Bible Devotions with UW

Christmas makes everything new



I am reminded.

On top of a hill, thousands of years ago. At the mercy tree, lies a blameless man who was hung and tried for doing no wrong. All he ever did was heal the sick, touched the rejected, the outcast, the lonely, gave hope where people have given up hope, delivered those who were oppressed, He did many good things and was convicted and sentenced by lies of Man. He did nothing deserving death.

Even a Roman man, name Pilate a prefect of Rome who did not know God was bewildered and echoed the same words:

Matthew 27:23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” 24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”

Here was a man demonstrating powers that should have proven He is God, for never in the history of Man, were such miracles demonstrated. Not witnessed by Man nor other religion.

This is not a fairy tale nor a myth. Pontius Pilate was a real person in history and was recorded by a Roman historian, Tacitus in writings of his account with Christ!

Though the world mocked and ridiculed, how can a God die by the hands of Man, how can the blood of one Man gives salvation to the world.

I am reminded there is where Salvation lies. For this Salvation is offered by God himself and not Man, that is why the value of his blood is able to save the entire planet if people are willing to believe.

This coming season of Christmas is a reminder of this hope. Here is a chance to start all over again. Whatever life has taken you through, doesn't matter the troubles that beset you. Doesn't matter how bad it is or how hopeless, Christ says this:

I am making everything new!

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

The essence of the meaning "new creation" means restoration to God, all the resources, all the powers of Heaven is now at your side! And it can be accessed through Faith by Prayer!

Read Isaiah 43 and Isaiah 65 for contemplation. This is my message from the Lord for you, those who are near and those who are far.

God bless you all.

Haha, this really hits the nail on the head. Requiring faith alone for me is just not enough. Nice term though... Second generation Syndrome LOL.


I guess I simply can't defeat that part of my brain that wants a solid objective reason to believe rather than having believing without seeing. I'll stop it at there.

Ah, thanks. I kept deleting and retyping, forgot what title/term to use for Paul.

By the way, I've heard of this term "persecution". We have discussed it once in church that we're throwing that word too lightly around. The term "persecution" in the Bible often refers to harsh persecution where murdering and torture is involved. I do not know what you've been through but I don't think those could be called "persecution" frankly speaking. Although, the word's definition covers whatever ill-treatment.

Regarding the case of HS and gray areas, I've recently just remembered about the death of Uzzah. Despite his good intentions, he still died due to disobedience.

This post has been edited by amosai: Dec 11 2014, 03:53 PM

I'm having issues to what I say doesn't match with what's going on itn my head.

Like I say, I believe. But somewhere inside, it's "in the end I won't believe it." kind of thing.

Put my salvation on a pretty spotty place. I try to dispel them and not dwell on it, but I don't know if they come from me or something else.

A heavy chair was thrown at my head, if I got hit by it, I would have end up in a hospital with bleeding serious head injury. I was constantly ridiculed and mocked in front of family members and in public, every time the subject of Christianity was brought up. I was already in my late 20s almost 30 if I'm not mistaken. The tone of the voice was so loud on purpose so that many could hear, happened in dinner at restaurants. Do you know how embarrassing it is for guy of that age? That was many years ago. I know It's not as brutal as those tortured in Islamic countries but to say that is not persecution?

You certainly don't know what hell I went through for believing in my Faith. Anyway.....that was the past, things have changed now because I believed nothing is impossible with God. Only God could have changed my family. Nobody else could, not the smartest nor the most intellectual Man could convince them. How maybe next time, I'll share my testimony.

Back to your doubt.

Nothing is insignificant in the Bible, even name have meaning. The root word for Uzzah is the hebrew word Uzi (where you get the Uzi Gun) which means strength referring to strength of Man.

God has specifically instructed how the Ark is to be carried in the book of Numbers. They must be on the shoulders of the Levitical priests not on oxen carts. Ox here represent strength, Priest represents Grace as how defined in the book of Hebrews.

That was 1 mistake, another mistake was that nobody is to touch or even look into the ark as God has warned in the book of Numbers, chapter 4. Man cannot come to God just like that under the Old Covenant of Law as God is Holy, Man was stained with sin and the problem of self righteousness (strength of Man). The base of the covenant of the Law is that If Man want to come to God via his own way (own strength/performance), then He must be responsible for disobedience as well.

What happened to Uzzah was symbolic in nature. A lot of people think that it is sin that hinders people from coming to God. Though that is true but the lesson we can learn from here is that the strength of Man also hinders God. (thus the meaning of the name Uzzah).

God never wanted the Covenant of the Law, his initial plan with man was Grace all the way. The Law is about Man, Grace is about God. From the time of Adam all the way till Israel was delivered up to Mount Sinai, was a period of God's grace. Under Grace, God is close to his people. It was only when Israel boasted before God that they can well obey all that God commanded, God changed his toned. There is distance between God and man under law.

And some Churches tried to establish the old Covenant, the 10 commandments.

IN 1 Corinthians 15:56 it says; and the strength of sin is the law. Think about it. That is the lesson about Uzzah.

This is natural. Our Flesh is Anti God.

That is why God say we are to live by faith. And many don't understand it is not to be practise only during Sunday sermon but from Monday till Sunday, everyday.

We live by Faith everyday, praying and reading God's word. We cannot change our mind but the Holy Spirit can.

And the Holy Spirit will take hold of whatever words from the Bible you digest.

If we don't read his word daily and don't practise our faith daily, there's nothing much for the HS to use to change us.

Ooh I didn't know Uzzah meant that way.

Thanks again Uw for not laughing/condemning my issues. It's hard to find someone who can talk.

Consistency is the key, I understand now

imho, it's not releveant. Uzzah died, sky is blue, are nothing related to HS and gray areas.

What related is, GOD's always in control.

Do what HS told you to do and live ? not always.
Do what HS told you to do and die ? maybe.

At the end, it's our relationship with Christ that matters. Not dead / alive / obey / disobedience.

Clearly to me your response lacked manners and your understanding of the basic Bible scripture leave much to be desired.

Who gave you the right to judge me? "

John 5:22

"For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son."

Matthew 7:1–5

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.”

You have NO RIGHT to condemned me of my sinful past!

What is the point of us having a Christian fellowship when we have a stupid bigot like de1929 condemning me because of my tattoos and my past?

Didn't Jesus fully paid for our sins on the cross? Didn't he gave the commandment "Love thy neighbor"?

No point debating with an ignorant fool like de1929.

God already given me a second chance and I want to make it right. Its people like de1929 that not helping the cause.

just ignore him tina, he is foolish for judging others

Dee, you can't accept it when we tell you hasutan is wrong. But you go and kutuk a new Christian. Maybe you should apply the verse to yourself.

Apparently I did not include the sentence, correct me if i am wrong. I do apologize if I sound judgmental but most people do throw the word easily. Ended up being beaten at the end of the day is not persecution. This does not apply in your case I presume looking at the tone of your first paragraph and second paragraph. There are instances where christians going around temples shouting your god is not real and getting beat up. I wouldn't consider that persecution, I consider that stupidity and inconsiderate.

I don't see the relevancy of the meaning of Uzzah at this point of life though as I am more focused on what can we learn from the story regarding the topic discussed previously.

I respectfully disagree with you. I feel it's very relevant as the circumstance surrounds should we do something against the law/rules/etc if it's for a good cause. Uzzah like your circumstance did something with a good intention (to prevent the ark from falling/ save people) by going against what God has said ( Action of holding the ark/ action of bribery), but the end result doesn't look very favorable from the viewpoint of Uzzah.

From what I see from this particular scripture/story , there seems to be no room for sin even with good intention. Of course, this is reading the story as it is (independent of other information) , without any historical knowledge beforehand.

I think it covers the using illegal methods for a good cause. But does not cover gray areas in specific regarding types of music/movies/books or other gray areas.

This post has been edited by amosai: Dec 12 2014, 12:15 AM

grace brother grace ... the more you know about GOD's grace, the less worry you are.

why don't you replace uzzah story with lazarus ? both died, one alive one still dead.

Allow me to assume, you picked uzzah cuz your lack knowledge / lack experiences of GOD's grace, lead you to believe that, uzzah good intentions (but results in dead) overshadow GOD's grace that raise lazarus from dead.

smith wigglesworth rebuked dead many times. In year 2014, in can conclude easily dead can be rebuked. don't worry too much about dead, or "Dead". (i mean "dead" as circumstances that it not salvageable using common understanding).

don't worry about dead. by GOD's grace given to me, here i can raise u from dead. If you need bigger faith than me, simple, contact UW

The experience of Jacob

Esau's Welcome of Jacob

After all this, when Jacob saw Esau, he was bold, yet humble, to go to the front to meet him (33:3-4). Verse 3 says, "And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother." In a sense, he was honest and faithful to his wives and children and went to the front to pioneer the way. Jacob's coming to him in this manner greatly surprised Esau who "ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him" (v. 4). Both Jacob and Esau wept. By this we see that all of Jacob's fears were products of his own worrying and that all he did was in vain. He did not need to divide his people into two camps, to pray the best prayer, to present nine droves of cattle as a gift to Esau, to wrestle with the Lord in the form of man, and to divide his wives, children, and maids the second time. If he had truly known God and had trusted in Him, he would have been continually at peace, saying, "I am not worried about Esau because God has promised to bring me back to my father's land. He even told me to go back, and I have the peace that He will bring me there. No matter what Esau might do to me, I am not concerned because my God has given me His word."

We all must learn from Jacob's experience. We do not need to do so much. Are we not today's Jacobs, the chosen ones? Surely we are. Has not the Lord given us His promise? Certainly He has. Are not the camps of angels encompassing us? We must believe that they are. We may think that certain people are our enemies. The enemy, Satan, may inject thoughts into our minds regarding our Laban or Esau. All such thoughts are vain. Recall your past. Have you not done many things which eventually proved to be useless? Whatever we did was in vain. Many times I have said to myself, "Man, you are really stupid. You have wasted your time and energy in doing things in vain. Nothing of what you have done was a help, for the Lord did not use them." Surely Jacob never dreamed that Esau would have come to him with such fervent love. God frustrated Laban by speaking to him in a dream and also He aroused Esau's brotherly love toward Jacob. Hence, Esau did not come to Jacob with hatred or with the desire for vengeance; rather, he came with warm, brotherly love. Esau had forgotten the suffering Jacob had caused him. But Jacob, the supplanter, had not forgotten what he had done to his brother. In this we see God's marvelous acts.

Many times, undoubtedly, we all love the Lord. By loving the Lord, you have the assurance that you are one of the chosen ones. As chosen ones, the Lord's promise, His goal, and His destination are for you. The Lord has charged us all to advance toward the goal, to go on to our Father's land where we can enjoy the riches of the Lord for His eternal purpose. So we simply need to enjoy peace in Him. Do not be bothered by any Labans or Esaus. Whatever happens, simply rest in Him. Usually, one day we will discover that all the things that worried us will come to nothing. You do not need to do anything, for actually there is no real trouble either in front of you or behind you. Apparently, there is a great deal of difficulty; actually, because you are God's chosen ones under His all-sufficient care, there is no difficulty at all. You are God's chosen ones assured with His promise and charged with His goal. Now you are on the way. As long as we are on the way to reach God's goal and as long as we have His promise as His chosen ones, everything is all right.

It's hard to accept the reality of persecution especially from people who are suppose to love you, not persecute or hate you for the God you believe in.
I now understand why God allowed me to go through that. So that I can comfort the next believer who goes through similar ordeal, so that his faith remain intact.

The people of the world will naturally hate God because 3 things. Because of inherited sin, the works of the flesh (everything about self interest) and the works of the devil (Spiritual blindness and curse of life) in their life. Anyone separated from God, will experience all these 3 enemies that builds up over time.

That is the meaning in the story of Uzzah. Anyone who comes to God via their own strenght, own thoughts (intellect), own way will experience death. Yours in particular is spiritual death which affect your physical realm of why you don't experience God back then. To experience God and his Kingdom must be done God's way. (1 Corinthians 2:5 & 2 Corinthians 12:9)

This post has been edited by unknown warrior: Dec 12 2014, 11:34 AM

I am not exactly worried about death nor am I talking about death lol, you seem to be deviating from the point I am trying to make. I am just saying that story of Uzzah is an example of using a wrong method for the right reasons. And the end result isn't nice.

The emphasis I am trying to make from the story of Uzzah was:
1) The wrong method (He touched the ark although he was commanded not to touch it)
2) The right intention (He did it so that the Ark wouldn't fall)
3) The end result (He died means God does not approve the wrong method although it was out of good intention)

I've written the story as plainly as I could on how I understood since you weren't clear about my post. I am not saying that God is not full of grace and forgiveness. I am saying the nature/characteristic of God is that He sees and views that the right intention does not make up for the wrong method used. That's what I understand from the story.

Excuse me, but you seem to have a poor grasp on how to discuss/argue points. Often bringing in irrelevant points like how I lack knowledge/experience on God's grace, focusing on the person who wrote it but not the content wrote. So do please discuss the contents wrote and please show me where have I mistaken on the story.

If you feel the need to discuss about the person who wrote it too, there's not much I can say or do because it'll be a never ending argument which will at the end turn bitter. This is mainly due to both parties instinctively defending their own flaws in character. Thus the need to actually focus on the content rather than the person.

Unkown Warrior, my response on the lower part of the first post was more geared towards de1929's discussion. Not regarding my spiritual life because you seem to be linking all of post altogether.

I do understand what you're trying to say from Uzzah's story. That's one way to look at it which I agree but there is another way of looking at it which you can refer to the response above to de1929.

It is really hard to discuss this when both parties are not willing to consider the probability that their own opinion/conviction/facts/etc is wrong. I am open to the fact that I might be wrong that God does not exist. I think you need to be open that your belief might be flawed too. (Just in case if I wasn't clear, I am asking you to doubt your own faith)

In fact, I crave that I am wrong about God's non-existence. But no evidence or words has so convinced me otherwise thus I am still searching for it. Although I could only conclude no human can convince me other than God Himself.

Before all the "hoo ha" or opposition about doubt, I believe strongly that doubt is essential and needed to strengthen one's faith. The reason for this is because it'll make you re-examine your own faith in a new light. Strengthening as you find that each doubt can be overcome. To completely avoid doubt is just the way easy out, satisfying one's own need for certainty that what he/she believes is right.

This post has been edited by amosai: Dec 12 2014, 03:11 PM

It would be kinda hard for you to ask me to doubt my Faith in God at this present moment. I've moved on by God's grace, beyond the stage of experimental.

Though you say you understand the story of Uzzah but based on what you've said here, I don't think you actually do, because you seem to repeat what I've tried to tell you in the bold.

You're still trying to search God on your own strenght. That's not going to work. I mean obviously doubt is anti of believe (duh), don't see how that is going to work for you.

I do fully understand the words of your bold-ed statement. You're telling me that I am searching God through my own methods (via whatever source), thus I won't find anything but death. Contrary to what you said, Bible has twice (maybe more or less) stated that when you seek Him, you'll find Him. What you're saying from the story itself is subjective as it is not clearly written in words in the Bible while the statement " Those who seek me find me" is clearly written on the Bible in the exact words. (Proverbs 8:17, Jeremiah 29:13)

It sounds contradicting, don't you think? God did not specify in the verses on how you need to seek Him to find Him other than with all your heart (Correct me if I am wrong), but what He said simply was if you've tried to seek God, you'll find God. And can you tell me, I am not seeking the one and true God? Or am I seeking for another form of idol?

Even those who are beyond the stage of experimental doubt God at one phase of their life. Mother Theresa, Martin Luther, C.S. Lewis, even biblical characters. If the bible excludes doubt completely, the bible becomes irrelevant. None of us are actually free from doubt.

Faith cannot be equated with absolute certainty. When you're not absolute certain, you'll have doubt. When you're absolute certain, you no longer need faith.

If faith is equated with absolute certainty, then the only way for your family to believe in God, is that you need to convince yourself absolute certainty that God will save your family. And when God doesn't come through, why? Even though you believe in God absolutely without doubt. It's not the time yet? It's not His plan to save your family?

I've seen a lot of people said " I don't have enough faith" when what they pray for someone's benefit and not theirs when things don't turn out right. As if God is holding a shotgun to the dying person and say to the person praying to PRAY HARDER, BELIEVE MORE, HAVE FAITH MORE. That's just simply not true or not aligned with the character of God shown in the Bible. Although the Bible has stated " if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can move a tree"

It shows how flawed we in churches believe about the word "faith". If I was writing in the past to my present self about my doubts, I would have written the exact same thing you wrote.

When you are trying to decide on what you believe, you give room to doubt that your hypothesis might be wrong. I am not waging my entire life now on the words "Just believe".

Doubt contrary to a lot of people's belief, is not anti-believe.

It's "a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction."

Uncertain does not mean you do not believe, you are not sure whether to believe or not (Still giving room to believe and at the same time, not to believe).

"Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother". Khalil Gibran.

This post has been edited by amosai: Dec 12 2014, 04:23 PM

ok, i understand you are not implying afraid of death.

I understand the depth of your message.

let's project uzziah mistake into 3 dates: 12 dec (today), 1st dec (past), 4th dec (past). I didn't mean to twist bible, but try to separate between action / reaction so i have to use 3 dates (1, 4, 12 and 12 is today).

Today is 12 dec.

Uzziah made mistake on 1st dec, and on 4th dec uzziah dead (e.g. okay). On 12 dec uzziah parents then has lesson learned that it is not wise to touch ark regardless good / bad intention.

It is unpleasant to know that today (12 dec), somebody told me i made mistake on 1st dec, therefore on 4th dec some terrible things was happened.

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Once i question GOD how can i make sure that i will not make any mistakes.

technically i want security regardless i am aware or not, regardless i have the knowledge, regardless i know the regulation or not.

I want my future is secured from any mistakes, which skills / knowledge i don't have.

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answer
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GOD's grace .

more sin more grace that's what's written in bible.
sin oso meaning hamartia, meaning inaccurate.
The more inaccurate, the more grace.

I think you don't know GOD's grace as deep as i am. GOD's grace has completely different meaning from your perspective imho.

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back to uziah
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old testaments does not exercise GOD's grace as radical as of 2014. therefore uziah died nobody rebuke death in order for bible to record ....
but in new testament, lazarus didn't make mistake, but Jesus purposedly to be late so lazarus died. At the end lazarus was resurected.

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result not nice ?
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There will be GOD's grace for any shortcoming that you will do in the future.
do not worry

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let me know if you don't get my message.

This post has been edited by de1929: Dec 12 2014, 05:36 PM

It's interesting that you mentioned the word contradicting because from what I've observed, I think it's just lack of understanding of scripture. You quote scripture in part, therefore you will understand in part. That's incomplete. (1 Corinthians 13:9-11)

The Bible must be understood in complete encompassing revelation of New Covenant but knowing the details from Old Testament to New Testament.
If you were to stop at just few verses as you've given, it would not suffice.

Because Yes He did specify quite clearly how to seek Him; in

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) - And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Do you see the word must? Faith is something God takes very seriously. Because He honour by that virtue. It's not really an option and I don't see there's room for doubt even.

Talking about Faith, actually it does equated with absolute certainty. In one translation it's phrased like this

Hebrews 11:1 (NLT) - Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Confidence is the same meaning with being absolutely certain.

I think that's where your problem started. You gave room for doubt.

The reason why Jesus taught on faith as small as a mustard seed is to let us know, It's not really the matter of the degree of Faith, it's either you believe or you don't. Faith as small as mustard seed is still Faith. It's that simple, really.

Look, I know where you're coming from, I'm not trying to force you to believe. I'm just pointing out where you went wrong and it's really up to you to pick up from there. The reason why I'm here is because God gave me this ministry. To help others, to point them back in the right direction. I'm not trying to fight you or go into argument mode.

I rather back off and do something else If this is going to head into that direction.







This post has been edited by unknown warrior: Dec 12 2014, 07:27 PM

Hello Amosai, I hear you out. I wouldn't waste my time with some of the members in this forum (to put it as bluntly as possible), because it's evident of a huge problem we have with Christianity here in the Klang Valley: The church has stopped thinking.

Reading some of your posts, I assume you're a second generation Christian, "inheriting" your faith for your parents; just like I have. Some of your doubts that you've expressed here seems to stem out of a misunderstanding of how the Bible is supposed to be read; I don't blame you since many Christians read it the same way anyway-The Bible has to be read in it's entire context and verses cannot be read individually separated from their respective contexts. It's a long topic, so if you're really interested, go read a book called "grasping God's word" or "God's big picture by Vaugn Roberts"

Regarding faith that you're talking about, I agree with you. Everyone has doubts, but we Christians believe in two things
1)Faith is a gift from God. Without the conviction of the Holy spirit, we wouldn't have faith-(The way I'm saying this is probably abit more nuanced to what you think it means though. it does NOT have to be some mythical experience when the worship band is playing emo music or during some altar call)
2)But because we believe that God is the author of all truth and that we are all without excuse before God (Cf romans 1), we also believe that nature and reality corresponds to the truth of God's existence. So Christianity is no blind faith, we believe that there are good reasons to believe in Christ as well.