What Do You Have On Hand?

It achieves alot in the Master’s hands!!!

During Asia Conference 2008, I had the chance to fellowship with some delegates whom I met and chatted while queuing up to enter the halls (what else can you do when you’re stuck in the queue?), having meals, during electives, etc.

Many of them were excited, but for some of them, beneath that cloak of excitment was a body of uncertainty, fear and doubt – lack of workers, lack of resources, lack of money, etc… problems problems problems…

I was reminded of life itself – people who are discouraged by the recession, downcast by retrenchment, outsourcing and pay freeze, fearful of the uncertain future… even I myself was going through financial turmoil that God knows only His Hand can deliver!

Yet I believe 2009 is gonna be the best year yet!

I just thought of this song which I wrote in 2006, inspired by Pastor Kong’s message on Shamgar during Emerge conference in 2006.

These 2 verses are the inspirations to the song. Hope it encourages you!

“After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed six hundred men of the Philistines with an ox goad; and he also delivered Israel.” Judges 3:31 (NKJV)

“In the time of Shamgar son of Anath, and in the time of Jael, Public roads were abandoned, travelers went by backroads. Warriors became fat and sloppy, no fight left in them. ” Judges 5:6 (The Message)

Need For Someone To Stand Up

There was a need – for someone bold enough to rise up and make a difference! Why? Philistines were opressing the children of Israel. The roads were unsafe. Someone could just get shot walking on it! Imagine terrorism today!

The Israelites were afraid. Israelites often perceived themselves to be “grasshoppers”. The Philistines were giants – Goliath was an example of one of them. And he struck so much fear in Israel’s camp, until no warrior dare to step up to challenge him.

A small shepard boy called David – stood up and slain Goliath with a smooth stone and the giant’s own sword.

Shamgar stood up and killed 600 Philistines with an oxgoad. How about you?

One man stood up to make a difference. With what? An oxgoad – a farming equipment. With the oxgoad, he killed 600 Philistines single handedly, and delivered Israel.

What do you see yourself today? A grasshopper? Poor? Young? Inexperienced? Small?

The PISS Stood Up

City Harvest Church was started with only 20 young people. They were the PISS (sorry) of the Singapore Christian Circle – Poor, Inexperienced, Students, Small.

BUT they had the passion of David and the courage of Shamgar. Today we have over 23000 members and still growing! We just hosted the Asia Conference 2008 with 25,000 delegates from over 72 countries.

What could have happened if for one moment the founders – Pastor Kong and Sun did not have the courage to step out? To Crossover? To reach out to people beyond the four walls of the Church? To walk the talk and commit themselves to humanitarian acts? To make a difference in other’s lives? To live out the Cultural Mandate and the Great Commission?

You won’t be reading this article then because there won’t be that inspiration. I’ll still be that street punk who did not know Christ 15 years ago.

What You Have Is Treasure In The Master’s Hands

Friends, God can use you beyond your perceived limitations!

What do you have in your hand?

A congregation with 100 people but not enough workers?

A business stuck deep in debt and recession?

Retrenched with only $10 in the bank and a family to feed?

Whatever you have, make a covenant with God today – and He will bless and multiply it! Have faith in God! Make a covenant with God based on what you have, not what you wish you had. God takes FAITH in the NOW, not “if only’s”!

Your failed business can be your oxgoad that will buy bigger Companies. Your $10 can be your oxgoad that will bring in that net breaking boat sinking return – when you put it in God’s hands!

So, what do you have in your hand?

A 9-5 job? $100? A guitar and passion? God can use them!

A little boy’s lunchbox of 5 loaves and 2 fishes fed 5000 men

A tired, discouraged fisherman net in boat sinking, net breaking catch

A widow ready to die gave her last morsel of food to the prophet and found abundance to last a long, long time.

What do you have on your hands? Why don’t you place in your Master’s hands? I hope that through this song, the Holy Spirit will do a life changing work in your spirit and life, put flesh and breathe life to the dry bones and resurrect the dead!

The song goes like this:

Just Like Shamgar © 2006 Written by Ronald Wong

Verse 1

Never say “I give up”

Never say “Its too tough”

Never say “It can’t be done”

Never say “I’m not good enough”

Gotta start where you are

Gonna use what you’ve got

Gotta do what you can

And let God take care of the rest

Pre Chorus

Yeah it might be tough

When the odds are hundreds to one

You’ll never know till you try

You might be the one

Oh the power of one!

Chorus

All things are possible

Through Christ who lives in us

You never know till you try

So step out in faith and TRY!

Just like Shamgar

Just like Shamgar

Verse 2

Shamgar was a young man

With just an ox goad in hand

He killed 600 men

And delivered Israel from their hands

Don’t Give Up – Be A Mighty Man of Valour!

I hope this song will encourage you to always look to your vision and dreams, and the God who breathed them.

Don’t give up. Be strong and courageous! Your ministry and dreams will flourish like durians in the fields!

All things are possible through Christ who lives in you!

Attend the “Shamgar Conference” – it’s just started – right here, right now, in your room or wherever you are.

Stop what you are doing now, and pray. Commit what you have to God once again. Trust Him to turn your little into much!

2009 is gonna be the best year yet!

Keep walking!

***

Trackback URI | Comments RSS