God's Destiny Part 3 of 3 - S'pore

It is apparent that for Singapore, Mr Lee Kuan Yew has exhibited the Cyrus anointing on many occasions. He has yet to know the Lord, but has insituted policies totally in line with God's destiny for Singapore, in particluar the dual calling of Singapore:

Singapore with a GO calling [to bring the good news and blessings in Christ to the nations] as well as a COME calling [to encourage the nations to come to Singapore, and through Singapore, to be a blessing to the nations]

Many years ago, he instituted the second language policy in schools whereby every student must be proficient in the mother tongue. This has equipped a whole generation who are able to converse in Mandarin, Tamil or Malay. The Chinese in Singapore are better equipped than most nations to be a blessing to the people in China. This is the GO call for Singapore.

In recent years Mr Lee has been strongly encouraging international companies and well-educated, skilled foreigners to come to Singapore and make contributions to the nation. This is the COME call for Singapore. In this way, all the nations of the world can actually participate in the God-given destiny for Singapore, to be the Antioch of Asia.

In more recent times, Mr Lee has made trips to Russia [known as the Iron Curtain] to promote trade with Russia.

Isa 45:2 I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron

God's Destiny Part 2 of 3 Cyrus Anointing

Isa 45: 1-4 This is what the LORD says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armour, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honour, though you do not acknowledge me.

The first person pronoun "I" refers to God and not Cyrus. Cyrus was a mere instrument in God's hand. God gave Cyrus, who did not know the God of Israel, this anointing. Cyrus, the king of Persia made a decree that was fully in line with God's purposes:
2 Chron 36:23 This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: "The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jeruslaem in Judah. Anyone of his people among you - may the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up."

Cyrus acknowledges that it is God who appointed him to build the temple in Jersualem. This is indeed an amazing statement from a foreign king who usually would destroy all the deities of their captives.

Relationship as Christian [Neil Anderson]

People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centred
Love them anyway

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives
Do good anyway

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies
Succeed anyway

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow
Do good anyway

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable
Be honest and frank anyway

The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest minds
Think big anyway

People favour underdogs but follow only top dogs
Fight for the underdog anyway

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight
Build anyway

People really need help, but may attack you if you help them
Help people anyway

Give the world the best you've got and you'll get kicked in the teeth
Give the world the best you've got anyway

God's Destiny Part 1 of 3

Exo 14:1-4, 27-28 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. Pharoah will think, "The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert... And I will harden Pharoah's heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharoah and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD." So the Israelites did this ... Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the LORD swept them into the sea. The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen - the entire army of Pharoah that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.

The question : Why did God harden Pharoah's heart?
The Bible records very clearly that Pharoah hardened his heart repeatedly before the Lord hardened Pharoah's heart. The first reference in Exo 7:8-13, and others:
Exo 7:22 First plague (blood)
Exo 8:15 Second plague (frogs)
Exo 8:19 Third plague (gnats)
Exo 8:32 Fourth plague (flies)

It was only after Pharoah had repeatedly hardened his heart that God hardened Pharoah's heart [Exo 9:12, 10:1 and so on]

It is also true today. We will harden our hearts if we do not listen and obey His Word and His Voice.

Heb 3:7-8 Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert.

A person will harden his heart each time he chooses to disobey God. If he continues to do this, a time will come when God will withdraw His Spirit from that person, i.e. the Holy Spirit will no longer try to convict the person of sin. Without the Holy Spirit's conviction of sins, the person's heart becomes hardened "by God".