CHALLENGES FOR 2015

1. Christmas in Singapore

a) My wife and I went to Singapore to spend time with my sons who couldn't come back to Malaysia during this Christmas holidays. We booked our coach tickets going to Singapore late morning on 24/12/2015 (Wednesday) and returning home almost mid-night on 28/12/2014 (Sunday).

b) We had a great time together and lavished ourselves with Chili crabs in Long Beach, Singapore for our Christmas dinner. The dinner was specially arranged by my second son, Abel.

c) Prior to going to Singapore, I was asking the Lord what would be His Will this time. During our short stay in Singapore, I was wondering what would be installed for the year 2015, knowing that the Lord Jesus is coming soon.

d) On 28/12/2014 (Sunday) @5.00 am, the Lord showed me what 2015 is all about and what does it represent. 

2. What does 2015 represent?

a) 2015 = 2 + 0 + 1 + 5 = NUMBER 8.

b) 2015 represents a new beginning.

3. What is the meaning for NUMBER 8 in the Bible?

a) Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. (Genesis 21:4)

b) The number eight symbolizes resurrection and a new beginning. Noah's ark passed through the waters symbolizing death, but it was resurrected and rested on Mt. Ararat and eight people emerged to a new beginning.

c) Why did God command Jewish males to be circumcised on the eighth day? Why not on the first day or much later? Eight means "as above, so below." That's why Jewish male babies are circumcised on the eighth day to seal the covenant with God. "And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb" ( Luke 2:21).

d) Other interesting things about the number eight:

i) David was the eighth son of Jesse.
ii) Solomon was the eighth son of David.
iii) The writers of the New Testament were eight in number: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, James, Peter and Jude.

e) Christ is the Resurrection and the Life. His birth place, Bethlehem, is mentioned exactly eight times in the New Testament.

f) Jesus came that we might have a new beginning. Accept Him today and begin your life anew.
  
4. What is God saying regarding NUMBER 8? What is the main theme for this NUMBER? 

a) God is saying that if we want to see new beginnings in our lives, in our communities, in our home nation and beyond, we need to take up the challenges for 2015. These challenges are found in 2 Chronicles 7:14:

2 Chronicles 7:14 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁴ If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

I. Challenges for 2015:

@1. Humble ourselves.

@2. Pray.

@3. Seek God's face.

@4. Turn from our wicked ways.

II. Then what will happen:

@1. God will hear from heaven.

@2. God will forgive our sin.

@3. God will heal our land.

Revelation 22:2 King James Version (KJV)

² In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Ezekiel 47:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.

b) The main theme is "HUMBLE, PRAY, SEEK & TURN."