BROKEN VESSELS, BURNING FAITH (1)

How God Moves Through the Unlikely Heroes of Hebrews 11INTRODUCTION: WITHOUT FAITH, NOTHING MOVES“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV).Without faith, we cannot receive anything from God. Faith is not one ingredient in the Christian life – it is the doorway to everything else. Believers who seek God must have faith first; without it, the Father is not pleased, because He cannot give us what we seek. If you want to move God, you must first be moved by God – and faith is how God moves us, and how we move Him.Hebrews 11 presents four heroes of faith – a hesitant commander, a rejected outcast, a compromised strongman, and a Canaanite prostitute – because their stories carry the sharpest lessons about how faith works.WHAT FAITH IS“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1 KJV).The original Greek word translated “substance” means trust, confidence, assurance. Faith in God means trusting what God said. When we trust His word, it breeds confidence in our spirit and soul – confidence that the Father’s promises will come to pass, and assurance to follow His instructions and take the next step in His wisdom. “Now faith is …” — as we have faith, we now possess divine trust, confidence, and assurance in our spirit, mind, and emotions.HOW FAITH COMES“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17 NKJV).The Greek word translated “word” here is rhema – the spoken word. Faith comes by hearing the spoken Word of God. You must hear it and receive it. Keep this in mind, because it is the secret of every person we meet today: each of them heard something – a prophecy, a promise, a report – and what they did with what they heard decided everything.FAITH MUST BE RELEASED“Just as the body is dead without breath [spirit], so also faith is dead without good works” (James 2:26 NLT).Faith without corresponding action is dead. You hear from God; faith comes. Then you must believe God’s spoken word – and faith must be expressed through corresponding action. Hearing produces faith; acting releases it.“And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith …” (Hebrews 11:32–33 NKJV).Let us study four of them.Rev. Cheong Yew KwongFaith Church SingaporePlease visit our website at faithchurch.sg#goodtoread ... See MoreSee Less

THE FATHER KNOWS - DON'T WORRY (4)

WHEN YOU ARE CONSIDERING A JOB CHANGELet us make this practical.Perhaps you now have a family and anticipate greater financial needs. It is reasonable to think about income. Scripture commends diligent work and responsible care for one’s household. But fear about future expenses must not become the voice that controls the decision.If fear is the driver, a higher-paying offer can appear automatically to be God’s will. Yet an open door is not always a divine door.Neither should we demonise every attractive opportunity. A better position may genuinely be the Father’s provision. The question is not whether the salary is higher or lower. The question is whether the move is wise, righteous, timely, and consistent with God’s direction (God’s will).“25 I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread” (Psalm 37:25 NKJV).This was David’s testimony. The Father remains faithful in every season and often provides through work, people, community, wisdom, and unexpected means.Before praying to change jobs, check these areas:- Motive. Am I running from a conflict that needs addressing? Am I driven by comparison, prestige, frustration, or fear?- Calling and stewardship. Will this role faithfully use the abilities and responsibilities God has entrusted to me?- Household impact. What will this demand from my spouse, children, health, and time?- Integrity. Can I do this work with a clear conscience?- Counsel. What do my spouse, pastors, and mature advisers discern?- Provision and planning. What does the budget show? What preparation, savings, training, or transition period is prudent?- Peace and timing. Is there settled clarity, or am I forcing a decision because I am afraid of losing the offer?Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is prepare a truthful budget. It helps you identify the step you need to trust God with.If the direction is from God but the timing isn’t yet clear, continue praying and prepare. Gain the qualification. Reduce unnecessary debt. Strengthen your skills. Repair relationships. Do excellent work where you are. Preparation is not unbelief; it can be obedience before the door opens.WHEN YOU SENSE A CALL TO FULL-TIME MINISTRYSome may sense that the Father is calling them into full-time ministry. Do not reject that call solely because of fear about finances. The One who calls knows the needs of the person and the household.But a person should not resign impulsively. In Acts 13, Barnabas and Saul were already serving when the Holy Spirit set them apart, and the call was recognised in a worshipping, fasting community. In Acts 18, Paul sometimes supported ministry through tentmaking. Full-time ministry is not more sacred than faithful work in the marketplace, and financial support can take different forms in different seasons.Test a call to ministry by character, fruit, gifting, doctrine, service, sacrifice, and the recognition of mature leaders. Desire for a platform is not the same as a call to shepherd people.If you sense this call, ask:- Am I already serving when nobody is applauding?- Do mature leaders recognise grace and fruit in my life?- Are my immediate family members part of the decision-making?- What training and accountability do I need?- Is the Lord calling me to resign now, to prepare first, or to serve bivocationally for a season?- What financial transition is responsible and possible?Philippians 4:19 – “My God shall supply all your need” – was written in the context of a church that partnered generously with Paul. God’s provision and the body’s participation belong together.Do not let fear bury a genuine call. Do not let ambition manufacture one. Let the Father lead.CONCLUSION: THE FATHER KNOWSLet us return to the words of Jesus: “Your Father knows.”He knows the door in front of you.He knows whether it is a door to enter, a door to wait beside, or a door to leave closed.He knows the financial need.He knows the family responsibility.He knows the desire in your heart and the motive beneath the desire.He knows the danger you cannot see and the provision you cannot yet see.He knows the beginning, the middle, and the end.So do not let worry become your prophet. Do not let money become your master. Do not let urgency become your guide. Do not let an open door replace the Father's voice.Seek first His Kingdom. Ask for wisdom. Pray with thanksgiving. Persevere in supplication. Depend on the Holy Spirit. Receive counsel. Count the cost. Prepare faithfully. Obey the next clear step.And when you have done what obedience requires, rest.Your Father knows.Rev. Cheong Yew KwongFaith Church SingaporePlease visit our website at faithchurch.sg#goodtoread ... See MoreSee Less

THE FATHER KNOWS - DON'T WORRY (3)

FOUR KINDS OF PRAYER FOR AN UNFOLDING DIRECTIONEphesians 6:18 calls believers to pray always “with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,” remaining watchful and persevering. There are seasons when one short prayer is enough to entrust a matter to God. Other decisions unfold and require continued prayer of supplication and prayer in the Spirit. Not because God is deaf, but because circumstances, timing, people, angels need to be dispatched, and spiritual forces in the realm of the spirit need to be dealt with.1. ThanksgivingBegin by thanking the Father. Thanksgiving shifts attention from the size of the unknown to the faithfulness of the One who leads.“Father, thank You that my life is not hidden from You. Thank You that You know what I need. Thank You that You have promised wisdom when I ask. Thank You for every way You have led and sustained me until today.”Thanksgiving is remembering that the Father is faithful - His proven character.2. The Prayer of FaithJames 1:5 says that if anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously. We can therefore ask with confidence:“Father, give me wisdom. Direct my path. Close every door that no man can open. Open the door that no man can shut. Give me the Spirit of wisdom, knowledge and understanding to discern the right door that you open.”To discern whether God opens or shuts the door, or the devil opens or shuts the door, we still have to listen to the inner witness of the Holy Spirit in our spirit.Faith rests on what God has promised. He has promised wisdom. We are in His presence, and He never leaves us. Faith does not force God to endorse our preferred outcome. Faith knows He has a plan, will reveal it to us, and will guide us.3. Supplication and Persevering PrayerSupplication is earnest, specific prayer. Jesus prayed repeatedly in Gethsemane. Paul asked churches to strive together with him in prayer (Romans 15:30–32). The early church continued in prayer when Peter was imprisoned (Acts 12).Have trusted believers pray with you. The body of Christ supplies prayer, wisdom, correction, encouragement, and sometimes practical provision.Persevering prayer also guards us in spiritual conflict. We stand in Christ’s victory, put on the armour of God, reject doubt, unbelief and fear, and resist the devil. We keep our focus on God’s faithfulness.4. Praying in the SpiritRomans 8:26 says that the Spirit helps us in our weakness when we do not know how to pray as we ought. First Corinthians 14 speaks of praying with the spirit and with the understanding.When details are unknown, pray with the understanding you have and depend on the Spirit beyond it. When believers pray in tongues, it is part of sustained, yielded prayer. But do not switch off your mind, your Bible, or wise discernment. Paul says, “I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding.” We need both.As we pray, the Spirit may give an idea to investigate, or someone else to contact. Write down what you sense, test it, and remain teachable.Rev. Cheong Yew KwongFaith Church SingaporePlease visit our website at faithchurch.sg#goodtoread ... See MoreSee Less

THE FATHER KNOWS - DON'T WORRY (2)

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOMJesus’ teaching centres on Matthew 6:33: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”Jesus does not say, “Seek first a higher salary, and the Kingdom may be added.” He says to seek the Kingdom first. The first question, then, is not, “Which option pays more?” The first question is, “Father, where can my life be to be in your perfect will?”Income matters. Family responsibilities matter. Working conditions matter. A mature decision considers them. But none of them can be our god.The Kingdom-first question changes career discernment. We ask:- Will this work allow me to remain faithful to Christ?- Does the work itself require compromise?- What effect will it have on my marriage, children, health, church life, and calling?- Are my abilities suited to it?- Do mature believers confirm the direction?- Is the desire growing from service or merely from status, fear, resentment, or comparison?Sometimes the Lord leads a person to another company. Sometimes He opens a lateral movement in the same organisation. Sometimes He says, “Remain where you are; I am doing something in you before I change what is around you.” Sometimes the change is not a new job but a new attitude, a new skill, or a restored relationship.The Father often gives enough light for the next step, not a floodlight for the next ten years.Psalm 119:105 (NKJV)105 Your word is a lamp to my feetAnd a light to my path.A lamp illuminates the ground near you. It invites continued dependence. If God showed us every detail at once, we might trust the map more than the Guide.DIVINE GUIDANCE IS PROGRESSIVE AND TESTABLEYou may know change is coming, but you do not yet know what it looks like or what path lies ahead. Such situations require progressive prayer for progressive divine guidance.Genuine guidance does not fear being tested. If it is from the Father, Scripture will not contradict it. Christlike character will not oppose it. Wisdom will not destroy it. Mature counsel will help refine it. Providence may confirm the right timing. The peace of Christ can rule in the heart, even when obedience itself is costly. (When you make a decision to follow the leading in your spirit, you will have peace even though it may seem costly.)“15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful” (Colossians 3:15 NLT).Colossians 3:15 tells us to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts. The word translated “rule” carries the idea of acting as an umpire. This does not mean that every difficult decision feels emotionally comfortable. Jesus felt deep anguish in Gethsemane while remaining perfectly within the Father’s will. Biblical peace is not the absence of pressure; it is the settled assurance that we are yielded to God.Here are several questions that help us test a perceived leading:- Is it consistent with Scripture? God will not guide us to sin, deception, neglect, or pride.- Does it exalt Christ or merely enlarge self? The Spirit glorifies Jesus.- What is driving me? Faith, love, service, and obedience – or fear, greed, offence, envy, and impatience?- What do wise and spiritually mature people see? Counsel does not replace hearing God, but it protects us from blind spots.- Can I continue to fulfil my responsibilities? A calling from God does not nullify obligations under the covenant.- What preparation does obedience require? Noah believed God and built. Joseph believed the warning and organised grain. Nehemiah prayed and then made a careful request to the king.- Is the timing clear? A true promise can be mishandled by a false timetable. Abraham received a promise but created pain when he tried to produce fulfilment through human striving.Through faith and patience we inherit the promises of God.Rev. Cheong Yew KwongFaith Church SingaporePlease visit our website at faithchurch.sg#goodtoread ... See MoreSee Less

THE FATHER KNOWS - DON'T WORRY (1)

INTRODUCTIONYou may be one of those standing at a decision. Perhaps you sense a new door opening. Or God is revealing divine steps ahead that He wants you to take because He has planned them. You may be praying about changing jobs. You may be considering a course of study overseas. You may believe that the Lord is drawing you into full-time ministry. You may know that change is coming, but you do not yet know what shape it will take.At such moments, two voices often compete for our attention. One voice says, “Trust the Father and follow Him.” The other says, “What if there is not enough? What if you make a mistake? What if the door closes? What if your family suffers? What if tomorrow goes wrong?”The voice of worry always speaks in the language of “What if?” But Jesus directs us to a greater truth: “Your Father knows.”Matthew 6:8 says, “Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” In the same chapter, Jesus says, “Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” and then commands us to seek first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:32–33).The Father knows, so you do not have to let worry lead you.This does not mean that we never plan. It does not mean that every door is God’s door. It does not mean that faith refuses advice, ignores responsibilities, or spends money carelessly. It means that our decisions begin with the Father, not with fear. We pray. We discern. We prepare. We obey. And we entrust the outcome to Him.In praying and making decisions, remember these.THE FATHER KNOWS BEFORE YOU ASKJesus says, “Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8).Notice the words Jesus chose. He did not merely say, “God knows.” He said, “Your Father knows.” The One who possesses perfect knowledge is also the One who has brought us into His family through Jesus Christ.He knows what you need today. He knows what your family will need tomorrow. He knows the cost of the course, the condition of the job market, the responsibilities in your home, and the strength you will need for the assignment. He knows the facts you know, and He knows the facts you do not know.Psalm 139 declares that God knows when we sit down and rise up and understands our thoughts from afar.Isaiah 46:9–10 (NCV)9 Remember what happened long ago.Remember that I am God, and there is no other God.I am God, and there is no one like me.10 From the beginning I told you what would happen in the end.A long time ago I told you things that have not yet happened.When I plan something, it happens.What I want to do, I will do.This truth changes prayer. We are not giving God information He lacks. We are bringing our needs into a relationship He has already established. We are not trying to overcome His reluctance. We align our hearts with His wisdom and receive grace for His will.Somebody may ask, “If the Father already knows, why should I pray?” Because the authority over the earth has been given to mankind. God can do nothing unless we ask Him.A young child may be travelling with a loving father. The child does not know the route, the traffic conditions, the fuel level, or how much money is in the father’s wallet. Yet the child can rest because the father knows the destination and has accepted responsibility for the journey. The child may ask questions, but the child does not have to carry the father’s responsibility.Rev. Cheong Yew KwongFaith Church SingaporePlease visit our website at faithchurch.sg#goodtoread ... See MoreSee Less

UNLOCKING WISDOM THROUGH JESUS AND PRAYER (4)

WISDOM AND PRAYERWe have seen that the Word of God is the repository of wisdom.James 1:5 is one of the most liberating verses in the Bible:"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."All of us lack wisdom compared to the infinite wisdom of God. We all need fresh wisdom for fresh challenges.The prayer of faith is the kind of prayer by which wisdom is received.1. ASK For Specific Wisdom"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:5–8).Three observations from this passage:1. God gives liberally. The word "liberally" is “haplós” in Greek. It means simply, generously, openly, without reservation. God does not ration wisdom. He does not say, "You used up your quota for the month." He gives freely, abundantly, and continuously.2. God gives without reproach. He does not say, "You again? You should have figured this out by now." He does not shame you for needing help. He welcomes your requests. He is a Father who delights to give good gifts to His children.3. We must ask in faith. It means we must trust that God is good, that He hears us, and that He will give wisdom to guide us. Doubt here is not intellectual uncertainty; it is relational instability. It is praying while simultaneously believing that God does not care or cannot help.The double-minded man is unstable because he is divided. He wants wisdom, but he also wants his own way. He wants guidance, but he also wants to control the outcome. And that divided heart cannot receive what God is offering.So the first lesson is simple: Ask. Do not wait until you have it all figured out. Ask now. Ask often. Ask boldly. God gives liberally and without reproach.2. PRAYING FOR General Spiritual WisdomPaul gives us a model for wisdom prayer in Ephesians 1. He writes:"Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:15–23)This is a prayer for general spiritual wisdom. Paul is not asking for a specific decision. He asks that the Ephesian believers have their spiritual eyes opened. He is asking that they would understand three things:1. The hope of His calling. What is God's purpose for your life? Why did He save you? What is He calling you to do and be? Wisdom begins with knowing your identity and your destiny in Christ.2. The riches of His inheritance. What has God prepared for you? What resources are available to you in Christ? Wisdom requires knowing what is in your spiritual bank account.3. The exceeding greatness of His power. What power is at work in you? The same power that raised Jesus from the dead. Wisdom includes knowing that you are not operating in your own strength.This is the foundation of all specific wisdom. Before you can make wise decisions, you must know who you are, what you have, and what power is available to you. And the only way to know these things is through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit.So Paul prays for revelation. Not new revelation outside of Scripture, but the illumination of what is already written. The Spirit takes the Word and opens the eyes of the heart to see what was previously hidden.This is why prayer and the Word go together. The Word contains the wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of God's mind. Prayer unfolds them for us to live a spiritual and natural life successfully.Solomon’s PrayerNow let us look at a prayer for specific wisdom. In 2 Chronicles 1, God appears to Solomon in a dream:‘That night God appeared to Solomon and said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”’ (2 Chronicles 1:7 NLT)Solomon could have asked for anything. He could have asked for wealth. He could have asked for power. He could have asked for fame. He could have asked for his enemies' deaths.Instead, he said:“Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?” (2 Chronicles 1:10 NKJV)And the speech pleased the Lord.11 God said to Solomon, “Because your greatest desire is to help your people, and you did not ask for wealth, riches, fame, or even the death of your enemies or a long life, but rather you asked for wisdom and knowledge to properly govern my people—12 I will certainly give you the wisdom and knowledge you requested. But I will also give you wealth, riches, and fame such as no other king has had before you or will ever have in the future!” (2 Chronicles 1:11–12 NLT)That is what prayer for wisdom is. It is admitting that you cannot see. It is asking for guidance from the One who can. And it is following what He says, even when it contradicts your instincts.2 Timothy 3:14–17 says:"But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise …”The Scriptures make you wise for salvation. And they equip you for every good work. They are sufficient. They are enough.Christ is the Wisdom of God. And the Word is where you meet Him.Rev. Cheong Yew KwongFaith Church SingaporePlease visit our website at faithchurch.sg#goodtoread ... See MoreSee Less