Topic: New Year Message of 2012
Pastor shares about the numerical meaning of 11 in the number 2011. In bible context, it means disorganisation. However he did not share this back then in hope not to shake people's faith. Looking back in 2011, there were tsunamis, earthquakes, etc.
However, the number of 12 (in 2012) in bible numerical means organisation.
Jesus is not the source of tsunami. There is no tsunami nor earthquakes in heaven. In God's prayer, it says "Thy will be done on earth like it is in heaven".
Pastor shares to say the bible is a complete book. When God gives you a direction in the word, it does not require external factors or references to confirm it. The world may predict that 2012 makes the end of the world by relating it to the Mayan calendar, but we believers only need to look to the bible.
God will prepare you for the things to come in 2012 so that you will sail through it.
Jeremiah 17:5-8
Verse 5: It talks about a man being cursed, at the same time still blessed and cannot see it. (See verse 6) He cannot see it because this man is under a curse. In the bible, rain speaks of blessings. It is written that rain is for the just and unjust. Pastor jokes about the "super-abundant" rain in Singapore recently mentioning that we are so freely blessed!
The verse says, "Cursed is the man". This man is called "geber - strong". That man who "trusteth in man", is referring to "adam - man". In essence, it can mean trusting others or it can also mean self-confidence. As long as your trust in the lord, you will see His blessings! Your boss is not your supply! Your boss is just a channel for God's blessings! Do not look to man or wait for this man to help you. Just look to the Lord in 2012!
Verse 7 & 8: Blessed is the man in these 2 verses. Notice in Verse 8 that it says "shall not see it when heat cometh". You will be so blessed that you won't notice the heat! Heat in bible context refers to pressure and literally heat. Simply, we will just not see it when it comes. Amen?
The leaf will always be green, meaning you will be forever young.
"and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit". (Fruit for ever single month this year) In the bible, "careful" means anxious. Man does not need to be anxious in the time of drought or famine! Outwardly speaking, this is a year of drought.
You don't have to be smart to be blessed. We just only need to follow the shepherd to be brought to the blessings.
Pastor told the church to look at Israel's contributions this year in the year of drought. During this time of uncertainty, we will still be a green leaf and will bear fruit.
Pastor asks the congregation to note this phrase down.
"Work is the outcome of effort.
Fruit is the outflow of life."
The theme for 2012:
Unceasing Fruitfulness (in this year of drought)
The world will come to say how come at a time like this, you are still blessed? The world will see and God will be glorified! God wants you to see yourself as the second man, never ceasing of fruit and always green!
Psalms 1:1-3
Verse 1: Scornful - refers to the criticizers who never fails to complain about others. Pastor shares about the reason why people get jealous when somebody gets blessed. They think that when others are blessed, they get lesser. Pastor said to all to note this in their hearts: You will never be blessed at others' expense. God always have exceedingly blessings for everyone. He can bless Tan Ah Kow or Lim Peng Sang but He still has bountiful for you! He can feed the multitude and have 10 basketful of leftovers! The supply never finish!
Verse 2: "Meditates (Hagah) on his commands day and night".
Definition: Hagah
- to utter and mutter.
- To meditate by speaking to oneself, murmuring and in a low voice, as is often done by those who are musing.
It's to repeat God's word day and night and healing comes to you without knowing. (Definition of leaf is written below) Meditating is not doing it in your mind as it does not last. It has to be muttered.
Verse 3: In summary, planted by the river, brings forth fruits, leaf is green and whatever he doeth shall prosper.
(The bible interpreted itself and does not need external sources to interpret it.)
Revelation 22:2
Verse 2: You are the tree of life. "Twelve manner of fruits". It means one tree having 12 types of fruits.
Every month there will be a fresh manifestation of God's goodness! You are in for a pleasant surprise each month in 2012!
Definition of the leaf in this verse: "The leaves of the trees were for the healing of the nations". It means healing for your self and for the nations.
God is telling us if you meditate on His word, you can bring healing to your body. This has been Pastor's secret for all these years. You must delight in God's word. The bible is infallible. You can read wise books but why read theories that may not work? Pastor is not against books but what he meant is to prioritize God's word and put your trust in the correct place and correct man. Many of times, God's channel of help comes through men. Your trust must be in the Lord. As long as your trust is in Him, He can use all instruments to bless you. You may be cut off from one source of blessings, but there's no need to worry because God is already your main source and this main source has many branches.
You can say you just sit there and do nothing and prosper. Pastor jokes and say yes, you will still prosper. There will be many nothings in your life that have prospered, but is"nothing" prospered.
You are going to bring blessings to everywhere you go in 2012.
Pastor shares about his Israel trip last year at Galilee. They were on the mountain overlooking river Jordan and decided to descend instead of taking the bus down. As they were moving down, they came across a cave bearing a cow inside. How in the world the cow managed to go there is not known. He then shared about the digestive system of a cow. The cow chews and swallows and does that repeatedly. The food goes down and comes up. The cow chews and repeats the whole process. A cow has 4 digestive systems in one stomach. The whole digestion is completed after the food goes to the fourth stomach.
In here, a truth is revealed: Meditation. One has to be relaxed just like the cow and chewing (meditating) on the food (word). Even if you are anxious or not relaxed, meditate to relax.
A video screening of this cow "meditating" was shown on screen.
In closing,
Joshua 1:8
Verse 8: "For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success". Notice prosperity and success always comes together? In God's system, evening comes first followed by day. Their sabbath starts in the evening at 6pm until 6am. Darkness to brightness. God's way always gets brighter and brighter. Over here, we start the day first then darkness falls. Literally from brightness to darkness. That's why we are very pessimistic. We complain about anything, our job, our wife. In the first place we were the one who asked for such. Instead, we must be thankful as there are those who are less fortunate.
Pastor asked what is the last word of the Book of Joshua?
Ephrahim - means double fruitfulness.
Joshua 24:29-31
Joshua lived to a hundred and ten years old. His inheritance included mountains.
"Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua". It means Israel served the Lord as long as Joshua as there. Notice what an impact and dominance power.
Pastor repeats that though it will be a year of drought, it will be a year of unceasing fruitfulness for us.
The yearly custom of New Creation Church is such that at the end of the first service of the year, we will bring forth 3 requests to the Lord for fulfillment in the same calendar year. Today marks the day where the congregation look forward to.
Pastor prayed blessings over the church for the brand new year and ended off the service.
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