Luk 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

If your name is in the roll of honour of a very prestigious organization, I’m very sure you will feel very honoured and proud. It is natural for men to love recognition from other men. The Chinese has this saying: “Tigers die and leave their skins; people die and leave their names.”

Men wish that after they die, their names will be remembered for ages. And indeed, many men had their names written in history. Who can forget Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Winston Churchill, Elvis Presley, Confucius, etc. Even bad guys like Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin had a place in history.

But all of them died without having their names written in the most important book of all. They might have their names written in the books of men, but did they have their names written in the book of life? “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).

Our Lord Jesus taught us to rejoice at all times because our names are written in Heaven. The difference between the saved and the unsaved is in the place where their names are written. The saved have their names written in heaven and therefore this is a cause for rejoicing. Even in the face of tragedy, inexplicable mental anguish and personal suffering, there is always joy in knowing that their names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life (Acts 5:41). They know that though their bodies may be perishing, their souls are going to a better place (2 Corinthians 5:1, 2).

Next to our homes here on this earth, the greatest blessing in our lives should be knowing that we have a home in heaven. Our names may not mean anything to anyone, but this shouldn’t bother us as long as we know that our names are written in heaven.

Zion, the city of David, is to the children of Israel, a holy city. They considered it the greatest place to be born on this earth. And, the Psalmist wrote about this honour to be a citizen of Zion in Psalm 87. Zion is called the city of God (vs 3). And in verse, 5 and 6, he wrote: “And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her. The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there.”

God kept a record of those who were born. And, He paid special attention to those who were born in Zion.

But Psalm 87 is forward looking. The Psalmist was looking forward to a greater Zion. The city of God is called the New Jerusalem in Revelations 3:12 and 21:2. And the New Jerusalem is in heaven and not of this earth. Indeed, it is an honour to any Jew to have been born in Zion. But greater is he that is born of Zion that is above!

Question: How can one get his name written in the “book of life”? The “book of life” is just like a registry of birth on this earth. Whenever a child is born into the world, his parents go to a government organisation to register his birth. That registration makes him a citizen of the country he is registered in. Likewise, to get into the registry of the “book of life”, one must be born again: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Have you been born again?

“Rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” This is not something that we did but something God did when we are born again. Our names are written in heaven, written there with the blood of Christ. Thank God for His wonderful grace. Is your name written in heaven?

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

Luk 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

Teach us to pray. Do you know how to pray? Sad to say, many professed Christians do not know how to pray. Some pray to Mary. Others pray to Jesus. Some pray to “saints”. Well, they do not have scriptural authority to pray to those people.

When the Lord was teaching His disciples to pray, the first thing He addressed was the one to pray to. And He said: “When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven” (vs 2). He said in another occasion: “Whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you” (John 15:16b; 16:23). Prayer is made in the name of Jesus, and not to Jesus.

Jesus has given us the power to ask in His name, and it is a wonderful privilege of which we should take full advantage. Therefore, we are commanded to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

But some said: “I prayed, but my prayers were not answered.” Obviously, there are some reasons why some prayers are not answered.

1. IT IS NOT IN FAITH. Our Lord says: “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive” (Matthew 21:22). James also said: “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering” (James 1:6). Do you believe in prayer?

2. IT IS NOT ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL. John wrote: “If we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us” (1 John 5:14). It implies if it is not according to God’s will, He will not answer. What are some prayers that are not according to the will of God? For examples:

i.    A prayer that God saves an unbeliever who is dying or has died. Such is not the will of God for then no one needs to be a Christian.

ii.    A prayer that something bad happens to an enemy. God says we are to bless and pray for our enemy (Matthew 5:44).

iii.   A prayer that God helps you strike the lottery. This is covetousness and not the will of God.

3. BECAUSE OF SIN. God does not hear sinners (John 9:31). John said we should not even pray for a brother who lives in sin: “There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it” (1 John 5:16a). Hence, if we were to pray that God forgives our sins when we refuse to repent of it; God will not hear. God says that “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).

4. BECAUSE IT IS NOT THE TIME. Sometimes, God wants us to wait. Good things come to them who wait. God promised Abraham and Sarah a son; but they had to wait for God’s timing. Along the way, the couple became impatient and tried to fulfil the promised seed their way (Genesis 16:1-2). In so doing, they created immense problems for their descendants.

God wants only the best for us and it is worth not rushing ahead or trying to force things or make them happen in our own time. “Wait on the LORD” (Psalm 27:14).

5. GOD HAS SOMETHING BETTER FOR US. God knows best. God sees the bigger picture of our lives. He knows when what we are asking is not the best thing for us. He even sees the negative things that could occur if He were to give us what we are asking. For example, you pray that this girl would love you. But God sees what kind of girl she will be and how she will destroy your faith. So, He says NO. But He gives you someone better.

Pray is the Christian’s privilege. It is an honour to be talking to God. Therefore, my beloved brethren, take time to pray: “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice” (Psalm 55:17).

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

Luk 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

“For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” Somehow the statement made by Jesus always reminds me of this statement made by Uncle Ben Parker to his nephew Peter Parker in the movie Spiderman: “With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility.”

To the power hungry men, the philosophy is, if you have power, it would be a waste not to use it. History has a lot of people showing them becoming corrupted because of great power, such as Napoleon, Saddam Hussein, and Hitler. Closer to us, we see bosses, managers, movie directors, and sport coaches, all using their powers to bully their charge. We see some employers treating their domestic helpers like slaves. Indeed, to a lot of people, they think that once they have some form of power, they can lord over others. Sure, they have great powers, but they are not acting responsibly. Instead of using their powers to help others, they become bullies.

“With great power comes great responsibility.” The key word is “responsibility.” What is your responsibility? The simple meaning is: If you have the ability to do something, make sure that you do it for the good of others. The converse is to act irresponsibly. It is to act selfishly.

Let’s come back to the words of Jesus: “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”

The meaning is, we are held responsible for what we have been blessed with. We are accountable for the knowledge, resources, abilities, skills, etc. that God has blessed us with. If we have been given much, then He expects much more from us. If we are blessed with talents, wealth, knowledge, time, and the like, it is expected that we use these blessings to glorify God and benefit others.

This reminds me of the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). The servants who were given five and two talents used those talents and gained the same amount. The Master did not compare the servant with two talents with the one who had five talents and asked him why he only earned two and not five. You see, God does not expect us to do something that we do not have the talent to do. But He does expect us to deliver what we are able to. The one talent servant, even though he had only one talent, he should use it to glorify his Master. His sin was he did not use it.

God gives each of us special talents to glorify Him. Paul said: “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness” (Romans 12:6–8). This is responsible stewardship.

If you have been blessed with wealth, use it to glorify God and not yourself. Paul addresses the rich with these words: “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share” (1 Timothy 6:17, 18).

The Scriptures say: “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God (Romans 14:12). On the Judgment Day, every man will be required to give an account of his stewardship (Luke 16:2). Are we using our wealth, time, knowledge, and talents to serve God and one another? Are you?

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.