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Kind Kindling

  “ And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more .” 2 Samuel 10 : 19 KJV The act of kindness from the newly crowned king David teaches that the best instrument of service to humanity and the establishment of purpose in life is not the killing of enemies but kindness. Starting with the previous chapter, king David discovered Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan and showed kindness to him. And here, while prospecting the surrounding enemies of Israel, he could only see someone who merited his kindness for the past goodness of his Dad, i.e., Hanum the son of Nahash. It shows that there is always no need for the righteous to engage in the plot of killing the enemies and all agents of darkness. Kind kindling is a much more sufficient lightning for the exposure of the works of darkness for self-destruction and extermination. Of cour...
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Faith Fists

  “ Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Acts 2 : 36 - 37 KJV The response to the Pentecostal sermon by Peter has always been a generational mind shift on a significant life-changing decision that establishes the difference between force fist and faith fist. “ Men and brethren, what shall we do?” is not a mere request for guidance on job application, service assignments, and career placement. It is an absolute surrender of the human fist on the altar of an absolute faith in God, and making Jesus Christ the Lord and personal Saviour. Prior to this point in life, we all think we know exactly what to do with life and all its relationships. People would readily use their fists, forms, and formalities to manipulate facts about anything wit...
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Zion’s Zest

   “ For the LORD heareth the poor, And despiseth not his prisoners. Let the heaven and earth praise him, The seas, and every thing that moveth therein. For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: That they may dwell there, and have it in possession.” Psalm 69 : 33 - 35 KJV The promissory note “ For God will save Zion ” implies the reality of zest in zoo and possession in oppression for God’s people. For example, the psalmist’s wilderness experience took more than 11 years after he was anointed by God. Of course, his encounters with king Saul while running from caves to holes, and his relationship with the Philistines while exiling in Gath, look more like caging a lion in a zoo. Yet, the steadfastness and love of the Lord and His mercy in believers’ moments of trials and tribulations always demand the outpouring of Zion's zest. As long as Zion maintains his regalia of righteousness and dwell under the influence of the Spirit leadership, there is always a reason t...
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Practicing Power

 “ and, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. ” Acts 1 : 4 , 8 KJV The abiding presence of the Lord brought not just the peace from God; there is the benefit of a practicing power for everyone who waits in the presence of the Lord.  The limits of power from material riches, position of authority, and political privileges include the manipulation of other people’s will and opinions by the power of darkness. And those who absolutely depend on these naked powers have always overstepped their boundaries against the superiority and sovereignty of the Almighty God. Even David knew this danger in most of his dealings as a king, especially while struggling w...
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Lord’s Lamb

   “ This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs .” John 21 : 14 - 15 KJV The post resurrection experience of Jesus Christ with Simon Peter exposes the fundamental challenge of the conflict of interest in every believer’s understanding of the subject of love. The pursuit of personal interests in life has always created a conflict of interest in our understanding of heaven’s focus in Christian service and discipleship. When Peter initially responded to the Lord’s call to the ministry as ‘fisher of men ’, he apparently didn’t envisage a point in time when his consecration would experience dryness, distraction and discouragement. And now, with the discouraging ‘disappearance of the Master’ , the urge for ‘I go a fishing ’...
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Practising Peace

   “ Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. ” John 20 : 19 - 21 KJV The major significance of John 20 is its focus on the restoration of peace to the troubled and scattered disciples of Jesus CHRIST. The unexpected end of the earthly ministry of their Lord had brought them into hiding, fear, and intimidation by the authority of the religious and Jewish practice system. Therefore, the resurrected Jesus came repeating “ Peace be unto you” , not just for mere greetings; the disciples needed a reassurance of the practice of peace to withstand the intimidation of the Jewish system. And when...
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Spirit Strength

  “ And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all. ” 1 Samuel 30 : 6 , 8 KJV Without the benefit of the spirit strength, everyone can relate to the complete emotional collapse of strategies based on sight strength. Prior to the discovery of the defeat and destruction at Ziklag, David had been disappointed by the failed trust by the armies of the Philistines. One of the resources of sight strength in life is the building of alliances, relationships, and social diplomacy; and a crack in this sight strength in the assessment of David must be a serious concern to his continuous dependence on the alliance with Achish. Therefore, it...
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