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Other religions and philosophies result from the endless human quest for God; Christianity results from God’s quest for lost mankind.
No matter how fierce and wicked Satan may be, he cannot defeat God. In God’s time and in his way he will fulfill his promises and accomplish his sovereign purpose in history.
God’s sovereignty
Grace and love
Christianity is the religion of grace and love.
It is by grace we have been saved (Eph 2:5). “…where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Ro 5:20-21)
“God is love” (1 Jn 4:16). Jesus died on the cross to redeem our sins. “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (Jn 15:13) At the last supper, after Judas went out, Jesus gave his disciples a new command to love one another (Jn 13:34). This command is equally applicable to Christians today.
Salvation comes not through obeying the Mosaic law but by receiving the grace of God through faith (Gal 4:21-31)
The power of prayer
Jesus prayed often. After he fed the five thousand and dismissed the crowd, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray (Mt 14:23). Jesus prayed in Gethsemane (Mt 26:36-46; Mk 14:32-42; Lk 22:39-46; Jn 18:1). Jesus taught his disciples about prayer (Lk 11:1-13). Jesus said “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.” (Jn 14:13) Jesus also said “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Mt 7:7-8)
Daniel was condemned to die in a den of hungry lions because he continued to pray in spite of a decree outlawing praying (Dan 6:10). God intervened and saved him. Daniel was able to communicate with God because he made it a habit to pray. We therefore should pray regularly rather than wait till we are in a tough situation.
The “Prayer of Jabez” is #1 New York Times bestseller. “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers … and God granted his request.” (1 Ch 4:9-10). The name Jabez means “pain” which probably caused Jabez a lot of pain in school and at work. People would have made fun of his name. So Jabez asked God to:
These seem to be very simple requests but very powerful indeed. Some critics complaint that this little book is a very unique case and the author Bruce Wilkinson is blowing it out of proportion. It is only a case of Jabez asking God for the right things at the right time and at the right place and so his requests were granted. People should not be encouraged by this example that God will grant our requests through prayers. Of course, God will not grant all our requests in the ways we want and in the time we want. However, we should not second guess God. If we do not ask, how do we know that our prayers will not be answered.
Back in August, I’ve booked an African safari for the Christmas break. The travel agent told me that this camping trip required a minimum of 6 people. I didn’t think it was a problem then. Shortly after I came back from Eastern Europe, the Bali attack happened. The travel agent phoned me that the trip was cancelled because there were only 2 people including myself. She asked me to choose other trips. I tried a trip to India. Again, there wasn’t enough participants. I tried another African trip and that one was fully booked and would not take on any more on waiting list. I explained to God in my prayers that I need company during the festival season but I didn’t want to bother my brother in Toronto and as a result I tried to be on an organized trip so that I will be with people. However, I would leave it entirely in His hand to decide what’s best for me. As I was running out of options, I received an e-mail from my friend M’s younger sister saying that she was in Shanghai visiting her older sister. I e-mailed back, copying M, asking whether M will still be in Shanghai Christmas time. I’ll visit her if she does. Two days later, M replied, not only inviting me but C (another good friend of mine in Singapore) as well. Normally C would not go but she said o.k. when I phoned. Then, M sent us another e-mail saying “eat her, sleep her”. C and I can go “play” while M goes to work. I was overjoyed. Not only I have the company of 2 good friends, I also save money for the trip! God has given me more than I asked for.
As a result, I bought a new computer with the money I saved. Now I know God has prepared me for another project. This is a story of God giving me the opportunity to stretch my limits. As for the last two points in Jabez’s prayer, there were many occasions that God sent little “angels” to look after me and keep me from harm e.g in Greenland and on the Island of Grimsey at the Arctic Circle in Iceland. I am not going into details because it will make this paper too long!
© North Side Chinese Alliance Church 2003