GOD PUT A HEDGE AROUND JOB'S HOUSEHOLD

Job 1:9–10 (NKJV)9 So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.Satan knew what God had done for Job. He is the accuser of those who are not under the blood of Jesus and those who would give him a foothold in their lives. Why would Satan pay attention to what God did for Job? His purpose is always to go against God, and his motive is to destroy Job. Satan thought if he could destroy Job, then he would have destroyed the works of God. Satan listed five things God did for Job :1. God put a hedge of protection around Job’s life2. God put a hedge of protection around his household (children and servants)3. God put a hedge of protection around all that he had on every side4. God blessed the work of Job’s hands5. God increased his possessions GOD PUT A HEDGE AROUND JOB'S HOUSEHOLD In the first article, we learned that God put a hedge of protection around Job’s life. Let’s look at another thing He did. God also put a hedge of protection around Job’s household. This is another aspect of the grace of God over Job. Job’s household would have included his wife, children, and servants. Job acknowledged that there was an Almighty God, so in his reverence, worship, and sacrifices to God, he acknowledged that God blessed him. Not only was his life protected, but his entire household was protected. All those who were under his authority received protection.This is a spiritual principle that governs spiritual authority. When we live in the perfect will of God, according to His plan and called according to His purpose, we and our household will be blessed. We read in the Bible that the descendants were blessed because of their forefathers. One modern-day example is Kenneth E. Hagin. He prayed all his relatives out of death at least once. They were blessed because of Kenneth E. Hagin, whose life was in the plan and purpose of God. The blessings of the truth of God’s Word brought blessings to his family and extended families. We do have a certain amount of spiritual authority to do good to those in our household and those under our authority. This spiritual principle can be extended to the local church because it is a spiritual family. I expect when you are in my church, the Almighty Heavenly Father will protect you and your household.There are two things we must do together:1. Do not give the devil a foothold in our lives2. Both you and I must use the keys of the kingdom of heaven to bind demonic powersIndeed, the Heavenly Father will protect us with the hedge because we live under the better covenant of Jesus Christ. Rev. Cheong Yew KwongFaith Church SingaporePlease visit our website at faithchurch.sg#goodtoread ... See MoreSee Less

GOD PUT A HEDGE AROUND JOB

Job 1:9–10 (NKJV)9 So Satan answered the Lord and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.The definition of "to fear" (reverence) v. — to regard with feelings of respect and reverence; consider hallowed or exalted or be in awe of. [Faithlife Corporation. (2017). Logos Bible Software Bible Sense Lexicon (Version 6.14 SR-5) [Computer software]. Bellingham, WA: Faithlife Corporation.]Satan implied Job had motives for respecting and reverencing God; he would not reverence God for nothing. Satan is like that; he always has an evil motive in everything he does because that is his nature. Satan listed five reasons why Job respected and reverenced God. He said:1. God had put a hedge of protection around Job's life2. God had put a hedge of protection around his household (children and servants)3. God had put a hedge of protection around all that he had on every side4. God had blessed the work of Job's hand5. God had increased his possessions We see the nature and works of our Heavenly Father's unfailing love here; even Satan saw that. GOD PUT A HEDGE AROUND JOBThis is the grace of God over Job's life and upon all those who practised sacrificing the blood of animals to God in the Old Testament. Satan took dominion over the earth from Adam and Eve, and since then, his curse has been upon the earth till today. If he could, he would have stolen, killed and destroyed the whole of humanity, just like his attempt with the flood during Noah's time. But because of the grace of protection over the human race, God put a hedge of protection over man to protect them. To a degree that man is even protected from the destruction of Satan. Although Job was not a descendant of Abraham and God did not personally cut a blood covenant with him, there was a hedge of protection over Job's life. Since Jesus made the blood covenant with mankind in the Garden of Eden, the human race has had a certain degree of God's grace of protection. There is a hedge of protection over every person born on earth. For this reason, every child has a guardian angel with him or her; this is the grace of God.God had put a hedge around Job since the day he was born, and an angel was with Job all the time. For seventy years, the hedge protected Job's life, but he was afflicted with sickness after that. It could not be that God was the One who lowered the hedge and caused Satan to afflict Job's body with the curse of sickness. God does not change, and He did not change His mind about protecting Job, especially when Satan himself noticed that Job respected and reverenced God. So how did Job open the door or lower the hedge or give Satan a foothold in his life, thus allowing Satan to afflict him?We are righteous in Christ and are the children with His light in our spirits. We are not of darkness. How much more does the Heavenly Father protect our lives because we are under the covering of the blood of Jesus? God also said in Psalm 91 that He would satisfy those in the Old Covenant with long life. We have a better covenant than they did. The Father has a hedge around us to protect us so we may live long. We need to believe and confess this truth and not fear death. Believe that the Heavenly Father can keep us safe!Rev. Cheong Yew KwongFaith Church SingaporePlease visit our website at faithchurch.sg#goodtoread ... See MoreSee Less

HOW ARE WE MADE PERFECT IN HIS LOVE?

1 John 4:18 (NKJV) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.First and foremost, His love is perfect and is in us through the indwelling presence of the Holy Ghost. How are we then made perfect in His love?1 John 2:5 (NKJV) But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.The word “keep” means “continue to obey”. Firstly, when we read the Word of God (The Bible) and understand what the Scriptures instruct us to do, we are to do what the Word says to us. As we practise the Word consistently, we will understand the Word more and more fully, which is love. Our spirits will have a deeper knowing of the Word, which is God.The Word is God, and it is love.Secondly, for example, Jesus says to speak to the mountain, not doubt in our hearts, and command it to be removed. We must believe it shall be removed (Mark 11:23). Whatever Jesus says to us concerning anything, if we truly believe and say what Jesus says to us, then we believe it will happen. This is how we continue to obey His Word. When what we believe comes to fruition, it will elevate us from fear and anxiety, and we will understand more fully the love of God in us. When whatever the Father says comes to pass, we will see, know, understand, and experience His love, bringing it to pass. It takes faith to obey when we continue to say what Jesus said. This is how we are made perfect in His love; and understand His love more fully. Thirdly, obey whatever God the Holy Spirit instructs us to do. It takes faith to believe and obey the unseen Holy Spirit. When we do and see the fruit of it, we will have experienced that it is His love leading us, and it never fails to bear fruit. The result is always good success.Fourthly, when we persevere in the prayer of supplication and in unknown tongues, with the determination to see the fruits of our prayer, we obey the Word of God that commands us to pray and the Holy Spirit Who leads us in prayer. When we see answers to our prayers, especially in challenging situations, then we are experiencing the Father’s love in prayer. His love enables us to persevere until we see the results of our praying by the Holy Ghost. We will begin to understand His unfailing love more fully. When we obey His Word and the Holy Spirit and continue to obey them, His love is perfected in us.When we continue to obey the Heavenly Father, we will experience His love more and more fully. The more we fully experience His love, the more we will know and understand His love, and the less we will fear anything in this world. Rev. Cheong Yew KwongFaith Church SingaporePlease visit our website at faithchurch.sg#goodtoread ... See MoreSee Less

USE YOUR KEYS - THE BELIEVER'S AUTHORITY

Matthew 16:15–19 (NKJV)15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."In these scriptures, Jesus gave us the keys to building our lives, businesses, careers, and even our local churches. The keys are, firstly, to "Build Your Life on the Revelation from the Heavenly Father" and secondly, "The Heavenly Father's Plan Is Blessed and Will Prevail." Let's take a look at the third key now. Key #3 - USE YOUR AUTHORITY AGAINST DEMONIC POWERS This key is the most important of all the keys. The Father had a plan for Peter to build the Church of Jesus Christ, but the biggest of all problems is that the one who comes against any of the Father's plans is Satan himself and his demonic powers. After Peter received the revelation and the purpose of that revelation, the very next thing Jesus told Peter was, "I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven …" to bind and to loose people from demonic powers on earth and in heaven. The keys of the kingdom of heaven is the Believer's Authority over demonic powers. Whoever has the key has the authority. The Name of Jesus given to every believer is the key or the authority over all demonic powers. We have the Name of Jesus; we have authority over all demonic powers. Use the keys against any demonic powers that array against you and the Father's plan.The primary factor causing the Father's plan to fail is the demonic powers that rule and reign over the whole earth. It is the very reason Jesus said to Peter first that He was giving him the keys of the kingdom of heaven to use. With the keys in Peter's hand, he had to use the keys to bind any demonic power and to loose anyone from the bondage of these demonic powers.We, as believers, have the keys (authority) because we have the Name of Jesus. Use the keys to bind and loose people from demonic powers that are influencing, oppressing, obstructing, and keeping them in bondage.The Name of Jesus belongs to every believer; therefore, the responsibility to use our authority (the keys) is in our hands. Many believers do not use the keys (the believer's authority in Jesus' Name) against demonic powers that are wrecking their lives. When we use His Name, God's power will be unleashed against all demonic powers. Our lives must be built according to the Father's plan and purpose. We are His Church; building up our lives is building His Church.Rev. Cheong Yew KwongFaith Church SingaporePlease visit our website at faithchurch.sg#goodtoread ... See MoreSee Less

THE HEAVENLY FATHER'S PLAN IS BLESSED AND WILL PREVAIL

Matthew 16:15-19 (NKJV)15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."In these scriptures, Jesus gave us the keys to building our lives, businesses, careers, and local churches. The principle key is "Build Your Life on the Revelation from the Heavenly Father." We shall look at key #2 next.Key #2 - THE HEAVENLY FATHER'S PLAN IS BLESSED AND WILL PREVAIL Jesus said to Peter, "Blessed are you … " Every revelation brings the Father's blessing upon you by His grace. Spend time getting to know the Father, and you will receive revelation after revelation and blessing after blessing. When Peter received a revelation from the Father, it was for an important task: that Jesus may build His Church through Peter. Ask yourself the purpose of each revelation that the Father gives you. Is there something that He wants you to do with it so that others may also be blessed because, first and foremost, you will be blessed by it? When the Father gave Peter the revelation, Jesus told him that He would build His Church on this rock. The rock was the revelation Peter received from the Father. And Jesus said the gates of hell would not prevail against it. In other words, the devil cannot prevail against the Father's purpose. If the Heavenly Father gives you a revelation, then whatever He has planned and purposed for you will be accomplished because the devil cannot prevail against the Father's plan and thwart His purpose. So do not abandon the Father's plan; instead, persevere and persist, for your faith and faithfulness will prevail. To build a successful life, get the Heavenly Father's plan and follow it because His plan is already blessed and will bless you. His plan will prevail against any onslaught of the devil. The devil cannot succeed against the Father's plan. The Father's plan never fails!Especially for those in full-time ministry or who are pastoring a church, do not abandon pastoring or change churches unless the Lord says so.Rev. Cheong Yew KwongFaith Church SingaporePlease visit our website at faithchurch.sg#goodtoread ... See MoreSee Less

BUILD YOUR LIFE ON THE REVELATION FROM THE HEAVENLY FATHER

Matthew 16:15-19 (NKJV)15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”In this passage of scripture, Jesus gives us the keys to building our lives, businesses, careers, and local churches.Key #1 - HAVE A REVELATION FROM THE FATHER Jesus asked Peter who He was. Peter replied that He was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Where did Peter get this revelation from, and why was Peter the only one who had it? The Heavenly Father gave Peter this revelation. Every revelation comes from the Father’s unfailing love. A revelation of who Jesus is is a revelation of the Father’s plan - in this case, the plan for building His Church. To successfully build your life - your career, your business, and even your local church (if you are called to pastor) - you must receive a revelation from the Heavenly Father. A member of my church received such a revelation from the Father regarding which product to sell in his company. With this revelation, he turned the whole company around to be profitable. Another member received a revelation from the Father not to go on a scholarship to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA. His decision not to go changed his career path for the better. One of my alumni received a revelation from the Father to come and attend our bible school in 2012, and she has never been the same since then. Why did the Father give the revelation to Peter? The Father always does things with a purpose. He gave Peter the revelation because He would later use Peter to build the Church. In Acts 2, after being baptised with the Holy Spirit, Peter went to preach the gospel, and 3,000 people received salvation that day. Jesus started the Church, but Peter began to build His Church. This was the reason Peter received the revelation rather than others. Do not envy others who receive a revelation from the Father, but rejoice with them, for there is a purpose in that revelation. Get your own revelation from the Father, and it will bring you success. Then, you will successfully build your life. And your life is a part of the Church of Jesus Christ. If you are called to be a pastor, receive a revelation from the Father to build His church.Rev. Cheong Yew KwongFaith Church SingaporePlease visit our website at faithchurch.sg#goodtoread ... See MoreSee Less