THE FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW OF MOSES

Doug gulped a mouthful of tablets as usual before he retired to bed. The scholarly old man just finished perusing the last documents of the new regulations of the society. Poor health and constant late nights had caused him to feel more lethargic as ever.

As he began to lie down to bed, his phone rang. “Yes!”

“Oh no! Prof., that idiot has done it again,” the other person on the line muttered.

“Calm down, Rex. What done it again?”

“Calvin has changed some rules in our society! He wanted to change what you have done over the last ten years!” Doug’s assistance hollered.

“What! Calvin again?”

The People-Choice-Awards Society was a powerful entity in the city, highly sponsored by the corporate world and sanctioned by the government itself. Doug with some prominent professors and business people had founded the society, giving out awards for life-changing works either through a person or a group. As years went by, there were added regulations to protect its awards until it was almost impossible for common people to participate. No one dared to criticize the Society because of its many high-standing patronages. Doug often boasted, “My rules are chiselled on stone.”

Calvin was a young successful businessman. He had done a great deal for society especially among the poor and was named caring entrepreneur of the year by a famous newspaper. Yet, he could not break in to Doug’s Society although he submitted his work many times. One day, he thought to change things within and was appointed into the board.

From inside, he could see all the unbending extra regulations, making it extremely difficult for anyone to win without help and intervention. The young entrepreneur looked up to the sky and decided to change things so that the original intention of the Society would be realised again.

After many years heading the outfit, Doug had proudly added new laws to secure his position in the Society and also to please the many opinions of various people.

“Calvin, do you care to explain why you have to change some regulations which we had set so meticulously by all of us?” Doug questioned his colleague.

“Yes! I think we need a clarification from you,” Rex insisted.

Calvin cleared his throat. “Listen to me, all my esteemed colleagues. I did not change the regulations at all. I simply simplify them for the sake of better following. Through the years, the laws have been too rigid and stiff. Furthermore, the added regulations made them more impenetrable. We need to guide the people who submitted their applications so that they could follow along with us,” he explained confidently.

It was Doug who roped in Calvin to the board. The plot was to have as many on his side as possible. The longer the energetic young man was in, the hotter he was to handle. In the end, Calvin managed to get more than half onto his side for the change. Doug was losing the popularity and the majority vote.

“But...it was agreed already our set of rules,” Doug argued.

“Do you have better ones?” One influential board member spoke.

“Doug, we have benefitted by your many years of service here. It’s time we need fresher ideas from the younger generation,” opined another.

The old man was smiling on the outside but gritted his guts. “I suggest we go for a vote on this,” he suggested, hoping against hope to win.

As the 10 board members began to vote, Calvin was praying for an overwhelming support. The votes were counted, 9 to 1. Doug took a long hard look at Rex, stood up and said, “I resign!”

The Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5:17-20 was a history changing time for Israel and for the rest of the world. The Law of Moses given by God at Mount Sinai had always been the supreme laws of the Land. Kings would make or break in regards to those laws. The whole nation rises or falls depending on them. God desires His people to follow His laws to shout His fame but sadly, they fail and fail Him miserably!

The laws of Moses first of all are good laws – scholars of the Bible argued that they are more humane than the laws of Israel’s many surrounding nations. When Jesus came upon the scene, He seemed like abolishing all those laws. Of course, the Pharisees and teachers, strict guardians of Moses’ laws, especially the Ten Commandments, were shoving and screaming at Jesus. They added many laws until they reached 613 commandments. (According to Babylonian Talmud, Makkot 23b-24a, the negative commandments number 365, which coincides with the number of days in the solar year and the positive commandments number 248, a number ascribed to the number of bones and main organs in the human body) One can now see the impenetrable laws which evolve to become a trap for everyone. In fact, God wants the laws to be an ‘X-ray’ to show that all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. A ‘wake-up’ call for all, that everyone needs a Saviour!

The Son of God managed to stir up all kinds of emotions among the people when He made some seemingly new alterations to laws that they were taught carefully to obey since young. When we look a little closer at Scriptures, Jesus Christ neither abolishes nor changes the laws of Moses. In fact, He upgrades them even further. The people of Israel used to obey from the power of the will and when Jesus came, He wanted them to obey from inside out. Murder stemmed from anger and adultery caused by lust from the heart (Matthew 5:21-22; 27-28). Jesus wanted a complete overhaul of the heart! In fact a new heart must replace an old one and that would need divine intervention. This was not a surprise if the people understood the Old Testament correctly! It was prophesied from Moses to the prophets!

The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live (Deuteronomy 30:6).

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26).

I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart (Jeremiah 24:7).

Thus, Jesus began to change the mindset of the people of His days that without God in them to help them, they would fail miserably. Only after Jesus died and resurrected, the people began this ‘new heart’ lives with the Holy Spirit in them.

And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22).

With 613 tangled and complex laws, it is unsurprising that the Jews were ensnared in the circle of confusion. One can remember when at the Garden of Eden, there was only one law – do not eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17). 

Jesus then shortened 613 laws to two greatest commandments which all the Law and the Prophets hung on (Matthew 22:34-40).

‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’’

No one could and can fulfill or fully obey Moses’ laws except one Man – Jesus Christ! He lived a perfect sinless life and no one could point a finger at Him or talk a single bad about Him. Therefore He was worthy to die on our behalf for all our sins. When He died on the cross for the sins of mankind, Jesus in essence ‘carried believers’ over to God! Not one person could or can earn himself or herself to be restored to the relationship with God!

When we go to heaven, God sees Jesus’ sacrifice as the seal of redemption! Not us! We are all sinners condemned to hell if not for our Saviour!

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit (Romans 8:1-4).

So, we come back to the Person of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus left to heaven after His resurrection, He sent the Holy Spirit to be in every believer. He was the promise of God of how a ‘new heart’ believer should live from then on. The Holy Spirit is working His way in us so that we can obey the two greatest commandments mentioned above. From the inside out!

Next: Anger and Murder (Matthew 5:21-26)

FORGIVENESS - OVERCOMING THE IMPOSSIBLE BY MATTHEW WEST

This is a book about doing the most difficult task – to forgive. What I like about Matthew West’s forgiveness is the real life stories of brokenness and despair of being hurt and the laboriously burdensome journey to forgiveness. Although the stories here ended with forgiveness and victory, there are always real incomprehensible struggles within each character. There was always the “why me?” question ringing loudly within. At the end, it was God! The grace of God that always manages to set the pace for healing in all kinds of hurt. And I believe Matthew West in this book shouts, “It is possible!”  Not humanly possible but God-possible! The author’s intention is clear: do not let unforgiveness keep you bound, let forgiveness set you free to your God-given destiny!

Thank you Book Sneeze for the free ebook for the purpose of this review.

YOU’LL GET THROUGH THIS – MAX LUCADO

He has done it again! This time, Lucado has inspired and stretched me with his insightful views and no nonsense approach to suffering. His artistic writing skill of Old Testament’s story of Joseph penetrated into my spirit deep within. The book would hopefully provide an encouragement and relief to those who are going through severe trials that indeed, God will get them through! In the end, one thing is clear in this book, we will go through trials and there is no easy way out. However, we will get through any trials if we do not give up on God! Words of men sometimes are not enough to heal a hurt but when the eyes of sufferers are focused on God, they would eventually sail through! The Joseph's story is true testament to what God can do in our lives if we let Him.

I give this book 5 stars.

Thank you, BookSneeze, for providing this e book free for the purpose of this review.

BILLY GRAHAM IN QUOTES by Franklin Graham and Donna Toney

I love reading whatever books and articles concerning this man called Billy Graham. There is so much to learn from this spiritual giant of a man. This book is precious to me for several reasons. First of all, I could just flip to many of his quotes at will to learn from him and his many years of experience. Secondly, I can get to keep his quotes at hand, whenever I preach or share, I could use them. Thirdly, the compilations of topics and dates of the quotes make it easier for me to find his quotes. Most importantly, I am so blessed to be able to strengthen my spiritual life with so many golden nuggets from the greatest evangelist of the 20^th Century. He left a true spiritual legacy not only in his quotes but more so, his well-lived life! I give this book 5 stars. 

I want to thank BookSneeze once again  for their generosity in providing this free-ebook for the purpose of this review.

NOT BY MIGHT, NOR BY POWER BUT BY MY SPIRIT

In the years leading up to the destruction of the nation of Judah and its temple, prophet Jeremiah preached of repentance. Sadly, the cries of the heart-broken prophet went unheeded. God made up His mind to raise up the Babylonians to finally subdue the stubborn nation. King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the temple and took most of the people into captivity. Thus the colourful history of Israel ended with no national and spiritual identities. 

Seventy years later, another empire,  King Cyrus of Medo-Persia, took a different stance and released some Jewish people back to their homeland. He even allowed them to rebuild the temple. It was a small taste of restoring national and spiritual identities albiet under foreign domination.

Zerubabbel, the leader of the remnants that returned, together with Chief Priest, Joshua, challenged the people to rebuild the temple. Under the preaching of prophets Haggai and Zechariah, the Jewish people began to visualise the spiritual identity of their nation. The temple must be rebuilt to reunite the people under one God! When the foundation was laid, the older ones who saw Solomon's temple began to weep aloud because it was a much smaller temple (Ezra 3:12-13).

Many returnees were still discouraged as they looked to their own feeble strength and the power of the Persian empire. This was when the word of God spoken through prophet Zechariah saying, “Not by might nor by power but by My Spirit” (Zechariah 4:6).

‘Might’ here in Hebrew also speaks of army or corporate strength and power (perhaps personal strength or status of a person). Both these utterly pale in comparison to the power of the Holy Spirit!

What can we learn from Zechariah 4 about the Holy Spirit?

1. THE HOLY SPIRIT CLEARS THE PATH

“What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground...” (Zechariah 4:7a).

God will make a way when there seems to be no way through the power of the Holy Spirit! Mighty mountains may be a hindrance to man but not to the Holy Spirit. In fact, nothing is impossible to God! He is able to clear all ‘mountains’ in your life to bring out the best that He created you to be!

What are your mountains today that keep you hindered from giving your best to the Lord? Perhaps past and present hurts? Are there fears, weaknesses, inadequacies or discouragements? Whatever our mountain may be, the Holy Spirit is able to level it! He doesn’t want us to be stuck or stagnated in our walk with God! He wants us to move on to another level of faith, bringing glory to God in our lives!

The Holy Spirit is both a passionate and compassionate Spirit! He loves to help us live a power-filled life, full of meaning and purpose. To be the best God has for us!

The famous philosophical group among the Greeks and the Romans called the Stoics had decided that the essential worthwhile attribute of God was what they called ‘apathea’. So their ‘gods’ were apathetic - but not in the sense of the English word because ‘apathea’ means much more than simple indifference- it means: incapable of feeling anything; without any pathos; without any feeling; and without any emotion. The Holy Spirit is ‘Hagios’ Spirit and not ‘apathea’. ‘Hagios’ here means ‘set apart’ or simply, ‘different’. Jesus is definitely different from the ‘apathea’ gods that the Stoics believed. He was compassionate and even wept when Lazarus died.

The normal Greek word for ‘help’ is “Antilambano”. Paul deliberately used ‘Sunantilambano’ for Holy Spirit’s help in Romans 8:26, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”

The above passage is the only time Paul used this word for help. In fact, in the whole New Testament, the word, ‘Sunantilambano’ appeared only twice. The other was used in Luke 10:40. Martha reacted angrily when he asked Jesus for Mary’s help. “But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 

The emphasis on this Greek word for, ‘help’ speaks of the Spirit’s passion to come alongside Christians to help achieve great works for the glory of Jesus Christ! 

The Holy Spirit passionately cares for us! When we plan to share the gospel to others, the devil is angry and may want to discourage us. Sometimes we may feel overwhelmed by the task ahead, just like the Jews who came back from captivity. They felt overwhelmed with oppositions and minimal resources in rebuilding the temple. Yet, the Holy Spirit levelled all mountains of obstacles in their paths! 

The same Spirit will level the mountains for us! He clears all paths that hinder us with His awesome power! At the end, Zerubbabel and the Jews rebuilt the temple as promised. Later, Nehemiah rebuilt the walls in Jerusalem thus continuing Jewish national and religious identities. 

In the New Testament, despite severe oppositions, Peter and the rest of Jesus’ disciples changed Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria upside down for God’s glory! The name of Jesus was lifted high! His ministry continued unabated through the power of the Holy Spirit. True enough, the commands of Jesus to go to all the world in the Holy Spirit’s power was fulfilled by His followers (cf. Acts1:8). 

Mighty mountains will be levelled!

2. THE HOLY SPIRIT CREATES UNITY

“...Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’” (Zechariah 4:7b).

The Jewish people were challenged to stay united in rebuilding the temple. They had the same vision and same dream - to shout the fame of Yahweh, the true and the living God! And to make Israel great again.

After Jesus gave His last command, 120 gathered in the upper room waiting for the power of the Holy Spirit! The Bible says they were all together. Everyone got the vision, everyone owned it! 

Great evangelist Dwight L. Moody once stated, "I have never yet known the Spirit of God to work where the Lord's people were divided." 

3. THE HOLY SPIRIT COMPLETES GOD’S WORK

Then the word of the Lord came to me: “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. (Zechariah 4:8-9).

The rebuilding of the temple in Zerubabbel’s days was vital in galvanising His people to stand united under God. As promised, the Holy Spirit completed God’s plan by His power through Zerubabbel and the people! 

No matter how difficult it may be, how long it takes, the Holy Spirit will complete the plan of God! The plan of God will go on! Do you know that the plan of God will go on with or without us? If Moses’ generation didn’t want to do, God would raise up a Joshua’s generation! If Jeremiah’s generation was not willing, there would be a Zerubabbel’s generation! 

Why does God choose to restore this nation called Israel? It all started with this man called Abraham. God called him and gave him a promise that he would carry His plan to the rest of the world.

From Abraham to his son Isaac and finally to his grandson, Israel (or Jacob, his old name). Israel became a nation which God chose to carry on His plan. From this nation came forth the Saviour of the world - Jesus Christ and from Jesus Christ, blessings flow to the rest of the world! And God will finally complete His plan for planet earth through the power of His Holy Spirit! 

4. THE HOLY SPIRIT CAUSES SMALL TO BECOME BIG

“Who dares despise the day of small things,... (Zechariah 4:10a).

To God, size does not matter. His principle is always to start small. A mustard seed will eventually grow into the largest garden plant and a tree. A small amount of yeast will permeate the large amount of dough (Matthew 13:31-33). The former will have birds making their nests on the tree, and it all began from a small seed. The latter shall become bread, feeding many and making them strong. All because of little yeast! Jesus started His kingdom on earth with Himself, and then He gathered a small band of twelve unschooled, rough and tough disciples. Today, we have more than two billion believers! Small shall become big when the Holy Spirit moves! 

5. THE HOLY SPIRIT CLOTHES GOD’S PEOPLE WITH POWER

Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?” He replied, “Do you not know what these are?” “No, my lord,” I said. So he said, “These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth” (Zechariah 4:12-14).

God uses people! He used Zerubabbel to rebuild the temple. He used Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Throughout history, all men and women of God did great things for God because God chose to use them by the power of the Holy Spirit! 

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit empowers only in certain people. Priests, kings and some leaders were anointed with oil! But the prophet Joel prophesied that one day all of God’s children will be endued with the Holy Spirit’s power!

“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days! (Joel 2:28-29).

Peter quoted the above verses when he preached his first evangelistic sermon where three thousand souls gave their lives to Christ. From then on, there was no stopping the power of the Holy Spirit!

If a reverend or reverend doctor in front of his name comes to you and says, ‘Only I have the anointing of the Holy Spirit,’ he might be reading a different Bible than the universal Holy Bible. 

In conclusion, the baton is now in our hands! In the hands of all of us who are called to be followers of Christ! To bring to reality the promise first given to Abraham as the blessing to the whole world! To shine forth Christ to christless souls all over the globe. How in the world are we to achieve this gigantic task? 

Not by might, nor by power but by My Spirit (Zechariah 4:6)!

YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH AND LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Dave raises both his hands in triumph! In the quietness of his office, he lets out a soft, “Yes!” After many years of research, finally a breakthrough appears imminent. Now, no one can stop him from creating a powerful vaccine to protect human lungs from tuberculosis. It can even cure it much quicker than normal medicine can. As he still celebrating in his heart, Becky, his assistant comes in for a usual discussion. This gives Dave a fright that he almost falls down from his chair. “Sorry, Dave, I should have knocked,” Becky speaks with a grin. “It’s okay. I was being careless just now,” Dave replies quickly.

“You were asking for some virus samples so urgently yesterday. Is there any improvement on the vaccine yet?” his able assistant asks casually. “Not really. Still working on it. As you know how any research is,” Dave explains sheepishly.

Becky leaves him alone again. The scientist quickly dials for the Director of Potent Drugs Co., the largest pharmaceutical company in the state. An appointment is hastily arranged.

“Dr. David, this is quite a news,” James, CEO of PDC leans over and speaks softly to him.

“This is gigantic news, one that can create waves around the world,” Dave proclaims excitedly. “I know that it is the government’s project but if you patent this, your PDC can own this first. You do know about the ramifications on the P and L, don’t you?” he adds.

“So, cut the chase. What’s in it for you?” James speaks sternly.

“100 million ”

“How do you plan to settle with our government on this before we give you the money?”

“You give me 100 million and bank into my Swiss account and I give the entire research to your scientists. I want money not name or fame. You can do what you want with the whole research”

“Can I trust you on this?”

“Bring a scientist that you can trust and I will show the person the real stuff.”

Later at Home

“Hello baby, I am home,” Dave greets Donna, his wife. “Hi! How’s work?” Donna asks with concern as it is late. “As usual,” he bluffs.

“You know what, Dave. Just now, our daughter came home crying and said how come your research on tuberculosis took so long. Her friend’s mother is diagnosed with that and has been coughing super badly,” his wife speaks enthusiastically about their 8-year old daughter’s compassion.

“Oh..that is sad. Our girl is really growing up well,” he answers and turns away. His conscience takes a sharp jab.

The Next Morning

“Who are these people, Becky?” Dave asks, visibly upset. “Oh.. these are the family members of people they love who suffer severe tuberculosis. They are touring our facilities and wanted to know the latest happenings in our experiments,” Becky replies. “Can you do a short briefing and just encourage them a bit?” she adds with compassion.

“I have been hearing of tuberculosis sufferers lately. Is God telling me something?” Dave thought to himself. Although he attended church only a few times while he was younger, some verses flash back to his mind. "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:13-16).

Suddenly, he realises that his research project is bigger than him. It is absolutely priceless. This 'light' will bring hope for tuberculosis sufferers (or even later, lung cancer patients) all over the world. Dave decided not to hide his research anymore. He makes up his mind too not to let greed mix into this 'salt' and loses its effectiveness to impact the world! If he hands over this research to a company, they may make the vaccine unreachable to poor people.

The Sermon on the Mount continues with salt and light analogies. God is so bent on blessing the world that He  even sent His Son, Jesus to die for the sins of mankind. In others words, God gives His all. His 'light' is never once hidden. His 'salt' never loses its saltiness!

Jesus challenges all of us to be like God. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).

Be a blessing! Don't 'hide' our kingdom-living lives or 'shine' only for a select few. During Jesus' days, there were towns built on a hill. Still they are today in Israel. Those towns are plain for everyone to see. In the same way, let us shine Jesus for all to see! There are so many today trapped in darkness, groping along dark alleyways of worldly philosophies in an uncaring world. They need to be set free from all kinds of bondage! Jesus calls us 'light of the world' and if we are not shining, it is so 'oxymoronic'.

Salt is used mainly to add flavour to food and to preserve food for a longer period of time. Many people ask, 'can salt actually loses its saltiness?" The answer is yes. Salt loses its saltiness when it mixes with water or perhaps some kind of substance that dilutes its influence. Believers in Jesus are salt of the earth, influencers in the stinking world! If we lose the salt 'value', then it is good for nothing*. 

All of us have been gifted in one way or another. Use whatever God has given us to influence lives for Jesus! We are saved to serve. We are purposefully created to accomplish God's purposes. And we do it for His glory! 

*When Jesus says, 'thrown out and trampled underfoot' when salt loses its influence, He is NOT talking about Christians being thrown into hell when they do not produce results. Our Master Communicator just uses common things to illustrates His teachings. He is plainly saying that it is useless when salt has lost its saltiness, that's all.

Next: The Fulfillment of the Law (Matthew 5:17-20)

GODS AT WAR – KYLE IDLEMAN

This is the most comprehensive book on idolatry that I have ever read. Often times, Christians today are underestimating the powers of all kinds of idolatry seeking their focus and eventually sucked their faith dry. These so called ‘gods” would entice and lure all whose hearts are unprepared for war against them. The author identified the various ‘gods” but also warned of their powers. He showed the reality of all these by giving real life stories and how these “gods” had damaged them spiritually and mentally.

Although the book suggests a serious battle for our spiritual lives, it offers hope for all. The Almighty God is on our side! God is actively and jealously pursuing men and women to be who He wants them to be! There are stories of victory! It is possible to stay focus on the true and living God. The “gods’ of idolatry can be defeated! 

This book is both inspirational and practical and I enjoyed it thoroughly! I highly recommended to all who desire to go all the way for Jesus!

I give the book five stars. I would also thank Book Sneeze for their generosity in giving me this free ebook for the purpose of this review.