The next ECC Msia Pastors and Leaders Meeting will be held on

Date: Tuesday, April 6th 2010

Time: 9 am - 1 pm

Venue: Wisma Eagles, Subang Jaya.

Speakers: Rev Colin Hurt
              Rev Eu Hong Seng.

Please contact James or Tony at 03-8024 2270 to confirm your attendance.

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In the current ongoing debate, some are of the opinion that Christians should just give in and forego the use of the word “Allah” so that the threats and attacks on churches will stop and Malaysia can continue to enjoy her peace and move on unhindered to developed nation status.

Now, more than ever the country needs clear-minded Malaysians and not “confused” citizens, Christians included.

There are ten salient facts and reasons and I would like to address these to the ordinary man in the street and lay people in the Church.[1].

1. The use of "Allah" predates Islam

"Allah" is the Arabic name for God, and it indeed pre-dates Islam and even Christianity. The pagan Arabs of the Arabian Peninsula called God "Allah," even though they worshipped hundreds of idols in addition. Christians all across the Arab World today use the word "Allah" for God, and if one were to read an Arabic Bible, he would find that God is indeed called "Allah."

"Allah" is also the name that Jesus Christ called God. "Allah" is the Arabic equivalent of "Elohim," which is Hebrew for God. The "im" is a plural appendage of respect, and so the word is "Eloh," which is very similar to "Allah." In addition, the Aramaic word for God is "Alaha," and Aramaic was the language which Jesus himself spoke. Moreover, the word "Allah" is found in the English version of the Bible which we read today. In Matthew 27:46 we read: "About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’ - which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’" The word "Eloi" is the Aramaic form of the Arabic "Allah."[2]

It is important to know the fact that Christians in Malaysia didn’t start using “Allah” only recently, as some contend.

2. It is used all over the world by Christians.

The Arabic word is commonly used by Christians to describe God in such countries as Egypt, Syria and Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim nation.

So it is not just a Malaysian word, for the Malaysian context only. One cannot just decide to copyright an “international” word and hope to escape ridicule.

And anybody in Malaysia can tell you that it is more than just one word that can be involved. The focus now may be on one word, thereafter the contention will be expanded to include other words, and at a later stage any other word or words that the “authorities” may so decide.

3 “Allah” was used by East Malaysians before Malaysia was formed

The SIB church was formed in Sarawak in 1928, nearly 30 years before Malaysia’s independence, and they were already using “Allah” in their worship and literature.

And some of them don’t even speak BM or English, only their own mother tongue and in their mother tongue, the word used is “Allah.”

So it’s not only the Alkitab, the BM Bible. The other Scriptures which use “Allah” are the Kelabit and Lunbawang Bibles.

Daniel Raut, a senior leader of SIB Church — the largest Malay-speaking congregation in the country — said it will not drop the use of the word "Allah," even though Christians fear for their safety.

"Since our forefathers become Christians in the 1920s, we have been using Allah even in our mother tongue," said Raut, who is from the Lunbawang tribe in eastern Sarawak state.

Furthermore, how does one propose that its use be restricted to East Malaysians only? What happens when they come to work in West Malaysia? What about the thousands who are already in West Malaysia? What about our existing West Malaysia Bahasa Malaysia churches?

What happens when an East Malaysian crosses over to Labuan (a Federal Territory) for the weekend?

Some proponents of the “East Malaysia only” concept take it a step further and suggest (to those of us in West Malaysia), “when in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

Though debatable, the new political landscape has all the major political parties, including the key partners of the Barisan, not aligned with Caeser, on this issue.

The Malay equivalent is “Masuk kandang lembu, menguak. Masuk kandang kambing mengembek” (When entering the cattle pen, moo. When entering the goat pen, bleat).

Perhaps it is time the new minority, moo and bleat with the majority.

4. The success of our National Language education policy

Since the introduction of the National Language policy, our emerging generation has become more proficient in Bahasa Malaysia. And with the continued emphasis, the next two generations can be expected to be not only proficient but dependent on the Bahasa Malaysia as the lingua franca in our nation.

Alongside the Allah contention, there are clear intentions to further impose restrictions on other words like “Injil” (Gospel) and “firman” (Word).[3]

So the logical question we all are asking is “how would this pan out?”

Any strategists will tell you that in winning the generational war, ignore the “old diehards” and focus on the future generations.

Our grandchildren and great grand-children, will find themselves reluctant to read Scriptures in a language in which they are less proficient and also not be able to access the Alkitab, and also, perhaps be the first generation who have never heard of “firman” and “Injil?”

I can understand the zeal of the government to Islamize the nation,[4] but I pray that they will do so with honesty and integrity. “Bring all to the table” and aim for the hearts. Malaysians will respect you for that.

But no coercion, no bullying, no media misrepresentation, no scrambling the minds of our children and no re-writing of Scriptures!

But I also pray that by the same token and in the true spirit of religious freedom, the day will soon come, when others, if they so desire be allowed to share their respective faiths with our Muslim friends as is fully acceptable and permissible in Indonesia, the largest Muslim country in the world. Surely Indonesia is a great example to us on what freedom of religion is all about. Sharing one’s faith with another should not be narrowly interpreted as with ‘intent to convert’. Understanding one another’s faith is surely an excellent way of promoting goodwill, peace and harmony among the multi religious population in this lovely country of ours.

Under the present circumstances, the many proposed “inter faith dialogues” and formation of councils to facilitate such dialogues will be nothing but a monologue, as the other faiths are “gagged” in the name of the constitution.

5. Used by others as well

The Sikhs use “Allah” in their Scriptures. Do we stop them next?

What about Hindus, who also refer to one of their gods as "Allah?"

Rigveda is the most sacred scripture of the Hindus, and one of the attributes given to God Almighty in Book no 2 Hymn no I verse II, is ‘Ila’ which if pronounced properly is the same as Allah [5].

So it is not a Christian issue alone. What the Christians are asked to do, the

Sikhs and the Hindus will be asked to do, eventually.

6. Constitutional right to "manage" our own religion

This right must include how we address our God.

Over enthusiastic bureaucrats, consequentially are interfering with the worship & education of Christians – CDs have been confiscated, Sunday School materials are held up by customs, besides the confiscations of the Alkitab.

According to Prof. Dr. Shad Saleem Faruqi[6], the Malaysian Constitution provides that Islam is the religion of the federation. But all other religions may be practised in peace and harmony: Article 3(1).

In respect of religion, every person has the right to three things:

1. To profess

2. To practice

3. And, subject to Article 11(4), to propagate his religion: Article 11(1)

Every religious group has the right to:

1. Manage its own affairs

2. Establish and maintain institutions for religious purposes.

3. Acquire and own property and administer it: Article 11(3).

4. Establish and maintain institutions for religious education: Article 12(2).[7]

Our constitutional right, to manage our own affairs, to practice religion freely has been increasingly under threat particularly over the past two decades.

7. Dictating what should be in the Scriptures of a major religion in the world

This suggestion that another word be used is perhaps “the biggest joke.”

Whether one agrees or not about the word is not the main issue.

The basic issue, lest we forget the obvious, is that each and every religious Scriptures is the sacred book – of Christians (including the Kelabit and Lunbawang), the Sikhs and the Hindus. We are not talking about some supplementary textbooks or a "pseudo scripture" just written recently.

Are those who argue for a substitute word suggesting that all these Holy Books be re-written to accommodate a few?

If it is suggested by adherents of the respective faiths, this could perhaps be more acceptable. But when followers of one faith, suggest (and insist) that believers of another faith, re-write their Scriptures to pander to their “unsubstantiated convictions” then we are not too far from the “height of arrogance.”

I know Malaysia is “boleh-land” but this move to “force” the other religious groups to rewrite their Scriptures is preposterous.

8. Prominent scholars of Islam and Muslim organizations have supported the use of "Allah" by Christians

In Malaysiakini dated 13^th Jan 2010, Constitutional Law expert Abdul Aziz Bari contends that it is pretty clear that the use of Allah by Christians has some basis in the Quran.

This is strengthened by the exposition of eminent scholars, including Egyptian scholar Shaykh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi (Maal Hijrah award recipient 2009) who said that Christians, as part of the Abrahamic faiths together with the Jews and Muslims, can use the word ‘Allah’.[8]

Earlier on, the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) on 4 Jan 2010, also issued a statement viz -

“With regards to actual and historical practices, Christian Arabs have been using the word “Allah” to refer to God in their religious sources since the inception of Islam, and have never been challenged by private Muslims or Muslim governments on this ground. Islamic law is clear that followers of the Christian faith have the right to practice their religion according to their own religious teachings.

We call on the Malaysian government to uphold the religious freedom of Christians and to let the court ruling stand. We also urge Muslim NGOs to respect Islamic teachings and long-held Islamic traditions, and to withdraw their opposition to the use of the word “Allah” by their Christian compatriots.”[9]

We would like to hear from our government a more coherent and intelligent response to these prominent voices than simply quote “this is Malaysia.”

9. Our State Anthems will take on a new meaning.

How does one sing the state anthems of Selangor, Kedah, Pahang, Johor, Kelantan and Trengganu now, since there are references to “Allah” in these songs, as it is now implied to refer to the Muslim God only?

In schools, about 30 years ago, we were told we were singing to “God.” Now are our children to sing only to one particular God?

See appendix for list of affected State Anthems.

Unless, of course, one is liberal and don’t mind singing to all gods or any god or just the Muslim god.

10. We need to keep in mind that there was "good harmony" in the first 30 years after Merdeka, with freedom to use "Allah."

It never was an issue until enthusiastic politicians promulgated the infamous ISA gazette in 1982, referring to the Alkitab as a document “prejudicial to the national interest and security of the Federation.”

The rest is history.

What an insult! But the Christian community has always been a peace loving people.

For the sake of harmony, Christians engaged in closed door meetings in the past, to negotiate “restricted use” of the word rather than to bring it to the courts. And we were always assured by the government that we could use our Alkitab.

But today, they are saying we cannot use the word and the various government agencies started confiscating various Christian materials, not just the Alkitab. And the claim is we "used to accept it" – but that’s because we have been tricked into negotiating behind closed doors in the name of the Malaysian culture of "talk and resolve quietly." So because “nobody” heard from us, now they take advantage and say, we accepted it all this while. This is absolutely not true. Christians have been moaning, complaining, objecting and writing to the government for years.

Should we concede for the sake of peace alone? Friends, the days of closed door meetings - where our views are deliberately misrepresented[10] and compromised - where the minority is always bullied and threatened into submission for the sake of harmony and in the name of sensitivity, are perhaps over?

It is indeed sad, that after 52 years of independence, the country is still not ready for mature dialogue, and is still struggling to hear the voice of reason.

This is not a race issue, this is not a Malay supremacy issue, this is not even a religious issue. And this is definitely not an East-West Malaysia issue.[11]

Before us are simply constitutional and “human rights” issues, a call to respect the spiritual convictions and Scriptures of other faiths. This is simply a call to exercise common sense and to respect boundaries – ie no rewriting Scriptures!

I hope and pray that the above facts and reasons would help Christians understand that we are not insisting on using “Allah” to "irritate" the “easily confused people” of the land.

We continue to pray for peace and seek a reasoned solution, so that Malaysia can indeed shine as a land so affectionately known as “truly Asia.”

Eu Hong Seng

Pastor

20^th Jan 2010.

Appendix – State Anthems

Selangor

Duli Yang Maha Mulia

Selamat di atas takhta

Allah lanjutkan usia Tuanku

Rakyat mohon restu bawah Duli Tuanku

Bahagia selama-lamanya

Aman dan sentosa

Duli Yang Maha Mulia

Kedah

Allah selamatkan Sultan Mahkota
Berpanjangan usia diatas Takhta
Memelihara agama Nabi kita
Negeri Kedah serata-rata

Perak

Dilanjutkan Allah usianya Sultan

Adil dan murah memerintah watan

Ditaati rakyat kiri dan kanan

Iman yang soleh Allah kurniakan

Allah berkati Perak Ridzuan

Allah selamatkan Negeri dan Sultan.

Johor

Allah peliharakan Sultan
‘Nugrahkan dia segala kehormatan
Sihat dan ria, kekal dan makmur
Luaskan kuasa, menaungkan kami
Rakyat dipimpini berzaman lagi
Dengan Merdeka bersatu hati
Allah berkati Johor
Allah selamatkan Sultan

Pahang

Ya Allah Yang Masa Kuasa,

Lanjutkan Usia Duli Yang Maha Mulia,

Dirgahayu, Darul Makmur,

Aman dan Bahagia Sentiasa,

Ya Allah Selamatkan Duli Tuanku Raja Kami

Trengganu

Allah daulatkan Tuanku Sultan,

Terengganu Darul Iman,

Allah peliharakan Tuanku Sultan,

Sejahtera sepanjang zaman,

Allah rahmatkan Tuanku Sultan,

Memerintah rakyat aman.

Kelantan

Lanjutka usia Al-Sultan kami
Sultan Kelantan raja ikrami
Aman sentosa Tuhan sirami
Kekal memerintah kami

Kasih dan taat setia disembahkan
Keriangan diucapkan
Segala kebesaran Allah cucurkan
Bertambah kemuliaan

[1] This article is in response to the many requests for clarification from lay people in churches.

[2] Hesham A. Hassaballa is a physician and writer living in Chicago. He is co-author of The Beliefnet Guide to Islam (Doubleday). http://www.middle-east-online.com/English/?id=36608

[3] See the Pahang enactment

[4] I believe every true and faithful follower will want to share their faith, and Muslims are no exception.

[5] Other references to use of Allah :

BOOK 2 - HYMN 1 Verse 11 - Thou, God, art Aditi to him who offers gifts: thou, Hotrā, Bhāratī, art strengthened by the song. Thou art the hundred-wintered Iḷā to give strength, Lord of Wealth! Vṛtra-slayer and Sarasvatī.

BOOK 3 - HYMN XXIII Verse 4 He set thee in the earth’s most lovely station, in Iḷā’s place, in days of fair bright weather. On man, on Āpayā, Agni! on the rivers Dṛṣadvati, Sarasvatī, shine richly.

[6] Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr. Shad Saleem Faruqi is a Malaysian Senior Professor of law who has served Universiti Teknologi MARA in Shah Alam, Selangor in various capacities from 1971 onwards. He served as the Head of the Diploma in Law program (1979 - 1984), as Assistant Rector (1996-1999), Assistant Vice Chancellor (1999 - 2001) and Legal Advisor (1996 - 2006). He has also served on the faculties of law at the International Islamic University Malaysia, part time at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and a visiting professor at Universiti Sains Malaysia

[7] The Federal Constitution  and the Social Contract by  Prof. Dr. Shad Saleem Faruqi – http://74.125.153.132/search?q=cache:VoCPy4Nb85sJ:cpps.org.my/resource_centre/Prof.%2520Dr.%2520Shad%2520Saleem%2520Faruqi.ppt+Malaysia+constitutional+Article+11&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=my&client=firefox-a

[8] http://national-express-malaysia.blogspot.com/2010/01/allah-decree-does-sultan-have-power.html

[9] http://www.isna.net/articles/News/ISNA-Commends-Malaysian-Court-Ruling-that-Affirms-Religious-Freedom-of-Christians.aspx

[10] Muhyiddin said he had been receiving quite a number of messages from non-Muslim friends in Sabah and Sarawak who said there were Christians who felt that things would not have happened in the first place “if we, the Christians, would just not use the word ‘Allah’”. Malaysia Insider 14^th Jan2010 – we disagree with this view, as the leaders of the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM), the component members being the Roman Catholic, the Council Churches of Malaysia and the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship of Malaysia, have met on several occasions over the last few years and have repeatedly affirmed the wishes of the Christians, both in East and West Malaysia, ie we would not compromise on the use of the word “Allah.” The dissenting voice is a very small minority and is obviously being used to portray a misleading view. I would urge all Christians to refer to the “Kuching Declaration” dated Sept 1989, where the Roman Catholics, the CCM and the NECF came together to formally adopt a united stand to use the word “Allah.” See - http://www.necf.org.my/newsmaster.cfm?&action=view&menuid=154&retrieveid=976

[11] Just because a few Christians in West or East Malaysia, don’t understand the issue and voice their ignorance, this does not mean the whole of West or the whole of the East Malaysian communities are against the use of the word. We need to be aware of the sinister aims to make both the West and East Malaysian Christians misunderstand each other. By all means, “share” and educate each other. But beware of answering and correcting in the cyber space and give the impression, that the West or the East Malaysian Christians are ignorant, naïve or disunited. The “Kuching Declaration” clearly shows the Christians in both West and East Malaysia are united. And today, we remain resolute and unyielding in our stand.

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1 Peter 2:9-10 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

The Church is not about what we want..It’s about what God wants!

• Throughout Scripture the Lord makes it plain that He will dwell with His people only where His  name is recorded. And He will record His name only where the meeting place conforms to His high pattern and standard. Exodus 20:22–26.
  
  a) Following Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, God establishes His covenant of law with them through Moses and gives them the acceptable pattern for His dwelling place and their place of worship. His injunction: “And see to it that you make [it] according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain”–– Exodus 25:40
  
  b) In time, the Tabernacle is superseded by the Temple of Solomon, which was to be God’s dwelling place with His people in a new era of peace and rest for Israel. Once again, God gave very specific instructions for the building of the temple. 1 Chronicles 28:10–20.

  c) When Jesus came He built neither temple nor church for he was now God’s dwelling place with man –– the pattern Son! If any desired to meet with God they came to Christ for “in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily”––Colossians 2:9.

• When Jesus returned to the Father He sent His Spirit to dwell in His people (John 14:16–18). The church is now become God’s dwelling place and anyone desiring to meet with God must find Him in living epistles “known and read of all men”––2 Corinthians 3:2.
  
  d) If God was very particular indeed under the Old Covenant that His dwelling place should meet the divine pattern, how much greater and higher is His standard for the New Covenant church “…written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables
  of the heart––2 Corinthians 3:3
  -> The church of the living God is not called to be a church busy with its own plans and agenda… full of works and activities which God’s Spirit has not called for.
  -> But what God wants is a church without “spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” ––Ephesians 5:27.
  -> And what God wants is a church (called out ones) for Himself… for He has created us for His pleasure and for His glory.

God’s Heart is for a kingdom of kings and priests…

Revelation 1:5-6 [And from] Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

• That’s what God wants… Kings and priests, again recorded in Revelation 5:10!
  a) God has always wanted a people for Himself… a dear and loyal and faithful and sold–out company who would love Him as he loves them, and be one with Him and His Son, Jesus Christ, for all eternity.

  b) This cry has been on God’s heart from the beginning in creating man in His image and likeness.

1. Adam’s race called to be God’s Kings and Priests

• God created man to this end and set Adam in a garden to be His king and priest in the earth.
• But Adam failed and handed his sceptre and crown to God’s enemy, Satan.

2. Nation of Israel called to be God’s Kings and Priests

• After Adam’s failure, God called out a man named Abraham to be His friend and progenitor of a new race of people… a “holy nation and a peculiar people”

Exodus 19:1-6 In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount. And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

3. The Aaronic Priesthood

1) Israel rejected God call and so God chose Levi to be the priesthood. Both Moses and his brother Aaron were Levites. Aaron had four sons – Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar – and they became the Aaronic Priesthood.

Exodus 28:1-2 And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons. And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron
thy brother for glory and for beauty.

2) But this priesthood proved disastrous! Aaron made Israel a golden calf (Exodus 32) to worship while Moses was upon Mt Sinai seeking God.

3) Then Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu desecrated their office with strange fire and God’s judgment fell and slew them instantly:

And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the
LORD. (Leviticus 10:1-2)

• Nadab and Abihu offered “strange” or “profane” fire before the Presence of the glory. “Profane” means “to show disrespect or contempt or irreverence for sacred things”. (This was the sin of Shimei whom Solomon slew when he established his kingdom).
• “Strange” = zuwr [zoor] meaning to turn aside in a profane way (irreverent, blasphemous) ; to commit adultery by going after a strange or foreign woman.
• These two priests seized the censers that were set apart of the worship of the Lord and filled them with the fire and incense of their own choosing, not the offering prescribed by God.
• They came carelessly and with irreverence into the presence of the glory, bearing an unacceptable offering and treating as common that which was holy. And being priests they bore the greater judgment.

• A W Tozer: “How can anyone ever worship God acceptably without knowing what kind of God He really is…” –– only by knowing God can we determine what kind of worship He is seeking!

John 4:23-24 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

• Immediately after this event Moses instructed that the two dead priests were to be taken outside the camp and buried:

Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp. So they went near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp; as Moses had said. (Leviticus 10:3-5)

• “Out of the camp” or outside the camp – disassociation without honour from the presence of God and the “church in the wilderness”.

• And then Moses warns Aaron and his two surviving nephews that they were not even to mourn their dead brethren lest they die as well:

And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your
heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let
your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the LORD hath kindled. And
ye shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: for the
anointing oil of the LORD is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses. (Leviticus
10:6-7)

4. The Eli Priesthood

1 Samuel 2:27-35 And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father [Aaron], when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house? [28] And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel? [29] Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?

[30] Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

[31] Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm [of strength], and the arm of thy father’s house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house. [32] And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever.

[33] And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.

[34] And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them. [35] And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.

1) We Find Here A Curse Upon One Priesthood - And The Prophetic Raising Up Of “An Enduring” Holy-Remnant Priesthood.

-> Eli represents a cursed priesthood, a priesthood of self-centred servants of God. They are called priests, but lightly esteem the work of God. They do not like the ministry of correction. Their spiritual children become wicked because of their lazy life-styles and their refusal to cry out against sin. They “make themselves fat with the choicest of every offering of (Gods) people” (verse 29).

-> Eli saw iniquity in his sons who brought a curse on themselves, “and he did not rebuke them” (1 Samuel 3:13). For this God said, “I am about to judge his house forever.” And his house was judged! The glory of the Lord departed from Shiloh, the ark was captured and he and his sons died.

2) A Holy Remnant Priesthood Prophesied

The unknown prophet who came to Eli prophesied of a new kind of priesthood:

“But I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who will do according to what is in My heart and in
My soul; and I will build him an enduring house, and he will walk before My anointed always” (1
Samuel 2:35).

-> This is an amazing first prophecy of a holy-remnant priesthood, enduring to the end, enduring until Christ returns. It is a remnant, which God says, “I will build!”
-> During the subsequent reign of David, there was a dual priesthood of Zadok and Abiathar who fulfil the type and shadow of this prophecy to the letter.

• Zadok in Hebrew is ‘tsadog’, meaning “one proved righteous.”

• Abiathar is ‘ebyathar’, meaning “at peace with the Lord who is God” .
- These two priests represent the two priesthoods mentioned by the unknown prophet who spoke to Eli - one is of the spirit of Eli, the other is a ministry unto the Lord.

• Abiathar, who was of the house of Eli, in the line of Ithamar, had been the high-priest after the death of Ahimelech his father.

• Zadok, who succeeded him as high-priest, was descended from Aaron by the line of Eleazar.
- Both Zadok and Abiathar served jointly as priests in David’s kingdom - and both bore the Ark of the Covenant on their shoulders as it was returned by David to Jerusalem.

3) Let Us Look First at Zadok

I. SAUL: Zadok rejected Saul and gave his hearts and allegiance to David. Not once did he ever look back. He proved to be righteous because he proved to be faithful! He was there when David needed him!

II. ABSALOM: And when so many others were being carried away with the rebellion of Absalom, Zadok remained faithful through it all.

III. ADONIJAH: And when David lay dying and succession to the throne was passing to Solomon, Zadok remained true to David and opposed Adonijah’s bid for the throne.

• All the while, God was building Zadok an enduring house, a priesthood that fulfilled the prophecy of the man of God who prophesied to Eli. This is that “faithful priest who will do according to what is in My heart and in My soul.”

4) Now Let Us Look at Abiathar

I. SAUL: Abiathar chose to be faithful to David, like Zadok.

II. ABSALOM: Abiathar wanted nothing to do with Absalom’s rebellion. He appeared to be just as faithful as Zadok. He appeared outwardly holy, blameless, and faithful.

III. ADONIJAH: But here Abiathar failed his test, siding with Adonijah over Solomon, and thus betraying David

1 Kings 1:5, 7-8 “Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king…
.And he had conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest; and
following Adonijah they helped him. But Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada,
Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty men, who belonged to David, were not
with Adonijah”.

o He remained true to God in the test between Saul and David
o He remained true to God in the test between Absalom and David
o He failed God in the test between Adonijah and David

-> This rebellious company mocked the “old and worn out” ways of David. They were crying for a new kind of kingdom, a new kind of priesthood!

-> There was rebellion, the spirit of adultery, a demonic realm of pride and self-esteem. A new wave of self-exaltation was sweeping through the land deceiving the masses, and Abiathar was one with them.

• Abiathar fell under the curse of the house of Eli because of the latent sin of pride and rebellion in his heart. The self-exalting preaching of Adonijah appealed to something in him - and he cast aside his suffering past to be successful and accepted with the new wave gospel.

• Because his heart had not been cleansed, he joined Adonijah and Joab and Shimei in the fall from grace and loss of reward in the coming kingdom of Solomon.

• Solomon was going to build a new temple and God required a new priesthood for it! The ascension to the throne of David was a Divine test for the priesthood.

• King Solomon knew all about the curse upon the house of Eli. And he recognized Abiathar as being of that kind of priesthood in his siding with Adonijah.

1 Kings 2:27 “So Solomon thrust out [dismissed] Abiathar from being priest unto the Lord, that he might fulfil the word of the Lord, which He had spoken concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh”.

• What an amazing fulfilment of prophecy! A man who once been faithful in two major tests of God and shared the sufferings of his Lord - now dismissed, rejected. He is told to go his own way, for he is of no more use to God’s kingdom!

5. The Zadok Priesthood Read Ezekiel 44:15-19, 23

Ezekiel 44:15-19 But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD: They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge. And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within. They shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth sweat. And when they go forth into the utter court, even into the utter court to the people, they shall put off their garments wherein they ministered, and lay them in the holy chambers, and they shall put on other garments; and they shall not sanctify the people with their garments… Ezekiel 44:23 And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

• Ezekiel prophesied That the Priesthood Of Zadok and Levi Would Become More Pronounced in the Latter Days.
  • Ezekiel saw the ministry of Zadok as a ministry unto the Lord, not unto man. He saw the Zadok remnant as a priesthood called out of a priesthood!

  Ezekiel 40:46 “These are the sons of Zadok, who from the sons of Levi come near to the Lord to minister to Him”

• This anointed and holy priesthood is to be the fulfilment of God’s desire for a nation of kings and priests––a glorious temple and dwelling place for God Himself.

• The Zadok ministry is separated from the world and has one mission in life; to be at the Lords table to minister to Him!

. This priesthood is clothed in the pure, unmixed garments of holiness!
. They walk in absolute obedience to the Lord.
. They teach Gods people the difference between right and wrong.
. They are not afraid to denounce sin.

Ezekiel 44:23 “ And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.”

• Their only true possession in life is the Lord Himself.

Ezekiel 44:28 “…and you shall give them no possession in Israel - I am their possession“

The New Temple, the dwelling place of God - the Church!

In the 40th chapter of Ezekiel, the prophet is taken by spirit-flight from Babylon to Jerusalem.

• In the 25th year of the Babylonian captivity - The 14th year after the fall of Jerusalem.

• Ezekiel’s name in Hebrew means ‘in the strength of God’.

Ezekiel 40:1-2 “In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the
tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day
the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither. In the visions of God brought he me
into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city
on the south”. *

• He is spiritually transported to a high mountain, and he is shown an unfamiliar city (“something like the structure of a city on the south”).

1) Ezekiel, coming from the north, is set down upon “a very high mountain” which portrays Mt Zion on which Jerusalem with its temple stood.

2) But this mountain is not the literal Zion, nor any other actual mountain. It exists only in vision, it is “the mountain of the Lord’s house” described by the prophet Isaiah and speaks of the Kingdom of God.

Isaiah 2:2-3 “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”

The apostle John was taken up in the Spirit to the same “great and high mountain”

Revelation 21:9-11 “And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal”

• Standing on the mountain, Ezekiel and sees the city-like frame of the new temple stretching southward.

1) The temple structure is so vast and varied that it bore the aspect of a city - far larger than the site of the former city of Jerusalem!

In Ezekiel 40:3 God brings him close up to it, so as to inspect it minutely.

2) He is in God’s holy temple-city built by the Spirit of God… the New Jerusalem

3) This is the same city Abraham had spent his life seeking… Hebrews 11:10 “For [Abraham] looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

4) John likewise was given a vision of this same temple-city in Revelation 21:

Revelation 21:2-4 “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away”

5) The apostle Peter describes this spiritual temple in his first epistle:

1 Peter 2:5, 9 “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. [9] But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”

• On this mountaintop Ezekiel encounters a Christophany (an appearance of the preincarnate Christ in the Old Testament) – “Whose appearance was like brass” and who held a line of flax and a measuring rod.

Again, the appearance of Christ is similar to John’s Christophany in Revelation

Revelation 1:13-15 “And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.”

1) In Scripture, brass (or bronze) speaks of Divine judgment. It was the substance of the brazen altar in the Tabernacle and Temple where the sacrifice for sin was offered before God.

• Ezekiel sees the King is standing in His Kingdom – come as Judge to measure His temple.

• John was given the same “measuring reed” in Revelation and commanded to measure the temple:

Revelation 11:1-2 “And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is * given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.”

• The line and the reed were instruments for measuring the trueness and straightness of buildings in Old Testament times.

o Line: used for longer measurements:

Zechariah 2:1-2 “I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.”

o Reed: used in measuring houses. It marked the straightness of the walls.

Revelation 21:15 “And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof”. *

2) The Man’s words to Ezekiel were very succinct:

Ezekiel 40:4 “And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart [focus intently] upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.”

• i.e. “Ezekiel, give this your full attention for you were brought here so that I might show these things to you!”

• Note: Ezekiel is the only person in the Bible, other than Christ Himself, who is addressed as “Son of man” with a capital ‘S”. There is one reference to Daniel as “son of man” with a small ‘s’ in Daniel 8:17.

• Following this special admonition, great detail is taken to familiarize Ezekiel with the measurement, gates, common areas, windows and directions of passage in this great temple of worship.

• Although Ezekiel served in the former temple, he was to be familiar with the new temple and understand how different this worship and its edifice would be from the one to which he was accustomed.

3) This true spiritual temple shows Ezekiel how far away the old temple is from the real things of God.

• The Spirit points out the necessity of familiarizing oneself with this new Temple, focusing upon its structure and being like Ezekiel in noting its particulars.

Ezekiel 40:46 “And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.”

• The Spirit declared that the Sons of Zadok must know this temple like the back of their hands. They must prepare themselves for making this temple their life and ministering there, their work.

4) With the Coming of a New Temple God is Raising Up a New Priesthood.

• Ezekiel shows a contrast between two kinds of ministry: the sons of Zadok and the ordinary Levites. Not all Levites were Zadokites, but all Zadokites were Levites.

• Vast differences between the ‘Eli’ system and the ‘Zadok’ priesthood:

• Between hype and hypocrisy in religious circles – and high calling and holiness in spiritual circles.

• Between what proceeds from God – and what emanates from the heart of man.

• Because what man touches he corrupts

Ezekiel 43:10-12 Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern. And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them. This is the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house. *

2) What Characterises Those Who May minister to God as opposed to those who may not?

But I will make them [the defiled and unholy ministry] keepers of the charge of the house, for all the service thereof, and for all that shall be done therein. (Ezekiel 44:14)

• This penalized ministry were to be identified with a straying congregation (vs 10-14).

• An unholy congregation would be ministered to by an unholy clergy.

• Both ministers and people were worshipping idols alongside one another.

• God showed Ezekiel the secret idolatry and adultery and blasphemy of the priesthood and the people.

• The holiness of the Zadok priesthood was evident to all.

Psalms 89:7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of
all them that are about him.

“God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints” (Commentary from The Treasury of David by Charles Spurgeon):
“Those saints of his who walk close with him, have a daunting power in their appearance. Sometimes when you come into the presence of one who is truly godly, whom your conscience tells you walks close with God, does not even the very sight of such a one terrify you? Does not the very lustre of that holiness you see strike your conscience.
“Ecclesiastical stories tell us of Bishop Basil of the early church: when the officers came to apprehend him, he then being exercised in holy duties, that there was such a majesty and lustre from his countenance that the officers fell down backward (as they did who came to apprehend Christ), and they were not able to lay hold of him. When Basil died in 379AD he was mourned by the entire city, and the weeping crowds at his funeral included Christians, Jews, and pagans.

• This is a far cry from the Lord’s complaint through Isaiah:

Isaiah 29:13 “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men”

• The Significance of the Zadok Priesthood:

-> Zadok comes from the Hebrew word Tsodek meaning ‘to be right’. The Hebrew word for ‘a righteous one’ is Tsadek = one who is righteous.

In Biblical thought, in the Hebrew language – which Paul tries to communicate to Greeks in Philippi – one cannot be righteous unless one is right. If one is not tzodek, one cannot be a tzadek.

• The Rejected Priesthood –– Ezekiel 44:1–9

• Self–elected, never saved and never called.

• The Penalised Priesthood –– Ezekiel 44:10–14

• Look at verse 10: ” . . . the Levites who went astray from Me when Israel went astray”.

• Isaiah begins by castigating the clergy for leading the people astray. Jeremiah begins in the same way.

• Earlier in his ministry, Ezekiel begins also by following the examples of his predecessors, Isaiah and Jeremiah. However, in the second half of his book, Ezekiel reverses it. He no longer says that it is the leaders leading the people away; the problem becomes the people leading the leaders astray.

• In other words, the blame of the leaders here is not that they are misleading the people, but that they are failing to be leaders. Instead, they are letting the people dictate what should be done.

A Levite will always give the people what they say they want; the Zadokites, on the other hand, will give the people what God says they need.

• Today the big philosophy in church growth is, ‘find out what the people want and give it to them.’

• The church will therefore become more and more like the world. ‘Oh, they want \Christian rock music and smoke machines, so we’ll give it to them’. So instead of having worship services, you basically have rock concerts in church, based not on the worship of God but on the worship of worship.

• But the righteous clergy give the people what they need. They were the minority. Let us look further, to understand how this works.

3) A Change of Priestly Garments

Ezekiel 44:17-18 And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within. They shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth sweat.

• Notice that the high priest could not have a mixture. The Levites had a mixture, but the Zadokites had none.

• The Zadokites could also not wear anything that would make them sweat. Why? Let’s begin by looking at the mixture: they were forbidden to make a garment of flax and wool. God hates and despises mixture.

Revelation 19:7-8 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

• A Zadokite wore pure linen; his deeds were no mixture, so there would be no sweat. The Levite had a mixture, so there would be perspiration. In other words, a Zadokite would rest in the Lord, whereas the Levite would strive in the flesh.

Ezekiel 44:23 And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

• A Zadokite will teach discernment. A Levite will be politically correct; he will not teach discernment.

• Only a righteous leader will teach discernment. When you see churches that will not deal with error, will not teach the people what is wrong with what’s being shown and espoused on popular ‘Christian’ television – when you see people who will not take a stand and warn people when they go to a Christian book shop what kinds of books to keep away from – when you find that discernment is not being taught in a church – that is a Levite, not a Zadokite.

• A Levite will always compromise truth. Once people begin compromising truth, it won’t be long before they are compromising morality.

Ezekiel 44:24 “And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.” *

• A Zadokite, a righteous minister, will take a stand in a dispute and judge Biblically. Again, a Levite will be politically correct. He will come down on the fence.

• Remember that Ezekiel prophesies not only for his own day or even for the first coming of Jesus, he also prophesied for the last days.

To which priesthood do you belong? Zadok or Abiathar?

• God is even now raising up the royal priesthood - sons of Zadok!

1 Peter 2:5, 9 “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.[9] But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light”

• We are called to a ministry to the Lord. All direction comes to this priesthood while we minister to the Lord.

Acts 13:2 “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.”

• There is a sure word that will come forth to all those who love the Lord and who know their ministry is of Him and to Him. All other ministry springs out of that ministry to Him.

• Is the Spirit purging you? Are you being refined by fire? Do you hunger for Christ’s holiness? Do you sigh and weep over the abominations in the church and in the land? Are you casting down the idols in your life?

1 Peter 4:17-19 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it
first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the
righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let
them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well
doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

• The Lord is coming in this hour of judgment to cleanse His temple a second time - to raise up a new priesthood of believers who can minister to Him in the new Temple!

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Homosexuality is Theologically Wrong

Tony Blair has told the world’s major religions that they have misunderstood their holy books when it comes to the issue of homosexuality. Texts which identify homosexual acts as morally wrong should be seen as ‘metaphorical’ not literal, Britain’s former Prime Minister claims. He also suggests that religions should follow shifts in the culture rather than hold firm to their historic beliefs. In an interview with gay magazine Attitude Mr Blair said: “When people quote the passages in Leviticus condemning homosexuality, I say to them - if you read the whole of the Old Testament and took everything that was there in a literal way, as being what God and religion is about, you’d have some pretty tough policies across the whole of the piece.” (Contained in a report from The Christian Institute Wednesday, 8 April 2009)

Is Mr Blair right? Let’s first of all examine the Old Testament texts to which he makes reference.

“Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.” (Lev.18:22 NIV)

“If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.” (Lev.20:13 NIV)

The first text (Lev.18:22) comes in a context where many other sexual deviations are forbidden: incest (v.6-18), adultery (v.20), bestiality (v.23). This is true of the second text (Lev.20:13): adultery (v.10), incest (v.11-12), bestiality (v.15-16) are also forbidden. As we can see, the texts in question are not an attack upon homosexuality alone, but on all forms of sexual deviation. In the modern world we have “gay pride” marches, but, so far, I have not heard of “adultery pride” marches, “incest pride” marches or “bestiality pride” marches. What makes homosexuals think they are a special case?

Mr Blair makes no reference to New Testament references to homosexuality, but let us observe what New Testament writers have to say on the issue.

First of all, the apostle Paul declares homosexuality to be unnatural, indecent and perverted.

“Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.” (Rom 1:26-27 NIV)

Paul tells us quite clearly that these practitioners will not be included in God’s kingdom:

“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1Co 6:9-10 NIV)

It is important to note that this does not condemn only homosexuality, but also other forms of sin such as theft, drunkenness and swindling.

There are Christians who insist that homosexuality is not wrong because Jesus made no statement about it. They are wrong. When asked a question about divorce, Jesus defended the Judeo-Christian concept of marriage:

“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’, and said, ‘For this reason a man (masculine) will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife (feminine), and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” (Mt 19:4-6 NIV)

The only kind of union recognised by Jesus is that which was originally initiated by God in the act of creation and in the institution of marriage.

Homosexuality is physiologically wrong

“Common sexual practices among gay men lead to numerous STDs and physical injuries, some of which are virtually unknown in the heterosexual population. Lesbians are also at higher risk for STDs… The only epidemiological study to date on the life span of gay men concluded that gay and bisexual men lose up to 20 years of life expectancy (emphasis added).” (JOHN R. DIGGS, JR., M.D.)

Many homosexuals justify their behaviour by claiming that they have a genetic disposition to be homosexual. There is no evidence that this is true.

“The question of how homosexual orientation originates has been the subject of much press, with the general impression being promoted that homosexuality is largely a matter of genes, rather than environmental factors. However, if one examines the scientific literature, one finds that it’s not quite as clear as the news bytes would suggest. … Attempts to find a “gay gene” have never identified any gene or gene product that is actually associated with homosexual orientation.” (Rich Deem - The Biological Basis for Sexual Orientation)

Even if it could be proved that homosexuality has a genetic origin, other studies have suggested that there is a possibility of alcoholism and paedophilia having genetic sources. Are we to conclude that alcoholics and paedophiles should be abandoned to their lifestyle because they have no choice? Why, then, should we make a special case for homosexuals? The Bible makes it clear that since the fall of Adam, the whole human race has a genetic disposition towards sin. This is to be resisted, not given in to.

Homosexuality is psychologically wrong

“It is well established that there are high rates of psychiatric illnesses, including depression, drug abuse, and suicide attempts, among gays and lesbians.” (JOHN R. DIGGS, JR., M.D.)

Homosexuality is sociologically wrong

Books such as Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus endorse the fact that men and women are different psychologically, mentally and emotionally. Heterosexual marriage brings together this diversity in a one-flesh relationship; homosexual partnerships bring together an imbalance of one sex attitudes which is detrimental to human relationships.

Children brought up in a heterosexual marriage achieve more educationally, socially and in their health than those brought up in single parent or homosexual environments.

“The Mothers Union, a passionate believer in marriage, says: “Marriage provides the foundation for a stable family. Children benefit from it emotionally, in their relationships with other people and in their performance at school. Children of married parents are also more likely to have a good relationship with their parents as they grow up, strengthening the whole family unit.” (www.yourchurchwedding.org)

“Society think tank Civitas has much to say on marriage and children. Their research highlights that children are more likely to have a healthy lasting marriage as adults if they grow up within an intact marriage. And, children who live with their own two married parents enjoy better physical health on average than do children in other family forms.” (www.yourchurchwedding.org)

Homosexuality is not irreversible

After cataloguing the things which will exclude us from the kingdom, Paul tells the Corinthians: “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1Cor.6:11 NIV). Christians should not believe that homosexuality is a sin that cannot be forgiven. Homosexuals, as well as adulterers and thieves, can be washed, sanctified and justified. That is the liberating message of the gospel.

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Let me tell you how God taught me to give. I will never forget it. It is a lesson that has remained with me to this day. I had been the pastor in a large Presbyterian Church in Toronto. One day I resigned and finally, became a pastor of a church that knew how to give in a way I had never known.

I commenced my pastorate on the first Sunday of January, at a time when they were holding their annual missionary convention. I had never seen one in all my life. I did not know the first thing to do. So I just sat there on the platform and watched.

The ushers were going up and down the aisles, giving out envelopes. Presently, to my amazement, one of the ushers had the audacity to walk right up the aisle and hand me - the pastor - one of the envelopes. I sat there holding it in my hand. Never will I forget that moment. I can still remember it as though it were yesterday.

As I held it, I read: ‘In dependence upon God, I will endeavour to give toward the Missionary work of the church $______ during the coming year.’

I had never read such a statement before. It was the first time in my life that I had ever been in a missionary convention. I did not know that morning that God was going to deal with me and teach me a lesson that I was never going to forget, and one that I was to teach to score of other churches in the years to come.

At first I started to pray. I said ‘Lord God you know I can’t do anything. You know I have nothing. I haven’t a cent in the bank. I haven’t anything in my pocket. This church only pays me $25 a week. I have a wife and child to keep. We are trying to buy our home and everything is sky high in price.’ All that was true, the first World War was on.

‘I know that,’ the Lord said. ‘I know you are only getting $25 a week. I know you have nothing in your pocket and nothing in the bank.’

‘Well then,’ I continued, ‘that settles it. I have nothing to give and I cannot give anything.’

It was then that the Lord spoke. I will never forget it. ‘I am not asking you for what you have’ He said.

‘You are not asking me for what I have Lord?  Then what are you asking?’ I replied.

‘I am asking you for a faith offering. How much can you trust me for?’

‘Oh, Lord’ I exclaimed, ‘that’s different. How much can I trust you for?’

Now of course I knew nothing about a faith offering. I had never given such an offering in my life. But I knew the Lord was speaking. I thought He might say $5 or perhaps even $10. Once in my life I had given $5 for missions. Once I had given $3. But never more. I almost trembled as I waited for the answer.

Presently it came. Now I am not going to ask you to believe that God spoke to me in an audible voice, but He might just as well have done so. I was scarcely conscious if the congregation,as I sat there, listening to the voice of God. God was dealing with me that morning though I did not realise it at the time.

‘How much can I give?’ I asked.

‘Fifty dollars.’

“Fifty dollars!’ I exclaimed. ‘”Why Lord, that’s two weeks salary. How can I ever get $50?’

But again the Lord spoke and it was the same amount. I was just as clear as though He had spoken in an audible voice.

I can still remember how my hand trembled as I took my pencil, signed my name and address and wrote in the amount $50.

How I paid it I don’t know to this day. All I know is that every month I had to pray for $4, and every month God sent it in some miraculous way. At the end of the year I had paid the entire amount - $50.

But this is what I want to make clear. I received such a blessing, there came to my heart such a fullness of the Spirit, it was such a thrill, that, as I paid the full amount I realised it had been one of the greatest experiences of my life.

So great was the spiritual blessing that had come to me because I had given a faith offering - I had trusted God for a certain amount, I had given in a scriptural way - that the next year at the convention, I doubled the amount to $100. And from that day to this, I have been sending on thousands upon thousands of dollars to the Bank of Heaven. If I had waited until I had it, I never would have given it, because I never would have had it. But I gave it when I didn’t have it. I gave a faith offering and God honoured it.

Oswald J. Smith (1889 - 1986) was a Canadian pastor, author, and missions advocate. He founded The People’s Church in Toronto. According to Billy Graham, ‘Above anyone of the twentieth century, Oswald Smith has probably done more as a missionary statesman to recruit workers for the foreign field and inspire the prayers and financial support of Christians everywhere to sponsor the implementation of our Lord’s Great Commission. ‘

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About 80 people came for the meeting,

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The ECCM Pastors and Leaders Camp 2010

Date: 9-11 September 2010

Venue: Vistana Hotel, KL

Speaker: Dr Frank Hultgren

Theme: The Glory of God

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During the Swiss Reformation battles there was one occasion when the battle squares of Catholic pike and spear men could not be broken by volleys of arrows and primitive muskets. One Protestant soldier left the safety of his own square and ran boldly towards the corner of an enemy square. A dozen of the enemy threw their spears at him and in the process killed him. However, in throwing their spears, the men of the corner had disarmed themselves, allowing the rest of the Protestants to cut their way through to scatter the enemy and win the battle. The sacrifice of this one hero won the battle and ultimately the war for Swiss rights. It is of course rare for such major events in history to depend on the action of one individual. Nonetheless history is a record of the self-sacrifice of individuals either for the common good of the larger group or simply as a matter of good conscience towards God. These actions are motivated by zeal, the jealousy for one’s honour and reputation. Zeal, the Bible tells us, is a divine character trait. We can be certain that God Himself acts in jealousy for His own honour and reputation.

1. The Zeal of the Lord will purge the evil in His people

In John’s Gospel 2 , we see Jesus, the Son of God, cleansing the temple. The House of God had been polluted with the love of money and the rot had gone all the way to the top. As a result of human greed, the name of the Lord was being dishonoured amongst the people. As Jesus personally cleared the temple of those doing business with His own physical strength, the disciples recalled what was written 3,”Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.” The next time you come across believers damaging the reputation and name of the Lord, be rest assured that the Lord is zealous for His Own House (the body of Christ) and its testimony to an unbelieving world. Truly, the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?4 Whenever the Name of the Lord is dishonoured, we can rest in the knowledge that He will not take it lying down. He is not merely the “gentle Jesus, meek and mild” but the One whose “eyes were like blazing fire.” 5 Believers must live holy lives to honour God’s Name. The Lord will not brood any nonsense as He is zealous for His own Name’s sake. He will purge any evil in His people. As Sergio Scataglini states, in respect of a believer’s lifestyle, “98% purity is not enough.”6 When the Lord Jesus looks in your life with his blazing eyes, what does He see in your temple of the Lord 7?

2. The Zeal of the Lord will build His kingdom

In the Messianic prophecies, the government of the Son of David will increase and have peace without end. He will reign on David’s throne with justice and righteousness forever. The prophet Isaiah said that the zeal of the Lord would accomplish this 8. Despite what worldly governments are doing to persecute the church and attempting to destroy God’s kingdom, the church of Jesus Christ is growing and growing. The kingdom of God’s Son will increase because God’s zeal will bring it to pass. The zeal of the Lord will build His own kingdom. If we will not respond when He calls us to make sacrifices and to serve Him, God will raise up others. Whether individually we choose to participate in the work of God or not, God will still build His church. It is a privilege to be used by the Lord. Often projects that require large financial sacrifices are opportunities that the Lord has accorded to us to co-labour to build His kingdom. Woe to us if God passes us by. If we will not respond, He will choose someone else. Fanny Crosby, the visually impaired hymn writer wrote, “Pass me not, O gentle Saviour, hear my humble cry; whilst on others Thou art calling, do not pass me by.” Jesus has said, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”9 If you ever felt discouraged or helpless in the work of the Lord, rest in this: The zeal of the Lord will build His Own kingdom.

3. The Zeal of the Lord will bring judgement

The prophet Ezekiel warns the people of Jerusalem that God would punish them for their disobedience. They had turned to idolatry and were unwilling to heed the word of God through the prophet. Therefore God would act in judgement to reveal who He really is. Since the people would not listen to God’s words, they would be taught by his actions. The Lord had said, “And when I have spent my wrath upon them, they will know that I the LORD have spoken in my zeal.” 10 God first speaks to us and calls us to obedience. If we will not respond, He will speak again and warn us of the consequences of our disobedience. Finally, the time of grace will expire and He will act in His zeal. Our God is a God of action, not a God of mere words. Dear friend, what has God been saying to you? What kind of response is God asking from you? If you are planning to respond, I urge you: Be in time. Our God is a zealous God. He WILL act to maintain the honour of His name.

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All quotations are in the NKJV unless otherwise stated.

1 - 2 Kings 19:31; Isaiah 9:7; 26:11
2 - John 2:15-25
3 - Psalms 69:9
4 - 1 Peter 4:17
5 - Revelations 1:14 NIV
6 -Scataglini, Sergio, The Fire of His Holiness, Renew Books, 1999
7 - 2 Cor 6:16
8 - Isaiah 9:7
9 - Matt 16:18
10 - Ezekiel 5:13

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We all have money problems! Either we have too little, and so we borrow and get into debt, or we have too much, which we then spend wastefully. Fortunately the Bible has much to say about money, wealth and possessions. There are 2,350 verses in the Bible on this subject. More than one-third of the parables of Jesus are about money and possessions.

For example, he told the Parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12:16-21 and the Parable of the Shrewd Steward in Luke 16:1-13. Jesus told us “if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus says “do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth.” Because earthly treasures are bad? No. Because they won’t last. Proverbs 23:5 tells us that “all of earthly belongings will sprout wings and fly away.” So when Jesus warns us not to store up treasures on earth, it is because wealth will always be lost. Either it leaves us while we’re alive, or we leave it when we die. No exceptions. To quote from Job 1:21, “We bring nothing into this world, it is certain we will not take anything with us when we die. The Lord gave and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.”

The Sermon on the Mount

In this sermon from Matthew 6:19-33, Jesus commanded us to store up treasures – not on earth but in heaven. When we store them in heaven our “eternal” investments grow. We can’t take our money and possessions with us when we die, but we can earn eternal rewards while we are still alive. From verse 21 we learn that your heart will follow your treasure. Money leads and hearts follow. And God wants our hearts.

But what is this “treasure in heaven” that Jesus is talking about? This treasure is arranged in 4 levels of importance: the most important treasure is a person – Jesus Christ and the salvation He gives us (Philippians 3:7-10). Secondly, a place in heaven (Philippians 3:20-21). Thirdly, we receive eternal rewards and inheritance. Lastly, our worldly possessions here on earth. But, even then we are not the owners, God is! Job recognizes God’s ownership of everything when he cries out that “everything under heaven belongs to God.” (Job 41:11) We are stewards – so we need to be both diligent and faithful. Money and wealth is entrusted to us to manage. The Scriptures tell us that if we handle money faithfully, Christ will give us true riches which are eternal (Luke 16:10-12).

Eternal Rewards

Have you heard of the story of William Borden of Yale who died at the age of 25 years in 1913 after 4 months of ministry in Egypt? He had inherited great wealth but given it all away to support missions work and dedicated his life to reach out to the Egyptians. Not far from his grave in Cairo is the Egyptian National Museum which exhibited the tremendous wealth of the young king, Tutankhaman, who died at 17 years old. He was buried with tons of solid gold. The Egyptians believed in an after-life where they could take earthly treasures with them. But all these gold treasures stayed in the grave of this king until it was discovered by an explorer in1922.

What a contrast these two young men provide. One lived a simple life (in spite of his inherited wealth) in the service of the one true king, and now enjoys his eternal rewards in the presence of His Lord. The other faces the misery of separation and loss in a Christless eternity. When we are faithful and obedient to the will of God, there are eternal rewards reserved for us in heaven. We will reign with Jesus Christ (Revelation 20:6). Faithful stewards will be put “in charge of many things” (Matthew 25:21, 23). We will be given leadership and authority over cities (Luke 19:12-19). There are eternal rewards reserved for those who do good works (Ephesians 6:8), persevere under persecution (Luke 6:22-23), and who give to the poor and needy (Luke 14:13-14). God also grants us rewards for generous giving. He said to the rich, young ruler: “Go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasures in heaven” (Matthew 19:21). God keeps an account of all that we do for Him (see Matthew 10:42).

In the words of the missionary martyr, Jim Elliot, “We are no fools if we learn to give what we cannot keep, and gain what we cannot lose.” By holding on to what isn’t ours, we forgo the opportunities to be given ownership in heaven. By generously distributing God’s property on earth, we will become property owners in heaven!

The Blessings of Giving

So when we give our offerings to the Lord, we can give generously and cheerfully. It is not our money that we are giving away. It is His money which we are giving back to Him. We must give to God with a right attitude, out of a heart of love. There are an abundance of blessings when we give cheerfully for it is “more blessed to give than to receive”: 1. giving draws our heart closer towards Christ because where our treasure is, there our heart will be also; 2. giving develops Godly character and helps us to conform to Christ. He loves us and so He gave; and 3. giving can produce a material increase to the giver. Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-11. It is a blessing to us to learn to give generously to God’s work for the spreading of the gospel and so transfer our wealth from this earth to the “heavenly bank” and thereby lay up for ourselves treasure in eternity.

Rev Canon Dr James Wong has been inactive Christian service for more than 43 years.He has served in many Christian organizations including Scripture Union, the Graduates Christian Fellowship, the National Council of Churches, the Evangelical Fellowship of Singapore and the Lausanne Committee on World Evangelization. He is also the Founder-President of the annual Festival of Praise. He has planted several churches both in Singapore and Indonesia.Currently he serves as the Honorary South-East Asia Director for Crown Financial Ministries.

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The main difference I have come to discover between achievers and non-achievers, is the ability to understand and learn the everyday life lessons that are presented to us. I grew up thinking that one day I was going to catch “the formula” and from that point everything was going to work for me, but as I am sure you are aware and I have since come to discover, life and leadership are not like that. Instead, if we want to lead well we must commit to a future of consistently growing and learning. In fact I believe that life’s greatest lessons are often what we learn through our own mistakes.

What follows are some leadership lessons I have pick up on my journey to this point and I hope they will also help you grow in your leadership development.

LESSON ONE- Failure is a certainty

During my upbringing I can never remember being taught that failure was a quality to seek after. Somehow I gained the impression and was taught that if we were really surrendered to God we would do everything right. When I now look back, I see that it was crazy and brought such a level of restriction when we expected that the right way forward was failure proof. Why did I think that failure was something to be feared?

We don’t call a toddler a failure when they fall over repeatedly as they learn to walk. Why do we call ourselves or anyone else a failure when they are really trying to learn, stepping out into areas never yet walked before? We shout encouragement to the toddler who takes a step and falls, whose failure is the key to getting up and trying harder. Yet as leaders when we don’t succeed we still shout failure at ourselves!

If we do not learn that failure is part of the leadership package, I do not think we will fulfil all that God has called us to do. If all we commit to do is within the security of what we know we can achieve how will we reach for the impossible? God calls us to a life that exists beyond our comfort zone and as leaders we must continue to access levels we have never been before. It is precisely here that we discover God! Paul, the apostle put it this way:

“God said to me , “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me… For when I am weak, then I am strong.” - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

When we read this passage, we discover that Paul had learnt to speak about and in fact boast in his failure and weakness. He understood the breakthrough power of a life constantly dependent on God and not on his own ability. Our problem is that if we only focus on success, we will limit our future and reduce our sense of dependence on God.

Let me rephrase what Paul was saying “I used to talk about all of my successes but now I am happy to talk about my failures as well because they keep me in this place of God dependence, and that is where miracles of breakthrough are found”

This is a big lesson particularly when it comes to leadership as for some weird reason we think leaders shouldn’t fail and so we don’t like to talk failure rather than discovering failure is where we discover Gods unlimited source of supply.

It is true that we don’t set out to fail for failure sake, but understand that if we are not failing we are most likely living within the predicable and safe. I ask my staff from time to time, “what have you tried that has gone wrong in the last 6 months?” If nothing has gone wrong then you are only living within what you know you can do.

The fact is failure is part of breaking new ground.

When I go to the gym to exercise my body I have come to realise that building strength is all about pushing yourself to muscle failure. Let me explain, my coach gives me weight lifting exercises to increase muscle strength. The exercise depends on doing a certain number of repetitions until the muscle can no longer move, this point of failure is where growth takes place. The muscle must fail, it must be stretched and torn in order for the muscle to grow. It hurts, but the next time I come to do that exercise or activity, I am stronger. So it is in spiritual growth, if we only work within the safe boundaries because we fear pain, hurt or failure we will not grow. Often in our ministries we complain to God asking Him why He isn’t doing anything! I suspect God often responds with these kinds of words, “well you haven’t got out of your boat for a while have you?” “But what if I sink?” we say. The truth is you won’t know until you step out, and when (not if) you do start to sink, remember who is there once you start to go under? Let me put it another way, how much more would we do if we didn’t fear failure but in fact embraced it?

Over the years I have had to change my mindset about failure. I am learning to make failure a friend as it will cause me to step out and stay God dependent.

The key of course is not to repeatedly keep making the same mistakes with is often an outcome of not being prepared to learn.

“Fear of failure is one of our greatest failures”

LESSON TWO- There are no long-term shortcuts

As humans we are always looking for the quick fix solution to the challenges we face but for harvest there must be seed. We may understand this great biblical principle but many are yet to discover that we also carry the responsibility of ensuring the soil which the seed is placed in is fertile. I meet many pastors who are frustrated by what is not happening and even though they are planting seed there seems to be little harvest. I often remind them of this thought that if they are doing the right job and working the right principles with a right heart and still not seeing a lot of fruit, it is often a matter of timing and often the challenge is the soil in which the seed is being planted.

For many, our role as leaders is to break up the ground and get it ready for the seed to be sown that will bring the breakthrough. Whilst our church is reaping benefits today and seeing things we have never seen before, I am very aware we are reaping because others have done the hard work over the years, not just the sowing but also getting and keeping the right environment. The danger for the next generation church and the one after that, is for them to think it just happens, not understanding that everything is the result of some thing.

It is true we need to sow but equally true that the greatest challenge is in the consistent maintenance of the right kind of soil and environment for a seed to produce its best.

One of the major mistakes I made earlier when appointing leaders was that I thought passion was enough, but I have come to realise that Godly character is the key ingredient for long term harvest. You cannot shortcut character.

“The seeds we plant today we harvest tomorrow”

LESSON THREE- I cannot take everyone with me

When I started in full time service in Church life I had such a huge pastoral heart and was desperate for everyone to join me in Gods best. I wanted to love everyone and have everyone love me and the ultimate dream was we would dance together into heaven for eternity. But I very quickly discovered that leading means not everyone is going to like you, nor do they all want to come with you!

Worldwide statistics say 10% of any congregation leave a healthy church every year. Why? People make decisions; they leave because they are disgruntled, hurt, moving town, changing jobs, backsliding, just not interested… Sometimes even those into whom you have invested the most in will leave for reasons you never even get to understand.

John Maxwell likens the church to a train. The leader knows and is committed to the destination; everyone is excited and momentum is building as many join in by getting on the train. They shake your hand and ask where the meal carriage is and of they go to eat. They can’t believe how good it all is, tummies full and happy smiles everywhere. You arrive at the next stop and more people get on but then people start to get off! “Where are they going?” you ask. You get off the train pleading with them to stay but they say “thanks, but we want to go somewhere else, nice ride but…”

Maxwell goes on to say, the key is to realise that many people are not there for the destination but a number are there for what they can get. Ouch!

Unfortunately we are all like this to some degree. We often only commit to things on the premise that we get from something from it. Hopefully as we grow in God we begin to realise it is not just what we get but what we bring to it. As a leader I have had to settle the issue that not everyone is going to come with us to the destination.

If we don’t understand this I will struggle to let people go and end up chasing them all over the place and lose the focus needed on the God-given mission.

In the parable of the lost sheep, the shepherd leaves the 99 to look for the lost one. A sheep gets lost when it does not know where it is going. As shepherds/leaders it is our responsibility to go after those who do not know where they are going, but it is another matter when sheep wander off because they have chosen to go another way. Too often we can burn out trying to run after those who have chosen not to come. I used to do this all the time and if I heard someone had left I would say, if I could just spend half an hour with them they would stayed. And often they did, but then next month I would need to spend half an hour with them again, and again, and again. What began to happen was all my time was spent looking after those who did not want to be there instead of leading those who did. In Acts, the New Testament church was characterised by three simple words “they devoted themselves”(Acts 2:42)

In other words the people made a decision to commit themselves and we cannot make that decision on behalf of any other human being. Only the sheep in the paddock are my responsibility not the ones who choose to wander away.

“I can only father who choose to be my sons”

LESSON FOUR- Greater levels of breakthrough demand greater levels of personal discipline

We often ask God to give us breakthrough in an area, but I don’t think God gives us what we ask if we don’t have the level of needed personal discipline in place to sustain what we desire. For example, you may be asking God to increase your business to a multi-million dollar business. But the question must be answered, can God trust you with a multi-million business? Money and the options and snares that it produces could easily destroy you if you do not have the personal disciplines in place to handle it. The truth is that success has destroyed many if we don’t grow the needed character to handle it.

When it comes to leadership one of the top of the pile requirements is the ability to lead yourself. It has been said, talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates – you don’t know which direction it will go! You maybe gifted, but if you don’t have increasing discipline your gift has the power to destroy. As a leader I have had to learn to say no to myself more now than I ever did before. Discipline is a major part of personal leadership, remember it is our priorities that are caught by others. People are not listening to us as much as they are watching how we live.

“Our first responsibility is to lead ourselves”

LESSON FIVE- What I live next to, I become

The environment that I locate myself in most often in ends up shaping me. This lesson so many of us over look and I certainly didn’t understand its power early on in my leadership. To sharpen my leadership I must make a decision to get with people who are on the cutting edge, who are making things happen, who are positive and constantly seeking ways to become more fruitful. I get alongside them and purposefully catch their spirit. I also make a determined decision not to associate with people whether leaders or not who are not committed to build in word, attitude and action.

I used to think I had to be friends with everyone but once understanding that no matter who we are our environment shapes us, I can say that even though we should seek to reach out and help anyone we should not fellowship with those who are negative, small minded or cynical.

In fact I have walked away from numbers of people that used to be friends because they were unprepared to change their attitudes and I can now no longer afford their influence in my life. This may sound as though I am too good for them which is not true but what you live next to remember you become.

Psalm One puts it so well, “ Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful ”

Let me tell you from experience a cynical spirit, a scornful person will cripple and damage your own spirit. Who you associate with determines the level of fruit in your future. What you rub up against rubs off onto you. This works both in the negative and also in the positive. If I want to capture a big vision, I must be found in the context of vision and visionaries. Be encouraged to make daily decisions to dwell in environments that encourage, impart and expand your spirit and vision.

“Where we stand determines how we see”

LESSON SIX- It is not what is on you, but what is in you

As I wrap up let me finish with this final lesson, which is the need to remember it is not the gift we have been gifted with that is most important. But a leader of eternal significance understands, it is what you carry in your heart that will always remain as the most important focus.

Often I have been reminded of this, when someone who is not necessarily highly talented or gifted has ministered deeply to me through what has come from who they are over what they have accomplished.

A truly champion leader understands it is not what is on you but it is what is in you. Above all else guard your heart, the Bible says, for out of the heart the boundaries or borders of our lives are determined. Make sure you keep your own heart sweet, stay connected with God, live fresh, be committed to growth and guard the good deposit God has given you. In this way your ability to influence cannot help but increase and God will continue to get the glory.

“Our outer world ultimately reflects our inner condition”

Paul and Maree de Jong moved to New Zealand from Australia over 15 years ago to plant a new church. Like many they started with a dream and learnt as they went along. Today their church in the centre of Auckland, CLCA is one of the biggest in the region and recently opened another site in south Auckland. Paul is passionate about leadership and helping others grow in leadership.

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