The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters. The name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter. (Revelation 8:10-11 NASB)
This morning (16th February 2013) at 3:25 a.m. Singapore time (15-02-2013 19:25 GMT), while we were all sleeping soundly, an asteroid named 2012 DA14, with an estimated diameter of 50 meters and an estimated mass of 190,000 metric tons, swept safely past Earth at a distance of about 27,680 km above Indonesia, closer than some high-orbiting communications satellite.
Sixteen hours before the closest approach of 2012 DA14, a meteor hit Chelyabinsk, a city in Russia. This object was estimated to be about 17 meters in diameter. About 1200 people were injured by shattered glass.
The Bible tells us that in future, another asteroid named Wormwood will appear. This asteroid will not miss Earth. It will hit Earth and cause many people to die because this asteroid will poison the fresh water.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Living With Joy In A Suffering World
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Romans 8:28-30 KJV)
This world is imperfect. Bad things happened to good people. Good things happened to bad people. There is no justice. It is a suffering world. Christians are called to live with joy a suffering world, without exemption from sufferings that happened to all men. How then can Christians live with joy in such a world?
Romans 8 is about living with joy in a suffering world. Romans 8:28-30 gives three principles why we can living in a suffering world with joy.
Romans 8:28 tells us that bad things turn out for good.
Romans 8:29 tells us that good things can never be lost.
Romans 8:30 tells us that best things are yet to come.
(From a sermon "The Christian's Happiness" by Dr Tim Keller)
"Everything is necessary that he sends. Nothing can be necessary that he withholds." - John Newton
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18 KJV)
We have an anchor beyond the grave.
This world is imperfect. Bad things happened to good people. Good things happened to bad people. There is no justice. It is a suffering world. Christians are called to live with joy a suffering world, without exemption from sufferings that happened to all men. How then can Christians live with joy in such a world?
Romans 8 is about living with joy in a suffering world. Romans 8:28-30 gives three principles why we can living in a suffering world with joy.
Romans 8:28 tells us that bad things turn out for good.
Romans 8:29 tells us that good things can never be lost.
Romans 8:30 tells us that best things are yet to come.
(From a sermon "The Christian's Happiness" by Dr Tim Keller)
"Everything is necessary that he sends. Nothing can be necessary that he withholds." - John Newton
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18 KJV)
We have an anchor beyond the grave.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
No Yoke, No Rest
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30 KJV)
This is a promise to those who are busy and full of trouble. Most people just stopped at verse 28. But if you read on to verses 29 and 30, you will find that there are conditions to fulfil. You must take on the yoke of Christ and read the Bible. While the yoke may be easy and the burden light, you must be yoked to Christ. This is the problem. Many want the rest, but not the yoke. Like a blind man who wanted to know the way but refused to be led by hand, they spend their lives busy groping for the way, but never finding it.
Where the future is concerned, we are all blind.
This is a promise to those who are busy and full of trouble. Most people just stopped at verse 28. But if you read on to verses 29 and 30, you will find that there are conditions to fulfil. You must take on the yoke of Christ and read the Bible. While the yoke may be easy and the burden light, you must be yoked to Christ. This is the problem. Many want the rest, but not the yoke. Like a blind man who wanted to know the way but refused to be led by hand, they spend their lives busy groping for the way, but never finding it.
Where the future is concerned, we are all blind.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Reading And Hearing
Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed. (Isaiah 6:10 KJV)
What ever we read or hear, will will see it through a filter of our own experience. In Godspeak, this meant that God has made "the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and their eyes blind". The actual mechanism will be our mindset and attitude (heart) which will filter our reception and cuase the words to be misinterpreted or rejected. This is why the same Bible produces the thousands of Protestant denominations, the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the Herodians.
What ever we read or hear, will will see it through a filter of our own experience. In Godspeak, this meant that God has made "the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and their eyes blind". The actual mechanism will be our mindset and attitude (heart) which will filter our reception and cuase the words to be misinterpreted or rejected. This is why the same Bible produces the thousands of Protestant denominations, the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the Herodians.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Big And Small
Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. (Psalm 147:5 KJV)
Big things
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? (Psalm 8:3-4 KJV)
In the past, men used to think that the earth is flat and the sky was like a big roof over the flat earth, with the sun transversing it by day and the moon by night and stars are like little lights on the roof. Now even with the most powerful telescope, we realized that we still cannot see the edge of the universe.
Small things
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (Psalm 139:14 KJV)
By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. (Hebrews 11:3 NASB)
We look at the cells that made up our body. They are so wonderfully made. Everyone is a small nano-computer. Men used to think that the smallest indivisible bit of matter is the atom. Then they discovered protons, electrons and neutrons. Then they discovered smaller particles.
Big things
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? (Psalm 8:3-4 KJV)
In the past, men used to think that the earth is flat and the sky was like a big roof over the flat earth, with the sun transversing it by day and the moon by night and stars are like little lights on the roof. Now even with the most powerful telescope, we realized that we still cannot see the edge of the universe.
Small things
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (Psalm 139:14 KJV)
By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. (Hebrews 11:3 NASB)
We look at the cells that made up our body. They are so wonderfully made. Everyone is a small nano-computer. Men used to think that the smallest indivisible bit of matter is the atom. Then they discovered protons, electrons and neutrons. Then they discovered smaller particles.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
A Woman Named Damaris
But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them. (Acts 17:34 ESV)
Yesterday, I read a sermon by C H Spurgeon entitled "A woman named Damaris". The name Damaris was mentioned only once in the Bible. Nothing was known of her, except that she believed. But her name was recorded in the Bible. This is our God. He remembers. The Bible is full of names, some of which has nothing else recorded about them. I love to read the salutations at the end of Paul's epistles. There we have the names of the saints of God. God remembers.
In a quote taken from a booklet written by A.L. De Silva, "Beyond Belief: a Buddhist Critique of Christianity", Chapter 6: A Critique of the Bible, this remembrance of names came in for criticism.
QUOTE
If the Bible really is God's word it indicates that he is a very strange being indeed One would expect that the creator of the universe would only speak to man when he had something of great importance to say and that what he said would be of universal significance. Not so. The book of Chronicles for example consists of little more than lists of names of people we know little or nothing about and who died thousands of years ago. No commandments, no ethical principles, no hints on how to live properly or to worship God - just page after page of useless names. Why would God waste his and our time revealing such things?
UNQUOTE
No, God is not strange. He remembers. He remembers the obscure, those whose work are not seen by men. He remembers Dionysius the Areopagite, the big shot. He also remembers Damaris, the obscure woman.
I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.
Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.
Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household.
Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.
Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.
Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.
Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.
Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.
I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.
Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
(Romans 16:1-27 KJV)
The God who remembers an obscure woman named Damaris will also remember you.
Yesterday, I read a sermon by C H Spurgeon entitled "A woman named Damaris". The name Damaris was mentioned only once in the Bible. Nothing was known of her, except that she believed. But her name was recorded in the Bible. This is our God. He remembers. The Bible is full of names, some of which has nothing else recorded about them. I love to read the salutations at the end of Paul's epistles. There we have the names of the saints of God. God remembers.
In a quote taken from a booklet written by A.L. De Silva, "Beyond Belief: a Buddhist Critique of Christianity", Chapter 6: A Critique of the Bible, this remembrance of names came in for criticism.
QUOTE
If the Bible really is God's word it indicates that he is a very strange being indeed One would expect that the creator of the universe would only speak to man when he had something of great importance to say and that what he said would be of universal significance. Not so. The book of Chronicles for example consists of little more than lists of names of people we know little or nothing about and who died thousands of years ago. No commandments, no ethical principles, no hints on how to live properly or to worship God - just page after page of useless names. Why would God waste his and our time revealing such things?
UNQUOTE
No, God is not strange. He remembers. He remembers the obscure, those whose work are not seen by men. He remembers Dionysius the Areopagite, the big shot. He also remembers Damaris, the obscure woman.
I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.
Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.
Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household.
Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.
Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.
Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.
Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.
Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.
I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.
Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
(Romans 16:1-27 KJV)
The God who remembers an obscure woman named Damaris will also remember you.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Wait And Wait Again
Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. (Genesis 12:1-4 KJV)
When Abraham was 75 years old, God told him to leave his country without telling him where to go and said that he will be a great nation when he had no children.
And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. (Genesis 13:14-17 KJV)
Again God showed Abraham the land and promised Abraham that his descendants will possess the land, but Abraham had no children.
Now the word of the LORD came to him: "This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body will be your heir." (Genesis 15:4 HCSB)
On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates: (Genesis 15:18 NASB)
God narrowed down the conditions and state that the heir will be Abraham's physical descendant, not an adopted heir. The boundary of the promised land is also clarified.
So Sarai said to Abram, "The LORD has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her." And Abram agreed with Sarai's proposal. (Genesis 16:2 NLT)
Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram. (Genesis 16:16 ESV)
After a long wait, Sarah decided to take things into her own hand. She advised Abraham to get an heir through her maid Hagar. After all, God promised that the heir must come from Abraham, but nothing is said about the mother.
But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year. (Genesis 17:21 KJV)
When Abraham was 99 years old, God gave him the name Abraham and his wife was renamed Sarah and the promised heir named Isaac made it clear that the parents of the promised heir must be the Abraham and Sarah. God also set the timing. It will be fulfilled in a year. Abraham and all the males (born or bought) of his household was circumcised on that day.
And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him. (Genesis 21:5 KJV)
God took 25 years to fulfill His promise, from His first promise to Abraham when he was still Abram and 75 years old about being father of a great nation to the birth of Isaac when Abram became Abraham at 100 years old. God worked very slowly and tested the faith and patience of Abraham and Sarah.
So the field and the cave were transferred from the Hittites to Abraham for use as a permanent burial place. (Genesis 23:20 NLT)
Finally, Abraham got to own a piece of the promised land, and he had to buy it from the Hittites.
When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? (Acts 1:6 KJV)
These all died in faith without having received the promises, but they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth. (Hebrews 11:13 HCSB)
When Abraham was 75 years old, God told him to leave his country without telling him where to go and said that he will be a great nation when he had no children.
And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. (Genesis 13:14-17 KJV)
Again God showed Abraham the land and promised Abraham that his descendants will possess the land, but Abraham had no children.
Now the word of the LORD came to him: "This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body will be your heir." (Genesis 15:4 HCSB)
On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates: (Genesis 15:18 NASB)
God narrowed down the conditions and state that the heir will be Abraham's physical descendant, not an adopted heir. The boundary of the promised land is also clarified.
So Sarai said to Abram, "The LORD has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her." And Abram agreed with Sarai's proposal. (Genesis 16:2 NLT)
Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram. (Genesis 16:16 ESV)
After a long wait, Sarah decided to take things into her own hand. She advised Abraham to get an heir through her maid Hagar. After all, God promised that the heir must come from Abraham, but nothing is said about the mother.
But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year. (Genesis 17:21 KJV)
When Abraham was 99 years old, God gave him the name Abraham and his wife was renamed Sarah and the promised heir named Isaac made it clear that the parents of the promised heir must be the Abraham and Sarah. God also set the timing. It will be fulfilled in a year. Abraham and all the males (born or bought) of his household was circumcised on that day.
And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him. (Genesis 21:5 KJV)
God took 25 years to fulfill His promise, from His first promise to Abraham when he was still Abram and 75 years old about being father of a great nation to the birth of Isaac when Abram became Abraham at 100 years old. God worked very slowly and tested the faith and patience of Abraham and Sarah.
So the field and the cave were transferred from the Hittites to Abraham for use as a permanent burial place. (Genesis 23:20 NLT)
Finally, Abraham got to own a piece of the promised land, and he had to buy it from the Hittites.
When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? (Acts 1:6 KJV)
These all died in faith without having received the promises, but they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth. (Hebrews 11:13 HCSB)
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