The Gift of Spiritual Routines

Rev Dr Alvin Lee

To keep us sane and productive.

Following a routine helps in Having lower stress level, form good daily habits, more time for leisure, help us more productive, more focus on task

Routine helps in developing physical, emotionally, spiritually life

Big Idea:
Strengthen your whole life by practicing God's gifts of spiritual routines.

Rhythum is defined as instilling discipline towards godliness as an individual or family

1 Timothy 4:7-8

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

Numbers 28:1-11

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Give this command to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Make sure that you present to me at the appointed time my food offerings, as an aroma pleasing to me.’ 3 Say to them: ‘This is the food offering you are to present to the Lord: two lambs a year old without defect, as a regular burnt offering each day. 4 Offer one lamb in the morning and the other at twilight, 5 together with a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah[a] of the finest flour mixed with a quarter of a hin[b] of oil from pressed olives. 6 This is the regular burnt offering instituted at Mount Sinai as a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the Lord. 7 The accompanying drink offering is to be a quarter of a hin of fermented drink with each lamb. Pour out the drink offering to the Lord at the sanctuary. 8 Offer the second lamb at twilight, along with the same kind of grain offering and drink offering that you offer in the morning. This is a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. “‘On the Sabbath day, make an offering of two lambs a year old without defect, together with its drink offering and a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah[a] of the finest flour mixed with olive oil. 10 This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering. ‘On the first of every month, present to the Lord a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect.

2. Weekly Spiritual routine

Exodus 20:8-11
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

3. Monthly Spiritual Routines

4. Yearly Spiritual Routines
Numbers 28:26
‘On the first of every month, present to the Lord a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect.

Turn routines into spiritual routines by inviting God into our routines.

Honor God by honoring your family

by brother Steven Chan

Children:
I am
I will
You can honour God by honouring your parents

Exodus 20:12
“Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be prolonged on the land which the Lord your God gives you.

Engage them for their advice and opinion in your decision making.

Consider their heart's desires in your planning.




Father:
Awesome role with great responsiblities as a father

Every conception that brings a child to life, is planned by God, nothing is coincidental or accidental.

Honour God by responsible fathering

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child [a]in the way he should go, Even when he grows older he will not abandon it.

Represent Abba Father to your children. Watch speech, action, behaviour as a husband, father. Show children off, on the way they should go, and even when they .....

Provide a Godly example by being humble and real.

Husband:
Honour God by becoming lovers for life

Ephesians 5:25-28
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church [a]in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;

Love your wives, just as Christ loved the church
Present her, to himself, as a radiant church, holy and blameless
Love their wives, as their own bodies

Husbands: treat your wife as worthy of your honour and respect.

Wives: don't just be a wife, be the lover to your man

Ephesians 5:22-24
Wives, subject yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

As the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

Rebellion is opposite of submission. Submission is required by God. Paul said this in the context of christian household. Husbands don't just expect wives to submit only, it has to be out of reverence for Christ in mutual submission.

Before you are married, you must not have sex. Once married, you must have lots of sex ....

Question:
Why is sex such a big temptation for man or why is husband always
1. God created men and women, biologically differently.
2. Women do not desire less sex than men.

Angels on Assignment - Roland Buck

Do you know...
- that if even one member of your family is living for God, each individual members is highly favored?

- that angels have orders to listen to no objections, but to hasten individuals to a point of choice?

- that if a person chooses the wrong way, the angels will begin the cycle all over again?




Satanic forces are attacking the home.......This attack is more than just an attack on the home for every time you find a new chapter about to be opened in God's great work, you will find increased satanic activity.

God let me know that events which He has decreed have to happen! When He decrees it, an irreversible force is set in motion that nothing can stop. It has to happen! People He has included in His unfolding plan are not irreversibly stuck with that plan for themselves unless they want to be. God has predestined the event, but not the individuals. He said, in effect, "If you will link arms with me, there will be joy and jappiness in it for you. I have foreordained you to be a partner with me in the great work that I am doing, but I will not hold you to it."

Many Christians have been praying for the unsaved loved ones in their families. When the angel brought me the message that their prayers had already been answered, I thought, Does this mean they are already all saved? No, God does not mean He will violate the free right of choice He has given, but it means that He is going to do everything necessary to bring people to the point where it will be easy for them to make the choice to serve Him.

Did you know that you are on God's special list because somebody in your family loves Jesus and they are asking God to save you? Even if you have not yet given Him your life, a host of angels has already come! He has already given the cry: "Enemies be scattered!" There are angels working to bring you out of the enemy camp and into God's safety. They are pushing things out of the way because God said that you are highly favored.

We are a door to Christ, and He is the door to God.

As the Spirit draws and calls people, they often refuse to listen, and strenuously object, but the angels don't listen. They have orders to bring people to a point of either accepting or rejecting Jesus. If they refuse, the angels start the cycle over again, and again, and again as directed by the Spirit.




The Spirit not only monitors, but sends out orders, so at God's command, the angels were right here in Boise, Idaho , to defeat the enemy!

"No" he replied, "if the Spirit waited until you knew about an attack, you would already be in trouble! This is not anything unusual, We are constantly holding back the enemy and putting them to flight!"




You worship Me, walk with Me, put your hand in Mine, get your heart in tune with Me, and I will give you the privilege of moving with Me.




Angels do not respond to human beings, because they don't take orders from anyone except God. Every single order comes from God, and that is why I know when they are speaking they are echoing words right out of God's heart. That is why they don't listen to the objections of people when God orders them to minister to individuals.




God is letting people know that He will not let them go without a struggle, but He also wants us to know that there are two things that will pull us out from under the covering. One is rebellion and the other is idolatry. Outside of that rebellious spirit and idolatry, the things that happen in the normal course of life will not separate you from the love of God, or from the beautiful protection of this covering. You can live for Him in relaxed happiness, knowing that He is on the job!

Priority 1: The Blood of Jesus
Festival: The Passover of the Lord
This feast was a "type" of the death of Christ, His sacrifice, and the blood of Jesus that was so precious before God.......Our great Passover was provided when Jesus sprinkled His blood over the books in heaven to provide a covering for our sins so that we could be acceptable to God and be a part of His eternal family.

Priority 2: Fellowship and Communion with God
Festival: The Festival of Unleavened Bread
When Jesus provided deliverance from sin by His blood, God immediately provided a covering for our sins; not a condoning of sin, but a provision so we could be accepted by Him. Leaven is a type of sin, and at the festival they were to eat unleavened bread, representing sin pardoned.

Priority 3: Jesus is Alive
Festival: The Festival of First Fruits
This festival represents the resurrection of Jesus and His life.

Priority 4: The Promise of the Holy Spirit
Festival: The Festival of Pentecost
The word Pentecost simply means fifty. It was fifty days after the Passover.......Concerning the feast of Pentecost, God was saying, "Take the grain, grind it into flour, and turn it into bread. Put some leaven in it because the church will never be without sin or evil in it." God has it covered, but on the underside of the covering where you live, sin ofter crops up.

Priority 5: Go Tell the World
Festival: The Festival of Trumpets
After the day of Pentecost was the Festival of the Trumpets, in which the people met to herald the sound, and we too have the message to herald the Good News. Let's get out where people don't know Jesus, be the voice of the trumpet, and carry the Good News that Jesus saves! His work is done!

Priority 6: Atonement of Jesus is Everlasting
Festival: The Day of Atonement
This is a reminder that Israel's probation had expired and that their covering must be renewed. It was the time for the annual sacrifice for sin. It was a time when God reviewed all the charges against man each year and he stood hopeless and helpless before the all-seeing eye of God.......When we are born again and God's Holy Spirit gives us new life from heaven, our probation .......is cancelled....it is an everlasting covering through the sacrifice of Jesus. What about those who sin, who remove themselves from under the covering of God's protection?.... that way is repentance and a return to fellowship since there is no other sacrifice, no other way!

Priority 7: The Return of Jesus
Festival: The Festival of Tabernacles
The desire of God is that we live with Him forever and forever. This festival was a totally joyous celebration.




God told Adam and Eve that the day they ate of the fruit was the day they were going to die, and the Word also tells us that the soul that sins, it shall die!

God's eyes are on each person who has ever lived, whether they know Jesus or not! Even the ungodly are cared for by God! His arms are stretched out to people when they are still in their sins.

Right now, there is a special task force of angels on special assignment who will not listen to objections of any kind. Gabriel leads them, and they are really busy bringing the lost to believers who will share God's message of salvation to them.

Supernatural Realm II - FREE Will

by Pastor Meng Chiam

Big Idea:
Choose wisely because what we do and what we choose matters for now and eternity.

I. If God is truly sovereign and had foreknown the disobedience of Adam & Eve:
a. Why did He still allow it?

b. Why didn't He stop the centuries of pain, suffering and death that would plague humankind as a result of the fall of Adam & Eve?

II. If it happen in Eden, under ideal conditions, what would prevent the restored divine human family of God from committing the same in the revived Eden or the new heaven & earth?




1. WHAT IS FREE WILL?

2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for [a]his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad.

- The fact that God judges the deeds done while we are in this body must mean that we are fully responsible for the actions and choices and decisions we make here. To be held accountable for the actions, whether good or evil that we are free moral agents able to exercise free will. It's therefore becomes very important for us to know what free will is.

- Free will stated simply is the power/ability to choose to do what we want to do and to choose not to do what we don't want to do.

- Power to decide equally to turn to right or left, to finish or not finish. It means to be able to choose freely and independantly without being forced to decide one way or another.

Genesis 2:15-17
Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and tend it. 16 The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not [a]eat, for on the day that you eat from it you will certainly die.”

- Adam had freewill in Eden. For Adam to be held accountable, he must be equally capable of obeying or disobeying God's commands, that is he could eat just as much as he could refrain from eating. What should have govern his choice is the consequence that each action would bring. In this case, if he eat he will surely die, if he refrain from eating, he would not die.

- Humans are not held accountable for the fact that they can choose freely but for why they choose what they have chosen, knowing the consequence each choice bring.

What about Eve?

Genesis 3:6
When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband with her, and he ate.

- We choose a particular path because it appeals to us personally and that's why faced with the same possibility, each of us may, can and will choose very different paths. How we exercise freewill depends on how desirable a particular choice is to us. Our heart indeed directs the exercise of freewill, it is so important therefore to guard our hearts because it determines our choices whether in the major decisions of life or in the day to day decisions of how I would want to spend my time and my resources.

- Free will of itself is neutral. There is both the possiblity of doing good or evil. Hence if we sin, it is not because we have been given the freewill, what makes the difference is our nature and our desire that is we really choose what we want.

- All who come after fallen Adam has a tendency to choose that which is sinful because of the nature that has been corrupted, either by our independant wilful defiance or through the trickery of the rebel elohim, this corrupt nature use evil desires to go against all that is good and Godly.

Romans 3:10-12
“There is no righteous person, not even one; 11 There is no one who understands, There is no one who seeks out God; They have all turned aside, together they have become [i]corrupt; There is no one who does good, There is not even one.”

- Freewill alone does not predispose us to sin.

- Our sins are the result of our choices spurred on by our intentions, led by our desires and determine by our character and nature. free will only gives us the ability to express the purpose of our heart. When our hearts purpose are pure and Godly, our actions will be too.

III. Why didn't God make His imagers able to do good and to obey His commands? Wouldn't that have eradicate sin in the first place? Because that would not have been freewill!

2. WHY WAS FREE WILL GIVEN TO US?

- It was to image God

Genesis 2:19
And out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name.

- This ability to freely make choices, to call a dog dog, and elephant elephant was an important element in co-reigning and representing God's authority over creation. This is how both the supernatural and natural beings participate in the Eden project of extending God's rule to the whole earth. By making decision and choosing both to means and the method to bring order into this world.

- Free will is not a status of the image of Yahweh itself. It is one of the attribute we share with God in order to represent Him as His imagers. It is a means to imaging but not the image itself.

- It was an act of God's love. It was given not out to test us nor cause us to suffer in decision nor to make us fail, not at all. Free will was given first so that we would not be robots. What satisfaction does it give the Creator if His creation does not respond freely?

- Yahweh would rather have free moral creatures who can choose to obey Him because they want to, rather than robots who obey Him because they cannot not obey Him.

- So that we can reciprocate His love, return His love.

Revelation 4:11
Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they [a]existed, and were created.”

- God's act of love towards His creation was an act of His free will. Love and the reciprocation of love can only be meaningful when both are acts of freewill, not by compulsion or forced.

1 John 4:19
We love, because He first loved us.

- Without freewill, 1 John 4:19 would make no sense, we would not be able to reciprocate God love. Love as we know is risky business. There is always a 50/50 chance humankind will fail, but love and forgiveness would have no place if we were not human, for to err is human.

- To love is to give permission for mistakes and the allowance for the recipient to respond freely.

- So that we will grow into Maturity

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child [a]in the way he should go, Even when he grows older he will not abandon it.

1 Corinthians 10:23-24
All things are permitted, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted, but not all things [a]build people up. 24 No one is to seek his own advantage, but rather that of his [b]neighbor.

- Freedom or freewill is willing self-limitation so as not to encroach or violate the free will of one's neighbour.

- Having faith for oneself doesn't mean I can jeopardise the lives of others.

- Genuine free will is never only to act in freedom but also to refrain from acting if one so decides and chooses. If there is a problem with freewill, it is not that God has given us the freewill, it is when we don't use the discernment or wisdom in exercising our freewill.

IV. Did Yahweh then need members of His divine human family to consciously make the choice to disobey just because they could because He could accomplish His purposes? Of course not, the risk of creating image bearers who might freely choose rebellion was something God foresaw, but He did not decree. God's sovereignty ensures that even the folly of seen and unseen beings cannot derail His plan for the Edenic vision.

3. HOW DOES FREEWILL WORK IN RELATION TO GOD'S WILL? - We need to understand first the Foreknowledge and Predestination of God - God's Foreknowledge is His ability to know events before they occur, and Predestination is God's pre-ordaining of such events so that they occur.

V. If God knows all things ahead of time, why doesn't He stop or why doesn't He disallow calamities from happening? eg, auto accidents or a person being at the exact wrong place at the exact wrong time? Why doesn't God intervene in cases like that? Answer: How is the gift of freewill compatible with predestination of God's Foreknowledge if events are already foreordained, how can we still have the free will to decide independantly?

1 samuel 23:10-13
Then David said, “Lord God of Israel, Your servant has heard for certain that Saul is seeking to come to Keilah to destroy the city on my account. 11 Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come down just as Your servant has heard? Lord God of Israel, please, tell Your servant.” And the Lord said, “He will come down.” 12 Then David said, “Will the citizens of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul?” And the Lord said, “They will hand you over.” 13 Then David and his men, about six hundred, rose up and departed from Keilah, and they went wherever they could go. When it was reported to Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up [a]the pursuit.

- Israel future king David had been on the run from king Saul, hiding at Keilah whose inhabitants David delivered from the philistine. David appealed to God's foreknowledge (which he did right). God in His foreknowledge answered "Yes" to both questions. God's foreknowledge here did not predestined David to a premature death, it actually helped prevent it. David made plans following God's revelation, the foreknowledge of God did not lock David into his future but gave him insight on which to make better decisions. David was still able to exercise his freewill freely but also wisely and escaped from the clutches of Saul.

Acts 21:10-14
As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 And he came to us and took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.’” 12 When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 And since he would not be persuaded, we became quiet, remarking, “The will of the Lord be done!”

- Paul example is opposite of David's. Here Paul was set to go Jerusalem, despite whatever consequences the spirit of God had revealed. What we've learnt from David and Saul example is Divine foreknowledge does not necessitate divine predestination. David decided to change course, while Paul remained fully on course

- God knows the end, but does He dictate the means? God did not predestined the fall of the divine human beings, although He foreknew it and when it happened, it grieved Him. The risk of bestowing freewill who is His human imagers was the price He would pay in sending His son to redeem us.

VI. Did the rebellion of His divine being derailed God's original plan? No. Because there is another attribute of God. His sovereignty. God's sovereignty means that all outcomes are in His hand.

Genesis 50:20
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about [a]this present result, to keep many people alive.

Romans 8:28-30
And we know that [a]God [b]causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

- What God has purposed for His loyal believers will come to pass.

- The sovereignty of God is able to encompass all things, whether beneficial, good or otherwise and ensures that in the process, we become more and more like His son Jesus Christ.

Acts 2:22-23
“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a Man [a]attested to you by God with [b]miracles and wonders and [c]signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— 23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of [d]godless men and put Him to death.

- Jesus trusted God

Hebrews 10:7
Then I said, ‘Behold, I (Jesus) have come (It is written of Me in the scroll of the book) To do Your will, O God.’”

- Freewill is only truly free when we align ourselves to God's will!!

- God's Will = Our Will

Yahweh in His sovereignty is fully in charge of every outcome without the need to control every aspect of human and divine activity.

a. Freewill is a gift from Yahweh for us to represent Him as His imagers.

b. Free will is neutral, how one exercises it depends on one's nature which affects one's character, colours, one's intentions, limits one's choices, and determine one's actions.

c. We are to grow in wisdom and maturity in our decision-making, learning to choose that which is good and loving.

d. God's foreknowledge and predestination do not excuse human responsibility for their choices.

e. God's sovereignty ensures that ultimately His will is done, and that His loyal believers will be conformed to the image of His Son Jesus.

f. Free will is only truly free when we align ourselves to God's will.

Choose Well and choose Wisely because what we do and what we choose matters.

Supernatural Realm part 4 -The image of God

Pastor Joey Asher Tan

GEnesis 1:26-28
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

If everyone is already an image of God, then what is the difference between christian or non christian imager? , not all imager are Godly or Christlike.

Big idea:
Be God's representative in our areas of influence to steward and lead His creation

All of us have an orginal design when we were created. God will ultimately restore Eden when God create a new heaven and earth.

3 "ships"
3 things about being imagers of God

1. Recognise our status as the imagers of God

1st ship : Stewardship

The image of God is not an ability, attribute or quality, not conscious, self awareness, morality or even intelligence because all these extend from brain function and can be developed.

To be human is to image God

Stewardship : taking care of somthing for someone

is loving and managing God's creation so we play our part to help fellow imagers of God to flourish and help other creation

We are blessed by God to be a blessing to others in God's family.

2. We must fulfill our destiny as the imagers of God

We must look at it from eternity perspective

1 Corinthians 15:49
And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we[a] bear the image of the heavenly man.

We are mortal being, our time on earth is temporary. But we always have an eternal status

2nd ship : Discipleship

2 Cortinhthians 3:18
we are called to be disciple of Christ.

Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "whoever 3 requirements for Discipleship:
- Deny
- Take Up
- Follow

3. Answer our Calling as the imagers of God

Galatians 3:16
The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,”[a] meaning one person, who is Christ.

Hebrews 2:16
For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.

Jesus isn't just God's chosen one to save all of us, but also for us to conform to because He shows us what God is like.

Romans 8:29
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

Colossians 3:10
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

To represent God, we need to continually become more like Him, and less like....

3rd ship : Leadership
influencing others

Colossians 1:12
and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[a] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.

Matthew 28:19
Go therefore and makes disciples of all nations...

Answer our calling as the imagers of God

The church is God's resentative to an unbelieving world. Your loyalty to God will be tested regularly.

That Christlikeness will be endemic with all believers!!

4th June 2021

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.
-- Matthew 4:4 --

- In general, we understand the in daily living we should read the Word of God, because rightfully the Word of God which is the bible proceeds out of the mouth of God (logos word of God). However, this verse also means whatever rhema word the God spoke to you at any one point, that also comes under this verse "but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God"

- We should daily feed our spiritual hunger by humbly ask gracious Father to open our ears and heart of understanding to hear and perceive what He would speak to us.

Supernaturally Realm III - the satan and angels

Pastor Wilson Teo

Big idea:
Live victoriously with....


Job 1:6-12
Now there was a day when the [a]sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and [b]Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” 8 The Lord said to Satan, “Have you [c]considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, [d]fearing God and turning away from evil.” 9 Then Satan answered the [e]Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But reach out with Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will certainly curse You to Your face.” 12 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your [f]power; only do not reach out and put your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord.


"satan" comes with a definite article in the hebrew text : the satan
satan appears 27 times in the OT, 17 times called "the satan"

it refers to a category of people, the satan is not referring to a specific spiritual being but a category or office of spiritual beings. The original meaning is adversary or accuser.

a divine being in Yahweh's divine council who serves as a prosecuting attorney. the satan job is to prosecute people not walking right before God. example is Zechariah 3:1-2

Zechariah 3:1-2
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and [a]Satan standing at his right to accuse him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a log snatched from the fire?”

there was a heavenly scene where Zechariah saw the satan and the angel of the lord rebuked the satan accusation of Joshua by cleansing him

We know that the devil who is nachash was cast out after Genesis 3. He lost the previlege among sons of God in Yahweh council. Yet the satan is allowed in Yahweh's presence again in Zechariah, so Yahweh sentenced the devil for eternal damnation and does not need his service anymore. Yahweh does not need the devil service anymore. Therefore Nachash is not the devil. the satan is a divine being in Yahwah council. the satan serves as a divine being in Yahweh council.

Numbers 22:22-23
But God was angry that he was going, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the road as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn in his hand, the donkey turned off from the road and went into the field; and Balaam struck the donkey to guide her back onto the road.

Adversary: is the same word for satan
the angel of the lord or the term "satan" used in the OT as role of accusing or opposing another

As we moved from OT to NT, we see a shift in the usage of the term "satan". The OT is written in Hebrew and NT is written in Greek, different language, different culture.

NT used the term "satan" as leader of the spiritual fallen beings. this term becomes encompassing term to be used.

Matthew 4:8-11
Again, the devil *took Him along to a very high mountain and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 9 and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and [a]worship me.” 10 Then Jesus *said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and [b]serve Him only.’” 11 Then the devil *left Him; and behold, angels came and began to serve Him.

the devil is now synonymous in the NT text satan

Revelation 12:8-9
and they did not prevail, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole [a]world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

It is evident from here that devil has many different names, great dragon, deceiver, nachash....

The term "the satan" is not used for the devil, the nachash in Genesis 3, "the satan" is a divine being who services God in Job 1 and Zechariah 3. The term "satan" is also used for anyone who opposes another in 1 Kings, Numbers. The term "satan" refers to ring leader as leader of fallen being, Matthew 4, Rev 12

John 8:44
You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells [a]a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of [b]lies.

Let's partner with the HOly Spirit to declare God purpose, life and hope to the people around us.

Psalm 89:5-8
The heavens will praise Your wonders, Lord; Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones. 6 For who in the skies is comparable to the Lord? Who among the [a]sons of the mighty is like the Lord, 7 A God greatly feared in the council of the holy ones, And awesome above all those who are around Him? 8 Lord God of armies, who is like You, mighty [b]Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You.

From here you see there are many spiritual beings surrounding Yahweh. Yahweh does not function along.

First group of spiritual beings : Sons of God (God's divine family, the watchers)

Job 2:1
Again, there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and [a]Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord.

Daniel 4:17
Second group of divine beings: princes

Daniel 10:13
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing [a]in my way for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.

Third group of divine beings: Cherubim and Seraphim (they have specific function to guard Yahweh throne)

Genesis 3:24
So He drove the man out; and at the east of the Garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.

Isaiah 6:2
Seraphim were standing above Him, each having six wings: with two each covered his face, and with two each covered his feet, and with two each flew.

Isaiah 6:6
Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs.

Forth group : Angels (has a meaning of messanger which is the job function, Yahweh faithful & loyal divine beings)

What is the significance of knowing angels?

Hebrews 1:1-14
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 [a]in these last days has spoken to us [b]in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the [c]world. 3 [d]And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and [e]upholds all things by [f]the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, to the extent that He has inherited a more excellent name than they. 5 For to which of the angels did He ever say, “You are My Son, Today I have fathered You”? And again, “I will be a Father to Him And He will be a Son to Me”? 6 And [g]when He again brings the firstborn into [h]the world, He says, “And let all the angels of God worship Him.” 7 And regarding the angels He says, “He makes His angels winds, And His ministers a flame of fire.” 8 But regarding the Son He says, “Your throne, God, is forever and ever, And the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of [i]His kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of joy above Your companions.” 10 And, “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the works of Your hands; 11 They will perish, but You remain; And they all will [j]wear out like a garment, 12 And like a robe You will roll them up; Like a garment they will also be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end.” 13 But to which of the angels has He ever said, “Sit at My right hand, Until I make Your enemies A footstool for Your feet”? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to provide service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

This contrast Christ Jesus with the rest of the spiritual beings that Christ is the supreme majesty.

verse 14 holds essential truth for all believers. All these divine beings are ministering spirits sent by God for you and me. No matter how powerful they are, God sent them to serve His people on earth. Our destiny is Christ fellow siblings in God's presence. We may not be as powerful and glorious as the angels but Christ has seated us in the heavenly realm with Him. Our status in Christ in the supernatural realm is seated with Him. we must never pray to angelic beings because they are but servants of God. Holy Spirit speaks to Us because He is in us, Christ may send His angelic beings to assist us in our situation if needed.

We must also not become presumptious of our status in Christ. Never did the bible say angels are doing our bidding. Every angelic assignment come from God. Let's not go around foolishly commanding God's angels as if we are their boss. Let God do the assignment by sending His ministering spirits to us.

The Fall II : The Cure for Death

by Pastor Meng Cham

He is God of second chances. Because He loves us so much

While Adam and Eve was made in God's image, Christ is the exact image of God. Thank God that the image that was broken can be restored through Jesus because of that, He saved us.

Jesus deals with the problem of humankind's death and spiritual separation from God.

Jesus : The Promised Seed (Matthew 4:1-11) Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[e]” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

"You sin > you die > I rule over you!"

Genesis 3:15
Nachash - Serpent

The 1st Temptation : Sin Against God
"Come on, you are the Son of God; you can do what you want."

The 2nd temptation : Tempt Death
The 3rd Temptation : Submit to Satan's rule "forget the journey. I have what you want now. TAke it. You know you deserve it."

Satan : The Father of Lies
1. to sin against God and His word (to know as to detect counterfeit or false)
2. to choose presumption over faith
3. To serve and worship satan