A day when life is changed
Sunday Nov5th 2006
1Kings 18
On Mount Carmel, the prophet Elijah had to face Israel, a people who had turned away from God. God gave him faith and he was able to turn the entire nation of Israel. He challenged the people, “If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” On that day, the people repented and turned back to Jehovah. In a day, the entire nation was changed. How good it would be if Hong Kong could be changed by God in a day! How good it would be if the church could be changed by God in a day! How good it would be if our life could be changed by God in a day!
The work the Lord gave to Elijah was significant historically but in the last days, the mission and power of Elijah will fall on the people of God once again. We wait in anticipation for this life changing power to come to us in a mighty way.
Since diagnosed with liver cancer last month, my life was turned upside down. Everything had to be rearranged. This was also a time of self-examination and reflection. First of all I had to ask myself, spiritually, whether I had followed God or had I used man’s way to do His work? Did I try to please Him or did I try to please men? Do I love my ministry, my family, and my position more than I love God? These and many other pointed questions came to my mind….
As for my daily living, there has been a drastic change in my diet. I cannot eat most of the food that I used to love. Now my diet is mainly fruit and vegetable with unpolished rice and fish. I find it difficult at first! I call it my “Manna meal”. The Israelites had to take such bland food for forty years whilst I only took it for a month or so and I am already complaining. Since this is beneficial for my body, I am learning to accept it and even enjoy the taste of fresh food. I had my first ever freshly squeezed vegetable juice, it tasted awful but compared to the herbal medicine, it is not so bad after all!
The most significant change is in my family life. Through this illness, I realized that I had to apologize to my wife and my children. I confessed and repented for neglecting them and not giving them time while I was busy ministering to others and for not being a good shepherd to them. Is there anything too difficult to say when you are faced with issues of life and death? As a result, the Lord changed our relationship. In His mercy, we are learning to be united, learning to love each other, learning to pray together, learning to mend relationships. This is the exact work of the Elijah that is to come, turning the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of the children to the fathers. Do you want a breakthrough in your life? We have only one choice, “Serve God; not the idols in your heart.”
Pastor Li
1Kings 18
On Mount Carmel, the prophet Elijah had to face Israel, a people who had turned away from God. God gave him faith and he was able to turn the entire nation of Israel. He challenged the people, “If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” On that day, the people repented and turned back to Jehovah. In a day, the entire nation was changed. How good it would be if Hong Kong could be changed by God in a day! How good it would be if the church could be changed by God in a day! How good it would be if our life could be changed by God in a day!
The work the Lord gave to Elijah was significant historically but in the last days, the mission and power of Elijah will fall on the people of God once again. We wait in anticipation for this life changing power to come to us in a mighty way.
Since diagnosed with liver cancer last month, my life was turned upside down. Everything had to be rearranged. This was also a time of self-examination and reflection. First of all I had to ask myself, spiritually, whether I had followed God or had I used man’s way to do His work? Did I try to please Him or did I try to please men? Do I love my ministry, my family, and my position more than I love God? These and many other pointed questions came to my mind….
As for my daily living, there has been a drastic change in my diet. I cannot eat most of the food that I used to love. Now my diet is mainly fruit and vegetable with unpolished rice and fish. I find it difficult at first! I call it my “Manna meal”. The Israelites had to take such bland food for forty years whilst I only took it for a month or so and I am already complaining. Since this is beneficial for my body, I am learning to accept it and even enjoy the taste of fresh food. I had my first ever freshly squeezed vegetable juice, it tasted awful but compared to the herbal medicine, it is not so bad after all!
The most significant change is in my family life. Through this illness, I realized that I had to apologize to my wife and my children. I confessed and repented for neglecting them and not giving them time while I was busy ministering to others and for not being a good shepherd to them. Is there anything too difficult to say when you are faced with issues of life and death? As a result, the Lord changed our relationship. In His mercy, we are learning to be united, learning to love each other, learning to pray together, learning to mend relationships. This is the exact work of the Elijah that is to come, turning the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of the children to the fathers. Do you want a breakthrough in your life? We have only one choice, “Serve God; not the idols in your heart.”
Pastor Li
posted by kinwahli | 3:32 AM
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