When COVID-19 spread across the globe, suddenly everyone faced huge uncertainties.  Many were confronted with a level of unprecedented crisis. So many had to deal with upheavals to our lifestyles, our jobs, our finances, our health and even our faith!  Even though that phase has passed, yet there continues to be different forms of crisis that we may be confronted with.   In this blog we deal with the issue of crisis! Since many uncertainties are caused by crisis or the uncertainties are itself causing crisis to many.     How can we survive crisis?  How can we thrive in times of crisis?  In this blog, we look at Mark 4:35-41 where the disciples faced a crisis and they discovered that Christ-Is the solution to their crisis.    Mark 4:35-41 (NIV) 35  That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." 36  Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37  A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38  Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" 39  He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40  He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" 41  They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"   I will make 3 crucial observations that help us turn from crisis to Christ-Is.   Recognition that Christ-Is with us   Mark 4:37-38 (NIV)  “37  A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38  Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"   Imagine the small boat caught in a huge storm and huge waves.  The boat nearly capsizes as big waves crash over it.  Even the experienced fishermen amongst the disciples were beginning to panic. They were doing everything to keep the boat from being capsized but they are losing the battle against the storm.  Peter was yelling out orders, “Lower the sails quick before we are blown over. Andrew hold the rudder steady, face the front towards the waves.  Men row harder! Someone bail out the water!  We need more hands!  Where is Jesus?”   Up to that point, nobody thought about Jesus.  They were too caught up with the whole crisis situation.  Finally, someone realised Jesus Christ is with us!  Recognising that Jesus was with them was the starting point to get out of the crisis! We must recognise that Christ-Is present with us.  For Christ-Is already with Christians, through the Holy Spirit in our lives.   Where is Jesus Christ? As far as we are concerned?  The real issue is not so much where He is, but do we realise or recognise where He is!?  We must recognise that Christ-Is present with us.  For Christ-Is already with Christians, through the Holy Spirit in our lives.  Jesus is in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.   Galatians 4:6 (NIV) Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba , Father."   But often we fail to recognise that.  We function as if Christ is not with us.  At times, we are running around like chooks with our heads cut off. “Help! God!”  And He is like “Uh Guys?  I am right here!”   It reminds me of one time in my university days.  I was at a friend’s place so engrossed with TV show that I failed to notice a church friend had joined me in the room.  I wasn’t paying attention other than what I was focussed on.  It must have been about 5 minutes later that I turned and saw her standing there.  We do that a lot to Jesus! If we fail to recognise that Jesus is with us, then we fail to gain from Him being with us.   If we fail to recognise that Jesus is with us, then we fail to gain from Him being with us.  We fail to take comfort.  We fail to gain strength.  We fail because we simply do nothing even though He is present with us.   In late 2015 BBC hosted a number of Adele impersonators. They impersonated Adele because they adored her.  Each one of them got on stage to impersonate Adele singing.  One by one they did their best.  Then the last impersonator Jenny got up looking rather nervously to sing.  When she started singing, one by one the impersonators gasped when they realised that it was actually Adele!  Adele had disguised herself and even spoke with a different accent.  None of the impersonators realised it was her even after hanging out with her for a few hours.  None of them had paid that much attention to her.  After Adele revealed herself, they all had fun singing together and learning from her.  But only after they recognised she was there with them.   Why do we often fail to recognise Christ-Is with us?  Because many fail to become familiar with His presence.  Many fail to become attuned to His Presence.  To know in our head is not the same as knowing in our heart.  Crisis have an uncanny ability to expose what is actually in our heart.  Because in emotional times, we often act out of what is in our hearts, rather than in our minds. Under pressure, we often act out of what we feel, more than what we know.   How do we get out of this failure?  Learn to recognise His Presence in our lives.  Recognise His manifest presence with us.  Recognise His hand upon our lives.  When I am ministering, I gain deep comfort when I sense God’s tangible presence with me.  The ability to discern this makes a big difference in my ministry.  Remember that after all, Jesus has promised to be with us.   Matthew 28:20 (NIV) … surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Start by turning our eyes away from crisis to recognising Christ-Is with us.    How can we deal with crisis?  Start by turning our eyes away from crisis to recognising Christ-Is with us.    Significance of Christ-Is with us   Mark 4:39 (NIV) “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.”   Right there and then, Jesus demonstrated that He had authority over the wind and waves. Up to that point, even though the disciples had seen miraculous healing, they still did not understand the significance of Jesus as the Son of God.  They did not understand the significance of Jesus Christ being with them! If they knew, they would not have panicked.  They would have woken Jesus, “Can you please tell the storm to stop?” There is great significance to have "Christ-Is with us."    There is great significance to have "Christ-Is with us."  What does it mean to you to have Jesus Christ with you?  Imagine if Bill Gates came and sat beside you.  What would you say to him?  You ask, “But what is he famous for?” “He founded Microsoft that produces the most popular PC operating system in the world. You might say, “Gosh, I know very little about computer software – I don’t know what to say to him.” But what if you knew he is also the world’s 3rd richest man?  And one of the world’s biggest philanthropist? Having given away more than 55 billion USD? Suddenly you realise you could ask him to help fund your favourite projects.   If Jesus is only a man, even a wise man - it would make no difference to any of us.  What can He do to help us in our crisis? Because Jesus is God, it makes all the difference!  God who is all-knowing, all-wise, all-powerful.  He can truly help us through whatever we are struggling with. Then there is great significance when Christ-Is with us! What hinders us from grasping the full significance of Christ-is with us?   The question is do we grasp the significance? What hinders us from grasping the full significance of Christ-is with us?  The key is this.  Knowing in our head, but not knowing in our hearts.  The information in our head has to become conviction in our hearts.  It has to get through to our hearts that Christ-Is far bigger than our crisis.  No crisis is too big for Christ. Mark 4:40-41 (NIV) 40  He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" 41  They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" Christ-Is far bigger than our crisis. It took Jesus’s disciples time to grasp the significance of Jesus with them.  It usually takes time for us to grasp it too.  It is as we walk with Him and experience His work in our lives that we begin to truly grasp the significance of Christ-Is with us.  What is our conviction today?  About God? That He is bigger than any crisis?   Trust in Christ-Is with us   Mark 4:40 (NIV)  “He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"   Basically, Jesus is saying, “Don’t you have faith in me?  Don’t you trust I can handle this?  After all, you knew I am present with you.  I am the Son of God!”  In the same way, I want to talk in terms of who Christ-Is to us.  Is He someone we trust? It is one thing to know that He is with us.  It is one thing to know He is God.  But do we actually trust Him? To help us through our crisis?   On June 30 1959, a huge crowd were watching the world-famous tightrope walker, Charles Blondin, in his attempt to cross the Niagara Falls.  A fall from such a height would kill anyone.  Blondin crossed the rope numerous times - a 335m trip, 50m above the raging water to great applause.  The story is told that he spoke to the crowd, asking if they believed he could take one of them across on a wheelbarrow.  Of course, they all enthusiastically shouted their agreement.  Then he asked one of them to volunteer.  But no one did.  They gave their mental assent but when it came to the crunch - they did not trust Blondin enough.   Do we trust God enough to get into God’s wheelbarrow?  Bible tells us that God is absolutely trustworthy and faithful.  He keeps His promises to those who follow Him.  Deuteronomy 7:9 (NIV) Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. Many years ago, as a young believer, I knew what the Bible said about God trustworthiness and faithfulness.  But I also knew that I would struggle to get unto God’s wheelbarrow.  I knew that I did not trust God deeply.  What was the solution?  I had to get on the wheelbarrow.  That was the only way to experience God’s faithfulness and to learn to trust Him more.  That has been my journey with God the past 30 years.  I am still in the wheelbarrow with God.  God has proven Himself faithful and a keeper of promises.  God has provided for us and seen us through the highs and lows.  Through financial challenges, through my PhD, through my career as a research scientist.  Through major ailments, through various crisis.  Through all these, God has proven himself faithful.  Indeed, He has blessed us abundantly! Remember that God is the Good Shepherd who cares for us.   Remember that God is the Good Shepherd who cares for us.  Psalm 23:1-4 (NIV) 1  The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3  he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.   God is our Good Shepherd.  He cares for us and lovingly leads us to green pastures.  Even though there be valleys of death – God will guide us through it.  Are we willing to trust Him enough to bring us through our crisis? To get into God’s wheelbarrow? God has the power to help.  God also has the heart to help.   God has the power to help.  God also has the heart to help.  This is shown by the most sacrificial act in the universe.  Bible reveals that we are all sinners.  Sin is rotting and destroying our lives and those around us.  We all experience the evidence of such sin.  The unforgiveness, the bitterness, the jealousy, the hatred, the selfishness.  Like a raging storm of darkness in our hearts. God who is absolutely holy has to judge this sin and expel it.  The judgment is eternal punishment, eternal condemnation in hell away from everybody else. So every person has been condemned because of this sin in our own hearts.   But God loves us so much that He could not leave us in such a state.  So God himself came and paid the penalty of our sins by dying on the cross for us.  He took the burden of sin upon himself.  But we have to make a choice, a commitment to accept what Jesus did on the cross.  We have to choose to place our trust in Jesus to save us from our sins. Only God can help us overcome the power of sin. God did all of this because He wants to help us.  That is why God can be trusted.  Will you choose today to get into God’s wheelbarrow?  Will you trust in Him?     Conclusion   So in any crisis we may face, we can turn from crisis to Christ-Is.  How?  Recognising that Christ-Is with us – He is here for us now.   Understanding the significance of Christ-Is with us – that He is bigger than all our crisis.  Trusting in Christ who is here for us – He is the one who can deliver us, when we get into God’s wheelbarrow. Copyright©️2025 by Wilson Lim & Lai Ling 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.

Have you found that life is getting faster? And faster? And faster? Like a runaway out of control train? Welcome to the 21st century. We live in a fast-paced and highly pressuring world. In a 2012 Australian survey of wellbeing and stress, it was found that people are generally more stressed than a year ago. 22% reported facing moderate to severe distress. 34% experience depression symptoms. Young adults were the most stressed, particularly students and the unemployed. We know we are under stress when your lecturer hands out a new assignment and you feel like crying. When the boss asks to see you and you feel your stomach tightening. When you have to take deep breaths before you step into your home. We know when we are under stress, when in your dreams instead of counting sheep, you count unpaid bills. When you finish a box of chocolates in one go, without realising it. When you look at your iPhone and you wish Steven Jobs is still around. How are Australians managing stress? The survey tells us 40% drink alcohol to manage stress. 69% eat. 57% shop! 85% watch TV. We need to understand how to deal with pressure of many different kinds in our lives. In Acts 7, we can find some keys how some men of God dealt with pressures in their life . PURSUE HIGHER PROMISES (v2-5) Have you ever being in situations or know of people who were in situations where things seem very challenging? And the key thing that helped them pull through was the hope that things will get better? Stephen recounted the story of Abraham.   Acts 7:2-5 (NIV)  “2 …The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran. 3 ‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’ 4 “So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living. 5 He gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child.” A man who faced major challenges to his faith yet pulled through. Abraham was a man who received incredible promises from God. Gen 12:1 - 2 (NIV)  1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. Many people think that when they receive promises from God, it is like a Christmas gift. Just something to receive and enjoy. No doubt, some promises are like that. But some other promises serve a different purpose. Some promises are intended to pull us through the challenging times that we will face. Abraham faced a number of major challenges, one of which was his childlessness.   Gen 15:2-3 (NIV)  2 But Abram said, “O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”   Imagine the pain, the inner turmoil of a husband and his wife reaching old age and unable to produce any child of their own. And particularly in the culture of those days. It was seen as a major personal inadequacy. What pressures it must bring to them? In those days, women are divorced when they are unable to produce an offspring. Sadly, it still happens to some extent today. At least today we know that the fault can be just as much the men who may be firing blanks. Yet despite the difficulty of the situation, Abraham pulled through because he had God’s promises to give him hope. Abraham pursued after the higher promises rather than resign to the hopelessness of his physical situation. It is like even when we are surrounded by total darkness, a light lies ahead and we know that is a way out. God has given us many general promises through the Scriptures. And God may have given some of us specific promises. Promises God laid upon your heart or came through prophetic words. God’s promises that keep hope burning should be clung to. Don’t let them go during tough times but cherish them. Pursue the higher promises! Nick Vujicic has no limbs but refuses to let his challenges stop him. Today he has travelled around the world as a motivational speaker and sharing his testimony about God’s grace. He pursued the higher promises! In tough times, pursue after the higher promises, the promises of God! Keep positive, have hope by focusing on the higher promises. Often we get dragged down by the many challenges around us. But look up and remember God’s promises. Cling on to God’s promises! Pursue the higher promises! To be continued in Part 2   Copyright©️2021 by Wilson Lim & Lai Ling 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.

In Part 1 we noted the increasingly higher-pressure cooker we seem to live in today. It seems like our world is determined to grill us alive. We began to examine how select men of God handled such pressure in their lives. The first key was to pursue the higher promises of God for our lives. We continue the topic here. SOAR ABOVE OUR SITUATIONS (v9-11) Stephen recounted Joseph’s story. Acts 7:9-10 (NIV) “9“Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him 10 and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt; so he made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace.” Here we find a teenager who was so despised by his own brothers that they kidnapped him and sold him as a slave into a foreign land. Most would have acquired a rejection syndrome. Imagine the trauma of a favoured son who suddenly was forced into slavery in a foreign land, utterly alone. Then as a foreign slave, his master’s wife tried to seduce him and because he tried to avoid adultery, was wrongly accused and thrown into prison. Imagine the stress of being accused of a crime you never committed and thrown into prison, a rotting hell-hole. As a foreign slave turned criminal, he would have been literally treated as a non-person. How would you have responded to devastating situations like that? Yet in each and every case, Joseph soared above his situation. As a foreign slave, he became the best and most trusted chief slave in his master’s house. Even as prisoner, he became the most trusted prisoner – given opportunity to manage the insides of the entire prison. Eventually, he was vindicated and appointed by pharaoh to be the Prime Minister. The foreign slave and prisoner rose to be Prime Minister! He made it a habit to turn life’s lemons into lemonade. He soared above his situations. God did not abandon Joseph even when his family did. God saw that Joseph had the qualities that enabled him to soar high. For Joseph was a man who responded out of who he was in God instead of giving in to the pressure of the situation. Gen 39:9 (NIV) No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” He did not allow situations to become his excuses. Don’t allow your challenges to become excuses. This reflected Stephen’s attitude as well. He did not bow to the pressure but focussed on who he was in God. All of us face personal challenges. But will we choose to be like Joseph and turn life’s lemons into lemonades? People can say unkind or critical things about you or about your group or even about church. Do we let that unsettle us? Or do we challenge ourselves to improve instead? As a church leader, I had to face criticisms of various kinds, some very unfair. Some rather personally directed at me. But instead of getting hurt and wounded or giving up, I chose each time to improve, to learn from it. I stand upon who I am in God and press on. Your lecturer may inform you that you failed your assignment or test. Your boss may inform you that your project failed. Do you sink through the floor and quietly die, give up? Or do you resolve to soar above the situation, looking to God for His grace? God promises to be there for us. Isa 43:2 (NLT) 2 When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. Psa 34:9 - 10 (NLT) 9 Let the LORD’S people show him reverence, for those who honor him will have all they need. 10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the LORD will never lack any good thing. So look to God for strength and determine to soar! RESPOND RATHER THAN REACT (v23-29) Stephen then recounted about Moses. Acts 7:23-29 (NIV) “23 “When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his fellow Israelites. 24 He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian. 25 Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not. 26 The next day Moses came upon two Israelites who were fighting. He tried to reconcile them by saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why do you want to hurt each other?’ 27 “But the man who was mistreating the other pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us? 28 Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ 29 When Moses heard this, he fled to Midian…” How on the spur of the moment Moses killed a slave master out of anger. How he reacted instead of responding to the situation. What is the difference between responding and reacting? To respond is to rationally reflect through a situation before taking action. This reflection can take 5 seconds, an hour. A day or longer. It is not the timeframe but the fact that there was a weighing up of the situation to find the best possible solution. Responding is guided more by objectivity than by emotion. To react is a spontaneous action usually based upon emotion rather than intellect. Usually, we react when we are unprepared or overwhelmed in feelings such as anger, frustration, lust, etc. Moses had a bit of history of reacting in anger. Ex 32:19 - 20 (NIV) 19 When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain. 20 And he took the calf they had made and burned it in the fire; then he ground it to powder, scattered it on the water and made the Israelites drink it. Num 20:10 - 12 (NLT) 10 Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. “Listen, you rebels!” he shouted. “Must we bring you water from this rock?” 11 Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So all the people and their livestock drank their fill. 12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!” Moses sometimes made the mistake of reacting rather than responding. Reacting under pressure often makes matters worse. I heard there was once an argument that developed between a husband and wife. The husband came home after a tough day at work. As a result, he was less than attentive to his wife. Upset, the wife accused him, “You never give me the same attention anymore!” Frustrated, the husband reacted, “Well, you are not the same girl I married.” You can imagine more fireworks after such a statement. Often, we react the most to those closest to us. This often hurts the relationship and cause even more stress to the people closest to us. A few simple tips to move from reacting to responding: Know when to shut your mouth. Better to say nothing than to regret it. Better to have a bit of thought about how to have something constructive to say. Know when to walk away and come back when you have cooled down and have had some time to think things over. Know when not to make decisions. When your blood is boiling. When your frustration level is too high. When your emotions are running hot. Those are not good times for decision-making. CONCLUSION We all face pressure of different kinds. Let’s learn to deal with pressures by God’s grace. Learn to pursue higher promises from God in the face of our challenges. To soar above your situations by choosing to turn life’s lemons into lemonade. To respond rather than to react during times of pressure. Copyright©️2021 by Wilson Lim & Lai Ling 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.

The concept of tithing can be a point of contention amongst Christians.  Some practice it almost religiously while some on the other extreme reject it utterly. We believe this can be resolved by a careful examination of Scripture to unlock the truths about tithing.  For if we can correctly understand God’s intentions and heart behind it, we can then align ourselves to His ways and reap the benefits of practising it in the way that best touches God’s heart.   This will be the first in a series of studies about tithing, seeking to unlock the biblical truths associated and inform us on how it should be practiced today.  This study will examine the biblical basis for tithing.    WHAT IS A TITHE?   Leviticus 27:30–32 (NIV)  30 “ ‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. 32 Every tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the Lord.   The word tithe in Hebrew is maasar  and means one-tenth. Essentially God is declaring that one-tenth of all the produce of the land and of the livestock belongs to God. That is essentially what it means to be made “holy” or sacred for God.  Fundamentally, God views that a tenth of all their income and/or production belongs to God and the Israelites should return it to God.    WHERE WAS TITHING COMMANDED?   The clearest commandment on tithing was in the Law of Moses, as given in Lev 27:30-32. In many other passages in Scripture the command is reinforced, and God’s expectations expressed. In fact, when the Israelites failed to give their tithes to God, God judged them for robbing Him.   Malachi 3:8–10 (NIV) 8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. The failure to tithe was not simply a failure of generosity or even just a failure of obedience.  It was all that but most importantly, it was robbing God of what rightfully belongs to Him.   Hence, the failure to tithe was not simply a failure of generosity or even just a failure of obedience.  It was all that but most importantly, it was robbing God of what rightfully belongs to Him. No wonder God declared that His judgment was open the entire nation. This underscored the importance of the principle of tithing to God.   Yet it is often argued by some that tithing was a legalistic requirement in the Laws of Moses and thus it should no longer be practiced today. However, is that argument biblical?   TITHING BEFORE THE LAW OF MOSES   In Gen 14 is recorded the story of how Abram rescued Lot from 4 kings who plundered Sodom and Gomorrah.  Abram went after the 4 kings and in an amazing military feat, defeated them all and rescued Lot and his family.  In addition, he plundered the kings. When Abram met Melchizedek, the king of Salem and priest to God Most High, Abram offered to Melchizedek a tithe of the spoils of war.   Genesis 14:18–20 (NIV)  18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.   In effect, Abram was tithing to God by giving to God’s priest (see also Heb 7:4). Thus, Abram understood the principle of tithing to God in recognition that the spoils of war represented an increase of his income or possessions.   Some have argued that since Abram was tithing out of the spoils of war it cannot be used to support the view that Abraham was tithing as a lifestyle.  Further, they supported this by arguing Scripture did not ever show Abram tithing besides this point. [i]     Two major responses.  Firstly, because Scripture is silent on whether Abram tithed as a lifestyle, we cannot say either way.  It is obvious that the writer of Genesis did not seek to focus on tithing, as it had other matters of greater concern.  It only mentioned tithing to show Abram’s reverence towards God’s priest Melchizedek.  Secondly, we are not arguing that Abram necessarily was practising tithing as a faith lifestyle but that he had understood the principle of the tithe as a means of honouring God.   We also find the concept of tithing was clear to Jacob, the grandson of Abram.   Genesis 28:20–22 (NIV)  20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear 21 so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord will be my God 22 and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”   Jacob made the vow should God protect and provide for Him, then he would regard God as his deity. Accompanying that he would honour God with a tithe of all that God gives him. This showed that the concept of tithing was clear in His mind.  If he followed God, he would honour God by tithing.    We can only assume that Jacob was true to his word and kept his vow to tithe of everything that God gave him, which was a huge amount as we discover later in Genesis.  After all, Jacob had proven himself to be a man of his word through the many accounts.  Yet interestingly Scripture did not record him giving tithes back to God [ii] .  Why?  Perhaps because the writer had concerns other than tithing in Genesis.  Just as it was for the narrative on Abram. The Law of Moses codified an existing principle rather than introduce it.    The above practices demonstrates that the principle of tithing was understood and practiced long before the time of Moses.  In other words, the Law of Moses codified an existing principle rather than introduce it.    It must be qualified here that we are not stating that God demanded nor expected His followers of that era before the Law of Moses to tithe as a lifestyle.  Rather, simply that the principle of tithing was understood as a means to honour God.  However, the Law of Moses marked a shift in God’s expectation where God now demanded tithing as a lifestyle expectation of all who followed Him.  What Jacob did on his own initiative because he believed in its principle to honour God, God now expected of all His people.   TITHING DURING THE LAW OF MOSES   Since tithing was codified only in the Law of Moses, does that therefore indicate God never intended it to be an expectation for all believers today?  The key is understanding God’s intent.  There is always a reason for every regulation in the Law of Moses. Was it for health, relationships and social cohesion and function?  Was it to point towards a truth?  Was it a principle by which God wanted His followers to implement in their lives?    It is clear from the Old Testament why God demanded tithes of all His people.   Practically to support the Levitical priests and the functions of the temple as they had no other sources of income (Num 18:21-24).   To recognise and honour God as owner and provider of all things (Lev 27:30-32).  Hence to withhold tithes is to dishonour and rob God (Mal 3:8-10).   The question to be answered in New Testament times is this. Has any of these truly changed? That is, should nullify the practise of tithing?  Has the need to support God’s work and His workers that have given up on other sources of income changed?  Has God changed from being the owner and provider?  Does God no longer require honouring from His people through their giving?  Has God given another manner to honour God that replaces tithing?    TITHING IN THE NEW TESTAMENT   Now that we have shown tithing was practised by God’s people in the Old Testament, the question is does it carry through to the New Testament?    Matthew 23:23 (NIV)  23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. Jesus affirmed the practise of tithing in the New Testament.    Jesus rebuked the Pharisees who religiously practised tithing without showing justice, mercy and faithfulness. Jesus corrected them by stating that they should practice both. Therefore, Jesus affirmed the practise of tithing in the New Testament.  If Jesus had wanted the practice of tithing to be stopped or modified, He could have taken this opportunity to correct the concept or practise.  This He did with marriage and divorce, ceremonial washing, sabbath and others.  But not for tithing.   Some pushed back against this by arguing that Apostle Paul’s taught that the Christians should give willingly, not out of compulsion.  Hence, tithing should not be a New Testament command.   2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV)  Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.   However, this argument fails because they failed to take the context into consideration. Apostle Paul was not talking about tithing but rather about giving to help the Jerusalem churches during the time of famine (1 Cor 16:1-3). Paul was requesting for offerings, not tithes.  We do, however, accept the principles expressed by Paul in giving is universal.  That it should be out of our convictions (what we have decided in our hearts), willingness and not out of compulsion.    TITHING THROUGH THE CROSS   Some argue that after the crucifixion of Jesus ushered in New Testament grace, the legalistic practise of tithing should not be continued.  However, that represents a failure to appreciate God’s intentions of maintaining His eternal principles in both the Old and New Testaments.  In the Old Testament, principles are often introduced in the form of commands, ceremonies and more rigidly applied. In the New Testament, the eternal principles are expressed much more clearly and applied with grace.  The cross of Jesus represents the transforming connection between both Testaments where under grace, the forms, ceremonies are shed and most commands. But the principle remains and is clarified. I expounded these principles in greater depth in my blog articles “Covenant in the Bible (Part 5): How the Old connects with the New” and “Covenant in the Bible (Part 6): How the Old became New.” The cross of Jesus represents the transforming connection between both Testaments where under grace, the forms, ceremonies are shed and most commands. But the principle remains and is clarified.   The fact that tithing was practised before the codified form and commands of the Law of Moses and continued to be affirmed by Jesus in the New Testament leads us to conclude it is an eternal principle. Hence, tithing should continue to be practised, as a principle.   THE BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE OF TITHING   To understand why tithing is a biblical principle, we need to understand why God required tithing in the first place.  Let me unpack some of the key reasons.   It reminds us that God is the true Owner of all and Provider of what we have.  Psalm 50:10–11 (NIV)  10 for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine. It reminds us that we are merely stewards.  Everything we possess, even our every breath, is a gift from God. Since God is the rightful owner, He can require anything He desires of us.  The very act of tithing helps keeps in the fore of our minds that all we have is God’s.     The very act of tithing helps keeps in the fore of our minds that all we have is God’s.     We should trust God for His provision, His blessings.  Malachi 3:10–12 (NIV)  10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the LORD Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty. God challenges us to trust Him for abundant provisions and blessings.  Indeed, God promises to provide and bless in abundance. Tithing is therefore an act of faith in God’s faithfulness to provide. Tithing is therefore an act of faith in God’s faithfulness to provide. We tithe as an act of honouring God.  By tithing we are obedient to God’s expressed desire that His people return to Him what is His, as it has been made holy or sacred unto God.  Leviticus 27:30–32 (NIV)  30 “ ‘A tithe of everything from the land … belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. 32 Every tithe of the herd and flock … will be holy to the Lord.   Our tithes support God’s work.  What we give unto God, God gives to His Church. This enables the Church to undertake God’s work.  For what is given will help support and release those who had set aside income to serve God’s purposes. Without such support, the ministry of the Church would suffer greatly as happened in the time of Nehemiah.  Nehemiah 13:10 (NIV)  I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the Levites and musicians responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields. What we give unto God, God gives to His Church. This enables the Church to undertake God’s work.  CONCLUSIONS   We demonstrated that tithing is a biblical principle. It was practised by the patriarchs.  It was instructed in codified form in the Law of Moses.  Jesus affirmed its practice in the New Testament.  The Scriptures provide us key reasons of why tithing is a biblical principle and ought to be practised even today.  However, because it is a principle, we should not approach it in a legalistic fashion.  But we should regard tithing as the principle of the tenth as a benchmark to aim for and even exceed because of our generous desire to honour God and His Church. We should regard tithing as the principle of the tenth as a benchmark to aim for and even exceed because of our generous desire to honour God and His Church. Some who had railed against tithing have rejected it because they viewed it as a legalistic requirement, a product of the Law of Moses.  Yet in rejecting it, they have also inadvertently neglected the biblical principles undergirding it.  By doing so, they have also rejected a benchmark which God provided as a guide to what is a reasonable manner to honour Him as well as to stretch our trust in His provision.    In fact, much of the issues with tithing applies to the practise of sabbath rest.  In my article “Rhythms of Refreshing: Biblical Basis” I showed how sabbath should be practised today as a principle.  Besides sabbath pointing to the truth that Jesus is our ultimate rest, it has practical benefits when we practise its principles and its benchmark of regular rest to refresh.  It also provides a weekly benchmark for our gathering to worship God.   In the next study we will examine the various forms of tithes and offerings required by God and its objectives. [i]  This article was expanded in May 2025 to address this objection as well as make clearer the difference and implications of tithing as a principle in contrast to legal requirement. [ii]  See further arguments why Jacob would have fulfilled his vow in “Jacob’s Tithe: Did Jacob Keep His Vow To God?” Brian Neil Peterson, JETS (The Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society), 63.2 (2020): 255–65. Copyright©️2025 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.

Have you ever wondered why the Bible refers so much to God’s glory? What is the significance of God’s glory? What is the implication to us, the church?  In the book of Exodus, we find that a large portion of the book is devoted to the building of God’s tabernacle.  In fact, the building of the tabernacle reflects God’s intention to build His people, His Church. It gives us glimpses of what God has in mind for us, His people.   Exodus 40:33–38 (NIV)  33 Then Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. And so Moses finished the work. 34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 36 In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; 37 but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. 38 So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels.   We find in Exodus 40:33-38, at the very end of Exodus, that the glory of God came and dwelled in the tabernacle.  The word “glory” in Hebrew is kabod.  It speaks of the majestic manifestation of His presence and being.  What is the significance of this for us today?  We will unpack 4 key aspects about moving towards God’s glory.   A VESSEL PREPARED FOR GLORY   Exodus 40:33 (NIV)   Then Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. And so Moses finished the work.   Moses had been preparing the tabernacle to ensure that it was ready to every specification for God to come with His glory.  Every part of the tabernacle.  Every intricate design, every element of the tabernacle is intended for God to come in His glory.  God’s design for the tabernacle reflects God’s design for His Church.   The spiritual truth is that the tabernacle is a type of God’s church.  God’s design for the tabernacle reflects God’s design for His Church. It has implications for every believer because all of us are part of God’s church.  The tabernacle reveals the truth that…   God wants to prepare us for His glory   The tabernacle was God’s design. Every glorious detail was God specified.  The design, dimensions, materials, colours, function, etc.  Everything prescribed to receive His glory.   In the same way, from the very beginning God designed us to be vessels of His glory, that we should reflect and contain His glory.  As Scriptures state in Genesis 1:26 (NIV)  Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, …”  God designed us to be vessels of glory, but we became vessels of gory.   Mankind was meant to multiply forth and fill the whole earth with God’s glory.  But Adam and Eve mucked up and we have been filling it with sin ever since.  Man became filled with violence, strife, hatred, murder.  God designed us to be vessels of glory, but we became vessels of gory. Through Jesus, God is redeeming us back to God’s original objective.  To be vessels of His glory!    But God was not thwarted, as He had His plan of redemption ready.  Jesus is the centre of the master plan.  Through Jesus, God is redeeming us back to God’s original objective.  To be vessels of His glory!  God desires every believer and every church in the Body of Christ to be prepared for His glory to dwell within fully.  2 Corinthians 6:16 (NIV)  … For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”   In every genuine believer, the spirit of God is already with you.  But His glory?  That is another matter. For God’s glory will not dwell anywhere. We have to be prepared by God for God.   2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV)  And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever–increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.   God is transforming us progressively.  God’s glory will be revealed in us more and more the further we are purified.  That is God’s desire, his heartbeat. But we must also understand this.   We have to prepare ourselves for His glory.   The tabernacle was built by human hands according to divine instructions. God wanted man to participate in the making of the tabernacle. In the same way, we are responsible also to prepare ourselves.  Not according to human instructions but divine. We are participants in preparing the vessels of glory. God wants to prepare us for glory. But we have to cooperate with God.    God wants to prepare us for glory. But we have to cooperate with God.  We are to work hand in hand with God.  We have our part in preparing for God’s glory.  2 Timothy 2:20 - 21 (NIV)  20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble.  21 If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.   We should clear out things from our lives that are ignoble.  Are we filling our lives with things that are not eternal?  Are we filling our lives with everything else but the glory of God!  Facebook, TikTok, Fortnite, CNN, Netflix?  All but the glory of God!  What do we need to do?   Connect to God for glory   We need to walk in right relationship with God. Communicating with, committing to and cooperating with God for Him to purify us. We must be connected to God.  We need to walk in right relationship with God. Communicating with, committing to and cooperating with God for Him to purify us.  Hence, we should focus on our relationship with God and the disciplines we will need such as devotions and prayer. Besides connecting, we must avail ourselves to God to work on us. So that He may:   Purify and mature us for glory    God is working on us.  To bring us to purity and maturity, that we may be more Christlike.  Like a master craftsman, God is lovingly, skilfully, patiently, deftly shaping us.  Firmly, surely, sometimes seemingly rough yet always carefully chipping away at us, carving, honing, sanding to shape His glory in us.   2 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV)  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  God’s glory will be in worked in us more when we realise there has to be less of ourselves.    When God is finished it will be a great work of art.   But we must cooperate with Him.  Ultimately, God’s glory will be in worked in us more when we realise there has to be less of ourselves.  Less of our selfish, self-centred, sinful self.  But more of God holy character in our lives. John 3:30 (KJV)  He must increase, but I must decrease.    A RESIDENCE FILLED WITH GLORY   Exodus 40:34–35 (NIV) 34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.   Once the entire tabernacle was completed precisely to God’s specifications, God came and filled the tabernacle with His presence.  So intense was God’s glory that even Moses, who had a glimpse of God’s glory before, could not enter in.  Notice it refers to the cloud.  It is the glory cloud, a manifestation of the presence of God. In Scriptures we often find God’s glory connected with the cloud.   While the cloud reveals God’s glorious presence, it functions to veil God’s glorious presence.  Because God’s glory is full of pure light. So pure and holy, no man can look at it.  So, the cloud serves to shroud this glorious light.  Even with this cloud, man can feel the tangible presence of God.  At times, God’s shrouded presence is already so great that people will collapse.  Imagine when the cloud lifts to reveal God’s full glory.  God wants to fill His people, His Church with His tangible glory continually and fully.    God wants to fill His people, His Church with His tangible glory continually and fully.  But we are not fully ready.  Not yet!  We have to be prepared first, as mentioned earlier.  Not just individual believers, but the church as a whole.  The church has to be purified and matured in Christ.  Ephesians 2:21 (NIV)  In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.    So how do we see God’s glory manifest in our church? We have to grow together in God, as a community.  We need to commit to one another, to body life.  To being connected together, helping one another to grow in God.  Note that the tabernacle and all the articles inside the Tent of Meeting were covered in gold, signifying purity.  Only when all the articles were ready did God come!   The Devil has deceived many believers to be unchurched believers, to be uncommitted believers.  They float from one church to another.  They are not committed to any local church.  They are not connected in a life group.  Not doing life together, God’s way.  Such unconnected, uncommitted believers will struggle to grow towards glory.  They become easy picking for the Devil.    God’s design for every believer is to be fully connected to a good local church.  Where they can grow through the fellowship, support, teaching, even through the friction together.  Our vision should be to see a glorious church develop.  A church where we help one another in our journey together with God towards glory.  A church full of people from all walks of life, all cultures and nations.  A church full of people who are imperfect yet committed to grow together, despite our failings and weaknesses.  Growing together in purity and into Christ-likeness.  Together we will be filled with God’s glory!  And not just filled with God’s glory occasionally, but a people reflecting God’s glory and carrying it even into the marketplace!   A PEOPLE LED BY GLORY   Exodus 40:36–37 (NIV)  36 In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; 37 but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. God's Presence comes that He might lead us into His purposes.   The glory of God did not just dwell amongst them but led them.  The Israelites were obedient to the glory of God that led them from place to place.  Wherever the cloud of fire and smoke, the cloud of glory went – the people obeyed and went.  They were obedient to God’s leadership.  In other words, the glory of God, the presence of God is not just for us to enjoy or to get excited about. God's Presence comes that He might lead us into His purposes.   The important principle is to seek God, not the manifestation.  Don’t seek the gift and miss the Giver. If we truly seek God, then we will be obedient unto God.  The key is to understand the principle of obedience to God’s leadership.  The people of God, the Church of Jesus Christ – must be obedient to God.  God delights in such obedience, as expressed in 1 Samuel 15:22 (NIV)  “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.   How can we fully obey unless we understand God’s purposes?  That is why we encourage everyone to study God’s Word.  Put time aside, enrol in your church study classes.  In Hope Church our desire is to help every believer be instructed in the things of God and equip unto every good work.  That way we can obey God effectively.  When God says run, we can run.  When God says organise, we can organise well.  When God says teach, we can teach faithfully.  When God says evangelise, we can evangelise effectively, When God says shepherd, we can shepherd others lovingly.  When God says prophesy, we can prophesy reliably.    A SHINING LIGHT OF GLORY   Exodus 40:38 (NIV)  So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels. When the glory of God is in a church, it will cause the church to become influential because of its impact.  The column of God’s glory that revealed itself in smoke in the day and light at night was like a focus point that was visible to all.  Anyone who approached the Israelite camp would immediately see the pillar of cloud.  When the glory of God is in a church, it will cause the church to become influential because of its impact.    In 1969, Jack Hayford became the pastor of a tiny church of 18 people.  During the early days of the church, it grew to a small congregation of 100.  One day in 1971 as he was leaving the church sanctuary, he experienced the glory of God.  It was as if a light glorious mist hung in the atmosphere, and it was just for a moment. Things began to happen to the church and people just started coming!  The “Church On The Way” grew to over 10,000 people over the decades of his ministry.   When God’s glory fills the church and as the church obediently moves in God’s purposes, there will be healing in lives, there will be nourishment for the soul, there will be power to cast out demons, power to heal the sick. There will be righteousness and purity.  There will be godliness.  Micah 4:1-2 (NIV)  1 In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. 2 Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.   Imagine when the church’s influence is such that even the people of the world will stream to it.  In search of answers, solutions, the peace, the joy, the grace and power of God.  I believe that God desires His churches to be amongst those influential in the Kingdom and in the world.  When the church does the will of God effectively, it gives glory to God.   John 15:8 (NIV)  This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.   God’s glory will shine throughout the land. Shall we move towards glory by God’s grace?   CONCLUSION   God intends for us to be vessel of His glory. To be filled with His glory and be led by Him. To be shining with His glory. Do you want the more of the glory of God?  Do you want to move towards the glory of God?  Copyright©️2025 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.

Years ago, someone once asked the late Dr. Yonggi Cho, then pastor of the largest church in the world of almost 800,000.  “What is the key to your great success?” His reply was very simple “I pray and I obey”   The most fitting response to undeserved blessing is unreserved obedience!  Your obedience to God today determines what you’ll be for God tomorrow   A few centuries before Christ a man named Alexander the Great conquered almost all of the known world using military strength, cleverness and shrewd of diplomacy. The story is told that Alexander and a small company of soldiers approached a strongly fortified walled city. Alexander, standing outside the walls, raised his voice and demanded to see the king. He insisted that the king surrender the city and its inhabitants to Alexander and his little band of fighting men.   The king laughed, "Why should I surrender to you? You can’t do us any harm!" But Alexander offered to give the king a demonstration. He ordered his men to line up single file and start marching. He marched them straight toward a sheer cliff.   The townspeople gathered on the wall and watched in shocked silence as, one by one, Alexander’s soldiers marched without hesitation right off the cliff to their deaths! After 10 soldiers died, Alexander ordered the rest of the men to return to his side. The townspeople and the king immediately surrendered to Alexander the Great. They realized that if a few men were actually willing to commit suicide at the command of this dynamic leader, then nothing could stop his eventual victory.   Are you willing to be as obedient to the ruler of the universe, Jesus Christ, as those soldiers were to Alexander? Are you as dedicated and committed? Think how much power Christ could have in our area with just a portion of such commitment. [i] God always works for our benefit when we are in obedience to him.    Remember that  God always works for our benefit when we are in obedience to him.    Romans 8:28 (NIV) ...we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.      Imagine if the church had such a “Yes Sir!” attitude. Imagine if God’s church had such obedience to God!  In Exodus 39-40  we will look at some key aspects of obeying God completely.   HEARING COMPLETELY WHAT GOD HAS COMMANDED   Exodus 39:42 (NIV) The Israelites had done all the work just as the Lord had commanded Moses.   It is important to see the sense of the verse.  They had completed the Tabernacle just “as God commanded Moses.” In crafting all the various components of the Tabernacle, it was critical that Moses heard completely what God had instructed and that the workmen also likewise heard completely what Moses had instructed them.  In fact, the phrase “as the Lord commanded” appears 20 times in this passage.   To obey God we need to hear what God is saying clearly and completely. If we do not hear, we cannot respond to God.  If we do not hear properly, we will not be able to respond to God properly.  The problem is this. Too many people are presumptuously doing what they think God wants done, but not actually hearing God first, nor completely.   Samuel the prophet urged King Saul to take careful note of what God was about to instruct him in 1 Samuel 15:1 (ESV) And Samuel said to Saul, “The LORD sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore listen to the words of the LORD.”  King Saul was to listen God’s instructions carefully. But he presumptuously thought he could change what God instructed. God’s instructions are clear and precise.  Whenever we get confused, we just need to go back to what was actually said.  Many times, when things become unclear, I can get clarity by simply getting back to what God had clearly said.  What did God actually say as opposed to what I thought God said?  When we distort hearing from God, it leads to distorted obedience and that is dis-obedience! Sometimes we may have heard from God, but we distort what God actually said to what we want to hear Him say. For example, God may say to us “Buy a cheap car!” but we only heard “buy a car”.  This could lead to us spending more than we ought to. When we distort hearing from God, it leads to distorted obedience and that is dis-obedience!   We should have a high level of respect for what God has said in His Word. Not adding our own favourite emphasis, nor remove from it what we want to de-emphasise.  There was once an over-sized boy who after Sunday school, ate even more than usual. When asked, he responded that he wanted to learn to pray more.  For the Sunday school teacher taught that they needed to feast and pray.   Revelation 22:18 - 19 (NIV) 18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.  19 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.   Let us be people who are passionate about understanding God’s word, His instructions to us.  So that we can obey Him completely!  When we obey, we will experience God’s blessings.  Jesus said in Luke 11:28 (NIV) He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”   DETAILED OBEDIENCE TO WHAT GOD HAS SAID   Exodus 39:43 (NIV)  Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the Lord had commanded. So Moses blessed them.   Moses found that the workmen were detailed in carrying out exactly what God had commanded Moses.  In chapters 36 to 39, we find that the craftsmen built the tabernacle exactly as specified by Moses in chapters 25 to 30. Many tiny details were specifically commanded by God in making the various furniture articles.  The dimensions, the form, the ornaments, the materials, the weights, the liturgical steps, etc. The people did not try to modify the instructions or cut corners.  We need to simply obey God’s Word, even in details that may seem unimportant to us.    We need to simply obey God’s Word, even in details that may seem unimportant to us.  After all, the Scriptures tell us in Isaiah 55:8 that God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are different from ours – He knows best. Isaiah 55:8 (NIV)  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.   There was once a young woman who went to a petrol station to refuel her car.  Then unexpectedly she sensed God telling her to stand on her hands.  She hesitated but finally decided to do so. She did a quick handstand and feeling rather embarrassed, decided to quickly get into her car and drive off.  Suddenly another woman ran out of the petrol station calling out to her. Surprised she listened to what this woman had to say.  This woman explained that she was going through a difficult time and was seeking if God was real.  She had prayed a simple pray for something unusual to happen to prove that God existed.  She prayed that someone would do a handstand in front of her. And lo and behold she saw this young woman do a handstand.        King Saul was someone who obeyed God only to a point. Saul’s obedience was only partial.  In 1 Samuel 15:1-3, the prophet Samuel had instructed Saul to destroy everything from the Amalekites.  But King Saul figured it was unreasonable to destroy the fine livestock.  He probably thought that was just an oversight on God’s part. So he would help God, by re-interpreting the instructions to something more reasonable!  Saul assumed that God wouldn’t mind if he spared Agag, the king, as a trophy of his great victory. He assumed wrong. God had said to “utterly destroy” everything.   Deliberate partial obedience is actually complete disobedience.   It’s easy at this point to try to vindicate Saul by thinking, “Well, he almost did everything God said to do.” But the truth of the matter is, deliberate partial obedience is actually complete disobedience . To miss by a little can mean to miss by a lot.  Imagine if the scientists that launch space probes to the moon were to miscalculate the trajectory by fraction of a degree.  This slight error will lead to the probe missing the moon by thousands of kilometres! When we choose not to be detailed in our obedience to God, our partial obedience is not obedience, but disobedience.    Sometimes going further than what God has said can also lead to disobedience!  Dr Yonggi Cho shared about a massive church building project that God laid upon his heart.  He was to build a large multi-storey church auditorium.  But in the midst of the construction project the nation faced a large economic downturn and the church building project became mired in debt. He almost committed suicide over it due to the enormous stress and shame. He eventually came to the realisation that he had added an additional building to the project which God did not ask him to build.  That was what unravelled the project. To get the details right we need to be Spirit-led and Spirit-empowered.   To get the details right we need to be Spirit-led and Spirit-empowered.  Sometimes, God does not spell out all the details but when we are Spirit-led and empowered, we will get the details right.  With the Spirit we better discern the details that God seeks.  Exodus 31:2 - 3 (NIV) 2 “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah,  3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts—    In the Scriptures above, God spelt out many details for the tabernacle but not all.  Yet He empowered the craftsman to interpret God’s intention with creativity and to get it right. Notice the key is the Spirit of God upon the lead craftsmen.  The detail we go to shows our attitude.  Is your attitude: “Near enough is good enough” when serving God?  Or is it: “Let’s get it right?”    TIMELY OBEDIENCE   Exodus 40:17 (NIV)  So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month in the second year.   There was a specific timing that God was aiming for the entire tabernacle to be set up.  Approximately 12 months from their first Passover in Egypt. They received instructions from Moses about 6 months into the year. The workmen acted immediately and completed everything in about 6 months.  Their obedience was timely. We ought to learn to carry out what God has commanded when He commands.   Why?  Because delayed obedience is disobedience! King Saul was unable to wait for God. He was a man who was either disobeying God, or was too eager and ended up rushing ahead of God.   1 Samuel 13:8 - 14 (NIV) 8 He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter.  9 So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering.  10 Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him. 11 “What have you done?” asked Samuel.  Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash,  12 I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the LORD’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”  He did what was forbidden to do. 13 “You acted foolishly,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.  14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.”   It is like surfing a wave.  Too far ahead and you lose momentum, and the wave will overtake you or worse will crash down on you.  Too far behind and you either fall off the back or are crushed in the curl!   Obedience too early or too late can be disobedience.  We need to obey God in God’s time!   Are you seeking for God’s timing? For example, in boy-girl relationships. Even if she is the one, is the timing right?   Watchman Nee was a preacher and writer greatly used of God in China. As a young man, he was attracted to a Christian girl, Charity Chang.  But he quickly discovered that she did not share his passion for God.  She was more concerned about worldly matters.  God challenged him one day as he read Psalms 73:25, “There is none on earth that I desire beside thee.”  God spoke in his heart, “You have a consuming desire upon earth.  You should give up your attachment for Miss Chang. What qualification has she to be a preacher’s wife?” He tried to bargain with God.  Finally, he gave in and threw himself into the ministry.  He made a God-centred decision.   This was not the end of the story.  Years later, God worked a radical change in Charity’s life, and she became a devoted follower of Christ.  God caused both to cross paths again and they became man and wife!   PRIORITISED OBEDIENCE   In obeying God’s instructions in Exodus 40:18-33, they prioritised what had to be done and focussed on completing it step by step.  It was carefully planned.  We can see the sequence.  First the bases, then the frames, then the crossbars, then the poles, etc.  There was priority and focus on what they carried out.   If we are to finish the work that Christ has given us we need to see what is most important clearly, and not get distracted by what is just permissible or secondary!  1 Corinthians 10:23 (NIV)  “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is constructive.    Paul loved the Roman Christians.  In fact, he himself was a Roman Jewish Citizen.  He obviously wanted to visit the Romans but focussed on what was his priority. To finish preaching the Gospel where it had not been preached yet.  So Paul states that He will visit them but only as he is on his way to Spain! Romans 15:20 - 24 (NIV) 20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.  22 This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to see you,  24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to visit you while passing through ...    There are many things I would love to do in my life.  But I have to be careful to prioritize in obeying God’s call upon my life.  For I desire to remain obedient to God in every way.   CONCLUSIONS   How is your attitude to obeying God? The most fitting response to undeserved blessing is unreserved obedience! Jesus made a very important observation in John 14:15 (NIV) “If you love me, you will obey what I command.    In other words, love produces obedience, or obedience to Christ’s command is the result of genuine love. It is possible to obey Jesus words and not love Him, but it is impossible to love Him and not obey Him.  Let us obey God completely because we love Him. 1.  James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) pp. 102-103.

Have you ever been in the situation which is totally bleak?  You are facing an unexpected economic crisis and you could lose your house.  Or the doctor just gave you a terminal cancer diagnosis.  Or certain people have let you down truly badly.  Or perhaps you have mucked up bad? It is the darkest hour for you.   In Exodus 32, while Moses was away on a spiritual pilgrimage for just 40 days, the people backslid horribly. It was not that they got lazy in their spiritual walk.  They built a golden calf, an idol and worshipped it.  A total abomination to God.  And worse, Moses’ own brother Aaron was the one who built it!  This was the darkest hour for Moses and the people of Israel.  That would be like my wife Lai Ling and I went on a sabbatical for 40 days to seek God only to come back and to our horror, discover that this is no longer Hope Church but Hare Krishna Church.    Now things got worse, God was so upset with their abomination that He declares He will no longer go with them to the Promised Land.  For He might end up wiping them out because of their continual resistance. He will only send an angel to represent Him.  They had mucked up so bad, they have no place to hide their faces! And God concurs they have mucked up so bad, that He does not want to see their faces at all!    Everything seemed lost!  So what was left?  But the amazing thing is this.  In the midst of the darkest hour, Moses came to his most incredible experience of God!  Perhaps you might be in your darkest hour. Or you might encounter that one day. Yet like Moses, your darkest hour can turn into the brightest day!  How can this be so?  If we learn some lessons from this passage.   TURN FROM IDOLATRY TO GOD   Exodus 33:7–11 (NIV) 7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. 8 And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. 9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. 10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. 11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.   In those days, before they built the Tabernacle of Moses as we learnt about in chapters 25 to 30, there was a temporary tent that Moses had set up outside the Israelite camp area. It was known as the Tent of Meeting because there Moses met with God.  The cloud and pillar of smoke would move there when God met with Moses. When the phrase “face to face” is used, it is intended to mean have a one-to-one or personal meeting rather than a literal face-to-face.   This passage was included to explain how Moses would often meet with God.  This provided the context of the current meeting that Moses had with God.  What is important for us to note is that after God declared He was fed up with them and would not go with them any longer, Moses did not just throw a tantrum and walked away.  Or resigned himself to accept the decision.  Or got all bitter and discouraged. So what did he do?   Turn back to God   What Moses did was turn to God and sought to meet with God.  That was the key.  The Israelites had fallen into idolatry, and it was necessary to turn back to God. Moses took the initiative in v12 “Moses said to the Lord...”.  Moses recognise that the people had turned away from God and he had to turn to God first, to help the rest turn back to God.  Zechariah 1:3 (NIV) Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the LORD Almighty.    What is the lesson for us?  Perhaps we ended up in our darkest hour because we have somehow turned away from God.  Perhaps we slipped just that little away from God and failed to listen to Him.  Perhaps we disobeyed God!  Perhaps something else became an idol in our hearts – our money, our career, our girlfriend/boyfriend, our needs, etc.  Perhaps we thought we could just have a little more of something but now we cannot let go.  It is like the traditional way of catching monkeys.  A small hole is cut in a coconut big enough for the monkey to put its hand in.  Then a bright shiny object is put inside and the coconut tied to a tree.  A curious monkey will put its hand inside to grab the shiny object.  Because its hand has formed a fist, it cannot pull out its hand. So the monkey is caught by its greed.  The only way to escape is to let go, but the monkey simply cannot conceive of doing so.  So too are we often caught by our idolatry.   Let go of the idolatry.  The key is to turn back to God.   Turn not to human solutions   Moses did not just convene a meeting and say, “Fellas, as you know, God will no longer be with us.  But we can sort this out.  Let’s do some SWOT analysis of our situation and make some smart, creative strategic decisions to get us out of the mess.  Maybe we can rely on the Americans military.  Smart bombs, stealth fighters, high-tech warfare.  We will blitz our enemies!”   One of the greatest mistakes we could ever do is to turn to a human solution in our darkest hour.  Isaiah 31:1 (NIV) Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD.   What we need is God Himself to intervene!  Now there is nothing wrong in committee meetings, in SWOT analysis, etc.  There is a time and place for such meetings and planning.  But first, we need God!  Sometimes the hardest thing to do when we face our darkest hour is to meet God.  Some just want to drink their problems away.  Some just want to run away.  Some just want to lie in bed.  Some just want to blame somebody.  Some will desperately grasp at straws.   But the key is to turn to God.  When David and his men were in a place called Ziklag, they came to their darkest hour.  The Amalekites had raided Ziklag in 1 Samuel 30:2 - 6 (NIV) 2 and had taken captive the women and all who were in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way. 3 When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.  4 So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep...   6 David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.   The key that turned the whole situation around was that David determined to meet with God at that crucial time.  And because David met with God, he found strength in God.  As a result, he was able to motivate his men to pursue after the Amalekites and regain all that they lost plus more! In our darkest hour, we should not sink into despair but sink into God’s hands.   In our darkest hour, we should not sink into despair but sink into God’s hands instead!  There we will find grace.  There we will find the answer!  Jeremiah 15:19 (NIV) Therefore this is what the LORD says: “If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me...”   TURN FROM FAILURE TO FAVOUR   Exodus 33:12–13 (NIV) 12 Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”   In chapter 32 the Israelites failed God.  But in chapter 33, Moses resolved not to remain in failure.  He did something about it. Moses moved from failure to favour before God. Moses pleaded with God to show him how to remain in God’s favour. This revealed his determination to continue to find favour before God. Moses understood that unless he continually walked in God’s favour, the whole exodus could end up in vain. So he pleaded with God.  So masterful was His pleading that God immediately agreed to continue to go with them. No matter what has happened, we must get back into God’s favour.   Why?  God was obviously very pleased with Moses heart to remain in God’s favour, no matter what. No matter what has happened, we must get back into God’s favour. Perhaps we have mucked up and fallen out of God’s favour. Then repent, turn around, confess and seek to find God’s favour again.  God will receive us back!  1 John 1:9 (NIV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.    God has been good to Hope Church over the last 15 years, we have continually seen the church grow and seen God’s blessings.  I believe a critical reason is because we have determined to remain in God’s favour.  Psalms 5:12 (NIV) For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favour as with a shield.   This involves keeping to God’s principles, to being faithful to the things God has called you to.  To maintaining integrity in all that you do.  So do not compromise in all that you do. If there is sin or compromise, you must deal with it.  With love, grace and mercy – but you must deal with it. It is far better to please God than to please men.    It is far better to please God than to please men.  I have had to make a number of very tough decisions over the years.  Decisions that have not always made me friends.  But I stuck with it because it is more important to find favour before God than before men.    TURN OBSTACLE INTO OPPORTUNITY   At that time, Moses had a huge obstacle.  God Himself was reluctant to continue to be with them.  Otherwise, He might destroy them all.  If you are familiar with the rest of Biblical history, God did destroy many of them.  But that is another story and another lesson.  With God, the darkest hour can turn into brightest day.    Sometimes when we hit our darkest hour, we may be discouraged and feel like giving up.  To throw in the towel. Because the obstacle looks too huge! But with God, the darkest hour can turn into brightest day.  Moses discovered this.  What are some ways that obstacles can turn into opportunities?   Opportunity to learn what really matters   Exodus 33:14–17 (NIV) 15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”  17 And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”   Sometimes we may not understand what the most crucial things are or may forget about it until the darkest hour.  The people of Israel had taken the Presence of God for granted and it was only upon God’s threat to withdraw His presence that it became obvious they needed God’s Presence.  That is why Moses pleaded for God’s Presence to be with them.  Without God’s Presence, Moses knew that the nation would fail in its destiny. It was not worth continuing. But with God, victory is certain. It is God with us that makes all the difference. Men may fail but God is faithful.   Moses also realises that it is God’s Presence that distinguishes the Israelites as God’s people.  For it is God with us that makes all the difference.  When God is with us, things will turn out well in the end.  It gives us tremendous security to know God is with us.  Men may fail but God is faithful.   In the end, it is not so much the leader, but whether God is with us!   Loren Cunningham and the YWAM leadership were convinced that God wanted them to purchase a ship to use as a means of outreach into the islands. God’s providence seemed to be leading their plans. Loren saw the 450-foot ship the Maori in 1973 and made a deposit for it for $72,000 provided by a English businessman.  Cunningham recalled, “Every day, we saw some new release for the ship—either a volunteer or money or a special offer… Everything seemed to be falling into place, and the fulfillment of the vision of the ship was happening fast”.    Progressively, the amount of time, energy and focus required to prepare the ship increased.  Then one night Cunningham had a dream.  In the dream the ship was finally ready at the dock. There was much celebrations and the ship sailed off.  Yet as he looked upon the dock, he noticed a sole man left behind on the dock. It was Jesus.  It dawned upon him that YWAM had focussed so much upon the gift, they had forgotten the Giver. But it was too late.  Mysteriously, the flow of money, gifts and volunteers that had been streaming into the project mysteriously stopped, and within a matter of weeks the plans for purchasing the Maori were sunk. Cunningham called the British donor to inform him that their venture had failed and why it did.  The godly businessman told him that the most important think is that YWAM had learnt the lesson. If we learn the lessons well, we will come out wiser, stronger, and more able to fulfil God’s destiny.    When we face our darkest hour, do not be dismayed.  But ask ourselves what important lesson does God want us to learn?  If we learn the lessons well, we will come out wiser, stronger, and more able to fulfil God’s destiny.  As I observed great man and women used of God, they learned their lessons even from the darkest hours and came out stronger.  So don’t be afraid of those dark hours but learn from it. Romans 8:28 (NIV) And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.    Opportunities to encounter God   Exodus 33:18–23 (NIV) 18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” 19 And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” 21 Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.” The darkest hour can become a glorious opportunity for God’s intervention!    Moses had the audacity to ask to see God’s glory!  Moses turned the darkest hour into great opportunity!  And God promised Moses that he will encounter God’s glory like never before.  The darkest hour turned into the brightest moment because Moses responded with humility and purity of heart.  The darkest hour can become a glorious opportunity for God’s intervention!  Not all is lost, if we will have faith.   CONCLUSIONS   We may have mucked up bad before God.  Yet will you determine to turn back to God?  To find favour before God rather than men?  To learn the lessons that God intended you to learn?  Then you will return to God’s favour eventually. Copyright©️2025 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.

A young man wrote to the love of his life.    “My dearest darling, I will do anything for your love.  I will scale the highest mountains, plunge into the darkest abyss, cross the harshest deserts, brave the fiercest storms.  Nothing will keep me from you.  Forever yours.    PS – I long to see you for our date tomorrow evening.  But if it rains, I will have to cancel as I do not wish to catch a cold.”   What beautiful words.  But what shallow convictions.  Have you ever wondered why there are some people with such shallow convictions and yet at the same time others with such deep convictions?  Perhaps you may have wished to be a person of conviction.  In fact, the Scriptures encourage us to be people of conviction.  And when we examine history, we find that those who have made impact upon this world are invariably people of conviction.  Conviction is the differentiating factor between people who get fired up and make a difference, in contrast to people who get hyped up and make no difference.   Why is this important for Christ-followers?  Because we do not want to be fired up for just a moment but have no lasting power.  Further, how much we can genuinely fire up will depend upon our convictions.  Conviction is the differentiating factor between people who get fired up and make a difference, in contrast to people who get hyped up and make no difference.   Let me unpack the value of having deep convictions and how we may develop such convictions.  From 2 Timothy 1:11-12 we discover some of these principles.   2 Timothy 1:11–12 (NIV) 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.   CONVICTIONS ANCHORED ON THE DIVINE CALLER   Paul’s deep convictions were not primarily reliant on some system of beliefs that he subscribed to.  It did not develop because of he was faithful to some church institution that ordained him.  This is not to say that the above do not contribute towards our convictions.  But there is something greater. Paul’s convictions was anchored upon the caller, God Himself.  Why?   Due to personal relationship “...I know whom I have believed...”.   The word “know” in the Greek is oida which carries the idea of knowing with certainty. Paul’s convictions came out of a personal and intimate relationship with God who had called him.  This begun when He had encountered Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-6).    He had continued to experience God’s grace again and again in his life and ministry.  He had seen the miraculous power of God at work numerous times. He had seen how God healed, protected, strengthened, and guided him through the most challenging times even.  Through all these, it had only served to deepen his convictions in Jesus the Christ.  His faith was refined and his connection with Christ strengthened.  As apostle Peter explained in 1 Peter 1:6 - 7 (NIV) 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.  The deepest convictions we could ever develop in our journey of faith is built upon our relationship with God Himself.    Paul’s convictions were anchored upon the God he knew and knew well because of what he has gone through with God.  Many who served in the army experience and understand how their tight bond developed as they face life threatening situations together.  The deepest convictions we could ever develop in our journey of faith is built upon our relationship with God Himself.  Often, we trust the people we know well, so will we trust the God we know well.  Often, we trust the people who have proven themselves to us, so will we trust the God who has proven Himself to us in our experience.   Hudson Taylor was the founder of China Inland Missions who made incredible inroads in reaching the Chinese and inspired thousands of other missionaries.  Yet before he commenced on his missions, he resolved that he had to learn to develop a high level of trust in God and His provision.  He resolved that he was not going to depend on anyone else for provisions except God. That he was not going to remind his forgetful employer to pay him his salary but entrust it to God.    At one time his employer had forgotten to provide his pay for an extended time.  Hudson despite his best efforts at frugality was down to his last shilling. Then in his medical rounds, he met a poor starving family.  He felt the Holy Spirit prompt him to give his last shilling to them. He struggled because he knew that he had no more money to pay for his lodging and food. Yet in that moment, he decided he would obey God’s prompting.  As he gave away his precious last shilling, he felt God’s peace wash over him.  He went home glad but had to forego any food that evening.  The next day, his employer came to him apologetically and gave him all his backpay.  Hudson developed deep convictions in that season in trusting God. A key to growing deeper in our convictions is to throw ourselves into the hands of the living God.    A key to growing deeper in our convictions is to determine to grow in our relationship with God.  A key to growing deeper in our convictions is to throw ourselves into the hands of the living God.    In 1990, my own faith journey had reached a point where I realised the only way for me to grow further was to learn to hear God’s voice, obey and trust Him. Shortly after, I was invited to a meeting where they discussed planting a new church. At that time, I had taken too long to complete my Engineering PhD.  My scholarship had basically run out.  I had just informed an elder in the church that I had to step back from my leadership role in the student ministry so that I could finish my PhD.  Yet during the meeting the Holy Spirit spoke clearly into my heart, “Join”. I knew that to be part of a pioneering church venture would involve considerable commitment.  Time and energy I did not have if I was going to quickly complete the rest of my PhD.  But I resolved to obey God and trust Him.  I threw myself into the hands of God for my PhD.   I chose to give up a part-time job which was supplementing my income because of the time commitments involved. But God came through. I was awarded a small research grant to undertake what I had already planned to do in my PhD.  The grant amount was better than my scholarship or even the income I would have earned in the part-time job.  In effect, God had provided for me, and I had to do next to nothing. It grew my convictions that I could trust God to provide.  The church planting experience also grew me in many other areas of faith, maturity and leadership. None of that would have happened unless I threw myself into God’s hands.   Will you choose to know God more?  Choose to rely on God more?   Due to God’s capability “...and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.”   Paul testified that God is dunamos or powerful enough to guard what Paul has entrusted to God.  The Greek word for “guard” was a military term used for a soldier on watch duty.  Paul’s convictions were based not only upon his personal knowledge of God’s trustworthiness.  It was based also upon God’s capability, God’s power to do what He promised. Romans 8:35 - 39 (NIV) 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ...   38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Paul’s convictions was based also upon God’s capability, God’s power to do what He promised.   As far as Paul was concerned, God is totally capable of delivering on His promises.  It was not enough that Paul had a personal relationship with God, God also had to be capable to deliver on His promises. That is why Paul could entrust his soul unto God fully. Because God is fully capable to take care of his soul.    CONVICTIONS UNDERGIRDING THE CALL   Why do you think Paul had strong convictions about his call to be a herald, an apostle and a teacher (v11)? Paul was very clear about the fact that he had been called by God to his life task.  It probably helped that he encountered Christ on the road to Damascus, who commissioned him to bring the Gospel.   Prior to that encounter he was the chief persecutor of the infant church. Acts 9:1 - 2 (NIV) 1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.    Yet when he encountered Christ on the road to Damascus, it totally turned him around.  And God declared to Ananias in Acts 9:15 (NIV) …Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.    There have been many others who also had dramatic encounters with God, yet not all have developed convictions to serve God.  Why?  The parable of the sower in Matthew 13 gives us some insights.   Spiritual understanding   Matthew 13:18 - 19 (NIV) 18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:  19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.    In v19, the seed that falls on the road never got to the earth.  The evil one snatches it away.  Why?  There was no understanding.  Ever sat in a lecture and you didn't understand what the lecturer was saying?  Usually you would also forget the details of what he taught and probably even the topic.   Ever sat through a sermon and it was just over your head?  Where you forget the details and even the sermon topic.  The problem is compounded by our enemy Satan who tries to snatch away that Word from us as well.  Bill Hybels once preached a sermon that he felt was one of his best.  He was excited to hear what his congregation thought about it. That Sunday afternoon he attended life group.  Nobody brought it up and he thought they conspired to pull his leg.  Finally, he could stand it any longer, and asked his friends what they thought. No one could remember much about what he preached that morning.   This is a common problem.  I have met many Christians who have attended church for years - and they say to me, “I have a very poor understanding of the Bible”.  Is it because their church doesn't teach them adequately?  Or is it because they did not have spiritual understanding and as a result lost most of what they heard?  Amazing thing is I then meet other Christians from the same church, sat through the same sermons and they have a great understanding of the Bible.    Some tips on how we can avoid the Devil stealing God's Word from us. ·      Pray for spiritual understanding. ·      Value God's Word.  Unless we value it, we will never make the effort necessary to retain it. ·      Soften our hearts, be humble to learn.  ·      Be obedient to God's Word, submit to it.  Don't fight against it.  But apply it in our lives. Application helps make it tangible in our own lives.   Heart change   Matthew 13:20-21 (NIV) 20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.    The seed in rocky ground was not able to penetrate into the soil sufficiently.  Its roots were too shallow.  The seed that is in good soil, its roots penetrate deep into the soil.  Its roots rearrange the structure and fabric of the soil.  There is change, deep into the soil. For deep convictions to develop, there must be change in the heart that goes deeper than simply spiritual understanding.    In the same way, for deep convictions to develop, there must be change in the heart that goes deeper than simply spiritual understanding.  When there is no change in our heart, it merely means our minds or our emotions were engaged.  There is no real change in our lives.  Therefore, we must apply what we believe to bring change in our lives!   Wholeheartedness.   Matthew 13:22 - 23 (NIV) 22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.  23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”   Convictions can only properly develop if we are whole-hearted.  When we are half-hearted, we waver and convictions cannot firm up.  The seed amongst the thorns allowed itself to be distracted, divided amongst competing interests.  As a result, it could not develop fully. Convictions can only properly develop if we are whole-hearted.  When we are half-hearted, we waver and convictions cannot firm up.  Kingdom of God or kingdom of the world?   In the highest levels of any sports, the athlete must be whole-hearted otherwise they will not invest the time, energy or sacrifice needed to reach the very top.  It is this conviction that they have got what it takes, that helps them invest what it takes.  God desires a whole-hearted person.  Psalms 86:11 (NIV) Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.   E. Stanley Jones states it graphically, "If you don't make up your mind, then your unmade mind will unmake you.  Here is the place where there must be no dallying.  For any dallying will be the Trojan  horse that will get on the inside and open the gates to the enemy.  God can do anything for the man who has made up his mind; he can do little or nothing for the double‑minded."[i]      Let’s be whole-hearted in the things of God!   CONVICTIONS GREATER THAN COST Even as Paul wrote the letter, he was in prison because of the Gospel he was preaching.  And it is because of his convictions to preach the Gospel despite the persecution, that landed him there. The depth of our convictions will be tested when we face trials.  The depth of our convictions will be shown by the cost we are willing to pay to carry out our convictions. The depth of our convictions will be shown by the cost we are willing to pay to carry out our convictions.   A hen and a pig were discussing how they may provide for their kind farmer.  The hen said, “I know!  I can give some eggs, and you can give some pork!”  The pig thought for a moment and replied, “That is easy for you to say.  For you it is convenient.  For me it is conviction.”    What shall it be for us?  Living our lives for convenience?  Or out of conviction?   CONCLUSIONS   Let us be a people of biblical conviction.  Such convictions will be a firm foundation upon which we can be fired up for God!   [i] The Way to Power and Poise, p.258 Copyright©️2025 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.

Sometimes our generosity comes from mixed motives. It seems that some vandals had cut down six royal palms along Miami’s Flagler Street. Since the palms were very expensive, Dade County authorities weren’t sure if they could replace them very soon. But then someone donated six more and even had them planted. The old ones had been about fifteen feet tall and provided a nice foreground for a “Fly Delta” billboard. The new palms are thirty five feet tall completely hiding the sign. The new donor: Eastern Airlines.[1]   I could not verify the facts surrounding this story, but it highlights an important point for our attitudes in giving.  God seek givers who give with the right heart.  Who give for God’s purposes.  In this article we expound through Exodus 35:4 to 36:7 to discover some key attitudes we should develop to give excellently for God’s work.   In the passage, God had given instructions to Moses for the building of the tabernacle, which would become a meeting place of God.  It represented God’s house in the desert.  The Israelites were instructed to build the tabernacle, and they gave abundantly towards its building.  The way they gave is instructive to us at this point of our fund-raising.  There are 4 key principles that we can observe. GIVE OF WHAT WE HAVE   Moses commanded the people to give from what they had to build the tabernacle.  From this passage we discover 2 key principles that apply to us.   We are our own resource solution   Exodus 35:4-5 (NIV) “4 Moses said to the whole Israelite community, “This is what the Lord has commanded: 5 From what you have; take an offering for the Lord.  Everyone who is willing…”   Did you notice the way God instructed the Israelites to contribute towards the tabernacle?  God only instructed the Israelites to give.  There was no mention of seeking external help.  The Israelites were the solution to building the tabernacle.  All the necessary resources resided within the Israelites themselves.  God had blessed them sufficiently. They had enough to contribute towards building the tabernacle.   Back in Exodus 12 when the Israelites left Egypt after some 400 years of slavery. Ex 12:35 - 36 (NIV) 35 The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing.  36 The LORD had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians. God will provide sufficient resources for His purposes through His people.   God had blessed them in abundance of materials, enough for God’s purposes. The principle is this. God will provide sufficient resources for His purposes through His people. Of course, we can also look outside for assistance and resources.  But often, when God calls, God will provide. When God calls a church to a task, a project, God will often provide from within the local church. When a wise leadership properly manages the project, there will be sufficient from within. In faith, give of what you have and God will increase what you have.   Over the years since our own church building project started, I have noticed a very significant trend.  The wealth within our church membership had increased significantly.  Why is that?  Because they have been faithful in committing to build God’s house and God is rewarding the members’ faith.  God blessed the members so that they may bless His work.  In faith, give of what you have and God will increase what you have.   Givers will be blessed both here and in heaven.  Luke 6:38 (NIV) Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”    Now I want to clarify that I am not preaching a hyper-prosperity doctrine.  That teaches: the more you give the more God will bless you materially, regardless of your attitude. It is giving so that you may get.  Often that promotes greed. But the Bible teaches that we should give unto God for His purposes, not so that we can get a multiplied return. And when we give with the right heart, not in greed, God will bless the most.  It could be materially, emotionally, spiritually or in heavenly rewards.   “The millionaires in eternity are the givers in time”. Vern McLellan[2].  When our heart is right, we will have no problems giving even if God does not bless us materially as we may hope.   We can provide a variety of resources   Exodus 35:4–19 (NIV) 5 From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering of gold, silver and bronze; 6 blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair… 9 and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece. 10 “All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the Lord has commanded: 11 the tabernacle with its tent and its covering, clasps, frames, crossbars, posts and bases… 19 the woven garments worn for ministering in the sanctuary—both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests.”   The Israelites were instructed to give from what they had.  Whether it be precious metal, fine cloth, fur, leather, select wood, oil, spices, precious jewels, etc.  In the same way, we can give from our resources whether it be money, gold, silver, diamonds!  Even cows, chickens and vegetables!  Of course, it is best to be something the church can easily make use of.   Those with the right skills were also requested to contribute their talent towards building the tabernacle.  Skills in carpentry, woodwork, metalwork, cloth, embroidery, perfumery, etc.  A wide range of skills were required. In the same way, we too can contribute of our specialist knowledge and skills to build God’s house.  Whether it be architecture, engineering, construction, interior design, landscaping, carpentry, painting, bricklaying, etc.  God will help raise many of these skills from within.  When I was a member of my first church in Melbourne, we had a church building project.  A young bricklayer donated a year of his time and basically laid the facade of the large church building almost single-handedly.  It was an amazing contribution.   GIVE FROM A WILLING HEART   In v20-29, we discover 3 aspects about giving from a willing heart.   After due consideration   Exodus 34:20 (NIV) “Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses presence…”   The whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses and had time to consider the request.  They did this because they were sincerely willing to contribute.  That they may pray and carefully consider God’s instruction. In the same way, our willingness to commit to God’s purposes is shown by our willingness to seek God. It is crucial to ask God about how we should contribute towards significant projects.  For we believe that there are great benefits in seeking and hearing God.   Firstly, it is an opportunity for us to grow in our willingness to contribute towards God’s purposes. Secondly, we grow spiritually as we learn to hear God’s rhema word. Thirdly, we learn to nurture and persevere in faith based on God’s rhema word. Fourthly, such faith will be rewarded by God.  God will move upon our situation to help us.  Nothing is impossible for God.  Impossibilities are nothing to God!    In 1 Kings 17:7-16, the widow heard the rhema word from the prophet Elijah and believed.  1 Kings 17:16 (NIV) For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.   As a result, she and her son had enough to eat during the terrible famine!   As a freewill offering unto God   Exodus 35:21, 29 (NIV) “ 21…and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought and offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments… 29 All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the LORD freewill offerings for all the work the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do.   The Israelites began to come forward and to give willingly unto the building of the tabernacle.  All kinds of things were given.  A freewill offering is an offering given freely, without compulsion, without obligation. A giving because our hearts moved us. Hence it must be distinguished from tithes.    Tithes are required by God.  A tenth of our gross income is a tithe unto God.  It is an obligation to God, not in a legalistic sense but as a principle.  Lev 27:30 - 32 (NIV) 30 “‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD... 32 The entire tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the LORD.” Freewill offerings are given on top of the tithe because we are to give freely extra. When we give freewill offerings, God is extra pleased because we gave out of the abundance of our hearts.   When we give of our tithes, God is pleased because we obeyed His commands and honour Him. When we give freewill offerings, God is extra pleased because we gave out of the abundance of our hearts.   While Eric Hulstrand of Binford, North Dakota, was preaching one Sunday, an elderly woman, Mary, fainted and struck her head on the end of the pew. Immediately, an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) in the congregation called an ambulance. As they strapped her to a stretcher and got ready to head out the door, Mary regained consciousness. She motioned for her daughter to come near. Everyone thought she was summoning her strength to convey what could be her final words. The daughter leaned over until her ear was at her mother's mouth. "My offering is in my purse," she whispered.[3]  How is that for dedicated giving?   As a response to a need   Exodus 35:27–28 (NIV) 27 The leaders brought onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece. 28 They also brought spices and olive oil for the light and for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense.   The Israelite leaders gave of the onyx stones and other gems.  The leaders gave the most expensive parts, and the most specific part suited to the function of the priest in the Holy Place.  The giving of the Israelites, especially the leaders, were not indiscriminate. They recognised the significance and the need, giving where it was most helpful.   So we may choose to give, say for community work, for missions, for the poor, for the building fund, etc.  It is up to us as we respond to certain needs.   GIVE TO BRING EXCELLENCE   Exodus 36:1 (NIV) So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the Lord has commanded.”   The skilled workers were gifted by the Spirit of God in such a way to be able to bring excellence into their craftsmanship.  They eagerly worked to bring about excellence in the tabernacle.  We see evidence of the Spirit of God in the construction site.  Equipping the people to carry out the work with excellence (v32-25).   In the same way, we can contribute in a manner that brings about excellence in God’s work.  Perhaps we have giftings and experience that can bring the project to the next level in excellence. It could range from highly technical expertise to simpler hands on experience such as landscaping or planting.  The key motivation is to give excellently to bring about excellence for God’s house.   Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni painted the Sistine Chapel over a period of 4 years from 1508-1512.  Originally Pope Julius II wanted the 12 apostles, but Michelangelo proposed an incredibly more ambitious scheme portraying key scenes from Genesis plus many characters from the Old Testament leading to Christ.  Altogether some 300 figures. Once, when he was painting in some obscure corner, a friend asked why he bothered to put so much effort on a part nobody can see.  He replied, “God will see.” Michelangelo further stated, “Many believe - and I believe - that I have been designated for this work by God. In spite of my old age, I do not want to give it up; I work out of love for God and I put all my hope in Him.”   Excellence is about giving our best unto God!   GIVE MORE THAN ENOUGH   Exodus 35:5 (NIV) “…the people are bringing more than enough for doing the work…”   The people continued to give morning after morning.  There was an incredible line of people just lining up to give towards God’s work.  Until the craftsman had to cry out “stop”.  Such was the heart of the people that wanted to give more than enough for the completion of God’s work.  Even the workers were generous in their time and skills commitment.  We should not give in a minimalist way but in a generous way, giving more than enough.   We should not give in a minimalist way but in a generous way, giving more than enough.  Because we desire to see the glory of God’s work.  King David demonstrated this principle in his preparation for the building of God’s temple. 1 Chr 29:2 - 5 (NIV) 2 With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God—gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, … and all kinds of fine stone and marble—all of these in large quantities.  3 Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple:  4 three thousand talents of gold (gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents of refined silver, for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings, 5 for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen.”   He gave with great abundance so that one day his son Solomon may build this magnificent temple for God.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we can do likewise?   CONCLUSION   In considering how we may contribute towards God’s work, let us consider what we have to give, whether in finance or gifting, with a willing heart. Let us give in such a way that it will help bring about excellence.  Let us consider giving in such a way that there will be more than enough. [1] James S. Hewett, ed., Illustrations Unlimited: A Topical Collection of Hundreds of Stories, Quotations, & Humor for Speakers, Writers, Pastors and Teachers (Tyndale House Publishers, 1988). [2] The Complete Book of Practical Proverbs and Wacky Wit (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1996). [3] Fresh Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching (Baker), from the editors of Leadership Copyright©️2025 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.

How would you describe where your spiritual life and ministry is at today? Is it in pause mode? Is it in hibernate mode? Locked down mode?  Is it in TV static mode?  Jerky.  4-cylinder engine with 2 pistons running?  Are you fed up with being at that mode?   It is time to fan aflame any flickering embers, or stuttering pistons in our journey of faith.  2 Timothy is a letter from apostle Paul to his disciple Timothy who had been sent to Ephesus to help sort out some challenging issues in the churches there.  Paul had been imprisoned for preaching the Gospel and this letter is written near the end of his life under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.   We will learn some ingredients that will help us fan aflame our spiritual life from 2 Timothy 1:1-7.  Which I will call the 3 S.   2 Timothy 1:1-7 (ESV) 1  Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, 2  To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3  I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4  As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5  I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6  For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7  for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.   SINCERE FAITH IS FOUNDATIONAL   2 Timothy 1:5 (ESV) “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.”   Paul saw sincere faith in both Timothy’s mother and grandmother.  Possibly because he either personally led them to Christ in Lystra when he planted a church there in Acts 14, or because he got to know them during his trips to Lystra (also in Acts 16).  Paul pointed out that he saw the same sincere faith in Timothy.  He then wrote, “For this reason...”.  It was upon that premise that he began to challenge Timothy to fan the gift of God.  This tells us that a sincere faith is foundational for fanning aflame the gift of God.  It is the starting point.  Some important questions to ask ourselves:   What is sincere faith?   Basically, it means a genuine, authentic faith.  No hypocrisy.  The real stuff. To get to the real stuff, we have to strip away all our outer layer of Christianese.  We may not realise it but sometimes the layer can be pretty thick in our lives.   Many years ago, I was involved in a scientific project at Argyle Diamond Mine in Western Australia, which was then the world’s largest producer of diamonds by volume.  For every single tonne of ore processed, they get 0.5g of diamond or 2.5 carats. Size for a nice engagement ring.  They have to strip away all the layers of rock to find the little diamonds. It was literally finding the proverbial needle in the haystack.  What faith will we find under the layers of Christian façade?    What faith will we find under the layers of Christian façade?  For sincere faith is not based on how well we have perfected our Christian lingo. Such as “Praise the Lord, Hallelujah, God bless you brother”, etc!  It is not how conservatively well behaved we are.  It is not even whether we listen to good Christian music and have nice safe Christian tastes in clothes and accessories. It is not even measured by whether we have a deep grasp of theology and have great apologetics on why we believe and what we believe.  It is not even how much we have achieved in our ministry.  Now, there is nothing wrong with any of the above.  In fact, it would be great if you have all the above. The sincerity of our faith is measured by the commitment we have in our hearts to Christ.   But these are not the true measure of the sincerity of our faith, though they may provide some indicators.  The sincerity of our faith is measured by the commitment we have in our hearts to Christ.   My mother had gone to the Methodist Church since she was a toddler.  In fact, most of her relatives go to church, going back generations. Some of her relatives were very prominent in the church.  I just found out a few months ago that if we trace on her side of the family, from her grandfather all the way down to my generation, there are some 24 pastors, not even counting me and Lai Ling. My mother would piously go to church and pray every night!  Almost 30 years ago, I asked her how certain she was that she would go to heaven. I asked her whether she trusted in Christ to save her.  She did not know, she could not tell.  And she had been going to church for almost 60 years then. I had the privilege of leading her to Christ a few days later.  And what a difference it made to her faith until the day she went to be with the Lord.   God is very concerned about the sincerity of our faith.  Hebrews 10:22 (ESV)  let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.   That brings us to the next question:   How sincere is our faith?   Once we remove all the layers, it all boils down to our relationship with God.  What is God to us and what is our commitment to Him?  I have been a Christian for over 40 years now.  I accepted Christ in 1983.  And in that time, I learnt a lot of Christianese.  You got to know a lot of these if you are going to be a pastor.  And when it comes to Christian ministry, I think I’ve got quite a lot of brownie points.    But you know what?  At the end of the day, when I come before Christ, it is about the sincerity of my faith.  Sometimes I forget, and God will remind me! Its like God will give me a slap in the face to wake me up from getting caught up in my own achievements. In God’s eyes, sincerity comes before success.    In God’s eyes, sincerity comes before success.  Luke 10:17–20 (ESV) 17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”  20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”   How sincere is our faith in Christ?  What is our heart commitment to Him? Our heart commitment can be illustrated by us letting Christ drive our car while we sit beside Him. Now how many of us have ever let someone else drive our car, we sit beside them and we discover they don’t drive it like we prefer?  We have this urge to take the car keys from then and take over the driving?   Have you ever found yourself edging Jesus out of the driver’s seat? Time to let Him back in! How sincere is your faith?  Perhaps it is time to take stock! And fan it aflame! Are we sincere enough to ask God  - what would you like me to be? And to move towards it? Are we sincere enough to ask God – what would you like me to do? And to do it? Sincere faith is foundational to having God’s gift fan aflame in our life.    Sincere faith is foundational to having God’s gift fan aflame in our life.  Get that right, and the rest comes much easier.   STIR THE GIFTEDNESS FROM GOD   2 Timothy 1:6 (ESV) “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands…”    Paul challenged Timothy to fan aflame the gift God had given to him.  Perhaps under the pressures he faced in the Ephesian church, he had been less than aflame.  What we can learn from this is:   God gives us giftedness.   God gives us natural gifts which we have to develop in our lifetime.  It may be a giftedness in music, or writing, or in speaking, analysing, in leading, etc. God also gives spiritual gifts when we first come to Christ.  These often add upon our natural giftedness.  God gives gifts along the way through prayer or impartation.  1 Timothy 4:14 (ESV) Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.   Timothy received certain spiritual gifts as a result of the elders praying over him.  Possibly this is what Paul was referring to in v6.  Paul was probably part of that eldership that prayed over him. God gives to every believer giftedness, so that we may effectively serve the church. To serve together.  To serve with your leaders. There is a minimum of one key spiritual giftedness that God has given you.    One of the keys is to recognise what God has gifted you.  It can cause a real excitement to rise up in your hearts. There is something exciting about discovering what God has gifted you!  Something special that God has especially gifted you for.  There is a minimum of one key spiritual giftedness that God has given you.  I encourage you to seek to discover it.   How do you discover it?  Perhaps God may tell us.  Sometimes you discover it as you try different things or others may discern it.  There are some assessments that help unearth it too.  In our church we encourage every member to get involved in at least one ministry.  Give it a go and you may discover your gifting.   Our responsibility is to stir it.   Romans 12:6–8 (ESV) 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. God will provide us gifts, but it is our responsibility to stir it aflame.    God will provide us gifts, but it is our responsibility to stir it aflame.  To bring it to its appropriate fruition. God gives but we need to apply it. To start using it faithfully, to learn how to use it wisely and more effectively.  To activate this giftedness, it usually requires us to apply faith.  It requires some courage, self-discipline and so forth.  Sometimes we get stuck precisely because we seem to lack some of these things.  I believe God has given me a call to lead and pastor the church.  But to do so, I had to step out in faith.   Some of you may be gifted by God to be evangelist, but if you lack the boldness to step out in the first place, your giftedness is not going to develop much.  If God has given you the gift of healing, you need to step out in faith to exercise it. Even when you don’t immediately see the results. John Wimber shared how he felt convicted to believe for the power of supernatural healing.  He started praying for lots of people.  But nothing happened for a long time.  He was so discouraged that he almost gave up.  But he persisted until finally he saw the first miraculous healing.  That finally started his healing ministry that became one of the hallmarks of his ministry.   God has given creative gifts to you.  Use it for God’s glory. Leaders, it is crucial that you learn to spot and discern giftedness and help them draw it out!  Let’s fan aflame our giftedness!    Sometimes we might find it challenging when we face difficulties, but God has provided us the answer.  God has provided His Holy Spirit.   SPIRIT TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES   2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV) “…  for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”   Sometimes as we step out to serve God, we can face obstacles.  Discouragement.  Disillusionment may arise.  It is not easy.  I have had to face many challenges in my own ministry yet by the power of the Holy Spirit in me, it has helped me gain victory.   God did not give unto us a timid Holy Spirit who simply retreats into a safe shell.  No!  God’s spirit in us helps us, empowers us to overcome the challenges that we face.  In v7 alone, we discover that it is a: When we allow the Spirit of God to stir faith in our hearts, courage begins to arise.    Spirit of courage.  When we allow the Spirit of God to stir faith in our hearts, courage begins to arise.  Courage to stand tall because you have the conviction that God is backing you up.  Those who know me, know that I am generally a cautious person.  But when I am certain that God has spoken, I begin to step out with much greater boldness.   Something stirs in my heart, and I am able to say, “Let’s do it!”  Planting our church in Brisbane was very much such a courageous step of faith, birthed out of the Holy Spirit’s leading.   Spirit of power.  The Holy Spirit brings spiritual authority and power.  You may look at yourself and think that you have no power, nor authority to get things moving.  But the Holy Spirit has all the power and authority to get His agenda moving.  You just have to flow with Him.    Spirit of love.   Love is the highest and purest level of motivation.  1 Corinthians 13:1 - 3 (NIV) 1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.   God desires love as a key motivation.  Sometimes we struggle with our motivation.  Let God get involved in your motivation. Let Him transform our heart motivations.  I discovered from my own experience, that I need go to God every so often and ask Him to adjust my heart.   Spirit of self-control.   Galatians 5:22–24 (ESV) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.   It is when we walk more and more with the Holy Spirit, that we will find more and more of His fruit will become evident in our lives, including self-control.  The self-control we need to harness the gifts God gives and to develop in it.   The above is not a comprehensive list but to point to fact that God has actually given us what we already need to stir the gifts in our lives.  The Holy Spirit in us.  Remember how the Holy Spirit came upon Gideon in power and a nobody turned into a somebody!   That is why we need to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. A major area of empowerment is to be baptised by the Holy Spirit.  Another way the Holy Spirit empowers us is through spiritual people who are available to encourage us.  Therefore, step out to support one another!  Step out to help shoulder burdens.  Let’s fan aflame together!    CONCLUSIONS   Don’t get fed up with a lack of progress in your spiritual journey but get fired-up.  Let’s make sure we have a sincere faith, looking beyond the fluff in our lives into the core of the matter.  How sincere is our heart-commitment to Christ?   Realise that God has already given you gifts, but you have to discover it and activate it by applying those gifts with faith.  That will help fan aflame your spiritual life. Recognise also that the Holy Spirit is able to provide all you need to fan aflame the gift of God.  Get together and support one another in your church, encourage one another forward in God.  A good spiritual community can help fan the flames. Copyright©️2025 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.

It was reported in May 2008 that man is suing JetBlue airlines for $2 million in the New York State Supreme Court.  He is suing for the extreme humiliation he suffered when he was forced to give up his seat for a sick flight attendant.  The alternate seat he was given? The toilet!   The man, Gokhan Mutlu checked in for a jetBlue 5 hour flight from San Diego to New York and was told the flight was full. Mutlu was allowed to board after a jetBlue flight attendant agreed to give up her seat and travel in an airline employee "jump seat." However, 90 minutes into the flight, the pilot told Mutlu the flight attendant was feeling uncomfortable and he would have to give up his seat and "hang out" in the bathroom for the remainder of the flight, the lawsuit said.   The pilot "became angry at his reluctance to comply" and said Mutlu "should be grateful for being onboard," the lawsuit said. When Mutlu volunteered to sit in the "jump seat," he was told it was reserved for airline personnel. At one point, the airplane experienced turbulence and Mutlu sat on the toilet seat without a seat belt, causing him "tremendous fear," the lawsuit said. The lawsuit claims JetBlue negligently endangered him by not providing him with a seat with a safety belt or harness, in violation of federal law.   We live in an era where lawsuits are common and perhaps sometimes over the board.  In fact, there is a website called overlawyerd.com that compiles lawsuits to show how ridiculous some lawsuits have become.  Nevertheless, much of the concepts of compensations do derive from the Bible. It is important to understand some important principles when injuries do happen.  From it, we can also learn a lot about taking personal responsibility for our actions.   From Exodus 21:18-36 we will highlight some key principles. I must highlight that these laws were meant to help bring fairness and consistency for the Israelite community to function while they were in the desert.  These laws were given in a context of the existing social practices.  God did not intend to radically over-turn every practice hence He allowed certain practices to continue during that time.  God just modified it to improve it.   1.  TO WHAT EXTENT ARE YOU RESPONSIBLE?   Basic principles for determining extent of responsibility   Exodus 21:26–29 (NIV) 26 “An owner who hits a male or female slave in the eye and destroys it must let the slave go free to compensate for the eye. 27 And an owner who knocks out the tooth of a male or female slave must let the slave go free to compensate for the tooth. 28 “If a bull gores a man or woman to death, the bull is to be stoned to death, and its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the bull will not be held responsible. 29 If, however, the bull has had the habit of goring and the owner has been warned but has not kept it penned up and it kills a man or woman, the bull is to be stoned and its owner also is to be put to death.   Examples given here outline some key principles for determining the degree to which we are responsible for an injury.  We may conceptualise the extent of responsibility according to 3 broad categories.   Intentional.  In v26-27, the slave owner beats a slave and brings permanent injury.  Then the owner is held fully responsible for the injury.  For the owner clearly inflicted the injury by beating the slave.   Accidental.  In v28 gives an example of a bull that unexpectedly gores (pierce or stabs) someone to death.  In this incident there was no possible prior knowledge that the bull would behave in this way.  It was unexpected.  Hence, the owner will not be charged for causing death but the dangerous animal is to be put down. Note the bull’s meat is not to be eaten is a precaution against diseases such as rabies.   Negligence.  In v29 gives an example where the owner did know that the bull had a habit of goring people. The owner had been warned previously to keep it penned up because it can be a danger to others.  Yet the owner failed to do so.  If the bull does gore someone to death, then the owner is held fully responsible and face the death penalty.  This is the principle of negligence.    It refers to a criminally careless or reckless act that results in injury to others.  They should have known better. It was reasonably foreseeable.  But nothing reasonable was done to prevent the possibility of injury occurring to others.   Negligence can also occur when a person, such as doctors, owe a certain duty of care but failed to reasonably deliver it.    Taking responsibility.   Courier Mail On Aug 2008 reported that cartwheels, handstands and somersaults by children were banned at a north Queensland school last week.  Education Minister Rod Welford admitted that fear of legal action was partly behind the decision.  Nearly 100 lawsuits were filed against the State of Queensland for injuries suffered by schoolchildren in the last financial year.   One child is asking for $280,000 plus interest after she hurt herself playing tiggy (a tag chase child game) in the Bribie Island State School in 2004 when she was six. She tripped on a metal bar "comprising part of the playground equipment" during her lunchbreak. It is alleged she suffered a shortening of her right leg, disuse osteoporosis and a deformity at the neck of the right femur as a result of the fall and then inadequate medical treatment by Queensland Health.  The girl claims that she was not supervised adequately and the playground equipment was not safe.   What has happened to taking personal responsibility? God determines responsibility on the basis of how much we should reasonably have known about the consequences of our actions.   Throughout Scriptures we find that God determines responsibility on the basis of how much we should reasonably have known about the consequences of our actions. Job 4:8 (NIV) As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it. Also, Psalms 126:5 (NIV) Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.   God is the ultimate judge of our actions and our responsibility. Galatians 6:7 (NIV) Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.   God holds us responsible for our response to the Gospel. John 3:16 - 18 (NIV) 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life...  18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.    If we choose to believe, God will save us.  If we choose to reject, we stand condemned already.  It is our choice because of our preference. God gives us choice.  And He holds us responsible for our choices.    God gives us choice.  And He holds us responsible for our choices.  We will reap what we sow!  Unfortunately, too many people try to avoid responsibility for their actions.  “My parents made me do it.  My circumstances forced me to do it.  The Devil made me do it!  My anger, my depression, my hunger, etc.  It is everybody else but me!”  But, it was me!    Despite our shifting the blame, God knows everything and He will judge us accordingly.  In the Garden of Eden, when God confronted Adam about his sin, Adam quickly pointed the finger to Eve and said, “It was the woman you gave me!”  And Eve quickly pointed to the serpent and said, “It was the serpent you made!”  And the serpent had no one else to blame. We cannot escape God’s judgment, though we may escape men for a while.    We cannot escape God’s judgment, though we may escape men for a while.  2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.   If we sin, we better genuinely repent before God! Also, until and unless we take proper responsibility, we will never begin to address the problem properly.  Perhaps if we have a smoking or drug addiction, we could blame work, spouse, stress but until we take ownership, we will not address our problems.   On the other hand, there are some things we should not take full responsibility for.  Sometimes we torture ourselves by blaming ourselves for things that we are not really responsible.  For example, when driving your car, your tyre blew up because there was a small sharp object on the road.  Your car swerved uncontrollably and smashed into a pedestrian who became paralysed for life.  Should you blame yourself and feel guilty for the rest of your life?  No. It was not your fault. We should be willing to take responsibility and know what to take responsibility for.   We should be willing to take responsibility and know what to take responsibility for.     2.  TO WHAT EXTENT WAS LOSS SUFFERED?   Basic principles to determine loss   What is loss?  Loss is the state or feeling of grief when deprived of someone, or something of value. The Scriptural examples provide for us aspects to consider types of loss a person can suffer.   Exodus 21:18–19 (NIV) 18 “If people quarrel and one person hits another with a stone or with their fist and the victim does not die but is confined to bed, 19 the one who struck the blow will not be held liable if the other can get up and walk around outside with a staff; however, the guilty party must pay the injured person for any loss of time and see that the victim is completely healed.   Loss of productive time or income (v18-19).  The injured person suffers loss because he is not able to work.    Exodus 21:20 (NIV)  “Anyone who beats their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies as a direct result, 21 but they are not to be punished if the slave recovers after a day or two, since the slave is their property.   Loss of life (v20). If someone is killed, then the wrongdoer must face the consequences.  A loss of life affects the family and possibly the broader community. When an army man dies in war for his country, the Australian Government compensation is paid to his wife and family because there is great loss.  While we can still legitimately claim our ‘right’ for compensation, we can also respond like Jesus in the matter.  When Jesus was crucified, He did not seek compensation.   While we can still legitimately claim our ‘right’ for compensation, we can also respond like Jesus in the matter.  When Jesus was crucified, He did not seek compensation.  Luke 23:34 (NIV) Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”   A member from one of our centres tragically lost her parents in a car accident, due to negligent driving from a young girl. She wrote a heartfelt letter to the judge, police and girl responsible to express her forgiving the girl. Many months later the police let the young girl go free without even a fine.    This may seem unfair, and you are right.   This is an act of grace (unmerited favour).  Was it fair that the Son of God be butchered by his own creation? The answer is clearly no, it is not fair.  Some “rights” are not worth claiming.  We can leave it to the Lord to judge.  Sometimes man’s judgements seem unfair when some seems to get away with it.  We can take comfort in Romans 12:19 (NIV) Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.    We should entrust it to God. He is able to deal with matters with grace, justice and wisdom, far better than we could ever deal with it.   Exodus 21:23-27 (NIV) 22 “If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. 23 But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise. 26 “An owner who hits a male or female slave in the eye and destroys it must let the slave go free to compensate for the eye. 27 And an owner who knocks out the tooth of a male or female slave must let the slave go free to compensate for the tooth.   Loss of function of body (v22-27) When a person loses some body function, whether a limb or other part, it can have devastating effects.  Perhaps they will not be able to perform their work or live life normally.   Exodus 21:33–34 (NIV) 33 “If anyone uncovers a pit or digs one and fails to cover it and an ox or a donkey falls into it, 34 the one who opened the pit must pay the owner for the loss and take the dead animal in exchange.   Loss of resources (v33-34) such as livestock. If someone hits a taxi, not only does he ought to pay for the damage, but also for the loss of income when the taxi is off the road.   Becoming aware of loss inflicted. As a community we must take responsibility not just for ourselves but also how our actions affect others. As a community we must take responsibility not just for ourselves but also how our actions affect others. Especially when it causes loss. Usually, our society is preoccupied with how other people’s actions affect us.  But as Christians let us operate God’s way. Turn the world’s way around.  Be more concerned about how our actions affect other people!  Be more considerate.   If I am mean to others, how will it affect them? If I am negligent, how does that affect people around me? If I am forgetful how does that affect people around me? What if as Christians we go beyond what the law teaches and get to the heartbeat?  Out of genuine love for people? To care for people around us?   3.  TO WHAT EXTENT SHOULD YOU COMPENSATE?   There are some crazy compensations awarded to people today by the courts. In Lancaster, Pasadena, USA, Jeffrey Klein and Brett Birdwell were 17 “when they trespassed onto railroad property and climbed atop a rail car” because they wanted to see the view from there. They were electrocuted by a 12,500-volt wire and apparently severely injured. Their attorney said the railroads (Amtrak and Norfolk Southern) should have posted signs for the benefit of trespassers warning of the overhead hazard and also should have had the electricity turned off at the time.   Did they get anything? They were awarded US$24.2 million. How severe were their injuries? Birdwell, who was awarded $6.8 million, had his injuries miraculously improve enough to join the Army in Afghanistan.   Basic principles to determine compensation   3 basic principles in determining compensation.  Extent which a person is responsible, the extent of actual loss suffered or will be suffered and the appropriate compensation for the loss. There are 3 basic principles in determining compensation.  Extent which a person is responsible, the extent of actual loss suffered or will be suffered and the appropriate compensation for the loss.   Exodus 21:35–36 (NIV) 35 “If anyone’s bull injures someone else’s bull and it dies, the two parties are to sell the live one and divide both the money and the dead animal equally. 36 However, if it was known that the bull had the habit of goring, yet the owner did not keep it penned up, the owner must pay, animal for animal, and take the dead animal in exchange.   In v35-36 we see these various elements being put into consideration.  In v35, we find extent of loss: a bull.  Extent of responsibility: the owner of the bull is not charged for negligence for the actions of his bull, yet is held partially responsible.  Extent of compensation?  Sell the live bull and split the money between both parties.   In v36, it makes it clear that if the bull has a known habit of goring, then the owner is held fully responsible for the loss suffered.  Because it is negligence.  So the owner is to pay fully for the loss of an animal.   Exodus 21:29–32 (NIV) 29 If, however, the bull has had the habit of goring and the owner has been warned but has not kept it penned up and it kills a man or woman, the bull is to be stoned and its owner also is to be put to death. 30 However, if payment is demanded, the owner may redeem his life by the payment of whatever is demanded. 31 This law also applies if the bull gores a son or daughter. 32 If the bull gores a male or female slave, the owner must pay thirty shekels of silver to the master of the slave, and the bull is to be stoned to death.   In v29-31, if the owner’s bull kills a person, the owner is punishable by death.  But if payment is acceptable, the owner may redeem his life by making an acceptable payment.   In the case of the slave of v32, we may ask why a price of 30 shekels was set?  The value of 30 shekels is not easy to define.  Some believe it may be worth as much as a year’s wages.  Joseph was sold for 20 shekels (Genesis 37:28).  Jesus was betrayed for a princely sum of 30 silver shekels (Matthew 26:15).   Hence it is likely that the sum was set to 30 shekels, to ensure a slave is not under-valued but in fact to ensure a reasonable minimum for compensation.   Indeed, v26-27 tells us that if an owner inflicts permanent damage upon a slave, such as knocking out a tooth – the slave must be set free.  In v20, if an owner kills a slave, then the owner must face punishment too.  This gives protection and value to the slave.  In the surrounding culture of the time, that would be radical.   Making up for the loss suffered. God’s principle is if we cause injury, we must compensate for the loss in some reasonable way. God’s principle is simply this.  If we cause injury, we must compensate for the loss in some reasonable way. Every person is valuable. If we cause them injury and hamper their ability to function as they should or they go backwards in some way, let us do it God’s way.  Take responsibility to correct the situation as much as we can.   Compensation is not always in monetary terms.  Sometimes it requires a simple yet genuine apology.  Perhaps if we injured some one’s feeling’s, like our wife – bring flowers!? Perhaps it requires giving of our time and energy to correct the situation.   When one of our leaders was shooting a short film about stones, an opal shop owner kindly lent her some valuable opals.  He also explained they were of great personal value to himself.  Despite being careful with the gems, someone stole them from her bag when she was not looking.  Although the police said it was not her fault, she personally had nonetheless decided to compensate the shop owner the full costs. She prayed to the Lord almost all night and got others to pray also because she would have struggled to pay the full compensation. Thank God after much prayer for the conviction of the Holy Spirit and some police work, the thief returned the stones.   Too many people are disconnected from a sense of responsibility today.  By requiring them to be personally involved in the compensation will help them gain a deeper sense of the loss they caused.  Hence, the compensation can also serve as a deterrent to future negligence or intentional harm.  If they vandalise a building, they should do community work, cleaning up graffiti or helping to rebuild buildings.  They are to repair the damage done.   If they drive recklessly, they should do community work such as assisting injured people.  If someone did harm, they have to help bring restoration of some kind.  This is the concept of restorative justice.   Have we brought injury to anyone?  Did we injure them physically, emotionally or mentally?  Did we cause loss to what they owned?  What have we done to compensate for it?  God expects us to do the right thing.  As Christians are we motivated by God’s law to compensate people around us or by Christ to love those around us? Let us operate on the higher law of love.   CONCLUSION   For a community to function properly there must be a well-developed sense of responsibility. Especially when we have cause injury or loss to others. Let us develop a clear sense of the extent of our responsibilities and make compensations appropriate to the extent of loss caused.   Let us be a righteous people that make just compensations.  Let us be loving people and take care not to bring harm to others. Copyright©️2025 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.

Have you ever wished you were rich?  If only we had a fat bank account?  That we could walk into a department store and buy stuff without even looking at the price tag?   There are numerous people who dream of becoming rich.  There are get quick rich programs that says, “Be a Millionaire before 30”.  My Dad said that the closest he ever got was to have a millionaire . And to own a Mercedes, even though it was a second hand 20 year-old car!    There is so much out there that urges us to get rich, invest into all kinds of wealth generating schemes, etc.  And it can all be so tempting.  But what does the Bible have to say about all this?  So today we will put Wealth In Its Proper Place.   As we examine the Scriptures, we find 1 Timothy 6:17-19 addressing the issue of wealth.  1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)  17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.   The city of Ephesus was a centre of commerce.  It was a prosperous city and there were some wealthy members in the church.  The instructions given in Scripture to them are instructive to us as well today.  Let us look at some of these principles.   HOPE NOT IN WEALTH   Scriptures puts it very clearly – do not put our hope in wealth.  Why?   Wealth is uncertain   1 Timothy 6:17 (NIV)   Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain…   Scriptures throw a very different light on wealth. For material wealth is a temporal asset.  It will come and go. Proverbs 11:28 (NIV) Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.  Proverbs 23:4 - 5 (NIV) 4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. 5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.   There will be those who race up the mountain of wealth and seem to bask in the limelight, but soon they fade away.  Eddy Groves was the founder and CEO of ABC Learning, once one of Australia’s largest companies and one of the world’s biggest childcare providers.  The company was worth $2.5 billion at one point making him one of the richest man in Australia. He lived a lavish lifestyle and was known as “Fast Eddie”.  He even bought the Brisbane Bullets basketball team and made them a successful team. But in 2008, everything fell apart.  ABC Learning went into bankruptcy with debts exceeding $1 billion and Eddy Groves lost almost everything.  He was pursued in court over many millions of debt.  It was then revealed that his marriage to his wife was a sham for business reasons.  They had actually separated in 1998 but never made it known until last year. Australia has a whole list of people who became incredibly successful and almost disgustingly rich, only to fall into hard times.  The disgraced Alan Bond and Christopher Skase were the most well-known in Australia.   Even though the wealthy and famous may be admired, often their personal lives are in disarray.  Wealth does not guarantee us happiness nor peace in our hearts.  Eddy Groves with his sham of a marriage, Tiger Woods with his broken marriage.   In fact, often wealth can create incredible stress. There was an interview at 96.5FM, where a young man was once a very successful marketing manager at Harvey Norman.  He was instrumental in marketing of the Computing Division at Harvey Norman.  He helped grow the company from scratch to a highly successful, multi-million division.  He had a wonderful reputation.  Then one day his wife gave him a short business proposition.  Quit his job or be divorced.  His success was limited to only one facet of his life while he was failing in his family life.     Those who place their hope in wealth will be greatly disappointed.   Beware arrogance of wealth   1 Timothy 6:17 also warned the wealthy not to be arrogant.  Why this warning to the wealthy? No doubt, those who have worked hard and grew wealthy often did this through hard work and by having insightful business acumen.  Through smart business deals, wisely reading the sign of the times, by building strong business relationships and so forth.  No doubt, evidence of wisdom.   Yet what does the Bible have to say?  The Scriptures gave a warning to a wealthy man in Ezekiel 28:2 - 5 (NIV)  2“Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “‘In the pride of your heart you say, “I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas.”  But you are a man and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god. 3 Are you wiser than Daniel? Is no secret hidden from you? 4 By your wisdom and understanding you have gained wealth for yourself and amassed gold and silver in your treasuries. 5 By your great skill in trading you have increased your wealth, and because of your wealth your heart has grown proud. We can become rich because of natural wisdom.  But natural wisdom can lead us down the path of pride.   This ruler had great skills, wisdom and understanding!  He became exceedingly wealthy.  And he became exceedingly proud!  There is a difference between natural wisdom and godly wisdom.  We can become rich because of natural wisdom.  But natural wisdom can lead us down the path of pride, where we may begin to think too highly of ourselves. Proverbs 28:11 (NIV) A rich man may be wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has discernment sees through him.   A poor man with discernment sees an arrogant man, not a wise man.  One danger of having built our wealth is that we may begin to think too highly of ourselves. I am not saying only the wealthy face this problem.  Many other people can become proud.  But for the rich, this is a particularly strong danger.  If we have been fortunate to be wealthy or to become wealthy one day, it would be good to remember to keep humble before God!   For some of us perhaps not being wealthy may be a blessing. Otherwise we may easily become arrogant! Though some of us may wish, can we just be a little rich?   HOPE IN GOD   1 Timothy 6:17b (NIV) “...but to put their hope in God...”   The Scriptures urge us not to put our hope in wealth, but to place our hope in God.  We are to take our focus away from wealth and towards God!  Why?   God has the final say, not wealth.   Luke 12:16 - 21 (NIV) 16And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.  17He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  19And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ 20“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21“This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”  Wealth is like a painkiller, it can help dull the pain of sin but it is no cure.    Wealth is no saviour, it saves no one.  Only God can.  Wealth is like a painkiller, it can help dull the pain of sin but it is no cure.  In fact, it often hides the fact there is a serious problem.  Wealth is no panacea, but in fact may be a drug.  On the other hand, God loves us enough to want to help us deal with our root problem.  And that is sin.  God is faithful and will not let us down, if we would trust in Him.    God provides generously   1 Timothy 6:17c (NIV) “...who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”   When we pursue after God first, rather than wealth – it does not mean we become poor and destitute because we run away from wealth.  The Bible never speaks about fleeing from wealth.  It speaks about feeling idolatry, sexual immorality, wicked deeds, greed, but never wealth. It is ok to be wealthy and God does bless some of His people to be wealthy.   For some of us, God probably knows better that we should not be wealthy – otherwise we may become proud, etc.  But nevertheless, when we walk with God properly, we will experience God’s blessings.  For God will provide generously.  God wants us to be able to enjoy the fruits of our labour. Isaiah 65:22 (NIV) ...For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the works of their hands.   God knows what we need.  He will provide as we seek Him first. Matthew 6:33 (NIV) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.    It is fine to be wealthy, but make sure it is never at the expense of our focus on God.   BRING HOPE WITH WEALTH   Be good stewards of wealth   1 Timothy 6:18 (NIV)   Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. The rich are to be commanded to be rich in good deeds.   The rich are to be commanded to be rich in good deeds.  They are to make use of their wealth generously to bless others.  Why?  Because we must understand that we are merely stewards of all we have.  You see, God owns everything. Psalms 24:1 (NIV)  The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;   Everything we have comes from God, our giftedness, even our personality comes from God.  James 1:17 (NIV) Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights...    God has allowed, even blessed some of us to gain wealth.  But we should understand that we are called to be stewards of all that we have.  That we may use it wisely for His glory and for His kingdom. 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV) Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.      For example, the parable of Matthew 25:15 tells us different servants being given different amounts of talent.  One is given 5 talents, another 2 and another 1.  When the master returned, he expected each to have been faithful with these talents.  The one with 5 gained 5 more and was rewarded by the master.  The one with 2 gained 2 more and was rewarded as well.  When we are faithful stewards, God is pleased and reward us.  Hence, should we have wealth, we should be wise stewards and use it wisely to be a blessing to others.  Be generous to help. God will not measure how much wealth you generated.  But how much of your wealth did you use faithfully to bring glory to God.   In the end, God will not measure how much wealth you generated.  But how much of your wealth did you use faithfully to bring glory to God.  I believe that God wants to bring wealthy Christians together to strategically make an impact for His Kingdom.  If God has given you funds, perhaps you can consider how to strategically sow it in the Kingdom.   Sow to build people’s lives.  Perhaps to encourage different ones to grow in God’s Word.  Helping fund them for conferences.  Perhaps to help certain ministries – helping them to purchase equipment or fund them to get training. Perhaps fund different community projects that help the needy.   Seek eternal treasure   1 Timothy 6:19 (NIV) In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. Put priority into building their treasures in heaven, more than treasures on earth.    The Scriptures urge the wealthy to put priority into building their treasures in heaven, more than treasures on earth. For the treasures in heaven is eternal.  Matthew 6:19 - 21 (NIV) 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.   It is far more important to build treasures that last, than treasures that are fleeting, quickly gone.  I rather be a poor man on earth and a rich man in God, than a rich man on earth who is poor in God!  There will be many today who are not wealthy on earth, but wait till they get to heaven.  God will roll out the red carpet for some of them.  The angels will give them a celebrity treatment.  They will cheer them on as they walk past the pearly gates.  They will be awarded the Heavenly Oscar awards for Best Giver, Best Steward, Best Builder of the Kingdom.  Perhaps an award for being the Richest Poor Believer.   When we do what is right before God.  When we bless others.  When we do good deeds, God will give a tick! You gain heavenly brownie points!   CONCLUSIONS   Wealth must be put in its proper place.  Wealth can be a curse if approached wrongly.  It can be a blessing if approach God’s way.  Wealth when properly used for God’s Kingdom can be a blessing to many.  Most importantly, build treasures in heaven first rather than on earth. Copyright©️2025 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.