explores places with you. You can imagine her sense of accomplishment when she conquered mountains and hills, but hiking is not as special as walking with you. Everybody say her smile is beautiful – it is – but not as bright as the day she married to you. That's when I (we, friends) knew that she was not making a mistake this time. She made the right decision, a decision that she should be proud of, a decision that she can say her own. That's HUGE. You are VERY special to her. You're the man!

And now, Death… let me ask you, how are you able to deal with the pain you cause so many of us? Days full of tears and an unbearable void that makes it hard to focus on our daily tasks. Days where the thoughts of our loved ones bring back the hurt and pain. Death, do you get tired of hearing the cries and shouts directed towards you? These few days we mourn for our beloved friend Tracy [most probably due to QT Syndrome. Google check it]. You take away her life at its prime. I can compromise when you take life when it's due or something caused by our own stupid mistakes and when you gave mercy to the suffering when they needed it the most. But why take it all of sudden? We are in shock! F**k you! She couldn't say proper goodbye or last eye contact. Empty words, just the sound of the cardiac monitor. F**k you Death! I don't hate you per se, I just don't like the way you work. You are created with a purpose, I respect that, but l can't stand "the mysterious way." Maybe we all should realize that you can come anytime – unexpected, unanticipated, and unwelcome. Maybe we all should take heed of the late Steve Jobs words, "Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life." Or Avenged Sevenfold lyrics, "Seize the day or die regretting the time you lost." Or as the Bible says, "Making the most of every opportunity…"; "Making the most of your time…"; "Redeeming the time…" (Ephesians 5:16). We all must realize that life is short. I get it. But it is appropriate to say for now – as we grief and bereave, in pain and sorrow – F**k you, Death! (I've cursed you all the way from my place to Pusat Jantung Sarawak the early morning when I heard about the news about her). 

Tracy, do you remember when you asked me for book recommendations and I point to you John Piper's Don't Waste Your Life? Do you remember when you enquired me about why there are so many Christian denominations and I said it doesn't matter as long as you believe and have faith in Christ of the Scripture? Do you remember at the coffee shop during our ‘accidentally' lunch together you probed me to revealed the motive of I'm doing student's ministry and I answered you in the form of a quote, "Only one life 'twill soon be past; Only what's done for Christ will last"? I believe you're with our Lord Jesus Christ right now. You have passed from death to life. In Christ, we ask sarcastic questions to the death-face, "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" Paul responded: "Death has been swallowed up in victory… [So] thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). I'm sad. The family, friends, and colleagues are also sad right now, but let me end this rumbling article with a hopeful note, a declaration from the One who "hold the keys of death and Hades" (Revelation 1:18), an eternal promise from the Son of God, Jesus Christ: "Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life!" (John 5:24). Tracy, yes, you have passed from death to life, so Rest In Peace!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Angelus' Quote: The LORD is With You, You Mighty Man of Valor!

When the Angel of the Lord appeared to tell Gideon how God wanted him to save the people of Israel from the Midianites, the first words spoken were, “The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!” (Judges 6:12) Gideon showed his true colors when he replied, “But Lord, how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family” (v.15). That was the beginning of his many excuses.

Sound familiar? So often, we sense God telling us that He has something big for us to do. But because of a poor self-image, we say, “God, I can’t do that. You’ve got to find somebody more qualified. I don’t have what it takes.” We misheard what God is telling us. He says, “I’m with you” over and over again – that’s awesome! But then He adds, “Have I not sent you?” (v.14) God is saying this: “You are not alone, I’m with you. You're not the one who will fight, I will. I will fulfill what I sent you to do. Just obey.” Like Gideon, we count on our own strengths, “How can I save Israel?” You can’t. But God can! Like Gideon, we focus on our weaknesses, “My clan is the weakest…” but God says, “You are a mighty man (or woman) of valor!” Like Gideon, we feel “least” but He says – “The LORD is with you.”

Probably you’re hiding like Gideon (see v.11). But no more! Stand up you mighty man and woman of valor! You may feel unqualified, insecure, weak, fearful and insignificant, but God sees you as a victor!

Instagram -> Richard_Angelus

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Angelus' Quote: You Mighty Man of Valor!

When the Angel of the Lord appeared to tell Gideon how God wanted him to save the people of Israel from the Midianites, the first words spoken were, “The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!” (Judges 6:12) Gideon showed his true colors when he replied, “But Lord, how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family” (v.15). That was the beginning of his many excuses.

Sound familiar? So often, we sense God telling us that He has something big for us to do. But because of a poor self-image, we say, “God, I can’t do that. You’ve got to find somebody more qualified. I don’t have what it takes.” We misheard what God is telling us. He says, “I’m with you” over and over again – that’s awesome! But then He adds, “Have I not sent you?” (v.14) God is saying this: “You are not alone, I’m with you. You're not the one who will fight, I will. I will fulfill what I sent you to do. Just obey.” Like Gideon, we count on our own strengths, “How can I save Israel?” You can’t. But God can! Like Gideon, we focus on our weaknesses, “My clan is the weakest…” but God says, “You are a mighty man (or woman) of valor!” Like Gideon, we feel “least” but He says – “The LORD is with you” – that’s more than one!

 Probably you’re hiding like Gideon (see v.11). But no more! Stand up you mighty man and woman of valor! You may feel unqualified, insecure, weak, fearful and insignificant, but God sees you as a victor!

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Blog -> richardangelus.blogspot.my

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Angelus' Quote: A True Warrior Can TAME the Lion of Fear

I didn't say you need to kill the lion. I didn't say you have to surrender to the lion. I didn't say you run away from the lion. I say "TAME" the lion. Nobody can really get rid of fear, let's be realistic (motivational and inspirational quote like this can be unrealistic sometimes).

Confident people have fears; Successful people have worried; Godly people have doubts. But what they - the warriors - do is they don't let these feelings stop them. It is not necessary to try to get rid of fear, worry and doubt in order to be a true warrior.

I still fear of public speaking even though I did it 3-4 times a week on average. I sometimes doubt if people ever read my blog or not, but I do it anyway. I still fear to share the Gospel to strangers but God gives me strength and boldness. Don't kill, surrender or run from fear... A true Warrior can TAME the lion of fear.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

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)

Self-Leadership #14 Build, Exhibit, and Breed Confidence

Confidence is the cornerstone of leadership. You can teach someone to be an effective problem-solver, be a better communicator, add more commitment, be passionate, and many other fundamentals of leadership. But, if a leader doesn't believe in himself or herself, true leadership will exist only in title and position. A leader that is technically qualified for the position but lack confidence will find it difficult to lead and inspired others. Francisco Dao once said, "Self-confidence is the fundamental basis from which leadership grows. Trying to teach leadership without first building confidence is like building a house on a foundation of sand. It may have a nice coat of paint, but it is ultimately shaky at best."

I once misunderstood the difference between displaying self-confidence and being aggressive in style of leadership. The truth is that they are far from the same. Those who are aggressive are better referred to as bullies, not leaders. Leaders who are with strong confidence do not have a need to be aggressive to get their goals accomplished. Being aggressive is actually a sign of lack of confidence. People like to work with leaders who are truly confident but avoid bullies. Why is this so? Because when a leader exhibits confidence, it makes it easier to trust that leader, and people want to work with leaders they trust.

Exhibiting confidence was only stage-setting, of course. The real confidence-builder was preparation. Alex Ferguson, in his book Leading, said that he prepared his players for every game, for every eventuality. Going into a football field, they believed that they would not encounter a situation that they weren't prepared to handle. Think of Julius Caesar's observation: "Without training, they lacked knowledge. Without knowledge, they lacked confidence. Without confidence, they lacked victory." Success, in turn, brought more confidence, which brought more success. You'll be surprised how much confidence a little success will bring!

Leaders who have self-confidence believe and trust in his or her team. When a leader believed in others, they came to believe in themselves. "Trust men and they will be true to you," reasoned Ralph Waldo Emerson, "treat them greatly and they will show themselves great." When a leader exhibits confidence, he can inspire others to be confident too – and convinced them that together they would succeed.

Here are three (3) things you can do to improve the confidence level in your team or organization:

#1 Exhibit Confidence: Confidence is catching, and so is a lack of confidence. If a leader being aggressive (or bullied), people will avoid him. But if a leader exudes confidence, his team will follow his lead.

#2 Success Breeds Confidence: A team that starts winning immediately increases its confidence and immediately increases its chance of winning again.

#3 Give People the Tools They Need: Training, training, training. Give people the skills and tools they need to succeed. Preparedness is the ultimate confidence builder.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Things I Wish My Father Knew #13 Yesterday's Failures, Tomorrow's Victories

Perhaps as you look back

over your life,

you see many failures.

Your family life

has not been

what you had hoped.

Your children

have disappointed you,

or maybe you

disappointed them.

Or, perhaps,

you have simply not met

your own expectations.

One of the best things

about your Heavenly Father

is that He is

a God of beginnings.

He will

forgive and forget

the past.

He will

give you joy and purpose

today.

And He will

lead you boldly into

tomorrow.

Trust the Lord to take you

from yesterday’s failures

into tomorrow’s victories!

“Trust in the LORD

with all your heart

and lean not

on your own understanding;

in all your ways

acknowledge Him,

and He will make

your paths straight.”

(Proverbs 3:5-6)

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

In Jesus, We Are Victorious! (1 John 5:3-5)

“Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God”

(1 John 5:3-5, NLT).

I noticed that our love for God is not so much an emotional feeling as it is practical and active. We show our love by our actions, by “keeping his commandments.” This may sound kind of easy, but it’s not always so, is it? Sometimes we may just be too busy thinking about something else, like workloads, worried about how we look or act, or feel tired or sick. At times like these, we need to remember the promise of Jesus Christ: “Come to me, all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). So, when we’re burned out and feel that God’s commandments are “burdensome” – when we’re exhausted, too busy, or when our feelings get kind of numb, we are promised that, as we share our concerns with Jesus, we will get great relief. We can cast our concerns and burdens upon God because God really cares about us (read 1 Peter 5:7).

Not only does Jesus promise to give us relief and rest but He also promises to give us strength. No matter what our age, there are times we may just feel like we want to let go of everything and sleep for days and days. Life can just be too much, and who can care about other people at those times? But as we learn to keep the right balance in our lives – especially as we learn to include God in our plans and put Him at the center of what is important to us – we will be given new strength we never thought we would have. God’s got enough power and strength to last all of us through our lifetimes! So, God has not imposed a lot of impossible demands and rules on us only to walk out and slam the door. God is right here with us, never leaving us (even at times when we may not feel close to Him), always encouraging and giving us the strength we need to “keep his [not burdensome] commandments.” God wants what is best for us and wants us to have deeper joy in Him.

“And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God” Obeying God’s commandments and having faith in Jesus is one and the same, and interrelated – only God’s children will do. Our faith in Jesus brings us great victory: we can overcome and “defeat this evil world” The temptations of the world can be very appealing and alluring. The pressure to be like everyone else – to have certain things and to act in certain ways – can be overpowering. But with God on our side, we “can win this battle against the world.” We don’t need to walk around and act defeated. With God’s help, we are really victorious in life!

If you have ever won some kind of contest (I once won a musical contest during my university time, battle of the band. Or whatever you had won) you know how great you feel when you win – as if you could conquer the world! That’s the kind of attitude that God wants for us in life – a winning, forward-looking, confident, expecting the best, stretching us to the limit. “We achieve this victory through our faith” in “the Son of God.” If you’re God’s child, you don’t have to feel defeated, inadequate, and expecting the worst. In Jesus, you’re victorious! Amen.  

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.

Jesus will Descend from Heaven and Proclaim "No More!"

An intriguing verse is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.”

Have you ever wondered what that command will be? It will be the inaugural word of heaven. It will be the first audible message most have heard from God. It will be the word which closes one age and opens a new one.

I think I know what the command will be. I could very well be wrong, but I think the command which puts an end to the pains of the earth and initiates the joys of heaven will be two words: “No more.”

The King of kings will raise His pierced hand and proclaim, “No more.”

The angels will stand and the Father will speak, “No more.”

Every person who lives and who ever lived will turn toward the sky and hear God announce, “No more.”

No more loneliness. No more tears. No more death. No more sadness. No more crying. No more pain.

As John (the apostle) sat on the Island of Patmos surrounded by sea and separated from friends he dreamt of the day when God would say, “No more.” This same disciple who had heard Jesus speak these words of assurance over half a century before now knew what they meant. I wonder if he could hear the voice of Jesus in his memory. “The end will come.”

For those who live for this world, that’s bad news. But for those who live for the world to come, it’s an encouraging promise. You’re on a land mine, my friend, and it’s only a matter of time: “In the world you will have tribulation…” Next time you are tossed into a river as you ride the rapids of life, remember his words of assurance.

Those who endure will be saved. The Gospel will be preached. The end will come.

You can count on it.

[From And the Angels Were Silent by Max Lucado]

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus Reminds Us to Be Ready for Anything (He Will Be with You)

“Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me. When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking – it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you”
(Matthew 10:16-20, NLT).

[You may want to read Jesus Commissions the Twelve: Responsibility to bring the Message and to Care for the Messenger. Click Here]

The key instruction in this passage is “Beware!” battles lay ahead, and the apostles needed to be prepared – shrewd, harmless, and ready for anything. They would need to be unafraid of conflict but also able to deal with it with integrity. Jesus warned them that the Gospel would not be warmly welcomed in all places (even in the “synagogue” which was the common place for worship, they will be persecuted).

At times the disciples would face outright antagonism. This would be more than mere differences of opinion or unfriendly families and communities. The opposition would come from religious and authorities (like we, Malaysian Christians, are ‘mildly’ opposed). The apostles would be arrested and could face harsh punishment simply for believing in Jesus and telling others about him. But these persecutions would provide opportunities for presenting the Gospel. Later, the disciples did experience these hardships (see Acts 5:40; 12:1-3; 22:19; 2 Corinthians 11:24). Interestingly, the word “martyrs” comes from the Greek word for witness or testimony.

Jesus said, “Don’t worry about how to respond or what to say.” Some mistakenly think this means believers do not have to prepare to present the Gospel because God will take care of everything. The Bible says, however, that we are to make carefully prepared, thoughtful statements (Colossians 4:6). Later one of these commissioned men, Peter, would write, “If someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it” (1 Peter 3:15). Jesus was telling his followers to prepare but not to worry. He promised special inspiration for times of great need. Be encouraged.

Jesus warned the apostles to focus on their mission and turn their defence into a testimony of faith. We must assume that as we live for Christ and tell others about him, we will face persecution (physically or mentally or socially or all of these and perhaps more. But spiritually we will be empowered and strengthen by God). At those times, we can thank God for the opportunities and remember that Christ has “overcome the world” (John 16:33) and in him we will too. 

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus' Authority and Power amazed Everyone

Jesus at Synagogue

“Then Jesus went to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught there in the synagogue every Sabbath day. There, too, the people were amazed at his teaching, for he spoke with authority. Once when he was in the synagogue, a man possessed by a demon – an evil spirit – began shouting at Jesus, ‘Go away! Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God!’ Jesus cut him short. ‘Be quiet! Come out of the man,’ he ordered. At that, the demon threw the man to the floor as the crowd watched; then it came out of him without hurting him further. Amazed, the people exclaimed, ‘What authority and power this man’s words possess! Even evil spirits obey him, and they flee at his command!’ The news about Jesus spread through every village in the entire region” (Luke 4:31-37, NLT).

Jesus actually moved to Capernaum, making that village in Galilee his base of operations during much of his ministry years. He became a regular teacher in the local synagogue “every Sabbath day” when he was in town (Btw, synagogue was like a local church fellowship). The brevity of the Gospel accounts often leads us to picture Jesus continually on the move, at times almost driven from place to place by the crowds that followed him. But Jesus lived at the normal speed of life, walking from place to place. One of the easy-to-miss lessons from Jesus’ life is that when we follow him, we must slow down.

Jesus taught with authority, unlike other spiritual teachers of his day. While they quoted various authorities, Jesus spoke as one intimately aware of the meaning of God’s Word, with confidence and clarity, connecting the content of Scripture with the lives of his hearers. Luke wrote, “The people were amazed at [Jesus’] teaching, for he spoke with authority”; and they themselves exclaimed, “What authority and power this man’s words possess!” Jesus amazed everyone by his authority. After all, he was “the Holy One of God.”

The rude interruption by the demon-possessed man shows us spiritual realities that seem foreign to most modern people. People who never encountered this kind of situation wonder, ‘Could this happen today?’ (One student from Peninsular Malaysia, after he went back from mission trip at rural area of Sarawak, said to me, “Brother, I never thought that demon-possessed is real!”) C.S. Lewis pointed out that Satan knows enough to go undercover when it suits him. In our current society, too many simply dismiss the possibility of the Satanic force or see it merely as character for movies and TV shows with no real base in reality. Here, Jesus’ presence forced the demon out of his hiding. We discover with certainty that demons do exist and that their purpose is to destroy (but Jesus came to give life). Against Jesus, however, they have no power or authority.

Think about this: Ignoring demonic activity and the other ways Satan is active in the world means we would have to ignore a great deal of Scripture. Treating God’s Word seriously means we have to conclude that Satan and his demons are real, dangerous, and powerful. They are not to be trifled with or taken lightly. We take them seriously because, as Christians, we put on the armour of God specifically for this battle (see Ephesians 6:10-16). But then again, remember, in Christ we have His authority. We are in the spiritual battle, and yet we have won!

Do not fear, commit yourself confidently to the Lord today,

whose power and authority triumph over every enemy.

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 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.

King Herod's Plot to Kill Jesus (Unfair Battle... God always Win!)

“[King] Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance. Herod’s brutal action fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: ‘A cry was heard in Ramah – weeping and great mourning. Rachel weeps for her children, refusing to be comforted, for they are dead’” (Matthew 2:16-18, NLT).

Evil is real. The Bible explains that ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed God and sin entered the world, people have been born sinners; thus, doing what is wrong come naturally. We tend to look out for ourselves and our own interests first. Taken to extreme, self-centeredness leads to every imaginable evil act. History documents the terrible acts of the evil king Herod, especially concerning potential rivals to the throne. In his later years, Herod had three of his sons killed as well as his wife and many actual or suspected conspirators. Herod didn’t hesitate to spill blood to secure his power. Obsessed with himself, he felt threatened by a helpless baby who might one day become king. After all, the wise men said, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2).

Bethlehem was only a few miles from Jerusalem. Herod expected the wise men to return to him after finding the child they sought. When he learned they had gone home without reporting the location of the child, Herod took out his anger on innocent children. [When Emperor Augustus heard that among the boys under two years old whom Herod had ordered killed, his own son was also killed, he said: “It is better to be Herod's pig, than his son!”].

We may question how God could permit such terrible atrocities, even as he allowed Jesus to escape. But Matthew, the gospel writer, a Jew, knew all too well that the history of God’s people was littered with evil acts against them. The Messiah’s arrival caused Satan to unleash an arsenal of evil, in this instance using Herod. Satan, throughout history, have tried (and still trying) to eliminate God’s people – the Jews – from the face of the earth. Satan know that it is from the Jews that the Messiah would come. In the past, through Pharaoh of Egypt, Satan tried systematically to murder every Jewish male baby but Moses survived; through Haman, Persian Empire officer, Satan tried to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews but God called Queen Esther and Mordechai to rescued their people; through King Saul, Satan tried to kill David because he know that the Messiah would come from the line of David but he failed; through wicked Queen Athaliah, the daughter of the notorious King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, Satan plotted the killing of her own grandchildren and anyone that belong to the line of David to secure the throne but baby Joash, the only remaining direct link to the kingly Davidic line, was rescued and hidden in the Temple; through Adolf Hitler, Stalin, etc. Satan failed all the time! God win! Killing Jesus? Yeah, right... Jesus rose from the grave!

Think about this: Today, Satan is working overtime to thwart God’s plan. But don’t worry! Jesus told his disciples and us to pray “rescue us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13) and thus, we need to pray for God’s continued protection and guidance. In Christ, God have a beautiful plan for each one of us. Like how God continue to protect His people, the Jews, (even sometime they behave very badly) God still keep His promise because He is faithful. Like how God accomplished His plan through His Son, Jesus Christ, who would be the King of the Jews, the Messiah, the Saviour of the world, God will always win over Satan’s plot and Herod’s brutal action. Like all of these and more, you can trust in Him. Why? Because in the end, God will always, ALWAYS WIN!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

                                           

Jesus is in Kuching Town

“[After Jesus raises a widow’s son from the death] Great fear swept the crowd, and they praised God, saying, ‘A mighty prophet has risen among us,’ and ‘God has visited his people today.’ And the news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding countryside”

(Luke 7:16-17, NLT, bracket mine)

The people of the town of Nain said, “God has visited his people today.” Their statement was more accurate than some of them may have intended it to be. It was true that God visited his people by bringing the dead boy back to life (Luke 7:11-15), but this miracle was not performed by an ordinary prophet of God (as Muslim said Jesus was); this miracle was performed personally by God himself – by the God-man, Jesus Christ the Nazareth. Apostle Paul once wrote, “For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body” (Colossians 2:9, NLT). The people of Nain had not only seen the miracle in which the dead boy came back to life, but they actually saw God himself perform the miracle!

All of this is a mystery to us. The doctrine or teaching of the Trinity and of Jesus’ incarnation are beyond our human comprehension. How can God be in heaven as a spirit (who has no flesh and bones) and at the same time be on earth as a man? We cannot understand, but we can believe that it is true. I know that it is true. It is the truth.

Although the teaching that God is everywhere is mystery to our intellect, it is a comfort to our heart. It is comforting to know that wherever we are living, God the Father who made us still continues to preserve us, his children. It is comforting to know that Jesus who redeemed us from sin, still walks next to us in this life today. It is comforting to know that God the Spirit who has brought us to faith in Jesus, continue to keep us in that faith. Only if we remain faithful, God is faithful to us.

From a spectacular miracle we know that the same God who was present bodily in the God-man Jesus in the town of Nain about 2,000 years ago are still present today in our town and among us. Jesus is in my town – Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Jesus is in your town too. It doesn’t matter where we live, for Jesus’ sake, our God is with us. Jesus is Emmanuel, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). He will help us. He will forgive us. He will guide us. If our doubts ever arise concerning God’s presence, all we have to do is to read God’s Word, his words and promises, in Isaiah 41:10: “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand” (NLT).

Jesus is in our town.

Jesus is with us.

Jesus has come to help his people. Amen.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.