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Often people do not experience the power of God because they lack true faith. God is looking for faith in people’s hearts. When there is faith, God responds. At times, in greater ways than we expected. Consider the story of the paralysed man and his friends that took unusual steps to bring him to Jesus in Mark 2:1–3 (NIV84) 1 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. These men came to Jesus with faith, and it unlocked an unexpected response from Jesus. From this narrative, we discover 3 things that occur when we have faith. 1. RECEIVES GOD’S FAVOUR Mark 2:4-5 (NIV84) 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” When Jesus saw them, what was His response? He called the paralytic “son”. A term that indicated warmth and favour. If some men broke through the roof of my house, I might call them a few things, but definitely not “son”. I would not view them favourably. This emphasised how deeply Jesus was impressed by their actions. What was it about them that Jesus viewed favourably? Jesus saw their humility. They were humble enough to admit that they needed help and sought for help. They knew that they could not solve their problem by their own efforts. Only Jesus could help their friend. So, they acted in the only way they knew to get to Jesus. Even if meant breaking through roofs. It takes humility to ask for help. How many of us avoid asking for help, because it was too embarrassing to ask for it! We may not be physically handicapped like the man, but we may be emotionally, mentally, socially or spiritually handicapped in some way. Yet often we may be too proud to admit it. We might be having a dull pain of loneliness or insecurity, but we hide it and appear cool. We might even try drowning ourselves with alcohol or drugs. Only to wake up in the morning with a big hangover and still the same hole in our hearts. I know of those who look like they have it all together. They have the looks, the brains, the personality. But inside they are a mess! Will we humble ourselves enough to recognize we need help, just like the paralysed man? And turn to God? God favours those who are willing to humble themselves. Isa 66:2 (NIV84) … "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, ..." God favours those who are willing to humble themselves. Jesus saw their determination. When the 4 men saw the huge crowd around the house, they knew there was little hope of their friend getting the attention he needed from Jesus. How in world would they even get close to Jesus? That was when they got a brilliant idea to jump the queue. Doing so meant getting through every obstacle. So they lifted their friend on a mat up to the roof. Then they dug through the roof itself. Most likely the roof was made of a thick layer of compacted earth over a rough wooden ceiling. This wooden ceiling probably was framed by trimmed tree trunk beams upon which close fitting smaller branches were laid. Strong enough for men to walk upon. These men dug through the earth layer, pulled out the branches to open an area large enough to fit their friend lying on a mat through it. A considerable effort! The queue jumpers got an F for courtesy but an A+ for determination. They would not take a “No” for an answer! Jesus was impressed with their determination, their doggedness. They needed help and they were going to get it. True faith is characterized by its determination to obtain an answer from God. True faith is characterized by its determination to obtain an answer from God. Jesus saw their faith for healing. So certain was their faith in Jesus’ ability to heal their friend, they literally broke through every barrier to get to Jesus. The Bible makes it clear that faith is a critical ingredient that pleases God. Heb 11:6 (NIV84) "And without faith it is impossible to please God…" It was not just an intellectual faith but a faith that truly trusts by taking action. 2. RECEIVES SOLUTIONS TO REAL NEEDS Since Jesus had favour upon these men and the paralysed man, what did Jesus do? Mark 2: 5 (NIV84) When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Imagine the poor paralysed man and his friends who went through the huge effort to get to Jesus, expecting to receive miraculous healing. He came to be healed physically, but Jesus dealt with his spiritual problem. Perhaps the man must be thinking, “Excuse me? I can’t walk! Nice to be forgiven my sins, but I still can’t walk!” We often seek for solutions to our perceived needs. But those needs may not be our real or greatest needs. It could be imagined needs. “If only I had more money or more time. If only I was more beautiful, had a better body shape. If only I can speak better. If only I had more friends.” It is like taking Panadol for brain tumour. Or it could be secondary problems. Dealing with our flu when we have cancer. We live in a society that seeks the quick fix. If we have problem in our relationships, just read Relationship for Dummies or check on YouTube for latest advice. If we have depression, just pop this pill or read “5 easy steps to overcome depression”. But Jesus is more interested in dealing with the deeper, main problem first. Which is sin. Sin is shown by our selfishness, self-centeredness. Isa 53:6 (NIV84) "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; ..." Sin is the root of most problems in our lives and in this world today. It can only be dealt with properly when people repent and turn to God, and to follow Him. Then God will forgive us. The paralysed man had true faith in God and because Jesus saw it in his heart, He had mercy on him and forgave his sins. Those with true faith will often receive more than they asked for. God may answer by dealing with our greater needs first. Those with true faith will often receive more than they asked for. God may answer by dealing with our greater needs first. 3. RECEIVES THE TOUCH OF GOD Some teachers of the law, religious scholars, were upset with Jesus forgiving the man’s sins. “How can Jesus forgive anyone their sins? Only God can! It goes against all our theology.” Mark 2:6-7 (NIV84) 6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” An incorrect worldview can be a great hindrance to receiving what God has to say or do! Ever noticed that there were no Pharisees or teachers of the law who were healed by Jesus? Jesus immediately knew what was going on in their hearts. And He challenged their thinking. An incorrect worldview can be a great hindrance to receiving what God has to say or do! Mark 2:8-12 (NIV84) 8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….” He said to the paralytic, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” Jesus demonstrated that He had the power to forgive sins by healing the paralysed man miraculously. Jesus sought true faith and he saw it in those men. God is delighted to find true faith and moves in response to it. Ps. Jerry Stott, a friend of mine, recalled an incident when he was called to a hospital because a church member’s brother was on life-support. This young man, a husband and father, was unconscious, barely alive. The doctors were quite certain he would not make it. Ps. Jerry started to make a simple prayer for his soul when suddenly he heard God say, “I will raise him on the third day.” Shocked, he asked God to confirm with a sign, that the man’s eyes would open. Right at the moment, the man opened his eyes! Ps. Jerry decided he had to rise up in faith to trust God. So he informed the man’s family not to take the man off the life support and that God will heal him on the third day. Ps. Jerry then went off on a planned family vacation. When he returned a few weeks later, he discovered that the dying man sat up and was completely healed on the third day. The man and his family even came to join Ps. Jerry’s church. God intervenes, when there is true faith. God intervenes, when there is true faith CONCLUSION True faith is when we are willing to trust in God fully. God delights in such faith. He will respond to us favourably. He will even provide us more than we ask. God will touch us, even miraculously. Shall we rise up and be found with true faith? Copyright©️2026 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

Plastic surgery is booming today. People line up to have fat removed, features reshaped, and unwanted parts cut away. They willingly submit to the surgeon’s knife because they believe the change will set them free. The Bible never speaks about plastic surgery, of course. But it does speak about removing something from our bodies through circumcision. The Old Testament spoke not only of the physical act, but also of the deeper reality God has always desired: the circumcision of our hearts. And in many ways, the story of Israel mirrors our own. The Israelites wandered in circles for forty years. Stuck, delayed, unable to enter the Promised Land. Many of us know that feeling. You sense God has more for you, yet something keeps holding you back. Something feels missing. Something feels uncut, unremoved. Maybe what you need is not a new strategy, not a new season, not a new breakthrough— but a circumcised heart. Today, we are going to talk about what that means. Why it may be the very thing that unlocks your Promised Land. WHAT IT MEANS TO CIRCUMCISE YOUR HEART Joshua 5:2–3 (NIV) 2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.” 3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth. God gave Joshua a strange command at a strategic moment: make knives out of stone and circumcise every Israelite male. So many men were circumcised that the place was named Gibeath Haaraloth—the Hill of Foreskins. It was a dramatic, painful, unforgettable act. Circumcision was not a random ritual. It was the sign of the Abrahamic covenant, the physical mark that identified a man as belonging to God’s chosen people. To the Jews, circumcision wasn’t optional; it was the entry point into covenant life. God Himself said in Genesis 17:14 that any uncircumcised male would be cut off from His people because he had broken the covenant. But here’s the crucial truth: God never wanted mere surgery. He wanted a symbol of a deeper reality. Physical circumcision was always meant to point to something far more profound— the circumcision of the heart. Before Israel could enter the Promised Land, God required a cutting away. Not just of flesh, but of anything that kept their hearts from fully belonging to Him. And the same is true for us today. True circumcision is of the heart What God truly seeks is not a physical circumcision, but a circumcision of the heart. True circumcision is an inward matter of the heart. Deuteronomy 30:6 (NIV) "The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live." Again, in Jeremiah 4:4 (NIV) "Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, circumcise your hearts…." In fact, those circumcised outwardly but not in their hearts are as good as being uncircumcised. This is made clear in Romans 2:28-29 (NIV) “A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God." What God ultimately desires is not the cutting of flesh, but the cutting of the heart. Physical circumcision was always meant to point to an inner, spiritual reality. Moses said it plainly in Deuteronomy 30:6 (NIV) "The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live." This was echoed in Jeremiah 4:4 (NIV) "Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, circumcise your hearts…." In other words, God is after something far deeper than a ritual. He wants a heart cut free from stubbornness, pride, sin, and divided affections. Scripture makes this even more striking: A person who is circumcised outwardly but unchanged inwardly is, in God’s eyes, no different from being uncircumcised. Paul drives this home in Romans 2:28–29 (NIV) “A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God." True belonging to God is not marked by a physical sign, but by an inward transformation. True circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit. It is the Spirit who cuts away what does not belong, who reshapes what is hardened, who marks us as God’s own. Heart circumcision is not about surgery; it is about surrender. Not about removing flesh but removing anything that keeps us from loving God fully. True circumcision begins with our union with Christ. True circumcision doesn’t start with human effort, it begins the moment we unite with Christ. Paul says in Colossians 2:11–12 (NIV) “in Him you were circumcised… not with a circumcision done by the hands of men, but with the circumcision done by Christ.” When we were buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through faith, God cut away our old sinful nature and made us alive in Christ. Under Joshua, the Israelites were circumcised with flint knives—pieces of rock. Today, Christ the Rock performs the circumcision. He is the One who cuts away the old life, the stubborn nature, the sin that once ruled us. Heart circumcision cannot happen apart from Him. It is His work, His blade, His Spirit. But just as Israel had to submit to the knife, we must respond to Christ. Grace is never passive. Salvation is fully God’s gift, yet it demands our surrender. Christ provides the Rock; we choose whether our hearts will be cut. Outside of Christ, our hearts remain uncircumcised—unchanged, untouched, spiritually dead. In Christ, we are positionally circumcised, marked, cleansed, and set apart as His own. Heart circumcision begins at conversion, but it continues as Christ keeps cutting away everything that does not belong in a life united with Him. True circumcision continues with your following Christ. True circumcision doesn’t end at conversion; it continues as we walk with Christ day by day. Positionally, God already considers us circumcised in Christ. But experientially, we must keep responding to Him in faith and obedience, because God continually looks at the condition of our hearts. Paul says in Galatians 5:6 (NIV) "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." And in 1 Corinthians 7:19 (NIV) “Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts.” Notice the ongoing tense—this is a lifelong journey. True circumcision means continually setting your heart apart for God. It means choosing His voice over your flesh, His will over your impulses, His commands over your convenience. It is the daily, deliberate shaping of a heart that belongs wholly to Him. True circumcision involves cutting away your sinful flesh Walking with Christ has two sides: the positive—faith and obedience. And the painful, cutting away the sinful nature. Moses said in Deuteronomy 10:16 (NIV) “Circumcise your hearts… and do not be stiff‑necked any longer.” Heart circumcision requires removing what resists God: pride, stubbornness, selfishness, hidden sin. Physical circumcision was painful and required days of healing. Spiritual circumcision can feel the same. God cuts away parts of us that we have grown attached to: habits, attitudes, desires, comforts, even roles or responsibilities we cling to for identity. This is the daily work of putting off the flesh. Every decision becomes a moment of examination: Did my flesh influence that choice? Was it for my glory? Was it for my personal gain? Was it simply to make me feel better? If the answer is yes, then the call is clear: cut it off. Circumcise the flesh. Throw it away. Let God remove what does not belong. This may touch even sensitive areas—your preferences, your comfort zones, your leadership roles, your sense of importance. If someone else can do a better job, let God cut away your pride. If you have grown overly attached to a project and it gets in the way, let Him prune that too. True circumcision says: “Lord, shape me however You wish. Cut whatever You must. I am Yours.” This is how God fashions a heart ready for His purposes. One cut free from the flesh and set apart for His glory. WHY YOUR HEART CIRCUMCISION IS IMPORTANT TO GOD God Himself requires the circumcision of your heart Joshua 5:2 (NIV) “At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “…circumcise…””. God didn’t suggest it, He commanded it. Jeremiah 4:4 (NIV) echoes the same call: “Circumcise your hearts.” Why? Because when your heart is circumcised, your flesh no longer stands in God’s way. The generation under Moses had the outward mark but not the inward reality. Their uncircumcised hearts produced unbelief, complaining, rebellion, and spiritual paralysis. They could not trust God, and they would not obey Him. But the generation under Joshua was different. Their hearts were cut. They trusted God. They silenced their fleshly thinking. They willingly became vulnerable, even in enemy territory, because they believed God would fight for them. God can only do great things in us and through us when our hearts are circumcised. Your flesh cannot carry you into your calling. Only a circumcised heart can. When God spoke to my wife and me about coming to Brisbane to plant a church, we were ready to go obediently despite not knowing what lay ahead. Because our hearts were already circumcised. Disobedience leads to an uncircumcised heart Joshua 5:4–6 (NIV) 4 Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of military age—died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt. 5 All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not. 6 The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the Lord. For the Lord had sworn to them that they would not see the land he had solemnly promised their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. The men of Israel were physically circumcised (v5), but when they refused to enter the Promised Land, their rebellion disrupted their covenant with God. Their outward mark meant nothing. God considered them as uncircumcised. Paul affirms this in Romans 2:25 (NIV) “Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you become as though you had not been circumcised.” That is why none of the males born in the wilderness was circumcised. The covenant had been disrupted by disobedience. When we choose ongoing, wilful disobedience, our hearts drift back into carnality. We stop being set apart for God. Heaven feels like brass. Our prayers lose power. Our spiritual authority weakens. And if we persist, we can be disqualified from God’s calling. Just like the Israelites who forfeited the Promised Land. Disobedience doesn’t just slow you down. It uncircumcises your heart. Heart circumcision restores your covenant with God Joshua 5:7 (NIV) So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way. When Israel crossed the Jordan, they demonstrated faith and obedience. Something their forefathers never did. That act of trust re-established the covenant. God renewed His relationship with them. The same is true for us. When we repent, when we allow God to cut away what does not belong, our covenant relationship is restored. 1 John 1:9 (NIV) “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Repentance is heart circumcision in action. It brings back purity, clarity, anointing, and spiritual authority. I have seen this in real life. I know of a pastor who lost his anointing after his adultery and sin of divorcing his wife. But when he repented, the anointing returned. Why? Because heart circumcision restores what disobedience disrupts. BLESSINGS THAT COME WITH YOUR HEART CIRCUMCISION It draws God’s approval Joshua 5:9 (NIV) Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the place has been called Gilgal to this day. When Israel circumcised their hearts through obedience, God said, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” The shame was lifted. The displeasure was removed. There is no greater joy than knowing the King of the Universe is pleased with you. That your life is aligned with His will, that your heart is positioned at the very centre of His purpose. Heart circumcision brings you into the place where God says, “I am pleased with you.” Let’s make sure our lives continually draw His approval. We can experience God’s covenantal blessings Joshua 5:10–12 (NIV) 10 On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. 11 The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. 12 The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan. Passover is God’s covenant in action. A visible reminder that when God makes a covenant, He pledges Himself to His people. In the Abrahamic covenant, He promised blessing, multiplication, provision, and victory. But covenant blessing flows when we keep our hearts set apart for Him. Passover proved that God never abandons His people. In Egypt, He delivered Israel, judged their oppressors, and caused judgment to pass over His own. A circumcised heart keeps us under God’s covenant covering. God stands with us, protects us, and blesses those who bless us. We see this in real life. Jackie Pullinger, as a young woman, served among triads and drug addicts in Hong Kong. Often in dangerous situations, yet God protected her because she walked in covenant obedience. Her ministry thrived and experienced much breakthroughs. God is a covenant‑making God and a covenant‑keeping God. Eating the produce of the Promised Land (v11) was another sign of covenant fulfilment. After forty years of delay caused by disobedience, Israel finally tasted what God had promised. When we persevere, we too taste God’s promises. Hebrews 10:36 (NIV) "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." Sharon Damazio, the wife of Ps Frank Damazio, was unable to have children despite much prayer. They adopted 2 children. Then to their great surprise after 12 years, God blessed them and gave her two children. Then the manna stopped (v12). Manna was miraculous, but it was baby food. Meant for the wilderness, not the Promised Land. Many Christians still live on manna, depending only on Sunday sermons, never learning to gather and prepare spiritual food for themselves. But God wants maturity. He wants us to cross the Jordan, step out in faith, and learn to feed ourselves and eventually feed others. When our hearts are circumcised, we grow by God’s grace from needing manna to producing fruit. And we’ve seen it in our own church, those who choose heart circumcision grow rapidly and deeply. They are the ones who are able to minister life to others. CONCLUSION True circumcision of the heart is about surrender, cutting off the world’s influence and setting ourselves apart for God. It is allowing the Holy Spirit to progressively cut away areas in our lives that are not aligned with God. That draws God’s approval and covenantal blessings of fruitfulness. Copyright©️2026 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

Ever sat in a worship service but not engaging in worship? Perhaps we lost some motivation or inspiration to worship God? Let me share why we should choose, even will ourselves to worship God. Why we need to break past those obstacles to worship in our hearts. CALLED TO WORSHIP Psa 98:4-6 (NIV84) 4 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; 5 make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, 6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn— shout for joy before the LORD, the King. The Psalmist called upon all the earth to worship God. This reflects God’s call to all the earth to worship Him. Not only has God created us to worship Him, by putting in us an inherent inbuilt desire to worship God (see my article ‘Even Stone Will Worship”), but He also calls us to worship Him. Just like a conductor who desires to draw out the best from his musicians, God is drawing out worship from all the earth. But why does God call us to worship? Does God even have to do that? After all, don’t we have that innate desire in our hearts to worship God? One big difference between us and inanimate objects and even animals is that we have understanding and choice. We worship only when we choose to, because we desire to. Yet how many of us know the reality that so many Christians find worship difficult? Why is that? Because so many have had their innate desire for worship of God damaged, tainted by sin. There is this ache for worship but so deep in us that many of us don’t even realise it. So, we reach out to worship something else. So many have had their innate desire for worship of God damaged, tainted by sin. Rom 1:25 (NIV) They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator… As a result, mankind ends up worshipping all kinds of things. Whether it be worshipping other spirits or idols, sex, entertainment, money, music, celebrities and so forth. All of these further buries our desire to worship God even deeper. But all of these are never truly satisfying. They are never truly lasting. It is like giving toddlers soft drinks instead of milk. They may go hyper active, but it is not deeply satisfying. Not nutritious. Many still have all those years of misdirected worship suppressing our true worship of God. Now when a Christian comes to God, many still have all those years of misdirected worship suppressing our true worship of God. We have to get past the distractions, the wrong perspectives, our garbled spiritual senses. We need retuning. Tuning away from distractions. Tuning into biblical perspectives. We need God’s help to retune our spiritual sense to God’ Presence. So that when our spiritual senses have been adequately restored – we will resonate with God when God turns up. When He manifests His Presence – we sense it. When we worship God – it is like heaven’s doors open! We then sense the joy, peace, strength, power and so on. We need God’s help to retune our spiritual sense to God’ Presence. Once, I was with a bunch of young Australians and they were discussing what it was like to enter God’s Presence in worship. One of them used to be a drug user and he said worshipping God is like having a drug high, but without the hangover or addiction. An interesting comparison. So why does God call us to worship? It challenges us to rise up to worship. To awaken the innate desire in our hearts for worship. Let us look at some of the means that God challenges us to worship. Why does God call us to worship? It challenges us to rise up to worship. To awaken the innate desire in our hearts for worship. WORSHIP FROM THE OVERFLOW OF OUR HEARTS Psa 98:4 (NIV84) Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; Our worship is never meant to be quiet, private. Rather we are to shout for joy and to burst forth into jubilant song. When you want to wake up somebody who is sleeping soundly, you do not tiptoe quietly and whisper to them, “Wake up”. You shout, “Wake Up, Jeff!” just like the famous Wiggles. In the same way, when you want to awaken worship in our hearts, you do not tiptoe and whisper. You stir it, you stimulate it, you revive it. You give it a shot in the arm! You wake up your soul and spirit to worship! Psa 57:8 (NIV) Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. So when you come to worship God, it does not help if you are quiet, subdued, reticent in your worship. You ought to worship with gusto. We cannot be subtle. Shake off the cobwebs over your worshipper’s heart! Pull away the layers of misplaced worship! When our eldest son Paul the toddler, he did not learn to crawl because he was all wrapped up in layers of clothes during winter. We had to take away the layers of cloth! Only then could he move enough to learn to crawl. Dust away the sin that covers over our innate desire for worship. Let the worshipper shine forth! Most importantly it must come from our hearts. Scriptures declare “shout for joy”. It is not just a worship shout but a shout that overflows from our joyful heart. Worship can only truly happen when we discover the joy in God. God is challenging us to come to that place in our hearts. Because true worship is not about being compelled by external forces. Rather, it is being compelled by inner desire. True worship is not about being compelled by external forces. Rather, it is being compelled by inner desire. John 4:23 (NIV) Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks… It must come from our heart, our spirit. True worship should not be defined by how great our worship band is. It is defined by how desirous you are to worship God. When I was a young Christian, worship was an obligation, something expected of Christians. Now worship is about meeting with God, about expressing my heart to Him and allowing Him to touch my body, soul and spirit. WORSHIP WITH ALL POSSIBLE WAYS Psa 98:5-6 (NIV84) 5 make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, 6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn— shout for joy before the LORD, the King. We are called to worship God with all of our creativity! God gave us creativity so that we may worship Him creatively. With every instrument that we can create. We are to make a joyful noise with them all. God gave us creativity so that we may worship Him creatively. When you worship God in song, in dance, in music, in painting, in poems, in graphics and so forth - you begin to awaken different parts of your soul to worship God. It is like stimulating all the different parts of your brain to re-discover how to worship God. It is like stretching worship muscles you never even knew you had. All of who you are were created to worship God. Your body, soul and spirit. Every part. So worship God with all that you are. May I encourage you to discover all the different ways to express your worship of God. God gave us our creativity. Use it to the fullest to worship God! All of who you are were created to worship God. Your body, soul and spirit. OUR CAUSE FOR WORSHIP Psa 98:1-3 (NIV84) “1 Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. 2The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. 3 He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” The psalmist sang about experiences of God that stirred a desire to sing praises to God, to worship Him. In the psalmist’s context it was God demonstrating His saving grace to the house of Israel. God showed He was faithful to Israel. Possibly God had protected Israel from some terrible situation. We do not have any details of that in the Bible. Yet this portion reminds us that there can be reasons or causes that stir us to worship God. One is having an awe of God that moves us into worship. Another is when we experience God’s blessings, it can motivate us to worship. So there are things happening around us that can be a cause for us to worship God, if you recognise God’s hand in it. You will have a cause to worship when you recognise God’s hand working around us. You will have a cause to worship when you recognise God’s hand working around us. CONCLUSION God created you and I, in fact all of creation, with the capacity and the innate inclination to worship God! Let us throw aside all the hindrances of distractions, of wrong perspectives and retune ourselves. So that we reach the purity of response to God. Let us respond to God’s call by choosing to worship and allowing ourselves to connect with God through worship! Copyright©️2026 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

Episodes by Intercession Episodes Not Found Search using single words or Boolean operators AND/OR i.e. "God AND faith” ALL Leadership Prophetic Intercession 16 Sept 2026 | Intercessors Functioning In Mercy Ministry Mercy intercessors are God’s living “stethoscopes”—hearing the root of pain and extending His mercy, not judgment. In this episode we unpack how tears can release spiritual, emotional, and physical healing, and how to walk in mercy without burning out. I032 Intercession Lai Ling Button 22 Jul 2026 | Personal intercession (Part 2) Personal intercessors quietly shape history by partnering with God in the lives of others. They pray regularly, write down what the Holy Spirit shows them—scriptures, dreams, impressions, warnings—and wait for God’s timing before sharing anything. The more God can trust your integrity, pursuit of holiness, and heart of submission, the more He will entrust you with His heart for others. I031 Intercession Lai Ling Button 20 May 2026 | Personal Intercessors (Part 1) Leaders need our prayers and intercession more than we often realize. God appoints personal intercessors to stand in the gap for pastors, missionaries, spiritual leaders, and those in government—carrying confidential burdens, divine wisdom, and God’s will into the throne room. These intercessors help protect, provision, and guide leadership through spiritual wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Colossians 1:9 reminds us to pray that leaders be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. When we intercede, we become God’s hands lifting up His anointed so they walk clearly in His direction, not in human opinion. I030 Intercession Lai Ling Button 18 Mar 2026 | Intercessors Contending For Spiritual Births Intercessors are God's spiritual midwives—standing in the gap, labouring in prayer until lost souls cross from darkness into His marvellous light. 'I planted, Apollos watered, but God causes the growth' (1 Cor 3:6-7). Who's God calling you to contend for today? I029 Intercession Lai Ling Button 19 Jan 2026 | Intercessors praying against injustice God is raising a generation of intercessors who refuse to stay silent while injustice prevails. They carry His heartbeat, pray His Word, and stand in the gap until His righteousness is revealed. I028 Intercession Lai Ling Button 22 Oct 2025 | Thriving Prayer List Intercessor Learn how a thriving prayer list intercessor prays with love, discipline, and grace — and why it makes all the difference. I027 Intercession Lai Ling Button 20 Aug 2025 | Discovering sphere of influence in prayer We are all called to pray—but each of us carries a unique sphere of influence in prayer. What’s yours? Discover it. Develop it. Use it for God’s glory. Join us for the new intercession series: Standing in the Gap. I026 Intercession Lai Ling Button 18 Jun 2025 | Intercession Insights with Ps Mayette Alkuino What a privilege it is to glean from Ps Mayette, the Senior Pastor of Oasis Bangkok Church in Thailand. She has been involved in the intercessory ministry for over three decades. Be encouraged and built up in God as we learn from Ps Mayette's experiences in prayer and intercession. I025 Intercession Lai Ling Button 16 Apr 2025 | War Room Being prayerful means being powerful in the war room. Every day, we face battles in the spiritual realm—but with faith in God, we’re not fighting empty-handed. Let’s discover how He’s equipped us to stand strong against every scheme of the enemy! I024 Intercession Lai Ling Button 19 Feb 2025 | Prayer for Protection No one is exempt from temptation, but we can call upon Jesus to overcome it. Let’s explore how to yield to God and rely on His strength and wisdom. Trust in His protection! I023 Intercession Lai Ling Button 1 2 3 4 1 ... 1 2 3 4 ... 4 Your generosity helps further our mission to equip leaders. Ask us anything related to our ministry focuses. Ask Us Subscribe for updates! Be the first to hear about new podcast episodes, blog posts, and more!

Episodes Not Found Search using single words or Boolean operators AND/OR i.e. "God AND faith” ALL Leadership Prophetic Intercession Button 16 Sept 2026 | Intercessors Functioning In Mercy Ministry Mercy intercessors are God’s living “stethoscopes”—hearing the root of pain and extending His mercy, not judgment. In this episode we unpack how tears can release spiritual, emotional, and physical healing, and how to walk in mercy without burning out. I032 Lai Ling Intercession Button 2 Sept 2026 | It Begins Within Leaders often carry heavy loads: responsibilities, expectations, constant decisions. The difference between those who thrive and those who burn out? Inner strength. In this episode, we unpack how clarity, courage, and capacity form the foundation of sustainable leadership. It begins within. L068 Wilson Lim Leadership Button 19 Aug 2026 | The Role Of Godly Love In Unlocking The Prophetic Spiritual gifts are powerful, but we need to operate in them through godly love. Godly love enables us to see people through Jesus’ eyes—not through the lens of their flaws, weaknesses, or past mistakes. As we grow in love, we grow in discernment and reflect God’s redemptive heart. P031 Lai Ling Prophetic Button 5 Aug 2026 | Updraft: Posturing to be lifted by God Ever watch a bird soar without flapping? It finds the thermal and lets the air carry it higher. What if that’s how God wants you to lead? Stop striving in your own strength and start leaning into His updraft. When God goes first, doors open, walls fall, and your soul finds real rest. L067 Wilson Lim Leadership Button 22 Jul 2026 | Personal intercession (Part 2) Personal intercessors quietly shape history by partnering with God in the lives of others. They pray regularly, write down what the Holy Spirit shows them—scriptures, dreams, impressions, warnings—and wait for God’s timing before sharing anything. The more God can trust your integrity, pursuit of holiness, and heart of submission, the more He will entrust you with His heart for others. I031 Lai Ling Intercession Button 8 Jul 2026 | Spiritual Leadership with Dr Brendan Kirby Spiritual leadership isn’t just about ability – it’s about character, obedience, and intimacy with God. In this interview, Dr Brendan Kirby shares how prayer, fasting, and praying in tongues (even in your heart) build spirituality and strengthen leaders for spiritual warfare and kingdom impact. L066 Wilson Lim Leadership Button 17 Jun 2026 | Developing in Discernment (Part 2) Spiritual discernment develops over time as we learn to walk closely with Jesus, stay anchored in the Word, and remain sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Discernment is not superstition or fear; it is a Spirit-led way of living that helps us move with wisdom, peace, and confidence in God’s truth. P030 Lai Ling Prophetic Button 3 Jun 2026 | Adaptive Leadership: Qualities Of Situational Leadership (Part 2) True leadership isn’t measured by how much a leader does, but by how much their people are growing. Situational Leadership challenges us to move beyond a “one‑size‑fits‑all” style and learn to lead with intention, clarity, and flexibility. When leaders clearly define goals, honestly assess readiness, and adjust their approach, they release the potential of every follower. This is how God develops mighty men and women from the most unexpected places. L065 Wilson Lim Leadership Button 20 May 2026 | Personal Intercessors (Part 1) Leaders need our prayers and intercession more than we often realize. God appoints personal intercessors to stand in the gap for pastors, missionaries, spiritual leaders, and those in government—carrying confidential burdens, divine wisdom, and God’s will into the throne room. These intercessors help protect, provision, and guide leadership through spiritual wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Colossians 1:9 reminds us to pray that leaders be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. When we intercede, we become God’s hands lifting up His anointed so they walk clearly in His direction, not in human opinion. I030 Lai Ling Intercession Button 6 May 2026 | Adaptive Leadership For Varying Situations (Part 1) Why One-Size-Fits-All Leadership Fails: Adaptive Leaders Flex between high-control Telling, persuasive Selling, collaborative Participating to trust-based Delegating modes. Learn some practical insights to diagnose readiness & accelerate follower growth from insecurity to ownership. Discover more in this podcast. L064 Wilson Lim Leadership 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 ... 14 Your generosity helps further our mission to equip leaders. Ask us anything related to our ministry focuses. Ask Us Subscribe for updates! Be the first to hear about new podcast episodes, blog posts, and more!

Mercy intercessors are God’s living “stethoscopes”—hearing the root of pain and extending His mercy, not judgment. In this episode we unpack how tears can release spiritual, emotional, and physical healing, and how to walk in mercy without burning out. Previous I032 Intercessors Functioning In Mercy Ministry Intercession Lai Ling Mercy intercessors are God’s living “stethoscopes”—hearing the root of pain and extending His mercy, not judgment. In this episode we unpack how tears can release spiritual, emotional, and physical healing, and how to walk in mercy without burning out. Next Wilson Lim Podcast Listen & Subscribe On Youtube Spotify Apple Podcasts Download Leader Guide Lai Ling Lim Podcast Listen & Subscribe On Youtube Spotify Apple Podcasts < Back More episodes I032 Intercessors Functioning In Mercy Ministry Intercession L068 It Begins Within Leadership P031 The Role Of Godly Love In Unlocking The Prophetic Prophetic L067 Updraft: Posturing to be lifted by God Leadership I031 Personal intercession (Part 2) Intercession L066 Spiritual Leadership with Dr Brendan Kirby Leadership P030 Developing in Discernment (Part 2) Prophetic L065 Adaptive Leadership: Qualities Of Situational Leadership (Part 2) Leadership I030 Personal Intercessors (Part 1) Intercession L064 Adaptive Leadership For Varying Situations (Part 1) Leadership 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 ... 14 Your generosity helps further our mission to equip leaders. Ask us anything related to our ministry focuses. Ask Us Subscribe for updates! Be the first to hear about new podcast episodes, blog posts, and more!