Key Verse: Isaiah 49:1 “Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath He made mention of my name.”
I can’t help but cry before God to know that I am so precious, glorious and blessed by Him. Indeed, we belong to the King of kings and Lord of lords and we have everything and there is nothing that God shall withhold from us.
1. You are Precious
V1 “... The Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath He made mention of my name.”
God knows my name. Indeed, God knows our names even when we were yet born into this world. God already knows what kind of person we will turn out to be. He knows whether we will receive and acknowledge Him as our personal Savior and Lord. In His eyes, we are precious to Him. How can we not trust God for all our troubles and cares since we are precious in His sight!
2. You are Glorious
V5 “And now, saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be His servant, to bring Jacob again to Him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength.”
God knows my weaknesses. Indeed, God knows our weaknesses. Though we may fail Him many times yet we are glorious and honoured in His sight. Imagine the Creator and Maker of this universe treats us with glory and honor, it truly humbles us! I am so thankful and grateful to God that in spite of my weaknesses and sins, God is always patient, loving and kind toward me. God never gives up on me. How can I be weak when God is my strength and He shall see me through this life as I totally and completely depend on Him!
3. You are Blessed
V10 “They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for He that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall He guide them.”
God knows my needs. Indeed, God knows my needs. God created and made me in His image. The Creator knows His creatures and what needs the creatures have. How can I not trust God for all my needs when God shall lead, guide and blessed me all the days of my life!
Prayer of the Week
God, thank You so much that I am Precious, Glorious and Blessed by Thee.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 01:55 pm
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Key Verse: Isaiah 48:10 “Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.”
1. Suffering Refines Man’s Character
V10 “Behold, I have refined thee, …”
Man’s character is of utmost importance to God. God has made man in His image. However, as a result of man’s disobedience, man comes short of the image of God. The only way for man to be restored to God’s image is to believe in God again, and then God shall refine man’s character into His image that of godliness and holiness.
2. Suffering Reflects God’s Choice
V10 “Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.”
Count it a privilege if you suffer for God as it is a confirmation that He has chosen you! If God is to refine man as the way man refines silver, then no man will come forth as pure silver as man is too impure. However, it is by God’s infinite grace, mercy and love, that when the people call upon God that He shall hear them and refine their impurities for His glory.
Zechariah 13:9 “And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.”
3. Sufferings Reflects God’s Glory
V11 “For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? And I will not give my glory unto another.”
God’s glory is manifested when Christians suffer for God. History testifies that as a result of heavy and intense persecution, Christianity has actually flourished even in Communist countries. Indeed, it is through suffering that we are able to discern the real Christians from the false ones. During good times, it is easy to believe in God because there is no suffering and persecution. However, it is only during bad times, when suffering and persecution come, that we shall see the true blue Christians who still believe and confess that Jesus is the Lord.
Prayer of the Week
God, Help me to Endure Sufferings as they Refine my Character and Reflect God’s Choice and God’s Glory.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 04:24 pm
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Key Verse: Isaiah 47:10 “For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me.”
Why do majority of the people including Christians, not call upon God, as in Jeremiah 33:3 “Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not”?
The world is getting more wicked as we see many including teenagers committing wickedness in the form of violence, corruption, deceit, cursing, immorality, etc. Like the Nike advertisement of “Just do it”; many youth have experimented wickedness and sinned against God. Even Christians have secretly committed wickedness and lived double lives, thinking that no one sees their wickedness. They fail to realize that God sees every of their actions and deeds, and God even knows what is in their thoughts and hearts!
Jeremiah 17:10 “I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins (thoughts), even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.’
2. Wisdom
V10 “For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee;…”
As wisdom and knowledge increases due to affluence and advance in education and technology, many become proud and do not believe in God. Unless they can see God and touch God, they refuse to believe God and the truth of His Word, the Bible.
2 Timothy 3:7 “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
3. Worship
V10 “For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me.”
Instead of worshipping God, man worship himself. In his wickedness and wisdom, man chooses to worship self. The result of worshipping self is selfishness and this sin is manifested in every aspect of life as the common saying, “Every man for himself.” No one really cares for others. It is sad and tragic when even loved ones, husband and wife, fight against each other for selfish reasons, at the expense of their children and family!
Prayer of the Week
God, Help me to Call upon You, and Worship You, and You Alone.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 11:32 am
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Key Verse: Isaiah 46:4 “And even to your old age I am He; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.”
Thank God for His promise that He shall carry, bear and deliver you from young to old age as you call upon His mighty name.
1. God Shall Carry You
V4 “And even to your old age I am He; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you:…”
I know of a godly woman who has a retarded son. As I was talking to her, she told me that she has been taking care of him for more than 20 years. She has been feeding him, cleaning him and carrying him around. However she is worried that no one will take care of him when she dies and goes to be with the Lord. I assured her that God shall take care of her son as God promises in the book of Isaiah that He shall take care of His children from young to old age. As God takes care of the birds and the animals, surely God shall take care of man who is made in the image of God.
Psalms 37:25 “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”
2. God Shall Bear You
V4 “And even to your old age I am He; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry,…”
Though each one of you is unique, you are made in the image and likeness of God with a heart that can learn to love, share and care, as you believe and call upon God to save you. This is why man and woman are different from birds and animals which eat, fight, mate and live by instinct. You can call upon God and cast all your care and trouble upon Him for He loves and cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.
3. God Shall Deliver You
V4 “And even to your old age I am He; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.”
Indeed, God not only carry and bear your trouble but He shall also deliver you in the day of trouble!
Psalms 50:15 “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.”
Prayer of the Week
God, thank You for carrying, bearing and delivering me in the day of trouble.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 11:32 am
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Key Verse: Isaiah 45:22 “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”
Are you stressed and discouraged by the doom and gloom of what’s happening in this world? Call and look to God as He shall be our answer and hope in life!
Isaiah 45:23 “I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.”
1. God is my Promise
Isaiah 45:23 “I have sworn by myself,…”
Have you ever experience the time when someone you trust most, break his words and promises, and disappoint and hurt you deeply? Many times, man’s words and promises are just words and promises, as man seldom keeps them. However, praise be to God, He keeps His Word and promises and never fails nor disappoints us!
2. God is my Righteousness
V23 “I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return,…”
In this time and age, where evil and wickedness prevail, it is very difficult to find righteousness, even among Christian circles. Man has been indulging in sins, evil and unrighteousness, as we witness the rising crimes, deceits, immorality, etc., committed in recent years. However, praise be to God, His righteousness prevails in the realm of unrighteousness.
3. God is my Lord
V23 “I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.”
Man may not believe God but in other gods and religions that they think can offer them hope, peace and salvation. However, one day, man shall realize that there is the God of heaven, who is the only true and living God! One day, everyone, be they rich or poor, famous or unknown, city or tribal people of the ends of the earth, shall bow their knees and confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord! Let us call and look to God and believe in Him and be saved from the fiery pits of hell to the pearly portals of heaven!
Isaiah 45:22 “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”
Prayer of the Week
God, I believe that You are God and there is none else!
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 11:31 am
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Key Verse: V6 “Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.”
1. God is your King
V6 “Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel,…”
The King is the most powerful person in a country. In Thailand, whoever disobey the king or speak ill of the King shall be punished by the state. The Thai has utmost respect and reverence to their King.
The prophet Isaiah reminded the nation of Israel, their God was the King of all kings whom they must respect and worship. However, Israel refused to obey God, their King, and instead they worshipped idols, and incurred the wrath of God. Hence, Isaiah pronounced judgment on them.
2. God is your Redeemer
V6 “Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts;..”
During the time of the Old Testament, the happiest moment for a slave was when he was redeemed by someone and freed from the rule of his master. Prophet Isaiah again reminded the people that God was their Redeemer and He freed them from the bondage of the Egyptians. This was the happiest moment of the nation of Israel as they were freed from slavery. However, the nation of Israel soon forgotten their Redeemer, and Isaiah had to warn them again of the impending judgment of God upon them.
3. God is your Everything
V6 “Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.”
Isaiah taught the nation of Israel that God was not just their King, their Redeemer but their everything! God was their first as He gave them life, and God was also their last as He was with them in death.
My friends and beloved, do you know the God of Israel? Believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died for your sins, and you shall have everlasting life. Call upon God and repent of your sins, and He shall show you great and mighty things He can do in your life for His glory and honor.
Jeremiah 33:3 “Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
Prayer of the Week
God, I believe that You are my King, my Redeemer and my Everything.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 11:30 am
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Key Verse: V2 “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
1. God is with you through the waters
V2 “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee;…”
God was with Noah, his family and the animals as they drifted in the ark in the waters in Genesis 7. All the rest of the people and the animals outside the ark were drowned and destroyed in the waters. The ark was a symbol of God’s presence and protection over Noah, his family and the animals with them. The prophet Isaiah reminded the nation of Israel that as God was with Noah, his family and the animals through the waters, God shall also be with them during the hard times.
2. God is with you through the rivers
V2 “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee:…”
God was with Joshua and the nation of Israel as they crossed the river Jordan in Joshua 3. The river was at high tide and yet when they stepped onto the river, it went up like a heap, and Joshua and the nation of Israel crossed it dry! The prophet Isaiah again reminded the nation of Israel that their ancestors ever crossed the rivers dry and it did not overflow and drown them. This is another reminder that God is with you during the hard times. Don’t give up, trust God! God is with you!
3. God is with you through the fire
V2 “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
God was with the three Hebrew men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who refused to worship the golden image that the King of Babylonian had set up in Daniel 3. As a result, the King commanded his men that these three Hebrew men be thrown into the furnace of fire and be burnt to death. While in the fire, the Babylonians saw that there was a fourth man walking beside the three Hebrew men, and all of them came out alive and without any burnt mark! The fourth man was none other than the Lord Jesus Christ!
There was this dream that a man had. During the good times, he saw two set of footprints on the sand, his and God. However, during the hard times, he saw only one set of footprint. The man was puzzled and asked God, “God, where were you during the hard times as I saw only one set of footprint?” And God replied, “The one set of footprint was mine and I was carrying you through the hard times!”
Prayer of the Week
God, please help me to know that I am not alone as you are with me all the time.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 11:29 am
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Key Verse: V16 “And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.”
“Amazing grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.”
The hymn writer of “Amazing Grace,” John Newton, knew what it was like, for him to be forgiven of his sins. He was a wicked slave trader who treated human beings like commodities for his own gains. He could not care how these poor and suffering slaves felt when they were sold like commodities until one day God saved him and he saw himself as a wretch who desperately needed the Lord Jesus to be his personal Savior.
1. The blind shall see
V16 “And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them,…”
The prophet Isaiah preached to the people that the blind could see. He was not talking about physical blindness but spiritual blindness. The people could see their material blessings but they could not see that the giver of these material blessings was God. The people enjoyed their health but they could not see that the giver of health was God. The people enjoyed their family and loved ones, but they could not see that the giver of their family and loved ones was God.
2. The blind shall know
V16 “And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight.”
Have you ever wonder why people keep on sinning against God? The people sin against God because their hearts are crooked and wicked. They have no idea how to be straight until God opens their eyes, and for the first time, they see that they are crooked and they need God to straighten their lives.
3. The blind shall praise
V16 “And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.”
As the spiritually blind regain their sight, they praise God for His power and presence.
Prayer of the Week
God, please help me to see that the crooked can be straightened when God is in it.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 11:29 am
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Key Verse: V10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Isaiah 41:10 is one of the most precious promises of God assuring His people, the nation of Israel in the Old Testament, that He was with them all the time including bad times. What a privilege and honor to know that God is also with His people, the Christians in the New Testament, all the time including bad times.
1. Fear Not
V10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee:…..”
Are you fearful of losing your health, loved ones, job, career, etc? The prophet Isaiah and the people at that time were no different from us in this 21st century. They were fearful of the impending attack of their enemies; the Babylonians, the Assyrians, etc. They feared for their lives and the lives of their loved ones, spouses, children, parents, friends, neighbours, etc. Thank God that He was with the nation of Israel, and He is also with His Christians in this 21st century. God shall never forsake us and He shall be with us in life and even in death, as we shall see Him in Heaven one day!
2. Worry Not
V10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee;…”
Do you worry about tomorrow and the future? We worry daily as though God cannot provide our needs and take care of our health and family. Hence, God assures us in His Word that He is our God and He shall strengthen and help us. What a privilege and honor to know that God is on our side and how can we worry! When we are weak, God shall strength us. When we are in difficulty, God shall help us. Trust God, He knows best!
3. Sin Not
V10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Is your heart right with God? One of the main things, if not the only thing, is that our hearts must be right with God. God is righteous and we, His people, must also be righteous. We fear and worry because we doubt God’s presence, power, protection and providence.
Food for Thought
Stress free is when we fear not, worry not and sin not.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 11:28 am
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Key Verse: V31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Of all the activities in life, waiting is one of the toughest if not the toughest of all. We will rather choose to do anything or everything than to just wait upon something or somebody. This was the reason why God commanded His prophet, Isaiah, and His people, the nation of Israel, to wait upon Him, in good times and bad times. Waiting was the hardest thing for Isaiah and Israel, yet this was what God commanded them to do!
1. Be Waiting
V31 “But they that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles …”
Have you seen an eagle in full flight? The eagle renews its strength by waiting upon the air current to get them high into the air. In fact, the eagle soars magnificently and majestically in the midst of an impending great storm. This is a great application to our Christian life. As we face life storms, let us wait upon the Lord and trust Him to bring us above our life storms.
2. Be Running
V31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary;…”
Have we been running with our own strength? Many including Christians have been running on our own strength. As a result, we get wearied, tired, and alas, we burnt-out! As in the rat-race in society, we run in circles to climb the corporate ladder. The higher we climb, the more pressure and stress we face. The race seems unending and we get tired and wearied. Indeed, there is no end to the rat-race unless we run our life with the strength of God.
3. Be Walking
V31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Have we been walking with our own strength? Some of us may not be running, but we are walking and struggling in life. No matter how much we walk and struggle in life, we shall be tired, weary and faint, if we walk in our own strength.
Food for Thought
Waiting is a spiritual exercise only for the godly.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 11:27 am
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