God Invite Us to Pray

The Lord is near. Be anxious about nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:5b-6 Berean Literal Bible)

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know. (Jeremiah 33:3 CSB)

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20 ESV)

Pray. Do not be anxious. Our God will answer. When He has answered, glorify Him and give thanks.

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:7-11 ESV)

He even has a free Seven Eleven Convenience Store for you.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (Romans 8:26 ESV)

God sends His Holy Spirit to help us to pray. What more can we ask for?

You ask and don't receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. (James 4:3 CSB)

Prayers not answered? Here is a list of items prayed by Paul the Apostle pray for his fellow Christians and you can follow his example:

1. God will make them worthy of His calling;
2. God's power to help them accomplish every good desire and faithful work;
3. They will glorify the name of our Lord Jesus, and Jesus will glorify them according to His grace.

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 ESV)

Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:18 CSB)

Pray for all the saints.

Prove God to be true by praying according to His Word and His Will.

God Does As He Pleases

Our God is in heaven and does whatever he pleases. (Psalm 115:3 CSB)

The LORD does whatever he pleases in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all the depths. (Psalm 135:6 CSB)

I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, 'My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.' (Isaiah 46:10 NIV)

All the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing, and he does what he wants with the army of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. There is no one who can block his hand or say to him, "What have you done?" (Daniel 4:35 CSB)

Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:27 KJV)

But Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26 ESV)

I know that you can do anything and no plan of yours can be thwarted. (Job 42:2 CSB)

Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?" (Isaiah 43:13 NIV)

Some people think that God has limitations, for example, He cannot lie. But we noticed that what the scriptures are saying is God does whatever that pleases Him. If you are a vegetarian and have the power to do as you please, would you organize a barbecue or force everyone to eat grass? Lying does not please God. Thus God will not lie.

God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? (Numbers 23:19 ESV)

So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. (Hebrews 6:18 NLT)

Throne of Grace

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV)

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16 NKJV)

We have no basis to approach God in prayer, if we do not approach Him through our great high priest, our God, our Lord and Saviour.

Obvious And Hidden

Some people's sins are obvious, preceding them to judgment, but the sins of others surface later. Likewise, good works are obvious, and those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden. (1 Timothy 5:24-25 CSB)

Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later. In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light. (1 Timothy 5:24-25 NLT)

New Life

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 2:13-3:17 NIV)

Good to Read the Bible

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4 KJV)

We read the Bible because it is our spiritual food. Without food, we will die.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 CSB)

The Bible equips us for every good work.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105 KJV)

It guides us.

Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. (Psalm 119:98-100 NIV)

It makes us wise.

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:27 ESV)

In it, you can find Christ.

Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. (Romans 15:4 ESV)

We see examples of God's action and it gave us hope.

Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:17 NLT)

It is the only offensive weapon in God's armoury.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17 ESV)

Through it, we can bring the good news to all we come into contact with.

It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. (Deuteronomy 30:12-14 NIV)

Download a Bible app into your handphone and you have no excuse not to read the Bible.

Jesus Coming With the Clouds

I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him. (Daniel 7:13 CSB)

Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. So it is to be. Amen. (Revelation 1:7 CSB)

The next significant event in the world, the second coming of Jesus Christ, who will establish the Kingdom of God for a millennium.

The Donkey, The Tiger, The Lion And The Colour Of Grass

Recently I saw someone posted this story in Facebook:

QUOTE (paraphrase)
The donkey said to the tiger, 'The grass is blue.' The tiger said, 'No, the grass is green.'

Then the discussion heated up and to end this argument, both went to the lion, king of jungle.

The lion pronounced his judgement, 'Yes! The grass is blue.'

The donkey said, 'This tiger does not believe. He should be punished.'

The lion declared, 'Tiger will be jailed for a year.'

The tiger said to the lion, 'Why Your Highness! the grass is green, isn't it?'

The lion said, 'Yes! The grass is green.'

Then the tiger asked, 'Then why am I sentenced to jail?'

The lion said, 'You did not get punished for the grass being blue or green. You have been punished because it is not possible for a brave and intelligent creature like you to waste time arguing with a donkey, and on top of that come and bother me with that question.'
UNQUOTE

Many people agree with the lion that they should not waste time arguing with donkeys, which imply that most people think that they are brave and intelligent and not donkeys.

Presenting the Gospel

"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah." (Acts 2:36 NIV)

He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" (Acts 9:4 NIV)

"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone - an image made by human design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead." (Acts 17:29-31 NIV)

Then I saw another angel flying in mid air, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth - to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water." (Revelation 14:6-7 NIV)

The first step in presenting the Gospel is always to tell the non-believer of a Holy God, of sin and judgement. We can see from the four examples given in the Bible. Sins (crucifixion of Jesus (Acts 2:36), persecution of Jesus (Acts 9:4), idolatry (17:29-31)) were identified in the first three and in the last example, the coming judgement (Revelation 14:6-7). God is always identified.

You must let the non-believer know who he or she has offended, what is the offence and what is the judgement or punishment will be.

Only when the non-believer is convicted of Holy God, sin and judgement, then he or she can see God's salvation as good news. When the non-believer understand the the enormity of sin against as a Holy God, that is when he or she understand the love of God in sending Jesus to die for their sins. Those who are forgiven much will love much.

Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven - as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little." (Luke 7:47 NIV)

Who Does God Swear By - Bible vs Koran

But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!"
He replied, "Here I am."
Then he said, "Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me." Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in the thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son. And Abraham named that place The Lord Will Provide, so today it is said, "It will be provided on the Lord's mountain."
Then the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, "By myself I have sworn," this is the Lord's declaration: "Because you have done this thing and have not withheld your only son, I will indeed bless you and make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the city gates of their enemies. And all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring because you have obeyed my command." (Genesis 22:11-18 CSB)

After Abraham proved his faith in God by offering Isaac as a sacrifice, God replaced Isaac with a ram and swore to Abraham that He will multiply Abraham's descendants. This event is also celebrated by the Muslims in Eid al-Adha (Hari Raya Haji).

In the Bible, God can only swear by Himself because there is no one greater than Him.

For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself: I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply you. And so, after waiting patiently, Abraham obtained the promise. For people swear by something greater than themselves, and for them a confirming oath ends every dispute. (Hebrews 6:13-16 CSB)

In the Quran, Allah swears by all kinds of stuff. Below is quoted from the WikiIslam article Swears and Oaths in the Qur'an and Hadith - WikiIslam:

QUOTE
The following are verses from the Qur'an, where we find Allah swearing oaths.
I swear by the Book that makes manifest (the truth). (Quran 44:2)
Qaf. I swear by the glorious Quran (that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah) (Quran 50:1)
I swear by the wind that scatters far and wide, (Quran 51:1)
I swear by the Mountain, (Quran 52:1)
I swear by the star when it goes down. (Quran 53:1)
But nay! I swear by the falling of stars; (Quran 56:75)
Noon. I swear by the pen and what the angels write, (Quran 68:1)
Nay; I swear by the moon, (Quran 74:32)
Nay! I swear by the day of resurrection. (Quran 75:1)
I swear by the emissary winds, sent one after another (for men's benefit), (Quran 77:1)
I swear by the angels who violently pull out the souls of the wicked, (Quran 79:1)
I swear by the mansions of the stars, (Quran 85:1)
I swear by the heaven and the comer by night; (Quran 86:1)
I swear by the daybreak, (Quran 89:1)
Nay! I swear by this city. (Quran 90:1)
I swear by the sun and its brilliance, (Quran 91:1)
I swear by the night when it draws a veil, (Quran 92:1)
I swear by the early hours of the day, (Quran 93:1)
I swear by the fig and the olive, (Quran 95:1)
I swear by the runners breathing pantingly, (Quran 100:1)
I swear by the time, (Quran 103:1)
UNQUOTE

Examples - Bible vs Koran

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV)

The apostle Paul urged Christians to follow his example, just as he follow the example of Jesus.

Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad SAW) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much. (Surah 33:21 Muhsin Khan version)

Allah urges Muslims to follow the example of Mohammed.

Respect And Pray For Church Leaders

Honour the church leaders.

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. (1 Timothy 5:17 ESV)

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 NIV)

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. (Hebrews 13:7 ESV)

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. (Hebrews 13:17 ESV)

Pray for them.

Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. (Ephesians 6:19-20 NIV)

Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. (Colossians 4:3 NLT)

Brothers, pray for us. (1 Thessalonians 5:25 ESV)

Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. (2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 ESV)

Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. (Hebrews 13:18 ESV)

Blood of the Covenant

Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words." (Exodus 24:8 NIV)

In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. (Luke 22:20 NIV)

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. (Hebrews 9:22 ESV)

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life. (Leviticus 17:11 ESV)

If Jesus Paid It All, Why Do We Have To Count The Cost?

But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. (Hebrews 10:12 CSB)
Jesus paid it all.

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (Luke 9:23 KJV)
Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? (Luke 14:27-28 ESV)
Why do we have to count the cost?

I have heard how some pastors explain in this way, salvation is free but discipleship is costly. So is God a wicked fisherman who hide the sharp hook of discipleship within the free bait of salvation? Or are there two classes of believers, ordinary believers and disciples?

When I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, I did not count the cost. Neither I did I do a cost benefit analysis. I did not know what a wonderful benefit eternal life is. I could not fully understand that I have escape eternal damnation. I did not know much. I did not have the Bible. I just accepted blindly.

Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4 CSB)

Looking back, I saw the wonderful grace of God working in me, walking with Him for more than forty nine years. If there had been any earthly cost, I think I have reaped more earthly benefit, and that is not counting the eternal gain that I will be having.

He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:24 ESV)

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. (Romans 4:20-21 KJV)

Don't count the cost. Believe God. Whatever He had promised, He is able to deliver.

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless indeed you fail to meet the test! (2 Corinthians 13:5 ESV)

Brethren, pray for us. (1 Thessalonians 5:25 KJV)

Grace and Justice

Not only that, but Rebekah's children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad - in order that God's purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls - she was told, "The older will serve the younger." Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. (Romans 9:10-13 NIV)

It is very difficult to explain grace. It is great joy to be chosen, but to those who are not chosen, do they care?

Jacob was very thankful that God was merciful to him. Does Esau care that he was not chosen? Yes, when he thought that his father's blessings can bring him some benefit. But when he was able to achieve great things by his own effort and without his father's blessings, he did not care about it anymore.

God as the creator and maker of the universe, has the sovereign right to decide how events will unfold. According to the Bible, God does everything for His glory. You are happy when you are the chosen one. If you are not, then you will think that everything is fate.

Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use? (Romans 9:21 NIV)