GOD'S DOES NOT PERFORM MIRACLES FOR THE MINISTER TO BE "SHIOK" ONLY !

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6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 

 

10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” 

 

11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. (John 2:6-11)

What was the actual purpose of this miracle ? Fourfold answer.

1. Reveal Jesus as creator (Elohim). How he transformed ordinary into something that did not exist in the very beginning.

2. The Holy Spirit. Jesus said to the samaritan woman in John 4, that when she drinks of the water He gives to her...she will thirst no more. She will have no need to drink of anywhere else but Him. The Holy Spirit is the anointing of the anointed Saviour. Zechariah 4:6, tells us that it is not by might, nor by power but by the Holy Spirit. Only when we make way for the Holy Spirit..not just know Him but believe in Him too...can the work of abundant life so overfill and overflow us.

3. The first people that benefited from this miracle was the wedding guests and the manager. Miracles are not for self-glorification. God does not perform miracles to exalt man to super-celebrity status. Miracles are there to bless and benefit others. It is meant to reveal Himself as the only one that satisfies. Be a servant of Jesus Christ not try to play God..Let Jesus be God and you and me learn to love others as Christ loved us.

4. The second group of people is of course the servants and especially the disciples of Christ. Can you imagine the moment they saw the water turning into wine and the reaction of it..Nobody knew how the miracle happened but the disciples of Christ do. They saw it..eventhough they had no drink of it..they saw it happen ! Their faith soared because of that. They recognised for the first time, who Jesus really is ! ...GOD !

God Bless You
Edwin Koh ...5/8/13 

Hauntings of the Past

Hauntings of the Past

³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

 ³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.“You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” (Mt 14:30-31,NIV)

Before you can ever go forward, you need to release the failures of the past. Fear of the past repeating itself will bring the past back into your future. Start by turning back to God and be honest with the cause of failure. Only then you can go forward.

Let me share from my own failures. No shame about it but it may help many who are disillusioned with ministry, people and life. 

When my wife and I obeyed God to step out of our commitments to a local church, we did it not because of offenses because there were none. We were very much in good relationships then till today. We stepped out with the vision in hand and desire burning to serve God in a new journey of faith. In fact when we first pioneered Word of Life back in 2005, our Senior Pastor then agreed to be our Spiritual Covering, something that would not have happened if we left in offense. 

Anyways, to cut the long story short...Word of Life had its first service at a hotel in Johor Bahru called Good Hope Hotel. It took us 2 months to get a shoplot of our own at Taman Impian Emas in August 2005. It was there Word of Life started growing and it was really flourishing ! We had our first water baptism and even conducted a simple holy matrimony too.

One year later in 2006 in August, while closing the metal grill doors of the Church premise, I nearly died. I was electrocuted while trying to pull the metal doors close. The electric board said there was a power leakage and direct current was coursing all over the building. Thank God, I believe He saved me for another day. However, the electric current broke my left shoulder blade which caused the left side of my shoulder to sink down.

Today, God has helped me to realise why things have become so unfruitful in ministry since then. Growth comes and goes. Misery aplenty at times. But there were too moments of greatness but it never remains. 

You see God showed me that after the electrocution, I did not dare walk into that building anymore. Everytime after the incident, when I needed to open the grill door, I made sure I had a test pen with me. Made sure there was no power leakage before I insert the keys to the door. Immediately, we made the decision to get the owner to let us have 1/2 of the deposits and we will return the building to him as we felt not safe in using it anymore. That was where we started renting hotel ballrooms, rented here and there.

To cut the long story even shorter, this was the beginning of intimidations and fear setting in. Fear of the past repeating itself. Fear of things repeating itself. 

Fear is very much like faith. We believe. What we believe somehow will always come to past. To be able to move forward in life, we need to be honest and brave enough to admit our mistakes. Admit not to others. Admit to ourselves first and then to God ! Let God take the wounds of the past away so that you can go forward. 

DEBTS COMPLETELY GONE !

DEBTS ARE COMPLETELY GONE !

23/1/13

The promises of God that God revealed to me that He is with me in this is these 2 precious promises:-

 14 “Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
fulfill your vows to the Most High,
15 and call on me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you will honor me (Psalms 50:14-15)

and

14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.” (Psalms 91:14-16)

Credit card repayments can be so challenging especially when income is not consistent. However it this big mistake I made in my life, God came through to deliver and set us free.

The big mistake was using the card to help pay for our early days in running  and pioneering church services, and all other "ministry" things. A big error in judgment and a symptom that  God would reveal to me of something deeper than it is.

Last year, we actually paid RM1,000.00 plus to reduce the amount. However due to inconsistency the outstanding went up and down. It reached a point that was not making any payment.

Every month and week, my wife and I have been praying for a breakthrough in this. God showed me in the past that debt is equivalent to sin. Sin (ROM 1:28) is basically not acknowledging God and Lord in our lives. Doing things our own way and living our lives as though we are god and not Him.

This "error" as Jesus showed me was a symptom of something that God has been wanting me to deal with and yield to Him. It is Sin. We lived our lives and doing ministry shaken and stirred by circumstances and never rooted in prayer and steadfast in Him. 

Instead of letting Him lead and show the way, we dealt with things the way we "knew" how. The easiest, the fastest without much effort. In the end, led to this.

This week the Bank called me and offered me a solution. I owed RM4,100.00 ..they said since all these were interest and charges ..they told me if I could pay RM3,200.00, they will close the case and reinstate my financial credibility.

This came after God led me to pray and ask Him for the impossible. I asked Him to clear this debt from us this month..Its been too long carrying this pain in our lives and the constant calls from the Bank has been stress laden.

So when the Bank called, God helped me to recognised His hand in it. So for the past 3-4 days, my wife and I have been fasting and praying. 

God taught us precious lessons.

1. Repent of Sin and take our feet out of it forever.

2. Learn from error of inconsistent prayer in the past.

3. Let Him lead.

4. Even with this burden, just keep our eyes on Him 

5. Worship Him through it and after it.

Today, God woke me up (23/1/13) with faith in me knowing something good will happen to us today. My parents offered to loan us the amount. We decided to take the offer and will pay them back every month till the full amount.

Thank God for family and especially our parents. They will always be the ones that stand by you in it all.

Today, we walked into the Bank and banked in the RM3,200.00 and walked out in Jesus' victory.

God then spoke to me again in the car..He said to me, He wanted me to learn the last lesson in this which is that when we sin and play god, we bear the consequences of it alone. but when we repent and turn back to God and recognise that He is Lord and the one that paid a price so great for all our errors...SUCH MERCY !..not just because He loved us and we are His beloved..but because of His MERCY !!!

He still wanted me to pay back my parents but now its free of the stress of bank demands and interest..because He showed me how much of parents loved us, and He placed the power back into our hands.

So that is my story. Hope it blesses you too. 

Edwin Koh B.L. Ministries: Strengths In Your Weakness

Edwin Koh B.L. Ministries: Strengths In Your Weakness: Strengths in Your Weakness But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I w...

Strengths In Your Weakness

Strengths in Your Weakness

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 

(2 Cor 12:9)

As pioneering and pastoring a Church for awhile now, one of my challenges is employing people in the right roles and "jobs". My mistake has been in looking for the right person for the right roles or positions or jobs.

BIG MISTAKE. Why ?...God has caused me recently to be curious about the word "weakness" in the scripture above. Weakness to many is something that is just that...WEAKNESS. In this world where the strong survives, the champ wins, and the smart scores...weakness is shameful or must be hidden.

Take for example, when we write our resumes, curriculum vitae..we never state our weakness less we get rejected. We always state our strengths or lie about our abilities.

Worst is when people we think should fit the role, sometimes fail so terribly the moment they assume the role because what we assume should work and have to work...does not ! arrrgggghhh! right..have you been in such situations before ?

Recently, in asking God to show me what He mean by weaknesses ...this is what He showed me...

1. We are unique not by our strengths or our self deceived strengths...but by our "weakness". Or some would put it..this is my style !...Each one has different styles..it may look like weakness to others but that makes me tick.

2. Weakness is DEFINITELY NOT our carelessness or an excuse to NOT DO ANYTHING. God showed me something recently. Many people want to succeed and waiting for bigger "opportunities", however they fail to see the need "flip burgers" or do the necessary first. Flipping burgers or whatever "chore" is an opportunity and open door to the next one !. Carelessness or "boh-chap" attitudes must go. Because carelessness is disease to character and a clear signal that you are not ready for more..Capacity is all about attitudes. You see no one is perfect and will never be on this side of heaven. But each one of us are being molded and perfected in His image...if we are to wait till everyone is perfect, your organisation will not grow. It is attitudes (Christlike ones)..that will see us through. People who always look for shortcuts by passing responsibilities, or procrastinating in life..do not have capacity as assuming responsibilities and hard working is what progresses us. When you take short cuts in life...you are passing out on a lasting legacy.

3. Recently I asked someone whether he would like to consider teaching biblical lessons next year ...cos he strikes me to be someone that is more interested in the "knowledge" side of the Bible. The immediate response was common in most situations.. He liked to do it but schedules and timings.In the past, I would take that as a rejection..or argh..lets move on and never to return to that again..

But instead of being rigid about things, suddenly the wisdom came to me. So I suggested to him...how about when he is available and he has an interesting topic to teach...maybe we can do those 1 night or 3 night or those one of Bible series teachings instead of a weekly commtment. His eyes lighted up..like "how come we never thought of that !" ...He said OK ! wow !

I've learn something new...Leaders..don't be rigid. Let the uniqueness or the querkiness of people show..that's what makes people unique and I suppose that's where the "God factor" in people is !

People God made are like works of art. None can replace the other because each is a "work of art".

Luv Edwin

14/12/12

Glorious Ahead of You

Glorious Ahead of You

by Edwin Koh Boon Leng

15/10/12

7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious. (2 Cor 3:7-9) 

Blessings, callings and talents though irrevocable does not mature a person. Lets read Psalms 106...we will get a picture for the need of God stating His standards - the Law. 

They soon forgot His works; 

They did not wait for His counsel, 

But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, 

And tested God in the desert. 

And He gave them their request, 

But sent leanness into their soul. (Psalms 106:13-15) 

God had promised and have been providing the needs of the people. Manna in the morning and at twilight, meat (Ex 16:18,12,31). God had been providing without fail and without compromise. For 40 years no complain. However the people's complain came when there's a change of address...a move from one place to another..Their cry was for water (Ex 17:1). Has God been providing meat ? YES. 

But the people complained and cried out for meat, meat just like they had in Egypt ! So God in disgusts sent so much meat for a whole month that had too much of it. After that God struck them down ! 

Many people look at the anger of God and say God is unjust...how many fail to see the meaness and ungratefulness of the people ! ?

As you can see, blessings changes not a man. That's why God sent leanness into man's heart. Leanness is a servant to aid us to come back to truth. Man need to acknowledge God in His heart not just as God but as Lord and recognise it is God who sustains us.

Often time we reject truth and life in God because we do not look into the Word but we depend entirely on another person's version of it. We go from conference to conference, from church to church from versions to versions...and our walk with God is half baked and we are locked in bondage because we receive not the truth that sets us free but we receive commentaries and slogans and we base our lives on them ! 

1. What Grace Is? 

People think Grace makes a man weak and lazy. Grace cheapens what God has done on the cross. First and foremost, grace is not a theology but its the person of Jesus Christ. We have grace because Sin has been judged and condemned. The requirements of the law to give us righteousness came at a price. That price is Jesus Christ - God's only Son on who bore our sins upon Himself because love for us drove Him there...We have grace, because of Jesus Christ. Grace is God's attitude towards us (Jer 29:11)

2. The Law is Not Bad, It Has a Purpose

God set the LAW as a standard as a tutor (Gal 3:24-25). The Law does not cancel out grace because that was not its intended purpose. Grace does not cancel out the Law either. The purpose of the Law is to "confine us all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe" (Gal 3:22). After faith had come, we are no longer under a tutor (Gal 3:25). Without the Law-which is God given- we won't know our need for a Saviour. Without knowing we trangress God and having no way to have life in it, we won't wake up from our drunken stupor ...drunk with sin and rebellion. Without the leanness in our hearts, we won't cry out for WATER !...LIVING WATER ! 

3. WHAT IS SIN ? 

Sin (Rom 1:28) basically is creation rejecting the creator and the creation wanting to play Creator. Man wanting to be god or like god ! Which can never be. 

4. MORE GLORIOUS 

Without Christ, we are condemned and guilt ridden. Without any way to change and transform. Without Christ there is no possibility of man discovering hope and life again. The price of our sin is unpaid and a warrant is out for our arrests...to be paid when we die. No wonder many people fear death.

Now in knowing this, God sent His only begotten Son to pay our price. To receive our punishment in our place. To fulfill the righteous requirements of the Law. The Law brings death...but in Jesus Christ our redeemer, we have life and life abundantly. His blood that (Heb 9:22) was shed for us, is redemption magnified. 

As Scripture says, when righteousness by faith comes, there's no need for a tutor anymore. Now going back to the original scripture above...if the ministry of condemnation had glory (the law), the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more (the covenant sealed by the blood of Christ). For what is passing away was glorious ( the Law), what remains is much more glorious (our salvation in Christ). 

So salvation is like arriving at the interchange between judgment and redemption. In Redemption thru repentance a new form of life beckons (Gal 2:20-21)..a life lived by the laws of faith. How does faith come ? by hearing (Rom 10:17). You can only hear when you are in Christ. And in Christ...the Holy Spirit brings us forward from glory to glory. ..the ministry of grace is the ministry of the Holy Spirit (Gal 3:8)..the ministry of the Holy Spirit  (Heb 12:28) is governed by the laws of faith. ..sealed by the precious blood of Christ..Jesus did all this because He loved us first. 

So the grace does not set aside the law..but is the fulfillment of the law..Grace is given to us in Jesus Christ...Grace is Jesus Christ personified ! 

With Christ in us, the leaness goes when we acknowledge and walk in Him. Lets welcome the fatness of His life and blessings into our lives. Glorious is ahead of you because Jesus is Jehovah Shammah, He is already there. So have boldness knowing there is no condemnation anymore. In the light of Christ, a prostitute who already accepted judgment and condemnation was what she would receive (John 8), found forgiveness and the turning point in her life. In the light of Christ, many have been healed, released and delivered with immediate results. Why wait anymore ? Jesus is here right now.

With this knowledge, Lets come to Christ boldly.

Why Do I Still Need To Ask ?

WHY DO I STILL NEED TO ASK ?

Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (Mt 6:8)

I used to struggle alot in prayer because I used to worry soooo much. I would think why God made prayer so difficult that I have to mention every single item in random that I need His help?

It used to wear me out. Not God but Christian demands and methods. 

Thank God, He has brought me into His rest..Jesus is my rest. He is my righteousness. Many many times in my life, He has brought much blessings and breakthroughs and stuff into my life...even without me asking. 

So many times He has led me to places and to people to enjoy till my hearts delight. I've come to realised, my daddy God knows my every single desire in my heart. He is Father isn't He.

 

So in the verse above it starts off by telling us to ,"DO NOT BE LIKE THEM..." Scripture is not words on a page by living and breathing revealing God with every single breathe. Scriptures are spirit and life.  So when Jesus tells us to not be like them ? We need to read the verses before this. To not be like them...them refers to the people who pray pray pray for all the wrong reasons with all the wrong attitudes.

Here Jesus tells us, the one you are talking with is PAPA in heaven. Papa knows what you need even before you ask him..PAPA KNOWS ! 

Rest in Him friends.

Luv Edwin Koh

11/10/11

Once Saved Always Saved ?

ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED ?

21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you either. 22 Therefore, consider God’s kindness and severity: severity toward those who have fallen but God’s kindness toward you—if you remain in His kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. 23 And even they, if they do not remain in unbelief, will be grafted in, because God has the power to graft them in again. 

28 Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage, but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs, 29 since God’s gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable. (Romans 11:21-22, 28-29)

In the passage in Romans 11, Paul deals with a group of people that are the apple of God's heart ...a people group that God chose to reveal His purpose and plans for humanity.

In this passage comes a very much quoted verse especially by those that preach that when you are saved you will always be saved. Is that so ? That verse is in Romans 11:29 - "since God's gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable". This must include salvation because in salvation lies the fundamental purpose of Jesus Christ in shedding His blood for us. That is to reconcile man to God by removing the curse of sin and death on our lives. 

Many say the proponents of the Grace Gospel...tend to cheapen what Christ has done on the Cross...and causes Christians to be lazy, complacent and greater sinners than before. This is so if we do not subject ourself to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Eventhough we have be brought out of the law of sin and death, there is another law at work in us...the law of faith. Now faith can only come when we can hear Him. If we continue in sin, sin is basically living a life where we think we are God. We choose not to acknowledge (Rom 1:28) God as God...we like the prodigal son, pack our bags as live as we like and how we like. Therefore we bear everything for our own survival ! that is sin. Now when we live without acknowledging God's lordship in our lives, faith has no place in us...without the entrance of God's word in us, the Holy Spirit has nothing to improve us with ! So grace is only grace when the Holy Spirit is LORD of us.

So what does salvation being irrevocable mean ?. Jesus going to the cross and giving His life for us...now that cannot be repeated nor deleted. Jesus came to give us life and life abundantly cannot be repeated nor deleted. In fact Jesus cried out on the cross "IT IS FINISHED !". In Hebrews 10, it says Jesus offered His life and He sat down !..When someone sits down after work is done..means work is done !

So Salvation and everything Jesus has done and is for us is irrevocable. When the prodigal son left His father's home, the Father's home was still standing. The Father was still in existent. The son CHOSED to leave. God will never leave you nor forsake you. Him in us is irrevocable.

And when we continue to be in the goodness and kindness of God, all that is Christ is yours ! Irrevocable. It is not Christ that will leave you...but salvation in us is lost when we choose not to belief and walk away from the Lord.

Otherwise salvation can never be lost. Keep walking in the Spirit and be governed by HIs word. 

Luv Edwin

8/10/12

When You First Don't Succeed...

WHEN YOU FIRST DON'T SUCCEED

5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. (Luke 5:5-7)

When we first don't succeed, try and try again is a formula for failure. Because if you ever want different results from the result you've already got, it is not try and try again..It is "when we first don't succeed make changes and then try again".

Jesus in the center of your lives will begin to see change and increase in your lives. Increase is not so we can live a comfortable and luxurious lives..full of selfish extravagant indulgence. Increase comes into our lives so that we can begin to help others increase as well 
(see verse 7).

Increase will overflow your boat forever even as you are helping others, your boat will not be in lack but will always overflow. This is because God will always supply seed for the sower...Be a giver...be a generous giver !

Jesus told them to make changes. Go and fish according to His word and wisdom. Its not just about location, or product, or methods..its all about listening to Him directing and leading you. Jesus told them to go fish because fishes comes out at His command and wisdom !

Go deep...is to wait longer, pray more, fast more, be patient more..

Jesus is our more than enough !

Information introduces you to change..does not cause change..JEsus will bring change and when we want to change...we will change !

So one of the greatest lesson of life I've ever learnt is this..."Learn to Listen"

Luv Edwin 19/6/12

Jesus is.

JESUS IS

Acts 4:12 -“And there is no salvation in any other man, for there is no other name under Heaven given to the children of men by which it is necessary to receive life.”

I always wondered where does one find peace in religion and a hope that is secure where there it is dependent on what I do and don't do to achieve it.

While walking to the coffee shop to "tapau" lunch for my wife and kids...we are totally exhausted from an adventure that cut short our "holiday" and led us to the hospital. My youngest boy had breathing difficulties that forced us to hop-off our express bus and rush to hospital. Thank God Jesus is fully in control and he is on the express way to complete healing.

Usually such dramatic and jarring situations, takes alot out of me...but its moments like this I ask God questions that starts with "why". As always in difficult situations He has something for me to know. So this is what He said to me...

"When salvation is self-dependent, people become desperate and angry because they know, to be good enough for heaven is impossible". Not even the best of charitable righteous living can ever get us into heaven. Frankly speaking man's actions are not always rooted in the best motives and intentions. Romans 1:28, " Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done"

Sin is not what we do or don't do. Sin is trying to be god or play god. Sin is as Romans 1:28 tells us, not acknowledging God in our lives. Sin is taking ownership of our lives and living it our own way and methods that rightfully is not ours to have and do. Lying, cheating, murder and all the bad stuff people do...all the evil intentions in our hearts etc is the fruits of self righteousness and self deception. Since God is the sole giver of life, living without God ..will lead us to death.

I really thank God He gave us His only Son to break the curse of sin and bring us back to Him. Jesus is the only way, truth and life. In the scripture verses below, we will see what happens when man takes over.

(Mt 21:12-15)

12Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13“It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’”

14The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,”

 they were indignant.

When Jesus is no longer the center of our lives, our Churches, our families...this is what happens. Do you know why they were selling doves in the temple ?..Doves are a symbol of peace and the Holy Spirit. Both were non existent when Jesus is not in the center but kept out of His temple.

To compensate for lost of light and abundant life, people compensate it with worldly living. Programs, events, all kinds of activities. Those things are good..but if Jesus is not in the center of our lives, what good can they bring to our lives ?

The moment, Jesus entered into the temple...he drove all this things out ! Holiness is symbolised usually by fire. When the Holy Spirit comes into our lives, the dross will be burnt and consumed. Fire also brings light...light will expose the dirt. Fire will also prepare us to be sanctuaries of worship. When people worship Jesus, He will draw all men onto Himself..That's where we will see miracles again !

Luv Edwin Koh 19/6/12

Kingdom Ways-Di-Vision

Kingdom Ways 

(Di-Vision)

5 But Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents.

6 Now the land was not able to nourish and support them so they could dwell together, for their possessions were too great for them to live together.

7 And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdsmen of Lot’s cattle. And the Canaanite and the Perizzite were dwelling then in the land [making fodder more difficult to obtain].

8 So Abram said to Lot, Let there be no strife, I beg of you, between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are relatives.

9 Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself, I beg of you, from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if you choose the right hand, then I will go to the left.

10 And Lot looked and saw that everywhere the Jordan Valley was well watered. Before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, [it was all] like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as you go to Zoar.

11 Then Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley and [he] traveled east. So they separated. 

(Gen 13:5-11)

A couple of things we can learn from this passage of Scripture about Kingdom principles and processes.

1. (Verse 6), Sometimes two are not meant to be together. This is especially when each has chosen different pathways to go. God did tell Abraham to leave it all behind and follow Him. However Abraham brought everyone along with him. We can say this is Abraham's fault. Sometimes we have to let go of emotional attachments and sentimentality to pursue that which is of God. God's blessings for you is meant for you. God will give people for your life and place people that will walk with you and help you build. That can only happen when those that are not meant to be there with you, are taken away.

2. (Verse 10), Lot in hebrew is to be veiled. His sight is blurred and handicapped. This is especially true of us before we know Jesus as our Savior. When we were living in Sin, our eyes are veiled. All we saw was our own needs for survival. We lived not for others..definitely not to give..But to Get and to take. When we live like this...we live in poverty. When we don't have enough, we start blaming others. We are always about ourselves. Just like Lot (verse 11), "Lot chose for himself".

Sin is not what we do or don't do. Sin is living this life as though we are god. We do not acknowledge God as God in our lives. When we take control of our lives, we live in toil and snares. Never having enough. Never getting enough. Never giving..never sharing. Its all about me me me..Thinking stuff makes me. When we repent and come to Christ, living by faith..God takes us above and beyond this world's standard.

How many today will live for Christ and be ridiculed because they live for Christ. How many willing to suffer to Christ. How many willing to bear it all? There's a price to pay.

Many preached carrying the cross a burden. However the real burden is trying to save our lives that eventually we will lose. Bearing the cross , our lives in Christ is our hope of glory its a route of blessing and joy ! Yes there will be challenges, but the blessings of knowing Jesus far outweighs it all !

Lot chosed the "best"..the best eventually not good at all. Abraham took what was given to him, eventually ended up be blessed and us too !

Always choose God's way and not my way...Make decisions that will benefit GOd's call on your life and not decisions to gain more stuff. When you seek God's kingdom first (Mt 6:33), and His righteousness (walking in Jesus' word, He justifies you and clears you for the road ahead), He will add all things to you.


Live by faith !


Luv


Edwin Koh (c) 12/6/12