Update on 2015-12-30: Another goal for fasting and
prayer is to find purpose in life. A good way to set New Year
Resolutions for another year! How many new years does one have over a
life time? Not many. God sets chronological demarcations for human
beings to rest, recall, review, realign, refresh, rebound, and become
real. The goal is to become real. Be real to God and let God be real to
us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
An average person would not be satisfied with living from day to
day knowing that one day all men must die and leave this earth without
knowing why he had come to this life in the first place. One can find
out about others’ life purpose by reading, studying and watching others.
We can watch others growing up, being gainfully occupied with career,
family, friends and may be hobbies, social work and religions etc. We
tend to follow too and do about the same thing. However, is that all?
What is our real purpose for living? This is a tough question for Jack.
One way to find out is to fast and pray. By giving up our physical
comfort and deliberately focus on a higher level of existence one
becomes aware of higher goal and the real reason of one’s existence. Not
everyone has the same goals even though there are seemingly limited
numbers of the usual goals. To sum up, most people want health,
happiness and comfort in life. Security and relationship rank high in
the happiness category. In Maslow’s hierarchy of needs pyramid, once a
human being get hold of the lower basic needs (physiological, security,
love and belonging), he/she aims for meeting the higher level needs like
esteem needs, experience purpose and meaning, and self-actualization.
Whilst the concept is the same, individuals vary in the contents that
make up the ideals. Of course, people tend to follow each other
(keeping up with the neighbours). But they will soon find the void in
their hearts unfilled. For example, we tend to think of others’ kids
being so lovely and fun to be with. When we have our own we know life is
not all lovely and fun. At times we think the opposite had happened and
prevailed. We also tend to admire others’ garden and wish we too have
one. When we have our own garden we lament at the compulsory hours of
regular hard labours required. The same imperfect reality happens to
owning cars, houses, high earning jobs, prestigious positions and
interesting hobbies.
One pertinent question remains, “For what higher purposes are we created?” Fasting and prayer helps a Christian to find out.
The focus of Christian fasting and prayer is God. The more one
focuses on the presence of God, the more one is able to receive clear
messages about God and His purpose for our life. The content and focus
of our prayers change. The mind changes its priority. The spirit (which
has been slumbering previously) wakes up and switches to the God channel
with clearer reception. This opens a door into a wider sphere of
existence, way beyond our tiny little world.
But does God not care about our usual life in our little world? Oh,
He does care. The difference is that He will open our eyes to see
further sights and dream greater dreams.
There is a greater purpose for your existence and a higher goal for
your life. No one can afford to linger on below that purpose. Start and
find out now!
Yes, fasting and praying helps you to find the map.
2009-09-30
December 31, 2015
December 27, 2015
Behold! The Kingdom of God has come!
The Kingdom of God has come and Christians can live in the Kingdom of
God on earth as it is in heaven, just as the prayer that Jesus has
taught His believers pray daily. What does it mean? It means we live in
the presence of God and we live a life different from that of the
unbelievers. When they believe in Jesus they can live inside this
Kingdom too. While in the Kingdom we enjoy the abundant life and
supernatural protection and undeserved favor of God, a supernatural
living over the natural world——under the grace and mercy of God.
Is there a proof of this in the Bible? Yes. We read Acts 27 afresh today to see the proof.
God will tell us what he has planned for Christians to accomplish in this world. He will guide us to make the right decision at the right time in the right manner. This includes all aspects of our daily living. There are two things He will tell us: What His believers should do, and what the unbelieving world will encounter. The same physical natural storm comes upon both believers and unbelievers. The outcome will be different when Christians live the Kingdom of God life.
Here is a brief summary of the difference between those living in the Kingdom of God (people of God) and those living outside (people of the world): THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS REAL WHERE CHRISTIANS LIVE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND LIVE IN THE SPIRITUAL REALITY OF THE UNSEEN REALM OF GOD.
1. What the world saw was merely physical and not the unseen: In the eyes of the world at the beginning of the journey, Paul was a mere prisoner just like any other prisoners. And he had no control over the journey. (Acts 27:1-8)
2. Paul gave his advice even when no one listened: but the world chose to listen to the wisdom of the physical man and not to God through a spiritual man. (Acts 27:9-13)
3. The storm event confirmed God's words: the prediction of Paul, a spiritual man who lived in the Kingdom of God. (Acts 27:14-20)
4. God showed His favor for His own people: that even though the unbelievers chose to go their destructive way, because of the presence of His people (Paul and his fellow Christians) on board, His supernatural protection would also include those who happened to be on board with His people. An angel told Paul this, “God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.” Just imagine, God favored Paul so much that the presence of Paul on board had saved the lives of all other on board as long as they stayed with Paul. (Acts 27:21-36) Why? Because Paul lived in the Kingdom of God, with the mighty presence of the living God!
5. When the unbelievers believed and obeyed God’s advice through Paul (a Kingdom of God citizen), continued to stay with Paul and even took steps to stop wanting to kill or harm him, the unbelievers were all saved and reached shore safely. (Acts 27:37-44)
This is how the Kingdom of God works.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is there a proof of this in the Bible? Yes. We read Acts 27 afresh today to see the proof.
God will tell us what he has planned for Christians to accomplish in this world. He will guide us to make the right decision at the right time in the right manner. This includes all aspects of our daily living. There are two things He will tell us: What His believers should do, and what the unbelieving world will encounter. The same physical natural storm comes upon both believers and unbelievers. The outcome will be different when Christians live the Kingdom of God life.
Here is a brief summary of the difference between those living in the Kingdom of God (people of God) and those living outside (people of the world): THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS REAL WHERE CHRISTIANS LIVE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND LIVE IN THE SPIRITUAL REALITY OF THE UNSEEN REALM OF GOD.
1. What the world saw was merely physical and not the unseen: In the eyes of the world at the beginning of the journey, Paul was a mere prisoner just like any other prisoners. And he had no control over the journey. (Acts 27:1-8)
2. Paul gave his advice even when no one listened: but the world chose to listen to the wisdom of the physical man and not to God through a spiritual man. (Acts 27:9-13)
3. The storm event confirmed God's words: the prediction of Paul, a spiritual man who lived in the Kingdom of God. (Acts 27:14-20)
4. God showed His favor for His own people: that even though the unbelievers chose to go their destructive way, because of the presence of His people (Paul and his fellow Christians) on board, His supernatural protection would also include those who happened to be on board with His people. An angel told Paul this, “God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.” Just imagine, God favored Paul so much that the presence of Paul on board had saved the lives of all other on board as long as they stayed with Paul. (Acts 27:21-36) Why? Because Paul lived in the Kingdom of God, with the mighty presence of the living God!
5. When the unbelievers believed and obeyed God’s advice through Paul (a Kingdom of God citizen), continued to stay with Paul and even took steps to stop wanting to kill or harm him, the unbelievers were all saved and reached shore safely. (Acts 27:37-44)
This is how the Kingdom of God works.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Acts 27~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
21 After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”
42 The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. 43 But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44 The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.
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