Have you ever been in situations that simply looked impossible to get out of or to deal with?  Have you have felt like in-between a rock and a hard place? You are not alone.  Many have been in such situations, and have been overwhelmed by it. Yet the Bible helps us to understand that God can have His purposes during such times.  These can be times to grow spiritually, and it can be times of incredible victory too. In Exodus 14:5-31, we can learn some key principles of trusting God through impossibilities.  For the Israelites were stuck in an impossible situation. Traditionally, the exodus route was assumed to cross the Red Sea at the western side of the Sinai Peninsula that is the Gulf of Suez, a shallow area.  However, I think there is more weight of evidence from recent discoveries for the eastern side as per map below. It is crucial to realise that the Gulf of Aqaba is the Red Sea of the Bible, as noted in 1 Kings 9:26 (NIV) “King Solomon also built ships at Ezion Geber, which is near Elath in Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea.”  Why?  Because it is known that Elath is located on the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba (see map above). The distance from Succoth to Nuweiba at the Gulf of Aqaba is almost 300 kilometres.  Was it possible for a whole nation to travel at that pace through the desert?  Possible, if God was providing shade through His cloud during the day! And v21 implied they travelled hard, both in the day and in the night. It is likely they reach Wadi Watir, a large beach at Nuweiba. Large enough to hold 2 million people.  Today there are hotels and a village there.  The path to the Wadi was a meandering path between canyons. In Exodus 14:3 (KJV) “…They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.” The Israelites would have felt totally “hemmed in” at the beach.  They could not turn inland, nor go north because there was a 3 storey Egyptian fortress there.  There was no way to run.  The situation looked impossible. There are some evidence of barnacle encrusted remains of chariots and human bones at the bottom of the Gulf of Aqaba near Nuweiba.  This lends credence to the theory of this crossing. So what principles can we learn from this passage? NEVER LOSE YOUR NERVES: STAND FIRM Exodus 14:5–12 (NIV) 5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds… 6 So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him. 7 He took six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. 8 The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly. 9 The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen and troops—pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon. 10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” The Israelites were overwhelmed by the enormity of the situation.  For Pharaoh had come pursuing them with the full force of his army.  Pharaoh had with him the 600 elite chariots plus many thousands of other chariots.  It is likely that these 600 charioteers had a fearsome reputation and merited such mention.  V9 states that Pharaoh went with horsemen and troops as well, likely an army of thousands of chariots, many tens of thousands of horsemen and troops.  In fact, Josephus the historian recorded 50,000 horsemen and 200,000 foot soldiers. The Israelites had over 1,000,000 people, outnumbering the Egyptians, but these had many women, children and seniors.  Very few would have been trained in warfare as they were slaves.  Faced with Pharaoh’s well-equipped and trained army, it could be a massacre.  Fear gripped their hearts and they panicked.  Would you have panicked? Fear is the cousin of unbelief.  Fear and doubt drive out faith and ushers in unbelief. When faced with an impossible situation, it is crucialnot to lose our nerves.  To be overcome by fear and to panic is to lead to certain defeat.  The impossible situation will simply eat us up alive.  Fear is the cousin of unbelief.  Fear and doubt drive out faith and ushers in unbelief. Matthew 14:28 - 31 (NIV) 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”  When Peter walked on water by faith, it was fear that brought in doubt.  Causing Peter to waver in his faith and to sink into the sea. Despite seeing God’s powerful hand deliver them from Egypt, the Israelites’ only response was fear, whining and despair. Where was their trust in God?  Fear tends to cloud our judgment and in panic we can no longer think clearly or objectively. Instead of looking to God, we tend to jump at the nearest compromise solution. Once in my home, a little mouse had somehow entered and scurried across our family area.  Immediately my wife and another girl who saw it jumped up unto the sofas and chair with great fear. I chuckled at them and tried to explain that they weight hundreds of times more than these little pests.  If they were to accidentally fall on these mouse, it would be killed. The mouse should be far more afraid of them, not the other way around.  Obviously, it did not allay their fears.  I had to deal with the intruder mouse myself. By focusing on God’s faithfulness in the past, we can face crisis with confidence rather than with fear and complaining.  The attitude of thanksgiving and gratitude is a good place to start when we are feeling fearful. NEVER LOSE HEART: PERSEVERE Gaining a divine perspective helps us see as God sees it. An opportunity rather than impossibility. In the midst of impossibilities, the enemy would try to make us first lose our nerves. Then to cause us to lose heart ie to stop believing that we can succeed or go through it. An important step in trusting God through a seemingly impossible situation is to gain a divine perspective on the situation.  That is why Moses urged them, “Do not be afraid!”  We must stay calm in the face of impossible odds and begin to see it through the eyes of God. Gaining a divine perspective helps us see as God sees it. An opportunity rather than impossibility. How do we do this? Believe in God’s deliverance Exodus 14:13–14 (NIV) 13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” With an impossible situation, human solutions will not work.  We need God-solutions. When faced with an impossible situation, human solutions will not work.  We need God-solutions.  We should determine to turn to God for help! We are not in control of everything, but God is!  God is sovereign over all matters. Why not turn to God in such times and seek His face. Quit worrying! Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into a fiery furnace.  They looked upon God for deliverance. Daniel 3:17-18 (NIV) 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” They did not lose heart but placed their complete confidence in God to save them!  Their entire lives were placed in God’s hands.  What trust! Seek for divine guidance Exodus 14:15–16 (NIV) 15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. Godly solutions must be carried out according to God’s ways and instructions. Our part is to seek God for His specific instructions.  We must be patient in listening to God.  Often, our own thoughts cut off God’s divine thoughts because we are so busy seeking for the solutions ourselves rather than seek God. Or we are too distracted by our entertainment devices to hear God! When God gives us instructions, we should obey God who knows better. Isa 55:6, 8-9 (NIV) 6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Let’s seek God until you find guidance! Discern God’s purposes Exodus 14:17–18 (NIV) 17 I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.” God has a purpose for every situation.  We need to figure out what God is trying to teach us each time. God has a purpose for every situation.  We need to figure out what God is trying to teach us each time.  Rather than fighting God all the way, why not start asking God, “What would you like to teach me through this circumstance?”  To be able to do so, we need to seek God and trust Him.  Do not allow doubt to come in and pull you apart when the situation gets worse or does not seem to improve. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Persevere for God’s deliverance Exodus 14:19–20 (NIV) 19 Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long. Finally, at the eleventh hour, God intervened.  Just in time, the divine column moved to stand between them and the Egyptian army. Hebrews 10:36 (NIV) You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. God will turn up.  Eventually.  Sometimes at the 13th hour!  It is almost like you have reached the edge of a cliff, pushed over the edge and as you are falling, God turns up and asks casually, “So what can I do for you?” George Muller was an evangelist and founder of the Ashley Down orphanage in 19th century Bristol, England.  These orphanages were not funded by the government and had to rely upon donors.  By faith, Muller determined that they were not going to solicit for donations, instead trusting God for His provision.  They saw many incredible provisions by God. Muller shares the story of a time, when the orphanage had totally run out of funds.  There was nothing left to provide even a meal for the many orphans.  Nevertheless, he had them all sit down at the dining table with empty plates and began to give thanks to God for His provision.  Just as he finished giving thanks, there was a loud urgent knock at the front door.  A delivery truck had broken down in front of the orphanage.  The driver told them that he was to deliver food to a shop, but it would all go to waste now.  So would the orphanage like to have it?  That day they had one of the most sumptuous meals ever! It is crucial that we persevere in waiting for God’s intervention.  If we simply seek a human solution, it may end up an Ishmael.  James 5:11 (NIV) As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. Job is a good example of a man who was faithful to God, trusted God and persevered through whatever situation had happened to him.  In the end, he received God’s best for his life. NEVER BACK OUT: WALK THROUGH Impossible situations require impossible solutions. Sometimes, impossible situations require impossible solutions. A natural response to a seemingly impossible solution is, “I can’t do this! It is impossible!” Yet nothing is impossible for God. Matthew 19:26 (NIV) Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”  So how do we walk through impossible situations? Exercise faith according to the rhema word Exodus 14:21 (NIV)  Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, Faced with an impossible situation, human solutions will not work.  We need God-solutions. Moses heard from God in the midst of the impossible situation as we saw in v15-18. The key step is when he acted in faith according to the rhema word that he received.  When we are faced with an impossible situation, human solutions will not work.  We need God-solutions. Do you want God-solutions to your situation? Then you need to respond with faith when God releases His rhema word!  Moses acted upon the rhema word, so must you! Rise up to the fearsome solution Exodus 14:22 (NIV)  and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. To escape from the Egyptian army, the Israelites had to walk into the depths of the Red Sea with only a divine wind holding back the sea on both sides.  The only thing separating them from death in the sea was an invisible hand of God holding back the sea! We know that God caused the sea to close back at dawn and we know that the sea was parted sometime at night.  It is very possible that they had several hours to cross the Red Sea. It is likely that they had to walk several kilometres across the bed of the sea to reach the other side. If the site is as proposed, it is a walk of about 13 kilometres.  Sonar studies has revealed an undersea ridge, as shown below. It is about 300m deep and the land bridge was about 900m wide. The sides fall off to over 1,000m deep.  The slope down and up the land bridge is a gentle 6 degrees! Imagine if you were walking through the Red Sea.  In the dead of the night with howling winds holding back some 300m of sea water, that towered over you as you journeyed down the land bridge.  Perhaps some large sea animals might bump along this wall of water as you passed by.  You hurry across as fast as you can because if this invisible wall of wind failed to hold, it was the end. Taking hold of the impossible solution requires courage. At times, impossible situations require impossible solutions. And taking hold of the impossible solution requires courage. Courage enough to walk in it.  Challenging us to the limit of our faith.  Sometimes the solution may be almost as fearsome as the crisis. The Bible recorded for us the story of Daniel whose enemies plotted to kill him.  God delivered Daniel from his enemies, but it required him to first be accused of disobedience to the King’s orders and being thrown into the lion’s den.  We know the final outcome and how God protected him.  Yet imagine if God’s solution to our biggest problem is to be thrown into the lion’s den!  Perhaps we might reject God’s solution! The problem is the lack of courage, the lack of faith in God to walk in the solution. One key reason why many Christians fail to break past the impossible situation is not because of the lack of a God-provided solution.  The problem is the lack of courage, the lack of faith in God to walk in the solution.  And we cannot argue that the solution was beyond us to bear. 1 Cor 10:13 (NIV) No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. We must take heart in the knowledge of God’s promise that He would not allow us to be tested beyond what we can bear.  The problem is not about exceeding what we can bear but our premature giving up!  So let’s rise up to the fearsome solution!  Rise up in faith and walk through the impossible situation by taking hold of the God-solution. We must maintain faith as we walk in the impossible solution! In Apostle Peter’s case, where he fumbled when trying to walk on water, it was because he did not persevere in faith.  It was not a lack of courage to walk through an impossible situation.  He cast His eyes away from Jesus, so he was unable to maintain faith through the impossible situation.  We must maintain faith as we walk in the impossible solution!  Don’t think, “Surely I can’t be doing this! It is impossible.  Nobody has done it before!” In the Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back movie, Luke Skywalker found Yoda, the tiny, old Jedi master.  During his training, Luke discovered that his space craft had sunk to the bottom of the swamp.  He was devastated.  Yoda challenged Luke to lift the craft out with the Force.  Luke tried his best but failed and gave up despondently, believing it an impossible feat.  Yoda then calmly used the Force to lift out the entire craft and gently laid it on solid ground.  Luke was stunned by the tiny Jedi master’s incredible feat. Luke exclaimed in amazement, “I can’t believe it!”  And Yoda’s reply was simply, “That is why you fail.” Believe God, trust Him!  Have courage to walk in the fearsome solution! CONCLUSION As the Israelites trusted God, God fully delivered them in a supernatural fashion that sealed the devastation of the Egyptians as recorded in v30-31.  When we trust God in an impossible situation, it will lead to a supernatural victory and lead us to a deeper place of trust in God. God’s name will also be glorified.  In trusting God, we must never lose our nerve.  Never lose heart and never back out. Copyright©️2024 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.

This article continues our series on Grace: Faith & Works.  Here we examine how God’s grace, faith and works are connected.  From there we draw many implications for our Christian living.  Perhaps you may experience stress, get overwhelmed in your life, or even in serving God.   By understanding how grace is crucial to our faith and works, it may provide us some of the answers to dealing with the above. In Part 1, we debunk the Calvinist view of faith as a gift from God on the basis of experience common to many.  In Part 2 we investigated the biblical basis from Ephesians 2:8-9 to demonstrate that salvation is the gift from God rather than faith.  Faith is the exercise of our human choice to trust in God. THE NATURE OF GOD’S GRACE Eph 2:4-7 (NIV) “4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” Grace as God’s unmerited or unearned favour. God shows us favour although we are totally undeserving. In Part 2, we defined grace as God’s unmerited or unearned favour.  It means God shows us favour although we are totally undeserving.  What is the basis of God’s grace?  Why did God show us such unmerited favour? Consider the parable Jesus told of a prodigal son in Luke 15.  A father had 2 sons. The younger son demanded for his inheritance from his father.  He then took off to a distant land and squandered his wealth in wild living. Soon he had nothing left.  He was forced to survive working in a pig farm. One day, he was so hungry that he felt like eating the pig’s food.  That day, he came to his sense and realised that he had sinned against his father and God. He decided to return to his father and beg for forgiveness.  To ask his father to even just hire him as a servant. When he got close to the father’s house, the father saw him and was filled with compassion.  The father ran to his wayward son, embraced him and kissed him. The son cries, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called you son.” But instead, the father called his servants to immediately bring new robes, a ring (probably a signet ring symbolising he is part of family) and shoes for the son.  And called for a feast to celebrate.  The father declared, “This son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” God’s immensely great love for us motivates His grace. The parable describes God’s heart, God’s grace.  Just like the father, v4 reveals that God’s immensely great love for us motivates His grace.  We had all turned away from God, rejected Him and became so lost in our sins.  We were being devastated in our sins.  But because we rejected Him, there is no way to get to heaven.  Imagine an eternity stuck with our sins with every other lost sinner.  With no hope of getting out.  Yet God’s heart cries out at how absolutely lost we are in our sins. Because God’s love for us is so great, His mercy is so rich, God sent His only Son, Jesus who sacrificed Himself on the cross in our place.  Showing grace was very costly to God. God’s compassion and generosity shapes His grace. It overflows in an extravagant demonstration of generosity God’s compassion and generosity shapes His grace.  That is why God’s grace is full of kindness to us (v7).  It overflows in an extravagant demonstration of generosity.  Just like the father of the prodigal son. God saves us and embraces us with the fulness of His favour.  This includes seating us with Him in the heavenly realms (v6).  What an undeserved honour! What is the extent of God’s grace? God’s grace is immeasurable. What is the extent of God’s grace? God’s grace is immeasurable.  The Bible describes it as “every spiritual blessing” (Eph 1:3), “immeasurably more” (Eph 3:20).  Romans 8:32 (NIV84) He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? God’s grace drew us towards Jesus.  It now leads us heaven-ward into our ultimate destiny with Christ. V6 to sit with him is to reign with Him.  God’s grace is greater than the prodigal son’s father! God’s grace is foundational to our salvation and redemption. God’s grace is foundational to our salvation and redemption.  We are moved from undeserving to justified.  From prodigal sinner to exalted child. From beggar to royalty.  From dirt to gold!   If we truly understand and appreciate God’s grace to us, we will not want to fall back on human self-effort.  For self-effort does not impress God.  It hinders us from God’s grace.  Instead let us find our rest upon the grace of God!  God our sabbath-rest! FAITH IS MAN'S RESPONSE, THAT ACCESSES GRACE Eph 2:8-9 (NIV) “8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.” Faith is not a gift from the God.  Rather, faith is an attitude, a choice that we make. What is the relationship between faith and God’s grace? In Part 2, we showed in v8 that faith is not a gift from the God.  Rather, faith is an attitude, a choice that we make.  Galatians 2:16 (NIV84) … So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ...”  Notice how our choice “we have put our faith in Christ Jesus” leads to the outcome “may be justified by faith in Christ”. Imagine God says to us, “I have made all necessary preparations for your salvation. I offer it to you as a complete gift. Will you trust me enough receive it? Will you trust in Jesus as your Lord and Saviour?  You have nothing to do that can earn this gift.  Only have faith!” Faith is our response to God’s grace.  Grace provides. Faith trusts.  Yet faith is only possible because God has been laying the groundwork in our hearts. Faith is our response to God’s grace.  Grace provides. Faith trusts.  Yet faith is only possible because God has been laying the groundwork in our hearts.  God’s Word helps us develop faith in God. The Holy Spirit works upon our hearts to help us walk with God.  God’s church provides teaching, encouragement and support. So God’s grace is foundational.  Our faith stands upon grace. God’s grace is foundational.  Our faith stands upon grace. In Matt 14:22-32 records the story when the disciples were sailing across the Sea of Galilee in the night and they had left Jesus behind to pray.  They were struggling against the waves when suddenly they saw Jesus walking out to them, on water!  All the disciples were in shock.  Except Peter who got excited! He called out to Jesus, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.”  “Come,” Jesus said.  Peter jumped out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But then he looked at the big waves!  Got afraid and began to sink.  Jesus quickly got over and grabbed him.  Jesus rebuked Peter, “You of little faith!  Why did you doubt?”  Peter’s faith accessed God’s miraculous grace to walk on water.  Until doubt muddied it. Romans 5:1–2 (NIV84) Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand... Faith is the access door by which we can access God’s grace. If grace is like the treasury.  Faith is the access door by which we can access God’s grace.  Faith gains access to God’s salvation. Faith gains access to God’s miracles.  Because faith is like a door, our faith can open up or close off the move of God. Faith gains access to God’s power, even to move mountains.  We discover this in the incident when Jesus disciples failed to deliver a man from demons in Matthew 17:19–20 (NIV84) 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Faith gains access to the exercising of spiritual gifts.  Romans 12:6 (NIV84) We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. Through faith, we can access God’s grace which is full of every spiritual blessing. Through faith, we can access God’s grace which is full of every spiritual blessing.  It is always sufficient for our ongoing walk with God. So that we can persevere, so that we can mature in our character, so that we may overcome! GOOD WORKS IS THE OUTCOME OF GRACE, THROUGH FAITH Eph 2:8-10 (NIV) “8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” There are works which have no value to God. But we are meant to do works which are "good" to God?  You see, our deeds in itself are not the real issue.  It is why we do those deeds. Deeds due to self-effort. Imagine if my attitude was, “Hey God! I did all these great things.  Helped lots of people. Made sacrifices to help fund missions. Even preached about you!  After all I did for you, surely I deserve recognition!”  Such deeds don’t impress God. Deeds that arise out of faith in God. Good works arise from humility and reliance upon God.  Imagine if my attitude was, “I am so grateful God that you chose to work through me.  Though I was undeserving.  I was faithful to what you asked me to do.  But really it was only possible because of your grace to me!”  That is what God seeks. Now consider Paul who became an apostle.  He had a powerful ministry with many supernatural healings and divine encounters.  Paul had this to say in Colossians 1:28–29 (NIV84) 28 We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. 29 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. Apostle Paul recognised that it was all God’s grace working in him.  Paul suffered a lot, yet he managed to persevere unwaveringly because of God’s grace.  1 Corinthians 15:10 (NIV84)  But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.His “good works” was due to God’s grace.  A grace he accessed through faith in God. Faith accesses God’s grace to produce good works Hence, faith accesses God’s grace to produce good works.  Years ago, I was speaking in a conference in Thailand.  During lunch, I ate something which disagreed with me.  I spent much of the afternoon going to the toilet with diarrhea.  I was to speak at the evening session, but I was spent.  I had barely enough energy, my faith was scrapping the bottom of the barrel.  I managed to do my session by God’s grace.  Near the end of the session, God told me to pray of the sick and believe for healing.  I argued with God, telling him I had no faith left.  But God was persistent.  Out of obedience I began an altar call for healing.    Desperately, I cried out to God to move out of whatever faith I had left.  God turned up and dozens of people were healed that night. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS We have shown that God’s grace is free and abundant for us who are in Jesus Christ.  Faith enables us to access God’s grace.  Good works is an outcome of faith accessing God’s grace. Let me suggest some practical implications visually. God’s Grace is foundational.  It encompasses salvation, fruits of Spirit, authority, calling, giftings, supernatural power, guidance, etc etc every spiritual blessing. Our faith builds upon it.  Faith draws upon God’s grace to help us produce good works.  Notice that at times, God gives more grace than our faith deserves as shown by the lines leading to good works which lie outside of Faith. I need to clarify that this is a simplification to help us visualise.  In reality, God’s grace comes from God.  He chooses what He provides to each person, when He gives and how He gives.  It is not some automatic process.  There are also other factors other than faith involved.  But this illustration indicates the key connections. Now what happens when our faith is little? Recall that Jesus rebuked His disciples a number of times, “You of little faith!” Here we find that despite the huge grace available, little faith only produces little good works. What happens when our faith grows big?  Now much more of the huge grace available is tapped by big faith which leads to big good works.  Consider Apostle Paul’s powerful ministry.  Think about Moses, Elijah, Elisha, John Wesley, Reinhard Bonnke, etc.  What kind of faith do we want? What happens when we try to do a lot more than our faith capacity? While there is huge grace, there is small faith yet somehow big works seem to appear.  Perhaps part of the works are not derived from faith.  This extra overhang may be the reason why we feel overwhelmed and stressed.  Because it is not out of grace. Now grace is not given by God in equal measure in every area. Sometimes, His grace may be limited for us.  Sometimes we presume there is grace and exercise presumption.  The result is limited good works and perhaps some questionable works. Faith is like a muscle.  Exercise it, it grows.  Don’t use it, it shrinks Faith is like a muscle.  Exercise it, it grows.  Don’t use it, it shrinks.  If we only produce little good works though we had bigger faith before, what will happen?  Eventually our faith shrinks from lack of use.  Don’t use it, lose it! That is why being stretched by God is a good thing.  It challenges us to go beyond ourselves to rely upon God.  Sometimes, when we are too comfortable in our Christian life, we slip into relying upon our knowledge, our strength to maintain it.  It no longer requires much "faith in God' to operate in it. That is why stepping out to operate in supernatural gifts of God is healthy for our spiritual growth.  You cannot remain in a comfort zone.  For we cannot channel the miraculous by our own efforts.  It keeps us alert and vigorous spiritually. TRUSTING VS TRYING The difference between trying hard in self-effort or trusting in God’s grace boils down to our attitudes and perspectives. Are we walking in God’s grace or in our own efforts?  The difference between trying hard in self-effort or trusting in God’s grace boils down to our attitudes and perspectives. Yet often our motivations can be mixed.  So how can we tell what is happening?  Check out these comparisons, using the Fruit of the Spirit as a guide. When there is faith, when we are trusting and relying on God, we will experience and sense the fruits of the Spirit.  But when there is presumption and performance, we will not experience the fruits of the Spirit.  Instead, we begin to experience the right column. I have learnt to check myself, to be self-aware.  When I sense the right column, I go to God and sort it out.  This helps me keep in the trusting mode more consistently. CONCLUSIONS We showed that God’s grace is basically God’s favour although we are undeserving.  Essentially, faith is our response to God’s grace and is itself built upon God’s grace.  Faith allows us to access God’s grace to produce good works.  How we align our faith towards God’s grace to produce good works impacts upon our ministry.  When it is not align properly, it can lead to presumption or result in fruits of self-reliance. God’s heart is to grow us to be more trusting, exercising faith in God, depending on His grace unto us. Copyright©️2024 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.

Is the faith we exercised to trust in God for our salvation a gift from God?  Meaning we did not or cannot exercise faith out of our own volition?  Or is it that faith is an act of human choice to trust in Jesus Christ?  This is an argument that Calvinists and Arminians have had for centuries. How does all of these relate to God’s grace?  In this article, we will tackle the issue of grace and faith scripturally by diving deep into Ephesians 2:4-9. This article is Part 2 of Grace: Faith & Works which continues from Part 1 which looked into the experiential part of our faith journey to debunk the Calvinist concept requiring regeneration before saving faith can arise. GOD’S GRACE IS WHAT SAVES US Eph 2:4-7 (NIV) “ 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” V5 makes it very clear "by grace you have been saved".  Yet what is “grace” actually?  Grace can be described by the acronym “God's Redemption At Christ's Expense”.  Grace is God’s unmerited favour.  It means God showed favour to us despite zero merit, zero goodness on our part.    We were absolutely undeserving to be saved! Utterly without hope! Why?  For we were absolutely unrighteous.  Spiritually dead in our sins.  To be spiritually dead does not mean that our spirit is absolutely dead wood inside.  The corpse analogy conveys the wrong idea.  It just means our spirit is naturally oriented away from God.  There are many spiritual people, but spiritually-oriented away from God. Total Depravity.  We were utterly and totally, morally and spiritually corrupted in our sins. Theologically we call it Total Depravity.  We were utterly and totally, morally and spiritually corrupted in our sins.  So spiritually lost that we cannot and would not find the way to God by ourselves.  That is sinful man's natural state.  That is why, God had to take the initiative to reach out to save us. Christ had to pay the price for our sins.  With His sacrifice on the cross. Why did Jesus make the sacrifice?  V4-5 reveals it is because God has a great love for us.  Because He is so full of mercy.  Despite the fact we were so dead in our sins, God still offered us forgiveness through Jesus Christ.  It was solely God’s grace that enables us to be saved.  Further, in v6 - 7, God will one day raise us together with Christ and allow us to reign with Christ in the heavenly realms.  This reveals how incomparably rich His grace is to us. God could have executed judgment immediately upon us because of our sins.  Instead, God graciously put us on probation.  He offered us the opportunity to respond to His loving provision of salvation through Jesus Christ. Perhaps a question will arise.  If man is totally depraved in sin, how can man respond to God’s grace?  God’s grace is God moving upon the hearts of sinful man to draw us to Himself.  He does this by persuading us, usually through other witnesses.  Enlightening us by opening our understanding to the Gospel. Convicting us by the work of the Holy Spirit and so forth.  It is like a rubber band that is stretch beyond its natural resting state because of God working to draw us to Him.  Our natural state has not changed.  But as long as we are responding to God’s grace, our senses are being opened to God.  If God totally removes His grace, we would snap back to our natural state eventually. The grace of God draws sinful man to Himself.  Man can choose to respond positively and be further drawn towards God.  Or negatively The Engel scale describes the phases quite well.  So the grace of God draws sinful man to Himself.  Man can choose to respond positively and be further drawn towards God.  Or negatively and draw away from God. Those who continue to respond positively can eventually be drawn to the point of repentance and exercising faith to choose to trust in Jesus as their personal Saviour and Lord.  Yet through it all, it would not be possible except for the grace of God.  God’s grace is foundational to our salvation.  On this point we agree with the Calvinists. God’s grace is foundational to our salvation. FAITH IS NOT WORKS Eph 2:8-9 (NIV) “8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.” Calvinists argue that if man exercised faith for salvation, it is a form of work.  Because it came from us.  That is why faith must be a gift from God for man to be justified.   The question is, “Does God consider our exercise of faith a form of human work?”  Let’s examine biblically the distinction between faith and works. Works has the meaning of human deeds here.  While faith means trusting God. Works has the meaning of human deeds here.  While faith means trusting God.  Notice, the Greek word “believe” has the same root meaning as “faith”.  So, believe and faith is essentially the same thing.  The English language did not have the appropriate verbs for faith such as “Abraham faithed” or “who does not work but faiths in Him”. Apostle Paul was arguing against Jewish Christians who thought that believers could be saved or justified by God through observing the Laws of Moses. He was arguing God only justify through faith, not by human deeds.  Let’s follow the logic of the argument.  Following v2, if we claim Abraham could be justified because of what he did, then he could boast about it. Now imagine the following hypothetical scenario.  Abraham worked very hard to justify himself before God and now declared, “I am a very good person.”  If God then credits him with righteousness, it would be like wages.  Abraham could boast to his mates “See this righteous crown?  I worked my butt off to get it!”.  Yet v2 proceeds to state, “But not before God”.  God does not accept such a declaration. Now consider the actual scenario.  Abraham did not work hard to be justified.  In fact, not at all. He was not trying to be righteous. But he simply believed what God promised him.  It was Abraham’s faith that prompted God to count him as righteous as v3 makes clear, “Abraham believed God and it was counted/credited to him as righteousness.” Note, we are not talking about saving faith here.  Just generic faith, trusting in God’s promise.  So God gave Abraham a gift.  God considered Abraham as righteous.  A gift which Abraham did no work to deserve it.  Hence the contrast in v5 between believe and work, “to the one who does not work but believes”.  So to believe is not considered as work. God does not consider our faith to be works.  Exercising faith is not a form of works. Now recall that believe and faith are essentially the same matter. This reveals that God does not consider our faith to be works.  Exercising faith is not a form of works.  In Scripture, faith is never considered to be a human work deserving any merit from God.  Biblically there is no such concept as faith being a meritorious work, as the Calvinists claim.  This is reinforced throughout Scripture where God challenges His hearers to believe, to choose to believe in Him.  If choosing to believe is a meritorious work, then why does God make that such an important criteria?  If faith was only given by God, then how can God challenge them to choose?   Hence, faith is an exercise of human choice, to trust in God. Faith is an exercise of human choice, to trust in God. Works is about our deeds. Our tangible actions.  Faith is our attitude of trusting God.  It is not tangible. In other words, faith is not works! Works is about our deeds. Faith is our attitude of trusting God. Faith is not works! SALVATION IS THE GIFT, NOT FAITH Eph 2:8-9 (NIV) “8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.” We will now examine this passage more deeply to show here why faith is not a gift from God.  But salvation is. Analysing the Grammar In English translations, the sentence structure is ambiguous. In v8 "this not from yourselves". which is the pronoun "this" referred to?  Is it "grace", "faith" or the entire preceding phrase which is about salvation? As mentioned earlier, the Calvinists have argued “this” refers to faith.  However, in recent years many scholars no longer hold to that view.  In the Greek we have gendered nouns and pronouns – much more than English.  Feminine, masculine or neuter ie no-gender.   In English, it is nouns like “chairman”, “chairwoman” or “chairperson”.  We use the pronoun he for chairman, she for chairwoman. The "grace" and "faith" in the passage are in the feminine form.  But "this" is in the "neuter". In classic Greek literature it is very rare for the gender to switch in the sentence and nowhere does it occur in the New Testament.  Typically, a neuter pronoun refers back to a preceding section.  In other words, grammatically "this" is referring to the theme of salvation, which is by grace in the preceding v4-8a, and specifically to "by grace you have been saved" ie salvation. In fact, this approach is consistently seen in Ephesians 1:15 which refers back to 1:3-14, Ephesians 1:15 (NIV) “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people…”.  Also in Ephesians 3:1 (NIV) “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles…” refers back to 2:11-22: 3:14 to 3:1-13. The “gift of God” in Ephesians 2:8-9 was referring to salvation rather than faith.  Faith is not the gift from God in this passage. Hence, a grammatically straightforward explanation why the “gift of God” in Ephesians 2:8-9 was referring to salvation rather than faith.  Faith is not the gift from God in this passage. Analysing the Syntax or Sentence Structure There are 3 complements which follows from "this" in v8.   What are complements?  Complements describe an abstract noun (an idea rather than an object).  So, if the noun is “faith”, we get: ·       Faith is not your own doing ·       Faith is the gift of God ·       Faith is not the result of works The first 2 can maybe make sense – for the Calvinist. We already argued why it is not correct.  We already established that faith is not a form of works.  Faith is in contrast to works.  How can works ever result in faith?   So last sentence is totally unnecessary.  It is like saying black is not white!  But if the noun is "salvation" then we get: ·       Salvation is not your own doing ·       Salvation is the gift of God ·       Salvation is not the result of works Which now makes perfect sense, as a rhetorical device, reinforcing the concept that salvation is because of the grace of God. We cannot save ourselves by what we do. No Scripture describes our “exercise of faith”, the attitude of trusting in God as a gift from God. No Scripture describes our “exercise of faith”, the attitude of trusting in God as a gift from God.  1 Cor 12:9 refer to the “charismata” gift of faith, which is a divinely supernaturally enabled faith.  That is not the trusting “faith” we are referring to here.  There are Scriptures which talk about the truth or content of our “faith” as being from God.  That is obviously from God.  So we can conclude that salvation is the gift from God, not faith. We can conclude that salvation is the gift from God, not faith. CONCLUSIONS We showed theologically that God’s grace is foundational to our salvation.  Out of His grace, salvation was made available to us.  No one can earn it.  It is a free gift.  So salvation is the free gift.  We also showed that faith is not a form of works.  God does not view it that way. God, by His grace, does enable us to be able to reach a point where we can exercise faith. Faith is our attitude of trust in God.  It is a choice we make.  God does not make that choice for us. Though I will qualify to say that God, by His grace, does enable us to be able to reach a point where we can exercise faith.  Because of His work to persuade us, enlighten us, convict us, etc.  However, we make the choice whether to place our trust in Him.  Whether to accept God’s offer of salvation. Copyright©️2024 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 is common practice in many churches worldwide to encourage its members to tithe out of their income to the local church. As we see this as a biblical principle operative before the Mosaic Law, formalised by the Mosaic Law and affirmed in its principles by Jesus in the New Testament. The underlying key principle is the principle of giving beyond oneself unto God and unto others. Tithing forms a key component of this key principle of the Kingdom of God. These concepts were expounded in-depth in the Tithing series Parts 1 to 5. While the above is reasonably understood and accepted amongst churches that practice tithing, it is less understood that it is by the same principle that a local church should tithe out of its tithe, beyond itself unto its spiritual network. This article analyses the Scriptures and lays out the biblical principles as well as practical implications. THE CHALLENGE The challenge that lies in applying tithing for today is the fact that we must extract the key principles involved. It is not possible to directly apply tithing in terms prescribed in the Old Testament to the modern day Christian context because of the following: Churches did not exist, nor even synagogues during the Old Testament The economic context is different. Where almost every Jewish family owned some land for farming and breeding stock, it is not the case today. The specific Levitical and Aaronic orders of priesthood do not exist today. Application of tithing today requires 2 important steps. Firstly, extracting biblical principles by discerning God’s intent and secondly, judiciously applying it to our present context. Hence application of tithing today requires 2 important steps. Firstly, extracting biblical principles by discerning God’s intent and secondly, judiciously applying it to our present context. ANALYSING THE TITHING PRINCIPLE The practice of tithing in the Old Testament is described in 4 major passages of Lev 27: 30-33, Num 18:21-32, Deut 12:6-17 and Deut 14:22-29. In Lev 27, it is concerned about what the tithe is to come from and some instructions on its implementation. Deut 12 is concerned about how the tithe is to be part of worship unto God in His designated place. Deut 14 is focussed upon how the tithe is to be given to the Lord, its form, its frequency. It is in Num 18 that comprehensive instruction is given about who is to give and receive the tithes. Num 18:21 - 29 (NIV) 21“I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting. 22From now on the Israelites must not go near the Tent of Meeting, or they will bear the consequences of their sin and will die. 23It is the Levites who are to do the work at the Tent of Meeting and bear the responsibility for offenses against it. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. They will receive no inheritance among the Israelites. 24Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the LORD. That is why I said concerning them: ‘They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.’” 25The LORD said to Moses, 26“Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the LORD’s offering. 27Your offering will be reckoned to you as grain from the threshing floor or juice from the winepress. 28In this way you also will present an offering to the LORD from all the tithes you receive from the Israelites. From these tithes you must give the LORD’s portion to Aaron the priest. 29You must present as the LORD’s portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.’ What are the characteristics of the first tithe (Num 18)? Set apart for God as holy (v8-14) Given to whom God designates and apportions amongst His people. These include: For the ministry function. Some of the resources given as tithes are to be used in the temple as burnt offerings. People who do the ministry of God as their primary focus, such as the Levites (v21). As it is intended for them to be released from other concerns and secular work focus. A higher spiritual authority (v21, v28). This is demonstrated by the Israelites giving to the Levites and the Levites in turn giving to the Aaronic priests. Indeed, this formed the basis of the argument in Hebrews about the Levitical priesthood, as represented by Abraham, giving to a higher order of Melchizedek priesthood (Heb 7:4-10). Totally irretrievable The tithe is totally burnt or given to whom God has chosen. The tithes are not given back unto the givers in any proportion or form. At least not in pre-arranged manner or as an expectation. Totally undirected The tithe given is out of the giver’s control. The giver does not specify who, how, when or what it can be used for. The tithe should be set apart for God as holy and given to whom God designates and apportions amongst His people. Further, the tithe should be irretrievable and undirected giving. Thus, the tithe should be set apart for God as holy and given to whom God designates and apportions amongst His people. Further, the tithe should be irretrievable and undirected giving. To remove any one of the above characteristics would change a tithe into something else. Such as a donation, contribution, investment, etc, as it would no longer be considered a first tithe. Note that the second and third tithes are different in its purpose and does not possess all the characteristics outlined here. Who should give tithes? Every lay Israelite In ancient practise it usually applies to the head of every household. As the head of the household is regarded to be the recipient of the produce/income. This requirement is applied to every person who produces out of the land or livestock. Which would cover most people since everyone grew produce or bred livestock in their own lands. Every Levite Even the Levites who do not produce out of the land, are to tithe out of what they have received (v26). Even the Levites who do not produce out of the land, are to tithe out of what they have received (v26). Every Aaronic priest What is not explicitly described in Scripture is whether the Aaronic priesthood are also to tithe. Though it is a reasonable assumption that they did in terms of burnt offerings unto God. Today, it is usually applied to: Every Christian income earner, out of their gross income before tax. Because the Israelites gave tithe out of their total produce even when kings taxed them. Every Christian (or Christian values-based) organisation generating income, to tithe out of the profit less all expenses. Because unlike ancient times, there are now modern creations called entities such as businesses which can legally generate and retain income like a person. In ancient times, the business and the owner are one and the same but today there are distinctions. Thus, likewise, an organisation should be treated like a person for purposes of tithes. (See Part 4 Tithing Practically Today for details.) What is the key principle about giving through tithing? What is of interest to note is that even the Levites tithe, but not to themselves. Why is that? For it would be a circular giving if they did so. They would simply be giving again to themselves, just perhaps re-distributing it. Rather they were to tithe to a smaller group, the Aaronic priests (v28-29). Which were of a higher level of priesthood. The very fact God instructed this gives rise to some important implications. For logically, the total amount of tithes given to the entire Levites tribe has not changed. If we assume for argument sake that the Aaronic priesthood made up 2% of the Levites, could not God have simply said to distribute the tithes equally and everyone would be taken care of. But instead, God chose all the tithes to go to the 98% of non-Aaronic Levites. Out of which they tithe again, such that now 10% of the overall tithe now go to the 2% composed of the Aaronic priesthood. It meant the Aaronic priests received a greater proportion of the tithes than their Levitical brothers. Why bother with such additional steps? God’s intention is to teach that ALL should tithe out of what they receive, regardless of who they are, and they are not to tithe back unto themselves. The best explanation is to reveal God’s intention is to teach that ALL should tithe out of what they receive, regardless of who they are, and they are not to tithe back unto themselves. In effect it again fulfils the 4 key characteristics of the first tithe. So every non-Levitical Israelite tithe to the Levites (excluding the Aaronic priests). And all Levites tithe out of what they had received to the Aaronic priests. In conclusion, tithing is to be practiced by all, even by those who received tithes. Application of tithing principle today at various levels Tithing to the local church Today it is commonly accepted amongst churches that teach tithing, that the recipient should be the local church. The reasoning starts with the assumption that the Levites and storehouses are synonymous since the storehouses for God’s temple is effectively for the Levites use. Further, Levites generally reside in 48 Levitical cities that are evenly distributed amongst the tribes of Israel so that they are able to provide the priestly functions to their regions as well as refuge (Num 35:1-8). Before the Temple was built in Jerusalem, the tithes would have gone to the Levitical cities and the storehouses located there. Thus, rather than tithing straight to some central church, it initially goes to the local church. However, good argument may be made, presumably by centralised churches such as the Catholic Church, Salvation Army, Apostolic Church, etc for giving of the tithe directly to the central church, since tithes were later gathered at the Temple in Jerusalem (Neh 10:38, 12:44) exclusively. Tithing out of the local church Using the same interpretive principle, it must mean the local church should tithe out as well from the tithes it received. Just as the Levites tithed out of what they have received. Who should receive the tithe for the Aaronic priesthood today? We are considering now who the local church (as the Levitical equivalent) should tithe to. Just as the Levites (the local church equivalent) tithed to the Aaronic priesthood, it makes sense that the local church should tithe out as well. If a local church is part of a movement: It will fit the biblical framework best to for the local church to tithe unto its covering movement as it is the higher spiritual authority. It will fit the biblical framework best to for the local church to tithe unto its covering movement as it is the higher spiritual authority. Just as Aaron was to the Levites, it is a higher level of spiritual leadership/priesthood. It should be irretrievable and undirected giving. If a local church is an independent church: It should tithe outside of itself to ministries outside the local church, thus fulfilling the Levitical tithe. Aaronic portion could be for missionaries. But only if the church does not determine what they do with it at all - it is undirected. If the church instructs or limits what the missionary can do with it – then in effect the church does exercise authority over its use and hence it is not out of the church’s control. That would contradict the tithe principle. Church planting movements such as Victory Christian Fellowship, DOVE, Every Nation including Hope International Ministries believe that every local church should tithe out. Although the manner in which they implemented this principle varies widely. The simple reason for this variation is because while the principle of tithing out is clear, it is less obvious exactly how implementation should be carried out today since there are no direct corresponding structures to the Old Testament religious structure. CONCLUSION Just as believers should tithe to the local church (just as the Israelites tithed to the Levites) then by using similar principles of interpretation and application, the local church should tithe out of its received tithes as well (just as the Levites tithed to the Aaronic priesthood). Tithing should be practised not only by the Christian believer, but also by the Christian-based organisations and churches. Hence, tithing should be practised not only by the Christian believer, but also by the Christian-based organisations and churches. Tithes can be given to the local church and the local church should tithe out as well, such as to the movement. Even though typically a movement may not have a spiritual oversight above it, it can consider giving some contribution to the Body of Christ in some manner. All this should be done willingly, out of desire to honour God and because we appreciate the blessings of giving. It should not be practised as a legalistic requirement in the New Testament. Copyright©️2023 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.

There has been a lot of different ideas and confusion about the relationship between grace, faith and works.  The aim of this series is to clear up some key aspects so that we gain a clearer biblical picture about our faith journey.  Then we can discover the crucial connection between grace, faith and works.  In Part 1 and 2 we will focus on the role of grace and faith in relation to salvation.  In Part 3 we will wrap up by connecting grace, faith and works and conclude with some important practical applications. FAITH AS A JOURNEY, NOT A GIFT A segment of Christian believers has a theological viewpoint known as Calvinism. The Calvinist view salvation as totally all of God’s grace.  Many Calvinists view our human choice as having little or nothing active to do with salvation.  They reckon man is so utterly stuck in sin, so utterly depraved that is it impossible for man to choose to respond to God’s offer of salvation.  Not even exercise faith to accept God’s offer.  Just like a dead body cannot respond to food that is offered to them. So, in the Calvinist view God has to regenerate non-believers first.  Literally renew them first.  Then gift them faith to believe.  But this does not make sense. Neither biblically nor experientially.  It puts the horse before the cart.  Theological gymnastics is required to fit into their theological framework.  The Calvinist have developed complex arguments.  Very sophisticated arguments that seem very formidable.  But it can all be pulled down if we can see through the incorrect assumptions. God’s truths tend to be elegant, beautiful and simple to understand. I believe that truth is usually simpler to explain.  If it too complex or requires many “exceptions to the rule” - it is probably not correct.  God’s truths tend to be elegant, beautiful and simple to understand. Why is this important?  An incorrect understanding of God’s grace and the role of faith will mess us up later on.  Especially in our journey as charismatics. For we believe in the importance of our active personal faith in appropriating the things of God, the authority and power that God has available for us.  The Calvinist idea of faith nullifies our responsibility.  Because if faith is a gift, then it cannot be a journey to grow in. We have to take responsibility for the growth of our faith, the exercising of our faith. We have to take responsibility for the growth of our faith, the exercising of our faith. Faith is about trust.  Trust grows especially as we make choices to deepen it.  If a stranger asks to borrow your car – would you lend it to them?  But if we gradually got to know the person.  Accept that they are who they say they are.  Accept they can drive well.   Accept they can take care of our car, etc etc.   Each step we had make a decision that we can trust in some area.  Until we finally trust the person enough to lend them our car!  The development of trust is a journey, so is our faith. The Engel scale The Engel scale assumes a gradual faith journey, due to our evolving perspectives and choices we make along the way. Allow me to use my own experience to explain how the Engel scale described my faith journey.  My mother brought me to Sunday school when I was about 5 years old.  I was hovering around scale 2 to 4. At 7 or 8 years old, I quit Sunday school because I wanted to spend the Sunday morning reading comics in the newspapers!  Yup! Comics was more important than Jesus! At 15-16, my interest in Jesus was sparked again.  I started dropping by church, attending religious classes to investigate.  I was hovering around 4 to 6 for a few years.  At 18, I went to Melbourne for university. I started attending church and Bible study regularly to seriously investigate about Jesus.   I moved from a 7 to 9 over a few months.  In that period, I had some faith in God.  I was even tentatively praying to God.  But I was not immediately ready to become a Christian yet. My faith journey does not match the theory that we get regenerated by God first then we are given faith. Hence, my spiritual journey was gradual. Spanning many years as the Holy Spirit worked upon my heart.  My trust/faith in Him increased in spurts gradually.  So gradual, I do not have a clear moment or date in which I can say I repented and received Him as Saviour.  Partly because the church I was in rarely did salvation altar calls.  Just roughly mid-1983.  My faith journey does not match the theory that we get regenerated by God first then we are given faith.  Because it would mean that God basically switched something on in my heart and I would then trust in Jesus as my personal Saviour. Let me use other examples. My mother had some faith in God before I led her to Christ in her 50s. She was praying to God every day for God’s blessings and protection upon her family decades before her conversion.  In fact, I believe that God heard her prayers and that partly accounted for our family serving God today. John Wesley had some faith in God before he was saved.  In fact, he even went to America as a missionary before he was actually saved after encountering the Moravians.  He had some faith in God, just not the faith that trusted in Jesus Christ to be his personal Lord and Saviour.  One of key reasons why he never embraced Calvinism was because of his own faith journey.  Wesley embraced Arminianism although his stance is known as Wesleyan Arminianism due to his particular emphasis. This gradual process of a growing exercise of faith points to a faith journey first, followed by salvation process. Many of you came to Christ gradually over an extended period, like me.  Perhaps you trusted in Jesus a little here and there.  Finally, choosing to trust in Jesus to be your Saviour.  This gradual process of a growing exercise of faith points to a faith journey first, followed by salvation process.  Not the Calvinist way.  This explains why some struggle with doubts for a while even after they made a decision to trust in Jesus.  If faith was only given by God – we should not have such issues.  Why would God give us a weak, wavering faith like the book of James talks about?  That is why mentoring is crucial to help guide these budding believers to fully step across the line.  To help them work through the doubts, the struggles, the adjustments. Some of us came to Christ because something clicked in your hearts and minds.  You knew then that you needed Christ and turned to Him in just a moment.  In such situations it may seem possible that regeneration could have occurred before faith!  In reality, you had a compressed timeline along the Engel scale.  You moved from say a 6 to 10 within a day or less.  You quickly made a decision. Not me.  I am the typical scientific researcher type. Investigate. Check the facts.  Consider carefully, etc etc. So when I became a Christian, I had little doubts.  Because I worked through those questions before I accepted Christ.  Some of you accepted Christ, then you had to work through the questions and doubts.  Neither way is right or better.  That is just the route we took.  My encouragement is simply this.  Make the journey.  Don’t waste time. CONCLUSIONS A majority of people had a faith journey usually extending over years before coming to Christ.  This debunks the Calvinist view. We argued through analysing our experiences that a majority of people had a faith journey usually extending over years before coming to Christ.  This debunks the Calvinist view that faith is only possible purely by the grace of God.  Where God in His irresistible grace, regenerates us in order that we can now have saving faith, a faith given by God alone.  For many, the Engel scale effectively describes many aspects of our typical faith journey. In Part 2, we will examine the biblical basis for salvation by grace alone and clarify the role of faith and works. Copyright©️2024 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.

When we examine the Old Testament, we find that God gave many commands and instructions to the Israelites which they were to observe.  Indeed, many regard The Mosaic Laws to be in 3 major categories of moral, civil and ceremonial.  The ceremonial laws may in turn be divided into ceremonial cleanliness, diet, festivals and priesthood.  On closer examination of the cleanliness and diet laws, we will discover many of these align with modern understanding of hygiene and healthy diet practices, particularly amongst a less developed civilisation. With this insight, is it possible that there are other laws that carry a practical benefit as well?  In this article, we examine more closely the sabbatical and jubilee laws to reveal that God had instituted particular rhythms that benefit the people and land.  An understanding of the principle of beneficial rhythms can be translate today to practical practices to benefit us in wholesome ways. The application of such Old Testament practices into New Testament practices requires properly applying the eternal principles into today’s context. In so doing, we also seek to reinforce the importance of Old Testament Laws for New Testament believers.  For we believe that Old Testament laws and practices contain eternal principles which carry across the New Testament times.  However, it must be interpreted wisely using Jesus as the transforming connection.  In our articles “Covenant in the Bible (Part 5): How the Old Connects to the New” and “Covenant in the Bible (Part 5): How the Old Became the New”, we proposed this interpretation method to achieve the transition.  We demonstrated how this interpretation is consistent and comprehensive unlike most other methods today.  The application of such Old Testament practices into New Testament practices requires properly applying the eternal principles into today’s context. In examining Sabbath is this principled-based manner, it also provides sound defence against a legalistic or literalistic application of sabbath, against mystical or pietist approaches as well.  In other words, we ask why did God instruct and implement these? The Biblical Pattern of Sabbaths God first introduced the concept of Sabbath unto the Israelites when He provided them manna in the wilderness for 6 days but not the 7th day in Exodus 16:23.  On the 7th day they rested from manna collection and regarded it as a holy day unto God.  The Sabbath later became part of the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20:8–11 (NIV) 8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Notice the emphasis here is for the sabbath to be a sacred day of devotion unto God. That is a key reason given why they were to refrain from doing their own work on that day.  This is reinforced in Leviticus 19:30 (NIV) Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary.   The commandment also connected back to the Genesis 2 pattern of God’s week of creation.  This clearly indicated that one of the major reasons God rested on the 7th day is to create a pattern by His own example. The Sabbath became the seal of the Mosaic covenant between God and the Israelites, as God instructed in Exodus 31:16–17 (NIV) 16 The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 17 It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed. However, in the New Testament, believers come into New Covenant through Christ where the Holy Spirit is the seal of the covenant.  Thus, the Sabbath as a seal of covenant is no longer relevant to the New Testament believer.  Which is why Apostle Paul taught against the need to religiously observe the Sabbath day in Colossians 2:16 (NIV) Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a The ultimate purpose of the principle of sabbath was revealed to be a spiritual rest from our own attempts at salvation to rest instead in Christ’s work. Instead, the ultimate purpose of the principle of sabbath was revealed to be a spiritual rest from our own attempts at salvation to rest instead in Christ’s work.  Hebrews 4:9–10 (NIV) 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. While the ultimate spiritual purpose of sabbath is now made clear, does it by implication negate every other practical and spiritual benefits of sabbath?  Is there some principle of its rhythm that ought to carry across to the New Testament?  How should the relevant Old Testament commands and practices be filtered through the cross into the New Testament? The Biblical pattern of Sabbath year for the land Lev 25:1-7 (NIV) 1 The LORD said to Moses at Mount Sinai, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you, the land itself must observe a sabbath to the LORD. 3 For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. 4 But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath rest, a sabbath to the LORD. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards. 5 Do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the grapes of your untended vines. The land is to have a year of rest. 6 Whatever the land yields during the sabbath year will be food for you—for yourself, your male and female servants, and the hired worker and temporary resident who live among you, 7 as well as for your livestock and the wild animals in your land. Whatever the land produces may be eaten. In agricultural terms, it makes a lot of sense.  Because when we continue to plant the same crops year after year, we deplete certain minerals of the soil.  After 6 years the soil has been depleted and some minerals are more depleted than others.  It needs to be replenished.  What modern agriculture has sought to do is to replenish it artificially.  However, such artificial techniques introduce other problems.  The chemicals.  The churning of the topsoil actually kills the helpful bugs.  The continual planting of the same crops also attracts pests which multiply and entrench over the years.  Hence, letting the soil rest and allowing the leftover to just grow wild a little allows the soil to replenish and rebalance itself.   Clearly, there are practical benefits for the land during the sabbath years. The spiritual component in these sabbatical years is the need to trust in God’s provision when the land is not being sowed or harvested, according to His promises to the Israelites. Further, God instructed that in every 50 years there is a total rest (Lev 25:8-12), during the year of Jubilee.  The land gets an extra year of rest.  Slaves are set free.  Family land is returned.  This allows the baseline family fortunes to be reset.  In other words, the mistakes of the generations can be reset in each generation.  The baseline wealth of land will be redistributed again roughly every generation.  Thus, the jubilee years also brought generational benefits to the marginalised. The primary benefit of the Jubilee is practical, and very significant in its impact especially to the under-privileged. In terms of spiritual significance, the Year of Jubilee symbolises the liberation we experience in Christ.  Yet there are no additional religious observations required of the Israelites during the Jubilee.  Thus, it appears that the primary benefit of the Jubilee is practical, and very significant in its impact especially to the under-privileged. The Biblical pattern of religious festivals God instructed the Israelites to observe 7 special religious festivals annually.  These are the Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Firstfruits, the Feast of Weeks, the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles (Lev 23) as depicted in the diagrams below.  Specific instructions were given as to what must be done in each festival.  We know that these festivals typified what God was planned to do in the New Testament.  It symbolically depicted the redemption plan of God such as the work of Christ to the return of Christ These feast usually begin and end with a “Sabbath-rest” day which are in addition to the weekly sabbaths. Diagrams from: https://www.holylandsite.com/old-testament-feasts-jesus God created rhythms in the life of the nation to achieve several key things of significance for the spiritual and community life of Israel. These festivals incorporate various elements such as prayer, fasting and worship, reading of God’s Word, ceremonies (some of which are memorials and prophetic in nature), family and community gathering, repentance and celebrations, etc.  As can be seen from the diagrams above, these festivals essentially occur during spring and fall every year.   We can note therefore that God created rhythms in the life of the nation to achieve several key things of significance for the spiritual and community life of Israel. Principle of rhythm for refreshing Having surveyed the Bible on the various forms of sabbath and festivals and unpacking some of its significance to the Israelites, the question now is what significance does it hold for New Testament believers?  Since Apostle Paul pointed out that we no longer need to observe those days any longer. Sabbath was intended to benefit men While we showed that the principle of sabbath is ultimately intended to point to the spiritual rest found in Christ, yet there is a practical side to it as we hinted at.  The key to unlocking this crucial principle is to look at Jesus’s perspective.   Jesus revealed a profound truth in Mark 2:27 (NIV)  Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”  In other words, sabbath was intended to benefit men.  This stunned the Pharisees because they only saw that men had to fulfil the sabbath religious requirements. It is about creating healthy, beneficial rhythms. These rhythms are intended to help us in wholesome ways such as spiritually, physically, communally. How do these sabbaths benefit men?  By considering what we learnt about the biblical pattern of sabbath for believers and for the land, plus the annual festivals, we can reach some conclusions.  Firstly, it is about creating healthy, beneficial rhythms.  This is seen in the regular weekly, bi-annual, and longer-term rhythms for the benefit of the Israelites.  Secondly, these rhythms are intended to help us in wholesome ways such as spiritually, physically, communally.  Thirdly, these are acts that reinforces our devotion and trust in God.  For it requires us to stop certain activities which we may naturally desire to be involved in for activities that God deems more important. Some practical applications of rhythms of refreshing The greatest immediate beneficial application is in spiritual disciplines. The benefits of rhythms have been known for a long time in some spiritual communities.  The greatest immediate beneficial application is in spiritual disciplines.  Following are some helpful rhythms. A time for devotion to God.  Where we intentionally devote a regular time to worship God, to commune with Him in prayer.  Commonly today, a short daily devotional time is recommended. A time for self-reflection.  Where we contemplate the state of our own heart, learning to develop in self-awareness with the help of the Holy Spirit.  Some have advocated daily or weekly times to do so. A time for God’s Word.  Sabbaths were times where the Israelites gathered at synagogues for worship and teaching of God’s Word.  Typically today it is attending church worship services and small groups weekly.  The inclusion of Sunday school or other Christian educational avenues are also advisable. A time to do God’s work.   It can be a time to intentionally do God’s work by setting aside our normal work.  On Sabbath days, Jesus was teaching and healing the sick.  On Sabbath, Apostle Paul taught, persuaded and witnessed of Christ in the synagogues and elsewhere.  Hence, it could be serving in a church ministry regularly. A time for rest from our work.  Where we recognize we need rest from non-stop work.  It is good for us to rest physically and instead to carve out time for God and His purposes. A time for family.  Some aspects of the Festivals require time with family.  Setting aside regular times of family relations and bonding is highly recommended. A time for community.  The festivals were times of gathering to celebrate together as a community.  Being involved in church services and small groups provide such times of community. Rhythms should be designed to suit our personal context to achieve the above.  Such rhythms may occur weekly, monthly or annually.  It should also be adjusted to suit changing contexts. Conclusions Rhythms of refreshing were implemented by God through the Old Testament laws for the benefit of the Israelites and even the land.  It was meant to provide well-rounded wholesome opportunities to sustain the physical, spiritual and communal needs.  An understanding of these principles should motivate us to consider appropriate application for believers today.  Particularly in the area of spiritual disciplines. Copyright©️2024 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.

This is a question that has proved to be controversial in the Christian church for several hundreds of years.  Proponents of either view seem to be able to find Scriptural support for their views.  Some find it in the emotional significance of what they had experienced previously.  Nevertheless, it is critical to examine Scriptures and weigh it up carefully to discern God’s intent for the mode of water baptism.  For our heart is to find clarity out of a desire to be obedient to Scriptures. In this article, we argue for the case of water baptism by immersion, as well as address certain related issues. TO BE WATER BAPTISED IS AN ACT OF OBEDIENCE TO JESUS’S COMMAND In the Great Commission of Jesus Christ, He commanded us in Matthew 28:19 (NIV) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Repentance and faith in God is an inward heart orientation.  Water baptism is the outward act of obedience reflecting the inward orientation.  It is like both sides of the same coin. Thus, God expects and indeed, commands that all believers be water baptized in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  It is a fundamental expectation of all who would call themselves disciples of Jesus.  Thus, to be water baptised should be the first significant act of obedience unto God.  It may be seen in the following fashion.  Repentance and faith in God is an inward heart orientation.  Water baptism is the outward act of obedience reflecting the inward orientation.  It is like both sides of the same coin.  Hence, if a person declares they are now a follower of Jesus Christ but refuses to be water baptised then it ought to be reasonably questioned whether they are actually genuine disciples. This commandment was observed by the apostles in the book of Acts who consistently instructed the new believers to immediately be baptised after they repented (Acts 2:34, Acts 2:41, Acts 8:12, Acts 10:48, Acts 18:8, Acts 22:16, 1 Pet 3:21). Even Jesus Himself made sure He was water baptised in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. He did so in order to fulfil all God’s righteous requirements.   Matthew 3:13–15 (NIV) 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. We note a few key observations.  Jesus did not need John’s water baptism for repentance as He was sinless.  But He insisted on it to fulfill God's righteous requirements.  If Jesus did it to be obedient, how much more should we?  If Jesus sought to fulfil all God’s righteous requirements, what aspects are God’s requirement?  Did it also include the mode of water baptism?  We argue here that it should, for reasons that will be clearer as we proceed in this article. THE MEANING OF BAPTISE INDICATES IT IS BY IMMERSION. Baptism comes from the Greek word "baptizo".  It is a common word and literally means to dip in, to immerse.  Such a word would be used to describe dying a cloth by “baptiso” in a coloured dye or to wash a shirt by “baptizo” in the river.   It never means to sprinkle. Baptism comes from the Greek word "baptizo".  It is a common word and literally means to dip in, to immerse. This is further supported by John the Baptist's mode of water baptism. We must understand that John baptised many thousands of people.  If the mode of baptism did not matter than it would be much more convenient, efficient and healthy for him to sprinkle.  Sprinkling is far less strenuous for the arm and back compared to immersion.  It is far less inconvenient compared to standing in a river for many hours at end each day for many months. Consider the health issues of simply standing in water for so long, so often.  Sprinkling would mean John could travel anywhere and baptise even more people.  Yet we know that John did none of those.  John conducted the baptisms exclusively in the Jordan River. In fact, the narrative of Jesus’ water baptism made this obvious.  Matthew 3:16 (NIV) “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water.” This describes Jesus as getting out of the Jordan River water.  Jesus was not beside the river, receiving a sprinkling.  Thus, Jesus was not sprinkled with water but immersed in the Jordan River. SCRIPTURAL EXAMPLES SUPPORT THE VIEW OF IMMERSION In addition to observing the mode of water baptism used by John the Baptist, there are other Scriptural examples. The Ethiopian eunuch who received Christ requested to be water baptised by immersion in an oasis in the desert area.  Acts 8:36–39 (NIV) 36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. We notice the language where the eunuch saw a nearby water (most likely referring to a body of water like an oasis) and immediately asked to be water baptised.  If water baptism only needed a sprinkling it could easily be done using water that would have been carried in the eunuch’s chariot as an essential part of the desert journey.  Yet the eunuch wanted a body of water.  This body of water is substantial enough that they could go “down into the water” and to have “came up out of the water”.  Note the language is very similar to the water baptism of Jesus by immersion. BAPTISM BY IMMERSION BUILDS UPON THE OLD TESTAMENT PRACTISE OF RITUAL CLEANSING In the Old Testament, God instructed the Israelites to cleanse themselves through ritualistic washing whenever they encounter something unclean (Lev 15).  Leviticus 15:5–6 (NIV) “5 Anyone who touches his bed must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening. 6 Whoever sits on anything that the man with a discharge sat on must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.”  The term to "bathe" would encompass possible modes such as wash, douse, and immerse in water.  But never sprinkle. The priests who serve at the temple must be ritualistically cleaned through washing with water. Exodus 30:19–21 (NIV) 19 Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet with water from it. 20 Whenever they enter the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die. Also, when they approach the altar to minister by presenting a food offering to the Lord, 21 they shall wash their hands and feet so that they will not die. This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come.”  Sprinkling is never intended. This is reinforced by the story of General Naaman in 2 Kings 5:1-19. The prophet Elijah instructed him to wash in the Jordan River 7 times and his leprosy would be healed.  It is instructive to notice exactly what Naaman did.  2 Kings 5:14 (NIV) “So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.”  To dip meant that Naaman fully went under the surface of the Jordan River 7 times.  He clearly understood the instruction to wash himself involves immersing himself.  That would have been the common understanding and practice when bathing or washing oneself in the Hence, the concept of washing in water is to cleanse, to purify. Full body immersion would signify complete cleansing.  Which has spiritual significance as well as obvious physical health benefits. Indeed, this is still practiced today.  Traditionally, Jews practise a rabbinic regulation called tevilah which is a full body immersion in a natural flowing water source for ritual cleansing. For that reason, Jews also construct a mikveh which is a specially designed bath for ritual immersion.  Below is a photo of a modern day version and a schematic of its typical design.  This supports the understanding that cleansing involves dipping or immersion, never sprinkling. John the Baptist’s mode of water baptism for repentance fully aligns with traditional Jewish understanding of immersing in water to purify or cleanse one’s soul. It is now obvious that John the Baptist’s mode of water baptism for repentance fully aligns with traditional Jewish understanding of immersing in water to purify or cleanse one’s soul.   Sprinkling would never be considered. WATER BAPTISM IS A PUBLIC DECLARATION OF OUR COMMITMENT TO GOD In the book of Acts, all who repented were instructed to be baptize immediately (Act 2:41, Acts 8:12, Acts 8:35-37, Acts 10:47-48, Acts 18:8). These were done publicly as a declaration of their allegiance to Christ.  It is also an act to declare our pledge of a clear conscience toward God, that we now choose to trust in God and to follow Him.  1 Peter 3:21 (NIV) … this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. This is why only believers can do so.  In Acts, we note that it is always repent and be baptised.  It is never baptised then repent. The Issue of Infant Baptism The practice of infant baptism was introduced by the Catholic Church around 416 AD and carried on today in some Protestant denominations.  For the reasons above, infants and young children who are unable to make such a decision should not undergo water baptism as it is both spiritually meaningless to them and contradictory to Scriptural practice.  In fact, infant baptisms are due to parental decisions.  Following from that, confirmation of infant baptism is an attempt to justify infant baptism which makes little sense in the first place.  Even should a child now be a genuine follower of Christ and underwent the confirmation, it is a distortion of the biblical instruction and intent. Some argue that infant baptism is used as a sign of being included in God’s covenant community.  While the intent is genuine, yet it is problematic because Scripture did not teach such a practice.  Further, it robs the child who may later come to Christ from experiencing a biblical Christian water baptism.  In addition, there already exists a biblical practice which is to dedicate or consecrate a child, especially the firstborn, unto God.  This is what Joseph and Mary did with Jesus.  Luke 2:22–23 (NIV) 22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” Of course, the part of offering animal sacrifices should be replaced perhaps with making an offering of another kind unto God, which may be monetary instead. The entire process of infant baptism and confirmation is null and void? Does this mean that the entire process of infant baptism and confirmation is null and void?  While we recognise that the infant baptism and confirmation may hold special meaning to the individual, yet the practice is contradictory to Scripture.  Therefore, we advise all in the following manner.  The participants can hold their memories of the event dearly and meaningfully.  However, they should be obedient to God’s righteous requirements now that they have more fully understood Scriptural instructions.  It is an act of good conscience, desiring to be fully obedient to God and His Scripture. We see the same approach in Acts 19 where Apostle Paul met 12 men, disciples of John the Baptist who participated in John’s baptism of repentance.  But after they came to Christ, they were instructed by Paul to be participate in a Christian water baptism, into the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is important to note here that the Christian water baptism does include the element of repentance that is associated with John’s water baptism.  But it goes further in its symbolic meaning, as we will explain next. IMMERSION IS A SYMBOLIC IDENTIFICATION WITH THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST Romans 6:3–4 (NIV) 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. The mode of immersion captures fully the symbolism of Rom 6:3-4.  By immersing fully in water, the person symbolic goes beneath the waters like a burial under the soil surface.  When the person is taken out of the water, it symbolises a person rising out of the earth that is rising from the dead.  Just as Christ died and was buried and then resurrected to life.  In the same way, it symbolises we have now died to our old life to now rise unto a new life (see also Col 2:11-12). None of this symbolism would be possible with sprinkling. The Issue of Sprinkling as a Symbolic Act The mode of sprinkling for water baptism is due to mixing up the symbolic act.  In the Old Testament, sprinkling of oil and blood were practiced for other religious significance.  Sprinkling usually signifies application.  Sprinkling of blood symbolises the application of Christ's blood for atonement (Ex 12:21-23, Ex 29:21, Lev 3:2, Lev 3:13, Lev 4:6-7, Lev 16:15, Lev 17:11, 1 John 1:7, Heb 12:24).  Sprinkling of oil symbolises the application of Holy Spirit anointing and/or commissioning (Lev 8:10-12, 30, Lev 14:16, 27).  Sprinkling of water signifies the God's cleansing and purifying work, whether ritually or upon the heart (Num 19:13, 18-21, Eze 36:25).  But sprinkling is not symbolic of identification, particularly with Christ’s burial and resurrection. What about those who cannot be immersed due to health and other valid reasons? When it is impossible to immerse, the next best option is to wash as it still carries the symbolism of cleansing though not all the symbolic elements.  God will understand the constrains.  As long as the heart desire is to obey to the fullest extent possible.  Washing could be carried out on parts of the body that can be washed, especially the limbs and head.  Washing could be done with a clothe soaked in water.  Sprinkling is not advisable as it least carries the symbolism. BAPTISM THROUGH IMMERSION IS IDENTIFICATION WITH THE TRIUNE GOD BY BEING BAPTISED INTO HIS NAME. Matthew 28:19 (NIV) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit… We are immersed into the name of the Triune God, symbolising that we now belong to God and are under the covering of The Most High.  We are now identified with and in allegiance to God. In the Christian water baptism, the Triune name of God is invoked.  In effect we are immersed into the name of the Triune God, symbolising that we now belong to God and are under the covering of The Most High.  We are now identified with and in allegiance to God. A similar concept was alluded to by Apostle Paul when he referred to the Israelites who followed Moses through the Red Sea were in effect baptized into Moses.  1 Corinthians 10:1–2 (NIV) 1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. In effect the Israelites had placed their trust in Moses.  They had followed Moses and gone under the surface of the Red Sea with Moses and came out at the other side. Thus, the metaphor of being immersed, baptised into Moses.  The theological implications of being baptised into someone other than Christ is complicated and the arguments very involved.  Other than noting that most likely Moses represented a type of Christ, I will not venture further into the theological arguments here. Baptising into the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ Some have promoted the view that the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit is in effect the Triune name of “Lord Jesus Christ”.  This is partially supported by: Acts 2:38 (NIV)  Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…” Romans 6:3 (NIV) Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Romans 13:14 (NIV) Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. Though we lean towards that view, we are not insisting that it should be so. CONCLUSIONS We have shown Scripturally why water baptism should be by immersion, as opposed to sprinkling. Water baptism in intended to symbolically capture the following elements: Repentance and faith in God An obedience unto God A cleansing/purifying of our soul An identification with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, reflecting our own death to sin and a new life in Christ. An identification and allegiance to the Triune God To implement a different mode of water baptism is to dilute, perhaps distort or even deny, some of the key elements above. Copyright©️2024 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.

God is on His mission.  A mission to redeem.  A mission to reconcile sinful men back to Himself because He loves us and would not leave us to our own sin and eventual destruction.  God is a missional God.  God who became man, as Jesus.  To seek out the lost and offer salvation.  So too is the Church to be missional to this lost world.  Every believer is called to be a missional disciple.  One who would glorify God by living God’s mission every day. God is a missional God.  God who became man, as Jesus.  To seek out the lost and offer salvation. Every believer is called to be a missional disciple.  One who would glorify God by living God’s mission every day. Now often many Christians ask the question, but how do we live missional lives?  Lives that will make a difference where I am?  We will discover some of these answers from Acts 13:13-43.  The context of this passage is the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas as they went forth from Antioch, located in Syria of today all the way to Pisidian Antioch where they visited a synagogue.  From this passage of Scripture, we will learn key steps from Apostle Paul.  3 key steps that will help us impact the people around us. CONNECT: GAINING IDENTIFICATION Acts 13:16-22 (NIV) “16 Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me!  17 The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt, with mighty power he led them out of that country,  18 he endured their conduct for about forty years in the desert,  19 he overthrew seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to his people as their inheritance.  20 All this took about 450 years. “After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.  21 Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years.  22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’” When Paul was given an opportunity to address the synagogue, he began to share some key accounts about God’s dealing in Israel’s history.  Why did he do that?  After all, was it not common knowledge to his hearers?  Why bother to repeat it?  Because Paul was seeking to connect with his hearers.  He connected by affirming the common history they had and their common understanding of God’s dealings with Israel.  He is saying, we believe in the same things.  We believe in the same God.  So Paul identified with his hearers. God is the ultimate connector. Ultimately through becoming like one of us, as Jesus. When we look through the Scriptures, we find that God is the ultimate connector.  God has been connecting with man through a huge variety of ways.  Through communicating with certain individuals and through them.  Through spoken and written words.  Through dreams and visions.  Through powerful miracles.  And ultimately through becoming like one of us, as Jesus. Phil 2:6 - 7 (GWT) 6 Although he was in the form of God and equal with God, he did not take advantage of this equality. 7 Instead, he emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant, by becoming like other humans, by having a human appearance. Just consider this.  God who is eternal, all-powerful, limitless moved from eternity into time, move from heaven unto earth, to be a fragile, limited human being.  Can you imagine us becoming an ant so that we can connect with ants?  Imagine reducing our brain to the size of an ant’s brain and thus all the limitations of such a puny brain? About 300,000 smaller.  It’s like trying to reduce the content of a 1 TB hard disk to a size of a digital photo. What God did was far greater than that. So God became Jesus, born in a manger in Bethlehem as we often hear in Christmas stories.  Jesus who lived a sinless life on earth.  Jesus who chose not to live like God but like man while on earth.  So that He could fully connect with us and us with Him.  What an incredible extent that God went through to do so!  God is still seeking to connect with us today.  Many of you have experienced things that if you were to consider it carefully, it may be God trying to get your attention. As missional people we should connect with people around us.  We can connect with people through our common humanity. In the same way, as missional people we should connect with people around us.  We can connect with people through our common humanity.  After all, there are many desires we share in common with people around us.    How many of us like good food? Or enjoy a good movie? How many of us want to have good friends or happy marriages? How many of us are eagerly waiting to own the latest iPhone?  Or for us Android people, the latest Samsung or Pixel? We can connect through common needs.  For example, when we are young, it may be a need to have a nice hairstyle.  As we get older it may be the need to have the right hair colour, instead of grey! We can connect through common challenges.  For example, for university students. “Are you studying that course?  So did I.  I still remember the professor Andrews who was so boring, he bored my socks off!  Yeah, he is so boring I keep falling asleep in his lectures.”  Or for example working adults. “Did you work in that company?  Do you know supervisor Jones? He is such a drill sergeant.  He even insisted that my work boots be polished!” We can connect through our unique interests and experiences. For example, “Do you like soccer?  You are a Manchester United fan? What do you think about David Moyes? Will he ever be as good as Alex Ferguson?”  Or  “Have you got back problems?  Yeah, so have I.  Thrown my back a number of times.  Ended up in bed and was walking like a 100 year old man.” When we connect well, our friends realise that we are trustworthy witnesses of the work of God in our lives. It is important that we be ourselves, authentic, the real deal. Warts and all.  Not some photo-shopped image which is not representative of reality.  As witnesses for Christ, we are not called to be salespeople but living epistles.  When we connect well, our friends realise that we are trustworthy witnesses of the work of God in our lives.  Because they connect with us, they understand better where we came from and why we chose to follow Christ. COMMUNICATE: SHARING THE GOOD NEWS Acts 13:23-41 (NIV) 23 “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised.  24 Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel.  25 As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you think I am? I am not that one. No, but he is coming after me, whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’ 26 “Brothers, children of Abraham, and you God–fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.  27 The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.  28 Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed.  29 When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.  30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people”. Having connected with his hearer’s, Paul proceeded to communicate the Gospel or Good News to them in terms they could understand.  He referred to basic historical information that they were already aware of, but explained the significance.  For they had probably heard about John the Baptist, about Jesus and the fact He was crucified. In the same way today, we have to communicate the same truths of the Good News in ways that makes sense to people today. Firstly, our friends need to hear how turning to Jesus has impacted our lives. Firstly, our friends need to hear how turning to Jesus has impacted our lives.  With this, you have to share your stories. Secondly, our friends have to understand why we all need salvation and how they can have it. Secondly, our friends have to understand why we all need salvation and how they can have it.  There is a very simple way to explain.  Just use 4 simple key points.  This is a variation on the 4 Spiritual Laws. God Loves. God loves us and offers a wonderful purpose for our lives. God loves us to this extent expressed in John 3:16 (NIV) 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. God loves us so much that Jesus promised in John 10:10 (NRSV) I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. But why is it so many of us do not experience this abundant life? Sin Separates. The Bible declares that all men is sinful in Rom 3:23 (NIV) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Sin is stubborn self-will, where we have chosen to do things our way rather than God’s way.  We can see the evidence of sin in our lives such as the selfishness, unforgiveness, bitterness, jealousy, hatred, etc. The strife, destruction, etc in this world comes from this sinful self-will where we have chosen to go things our way, instead of God’s way. Sin separates us from having a relationship with God. Rom 6:23 (NIV) For the wages of sin is death… For God who is holy has to judge our sins with eternal death. So what hope is left for us? Jesus Joins. Jesus is the only person who can join us back in relationship to God.  Jesus is the Saviour, God’s only provision for man’s sins. Isa 53:5 - 6 (NIV) 5 … he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Jesus died in our place at the cross. Rom 5:8 (NIV) …God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. And Jesus rose again on the 3rd day.  He was brought back to life. Death had no hold on Him. 1 Cor 15:3 - 6 (NIV) 3 …Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,  4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,  5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.  6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred... That is why Jesus could claim that Jesus is the only way to God. John 14:6 (NIV) Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Jesus is the only one who has gone to heaven and came back. So how can we have this? People Pick Each one of us has to make a personal choice.  People have to pick.  Whether or not to receive Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. We can receive Christ only through faith in Him.  Eph 2:8 - 9 (NIV) 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  9 not by works, so that no one can boast. It is choosing to trust. To receive Christ as our Saviour involves a choice.  An act of the will.  A commitment.  To repent, that is turn from living our own way and to follow God’s way.  To trust Christ to come into our lives to forgive us our sins and to lead us in His ways. CHOICE: URGING TO CHOOSE Act 13:42-43 (NIV) “42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath.  43 When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.” At the conclusion of the sharing, there were many interested to understand more.  Paul and Barnabas urged them to choose following God.  In the same way, even as we communicated the Good News of Jesus Christ, we should urge our friends to consider, to make a choice.  To follow Christ.  Because it is not simply about gaining some new knowledge. It is about making crucial choices.  Choices that will revolutionise their lives for the better. It is important to prayerfully discern the right timing to ask them whether they would like to make a decision to accept Christ. Hence, it is important to prayerfully discern the right timing to ask them whether they would like to make a decision to accept Christ.  Even if they said no, it rarely means an ultimate no.  It just means they are not ready or are not yet able to reach such a decision. CONCLUSION For every believer, God is calling you to be a missional disciple.  Will you choose to be one?  Will you seek to take some of the steps we outlined today to make a difference in someone else’s life? Copyright©️2024 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 being led by a leader you trust?  A leader whose style and approach you understand?  You find that it so much easier to follow!  On the other hand, if you lack trust in a leader, it is such a struggle. The same thing can happen between us and God.  However, if we understand God’s approach to leadership, it may help us better follow God.  In this article we examine how God will lead but on His own terms, His own ways.  Our response is to either trust Him and follow Him or distrust Him and not follow Him. When we examine Exodus 13 and 14 we begin to understand more about God’s leadership approach and why we should trust His leadership. GOD LEADS WITH FULL UNDERSTANDING In what ways has God full understanding?  We examine some aspects from this passage. God fully understands the circumstances Exodus 13:17–18 (NIV) 17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle. God understood the circumstances involving the Philistines.  That they would fight against the Israelites if they crossed into their territory.  The Bible informs us the following about God: God is omniscient.  He is all-knowing.  Heb 4:13 (NIV) Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. God understands everything hence he understands about the times and seasons, the circumstances that we are in.  Job 37:16 (NIV) Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who is perfect in knowledge? God’s knowledge is perfect.  God knows everything about every factor that affect a situation and He understands exactly how it will affect the situation. God’s knowledge is perfect.  God knows everything about every factor that affect a situation and He understands exactly how it will affect the situation.  In other words, He knows all there is to know about a situation.  Because God knows and fully understands the circumstances we are in, He alone is able to make a decision about the best way to proceed. We can trust God’s leadership because He understands everything. Because God is omniscience. and God is All-wise, God knows every possible means to achieve His objectives. And He knows the best means to achieve His objectives. Unlike God, we have to work always with incomplete knowledge and imperfect wisdom.  We can trust God’s leadership because He understands everything. God can see the end of your journey from the beginning and He knows the safest and best route! God fully understands human frailty and limitations Exodus 13:20 (NIV) After leaving Sukkoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. God knew that the Israelites were not ready to face any significant obstacles at that time.  Hence having to face the Philistine army would have caused them to give up the vision of a Promised Land. So God guided them away from that challenge at that point in time by taking a longer route.  God fully understands human frailty, the human weaknesses. Hebrews 4:15 (NIV) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. We have the assurance that God not only knows about our weaknesses.  But God had experienced our weaknesses and thus is able to empathise with us.  That is why the Bible describes Jesus as interceding for us.  Hebrews 7:25 (NIV) Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Further, travelling from Succoth to Etham was a fair distance, so God let them rest just before the desert.  God understands how much we can cope with.  He understands our human limitations, whether physical, emotional or spiritual. Psalm 144:3 - 4 (NIV) 3 O LORD, what is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him? 4 Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow. God knows what we need, when we need it and how we need it. God knows what we need, when we need it and how we need it. Even Jesus knew when His disciples needed to rest.  God does not drive us or push us without concern for our limitations.  I am not saying that God never pushes us beyond our current limitations.  In fact, He does this quite a bit and those who walk with God will know this.  But He does this knowing fully our limitations.  He does it to challenge us to grow beyond our current limitations or to drive us to rely on Him more. As a church leader and as a parent, I find it is crucial to appreciate this when we work with others and with our own children.  A good leader stirs his people to greater heights and to break past their present limitations.  A good parent does the same.  But always with a concern for the current limitations.  The poor leader, the poor employer and the poor parent are those who expect from others without understanding or having concern for their limitations.  God knows and has concern for our limitations. We can trust God’s leadership because He appreciates our weaknesses and limitations. If God doesn’t lead you along the shortest path to your goal, don’t complain or resist. Follow Him willingly and trust Him to lead you safely around unseen obstacles. We can trust God’s leadership because He appreciates our weaknesses and limitations.  He will lead us and work with us from where we are at. God fully understands human desires Exodus 13:19 (NIV) Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.” Joseph who helped Pharaoh during the great famine, always knew that he did not belong in Egypt.  His heart was in the Promised Land.  So he instructed the Israelites to bring his bones back to the Promised Land when God led them there.  God allowed Joseph’s desire to be fulfilled.  For God fully understands human desires. Jeremiah 17:10 (NIV) “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.” We can trust God’s leadership because He is compassionate, understand our sincere desires. Even as God leads, He understands and is compassionate towards our human desires.  Because of this, many times He provides for us out of compassion for our genuine desires.  Such as providing for Hannah her heart cry for a child.  In our personal situation, Lai Ling and I had thought that we would at most have 2 children because of the intensity of ministry.  Although in our hearts we would have liked to have 3 children.  So although we planned to stop at 2, God blessed us with our youngest daughter, Deborah.  God knew our little desire and blessed us more than we expected.  We can trust God’s leadership because He is compassionate, understand our sincere desires. GOD LEADS WITH PERFECT CARE Exodus 13:21–22 (NIV) 21 By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. 22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. God led through the column of smoke by day and fire by night.  Some scholars suggested that this column of smoke spread out at the top to provide cover for the Israelites from the heat of the hot sun. By night the fire provided not only light but also heat.  So how does God lead us with perfect care? By showing the way It is notable that the divine column led the people.  God showed them where they should go because the Israelites did not know the way.  God will often lead by showing the way especially when we do not know the way.  God desires to show us the way. But how willing are we to ask God to show us the way? Psalm 143:8 (NIV) Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Are we humble and sensitive enough to rely on Him to lead the way?  Psalm 25:9 (NIV) He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. We can trust God’s leadership because He cares enough to guide us along the way. Have you ever sat in a car with someone who is so confident of their sense of direction that they cannot be bothered to look at the street directory, even when they are heading to a new place? They weave in and out of everywhere and eventually get to the destination? Sometimes it is pride that stops them from finding a quicker route. We can trust God’s leadership because He cares enough to guide us along the way. By not leaving our side The pillar of smoke and fire never left the people.  It never forsook the people.  In the same way, God promises He will never leave us nor forsake us. Psalm 37:28 (NIV) For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever. Jesus in fact exemplified perfect care by devoting His life to serve and not to forsake us. As the good shepherd, He leads by being with us. We have tremendous assurance because God will continue to be with us.  In 19th century England, George Muller operated an orphanage by faith.  One day, they ran out of money and food for the children.  Muller still sat all the children down at the dining table and gave thanks before empty plates.  Suddenly there was a loud knock on the door.  A delivery van of bread had broken down outside and the bread would have gone to waste.  Would they like some bread?  They all had fresh bread for breakfast. We can trust God’s leadership because He cares for us and leads us for our good. We can trust God’s leadership because He is always there by our side. We can trust God’s leadership because He cares for us and leads us for our good. GOD LEADS WITH HIGHER PURPOSES Even when we go backwards (v1-2) Exodus 14:1–2 (NIV) 1 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. God told the Israelites to turn back.  They were heading in one direction, then God instructed them to go the reverse direction.  It may not exactly be back-tracking but it would surely cause people to think, “What is going on?”  Sometimes God may lead us in a way that seems to bring us backwards.  This can be frustrating when we go backwards.  For often we are so focussed about going forwards, about success in our own terms, that we may not realize God has higher purposes. Isaiah 55:9 (NIV) “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Joseph when he was a slave in Egypt served God with integrity.  He refused to compromise even when Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him.  His reward?  He was thrown into prison, wrongly accused.  He went backwards.  From favoured son to slave in Egypt to prisoner in a dungeon.  Yet God has His higher purposes for Joseph! A step backwards is often the way forward in God’s greatest of schemes! A step backwards is often the way forward in God’s greatest of schemes!  Imagine how the disciples felt when Jesus the Messiah was crucified and died?  It was a major step backwards!  Yet His death on the cross brought salvation to the world! Michel de Montaigne observed, “There are some defeats more triumphant than victories.”  Let’s be people who trust Jesus even when it appears we are taking a step backward.  For He is in control and has a greater plan. Even when it leads to a dead end Exodus 14:3 (NIV)  Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ God deliberately led them to a place where they were hemmed in by the sea in front and desert at the back.  Sometimes God may even lead us to what appears to be a dead end.  There is no other place to go.  Yet amid that God has His higher purposes. It is such times that really cause us to turn to God.  Only God has the answers then! We can trust God’s leadership even when we reach a dead end because He knows what He is doing. In Daniel 6, it tells of how Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den for breaking the king’s law.  It would have seemed like the end of Daniel.  But the dead end turns into the solution.  The lions did not touch Daniel at all and Daniel was saved.  This allowed the king to throw Daniel’s accusers into the lions’ den instead.  We can trust God’s leadership even when we reach a dead end because He knows what He is doing.  Now we must distinguish between God bringing us to a dead end, and we bringing ourselves to a dead end.  The latter is due to our fault, not God’s leadership. Even when it does not make sense Exodus 14:4 (NIV) And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” So the Israelites did this. God declared that He would harden Pharaoh’s heart and cause Pharaoh to pursue the Israelites.  Can you imagine what Moses might be thinking?  “Hold on a minute!  God, you just set me free from my enemies and now you encourage our enemies to pursue and overpower us?  This is crazy!  It makes absolutely no sense.” Imagine Joseph again. Why would God speak to a young man about becoming a man of great stature, then have him thrown into slavery? Joseph could be crying out, “Hey God! This is not a very good way of elevating me to positions of power!” Then things got worse!  He went from being a slave to a convicted criminal!  Lord this does not make sense!!!! Sometimes God may put us in situations that do not seem to make any sense at all.  But it does, to God.  God has His higher purposes. The late Reinhard Bonnke, years ago had a huge tent made up for his evangelistic crusades.  It could hold some 50,000 people.  Then one day as they had set up the tent, a huge storm tore it up.  Reinhard thought it was a disaster.  But when the meetings started so many turned out the tent would not have contained everyone.  God removed the limitations.  Reinhard did not use tents anymore from that day forth!  The rest is history. Is it possible that sometimes God makes our plans fail now, so that we do not fail to do God’s plan? Erwin W. Lutzer: “Many who are climbing the ladder of success have their ladders leaning against the wrong walls”.  Is it possible that sometimes God makes our plans fail now, so that we do not fail to do God’s plan?  Perhaps we may want to become wealthy, but all our plans seem to fail.  Why God?  Possibly God wants us to change first!  If the soul is not first prospering in humility; wealth will make it proud. If the soul is not first prospering in gentleness; wealth will make it rough. If the soul is not first prospering in generosity; wealth will make it stingy. If the soul is not first prospering in faith; wealth will make it doubt. If the soul is not first prospering in selflessness; wealth will make it selfish. The Bible states in Proverbs 1:32 (NIV) "The prosperity of fools shall destroy them." God may not want you to shape a situation but to let the situation shape you into a better person? We often like to shape a situation to our advantage. Is it possible that God may not want you to shape a situation but to let the situation shape you into a better person? Rom 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.”  It is usually for our good. We can trust God’s leadership because He brings greater good in the end. At other times, God may be doing it for His glory.  Exodus 14:4 (NIV) “But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD."  And that is also good, because it is to reveal who God truly is. We can trust God’s leadership because He brings greater good in the end. CONCLUSION Why is it that we can trust God’s leadership?  Because God leads with full understanding of everything.  Because God leads with perfect care.  Because God leads with a higher purpose in mind, for our betterment.  Will you choose to trust God’s leadership over your life today? Copyright©️2024 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 being in situations where you were out of someone's favour?  Something you did or did not do, got you on their wrong side?  Once, my wife Lai Ling corrected my youngest child Deborah when she was about 2 years old.  My daughter pouted and refused to look at nor respond to her mother for a while. Lai Ling was out of favour with her.  Well, there is one person you definitely don’t want to get on the wrong side.  And that is God. In the book of Exodus from chapter 5 to 12 recorded how Moses told Pharaoh to set the Israelites free.  But Pharaoh and his officials harden their hearts and resisted God. They kept on resisting God until it reached the full wrath of God.  The Egyptians were ultimately judged by God who declared a death plague upon all their firstborn.  They were judged because of their obstinate and continual rebellion against God.  They were out of God's favour. On the other hand, the Israelites were given the Passover Lamb in chapter 12:1-13.  The Passover lamb was to be sacrificed and its sacrifice will bring salvation to the Israelites from the judgment of God.  The Passover Lamb of course typified to “the” Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice on the cross brings salvation to all who trust in Him.  For more in-depth explanations, refer to my blog articles on The Purpose of Passover Lamb (Parts 1 & 2) In the midst of this judgment, truths were revealed about the significance of our relationship with Christ and the favour of God.  From this passage of Exodus 12:21-30, we will discover here what it means to be outside of Christ and outside of faith. And why it leads to being outside of God's mercy. "OUT" OF CHRIST Exodus 12:21–23 (NIV) 21 Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb. 22 Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning. 23 When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down. The Israelites were to mark their houses with the Passover Lamb's blood. In a triune fashion and in an outline of the cross, the front door’s 3 lintel were to be marked with blood. And they had to remain in the house for the duration of the night.  They were safe as long as they remained under the covering of the Passover lamb's blood. Only those who were "in" their houses were protected from the destroyer, an angel of death. Those who are not "in" Christ will be out of God's mercy. Out of God's protection.  Out of God's favour. The instructions God gave provide a symbolic insight into a key spiritual truth.  Just as the Israelites found shelter in a house marked by blood, so too we find shelter in Christ who bears the marks of His shed blood.  As the Israelites in the houses were protected from God's judgment, so too believers who are "in" Christ are protected from God's coming judgment. Those who are not "in" Christ will be out of God's mercy. Out of God's protection.  Out of God's favour. To appreciate what it means to be out of Christ, we first need to understand what it means to be in Christ. What does it means to be "in" Christ? There are deep spiritual truths about being "in".  The Bible declares that "in" Adam all sin and all die. All humankind was a part of Adam.  For we were in Adam.  We were there with Adam when he chose to sin. Hence all die in Adam's sin. On the other hand, "in" Christ, all live. 1 Corinthians 15:22 (NIV) For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. The foundation to be "in" Christ is to trust in Christ, to have faith in Him. So what does it mean to be in Christ? The foundation to be "in" Christ is to trust in Christ, to have faith in Him. Romans 10:11 (NIV) As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” Just as the Israelites had to trust God to protect them within their houses marked by the lamb's blood, so too we must trust in Christ to save us from our sins.  Further, being "in" Christ means more than just trusting Christ.  Ephesians 3:12 (NIV) In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. There is a tangible link between us and Christ through the Holy Spirit who now resides in us. There is a tangible link between us and Christ through the Holy Spirit who now resides in us.  God in us. Through that link we are spiritually included "in" Christ.  It is a state of being.  Let us imagine a baby joey inside the mother kangaroo's pouch.  The joey is trusting the mother enough to lie in the pouch for safety and nourishment. And the joey is also physically "in" the mother.  In the same way we are trusting Christ and in Christ. What is the significance of being "in" Christ? In Christ we receive eternal life. John 6:40 (NIV) For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” In Christ, we receive forgiveness, redemption, atonement, justification, sanctification, and finally glorification.  Ephesians 1:7 (NIV) In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. All the benefits of salvation accrue to us. That is as long as we remain in Christ. Along with that, there are many other blessings we receive in Christ such as a new identity, a new power and authority.  Yet for all the above, we do not own as a personal right.  It is not ours, although we experience all its benefits.  We have it only because we are in Christ.  All the benefits of salvation accrue to us. That is as long as we remain in Christ. We cannot walk away from Christ and still claim the benefits of salvation.  The forgiveness of our sins is effective only as long as we remain in Christ.  Do you realize that to claim that God has forgiven you is technically incorrect?  God forgives you because you are in Christ! Have you ever realised that there is no forgiveness for those outside of Christ?  No matter how sorry they are?  God forgives you only because you are connected to Christ.  God forgives for Christ sake, not yours.  God forgives because of Christ's righteousness, not yours.  The only reason God forgives you, is because you are in Christ.  And God continues to forgive you, because you remain in Christ. Romans 8:1 (NIV) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, Some Christians have failed to understand this carefully.  They think that they are fully forgiven, pardoned, justified, atoned. Past tense.  Done deal.  So I cannot lose that status no matter what I do.  They imagine that it is a certificate to do anything.  How many of us realise that in the court of law, we can be pardoned, forgiven, even justified.  Past tense.  Done deal.  Yet if we go out and commit another crime, we will be back in the same court and thrown into prison. In the same way, God would be just to condemn us when we sin again.  Yet because we remain "in" Christ, God always forgives us our sins when we repent.  Once we understand this principle, we understand why the Bible urges us in Colossians 2:6 (NIV) So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, Being in Christ is not a permanent once for all state.  It is an on-going state of being that requires your choice. Being in Christ is not a permanent once for all state.  It is an on-going state of being that requires your choice.  Consider a bomb shelter.  As long as you remain in the bomb shelter you are protected.  But if you choose to walk outside, the protection no longer is effective.  In Christ, we remain in God's favour.  Out of Christ, we are out of God's favour. In Christ we can go where we cannot, but Christ can.  In Christ, we gain blessings that we do not deserve, but Christ does. In Christ we can go where we cannot, but Christ can.  In Christ, we gain blessings that we do not deserve, but Christ does.  In Christ, we are called sons of God and given the standing of sons.  In Christ, we are given Kingdom authority.  The authority to cast out demons and establish the rule of God. The late Dr Paul Yonggi Cho shared from his experience as a young pastor where he was one day called to cast a demon out of a woman.  At that time, he had little experience casting out demons.  The woman was obviously possessed.  She snarled at him and mocked him when he tried to cast out the demon.  He tried everything he could to cast out the demon but to no avail.  This went on for several hours and Yonggi Cho was exhausted.  Then it dawned upon him that he had tried out of his own strength.  He had tried using formulas.  Yet he was fearful of the demon.  He had to trust in Christ and the authority that he had in Him.  With that revelation, he started to rebuke the demon with the authority that he knew was in Christ and in His Name.  The demon left quite quickly after that. In Christ, we walk in the blessings, power and authority of God. "OUT" OF FAITH Exodus 12:24–28 (NIV) 24 “Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants. 25 When you enter the land that the Lord will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony. 26 And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ 27 then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’ ” Then the people bowed down and worshiped. 28 The Israelites did just what the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron. To remain in Christ, we have to maintain faith in Christ. By faith, the Israelites followed God's instructions and were protected from the destroyer. Unlike the Israelites, the Egyptians had no faith in God nor His commands.  They were "out" of faith.  To remain in Christ, we have to maintain faith in Christ. How are you keeping your faith in Christ?  How do you know whether you are continuing to have faith in Christ?  True faith in Christ is characterised by a number of elements such as: On-going relationship with Christ.  What sort of relationship do we have with God?  Are we talking to Him, listening to Him? Is there any desire to relate with God?  When there are people that you do not trust, you have no desire to relate to.  In my wedding, I had to invite relatives that were not on talking terms to each other.  There was zero relationship between them.  We had to make sure they were not on the same table. Dependence upon Christ.  Do we seek to lean on God for strength and encouragement?  Do we look for God’s grace to be fruitful?  As Jesus reminded us in John 15:4-5 (NIV) 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. Obedience to Christ. Obedience is an indicator of the quality of our faith in Christ.  Those whose faith is stronger will be more obedient to God's commands. Our obedient reflects that we are in Christ. John 15:10 (NIV) If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. Our obedience reflects how much we love God.  How much desire do we have to obey God?  My wife and I chose to remain in Australia, rather than return to Malaysia out of obedience to God’s call to serve God in Australia. For we had previously determined to return to Malaysia to serve God there. I had also wanted to return in order to win my parents to Christ. Instead, we had to trust God for their salvation.  In God’s goodness, my parents came to Christ some years later. In our church we have an extensive ministry to overseas students.  Many of these students end up in our church and grow spiritually under our ministry.  We often remind these overseas students at the end of their studies.  We tell them, “Don’t stay just because your friends do, or life seems better here. Don’t go home just because your friends or family do. Seek God and obey Him.” What is the condition of our faith today?  Is it in need of resuscitation? Is it in need of a triple bypass?  It starts with making a decision.  A decision to place our trust in Christ.  Let us keep in faith. "OUT" OF GOD'S MERCY Exodus 12:29–30 (NIV) 29 At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. 30 Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead. Judgment came upon the Egyptians because they were not in God's mercy.  They were "out" or outside God's mercy.  The reason why we do not face God's judgment is because of His mercy covering over His holy judgment. The concept is demonstrated by the mercy-seat at the ark of covenant.  The mercy seat is sprinkled with the blood of the Passover lamb each year by the high priest.  The mercy seat is placed on the cover of the ark of covenant and covers over the stone tablets with the 10 commandments.  The 10 commandments represent God's Laws.  The Laws represent the holy standards of God.  Without the blood on the mercy seat there would be judgment for breaking God's Laws. When the Philistines captured the ark of covenant, they kept it for 7 months.  In which time God brought diseases and death until they could not take it any longer and returned it to the Israelites.  They abandoned the ark in Beth Shemesh.  1 Samuel 6:19 (NIV) But God struck down some of the men of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy of them to death because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. The people mourned because of the heavy blow the LORD had dealt them, What happened?  The 70 men in Beth Shemesh opened the ark. They removed the cover which the mercy seat was upon and exposed God's Law.  Without mercy there will only be judgment.  So 70 men died immediately.  In the classic movie Indiana Jones and Raider of the Lost Ark, it depicted what happened when the Nazi found and opened ark of covenant.  It showed that angels of death were released which killed every person who looked.  Of course, it was a fictional dramatization by Hollywood.  Nevertheless, they caught some truth about the wrath of God. When we are "out" of God's mercy there only remains holy judgment. When we are "out" of God's mercy there only remains holy judgment.  John 3:18 (NIV) 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. As long as we remain in Christ, we will not face God's judgment. Those who come under the blood of Christ will be spared God's judgment and instead receive mercy. A long as we have faith in Christ, we will remain in Him. And as long as we remain in Christ, we will not face God's judgment. But for those who deliberately give up their faith in Christ, they are no longer in Christ and they will face God's judgment. Does this mean that apostasy can happen?  Hebrews 6:4-6 (NIV) 4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6 if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. God promises never to let us go.  But we can choose to let ourselves go. Heb 10:26-38, 2 Peter 2:18-20 are other clear Scriptures warnings us about the dangers of  apostasy.  But what about Scriptures assuring us that God will never let us go?  That we are save in Him?  God promises never to let us go.  But we can choose to let ourselves go.  We can choose to walk out of Christ by unbelief, by denying Christ.  So let us never walk out of Christ, for we will walk out of God's favour.  Instead let us continue in Christ.  Let us grow surer, by deepening our relationship with God, depending on Him, trusting Him and obeying Him. CONCLUSION To be “out” of Chris means total exposure to God’s holy judgment. There is no mercy available to cover over.  God desires us to be in Christ and to remain in Christ.  But the choice remains ours.  Let us choose this day to resolutely remain in Christ.  It takes faith on our part! Copyright©️2024 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.

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 Laws 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 LAWS 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. TITHING THROUGH THE CROSS The cross of Jesus represents the transforming connection between both Testaments where under grace, the forms, ceremonies and most commands are shed. But the principle remains and is clarified. 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. The cross of Jesus represents the transforming connection between both Testaments where under grace, the forms, ceremonies and most commands are shed. 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 fact that tithing was practised before the codified form and commands of the Laws 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. The very act of tithing helps keeps in the fore of our minds that all we have is God’s. 1. 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. Tithing is therefore an act of faith in God’s faithfulness to provide. 2. 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. 3. 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. What we give unto God, God gives to His Church. This enables the Church to undertake God’s work. 4. 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. CONCLUSIONS 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 demonstrated that tithing is a biblical principle. It was practised by the patriarchs. It was instructed in codified form in the Laws 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. In the next study we will examine the various forms of tithes and offerings required by God and its objectives. Copyright©️2023 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.

Michael Jackson was a music visionary.  He was famous not only for his songs but his dance moves.  Some of his moves such as moon walk or slide circle are some of the most imitated steps in the world.  So many people try to sing like him, or dance like him. He was imitated because people thought he was cool. As I thought about how much people desire to imitate him, it made me think how much do we desire to imitate the One who is really important?  How do we desire to imitate Christ Himself?  Thomas a Kempis recognised this and wrote the classic Christian book called the Imitation of Christ. Godliness is living a life pleasing to God, out of a heart of devotion to God.  To develop in godliness it is important to develop both God-centredness and Godlikeness.  God-centredness is devotion to God.  Godlikeness is about Christian character. What is godliness?  Godliness is living a life pleasing to God, out of a heart of devotion to God.  To develop in godliness it is important to develop both God-centredness and Godlikeness.  God-centredness is devotion to God.  Godlikeness is about Christian character. Our reverence for God may be expressed in our heart worship and heart orientation, but we demonstrate the genuineness of our devotion by our sincere efforts to be like Him.  Just as those devoted to Michael Jackson imitate him! How can we practically develop in Godlikeness? TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY 1 Timothy 4:11–12 (NIV) 11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Paul’s instructions to Timothy put the onus of responsibility squarely upon his shoulders.  These things Timothy are to do, to be an example, to develop in.  To train in godliness it is important to realise that we must first take personal responsibility for our progress.  The Scriptures tells us to pursue it in 1 Timothy 6:11.  However, it is important to see the balance between responsibility and dependence. Responsibility and dependence Devotion to God is the only acceptable motive for actions that are pleasing to God. In taking responsibility we must get our motives right.  Devotion to God is the only acceptable motive for actions that are pleasing to God.  Do you realise that we could do all the right things for the wrong motives?  When Joseph was enticed by Potiphar’s wife, he did not refuse her because he was afraid of being found out.  Rather, his convictions are, Genesis 39:9 (NIV) “How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” His primary concern is not to sin against God.  His motives were right!  In all that we do, we should ask ourselves what our real motives are.  Is it for ourselves, for convenience, or is it truly out of devotion to God? We need divine enablement to live a godly life. Besides the right motives, we must also realise that we need divine enablement to live a godly life.  We are totally unable to live the godly life by our own strengths.  We need God’s grace.  That is why Scripture records in Colossians 1:29 (NIV) To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. We are totally dependent on Christ for the power to live a godly life. Yet we are also totally responsible for developing and displaying that character. Indeed, Jesus brought out this truth in John 15:5 (NIV) “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Hence we must remain connected to Christ to be enabled through the Holy Spirit.  To sum it up, we are totally dependent on Christ for the power to live a godly life. Yet we are also totally responsible for developing and displaying that character. This seemingly conflicting principles are found in Philippians 2:12 - 13 (NIV) 12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,  13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. You work out your salvation.  God also works in you to will and act according to His good purpose.  Imagine God provides us an aeroplane, with fuel and the flying instructor.  You have never flown before.  Now God has provided you everything you need to fly but the plane will not fly unless you fly it!  On the other hand, no matter how much you want to fly, you cannot without a plane, fuel nor the instructor.  But if you work with what God gives you and follow the instructor’s instructions – you will fly! God has provided everything you need to be godly.  But you must take responsibility to apply all that God has provided to grow in godliness. God has provided everything you need to be godly.  But you must take responsibility to apply all that God has provided to grow in godliness.  Some people make the mistake of thinking it is all God only.  It is like our role in flying the plane is redundant.  God has an auto-pilot so we just sit back and relax.  God will make us godly, we just have to pray.  Others, make the opposite mistake of thinking it is all about us.  If the pilot runs out of fuel for the plane, the plane will crash.  Or if there is no plane, he cannot even fly in the first place.  Without God’s provision, we can get nowhere in terms of godliness. Aim for balanced progressive growth. We should aim to grow in all aspects of the fruit of the Holy Spirit.  Not just in aspects that we are more comfortable in.  Otherwise, we may end up focussing on select areas only and neglect the areas that God specifically wants us to grow more in. As I work with many leaders and try to help them develop further, I realised that the biggest limitation to a leader’s success is often his personal weakness.  No matter how great they may be in key areas, yet eventually it is their significant weaknesses that pulls them down. Did you know that Moses’ greatest downfall is his bad temper?  When he came down from Mt Sinai and saw the Israelites committing idolatry, he lost it!  The stone tablets that God had personally written the 10 commandments – he was so upset he smashed it!  Then he ground the golden calf into powder and made the Israelites drink it!  It was the same temper that caused him to hit the rock for water when he was supposed to speak to it.  It was this incident in Numbers 20:1-13 that caused him to miss out of the Promised Land!  King David’s greatest downfall is his love for women.  He married at least 8 wives and had many concubines.  He fell in adultery with Bathsheba. Some leaders may be great in their compassion for others but their bad temper eventually drives people away.  Some leaders may be great in training and inspiring others, but their inability to manage their finances eventually came back to bite them.  People lose trust in them because of shoddy finances. Usually different temperaments will need to grow more in areas that they are weak in.  A sanguine will usually need to grow more in faithfulness in responsibilities.  A phlegmatic may usually need more joy.  While a choleric may need more patience and gentleness. As a phlegmatic, I had to grow to be more decisive.  Not to be so laid back.  I even had to challenge myself at one stage as a young pastor to make small decisions within 5 minutes time limit!  phlegmatic do not like to upset people, but I had to learn to make decisions even when I knew some people would not be happy with it! How can we change?  How can we grow?  It is important to understand that growth should be progressive and continual.  Philippians 3:12 (NIV) Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. When we stop growing, we start backsliding. Even the apostle Paul realised that he had much more to grow in.  Yet not in a defeated mentality but with a deep sense of faith and hope in what God seeks to develop in his life and ministry.  So there is always room to grow, for we will not reach perfection.  Growth in godly character is not only progressive and always unfinished, it is actually critical for spiritual survival.  When we stop growing, we start backsliding.  Just like our muscles.  Once we stop exercising it starts going flabby. Our character and spirituality do not remain stagnant, it either goes forward or goes backward.  When I do not spend as much time praying, I realise that I become less spiritual. The filth of the world starts to accumulate on my heart and my attitudes.  As a university student, I once had a vacation job working in a factory line.  The environment just sapped my mental agility.  I found my brain slowing down.  The employees used a lot of foul words and I found it stuck unto my mind, even though I did not use those foul words. When we get our attitudes right, we tend to do the right things.  And when we do this consistently enough, we tend to develop the right character. In growing in godliness, we should develop the right attitudes, consistently behave with the right actions and focus on having the right character. When we get our attitudes right, we tend to do the right things.  And when we do this consistently enough, we tend to develop the right character. I grew to love people more as I focussed on the value of each person before God.  I began to appreciate them much more with their flaws and everything.  I practised the Scripture which says “love keeps no record of wrong!”  So I decided to forgive immediately.  As I changed my attitude, I also began to act more lovingly to individuals.  As I determined to love people around me intentionally, over time I began to be more loving in my heart. I am still growing in this area, as I encounter more challenging people! LEARN FROM OTHERS 1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV) set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Timothy was instructed to be an example to others, so that he may be a role model and also to teach and instruct others in godliness.  There is so much we learn from others on the road towards godliness.  Many have been on the journey longer or further.  If we are humble enough we can gain from their insights, from their life.  Proverbs 24:32 (NIV)  I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: My attitude is to learn as much as I can from any situation or people. My attitude is to learn as much as I can from any situation or people.  Why make mistakes that others have made?  Why not learn from the positive characteristics of others?  Why not be inspired by them? “Set an example for believers in speech...”  Have you made it a point to observe those who speak with wisdom, gentleness, love, positively, etc?  I used to live with a housemate, a deacon in the church.  Although he had many tough challenges in his life, yet I never saw him complain.  He was realistic about his problems, but he did not mumble or grumble.  He did not grumble about his lot in life, about leaders, about church, about work.  I learnt what it meant to be contented and not grumble.  He went on to serve the Lord faithfully as a pastor. We ought to observe the life of godly people.  Do they live with courage, with integrity?  Are they joyful?  One of our former leaders, when she returned to Bangkok, she faithfully attended church even though her mother, a Buddhist, was very upset with her faith and many times beat her.  Yet she always maintained a joy in the Lord.  She did not falter. Observe their faith.  Do they trust God fully?  Do they step out in faith in obedience to God?  I love to hear stories of faith because it inspires me and challenges me to be bold in my faith.  Observe their attitude.  Do they love?  Do they have humility? Are they contented? Be humble enough to let others speak into your life. Perhaps they can help bring some corrections or adjustment that will help you on your journey towards godliness. DEEPEN IN THE WORD 1 Timothy 4:13 (NIV) Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Scriptures provide us an understanding of what God is seeking in godliness and how we can pursue godliness. Timothy was exhorted to devote himself to reading, preaching and teaching the Scriptures.  A key aspect to grow in godliness is the Scriptures.  Because Scriptures provide us an understanding of what God is seeking in godliness and how we can pursue godliness.  Titus 1:1 (NIV) Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness. The more we understand God’s truth, the more it will open our eyes to godliness.  So often our understanding can be shallow and superficial, but as we study God’s Word we gain more depth of appreciation what godliness is all about. How do we know what each aspect of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is all about?  Unless we study deeper to understand what each aspect is truly about.  Unless we read the stories that illustrate to us how it is lived out. How do we know what the extent of love can be until we understand what Jesus did on the cross for sinners like us?  It is through God’s Word that we more fully come to see Christ’s life in the Gospel.  By observing and meditating about Christ’s life, we can learn so much and be inspired by His example. Godliness will be closer to our hearts when the Word of God is imprinted upon our hearts. May I challenge us to be a people of the Word.  Let it soak into our hearts and minds.  Godliness will be closer to our hearts when the Word of God is imprinted upon our hearts. CONCLUSIONS God desires us to grow in godliness.  We need to put feet unto our desire and the key is to take personal responsibility.  While we take responsibility, we must recognise the importance of being dependent upon God.  We should also learn from others.  We should deepen in the word and allow it to impact us. Copyright©️2024 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. 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