PLUMB LINE

During my childhood days the kids in the neighbourhood built a clubhouse by Sg Untut in Sentul. Getting the floor level up was no issue but building the walls posed a great problem, because we had no knowledge as to how to use a plumb line. 

Tradesmen in the building and construction industry rely on the use of a plumb line to make sure walls are square , straight and at 90 degrees with the floor. Its simply a string with a weight on it that hangs straight down to guide the builder when he puts up a building structure.

In the book of Amos chapter 7, we read of another type of plumb line. The Lord first told Amos about a swarm of locusts and a great fire, by this foretelling the destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel under the rule of king Jeroboam. Amos prayed and pleaded for mercy and the Lord agreed to defer His judgement. Amos was then given a vision of a straight wall which was plumbed. The Lord was standing by it with a plumb line. Because Israel’s conduct didn’t square with God’s law, they faced His impending wrath and judgement (Amos 7:8-9).

The term ‘Christians’ we identify ourselves with, is a hallmark of the banner and Lordship of Jesus Christ in us, a plumb line by which we evaluate our lives. It is the Word of God with its principles and commands. When faced with moral choices, we must see what the Scriptures teach. When we follow the precepts of the Lord, we need not fear what the plumb line reveals about us.

Amos Chapter 7:

1 Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me; and, behold, he formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, lo, it was the latter growth after the king's mowings.

2 And it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord GOD, forgive, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.

3 The LORD repented for this: It shall not be, saith the LORD.

4 Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and, behold, the Lord GOD called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and did eat up a part.

5 Then said I, O Lord GOD, cease, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.

6 The LORD repented for this: This also shall not be, saith the Lord GOD.

7 Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the LORD stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand.

8 And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the LORD, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more:

9 And the high places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste; and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.

10 Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words.

11 For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land.

12 Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there:

13 But prophesy not again any more at Bethel: for it is the king's chapel, and it is the king's court.

14 Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:

15 And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.

16 Now therefore hear thou the word of the LORD: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac.

17 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land.

9/11: “A CHANGE IN THE HEART PRECEDES A BEHAVIORAL CHANGE.”

Following the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York, shocked gripped many across the globe, yet again euphoria erupted in some parts, much to the chagrin of every thinking soul. 

Such willful celebration of firing rounds into air, with people dancing and celebrating in numbers in the city squares, interspersed with shouts of ‘god is great’, was a disturbing sight. Here in the Malaysian capital, there was a flurry of sales of tee-shirts bearing the resemblance of Osama. Next to little was done in the media or by the leadership here curbing such an act, nor distancing from the dastardly and cowardly terrorist attack. Many proudly strutted in the Golden Triangle with their Osama tees, often in full glare of the local police, an act that begged the question as to what message we were delivering to the droves of tourists frequenting the city’s tourist belt and our own people. 

But all these was a stark contrast, looking at a news TV anchorman who stood near Ground Zero, after having picked up a handful of paper from amongst the littered debris from the fallen twin towers.

One sheet, a part of a corporate financial report, another a business proposal and yet another a retirement plan. Considering the thousands that lost their lives, these paper seemed so much less important now than they were just hours before.

Leaving aside the eccentricities of the euphoric lot, we often realize, that people and not possessions are what matters most. A stark reality that sets in when calamity strikes and gives us a different perspective.

Such realization would not be a waste if we take the necessary steps to treat people well. 

A new outlook on life and its values, including those God gives us through His Word, can fade quickly, unless we put head-knowledge into action. I am drawn to this poignant scripture in the bible, quoting from James 1:22,25: ‘Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. He who is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

On this anniversary of tragedies like 9/11, and others experienced, many of us are challenged to put God first in our lives by staying in the Word and take proactive steps or action to maintain our new perspective.

A wish that the religious bigots will begin a transformation process by the renewal of their minds.

EVER COMPLIMENTED AN ENEMY?

Ever wondered how and why David could say Saul and Jonathan were beloved and pleasant in their lives? That's in 2 Samuel 1:23. I can accept it if it was directed at Jonathan who was akin a brother and a buddy to David. But King Saul who wanted to take David's life and brought him much fear and sorrow?

2 Samuel 1:

David Learns of Saul's Death

1Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag; 2 It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance. 3 And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. 4 And David said unto him, How #1# went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also. 5 And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? 6 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. 7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I. #1# 8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. 9 He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish #1# is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. 10 So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.

11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: 12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. 13 And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.14 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the Lord's anointed? 15 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died. 16 And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the Lord's anointed.
David's Lament over Saul and Jonathan

17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son: 18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher. #1# 19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! 20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. 21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. 22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. 23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant #1# in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. 24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel. 25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. 26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. 27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

It would have been easier for David to say good things about Jonathan that he could not of King Saul.

Yet, David chose to ignore the faults and failures of King Saul and instead commended what was good; of his courage, his military prowess and his prosperous kingdom. Verses 21-24.


Kind of make me think, if I could likewise be gracious to my adversaries, those perpetrators of sarcasm over my posts/blogs and some other unwarranted comments. Upon reflecting how often have I brooded over and judged the flaws and shortcomings of my opponents and more so, how often have I been offended when others have found good in those who have harmed me?

Not surprising, how much one dwells on the bad seen in others rather than the good that God and others can see. God in the equation as He sees us with new mercies everyday and the righteousness of Christ, not ours.Clearly, the bible is explicit in 1 Corinthians 4:5, we need to leave judgement in the hand of the Lord, for when Jesus returns, He will reveal the counsels of the hearts of mankind. Then each one's praise will come from God Himself.

5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

Are we focusing on the traits that make our opponents/perpetrators so unlikeable today? Accentuating the positive qualities of those who trouble us is a good way to deal with resentment, and to transform our hatred and unforgiveness into love. 

We're told to love our enemies who in this life we face, for showing love that's not deserved, reveals to them God's grace.

Don't you think it is hard to hate someone when you compliment them?

Matthew 5: 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

CARING

John the Baptist, a cousin and close friend to Jesus had been martyred by King Herod. The death troubled Jesus deeply, so much so He sought refuge from the multitude

flocking Him by withdrawing from His hometown, His place of ministry- Read Matthew 14: 1-14.

Jesus wanted to be alone to grieve, but the crowd pressed in with their needs and wouldn't let Him get away. Seeing this He was moved with compassion for them. Despite His own hurts, He began instead ministering to them and healed the sick and needy.

Hey you caregivers; pastors, teachers, nurses, counselors. You may be a mother with small children, a spouse of an invalid, and you have your own struggles, heartaches, disappointments and regrets but no one seem to care.

Here's what you ought to know - God does care. Jesus knows your sorrow as no one else does. He understands the depths of your misery. You can cast all your cares on Him, because He cares for you. Read 1 Peter 5:7.

In His presence you'll find love, peace, consolation and the strength you need to move from your own grief to the grief of others. This way you'll be able to care for others when you know He cares for you.

Its in giving you receive. Now doesn't that hold sway in a time like this?

Oh yes, He cares; I know He cares,

His heart is touched with my grief;

When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,

I know my Savior cares. - Graeff

TAKE A WALK INSTEAD

A quick browse through the map of Causeway Bay to determine the quickest route to Victoria Park, the Bay Market, Royal HK Yatch Club and the HK Central Library provided many options. Board a taxi, bus or the underground MRT or simply put in some effort and WALK, as the distance can be covered with ease in 15-25 minutes depending on the destination. Causeway Bay's chinese name is also romanized as Tung Lo Wan.

Causeway Bay at night, at Kingston Street

Plying the KL-HK route over some years in the early 2000s meant a couple of week stay on work assignment. Usually the morning culture would be to hop onto the MRT, one of the most extensive criss-crossing HK.

This particular day was an exception, since the official assignments were scheduled towards the later part of the day. And walk I did, through the Bay Market area, passing through hundreds of storefronts. In the process, I enjoyed smelling the smells (not all of it), hearing the sounds, watch the traffic, study the people and stopover at some shops. This made me feel part of the Wanchai District. 

WALK TO WORK

It took me time and effort, but it was well worth it.

Whilst at a coffee stopover, I realised, we are all in a journey called the Christian life, wherein we are faced with similar choices. We can take the easy route, depending on others to give us quick-fix solutions, all our instructions by this shortcutting our way past a good prayer-life or speedreading a portion of scripture and term it 'devotion'. Sometimes we just plug in a devotional DVD whilst driving as a replacement for that 'going away' from the hustle and bustle, to be alone with our Maker.

Why not take that walk with God today? But first, delight in it.  As you map out your course, choose to 'seek Him with all your heart.' - Psalm 119-2

Read also Psalm 119:1-16:

1 Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,
who walk according to the law of the Lord.
2 Blessed are those who keep his statutes
and seek him with all their heart—
3 they do no wrong
but follow his ways.
4 You have laid down precepts
that are to be fully obeyed.
5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast
in obeying your decrees!
6 Then I would not be put to shame
when I consider all your commands.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart
as I learn your righteous laws.
8 I will obey your decrees;
do not utterly forsake me.
9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
By living according to your word.
10 I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
12 Praise be to you, Lord;
teach me your decrees.
13 With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
14 I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.

TO ENJOY YOUR WALK WITH GOD, KEEP IN STEP WITH HIS WORD

THE BELIEVER AND HIS AUTHORITY IN CHRIST

The church I attend has for over the nine months or so engaged in active intercessory prayer for this nation in the wee hours of the morning. Never has at any time has so many faithfuls turned up to wage warfare in the spiritual realms. Here our focus is on the forth-13th coming general elections. Time and again the prophetic word has gone forth with the lord's assurance of a shaking, more like an earthquake in the political realms. This morning's (17th March) prophecy yet again echoed that. I was especially glad to have another brother in Christ join in the morning service and one who has been working very hard to rally the people of Sarawak for change, in YB Baru Bian.

And how poignant is this in today's context. Engaging in intercessory prayer among the believers has some considerations. 

Ephesians 6: 13-18 has this to say- Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

There is a need to release the authority bestowed on a believer. The bible in Ephesians 2:6 states; 'and God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.' This speaks of authority. To further understand this we need to recognize God dwells in the third heaven which is the highest. 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 supports this. Others scripture text supporting the existence of more than one heaven are:

Genesis 1:1, Hebrew 4:14, and

Ephesians 1:20 states Jesus is seated with the Father.

Satan on the other hand dwells in the heavenlies below Jesus. Ephesians 1:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.


Daniel 10:13-But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Here, an example of the hierachy of satan and his hordes is recorded when an angel of God is interrupted by the prince of Persia (demonic prince) and Kings of Persia (commanders in satan's army of lower ranks) from coming to Daniel's rescue. Clearly a case where this demonic army rules over the nation of Persia on earth. 

In Daniel 10:20 there is a reference to another principality, the prince of Greece. so its clear there are demonic armies over nations, cities, districts, towns and cultures. But take notice they are only in the second heaven whereas we are seated with God in the third with satan under our feet. That denotes our place of authority.

As joint heirs seated with Christ, the authority is released through speaking or confessing by faith. The scripture verses supporting this are found in:

Proverbs 18:21 - The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Romans 10:10- For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Genesis 1:3- And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

The opposite of faith is fear. Both are same except that they bring opposite results.


Fear is a demon spirit. 2 Timothy 1:7- For the Spirit God gave us does not make us fearful, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

What you fear eventually happens - Job 3:25-What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me.


The two utmost weapons in the exercise of our authority are the Name of Jesus and the Word of God (spoken).
It is in speaking the Word of God by faith and with authority, power is released.


Revelation 12:11 supports this - They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

Others supporting scriptures are:
Ephesians 6:17, Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 149:6-9 & Matthew 4:1-10


Some pertinent illustrations as to how to execute this authority in its given order are given below:

To REBUKE - Luke 4:38 & 39 - Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.


To COMMAND - Mark 11:23- Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.


To DEMAND - John 14:13 - And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.


To BIND and LOOSE - Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Here it is important we SPEAK to the problem (read Mark 11:23) and COMMAND it to be bound.ie Bind It. COMMAND it to depart, ie Loose It. Finally DECLARE in faith that it is Done.


At all times the above should be done:

In the name of Jesus
Do it in Faith
Do it with Authority

With this in mind, the urgent appeal is for the body of believers to engage in intercessory prayer for this nation facing its 13th General Elections. The pressing issues standing in the way of a free and fair elections against which we are to pray against are :

Rumors of civil unrest should the incumbent/s lose by leaders, past leaders and pro government NGOs,
Phantom voters (increase of this in areas the opposition won in GE12),
Illegal voters ( conditional issuing of Mykad to immigrants with bumiputra status),
Threats and intimidation to civil servants from voting freely the candidates of their choice,
Attempts to cheat by replacing ballot boxes with pre-determined pro government voting slips,
Election Commission's partisanship with the government(refusal to be apolitical and refusal to act on actual problems highlighted).
Attempts to sabotage opposition's victory by EC's Returning Officers (refusing to collate votes and validating in the presence of representatives from all contesting parties and observers).
Failure of UMNO controlled government to allow opposition adequate airtime over TV and Radio,
False reporting and twisting of facts by government controlled media,
Attempts to falsely accuse opposition MPs with intention to place them under arrest,
Spreading lies about the achievements of the opposition's state government,
Inciting provocative racial sentiments,
Attempts to move voting centers in areas favorable to opposition parties with little or minimal notice,
Deliberate act of sabotaging the achievements of the opposition held governments by daily false reporting in the government controlled media,

Attempts to return a corrupt government to power,

Attempts to return a racist government to power,

corrupt and crooked politicians will not be returned to power,

Money politics and bribery to end,

Weather conditions on campaigning and polling day/s.

HAVE THINE OWN WAY

Like me, many had plans to launch their dreams and ambitions only to have it all stumped at the last minute for one reason or another.

During a house meeting, someone testified and had this to say, "It doesn't matter what You bring into my life Lord, its okay with me, only have Your way!"

Immediately my thoughts went back to a portion of scripture I had read sometime ago, in Jeremiah 18:1-10:


New International Version (NIV)
18 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord:2 “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” 3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.


5 Then the word of the Lord came to me. 6 He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand,Israel. 7 If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed,

8 and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. 9 And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, 10 and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.

Later on upon examining verse 4, i reflected on the marred vessel in the potter's hand which was re-modeled into another, one which was deemed good to the potter.


The lesson for the need to recognize God's will and to allow Him mold and shape me according to His own design, eventually kicked-in and I took a different viewpoint in the way my directions in life took from its original standpoint.


I also learnt, the marred and re-modeled vessel is from the same source, only transformed by the potter's ingenuity. That taught me to accept, I may not have been up to a task at an earlier stage, but having been re-modeled by the experiences I went through over the years, I now may be in a better position to contemplate the given task or responsibility.

The molding of our lives according to His ways thwarts condemnation and disaster- v8.


Unlike conventional warfare and competition, the ways of God differs, in that "In surrender, one finds peace".


Ask yourself today, 'Are you letting the Potter have His way in your life?"