Changing Garments

Changing Garments

Christine Beadsworth
South Africa

Fresh Oil releases newsletter
Apr 02, 2006
www.freshoilreleases.com

To all God’s precious sons (be they male or female)

I would like to begin by sharing something I saw in the Spirit this morning. Before me stood a person dressed in long liturgical robes, complete with regalia and signs of office. Then I saw this person begin to remove his priestly robes piece by piece. He laid them aside and handed in his resignation from the priestly order. Then he began to put on fresh robes, supplied by an attendant at hand. These were rich garments, giving the impression of royalty. As he stood there in these new yet obviously ancient garments he seemed to question what he was supposed to do next. The answer came, “ walk in them!” Then a scepter was held out to him. He took hold of it and held it high above his head. As he moved it back and forth and extended it in front of him, the scepter changed to a sword and then back to a scepter during the movement of his arm.

As I pondered what I had seen, the Holy Spirit had me begin to personally pray through and complete the actions I had seen the person do. Then He began to unfold the message in what I had witnessed: “There are many born into the Body of Christ who have worn and walked in the robes of the priesthood. They have faithfully attended to their duties, serving in the temple according to their set times and appointed places. They have done this out of love for Me. They have given of their time and substance. Yet they have failed to understand this one thing. They were not born as priests after the order of Aaron. They were born as royal priests after the order of Melchizadek. One is an earthly order; the other a heavenly bloodline. They were born of an ancient and incorruptible Seed; the Living Word. Because of this misunderstanding as to their bloodline, many have subscribed to a system they are not truly a part of. They are not of this world, just as I am not of this world. They have allowed an earthly religious system to ‘name them and claim them’ as its own. They have allowed themselves to be clothed in priestly garments belonging to an earthly order; an order which in fact was brought to a close when the old order of things passed away and the new heavenly order came into being. They have allowed themselves to be relegated and delegated to different corners of the same religious prison. They have served faithfully in their manmade divisions, receiving the approval, decorations and promotions of a works-based system; year after year offering the same sacrifices. But now the time is coming when I will remove the old dry husks of their liturgical robes and reveal the incorruptible Seed planted deep within. They will rightly align themselves with their blood-bought heritage as priests of the ancient Melchizadek order, after the pattern of the First-born from among the de ad. They will put on the royal garments that have been prepared and waiting in heavenly places for this time and begin to walk in a revelation of their identity as part of a royal bloodline of servant-priests. The manifestation of the sons of God will be after this manner, a breaking forth out of a hard dry seed-case of religious mental restriction into the full freedom of indestructible life working within the sons of the Kingdom. Then shall the sword of My Word become a scepter extended over situations, judging righteously and ruling in the earth; declaring, “IT IS WRITTEN …!”

Beloved, we were not grafted into the fig tree of religion but into the olive tree, where the capacity for continually flowing anointing is stored up. As long as we have the mindset that we are of the Aaronic priesthood, we will never function in the kingly anointing in the earth. The Aaronic priesthood was condemned to going through the same rituals year after year without any lasting deliverance or freedom from sin. We were not born into that family, an earthly family. We were born into an inheritance far above that. In this priesthood, there was no opportunity provided to rule in any way; the priests functioned totally within the four walls of the temple system and had to protect themselves from being contaminated by anything unclean. This meant that only those who were born Jews could receive the benefits of the religious system. Jesus came into the world, not to save only those in the four walls of a man-made building but to save the whole world. The tearing of the veil portrayed a removal of any separating wall between God and man. No longer would another human being have to represent our case before the ark of His presence and bring us word from the throne-room. Yet still there exists within the church a mentality of waiting until Sunday to go and ‘receive’ the Word. This mindset is one of the vestiges of an old religious system. We actually have access to the Father at any given moment and the Word dwells within us and furthermore, we have the Holy Spirit Who progressively leads us into all truth.

It is time for us to take another look at our ‘birth certificates’ and find out whose name has been filled in as ‘parent’. There are some who have been claimed by the religious spirit for its own ends, to have our gifts used for the benefit of a religious system which attaches no worth to the slave-labour it employs. Some of us have voluntarily subscribed to belong to this group, even paying yearly subscriptions to ensure our names remain on the roll and that we receive the indoctrination updates designed to keep us enslaved. Praise God for the light that is being released from Heaven at this time to cause us to truly see, to understand the truth of who we really are in Christ and to be set free.

When one belongs to an organization, one’s name is on their database and they have one’s residential and contact details. This is in order for them to be able to supply one with any information they wish to convey to one as a recorded member of that organization. When one wishes to resign and sever membership, it has to be done officially so that one is removed from their database. Beloved, we need to serve notice on the religious spirit that we will no longer be a part of its endeavors; that we refuse to receive any messages it sends out, be they snail-mail or email; that it needs to stamp across any forms in its possession with our names on, ‘TRANSFERRED’ because we have been translated out of the kingdom of darkness (even the darkness of religious enlightenment) into the Kingdom of Light. Our bloodline is now that of the Lamb that was slain and any inheritance passed down to us will come only from Him, not from any earthly bloodline. We must refuse to serve the goals of a religious system any longer, remembering that we are not wrestling against flesh and blood but principalities and powers.. We must remove every vestige of religious garment that has been placed upon us by any system of man, fold them up and return them. Don’t forget to remove the signet rings representing any authority delegated by man, for we cannot wear both the Father’s ring and that of the earthly realm of government at the same time. The Melchizadek priesthood rules from a seated position at the right hand of the Father. We need to unravel the turban of tight religious mindsets that have formed strongholds in our understanding and take captive every thought to obedience to Christ alone.

This resignation and de-robing is only the first part of our instruction from the throne-room. Secondly, we need to put on our tailor-made royal robes of the Melchizadek order, including the clean turban of a fresh mindset. Then thirdly, once we have clear revelation of our identity as Royal priests, we need to walk in the good works prepared for us.

This whole procedure sounds relatively simple but will in fact be a process of steadily increasing light; first to reveal to us the filthiness of the robes we have worn and secondly to provide light by which we can don the waiting royal garments.

Zec 3:3 Joshua, standing before the Lord, was dressed in dirty clothes.
Zec 3:4 The Lord spoke to his attendants, "Get him out of those filthy clothes," and then said to Joshua, "Look, I've stripped you of your sin and dressed you up in clean clothes."
Zec 3:5 I spoke up and said, "How about a clean new turban for his head also?" And they did it--put a clean new turban on his head.

When we know this truth, we will be set free to rule in kingly authority. When we understand the power invested behind the scepter, then we will confidently raise the sword of the Living Word and declare it over those in bondage and any area of unrighteousness or injustice. The scepter of the Lord will be extended from Zion (ps 110:2).The scepter is the sword and the sword is the Word. It is by the unchanging Word, settled forever in Heaven, that we rule in the earth.

It is time for that incorruptible seed to burst forth from its casing and push into the light of a new Day!

Fact or Fiction?

Christianity began in Palestine as a relationship, moved to Greece and became a philosophy, went to Rome and became an institution, moved to Europe and became a culture, finally it came to America and became an enterprise.” - Richard Halverson

What do you think?

The pain of life

Today I woke up with a dark cloud hanging over my head.

God,I want my day in court!

I want to be both judge and jury over the people who used and misused me. I want them to taste the tears they forced me to drink. I want them to suffer for shredding my hopes and feeding it to the wind. I want them to know how painstakingly long it takes to heal the deep wounds of betrayal. I want them to spend sleepless nights wondering "What did I do wrong?". I want them to grieve the innocence of a childhood lost forever. I want them to feel like the freak I have become. I want to wipe the smile of their faces as they did mine. I want justice and I want it yesterday.

I want.

I want.

I want.

Jesus, please save me from myself.

Worship 101

Another word i think that's worth reclaiming is 'WORSHIP'. Today worship is used to refer to the time of singing we have in our service. We ask, "Where do you worship?" or "Did you enjoy the time of worship?"

Interestingly, the first time we encounter the word worship in the Bible is in Genesis 22

2 Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."

Abraham had waited 25 years for his son and heir and now God was asking Abraham to sacrifice him? How did Abraham respond? Read on.

3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?""Yes, my son?" Abraham replied."The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"8 Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together.9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

Wait. There was no worship leader rostered for this worship service. No musicians, musical instruments or back-up singers. No music to touch Abraham's emotions and lead him to peaks of praise. No congregation to chorus the cheerful refrain of joyous hymns. No pageantry and props of a carefully coordinated liturgy. This was between God and Abraham. There would be no spectators.

What happened next?

11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!""Here I am," he replied.12 "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."15 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."

Abraham was willing to execute God's command even if it meant the death of his dream. That was his act of worship. And we know his obedience won God's eternal blessing.

But today corporate worship has become a time where we simply render lip service to God. Many sing beautifully and clap enthusiastically but they return home to continue their rebellious existence. How can we say we worship God when we trivialize His commands? Can a musical performance (no matter how flawlessly executed) take the place of true worship which is obedience to God's word? God is looking for worshippers - those who will worship Him in spirit and truth.

'When the music fades

And all is stripped away

And I simply come

Longing just to bring

Something that's of worth

That will bless your heart

Bridge:

I'll bring you more than a song

For a song in itself

Is not what you have required

You search much deeper within

Through the way things appear

You're looking into my heart

King of endless worth

No one could express

How much you deserve

Though I'm weak and poor

All I have is Yours

Every single breath

Refrain:

I'm coming back to the heart of worship

Coz it's all about you

It's all about you Jesus

I'm sorry Lord for the thing I made it

When its all about You

It's all about You Jesus'

- Matt Redman

Back to Basics

Words today have evolved and changed so much so that they bear little or no resemblance to their original meaning. You still spell them the same way but the meaning that was originally attached to it has been replaced by another.

Some words in our christian vocabulary need re-defining too. 'CHURCH' is a good example of a word that got re-invented and eventually took on a life of its own. We say, "I go to church every Sunday" or "Which church do you attend?" as if it refers to a place or activity but it didn't use to be that way.

When Jesus said "I will build my church", he wasn't referring to a building project. He was talking about a living breathing body of Christ believers. He challenged the religious leaders to destroy the temple which He would raise up again in 3 days (John 2: 18-22). They thought he meant the temple that stood in Jerusalem. But He was talking about the death of his physical body and the raising of a body of believers that He would indwell by the Holy Spirit. 'Church' in actual fact refers to you and me. You and I are the living temples that house God's presence and Jesus is the high priest who makes us worthy to come to God.

We do not automatically become His body by simply signing on the dotted line. You can fill in an application to become a member of an institution but to be joined to Christ's body is a different thing altogether.

John 10 makes it clear - please take a moment to read this.

3The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." 6Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
7Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

[Compare this with how western ranch owners cruelly brand their sheep and employ cowboys and sheep dogs to round up their herds. On the other hand eastern shepherds use a unique call/whistle to get their sheep to follow them]

Jesus does not recognise us by our doctrinal position or denominational preference. Membership certs mean nothing to him. He knows who belongs to him by their willingness to obey his voice and follow his leading.

So if Jesus is your shepherd, then you are his sheep. And if Jesus is your head, then you are his body. God entrusted only one person for the task. His One and Only Son. One flock with one shepherd. I read somewhere, that the diverse denominations we have in the world today is more a testimony to our division than it is of our unity. I totally agree.

The answer is not calling for ecumenical oneness - trying to find common ground to agree on. Jesus called people to HIMSELF; not a denomination, movement, community, creed or cause. If you reject His headship over your life, you detach yourself from His body. And we know a headless body is a dead body! The Body of Christ has only one Head.

[Trivia: How many heads does the institutional church have? Lets see...pope, cardinals, bishops, elders, deacons, senior pastors, cell/zone/cluster leaders, ministry heads etc. Friends, there is no hierarchy in God's house.]

Sadly, God has been relegated to 52 days on the calendar (with special mention on Easter and Christmas, of course) and a fixed home address. Once discipleship identified us with our Lord and Master Jesus Christ but today evidence of membership is a worthless certificate. Pledges, decision cards and baptismal certs. These are mere tokens, reflecting a decision we made in the past and by no means are they indicative of our standing with God.

There is a test you can do to find out if you are His disciple. It's found in John 15. Read it and tell me in all honesty. Do you qualify?

You may be surprised to find who God actually has on His list.

No sex please, we're married.

His name is Bill.
Her name is Betty.

He's a high school English teacher.
She's a homemaker by choice.

He pays the bills, mows the lawn and takes out the trash.
She cooks and cleans and does the laundry.

He volunteers at the soup kitchen every fortnight.
She teaches Sunday School every 3rd sunday of the month.

His teenage students feel he's too cute for the classroom.
She can still turn some heads whenever she goes for her evening jog.

When he's not tinkering with his bike, he likes to have a beer with the guys. When she's not baking , she loves to shop or catch a movie with her girl friends.

At dinner, they sit down to a healthy balanced meal which she prepares.He makes sure she knows how much he appreciates her good cooking and she listens attentively while he shares the highlights of his day. And when its time to do the dishes, she rinses while he dries.

He unwinds with Larry King Live while she reads a chapter of Sophie Kinsella. An unspoken ritual that has remained unchanged with the passing years.

As the evening draws to a close and its time to turn in, the couple retire to their beautiful 4 poster bed complete with matching drapes and lush satin covers. When the lights go out, they lie side by side in the darkness with only the sound of their even breathing to break the silence.

That's a page out of the life of a happily married couple.

Except for one tiny detail.

Neither Bill nor Betty have ever had to make their bed the next morning.

Okay I made them up. Bill and Betty are cardboard cutouts. They are not real. But their sham of a marriage reminds me of the cardboard Christianity we practice in our churches today. All of the responsibility and none of the intimacy.

[I extracted these lines from the most passionate book in the bible - Song of Songs (NIV)]

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—
for your love is more delightful than wine.
Take me away with you—let us hurry!
Let the king bring me into his chambers.

His left arm is under my head,
and his right arm embraces me.
My lover spoke and said to me,
"Arise, my darling,
my beautiful one, and come with me.

My lover is mine and I am his;
Until the day breaks
and the shadows flee,

His mouth is sweetness itself;
he is altogether lovely.
This is my lover, this my friend,
May the wine go straight to my lover,
flowing gently over lips and teeth
I belong to my lover,
and his desire is for me.

Place me like a seal over your heart,
like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death,
its jealousy unyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire,
like a mighty flame.

Do you wonder why church today feels sterile, cold, contained and controlled? Could it be we're so busy being committed, communal, relational, relevant, kingdomic, missional, evangelistic, mentoring, authentic _________ (fill in the blank with the latest christian fad/buzzword that's overtaken your church) etc.

All of Martha and none of Mary.

Do you wonder why you feel hollow and empty inspite of all the good and right things you do? Do you feel disoriented, lost even though everyone looks to you for guidance and inspiration? Do you envy those who talk to God on a first name basis? Does it puzzle you that they know Him so intimately even though they don't belong to a cell group? Worse, do they remind you of who you used to be at one time?

Its not too late, you know.

He's still smitten by you.

Prescription for fruitfulness

1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.

4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

The Bible, Psalm 1 (New International version)

A match NOT made in heaven

Abigail and Nabal.

A totally mismatched couple! How they ended up together in the first place is not told to us but there are different ways to tell a story and the bible chooses to begin where David makes his appearance.

David has been on the run for a while now and he makes a stop at the Desert of Maon. Fugitives, David and his men seek temporary shelter on Nabal's property. Nabal is an extremely wealthy man. David sends an appeal for food and other necessities but Nabal's response is typical of the arrogant man that he is. In his own words...

"Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. 11 Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?" - I Sam 25: 10 (NIV)

Interesting.

[Having shaken off the shackles of serving the institutional church, i find i am one of those without valid membership to any recognised fellowship. Which means i am dangerously independent having no accountability to those appointed its leaders. Since i have no spiritual covering, spiritual malfunction is imminent. Its nothing personal. That's how it works. If you don't subscribe to the system, it can't support you. Church membership does have its privileges.]

Back to the story. Nabal sends David's men packing but the servants quickly alert Nabal's wife to the possible consequences of his rash decision. Abigail wastes no time. She packs the necessary rations and saddles her donkey. She manages to intercept David's party on their way to massacre the entire household of Nabal.

She falls to the ground and begs David's forgiveness.

Her words betray a wisdom her husband does not possess.

[Allow me to paraphrase]
"Please don't pay any attention to my husband. Nabal means 'a fool' and the man has certainly lived up to his name. May God avenge you from all your enemies so you need never fight the battle to vindicate yourself. Your willingness to fight God's battles has earned you His eternal favour and granted your family lasting posterity. It doesn't matter that your life hangs in the balance because God is watching your back. Your enemies have already been served the death warrant. It's just a matter of time before you become king. But if you choose to take matters into your own hands now, you risk jeopardizing your excellent track record. While you will be fully justified in your actions, it will continue to weigh heavily on your conscience long after this trial has passed."


The woman's as smart as she's beautiful.

Abigail averts a tragedy and in the process saves David's reputation too.

David is full of praise for her and assures her that he will take her advice. Abigail then returns home to find a very drunken Nabal hosting a huge party. So she says nothing. The next morning, when he's sobered up, she tells him what she's done. His heart turns to stone and ten days later God strikes him dead.

David hears the news and asks Abigail to be his wife. She says yes (clever woman!) to David and marries him.


What is the moral of this story?
There are 3 conspicuous characters in this tale.

Nabal means 'fool', although I'm sure he didn't realise how well his name suited him. I Cor. 1:20 says, God counts the wisdom of this world as foolishness. Sadly, it has crept into the church (disguised as good governance) and much teaching has been influenced by renowned management gurus and leadership coaches. To the point it is hard to discern what is God’s and what is not.

Abigail (whose name means 'cause of joy') had learnt to rise above her adverse circumstances. Although she was married to Nabal, she was his wife only by name. Indeed, she was his 'better half' and refused to be a party to his unscrupulous dealings. She knew God and recognized that David was His true servant. She did not blindly defend her husband but acknowledged that David and his men had been unjustly treated. She used her influence to right the wrong to the end that David and his men received due honor.

My disillusionment with the religious institution is understandable but there are thousands who, while they serve the system do not identify with it. Their faith and conduct are exemplary and often their timely intercession has averted God's judgement on the 'Nabals' of the religious system giving them space to repent. I salute them.

I pray that Abigail has the courage to boldly confess Christ before those who would rather die defending the religion of legalism and works. Her confession will break its power to dominate and enslave her so that she is free to be joined to the One who is full of grace and truth.

For those who identify with David - once the king's favourite but now his sworn enemy; perhaps you too have been rejected by the system you served so well, but do not despair. Jesus too was regarded as an outcast by the religious order of his day. Be patient. God will exonerate you in time. He is faithful and will allow no sin to go unpunished. If you act according to the dictates of the flesh, it will hinder the working of the Holy Spirit who is cultivating Christ' character in you.

David represents the Christ. The failure of the system will make many widows but Christ will make honest women of them because Jesus is our true bridegroom! And just like Abigail, our new found freedom in Christ will release us to run with God's holy purpose. God's kingdom will be firmly established in justicec and righteousness and Christ will be the Head of His Church once more.

A Love Story

Hidden within her frail and worn frame, throbbed the bloody pulp of a pulverized heart. Too many times to remember. But experience had only hardened her resolve to give it "one more try" and try she must, if she was to be whole again.

This stranger intrigued her with his story. He seemed sincere enough except for some audacious claim of being the only one for her. Ever the cynic, she compared him to past suitors who wooed her with tricks and trinkets. Until he showed her the holes in his hands and the scars on his back.

How could she be sure he wasn’t going to be another heart-ache on her list? Another hurt to handle? But what if he was THE ONE? Dare she risk losing salvation? Rest for her oh so weary heart! Healing for the wounds time had forgotten to mend? Her face fixed a smile while her heart weighed the possibilities. She forced the fears out of her head and willed herself to think of sunrise and butterflies.

Timidly, she listened to his assuring voice. Weakly, she let him draw her into his arms. "Has my search for true love ended? Or is this just another game to survive? Where winners take all and losers live to die another day?" The fears returned but she caught the scream before it escaped her.

Gently he brushed the strand of hair from her face. Such tenderness! The gesture filled her with both pleasure and pain. Clumsily, she returned his caress, mustering all the trust of a little child to make it real. He leaned forward, pressing his forehead to hers. His breath tasted warm and sweet and she closed her eyes to savor the moment. Anticipation was ripe and hope did not disappoint. His lips met hers and he breathed his life into her. The moment was like no other.

For the longest time, she searched his face. His eyes were bottomless pools of mystery inviting her to dive into a abyss of endless secrets to be discovered. She had been afraid to acknowledge it before but now she felt the desire stir within her. A restlessness, an unsettling in her spirit. A holy discontent. She felt the last of her defenses crumble and faith march bravely to the fore..

She took the plunge. Determinedly, she shook her hair free from the cruel grip of domineering guilt and shame. His approving laughter rang out loud and clear. It was music to her soul! She kicked off her shoes of past regrets, skipping and spinning like a carefree child. She wanted to dance until she was lost in his love. The melody was irresistable, calling her to abandon the familiarity of the beaten path to share an unknown destiny with this stranger.

All fear was gone because perfect love had come.

Her conscience washed clean and her innocence reborn. The lightness in her heart testified to the change. Wait. There was something else. Imperceptible at first but slowly growing in clarity and strength until it was staring her full in the face. An intuition supernaturally birthed in her spirit.

“Who I used to be will never matter again. The future has changed because I am no longer the same. I have a new name. His."

A child loved by the Heavenly Father. A bride burning in passion for her King.

Created for His eternal pleasure.

Eager and ready for adventure, she turned to the Son of God and welcomed Him into her world.

The curse of serving two masters

3 years ago, the church i was serving in suffered a leadership crisis...the senior pastor resigned and many people left, hurt and disillusioned. For some inexplicable reason, i became obsessed with the character of Jonathan in the Bible.

If you study him you'll discover that he really was a fine individual. (1 & 2 Samuel)

He was the firstborn to King Saul and heir apparent to the throne. He was a valiant warrior fearless in the face of danger and all his men regarded him a champion. One time, he tasted some honey not knowing that his father had rashly forbidden the men to eat. When he was found out and sentenced to die, his men spoke up for him and rescued him from certain death. History records how he attacked a Philistine outpost with only his armour bearer for backup. His faith in God was echoed in his words, "Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few" (ISam 14:6).

When it became clear that David was going to be Israel's next king, Jonathan simply submitted to God's plan and loved David as his own. But he was also a filial son and continued to serve his father although he knew God had removed the kingdom from him. This conflict of loyalties did not distort his objectivity and ability to discern between right and wrong. When David told him of Saul's plot to kill him, he chose the role of peacemaker. But Saul's promise to relent did not last. Only when Jonathan witnessed for himself his father's madness, did he finally believe Saul was intent on murdering his rival.

He was a man who truly loved God's people. He didn't believe in ousting his father but patiently waited for God's timing. He always believed David would one day be king and that he would become David's second in command.

While he refused to be an accomplice to his father's wicked plan, he still fought alongside him in the war against the Philistines. It was one such battle against the Philistines that took the lives of Saul and his sons including Jonathan. A tragic end for a noble soul. King David grieved for his friend whom he loved as a brother and wrote a moving eulogy for him.

Here was the difficulty.

Jonathan committed no crime yet he died in defeat, his body shamelessly displayed on enemy walls as a trophy of war.

How could God allow Jonathan to become a casualty?

How could almighty God who judged between the wicked and righteous allow such a travesty of justice?

But the confusion melted away when God spoke these words to me 3 years later.

You are Jonathan. And you too will die if you continue to serve the House of David while still being loyal to Saul.

Could this be you too?

Listen.

You don't get extra brownie points for serving a religious system that has already rejected Jesus. Sadly, many precious men and women of God have become casualties because they tried to serve two masters. For some it is affecting them emotionally. For others, it has taken a toll on the physical body - breathlessness, backaches, migraines and other chronic ailments. They've consulted doctors and counselors for a cure. But they can't see a way out of their predicament because the system is paying their salary.

In Matthew 6, Jesus says -
24"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

Come away even if it means you have to live without the comforts and conveniences you are accustomed to. If you can hear His voice calling you to join David in the wilderness but you're choosing to remain in Saul's palace, please please reconsider! The cost of compromise is too high. There is only one Master worthy of our love and devotion - The Lord Jesus Christ.

Who do you pledge allegiance to?

Who is your Master?

End of an era

The end of an era.

After having served the institutional church for 7 years 3 months, i have left it all - my position, my ministry, my fixed stipend, my wonderful students (and very possibly my credibility as a bible teacher!) to follow the ONE who loved me and gave His life for me.

i am so sick and tired of mediocre christianity. Weary of trying to please both God and the religious community. i learnt (the hard way) that you can't atttempt to do that without seriously damaging yourself emotionally and physically. It is my experience, that when you try to serve God under the yoke of an institution it can literally choke the life out of you!

If I try to make sense of the turmoil i have experienced as fulltime church worker, these past few years (and more intensely the past few months), this is what I discovered. Like Job, I have been wrestling to understand why the 'spirituality' that surrounds me is at odds with the God I personally encountered more than 20 years ago.

And what was worse is that i worked so hard to reconcile the two. Most unhelpful were distant relatives of Job's friends who constantly pitched their theories of God even though these proved inadequate and shallow. But who was i to disagree? In learning and experience they were more 'qualified' to expound on the theology of God and His ways.

But tell me, why is the God in my Bible more pure, more righteous, more just, more loving & compassionate than the god we serve in our religious insitutions? Why does this God i know forbid me to have any other gods beside Him. What kind of God takes everything you hold precious, leaving you empty handed? The jealous kind. The Old testament God who takes great pleasure in the aroma of roasting flesh on the sacrificial altar. He rips out even the seemingly harmless and innocent affections in your life.

Stripping you of every earthly security that has helped you sleep soundly at night. Stopping at nothing until He has the satisfaction of knowing that all of you belongs to Him - body and soul. Until the only thing keeping you sane and centered is the seed of His word that He sows carefully in the bloody soil of your heart. For nothing must stand in the way of your devotion to Him. Isn't that what it means to love God with all your heart, soul and strength?

Strange. How different from the god we worship on Sundays, don't you think?

I know something now that i did not know then. The ways of man are in complete opposition to the ways of God. Today the institution that calls itself 'church' is governed by man's rules not God's laws. But how can it be his Body that chooses to follow after 'visionaries' who preach a different gospel from the incarnated Christ?

Stop lying to yourself. Stop compromising the truth. Stop trying to reconcile the two. Its time to choose whom you will serve.

But what balm for my broken heart? My broken body? Only the words of Jesus bring healing.

Come to me, all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. - Matthew 11: 28-30

Gospels revisited - Part 1

Mark1:9-11
It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. 11 Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Mark 9: 2-8
Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4 And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— 6 because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.
7 And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” 8 Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.
-The Bible (NKJV)

Twice God commends His Son. Under Jewish law, two witnesses are all that’s needed to establish a fact. Since God can only swear by Himself, He alone gives witness to His Chosen one. Not once but twice. And nowhere in the Bible, will we find God conferring similar praise to anyone apart from His Son.

The only man God ever endorsed was His Son.
The only ministry God ever endorsed was obedience to His Word.
The only method God ever endorsed was the way of the cross.

Guess what? Nothing's changed.

Why do we insist on an individual to mentor us? Forcing ourselves to fit into a ministry mould? Draining our brains trying to hit on the right strategy or method to carry out kingdom business?

What then should our response be? Read the gospels. Examine the claims Jesus made about Himself. Think about what He said (in particular what He didn't say).

Jesus never said, "I know a way"
Jesus never said, "I know of a truth"
Jesus never said, "I know about life"

He said "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH and THE LIFE. No one can come to the Father except through me".

The woman in ICU

A woman chronically ill occupies a bed in the Intensive Care Unit. A host of expert doctors have been assigned to her case. But none have succeeded in waking her from her deep sleep. They’ve studied her medical history from every angle and pored over ancient texts for answers. They’ve experimented with various theories and filled universities with their learning. They’ve run a battery of tests till there were no surfaces left on her person to probe or puncture. Still she lays there dead to the world, baffling the wisest of worldly men.

The search for a cure has spawned extensive research and endless intellectual debates all over the world. Experts have been consulted, books have been authored and conferences conducted to discuss the peculiarities of her case. She's even unwittingly lent her name to organizations who’ve dedicated their cause to her living memory. She is loved and supported by people she will never meet or know.

She has survived every groundbreaking discovery in the field of medical science. No expense has been spared. No stone left unturned. But to no avail. A machine now breathes for her.

Her tired caregivers have now turned their efforts to making her more presentable to her kind well-wishers. They've disguised her sickly pallor with a rosy blush, painted her shrunken eyelids with rainbow hues and tinted her blue lips, a brilliant red. A liberal splash of floral scents masks the presence of bed sores while a specially tailored garment keeps atrophying limbs out of sight.

Those who step into her exclusive quarters are greeted with a view of a sensuous woman dressed in designer silk, reclining on smooth satin sheets and supported by soft fluffy pillows. Soothing music plays in the background so visitors are not alarmed to her real condition. An IV supplies nourishment to her veins while an invisible catheter discretely disposes her wastes. Her doctors are ever ready in case of an emergency. Their professionalism and excellent bedside manner has everyone believing she couldn't be in better hands.

But her doctors know a secret. Their patient is only useful to them as long as she sleeps on in oblivion. Can you imagine the consequences if she woke up? Her condition has provided hundreds of jobs and kept their established centers of 'wellness' solvent and debt-free for years. In fact, in the event she expires, they have planned a fancy funeral and a cemetery plot on prime property where the public can pay to picnic while fondly recalling the once famous woman she used to be.

13 "From the least to the greatest,
all are greedy for gain;
prophets and priests alike,
all practice deceit.

14 They dress the wound of my people
as though it were not serious.
'Peace, peace,' they say,
when there is no peace.

(Jeremiah 6: 13-14, New International Version)

How will we answer Jesus when he asks what we have done with His Body, His Bride, His Church?

EVERYTHING - Tim Hughes

God in my living
There in my breathing
God in my waking
God in my sleeping

God in my resting
There in my working
God in my thinking
God in my speaking

Be my everything
Be my everything
Be my everything
Be my everything

God in my hoping
There in my dreaming
God in my watching
God in my waiting

God in my laughing
There in my weeping
God in my hurting
God in my healing

Christ in me
Christ in me
Christ in me
the hope of glory
You are everything

Christ in me
Christ in me
Christ in me
the hope of glory
Be my everything

A God who reconciles

It's strange.
In the last one month, 4 of my friendships suddenly resolved themselves. I had nothing to do with it. Really!

1. M. who i had lost touch with for about 4 yrs. I was insensitive to her feelings and she had hung up on me. I tried to apologise many times but she never returned my calls. I spied her coming down the escalator at the hypermarket. She smiled at me and that was all the encouragement i needed! We exchanged handphone numbers again. She had lost her phone a couple of times (it appears she never received my messages).

2. J. one of my favourite students who dropped out of my bible class wrote me an email apologizing for quitting the way he did. That incident had made it a little awkward for us to be around each other. I asked him to forgive me too.

3. S. who warmly responded to my New Year wishes after i had given up on us remaining friends. She even gave me her new email address to keep in touch! I am absolutely relieved I am still her friend!

4. L. who didn't say goodbye when she suddenly left the house we were renting together nearly 3 years ago. That really gave me grief because we got along quite well.

L. tells me it must be God who is tying up some loose ends for me. Like prophet Elisha who settled his personal affairs before he accepted his new commission.

Honestly i don't know whether this means i am moving on but I do know it HAS to be God because i asked Him to fix my broken relationships. It's bad testimony for those of us who are supposed to be in the business of reconciling people back to Him! There are a couple more.... but God knows when and how.

Praying with Paul (Colossians 1:9-12)

God, fill me with the knowledge of your will

empty me of self-absorbed ambitions so that the full knowledge of your purpose fills me up to the brim. I do not want to be ignorant or dispassionate of your will for my life.

through all spiritual wisdom and understanding

help me discern what is your will, not by using human intellect but by discovering it through the revelation of your spirit. I don't want to guess or presume that I know what it is. How can the finite mind understand the intricate workings of your infinite wisdom? I don't want hints or suspicions. You are the God who speaks clearly, "this is the path, walk in it". Show me in Your Word. Explain it to my mind. Clarify it through others.

in order that I may live a life worthy of my Lord

I want to be a credible witness for you. I don't want to practice a different gospel from the one you preached. Consciously and consistently following in the Master's footsteps.

pleasing you in every way

to concentrate on making you proud of me without fear or favour of man. Even if nobody sees, let me always choose to walk in integrity before you. Even if I mess up, teach me to be responsible so you don't have to be ashamed of me.

bearing fruit in every good work

to succeed in every good work you've ordered me to do. 'Success' simply defined as doing your work your way. Nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. Help me remember that I'm not doing this for monetary reward or man's applause but at the end of the day to hear you say, "Well done good and faithful servant".

growing in the knowledge of God

I want first-hand knowledge of you, personally tutored by your spirit. Like Mary who chose to spend her time sitting at your feet.

strengthen me with all power according to your glorious might

I can't dictate what you can or cannot do in and through me. All things are possible with you. My weakness? Simply an opportunity for you to show me how strong you are.

so that I may have great endurance and patience

the real goal of my faith is the cultivation of character. It's not what I can gain in terms of power, position or popularity. It is always about becoming more and more like you.

and joyfully give thanks to the Father, who has qualified me to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light

bathe my heart with gratitude. Never let me forget what you have done for me eternally. You are my father. I am your heir. I have an incredible destiny in you. I am indeed blessed!