Chronicles with God 3: He Always Speak

By Christopher Raj

This is a book filled with gems that will enable you to make spiritual progress and “Make Room For God” in your life. Christopher Raj has anchored his thoughts onthe Word of God and not merely testimonies. I am glad for this opportunity topreview and recommend “Chronicles with GOD 2: He always speak” to you. This is one book you will read repeatedly and recommend to others. I know you will be blessed reading and applying the insights written in this book.
Rev Dr Samuel Ng
Senior Pastor ,Faith City Church, Subang Jaya

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing Singapore
• Release date: Oct 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9781543756678

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

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Copyright © 2020 by Christopher Raj.

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.

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

Acknowledgement

Foreword

Chapter 1 Your God-Given Destination

Chapter 2 Nature of the Cooperative Journey–Called to Tell of His Mighty Acts

Chapter 3 Don’t Be Afraid, Just Believe

Chapter 4 Why We Don’t Receive What We Ask

Chapter 5 Take up your God given position

Chapter 6 Armour of Light—a Walk in Faith

Chapter 7 Your Branding, Your Identity

Chapter 8 Your Life, Your Testimonial

Chapter 9 Abundant Life

Chapter 10 Surrendered life

Chapter 11 God’s transforming love, hope and power

Chapter 12 Make Room for God

About the Author

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am forever grateful to Metro Tabernacle A/G my home church and specially to Rev Ong Sek Leang, the Senior Pastor and also the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Malaysia.

My appreciation also goes to Rev Nancy Ong and all other pastoral staff and workers of the Metro Tabernacle Assemblies of God.

The messages you will read from this devotional book are all inspired word that came through the preaching of the word from the pulpit of the above church. It is a recording of what was spoken to me while listening to the voice of God through the preaching.

Roman 10 verse 17 says Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God. The very essence of believing in the promises of God comes from hearing his word. The bible tells us in the book of Peter that faith alone is not good enough. To faith we need to add moral excellence and to moral excellence knowledge of the word of God and to that Self- control, patience, endurance, Godliness with brotherly affection and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

Rev Ong, always say that ‘we are a sum total of what we think’ our behavior is a result of our thought process which is influenced by many factors, I hope this book will help those who read it to have the thought process based on the word of God.

I am in the journey of becoming better Christian everyday just like anyone of you. As I grow I want to share this knowledge gained with you through this book. We are all called to conform to his image.

He continues to speak; I choose to listen. I went further to record it down.

God is good all the time and all the time God is good,

Christopher Raj

FOREWORD

Foreword-1.jpg

The Word of God must be central in our faith and in all our life’s endeavors. The revelation and application of the Word brings victory to us.

2 Tim 3:16-17

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

The grace, power and wisdom of God as revealed in Scriptures are made available for all matters and dimensions in life.

2 Peter 2:1-3

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

It has been said that the clearest indication whether a person has heard anything is, when he is able to reproduce what he has heard. Christopher Raj has taken time and effort to faithfully hear the Word of God, understand it and allowed it to penetrate his soul and spirit. It is evident in his personal walk with God and ministry.

It is my hope that the words and thoughts penned in this book will bring life and revelation, release power and encouragement, and draw the reader closer to Jesus Christ our Savior much more than it has done for the writer himself. I personally know that this is the expressed desire of Christopher Raj.

May God give everyone one of you a greater love for His Word and may this simple loaves and fishes bring a multiplication of God’s blessings to you and your ministry.

Rev Ong Sek Leang

Senior Pastor

Metro Tabernacle

CHAPTER 1

Your God-Given Destination

The Call to Discipleship

John 12 verses 23–26

²³ Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.²⁴ Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ²⁵ Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

I n the above scriptures, Jesus was talking about his crucifixion after being anointed with perfume as a sign of preparation for burial. In verse 23 Jesus says the hour had come when the Son of Man would be lifted up and he would draw all men unto him.

There are four principles involved in discipleship.

1. We are called for discipleship and fruitfulness.

The fundamental key to discipleship is to die to oneself. It is not a suicide but a deliberate decisive act to dedicate one’s life for the work of God. Unless a grain falls into the ground and dies, it will not produce fruit. Similarly, unless we die to our own selfish desire, we will not be able to bear fruits in the kingdom of God. It’s about surrendering oneself to God for the works of his ministry. It is an act of obedience to discipleship.

2. A call to discipleship is also a call for exponential growth.

When a grain dies, it produces many fruits. It is a natural phenomenon—as the truth goes, when you sow, you will also reap proportionate to the amount you sow. The secret is that the more we decrease, the more Christ will increase in us. We need to invest our lives in following the command of the Lord. One grain can translate into thousand grains and more.

3. We need to recognise our call.

He who hates his life will keep it, and he who loves his life will lose it. Know your destination before you start the journey.

Mathew 7 verses 11-17

¹¹ If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! ¹² So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.¹³ Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.¹⁵ Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶ By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

Our call is heavenward, and the path is narrow; the path in earth is wide and easy. We are all, most of the time, preoccupied with the earthly things. The Bible tells us not to be conformed to this world. You are a pilgrim in this journey and so have your life put aside in this perspective. Your life on this earth is short compared to eternity, and there is no comparison. John 12:26 tells us that anyone who serves God must follow him. In other words we are on call 24/7. We have to be model pastors and cell leaders, loyal to him.

Luke 9:23, Jesus tells us that whoever wants to be his disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow him. A disciple should be someone who is willing to carry the cross and follow Jesus. That’s is the paradox of a Christian life.

Matthew 11:29–30 says we need to surrender everything to Jesus, especially when we are weary and burdened; Jesus will give us rest. Learn to lean on him for his yoke is gentle, easy, and light, and you will find rest for your soul. Jesus assures us that his yoke is easy, and his burden is light. It is like climbing a mountain; you only take the essentials because you want to travel light. If you carry a heavy load, the journey will be easy in the beginning but will become burdensome as you move along. Our lives will be expressions of our discipleship. People can and will see your lifestyle. The call is to make disciples, make someone successful, or make people like you. We are all called for a pastoral ministry.

4. Curtain call

The curtain call comes at the end of the show. When we are called to be with God, let us hear God say, ‘Well done, you good and faithful servant. You will be rewarded and blessed according to your works.

Launching out into Divine Destiny with Audacious Faith

Genesis 12:1-3

The LORD had said to Abram, Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.² I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.[a]3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."[b]

The promise God made to Abraham extends through Christ to all of us, as we are his descendants by faith. Our lives are part of God’s redemptive plan, and we need to launch out in faith just like Abraham. It is all about knowing your divine destiny. Ask God to bless you and your family, and let his Word be your guarantee that you will be blessed.

Genesis 15:1-6

After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield,[a] your very great reward.[b]² But Abram said, Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit[c] my estate is Eliezer of Damascus? ³ And Abram said, You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir. ⁴ Then the word of the LORD came to him: This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir. ⁵ He took him outside and said, Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them. Then he said to him, So shall your offspring[d] be." ⁶ Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Abraham believed God and was counted as righteous. He was not perfect; he was an ordinary person just like you and me, but his belief in God set him apart. When you take care of God’s agenda, he will take care of you.

In Romans 4:17–22, it is written that God made Abraham the father of many nations. He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed, the god who gives life to the dead and, against all hope, calls into being things that are not. Abraham, in hope, believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why ‘it was credited to him as righteousness’.

There are three ways to fulfil your divine destiny:

1. Step out in obedience.

Abraham obeyed God even though what he heard was well beyond the natural realm of possibility. Abraham was 100 years old, and so was Sarah. There is no retirement age for serving God, and old habits tend to cause disobedience. Do not get caught in the jaws of the lust of the world.

2. Gain ground for the kingdom through spiritual warfare.

Not everyone in your path will become a friend. Remember, the enemy will always be at work against you, hoping to destroy you. During difficult times, lean on God, for your relationship with him is the ultimate help.

3. Wait for God’s timing.

Galatians 4:22–23, 28–31, says we all know that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise. Divine promise will not be fulfilled by the flesh. We are like Isaac, children of promise. It is written at that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. But what does scripture say? ‘Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.’ Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman.

When it comes to God’s promises, the flesh will wage war against the Spirit, for they cannot exist in harmony with one another. Abraham had the same problem. Because of a period of doubt, Ishmael was born of the slave woman. We need to live by faith and trust in God’s character. Submit to God and his instruction.

1. Cultivate an atmosphere of faith.

Romans 4:17 shows that Abraham by faith became the father of all nations, and he is our father in God’s sight. In God’s eyes, faith is reality. He can give life to the dead and call into existence things that were not. In the kingdom of God, our faith is everything.

Entering Our Promised Land

When God has given you a promise, hang on to that dream despite your circumstances.

Act 7 verses 2-5

To this he replied: "Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran. ³ ‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’[a]4 "So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Harran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living. ⁵ He gave him no inheritance here, not even enough ground to set his foot on. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child.

Read Hebrews 11:8–12.

Abraham did not know where he was going but moved on and entered the strange land in faith. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived in tents, all three generation. God will give you the ability when you have the faith, but you must not be distracted. There are times when you have to take your dream by force through relentless effort. We must not remain or stay at the peripheral but enter the promised land through sacrificial obedience. We must train our thought to be in focus with our faith and not let anything hold us back. We must be ready to move from our comfort zone. Your collateral is your character. It is all about having faith in God and taking the step of faith. Without an action of faith, you will not experience the miracle. Seeing is not believing, but believing is seeing the things of the future. That is faith.

When Abraham moved out, he had nothing—not even a foot of land to his name. He had no son, and he was getting old. He lived in a strange land with fear, to point that he told a lie saying that his wife was his sister. It was not an easy journey for Abraham to take that walk of faith, but he did it in total obedience to God’s calling and in total faith. The Bible says that it is impossible to please God if we don’t have faith. Abraham was just an ordinary man like you and me, but the only difference is that he obeyed God and walked in faith with God.

Genesis 12 verses 6-8

⁶ Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. ⁷ The LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring[c] I will give this land." So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.⁸ From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.

The journey towards your promised land will not be an easy one, but make sure you don’t get influenced by the land, and ensure you build an altar whenever you pitch your tent. We need God in our tent. Don’t give up or give in when you walk in faith. Every step you take, acknowledge the presence of God, and appreciate the moment. Build an altar in your heart every single day. What God has promised will come true. Abraham did just that the whole of his journey with God.

The question is, what is the promised land you are looking for? If that land is not what God has promised you, you walk in vain. Let us learn to listen to the voice of God. Like Abraham, let us walk that journey of faith with God leading us all the way. God has a purpose for each one of us. Let us be sensitive to listen to the Holy Spirit to know our journey with God.

What Is Your Most Important Pursuit Today?

We are all caught up with many pursuits in our lives. It could be our career, business, wealth, church growth, and so on. There are needs in our lives which must be met, be it as a church or as an individual. God answers all our challenges in life, but in all these, we must pursue Jesus. We need to develop servanthood mentality to serve God and not let our desire to rule over us. We must concentrate on Jesus and worship and spend time reading the word of God in his presence. Let us examine the scriptures below.

Read Luke 10:38–42.

In the story about Mary and Martha, Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, while Martha was distracted by all the preparation. Jesus told Martha when she was complaining not to be worried and upset about many things, but do what Mary was doing—that is, to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to what he had to say. Similarly, let us not be distracted with many things but hear the voice of God as to the purpose for which we were called.

Exodus 33 verses 1-2

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ ² I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.

When you listen to God, he will remove all obstacles placed by the enemy. The Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites represent all the challenges in your journey to reach your God-given destiny in life. We need the presence of God. That is why Moses in verses 15–16 said, ‘If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?’ We need to be in the right place at the right time, and for this to happen, we need the presence and leading of the Holy Spirit. You don’t want to fight your battles on your own when you walk alone.

Five Important Criteria to Remember in Your Pursuit

1. The presence of God defines us.

Moses did not want to do anything or enter the promised land without the presence of God. People will only respect us when we have the presence of God in our life. The Egyptians pursued the Israelites after Moses rescued them; and they forgot what God did for the Israelites when they were in Egypt, and the whole Egyptian army was destroyed. When God is for us, who can be against us? When we don’t learn from our past like the Egyptians, our future will be destroyed.

2. The presence of God must be manifested.

Read Exodus 33:19–20.

God says that he will cause all of his goodness to pass in front of you, and we need to proclaim his name, the LORD, so that God will be in our presence. He will decide on whom he will have mercy or compassion though we cannot see his face, for no one may see him and live.

Adam and Eve had the presence of God in the Garden of Eden, and everything was in its full goodness. Moses had the presence of God through clouds in the morning and the stars by night. Jesus came in flesh, and after him, we have the presence of the Holy Spirit. We need the Glory of God for any miracles to happen in our life.

3. We need his invading presence.

God’s presence should invade our life to change us for the better.

Read John 1:4–5.

Our life is in him, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

When the light of him is in us, the darkness in our life will and must leave. The presence of God is so glorious until Moses could not see him, and Moses’s countenance changed. The world must see us in that light, and in other words, our life must invade others in our place of dwelling, be it in our office, home, or among our friends. People should be able see the peace of God in our lives. Though we walk through the fire, we will not be burned; or through the floods, we will not be drowned. People must see the grace of God in our lives through all circumstances. As the above scriptures says, in him is life and light for all mankind.

Read Isaiah 60:1–3.

The above verses tells us to rise and shine, for our light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon us. We must know that the darkness covers the earth, and there is thick darkness over the people. We need the Lord to rise upon us so his glory can appear upon us. Nations will come to your light. You become so attractive that the kings and leaders want to share that brightness that is in you. In other words, they will see something that is unique in you that is contagious that draw people to you.

The light and brightness of God must shine in your life. We need to pray inside out and walk in the presence of God. When you have the glory of God, your face will shine like a light, and people will surely see the difference in your countenance.

4. Presence of God can be diminished or lost.

1 Samuel 4 verses 21-22

²¹ She (daughter in law of Eli) named the boy Ichabod,[c] saying, The Glory has departed from Israel—because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. ²² She said, The Glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.

When Israel lost the ark of God, the presence of God left the place. God will always exalt himself, but he may not be active in our lives if we do not acknowledge his presence or if he is diminished in our lives. Without God we are nothing, but with God we are everything.

5. The Presence of God is manifested only to those who value it.

There must be a hunger for his presence. We all eat a certain dish because we have a desire for it. You must value the presence of God. You need to have the hunger and thirst for God. When you seek him, you will find him. The psalmist says, ‘Like a deer that panteth for the water, so my soul long after you.’ We need to long for his presence in our lives.

In order for us to experience all of the above, we need to stop being anxious, learn to sit in his presence, and start listening to his voice as compared to just hearing. The Bible is given for us to fellowship with God, and it is not a manual. It’s not just about having knowledge about the word of God; it is about receiving revelation when you read the word of God.

The Model of What We Need to Do as Christians

Luke 4 verses 14-21

¹⁴ Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. ¹⁵ He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.¹⁶ He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, ¹⁷ and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:¹⁸ 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,¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.[f]20 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. ²¹ He began by saying to them, Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.

Luke 4:21 says that the scripture was fulfilled with the reading of the word as prophesised by the prophet Isaiah in Chapter 61:1–2. In other words, Jesus came with a clear mission, and he started that journey being full of the Holy Spirit. We know what Jesus did following the above event. We are called to model Jesus, which is our calling. The key to Jesus’s ministry was the Holy Spirit—he was full of the Holy Spirit.

There are no boundaries you cannot break when you are full of the Holy Spirit. The Person of the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus, and to depend on the Holy Spirit is to depend on Jesus Christ. The truth is that we cannot claim to know the Holy Spirit if we do not know the word of God, because Jesus was the Word that appeared in flesh. We need to discover what Jesus wants us to do, and in order to do that, we need the Holy Spirit. The above scripture is the model of what we need or are supposed to do.

John 17:4, Jesus declared that he brought the glory of God on earth by finishing the work God gave him to do.

Jesus accomplished his mission by finishing the work that God the Father asked him to do, as prophesied by Prophet Isaiah. Luke 4:18 says that the Spirit of the Lord is upon Jesus because he has been anointed to proclaim the good news to the poor. The Spirit of the Lord is given to all of us to do the same as Jesus.

1. We have a mandate. The mandate is from heaven, and it comes with the anointing. Our past experience can cloud our mandate, as we see bad things happening to good people or the other way around, meaning good things happening to bad people

2. The method is to preach and make that declaration. We must discover our giftings, and our lifestyle must change to reflect the image of God. We need to bring in the poor, the oppressed, and so on

3. We need to measure. How do you measure? People must be healed. We must open prison doors, and set the captives free.

4. The mood is the acceptable year of the Lord. We need to set people free. We need stronger liberty.

All the above will happen if we return to our first love. We don’t need religious spirit, and we must come across as people who are set free. Where the presence of God is, there is liberty. Jesus always spoke to people directly, and only in four or five occasions did he speak to institutions. We serve a miracle-working God. Jesus said that we can do greater things than him. All we need to do ask and pray in his will and not according to what we will for our lives.

Love Is the Fulfilment of the Law and to Live Is for Christ

Read John 10:10.

The above verse tells us that Satan came only to steal and kill and destroy. But Jesus came that we may have life and have it to the full.

The above scripture clearly demonstrates that Jesus came to give us life—and life abundantly. Abundant life is not about having riches in life; it is about living a life of happiness with the grace and mercy of God every day in our walk with God. What is the point of gaining the whole world but losing your soul? What is the point of having a million dollars in your bank account, but you are not happy? What is the point of having a big bungalow, but you are lonely?

1. We are called to an extraordinary life.

Read 1 Corinthians 13:1–8, definition of love.

The scripture explains what the true meaning of love is. You may speak in all the tongues of men and angels, but without love, you are nothing but a resounding gong or cymbal. You may possess all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, have faith enough to move mountains, and give all you have to the poor and boast of all the above—without love, it all means nothing. What’s love? It’s patient, kind; it does not envy, does not boast; it is not proud; it does not dishonour others; it is not easily angered; it rejoices in the truth, protects, perseveres, and does not delight in the evil. All your knowledge and gifts will disappear. True love is all that matters.

Roman 13 verse 8

⁸ Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. ⁹ The commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,[a] and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: Love your neighbor as yourself.[b] ¹⁰ Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

The above scripture describes our extraordinary call, though the message is simple. Our life is all about loving God and loving one another, and a life of love will fulfil the law of God. As the scripture says, when you love God and love your neighbour, you will fulfil the Ten Commandments.

2. We are called to a life that is undeterred by external factors or live a life that is contented.

Read Philippians 4:10–13.

The apostle Paul talks how in accepting all circumstances in life, he has learned to totally live in faith, he goes on to say that he knows what is to be in need and what it is to live in plenty.

The secret of a contented life is to know that our life is in God’s hand. When you are settled in your mind of the above fact like what Paul says, you will be able to go through all seasons in your life, be it the mountain or valley experience. God is always working in us through it all. The secret is to know that God is always in control of everything. Godly contentment is great gain. When you rely on the strength of God, you can do everything, no matter the circumstances

3. We are called to a life that is rich, satisfying, and fulfilling.

James 2 verse 5

⁵ Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

Riches in life come when you know Jesus. As the above scriptures say, God choose those who are poor in the eyes of the world and who are rich in faith to inherit the kingdom. We are so valuable in the eyes of God. He who loves money will never have enough. Seek first the kingdom of God, and all other things will added to your life.

4. We are called to a life of complete security.

Philippine 1 verses 21-26

²¹ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. ²² If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! ²³ I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; ²⁴ but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. ²⁵ Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶ so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

The attitude in our life should be like what the Apostle Paul says: to die is gain, but life is for Christ. He chooses to live because his life will bless others and increase his faith in God.

5. We are called to an indestructible life.

Read Hebrews 7:16.

Perfection could not have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed, that was the law given to the people to established priesthood. Why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. Jesus belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. For it is clear that our Lord Jesus descended from Judah. Jesus become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life.

John 3 verse 16

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Our life in God is eternal, and everything we receive in this life is by faith. Without faith, we cannot please God or live a life that is fulfilling.

Born Right on Time for a Purpose

Act 17 verse 26

²⁶ From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.

Read Romans 1:1.

Paul, the apostle, calls himself a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God.

It’s amazing to know that God is in control of everything. Through one man, he created a nation, and all at its appointed time in history. Wow. Like Paul, we are called and separated for a specific purpose. What is your purpose? Do you know your calling?

It’s not about who you are, but whose you are. You or we are all in the right place in the right time. We are all set apart for a purpose, just like Paul, for the gospel of God.

Isaiah 43 verse 1-2

But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

² When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

He created or formed you, called you by name, and promised to be with you through the thick and thin of your life. So fear not, my friend. No matter what trials you go through, nothing will harm you or overcome you. God’s grace will be sufficient for you to be victorious.

There are four transformations God did for you.

1. First Transformation

John 1 verse 1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The first thing God did was to become a man. Christ became man in flesh. Jesus was there in the beginning. Everything was made through him, and without him, nothing was made. The very essence of our life is with Jesus. He is the light that we need to overcome the darkness in our lives. God became flesh for our sake.

2. Second Transformation

Corinthian 5 verse 21

²¹ God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus became our sin so that we might become righteousness in God through him. Jesus became the author and finisher of our faith. Jesus took all our sins to the cross. He had to come in flesh to pay for our sins.

3. Third Transformation

Mathew 8 verses 16-17

¹⁶ When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. ¹⁷ This was to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.

He took our infirmities and our diseases or sickness. He came in flesh, died for our sins, and gives us victory over our infirmities.

4. Fourth Transformation

Galatian 3 verses 13-14

¹³ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.[h] ¹⁴ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Christ became a curse. He redeemed us from the curse of the law.

Based on all the above scriptures, we are freed from self-condemnation and have the freedom to live without fear to fulfil the purpose for which we are called according to his pleasure. When you believe in the Lord Jesus, you have an everlasting life; we also transform daily to become like Jesus, as we are made in his image. What a gift we have in Jesus with all those transformation he has done for us.

Go to Bethel and Settle There

Genesis 28 verses 16-22

¹⁶ When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it. ¹⁷ He was afraid and said, How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.¹⁸ Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. ¹⁹ He called that place Bethel,[e] though the city used to be called Luz.²⁰ Then Jacob made a vow, saying, If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear ²¹ so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the LORD[f] will be my God ²² and[g] this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.

Genesis 35 verse 1

Then God said to Jacob, Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.

Our God is a covenant-keeping god. God always remembers his covenant, but we are the ones who forget about him. God does not need