RECEIVE LIFE TODAY: EAT THE TRUE BREAD

Eat the TRUE BREAD TODAY AND RECEIVE LIFE.
John 6 New Living Translation (NLT)

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
6 After this, Jesus crossed over to the far side of the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. 2 A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick. 3 Then Jesus climbed a hill and sat down with his disciples around him. 4 (It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration.) 5 Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” 6 He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do.

7 Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money[a] to feed them!”

8 Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. 9 “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”

10 “Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. 12 After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” 13 So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves.

14 When the people saw him[b] do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!”[c] 15 When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself.

Jesus Walks on Water
16 That evening Jesus’ disciples went down to the shore to wait for him. 17 But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn’t come back, they got into the boat and headed across the lake toward Capernaum. 18 Soon a gale swept down upon them, and the sea grew very rough. 19 They had rowed three or four miles[d] when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, 20 but he called out to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here![e]” 21 Then they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination!

Jesus, the Bread of Life
22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the far shore saw that the disciples had taken the only boat, and they realized Jesus had not gone with them. 23 Several boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the Lord had blessed the bread and the people had eaten. 24 So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him. 25 They found him on the other side of the lake and asked, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

26 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. 27 But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man[f] can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”

28 They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”

29 Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”

30 They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? 31 After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’[g]”

32 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. 33 The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34 “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”

35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me. 37 However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. 38 For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. 39 And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. 40 For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.”

41 Then the people[h] began to murmur in disagreement because he had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know his father and mother. How can he say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”

43 But Jesus replied, “Stop complaining about what I said. 44 For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. 45 As it is written in the Scriptures,[i] ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. 46 (Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen him.)

47 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. 48 Yes, I am the bread of life! 49 Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. 50 Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”

52 Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked.

53 So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. 54 But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57 I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.”

59 He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Many Disciples Desert Jesus
60 Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?”

61 Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again? 63 The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.) 65 Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”

66 At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. 67 Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”

68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.[j]”

70 Then Jesus said, “I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.” 71 He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, who would later betray him.

Footnotes:

6:7 Greek Two hundred denarii would not be enough. A denarius was equivalent to a laborer’s full day’s wage.
6:14a Some manuscripts read Jesus.
6:14b See Deut 18:15, 18; Mal 4:5-6.
6:19 Greek 25 or 30 stadia [4.6 or 5.5 kilometers].
6:20 Or The ‘I am’ is here; Greek reads I am. See Exod 3:14.
6:27 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself.
6:31 Exod 16:4; Ps 78:24.
6:41 Greek Jewish people; also in 6:52.
6:45 Greek in the prophets. Isa 54:13.
6:69 Other manuscripts read you are the Christ, the Holy One of God; still others read you are the Christ, the Son of God; and still others read you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

HEED THIS CRY: “HOW LONG”?

Today’s cry is “HOW LONG?”
JESUS ASKS CHRISTIANS (HIS DISCIPLES): “HOW LONG?” Matthew 17:17
Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.”
PROPHET ASKS GOD: “HOW LONG?” Habakkuk 1:2 [ The Prophet’s Question ] O Lord, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, “Violence!” And You will not save.
GOD ASKS GOD’S PEOPLE: “HOW LONG?” Hosea 8:5 Your calf is rejected, O Samaria! My anger is aroused against them— How long until they attain to innocence?
WISE KING ASKS HIS SONS: “HOW LONG?” Proverbs 1:22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge. Proverbs 6:9 How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?
GODLY KING ASKS HIS SUBJECTS: Psalm 4:2 How long, O you sons of men, Will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness And seek falsehood? Selah
GOD ASKS THE PASTOR (MOSES)WHO REPRESENTED THE CONGREGATION: Exodus 16:28 And the Lord said to Moses, “How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My laws? Numbers 14:11 [ Moses Intercedes for the People ] Then the Lord said to Moses: “How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them? Numbers 14:27 “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me.
THE CHURCH WEARIED LEADER ASKS THE LETHARGIC CONGREGATION: Joshua 18:3 Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: “How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers has given you? (i.e. How long are you going to stay in the old man of sin and not put on the new man of righteousness?)
THE ANSWER FOR A TRULY CBORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN IS “NO LONGER”: Romans 6:2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

FINALLY, THE PIERCING CRY OF THE MARTYRS:
Revelation 6:9-11New King James Version (NKJV)
Fifth Seal: The Cry of the Martyrs
9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

progress to be made in hearing God

This is a pertinent issue for every Christian. Progress to be made to hear God. When I read through some of my old blogs I realize the length, breadth, height, and depth I have gone since then. My old blogs of walking by the Spirit reflected what I went through during a time of change, from not knowing God the Holy Spirit to discovering and encountering God in the Spirit. Those were days of wonders. When I read some of my blogs now I find that I have nothing much to say of my own experience except in the words of God. The words of God are my daily experience. My wonders. My signs. Do I still see visions? Do I still talk to God and receive His replies? Do I open the Bible and often see the exact words He uses to answer me? Do I still receive confirmations? Do I still see His words come to pass? Are my prayers still being answered and requests granted? Do I still pray in new tongues? Am I hearing God’s yes or no clearly? can I still have regular conversation with the Lord? Have I received more new light in understanding His words? The answer to all the aforementioned questions is “YES”. Then why am I not sharing them with my readers? Because now I know they are for me for a purpose. All I need to do is to listen and follow.

I would encourage you to ask the Lord too for His specific guidance. Read His words, pray in tongues, ask, and listen and/or read His words again for confirmation. Always wait for His replies. I have a sharing about speaking in tongues or praying in tongues. One recent day I was walking on the treadmill and broke out in tongues. I prayed for sometime and worshiped in the spirit, singing songs in tongues. Then I realized I was praying in a tongue which I had never heard or prayed or spoken before. It just appeared and came out from me. I knew it’s a new tongue. I continued to let it flow out like what Jesus said, “rivers of living water will flow from within them. ” (John 7:38-39) another occasion I was woken to pray in tongues for my nation. After I prayed I asked the Lord about my own near future direction and I asked for a vision. The vision came. I asked further what it meant and heard the Lord telling me what to do next and when it would take place. So I recorded for my future reference.

may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete and [be found] blameless

Today’s Bible meditation is from 1 Thessalonians 5. Revelation: the whole spirit and soul and body of a Christian require to be kept complete and [be found] blameless when Jesus returns. Even our spirit can be vulnerable like our body and soul parts.How can that be? I ask and recall the teaching of Paul. He has warned and taught on this subject in 1 Corinthians 6:15-20. He warned Christians not to contaminate their bodies by having sex with a harlot (woman having or characterized by many transient sexual relationships). Then he spoke on an important spiritual issue: because by joining their bodies they join their spirits (thereby joining with unclean spirits), so their own spirits will be contaminated too. (verses 17, 20) Christian spirits can become contaminated too if they do not guard their bodies. The Holy Spirit similarly warns this in Hebrews 13:4, “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” (Also refer to the list of behaviors that prevent people from entering into the Kingdom of God: 1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

This is a relevant issue in today’s prevailing social behavior of the world. What was considered taboo in our godly forefathers’ days, has become an acceptable norm for the society at large today. However, an Individual Christian may consider oneself as too insignificant to live a counter-culture and make an impact, but believe me, it shall make a difference in the spiritual realm when we live our lives aligned with the words of God and God’s will for us on earth as it is in heaven. The Lord’s prayer has taught us that the God’s will can be lived on earth as it is in heaven in the Kingdom of God.

Bible Verses from Amplified Bible (AMP) 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
16 Rejoice always and delight in your faith; 17 be unceasing and persistent in prayer; 18 in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench [subdue, or be unresponsive to the working and guidance of] the [Holy] Spirit. 20 Do not scorn or reject gifts of prophecy or prophecies [spoken revelations—words of instruction or exhortation or warning]. 21 But test [a]all things carefully [so you can recognize what is good]. Hold firmly to that which is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil [withdraw and keep away from it].
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [that is, separate you from profane and vulgar things, make you pure and whole and undamaged—consecrated to Him—set apart for His purpose]; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete and [be found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful and absolutely trustworthy is He who is calling you [to Himself for your salvation], and He will do it [He will fulfill His call by making you holy, guarding you, watching over you, and protecting you as His own].
Footnotes:
1 Thessalonians 5:21 Or everyone, that is, anyone claiming to be a prophet.

God will rejoice over His people with joyful songs

Today’s Bible reading is from Deuteronomy 29-30. What is the relevance for today’s Christians? I asked the Lord. Here are some of what I received based on what Jesus had done.

EYE WITNESS: Here is an account of a multitude of eye witnesses of God’s mighty awesome deeds: signs and wonders. A whole nation of Israel. No one disputed the facts. Jesus (and later, His disciples) too, did lots and lots of miracles, signs and wonders in front of many eye witnesses -the multitudes. In fact, the whole nation of Israel knew and many saw. Some foreigners heard and came to Jesus to see for themselves and seek help too. (John 20:30-31; Acts 4:30-33)

MIRACLES that display GOD’S POWER superseding all natural elements and physical laws: Aside from the spectacular signs and wonders God did in Egypt, God continued to display his POWER superseding the natural elements for two million people in the harsh conditions of the wilderness for forty years, not just one day or several occasions. Forty years of daily miracles: food from heaven, water from rock, clothes and sandals lasted forty years. Jesus had displayed the same POWER: He multiplied a few fishes and loaves of bread into colossal amount of food and fed five thousands and four thousand men plus women and children respectively in two separate records. Jesus walked on water, commanded raging waves and wind to cease, cast out countless demons, healed the sick and made whole the body of many handicapped people, even resurrected the dead. (All the Gospels and Acts)

The WORDS of God can be kept by a whole nation and followed in action. Otherwise Moses would have been telling lies and deceptions. God promised that when they did as God had spoken through Moses, they would prosper and live long. Jesus also said that He came to bring abundant life. He gave His words and the Holy Spirit to His believers. And the authority to use His name. He required the same allegiance to love God only and obey His commandments. (John 10:10; the whole chapter of John 14, 15, 16)

The WORDS of God are binding, good for His people, and just as effective for the future generations. The worlds were framed by the word of God, Jesus said heaven and earth will pass away, but His words will not pass away. (John 1:1-4; Luke 21:33; 2 Timothy 1:13, 3:16; Hebrews 1:1-3, 4:12, 11:3; Revelation 19:11-16)

There are serious CONSEQUENCES for breaking this covenant. Both the persons/nation and their land will be left desolate. They will be uprooted from their homeland and cast into a foreign land. Jesus has warned of the desolation. (Luke 21; Matthew 23, 24)

When they REMEMBER and TURN BACK to the Lord and His words, they will be accepted back into the covenant, delivered from bondage and return to their promised homeland, to multiply and prosper. God sent Jesus to establish a new covenant in His blood. Under the new covenant, God has given us the Holy Spirit, blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, and the privileged status as sons of God. In Christ we have obtained an inheritance. (Acts 2:38-39; Ephesians 1; Romans 8:15-17; 1 John 1:9)

The Lord will TRANSFORM His people’s HEART TO LOVE GOD only. Jesus said we are to love God with our total being. The mighty power of God works in us who believe in Jesus. God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. He will enable us to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that we may be filled with all the fullness of God. We are not to copy the custom and behavior of the world but let God transform us by changing the way we think. (Ephesians 1-3; Romans 8:1,14, 37; 12:2; 1 Corinthians 2:10-16)

LOVING GOD IS THE WILL OF GOD and ONLY WAY to ensure their continuous survival. There is no option as those who do not love the Lord Jesus Christ is accursed. Christians are specifically urged not to love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of God is not in him. He who does the will of God abides forever. (Mark 12:30; 1 Corinthians 16:22; 1 John 2:15-17)

ENEMIES will continue to hate and persecute God’s people. But they will suffer the terrible consequences for their evil for hating the children of God (followers of Jesus), thereby hating Jesus and hating God. (Luke 21:12-19; John 15:18-23; 16:33; 17:14; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8)

GOD WILL REJOICE OVER HIS PEOPLE. He likes to prosper them. (Zeph. 3:17)

BIBLE VERSES: Deuteronomy 29-30 (quoted in parts)

29:1 These are the words of the covenant which the Lord commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel… “You have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land— 3 the great trials which your eyes have seen, the signs, and those great wonders…5 And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet. 6 You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or similar drink, that you may know that I am the Lord your God…9 Therefore keep the words of this covenant, and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do…14 “I make this covenant and this oath, not with you alone, 15 but with him who stands here with us today before the Lord our God, as well as with him who is not here with us today…18 so that there may not be among you man or woman or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations, and that there may not be among you a root bearing bitterness or wormwood; 20 “The Lord would not spare him…23 ‘The whole land is brimstone, salt, and burning; it is not sown, nor does it bear, nor does any grass grow there, 28 the Lord uprooted them from their land in anger, in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day.’

30:1 “Now it shall come to pass, when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God drives you, 2 and you return to the Lord your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul, 3 that the Lord your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where the Lord your God has scattered you… 5 Then the Lord your God will bring you to the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it. He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers. 6 And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.

7 “Also the Lord your God will put all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate you, who persecuted you. 8 And you will again obey the voice of the Lord and do all His commandments which I command you today. 9 The Lord your God will make you abound in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your land for good. For the Lord will again rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced over your fathers, 10 if you obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this Book of the Law, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT)

“For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

John 14:23 (NKJV)

Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

Grace to you

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.
For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:
So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well.
But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

(Verses quoted from the Holy Bible New King James Version, 2 Corinthians 1:2, 1:12, 4:15, 6:1, 8:1, 8:6, 8:7, 8:9, 9:8, 9:14, 12:9, 13:14)

who are the sunset harvest workers? God is calling

This post continues with the previous two on the urgent and intense call to work on the sunset harvest field. Who are the qualified workers? When I ponder this question I become amazed at the large number of available workers who are qualified and willing. Yes, you will be amazed too. In the following I am using one particular task-related area of ministry as an illustration to show how you may become one of the called workers.

In my list of qualifications you would have read how much you already have. I am talking to an ordinary man and woman who are not totally cut off from modern civilization. A user of mobile phone. An ordinary Christian who has been attending church regularly and receiving Bible teaching as part of their normal lives. A middle age adult who is pondering his or her own retirement life and asking the Lord for direction. A believer of Jesus who is touched by His love and is willing to demonstrate the same to others (either pre-believers/seekers or new believers).

Knowing how to use a mobile phone to access the vast storehouse of Christian resources online is now universal among believers in the developed nations. In the developing nations the Christians are catching up on this but are somewhat hindered by language barrier. The resources need to be first translated into their respective national language to be accessible and understood by the nationals. Many still do not know or use the English language fluently. Many find the accent and the speed of English speaking difficult to follow or grasp.

If you already have the knowledge of how to use a mobile phone to access the internet, and knowledge of the Bible and the love of God has compelled you, and you want to demonstrate God’s love to your neighbor, all you have to do is to learn the foreign language you are led in your spirit to know and minister in. Learn enough to communicate verbally about God and the Bible. Learn mobile phone terminologies. Practice on your own mobile phone, switching to the foreign language and use it for all functions! Have the foreign language Christian audio Bible and multimedia Christian resources installed. When you are comfortable being a user, you are all set.

The next step is to pray and ask the Lord to bring you to such a neighbor, probably an elderly person sitting in a corner near the door in the worship hall, an old person sitting in the park bench, or anywhere in a public area- mobile phone service center, internet provider center, retail outlet, shopping mall, public library, place where the older people are left for daycare- usually an older person who is alone and looks alone. The Lord will let you know. In my most recent case, twice (in separate occasions and separate places) an elderly person (a woman and a man respectively) approached me to help teach them to use the mobile phone for internet. Then they shared about their seeker’s life or new Christian life. They asked questions about the practical aspects of the Bible. They showed their hunger for God and the abundant life Jesus has promised to His flock/sheep. They showed their longing for friendship in fellowship with other Christians. They showed their conviction and faith in this God whom they believed is the true God. They gave their own conversion testimonies eagerly. They voiced what they expected from church.

You would not be mistaken. You can see how their eyes sparkle at the mention of the name of Jesus. You can see hope rising in them. Your reward: right in front of you. You see the love of God rising in you and in that person who receives it too. Just be available and you shall be rewarded in ways beyond you can ever think of or imagine.

Me too. After my sharing with the new Christian man under the hot sun for a few hours I went home. I felt the heat and discomfort. So I drank lots of water, had a shower, and rested. The next day I woke to find that a long standing physical issue I had vanished totally. I was amazed. But our God is the amazing and awesome God. The verse that I gave to that brother from Matthew 6:33 became mine too! I was healed while I shared healing with the brother in need.

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

how to qualify for the sunset harvest: God is calling

Because God is calling urgently and intensely and has spoken so clearly twice (through a man and woman both hungering for God) as I personally encounter within two months in two different countries for sunset harvest laborers for one specific people group (the elderly: 60-80s) whom He is now saving, nurturing and discipling, I have compiled a list on the qualifications required to be part of this Great Commission. The target remnant group lives in the cities and urban towns, usually alone and separate from relatives and friends. Some live with their family but have difficulty of interacting with the younger generations who have pre-occupation with their own lives. Some are seekers of God. Some are new believers or believers who have not been discipled. Often the willingness to know God deeper and wider is in their heart. They yearn for God and His way for an abundant life.

The List is not exhaustive and may be used as a first draft. You will note that this list is not the usual traditional church list for ministry to the elderly. I pray that we all think out of our boxes and do the great paradigm shift. I pray we become the neighbors who can slow down our pace, pause, and stop for at least one whom God is determined to save, help, give an abundant life and demonstrate His love through a willing heart.

THE QUALIFICATION FOR DEEPER MINISTRY TO THE LOST REMNANT GROUP: THE SUNSET HARVEST

1. Be willing to go to them. Because many cannot come to church due to physical reasons.
2. Be available in terms of time. They need plenty of time during the ministering. because they cannot remember as we normally do. They need lots of repetitions.
3. Be aware that this ministry is a one to one ministry. The target is an elderly woman or an old man.
4. Be filled with the Spirit of God. Because God is love. This ministry is a ministry of love above all.
5. Be savvy in modern technology. Because their current one need is love. They usually live alone and have limited access to transport or other relatives. They sit in the house whole day and want to know God and what God is saying to them. They are tired of the secular TV. They want a different message. A different and genuine love, joy and peace which they have heard that our God can give. They have been exposed through the multimedia to a better and easier way to learn about God and how ti live the Christian abundant lives that Jesus has promised and they want more. They want to learn the new way to access more information and perhaps even join in and participate by watching and listening how others worship and praise God or pray.
6. Because of the difficulty and cost to learn and use a personal computer they prefer learn to use mobile phone to access the internet.
7. You need to be conversant in their native language. Many cannot use English. If you happen to be near a Chinese community you need to use Chinese language, spoken and written, at least enough to read and explain the terminologies of a mobile phone. You need to use their language to explain and demonstrate how to access the various basic internet functions.
8. Because they cannot type, you need to help them to install the Applications they need: audio Bible, Christian channel for audio and video watching, Christian songs. Most of them can read. But typing is a bit difficult as they do not know how to use PinYin which requires using Romanized (English alphabets and sounds) typing. Some do not have steady fingers and cannot use the writing mode as an alternative.
9. You also need to show them how to delete, uninstall, remove cluttering of unwanted stuff from their phones. Teach them the setting. Teach them where to look at their internet usage. And there are many more little useful details which they can learn to maintain their little useful technological window to the Christian world and have the virtual mobility they want and need to learn God’s way.
10. You need to know the Bible and are always ready to answer questions about the Bible on God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Bible verses

Luk 10:37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Goand do likewise.”

Luk 14:21 “So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’

Luk 14:23 “Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

Luk 15:4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?

Rev 7:9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

Rev 19:1 After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God!

Rev 19:6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!

the sunset harvest: God is calling for workers

The older we get the sooner we find our time vanishes. Lately I am led to think of one people group who have come to almost the end of their life’s journey, the elderly remnants. In the last two years I have come across quite a number of these new Asian believers in their 60s, 70s and 80s. There is something in common between them. Here is a list: single (widowed/abandoned/separated) and living alone, mostly left aside by children and other close relatives, attending church but still seeking love (and joy). In my latest encounters I met two elderly persons, separately, in two different countries, both hungering for God’s love.

In a woman’s case, her husband left her many years ago and she is now living with her daughter and son in law. She received the audio Bible I gave her with thanks and displays genuine desire to listen and follow by reading the printed Bible as well so she can remember better. She told me. She started to attend a Christian woman’s weekly Bible study fellowship.

In the man’s case, he became a Christian two years ago and has been to a number of churches looking for joy in the Spirit. He hungers for God and watches Christian TV channel to learn about God. He reads the Bible too and prays in the Spirit. he longs for Christians to become friend with him. After sharing, he agreed to go back to his first church where he was baptized and join a cell group near his house.

The amazing thing of these two incidents is that both of them came to me first to ask me how to operate their smartphone to access the internet. The woman is a new acquaintance through her family and the man is a complete stranger whom I met in an internet provider’s retail and customer service store. The woman wanted to know how to share a youtube New Year greeting program with her friends. The man wanted to know how to access a Christian TV online channel and download its Application to his mobile phone.

They have both expressed one reason why they had not learned to use the mobile phone to access the internet: So far they had not met anybody with the unhurried time to teach them as most people are themselves pre-occupied with their own busy schedules in lives. Both have been happy after our sharing of the Bible as well as learning of new technology of communication. In the end the sharing of the new technology became secondary. They learned more about God and how to read His words and pray. I also teach them how to believe in God’s words on healing and pray for their own illness. All these are new to them.

As I have written before, the number of the saved multitudes include people groups not so much based on race or geographical/political country or tribe. But more on social classifications. The sudden appearance of these older persons hungering for God and His love reminds and confirms to me of the often neglected need of some people groups. Ageism and utilitarian mentality in some societies hamper the Gospel being spread among this group. But God is saving them and making sure they are not left behind. I can see that this need has been brought to the forefront and increased in its intensity. The silent outcry is being heard now. God has answered. I pray that God sends more laborers to this field that is ripe for harvest, just as Jesus has said. “The harvest is plenty, and the workers are few.”

Please slow down your steps and stop for this one.

Bible verses:

Psalm 71:9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age;
Do not forsake me when my strength fails.

Psalm 92:14 They shall still bear fruit in old age;  They shall be fresh and flourishing,

Isaiah 46:4 Even to your old age, I am He,
And even to gray hairs I will carry you!
I have made, and I will bear;
Even I will carry, and will deliver you.

“It is the Spirit who gives life”

What/who gives life? This is the question today. Jesus told us that “it is the Spirit who gives life.” (John 6:63) He is talking about the Holy Spirit. A Chinese woman had just jumped down from a high-rise building in  a busy prosperous modern city and ended her life. She just came back to work from her maternity leave. She worked  in a big corporation with lots of staff who hardly had time to know each other. She was away for sometime and had just returned to work. She just had a baby. But she suddenly ended her life.

According to some Chinese tradition of ancestors’ worship this is the time of the annual tomb festival and they go to visit their ancestors’ cemeteries and perform their filial rituals there. It is a bit like the All Souls’ Day (Day of the Dead) practiced by some Christians in the West. Although many treat this as a traditional or even cultural event to remember the dead loved ones, there is spiritual implication and influence in the spiritual realm which can manifest in the physical realm and affect lives on earth, as I have written before. The apostles have warned Christians about such evil that affect minds. (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Ephesians 6:10-18; Philippians 4:8)

What should Christians do on such mass celebration of the dead? I believe we can find Bible verses to guide us. Christianity does not focus on the dead. Jesus talks of life and life more abundant. He has given many words about Hi giving life and the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of life, His words are life. He speaks of His resurrection from the dead. He tells us that we shall be resurrected too. Believers of Jesus  shall not remain dead when Jesus returns. We shall not taste the second death the rest of the world will go into. The whole Bible actually focuses on the life that God has given to mankind and the born again life that the Holy Spirit will give to those who believe in Jesus. Jesus speaks of His mission as, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Bible verses: James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Ephesians 6:10-18

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Economic solution: Be astonished at the catch of fish

When Jesus is around, people are astonished. Why? Because of the ease He catches things that we value for our livelihood even at the hardest external physical circumstances and environment. We know and have tested. The situation is like ground zero. Nothing can be done. No production. No income. No more resources. We are not in control. The elements are against us. The list goes on. But with Jesus is just the opposite. Everything favors Him. The wind, the sea, the fishes. All obey Him. He merely speaks and they come.

THE KEY TO NOT IN LACK: Be astonished at the catch of fish. Be around Jesus. Be in Christ.

[Luk 5:4-6 NKJV] 4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.8 When Simon Peter saw [it], he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken;

[Jhn 21:3-11 NKJV] 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” 6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find [some].” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on [his] outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. 9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.” 11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.

an innumerable multitude of people had gathered

The word today is “multitudes”. Jesus heals the multitudes. The multitudes came to Him when Jesus was on earth to hear Him and be healed. The multitudes came with various motives. The multitudes responded according to their heart conditions. Jesus sowed the seed (His words) and the condition of the heart of each man in the multitudes determined what happened after that. In the parable of the sowing not all hearts bear a harvest in terms of the words heard. Some do not even germinate. Some have shallow roots and have backed off when encounter obstacles. Some are choked by the world in one’s heart. Only some become fruitful in varying degrees. The truth is: Jesus has come to this world in open and witnessed by many-the multitudes. Many have been given the chance to be saved and healed. Some have received and some have not. Is there another chance for the multitudes of today? Today is the chance. Reality check: heart condition.

Luk 1:10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.

Luk 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

Luk 5:1 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret,

Luk 6:17 And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases,

Luk 6:19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.

Luk 8:4 And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable:

Luk 8:37 Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenesfn asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned.

Luk 8:40 So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him.

Luk 9:12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.”

Luk 9:16 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude.

Luk 9:37 Now it happened on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, that a great multitude met Him.

Luk 9:38 Suddenly a man from the multitude cried out, saying, “Teacher, I implore You, look on my son, for he is my only child.

Luk 12:1 In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Luk 13:17 And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.

Luk 18:36 And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant.

Luk 19:37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen,

Luk 22:6 So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.

Luk 22:47 And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him.

Luk 23:1 Then the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate.

Luk 23:27 And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him.

Twin promises that are prophesied and accomplished fact: salvation and healing

[1Pe 2:24 NKJV] 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness–by whose stripes you were healed.

[Isa 53:5 NKJV] 5 But He [was] wounded for our transgressions, [He was] bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace [was] upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

[Heb 9:28 NKJV] 28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

[Rom 7:6 NKJV] 6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not [in] the oldness of the letter.