Miaowkat's Blog

New opportunities arise as we journey through the challenges of the Covid-19 battle. These are in the form of contributions and donations. Many of us give generously to our local churches, but some of us are blessed such that we can give above and beyond what we normally would give as church offering.

“But not a dog shall growl against any of the people of Israel, either man or beast, that you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.’” Exodus 11:7 ESV

This was what God told Moses prior to the plague that killed all of Egypt’s firstborn. He wanted to make a statement that there is a difference between His chosen people and the rest of the world. God wants us to be holy, set apart, distinct from the world, especially in this time of disaster.

LOVE is how we can be “distinct”. There are many requests from individuals and organizations, for masks, food, money and other necessities. Many of these items will go towards not just the underprivileged, but people who ARE privileged but seemingly undeserving because of their actions. Some of these items will go toward those who were uncooperative with medical staff and did not comply with government instructions.

Let’s not just talk about our faith. Now is the time to put our faith into action and show love. By doing so we forgive those who have been prideful. By giving to their need we forgive those of opposing faiths. We forgive those who attended public gatherings of their own religion and caused more widespread infection. We can choose to see them as underserving of our sympathy, but they are deserving of God’s love.

Read and find out about various avenues of contribution, pray over them, ask God to give you wisdom to choose one that is genuine and not a scam, then give out of love.

“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” Hebrews 13:16 ESV

The Bible records wars that were fought by men and soldiers of might. They bore strength and weapons, and these people fought to conquer. However the Bible also records other types of wars that were fought by ordinary people. Those who had no physical power and might, and these people fought for safety and justice.

Such was the case of Esther. She was not mighty, she had no weapons and she was not trained to fight, but she fought for the safety of her people. However she had a different kind of weapon with her, and that was of fasting and prayer.

And Not only did she choose to fast, but she called the whole nation of Jews to fast along with her.

“Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.” Esther 4:15-17 ESV

Esther’s people faced “extinction”, and called for a time to fast. So are we faced with a pandemic that threatens to accelerate the loss of human life. This is the season to fast and pray.

Pray for saving of lives

Just as Esther called for a nation-wide fast, so can leaders of churches and congregations call for a fast for their respective nations. Those who choose to fast, should focus on praying for the saving of lives, not just those caused by the Covid-19 virus but, by those caused by any form of evil. Saving of human life should also be accompanied by the saving of human spirits so that they may enter into fellowship with Christ and that they may speak of God’s saving power. Prayer should also focus on the salvation of these lives.

Pray for yourselves

There may also be those, for some reason or another, who are unable to fast with a community, but such individuals can fast for themselves. Jesus fasted in order to face the trials and temptations from Satan (Matthew 4:1-11). Similarly, we ought to follow Christ on a personal fast in order to face the trials and temptations that are a result of the virus. If you face overwhelming depression or anxiety because of the uncertainty of the future, perhaps fasting and prayer may be an answer for your breakthrough. If you are tempted to give in on your overwhelming duties because of circumstances caused by the virus, perhaps fasting and prayer will give you strength and wisdom to carryout your responsibilities.

Whether you are going to fast and pray in a group, or as an individual, remember that the purpose of fasting is to put you in the best position for a breakthrough. It is not to arm-twist God’s hand into giving you a breakthrough at the end of your 1-day, or 3-day, or 40-days or how ever many days of fasting. It is a serious matter and it requires an intensity in our discipline and a genuine intentness of heart.

Resist the enemy, stand on the Rock

There were times God told His people to prepare for war with the enemy and there were times He led them in order to evade wars (Exodus‬ ‭13:17-18‬).

“When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle.” (ESV)‬‬

And yet there are times the Bible also teaches us to resist, as a way of standing our ground in order to win a battle.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James‬ ‭4:7-8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

And it seems that we are now in a battle with a very real enemy, the Covid-19 virus. And I’ve heard Christian doctors and medical advisors say that the only way to rid the virus is that we ALL stand our ground against the virus.

Just as James 4:7 calls for us to resist the devil, so the strategy to battle this virus is by resisting it. We resist this virus by keeping it away from us and keeping it away from everyone else. If everyone resists the virus, just like the devil, it has no where else to go, it will flee. It will become extinct.

1 Peter 5:8-9, gives us 3 practical directions on how we can resist the devil, which we will apply in this very situation we are all in, resisting the virus.

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” 1 Peter‬ ‭5:8-9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

1. Be alert and watchful. Being sober means you are not drunk or distracted but focused and watchful of the issue at hand. If you want to overcome an enemy you must know how your enemy operates. Read up and be knowledgeable about the truths and facts about the “enemy” we are resisting. Know how the virus infects and spreads. Don’t accept “simple” and “straight-forward” suggestions to cures and immunity. Don’t create or accept forwarded news as real news. Be aware of who needs help. Think of ways you can pray for those in need. Be mindful of the authorities and those in medical frontlines. Cooperate and stand in unity with them. Do all you can you be alert and watchful of the whole situation, AND….
2. Stand firm in the faith (vs 9). Many years ago, I heard a youth pastor preach from this very passage; his simple way of summarising this particular passage was this: when you’re not on battle ground, you must be found on Holy ground. As much as you read and come up with strategies about the enemy you face, remember to “retreat” to Holy ground, where you can find time to be close to God; to worship Him, to hear from Him, to be encouraged from Him, to receive nourishment for your soul, to pray for your daily needs and the needs of others. The Holy ground is where you receive empowerment for the battle ground.
3. Be comforted. What a comforting thought that at this very moment we are all faced with, that the Bible could say “knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” Christians around the world are being united in one common goal because of this virus. Despite the church institution being unable to gather together physically, the people of God are able to gather using technology. Despite being in isolation, we know that we are not alone.

Peter goes on to assure us in the next verse that this suffering is short-lived and that God himself will see to our needs being met.

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” 1 Peter‬ ‭5:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we are not alone in spirit because God is with us. And we are not alone in body and mind because all of us are resisting the enemy together.

To wrap this all up, I would like to share the stanza of a hymn that we sang during tonight’s family altar, to remind you that we have Christ, and we have the power to resist the virus because Christ is our solid rock.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand

We often think of Moses as a great leader and deliverer. From the viewpoint of the Israelites, that’s who He was.

However from the viewpoint of God, Moses was a character with a much more important part in God’s plan, not a leader, not a deliverer, but a pray-er.

In Exodus 32, the Israelites created a gold idol to worship which caused God to bring about a disaster in order to punish their disobedience. However the Bible records Moses pleading with God and resulting in God not going ahead with the disastrous plan.

“And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you.” But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.'” And the Lord relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.” Exodus‬ ‭32:9-14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

This isn’t the only instance where Moses talks with God and hears God telling Moses what is going to happen but this is the one instance where God seems to withhold His action because of Moses’ request.

Have we ever thought of Moses as a praying man? As an intercessor? The Bible records numerous occasions where Moses talks with God, to the point that it’s difficult to distinguish whether he was praying or simply having a conversation with God.

In God’s eyes, Moses must have been someone so close to His heart, so much so that God would answer for whatever Moses prayed for. And I think this can only come about as someone who walks and talks with God.

If Moses had the faith, courage and credentials to plead on behalf of a nation to be spared, is there someone in our current time, who is like Moses, able to plead on behalf of our country and the world is going through turmoil over the Covid-19 pandemic?

Over the last many weeks, I’ve heard of people who have had faith that the virus will not hurt them, or their family, or their church, but is it enough faith to proclaim safety and healing for all?

I think there is someone able to plead grace and mercy over our situation. Someone who walks and talks with God and has even greater credentials that Moses. Just as Moses pleaded to spare the lives of a stiff-necked nation, there is a person who pleads to spare the lives of a world that is stubborn and sinful.

This person is the one whom we have to turn to in order to remedy the mess we are in; to give strength to those in the frontlines; to give hope to those neglected; to give wisdom to those finding a vaccine, to grant favour for those seeking help, and safety for those seeking refuge. There is this one person who stands in the gap for us, and his name is Jesus Christ.

“Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25 ESV

Genesis 41 records a very similar situation that we are facing today and so, there is wisdom we can take from it to apply to what we are facing now.

“Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years. And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.”” Genesis 41:33-36 ESV

This time of restricted movement has caused us to take measures that are unique but necessary. Storing up food is one of them, which was what Joseph advised Pharaoh to do. The proportion of grain to store for a nation to last for 7 years must be immense!

However we must also understand the deeper lesson of the narrative and how it ties into what Christians going through this Covid-19 crises ought to do.

Within a span of a few verses, Joseph gives a supernatural interpretation of a dream and a human strategy in response to what the interpretation revealed. In today’s terminology, Joseph exercised something we refer to as a spiritual gifting.

Joseph, however, also gave Pharaoh some practical advice, something we would understand as human strategy, involving government measures, economic planning and society cooperation. In effect, he implemented a 20% “taxation” on ancient Egypt’s GDP. If you read on in chapter 41, the 20% collected of the 7 years resulted in an abundance so much so there was enough to sell to even sell to foreign nations.

However the Bible also recognises administration as a spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 12:28) and I have reason to think that God also bestowed this gifting to Joseph. Genesis 39:2-3 records that, “The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands.” Does this not sound like a gift of administration? Although 1 Corinthians mentions this gifting in context of church edification, so are working of miracles which are found all over the Old Testament.

As Christians, let us not only think about having faith and miraculous works to happen. In this time of battling the virus, we also need good planning and foresight. We need to understand what strategies are taken in order to help everyone in our communities and beyond. We need to have discernment of what God is doing and what tangible and practical actions He wants us to take. These are also proof of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives.

We all need to exercise the “obvious” spiritual giftings together with the “less prominent” ones in times like these. They go hand in hand. Miracles with administration. Faith with helps. Above all, all these giftings need to be accompanied with love.

“And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:2 ESV

Despite social distancing being in force, think of ways we can show love to people around us, without having to be within 1m of them! I won’t be surprised if the Holy Spirit starts to work through us with His gifting and bring about fruit and salvation in people around us.

When I think of a “lockdown”, I remember what is written in Ecclesiastes:

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ESV

This passage describes the usual ongoing of life as an either-or of two extremes which is very much a reality of our world today. One day we are living on our normal lives, eating, drinking and being merry; the next we are facing a global pandemic and uncertainty. So much so that now we don’t even have seasons in time, but rather seasons within the same time but in different localities of the world. One country will be experiencing war and strife whilst another is experiencing peace. Here in the urban areas we are at the tip of chaos but in the orang asli community life goes on as usual, no face masks, social distancing or stocking up is required!

Throughout the Bible, God brings about extreme measures (whether through wondrous acts of God or through civil and government decisions), in order to remind His people to always reset their routines I order to refocus on Him.

God allowed wars, famines and plagues not only to deal with Israel’s enemies but also to remind the Israelites of who He was. Deuteronomy 8:3 describes this so well as God reminds them of why they were exposed to the elements of the wilderness for 40 years.

“And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.” Deuteronomy 8:2 ESV

God allowed the Roman government to order a census, inconveniencing everyone to stop their daily routine and return to their place of birth, in order that He could “sneak” in the birth of a new King.

Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, presents to us this perspective of life “under the sun”, meaning the usual ongoing of life, and that it can be meaningless unless we fear God and keep His commandments.

For many of us, our jobs and routines have defined most of what we do and who we are. This time to reset, however, will challenge that identity and rightly so.

God allows disruptions so that we can realise, realign and refocus. Now that we are forced out from “under the sun”, it will affect our usual ongoing of life. It is time to form new routines and new priorities. Above all, Solomon reminds us that all this will be meaningless unless we continue fear God and keep His commandments.

“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 ESV

During this “lockdown”, remember to keep His commandments, hide His Word in your heart, do what is responsible and necessary and you will find meaning and peace being in God’s side. As quoted by Oswald Chambers, “Trust God and do the next thing…”

We are facing a tough time now as a nation with political uncertainty, and globally with the fear of a virus pandemic. However, we can be thankful, even in these times of uncertainty, because the Bible encourages us to do so.

“… give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV

Giving thanks in all circumstances is an act that the Bible says, is not just for our or someone else’s benefit, but it is the very purpose God intended for us! It is His will for our lives.

Giving thanks in hard times is often a shift in mindset as well as a trained discipline. It is a mindset shift because you have to learn to look for opportunities of praise rather than convenience of complaint. And it is a discipline because the more you do it, the better and easier it comes for you.

Paul was in jail when he wrote to the Philippians, but his letter opens with thanksgiving and encouragement. And these are some instances we can be very grateful to God for in the times of uncertainty we face:

We can be thankful to God that we have clean water and soap to wash our hands, because there are people in the world who don’t even have access to clean water, yet alone soap. Don’t complain about the inconvenience of washing our hands every 10 minutes. Thank Him for clean water.

We can be thankful to God that we have a home to stay in, because there are people in the world who don’t even have a room to stay in. Don’t complain about being house-bound and not being able to go to our favourite coffee shop. Thank Him for a home.

We can be thankful to God that we have modern hospitals and dedicated medical staff to examined, treat and quarantine the sick, because there are places where people have to walk for days just to see a doctor. If you’re in hospital, don’t look at the inconvenience or discomfort. Thank Him for this providence.

We can be thankful to God that we have the money to buy masks, soap and sanitisers, because there are people in the world who can’t even afford a bar of soap. Don’t complain that masks are out of stock. Thank God that He has provided for your needs.

If you are quarantined at home, be thankful to God that you have a reason to be home, because in some war-torn countries, people stay home in order to not become collateral damage. Don’t complain that you to eat grab food everyday. Thank God that for time, that you can spend with family or on completing a book or movie.

We can be thankful to God that we have a church, and we have freedom to attend church, because there are people in the world who want a church but don’t have one, and there are others who get punished for going to church. Don’t complain about church. Thank Him for the church.

We can be thankful to God that we don’t have civil war or violence in our country, because there are countries that have been having the same dictator leadership for decades. Don’t be restless and uneasy because of the new leadership. Thank Him for peace.

Dear Heavenly Father,

You are a gracious and loving God, who provides for our needs. Help me to realise that I am in a far better position than others around the world. Help me to be grateful for what I have, instead of complaining and worrying about what I don’t have. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Out of the blue, my 7-year old daughter asked me, “What is the most important thing in the world?”

I replied, “What is the most important thing in the world?”

She answered, “God!”

And I said, “Yes, even though we can’t see Him, He is the most important thing in the world.”

And she added, “But we can talk to Him by praying.”

And I asked, “Who taught you this?”

And she replied, “I learned it on my own.”

As I reflected on this simple conversation, I find it amazing that the Holy Spirit can reveal such precious truths about the kingdom of God to a young child.

In the Bible Jesus asked his disciples a similar question. He asked, “Who do you say I am?”

And their reply was, “You are the Christ, the son of God.”

And Jesus replied, “You are correct.”

And Jesus continued to say, “Man, has not taught you this, but the Spirit go God has revealed this to you!”

Matthew 16:13-17

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.