Sunday, December 11, 2011

Samuel! Samuel! (1 Sam. 3:10)

Our God is a great Leader. Fantastic. Brilliant.

He is able! Able to lead us, even when we are 'gong gong' (aka blur), in all our sincerity in wanting more of Him. Doesn't He know us well enough and see our thoughts and acts in the secret? And yet, He sees the movements of our heart, the movements of our voluntary love responding to Him, saying "I love You Lord...". Even the faintest, weakest whisper of that, He can hear and His heart is moved. Big time. Songs 4:9. I can't get over this. I don't want to ever get over this - that my Big Mighty God is moved by such a heart like mine - weak and immature as it is, but longing to know and love Him more...

Such is our God we see in the book of 1 Samuel 1-3, one who is able to lead us, even in the most dire state of our conditions and circumstances - seen in Hannah - depicting believers crying out for a breakthrough in the midst of conflict (shame, depression, persecution...); and young Samuel - depicting young sincere believers who seek to know God, set apart for Him and pressing on in faithfulness.

Hannah was surrounded with an impossible physical situation where her womb was barren, as well as a constant critic that made her predicament even more unbearable. Yet she did not turn bitter, but she turned to God... Young Samuel was raised according to God's loving plan for the nation Israel, as a prophet of the Lord (1Sam. 3:20). He stayed steadfast and faithful in the house of the Lord...yielding to God's preparation plan for Him, shutting himself from the lure of good fun that his peers were enjoying at their young age.

In the days of Eli the priest, we see the extreme contrast between his two sons, who were corrupt (1Sam 2:1), and Samuel, who was dedicated by Hannah to minister to God in the house of the Lord. It was a picture of what God is doing now - even in the midst of the darkness of the hour where sin of men abounds, God is preparing, and leading, His own chosen ones in the house of the Lord... to shine in the days ahead. He is a great Leader! My great Leader!


The Wisdom of God seen in three contrasts
Many of us would 'lose control' when the threat of evil looms near. Perhaps we may think "there is no hope" or "what do I do now?". God in all His wisdom, shows us that He is in control even before 'all hell break loose' in our lives. He not only have foreknowledge of what is to come, but has also prepared a 'Plan B'. His plan prevails!

Here are the verses which showed the three contrasts:

1Sam 2:17-18 ~ "Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD, for men abhorred the offering of the LORD. But Samuel ministered before the LORD, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod."

1Sam 2: 25-26 ~ "...Nevertheless they did not heed the voice of their father, because the LORD desired to kill them. And the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the LORD and men."

1Sam 2:34-35 ~ "Now this shall be a sign to you that will come upon your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall die, both of them. Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever."

God's heart is that none should perish... He gives us umpteen chances to turn to Him. Yet man in their own smarty-pants folly often choose their own paths which seemed right to themselves. The outcome? They get enthralled in a vicious downward spiral of no return.. Yet to those who call upon Him, like the Hannahs, who call upon Him in all faith (and desperation!), like the Samuels, who say, "speak, for your servant hears", God remembers, He encounters us and raises us up, giving us an inheritance that is unparalleled, beyond what we can think or imagine! (1 Sam. 2:8)


Who are You, God?
Three observations of who God is through 1Sam. 1-3:

1) He is a God who remembers... Trust Him! (1Sam. 1:19)
Hannah was an ordinary woman in her time. She was one of the two wives of Elkanah. Her pain and shame of not being able to bear children, led her to pray fervently to the Lord. God allowed an impossible situation in her life (God closed her womb - 1Sam. 1:6) that she may turn to Him. This is unconceivable for human minds to make sense of. Pun unintended.

Yet she laid hold of God and believed that God would hear and deliver her. And the Lord remembered her (1 Sam.1:19). When she conceived, she honored her promise to dedicate her first born - Samuel, to minister to the Lord all the days of his life (1Sam 1:11). After Samuel, she gave birth to 3sons and 2daughters (1Sam. 2:21).

Whatever our predicament, as we turn to God, know that He is a God who remembers... He remembers our heart cry that seeks to love Him, honor Him and serve Him!


2) He wants to encounter us... Wait upon Him!
Hannah was part of God's loving plan. So was Samuel. Even as a child, he ministered before the Lord in the house of the lord. It is interesting to note in 1Sam. 3:7 that Samuel has yet to know the Lord (personally encountered Him). Yet Samuel faithfully stayed in the house of the Lord, ministering to Him, and that includes the opening and closing of the doors of the house too! =)... the very mundane tasks that needed to be done, daily. (1Sam. 3:15)

Many of us may 'do' the spiritual disciplines of christian living - going to church, reading the bible, fellowship with believers, pray, serve Him in ministries, bring our kids to Sunday School etc. But we all need to personally encounter God and learn to hear His voice. God wants to speak to us! May we have the "Samuel! Samuel!" encounters and those of us who have children, to pray for them to have these encounters! Pray and ask God for it. Look out for it! =) If that is what God wants to do, He will surely do speedily as we agree with Him in prayer. Speak to us, Lord! We want to hear Your voice! We want to encounter You and know You intimately...


3) God is looking for a people who will do according to His heart and mind.
1Sam 2:35 ~ "Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever."

If God is looking for a people who will do according to His heart and mind, it also means that He will make known His heart and mind to those who seek Him with all their heart! (wow!) He will do it! Say yes to renew our mind in Christ and be transformed in our hearts to be more like Him. Be so connected to the heart and mind of God that we will love what He loves and hate what He hates. Say yes to be a faithful priest - one who knows His heart and mind (wow!) and one who will do according to what is in His heart and His mind (wow!)

Rev. 1:6 "...and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."

May our pursuit and lives bring Him pleasure, into all eternity. God in turn, promises to build for His faithful priests a 'sure house, walking before Jesus FOREVER'. Wow! Wow! Wow! Generations that follow will continue in the priesthood, like the sons of Zadok who kept charge of God's house, come near to God to minister to God... (Ezekiel 44:15). They will walk before Jesus. It's forever! Their inheritance is the Lord Himself! WOW!!!!

What more can I say... He alone is our wise Leader. We can trust Him, encounter Him and be near Him, forever! May we have the "Samuel! Samuel!" encounters, hearing God calling and speaking to us, as we wait upon Him. No God, I won't press the snooze button... may I say, "Speak Lord, Your bride is listening!"

Saturday, December 10, 2011

What the House of Prayer means to me...

1) Why House of Prayer and how did all this begin?

I remembered about 8 years ago, when our leader shared what the Lord has called him to do in building the House of Prayer in Singapore, many of us didn't really have a grasp of what it is all about. But we knew it was on God's heart, and said our weak but sincere 'yes' to God.

Over the years, we grew in the understanding of the messages of Intimacy with God and preparing ourselves as the Bride of Christ. In light of the Day approaching, what we are doing here in the House of Prayer began to make a whole lot of sense.

We are living in End-Times! And God is 'insisting' more and more on the necessity of knowing His heart so that we can prepare for the days to come and stand and not be offended or lose heart. When the darkness glooms around, God is raising up Houses of Prayer to bring His light and partner with Him in praying according to His heart and plan and not according to we we feel or what we think... In fact, the House of Prayer will be a sign pointing to Jesus' return. It will be a statement to all that we are living in serious times! The book of Joel lays out clearly how we should respond to God in such times.

If we look around us, we can see that the Holy Spirit is orchestrating a global prayer movement across the nations, as we enter into the days ahead. There will come a time where there will be no answers found in man - be it in science, technology or any invention. But God Himself will be the answer! Like the sons of Isaachar in 2Chron 12:32, we need to grow in seeking God's face, know His heart and what to do in such times, for we will be His voice and light!


2) So what is the House of Prayer all about?

In a nutshell, Isaiah 66:1-2 sums up what the House of Prayer is all about - it's both about a dwelling PLACE for God to tabernacle with men, and about becoming the PEOPLE God is looking for.

It's a dwelling place where the fire on the altar - symbolizing the offering of worship & prayer, that goes on all the time, 24/7.

In Acts 7:49, the apostolic version of Isa 66:1-2, it says
Heaven is My throne,
And earth is My footstool.
What house will you build for Me? says the LORD,
Or what is the place of My rest?

It speaks of the type of people He is looking for in the building of the House of Prayer. God is looking for a SPECIFIC type of people to partner with Him in a SPECIFIC manner - people whose hearts are contrite in spirit - poor in the spirit and always pressing in and contending for more of God, and who take God's word seriously and would do something about it because they want more of God.

So House of Prayer is both about a dwelling PLACE for God to tabernacle with men and it's also about becoming the PEOPLE He is looking for.


3) Why 24/7? What does it mean to you?

God deserves it. He deserves our all. Romans 12:1-2 says to offer our lives as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him..this is our true and proper worship before God. How does worship look like in the heavenlies? In Revelation Chapter 4, we read about the throne room of God - There is a Throne in heaven and God is sitting on His Throne. He is in control! And worship goes before Him day and night, night and day. Rev. 4:8 says, it doesn't stop!

On earth, it means a few things to me:
* Individually, it means setting my heart to live my life, 24-7, centred around God, yielding to His ways, His plans for me.

* Corporately, it means to gather in sacred assemblies and keep the fire on the altar burning day and night, night and day, 24-7! To worship here on earth as it is in heaven! Intercessory worship that does not stop! Lev. 6:12 exhorts us "And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not be put out."

When I was a young believer, I was always very inspired by how the believers in the book of Acts 2:42-47 live - how they would gather together, grow in the word of the Lord, lay all their possessions at the feet of the apostles so that anyone in need is taken care of. My eyes were also opened to see that they gathered daily with one accord in the temple of the Lord...

I long to be in a community like that, having these three elements as seen in the New Testament Church - the synagogue (symbolising the Teaching of the Word), the fellowship of believers (church / cell group / share group) and the Temple (House of Prayer). Acts 2:43 & 47 tell us, that as they do that, fear came upon every soul and many wonders and signs were done, and many were saved!

As a child of God, I see myself as growing in the word of God, immersed in fellowship with like-minded believers and gathering in sacred assemblies, burning for Him in the temple, as I wait and long for the day of His return.






Friday, December 09, 2011

She requested nothing (Esther 2:15)

God has given us many promises - both to lay hold of (that will come to pass in that Day), as well as to claim even now (in progression)- both individually and corporately. Recently I lost heart. I could not stand up to the accusation I hear - from myself and from the enemy - where is the outcome of promise that God gave me? I knew many of the prayers I pray are received by God and collected in the bowl in the heavenlies, and in the fullness of His time, when the prayers of the saints are complete, He will act. He will surely act.

But I'm losing heart. I told God... I can't go on without seeing any fruit of my prayer in the earthly realm, perhaps not the fullness, but just a glimpse, can? I was being honest with God. Flesh and blood as I am, I was losing heart. Like doubting Thomas I needed to see some tangibles. God, I'm praying in an almost empty room... Nevermind that... I tarried for Your presence... where? when? Perhaps I lost faith, faith that comes from the word of God (Rom. 10:17). So I struggled... cos when I pray, I pray with faith and with my heart... and it is getting into low batt mode :-x

Little did I know that God was encountering me in this struggle. What?! I did not expect an encounter with God to be so 'uncomfortable'. Perhaps I boxed my own understanding of encounter with God as one that is 'nice' and 'heavenly'. And then after the encounter I would drift and cruise in faith. Ya, perhaps sometimes it's like that... but sometimes it's not >_<|||

I was reminded that the greatest reward in building the House of Prayer, in christian living... is not answered prayer. Run that by me again? I'm speaking to myself! Yes, it is not in answered prayer, so shift your focus my dear... No, I still will pray in faith, know what is on God's heart, and lay hold of His promises in all intensity and seriousness. I do it in all soberness and my might because it is on His heart and I partner with Him. Yet, I'm reminded that at the end of it all, my greatest satisfaction and reward is in the Lord - that He knows, that He hears, that He sees, that He is faithful, and He is in control! My God, He is sitting on the Throne... Dan 7:9-14, Rev.4-5. Why am I fretting?

After this reminder, the whole issue over my struggling and looking for glimpse la, answers la, faded away in an instant. I can't believe it. I am just... healed! More than that, I have no other request from God. The Holy Spirit brought to remembrance the verses I read before in Deut. 10:9 and Gen 15:1 - that those who keep watch in the House of the Lord, the Lord Himself is their inheritance. He is our exceedingly great reward all in all! No Lord, I have no other questions... I have no other request from You. I erm, just had some bad case of amnesia lately but the Holy Spirit helped guide me to Your word and the verses kicked in me and woke me from my grappling. Struggle? No issue God. Do you see my dreamy eyes of lovesickness? You are mine! I have no other request...

The book of Esther gives us an allegorical picture of how the Bride of Christ is being prepared to reign in victory with the King in the midst of conflict, spiritual warfare and persecution. Chapter 2 shows God looking for a bride and how He raised up virgins (depicting believers) and started the preparation process. When it came to the time to draw near to the King, Esther's focus was not in any requests she can ask from the King (Esther 2:15). After a lengthy process of preparation (12 months) and the Holy Spirit's guidance, she drew near, in love, and she won the favour of the King's heart. It pleased the King so much that he crowned her the queen. There is a way to 'win' God's heart. There is a way into God's heart, if only we yield to His ways...

And later in Chapter 5, the King said gladly that he would give up to half of his kingdom to her, if she would only ask. This gives us a glimpse of Bridal Intercession - God desires that we come before Him as a lover, as a Bride, in asking for the things on His heart.

My prayer and heart cry is that the believers in Singapore will say yes and walk into the preparation as a Bride of Christ. Weak as we are, with occasional amnesia (arrghh!), may we grow in the very journey He will lead us, individually and corporately, of making ourselves ready for our Bridegroom God.

His way, His timing, His plan... we say yes, we say come!
 
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