Chronicles with God: Volume Two: He Spoke, I Wrote

By Christopher Raj

This book is all the sermons I heard coming from the pulpit of the Church. Messages from the sermons could mean many things to people according to each person’s walk with God, meaning in all theses there is always a still voice of the Holy Spirit who speaks specifically to current situation and or your walk with God according to the purpose in which God has called you. I always had a desire in my heart to share that word of God to people who wants to hear him. I know with reading of this book you will be edified. There is no meaning to life unless it is purpose driven. Have a fulfilled life as he speaks to you as he did with me. We must learn to listen to that still voice of God. What I have written, is all about that still voice of God coming from the many man or Prophets of God.

10/17/19
The book contains a series of messages that came from the Pulpit while I was attending Metrotabernale, a church in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.
Being a Human Resources practitioner specialising people management, I realise people are a sum total of what they think. Attitudes and behaviour are a result of their past experience and or based on the cultures. The value system and prejudices are based on the thought process that has been accumulated over the years. The only way to change this if it wrong, is to know your creator and the purpose for which you are created.
Roman 8 verses 28-30
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
We are called according to his purpose, we are predestined, we are justified and we will also be glorified
This book will help to find that purpose for a fulfilled life. Our life is not our own but for others who God places in our life. This book will help those who are searching their God given purpose. It will also help as a guide to Christians or Preachers who need guidance to preach the word of God. We are all not perfect including me. This book will help us walk this life towards perfection until that day.
2 Timothy 4 verse 7
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Chronicle with God, will help you to fight a good fight, finish the race while you keep your faith.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing Singapore
• Release date: Oct 21, 2019
• ISBN: 9781543755060

Christopher Raj

Currently since 2008 the Area Director of Human Resources-Industrial Relations for Shangri-La Hotel and Resorts, Malaysia.(based in Shangri-la , Kuala Lumpur.) Basically overseas Industrial Relations operations in Malaysia Has been involved in Industrial Relations line for 37 years He holds Bachelor’s Degree in Science with a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resources Management and Industrial Relations. • President, AHE, Association of Hotel Employers • Council member MEF (Malaysian Employers Federation) • Board member MEF Academy • Member of National labor Advisory Council (appointment by the Minister of Human Resources) • Certified trainer for many programs

Book preview

Chronicles

with

GOD 2

He Spoke. I Wrote. (volume 2)

Christopher Raj

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Copyright © 2019 by Christopher Raj.

ISBN:       Hardcover       978-1-5437-5505-3

                 Softcover         978-1-5437-5504-6

                 eBook              978-1-5437-5506-0

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

www.partridgepublishing.com/singapore

CONTENTS

Introduction

Acknowledgement

Prologue

Chapter 9 The Human Frailty - Know Your Strength, Especially Your Weaknesses

Chapter 10 Wiser People Learn from Other People’s Mistake

Chapter 11 Battle of the Mind and Conditioning by Past Experiences

Chapter 12 Understanding the Seasons

Chapter 13 Deal with the Fear Factor

Chapter 14 Spiritual Warfare

Chapter 15 Some Things Never Change The Nature of Our God Is a Constant Factor

INTRODUCTION

The greatest commandment, your basis for your life’s journey

A s the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other. ( John 15: 9-17 )

God is love. The Father loved Jesus, yet He gave His only Son to die for our sins because He also loved us and calls us His friends and not servants. Jesus said there is no greater love than to lay down your life for a friend. God’s greatest command is to love each other with no conditions, but in order to do this consistently, we need to experience the Father’s love by accepting Jesus as our Savior. We can only give love when we know that we are loved by God.

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:34-35)

If you are a true disciple or follower of Christ, you must bear the trademark of unconditional love for people wherever God has placed you.

Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ this is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. (Matthew 22:36-40)

God’s command is straightforward. You cannot claim that you love others if you do not love God. You will only know true love when you love and experience the love of God.

In reply Jesus said: A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers? The expert in the law replied, The one who had mercy on him. Jesus told him, Go and do likewise. (Luke 10:30-37)

After telling the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus said to go and do likewise. Let us be the Good Samaritans in this world whenever we see need around us.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. (1 John 4:18-21)

Perfect love drives out all fear. Loving people who know the love of their God should have no fear; otherwise, we are liars.

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:8)

We fulfill the Lord’s command and will when we show perfect love to our neighbors.

It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified: What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor 8 and put everything under their feet. In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. (Hebrews 2:5-9)

We were created a little lower than the angels, but God has crowned us with His glory and honor, and He has made everything subject to us. What is mankind, that He is so mindful of us? The answer is simple: God created us in His image and loves us so much that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die for our sins so that we could be reconciled to Him.

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)

1 Corinthians 13 is the perfect description of love. Let us not be a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

This book is all about the love of God.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

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I am grateful to Metro Tabernacle A/G, Kuala Lumpur and especially to Rev. Ong Sek Leang, the senior pastor of the church who is also the general superintendent of Assemblies of God Malaysia for the privilege to call it my home church – a place where I grew as a child of God is the most holistic way.

All messages written in this book are how I received them through the anointed preaching of the Word of God from that same pulpit in all services that I have attended. I also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the other pastors and visiting evangelists who have in their own way contributed to the writing of this book.

I especially would also like to thank my beloved wife Molly, children Deborah and Noel for their unconditional love, support and prayers in this journey called life.

I thank God for the wonderful parents he gave me. It is their love that made me what I am today. I would want to remember my late father B.A.R. Joseph and my late mother Reginah Lalithawathy Joseph whom I dearly love.

Last but not least, I would also want to thank my siblings Britto, Philomena, Jacintha, Patrick and Isidore for their support over the years.

Christopher Raj

December 2015

PROLOGUE

W ith the writing of this devotional book, I don’t claim to be spiritual or claim to know all about the Bible. My journey as a Christian started when I was born into a Catholic family with God-fearing parents who I loved dearly. I remember when I was nine years old, I had to travel by sea, spending seven days on the ship going to India for my studies. From the age 11 until I was 24, I studied in India – staying in boarding school and college run by Jesuit priests called St. Joseph Institution. During those days, I remember going to church almost 365 days serving as altar boy or scripture reader.

It was in the year 1984 that I became a born again Christian. My association with the churches throughout this journey has been an enriching experience knowing God through good works and understanding the mercies of God in my walk with him. My father has also been a great influence as well as inspiration in my life, making me understand what the love of God is all about.

When my mother passed away in the year 2013, I decided to embark on this project to write this book with single finger typing. I developed a burden to build a charity home for the poor and needy using the jewelry, which my mother handed over to me while on her death bed as the seed money for this project.

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues! Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, What does this mean? (Act 2:5-12)

Since 2006, my family has been attending Metro Tabernacle. Every message that was spoken through the pulpit, spoke to my situation and I decided to write them down as I understood them similar to the above scriptures.

… and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. (Luke 4:17-19)

I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. (John 17:4-5)

Reading the above scriptures, it is abundantly clear that our primary purpose in this world is to reach out to the needy. Jesus came to fulfill exactly that as what the prophet Isaiah prophesied in Isaiah 61 and finishing the purpose for which he was sent.

The other mission of this project is to bless the body of Christ by the inspirational message that can help us face the challenges in our daily walk. As I have mentioned before I do not claim to hear the voice of God but it is very clear in my mind that God will be pleased with what I have launched to do because it is line with what Jesus came to accomplish.

This is my chronicle with God. He spoke through his servants on the pulpit and I wrote it down as I understood it.

9

The Human Frailty - Know Your Strength, Especially Your Weaknesses

What Defines You?

W hoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind. As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it. ( Genesis 9 :6-7 )

When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God. (Acts 5:33-39)

God created us in His image to be the crown of His creation and blessed us to fulfill His purpose. In Genesis 3, the Bible shows how Satan came to destroy our image.

In the same way, Jesus was tempted by Satan:

The tempter came to him and said, If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread. Jesus answered, It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. If you are the Son of God, he said, throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ Jesus answered him, It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 All this I will give you, he said, if you will bow down and worship me. Jesus said to him, Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. (Matthew 4:3-11)

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground. Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. (Genesis 1:27-29)

God created us …

• So that we would have dominion and authority. We are the head and not the tail.

• Male and female in His image.

• To be blessed and fruitful.

• For a communal purpose, not for self-edification. The Word says, Let us make man in our image – us and our rather than Me and My.

You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (2 Corinthians 2-3)

Be a proper reflection of Him. Paul says that you are a letter from Christ to the world. In other words, your character should reflect the Lord Jesus.

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. (James 3:1)

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. (Ephesians 6:5-6)

Learn to behold God in His glory. Then He will transform you from glory to glory (see 2 Corinthians 3:18).

Transform by the renewing of your mind. Everything starts with your mind. Let us dedicate ourselves to the reading of God’s Word, the greatest book ever written and the bestseller of all time.

If My People, Who Are Called by My Name, Will Humble Themselves

… the LORD appeared to him at night and said: I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. (2 Chronicles 7:12-15)

When we, who bear the image of God and are called by His name, forget our Maker in the midst of our blessings, we become self-sufficient and heavy- headed. That is when things go wrong.

1. Rise up and take responsibility.

We are called to be the salt and light of this world. Our lives are not our own if we are living according to God’s calling, and our God who is near will never forsake us.

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-15)

What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them