Good Morning Jonathan!

Aiyee ... missed last week's posting. Was away at a Minister's Retreat in Johore till Thursday. It's a bi-annual affair where local AOG pastors from all over the country and overseas come together for 4 days of conference and of course .... fellowship.

We had a blast last Sunday! It was Youth Sunday. The youth kinda took the stage and stake their claims for the Kingdom of God! Vineyard indeed have a great future! I like the "cardboard testimonies". It was inspiring! "Once lost ... now found; once lazy ... now helpful; once fearful ... now bold; once aimless ... now purposeful" and on and on it went. I was hoping it could go on a little longer. Really enjoyed it.

I had a great time preaching too. Although I was primarily speaking to the youth group, it was a message Vineyard as a whole needed to hear as we are now third year into our Vision 5/10. Here's the gist ...

Jonathan, the man who gave up his rightful throne to a friend, a man who eventually strengthened a leader and saved a nation! In as much as God chose David to be the next king after Saul, God specifically chose Jonathan to help David ascend to the throne. Jonathan loved, protected and help David while his father, Saul was seeking to destroy David to ensure that he will not be the next king of Israel. Every king need a king-maker. There is no personal benefit for Jonathan to play the role of a king-maker. Neither was it required of him to surrender his throne to David. But Jonathan saw the BIG PICTURE! He understood therefore his calling. So instead of doing what he wants to do (be the next king of Israel), he did the right thing! He became a king-maker and helped keep David alive so David can fulfill God's plan for the nation of Israel.

Jonathan had the right perspective and was embolden to do the right thing because of his ability to THINK BIG but to THINK THE BIG PICTURE! See, we've been told that to succeed in life, we must learn to THINK BIG! Well, there's nothing really with thinking big but what is more needful, what is more realistic, what is more pressing is to learn to think the BIG PICTURE! When we see the big picture, our perspective in life changes. Our perspective towards others changes and we will be embolden to do the right thing and not just doing things to feed the ego.

Every event in our lives, and at different phases, the things we do and the things we don't do, the successes and the failures .... all these are pieces of jigsaws that forms a bigger picture. And there is a BIGGER PICTURE in life! Most of us are caught up with been busy about our daily routines with no thought as to what the bigger picture is. Life is bigger than us and we exist for a reason, for a higher purpose. That's why man need to connect with God! Only God can show us the BIG PICTURE in life. Only God therefore can truly satisfy!

So you want to be a doctor. What's your purpose? And you a business person? What's your motivation? We are told to "think beyond the box". What's within is ... a good income, a steady job, things I'd love to do, etc. and beyond the box, can you see a purpose of your existence other that what's within the box? There is a higher calling. There is a higher purpose. You are made for a reason. You exist for a specific purpose.

Jonathan thought he would be king eventually and that he would lead the great nation of Israel. But on that day he witnessed David's triumph over Goliath, over the army of Philistine, he saw the BIG PICTURE! He saw the potential of David and he knew within his heart by revelation that David, not him, was anointed by God to be the next king. He understood the nation of Israel needed a man like David and that David would be a better king than his father Saul and himself. For the nation sake, he understood that he must surrender his rightful throne to David and immediately, he took off his princely robes and put it on David and gave him his sword and girdle. In other words he was telling David, "You my Lord, will be the next king of Israel and I your humble servant is at your service".

How many of us would give up our "thrones"? How many of us will sacrifice all to fulfill a higher purpose in life that has no personal benefit? In the natural, we are always wanting to protect what is ours. And that's why there are so many unfulfilled people walking the earth today. People who seeming had everything going but yet caught within the box. That's why in the Bible, there is a kind of peace, joy and love that comes not from within this world but comes only from God. You can't work for it. You can't earn it. It's got nothing to do with your merits. But it has everything to do with THE BIG PICTURE! And that picture my friend, is Jesus Christ himself.

Being connected to God helped me to see beyond self. Being connected to God gives me a sense of purpose ... a higher calling. Being connected to God gives me courage and discipline to do the right thing in life. Being connected to God zapped out all the unnecessary burdens of life and gives me the freedom to live the abundant life that God has in store for me.

Jonathan, though he died young, died a happy bloke. He understood his purpose. He understood the big picture. He embraced his calling. He was the prince who did not become king. But he was the best king-maker ever. My prayer this week for you all at the Vineyard ... "God, give us the anointing of Jonathan". He strengthened a leader and saved a nation. Will you be willing to be a Jonathan today and help your pastors and leaders to build the Vineyard for the glory of God? Would you be willing like Jonathan to help others rise up and be embolden to do the right thing for your church, for your God? I know you will. God is looking for Jonathans today to fulfill His plans for the Vineyard. Let this be your prayer this week ... "Here I am Lord, send me".

Blessings!