Children of The Light#23 Slave to God (16 Dec 2015)

Dear....

Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—it is written about me in the scroll.

I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.”    

            Psalm 40:7-8

Time flies. It's been a month plus since our Lord brought me out. The corporate man in us is inclined to try to do too many things, just like Martha. But Christ wants us to sit and wait upon Him, just like Mary. ( Luke 10:38-42)

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
    for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
    for to you I entrust my life.

           Psalm 143:8

And as I rest in our Lord, indeed the story He has penned for me steadily at His pace and form unfolds. And His Word indeed is the lamp that lights my path as I seek Him in His will, and honor Him in His work.

'So what shall be your answer?

Oh will you hear the call of Him Who did not spare His Son, but gave Him for all of us?

( from the song "Immanuel" )

Strangely warm. That is when the Spirit of God is imbued in us to give one that certain assurance of a God's omnipresence and Sovereignty. That's what our good Lord gave me last Sunday morning in Church. I needed this. For like most, I don't like change. And this step out has left me with a sense of disconnect and a little disorientated.

'So likewise, whosoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.'

           Luke 14:33

For God has truly moved me from a dependency upon my provisions to Him my Provider. And much as life is just one short breath from death, precious time that should be spent being made ready to meet God our Provider, is more often than not used for the cumulation of provisions for a lifetime that is at best finite. 

'What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave?'

       Psalm 89:48

And indeed this truth often eludes me as fears and pride often made wobbly my steadfast faith. And may this 3rd testimony of God's grace in the midst of many lives being taken home, be a reminder of His faithfulness, much as we often err.

Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done,the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.

              Psalm 40:5

It's been almost 13 years since the SARS outbreak. The dread that grip Asia seems like a distant memory. But for me, what was deeply etched in me was the series of deaths in my office in the 18 months in the run up to SARS. To have to lose 3 dear friends to sudden but fatal heart attacks followed by an equally excruciating average 6 months lost battle with cancer for another 3 friends, it was just too much to bear. Yet in every of the obituary that I was privileged to write, one could draw comfort and strength from witnessing the very presence and grace of God throughout the difficult period. From angel sightings, to lifting of deep seated bondages, and the prescience of circumstances, God's love and Sovereignty was omnipresent.

Sadness was inevitable at every funeral yet a thankful heart allows one to move forth knowing that much as God allowed it, He never left us by ourselves. 

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

              Ephesians 6:12

The issues of our temporal world is both alluring yet burdensome. When death comes, there is nothing much we can do anymore( Ecclesiastes 9:4-6). Will we be in eternal damnation or live in Heavenly bliss with God our Father? The physical world we are in. But the spiritual realm is very much at play in our lives as well. Only in living a life of total submission to God will we be free from the delusions of the devil. 

This morning I had a strange but vivid dream. Each of us have our bogeyman. For me, it is alway this fear of going to the toilet, at least in my dreams. For I always have anticipatory fears of ghosts and demons lurking in its midst.

This morning I had my usual dream. I found myself alone in a gloomy toilet with many cubicles.

But the difference was that instead of scooting off in a hurry, I held my ground and commanded the evil spirits to manifest themselves and be banished in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ.

Naturally quite a few of the denizens popped up and by God's grace, I stood firm in victory.

That elation of breaking free from this bondage of fear woke me up. And the Lord impressed upon me to check on my son in his room. Thankfully, in obeying, I realized that he was in pain from a bout of food poisoning. The timing was perfect. At 5am we were at the A&E and there was time suffice to tuck him back in bed, before I needed to be in Church at 7.30am to lead worship.

This episode reminds and affirms for me that all of us are under attack from the evil forces. Yet God is very much with us, and we need to know Him, then only can we overcome whatever is thrown at us by Satan. Seek and know God while we still have the opportunity.

Anyone who is among the living has hope —even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!

For the living know that they will die,

but the dead know nothing;

they have no further reward,

and even their name is forgotten.

Their love, their hate

and their jealousy have long since vanished;

never again will they have a part

in anything that happens under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 9:4-6

God blesses

Eng Hieang

15 Dec 2015