False Prophets

It’s been said that God does nothing in the affairs of men except they pray. Prayer is the catalyst for worldwide transformation. Prayer incites the angels, restrains darkness, and releases nations into their destiny. Prayer is the key to revival, building bridges between what should be and what will be.

The devil also knows the power of prayer and he understands that he can’t stop us from praying. But he is the master of deception and he tries to convince us that his destructive schemes are “acts of God” so Believers will not release the arsenal of Heaven against him! Unfortunately, satan has been more successful at deceiving the saints recently than he has for decades. One of the ways he has shrewdly crept into our society is by convincing the Church that it is our responsibility to release the wrath of God against sinners. This authorizes the dethroned prince of darkness to kill, steal and destroy while we stand aside applauding the demise of these ravaged people. To make matters worse, this evil prince frames the Lord of Redemption for his crimes, poisoning the people of His passion, which causes many of them to reject His wedding invitation. Meanwhile, those who have been empowered to police this property lack discernment and assist these angels of light in their killing spree.

There are 2 kinds of false prophets. The first is the example we see is in Acts 16:16-19.

¹⁶ Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. ¹⁷ This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” ¹⁸ And this she did for many days.
But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. ¹⁹ But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.

This is the first kind of false prophet. The person has a wrong spirit or gift (spirit of divination) and an evil heart. Notice that this particular fortuneteller prophesied correctly! (Well its not hard to predict a crime that if your boss is the one behind the crime).

The second is a classic example from the old testament. The story of Balaam. You can check out the story of Balaam in Numbers 24 & 31. The summary of the story is that Balaam had the correct gift/calling but an evil heart.

It is interesting to know that the heart is what makes a false prophet..... FALSE

What am I trying to say? Are you saying that I'm a false prophet? No. What I'm saying is that you might be influenced by the same spirit a false prophet is influenced by.

Oh ok.... So what to do now?
Simple submit to God resist the devil and he shall flee from you. Meditate on the word of God so that you think in such a way that makes you healthy. This post is to edify and give you grace to escape any trickery and deception from the devil and nothing else besides this point. God bless and may you live in freedom where you are joyful and you make people joyful too. Thats true freedom.

'FUN FACT'

Your gift gives you your ability, your calling gives you your identity and your anointing gives you your purpose.

Kris Vallotton

God The Glory Of His People

The sun shall no longer be your light by day,

Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you;

But the LORD will be to you an everlasting light,

And your God your glory.

Your sun shall no longer go down,

Nor shall your moon withdraw itself;

For the Lord will be your everlasting light,

And the days of your mourning shall be ended.

Also your people shall all be righteous;

They shall inherit the land forever,

The branch of My planting,

The work of My hands,

That I may be glorified.

A little one shall become a thousand,

And a small one a strong nation.

I, the LORD, will hasten it in its time.

Isaiah 60:19-22 NKJV

Just So Awesome

Christmas is around the corner and being excited would be an understatement. I feel like developing a culture of celebrating thanksgiving like the west where families come together to be thankful about things and to appreciate one another.

World Harvest is where I grew up in, met God in, discipled in, evangelized with, learnt prayer, learn forgiveness, hope, love, grace and so many more indescribable experiences. So in this season of Christmas and Thanksgiving, I'd like to thank everyone for loving me despite my character flaws and weaknesses. I wanna thank my parents for teaching me and imparting to me my inheritance. My church buddies that have sticked with me even though challenges are fierce and being just great human beings. My section/cell members, your faith and lives have been such an inspiration to my life and joy to my soul (every single one of you). My youths, instead of teaching you stuff, I've been taught stuff. My colleagues, with you all times of joy always way outnumbers the times of sorrow. My special friend, I have learned and have been transformed by your grace and love. And most of all my Jesus, who is not just a loving God in theory or in a story book but truly ever faithful and good in experience. You deserve all the glory and everything in your light seems insignificant.

'YE' OLD GOOD BOOK'
For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:17 NKJV)

À Venir

À Venir wallpaper designed by Dawson Ngu

As Christmas draws nearer, I was reminded of some great happenings 3 years ago. Three years ago was a defining moment that set our church on course, scaling new heights and greater realms of revelation and faith. It was truly the beginning of "new things". We spent 2 months in preparations for our Christmas project, 'À Venir: Christmas Projekt 07'. We went to hospitals, orphanages, singing at BRJ, and many other outreach activities.

A year later it seemed like nothing really changed but now, 3 years later, it is obvious that the hard work, heart and passion put in 3 years ago has all been worthwhile and we are reaping the fruits now. Spiritually and naturally. Sometimes when we don't see things happen in the preferred time we want, we might feel discourage or think the good things we have done in the past were in vain.

The 2007 project was a breakthrough for me looking back now, as I was trapped in fear and failure in praying for the sick for them to be healed. 5 years before that in 2002, me and my friends were playing basketball and one of my friends, our teams center player, a big sized guy you can imagine, landed on someones foot while he was landing from a jump, twisting his ankle and fell, landing on his own arm. He was in great pain and was crying out in agony. He's a Christian by the way. I didn't really know much about healing as I do now, but as a 14 year old boy I went over to touch his hand wanting to pray for him as my other teammates were showing concern. He moved away is arm and screamed "DON'T TOUCH ME!". He obviously didn't know I was gonna pray for him or else he would've let me prayed for him and he would've been healed.

Little did I know this incident actually affected me for a long time. I never prayed for healing for anyone since then. I did pray for fellow brothers and sisters in church but not anyone outside the church or strangers on the street with obvious physical problems.

In 2007 I not only did the comfortable job of the skit director but I decided I would take the step of faith to be part of the hospital visitation team to pray for patients. We didn't know anyone there so it was a meeting random strangers sorta thing. I was nervous and all inside but needed to act normal and cool as I was appointed one of the team leader. I mean who would appoint a guy that has no experience whatsoever in hospital visitations and praying for sick people, no impressive track record and a Chinese guy that speaks extremely limited and lousy Chinese. (But I believe, broken Chinese can heal broken Chinese lives).

I remember the first day there I had Grace as my team assistant. She can speak Mandarin far better than me obviously. So I guess the leadership always thinks thoroughly before they put you as a leader ;)

We met a fairly elderly man maybe around his 60s. It was at the highest floor of the hospital and we met this guy on the bed in one of the wards. He looked fairly alright and after some minutes of talking we told him why were at the hospital. To bring the Christmas cheer and to pray for people to be healed. He then told us with a smiling face to pray for other people that needed it more than him. What kind of fake nobility is that. But anyway the point is that we got rejected............. courteously. Suddenly that same feeling of failure and stuff came again and I was like "Come on man. Every time I take a step of faith things like this always happen. What sup with that?!". We were sorta discourage about that and took us some time to get to the next patient but we finally met a few more people and managed to pray for them.

I remembered so clearly Lydia praying for a tattoo man and let me tell you it was a dramatic case of conversion! Yeah you got that right. That half body tattoo-ed gangster accepted Christ! We didn't manage to keep in contact with him because the following week he was transferred to another ward and we couldn't find him anymore.

Another guy was a 29 year old Kadazan man named Ronnie. He was frozen in a certain position on the wards bed, and I mean literally frozen by the way. He was having tuberculosis and HIV positive. Vighnath and Princeton were attended to him, fed him some food and prayed for him. Months later with frequent visits and prayer the specialist attending to Mr. Ronnie called us up and told us that the check up that day saw him HIV negative and no more trace of TB. We were obviously going nuts about it and praise God for his healing. With some failure to follow up and keep track of him, Ronnie ended back in the isolation room because his HIV and TB is back again. He passes away a few months later and that really took a hit in my heart. I was never the same again after this whole experience.

Back to 2005. The next hospital visitations during the project week, I prayed for an Indian man. Alone this time. I talked with him in our national language. I got to know him and found out that a heart attack was the reason he was admitted into the hospital. He also told me that he would probably have to be in the hospital for another few weeks maybe even a few months. He obviously looked like he wanted to go home. Before I left I asked him whether I could pray for him. He said ok and I prayed for him. I told him after I prayed that Jesus is powerful and loves him and wants him to be healed because He loves him. I then told him I would come back to see him the following week and if Jesus healed him, he would be out of the hospital next week. The following week I went to the hospital again looking forward to see him only to find the bed he was in empty. The sheets were all tidy and nicely folded. I was sort of disappointed coz I didn't get to see him and went on to meet some new people in that ward. He being healed didn't even cross my mind. As I was on my way out of that ward to go home, the Indian man walked in the ward towards his bed buttoning up his shirt. I asked him excitedly whether he was being discharged and he told me he was and that his family was already waiting downstairs for him. I told him, "Eh tengok, Jesus sudah sembuhkan kamu." He stopped for awhile had the look on his face like "Oh yeah man, I guess He did."

Brothers and sisters, sometimes discouragement might hit us as we push ourselves to be obedient to the will of God. We might be face with a situation and have no answers for it. We might wonder what it would've been if we handled those situations differently. Maybe if we were more aggressive and diligent the tattoo guy. Ronnie wouldn't have died. Maybe you aren't so on fire as before after some seemingly failed situations but let us come and receive a fresh new anointing from the Lord. A fire that will never die. "Come on you can do it again. You now have the experience needed and you can and will do better. My love never fails." That's was Jesus is saying to us now.

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart (Galatians 6:9 NKJV).

Let us keep moving despite our failures and shortcomings. Our inability to be a hero and look to Jesus the true Saviour and the one people need. Let not these failures and shortcomings cause others that are still alive and out there not have an opportunity to meet with Him. We are his chosen vessels to serve and be the light and salt to the world. The devil knows that we have the greatest authority and he wants to make sure we are discouraged enough that we won't use it. He doesn't wanna go to hell alone for eternity so he wants to bring as many humans as possible there with him. He knows that is the way to break the heart of God because we are his beloved children. He knows that we are the key and the link of people to God again. That's why he pulls you down and does everything in his power to make sure you are discouraged. Because, discourage you = people aren't gonna hear the gospel = people going to hell = the heart of God is broken.

Let us go with faith like never before. Defying the odds of popular suggestions and beliefs, taking our promise land. Let us save those tattoo guys and the other Ronnies in this world.

'GOOD WORDS'

Without a test there will be no testimony.

Kris Vallotton

The glory of a young man is their strength, of an old man their experience.

Anonymous

'WORDS OF FAITH'

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV)

Why God Does Not Answer Our Prayers?

Many of us Christians would at some point come to this question "Why aren't my prayers answered?" or something along that line. You'd probably come to the conclusion that maybe God has a better thing installed for me that I do not know. While that answer has its place, that doesn't really answer our question. What about when I was sick and I prayed but I didn't get healed? The previous answer obviously does not apply to this question. So what is the answer then? Does God want me to be sick to teach me a lesson? Firstly you gotta know that God is always good. But that still does not answer our question. How about the million dollar question most would ask God, "What is your will for my life?". I'm sure you can identify with me that GOD NEVER ANSWERS YOU THIS QUESTION. Haha. So now the question turns to why not? In other words, why didn't God answer my prayer?

Lets check out the Scriptures to get our heads straight in this aspect.

Galatians 4:4-7 and Romans 8:15-17 says this,

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because we are His sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, so now we can rightly speak of God as our dear Father. Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God. (Galatians 4:4-7 NKJV and TLB)

And so we should not be like cringing, fearful slaves, but we should behave like God's very own children, adopted into the bosom of his family, and calling to Him, "Father, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children then heirs -- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. (Romans 8:15-17 TLB and NKJV)

We gotta understand that when we accepted Christ into our lives, we are adopted into God's family. God has become our Father and we have become His children. God will never treat us like a slave. When we pray these kind of prayers like, "God, what is your will for my life?", He often doesn't answer us this question because He wants us to make an independent choice on our own. Because if our actions are always dictated by God then He wouldn't have created us in the first place. He would've created and programmed robots to do His will. In other words, we participate to reach the will of God.

I'd also like to stress on the earlier statement I made about 'God wants us to make independent decisions on our own'. I'd like to propose that there are actually particular choices we make that actually makes God more happy than if we would to choose something else. This applies to minor decisions we make in everyday life as well as major crossroads in life. Whether it may be how we spend our time in a day to who should I marry or what job should I choose, what we choose will actually affect God. He always loves us and will probably bless us no matter what we choose but there is a one choice that will make Him smile.

So how have we been praying? or how have we been living?

Sometimes some people seem to be honoring their leaders with statements like, "Ps. M didn't say mah", "Ps. J say can mah". Before I go further, there is a place to listen to your leaders, I myself heavily emphasis on this aspect as well as practice it, but what I'm trying to say now is have you been having a mind of a slave behind these statements?

Having said that some people might say,

"But we are sheep what. We must listen to what our leaders say."

Wow very smart answer....... NOT!

I'd like to propose that identity wise, we are NOT sheep. Sheep are animals and one of the problems that sheep have is that they are almost blind and often go astray. So if you think your a sheep your probably often confuse (almost blind) and often go astray.

Let me bring in the story of the Israelites and their promise land in the Old Testament to push my point further.

We know that when they reached the promise land that there were giants in the land and 12 spies were sent to scout the land. 10 came back with negative reports and 2 (Joshua & Caleb) came back with a report of victory even before the battle was fought. Of coz' we all know that the story ended without a battle taking place rather a 40 years of wandering in the desert. This defeat was inevitable because these events all took place after the incident at Mount Sinai (Ten Commandments story). So it is obvious why the 10 of the 12 spies came back with negative reports. (read Exodus)

I'd like to propose that if we do not change our slavish attitude and mindset we will end up wandering in the desert. We will not be ready to conquer the giants in our promise land. And every promise land has giants in them. Are you gauging yourself for the battle that must and will take place?

Sometimes churches don't grow and souls are not saved not because people are not praying or going to church but because majority of people are having minds of slaves, defeated even before the fight.

So let us consider this when our prayers are not answered. I don't rule out the possibility that unanswered prayers are caused by other factors but let us consider this truth when our prayers are answered.

I hope this helps you to live a victorious Christian life. One that pleases the Lord and gaining the only applause that matters.

'FUN FACTS'

What happens when a prince is in prison? He makes the prison a palace.
Kris Vallotton

7:14 , 2230

Banner designed by Daniel Wong

The Bible tells and speaks of countless times of a believer to pray. Often than not people pray for things that God didn't tell them to pray for. We find ourselves praying for needs and wants instead of what was told for us to pray about or for. Its not that we can't pray for our needs and wants, the point is we shouldn't overlook what we should be praying for. In fact Jesus told us not to worry about our needs and wants but we should occupy our minds and hearts with His kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:25-34).

I'm calling for prayer for anyone of you declaring yourself a Christian. Base on 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Ezekiel 22:30, let us pray for revival upon our nation. Let us stand in the gap between the people and God. Between eternal life and death and begin to pray for the salvation of the people in our nation.

As we pray for revival let us not have any heart of judgement or prejudice towards anyone we might have had conflict with. Let us feel the heart of God for the people and know that we ourselves were saved not because we did something good or impressed God but we were saved by grace and by grace alone.

So everyday at 7:14 am/pm and 10:30 pm let us spend at least 5-10 minutes to pray for revival. You may be in your office, college, at home, in the bathroom, on your bed, in the car, wherever you are, pray. Praying in the spirit will be good enough (having revival for Malaysia as the focus in your mind as you do this). Let it be an intense time of crying out for our nation to be saved (crying doesn't have to be literal). We are running out of time.

'THE WORD'

If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV)

So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found no one. (Ezekiel 22:30 NJKV)

The Only Applause That Matters

Two Sundays ago we got a handout on our way out from church. It was a note that has stuck to my mind and I hope it does to you to. In these troubled times many will go astray and do whatever they please and best suits their ways. But what is it that really matters at the end of the day?

It was the moment the young man had waited for and had prepared for over many months. It was his premiere appearance as a concert pianist. The audience had heard a lot about his amazing talent, and they packed out this prestigious concert hall to hear him. They weren't disappointed. In fact, his masterful playing brought them to their feet for a thunderous standing ovation at the end of the concert. Backstage, the young man's manager said, "They want and encore, man! Get out there!" The pianist looked strangely dejected, and he said, "No I'm not going back out there." His manager said, "But they love you, man!" Look at them" They're all on their feet!" "Not all," was all the young man could say. "Look in the balcony." The manager peeked around the curtain and he saw one white-haired old man in the balcony who wasn't standing or applauding. "Hey, come on! That's one old man! So what?" The pianist looked down at the floor and he said, "That's not one old man. That's my teacher."

It didn't matter to the concert artist what the crowd thought. Only one opinion mattered. Only one man in that multitude was the one he wanted to please - his teacher. You know, that's how God has wired you and me to live. To please your teacher - your Creator. Sadly, we tend to lose sight of Him in our desire to get the applause of the crowd around us.

Jesus has given us six powerful words to live by in our world for today from the Word of God. These words in John 8:29 are simple, but they'll change your life if you'll make them the core value of your life: "I always do what pleases Him." Jesus lived only for His Father's approval. That's why the greatest moment of His life was at His baptism when the heavens opened and He heard His Father say, "You are My Son... with You I am well pleased" (Luke 3:22). It didn't matter whether the crowd was cheering or jeering. Jesus knew He was okay if His Father thought He was okay.

That's an important reminder for us approval junkies, who tend to mold ourselves to please other people. It's like we have this ticket we keep trying to get people to validate for us. "Hey, do you like me? Do you like what I'm doing? What do I have to do to get you to stamp my ticket?" It's called "Please Disease" spending so much of your life trying to please others. But there's never enough applause is there? There's never enough approval. And somewhere in all the pleasing, you lose yourself and you lose the pleasure of the only One who can satisfy your heart - your Lord Jesus who died so you could live for Him! 1 Corinthians 7:23 says,

You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

Paul knew he had to choose once and for all who he was going to live for and who he was going to live to please. He said,

Am I now trying to win the approval of men or of God? If I were trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10)

So who are you living to please: the boss, the pastor, your family, your friends. the church, some guy or girl, the community? They didn't die for you. Their rewards don't hold a candle to His. The early church leader, Stephen, knew that. He had stood up for the truth on the streets of Jerusalem and the crowd was not applauding. They were screaming at him, throwing rocks at him to shut him up. "But," the Bible says, "Stephen.... looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God."

The Bible tells us that Jesus is usually sitting at His Father's right hand, but not this day. He's standing, honoring his faithful servant Stephen. and Stephen has the courage to keep doing the right thing, even at the cost of his life, because his teacher was standing. His teacher was saying, "Well done."

I hope that's where you're looking for your approval. The only applause that matters is the applause of heaven. Anything is worth doing to get that; nothing is worth losing it. Nothing.

'THE WORD'

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2 NKJV)

'GOOD QUOTE'

Your life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you wish, but you can spend it only once.

Lillian Dickson

So What's Important?

I said to myself, I'm going to quit complaining! I'll keep quiet, especially when the ungodly are around me. But as I stood there silently the turmoil within me grew to the bursting point. The more I mused, the hotter the fires inside. Then at last I spoke and pled with God: Lord help me to realize how brief my time on earth will be. Help me to know that I am here for but a moment more. My life is no longer than my hand! My whole lifetime is but a moment to you. Proud man! Frail as breath. A shadow! And all his busy rushing ends in nothing. He heaps up riches for someone else to spend. And so, Lord, my only hope is in You.

Save me from being overpowered by my sins, for even fools mock me then.

Lord, I am speechless before You. I will not open my mouth to speak on word of complaint, for my punishment is from you.

Lord, don't hit me anymore, I am exhausted beneath your hand. When you punish a man for his sins, he is destroyed, for he is fragile as a moth-infested cloth; yes,man is frail as breath.

Hear my prayer; O Lord; listen to my cry! Don't sick back, unmindful to my tears. For I am your guest. I am a traveler passing through the earth, as all my fathers were.

Spare me, Lord! Let me recover and be filled with happiness again before my death.

Psalms 39 TLB

Sometimes people think crying in-front of God is crying to God. The results will be evident. One is crying for attention and sympathy and the other is an act of humility. If you have been facing some difficult situations to handle, cry to Him in humility as the verses above. God bless and you are not alone in this end-time battle against the devil and his minions. He will never leave you nor forsake you.

New Post

Hi my dear followers. Sorry I haven't been updating for over a month. I promise to update something new tomorrow. This is a promise and it shall be fulfilled. It has been a challenging month for me (well it already has been since I was a little boy), but all is good and praising God and being with Him is just so delightful.

God bless and goodnight.

What's Your Plan For My Life?

"What's Your plan for my life?" is a question people ask God a lot.

It's funny that when people ask God this question and when God tells them His will for their lives, they consider whether to follow what He has said.

Just a thought to ponder on.

Game On!

MTI Apostolic Program Intake 12 is now over. It was a great to see the alumni and making new friends as well. Great job, to all that participated and served. Praise God for His glorious visitations and revelations. It would've meant nothing if it You weren't there.

I hope that this next entry will encourage you and pump up your faith.

When we play video games, the more monsters/enemies we encounter, we know then we're definitely heading in the correct way. It also feels a lot more achieving when you've beaten them at the higher levels. (special thanks to Joshua Lim, TVS for fun facts like such)

I think everything in our world was made to draw us to God or show us a little more about Himself. And particularly in video games, it teaches us some stuff.

When experiencing the worst of things happening to us or in our lives, Christians, let us know that its an opportunity for us to boast about our great and mighty God because He is gonna come through for us and the greater the challenges, the greater the victory is gonna be. When there are some tensions in relationships, office work piling up, assignments overload, let us strengthen ourselves in the Lord. Feed on the Word of God, pray in the Spirit, count the blessings and give thanks and praise to Him daily.

If you feel some tiredness in serving God and in ministry, you need to be going to where your soul and spirit can be strengthen. You need to do things that your soul and spirit be strengthen. Friends, let us not deceive ourselves, thinking that we can make it in our lives without God (spending time with Him). A human can only do so much. A human can only take so much. A human can only achieve so much.

In this time of fasting and prayer, pray in the Spirit. Don't have your spirit-man be a stick-man.

Let your thoughts and feelings go to Him at every moment of the day.

'WORDS OF FAITH'

I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 NKJV)

'FUN FACT'

The incarnation was God's best held secret to turn what seemed to be the greatest defeat into the greatest victory.

Excerpts from 'Christian Belief' chapter 2

by David Wong Kim

Why did God send prophets to the people?

Some people think prophets mainly foretold the future. But actually their main job was to challenge the people to turn back to God. Often the prophet's messages contained predictions about the future, but most of the messages were challenges to obey God and live right. God's prophets were willing to risk everything for him. Some of the most famous prophets were Moses, Elijah & Elisha, Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Jonah. Some "less-well-known" prophets also wrote books of the Bible: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Even though these prophets spoke hundreds of years ago, their messages apply to us too, so we should listen to them and prophets of our generation of what they have to say.

'MEMORY VERSES'

I'm scared to let God really control my life. What if he makes me be a missionary to Africa?

Don't be afraid. Just trust me. (Mark 5:36 NLB)

To Encourage You

Stay tune for more 'Do the Right Thing', 'Amazing Facts', 'Sticky Situations', 'Memory Verses', 'Heroes and Villains', 'I Wonder....' and 'Life Then, Life Now'.

How to Respond to God's Leading

People communicate in many ways. What about God? Does He have an answering machine? How does He call people, how does He lead them, and how should they respond? Mary was a young woman when she was engaged to Joseph. One day the angel Gabriel appeared to her and told her that God had a special mission for her. The Holy Spirit would soon cause her to become pregnant, and she would give birth to God's Son, Jesus. This was of course incredible news and a bit frightening; people might think that she had sinned by getting pregnant before marriage. Gabriel assured her that God was with her. Mary said that she was ready to serve God and then responded with a beautiful song of praise and thanksgiving to God. Here is what you can learn from Mary's experience.

Step 1 - Be Available

From Luke's account, we don't know exactly what Mary was doing when Gabriel visited her. What's important is that God knew she was ready and willing to serve Him, wherever she was and whatever He wanted. Open your mind and heart to God's next assignment for you.

Step 2 - Be Amazed

The Lord of the universe had sent His messenger to an unknown young woman in a town called Nazareth. Mary was in awe. You may not receive an angelic visitor, yet the same Lord is ready to communicate with you through His Word. The Bible tells us what God wants us to do. It is truly awesome.

Step 3 - Be Appreciative

Mary could have responded "Oh, really?" or "Not me, Lord!" Instead, her heart filled with gratitude for what God was going to do through her son and spilled out with a song. Be thankful - God is at work in the world, and you are a part of His team.

'FUN FACT'

When you are called, the question is not about "when is the right timing" but 'when are you ready to take the first step of faith, trust Him and obey His call?'

Daniel Wong, Ministry Assistant of WHC

Zero Calories

In Ezekiel 3:1-3, God commanded Ezekiel to eat a scroll that contained a message for the people of Israel. In this vision, Ezekiel did what he was told. He found that it tasted sweet as honey! Although we wouldn't actually eat pages of the Bible today, we can develop an "appetite" for God's Word. This appetite comes when we spend regular time reading what God has said to us in the Bible. If you haven't already developed this habit, start it today.

'FUN FACT'
Coming to church is like going to a buffet. But this buffet is ZERO calories!

Timothy Naden Henry, youth of WHC