DAY 90: YOU HAVE ONLY ONE CHOICE: CHOOSE GOD

During the last few days I was bothered with one thought. I kept thinking of what Jesus had warned in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
These are very strong words. Jesus rarely used harsh words except when He was confronting the Pharisees gang, the descendents of the devil (brood of vipers, serpents). This is a serious matter.
Jesus contrasted the two objects of worship. On one side is God. On the other side is mammon. One may argue that no one worships money. People just want money for meeting needs and wants (buying things, security, comfort, pleasure, health and may be long life). But Jesus speaks clearly that people who do not worship God worship money.
Not only those who do not worship God are worshipping money, they hate and despise God. They love money and are loyal to money.
Are all Christians worshipping God the way that God has commanded? If not, then they are worshipping money and hating and despising God too. How do we know whether churches are worshipping God or money?
Simple. Just look at the priority on the church agenda.
If they put activities that meet the goals of making the church membership and hence finances (and all fixed assets) grow, then they are not worshipping God.
On the other hand, if they put activities that meet the goals of drawing members to meet God closely and live Biblically in the presence of God, (living in the Spirit and walking by the Spirit), with the purpose of knowing God and His kingdom, then they are worshipping God.
You can actually see obvious worldliness in the church that worships money (and all man-made things). There is no difference between them and any worldly organizations, except some Christian lingo used (in vain).
In the godly church you can sense the obvious difference. When you enter you sense the presence of the holy and glorious God. You cannot help but kneel down, bow low and prostrate yourself, seeing how lowly you are and how majestic God is. You spend hours in stillness. You are awed and grateful at the same time. You feel honored and privileged to be in God’s presence. The whole focus of worship is God, not man. By the time you come out of the worship, you are soaked with God’s presence.
Unlike what popular worldly culture thinks, God is not in the big noise made by impressive bands and singers. God is not in the impressive buildings of concrete and glass. God is not in the impressive and charming speakers’ voice (preaching or praying). God is not in any man-made activities. My advice to all God seeking churches is that do not spend any more on things (or buildings). You would not find God there.
Where is God? God is in the stillness of your heart. He is just there, obliterating all. You can hear Him. You can sense Him in your spirit. His Spirit reveals Him to your spirit. You look with your spirit and you know His presence is real.
A church that worships God seeks God and concentrates all its efforts and resources to build the members’ inner life, and not external sensational pleasure and cheap superficial high generated by special effects and popular culture. More likely than not, those attracted by such entertainments and sensual pleasure and come to church for them are not souls that are saved. What is the point of starving the real children of God and fattening the vipers and serpents?
Be warned: churches that are bent on gaining the whole world are in danger of losing their own souls. (Jesus warned of this danger in Matthew 16:26)
Someone may ask, “Is there no alternative? Can one not keep both as priorities, God and money, soul and world?” The answer has already been given by Jesus. Read your Bible with honesty. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you, my friend.
Here is a clue, in 1 John 1:15, the Apostle John (inspired by the Holy Spirit) thus warned Christians, “Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (Strong words, but true.) I would be careful if I were a worship leader leading songs about how much we love God. Safer to be honest than lying before God.
AAA Jack
June 2, 2009

Day three: be merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, persecuted for righteousness sake

I got up late as I forgot that today was the day of prayer as a “watchman” (in prayer) for the city. When I managed to start praying it was 6.15am. I read the verses from the hymns of worship and praise instead of singing. I reaffirmed my belief through the reading of “We believe” written by Graham Kendrick. “We believe in God the Father, Maker of the universe, and in Christ His Son our Savior, come to us by virgin birth. We believe He died to save us, bore our sins, was crucified. Then from death He rose victorious, ascended to the Father’s side. We believe He sends His Spirit on His church with gifts of power. God His word of truth affirming sends us to the nations now. He will come again in glory judge the living and dead. Every knee shall bow before Him, then must every tongue confess, Jesus Lord of all, Name above all names.”
After reading I prayed for the city, using a booklet prepared by the prayer group. Based on my previous day’s reading of the words from Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel I prayed that the people here will repent, humble themselves, thirst for righteousness (Jesus), be meek and gentle, and mourn for the terrible conditions many are in right now, in captivity and held under the bondage of vices and darkness.
What a wonderful city this will be when that happens! (I admit I am an idealist. I am a realist too. I believe. Otherwise there is no point foregoing my sleep. )
MERCIFUL
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy”. (Matthew 5:7)
“Blessed is he who considers the poor; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble”. Psalm 41:1 is the cross reference. How do I apply this today? I took this to mean doing a merciful deed to the poor today when given the opportunity. The repair workman was here again today to fix the roof. He wanted to come at 8am but I was not available. He said he would come around 11-12pm but he only turned up at 1.45pm! The workman/proprietor was alone (cutting cost?) and only finished his work in the late afternoon. After that I had to rush off to reach the government office before it closed to pay some important bills due. The usual roads were blocked and I was diverted into a police station! Thank God the police man was courteous and showed me the new direction. I arrived seconds before the closing time!
PURE IN HEART
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God”. (Matthew 5:8). This verse cross referred to Psalm 15:2, in which King David described the person who could draw near to God: “he who walks uprightly, and works righteously, and speaks the truth in his heart”. He believed in God’s presence. He put God in every aspect of his life. No wonder he saw God in his spirit. Even when David failed to meet the standards of God he continued to seek God’s presence. This was the clue to seeing God.
I am no David. I need to improve in appreciating the reality of God’s presence in my life. I need to read the Bible with the intention to increasing heart knowledge of God instead of head knowledge. Jesus defined eternal life as He prayed for us in John 17:3 “and this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent”. Eternal life is knowing God and Jesus!
PEACEMAKERS
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). This verse reminds me that Jesus, the Son of God is called the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). In the Book of Ephesians (2:14-19), Apostle Paul pointed out the fact that Jesus Himself is our peace. He has by His blood, made peace and reconciled us to God through the cross. Through Him we have access by the Holy Spirit to the Father (God). In verse 19 Paul declared: “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household”.
The peacemakers are those who lead others to make peace with God. How do I apply this requirement? I shall continue to write and hopefully reach some friends and strangers who are seeking to make peace with God.
PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS’ SAKE
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10). This requirement seems tough for me. However, Proverbs 16:7 stated that “when a man’s way pleases the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him”. Apostle Peter also encouraged us in I Peter 3:13-14, “and who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”
I shall certainly heed the advice of a senior citizen in God’s kingdom. She advised young Christians to ask God to work into them, to put iron in their souls so they will be ready when the tests come.
Review for the day: it dawned on me that the blessings requirements were all meant for our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. They form a basis for me to interact with God.
AAA Jack
2009-02-27